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Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan

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Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan (Arabic: شمر بن ذي الجوشن), a chief of the tribe of Hawazin and one of the Tabi'un, is one of the most detested figures for the Shi'a because of his role in the Tragedy of Karbala. In the beginning, Shimr was one of the companions of Imam 'Ali (a) but later became an arch-enemy of the Imam (a) and his family.

Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan
Murderer of Imam al-Husayn (a)
Full NameShimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan
TeknonymAbu Sabigha
LineageHawazin
Place of ResidenceKufa
Death66/685-6
EraYazid b. Mu'awiyya, Umayyad dynasty
Known forMurderer of Imam al-Husayn (a)
Notable rolesCommander of left side of 'Umar b. Sa'd's army
ActivitiesOne of Tabi'un, companions of Imam Ali (a) in the battle of Siffin, participating in the event of Ashura, ...


Timeline of the Battle of Karbala
Year 60/680
Rajab 15
(April 21) 		Death of Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan
Rajab 28
(May 4) 		Departure of Imam al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a) from Medina.
Sha'ban 3
(May 9) 		Arrival of Imam al-Husayn (a) to Mecca.
Ramadan 10
(June 14) 		Arrival of Kufiyans' first letter to Imam (a)
Ramadan 12
(June 16) 		Arrival of 150 letters from Kufa
Ramadan 14
(June 18) 		Arrival of the letter from leaders of Kufa
Ramadan 15
(June 19) 		Departure of Muslim b. 'Aqil from Mecca toward Kufa.
Shawwal 5
(July 9) 		Arrival of Muslim b. 'Aqil to Kufa.
Dhu l-Hijja 8
(September 9) 		Departure of Imam al-Husayn (a) form Mecca and uprising of Muslim b. 'Aqil in Kufa
Dhu l-Hijja 9
(September 10) 		Martyrdom of Muslim b. 'Aqil
Year 61/680
Muharram 1
(October 1) 		Asking for help of 'Ubayd Allah b. al-Hurr al-Ju'fi and 'Amr b. Qays in Qasr Bani Muqatil
Muharram 2
(October 2) 		Arrival of Imam (a) to Karbala
Muharram 3
(October 3) 		Arrival of 'Umar b. Sa'd with 4,000 people to Karbala
Muharram 6
(October 6) 		Habib b. Muzahir's asking for help of Banu Asad
Muharram 7
(October 7) 		Banding of water by 'Umar b. Sa'd and joining Muslim b. 'Awsaja al-Asadi to Imam (a)
Muharram 9
(October 9) 		Arrival of Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan to Karbala
Muharram 9
(October 9) 		Shimr's Safe conduct for Umm al-Banin's children
Muharram 9
(October 9) 		Announcing of the Battle by 'Umar b. Sa'd and Imam's (a) asking for a delay
Muharram 10
(October 10) 		Events of Ashura and the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a), his Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) and his companions
Muharram 11
(October 11) 		Moving the captives towards Kufa and the burial of martyrs by Banu Asad
Muharram 12
(October 12) 		Arrival of captives to Kufa and the burial of the martyrs according to the narration
Muharram 19
(October 19) 		Moving the captives from Kufa towards Syria
Safar 1
(October 31) 		Arrival of the captives and the head of Imam al-Husayn (a) to Syria
Safar 20
(November 19) 		Arba'in and the return of Ahl al-Bayt (a) to Karbala and Medina (in some accounts)

He had a significant role in the tragedy of Karbala, including paving the ground for the martyrdom of Muslim b. 'Aqil, starting the battle on the day of 'Ashura, leading the left-wing of the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd, murdering Imam al-Husayn (a), attacking the tents of the Imam's family, and trying to murder Imam al-Sajjad (a), and this is why Shimr is cursed in Ziyarah 'Ashura.

He was defeated by al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi, and his head was cut off.

Lineage

Abu Sabigha Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan was one of the Tabi'un and chiefs of the tribe of Hawazin from the clan of Banu 'Amir b. Sa'sa'a and the family of Dibab b. Kilab.[1] This is why in some sources he is called 'Amiri, Dibabi,[2] or Kilabi.[3]

Shimr's birth date is not known.

His father's name was Shurahbil b. A'war b. 'Amr.[4] Different explanations have been given as to why he was called Dhu l-Jawshan (the owner of the armor), including that he was the first Arab man who put on armor, which was given to him by the king of Iran.

At first, Dhu l-Jawshan did not accept the Prophet's (s) call to Islam, but after the Conquest of Mecca, when polytheists surrendered themselves to Muslims, he converted to Islam.[5]

Religious Shift

Shimr was one of the companions of Imam 'Ali (a) and helped him in the Battle of Siffin.[6] But later, he turned away from the Imam (a) and became a staunch enemy for him and his family.

When Hujr b. 'Adi, one of the companions of the Prophet (s) and Imam 'Ali (a), was arrested, Shimr was one of the people who falsely testified that Hujr had become an apostate and a rebel.[7] In the Tragedy of Karbala, also, he was one of the people who played a major role in murdering the Imam (a).

Role in the Tragedy of Karbala

When Muslim b. 'Aqil went to Kufa in 60/680 as a representative of Imam al-Husayn (a), Shimr got a commission from 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad not to let the people gather around Muslim b. 'Aqil. Fulfilling this task, Shimr gave a speech in which he called Muslim b. 'Aqil a rebel and warned the Kufans of the army of the central government in Syria.[8]

When Imam al-Husayn (a) arrived in Karbala, 'Umar b. Sa'd, the commander of the Kufan army, wanted to find a peaceful solution for the conflict,[9] But Shimr encouraged 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, who seemed to be inclined to 'Umar b. Sa'd's intention, to go for violent measures.[10]

In the afternoon of Muharram 9, 61/ October 9, 680 Shimr arrived in Karbala with an army of four thousand soldiers and a threatening letter from 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad. When 'Umar b. Sa'd saw the letter, he criticized Shimr for destroying the chance of peace, but still complied with 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad's command and prepared for battle with Imam al-Husayn (a).[11] Shimr became a commander of his army.

As Shimr was from the same tribe as Umm al-Banin, the mother of 'Abbas b. 'Ali, in the evening of Tasu'a he came close to the camp of Imam al-Husayn and addressed 'Abbas and his brothers as nieces and wanted them to abandon Imam al-Husayn (a) in return for a safe-conduct from 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, but they refused and remained with Imam al-Husayn (a).[12]

On the Day of 'Ashura

In the morning of the day of 'Ashura', Shimr became the commander of the left-wing of 'Umar b. Sa'd's army.[13] When approaching the tents of Imam al-Husayn (a), he was faced with a ditch and burning firewood around the tents. This made him say rude words to the Imam (a).[14] He also cut the Imam's speech for the Kufan army on the excellences of his family and the commands of the Prophet (s) to love his Ahl al-Bayt.

When Zuhayr b. Qayn started his speech to advise the people of Kufa and invited them to support Imam al-Husayn (a), Shimr threw an arrow at him and insulted him.[15]

When 'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr al-Kalbi was martyred, Shimr ordered his slave to kill 'Abd Allah's wife who was sitting next to her husband's body.[16]

When most of the Imam al-Husayn's companions were killed and he was in the middle of the battle, Kufans attacked the tents. Shimr put his spear in the tent of the Imam (a) and called for fire to burn the tent.

Murdering Imam al-Husayn (a)

Shimr commanded his soldiers to shoot the Imam's body with their arrows and then attack him.[17] There are different reports on who murdered the Imam (a) and cut off his holy head. According to al-Waqidi, Shimr did so and then stepped on the Imam's body with his horse.[18] According to some reports, he sat on the Imam's (a) chest and cut his holy head from behind.[19]

After murdering Imam al-Husayn (a) and attacking and burning his tents, Shimr intended to murder Imam al-Sajjad (a) as well, but he was stopped from doing so.[20]

After 'Ashura

On Muharram 11, 61/ October 11, 680, 'Umar b. Sa'd commanded his soldiers to cut off the heads of the seventy-two martyrs of Karbala and take them, under the supervision of Shimr and some other commanders, to 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad in Kufa.[21]

Ibn Ziyad, in turn, commissioned Shimr to take the heads and the captives to Yazid in Damascus.[22] At the court of Yazid, Shimr gave an insulting speech about Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions.[23]

After the return of Ahl al-Bayt (a) to Medina, Shimr went back to Kufa. It is said that in this period, he would pray and ask God for forgiveness, but still, he would justify his crime by calling it obedience to rulers.[24]

End of Life

During al-Mukhtar's uprising started in 66/685, Shimr took part in the war against him. But al-Mukhtar was able to defeat his opponents,[25] and thus Shimr ran away from Kufa. Al-Mukhtar sent a group to chase him; they found and killed Shimr, sent his head to al-Mukhtar, and threw his body to be eaten by dogs.[26]

Status in the Eyes of Sunnis

Shimr has narrated from his father, and Abu Ishaq al-Subay'i has narrated from Shimr. However, Sunni sources mention Shimr disparagingly, regarding him as unqualified for narrating hadith because he participated in the murder of Imam al-Husayn (a).[27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ibn ʿAbd Rabbih, al-ʿIqd al-farīd, vol. 3, p. 318-320.
  2. ↑ Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 23, p. 186.
  3. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 482.
  4. ↑ Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 6, p. 46.
  5. ↑ Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 6, p. 47-48; Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 23, p. 187-188.
  6. ↑ Naṣr b. Muzāhim, Waqʿat Ṣiffīn, p. 267-268; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 28.
  7. ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 269-270.
  8. ↑ Abī Mikhnaf, Waqʿat al-Ṭaff, p. 123-124.
  9. ↑ Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 87-88.
  10. ↑ Abī Mikhnaf, Waqʿat al-Ṭaff, p. 187-188; Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 482.
  11. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 483; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 414-415.
  12. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 483-484; Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 82.
  13. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 487.
  14. ↑ Abī Mikhnaf, Waqʿat al-Ṭaff, p. 205; Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 487; Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 96.
  15. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 488-489; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 426.
  16. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 493.
  17. ↑ Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 111-112.
  18. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 500; Iṣfahānī, Maqātil al-ṭālibīyyīn, p. 119.
  19. ↑ Khwārizmī, Maqtal al-Ḥusayn, vol. 2, p. 41-42; Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 112; Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 500-501; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 453.
  20. ↑ Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 5, p. 212; Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 112-113; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 454.
  21. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 2, p. 503; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 456.
  22. ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 460.
  23. ↑ Dīnawarī, al-Akhbār al-ṭiwāl, p. 260; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 5, p. 459; Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 118.
  24. ↑ Ibn ʿAsākir, Tārīkh madīnat Dimashq, vol. 23, p.189; Dhahabī, Mīzān al-iʿtidāl, vol. 2, p. 280.
  25. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 6, p. 58-59; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh Ṭabarī, vol. 6, p. 18, 29.
  26. ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 6, p. 65-66.
  27. ↑ Dhahabī, Mīzān al-iʿtidāl, vol. 2, p. 280.

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