Tasu'a: Difference between revisions

'''Tasuʿa''' (Arabic: {{ia|تاسوعاء}}) is the 9th day of [[Muharram]], and it refers to [[Muharram 9]], 61/[[October 12]], 680 the day before the [[Day of 'Ashura]]. On that day, [[Shimr]] came to [[Karbala]] bringing a letter from [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] in which [['Umar b. Sa'd]] was asked to either be serious in treating [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] or leave the command of the army to Shimr. 'Umar b. Sa'd refused to leave the army's command 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) sent his brother [['Abbas]] to ask 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 significant for Shi'a. Traditionally, Shi'as consider the day of 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]].

'Ubayd Allah had also threatened 'Umar in the letter that if he refuses the order, he had to withdraw from the army's command and leave it to Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan.<ref>Kūfī, ''al-Futūḥ'', vol. 5, p. 94; Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Mnāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 98; Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', p. 466.</ref>

'Abd Allah b. Abi l-Mahal sent the safe-conduct to Karbala through his slave, Kazman or 'Irfan. After he arrived in Karbala, he read the text of the safe-conduct for the sons of Umma al-Banin (a), but they refused it.<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 415; Kūfī, ''al-Futūḥ'', vol. 5, p. 93-94; Ibn Athīr, ''al-Kāmil fī l-Tārīkh'', p. 56.</ref>

'Abbas (a) and his brothers were sitting with Imam al-Husayn (a) and did not answer Shimr. Imam (a) told 'Abbas (a), "Although he is a mischief-maker, you answer him for he is one of your uncles." [['Abbas (a)]], 'Abd Allah, Ja'far and 'Uthman came out and asked Shimr, "What do you want?" Shimr told them, "you are my nephews; so, you are safe and free to go since I took a safe-conduct of you from 'Ubayd Allah." But, 'Abbas (a) and his brothers said, "May God curse you and your safe conduct! We would be safe and the son of the Prophet's (s) daughter would not be safe?!"<ref>Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 3, p. 183;  Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa al-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 416; Khawārazmī, ''Maqtal al-Ḥusayn'', vol. 1, p. 246.</ref>

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]].<ref>Balādhurī, ''Ansāb al-ashrāf'', vol. 3, p. 184; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 416; Khawārazmī, ''Maqtal al-Ḥusayn'', vol. 1, p. 249.</ref>

The noise of the army raised. Imam (a) was sitting in front of his tent and leaned on his sword. Hearing the sound of the army of Kufa, Imam's (a) sister, [[Zaynab (a)]] came near her brother and said, "O brother! Do you hear the sound of them approaching?" Imam (a) raised his head and said, "I met the [[Prophet (s)]] in my dream and he (s) told me, 'You will [soon] come to us." Imam (a) told 'Abbas (a), "O 'Abbas! May my life be sacrificed for you; sit on your horse and go to them and ask what they want and why they have come forth?"

During the time 'Abbas (a) was speaking with Imam (a), his companions, Habib b. Muzahir and Zuhayr b. Qayn used the opportunity and spoke with the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd and advised them not to war with Imam (a) and prevented them from coming forth.<ref>Kūfī, ''al-Futūḥ'', vol. 5, p. 98; Khawārazmī, ''Maqtal al-Ḥusayn'', vol. 1, p. 249-250; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 416-417.</ref>

'Abbas (a) returned to the enemy's army and delivered the request of Imam (a) to them and asked them to give them the night. 'Umar b. Sa'd agreed with the request of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions.<ref>Al-Kūfī, ''Al-Futūḥ'', vol. 5, p. 98; Ṭabarī, ''Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk'', vol. 5, p. 417.</ref> On that day, the tents of Imam al-Husayn (a), his family, and his companions were surrounded.

In Iran and some Islamic countries having a Shi'a majority, the day of Tasu'a is an official holiday the same as the Day of 'Ashura. On this day, great mourning ceremonies are held with the running of mourning, [[chest-beating]] and [[Zanjirzani|chain-hitting]] caravans of people.

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