Qays b. al-Ash'ath al-Kindi

Without priority, Quality: b
Without references
From wikishia
Qays b. al-Ash'ath al-Kindi
Perpetrators of the Event of Karbala
LineageKinda tribe
Well-known RelativesAsh'ath b. Qays al-Kindi (father), Ja'da (sister)
Place of ResidenceKufa
Cause of DeathWas killed by Abu 'Amra
EraUmayyad
Known forInviting Imam al-Husayn (a) to Kufa
ActivitiesBetraying Imam al-Husayn (a), taking head of martyrs of Karbala to Ibn Ziyad, stealing the robe of Imam al-Husayn (a)


In the Event of Karbala, Qays b. Ashʿath b. Qays al-Kindī (Arabic:قيس بن أشعث الكندي) was in the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd.

In the event of Karbala, Qays was among those who wrote a letter to Imam al-Husayn (a) and asked him to go to Kufa, but after Ibn Ziyad became dominant over Kufa, changed his position. On the Day of 'Ashura, he was in the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd and participated in looting the tents and stole the robe of Imam al-Husayn (a). He was among the people who took the heads of the martyrs of Karbala to Ibn Ziyad.

His Lineage and Descendants

His father, Ash'ath b. Qays al-Kindi was the chief of the Kinda tribe and Imam Ali's (a) agent in Azerbaijan. Although in the Battle of Siffin, he was in the army of Imam (a), but he played a role in provoking Khawarij against Imam (a). After his father, Qays became the chief of the Kinda tribe.

His mother, Umm Farwa was a daughter of Abu Quhafa and thus he was a nephew of the First Caliph. In the event of Karbala, his brother, Muhammad b. Ash'ath was also in the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd who was cursed by Imam al-Husayn (a) because of denying his relationship with the Prophet (s). Their sister, Ja'da was the wife of Imam al-Hasan (a) and killed him.

Imam al-Sadiq (a) said that Ash'ath b. Qays had a role in the martyrdom of Imam Ali (a) and his son, Muhammad b. Ash'ath had a role in the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) and also mentioned the role of Ja'da in the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a).

When Imam Ali (a) was hit by the sword, Ash'ath b. Qays sent his son, Qays to report to him about the condition of Imam (a).

In the Event of 'Ashura

Qays b. Ash'ath was among those who wrote a letter to Imam al-Husayn (a) before the event of Karbala and asked him to go to Kufa. In his speech for the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd on the day of 'Ashura, Imam al-Husayn (a) addressed Qays as one of those who wrote a letter to Imam (a).

According to different sources, after the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a), Qays n. Ash'ath stole the robe of Imam (a) and thus became famous as Qays Qatifa. Ibn Jawzi said that he stole the turban of Imam (a). He was also among those who took the heads of the martyrs of Karbala to Ibn Ziyad. It is said that he took 13 heads with himself.

When Imam al-Husayn (a) sent 'Abbas b. Ali (a) to 'Umar b. Sa'd to spare the night of 'Ashura, he was among those who asked 'Umar b. Sa'd to accept that.

After the Event of Karbala

After the event of Karbala, Qays avoided going to Basra fearful of being admonished by the people of Basra and took refuge to 'Abd Allah b. Kamil (who was among the commanders of Mukhtar) in Kufa, but Mukhtar sent Abu 'Amra to his hiding and killed him.

References