Hanzala b. As'ad al-Shibami

Hanzala b. As'ad al-Shibami
Native name	(حَنْظَلَة بن أسعَد الشِبامی (الشامی
Companion of	Imam al-Hussain
Death/Martyrdom	61/680
Cause of Death/Martyrdom	Martyred in the battle of Karbala
Burial Place	Karbala

Hanzala b. As'ad al-Shibami (Arabic: حَنْظَلَة بن أسعَد الشِبامی) or al-Shami (الشامی) was among companions of Imam Hussain who was martyred during the Battle of Karbala in the Day of Ashura 61/680.

Disagreement over his Name

His name was mentioned in sources with some variations. In the list of Imam Hussain's companions, Al-Shaykh al-Tusi mentions him as Hanzala b. As'ad al-Shibami. In other texts, however, the name of his father is mentioned as Sa'd. Ibn Shahrashub mentions a person called "Sa'd b. Hanzala" as a Martyrs of Karbala. However, al-Tustari believes that his name is Hanzala b. As'ad al-Shibami as explicitly mentioned in 'Uyun Akhbar al-Rida.

In the Battle of Karbala

It is said that on the Day of Ashura, Hanzala asked Imam Hussain's permission to recite the Quran 40:30-33 to the army of Kufa: "O my people! Indeed I fear for you [a day] like the day of the [heathen] factions; like the case of the people of Noah, of ʿAd and Thamud, and those who were after them, and Allah does not desire any wrong for [His] servants. O my people! I fear for you a day of mutual distress calls, a day when you will turn back [to flee], not having anyone to protect you from Allah, and whomever Allah leads astray has no guide."

He then said: "O people! do not kill Hussain; you will be destroyed with a divine punishment, and whoever tells lies will be disappointed."

Imam Hussain said in response:

"O Ibn Sa'd! May God bless you. They deserved the punishment when they rejected your call and attacked you to shed your blood and the blood of your friends, let alone now that they have martyred your pious friends."

Then Hanzala said:

"May I be thy ransom! You are right. You are more knowledgeable than me with respect to religion and you understand it better. Let us go to the afterlife and join our brothers… God's blessings be upon you, O Aba 'Abd Allah, and your pure household. May God make me your companion in the Heaven."

While Imam Hussain was saying "Amin", Hanzala went to the battlefield, and was martyred after killing some people from the army of Kufa.

References

• WikiShia, An online encyclopedia of the school of Ahl al-Bayt