He Is the fruit of the tree of the chosen Prophet, the pearl of Haydar the steadfast, the pole of the sky of leadership, the center of the circle of guardianship, the sun of the orbit of happiness, the first to reach the rank of martyrdom, the leader of the youth of Paradise, the delight of the eyes of the Ahl al-Sunnah, the master of martyrs, the role model of the pious, the apple of the eye.
Name
Al-Husayn ibn Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah honor his face).
Titles
He is titled “The Leader of the Youth of Paradise” and “The Flower of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
Kunya (Honorary Title)
Abu Abdullah.
Birth
He was born In the fourth year of the noble Hijra. He was raised under the care of his father and mother, then under the guidance of his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He attained the highest knowledge, nobility, and leadership, and was blessed with the light of his grandfather and his father, the Gate to the City of Knowledge, reaching the heights of virtue and patience.
Status
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said about him and his brother, Hasan: “They are my two flowers In Paradise,” Indicating that Hasan and Husayn are the leaders of the youth of Paradise.
Description
Our master al-Hasan (peace be upon him) resembled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from the chest up, while our master al-Husayn (peace be upon him) resembled him from the chest down.
Miracles
It Is narrated that an old man who participated in killing al-Husayn (peace be upon him) heard that everyone involved in his murder would suffer misfortune before they died. The old man claimed, “I was there and nothing bad has happened to me.” However, when he approached a lamp to adjust it, the fire caught him, and he cried, “Fire! Fire!” until he died.
It is also narrated that a man who was present at the killing of al-Husayn later went blind. When asked about the cause of his blindness, he attributed it to his involvement in al-Husayn’s murder.
Another narration tells that as al-Husayn was leaving Madinah for Makkah, he passed by Ibn Muti’, who was digging a well. Ibn Muti’ said to him, “Where are you going, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you?” Al-Husayn replied that he was heading to Makkah, where his supporters had called for him. Ibn Muti’ pleaded with him to stay, saying, “May my father and mother be sacrificed for you; preserve yourself and do not go to them.” Al-Husayn refused. Ibn Muti’ then said, “I have just finished digging this well, but no water has yet emerged. Could you please bless it with a prayer?” Al-Husayn asked for water from the well, drank a little, rinsed his mouth, and poured the water back into the well, which then became sweet and abundant.
His Life
During the battle In which he was martyred, al-Husayn and his companions faced intense siege. Despite this, they stood firm. Al-Husayn would recite:
> “I am the son of Ali, the scholar from the family of Hashim,
> This is enough for me as a source of pride when I boast.
> My grandfather is the Messenger of Allah, the best of all who walked,
> And we are Allah’s light among people, shining.
> Fatimah is my mother, descended from Ahmad,
> And my uncle, known as the one with two wings, is Ja’far.
> Within us, the Book of Allah was revealed truthfully,
> And within us, guidance, revelation, and good are mentioned.”
Lady Umm Salamah narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting In my house one day and said, ‘Let no one enter upon me.’ I waited, and then Husayn entered. I heard the Prophet ﷺ weeping, so I looked In and saw Husayn In his lap, and he was kissing him while weeping. I said, ‘By Allah, I did not know when he entered.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Gabriel was with us In the house and asked, “Do you love him?” I replied, “Yes, In this world.” Gabriel then said, “Your Ummah will kill him in a land called Karbala.” Gabriel took some of its soil and showed it to the Prophet ﷺ.’”
When al-Husayn was surrounded and about to be killed, he asked, “What is the name of this land?” They replied, “Karbala.” He said, “Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. It is a land of anguish and calamity.”
Imam Ali (may Allah honor his face) said, “Al-Husayn will be killed, and I know the land where he will be martyred, near the two rivers.” This narration is reported by al-Tabarani, with reliable transmitters.
Passing
Imam al-Husayn (peace be upon him) was martyred on the day of Ashura in the famous Battle of Karbala, giving humanity a profound lesson in adherence to truth and conviction.
Sources:
– Ibn al-Jawzi – *Sifat al-Safwah*, Vol. 1, p. 385.
– Mahmoud Abu al-Fayd – *Jumhurat al-Awliya*, Vol. 1, pp. 67–70.
– Abdul Raouf al-Manawi – *Al-Kawkab al-Durriya*, Vol. 1, p. 51.
– Al-Haythami – *Majma’ al-Zawa’id wa Manba’ al-Fawa’id*, Chapter on the Merits of al-Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon them both), Vol. 9, p. 190.
– *Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra* by Ibn Sa’d al-Zuhri (5/107).
