Husayn ibn Ali

Husayn ibn Ali (4-61 AH / 626-680 CE) was the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah al-Zahra, and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He and his brother Hasan were called Sayyida Shabab Ahl al-Jannah (the Leaders of the Youth of Paradise) by the Prophet ﷺ, who expressed immense love for both of them throughout his life. Husayn was born in Medina and grew up in the household of prophethood. He witnessed the caliphate of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, and the turbulent years of his father's caliphate. He participated in several military campaigns and was known for his piety, courage, and adherence to the Sunnah. After the death of Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, his son Yazid came to power, and many companions and successors considered Yazid's character unfit for the caliphate. Husayn refused to pledge allegiance to Yazid and traveled toward Kufa in Iraq, where he had received pledges of support from thousands. Those pledges were withdrawn under military pressure, leaving Husayn with a small group of family and companions numbering around 72 men. At the plain of Karbala on the 10th of Muharram, 61 AH (October 680 CE), Husayn and his companions were surrounded by a large Umayyad army and killed. His martyrdom at Karbala is one of the most grievous tragedies in Islamic history and is mourned by Muslims across the world. Ahl us-Sunnah affirm the noble status of Husayn, regard his killing as a great injustice, and pray for Allah's mercy upon him. They do not, however, attribute salvific significance to his death or engage in self-flagellation, which are innovations introduced later. His grave at Karbala (Iraq) remains a site of significant historical importance.