ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Maqtal al-Husayn Al-Husayn on ‘Ashura Both Ibn Qawlawayh and al-Mas’udi[^1] have said that when it was the tenth of Muharram, al-Husayn (‘a) led the morning prayers for his band then stood up to deliver a sermon. He praised Allah and glorified Him then said, “Allah Almighty has permitted your being killed today; so, you should persevere, and you should fight.” Then he prepared them for the battle in one line. They were eighty-two horsemen and two footmen.

He let Zuhayr Ibn al-Qayn be in the right wing and Habib Ibn Muzahir on the left. He and his family members remained in the center.[^2] He gave his standard to his brother al-’Abbas[^3], having found the moon of the Hashemites the best qualified of all the men with him to carry it, the most safeguarding of the trust, the most kind, the most zealous in calling for his principles, the one who was the best to unite his kinsfolk, the most valiant in protecting them, the most firm in the battle, the most composed and the most courageous.[^4] Commanding a force of thirty thousand strong, ‘Umar Ibn Sa’d marched to confront al-Husayn, peace be upon him.

Chiefs of the Kufa quarters at that time were: ‘Abdullah Ibn Zuhayr Ibn Salim al-Azdi, who headed the Medenites, ‘Abdul-Rahman Ibn Abu Sabrah al-Hanafi, who headed Mathhaj and Asad, Qays Ibn al-Ash’ath, who headed Rabi’ah and Kindah, and al-Hurr Ibn Yazid al-Riyahi, who headed Tamim and Hamdan[^5]. With the exception of al-Hurr al-Riyahi, all the other men took part in fighting al-Husayn (‘a). Ibn Sa’d put ‘Amr Ibn al-Hajjaj al-Zubaydi in charge of the right wing.

On the left wing, he gave charge to Shimr Ibn Thul-Jawshan al-’Amiri. The cavaliers were commanded by ‘Izrah Ibn Qays al-Ahmasi. The footmen were commanded by Shabth Ibn Rab’i. The standard was with the latter's slave, Thuwayd.[^6] They came circling around the tents, seeing how the fire was raging in the ditch. Shimr shouted as loud as he could: “O Husayn! Have you resorted to the fire soon enough before the Day of Judgment?” Al-Husayn (‘a) asked, “Who is the inquirer?

It seems as if he is Shimr Ibn Thul-Jawshan!” The answer came in the affirmative, whereupon the Imam (‘a) said to him, “You son of the goat herder!