Why Was Qabisah Killed After Being Given Aman?

Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi: Executed in Muawiya’s Adhra Killing of Hujr bin Adi’s Companions

Before anyone calls this “Shia propaganda,” read what Sunni historical and biographical sources themselves record.

Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi was not killed in a random incident. He was one of the companions of Hujr bin Adi who were taken from Kufa to Marj Adhra near Damascus and executed in the famous case of Hujr bin Adi and his companions.

Ibn Manzur records about him:

Arabic:

قبيصة بن ضبيعة بن حرملة العبسي الكوفي من وجوه الشيعة. قدم به دمشق مع حجر بن عدي، وقتل معه بعذراء.

English:

“Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah bin Harmalah al-‘Absi al-Kufi was from the prominent Shia/supporters of Ali. He was brought to Damascus with Hujr bin Adi, and he was killed with him at Adhra.”

Reference:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq, biography of Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah bin Harmalah.

Comment:

This is the clearest individual entry. It says Qabisah was from Kufa, from the supporters of Ali, brought with Hujr, and killed with him at Adhra.

Ibn Sa‘d also records that Qabisah narrated from Imam Ali a.s.

Arabic:

قبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي. روى عن علي بن أبي طالب. وكان قليل الحديث.

English:

“Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi narrated from Ali bin Abi Talib, and he was of little hadith.”

Reference:

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, entry of Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi.

Comment:

This connects Qabisah directly to the circle of Imam Ali a.s in the Sunni biographical record.

When Ziyad began arresting the companions of Hujr, he sent the police chief after Qabisah.

Arabic:

فبعث إلى قبيصة بن ضبيعة بن حرملة العبسي صاحب الشرطة، وهو شداد بن الهيثم

English:

“So he sent the chief of police, Shaddad bin al-Haytham, to Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah bin Harmalah al-‘Absi.”

Reference:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq, biography of Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah.

Comment:

This shows Qabisah was specifically targeted during the crackdown against Hujr’s companions.

Qabisah wanted to resist, but he was told that he had been given safety for his blood and property.

Arabic:

فأراد أن يقاتل، فقال له صاحب الشرطة: أنت آمن على دمك ومالك، فلم تقتل نفسك؟

English:

“He wanted to fight, but the chief of police said to him: ‘You are safe regarding your blood and your property, so why would you kill yourself?’”

Reference:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq, biography of Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah.

Comment:

This is important. Qabisah was given aman, safety, but later he still ended up among those killed at Adhra.

Qabisah knew the danger and feared that if he fell into Ziyad’s hands, he would not escape.

Arabic:

ويحكم! إن هذا الدعي، ابن العاهرة، والله لئن وقعت في يده لا أفلت منه أبداً أو يقتلني.

English:

“Woe to you! This claimant, son of the immoral woman, by Allah, if I fall into his hand, I will never escape from him, or he will kill me.”

Reference:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq, biography of Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah.

Comment:

Qabisah understood that the promise of safety could not be trusted.

Then he was brought to Ziyad.

Arabic:

فوضع يده في أيديهم، فأقبلوا به إلى زياد

English:

“He placed his hand in their hands, and they brought him to Ziyad.”

Reference:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq, biography of Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah.

Comment:

This shows he was taken into custody, not killed in open battlefield combat.

When Qabisah entered upon Ziyad, he reminded him that he had only come under safety.

Arabic:

قال: إني لم آتك إلا على الأمان، قال: انطلقوا به إلى السجن.

English:

“He said: ‘I only came to you under safety.’ Ziyad said: ‘Take him to prison.’”

Reference:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq, biography of Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah.

Comment:

Again, the issue of aman is clear: Qabisah says he came under safety, yet he was imprisoned.

Al-Tabari records a painful scene when Qabisah passed by his house while being taken away with Hujr’s group.

Arabic:

فلما انتهوا إلى جبانة عرزم نظر قبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي إلى داره وهي في جبانة عرزم، فإذا بناته مشرفات، فقال لوائل وكثير: ائذنا لي فأوصى أهلي

English:

“When they reached the cemetery of ‘Arzam, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi looked toward his house, which was in the cemetery of ‘Arzam, and there were his daughters looking down. He said to Wa’il and Kathir: ‘Allow me to advise my family.’”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This gives the human side of the story: Qabisah was being taken away, and his daughters were watching him.

He then advised his daughters with patience and trust in Allah.

Arabic:

اتقين الله عز وجل، واصبرن، فإني أرجو من ربي في وجهي هذا إحدى الحسنيين: إما الشهادة، وهي السعادة، وإما الانصراف إليكن في عافية

English:

“Fear Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and be patient. I hope from my Lord in this journey one of two good outcomes: either martyrdom, and that is happiness, or returning to you safely.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

Qabisah himself understood that this road could end in shahadah.

He then reminded them that Allah was the true provider.

Arabic:

وإن الذي كان يرزقكن ويكفيني مؤنتكن هو الله تعالى، وهو حي لا يموت، أرجو ألا يضيعكن وأن يحفظني فيكن

English:

“The One who used to provide for you and take care of your needs is Allah, the Exalted, and He is the Living who does not die. I hope He will not abandon you and will protect me regarding you.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the final advice of a father being taken away from his daughters.

Al-Tabari then names Qabisah among those sent to Muawiya and imprisoned at Marj Adhra.

Arabic:

حجر بن عدي بن جبلة الكندي، والأرقم بن عبد الله الكندي، وشريك بن شداد الحضرمي، وصيفي بن فسيل، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة بن حرملة العبسي... فمضوا بهم حتى نزلوا مرج عذراء، فحبسوا بها

English:

“Hujr bin Adi bin Jabalah al-Kindi, al-Arqam bin Abdullah al-Kindi, Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami, Sayfi bin Fasil, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah bin Harmalah al-‘Absi… They went with them until they reached Marj Adhra, and they were imprisoned there.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This confirms that Qabisah was one of the men taken to Marj Adhra and imprisoned there.

A letter was also read before Muawiya, and among the material around the case there was testimony that Hujr was a man of prayer, zakah, Hajj, ‘umrah, commanding good, and forbidding evil.

Arabic:

وأن شهادتي على حجر أنه ممن يقيم الصلاة، ويؤتي الزكاة، ويديم الحج والعمرة، ويأمر بالمعروف، وينهى عن المنكر، حرام الدم والمال

English:

“My testimony about Hujr is that he is among those who establish prayer, give zakah, continuously perform Hajj and ‘umrah, command good, forbid evil, and his blood and property are unlawful.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This is important for the whole group. If the leader of the group was described like this, then why were his companions treated as criminals?

Hujr tried to send a message to Muawiya about the blood of the group.

Arabic:

أبلغ معاوية أن دماءنا عليه حرام، وأخبره أنا قد أومنا وصالحناه، فليتق الله، ولينظر في أمرنا

English:

“Tell Muawiya that our blood is unlawful upon him. Inform him that we had been granted safety and had reconciled, so let him fear Allah and look into our affair.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This applies to the detained group, including Qabisah. The message was clear: their blood was unlawful and they had been given safety.

Then Muawiya sent executioners to them.

Arabic:

فبعث معاوية هدبة بن فياض القضاعي، والحصين بن عبد الله الكلابي، وأبا شريف البدي، فأتوهم عند المساء

English:

“Muawiya sent Hudbah bin Fayyad al-Quda‘i, al-Husayn bin Abdullah al-Kilabi, and Abu Sharif al-Badi, and they came to them in the evening.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This connects the execution directly to Muawiya’s order and agents.

Before the killing, graves were dug and shrouds were prepared. Hujr and his companions spent the night in prayer.

Arabic:

فأمر فحفرت القبور وأحضرت الأكفان وقام حجر وأصحابه يصلون عامة الليل

English:

“He ordered that the graves be dug and the shrouds be brought. Hujr and his companions stood praying for most of the night.”

Reference:

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the scene: graves ready, shrouds present, and the prisoners praying through the night.

Then Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah is explicitly named among the seven who were killed.

Arabic:

تسمية من قتل من أصحاب حجر رحمه الله: حجر بن عدي، وشريك بن شداد الحضرمي، وصيفي بن فسيل الشيباني، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي، ومحرز بن شهاب السعدي ثم المنقري، وكدام بن حيان العنزي، وعبد الرحمن بن حسان العنزي... فهم سبعة قتلوا وكفنوا وصلى عليهم.

English:

“The names of those killed from the companions of Hujr, may Allah have mercy on him: Hujr bin Adi, Sharik bin Shaddad al-Hadrami, Sayfi bin Fasil al-Shaybani, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi, Mihriz bin Shihab al-Sa‘di then al-Minqarī, Kudam bin Hayyan al-‘Anazi, and Abd al-Rahman bin Hassan al-‘Anazi... They were seven who were killed, shrouded, and funeral prayer was offered over them.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the core proof. Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah is directly named among the seven killed, shrouded, and prayed over.

Ibn Kathir also confirms the same victim list.

Arabic:

وهذه تسمية الذين قتلوا بعذراء: حجر بن عدي وشريك بن شداد، وصيفي بن فسيل الشيباني، وقبيصة بن ضبيعة العبسي، ومحرز بن شهاب المنقري السعدي، وكدام بن حيان، وعبد الرحمن بن حسان العنزي المبعوث إلى زياد المدفون في قس الناطف، فلما قتلوا صلي عليهم ودفنوا.

English:

“These are the names of those killed at Adhra: Hujr bin Adi, Sharik bin Shaddad, Sayfi bin Fasil al-Shaybani, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi, Mihriz bin Shihab al-Minqarī al-Sa‘di, Kudam bin Hayyan, and Abd al-Rahman bin Hassan al-‘Anazi, who was sent to Ziyad and buried alive at Qas al-Natif. When they were killed, funeral prayer was offered over them and they were buried.”

Reference:

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

Ibn Kathir also names Qabisah among the victims killed at Adhra.

Al-Hasan al-Basri’s reaction exposes the contradiction.

Arabic:

صلوا عليهم وكفنوهم واستقبلوا بهم القبلة؟ قالوا: نعم، قال: حجوهم ورب الكعبة!

English:

“Did they pray over them, shroud them, and face them toward the qiblah? They said: Yes. He said: They defeated them in argument, by the Lord of the Ka‘bah.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, events of year 51 AH.

Comment:

This is the key question: if Qabisah and the others were shrouded, prayed over, and buried facing the qiblah as Muslims, then why were they executed?

This is not a Shia-only story.

This is recorded in:

Ibn Manzur, Mukhtasar Tarikh Dimashq

Ibn Sa‘d, al-Tabaqat al-Kubra

Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk

Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh

Ibn Kathir, al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah

The fair wording is this:

Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah al-‘Absi was a Kufan figure from the supporters of Imam Ali a.s. Sunni historical sources record that he was arrested in the crackdown against Hujr bin Adi’s companions, taken from Kufa to Marj Adhra near Damascus, imprisoned there, and then named among the seven men killed. He was shrouded, prayed over, and buried as a Muslim.

Important note:

The sources do not preserve a long separate speech from Qabisah at the execution place like they preserve for Hujr. But they do preserve his individual farewell to his daughters, his statement that he came under safety, and his name among those killed with Hujr. So the honest wording is: Qabisah was one of the named victims in the execution of Hujr bin Adi’s companions under Muawiya’s order.

Now return to the Qur’an.

Allah says about intentionally killing a believer:

Arabic:

ومن يقتل مؤمنا متعمدا فجزاؤه جهنم خالدا فيها وغضب الله عليه ولعنه وأعد له عذابا عظيما

English:

“And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is Hell, abiding therein; Allah is angry with him, has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great punishment.”

Reference:

Qur’an 4:93

Allah also says:

Arabic:

من قتل نفسا بغير نفس أو فساد في الأرض فكأنما قتل الناس جميعا

English:

“Whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or corruption in the land, it is as if he killed all mankind.”

Reference:

Qur’an 5:32

So ask honestly:

If Sunni sources say Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah and the companions of Hujr were killed, shrouded, prayed over, and buried as Muslims, then how can their blood be hidden under “ijtihad”?

When people present Muawiya’s side as innocent, peaceful, and purely “ijtihadi,” they should first answer the Qur’an, then answer the blood of Hujr, Qabisah bin Dubay‘ah, and the companions killed at Adhra.