Karbala Story and Early Shi'ite Identity

AvTorsten Hylén

Inbunden, Engelska, 2025

Del i serien Edinburgh Studies in Classical Islamic History and Culture

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Beskrivning

In 680 CE al-?usayn ibn ?Al?, the grandson of the Prophet Mu?ammad, was killed in a battle at Karbala. Ancient accounts describe this event as a minor skirmish, similar to the numerous battles that were waged in the early history of Islam. Among Shi?ites, however, the story of the event soon developed into a narrative about a cosmic battle between the powers of universe, with al-?usayn personifying good and life-giving powers. The story came to epitomise the trauma that is at the heart of the Shi?ite ethos: the treachery of the non-Shi?ite community against the family of the Prophet.This book investigates this development in the 7th to 10th centuries CE and its significance for emerging Shi?ite identity in early Islam. It provides an in-depth analysis and diachronic comparison of the three earliest versions of the Karbala story, analyses the story of the Penitents who attempted to avenge the death of al-?usayn, and surveys the development of the image of al-?usayn and the rituals associated with him in historiography, poetry and Shi?ite hadith.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2025-04-30
Mått:156 x 234 x 22 mm
Vikt:558 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Edinburgh Studies in Classical Islamic History and Culture
Antal sidor:280
Förlag:Edinburgh University Press
ISBN:9781399522052

Utforska kategorier

Islam inom Filosofi och religion
Mellanösterns historia inom Historia och arkeologi

Mer om författaren

Torsten Hylén was Associate Professor (docent) in Religious studies at Dalarna University, Sweden until his retirement in 2024. He is co-editor of Den nya människan [The New Human Being] (2022), and author of a number of articles in academic journals and anthologies.

Recensioner i media

The tragedy of Karbala left an indelible mark on the history of Islam. A few decades after the death of the Prophet, the authorities who claimed to be followers of his religion massacred almost all of his immediate family. The event and its implications have been studied from many different angles but Torsten Hylén's work is groundbreaking in its surgical examination and critical scrutiny of sources that have been rarely utilised on this subject.

Innehållsförteckning

List of IllustrationsNote on ConventionsNote on the Cover ImagePreface and AcknowledgementsMap of the RegionGenealogy of the Imams1. Introduction: The Karbala Story and Shiʿite Identity2. Studying the Karbala Story as MythPart I. The Karbala Story3. Three Times Karbala: Early Accounts of the Killing of al-Ḥusayn4. Karbala and Covenant according to Abū MikhnafPart II. Revenge or Martyrdom: The Story of the Tawwābūn (‘the Penitents’)5. Introducing the Story of the Tawwābūn6. Betrayal and Guilt in the Tawwābūn’s Speeches and Letters7. The Visit to al-Ḥusayn’s Grave8. The Story of the Tawwābūn: Date and Concluding RemarksPart III. From Skirmish to Cosmic Battle9. Al-Mukhtār and the Mahdi10. The Contest over the Imams in Early Shiʿism11. Al-Ḥusayn among the Imams12. Conclusion: Mythmaking and Identity in Early ShiʿismBibliographyIndex