An Example of Ideological Historical Reading: Claims About the Harra Incident

Öznur Hocaoğlu

Makale detayları

An Example of Ideological Historical Reading: Claims About the Harra Incident

Yazarlar:

Öznur Hocaoğlu

Yayıncı:

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Araştırmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 29, pp.65-76

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

10/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340746

pISSN:

2980-0331

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 One of the problems of historiography is that history is often written under the shadow of political conflicts. Many historians have presented what they observed and heard in a manner that supports their own ideological positions. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how historical facts can be distorted through exaggeration when approached ideologically, and how such constructed narratives, once aligned with prevailing preconceptions, can be accepted by readers without critical scrutiny. The narrations concerning the Ḥarra Incident exemplify this problem. The battle between the people of Medina and the Umayyad forces at al-Ḥarra in 63683 is depicted in the sources with divergent explanations regarding its causes and consequences. This article examines three particular claims related to the incident. First, that the rebellion of the Medinese was provoked by their religious sensitivities in response to Yazīd b. Muʿāwiyas alleged indulgence in entertainment, wine-drinking, and immorality; second, that the victorious Syrian forces were granted Medina as permissible mubāḥ for three days; and third, that during this period of permissibility, the daughters and granddaughters of the Companions were subjected to sexual assault. The findings of this research indicate that transmitters hostile to Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya attempted to portray the events in the worst possible light, whereas other transmitters did not draw such a picture. While some historians attribute the rebellion of the Medinese against the Umayyad rule to Yazīds lifestyle, which they considered unbefitting for the head of an Islamic polity, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥanafiyyawho lived in Yazīds palace for a period and personally witnessed his daily lifeexplicitly rejected such claims. Most of the reports supporting the above-mentioned allegations are transmitted by Shīʿī sources and narrators whom the hadith critics ʿilm al-jarḥ wa-l-taʿdīl classified as unreliable. Among them, Abū Mikhnaf stands out prominently; however, he was explicitly labeled by the critics as neither trustworthy thiqa nor impartial, but rather as an extremist Shīʿī. Moreover, the content of these reports lacks consistency, and a careful reading of the earliest sources reveals accounts that contradict these accusations. It is also striking that, despite the presence of numerous Companions in Medina at the timeincluding close relatives of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālibno reports of sexual assault were transmitted by them. This silence underscores the need for a more cautious and critical evaluation of these claims. Although several studies on the Ḥarra Incident have been conducted in Turkey, they have primarily been limited to narrating the causes and consequences of the event without undertaking an analysis of the controversial allegations. This article seeks to fill that scholarly gap. A more accurate and impartial understanding of the past can only be achieved when historical events are examined independently of ideological biases. Therefore, in controversial cases such as the Ḥarra Incident, it is crucial to take into account diverse sources and perspectives. This study was conducted with a multidisciplinary approach. In addition to early Islamic historical works, reliable hadith sources and their commentaries, biographical ṭabaqāt and genealogical ansāb compilations, tafsīr works, and relevant modern studies have been consulted. The literature review was carried out with an objective and critical perspective, and the data obtained were subjected to comparative analysis. Accordingly, different reports on the event and their reliability were evaluated in order to reach a more comprehensive understanding. The methodology adopted in this study highlights the importance of objectivity and critical reasoning in historical writing.

 One of the problems of historiography is that history is often written under the shadow of political conflicts. Many historians have presented what they observed and heard in a manner that supports their own ideological positions. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how historical facts can be distorted through exaggeration when approached ideologically, and how such constructed narratives, once aligned with prevailing preconceptions, can be accepted by readers without critical scrutiny. The narrations concerning the Ḥarra Incident exemplify this problem. The battle between the people of Medina and the Umayyad forces at al-Ḥarra in 63683 is depicted in the sources with divergent explanations regarding its causes and consequences. This article examines three particular claims related to the incident. First, that the rebellion of the Medinese was provoked by their religious sensitivities in response to Yazīd b. Muʿāwiyas alleged indulgence in entertainment, wine-drinking, and immorality; second, that the victorious Syrian forces were granted Medina as permissible mubāḥ for three days; and third, that during this period of permissibility, the daughters and granddaughters of the Companions were subjected to sexual assault. The findings of this research indicate that transmitters hostile to Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya attempted to portray the events in the worst possible light, whereas other transmitters did not draw such a picture. While some historians attribute the rebellion of the Medinese against the Umayyad rule to Yazīds lifestyle, which they considered unbefitting for the head of an Islamic polity, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥanafiyyawho lived in Yazīds palace for a period and personally witnessed his daily lifeexplicitly rejected such claims. Most of the reports supporting the above-mentioned allegations are transmitted by Shīʿī sources and narrators whom the hadith critics ʿilm al-jarḥ wa-l-taʿdīl classified as unreliable. Among them, Abū Mikhnaf stands out prominently; however, he was explicitly labeled by the critics as neither trustworthy thiqa nor impartial, but rather as an extremist Shīʿī. Moreover, the content of these reports lacks consistency, and a careful reading of the earliest sources reveals accounts that contradict these accusations. It is also striking that, despite the presence of numerous Companions in Medina at the timeincluding close relatives of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālibno reports of sexual assault were transmitted by them. This silence underscores the need for a more cautious and critical evaluation of these claims. Although several studies on the Ḥarra Incident have been conducted in Turkey, they have primarily been limited to narrating the causes and consequences of the event without undertaking an analysis of the controversial allegations. This article seeks to fill that scholarly gap. A more accurate and impartial understanding of the past can only be achieved when historical events are examined independently of ideological biases. Therefore, in controversial cases such as the Ḥarra Incident, it is crucial to take into account diverse sources and perspectives. This study was conducted with a multidisciplinary approach. In addition to early Islamic historical works, reliable hadith sources and their commentaries, biographical ṭabaqāt and genealogical ansāb compilations, tafsīr works, and relevant modern studies have been consulted. The literature review was carried out with an objective and critical perspective, and the data obtained were subjected to comparative analysis. Accordingly, different reports on the event and their reliability were evaluated in order to reach a more comprehensive understanding. The methodology adopted in this study highlights the importance of objectivity and critical reasoning in historical writing.

 One of the problems of historiography is that history is often written under the shadow of political conflicts. Many historians have presented what they observed and heard in a manner that supports their own ideological positions. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how historical facts can be distorted through exaggeration when approached ideologically, and how such constructed narratives, once aligned with prevailing preconceptions, can be accepted by readers without critical scrutiny. The narrations concerning the Ḥarra Incident exemplify this problem. The battle between the people of Medina and the Umayyad forces at al-Ḥarra in 63683 is depicted in the sources with divergent explanations regarding its causes and consequences. This article examines three particular claims related to the incident. First, that the rebellion of the Medinese was provoked by their religious sensitivities in response to Yazīd b. Muʿāwiyas alleged indulgence in entertainment, wine-drinking, and immorality; second, that the victorious Syrian forces were granted Medina as permissible mubāḥ for three days; and third, that during this period of permissibility, the daughters and granddaughters of the Companions were subjected to sexual assault. The findings of this research indicate that transmitters hostile to Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya attempted to portray the events in the worst possible light, whereas other transmitters did not draw such a picture. While some historians attribute the rebellion of the Medinese against the Umayyad rule to Yazīds lifestyle, which they considered unbefitting for the head of an Islamic polity, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥanafiyyawho lived in Yazīds palace for a period and personally witnessed his daily lifeexplicitly rejected such claims. Most of the reports supporting the above-mentioned allegations are transmitted by Shīʿī sources and narrators whom the hadith critics ʿilm al-jarḥ wa-l-taʿdīl classified as unreliable. Among them, Abū Mikhnaf stands out prominently; however, he was explicitly labeled by the critics as neither trustworthy thiqa nor impartial, but rather as an extremist Shīʿī. Moreover, the content of these reports lacks consistency, and a careful reading of the earliest sources reveals accounts that contradict these accusations. It is also striking that, despite the presence of numerous Companions in Medina at the timeincluding close relatives of ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālibno reports of sexual assault were transmitted by them. This silence underscores the need for a more cautious and critical evaluation of these claims. Although several studies on the Ḥarra Incident have been conducted in Turkey, they have primarily been limited to narrating the causes and consequences of the event without undertaking an analysis of the controversial allegations. This article seeks to fill that scholarly gap. A more accurate and impartial understanding of the past can only be achieved when historical events are examined independently of ideological biases. Therefore, in controversial cases such as the Ḥarra Incident, it is crucial to take into account diverse sources and perspectives. This study was conducted with a multidisciplinary approach. In addition to early Islamic historical works, reliable hadith sources and their commentaries, biographical ṭabaqāt and genealogical ansāb compilations, tafsīr works, and relevant modern studies have been consulted. The literature review was carried out with an objective and critical perspective, and the data obtained were subjected to comparative analysis. Accordingly, different reports on the event and their reliability were evaluated in order to reach a more comprehensive understanding. The methodology adopted in this study highlights the importance of objectivity and critical reasoning in historical writing.

 Tarih yazıcılığının problemlerinden biri, tarihin siyasî çekişmelerin gölgesinde yazılmasıdır. Zira tarihçilerin bir kısmı, gördüklerini ve duyduklarını, sahip oldukları ideolojiyi destekleyecek şekilde aktarmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, olaylara ideolojik olarak bakıldığı zaman, gerçeklerin biraz abartma ile nasıl çarpıtıldığını ve ortaya çıkan kurgunun mevcut kanaatine uygun olduğu takdirde, okuyucu tarafından da sorgulanmadan doğru kabul edilebildiğini ortaya koymaktır. İşte Harre Vakasına dair nakledilen rivayetler de bu sorunun somut örneklerindendir. Çünkü Medineliler ile Emevî hilâfet askerleri arasında Harretüvâkımda 63683 yılında meydana gelen savaş, kaynaklarımızda sebepleri ve sonuçları açısından farklı şekillerde ele alınmıştır. Bu makalede Harre Vakası ile ilgili üç iddia incelenecektir. Birincisi, Yezîd b. Muâviyenin eğlence hayatına düşkün olması, içki içmesi ve fasık olmasından dolayı Medinelilerin dini hassasiyetleri sebebiyle isyan ettikleri; ikincisi, galip gelen Şam askerlerine Medinenin üç gün mübah kılındığı; üçüncüsü, ibâha sürecinde ashabın kızlarına ve torunlarına cinsel saldırı yapıldığı iddialarıdır. Bu araştırmada görülmektedir ki Yezîd b. Muâviye aleyhtarı râviler, yaşananları olabildiğince kötü göstermeye çalışırken, diğer râviler böyle bir manzara çizmemektedir. Tarihçilerin bir kısmı tarafından, Medine halkının Emevi yönetimine isyan etmesi Yezîd b. Muâviyenin bir İslam devletinin başkanına yakışmayacak yaşam tarzına dayandırılırken, Yezîd b. Muâviyenin sarayında bir süre yaşayan ve günlük hayatına şahit olan Muhammed b. Hanefiyye bu iddiaları kabul etmemektedir. Yukarıdaki iddiaları destekleyen rivayetlerin geneli, Şiî kaynaklardan ve cerh alimlerince sika olmadığı belirtilen Şiî râvilerden nakledilmektedir. Şöyle ki râvi olarak Ebû Mihnef ön plana çıkmaktadır. Cerh alimleri Ebû Mihnefin sika olmadığını, aşırı Şiî olduğunu belirtmektedirler. Ayrıca rivayetlerin muhtevalarında bir birliktelik bulunmadığı gibi olay ilk kaynaklardan okunduğunda bu iddiaları doğrulamayan rivayetlerin de olduğu görülmektedir. Öte yandan olayı yaşayan Medine halkı arasında onca sahâbe bulunmasına hatta Hz. Alinin yakınları olmasına rağmen onlardan tecavüz iddiasına dair hiçbir haberin nakledilmemesi de rivayetler üzerinde daha dikkatli inceleme yapılmasını gerekli kılmaktadır. Ülkemizde Harre Vakası hakkında yapılmış çalışmalar mevcuttur. Ancak bu çalışmalarda olay sebep ve sonuçları açısından anlatılmakla yetinilmiş, mezkur iddialar üzerinde bir analiz yapılmamıştır. Bu makale bu boşluğu doldurmaya katkı sağlayacaktır. Tarihsel olayların ideolojik bakış açılarından arındırılarak incelenmesi, geçmişin daha doğru ve tarafsız bir şekilde anlaşılmasına yardımcı olacaktır. Bu nedenle, Harre Vakası gibi tartışmalı konular incelenirken farklı kaynakların ve perspektiflerin dikkate alınması büyük önem taşımaktadır. Araştırma, multidisipliner bir yaklaşımla yapıldı. İlk dönem İslam Tarihi eserlerinin yanı sıra, muteber hadis kaynaklarına ve şerhlerine, tabakât ve ensâb kitaplarına, tefsirlere ve konu ile alakalı modern çalışmalara da müracaat edildi. Literatür taraması objektif ve eleştirel bir bakış açısı ile gerçekleştirildi. Elde edilen veriler, mukayeseli bir analize tabi tutularak neticeye ulaşıldı. Bu bağlamda, olaya dair farklı rivayetler ve bu rivayetlerin güvenilirliği değerlendirilerek daha kapsamlı bir anlayışa ulaşmak amaçlandı. Bu çalışmada kullanılan metodoloji, tarih yazımında objektifliğin ve eleştirel düşüncenin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

Makale detayları

An Example of Ideological Historical Reading: Claims About the Harra Incident

Yazarlar:

Öznur Hocaoğlu

Yayıncı:

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Araştırmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 29, pp.65-76

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

10/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340746

pISSN:

2980-0331

Islamic History

Harra Incident

Yazid b. Muawiya

Abu Mikhnaf

Medinaİslam Tarih

Harre Vak’ası

Yezîd b. Muâviye

Ebû Mihnef

Medine

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Öznur Hocaoğlu

Yayıncı: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar: İslam Araştırmaları (Diğer)

Dergi: Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 29, pp.65-76

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 10/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001340746

pISSN: 2980-0331

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Öznur Hocaoğlu

Yayıncı:

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University

Ana Başlıklar:

İslam Araştırmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Rize İlahiyat Dergisi Issue 29, pp.65-76

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

10/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001340746

pISSN:

2980-0331