the seat of government, made his preparations for war, and those who had agreed to fight him marched out and encamped at Jabbānat al-Sabīʿ (1). Their leaders were Shabath ibn Ribʿī, Shimr ibn Dhī Jawshan, Muḥammad ibn al-Ashʿath, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Saʿīd ibn Qays, Kaʿb al-Khathʿamī, Zahr ibn Qays al-Juʿfī, Isḥāq ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ashʿath, Bashīr ibn Jarīr, Ḥijjār ibn Abjar, ʿAmr ibn al-Ḥajjāj al-Zubaydī, and others (2).
When Ibn al-Ashʿath had departed, the city’s notables—including many who had served in the army that slew al-Ḥusayn—gathered in the house of Shabath ibn Ribʿī and unanimously resolved to wage war against al-Mukhtār. They rose up, each tribe mounting with its commander and taking position in a quarter of Kūfah, then advanced on the government palace. Al-Mukhtār sent ʿAmr ibn Tawbah (3) as an express courier to Ibrāhīm ibn al-Ashʿath, urging him to return at once.
At the same time he sent word to the insurgents: “What grievance do you have against me? I am ready to grant everything you ask.” His real aim was to discourage them from confronting him until Ibrāhīm ibn al-Ashʿath arrived. He added, “If you do not believe my claim concerning Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥanafiyyah, send someone from your side and I will send someone from mine to question him.” Al-Mukhtār continued to stall until, three days later, Ibn al-Ashʿath returned.
The forces then split into two divisions. Al-Mukhtār took charge of the Yemenite tribes, while Ibn al-Ashʿath led the Muḍar under whose banner stood Shabath ibn Ribʿī. This arrangement was made at al-Mukhtār’s suggestion so that Ibn al-Ashʿath would not find himself fighting his own kinsfolk from among the Yemenites, toward whom he might show leniency, whereas al-Mukhtār intended to treat them harshly.
A fierce battle raged in the quarters of Kūfah; the casualties on both sides were heavy, and many episodes occurred whose full account would be too lengthy to detail. Among the nobles killed were ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Saʿīd ibn Qays al-Kindī and seven hundred and eighty men of his tribe, while from among Muḍar a little over a dozen were slain. The day became known as “the Day of Jabbānat al-Sabīʿ.” It was Wednesday, six days before the end of Dhuʾl-Ḥijjah in the year 66 AH.
Victory finally went to al-Mukhtār. He captured five hundred prisoners and had them brought before him. He ordered, “Find anyone among them who was present at the killing of al-Ḥusayn and execute him.” Two hundred and forty men were put to death (4). Al-Mukhtār’s followers also killed those who had harassed or wronged them, without his explicit command.
He then released the rest, and a herald of al-Mukhtār proclaimed: “Whoever closes his door is safe—except the man who had a hand in shedding the blood of the family of Muḥammad, peace and blessings be upon him (5).” ʿAmr ibn al-Ḥajjāj al-Zubaydī, who had been present at the killing of al-Ḥusayn, fled, and no one knows where on earth he went.