Anecdotes from The Life Of Imam Husain (A)
Imam Husain (A) is our 3rd Imam. He was well known for his kindness, charity and love for the poor.

One day when our Imam (A) was riding through the streets of Madina, he came across some beggars who had gathered together to eat the food that they had begged for during the day.

The beggars saw Imam Husain (A) and invited him to join them.

Imam Husain (A) was not allowed to take anything given in charity (Sadaqah) as he was from the family of the Prophet (S). Sadaqah is Haraam for all members of the family of the Prophet (S).

Imam Husain (A) got off his horse and sat down with the beggars. He then explained to them that although he would love to eat with them he could not because as a member of the family of the Prophet (S) he could not take Sadaqah. As an alternative he invited all of the beggars to his house for food so that they could all eat together.

Moral:
  1. You should always be kind to others, especially the poor.
  2. You should not compromise your beliefs for anyone, but at the same time you should be polite in how you tell them.


Our 3rd Imam, Imam Husain (A) fought with Yazid in 61 A.H. to save Islam.

Imam Husain (A) was forced to fight Yazid's army because he would not give Bay'at (oath of allegiance) to Yazid.

When Imam Husain (A) was told that he had to give bay'at to Yazid otherwise he would be killed, Imam (A) replied that: a man like him could not give bay'at to a man like Yazid.

By saying this Imam (A) was trying to tell everyone that what Yazid believed in was totally opposite to what Imam (A) believed in. Yazid was the follower of Shaitan while Imam (A) was the follower of Allah.

Imam Husain (A) knew that himself, his friends and family were to die in Kerbala. He also knew that this was the only way that he could show to the other Muslims that Yazid who claimed to be a Muslim and protect Islam was in-fact destroying it.

In Imam Husain (A) army there were not just strong soldiers, that was not what was needed to get into the army of Imam (A). To get into the army of Imam Husain (A) you needed to believe and act upon Islam.

Imam Husain (A) wanted people, when they heard about the events of Kerbala to know that it was not for power but for Islam and this is why to get into the army of Imam (A) you needed to be a believer and not a soldier.

Imam's (A) army had all kinds of people: He had rich, noble men. He had freed slaves. He had old and young men. He had men who had done wrong and repented (eg. Hur - the commander of Yazid' army). He had pious men.

Whenever other Muslims heard about the events of Kerbala, they would ask themselves, why it was that men from different backgrounds, different circumstances, different ways of life, all came together to fight and die with Imam Husain (A).

Every Muslim regardless of his colour, his race, his background, his financial situation, his age, could identify himself with one martyr in the army of Imam Husain (A) and through him understand why Imam(A) did what he did.

Moral:
  1. Imam (A) could not give bay'at to Yazid because it was against what he believed in. You should always stand by what you believe in.
  2. Imam (A) gave up his life for Islam. We as guardians of Islam should make sure that we keep Islam alive the way Imam (A) would have wanted.


When Imam Husain (A) was born, Allah sent down the angel Jibrail to congratulate the family.

On the way down from the heavens angel Jibrail passed an island, on which the angel Fitrus was sent to by Allah because he had been naughty. Fitrus had also had his wings taken away by Allah.

When Fitrus saw Jibrail he asked him where he was going. Jibrail told him that he was going to congratulate the Holy Prophet (S) and his family on the birth of Imam Husain (A).

Fitrus asked if he could also go with him. Jibrail agreed with the permission of Allah and so carried him down to earth.

When the angels reached the Holy Prophet (S) and congratulated him and his family, the Prophet (S) told Fitrus to go to Imam Husain (A).

When Fitrus touched Imam Husain's (A) cradle his wings were given back to him by Allah, who had forgiven him.

Moral:

If you want something it is better to ask through our Imam's (A) as they are closer to Allah than we are.



Our 3rd Imam, Imam Husain (A) was very kind and always thought about others before himself.

When Imam Husain (A) was travelling to Kerbala knowing what was going to happen to him and his family, he met Hur and his army.

Imam Husain (A) knew that this was the army sent by Yazid to fight Imam (A) and his followers. This was the army that was going to stop Imam (A) and his followers from getting water. This was the army who was going to kill Imam Husain (A) and his family and friends.

Although Imam Husain (A) knew all this, when Imam (A) saw how thirst the army looked and that they had no water, Imam (A) immediately told his men to give their water to the army.

Not only did Imam Husain (A) and his men give water to the army but also to their horses.

Moral:

No matter how horrible someone is to you, you should always be nice to them because that is what Allah has taught us.