I did not come for that...

I did not come for that, but people of this city claim that your father has killed their best people and we came to bring justice and to implement the Quran.” Ibn Ziyad said, “That is not your business, we were giving them justice.” Muslim said, “God knows that you are not truthful and you kill people without justice.” Then Ibn Ziyad cursed Imam ′Ali and Imam Husayn, and Muslim said, “You and your father deserve that more than anyone else.” Ibn Ziyad ordered a man from Syria to take Muslim to the roof, cut his head off, and throw his body down into the street.

He took him to the roof while Muslim was saying, “Subhanallah![^2] O God, judge between us and these people who betrayed us, deceived us, and denied us.” Then he turned his face to Medinah and said, “Assalamu ′ala al‑Husayn.”[^3] The Syrian killed him and dropped his head and his body to the ground. When he killed Muslim, he saw a strange and horrifying vision.

After he killed Muslim, the man came to Ibn Ziyad, afraid, and said, “When I killed him I saw a man pointing to me, and it scared me.” Ibn Ziyad waved him away and ordered Hāni to be taken to the market. They tied Hāni up and took him, and no one helped him. Hāni struggled and managed to untie the ropes. He got out of the ropes, picked up a stick, and fought with it, but the guards lunged at him all at once and killed him with their swords.

Ibn Ziyad ordered the bodies of both Muslim and Hāni to be dragged up and down the streets of Kufah, and then hung upside down in a place called Kunnasah. He sent their heads to Yazid who hung them at the city wall of Damascus, his capital. With the heads, Ibn Ziyad sent a letter to Yazid, “Thank God that the leader of the faithful (Amir ul-Mu’minin)[^4] was successful. We captured Muslim in the house of Hāni. I scattered spies around them until I found them.

I cut off their heads and sent them to you by two people who are reliable, and the Leader of the faithful can ask them about the details.” Yazid replied to Ibn Ziyad, “You did what a wise man has to do, you spoke the truth, as I believed in you. I asked the two messengers the details and I have heard that Husayn Ibn ′Ali has gone towards Iraq. Keep your eyes open and kill people whom you are suspicious of. Do not wait for any proof. Husayn is the problem.

Either you fight him or you send him to me.” [^1]: Both ‘Umar and Muslim were from Medina [^2]: Subhanallah –Praise be to God- is an expression of surprise. [^3]: Salaam –peace- be upon Hussayn.