Āyatollāh Muḥammadī Riyshahrī, Maqtal-i Piyvastih: Guzārish-i Mustanad-i Vāqiʿih-yi ʿĀshūrā (The Continuous Maqtal: A Documented Report of the ʿĀshūrā Event), 1st ed., 1 vol., Qom: Dār al-Ḥadīth Publications, 1401 SH (2022 CE), 696 pp.
The tragedy of Karbalā stands at the heart of Shīʿī collective memory and devotional culture, inspiring centuries of religious literature, mourning rituals, and historical inquiry. Yet, despite the abundance of sources, some narratives of the ʿĀshūrā event have remained either fragmented, selectively transmitted, or lacking historical rigor. Maqtal-i Piyvastih: Guzārish-i Mustanad-i Vāqiʿih-yi ʿĀshūrā (The Continuous Maqtal: A Documented Report of the ʿĀshūrā Event), authored by the late Āyatollāh Muḥammadī Riyshahrī and a team of scholars from the Research Center for the Qurʾān and Ḥadīth, offers a pioneering attempt to construct a seamless and historically grounded account of this defining event in Shīʿī Islam.
The term maqtal (from the Arabic root qatala, meaning “to kill”) refers to a genre of Islamic literature that narrates the circumstances of a martyr’s death, especially those of Imām Ḥusayn (a) and his companions in Karbalā. Traditionally, maqtals were compiled to document the events leading up to and during the martyrdom, often blending historical facts with devotional elements to evoke grief and moral reflection.
Published in 1401 SH (2022 CE) by Dār al-Ḥadīth Publications, the book synthesizes centuries-old primary sources into a continuous narrative that remains faithful to classical texts while accessible to contemporary audiences.
Muḥammad Muḥammadī Nīk, widely known as Āyatollāh Riyshahrī (1946–2022), was a prominent Shīʿī scholar, ḥadīth expert, and a leading religious authority in post-revolutionary Iran. He held numerous important positions including the Custodian of the Shrine of ʿAbd al-ʿAẓīm al-Ḥasanī, representative of Tehran in the Assembly of Experts, and the head of Iranian pilgrims to Ḥajj. He was also the founder and president of the University of the Qurʾān and Ḥadīth. Āyatollāh Riyshahrī’s intellectual legacy is most vividly captured in his encyclopedic and ḥadīth-based works, such as Mīzān al-Ḥikma, and the comprehensive encyclopedias of Imām ʿAlī (a), Imām Ḥusayn (a), and Imām Mahdī (a). The present volume, Maqtal-i Piyvastih, draws directly from the Dānishnāmih-yi Imām Ḥusayn (a) and is a refined selection from that larger project, showcasing Āyatollāh Riyshahrī ‘s deep commitment to verified narration and historical accuracy.
The central aim of Maqtal-i Piyvastih is to present an emotionally resonant yet historically authenticated narrative of the Karbalā event by carefully selecting, sequencing, and contextualizing texts from early Islamic sources. Unlike some maqtals that occasionally intermingle reliable and legendary elements, this work is grounded exclusively in sources considered trustworthy by the standards established in the Dānishnāmih-yi Imām Ḥusayn (a). Only sources authored before the end of the 9th century AH are used as bases for historical extraction. The authors deliberately exclude post-medieval and less reliable reports, thereby enhancing the scholarly credibility of the reconstruction.
Importantly, the book’s structure is not merely thematic, but chronological, allowing readers to follow the unfolding of the events leading up to and following the tragedy of ʿĀshūrā in a story-like format. While the emotional impact is preserved—essential for devotional and commemorative use—the authors never compromise on the fidelity of the source material. All reports are cited verbatim, with footnotes providing precise references and without editorial rewriting. When forced to choose between literary elegance and textual authenticity, the compilers always opt for the latter.
The book is divided into eighteen chapters, each corresponding to a specific historical stage or thematic dimension of the Karbalā event. The narrative begins with Prophetic foretellings of Imām Ḥusayn’s martyrdom, then moves sequentially through his journey from Medina to Mecca, and ultimately to Karbalā.
The progression includes:
- The political and religious context in Medina,
- Imām Ḥusayn’s departure to Mecca and the reasons behind it,
- The betrayal of the Kūfans and the martyrdom of Muslim b. ʿAqīl,
- The stages of the Imām’s journey to Karbalā and his interaction with key figures,
- Detailed depictions of the events of Tāsūʿā, the night of ʿĀshūrā, and the day of ʿĀshūrā itself.
The later chapters document:
- The martyrdom of the Imām’s companions, family members, and the Imām himself,
- The aftermath of the massacre, including the treatment of the captives and the journey of the Prophet’s family from Kūfa to Shām and eventually back to Medina,
- Ritual mourning and expressions of grief.
In addition to the textual narrative, the book includes five specialized maps that visualize key geographical and logistical elements of the Ḥusaynī uprising. These maps enhance spatial understanding and support more accurate interpretations of the routes, battle formations, and logistical contexts of Karbalā and related locations.
Each chapter is anchored in verbatim quotations from classical sources, with chains of transmission either explicitly cited or implicitly validated through rigorous source selection.
Maqtal-i Piyvastih represents a significant advancement in the genre of the maqtal writing, both in methodology and scope. Its most distinguishing feature is its commitment to historical authenticity. In a field where myth and sentiment have sometimes eclipsed historical inquiry, this work stands out as a model of how rigorous academic method can coexist with devotional literature.
Among the most notable strengths of the work are:
- Source reliability: The team’s adherence to pre-10th-century sources adds weight to their reconstruction.
- Narrative structure: The chronological flow and continuity make the book readable and compelling for both scholars and general audiences.
- Practical Value: The book is clearly written with public speakers, poets, reciters, and religious educators in mind. Its clean structure and precise referencing make it ideal for those who communicate the tragedy of Karbalā to the masses.
- Visual aids: The inclusion of maps is an innovative step that enhances reader comprehension and adds a visual layer to the study of historical geography.
In conclusion, Maqtal-i Piyvastih is an invaluable addition to both academic and devotional libraries. It revives the art of reliable maqtal narration and offers a deeply moving, intellectually satisfying portrayal of one of Islam’s most formative events. For students of Shīʿī studies, Islamic history, and religious storytelling, this book is a masterclass in both historical reconstruction and spiritual resonance. The legacy of Āyatollāh Riyshahrī continues through this monumental effort—an enduring contribution to the remembrance of Imām Ḥusayn (a) and the noble martyrs of Karbalā.
