From tomorrow I shall quit being with you!

From tomorrow I shall quit being with you!” The Imam (a.s) asked, “What makes you so angry?” He said, “By agreeing for the arbitration you had made a clear violation of the Commandment of Islam.” The Imam (a.s) said, “You are saying this without giving a serious thought to the matter. If you are ready to listen, the matter can be explained to you”. He said, “Today I am going away.

Tomorrow I shall return sometime and talk to you.” The Imam (a.s) said, “Do not get misguided by Satan and before taking any precipitate step come and take my advice. If you are not satisfied with my advice, the course of action will be free for you!” When he reached home, he told his men from Banū-Najiyah, “I have promised to meet `Ali (a.s) tomorrow. But I think I do not need to go to him. Whatever step we have to take, we must go ahead with it.

We shall move away from here.” The Imam (a.s) waited for him the next day. When he did not turn up, he sent `Abdullah ibn Qayn to Khirrit’s house. He came back and told that Khirrit had left al-Kūfah with the men from his tribe. When the Imam (a.s) heard this, he said, “They will be away from Allah’s Blessing like the people of Thamūd!

When the spears will be pointed towards their chests and the swords on their heads, they will repent over what they did!” Ziyad ibn Khasfah said, “We should not be unhappy over their going away. But there is one fear that they might misguide those who are obedient so far and try to disturb the prevailing peace! If you permit I shall try to bring them back.” The Imam (a.s) said, “How do you know the direction in which they have gone?

“He said, “This can be determined by asking people.” The Imam (a.s) said, “My functionaries would certainly report about their movement. You go to Dairy Abi-Mūsa and await my instructions there.” Ziyad went to his house and gathered the men of his tribe, Banū-Bakr ibn Wa’il, and repeated the entire story to them and said, “You are the friends and supporters of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s)! Support me in this campaign that we stop the enemy from moving forward.

And bring him back.” At his call, 130 men volunteered. Ziyad said that the number was sufficient for controlling the enemy. He took them and went to Dayr Abi-Mūsa and awaited instructions from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s). In the meantime one of the functionaries of the Imam (a.s), Qarazah ibn Ka`b al-Ansari informed him that the men of Banū-Najiyah were proceeding towards Nafar.