Whereas there are plenty of evidence that can prove Yazid’s role in the incident of Karbala, but due to being brief and concise we are going to have a brief look at some of them to make it clear that Yazid is criminal and he did kill Imam Hussein (A) and the progeny of the Holy prophet Mohammad (S) in Karbala.
The role of Yazid, son of Mu'awiyah, and his involvement in the event of Ashura is such clear and irrefutable that no one can cast doubt on it, but again, some of the scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah and his followers claim that these crimes were committed without Yazid knowing about them. Whereas there are plenty of evidence that can prove Yazid’s role in the incident of Karbala but due to the being brief and concise we are going to have a brief look at some of them to make it clear that Yazid is criminal and he did kill Imam Hussein (A) and the progeny of the Holy prophet Mohammad (S) in Karbala.
First of all it should be noted that Ubaidullah bin Ziad who had been appointed as the governor of Basra as well as Kufa by Yazid and his father (Mu'awiyah), [1] killed Imam Hussein (A) and his companions in karbala obeying Yazid’s commandment. Actually the secret letter of Mu'awiyah which was revealed to his son by Sir John Mu'awiyah’s Christian advisor [2] is the first evidence that proves Yazid’s involvement to the Martyrdom of Imam Hussein (A) and make it clear that Imam’s martyrdom had been preplanned by Banu Umayyad. According to the letter Mu'awiyah himself had written the following order: "Ubaidullah bin Ziad retaining his previous post as the governor of Basra is also herewith appointed as the governor of Kufa."
Obeying the commands of his father Yazid wrote a letter to Ubaidullah bin Ziad which is the second evidence that proves the direct involvement of Yazid in the incident of Karbala; in the letter Yazid had ordered bin Ziad to kill Imam Hussein (A). He had written to bin Ziad that “If you kill Hussein, you will be respected and treated as a master and if you fail to kill him, you will get to get back to the same unknown lineage (being illegitimate by birth)”. [3] Ibn Abbas also in his historical letter to Yazid makes clear and tangible reference to untold facts regarding the event of Ashura writing that “O' Yazid … You killed Hussein (A) and the children of Abdul Muttalib's family who were torches of guidance and stars of knowledge. All of them were killed in Iraq at your behest.” [4]
Another evidence that proves Yazid’s involvement in the event of Ashura is the speech made by Mu'awiyah (Yazid’s son) following his father’s death. After Yazid’s departure his son made a public speech saying that "Verily, this caliphate is a divine covenant which my grandfather unlawfully and unjustly took from Ali bin Abi Talib (A.S). He did what he wanted to do… Thereupon, my father took over power and he was not eligible for the caliphate as well. While weeping and shedding tears, he added: (My father), Yazid murdered the progeny of the Messenger of Allah; he drank wine and destroyed the Ka'bah… He is doomed." [5]
The last evidence that must be taken into consideration is Ibn Ziad’s confession and his admission of the crime. [6] According to the confession made by ibn Ziad he had been forced to kill Imam Hussein (A) otherwise he himself would have been killed by Yazid. “I was free to choose between two things; either to kill Hussein or get killed, and I chose to kill him.” Ibn Ziad said. [7]
Finally, it must be mentioned that those who try to totally exonerate Yazid from any blame how they can do it while Yazid himself expressed happiness and wrote a letter to Ibn Ziad thanking him for completing the mission and ordering him to send the household of the Holy Prophet (S) who were taken captives along with the heads of the martyrs to him. [8] Not only Yazid expressed happiness hearing the news of the martyrdom of Hussein (A) but also he even held a feast in which wine was served. This was done when the captives and heads of the martyrs arrived in Syria. [9]
Notes:
[1] See: Tabari, History of Tabari, vol4, p.258; Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, vol4, p.22-23.
[2] ibid; Al-Fotuh, vol5, p. 36. See also Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husseini Milani, A Selection of the Untold Facts regarding Ashura, translated by Jawid Akbari.
[3] Ansab al-Ashraf, vol3, p.160; History of the City of Medina, vol14, p. 214.
[4] Tarikh Ya'qubi, vol2, p. 247 – 249; Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, vol4, p. 127-128.
[5] See: Al-Sawa'eq al-Muhriqa, vol2, p. 641-642.
[6] See: Mohammad Yazdi, the mission of Imam Husain (A), translated by Ali Quli Qarai, p.128.
[7] See: Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, vol4, p. 140.
[8] History of Tabari, vol4, p. 285-286; Tarjomat al-Imam al-Hussein (A) min Tabaqat Ibn Sa'ad, p.81.
[9] Al-Rad 'Alaa alaa al-Muta'assib al-Anid, p. 57 – 59.
Yazid, son of Mu'awiyah, is criminal as he murdered Imam Hussein (A) and the progeny of the Holy prophet Mohammad (S) in Karbala. Yazid's involvement in the event of Ashura is such clear and irrefutable that no one can cast doubt on it. First of all, Ubaidullah bin Ziad, who killed the Imam (A), was appointed as the governor of Basra as well as Kufa by Yazid and his father (Mu'awiyah). Secondly, Yazid wrote a letter to Ubaidullah bin Ziad and ordered bin Ziad to kill Imam Hussein (A). Ibn Abbas also in his historical letter to Yazid wrote that “O' Yazid … You killed Hussein (A) and the children of Abdul Muttalib's family.” Thirdly, Ibn Ziad confessed and admitted that he had been forced to kill Imam Hussein (A), otherwise he, himself, would have been killed by Yazid. Finally, Mu'awiyah (Yazid’s son) following his father’s death made a public speech saying that "Verily, my father did what he wanted to do… (My father), Yazid murdered the progeny of the Messenger of Allah"