Imam Husayn

Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī ibn Abi Talib (ٱلْحُسَيْن ابْن عَلِي ابْن أَبِي طَالِب‎‎; 10 October 625 – 10 October 680; also transliterated as Husayn ibn Ali, Husain, Hussain and Hussein) was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (the first Shia Imam and the fourth Rashid caliph of Sunni Islam) and Muhammad's daughter Fatimah. He is an important figure in Islam as he was a member of the Bayt (Household) of Muhammad and the Ahl al-Kisā' (People of the Cloak), as well as the third Shia Imam.

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Shi'a . Imam Husayn

How can we respond to people who say the Shi'a are responsible for the death of Imam Hussain (as)?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 6 years ago

First, I would question why someone is bringing this up. Are they asking because they have a genuine historical inquiry? Or is it just an attempt to prove "Sunnis are right, Shi'is are wrong" [or vice versa]? If it is the latter, people should be called on this at the outset.

Assuming it is a genuine question... First, the primary blame for a crime goes on the perpetrators. In this case, that is those who ordered the killing of Imam Husain (A) and those who struck blows. Yes, the people of Kufa had a secondary responsibility for not supporting the Imam, but it is rather revisionist to blame a bystander for a crime. (How often does that happen today!)

Second, the line between "Shi'i" and "Sunni" was not as firm then as it is today. While, early on, the concept of "Shi'a of 'Ali" was known, the concept of "Sunni" took time to develop. Many Muslims - in Kufa and otherwise - were favorable to Imam 'Ali (A) and his descendants because they had had a good experience with him as caliph, or because the Prophet (S) had respected Imam Husain (A), or because of a sort of tribal loyalty to the Prophet (S). However, they can't all be said to have been Shi'is, in the sense of having an unwavering, lifelong dedication to the Imam as the imam, or advocating Shi'i fiqh or theology. They were simply inclined towards him.

Basically, there was a big middle ground between what we would today consider "Shi'i" and "non-Shi'i" or "Sunni". There were some dedicated Shi'is, such as al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi, who were genuinely unable to be present in Karbala for reasons such as imprisonment. Conversely, what happened in Karbala upset many Muslims, not just Shi'is. While the people of Kufa at that time, overall, had human failings (and exceptions apply), I don't think there is any text in which the Imams say that "our followers killed us".

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Battle of Karbala . Imam Husayn . Horse

Is it true that the horse of Imam Hussein (as) that died in the battle of Karbala was a gift from the Prophet (pbuh)?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answer updated 6 years ago

Yes. This is mentioned in some books of history.

Wassalam.

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Imam Husayn . Qubba

What is the circumference of the Qubba in Imam Hussain's shrine? What defines الحائر الحسيني?

The Qubba of Imam Husain (AS) is the tomb above the holy shrine, where the Du’a is accepted according authentic Hadeeths in Sunni and Shia books الدعاء تحت قُبته.

( Kifayatul Athar by Al-Khazzar , page 9).

الحائر الحسيني Al-Haa’ir Al-Husaini is the area surrounding the holy shrine in which the traveler is allowed to pray his Prayers of full like at home. This is one of four places where the traveler is allowed to pray full ( 1. Masjid Al-Haraam in Makkah, 2. al-Masjid Al-Nabawi in Madina, 3. Al-Haa’ir Al-Husaini in Karbala and 4. Masjid Al-Kufa in Kufa, Iraq).

The circumference of Al-Haa’ir Al-Husaini is about 11.5 meters from all sides of the Holy Shrine. This is according to most authentic Hadeeths and verdicts of leading Ulama. There are other opinions regarding the circumference of Al-Haa’ir Al-Husaini which make it much wider, up to Kilometres, but such opinions are based on two weak narrations.

Wassalam.

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Ziyarat . Imam Husayn

What are the signs that can give us satisfaction that our ziyarat to Imam Hussain (as) and other such places are accepted?

It is the same situation when you perform Hajj or Umra and want to know whether it was accepted or not. Though no one can definitely claim that his Ziyarat has been accepted but there are some signs which can have some meaning. Accepted worship make us feel improvement in the state of our heart in loving, remembering and obeying Allah. If we feel more humble and more obedient to Allah (SWT), the Prophet (SAWA)and Ahlul Bat (AS) then it is a good sign.

Another sign of acceptance is feeling more willing to serve the Nobel cause of Ahlul Bayt (AS) and scarify in their way.

Another sign of acceptance is feeling more love and respect to all believers especially those who performed Ziyarat or wish to perform it.

Wassalam.

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Iraq . Imam Husayn

Where was the blood of Imam Hussein spilled in Iraq?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 6 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

Imam Husain (a.s.), the grandson of the Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.) was beseiged in the plains of Karbala, Iraq, and innocently killed along with some of his family members and companions.

Should you wish to read further about this topic, please refer to these following links:

https://www.al-islam.org/library/imam-al-husayn-and-karbala

And:

https://whoishussain.org/who-is-hussain/the-full-story/

Wassalam

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Imam Husayn . Imam al-Hasan . Twelver

Why did the descendants of Imam Hussein (A.S.) become the Imams of the Twelvers and not those from the lineage of Imam Hassan (A.S.)?

Bismihi Ta'ala

From the Shi'a point of view an Imam is not chosen by people. Even the ma'soom Imam himself does not chose who the next Imam will be. It is something exclusively appointed by Almighty God.

We clearly know that an Imam must have certain characteristics, the most important of them is 'Ismah, which is not something that can be acquired, and it is something endowed by the Almighty.

In addition to this, we see that the Prophet had mentioned who the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) were, and the numerous famous traditions of the Twelve Khalifahs have also mentioned this.

Even in the case of Imam Husain (a.s.), it was one of his sons who was divinely selected and appointed to be the next Imam.

Another point that can be mentioned here is that the descendents of Imam Hasan (a.s.) did have a continuous role in Imamah.One example for this is that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir's (a.s.) mother was the daughter of Imam al-Mujtaba (a.s.). This means that Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) goes back to both Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (a.s.).

There is a tradition that says as a result of the greatest sacrifice made by Imam Husain (a.s.), he was blessed with three things:

1. The lineage of the Imams are from him.

2. There is cure in his soil.

3. Prayers are answered under his dome.

May the Almighty grant us their shafa'ah.

Wassalam

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Son . Prophet Muhammad . Ahl al-Bayt . Shi'a . Imam Husayn . Ibrahim b. Muhammad

Is it true that the Shi'a believe that Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet Muhammad (phub), passed away in infancy as a sacrifice for keeping Imam Hussain alive?

Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour, Sheikh Mohammad Saeed Bahmanpour is lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Islamic College for Advanced Studies, London, and a visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge, Faculty of Oriental... Answered 6 years ago

Salamun alaykum

No this is not true.

Imam Husayn

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