The man said, “All of them are against you.

The man said, “All of them are against you.” The Imam said, “Whatever God wishes will happen.” Zubalah There was still no reply from his third messenger to Kufah, Qays Ibn Mashar al-Saydawi, but here, at Zubalah, the news reached the Imam that ′Abdullah Ibn Yaqtar, his second messenger to Kufah, was killed. When he was captured he was sent to Ibn Ziyad, and Ibn Ziyad ordered him to go to the pulpit and curse the liar son of liars.

′Abdullah showed his willingness to do so, but when he went up he said, “O, people! I am the messenger of Husayn son of Fatimah, to help him against son of Marjanah! (Ibn Ziyad)” Ibn Ziyad ordered him to be toppled from the top of the castle. He fell and broke most of his bones, but he was still able to talk. A man named Lakhmi, one of Ibn Ziyad’s soldiers, came and cut off his head.

When the people in the street asked him why he did that, he said, “To put him out of his misery.” After this news, the Imam announced, “Anyone who has joined this caravan for any purpose other than dying for this cause should leave now.” And…