History Of Hazrat Hussain (a.s)

Second son of Fatima (AS) and Ali (AS), Hussain (AS) was born on 3rd Shabaan, 4th year of Hijri (626 AD). When he was born the Holy Prophet (SAW) was given the news of the birth of his 2nd grand son. He arrived at the house of his daughter, took the little baby in his arms, and said the Azan and Iqamah in his ears. People around the Prophet saw tears in his eyes. Fatima asked what the reason was for this, he told her that this boy of hers will achieve martyrdom, but consoled her by adding that God will create a nation who will mourn Hussain till the Day of Judgment. Another famous saying of the Prophet at the same time became synonymous with the name of his grand son Hussain.

 "Hussian-o-Minni wa Ana Minul Hussain". Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain. One can explain this Hadith that Hussain, being the grand son of the Prophet was from him biologically? How a grandfather was from his grand son needs to be explained. Prophets of God speak spiritually rather than materially. He was talking about Islam the Deen he was assigned by God to propagate God's religion. He was for Islam and his whole life was for Islam and its establishment on earth. Any break in this mission would subvert this mission which was the purpose of his creation. The message of the Holy Prophet in this saying was that Hussain will, in some near future save this mission from destruction; hence the very purpose of his being will be saved by the sacrifice of his grandson. He was giving the news of a future occurrence. The story of Karbala unfolds.

"SHAH USTO HUSSAINO BADSHAH USTO HUSSAIN
DEEN UATO HUSSAINO DEEN PANAH USTO HUSSAIN
SURDAD, NADAD DUST DUR DUESTE YAZID
HAQQA KE BENAYE LA ILAH HUSTO HUSSAIN "

"Translate into English"

Hussain is the king, indeed he is the king of kings
Hussain is Deen and also the protector of Deen
He gave his head but not his hand of allegiance in the hand of Yazid
Indeed he was the founder (Like his grandfather) of the concept of One God

This quartet of Shah Moinuddin Chishty Ajmeri is the exact meaning of the Hadith of "Hussain-o-Minni" as mentioned above. Imam Hussain (AS) has saved Islam from oblivion by offering his timely sacrifice to draw the line of demarcation between Truth and Falsehood, between good and evil, between Right and Wrong, that after this event in Karbala in 61 Hijri, no one inside or outside Islam dare to challenge the truth of the Holy Qur'an or try to subvert its meanings

The story of Karbala begins with the birth of Hussain (AS). The Holy Prophet (SAW) had shown affection and love for his grandson as any grandfather should show, but there was something more positive and profound in this love. Several times when Hussain entered the mosque as a small child the Holy Prophet will put him in his lap and tell his companions that this is Hussain, look at him and remember him. The Prophet's insistence to remember Hussain shows that those who will forget this event will cause trouble in Islam.

It was just seven years of his life with his grandfather that the Holy Prophet died and soon after, Hussain's mother Hazrat Fatima (SA) also died. The next 25 years of his life in Madina was with his father Ali, his brother Hasan and many other brothers and sisters in the family. He grew up to be loved by the companions of the Holy Prophet. During the period of 2nd Khilafat-e-Rasheda, Omar Ibne Khattab had always shown his love and respect for Hussain. Whenever Hussain entered the mosque, the Caliph would let him sit beside him and tell the companions to listen to what this young man says.
They all valued his advice even at that young age. His main activity in Madina was to see that the people there know true Islam. He also managed the Trust set up by his father, to help the poor of the city by giving them food and many necessities of life. This was the true Islamic Welfare State in progress where every hungry mouth must have food; every naked person must have clothes and a shelter over his head.

A part from administering the Trust set up by his father Ali (AS), Hussain's (AS) main occupation during these 25 years in Madina was to teach the newly converted Muslims real Islam through the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet. He has performed Hajj 24 times during this period. He has also traveled to Yemen and most of the southern part of Hejaz and Najd. It is clear that he did not take any part in any of the expeditions by the Muslim forces under the directions of the three Kholafa.




After the death of the 3rd Caliph Osman, Hussain's father Ali (AS) was compelled by the people of Madina overwhelmingly to take the reigns of power. Ali (AS) was reluctant and waited for three days before accepting the mantle of worldly power along with the authority of Imamah. Circumstances changed rapidly and within the first 6 month of Ali's Khilafat he had to leave Madina for Basra and the battle of Jamal took place. We see that Hussain (AS), who took no part in any battles before, was a commander of Ali's forces in this first battle under his father's leadership.

Fighting began and ended in just one day, the battle was over; Ali (AS) performed funeral prayers on dead of both sides and buried them. Victors and vanquished were treated the same way. Hazrat Ayesha was returned to Madina under the escort of her brother Muhammad Ibne Abibakr and 40 other women dressed as men. She repented her participation in the battle all her life and never forgave Talha and Zubair who deceived her into this battle against Ali (AS). She also realized that the true instigator of this battle was Muawiya under whose directions both Talha and Zubair started this whole adventure against the legitimately elected Caliph of Islam. It was to destabilize the power base of Islam which was the Khilafat of Ali (AS). When he did not succeed in this he began other tactics to do the same. His bands of soldiers raided many parts of Iraq to burn and loot villages and destroy communities. Ali (AS) had no choice but to prepare for battle with Muawiya. The battle of Siffin took place in the 2nd year of Ali (AS) Khilafat and Hussain (AS) took full part. He was the commander of a garrison of 10,000 men along with his elder brother Hasan (AS) and Muhammad (Hanafiya). It was Ali's practice to put his other son Muhammad-e-Hanafiya in the forefront and save the lives of these two grandsons of the Prophet. Nevertheless they took full part in these battles and fought with great bravery.
The 3rd battle during the Khilafat of Ali (AS) was the battle of Nehrwan fought against the Khawarij. This was also over in just one day with total defeat of Khawarij. Ali (AS) returned to Kufa and the main administration of the Islamic Welfare State began. Both brothers were the chief administrators of this Welfare State where they would seek out those poor a destitute within the state and provide them with the necessities of life. While living with his father in Kufa, Hussain (AS) visited various northern part of the Islamic State. One story goes to say that he visited Azerbaijan and part of Iran of that time.