Meanwhile...

Meanwhile, Salim attacked him, so his companions warned him saying, “The slave is now charging at you!” But he did not pay attention to him, so Salim hit him with his sword. ‘Abdullah tried to protect himself from it with his left hand, getting his fingers cut off in the attempt. Then ‘Abdullah swiftly turned to him with his own sword, killing him instantly. Having killed both men, he went back to al-Husayn (‘a) reciting rajaz (martial) poetry.

Having seen how her husband so valiantly fought, Umm Wahab daughter of ‘Abdullah, who belonged to al-Nimr Ibn Qasit, took a rod and came to him saying, “May both my parents be sacrificed for you!

Do defend the good ones, the offspring of Muhammad, Allah's peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny!” He wanted to take her back to the tent, but she kept persisting, holding to his clothes and saying, “I shall not leave you till I die with you!” Al-Husayn (‘a) called out to her saying, “May you be well rewarded on behalf of your Prophet's (‘a)! Go back to the tent!

Women are not required to fight!” She did.[^6] Duels Between Two or Four Warriors When the rest of al-Husayn's companions saw the large number of those who had been killed from their camp, two, three, or four men simultaneously sought al-Husayn's permission to let them defend him and his ladies. Each member of these groups tried his best to protect the other or others as they fought.

Two men, both with the last name of al-Jabiri, namely Sayf Ibn al-Harith Ibn Sari’ and Malik Ibn ‘Abd Ibn Saree’, both cousins, came out weeping. Al-Husayn (‘a) asked them, “Why are you weeping? I hope after a short while you will see what will cool your eyes!” They said, “May Allah accept us as your own sacrifice!

We are not mourning our own death, but we are weeping only because we can see how you are thus surrounded while we cannot do much for you.” Al-Husayn (‘a) prayed Allah to reward them both with goodness. They both fought near him till they were killed.[^7] ‘Abdullah and ‘Abdul-Rahman, sons of ‘Urwah al-Ghifari, came and said, “People have driven us to you [against our wish].” They kept fighting al-Husayn's enemy till they were both killed.

‘Amr Ibn Khalid al-Saydawi and his slave Sa’d, as well as Jabir Ibn al-Harith al-Salmani and Majma’ Ibn ‘Abdullah al-’A'ithi[^8], came out and collectively attacked the Kufians. Once they were in the latter's midst, they were soon circled.