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Spiritual Journey 263
Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad appointed Umar ibn Sa'ad to
command the battle against Hussein ibn Ali. At first
Umar ibn Sa'ad rejected the leadership of the army but

accepted after Ibn Ziyad threatened to take away the
governorship of Rey city and put Shimr ibn Thil-
Jawshan in his place. Ibn Ziyad also urged Umar ibn
Sa'ad to initiate the battle on the sixth day of
Muharram. Umar ibn Sa'ad moved towards the
battlefield with an army and arrived at Karbala on
Muharram 3, 61 AH (October 3, 680 AD).
Ibn Ziyad sent a brief letter to Umar ibn Sa'ad that
commanded, "Prevent Husain and his followers from
accessing water and do not allow them to drink a drop
[of water]". Ibn Sa'ad followed the orders, and 5,000
horsemen blockaded the Euphrates. (Karbala: Chain of
events Section – On the Way to Karbala)
One of Husayn's followers met Umar ibn Sa'ad and
tried to negotiate some sort of access to water, but was
denied. The water blockade continued up to the end of
the battle on Muharram 10th (October 10, 680 AD).
Umar ibn Sa'ad received an order from Ibn Ziyad to
start the battle immediately and not to postpone it
further. The army started advancing toward Husayn's
camp on the afternoon of Muharram 9th. At this point
Hussein sent Al-Abbas ibn Ali to ask Ibn Sa'ad to wait
until the next morning, so that he and his men could
spend the night praying. Ibn Sa'ad agreed to the respite.
On the night before the battle, Hussein gathered his
men and told them that they were all free to leave the
camp in the middle of the night, under cover of
darkness, rather than face certain death if they stayed
with him.