Sayyid al-Shuhada'

Sayyid al-Shuhadāʾ (Arabic: سید الشهداء), meaning the Master of Martyrs, is the epithet the noble Prophet (s) gave to his uncle, Hamza b. 'Abd al-Muttalib, who was martyred in the Battle of Uhud and mutilated. This is also one of the most famous epithets of Imam Husayn (a).

Epithet of Hamza

The polytheists martyred Hamza in the Battle of Uhud and mutilated him. Since then, he was called Sayyid al-Shuhada' by the Prophet (s).

In most of the books of narration and history, he is referred to as Sayyid al-Shuhada', but other epithets have been used to refer to him as well, such as, Master of Martyrs of Heaven, Master of the First and Last Martyrs except the Prophets and their successors, Best of Martyrs, The Supreme of Martyrs, God and His Prophet's (s) Lion. Imam 'Ali (a), in the Six-Member Council, Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Husayn (a) in the event of 'Ashura', and Muhammad b. Hanafiyya in his sayings and arguments have always allured to Hamza's high position by referring to him with this epithet, such as to show that the fact that Hamza has reached such a position to be called Sayyid al-Shuhada' is a reason for pride for Banu Hashim and the Ahl al-Bayt (a).

• In the Ziyarah text of the Prophet (s) we read;

“

السَّلامُ عَلی عَمِّک حَمزة سَیدِالشُّهَداء

Peace on your uncle, Hamza, the Master of Martyrs.

” — Ziyarah text of the Prophet (s)

• and in the Ziyarah text of Hamza we read;

“

السَّلامُ عَلَیک یا عَمَّ رَسولِ اللّهِ وَ خیرَ الشُهَداء

Peace on you oh uncle of God's messenger, and best of Martyrs.

” — Ziyarah text of Hamza

Epithet of Imam al-Husayn (a)

This epithet was given to Imam al-Husayn (a) after his martyrdom as well. However, even before his martyrdom, some narrations by the Prophet (s) refer to him as Sayyid al-Shuhada'.

It seems that this epithet became widely used for Imam al-Husayn (a) during Imam al-Sadiq's era. One of the female companions of Imam al-Sadiq (a), an Iraqi woman called Um Sa'id Ahmasiyya, had decided to visit the graves of the martyrs of Medina, when Imam al-Sadiq (a) asked her, "Why don't you visit the grave of the Sayyid al-Shuhada' of your own [town]?" Um Sa'id, thinking that Imam al-Sadiq (a) is referring to Imam 'Ali (a) asked, "Who do you mean by Sayyid al-Shuhada'?" He replied, "Sayyid al-Shuhada' is Husayn b. 'Ali (a)." Explaining how both Hamza and Imam al-Husayn (s) have received the Sayyid al-Shuhada' epithet, Mulla Salih Mazandarani says that Hamza was the Sayyid al-Shuhada' of his time, whereas Imam al-Husayn (a) is the absolute Sayyid al-Shuhada'. After Hamza's martyrdom, Lady Fatima (a) made a Misbaha from his grave's soil and used every knot to say a dhikr in her prayers. Now Shi'as make Misbahas from Imam Husayn's (a) soil (see: Turba). Regarding the distinct quality of a Misbaha made from Imam Husayn's (a) soil, as compared to Hamza's soil, Imam al-Sadiq (a) says, "A Misbaha made of Imam Husayn's soil is blessed with the rewards of Dhikr for only being onto one's hand even if he (the holder) himself is not uttering anything ."

Epithet of Other Personalities

Besides Hamza and Imam al-Husayn (a), others have been referred to as Sayyid al-Shuhada', such as St. George the Prophet (a), Bilal al-Habashi, Ja'far b. Abi Talib, and Mihja' b. 'Abd Allah, the first martyr of the Battle of Badr.

In addition, the Prophet (s) has said that the next Sayyid al-Shuhada' after Hamza is any person who will go to an oppressive leader to prevent him from wrong or invite him to good, and is killed for doing so.

External Links

• The material for this article is mainly taken from سید الشهداء in Farsi Wikishia.