After the incident of ‘ashura and two and a half months before his death, Yazid initiated yet another horrendous act on the twenty eighth of Dhul Hijjah of the year 63 ah – the looting and killing of the people of Madinah and sacrilege with respect to the shrine of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w) at the hands of an old, sick, brash and impudent man by the name of Muslim Ibn ‘Aqabah, notoriously known as Musrif.
When the news of Yazid’s oppression and depravity reached the ears of the people of Madinah, a group from amongst them proceeded to Syria to obtain first-hand information regarding the situation.
Witnessing his sacrilegious behaviour, they returned to Madinah and drove his governor, ‘Uthman Ibn Muhammad, together with Marwan Ibn Hakam and the other Umayyads, out of the city. The people then flocked to ‘Abdullah Ibn Handhalah – the ‘Ghasil al-Malaikah,8) and pledged allegiance to him. Coming to know of this, Yazid dispatched a force under the command of Musrif towards Madinah.
In order to defend themselves, the people of Madinah came out of the city and took up positions in a region known as Sangistan, where a fierce battle ensued betwin the two forces. Some of the inhabitants of Madinah were killed while others fled and sought shelter in the holy shrine of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w).
Musrif’s soldiers advanced into Madinah, entered the holy shrine on horseback and began their carnage – killing so many people that the mosque and the holy tomb were covered with blood; the number of people that were killed have been reported to be around eleven thousand!
We state one example of the numerous brutalities committed by the forces of Musrif: One of the soldiers of the army of Yazid, an inhabitant of Egypt, entering the house of a lady from the Ansar (The Helpers), who had recently given birth to a child and which was in her arms, said to her: “Bring me all your wealth.”
The lady said: “By Allah! They have not left behind anything that I can give you.” (Hearing this) he said: “I shall kill you and your child.” The lady pleaded: “Fear Allah, for this infant is the child of Ibn Abi Kabshah Ansari, the companion of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w).” The name seemed to have no effect upon the merciless man, who, picking up the innocent child by its legs – even as it was being suckled, flung him against the wall scattering his brains upon the floor.9
In the face of such atrocities10, all the people of Madinah were forced to pledge allegiance to Yazid, with the exception of two persons – Imam Zainul ‘Abidin (a.s) and ‘Ali Ibn ‘Abdullah Ibn Abbas.
The Imam (a.s) arrived before Musrif after reciting a supplication as a result of which he was so was overcome with dread and awe that he could not get himself to kill the Imam (a.s). As for ‘Ali Ibn ‘Abdullah, some of his maternal relatives were present in Musrif’s army and they prevented him from being killed. ( Muntahal A’mal, vol. 2, pg. 34 )