A Historical Reading of the Revolution of the Tawwabin: Its Motives and Impact on Islamic History

Abstract

The Tawwabin were a Shiite group who launched an important revolution in Islamic history. This revolution took place after the killing of Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him), when the Tawwabin regretted not having participated in supporting Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him) in the Battle of Karbala. Their movement was launched under the slogan of demanding vengeance for his blood and rejecting injustice.

It may be said that this revolution represented a stage in the development of Shiite jihad-oriented consciousness and in the cultivation of a culture of repentance and loyalty, through which guilt was to be expiated by fighting. Although the revolution ended in their defeat, its positive aspect lies in the fact that it had an effective impact in awakening the social conscience, paving the way for further revolts against Umayyad rule and threatening its regime, in addition to breaking the barrier of people’s fear of that rule.

In this study, we offer a new reading of the historical events related to the Tawwabin and their revolution, while explaining the motives from which the revolution emerged and examining its impact on Islamic history, particularly its indirect influence on subsequent history