Life history of The Lord of Martyrs (AS)

By: Abid Bukhari

Second son of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (AS) and Hazrat Imam Ali ibn-e-Abi Talib (AS), Imam Hussain (AS) -Triumphant of the combat of Karbala - was born on 3rd Shaban, 4th year of hijri (10.1.626). When he was born the prophet took him in his arms and tears filled his eyes, as he knew that Imam Hussain would be martyred unjustly in the burning plain of Karbala by the hands of his ummah.

Seven years of imam (AS)’s life were spent with his grandfather (SAW) and then he was brought up by his father Imam Ali ibn-e-Abi Talib (AS). Imam Hussain (AS)'s life in Medina took the same pattern as the life of his elder brother Imam Hasan (AS).

It was only when yazid became insistent on imam's oath of allegiance that he disagreed with it. It was a totally different time and different situation. Islam was flagrantly violated and principles of Islam were openly distorted. The whole picture of Islam as portrayed by yazid was not Islam but a life of tyranny and oppression. The verse from the Quran that "We have sent down this book (el forqan) to show distinct lines between truth and untruth”, must have been in the forefront of his thinking, and analysis of the situation. He was the representative of true Islam and his stand against yazid was to tell the meaning of the above verse in practical terms. This was the reason that the prophet of Islam said about imam Hussain (AS) that “Hussain (AS) is from me and I am from Hussain (AS).” Meaning that what I gave to the world will be saved by imam Hussain (AS) one day.

On his way to Karbala, one day, he was riding his horse and closed his eyes for a few moments then said in a loud voice "We are for God and we will return to God." His son Ali Akber (AS) kicked his horse forward and asked his father why this verse and the imam replied that when he closed his eyes he hears someone saying in a loud voice that these people are approaching towards death. His son asked " Are we not on the right path?" imam replied, "Yes, of course we are on the Right Path". His son then said: "We have no worries then." This was the whole ideology of imam and his own family. They were true symbols of the Quranic Verse which says that their lives were moulded around Quran and the will of God.

Imam Hussain (AS) together with his family was martyred on 10th Muharram 61 hijri in Karbala Iraq.

END