Hadith No: 1
Ibn Kathir - Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya - Then the year 63 AH entered
Volume: (11) - Hadith Number: (619)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... Then Muslim ibn Uqbah, whom the predecessors called Israf ibn Uqbah, may God curse him, a vile elder, in his ignorance, besieged the city of Medina for three days as Yazid commanded him, May God not reward him with anything good, and killed many of its noblemen andreciters, and looted a great deal of wealth from it. A great evil and widespread corruption ensued, as mentioned by more than one person.

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Reference: Al-Bidaayah wa al-Nihaayah Book 11 Tradition No. 619

Hadith No: 2
Ibn Kathir - Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya - Then the year 63 AH entered
Volume: (11) - Hadith Number: (623)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... Al-Mada'ini said, from a shaykh of the people of Medina: I asked al-Zuhri how many were killed on the day of al-Harrah. He said: Seven hundred from among the prominent people, including the Muhajirun and Ansar, prominent freedmen, and others I do not know, from both free and enslaved, and from various backgrounds, numbering ten thousand.
- Ibn Jarir said: The story of al-Harrah has been narrated differently than how Abu Mukhnif narrated it. Ahmad ibn Zuhair narrated to me, from my father, who said: I heard Wahb ibn Jarir narrate to me, from Juwayriyyah ibn Asma, who said: I heard the elder shaykhs of the people of Medina narrating that when Muawiya was near death, he called his son Yazid and said to him: "You will have a day with the people of Medina. If they act, then attack them with Muslim ibn 'Uqbah, for he is a man whose loyalty to us you know." When Muawiya died, a delegation from the people of Medina went to Yazid, and among those who went was Abdullah ibn Handhalah ibn Abi 'Amir - a noble, virtuous, and pious leader - with eight sons. Yazid gave him one hundred thousand dirhams and gave each of his sons ten thousand, in addition to their clothing and provisions. Then they returned to Medina. When they arrived, the people came to him and said: "What did you bring back?" He replied: "I came from a man, and by Allah, even if I had only these sons, I would have fought him." They said: "We have heard that he gave you, served you, and honored you." He said: "He did, and I did not accept anything from him except that you should not use it as an excuse to avoid fighting him." Then the people gathered and pledged allegiance to him. When this reached Yazid, he sent Muslim ibn 'Uqbah to them and the people of Medina poured a jar of tar into every water source between them and Syria, sealing them up. Then Allah sent rain upon the army of Syria, falling in torrents, and they could not fill a bucket before they arrived at the city. The people of Medina went out in large numbers and in a formation like none seen before. When the people of Syria saw them, they were intimidated and reluctant to fight. Their commander, Muslim, was in severe pain. Meanwhile, as the people were engaged in battle, they heard takbir (calls of "Allahu Akbar") from behind them in the heart of the city, for the Banu Harithah from the people of Syria had surged upon them from the rooftops. The people fled, and those who were struck in the trench were greater in number than those killed. They entered the city, and Abdullah ibn Handhalah was leaning against the wall, dozing. His son woke him, and when he opened his eyes and saw what the people had done, he instructed his eldest sons to lead and fight until killed. Muslim ibn 'Uqbah entered the city and called the people to pledge allegiance on the condition that they were subjects of Yazid ibn Muawiya, with authority over their blood, wealth, and families as he wished.

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Reference: Al-Bidaayah wa al-Nihaayah Book 11 Tradition No. 623

Hadith No: 3
Ibn Kathir - Al-Bidaya wa'l-Nihaya - Then the year 63 entered
Volume: (11) - Hadith Number: (627)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... And Yazid made a grievous mistake in his statement to Muslim ibn Uqbah to allow the city (of Medina) to be looted for three days, and this is a significant, grave error, compounded by the fact that he ordered the killing of many people, including companions and their sons. It has been mentioned that he killed Hussein and his companions at the hands of Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad. During these three days, there occurred in the holy city of Medina great and unspeakable evils that none knows except Allah, Exalted and Almighty. He intended by sending Muslim ibn Uqbah to solidify his authority and kingdom and ensure the continuation of his reign without any challengers. But Allah punished him with the opposite of his intention and prevented him from what he desired, for Allah crushed him with the Crusher of Tyrants and seized him with a mighty, prevailing grip. And so is the punishment of your Lord when He takes over cities while they are unjust; His grasp is painful and severe.

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Reference: Al-Bidaayah wa al-Nihaayah Book 11 Tradition No. 627

Hadith No: 4
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani - Fath al-Bari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari
Book of Quranic Interpretation - Surah Tawbah (Repentance): 40
Chapter on His Statement: {the second of two, when they were in the cave, and he said to his companion, "Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us"}
Volume: (8) - Page Number: (245)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... (His statement: when a conflict arose between him and Ibn al-Zubair) means due to the pledge of allegiance. This is because when Ibn al-Zubair learned of Muawiya's death, he refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid ibn Muawiya and insisted on this until Yazid ibn Muawiya instigated Muslim ibn Uqbah against him in Medina, leading to the Incident of al-Harrah. Then the army moved towards Mecca, and their commander, Muslim ibn Uqbah, died. Husayn ibn Numayr then took charge of the Syrian army and besieged Ibn al-Zubair in Mecca, throwing stones at the Kaaba with catapults until it caught fire. Suddenly, news of Yazid ibn Muawiya's death reached them, and they returned to Syria ....

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Reference: Fath al-Baari fi Sharh Saheeh al-Bukhari Book 8

Hadith No: 5
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani - Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah - Supplement to the Letter Meem
Part Three - Meem followed by Zayin and Seen - 8434: Muslim ibn Uqbah
Volume: (6) - Hadith Number: (232)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
8434 - Muslim ibn Uqbah ibn Rabi'ah .... the commander appointed by Yazid ibn Muawiyah over the army that attacked Medina on the Day of al-Harrah. Ibn Asakir mentioned him and said: He met the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) and witnessed the Battle of Siffin with Muawiyah, and he was in charge of the infantry. His significant presence is supported by what Muhammad ibn Sa'd narrated in Al-Tabaqat from al-Waqidi with his chains of transmission. He said: When Yazid ibn Muawiyah learned that the people of Medina had ousted his agent from the city and deposed him, he sent an army against them, commanding it to Muslim ibn Uqbah al-Murri, who was then an elderly man of just under ninety years. This indicates that he was an elder during the prophetic era. Muslim greatly overstepped in both words and actions against the people of Medina and was excessive in killing both the young and the old until they called him "the Excessive One" (Musrif). He permitted harm to Medina for three days for this reason, while the army looted, killed, and committed acts of aggression. Then the killings ceased, and those who remained pledged allegiance on the condition that they were servants of Yazid ibn Muawiyah. He then headed with the army to Mecca to fight Ibn al-Zubayr for his refusal to pledge allegiance to Yazid, but he was hastened to death and died on the way. This was in the year sixty-three. The army remained in Mecca, besieging Ibn al-Zubayr and setting up a mangonel on Abu Qubays, but then news came of Yazid ibn Muawiyah's death, and they dispersed, and Allah sufficed the believers in battle.

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Reference: Al-Isaabah Fi Tamyeez al-Sahaabah Book 6 Tradition No. 232

Hadith No: 6
Ibn Asakir - Tarikh Damishq (History of Damascus) - Letter H - 1649: Husein ibn Numayr ibn Nayil ibn Lubayd ...
Volume: (14) - Page Number: (385)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... Al-Hafiz, may Allah have mercy on him, said: And among them was Husein, who besieged Ibn al-Zubayr in Mecca and attacked the Kaaba with a catapult, which was then covered with wood and burned down....

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Reference: Tarikh e Damishq Book 14

Hadith No: 7
Al-Zurkali - al-Alam - Letter H - Has - al-Husayn ibn Numayr
Volume: (2) - Page Number: (262)
[The text is lengthy, so only the pertinent excerpt is provided here]
- al-Husayn ibn Numayr: al-Husayn ibn Numayr ibn Nail, Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Kindi, then al-Sukuni: a leader among the most ruthless and fierce warriors, prominent in the Umayyad era, from the people of Homs. He is the one who besieged Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr in Mecca and attacked the Kaaba with a catapult....

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Reference: al'Aelam Book 2

Hadith No: 8
Al-Safadi - al-Wafi bil-Wafayat - Husayn al-Sukuni
Volume: (13) - Page Number: (56/57)
- Husayn al-Sukuni: Husayn ibn Numayr ibn Fatik, Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Kindi, then al-Sukuni, was from the people of Homs. He narrated from Bilal and was in Damascus when Muawiya resolved to march out to Siffin and he went out with him, and he was appointed to govern the district of al-Safiya for Yazid ibn Muawiya. He was also a commander over the garrison of Homs and was in the army that Yazid sent to the city to fight the people of al-Hurra. He instructed Muslim ibn Utba to appoint him as his successor over the army if death befell him, and Muslim died between Mecca and Medina. Husayn besieged Ibn al-Zubayr in Mecca and threw stones at the Kaaba with a catapult, and it was burned during his siege. Yazid ibn Muawiya died while he was still in the siege, and Muslim ibn Uqabah said to him before his death: "O bridle of the donkey, if it were not for the command of the Commander of the Faithful to me concerning you, I would not have instructed you. Listen to my command: Do not let Quraysh have the upper hand over you, and do not allow them more than three days of standing, then circling, then retreating. You are a rough and uncouth Bedouin."

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Reference: Al-waafi Bil Wafayaat Book 13

Hadith No: 9
Al-Hamawi - Mu'jam al-Buldan - H - Chapter on the Letter Haa and the Letter Raa and What Follows Them - Hurra wa-Aqam
Volume: (2) - Page Number: (249)
[The text is long, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]

- .... And in this hurra occurred the famous Battle of al-Hurra during the days of Yazid ibn Muawiya in the year 63, and the commander of the army on behalf of Yazid was Muslim ibn Uqba al-Murri. They called him Israfan due to his vile deed. He entered the city and camped at Hurra wa-Aqam, and the people of the city came out to fight him, but he defeated them, killing three thousand five hundred from the clients (mawali), two thousand four hundred from the Ansar, and it was said two thousand seven hundred from the Ansar, and one thousand three hundred from the Quraysh. His troops entered the city, looted the belongings, took the children as captives, and violated women. Eight hundred free women (hurra) were taken from them, and they gave birth. Those children were referred to as the "children of the free woman" (awlad al-hurra). Then the prominent figures were summoned to pledge allegiance to Yazid ibn Muawiya, but they insisted on pledging allegiance only if it was understood that they were slaves of Yazid ibn Muawiya. So, whoever hesitated was ordered to have his neck struck off. They brought Ali ibn Abdullah ibn Abbas, and al-Husayin ibn Nughayr said: O people of Yemen, your nephew is among you. And four thousand men stood with him. Muslim said to them: Have you loosened your hands from obedience? They replied: As for him, yes. So, Ali pledged allegiance to him on the condition that he was a cousin of Yazid ibn Muawiya. Then he set out towards Mecca, sick and emaciated, and died after a few days. He entrusted his affairs to al-Husayin ibn Nughayr, and the story of the Battle of al-Hurra is lengthy. It took place after the killing of al-Husayn (RA) and the trebuchet (manjanq) being used against the Kaaba, one of the most heinous things that occurred during the days of Yazid.

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Reference: Mo'jam al-Buldaan Book 2

Hadith No: 10
Al-Tabari - History of Al-Tabari
Year Sixty-Four - Mention of the Death of Muslim ibn Uqbah and the Stoning and Burning of the Kaaba
Volume: (5) - Page Number: (498)
- .... Then they remained fighting him throughout the rest of Muharram and all of Safar until, when three days had passed in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal, on Saturday, in the year sixty-four, they began to hurl stones at the House (the Kaaba) with catapults and burn it with fire, and they started to chant and say:

"A flock like the misty phoenix,
We will strike the beams of this mosque with it."

Hisham said: Abu 'Awaneq said: 'Amr ibn HAWT al-Sudusi began to say:

"What do you think of the actions of Umm Farwah?
They will take them between Safa and Marwah."

He meant by Umm Farwah the catapult.

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Reference: Taarikh al-Tabari Book 5

Hadith No: 11
Al-Tabari - Tarikh al-Tabari - Year Sixty-Four - Mention of the Report on the Burning of the Kaaba
Volume: (5) - Page Number: (498)
- .... And in this year, the Kaaba was burned. The reason for its burning is mentioned: Muhammad ibn Umar said: "The Kaaba was burned on a Saturday, three nights before the month of Rabi' al-Awwal in the year sixty-four, thirty days before the news of the death of Yazid ibn Muawiya would arrive." The news of his death came on the crescent of Rabi' al-Thani on the night of Tuesday.

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Reference: Taarikh al-Tabari Book 5

Hadith No: 12
Ibn al-Athir - Asad al-Ghabah fi Ma'rifat al-Sahabah
Letter 'Ayn - Chapter on 'Ayn and Ba' - 2908: Abdullah ibn Hanzalah
Volume: (3) - Hadith Number: (219)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... And the cause of the Battle of al-Harrah was that he and others from the people of Medina went to Yazid ibn Muawiyah and saw from him what was inappropriate, but they did not benefit from what they took from him. So they returned to Medina, removed their allegiance to Yazid, and pledged loyalty to Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr. The people of Medina agreed with them. Yazid then sent Muslim ibn Uqbah al-Murra to them, and he was the one whom people later named a criminal after the Battle of al-Harrah. He inflicted a great battle upon the people of Medina in which many of them were killed in combat, and many were killed in cold blood.

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Reference: Osad al-Ghabah fi Ma'refah al-Shahabah Book 3 Tradition No. 219

Hadith No: 13
Ibn al-Athir - Asad al-Ghabah fi Ma'rifat al-Sahabah - Chapter on the letter 'Ayn
Chapter on the letters 'Ayn and 'Ba' - 2947: Abdullah ibn al-Zubair ibn al-Awwam
Volume: (3) - Hadith Number: (139)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... So Ali would say: "Al-Zubair remained one of us, the People of the House, until Abdullah grew up for him and he refrained from the pledge of allegiance to Yazid ibn Muawiyah after the death of his father, Muawiyah." Then Yazid sent Muslim ibn Uqbah al-MarrI to besiege the city and he engaged its people in the famous Battle of al-Harrah, and then he marched to Mecca to fight Ibn al-Zubair. However, he died on the way and appointed al-Husayn ibn Numayr al-Sukuni as his successor over the army. Al-Husayn went on to besiege Ibn al-Zubair in Mecca for the last four days of Muharram in the year sixty-four and maintained the siege, during which the Ka'bah was burned, and the two horns of the ram that had been sacrificed to ransom Ishmael, son of Ibrahim al-Khalil (peace be upon him), were also burned. The siege continued until Yazid died in the middle of the month of Rabi' al-Awwal of that year. Al-Husayn then called him to pledge allegiance and to come out with him to Syria, and to declare the blood of those killed between them in Mecca and the city during the Battle of al-Harrah to be absolved ....

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Reference: Osad al-Ghabah fi Ma'refah al-Shahabah Book 3 Tradition No. 139

Hadith No: 14
Ibn al-Athir - al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh - Then the year 64 AH entered
Mentioning the Campaign of Muslim to Besiege Ibn al-Zubair and His Death
Volume: (3) - Page Number: (222)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
- .... This was during the first siege, then they continued to fight him throughout the rest of Muharram and all of Safar until, when three days had passed in the month of Rabi al-Awwal in the year 64 AH, they began to bombard the Kaaba with catapults and set it on fire, while chanting and saying:

"A shower like that of the raging phoenix, *we will use to strike the beams of this mosque!"

It was said that the Kaaba burned from a fire that the supporters of Abdullah were lighting around the Kaaba, and a spark flew from it, carried by the wind, igniting the garments of the Kaaba and burning the wooden structure of the house. However, the first explanation is more reliable, as al-Bukhari mentioned in his Sahih that Ibn al-Zubair left the Kaaba to be seen burnt by the people, inciting them against the people of Syria. The people of Syria continued to besiege Ibn al-Zubair until they received news of the death of Yazid ibn Muawiya on the eve of Rabi al-Thani.

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Reference: Al-Kamil Fi Tarikh Book 3

Hadith No: 15
Al-'Ayni - Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari - Book of Ghazawat - Chapter on the Battle of Hudaybiyyah
Volume: (17) - Hadith Number: (220/221)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
4167 - .... So his statement: "(Day of al-Harrah)," with the "h" (ḥā') opened and the "r" (rā') intensified: it refers to the al-Harrah of Medina, and its day was the day of the incident that occurred between the army of Yazid and the people of Medina. This took place in the year sixty-three. The reason for this was the ousting of Yazid ibn Muawiya by the people of Medina. When Yazid learned of this, he sent an army to Medina, appointing Muslim ibn Uqbah as their commander. It was said that he commanded ten thousand horsemen, while others said twelve thousand.
- Al-Mada'ini said, and it is also said that there were twenty-seven thousand, including twelve thousand horsemen and fifteen thousand foot soldiers. The people of Medina organized their army into four divisions, each led by a commander, or they appointed Abdullah ibn Hanthalah al-Ghasil as the leader of the divisions. Their story is lengthy, but its summary is: when the fighting broke out between them, the army of Yazid broke the army of the people of Medina and Abdullah ibn Hanthalah, along with his sons and many others, were killed.
- And az-Zuhri was asked: How many were killed on the Day of al-Harrah? He replied: Seven hundred from among the notables of the people, including both migrants (muhajirin) and helpers (ansar), notable freedmen (mawali), and others, both free and slave, whose identities were unknown, totaling ten thousand. Al-Mada'ini said: Muslim ibn Uqbah allowed the army of Yazid to pillage Medina for three days, killing people and taking possessions, and they assaulted women until it was said that a thousand women became pregnant during those days.
- And from Hisham ibn Hassan: A thousand women from the people of Medina gave birth without a husband.

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Reference: Umdat alqari Sharh Saheeh albukhari Book 17 Tradition No. 220 / 221