Political background

The rule of the third Caliph Uthman concluded with a violent uprising. This uprising ended with the assassination of Uthman and for many days rebels seized and occupied the city of Medina. Under the overwhelming pressure of the Ummah, Ali ibn Abi Talib was elected as the fourth Caliph with massive numbers of people swearing their allegiance to him. His immediate steps were to ensure the unity of Muslims. He issued the orders of not attacking the rebels until order was restored. The governor of Syria, Muawiya, refused allegiance to Ali and revolted against him. This resulted in armed confrontations between the Islamic Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiya. Practically, the Muslim world became divided. At the death of Ali ibn Abi Talib, his elder son Hasan ibn Ali succeeded him but soon signed a treaty with Muawiya to avoid further bloodshed. Muawiya remained the ruler of Syria. Prior to his death, Muawiya was actively plotting a major deviation from Islamic norms. He was establishing his notorious son Yazid as the next ruler hence establishing dynastic rule for the first time in Islam. This was a move which was considered absolutely unacceptable by a number of eminent leaders of the ummah including the younger son of Ali ibn Talib, Hussain ibn Ali.[citation needed]

Majority of Muslims were observing the conduct of the leaders of prominent companion families, namely, Abdullah Ibn Abbas, Abdullah Ibn Zubair, Abdullah Ibn Omar, Hussain Ibn Ali and Abdur Rehman Ibn Abu Bakr. In his written instructions to Yazid, Muawiya suggested specific strategies for each one of them. Muawiya warned Yazid specifically about Hussain ibn Ali, since he was the only blood relative of the Holy Prophet on earth. Yazid was successful in coercing three (Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abdullah Ibn Omar and Abdur Rehman Ibn Abu Bakr). Abdullah Ibn Zubair took refuge in Makkah. Hussain ibn Ali believed nomination of Yazid to the heir-ship of the Caliphate would lead to hereditary kingship which was repugnant to the original political teachings of Islam. Therefore, he resolved to oppose this with all the resources at his command.[citation needed]