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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Shi'ite Encyclopedia (chapter 5) Tragedy of Karbala As Reported By the Sunnis (part Vii) In the morning al Husayn, peace be on him, mobilised his followers after the morning prayer. He had with him thirty two horsemen and forty foot-soldiers. He put Zuhayr b. al-Qayn in charge of his right wing and Habib b. Muzahir in charge of his left wing, and he gave his standard to his brother, al-Abbas. They positioned themselves with the tents at the rear.

He ordered (the) firewood and cane which was behind the tents to be left in a ditch which had been dug there and to be set on fire, fearing that they would attack them from the rear. Umar b. Sad began the morning of that day - it was Friday, or Saturday as some say - by mobilising his followers. He went out with the men with him towards al-Husayn, peace be on him. 'Amr b. al- Hajjaj was in command of his right wing, Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan of the left wing, Urwa b.

Qays was in command of the cavalry, Shabath b. Ribi of the foot-soldiers. He gave his standard to Durayd, his retainer (mawla). [ Ali b. al Husayn, Zayn al Abidin, peace be upon them, reported: ] When the cavalry began to approach al-Husayn, he raised his hands and said: O God, it is You in W'hom I trust amid all grief. You are my hope amid all violence.

You are my trust and provision in everything that happens to me, (no matter) how much the heart may seem to weaken in it, trickery may seem to diminish (my hope) in it, the friend may seem to desert (me) in it, and the enemy may seem to rejoice in it. It comes upon me through You and when I complain to You of it, it is because of my desire for You, You alone. You have comforted me in (everything) and have revealed its (significance to me).

You are the Master of all grace, the Possessor of all goodness and the Ultimate Resort of all desire. When the enemy began to move around the tent of al-Husayn, peace be on him, they saw the ditch behind and the fire burning the firewood and cane which had been thrown in it. (At this) Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan called out at the top of his voice: Al-Husayn, are you hurrying towards the fire (of Hell) before the Day of Resurrection? "Who is that?" asked al-Husayn, peace be on him.

"(It sounds) like Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan?" "Yes, (it is)," they told him. "Son of a goat-herdess, you are more worthy to be burnt by that," he retorted. Muslim b.