Husayn in his path toward Kufa encountered the army of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, the governor of Kufa, led by Hurr bin Yazid tamimi (a top commander in the Umayyad army who later changed sides). It is said that when Hurr and his one thousand men army intially encountered Husayn on the day of 4th Morahham, Hurr and his army were thirsty as they had been on rounds to capture Husayn for many days. Husayn offered his storage of water to Hurr, his army, and the horses of his army. It is said that if Husayn had not offered the water to Hurr and his army, the water in Husayn camp would have lasted untill 19th day of Moharram. Hurr did not arrest Husayn, but told him to set a camp in Karbala and stop his journey to Kufa. Husayn and his family were also not allowed to mount tents close to the bank of Euphrates river. On the seventh day or Moharram, the water storage in Husayn's camp was finised. Husayn requested ibn-Ziyad's army to allow him and his family members access to water, but his request was denied. Husayn sent his brother Abbas-ibn-Ali to the river bank to bring water, but Yazid's army fought with Abbas, cutt off both his arms, and killed him. Husayn also went to Ibn Ziyad's army and asked them to allow water for his six month old son, Ali al-Asghar, but the army launched arrows toward Husayn, one of which killed Ali al-Asghar.

At the Battle of Karbala it is recorded that seventy two people were killed.[20]

When Husayn clashed with Yazid's army, he said[21]:

"... Don't you see that the truth is not put into action and the false is not prohibited? The believer should desire to meet his Lord while he is right. Thus I do not see death but as happiness, and living with tyrants but as sorrow." -Husayn ibn Ali

On 10 October 680 (Muharram 10, 61 AH), he and his small group of his followers and family members, who were between 72 or more, people of Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of Muhammad).,[22][23] fought with a large army under the command of Umar ibn Sa'ad, son of the founder of Kufah. Husayn and all of his men were killed and beheaded. The bodies were left for fourty days without burial and survivors from Husain's family were taken as prisoners to al-Sham (Syria and Lebanon today) to Yazid.[18]

Part of his speech on Ashura[

"Behold; the illegitimate, son of the illegitimate [by birth], has settled between two, between unsheathing [the sword] and humiliation, and how impossible is humiliation from us! Allah refuses that for us, and his messenger, and the believers, and laps chastified and purified, and zealous noses [expression: heads that do not bow in humility], and repudiating souls [who repudiate/refuse oppression], that we desire obedience to the mean ones, than the killings of the honourable [martyrdom]. Behold that I move slowly with this family, despite the little number and deserting of helpers."

Today, the death of Husayn ibn Ali is commemorated during every Muharram by Shiite Muslims, with the most important of these days being its tenth day, Ashura. Ashura is also commemorated by Sunni Muslims, but not like Shia