Al-Ash'ari Family: Difference between revisions

'''Al-Ash'ari''' were a tribe from [[Yemen]] who were living in [[Kufa]]. A number of their members were [[companions]] of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. Some [[hadith]] narrators and religious scholars in the second and third century after [[Hijra]] were from Ash'ari family. It is an honor for them that they converted to [[Islam]] before the [[conquest of Mecca]]. They had fought alongside [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] in the battles and supported them greatly, including [[the battle of Siffin]] and the [[rise of Mukhtar al-Thaqafi]].  

As [[Hajjaj b. Yusuf]] treated Ash'ari family harshly and tried to prosecute them, they were forced to migrate from [[Kufa]] to [[Iran]] and they chose to live in [[Qom]], where they expanded [[Shi'ism]]. They chose this city as their ancestor, [[Malik b. 'Amir]] had conquered this region before. Their influence made Qom a pivotal city; they even received taxes from people of [[Isfahan]].  

Ash'aris were originally from [[Yemen]], Qahtani Arabs. As their lineage goes back to Nabat b. Udad b. Zayd b. Yashjib b. 'Urayb b. Zayd b. Kahlan known as Ash'ar, they are called Ash'ari Family. Some reports also mentioned they are called Ash'ari because their ancestor was hirsute (in Arabic Ash'ar means hairy).

Ash'ar had seven sons and each one became the head of their tribe, all were called Ash'ari. In this entry the focus is on Jamahir the son of Ash'ar.

Ash'ari family is regarded as virtuous people and noble family before the emergence of [[Islam]]. Based on narrations, they were such generous people that they shared their houses and properties with people.

It is claimed that a number of Ash'ari family attended the attack of [[Abraha]] to [[Ka'ba]].

[[Malik b. 'Amir al-Ash'ari]] is considered the first Muslim in Ash'ari family, who is the ancestor of Ash'ari family in [[Qom]]. He is the first emigrant to meet [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and he converted to Islam afterwards. Then he returned to his tribe and after some years he brought them to meet Prophet (s).

After Malik b. 'Amir, a group of Al-Ash'ari family travelled to [[Medina]] in the 7th year of [[Hijra]] and converted to Islam as well. It happened after the [[battle of Khaybar]]. Some sources stated that Malik b. 'Amir converted to Islam in [[Mecca]]; but most of the sources—without mentioning his migration to Mecca—reported that they went to Medina in [[7]]/628 and converted to Islam in the time of the battle of Khaybar. However, they were enthusiastic to convert to Islam unlike some Arab tribes who converted to Islam after the [[conquest of Mecca]], as they were sure [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] would conquer Mecca. Hence, converting to Islam before the conquest of Mecca was regarded as an honor for Al-Ash'ari family.

A large number of historians believe Al-Ash'ari family converted to Islam in [[7]]/628 after the battle of Khaybar. Zeyni Dahlan stated: "Researchers believe Ash'aris came to [[Hijaz]] after the battle of Khaybar in [[7]]/628". Some historians believe that they converted to Islam twenty years after [[Bi'that]] of Prophet Muhammad (s).

[[Abu 'Amir al-Ash'ari]] and [[Abu Musa al-Ash'ari]] are regarded as the main figures of Al-Ash'ari family. Abu 'Amir was martyred in the [[battle of Hunayn]], his sons 'Amir b. abi 'Amir and Harith al-Ash'ari have narrated hadiths from Prophet Muhammad (s).

Al-Ash'ari family attended the conquest of Iraq. In the battle of [[Mada'in]], Malik b. 'Amir was the first Arab who passed [[Tigris River]] which was followed by other soldiers; it consequently led to victory of Muslims over [[Sassanid]]. He is regarded as the conqueror of [[Jibal]] region including Saveh. After the conquest of [[Iraq]], Ash'ari family along with other people of [[Yemen]], started to settle in Iraq. Sa'ib and Sa'd, the sons of Malik became notable figures of [[Kufa]] and Iraq. [[Sa'd b. Malik]] was among those who swore to [[Uthman b. Affan]], caliph of Muslims, that [[Walid b. 'Aqaba]], Emir of Kufa was an alcoholic man.

After the death of [[Uthman b. Affan|Uthman]], Al-Ash'ari family are divided into three groups:  

There are not numerous historical reports on the background of Al-Ash'ari family in Shi'ism, however some reports mentioned their tendencies toward Imam 'Ali (a). It is stated on one source that Malik b. 'Amir has fought alongside Imam 'Ali (a) in the [[battle of Siffin]].

Some sources mentioned that they supported [['Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Ash'ath]] in his rise against [[Umayyad]]. Then after they were defeated by Hajjaj b. Yusuf, Ash'ari family were put under huge pressure and prosecutions. They were given only three days to leave [[Kufa]], or every member of them will be killed.

In another report, it is said Ahwas Ash'ari treated Iranian villagers who were working for him harshly. Then Hajjaj imprisoned Ahwas in 93 A.H. but after requests of his brother for forgiveness, he was released. 'Abd Allah was afraid that Hajjaj would become livid at his brother, then they decided to leave Kufa and migrate to Qom.

It is said that Ash'ari family chose Qom as this city was conquered by their ancestor [[Malik b. 'Amir]] before. He treated them kindly and he made affords to defend this city from the attacks of Tabarestan and Daylami. As a result people were supporting him when he was staying in Qom. When he returned to Kufa, he told his children about Daylami and Taghrud (a village near Qom) which has inspired them in order to choose Qom as their destination. People also welcomed them warmly, when they arrived in their city.

However some narrations mentioned that Ash'ari family intended to stay in other regions like [[Isfahan]], Qazvin or Azerbaijan, not Qom. But those regions were hit by Cholera, they had to temporarily stay in a village near Qom. Meanwhile Daylami attacked Qom and Ash'ari family went to help people of Qom. They managed to defeat Daylami, and accordingly local people asked Ash'ari to stay in Qom and settle there.

The growth of population of Ash'ari family and increase of their influence in Qom led to start of conflicts in this city. It is said local people treated Ash'aris poorly and they broke their promises. Ash'ari family defeated local people and killed their leaders then.

They also played an important role in development and flourishing of Qom. This city was earlier a collection of a number of villages near each other, which later tuned into an Islamic city. Therefore, it is said Qom was founded by Ash'aris. But it is clear they only developed the city very soon. They were also separated from Isfahan and they became an independent city. Entrance of Ash'ari family increased the influence of Islam and expanded Shi'ism in Iran.

Initially Qom was dependent to [[Isfahan]], but after the arrival of Ash'ari family and the efforts they made, Qom became independent and they even received tax from Isfahan. As they were Shi'ites, Ash'ari did not allow Abbasid to send their representative to their city, besides they had their own judge. When [[Husayn b. Hamdan]], the Shi'ite representative of caliph was sent as the governor of Qom, people welcomed him warmly. They said, they would not accept any representative who is not Shi'ite. Moreover Aveh, Saveh, Tafresh and Kashan were dependent to Qom. Even some reports mentioned Qazvin was dependent to Qom as well.

Ash'ari family were fond of [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] since the time of [['Amir b. Malik]], but they did not announce following Shi'ism. Musa b. 'Abd Allah was the first one from Ash'ari family that declared he is a Shi'ite. Since then Ash'ari family supported Shi'ism and they tried to preach and expand it as well.

When Ash'ari family were in control of the city, they managed to use local economic and human resources; they did not allow agents of caliphs to enter the city and they even chose their own judge. Ash'ari clearly gave [[Khums]] to [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] while they did not pay tax to government, which led to a number of serious conflicts between Ash'ari family and caliphs. Besides [[Ma'mun]] and [[Mu'tasim]] sent armies to Qom to suppress and kill Ash'ari members.  

However, some caliphs chose the governor of Qom from Ash'ari family to avoid conflicts. For example [[Harun al-Rashid]] chose 'Amir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ash'ari as the governor of Qom in 192 A.H. and his son became the next governor of the city after him. 'Ali b. 'Isa al-Talhi was appointed as the governor of Qom in 212 A.H. by caliph as well.

Ash'ari family kept a close and strong relationship with [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] which continued frequently until [[the Occultation]] of [[Imam Mahdi (a)]]. Collections of [[hadith]] and [[Rijal]] books brought information on the quality of their relationship and the status they held among descendants of Ahl al-Bayt (a). Over one hundred companions of Ahl al-Bayt (A) were Ash'ari, including twelve children of [['Abd Allah b. Sa'd]] who were [[companions]] of [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]]. Even a number of them were regarded as special companions of Imams (a).

About fifty members of Ash'ari family have narrated [[hadith]]s from four hundred hadith scholars and wrote over 160 books, which were mostly written on [[fiqh]]. [['Ali b. Ibrahim al-Qumi]], Muhammad b. Hasan Saffar, Al-Humayri, [[Al-Kulayni]], [['Ali b. Babaway]], Ibn Humam, [[Al-Saduq]], [[Ibn Qulwayh]], [[Al-Shaykh al-Tusi]] and [[Al-Najashi]] are among the notable Ash'ari hadith narrators.

Rejecting exaggeration, was a significant characteristic of hadith school of Qom which was founded by Ash'ari family. Their grand figures opposed exaggeration and they even deported a number of Shi'ite narrators due to narrating possibly-exaggerated hadiths.

Ash'ari family have made huge efforts to expand Shi'ism and they have brought up a number of grand Shi'ite figures in their family who are regarded as prominent figures in Shi'ite Rijal. Some sources mentioned over hundred and thirty prominent figures in Ash'ari family including:

[[Malik b. 'Amir al-Ash'ari]]; the first Muslim in Ash'ari family.

[[Sa'd b. Malik]] al-Ash'ari; the ancestor of Ash'ari family settled in Qom.

When Ash'ari were declining, their enemies defeated them. A number of them were perished, some ran away, only few stayed with them and fought until the end. They rationed their food to survive. Some even took money and food from the passing caravans.

Only Ansari and Taheri remained from Ash'ari family, the latter one are descendants of [[Zakariya b. Adam]] and the later one are descendants of [[Sa'd b. 'Abd Allah b. Abi Khalaf]] al-Ash'ari. Muhammad Tahir Ash'ari, his son 'Abd Allah and his grandson Muhammd Tahir Ash'ari Qumi are the famous clergymen of Qom who were teachers of [[Imam al-Khumayni]]. Muhammad Tahir Ash'ari is buried in Qom. Imam al-Khumayni stated on Mirza 'Ali Asghar al-Qumi al-Ash'ari: "we were studying together for 46 years; he did not commit any reprehensible act."

[[Al-Murtada al-Ansari]], the student of [['Abd al-Karim Ha'iri]] (the founder of [[seminary of Qom]]) was also a descendant of Ash'ari family; he was a notable preacher as well. He memorized over three thousand hadiths and he opposed Communism and [[Baha'ism]]. It is said the first attack of the army of Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi to Seminary of Qom took place when he was giving a speech there.