Al-Husayn said to those with him, "Whoever wishes to depart, let him depart." So the people dispersed from him, some one by one, some in groups. Al-Husayn did not reach a place called Saraf until Al-Hurr, the commander of 'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad's forces, reached him with a thousand horsemen. They stopped opposite Al-Husayn. Al-Hurr said to Al-Husayn, "I have only come to meet you. If you wish to return, I will let you return from here." The commander said to him, "I will not leave you until I deliver you to Kufa before 'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad." Al-Husayn said, "Death is easier than that." They continued in this manner until Al-Husayn traveled with the commander of Ibn Ziyad's forces. Then the year sixty-one began.

And the killing of Al-Husayn: When Al-Husayn was with Al-Hurr, a letter came from 'Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad to Al-Hurr, ordering him to encamp Al-Husayn and his companions in the place known as Karbala'. This was on Thursday, the second of Muharram of this year, meaning the year sixty-one. What came from Kufa was 'Umar ibn Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas with four thousand horsemen, sent by Ibn Ziyad to fight Al-Husayn. Al-Husayn asked him for three options: either to return from where he came, or to be sent to Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah, or to join the Muslims. So 'Umar ibn Sa'd wrote to Ibn Ziyad asking that Al-Husayn be granted these options. Ibn Ziyad became angry and said, "No, and no honor." So he sent Shimr ibn Dhi al-Jawshan to 'Umar ibn Sa'd, saying, "Either you fight Al-Husayn and kill him and trample his body with horses, or you withdraw and Shimr will be the commander over the army." 'Umar ibn Sa'd said, "I will fight."

The evening of Wednesday, the ninth of Muharram of this year, Al-Husayn was sitting in front of his tent after the afternoon prayer. When the army approached him, he asked his brother Al-Abbas to postpone the battle until tomorrow, and that he would accept whatever they chose. They agreed to that. He said to his companions, "I have given you permission. So go forth tonight and disperse into the wilderness and your lands." His brother Abu al-Fadl said, "Why would you do that before you have fought?" He said, "I have no desire for that." His brothers, the sons of his brother, and the sons of 'Abd Allah ibn Ja'far said the same. Al-Husayn and his companions spent the entire night praying and supplicating.

When morning came, they found themselves facing their enemies. This was on the day of Ashura of the mentioned year. Al-Husayn and his companions numbered thirty-two horsemen and forty foot soldiers. Then they attacked Al-Husayn and his companions, and the fighting continued until the noon of that day. Al-Husayn and his companions performed the prayer of fear, and Al-Husayn became intensely thirsty. He advanced to drink, but was shot with an arrow that struck him in the mouth. Shimr called out, "What are you waiting for? Kill the man!" Zar'ah ibn Shurayk struck him on the shoulder, another struck him on the neck, and Sinan ibn Anas struck him...