List of the Companions of Imam al-Husayn (a)

Died before the Uprising

• Sharik b. al-A'war was a companion of Imam Ali (a) and a nobleman from Basra in the 1st/7th century.

Martyrs of Karbala

Main article: Martyrs of Karbala

Before the Day of 'Ashura

1. Muslim b. 'Aqil cousin of Imam al-Husayn (a) and one of his companions in his movement against Yazid b. Mu'awiya. He was representative of Imam that was sent to Kufa. he was arrested and martyred in the Day of 'Arafa (Dhu l-Hijja 9), 60 (September 13, 680).
2. Maytham al-Tammar was one of the special companions of Imam 'Ali (a), Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a). He was of the Shurtat al-Khamis who was a group of men who promised Imam 'Ali (a) to help him until their last breath of life.
3. Hani b. 'Urwa was one of the greatest and closest companions of Imam 'Ali (a). He participated in the battles of Jamal and Siffin and was known as one of the important people in Hujr b. 'Adi's uprising against Ziyad b. Abih. He opposed Mu'awiya when he was asking allegiance of the people of Kufa for Yazid's caliphate.
4. 'Abd Allah b. Yaqtar was Rida'i brother of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his representative in Kufa who accompanied Muslim.
5. Qays b. Mushir was the envoy of Imam al-Husayn (a) who carried messages between the Imam (a), people of Kufa and Muslim b. 'Aqil. He was taken captive by the army of 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad in Qadisiyya and was martyred a few days before the Battle of 'Ashura.
6. 'Umara b. Salkhab was a Shi'a in Kufa who was martyred by 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad because of his support for Muslim b. 'Aqil.
7. Sulayman b. Razin servant of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his ambassador to noble people of Basra. After Ibn Ziyad caught Imam's (a) letter, he ordered to kill Sulayman. He was the first martyr of the uprising of Imam al-Husayn (a).

Day of 'Ashura

From the Troops of 'Umar b. Sa'd

1. Al-Hurr b. Yazid al-Riyahi was one of the elite of Kufa, who became a companion of Imam al-Husayn (a) and was martyred in Karbala.
2. Sa'd b. al-Harth al-Ansari was among the martyrs of Karbala, agents of Imam Ali (a), the companion of Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a) who was martyred in the first attack in the Event of Ashura.
3. Abu l-Hutuf was a companion of Imam al-Husayn (a) and one of the Martyrs of Karbala.
4. Nu'man b. 'Amr
5. Hulas b. 'Amr
6. Bakr b. al-Tamim
7. Juwayn b. Malik as among the Martyrs of Karbala. Some reports have mentioned his name as Juwayr b. Malik or Huway b. Malik. Some other reports have mistaken him for Jun, servant of Abu Dhar.
8. Yazid b. Ziyad b. Muhasir; known as Abu l-Sha'tha al-Kindi was one of the martyrs of Karbala. He was in the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd at first, but when found that Imam al-Husayn's (a) proposals were rejected, he left Ibn Sa'd and joined the army of the Imam (a).

First Attack

1. Muslim b. 'Awsaja was a sahaba (companion) of Prophet Muhammad (s) and a brave soldier among Arab Muslims. He was also a companion of Imam Ali (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a). He was one of first martyred companion of Husayn b. 'Ali (a) in 'Ashura'.
2. 'Amr b. Khalid was among the noble people of Kufa who gave allegiance to Muslim b. 'Aqil and after Muslim was martyred, joined the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a) in 'Udhayb al-Hijanat, together with his servant Sa'd.
3. Sa'd b. Harith al-Khuza'i was among the agents of Imam Ali (a), the companion of Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a) who was martyred in the first attack in the Event of Ashura.
4. Mas'ud b. al-Hajjaj
5. Na'im b. 'Ajlan
6. Salim b. 'Amr
7. Jundab b. Hujayr
8. Jabala b. 'Ali was in the army of Imam Ali (a) in the Battle of Siffin and was also present in the uprising of Muslim b. 'Aqil in Kufa.
9. Kurdus b. Zuhayr was a companion of Imam 'Ali (a) who attended the battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan. He was also a member of Imam al-Hasan's (a) military force in Kufa. Before Imam al-Husayn's (a) arrival in Karbala, he and his brothers, Qasit and Muqsit joined the Imam's (a) army.
10. Muqsit b. Zuhayr al-Taghlibi was a companion of Imam Ali (a). He attended the three battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan. He was also a member of Imam al-Hasan's (a) military forces in Kufa.
11. Qasit b. Zuhayr was a companion of Imam 'Ali (a) who attended the three battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan. He was also a member of Imam al-Hasan's (a) military force in Kufa.
12. 'Amir b. Muslim was among the companions of Imam al-Husayn (a) who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala.
13. 'Umran b. Ka'b
14. 'Amr b. Dubay'a was among the martyrs of Karbala. Some have said that he also met the Prophet (s).
15. 'Ammar b. Hassan
16. Muslim b. Kathir was among the companions of Imam al-Husayn (a) and the martyrs of Karbala. During the Battle of Jamal, he was in the army of Imam Ali (a) and was wounded.
17. Khalid b. 'Amr
18. Qarib b. 'Abd Allah
19. Zahir b. 'Amr
20. Umm Wahab was the wife of 'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr al-Kalbi and among the martyrs of Karbala. She went from Kufa to Karbala at night with her husband and joined the companions of Imam al-Husayn (a).
21. 'Amr b. Qaraza was among the Martyrs of Karbala. His father was among the companions of the Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a). 'Amr's brother was in the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd.
22. 'Abd al-Rahman al-Ansari
23. Yazid b. Thubayt was nobleman of the 'Abd al-Qays tribe. He joined the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a) together with his two sons, 'Abd Allah and 'Ubayd Allah, and a number of Shi'as in Basra.
24. Shabib b. 'Abd Allah was among the Tabi'un and the companions of Imam Ali (a) and participated in the battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan. After Imam Ali (a) was martyred, he was among the companions of Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a).
25. Mujammi' b. 'Abd Allah
26. 'A'idh b. Mujammi'
27. Junada b. al-Harath
28. Salim b. 'Amr
29. Juwayn b. Malik
30. Al-Hajjaj b. Zayd al-Sa'di delivered the letter of some Basran people to Imam (a) and stayed with him and was martyred in the first attack of the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd.
31. Sa'd, he was the slave of 'Amr b. Khalid al-Saydawi. He, together with his master 'Amr b. Khalid al-Saydawi, joined the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a) in 'Udhayb al-Hijanat. On the Day of 'Ashura, he was martyred in the first attack.
32. Munjih b. Sahm was a slave of Imam al-Sajjad (a) who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala.

Hand to Hand Combat

1. Nafi' b. Hilal was a reciter of the Qur'an and a writer of hadiths. Nafi' was a companion of Imam Ali (a), and a rigorous helper of Imam al-Husayn (a) in the Event of Karbala.
2. Hanzala b. As'ad
3. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Abd Allah al-Arhabi was sent by Imam (a) with Muslim b. 'Aqil to Kufa. After the martyrdom of Muslim b. 'Aqil, he joined the caravan of Imam (a) and was martyred on the Day of 'Ashura.
4. Burayr b. Khudayr was a prominent reciter of the Qur'an in Kufa. He taught the Qur'an in the Mosque of Kufa. He was a Shi'a. He particularly respected the Ahl al-Bayt (a). He was one of the Tabi'un and a companion of Imam Ali (a) as well as Imam al-Husayn (a).
5. Habib b. Muzahir was one of Imam 'Ali's (a) special companions. He was from Banu Asad tribe, and lived in Kufa. He was one of the people of Kufa who sent letters to Imam al-Husayn (a) and invited him to Kufa, after Mu'awiya's death. He was martyred at the age of 75 while fighting in Imam al-Husayn's army.
6. 'Abd Allah b. 'Umayr al-Kalbi
7. Yahya b. Sulaym
8. 'Amr b. Muta'
9. Unays b. Ma'qil
10. Qurra b. Abi Qurra
11. Anas b. al-Harith was among the companions of the Prophet (s). He was the transmitter of a hadith from the Holy Prophet (s) about the killing of Imam al-Husayn (a) in Karbala.
12. Sa'd b. Hanzala was among great people in the army of Imam al-Husayn (a).
13. Khalaf b. Muslim b. 'Awsaja was the son of Muslim b. 'Awsaja.
14. Jawn was a black slave of Abu Dhar al-Ghifari.
15. Sayf b. al-Harith
16. Malik b. 'Abd Allah
17. Yazid b. al-Husayn had pledged his allegiance to Muslim b. 'Aqil in Kufa before the Battle of Karbala.
18. 'Umayr b. 'Abd Allah After the martyrdom of his father, Junada b. Harath, 'Amr's mother ordered him to ask permission from Imam al-Husayn (a) to go to the battlefield. Then he went and fought with the enemies and was martyred.
19. Yazid b. Maghfil al-Ju'fi
20. 'Amr b. Junada
21. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Uzrah
22. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Abd Allah
23. Abu Sha'tha al-Kindi
24. Wahb b. Wahb; Historical sources have described Wahb, a young Christian man who became Muslim together with his mother by the guidance of Imam al-Husayn (a) and went to Karbala with Imam (a) and was martyred on the Day of 'Ashura.

Defence of Prayer

1. Sa'id b. 'Abd Allah was a senior Shiite and a nobleman in Kufa. He had a significant role in calling Imam al-Husayn (a) to Iraq. Sa'id delivered important letters from Kufa to Imam al-Husayn (a) twice. In the second time, he delivered Muslim b. 'Aqil's letter to the Imam (a) and then accompanied Imam's (a) caravan from Mecca to Karbala.

After the Prayer

1. Zuhayr b. Qayn was a senior member of the al-Bajila tribe based in Kufa. He was known in Kufa and his tribe as a noble and brave man. He was highly respected in virtue of his attendance in many battles and conquests.
2. Abu Thumama al-Sa'idi was a companion of Imam 'Ali (a) and accompanied him in all of the battles during his reign. He joined Imam al-Husayn (a) on his way toward Kufa from Mecca and accompanied him in the Battle of Karbala.
3. Shawdhab was the one who delivered the letter of Muslim b. 'Aqil to Imam al-Husayn (a). He went with the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a) from Mecca to Karbala. On the Day of 'Ashura, he was martyred after Hanzala b. As'ad al-Shibami.
4. Hajjaj b. Masruq al-Ju'fi was a companion of Imam Ali (a) and one of the martyrs of Karbala. When Imam al-Husayn (a) was moving from Medina to Mecca, he moved from Kufa to Mecca to join the caravan of the Imam (a).
5. Bashir b. 'Amr
6. Dirqama b. Malik
7. 'Abis He was from Banu Shakir clan of the great Banu Hamdan tribe. He was among the famous people of Kufa. It is reported that he was powerful in speaking and giving sermons and was a man of worship.
8. Sayf b. Malik

Banu Hashim

1. 'Abbas b. 'Ali known as Abū l-Faḍl and Qamar Banī Hāshim (the moon of Banu Hashim), is the son of Imam 'Ali (a) and Umm al-Banin. He was the commander and standard-bearer of the caravan of Imam al-Husayn (a) in the Event of 'Ashura'. 'Abbas is considered by Shi'a among the children of Imams (a) holding the highest positions. Shi'a speak of his merits and mourn for him especially on the Day of Tasu'a (9th of Muharram).
2. 'Ali Akbar was son of Imam al-Husayn (a), and was born in 33/654. It is reported that he (a) was very much like the Prophet (s) in appearance and personality.
3. 'Ali al-Asghar was the youngest child of Imam al-Husayn (a) and his mother was Rubab.
4. 'Uthman b. 'Ali was son of Imam Ali (a) and Fatima bt. Hizam, known as Umm al-Banin. He was the brother of 'Abbas b. 'Ali (a).
5. 'Abd Allah b. 'Ali was son of Imam Ali (a) and Fatima bt. Hizam, known as Umm al-Banin. He was the brother of 'Abbas b. 'Ali (a).
6. Ja'far b. 'Ali was son of Imam Ali (a) and Fatima bt. Hizam, known as Umm al-Banin. He was the brother of 'Abbas b. 'Ali (a)
7. Muhammad b. 'Ali
8. 'Umar b. 'Ali was one of the children of Imam Ali (a) and according to some historians, was among the Martyrs of Karbala.
9. Abu Bakr b. 'Ali was one of Imam Ali's (a) sons. His mother was Layla bt. Mas'ud b. Khalid al-Tamimi. According to some sources, he was the first of Imam Ali's (a) children who fought in the battlefield on the Day of Ashura to support his brother, Imam al-Husayn (a).
10. Abu Bakr b. Imam al-Hasan (a) was among the children of Imam al-Hasan (a) who was martyred after his brother,al-Qasim, by 'Abd Allah b. 'Aqaba al-Ghanawi.
11. Qasim b. al-Hasan was the son of Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (a). He was martyred in the day of 'Ashura in Karbala. On the eve of 'Ashura when Imam al-Husayn (a) asked him about his opinion about death, he answered: "It is sweeter than honey."
12. 'Abd Allah b. al-Hasan was one of Imam al-Hasan (a)'s children, who was martyred in the event of Karbala, having still, as some believe, not reached puberty
13. 'Awn b. 'Abd Allah was son of Lady Zaynab (a) who was martyred in Karbala. Following the advice of his father, 'Abd Allah b. Ja'far, both he and his brother Muhammad accompanied Imam al-Husayn (a) and they were martyred in Karbala on the Day of 'Ashura.
14. Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah was son of Lady Zaynab (a) who was martyred in Karbala. Following the advice of his father, 'Abd Allah b. Ja'far, both he and his brother Muhammad accompanied Imam al-Husayn (a) and they were martyred in Karbala on the Day of 'Ashura.
15. Ja'far b. 'Aqil was the son-in-law of Imam 'Ali (a) as well as Muslim b. 'Aqil. It is reported that he was 23 when he was martyred.
16. 'Abd al-Rahman b. 'Aqil was the son-in-law of Imam 'Ali (a) like Muslim b. 'Aqil and Ja'far b. 'Aqil. It has been reported that he was 35 when he was martyred.
17. 'Abd Allah b. Muslim was the son of Muslim b. 'Aqil. according to a report, the first martyr of Banu Hashim (Hashemites) on the Day of 'Ashura'.
18. 'Abd Allah b. 'Aqil was the cousin of Imam al-Husayn (a).
19. Muhammad b. Abi Sa'id was seven years old and was martyred in the attack of the soldiers of the enemy to the tents after Imam al-Husayn (a) was martyred.

After Imam al-Husayn (a) was Martyred (Injured Ones)

1. 'Amr b. 'Abd Allah
2. Sawwar b. Mun'im
3. Muwaqqa' b. Thumama
4. Hafhaf b. al-Muhannad
5. Suwayd b. 'Amr was the last martyr in the Event of Karbala.

After 'Ashura

1. 'Abd Allah b. 'Afif was a companion of Imam 'Ali (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a). He lost both his eyes in the battles of Jamal and Siffin, fighting in Imam 'Ali's army.
2. Two Sons of Muslim b. 'Aqil; Muhammad b. Muslim b. 'Aqil and Ibrahim b. Muslim b. 'Aqil, were captured from the caravan of Ahl al-Bayt (a), after the martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) in the Event of 'Ashura'. They were imprisoned in Kufa, by the order of 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad. They managed to escape but were martyred.

Survivals from the Event of Karbala

1. 'Ali b. al-Husayn (a) known as Imām al-Sajjād and Zayn al-ʿAbidīn is the fourth Imam of Shi'a. The period of his imamate was 34 years. He (a) was present in the Event of Karbala but did not participate in the battle because of sickness and was not martyred. He (a) was taken captive to Kufa and Damascus together with other captives of Karbala. His speech at the presence of Umayyad caliphs created awareness among people about the position of the Ahl al-Bayt (a). After being released, he (a) stayed in Medina until the end of his life. The Event of Harra, Tawwabun Uprising and the Uprising of al-Mukhtar happened at his time, however there is no reliable report of his opinions about them.
2. Dahhak b. 'Abd Allah; he fought with the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd and killed some soldiers, he escaped the battlefield in the last moments of the Day of 'Ashura. Dahhak is a narrator of the Event of Karbala in Kufa.
3. Hasan al-Muthanna was the son of Imam al-Hasan (a) and one of the noblemen of Alawites. In the Event of Karbala, he was a member of Imam al-Husayn's (a) army. Although he was injured in the Day of 'Ashura, he was not killed through the intercession of one of his maternal relatives; and after recovering from injuries, he returned from Kufa to Medina. He was in charge of alms given by Imam 'Ali (a).
4. 'Umar b. Imam al-Hasan (a) was the son of Imam al-Hasan (a) who attended the Battle of Karbala and he was among seized as captives.
5. 'Uqba b. Sam'an was Rubab bt. Imri' al-Qays's servant and a companion of Imam al-Husayn (a) in the Event of Karbala. He reported parts of the event. He was arrested by the army of 'Umar b. Sa'd on the Day of Ashura, but he was released because he was a slave.

Absents in Karbala

Among Sahaba

1. 'Abd Allah b. Ja'far was one of the companions of the Prophet (s), Imam Ali (a), and Imam al-Hasan (a). He was the husband of Lady Zaynab (a) -the daughter of Imam Ali (a).
2. Ibn 'Abbas was a cousin of the Prophet (s) and 'Ali (a). He narrated many hadiths from the Prophet (s). During the time of the three caliphs before 'Ali (a), Ibn 'Abbas was always of the opinion that 'Ali (a) deserved the caliphate. During the rule of 'Ali (a), Ibn 'Abbas helped him in the battles of Jamal, Siffin and Nahrawan and was appointed by 'Ali (a) to become the governor of Basra.
3. Sulayman b. Surad al-Khuza'i was an honorable Shi'a of Kufa. He was a companion of the Prophet (s), Imam Ali (a), Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a). He fought many battles beside Imam Ali (a). He led the Tawwabun Uprising in 65/684.
4. Sulaym b. Qays
5. Al-Bara' b. 'Azib was one of the companions of the Prophet (s) and Imam Ali (a). He converted to Islam at his young age and took part in many of the qhazwas. He is regarded as one of the prominent transmitter of Hadith al-Ghaidr. He was also the one who – after the decease of the Prophet (s) – took the news to Banu Hashim of people's allegiance giving to Abu Bakr in Saqifa Bani Sa'ida, and he himself has refused to do so.
6. Jabir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansari was a companion of Prophet Muhammad (s), he took an oath of allegiance to Prophet Muhammad (s) in the second Pledge at al-'Aqaba. Jabir was a true devotee of Ahl al-Bayt (a) and supporter of Imam 'Ali (a). He was considered a prominent companion of Ahl al-Bayt (a), from Imam 'Ali (a) to Imam al-Baqir (a).
7. Abu Barza al-Aslami was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (s) and Imam 'Ali (a). He attended numerous ghazwas as well as the battles of Jamal, Siffin, and Nahrawan.
8. Sahl b. Sa'd al-Sa'idi was one of the companions of the Prophet (s) and a close companion to Imam 'Ali (a). He narrated many hadiths among which is Hadith of Ghadir. He was honored for giving two allegiance to the Prophet (s), presence in the Battle of Tabuk and praying towards two qiblas.
9. Al-Musayyib b. Najaba was among the Tabi'un and companions of Imam Ali (a) and one of the leaders of Tawwabun Uprising.

Among Tabi'un

1. Muhammad b. al-Hanafiyya the son of Ali b. Abi Talib (a) and Khawla al-Hanafiyya (the daughter of Ja'far b. Qays), was among the first group of Tabi'un. He was born by the time of the caliphate of 'Umar b. al-Khattab and passed away when he was sixty-five by the time of the caliphate of 'Abd al-Malik b. Marwan.
2. Mukhtar b. Abi 'Ubayd; He hosted Muslim b. 'Aqil in Kufa and was imprisoned by 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad when the Event of Karbala was taking place. Al-Mukhtar owes his fame to his uprising in revenge of Imam al-Husayn's (a) blood, which resulted in the killing of many of those people who took part in killing Imam al-Husayn (a).
3. Rifa'a b. Shaddad was a companion of Imam 'Ali (a), he participated in the Battle of Jamal and Siffin, and was the judge of Ahwaz during Imam 'Ali's reign. Rifa'a was one of first people who send a letter to Imam al-Husayn (a) and asked him to come to Kufa. After the Event of 'Ashura', he became one of the leaders of Tawwabun uprising. Afterward, he joined Uprising of al-Mukhtar.
4. Al-Tirimmah b. 'Adi was one of the people of Kufa who met Imam al-Husayn (a) in 'Udhayb al-Hijanat and delivered the news about Qays b. Mushir's martyrdom to him (a).
5. Rushayd al-Hajari; one of the elite companions of Imam 'Ali (a) and Imam al-Hasan (a) who was a member of Shurtat al-Khamis. He was martyred by 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad (or his father) as Imam 'Ali (a) had foretold.