Then if fate shuts the hopes...

Then if fate shuts the hopes, the one who has pure intentions and is pious, shall not be violated.” I replied, “Yes, may Allah grant you success in your hope and safeguard you from that which you fear.” Then I put forward some questions regarding vows and the rites of Hajj, he answered them and then moved away saluting me, thus we parted away.[^1] When Imam Husayn (a.s.) left Makkah, Yahya bin Sa’eed bin As, along with a group of men met him, who were sent by ‘Amr bin Sa’eed, and asked him as to where he intended going and ordered him to return back.

Imam did not pay any heed to him. There ensued quarrel among them and they started flogging one another. But Imam and his companions resisted them fiercely. It is stated in Iqdul Fareed that when ‘Amr bin Sa’eed received the news of Imam’s departure, he said, “Mount upon every Camels between the heavens and the earth and pursue him.” The people were astonished by his speech and went in his pursuit but could not reach him.

(Irshad) Imam reached a place called Tan’eem, and met a caravan of revenue coming from Yemen which was sent by Baheer bin Raysan to Yazid. The goods contained green weeds (Yemeni saffron) and clothes. Imam Husayn (being the Imam of the age and Yazid being an usurper of Caliphate) confiscated it and said to the drivers of the Camels that, “Whoever among you desires to come with us till Iraq can do so, and we shall pay them for it and shall behave well with them.

While whoever desires to go back, we shall pay them the cost until here and they can leave.” Thus a few among them took their payment and left, while those who accompanied them were given proper value and clothes. (Kamil) Then he proceeded further until they reached Safah and met Farazdaq there. Then the contents of their meeting are the same as has been related earlier. There he received a letter of Abdullah bin Ja’far (a.s.) sent to Imam Husayn (a.s.) with his sons Aun and Muhammad.

It’s contents were as follows: “Now then! I say to you in the name of Allah, return back as soon as you receive my letter, for I fear that the direction which you go will result in death and the extirpation of your family. And if this happens, the earth will turn dark, for you are the light of guidance and the hope of the believers. Do not make haste for I am following this letter.