‘Amr Ibn al-Hajjaj attacked from the Euphrates' side, fighting for a while. This engagement involved Muslim Ibn ‘Awsajah. Muslim Ibn ‘Abdullah al-Dababi and ‘Abdullah Ibn Khashkarah al-Bijli attacked him, causing a huge cloud of dust which, once dissipated, showed Muslim lying on the ground drawing his last breath.
Escorted by Habib Ibn Muzahir, al-Husayn (‘a) walked towards him and said, “May Allah be Merciful unto you, O Muslim!
‘Among them are those who died, and among them are those who wait, and they never changed aught in the least' (Qur’an, 33:23).”
Habib came closer to him and said, “Your being killed is truly devastating me, O Muslim! Receive the glad tidings of Paradise!” In a very faint voice, the dying hero said, “May Allah convey to you, too, such glad tidings!” Habib said, “Had I not known that I will soon be following you, I would have liked you to convey your will to me with regard to anything on your mind.”
Muslim said, “All I want you to do is to look after this man,” pointing to al-Husayn (‘a), adding, “and to defend him till death” Habib said, “I will Insha-Allah do exactly so.” It was then that Muslim breathed his last as he was lying between both men. His woman cried out, “Wa Muslimah [O Muslim!] O master! O son of ‘Awsajah!”
Ibn al-Hajjaj, feeling elated about Muslim's martyrdom, kept shouting in excitement that they killed Muslim.
Shabth Ibn Rab’i said to those around him, “May your mothers lose you! Do you really feel elated when a man such as Muslim is killed?! A great stand which I saw with my own eyes involving him was in Azerbaijan where he killed six polytheists even before the Muslim cavalry had enough time to form its ranks!”15
Escorted by Habib Ibn Muzahir, al-Husayn (‘a) walked towards him and said, “May Allah be Merciful unto you, O Muslim!
‘Among them are those who died, and among them are those who wait, and they never changed aught in the least' (Qur’an, 33:23).”
Habib came closer to him and said, “Your being killed is truly devastating me, O Muslim! Receive the glad tidings of Paradise!” In a very faint voice, the dying hero said, “May Allah convey to you, too, such glad tidings!” Habib said, “Had I not known that I will soon be following you, I would have liked you to convey your will to me with regard to anything on your mind.”
Muslim said, “All I want you to do is to look after this man,” pointing to al-Husayn (‘a), adding, “and to defend him till death” Habib said, “I will Insha-Allah do exactly so.” It was then that Muslim breathed his last as he was lying between both men. His woman cried out, “Wa Muslimah [O Muslim!] O master! O son of ‘Awsajah!”
Ibn al-Hajjaj, feeling elated about Muslim's martyrdom, kept shouting in excitement that they killed Muslim.
Shabth Ibn Rab’i said to those around him, “May your mothers lose you! Do you really feel elated when a man such as Muslim is killed?! A great stand which I saw with my own eyes involving him was in Azerbaijan where he killed six polytheists even before the Muslim cavalry had enough time to form its ranks!”15
Notes:
15. al-Tabari, Tarikh, Vol. 6, p. 249.