AlkarbalaThe beginning of the rule of Yazīd
According to al-Tabaqat al-Kubrā, vol. 1, p. 442, Mu'awiyah died on the eve of the middle of Rajab in the year 60/680, and the people gave their allegiance to Yazīd.
In al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, vol. 8, p. 146, The pledge of allegiance was given to him—that is, to Yazid—for the caliphate after his father in Rajab of the year 60 AH. He was born in the year 26 AH, so on the day allegiance was pledged to him he was thirty-four years old. He confirmed his father's deputies (governors) in charge of the provinces and did not remove any of them. This was due to his cleverness (or political shrewdness).
Demanding the oath of allegiance from Imam al-Husayn (a)
We read in al-Tabaqat al-Kubrā, Vol 01, Page 442:
Yazīd sent a letter with 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr ibn Uways al-'Amirī, or 'Amir ibn Lu'aiy, to al-Walīd ibn 'Utbah ibn Abī Sufyan, who was [his governor] in Medina, stating, "Call the people together, and take their oaths of allegiance. Begin with the senior members of the Quraysh, and make sure to start first with al-Husayn ibn 'Alī.
We also read in Tarikh at-Tabari, Vol 05, Page 338:
When Yazīd assumed power, he had no immediate plan except to secure the oaths of alle-giance of those who had not responded to his father Mu'awiyah's call for allegiance to Yazīd. [Mu'awiyah had made a public demand for the people's allegiance, and their acceptance of Yazīd as his heir.]
In order to resolve the issue, Yazīd wrote to al-Walīd:
In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. From Yazid, the com-mander of the faithful, to al-Walid ibn 'Utbah. Now, indeed, Mu'awiyah was a servant from the servants of God. God had honoured him, given him authority, empowered him, and established him. He lived for a measure, and died when his time came, so, may God have mercy on him. He lived as a praiseworthy person and died a decent and God-fearing man. Peace.
He also wrote another letter on a scrap as small as a mouse's ear:
Now then... demand strongly from al-Husayn, 'Abd Allah ibn Umar, and 'Abd Allah ibn Zubayr, their oaths of allegiance. Be harsh with them, giving them no choice, until they do so. Peace.'
The consultation of al-Walīd with Marwān about taking the oath of allegiance from Imam al-Husayn (a)
We read in Tarikh al-tabari, vol. 5, p. 338:
When the news of the death of Mu'awiyah reached al-Walid ibn 'Utbah, it shocked him, and he became very uneasy. He sent for Marwan ibn al-Hakam to come and meet him.... When he read out the letter of Yazīd to him, Marwān said, "We are from God, and to Him we shall return. May God have mercy on him."
Then al-Walid asked his advice about the issue at hand, saying, "What is your opinion on how to proceed?"
Marwān replied, "I think we should send for these people immediately and demand their oaths of allegiance and obedience. If they do so, accept their word, and let them be. But, if they refuse, then seize them, and strike their necks before they find out about the death of Mu'awiyah. Indeed, if they learn about the death of Mu'awiyah, each of them will move away, stir opposition and discord, and claim authority for himself."
We read in Al-Malhuf, page 97:
Al-Walīd summoned Marwān ibn al-Hakam and asked for his advice in the matter of al-Husayn (a). Marwān said, "He will not accept, and if I was in your place, I would strike his neck [instead].” Al-Walīd replied, "I wish I was someone not worth mentioning [never born]." Then he sent for al-Husayn (a).
Imam al-Husayn (a) summoned by al-Walīd to give his oath of allegiance
Al-Walīd sent 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr ibn 'Uthman, who was a callow youth at the time, to find them and summon them. He found them both sitting in the mosque. When he came to them, it was at an hour when al-Walid did not meet with people, nor would they have gone to him at such a time. He said, "The governor summons you." They replied, "You go on, we are coming just now."
Then they turned to one another, and 'Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr asked al-Husayn (a), "Why do you think he has called for us at this strange hour, during which he does not meet people?"
Al-Husayn (a) replied, "I think that their tyrant [Mu'awiyah] has died, and he has summoned us to take our oaths of allegiance, before the news spreads among the people."
He ['Abd Allah] said, "I do not think any differently."
We read in Muthir al-Ahzān, page 23:
Al-Walīd sent for them. When his messenger arrived, al-Husayn (a) said to the people, "I think that their tyrant has perished. Last night, I saw in a dream that the pulpit of Mu'awiyah lay overturned, and his house was on fire." The messenger called them to go to al-Walīd.
The preparations of the Imam (a) before going to al-Walīd
We read in Tarikh al-tabari, Vol 05, Page 339:
Ibn al-Zubayr asked al-Husayn (a), "What do you intend to do?" He replied, "I shall gather my young men immediately, and then I will go to him. When I reach the door, I will leave them outside and enter alone."
He said, "I fear what he may do to you when you enter." He replied, "I would not go to him if I was not capable of rejecting his demand [the oath of allegiance]."
Al-Husayn (a) left and assembled his retainers (mawāli) and [the youth of] his household, and then walked with them until he came to the door of al-Walīd. He said to his companions, "I am going in. If I call out to you, or you hear his voice raised, then rush in to me altogether. Otherwise, do not leave until I come out to you."
We read in al-Bidayah wa al-Nihāyah, vol. 8, p. 147, quoting Abū Mikhnaf: Al-Husayn (a) rose and went to the house of the governor, taking his retainers with him. He sought permission to enter, and it was granted. He entered alone and instructed his men to sit outside the door.
He told them, "If you hear anything suspicious, then enter."
We also read in al-Manāqib of Ibn Shahr Āshūb, vol. 4, p. 88:
Al-Walid sent for them [al-Husayn (a), Ibn al-Zubayr, 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar, and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr] while they were next to the grave of the Prophet (s).
'Abd al-Rahman and Abd Allah [ibn 'Umar] both said, "We are going home and locking our doors." Ibn al-Zubayr said, "By God, I will never give Yazīd my oath of allegiance."
Al-Husayn ibn 'Alī (a) said, "I must go and see al-Walīd, and hear what he has to say." Then he instructed the members of his household who were with him, "When I go in to al-Walid, and we begin to con-verse and dispute with one another, remain outside the door. If you hear shouts or raised voices, then rush into the house, but do not kill anyone, or engage in conflict."
The meeting between the Imam (a) and al-Walīd about giving the oath of allegiance
We read in al-Irshad, vol. 2, p. 33:
Al-Husayn (a) went to al-Walīd and found Marwān ibn al-Hakam present there as well. Al-Walīd informed al-Husayn (a) of the death of Mu'awiyah, and the Imam (a) said, "We are from God, and to Him we shall return." Then he read out the letter of Yazīd and the instruction it contained about taking the oath of allegiance from al-Husayn (a) on his behalf.
Al-Husayn (a) said to him, "I do not think that you would be con-tent to take my oath of allegiance to Yazīd in private; rather, you would prefer me to do so publicly so that the people know about it."
Al-Walīd said, "Yes, indeed." Then, the Imam (a) said, "So sleep over it, and see what you decide about it."
Al-Walīd said, "Depart then, in the Name of God, and come back to me when the people have assembled."
Marwān interjected, "By God, if al-Husayn (a) leaves you at this moment without swearing allegiance, you will never have a similar opportunity again; not until many are killed in fighting between you and him. Restrain the man so that he cannot leave until he swears allegiance or you strike his neck!"
On hearing this, al-Husayn (a) rose up, and said, "Will you kill me, O son of the blue-eyed woman? You lie, by God, and you transgress."
Then he went out and walked away with his retainers until he reached his home.
The argument between Marwān and Imam al-Husayn (a) in the street
We read in al-Malhuf, p. 98:
In the morning, al-Husayn (a) came out of his house to hear the news. Marwān met him and said, "O Abā 'Abd Allāh! Truly, I am your well-wisher; listen to my advice so that you may be guided."
Al-Husayn (a) said, "And what is that? Speak, so that I may hear."
Marwān said, "Give your oath of allegiance to Yazīd, the command-er of the faithful, for it would be better for you in both this world and the next."
Al-Husayn exclaimed, "We are from God, and to Him is our return." If the nation is forced to accept the authority of a man like Yazīd, then we may as well bid farewell to Islam. Indeed, I heard my grandfather, the Messenger of God (s), say, 'The caliphate is unlawful for the fam-ily of Abū Sufyan."
The conversation between him and Marwān went on for some time, until Marwān walked off, furious."