Anas Ibn al-Harith Ibn Nabih al-Kahili was an old man and a renowned sahabi who had met and listened to the hadith of the Prophet (S) and fought in his company the battles of Badr and Hunain. He, too, sought al-Husayn's permission to go and fight.
He came out tying his waist with a turban, his forehead bandaged. Having seen him looking like that, al-Husayn (‘a) cried and said, “May Allah thank you, O shaikh, for what you are doing for us!” Despite his old age, he killed eighteen men before being finally killed.66
He came out tying his waist with a turban, his forehead bandaged. Having seen him looking like that, al-Husayn (‘a) cried and said, “May Allah thank you, O shaikh, for what you are doing for us!” Despite his old age, he killed eighteen men before being finally killed.66
Notes:
66. Thakhirat al-Darayn, p. 208. In his book Muthir al-Ahzan, Ibn Nama details his duel and recitation of rajaz poetry. On p. 68, Vol. 1, of Al-Isaba (of Ibn Hajar al-’Asqalani), reference is made to the fact that both he and his father had been companions of the Messenger of Allah (S) who narrate from him the following hadith: “My son shall be killed in the land of Karbala’. Whoever comes to know about the battle should support him.” On p. 125, Vol. 2, of his book Al-Khasa’is, al-Suyuti discusses him, and so do both al-Jazri on p. 123, Vol. 1, of his book Usd al-Ghabah and Abu Hatim al-Razi on p. 287, Vol. 1, of his book Al-Jarh wal Ta’dil.