Hazrat Imam Hassan (R.A) & Hussain (R.A)

Story 1
Hazrat Sayyiduna Imam Hussain (R.A) is the beloved son of Hazrat
Sayyiduna Ali and Bibi Fatima (R.A) and the most beloved grandson of
Rasoolullah (S.A.W).
He was born on the 5th of Sha'baan in the year 4Al-Hijri. Our Beloved
Prophet (S.A.W) gave theAzaan in his right ear and the Iqaamah in his
left ear. He then placed his blessed saliva in the mouth of Hazrat
Imam Hussain (R.A) and made Dua for him.
On the 7th day he was named Hussain and his Aqeeqa was performed.
Rasoolullah (S.A.W) commanded Hazrat Bibi Fatima (R.A) to remove his
hair and to give silver in charity equivalent to the weightof the
hair.
Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was without doubt a very handsome
personality. From his chest down to his blessed feet he was the image
of Rasoolullah (S.A.W), whereas his elder brother Hazrat Imam Hassan
(R.A) was the image of Rasoolullah(S.A.W) from his chest upto his
blessed head. The blessed face of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was so
bright that it would even shine in the darkness of night.
Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was taught by Rasoolullah (S.A.W), Hazrat
Bibi Fatima (R.A) and Hazrat Ali (R.A). Holy Prophet (S.A.W) loved
Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) due to his piety and pure heart.
The Beloved Rasool (S.A.W) was also aware that the time would come
when his beloved grandson would save the Ummah from destruction at the
hands of a corrupt and tyrant leader.
Rasoolullah (S.A.W) lovedHazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) dearly. Hazrat
UmarFarooq (R.A) said, "Once, when I presented myself in the court of
Rasoolullah (S.A.W) I sawthat he was walking on his knees carrying
HazratImam Hussain (R.A) on his blessed back.
When I saw this, I said, "Your mode of transport is most splendid. On
hearing this, the BelovedRasool (S.A.W) replied, "OUmar, the passenger
is also very splendid.""
Hazrat Ya'la bin Marwaa (R.A) reports that Rasoolullah (S.A.W) said,
"Hussain is from me and I am from Hussain. Whosoever has kept Hussain
as his beloved, Allah is his beloved."
Hazrat Jaabir ibn Abdullah (R.A) states, "I heard from Rasoolullah
(Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), "Whosoever wishes to see the leader of
Paradise, he should look at Hussain ibn Ali (R.A).""
Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was a very kind, gentle, generous,
merciful and Allah-fearing personality. He always cared for the poor
and oppressed, assisted the helpless, gave comfort to those in pain
and sorrow and showed great love and affection towards orphans. He was
the embodiment of the character of his grandfather Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah (S.A.W) and of his blessed parents. His tolerance and
patience was also exemplary. This was manifested by the fact that his
martyrdom had been foretold by the Beloved Rasool (S.A.W) and even
though he wasaware of this, he still made Sabr and waited for the Will
of Allah (S.W.T) to take its course.Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) was
also blessed with bravery of the highest degree and this bravery and
fearlessness was manifested on manyoccasions, particularly during the
Battle of Karbala.
Story 2
The following incidents should give us a glimpse of the exemplary
personality of Hazrat Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain (R.A):
Once, Hazrat Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain (R.A) wrote some words in
calligraphy on a blackboard. After they had completed writing, they
both told each other that the other's writing was better. They could
not come to an agreement as to whose writing was better, so they took
their work to Hazrat Ali (R.A) and asked him to make the decision.
He looked at their work and asked them to take it to their mother
Hazrat Bibi Fatima (R.A). She looked at their work andsaid that the
best personto make such a decision would be their beloved grandfather
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (S.A.W).
Both brothers then wentto the court of the Beloved Rasool (S.A.W), who
looked at their work and said, "This decision will be made byHazrat
Jibra'il (A.S).
Immediately Hazrat Jibra'il (A.S) appeared and said, "O Prophet of
Allah, this decision will be made by Almighty Allah (S.W.T)." Thus
Almighty Allah commanded Hazrat Jibra'il (A.S) to take an apple from
Jannat and to drop it over their boards. The best piece ofwork will be
that on which the apple will fall.
Hazrat Jibra'il (A.S) then did as commanded and dropped the apple over
the boards. The apple fell and split into two equal pieces, half on
the board of Hazrat Imam Hassan and half on the board of Hazrat Imam
Hussain (R.A).
Subhaanallah! This showed that both of their calligraphic writingwas
equal. It also shows us what excellence has been bestowed on the
grandsons of Rasoolullah(S.A.W) that the decision concerning their
writingis made in the Divine Court of Almighty Allah (S.W.T).
S tory 3
Once, Hazrat Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain (R.A) had gone outside for a
long time and Hazrat Bibi Fatima (R.A) became very worried. She was
still thinking about where the children might have gone when the
Beloved Rasool (S.A.W) arrived at her home. She immediately asked her
beloved father, "Ya Rasoolullah (S.A.W), Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain
cannot be found. They have gone out and we do not knowtheir
whereabouts."
Just then, Hazrat Jibra'il (A.S) descended and said, "Ya Rasoolullah
(S.A.W), there is nothing to worry about. Both thechildren are at a
certain place and Almighty Allah has appointed angels to protect
them."
On hearing this, Rasoolullah (S.A.W) wentto the spot pointed out by
Hazrat Jibra'il (A.S) and He (S.A.W) saw that both the beloved
grandsons were resting and an angel had one of his wings under them
and was shading them with the other wing. TheBeloved Rasool (S.A.W)
kissed both of them and carried them home to Hazrat Bibi Fatima (R.A).
Story 4
Once a Bedouin presented himself in the court of Hazrat Imam Hussain
(R.A) and said, "I heard your beloved grandfather (S.A.W) say that
when one is in needof anything, then one should request this from one
of four persons; either from a pious Arab,or from a pious master, or
from a Hafizul Qur'an, or from a graceful person, and all these four
qualities are found in you in the highest form.
The reason for this, is that if the entire Arabia received piety, it
is through your blessed family, and generosity is your beautiful
quality; asfor the Qur'an, this was revealed in your home and
concerning your gracefulness, I heard your beloved grandfather (S.A.W)
say, "If you wish to see me, then look at Hassan and Hussain.""
Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) listened to his words and then said, "I
heard my beloved grandfather Rasoolullah (S.A.W) saying, "Piety is
according to one's knowledge." I will thus ask you three religious
questions. I have with me this bag. If you answer one question I shall
give you one third of what is in the bag; if you answer two, then I
shall give you half of what is in this bag and ifyou answer all the
questions, then I shall give you all of what is in the bag."
Bedouin was very pleased and requested Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) to
present the questions. He asked, "Which action is the most exalted
amongst allactions?"
The Bedouin replied, "Tobring faith in Allah." Imam Hussain (R.A)
thenasked, "What protects a servant from destruction?"
He answered, "In having complete trust (faith) in Allah." Imam Hussain
(R.A) then asked, "What is that through which a servant attains his
splendour?" He answered, "By knowledge which is accompanied with good
deeds."
He asked, "And if one does not have this quality?" He answered, "He
should have that wealth in which there is generosity." He then asked,
"And what if one does not have such wealth?" He said, "He should be
patient in his poverty."
Imam Hussain (R.A) thenasked, "And what if someone is not in such
poverty (where he is patient)?" The Bedouin replied, "Then he should
be struck by a bolt of lightning." On hearing these answers, Hazrat
Imam Hussain (R.A) smiled and gave him the entire bag.
Story 5
Once Hazrat Imam Hassan, Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Abdullah ibn
Jaafar (R.A) had gone together on Hajj. On their way, the camel which
was carrying food, water andbelongings went astray and was left far
behind.
They came to a shack belonging to a very old woman. All three of them
went over to the shack and told the woman that they were very thirsty
and asked if she could spare them something to drink. The old woman
kindly milked her goats and presented the goats milkfor them to drink.
They then kindly asked ifshe had anything for them to eat. The old
woman said that the food was not prepared but if they wished to wait,
she would slaughter the goat and cook it for them. They thus agreed to
wait. The goat was slaughtered and the old woman cooked a delicious
meal.
All of them happily partook in the meal, andon leaving they informed
the old womanthat they were of the Quraish tribe and they invited her
to visit them in Medina Shareef, so that they may return hergenerous
favour. The three of them then continued on their journey. Her husband
came home later that day and found that she had cooked the goat. He
was very angry that she had fed the goat to people she did not even
know.
Some time passed and both the old woman andher husband became very
poor. They travelledto Medina Munawwarah where they earned very little
money gathering and selling camel droppings. Once while she was
walking in Medina Shareef, Hazrat Imam Hassan (R.A) spotted her. He
immediately went up to her and asked if she recognized him.
The old woman said thatshe could not and Imam Hassan (R.A) explained
to her that he was amongst those who stopped at her shack and partook
in a meal which she provided for them. On hearing this she was very
pleased and she informed HazratImam Hassan (R.A) of her situation.
Hazrat Imam Hassan (R.A) took her to his home and gave her one
thousand goats and one thousand dinars in cash. He then asked his
servant to take her to the home of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A). Imam
Hussain (R.A) asked her what her brother had given her, and he too
blessed her with one thousand goatsand one thousand dinars.
Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A) then asked his servant to take her to the
home of Hazrat Abdullah ibn Jaafar (R.A).He was very pleased to see
her and asked what both Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain (R.A) had given
her. She replied that all together they had given her two thousand
goats and two thousand dinars. On hearing this he gave her two
thousand goats and two thousand dinars.
The old woman was nowvery pleased, and took the four thousand goats
and four thousand dinars and went to her husband. She presented these
to him and said, "This is a gift from that generous family to whom I
had fed one goat." Subhaanallah! What generosity did Hazrat Imam
Hussain (R.A) and his family possess.
May Allah (S.W.T) grant usthe Taufeeq to instil in us; and our
children the beautiful qualities possessed by Hazrat Imam Hassan and
Imam Hussain (R.A) Ameen.