Ta'ziya of 'Ali al-Akbar (a)

Taʿziya of ʿAli al-Akbar (a) (Persian: تعزیه علی اکبر (ع)) is among re-enactments of the first ten days of Muharram. The topic of this re-enactment which is usually performed on Muharram 8th is the martyrdom of 'Ali al-Akbar (a).

'Ali al-Akbar (a)

'Ali b. al-Husayn b. 'Ali b. Abi Talib (a) known as 'Ali al-Akbar (a) was son of Imam al-Husayn (a) who was born in Medina in 33/654. It is said that he (a) was so much like the Prophet (s) in appearance and disposition. Ali al-Akbar exhibited great valor and sacrifice in the Event of 'Ashura and was martyred in the battle with the army of Yazid. According to hadiths, he (a) was the first martyr of Banu Hashim on the day of 'Ashura. His grave is beside the grave of his father in Karbala.

Description of Re-enactment

Beginning: the show begins with some speeches of Imam al-Husayn (a), Lady Zaynab (a) and Layla, the mother of Ali al-Akbar (a) and then Ali al-Akbar (a) enters the tent of Imam al-Husayn (a) to get permission to go to the battlefield. The conversation between Imam (a) and his son takes long and finally, Ali al-Akbar (a) convinces his father and then goes to his mother. Layla permits Ali al-Akbar (a) with difficulty. Then, his sister Sukayna prevents him from going to the battlefield, so Ali al-Akbar (a) asks his father to intercede for him. Then, his sister agrees and he (a) goes to the battlefield.

In the Battlefield: Ali al-Akbar (a) addresses 'Umar b. Sa'd and dares him to fight. Since he (a) is very similar to the Prophet (s), the army of Kufa thinks the Prophet (s) has come to the battlefield and describe his face. Then, 'Umar b. Sa'd removes the doubt and introduces Ali al-Akbar (a) to Shimr and others. The army begins to fight Ali al-Akbar (a) when they get to know him. After a while, Ali al-Akbar (a) comes back to the tents and asks Imam (a) for water. Since there is no water in the camp, Imam (a) puts his tongue in the mouth of Ali al-Akbar (a) and he (a) knows about the thirst of his father and goes back to the battlefield. After some struggles with those who act as the enemies, he (a) is wounded and falls to the ground. Those who act as the enemy surround him, then he (a) calls his father. Imam (a) enters the arena and searches for Ali al-Akbar (a) everywhere and those who act as the enemies move the place of Ali al-Akbar (a) so that Imam (a) cannot come to help him.

His martyrdom: Ali al-Akbar (a) falls to the ground and Imam (a) comes upon him. At this moment, the audiences cry and then give their donations to the organizer of the show. Then, Imam (a) begins reciting elegies upon the body of Ali al-Akbar (a). Then, Imam (a) calls the youths of Banu Hashim to help him in moving the body of Ali al-Akbar (a) to the tents. Imam (a) informs women, including Lady Zaynab (a) and Layla, about the martyrdom of Ali al-Akbar (a), and they begin mourning and reciting elegies and laments.

Roles

Protagonists

Imam al-Husayn (a)
Ali al-Akbar (a)
Lady Zaynab (s)
Layla, mother of Ali al-Akbar (a)
Sukayna (s)

Antagonists

Ibn Sa'd
Shimr
The army

References

The material for this article is mainly taken from تعزیه حضرت علی اکبر (ع) in Farsi Wikishia.

v t e Mourning of Muharram
Traditions and Rituals	Black Clothing • Mourning of Muharram • Basin-placing • Zanjirzani • Chest-beating • Sinj and Damam • Marthiyakhwani • Nawhakhwani • Mourning procession • Hay'at of Mourning • Ta'ziya • Rawdakhwani • Tatbir • Palm-carrying • Coffin-carrying • Torch-carrying • Tabuik • Hosay • Procession of Arba'in • Khaymasuzan • Tuwairij Mourning
Laments	Lament for Muslim b. Aqil • Lament of Entering Karbala • Lament of the Oven of Khawli • Lament of the Safe Conduct • Lament for al-Hurr • Lament of the Caravan Leader • Lament of Dayr Rahib • Lament of wida' • Lament of Yazid's Gathering • Lament of Arba'in
Ta'ziyas	Ta'ziya of Muslim b. Aqil • Ta'ziya of Two Sons of Muslim b. Aqil • Ta'ziya of al-Abbas (a) • Ta'ziya of Ali al-Akbar (a)
Occassions	First Ten Days of Muharram • Tasu'a • Day of Ashura' • Eve of Ashura' • Sham-i Ghariban • Last Ten Days of Safar • Arba'in of Imam al-Husayn (a) • Timeline of the Battle of Ashura'
Places	Karbala • Holy Shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a) • Holy Shrine of al-Abbas (a) • Bayn al-Haramayn • al-Tall al-Zaynabi • Qatligah • Kaff al-Abbas (a) • Ruins of Damascus • al-Mukhayyam • Euphrates • al-Ghadiriyya • Alqama Stream • Husayniyya • Tekyeh • Saqqakhana • Imambara • Hussaini Dalan • Suq al-Sham
Books	Nafas al-mahmum • Rawdat al-shuhada' • Al-Luhuf • Muthir al-ahzan • Maqtal al-Husayn (a) (by Abu Mikhnaf) • Maqtal al-Husayn (by al-Khwarazmi)
Related	Mourning • Buka' • Tabaki • Maqtal • Twelve Strophes of Muhtasham • Tugh • Alam • Ziyarah Ashura' • Distortions of Ashura' • Ashura' literature • Mawkib • Weeping for al-Husayn (a)
Battle of Karbala • Companions of Imam al-Husayn (a) • Perpetrators of the Event of Karbala • Imam al-Husayn (a)