He, therefore, sent him this message: “Do you think that you...

He, therefore, sent him this message: “Do you think that you sent me to one of Kufa's shopkeepers or to a Nabatean from Hira?! Rather, you sent me to one of the swords of [Prophet] Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah (S)!” Ibn Ziyad then assisted him with additional soldiers.[^5] Fighting intensified. Muslim and Bakir Ibn Hamran al-Ahmari exchanged blows. Bakir struck Muslim on the mouth, cutting his upper lip, wounding the lower one and breaking two of his lower teeth.

Muslim fiercely struck him with one blow on his head and another on his shoulder muscle, almost splitting his stomach, killing him instantly.[^6] Then they attacked him from the house's rooftop, hurling rocks at him. They kept burning reed bales then throwing them at him.

He attacked them in the alley as he quoted the following rajaz verses composed by Hamran Ibn Malik: I swore not to be killed except as a free man, Though I found death something repelling; Every man will one day face evil, And what is cold will be mingled with what is hot. The soul's ray returned, so it did settle, I fear only being charged with lying or being tempted.[^7] His wounds were numerous; he bled extensively, so he supported his body on the side of the house.

It was then that they assaulted him with arrows and stones. “Why do you hurl stones at me,” he asked them, “as non-believers are stoned, the member of the household of the pure Prophet (S) that I am? Do you not have any respect for the Messenger of Allah (S) with regard to one of his own descendants?” Ibn al-Ash’ath said to him, “Please do not get yourself killed while you are under my protection.” Muslim asked him, “Shall I then be captured so long as I have some strength in me? No, by Allah!

This shall never be.” Then he attacked Ibn al-Ash’ath who fled away before him. They attacked Aqil from all directions. Thirst had taken its toll on him. A man stabbed him from the back, so he fell on the ground and was arrested.[^8] Another account says that they dug a hole for him that they covered then fled before him, thus luring him into falling in it, then they arrested him.[^9] When they took his sword away from him, he cried. ‘Amr Ibn ‘Ubaydullah al-Salami was surprised to see him cry.

[^1]: Abul-Faraj al-Isfahani, Maqatil al-Talibiyyin. al-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol. 6, p. 210. al-Khawarizmi, Maqtal al-Husayn, Vol. 1, p. 208, chapter 10. [^2]: Shaikh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Nafs al-Mahmum, p. 56. [^3]: Ibn Shahr Ashub, Manaqib, Vol. 2, p. 212.