The Conflict Between Husayn and Yazid

Question

Hazrat Husayn ﵁ refused to give bay‘ah (allegiance) to Yazid — does this constitute a deviation from the Qur’an and Sunna on the part of Hazrat Husayn or not? The verse [ar]يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ[/ar] “O you who believe! Obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you” (Surah al-Nisa’, 4:59)

Answer

In the view of Hazrat Imam Husayn ﵁, Yazid was not entitled to the caliphate, and his rule had not become established; for this reason [Husayn] did not give allegiance at his hand. Had Yazid's caliphate, in his view, become established, and had he given allegiance and then opposed him, that would have been a contravention of the verse.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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