Zuhayr b. al-Qayn: Difference between revisions

'''Zuhayr b. Qayn al-Bajalī''' ({{iarabic|Arabic: زهیر بن قین البجلی}}) was a senior member of the al-Bajila tribe based in [[Kufa]]. He was known in Kufa and his tribe as a noble and brave man. He was highly respected in virtue of his attendance in many battles and conquests. In some sources, Qayn—Zuhayr’s father—is mentioned as one of the [[companions of the Prophet (s)]]. Zuhayr was a companion of [[Imam Husayn (a)]] and a high-ranking member of his army who was martyred in the [[event of Ashura]] in [[Karbala]].

==Zuhayr’s life before the event of Karbala==

Zhuayr was an advocate of [[‘Uthman b. ‘Affan]]. In 60 A.H. (679), Zuhayr and his wife, who were returning from [[hajj]] pilgrimage to Kufa together with their relatives and fellows, met [[Imam Husayn (a)]] and his companions in a resting area on the way, called Zarud. Imam Husayn (a) and his companions were also on their way to Kufa. According to Daynawari, the meeting occurred in Zarud resting area.

Imam Husayn (a) sent someone to Zuhayr and asked him to set up a meeting. Zuhayr was first reluctant to meet the Imam (a), but when his wife, Daylam or Dalham, the daughter of ‘Amr, encouraged him to do so, he went to Imam Husayn (a). The meeting changed the course of his life. After the meeting, he happily went back to his family and friends, and had his camp and stuff moved near Imam Husayn (a)’s camp.

Zuhayr said goodbye to his wife, and, on one account, divorced her, and told her: “I am going to be martyred besides Imam Husayn (a). You go back to your family together with your brother, because I do not want you to see anything harmful from me”.

After saying goodbye to his wife, Zuhayr asked his companions to accompany him if they love to be martyred; otherwise this would be their last visit. According to some sources, Salman b. Mudarib—Zuhayr’s cousin—accompanied him and joined Imam Husayn (a)’s army.

==Zuhayr’s speech in Dhu Husam==

When Imam Husayn (a) encountered [[Hurr b. Yazid]]’s army, he delivered a speech in the Dhu Husam area, talking about changes happened to the world, corruptions dominant in the society, and the insignificance of this-worldly life. When the Imam (a)’s speech was over, Zuhayr was the first one who declared his obedience of Imam Husayn (a). The Imam (a) prayed for him and appreciated him.

When Imam Husayn (a)’s caravan arrived in [[Nineveh]] on Thursday, [[Muharram]] 2, 61 A.H. (October 2, 680), a messenger from [[‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] delivered a letter for Hurr b. Yazid al-Riyahi. Ibn Ziyad wrote to Hurr to be strict on Imam Husayn (a) and force him to dwell in a desert with no water. Hurr informed the Imam (a) of the letter. Imam Husayn (a) asked Hurr to let him dwell in Nineveh, Ghadiriyya or Shufayh. But Hurr replied that this was not possible since ‘Ubayd Allah had spies there.

Zuhayr suggested to Imam Husayn (a) that they fight with this group, since it is easier to fight with them than with the group that was about to arrive. But Imam Husayn (a) replied that “I will not start the war”.

Zuhayr suggested that they dwell in a land near [[Euphrates]] called ‘Aqr, since it had natural ramparts. Imam Husayn (a) said: “I refuge to God from ‘Aqr!”

==Zuhayr on the day of Tasu’a==

On the day of [[Tasu'a]] afternoon, when [[‘Umar b. Sa’d]]’s army attacked Imam Husayn (a)’s camps in order to start the battle, the Imam (a) asked his brother, [[‘Abbas b. ‘Ali (a)]] to go to them to see what they had in mind. ‘Abbas and twenty of Imam Husayn (a)’s companions, including Zuhayr b. Qayn and [[Habib b. Mazahir]], went to the enemy’s army and asked them what they wanted and what they had in mind.  

They said: “we are ordered to fight you if you do not abide with Ibn Ziyad’s orders”. ‘Abbas (a) told them to wait until he gives the message to Imam Husayn (a). They agreed and waited for the reply. In the meanwhile, Habib b. Mazahir and Zuhayr b. Qayn seized the opportunity to preach ‘Umar b. Sa’d’s army.

‘Uzra b. Qays told Zuhayr said: “O’ Zuhayr! You were not a Shiite (follower) of this household and were an advocate of ‘Uthman!” Zuhayr replied:

: Does not my being here mean that I am with them now? I swear to God that I never wrote a letter to [[Husayn b. ‘Ali (a)]] and never sent a messenger to him and never promised to help him, but our paths met and when I met him and remembered [[the Prophet (s)]] and Husayn (a)’s place for him and learned that he was going to his enemy and your party, then I decided to help him and be in his group and sacrifice my life for the right of God and the Prophet (s) ignored by you.

The night before Ashura, when Imam Husayn (a) withdrew the allegiance of his companions and household and gave them the permission to run away and save their lives, every one of his companions declared their allegiance and faithfulness to him. After members of Imam Husayn (a)’s household expressed their allegiances, [[Muslim b. ‘Awsaja]] declared his faithfulness. Then Zuhayr b. Qayn stood up and said: “I swear to God that I want to be killed, then be alive again, and then be killed again for a thousand times so that God protects you and your household from being killed”.

==Commandership of the Right Front of Imam Husayn (a)’s army on the day of Ashura==

In the morning of [[Ashura]] after the [[morning prayer]], Imam Husayn (a) organized his companions and the army. He appointed Zuhayr b. Qayn as the commander of the right front of his army, and Habib b. Mazahir as the commander of its left front. He gave the flag to his brother, ‘Abbas (a).

==Preaching the army of ‘Umar b. Sa’d==

On the day of Ashura when the two armies met, before the war began, Imam Husayn (a) preached the enemy’s army. After the Imam (a)’s speech, Zuhayr b. Qayn asked the Imam (a) to let him give a speech. He addressed the people of [[Kufa]] and warned them about fighting with Imam Husayn (a). But the army of ‘Umar b. Sa’d responded by cursing Zuhayr and praising ‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, and insisted on the war. Finally, [[Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan]] threw an arrow to him.

Someone from Imam Husayn (a)’s army called Zuhayr and told him that:

: Imam Husayn (a) told you to come back. As the believer from the [[Pharaoh]]’s household preached his tribe but to no avail, you too have preached them enough.

==Zuhayr’s fame among people of Kufa==

Zuhayr was known by people of Kufa as a brave, distinguished and famous figure. Thus he was challenged to individual battles by Salim and Yasar—servants of [[Ziyad b. Abih]] and [[‘Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]]—who were chanting paeans. When [[‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umayr al-Kalbi]] went to fight with them, they told him: “we do not know you. Let Zuhayr b. Qayn or Habib b. Mazahir come and fight with us”. Zuhayr raised to smash them, but Imam Husayn (a) did not let him go, and sent ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umayr to fight them.

==Preventing the enemy’s attack on Imam Husayn (a)’s camps==

When the war began, [[Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan]] and a number of his soldiers approached Imam Husayn (a)’s camps from the back. He hit the Imam (a)’s camp with a spear and cried: “bring a fire so that I burn the place with its residents”. Imam Husayn (a) replied: “O’ the son of Dhi l-Jawshan! You need fire to burn the camp and my household? May God burn you with fire!” At this time, Zuhayr and ten people from his companions attacked Shimr and his soldiers and forced them out of the location. Zuhayr killed Abu ‘Izza al-Dababi—a friend and a relative of Shimr.  

When Imam Husayn (a) and some of his companions were saying noon prayers on the day of Ashura, Zuhayr b. Qayn and [[Sa’id b. ‘Abd Allah al-Hanafi]] stood in front of the Imam (a) and the rest of his companions to protect them against the attacks of the enemy. They shielded themselves against the arrows until the prayer was finished.

Zuhayr asked for Imam Husayn (a)’s permission to go to the battlefield. It is said that he killed about 120 people from the enemy’s army, and was eventually martyred by Kathir b. ‘Abd Allah al-Sha’bi and Muhajir b. Aws al-Tamimi.

==Imam Husayn (a)’s pray for Zuhayr after his martyrdom==

When Zuhayr was martyred, Imam Husayn (a) prayed for him thus: “O’ Zuhayr! May God bless you with His mercy and curse your killers with an eternal curse, like that of [[Israelites]] who were transshaped by God”.

==Zuhayr’s name in Ziyara al-Nahiya al-Muqaddasa==

Zuhayr b. Qayn is mentioned in [[Ziyara al-Nahiya al-Muqaddasa]] as follows: “Peace be upon Zuhayr the son of Qayn al-Bajali; when the son of the Prophet (s) gave him the permission to leave, he replied: ‘I swear to God that I will never abandon the son of the Prophet (s)—may peace be upon him and his progeny. Do I leave the son of the Prophet (s) while he is surrounded by the enemies and save my life? May such a day never come!’”