Among the prominent figures and dignitaries of Kufa, who was known by dignity, commitment and honor and has a high position among the Kufis; Muslim Ibn 'Awsajah Ibn Tha'labah al-Asadi (peace be upon him), a great companion as he has seen the Holy Prophet (Allah's prayers be upon him and upon his holy Household) and narrated from him. And was among those who wrote to Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) from the people of Kufa to pledge and support him.
At the night before 'Ashura', when Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) told his soldiers: you are allowed to leave Karbala and your promises and oath of allegiance have served well so far, you are not obligated to stay for the battle. Then, some companions declared their loyalty to Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) over again. After the descendants of Banu Hashim, Muslim b. 'Awsajah was the first one who said:
Oh, Abu 'Abd Allah! We would never leave you alone. How is it possible to bring excuses to Allah? O, by Allah, never! We will never leave you alone; I will never give up; I will slay the enemies with my spear and sword until it drops on the ground; then I stone them. By Allah, I would never leave you alone until I fulfill my duties to Allah and defend the descendants of Prophet Muhammad (s). O, by Allah, if I am perished, I would reborn, and then if I am burnt and turned into ashes, I would reborn; and if it happens seventy times I would reborn and fight for you until I am martyred for you. I would never leave you as I know I will be perished once. Consequently, eternal prosperity and dignity would be mine.
Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) expressed gratitude to each one of them and returned his tent.
Muslim fought valiantly in the battle of Karbala, while reciting the following Rajaz: “If you inquire about me, (know that) I am a male Lion, (I am) from the chiefs and notables of the branch of Bani Asad, thus the one who oppresses us has deviated from the Right Path and from the Religion of the Self Sufficient, Omnipotent (Lord).”
He fought abundantly with the enemies and forbore upon the fight of the army until he fell down.
The narrator says that when the clouds of sand sank, Muslim was seen smeared in blood. Imam Hussayn (peace be upon him) went to his head, when he was yet alive. Imam said,
“May your Lord have mercy upon you, O Muslim Ibn ‘Awsajah! Of the believers are the men who are true to what they covenanted with Allah, of them is he who fulfilled his vow and of them is he who awaits (its fulfillment), and they have changed not in the least” (Surah al-Ahzaab, 33:23).
Then Habib Ibn Mudhahir came to him and said, “It is very unpleasant for me to see you smeared in mud and blood O Muslim! May you receive the glad tidings of Paradise.” Then Muslim replied in a soft voice, “May your Allah give you glad tidings of fairness too.” Habib said, “If I had not known that I too would have to follow your path (of Martyrdom) and reach you, it would have been my pleasure to ask you to will to me regarding your heart’s desire, until I fulfill the rights of your relatives and your co-religionists.”
Muslim replied, “I recommend this Master for you”, he said pointing towards Imam Hussayn (peace be upon him), “then you should ransom your life over him.” Habib replied, “By the Lord of Ka’bah! I shall surely do that.” It was not late when he died in their hands. (May Allah’s Mercy and Blessings be upon him). And one of his slave girls was heard calling out, “O son of ‘Awsajah! O master!”
The companions of ‘Amr bin Hajjaj applauded, “We have killed Muslim bin ‘Awsajah.” Then Shabath Ibn Rab’i turned towards his associates and said, “May your mothers mourn over you! You kill yourselves with your own hands and are separating from your own selves for the sake of others. Then you are rejoicing because you have killed Muslim Ibn ‘Awsajah? By Him in whom I believe! I have seen him (Muslim) in the battlefield with honor for the Muslims. I have seen him in the battle in the plain of Azerbaijan at the time when no Muslim had moved from the places, he had already killed six polytheists. And when such a man dies, you rejoice over it”?
The murderers of Muslim Ibn ‘Awsajah were Muslim Ibn Abdullah Zababi and Abdul Rahman Ibn Abi Khashkar Bajali.