Shimr Killer of Imam Hussain

Shimr Killer of Imam Hussain, a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr.

Shimr Ibn Thil-Jawshan was the commander in the Ummayad army during the Battle of Karbala, in southern Iraq that occurred in the year 680 AD. He was from the same tribe, Bani Kalab, as Abbas ibn Ali's mother.

In battle, he was responsible for beheading Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad. He was also instrumental in pillaging the camp of Husayn after raising his head on a post to declare his victory

Shimr was eventually killed by Mukhtar Al-Thakafi who wished to take revenge upon the killers of Husayn and the rest of the members of the Prophet's family.