Al Walid gave him news of the death of Muawiya and al Husayn...

Al Walid gave him news of the death of Muawiya and al Husayn replied with the formula: We belong to God and to Him we will return. Then al Walid read out Yazid's letter and his order to get the pledge of allegiance from him. Then al Husayn said to al Walid: I do not see that my pledge of allegiance to Yazid in private would be sufficient. Wouldn't you prefer me to give it in public so that people are aware ?

Indeed, said al Walid So see what you think about that in the morning, suggested al Husayn, peace be on him. Go, then, in the name of God but come to us when the people gather, said al Walid. By God, interrupted Marwan, if al Husayn leaves you now without giving the pledge of allegiance, you will never have the same power over him untill there is a great number of slain men between you and him.

Imprison the man and don't let him leave you untill he has paid homage (to Yazid), or you have executed him. At that al Husayn said: O son of a foreign woman, would you or he kill me? By God you are a liar. With that he went out and walked away accompanied by his retainers untill he reached his house. You disobeyed me, Marwan told al-Walid, No by God he will never give you the same opportunity over his life.

Then blame someone other than yourself, said Marwan Replied al Walid: Indeed, you had chosen for me something which would have involved the destruction of my own faith. By God, I would not want all the worldy wealth and dominion which the sun rises and sets over, (if it involved) killing al Husayn.

Glory be to God, should I kill al Husayn because he said 'I will not swear allegiance" By God, I do not think that on the Day of Resurrection a man who is (responsible) for the blood of al Husayn (will weigh) little in the scale of God." Al Husayn, peace be upon him, spent that night at his house. It was the night of Saturday when there were three days left on the month of Rajab in the year 680. Al Walid b.

Utba was occupied with sending to Ibn al Zubayr about the pledge of allegiance to Yazid, and with his refusal to come to them. Ibn al Zubayr left Medina at night heading for Mecca. In the morning al Walid sent men after him, he sent a party of eighty horse men under the command of a retainer of the Banu Umayya. They pursued him but did not catch up with him, so they returned.

Towards the end of Saturday he sent men to al Husayn, peace be upon him, to bring him to pledge allegiance to al Walid on behalf of Yazid b. Muawiya.