Qamqam-i zakhkhar wa samsam-i battar (book)
 Qamqam-i zakhkhar wa samsam-i battar dar ahwalat-i hadrat-i mawla l-Kawnayn Abi 'Abd Allah al-Husayn (a) | |
| Author | Farhad Mirza |
|---|---|
| Original title | قَمْقام زَخّار وَ صَمْصام بَتّار در احوالات مولی الکونین ابی عبدالله الحسین |
| Language | Persian |
| Series | 1 volume |
| Subject | Imam al-Husayn (a) |
| Genre | Historic and Narrative |
| Published | 1421/2000-1 |
| Publisher | Kitabchi |
Qamqām-i zakhkhār wa ṣamṣām-i battār dar ahwalāt-i ḥaḍrat-i mawlā l-kawnayn Abi 'Abd Allāh al-Husayn (a), (Persian: قَمْقام زَخّار وَ صَمْصام بَتّار در احوالات مولی الکونین ابی عبدالله الحسین) means: "overflowing sea and sharp sword on the events of the master of both worlds, Abi 'Abd Allah al-Husayn (a)" is a book in Persian written by Farhad Mirza Mu'tamid al-Dawla, son of 'Abbas Mirza, crown prince of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar. This book is written in 1303/1885-86 and extensively explains the events about Imam al-Husayn (a). In this book, the author gives a historical and narration of the event of Karbala in fluent and plain Persian. In this work, the author tried to benefit from Shi'a and Sunni authentic sources and mentioned poems and proverbs in Persian and Arabic. In some cases, Farhad Mirza has also made historical criticisms and mentioned some events such as the uprising of Tawwabun and uprising of Mukhtar in details.
Story of Writing
In the introduction of the work, Farhad Mirza mentions that since his young ages, he wanted to write a book free of unnecessary extras about the events of Imam al-Husayn (a) from childhood until his martyrdom, and mentions an event which happened to him in 1293/1876-7, when he was returning from hajj journey. In that event, a great storm made the sea turbulent and he made an entreaty to Imam al-Husayn (a) and made a nadhr that if he survives, he would finish this work.
History of Writing
In the introduction of the corrector of the book, it is mentioned that according to the author, the date of beginning the writing was 1303/1885-6 and the date of its end was Wednesday, 25th Dhu l-Hijja 1304/14 September, 1887, and its handwritten script was written on Muharram, 2nd, 1305/September 20, 1887 by Muhammad Ali Munshi Ali Abadi.
Content
The content of the book can be summarized in seven lines:
- Umayyads and issues related to Mu'awiya and Imam al-Hasan (a), Kufa, its governors and killing the chiefs (Hujr b. 'Adi, etc.)
- Yazid and his government, allegiance, Muslim and his martyrdom and other groups of Shi'a.
- Journey of Imam al-Husayn (a) toward Kufa, al-Hurr, Karbala, 'Ashura, martyrdom of the companions and Imam (a) himself.
- Influences of the martyrdom of Imam (a) and his family, speeches of Lady Zaynab (a) and Imam al-Sajjad (a) and their debates with enemies.
- Martyrdom of some Shi'a in defense of Imam al-Husayn (a) and the fate of some of the murderers of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions, Imam's (a) family in Syria and Medina, their speeches and Yazid's actions.
- Mentioning the writing of different correspondences between Yazid's companions and Ibn Zubayr and Ibn 'Abbas, the length of Imam al-Husayn's (a) life, the fate of his murderers and miracles, supplications, poems and merits of visiting Karbala, names of the martyrs and the blessedness of the soil of Imam's (a) grave.
- Uprisings of Tawwabun and al-Mukhtar (in details), 'Abbasids and their treatment of the grave of Imam al-Husayn (a), Arabic and Persian poems.
Features
This work is written in plain Persian and using his special talent in literature, Farhad Mirza wrote it free from the complicated writing style of Qajar era.
In different places of the book, the author has used stories, poems, Arabic and Persian proverbs and has explained and corrected the names of people, places, words and difficult points. Another feature of the book is frequent usage of Sunni and Shi'a authentic sources, without prejudice or alteration; and, the author mentioned quotations from sources, sometimes in Arabic but without brief translation.
Another feature of the book is the poems about Imam al-Husayn (a) composed by al-Sayyid al-Himyari, al-Farazdaq, al-Najashi, al-Tirimmah b. 'Adi and 'Ubayd Allah b. al-Hurr and war cries of Imam al-Husayn (a) in Karbala. The author tried to criticize some historical reports, such as the killing of Rushayd al-Hajari and Maytham al-Tammar reported by al-Kashshi.
One of the extensive discussions of the book is about the uprisings of Tawwabin and Mukhtar. Mentioning the behavior of 'Abbasids, especially, destruction of Karbala by Mutawakkil 'Ababsi is another feature of the book. In different places of the book and introduction of books and authors, Farhad Mirza showed his love for great leaders of Shi'a in different ways. For example, he sometimes follows their manners and speeches and gives the most details about their biographies in introduction of the books.
Position
Due to citation from authentic sources, accuracy in reports and position of the author, this book has always been a reference, so that it has been considered as an authentic Maqtal and many great scholars cited from it.
References
- The material for this article is mainly taken from قمقام زخار و صمصام بتار (کتاب) in Farsi WikiShia.