It is narrated from Busr bin Ubaydullah al-Hadrami that when Ziyad sent Sayyiduna Hujr bin Adi (may Allah be pleased with him) to Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), he ordered that they be imprisoned at a place called "Marj Adhra'". Then he consulted the people about them, and the people began to say that they should be killed. Then Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Yazid bin Asad al-Bajali (may Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said: "O Commander of the Believers! You are our shepherd and we are your flock; you are our refuge and we are your pillars. If you punish, we will say that you did right, and if you forgive, we will say that you did very well. Forgiveness is closer to piety, and every shepherd will be questioned about his flock." The narrator says: At these words of his, the people dispersed.

It is narrated from Abu Mikhnaf that Hudbah bin Fayyad al-A'war was ordered to kill Sayyiduna Hujr bin Adi (may Allah be pleased with him). He advanced towards him with a sword, and (out of fear of Allah) his shoulders began to tremble. He said: "O Hujr! Did you not claim that you are not alarmed by death? We are leaving you (to be handed over to death)." Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: "Why should I not be alarmed when I see a dug grave, a spread-out shroud and a drawn sword? But by Allah! I will not say (with my tongue) anything that angers my Lord." The narrator says: Then he martyred him, and this event took place in the month of Sha'ban in the year 51 AH.