—Ḥusayn simply for saying, “I will not pledge? By Allah, I believe that whoever kills Ḥusayn will find his scale light on the Day of Judgment.” (1)

Al-Walīd then sent for ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, but he refused to come and stalled for a full day and night. After that, Ibn al-Zubayr mounted with his retainers, took along his brother Jaʿfar, and set out for Makkah by the road of al-Furʿ (2). Al-Walīd dispatched troops and horsemen in pursuit, yet they could not bring him back.

As they travelled, Jaʿfar recited to his brother ʿAbd Allah the verse of Ṣabrah al-Ḥanẓalī:
“All sons of one mother will one night be gone,
And none of their line will remain but one.”
ʿAbd Allah exclaimed, “Glory be to Allah! Why would you cite that?” Jaʿfar replied, “By Allah, I meant nothing that would harm you.” ʿAbd Allah said, “If it merely slipped from your tongue, I dislike it all the more.” People say he regarded it as an ill omen (3).

As for Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī, al-Walīd was too preoccupied with Ibn al-Zubayr (4) to pursue him. Whenever he was summoned he would reply, “Let us wait and see.” Then he gathered his household and his sons and, on the night of Sunday, with two nights left of Rajab that year—one night after Ibn al-Zubayr’s departure—he set out. None of his family stayed behind except Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah, who said to him:
“My brother, by Allah you are the dearest person on earth to me, and I offer you sincere advice: do not enter any of these garrison-towns. Rather, live in the deserts and sandy wastes and write to the people; if they pledge allegiance to you and rally around you, then join them (5). If you insist on dwelling in the towns, then go to Makkah; should you find there what you hope for, well and good, otherwise withdraw to the mountains and the sands.”
Ḥusayn replied, “May Allah reward you with goodness; you have offered counsel and shown compassion.” He then travelled to Makkah, where he met Ibn al-Zubayr.

Al-Walīd next sent to ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar, saying, “Pledge allegiance to Yazīd.” He answered, “I will pledge when the people pledge.” A man objected, “You only want the people to differ and fight until they destroy one another; then, when no one remains but you, they will come and make you pledge!” Ibn ʿUmar replied, “I desire none of what you say. When the people have pledged and I alone remain, I will pledge.” They left him, though they feared him (6).

Al-Wāqidī (7) relates that Ibn ʿUmar was not in Madinah when news of Muʿāwiyah’s death arrived; he and Ibn ʿAbbās were in Makkah. Ḥusayn and Ibn al-Zubayr met them as they were returning. They asked, “What news do you bring?” They replied, “Muʿāwiyah has died and the allegiance has been given to Yazīd.” Ibn ʿUmar said to them, “Fear Allah, and do not divide the community of the Muslims.” And Ibn ʿUmar and Ibn