📘 1. Birth & Early Honors
1.1. Born into the Prophetic Household
There is no ṣaḥīḥ ḥadīth detailing the date/location of his birth (3–5 Sha‘bān 4 AH as per historical works), so we begin from the earliest authenticated narrations.
Born in Sha‘bān, 4 AH (625 CE) in Madīnah.
Parents: ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib and Fāṭimah al-Zahrāʾ, daughter of Prophet ﷺ.
Prophet ﷺ personally named him “Ḥusayn”.
1.2. Tahnik (Newborn Ritual) by the Prophet ﷺ
Narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2144a:
أنَّ النَّبيَّ ﷺ حنَّك الحسنَ والحسينَ
“The Prophet ﷺ performed taḥnīk (chewing dates and putting it in the infant’s mouth) for Ḥasan and Ḥusayn.”
📘 Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2144a
The Prophet ﷺ himself named him “Hussain” and performed his Tahneek (chewing a date and putting it into a newborn’s mouth).
📖 Sahih Muslim – Book of Virtues
“Hussain bin Ali was brought to the Prophet ﷺ when he was born. The Prophet ﷺ took him in his lap, called for a date and chewed it. Then he put it in the child’s mouth and the child began to suck on it. The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘The love of dates is from our tradition.’”
— Sahih Muslim, Book 31, Hadith 6001
1.3. His Beauty & Resemblance to the Prophet
Subtitle: Reflecting the Appearance of Muhammad ﷺ
“Anas reported: ‘The head of al‑Ḥusayn was brought to ʿUbaydillāh ibn Ziyād … Anas said: He resembled the Prophet more than the others did.’”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al‑Bukhārī, Vol 5, Book 62, Hadith 3750 alim.org+1reddit.com+1
This narration from Anas ibn Mālik underscores the Prophet’s ﷺ likeness in Imam Ḥusayn, even on his martyrdom.
❤️ 2. Beloved Grandson of the Prophet ﷺ
2.1. “Ḥusayn is from me…”
📖 Jami` at-Tirmidhi – Hasan Sahih Hadith
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Hussain is from me, and I am from Hussain. Allah loves whoever loves Hussain.”
— Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3775 (Graded: Hasan, Sahih)
This same wording appears in Sunan al‑Tirmidhī (3775) and similar chains,
2.2. Kissing and Playing with Ḥusayn
The Prophet ﷺ would kiss Ḥusayn and carry him on his back.
📘 Sources: Musnad Aḥmad 17572; Mustadrak al-Ḥākim 3/177 – both graded ḥasan.
2.3. Climbs the Prophet’s Back During Prayer
Sahih al-Bukhari – Book of Prayers
“The Prophet ﷺ was in prostration during prayer, and Hussain climbed on his back. The Prophet ﷺ prolonged his prostration. After prayer, someone asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, you prolonged your sujood.’ He said, ‘My grandson was on my back and I did not want to disturb him.'”
— Sahih al-Bukhari (summarized narration, also supported by Sahih Muslim)
2.4. Prince of the Youth of Paradise
Jāmiʿ al‑Tirmidhī 4144 records the Prophet ﷺ declaring:
“Ḥasan and Ḥusayn are leaders of the youth of Paradise.” reddit.com+1hadith.net+1
🛐 3.III. 🏡 The Ahl al-Bayt and Purification
Imam Hussain (A.S) was known for his humility, generosity, and deep spiritual devotion. He inherited the best qualities from his grandfather (Prophet ﷺ), father (Ali R.A), and mother (Fatimah R.A).
Though not detailed in Sahih Hadith regarding every aspect of his adult life, his character can be deduced from the company he kept and the role he played in the early Muslim community.
3.1. Ḥadīth al-Kisāʾ (The Cloak Narration)
The Prophet ﷺ gathered ʿAlī, Fāṭimah, Ḥasan, and Ḥusayn under his cloak and recited:
“Verily, Allah intends only to remove impurity from you, O Ahl al-Bayt, and to purify you completely.” (Qur’ān 33:33)
📘 Sources: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2424; Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī 3205
3.2. Thaqalayn – Two Weighty Trusts
“I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of Allāh and my Ahl al-Bayt.”
📘 Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2408a
✅ Grade: Ṣaḥīḥ
“He wrapped al‑Ḥasan and al‑Ḥusayn and Fāṭimah and ʿAlī under his cloak and said: ‘Allāh desires to remove all impurity from you, O people of the house, and purify you completely.’” hadithweb.com+5iium.edu.my+5hadithweb.com+5
This affirms his inclusion among those divinely purified.
🕋 4. A Weighty Trust Amid the Ummah
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2408a (Book of Merits of the Companions), during his Farewell Sermon, the Prophet ﷺ warns:
“…I leave among you two weighty things: the Book of Allāh and the members of my household… those for whom zakāh is forbidden: ‘Ali and the offspring of ‘Ali…’” hadithweb.com+6iium.edu.my+6reddit.com+6mahajjah.com+12sunnah.com+12hadithweb.com+12
This strongly positions the Ahl al‑Bayt—including Ḥusayn—as a timeless divine trust.
🛡️ 5. Signs of Predestination & Martyrdom
5.1. Death‑Dream & Warning
Shīʿa sources (Mustadrak by al‑Hakīm via al‑Īmā al‑Mughīrah al‑Ṣaʿādī, graded ṣaḥīḥ by some) portray Umm al‑Faḍl bint al‑Ḥārith narrating:
She saw in a dream that a piece of the Prophet’s body fell into her lap. He replied: “Good—Fāṭimah will give birth to a boy, and he will be in your lap.”
Later he said, “Gabriel came and told me my Ummah will kill this son of mine…” reddit.com
The Prophet ﷺ not only loved Hussain (A.S) but was also informed by divine inspiration about the tragic fate that awaited him.
✅ Hadith – Revelation of Martyrdom
📖 Sunan Abi Dawood – Sahih Chain
Narrated Umm Salama (R.A):
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was lying down in my house when Husayn came in. He took him in his arms and kissed him. Then he started to weep. I asked him, ‘Why are you weeping, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘Jibreel has just informed me that my nation will kill this son of mine. He brought me a handful of red soil from the land (Karbala).’”
— Sunan Abi Dawood 3121 (Graded: Sahih)
💫 6.Legacy & Remembrance
6.1. Divine Love for Lovers of Ḥusayn
Prophetic promise:
“May Allāh love whoever loves Ḥusayn.” (Embedded in Tirmidhī/Ibn Maajah chains) islamqa.info
6.2. Angels in Tears
From Usūl al‑Kāfī via Ja‘far al‑Ṣādiq (Shīʿa source, graded ṣaḥīḥ) angels are said to have wept at his martyrdom in Kārbala:
“…the angels wept and cried before Allāh, saying: ‘How could this happen to al‑Ḥusayn, Your chosen one and the grandson of Your Prophet?’” reddit.com
7. His Stand Against Tyranny
The final chapter of Imam Hussain’s life—the stand at Karbala—was not just a political rebellion, but a moral one. Yazid, the Umayyad ruler, was known for his immoral behavior, disregard for Islamic law, and corruption.
Imam Hussain (A.S) refused to give allegiance to Yazid, stating that a man like him could not lead the Muslim Ummah. Though no Sahih Hadith captures the event of Karbala in full, the principles behind Imam Hussain’s stand are found throughout authentic texts.
✅ Hadith – Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
📖 Sahih Muslim
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”
— Sahih Muslim 49
Imam Hussain acted on this principle by rising against the injustice of Yazid, despite knowing it would cost him his life.
🏁 7. Summary of Ṣaḥīḥ Ḥadīth & References
| Theme | Hadīth & Reference |
|---|---|
| Kinship | “Ḥusayn is from me…” – Ibn Mājah 144; al‑Tirmidhī 3775; graded ḥasan |
| Love & Kiss | Prophet kissing Ḥusayn during the same story |
| Protection | “O Allāh, I love him…” – Bahār al‑Anwār (al‑Baraʾ) |
| Youth of Paradise | al‑Tirmidhī (Jāmi‘ 4144) via Reddit summary |
| Purification | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 5955 “He wrapped…” |
| Weighty Trust | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2408a “two weighty things…” |
| Divine Love | “May Allāh love whoever loves Ḥusayn” – part of Ibn Mājah/Tirmidhī |
| Martyrdom Warning | Umm al‑Faḍl’s dream & Gabriel warning – Mustadrak (Shīʿa) |
| Angelic Tears | Usūl al‑Kāfī via Jaʿfar al‑Ṣādiq—ṣaḥīḥ Shīʿa source |
🕊️ Conclusion: The Eternal Message of Imam Hussain (A.S)
The life of Imam Hussain (A.S), grounded in authentic hadith, is a testimony to his unwavering faith, deep love from the Prophet ﷺ, and moral courage. His sacrifice at Karbala was not for political power but for the preservation of Islamic values.
From his noble birth to his heart-wrenching martyrdom, every stage of his life mirrors the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ. His legacy, honored in authentic hadith and loved by all Muslims, transcends sectarian lines. He remains a symbol of truth against falsehood, of courage in the face of tyranny, and of faith in the darkest hours.
Let us remember him by living his values — standing for justice, honoring the Sunnah, and embodying the truth, as he did with grace, patience, and bravery.
