Martyrdom of Amr bin Qartah Ansari

Then Amr bin Qartah advanced and attacked, while defending Imam Husain (a.s), and he was saying: “The batallion of Ansar knows that I am a pro‌tector of the territory of promise, I strike with a sharp-edged sword similar to a youth, my self and household is lowly in front of Husain.” Here Imam Husain (a.s) is considered more than one’s household, thus vilifying Umar bin Sa’ad, who while talking to Imam had said that, “My house shall be destroyed.... etc.” (as related in Section 15 of this book). Sayyed ibne Tawoos relates, that after the martyrdom of Muslim bin Awsaja, Amr bin Qartah Ansari came forward and pleaded with Imam to permit him to go to the battlefield. When Imam permitted him, he attacked with such force, which was similar to that of the one who yearns for Paradise. Thus he strived

to serve the Master of Heavens, until he killed a group of people from the army of Ubaydullah bin Ziyad. There was no arrow, which would advance towards Imam, except that he stopped it with his hands, and there was no sword which would come towards Imam, except that he took it upon himself. Then Imam did not receive any wounds until Amr was alive. When he was totally wounded, he turned towards Imam and said, “O son of the Prophet of Allah! Have I fulfilled my (duty of) obedience”? Imam replied, “Verily yes, you shall be the one to go to Paradise before me. Then offer my salu‌tations to the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s) and tell him that I am on my way following you.” Then Amr fought bravely until he attained martyrdom (May Allah’s Mercy and Blessings be upon him). (Tabari, Kamil) It is related that Amr’s brother, Ali bin Qartah, was in the army of Umar bin Sa’ad. When he saw his brother fall, he called out, “O Husain! O liar and the son of a liar”! (Allah’s refuge) “You have misguid‌ed my brother and deceived him until you killed him.” Imam replied, “Allah did not mislead your brother, in fact he was bestowed with guidance, while it is you who are misguided.” The accursed said, “May Allah kill me if I do not kill you or die while struggling against you.” Saying this he attacked Imam and Nafe’ bin Hilal Muradi came and stood facing him. Then he at‌tacked him with a spear and threw him upon the ground, his companions came to his resque and took him away. Then he treated his wounds and was cured. (Tabari) Azdi says that Nazr bin Saleh Abu Zuhayr Abasi says that when Al-Hurr bin Yazeed went and united with Imam Husain (a.s), a man from Bani Tameem, named Yazeed bin Sufyan said, “By Allah! If my sight falls upon Al-Hurr, I shall kill him with my spear.” When the two armies were attacking and killing one another, Al-Hurr was attacking in the forefront, while reciting the words of Antara: “With my charger’s neck and breast I will launch myself at them again and again, until (the beast is ) clothed in blood.” And he was reciting the following Rajaz: “I am Al-Hurr, a host to the guest, I strike your necks with a swift sword, in defense of the one, who has alighted at the ground of Kheef (in Mina), while I do not regret over it.” The narrator says that the tail and brows of his horse were wounded by swords, and blood was flowing through it. Haseen bin Tameem, the head of the police force of Ibne Ziyad, who had despatched him to assist Umar bin Sa’ad and made him the commander of the police under the command of Yazeed bin Sufyan, told Yazeed bin Sufyan, “This is Al-Hurr bin Yazeed, whom you desire.” He then advanced towards Al-Hurr and said, “O Al-Hurr bin Yazeed! Do you desire combat”? Al-Hurr replied in the affirmative and he

came towards him. Haseen said that, “By Allah! It is as if his life was in the hands of Al-Hurr, who instantly killed him.” Hisham bin Mohammad relates from Abu Makhnaf, who says that Yahya bin Hani bin Urwah told me, that on the tenth (of Moharram), Hilal bin Nafe’ was attacking, while reciting the following couplets: “I am the son of Hilal! My Religion is the Religion of Ali”! A man named Mazahim bin Hurays came towards him and said, “I am upon the Creed of Usman.” Nafe’ replied, “However, you are upon the creed of the shaitan”, saying this he attacked him and ultimately killed him. Then Amr bin Hajjaj turned towards the army and called out, “O foolish men! Do you know whom you have been fighting with? You are fighting the valorous Kufans, who are ready to sacrifice their lives. Thus no one should go to fight single-handedly with them, for they are only a few left and a short time remains. By Allah! Even if you attack them with mere stones, they shall perish.” Then Umar bin Sa’ad said, “Verily whatever you have said is true and his opinion is accepted.” Then he declared that no one should go for a single combat with them. It is narrated that Amr bin Hajjaj advanced towards the companions of Imam Husain (a.s) and said, “O Kufans! Hold steadfastly to those who listen to you and your community, and do not hesitate to kill the man who has turned out of the Religion and has disobeyed the Imam.” Imam Husain (a.s) said, “O Amr bin Hajjaj! Do you incite people against me? Have we turned away from the Religion, while you are steadfast upon it? By Allah! When you die with these (evils) deeds of yours, you shall then know as to who has turned away from the Religion, and who is worthy of (the fire of) hell.”