Umar b. Sa'd: Difference between revisions

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== His Lineage and Birthday ==

'Umar b. Sa’d b. Abi Waqqas b. Malik b. Wahib b. 'Abd Manaf b. Zuhra b. Kilab b. Marra Zahri Madani was known as Ibn Sa’d.

The date of his birth is not clear. Some sources have mentioned his birthday at the time of [[the Prophet (s)]] and some others have mentioned it at the same year when [['Umar b. Khattab]] was killed in [[23]]/643. According to Tabari, 'Umar was a teenager when he accompanied his father in conquering [[Iraq]] in [[17]]/637 and he was even appointed by his father to conquer [[Ra’s al-'Ayn]].

=== Encouraging his father to claim the position of caliphate ===

In [[37]]/657, he was in Dumat al-Jandal when the case of judgment between [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] and [[Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan]] happened there and after seeing the argument between Imam Ali’s (a) commanders and Mu’awiya, he went to his father and encouraged him to claim the caliphate but his father did not accept.

=== Giving Testimony against Hijr b. 'Uday ===

In [[51]]/671, by the request of [[Ibn Ziyad]], 'Umar and some others gave testimony against [[Hujr b. 'Adi]] that he has raised up to make mischief and that he has become [[infidel]]. This was used by [[Mu’awiya]] as an alibi to martyr Hujr and his companions in [[maraj 'Adhra’]].

[[Khwarazmi]] quoted from [[Ibn A’tham al-Kufi]] (this is not existent in the current version of Tarikh written by Ibn 'Atham; as if Khwarazmi had a version which has been different from other available versions) that when [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] immigrated from [[Medina]] to [[Mecca]] in order to refrain from making [[allegiance]] with [[Yazid b. Mu’awiya]], 'Umar b. Sa’d was Emir (or maybe [[Emir al-Hajj]]) of Mecca and when he saw the huge welcome from pilgrims of [[hajj]] to [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]], he went to Medina and wrote a letter to Yazid and informed him about coming of Imam al-Husayn (a) to Mecca.

In [[60]]/680, when the representative of Imam al-Husayn (a), [[Muslim b. 'Aqil]] went to [[Kufa]] to take people’s [[allegiance]] with Imam (a), like some nobles of Kufa, Ibn Sa’d wrote letter to [[Yazid b. Mu'awiyya|Yazid]] and advised him that if he does not want Kufa go out of his control, he has to dismiss [[Nu’man b. Bashir]], the governor of Kufa at that time. After Muslim b. 'Aqil was arrested by the order of [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]], informed 'Umar b. Sa’d of his will out of others’ sight, but 'Umar betrayed him and let 'Ubayd Allah know of Muslim’s will.

In Islamic history, 'Umar b. Sa'd is mostly known for his role in the bloody [[event of Karbala]] in which [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] and his companions were martyred. The role of 'Umar b. Sa’d in this event made him one of the most hated figures in the history.

After entering of [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] to [[Kufa]], Ibn Sa’d who was appointed as the governor of Rey and Dastebi (Arabized word for Shasht-pey, a great flat between Rey and Hamedan which was later appended to [[Qazvin]]) had camped out of Kufa with four thousand soldiers and was ready to move towards Rey, but the news about moving of Imam al-Husayn (a) towards Kufa made 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad to send Ibn Sa’d to either fight against Imam al-Husayn (a) or leaves the rule of Rey and Ibn Sa’d chose the new mission and moved towards Karbala with his soldiers.

Ibn Sa’d entered [[Karbala]] on Friday, [[Muharram]] 2 or 3, [[61]]/680 and sent [[Qurra b. Qays al-Hanzali]] to [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] to ask Imam (a) why he (a) has come to [[Iraq]]? Imam (a) replied, “People of [[Kufa]] have asked me to come and thus I have come to Iraq; now, if they do not want me, I will come back.”

Ibn Sa’d wrote the answer of Imam (a) to [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad|'Ubayd Allah]], but associates of 'Ubayd Allah such as [[Shimr b. Dhi al-Jawshan]] and others who advocated the war with Imam al-Husayn (a), prevented 'Ubayd Allah from any compromise with Imam al-Husayn (a) and in a letter to Ibn Sa’d who wanted to make compromise with Imam al-Husayn (a), 'Ubayd Allah wrote that he has to either fight with Imam (a) or leave the command of the army of Kufa to Shimr b. Dhi al-Jawshan; but, when Ibn Sa’d read the letter, told Shimr that he himself will bet he commander of the army and he will fight with Imam al-Husayn (a).

Following the order of Ibn Ziyad, Ibn Sa’d appointed five thousand soldiers to guard [[Euphrates]] from any access of the camp of Imam al-Husayn (a) for taking water.

=== Imam’s (a) Effort for Saving 'Umar b. Sa’d ===

For several times, [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] spoke with 'Umar b. Sa’d to convince him leave the war. The reports of these meetings are mentioned in historical references with little differences. Before one of these meetings, Imam (a) sent [['Amr b. Qarza al-Ansari]] with a message to 'Umar b. Sa’d to come at night and meet Imam (a) in the distance between the two camps. 'Umar b. Sa’d and twenty horsemen and Imam (a) with the same number of men came in between the two camps. Imam (a) asked his companions to go aside and 'Umar did the same. Then, they spoke with each other and their conversation lasted long. Some sources have reported that Imam (a) told 'Umar, “Do not you fear [[God]] for fighting with me while you know who I am? Leave this group and come to me to get close to God.” 'Umar b. Sa’d answered, “I fear that they destroy my house.” Imam (a) said, “I will provide a house for you.” 'Umar said, “they will confiscate my properties.” Imam (a) said, “I will give you better.” 'Umar became silent and said nothing. Imam (a) left him and said, “May God get you killed in your bed and does forgive you on the [[Day of Judgment]]! I wish you do not eat from the wheat of [[Iraq]] but little!“ 'Umar said, “If it is not wheat, there would be barley.”

In the afternoon of the day of [[Tasu’a]], 'Umar b. Sa’d got on his horse and ordered his army, “O the army of [[God]]! Get on your horses for there is good news for you!” The army of [[Kufa]] became ready for war. When Imam al-Husayn (a) knew their intention, asked them to give him the time of night to make worship and prayer. After consulting his commanders, 'Umar b. Sa’d accepted that.

According to some sources, in the morning of [['Ashura']], Imam (a) stood in front of the army of Kufa and spoke with them and then called 'Umar and addressed him, “O 'Umar b. Sa’d! Will you kill me and think that adulterine son of adulterine one will make you, the governor of Rey and Gorgan?! By God, I swear that you will not taste the freshness of its water.” 'Umar b. Sa’d became angry from the words of Imam (a), turned to his army and shouted, “What are you waiting for?! Attack all of you, for it is not but a mouthful bite!”

Then 'Umar b. Sa’d shot an arrow towards the army of Imam (a) and said, “Witness that I was the first person who shot an arrow!”

=== The Curse of Imam al-Husayn (a) ===

After [['Ali Akbar (a)]] went to the battle field, Imam (a) addressed 'Umar and cursed him, “May [[God]] cut your lineage and put you under the rule of one who beheads you in the bed.” During the rise of [[Mukhtar]], 'Umar b. Sa’d was killed in bed and his son (Hafs) was also killed.

=== His Order to Trample over the Bodies of Martyrs ===

When [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]] was seriously wounded and fell on the ground, 'Umar b. Sa’d approached him and stood above his body and told his soldiers, “Finish him and behead him.”

After the [[martyrdom]] of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions, 'Umar ordered to trample over their bodies by the horses. After burying the dead bodies of his army, 'Umar moved towards [[Kufa]] with the family of Imam al-Husayn (a) who he had captured on [[Muharram]] 12. When he arrived in Kufa and went to [['Ubayd Allah]], he asked 'Umar to give back his letter to 'Umar about the war with Imam al-Husayn (a). 'Umar claimed that the letter is lost and 'Ubayd Allah said that, “I will take it from you.”

Ibn Sa’d who had lost everything, described himself, “No one returned home worse than me; since, I had obeyed an oppressing and mischief-making ruler, had trampled justice and cut family ties.”

== His Death ==

When [[Sulayman b. Surad al-Khuza’i al-Kufi]] rose up to take revenge on the murderers of [[Imam al-Husayn]] (a) in [[65]]/684, Ibn Sa’d slept in Dar al-Imara for the fear of being killed by people and when [[Mukhtar b. Abi 'Ubayd al-Thaqafi]] rose up to take revenge on the murderers of Imam al-Husayn (a) and took the control of [[Kufa]], Ibn Sa’d escaped together with [[Muhammad b. Ash’ath b. Qays al-Kindi|Muhammad b. Ash’ath]] who was also among the major participants of the war in [[Karbala]]; but, when the people of Kufa revolted against Mukhtar, returned to Kufa and together with other chiefs of the opposition against Mukhtar led the opposition; however, when the people of Kufa failed, Ibn Sa’d escaped again from Kufa towards [[Basra]] to take refuge with [[Mus’ab b. Zubayr]]. Mukhtar sent [[Abu Qulus Shabami]], one of his commanders to run him down. He captured Ibn Sa’d and took him to Mukhtar. Ibn Sa’d and his son, [[Hafs b. 'Umar b. Sa'd|Hafs]] were killed by the order of Mukhtar and after burning their bodies, he sent their heads to [[Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya]] in [[Medina]].

In another historical report, it is mentioned that following the intercession of [['Abd Allah b. Ju’da b. Hubayra al-Makhzumi]], Mukhtar gave 'Umar a safe-conduct because Mukhtar’s sister or Mukhtar’s daughter was the wife of 'Umar b. Sa’d, but after Muhammad b. Hanafiyya objected to Mukhtar, he ordered one of his commanders to capture Ibn Sa’d in his house and beheads him. When they brought the head of 'Umar to Mukhtar, they also killed 'Umar’s son, Hafs as well.

== Different Views regarding his Authenticity among the Sunni ==

Ibn Sa’d has narrated from his father and [[Abu Sa’id al-Khudri]] and people such as his son Ibrahim, his grandson, Abu Bakr b. Hafs, Abu al-Khattab Basri, Qatada b. Da’ama al-Sadusi, [[Muhamamd b. Muslim b. Shihab al-Zahri]], Abu Ishaq Sabi’i al-Hamadani, and 'Amr b. 'Abd Allah have narrated from him. [['Ijli]] has mentioned him among the authentic people, but [[Ibn Abi Hatam al-Razi]] has Quoted from [[Yahya b. Mu’in]] saying that, “How can the murderer of [[Imam al-Husayn (a)|Husayn b. Ali (a)]] be considered authentic?!” [[Ibn Hajar]] has counted him “truthful” while, in ''Tahdhib'', has written that those narrators who have narrated from 'Umar b. Sa’d have been criticized by others.

== His Children ==

* [[Hafs b. 'Umar b. Sa'd|Hafs]], who was killed with his father by [[Mukhtar b. Abu 'Ubayd al-Thaqafi|Mukhtar]].

* Muhammad, who rose up with 'Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad Ash’ath against [[Hajjaj b. Yusuf]] and was killed. His son, Muhammad became a scholar of [[fiqh]] in [[Medina]].

* Mus’ab, from whom some narrations are mentioned in Sunni sources. He died in [[130]]/747.