I have received the letter of Muslim Ibn ‘Aqil stating that...

I have received the letter of Muslim Ibn ‘Aqil stating that you have gathered to help us and ask for our rights. I ask Almighty God to reward you for this action. For this reason, I left Mecca on Thursday the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah. When my messenger arrives, be united until I reach Kufah in a few days.” Meanwhile, the spies of Yazid were following him. For some time, the Imam stayed at the water of ′Abdullah Ibn Muti′ who tried to convince the Imam not to go to Iraq, but the Imam refused.

When Qays Ibn Mashar al-Saydawi reached al-Qadisiyyah, Ibn Ziyad’s army captured him. When they tried to search him, he tore the letter apart. He was brought to the governor’s castle in Kufah, and Ibn Ziyad asked him, “Why did you tear the letter?” Qays replied, “So you will not know what was in it.” Ibn Ziyad said, “You have to tell me what was in it!” Qays refused. Then Ibn Ziyad said, “You have to go on the pulpit and curse Husayn, his brother, and his father.

Otherwise, I am going to cut you into pieces!” Qays went on the pulpit and blessed Amir al‑Mu′minin Imam ′Ali and Hasan and Husayn, and cursed Ibn Ziyad and his father and the Ummayads. Then he said, “O people! I am the messenger of Husayn to you!” He told them where he left the Imam and said, “Go help him!” Ibn Ziyad ordered for him to be thrown from the top of the castle. He fell and died. Khuzamiyyah The Imam set camp and stayed in Khuzamiyyah one day and one night.

In the morning, his sister Zaynab came to him and told him that she heard someone reciting this poem: “O, the eyes try to be firm! Who would cry after me, on these martyrs? Cry on those people who are led By death to the final destination.” The Imam said to his sister, “Whatever God wishes will happen.” Zarud Here, the Imam set camp. Zuhayr Ibn al‑Qayn al‑Bajali was in the area and set camp near him.

Zuhayr did not like the Imam and did not want to set camp near him, but, because there was water at Zarud, he had no other choice. At mealtime, a messenger of the Imam came to him and said that the Imam wanted to meet him. Zuhayr hesitated to reply but his wife, Dilham, told him to go to the Imam and see what he wants. Zuhayr went to him and immediately came back to his people with a happy face.