This Q&A discusses the character and actions of Al-Hurr ibn Yazid Al-Riyahi during the events of Ashura, highlighting his transformation and the respect he showed towards Imam Hussein.
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Peace be upon you.
What happened to Al-Hurr ibn Yazid Al-Riyahi (may Allah be pleased with him) on the day of Ashura was not a spontaneous event; rather, it was a result of the blessings that preceded the tenth of Muharram. Observing the life of this great man reveals that he had noble roots in his character, which could develop and elevate him to a state of happiness at the end of his life, allowing Allah to grant him a blessed conclusion that others would envy.
Here are some recorded stances of Al-Hurr ibn Yazid:
First Stance: When Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) asked him: (May your mother mourn you, what do you want?) Al-Hurr replied: (If someone other than you from the Arabs said this to me while you are in your current state, I would not have left the mention of his mother without a response, but by Allah! I have no way to mention your mother except in the best manner possible).
This respect and reverence for the Lady of the Women of the Worlds was a clear indication of his noble roots.
Second Stance: His position with Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) on the way. Despite coming with a large army to prevent the Imam from returning, when it was time for prayer, he did not forget to pray. In fact, he chose to pray behind the Imam (peace be upon him) in congregation instead of praying alone with his army!
Imam Hussein, in part of his sermon, said: “I did not come to you until your letters reached me asking me to come to you, hoping that Allah would unite us with guidance and truth. If you are on that, I have come to you; if you are averse to my coming, I will return to the place from which I came.” They remained silent, and he told the caller: “Establish the prayer.” He established the prayer and asked Al-Hurr: “Do you want to pray with your companions?” Al-Hurr replied: “No, rather you pray, and we will pray with your prayer.” So, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) prayed with them.
Third Stance: Al-Hurr was not ordered to fight Imam Hussein; rather, he was commanded not to part from him and to bring him and his companions to Ibn Ziyad. Sheikh Al-Mufid and others have indicated this meaning, stating: “The people came with about a thousand horsemen with Al-Hurr ibn Yazid Al-Tamimi until he and his cavalry stood opposite Imam Hussein (peace be upon him)... Al-Hurr remained aligned with Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) until the time for the noon prayer arrived.” There is even a statement from Al-Hurr himself indicating this, where he said: “I was not commanded to fight you; rather, I was ordered not to part from you until I bring you to Kufa.”
Moreover, it appears from the texts that Al-Hurr was reluctant to fight Imam Hussein, as he tried to devise a solution that would save him from any conflict with the Imam on one side and with Ibn Ziyad on the other. In a conversation between them, Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) asked Al-Hurr: “What do you want?” Al-Hurr replied: “I want to take you to the prince Ibn Ziyad.” The Imam said: “Then by Allah, I will not follow you.” Al-Hurr responded: “Then by Allah, I will not leave you.” They exchanged words three times, and when the conversation grew lengthy, Al-Hurr said: “I was not commanded to fight you; rather, I was ordered not to part from you until I bring you to Kufa. If you refuse, take a route that does not lead you to Kufa nor return you to Medina, and let there be a truce between us until I write to Ibn Ziyad, and you write to Yazid if you wish, or to Ibn Ziyad if you wish, perhaps Allah will bring about a matter that grants me safety from being tested with anything regarding you.”
Fourth Stance: Ibn Ziyad had placed a spy on Al-Hurr to monitor his execution of orders, and Al-Hurr informed the Imam of this himself. This indicates that he was reluctant to carry out Ibn Ziyad's orders, and had it not been for the presence of the spy, he would not have proceeded with them: “Ibn Ziyad sent Malik ibn Al-Nasr Al-Kindi, who gave Al-Hurr a letter from Ibn Ziyad, which stated: ‘After this, make a stand against Hussein when my letter reaches you and my messenger arrives, and do not allow him to descend except in an open area without a fortress and without water. I have commanded my messenger to remain with you and not to leave you until he brings me news of your execution of my order. Peace.’ When he read the letter, he brought it to Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) along with the messenger and said: ‘This is the letter of the prince commanding me to make you stand in the place where his letter reaches me, and this is his messenger who has been ordered not to leave me until I execute his opinion and command.’ He forced them to descend in that place.
Fifth Stance: Al-Hurr's attempt with Umar ibn Sa'ad to dissuade him from fighting Hussein:
Al-Hurr said to Umar ibn Sa'ad: “May Allah rectify you! Are you going to fight this man?”
Umar replied: “Indeed, by Allah, it will be a battle where heads will fall and hands will be severed.”
Al-Hurr asked: “Then why do you not accept what he has offered you?”
Umar replied: “By Allah, if it were up to me, I would have done it, but your commander has refused.”
Sixth Stance: The state that overcame Al-Hurr when he saw Al-Muhajir ibn Aws approaching Imam Hussein little by little. Al-Muhajir asked him: “What do you want, O son of Yazid? Do you want to charge?” He did not respond, and he was seized by a tremor, as if he were trembling from fear or fever. At this moment, Al-Hurr had made his decision to support Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), yet he was shaken by the thought of being among those who would charge against the camp of Imam Hussein.
Seventh Stance: Al-Hurr's apology to Imam Hussein and his expression of ignorance regarding the intentions of the people, as well as his solidarity with the Imam:
Al-Muhajir said to him: “Your matter is suspicious! I have never seen you in a position like the one I see you in now. If I were asked who is the bravest of the people of Kufa, I would not exclude you. What is this that I see from you?”
Al-Hurr replied: “By Allah, I am choosing between Paradise and Hell, and by Allah, I will not choose anything over Paradise, even if I am cut and burned.” Then he urged his horse towards Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), placing his hand on his head and saying: “O Allah, I turn to You, so accept my repentance, for I have terrified the hearts of Your allies and the children of Your Prophet’s daughter.” When he approached them, he turned his shield around and they said: “He is seeking safety.” When he recognized them, he greeted Hussein and said: “May Allah make me your ransom, O son of the Messenger of Allah! I am the one who prevented you from returning and accompanied you on the way and forced you to stop in this place! By the One who has no god but Him, I never thought that the people would reject what you offered them. By Allah, if I had thought they would not accept it from you, I would not have ridden against you. I have come to you repentant for what I did, and I wish to die in your presence. Do you see any way for me to repent?”
The Imam (peace be upon him) replied: “Yes! Allah will accept your repentance and forgive you, so dismount.”
In conclusion, supporting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) is a virtue unmatched by any other. Assisting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) at a time when supporters were few, friends had abandoned him, and enemies rejoiced, while the family of the Prophet was surrounded on all sides in the narrow land of Karbala, where they were besieged without water, weapons, or allies, is one of the greatest acts of devotion and obedience. Thus, Al-Hurr earned that great honor throughout the ages (As for me, I do not know of companions more loyal or better than my companions).
May you be successful in all good.
Source:
Siraaj Network on the Path to Allah.
Al-Muneer Network - The Decisive Speech - Episode 11.
Wiki Shia.
Najaf Ashraf Network.