Imam al-Husayn b. Ali (a): Difference between revisions

At the time of his birth, the Prophet (s) foretold his martyrdom and chose al-Husayn as his name. The Prophet (s) introduced him and his brother, [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]], as the [[Masters of the Youth of Paradise]]. The Prophet (s) loved the two ([[al-Hasanayn]]) and instructed people to love them. Al-Husayn (a) is one of the [[Ashab al-Kisa']], one of the participants of the [[Mubahala]], and one of the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] about whom [[al-Tathir Verse]] is revealed. There are scores of hadiths narrated directly from the Prophet (s) that only add more to the distinctive status of al-Husayn (a).

There are few reports about his life in the three decades after the demise of the Prophet (s). In the period of the caliphate of Imam 'Ali (a) he accompanied his father and participated in the battles of [[Battle of Siffin|Siffin]], [[Battle of Jamal|Jamal]], and [[Battle of Nahrawan|Nahrawan]] alongside his father. After the demise of Imam 'Ali (a), he followed and supported [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]]. He confirmed the [[treaty between Imam al-Hasan (a) and Mu'awiya]]. Even after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a), Imam al-Husayn (a) adhered to the treaty until the [[Mu'awiya]]'s death. In response to letters from Kufa which invited him to lead an uprising against Mu'awiya he ordered patience until the time of Mu'awiya's death.

The imamate of Imam al-Husayn (a) coincided with the rule of Mu'awiya, who supposedly respected the Imam (a) but, at the same time, took pleasure in weakening and subjugating the Shi'a. Imam al-Husayn (a) rebuked Mu'awiya in several cases, he wrote Mu'awiya a letter, condemning him for the murder of [[Hujr b. Adi]]. In another occasion, when Mu'awiya introduced Yazid as his successor, Imam al-Husayn (a) refused to pay allegiance to him, calling him unfit for leadership and proclaimed himself as the rightful leader of the ummah. The [[sermon of the Imam (a) in Mina]] can also be regarded as a political lecture against the Umayyads.  

After Mu'awiya died, Imam al-Husayn (a) refused to give [[allegiance]] to [[Yazid]] and considered his rise to [[caliphate]] as illegitimate. When al-Walid b. 'Utba, the governor of Medina, was sent to order Imam al-Husayn (a) to either pledge allegiance to Yazid or be killed, Imam al-Husayn (a) made his way from Medina towards [[Mecca]] on [[Rajab 28]], [[60]]/[[May 7]], 680. In the four months he stayed in Mecca, he received [[Letters of People of Kufa to Imam al-Husayn (a)|many letters]] that urged him to assume the leadership of ummah. As Imam (a) and his companions approached Kufa, the army of [['Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad]] intercepted Imam's caravan on Yazid's order.  

For fear of revenge from Yazid's army, the people of Kufa reneged on their promises to support the Imam (a). As as result, The [[Battle of Karbala]] took place on the [[Day of 'Ashura']]. Imam (a) along with a handful of his companions (around [[Martyrs of Karbala|seventy-two]]) were martyred and the remaining companions were taken as prisoners to Kufa and [[Syria]].

There are differing views as to the purpose of the [[Uprising of Imam al-Husayn (a)|Imam's (a) journey from Medina to Karbala]]. Some believe that the Imam (a) intended to establish a government, but others hold that the Imam (a) merely wanted to protect his own life.

The martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) has had a deep impact on Muslims in general and on the Shi'a in particular; it has been a source of inspirations for various resistance movements and revolutions throughout history.

Following the school of the Imams (a) visiting the [[shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a)]], the mourning ceremonies, and other associated rituals that ensued to commemorate his martyrdom, found their unique place among Shi'a circles especially during months of [[Muharram]] and [[Safar]].  

 

Imam al-Husayn's (a) hadiths, letters, sermons, poems, and supplications have been collected in ''[[Mawsu'at kalimat al-Imam al-Husayn]]'' (The Encyclopedia of Imam al-Husayn's Words) and in ''[[Musnad al-Imam al-Shahid]]'' (The Musnad of the Martyred Imam). Many works have also been published regarding aspects of his life and personality.