A Critical Investigation of the Ashura Narrations of Al-Tabqat Al-Kubra Written by Ibn al-Sa'd (The Era before Ashura)

Ibn al-Sachr('39')d in his book Al-Tabqat al-Kubra has dedicated a section to the Maqtal Al-Hussein (AS), which is in the second place among the existing Maqatel of Sayyid al-Shuhada (AS) in terms of antiquity. Despite many similarities between its reports and the Maqtal of Abu Makhnaf, Ibn Sachr('39')d has omitted many narrations of the Maqtal of Abu Makhnaf and has quoted the Maqatel of Waqidi and others. Ibn Sachr('39')dchr('39')s biased approach in reporting the Ashura incident has gained the attention of the historians and scholars of the Sham school, such as Ibn Asaker, Dhahabi, Ibn Hajar, Mazzi, and Ibn Kathir. This Maqtal, in spite of its isolated news compared to other historical or hadith books, in some cases is inconsistent with certain events or other historical narrations. In some cases, it has damaged the dignity of the Infallible Imam (AS) or the family of the Infallible Imams (AS) and established unstable foundations for the researchers and scholars in the following centuries. The findings show his biased report on the uprising of Imam Hussein (AS) based on a special mentality that necessitates double caution from the side of other Maqtal researchers. This library research has reviewed his influential and directional narrations through the interdisciplinary study of history and hadith using an analytical and critical approach.