Imam Hossein (AS) and Resistance against Muawiyah

The conflict during Imam Hasan’s burial was a strong message to Imam Hossein from the Umayyads, that in case of any opposition, he would be faced with their swords. During Muawiyah’s time, Imam Hossein’s life and activities were under intense pressure and surveillance by the government to the extent that even his supporters were sometimes prevented from meeting him freely. Due to this pressure, the number of narrations quoted from Imam Hasan and Imam Hossein during Muawiyah’s time are fewer than those from the other Shia Imams. Imam Hossein continued his brother’s policy regarding Muawiyah for around 10 years until Muawiyah’s death. When the Imam’s Shia followers from Kufa contacted him shortly after Imam Hasan’s martyrdom and asked for his uprising against the injustices of Muawiyah, the Imam reminded them about his commitment to the peace treaty and asked them to wait until Muawiyah’s death. If the Imam would have risen in Muawiyah’s time, Muawiyah would have killed the Imam and accused him of violating the peace treaty. As a result, the Imam’s death would have been misinterpreted by the Muslim community.The Imam’s commitment to the peace treaty did not stop him from objecting to Muawiyah’s crimes and violations against the treaty’s conditions. In many situations, the Imam contacted Muawiyah and condemned his actions, such as the killings of the Shia leaders and the Prophet’s companions, Hujr ibn Adi and Amr ibn Hameq.Imam Hossein was respected for being the closest living blood relative to the Prophet, and he was a symbol of piety in society. The Imam used all opportunities to guide the Muslims to the true Islamic teachings. He performed the Hajj 25 times on foot during his lifetime. His famous supplication of Arafah is narrated during this time. After years of being in power, Muawiyah decided to keep the government within the Umayyads by passing it to his only son, Yazid. For the first time since the Prophet’s demise, Muawiyah intended to change the system of government from a caliphate to a monarchy. Muawiyah himself knew that Yazid lacked public popularity as he did not even keep an Islamic outlook in life like himself. Yazid publicly drank alcohol, womanized, and indulged in sinful behavior.In order to get the allegiances for Yazid, Muawiyah poisoned and bribed Yazid’s main rivals for the caliphate. Muawiyah martyred Imam Hasan, as he knew that appointing a successor was explicitly against their peace treaty. Muawiyah tried bribing some of the political leaders, commanded some to advocate for Yazid as a good leader, and removed those governors who failed to implement this mission.After years of planning, he finally succeeded in accumulating allegiances from people all around the Islamic territory. However, Imam Hossein refused to pledge allegiance. Muawiyah sent a letter to Imam Hossein, to which the Imam responded by condemning his actions to coerce allegiance for a successor, especially for someone like Yazid. Muawiyah then decided to pe