Mohamed Ashath is now also convinced that Mukhtar has no hidden reserves...

Mohamed Ashath is now also convinced that Mukhtar has no hidden reserves, and agrees with the killers that now is the time to launch an attack on Mukhtar; the same night, Umar Saad and his group call on their supporters to assemble outside Mukhtar's palace, and are also hoping that their people in the palace will side with them.

Meanwhile, Mukhtar in the palace calls for the helpers and tells them their masters want them back and he is ready to let them go; the people refuse saying now that they have managed to get out of the grips of their masters, they will not return to them, but will only remain with Mukhtar; Mukhtar tells them that might mean fighting to death, which they readily accept.

Mukhtar sends his help Khayr to Ibrahim with the message: wherever you are, whatever you are doing, whatever the circumstances, leave everything and come directly back to Kufa in a hurry, for the situation here has worsened and my life is in danger; I fear that should I be killed, Imam Husein's (as) killers will not be avenged.

When Ibrahim gets the letter, he immediately heads back with his army; he has the minimal of rest for himself, his army and the horses, and makes the outward three days journey back in one day.

Mohamed Ashath, Umar Saad and his group have surrounded Mukhtar's palace and Mukhtar tries hard to hold back the assault; Mukhtar himself comes out fighting but is greatly outnumbered At this point, Ibrahim and his men arrive; they were not expected to be back for another two days by the enemies (for the outward journey was three days before Shabath Rabi came to Mukhtar) and this sudden arrival too takes the opposite side by surprise.

Ibrahim and his men are exhausted by the quick journey home, but they immediately do battle with the enemies; Ibrahim asks Mohamed Ashath for one-to-one battle but Mohamed Ashath is fearful of this and refuses; out of fear, none else is willing to face Ibrahim alone.

Mohamed Ashath and a few men manage to escape and retreat to Qadisiya, with Ibrahim and some of his men giving chase; Mohamed Ashath takes refuge in one of the houses where he is put under house arrest for the moment, whilst Ibrahim rushes back to Mukhtar in Kufa. At night, Mohamed Ashath disguises as a woman, mounts a donkey and leaves unchallenged by the back door to escape to Basra. Previous…