Mukhtar comes back to Kufa

After four years' stay in Medina, Mukhtar decided to come back to Kufa.

After Yazid's death, Ubaidullah bin Ziyad escaped to Damascus. The people of Kufa took advantage of the situation and supported Abdullah bin Zubair.

Abdullah bin Zubair appointed Abdullah bin Mutea, ruler over Kufa. Some rulers who took part in the Karbala massacre supported the new ruler.

One day, one of them said:

Your highness, the Prince, Mukhtar is more dangerous than Sulaiman. Sulaiman went out to Kufa to fight the Shamian people, but Mukhtar wants to get revenge on Imam Hussein's killers.

Another said:

I think you have to imprison him.

The Prince accepted their ideas. Thus, he imprisoned Mukhtar.

Sulaiman bin Sird

Sulaiman bin Sird was a good companion. He and the Kufians felt pain because they did not support Imam Hussein at the Battle of Karbala. For this reason, he asked them to turn to Allah in repentance.

Four thousand Muslims followed him. He formed an army. He announced his revolution against the Umayyads, who killed Imam Hussein and captured his family.

Although the soldiers were few in number, they were very eager to start the fight. First, they visited Imam Hussein's tomb and wept very much. Then they headed for Shaam.

Ubaidullah bin Ziyad formed an army of eight thousand soldiers.

The two armies met at Ain al-Warda on the borders between Iraq and Sham.

Violent fights took place.

Sulaiman bin Sird passed away during the fights. Ryfaah bin Shaddad headed the army after Sulaiman bin Sird. Then he decided to withdraw the army to Kufa.

Taken from Mukhtar al-Thaqafy by Kamal al-seyyed

Other links:

Mukhtar al-Thaqafy, The First who paid homage to Imam Hussein (A.S)

Why couldnt Mukhtar Catch up with the Caravan of Karbala?