Ta'ziya of al-'Abbas (a): Difference between revisions

'''Ta'zīya of 'Abbās (a)''' (Persian: {{ia|تعزیه حضرت عباس (ع)}}) is a [[Ta'ziya]] of the first ten days of [[Muharram]]. This Ta'ziya is performed on [[Muharram 9th]], and is about the [[martyrdom]] of [['Abbas b. 'Ali (a)]]. The protagonist characters in the Ta'ziya are [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], 'Abbas b. 'Ali (a), [[Imam 'Ali (a)]], [['Ali Akbar (a)]], [[Qasim b. Hasan (a)]], [[Zaynab bt. 'Ali (a)]], and [[Sakina bt. al-Husayn (a)]], and antagonist characters are [['Umar b. Sa'd]], [[Shimr]] and the army of the enemy. In this Ta'ziya, events such as the digging of a trench around the camps, 'Abbas’s (a) attempt to bring water from [[Euphrates]], and his martyrdom, are narrated.

'Abbas (26/626-61/680), known as “Abu l-Fadl” and “Qamar Bani Hashim”, was the son of Imam 'Ali (a) and [[Umm al-Banin]]. He was the commander and flag-holder of the army of Imam al-Husayn (a) in the [[Event of Karbala]]. He supplied water to the army in [[Karbala]]. Thus, he is known by the [[Shi'as]] as “Saqqa” (a person who supplies water). On the [[Day of Ashura]], he was ordered by Imam al-Husayn (a) to go the Euphrates River to bring water, but after filling the waterskin, he was martyred on his way back to the camps.

The Ta'ziya of 'Abbas (a) is performed in accordance with different versions, such as the well-known pieces written by Mir 'Aza, Mir Anjum, Zamina Qazvin (field of Qazvin), and Zamina Isfahan (field of Isfahan).

===Ta'ziya of 'Abbas (a) According to Mir 'Aza’s Version===

The Ta'ziya of 'Abbas (a) according to Mir 'Aza Kashani’s version begins with [[Shimr]]’s paean: “O the king of the small army! Look at the field!”. After that, actors who play the roles of Imam al-Husayn (a), 'Abbas b. 'Ali (a), 'Ali al-Akbar (a), Qasim b. al-Hasan (a), and Zaynab (a) recite poems with the same rhyme. The Imam (a) orders that a trench be dug around the camps, and 'Abbas (a) starts to dig the trench by reciting a Persian poem which translates as: “O Lord! I am digging a trench – lest my sister be humiliated and miserable”. 'Ali al-Akbar (a) and Qasim (a) also recite poems with the same rhyme. After that, the stories of 'Ali al-Akbar’s (a) attempt to bring water, 'Abbas’s (a) conversation with Imam 'Ali (a), and the safe conduct are played. 'Abas (a) will then enter the battlefield and finds his way through the enemies to the river. He then points to the faithlessness of the water. Sakina (a) recites poems with the same rhyme in the camps. She says that we, the children, do not want water and thus, she asks her uncle to go back to the camps as early as possible. At the end of the Ta'ziya, 'Abbas’s (a) attempt to bring water, the martyrdom of 'Abbas, and Imam al-Husayn’s (a) arrival on 'Abbas’s (a) corpse are played.

===Ta'ziya of 'Abbas (a) According to Mir Anjum’s Version===

Ta'ziya of 'Abbas (a) according to Mir Anjum’s version, which is one of the longest versions of plays about 'Abbas’s (a) martyrdom, begins with 'Umar b. Sa'd’s recitation of a poem which translates as “O the king! My heart is restless to kill you tonight”, and then he challenges the Imam’s (a) army to fight him in the presence of the Imam (a), which is followed by the Imam’s (a) conversation with him. When the Imam (a) is disappointed of guiding 'Umar b. Sa'd to the right path, he covers his head with his robe and tells his companions that they were no longer under the pledge of allegiance to him. After this, the stories of some companions leaving the Imam (a), his conversation with Zaynab (a), 'Ali al-Akbar’s (a) attempt to bring water, the entrance of Shimr, 'Abbas’s (a) sermon, his farewell to the household of Imam al-Husayn (a), and 'Abbas’s (a) martyrdom are played.

There are two groups of characters in the Ta'ziya of 'Abbas (a): the saints as symbols of the good, and their enemies as symbols of the evil. The actors of the roles of the saints are called “Muwafiq-khwan” (protagonists) and the actors of the roles of their enemies are called “Mukhalif-khwan” or “Ashqiya'-khwan” (antagonists).

* [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]: he is present from the beginning of the play until the end. The Ta'ziya ends with his remarks.

* [['Abbas b. 'Ali (a)]]: he is the main character, which, in the literature of [[Ta'ziya]], is called “Shah Nuskha” (the king of the play).

* [[Qasim b. al-Hasan (a)]]: he has a minor role in this Ta'ziya.

* [[Zaynab (a)]]: she is present from the beginning of the play until the end. This is the only female character of the Ta'ziya of 'Abbas (a).

* [[Sakina (a)]]: this is the only child character of the Ta'ziya. Her role seems to be rather prominent.

Antagonists of the Ta'ziya include the following:

* [['Umar b. Sa'd]]: the commander of the enemy’s army.