Hurr

Hurr ibn Yazid Al-Riyahi was the commander of Yazid I’s regiment, who had obstructed Hussain ibn Ali’s way near Kufa, was also present in the enemy’s forces in Karbala. He spent all his time in repenting and feeling very guilty for having obstructed the way of the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and blamed himself for bringing the third Shi’a Imam (Hussain ibn Ali) to Karbala. The armies officers and soldiers were constantly wondering at the mysterious sorrowful silence and the serious pensive mood in which Hurr spent all his time since his arrival on the plain.

On the morning of 10th Muharram, Hurr called his son secretly in his tent and said: "“We are doomed driven towards ‘hell’. There is yet time. I have decided to dash out of the ranks of Satan and join the side of Hussain ibn Ali and seek pardon of the son of the Messenger of God. Would you like to accompany me or stay where you are?”"

The son of Hurr readily consented to accompany him and Hurr’s slave who was a faithful and trusted one of his master, was present in the tent and implored saying "Master! Take me away from this cursed side, along with you. Please don’t leave me for hell", and Hurr agreed.

Hurr, with his son and a slave, dashed out of the enemy’s ranks. After that, Hurr approached until he took a place ahead among the people then he started to approach Hussain ibn Ali little by little. ‘Al-Mouhajer ibn Awss’ asked him: "What do you want to do? Do you want to join Hussain?"Hurr began to tremble and Al-Mouhajer said: "You arise my doubt; I swear by God that I have never seen you like this in any situation and if someone asked me about the most courageous man in Kufa, I would have never chosen anyone else other than you. But what happened to you today?" Hurr Replied: "For God’s sake, I am choosing between heaven and hell and by God I’ll never choose but heaven even if I am to be cut into pieces and burnt."

Hurr appeared before the third Shi’a Imam, Hussain ibn Ali, with tears in his eyes begging for his pardon for the wrong he had done. Hurr was received very warmly by Hussain and his companions as special guest. Hurr was amazed by the kindness of Hussain. When the fight against Yazid's army began, Hurr was the first one who went into the field against the enemy and charged bravely and laid down his life, after killing more than 40 of his enemies.

Hussain rushed to him and found him with a large cut on his head. Hussain took his scarf which had belonged to his mother, Fatima Zahra, the daughter of Muhammad, and bandaged his wound and cleaned his eyes from blood. Hurr asked Hussain ibn Ali, "“Did I do well, are you satisfied with me?”"

The last thing Hurr heard before he died was Hussain telling him your mother made the right choice by naming you Hurr (Free), you are free in this life and the beyond. Hurr was killed on October 20, 680 (AD) and his body was carried by his tribe and buried. A shrine has been built over his grave, in the city of Karbala.

ee also

* Islamic Prophet Mohammed
* Hussain ibn Ali
* Abbas ibn Ali
* Battle of Karbala