He entrusted the heads of the Imam’s family members and...

He entrusted the heads of the Imam’s family members and those of his companions to ash-Shimr, Qays ibn al-Ash'ath and Amr ibn al-Hajjaj[^19]. Khawli’s house was one farasang from Kufa. He hid the head from his Ansari wife whom he knew to be loyal to , peace be with them. But when she saw a light emanating from the bakery oven [where it was hidden], she was terrified. When she came closer, she heard the voices of al-Husayn’s women mourning al-Husayn (ﻉ) in the most somber way.

She mentioned this to her husband then went out crying[^20]. Since then, she never used any kohl nor any perfume out of her grief for al-Husayn (ﻉ). She was called Ayoof[^21]. In the morning, Khawli took the head to the governor’s mansion. By then, Ibn Ziyad had returned from his camp at an-Nakheela.

Khawli put the head in front of Ibn Ziyad as he recited these poetic verses: إمـلأ ركابي فضّة أو ذهبا إنّـي قتلت السيّد المحجّبا وخيرهم من يذكرون النسبا قـتلت خير الناس اُمّاً وأبا فساء ابن زياد قوله أمام الجمع فقال له : إذا علمت إنّه كذلك فلِمَ قتلته ؟ والله لا نلت نّي شيئاً. Fill my stirrup with silver or with gold: I killed the master of every honour told, Their best when they mention descent. I killed the best of people, son of the best parent.

But these words, spoken in front of everyone, were met by Ibn Ziyad with outrage. "Since you knew that he was that honourable," said Ibn Ziyad, "why did you then take part in killing him? By Allah, you will receive nothing from me at all."[^22] اللهم أرزقنا شفاعة الحسين Leaving Karbala’ When Ibn Sa'd sent the heads to Kufa, he remained with the army till noon on the eleventh day [of Muharram].

He gathered those killed from his army and performed the funeral prayers for them then buried them, leaving the corpses of the Master of the Youths of Paraidse (ﻉ) and those of his (ﻉ) and companions unwashed, unshrouded, and unburied[^23], exposed to the wind and to the wild beasts of the desert. After the time of zawal, Ibn Sa'd left for Kufa with the women, the children, the bondmaids, and the surviving family members of al-Husayn’s companions.

They included twenty women[^24] whom they mounted on camels without saddles just as was the custom then with Turks or Romans taken captive although they belonged to the best of all prophets (ﻉ). With them was as-Sajjad Ali ibn al-Husayn (ﻉ) who was twenty-three years old[^25]. He was placed on a lean camel without a saddle, and he was worn out by sickness[^26].