Life of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A)

Keywords: Imam Hussain (R.A), Yazeed, Battle of Karbala.

The infallible Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was born on 3rd Shabaan 4th Hijrah in Madina Munawarra. He is the son of the fourth caliph Hazrat Ali (R.A) and Hazrat Fatima (R.A). The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.) was very much happy on the birth of Imam Hussain (R.A) and He Himself recited the Aqamat in his left ear and Azaan in the right one. An angel from Allah Almighty came on the seventh day of his birth and said,

“Just as Haroon was the brother, sympathizer and helper in each and every difficulty of Moosa (A.S), similarly Ali (R.A.) is your sympathizer, helper and brother in each and every matter of yours. Therefore, keep the name of this child upon the name of Haroon’s son Shabeer”.

Which, when translated into Arabic becomes “Hussain”.

The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) loved His grandsons immensely. One can understand the intensity of His love from this sentence of His “Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain.” In another hadith He said: “The one who is the friend of Hassan and Hussain is my friend and the one who is their enemy, is my enemy”

Imam Hussain (R.A) spent the first six years of his life with his grandfather Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) and thirty years with his noble father Hazrat Ali (R.A). He was a companion to his father and brother. He shared all their joys and sorrows. Throughout the reign of his father, Imam Hussain (R.A) stayed by his side and fought against the oppressors and barbarous.

After the death of Hazrat Ali (R.A) he vowed his loyalty and fidelity to his brother and accepted him as his imam and leader. He looked upon him for guidance. Imam Hussain (R.A) believed that the defense of his brother was essential for him.

The evil plot set by Muawiyah resulted in the martyrdom of Imam Hassan Mujtaba (R.A) and then at the age of forty-six Imam Hussain (R.A) got the post of Imamate. Muawiyah who wanted to annihilate Islam by his deception and craftiness was the reason for all the agony and misery faced by Muslims. Therefore, Imam Hussain (R.A) decided not to fight him openly because apparently he was a supporter of Islam. So he initiated the movement of waking people from the slumbers of unconsciousness and unawareness with the hope that slowly and gradually they may turn towards him and work for the prosperity of Islam. Muawiyah on the other hand was making people take the oath of faithfulness for his ignorant and undutiful son Yazeed. As a result Imam Hussain (R.A) started to oppose him publicly and wrote letters to disgrace him.

The incompetent and naive son Yazeed after the death of his father posed himself as the leader of Muslims. He forced the Islamic personalities to take the oath of allegiance for the establishment and well-being of his government. He wrote a letter to the governor of Madina saying “Immediately take the oath of allegiance from Hussain (R.A) and if he refuses to do that then cut down his head and send it to me”. Imam Hussain (R.A) refused to take the oath and migrated to Makkah with his companions under the dark cover of night.

The migration of Imam Hussain (R.A) not only created an uproar in Madina but also made the people of Makka think about their allegiance to Yazeed. This hue and cry was raised to another level when Imam Hussain (R.A) while addressing the pilgrims of Makkah elevated his voice against the abhorrent and dirty government of Yazeed. This act of Imam Hussain (R.A) completely changed the minds of people and they realized that allegiance to Yazeed is wrong and amiss.

This movement of Imam Hussain (R.A) made thousands of people of Kufa take oath of allegiance. They agreed to sacrifice their lives in the way of righteousness and Islam. When Imam Hussain (R.A) came to know about this he moved towards Iraq. Yazeed after being informed about this movement sent one of his most dirtiest companion Ibn-e-Ziad to tempt and mislead the people of Kufa against Imam Hussain (R.A). And then the events turned in such a way that even those people who had written invitation letters to Imam Hussain (R.A) prepared themselves to fight against him.

From the very night, Imam Hussain (R.A) had departed from Madina, he had been giving the news of martyrdom and said, “Whosoever is ready to lay his life on our way and make haste to meet God may join us.” He was preparing his companions for the battle that was about to happen. The aim of Imam Hussain (R.A) about this mission was to dishonor and disgrace Yazeed’s reign and to guide the people towards the right path and order them to refrain from wrongdoings and evil. It was a mission entrusted by Almighty Allah to him.

Imam Hussain (R.A) was well aware that this battle would end his life, but he was not the one to be scared of martyrdom and death. For him calamity and martyrdom were bliss and blessedness. Eventually he moved towards the battlefield of Karbala and fought with bravery, fearlessness and courage. And then he sacrificed his life in the path of Islam for which he will be rewarded endlessly and eternally by Almighty Allah.