Those Who Failed to Accompany Imam Hussein
These people did not oppose Imam Hussein (AS). Dahhak ibn Abd Allah al-Mashriqi was one of these individuals who came to Karbala as a companion of Imam Hussein (AS) and even remained there till the afternoon of Ashura but escaped in the past moments of the battle.
He had promised Imam Hussein (AS) that he would stay in the camp as long as he could do something. When most companions of Imam Hussein (AS) were martyred on the Day of Ashura and it became clear that Imam Hussein (AS) was also going to be martyred, Dahhak escaped the area. Although, a wise reason may have been behind this as he became one of the narrators of what happened in Karbala. His true intention of escaping and his position in the Hereafter is not clear but he will surely have a different position compared to those companions who were martyred in Karbala.
Another individual in this category is Al-Tirimmah ibn Adi. He was a Shia and a companion of Imam Ali (AS). He has been described as a brave poet and orator who was stationed in Kufa during the events in Karbala. When Imam Hussein (AS) confronted the troops of Al-Hurr b. Yazid al-Riyahi, Al-Tirimmah joined the Imam’s army and delivered the latest news from Kufa.
He told Imam Hussein (AS) that he saw no chance of success in Kufa, advising the Imam to go to Yemen but Imam Hussein (AS) rejected his recommendation. Al-Tirimmah then asked Imam to let him go to his family in Kufa and give them some supplies and money and Imam accepted, telling him to do that and return immediately. He went to Kufa and while returning, received the news of the Imam’s martyrdom. He regretted his decision.
He is one of the survivors but if he had a deeper knowledge, he would have chosen the ‘more-wajib’ act over the wajib one. He could tell Imam that he was ready to do everything for his movement.
This article was a summary of remarks made by Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammadreza Jabbari, a professor of Islamic history, in a local seminar.
