"What (is this about) you and a guarantee of security?

"What (is this about) you and a guarantee of security?" demanded 'Ubayd Allah, "as if we sent you to guarantee him security when we only sent you to bring him." Ibn al-Ashath fell silent. While Ibn Aqil remained at the palace door, his thirst had become severe. At the palace door there were people sitting waiting for permission to enter. Among them were 'Umara b. 'Uqba b. Abi Mu'ayt, 'Amr b. Hurayth, Muslim b. Amr and Kathir b. Shihab. There was a jug of cold water placed at the doorway.

"Give me a drink of that water," asked Muslim. "See how cold it is," replied Muslim b. Amr, "but by God, you will never taste a drop of it until you taste the heat of Hell-fire." "Shame on you whoever you are!' cried Ibn Aqil. "I am the one who recognized the truth when you denied it; who was sincere to his Imam when you deceived him; who was obedient to him when you opposed him. I am Muslim b. Amr al-Bahili." "Your mother has been bereft of a son," replied Ibn 'Aqil.

"How coarse you are, how rough, how hard your heart is. Man of Bahila, you are more appropriate for the heat of Hell-fire and to remain there forever, than I am." He sat down, propping himself against a wall. 'Amr b. Hurayth sent one of his boys to bring a jug with a napkin and cup. He poured water into it and told him to drink. But whenever he went to drink, he filled the cup with blood so that he was not able to drink. He did that once, and then twice.

When he made as if to drink for the third time, his tooth fell into the cup. "Praise be to God," he said, "if it had been a provision granted me (by God), I could have drunk it." Ibn Ziyad's messenger came out and ordered him to go to (see) him. He went in but did not greet him as governor. "Don't you greet the governor?" demanded the guard. "If he wants my death, what is (the point of) my greeting him with words of peace?" he replied.

"If he did not want my death, my greetings (of peace) to him would be profuse." "By my life, you will be killed," declared Ibn Ziyad. "So be it," he replied. "Indeed, (it will)." "Then let me make my will to one of my fellow tribesmen. "Do (so)." Muslim looked at those sitting with Ubayd Allah. Among them was 'Umar b. Saed b. Abl Waaaas. He said to him: " Umar, there is kinship between you and me and I have need of you. So you could carry out what I need of you.

But it is secret." Umar refused to listen to him. "Why do you refuse to consider the need of your cousinT' asked Ubayd Allah.