The Karbala Story and Early Shi'ite Identity

Torsten Hylén

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The Karbala Story and Early Shi'ite Identity

Torsten Hylén

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2025

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About this book

Explores how the story about al-Ḥusayn’s death at Karbala developed into a paradigmatic myth in formative Shiʿism

Provides an in-depth analysis and diachronic comparison of the three earliest versions of the Karbala story
Analyses the story of the Penitents (Tawwābūn), who attempted to avenge the killing of al-Ḥusayn, and the development of the image of al-Ḥusayn in various layers of this account
Surveys the development of the image of al-Ḥusayn and the rituals associated with him in historiography, poetry, and Shiʿite hadith up to the fourth/tenth century
Applies theories of myth and ritual to investigate the role of the Karbala story and its concomitant rituals in the formation of the Imami Shiʿite identity

In 680 CE al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī, the grandson of the Prophet Muḥammad, 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 Shiʿites, however, the story of the event soon developed into a narrative about a cosmic battle between the powers of universe, with al-Ḥusayn personifying good and life-giving powers. The story came to epitomise the trauma that is at the heart of the Shiʿite ethos: the treachery of the non-Shiʿite community against the family of the Prophet. This book investigates this development in the 7th to 10th centuries CE and its significance for emerging Shiʿite 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-Ḥusayn, and surveys the development of the image of al-Ḥusayn and the rituals associated with him in historiography, poetry and Shiʿite hadith.

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Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Illustrations Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Note on Conventions Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Note on the Cover Image Publicly Available Download PDF	x
Preface and Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Genealogy of the Imams Publicly Available Download PDF	xiv
Map of the Region Publicly Available Download PDF	xvi
1 Introduction: The Karbala Story and Shiʿite Identity Open Access Download PDF	1
2 Studying the Karbala Story as Myth Open Access Download PDF	22
PART I THE KARBALA STORY
3 Three Times Karbala: Early Accounts of the Killing of al-Ḥusayn Open Access Download PDF	41
4 Karbala and Covenant according to Abū Mikhnaf Open Access Download PDF	79
PART II REVENGE OR MARTYRDOM: THE STORY OF THE TAWWĀBŪN (THE ‘PENITENTS’)
5 Introducing the Story of the Tawwābūn Open Access Download PDF	119
6 Betrayal and Guilt in the Tawwābūn’s Speeches and Letters Open Access Download PDF	124
7 The Visit to al-Ḥusayn’s Grave Open Access Download PDF	138
8 The Story of the Tawwābūn: Date and Concluding Remarks Open Access Download PDF	163
PART III FROM SKIRMISH TO COSMIC BATTLE
9 Al-Mukhtār and the Mahdi Open Access Download PDF	173
10 The Contest over the Imams in Early Shiʿism Open Access Download PDF	186
11 Al-Ḥusayn among the Imams Open Access Download PDF	207
12 Conclusion: Mythmaking and Identity in Early Shiʿism Open Access Download PDF	233
Bibliography Open Access Download PDF	237
Index Open Access Download PDF	256

Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

April 1, 2025

eBook ISBN:

9781399522076

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Main content:

280

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781399522076

eBook ISBN: 9781399522076

Keywords for this book

IMES

Audience(s) for this book

For universities and colleges of further and higher education

Creative Commons

BY-NC-ND 4.0

The Karbala Story and Early Shi'ite Identity

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About this book

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