Whatever the family of Imam Husain (a.s.) was subjected to in Karbala, the tortures of Kufa and Syria were much more severe.
Ibn Ubdoos narrates from Ibn Qutaibah from Fazl Ibn Shazaan who said that I heard Imam Reza (a.s.) say:
“When the severed head of Imam Husain (a.s.) was brought to Syria, Yazid – may Allah curse him – ordered the head to be kept and a table cloth be spread over it. Then he and his companions began eating food and drinking alcohol. When they finished eating, Yazid (the accursed) ordered for Imam’s head to be placed on a tray kept beneath his throne and a chessboard is laid out over it. Then Yazid – may Allah curse him – sat down to play chess and he called out the names of Imam Husain (a.s.), his noble father Imam Ali (a.s.), and his grandfather Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and was mocking at them. Whenever he defeated his companion in a game of chess, he drank alcohol thrice and spilt the remaining on a tray beneath him lying on the ground. Hence, whoever is from among our Shias, should refrain from drinking alcohol and playing chess. Whoever looks at alcohol or chess should remember Imam Husain (a.s.) and curse Yazid and the progeny of Ziyaad. Allah, Mighty, and Majestic be He, will erase his sins due to this even if they be equal to the number of stars.”
[Uyoon o Akhbaar al-Reza (a.s.), vol. 2, p. 22, H. 50 & Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 45, p. 176, H. 23]
It is clear from this tradition of Imam Reza (a.s.) that consumption of alcohol, playing chess and mocking at Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his progeny (a.s.) is a characteristic of Yazid Ibn Muawiyah, the accursed. Hence, we pray to Allah by the right of Imam Husain (a.s.), help us the follow the advice of Imam Reza (a.s.) in this tradition such that whenever we see alcohol or chess, we remember the tragedy of Imam Husain (a.s.) and curse Yazid and the progeny of Ziyaad. And may this action of ours be a cause of the forgiveness of our sins. Aameen, O Lord of the worlds!