Harmala b. Kahil al-Asadi
| Harmala b. Kahil al-Asadi Murderer of Ali al-Asghar | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Harmala b. Kahil al-Asadi |
| Lineage | Banu Asad |
| Death | After al-Mukhtar uprising |
| Cause of Death | He was killed by al-Mukhtar |
| Era | Yazid b. Mu'awiyya, Umayyad Dynesty |
| Known for | Killing Abd Allah b. al-Hussain and Abd Allah b. al-Hasan |
| Activities | Participating in the Event of Karbala |
Harmala b. Kahil al-Asadi (Arabic: حرملة بن کاهل الأسدی) is one of the most detested figures among Shi'a due to the role he played in the Battle of Karbala. On the Day of 'Ashura', he fought on the side of 'Umar b. Sa'd's army as a archer. He killed 'Abd Allah b. al-Hussain and 'Abd Allah b. al-Hasan and was also involved in martyrdom of 'Abbas b. 'Ali. During al-Mukhtar's uprising, he was captured and killed by al-Mukhtar's order.
Biography
Harmala was from the tribe of Banu Asad. There is no report about his birth and life before the battle of Karbala in historical sources. In some sources his name is recorded as Harmala b. Kahin. He was killed in al-Mukhtar's uprising.
Day of 'Ashura'
On the Day of 'Ashura', Harmala fought on the side of 'Umar b. Sa'd's army as a archer. He killed 'Abd Allah b. al-Hussain ('Ali al-Asghar), Imam al-Hussain's infant, on his father's arms. It is also reported that he killed 'Abd Allah b. al-Hasan. He was also involved in martyrdom of 'Abbas b. 'Ali and carried his pure head to Kufa. Ibn Athir mentioned him as the murderer of Abu Bakr b. al-Hasan.
In Hadith
He was cursed in Ziyarah al-Nahiyya al-Muqaddasa.
Minhal b. 'Amr reported that after performing hajj, he went to Medina and visited Imam al-Sajjad. Asking about al-Mukhtar's uprising and the retribution of the killers of Karbala, Imam asked him about Harmala; when Imam knew that he was alive, Imam said: “O, God! Make his taste the heat of fire and iron.” Likewise, after his visit of Imam al-Sajjad, Bishr b. Ghalib al-Asadi has reported Imam al-Sajjad cursed Harmala.
Death
Harmala was captured in al-Mukhtar's uprising. According to Mukhtar's order, his hands and legs were cut and then he was burned in fire.
When Minhal b. 'Amr returned from Medina to Kufa and saw the scenes of punishing and killing of Harmala, he informed al-Mukhtar about his visit with Imam al-Sajjad and what Imam has said about Harmala. Having heard that, al-Mukhtar performed Sajdat al-Shukr (prostration to thank God) as he saw that Imam's curse was accomplished by his hands.