He was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680.[2] The anniversary of his death is called Ashura and it is a day of mourning and religious observance for Shi’a Muslims. This day is well-known because of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali the grandson of Muhammad, along with his family and close friends at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680). Yazid I Ibn Muwa’via Ibn Abu Sufyan was in power then and wanted the Bay’ah (allegiance) of Husayn ibn Ali. Yazid was openly going against the teachings of Islam in public and changing the sunnah of Muhammad.[citation needed] Historians agree that if Husayn ibn Ali had not taken the stance that he did, the religion of Islam would not be what it is today.[citation needed]

After Hasan ibn Ali was born; Fatima al-Zahra bint Muhammad became pregnant with her second child. Fatima started noticing the signs that childbearing was near, but Muhammad had already foretold of Husayn ibn Ali’s birth.

On Sha’ban 3, 4 H.E., Muhammad was given news of the birth of Husayn ibn Ali. Muhammad hurried to the house of Fatimah al-Zahra his daughter and Ali ibn Abi Talib. Saffiyah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Asma bint Umais, and Umm Salama were present when Husayn ibn Ali was born.

When Muhammad asked Safiyah bint ‘Abd al-Muttalib to bring him the newborn child, she said: “We have not cleaned him yet.” When Muhammad heard this, he said: “You clean him? Surely Allah the Exalted has cleaned and purified him.”

Asma bint Umais took the newborn child to him wrapped in a piece of cloth. Muhammad took him in his arms and recited the call to prayer (Adhan) into his right ear, and read the shorter version (Iqama) in his left ear. He then placed the infant in his lap and wept.

“May my father and mother be your sacrifice”, Asma bint Umais asked Muhammad, “Why are you crying?”

“Because of my son”, he replied.

“He is a newborn infant”, she said.

“O Asma”, he said, “After me, the transgressing party will kill him. May Allah never grant them my intercession.”

Then he said: “Asma, do not tell Fatima about this, for she has just given birth to him.”[3]

After Husayn ibn Ali was born, Archangel Gabriel descended to Muhammad and revealed to him to give the newborn child the name Al-Husayn. Al-Husayn is the Arabic version of the old Hebrew name Shabir, which was the name of Harun’s second son. When Gabriel descended to Muhammad, scores of angels accompanied him to congratulate and console Muhammad for Husayn ibn Ali’s birth and expected death.

Seven days after the birth Muhammad shaved Husayn ibn Ali’s head and gave the gold equivalent of the weight of his hair as charity for him.

1.         ^ “al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali”. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved on 2007-10-12. 

2.         ^ Gordon, 2005, pp. 144-146

3.         ^ Muhammad Ibn Ismail Bukhari and Muhammad Muhsin Khan (1996). The English Translation of Sahih Al Bukhari With the Arabic Text. Al-Saadawi Publications. ISBN 1881963594

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about Husayn ibn Ali in Sunni books

“Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise and Fatimah is the chief of their women.”

1. Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p660, on the authority of Abu Sa’id and Hudhayfa

2. Sunan Ibn Majah, Introduction 8

3. al-Tabarani, on the authorities of: Umar, Ali, Jabir, Abu Hurayrah, Usamah Ibn Zaid, al-Baraa, Ibn ‘Adi, and Ibn Masud.

4. al-Kubra, by al-Nasa’i

5. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp 62,82, v3, pp 3,64, v5, p391

6. Fada’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, p771, Tradition #1360

7. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, pp 166,167

8. Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu’aym, v5, p71

9. Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v9, p187

10. Tuhfatul Ashraf, by Lumzi, v3, p31

11. Ibn Habban, as mentioned in al-Mawarid, pp 551,553

12. al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 3, p290

13. Mishkat al-Masabih, by Khatib al-Tabrizi, English Version, Tradition #6154 

Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “The member of my home (family members specified in other narrations as Fatima, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn) is from me and I am from Them.”

1. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v4, p172

2. Fadha’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, p772, Tradition #1361

3. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p 177

4. Amali, by Abu Nu’aym al-Isbahani, p 64

5. al-Kuna wal Asmaa, by al-Dulabi, v1, p88

6. al-Tabarani, v3, p21

7. Adab by al-Bukhari, also al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, as quoted in:

8. al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 3, p291

9. Mishkat al-Masabih, by Khatib al-Tabrizi, English Version, Tradition #6160 

Prophet Muhammad PBUH looked toward Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn, and then said, “I am in war with those who will fight you, and in peace with those who are peaceful to you.”

1. Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p699

2. Sunan Ibn Majah, v1, p52

3. Fadha’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p767, Tradition #1350

4. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p149

5. Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v9, p169

6. al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v3, p30, also in al-Awsat

7. Jami’ al-Saghir, by al-Ibani, v2, p17

8. Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v7, p137

9. Sawaiq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, p144

10. Talkhis, by al-Dhahabi, v3, p149

11. Dhakha’ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p25

12. Mishkat al-Masabih, by Khatib al-Tabrizi, English Version, Tradition #6145 

Prophet Muhammad said, “He who loves al-Hasan and al-Husayn, has loved me, and he who makes them angry has made me angry.”

1. Sunan Ibn Majah,

2. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, from Abu Hurairah

3. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, as quoted in:

4. al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 3, p292

Top of page

Usablenet Assistive is a UsableNet product. Usablenet Assistive Main Page.