A Critical Appraisal of the Treatise Durar al-simt fi khabar al-sibt: A Rhythmic Prose Maqtal of Ibn Abar al-Balansi al-Qaza`i

Although develooing maqtals regarding the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn has a Middle-Eastern origin, it has received due attention in the western hemisphere, ie, in the present-day Spain. The treatise under review was written by Ibn Abar al-Balansi al-Quza`i (7/ 14 cent.) of Analusia, Spain, in rhythmic Arabic prose. The present paper deals with this work wherein the author expressed his profound devotion to Imam al-Husayn. Moreover, he regards the Karbala scene of the Husayni camp vs. the Umayyad camp as a confrontation between the right and the wrong. Apart from the author's mentiining the merits of the Ahl al-Bayt, there are some minor objections raised about the work under review.