Events Before the Battle

Muawiya died on Rajab 22, 60 AH. Muawiya had already started an empire-wide scheme of coercing Bayat'of his notorious son Yazid before his death. Few notables of the Islamic community were crucial to lending some legitimacy to this conversion of Khlafat into a dynasty.[citation needed] Hussain was by far the most significant personality being the only living grandson of the Prophet. Yazid instructed his Governor Walid in Madina to immediately corner Hussain for him to pay allegiance to Yazid's appointment as the king. Hussain presence of Marwan refused it and uttered his famous words that "Anyone akin to me will never accept anyone akin to Yazid as a ruler."Hussain departed Medina on Rajab 28, 60 AH two days after Walid's attempt to force him to succumb to Yazid's rule. He stayed in Macca from the beginnings of the Sha'ban and all of the Ramadan, Shawwal, as well as Dhu al-Qi'dah.

It is mainly during his stay in Macca that he received many letters from Kufa assuring him their support and asking him to come over there and guide them. He answered their calls and sent Muslim bin Aqeel, his cousin, to Kufa as his representative in an attempt to consider the exact situation and public opinion.

Hussain's representative to Kufa, Muslim bin Aqeel was welcomed by the people of Kufa, and most of them swore allegiance to him. After his initial observation, Muslim Bin Aqeel wrote to Hussain Ibn Ali that situation in Kufa is favorable. However, after the arrival of the new Governor of Kufa, Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, the scenario changed. Bin Aqeel and his host, Hani ibn Urwa were executed on Dhu al-Hijjah 9, 60AH (September 10, 680 CE) without any considerable resistance of the people. This shifted the loyalties of the people of Kufa to Emir Yazid against Hussain ibn Ali.Hussain ibn Ali also realizing a deep conspiracy to kill him during Hajj left Mecca on 8 Dhu al Hajj 60 AH, just a day before Hajj.[citation needed] He delivered a famous sermon in Kaaba highlighting his reasons to leave that he didn't want the sanctity of Haram to be violated, since his opponents had crossed any norm of decency and were willing to violate all tenets of Islam and Arab traditions.

When Hussain Bin Ali was making his mind to leave for Kufa, Abd-Allah ibn Abbas and Abdullah ibn Zubayr held a meeting with him and advised him not to move to Iraq, or, if he was determined to move, not to take women and children with him in this dangerous journey. Hussain, however, had resolved to go ahead with his plan. He gave a speech to people the day before his departure and said:

"... The death is a certainty for mankind, just like the trace of necklace on the neck of young girls. And I am enamored of my ancestors like eagerness of Jacob to Joseph ... Everyone, who is going to devote his blood for our sake and is prepared to meet Allah, must depart with us..."

On their way to Kufa, the small caravan received the sad news of execution of Muslim ibn Aqeel and indifference of the people of Kufa.[citation needed]Instead of turning back, Hussain decided to continue the journey and sent Qais ibn Musahhar al-Saydavi as messenger toward nobles of Kufa. The messenger was captured in the vicinity of Kufa but managed to tear the letter to pieces to hide names of its recipients. Just like Muslim Bin Aqeel, Qais ibn Musahhar was executed.