Hazrat Hussain (pbuh), the grandson of our Prophet (saas) and the son of Hazrat Ali (pbuh) was born in the fourth year of the hegira. His mother was Hazrat Fatima, the only daughter to continue the line of our Prophet (saas). He was given the name Hussain, meaning “fine” or “handsome” in Arabic, by Rasulullah (saas). Some of Hazrat Hussain’s nicknames were  Sibt (grandson), Sayyid'i Shuhayda, Tâbi’li amr’illah (he who obeys Allah’s command), Zaki and Mubarek.

Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) bore a close resemblance to the Prophet Muhammed (saas). Hazrat Ali (pbuh) said of that similarity :

"Hassan resembled Rasulullah from his breast to his head and Hussain from there down. " (Ahmed b. Hanbal Musned, 1, 108)

Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) passed in the deep love and affection of Rasulullah (saas). Following the murder of our Prophet (saas), he completed his education and upbringing at the side of Hazrat Ali (pbuh). He had eight children, five boys and three girls. Like his older brother, Hazrat Hassan (pbuh), Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) would also sit on    Rasulullah’s (saas) blessed knees and grew up with a profound love in his heart. Our Prophet (saas) was full of love for his grandsons, and enjoyed playing with them.

"A group of companions accompanied Rasulullah to a dinner to which he was invited. They met his grandson Hussain on the road, he was playing with the children.”

"When Rasulullah (saas) saw the boy he passed in front of the group and opened his arms to embrace him. The boy began scampering to right and left. Rasulullah copied him, running right and left, until he caught him. When he caught him, he placed one hand under his chin and the other on the back of his neck and kissed him. 'Hussain is my descendant. Whoever loves Hussain, Allah will love him. Hussain is a grandson of grandsons." (Kutubb al-Sitte Translation and Commentary, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Canan, Vol. 16, Akçağ Press, Ankara, p. 519)

In one hadith our Prophet (saas) said,

Hassan and Hussain are two Sayyid of the young people of paradise. (Tirmidhi, Menâshik, 31)

Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) was full of the love of Allah, heroic, morally virtuous, compassionate and generous.

In his will, addressed to his brother, Muhammed bin Hanifiye, Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) said:
"Let the people of the world know that I am not one who seeks rank or station, nor a spreader of strife, a disturber of the peace or a despot. I have no such aims. My position is to purify. My aim is to purify the Ummah of my ancestor. I wish to command what is lawful and forbid what is unlawful." In similar words, he also said; ’I did not leave Medina out of excess, for rank, to spread strife of to oppress others. My aim is to purify the Ummah of my ancestor, to command what is lawful and forbid what is unlawful and to act along the line of my ancestor Rasulullah and my father Ali.’’ (Maktel-i Harezmi, Vol. 1, p. 188)

THE MARTYRDOM OF HAZRAT HUSSAIN (PBUH)

Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) served as imam for 10 years. All but six months of that time were spent under the most harsh and difficult conditions. Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) was martyred at Karbala, together with 72 blessed companions, on the tenth day of the month of Muharrem in 681 AD.

Following the murder of Hazrat Ali (pbuh), the caliphate passed to Muawiyah. Muawiyah sought to ensure during his lifetime that the caliphate would pass to his son Yazid after his death. He made his supporters swear allegiance to Yazid. When Yazid took over, the first thing he did was to write to the governor of Medina and demand that he swear allegiance to him, not to Hazrat Hussain (pbuh), on pain of  death. At this point, Hazrat Husain (pbuh) was receiving letters from the people of Kufa offering their allegiance. At this, Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) and his companions set out for Kufa. They pitched camp at Karbala, near Kufa.

Yazid sent an army of 30,000 against Hazrat Hussain (pbuh). Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) and his blessed family were deprived entirely of water. Then Hazrat Hussain’s (pbuh) six-month-old son Ali Asgar was murdered by an arrow. Following the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) and his 72 companions, the women and children with them were taken prisoner by Yazid. Among those who spent years in captivity were Hazrat Hussain’s (pbuh) sister, Zaynab, and his son Zaynalabidin.

Our blessed Prophet (saas) foresaw the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussain (pbuh) in a most miraculous way. Rasulullah (saas) described that martyrdom as follows, and it happened just as he foretold:

The Messenger of Allah was sleeping one day. There was red earth in his hand.
"O Rasulullah, what is that soil?” I asked.
He said: Gabriel said he [Hazrat Hussain (pbuh)] will be martyred in Iraqi lands. This soil comes from there." (Imam Suyuti, The Extraordinary Aspects of our Prophet (saas), al-Hasaisüu'l-Kubra, Translation, Naim Erdoğan; Iz Press, Istanbul, 2003, p. 736)

“ Hussain, my son will be martyred in the place known as Karbala. Let anyone who sees him go to his assistance!" At this, Enes b. al Haris went to Karbala. He was martyred there together with Hazrat Hussain (pbuh). (Imam Suyuti, The Extraordinary Aspects of our Prophet (saas), al-Hasaisü'l-Kübra, Translation, Naim Erdoğan; İz Press, Istanbul, 2003, p. 737)

ADNAN OKTAR:  Hazrat Hassan and Hazrat Hussain are my forebears. I curse those who martyred them. May Allah curse them. My lion Hazrat Ali (pbuh) was also martyred. Hazrat Hamza was also martyred. They were most heroic. We have always given up martyrs, and we have never mourned them. One must not mourn for martyrs.  One must be proud of them. I am proud of them, insha’Allah. But we remember them with love and affection. They are most dear to us. “They are the sayyids of the people of paradise,” insha’Allah, as our Prophet (saas) says. [From an interview on 01 12 2010.]