After the death of Muawiya, when Yazid assumed the rein of kingdom he instantaneously instructed Walid ibn Utba, the Governor of Madina to seek allegiance from Abdullah bin Zubair, Abdullah bin Umar, Abdur Rehman bin Abu Bakr and Imam Husain (a.s.) without any delay. Walid summoned Imam (a.s.) and relayed the command of Yazid to him. Imam (a.s.) refused to pay allegiance and decided to leave Medina along with his family and relatives and left for Mecca. When the people of Kufa heard of Imam's stand and his arrival in Mecca, they started sending letters to Imam (a.s.), in heaps and piles incessantly.

They all insisted Imam (a.s.) to come to Kufa and take overthe leadership of the Ummat. Imam (a.s.) was well-aware of the nature of Kufa and he also knew the end result of everything, but being an Imam and leader of the people it was a part of his responsibility to respond to the call of the people because if he would not have initiated then covenant-breakers and unfaithful would have had a plea against him and thus their arguments would not have exhausted. Since the insistence of Kufans were intensive and Imam (a.s.) also knew their shaky (ideals), he chose the renown scion of the household of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) for the task. He deputed Janabe Muslim bin Aqeel to Kufa for the finality of arguments and he stayed at Mecca. Each step of Imam (a.s.) was well-planned at every stage and unless there was no new occurrence he was required to stay at Mecca. Imam (a.s.) did not make Mecca his permanent place of residence but only until the time when things shaped up into some other happenings and he would be forced to leave. Thus he did not leave Mecca in the middle of Ramazan but on 8th of Zilhajjah, when circumstances led him towards the macabre revolution at Karbala.

When Imam (a.s.) intended to send Janabe Muslim to Kufa he wrote letters to the elites and senior men of Kufa in which he introduced Janabe Muslim ibn Aqeel as his special representative and a delegate so that they may read out the letter to the public. The content of the letter is as follows:
"I am in receipt of your letters and have learnt about your affairs. Herewith I am deputing my first cousin, who also is a member of Ahle Bait and a trusted lieutenant of mine - Muslim ibn Aqeel - towards you all. I have instructed him to keep me posted about your views and decisions. Hence if he wrote back to me about your opinions and views of intelligentsia and I found the intentions to be the same as you wrote to me them soon I am reaching you. O people of Kufa, I swear by my life that he is not capable of the leadership of Ummat whose character is not in accordance with the Book of Allah and whose government is not based on justice and equity, which means that who does not abide by the religion of Allah in a proper manner."

In this letter not only Imam Husain (a.s.) has emphasised upon the status and ambassadorial position of Muslim ibn Aqeel but he also mentioned about the kind of character and quality a leader should have in the society. He clearly mentioned that he is capable of the position of leadership who acts according to the Book of Allah and his govern-ment is based on justice.

By this Imam (a.s.) wanted to draw the attention of the people towards the leadership, which is one of the most significant aspects of Islam. Thus Imam Hussain (a.s.) restrained them from paying allegiance to Yazid because of his incapability and worthlessness forthe leadership of Islamic society as was clearly known to everybody.

Violation of covenant by Kufans
According to the command of his chief, Janabe Muslim left Mecca for Kufa. Masudi has written that:
"On 15th Ramazan Muslim ibn Aqeel left Mecca and after crossing over lots of hurdles and impediments finally reached Kufa. Initially he was accorded very warm welcome and all received him with utmost courtesy and humility. One by one everybody pledged allegiance to Imam (a.s.) on his hand and announced their steadfastness. The numberof those who were paying allegiance multiplied in such away that about 12,000 Kufans pledged allegiance to him." (Murujuz Zaheb, vol. 2, printed in Egpt, 1303 A.H.). According to a section of historians 18,000 Kufans swore allegiance to him. (Ibn Asir, Kamil, vol. 2. printed in Egypt, 1301 A.H.).

But it is indeed deplorable that their warmth remained for a very brief period and soon they all turned cold as if Janabe Muslim was a stranger to them. When Kufiates saw that faithfulness to Muslim may jeopardise their lives then they changed sides with such alacrity that the examples of such can be seldom found in history. When Yazid learnt of the arrival of Imam Husain (a.s.)'s representative in Kufa and his success threat, he realised that the Governor of Kufa, Noman bin Bashir, is not that much impudent to activate the people of Kufa against Muslim. Hence, he appointed an illegitimate by birth and wretched by existence Ubaidullah bin Ziyad as the Governor of Kufa. Ubaidullah bin Ziyad was clearly instructed to quell the rebellion at Kufa and the uprising which has started in favour ofAhle Bait (a.s.) to be suppressed.

Ibn Ziyad, the accursed, entered Kufa, while casting the strategem of cunning and deceit. He straight-away went to the palace because at that time he was not having enough power. Hence he resorted to every trick of deceit, cunningness and satanic devoutness and with the help of threatening, greed and military power he suppressed the Kufans. Thus very soon did he reestablish the might of Yazid and effectively dispersed the supporters of Janabe Muslim (a.s;). He loudly declared in the whole of Kufa: "O Kufans! pay allegiance to Yazid before he despatches his powerful forces from Syria and each of you will be killed and your women be made captive." (Nasikhut Tawarikh, Life and Times of Imam Husain (a.s.)).

It became possible for Ibn Ziyad to scatter the supporters of Janabe Muslim by a mere hollow warning and all of them deserted his except one courageous man -Hani ibn Urwah. He sacrificed his life but did not leave Muslim. He too was killed along with Janabe Muslim. Ibn Ziyad threatened him and rebuked him for not surrendering Muslim to him. He thundered: "If you do not hand over Muslim to me then you will not be spared." In such formidable conditions Janabe Hani showed courage and determination and replied: "By Allah! Never! Do you wish that I should hand over my guest to you and you slay him. Never. I will not do such a demeaning act. Woe be unto you, if an infant of Aale Mohammed is hidden beneath my foot then too I will not move my foot unless it is amputated." (Nasikhut-Tawarikh, Ibid).

Hani was tortured and his whole body was ridden with wounds. For the crime of love of AhleBait and remaining steadfast devotee to them he was imprisoned. Since he was one of the chiefs of Kufa and chief of the tribe of Muzahej. The people of his tribe were enraged at his imprisonment. They surrounded the palace with four thousand armed young men and demanded to see Hani alive and safe.

The Historical Misappropriation of Qazi Shuraih
This was the best opportunity that the people of Kufa could have got rid of Ibn Ziyad's government and Islam could have been saved from the catastrophe. But because of historical misappropriation and capital sin of Qazi Shuraih this chance was lost. Thus this mean and lousy ruler could fulfil his nefarious designs, Ibn Ziyad ordered Shuraih to meet Hani and then meet his tribesmen and assure them of his well-being. Since Qazi Shuraih was appointed on a very high position hence men would have believed him. This conscienceless Qazi who saw Hani drenched in his blood and badly wounded condition said that "Don't worry! Hani is busy talking with the Emir. Soon he will come to you. all." This blatant lie was uttered by Satan in the garb of an angel. He preferred the world over the hereafter. They believed the lie of Qazi and dispersed and got engaged in their mundane matters.

Because of this reaction of the people Ibne Ziyad took the opportunity and carried out his evil plans. A day earlier those who pledged loyalty to Muslim Ibne Aqeel chased him after the next day. But despite of being all alone and single-handed this lion of Imamat was engaged in the deadly duel in the streets of Kufa, which was converted into a battle-field. Janabe Muslim was surrounded on all sides.

But even in such adverse circumstances the nephew of Ali and the brother of Husain displayed such an exemplary courage that took every body by surprise. Ibn Ziyad quipped at Mohammed bin Ashath that:
"Muslim is alone and still he is stacking the corpses of your men. What will be your condition when I will send you to fight with him, who is braver than Muslim?" (He implied Imam Husain (a.s.))

Mohammed bin Ashath rebutted: "What do you think. I am fighting with a grocer of Kufa or a peasant of Herah. You don't know I am fighting with a lion and a cutting sword. His courage is unmatched and is a peerless brave man of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)." (Ibid)

Nonetheless they could not defeat Muslim in a manly fight. Finally they resorted to deceit, and he was arrested and sent to the palace.

Muslim Enunciates The Aim of Imam Husain (a.s.)
When Muslim was brought in the court in front of brutish and cold-blooded killer like Ibn Ziyad, he valiantly enunciated the aim of Imam Husain's (a.s.) uprising. A sitting courtman said; "Greet the Emir."
He replied: "Be quiet, I pity you. This is not my Emir."
Ibn Ziyad said: "Either you greet or not you shall be definitely slain."
Janabe Muslim replied: "If you kill me it will not be surprising because your worst one has killed our best one."
Ibn Ziyad: "Why have you come here? Have you come here to make dissension among Muslims and spill the blood of Muslims."
Janabe Muslim : "Ibn Ziyad you are a liar. Muslim society has been divided by Muawiya and his son. As regards spilling of blood itwas caused by you and your father. And I expect to be martyred by the worst man like you."
Ibn Ziyad: "Muslim do you deem that Caliphate was your right?"
Janabe Muslim : Yes it is and it is my fundamental conviction.
Ibn Ziyad: Muslim have you come in this city and sown the seed of discord among the people.
Janabe Muslim: 0 son of Ziyad, I have come since you have spread evil and sin in the society and not to create division and disunity. But You eliminated virtues from the community, whether people may agree or not. You ruled upon the people like the Caesar of Rome and other despotic rulers. Hence in such a chaotic conditions we came to revive the Islamic values and obviate the evils and strait-thinking. We have come to invite the people towards Quranic ideals and Sunnat. These are our aims and purposes and it can be achieved by us Ahle Bait and none else.

The brave and valiantly trite remarks of Janabe Muslim and that to in the very court of the impudent governor of Yazid. Ibn Ziyad must have experienced fear running down in his spine. Janabe Muslim spoke in the language of Imam Husain (a.s., as he used to speak about the lofty ideals of Islam. He shed light on the diversion caused by the enemies of Islam.

This brief dialogue of Janabe Muslim in such trying moments of life shows his inordinate gallantry and substantiated sufficiently that it was Muawiya and Yazid who laid foundation of bloodshed and turmoil and grabbed the rulership irrespective of the peo-ple's wish. This special representative of Imam Husain (a.s.) spoke in front of the Kufans about whom HazratAli (a.s.) said: "O males like men..." By exposing the real culprits the ambassador of Imam Husain (a.s.) fulfilled the task in the best manner. These truthful utterances of Janabe Muslim immortalized him in the annals of history.

Ibn Ziyad was infuriated at such a brave speech and retorted by rebuking him and said: "O sinner you drank wine in Medina (God forbid)."
But Janabe Muslim did not let him go unreplied: "Do I drink wine. By Allah, Allah knows very well that you are speaking a scheming lie. And you yourself know that I never drink wine rather its you who do such things, who spill the blood of the Muslims and kill whose killing is forbidden by Allah and spill blood of those who are prohibited by Allah. You kill them out of hatred, animosity and bad feeling and you behave as if you never perpetrated the act." (Ibid, vol. 2, pg. 1010, printed in Tehran.)

The speech further enraged Ibn Ziyad and he started cursing and condemning Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and his progeny. Janabe Muslim said: "You and your father deserve these condemnations