The Youths of Karbala

'The days of our youth are the days of our glory'. What hopes and feelings surge in young hearts during this time of life! How every nerve and sinew quivers with the joy of living! But there are some youths to whom the cup of life is dealt in another measure. There are some budding flowers that are destined to be swept away by the hot desert winds before they have the opportunity to bloom. Such was the destiny of Husain's three nephews who were gathered outside the tents on the eve of that eventful day of Muharram.

Qasim, Aun and Muhammad were gathered to discuss the part they would play on the following day in defense of their uncle. There was grim determination writ large on their young faces. They were watching the progress of the moon as it was marching slowly through that cloudless sky, anxiously waiting for the morrow to unfold its event. Each one of them had the desire to go first into the battlefield to shed his blood. Even the few words they exchanged amongst themselves pertained to their anxiety lest their uncle Hussain might hold them back. They were discussing among themselves how to secure the permission of the Imam to march off into the battlefield.

Imam Hosein (PBUH) _ 3rd Shiite Imam

Who is Husayn?

Why does the all goodness reach to him?

Why does the bliss blend in perfectly with Husayn?

Why was he the most harassed?

In the house of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), a child who benefited humanity as if he was Divine Impression reflecting the earth was born on the 3rd night of the month of Sha'ban. His father was Imam Ali (PBUH), the best model of kindness towards his friends and the bravest against the enemies of Islam, and his mother was Lady Fatima (PBUH), who had as universally acknowledged, inherited the qualities of her father. When the good news of his birth reached the Holy Prophet (PBUH), he came to his daughter's house, took the newly-born child in his arms, recitedazaan andiqamah in his right and left ears respectively, and on the 7th day of his birth, named him Hossein, in compliance with Allah's command. Hasan (PBUH) and Hossein (PBUH), the two sons of the Holy Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (PBUH) and Lady Fatima (PBUH), our Lady of Light, were respected and revered as the"Leaders of the Youths of Paradise" as stated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Birth

Imam Hossein (PBUH) was born on the 3rd of Sha'ban, in 4th year of Hijrah inMedina. When the Prophet (PBUH) heard the news of Imam Hossein's birth, became very happy and came to the house of Fatima (PBUH). Asma, the maidservant ofFatima covered the child in a white cloth and brought him to the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) picked the child up in his lap and recited the Azaan in his right ear and iqamah in the left one. As if, apparently, he (PBUH) made the ears of his son familiar and acquainted with the name of God for the first time. On the seventh day of the birth, an angel came from the God and he said, "Just as Haroon was the brother, sympathizer, and helper in each and every difficulty of Moses (PBUH) similarly Ali (PBUH) is your sympathizer, helper and brother in each and every matter of yours. Therefore, keep the name of this child upon the name of Haroon's son "Shabeer," which translated into Arabic becomes 'Hossein'. Thus the name of the second child of Fatima (PBUH) was also selected by God.

On the 7th day of the birth Lady Fatima (PBUH) got a sheep slaughtered as theAqeeqa and distributed its meat among the needy and poor.

The Prophet (PBUH) quite often hugged Hossein (PBUH) taking him into his lap and used to weep bitterly, saying, "A very big tragedy will be met by my son Hossein. The brutal and bloody men of Bani Omyaide will slay my dear son. I will not intercede and mediate for them on the Day of Doom.

Read more the birth of Imam Husain (PBUH)