He longs me to leave [Makkah] so that the city should be solely for him.

He longs me to leave [Makkah] so that the city should be solely for him.”[^3],[^4] Al-Husayn’s Conversation with Ibn ‘Abbas When [al-Husayn (as)] decided to go to Kufah, Ibn ‘Abbas came to him and said: “O my cousin, the people have spread rumours that you are advancing towards Iraq, so [please] explain to me what you intend to do.” [Al-Husayn (as)] replied: “I am determined to leave in the coming one or two days[^5], if Allah wills.” Ibn ‘Abbas said to him: “I then seek refuge for you with Allah in this regard.

Tell me, may Allah have mercy on you, are you moving towards a people who have [already] killed their governor and taken control of their city and have expelled their enemy? If they have done all this [and prepared the grounds], then go to them. But if they are [inviting you] while they are still under the subjugation of their governor and his officers are collecting taxes from [them], then they have certainly invited you to war and fighting.

I fear that they will deceive you, lie to you, oppose and abandon you, and that they may [even] fight against you and prove to be the most severe people against you!” Al-Husayn (as) replied: “I pray to Allah for the best and I will see what is going to happen.”[^6] A Second Conversation with Ibn ‘Abbas In the evening [of that day] or the next morning Ibn ‘Abbas once again came to the Imam (as) and said: “O my cousin! I tried to remain patient but could not.

Indeed, I am apprehensive of your death and annihilation should you take this direction! The people of Iraq are a treacherous community, so never get closer to them! Stay in this city for you are the master of the people of Hijaz. If at all the people of Iraq want you -as they have claimed, then write and ask them to [first] expel their enemy [from their city], then make a move towards them.

But if you still want to leave [this city], then go to Yemen; for it has got fortresses and mountain paths, and it is a vast and spacious land. From there you can send out your men to invite people to support you.