We will narrate this subject by drawing on the views of the imams of sīra (biographical tradition). We will not give credence to the claims of the lying Shīʿa.
Abū Mikhnaf relates from ʿAbdullāh b. Sulaym and Munīr b. Mushmaʿil al-Asadī: "Husayn set out on his journey. When he reached the region of Sharaf and camped there, at dawn he ordered his freedmen (the young men with him): 'Take and store plenty of water.' He then continued on his way. Around midday, one of his companions uttered the takbīr (proclamation of God's greatness), and Husayn asked him: 'Why did you say the takbīr?' The man replied: 'I saw date palms.' But two men from the Asad tribe said: 'There are definitely no date palms in this area.' Husayn then asked them: 'What do you think it is, then?' The two men replied: 'We think it is nothing but approaching horsemen. Here they come.' Husayn said: 'I think so too.' He then asked: 'Is there a place we can take refuge in, to have at our backs and face the approaching people from one direction?' The two men replied: 'There is such a place. It is called Zuhism, just to the side. If you go left and reach it before them, it is just the place you want.' Husayn went there and, upon arrival, ordered the tents to be pitched. The opposing force arrived under the command of Ḥurr b. Yazīd al-Tamīmī, a thousand cavalrymen—the vanguard of the military unit sent by Ibn Ziyād. They arrived at noon and stood before Husayn. Husayn and his companions had wrapped their turbans and girded their swords. He ordered his companions to drink water to their fill, to water their horses, and to give water to their enemies as well. He and the others drank deeply.
It is reported that when the time for the noon prayer arrived, Husayn ordered Ḥajjāj b. Masrūq al-Jūfī to call the adhān (call to prayer). Husayn then came out, wrapped in an izār and ridāʾ, wearing a pair of sandals, and addressed both his companions and his enemies. He explained his reasons for coming to Iraq, that the people of Kūfa had written letters saying they had no imam, and that if he came, they would pledge allegiance to him and fight alongside him. Then the prayer was performed. Husayn asked Ḥurr, the commander of the soldiers sent by ʿUbaydullāh b. Ziyād:
- Do you wish to lead your companions in prayer?
- No, you lead. We will follow you.
Husayn led them in prayer. Then he returned to his tent and held a meeting with his companions. Ḥurr also went to his men; both sides remained alert. At the time of the afternoon prayer, Husayn again led them in prayer. After the prayer, he delivered a sermon, urging them to listen to his command, obey him, and remove the oppressive rulers from over them. Ḥurr replied: 'We do not know what these letters are or who wrote them.' Husayn then brought out two sacks full of letters and emptied them before Ḥurr, reading some aloud. Ḥurr said:
- We are not among those who wrote these letters to you. We have only been ordered not to leave you until we bring you to ʿUbaydullāh b. Ziyād.
- Death is better than going there.
After saying this, Husayn ordered his companions: 'Mount your beasts.' They and the women mounted. When they tried to leave, Ḥurr and his men prevented them. Husayn said to Ḥurr:
- May your mother lose you! What do you intend?
- By Allah, had anyone else said this to me in your situation, I would have retaliated and not spared his mother. But regarding your mother, I can only mention her in the best way possible. The two sides exchanged words until Ḥurr said to Husayn:
I have not been ordered to fight you, but only not to leave you until I bring you to Kūfa to Ibn Ziyād. If you do not wish to go to Kūfa, take another route, but one that leads neither to Kūfa nor to Medina. Write a letter to Yazīd, and I will write to Ibn Ziyād. Perhaps Allah will provide a way out for me from your calamity.
Husayn took the road toward ʿAzīb and Qādisiyya, turning left, with Ḥurr b. Yazīd accompanying him. He said to him:
- O Husayn! For Allah's sake, do not harm yourself. If you fight, I testify you will be killed. If you are killed, you will be lost.
- Do you threaten me with death? I say what the cousin of the brother of Aws said when he went to help the Messenger of God and was told: 'Where are you going? You will be killed.' He replied: 'I will continue on my way. If brave men intend good and fight as Muslims, they are not blamed for death. They treat the righteous well and do good themselves. As long as they live, they are free from fear and cast fear aside.'
This poem is also transmitted in another form: 'I will continue on my way. If brave men, intending good, do not meet with wrongdoers, death is not a shame for them. If I live, I am not blamed; if I die, I do not regret, but death is enough for you to prevent my humiliation.' When Ḥurr heard these words, he withdrew from Husayn and continued on his way with his companions. They reached the place called ʿAzībul-Ḥajanāt, where they met four men coming from Kūfa, including Nafiʿ b. Hilāl's horse al-Kāmil. They had come to meet Husayn, guided by Ṭarmāḥ b. ʿAdī, who was reciting this poem:
'O my mount, do not fear my urging,
Roll up your skirts to reach the destination before dawn with the best of riders and the best of journeys,
So you may be adorned with a noble, free man, broad of chest and heart. Allah has brought him for the best of deeds,
His fame will last until the Day of Resurrection.'
Ḥurr did not allow the newcomers to approach Husayn, but Husayn forbade him from doing so. When the men from Kūfa reached Husayn, he asked: 'Tell me about the people you left behind.' Mujammaʿ b. ʿAbdullāh al-ʿĀmirī replied:
'The notables of the people have united against you because they were bribed, their saddlebags filled, and thus their loyalty was won. Their obedience was secured, and all have united against you. As for the rest, their hearts are with you, but tomorrow their swords will be drawn against you.'
Husayn asked:
- What do you know about the envoy I sent to you?
- Who was your envoy?
- Qays b. Muzhir al-Saydāwī.
- Yes, Ḥusayn b. Numayr captured him and brought him to Ibn Ziyād. Ibn Ziyād ordered him to curse you and your father, but he prayed for you and your father and cursed Ibn Ziyād and his father. He called the people to help you and announced that you were coming to Kūfa. He was then thrown from the palace roof and died.
Upon hearing this, Husayn's eyes filled with tears and he recited the verse: 'Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to Allah], and among them is he who awaits [his chance].' (al-Aḥzāb 33:23)
Then Husayn prayed: 'O Allah, grant Paradise to us and to them. Gather us and them in the abode of Your mercy and in the hidden reward You have prepared for the believers.'
Ṭarmāḥ b. ʿAdī said to Husayn: 'Look at your men. How many are with you? Only this small group. I think that even if only the group I see before me fights you, they will suffice to overcome you. Meanwhile, outside Kūfa, cavalry and infantry are massing, all intent on capturing you. You are their target. For Allah's sake, if you wish to go to a land where Allah will protect you from the kings of Ghassān and Ḥimyar, from Nuʿmān b. al-Mundhir, and from all black and red people, then do so. By Allah, we will never be humiliated in this. I will go with you wherever you wish to settle. I guarantee that ten thousand men from the Ṭayy tribe will come to support you, fighting for you with their swords. As long as their eyes blink, no harm will come to you.'
Husayn replied: 'May Allah reward you with good,' but did not turn back or change his mind. Ṭarmāḥ bade him farewell, and Husayn continued on his way. At night, Husayn ordered his servants to take and store enough water. After securing water, they continued on. On the road, Husayn dozed off on his mount, his head drooping. He awoke and said: 'Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we return. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. In my dream, I saw a rider saying: "This people are moving on, but death is coming toward them." I understood that we have been given news of death.'
After dawn, he led his companions in the morning prayer, and they quickly mounted and continued on the left side. Eventually, they reached Nīnawā, where they saw a rider coming from Kūfa. The rider greeted Ḥurr b. Yazīd, but not Husayn, and delivered Ibn Ziyād's letter, which ordered them to proceed toward Iraq without stopping at any town, village, or fortress, until Ibn Ziyād's messengers and soldiers arrived. This was on the second Monday of Muḥarram in the sixty-first year of the Hijra. The next day, ʿUmar b. Saʿd b. Abī Waqqāṣ arrived with four thousand soldiers. Ibn Ziyād had assigned him to go to Daylam with these troops, but when he learned of Husayn's situation, he ordered him: 'Go against Husayn, finish his affair, then proceed to Daylam.' ʿUmar b. Saʿd requested to be excused from this task, but Ibn Ziyād said: 'If you wish, I will excuse you, but I will also take away the governorship of these lands I have given you.' Upon this, ʿUmar b. Saʿd said: 'Let me consider my situation,' and asked for time. During this time, everyone he consulted advised him not to go against Husayn. Even his sister's son, Ḥamza b. Mughirah b. Shuʿbah, said:
'Do not go against Husayn. Otherwise, you will have rebelled against your Lord and severed family ties. By Allah, it is better for you to lose the rule of the whole earth than to meet Allah with Husayn's blood on your hands.' ʿUmar said: 'God willing, I will do so.' But then ʿUbaydullāh b. Ziyād threatened and frightened him, saying he would dismiss and kill him. So ʿUmar b. Saʿd went against Husayn, met him at the place mentioned above, and sent an envoy to ask:
- Why have you come here?
- The people of Kūfa wrote to me, inviting me to come. If they do not want me, I will leave and return to Mecca. Upon hearing this, ʿUmar b. Saʿd said: 'I hope Allah will spare me from fighting Husayn,' and reported the situation to Ibn Ziyād in a letter. Ibn Ziyād replied:
'Just as the trustworthy, pious, and oppressed leader of the believers, ʿUthmān b. ʿAffān, was deprived of water, so too deprive them of water. Prevent them from reaching the water. Offer Husayn and his men the chance to pledge allegiance to Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya, the trustworthy leader of the believers. If they do so, we will state our view.'
Upon this, ʿUmar b. Saʿd's men deprived Husayn's men of water and prevented them from reaching it. The detachment blocking the water was commanded by ʿAmr b. Ḥajjāj. Husayn cursed them, praying for their death by thirst, and indeed ʿAmr b. Ḥajjāj died of extreme thirst. Husayn then requested a meeting with ʿUmar b. Saʿd between the two camps. About twenty horsemen from each side met and talked at length, but could not reach an understanding. Some say Husayn asked ʿUmar b. Saʿd to take him to Yazīd in Damascus, leaving the military units where they were. ʿUmar replied:
- If I do that, Ibn Ziyād will destroy my house.
- I will build you a better house than before.
- Then he will take my farm.
- I will give you part of my property in the Ḥijāz so you can buy a better farm.
ʿUmar b. Saʿd did not accept this offer.
Some say Husayn asked ʿUmar b. Saʿd to go with him to Yazīd, or to let him return to the Ḥijāz, or to let him go to the frontier to fight the Turks. ʿUmar wrote to ʿUbaydullāh b. Ziyād, who agreed, but Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan intervened, saying:
- No, by Allah, unless Husayn and his men submit to your authority, this will not happen. I have heard that Husayn and ʿUmar b. Saʿd are meeting and talking all night between the two camps. Ibn Ziyād said: 'What a good idea you have proposed.'
Abū Mikhnaf relates from ʿUqbah b. Samʿah:
'I was with Husayn from the time he left Mecca until he was killed. By Allah, I heard all his words wherever he spoke. He never asked to go to Yazīd, pledge allegiance to him, or go to the frontier. He only asked for one of two things: either to be allowed to return, or to be left in an open area to await people's fate.'
Then ʿUbaydullāh b. Ziyād sent Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan against Husayn, instructing him: 'Go. If Husayn and his men submit to my rule, so be it. Otherwise, order ʿUmar b. Saʿd to fight them. If he delays, strike off his head and take command yourself.'
ʿUbaydullāh b. Ziyād sent a letter to ʿUmar b. Saʿd, threatening him for delaying the battle and ordering him to fight Husayn and his men if they did not come to him, declaring them rebels.
When Shimr received the letter, ʿAbdullāh b. Abī Muhīl b. Hizām was with him. His aunt, Umm al-Banīn, was the wife of ʿAlī, and mother of ʿAbbās, ʿAbdullāh, Jaʿfar, and ʿUthmān. ʿAbdullāh asked Ibn Ziyād: 'If you see fit, write a guarantee of safety for our sister's children.' Ibn Ziyād wrote them a guarantee and sent it with his slave Kirmān. When they saw it, they said: 'We have no need of your guarantee. Allah's guarantee is better than that of the son of Sumayya.'
When Shimr brought Ibn Ziyād's letter to ʿUmar b. Saʿd, he said:
'May Allah distance your land and make what you bring detestable. I think you are the one who prevented Ibn Ziyād from accepting the three proposals I offered him on Husayn's behalf. By Allah, that is the truth.'
Shimr asked:
- Tell me what you will do. Will you fight them, or leave them to me?
ʿUmar replied:
- No, the honor will not be yours. I will do it myself. He then made Shimr commander of the infantry. On Thursday evening, the ninth of Muḥarram, Shimr attacked Husayn's side. Shimr called out:
- Where are our sister's sons?
ʿAlī's sons—ʿAbdullāh, Jaʿfar, ʿAbbās, and ʿUthmān—stood up. Shimr said:
- You have been granted safety.
- If you grant safety to Husayn, the grandson of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), and to us together, we accept. Otherwise, we have no need of your guarantee.
Then ʿUmar b. Saʿd called out to his soldiers:
- O horsemen of Allah! Mount your steeds. Good news to you.
That afternoon, they mounted and attacked Husayn's side. Husayn was dozing, leaning on his sword in front of his tent. His brother heard the commotion, approached, and woke him. Husayn raised his head and said: 'I saw the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) in a dream. He said: "You are coming to us."' Upon hearing this, his sister struck her face and cried out: 'Woe to us!' Husayn replied: 'Sister, do not despair. May the Merciful Allah have mercy on you.'
His brother ʿAbbās said:
- Brother, the enemy is coming.
- Go and ask them why they are coming.
ʿAbbās went with twenty horsemen and asked:
- What is your business? Why are you coming?
- The governor Ibn Ziyād has ordered: either you submit to his rule, or we will fight you.
- Wait here while I inform Husayn.
ʿAbbās returned to Husayn, while his companions stood before the enemy. The two sides exchanged words, blaming and reproaching each other. Husayn's men said to Ibn Ziyād's men: 'What a wicked people you are! You want to kill the descendants of your Prophet and the best people of this time.'
After this, ʿAbbās returned to Husayn and said: 'He asks you to return tonight, to consider your situation during the night.' ʿUmar b. Saʿd asked Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan: 'What do you say?' Shimr replied: 'You are the commander; the decision is yours.' ʿAmr b. Ḥajjāj b. Salamah al-Zubaydī said: 'Glory be to Allah! By Allah, even if a man from the Daylamites—not Husayn—had made such a request, you should have granted it.' Qays b. Ashʿath said: 'O ʿUmar b. Saʿd! Accept Husayn and his men's request. By my life, you will fight in the morning.' And so it was. When ʿAbbās returned, Husayn said: 'Go back and delay them tonight, so that we may pray to our Lord, seek His forgiveness, and supplicate. Allah knows that the thing I love most is to pray to Him, recite His Book, seek forgiveness, and supplicate.'
That night, Husayn made his will to his family. In the first part of the night, he addressed his companions with eloquence and emotion, praising Allah and sending blessings upon His Messenger, then said: 'Tonight, whoever wishes to return to his family, I permit him, for the enemy seeks only me.'
Mālik b. Naḍr said: 'I have debts and a family.' He left. Husayn said: 'Night has covered you; take advantage of its darkness and go. Each man should take one of my family by the hand and depart in the night. Go to your cities, for the enemy seeks only me. If they capture me, they will be preoccupied with me and leave you.' His brothers, sons, and nephews said: 'We cannot live after you, nor do we wish to see Allah bring upon you what we dislike.' Husayn said: 'O sons of ʿAqīl! The death of your brother Muslim is enough as ransom for you. Go, I permit you.' But they replied: 'What will people say if we abandon our leader and do not fight for him? No, by Allah, we will not do so. We will sacrifice our wealth, families, and lives for you, and will not leave you until we have fought for you. Allah has made life after you hateful to us.' Muslim b. ʿAwsajah al-Asadī said likewise. Saʿīd b. ʿAbdullāh al-Ḥanafī said: 'No, by Allah, we will not leave you until we prove to Allah that we have protected you after the Messenger of God. Even if I knew I would die a thousand times for you, I would still wish for death if it would save you and your family.' The other companions said similar words: 'By Allah, we will never leave you. Our lives are yours. We will protect you with our throats, foreheads, hands, and bodies. If we are killed, we have fulfilled our duty.' His brother ʿAbbās said: 'May Allah not show us your death. What use is life after you?'
Abū Mikhnaf relates from Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn, the son of Husayn and grandson of ʿAlī: 'On the night my father was to be killed, I was sitting. My aunt Zaynab was tending my wounds. My father had withdrawn to his tent with his companions. With him was Huway, the freedman of Abū Dharr al-Ghifārī. My father was straightening his sword and reciting:
O Time, alas for you! What a companion you are. How long the sun rises and morning comes. What a companion you are, how you desire the dead! Time does not accept one in place of another. The command belongs only to Allah. Every living being follows a path.'
My father repeated these verses two or three times, so that I memorized them and understood his meaning. Tears filled my eyes, but I restrained myself. My aunt Zaynab heard him and came to him with her head uncovered, crying: 'Woe to me! If only death would take my life now. My mother Fāṭima is dead. My father ʿAlī is dead. My brother Ḥasan is dead. O successor of the past, they are all dead.' Husayn said: 'My dear sister, do not let Satan take away your strength. My sister, by Allah, you must not tear your clothes or scratch your face for me after my death, nor cry out: "Woe to me!"' He comforted her, took her by the hand, and brought her to me. He then went to his companions and ordered them to bring their tents close together, so the enemy could not attack from different directions. In the evening, they prayed together and spent the night in prayer, seeking forgiveness, and supplication.
The enemy's horses circled behind them, commanded by ʿUzrah b. Qays al-Aḥmasī. My father Husayn recited the verse: 'Let not those who disbelieve think that Our granting them respite is good for them. We only give them respite so that they may increase in sin; and for them is a humiliating punishment. Allah would not leave the believers in the state you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good.' (Āl ʿImrān 3:178–179)
One of the enemy horsemen heard Husayn reciting this and said: 'By the Lord of the Kaʿba, we are the pure ones. Allah will separate us from you.' I recognized him. I said to Zayd b. Hudayr:
- Do you know who this man is?
- No.
- This is Abū Ḥarb al-Subayʿī ʿUbaydullāh b. Shumayr. He was a cheerful and bold man. Saʿīd b. Qays would sometimes keep him in his tent. Upon hearing this, Yazīd b. Ḥusayn replied:
- O sinner, when were you among the pure? Who are you? Woe to you!
- I am Yazīd b. Ḥusayn!
- Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we return. O enemy of Allah, you are doomed! Why do you seek your own death? Repent of your great sins. By Allah, we are the pure ones, and you are the impure ones.
- Yes, I am among those who witness this. Is it not enough for you to know me? (Go away!) After this exchange, the commander of the enemy patrol, ʿUzrah b. Qays, drove Abū Ḥarb away.
On Friday (or Saturday), which was also the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, ʿUmar b. Saʿd led his men in the morning prayer and prepared for battle. Husayn led his thirty-two horsemen and forty infantry in prayer, then arranged them in ranks. He appointed Zubayr b. Qayn to the right wing, Ḥabīb b. Muẓaḥḥar to the left, and gave his banner to his brother ʿAbbās b. ʿAlī. He placed the tents of his harem at the rear. The night before, he had ordered trenches dug behind the tents, filled with wood, reeds, and kindling, and set alight, so that no enemy could attack from behind.
On the other side, ʿUmar b. Saʿd appointed ʿAmr b. Ḥajjāj al-Zubaydī to command his right wing, Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan the left. Shimr's real name was Shuraḥbīl b. Aʿwar b. ʿAmr b. Muʿāwiya, of the Banū Dabbāb b. Kilāb. ʿUmar b. Saʿd appointed ʿUzrah b. Qays al-Aḥmasī over the cavalry, Shabath b. Ribʿī over the infantry, and gave his banner to his freedman Wardān. The two sides faced each other. Husayn went to his tent, performed ghusl (ritual bath), shaved his pubic hair, and perfumed himself with musk. Some commanders did likewise. Some said: 'Is this the time for such purification?' Others replied: 'Let it be; by Allah, it is not done in vain.'
Yazīd b. Ḥusayn said: 'By Allah, my people know that I have never liked vain things, neither in youth nor old age. But by Allah, I know I am departing for the Hereafter and will meet my friends. By Allah, nothing stands between us and the wide-eyed houris except for these enemies attacking and killing us. After death, we will meet our friends and the houris.'
Then Husayn mounted his horse, took his sword, and went out to face the enemy, praying: 'O Allah, You are my refuge in every distress, my hope in every hardship.'
His son ʿAlī also mounted a horse named Ahmaq. ʿAlī was weak and sickly. Husayn called out:
'O people! Listen to my words and do not be hasty. I will give you advice.' Everyone fell silent and listened. After praising Allah, he said:
- O people! If you accept my reason for coming and treat me justly, you will be happy, and you will have no case against me. But if you do not accept my excuse, then you and your partners should act together, and do not let your decision trouble you. Then carry it out against me and do not delay. My protector is Allah, who revealed the Book; He befriends the righteous.
When his brothers and daughters heard this speech, they began to weep loudly. Husayn remembered ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAbbās, who had advised him not to bring the women from Mecca, and said: 'May Allah not deprive Ibn ʿAbbās of His mercy.' He then sent his brother ʿAbbās to quiet the women. He himself addressed Ibn Ziyād's soldiers, recounting his virtues, noble lineage, and honor, and said:
- Consider yourselves: is it fitting for you to fight someone like me? I am the grandson of your Prophet's daughter; there is no other grandson of a Prophet's daughter on earth. ʿAlī is my father. My uncle is Jaʿfar, who flies with two wings in Paradise. The master of martyrs, Ḥamza, is my father's uncle. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said to me and my brother: "You are the leaders of the youth of Paradise." If you confirm what I say, know it is true. By Allah, since I learned that Allah hates lies, I have never knowingly lied. If you do not believe me, ask the Companions of the Messenger of God: Jābir b. ʿAbdullāh, Abū Saʿīd, Sahl b. Saʿd, Zayd b. Arqam, and Anas b. Mālik. Ask them, and they will tell you. Woe to you! Do you not fear Allah? Is there nothing to prevent you from shedding my blood?
At that moment, Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan said:
- This man worships Allah on the edge of a precipice; I do not understand what he says.
Ḥabīb b. Muẓaḥḥar replied: 'By Allah, O Shimr, you worship Allah on seventy precipices. As for us, by Allah, we do not understand what you say, but your heart is sealed.'
After this exchange, Husayn addressed Shimr and his companions:
- Let me go to a place where I can feel safe on earth. They replied:
- What prevents you from submitting to the rule of your cousin (Yazīd)?
Husayn replied by reciting the verse: 'Indeed, I have sought refuge in my Lord and your Lord, Allah, from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Account.' (al-Muʾmin 40:27) Husayn then dismounted and ordered ʿUqbah b. Samʿān to tie up his horse. He then said to them:
- Tell me, have I killed one of your men that you seek my blood? Have I taken your property that you demand it from me? Have I wounded any of you that you seek retaliation? But they did not answer. Husayn called out:
- O Shabath b. Ribʿī! O Ḥajjār b. Abjar! O Qays b. Ashʿath! O Zayd b. Ḥārith! Did you not write to me: "The fruits have ripened, the gardens are green, come to us, and you will lead well-organized armies"?
They denied writing such letters. Husayn replied:
- Glory be to Allah! By Allah, you wrote them! If you are not pleased with me, let me return.
Qays b. Ashʿath said:
- Submit to your cousins' rule! If you do, they will not harm you or treat you badly.
Husayn replied:
- You are your brother's brother. Would you want the Hāshimites to demand more blood than that of Muslim b. ʿAqīl? No, by Allah, I will not submit to Yazīd and his followers in humiliation, nor will I obey them like a slave.
The enemy attacked Husayn, but about thirty horsemen crossed over to Husayn's side, including Ḥurr b. Yazīd, the commander of Ibn Ziyād's vanguard. He apologized to Husayn, saying: 'Had I known their intentions, I would have gone with you to Yazīd.' Husayn accepted his excuse. Ḥurr then addressed ʿUmar b. Saʿd:
- Woe to you! Why do you not accept one of the three things Husayn offers?
ʿUmar b. Saʿd replied: 'If it were up to me, I would accept, but Ibn Ziyād has not.'
Husayn's companion Zuhayr b. al-Qayn, armed and mounted, addressed the enemy:
- O Kufans! Fear Allah's punishment. A Muslim's duty to another Muslim is to give sincere advice. Until now, as long as there is no sword between us, we are brothers in one religion. But if the sword comes between us, all ties are severed. Then we will be one community, and you another. Allah has tested us and you with the descendants of His Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him), to see what we will do. I call you to help Muḥammad and not to help the rebellious son of the rebellious ʿUbaydullāh b. Ziyād. You will see nothing but evil from them. They will blind your eyes, cut off your hands and feet, mutilate your ears and noses, and hang you from palm trees! They will torture you, kill your leaders and reciters, as they did to Ḥijr b. ʿAdī and his companions, and to Ḥānī b. ʿUrwah and others.'
The enemy insulted him, praised Ibn Ziyād, and said: 'By Allah, we will not leave until we have killed your man and those with him.'
Zuhayr replied:
- The son of Fāṭima is more deserving of love and help than the son of Sumayya. If you do not help them, may Allah keep you from killing them. Leave the man to his cousin Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya. By Allah, Yazīd will be pleased with your obedience even if you do not kill Husayn.
Upon this, Shimr shot an arrow and said: 'May Allah silence you! Enough talk! You have delayed us too much.'
Zuhayr replied:
- O son of one who wets his heels! I am not speaking to you; you are nothing but an animal. By Allah, I do not think you know even two verses of Allah's Book! I give you glad tidings of disgrace and painful punishment on the Day of Judgment.
Shimr said: 'Within an hour, Allah will take your life and your companion's.'
Zuhayr replied: 'Do you threaten me with death? By Allah, dying with him is dearer to me than living with you forever.' He then called out:
- O servants of Allah! Do not let this cowardly and foolish man mislead you in your religion. By Allah, those who shed the blood of his descendants and family, help their killers, and violate their honor will never receive the intercession of Muḥammad. Allah bless you! Will you fight this man (Husayn)?
- Yes, by Allah, the easiest way to fight him is by beheading and cutting off hands.
Ḥurr was among the bravest of the Kufans. Some of his friends reproached him for joining Husayn. He replied: 'By Allah, I am choosing between Paradise and Hell. Even if I am cut to pieces and burned, I will choose nothing over Paradise.'
He then spurred his horse to Husayn, apologized for his earlier actions, and addressed the Kufans: 'Woe to you! You called Husayn to you, then delivered him to his enemy. You claimed you would sacrifice your lives for him, but now you attack him. You have denied him the water of the Euphrates, which even dogs and pigs drink. After his death, how badly you have treated the family of Muḥammad! If you do not repent, may Allah never let you drink on the greatest day of thirst, the Day of Judgment.'
The Kufan infantry began to throw spears at him. He stood before Husayn and ʿUmar b. Saʿd said: 'If it were up to me, I would accept Husayn's requests, but Ibn Ziyād has not.'
Ḥurr addressed the Kufans, rebuking and insulting them, then said: 'Woe to you! You have denied Husayn, his women, and daughters the water of the Euphrates, which Jews and Christians, and the dogs and pigs of the black land drink. Now he is like a captive in your hands, unable to help or harm himself.'
ʿUmar b. Saʿd advanced and ordered his freedman: 'O Durayd! Lower your banner.' He did so. ʿUmar rolled up his sleeve and threw a spear at Husayn's side, saying: 'Bear witness that I was the first to throw a spear at them.' Both sides began to throw spears. The freedmen of Ziyād and ʿUbaydullāh b. ʿUmar al-Kalbī came out, challenging for single combat. With Husayn's permission, ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar al-Kalbī went out, killed both Yesār and Sālim, though Sālim struck and severed his left-hand fingers. ʿAbdullāh b. Ḥawzah approached Husayn and said: 'O Husayn! I bring you tidings of Hellfire.' Husayn replied: 'You lie. Rather, I am going to a merciful Lord who accepts intercession and whose commands are obeyed. You are the one deserving Hellfire!'
It is said that after the man left, his horse threw him, and as he fell, his foot caught in the stirrup. Husayn asked who he was. He replied: 'I am Ibn Ḥawzah.' Husayn raised his hand and prayed: 'O Allah, drag him to Hellfire!' Ibn Ḥawzah, angered by this, drove his horse into a canal, but his foot remained caught. The horse dragged him, smashing his head against rocks until he died.
Abū Mikhnaf relates from Abū Janāb: 'Among us was a man known as ʿAbdullāh b. Numayr of the Banū ʿUlaym, settled in Kūfa. He saw people preparing to fight Husayn and said: 'By Allah, I am eager to fight the polytheists. I hope that fighting these oppressors alongside the grandson of the Messenger of God will be more virtuous and rewarding than fighting the polytheists.' He told his wife, who agreed and asked to go with him. They left Kūfa at night and joined Husayn. When Yesār and Sālim challenged for single combat, ʿAbdullāh sought Husayn's permission. Husayn, seeing his strong build, said: 'I think he will overcome these two.' ʿAbdullāh went out, killed Yesār, and then Sālim, though Sālim struck and severed his fingers. ʿAbdullāh recited:
'If you do not know me, I am Ibn Kalb. My lineage is such, my home is in ʿUlaym. I am a man of anger and virtue. In hardship, I do not wail. O Umm Wahb, I promised to strike them before you with a blow worthy of a youth who believes in his Lord.'
His wife Umm Wahb came with a staff and said: 'Fight for these pure descendants of Muḥammad.' Husayn told her: 'Return to the women; women are not obliged to fight.' She obeyed.
That day, there were many single combats. Victory leaned toward Husayn's side, for they were strong and unafraid of death, with nothing but their swords for defense. Some commanders advised ʿUmar b. Saʿd to end this. ʿAmr b. Ḥajjāj attacked, saying: 'Kill those who have left the religion and the community.' Husayn replied: 'Woe to you, O Ḥajjāj! Are you inciting people against me? Are we the ones who left the religion? After our souls depart, you will know who deserves Hellfire.'
In this attack, Muslim b. ʿAwsajah was killed—the first of Husayn's men to fall. Husayn prayed for him. Ḥabīb b. Muẓaḥḥar said: 'I give you glad tidings of Paradise.' Muslim replied: 'May Allah reward you with good.' Ḥabīb said: 'If I did not hope to die and join you, I would fulfill your will.' Muslim replied: 'I advise you to die for Husayn.' Shimr then attacked Husayn's left wing, but Husayn's cavalry fiercely defended him. Shimr requested archers from ʿUmar b. Saʿd, who sent five hundred. They shot Husayn's horses, leaving his cavalry on foot. When Ḥurr's horse was killed, he dismounted and fought like a lion, reciting:
'Even if you kill my horse, I am the son of Ḥurr, braver than a lion with a mane.'
ʿUmar b. Saʿd ordered the tents blocking access to Husayn to be destroyed. Husayn's men killed those who tried. ʿUmar then ordered the tents to be burned. Husayn said: 'Let them burn them; they cannot reach us over the burning tents.' Shimr approached Husayn's tent, thrust a spear into it, and said: 'Bring me fire to burn this tent and its occupants.' The women screamed and fled. Husayn cursed Shimr: 'May Allah burn you with fire.' Shabath b. Ribʿī rebuked Shimr: 'I have never seen anything more vile than your words and actions. Are you trying to frighten women?' Shimr was ashamed and withdrew. Ḥumayd b. Muslim said: 'I told Shimr: "Glory be to Allah! This does not suit you. Do you want to combine two evils: punishing with fire, which is Allah's punishment, and killing women and children? By Allah, you can please your commander by killing only the men." When I said this, Shimr asked who I was. I refused to tell him, fearing he would harm me before the ruler.'
Zuhayr b. al-Qayn and a few of Husayn's men attacked Shimr and drove him back, killing Abū ʿAzza al-Dabbābī. When one of Husayn's men was killed, a gap appeared in their ranks due to their small number, but when one of Ibn Ziyād's men was killed, it was not noticed due to their numbers. At noon, Husayn said: 'Ask them to let us pray.' A Kufan replied: 'We will not grant your request.' Ḥabīb b. Muẓaḥḥar said: 'Shame on you! We grant your requests, but you refuse those of the family of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him)?' He fought fiercely, killing Budayl b. Suraym. He recited:
'I am Ḥabīb, son of Muẓaḥḥar, a warrior hero. The fire of battle is blazing. You are more numerous and better equipped, but we are more loyal and patient. Our proof is stronger and more just. Our proof is more lasting and pure.'
Then a man from Banū Tamīm speared Ḥabīb, who fell. Ḥusayn b. Numayr struck his head with a sword, and he died. The man from Banū Tamīm cut off his head and took it to Ibn Ziyād. When Ḥabīb's son saw his father's severed head, he recognized it and asked for it to bury. He wept. When he grew up, his only goal was to kill his father's murderer, which he did during the time of Musʿab b. ʿUmayr.
Abū Mikhnaf relates from Muḥammad b. Qays: 'When Ḥabīb b. Muẓaḥḥar was killed, Husayn was devastated and said: "O my soul, be patient." Ḥurr replied with a poem: "I swore you would not be killed before me. Today I will not be killed unless I attack the enemy. I will strike them with sharp blows. I will not tire or neglect them." Then Ḥurr and Zuhayr attacked the enemy. When one charged into the enemy ranks, the other would rescue him. They continued this for a while, until several infantrymen attacked and killed Ḥurr b. Yazīd. Abū Sumāmah al-Saʿīdī killed his own cousin, his enemy. They then performed the noon prayer, which Husayn led as a prayer of fear. After noon, the fighting intensified. Husayn's leading men defended him. Zuhayr b. al-Qayn fought fiercely before Husayn. Some of Husayn's men were struck by arrows and fell before him. Zuhayr recited:
'I am Zuhayr, son of al-Qayn. I protect Husayn with my sword.'
He then struck Husayn's shoulder and said:
'Advance as one guided and guiding. Today you will meet your grandfather the Prophet, Ḥasan, ʿAlī al-Murtaḍā, the two-winged hero (Jaʿfar), and Allah's living lion of martyrdom (Ḥamza).'
Kasīr b. ʿAbdullāh al-Shabī and Muhājir b. Aws attacked and killed Zuhayr.
Among Husayn's men was Nāfiʿ b. Hilāl al-Jamalī, who had written his name on his arrows, which were poisoned. As he shot, he said:
'I shoot my marked arrows. Misfortune does not benefit the soul. I am from Jamal, I follow ʿAlī's religion.'
He killed twelve of ʿUmar b. Saʿd's men (not counting the wounded). He was wounded, his arms broken, and captured. When brought to ʿUmar b. Saʿd, he said: 'Woe to you, Nāfiʿ! Why did you do this to yourself?' Nāfiʿ replied: 'My Lord knows what I wanted. By Allah, I killed twelve of your men, not counting the wounded. I do not regret it. If my arms were not broken, you would not have captured me.'
Shimr said: 'Kill him.' ʿUmar replied: 'You brought him, you kill him.' Shimr took Nāfiʿ's sword. Nāfiʿ said: 'By Allah, O Shimr, if you were among the Muslims, meeting Allah with our blood would be a great burden for you. Praise be to Allah, who left our deaths to the worst of His creatures.' Shimr killed Nāfiʿ. Then Shimr and many men attacked Husayn's side. They nearly reached Husayn. When his men saw they could not protect Husayn or themselves, they began to compete to die for him. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān and ʿAbdullāh, sons of Uzrah al-Ghifārī, said to Husayn: 'O father of ʿAbdullāh! Peace be upon you. The enemy has forced us to come to you. We wish to fight and protect you.' Husayn said: 'Welcome. Come near.' They fought by his side, reciting:
'The tribes of Ghifār, Handaf, and Nizār know we strike the wicked with all our anger and sharp swords. O people! With your swords and spears, protect and defend the son of the noble.'
Husayn's men came to him one by one, fought before him, and he prayed for them: 'May Allah give you the best reward given to the God-conscious.' They greeted him and fought until they were killed. Then ʿĀbis b. Abī Shabīb said: 'O father of ʿAbdullāh! By Allah, no one on earth, near or far, is dearer to me than you. If I could save you from this injustice and death with something more precious than my own life and blood, I would. Peace be upon you. Bear witness that I am on your path.' He advanced, wounded in the forehead, and called: 'Come out one by one for single combat!' They recognized him and withdrew. ʿUmar b. Saʿd ordered his men: 'Stone him to death.' They pelted him with stones. He threw off his armor and helmet, then attacked the enemy. By Allah, I saw him drive over two hundred men before him. Then they attacked him from all sides and killed him. May Allah have mercy on him. Several men claimed to have killed him. ʿUmar b. Saʿd said: 'Do not argue; he was not killed by one man.' He separated them.
Then Husayn's men fought before him until all were killed. Only Suwayd b. ʿAmr b. Abī Muṭa al-Ḥasamī remained. The first of Husayn's family to be killed was his son ʿAlī al-Akbar, whose mother was Laylā bint Abī Murrah b. ʿUrwah b. Masʿūd al-Thaqafī. Murrah b. Munqidh b. Nuʿmān al-ʿAbdī killed ʿAlī al-Akbar, who was shielding his father. ʿAlī b. Ḥusayn said: 'I am ʿAlī, son of Ḥusayn, son of ʿAlī. By the House of Allah, we are closer to the Prophet. By Allah, no one of uncertain lineage can rule over us. Today you will see how I protect my father.' When Murrah wounded him, several men surrounded and hacked him to pieces. Husayn, seeing this, said: 'O my son, may Allah curse the people who killed you! How bold they are in violating Allah's prohibitions. What value has the world after you?' At that moment, a woman as beautiful as the sun came out, crying: 'Woe to my brother! Woe to my brother's son!' This was Zaynab, daughter of ʿAlī and Fāṭima. She threw herself over her nephew and wept. Husayn took her by the hand and led her to the tent, ordering others to take her to his tent. Then ʿAbdullāh b. Muslim b. ʿAqīl was killed, followed by ʿAwn and Muḥammad, sons of ʿAbdullāh b. Jaʿfar, then ʿAbd al-Raḥmān and Jaʿfar, sons of ʿAqīl, then Qāsim, son of Ḥasan. Abū Mikhnaf relates from Fuḍayl b. Ḥadīj al-Kindī: 'Yazīd b. Ziyād, known as Abū Shaʿsāʾ al-Kinānī, was a skilled archer. He knelt before Husayn and shot a hundred arrows, only five of which missed. He said: "I realize I have killed five men," and recited:
'I am Yazīd, I am a Muhājir, braver than a lion running downhill. I swear by the Lord, I am a helper of Husayn, I have left the sons of Saʿd.'
They say Husayn waited a long day, alone. Everyone who approached said: 'Let me not be the one to kill him or share in his death,' and withdrew. Finally, Mālik b. Bashīr of Banū Baddā approached and struck Husayn's head with a sword, wounding him. Husayn cursed him: 'May you never eat or drink with the price of this cloak, and may Allah gather you with the oppressors.'
Husayn removed his bloodied cloak and asked for a turban, which he put on his head.
Abū Mikhnaf relates from Ḥumayd: 'A youth whose face was like the moon approached us with a sword. He wore a shirt and izār. One of his sandals—perhaps the left—was untied. ʿUmar b. Saʿd b. Nufayl al-Azdī said: "By Allah, I will attack him." I said: "Glory be to Allah! Why kill this child? Is it not enough to have killed those lying around?" ʿUmar insisted, struck the boy, who cried out: "O uncle!" Husayn rushed at ʿUmar like a lion, struck his arm, and severed it at the elbow. ʿUmar screamed and fled. The Kufan cavalry tried to rescue him, but the horses trampled him to death. When the dust settled, Husayn stood by the boy, who was moving his feet. Husayn said: 'May those who brought you to this state be far from Allah's mercy. On the Day of Judgment, your grandfather will be their adversary.' He added: 'By Allah, it was hard for your uncle not to come immediately when you called, or to come and not be able to help you. Today is a day with many oppressors and few helpers.' He carried the boy to where his son ʿAlī al-Akbar and other family members lay. I was told the boy was Qāsim, son of Ḥasan.'
Ḥānī b. Thābit al-Ḥadramī said: 'I was present on the day Husayn was killed, the tenth among ten horsemen. A youth from Husayn's family came out of the tents, holding a stick, wearing a shirt and a waistcloth, frightened, looking right and left, with pearls in his ears. As he turned, the pearls swung. A horseman attacked and struck him down.'
Hishām al-Sattūnī said: 'The youth was killed by Ḥānī b. Thābit, but he did not name himself for fear of blame.'
Husayn grew weary and sat at the door of his tent. His son ʿAbdullāh was brought to him. He embraced and kissed him, bidding farewell. A man from Banū Asad, Ibn Muqīd al-Nār, shot and killed the boy. Husayn caught his blood in his palm and cast it to the sky, praying: 'O Lord! If You do not send us help from heaven, send it to a better place and take vengeance on the oppressors.' ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUqbah al-Janawī speared Husayn's son Abū Bakr, killing him. Then ʿAlī's sons ʿAbdullāh, ʿAbbās, ʿUthmān, Jaʿfar, and Muḥammad were killed—Husayn's brothers. Husayn, extremely thirsty, tried to drink from the Euphrates, but was prevented. As he approached the water, Ḥusayn b. Tamīm speared his chin, knocking him down. Husayn pulled the spear from his chin, blood gushed, and he cast it to the sky, cursing: 'O Allah, You know their number, kill them one by one, and leave none on earth.' He cursed them repeatedly.
The man who shot Husayn while he was thirsty soon suffered unquenchable thirst, no matter how much he drank. His belly swelled and burst.
Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan, with about ten men, approached Husayn. Husayn said: 'Woe to you! If you are not religious or fear the Day of Judgment, at least be noble and free. Protect my belongings and family from your wicked and ignorant men.' Shimr replied: 'Your request will be granted, O son of Fāṭima.' They surrounded him. Shimr urged his men to kill him. Abū al-Janūb said: 'Why do you not kill Husayn yourself?' Shimr replied: 'Are you telling me?' They exchanged insults. Abū al-Janūb, a brave man, said: 'By Allah, I have decided to thrust these spears into your eyes.' Shimr withdrew.
Shimr and several warriors surrounded Husayn by his tent. No one remained to protect him. A youth with a face like the moon ran from the tents, with pearl earrings. Zaynab, daughter of ʿAlī, tried to stop him but failed. The youth defended his uncle Husayn. One of Shimr's men struck him with a sword, cutting his hand to the skin. The youth cried: 'O father!' Husayn said: 'O my son, seek your reward from Allah. You will join your righteous ancestors.' The enemy attacked Husayn from all sides. He fought them off with his sword, and they fled like lambs from a lion. His sister Zaynab came out, crying: 'If only the sky would fall to the earth.' When ʿUmar b. Saʿd arrived, Zaynab said: 'O ʿUmar! Will you allow Husayn to be killed before your eyes?' ʿUmar wept and turned away. No one dared to kill Husayn. Finally, Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan shouted: 'Woe to you! Why do you delay? Kill him!'
At Shimr's call, they attacked Husayn. Zürʿa b. Sharīk al-Tamīmī struck his left shoulder and neck, killing him. The enemy withdrew. His body grew heavy and fell. Sinān b. Abī ʿAmr b. Anas al-Nahāʾī speared him, threw him down, slaughtered him, and cut off his head, giving it to Ḥawlah b. Yazīd. Some say Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan killed him. Others say a man from the Mazḥij tribe or ʿUmar b. Saʿd b. Abī Waqqāṣ killed him, but the first account is most famous. ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmmār said: 'By Allah, I have never seen anyone attacked by so many after his children and companions were killed, yet as brave and steadfast as Husayn. By Allah, I have never seen his like before or after.'
ʿUmar b. Saʿd approached Husayn. Zaynab said: 'O ʿUmar! Will you allow Husayn to be killed before your eyes?' ʿUmar wept and left.
Abū Mikhnaf relates from Ḥumayd b. Muslim: 'Husayn attacked the enemy, saying: "Do you all attack me to kill me? By Allah, after me you will not kill anyone whose death angers Allah more. By Allah, Allah will honor me for your insults, and then take my vengeance from you without your realizing. By Allah, if you kill me, Allah will sow discord among you and cause you to shed each other's blood, then punish you with a severe torment." Husayn waited a long time that day. If they had wanted to kill him, they could have, but some feared blood vengeance and wanted others to bear the responsibility. Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan shouted: 'Why do you delay? Kill him!' Zürʿa b. Sharīk al-Tamīmī struck Husayn's shoulder, then Sinān b. Anas b. ʿAmr al-Nahāʾī speared him. When Husayn fell, Sinān cut off his head and gave it to Ḥawlah b. Yazīd.
Ibn ʿAsākir, in the biography of Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan, says his father Dhī Jawshan was a noble Companion named Shuraḥbīl. Some say his father's name was ʿUthmān b. Nawfal, or Ibn Aws b. Aʿwar al-ʿAnāʾirī al-Dabbābī. Dabbāb is a branch of Kilāb. Shimr was called Abū Ṣābiʿah.
Ibn ʿAsākir also relates from Muḥammad b. ʿAmr b. Ḥasan: 'We were with Husayn at Karbalāʾ. He looked at Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan and said: "Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: 'I see as if a piebald dog is licking the blood of my family.' The accursed Shimr was piebald.'
After killing Husayn, Sinān and others looted his belongings. His enemies divided his property and possessions, even taking the clean clothes from his body.
Abū Mikhnaf relates from Jaʿfar b. Muḥammad: 'When Husayn was killed, we counted thirty-three spear wounds and thirty-four sword wounds on his body. Shimr b. Dhī Jawshan wanted to kill Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn, who was sick and a child, but Ḥumayd b. Muslim prevented him. ʿUmar b. Saʿd said: "Let no one approach Husayn's women or kill this child. Return any of their belongings you have taken." By Allah, no one returned anything. Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn said to ʿUmar b. Saʿd: "May Allah reward you with good. Your words kept evil away from me."
It is said that Sinān b. Anas then came to ʿUmar b. Saʿd's tent and shouted:
'Load my horse with gold and silver, for I have killed the great master, the best in parentage, the noblest in lineage.'
ʿUmar b. Saʿd ordered: 'Bring him to me.' When Sinān entered, ʿUmar whipped him and said: 'Shame on you! If Ibn Ziyād hears this, he will kill you.'
He freed ʿUqbah b. Samʿān, who claimed to be a slave. No one else survived. Murāṭlah b. Yamānah also kept a secret. Ibn Ziyād favored him too.
Seventy-two of Husayn's men were killed. The people of Ghadiriyyah, from Banū Asad, buried them the next day.
ʿUmar b. Saʿd lost eighty-eight men, not counting the wounded.
It is related that Muḥammad b. al-Ḥanafiyyah said: 'Seventeen men were killed with Husayn, all descendants of Fāṭima.'
Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī said: 'Sixteen men of Husayn's family were killed, and there were none like them on earth that day.'
Others said: 'Twenty-three men from Husayn's children, brothers, and family were killed. Among ʿAlī's sons: Jaʿfar, Husayn, ʿAbbās, Muḥammad, ʿUthmān, and Abū Bakr. Among Husayn's sons: ʿAlī al-Akbar and ʿAbdullāh. Among Ḥasan's sons: ʿAbdullāh, Qāsim, and Abū Bakr. Among ʿAbdullāh b. Jaʿfar's sons: ʿAwn and Muḥammad. Among ʿAqīl's sons: Jaʿfar, ʿAbdullāh, and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān. Muslim b. ʿAqīl had already been killed in Kūfa. Two grandsons were also killed: ʿAbdullāh b. Muslim b. ʿAqīl and Muḥammad b. Abī Saʿīd b. ʿAqīl. Thus, six of ʿAqīl's descendants were killed. A poet said:
'Weep for the nine sons of ʿAlī and the six of ʿAqīl who were killed. The Prophet foretold their deaths at Ghadir. The enemies attacked them with shining, sharp swords.'
Among those killed with Husayn at Karbalāʾ was his milk-brother ʿAbdullāh b. Bakr. Some say he was killed earlier, sent by Husayn with a letter to the Kufans, and killed by Ibn Ziyād.
Eighty-eight of ʿUmar b. Saʿd's men were killed at Karbalāʾ, not counting the wounded. ʿUmar b. Saʿd prayed over and buried them. It is said he ordered ten horsemen to trample Husayn's body, but this is not a sound report. Allah knows best.
It is related that when Husayn's family entered Medina, a woman from Banū ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib greeted them, disheveled and weeping, reciting:
'What will you say when the Prophet asks you, as the last community, what you did to my family after me? Some you took captive, some you wounded. This is not how you should have treated my kin.'
And so ends the account of the killing of Husayn ibn ʿAlī at Karbalāʾ.