Ibn Ziyad’s Stern Attitude

Umar bin Sa’d was delighted at this reply and became optimistic. He addressed a letter to Ubaidullah bin Ziyad explaining the position. In reply, he issued the following instructions:

“Ask Husain first to take bay’ah to Yazid along with his companions and then we shall see what is to be done… See that water is not supplied to Husain and his companions. They should not have even a drop of water just as Uthmân bin Affan was deprived of it.”