by: Muhammad Hanif

Imam Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib (626-680) was the grandson of the Holy Prophet (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him). His mother, Fatimah, was the Holy Prophet's (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) daughter, and his father Ali was the Holy Prophet's (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) cousin. He 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 adhan (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 teaches all the Muslims lessons of sacrifice, selflessness, patience and seeking the pleasure of Allah, glorified and exalted is He. His 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: "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 pays warm tributes to Imam Husayn: He gave his head but did not put his hand into the hands of Yazid. Verily, Husayn is the foundation of la ilaha il Allah (there is no deity except Allah). Husayn is the lord and the lord of lords. Husayn himself is Islam and the shield of Islam. Though he gave his head (for Islam) but never pledged Yazid. Truly, Husayn is the founder of la ilaha il Allah (there is no deity except Allah).

Hadith literature about Husayn bin Ali

Allah's Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) said about Hasan and Husayn: "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 and Husain 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 and Husayn 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 is from me and I am from Husain." Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hambal, volume 4, page 172

Allah's Messenger (may Allah send greetings and salutations on him) looked toward Ali, Hasan, Husain, and Fatimah 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 narrates: I saw Hasan and Husayn 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 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, Gabriel has just been with me and informed me that my son Husayn 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 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 and Hasan ibn Ali were sitting before him. When address was over, he put his left hand on Husayn ibn Ali 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 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 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.