Do you know that Ali (a.

Do you know that Ali (a.s.) was the first man who accepted Islam, his knowledge was deeper than that of everyone else, and his patience and tolerance was higher than that of anyone else, and that he is the Master of every Muslim man and woman?" They replied: "By Allah, yes." Husayn (a.s.) then asked: "How do you al- low yourself to shed my blood when on the Last Day, my father (a.s.) will be the master of Kauthar Pool, who will drive away people from that Pool, as camels are hushed away from water, and that the flag of Praise (Liwaul Hamd) will be in the hands of my father on the Day of Judgment?" They replied: "We know all of this, and yet we will not leave you until you taste death in thirst." When the women heard the speech of the Imam they wept and wailed and lamented, slapped their faces and their voices arose.

Imam (a.s.) sent his brother Abbas[^4] and his son Ali[^5] towards them and said: "Make them quiet. By my life, how much wailing they would have in the future!" The narrator says: Umar Ibn Sa’ad received a letter from Ibn Ziyad. He had ordered Umar to start fighting immediately and had warned him for any delay. It made Ibn Sa?ad and his army to launch an attack on Husayn (a.s.).

Shimr Ibn Ziljushan (may Allah curse him)[^6] rushed ahead and cried: "Where are my nephews Abdullah[^7], Ja’far[^8], Abbas, and Uthman.[^9]" Husayn (a.s.) said to the sons of Ummul Banin: "Though he is a fasiq and evil-doer, give him a response." The sons of Ummul Banin replied: "What do you want?" Shimr said: "O’ sons of my sister! You are under protection (amnesty).

Do not get killed with your brother Husayn, and come to the service of Yazeed bin Muawiyah, the Amirul Momineen!" Abbas Ibn Ali (a.s.) shouted in response: "May your hands be cut! May your offer of amnesty be cursed! O? enemy of Allah! Are you asking us to leave our brother and master Husayn Ibn Fatima (a.s.), and to come under the command of the rejected, the cursed, and sons of those con- demned by Allah?" Shimr returned angrily to his army.

The narrator says: "When Husayn (a.s.) saw that the effect of his admonition was less, and the enemy was very eager to begin fighting he told his brother Abbas, If you could get a period, and delay the war, it will be nice. We may offer prayers during this night for Allah, as He knows that I am very fond of prayers (Salat) and of reciting His holy Book." Abbas put up his proposal before them. Umar bin Sa’ad kept quiet.