Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Maqtal al-Husayn

Martyrdom Epic of Imam al-Husayn ('a)

A detailed and authentic account of the tragedy of Karbala and the sacrifice of Imam Husayn (a).

Author(s):  Abd al Razzaq al-Muqarram

Translator(s):  Yasin T. Al-Jibouri

Publisher(s):   Al-Kharsan Foundation for Publications

Table of Contents

Author’s Biography. 7

1. Authors’ Background. 7

2. His Lineage 9

3. His Birth and Upbringing. 9

4. His Mentors 11

5. The Status of his Scholarship. 12

6. His Style 13

7. His First Book. 13

8. Maqtal al-Husayn, the Book. 15

9. His Legacy. 16

A. His Published Books 16

B. Introductions and Prefaces for Legacy Books 17

C. His Manuscripts 17

10. His Loyalty to Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) 17

11. His Poetry. 18

12. How His Life was Concluded. 19

Al-Husayn’s Uprising. 21

The Prophets are on Al-Husayn’s Side 34

The Intention to Kill 36

Introductory Note 36

The Verse of Perdition. 45

Summary. 50

Al-Husayn’s Prior Knowledge of His Martrydom. 53

Al-Husayn: A Conqueror 54

Al-Husayn Among His Companions 61

Introductory Note 61

Al-Husayn on the Taff Day. 69

Desertion Permitted. 72

Summary. 77

The Shari’a Survided through Al-Husayn. 80

Mourning Al-Husayn. 83

Feign Weeping. 84

Prostrating on the Turba 89

Legislating the Ziyarat 90

Preferring Them over all Others 93

Composing Poetry in Their Memory. 96

The Question of Marching With the Family. 100

‘Alawides Revolutions 102

The Epic of Karbala’ 106

Muharram has Come 106

The Month of Muharram. 106

Yazid, Son of Mu’awiyah. 107

Men Expressing Fear for Al-Husayn. 113

View of ‘Umar al-Atraf 113

View of Ibn al-Hanafiyya 113

Umm Salamah's View. 114

View of The Hashimite Ladies 114

View Of ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar 115

The Will 115

Departure from Medina 116

In Mecca 117

The Kufians Letters 119

Al-Husayn Responds 120

Muslim Starts his Trip. 121

Entering Kufa 121

The Oath of Allegiance 122

Muslim’s Stand. 123

Hani’s Stand. 125

Muslim’s Uprising. 126

al-Mukhtar is Jailed. 127

Muslim at the House of Taw’a 128

Muslim Meets Ibn Ziyad. 129

The Journey to Iraq. 133

Mecca: Al-Husayn (‘a) delivers a Sermon. 133

Attempts to Dissuade Him From Departing. 133

Why did the Imam Leave? 135

al-Tanim. 139

al-Sifah. 139

That ‘Irq. 139

al-Hajir 140

Some Informers 140

al-Khuzaymiyya 140

Zarud. 141

al-Tha’labiyya 142

al-Shuquq. 142

Zubala 143

In the Heartland of al-Aqaba 143

Sharaf 144

al-Bayda 146

al-Ruhayma 146

al-Qadisiyya 147

al-Utahyb. 147

Qasr Bani Muqatil 148

The Taff Villages 150

Karbala’ 151

Ibn Ziyad Meets Al-Husayn. 154

Ibn Ziyad Delivers a Speech. 156

Al-Husayn Meets the Kufians 157

The Hosts 157

The Seventh Day. 159

Conceit of Ibn Sa’d. 161

Calumny of Ibn Sa’d. 162

Al-Shimr’s Oppressiveness 163

Security. 164

Banu Asad. 164

Day Nine 165

Those Whose Conscience is Free 166

The Night Preceeding ‘Ashura 169

‘Ashura 173

Al-Husayn on ‘Ashura. 176

Al-Husayn (‘a) Supplicates 177

The First Sermon. 177

A Miracle and Guidance 180

Zuhayr Ibn al-Qayn Delivers a Speech. 181

Burayr’s Speech. 182

Al-Husayn’s Second Sermon. 183

Ibn Sa’ds Misguidance 184

al-Hurr Repents 185

al-Hurr admonishes the Kufans 186

The First Campaign. 187

Duels Between Two or Four Warriors 188

An Appeal for Help and Guidance 188

Hearing him, the women cried and wailed. 189

The Right Wing Remains Firm. 189

Muslim Ibn Awsajah. 189

The Left Wing. 190

‘Izrah Requests More Re-enforcements 191

Abu al-Sha’tha’ 191

At the time of Zawal 191

Habib Ibn Muzahir 192

al-Hurr al-Riyahi 192

Prayers 193

The Horses Harmstrung. 194

Abu Thumamah. 194

Zuhayr and Ibn Mudarib. 194

‘Amr Ibn Qarzah. 195

Nafi al-Jamali 195

Wadih and Aslam. 196

Burayr Ibn Hudayr 196

Hanzalah al-Shabami 197

‘Abis 198

John. 198

Anas al-Kahili 199

‘Amr Ibn Junadah. 199

al-Hajjaj al-Ju’fi 199

Suwar 199

Suwayd. 200

Martrydom of Ahl al-Bayt 201

‘Ali al-Akbar 201

‘Abdullah Ibn Muslim. 205

Campaign of the Family of Abu Talib  206

Al-Qasim and His Brother 207

Brothers of al-’Abbas 208

Martrydom of al-‘Abbas 209

The Master of Martyrs on the Battle Field  212

The Infant 213

The Second Farewell 216

Muhammad Ibn abu Sa’id. 219

‘Abdullah son of Imam al-Hasan (‘a) 220

The Supplication. 221

The Horse 222

Al-Husayn (‘a) Murdered. 223

Post Martrydom Events 224

The Eleventh Night 224

The Eleventh Night in the Company of al-Husayn (‘a) 230

The Looting. 233

The Steed. 235

The Severed Heads 236

Departing from Karbala’ 237

Kufa. 240

Zainab’s Speech. 241

Fatima, Daughter of Al-Husayn (‘a) delivers a Speech. 242

Umm Kulthum Speaks Out 244

al-Sajjad (‘a) Delivers a Speech. 245

The Burial 246

At The Governor's Mansion. 250

At The Governor's Mansion⁹²⁶ 250

Ibn ‘Afif 253

al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi 255

The Sacred Head Speaks 256

Oppression of al-Ashdaq. 259

Umm Al-Baneen. 261

‘Abdullah Ibn Ja’far 264

‘Abdullah Ibn Abbas 266

The Captives Taken To Syria 268

In Syria. 270

Yazid Meets al-Sajjad (‘a) 273

The Most Sacred Head. 275

A Syrian Encounters Fatima 276

Zainab’s Speech. 276

The House of Ruins 279

Back to Medina. 280

The Severed Head Rejoins the Body. 281

The Arba’in. 282

A Summary of the Marks of a Mu’min. 287

In Medina 291

Conclusion. 293

Eulogies 294

Glossary. 295

References 301