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Sacrifice

Imam al-Husayn ibn Ali عليه السلام

الحُسَيْن بْن عَلِيّ

The third Imam, the master of martyrs, who gave everything so that Islam would not be silenced.

Who they are

Imam al-Husayn ibn Ali عليه السلام

Karbala is not a story — it is a verdict. Imam Husayn (ع) stood with seventy-two against an army, with his children, his sister, and his thirst, and refused to give allegiance to falsehood. His call, 'is there any helper to help us,' still reaches every century.

What can they teach my heart today?

Standing in the right place

Where in your life are you being asked to be quiet about something true? Speak gently, but speak.

Family

Family connections

Second son of Imam Ali (ع) and Lady Fatima (ع). Brother of Imam Hasan (ع) and Lady Zaynab (ع). Father of Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (ع).

Timeline

Major life events

  1. 4 AH
    Born in Madinah
  2. 50 AH
    Assumed the Imamate
  3. 60 AH
    Refused allegiance to Yazid; departed Madinah
  4. 10 Muharram 61 AH
    Martyred at Karbala with his companions
Sayings

Important narrations

If you have no religion and do not fear the Day of Return, at least be free in your present life.
Spoken at Karbala · Bihar al-Anwar
People are slaves of the world, and religion is only on their tongues; when it is tested, the religious become few.
Tuhaf al-ʿUqul
Whispered prayers

Duas connected to them

Du'a ʿArafah

O my God, I asked of You and You gave me; I called on You and You answered me…

Mafatih al-Jinan · Day of ʿArafah

In the Qur'an and the Ahlulbayt

Their light in the Book of Allah

Among those purified in Ayat al-Tathir (33:33). Among 'our sons' in Ayat al-Mubahalah (3:61). The Qur'anic logic of standing against oppression breathes through his stand.

Ayat al-Tathir · the Verse of Purification
Surah al-Ahzab 33:33

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا

Allah only wishes to remove all impurity from you, O People of the House, and to purify you with a thorough purification.

Allah testifies to the purity of the Ahlulbayt (ع). The grammar shifts in the middle of the verse — singling them out — and the Prophet ﷺ gathered Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them) under his cloak when this was revealed.

· Hadith al-Kisa' — al-Hakim, Mustadrak; Muslim, Sahih (book of virtues); al-Tirmidhi.· Bihar al-Anwar · ʿUyun Akhbar al-Rida — extended Shia narrations.
Read the tafsir
Ayat al-Mubahalah · the Verse of Mutual Imploration
Surah Aal ʿImran 3:61

فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ

Whoever disputes with you about it after the knowledge that has come to you — say: come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our selves and yourselves…

When the Christians of Najran came to debate, the Prophet ﷺ brought only Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn (ع). 'Our sons' = Hasan and Husayn. 'Our women' = Fatima. 'Our selves' = Ali, who in the Qur'an is called the Prophet's own self.

· Sahih Muslim — narrated by Saʿd ibn Abi Waqqas.· Tafsir al-Razi; al-Zamakhshari, al-Kashshaf — extended Sunni tafsir.
Read the tafsir
Ayat al-Mawaddah · the Verse of Love
Surah al-Shura 42:23

قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ

Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it except love of those near of kin.

The Prophet ﷺ asks for no payment for his message — only that the Ummah love his near family. Love for the Ahlulbayt (ع) is the reward of prophethood.

· Tafsir al-Tabari; al-Suyuti, al-Durr al-Manthur — Sunni sources naming Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn.· al-Kafi · Bihar al-Anwar.
Read the tafsir
Places

Important places

  • Madinah · birthplace
  • Karbala · where he was martyred and is buried
For little hearts

A lesson for children

Imam Husayn (ع) gave water to the army that came to fight him. Even when others are cruel, never let your heart become like theirs.

Sources

With gratitude

  • Maqtal al-Husayn (al-Khwarizmi)
  • Lahuf · Sayyid ibn Tawus
  • Bihar al-Anwar
A gentle hand

Continue Your Journey

A gentle hand

Continue Your Journey

Soft suggestions to keep walking quietly, at your own pace.