13. Imam’s encounter with Hurr ibn Yazid Riyahi

When the time of Asr came, Imam commanded his companions to ready themselves to leave and they conceded. Then he commended his muezzin to say the Azan and Iqamah, which he did. Imam was again urged to lead the Prayers, which he did. He recited the salutations and turned towards them. He praised and glorified Allah and said,  

"Now then! O people! If you fear Allah and you recognize the dues of the rightful, Allah will be pleased with you. And we are the Household of Mohammad (s.a.w.s.), and hold more authority upon this matter (the Caliphate) than those who claim it. They have sown the seeds of oppression and enmity amongst you. Then if you despise us and do not recognize our rights, and if your opinions are averse to what you had written to me in your letters and conveyed to me through your messengers, then I shall go away from you."  

Hurr replied, "By Allah! I do not not anything regarding the letters nor the messengers as you say." Then Imam called out to one of his companions and said,  

"O Utba bin Sam'an! Bring to me the two saddle-bags containing their letters."  

He brought the bag full of letters and scattered the letters in front of them. Hurr said, "We are not of those who had written to you. We have been commanded not to part with you as soon as we find you, and then to take you to Kufa to the presence of Ubaydullah bin Ziyad." Imam replied,

"Verily death is nearer to you than this."

Then he directed his companions to mount and they complied. When they started proceeding, Hurr stopped their way to which Imam said,  

"O Hurr! May your mother mourn over your death, what do you intend"?  

Hurr replied, "If anyone else among the Arabs had said this in the same position as you are, I would have answered him equally, whoever he might be, but I cannot utter the name of your mother, except with fairness." Imam said,  

"Then what do you desire"?  

Hurr said, "I desire to take you to the commander Ubaydullah." Imam said,  

"By Allah! I shall not do so."  

Hurr said, "By Allah! I too shall not leave you." They repeated this thrice, and when their conversation got heated, Hurr said, "I have not been commanded to fight with you. I have been ordered to remain with you until I take you to Kufa. Then now when you refuse to go to Kufa, take a way, which does not go to Kufa nor Madina, while this being a compromise between us. Then I shall write a letter to the commander and you write to Yazid or Ubaydullah, and Allah should bring forth fairness, so that I may not be entangled in your matter." Imam turned his horse towards Qadsiyah and Uzayb towards the left, and Hurr and his followers travelled by their side.