Sa'id ibn Abd Allah al-Hanafi

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Sa'id b. 'Abd Allah al-Hanafi
سعید بن عبد الله الحنفی
Personal
Died10th of Muharram, 61 A.H. / 10 October, 680 AD (aged 75)
Cause of deathKilled in the Battle of Karbala
Resting placeKarbala, Iraq
ReligionIslam
Known forBeing a companion of Hussain ibn Ali

Saeed b. 'Abd Allah al-Hanafi (Arabic: سعید بن عبد الله الحنفی) was a companion of Imam al-Hussain who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. As a prominent Shiite and a nobleman in Kufa, he played a significant role in calling Imam al-Hussain to Kufa. He delivered several important letters of the Kufans to Imam al-Hussain. The final letter he delivered was Muslim b. 'Aqil's letter to the Imam. From that point he accompanied the Imam from Mecca to Karbala. Saeed is also remembered for his speech on the night before Ashura in which he proved his love for the Ahl al-Bayt and support of Imam al-Hussain.

Lineage[]

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Saeed (or Saad) ibn Abd Allah al-Hanafi was from the Banu Hanifa ibn Lajim tribe, a clan of Banu Bakr ibn Wa'il from the 'Adnan tribe.[1] He was one of Kufa's famous nobleman that was well known for his courage and piety.[2]

Joining Hussain ibn Ali[]

Delivering Letter of Kufans[]

After the death of Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, the Shiites of Kufa wrote several letters to Hussain ibn Ali and invited him to their city. The third letter was delivered by Saeed ibn Abdullah al-Hanafi and Hani ibn Hani al-Sabi'i.[3] Saeed was so well-reputed that he could convince Hussain to come to Kufa.[4] That letter was written by , , , , ', ' and .[5]

The letter began as such:

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. To Hussain ibn Ali from the Shiite Muslims. Please come sooner because the people are waiting for you and their hearts are with you. Please hurry. Peace be upon you. Every place is green, fruits are ripe, and water wells are full. Please come; your army is ready, and peace be upon you.

Hussain wrote a reply to this letter and Saeed delivered it to people of Kufa. He appointed Muslim ibn Aqil as his representative in Kufa. When Muslim entered Kufa, he stayed in al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi's house and delivered a speech for people. Muslim ibn Aqil gave Saeed the responsibility to call Imam Hussain to Kufa. Saeed returned to Mecca and delivered Muslim ibn Aqil's letter to Hussain. He accompanied Hussain from Mecca to Karbala.[6]

Night before Ashura[]

Hussain called all his companions to gather behind the camp and gave a speech, asking them to take the hands of their friends and escape the land in the darkness of the night. Hussain said, "these people are after me, so there is nothing for you to be concerned about, and I will forgive you all".

Sa'id stood up and replied to the Hussain:

O, the son of the Prophet! I swear to God that we will never stop helping you so that God knows that we have obeyed the Prophet's will about his progeny. I swear to God that if I am killed and then restored to life, and my corpse is burned 70 times and my ashes are scattered by the wind, I will never give up on you. May I be sacrificed for you.[7]

In the Battle of Karbala[]

Saeed went to Hussain after the noon prayer on the day of Ashura and asked for his permission to go to the battlefield. He went to the battlefield while chanting paeans and inflicted many casualties on the enemy's army before becoming martyred.

A different account states that Saeed was martyred after the noon prayer while protecting the Hussain.[8] When Hussain was reciting the noon prayer, the enemy's army approached him. Saeed guarding him by making himself a shield against the arrows thrown at Hussain and the other companions performing prayers. He was hit by arrows in his face, chest, sides, and hands.[9] When he fell down and was dying, he made the following prayer: "O, God! As you have cursed the people of 'Ad and Thamud, curse these people [that is, the army of Kufa]. O, God! Send my regards to your prophet and inform him of pains and injuries I have suffered in my body, since I have helped your prophet to achieve your rewards."[10]

It is said that Saeed then turned to Hussain, and said to him: "O the son of the Prophet! Have I fulfilled my pledge?"

He responded: "Yes, you are in the heaven in front of me."[10]

It is said that when he was martyred, there were 13 arrows on his body in addition to injuries by swords and spears.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ Shams al-Dīn. Anṣār al-Ḥusayn. p. 76.
  2. ^ Majlisī. Bihar Al-anwar. Vol. 45. p. 70.
  3. ^ Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh Tabari. Vol. 4. p. 262.
  4. ^ Kamaraʾī. ʿUnṣur-i shujāʿ. Vol. 1. p. 158.
  5. ^ Kamaraʾī. Unṣur-i shujāʿat. Vol. 1. pp. 158–160.
  6. ^ Samāwī, Muḥammad ibn Ṭāhir (1922). Ibṣār al-ʻayn fī inṣār al-Ḥusayn. Najaf, Iraq.: al-Maṭbaʻah al-Ḥaydarīyah. p. 216.
  7. ^ Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh Tabari. Vol. 4. p. 216.
  8. ^ Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari. Tarikh Tabari. Vol. 4. p. 318.
  9. ^ Abu Mikhnaf. Maqtal al-Husayn. al-Kharsan Foundation for Publications. p. 266.
  10. ^ a b Abd Allah Mamaqani. Tanqīḥ al-maqāl fī aḥwāl al-rijāl. Vol. 2. Qom, Iran.: Al al-Bayt li Ihya' al-Turath. p. 28.
  11. ^ Amīn. Aʿyān al-Shīʿ. Vol. 7. p. 241.
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