the alleyways, he asked, “What is the matter with these people?”

They replied, “ʿAbd Allah ibn Mughaffal has died.” (1)

Others say that the one who rebuked him was ʿĀʾidh ibn ʿAmr al-Muzanī, as recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2); it may therefore be that the events are two separate incidents.

Many tribulations overtook ʿUbayd Allah, and the Muslims detested him for what he had done to al-Ḥusayn (may Allah be pleased with him). When the news of Yazīd’s death reached him, he fled—almost being captured—crossed the desert to Syria, and attached himself to Marwān. He later marched at the head of a large army and drew up the battle lines at Raʾs ʿAyn.

Muʿāwiya ibn Yazīd, a handsome, fair-featured, righteous youth, was then installed as caliph, but he fell ill and died two months later. People said to him, “Appoint a successor.” He replied, “I have tasted none of its sweetness; why, then, should I shoulder its bitterness?”

He lived only twenty-one years. His cousin ʿUthmān ibn ʿAnbasa (3) ibn Abī Sufyān led the funeral prayer over him. They urged ʿUthmān to accept the caliphate, but he refused, went to his maternal uncle Ibn al-Zubayr, and pledged allegiance to him.

Marwān himself came close to giving allegiance to Ibn al-Zubayr, but ʿUbayd Allah ibn Ziyād arrived, a fugitive from Iraq. He had already preached a sermon announcing Yazīd’s death and had distributed stipends. Salama al-Riyāhī then rose against him, calling the people to Ibn al-Zubayr, and the populace sided with Salama.

The people said to ʿUbayd Allah, “Release our brothers from the prisons”—for they were filled with Kharijites. He replied, “No …”