Shi"ahs regard Husayn as an Imam (lord of the spiritual kingdom) and a martyr.He is believed to be the third imam. He set out on his path in order to save Islam and the Ummah from annihilation at the hands of Yazid. According to Shi"a belief he was a willing sacrifice to religious necessity, and Shi"as view Husayn as an exemplar of courage and resistance against tyranny. Ashura, a day of mourning and self-reflection, is held in honor of his suffering.
The saying, "Every day is Ashura, every land is Karbala," is a reminder to live one"s life as Husayn did on Ashura, with total sacrifice to Allah and for others. This saying also signifies "We must always remember, because there is suffering everywhere".
Sayings of Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) about Imam Husayn ibn Ali in Sunni books
"Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the chiefs of the youth of Paradise and Fatimah is the chief of their women."
1. Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p660, on the authority of Abu Sa"id and Hudhayfa
2. Sunan Ibn Majah, Introduction 8
3. al-Tabarani, on the authorities of: Umar, Ali, Jabir, Abu Hurayrah, Usamah Ibn Zaid, al-Baraa, Ibn "Adi, and Ibn Masud.
4. al-Kubra, by al-Nasa"i
5. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1, pp 62,82, v3, pp 3,64, v5, p391
6. Fada"il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, p771, Tradition #1360
7. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, pp 166,167
8. Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu"aym, v5, p71
9. Majma" al-Zawa"id, by al-Haythami, v9, p187
10. Tuhfatul Ashraf, by Lumzi, v3, p31
11. Ibn Habban, as mentioned in al-Mawarid, pp 551,553
12. al-Sawa"iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 3, p290
13. Mishkat al-Masabih, by Khatib al-Tabrizi, English Version, Tradition #6154
Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) said, "The member of my home (family members specified in other narrations as Fatima, Ali, Hasan, and Husayn) is from me and I am from Them."
1. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v4, p172
2. Fadha"il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Hanbal, v2, p772, Tradition #1361
3. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p 177
4. Amali, by Abu Nu"aym al-Isbahani, p 64
5. al-Kuna wal Asmaa, by al-Dulabi, v1, p88
6. al-Tabarani, v3, p21
7. Adab by al-Bukhari, also al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, as quoted in:
8. al-Sawa"iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 3, p291
9. Mishkat al-Masabih, by Khatib al-Tabrizi, English Version, Tradition #6160
Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U) looked toward Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn, and then said, "I am in war with those who will fight you, and in peace with those who are peaceful to you."
1. Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, p699
2. Sunan Ibn Majah, v1, p52
3. Fadha"il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p767, Tradition #1350
4. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p149
5. Majma" al-Zawa"id, by al-Haythami, v9, p169
6. al-Kabir, by al-Tabarani, v3, p30, also in al-Awsat
7. Jami" al-Saghir, by al-Ibani, v2, p17
8. Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v7, p137
9. Sawaiq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, p144
10. Talkhis, by al-Dhahabi, v3, p149
11. Dhakha"ir al-Uqba, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, p25
12. Mishkat al-Masabih, by Khatib al-Tabrizi, English Version, Tradition #6145
Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) said, "He who loves al-Hasan and al-Husayn, has loved me, and he who makes them angry has made me angry."
1. Sunan Ibn Majah,
2. al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, from Abu Hurairah
3. Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, as quoted in:
4. al-Sawa"iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami, Ch. 11, section 3, p292
