The historians mention that Yazeed - may God curse him - had ordered that the captives from the family of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) stand up the stairs of the mosque, where captives stand so people look at them as an expression of his gloating over them.
An old man from among the Syrians approached them and said, “Praise be to Allah that He has killed and destroyed you and put off the fire of revolt”. Then he said whatever he desired, and when he became silent, Imam Zayn al-’Abideen (peace be upon him) told him,
“Have you read the Qur’an of Allah?”
And he replied in the affirmative. He said,
“Have you read this verse: ‘Say (O Our Messenger): I demand not of you any recompense for (the toils of the Prophethood) save the love of (my) relatives.’?” (Surah as-Shura, 42:23).
He said, “Yes, I have”.
Imam (peace be upon him) said,
“We are from that very family. Then have you not read this verse: ‘And give to the near of kin his due.’?” (Surah al-Israa’, 17:26).
He replied that he had read it, and Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) said,
“We are one of those”.
Then he retorted,
“Haven’t you read this verse: ‘Verily Allah intends but to keep off from you (every kind of) uncleanliness O you the People of the House, and purify you (with) a thorough purification’?” (Surah al-Ahzaab, 33:33)
He said, “Why not”, and Imam said,
“We are the ones referred to herein”.
The sheikh remained silent for an hour, regretting what he had spoken, and said: By God, you are them?!. Ali son of al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) said: By God, we are without doubt! By the right of our grandfather, the Messenger of God (Allah's prayers be upon him and upon his family), we are them!
The sheikh cried and threw his turban, then he lifted up his hands towards the heavens and said, “O Lord! I disassociate myself in Your presence from the enemies and the murderers of the progeny of Mohammad. I frequently read the Qur’an but never ever pondered upon this until today”.
Then he said: Is there repentance from what I did? He (peace be upon him) said to him: Yes .. If you repent, God will forgive you while you are with us. He said: I repent.
Yazeed Ibn Mu'awiyah heard about the Sheikh's words, and he ordered his killing, and he was killed.