The Incident of Harrah

After the incident of 'Ashura and two and a half months before his death, Yazid (l.a) initiated yet another horrendous act on the 28th of Dhul Hijjah of the year 63 A.H - the looting and killing of the people of Medina and sacrilege with respect to the shrine of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a) at the hands of an old, sick, brash and impudent man by the name of Muslim Ibn 'Aqabah, notoriously known as Musrif.

When the news of Yazid's oppression and depravity reached the ears of the people of Medina, a group from amongst them proceeded to Syria to obtain first-hand information regarding the situation.

Witnessing his sacrilegious behavior, they returned to Medina and drove his governor, 'Uthman Ibn Muhammad, together with Marwan Ibn Hakam and the other Umayyads, out of the city. The people then flocked to 'Abdullah Ibn Handhalah and pledged allegiance to him. Coming to know of this, Yazid (l.a) dispatched a force under the command of Musrif towards Medina.

In order to defend themselves, the people of Medina came out of the city and took up positions in a region known as Sangistan, where a fierce battle ensued between the two forces. Some of the inhabitants of Medina were killed while others fled and sought shelter in the holy shrine of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

Medina under attack:

As Yazīd b.Muawiyah (l.a) had advised, Muslim b.'Uqba ordered the Syrian army after conquering Medina. “Your hands are open! Do whatever you wish! Plunder Medina for three days.”
This way, the city of Medina was allowed as permissible to the Syrian troops to exploit and plunder in whatever way they wished, leaving no man or woman on their way secure from their carnage, killing the people, and pillaging their properties.

Thousands of women were assaulted in the invasion of the Syrians into Medinat ul-Nabī(s.a.w.), and months after the battle of Harrah, thousands of babies were born whose fathers were unknown, hence were named “children of Harrah”! The sinister aftermaths of this ethico-human diaster left its ominous impact on families and the marriages of their daughters, bringing in many individual and social problems that are too heavy to be expressed by any pen.”

Streets of Medina were filled with the bodies of the killed, blood stains covered the way up to the Prophet's (s.a.w.a) Mosque, children were killed in their mothers' laps, and the old companions of the Apostle of Allah(s) were persecuted and disgraced.

We state one example of the numerous brutalities committed by the forces of Musrif :

One of the soldiers of the army of Yazid,(l.a) an inhabitant of Egypt, entering the house of a lady from the Ansar (The Helpers), who had recently given birth to a child and which was in her arms, said to her: “Bring me all your wealth.”

The lady said: “By Allah! They have not left behind anything that I can give you.” (Hearing this) he said: “I shall kill you and your child.” The lady pleaded: “Fear Allah, for this infant is the child of Ibn Abi Kabshah Ansari, the companion of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a).” The name seemed to have no effect upon the merciless man, who, picking up the innocent child by its legs - even as it was being suckled, flung him against the wall scattering his brains upon the floor.

In the face of such atrocities, all the people of Medina were forced to pledge allegiance to Yazid, (l.a) with the exception of two persons - Imam Zainul 'Abidin (a.s) and ‘Ali Ibn 'Abdullah Ibn Abbas.

The Imam (a.s) arrived before Musrif after reciting a supplication as a result of which he was so was overcome with dread and awe that he could not get himself to kill the Imam (a.s). As for ‘Ali Ibn 'Abdullah, some of his maternal relatives were present in Musrif's army and they prevented him from being killed.

Crimes committed in the Prophet’s Holy Shrine and Mosque (Masjid al-Nabi)

The Syrian troops mercilessly killed those who took refuge in the mosque of the Prophet (s.a.w.a) and near the Holy grave of Prophet (s.a.w.a). The spilled blood of the innocent covered the mosque floor and reached the Holy grave of Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Until the Syrian troops remained in Medina, nobody dared to enter the mosque of Prophet (s.a.w.a). The mosque was empty of people and Yazīd's (l.a) horsemen tied their horses to the pillars in the mosque. Only animals including dogs entered the mosque of Prophet (s) and urinated and defecated on the pulpit (minber) of the Prophet
(s)! This was the most heinous aspect of the Syrian invasion that no sane Muslim can accept and tolerate. It showed how Umayyids had hidden their enmity against Islam and the Prophet (s.a.w.a) and were planning for a long time to take their revenge from Prophet (s.a.w.a), Islam and the Muslims.

Conclusion:
1. The battle of Harrah, which should be rightfully called the “tragedy of Harrah”, was a bitterly disastrous and painful event.

2. Yazīd, (l.a) the son of Mu'āwiyah (l.a), a hedonist and characterless young man, rose to the throne by the contrivance of his father. In his four years of ruler ship, i.e., from 60 A.H. to 64 A.H. (683 C.E.), Yazīd (l.a) perpetrated numerous tragedies, the most formidable of which was the Taff (Karbala) event martyrdom of Imam Husain b.'Ali (a.s) then, the battle of Harrah in which the sanctity of the mosque of Prophet (s.a.w.a) in Medina was violated and after that his invasion of Mecca and desecrating the House of God (Holy Ka'aba).

3. Many Muslims have adopted a diplomatic and face-saving stand on cursing Yazid (l.a). At least where killing of the Prophet’s son (according to the Verse of Mubaahelah) Imam Husain (a.s.) is concerned, they advance a range of excuses exonerating Yazid (l.a) of the crime. In a last-ditch attempt they claim that the matter is not very clear and assuming silence (as opposed to cursing) is more prudent.

But, the door on cursing Yazid (l.a) will never shut as Imam Husain’s (a.s) murder was not his only crime. As we have seen in this article, Harrah was another stigma on Yazid (l.a) that cannot be washed away with the biggest ocean of excuses. Because even if these Muslims belittle Imam Husain’s (a.s) status by considering his killing to be insignificant, do they dare to make the same concession regarding the violation of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), his shrine, his city, his companions and other members of his nation?

Reference: -

1. Anecdotes of Reflection Part 3 by Sayyid Ali Akbar Sadaaqat.

2. Battle of Harrah by Muhammad Ali Chenarani