Editing Caravan of Captives at Yazid’s court (section)

== Bringing the head of Imam Hussain to Damascus ==
It is related in Asarul Baqiyah of Abu Rayhan (al Biruni), that on the first day of the month of Safar, the head of [[Hussain ibn Ali|Imam Hussain]] was brought to Damascus. [[Yazid]] placed it in front of him and poked at his teeth with the staff of his hand while saying, “I wish those of my clan who were killed at Badr, and those who had seen the Khazraj clan wailing (in the battle of Uhad) on account of lancet wounds, were here. 

They would have hailed me with loud cries and said, ‘O Yazid! May your hands never stupefy’, for we have killed the chiefs of his (the Prophet’s) clan. I did so as revenge for Badr, that has now been completed. The Bani Hashim only played a game with sovereignty. There has come no Message (Risalah, from Allah), nor was anything revealed (as Wahy). I would not belong to the Khandaq family, if I had not taken vengeance upon the descendants of Ahmad for their deeds”. 

It is related in [[Manaqib]] from [[Abi Makhnaf]], that when the head of [[Hussain ibn Ali|Imam Hussain]] was brought to Yazid, a pleasant aroma emanated from it that absorbed all other fragrances. 

Sayyid Ibn Tawoos relates, that when the head of Imam Hussain as well as the captives neared Damascus, Sayyidah Umm Kulthum told [[Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan|Shimr]], “I desire something from you”. Shimr asked her as to what it was, and she replied, “Enter us into the town from a door which is less crowded, while also command the bearers of the heads to move away from amidst the Camels, so that a few men may have a glimpse of us in this state”. 

The wicked man, in reply to her answer, commanded that the heads be kept amidst the Camels, and then he took them from the midst the people who had gathered for a spectacle. Then he took them in this state until they reached a gate of the Grand Mosque of Damascus where the prisoners were stationed. 

It is related, that when one of the virtuous Tabe’een saw Imam Hussain’s head upon the lance, he secretly disappeared from the midst his companions for a month. When he was questioned regarding the reason for it, he replied, “Do you not see what agony has befallen us?” 

Then he recited the following elegy, “They have brought your head O grandson of Muhammad, which is drenched in blood, it is as if they have purposefully killed the Prophet in your stead during the light of the day, they killed you thirsty and did not honor the interpretation and revelation (of the Qur’an) regarding you, they pronounce the Takbeer (Allaho Akbar) after having killed you, when in fact they have killed the Takbeer and Tahleel (La Ilaha Illallah)”.