Year of Sorrow

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Early Islam

ʿĀm al-Ḥuzn (Arabic: عام الحزن; translated as: the year of sorrow of year of sadness) is, according to the famous account, the tenth year after bi'tha (4 BH/619 CE) in which the Prophet's supportive uncle, Abu Talib (a), and his wife, Lady Khadija (a), passed away.[1] The naming of that particular year as the year of sorrow is attributed to the Prophet (s) that signifies his deep grief over these losses and shows the respect of the Prophet (s) toward them.

History

Most of historians believe the year was the tenth year after Bi'tha which is 4 BH/619 C.E; however, there are few reports about it being one of the years between sixth to ninth after Bi'tha.

Also historians greatly disagree over the exact day and month of these two events and the period of time between them. Regarding the demise of Abu Talib (a), historical sources present three different dates:

Likewise, for the demise of Lady Khadija (a), different dates have been recorded:

  • Three days after demise of Abu Talib (a)[5]
  • 30 days after demise of Abu Talib (a)[6]
  • 35 days after demise of Abu Talib (a)[7]
  • 55 days after the demise of Abu Talib (a)

Also, the order of precedence between the two events is a matter of disagreement among historians; as some historians reported that the demise of Abu Talib (a) happened prior to that of Lady Khadija (a) and some reported vice versa.

Notes

  1. Maqrizī, Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ, vol. 1, p. 45; Diyār Bakrī, Tārīkh al-khamīs, vol. 1, p. 301.
  2. Diyār Bakrī, Tārīkh al-khamīs, vol. 1, p. 299.
  3. Ibn al-Jawzī, al-Muntaẓam fī tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 3, p. 7.
  4. Mufīd, Masār al-shīʿa, p. 22-23.
  5. Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 1, p. 236.
  6. Maqrizī, Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ, vol. 1, p. 45.
  7. Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 1, p. 164.

References

  • Balādhurī, Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-. Ansāb al-ashrāf. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1417 AH.
  • Diyār Bakrī, Ḥusayn. Tārīkh al-khamīs fī aḥwāl anfus al-nafīs. Beirut: Dār al-Ṣādir, [n.d].
  • Ibn al-Jawzī. Al-Muntaẓam fī tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk. Edited by ʿAbd al-Qādir ʿAṭāʾ. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmīyya, 1412 AH.
  • Ibn Saʿd, Muḥammad b. Manīʿ al-Baṣrī. Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmīyya, 1412 AH.
  • Maqrizī, Aḥmad b. ʿAlī al-. Imtāʿ al-asmāʾ. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmīyya, 1420 AH.
  • Mufīd, Muḥammad b. Muḥammad al-. Masār al-shīʿa. Qom: Kungira-yi Shaykh al-Mufīd, 1413 AH.