Tabari Volume 19
Tabari Volume 19
History of al-Tabari
suW
PRESS
State University
of New York Press
www.sunypress.edu
ISBN 0 -7914-0041-7
VOLUME XIX
SUNY
SERIES IN NEAR EASTERN STUDIES
Bibliotheca Persica
Edited by Ehsan Yar-Shater
I. K. A. Howard
University of Edinburgh
Published by
State University of New York Press , Albany
O 1990 State University of New York
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Mbrary of Congress Cataloging -in-Publication Data
Tabari, 838?-923.
e
Preface
OP
THE HISTORY OF PROPHETS AND KINGS (Ta'rikh al-rusul wa'lmulnk 1 by Abu Ja`far Muhammad b. Jarir al-Tabari (839-9231,
here rendered as the History of al-7'abari, is by common consent
the most important universal history produced in the world of
Islam. It has been translated here in its entirety for the first time
for the benefit of non -Arabists, with historical and philological
notes for those interested in the particulars of the text.
vi
Preface
Ehsan Yar-Shater
Contents
Preface / v
Translator's Foreword / ix
viii Contents
16
Translator's Foreword
Translator's Foreword xi
Bagir 11i4/732.) b. `Ali b. al-Husayn by the Shiite `Ammar b.
Mu`iwiyah al-Duhni (d. 133 /750-r). This account is also the one
used by Mas`ndi with only minor differences . Clearly this is
presented as the authentic view of Muhammad al-Biqir on the
subject and therefore the view that ought to be accepted by the
Shiah. In its outline, and it is brief, it is, with only slight variations, the same as Ibn al-Kalbi's version.
To these two accounts Tabari adds a very brief summary from
Abu al-I;Iudhayl Husayn b. Abd al-Rahman and a few supplementary details from `Umar b. Shabbah. The impression conveyed is
that we have been presented with a definitive account of the
event where all the evidence has been collated and presented.
This impression is not altogether correct and it is appropriate in
introducing Tabari 's version to examine it a little more closely. In
order to do this, it is convenient to divide the account into the
following sections:
r. The attempt to confirm Yazid 's caliphate by making
important figures among the Muslims give him the oath
of allegiance.
a. The letters from Kufah to al-Husayn, the appointment
of Ibn Ziyid as governor of Kufah , and the abortive
mission of Muslim b. `Agil.
3. Al-Husayn's journey to Karbala', his negotiations with
Umar b. Sad, and his death.
4. The desecration of the head of al-Husayn, and the treatment of the survivors from his family.
All the sources are agreed that at his succession Yazid was
anxious to obtain the oath of allegiance from al -Husayn, Ibn alZubayr, and many also include Ibn Umar. Dinawari adds `Abd
al-Rahman b . Abi Bakr but this is clearly wrong as the latter was
already dead. It is evident to all that these are leading Muslims,
the sons of famous fathers, and therefore we are left with the
impression in Tabari's account that it was only natural that Yazid
should want them to pledge allegiance to him. There may, however, have been a little more to it than that . According to both
Balidhuri and Ibn A`tham, Mu`iwiyah had agreed, in the treaty
he made with al-Hasan b . `All on the latter's abdication, that
there should be a consultative council (shard) to decide the suc-
Translator's Foreword
xv
Baladhuri, who also has the incident , and puts it correctly after
al-Husayn's death. The account of this given by Tabari is based
entirely on Wagidi . The general tenor of Tabari's account of this
incident is borne out by Balidhuri, who gives a much wider range
of sources, including Wagidi.
The accounts given of Yazid 's attempts to persuade Ibn alZubayr and the people of Medina and Mecca to accept his
authority are again confirmed by much fuller accounts from
Baladhuri. The same is the case for the battle of Harrah and the
bombardment of the Ka'bah . There is the same tendency in the
sources to try to mitigate the responsibility of Yazid for these
crimes against Islam by thrusting the blame on his generals, in
this case, Muslim b. Ugbah and Hugayn b. Numayr al-Sakuni.
One constitutional problem does emerge from Tabari's treatment of his sources . This is the problem concerning the condition
on which Ibn al-Zubayr was receiving the oath of allegiance. In
Balidhuri it is quite clear that Ibn al-Zubayr at this juncture is
receiving the oath of allegiance on the condition that there will be
a shard . Tabari never mentions this . On one occasion in a report
that is identical with one given by Baladhuri, he deliberately omits
the words "on the condition of a shard " from the statement that
Ibn al-Zubayr was receiving the oath of allegiance from the people.
In fact shard is only mentioned once and then, perhaps, by accident when he reports that the people of Mecca held the view that
a shard was appropriate.
e
The
Events of the Year
60 (cont'd)
(APRIL 22- SEPTEMBER 3 0, 68o)
41
EP,
(2.16)
121171
(=r 9 1
ii. This is disparaging reference to Ibn al -Zubayr. The mother of his grandfather Khuwaylid was Zuhrah bt. 'Umar b. Hanthar of the clan of Kahn of the
tribe of Asad . See Balidhuri, Ansdb, V, 198. This reference is using his nonQurashi female ancestor as a means of insulting him.
i3. Ja'far b. al-Zubayr is In al-Zubayr's brother from a different mother, Zaynab
bt. Marthad b. 'Amr . Despite later taking part in his brother 's revolution, Ja'far
lived to an old age and died in the caliphate of Sulaymin b. 'Abd al -Malik, between 96 (715) and 99 1717). See lbn Sa d, Tabagdt, V, 136-37.
(2201
2.9. Abu Said al-Magburi was Kaysin , a mawli of Kinanah . He died in too
1718-19) or in the caliphate of al-Walid b. Abd al-Malik, 86-9617o5-r5). See Ibn
Sal, Tabagat, V, 61-62.
[2 22 [
;4. A1-Wagidi was a leading historical and religious authority , who died in zo7
(8z2-z3). See El' , s.v. al-Wigidi.
5. Ibn 'Abbas, a son of al-Abbas and cousin of the Prophet, is the man from
whom the 'Abbisids are descended . He was an important Companion of the
Prophet; he was regarded as an expert on the Qur 'an and the traditions . He supported 'Ali during his Caliphate but withdrew toward the end of it. See Ell, s.v.
'Abdallah b. Abbas.
56. 'Amr b. al-Zubayr's mother was from the Umayysds; he spent most of his
time with them. As he had received much money and power from them , he had a
hostile attitude toward his own family . See Baladhuri, Ansdb, IV/ t, ;to.
37. Tabari 's dating of this event is highly suspect. See the Introduction.
(2241
46. 'Abd al-Rahman b. al-Aswad b. Abd Yaghuth was from Quraysh and had
settled in Medina . See Ibn Said, Tabagdt, V, z.
47. 'Uthman b. Abdallah b. Hakim b. Hizam 's father was killed in the Battle
of the Camel while he was supporting Ibn al-Zubayr and his father against 'Ali.
See Tabari, II, 3207. He was married to al-Zubayr 's sister. See Baladhuri, Ansdb,
IV/r, 361.
48. Khubayb b. Abdallih b. al-Zubayr was given a pardon after his father's
defeat by al-Hajjaj b. Ynsuf . See Tabari, II, 84549. It is surprising to find Muhammad , the son of Ali's great supporter Ammar
b. Yasir, associating with the supporters of lbn al-Zubayr. On him see lbn Sa'd,
j'abagat, V, 181.
5o. The only apparent report about 'Abd al -Rahman b. 'Uthman concerns this
episode.
5r. The only apparent report about'Abd al-Rahman b . Amr b. Sahl concerns
this episode.
Si. The diwin is an institution for registering the names of those who are to
take part in campaigns in order that they can be paid. As the fighters normally
came from the Arabs, the recruitment of mawili would seem to be a temporary
measure for this campaign . See EI1, s.v. DIwan.
53. The only apparent report about Unays b . 'Amr al-Aslami concerns this
incident.
54. Al-turf is a place near Mecca. See Yaqut, Mu'iam, II, 63.
62. Al-$afi was a hill in Mecca associated with the pilgrimage rites . The pilgrims
ran to and from it and another hill called al-Marwah . See Yiqut, Mu'ram,111, 397.
32.
72. There are no reports of either Zayd or his master in any other context.
i
L
] tz7 1
81. Ibn Awsajah was a leading Kufan Shiite, who died with al-Husayn. See
pp. 137 -3 8, below. Abu Mikhnaf's account has Muslim staying with al-Mukhtir.
See p. s8, below.
(22 91
The words of al-Nu`man were reported to Yazid. He summoned a mawla of his called Sarjun,82 who used to advise him,
and gave him the news. Sarjun asked whether he would accept
the advice of Mu` awiyah if he were alive. When he agreed, SarjUn
said, " Then accept it from me . The only man for al-Kufah is
`Ubaydallah b. Ziyad. Give him authority over the city." Yazid
had been very angry with `Ubaydallah b. Ziyad; he had been
intending to dismiss him from al -Ba$rah. Yet now he wrote to
him expressing satisfaction with him; he gave him authority over
al-Kufah together with al-Bagrah. He also wrote to him to hunt for
Muslim b. `Agil and to kill him if he found him.
`Ubaydallah approached with some of the nobles of the people
of al-Bagrah. He entered al-Kufah veiled; every group of people
whom he passed and greeted said, "Greetings, son of the daughter
of the Apostle of God," for they thought that he was al-Husayn b.
`Ali. When `Ubaydallah reached the palace, he summoned a
mawla of his, gave him three thousand dirhams, and told him,
"Go and ask about his man to whom the Kufans are giving their
oath of allegiance. Let it be known that you are a man from the
people of Himg83 who has come for this purpose and that you give
him this money in order to strengthen his position ." The mawla
kept on being generous and helpful until he was led to a shaykh
among the Kufans, who was in charge of receiving the oath of
allegiance. He met him and told him his story. The shaykh said to
him, "Your meeting both pleases and grieves me. What pleases
me is the way God has guided you, but what grieves me is the fact
that our plans are not yet properly established ." The shaykh introduced him to Muslim, who took the money from him and
-received his oath of allegiance . Then he returned to Ubaydallah
and gave him the information.
On Ubaydallah's arrival, Muslim had moved from the house
in which he had been staying to the house of Hani' b. `Urwah alMuradi.84 Muslim b. `Agil had written to al-Husayn b. `Ali, in-
8z. Sarjiin was Mu`iwiyah's secretary and adviser; he was probably a Christian
see Tabari, II, %a 5.
83. Him is a town in Syria to the north of Damascus ; it is located halfway
between Damascus and Aleppo. See Yignt, Mu'jam, II, 3)484. Hini' b. 'Urwah al-Muridi was one of the tribal leaders of Madhbi,, a
Yemeni tribe.
( 23 11
92- Al'Ayzar was a KUfan traditionist, he died while Khalid al -Qasri was
governor of Iraq, 105-20 (723-38). See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, Vill, zo3-4.
93. Umarah b. 'Ugbah b . Abi Mu'ayt was a member of the Umayyad family
who seems to have settled in al-KUfah.
(232-1
98. Abd al-Ral}min b . Jundab was an authority of Abu Mikhnaf ; he was not
used by other historical traditionists . See Sezgin, Abu Mibnaf, 193
99. 'Ugbah b. Sim'in was an important eyewitness. He remained with alHusayn until he died but managed to save his own life . See pp. tog, 16t, below.
too. Sukaynah went on to lead a rather indulgent life. See Wellhausen, Arab
Kingdom, trans. M. G. Weir, r6t.
rot. 'Abdallih b. Mull: was a Qurashite who lived in Medina , he was a loyal
supporter of Ibn al-Zubayr . See Ibn Said, Tabagdt, V, ro6-io.
1 2331
[2341
the death of Mu` iwiyah , and praised and glorified God for that.
Sulaymin b. $urad announced to us , "Mu'awiyah is dead. AlHusayn has withheld giving his oath of allegiance to the Umayyads
and has gone to Mecca. You are his Shi'ah and the Shi 'ah of his
father. If you know that you will be his helpers and fighters against
his enemy, then write to him and tell him . But if you fear failure
and weakness, do not tempt the man to risk his own life."
They declared, "No, indeed we will fight his enemy, and our
lives will be given for him ." He said, " Then write to him." They
wrote to him : "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate, to al-Husayn b. Ali, from Sulayman b. $urad , al-Musayyab b.
Najabah, 106 Rifa'ah b. Shaddid,107 Habib b. Mu#hir , 108 and his
Shi'ah of the believers and Muslims among the Kufans . Peace be
with you. We commend the praise of God, other than Whom
there is no deity, to you. Praise be to God Who has broken your
enemy, the obstinate tyrant who had leapt upon his community,
stripped it of its authority, plundered its fay',109 and seized control
of it without its consent. Then he killed the choice members of it
and preserved the wicked members of this place . He made God's
wealth something that circulates only among the community's
tyrants and the wealthy . He was destroyed as Thamud was destroyed. "o There is no imam over us . Therefore come, so God
may unite us in the truth through you. Al-Nu'man b. Bashir is in
sob. Al-Musayyab b. Najabah was a leading Shiite in al-K1ufsh, who had been a
supporter of Ali, he lost his tribal authority when Mu'awiyah came to power. He
took part in the movement of penitents after the death of al-Husayn . See Jafri,
Origins and Early Development , iis, 177, zit-i3, 2.3x.
107. Rifa'ah b. Shaddid was a long-standing Shiite in al-Kafah, who had taken
part in Hujr b. 'Adi's revolt against Mu'iwiyah in ss (67z) . After al-Husayn's
failure, he took part in the movement of penitents , which he survived. He joined
al-Mukhtir. See Jafri, Origins and Early Development, 177, a:3-s4, 2.p..
roS. Habib b. Mu#hlr was a leading Shiite in al-Kifah. Of the four who wrote
this letter, he is the only one who managed to get to al-Husayn and die with him.
See Jafri, Origins and Early Development, 177, r8 :, 189, :o6.
109. Pay' literally means "booty" but it has implications beyond that . It refers
to the conquered lands that had not been divided among the Muslim conquerors
and whose income these K6fans felt should go to them, not to Syria . See Shahan,
Islamic History, 1, 46-51.
r io. The Tbamud were a people who rejected the prophet Sall}. They hamstrung
a she-camel that was sent as a sign. For their sins, they were destroyed by an
earthquake. The theme is frequently repeated in the Qur'an. For one example, see
Qur'an , 7:73-79 (71-77).
111. On the Festival of Sacrifice (3d a!-atfdj and the Festival for the End of the
Fast (Yd alflrj, a special prayer was said in the morning outside the mosque. See
El', s.v. Muaalli.
r 12. Balidhuri gives his name as Abdallih b. Sabi '. See Ansdb, lI/i, I S S. The
latter was mentioned as fighting with al-Mukhtir. SeeTabari, lI, 653.
113. 'Abdalli h b. Will was a supporter of 'Ali, who died fighting for the penitents from al-Kfifah with Sulsymin b. $urad. See Tabarl, I, 3421 -:8, and 11, 569.
114. Qays b. Mushir sl-$aydawi was regularly used as a messenger by the Shrah
in al-Kafah and &I-Husayn, he was captured on one of his journeys and then killed.
See p. 84, below.
)1S. Balidhuri records the name as Kadir and DhI Kadir instead of Kadan. See
Ansdb, Il/i, r58, 159. However, he also records liadan with his correct name as
being killed fighting for al-Husayn. See Ansdb, 11/2., 196.
116. BaUdhurl records the name 'Abd Instead of 'Ubayd. See Ansdb, l[/2, 1 s 8,
iS9. He was a leading member of the Kfifan Shrah.
t 17. This journey and Hini' al-Sabri's journey back are the only times he is
mentioned.
t 18. Said b. Abdallih al-Hanafi is one of the leaders of the Kfifan Shr ah.
t 19. Shabath b. Rib'I, at first a staunch supporter of'Ali, then became a Khirijite
but quickly returned to 'Ali and fought against them . After writing this letter, he
changed sides again. See Wellhausen, Religio-Political, 119.
1 so. Hsjjir b. Abjar was an important tribal leader in al-Kfifah , he changed sides
after writing the letter. See PP . 49, 12 5, below.
12351
12-4. Abu al-Mukhiriq al -Risibi was an authority of Abu Mikhnaf , who was a
Kufan traditionist at the beginning of the second (eighth ) century. See Sezgin, Abu
Miljnaf, 189.
Iz5. Apart from this incident, Miriyyah was not mentioned again.
r z6. Apart from this account, Yazid was not mentioned again.
127. Qur'an, ro :59 1591.
12.8. The narrative now returns to the account reported to Abu Mikhnaf from
a1-Hajjij b. 'Ali.
(2371
131. Muslim b. al-Musayyab was governor of Shiraz for the Umayyads; he was
killed in 1 29 (746-47( during the Shr ite revolution of 'Abdallih b. Mu' iwiyah.
See Tabari, II, 1977.
(2 381
12391
not have any of you to help me. Yet I hope that those among you
who know the truth are more numerous than those whom falsehood will destroy."
'Abdallih b. Muslim b. Said al-Haclrami,'36 an ally of the
Banu Umayyah, stood before him and said, "0, governor, what
you see can only be adequately dealt with by violence. Your view
about what should be done between you and your enemy is that
of the weak." Al-Nu'man answered, "I would prefer to be one of
the weak while remaining in obedience to God than to be one
of the mighty while being in rebellion against God ." Then he
descended from the pulpit.
'Abdallah b. Muslim went out and wrote the following letter to
Yazid b. Mu'awiyah: "... Muslim b. 'Agil has come to al-KUfah,
and the Shi'ah have given the oath of allegiance to him on behalf
of al-Husayn b. All b. Abi Talib. If you have any need of al-Kufah,
then send a strong man there, who will carry out your orders and
act in the same way as you would against your enemy. Al-Nu'min
b. Bashir is a weak man, or he is acting like a weak man." He was
the first to write to him. Then 'Umirah b. 'Ugbah wrote to him
in a similar vein, as did 'Umar b. Sa'd b. Abi Wagga$.137
According to Hishim (b. Muhammad al-Kalbi )-'Awanah:13s
When the letters reached Yazid-and there were only two days between their letters-he summoned Sarjun, a mawli of Mu'iwiyah
and asked him, "What is your view of the fact that Husayn has
directed his attention toward al -Knfah, and Muslim b . 'Agil is in
al-KUfah receiving the oath of allegiance on his behalf? I have also
learnt that al-Nu'man is weak , I have had other bad reports of
him." Then he read him their letters land asked), "Whom do you
think that I should appoint as governor of al-Kufah ?" Now Yazid
was angry with 'Ubaydallah b. Ziyad, so Sarjun answered him,
"Do you think, if Mu' awiyah were recalled to life for you, that
136. Apart from this incident, Abdallih b. Muslim S('id al-Hadrami is not
mentioned.
137. 'Omar was the son of the famous Companion of the Prophet Sad b.
Abi Waggi$ and later led the Kufan army against al-Husayn . See pp. 103, I15,
below.
138. In al-Kalbi breaks his narrative from Abu Mikhnaf and introduces connecting material from 'Awinah b. al-Hakam al-Kalbi . The latter is an important
historical traditionist. He died in 147 (764) or 153 (770). See EP, s.v. Awina b.
al-Hakam.
[2411
145. Al-Atinaf b. Qays was a very powerful leader of the Banu Sa 'd of Tamim in
al-Bagrah, he had had a good relationship with Mu'awiyah but was reluctant to
accept Yazid . See Wellhausen, Arab Kingdom, 138, 142.
146. AI-Mundhir b. al-Jarrad had been a governor for Ali but was at this time
leaning toward the Umayyads . One of his daughters married 'Ubaydalliih. See
Crone, Slaves, 15.
147. Masud b. 'Amr was the tribal leader of Rabi'ah in al-Bagrah, who was
killed in the feuding that took place in al-Bagrah after the death of Yazid. See
Wellhausen, Arab Kingdom, zo9.
148. Qays b. al-Haytham was a leader of the Band Sulaym in al-Bagrah; he also
played an important role in Khurisin . See Wellhausen, Arab Kingdom, 414-15.
149. 'Omar b. 'Ubaydallah b. Ma'mar was an important leader of Tamim in
al-Bagrah.
34
(2421
your arrival is a happy event." He saw in their joy at seeing alHusayn something to trouble him. Muslim b . `Amr said, when
they overdid it, "Retire, for this is the governor, `Ubaydallah b.
Ziyad." As he came in view, he checked his mount, 156 and he
only had some ten men with him. When he entered the palace
and the people realized that he was Ubaydallah b. Ziyad, they
felt great sorrow and grief . What he had heard from the people
made `Ubaydallah very angry , and he said, "Will I only see these
people as I have seen them?"
According to Hisham (b. Muhammad al-Kalbi)-Abu Mikhnafal-Mu'alla b. Kulayb157-Abu Waddak: After he had settled in
the palace, the call was made among the people : "The prayer is a
general prayer that all should gather for (al-galat jdmi'atan)." 158
The people gathered and he went out to them. After praising and
glorifying God, he said, "The Commander of the Faithful (Yazid),
may God make him prosperous, has appointed me to be in charge
of your town and your frontier post . He has ordered me to give
justice to the oppressed among you, to be generous to those of you
who are deprived, and to treat the obedient among you with kindness, but to be violent against those of you who are suspicious
and disobedient . I will follow his instructions concerning you and
will carry out his authorization among you. I will be like a kind
father to the good and obedient among you, but I will use my
whip and sword against those who abandon my commands and
oppose my appointment . Let each man save himself . Truthfulness should avert evil from you without threat of punishment
(wae d )."159
Then he went down; he put the 'arffs and the people to a severe
test and said, "Write to me about the strangers, those among you
who are sought by the Commander of the Faithful, those among
i56. The Arabic is ;ahr. The term was used for the outskirts of al-Kufah . In this
context, it must mean "his mount."
t 8. Al-.aldt al-jdmiah was the regular form of call to prayer used whenever
the governor wanted to address the people. It has been suggested that it was the
first form of the call to prayer . See E. Mittwoch, '2ur Enstehungsgeschichte des
islamischen Gebets and Kultus," is.
t59. An Arabic proverb . See Ibn Mansur , Lisdn, s.v. nbw.
35
16o. Harbriyyah refers to the Kh*rilites by the name of the place where the
first group broke away from 'Ali. See Wellhausen, Religio-Political, 2.
x6 x. "Or" has been inserted because there does not appear to have been any
place called "'Umin al-Zirrah." However, there is 'Umin on the Persian gulf.
See Yig6t, Mu'jam, III, 716 . Nearby on the Island of Babrayn there was a large
village called "&I-Zirrah." See ibid., II, 907.
i6i. Id b. Yazid al-Kinini was a historical traditionist, who died c. 134 1750).
See Petersen, 'Alf and Mu'dwiyah, 6o.
163. 'Omar b. Shabbah was an important historian , who died in :6s (875-76).
He was accused of pro -Shiite tendencies. See Petersen, All and Mu'dwiyah,
150-51.
164. H3r3n b. Muslim was a little-known traditionist, he was an authority of
'Umar b. Shabbah.
i65. 'Ali b. $ilib was a little-known traditionist.
166. 'Abdallih b. al-Hirith b. Nawfal was a Hishimite, who later, in 65 (684),
was nominated by the Barans to the caliphate but he gave way to lbn al-Zubayr's
governor. See Wellhausen, Arab Kingdom, 404-10.
(2.431
1 2 451
39
(2471
12-481
[2491
Ma'gil, the mawla of Ibn Ziyad, whom the latter had insinuated
into (the circles of] Ibn 'Agil and his followers by money, had
regularly visited Muslim b. 'Awsajah for some days, so that
Muslim b. 'Awsajah would introduce him to Ibn `Agil. After
the death of Shank b. al-A'war, Muslim b . 'Awsajah brought
Ma`gil to introduce him to Ibn 'Agil. Then Magil got to know
all the information about Ibn `Agil. Muslim b. 'Agil received his
oath of allegiance and told Abu Thumimah al-$a'idi173 to take
the money that he had brought . The latter was the one who
collected money from them in order to help each other; he used
to buy their arms. He was an expert in weapons, one of the
horsemen farisj of the Arabs and one of the notables of the
Shi`ah. Maqil began to visit them regularly . He was the first to
enter and the last to leave in order to hear all their news and to
learn their secrets. Then he reported the secrets in the ear of In
Ziyad.
Hani' b. `Urwah was in the habit of going every morning and
evening to 'Ubaydallah. When Muslim came to stay with him, he
stopped going and pretended to be sick . He began not to go out.
Ibn Ziyad asked those who did attend, "Why is it I don't see
(zso] Hani'?" They replied, "He is sick ." Ibn Ziyad said, "If I had been
informed of his illness, I would have paid him a sick visit."
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al-Mujalid b. Sa`id:174 `Ubaydallah summoned Muhammad b. al-Ash`ath and Asmi ' b. Khirijah.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al-Masan b. 'Uqbah al-Muradi: is
'Ubaydallah sent `Amr b. al-I;iajjaj al-Zubaydi with them.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-Numayr b. Wa`lah-Abu alWaddak: Raw'ah, sister of `Amr b. al-I Iajjaj, was married to Hani'
b. 'Urwah, she was the mother of Yahya b . Hani'.176
`Ubaydallih asked them, "What prevents Hint ' b. Vrwah
from coming to visit us ?" They answered, "We don't know, may
173. Abu Thumimah al-$i'idi helped run the Shi'ah organization in al-Kafah.
He was able to join al-Husaynj he died with him. See pp . 141-44, below.
174. Al-Mujilid b. Said was a well -known historical authority in al-Kufah,
110-II.
^
who died in 144 176zj. See Sezgin, ANMi^tnaf,
175. His name may be al-Husayn b. 'Ugbah, for that name is also given as an
authority of Abu Mikhnaf. He is unknown under either name . See Sezgin, Abu
Mibnaf, 107.
176. Yabyi b. Hini' also reported some accounts used by Abu Mikhnaf. See
Sezgin, AN Mibnaf, z14.
43
179. A verse recited by 'All when his future murderer, 'Abd al-Rabmin b.
Muljam al-Muridii, gives the oath of allegiance to him. See Mufid, Irshad, 7. The
verse itself is well known and is attributed to 'Amr b. Ma'dikarib.
45
him." He had seen Hini "s obstinacy and refusal to comply with
Ibn Ziyid's order. He told Hini' to come over to him so that he
could speak to him) he arose and took him aside from Ibn Ziyid.
They were where Ibn Ziyid could see them. When they raised
their voices, he could hear what they were saying. Muslim said to
him, "I adjure you before God, Hind ', not to kill yourself and
bring tribulation on your tribe and your clan. By God! I hold you
too precious to be killed." Hirai' thought his clan would move to
rescue him, but Muslim continued, "Ibn `Agil is the cousin of the
Umayyads, so they will neither kill him, nor harm him. Therefore
deliver him to Ibn Ziyid. There will be no shame and blemish on
you in doing that, for you would only be handing him over to the
authorities." Himi' replied, "By God! Indeed, there would be
shame and disgrace for me if I were to hand over one who has
come under my protection and is my guest , while I am still alive
and sound. I can hear) I see well) I have a strong arm and many
helpers. By God! If I were the only one without any helper, I would
not hand him over until I had died on his behalf." He pressed
further, but Hiini' went on saying, "By God! I will never hand him
over to you."
Ibn Ziyid heard that and ordered him to be brought to him. They
brought him, and Ibn Ziyid said to him, "By God! Bring Muslim
b. `Agil to me or I will have your head cut off ." Hini' replied,
"Then there will be much flashing [of swordsl around your house."
Ibn Ziyid retorted, "That is your error . Do you frighten me with
the flashing of swords]?"
Hini' thought his clan would defend him. Ibn Ziyid ordered 1253
that he should be brought closer to him. He was brought nearer,
and Ibn Ziyid struck his face with his cane) he went on beating at
his nose, forehead and cheeks so that Hini"s nose was broken and
the blood flowed from it onto his clothes , and the flesh of his
cheeks and forehead was splattered over his beard. Eventually the
cane broke. Hini' stretched out his hand toward the hilt of the
sword of one of the police but the man pulled it away from him
and prevented him. Ibn Ziyid yelled at him , "Have you become
one of the I Iaruri today? So you have legally brought punishment
on yourself. Therefore, killing you is permitted to us . Take him
away and throw him into one of the rooms in the building. Lock
the doors on him and put guards on him." That was done. How-
12541
12551
191. AI-Qa'ga' b. Shawr al-Dhubll was one of the tribal leaders in al-Kufah.
19z. Shamir b. Dhl al-Jawshan al.Amiri was a Yemeni tribal leader in al-Kufah,
he fought for Ali at $iffin but later switched sides. He was killed by al-Mukhtiir in
vengeance for the part he played against al-Husayn . See Tabari, l, ;;os,11, 661-6; .
193. Abu Janib al-Kalbi 's name was Yabyi b. Abi Hayyah. He was a wellknown uaditionist and an authority of Abu Mikhnaf , he died in 147 1764). See
Sezgin, AN Mfbnaf, 2Z3-24.
194. 'Abd al-Au b. Yazid was only mentioned with regard to this incident and
his execution for his part in it. See p. 61, below.
195. Umirah b. $alkhab al-Azdi was only mentioned with regard to this incident and his execution for his part in it. See p . 61, below.
12571
After the people had heard what they had to say, they began to
disperse and go away.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al -Mujalid b. Said: Women began
to come to their sons and brothers, urging them to go away as
the people would be enough without them . Every man went to
his son or his brother telling him, "Tomorrow , the Syrians will
come against you. What have you to do with war and this evil
doing? Go away." Thus, each took someone away . They continued
to disperse so that by the time evening came Muslim b. `Agil
only had thirty men with him in the mosque . At the evening
prayer Muslim b. 'Agil prayed with only thirty men. When he
saw that it was evening, and he only had a small group with him,
he left the mosque and headed for the gates of Kindah . He reached
the gates with only ten of his men with him. When he left the
gate, there was no one with him. He looked around but could see
no one to guide him along the road , no one to show him to a
house or to give him personal support if an enemy appeared before
him.
He wandered amid the lanes of al-Kufah , turning to right and
left without knowing where he was going until he came to the
houses of the Banu Jabalah of Kindah. He walked on until he
came to a door where there was a woman called Taw'ah . She had
been a slave wife'" of al-Ash`ath b. Qays, he had freed her. She
had then married Asid al-Ha4ram-0" and she had borne him (a
son called) Bilal. Will had gone out with the people , and his
mother was standing at the door waiting for him. Ibn `Agil greeted
her and she returned the greeting. He said, "Servant of God, give
me water to drink." She entered her house and brought him a
drink, he sat down . She took the vessel inside and then came out
again asking, "Servant of God, haven 't you had your drink ?" He [=591
replied, "Yes." She told him to go to his people but he was silent.
198. The Arabic is umm walad. This is a term used to denote a concubine who
has given birth to a child whom the master has recognized as his own, therefore,
the child becomes free. There was a tendency for these women to be given their
freedom, at least on the death of their masters . While the translation "slave wife"
is not a complete description , it seems closest to the concubine's situation. See 1.
Schacht, Origins, :64-65. Neither she nor her son Bilil was mentioned after this
event.
r99. Asid b. Milik al-Hadrami was present at the battle against al-Husayn and
was said to have killed Abdallih b . Muslim b. 'Agil there. See p. 19 ,, below.
A long time passed for Ibn Ziyad. He did not hear the supporters
of Ibn `Agil as he had heard them before. He told his followers to
look down at the people and see whether they could see any of
them. They looked down and did not see anyone . Then he told
them to see whether the people were in the shadows , lying in
ambush for them . Ibn Ziyad' s followers ascended the central parts
[of the walls] of the mosque ; they lowered the torches of fire in
their hands, so that they could see whether there was anyone
in the shadows. Sometimes the torches gave enough light and
sometimes they did not give as much light as the followers would
(z6o1 have wished. They let down the torches and sticks of cane tied
with ropes that were set on fire . They were lowered until they
reached the ground. They did this in ( places ofJ the deepest darkness, as well as those parts that were closer and those that were in
54
63
power over them. Thus, I brought them forward and had them
executed. I have sent their heads to you with Hani' b. Abi Hayyah
al-Hamdani and al-Zubayr b. Arwah al-Tamimi. They are both
people who are attentive and in obedience to you, and they are
sincere. Let the Commander of the Faithful ask them whatever he
wants to know about the affair, for they have knowledge and
truth, understanding and self-restraint. Farewell. Peace be with
you.,,
Yazid b. Mu` awiyah wrote back: "You have not gone beyond
how I wanted you to be. You have acted with decision. You have
launched into the attack with the violence of a man who has
control of his emotions. You have satisfied me, been sufficient for
the task, corroborated my view of you and my opinion of you. I
have summoned your two messengers, questioned them, and
talked to them. I found them in their views and their merit as you
had mentioned. Receive them both with kindness on my recommendation. I have been informed that al-Husayn b. `Ali has
set out for Iraq. Therefore set lookouts and watches, and be vigilant against suspicious characters. Arrest anyone on suspicion
but only kill those who fight against you. Write to me about all
the news that occurs. Peace and the mercy of God be with
you."
(2,72J
(2-731
227. Al-Marwah is a hill in Mecca that with another hill, al-Safe, is associated
with the rites of the pilgimage. See YagUt, Mu'fam, IV, S r;.
228. Al-Harith b. Kab al-Wilibi is an unknown authority of Aba Mikhnaf.
See Sezgin, Abu Mi1jnaf, zo6. For 'Ugbah the text errdneously gives 'Utbah, see
Addenda or Emendanda, DCLIII.
12741
12751
[:76[
zz9. For this verse see Ahlwardt, The Divans, 185. It is also given by Baladhuri,
Ansdb, U/z, x63.
23o. Apart from his reports recorded by Abu Mikhnaf of this event, Adi b.
Harmalah al-Asadi was otherwise unknown. See Sezgin, Abu Mibnaf, 2z323 r. Abdallah b. Sulaym and his colleague from the tribe of Asad were important eyewitnesses and participants in the following narrative. Both accompanied
al-Husayn until very near the end. Then they made separate escapes.
z32. The Hijr was the burial spot of Ishmael and Hagar by the Ka%ah. See Ell,
s.v. Ka%a.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al-l;larith b. Ka'b al -Wilibi'Ugbah b. Sim'an: When al-Husayn left Mecca, the messengers
233. The ritual running (sa'y) between al-$afi and al-Marwah was pan of the
rites of the lesser pilgrimage I'umrah). See Ell, s.v. 'timra.
234. The cutting of hair took place when the pilgrim wanted to leave the state
of consecration. While in the state of consecration, he was forbidden to cut his
hair or nails. See EP, s.v. grim.
235. Abii Said 'Aql is name was Dinar. He was a traditionist and a Kufan
Shiite. See Sezgin, AN Mibnaf, zoo.
1 2771
is God's, and God will do what He wishes . 'Every day our Lord [278)
exercises power in (every] matter .'242 If fate sends down what we
like, we praise God for His blessings. He is the One from Whom
help should be sought in order to give thanks to Him . However,
although fate may frustrate their hopes, those whose intention is
the truth and whose hearts are pious are not aggressors ." Then alHusayn moved his mount off, saying farewell. And so the two
parted.
According to Hishim (b. Muhammad al-Kalbi )-'Awinah b. alHakam-Labalah b. al-Farazdaq b. Ghilib24 -his father: I made
the pilgrimage with my mother. I was driving her camel when I
entered the sanctuary during the days of the pilgrimage. That was
in the year 6o (680). I met al-Husayn b. `Ali leaving Mecca [accompanied by his men) with swords and shields. I asked whose
caravan it was, and I was told that it was al-Husayn b. `All's. So I
went up to him and said, "May my mother and father be your
sacrifice! Son of the Apostle of God, what is making you hurry
away from the pilgrimage?" He replied, "If I did not hurry away, I
would be apprehended ." Then he asked me who I was. I told him
that I was a man from Iraq. By God! He did not question me any
further about that but was satisfied with that answer . He said,
"Tell me about the people you have left behind you?" I answered,
"Their hearts are with you, but their swords are with the Banu
Umayyah. The decision is in the hand of God ." He replied that
that was true . Then I asked him about matters concerning vows
and pilgrimage rites . He told me about them. His voice was thick
with the pleurisy that he had contracted in Iraq.244
I went on, and there was a large well-equipped tent pitched in
the sanctuary. I went to it, and there was 'Abdallih b. 'Amr b.
72
12.791
al-`A* 245 He questioned me and I told him about meeting alHusayn b. All. He said to me, "Woe on you! Why don't you
follow him? By God! He will be victorious, and no weapon will
affect him or his followers." By God! Then I was anxious to follow
him, and his words went deep into my heart. But I remembered
the prophets and how they were killed. That stopped me from
following them. So I went to my people at `Usfan. By God! I
was with them when a camel train that had brought provisions
from al-Kufah approached. When I heard them, I went out after
them until, after shouting at them and being unable to overtake
them, I shouted to them, "What happened to al-Husayn b. `Ali?"
They said that he had been killed. Then I went back cursing
Abdallah b. 'Amr b. al 'Ag. The people at that time had all been
like him, mentioning that "thing" and waiting for its fulfillment
both day and night. 'Abdallah b. 'Amr had been saying, "Neither
tree nor palm nor child will grow before it is announced" (i.e.,
the victory of al-Husaynl. I said to him, "What stops you from
selling the Waht?" He replied, "God curse so-and-so-meaning
Mu` awiyah-and you." I answered, "No, rather God curse you."
He increased his cursing of me, and none of his coterie were
around him, so I was spared their evil. I left without his recognizing me . The Wahl was a grove belonging to 'Abdallah b. `Amr
in al-Ta'if. Mu'awiyah had negotiated a deal with 'Abdallah b.
'Amr for it and had given him a lot of money for the grove. But
then 'Abdallah had refused to sell it for anything.
(Earlierl al-Husayn had pressed on swiftly and directly until he
stopped at Dhat 'Irq.247
75
him and they declared, 'By God! We will not-return until we take
our vengeance or are killed." He replied, "There would be no good
in life without you."
Al-Husayn continued, and the vanguard of 'Ubaydallah's
cavalry met him. When he saw them, he turned aside toward
Karbala'.m He positioned himself with his rear against the
reeds and grass so that he would only have to fight from one
direction. Then he stopped and put up his tents. His followers
were forty-five horsemen and a hundred foot soldiers.
In the meantime 'Ubaydallih had appointed 'Umar b. Sad b.
Abi Waggif as governor of al-Rayy2" and he had given him his
authority of appointment. He demanded that he give him satisfaction against al-Husayn. Umar begged to be excused from that
position, but Ubaydallah refused to excuse him. So Umar asked
him to let him consider it during the night. He granted him the
delay, and 'Umar considered his position. By the morning, he was
willing to carry out what he had been ordered to do. 'Umar b.
Sa'd had set out toward al-llusayn. When he reached al-Husayn,
the latter said to him, "Choose one of three possibilities: Let me
go back to where I came from; let me go to Yazid; or let me go and
join one of the frontier posts." Umar accepted that, but 'Ubaydallah wrote to him: "No, there will be no kindness until he has
submitted to me personally." Al-Husayn said, "No, by God! That
will never be."
Then 'Umar fought against him . All al-Husayn's followers
were killed, among whom were more than ten young men from
his family. An arrow came and struck his [baby] son while he had
him in his lap. He began to wipe the blood from him, saying, "0
God! judge between us and a people who asked us Ito come) so
that they might help us and then killed us." He called for a striped
cloak (hibarah), tore it and then put it on. He took out his sword
and fought until he was killed. A man of the tribe of Madhhij
killed him and cut off his head. He took it to Ubaydallah and
said:
153. Karbali' is on the south bank of the Euphrates due north of al-Knfah. This
is where the battle against al-Husayn took place . It is still a shrine for the Shrah.
See Ef', Karbali'.
154. Al-Rayy was a city in northern Iran it was located five miles southeast of
modem Tehran. See Ell, s.v. al-Rayy.
1 2 8 21
z66. Balidhuri quoted the same account with the same isnad from Said b.
Sulaymin with almost identical words . See Ansdb, fl/z, 224-27.
I Z841
267. Hill b. Yasaf was a Knfan traditionist who lived during the latter half of
the first (seventh) century. See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, n 86-87.
(2 861
273. Said b. 'Ubaydah was a well-known traditionist, who died between ror
(720) and 105 (724). See Ibn Sa'd, Tabagat, VI, sos.
274. 'Omar al-Tuhawi is not mentioned in Abu Mikhnaf's account; otherwise
he seems to be unknown.
275. Ibn 'Umar b. Ziyid is not mentioned in Abu Mikhnaf's account, otherwise he seems to be unknown.
1 z871
(z881 According to al-Harith (b. Muhammad)-Ibn Sa`d-Muhammad b. 'Umar (al-Wagidi ): Al-Husayn b. All was killed in the
month of $afar in the year A.H. 6 r (November , 68o). At that time
he was fifty-five.
According to (al-Harith b. Muhammad )-Aflah b. Sa`id28sIbn Ka'b al-Qurazi.286
According to al-Harith (b. Muhammad)-Ibn Sa`d-Muhammad b. `Umar (al-Wagidi)-Abu Ma7shar:287 Al-Husayn was
killed on ro al-Muharram (October ro, 680).
Al-Wagidi said this was the best confirmed report.
According to al-Harith (b. Muhammad )-Ibn Sad-Muham-
279. Al-Hirith b. Muhammad was the author of a musnad and a noted scholar,
he died in z8z ( 895-96 ). See al-Dhahabi, Mizdn, I, 442-43.
zso. Ibn Sa'd was the celebrated author of Kitab al-labagdt al-kabir; he died in
Z301945 ). See E12, s.v. Ibn Sa'd.
z81. 'Ali b. Muhammad was a famous and prolific historian he died in 131
( 845-46 ). See Eli, s.v. al-Mada'ini.
28z. la'far b. Sulaymin al-IQabu i was a famous traditionist, who held Shiite
inclinations; he died in 178 (794). See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, II, 95-98.
z83. Ninawi was a small village near Karbala '. See Yiqut, Mu'jam, IV, 870.
z84. The Day of Ashuri' was ro Mubarram, a day of fasting in imitation of the
Jewish Day of Atonement. See Eli, s.v. Ashuri'.
z85. Aflab b. Said was a traditionist, he died in 156 (773). See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib,
I, 327-28.
z86. Ibn Kab al-Qura;i was Muhammad b. Kab al-Qurai, a respected traditionisy he died between 117 -2.0 (735- 38). See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, IX, 410-2-2.
287. Abu Ma'shar was Nijih b. Abd al- Rahmin al-Sindi, a traditionist and
author of a work on the campaigns of the Prophet (maghdzi), who died in 170
(787). See Eli, s.v. Abu Masher.
z9o. Zirr b. Hubaysh was an early traditionist, who heard traditions from a
number of leading Coin anions of the Prophet and died between 81 (700) and 83
(702). See Ibn Haiar, Tahdhfb, III, 321-zz.
191. Hishim b. al-Walid was only cited by Abu Mikhnaf for this one report.
Otherwise he seems to have had an interest in the lives of the caliphs, for he
appears to be an authority for what seems to be a book on the subject by lbn
Shihab al-Zuhri. See Tabari, II, 199, and p. 2z5, below.
z9z. Erroneously given as Huaayn b. Numayr in the text , see Addenda et
Emendenda, DLUV. Khaff3n was the high ground above al-Qadisiyyah near
sl-KUfah. See Yiqut, Mu 'Jam, II, 356.
z93 AI-Qutqutinah was near al-KUfah on the edge of the desert . See Y1qut,
Mujam, IV, 137.
194. La'la' was a halting place between al-KUfah and al-Bafrah.
z_91. Muhammad b. Qays was a traditionist, who only seems to have been used
by AN Mikhnaf for two reports about alHusayn. See Sexgin , Abu Mibnaf, 11 z.
z96. Al-Hijir was the name of any hollow in a valley , it gathers water. See
Ylqut, Mu'jam, II, r8z.
297. Batn al-Rummah was it valley overlooked by the high grounds of Rummah
In the Najd. See Yiiqut, Mu'jam, 1, 66.
12911
1293)
317. Abd Bakr b. Ayyish was a well-known traditionist , who died in 193 (W).
See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, XII, 34-37.
318. Bann al-Aqabah was a halting place on the way from Mecca to al-Kufah
beneath the high mountain of 'Aqabah before coming to Wigi $ah. See Yiqut,
Mu'lam, III, 69z.
12941
(29s1
16
The
Events of the Year
61
(OCTOBER i, 680 - SEPTEMBER i9, 68i)
12 96)
92.
(2971
seen palm trees. However , the two men of Asad asserted that that
was a place where they had never seen a palm tree before. AlHusayn asked them what they thought that it was; they answered
that they thought it was the necks of the cavalry vanguard. AlHusayn declared, "By God! I think so too. Isn't there a place
where we could take refuge by putting it at our rear in order that
we can face these people from one direction ?" They replied, "Yes,
there is Dhu Husum324over on your left . If you reach it before
them, it will be just what you want."
So he veered left toward Dhu Husum ; we went in that direction
with him . No sooner had we done this than the necks of the
cavalry vanguard appeared in front of us and we could see them
clearly. We turned aside. When they saw that we had moved off
the road, they moved to the side toward us. Their spears looked
like palm branches stripped of their leaves ; their standards were
like birds' wings. We both made hastily for Dhu Husum; we got
there before them. Al-Husayn ordered his tents to be pitched; they
were erected. The people came up; there were about one thousand
mounted men under the command of al-Hurr b . Yazid al-Tamimi
al-Yarbu'i. He and his cavalry stood facing al-Husayn in the heat
of midday. Al-Husayn and his followers were all wearing their
turbans and swords. He ordered his attendants to provide the
people with water, to let them quench their thirst and to give
their mounts water to drink little by little. The attendants stood
and gave the mounts a little water at a time. But (first) the attendants stood and gave the people water to drink until they had
quenched their thirst. Then, they began filling their bowls , basins
and cups; they took them to their mounts. When a mount had
drunk three, four or five draughts, the water was taken away and
given to another mount until they had all been watered.
According to Hisham (b. Muhammad al-KalbiJ-Lagil325--`Ali
b. al-Ta" an al-Muharibi :326 I was with al-Huff on that day. I was
among the last of his followers to arrive. When al -Husayn saw
314. Dhu Husum was a naturally well-fortified place near Karbala'. See Yaqut,
Mu'lam, II, 367.
M. This seems to be the only report from Lagil1 otherwise he seems to be
unknown.
3x6. 'Ali b. al-'l'a"an al-Mul}aribi is only recorded as being present in this
place; otherwise, he seems to be unknown.
;;o. The izdr and the ridd' are traditional clothes for Islamic and pre -Islamic
worship by the Arabs . See EP, s.v. Iljrdm.
( 2991
that if you fight, you will be fought, and if you are fought, you will
be killed." He replied, "Do you think that you can frighten me
with death? Could a worse disaster happen to you than killing
me? I do not know what to say to you. I can only address you as
the brother of al-Aws addressed his cousin when he met the latter
as he was going to help the Apostle of God. His cousin said to
him: 'Where are you going, for you will be killed?' He replied:
I will depart, for there is no shame in death for a young man
whenever he intends right and strives as a Muslim,
And has supported righteous men through (the sacrifice oft his
life,
abandoned the cursed and made alliance with the
consecrated.4
When al-Hun heard that, he drew away from him. He and his
followers traveled on one side while Husayn traveled on the other,
until they reached'Udhayb al-Hijanat.5 There, the dromedaries
of al-Nu'man' used to graze. It was there, too, that a group of
fourU7 approached from al-Kufah on their camels, driving along a
horse of Nafi' b. Hilal, called al-Kamil. They had with them their
guide, al-Tirimmih b. Adi, s on his horse. He was reciting:
Camels, do not be frightened by my urging
but go forward quickly before the dawn rises,
334 These versa are also quoted by Bal3dhurl . See Ansdb 11/a, 171. 1 have
corrected the last hemistich of the second verse, which read yaghushshu wayurghimd to wa-bdlafa mubrima, as in Baladhuri.
335. There were two other watering places within the area of al-'Udhayb. One
of them to the east of al-'Udhayb was called '"Udhayb al -Hijinit." The area was
particularly good for grazing animals, especially horses and camels. See Yiqut,
Mu'jam, III, 6x6.
;6. Balidhuri gives the full name, al-Numin b. al-Mundhir. See Ansdb, Il/i,
17r. He was a famous king of the Lakhmids from AD . S 8o to 6oz. See P. Hitt!,
History of the Arabs, 84.
337. The other three beside Nafi' are given by Balidhurl : Amr b. Khiilid al$aydiwi, his mawli Sa'd, and Mujammi' b. 'Abddlah al-'A'idhi of Madhbij. See
Ansdb, f1/:, 17:. None of them, including Ntfi', has been mentioned before, but
they are members of the Shi'ah who managed to get to sl-Husayn. They eventually died fighting for him. See pp. 14$, r so, below.
338. Al-Tirimmib b. 'Adi was a famous Arab poet whose poetry was said to be
affected by his having been a townsman. See R . A. Nicholson, Literary History of
the Arabs, 138.
(3021
(303(
99
Ziyid ordered him to be thrown from the wall of the palace. The
eyes of al-Husayn glistened with moisture, and he could not hold
back the tears. He said, "'Some of the faithful) have reached their
death and some are waiting and have not changed .'341 0 God!
Make paradise an abode for us (who are waiting) and for those
who have reached their death . Gather us and them in a dwelling
place of Your mercy and of the desirable reward that You have in
store."
According to Abu Mikhnaf-Jamil b. Marthad342 from the
Band Ma'an-al-Tirimmi b. 'Adi: Al-Tirimmab approached alHusayn and said, "I have been looking and I haven't seen anyone
with you. if it was only these men whom I see traveling alongside
you (i.e., al-Hun's men) who would fight you, there would be
enough of them to defeat you . But, before coming to you from alKnfah yesterday, I saw the outskirts (;ahr) of al-Kufah, and there
were (more) people gathered together in one place than my eyes
have ever seen. I asked about them; I was told that they had
gathered to be inspected and that they would march against
al-Husayn. I adjure you before God that , if you can desist from
moving only a hand's breadth (shibr) against them, you should
not move. If you wish to settle in a land where God will protect
you so that you can consider your position , and your activities
become clear to you, then come so that I can settle you in our
impregnable mountains called Aja :343 By God! There we were
protected from the Band Ghassan, from Himyar, from al-Nu'man
b. al-Mundhir and from all types of people . By God! No humilitation has ever come to us. So I will go with you to settle you in
al-Qurayyah. There we will send to the men of Tayyi ' in Aja' and
Salmi.344 By God! It will not be ten days before the tribe of Tayyi'
brings you foot soldiers and horsemen . Stay with us for as long as
it appears good to you. If anything disturbs you, I can guarantee
341. Qur'an, 33:23.
342. Jamil b. Marthad was an unknown authority of Abu Mikhnaf's whose only
reports are the two presented here concerning al-Tirinuni .
Aja' was one of the two mountains of the tribe of j'ayyi', the other being
There was a two-day tourney between the two mountains . Aja' is the
western one of the two. See Yi qut, Mu'jam, I, 12z.
344. See n. 343, above. Al-Qurayyah is a place between Aja' and Salmi. See
Yigiit, Mu'/am, IV, 85.
(3041
13051
for you twenty thousand `j'a is who would use their swords on
your behalf. By God ! No one will ever reach you while an eye still
twinkles among them ." Al-Husayn said, "May God reward you
and your people. But there is an agreement between these people
and us as a result of which we cannot leave , and we do not know
the final outcome of affairs between these people and us."
According to Abu Mikhnaf-Jamil b. Marthad-al-Tirimmah
b. 'Ad-1: I bade him farewell and said, "May God protect you from
the evil of jinn and men. I have supplies from al-Kufah for my
family and money for them . I will take them and deliver them.
Then I will come back to you , God willing. If I arrive in time, by
God, I will be one of your supporters." Al-Husayn replied , "If you
do, be quick ! May God have mercy on you." I knew then, when he
asked me to huffy, that he was short of men. When I reached my
family, I delivered to them the things that would be useful to
them. Then I gave my last instructions . My family began to say,
"You are doing something that you have never done before today."
I told them what I intended, I set out along the road through the
territory of the Banu Thu`al . When I was near 'Udhayb al-Hijanat,
I met Sama`ah b. Badn,34-5 and he gave me news of al -Husayn's
death. So I returned.
According to ]Abu Mikhnaf]: Al-Husayn went on to Qagr Ban!
Mugati1346 He stopped there , and a large tent had been erected.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al-Mujalid b. Said-Amin alSha`bi:347 Al-Husayn b . `Ali asked, "Whose tent is this?" He was
told that it belonged to 'Ubaydallah b. al-Hurr al-jufi.348 He
asked them to ask Ubaydallah to come to him. Someone was
sent to him. The messenger went to him and said , "This is alHusayn b. `Ali; he asks you to come to him." `Ubaydallah said,
"'We belong to God and to Him we shall return.'349 By God! I
345 Sama'ah b. Badn is only mentioned at this point in the narrative.
346. Qapr Bani Mugatil was a palace of a Christian tribe in pre -Islamic times, it
was close to al-Qutqutanah, See Yignt , Mu'jam, IV, 121-22.
13071
357. Al'Agr was a village new Karbali'. See Yiqut, Mu'jam, III, 69S.
358. Actually a Tuesday.
359. Dastabi was a large district between aI-Rayy and Hamadhin. See Yiqut,
Mu'iam, II, 573.
360. Hammim A'yan was close to al-KUfah, It seems to have been used as a
military camp for campaigns to the east. See Yaqut, Mu'jam, II, 3z9.
( 3091
1 3 111
he hopes for escape but now is not the time for escape.368
He wrote to Umar b. Sad: "In the name of God, the Merciful,
the Compassionate ... your letter has reached me and I have
understood what you have mentioned. Offer al-Husayn the opportunity for him and all his followers to give the oath of al;66. Al-Na4r b. $alih b. Habib b. Zuhayr al-Absi was an otherwise unknown
authority of Abu Mikhnaf. See Sezgin, AN Mibnaf, 114.
367. Hassan b. F3'id b . Bakr al=Absi was a traditionist who reported traditions
from 'Umar b. al-Khattib. He must have lived until the end of the first (seventh)
century. See Sezgin, Abu Mijjnaf, zis.
368. A similar verse is quoted by Bal3dhuri.. See Ansdb, II/z, 177.
(3121
[ 3 1 41
(31171
13191
114
13WI
we will accept this demand which you are asking for and offering]
or we will be unwilling and will reject it." Al-Husayn only intended by this explanation to keep them off him for that evening
in order that he might give orders concerning his affairs and advise his family.
When al-`Abbas b. `Ali had brought them that reply, 'Umar b.
Sad asked, "What do you think, Shamir?" He replied, "What
do you think yourself ? You are the general, and the decision is
yours." 'Umar said, "I wish that I wasn't." Then he went to the
people and asked, "What do you think?" `Amr b. al-I lajjaj b.
Salamah al-Zubaydi exclaimed, "Glory be to God! If they were
from al-Daylam and they asked you for this postponement, you
would have to grant it to them." Qays b. al-Ash`ath urged, "Yes,
give them what they demand. Then, by my life, let morning be
the time for you to fight." `Umar b. Sa`d said, "By God! Even if I
knew that they would do that, I would not have postponed the
fight tonight."
When al=Abbas had brought back to Husayn the proposal of
`Umar b. Sa'd, al-Husayn had said, "Go back to them. If you can,
delay them until the morning and keep them away from us during
this evening. Then, perhaps, we may be able to pray to our Lord
during the night, to call upon Him and seek his forgiveness.
He knows that I have always loved His prayer, the recitation of
His book, making many invocations to Him, and seeking His
forgiveness."
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al-Harith b. Hqirah-`Abdallah
b. Shank al-`Amiri-`Ali b. al- Husayn: A messenger from `Omar
b. Sa`d came to us . He stood where his voice could be heard and
he said, "We will grant you a delay until tomorrow. Then, if you
surrender, we will send you to our governor `Ubaydallah b. Ziyad
but if you refuse we will not leave you."
According to Abu Mikhnaf-`Abdallah b. `A*im al- Fa'ishi3stal-pahhak b. 'Abdallah al-Mishragi ,382 IMishraq) being a clan of
381. Abdallih b. Agim al-Fi'ishi was an unknown authority of Abu Mikhnaf s,
who cites him several more times in his account of the martyrdom of al-Husayn.
See Sezgin, Abu Mibnaf, 192.
382. AI-Qalahik b. Abdallih al -Mishragi was an eyewitness of the events at
Karbala', he only left al-Husayn at the end. See Sezgin , Abu Mibnaf, 192, zoo- t;
and pp . 148-49, below.
II7
;86. Abu al4Qa1J$k was a traditionist who reported from Abu Hurayrah. He
died in 'to ( 729(. See Sezgin, Abu i naf, M.
387. Huwayy was not mentioned elsewhere.
388. Abu Dharr al-Ghifiiri was an early Companion of the Prophet, who came
to be regarded as an ascetic . The Shrah have a very high regard for him. He was
exiled to al-Rabadhah by'Uthmin where he died in 31(63a-S3 (. See Ell, s.v. Abu
Dharr.
389. These verses are also found in Balildhuri, Ansdb,11/i, r85, and al-Ya'qubi,
Ta'rikh, II, i;o.
1323)
( 3 2 41
393. This is the first time Burayr b. Hudayr has been mentioned. From his
position among the followers of al-Husayn, he seems to have been a leading
member of the Kufan Shi'ah. He died fighting for al-Husayn. See pp. 132-33
below.
394. 'Abdallih b. Shahr is not mentioned elsewhere.
395. Said b. Qsys was a leader of Hamdin, formerly he was governor of alRayy for 'Uthmin, fought for All at $iffiin and was one of the witnesses of the
arbitration document between A11 and Mu'iwiyah. See Tabari , 1, 292.7 and 3337
13251
411. The use of the term wagl has specific implications for Ali 's status as
successor of the Prophet among the Shi'ah.
412. Hamzah was an uncle of the Prophet and hero of the early battles of the
Prophet against the Meccans. See Elz, s.,. Hamza b. 'Abd al-Mu4talib.
(3301
417. Sahl b. Sad al-SAD was a Companion of the Prophet, who died between
88 (707) and 91 1 7101. See lbn Hajar, Tahdhib, IV, 25z-53418. Zayd b. Argam was a Companion of the Prophet , who died in 68 (687-89).
See Ibn Sa'd, Tabagat, VI, io.
4r9. Anas b. Milik was a Companion of the Prophet, who died in 93 (7ii-i2).
See Ibn Sa'd, Tabaqdt, VU/i, ro-i6.
420. See Qur'an, 22: r r.
425. 'Ali b. Hanplah b. A(ad alShimi was only used as an authority by Abu
Mikhnaf for this one account. He seems to be otherwise unknown.
133XI
I 2.7
protect their womenfolk ." A man called out to him, "Abu `Abdallah (i.e., al-Husayn) says: 'Come back. By my life! If the believer
of the people of Pharaoh gave advice to his people and was eloquent
in pleading, so have you given advice and spoken to these people,
if there is any advantage in advice and information."'
According to Abu Mikhnaf-Abu Janib al-Kalbi--MI b.
Harmalah : When `Omar b. Sad began to march forward, al-Hurr
b. Yazid said to him, "May God make you prosperous , are you
going to fight this man?" He replied, "Yes, by God! It will be a
battle, the least part of which will be heads falling and severed
hands flying." Al-kfurr said, "Aren 't you satisfied with one of the
three proposals that he offered you?" `Umar b. Sa`d answered, "If
the matter rested with me, I would accept, but your governor has
refused." Al-Hurr went and stood apart from the people. With
him was a man from his tribe called Qurrah b . Qays. He said,
"Qurrah, have you watered your horse today?" Qurrah said, "No."
He said, "Don't you want to water it?"
Qurrah reported later: I thought that al -Hun was going to leave
the battle and did not want to be present at it, but was unwilling
that I should see him when he did that, for he was afraid that I
might find fault with him for that. So I said, "I have not watered it
and I am going to water it ." Then I left him where he was. By
God! If he had told me what he was intending to do, I would have
gone with him to al-Husayn.
He began to approach al-Husayn little by little. One of his tribe
called al-Muhajir b. Aws427 asked him, "What do you want, Ibn
Yazid? Do you want to attack ?" He was silent but a great shudder
came over him . Al-Muhajir said, "By God! Ibn Yazid, your behavior is suspicious . By God! I have never seen you act like this
before. If I was asked who was the bravest of the Kufans, I would
not ignore you. What is this I see in you ?" Al-Uurr answered, "By
God! I am giving my soul the choice between heaven and the fire
of hell . By Godl I will not choose anything before heaven, even
though I am cut to pieces and burnt."
He whipped his horse and joined Husayn. He said , "May God
accept my soul for you , son of the Apostle of God. I was your
companion who stopped you from returning . I accompanied you
417. A!-Muhaiir b. Aws was only mentioned with regard to the Battle of Karbala'.
1 3331
(3341
along the road and made you stop in this place . By Him other than
Whom there is no deity! I did not think that the people would
refuse to respond to what you have offered them and that they
would ever come to this position with regard to you . I had said to
myself: I do not care if I obey these people in some of their authority (amr) while they do not consider that I have discarded
totally their obedience, for in the long run they will accept these
proposals that Husayn offers them. By God! If I had thought that
they would 'not accept them from you , I would not have joined
them against you. I have come repenting to my Lord for what I
have done, and offering you my life as consolation so that I may
die before you. Will you accept that as repentance from me?" AlHusayn replied, "Yes. God will accept your repentance and forgive
you. What is your name ?" He said, "I am al-Hurr b . Yazid." AlHusayn said, "You are the free man (a]-burr) as your mother
named you. You are a free man (a1-burr) in this world and the
next, God willing. So dismount." He replied, "I would be better
for you as a horseman than I would as a foot soldier . I will fight
them on my horse for a while . Dismounting will be my ultimate
end." Al-Husayn said, "Do whatever you deem wise. May God
grant you mercy."
He advanced in front of his followers and called out, "People,
aren't you going to accept one of the three proposals that Husayn
proposed to you so that god may grant you release from making
war against him and fighting him?" They answered , "The general
here is `Umar b . Sad. Speak to him ." He spoke to him in the
same way as he had spoken to him before and in the same way as
he had spoken to his followers . `Omar answered, "I am anxious.
If I could find a way to do that, I would do it." Then al-Hurt said,
"People of al-Kiifah, may your mothers be deprived of their sons
and may tears come to their eyes . You summoned him. Then,
when he had come to you, you handed him over. You claimed
that you would fight with your own lives for him , and then you
have begun to attack him in order to kill him . You have laid hold
of his life ; you have seized his throat ; you have encircled him on
every side in order to prevent his returning to God 's broad land,
where he may be secure and where his family (ahI baytihi) may
be secure. He has come into your hands like a prisoner who no
longer can attract benefit to himself and cannot secure himself
1 3351
13361
43S. Huaayn Abu Ja'far was an authority of Abu Mikhnaf who seems to be
otherwise unknown. See Sezgin, AN Milinaf, 207.
436. Abdallih b. Hswzah is only mentioned in connection with this incident.
437. Suwayd b. Hayyah was an authority of Abu Mikhnaf who seems to be
otherwise unknown. See Sezgin, AN Mibnaf, z18-i9.
438. 'Atli b. al-Sa'ib was a traditionist, who died in 137 $rS;). See Sezgin, AN
Mfbnaf, zoo-i.
1 3371
1338)
13391
1134
1 3401
Ask that you be told about me-and you are blameworthyat the battle against Husayn , while the spears were pointed.
Have I not gone to the farthest point of your dislike ? Was not
what I did on the day of terror appropriate to me?
I had with me a spear from Yazan ,446 whose joints had not
betrayed it,
and a white sword which was sharpened, and both edges of it
were cutting.
For there were none fiercer in striking with the sword in battle.
Indeed everyone who protects his honor comes to fight.
They have endured without protection , stabbing and striking.
They would have attacked had all this been of any advantage.
Tell lUbaydallah, if you meet him,
that I am obedient and attentive to the Caliph.
I killed Burayr. I brought help to
Abu Mungidh447 when he called, "Who will fight?"
According to Abu Mikhnaf-Abd al -Rahman b. Jundab: During
the governorship of Mu$`ab b. al-Zubayr,441 I heard Kab b. Jabir
445. Whether Nawir In. Jabir is Ka`b's wife or sister cannot be ascertained, as
she is not mentioned elsewhere.
446. Yazan were a clan of Himyar. See al-Bustani, MuI it, s.v. yzn.
447. He means Rani b. Munqidh.
448. Between the years 67 (6871 and 7z (691-9i).
saying, "0 Lord ! We have been loyal. 0 Lord! Do not treat us like
those who have been treacherous." My father said to him, '"True!
God is true to His word and generous , but you have earned evil for
yourself." He retorted, "No. I have not earned evil for myself;
rather I have earned good."
They claimed that later RaSli b. Munqidh al-Abdi gave a reply
to the words of Ka`b b. jibir. He said:
If my Lord had wished, I would not have been present at their
battle,
and Ibn Jabir would not have done me any favors.
That day was shameful and disgraceful,
for which the sons who come after these people will
denounce them.
I wish that I had been dead before his death
and, at the battle against Husayn, I had been in the grave.
`Amr b. Qara:;ah al -An*iri4'49 came forward to fight in the defense of Husayn. He was reciting:
13411
He launched an attack against Husayn . But Nafl` b. Hilal alMuradi intercepted him, stabbed him and brought him down.
All b. QaraZah's comrades rescued All. Later he was treated
until he recovered.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al-Nadr b. $alih Abu Zuhayr al'Absi: When al-Hun b. Yazid joined Husayn, a man from Banu
Tamim, of the clan of Banta Shaqirah, who are the Banu al-Harith
b. Tamim-he was called Yazid b. Sufyan4s2-called out, "By
God, if I had seen al-Hurt b. Yazid, I would have followed him
with my spear to stab him."
Meanwhile the people were driving against each other and
fighting, and al-Hurt was advancing to attack the people, reciting
the words of 'Antarah.4'
I kept hurling my horse against them, neck
and breast, until it was clothed with blood.
His horse was struck on its ears and nose, and blood was flowing
from it. Al-Husayn b. Tamim was in command of the police of
`Ubaydallah and was sent by him to al-Husayn. He was with
'Umar b. Sad, and Umar had put him in charge of the armored
police. Al-Husayn now said to Yazid b. Sufyan, "This is al-Hurt
b. Yazid, the man you wanted ." He admitted that and went out
1342.1 toward him saying , "Hurt b. Yazid, are you ready to fight in single
combat? " Al-Hun replied, "Yes, if you wish." He came forward
toward him.
I (the narrator, al-Na4r) have heard al-Husayn b. Tamim say,
"By God! As Yazid went out to fight, it was as if his soul were in
al-Hurr's hand. No sooner had he gone out against him than alHun killed him."
According to Hisham b. Muhammad (al-Kalbi)-Abu MikhnafYahya b. Hani' b. `Urwah: Nafi` b. Hilal was fighting on that day,
reciting:
I am al-Jamali . I believe in the religion of `Ali.
45:- Yazid b. Sufyan is not mentioned except in the Battle of Karbal3 'i he was
killed in the battle.
453 'Antarah was a warrior poet of the sixth century, See E11, s.v. Antarah.
For the verse of 'Antarah, see Ahlwardt, The Divans, 48.
137
( 34 31
"Muslim, your death is hard for me to bear but rejoice that Heaven
is your abode." He replied in a weak voice, "May God bring you
the same luck." Habib said, "I know that I am following you at
this very moment. Otherwise I would have liked you to entrust
me to carry out everything that concerns you, so that I might
preserve for you what you are worthy of through kinship and
religion." He answered, "Indeed, I do entrust to you . May God
have mercy on you to do this." And pointing toward al-Husayn,
he added, "To die with this man." He said, "I do this, by the Lord
of the Ka'bah."
No sooner had he died in their midst than a maidservant of
his cried out, "0 Ibn 'Awsajah ! 0 master!" The followers of
'Amr b. al-Hajjaj called to each other, "We have killed Muslim b.
'Awsajah." Shabath (b. Rib'i) said to some of his followers around
him, "May your mothers be bereft of you. You have only killed
yourselves with your own hands, and you have humiliated yourselves for someone else. Do you rejoice at killing a man like
Muslim b. 'Awsajah ? Indeed, it was due to him that I embraced
Islam. Many a noble stand have I seen him make among the
Muslims! I saw him at the battle of the plain of Adharbayjan457
kill six polytheists before the horsemen of the Muslims all arrived.
Could you be happy while a man among you like him is killed?"
( 3441
Those who killed Muslim b. 'Awsajah were Muslim b. 'Abdallah al-Qibabi458 and 'Abd al - Rahman b. Abi Khushkarah alBajali.459
With his left wing Shamir b . Dhi al-Jawshan attacked the people
of al-Husayn's left wing. But the latter stood firm and forced
Shamir and his followers away with their spears . Al-Husayn and
his followers were attacked on every side . ['Abdallah b . 'Umayrl
al-Kalbi was killed. He had killed another two men after the first
two. He had fought fiercely, but Hani' b. Thubayt al-Haclrami and
457. The Arab conquest of Adharbayjin took place between is (639) and zz
(643). See El? , s.v. Adharbaydjan.
a 58. Muslim b. Abdallih al-Qibibi was present at the Battle of $iffin fighting
Ali with his tribal leader Shamir b. Dhi al -jawshan. He was with Shamir when
the latter was killed by al-Mukhtir but he escaped . SeeTabari , I, 3305 ,11, 661-6z.
459 Abd al- Ralamin b. Abi Khushkirah al-Bajali was killed by al-Mukhtir. See
Tabari, 11, 669.
139
463. Ayyub b. Mlshrab al-Khaywlni is not mentioned elsewhere except for his
later justification.
( 345)
13461
'4'
them. If they set them on fire, they will not be able to come
through them against you ." That was how it was. They could still
only attack them from one direction.
The wife of IAbdallah b . 'Umayrj al -Kalbi went out to her
husband. She sat by his head rubbing it with earth , saying, "May
you enjoy heaven." Shamir b. Dlu al-Jawshan said to a servant
called Rustam, "Beat her head with a tent pole." He struck her
head and smashed it. She died where she was.
Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan came up to al-Husayn 's tent. He
struck against it and called out, "Bring me fire so that I can burn
this tent and the people inside it ." The women screamed and
rushed out of the tent. Al-Husayn called out to him, "Ibn Dhi alJawshan are you calling for fire to bum down my tent and my
family? May God bum you in Hell-fire!"
According toAb11 Mikhnaf-Sulayman b. Abi Rashid -Humayd
b. Muslim: I said to Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan , "Glory be to God!
This is not appropriate for you . Do you want to impose on yourself
two evil qualities for which you will be punished by God? You are
killing women and children. By God ! It is by your killing of men
that you will satisfy your commander." He asked me, "Who are
you?" I replied, "I will not tell you who I am ." For, by God, I was
afraid that if he knew me, he would harm my position with the
authorities. Then a man called Shabath b. Rib'i came to him; he
was more obedient to him than I was . He told him, "I have
neither heard any words more evil than yours nor seen any
behavior more disgraceful than yours . Have you become a man
who terrorizes women ?" At that I testify that Shamir became
ashamed and began to withdraw.
Zuhayr b. al-Qayn launched an attack against him with ten
of his comrades. So fierce was his attack on Shamir b. Dhi alJawahan and his followers that he drove them from the tents
so that they all withdrew from them . They brought down Abu
Azzah al-Qibibi and killed him . He was one of the followers of
Shamir.'16't The people clustered round Zuhayr and his comrades)
they outnumbered them considerably. Each man of the followers
of al-Husayn continued to fight until he was killed. However,
when a man or two among them was killed , it was apparent,
464. Abu Azzah al-Qibibi is not mentioned elsewhere.
1 3471
142.
[ 348J
143
on the head with his sword . He fell, and the Tamimi stooped
down and cut off his head . Al-Hugayn told him, "I am your partner
in killing him ." The other declared, "By God! No one except me
killed him." Al-Hu$ayn ordered, "Give his head to me. I will hang
it on the neck of my horse so that the people may see and know
that I participated in killing him. Then you will take it and go
with it to Ubaydallih b. Ziyad, for I have no need of what you
will be given for killing him." The man refused him, but then his
people persuaded him to settle their dispute in that way. So he
handed al-Hufayn the head of Habib b. Mu;whir, and al -Hugayn
went around the army with it hung on the neck of his horse. After
that, he handed it back to the Tamimi.
When they returned to al-Kufah, the other man took the head of
Habib and hung it on the withers of his mare. Then he took it to
Ibn Ziyad in the palace . Habib's son, al-Qisim b . Habib, caught
sight of the head. At that time he was still an adolescent. He
followed that horsemen wherever he went ; he never left him.
Whenever he went into the palace, al-Qasim went in with him.
When he left, al-Qasim left with him . The latter became
suspicious and asked, "My son, what is wrong with you that you
follow me?" Al-Qasim answered , "Nothing." He said, "Yes, there
is, my son. Tell me." Al-Qasim told him, "This head that you
have is the head of my father . Will you give it to me so that I may
bury it?" He answered, "My son, the governor would not be
pleased if it were buried, and I want the governor to give me a
good reward for killing him." The boy cried out, "But God will
only give you an evil reward. My God! You have killed one who is
better than you." Then he burst into tears. The boy waited until
the time when he was grown up. Then his only concern was to
track down his father's killer, to find him unprepared, and to kill
him for his father. In the time of Mu$ab b. al -Zubayr while
Mufab was attacking Bajumayri,4" al-Qasim b. Habib went into
Mufab's camp; there he found his father 's murderer in his tent.
He began to come frequently in order to look for him; he sought
466. This campaign at Bijumayri, which is near Takrit in the region of Mosul
In Iraq (See YigUt, Mu'lam, 1, 454-55), probably went on for three seasons; the
eventual battle between Mufab and'Abd al-Malik book place in either 71 (69091) or 72 (691-92). See Wellhausen, Arab Kingdom, 188-95.
1 34 91
144
13501
467. This form of prayer was said to have been introduced by the Prophet at alHudaybiyyah. The people divide into two groups. One group performs the prayer
while the other group acts as guard; then the two groups change roles. See Wiqidi,
Maghdz$ II, 573.
468. Said b. Abdallih was added from Balidhuri . See Ansdb, II/:, 195.
[3511
13521
471. Abdallih and Abd a1-Ra$min are mentioned for the first time.
471. Sayf b. al-Hirith b. Suray' and Milik are mentioned for the first time.
473. Han ;alah b. As'ad al-Shibimi is mentioned for the first time.
(354(
on and fought until he was killed. Then `Abis b. Abi Shabib said,
"Abu 'Abdallah, there has not been on the face of the earth anyone, either close or distant relative, who is dearer to me and more
loved by me than you. If I were able to defend you from oppression
and murder with something more precious to me than my own
life and blood, I would do it. Peace be with you, Abu Abdallah. I
bear witness to God that I have ever been subject to your guidance
and the guidance of your father ." Then he walked toward them,
unsheathing his sword, and tapped his forehead with it.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-Numayr b. Wa`lah- a man of
Banu `Abd of Hamdan called Rabi' b. Tamim,477 who witnessed
that battle : When I saw 'Abis advancing, I recognized him, for I
had seen him in the campaigns. He was the bravest of men . I said,
"People, this is the lion of lions . This is Ibn Shabib. Let none of
you go out against him." `Abis began to call out, "Will no man
fight me man to man?1"Umar b. Sa'd ordered stones to be thrown
at him. Stones began to be thrown at him from all sides . When he
saw that, he threw off his breastplate and his helmet ; he charged
against the people. By God, I saw him driving away more than
two hundred men. Then they surrounded him on every side; he
was killed. I saw his head in the hands of several men. One would
claim, "I killed him." Then another would say, "I killed him."
They went to Umar b. Sa'd who said, "Don't dispute about this.
No one spear killed him." He separated them through these
words.
According to Abu Mikhnaf-`Abdallah b. 'Agim-al-pahhak
b. 'Abdallah al-Mishragi: I saw that the followers of al-Husayn
had been struck down and (now the battle ( had reached him
and his family (ahl baytihi). The only others who were left with
him were Suwayd b. 'Amr b. Abi al-Multi` al-Khath'ami 478 and
Bushayr b. Amr al-Hadrami.479 I said to al-Husayn, "Son of the
Apostle of God, you know the agreement between you and me. I
told you that I would fight for you as long as I saw another fighter.
Since I do not see any fighter alongside you, I am free to go. You
477.. Rabe
b. Tamim is mentioned for the first time ; this is his only report.
478. Suwayd b. 'Amr b. Abi al-Muta' al-Khath'ami is mentioned for the first
time with regard to his role in the battle.
479. Bushayr b. Amr al-Hadrami is mentioned for the first time.
13551
13561
The people began to drive against them from every side. 'Abd484. Murrah b. Munqldh b. al-Nu'min &I-Abdi fought at the Battle of the
Camel for 'All. See Tabarl, 1, 3102. The supporters of al-Mukhtir tried to kill him
in vengeance for his part in this battle but, although be was wounded, he escaped
and joined their enemies . See Tabarl, 11, 667.
485. It is also claimed that Zayd b. Ruqid shot the arrow . See Tabarl, II, 667.
Anyway for his part in the battle, 'Amr b. $ubayb al-$addi f was stabbed to death
by al-Mukhtir's followers in vengeance for the death of al-Husayn. See Tabari, II,
678.
486. 'Abdallih is one of the sons of Muslim b .'Agi1. His mother was Ruqayyah,
who was a slave wife of 'Ali b. Abi '1'ilib. See I4fahini, Maqdtil, 6z.
487. The text is clearly defective. I have added the sentence in brackets from
Mufid, Irshdd, 113, and emended kaffayhi to read kaffahu.
13571
(3581
49r. Abd al-Rabmin was a son of Agil, who was 'Ali b . AbiTilib's brother. His
mother was a slave wife. See I4fahini , Magatil, 61.
49z. Following the Constantinople ms. and reading 'Urwah for 'Azrah as in
Balidhurl, Ansdb, II/z, zoo. See also lVfahini, Magdtil, 61, and Tabari, II, 678.
'Abdallih b. Urwah al-Khath'ami claimed that, although he shot arrows at
them, he missed. Nevertheless, he escaped the followers of al-Mukhtir and joined
their enemies. His house was destroyed by them . See Tabari, II, 678.
493- Ja'far was a son of Agil, his mother was Umtn al -Thaghr. See I3fahinl,
Magdtil, 6r.
495. A]- Qisim was a nephew of al-13usagar his mother was either Umm al-Salil
or a slave wife. See Ipfahini, Maqdtil, 58) Mufid, Irshdd (trans.), 290; and p. i8o,
below.
13591
496. Neither Umm Abdallih bt. al-Hurr or the man of Kindah is mentioned
elsewhere.
497. According to Tabarl, II, 668, the followers of al-Mukhtir cut his legs off
and beat him to death in vengeance for his part in the battle.
498 'Abdallih b. al-Husayn 's mother was al-Rabib daughter of Imru ' al-Qays.
See I3fahini, Maqdtil, 59.
499. 'Ugbah b. Bashir al-Asadi is an otherwise unknown reporter of Abu
Mikhnaf. See Sezgin, Abu Mibnaf, 2.:3.
Soo. In his youth, Abdallih b. 'Ugbah al-Ghanawi had been a Rhirilite rebel
with Mustawrid. See Wellhausen, Religio-Political, z9ff. Later he escaped from
the followers of al-Mukhtir, who destroyed his house for his part in this battle.
See Tabor!, 11, 678. He was killed in Ibn al-Ash'ath's rebellion at the Battle of Dayr
lamilim in 81 (7or ). See Tabari, II, 59, and Sezgin, Abu Mianaf, 195.
5oi. Abu Bakr b. al-Husayn has been corrected to Abu Bakr b. al-Hasan , as later
in Tabari, fl, 387. See also Balidhuri, Ansdb, 11/i, 201j and Mufid, Irshdd (trans.),
224. Abu Bakr's name was'Umarj see Mufid, /rshdd (trans.), z95, where 'Umar is
named as one of the three sons of al -Hasan who was killed . According toTabari,
II, 387, his mother was a slave wife.
504. There is some confusion over the identity of this son of All. Mufid made
his kunyah Abu Bakr and said he was a son of Layli bt. Mas'nd. See Mufid, Irshdd
(trans.), 168. Hishim b. Muhammad al-Kalb) maintained that he was the son of
Asma', daughter of Umays al-Khath'ami. See Tabari, 1, 3471. The pester evidence
Is that he was the son of a slave wife. See Tabari,1, 3471, and I4fahini, Magdtil, 56.
SoS. Perhaps Abu al-Hudhayl was Ghilib b. Hudhayl al-KUfi, a traditionist,
who died between 140 (757) and 150 ( 767). See Sezgin, AN Mibnaf, 44.
Sob. Khalid b.'Abdallah became governor of Iraq in 105 (7241 and remained in
the post until 110 (738). See EP, s.v. Khalid b. 'Abd Allah al-gasri.
13611
13621
so7. The youth is not identified in the text . It may have been either 'Abdallih
b. 'Ali or Ja'far b. All, whom Hini' has just been reported to have killed.
sob. Amr b. Shamir was a follower of the sixth Shi'ite Imim Ja'far al.$adiq
who died in 1481765!. He was regarded by the Shi'ah as an unreliable transmitter,
he chiefly reported from Jibir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi. See Naiishi, Rival, tao.
5o9. Jibir (b. Yazid) al-10i was a follower of both the fifth Shiite Imim,
Muhammad al-Bagir, and the sixth Imim , Ja'far al-$idiq . He was regarded by the
Shrah as having mixed with extremists . Although he wrote many books, they
regard them as suspect. He wrote an account of the death of al-Husayn ; he died in
1:8 (745 -4 6). See Najishi, Rijdl, 99-;oo.
5 to. Muhammad b. al-Sa 'ib was an authority on genealogy and the Qur'in; he
died in al-Kefsh in 146 1763). See Ibn al-Nadim, Fihrist, ed. and trans. Bayard
Dodge, 1, so5-6.
157
said, "0 God! I complain to you about what is being done to the
son of the daughter of your Prophet."
By God ! The man from Banu Aban b. Darin only waited a short
time before God cast down on him a thirst that he could never
quench.
According to al-Qasim b. al-Agbagh : You could have seen me
among those who used to visit that man. There would be cold
water with date wine in it, glasses with milk in them, and
earthenware bottles with water , and yet he would say, "Woe upon
you! Give me a drink, for the thirst is killing me ." Then he would
be given the earthenware bottle or the glass, which would have
quenched the thirst of a whole family . He would drink it. When
he took it away from his mouth, he would rest for a moment.
Then he would say, "Woe upon you! Give me a drink , for the
thirst is killing me." By God! It was not long before his belly was
split open as if it were a camel 's belly.
According to Abu Mikhnaf's account: Shamir b. Dhi aljawshan advanced with a group of about ten Kufan foot soldiers
opposite The place where al-Husayn had put his baggage and his
family. Al-Husayn moved toward it but they cut him off from his
baggage. Al-Husayn cried out, "Shame on you! If you have no
religion and do not fear the Day of Return , then )at least) in
matters of your world be freeborn men, who have some qualities
of nobility, and prevent the mean and ignorant among you from
getting to my baggage and my family." Ibn Dhi al-Jawshan
retorted, " That is your task, son of Falimah." He advanced
against him with the foot soldiers. Among them were : Abu aljanub-his name was Abd al-Rahman al-Ju`fi, al-Qash`am b. Amr
b. Yazid al-Ju'fi 512 $alih b. Wahb al-Yazani,513 Sin-in b. Anas alNakha'i,S14 and Khawali b. Yazid al -A$bahi.515 Shamir b. Dhi
al-Jawshan began to urge them on. He went past Abu al-Janub,
sit. Balidhuri gave his name as al-Qasham b. Amr b. Nadhir and added that
he was among those who held back from supporting 'All. See Ansdb, If/2, zo2. He
is not mentioned with regard to any other incident.
5x3. $alih b. Wahb al-Yazani is not mentioned with regard to any other incident.
514. It is reported that in the days of al-Hajlaj b. YBsuf , Sinan b. Anas al-Nakna'i's
tongue used to stick in his throat , he became mad and, whenever he ate, he had to
defecate, because of the part he played in killing al-Huaayn . See Tabari, Ili, 2333.
s's. Khawali b. Yazid al -Asbahi also took al-Husayn's head. See text p. 161,
below; and Balidhurl, Ansdb, Il/2, 202.
1 3641
who was fully armed and told him, "Advance against him." Abu
al-janub retorted, "What is stopping you from advancing against
him?" Shamir said, "Are you saying that to me?" Abu janub
demanded, "Are you saying it to me ?" They cursed each other
and Abu al-Janub-he was a brave man-said, "By God! I am
tempted to dash the point of my spear into your eye." Shamir
went away from him, declaring, "By God! If I have the power to
harm you, I will harm you."
Then Shamir b. Dhi al-Jawshan advanced with the foot soldiers
toward al-Husayn. Al-Husayn began to attack them and they
drew back from him . They surrounded him completely. A boy
from his family came toward al-Husayn. His aunt , Zaynab,
daughter of 'Ali, caught hold of him to stop him. AI-Husayn told
her to keep him with her but the boy refused. He rushed forward
to al-Husayn and stood at his side.516 Bahr b . Ka'b b. 'Ubaydallah
of the Banu Taym Allah b. Tha'labah b.'Ukabah517 rushed toward
al-Husayn with a sword. The young lad said to him, "Son of an
impure woman, are you trying to kill my uncle ?" Bahr struck at
him with his sword. The boy tried to fend off the blow with his
arm. The sword cut through it to the skin, there was the arm
hanging. The boy cried out, "0 my mother!" Al-Husayn took
hold of him and embraced him. He said to him, "My nephew, try
to bear what has come to you and consider the good in it, for God
will unite you with your righteous ancestors, with the Apostle of
God, with Ali b. Abi Talib, Hamzah, Ja'far and al-Hasan b. 'Ali."
According to Abu Mikhnaf-Sulayman b. Abi Rashid-Humayd
b. Muslim: On that day I heard al-Ijusayn say, "0 God! Keep the
drops of rain from the sky from them. Deny them the blessings of
the earth. Even as You have made (life) pleasant for them for a
time, divide them into factions, and make them follow the ways
of factions and let their rulers never be pleased with them. They
summoned us so that they might support us and then they became
hostile to us and killed us." He struck out against the foot soldiers
until they drew back from him.
516. It is unclear who the boy was; Bahr was not listed as having killed any of
al-Husayn's nephews.
517. Bahr b. Kab b. l baydallah is unknown apart from his part in this battle
and the consequence for him of it. See pp . 159, 161 , below.
1 59
( 3701
of the Apostle of God kiss those lips." Then the old man began to 1371)
weep. Ibn Ziyad said, "May God make your eyes weep, for, by
God, if it were not for the fact that you are an old man, who has
become silly and your mind has left you, I would cut off your
head." Zayd b. Arqam stood up and left. When he had gone, I
heard the people saying, "By God! Zayd b. Arqam said such words
which, if Ibn Ziyad had heard, he would have killed him." I asked,
"What did he say?" They replied, "As he passed us, he was saying:
'A slave has given power to a slave and he has made the people his
inheritance. You, Arabs, are the slaves after today . You killed
the son of Fiximah when Ibn Marjinah ordered you. He will kill
the best among you and enslave the evil among you. You have
accepted humiliation . Let destruction come to those who accept
humiliation.'"
When the head of Husayn was brought in with his children,
sisters, and womenfolk to `Ubaydallih b. Ziyid , Zaynab, daughter
of Filimah, had dressed in her dirtiest clothes, disguising herself
with her maids surrounding her. She came in and sat down. Ibn
Ziyad demanded, "Who is that woman who is sitting down?" She
did not answer him. He repeated the question three times, but no
one answered him. Then one of her maidservants said to him,
"This is Zaynab, daughter of Falimah ." Ubaydallah said to her,
"Praise be to God, Who has disgraced you, killed you and revealed
the false nature of your claims." Zaynab replied, "Praise be to
God, Who has favored us with Muhammad and has purified us
completely from sin s32 It is not as you say , for He only disgraces
the great sinner and reveals the false nature of the profligate." He
asked, "How do you consider God has treated your family?" She
53=. A reference to Qur 'an, 3333.
1 3721
replied, "God decreed death for them , and they went forward to
their resting places . God will gather you and us together . You will
plead your excuses to Him and we will be your adversaries before
Him." Ibn Ziyad became enraged and burnt with anger. 'Amr b.
Hurayth intervened, "May God make the governor prosperous,
she is only a woman . Are women responsible for anything that
they say ? Do not hold her responsible for her words, or blame
her for foolish talk." Ibn Ziyad said to her, "God has healed my
soul from your tyrant and the rebellious , disobedient members of
your family." Zaynab wept and then said : "By my life! You have
killed the mature of my family ; you have ruined my family; you
have cut down my young branches ; you have pulled out my root.
If this satisfies you, then you have your fill."
'Ubaydallah declared, 'By my life! This is real bravery. Your
father was a brave poet ." She answered, "What has a woman to do
with bravery ? Indeed, I have things to distract me from bravery,
but what I say is just a spontaneous expression."
13731
According to Abu Mikhnaf-al-Mujalid b. Said: When'Ubaydallah b. Ziyad noticed 'Ali b. al-Husayn, he said to one of the
police, "See whether this one has attained the status of a man."
After he had pulled his waistcloth from him, he said that he had.
Ibn Ziyad ordered, "Take him away and cut his head off." 'Ali
said, "There is a kinship between you and these women . So send a
man with them to look after them ." Ibn Ziyad told him to go and
sent him with them.
According to AbU Mikhnaf-Sulayman b. Abi Rashid-Humayd
b. Muslim: I was standing by Ibn Ziyad when All b. al-Husayn
was presented to him. He asked him, "What is your name?" He
replied, "I am All b. al-Husayn." Ibn Ziyad said, "Did not God
kill All b. al-Husayn ?" he was silent so Ibn Ziyad asked him,
"What is wrong with you that you do not speak ?" He answered, "I
had a brother who was also called All b. al-Husayn, and the
people killed him." Ibn Ziyad retorted, "God killed him." All
was silent. Ibn Ziyad demanded, "What is wrong with you that
you do not speak ?" He answered, "'God receives the souls at the
time of their death.'533 'It is not possible for a soul to die without
143!.
53S. Murri b. Mu'idh al-Abmari is not mentioned with regard to any other
incident.
536. Apart from the information given in the text , 'Abdallih b. `Af"if al-Azdi alGhimidl is otherwise unknown.
[ 3741
13771
547. The verse has been quoted earlier . See p. 76, above.
548. Abu Ja'far a1=Absi only reported this account to Abu Mikhnaf. See Sezgin,
Abu Mipnaf, 188.
549 The only report Abu'Umirah al=Absi has given. See Sezgin, Abu Mibnaf,
188.
171
552 Khilid later studied alchemy and astronomy, he also became governor of
Rims for a time. He died during the caliphate of 'Abd al-Malik. See Balidhuri,
Ansdb, IV/z, 359-68.
553 Qur'an, 42:30 491-
554. According to Mufid, Fitimah should be al-Husayn 's daughter, not 'All's.
See Mufid, Irshdd (trans.), 23 z.
13781
173
1381)
Then he said, "Do you know in what way this man was mistaken? He used to say, 'My father Will is better than his father;
my mother Falimah is better than his mother ; my grandfather the
Apostle of God is better than his grandfather, and I am better than
he and have more right for this affair than he has.' As for his
statement that his father is better than my father, my father
disputed with his father, and the people know which of them the
judgment was in favor of. As for his statement that his mother
is better than my mother, by my life, Falimah, daughter of the
Apostle of God, is better than my mother. As for his statement
that his grandfather is better than my grandfather , by my life, no
one who believes in God and the Last Day would regard any one
among us as an equal or a rival to the Apostle of God. However,
he has been mistaken through his lack of understanding, for he
did not read : 'Say: 0 God, Master of the kingdom , You give the
kingdom to whomsoever You wish and You take away the kingdom
from whomsoever you wish . You strengthen those whom You
wish and You make lowly whomsoever You wish. In Your hand
is the decision . Indeed, You have power over ' everything."0558
Then the womenfolk of al-Husayn were brought in to Yazid. The
womenfolk of Yazid's family, the daughters of Mu`awiyah and his
family, shrieked with grief and lamentation. Falimah, daughter
of al-Husayn-- she was older than Sukaynah-asked, "Are the
daughters of the Apostle of God prisoners , Yazid?" Yazid replied,
"Cousin, I was unwilling for this to happen." She said , "By God!
Not even an earring has been left to us " He answered, "Cousin,
what will be given to you will be greater than what has been
taken from you." Then they were taken out and taken to the
house of Yazid b. Mu`awiyah. There was not a woman of Yazid's
family who did not begin to lament and grieve . Yazid sent to each
557. A verse already cited . See pp. 76, 170, above.
558. Qur 'an, 3:z6 (2.5).
1 75
of the women, "What has been taken from you ?" No woman
claimed anything, however expensive, without his giving double
its value. Sukaynah used to say, "I never saw a man who did not
believe in God who was better than Yazid b. Mu'awiyah."
The prisoners were brought to Yazid . Among them was All b.
al-Husayn. Yazid asked him, "What is this , 'Ali?" All replied,
"No misfortune strikes the earth or yourselves unless it has
been written in a book before We bring it into existences that is
easy for God, so that you may not grieve for what He has caused
to miss you or be proud at what He has given you. God does not
56z. This is the only report from'Abdallih al-Thumili used by Abd Mikhnsf.
56;. This is the only report from al-Qisim b . Bukhayt.
564. Hind's father, 'Abdallih b. 'Amir b. Kurayz of Abd Shams, had been
governor of al-Barsh for 'Uthmin and had fought vigorously against Ali when the
latter became Caliph . See 0, s.v. 'Abdallih b. 'Amir.
1 3841
138 51
The Names of the Band Hnshim Killed with alIjusayn and the Number of Those Killed from Every
Tribe Which Fought against Him576
According to Hishim (b. Muhammad al-Kalbi)-Abu Mikhnaf: 13861
When al-Ijusayn b. 'Ali was killed, the heads of the members of
his House and his Shi ah and supporters, who were killed with
him, were taken to'Ubaydallah b. Ziyad . Kindah brought thirteen
heads, and their leader was Qays b. al-Ash 'ath. Hawazin brought
twenty heads, and their leader was Shamir b . Dhi al-Jawshan.
Tamim brought seventeen heads. Banu Asad brought six heads.
Madhhij brought seven heads. The rest of the army brought seven
heads. That amounted to seventy heads 577
Al-Husayn was killed. His mother was Fitimah , daughter of
the Apostle of God. Sinan b. Anas al-Nakha' i al-A$bahi killed
him, and Khawali b . Yazid took his head.
Al-Abbis b. 'Ali b. Abi 'Jalib was killed. His mother was
Umm al -Bann bt. Hizim b. Khalid b. Rabi ah b. al-Wahid. Zayd
b. Rugid al-Janbi and Hakim b. al-Tufayl al-Sinbisi killed him.
Ja'far b. All b. Abi Talib was killed. His mother was also Umm
al-Bann.
'Abdallih b. 'Ali b. Abi 'J glib was killed. His mother was also
Umm al-Banin.
'Uthman b. 'Ali b. Abi Tilib was killed. His mother was also
Umm al-Banin. Khawali b. Yazid shot him with an arrow and
killed him.
574. These verses are also quoted in Mufid, lrshdd (trans.(, 233.
575. 'Umar b. Hayzum al-Kalbi is not mentioned elsewhere.
576. Despite the title, the section only deals with the members of Bann Hishim
and their family servants.
577. For the implications of those tribes designated to carry the heads, see
W. M. Watt, "Shi'ism under the Umayyads."
Abu Bakr b. All b. Abi Talib was killed. His mother was Layla
bt. Mas`ud b. Khalid b. Malik b. Rib`i b. Sulma b. jandal b.
Nahshal b. Darim. There is doubt about his death.579
1 3871
`Ali b. al-Husayn b. All was killed. His mother was Layla bt.
Abi Murrah b. Urwah b. Mas` ud b. Mu'attib al-Thaqafi, and
her mother was Maymunah bt. Abi Sufyan b. Harb. Murrah b.
Munqidh b. al-Nu`man al-`Abdi killed him.
`Abdallah b. al-Husayn b. `Ali was killed. His mother was alRabab bt. Imru' al-Qays b. 'Adi b. Aws b. Jabir b. Ka`b b. `Ulaym
of Kalb. Hani' b. Thubayt al-Hadrami killed him.
All b. al- Husayn was regarded as too young; he was not killed.
Abu Bakr b. al-Hasan b. `Ali b. AbiTalib was killed. His mother
was a slave wife. `Abdallah b. `Ugbah al-Ghanawi killed him.
`Abdallah b. al-Hasan b. `Ali b. Abi Talib was killed. His mother
was a slave wife . Harmalah b. al-Kahi1579 killed him by shooting
him with an arrow.
Al-Qasim b. al-Hasan b. `Ali was killed. His mother was a slave
wife. Sa d b. `Amr b. Nufayl al-Azdi killed him.
`Awn b. `Abdallah b. Ja'far b. Abi Talib was killed. His mother
was Jumanah bt. al-Musayyib b. Najabah b. Rabi`ah b. Riyah of
the Banu Fazarah. `Abdallah b. Qutbah al-'J'ai al-Nabhani killed
him.
Muhammad b. `Abdallah b. Ja`far b. Abi Taub was killed. His
mother was al-Khawga ' bt. Khajafah b. Thaqif b. Rabi ah b. `A'idh
b. al-Harith b. Taym Allah b. Tha`labah of Bakr b. Will. 'Amir b.
Nahshal al-Taymi killed him.
Ja`far b. AAgil b. Abi Talib was killed. His mother was Umm alBan-in bt. al-Shaqr b. al-Hidab. Bishr b. Sawl al-Hamdani58 killed
him.
578. There is some confusion about the name Abu Bakr and whether he was
present at Karbala '. According to Mufid, Abu Bakr's actual name was Muhammad,
which may account for some of the confusion . See Mufid, Irshdd (trans.), 2.69.
579. Kihin has been emended to Kahil as written by Balidhuri and later by
Tabari, where Harmalah b. Kahil is reported as having killed a member of alHusayn's family. See Ansdb, II/s, tor, and Tabari, 11, 678.
58o. Hawt has been emended to Sawl as written earlier by Tabari . See p. 152,
above.
[3881
13891
ordered them to return Ibn al-Hurr to him, and the police caught
up with him. They told him to answer the governor. Ibn al-Huff
urged on his horse and said, "Tell him that, by God, I will never
come willingly." He departed and came to the house of Ahmar b.
Ziyad al-Tilii.-'83 His followers gathered with him at his house. He
set off and came to Karbala'. He looked at the places where people
were slain and sought God's forgiveness for them. Then he went
on until he stopped at al-Mada'in.584 About this, he recited:
A treacherous governor, the very reality of a treacherous man,
says:
Should you not have fought against the martyr son of
Falimah?
O how much 1 regret that I did not help him!
Indeed, every soul that does not set upon the right course
regrets.
13901
586. Aslam b. Zuesh al-Kilibi was a leading tribesman who supported Mu'iwiyah b. Abi Sufyin. According to Wahb b. Jarir, the leader of this expedition had
been lbn Hitn. SeeTabari, II, 18 . However, Abu Mikhnaf's report is confirmed by
Dinawari, Akhbdr, 2,791 and Balidhuri, Ansdb, IV/1, i8z.
587. Asak is a town in Abwiz . See Yignt, Mu'/am, I, 61.
$88. See Tabari, II, 186-87.
1391)
1392)
594. Salm was a brother of'Ubaydallah b. Ziyad; he died later while governor of
Khurisin for Abd al-Malik b. Marwin between 65 (685) and 86 (705). See
Baladhuri, Ansdb, IV/1, 371-7:.
595 Maslamah b. MuI crib was a grandson of Salm; he was also an authority for
historical reports.
185
it
boo. The Arabic text has been emended . It was fa-akhadha al-Hdrith b.
Qays b. al-Haytham. This would have to mean Salm seized an unknown aiHirith b . Qays b. al-Haytham when he had not yet reached Khurisin . However, it
is reported that, after the death of al-Husayn , 'Abd al-Rabmin b. Ziyid had visited
Yazid and had left Qays b. al-Haytham as his deputy . See Tabari, II, 189. Clearly it
is al-Hirith b. Mu'iwiyah who seized Qays b. al-J-iaytham. Qays' son Shabib is not
mentioned elsewhere.
6o1. The Arabic is agdmahu ft sardwil.
6oz. Yazid b. Ziyid was killed In Sijistin in 64 1683-84). See Tabari , 11, 488.
6o3. jiraft is a large town in Kirmin . See Yiqut, Mu'jam, 11, 174.
604. Firs is a region to the southwest of Iran. See EP, s.v. Firs.
Salm set out for Khurasan . With him went'Imran b . al-Fadil alBurjumi,605 'Abdallah b. Khazim al -Sulami,606 Talhah b. 'Abdallah b. Khalaf al-Khuzai,607 al-Muhallab b. Abi $ufrah,608
Hanzalah b. 'Aradah,609 Abu Huzzabah al-Walid b. Nahik,610 who
was one of the tribe of Rabi ah b . Hanzalah, Yahya b. Ya'mar al'Adwani,611 who was an ally of the tribe of Hudhayl , and a large
group of the horsemen and nobles of al-Basrah. Salm b . Ziyad had
brought a letter from Yazid b. Mu'awiyah to Ubaydallah b.
Ziyad for him to select a group of two thousand men. Others have
reported that the group was six thousand . Salm chose the notables
and the horsemen. Some people wanted to take part in the warfare
(fihad I and asked him to take them. The first whom Salm wanted
to take was Hanzalah b. 'Aradah. 'Ubaydallah asked him to leave
him. Salm suggested, "Let him choose between you and me. If he
chooses you, he is yours. If he chooses me, he is mine ." He chose
Salm.
The people spoke to Salmj they asked him to conscript them.
$ilah b. Ashyam al-Adawi612 went to the office of conscription.
The clerk would say, "Abu al-$ahba' (i.e., $ilah b. Ashyam), shall
I put your name down, for it is a mission in which there will be
warfare and merit?" He would reply, "I will seek the decision of
God and wait ." When the arrangement for the enlistment of the
people had been completed , he was still holding back . His wife
6os. `Imran b. al-F4l al-Burjumi was from a1-Bafrah; he had been in charge of
Sijistin and Kirwan during the reign of 'Uthmin . See Tabari, 1, z840-416o6. Abdallih b. Khizim al-Sulami was a tribal leader in Khurisin . See Shaban,
The Abbasid Revolution, 39.
6o7. Talbah was also called Talhat al-Talalaet (the Talbah of the Talhahs(. See
Wellhausen, Arab Kingdom, 416.
6o8. Al-Mul allab b. Abi $ufrah was a great Arab general who transferred his
allegiance to Ibn al-Zubayr, but later returned to the Umayyads . See Shaban,
Islamic History, 1, 98.
609. Hanplah b. 'Aradah was a tribal leader in al-Bapah; he is not mentioned
elsewhere.
6 io. Abu Huzzibah al-Walid b. Nahik was a tribal leader in Khurasin; he is not
mentioned elsewhere.
611. Yahya b. Ya'mar al 'Adwini was a writer of eloquent Arabic , who became
gidi in Khurisin. See Tabari, It 1 r 3 r.
187
13941
(3951
189
over Khurisin and Sijistin. Hisham b. Hubayrah was gich of alBa$rah and Shurayh was ga4i of al-Kufah.
During this year, Ibn al-Zubayr made public his opposition to
and repudiation of Yazid, the oath of allegiance was given to him.
625. 'Abd al-Malik b. Nawfal was an authority of Abu Mikhnaf, who probably
lived until the first half of the second (eighth) century. See Sezgin, AN MiInaf,
593-94.
6z6. He was Nawfal b. Musifaiq. He was said to have been in charge of Muslim
b.'Ugbah's police at the Battle of al-Harrah . See Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, X, 392-93.
627. The following report up until Marwin 's verse is given in almost the exact
same words by Balidhurl . See Ansdb, IV/r, 304-5.
[3961
13971
prohibition against them for men like him. However , what was
decreed took place. If God wants something, He will never be
thwarted. Now, after al-Husayn, should we rely on these people?
Should we believe their words ? Should we accept their covenants?
No! We do not regard them as worthy of that . Indeed, by God,
they killed a man who stood in prayer at night for long hours, who
fasted frequently during the day, who had more right to govern
than they did, and one who was more entitled to it in terms of
religion and outstanding merit. Indeed, by God, he would never
exchange the Qur'an for singing, nor would he exchange weeping
out of fear of God for such (chanting], nor would he exchange
fasting for drinking forbidden drinks , nor would he exchange
gathering in religious groups to remember God for rushing off in
pursuit of game." He was alluding to Yazid. "They will meet
destruction. "628
Ibn al-Zubayr's companions rose to him and declared, "Man,
make public your acceptance of the oath of allegiance to you, for
no one remains now that Husayn is dead who can dispute this
affair with you." The people had been giving the oath of allegiance
to him secretly,629 while he was saying publicly that he was
seeking refuge at the Sacred Mosque . He told them not to be too
hasty.
At that time `Amr b. Said b. al-`Aq was governor of Mecca and
he was very hostile toward Husayn and his followers. Despite
his hostility toward them, he treated them gently and kindly.
When it was confirmed to Yazid that there were groups that Ibn
al-Zubayr had gathered together in Mecca, he made a vow to God
that he would have him bound in a chain ] he sent a chain of
silver. The messenger passed by with it to Marwan b . al-Hakam
in Medina `30 He gave him news of what he had brought for Ibn
al-Zubayr and of the chain that was with him. Marwan recited:
6z9. Baladhuri, Ansdb, N/i, 304, says that Ibn al-Zubayr had been receiving
the oath of allegiance on the basis of a shurd, the consultative committee set up
by `Umar b. al-ithattib in order to choose the Caliph . This is a rather surprising
difference between the two versions.
63o. Baladhuri says that the messenger visited both MarwAn b . al-Hakam and
al-Walid b. `Utbah. See Ansdb, N/i, 304.
z91
633. Hishim b. Yitsuf was a traditionist and gi4l of $an'i' who died in 197
1812-1; ). See Ibn Hain, Tahdbib, XI, 57-58.
634. Ubaydallih b. Abd al-Karim was a traditionist but there are very few
reports from him) he cannot be identified.
636. Abdallih b. Mud'ab was a descendant of Ibn al-Zubayr ) he also was a poet
and reporter of historical traditions, who was executed in 18718o;). See Mas'udi,
Mardi, VI, 296-99.
637. Musa b. `U bah was a mawla of the wife of The al -Zubayr, and an expert
on the campaigns of the Prophet ) he died between 141 (7581 and 145 1 762.-631. See
Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib, X, ;6o-6z.
6;8. lbn Shihib was the famous scholar Muhammad b. Muslim b . Shihib alZuhri, who lived from 51 (67r ) to 124 ( 742). See El', s.v. al-Zuhri.
639. Abd al-Aziz b. Marwan was the father of the Caliph 'Umar b . Abd al'Aziz, who became governor of Egypt In 6316851 and died in 84 (7031. See Tabari, II,
1171.
640. Ibn 'It13b al-Ashari was a supporter of the Umayyads . See Dinswari,
Akhbdr, 273.
1398)
193
report on the authority of Abu 'Ali, but he did not remember its
chain of authorities (isndd ).
According to Hishim (b. Yusuf )-Khalid b. Sa'id"s-his
father, Said b. `Amr b. Sa'id:' When 'Amr b. Said saw that
the people looked up to Ibn al -Zubayr and were anxious to support him, he thought that these matters would end in his favor.
He sent to 'Abdallih b. 'Amr b. al-'A*, who was a companion
of his; he had been with his father in Egypt . There he had read
the books of Daniel.' At that time, Quraysh regarded him as a
scholar. 'Amr b. Said asked him, " Tell me about this man. Do
you see his ambitions being successful for him ? Tell me about my
leader (i.e., Yazid). How do you see that his situation will work
out for him?" He answered, "I can only see that your leader is one
of those kings whose affairs are successful for them until they die
while they are still kings ." From that time 'Amr b . Said increased in vehemence against In al-Zubayr and his followers
despite the appearance of kindness and friendliness toward them.
Al-Walid b. 'Utbah"8 and other members of the BanU Umayyah
with him told Yazid b. Mu'iwiyah that, if Amr b. Said wanted
to, he could apprehend Ibn al -Zubayr and send him to Yazid.
In this year, I mean 61 /68o-x, Yazid dismissed Amr (b. Said]
from the Hijiz and appointed al-Walid b. 'Utbah as governor of
that place.
Abu Ja'far (al-Tabari) reported according to Muhammad b.
Umar (al-Wigidi): Yazid dismissed 'Amr b. Said b. al-A0 at the
beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah in 6z (August 21, 681 ). He appointed
al-Walid b. 'Utbah who led the people on the pilgrimage in 61/
68z and restored Ibn Rabi'ah al=AmiriM9 as his gadi.
According to Ahmad b . Thibit-Isliaq b. `Isi-Abu Ma'shar:
In the year 61/681, al -Walid b. 'Utbah led the people on the pilgrimage. This is one of the things about which there is no dis64$. Khilid b. Sa'id only seems to have been mentioned here as a reporter of a
family story about his grandfather, 'Amr b. Sa' id.
646. Said b. Amr b. Sa'Id went to live in al-Kefah, he was reported to have
been the most learned of Quraysh. See Sezgin, Abu Miinaf, 194.
647. This is probably a reference to the Old Testament.
648. The text says al-Walid b. 'Ugbah but this seems to be a mistake.
649. Apart from his appointment as gadi , nothing more is known of lbn Rabi'ah
al-'Amin.
( 3991
The
Events of the Year
6z
(SEPTEMBER 2o, 681-SEPTEMBER 9, 682)
14011
197
I trust, and whose help I hope for and whom I shall keep in order
to repair damage, to undertake an important task , and to uncover
the implications of great matters." 'Amr replied, "Commander of
the Faithful, no one is more fitting to strengthen your authority,
weaken your enemy, and do violence against those who oppose
you than I am."
Al-Walid embarked on seeking for Ibn al -Zubayr but he found
that he was cautious and inaccessible.
Najdah b. 'Amin al -Hanafi6s2 came out in revolt in al-Yamamah6 after al-Husayn had been killed . Ibn al-Zubayr also came 14021
in revolt.
At the pilgrimage, al-Walid led the procession (ifddah) from
Arafah, and the general body of the people marched in the procession with him. Ibn Zubayr made the wuquf "4 with his followers, and Najdah made the wuqu f with his followers . Then Ibn
Zubayr led the procession with his followers , and Najdah led the
procession with his followers. None of the three groups went in
the procession of the others. Najdah met Ibn al -Zubayr so frequently that the people thought that he would give the oath of
allegiance to him.
Then Ibn al-Zubayr worked a trick against the authority of alWalid b. 'Utbah. He wrote to Yazid b. Mu'iwiyah : "You have
sent us a stupid man who does not direct us to a straightforward
situation and will not listen to the advice of the wise . If you sent
us a man with an easy disposition and a gentle attitude, I would
hope that affairs that have seemed difficult would become easy
and what was at variance would become united. Consider that,
for there is benefit in it for our leaders (khawdff) and our ordinary
people ('awdmm ), God willing. Peace be with you."
Yazid b. Mu'iwiyah sent to al-Walid , dismissed him and sent
'Uthman b. Mul ammad b. Abi Sufyan6ss (in his place).
652. Najdah b.'Amir al-Hanafi was a leading Khirijite , who at one time came
to control nearly the whole of Arabia. He was killed after an internal dispute in 72
(691). See Wellhausen, Railgb -Political, 47-50.
653. Al-Yamimah was an area in central eastem Arabia . See El', s.v. al-Yamima.
654. The wuquf is the ritual that involves gathering at Arafah in preparation
for the procession Ufd(lahj into the sanctuary of Mecca during the night of the
pilgrimage. See El2, s.v. Hadjdj.
65 $. 'Uthmin b. Mubammad b. Abi Sufyin was a member of the Umayyad
family, and cousin of Yazid. Apart from this incident, he was reported to have
14031
1 4041
The
Events of the Year
63
(SEPTEMBER io, 682-AUGUST 29, 683)
41
Among the events that took place in .the year of 63 was the
expulsion by the people at Medina of Yazid b . Mu` iwiyah's
governor, Uthman b. Muhammad b. Abi Sufyan, from Medina,
their public repudiation of Yazid b . Mu`awiyah, and their siege of
those of the Banti Umayyah who were in Medina.
According to Hisham b. Mul}ammad (al-Kalbi)--Abu Mikhnaf-`Abd al-Malik b. Nawfal b. Musal}iq--Habib b. Kurrah :"2 When
the people of Medina gave the oath of allegiance to `Abdallah b.
Hanplah al-Ghasil to depose Yazid b . Mu'awiyah, they attacked
Uthmin b. Mubammad b. AN Sufyin and the Band Umayyah,
their mawali and those from Quraysh who held their views, who
were in Medina. There were about one thousand of them. They
left in a group and stopped at Marwin b. al-Hakam's house. There
the people put them under a token siege. The Banu Umayyah
66z. Habib b. Kurrah was a mawla of the Umayyads , who was alleged to have
led the party in pursuit of lbn al-Zubayr when the latter had fled from Medina to
Mecca in order to avoid giving the oath of allegiance to Yazid. See note zq, above.
From his account of his mission, he was obviously trusted by the Umayyads in
Medina.
668. Muslim b. 'Ugbah al-Mum was one of the leaders of the Syrian Arabs,
who had served Mu'iwiyah at $iffin, he was a loyal supporter of Yazid . See El',
s.v. Muslim b. 'Ugba.
1 4071
1 4081
If you see twenty thousand of the people, both mature and young,
do you think that they have been gathered by a drunkard?
Or were they gathered by a wakeful man who has driven away
sleep from himself?
669. Ibn Humayd 's full name was Abu Abdallih Muhammad b. Humayd alUzi. He was a prolific traditionist and one of the authorities whose transmission
of the Sirah of In Ishaq 'Jabari used. He died in z48 (86z-63 ). See Ibn Halar,
Tahdhib, IX, 117-31.
670. Jarir's full name was Jarir b. Abd al-Hamid al-Rini . He was a traditionist,
who moved from al -Kufah to al-Rayy and became a gadli. He died in 188 ( 804). See
Ibn Hajar, Tahdhfb, 11, 75-77.
671. Al-Mughirah's full name was Abu Hishim al-Mughirah b. Miqsam. He
was a traditionist from al-Kufah, who died in 130 (747- 48). See In Sa d, Tabagat,
VI, 235.
67z. Abu Bakr is a reference to lbn al -Zubayr.
673. Wadi Qura was a valley between Medina and Syria with many villages in
it. See Yaqut, Mu'jam, IV, 878.
676. 'A'ishah is not mentioned in any other respect than being a daughter of
'Uthmin b. 'Affin, the third Caliph and also being the wife of Marwin. She bore
Marwin several children. Her son Abin became governor of Palestine for his
brother the Caliph 'Abd al-Malik. See Balidhuri, Ansdb, V, 164, z66.
(409)
(4101
settled them at Yanbu` 67 Marwan was grateful to 'Ali b. alHusayn in addition to the old friendship that had been between
them.
The account returns to that according to Abu Mikhnaf-'Abd
al-Malik b. Nawful: Muslim b. 'Ugbah advanced with the army.
When the people of Medina heard of his coming, they attacked
those of the Banu Umayyah who were with them and besieged
them in the house of Marwan . They declared, "By God! We will
not leave you alone until we overcome you and cut off your
heads, or you give us a covenant and testimonies before God that
you will not harm us. Also that you will not reveal the gaps in our
positions and that you will not assist an enemy against us. In this
respect, we will desist from doing any harm to you and will let
you go out from our city." They gave them such a covenant and
testimonies before God. They drove out the Banu Umayyah, who
left Medina with their baggage until they met Muslim b. 'Uqbah
at Wadi al-Qura.
'A'ishah bt. Uthman b. 'Affan left for al-Ta'if and she passed
by All b. al-Husayn. The latter was staying at a property of his
outside Medina. He had withdrawn from it, as he was unwilling
to have any association with their policy ( amr). He asked her to
take his son Abdallah with her to al-W'a'if. She took him to alTa'if until the affairs of the people of Medina were brought to
an end.
When the Banu Umayyah reached Muslim b. `Ugbah at Wadi
al-Qura, he summoned Amr b. 'Uthman b. 'Affan, first of all,
and demanded, "Give me information about the situation that
you left behind; advise me." He answered, "I cannot give you any
information, for covenants and sworn testimonies were made by
us that we would not reveal gaps in their positions or help an
enemy." Muslim b. 'Uqbah upbraided him and asserted, "By
God! If it was not for the fact that you are the son of 'Uthmin, I
would cut your head off. By God! I will never pardon a Qurashi for
it after you!" 'Amr b. Uthman went out to his companions with
the news of what treatment he had received from him. Marwan b.
677. Yanbu` was an estate near an oasis; it was located a day's journey from
Mount Ra4wa and seven stages away from Medina. It was given to 'Ali b. AbI
Talib and became the property of his descendants. See YagUt, Mujam, N, 1039.
14111
(41131
When the three days had passed, he said, "What are you going
to do? Are you going to make peace or are you going to fight?"
They answered, "No, we will fight." He pleaded with them,
"Don't do this. Rather enter into obedience, and we will use our
vehemence and our weapons against this man who deviates from
the truth, to whom heretics and libertines have gathered from
every side." They shouted at them, "Enemies of God, by God, if
you want to pass across to them, we will not leave you until we
fight you. We will not let you go to the Sacred House of God to
terrorize its inhabitants, to act impiously there, and to violate its
sanctity. No, by God! We will not allow this."
The people of Medina had made use of a ditch at the flank of
Medina. A great group of them stationed themselves there. In
command of them was 'Abd al-Rahman b. Azhar b. 'Awf b. 'Abd
'Awf,l who was the nephew of 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Awf alZuhri.68t 'Abdallah b. Muti' was in charge of another quarter on
L 4 r 41
[41151
691. Him$ is a town in Syria located in a rich agricultural plain on the eastern
bank of the Orontes, it is bounded in the east by the desert and in the west by
mountains. See Ell, s.v. Him$.
He kills those who have guilt and those who have no guilt.
According to Hishim (b. Muhammad al-Kalbil-Abu Mikhnaf:
Muhammad b. Sad b. Abi Waggi4694 came out to fight on that
day. When the Syrians fled, he went after them striking at them
until the defeat overcame him. Then he went away with the
others who went away. Muslim gave up Medina to pillage for
three days, they killed the people and seized goods. That frightened the Companions of the Prophet who were there . Abu Sae id
al-Khudri left and went to a cave in the mountain . One of the
Syrians spotted him and came into the cave against him.
691. Muhammad b. Thibit b. Qays b. Shammis 's father had been a Companion
of the Prophet from Medina, he reported traditions from his father and 'Umar. See
Wigidi, Magbdzi, 1, 173 , and Tabari, 1, 1757, III, 2403.
693. Muhammad b. 'Amr b. Hazm &I-An4iri's father had been a Companion of
the Prophet from Medina , he had been sent as his representative to Yemen just
before the Prophet's death. See Tabari, 1, :717-19.
694- Muhammad b. Sa'd b . Abi Wagg4 was a son of the famous Companion of
the Prophet, who later took part in Ibn al-Ash'ath's revolution. He was captured
and executed by al-Hajj;ij b. Yusuf in 83 ( 7otj. See Tabari, II, 11 to.
1 4 191
According to Abu Mikhnaf--al-Hasan b. 'Atiyyah al--'Awfi695-Abu Sa' id al-Khudri: The Syrian came in after me; he was walking
with his sword. I drew my sword and walked toward him to
frighten him so that perhaps he would leave me. However, he
would do nothing but advance against me . I sheathed my sword
and said, "If you stretch out your hand toward me to kill me, it is
not for me to stretch out my hand toward you to kill you, for I fear
God, the Lord of the universe. X696 He said, "Who are you, may
your father be blessed ?" I answered, "I am Abu Said al-Khudri."
He said, '"The Companion of the Prophet?" I said, "Yes." Then he
went away from me.
According to Hisham ( b. Muhammad al-Kalbi )--'Awanah:
Muslim b. 'Ugbah summoned the people to give the oath of allegiance at Quba.697 Safe-conduct was sought for two men from
Quraysh, Yazid b. 'Abdallah b. Zam'ah b. al-Aswad b. al-Muttalib
b. Asad b. 'Abd al-'Uzza69s and Muhammad b. Abi al-Jahm b.
Hudhayfah al-Adawi, 699 and also for Ma'gil b. Sinn al-Ashja'i.
They were brought a day after the battle . Muslim demanded,
"Give the oath of allegiance." The two Qurashis declared, "We
give the oath of allegiance to you on the basis of the Book of God
and the Sunnah of His Prophet." Muslim asserted, "No, by God! I
will never release you with that." He had them brought forward
and their heads cut off. Marwin exclaimed, "Glory be to God! Are
you killing two men of Quraysh who came to you to seek safeconduct, and yet you cut their heads off?" Muslim pricked him in
his hip with a cane and said, "And you too. If you say what they
said, you will only see the sky for the time of a flash of lightning."
698. Yazid b. Abdaliih b. Zam'ah b. al-Aswad was only mentioned in connection with this incident, but his grandmother was Umm Salamah , wife of the
Prophet. See Baladhuri, Ansdb, IV/1, 328.
699. Muhammad b. Abi al-Jahm is not mentioned elsewhere.
[4211
allegiance on the basis of the Sunnah of 'Umar.i704 Muslim ordered him to be killed. Yazid b. Wahb protested, "But I am giving
the oath of allegiance ." Muslim said, "No, by God ! I will not save
you from your fall!" Marwan spoke to him about the relationship
that existed between the two of them. Then he ordered Marwan to
be struck [with the fist] in the neck .7O i After that he announced,
"Give the oath of allegiance on the basis that you are the servants
of Yazid b. Mu'awiyah." Then he ordered Yazid b. Wahb to be
killed.
According to Hisham (b. Muhammad al-Kalbi )-- Awanah and
Abu Mikhnaf706-'Abd al-Malik b. Nawfal b. Musahiq: Marwan
brought 'Ali b. al-Husayn. When the Banu Umayyah had been
expelled, All b. al-Husayn had protected Marwan 's goods and
wife; he had given her refuge. `Ali b. al -Husayn approached; he
walked between Marwan and 'Abd al-Malik, seeking safe-conduct from Muslim. He came and sat down with Muslim between
the two men. Marwan asked for a drink so that 'Ali might gain
protection from Muslim.7O7 A drink was brought for him, and
Marwan drank a little from it. Then he handed it to All. When
he put it to his mouth, Muslim ordered, "Don't drink our drink."
`All's hand shook; he did not feel safe for his life. He held the
cup in his hand without drinking from it and without putting it
down. Muslim said, "You only came between these two men to
seek safe-conduct from me. By God! If that matter were just going
to be due to them, I would kill you. But the Commander of the
Faithful has ordered me to treat you kindly. He told me that you
had written to him . That is what brings you benefit from me. If
you want, drink your drink that is in your hand . If you want, ask
704. In this context a particularly provocative remark because the Sunnah of
'Umar must refer to the consultative council (shard!, which `Omar introduced to
appoint the next Caliph and which had been ignored by Yazid.
705. This appears to be somewhat harsh treatment of an Umayyad as important
as Marwin.
706. The text is gdla Awdnah 'an AN Mikhnaf ("Awinah reported on the
authority of Abu Mikhnaf "(. This is highly unlikely as it has not occurred in the
accounts given so far. I have followed Sezgin and changed the 'an to wa. See
Sezgin, Abd Minaf, r93n.
707. The Arab custom of not killing a man who has shared one's food and drink
seems irrelevant after the earlier incidents connected with Muslim b. Agil, but
the others had been fighting against Muslim.
[4221
from a school of history little used by Tabari , he died in 173 (789-90). See Ibn
Hajar, Tahdhib, II, 114-25.
717. This report combines two separate reports given by Khalifah b. Khayyiit.
See Ta'rfkh, 137-38.
1423)
e
The
Events of the Year
64
(AUGUST 30, 683-AUGUST 17, 684 )
Abu Ja'far reported: Among those events was the advance of the
Syrians against Mecca to make war on Abdalli h b. al-Zubayr and
those who held the same view as he in refusing to accept Yazid
b. Mu'awiyah . When Muslim b. `Ugbah had finished fighting
the people of Medina and the three days of the plundering of their
property by his army, he set out with those of his army who were
with him in the direction of Mecca.
This is according to Hisham b. Muhammad (al-Kalbi)-Abu
Mikhnaf-'Abd al-Malik b. Nawfal: Muslim set out with the
people toward Mecca with the intention of attacking Ibn alZubayr. He appointed Rawh b . Zinba' al-Judhami720 as his deputy over Medina.
(4 24 )
1425)
[426]
14271
724. These verses are also quoted by l3alddhuri from Abu Mikhnaf, who named
the poet as al-Zubayr b. Khuzaymah al-Khath'ami from Palestine, he was said to
be also in change of the bombardment . See Ansdb, IV/r, 339.
725. This verse is also quoted by Baladhuri , who does not identify the poet. See
Ansdb, IV/r, 340.
726. The Arabic is hildl, literally "new moon," but this can also refer to the
first two days of the month. Clearly it is the second day here.
(4t81
(4291
Abu Sufyin.735
The mother of both of these was Umm Khalid7 bt. Abi Hashim
b. Utbah b. Rabi'ah b. 'Abd Shams. Marwin married her after
Yazid. Of her the poet says:
Rejoice, 0 Umm Khalidj
sometimes the results of one who strives are for one who
SitS.737
738. Al-uswdr means "horseman " in Persian . He was in fact, a famous horseman. See Balidhuri, Ansdb, IV/t, 367.
227
e
Bibliography of Cited Works
230
231
Wustenfeld, H. F. Der Tod des Husein ben 'Ali and die Rache. Ein
historischer Roman aus dem Arabischen . Abhandlungen der koniglichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Gottingen , 30, 1883.
al-Ya'gnbi, Abu al 'Abbas Ahmad b. Ishiq. Ta'rikh. 2 vols. Leiden: Brill,
1883.
Yigi t, Abu 'Abdallih Ya'gdb b. 'Abdallih al-Hamawi al-RUmi. Mu'jam
al-bulddn . 6 vols ., edited by F. Wiistenfeld . Leipzig: Brockhaus,
1866-70.
46
Index
The Arabic definite article al- and the abbreviations b. (Ibn( and bt. (bint)
have been disregarded in the alphabetizing of entries.
221
Index
234
Abd al -Rahman b. I Tian 1 39
'Abd al-Rahman b. al-Husayn alMuradi 6z
Index
Abdallah b. Yugtur 88-89, 18 i
'Abdalliih b. al-Zabir al-Asadi zz, 6z
Abdallih b. Zayd b. Aslam 2z4-z5
'Abdallih b. al-Zubayr b. a1=Awwim
ix-x, xi, xii, xiv, xv, T-4,6-7,
9-16, 11 - 23, 31 , 35, 65, 67-69,
85, too, 168, 186, 189-93, 195-97,
204-5 , z,8, zzi -z5
al-Ab ab 13,17
Abu Abdallih al-Husayny see alHusayn b. 'All
Abe Abdallih Muhammad b. Humayd
al-Rizi 204
Aba Ali Abdallih b. Mua'ab 192-93
Aba'Ali al-Aniri 88
Aba Awinah al-Wad4 h b. Abdallih
al-Yashkuri 77, 224
Abu Awn ti
Abu'Azzah al-Qibibi 141
Abe Bakr b.'Abdallih b. Abi jahm 15
Abu Bakr'Abdallih b. al-Zubayri see
Abdallih b. al-Zubayr
Abu Bakr b.'All b. Abi 'J'ilib i 8o
Abu Bakr b. Ayyishh 89
Aba Bakr (known as Amr,
Muhammad, and 'Umar) b. alHasan b.'Ali b. AbiTilib 154, 171,
180, 181
235
204
Abu al-Hudhayl Husayn b. 'Abd alRabmin xi, 455
Abu Hurayrah 117
Abu Huzzibah al-Waled b . Nahik 186
AbUJa'faral-Absi 170
Aba Ja'far Muhammad b. Ali b. alHusayn 17,154
Abu Ja'far Muhammad al-Bigir b.'Ali
b. al-Husayn x-xi, xii, xiv, 19, 20,
22, 74
Abu ja'far al-Tabarit see al-Tabari
Abu Janib Yahyi b. Abi Hayyah alKalb-1 49,63, 68, 70, 86, 88, 91,
108, 110, 127, 429
Index
236
Abu Said al-Magburi 8
Abu $ilih al-Hanafi r 21
Abu al-Sha'tbi' al-Kindi; see Yazid b.
Ziyid b. al-Muhigir
Abu Shurayh r 5
Abu Sufyin 1, 60, t 39, 226
Abu Thumimah Amr b. 'Abdallih al$i'idi 42, 48, 105, 142, 144
Abu'Umirah a1- Absi 170
Abu'Uthmin'Abd al -Rahman b. Mill
al-Nahdi 3 t
Abu al-Waddik jabr b . Nawfal alHamdini 29, 34, 39, 42, 140
Abu al-Walid Ahmed b. jamb alMa$$i4i 16, 74
Aflah b. Said 82
Abbash b. Marthad b. Algamab b.
Salamah al-Hadrami 163
Ahmed b. janib al-Ma$$i$i ; see Abu alWalid
Ahmad b. Thibit 90 - 91, 188, 193,
217#225
Ahmed b. Zuhayr zi S
Ahmar b. Ziyid al-'I a'i 182
Ahmarij see Bukayr b. Human
al-Ahnaf b. Qays 31-32
'A'idhah 169
'Amr b. D-inir 13
'Amr al-Hadrami r 20
'Aji' 99
al-Akhdar (mother of 'Abbid b. alAkhdar sl-Tamimi) 183
Akhzam t7z
al-'Ali' b. Abi Athah 81
Aleppo r 8, 83
Ali b. al-Abbas b.'All t 23
Ali b. Abi Tilib 8, 1o,12- 13, 23, 25,
Index
'Amr b. Murrah al-)amall i s t
'Amr b. Nafl' 53, 63
Amr b. Qarayah b. Kab al-An Iri
io8, 135
Amr b. Shamir i 56
Amr b. Shu'ayb 159
Amr b. Subayh al-$addi'i t 5 i, 181
Amr b.'Ubaydallih b . Abbis alSulami 54-56
237
al'Ayzir b. Hurayth 20
al'Arjulah 149
Armenia, Armenians 5
&I-Amab, Battle of 177
Asad, Bann 6, 48,68, 87,88, 91-9z,
110, 154 - 55, t63 -64,179
Asak 18;
Balanjar 86
6;
238
Index
al-Qibab b. Kilib 1 z 1
Dinir, see Abu Sa'id'Agiga
Dinawarl, Abu Hanifah Ahmad ix, xi,
4,7,191
Egypt 191,193
Euphrates 9, 75, 129 , T37,149, 156
Index
239
Harshi 2.22
Hirdn b. Muslim 35,65
Haruri, Harunyyahy see Khirijites
al-Hawn b. Ali xi, 2., it 9, 145, 154,
158, 172.
Hijr 68
Hill b. Yasif 78-79
Him$ 18 , 40,171 , 'T',225
Himyar (tribe) 99, 134, 168
Hishim b. Sad I 1
Hishim b. al-Walid al-Makhzdmi 9 ,1,
225
Hishim b. Ydsuf 191,193
al-Hudaybiyyah 144
Hudhayl (tribe) 186
Hujr b. Adi 24, 38, 54, 63, 126, 168,
169
Hulwin u6
240
Index
lbn al-Mufarrigh 9
lbn al-Nadim, Abu al-Faraj
Muhammad 156
Ibn Rabi'ah al-Amiri 19;
Ibn Sa'd, Abo'Abdallih Muhammad
6, 8, 11, 12, 13 , 22, 76, 80, 8 z, 100,
1 24,
Ibn Algamah 13
Index
Jiibir b . Yazid al-101 x, t 56
Jabr b. Nawfal al-Hamdini, see Abu alWaddak
al-Ja'd (clan of Hamdin) t z9
Ja'far b. AbiTilib 73, 124, 145
Ja'far b. Ali b. Abi Tilib i i t - t z,
155-56, 158,179
Ja'far b.'Agil b . Abi Tilib t 5 z, 18o
Ja'far b. Hudhaylah al-Ti i 56
Ja'far b. Muhammad b. All, see Ja'fsr
al-Sidiq
Ja far al-$idiq III , 156, r61
Ja'far b. Sulaymiin al-Qsbu'i 8z
Ja'far b. al-Zubayr 6-7
Jamil b. Marthad 99, too
Jarir b. Abd al-Hamid al-Rini 204
Jiraft v85
al-Juhfah 222
Jumsh 14
Kiihil, Kihiliyyah 6
Kalb (tribe) 49, 1 2.9, 130, t68
al-Kimil 97
Karbala' xi, 75, 79, Or , 8z, 9z, 103, 111,
114, 127, 172,r8o,t8z
Karbali', Battle of xiii , 71,105, 108,
tz7, 129-3o, 132, 136
Kathir b. Abdallih al -Sha'bi toy, t z5,
145, 149
2.41
Kirmin 185,186
al-Kufah, Kufans xi, xii, xiii, 1, z,
16-z6, 2.S, 29 , 3o-36,38-40,44,
48, 49, 50-54 , 56, 57, 59, 64-69,
72, 74-75, 77- 80, 83-90, 94-95,
97,98 - 104,111,119, 125 -29,137,
139, 143, 151-52, 156, 157, 164,
168, 173, 175, 177, 181, 188-89,
193-95, 199, 204, 209
al-Kunisah 21
Kuthayr (clan of Azd) 5o
Kuzmin (mawli of Abdallih b. Abi
Mubill) t 1 t
Labalah b. al-Farazdagb. Ghilib 71
Lalaiq 1zz
Lakhmids 97
14Z
Index
La'Ia' 83
Lagi4 9z
Lagis b. Yisir al-Juhani t 81
Lawdhin 9o
Lawdhin, Ban(i 133
Layli bt. Abi Murrah b.'Urwah b.
Masud b. Mu'attib al-Thagafi
150,180
Layla bt. Masi d b. Khilid b. Milk b.
Rib'i b. Sulmi b. Jandal b.
Nahshal b. Dirim i 5 5, t go
Lul b. Yahyi, see Abu Mikhnaf
Ma'an, Banu 99
al-Ma4iq z8
Milik b. Abd b. Suray' 146
Milik b.'Amr b. Thumimah, Band 56
Malik b. Misma' al-Bakri 31-32
Milik b. al-Nadr al -Arbabi t t 5
Milik b. Nutayr al-Baddi tot, 1 S 3
Ma'n al-Sulam-1 So
Moses 1 79
Mosul 116,14;
Mount Radwi zo6
Mu'idhah bt. 'Abdallih al-' Adawiyyah 187
al-Mu'alli b. Kulayb 34, 39
Mu'iwiyah b. Abi Sufyin xi, xii, t, 3,
5, 10-lt , t7-t8, 23-24 , 30-31,
3 5, 57, 6o, 66, 72680 - 81, 84, 1 t9,
tz6,153 , 139,172,174,183,185,
203,218-19
Ma'qil b. Sinin, Abu Muhammad alAshla 'i 39, 40, 42, 44 , 209, 214-15
Miriyyah bt. Mawhab 5
Miriyyah bt. Sa'd or Mungidh 2.6-z7
Matjinah 89, 167, 204
Marw al- Shihijin 187-88
al-Marwah 13,66,69
Marwin b. Muhammad i t
Muhijirun 67, 2 1 5
al-Muhallab b. Abi Sufrah 186-88
Muhammad (the Messenger of God)
Index
24 32, 86, 94, t 2;, 126, r 29, 13 t,
164,165 , 175,176, 189,222
2.43
al-Mundhir b. al-lirUd 32
al-Mundhir b. al-Zubayr t z, 16,
198-99, 223
Munjih (mawli of al-Husayn) 181
Murid (tribe) 43,47-48,63
al-Muragga' b. Thumimah al-Asadi
162-63
Murghab 187
Murrah, Band 222
Murrah b. Munqidh b. al-Nu'min alAbdi 151, ISO
Mum b. Mu' idh al-Abmari 167
MUsi b.'Ugbah 191
Mu3'ab b. Abd al-Rahmin b. Awf
14, 22;
Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyyah 8, 83
Mubammad b. Ks'b al-QuraO 8z
Mubammad b. al-Mundhir 11
Mubammad b. Muslim b. Shihib al-
192
Muf'ab b. al-Zubayr 134 , 139,143
al-Musayyib b. Najabah 24
al-Mushallal 222, 224
Muslim b. Abdallih al-Qibibi i;8
Muslim b. Amr al-Bihill 31,33-34,
44-45, 57-58
Muslim b. Musayyib 28
Muslim b.'Ugbah al-Murri xv,168,
1189, 20; , 205-24
Mustawrid 154
Mutammim b. Nuwayrah al-Han;ali 7
Muzibim b. Hurayth 137
107-8,1;6-;7,145
Nahshal b. Dirim, Bane 161
Z44
Index
Orontes 2 i 2
Oxus 187-88
al-Qurayyah 99
Persian Gulf i 16
al-Qidisiyyah 36, 74, 83, 84, 88, 93, 95
Qafi al- Mushallal z22
al-Qalammas t6
al-Qa'gi' b. Shawr al - Dhuhli 49-50,
65
al-Qirah (tribe) 33
al-Qash'am b. Amr b. Yazid (or
Nadhir) al-lu'fi T57
al-Qisim b. Abd al-Rahmin i 70
al-Qisim b, al-ASbagh b. Nubitah x,
156-57
al-Qisim b. Bukhayt 175
al-Qisim b. Habib 143
al-Qisim b. al-Hasan b. Ali b. Abi
Tilib 153, 180
Index
al-Sabi 6z
$abrah al-HanTali 7
Sq'd, Bann 3z
Sa'd (mawli of 'Amr b. Khilid al$sydiwi) 97, 150
745
Salina 99
Salmin b. Rabi ah al-Bihifi 86
Sami'ah b. Bain loo
Samargand ,88
$an'i' 191
al-$aq'ab b. Zuhayr al-Azdi 64,109,
12.9
Sarjun (mawli of Mu'iwiyah b. Abi
Sufyin) xii, r8, 30, 31
Sawid 116, 1 2.q
Sayf b. al-H3rith b. Suray' 146
Shabath b. Rib'i al-Yarbn'i al-Tamimi
2.5, 49, 50, 65, r21, 125, 138-39,
141
al-Sha'bi 2.9
Shabib b. Qays b. al-Haythsm 185
Shafayyah 10;
al-Sughd 188
Sughdi b. Salm 188
Sukaynah bt. al-Husayn 22,161,
174-75
Sulaym, Bann ;z, 8o
Sulaymin (mawli of al-Husayn) 31,
181
Index
246
Sulaymin b. Awf al-Ha4rami i8 T
Sulaymin b. $uradal-Khuza' i 23-24
Sumayyah bt.'Ubaydallih t, 6o, 89,
139
Suwayd b. 'Amr b. Abi al -Muti' alKhath'ami 148, 150, 161
Suwayd b. Hayyah 131
Syria, Syrians 18, 24 - 25, 31 , 40, 44,
50, 51 , 76,79p 85, I t 6 , 119,168,
170-73 , 985# 200, 203,2.04-5,
209-14, U7,219 , 211-23,225
See also Aleppo, Damascus;
Hawrin; Himy, Orontes
at-Tabari, Abu ja'far ix-xv, 2, 4,
10-13, 18,25 , 28, 49, 63, 65, 70,
77, 80, 83,85 , 90, 102, 119-20,
129, 135 , 138,151 - 57,154-55,
157, 161, t68 - 70,190- 81,19388, 191 - 93, 208, 213, 117-18,
221, 225
al-Ti'if 60, 72, 206
Takrit t43
Talhah b.'Abdallih b . Khalaf alKhuzi'i 186
al-Tan'im 70
Tariq b. Abi Zubyan al-Azdi 168
Taw'ah ( wife of al-Ash'ath b. Qays)
51
tawwdbun 23
Tawwaj 183
Index
Umirah, Banii 49
'Umirah b. $alkhab sl-Azdi 49,6z
'Umirah b.'Ubayd (or Abd) al-Saluli
25,17
'Umirah b.'Ugbah b. Abi Mu aY4 to,
30,57,58
247
248
Index
Yazid b. Nubayt 27
Yazid b. Sufyan 136
Yazid b. 'Udhrah al-Anti r zo
Yazid b. Wahb b. Zam'ah x15-16
Yazid b. Ziyid (brother of Saint and
'Ubaydallih b. Ziyad ) r85, 187
Yazid b. Ziyid b. al-Muba$ir, Abu alSha'thi' al-Kindi al-Bahdali 1 oz,
149-50
Yemen, Yemenis 18 - 19, z6,; 6, 40,
48-49, 61, 67,70, 159# 213,115.
See also $an i'
Yunus b. Abi lsbiq 19, zo, 48, 83
Yusuf b. Yazid 47, 132, 134
Zarud 85-86