The Last Siege

After 'Abdullah's brother Mus'ab was killed in Iraq in 72 AH, 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan sent al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf to Makkah. The city was besieged for around six months and bombarded with catapults. Hunger and desertion thinned 'Abdullah's men until few remained.

He went to his mother Asma', who was around a hundred years old and blind. He asked what she advised. She told him that if he was on the truth and calling to it, he should keep on until he was killed, and not let the Umayyads play with him; but if he wanted this world, he was a poor man who had destroyed himself and those with him. He said he feared they would mutilate him after his death. She answered that a sheep that has been slaughtered does not feel the skinning.

He fought on and was killed in Jumada I 73 AH, and his body was publicly displayed. Asma' came to al-Hajjaj and reminded him of a hadith: the Prophet ﷺ had said that in Thaqif there would be a liar and a destroyer. The liar, she said, they had seen (al-Mukhtar); the destroyer, she thought, was him. Al-Hajjaj did not answer. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar passed by the body and said, "Peace be on you, Abu Khubayb," and praised his fasting, night prayer and care for kin. Asma' died days later.