Ibn Zubayr secretly sent his agents to encourage the people of Medina to pay allegiance to him. To overcome this plot, the governor of Yazid in Medina tried to influence the elderly of Medina by sending a group of them to visit Yazid in Damascus. The group received many gifts and hospitality from Yazid. However, upon returning to Medina, they informed the people that they had witnessed Yazid, their so-called Caliph, or successor of the Prophet, openly indulge in sinful behavior, intoxication, and womanizing. This led the people of Medina, the city of the Prophet, to rebel against Yazid and his family, the Umayyads. The people expelled Yazid’s governor and approximately one thousand of the Umayyads, including Marwan ibn al-Hakam. Even though Marwan was an open enemy to Imam Ali and his family, and had a direct role in disrespecting Imam Hasan’s body during his burial, he came to Imam Sajjad with a desperate request of entrusting his family, which the Imam accepted. When Yazid was informed about the rebellion in Medina, he sent his troops, under the leadership of Muslim ibn Uqbah, to suppress it. This led to a battle on the outskirts of Medina called the Battle of al-Harrah, during which the people of Medina were defeated. The survivors withdrew and sought refuge in the Mosque and the tomb of the Prophet. Yazid’s troops entered the holy mosque with their horses and created a bloodbath within it. Muslim ibn Uqbah allowed his army to loot, rape, and steal from the people of Medina, the city of the Prophet, for three days. Around 10,000 people were murdered, including hundreds of the Prophet’s companions, as well as Islamic and Quranic scholars. Imam Sajjad was isolated during this uprising. He had moved his family, along with 400 people who sought refuge to him, to the outskirts of Medina. They had all remained safe. Muslim ibn Uqbah had orders from Yazid to not get into a conflict with Imam Sajjad due to his isolation from the rebellion. Yazid knew of the Imam’s isolation through his spies. Yazid also wanted to avoid the shame the Umayyads had brought upon themselves from the tragedy of Karbala, so they did not interfere with Imam Sajjad. After three days, Muslim ibn Uqbah ordered the people of Medina to come to his presence. He demanded they renew their allegiance to Yazid, bear witness that they are Yazid’s servants, and threatened to kill anyone who opposed this order. However, he did not harm Imam Sajjad and excluded him from this order. When Imam Sajjad came to him, the Imam’s greatness struck fear in Muslim ibn Uqbah’s heart. He stood up from his position, respected the Imam, and allowed him to return unharmed.
