While delivering a sermon at the Mosque...

While delivering a sermon at the Mosque, he once saw Imam HUSAIN (as) stumbling as he entered, so the Prophet cut his sermon short and descended from the pulpit to pick him up. He then took his seat on the pulpit again to warn people against their reluctance to recognize the status that child would enjoy in the nation. He also declared emphatically: "HUSAIN is from me, and I am from HUSAIN". The future events proved what he meant: his mission would be carried out by Imam HUSAIN (AS).

AFTER THE MESSENGER'S DEATH IMAM HUSAIN (AS) was seven year old when his loving grandfather passed away. IMAM HUSAIN'S father Imam Ali (as) spent the next 25 year in seclusion and Imam HUSAIN (AS) witnessed the unpleasant turns of events of those days, studying his father's conduct during that period. When he was thirty-one, the community acknowledged Imam Ali (as) as their caliph, who ruled in that capacity for only five years.

During the battles of JAMA, SIFFIN and NAHRAWAN, IMAM HUSAIN (AS) took an active part, assisting his father most gallantly. In 40 A.H. (660 A.D), Imam Ali (as) fell a martyr at the Mosque of KUFA. The responsibilities of Imamate were forthwith borne Imam HASAN (as), the elder son of Imam Ali (as). Imam HUSAIN (as) followed his leadership faithfully as an obedient younger brother.

When Imam HASAN (as) signed the treaty with MU'AWIYA on such conditions as would safeguard the interests of Islam (had they been implemented), Imam HUSAIN (as) too consented to Imam HASAN'S instructions. For ten years during the life of Imam HASAN (as), and ten years after his death, Imam HUSAIN (as) led a secluded life. He was occupied with worshipping God and propagating His Divine Law.

MU'AWIYA, on the other hand, had violated all the conditions he made with Imam HASAN (as) and in the end succeeded in having the Imam poisoned through one of his tricks. The SHI'AHS of Imam Ali (as) were unsparingly arrested, beheaded or hanged. To top all iniquities, MU'AWIYA announced YAZID as his successor, in glaring contravention of the terms of the treaty with Imam HASAN (as). He devoted all his endeavors to secure the oath of allegiance to his son YAZID.

Pressure, wealth, position, power, poison-all were employed to force the Muslim community to bow in obeisance to his will. FABRICATION OF HADITH During MU'AWIYA'S regime, the flood of fabricated and irreligious traditions and practices threatened to sweep away the religion of Islam.