Birth
Imam Husain b. Ali (a.s.) was born in Madinah on 3rdShabaan
4 A.H. which was a Tuesday. As soon as Imam (a.s.) was born, he was
taken to his grandfather �” the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was delighted at seeing the infant and himself
recited the Azaan and Iqaamah in Imam Husain’s (a.s.) right and left
ears respectively.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) advised his daughter Hazrat Fatima Zahra (a.s.), “Shave his head and give silver equal to his hair’s weight.”
Imam (a.s.) was in his grandfather’s company for a period of over 6
years, with his father �” AmeerulMomineen (a.s.) for 29 years and 11
months, with his brother Imam Hasan (a.s.) for 10 years. He survived his
brother for 10 years, which was the period of his Imamate.
Name and Title
Imam Husain’s (a.s.) agnomen (kuniyyat) was Abu Abdillah. He had
several titles, the most famous one being the one he acquired from his
martyrdom Sayyid Al-Shohada (Chief of the Martyrs). This was the title
of Hazrat Hamzah, the Holy Prophet’s uncle (s.a.w.a.), with which the
Muslims addressed Imam Husain (a.s.), the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.)
grandson, after his martyrdom.
Like his brother Imam Hasan (a.s.), Imam Husain (a.s.) was named by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) on divine command.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) recounts, “When Hasan stepped into this
world, I named him Hamzah after my (s.a.w.a.) uncle. Likewise, when
Husain was born, I called him Jafar, after another uncle.
One day the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) called me and informed, “I have been commanded to change their name to Hasan and Husain.”
According to another narration, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) related, “The
names of Hasan and Husain correspond to the sons of Prophet Haroon. His
sons were named Shabbar and Shabbir and I have named them with the
corresponding Arabic names viz. Hasan and Husain.”
Prophecy of Martyrdom
The news of Imam Husain’s (a.s.) martyrdom was given by the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) to Asma bint Umays on the occasion of his birth. Asma
narrates, “When Imam Husain (a.s.) was born, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
visited the house and said, ‘Bring my son to me.’ I brought
the infant wrapped in a white cloth and handed him over to the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.). He (s.a.w.a.) recited Azaan in the infant’s right ear and
Iqama in his left ear. Then while still holding the infant, he began
weeping.’
Surprised, I asked, ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed on you, what makes you weep?’
He (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘For this son.’
I asked, ‘He is just born and is the cause of your weeping?
He (s.a.w.a.) informed, ‘Yes, O Asma. A rebellious group will
kill him. May Allah deprive them of my intercession! Do not inform
Faatemah about this news as the birth is fresh in her memory (and the
news will upset her).’
One day, Umm Fazl, wife of Abbas �” the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) uncle �”
approached the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and informed him (s.a.w.a.), ‘O
Prophet of Allah! I saw an ominous dream tonight. I dreamt as if a piece
of your flesh was flung in my arms.’
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) informed, ‘The dream is true. Faatemah will give birth to a son and he will be brought to you.’
As predicted on Husain’s birth, he was brought in my lap. One day, I
brought the infant to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). For some time, the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) took his eyes away from the infant. When he (s.a.w.a.)
glanced at the infant again, his eyes welled up with tears.
I said, ‘May my father and mother be sacrificed on you O Prophet of Allah, why are you crying?’
He (s.a.w.a.) informed, ‘I have just been informed by Jibrael that my nation will kill him.’
When AmeerulMomineen (a.s.) passed through Karbala on the way to
Siffeen (to fight against the Muawiyah), he halted there. He wept so
bitterly that the earth beneath him became moist.
He narrated, “One day I went in the presence of the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) and saw him weeping. I asked, ‘May my father and mother be
sacrificed on you, O Prophet of Allah! What makes you weep?’ He
(s.a.w.a.) informed, ‘Just now Jibrail was here and informed me that my
son Husain will be killed on the banks of Furaat in a land called
Karbala. He brought me the earth from that land and made me smell it and
I could not help but weep over it.’
That was the place over which AmeerulMomineen (a.s.) stood and informed, ‘It
is here that their blood will be shed. A group from Muhammad’s progeny
will be killed over here so much so that the earth and the skies will
weep over them.’
Resemblance to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
There are numerous reports indicating that Imam Husain (a.s.) bore a
striking resemblance to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.); in fact he was most
similar to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Many companions noted Imam
Husain’s (a.s.) resemblance to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) in physical
and spiritual traits; to the extent that whenever the companions saw
Imam Husain (a.s.), it reminded them of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
Aasim b. Kulaib narrates from his father, “I saw a dream in which I
witnessed a person similar to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). I narrated my
dream to Ibn Abbas to confirm whether my dream was true or not.
Ibn Abbas asked, ‘When you saw the dream were you reminded about Husain?’
He replied �” By Allah, the way the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) walked and his gait was exactly like Husain b. Ali (a.s.)?’
Ibn Abbas, ‘That is because Husain resembles the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).’
Anas b. Maalik recounts, ‘I was in the court of Ubaidullah b. Ziyaad
(l.a.) when Husain b. Ali’s (a.s.) head was presented on a platter in
the assembly. Ibn Ziyaad (l.a.) was constantly poking at the face and
eyes of Husain b. Ali (a.s.) with a cane. He (l.a.) said insolently, ‘I
do not see any virtue in this face.’
Anas b. Maalik reprimanded him saying, ‘O Ibn Ziyaad! Don’t you know
that the face of Husain b. Ali (a.s.) bore the most striking resemblance
to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)?’
The Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) Affection for Husain (a.s.)
The Prophet of Allah’s (s.a.w.a.) affection for Imam Husain (a.s.)
was notable. Books of history are replete with references to the love
and affection the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had for Imam Husain (a.s.) and Imam
Hasan (a.s.). While there are numerous incidents to this effect, one is
mentioned as an example.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was invited for a feast. He (s.a.w.a.)
proceeded towards the venue along with a group of companions. Along the
way, he (s.a.w.a.) saw Imam Husain, who was still a child, playing in
the streets. He (s.a.w.a.) rushed towards Imam Husain (a.s.) to pick him
up. But the infant dodged him (s.a.w.a.). No matter how much the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) tried to catch him, the infant took off in the
opposite direction managing to elude the Prophet (s.a.w.a.). Finally,
the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) picked him up and kissed him.
Then he (s.a.w.a.) declared, ‘Husain is from me and I am from Husain. Allah loves the one who loves Husain.’
Zaid b. Haarisa relates, ‘I wanted to meet the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and
went to his (s.a.w.a.) house one night. I knocked on the door. The
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) answered the door. When I was finished with my work, I
asked the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), ‘O Prophet of Allah! What do you have
with you?’ He (s.a.w.a.) disclosed Hasan and Husain to me, who were
hiding behind him and said, ‘These are my children as also my daughter’s children.’
Then he (s.a.w.a.) turned his face towards the sky and supplicated, ‘O Allah! You know that I love both of them. Then You too love them and love those who love them.’
Salman-e-Muhammadi (r.a.) has also narrated from the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) regarding Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.), “One
who loves both of them, I love him. Allah loves my beloved. Allah will
make the one He loves enter Paradise. One who despises them or rebels
against them, I too despise him. Allah despises the one despised by me.
Allah will make the one He despises enter the Hellfire where he will be
afflicted by eternal chastisement.”
Such quotes and incidents about the Messenger of Allah’s (s.a.w.a.)
love and affection for Imam Husain (a.s.) are not isolated events. They
are the subject matter of several books and documents. The fact of the
matter is that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) categorically established
this among the Muslims of the time so that it would enable them and the
Muslims of the subsequent eras to distinguish clearly between truth and
falsehood. These sayings of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.) serve to
identify those who bear enmity and animosity towards his (s.a.w.a.)
progeny and expose their wickedness to all.
He (s.a.w.a.) singled them out by clearly stating that waging war
against the Ahle Bait (a.s.) was in fact war against him (s.a.w.a.).
Renowned Sunni scholars have narrated traditions from companions like
Abu Hurairah and Zaid b. Arqam that when the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was
on his deathbed, he turned towards Ali, Faatemahh, Hasan and Husain and
said, ‘I am at war with the one who is at war with you and I am at peace with the one who is at peace with you.’
This warning of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) with reference to the
Ahle Bait (a.s.) has been recorded on several occasions. It is
documented that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) frequently stood facing the house
of the Ahle Bait (a.s.) and declared, “I am at war with the one who is at war with you and I am at peace with the one who is at peace with you.”
Ibn Aazib narrates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) declared while referring to Imam Husain (a.s.), “He (Husain) is from me and I am from him. Everything that is forbidden with regards to me is also forbidden with regards to him.”
Incidents about Jibrail’s (a.s.) affection for Imam Husain (a.s.)
have been documented in several books. Once Hasan and Husain, while
still infants, were playfully wrestling with one another in front of the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was continuously supporting
Imam Hasan (a.s.). On seeing this, Hazrat Faatemahh Zahra (s.a.) said, “Father
you are supporting Hasan, while he is the elder brother, instead of
supporting the younger brother. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) explained �” That
is because Jibrail who is witnessing the contest is supporting Husain.”
There are many other incidents about the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.)
fondness for Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.). One such incident
is particularly notable which involved the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) while he
was leading a prayer congregation. Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain
(a.s.) still infants, walked up to their grandfather, who was in
prostration and sat on his shoulders. A companion who was witnessing the
incident tried to shoo the infants away so as to allow the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) to complete his (s.a.w.a.) prayers. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
indicated to let them remain in their position. He (s.a.w.a.) then
gently guided them towards his feet and made them sit on his thighs.
Once, while leading the congregational prayers, the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) prolonged the prostration more than usual. After concluding
the prayers, the companions asked him (s.a.w.a.), “Why did you prolong
the prostration? Was a revelation descending at the time or has a new
command been revealed?”
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) informed, “I prolonged the prostration
because Husain (a.s.) had climbed on my shoulders and I did not want to
disturb him. I wanted to let him enjoy himself while he was perched on
my shoulders.”
Umar b. Khattab narrates, “One I saw the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) while
Hasan and Husain were perched on his (s.a.w.a.) shoulders. I turned
towards the infants and exclaimed, ‘What a wonderful mount!’ The Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) countered, ‘What wonderful riders!’
Ibn Buraida narrates, “One day the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was in the
mosque to deliver a sermon when his eyes fell on Hasan and Husain,
dressed in red cloaks, who were trying to find their way in the
congregation. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) descended from the pulpit, lifted
them and made them sit alongside him (s.a.w.a.) on the pulpit.
Then he (s.a.w.a.) said, “Allah and His Prophet have spoken the truth �” “O you who believe, surely from among your wives and your children there is an examination for you…” (Surah Taghaabun (64): 14). When these children appear in front of me I am so moved that I cannot even continue speaking.”
Once the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) happened to pass by his daughter Hazrat
Faatemahh’s (s.a.) house when he heard Husain crying. He (s.a.w.a.)
said, “Pacify Husain so that he stops crying. Don’t you know his crying torments me?”
Imam Husain’s (a.s.) Lineage
Huzaifa Yamaani (r.a.) narrates, “Once the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
entered the mosque while he was holding Husain on his shoulder in such a
manner that the child’s feet were against his chest and said, ‘O
people, I know you will dispute about the best person after me (in
lineage). Indeed the best person is Husain b. Ali. Who has a better
grandfather than Muhammad (s.a.w.a.)? Who has a better grandmother than
Khadijah bint Khuwailid (s.a.), the one who preceded the others in
believing in Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.)? Husain Ibn Ali has the
best mother and father. His father is Ali Ibn Abi Taalib (a.s.), the
brother, confidante and cousin of Allah’s Prophet (s.a.w.a.). His mother
�” Faatemahh (s.a.) is the chief of women of all times. Husain Ibn Ali
has the best paternal uncle and aunt. His uncle is Jafar b. AbiTalib
(a.s.) who has been granted a pair of wings by Allah so that he flies in
the heavens at will. And Husain Ibn Ali’s aunt is Umm Haani b. Abi
Talib.’
Then the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) lowered Imam Husain (a.s.) from his
shoulder to the ground so that the child was facing the people and
declared, ‘O people, this is Husain, whose grandfather and
grandmother are in Paradise. His uncle and aunt are in Paradise. He
himself and his brother will also be in Paradise.’
Imam Husain’s (a.s.) Importance According to the Companions (Sahaabah)
Once, Abu Huraira was seated by the side of the road while a funeral
was passing. Imam Husain (a.s.) was participating in the funeral and the
dust from Imam’s (a.s.) feet was accumulating on Abu Huraira’s clothes.
Abu Huraira did not appear to mind and instead was busy dusting the
earth off his clothes. Imam Husain (a.s.) asked, ‘What are you doing sitting here?’ Abu Huraira replied, ‘By Allah, if the people knew your importance they would prefer to carry you on their necks.’
Mudrik b. Ammarah relates – Once I saw Ibn Abbas while he was holding
the reins of Hasan’s and Husain’s mount. I objected, ‘Why are you doing
this while you are senior to them?’ He replied, ‘They are the
grandsons of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and dearest to him (s.a.w.a.). What
can be more fortunate for me than to hold their reins in this manner?’
Incidents highlighting Imam Husain’s (a.s.) excellence and merits can
fill up several pages. We have only mentioned a few by way of
illustration from hundreds of narrations.
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) relates from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), “Hasan and Husain are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise.”
Likewise, Ibn Abbas also recounts from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.), “Hasan
and Husain are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise. One who loves
them, certainly he loves me. One who despises them, certainly he
despises me.”
Similar narrations from the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) have been documented on the authority of Umar b. Khattab and his son Abdullah.
Huzaifa Yamaani, the respected companion of the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.), relates, “One night I happened to be with the Holy Prophet
(s.a.w.a.). I recited the Maghrib prayers with him (s.a.w.a.).
Afterwards, I waited for him while he was reciting prayers until it was
time for Esha prayers which I also recited with him. I waited for him to
conclude his prayers and come out of the mosque. While he (s.a.w.a.)
was still inside the mosque, I could see the back of his head, as if he
was conversing with someone. I do not know what was being said.
Suddenly, he (s.a.w.a.) turned back in my direction and said �” Who is there?
I (s.a.w.a.) replied �” Huzaifa.
He (s.a.w.a.) asked me �” Do you know who was with me now?
I said �” I do not know.
He (s.a.w.a.) informed �” Jibrail, the trustworthy, had come. He
conveyed Allah’s salutations to me and gave me glad tidings that
Faatemahh is the chief of all women of Paradise and Hasan and Husain are
the chiefs of the youths of Paradise.
I requested �” O Prophet of Allah, please seek forgiveness for me and my mother.
He (s.a.w.a.) responded �” Allah has forgiven you and your mother.
Jabir b. Abdullah Ansaari recounts �” One day I was with the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) and his senior companions. Husain entered the mosque. The
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) turned towards me and said �” One who wishes to see the leader of the youths of Paradise must look at Husain b. Ali.
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) narrated �” Through me you have been
warned. Through Ali you will find the path of guidance. Through Hasan
you will acquire virtue. However, the good fortune (of entering
Paradise) and the misfortune (of entering Hell) is derived from Husain.
Beware; Husain is from the doors of Paradise. One who bears malice
against him, Allah has forbidden even the fragrance of Paradise on him.
Imam Husain (a.s.) and the Verse of Purification (Ayat-e-Tatheer)
Umm Salmah (r.a.), the respected wife of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
narrates �” One day, while the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) was in my house,
Faatemah brought some food for her father. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
welcomed his daughter with utmost respect and said �” Go and invite the sons of my cousin Ali and my sons Hasan and Husain and let them also partake from the food with me.
After some time, Ali and Faatemah along with their two sons Hasan and
Husain entered the house. At the time, Jibrail descended with the
blessed verse of Surah Ahzaab:
“…Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House and to purify you a (thorough) purification.” (Surah Ahzaab (33): Verse 33)
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) turned towards me (Umme Salmah) and said �” Fetch me the Khyberi cloak
�” which was the Prophet’s biggest cloak. The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) made
Ali sit on his (s.a.w.a.) right, Faatemah on the left and Hasan and
Husain near his (s.a.w.a.) blessed feet. He (s.a.w.a.) covered them all
with the cloak. He held the cloak tightly with his left hand and raised
his right hand towards the sky and declared thrice:
“O Allah! These are my Ahle Bait and my closest family members. O
Allah! Keep away from them uncleanness and purify them with a thorough
purification. I am at war with the one who is at war with them and I am
at peace with the one who is at peace with them. I am an enemy of the
one who bears enmity with them.”
Based on this narration, Sunni and Shia scholars are unanimous that
Imam Husain (a.s.) is one of the members of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.)
progeny on whom the blessed Verse of Purification was revealed. The
verse was exclusively for the five members mentioned in the narration
and none else can claim to be a beneficiary of the Quranic verse. For
this reason Imam Husain (a.s.) has been referred to as – The fifth
member of the incident of the cloak.
Two of the senior-most Sunni scholars�” Ahmed b. Hanbal and Tirmizi
in their Musnad and Sunan respectively have documented the fact that for
six months before the revelation of the Verse of Purification (Surah
Ahzaab: Verse 33), the Prophet (s.a.w.a.), while on the way to the
mosque, used to halt at the house of Ali and Faatemah and declare:
‘Peace (on you) O Muhammad’s Ahle Bait! Allah only desires to
keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House and to purify
you a (thorough) purification.’
Imam Husain (a.s.) and the Verse of Malediction (Ayat-e-Mubaahelah)
Regarding the incident of Mubaahela, both Shia and Sunni scholars
have recorded that in the incident of malediction against the Christian
scholars, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) took none other than Hasan,
Husain, Ali and Faatemah corresponding to the Quranic command to bring ‘our sons’, ‘our women’ and ‘our selves’.
Noted Sunni scholar Haakim Nishapoori in his book Marefato Uloom al-Hadis has documented this incident as consecutive (mutawaatir) and reliable from the aspect of chain of narrators.
The incident of malediction revolved around the bishops of Najraan,
along with Christian scholars, who had come to Madinah to visit the Holy
Prophet (s.a.w.a.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) presented Islam to
them, however, they rejected it. Consequently, the divine command for
Mubahela (malediction) was issued:
“But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has
come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your
sons and our women and your women and ourselves and yourselves; then let
us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah on the liars”. (Surah Ale Imran (3): 61)
On the designated day, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) arrived at the venue
with his closest family members (a.s.). When the Christians witnessed
this, they were frightened from invoking curses on the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) and his family and agreed to pay the jizya tax.
The Enemies Testify to Imam Husain’s (a.s.) Virtues
Ekremah �” the slave of Ibn Abbas �”narrates that one day Ibn Abbas
was relating a tradition for the Muslims inside the mosque. At the time,
Naafe b. Arzaq requested, “O Ibn Abbas, please give a ruling for
matters related to ants and mosquitoes? If you have the knowledge,
please describe the God Who I worship.”
Ibn Abbas glanced in the other direction and saw Husain sitting along
with Ali in a corner of the mosque. Then Ibn Abbas turned towards Naafe
and said, “Come to me Naafe, so that we can seek the answer to your
questions.”
Naafe protested, “I am seeking my replies from you (and not from anyone else).”
Ibn Abbas defended his decision thus, “He (Husain) is from the Ahle
Bait of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and is the legatee of his (s.a.w.a.)
knowledge.”
Naafe headed towards Imam Husain (a.s.) to seek his replies. Imam (a.s.) replied to his queries.
Naafe replied, “O Husain, your words are virtuous and righteous.”
Imam (a.s.), “I have heard that you accuse my father, my brother and me of apostasy.”
Naafe replied, “By Allah, I have rejected what I had heard about you
earlier. You are the brilliant minaret of Islam and the guiding star of
divine decrees.”
Imam (a.s.), “Should I ask you something?”
Naafe �” Ask me, O son of Allah’s Prophet!
Imam (a.s.) – Have you read the Quranic verse: “And
as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there
was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father was a
righteous man…” (Surah Kahf (18): 82)
Imam (a.s.) continued, ‘O Naafe, who is the one who hid the
expensive treasure for the two orphans under the wall so that they could
inherit it at a later stage?’
Naafe replied, ‘The father of the orphans.’
Imam (a.s.), ‘That is correct. Is the father more benevolent
towards his orphans than the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)? Do you believe
that the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) will not deposit his (s.a.w.a.) knowledge
with his sons and in this way will deprive them of it?’
Imam Husain (a.s.) is the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) Flower
The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) along with his companions was proceeding
towards a feast. Suddenly, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) rushed ahead of the
rest when he (s.a.w.a.) saw Hasan and Husain, who were still infants,
playing in the street. He (s.a.w.a.) tried to catch them but they
playfully dodged him (s.a.w.a.). The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had a hearty
laugh over the whole thing. Finally, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) caught up
with Husain, picked him up and kissed him on the mouth and declared, “Both these (Hasan and Husain) are from my flowers of this world. One who loves me should also love both of them.”
Jabir b. Abdullah Ansari relates, “One day I was seated alongside the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) when Ali b. AbiTalib (a.s.) entered. The Prophet
(s.a.w.a.) turned towards him and addressed him thus, ‘Peace be on
you, O father of the two flowers. I advise you to treat my two flowers
well in this world. Soon you will be deprived of your two pillars and
these two will be your caliphs.’
When the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed away, Ali (a.s.) informed that he
(s.a.w.a.) was the first pillar mentioned by the Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
When Hazrat Faatemah (s.a.) passed soon after, he (a.s.) informed that
she was the second pillar referred to by the Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
A similar narration is recorded on the authority of Abdullah b. Umar,
which is related to Imam (a.s.) and the incident of Aashura.
Abdullah b. Umar was once seated when a man approached him and asked him a question related to the blood of a mosquito.
Abdullah b. Umar asked him, ‘Where are you from?’ He informed that he was from Iraq.
Abdullah said, ‘Look at this man. He seeks clarification regarding
the blood of the mosquito while he has killed the grandson of the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and pleads ignorance about what he (s.a.w.a.) said
about Husain. I heard the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) declare ‘Hasan and Husain are my flowers in this world’.
Imiam Husain’s (a.s.) Benevolence
One day Imam Husain (a.s.) came across some children who were eating
bread and meat. On seeing Imam (a.s.) they invited him to join them.
Imam (a.s.) accepted their invitation and shared their food. When he
finished, Imam (a.s.) took them to his own house and gifted them food
and new clothes. Imam (a.s.) said, “I have been granted this by the Most Generous. I am merely gifting you a portion of it.”
Imam Husain’s (a.s.) Valour and Generosity
Zainab b. Abi Raafe relates, “After the demise of her father
(s.a.w.a.), Hazrat Faatemah (s.a.) was inconsolable and wept copiously.
One day, she took Hasan and Husain to visit the grave of her father
(s.a.w.a.). She wept bitterly and complained about the treatment of the
Muslims. She then addressed her father (s.a.w.a.), ‘What have you left as inheritance for these two sons?’
A voice from the grave responded, ‘As for Hasan, he has inherited my awe and as for Husain he has inherited my valour and generosity.’
Hazrat Faatemah (s.a.), “I am satisfied with this O Prophet of Allah!”
Imam Husain’s (a.s.) Humility in front of Allah
Imam Husain (a.s.) performed Hajj 25 times without a mount i.e. by
foot. This was at a time when Imam Husain (a.s.) had the option and
means to afford a mount for Hajj. It was only to show his humility and
servitude towards Allah that he chose to perform Hajj by foot. He took a
mount along with him for Hajj without mounting it. This is possibly due
to two reasons �” One reason is that he could benefit from the mount on
the way back from Hajj and secondly walking with the mount (without
mounting it) was a greater manifestation of his humility and servitude.
Whispered prayers (Munaajaat) of Imam Husain (a.s.)
Imam Husain (a.s.) was seen in Masjidun Nabawi in Madinah while his face was covered with dust beseeching Allah, “O
Allah, if you will call me to account for my sins, I will appeal to
Your Nobility. And if You gather me with the sinners, I will tell them
that I love You. O my Master, my obedience does not benefit You; my
disobedience does not harm You. If my obedience has no benefit for You
then forgive me if I have fallen short in obeying You. If my
disobedience does not hurt You in any way, then overlook my
transgressions, because you are the Most Merciful of the Merciful Ones.”
References:1) Tarikh-o-Dimishq by Ibn Asaakir, Tarjemat-o-Imam al-Husain (a.s.);2) Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Tarjemat-o-Imam al-Husain (a.s.);3) Maqtal al-Husain by Khaarazmi;4) Faraaed al-Simtain, Tarjemat-o-Imam al-Husain (a.s.);5) Sunan al-Tirmidhi,6) Usud al-Ghaabah fi Marifah al-Saḥaabah,7) Al-Mustadrak Alaa Al-Sahihain by Haakem Neshapuri,8) Kanz al-Ummaal,9) Tafseer-e-Jaame al-Bayaan,10) Hilyat al-Awliyaa by Abu Noaim Isfahaani
Note: All the aforementioned references are authentic Sunni sources.
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