3rd of Rabi’ al-Awwal Marks Anniversary of Yazid’s Army Attack on Mecca, Violation of Kaaba

On the 3rd of Rabi’ al-Awwal, 64 AH, the army of Yazid, led by Husayn ibn Numayr, attacked Mecca and desecrated the Kaaba, marking one of the darkest events in Islamic history. This incident reflected internal conflicts and power struggles between the Umayyad caliphs and their opponents.

Yazid ibn Muawiya (may the eternal curse of Allah be upon them both), who ruled for just over three years, was notorious for his violent actions against the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon him) and the people of Medina. In 63 AH, a rebellion in Medina was brutally suppressed, and Yazid’s forces marched toward Mecca to confront Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr.

The assault led to the siege of the Sacred Mosque, with Umayyad troops stoning and partially damaging the Kaaba. The attacks continued until Yazid’s death, highlighting the intensity of internal strife. Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr, invoking the cause of avenging Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), gained popular support and declared himself caliph.

This era exemplifies the “struggle of two evils,” as both the Umayyads and the Zubayrids violated the sanctity of the Kaaba in pursuit of political power. While reminiscent of Abraha’s pre-Islamic attack and later al-Hajjaj’s assault, Yazid’s campaign differed: the goal was consolidating power and suppressing opposition, not the destruction of Islam’s qibla. Consequently, despite severe violence, the Kaaba remained protected, demonstrating divine safeguarding of the sacred site.

Shia scholar Sheikh Saduq, in Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, explains that divine punishment similar to that of the People of the Elephant did not descend upon Yazid’s or al-Hajjaj’s armies because their aim was not the destruction of Islam or the Kaaba but rather the elimination of opponents like Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr.

This historical event underscores the link between Wilayah and Imamate and the sanctity of the Kaaba, reminding that preserving sacred spaces requires justice, truth, and divine guidance, not merely political or military might. The attack also serves as a lesson that power struggles, when divorced from righteousness, can endanger even the holiest of places, highlighting the patience and steadfastness of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).