[3] Single Combat After the first attack...

[3] Single Combat After the first attack, single combats started between the two armies, because Yasar, the slave of Ziyad and Saalim, the slave of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad came to the battlefield and challenged the Imam’s companions for duels with them. So [1] Ma’-al Husain Fee Nahzatih, Pg. 220 [2] It is mentioned in Biharul Anwar that the number of Imam’s companions martyred in the first attack was fifty.

[3] Ibne Shahr Aashob, Manaqib 4/113 Habib bin Mazahir and Burair stood up to move towards them, but the Imam did not allow them to proceed. Thus, the great warrior, Abdullah bin Umair Kalbi went towards them. [1] He was a daring and courageous man. Imam Husain (‘a) said, “I consider him a fighter against outstanding warriors.” When he arrived and faced the two challengers they asked about his name and lineage.

He told them about it but they considered it of not much importance and said, “We don’t know who you are. Let Zuhair bin Qain or Habib bin Mazahir or Burair come out against us.” The brave warrior hastened to the two men and screamed at Yasar, “Son of a prostitute, you wanted to do single combat with one of the people.

None shall come against you but that he is better than you…” How meaningful was his statement that: “None shall come but that he shall be better than you.” Each one of the companions of the Imam was better than him and the soldiers of that army because they were fighting with conviction and faith that they were confronting with certainty people of misguidance and deviation in the path of religion. Kalbi attacked Yasar and felled him to the ground smeared in his own blood.

At that moment Saalim attacked him while he was not attentive to him. With his left arm he warded off Saalim’s blow but the fingers of his hand were cut off. Then he turned on Saalim and struck him with the other hand killing him. The mercenaries of Ibn Saad were terrified of this incomparable warrior.

While he was fighting, his respected wife, Umme Wahab**[2]** took up a tent pole and hastened to him and cheered him to fight on, “May my parents be sacrificed on you, fight for the defense of the Purified Progeny of Muhammad (s).” of His Eminence, Husain (‘a) were concentrating all their efforts in defense of the Holy Imam and in this matter there was no difference between men or women and young or old.

They displayed daring in battle with fiery emotions and they had become impassioned in their love and devotion to the Holy Imam.