Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyeh and Imam Huseyn's Uprising in Karbala

Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyeh is taken to be one of the Alawi figures about whose life some doubts and objections have been raised, among which one can refer to his alleged refusal to take part in the uprising of Karbala¦ as well as his unwillingness to accompany Imam Huseyn.Shi`ite scholars and traditionalists have made some efforts to give some arguments in favour of Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyeh to clear up ambiguities. They argue that Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyeh's refusal to take part in the uprising in Karbala was in no way due to his disobedience to Imam Huseyn and that there were some justified reasons in his dissociation with Imam Huseyn on his journey to Karbala and his unwillingness to participate in the uprising against the illegitimate ruling system. The reasons can be recounted as follows:1. His sickness at the time when Imam decided to depart Medina and Mecca.2. Imam's own decree that Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyeh is obliged to stay in Medina.3. Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyeh was not obliged by Imam Huseyn to take part in the uprising.Making helpful comments on the above - mentioned reasons, the writer tries to set forth the possibility that Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyeh, though he was not obliged by Imam to participate in the uprising, his unwillingness to accompany Imam Huseyn on his journey to Karbala¦ may be considered as a kind of violation or disobedience as a result of which he lost the opportunity to gain the `station' of triumph or salvation'.