Tawwabin uprising

Tawwabin uprising (Persian: قیام توابین) or the penitents uprising refers to the uprising of a group of Shia of Kufa after battle of Karbala to take vengeance for Husayn ibn Ali's blood that they had invited him to come Kufa in the year 65 AH. This group led by Sulayman ibn Surad Khuzai one of the Sahabah of Muhammad, Prophet of Islam. The army of Tawwabin fought against Ummayad army in battle of 'Ayn al-Warda. Finally their leaders were killed in this battle and they were defeated.

Uprising formation

After killing of Husayn ibn Ali in Karbala, Shia were regretful and blamed themselves for not having anything to help their Imam. Following these emotions the first uprising was began by a group of Shia of Kufa that came to be known as Tawwabin. The uprising started under leadership of five followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib, father of Husayn ibn Ali, with the following of one hundred of Kufa's people. They held the first meeting in the house of Sulayman ibn Surad Khuzai, one of the Sahabah of prophet of Islam, Muhammad, in 61 AH. In this meeting Sulayman was elected as the leader of uprising. Also, they decided to remain secret their uprising. This uprising was remained secret until 65 AH. One of the reasons that is narrated for absence of Sulayman in battle of Karbala is he was imprisoned by Ubayd Allah ibn Ziyad during that battle.

Aims of uprising

According to their meetings and sessions they decided to fight against Umayyad Caliphate and return governorship to Ahl al-Bayt and revenge of the Husayn's blood by killing his murders or by devoting their bloods to this way. Also, they selected "Ya Latharat al-Husayn" (Arabic: ِیا لثارات الحسین‎‎), Rise to avenge Husayn's blood, as their slogan.

The formation of army

During the meetings the army of Tawwabin was formed. They secretly gathered soldiers and weapons from Kufa and the tribes around the Kufa. Also, Sulayman sent letters to leaders of Shia in Basra and Mada'in, so a number of people of Basra and Mada'in joint to this army.

Starting of uprising

In Rabi' al-thani of 65 AH, Sulayman summoned his men that had joint to his army to Nukhayla. It is said that of the 16000 Shia that had promised to show up, 4000 were present, only. One of the reasons was that Mukhtar al-Thaqafi believed that Sulayman had no experience of wars, so many Shia, specially Shia from Mada'in and Basra, from Khuzai's army began to abandon him in large numbers. Finally 1000 of others left the army. The army spent three days in Nukhayla then went to Karbala to pilgrimage to the tomb of Husayn.

Battle of 'Ayn al-Warda

Main article: Battle of 'Ayn al-Warda

After Karbala the army arrived to Qarqisia. The Tawwabin pressed on to 'Ayn al-Warda (identified with Ra's al-'Ayn), where they met an Umayyad army of 20,000 under Husayn ibn Numayr. The battle lasted for three days. Although the Tawwabin held the upper hand in a first skirmish, over the next two days the numerical superiority of the Umayyad army began to prevail. Finally, Suleman bin Surad was killed and the Tawwabin were surrounded and almost annihilated. Rifa bin Shaddad, advised the survivors to return, and brought them to Qarqisiya after getting defeat. The small number of Tawwabin who survived the battle of 'Ayn al-Warda, went over to Mukhtar al-Thaqafi. These Kufans, who formed the backbone of Mukhtar's movement, called themselves Shia al-Mahdi, Shia al-Haqq or Shia al-Muhammad. In his book, the origins and early development of Shia Islam Seyed Husain Mohammad Jafari points out that the Tawwabin were apparently defeated, but, in fact they could to form the first ever integrated Shia organization, which was influenced by Imam Husayn's thinking and way in order to serve the Shia community.