الرحلةThe Journey

الحسين بن علي

al-Husayn (RA)

al-Husayn ibn 'Ali

Also known as: Husain, Hussein, Sayyidina Husain

4–61 AH · 626–680 CE

Companions

Grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, martyred at Karbala in 61 AH.

Al-Husayn was the younger son of 'Ali and Fatimah, and like his brother he was deeply loved by the Prophet ﷺ, who said: 'Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn.' He grew up in Madinah and lived there for most of his life.

When Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah became caliph in 60 AH, al-Husayn refused to pledge allegiance and went to Makkah. Invited by people of Kufa, he set out with his family and a small band of companions. They were surrounded at Karbala by an army sent by the governor of Iraq, and on 10 Muharram ('Ashura') 61 AH he was killed along with many of his family. His martyrdom has been mourned by Muslims ever since.

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Life journey

  1. 626 CE Madinah المدينة
  2. 656 CE Kufa الكوفة
    With his father during his caliphate.
  3. 661 CE Madinah المدينة
  4. 680 CE Makkah مكة
    Left Madinah for Makkah in 60 AH after refusing allegiance to Yazid.
  5. 680 CE Karbala كربلاء
    Died 680 CE · 61 AH
    Set out for Kufa and was martyred at Karbala on 10 Muharram 61 AH.

Places in their life

al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
al-Masjid al-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah
Photo: TheHadiRahim, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Great Mosque of Kufa
The Great Mosque of Kufa
Photo: ن.عامری, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
The Ka'bah in al-Masjid al-Haram, Makkah
Photo: Adli Wahid (minor modifications by Basile Morin), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • Sunan al-Tirmidhi (Book of Virtues, 'Husayn is from me')
  • al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk
  • Ibn Kathir, al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
Karbala wording kept factual and neutral; please check.