Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan: Difference between revisions

  | priority =a

| Cause of Death/Martyrdom = After [[Mukhtar uprising]]

'''Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|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.

He was defeated by [[Mukhtar al-Thaqafai]], and his head was cut off.

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.

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. In the [[tragedy of Karbala]], also, he was one of the people who played a major role in murdering the Imam (a).

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 Mulim 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.

In the afternoon of [[Muharram 9]], 61/680, 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). Shimr became a commander of his army.

In the morning of the day of 'Ashura', Shimr became the commander of the west wing of 'Umar b. Sa'd's army. 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). 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]].

On [[Muharram 11]], 61/680, 'Umar b. Sa'd commanded his soldiers to cut off the heads of the 72 martyrs of Karbala, and take them, under the supervision of Shimr and some other commanders, to 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad in Kufa.

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

* The material for this article is mainly taken from [http://fa.wikishia.net/%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B1_%D8%A8%D9%86_%D8%B0%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B4%D9%86 شمر بن ذی الجوشن] in Farsi Wikishia.