Lohoof (Sighs of sorrow)
Writers of Maqtal till the time of Sayyid ibn Tawus
Yazeed and his men were not the only persons who fought with Husayn (a.s.). The rulers who came to power after Yazeed were against those who had affection for the companions of Husayn (a.s.), and they tried to cover up the events of Karbala, or to alter and erase them.
But the Lord decided to complete His Radiance, though the polytheists do not like it. Yet right from the time of the event many persons have written a number of books on this subject in various manners and in different languages.
Unfortunately most of the old books on the subject of Maqtal have not remained except their very names and titles. They have been burnt, stolen, or destroyed. This has been done with the intention that Husayn (a.s.) and his uprising may not encourage liberty-loving people to fight oppression. What has reached us from the old writings is very little or history has mentioned very less about it.
In this chapter the names of those persons have been listed who have, since the event of Karbala upto the time of Sayyid Ibn Tawus or the time of writing this Maqtal book, written about the martyrdom in Karbala.
(1) Abul Qasim Asbagh bin Nubata Majashai Tamimi Hanzali
He is from the close friends (Khawas) and companions of Amirul Momineen (a.s.). He is also one of the Shurtatul Khamees (security) who lived for a long time after Ali (a.s.) and expired after 100 A.H. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn and apparently he must be the first to write a book on this topic - Allah knows best.
Al-Fehrist: 37-38 Sh. 108, Az-Zariah: 22/23-24, Sh 5838.
(2) Abu Makhnaf Lut Ghamidi
(2) Abu Makhnaf Lut bin Yahya bin Saeed bin Makhnaf bin Salam Azadi Ghamidi
He is a known personality and one of the chiefs of knowledge- able men of Kufa. He quotes Ja’far bin Muhammad (a.s.) and his statement, that he narrates from Abu Ja’far (a.s.), appears to be true. In the opinion of Kishi he is among the companions of Amirul Momineen, Has- an and Husayn (a.s.). But what is correct is that his father was a compan- ion of Amirul Momineen (a.s.) and that he himself did not meet him (Ali). He has written Maqtal al-Husayn - Qatlul Husayn (a.s.).
The book Maqtal al-Husayn that was printed recently in the name of Abi Makhnaf is, doubtlessly, not his book but rather belongs to the later writers. Some of the later writers raise a doubt that this work might be of Sayyid Ibn Tawus and that he took it from Maqtal Abi Makhnaf and made some additions and omissions in it. About Maqtale Abi Makhnaf we do not have anything at hand except whatever has come down in Tarikh al-Tabari.
Rijal Najjashi: Part 320, 875, Al-Fehrist: 129 Part 573; Al-Muallim: 93-94; Az-Zariah 22/27 Sh 5859.
(3) Abu Ahmad Abdul Aziz Bin Yahya Bin Ahmad Bin Isa Al-Jaludi
He is from the companions of Abu Ja’far (a.s.) the teacher of Ja’far bin Quluwayh. He is the author of Kitab Maqtal Abi Abdullah Al-Husayn (a.s.).
Rijal Najjashi: 240-244 Sh 640, Az-Zariah 22/25 Sh 5851.
(4) Abu Abdullah Abu Muhammad Jabir Bin Yazeed Ju'fi
He was an Arab. He was a contemporary of Abu Ja’far and Abu Abdillah (a.s.) and expired in 125. He has written Maqtal Abi Abdullah Al-Husayn (a.s.).
Rijal Najjashi: 128 Sh. 332; Az-Zariah 22/24 Sh 5840.
(5) Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Muhammad bin Abeed Duniya
He was a Sunni who expired in the year 281 A.H. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.). Al-Fehrist: 104 438; Al-Ma'alim: 76 Sh 506; Seer Alamun Nubla 13/403.
(6) Abul Fazl Salmah bin al-Khattab al-Barawastani al-Azdurqani
He has written Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Rijal Najjashi: 187, Sh 498; Al-Fehrist: 79, Sh 324; Al-Ma'alim: 57 Sh 378; Az-Zariah 22/25, Sh 5847.
(7) Abul Hasan Ali bin Muhammad al-Madaeni
He belonged to the Sunni faith. His books are good. He expired in 224 A.H. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn or Sirah Dar Maqtal al-Husayn.
Al-Fehrist: 95, Sh 395; Al-Ma'alim: 72, Sh 486.
(8) Abu Zaid Ammarah bin Zaid Khaiwani Hamadani
He has written Maqtal al-Husayn Bin Ali (a.s.). Rijal Najjashi: 303, Sh 827; Az-Zariah 22/26, Sh 5855.
(9) Ahmad bin Abdullah Bakri
He is the author of Maqtal Abi Abdillah Al- Husayn (a.s.). A copy of this book is available in the library of the University of Qareen in the city of Faas. Classified in collection 3/575 and titled: Hadith Wafate Sayyidna al-Husayn.
(10) Abu Ja'far known as Dabbate Shabeeb
(10) Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Yahya bin Umar bin Abdullah bin Sa'ad bin Malik Ashari Qummi, known as Dabbate Shabeeb
He has written the book entitled Maqtale Abi Abdillah Al-Husayn.
Rijal Najjashi: 348-349, Sh 939; Az-Zariah 22/27, Sh 5861.
(11) Abu Ubaidah Muammar bin al-Muthanna at-Tamimi
Sayyid Tawus has quoted from him. He expired in 210 A.H. He wrote Maqtal Abi Abdillah Al-Husayn.
Az-Zariah 22/28, Sh 5873.
(12) Hisham bin Muhammad bin as-Saeb bin Bashar bin Zaid
He is a well-known scholar famous for his knowledge and grace especially about our faith. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn .
Rijal Najjashi: 434-435, Sh 1166.
(13) Abul Mufaddal Nasr bin Muzahim Munaqari Attar
He is from Kufa and was a Shia. He expired in 212 A.H. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Rijal Najjashi: 427-428, Sh 1148, Al-Fehrist: 171- 172, Sh 751, Al- Ma'alim: 126, Sh 851; Az-Zariah 22/29, Sh 5874; Fehrist Ibn Nadeem:106.
(14) Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Umar Waqidi Madani Baghdadi
He is the author of Al-Adab. He expired in 207 A.H. Maqtal Abi Abdillah Al-Husayn (r.a.) is written by him.
Az-Zariah: 22/28 Sh 5869, Fehrist Ibn Nadeem: 111, Al-Wafi Bil Wafiyy- at 4/238.
(15) Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali bin Husayn bin Musa bin Babawayh Qummi
He is the author of Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Al-Fehrist: 156-157 Sh 695, Al-Ma'alim: 111-112, Sh 764, Az-Zariah 22/28, Sh 5867.
(16) Muhammad bin Ali bin Fazl bin Tamam bin Sakeen
He is the teacher of Ibn Ghazairi, and is in the level of Sadooq (a.r.). He is reliable, noble, having true beliefs and author of very good books. He wrote the book Maqtal Abi Abdillah Al-Husayn (a.s.).
Rijal Najjashi: 385 Sh 1046, Az-Zariah 22/28, Sh 5868.
(17) Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Zakariya bin Danyar al-Ghalabi
He was the Maula of Bani Ghalla. He is a known person who knew our companions in Basra. He expired in 298 A.H. and has written Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Rijal Najjashi: 346-347, Sh 963, Fehrist Ibn Nadeem: 121.
(18) Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Yahya at-Tayyar Qummi
He was a chief of our companions of his time. A reliable man who wrote many hadiths. Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.) is also his work.
Rijal Najjashi: 353, Sh 946.
(19) Ibn Wazeh al-Yaqubi Ahmad bin Ishaq
He was a renowned narrator, author of Tarikh Yaqubi. He expired after 292 or in the year 284. He came after Abi Makhnaf. He wrote Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Az-Zariah 22/ 23, Sh 5833.
(20) Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin Ishaq Ahmari Nahavandi
He was a man of deep research and his books are quite balanced. Qasim bin Muhammad bin Hamadani had heard hadiths from him. He expired in 269 A.H. He has also written Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Al-Fehrist: 7, Sh 9, Al-Ma'alim: 7, Sh 27; Rijal Najjashi: 19, Sh 21, Az-Zariah 22/23, Sh 5835.
(21) Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Saeed bin Hilal bin Masood Thaqafi
He was born in Kufa and brought up in Isfahan. He belonged to the Zaidi sect. Thereafter he became an Ithna Ashari and expired in 283 A.H. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Al-Fehrist: 4-5, Sh 7, Al-Ma'alim: 3, Sh 1, Rijal Najjashi: 16-17, Sh 19, Az-Zariah 22/23, Sh 5835.
(22) Abul Husayn Shafei
He was an expert in hadith. Najjashi has quoted him through his teacher Ahmad bin Abdul Wahid bin Abdoon. He has written Kitab Alqatal.
Az-Zariah 22/21-22, Sh 5825.
(23) Ibn Shahr Ashob
Abu Ja’far al-Husayni quotes him in Sharhe Shafiya. He has written Kitab Al-Maqtal.
Az-Zariah 22/22, Sh 5827.
(24) Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ali Tusi
He is the author of Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Al-Fehrist: 159-161, Sh 699, Al-Ma'alim: 114-114 Sh 766, Az-Zariah: 22/27 Sh 5863.
(25) Najmuddin Ja'far Hilli
(25) Najmuddin Ja'far bin Najibuddin Muhammad bin Ja'far bin Abi al- Baqa Nibbatullah bin Nama Hilli
He expired in 645 A.H. The book Maseerul Ahzan Wa Muneer Subulal Ashjan is written by him.
Az-Zari- ah 19/349, Sh 1559-22/22.
(26) Abu Ubaid al-Qasim bin Salar Salam al-Harvi
He expired in 224 A.H.
At-Tahbeer Zahabi 1/185.
(27) Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Baghavi
He expired in 317 A.H. He was the author of Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Kashfuz Zanoon 2/1794.
(28) Umar bin Hasan bin Ali bin Malik Shaibani
He expired in 339 A.H. He wrote Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Mojamul Muallifeen 7/282.
(29) Ziyauddin Abu Muaiyad al-Muwaffiq bin Ahmad Khwarizmi
He expired in 568 A.H. He has written Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.) in two volumes.
(30) Abul Qasim Mahmood bin Mubarak Wasti
He expired in 592 A.H. He wrote Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.).
Eezah al-Maknoon 2/540.
(31) Izzuddin Abdur Razzaq Zajri
He expired in 661 A.H. He wrote Maqtal as-Shaheed al-Husayn (a.s.).
(32) Sulaiman bin Ahmad Tibrani
He expired in 360 A.H. He has authored Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.). Ibn Manzah has, in Nihayat al-Mojamul Kabir, included an important part of the translation of the biography of Tibrani and on p. 362 No. 39 of the same book, mentioned Maqtal al-Husayn (a.s.) in the name of Tibrani.
(33) Ali bin Musa bin Ja'far bin Tawus
He expired in 664. A.H. This book Malhoof Ala Qatli at-Tafoof is his work. He has also written Al-masra as-sheen fee Qatl al-Husayn (a.s.).