The Martyrdom of Hazrat Muslim ibn Aqeel (AS)
The First martyr of Karbala
Hazrat Muslim ibn Aqeel (AS) was the son of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib (AS) and the son-in-law of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS). He was married to Bibi Rukayya (AS), and many of their children were martyred in Karbala.
When Imam Hussain (AS) departed Medina for Makkah, Hazrat Muslim accompanied him. During their stay in Makkah, Imam Hussain (AS) received countless letters from the people of Kufa, pleading for a leader to guide and liberate them from oppression.
In response, Imam Hussain (AS) sent his trusted cousin, Hazrat Muslim ibn Aqeel (AS), to Kufa. Initially, the people warmly welcomed him, and 12,000 pledged their allegiance. Encouraged by their support, Hazrat Muslim wrote to Imam Hussain (AS), urging him to come to Kufa.
However, when news of this allegiance reached Nu’man ibn Bashir, the governor of Kufa, he warned the people against division. Supporters of the Umayyad dynasty accused Nu’man of weakness and reported the situation to Yazid. Fearing rebellion, Yazid swiftly replaced Nu’man with the ruthless Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, the governor of Basra.
Known for his brutality, Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad instilled fear in Kufa. The people, intimidated by his threats, abandoned Hazrat Muslim, leaving him isolated. Forced into hiding, Hazrat Muslim sought refuge in the home of a woman named Taw’a, but her son betrayed him, revealing his location to the authorities.
Ibn Ziyad dispatched Muhammad ibn Ash’ath with seventy soldiers to arrest Hazrat Muslim. After capturing him, they took him to the palace, where Ibn Ziyad ordered his execution. Bukayr ibn Hamran led Hazrat Muslim to the rooftop, where he was martyred and his body thrown below.
Before his martyrdom, Hazrat Muslim (AS) left three final requests:
1. To send a message to Imam Hussain (AS), warning him against coming to Kufa.
2. To properly shroud and bury his body.
3. To repay his debts by selling his sword and belongings.
Following his martyrdom, Ibn Ziyad (LA) also executed Hani ibn Urwa and sent both their heads to Yazid ibn Mu’awiya in Sham.
Today, the sacred shrine of Hazrat Muslim ibn Aqeel (AS) is located in the Great Mosque of Kufa, Iraq, where he rests in eternal peace.
