In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A Beautiful Birth; A Painful Burden
Imam Husayn was born on the 3rd of Sha’bān, in the holy city of Madinah four years after the Prophet’s migration. When the Prophet was given the news that Lady Fatimah had given birth, he rushed to her home to welcome his newborn grandson. Lady Fatimah was with one of the Prophet’s companions, Asma bint Umays, who was helping with the birth.
When the baby was born, Asma wrapped him in a clean white cloth and carried him to his grandfather, the Holy Prophet. The Prophet’s face lit up! He kissed the baby and he recited in his ears:
“La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar”
“There is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest”
The Prophet named the baby Husayn, and all present rejoiced.
Soonafter, the Prophet placed the baby in his lap and began to weep. “Why are you crying, Oh Messenger of God?” asked Asma. The Prophet, knowing what would befall his Umma, turned to her and said: “Oh Asma, after me a wicked group of people will kill my beloved grandson. May Allah never grant them my help.”
The Prophet knew that Husayn, like his brother Hasan, would grow up to be pillars of Islam—but that they would both suffer greatly to save and preserve the holy message.
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
The Fruits of Love
One day when Imam Husayn was a young child he walked over to his grandfather’s home. He loved playing with the Holy Prophet. Sometimes his grandfather would put him on his back and walk around the streets with him. Other times he would chase him around the yard, trying to catch him while Imam Husayn ran as fast as he could. They spent many happy moments together, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
That afternoon the Prophet was resting. Umm Salama opened the door. She smiled. ‘Come in Husayn, your grandfather is sleeping but you can sit with me. We’ll wait for him to wake up as I don’t want to disturb him.’ Imam Husayn was saddened, for he wanted to see his grandfather. He didn’t say anything but he didn’t want to wait to see his grandfather. Could he not go into his room and wake him up? he thought.
Umm Salama sensed Imam Husayn’s eagerness to see his grandfather. ‘Wait here’ she said, ‘Let me bring some fruit. You and I can enjoy it together and by then your grandfather will be awake.’ She walked out of the door towards the kitchen.
Imam Husayn looked around. He knew his grandfather was in his room. Slowly he tiptoed out of the room they were in and went into the Prophet’s bedroom. He opened the door and walked in. He saw the Prophet sleeping. He called him softly but the Prophet did not reply. Imam Husayn could hear his soft breathing. Now he came closer to the bed and called out louder. The Prophet opened his eyes and saw his beloved grandson.
He smiled. ‘’Husayn, my child’ he said ‘what a nice surprise!’ The Prophet sat up. ‘Come closer, you can sit on the bed.’ He hugged his grandson, delighted to see him. Umm Salama came back from the kitchen with a plate of fruit. She looked around but could not see Husyan anywhere. She could hear laughter coming from the Prophet’s bedroom. She opened the door and saw Imam Husayn with his grandfather on the bed. ‘I am sorry’ she told the Prophet. ‘I told him to let you finish your rest but I guess he was too eager’.
‘Don’t worry Umm Salama’ said the Prophet ‘I am very, very happy to see him. Give me the fruit so I can cut some pieces for him.’ Umm Salama gave him the plate. All three of them ate the fruit together.
The Prophet’s love for his grandsons was beyond compare. They bore the light of the Prophet’s message and stood strong in the face of his enemies, and sacrificed their lives to preserve the beauty of Islam.
The companion of Imam Sādiq wondered why Imam Husayn was specially mentioned in this hadith as “The ship of Salvation”. Imam Sādiq told him that although all the Imams were ships of salvation, the ship of Imam Husayn is more spacious and faster.
Other sayings of Holy Prophet on Imam Husayn
peace be upon them:
The Holy Prophet has said in another hadith; ‘The example of my Ahlul Bayt is like the example of the Ship of Nūh, one who gets on it will be saved’. So all the Imams were ships of salvation.
Check *verses Q33:33 about the Ahlul Bayt.
What does it say about them?
Food for Thought:
1) Why is Imam Husayn’s ship more spacious and faster?
What does that mean?
2) What can you do to strengthen your relationship with Imam Husayn?
Extension
Choose one of the hadith on Imam Husyan.
Write a short essay about it, or make a poster on it.
*verses Q33:33
.......إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
In deed (Verily) God desires to remove defilement from you, Oh People of the House, and to purify you completely……