The Caravan, Part 7

THE FOURTH STAGE

MUSLIM IBN AQIL (PBUH)–KUFA

TIME OF THE DEPARTURE TO KUFA: On Ramadan 15th, 3 days after receiving the last letters of the residences of Kufa, Muslim Ibn Aqil moved towards Kufa as the Imam’s ambassador. ⁶⁸

THE WAY OF MOVEMENT: The terrifying and spy atmosphere of Bani Ummayah’s government caused Muslim to move secretly at night. ⁶⁹

THE PROGRAMS FOR THE DEPARTURE: Muslim went to Medina to visit his clan. He employed two guides from Qays tribe. After saying farewell to his family and holding prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque, he set off to Kufa along with Qays ibn Musahhar al-Saydawi.

MUSLIM’S FELLOWS AT THE DEPARTURE (FROM MECCA): The very four messengers from Kufa, Abdurrahman ibn Al-Kidan Irhabi, Ammara-t ibn Ubayd al-Sulluli, Abdullah ibn al-Kidan Irhabi and Qays ibn Musahhar Saydawi. ⁷¹

MUSLIM’S POSITION AND PERSONALITY: He was the son of Aqil (Imam Ali’s brother) that was efficient, trustworthy to Aba Abdullah, brave, experienced in war, knowledgeable and wise. His teknonym (Kunya) was Abu Dawoud, His mother was Illiyyah, a bondwoman from “Farzanda” clan. She probably belonged to an Iranian race.

Muslim’s wife was Ruqayyah or Umm Kulthum, the daughter of Ali (PBUH). The number of Muslim’s children among whom Abdullah, Ali, Abdul-Aziz, Abdurrahman, Ouwn, Muslim, Ibrahim, Muhammad, Ja’far, Hamidah and Ahmad are more popular has been written differently. These children were from different wives of Muslim. Probably no son was left from Muslim and all of them were martyred in the Karbala event. ⁷² It has been written that Muslim had participated in the battle of Siffin and had fought bravely along with Imam Husain (PBUH), Imam Hassan (PBUH) and Abdullah  ibn Ja’far. ⁷³ So regarding Siffin war happened in 37 A.H., Muslim’s age must be more than what it has been written. While traveling to Kufa Muslim must have been around 38 to 42 years of his age.

THE IMAM’S ADVICE TO MUSLIM: 1) Virtue       2) Secrecy      3) Flexibility and moderation    4) Informing the Imam to come to Kufa provided that the people get united.    5) Sojourning at the most trusted one’s house. ⁷⁴

THE EVENTS ON THE WAY: Muslim with his companions left Medina towards Kufa at night. The two guides lost their way. Everyone was afflicted by severe thirst and heat. The guides encouraged Muslim and the companions to continue their way and then they themselves passed away.

Muslim got to Batn Al-Khubayt or Madhiq area and there wrote a letter to the Imam in which he stated the story of guides’ death and considered this incident a bad omen and asked the Imam to release him from going to Kufa. Imam Hussein wrote in response: “Your irresponsibility is nothing but your fear. Don’t worry and go on your path. Muslim continued the way until he got to a hamlet there he saw a hunter hunted a deer. Muslim considered it a good omen and said, “God willing we will hit our enemy!”

(This story is definitely fake and it is not harmonized with Muslim’s character.)

References:

68.  Al-Futuh (Vol. 5, p. 53); Kharazmi: Maqtal al-Husain (Vol. 1, p. 196); Murawij al-Dhahab (Vol. 3, p. 14)

69. Kharazmi: Maqtal al-Husain (Vol. 1, p. 196); Al-Futuh (Vol. 5, p. 53)

70. Ibn Athir: Al-Kamil (Vol. 3, p. 267); Bihar al-Anwar (Vol. 44, p. 335); History of Tabari (Vol. 5, p. 347); Al-Isabah (Vol. 1, p. 332)

71. Al-Shahid Muslim ibn Aqil (P. 137); History of Tabari (Vol. 5, pp. 354-355); Absar al-Ayn (P. 5)

72. Al-Shahid Muslim ibn Aqil (Pp. 81-82, 260-262); Al-Lubab fi Tahdheeb al-Ansab (Vol. 1, p. 376); Al-Ma’arif (P. 204)

73. Al-Imama-t wa al-Siyasah (Vol. 2, p. 230)

74. Al-Futuh (Vol. 5, p. 51-53)

75. Ibn Athir: Al-Kamil (Vol. 2, p. 267); Al-Irshad (Vol. 2, pp. 37-38); A’yan al-Shiah (Vol. 1, p. 589); Bahr-ul-Ulum: Maqtal al-Husain (P. 216); Al-Manaqib (Vol. 4, p. 90); History of ibn Khaldun (Vol. 3, p. 2); Abi Mikhanaf: Maqtal (Pp. 19-20)