Editing Battle of Karbala (section)

== Journey Towards Kufa ==
Before news of the adverse turn of events arrived in Mecca, Hussain set out for Kufa on 8 or 10 Dhu’l-Hejja 60/10, breaking off his hajj for the omra. He was accompanied by some fifty members of his family, close kin, and a few supporters. A few others joined him while he was on his way to Kufa. In every station, Imam tried to clarify the situation for people in order to either attract them or make them aware.

At [[al-Sifah]] station, Imam met [[Farazdaq]] who was among famous Arab poets. Farazdaq advised Imam not to go to Kufa and said, “Their hearts are with you; the swords are with [[Banu Umayyah]], and Destiny descends from the heavens!” At [[Zarud]] station, Imam Hussain met [[Zuhayr b. al-Qayn|Zuhayr b. Qayn]] and encouraged him to join his caravan to Kufa. The meeting changed the course of Zuhayr b. Qayn’s life and caused him to join the path of Truth. 

=== Sending Emissary to Kufa ===
Before receiving the news of the martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil, Imam wrote a letter to inform Kufans of his journey and sent it by [[Abd Allah b. Yaqtar]], Imam’s Rida'i brother (brother through milk-feeding),. When 'Abd Allah arrived in [[Qadisiyya]], he was captivated by Hussain b. Numayr’s force and taken to ibn Ziyad. Before he was captivated, he had torn up the letter to prevent the leak of information to the enemy. Ibn Ziyad asked him to go up on the roof of the Dar al-Imara palace and curse at Imam al-Hussain and his father. He did go up on the roof of the palace, but instead of cursing, said, "O people, I am sent by al-Hussain. Help him against Ibn Marjana and Ibn Sumayya!" He also called Ibn Ziyad, "Vile, the son of vile". Ibn Ziyad ordered to throw him off the roof of the palace.

Other sources attribute this event to [[Qays ibn Musahir al-Saydawi]] and have included 'Abd Allah among the martyrs of Karbala.

=== Receiving News of Martyrdom of Muslim ibn Aqil ===
While on the way to Kufa and still a few days journey away from the city, Imam Hussain received news of the martyrdom of Muslim b. Aqil and [[Haniʾ b. ʿUrwa al-Muradi|Hani b. Orwa]] at the station called [[Zarud]]. But the Imam did not change his route, he continued ahead with his plan to go to Kufa.  At [[Zubala]], Imam Hussain learned of the capture and execution of his messenger [[Abd Allah b. Yaqtar]], whom he had sent to Kufa to announce his arrival. He informed his followers of the situation and asked them to leave. Most of the people who had joined him on the way left, while his companions from Mecca decided to stay with him.

He was also told that the way to Kufa had been closed by the army of Yazid under the command of [[Hasin Bin Namir]] who was stationed at [[Qadisiyya|Qadsiyya]].

=== Encounter Hurr’s Army ===
Soon after leaving [[Zubala]], Imam’s Caravan encountered with the soldiers of Yazid under the command of the [[Horr B. Yazid al-Riahi al-Yarbuʾi al-Tamimi|Hurr Bin Yazid Riyahi]] in an area called [[Dhu Husam]], and was forced to change his route as a result. 

When Imam found the army of enemy thirsty, he ordered his companions to give [[water]] to Hurr’s army. Hurr’s mission was to stop Imam Hussain from going forward to Kufa or back to Medina or going anywhere

else. After [[Asr]] prayer, Hurr came to Imam Hussain and asked him to change his course and follow him to ibn Ziad’s court. In response, Imam informed Hurr of the letters of support, he had received from the Kufans, towards whom his party was heading.

Hurr further obeyed Ibn Ziad’s subsequent order to force Imam’s caravan to stop in a deserted area. Thus, Hussain was led to the plain of [[Karbala]], where he was encircled by the troops dispatched by Ibn Ziad under the command of [[Omar Ibn Sa’d|Omar b. Saʿd]]. On 2<sup>nd</sup> Muharram 61 AH, Imam Hussain landed on the shores of the Euphrates at Karbala. 

=== Imam’s Route to Kufa ===
On the way from Mecca to Kufa, Imam Hussain’s caravan stayed at several station at which Imam met some people and tried to speak with them and clarify the situation. The stations were as follows:

# [[Al-Tan’im|Tan'im]] (Seizing the caravan led by [[Buhayr b. Raysan al-Himyari]]),
# [[Al-Sifah|Sifah]] (meeting [[Farazdaq]] who advised Imam not to go to Kufa),
# [[Dhat 'Irq]] (meeting Bushr b. al-Ghalib, 'Awn b. 'Abd Allah b. Ja'far     and some others),
# [[Al-Hajir]] (sending 'Abd Allah b. Yaqtar to Kufa to inform people of his arival),
# [[Khuzaymiya]] (where [[Zaynab]] heard a voice warning about moving the caravan towards death)
# [[Zarud]] (receiving the news of the martyrdom of [[Muslim b. Aqil b. Abi Talib|Muslim b. Aqil]] and [[Haniʾ b. ʿUrwa al-Muradi|Hani]]. [[Zuhayr b. al-Qayn]] joined Imam’s caravan),
# [[Al-Thaʿlabiyya|Al-Tha'labiyya]]
# [[Al-Shuquq|Shuquq]] (encountering a man who informed Imam that Kufans would refrain from     helping him)
# [[Zubala]] (receiving the news of the martyrdom of [[Abd Allah b. Yaqtar|Abdullah B. Yaqtur]]. Other sources attribute this event to martyrdom of [[Qays b. Musahhar]] and have included 'Abd Allah among the [[martyrs of Karbala]].)
# [[Sharaf]] (where Imam Hussain’s companions filled their bags with water)
# [[Dhu Husam]] (Imam's encounter with the     army of [[Hurr b. Yazid al-Riyahi]]. When Imam     found the army of enemy thirsty, he ordered his companions to give [[water]] to Hurr’s army).
# [[Bayda]] (Imam's     speech before al-Hurr’s army)
# 'Udhayb al-Hijanat (Imam’s caravan     was forced to change his route away from [[Qadisiyya]], where leading to     Kufa, and move to 'Udhayb al-Hijanat)
# [[Qasr Bani Muqatil]] (meeting [[Ubayd Allah b. Hurr al-Ju'fi]]     and inviting him to join his camp. But he refused to help Imam)
# [[Karbala]], [[Al-Taff]] (Imam and his companions entered Karbala on [[Muharram]] 2, 61/680).