Tradition 1: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: After Jibra’il came down to Allah's Messenger (S) with news of Imam Al-Husayn's martyrdom, Allah's Messenger (S) held the hand of Ali ('a) and spoke to him privately for most of that day until both were overcome with tears. While they were still together, Jibra’il descended and said, “Your Lord conveys His salutation to you and says, “I make patience obligatory on you.”

Then Imam ('a) said, “So they remained patient.”

Tradition 2: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: When Fatimah (‘a) was pregnant with Imam Al-Husayn ('a), Jibra’il came to Allah's Messenger (S) and said, “Indeed, Fatimah will give birth to a son who will be slain by your followers after you.” Hence Fatimah was averse to her pregnancy while she was carrying Husayn ('a) and was averse to giving birth to him when she did. Then Imam ('a) continued:

Have you ever seen a mother in this world being averse to giving birth to a son? Her aversion came from knowing that he would be slain in future. This verse was revealed about him [Imam Al-Husayn ('a)],

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا

“And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months...” (46:15).

Tradition 3: I heard Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) say: Jibra’il came to Allah's Messenger (S) and said, “Peace be on you, O Muhammad! Should I give glad tidings of a son who will be slain by your Ummah after you?”

Allah's Messenger (S) replied, “I do not need such a son.”

Jibra’il ascended to the heavens and then came back to him again, repeating what he had said.

Allah's Messenger (S) replied, “I do not need such a son.”

Jibra’il ascended to the heavens (yet) again and then came back to him for the third time, repeating what he had said.

Allah's Messenger (S) replied, “I do not need such a son.”

Jibra’il said, “Indeed, your Lord has placed Imamate in his progeny.”

Allah's Messenger (S) said, “I accept.”

Then the Prophet went to Fatimah (‘a) and said, “Jibra’il came to me and gave me glad tidings of a son who will be slain by my Ummah after me.”

Fatimah (‘a) replied, “I do not need such a son.”

Allah's Messenger (S) said to her, “Indeed, my Lord has placed Imamate in his progeny.”

Fatimah (‘a) replied, “I accept it heartily.”

It was at this moment that the Almighty Allah revealed this verse,

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ

“with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth…” (46:15).

(because Jibra’il announced the slaying of that son)

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ

“with trouble did his mother bear him... ” (46:15).

that is she was averse (that he should be slain)

“and with trouble did she bring him forth” (46:15).

(because she was informed that he would be slain).

Tradition 4: Same as no. 3.

Then Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) recited the following verse:

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

“And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says: My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favour which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of (some of) my offspring ...” (46:15).

If Imam Al-Husayn ('a) would have said, “and do good to me in respect of (all of) my offspring...” all his descendants would have become Imams.

Imam ('a) continued: Imam Al-Husayn ('a) was not nursed by Fatimah (‘a) or any other lady. He used to be taken to the Prophet who would place his thumb in his mouth, and he would suck it long enough to suffice for two or three days. Hence the flesh and blood of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) grew from the flesh and blood of the Prophet. And no child was born in a period of only six months except Isa Ibn Maryam (‘a) and Imam Al-Husayn ('a).

Tradition 5: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: Once Fatimah (‘a) came to Allah's Messenger (S) and saw that his eyes were filled with tears.

She asked him, “What has upset you?”

He replied, “Jibra’il informed me that my Ummah will soon slay Husayn.”

Fatimah (‘a) was extremely aggrieved and she rent her garments. The Prophet informed her that a descendant of this son would be the master of affairs and he will take revenge from the killers. This satisfied Fatimah.

Tradition 6: Amir Al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: Allah's Messenger (S) came to visit us one day. Umm Aiman had previously given us some milk, butter and dates, so we offered them to Allah's Messenger (S). After he ate from them, he went to a corner of the house and began to pray. But at the end of his last prostration, he began to cry severely. None of us due to our reverence and awe for him asked him why he was weeping. But Imam Al-Husayn (‘a) went and sat on his lap and asked, “Father, when you entered our house, we felt happy as never before, but your crying aggrieved us. Why did you cry?”

The Prophet replied, “My son, Jibra’il came to me just now and said that you will be all slain and your tombs will be far from each another.”

Imam Al-Husayn ('a) asked, “Father, what is the reward of for one that performs the Ziyarah of our dispersed grave?”.

The Messenger of ·Allah (S) replied: My son, indeed, there will be some groups from my Ummah who will perform your Ziyarah seeking divine blessings. By this, they will deserve to be visited by me on Judgment Day. I will save them from terrors of Judgment Day and from their sins, indeed, Allah will make them reside in Paradise.

Tradition 7: Ali ('a) said: Allah's Messenger (S) visited us one day. We placed before him some food consisting of dates, milk and butter, which Umm Aiman had sent for us. His Eminence, ate from it and then I stood up and poured water on his hands. He washed his face and then wiped his mouth and beard with remaining water of his hands. Then he went to the place of prayer in the corner of the house and began to pray. He fell into prostration and began to weep. After crying for a long time, he raised his head. None of us, Ahl Al-Bayt, dared to ask him anything about it. But Husayn ('a) moved to the Prophet and climbed on his lap. He placed the Prophet's head at his chest, with his chin on his head and asked, “Father, what made you cry?”

Allah's Messenger (S) said: My son, when I saw you all today, I felt happy as never before, but Jibra’il came and said that you will all be slain and your graves will be far from each other. So, I praised Allah and asked Him to bless you with the best.

Imam Al-Husayn ('a) asked, “Father, then who will come to the Ziyarah of our graves even though they will be far from each other?”

The Prophet (S) replied, “A group from my Ummah that would seek my pleasure by visiting them. On Judgment Day, I will also hold their arms and save them from the terror and difficulties of that day.”