Imam Husain was the second child of Imam Ali son of Abu-Ṭalib (a.s) and Lady Fāṭimah, the beloved daughter and the only surviving child of the Apostle of Allāh (may Allāh bless him and his pure household). He was a younger brother of Imam Ḥasan. His nickname was Abū ‘Abd Allāh.
He was born in Medina, on the fifth of Sha‘bān in the year 4 A.H. His mother, Fāṭimah, peace be on her, brought him to the Apostle of Allāh. The latter was delighted with him and named him Ḥusain. He sacrificed a ram on his behalf in the rite of naming day.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to establish the noble status of Imam Husain in Islam, it is necessary we refer to the glorious Qur’an and the Prophetic tradition (Hadith).
Imam Husain from the Qur’anic Perspective
The verse of Purification (Qur’an 33: 33)
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّـهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا…
…Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.
According to several reports from both Sunni and Shia scholars, Imam Husain (a.s) was among the selected members of the Prophet’s household (Ahl al-Bayt); those who have been cleansed from every impurity and were thoroughly purified by Allah.
The verse of Affection (Qur’an 43: 23)
قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى
Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except the love of [my] relatives.’
According several reports from both Sunni and Shia scholars, Imam Husain (a.s) was among the nearest family members (Dhul Qurba); whom their love and loyalty are made compulsory upon the Muslim community.
The verse of Malediction (Qur’an 3: 61)
فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ اللَّـهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ
Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say, ‘Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, then let us pray earnestly, and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.’
According to several reports from both Sunni and Shia scholars, Imam Husain (a.s) together with his elder brother; Imam Hasan represented “Our sons” (the sons of the Muslim community) during a challenge to the Najran Christian; through which the genuineness of Islam was established.
The verse of Feeding (Qur’an 76: 7-12)
يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا ﴿٧﴾ وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾ إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّـهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاءً وَلَا شُكُورًا ﴿٩﴾ إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْمًا عَبُوسًا قَمْطَرِيرًا ﴿١٠﴾ فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّـهُ شَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُورًا ﴿١١﴾ وَجَزَاهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيرًا ﴿١٢﴾
They fulfill their vows and fear a day whose ill will be widespread. For the love of Him, they feed the needy, the orphan and the prisoner, [saying,] ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire no reward from you, nor thanks. Indeed we fear a frowning and fateful day from our Lord.’ So Allah saved them from that day’s ills and graced them with freshness [on these faces] and joy [in their hearts]. He rewarded them for their patience with a garden and [garments of] silk,
According to several reports from both Sunni and Shia scholars, Imam Husain (a.s) was among those who were given glad tidings of Paradise and that shall be protected from the evils of that Day.
The verse of those vested with Authority (Q 4: 59)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّـهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ
O you who have faith! Obey Allah and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you.
According to several reports, Imam Husain (a.s) was among those vested with authority; the twelve successors of the Prophet whose loyalty to them is guidance and their disloyalty is misguidance (According to Hadith al-Safinah).
The verse of Salutation (Qur’an 33: 56)
إِنَّ اللَّـهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Indeed Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who have faith! Invoke blessings on him and invoke Peace upon him in a worthy manner
Imam Husain (a.s) is among the Prophet’s household (i.e. Ahl al-Bayt) on whom benediction (Salawat) and salutation (salaam) to them is made compulsory u ponthe believers.
Imam Husain from the Prophetic Hadiths (Part 1)
In this section, we shall examine those Prophetic traditions (Hadith) which focus on the virtues of the Prophet’s household (i.e. Ahl al-Bayt) which Imam Husain (a.s) is also part of them.
Hadith of two precious things (Hadith Thaqalayn)
It was reported with different chains of narration that the prophet (PBUHH) said:
«إني تارك فيكم الثقلين كتابَ الله وأهلَ بيتي وإنهما لن يَفتَرِقَا حتى يَرِدَا عَلَيَّ الحَوضَ »
I am leaving among you two precious things: the Book of Allah and my household. Verily the two will never separate one another until they come to meet me at the pool”
يا أيها الناس إني قد تركت فيكم ما إن أخذتم به لن تضلوا: كتاب الله وعترتي أهل بيتي
“O people, I am leaving among you what if you hold firmly unto it you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and progeny; my household.” [Sahih Tirmidhi vol. 5 p 329 (Had no. 3876)]
إني تارك فيكم ما ان تمسّکتم به لن تضلوا: كتاب الله و عترتي، فلا تقَدَّمُوهُمَا فَتُهلِكُوا وَلا تَقصُرُوا عَنهُمَا فَتُهلِكُوا ولا تُعَلِّمُوهُم فَإنَّهُم أَعلَم مِنكُم
“I am leaving among you what if you hold firmly unto it you will never go astray: The book of Allah and progeny. Therefore, don’t outstrip them, for then you will perish, and don’t teach them (anything) because they are more knowledgeable than you”.
NOTE:
From this Hadith (i.e. Hadith Thaqalayn), the Prophet’s household is part of two inseparable entities which will prevent the Muslim community from going astray. Thus, Imam Husain (a.s) is part of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) whom we are commanded to hold firmly in order to be saved from perishment.
The tradition of Ark (Hadith-al-Safinah)
The Prophet (PBUHH) was reported with different chains of narration to have said:
إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَیتِی فِیکُمْ کَمَثَلِ سَفِینَةِ نُوحٍ، مَنْ دَخَلَهَا نَجَی، وَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا غَرِقَ
“Surely, the likeness of my household among you is like Noah’s Ark; whoever enters it, is safe and whoever remains behind is drowned”.
مَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَیتِی فِیکُمْ کَمَثَلِ سَفِینَةِ نُوحٍ، مَنْ رَکِبها نَجَا، وَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا غَرِقَ
“Surely, the likeness of my household among you is like Noah’s Ark; whoever boards it, is safe and whoever remains behind is drowned”.
NOTE:
From this Hadith (i.e. Hadith Safinah), the similitude of the Prophet’s household is the similitude of Noah’s Ark (i.e. the Ark of Salvation). Whoever boards it is saved and whoever is left behind is drowned and destroyed. Thus, Imam Husain (a.s) is part of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) and whoever follows him is guided and saved and whoever is left behind is drowned and pushed into hellfire.
The tradition of security against discord
The prophet (PBUHH) was reported to have said:
النُّجُومُ أَمَانٌ لِأَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْغَرَقِ، وَ أَهْلُ بَیْتِی أَمَانٌ لِأُمَّتِی مِنَ الِاخْتِلَافِ، فَإِذَا خَالَفَتْهَا قَبِیلَةٌ مِنَ الْعَرَبِ اخْتَلَفُوا فَصَارُوا حِزْبَ إِبْلِیسَ
“The stars are a security for the people of the earth against drowning (when at sea) and my household (Ahl al-Bayt) is a security to my community against discord. Whenever any Arab’s tribes disagree with them, those tribes will be disintegrated and become the party of Satan (Devil)” (Mustadrak Sahihayn vol. 3 p 149)
NOTE:
From this Hadith (i.e. Hadith Amanu), Prophet’s household is the only security for the Muslim community from disparities. Whoever follows them will be guided to the right path and will be saved from disparity.
Thus, Imam Husain (a.s) is part of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s) and whoever follows him is guided and saved from disparities and whoever is left behind is drowned and pushed into Hellfire.
Imam Husain from the Prophetic Hadiths (Part 2)
In this section, we shall examine those Prophetic traditions (Hadith) which specifically focus on the virtues of Imam Husain (a.s):
Husain: The Chief of the Youth of Paradise
The Prophet of God (PBUHH) was reported to have said:
الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ
“Hasan and Husain are the Chiefs of the youth of Paradise” [Tirmidhi]
Similarly,
الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَأَبُوهُمَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُمَا
Hasan and Husain are the leaders of the youth of Paradise, and their father is better than them [Sunan Ibn Majah]
From the above, it is clear that Imam Husain is indeed an inmate of Paradise and above all, he is the Chief of the youth of Paradise.
Husain: A part of the Prophet
The Prophet of God (PBUHH) was reported to have said:
حُسَیْنٌ مِنِّی وَأَنَا مِنْ حُسَیْنٍ، أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ حُسَیْنًا، حُسَیْنٌ سِبْطٌ مِنَ الْأَسْبَاطِ
“Husain is from me and I am from Husain.”
Lovers of Husain are loved by Allah
The Prophet of God (PBUHH) was reported to have said:
حُسَیْنٌ مِنِّی وَأَنَا مِنْ حُسَیْنٍ، أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ حُسَیْنًا، حُسَیْنٌ سِبْطٌ مِنَ الْأَسْبَاطِ
“Husain is from me and I am from Husain. Allah loves whoever loves Husain“
Lovers of Husain are inmates of Paradise
The Prophet of God (PBUHH) was reported to have said:
یا ایها الناس هذا الحُسَینُ بنُ عَلیّ فاعرفوهُ، فَوَالَذِی نَفسِی بِیَدِهِ إِنَّهُ لَفِی الجَنَّةِ وَ مُحِبّیهِ فِی الجَنَّةِ وَ مُحِبِّی مُحِبّیهِ فِی الجَنَّةِ
O people! This is Husain son of Ali, try to know him. I swear by Him whom my soul is in His hand, He is indeed an inmate of Paradise. His lovers and the lovers of their lovers are also inmates of Paradise
Similarly,
الحسن و الحسين ابنيّ، من أحبّهما أحبّني و من أحبّني أحبّه اللّه و من أحبّه اللّه أدخله الجنّة و من أبغضهما أبغضني و من أبغضني أبغضه اللّه و من أبغضه اللّه أدخله النار على وجهه
Hasan and Husain are my sons, whoever loves them (has indeed) loved me and whoever loves me, Allah will love him. And whoever is loved by Allah will be in Paradise. Whoever hates them (has indeed) hated me and whoever hates me, Allah will hate him. And whoever is hated by Allah will certain be put in Hellfire.
NOTES:
From these Prophetic Hadiths, the noble status of Imam Husain (a.s) in the sight of Allah and that of the noble Prophet of God is depicted. Thus, Imam Husain (a.s) is part of the Prophet and the Prophet is part of Husain. Loving him is tantamount to loving the Prophet and disliking him is tantamount to disliking the Prophet. Whoever loves the Prophet is loved by Allah and shall be an inmate of Paradise. Whoever dislikes the Prophet is disliked by Allah and will be an inmate of Hellfire.
In light of the above quoted verses of the Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions (Hadiths), it is established that Imam Husain, peace be upon him, is a noble status and respected personality in the sight of Allah and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his Household).
