I have restrained my anger.

I have restrained my anger.” The slave continued, “And pardon men.” The Imam (as) said, “I have pardoned you.” The slave further implored, “And Allah loves the doers of good.” The Imam (as) said, “You are freed in the way of Allah.” After this, Imam al-Husayn (as) gave orders that a gracious and handsome gift should be given to the freed slave.[^12] Imam al-Husayn’s (as) virtues in the words of the Prophet (S) On his own chain of transmission [ sanad ], Bukhari quotes Na‘im saying, “Ibn Umar was asked, ‘What is the verdict of a muḥrim (a person visiting the holy and inviolable House of Allah) who kills a fly?’ Ibn ‘Umar answered, ‘The people of Iraq are more concerned to ask about killing flies ignoring the fact that they killed the son of the Prophet’s daughter (as).’ Then he added, ‘The Noble Prophet (S) has said, ‘Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are my sweet smelling flowers in this world’.”[^13] On his own chain of transmission, al-Hakim al-Neyshaburi recounts that, “Salman Farsi said, ‘Allah’s Prophet (S) used to say, «الحسن والحسين إبناي، من أحبّهما احبّني، ومن أحبّني أحبّه الله، ومن أحبّه الله أدخله الجنة، ومن أبغضهما أبغضني، ومن أبغضني أبغضه الله، ومن أبغضه الله أدخله النار.» ‘Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are my two children.

Whoever loves them has in fact loved me. Whoever loves me is loved by Allah and whoever is loved by Allah will enter Paradise. Anyone who hates these two has in fact hated me.

Anyone who hates me is hated by Allah, and whoever is hated by Allah will be cast into the hell fire.’’”[^14] Also on his own chain of transmission, al-Hakim al-Neyshaburi has narrated that, “Ibn ‘Umar said, ‘The Prophet of Allah (S) said, «الحسن والحسين سيدا شباب أهل الجنة وأبوهما خيرٌ منهما.» ‘Al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the chiefs of the youths of Paradise, and their father is better than these two.’’”[^15] On his own chain of transmission, al-Tirmidhi quotes from Yusuf ibn Ibrahim from Anas ibn Malik, “The Prophet (S) was asked about whom among the (as) was more beloved to him.

He answered, ‘Al-Hasan and al-Husayn.’ The Prophet (S) always used to tell Fatimah (as), ‘Bring my two children to me.’ He would then press them against his chest and smell their sweet scent.”[^16] Ya‘la ibn Marrah says, “The Holy Prophet (S) and I left the house to attend a social gathering we had been invited to. Along the way, the Prophet (S) caught sight of al-Husayn (as). He was busy playing.