"(I am) an Asadi," he answered.

"(I am) an Asadi," he answered. "We also are Asadis," we said. "Who are you?" "I am Bakr b. so and so," he answered and we told him our lineage. "Tell us of the people (you have left) behind you?" we asked. "Yes," he replied, "I only left Kufa after Muslim b. 'Aqil and Hani' b. 'Urwa had been killed. I saw them being dragged by their legs into the market-place." We went on to join al-Husayn, peace be on him, and we were travelling close to him until he stopped at al-Thalabiyya in the evening.

We caught up with him when he stopped and we greeted him. He returned our greeting. "May God have mercy on you," we said, "we have news. If you wish, we will tell it to you publicly or if you wish, secretly." He looked at us and at his followers. "There is no veil for these men," he answered. "Did you see the rider whom you were near, yesterday evening?" "Yes," he answered, "I had wanted to question him." "We have got the news from him and spared you (the trouble of) questioning him," we said.

"He was a man from our (tribe), of sound judgment, honesty and intelligence. He told us that he had only left Kufa after Muslim and Hani' had been killed, and he had seen them being dragged by their legs into the market-place." "We belong to God and to Him we shall return; may God have mercy on them both," said al-Husayn, and he repeated that several times.

"We adjure you before God," we exhorted him, "for your own life and for your House that you do not go from this place, for you have no one to support you in Kufa and no Shia.

Indeed we fear that such men (will be the very ones who) will be against you." "What is your opinion," he asked, looking towards the sons of 'Aqil, "now that Muslim has been killed?" "By God," they declared, "we will not go back until we have taken our vengeance or have tasted (the death) which he tasted." Al-Husayn, peace be on him, came near us and said: "There is nothing good (left) in life for these men." Then we knew that his decision had been taken to continue the journey.

"May God be good to you," we said. "May God have mercy on you both," he answered. Then his followers said to him: "By God, you are not the same as Muslim b. Aqil. If you go to Kufa, the people will rush to (support) you." He was silent and waited until daybreak. Then he ordered his boys and servants to get a lot of water, to give (the people) to drink and more for the journey. They set out (once more) and went on to Zubala. News of eAbd Allah b. Yuqtur reached him.