Husayn ibn Ali

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Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (حسين إبن علي إبن أﺑﻲ طالب)‎ born on 3rd of Shabaan, year 4 AH/626 AD, at Medina - killed on 10th of Muharram, year 61 AH/680 AD, at Karbala, in what is now southern Iraq. He was the second grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the son of Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam, and the fourth Sunni Rightly Guided Caliph. His mother was Fatima Zahra daughter of Muhammad. Hussain ibn Ali is revered as the third Imam by most Shi’a Muslims^[1], and as the second Imam by the majority of Ismaili Shi'a Muslims.^{[citation needed]}

He rose up against Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph, to found a regime that would reinstate a “true” Islamic polity as opposed to what he considered the unjust rule of the Umayyads.^[1] Husayn was killed and beheaded in the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH/680 AD by Shimr Ibn Thil-Jawshan^[2] for refusing to pledge allegiance to Yazid I, the Umayyad caliph. The anniversary of his martyrdom is called Ashura and is a day of mourning and religious observance for Shi'a. Revenge for Husayn's death was turned into a rallying cry that helped undermine the Umayyad caliphate and gave impetus to the rise of the Shia movement.^[1]

Birth and childhood

See also: Ahl al-Bayt and Hadith of the Cloak

According to the most reports, Imam Husayn ibn Ali was born on 5 Sha'aban 4 AH/10 January 626 AD. Another report mentions the middle of Jumada al-awwal 6AH/beginning of October 627 AD as his date of birth. ^[3]

He and his brother Imam Hassan were the only descendants of Muhammad who remained alive. Many of the accounts about Muhammad's treatment of his grandsons and his great love for them deal with them together and at times confuse them.^[3] Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said that "whoever loves them [his grandsons] loves me and whoever hates them hates me" and "al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the sayyids of the youth of Paradise". The latter saying has been particularly important for Shias who used it in support of for the right of Muhammad's descendants to the imamate. Muhammad, according to other traditions, is pictured with his grandsons on his knees, on his shoulders, or even on his back during the prayer at the moment of prostrating himself. ^[4] According to Madelung, Muhammad loved them and declared them as his Ahl al-Bayt frequently. The Quran has accorded the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet an elevated position above the rest of the faithful.^[5]

In addition to these traditions, a number of traditions also involve presence of angels. From a Muslim point of view, these traditions do not create any problem but to non-Muslims they as appear legends created under the Shi'i influence.^[4]

The Incident of Mubahala

Main articles: Mubahala and Hadith of Mubahela

According to hadith collections, it is narrated that during the 9th - 10th year after hijra an Arab Christian envoy from Najran (currently in northern Yemen and partly in Saudi Arabia) came to Muhammad to argue which of the two parties erred in its doctrine concerning Jesus.^[6] After likening Jesus' miraculous birth to Adam's creation^[7], Muhammad called them to Mubahala (Cursing), where each party should ask God to destroy the lying party and their families. Muhammad, to prove to them that he was a prophet, brought his daughter Syedda Fatimah(Taiba,Tahira) and his surviving grandchildren, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain ibn Ali, and Ali ibn Abi Talib and came back to the Christians and said this is my family (Ahl al-Bayt), and covered himself and his family with a cloak.^[8] The Christian envoy, the traditions add, declined to take part in Mubahala and chose instead to pay tribute.

Rashidun Caliphs era

At the time of the siege of the caliph Uthman's residence in Medina by rebels from Egypt, when Uthman asked Ali to join the defender of his house, Ali sent Husayn. When Uthman asked Husayn if he thought he would be able to defend himself against the rebels, he demurred, and Uthman sent him away. ^[3]

In 656, when Uthman, the third caliph, was killed by a revolting mob, people came to Ali and pleaded of him to take up the position of the head of the temporal state. He was a caliph for four years and four months only. During this short period he faced continual challenges from the group of Muawiyah and other contenders.

During Ali's caliphate, the brothers Hassan, Husayn, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, and their cousin 'Abd Allah ibn J'afar appear as his closest assistants within his household. ^[3] In 661 Ali was assassinated by Ibn Muljim, in the mosque of kufa.

Ali's followers proclaimed that his eldest son Hassan should be the caliph. Muawiyah had fought Ali for the leadership of the empire and now prepared to fight Hassan. After a few inconclusive skirmishes between the armies of Hassan and Muawiyah, Hassan, to avoid agonies of another civil war, signed a treaty with Muawiyah and relinquished the control of what had turned into an Arabian kingdom, without pledging his allegiance to Muawiyah. Even after taking such a stance, Hassan was poisoned and killed in 669 by Muawiyah.

Muawiyah era

See also: Muawiyah I and Umayyad

When Imam Hassan ibn Ali agreed to a peace treaty with Muawiyah I, the first Umayyad caliph, he left Kufa and went to Medina with his brother Imam Husayn. ^[9] Imam Husayn stayed in Medina until Muawiyah died in 680.

He lived under the most difficult outward conditions of suppression and persecution. This was because, first of all, religious laws and regulations had lost much of their weight and credit, and the edicts of the Umayyad government had gained complete authority and power. Secondly, Muawiyah and his aides made use of every possible means to put aside and move out of the way the Household of the Prophet and the lovers of Imam Ali and his sons and thus obliterate the name of Ali and his family.^[10]

Muawiyah I ordered for public curses of ' Ali and his major supporters including Imam Husayn and his brother.^[3]

According to Shia belief Imam Husayn became the third Imam for a period of ten years after the death of his brother Imam Hassan in 669. All of this time but the last six months coincided with the caliphate of Muawiyah.^[11]

Yazid caliphate

Muawiyah designated his son, Yazid I, as his successor before his death in 680CE.^[12]

Yazid realized that unless Husayn submitted to his command, his caliphate would not be deemed legitimate, due to the clause in Hassan's treaty with Muawiyah which forbade Muawiyah from appointing a successor to himself.

When Yazid I became caliph he forced Husayn ibn Ali and Abd Allah ibn Zubayr to pledge alliance to him, but they refused and migrated from Medina to Mecca in that year. ^[13][14]

Husayn rose up against Yazid I and declared Umayyad rule was not only oppressive but also religiously misguided. In his view, the integrity and survival of the Islamic community depended on the reestablishment of right guidance. ^[15] Yazid perceived this is a danger to his throne. He plotted to kill the grandson of the prophet during the Hajj, in the precincts of the Holy Kaaba, thus defiling and desecrating it (Killing a person in Mecca is prohibited in Islam). In order to avoid this sacrilege, Husayn took along his wives, children, relatives and his followers and left Mecca.

While Husayn was in Mecca, open revolt began in Kufa because this was the first attempt to establish a hereditary dynasty. Religious attitude against Umayyad and Iraqi tendencies to recapture power inspired people alongside with those who believe that leadership of the Muslim community rightly belonged to the descendants of Ali to rose and invite Husayn to Kufa to establish his caliphate. ^[16] The people of Kufa had sent several letters to Husayn, inviting him to fill the void left by the demise of Hassan and to lead them in religious affairs.

Meanwhile, Yazid, having learned of the rebellious attitude of the Shia in Kufah, sent Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, governor of Basrah, to restore order. The latter did so, summoning the chiefs of the tribes, making them responsible for the conduct of their people, and threatening reprisals. Husayn nevertheless set out from Mecca with all his family and retainers, expecting to be received with enthusiasm by the citizens of Kufa.^[14]

On his way, he was offered military support by the tribe of Banu Tayy as well as sanctuary in their hills from where he could (if he wanted to) safely lead a revolt and overthrow Yazid. But Husayn refused the offer and continued his journey.

Battle of Karbala

Main article: Battle of Karbala

Husayn in his path toward Kufa encountered the army of Ubayd-Allah ibn Ziyad, the governor of Kufa, led by al-Hurr al-Riyahi, (a top commander in the Ummayad army who later changed sides).
When he clashed with them quoted^{[citation needed]}:

"... Don't you see that the truth is not put into action and the false is not prohibited? The believer has got to be fond of meeting his God justly. So I do not consider the death but blessedness and living with the oppressors other than abjectness."

Part of his speech on Ashura^{[citation needed]}:

"... Lo and behold; an ignoble (i.e ibn Ziyad), son of other ignoble (i.e. Ziyad ibn Abihi), has entangled me in a bifurcation, between either unsheathing the swords or accepting abjectness. And far be it that we accept abjectness. Allah abominates that for us, plus his proph­et, believers, the chaste pure gentlewomen, those who do not accept oppression as well as the souls who do not submit to meanness abominate it. They disapprove that we prefer obedience of scrooges to the best sites of murder. Beware; I assault you together with this family while they are few and when the helpers deserted. ... "

On October 10 680 (Muharram 10, 61 AH), he and his small group of his followers and family members, who were between 108 and 136 men of Husayn ibn Ali (the grandson of Muhammad). ^[17][18], fought against a large army of perhaps 50,000 to 100,000 men under the command of Umar ibn Sa'ad, son of the founder of Kufa. Husayn and all of his men were killed and beheaded. The bodies were left three days without burial and all the heads and whomever was left from Husayn's family were taken as prisoners to al-Sham (Syria and Lebanon today) to Yazid.^[14]

Today, the death of Husayn ibn Ali is commemorated during every Muharram, with the most important day being the tenth day, Ashura.

Burial

Husayn's body is buried in Karbala, near the site of his death. Most accounts say that his head was later retrieved and interred with his body. The Imam Hussein Shrine was later built over his grave; it is now a holy site of pilgrimage for Shia Muslims.

The Mustaali Shias believe that the head of Imam Husayn was taken and hidden in Asqalan and was later recovered by the Fatimid Caliphs when Asqalan was about to be overrun by the crusaders of the First Crusade. The Fatimid Caliphs had the sacred Head of Husayn brought to the Fatimid Capital of Qahera (Modern day Cairo), Ghusl was performed on it and it was interred within the palace of the Caliph (where previous Fatimid Caliphs were buried) with much ceremony. It was said by witnesses that fresh blood was still seen on the sacred head. The 51st Dai-ul-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras, His Holiness, Dr Syedna Taher Saifuddin, built a Gold Zarih (outer covering for the tomb), which was later installed by his son and successor, The 52st Dai-ul-Mutlaq of the Dawoodi Bohras, Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. The doors of the old stainless steel zarih was given as a gift to Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin by the Egyptian Government and were installed by him in Raudat Tahera in Mumbai.

Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali

Main article: Mourning of Muharram

Ashura is the day that Shia muslims all over the world commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali, his relatives and his followers. It is especially mourn on the first ten days of Muharram, first month of the Islamic calendar, and ends by the 10th day, although the mourning continues through the whole month and well into Safar till eighth rabi-ul-awal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. See also, Arba'een and Hussainia

Shi'a views of Husayn

Shi'ahs regard Husayn as an Imam and a martyr.He is believed to be the third imam. According to Shi'a belief he was a willing sacrifice to religious necessity, and Shi'as view Husayn as an exemplar of courage and resistance against tyranny. Ashura, a shi'a festival of mourning and self-reflection, is held in honor of his suffering.

See also

• Muhammad
• Ali ibn Abi Talib
• Hassan ibn Ali
• Abbas ibn Ali
• Zayn al-Abidin
• Muhammad al-Baqir
• Ja'far al-Sadiq
• Musa al-Kazim
• Ali al-Rida
• Muhammad al-Taqi
• Ali al-Hadi
• Hasan al-Askari
• Muhammad al-Mahdi
• Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah
• Battle of Karbala
• Day of Ashura
• Imam Hussain Shrine
• Sayyid
• Ahl ul-Bayt
• Arba'een
• Zulfiqar
• Azadari
• Karbala
• Zuljenah

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} "al-Hussain ibn 'Ali". Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved on 2007-10-12. 
2. ^ Gordon, 2005, pp. 144-146
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Madelung, Wilferd "HOSAYN B. ALI". Iranica. Retrieved on 2008-01-12. 
4. ^ ^{a b} L. Veccia Vaglieri, (al-) Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, Encyclopedia of Islam
5. ^ Madelung (1997), pp. 14-16
6. ^ Qur'an 3:61
7. ^ Qur'an 3:59
8. ^ See:* Sahih Muslim, Chapter of virtues of companions, section of virtues of Ali, 1980 Edition Pub. in Saudi Arabia, Arabic version, v4, p1871, the end of tradition #32
   • Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p654
   • Madelung, 1997, pp. 15 and 16
9. ^ Madelung (1997), p0. 324 and 325
10. ^ Tabatabaei, (1979), p.196
11. ^ Tabatabaei, (1979), p.196
12. ^ Halm (2004), p.13
13. ^ Dakake (2007), pp.81 and 82
14. ^ ^{a b c} "Battle of Karbala". Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved on 2007-10-13. 
15. ^ Dakake (2007), pp.81 and 82
16. ^ Halm (2004), p.13
17. ^ در روز عاشورا چند نفر شهید شدند؟
18. ^ فهرست اسامي شهداي كربلا

References

Books

• Al-Bukhari, Muhammad Ibn Ismail (1996). The English Translation of Sahih Al Bukhari With the Arabic Text, translated by Muhammad Muhsin Khan. Al-Saadawi Publications. 1881963594. 
• Dakake, Maria Massi (2007). The Charismatic Community: Shi'ite Identity in Early Islam. SUNY Press. ISBN 0791470334. 
• Gordon, Matthew (2005). The Rise Of Islam. Greenwood Press. 0313325227. 
• Halm, Heinz; Janet Watson and Marian Hill (2004). Shi'Ism. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0748618880. 
• Madelung, Wilferd (1997). The Succession to Muhammad: A Study of the Early Caliphate. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521646960. 
• Tabatabae, Sayyid Mohammad Hosayn; Seyyed Hossein Nasr (translator) (1979). Shi'ite Islam. Suny press. ISBN 0-87395-272-3. 

Encyclopedia

• Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.. 
• Encyclopædia Iranica. Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University. ISBN 1568590504. 
• Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an. Brill Publishers, Leiden. ISBN 90-04-14743-8. 
• Encyclopaedia of Islam. ISBN. 

External links

• Karbala – A Lesson For Mankind

See the articles and books of Battle of Karbala, Day of Ashura, Mourning of Muharram and Maqtal Al-Husayn in the relevant articles.

• English Literature on Imam Al-Hussain
• Hussein ibn 'Ali an article of Encyclopædia Britannica.
• Hussein ibn 'Ali by Wilferd Madelung, an article of Encyclopædia Iranica.
• Hussein ibn 'Ali in popular Shiism by Jean Calmard, an article of Encyclopædia Iranica.
• Twelve Imams
• Imam Hussein in the eyes of non-Muslims
• The Third Imam
• Martyr Of Karbala
• On Difference & Understanding: Al-Husayn: the Shiite Martyr, the Sunni Hero
• Poetry on Hussien by The Famous Poet Mahmood Abu Shahbaaz Londoni

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