The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, 61 AH (October 9 or 10, 680 CE)

[1][2]
in Karbala, in present day Iraq. On one side were supporters and relatives of
Muhammad's grandson Husayn ibn Ali; on the other side was a military detachment
from the forces of Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph.

Husayn ibn Ali's group consisted of notable members of Muhammad's close relatives,
around 72 men, of which some were either very old or very young. Husayn and some
members of his group were accompanied by some of the women and children from
their families. On the opposite side, the armed forces of Yazid I were led by Umar ibn
Sa'ad and contained at least 40,000 men[citation needed].

Shia traditions state that Husayn ibn Ali's group killed over 20% of the enemy before
being defeated. Husayn himself killed 900 soldiers, despite the fact that he was thirsty
and hungry for 3 days. It is stated that he died to resurrect Islam.

The battle field was a desert region located beside one of the branches of the
Euphrates River. The battle resulted in the military defeat of Husayn ibn Ali's group,
the death of almost all of his men, and the captivity of all women and children.

The Battle of Karbala is one of the most significant battles in the history of Shia
Muslims.

This battle also had significant effects on formation of subsequent revolts against the
Umayyad dynasty.[3]

The battle of Husayn ibn Ali is commemorated during an annual 10-day period held
every Muharram, culminating on its tenth day, Ashura.[4][5]

Battle based on Islamic traditions

Caliphate turns into monarchy

Muawiya violated every single clause of the treaty which he signed with Hasan Ibn
Ali. Most blatantly he tried to ensure that his son, Yazid I, would be planted as the
next King, another major deviation from the general Islamic norms (Muawiya's rule
marks the end of the islamic caliphate, even in sunni traditions and he is regarded as a
usurper). Muawiya required all of his supporters to swear allegiance to Yazid before
his death. By doing so, he disregarded the peace treaty with Hasan ibn Ali to hold
Shura.

When Muawiya died, some major Muslims such as Abdullah ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn
Zubayr as well as Husayn ibn Ali refused to recognize Yazid I as the next caliph. This
was the perfect opportunity for any parties opposing Umayyad to begin struggling for
power.[8]

1
Kufa's opposition to Damascus

Kufa, a garrison town in what is now Iraq, had been Ali's capital, and there were still
many people in Kufa claiming they are still supporters of Ali. Husayn ibn Ali received
many letters from the Kufans expressing their offer of support if he claimed the
caliphate. They were also trying to restore Kufa's power against Damascus, the
Umayyad capital.

Medina

Yazid, the new ruler, feared that Husayn would revolt. Therefore he sent a letter to
Walid ibn Utbah, governor of Medina, and ordered him to take allegiance from
Husayn or to kill him if he refrains. Walid consulted Marwan ibn al-Hakam and he
advised Walid to kill Husayn since he will never accept Bay'ah with Yazid, but Walid
did not accept this advice since he did not want to kill Husayn.

Walid held a meeting with Husayn to convince him of Bay'ah with Yazid I but was
refused. The day after, Marwan asked Husayn for Bay'ah. Husayn replied:

"... Say farewell to Islam while the Ummah is afflicted by a ruler such as Yazid. Since I have
heard of my grandfather, prophet of God, who was saying: The Caliphate is forbidden for Abu
Sufyan's descendants".[11]

Husayn departed Medina on Sha'ban 3, 60 AH (May 9, 680 CE) to perform the Hajj
ritual.[12] More authentic reports tell us that Husayn bin Ali actually left Medina on the
28th day of Rajab in the 60th year of Hijra.

Mecca

Husayn ibn Ali stayed in Mecca from the beginnings of the Sha'ban and all of the
Ramadan, Shawwal, as well as Dhu al-Qi'dah.

When many letters came from Kufa assuring Husayn ibn Ali of Kufan support, he
answered their calls and sent Muslim ibn Aqeel, his cousin, to Kufa as his
representative in an attempt to consider their last situation and opinions.

Abd-Allah ibn Abbas and Abdullah ibn Zubayr held a meeting with Husayn ibn Ali in
Mecca to advise him to refuse to travel to Iraq.

In another meeting, Abdullah ibn Umar asked him to reconcile with the strayed
people and to prevent war. But he warned Abdullah ibn Umar not to stop supporting
him.

Meanwhile Husayn ibn Ali corresponded with nobles of Basrah and asked them to
support him. Major tribes of Basrah gathered and got ready for fight against Yazid I
and informed Husayn ibn Ali. At the same time Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, governor of
Basrah, executed one of the messengers of Husayn ibn Ali and then addressed people
and warned them to avoid insurgency. Ibn Ziyad, governor of Basra and Kufa, left
Basra toward Kufa next day, leaving his brother as deputy governor of Basra. Basrah

2
rebels’ army never reached Husayn ibn Ali and they became aware of his martyrdom
midway of Kufa.

Considerable military units under Umar ibn Sa'ad entered Mecca to confront or attack
Husayn ibn Ali on Tarwiyah day.[13]

Husayn ibn Ali gave a speech to people the day before his departure and said:

"... The death is a certainty for mankind, just like the trace of necklace on the neck of young
girls. And I am enamoured of my ancestors like eagerness of Jacob to Joseph ... Everyone,
who is going to devote his blood for ours sake and is prepared to meet Allah, must depart with
us..."[14]

He also willed before his journey his half-brother Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah.
Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah was preventing him from going to Kufa knowing
hypocrisy and insincerity of its people even with Ali. But Husayn departed toward
Kufa to avoid the battle inside the holy city of Mecca.

Husayn ibn Ali left Mecca toward Kufa with his family members plus some
supporters on Dhu al-Hijjah 3 or 8, 60AH (September 4 or 9 September 680 CE).

Husayn's representative to Kufa, Muslim ibn Aqeel were welcomed by the people of
Kufa, and most of them swore allegiance to him. But he and his host, Hani ibn Urwa
were executed by the new governor of the Kufa, Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad on Dhu al-
Hijjah 9, 60AH (September 10, 680 CE) without any considerable resistance of the
people. And almost all the Kufan supporters of Husayn turned into his enemies.

Toward Kufa

Husayn ibn Ali came across with a convoy in the Tan'im station carrying some gifts
from the governor of Yemen for Yazid I. He confiscated all of their consignments and
made the cameleers free to select between making a new contract with him and being
paid for the amount of the way they had traveled so far. Some cameleers accompanied
him.[15]

He met with Boshr ibn Ghalib in the Zat-Erq station who was coming from Iraq and
asked about his opinions about Iraq political situation. Boshr replied: "I left the hearts
which are adherents of yours and the swords which are adherents of the Umayyad!”
And Husayn confirmed his analysis and news.

Zuhair ibn Qayn left Mecca toward his town at the same time but was trying to be
away from convoy of Husayn ibn Ali due to the political disputes he had with Ali ibn
Abi Talib before. After a while and passing away some stations, Zuhayr forced to
camp near Husayn's camp caused by some limitations. At this time Husayn sent a
messenger toward Zuhayr and called him for a meeting. Zuhayr's wife encouraged
him to visit offspring of the Prophet. Zuhayr visited Husayn. After the meeting Zuhayr
ordered to move his tent to Husayn's camp and asked his wife to leave him and told
her: "I have decided to accompany Husayn in order to sacrifice myself for him and to
shield him by my soul."

3
The word came about the death of Muslim ibn Aqeel in Zobalah station. This news
caused a great sorrow in the convoy. A group of fellow travelers left Husayn alone
after that and only his family members and loyal followers remained with him.
Husayn continued to advance toward Kufa even after receiving news of the loss of
Kufan support. Now, nowhere is safe for him and for his family.

Husayn sent Qais ibn Musahhar al-Saydavi as messenger toward nobles of Kufa, such
as Solayman ibn Sorad al-khozaei. He was captured in the vicinity of Kufa but
managed to tear the letter to pieces to hide names of its recipients. Ibn Ziyad forced
him to reveal the names or publicly curse Husayn and his father and brother upon pain
of death. He accepted the latter but cursed ibn Ziyad instead and encouraged people to
join Husayn ibn Ali. Ibn Ziyad ordered his execution by dropping him from the top of
the palace afterward.

Clash with vanguards

Husayn was two days' journey away from Kufa when he was intercepted by the
vanguard of Yazid's army; about 1000 men led by Hurr ibn Yazid Al-Riyahi. Husayn
asked: "With us or against us?" Hurr replied: "Of course against you, oh Aba Abd
Allah!" Husayn said: "... So if you are different from what I received from your letters
and from your messengers then I will return to where I came from." Hurr refused
Husayn's request of his return to Medina and told him: "No, but select a way neither
toward Kufa nor Madina enabling me to find a pretense before ibn Ziyad that you
would have disagreed with me on the way."

After receiving a threatening letter from ibn Ziyad to halt them, Hurr prevented
Husayn from moving to any direction and let them know the new order from ibn
Ziyad. Then Husayn ibn Ali gave a speech to his companions and said:

"... It has happened from the events what you have seen. And the world has been changed and
become abominable and its goodness turns ... Don't you see that the truth is not put into action
and the false is not prohibited? The believer has got to be fond of meeting his God justly. So I
do not consider the death but blessedness and living with the oppressors other than
abjectness."[16]

Some of his followers asserted their loyalty and he started moving. Hurr was
continuously preventing them to move further or was making them deviate from their
way.

Husayn ibn Ali, his family and his supporters arrived at Karbala on Muharram 2,
61AH (October 2, 680 CE). He was forced to pitch a camp on dry, bare land and Hurr
stationed his army nearby.

Ibn Ziyad appointed Umar ibn Sa'ad to command the battle against Husayn ibn Ali.
Umar ibn Sa'ad was not a military man but he was famous for being a clergyman. At
first he rejected the leadership of the army but he accepted after Ibn Ziyad threatened
to depose him from the governorship of Ray city. Umar ibn Sa'ad moved towards the
battlefield with a 4000 men army and arrived at Karbala on Muharram 3, 61AH
(October 3, 680 CE). Ibn Ziyad was continuously sending reinforcements to his army
such that they became a 20,000 army on Muharram 6, 61AH [17]. It finally reached
around 30,000 horsemen and infantrymen.[18]

4
Ibn Ziyad asked Shabath ibn Reb'ei, also another clergyman of Kufa, to join Umar ibn
Sa'ad. At first he feigned illness but finally accepted. He together with 1000 horseman
was dispatched toward Karbala.

Water blockade

Ibn Ziyad sent a brief letter to Umar ibn Sa'd that commanded: "Prevent Husayn and
his disciples from accessing water and do not allow them to drink a drop of water; the
same as Uthman was treated." In this letter he falsely accused Husayn and his father
of being responsible for what rebels did with Uthman before. On Muharram 7
(October 7, 680 CE), ibn Sa'ad ordered 500 horsemen to cut Husayn's camp off from
the Euphrates to stop them from accessing water. The camp now had no supply of
water and the enemy hoped to force Husayn to surrender on account of thirst.

One of the disciples of Husayn ibn Ali asked Husayn's permission to negotiate with
Umar ibn Sa'ad about obtaining access to water and Husayn accepted. He met Umar
ibn Sa'ad but ibn Sa'ad refused to allow Husayn access to any water.

Husayn ibn Ali ordered his half brother Abbas ibn Ali to conduct a night mission to
the Euphrates to get water. Abbas ibn Ali with 30 horsemen and 20 infantrymen
carrying 20 water skins advanced toward the front lines of the enemy Euphrates by
night. The infantrymen quickly destroyed the formation of 500 enemy horsemen and
succeeded in filling their water skins but they were counter attacked by a massive
brigade on their way back. Abbas ibn Ali and his horsemen managed to stop their
enemies and his infantrymen rejoined Husayn's army. Miraculously there were no
casualties in Husayn's army even though the entire battlion of 500 horsemen had been
decimated. This prompted Ibn-e-Saad to increase the guard on Euphrates from 500 to
3000.[19]

The water blockade continued up to the end of the battle on Muharram 10 night
(October 10, 680 CE).

Reconciliation negotiations

Overnight negotiations between Husayn ibn Ali and Umar ibn Sa'ad has been
reported. Husayn was trying to cause ibn Sa'ad to change his mind. Finally Umar ibn
Sa'ad agreed to Husayn's proposal that the siege be lifted so that Husayn, his family,
and his companions could leave Iraq. He sent word to ibn Ziyad, asking him to ratify
the offer.

Ibn Ziyad liked the proposal, but another Umayyad grandee, Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan,
vetoed it and advised ibn Sa'ad to offer surrender to Husayn. Ibn Ziyad sent letter to
Umar ibn Sa'ad and ordered him to destroy Husayn if he do not surrender or be
dismissed from all services and Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan will lead the army. Shimr
delivered the letter to ibn Sa'ad in Karbala. Ibn Sa'ad showed his protest against
Shimr's idea since he was sure that Husayn will never surrender. But accepted orders
of ibn Ziyad and appointed Shimr as commander of infantrymen.

Choice between life and death

5
On the 9th of Muharram (October 9, 680 CE) which is called Tasua'a, the Husayn
camp was completely besieged and had exhausted its water. Their only choice was
between surrender or death.

Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan approached the camp of Husayn ibn Ali and yelled: "Where
are my nephews Abd-Allah, Ja'far, Abbas and Uthman?" He described the sons of Ali
ibn Abi Talib from Fatima binte Hizam, nicknamed Umm-al-Banin, as his nephews
since Umm-al-Banin was from his tribe. They replied and Shimr said: "You nephews
of mine; you are in protection and do not be murdered for the sake of Husayn and
obey the chief of the believers, Yazid." But all of them refused to leave Husayn ibn
Ali and Shimr went away angrily.

Umar ibn Sa'ad received an order from ibn Ziyad to start the battle immediately and
not to postpone it further. The army started stealthily advancing toward Husayn's
camp on the afternoon of Tasua'a. At this time Husayn sent Abbas ibn Ali to ask ibn
Sa'ad for another delay, until the next morning, so that he and his men could spend the
night praying. Ibn Sa'ad agreed the respite.

Husayn then told his men that he did not intend to surrender, but to fight. Since they
were so heavily outnumbered by the enemy, all of them were sure to die. On the night
before the battle, Husayn gathered his men and told them that they were all free to
leave the camp in the middle of the night, under cover of darkness, rather than face
certain death if they stayed with him. None of Husayn's men wished to defect. Instead
they stated their wish to be killed repeatedly in the name of Husayn if they were
brought back to life by Allah.

Husayn and his followers held a vigil to pray all night. Some guards from ibn Sa'ad's
army who were patrolling that night joined Husayn's army. They were said to be as
many as 32 men.

Husayn ibn Ali ordered his fighters to dig a trench around their tents by night and to
fill it with firewood and dried shrubs to prevent the enemy from flanking them or
infiltrating the camp. Only one passage was left open. Ibn Sa'ad's army did not notice
this activity till next morning.

Day of battle

On Muharram 10 called Ashura, Husayn ibn Ali prayed Morning Prayer with his
companions. He appointed Zuhayr ibn Qayn to command the right flank, Habib ibn
Muzahir to command the left flank and his half-brother Abbas ibn Ali as standard
bearer of his army. Also he ordered to set the trench around their tents on fire.

The companions of Husayn ibn Ali were 32 horsemen and 40 infantrymen. According
to another tradition from Mohammad ibn Ali, they were 45 horsemen and 100
infantrymen.[20]

On the other side, Umar ibn Sa'ad reorganized his army and nominated various
commanders among them were Hurr ibn Yazid as commander of men from Tamim
and Hamdan tribes, Shimr ibn Dhil-Jawshan as commander of left flank and Shabath
ibn Reb'ei as commander of infantrymen.

6
Lectures prior to engagement

Burayr ibn Khudhayr, Zuhayr ibn Qayn and Husayn ibn Ali made speeches to the
Kufan army immediately before the military engagement. They were trying to exhort
the Kufans not to fight Husayn and remind them of their invitations letters as well as
Husayn's family tie with Muhammad.

Husayn ibn Ali addressed:

"... Lo and behold; an ignoble (i.e ibn Ziyad), son of other ignoble (i.e. Ziyad ibn Abihi), has
entangled me in a bifurcation, between either unsheathing the swords or accepting abjectness.
And far be it that we accept abjectness. Allah abominates that for us, plus his prophet,
believers, the chaste pure gentlewomen, those who do not accept oppression as well as the
souls who do not submit to meanness abominate it. They disapprove that we prefer obedience
of scrooges to the best sites of murder. Beware; I assault you together with this family while
they are few and when the helpers deserted. ... " [21]

The battle starts

Ibn Sa'ad advanced and fired an arrow at Husayn's army, saying: "Give evidence
before emir that I was the first thrower." Then his army started showering Husayn's
army with weapons.

Both sides began fighting. Successive assaults resulted in the death of a group of
Husayn's companions.

Then Husayn ibn Ali called the people around him to join him for the sake of Allah
and to defend Muhammed’s family. His speech affected Hurr ibn Yazid Al-Riyahi, the
commander of the Tamim and Hamdan tribes who had stopped Husayn from his
journey. He abandoned ibn Sa'ad and galloped his horse to Husayn's small force and
told him: "May I be sacrificed in your place! I am the one who prevented you from
returning and severely treated you. I swear by Allah, I did not know they were going
to do in this way. And now I am returning to Allah. So, do you think if any return can
be imagined for me?" Husayn replied: "Yes. Allah will return to you. So, dismount."
Then Hurr asked Husayn to let him to fight to the death. Afterwards Husayn cleaned
dust from his face when he found his corpse and said: "You are noble in this world
and the next, as your mother named you."

The first skirmish was between the right flank of Husayn ibn Ali's army with the left
of the Syrian army. Astonishingly 32 men under the command of Zuhayr ibn Qain
inflicted a major defeat on at least 4000 men. They quickly retreated and broke the
pre-war pact of not using arrows & lances. This pact was made in view of the small
number (72) of Husayn's companions. Thereafter almost all of Husayn ibn Ali's
companions were killed (including Husayn's infant boy Ali Asghar) by the onslaught
of arrows or lances. This was because the Syrians realized they were not a match in
bravery or swordsmanship for Husayn ibn Ali or his companions.

In order to prevent random and indiscriminate showering of arrows on Husayn's camp

which had women and children in it, Husayn's followers went out to single combats.
One by one, men like Burayr ibn Khudhayr, Muslim ibn Ausaja and Habib ibn
Muzahir were slain in the fighting. They were attempting to save Husayn's life by

7
shielding him. Every casualty had a considerable effect on their military strength since
they were vastly outnumbered to begin with.

Husayn ibn Ali ordered Zuhayr ibn Qayn and Said ibn Abd-Allah to stand in front of
him enabling him to say a Zohr prayer on the battlefield. They shielded him with their
bodies until Said ibn Abd-Allah was killed by multiple arrows.

Historians say that Husayn's companions were coming, one by one, to say goodbye to
him, even in the midst of battle. They reassured him that: "... We are following you"
and adding: "And among them (believers) is one who fulfilled his vow, and among
them is one who waits (to fulfill their vows). And they did not change (their vows),
any change"[22]

Death of the men from Banu Hashim

After almost all of Husayn's companions were killed, his relatives asked his
permission to fight. The men of Banu Hashim, the clan of Muhammed and Ali, went
out one by one. Ali Akbar ibn Husayn, the oldest son of Husayn, was the first one who
received permission from his father.[23]

Casualties from Banu Hashim were sons of Ali ibn Abi Talib, sons of Hasan ibn Ali,
Son of Husayn ibn Ali, Son of Abd-Allah ibn Ja'far ibn Abi-Talib and Zainab bint Ali,
sons of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, as well as a son of Muslim ibn Aqeel.

Death of Abbas ibn Ali

Husayn ibn Ali advanced toward Euphrates branch along a dyke and his brother
Abbas ibn Ali was moving ahead of him. They had planned to bring some water to
tents. But ibn Sa'ad army prevents them and one of them hit Husayn on his chin with
an arrow. Husayn pulled out the arrow and stopped further advance enabling him to
cover Abbas and protect the tents at the same time. Abbas ibn Ali continued his
advance into the heart of ibn Sa'ad's army.[24] He was under heavy shower of arrows
but was able to penetrate them and get to the branch leaving heavy casualties from the
enemy. He immediately started filling the water skin. In a remarkable and immortal
gesture of loyalty to his brother and Muhammad's grandson he didn't drink any water
despite being severely thirsty. He put the water skin on his right shoulder and started
riding back toward their tents. Amr Saad ordered an outright assault on Abbas ibn Ali
saying that if Abbas succeeds in taking water back to his camp, we won't be able to
defeat them till the end of time. A massive enemy army blocked his way and
surrounded him. He was ambushed from behind a bush and his right hand was cut off.
Abbas put the water skin on his left shoulder and continued his way but his left hand
also cut off from wrist. Abbas was now held the water skin with his teeth. The army of
ibn Sa'ad started shooting arrows at him. One arrow hit the water skin and water
poured out of it. One arrow hit his chest and Abbas fell off his horse and called his
brother just before his death.[25]

Death of the infant son of Husayn

When nobody was left in Imam Hussain’s camp. Imam Hussain cried for help by
saying ” Is there anyone who can help me? ”. Hearing this call Imam Hussain’s six-

8
month-old baby dropped himself from the cot. Imam Hussain only realizes and comes
to know about this when he hears the women crying and wailing. He goes to the tent
and asks his sister Zainab what was the reason for them to cry and she said that after
hearing your call for help Ali Asghar has dropped himself from his cot. He then asks
Abdullah Alradea’s mother to dress ali asghar up in new clothes because he wants to
take him to the battlefield so that he can ask some water for his child. Abdullah
Alradea’s mother hands him over to Imam Hussain. Imam Hussain then takes Abdulla
Alradea towards the enemies camp. After getting near the enemies camp he cries out “
Is there anyone who can give some water to my thirsty child? ”. When no one comes
forward he again pleaded and said “ Ok if you think that I will drink the water then
fine I will put my son down on the burning sand anyone who wants to give him water
can come forward and do it so”. Imam Hussain puts his son down on the burning sand
and waits ….. but no one comes forward. He then picks him up and at that moment
Abdullah Alradea starts to roll over his tongue over his lips to convey to yazeed’s
army that he really was thirsty. Seeing this many in Yazeed’s army started crying but
Yazeed was unfazed by it he sent for his best archer Hurmula and orders him to take
aim and shoot an arrow towards Ali Asghar’s direction. He takes aim and launches an
arrow, which struck Abdullah Alradea on his throat and kills him instantly.

Death of Husayn ibn Ali

Husayn ibn Ali offered single battle to the enemy. He killed everybody that fought
him in single battles.[26] He demonstrated extreme courage and bravery, forced the
enemy into retreat frequently and killed a great number of opponents. Husayn and
earlier his son Ali Akbar were the two warriors who penetrated and dispersed the core
of Ibn-Saad's army (Qalb-e-Lashkar), a sign of extreme chaos in traditional warfare.

Husayn advanced very deep in the back ranks of the Syrian army. When the enemies
stood between him and the tents he shouted:

"Woe betide you oh followers of Abu Sufyan's dynasty! If no religion has ever been accepted
by you and you have not been fearing the resurrection day then be liberal in your world ..." [27]

Then his enemies invaded back toward him.

He was continuously invading them and they were continuously invading him and . [28]
Until his numerous injuries caused him to stay a moment. At this time he was hit on
his forehead with a stone. He was cleaning blood from his face while he was hit on
the heart with arrow and he said: "In the name of Allah, and by Allah, and on the
religion of the messenger of Allah." Then he raised his head up and said: "Oh my
God! You know that they are killing a man that there is no son of daughter of a
prophet (Husayn is son of Fatimah bint Muhammad) on the earth except him" Then he
grasped the arrow and pulled it out of his chest from behind which caused heavy
bleeding.[29]

He became very weak to fight and halted and the soldiers approaching him were
giving up confronting him, until a soldier approached him while cursing and hit him
on his head with his sword.

9
The enemies halted for a while and then returned and surrounded him. At this time
Abd-Allah ibn Hasan, who was an underage boy, escaped from the tents and ran until
arrived beside Husayn. When a soldier intended to hit Husayn with his sword, Abd-
Allah ibn Hasan defended his uncle with his arm which caused it to be cut and
hanged. Husayn hugged him but the boy was hit on his neck with an arrow.[30]

Husayn became very weak due to his heavy injuries and hits by arrows. One of the
bowmen hit him on his pelvis with a spear and Husayn fell off his horse and dropped
to the ground on his face.[31]

Umar ibn Sa'ad ordered a man to dismount and to finish the job. But Khowali ibn
Yazid al-Asbahiy preceded the man but feared and did not do it. Then Shimr ibn
Dhiljawshan dismounted his horse and cut Husayn's throat with sword. Shimr ibn
Dhiljawshan was saying: "I swear by God that I am raising your head while I know
that you are son of the messenger of Allah and the best of the people by father and
mother" when he raised head of Husayn ibn Ali on a spear. [32] The inb Sa'ad's men
looted all the valuables from Husayn's body, leaving it semi-naked.

The army of Ibn Sa'ad rushed to loot the tents. The daughters of Mohammad's family
were expelled from the tents unveiled and barefooted, while weeping and crying for
their slain relatives. The army set all the tents on fire. The women were asking: "By
God if you pass us from beside the site of the murder of Husayn." And when they saw
the martyrs and wailed and hit their face.[33] Then Sukayna bint Husayn (Death, 117
AH) embraced her father's body until some people dragged her off his body.[34]

Umar ibn Sa'ad called volunteer horsemen to trample Husayn's body. Ten horsemen
trampled his body such that his chest and back were ground.

Aftermath

Umar ibn Sa'ad sent Husayn's head to ibn Ziyad on Ashura afternoon and ordered to
sever heads of his comrades to send them to Kufa. The heads were distributed to
various tribes enabling them to gain favor of ibn Ziyad. Ibn Sa'ad remained in Karbala
until the next noon.[35]

After ibn Sa'ad's army went out of Karbala, some people from Banu Asad tribe came
there and buried the dead bodies in the place where they are now located.[36]

On Muharram 11 (October 11, 680 CE), all captives including all women and children
were then loaded onto camels without neither saddle nor sunshade and were moved
toward Kufa. And when they approached Kufa, its people gathered to see them. Some
women of Kufa gathered veils for them upon knowing that they are relatives of
Muhammad. Among the captives were Ali ibn Husayn, who was gravely ill, as well as
Hasan ibn Hasan al-Muthanna, who was seriously injured in the battle of Karbala.[37]

Zainab bint Ali pointed at the people to be quiet. Everybody halted and kept silent.
Then she addressed the people of Kufa:

"The praise is exclusively attributed to Allah. And greetings to my father (grand father),
Muhammad, and to his pure and benevolent family. And then, Oh people of Kufa! Oh

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deceitful and reneger people! Do you weep? So let tears not be dried and let groans not be
finished. ... Beware, such a bad preparation you have made for yourself that Allah became
furious of you and you will be at punishment forever. Do you weep and cry? Yeah, by Allah,
do weep numerously and do laugh less! Since you brought its shame and fault on yourself and
you will not be able to cleanse it forever. ..."[38]

And also Fatima al-Sughra, Umm-Kulthoum bint Ali and Ali ibn Husayn delivered
speeches to Kufans.[39] All lectures caused a deep sorrow of the people.

During the journey from Karbala to Kufa, and from Kufa to Damascus, Husayn's
sister Zaynab bint Ali and son Ali Abid ibn Husayn gave various speeches that
exposed the truth about Yazid and told the Muslim world of the various atrocities
committed in Karbala. After being brought to Yazid's court, Zaynab courageously
gave a famous speech in which she denounced Yazid's claim to the caliphate and
eulogized Husayn's uprising.

The prisoners were held in Damascus for a year. The people of Damascus began to
frequent the prison, and Zaynab and Ali ibn Husayn used that as an opportunity to
further propagate the message of Husayn and explain to the people the reason for
Husayn's uprising. As public opinion against Yazid began to foment in Syria and parts
of Iraq, Yazid ordered their release and return to Medina, where they continued to tell
the world of Husayn's cause and Yazid's atrocities.

Historiography of the battle of Karbala

[edit] Primary sources

The first historian to systematically collect the reports of eyewithnesses of this event
was Abi Mikhnaf(died in 157 AH, 774 CE) in a work titled "Ketab Maqtal Al-
Husayn".[44] Abi Mikhnaf's original seems to have been lost and that which has
reached today has been transmitted through his student Hisham Al-Kalbi (died in 204
AH.) There are four manuscripts of the Maqtal, located at Gotha (No. 1836), Berlin
(Sprenger, Nos. 159-160), Leiden (No. 792), and St. Petersburg (Am No. 78) libraries.
[45]

Rasul Jafarian has counted 5 Primary sources which are now availlable. Among the
original works on maqàtil (pl. of maqtal or place of death / martyrdom and hence used
for books narrating the incident of Karbalà) the ones that could be relied upon for
reviewing the Karbala happenings are five in number. All these five maqtals belong to
the period between the 2nd century AH (8th CE) and the early 4th century AH (10th
CE). These five sources are the "Maqtal al-Husayn" of Abu Mikhnaf, the "Maqtal al-
Husayn" of Ibn Sa'd-Sunni Historian-, the "Maqtal al-Husayn" of Baladhuri -Sunni
Historian-, the "Maqtal al-Husayn" of Dinawari, and the "Maqtal al-Husayn" of Ibn
A'tham.[46] How ever some other historians have recognized some of these as
secondary sources. For example Veccia Vaglieri has found that Baladhuri (died
279AH/892-893CE) like Tabari has used Abi Mikhnaf but hasn't mentioned his name.
[47]
On the basis of the article of "Abi Mikhnaf" in "Great Islamic Encyclopedia" Ibn
A'tham has mentioned Abi Mikhnaf in "Al-Futuh" thus he should be recognized as
secondary source.[48]

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