A study of Ashura narrations in Tārikh Tabari (the pre-Ashura period)

This article is an inquiry into the Maqtal al-Husayn in Tarikh Tabari, which is one of the extant Maqtal, and like other historical works and narrations, has not been immune to the myriad of Ashura distortions, to the extent that it casts doubt on the Ashura event. Tābari's account of the Ashura event is inspired by the narration of Abu Makhnaf, who is currently the oldest extant Maqtal. Nevertheless, this Maqtal is teeming with textual distortions. In some cases, it conflicts with certain historical events and sometimes tarnishes the dignity of the Infallible Imam. This text was the main source of Shiite scholars in the subsequent centuries and therefore has had a bearing on the purpose of the Ashura uprising. This paper attempts to expose some distortions in the pre-Ashura period and to explore its historical and narrative content.