was unaware of any of that; rather, he had already resolved to set out for them and join them. It so happened that he left Makkah on the Day of Tarwiyah, one day before the killing of Muslim—­for Muslim was slain on the Day of ʿArafah. When the people realised that he was departing, they feared for him, warned him against it, and reminded him of what had happened to his father and his brother at the hands of those same folk (1).

Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah narrated from Ibrāhīm ibn Maysarah, from Ṭāwūs, from Ibn ʿAbbās, who said:
“Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī consulted me about leaving. I said, ‘Were it not that people would reproach both you and me, I would seize your head with my hand and not let you go.’ He answered, ‘To be killed in such-and-such a place is dearer to me than to be killed in Makkah.’ That reply consoled me concerning him.”

Abū Mikhnaf also reported, through al-Ḥārith ibn Kaʿb al-Wālibī, from ʿUqbah ibn Simʿān:
“When al-Ḥusayn had firmly resolved to travel to Kūfa, Ibn ʿAbbās came to him and said, ‘Cousin, rumours are rife that you are heading for Iraq. Tell us plainly: what do you intend to do?’
Al-Ḥusayn replied, ‘I have decided to depart on one of these two days, if Allah Most High wills.’
Ibn ʿAbbās said, ‘Inform me: if they have summoned you after having killed their governor, driven out their enemy and secured their land, then go to them. But if their governor is still alive—still dominant over them, with his officials collecting their revenues—then they have only invited you to turmoil and fighting. I cannot be sure they will not call the people out against you and turn their hearts upon you, so that those who invited you become the very ones who treat you most harshly.’
Al-Ḥusayn answered, ‘I shall seek Allah’s guidance and see what comes of it.’

After Ibn ʿAbbās left him, ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Zubayr entered and said, ‘I do not know what those people have left for us, when we are the sons of the Muhājirīn and more entitled to this matter than they. Tell me—what do you intend to do?’
Al-Ḥusayn replied, ‘By Allah, I have been thinking of going to Kūfa. My supporters and its leading men have written to me, urging me to come, and I am seeking Allah’s guidance.’
Ibn al-Zubayr said, ‘Had I in that city followers like yours, I would never have chosen any other place.’ (2)

When he left, al-Ḥusayn remarked, ‘Ibn al-Zubayr knows full well that he has no share of authority where I am concerned, and that the people would not prefer him to me, so he wishes that I would leave, and the city be left to him alone.’

Later that afternoon—or the following day—Ibn ʿAbbās came to al-Ḥusayn again and said, ‘Cousin, I force myself to be patient, yet I cannot endure it. I fear that this journey will bring about your destruction. The people of Iraq are treacherous—do not be deceived by them. Stay in this land until the people of Iraq have expelled their enemy, then go to them. Otherwise, travel to Yemen: it has fortresses and mountain passes, and your father has supporters there. Keep yourself apart from the people; write to them and send your envoys among them, for I hope—if you do that—that matters will turn out as you wish.’
Al-Ḥusayn replied, ‘Cousin, by Allah, I know you are a sincere and compassionate adviser, but I have set my heart on leaving.’
Ibn ʿAbbās said, ‘If you must go, then do not take your women and children, for by Allah I fear that you will be killed just as he was killed—’