Zuhayr ibn Qayn

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Zuhayr ibn Qayn, was a member of the Bijli tribe in Iraq.

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[edit] Battle of Karbala

Zuhayr ibn Qayn is best known for his participation in the Battle of Karbala. Despite the fact that he did not want to even speak to Husayn ibn Ali, he eventually spoke to him when his tribe met his companions and his wife influenced him into speaking with Husayn. After meeting Husayn, Zuhayr got amazed by the content of his character. After this event he got so happy with Husayn, that he volunteered to join his army against the forces of Yazid, led by Umar ibn Sa'ad. When Umar ibn Sa'd cut off the water supply (as ordered by Kufa's governor Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad), for Husayn and his companions, Zuhayr asked the army if he could bring some water to Husayn, his family and his companions. The army did not allow this, but said that he could drink some water himself as long as he does not bring any to Husayn and his family. Zuhayr refused saying: 'It is a sin for me to drink while the holy Imam and his family are thirsty'. After gatheration of his armies Yazid ended up with at least 40 000 men, whom were placed under the command of Umar ibn Sa'd. Husayn's army had only 72 companions, all of whom did not eat or drink for 3 days. Their supply was cut off at the third of Muharram, one of the holy months in Islam, however they dug a few wells at the seventh of Muharram, and only drank a few sips at the seventh. At the tenth the Battle took place. An anti-Islamic website states that Husayn sacrificed his family and companions as well as himself in the pursuit of power. This is not true however, because if Husayn wanted power he would have easily attained this by surrendering to Yazid. A reasonable question that arises from the statement that Husayn wanted power is, if Husayn was looking for power, why did he bring women and children with him? This proves that Husayn was never looking for power but wanted the women, children and his son Ali ibn Husayn, the only male survivor of the battle, to be witnesses to his sacrifice in order to convey the message of Islam by showing the great sacrifice of Husayn. According to Muslim and some non-Muslim tradition, Husayn's sacrifice, was in the purpose of saving Islam and also to influence individuals to alter their destinies. Husayn split his army into three parts, the left flank, the right flank and the Ahl al-bayt. Ahl al-Bayt in Arabic means people of the house, and refers to the family of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad.

[edit] Military Status

As commanded by Husayn, Zuhayr was placed as the commander of the right flank of his army. Zuhayr fought well against the enemy forces, but was eventually killed.

[edit] Martyrdom

According to the book 'Karbala and Ashura', by Ali Husayn Jalali, Zuhayr himself killed 120 of the enemy soldiers before being martyred.

[edit] The Purpose of military Loss

In accordance to Shia tradition, Husayn ibn Ali was offered help from the Jinn, who could have destroyed the forces of Yazid with ease. Husayn refused this offer saying: 'our aim is to sacrifice ourselves to save Islam and to influence the people to alter their own destinies by following true-Islam'. The Shia belief strongly states that Husayn's sacrifice was not a defeat but a victory. They define victory as achieving something that you aim for, rather than achieving a victory by defeating your opponent. Husayn aimed for sacrificing himself for Islam and to influence as many people as possible to alter their own destinies by following the true-path of Islam. As he achieved his goal, his sacrifice is a victory and not a defeat according to this definition of victory.


See also

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