Thus, Imam Husain (a.s) was among the selected members of the Prophet’s household (); those who have been cleansed from every impurity and were thoroughly purified by Allah. The Verse of Affection (Qur’an 42:23) قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except the love of [my] relatives.
The Verse of Affection was said to have been revealed to the Prophet (PHUHH) to mention the love of the (‘a.s) as the reward for the Prophet’s (PHUHH) mission, not any material or worldly reward [7] . Thus, according to several reports from both Sunni and Shia scholars, Imam Husain (a.s) was among the nearest family members ( Dhul Qurba ), whose love and loyalty are made compulsory upon the Muslim community [8] .
The verse of Malediction (Qur’an 3: 61) فَمَنْ حَاجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْا نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءَنَا وَأَبْنَاءَكُمْ وَنِسَاءَنَا وَنِسَاءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وَأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتَ اللَّـهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say, ‘Come!
Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our souls and your souls, then let us pray earnestly, and call down Allah’s curse upon the liars.’ According to several reports from both Sunni and Shia scholars, Imam Husain (a.s), together with his elder brother, Imam Hasan, represented “Our sons” (the sons of the Muslim community) during a challenge to the Najran Christian, through which the genuineness of Islam was established [9] .
The verse of Salutation (Qur’an 33: 56) إِنَّ اللَّـهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا Indeed, Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who have faith! Invoke blessings on him and invoke Peace upon him in a worthy manner Imam Husain (a.s) is among the Prophet’s household (i.e. ) on whom benediction (Salawat) and salutation (salaam) to them is made compulsory upon the believers [10] .
Imam Husain in the Prophetic Hadiths In this section, we shall examine those Prophetic traditions (Hadith) which focus on the virtues of the Prophet’s household (i.e. ) which Imam Husain (a.s) is also a part.