On the Day of Tasu’a, the siege of Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) and his companions by the army of Sham reached its peak, and they prepared for battle. Abbas (peace be upon him), hearing the uproar coming from the Sham army, realized the situation and approached Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), saying, “Brother! The army (of Umar ibn Sa’d) is advancing toward you.” The Imam rose and said, “O Brother Abbas! Mount your horse, may my life be sacrificed for you, and go to meet them.”
Abbas (peace be upon him) hurried toward the Sham army with twenty horsemen and asked, “What is the reason for this commotion and movement?” They replied, “The order from our commander is to demand your obedience to his authority. Otherwise, we will fight you.” Abbas (peace be upon him) responded, “Do not rush; I will return and inform my brother of your words.” He swiftly returned to Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) and relayed the message. The Imam (peace be upon him) said, “Go back to them and request a delay until tomorrow, so that we may spend this night in prayer, supplication, and seeking forgiveness. For God knows that I love prayer, recitation of the Qur’an, and frequent supplication and repentance.” [1]
Thus, the night provided an opportunity for Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) and his companions to dedicate themselves entirely to worship, prayer, Qur’an recitation, and heartfelt supplication. The sound of their Qur’an recitation and invocations filled the air.
As the dawn of Ashura broke, the Sham army initiated the battle. Umar ibn Sa’d shot the first arrow toward Imam Hussain (peace be upon him), followed by a barrage of arrows from his forces, raining down on the Imam’s companions. Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) turned to his followers and said, “Rise and prepare yourselves for death, as there is no escape from it. May God’s mercy be upon you.” Upon his command, the companions engaged in combat, launching repeated attacks and fighting valiantly until they were martyred one by one.
By the afternoon of Ashura, none of Imam Hussain’s (peace be upon him) companions remained. Looking around, he saw the seventy-two martyrs from his companions and family lying lifeless on the battlefield. Determined, the Imam bid farewell to the women and children and prepared himself for the battlefield. He challenged the enemy, and whoever stood against him met their end. The Imam (peace be upon him) demonstrated extraordinary courage and valor, striking down many of the enemy’s warriors.
One of the narrators from the enemy’s camp remarked, “By God, I have never seen a man surrounded by so many enemies, with his companions and children slain, and his family besieged and desperate, who showed such bravery and strength of heart as Hussain (peace be upon him). Despite the overwhelming trials, thirst, and the wounds inflicted upon him, he was neither panicked nor unsteady. His demeanor remained dignified, and his resolve unwavering. Whenever brave warriors attacked him, he would charge at them so fiercely that they would scatter like wolves before a lion. Even when the thirty-thousand-strong army regrouped and charged again, Hussain (peace be upon him) would counterattack, dispersing them like swarms of locusts and clearing the battlefield around him. He would charge into the heart of the army, reciting, *‘There is no power or strength except through Allah.’” [2]
Ibn Shahr Ashub and others recount that, besides wounding many, Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) killed a significant number of the enemy forces. Realizing that no single combatant could overpower the Imam, Umar ibn Sa’d shouted to his soldiers, “Woe to you! Do you not realize who you are fighting? This is the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), the victor over all victors, the one who defeated the bravest warriors of Arabia. Combine your efforts and attack him all at once.” [3]
Following this command, the soldiers attacked in groups, but again, many fell to the Imam’s sword. Eventually, the Imam turned toward the Euphrates to quench his thirst. The enemy, knowing that if he drank water, his strength would multiply, blocked his access. Whenever he approached the river, they attacked and forced him back, leaving him to fight on in his thirst and exhaustion.
The enemy surrounded Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) from all sides. Archers, numbering four thousand, showered arrows upon him. The arrows pierced his body, and his chest resembled the back of a hedgehog from the many arrows embedded in it. Exhausted, the Imam momentarily ceased fighting, and the enemy forces paused before launching another wave of attacks. Surrounded by enemies, the Imam called out, “O followers of Abu Sufyan! If you have abandoned your religion and do not fear the Day of Judgment, then at least be free men in this world!”
Hearing this, Shimr approached and asked, “What are you saying, O son of Fatimah?”
Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) replied, “I am fighting you, and you are fighting me. What sin have the women committed? As long as I live, restrain your soldiers from attacking my tents.”
Shimr called out to the army, “Withdraw from his tents, for he is a noble and honorable man. Focus on killing him, as that is our goal.” [4]
At Umar ibn Sa’d’s command, the soldiers surrounded the Imam and rained arrows upon him. With his thirst unquenched, his body exhausted, and his wounds severe, Imam Hussain (peace be upon him) continued to fight until he was martyred.
Adapted from Muntaha al-Amal by Sheikh Abbas Qomi (with minor adjustments).
Footnotes:
[1] Irshad Mufid, vol. 2, pp. 81-91
[2] History of Tabari, vol. 6, p. 259 – Maqtal Abi Mikhnaf, p. 194 (as narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn Yaghuth) – Luhuf, p. 119 – Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, p. 50
[3] Manaqib Ibn Shahr Ashub, vol. 4, p. 110
[4] Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 45, p. 51