In the thirty-first episode in our series, we focus on the events which happened in Kufa in 61 AH, in the days immediately following the tragic events of Ashura and the martyrdom of Imam Husain (PuH). In particular, we shall focus on a heated exchange which took place between Obaidullah Ibn Ziyad, the tyrannical governor of Iraq, and the aged Zayd Ibn Arqam, a companion of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).
When the caravan of captives made up of children and womenfolk of the Prophet’s Household reached the city of Kufa, the tyrannical governor of Iraq, Obaidullah Ibn Ziyad, held a banquet to celebrate the “victory” of his army over the Prophet’s grandson. Omar Ibn Sa’d, the head of the Omayyad army in Karbala, and other military commanders, all attended the banquet. Obaidullah Ibn Ziyad had given the people of Kufa a general summons and had ordered them to attend the banquet and celebration. Then, Ibn Ziyad , ordered the head of Imam Husain (PuH) to be brought to him. Soldiers obeyed the orders and the blessed head of the Prophet’s grandson was put on a shield and brought to Ibn Ziyad, who was seated before the people in the governor's palace. Ibn Ziyad put it in front of him, and he looked at the severed head of the Imam for a while, and a smile appeared on his ugly face. In his hand he had a cane with which he blasphemously began poke at the blessed teeth of the Imam.
When the Prophet’s aged companion Zayd Ibn Arqam, saw Ibn Ziyad poke at the blessed teeth of the Prophet’s grandson with the cane he said in a loud voice: “Take your cane away from those two lips. For, by God I have seen the lips of the Messenger of God. may God bless him and his family, touch those two lips countless times.”
With these words he began to weep uncontrollably. At this Ibn Ziyad mockingly asked:“Does God make your eyes weep?Or are you weeping because of God's victory? If it was not for the fact that you are an old man who has become silly, and lost your senses and mind, I would have cut off your head.”
On hearing Ibn Ziyad’s insolent remark, Zayd Ibn Arqam said: “O.K. If it is like that, then hear what I have to say so that you become even more angry. O people. I swear that I saw the Messenger of God when Hasan was sitting on one of his knees, and Husain was sitting on the other knee. The Messenger of God put his hands on their heads and caressed them, and supplicated to God by saying: “O Lord. These two children are under my care and guardianship. Now I give them both to you for safekeeping”
Zayd Ibn Arqam then looked at Ibn Ziyad and said: “O son of Ziyad, now tell me what have you done to the person who was under the care and safekeeping of your Prophet ?”
Zayd Ibn Arqam then stood up in front of Ibn Ziyad, and left the banquet, and went to his home.
After this incident, Ibn Ziyad wanted to change the subject and atmosphere at the gathering. So he looked at one of those present, named Qays, and asked him: “What do you think about me and Husain?”
Qays replied rather sarcastically: “The Grandfather of Husain, as well as his father and mother would all vouch for him, and support him, on the Day of Judgment. But what about your grandfather, father and mother? Would they vouch for you and support you on the Day of Judgement?!”
Ibn Ziyad was taken aback by this unexpected reply, and he didn’t like it, and he ordered Qays to leave the banquet.
At this point, Obaidullah Ibn Ziyad’s mother, Marjaneh, who was an Iranian and after leaving his equally father Ziyad, had married an Iranian man, looked at him and told him off in an admonishing tone: “You wicked and evil son. Why did you kill the son of the Prophet of God? I swear to Allah that you will never go to Heaven”.
source : irib
