Qays, Ziyad ibn ʿAmr (1), Qays ibn al-Haytham, and others. Al-Mukhtār then advanced with his army and camped at al-Madhar, appointing Abū Kāmil al-Shākirī (2) over the vanguard, ʿAbd Allah ibn Kāmil over the right flank, ʿAbd Allah ibn Wahb al-Jushamī (3) over the left, Razīn ibn ʿAbd Allah al-Salūlī (4) over the cavalry, and Abū ʿAmrah, the chief of his police, over the mawālī (5).

When al-Mukhtār heard of their movements he addressed the people (6), urged them to march out, and sent detachments ahead of him. He himself rode forth with a great host of his companions, promising them victory. When Musʿab drew near the outskirts of Kufah the Mukhtārite battalions met him, but the Zubayrid cavalry charged them, and before long (7) they broke and fled in panic. Many of their commanders were killed, along with a multitude of Qurʾān-reciters, a large company of the foolish Shiʿah, and a band of al-Mukhtār’s own followers—the glib-tongued pretender—until the rout reached him as well.

[Al-Wāqidī relates: When al-Mukhtār’s advance guard had reached him, Musʿab arrived, crossed the Tigris, and entered Kufah. Al-Mukhtār had already fortified the palace and placed ʿAbd Allah ibn Shaddād (8) in charge of it. He then marched out with those who still remained with him and encamped at Ḥarūrāʾ (9). As Musʿab’s army approached, he arrayed every tribe in its own squadron: he assigned Saʿīd ibn Munqidh to the Banu Bakr ibn Wāʾil, Mālik ibn Mundhir (10) to ʿAbd al-Qays, ʿAbd Allah ibn Jaʿdah to al-ʿĀliyah, Musāfir ibn Saʿīd to the Azd, Sulaym ibn Yazīd al-Kindī to the Banu Tamīm, and al-Sāʾib ibn Mālik to Muḥammad ibn al-Ashʿath. Al-Mukhtār himself remained with the rest of his men, and they fought fiercely until nightfall. The leading figures among al-Mukhtār’s followers were slain, and that night Muḥammad ibn al-Ashʿath and ʿUmayr (11) ibn ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib were killed. The remainder of al-Mukhtār’s men scattered, and people cried to him, “To the palace, to the palace!” He replied, “By Allah, I did not leave it intending ever to return, but this is Allah’s decree.” Nevertheless they proceeded to the palace and entered it. Musʿab arrived, dispersed the tribes throughout the quarters of Kufah, allotted the districts among them, and pressed on to the palace. They cut al-Mukhtār off from reinforcements and water. Al-Mukhtār would come out, fight them, and then retire again into the palace. When the siege grew intense he said to his companions, “This siege will not increase us …”]