Turbah: Difference between revisions

'''Turbah''' is a term used in Shi’ite culture. It literally means “soil” but in Shi’ite culture, it refers to the soil taken from around the grave of [[Hussain ibn Ali|Imam Hussain]]. Some argue that it refers to the soil taken from around any sacred graves including those of [[Imam]]s, prophets, martyrs, and the righteous. However, in its common and exclusive sense, this term refers to the soil taken from around the grave of Imam Hussain, and as narrated by Imams, the terms “al-Tin” and “Tin al-Qabr” most probably are used in the same sense. Turbah is sometimes figuratively used to mean “grave”, particularly to refer to the graves of the righteous. [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/biruni-abu-rayhan-index Abu Rayḥan Al-Biruni] uses the term “Turbah al-Masouda” to refer to the grave of Imam Hussain. Turbah has always been sacred for the Shiite, representing their “motto”. It has its own particular rules and rituals in Shiite [[hadith]]s and jurisprudence.

According to [[hadith]], Jesus, while prophesizing Imam Hussain’s [[martyrdom]] to his apostles, mentioned the reverence of turbah.<ref>See ibn Babawayh, 1984, Vol. 2, pp. 531-532; Ibid, 1983, session 87, pp. 598-599; Sadri, p. 22.</ref> Many hadiths in Shi’ite and Sunni sources suggest that the [[Prophet Muhammad]] was aware of Imam Hussain's martyrdom, and some hadiths maintain that Gabriel (another angel) brought the red turbah of [[Karbala]] to the Prophet, which was sorrowful for him. Due to some differences in these hadiths, particularly regarding the angel who brought the turbah, some have raised multiple possibilities regarding this event<ref>See Abdullah Bahrani, Vol. 17, pp. 124-131; Amini, p. 53-129; Sadri, p. 51.</ref> These hadiths have been narrated by Companions of the Prophet Muhammed, including a number of his wives.<ref>See ibn Hanbal, Vol. 11, pp. 207-208; Al-Qadi al-Nu'man, Vol. 3, pp. 134-135; Mufid, 1992 (a), Vol. 2, p. 129; Alavi Shajari, p. 90-92; Toosi, 1993, p.314; Ibn Shahr Ashub, Vol. 4, p. 63; Sadri, p. 52; Movahed Abtahi Isfahani, Vol. 4, pp. 150-151, 153, 218-253, 262-264.</ref> In some sources, the content of these hadiths is regarded as a miracle of the Prophet Muhammad. <ref>See Abu Nu`aym, p. 553; Bayhaqi, Vol. 6, pp. 468-470.</ref> According to the hadiths mostly narrated by [[Umm Salama]], <ref>See Movahed Abtahi Isfahani, Vol. 4, pp. 218-242.</ref> the Prophet Muhammad gave the turbah brought to him by Gabriel to Umm Salama, and she placed it in a glass (her dress or scarf), then the Prophet Muhammad said that turbah was blood-red because of Imam Hussain's martyrdom on [[Ashura]].<ref>See Abū Yaʿlā al-Mawṣilī, Vol. 6, pp. 129-130; Khusaibi, pp. 202-203; Ibn Qulawayh, pp. 59-61; Tabarani, Vol. 3, p. 108; ibn Shajari, Vol. 2, p. 82; ibn Babawayh, 1983, session 29, pp. 139-140; Hakim al-Nishapuri, Vol. 5, p. 567.</ref> There are other reports designating that the turbah turns blood-red on Ashura<ref>Maysami Iraqi, p. 542; Dastghaib, pp. 123-124.</ref> In Shi’ite sources, these hadiths are narrated by about ten narrators from the [[Prophet Muhammad]], [[Imam al-Baqir]], and [[Jaʿfar al-Sadiq|Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq]].<ref>See Ibn Qulawayh, Ibid; Toosi, 1993, pp. 314-318; Fadhl Tabresi, Vol. 1, 428.</ref> Some hadiths mention that the Prophet Muhammad gave some turbah to Umm Salama. According to one hadith, that turbah was with her<ref>See Ibn Qulawayh, p. 60.</ref> until her death, and according to another hadith it was kept by Imam al-Baqir.<ref>See Toosi, 1993, p. 316.</ref> Some prayers also assert that Gabriel brought turbah to the Prophet Muhammad.<ref>See Ibn Qulawayh, pp. 280, 282, 284- 285; Mohammad-Baqer Majlesi, Vol. 98, pp. 118, 129.</ref> In some hadiths, [[Ali ibn Abi Talib|Imam Ali]] narrates about Imam Hussain’s turbah. For instance, while crossing Karbala in the [https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-the-quran/siffin-battle-of-EQSIM_00388 Battle of Siffin], Imam Ali narrated the Prophet Muhammad's hadith regarding the importance of turbah to his companions.<ref>See Nasr bin Mozahim, p. 140; Ibn Sa'ad, pp. 48- 49; Ibn Hanbal, Vol. 1, p. 446; Abū Yaʿlā al-Mawṣilī, Vol. 1, p. 298; Ibn Asakir, p. 23- 234.</ref> Apparently, this hadith was narrated twice in [[Karbala]] during Imam Ali's journey to Siffin and on his return.<ref>Movahed Abtahi Esfahani, Vol. 4, pp. 365- 366.</ref> Another hadith mentions Imam Ali's knowledge of the turbah of Imam Hussain martyrdom.<ref>See Ibn Sa'ad, p. 48; Ibn Qulawayh, p. 72.</ref> According to a hadith, while crossing Karbala, Imam Ali wept and mentioned Ashura incident and emphasized the dignity of that place.<ref>See Hemayri, p. 26; Ibn Qulawayh, p. 269- 270.</ref>

Upon arriving in Karbala, Imam Hussain also narrated the hadith of Umm Salama about turbah.<ref>See Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, p. 225.</ref> According to narrations, Umm Salama narrated this hadith to Imam Hussain as he moved from Medina.<ref>Khasibi, p. 203; Masudi, p. 165; Ibn Hamza, 1991, pp. 330- 331; Movahed Abtahi Esfahani, Vol. 4, pp. 218- 221.</ref>

Other Infallible Imams also spoke of turbah, praising and emphasizing its superiority and referring to it as “mubaraka”, “tahira”, and “meskat Mubarak”.<ref>See Ibn Qulawayh, pp. 267- 268, 270- 271; Mufid, 1992 (b), p. 23; Asfari, pp. 16- 17; Mohammad-Baqer Majlesi, Vol. 98, pp. 128- 132.</ref> While picking up turbah, [[Imam Reza]] smelled it and wept.<ref>See Mohammad-Baqer Majlesi, Vol. 98, p. 131.</ref> Some hadiths mention the angels’ affection for turbah.<ref>See Ibn Qulawayh, p. 68; Mufid, 1992 (b), p. 151; Sadri, p. 49.</ref>