This is a clear statement that the people were loving but treacherous. Their love did not reach their collarbones and throats. They fought the Master Amir Al-Mouminine (may He be exalted) and the Master Al-Ḥusayn (may his glory be exalted), who knew of their treachery and lies, but he mocked them and prolonged their rebellion. So, he marched towards them, encamped against them and made himself an example to be struck and an idol to be stabbed. So that they might think in their ignorance that they had killed the God of the worlds and the Judge of the Day of Judgment.
The Master (glorious is His majesty) knew of their scheming. When he addressed them, he referred to their past and their actions with his father and brother in one of his speeches:
"And if you do not do so, break your covenant, and remove my allegiance from your necks, then by my life, it is not strange for you. You did the same to my father, my brother and my cousin Muslim. The deceived is he who is deceived by you."1
Do you think, O Negligent, that our Master Al-Ḥusayn was deceived and misled by the scheming of the people of Kūfah? Or is He the Best of Schemers, who schemed against those who sought to scheme against Him (may his glory be exalted)?
And he said (may his glory be exalted) about their letters and their war against him: "These people have frightened me, these are the letters of the people of Kūfah, and they are my killers."2
Do they frighten the one in whose hand is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth?! Or is it Divine Scheming? May Allah disgrace those minds that entertain such thoughts about the worshipped Lord.
And from our Master ‘Alī Zayn Al-‘Ābidīn (may his glory be exalted) that he said, reproaching his followers who abandoned his father and killed him, saying: "O people, I ask you by Allah, do you know that you wrote to my father, deceived him, gave him the covenant, the solemn promise, and the pledge of allegiance. Then you fought him and abandoned him? So woe to what you have put forth for yourselves, and how evil is your opinion! With what eye will you look at the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and his family) when he says to you: 'You killed my progeny and violated my sanctity, so you are not part of my nation'?"3