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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imamate and The Imams The Third Imam: Husayn ibn ‘Ali Birth and Martyrdom Imam Husayn (a.s.) was born on the third or fifth of Sha’ban in the fourth year A.H. in Medina. His father was Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) and his mother was Fatimah (s.a.), (S)’s daughter. His nickname was Abu ‘Abdullah and his most famous titles were Tayyib, Sayyid, Sibt, Wafi, and Mubarak.

At his birth time, Gabriel was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (S) for congratulating and brought Allah’s message to the Prophet (S) to name the infant Husayn. The Messenger of Allah (S) recited ‘adhan in his right ear and ‘iqamah in his left ear. On the seventh day after Imam Husayn’s (a.s.) birth, two sheep were sacrificed for him and the meat was divided among the poor. Imam Husayn (a.s.) lived fifty six years and some days, according to some narrations.

He lived six years and several months with (S) before the Prophet (S)’s demise, thirty years with his father, ten years with his brother Imam Hasan (a.s.) after his father’s demise, and ten years after his brother’s demise. He was martyred on the day of ‘ashura (tenth of Muharram) in the year sixty one A.H. in Karbala and his holy body was buried in that land.[^1] Texts Proving His Imamate For proving the Imamate of Imam Husayn (a.s.) general reasons can be used that were pointed out before.

Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (S) has stipulated the Imamate of Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) in many traditions. The Messenger of Allah (S) has stated, “My two sons are the Imams, either they rise for Imamate or not.”[^2] Moreover, Imam Hasan (a.s.) introduced his brother, Imam Husayn (a.s.), as his successor and the Imam before his demise.

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has stated in a tradition, “Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s.) called his brother, Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyah, before his demise and said, ‘Do you know that Husayn Ibn Ali (a.s.) will be the Imam after my demise? The Almighty Allah wants it and the Messenger of Allah (S) has stipulated it. The Exalted Allah knows well that you –the Ahlul Bayt– are His best servants. Allah selected (S) as prophet.

The Prophet (S) selected Ali (a.s.) as the Imam and my father Ali (a.s.) selected me as the Imam and I select Husayn (a.s.) for the Imamate position.’ Muhammad Ibn Hanafiyah stated, ‘O my brother!