Quran and Imam Hussein’s Character

IQNA – In some verses of the Holy Quran there are descriptions that could refer to the character of Imam Hussein (AS) or at least his character can be a clear example of them.

Imam Hussein’s (AS) uprising against Yazid was such a great and epical event that it was recorded in history. Imam Hussein (AS), who created this epic, is a character who was born during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and was raised by the Prophet (PBUH) and Imam Ali (AS). While he was a child then, he was present during the revelation of some verses of the Quran.

The Holy Book has some verses in which there are descriptions that could refer to the character of Imam Hussein (AS) or at least his character can be a clear example of them.

Imam Hussein (AS) was a grandchild of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and one of the persons referred to in the Verse of Mawadda in which the Prophet (peace be upon him & his family) is commanded to say: “I do not ask you any reward for it except love of my near relatives.” (Verse 23 of Surah Ash-Shura)

 Great Hadith scholars like Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Munzar, Ibn Abi Hatam, Tabarani and Ibn Marduya have cited Ibn Abbas as saying that when this verses was revealed, the Companions asked the Prophet (PBUH) who are these people referred to in this verse ad he replied: Ali (AS) and Zahra (SA) and their two sons, Hassan (AS) and Hussein (AS).

Another verse is the Ayat Tathir (Verse of purification): “People of the House, God wants to remove all kinds of uncleanliness from you and to purify you thoroughly.” (Verse 33 of Surah Al-Ahzab)

According to Hadiths, the “People of the House” refers to Ali (AS), Zahra (SA), Hassan (AS) and Hussein (AS). For example, it has been narrated from Umm Salama that the Prophet (PBUH) told Hazrat Zahra (AS) to bring her husband and children. When they all gathered, the Prophet (PBUH) covered them with a Kisa (cloak) and then recited the Verse of Tathir (the Verse of Ahl-ul-Bayt).

Al-Mubahala Verse is another verse in the Quran in which there is reference to Imam Hussein (AS).

The event of Mubahila happened in the year 10 AH when a party of Christians, led by the Bishop of Najran called Abdul Masih (or Abu Harisa), decided to debate with the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) about the nature of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).

It came after they received a letter from the Holy Prophet inviting them to be Muslims, and meeting and debating amongst themselves about the contents of the letter and the appropriate response. 

On the day they had agreed upon earlier, they refused to do Mubahala since they saw that the Prophet (PBUH) came with closest members of his family, who were his daughter, Fatima al-Zahra (SA), his son-in-law, Imam Ali (AS), his grandsons, Hassan (AS) and Hussein (AS), and thus Christians understood his truthfulness. This way the Prophet (PBUH) became victorious in this event.

Verse 61 of Surah Al Imran says: “Those who dispute with you concerning him after the knowledge has come to you, say: ‘Come, let us gather our sons and your sons, our womenfolk and your womenfolk, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us humbly pray, so lay the curse of Allah upon the ones who lie.’”

According numerous Shia and Sunni Hadiths, the Prophet (PBUH) took with him only Ali (AS), Zahra (SA), Hassan (AS) and Hussein (AS). So “our sons” in this verse refer to Hassan (AS) and Hussein (AS).