And other books of Martyrdom (Maqatil) viz.

And other books of Martyrdom (Maqatil) viz. Maqtale Kalbi through Tazkirah of Sibt Ibn Jawzi and Tareekh of Tabari, and Maqtale Abu Makhnaf Azdi [^1] through Tabari. This book contains some chapters, one introduction and one conclusion, and I have named it “Nafasul Mahmoom” (The Sigh of the Aggrieved)!

Abbas bin Muhammad Ridha’ al Qummi [^1]: I have referred to Abu Makhnaf as “Azdi” and have not addressed him by his agnomen (Kuniyah) “Abu Makhnaf” (except while quoting from Biharul Anwar or Hisham bin Muhammad Kalbi) for the simple reason so as to avoid misconstruing that it is the report of Abu Makhnaf which has been quoted in the tenth volume of Biharul Anwar.

It is confirmed to me that the reports (quoted in Biharul Anwar) are not related from the renowned book of Abu Makhnaf, for, Abu Makhnaf Loot bin Yahya bin Sa’eed bin Makhnaf Azdi Ghamadi Kufi was a chieftain and an acknowledged traditionist of Kufa and his reports are liable to be authentic. He has related traditions from Imam Ja’far as Sadiq (a.s.), and his father was one of the companions of the Commander of the faithful Imam Ali (a.s.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.).

Abu Makhnaf has authored numerous books, one of them being “Maqtalul Husayn” (dealing with the martyrdom of Imam Husayn) which has been relied upon and narrated by the ancient eminent Scholars. It can be verified from the Tareekh of Muhammad bin Jarir Tabari, who has quoted extensively, in fact the entire episode of the Martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a.s.) from the (original) Maqtal of Abu Makhnaf.

And, if the reports of Tabari are compared to the ones of the Maqtal ascribed to Abu Makhnaf (in Biharul Anwar), it will be found that the Maqtal is not the same as that (original) Maqtal, nor is it quoted from any other reliable historian. And whatever is quoted solely by him (Majlisi in Biharul Anwar through Abu Makhnaf) (with due respects) is not considered as authentic in my view. Previous…