The Mourning of the Birds at the Killing of Ôusayn Ibn ‡Alî Ibn ’Abû Àælib in Shî‡ite Maqætil Literature

Abstract

The maqætil writers used the motif of birds to convince the reader that nature itself grieves over the killing of Ôusayn. These authors magnified the characteristic features of doves, sparrows, owls and eagle, giving an account that suited their purpose, as is common in poetry.

What was this purpose? Ôusayn Ibn ‡Alî, grandson of the Prophet Muôammad, is the third ’imæm in the succession of twelve ’imæms, the heirs and successors of the Prophet Muôammad. The enlistment of birds in the maqætil seems to be one of the means of turning him into an exceptional and unique person.