Tasu'a: Difference between revisions

'''Tasu'a''' (Arabic: تاسوعاء) is Muharram 9, specifically it refer to Muharram 9, 61/680 the day before the [[event of Karbala]]. On that day, [[Shimr]] came to [[Karbala]] bringing a letter from [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]]. In that letter, [['Umar b. Sa'd]] was asked to either be serious in treating [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] or leaves the command of the army to Shimr. 'Umar b. Sa'd refused to leave the command of the army to Shimr and prepared to fight with Imam al-Husayn (a). After the attack of the army to the tents of Imam (a) in the evening of Tasu'a, Imam (a) sending his brother [['Abbas]], asked the enemy to reprieve them the night.

Also, on this day, Shimr brought a safe-conduct for 'Abbas and other sons of [[Umm al-Banin]], but 'Abbas did not accept it. Therefore, this day is very important for Shias. Shias consider Tasu'a dedicated to 'Abbas (a) and respect it the same as the [[day of 'Ashura]] and mention the merits of 'Abbas and mourn for him. This day is an official holiday before the day of 'Ashura in [[Iran]].

The ninth day of Muharram is called Tasu'a. The word "Tasu'a" is derived from the root "ta-sa-'ayn" (Arabic: ت س ع) meaning nine or ninth. However, the fame of this day is because of the events in [[Muharram 9]] 61/680 occurred in Karbala.

In that letter, 'Ubayd Allah had also threatened 'Umar that if he refuses the order, he had to withdraw from the command of the army and leave it to Shimr b. Dhi al-Jawshan.

'Abd Allah b. Abi l-Mahal sent the safe-conduct to Karbala through his slave, Kazman or 'Irfan. After he arrived in Karbala, read the text of the safe-conduct for the sons of Umma al-Banin (s), but they refused it.

After rejecting the safe-conduct, the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd was ordered to prepare for the war; so, everyone got on his horse and prepared to fight Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions on the evening of Thursday, Muharram 9.

In the evening of Muharram 9, movements of the army of Kufa increased and 'Umar b. Sa'd prepared to fight with Imam al-Husayn (a) and ordered his army to prepare for the war. He shouted among his soldiers, "O the army of God! Got on [your horses] for I give you the good news of the paradise!" Army of Kufa got on [their horses] and prepared for the battle.

In a hadith, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) described that day as,

: "Tasu'a is the day when Husayn (a) and his companions were besieged in Karbala and the army of Sham gathered against them; and 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad and 'Umar b. Sa'd became so happy of the gathering of so many forces. That day, they considered Husayn (a) and his companions weak and became sure that no help will come for them and Iraqi people will not support them either."