Husain Kashifi and the Oratory of Karbala - Mujtaba Hasan Kamunpuri

Allama Mujtaba Hasan Kamunpuri (1913-1974) was a Shi’i scholar from India. Born in Ghazipur, he earned his Ph.D. at Al-Azhar, and held various teaching and administrative roles at the Lucknow and Aligarh universities. The essay excerpted in this episode was published in a 1969 issue of the journal Sarfaraz. It talks about the central role of the Timurid scholar and orator Mulla Husain Vaez Kashifi (1436-1504) in shaping modern Shi’i oratory, and the Indo-Islamic mourning culture surrounding the Battle of Karbala. Kamunpuri traces Kashifi’s biography, delves into the debates surrounding his Shi’i persuasion, and critically analyzes the historical, literary, and aesthetic dimensions of Kashifi’s landmark work, “Rawzatush Shuhada” (The Garden of Martyrs).

Featured recitation:

Umme Habiba - Aan Imam-e Ashiqaan (Allama Iqbal)