"Yes," he replied and he said to the people who were with...

"Yes," he replied and he said to the people who were with him, "he is given security by me." "Yes," replied the people, except (Amr b.) 'Ubayd Allah b. al-Abbas al-Sulami. "I have neither she camel or camel in this (i.e. I will have nothing to do with it)," he said and he turned aside. "If you will not grant me security," declared Muslim, "I will not put my hand in yours." A mule was brought and he was put on it. They gathered around him and pulled his sword away.

At that he was in despair for his life and his eyes filled with tears. "This is the first betrayal," he cried. "I hope no harm will come to you," called out Muhammad b. al- Ashath. "Is it only hope?" he retorted as he wept. "Where then is your guarantee of security? Indeed we belong to God and to Him we will return." "One who has sought for the like of what you have sought for, should not weep when there befalls him what has befallen you," 'Amr b. 'Ubayd Allah b. al-'Abbas goaded him.

I would not weep for myself," he replied, "nor would I grieve for my own death, even though I have not the slightest desire for destruction. But I am weeping for my family who are coming to me, I am weeping for al-Husayn and the family of al-Husayn, peace be on them. Then he went closer to Muhammad b. al-Ash'ath and said: "O servant of God, by God, I see that you are unable to grant me a guarantee of security.

Yet do you have the goodness to be able to send one of your men with my message so that it will get to al-Husayn? For I have no doubt that he has already set out towards you, or will be setting out soon with his House. (This messenger) would say: Ibn 'Aqil has sent me to you.

He is a prisoner in the hands of the people, and he does not expect to see evening before he is killed; and he says: Return, may my father and mother be your ransom, with your House and do not let the Kufans tempt you, for they were the followers of your father and he desired to leave them even through death and murder. The Kufans have lied to you. A liar has no judgement.

"By God, I will do that," replied Ibn al-Ash'ath, "and I will inform Ibn Ziyad that I have given you a guarantee of security." Ibn al-Ash'ath went with Ibn Aqil to the door of the palace. He asked permission to enter. Permission was given him and he went in (to see) Ibn Ziyad. He gave a report about Ibn 'Aqil and Bakr's blow against him, and about his own guarantee of security to him.