If you kill him, kill me with him.

If you kill him, kill me with him.” Ibn Ziyad looked at her and at him and said, “How wonderful is family relationship! I think she wants me to kill her with him. Leave him, for I see him (now) for what he is.” (That is, his illness would itself kill him).”[2] In brief we can say that Ibn Ziyad issued the command that all the prisoners, along with Ali Ibn Husain should go to the court of Sham.

Imam Sajjad (a.s) was made captive in a heavy chain and this entourage entered the palace of Yazid in the same manner. It had been a journey of twenty days, the route was torturous, they had to face numerous problems but the worst of all was the spectacle of aunts and sisters all tied up in a single rope. With dust on their heads, the faces of the children had withered. Such was the condition of these noble souls when they were brought into the presence of Yazid.

In order to display the abject conditions of the household of the Prophet, Yazid had invited all the dignitaries and nobles [1] Surah Zumar 39:42 [2] Al-Irshad, Shaykh Mufid to his court. The chain of the calamities was such for Imam Sajjad (a.s) that none of it had any equal in the history of mankind, and after hearing which even the most merciless person feels remorse and concern.

When the captives were brought to Yazid the following conversation took place between the victor, that is Imam Sajjad (a.s) and the defeated one, Yazid: Yazid: What is your name? Imam (a.s): Ali Ibnul Husain (a.s). Yazid: Hmm! Husain named all his sons, Ali. Imam (a.s): Yes because my father had deep regard for his respected father, so he named all his sons Ali. Yazid: Thanks be to Allah that your father is killed. Imam (a.s): Curse of Allah be on the one who martyred my father.

Yazid: O young man! Your father had desired to gain kingdom but Allah did not allow it, so they were killed and massacred. Imam (a.s): Prophethood and rulership has always remained in our family; till you took birth. Yazid: Your father did not want me to be the ruler of Muslims. He did not consider me deserving of rulership. That is why he confronted me. Since Allah was seeing all this, He became angry on him.

Imam (a.s): The Merciful Lord says in His book: No misfortune strikes the earth nor yourselves unless it has been written in a book before We bring it into existence. That is easy for God. [1] “O Yazid! I am not aggrieved on whatever Allah takes away from me.