WHO WAS YAZID?

Ibn Kathir's comments on Yazeed


Yet Ibn Kathir himself writes in Bidayah: "Traditions inform us that Yazeed loved worldly vices, would drink, listen to kept the company of boys with no facial hair [civil expression for paedophilia boys, a form of homosexuality], played drums, kept dogs [civil expression for bestiality], not a day would go by when he was not in a drunken state".






Ibn Atheer's comments on Yazeed


In Tareekh al Kamil Volume 3 page 450 Ibn Atheer narrates from Munzir bin Zabeer: "Verily Yazeed rewarded me with 100,000 dirhams but this cannot stop me from highlighting his state, By Allah he is a drunkard…"










Ibn Atheer's comments on Yazeed


In "Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala" Volume 4 pages 37-38, Dhahabi narrates: "Ziyad Hurshee narrates 'Yazeed gave me alcohol to drink, I had never drunk alcohol like that before and I enquired where he had obtained its ingredients'. Yazeed replied 'it is made of sweet pomegranate, honey from Isfahan, sugar from Hawaz and grapes from Burdah…Yazeed indulged in alcohol and would participate in actions that opposed the dictates set by Allah (swt)".






Ibn Jauzi's comments on Yazeed 'the drunkard'


Ibn Jauzi in Wafa al-Wafa: "Yazeed appointed his cousin Uthman bin Muhammad bin Abu Sufyan as Governor of Madina. He sent a delegation to visit Yazeed who bore gifts so that they might take the oath of allegiance to him. Upon their return they said 'We have returned having visited a man who has no religion, he drinks, plays instruments, keeps the company of singers and dogs [civil word for bestiality], we declare that we have broken our allegiance to him. Abdullah bin Abi Umro bin Hafs Mukhzumee commented 'Yazeed gave me gifts. But the reality is this man is an enemy of Allah (swt) and a drunkard. I shall separate myself from him in the same way that I remove my turban [from my head]…."






Ibn Hajr's comments on Yazeed


In Sawaiqh al Muhriqa: "One group have deemed Yazeed to be a kaafir, another has stated he was a Muslim but a fasiq (transgressor), a fajir (one that commits debauchery) and a drunkard. There is consensus over his fisq (transgression). One party of Ulema have stated that you can curse him by name, this includes individuals such as Ibn Jauzi and Ahmad. One group made up of individuals such as Ibn Jauzi deem Yazeed a kaafir, others say he was not a kaafir but rather this is a matter that has caused a difference of opinion.


The majority of Ahl'ul Sunnah all agree that he was a fasiq (transgressor), a fajir (one that commits debauchery) and a drunkard. Waqidi had recorded a narration 'Verily we opposed Yazeed fearing Allah (swt) would reign stones down on us, Yazeed considered nikah (marriage) with mothers and sisters to be permissible and drank alcohol".


"Dhahabi narrates that when Abdullah bin Kuzai returned from Damascus he stated that Yazeed performs zina with his mother, sister and daughters. We had better start a movement to oppose Yazeed otherwise stones may reign down on us"






This is one reason why Ibn Hajar al Makki calls Yazeed one of the most debased men in history.










A Sahaba's testimony that Yazeed was an incestuous drunkard


In Isaba we read: "The Sahaba Maqil stated that 'Yazeed drank alcohol, committed zina with his mahram relatives, infact he performed every type of bad action"


Al Muhaddith Shah Abdul Aziz's comments on Yazeed


In Sirush Shahadhathayn, Shah Abdul Aziz states: "Imam Husayn did not give bayya to Yazeed because he was a drunkard, a fasiq and Dhaalim".






Ibn Taymeeya's condemnation of unjust Yazeed


Ibn Taymeeya in Minhajj: "Yazeed had the sword and hence he had the power to deal with anyone that opposed him. He had the power to reward his subjects with the contents of the treasury, and could also withhold their rights. He had the power to punish criminals; it is in this context that we can understand that he was the khalifah and king. Issues such as Yazeed's piety or lack of it, or his honesty or lack of it, is another matter. In all of his actions Yazeed was not just, there is no dispute amongst the people of Islam on this matter".






Yazeed's rule was dogged by alcoholism and transgression


We read in Muruj al Dhahab: "Due to his hatred of Allah (swt) Yazeed openly drank alcohol. In his deeds he followed the Seerah of Pharoah, but Pharoah was more just to his own subjects."






Ibn Khaldun states: "Yazeed's time of governance can be seen as fisq and debauchery, and the blame is on Mu'awiya who should have controlled him".






We read in Tareekh Kamil: "The narrator states 'By Allah, Yazeed drinks alcohol and abandons Salat"






We read in Tareekh Abul Fida: "Yazeed played the tambourine, drank alcohol and raised bears [civil expression for bestiality]".






Hayaath al Haywaan states: "Yazeed would hunt with cheetas, play chess and drink alcohol".










People opposed Yazeed due to his atrocious deeds


We read in Tareekh Khamees: "The people of Medina broke the bayya to Yazeed on account of his bad acts, he used to drink alcohol"










Qadi Thanaullah's comments on Yazeed's kufr poetry


We read in Tafseer Mazhari: "Yazeed deemed drinking alcohol to be Halaal, and he recited these couplets 'if the Deen of Ahmad deems alcohol to be haraam…"










Any narrations by Yazeed are to be rejected


In Ahsan aur Meezan: "Yazeed was a fasiq, faajir, we cannot rely on his narrations"






Yazeed was such a fasiq that not a single hadith of his can be accepted, when this is the case then his khilafat cannot be accepted either.


Shariat Mukhammad Majid 'Ali Shakir stated in Badh Shariat:






"Some say 'Why should we discuss such a thing since he [Yazeed] was a King and he [Husayn] was also a King' - one who makes such comments {refusing to hold opinion on Yazeed and Husayn (as)] is accursed, a Kharijee, Nasibi and hell bound. The dispute is over whether he [Yazeed] was a kaafir. The madhab of Abu Hanifa stipulates that he was a fasiq and fajir, nor was he a kaafir nor a Muslim".










Yazeed's attack on Harra


We read in 'au khanar al masalik' that Shaykh al hadith Muhammad Zakaria stated:






"The army that Yazeed had sent to Medina comprised of 60,000 horsemen and 15,000 foot soldiers. For three days they shed blood freely, 1000 women were raped and 700 named Quraysh and Ansar were killed. Ten thousand women and children were made slaves. Muslim bin Uqba forced people to give bayya to Yazeed in such a manner that people were enslaved and Yazeed could sell them as he pleased, no






Sahaba who were [with the Prophet (saws)] at Hudaibiya were spared".






Ibn Katheer in al Bidayah Volume 8 page 222 stated: "Muslim was ordered to ransack Medina for three days. Yazeed committed a major sin. Sahaba and their children were slaughtered openly; other heinous acts were also perpetuated. We have already mentioned that he had Ibn Ziyad kill the grandson of Rasulullah (s) Husayn and his companions. In those three days in Madina, it is difficult to mention the type of acts that were carried out. By doing this act Yazeed wanted to secure his governance, in the same way Allah (swt) broke the neck of every Pharoah, the true King (swt) also broke the neck of Yazeed".






One who attacks Medina is cursed


We read in al Bidaya Volume 8 page 223


"Rasulullah (s) said whoever perpetuated injustice and frightened the residents of Medina, the curse (la'nat) of Allah (swt), His Angels and all people is on such a person"


Yazeed used to copulate with his mother and sisters


We read in Tabaqat: "Abdullah bin Hanzala the Sahaba stated 'By Allah we opposed Yazeed at the point when we feared that stones would reign down on us from the skies. He was a fasiq who copulated with his mother, sister and daughters, who drank alcohol and did not offer Salat"


Other sources:


1. Tabaqath al Kabeera Volume 5 page 66 Dhikr Abdullah bin Hanzala and Volume 4 page 283


2. Tareekh ul Khulafa page 209 Dhikr Yazeed


3. Sawqih al Muhriqa page 132 Dhikr Yazeed


4. Mustadrak al Hakim Volume page 522


5. Al Isaba Volume 3 page 469


6. Ya Nabi al Mawaddath page 326


7. Tareekh Ibn Asakir Volume 7 page 275


8. Fatawi Abdul Hai page 79


9. Tareekh al Islam Volume 2 page 356


10. Al Masalaik Sharh Muwatta Imam Malik page 435


Yazeeds rejection of the Qur'an


Citing Tadhkira, Maqathil and Shazarath al Dhabah.


This is also found in the Arabic (non-Leiden) version of the History of Al-Tabari:






When the head of Husayn (a.s.), the grandson of the Holy prophet (saws), was presented before Yazeed he recited the couplets of the kaafir Zubayri: "Banu Hashim staged a play for Kingdom there was no news from the skies nether was there any revelation"






In Tafseer Ruh al Maani it is stated clearly:


"Allamah Alusi stated, Yazeed the impure denied the Prophethood of Rasulullah (s). The treatment that he meted out to the people of Makka, Medina and the family of the Prophet proves that he was a kaafir".






Point references:


1. Al Bidayah wa al Nihayah Volume 8 page 204 Dhikr Ras al Husayn


2. Minhajj al Sunnah Volume 2 page 249 Dkikr Yazeed


3. Sharh Foqh Akbar page 73 Dhikr Yazeed


4. Sharh Tafseer Mazhari Volume 5 page 21 Surah Ibrahim


5. Shazrah al Dhahab page 69 Dhikr Shahadth Husayn


6. Maqatahil Husayn Volume 2 page 58 Dhikr Shahdath Husayn


7. Tadhkira Khawwas page 148


8. Tareekh Tabari Volume 11 pages 21-23 Dhikr 284 Hijri


9. Tafseer Ruh al Ma'ani (commentary of Surah Muhammad)


Ibn Kathir in al Bidaya wa al Nihaya Volume 8 page 231 narrates this hadith on the authority of


Abu Ubaydah: "My Ummah shall be ruled with justice, until the first individual that shall destroy it, he shall from the Banu Ummaya, his name will be Yazeed".






We read in Izalath ul Khifa:


"The khalifah should be a man and should be adil. By 'just' we mean he should refrain from major sins and should not repeat minor sins. He should also be a mujtahid".






We read in Sharh Muqassad:


"The Imam over the Ummah should possess these merits - have sense, be Muslim, be just, free, a man, a mujtahid, and brave"






We read in Sharh Muwaffaq


"It is incumbent on the imam / Khalifah to be adil, he should not be zaalim, since a fasiq deems the treasury to be his personal wealth, and will waste money".


1. Izalathul Khifa page 20 Dhikr Sharth Imamate


2. Sharh Muwaffaq page 731 Muqassad Saneeh


3. Sharh Muqassad Volume 2 page 271 Fadail Imama


4. Al Ahkam al Sultaneeya page 8 by Al Mawardi


5. Ahkam al Sultaneeya page 9 by Qadi Abu Yala


6. Taufa Ithna Ashari page 178 Bab 7 Imamate aqeedah


We read in al Bidaya that Uqbah bin Subhan narrates: "I accompanied Husayn from Makka until the time that he was killed. I heard all of his speeches and at no point did he state 'Take me to Yazeed so that I can give him bayya"


Allamah Shibli in his book Zeyneb page 156 are also worthy of note: "Husayn said 'I am from the Ahl'ul bayt of the Prophet. Yazeed is not worthy of receiving my bayya'"






1. Tareekh Kamil Volume 4 page 48 Imam Husayn


2. Al Bidayah Volume 8 page 175


3. Tareekh Tabari page 314


4. Tadkhira Khawwas page 141


Yazeed's own admission that he killed the family of the Prophet (sawas)


We read in Sharh Fiqh Akbar: "Following the murder of Husayn, Yazeed said 'I avenged the killing of my kaafir relatives in Badr through killing the family of the Prophet".










The testimony of Shah Abdul Aziz that Yazeed killed Imam Hussain [a.s.]


We read in Taufa


"Upon the orders of Yazeed the disgraceful people from Syria and Iraq killed Imam Husayn".










Yazeed ordered his Governor Waleed kill Imam Hussain (a.s.)


We read in Maqathil Husayn: "Yazeed wrote a letter to Waleed the Governor of Medina, in which he stated 'Force Husayn to give bayya. Should he refuse then strike off his head and return it to me.'






Yazeed wrote to Ibn Ziyad telling him to kill Imam Hussain (a.s.)


We read in Mutaalib al Saul that: "Ibn Ziyad wrote to Husayn 'I have received information that you have arrived in Kerbala, and Yazeed has told me not to kill you, provided you accept his authority and mine.'"






Ibn Ziyad's own admission that he killed Imam Husayn on the orders of Yazeed


We read in al Bidayah: "When Yazeed wrote to Ibn Ziyad ordering him to fight Ibn Zubayr in Makka, he said 'I can't obey this fasiq. I killed the grandson of Rasulullah (sawas) upon his orders, I'm not now going to assault the Kaaba'.


Testimony of Ibn Abbas that Yazeed killed Imam Hussain (a.s.)


We read in Tareekh Kamil: Ibn Abbas replied to a letter of Yazeed stating 'You killed Husayn ibn 'Ali as well as the youth from Banu Abdul Muttalib, who were beacons of guidance."


Point 24 The testimony of Abdullah Ibn Umar that Yazeed killed Imam Hussain (a.s.)


We read in Maqathil al Husayn: "Ibn Umar wrote to Yazeed, 'Hasn't your heart gone black yet? You murdered the family of the Prophet?'










The testimony of Shah Abdul Haqq that Yazeed killed Imam Hussain (a.s.)


We read in Ashiath al Lamaath: "It is unusual that some say Yazeed did not kill Husayn when he instructed Ibn Ziyad to carry out the killing".


Yazeed's pride at killing Imam Hussain (a.s.)


We read in al Bidayah Volume 8 page 204: "Ibn Asakir, writing on Yazeed, states then when Husayn's head was brought before Yazeed, he recited the couplets of Ibn Zubayri the kaafir 'I wish my ancestors of Badr were hear to see the severed head of the rebellious tribe (The Prophet (saws's tribe of Hashim)."


Al Hafidh Jalaladun Suyuti (ra) records this tradition in Khasais al Kubra, on the authority of Sahaba Uns bin Harith: "I heard Rasulullah (sawas) say 'Verily my son (Husayn) will be killed in a land called Kerbala, whoever amongst you is alive at that time must go and help him".


Khasais al Kubra Volume 2 page 125 (Maktaba Nurree Rizvi Publishers, Pakistan)


Yazeeds own words noted in Sharh Fiqh Akbar:


"Following the murder of Husayn, Yazeed said, “I avenged the killing of my kaafir relatives in Badr through killing the family of the Prophet.”










Allamah Taftazani said Yazeed was worthy of more than just cursing


We read in Sharh Muqassad: "The harms that were inflicted on the Ahl'ul bayt after the Sahaba are acts that cannot be covered up. These acts were so heinous that they cannot be hidden - all including animals testify to their suffering. Their pain was such that the earth and skies shed tears and beat themselves when their suffering is retold - and retelling this shall continue until the Day of Judgement. May Allah's curse be upon those that perpetuated injustices, and those that helped them (to carry out these acts). The curse on these individuals shall be even greater in the next world. If some Ulema are opposed to cursing, then it should be known that Yazeed deserves more than just cursing".






The Fatwa of Allamah Baghdadi - Yazeed denied the Prophethood, to curse him is an act of Ibadath


We read in Tafseer Ruh al Ma'ani page 72 commentary of Surah Muhammad: "The wicked Yazeed failed to testify to the Prophethood of Hadhrath Muhammad (sawas). He also perpetrated acts against the residents of Makka, Medina and the family of the Prophet (sawas). He indulged in these acts against them during their lives and after their deaths. These acts are so conclusively proven that had he placed the Qur'an in his hands it would have testified to his kuffar. His being a fasiq and fajir did not go unnoticed by the Ulema of Islam, but the Salaf had no choice but to remain silent as they were living under threat."






The Fatwas of Qadhi Abu Ya'ala and Abu Husayn deeming it permissible to curse Yazeed


Ibn Katheer in al Bidaya stated: "Whoever frightens Medina incurs the wrath of Allah, His Angels and all the people - and some Ulema have deemed it permissible to curse Yazeed. This includes individuals such as Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Allamah Hilalee, Abu Bakr Abdul Aziz, Qadhi Abu Ya'ala and his son Qadhi Abu Husayn. Ibn Jauzi wrote a book deeming it permissible to curse Yazeed".


Al Suyuti personally cursed Yazeed


In Tareekh ul Khulafa page 207, Dhikr Shahadath Husayn we read as follows: "May Allah's curse be upon the killers of Husayn and Ibn Ziyad".


Qadhi Thanaullah Panee Pathee deemed it permissible to curse the kaafir Yazeed


We read in Tafseer Mazhari Volume 5 page 21, under the commentary of Surah Ibrahim verse 28 as follows:






"The Banu Umayya were initially kaafir, then some of them presented themselves as Muslim. Yazeed then became a kaafir. The Banu Umayya maintained their enmity towards the family of the Prophet (sawas), and killed Husayn in a cruel manner. The kaafir Yazeed committed kufr in relation to the Deen of Muhammad (sawas) proven by the fact that at the time of the killing of Husayn he made a pointed reference to avenging the deaths of his kaafir ancestors slain in Badr. He acted against the family of Muhammad (sawas), Banu Hashim and in his drunken state he praised the Banu Umayya and cursed the Banu Hashim from the pulpit".


Allamah Alusi set out the viewpoint of the Shaafi Ulema on this topic as follows:


Haseeya Nabraas page 551






"Amongst the Shaafi's we are in agreement that it is permissible to curse Yazeed"


















Dreadful Crimes of Yazid Ibne Muawiyya


The First Dreadful Crime: Killing Abu Abdillah Al-Husain .






Yazid son of Muawiya with that inhuman and wicked qualities in his first year of his rule martyred the “Leader of the Youth of the Paradise” Abu Abdullah al-Husain (A.S.) and his family and companions in that tragic state.






The Second Dreadful Crime: Killing and raping thousands of Residents of Madina and desecrating Masjid Nabavi






In his second year of his rule he created the deplorable incident of “Harrah” which blackened the pages of history. The people of Madinah after the martyrdom of Imam Husain (A.S.) came to know the evils of Yazid and refused to obey him and threw out the agents of Yazid from Madinah.






Yazid on previous advice of his father Muawiya, sent a heartless and bloody old man Muslim ibn Aqbah with a strong army towards the holy tomb of Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.) at Madinah. The army of Yazid in that holy city committed such heinous crimes that the pen is ashamed to describe it.






The army of Yazid confronted the people of Madinah within a mile from Madinah, at a place called “Harrah” in the command of Abdullah ibn Hanzala. A fierce battle took place. The people of Madinah who could not defend themselves took refuge in the tomb sanctuary of Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). The Syrian Yazidi army entered Madinah. They broke the sanctity of that holy place and shed the blood of the people so much so that the holy mosque (Masjid Nabawi) was filled with blood which even reached Holy Prophet’s grave.






Their horses desecrated the Masjid by passing urine and dung. Among the persons who killed were seven hundred people who were famous for piety and nobility. Others who were massacred consisted of ten thousand innocent men, women and children.






The Syrian Yazidi commander left free the army to loot and rape. The shameless Syrian Yazidi army began the plunder and rape. Thousands of girls and women got pregnant those newborns later called “The Children of Harrah”. It is narrated that Yazidi army even committed rape in Masjid un-Nabawi.






A Sample Yazid’s Cruelty to the People of Madinah






Ibn Qutaibah in his book “Al-Imamah va Siyasah” described:






“One of the army man entered a woman’s house who had recently delivered a baby. Her new born baby was sucking milk in the lap of her mother. The man told that lady: Have you got money? She said: I swear God, the Syrian army did not leave a single coin for me.






The army man said: Bring some thing for me else I will kill you and your infant.






The woman cried: Woe upon you, this is the child of Prophet’s companion (sahabi). I also gave oath of allegiance to Prophet (S.A.W.) at “Shajara Allegiance”, and pointing her infant told: My child, I swear God, if I have something, I will surely sacrifice upon you”.






Suddenly that accursed man snatched the infant’s leg who was sucking milk and pulled him away from mother’s lap and hit him to the wall. So that the infant’s brain got scattered before her mother’s eyes and spread all over the floor.


The narrator said: As the accursed army man was stepping out of that house his face blackened at once. This incident became an idiom among the people of Madinah.






The depth of the Harrah tragedy was so much that for along period when a man wanted to marry his daughter he was unable to give the guarantee of his daughters maidenhood.






Then the Yazidi army took allegiance from the people of Madinah, to be the slaves of Yazid. It was upon his will to leave them or made them slaves. The people of Madinah though their property plundered, blood shed and their women raped and molested, all of them gave allegiance “Bayyat” to Yazid except the fourth holy Imam of the Shi’ites Imam Zainul Abedin (A.S.).






The criminal Muslim Ibn Aqbah sent slaughtered heads of the people of Madinah to Yazid at Damascus (Syria). As the heads were presented before Yazid he said: “I wish my forefathers who were killed in the battle of Badr would be alive and see how I took revenge with the Prophet of Islam and Muslims”.






The Third Dreadful Crime: The Army of Yazid Set Ablaze and Destroyed Holy Kaaba






After suppressing and plundering people of Madinah, Muslim ibn Aqabah started towards Makkah to crush Abdullah ibn Zubair.






Finally Hasin ibn Namir took the leadership of the Syrian Yazidi army and attacked Makkah. When Abdullah ibn Zubair took refuge in Masjid al- Haram and Kaaba, they stoned Kaaba with catapult war machine and with cloth in kerosene oil and what ever inflammable in hand, they threw upon upon so that Holy Kaaba was burnt and demolished.






It is narrated that the Syrian army commander ordered to hit the Holy Kaaba daily with ten thousand stones. In the meantime as the Syrian army was attacking Holy Kaaba and destroying the holy place, Allah Almighty gave Yazid no chance and took away his life. He was still under the age of forty.






Yazid in the period of only three years caliphate committed heinous crimes. In his first year of rule he martyred Sayyid ush- Shuhada Imam Husain (A.S.) and captivated his whole family. In his second year of rule allowed his army to kill, loot and transgress the chastity of women in the holy city of Madinah. In the third year of his rule he set ablaze the Holy Kaaba and demolished the holy place.






The reason for the the death of Yazid some said: He was drunk so much, that while dancing fell down upon his head and died.






Others said: He was killed buy a Bedouin Arab in the desert. When Yazid got alone in chase of hunt, he introduced himself to Arab who got infuriated and said: ‘You are the murderer of Husain ibn Ali’, thus the Arab killed Yazid on the spot. His body was buried in ‘Bab Saghir” in Damascus. Now that place has been changed into rubbish heap.






Masudi in “Muruj az-Zahab” said: Yazid used to booze openly in public on the footsteps of Pharoah (Firaun). Rather Firaun was better than Yazid. Following Yazid, his agents too started debauchery overtly before people. In the period of Yazid’s caliphate singing and dancing were performed openly among people. Musical instruments were in use and alcohol was consumed freely in public.


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Hasan Baqar Rizvi






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Was Yazid ibn Muawiya amirul mo'meneen?






Yazid was Never Amirul Mu’minin