[6] Al-Hurr's short but provocative mark on history spans less than one week's time, but is embedded with complex details and fatal turns of events that led to the martyrdom of al-Husayn during the Battle of Karbala.

[7] In one account from al-Tabari, Zakariyya ibn Yaha al Darir describes al-Hurr as a descendant of Al-Yarbu'i Riyahi from the tribe of Banu Tamim located in Kufa, Iraq.

[11] Patrolling caravans within the vicinity of Kufa, al-Hurr encountered al-Husayn midday at Dhu Husam in the Iraqi desert.

According to multiple sources, female family members were present but their numbers were not included in the foot soldier count.

[13] Contrary to immediate warfare, al-Husayn greeted al-Hurr and the soldiers by personally serving them water from his own limited supply.

[15] Al-Husayn's dwindling supply of water will be crucial to further events; his display of warrior virtue will stand in stark contrast to later treatment from the Umayyad army.

[14] Recognizing that an Umayyad army of 1,000 horsemen praying behind Yazid ibn Mu'awaiya's rival is a testament to the respect and honor still given to the family of Muhammad.

He was not aware of the allegiance of the Kufan people to al-Husayn; now he may question why the rights of Muhammad's family were not emphasized more by Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad.

However, the fact that the rest of the soldiers complied to al-Hurr's position boldly prove that the ethical qualm of detaining al-Husayn may be eternally eclipsed by Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad's conceited demands.

Al-Hurr's compromise could also be seen as stalling in order to investigate al-Husayn's claims further or the validity of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad's commands.

Historical accounts are unclear whether al-Hurr realized the impending outcome of Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad's orders of execution.

Without any room for lingering hesitation, al-Hurr responded immediately to al-Husayn's attempt to escape the army the following morning.

[26] In the marginal period after al-Husayn's escape attempt, Ubayd Allah reply to al-Hurr's earlier letter is brought by messenger.

Ubayd Allah orders al-Hurr to halt Husayn in a barren region far from a populated village or immediate water source.

[16] If Ubayd Allah's issued orders were not obeyed, the messenger, also sent as a spy, may have taken alternative measures to tighten the situation.

This commander was initially reluctant to launch violence upon al-Husayn, but when threatened with loss of position, Umar ibn Sa’d complied.

At this point, al-Tabari reports that al-Husayn offers multiple proposals, which are later rejected by the governor 'Ubayd Allah: to return to Medina, or be allowed to move to another region.

[33] However, other reports in al-Tabari's account, as well as the analysis of I. K. A. Howard, assert that while al-Husayn did request to leave the area, he did not suggest pledging an oath to Yazid.

Immediately after Umar ibn Sa'd's verdict to wage battle, al-Hurr approaches al-Husayn with 30 of his horsemen.

[36] The catalyst to this pivotal moment is described in al-Hurr's speech to the summoned Umayyad army made up of many Kufan soldiers.

Al-Hurr ends by praying that the evil perpetrated on al-Husayn, the offspring of Muhammad, be reciprocated to the army on the day of judgement.

[37][38] Al-Hurr's final decision indicates that he did not have prior interaction with Ubayd Allah to gauge the governor's character or intentions.

Although al-Hurr added 30 men to al-Husayn's existing 72 followers, death was confirmed against the total 5,000 soldiers of the Umayyad army.

His audacious decision, born out of increasing ethical qualms, took root when every extension of peace by al-Husayn was marred by Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad.