The Journey of the Captives After Karbala
The plains of Karbala were drenched in blood. But the tragedy did not end with the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) and his faithful companions. What followed was a heartbreaking journey of the captives that remains engraved in the memory of history.
What should have been a time to mourn became even more painful. The captives were handcuffed, abused, and paraded, prevented from being able to shed tears over losing their loved ones.
However, this journey was not one of defeat.
It was a continuation of the mission of Karbala – a mission to speak truth to tyranny, expose injustice, and safeguard the message of Islam.
Leaving Karbala for Kufa
On the 11th of Muharram, the women and children from Imam Hussain’s (as) family were taken as captives by Umar ibn Saad (la) and his men. Also taken as captive was Imam Zain Al-Abideen (as), who could not fight on the Day of Ashura due to an illness.
The first part of their journey took them from Karbala to Kufa.
Maqtal al-Hussain mentions that the women pleaded to see their shuhada before leaving. When they saw the brutality of how they were killed, they screamed and slapped their faces due to their sorrow.
Upon seeing the trampled body of Aba Abdillah (as), Lady Zainab (sa) reportedly said, “O Muhammad (saww)! Here is Hussain (as) in the desert, covered with blood, his limbs cut off! Here are your daughters taken captive and your offspring slaughtered!” (Maqtal al-Hussain)
After some time, the captives would leave for Kufa.
Arrival in Kufa
The captives arrived in Kufa on the 12th of Muharram (Kitab al-Irshad, v.2). The people of Kufa gathered around to see them.
Lady Umm Kulthum (sa) is reported to have said, “O people of Kufa! Do not you have any sense of shame before Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saww), so you look at the ladies of the Prophet (saww)?”
Various sermons were given, reprimanding the Kufans for their betrayal of Imam Hussain (as). These included sermons from:
Ibn Ziyad’s (la) Palace
The captives were brought to Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad’s (sa) palace on his order. Ibn Ziyad (la) also had the blessed head of Sayyid Al-Shuhada (as) in front of him, poking at it with his cane.
A companion of the Prophet (saww) named Zayd ibn Arqam is reported to have said, “Stop hitting these lips with your rod, for by Allah, the One and Only God, I saw the lips of the Messenger of Allah (saww) kissing them.” Ibn Ziyad (la) then had the companion removed from the palace.
Ibn Ziyad (la) tried to taunt Lady Zainab (sa) and the Ahlulbayt (as). However, she stood her ground and showed through her eloquent replies that she was the daughter of Ali ibn Abu Talib (as).
Ibn Ziyad (la) would ask her, “How have you seen what Allah (swt) has done to your Ahlulbayt (as)?” She (sa) replied, “I have seen Him (swt) treating them (as) most beautifully.”
The tyrant would also try to taunt Imam Zain Al-Abiden (as) by saying the same statement. However, the Imam (as) replied, “Allah (swt) takes the souls away at the time of their death; none dies except with Allah’s (swt) permission.”
Upset at the reply, ibn Ziyad (la) tried to have Imam Sajjad (as) killed. However, Lady Zainab (sa) stepped in and saved the Imam (as).
The captives were then taken to prison.
Journey to Shaam
With the captives in prison, ibn Ziyad (la) sent a letter to Yazid (la) asking what to do with them. Yazid (la) sent the order for the captives to be sent to Shaam (Damascus).
Some reports mention that the captives left Kufa on the 19th of Muharram and arrived in Shaam on the 1st of Safar. Other reports mention they may have been sent 1 or 2 days before the Arba’een of Imam Hussain (as).
The city of Shaam was decorated as per the order of Yazid (la). The people of Shaam, having been brainwashed for numerous years by Muawiya (la), celebrated the arrival of the captives and what had occurred.
An elder man said to Imam Sajjad (as), “Praise be to Allah (swt), who annihilated you and who granted the governor the upper hand over you!”
The Imam (as) asked the man if he had read the following verses from the Qur’an, which talked about the love and rights of the Ahlulbayt (as):
When the man confirmed he read those verses, the Imam (as) explained that the captives were the family that was mentioned. This changed the man’s perception, and he asked forgiveness from the Imam (as).
Yazid’s (la) Court
The captives were brought in front of Yazid (la) in his palace, along with the blessed head of Hussain (as). Like his governor, Yazid (la) also disrespected the sacred head of the Imam (as).
Yazid (la) would try to humiliate the Ahlulbayt (as). However, Imam Sajjad (as) delivered a powerful sermon that showed the status of the Ahlulbayt (as), the gifts granted to them by Allah (swt), and the difference in the lineage of Prophet Muhammad (saww) and Abu Sufyan (la).
Sayyida Zainab (sa) would also give a strong sermon that would rattle the audience in the place.
With Yazid (la) humiliated, he quickly had the captives sent to a house that was in ruins. The captives would stay there for a few days to mourn Sayyid Al-Shuhada (as).
Release from Shaam
With the people beginning to turn against Yazid (la), he tried blaming Ibn Ziyad (la) for the killing of Imam Hussain (as).
Yazid (la) released the captives, allowing them to go back to Medina.
Reports mention that before returning to Medina, the caravan went to Karbala to properly mourn over the martyrs of Karbala. While here, they met Jabir ibn al-Ansari, the first visitor of Imam Hussain (as).
The caravan remained in Karbala for three days before heading to Medina.
When the caravan arrived in Medina, Imam Sajjad (as) had Bashir ibn Hathlam compose poetry of the tragedies that Ahlulbayt (as) faced throughout the journey.
Eventually, the Ahlulbayt (as) got the mosque of the Prophet (saww), where they wept greatly. Imam Sajjad (as) gave a sermon telling the people of Medina what had happened to them.
For five years, the ladies of the Ahlulbayt (as) refrained from using any dye, oil, or kohl, until Mukhtar al-Thaqafi took revenge for Imam Hussain (as).
Imam Zain Al-Abideen (as) would mourn every day for his father, Imam Hussain (as), until he attained martyrdom as well on the 25th of Muharram, 95 AH.
Conclusion
The journey of the captives was a continuation of the stand taken by Imam Hussain (as) in Karbala. Despite being handcuffed, starved, and humiliated, the family of the Prophet (saww) held their heads high.
Their strength shook thrones, exposed oppression, and preserved the essence of Islam. Their legacy is a timeless reminder to resist injustice and uphold truth.
Honour the Ahlulbayt (as) by helping those who suffer today. Your donation can provide food, shelter, and hope to those in need.
FAQs
The captives included the women and children from the Ahlulbayt (as), most notably Sayyida Zainab (sa), Sayyida Umm Kulthum (sa), Sayyida Sakina (sa), Imam Zain Al-Abideen (as), and Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as).
The Bani Umayyad wanted to display their supposed victory by humiliating the family of the Prophet (saww). This public display was meant to intimidate others and subdue dissent.
Initially, many were unaware that the captives were from the family of the Prophet (saww). After powerful sermons by Lady Zainab (sa) and Imam Sajjad (as), public awareness grew, and perceptions began to shift.
Reports vary. Some indicate the captives left Kufa on the 19th of Muharram and arrived in Shaam on the 1st of Safar, while other reports suggest they arrived closer to Arba’een.
Many reports mention that before returning to Medina, the caravan stopped in Karbala to mourn the martyrs and met Jabir ibn al-Ansari, the first visitor to Aba Abdillah’s (as) grave.
