According to some historians, Imam Husayn’s son Ali al-Akbar (a.

According to some historians, Imam Husayn’s son Ali al-Akbar (a.s.) and brother Abbas (a.s.) accompanied him when the others went and stood at a distance. Umar ibn Sa’d was accompanied by his son and one servant. Imam Husayn (a.s.) told ibn Sa’d, “ Do you not fear God who will call you to account for my blood? You are aware that I am the grandson of the Prophet (S).

Leave the Banu Umayya and keep away from harming me, for that will be more pleasing to God .” Umar replied, “ I am afraid that all my properties will be confiscated .” The Imam (a.s.) said, “ I will compensate you with my properties .” According to some narrators, Umar untenably excused himself saying, “ I am afraid they will annihilate my kith and kin .” Imam Husayn (a.s.) replied, “ Soon you will be killed in your bed and you shall have no intercession or clemency.

I hope that you shall not eat from the wheat of Iraq except a little after me. ” Umar sarcastically replied, “ Barley shall be enough !”[^6] After this, ibn Sa’d ordered his army to surround the camp of Imam Husayn (a.s.) from all sides. This incident took place on the night of eighth of Muharram. Between the fourth and the eighth of Muharram, ibn Ziyad continued to send additional soldiers as reinforcement.

By the morning of the eighth of Muharram, over a lakh and forty thousand armed men were assembled against Imam Husayn (a.s.) at Karbala. Whenever ibn Ziyad’s forces arrived in Karbala, there was jubilation and beating drums and blowing of trumpets. Every time this happened, Imam Husayn’s sister Zainab (a.s.) inquired if any body had come in response to Imam Husayn’s letter. On hearing a negative reply, she used to feel dejected.

At last, she remembered Habib ibn Mudhahir who was a childhood friend of Imam Husayn (a.s.). She asked Imam Husayn (a.s.) to write to him. Finding over a lakh of soldiers gathered by the satanic forces of Yazid and his commanders, Imam Husayn’s sister Zainab (a.s.) insisted that he should also write to some of his friends. Imam Husayn (a.s.) wrote a letter to his childhood friend, Habib bin Mudhahir in the following words, “ From Husayn bin Ali to the great Jurist Habib.

I am now surrounded by Yazid’s forces at Karbala. ” When Imam Husayn’s messenger brought the letter, according to one group of historians, Habib was buying henna in the market place. According to other historians, when Imam Husayn’s messenger brought the letter, Habib was having food with his wife.