Qurra b. Qays al-Hanzali

Qurra b. Qays al-Hanzali

Full Name	Qurra b. Qays al-Tamimi al-Hanzali
Lineage	Banu Tamim
Place of Residence	Kufa
Known for	One of the Reporters of the Battle of Karbala
Notable roles	Messenger of 'Umar b. Sa'd to Imam al-Husayn (a)

Qurra b. Qays al-Tamīmī al-Ḥanẓalī (Arabic:قُرَّة بن قَیس التَمیمي الحَنظَلي ) was among the soldiers of 'Umar b. Sa'd in the Battle of Karbala.

Some events of the tragedy of 'Ashura such as joining of Hurr b. Yazid to Imam al-Husayn (a), passing the family of Imam (a) by the bodies of the martyrs and the words of Lady Zaynab (a) while passing by the body of her brother are quoted from him.

Lineage

Qurra b. Qays al-Hanzali al-Tamimi al-Riyahi was from Hanzala clan of Banu Tamim tribe. He was a relative of Habib b. Muzahir from his mother's side. He was also from the same tribe as his commander in the Battle of Karbala, Hurr b. Yazid al-Riyahi.

In the Battle of Karbala

On Muharram 3rd, 'Umar b. Sa'd sent him to Imam al-Husayn (a) to ask him what brought him to Karbala. He delivered the message of 'Umar to Imam (a). Imam al-Husayn (a) answered,

"People of your city (Kufa) have written letter to me and have invited me to your city. I have come here for their invitation. If you are not happy, I will return."

When Qurra b. Qays heard Imam's (a) words, wanted to come back to the camp of 'Umar b. Sa'd. Habib b. Muzahir asked him to join the companions of Imam al-Husayn (a). Qurra b. Qays answered, "I will come back to 'Umar b. Sa'd and will deliver Imam al-Husayn's (a) answer to him and will also think about your suggestion." Qurra went to 'Umar b. Sa'd and never returned.

In the Day of 'Ashura when al-Hurr bin Yazid al-Riyahi wanted to join Imam al-Husayn (a), Qurra was beside al-Hurr.

Reporting the Events

He has reported some of the events in the tragedy of Karbala, such as passing women of the family of Imam al-Husayn (a) by the bodies of the martyrs. He said,

"Whatever I forget, I would not forget the words of Fatima's (a) daughter, Zaynab (a), when she was passing by the body of her brother fallen on the ground, she said, "O, Muhammad! O, Muhammad! Angels of sky say greetings to you; this is Husayn (a) fallen on the desert, drenched in blood with cut limbs! O, Muhammad! Your daughters are captives, your children are killed, and the wind is blowing over them." These words of Zaynab (a) made the friends and enemies cry.

He also reported the story of joining Hurr b. Yazid to companions of Imam al-Husayn (a). He said,

"When Hurr wanted to join Imam al-Husayn (a), told me, 'Do you not want to give water to your horse?' (and by this excuse, he separated from the army of 'Umar). Qurra claims that if Hurr told him of his decision, he would also rush to Husayn (a)."

His reports about the Battle of 'Ashura are quoted by Abu Zuhayr al-'Abasi and narrated by Abu Mikhnaf.