THE STORY OF KARBALA - PART 1/05
Ali was assassinated during prayers in the mosque of Koofa in Iraq in the 40th year of Hijra. Mu'awiyah was now free to do anything he wanted. Ali's followers in Koofa elected Hasan to become the Khaleefa. Hasan saw the dwindling support in his camp and decided that it was futile to fight Mu'awiyah. He was more concerned about safety and security of the remaining few of his followers.
He thought it prudent under the circumstances, to come to terms with Mu'awiyah. Together they signed a treaty. Hasan gave up any claim to temporal power but secured the promise that his followers will not be harassed or molested, and that the succession after Mu'awiyah will be left to general consensus among the Muslims. Mu'awiyah agreed in principle to these conditions. But, in practice he did what he wanted. Hasan died mysteriously of poisoning, in the 50th year of Hijra.