Table Of ContentMuhammadMuhammad! Rayshahri
Translatedby
AbbasJaffer
ryihe martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a) sent shockwaves through the early
X Muslim community. Today, this tragedy is still remembered, studied,
and commemorated. However, in recent years, there have been increasing
questions over the reliability of the historical accounts of his martyrdom.
What material is reliable, and what sources can be used when presenting
the narrative of his martyrdom to others?
The Chronicles of the Martyrdom of Imam Husayn was compiled to fill
the need for a strongly reliable source on Imam Husayn’s (a) final days.
Meticulously researched, it contains narrations about the Imam’s last
stand that are found only in the earliest extant sources. Hand-selected for
their reliability, they have been arranged and translated into fluid, precise
English. No detail of the narrative of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a)
has been left out, from his fateful journey towards Iraq, to the journey of
the captives afterwards and the events surrounding Arba‘in.
The Chronicles also includes narrations on related topics of interest,
such as the custom of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a) and
fasting on the day of Ashura. Ample preliminary matter written by recog
nised Islamic scholars addresses the question of the reliability of early and
medieval sources, the nature of the oral versus the written tradition, and
the challenges faced in the modern era in presenting a reliable account of M :
Imam Husayn’s (a) martyrdom. The Arabic text of the narrations has been
included throughout, and the work is rounded out with five detailed maps
of the Imam’s journey.
This work is certain to find a special place in the personal library of
historians, students and scholars of Islam, those speaking from the pulpit,
and anyone with an interest in Imam Husayn ibn ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (a).
Partly sponsored by
ISBN: 978-1-907905-51-3
ICAS Press Islamic Centre of England 781907 9055- 3
Chronicles of the Martyrdom of
Imam Husayn
Chronicles ofthe Martyrdom of
Imam Husayn
Guzldik-yi Shahadat Namih-yi Imam Husayn (a)
Muhammad Muhammadi Rayshahri
Translated by Abbas Jaffer
ICAS Press
© I CAS Press, 2020
Chronicles of the Martyrdom of Imam Husayn, being an English translation of
Muhammad M. Rayshahri’s Guzldih-yi Shahadat Namih-yi Imam Husayn (a).
The moral rights of the authors have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans
mitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of
ICAS Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by licence, or under terms agreed
with the appropriate reprographics rights organisation. Enquiries concerning
reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to ICAS Press at
the address below.
ICAS Press
133 High Road
London NW10 2SW
ISBN: 978-1-907905-51-3 (hardcover)
Cover, design and typesetting by Scholarly Type
Cover calligraphy of uya Husayn" by Mohammed al-Hasani al-Mushrafawi
Printed and bound in Turkey
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements xxiii
Preface................... xxv
About this book__ xxxi
Translator’s preface.............................................................................. xxx Lx
CHAPTER ONE | SALIENT ASPECTS OF THE EPIC OF ASHURA …
PART l: A SURVEY OF THE WORKS ON THE HISTORY OF ASHURA ,2
1. Reliable sources.......................................................................... .3
2. Unreliable sources.................................................................... 6
3. Contemporary sources............................................................. 21
PART 2： THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STAND OF ASHURA.................. 37
1. Preliminary assumptions.......................................................... 38
2. The methodologies employed in deducing and analysing the
objectives of Imam al-Husayn (a)............................................... 40
3. Opinions about the objectives of the stand of Imam al-Husayn (a). • .41
4. The view that there were multiple objectives 46
PART 3: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE JOURNEY OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A)
TO IRAQ AND THE UPRISING IN KUFA..................................................... 53
1. Thereasonsfor choosing Kufa as the base for the uprising............ 55
2. The responses of Imam al-Husayn (a) to those who advised
him of the dangers of going to Kufa................................................ 61
3. The factors that led the Kufans to respond positively to the
Husaynl revolution.......................................................................... 64
4. The Kufan society........................................................................ 65
5. The type of Shi‘a in those times................................................... 68
6. The psychology of the Kufans.....................................................
7. The role of the administrative and economic system of Kufa in
the military mobilization of its citizens 75
8. The most important factors in the collapse of the revolution of Kufa 81
PART 4： cAZADARlAND WEEPING FOR IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A). 86
v
vi | Chronicles of the Martyrdom of Imam Husayn
1. The status and position of 'azaddri in the words and practice of the
Imams (a)................................................................................................ 86
2. The philosophy of 'azadarl................................................................ 89
3. The threats facing the 'azadarl of Imam al-Husayn (a)...................
91
4. Purposeful gatherings of mourning.................................................. 97
PART 5: THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOURNING
CEREMONIES FOR IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A)................................................. 99
The first stage: From the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) to
the death of his killers........................................................................... 99
The second stage: The establishment of 'azadarlas a ritual of faith by the
Imams (a) 101
The third stage: 'Azadart, before it became an established institution in
the middle of the 4,h/io,h century. ,104
The fourth stage: 'Azaddri in Muharram as an established institution in
the 4th/i oth and 5th/nth centuries........................................................ .106
The fifth stage: 'Azadarim the 6,h/i2,h to the centuries....... 107
The sixth stage: 'Azadari in the 10^/16^ and the n,h/i7th centuries
(the Safavid era)................................................................................ 111
CHAPTER TWO | THE PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MARTYRDOM
OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A)......................................................................
113
PART 1: THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, OF THE
MARTYRDOM OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A)............................................. 114
1/1: The chief of all the martyrs in history........................................ 114
1/2: Al-Husayn (a) would be killed, along with his children and hiscom-
panions, while surrounded on all sides............................................ 115
1/3: The soil of the land on which al-Husayn (a) would be martyred ... 116
1/4: The martyrdom of al-Husayn (a) has been decreed.................. 117
1/5: Call for forbearance.................................................................... 117
PART 2: THE PROPHECIES OF GOD’S MESSENGER (S) ABOUT THE
MARTYRDOM OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A)............................................. 118
2/1: The prophecy about his martyrdom at the time of the birth of
al-Husayn (a)...................................................................................... 118
2/2: The prophecy about his martyrdom when al-Husayn (a) was one year
old 119
2/3: The prophecy about his martyrdom when al-Husayn (a) was two
years old.................................................................................................. 119
2/4: The prophecy about the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a) in the last hours
of the life of the Prophet (s) 121
Table of Contents \ vii
2/5: Informing Fatimah (a) about the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a)"..122
2/6: Informing Umm Salamah about the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a) .123
2/7: Informing Wishah about the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a) 124
2/8: Foretelling the date of the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a)... 124
2/9: Foretelling the place of the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a).. 125
2/10: The Prophet (s) is shown the soil of the land in which the blood of
al-Husayn (a) would be shed 129
2/11: The appeal of the Prophet (s) to his nation to assist al-Husayn (a) 131
2/12: The prophecy of the Prophet (s) about the characteristics
of the killers of al-Husayn (a).............................. 132
2/13: The foretelling of the Prophet (s) about themannerin which
al-Husayn (a) would be killed.............................. ,136
2/14: The prophecy of the Messenger of God (s) about the shrine of
al-Husayn (a) and about those who would come for his visitation
(zcyarah)...................................................................................................
137
PART 3: THE PROPHECIES OF IMAM <ALl (A) ABOUT THE MARTYRDOM
OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A).............................................................................
139
3/1: Foretelling the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a) when crossing
Karbala.................................................................................................... .140
3/2: A dream that the Commander of the Faithful (a) had in Karbala. .146
3/3: The prophecy of ‘AlT (a) about the martyrdom of al-Husayn (a),
[related] in the Mosque of Kufa...............................................................148
3/4: The prophecy of (All (a) about those who would participate in the
killing of al-Husayn (a).............................................................................148
3/5: The prophecy of lAlT (a) about the name of the standard-bearer of the
army who would fight al-Husayn (a)................................................. 149
3/6: The prophecy of《AH (a) about the names of some of those who
would fight against al-Husayn (a)....................................................... 150
3/7: The prophecy of {AlT (a) about the names of some of those who
would refuse to help al-Husayn (a)..................................................... 152
3/8: The prophecy of cAlT (a) about the killer of al-Husayn (a)......... 152
3/9: The prophecy of‘All (a) about the shrine of al-Husayn (a) and those
who come for his visitation (zcyarah)............................................ 155
PART 4: OTHER PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MARTYRDOM OF IMAM
AL-HUSAYN (A)...................................................................................... 157
4/1: The prophecy of Imam al-Hasan (a) about the martyrdom of
Imam al-Husayn (a).......................................................................... 157
4/2: The prophecy of Salman about the martyrdom of Imam
al-Husayn (a)..................................................................................... 158
viii | Chronicles of the Martyrdom of Imam Husayn
4/3: The prophecy of Abu Dharr about the martyrdom of
Imam al-Husayii (a)..................................................................................158
4/4: The prophecy of Ibn (Abbas about the martyrdom of
Imam al-Husayn (a)..................................................................................159
4/5: The prophecy of companions of Imam (Ali (a) about
the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a)..................................................159
PART 5: THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE EVENT OF KARBALA...................162
CHAPTER THREE | THE DEPARTURE OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A) FROM
MEDINA UNTIL HIS ARRIVAL IN KARBALA.................................................185
PART 1: REJECTION BY IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A) OF YAZlD’S DEMAND FOR
ALLEGIANCE.......................................................................................... 186
1/1: The beginning of the rule ofYazId............................................ 186
1/2: Demanding the oath of allegiance from Imam al-Husayn (a). ,186
1/3: The consultation of al-Walld with Marwan about taking the
oath of allegiance from Imam al-Husayn (a)................................. .188
A 1/4: Imam al-Husayn (a) summoned by al-Walld to give his
oath of allegiance............................................................................. ,189
1/5: The preparations of the Imam (a) before going to al-Walld … 190
i/6: The meeting between the Imam (a) and al-Walld about
giving the oath of allegiance...........................................................
1/7: The argument between Marwan and al-Walid after the
departure of Imam al-Husayn (a)................................................... 195
1/8: The argument between Marwan and Imam al-Husayn (a)
in the street..................................................................................... 195
PART 2: FROM MEDINA TO MECCA.................................................... 197
2/1: The dream of al-Husayn (a) about the Prophet (s) when he
was saying farewell at his grave...................................................... 197
2/2: Lamentation by the women of the family of 4Abd al-Muttalib
at the departure of the Imam (a).................................................... 198
2/3: The advice of (Umar ibn ‘All ibn Abl Talib to the Imam (a)... 199
2/4: The will of the Imam (a) to his brother, Muhammad
ibn al-Hanafiyyah............................................................................. 200
2/5: The departure of the Imam (a) from Medina and his stay
in Mecca........................................................................................... 201
2/6: The companions of the Imam (a) from his family on the
journey to Mecca............................................................................. 204
PART 3: THE ACTIVITIES OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A) IN MECCA....... 205
-4
Table of Contents | ix
3/1: The delight of the people of Mecca at the arrival of
Imam al-Husayn (a)........................................................................... 205
3/2: The letter of the Kufans to the Imam (a), urging him
to rise against YazTd........................................................................... 206
3/3: The Imam (a) sends a special envoy with his letter of
reply to Kufa..................................................................................... 211
3/4: The Imam (a) seeks help from the people of Basra................. 213
PART 4： THE DEPARTURE OF THE ENVOY OF IMAM AL-HUSAYN (A)
FROM MECCA UNTIL HIS MARTYRDOM IN KUFA............................. ,216
4/1: Reports about the events on the way to Kufa............................ 216
4/2: The arrival of Muslim in Kufa and the pledge of allegiance
of the Kufans to him......................................................................... 220
4/3: The speech of al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir and his threatening
the people......................................................................................... 224
4/4: Receipt by YazTd of the news of the bay'ah of the people to
Muslim, and the weak stance of al-Nu(man ibn Bashir.................. 226
4/5: The seeking of advice by YazTd in selecting a governor for Kufa .. 227
4/6: The appointment of‘Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad as the governor
of Kufa...................................................................................... 228
4/7: The arrival of Ibn Ziyad in Kufa...................................... 230
4/8: The speech of Ibn Ziyad in the Mosque of Kufa and his
warning the people against disobeying him.......................... 232
4/9: The political strategy used by Ibn Ziyad to gain control over Kufa 233
4/10: Muslim’s transfer to the house of Hani, ibn *Urwah................ 234
4/11: The letter of Muslim to the Imam (a) about coming to Kufa.. 236
4/12: Some reports relating to plans to kill Ibn Ziyad....................... 237
4/13: Spending money and sending a spy to discover the location
of Muslim......................................................................................... 240
4/14: The capture of Hani’ and the events surrounding it............ 243
4/15: The speech of Ibn Ziyad after the imprisonment of Hani》— 246
4/16: The call of Muslim to his army and his mobilization towards
the governor'smansion 246
4/17: The encirclement of the mansion of Ibn Ziyad by Muslim
and his men...................................................................................... 248
4/18: Battle between Muslim and the forces of Ibn Ziyad, and the
wounding of Muslim.............................................................. 248
4/19: The strategy of Ibn Ziyad for dispersing the people from
around Muslim....................................................................... 249
4/20: The desertion of the followers of Ibn *AqTl.................. 251
