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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Journey of Imam Husain Part 3 (Continued from Part 2) He, peace be on him, went on from Batn al Aqaba until he stopped at Sharaf (for the night). At dawn he ordered his boys to get water and more (for the journeys When he continued from there until midday. While he was journeying, one of his followers exclaimed: "God is greater (Allahu akbar)!" "God is greater (AllAhu akbar)!" responded al-Husayn, peace be on him.

Then he asked: "Why did you say Allahu akbar?" "I saw palm-trees," answered the man. "This is a place in which we never see a palm-tree," a group of his followers asserted. "What do you think it is then?" asked al-Husayn, peace be on him. "We think it is the ears of horses," they answered. "By God, I think so too," he declared. Then he said: "(So that) we can face them in one direction (i.e.

so that we are not surrounded), we should put at our rear whatever place of refuge (we can find)." "Yes," said to him, "there is Dhu Husam over on your left. If you reach it before them,it will be (in) just (the position) you want." So he veered left towards it and we went in that direction with him. Even before we had had time to change direction the vanguard of the cavalry appeared in front of us and we could see them clearly.

We left the road and when they saw that we had moved off the road, they (also) moved off the road towards us. Their spears looked like palm branches stripped of their leaves and their standards were like birds' wings. Al-Husayn ordered his tents (to be put up) and they were erected. The people came up; (there were) about one thousand horsemen under the command of al-Hurr b. Yazid al-Tamimi.

(It was) during the heat of midday (that) he and his cavalry stood (thus) facing al-Husayn, peace be on him. Al-Husayn, peace be on him, and his followers were all wearing their turbans and their swords (ready to fight). "Provide (our) people with water and let them quench their thirst and give their horses water to drink little by little," al Husayn ordered his boys. They did that and they began filling their bowls and cups and took them to the horses.

When a horse had drunk three or four or five draughts, the water was taken away and given to another horse-until they had all been watered. [ Ali b. al Taan al Muharibi reported: ] I was with al-Hurr on that day, I was among the last of his followers to arrive.