the will of syed dal shahada peace be upon him

The narrator says: Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) prepared to leave Medina. He went at night to bid farewell at the graves of his mother and his brother, Imam Hassan (peace be upon him), and returned home in the morning.

Then his brother, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, came to him, and Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) wrote this will for his brother:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is the will of Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib to his brother Muhammad, known as Ibn al-Hanafiyyah:

Indeed, Hussain testifies that there is no god but Allah alone with no partner, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, who came with the truth from the Truth, that Paradise and Hellfire are true, that the Hour will come without doubt, and that Allah will resurrect those in the graves.

I did not rise in rebellion out of vanity, arrogance, corruption, or oppression, but rather I rose to seek reform in the Ummah of my grandfather (peace and blessings be upon him). I intend to enjoin good and forbid evil and follow the way of my grandfather and my father, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Whoever accepts me because of truth, Allah is worthier of truth, and whoever rejects me, I will endure until Allah judges between me and the people with truth, and He is the best of judges.

This is my will to you, my brother, and my success is only by Allah, upon Him I rely, and to Him, I return.”

Then, he folded the letter, sealed it, and gave it to Muhammad. He left Medina at midnight. According to Shaykh Mufid in Al-Irshad, the Imam departed Medina on the night of Sunday, two days before the end of Rajab, heading towards Mecca. He took his sons, nephews, sisters, and household with him, except for Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah. He arrived in Mecca on the night of Friday, the 3rd of Sha’ban, while reciting this verse:

“And when he turned his face toward Madyan, he said: ‘Maybe my Lord will guide me to the right way.'” (Quran 28:22)