A Historical Research on the Number of Omar ibn Sa’d’s Forces on the Day of Ashura based on Sources (Up to the Fifth Century)

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor of History of Shiism, Islamic Culture and Science Institute, Qom, Iran.

10.22081/hiq.2023.66321.2323

Abstract

Access to statistics is considerably significant in the analysis of historical events, especially those events whose details are not obvious enough. The awareness on the number of Omar ibn Sa’d’s forces on the day of Ashura, is effective in the analysis of the how of Kufis encountering with Imam Hossein (A.S.), since these forces were sent from Kufa. In order to know the number of the forces under the command of Omar ibn Sa’d and to achieve a historical viewpoint, the data was comparatively analyzed based on the historical sources up to the fifth century.
Moreover, the analysis of the incident in the historical context has been deeply considered to validate this view point. The findings clarify that the ancient historical records did not address the number of Omar ibn Sa’d's forces on this day; however, Belazori’s report related to the expeditionary forces is more compatible with other sources and to put the other way, half or more than half of the expeditionary forces from Kufa were not willing to encounter with Imam (A.S.) and fled on the way. Accordingly, there is a difference between the number of the troops sent from Kufa and the people present in Karbala event.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [العربیة]

البحث التاریخی فی عدد جنود عمر بن سعد فی یوم عاشوراء وفق المصادر حتى القرن الخامس

Abstract [العربیة]

یلعب الوصول إلى الإحصائیات دوراً هاماً وفعالاً فی تحلیل الأحداث التاریخیة، لا سیما تلک الأحداث التی تخفى تفاصیلها عنّا. وفی وقعة کربلاء، إن معرفة عدد جنود عمر بن سعد فی یوم عاشوراء، حیث أنهم أتوا من الکوفة، تؤثر علی تحلیل کیفیة مواجهة الکوفیین للإمام الحسین7. ولمعرفة إحصائیات الجنود الخاضعین لقیادة عمر بن سعد فی یوم عاشوراء،وذلک بالفحص فی المصادر التاریخیة حتى القرن الخامس الهجری، فقد تم جمع المعطیات بناءًا على المسار الزمنی لتألیف المصادر ومن ثم، أثناء مسیرة تطورها فی مقارنة بعضها البعض، تم دراستها وتحلیلها، حتی یتمکن الحصول على وجهة نظر نابعة من التاریخ. وللتحقق من صحة وجهة النظر هذه، تم الاهتمام بتحلیل الحادثة فی السیاق التاریخی أیضاً.

تظهر النتائج أنه على الرغم من أن السجلات التاریخیة لم تتناول إحصائیات جنود عمر بن سعد فی یوم عاشوراء، إلا أن تقریر البلاذری عن الجنود المُرسلین، أکثر توافقاً مع المصادر الأخرى ومن ناحیة أخرى، إن نصف أو أکثر من النصف من الجنود المُرسلین من الکوفة لم یکن مستعدا لمحاربة الإمام7 ولاذوا بالفرار فی الطریق. ولذلک، هناک فَرق بین إحصائیات الجنود المرسلین من الکوفة وبین الموجودین فی کربلاء.

Keywords [العربیة]

  • التاریخ الکمی
  • عاشوراء
  • کربلاء
  • الکوفة
  • معسکر عمر بن سعد
Ibn Atham al-Kufi, A. M. A. (1990). Al-fotuh (1411 A.H.). Beirut: Dar al-Adwa.
Ibn-Sa’d, M. I. S. I. M. (1993). Al-tabaqat al-kobra (Vol. 5). Taef: Maktabat al-Sadiq.
Ibn Kathir Dameshqi, I. I. O. (1986). Al-bedayah va al-nahayah. Beirut: Dar al-Fekr.
Ahmad, H. Y. (1997). Karbala al-thawra va al-ma’sah. Beirut: Al-Ghadir.
Asad, H. (2019). Along with Hossein (A.S.) in movement. Beirut: Dar Ta’arof.
Imam, S. J. (2016). Survey of the population present in Ghadir. Islamic History in the Mirror of Research, (16).
Balazri, A. B. Y. (1997). Ansab al-ashraf. Beirut: Dar al-Ta’arof.
Pishvai, M., & A Group of Historians. (2013). The history of the uprising and death of Seyed al-Shohada. Qom: Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute.
Khasibi, H. I. H. (1998). Al-hedayat al-kobra. Beirut: Al-Balagh.
Dinouri, A. H. A. B. D. (1989). Al-akhbar al-tawal. Qom: Manshurat al-Razi.
Ranjbar, M. (2006). Ashura in the mirror of statistics and figures. Islamic History in the Mirror of Research, (10).
Sadeqi, M. (2018). War equipment of Imam Hossein (A.S.) and his companions in Ashura incident. Islamic and Iranian History Quarterly, (131).
Sadeqi, M. (2007). Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the Jews of Hejaz. Qom: Boostan Ketab.
Sadouq, M. I. A. (1997). Al-amali. Tehran: Ketabchi.
Tabari, M. B. J. (2008). History of the nations and the monarchs. Beirut: Dar al-Torath.
Tousi, M. I. H. (1993). Al-Amali. Qom: Dar al-Thaqafah.
Ghazi-Khani, H. (2018). Historical explanation of the position of the Kufis in the process of the movement of Imam Hossein (A. S.). Qom: Research Institute of Islamic Sciences and Culture.
Qazikhani, H. (2015). An investigation of number of Kufis’ letters to invite Imam Hossein (A.S.). Shiite Study Quarterly, (8).
Qorshi, B. Sh. (1992). Hayat al-Imam al-Hussein (A.S.). Qom: Irvani Seminary.
Qanawat, A. R. (1979). Statistics and composition of troops in the battle of Ashura. Islamic History Studies Quarterly, (51).
Majlesi, M. B. (1982). Behar al-anwar al-jameat le dorar akhbar al-aemmat al-athar. Beirut: Dar Ehya al-Torath al-Arabi.
Mohammadi Rey Shahri, M., et al. (2009). Encyclopedia of Imam Hossein (A.S.) based on the Holy Qur'an, hadith and history. Qom: Dar al Hadith.
Masoudi, A. I. H. (1988). Moravej al-dhahb va ma’aden al-jawhar. Qom: Dar al-Hejra.
Moskuye Razi, A. A. (2000). Experiences of nations. Tehran: Sorush.
Masoumi, M. (2009). Reflection on the correctness and accuracy of statistics and figures in the sources of Islamic history. Historiography and History Quarterly, (78).
Mufid, M. M. I. N. (1992). Al-ershad fi marefat Hoajollah al-ebad. Qom: Sheikh Mofid Congress.
Hedayat-Panah, M. R. (2013). Reflection of Ottoman thought in the incident of Karbala. Qom: Hozeh and University Institute.
Hamavi, Y. (1995). Mo’jam al-Boldan. Beirut: Dar Sader.
Yaqoubi, A. I. A. Y. (n.d.). Tarikh al- Yaqoubi. Beirut: Dar Sader.