As they journeyed, Imam Hussain received letters from the people of Kufa, a city in Iraq, inviting him to come and lead a rebellion against the Umayyad regime. The people of Kufa were dissatisfied with Yazid's rule and sought Imam Hussain's leadership to establish a just and fair government.
"Main Kufa nahi jaa raha. Mujhe apne bhai ke qatilo se koi gharz nahi. Mujhe madina wapas jane do."
After the death of Prophet Muhammad, the Islamic community was divided into different factions over the issue of succession. The two main groups were the Sunni and Shia Muslims. The Sunni Muslims believed that the Prophet's companion, Abu Bakr, was the rightful successor, while the Shia Muslims believed that Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law, was the designated successor.
Part 1 generally covers the period from the death of Muawiya I in 680 CE to the arrival of Imam Hussain (RA) at the plains of Karbala.
(To be continued in Part 2)
Imam Hussain, who was a respected leader and a symbol of resistance against tyranny, refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid. Yazid, who was known for his cruelty and debauchery, demanded that Imam Hussain come to Damascus to pledge loyalty. Imam Hussain, however, was aware of the dangers of Yazid's regime and decided to resist.