مسلم بن عقيل

Caravan of Husayn

Muslim ibn ‘Aqil

Emissary to Kufa · cousin of Husayn

Welcomed by thousands, abandoned to fear.

Muslim ibn ‘Aqil was a cousin of Imam al-Husayn (a), trusted enough to be sent ahead to Kufa as his emissary to test the loyalty of its people.

He was first received by thousands who pledged allegiance. But when ‘Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad arrived and ruled by fear, the city abandoned him. Betrayed and captured along with his host Hani ibn ‘Urwah, he was martyred in Kufa — the warning the Imam received only after he had committed to the road.