Ashura

Imam Hussains Virtues

Birth and Martyrdom
Imam Hussain (a.s.) was born on the third or fifth of Sha’ban in the fourth year A.H. in Medina. His father was Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and his mother was Fatimah (s.a.), Prophet Muhammad (S)’s daughter. His nickname was Abu ‘Abdullah and his most famous titles were Tayyib, Sayyid, Sibt, Wafi, and Mubarak.
At his birth time, Gabriel was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (S) for congratulating and brought Allah’s message to the Prophet (S) to name the infant Hussain. The Messenger of Allah (S) recited ‘adhan in his right ear and ‘iqamah in his left ear. On the seventh day after Imam Hussain’s (a.s.) birth, two sheep were sacrificed for him and the meat was divided among the poor.
Imam Hussain (a.s.) lived fifty six years and some days, according to some narrations. He lived six years and several months with Prophet Muhammad (S) before the Prophet (S)’s demise, thirty years with his father, ten years with his brother Imam Hasan (a.s.) after his father’s demise, and ten years after his brother’s demise. He was martyred on the day of ‘ashura (tenth of Muharram) in the year sixty one A.H. in Karbala and his holy body was buried in that land.[1]

Imam Hussain’sVirtues
The Messenger of Allah (S) stated, “Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain. Everyone who likes Hussain is loved by Allah. Hussain is a sibt (son of daughter) of my sibts.”[2]
Prophet Muhammad (S) also said, “Everyone who wants to see the most beloved person in the heavens and the earth should look at Hussain.”[3]
Hadhifah has narrated from the Messenger of Allah (S), “Allah has granted Hussain a virtue that He has given to no one, except to Joseph, son of Jacob.”[4]
Hadhifat Ibn Yaman says, “I saw the Messenger of Allah (S) holding Hussain’s hand and saying, ‘O people! This is Hussain Ibn Ali. Know him! By Allah that he will be in the Paradise, along with his friends and the friends of his friends.’ He then continued, ‘Hasan and Hussain are the best people on the earth, after their father and I, and their mother is the best woman in the world.’”[5]
Prophet Muhammad (S) said, “Hasan and Hussain are my two flowers on the earth.”[6]
The Prophet (S) stated, “Hasan and Hussain are masters of the youth of the Paradise and their father is more virtuous than them.”[7]

Worship
Imam Hussain (a.s.) was asked, “Why do you fear Allah so much?” Imam Hussain (a.s.) answered, “No one is safe from hardships of the Hereafter except that he fears Allah in this world.”[8]
Abdullah Ibn ‘Ubayd says, “Imam Hussain (a.s.) went to Hajj pilgrimage on foot twenty times, while he had a horse to ride.”[9]
Imam Sajjad (a.s.) was asked, “Why are your father’s children so few?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “I am even wondered of my birth; my father performed a thousand rak’ahs of prayer a day.”[10]
It is narrated that Hasan (a.s.) and Hussain (a.s.) were going to Hajj pilgrimage on foot. Everyone who passed them on horseback landed and continued the way on foot. Walking was difficult for some of the pilgrims. They told Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas, “Walking is hard for us, but we cannot ride while these two honorable persons walk.” Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas related their speech to Imam Hasan (a.s.) and added, “I wish you rode your horses for the comfort of these weak pilgrims.” Imam Hussain (a.s.) said, “We do not ride, since we are obliged to walk toHajj pilgrimage. However, we run away from this path for the sake of other pilgrims.” Then Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Hussain (a.s.) did so.[11]

Almsgiving
Imam Hussain (a.s.) went to visit Usamat Ibn Ziyad who was sick and told Imam Hussain (a.s.), “Woe! I am sad!” Imam Hussain (a.s.) told him, “Why are you sad my brother?” Usamah said, “O son of Messenger of Allah (S)! I am in debt to the tune of sixty thousand dirhams. I am fearful of dying with this debt.” Imam Hussain (a.s.) said, “Do not be sad! I will pay your debt before your demise.” And he did so.[12]
Shu’ayb Ibn Abdur Rahman says, “After Imam Hussain (a.s.) was martyred, a mark was seen on his holy shoulder. Imam Sajjad (a.s.) was asked, ‘What is this sign?’ Imam (a.s.) answered, ‘This mark is for the sac of food my father used to carry on his shoulder to feed the poor, the orphan, and the widowed.’”[13]
It is narrated from Imam Hussain (a.s.), “This speech of Prophet Muhammad (S) that ‘The best deed after Salat (prayer) is joyfulness of the believer’s heart, provided it does not include committing a sin,’ is proved for me. One day I saw a slave who was eating along with a dog. He ate a mouthful then threw a piece for the dog. I asked him the reason. The slave answered, ‘O son of Messenger of Allah! I am very sad. I try to make this dog happy so that Allah will delight me. My master is a Jew from who I want to separate.’
Imam Hussain (a.s.) went to the slave’s master and paid two hundred dirhams to buy the slave. The Jewish man said, ‘I grant this slave to you. I grant a farm to him and pay you back your money.’ Imam Hussain (a.s.) said, ‘I accept your granting, grant all of it to the slave and free him.’ The Jewish man’s wife who witnessed all these events said, ‘I embrace Islam and forgive my dowry to my husband.’ The Jewish man said, ‘I embrace Islam too and grant my house to my wife.’”[14]
Anas says, “I was with Imam Hussain (a.s.) when a female slave came and gave some flowers to Imam (a.s.). Imam Hussain (a.s.) told the female slave, ‘I free you in Allah’s path.’ I said, ‘O son of Messenger of Allah (S)! She gave you worthless flowers. Why did you free her?’ Imam Hussain (a.s.) stated, ‘Allah has trained us this way, ‘When a (courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy.’[15] Better than the flowers was freeing that slave that I did.’”[16]
An Arab nomad went to Imam Hussain (a.s.) and said, “O son of Messenger of Allah! I have accepted a full blood-money, but cannot pay it. I thought I can ask it from the most generous person and found such a person in Prophet (S)’s Ahlul Bayt.” Imam Hussain (a.s.) said, “I ask you three questions; if you answered one of them, I will give you one third of the money you need, if you answered two questions, I will pay two third of the property, and if you answered all three questions, I will give you all of it.”[17]
The Arab man said, “O son of Messenger of Allah! Does a noble knowledgeable character like you ask questions from someone like me?!” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes. I heard my grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S), who said, ‘Everyone does goodness as much as his understanding.’” The Arab man said, “Ask me! I will answer if I know and I will learn from you if I do not know. And there is no power but from Allah.” Then Imam Hussain (a.s.) asked the nomad these questions and he answered:
- What is the best deed?
- Belief in Allah.
- What is the means for delivering from the calamities?
- Reliance on Allah.
- What is human adornment?
- Knowledge that accompanies patience.
- What if it does not exist?
- Property that accompanies humanity and equanimity.
- And if this does not exist too?
- Poorness along with patience.
- And if it does not exist?
- Then a thunder should come from the heaven and fire him!
Imam Hussain (a.s.) laughed and granted the Arab man a thousand dinars. Moreover, Imam (a.s.) gave the nomad his ring, which cost two hundred dirhams and said, “Fulfill your debt with that money. Sell the ring and spend it for your life.”
The Arab nomad took them and said, “God knoweth best where (and how) to carry out His mission.”[18]

[1]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, pp. 200-201; Kashful Ghummah, Vol 2, pp. 216- 252; ‘A’lamul Wura, Vol 1, p. 420, Matalibul Mas’ul, Vol 2, pp. 49, 51, 69, & 70.
[2]Biharul Anwar, Vol 43, p. 261.
[3]Biharul Anwar, Vol 43, p. 297.
[4]Biharul Anwar, Vol 43, p. 316.
[5]Biharul Anwar, Vol 43, p. 262
[6]Biharul Anwar, Vol 43, p. 316.
[7]Biharul Anwar, Vol 43, p. 264.
[8]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, p. 192.
[9]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, p. 193.
[10]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, p. 196.
[11]Biharul Anwar, Vol 43, p. 276.
[12]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, p. 189.
[13]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, p. 190.
[14]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, p. 194.
[15]Surah Al-Nisa’ 4: 86.
[16]Biharul Anwar, Vol 44, p. 195.
[17]
[18]Surah Al-‘An’am 6: 124.


Source: “Imamate and The Imams”