Then Jibra’eel lifted a handful of earth and gave it to me...

Then Jibra’eel lifted a handful of earth and gave it to me, I smelt it, thus I could not control my tears.” Furthermore it is related in Biharul Anwar from Kharaej, that Imam Muhammad al Baqir (a.s.) says, that one day Imam Ali (a.s.) went out with his com­panions one or two miles away from Karbala. Then he advanced further until he reached a place called Maqdafan and started wandering there.

Then he said, “Two hundred Prophets and the progeny of the Prophets have been martyred at this place, and this the halting station, the place of martyr­dom of the felicitous martyrs, which has not been acquired by the ancient, while those after them shall not reach it too.” (Malhoof) When Imam Husayn (a.s.) reached that place, he asked as to what was the name of that place. People replied that it was called Karbala. Imam said, “O Allah!

I seek your refuge from Karb (Grief) and Bala (trials)” Then he said, “Grief and trial dwells herein, hence alight down, and this is our halting place. Here will our blood be shed and here shall we be buried. My Grandfather, the Prophet of Allah (S) has foretold me regarding it.” Everyone complied to his order and dismounted, while Hurr too pitched his tents with his companions at another place.

(Kashful Ghummah) Everyone complied to his orders and dismounted and off-loaded their equipments, while Hurr dismounted his army opposite Imam Husayn (a.s.). Then Hurr wrote to Ubaydullah informing him that Imam Husayn (a.s.) had halted at Karbala. It is stated in Murujuz Zahab, that Imam Husayn (a.s.) proceeded towards Karbala accompanied by five hundred horsemen and around a hundred on foot from his family and companions.

It is related in Biharul Anwar from Manaqib that Zuhayr bin Qayn said, “Take us along, so that we may halt at Karbala near the bank of the river Euphrates, and we shall halt there. Then if they fight us, we shall fight them and seek help from Allah.” Tears rolled down the eyes of Imam and he said, “O Allah! I seek your refuge from Karb (grief) and Bala (trials).” Imam settled therein and Hurr dismounted too facing him with a thousand soldiers.

Then Imam ordered that pen and paper should be brought and he wrote a letter to the affable chiefs of Kufa: “From Husayn bin Ali, to Sulayman bin Surad, Musayyab bin Najabah, Rufa’ah bin Shaddad, Abdullah bin Wa’al and the group of believers. Now then!