Shimr bin Ziljawshan attacked until he reached a particular tent of Imam Husain (a.s.), and stricking at it with his lance, said, “Bring me fire, so that I may burn it alongwith it occupants.” Hearing this the womenfolk started shrieking and came out of the tents in panic. Then Imam Husain (a.s.) called out in a loud voice saying, “O son of Ziljawshan! Do you ask for fire to be brought so as to burn the tent alongwith my family ? May Allah (s.w.t.) burn you in the fire (of hell).”
Azdi says that Sulayman bin Abi Rashid relates from Hameed bin Muslim that he said, that I told Shimr bin Ziljawshan, “Glory be to Allah (s.w.t.)! This does not suit you. Do you desire tasting the wrath of Allah (s.w.t.) by killing the children and ladies ? By Allah ! The commander will be pleased with you by killing the men only.” Then Shimr asked me as to who I was, and I said, “I shall not disclose who I am.” I said this, for by Allah (s.w.t.), I feared lest he would complain about me in the presence of the sovereign. Then Shabas bin Rab’ee came to him, whose orders he obeyed more, and said, “I have not heard a more evil speech from you before, nor have I seen a more degraded situation that you have placed yourself into. Then have you now started frightening the women”? I saw that hearing this Shimr was ashamed of himself and retreated back.
One should reflect that inspite of being a foolish and empty-headed person, Shimr, who was also shameless, was stopped by Shabas bin Rab’ee, yet he yielded to his orders and desisted from burning the tents.
But the one (was more shameless) who came to the door of Imam Ali (a.s.) and threatened to burn him and his family saying, “By Him in Whose hands is my life ! You should step out of the house to swear allegiance, failing which I shall burn the house upon you all”. Someone told him, “Fatemah (s.a.), the daughter of the Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.s.) and his two sons (Imam Hasan & Imam Husain) are therein while also his remembrance”.But he did not desist nor was he ashamed but did he ordered to burn the door .
House of Sorrows Translation of Baytul AhzanShaikh Abbas Al – Qummi