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The Journey of the Captives After Karbala
The plains of Karbala were covered in blood. But the tragedy did not end with the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) and his devoted companions. What followed was a heart-rending journey of the captives that remains engraved in the memory of history.
What should have been a time to grieve became even more painful. The captives were bound, abused, and paraded, prevented from being able to mourn over losing their loved ones.
However, this journey was not one of defeat.
It was a continuation of the mission of Karbala – a mission to speak truth to power, expose injustice, and protect the message of Islam.
Leaving Karbala for Kufa
On the 11th of Muharram, the women and children from Imam Hussain’s (as) family were taken as captives by Umar ibn Saad (la) and his men. Also taken as captive was the 4th Imam, Imam Sajjad (as), who could not fight on the Day of Ashura due to a sickness.
The first part of their journey took them from Karbala to Kufa.
Maqtal al-Hussain states that the women pleaded to see their martyrs before leaving for Kufa. When they saw the brutality of how they were killed, they wailed and slapped their faces due to their anguish.
On seeing the trampled body of Imam Hussain (as), Sayyida Zainab (sa) reportedly said, “O Muhammad (saww)! Here is Hussain (as) in the desert, covered with blood, his limbs cut off! Here are your daughters taken captive and your offspring slaughtered!” (Maqtal al-Hussain)
After some time, the captives would depart for Kufa.
Arrival in Kufa
The captives reached Kufa on the 12th of Muharram (Kitab al-Irshad, v.2). The Kufans gathered around to see them.
Sayyida Umm Kulthum (sa) is reported to have said, “O people of Kufa! Do not you have any sense of shame before Allah (swt) and His Messenger (saww), so you look at the ladies of the Prophet (saww)?”
Various sermons were given, scolding the people of Kufa for betraying Imam Hussain (as). These included sermons from:
Ibn Ziyad’s (la) Palace
The captives were brought to Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad’s (sa) palace on his order. Ibn Ziyad (la) also had the blessed head of Aba Abdillah (as) in front of him, poking at it with his cane.
A companion of the Prophet (saww) named Zayd ibn Arqam is reported to have said, “Stop hitting these lips with your rod, for by Allah, the One and Only God, I saw the lips of the Messenger of Allah (saww) kissing them.” Ibn Ziyad (la) then gave the order to remove him from the palace.
Ibn Ziyad (la) attempted to taunt Lady Zainab (sa) and the Ahlulbayt (as). However, she stood her ground and showed through her eloquent words that she was the daughter of Ali ibn Abu Talib (as).
Ibn Ziyad (la) asked her, “How have you seen what Allah (swt) has done to your Ahlulbayt (as)?” She (sa) replied, “I have seen Him (swt) treating them (as) most beautifully.”
The tyrant would also attempt to taunt Sayyid Al-Sajideen (as) by saying the same statement. However, the Imam (as) replied, “Allah (swt) takes the souls away at the time of their death; none dies except with Allah’s (swt) permission.”
Upset at what the Imam (as) said, ibn Ziyad (la) ordered to kill him. However, Sayyida Zainab (sa) stepped in and saved the Imam (as).
The captives were then taken to prison.
Journey to Shaam
With the captives in prison, ibn Ziyad (la) sent a letter to Yazid (la) asking what to do with them. Yazid (la) sent the order for the captives to be sent to Shaam (Damascus).
Some reports mention that the captives left Kufa on the 19th of Muharram and arrived in Shaam on the 1st of Safar. Other reports mention they may have been sent 1 or 2 days before the Arba’een of Imam Hussain (as).
The city of Shaam was decorated as per the order of Yazid (la). The people of Shaam, having been brainwashed for numerous years by Muawiya (la), celebrated the arrival of the captives and what had occurred.
An elder man said to Imam Sajjad (as), “Praise be to Allah (swt), who annihilated you and who granted the governor the upper hand over you!”
The Imam (as) asked the man if he had read the following verses from the Qur’an, which talked about the love and rights of the Ahlulbayt (as):
When the man confirmed he read those verses, the Imam (as) explained that the captives were the family that was mentioned. This changed the man’s perception, and he asked forgiveness from the Imam (as).
Yazid’s (la) Court
Along with the blessed head of Hussain (as), the captives were brought in front of Yazid (la) in his palace. Like ibn Ziyad (la), Yazid (la) also disrespected the sacred head of the Imam (as).
Yazid (la) attempted to humiliate the Ahlulbayt (as). However, Imam Sajjad (as) delivered a mighty sermon that showed the status of the Ahlulbayt (as), the gifts granted to them by Allah (swt), and the difference in the families of Prophet Muhammad (saww) and Abu Sufyan (la).
Sayyida Zainab (sa) would also give a powerful sermon that would rattle the audience in the place.
With Yazid (la) humiliated, he quickly had the captives sent to a house that was in ruins. The captives would stay there for a few days to mourn Aba Abdillah (as).
Release from Shaam
With the people beginning to turn against Yazid (la), he attempted to blame Ibn Ziyad (la) for the killing of Imam Hussain (as).
Yazid (la) released the captives, allowing them to go back to Medina.
According to narrations, the caravan went to Karbala first before returning to Medina so that they could properly mourn over the martyrs of Karbala. While in Karbala, they met Jabir ibn al-Ansari, the first visitor of Imam Hussain’s (as) grave.
The caravan remained in Karbala for three days before heading to Medina.
When the caravan arrived in Medina, Imam Zain Al-Abideen (as) had Bashir ibn Hathlam compose poetry of the tragedies that Ahlulbayt (as) faced throughout the journey.
Eventually, the Ahlulbayt (as) got the mosque of Prophet Muhammad (saww), where they wept greatly. Imam Zain Al-Abideen (as) gave a sermon telling the people of Medina what had happened to them.
For five years, the ladies of the Ahlulbayt (as) abstained from using any dye, oil, or kohl, until Mukhtar al-Thaqafi took revenge for Aba Abdillah (as).
Imam Sajad (as) would mourn every day for his father, Imam Hussain (as), until he was also martyred on the 25th of Muharram, 95 AH.
Conclusion
The journey of the captives was not the end—it was the continuation of Imam Hussain’s (as) mission in Karbala. Though chained and tormented, the family of the Prophet (saww) stood tall with unshakable faith.
Their resilience exposed tyranny, stirred the hearts of nations, and carried the message of Islam far beyond the battlefield.
Honor the Ahlulbayt (as) by supporting those who face hardship today. Your donation can provide food, shelter, and hope to those in need.
FAQs
The captives included the women and children of Prophet Muhammad’s (saww) family, most notably Sayyida Zainab (sa), Sayyida Umm Kulthum (sa), Sayyida Sakina (sa), Imam Sajjad (as), and Imam Al-Baqir (as).
The tyrants of the Umayyad regime wanted to display their supposed victory by humiliating the family of the Prophet (saww). This public display was meant to intimidate others and subdue dissent.
Initially, many were uninformed that the captives were from the family of Rasoolallah (saww). After powerful sermons by Lady Zainab (sa) and Imam Sajjad (as), public awareness grew, and perceptions started to change.
Reports vary regarding this. Some indicate the captives left Kufa on the 19th of Muharram and arrived in Shaam on the 1st of Safar, while other reports mention they arrived closer to Arba’een.
Many narrations mention that before returning to Medina, the caravan arrived in Karbala to mourn the martyrs. Over there, they met Jabir ibn al-Ansari, the first visitor to Aba Abdillah’s (as) grave.
