The battlefield chronicler Abu Makhnaf records that on the other side, in the course of two days, between the third and the fourth of Muharram, the plains of Karbala were filled with over a hundred and forty thousand warriors from Syria, Iraq, Iran and other countries to oppose Imam Husain (a.s). Umar bin Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas brought an army of six thousand soldiers, four thousand men were headed by Shibth bin Rib’iy, various contingents of between ten and twenty thousand men each headed by Urwa bin Qays, Sinan bin Anas an-Nakh’iy, Hussayn Bin Numair, Shimr bin Thil Joushan, Mudha’ir bin Raheena al-Mazini, Yazid bin Rikab al-Kelbi, Nadhr bin Harasha, Muhammad bin al-Ash’ath, Abdullah bin Hussayn, Khouli al-Asbahi, Bakr bin Ka’b bin Talha, Hajjar ibn Abhur[1] besides the warriors under the command of Umar bin Hajjaj.
On the fourth of Muharram, Umar bin Sa’d wanted Urwa bin Qais a prominent figure from Kufa to go to Imam Husain (a.s) and inquire why he had come. Urwa was one of those who had repeatedly written to Imam Husain (a.s) inviting him to come to Kufa. He made a lame excuse from the task of meeting Imam Husain, as he felt ashamed to face the Imam (a.s). Ibn Sa’d tried to persuade other prominent personalities of Kufa to go on the errand, but they refused out of shame as it was they who had written letters inviting Imam Husain (s) to come to Kufa. Then, Katheer bin Abdullah agreed to go to Imam Husain’s tent. He was stopped by Zohair ibn al-Qain or by Abu Thumama according to some sources, and asked to remove his weapons that he did not agree and went back. Umar ibn Sa’d then sent Qurra bin Qeis al-Handhali. Imam Husain (a.s) asked if anyone knew Qurra. Zohair ibn al-Qain said that Qurra was his sister’s son and belonged to the clan of Tameem. Qurra agreed and deposited his weapons with Zohair and was allowed to meet Imam Husain (a.s). To Qurra’s question, Imam Husain (a.s) replied that the people of Kufa wrote letters inviting him to come to Kufa and guide them in religious matters as they were without an Imam. Imam Husain (a.s) further said that in those circumstances, as an Imam, it was his divinely entrusted mission to come and guide the people of Kufa even at the cost of his life. Imam Husain (s) then said that if the people of Kufa had changed their mind and they did not want him to come to Kufa, he was ready and willing to go back. Zohair told Qurra that it was unfortunate that Qurra was with the opponents of the grandson of the Prophet (s). On hearing this, Qurra replied that before taking any decision he would first prefer to convey the reply of Imam Husain (a.s) to ibn Sa’d and watch his reaction.
On the nights of the fourth and the fifth of Muharram, Umar bin Sa’d wanted to meet Imam Husain (a.s). Arrangements were made in an open space between Imam Husain’s camp and Umar’s army when a long conversation ensued during which Imam Husain (a.s) showed hundreds of letters written by the people of Kufa. The next night a similar meeting took place in which Imam Husain (a.s) explained that he had come only in response to the invitation of the people of Kufa; that it was his Divinely entrusted mission, as an Imam, to guide Muslims and that he had no other aspirations.
Umar bin Sa’d realized that Shimr had always carried a grudge against him for being preferred and given command of the army and that he was overlooked; therefore, he incited Ibn Ziyad against him. The possibility of losing his command of the army as well as the riches promised by ibn Ziyad, was enough to, once again, blind Umar ibn Sa’d from the reality placed before him by Imam Husain (a.s) during the preceding nights. He forthwith ordered the closure of the banks of the Euphrates by posting several battalions under the command of Amr bin al-Hajjaj, and Hussayn ibn Numair with strict instructions not to allow anyone from Imam Husain’s camp to come near the river and take any water.
The water stored in Imam Husain’s camp was exhausted by the night of the sixth of Muharram and in the extreme heat of the desert; the whole seventh day and the following night were spent by the children in crying for water. On the eighth day of Muharram, Imam Husain’s brother and trusted friend Abbas (s) tried to dig a well in several places, one after another. Unfortunately, they faced a sheet of solid rock at every place, shattering the hope of providing water to the thirsty children in Imam Husain’s camp.
Unable to see small children crying for water, Imam Husain’s companion Yazid bin Hussayn al-Hamadani took the Imam’s permission to talk to and persuade Umar ibn Sa’d to allow them to bring water from the river. When he met ibn Sa’d, he did not greet him with the customary salutation. Ibn Sa’d asked, “Why did you not greet me? Am I not a Moslem?” Al-Hamadani replied, “You have assembled to kill the Prophet’s grandson. With what excuse will you plead before the Prophet (s) for whose intercession you hope on the Day of Judgement? You have denied water to children that even an infidel will not do. How do you
then call yourself a Muslim?” Umar ibn Sa’d said, “For the present, I am not worried about the Day of Judgment. What concerns me is the Governorship of Ray which is waiting for me after I am finished with Husain.”[1]
Then, Imam Husain (a.s) called Abbas (a.s) and asked him to take some companions and try to fetch water from the Euphrates. Abbas (a.s) took twenty horsemen, and when they reached the riverbank, they were challenged by al-Hajjaj who was guarding the river with his platoon. On hearing the voice of Hilal bin Nafi’, who was his cousin, al-Hajjaj permitted him to go to the river to drink. Hilal said, “When the Holy Prophet’s grandson and small children and ladies in his camp are not allowed to drink water, it is a shame that you allow me to drink it.” He then asked his companions to charge forward and collect as much water as possible in the leather bags. However, al-Hajjaj and his soldiers unsuccessfully fought with Abbas (a.s) and his companions who succeeded in bringing a few leather bags of water, which was not sufficient even to quench the thirst of the children. The thirsty children rushed to take water, and in the melee, the vessel was upturned and water flowed out on the ground. The elder members of Imam Husain’s entourage did not get any water to drink since the seventh of Muharram.
Umar bin Sa’d was greatly enraged to learn that the brave companions of Imam Husain (a.s) could face such a large platoon and succeed in getting water, however meager, to Imam Husain’s camp. He ordered that the riverbank should be barricaded more vigilantly and not a drop should reach Imam Husain’s camp. Umar also tightened the circle around Imam Husain’s tents and planned to attack them with his enormous army.
After this, ibn Sa’d ordered his army to surround the camp of Imam Husain (a.s) from all sides. This incident took place on the night of eighth of Muharram.
Between the fourth and the eighth of Muharram, ibn Ziyad continued to send additional soldiers as reinforcement. By the morning of the eighth of Muharram, over a lakh and forty thousand armed men were assembled against Imam Husain (a.s) at Karbala. Whenever ibn Ziyad’s forces arrived in Karbala, there was jubilation and beating drums and blowing of trumpets.
Imam Husain (a.s) came to know that the vile Umar bin Sa’d was planning a sneak attack by his entire force from behind to kill everyone including women and children and destroy Imam Husain’s camp. To safeguard against such an event, a trench was dug all around the camp, leaving a small passage in the front. Firewood and other available fuel was lit and thrown into the trench. The heat of the burning trench was added to the agony of the three-day’s thirst.
After the sunset, in the night between the ninth and the tenth days of Muharram, Imam Husain (a.s) led the obligatory prayers with his companions. As soon as the prayers were finished, Imam Husain (a.s) made a speech before his companions.
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