ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Lohoof (Sighs of sorrow) Writers of Maqtal till the time of Sayyid ibn Tawus Yazeed and his men were not the only persons who fought with Husayn (a.s.). The rulers who came to power after Yazeed were against those who had affection for the companions of Husayn (a.s.), and they tried to cover up the events of Karbala, or to alter and erase them. But the Lord decided to complete His Radiance, though the polytheists do not like it.

Yet right from the time of the event many persons have written a number of books on this subject in various manners and in different languages. Unfortunately most of the old books on the subject of Maqtal have not remained except their very names and titles. They have been burnt, stolen, or destroyed. This has been done with the intention that Husayn (a.s.) and his uprising may not encourage liberty-loving people to fight oppression.

What has reached us from the old writings is very little or history has mentioned very less about it. In this chapter the names of those persons have been listed who have, since the event of Karbala upto the time of Sayyid Ibn Tawus or the time of writing this Maqtal book, written about the martyrdom in Karbala. (1) Abul Qasim Asbagh bin Nubata Majashai Tamimi Hanzali He is from the close friends (Khawas) and companions of Amirul Momineen (a.s.).

He is also one of the Shurtatul Khamees (security) who lived for a long time after Ali (a.s.) and expired after 100 A.H. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn and apparently he must be the first to write a book on this topic - Allah knows best. Al-Fehrist: 37-38 Sh. 108, Az-Zariah: 22/23-24, Sh 5838. (2) Abu Makhnaf Lut Ghamidi (2) Abu Makhnaf Lut bin Yahya bin Saeed bin Makhnaf bin Salam Azadi Ghamidi He is a known personality and one of the chiefs of knowledge- able men of Kufa.

He quotes Ja’far bin Muhammad (a.s.) and his statement, that he narrates from Abu Ja’far (a.s.), appears to be true. In the opinion of Kishi he is among the companions of Amirul Momineen, Has- an and Husayn (a.s.). But what is correct is that his father was a compan- ion of Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and that he himself did not meet him (Ali). He has written Maqtal al-Husayn - Qatlul Husayn (a.s.).

The book Maqtal al-Husayn that was printed recently in the name of Abi Makhnaf is, doubtlessly, not his book but rather belongs to the later writers.