In the night...

In the night, Ibn Ziyad proclaimed that everyone should attend the Morning Prayer and none should stay at home. In the Morning Prayer, Ibn Ziyad proclaimed rewards to those who would bring Muslim bin Aqeel dead or alive and threatened with confiscation of property and death for anyone who sheltered Muslim. Shareek bin al-A’war was a sincere follower of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). He lived in Basra.

He was aware that Imam Husayn (a.s.) had sent Muslim ibn Aqeel to Kufa and that the Imam (a.s.) himself was expected to reach Kufa shortly. On hearing that, Yazid had appointed Ibn Ziyad as the Governor of Kufa. Shareek unsuccessfully tried to delay the reaching of Ibn Ziyad to Kufa before Imam Husayn (a.s.). Soon, Shareek also reached Kufa and stayed with his friend Hani Ibn Urwa.

When Muslim learnt of the arrival of Ibn Ziyad and the strict orders issued by him, he left al-Mukhtar’s house and took shelter with Hani Ibn Urwa. Ibn Ziyad had great respect for Shareek. When ibn Ziyad learnt that Shareek was ill, he sent word that he would visit Shareek in Hani’s house in the night. Ibn Ziyad was also a friend of Hani. Shareek detested Ibn Ziyad for his cruelty and hatred to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

Shareek told Muslim ibn Aqeel that since ibn Ziyad was a cruel hypocrite, he deserved to be killed. This proposed visit was the best opportunity to get rid of this wretch. Shareek gave a sword to Muslim and suggested that he (Muslim) should hide himself behind the curtains and at a given signal attack and kill Ibn Ziyad while he was engaged in conversation. Hani was reluctant to have ibn Ziyad killed in his house where he would be his guest.

Shareek, however, gave the prearranged signal, but Muslim remained in his room. Shareek started asking for water and recited a couplet. As Muslim ibn Aqeel failed to carry out the plan, Shareek repeated the couplet thrice. Hani pacified ibn Ziyad saying that due to his illness Shareek was hallucinating since morning. Ibn Ziyad’s servant Mehran realized that there might be a conspiracy to kill ibn Ziyad. Therefore, Mehran pulled ibn Ziyad and took him away.

However, some narrators record that it was not Shareek but Hani ibn Urwa himself who pretended illness and planned to kill ibn Ziyad.[^1] However, the reports about Shareek are more authentic. Later Shareek questioned Muslim as to why he lost an opportunity to eliminate an inveterate enemy of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).