He (as) was the most despised of Allah’s creatures by Ibn al-Zubair...

He (as) was the most despised of Allah’s creatures by Ibn al-Zubair, because he realized that the people of Hijaz would never pledge allegiance to him so long as al-Husayn (as) was in the city, and that al-Husayn (as) was more revered in their eyes and hearts, and that he (as) was more capable of commanding the people’s obedience than him.[^7] The Letters from the People of Kufah When the people of Kufah[^8] learnt about the death of Mu’awiyah, the people of Iraq spread rumours about Yazid and said: “Al-Husayn (as) and Ibn al-Zubair have refused to pay allegiance and have left for Makkah.”[^9] Muhammad bin Bishr al-Hamdani reports[^10]: “We assembled in the house of Sulaiman bin Surad [al-Khuza’i[^11] and he addressed us] saying: ‘Mu’awiyah is dead and al-Husayn (as) has withheld his pledge of allegiance to the people [i.e.

the Banu Umayyah] and has gone to Makkah. You are his followers ( shi‘ah ) and the followers of his father. If you know [in your hearts] that you will be his helpers and fighters against his enemy, then write to him. But if you fear failure and weakness, then do not tempt the man [to risk] his own life!’ They replied: ‘No! We will fight his enemy and sacrifice our lives for him!’ Sulaiman said: ‘Then write to him!’[^12] So they wrote to him: ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.

To Husayn bin ‘Ali, from Sulaiman bin Surad, Musayyib bin Najabah[^13], Rafa’ah bin Shaddad,[^14] Habib bin MuZahir[^15] and his followers from among the believers and Muslims of Kufah. Peace be upon you. We praise Allah besides whom there is no deity. All praise is to Allah who has broken your enemy, the obstinate tyrant who had leapt upon this community, robbed it and usurped its treasures ( fay’ ).

He was ruling over the people against their wish, killed their chosen ones and preserved the wicked among them. He made the wealth of Allah to be taken by turns ( dulatan ) among its tyrants and wealthy. So away with him as had been the case with the people of Thamud. We have no Imam over us, so proceed towards us. Perhaps Allah will unite us through you under the truth.

Nu’man bin Bashir is in the governer’s palace; we do not gather with him for the Friday [service], nor do we come out with him for ‘«d [prayers]. If we learn that you have set out to us, we will drive him away and send him [back] to Sham, by the will of Allah.