77 People of Kufa see off the Prisoners People of all...

77 People of Kufa see off the Prisoners People of all classes of Kufa came out to see off the caravan of Ahle Bayt, crying and lamenting aloud. Roads of Kufa city were crowded with people who had wept all night long. Due to the crowding it was not possible for the caravan to move forward.

Imam Zainul Abideen (‘a) was astonished at them and he said, “They have killed us and crying on us!” [1] Ladies of the Hamadan tribe began to weep and wail and the sound of their lamentations arose in the atmosphere. [2] Shimr bin Zil Jaushan ordered that Imam Zainul Abideen (‘a) be hauled by chain with the iron collar and this was done. [3] After him they moved the prisoners forward till they joined with the caravan carrying the heads.

Throughout the journey, Imam Zainul Abideen (‘a) did not speak a word to those wicked people and did not ask them for anything. [4] In this way the caravan continued on its route without being distracted by anything else till it approached Damascus and the city became visible. They saw that the city had been decorated with signs of pride and joyfulness.

Celebrations of Syria The Damascus regime issued orders that all the government and non-government and all the public and private buildings be decorated to celebrate the victories they had achieved in killing the beloved grandson of the Messenger of Allah (s) and taking the Progeny of His Eminence as hostages.

One of the historians has described the festivities as follows: When they (that is hostages from Ahle Bayt), came four farsang distance from Damascus, the people of Syria, while distributing coins and sugar plums, welcomed them joyfully to reach them near Damascus. They kept them under observation for three days after their arrival. They were confined to that place so that the decorations of Syria are complete.

They decked it with gold, ornaments, silk, brocade, silver and gemstones in such a way that none had seen such resplendent preparation either before or after it. After that men and women, young and old, ministers and officers, Jews, Zoroastrians, Christians and other communities came out to watch the spectacle while drums and other musical instruments played.

They had put kohl to their eyes and applied henna to their palms, attired in the best clothes and embellished themselves in the best way...Greater festivities and celebrations were not seen.