Tasu'a
Tāsūʿāʾ (Arabic: تاسوعاء) is the 9th day of Muharram, and it refers to Muharram 9, 61/October 9, 680 the day before the Day of 'Ashura. On that day, Shimr came to Karbala bringing a letter from 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad in which 'Umar b. Sa'd was asked to either be serious in treating Imam al-Husayn (a) or leave the command of the army to Shimr. 'Umar b. Sa'd refused to leave the army's command to Shimr and prepared to fight with Imam al-Husayn (a). After the attack of the army to the tents of Imam (a) in the evening of Tasu'a, Imam (a) sent his brother 'Abbas to ask the enemy to reprieve them the night.
Also, on this day, Shimr brought a safe-conduct for 'Abbas and other sons of Umm al-Banin, but 'Abbas did not accept it. Therefore, this day is significant for Shi'a. Traditionally, Shi'as consider the day of Tasu'a dedicated to 'Abbas (a) and respect it the same as the Day of 'Ashura and mention the merits of 'Abbas and mourn for him. This day is an official holiday before the Day of 'Ashura in Iran.
Meaning
The ninth day of Muharram is called Tasu'a. The word "Tasu'a" is derived from the root t-s-'a (Arabic: ت-س-ع) meaning "nine" or "ninth". However, the fame of this day is because of the events on Muharram 9, 61/ October 9, 680 occurred in Karbala.
Events
| Year 60/680 | |
|---|---|
| Rajab 15 (April 21) |
Death of Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan |
| Rajab 28 (May 4) |
Departure of Imam al-Husayn b. 'Ali (a) from Medina. |
| Sha'ban 3 (May 9) |
Arrival of Imam al-Husayn (a) to Mecca. |
| Ramadan 10 (June 14) |
Arrival of Kufiyans' first letter to Imam (a) |
| Ramadan 12 (June 16) |
Arrival of 150 letters from Kufa |
| Ramadan 14 (June 18) |
Arrival of the letter from leaders of Kufa |
| Ramadan 15 (June 19) |
Departure of Muslim b. 'Aqil from Mecca toward Kufa. |
| Shawwal 5 (July 9) |
Arrival of Muslim b. 'Aqil to Kufa. |
| Dhu l-Hijja 8 (September 9) |
Departure of Imam al-Husayn (a) form Mecca and uprising of Muslim b. 'Aqil in Kufa |
| Dhu l-Hijja 9 (September 10) |
Martyrdom of Muslim b. 'Aqil |
| Year 61/680 | |
| Muharram 1 (October 1) |
Asking for help of 'Ubayd Allah b. al-Hurr al-Ju'fi and 'Amr b. Qays in Qasr Bani Muqatil |
| Muharram 2 (October 2) |
Arrival of Imam (a) to Karbala |
| Muharram 3 (October 3) |
Arrival of 'Umar b. Sa'd with 4,000 people to Karbala |
| Muharram 6 (October 6) |
Habib b. Muzahir's asking for help of Banu Asad |
| Muharram 7 (October 7) |
Banding of water by 'Umar b. Sa'd and joining Muslim b. 'Awsaja al-Asadi to Imam (a) |
| Muharram 9 (October 9) |
Arrival of Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan to Karbala |
| Muharram 9 (October 9) |
Shimr's Safe conduct for Umm al-Banin's children |
| Muharram 9 (October 9) |
Announcing of the Battle by 'Umar b. Sa'd and Imam's (a) asking for a delay |
| Muharram 10 (October 10) |
Events of Ashura and the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a), his Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) and his companions |
| Muharram 11 (October 11) |
Moving the captives towards Kufa and the burial of martyrs by Banu Asad |
| Muharram 12 (October 12) |
Arrival of captives to Kufa and the burial of the martyrs according to the narration |
| Muharram 19 (October 19) |
Moving the captives from Kufa towards Syria |
| Safar 1 (October 31) |
Arrival of the captives and the head of Imam al-Husayn (a) to Syria |
| Safar 20 (November 19) |
Arba'in and the return of Ahl al-Bayt (a) to Karbala and Medina (in some accounts) |
The Day of Tasu'a is the last day Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions spent the night on and that day is remembered with the Eve of 'Ashura.
Coming of Shimr to Karbala
On the day of Tasu'a, before noon, Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan and 4000 soldiers entered Karbala[1] and brought a letter for 'Umar b. Sa'd from 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad. In that letter, 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad had asked 'Umar b. Sa'd to either force Imam al-Husayn (a) to make allegiance to Yazid or fight him.
'Ubayd Allah had also threatened 'Umar in the letter that if he refuses the order, he had to withdraw from the army's command and leave it to Shimr b. Dhi l-Jawshan.[2]
When 'Umar b. Sa'd read the letter, told Shimr, "I will not leave the command of the army to you since I do not see the competence in you; so, I will finish this myself and you shall be the commander of the foot soldiers."[3]
Safe-Conduct for the Children of Umm al-Banin
When Shimr took the letter of 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, he was with 'Abd Allah b. Abi l-Mahal, the nephew of Umm al-Banin and they asked 'Ubayd Allah for a safe-conduct for their nephews and 'Ubayd Allah accepted their request.[4]
'Abd Allah b. Abi l-Mahal sent the safe-conduct to Karbala through his slave, Kazman or 'Irfan. After he arrived in Karbala, he read the text of the safe-conduct for the sons of Umma al-Banin (a), but they refused it.[5]
It is mentioned in another report that Shimr took the safe-conduct with himself to Karbala to 'Abbas (a) and his brothers 'Abd Allah, Ja'far and 'Uthman.[6]
'Abbas (a) and his brothers were sitting with Imam al-Husayn (a) and did not answer Shimr. Imam (a) told 'Abbas (a), "Although he is a mischief-maker, you answer him for he is one of your uncles." 'Abbas (a), 'Abd Allah, Ja'far and 'Uthman came out and asked Shimr, "What do you want?" Shimr told them, "you are my nephews; so, you are safe and free to go since I took a safe-conduct of you from 'Ubayd Allah." But, 'Abbas (a) and his brothers said, "May God curse you and your safe conduct! We would be safe and the son of the Prophet's (s) daughter would not be safe?!"[7]
After rejecting the safe conduct, the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd was ordered to prepare for the war; so, everyone got on his horse and prepared to fight Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions on the evening of Thursday, Muharram 9.[8]
Preparation for the War
In the evening of Muharram 9, movements of the army of Kufa increased and 'Umar b. Sa'd prepared to fight with Imam al-Husayn (a) and ordered his army to prepare for the war. He shouted among his soldiers, "O the army of God! Got on [your horses] for I give you the good news of the Paradise!" The army of Kufa got on [their horses] and prepared for the battle.[9]
The noise of the army raised. Imam (a) was sitting in front of his tent and leaned on his sword. Hearing the sound of the army of Kufa, Imam's (a) sister, Zaynab (a) came near her brother and said, "O brother! Do you hear the sound of them approaching?" Imam (a) raised his head and said, "I met the Prophet (s) in my dream and he (s) told me, 'You will [soon] come to us." Imam (a) told 'Abbas (a), "O 'Abbas! May my life be sacrificed for you; sit on your horse and go to them and ask what they want and why they have come forth?"
'Abbas (a) and twenty horsemen including Zuhayr b. Qayn and Habib b. Muzahir went to the army of the enemy and asked, "What has happened and what do you want?" They answered, "It is an order of the commander to tell you that you either pledge allegiance or prepare for the war." 'Abbas (a) said, "Do not move until I go to Imam al-Husayn (a) and deliver your message to him." They accepted, so 'Abbas (a) went to Imam al-Husayn (a) alone and gave him the news.[10]
Imam (a) told 'Abbas (a), "See if you can convince them to postpone the war to tomorrow and give us time for tonight so that we worship and pray to God; for He knows how much I love praying to Him and reciting His book."[11]
During the time 'Abbas (a) was speaking with Imam (a), his companions, Habib b. Muzahir and Zuhayr b. Qayn used the opportunity and spoke with the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd and advised them not to war with Imam (a) and prevented them from coming forth.[12]
'Abbas (a) returned to the enemy's army and delivered the request of Imam (a) to them and asked them to give them the night. 'Umar b. Sa'd agreed with the request of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his companions.[13] On that day, the tents of Imam al-Husayn (a), his family, and his companions were surrounded.
Hadith from Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a)
In a hadith, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) described that day as,
- "Tasu'a is the day when al-Husayn (a) and his companions were besieged in Karbala and the army of Syria gathered against them; and 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad and 'Umar b. Sa'd became so happy of the gathering of so many forces. That day, they considered al-Husayn (a) and his companions weak and became sure that no help will come for them and Iraqi people will not support them either."
Importance of this Day for Shia
Because of the events that occurred on this day, it is very important to Shia. They attribute this day to 'Abbas b. 'Ali (a) and respect this day the same as the Day of 'Ashura and mourn during it.
In Iran and some Islamic countries having a Shi'a majority, the day of Tasu'a is an official holiday the same as the Day of 'Ashura. On this day, great mourning ceremonies are held with the running of mourning, chest-beating and chain-hitting caravans of people.
See Also
Notes
- ↑ Kūfī, al-Futūḥ, vol. 5, p. 94; Ibn Shahrāshūb, Mnāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib, vol. 4, p. 98.
- ↑ Kūfī, al-Futūḥ, vol. 5, p. 94; Ibn Shahrāshūb, Mnāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib, vol. 4, p. 98; Ibn Saʿd, al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā, p. 466.
- ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 3, p. 183; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa al-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 415; Shaykh al-Mufīd, Al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 89.
- ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 415; Ibn Athīr, al-Kāmil fī l-Tārīkh, p. 56.
- ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 415; Kūfī, al-Futūḥ, vol. 5, p. 93-94; Ibn Athīr, al-Kāmil fī l-Tārīkh, p. 56.
- ↑ Ḥusaynī, ʿUmdat al-ṭālib fī ansāb Āl Abī Ṭālib, p. 327; Khawārazmī, Maqtal al-Ḥusayn, vol. 1, p. 246.
- ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 3, p. 183; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa al-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 416; Khawārazmī, Maqtal al-Ḥusayn, vol. 1, p. 246.
- ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 3, p. 184; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 416; Khawārazmī, Maqtal al-Ḥusayn, vol. 1, p. 249.
- ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 3, p. 184; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 416; Shaykh al-Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 89.
- ↑ Balādhurī, Ansāb al-ashrāf, vol. 3, p. 184-185; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 416-418; Khawārazmī, Maqtal al-Ḥusayn, vol. 1, p. 249-250.
- ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 417; Ibn Athīr, al-Kāmil fī l-Tārīkh, p. 57.
- ↑ Kūfī, al-Futūḥ, vol. 5, p. 98; Khawārazmī, Maqtal al-Ḥusayn, vol. 1, p. 249-250; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 416-417.
- ↑ Al-Kūfī, Al-Futūḥ, vol. 5, p. 98; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 5, p. 417.
References
- Kūfī, Ibn Aʿtham al-. Al-Futūḥ. Edited by ʿAlī Shīrī. Beirut: Dār al-Aḍwāʾ, 1991.
- Balādhurī, Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā al-. Ansāb al-ashrāf. Edited by Iḥsān ʿAbbās. Beirut: Jamʿīyyat al-Mustashriqīn al-Amānīyya, 1979.
- Ibn 'Inaba, Aḥmad b. 'Alī b. al-Ḥusayn. ʿUmdat al-ṭālib fī ansāb Āl Abī Ṭālib. Qom: Anṣārīyān, 1417 AH.
- Ibn Athīr, ʿAlī b. Abī al-Karam. Al-Kāmil fī l-Tārīkh. Beirut: Dār Biyrūt, 1965.
- Baṣrī, Muḥammad b. Saʿd b. Manīʿ al-. Al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā. Edited by Muḥammad b. Ṣāmil. Taʿif: Maktabat al-Ṣiddīq, 1993.
- Ibn Shahrāshūb, Muhammad b. 'Alī. Mnāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib. Qom: ʿAllāma, 1379 AH.
- Khawārazmī, Muḥammad b. Aḥmad. Maqtal al-Ḥusayn. Edited by Muḥammad al-Samāwī. Qom: Maktabat al-Mufīd. n.d.
- Mufīd, Muḥammad b. Muḥammad al-. Al-Irshād fī maʿrifat ḥujaj Allāh ʿala l-ʿibād. Qom: Kungira-yi Shaykh al-Mufīd, 1413 AH.
- Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr. Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk (Tārīkh al-Ṭabrī). Edited by Muḥammad b. Abū l-faḍl al-Ibrāhīm. Beirut: Dār al-Turāth, n.d.