Imam Husayn bin Ali bin Abi
Talib(R.A) (626-680) was the grandson of the Holy Prophet (May Allah send
greetings and salutations on him). His mother, Fatimah(R.A), was the Holy
Prophet`s (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) daughter, and his
father Ali(R.A) was the Holy Prophet`s (may Allah send greetings and salutations
on him) cousin. He(R.A) was born on the third of the blessed month of Shaban,
the fourth year after Hijra. Allah`s Messenger (may Allah send greetings and
salutations on him) recited the azaan (the call to prayer) into his right ear,
and read iqamah (the shorter version) in his left ear. He was martyred in the
Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. He, the chief of the martyrs, occupies a high rank
in Islam.
The life and martyrdom of Imam Husayn(R.A) teaches all the Muslims lessons of
sacrifice, selflessness, patience and seeking the pleasure of Allah, glorified
and exalted is He. His(R.A) brave followers were cut down beside him to the last
man but he never wavered.
The writer of Kashf-ul-Mahjub wrote about Imam Husayn(R.A): "So long as the
truth was apparent, he followed it. But when it was lost, he drew the sword and
never rested until he sacrificed his dear life for Allah`s sake. Allah`s
Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) distinguished him by
many signs of favour."
Khwaja Muin-ud-Din Chishti(R.A) pays warm tributes to Imam Husayn(R.A): He(R.A)
gave his head but did not put his hand into the hands of Yazid. Verily,
Husayn(R.A) is the foundation of la ilaha il Allah (there is no deity except
Allah). Husayn(R.A) is the lord and the lord of lords. Husayn(R.A) himself is
Islam and the shield of Islam. Though he gave his head (for Islam) but never
pledged Yazid. Truly, Husayn(R.A) is the founder of la ilaha il Allah (there is
no deity except Allah).
Hadith literature about Husayn bin Ali(R.A):
Allah`s Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) said about
Hasan(R.A) and Husayn(R.A): "They are the chief of the youth of Paradise." Sunan
Tirmidhi, volume 5, page 656 Allah`s Messenger (may Allah send greetings and
salutations on him) said, "He who loved Hasan(R.A) and Husain(R.A) loved me, and
he who hated them hated me." Musnad Ahmad bin Hambal, volume 2, page 288
Allah`s Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) said,
"Hasan(R.A) and Husayn(R.A) are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise and Fatimah
is the chief of their women." Sunan Tirmidhi, volume 5, page 660, on the
authority of Abu Sa`id and Hudhayfah
Allah`s Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) said,
"Husain(R.A) is from me and I am from Husain(R.A)." Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hambal,
volume 4, page 172
Allah`s Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) looked
toward Ali(R.A), Hasan(R.A), Husain(R.A), and Fatimah(R.A) and then said, "I am
at war with those who will fight you, and at peace with those who make peace
with you." Sunan Tirmidhi, volume 5, page 699
Umar bin Khattab(R.A) narrates: I saw Hasan(R.A) and Husayn(R.A) riding on the
shoulders of the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him).
I said, "What an excellent mount is under both of you!" The Holy Prophet (may
Allah send greetings and salutations on him) replied, "And what excellent riders
(are they)!" Majma-uz-Zawaid, volume 9, page 182
Ali bin Abu Talib(R.A) on his way to the battle of Siffin passed through the
desert of Karbala. There he stopped and wept very bitterly. When interrogated
regarding the cause of his weeping, he commented that one day he visited the
Prophet Muhammad (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) and found him
weeping. When he asked the Prophet Mohammad (may Allah send greetings and
salutations on him) as to what was the reason which made him weep, he replied,
"O Ali(R.A), Gabriel has just been with me and informed me that my son
Husayn(R.A) would be martyred in Karbala, a place near the bank of the River
Euphrates. This moved me so much that I could not help weeping."
Al-Khasis-ul-Kubra, volume 2, page 12
Anas ibn Harith(R.A) narrates: One day the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah send
greetings and salutations on him) ascended the pulpit to deliver a sermon to his
associates while Husayn ibn Ali(R.A) and Hasan ibn Ali(R.A) were sitting before
him. When address was over, he put his left hand on Husayn ibn Ali(R.A) and,
raising his head towards Heaven, said: "O my lord! I am Muhammad Your slave and
Your Prophet, and these two are the distinguished and pious members of my family
who would fortify my cause after me. O my Lord! Gabriel has informed me that the
son Husayn(R.A) would be killed. O my Lord! Bless my cause in recompense for
Husayn`s martyrdom, make him the leader of the martyrs, be You be his helper and
guardian and do not bless his murderers."
Abdullah bin Abbas(R.A) narrates: One day at midday I saw in a dream the Holy
Prophet (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) dishevelled and dusty.
He had a bottle in his hand which contained blood. I said, "May my parents be
sacrificed for you, what is this?" he replied, "This is the blood of Husayn and
his companions which I have been collecting today." I was reckoning the time and
found that he been killed at that time.
by: Muhammad Hanif