Habakkuk (a)
 The tomb attributed to him in Tuyserkan, Hamadan province, Iran | |
| Name in the Bible: | Habakkuk |
|---|---|
| Place(s) of Residence: | Palestine |
| Burial place: | Kadarim in occupied Palestine and Tuyserkan, Iran |
| Name of People: | Israelite |
| Religion: | Monotheism |
Habakkuk (a) or Ḥabaqqūq (Arabic: حَبَقّوق) or Ḥayqūq (a) (Arabic: حَیقوق) (meaning "he embraces") is the name of one of the prophets of Israelites who lived about 700 BC. His book named as his name is one of the books of the Old Testament. A tomb attributed to the Prophet Habakkuk (a) exists in Tuyserkan in Hamadan province, Iran. This tomb is among the oldest historical sites in Iran. Another tomb is attributed to him in occupied Palestine.
Meaning
He (a) was one of the Prophets of Israelites[1] and his book, named as his name, is a part of the Old Testament. Habakkuk (a) is a Hebrew word for which different meanings have been mentioned, including "the one who embraces," "a fragrant plant," and "a person who struggles" (referring to his spiritual struggle with God).[2]
Life
There is no accurate information about his life or mention of his name in any part of the Old Testament except in his book. According to the prophecy of the invasion of Caledonians in his book, it can be inferred that his prophethood was almost concurrent with the fall of the capital of Assyrians and the victory of Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar in 612 BC.[3] According to some researchers recently, he lived during the rule of Yehoyakim (609 – 598 BC) or a little before it, toward the end of the rule of Yoshia (639 – 609 BC).
Some stories have been made about Habakkuk (a), especially based on the lexical meaning of his name, which seems to be myths rather than historical reports, including the story of "Bel and the Dragon," which is about his service to Prophet Daniel (a) in the lions' den. Also, there are reports about him being among the captives of Israelites taken to Babylon and his coming to Iran, but it is said that those reports do not have historical bases.
In Islamic Texts
Shi'a
The name of Habakkuk (a) and mentions of his book can be found in some hadiths and exegetical texts. His name in these sources is mostly Hayaquq and Hayquq. His mention in Islamic texts is mainly because his sayings in the third chapter of his book have been considered good news about the coming of the Prophet (s) of Islam. According to a hadith al-Shaykh al-Saduq quoted,[4] in a debate Imam al-Rida (a) had with the Jew Ra's al-Jalut, Imam (a) brought evidence from Habakkuk's (a) prophecy and Ra's al-Jalut accepted. In some Shi'a theological references, too, without mentioning this hadith, some sentences are mentioned from Habakkuk's (a) book, which has some differences from the ones mentioned in the hadith.[5] Also, the name Habakkuk (a) is mentioned in Umm Dawud supplication, which is advised to be recited on Rajab 15th.[6]
Sunnis
It seems that the name of Habakkuk (a) is not mentioned in hadith texts of Sunnis; however, in al-Tafsir al-kabir, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi mentioned some sentences from the book of Habakkuk (a) as evidence from the holy books of Jews and Christians to prove the prophethood of the Prophet (s).[7] He also mentioned the book of Habakkuk (a) among the books in which the good news about the coming of the Prophet (s) exists.[8] However, the phrases quoted in some of these references, whether Shi'a or Sunni, from the book of Habakkuk (a), has many differences from the phrases in the version of this book which is available including that in the available version of the book, there is no mention of the name of the noble Prophet (s).[9]
In the Old Testament
The book of Habakkuk (a) is the thirty-fifth book of the Old Testament, the eighth of the books of twelve minor prophets of Israelites, and among brief books of the Old Testament. This book has three chapters, and its content can be divided into five parts. In the first and second chapters of this book, which include its first four parts, it is mentioned that Habakkuk (a) complained about the oppression and injustice among the Jews before God, and God answered to him by giving him the good news that Babylonians would take them (the Jews) captive. Then, Habakkuk (a) asked God how Babylonians would defeat Jews who were juster than them and take them captive. God answered him that the victory and triumph of Babylonians would be transient, and they would perish, and only just and faithful people among them would remain to live. The fifth part (third chapter), which is a summary and conclusion of the sayings of Habakkuk (a) in the two previous chapters, is a rhythmic supplication.[10] A commentary on the first two chapters of this book has been discovered in the scrolls of the Dead Sea.[11] Some of the teachings of this book have been influential on the great leaders of Christianity such as Paul the Apostle, St. Augustine, and Martin Luther.[12]
Grave
There are different reports about the grave of Habakkuk (a). One of the tombs attributed to him is in Kadarim, occupied Palestine.[13] Another tomb attributed to him is Southwest of Tuyserkan, which is among the historical buildings in Iran.[14]
Perhaps the building of his tomb was among the buildings of the seventh/thirteenth century and sixth/twelfth century and belonged to the time of Seljuks.[15] In sources, the view of this building and description of its architecture, especially its conical rooftop, which is an example of old Iranian architecture, has been described in detail, and some information about the internal condition of the tomb has been found. The tomb of Habakkuk (a) is respected and revered by Jews and Muslim, and the people of the region mention many stories about his acts of wonder.[16]
Notes
- ↑ James Hawkes, Qamus kitāb muqaddas, under the word "Habquq."
- ↑ James Hawkes, Qamus kitāb muqaddas, under the word "Habquq".
- ↑ Ḥabqūq Nabi 1:6.
- ↑ Ṣadūq, al-Tawḥīd, vol. 1, p. 428; Ṣadūq, ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā, vol. 1, p. 165-166.
- ↑ Rāwandī, al-Kharāʾij wa l-jarāʾiḥ, vol. 1, p. 74; Bayāḍī, al-Ṣiraṭ al-mustaqīm, vol. 1, p. 55.
- ↑ Ṭūsī, Miṣbāḥ al-mutahajjid, vol. 1, p. 809.
- ↑ Fakhr al-Rāzī, al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr, vol. 3, p. 37.
- ↑ Fakhr al-Rāzī, al-Tafsīr al-Kabīr, vol. 12, 47.
- ↑ Abi al-Saʿūd, Tafsīr Abi al-Saʿūd, vol. 3, p. 60; Ālūsī, Rūḥ al-maʿānī, vol. 6, p. 184.
- ↑ James Hawkes, Qamus kitāb muqaddas, ?
- ↑ al-Tawrāt; kitābāt ma bayn al-ʿahdayn: Makhṭūṭāt qamrān_al-Baḥr al-mayyit, vol. 1, p. 281-295.
- ↑ Hume, Adyān-i zinda-yi jahān, vol. 1, p. 250.
- ↑ Tehran Jewish Committee
- ↑ Buqʿa-yi Hayqūq Nabī, p. 35; Gul Muḥammadī, Tuysarkān, vol. 1, p. 135; Adhkāʾī, Tuysarkān-Rudrāwar, vol. 1, p. 115-116.
- ↑ Gul Muḥammadī, Tuysarkān, vol. 1, p. 131.
- ↑ Gul Muḥammadī, Tuysarkān, vol. 1, p. 131-134; Sutūda, Maqbara-yi Ḥabqūq dar yik kīlūmitrī junūb-i shahr-i Tuysarkān, vol. 1, p. 6189-6191; Kalāfchī, Zahrā and Muʾminī, Mihrshād. "Majmuʿa burj arāmgāh-hā-yi ustān-i Hamadān", vol. 1, p. 667-668.
References
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- Adhkāʾī, Parwīz. Tuyserkan-Rūdrāwar. Farhang-i Hamadān. No 13, 14. Spring and Summer 1377.
- Al-Tawrāt; kitābāt ma bayn al-ʿahdayn: Makhṭūṭāt qamrān_al-Baḥr al-mayyit. Edited by Andrea Doppon_Summer and Mark Filoninco. Translated to Farsi by Mūsā Dībkhurī. Damascus: Dār al-Ṭalīʿa al-Jadīda, 1998-1999.
- Abi al-Saʿūd, Muḥammad b. Muḥammad. Tafsīr Abi al-Saʿūd al-musammā irshād al-ʿaql al-salīm ila mazāyā al-Qurʾān al-karīm. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, [n.d].
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