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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Event of Taff, The Earliest Historical Account of the Tragedy of Karbala’ The Beginning Of The Battle ‘Umar bin Sa‘d advanced towards [the camp of al-Husayn (as)] and called out: “Dhuwaid![^1] Bring your standard closer!” So he brought it nearer. [Ibn Sa‘d] then put an arrow in his bow and let it fly.

He said: “Be witnesses that I was the first [person] to shoot.”[^2] When ‘Umar bin Sa‘d came closer and shot an arrow, the people began to shoot at each other. Then Yasar, the retainer of Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan, and Salim, the retainer of ‘Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, came forward and said: “Who is ready to combat us?

Let some of you come forward.” So Habib bin MuZahir and Burair bin Hudhair jumped up [to go to meet them], but al-Husayn (as) said to them: “Sit down.” Then ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umair al-Kalbi[^3] stood and said: “O Aba ‘Abdillah –may Allah have mercy on you, allow me to go and meet them.” Al-Husayn (as) found him to be tall, strong and with broad shoulders. Al-Husayn (as) said: “I think he can kill his peers! Go if you wish.” So he went out to meet them.

The two [men] said to him: “Who are you.” So he gave them his lineage. They said: “We do not know you. Let Zuhair bin al-Qain or Habib bin MuZahir or Burair bin Hudair come out against us!” Yasar, [the retainer of Ziyad], was ready for combat before Salim [the retainer of ‘Ubaidullah bin Ziyad]. So al-Kalbi said to [Yasar]: “O son of adulteress! It seems you do not like to combat with any one who comes forward.

[Know that] no one is going to come to fight you except that he is better than you.” With that he attacked him and struck him with his sword until he died. While [al-Kalbi] was occupied striking [Yasar] with his sword, Salim [the retainer of ‘Ubaidullah] attacked him. [Al-Husayn’s companions] cried out [in warning]: “The [other] servant is closing in on you.” [Al-Kalbi] did not pay attention to him until [Salim] was upon him and gave him an unexpected blow.

[Ibn al-Kalbi] warded off his blow with his left arm but the fingers of his left hand were cut off. Then he turned on [Salim] and struck him and killed him. After having killed them both, he recited the following as he was returning: If you do not know me, I am the son of Kalbi. It is sufficient for me as a noble descent that my family is from the Banu ‘Ulaim. I am a man of bitterness and anger, I am not a weakling in the face of disaster.