Abstract:
The political approach of Imam Sajjad (AS) at various stages of his life, including in the rebellion of the Medinans against the Umayyad ruling apparatus, is one of the important issues of his biography. Having witnessed the martyrdom of close relatives and the captivity of his family in his youth, he followed a special behavioral pattern in the continuation of his life, especially what he manifested in facing the autocratic politics of Yazid. Despite initial expectations, the Imam not only did not oppose the Umayyad government apparatus but also did not participate in popular protests against the rule; in modern terms, he adopted a policy of non-interference and, as a pious scholar and an ascetic leader, spent most of his time performing tasks that were not in harmony with the mindset of the people of that era and other periods. This article aims to explain the Imam's behavior, investigate the basis of his confrontation with the occurring issues, and clarify his political approach, especially in the Battle of al-Harrah. The hypothesis written is that the Imam, with a peaceful spirit, chose such a policy to preserve human dignity, protect human lives, and strengthen human society.
Machine summary:
The speed of action or the cohesive power of the people in acting against the government and its Umayyad supporters was such that the governor of Medina and his companions could not stand against them and were forced to surrender to their demands and leave their city and homeland (Ibn Khayyat, 1414: 148 onwards), in such a way that Yazid was astonished upon hearing it, wondering how such a group could not withstand and resist the civilians (al-Tabari, 1403: 5.
The event of al-Harra, as briefly mentioned, was at first glance an uprising against the apparatus of discrimination and oppression, and naturally, it required the notables of Medina to join it, but despite its widespread nature and prevalence, a group of prominent figures distanced themselves from it; individuals such as Abdullah bin Umar, son of the second Caliph, Amr bin Uthman, son of the third Caliph, Muhammad bin al-Hanafiyyah, son of Imam Ali (ع), the fourth Caliph, Ali bin Abdullah bin Abbas, grandson of the Prophet's (ص) uncle, and at the head of all these, Imam Sajjad Zayn al-Abidin (ع), son of Imam Hussain (ع), whom most of the people of Medina, indeed the Islamic world, paid attention to and held special respect for, and who undoubtedly could have taken the leadership of the uprising against Yazid upon his shoulders like his father, but he did not do so.
Of course, it has not been mentioned anywhere that the leaders of the uprising made a request to that Imam or consulted with him, except for what Khunji Isfahani has reported, stating that the people of Medina came to him and agreed to depose Yazid and demand the blood of Hussain.
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