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

'''''Rawḍat al-shuhadāʾ''''' (Arabic: {{ia|رَوضَة الشُّهَداء}}) 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 [[Safavid]] and [[Qajar]] dynasties. In ''[[Hamasa-yi Husayni]]'', [[Murtada Mutahhari|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 9th/15th and 10th/16th centuries 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 his 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 religious affiliation of the author.

==In Words of Aqa Buzurg Tihrani==

About the book, [[Aqa Buzurg Tihrani]] said, ''Rawdat al-shuhada'' is in brilliant Farsi and written by Mawla Wa'iz Husayn b. 'Ali Kashifi Bayhaqi. This book is arranged into 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 Sibtay 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 this book was called "Rawza Khan"; however, it will be mentioned in the chapter regarding Maqtals that Farsi Maqtal existed before ''Rawdat al-shuhada'', from which Kashifi has quoted and that is the Farsi Maqtal written by [[Abu l-Mafakhir Razi]], from whom, ''Rawdat al-shuhada'' has quoted a poem.

== Purpose of Writing ==

Following the request of one of the noble people of [[Harat]] and since there was no comprehensive text for the tragedies of Imam al-Husayn (a) and the [[Battle of Karbala]], the author found it necessary to write such a text and even tried to translate Arabic poems as well.

* First Chapter: On the trials of some of the Prophets (Peace be upon them)

* Third Chapter: On the demise of the Master of the prophets (a)

* Sixth Chapter: On virtues and states of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] from birth to martyrdom

* Tenth Chapter: On the events happened to the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] after the Battle of Karbala

Although Kashifi has not clearly mentioned the references of ''Rawdat al-shuhada' '', but reading through the book, it can be inferred that the books it has 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 benefited from many unknown and unauthentic sources. He has not followed an accurate method to cite from these sources either.

It seems that the author has been more inclined toward making stories and telling tales than remaining loyal to narrate from authentic sources.

Regarding its fluent and beautiful prose style, the book soon became popular at its time and even today it receives indirect attention in mourning ceremonies. It has been translated to different languages and converted to poetic style for many times so far.

Regardless of its popularity, this book has been criticized and seriously objected by scholars and researchers of next generations due to the weaknesses of its content. From the viewpoint of the critics, the most important problem of ''Rawdat al-shuhada' ''is its [[Sufi]] tendency, wrong narrations and tale telling. Critics have pointed out that the book has only mentioned the hardships and does not narrate an epic and political account of the [[Battle of Karbala]] and does not look through its causes and nature either.