Lecturer: Hasan Hüseyin Güneş, Visiting Scholar at CMES, Harvard Unv./Associate professor at Bartın Unv. (affiliation at the date recorded)

Duration: 40 minutes

Date Recorded: August 2024

Subject: The Battle of Karbala, one of the most dramatic and tragic events in Islamic history, occurred on October 10, 680 (10 Muharram 61 AH). This event resulted in the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and his companions by the forces of the Umayyad Caliph Yazid in Karbala. The Battle of Karbala left a profound impact on the Islamic world, leading to sectarian divisions and securing a permanent place in collective memory.

Because of this tragic story, the cursing of Yazid in Sunni Islamic society has been a subject of intense debate and differing perspectives. This issue raises important questions about whether the condemnation of Yazid, as the killer of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is primarily a political decision or a moral stance rooted in ethical considerations. Pre-Ottoman Sunni Muslim scholars expressed some opinions about Yazid b. Mu’awiya because of this tragic incident. Very few of them did not hold Yazid responsible for the murder of Hussain b. Ali. The majority, however, did not refrain from taking a stance against Yazid. Some of scholars such as Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawzī (d. 1116-1201), have contributed significantly to this discourse, providing insights that illuminate the complexities involved. Ibn al-Jawzi belonged to the Hanbali school and was known for his extensive works and influential sermons. As a leading figure of the Hanbali school, Ibn al-Jawzi possessed a vast knowledge in various fields, which he utilized in his public sermons and written works.

Ibn al-Jawzi extensively addressed his criticisms of Shi’a beliefs in various works. In his book Talbis al-Iblis, which discusses the ways Satan misleads people, he argued that Shi’a beliefs and practices were among these deceptions. In this work, he explicitly criticized the misguidances and innovations of Shi’a Islam. Additionally, in his historical work al-Muntazam fi Tarih al-Muluk wa’l-Umam, he conveyed his criticisms of Shi’a within the context of historical events. Especially in Talbis Iblis, he provides information about the sects he portrays as dangerous. The work consists of thirteen chapters, the fifth of which provides comprehensive information about these sects. Even his work al-Rad al-Muta’assib al-‘Anīd al-Māni’ min Zammi Yazīd, which he wrote about the condemnation of Yazid, argues the opposite of this view. Today, many Muslims believe that the custom of cursing Yazid originated with the influence of the Shia. However, it is clear from Ibn al-Jawzī’s work that both Ahmad b. Hanbal and his close follower Ibn al-Jawzī, prominent figures in the Sunni Muslim tradition, permitted the cursing of Yazid.