The Story of Karbala
In the book The Story of Karbala, efforts have been made as much as possible to utilize the most authentic and reliable references.
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| Author | Ali Nazari Munfarid |
|---|---|
| Translator | Hussein Alamdar |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Islamic history |
| Published | 2019 |
| Publisher | AuthorHouse |
| Pages | 727 |
About the author
Hujjatul Islam-wal-Muslimin Ali Nazari Munfarid was born in 1947 in the holy City of Qum, located 150 km, south of Tehran. Both of his parents belonged to religious and scholarly families, his father being an eloquent preacher thus he spent his childhood years in a pure spiritual environment. Having finished his primary education, with the motivation and encouragement of his parents, he joined the famous Religious Learning Center of Qum (Howzehilmiyeh), and after completing preliminary courses in literature as well some advance level courses, was able to obtain his High School Diploma from Dar al-Funoon School of Tehran. In order to pursue higher religious education, he went to Iraq in 1966, and joined the prestigious Religious Learning Center of Najaf al-Ashraf, where he stayed for two years and acquired religious learning under the tutorship of famous learned scholars of that period. Having completed his curriculum at Najaf al-Ashraf, he returned again to the Religious Learning Center of Qum, where he continued his higher religious learning under the able guidance of late Ayatollahs Golpaygani, and Hashim Amuli. Simultaneously, he first started teaching elementary religious courses, literature, and logic and later on advance courses of jurisprudence and basic principles.
About the book
This book was written by Ali Nazari Munfarid in Persian in 2000 and it was published by Soroor publications, and translated into English by Sayyid Hussein Alamdar. The English version published in AuthorHouse (June 20, 2019), has 727 pages and best sellers rank of 2,240,005 in Kindle Store.
The author believes that the reason of Qur’anic stories like this book is pondering, thinking, and learning a lesson (from past incidents). The story of Karbala too being the most important happening of the Islamic history and as one of the greatest divine revolutions would encourage every reader to ponder and reflect about it, and because it possesses different dimensions and parameters, would act as a means for guidance of nations and human civilizations.
Abstract of chapters
Part I, From Medina to Medina
Chapter 1: In Medina
In Medina, after the death of Imam Hassan, the Shi’i of Kufa, wrote a letter to Imam Hussein and the story began in Kufa. Yazid after Mu’awiya’s demise, assigned the Government of Kufa and Basra, which relatively was more sensitive and more people were opposed to Umayyad regime, to Ubaydullah b. Ziyad. Imam Hussain visited the sacred tomb of the Holy Prophet in order to farewell his grandfather and for the last time bade farewell to her mother’s grave. Then he went towards his brother Imam al-Hasan’s grave and took it in his bosom and with a heavy heart filled with agony and sorrow returned.
Chapter 2: From Medina to Mecca
This chapter is about Imam Hussain’s decision for going to Mecca and beseeching Allah for good. But Abdullah b. Mut’i insists him not to move from Mecca towards Kufa since Kufa is the same city full of bitter memories.
Chapter 3: In Mecca
This chapter narrates what happened since the arrival of the Ahl al-Bayt in Mecca, including the exchange of letters to the Imam, the threats and plans made for him to be carried out by the rulers of that time, and arresting of Muslim b. Aqil and his martyrdom.
Chapter 4: From Mecca to Karbala
The news of Muslim’s Martyrdom and its consequences is the most important issue of this chapter.
Chapter 5: In Karbala
This chapter begins with the story of the arrival of the Ahl al-Bayt in Karbala and what happens to them in this place. The author examines the sermons of Imam Hussein in Karbala and mentions the names of the martyrs. Finally, the martyrdom of Imam Hussein takes place and the women of the camp weep and mourn. The enemy army burns the tents of the Ahl al-Bayt and this chapter ends with the sermon of Zainab in the plain of Karbala.
Chapter 6: In Kufa
This chapter reviews what happened to the prisoners after Ashura and the fiery sermons of the survivors of Imam Hussein.
Chapter 7: From Kufa to Damascus
After the Karbala incident, the Ahl al-Bayt traveled to Damascus through halting stations. The sequence of stations where Ahl al-Bayt dismounted or passed isn’t known correctly and hasn’t been mentioned in authentic sources. In most of these sources the details of their journey hasn’t been described. The author in this chapter would point out to some of the events which have occurred at some of these halting stations in the middle of the journey.
Chapter 8: In Damascus
In this chapter the Ideological and spiritual beliefs of the people of Damascus would be described in brief. During this journey, the Ahl al-Bayt experienced the worst encounter!
Chapter 9: From Damascus to Medina
This chapter deals with the story of the return of the Ahl al-Bayt from Damascus to Medina. On the way back, they stoppage at Karbala, where they performed the 40th day (Arbae’en) and mourning for the martyrs.
Chapter 10: In Medina after Karbala
After Karbala and mourning for the 40th of martyrs of Karbala, the Ahl al-Bayt arrived in Medina, where sermons were delivered by Imam Sajjad and Zainab. The Ahl al-Bayt mourned officially.
Chapter 11: Importance of Imam’s (AS) Pilgrimage
This chapter examines the importance of Imam Hussain's pilgrimage.
Part-II: The Story of Revenge
Chapter 12: Shi’i After Imam’s (AS) Martyrdom
After Imam Hussain’s martyrdom, the people of Iraq regretted for whatever they have done, which resulted in his getting killed in the plains of Karbala. For example, Ubaydullah b. Hurr, who was among the nobles of Kufa and to whom Imam has invited in the middle of his journey—which he declined—was so severely ashamed, that it was near as though his soul would depart from his body. Then the Shi’i movement stated from the year 61 A.H, the same year in which Imam was martyred, they were busy in accumulation of armament to begin their struggle, and secretly called one another to arise for Imam’s blood revenge till Yazid ibn Mu’awiya died. The Kufans were busy in procurement of war armament and other logistics making themselves readied under the leadership of Sulayman, when Yazid b. Mu’awiya died.
Chapter 13: The Uprising of Mukhtar
Mukhtar b. Abi Ubayda Thaqafi made his uprising in Kufa on Wednesday 16 of Rab’i al-Akhir in the year 66 AH. He started taking revenge from Imam’s killers and those who had cooperated and assisted in this act. He killed whoever he could have access upon him but some of them ran away from Kufa. The reason of Mukhtar’s this action was that since Marwan b. al-Hakam took control of Damascus, he made ready two armies.
The author ends this chapter with mukhtar’s death.