Mukhtar a Biograghy

Chapter 15 - Mukhtar's Second Imprisonment and Release Meanwhile, after getting permission from Mohamed Hanafiya on behalf of Imam Zainul Abideen (as), Mukhtar leaves Mecca for Kufa; at the crossroads of Qadisiya, he makes a detour to Kerbala for Ziyarat, where he pledges to Imam Husein (as) to avenge the perpetrators of Kerbala.

Mukhtar then comes to Kufa, publicly proclaiming his entry so that the population, the governor (Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree) and the local Kerbala perpetrators are all aware of his presence.

It was while Sulayman Surad Khuzai was recruiting in Kufa, that Mukhtar arrives from Kerbala; they meet to discuss tactics; the Tawwabun first aim is to hunt down Ubaydallah Ziyad, while Mukhtar's first aim is to seek avenge from the perpetrators of Kerbala who are in Kufa, as the majority of them were still living in Kufa.

With Mukhtar's arrival in Kufa, the local Kerbala perpetrators feel threatened with his declared aim, whereas they were under no immediate threat from the Tawwabun; these local killers are in powerful positions and are of influence in Kufa; they therefore advise the governor, Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree, to imprison Mukhtar least he causes any troubles for them; so under pressure from these powerful and prominent Kufians, Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree imprisons Mukhtar; Mukhtar is now serving his second imprisonment term in Kufa.

Rufa' Shadad (from the Tawwabun) reaches Kufa and hears of Mukhtar's imprisonment; unlike his first imprisonment under Ubaydallah Ziyad, Mukhtar is now able to have visitors, he is not chained and letters are allowedin and out; on hearing of Tawwabun’s crushing defeat, and of Rufa's return, Mukhtar writes to him not to loose courage and to wait for Mukhtar's release to come up with a plan.

Rufa' comes to prison and offers to break out Mukhtar from prison; Mukhtar refuses any illegal moves but assures Rufa' of his impending release by legal means; Mukhtar sends one of his man to go to Medina and inform Abdulla Omar (his brother­-in-law) of the situation.

Abdulla Omar writes to Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree in Kufa explaining of his relationship to Mukhtar and demanding his immediate release; Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree gets the letter and is aware of Abdulla Omar's influence; Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree reasons that the imprisonment of Mukhtar was not a decree from his master Abdulla Zobayr in Mecca, but was due to intense local pressure; so releasing Mukhtar was not a violation of any decree from Abdulla Zobayr.

The local perpetrators of Kerbala are against Mukhtar's release for fear of their own lives; Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree is torn between the order from Abdulla Omar and the protests of these locals; he finally decides to release Mukhtar with some conditions for his freedom.

Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree sends for Mukhtar and makes him promise that he will not try stirring up any opposition against himself (Abdulla Yazeed Ansaree), or the penalty will be the sacrifice of a thousand livestock and the freeing of all Mukhtar's slaves.

Mukhtar promises in front of witnesses to agree to the conditions and he is released; on giving the promise in order to be released, Mukhtar was confident that the sacrifice of a thousand livestock and the freeing of his salves was of little material significance to him compared to the pursuit of the Kerbala perpetrators.

One source says that Mukhtar was imprisoned again for the third time and manages to obtain his freedom once more.