Writers of Maqtal Till The Time of Seyed ibn Tawus (R.A.)
 

Yazeed and his men were not the only persons who fought with Hussain (a.s.). The rulers who came to power after Yazeed were against those who had affection for the companions of Hussain (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 Hussain (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 Ibne Tâwûs or the time of writing this Maqtal book, written about the martyrdom in Karbala. (1) Abul Qâsim Asbagh bin Nubâta Majâshai Tamimi Hanzali He is from the close friends (Khawâs) 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 Maqtale Husain and apparently he must be the first to write a book on this topic - Allâh knows best.

Al-Fehrist: 37-38 Sh. 108, Az-Zariah: 22/23-24, Sh 5838

(2) Abu Makhnaf Lut bin Yahya bin Saeed bin Makhnaf bin Salâm Azadi Ghamidi He is a known personality and one of the chiefs of knowledgeable 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, Hasan and Husain (a.s.). But what is correct is that his father was a companion of Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and that he himself did not meet him (Ali). He has written Maqtale Husain - Qatlul Husain (a.s.).

The book Maqtalul Husain that was printed recently in the name of Abi Makhnaf is, doubtlessly, not his book but rather belongs to the later writers. Some of the later writers raise a doubt that this work might be of Seyed Ibne Tâwûs and that he took it from Maqtal Abi Makhnaf and made some additions and omissions in it. About Maqtale Abi Makhnaf we do not have anything at hand except whatever has come down in Tarikh -e- Tabari.

Rijâl Najjâshi: Part 320, 875, Al-Fehrist: 129 Part 573; Al-Muallim: 93-94; Az-Zariah 22/27 Sh 5859

(3) Abu Ahmad Abdul Aziz Bin Yahya Bin Ahmad Bin Isa Al-Jaludi He is from the companions of Abu Ja?far (a.s.) the teacher of Ja?far bin Quluwayh. He is the author of Kitâb Maqtal Abi Abdullâh Al-Hussain (a.s.). Rijâl Najjâshi: 240-244 Sh 640, Az-Zariah 22/25 Sh 5851

(4) Abu Abdullâh Abu Muhammad Jabir Bin Yazeed Ju'fi He was an Arab. He was a contemporary of Abu Ja?far and Abu Abdillâh (a.s.) and expired in 125. He has written Maqtal Abi Abdullâh Al-Hussain (a.s.). Rijâl Najjâshi: 128 Sh. 332; Az-Zariah 22/24 Sh 5840

(5) Abdullâh Ibne Ahmad Muhammad bin Abeed Duniya He was a Sunni who expired in the year 281 A.H. He has written Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.). Al-Fehrist: 104 438; Al-Ma'alim: 76 Sh 506; Seer Alâmun Nubla 13/403

(6) Abul Fazl Salmah bin al-Khattâb al-Barawastani al-Azdurqani He has written Maqtalul Husain (a.s.). Rijâl Najjâshi: 187, Sh 498; Al-Fehrist: 79, Sh 324; Al-Ma'alim: 57 Sh 378; Az-Zariah 22/25, Sh 5847

(7) Abul Hasan Ali bin Muhammad al-Madâeni He belonged to the Sunni faith. His books are good. He expired in 224 A.H. He has written Maqtalul Husain or Sirah Dar Maqtalul Hussain.

Al-Fehrist: 95, Sh 395; Al-Ma'alim: 72, Sh 486 (8) Abu Zaid Ammârah bin Zaid Khaiwâni Hamadâni He has written Maqtalul Husain Bin Ali (a.s.). Rijâl Najjâshi: 303, Sh 827; Az-Zariah 22/26, Sh 5855

(9) Ahmad bin Abdullâh Bakri He is the author of Maqtal Abi Abdillâh Al- Hussain (a.s.). A copy of this book is available in the library of the University of Qareen in the city of Faas. Classified in collection 3/575 and titled: Hadith Wafâte Sayyidna al-Hussain.

(10) Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Yahya bin Umar bin Abdullâh bin Sa'ad bin Mâlik Ashari Qummi, known as Dabbate Shabeeb He has written the book entitled Maqtale Abi Abdillâh Al-Hussain. Rijâl Najjâshi: 348-349, Sh 939; Az-Zariah 22/27, Sh 5861

(11) Abu Ubaidah Muammar bin al-Muthanna at- Tamimi Sayyid Tâwûs has quoted from him. He expired in 210 A.H. He wrote Maqtal Abi Abdillâh Al-Hussain. Az-Zariah 22/28, Sh 5873

(12) Hisham bin Muhammad bin as-Saeb bin Bashar bin Zaid He is a well-known scholar famous for his knowledge and grace especially about our faith. He has written Maqtalul Hussain.

Rijâl Najjâshi: 434-435, Sh 1166

(13) Abul Mufaddal Nasr bin Muzahim Munaqari Attâr He is from Kufa and was a Shia. He expired in 212 A.H. He has written Maqtalul Hussain. Rijâl Najjâshi: 427-428, Sh 1148, Al-Fehrist: 171- 172, Sh 751, Al-Ma'alim: 126, Sh 851; Az-Zariah 22/29, Sh 5874; Fehrist Ibne Nadeem: 106

(14) Abu Abdullâh Muhammad bin Umar Wâqidi Madani Baghdâdi He is the author of Al-Adab. He expired in 207 A.H. Maqtal Abi Abdillâh Al-Hussain (r.a.) is written by him.

Az-Zariah: 22/28 Sh 5869, Fehrist Ibne Nadeem: 111, Al-Wafi Bil Wafiyyat 4/238

(15) Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali bin Husain bin Musa bin Babawayh Qummi He is the author of Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.). Al-Fehrist: 156-157 Sh 695, Al-Ma'alim: 111-112, Sh 764, Az-Zariah 22/28, Sh 5867

(16) Muhammad bin Ali bin Fazl bin Tamam bin Sakeen He is the teacher of Ibn Ghazâiri, and is in the level of Sadooq (a.r.). He is reliable, noble, having true beliefs and author of very good books. He wrote the book Maqtale Abi Abdillâh Al-Hussain (a.s.). Rijâl Najjâshi: 385 Sh 1046, Az-Zariah 22/28, Sh 5868

(17) Abu Abdullâh Muhammad bin Zakariya bin Danyar al-Ghalâbi He was the Maula of Bani Ghalla. He is a known person who knew our companions in Basra. He expired in 298 A.H. and has written Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.) Rijâl Najjâshi: 346-347, Sh 963, Fehrist Ibne Nadeem: 121

(18) Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Yahya at-Tayyâr Qummi He was a chief of our companions of his time. A reliable man who wrote many hadiths. Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.) is also his work. Rijâl Najjâshi: 353, Sh 946

(19) Ibne Wazeh al-Yâqubi Ahmad bin Ishâq He was a renowned narrator, author of Târikh Yâqubi. He expired after 292 or in the year 284. He came after Abi Makhnaf. He wrote Maqtale Hussain (r.a.). Az-Zariah 22/23, Sh 5833

(20) Abu Ishâq Ibrahim bin Ishâq Ahmari Nahavandi He was a man of deep research and his books are quite balanced. Qâsim bin Muhammad bin Hamadâni had heard hadiths from him. He expired in 269 A.H. He has also written Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.). Al-Fehrist: 7, Sh 9, Al-Ma'alim: 7, Sh 27; Rijâl Najjâshi: 19, Sh 21, Az-Zariah 22/23, Sh 5835

(21) Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Saeed bin Hilâl bin Masood Thaqafi He was born in Kufa and brought up in Isfahân. He belonged to the Zaidi sect. Thereafter he became an Ithna Ashari and expired in 283 A.H. He has written Maqtalul Hussain. Al-Fehrist: 4-5, Sh 7, Al-Ma'alim: 3, Sh 1, Rijâl Najjâshi: 16-17, Sh 19, Az-Zariah 22/23, Sh 5835

(22) Abul Husain Shafei He was an expert in hadith. Najjâshi has quoted him through his teacher Ahmad bin Abdul Wahid bin Abdoon. He has written Kitâb Alqatal. Az-Zariah 22/21-22, Sh 5825

(23) Ibne Shahr ?shob Abu Ja?far al-Husaini quotes him in Sharhe Shafiya. He has written Kitâb Al-Maqtal. Az-Zariah 22/22, Sh 5827

(24) Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ali Tusi He is the author of Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.). Al-Fehrist: 159-161, Sh 699, Al-Ma'alim: 114-114 Sh 766, Az-Zariah: 22/27 Sh 5863

(25) Najmuddin Ja'far bin Najibuddin Muhammad bin Ja'far bin Abi al-Baqa Nibbatullâh bin Nama Hilli He expired in 645 A.H. The book Maseerul Ahzân Wa Muneer Subulal Ashjân is written by him. Az-Zariah 19/349, Sh 1559-22/22

(26) Abu Ubaid al-Qâsim bin Salâr Salâm al-Harvi He expired in 224 A.H. At-Tahbeer Zahabi 1/185

(27) Abdullâh bin Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Baghavi He expired in 317 A.H. He was the author of Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.). Kashfuz Zanoon 2/1794

(28) Umar bin Hasan bin Ali bin Mâlik Shaibâni He expired in 339 A.H. He wrote Maqtalul Husain (a.s.). Mojamul Muallifeen 7/282

(29) Ziyâuddin Abu Muaiyad al-Muwaffiq bin Ahmad Khwârizmi He expired in 568 A.H. He has written Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.) in two volumes.

(30) Abul Qâsim Mahmood bin Mubârak Wâsti He expired in 592 A.H. He wrote Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.).

Eezâh al-Maknoon 2/540

(31) Izzuddin Abdur Razzâq Zajri He expired in 661 A.H. He wrote Maqtal as- Shaheed al-Hussain (a.s.).

(32) Sulaimân bin Ahmad Tibrâni He expired in 360 A.H. He has authored Maqtalul Hussain (a.s.). Ibne Manzah has, in Nihâyat al-Mojamul Kabir, included an important part of the translation of the biography of Tibrâni and on p. 362 No. 39 of the same book, mentioned Maqtalul Husain in the name of Tibrâni.

(33) Ali bin Musa bin Ja'far bin Tâwûs He expired in 664. A.H. This book Malhoof Ala Qatli at-Tafoof is his work. He has also written Al-masra as-sheen fee Qatl al-Hussain (a.s.).