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THE ATROCITIES OF BuSR BIN ARTA’AH

Yemen was under Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) but there was a sizeable number of fans of `Uthman as well. Although they had entered into the bay`ah of the Imam (a.s) their hearts were elsewhere! Their attitude with the governor of Yemen, `Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas too was inimical. When Muhammad ibn Abi-Bakr was killed in Egypt, and the guerilla attacks on the Iraqi territory by the Syrians continued at regular intervals, the inimical element in Yemen too started their act. They started instigating people to claim the retaliation for the blood of `Uthman. When `Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas knew about this intrigue, he called some important persons and told them what he was hearing about them. They said what he had heard was right. They said that from the very beginning they thought that the killing of `Uthman was a calamity and that those who had killed him, and those who created the circumstances for the killing, must be punished.

When `Ubaydullah felt that the intrigue was rising in the province, he put those persons under house arrest. They sent messages to the army men who subscribed to their thinking to create a revolt in their ranks and remove the chief, Sa`id ibn Nimran. Therefore, they revolted and snatched away the command from him. The army was totally demoralized and splinter groups were formed. Since the martial strength was affected, the civilian unrest started raising its head. Those who were quiet until then started airing their views openly. And even those who did not subscribe to their views, joined with them to avoid paying the zakat and the tribute.

`Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas, Sa`id ibn Nimran and important Shi`ah met to decide the strategy to face the situation. They decided to inform about the situation to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) in detail and act on his advice. They thought that if they themselves started hostilities with the fans of `Uthman they did not know what will be the consequences. Therefore, the details were communicated to the Imam (a.s). When he read their report, folds appeared on his forehead. He wrote to `Ubaydullah and Sa`id, “Whatever has happened is because of your poor politics! Otherwise they were not important enough to be given any importance! Neither they are more in numbers nor do they have any power.

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You must talk and convince them to be the men of piety. If they come back to the Right Path, we shall thank Allah! If they want to fight, we shall be ready to fight as well!”

The Imam (a.s) simultaneously sent a letter to the fans of `Uthman of Yemen with a person from the tribe of Hamdan, “I have been informed of your rebellion and headstrong attitude! Abstain from rebellion and go back to the peace of your homes! If you hesitate in doing this, an army is coming to teach you a suitable lesson and crush you.” But those people remained adamant. When the courier found them reticent, he told them that the Imam (a.s) readied an army under Yazid ibn Qays al-Arhabi which is waiting for me to inform about your reaction. If you do not change your attitude, the troops will rush for Yemen. When they understood that this was not just a threat, they said that if `Ubaydullah and Sa`id were removed from there, midst they will become obedient to the Imam (a.s). This was their trick to save time. They would not have remained content only with the change of the functionaries. They had already sent a message to Mu`awiyah asking him to send out a contingent to deal with the Shi`ah of Yemen. They promised to cooperate with the army in its operations.

Mu`awiyah, who was carrying on his guerilla operations on various towns of Iraq, could not have kept quiet at this initiative of the Yemenis. He immediately called Busr ibn Arta’ah, who was a tyrant of much ferocity, and sent him with a contingent of 3,000 troops to proceed to Yemen via al-Madinah and Makkah. He had instructions that whichever place he passed through, he should force the people to owe allegiance to Mu`awiyah. Those of the Shi`ah of `Ali (a.s) who refuse his call must be executed forthwith and plunder their homes and hearths. Therefore, commanding the contingent he started for al-Madinah. On the way, wherever he came across a source of water, he confiscated the camels of the people who were there to water their animals. When he reached near al-Madinah terrorizing and looting the people enroute, the tribe of Banū-Khuza`ah welcomed him and slaughtered camels to feed his contingent. When he entered the environs of al-Madinah, Abū-Ayyūb al-Ansari, the governor went out of the city awed by seeing the huge contingent of troops and escaped towards al-Kūfah. There was none there to resist him. Busr went straight to the mosque and threatened the people who assembled there. He frightened them so much that they thought that death would come to them any moment. Some people asked Huwaytib ibn `Abd al-`Uzza, in whose house Busr’s mother lived, to do something to save them. He told Busr, “These people are the companions of the Prophet (a.s). They are

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neither the killers of `Uthman nor did they have anything to do with the conspiracy of killing him! Leave them alone!” Busr did not agree. When they agreed to enter the bay`ah of Mu`awiyah, he allowed them to go home. But those on whom he had doubt that they would not owe allegiance to Mu`awiyah, he got their homes burned down. These were the homes of Abū-Ayyūb al-Ansari, `Abdullah ibn Sa`d, Rafa`ah ibn Rafi` al-Azraqi and Zurarah ibn Harūn.

At the arrival of Busr, many people abandoned their homes and fled. Among them was Jabir ibn `Abdullah al-Ansari who left his home and took shelter elsewhere. When Busr did not see Jabir, he told a branch of Banū-Salamah that if they did not produce Jabir in front of him, the safety of their lives and property could not be guaranteed. When Jabir learned that the lives of the people of his tribe were in jeopardy, he went in the darkness of the night to Umm al-Mu’minin Ummu-Salamah and told her, “I have come to you to take your advice! What should I do in these circumstances? “She said, “For you there is no other alternative than owing allegiance to Mu`awiyah and saving the lives of your men and your own! Although this bay`ah is sheer deviation, I have also advised my son `Umar ibn Abi-Salamah and my son-in-law `Abdullah ibn Zum`ah to save themselves by entering into it” Therefore Jabir very unwillingly went to Busr and entered into the bay`ah of Mu`awiyah.

All the days that Busr was in al-Madinah the clouds of terror and fear were hovering over the place and people were forced to owe their allegiance to the tyrannical force of Busr! Busr spared their lives and said, “O people of al-Madinah! You did not deserve that even a single person here should be allowed to live because in front of your eyes `Uthman was killed and you did not do anything to help him. Although I am forgiving you in this world, I hope that you will be deprived of Allah’s Blessings in the Hereafter! I am appointing Abū-Hurayrah as the governor of al-Madinah on behalf of the government of Syria. Beware! Do not act against his orders!” Then he proceeded towards Makkah. When he reached near Makkah, spreading terror at all the places on the way, the governor of Makkah, Qathm ibn `Abbas quietly left the city. Most of the inhabitants of Makkah had left the place. Among these people was Abū-Mūsa al-Ash`ari as well. When Busr heard that even Abū-Mūsa had run away because of fear, he said that at least he should not have any fear! One who had deposed `Ali (a.s) despite being his own nominee, he cannot be killed! Busr threatened and frightened the people of Makkah and addressed them thus, “We thank Allah that He has given us control and authority! Our enemies have been shamed by Him! Look at Ibn

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Abi-Talib! He is sitting in an insignificant corner of Iraq! The areas of his own realm are shrinking for him! Allah has given retribution for his sins! His companions too are abandoning him! Today, the leader of the Muslims is Mu`awiyah who is the successor of `Uthman and the standard-bearer for claiming the qisas for his blood! There do bay`ah with him and do not put your lives in jeopardy by turning away from him!”

The people were already in fear and confusion. Seeing the bloodied swords they agreed to owe their allegiance to Mu`awiyah. After the bay`ah he appointed Shaybah ibn `Uthman as the governor of Makkah. Now Busr moved towards Ta’if.

When Busr went some distance, he sent one Qarashi to Nabbalah saying that there were many Shi`ah there and he must kill them one by one. The man went there and made them captive. They said that they were from his own place and tribe. They wanted some respite to send a person to Busr to request him for amnesty. If he gave us amnesty in writing, it would be fine. Otherwise, you will be free to kill us. The man gave permission and Munih al-Bahili went to Ta’if where Busr was waiting for the return of the Qarashi. Munih made the request for amnesty with Busr. Some important persons of Ta’if too supported him. He agreed to give amnesty because of their recommendation but was hesitant to write down his approval. When he thought that his man must have already killed all the other persons in al-Nabbalah, he wrote the order and gave to Munih. When he went to the house of the woman where he was staying, he found that she was not there. He did not want to delay his departure anymore and, instead of the saddle he put a sheet of cloth on the back of the camel and started for his place, al-Nabbalah. There the people were losing hope of his returning in time to save their lives. The Qarashi and his men had already brought the persons to the ground for the execution.

In fact, the sword was used on the neck of one person, but it had broken. They talked with one another that to make the swords work they must be swung around. When Munih reached al-Nabbalah after spending one day and one night on camel back, he saw the swords shining from a distance. He thought that some fighting was going on. He speeded up his camel and waved his white shawl to indicate that he was coming. The person on whose neck the sword was about to fall was Munih’s own brother. He rushed and gave the letter to the Qarashi and their lives were saved just in time.

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Busr left al-Ta’if and went towards the habitations of Banū-Kinanah where two young sons of `Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas, Qathm and `Abd al-Rahman and their mother, Ummu-Hakim Hūriyyah bint Kurayz al-Kinaniyyah were living. Busr sent his men to bring the children for killing them. `Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas had left the children in the care of al-Kinani. When he saw that Busr wanted to kill them, his conscience would not allow him to see the children, who were in his care, getting killed before his eyes. He took out his sword and was ready to kill or to be killed. Busr said that they had nothing to do with neither him nor any need for them to kill him. He asked him to keep away and leave the children alone. He said that the duty of guardianship is more precious than his own life. Saying this he attacked the enemies and died fighting valiantly. Busr searched Qathm and `Abd al-Rahman and killed them with great barbarity. When the women of Banū-Kinanah heard this, they came out of their homes. One lady said, “Until this day men were seen executed. Even during the days of ignorance children were never executed! This tyrannical rule will not exist for long which is based on cruelty and barbarity! A rule in which there is no consideration even for small children and old persons!” Busr said, “By Allah! I wish to kill all these women with my sword!” The woman said, “Allah knows! If you do that the pain of our hearts would be relieved!” when Ummu-Hakim saw her children immersed in dust and their own blood, she was disconsolate with sorrow. She went round as if she was searching for her little children. During the days of Hajj thereafter she used to make the pilgrims cry with her couplets full of pathos!

When Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) heard of the sad ending of those children, he was very sad and cursed Busr in these words:

“O Allah! Snatch away the Faith and wisdom from him!”[1]

And really it did happen like that! A time came when he lost his mental capacities. But even in this lunacy he used to utter the word, “Sword! Sword”. In the end, he was given a sword made out of wood and a sheepskin filled with air was placed in front of him to hit with his wooden sword! He used thus to quench his thirst for tyranny until he died.

Coming back to the narrative, Busr reached Najran killing and maiming people along the way. In Najran he killed `Abdullah ibn `Abd al-Mudan al-Harithi and his son Malik. After troubling and torturing the people of Najran, he went to Arhab and killed Abū-Karb who was an ardent Shi`ah of `Ali (a.s) and a chief of the tribe of Hamdan. Then Busr proceeded to San`a’, the capital

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of Yemen. `Amr ibn Arakah al-Thaqafi, who was the deputy of `Ubaydullah ibn `Abbas in his absence, valiantly fought with the men of Busr with the remnants of his troops and was martyred in the process. Busr entered the city and ordered general massacre and killed hundreds of innocent persons. During this whirlwind tour Busr destroyed complete towns, looted materials and indulged in wholesale arson. Thirty thousand Muslims were the victims of his unparalleled barbarity.

Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) asked the people of al-Kūfah to give a befitting reply to the atrocities of Busr. But they exhibited their disinterest and avoided pursuing the enemy. After repeated proddings by the Imam (a.s), Abū-Buradah ibn `Awf al-Azdi said, “If you go commanding the troops, we are ready to go!” The Imam (a.s) said, “Your suggestion is not proper! It is not good that I leave the head quarters and keep chasing a marauder and brigand all over the realm!” Jariyah ibn Qudamah al-Sa`idi said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin! I am ready to go in the pursuit of the enemy!” The Imam (a.s) said, “You take a contingent of two thousand troops from al-Basrah and chase him in Hijaz and then up to Yemen and give him punitive punishment!” Wahab ibn Mas`ūd al-Thaqafi said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s)! I shall take a contingent of two thousand men from al-Kūfah to teach a lesson to the enemy! “The Imam (a.s) gave him the permission as well. Both of them started on the campaign. After they went, the other persons felt that they did not respond to the call of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s). Therefore, some important persons came to the presence of the Imam (a.s) and said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s)! We are really sorry that we tried to avoid fighting with the enemy! It is the result of our shortcomings and lethargy that the enemy could take courage in his hands to attack our territory. Order us! We shall prepare an army and chase the enemy and finish him!”

The Imam (a.s) said, “I have sent a person who will not return without chasing the enemy out of the borders of the realm! However, you must prepare for a result-oriented war instead of these chases! That will totally eliminate the repeated incursions by the enemy! Rise and prepare to fight with Mu`awiyah ibn Abi-Sufyan and finish that mischief for all time! “Sa`id ibn Qays al-Hamdani said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s)! We are in your service and my tribe shall always be at your beck and call! We can fight with the enemy within our borders and away from our realm! We shall shatter the idols of ignorance and treachery!” The Imam (a.s) said, “May Allah bless you! What you have said is very correct!”

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Then Ziyad ibn Khasfah too assured of his whole-hearted cooperation. Seeing the sangfroid of the people of al-Kūfah, the Imam (a.s) ordered Ma`qil ibn Qays to arrange for men and materials of war. Then he addressed in a general gathering of the people of al-Kūfah in this manner, “O People of al-Kūfah! I am mobilizing troops to fight with the Syrians. Those of you who want to do jihad in the way of Allah should report to join the contingent.” The people of al-Kūfah sharpened their swords and getting together other arms joined the army in large numbers. The number of troops rose to 40,000 men. On a contingent of 10,000 men the Imam (a.s) appointed his son Husayn (a.s). Another 10,000 troops were put under the command of Qays ibn Sa`d, and 10,000 under Abū-Ayyūb al-Ansari. In this manner different contingents were under the command of different persons.

The Imam (a.s) wanted to move with this army on the campaign to Siffin after a week. But a Khariji, Ibn Muljim al-Muradi struck the head of the Imam (a.s) with such ferocity that he was martyred. With this great calamity the conditions in the realm became very uncertain. The rebellious ruler of Syria got the opportunity to play his treacherous tricks. The contingents got together so meticulously were disbursed over night. At the crucial time when arrangements had been made to crush the tyrannical enemy, the accursed Khariji turned everything upside down! On the other side Jariyah ibn Qudamah reached Yemen with his regiment. When the fans of `Uthman of Yemen knew of this, they went into the hills to hide themselves. But Jariyah’s men chased and surrounded them. Some of them were killed.

Jariyah inquired about Busr and he was told that he had gone towards the habitations of Banū-taym. Jariyah chased him. The tyrants are generally cowards. When he learned that the Iraqi army was in his pursuit, he went towards Yamamah. He ran away even from there, running from place to place to make the Iraqis miss his trail. People were aware of his cruelties. Wherever he went, people used to attack him and Banū-Tamim even looted some of his goods. Jariyah chased him until Haras and the tired contingent rested there for a month. Then they went to Makkah.

Jariyah asked the people of Makkah if they had owed their allegiance to Mu`awiyah. They said that they did the bay`ah but they did not have any other choice. Jariyah asked them to renew their bay`ah with the Imam (a.s). They asked, “Whose bay`ah? Amir al-Mu’minin is no more in the world!” He said, “You must owe your bay`ah to the person to whom the Companions of `Ali (a.s) have owed their allegiance.” Therefore the people of Makkah pledged their bay`ah to Imam al-Hasan (a.s) and Jariyah proceeded towards

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al-Madinah. There Abū-Hurayrah had started to lead the congregations of prayers. When he heard of the arrival of Jariyah he went underground. When Jariyah heard about this, he said:

“By Allah! If Abū-Hurayrah was caught by me, I would have cut away his head!”[1]

Then he told the people of al-Madinah to owe their allegiance to Imam al-Hasan (a.s). All the people did the bay`ah and Jariyah proceeded towards al-Kūfah. Busr saved his life and reached Damascus and sought encomiums from Mu`awiyah for his dark deeds.

Mu`awiyah ibn Abi-Sufyan wanted to extend his sway as far and wide as possible. For this purpose he was attacking the areas under Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) and used tyrants like al-Dahhak al-Fahri and Busr ibn Arta’ah for this nefarious purpose. The gangs of Syrians played havoc on the unarmed, innocent civilians for no fault of theirs. Although this nefarious activity was carried out under the excuse of claiming retaliation for the blood of `Uthman, the real purpose was to extend the tyrannical sway of Mu`awiyah. To achieve this, they rendered buildings into ruins, obliterated habitation after habitation from existence and the survivors had to fly to safer places.

The sanctity of Makkah and al-Madinah was compromised by spreading fear psychosis in those holy places. Although Makkah is the place where there is no justification for disturbing the peace or of causing death or injury to any person! The Prophet of Islam (a.s) by declaring general amnesty at the time of conquest of Makkah had forgiven the worst of offenders of peace and had said:

“One who has Faith in Allah and the Hereafter, for him it is not legitimate to shed blood and cut trees in Makkah!”[2]

Similarly, al-Madinah too is sacrosanct and spreading terror there and torturing the residents there are foul acts. Therefore, the Prophet (a.s) has said:

“One who frightens the people of al-Madinah as an act of cruelty; on him there will be the curse of Allah, His angels and the entire humankind! Allah will neither accept the mandatory prayers nor the optional of such a person!”[3]