M. Intizar Jawad Kazem – College of Islamic Sciences, Department of Qur’anic Studies

He is Al-Husayn bin Ali bin Abi Talib bin Abdul Muttalib bin Hashim bin Abd Manaf (peace be upon him), the Master of Martyrs, also known as Abu Abdullah, the third Imam, and the second son of Imam Ali and Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon them). He is also the second grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) named him “Husayn” after his birth. Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was born in the month of Sha’ban in the year 4 AH. He was brought to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who whispered the call to prayer in his ears, and he sacrificed a sheep for him as he did for his brother, Imam al-Hasan (peace be upon him). He was known by titles such as “Al-Sibt” (the Grandson), “Sayyid Shabab Ahl al-Jannah” (The Master of the Youth of Paradise), “Reyhanat al-Rasul” (The Fragrance of the Prophet), and “Al-Shahid” (The Martyr), among others, such as Al-Zaki (The Pure), Al-Tayyib (The Good), Al-Wafi (The Loyal), Al-Sayyid (The Master), and Al-Mubarak (The Blessed).

He assumed the responsibility of Imamate after the martyrdom of his brother, Imam al-Hasan (peace be upon him), for eleven years until his own martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala on the 10th of Muharram, 61 AH. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved both Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn (peace be upon them) dearly, and he encouraged others to love them as well. Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) is considered one of the people of the cloak, and the verses of purification (Ayat al-Tathir) and the verse of the Mubahala were revealed in his honor. Numerous hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) highlight the virtues of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), such as: “Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn are the masters of the youth of Paradise, and Husayn is the lamp of guidance and the ark of salvation.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) would often take him to the mosque during prayer, where he would lead the people in prayer. Husayn (peace be upon him) would sometimes climb on the Prophet’s back while he was prostrating, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) would carry him on his shoulders, kiss him, play with him, and hold him in his lap. Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was also one of the five people the Prophet (peace be upon him) brought for the Mubahala with the Christians of Najran. He was seven years old when the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed away in 11 AH, and his mother, Fatimah (peace be upon her), also passed away in the same year. Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) holds a significant place among all Muslims, regardless of sect, as he is the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the son of his daughter Fatimah (peace be upon her), his beloved, his “Reyhanah,” and the Master of the Youth of Paradise.

Among the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are these notable hadiths:

• “Husayn is from me, and I am from Husayn. Allah loves those who love Husayn. Husayn is a grandson among the grandchildren.”
• “By Him who sent me with the truth as a prophet, Husayn bin Ali is greater in the heavens than on earth. His name is written to the right of the Throne: Husayn is the lamp of guidance and the ark of salvation.”
• “Whoever loves al-Hasan and al-Husayn has loved me, and whoever hates them has hated me.”
• “Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) prayed, al-Hasan and al-Husayn would jump on his back during his prostration. If anyone tried to stop them, he would gesture to them to leave them. After the prayer, he would place them in his lap and say: ‘Whoever loves me should love these two.'”
• “Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the masters of the youth of Paradise, and their father is better than them.”

Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was known for his compassion, sitting with the poor and needy, inviting them to his house, and sharing his food and drink with them. On one occasion, a poor man asked for his help while the Imam (peace be upon him) was praying. He concluded his prayer quickly and gave the poor man everything he had. Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was also known for his practice of freeing slaves and servants for their good character. It is reported that when Muawiyah sent a servant to Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) along with money and clothes, Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) freed her upon hearing her recite Quranic verses about the transient nature of worldly life and even gave her an additional thousand dinars.

Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) was generous and known for his charity, but he was careful not to exceed the level of generosity shown by his brother, Imam al-Hasan (peace be upon him), always offering a bit less than his brother in support of the needy. The life and deeds of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) have been extensively discussed in numerous sources, and talking about him and his life does not fit within volumes or books because he is a perpetual school, providing us with lessons of morality, ethics, faith, and wisdom in all aspects of life.