Imam Hussayn رضی اللہ عنہ The Prophet's Grandson

Young Companions

Imam Ḥussayn (رضی اللہُ عنہ): The Prophet’s Grandson

Owais Yameen Attari

Dear readers, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, شَعْبَانُ شَھْرِیْ "ShaꜤbān is my month." (JāmiꜤ al- Ṣaghīr, p.301, Hadith 4,889) Not only is this blessed month of ShaꜤbān connected to the noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, but it is also associated with the Prophet’s grandson: Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, as this was the month of his birth. Based on this, let us illuminate our hearts with the love of the companions and the family of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم by reading about Imam Ḥusayn’s childhood.

Brief Introduction

He is the son of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah and Sayyidunā ꜤAlī رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهُمَا, the brother of Imam Ḥasan, and the grandson of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He was born on the 5^th of ShaꜤbān, 4 AH, in the city of Madinah. (MuꜤjam al-Ṣaḥābah li al-Baghawī, vol.2, p.14)

Honoured after Birth

Sayyidunā Abū RāfiꜤ رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that when Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was born, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم recited the adhan in his ears. (MuꜤjam al-Kabīr, vol.1, p.313, Hadith 926)

Taḥnīk and Naming

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed his taḥnīk, named him Ḥusayn and affectionately referred to him as his son. (Musnad al-Bazzār, vol.2, p.315, Hadith 743, Mustadrak, vol.4, p.154-155, Hadith 4,826-4,829)

ꜤAqīqah

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم performed the Ꜥaqīqah for Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ with two sheep and instructed Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْها to shave his head and give silver equal to the weight of his hair in charity. (al-Nasā’ī, p.688, Hadith 4,225, al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kabīr by Ibn SaꜤd, vol.6, p.355)

Being Carried on the Prophet’s Shoulders

Sayyiduna Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came out of the house with Imam Ḥasan and Imam Ḥusayn; he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was carrying Imam Ḥasan on one shoulder and Imam Ḥusayn on the other, taking turns to kiss each one until they reached us. (Mustadrak, vol.4, p.156, Hadith 4,830)

Compassion and Love of the Prophet

Sayyiduna Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates, “We were offering ꜤIshāˈ prayer with the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. When he went into prostration, Imam Ḥasan and Imam Ḥusayn climbed onto his back. Upon raising his head from prostration, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gently removed them with his hands. When he prostrated again, they did the same. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم completed the prayer and placed them on his thighs. I came to the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم Shall I take them to their mother?’ ‘No’, replied the Prophet. Then, a flash of light appeared, and he instructed them to go to their mother. The light remained until Imam Ḥasan and Imam Ḥusayn entered the house.” (Musnad Aḥmad, vol.3, p.592, Hadith 10,664, Mustadrak, vol.4, p.158, Hadith 4,835)

Virtues and Merits

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم placed Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ in his lap, smelt him, embraced him, wrapped him in his blessed cloak, declared him the leader of the youth of Paradise and referred to him as "my flower in this world." (Musnad Aḥmad, vol.10, p.184, Hadith 26,602, al-Tirmidhī, vol.5, p.426-433, Hadith 3793-3812)

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, "Ḥusayn is from me, and I am from Ḥusayn. Allah loves the one who loves Ḥusayn.” (al-Tirmidhī, vol.5, p.429, hadith 3,800) Upon the request of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْها, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم granted him courage and generosity from his inheritance. (MuꜤjam al-Kabīr, vol.22, p.423, Hadith 1,041) The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prayed in the court of Allah, "O Allah! I love him (Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ), so You also love him and the one who loves him." (al-Tirmidhī, vol.5, p.427, Hadith 3,794)

Leave useless talk

There are many Hadith reported by Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ. (al-Iṣābah fi Tamyīz al-Ṣahābah, vol.2, p.68) In one Hadith, he narrates that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, "The beauty of a person's Islam is to leave futile and unbeneficial speech." (Musnad Aḥmad, vol.1, p.429, Hadith 1,737)

Martyrdom

At the time of the Prophet’s passing away, Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was approximately 6 years and 6 months old. He رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was martyred at the age of 56 years and 5 months on the 10th of Muharram, 61 AH. (Mustadrak, vol.4, p.172, Sawaneh-e-Karbala, p.170)

May Allah's mercy be upon him, and may we receive forgiveness without accountability for his sake.

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Note: To learn more about the biography of Imam Ḥusayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ, read Maktaba-tul-Madinah’s 41-page booklet named, "The Miraculous Wonders of Imam Husayn رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ”.