WHO WAS IMAM HUSAIN (A.S.)?



Imam Husain (a.s.) was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny). He was the younger son of Fatima Zahra (s.a.), daughter of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) and Imam Ali (a.s.), the son-in-law and the first successor of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.). Imam Husain (a.s.) was the third Imam after his father Imam Ali (a.s.) and his elder brother Imam Hasan (a.s.).

The stature and position of our master, Imam Husain (a.s.), has been mentioned in the Holy Quran at various places. Allah orders Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) in Surah Shura (42), verse 23,

Say (O Prophet!): “No reward do I ask of you for this (for the effort of communicating the Message) except the love of those near of kin.”

This verse is one amongst those verses which enumerate the distinction and the lofty position of Imam Husain (a.s.). Ahmed Ibn Hanbal in his Musnad, Abu Noaim, Tha’labi, Tabaraani, Haakem Neishapuri, Shabraawi, Ibn Hajar, Zamakhshari, Ibn Manzar, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Mordowayh, Suyuti and scholars of Ahle Sunnah from various schools of thought have narrated a tradition from Ibn Abbas in their books as follows,

“When this verse was revealed the companions of the Holy Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.a.) asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Who are these near relatives whose love and adoration has been made obligatory upon us? The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) replied, ‘Ali, Fatima and their children’.”

The Holy Quran further states in Surah Ahzaab (33), verse 33,

“…Allah only desires to keep away uncleanliness from you, O people of the House and to purify you a (thorough) purifying.”

The above verse as explained by both Sunni and Shia scholars also refers to 5 people – Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.), his beloved daughter Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a), his cousin and son in law Imam Ali (a.s.) and his two grandsons Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husain (a.s.). These personalities from the Prophets family along with the other Imams from the progeny of Imam Husain (a.s.) are referred to as the Ahle Bait (people of the house) of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.).

The above mentioned Quranic verse says that for all the hard work of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) for the sake of Islam and the Muslims, the only compensation that he expects from them is to love his near relatives. Now, if a person does not obey the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) command, even the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would have no respect for him/her. Moreover, there is every possibility that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) degrades this person in front of God.

In today’s fast paced life, we work in different companies and use our knowledge and skills to perform our tasks and in turn become a cause of our company earning profits. In return, our company compensates us by way of our salary/wages. Can we imagine ourselves working diligently, with the same amount of enthusiasm, using our knowledge and skills to the best of our ability, if our company refuses to pay our salary? No wise person would agree to work for such a company. In fact, we would have no respect for such a company and might even go to the extent of degrading it in front of others. We would even discourage others to work at such a place.

The above mentioned Quranic verse says that for all the hard work of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) for the sake of Islam and the Muslims, the only compensation that he expects from them is to love his near relatives. Now, if a person does not obey the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) command, even the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would have no respect for him/her. Moreover, there is every possibility that Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) degrades this person in front of God.

This clearly signifies the importance of the love that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) had for his relatives. It can be said that the love of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) relatives is obligatory upon every Muslim man and woman. The one who violates or considers this love of the Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) relatives as insignificant, then such a person would most certainly enter the hell-fire. On many occasions, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) manifested his love and affection for his relatives, especially Imam Husain (a.s.).

It is quoted in Manaaqib from Sunan of Ibne Majah and Faeq of Zamakhshari that one day the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed through a lane and saw Imam Husain (a.s.) playing with some children. The Prophet stretched his hands and tried to catch him, but Imam Husain (a.s.) started running from here to there so that he could escape. The Prophet was amused and at last got hold of him. Then he placed one of his hands under the chin and the other on his head, then he lifted him up and kissing him said,

“Husain is from me and I am from Husain. Allah befriends the one who holds Husain dear.”