Obayd-Allah Ibn Ziad: Difference between revisions

Ibn Ziad’s role in the death of Hussain has made him a symbol of tyranny in the Shiʿite world. Though it is said that the advice of Shamer b. Dhu’l-Jawshan prevented him from accepting the compromise negotiated by Ibn Saʿd, there is ample evidence that he was largely responsible for the outcome of the battle of Karbala. [[ʿAbbasid]] historical sources stress his intransigence toward Hussain and his followers. He is said to have struck the mouth of Hussain’s severed head with a stick, provoking the indignation of an old companion of the Prophet, Zayd b. Arqam, who had seen the Prophet kiss those lips (Tabari, II, pp. 370 f.). He is also said to have refrained from killing [[ʿAli b. al-Hussain|ʿAli Zayn-al-ʿAbedin]] only because of the pleas of Hussain’s sister, [[Zaynab]] (Tabari, pp. 372 f.). Most accounts, both historical and semi-legendary, mention his sending the women of the [[Ahl Al-Bayt|Ahl-al-Bayt]] to Damascus in uncovered palanquins. The account in Balʿami’s Persian “translation” of [[Tabari]] shows the growth of the Hussain legend; Ibn Ziad is said to have had Hussain’s head presented to him on a golden plate (ed. Bahar, p. 271). Legend has embellished Ibn Ziad’s death. A drop of blood from the head of Hussain is said to have fallen on Ibn Ziad’s thigh, causing a deep sore with such a foul stench that he was forced to tie a pouch of musk to it. The odor of musk identified his body on the battlefield (Dinavari, p. 288; Calmard, pp. 568 f.).