Laylat al-Harir
Laylat al-Harir (Arabic:لَیلَةُ الهَریر, "the Night of Groaning") was a night near the end of the Battle of Siffin when fierce fighting broke out between the army of Imam Ali (a) and the forces of Mu'awiya, resulting in many casualties on both sides. That night, Imam Ali's army came close to victory, and he delivered a sermon urging his companions to remain steadfast.
On the following day, as the fighting continued, al-Ash'ath b. Qays—one of Imam Ali's commanders—argued that it was no longer wise to continue the battle. When Mu'awiya learned of his stance, he used the moment to avoid defeat and ordered that copies of the Qur'an be raised upon spears, putting forward the proposal of arbitration.
Introduction
Laylat al-Harir was one of the nights of the Battle of Siffin, during which the army of Imam Ali (a) and the forces of Mu'awiya engaged in fierce combat, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Historical sources report that the fighting was so intense that spears were broken, arrows were exhausted, and the warriors continued the battle with swords and stones.[1]
According to Allama al-Majlisi, this night was called Laylat al-Harir because of the cries and lamentations of the warriors and the pressure placed upon Mu'awiya; the term "harīr" refers to the whimpering of a dog in the cold.[2]
Laylat al-Harir corresponded to Safar 11, 37/July 29, 657,[3] or according to another report, Rabi' I 10, 38/August 28, 658.[4] Some historical sources also mention that one of the nights of the Battle of Qadisiyya was referred to by the same name.[5]
Sermon of Imam Ali (a)
Imam Ali (a) delivered a sermon on Laylat al-Harir. After praising and glorifying God, he addressed his soldiers, saying:
- "You see to what point matters between you and your enemies have come, and to what end they have been drawn. Nothing but the last breath remains in the enemy, and their affairs have been thoroughly shaken. You exerted great effort at the beginning of this struggle; now that matters are nearing their end, you must allow no weakness to enter within yourselves, and entrust your hearts to the decree and judgment of God. You see how those who stand upon falsehood strive with all their might. You, by the grace of God, are upon the side of truth, and therefore your effort must be even greater. Know that tomorrow morning we shall advance to battle, so that the flame of discord may be extinguished."[6]
He then prayed for the victory of his army. [7]
Position of al-Ash'ath b. Qays
According to historical sources, on the day following Laylat al-Harir, when the fighting resumed and the army of Imam Ali (a) was close to victory, al-Ash'ath b. Qays, one of the commanders in Imam Ali's army, declared that continuing the battle was not in their best interest.[8]
When Mu'awiya learned of al-Ash'ath's position, he ordered that copies of the Qur'an be raised upon spears and called for arbitration.[9] After Mu'awiya's forces raised the Qur'an on their spears, al-Ash'ath approached Imam Ali (a), objected to him,[10] and urged him to accept the proposal of arbitration.[11]
Notes
- ↑ Minqarī, Waqʿat Ṣiffīn, P. 475; Ibn Miskawayh, Tajārub al-umam, vol. 1, p. 343.
- ↑ Majlisī, Mirʾāt al-ʿuqūl, vol. 15, p. 427.
- ↑ Balādhurī, Jumal min ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 323.
- ↑ Subḥānī, Furūgh-i Wilāyat, p. 577-578.
- ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 3, p. 557,561.
- ↑ Minqarī, Waqʿat Ṣiffīn, P. 477.
- ↑ Minqarī, Waqʿat Ṣiffīn, P. 478.
- ↑ Minqarī, Waqʿat Ṣiffīn, P. 477-480.
- ↑ Minqarī, Waqʿat Ṣiffīn, P. 480-481; Dīnawarī, al-Akhbār al-ṭiwāl, p. 188-189.
- ↑ Yaʿqūbī, Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī, vol. 2, p. 188-189.
- ↑ Minqarī, Waqʿat Ṣiffīn, P. 482.
References
- Balādhurī, Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-. Jumal min ansāb al-ashrāf. Edited by Suhayl Zakār & Riyāḍ al-Ziriklī. 1st edition. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1417 AH.
- Dīnawarī, Aḥmad b. Dāwūd al-. Al-Akhbār al-ṭiwāl. Edited by ʿAbd al-Munʿim ʿĀmir and Jamāl al-Dīn Shiyāl. Qom: Manshūrāt al-Sharīf al-Raḍī, 1368 Sh.
- Ibn Miskawayh, Aḥmad b. Muḥammad. Tajārub al-umam. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyya, 1424 AH.
- Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. Mirʾāt al-ʿuqūl fī sharḥ akhbar Āl al-Rasūl. Edited by Sayyid Hashim Rasūlī Maḥallātī. Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya, 1404 AH.
- Minqarī, Naṣr b. Muzāhim. Waqʿat Ṣiffīn. Edited by ʿAbd al-Salām Muḥammad Hārūn. 2nd edition. Cairo: Muʾassisa al-ʿArabīyya al-Ḥadītha, 1383 AH.
- Subḥānī, Jaʿfar. Furūgh-i Wilāyat. Qom: Intishārāt-i Ṣaḥīfa, 1368 Sh.
- Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk. Edited by Muḥammad Abu l-faḍl Ibrāhīm. 2nd edition. Beirut: Dar al-Turāth, 1387 AH.
- Yaʿqūbī, Aḥmad b. Abī Yaʿqūb al-. Tārīkh al-Yaʿqūbī. Beirut: Dār Ṣādir, [n.p].