Rawdat al-shuhada' (book): Difference between revisions

| name = Rawdat al-Shuhada'

| alt = Rawdat al-Shuhada'

'''''Rawḍat al-Shuhadāʾ''''' (Arabic: روضة الشهداء) is a book in Farsi about the martyrdom of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and the tragedies of the [[event of Karbala]] written by [[Mulla Husayn Wa'iz Kashifi]] (d. 910/1504). The reason for naming mourning ceremonies for Imam al-Husayn (a) in Iran as "[[Rawda]]" has been reciting this book in such gatherings. ''Rawdat al-Shuhada'' was the reason for publication of other [[Maqtal]]s [reports of Imam's (a) martyrdom] at the times of [[Safavids]] and [[Qajars]]. In ''[[Hamasa-i Husayni]]'', [[Shahid Mutahhari]] seriously criticized some of the reports in this book.

Kamal al-Din Husayn b. Ali Wa'iz Kashifi Sabziwari (d. 910/1504) was a scholar of centuries 9/16 and 10/17 from [[Sabzevar]]. Kashifi wrote the book toward the end of his life. Mulla Husayn was a religious lecturer and poet; that is why he had the title of "Wa'iz" and the pen name as "Kashifi". His sessions and lectures have been famous at that time and those contemporary with him have reported about his position among people and before the rulers of his time. One of the features of Rawdat al-Shuhada' which made it lasting is its fluency and flow of the content. There are different opinions about the religion of the author.

About the book, [[Agha Buzurg Tihrani]] said, "Rawdat al-Shuhada' is in Mulamma' Farsi and written by Mawla Wa'iz Husayn b. 'Ali Kashifi Bayhaqi. This book is arranged in 10 chapters and an ending. In the ending of the book, the author has written the lineage of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and the biography of a group of their descendants. The ending of the book is in 34 pages with the title of "Ansab Sibta al-Nabi (s)".

Some have mentioned this possibility that this book has been the first [[Maqtal]] in Farsi which has spread among Farsi speakers to the extent that the reciter of that was called "Rawza Khan"; however, it will be mentioned in the chapter regarding Maqtals that Farsi Maqtal previous to it existed, from which, Rawdat al-Shuhada' has quoted and that is the Farsi Maqtal written by [[Abi al-Mafakhir Razi]], from him, Rawdat al-Shuhada' has quoted a poem.

Although Kashifi has not clearly mentioned the references of Rawdat al-Shuhada', but reading through the book, it can be found that the books it quoted from are: ''Futuh'' for Ibn A'tham al-Kufi, ''Rawdat al-ahbab'', ''Shawahid al-Nubuwwa'', ''[['Uyun Akhbar al-Rida]]'', ''Kanz al-ghara'ib'', ''Masabih al-qulub'', ''Maqtal al-Shuhada''', ''Nur al-A'imma''. The author has also benefitted from many unknown and unauthentic sources. He has not followed an accurate citation method even from these sources.

Regardless of its popularity, this book has been criticized by scholars and researchers of next periods due to its weaknesses of the content and serious objections have been pointed about it. From the viewpoint of the critics, the most important problem of Rawdat al-Shuhada' is its [[Sufi]] look, wrong narrations and stories. Critics have said that the book has only mentioned the hardships and does not narrate an epic and political account of the [[event of Karbala]] and does not look through its causes and nature either.

Scholars such as Mirza [['Abd Allah Afandi]] in his ''[[Riyad al-'ulama']]'', Mirza [[Husayn Nuri]] in his ''[[Lu'lu' wa marjan]]'' and [[Shahid Mutahhari]] in his ''[[Hamasa-i Husayni]]'' have mentioned objections and criticisms about Rawdat al-Shuhada'.