Muharram 2022 is almost upon us; it is the first month of the Islamic calendar and holds special significance in every Muslim’s life for several reasons.
Firstly, it is one of the four sacred months when warfare is forbidden. Muharram and Al-Haram (Allah’s house in Makkah) drive their name from the same Arabic word, which means sacred and sanctified. In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) called Muharram the month of Allah (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 740).
Muharram ul Haram is also important due to the day of the Ashour – the 10th of Muharram. Muslims believe that the 10th Muharram was the day when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa (Moses) from Pharoah Ramses II. It was also the day when Allah saved Hazrat Nooh’s boat (Noah’s Ark) from the storm that wiped every species on earth.
When the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) migrated from Makkah to Medina, he saw the Jews in Medina fasting on the 10th of Muharram. Upon inquiring, he was informed that the Jews fasted to thank Allah for saving Hazrat Musa and Bani Israel from the Pharoah.
Allah’s Prophet (ﷺ) said that the deliverance of Hazrat Musa is more a cause for joy for Muslims than Jews and, therefore, he too would fast on the 10th of Muharram. To differentiate from the Jews, he fasted for the 9th and 10th Muharram.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The most virtuous fasting after the month of Ramadan is Allah’s month Al-Muharram.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 740).
The Shahadat of Imam Hussain and His Family
The tenth of Muharram has great historical and religious significance due to the Shahadat (martyrdom) of the Prophet’s grandson, Imam Hussain Ibn Ali Murtaza, at Karbala.
From the 7th to the 10th of Muharram, Imam Hussain and his family fought against the tyrant ruler Yazid to uphold Allah’s religion. Each day, members of the primarily unarmed and inexperienced household of the Imam were martyred by the vast and ruthless army of Yazid.
The remembrance of this affair is solemn for every Muslim. While Shia Muslims mourn the loss of the Imam and his family by recreating the devastating pain inflicted on the Prophet’s family and recalling the heroics of this noble household, Sunni Muslims reflect on the bravery and patience of the Imam.
There is no doubt that 9-10 Muharram are important dates for the Muslim community. In honor of this holy month, here are some stories of Imam Hassan and his brother Imam Hussain to remember in Ashura 2022. These stories show their piety, kindness, generosity, and great character.
Imam Hassan’s Calmness
Once Imam Hassan was riding with his caravan when a Syrian man saw him and started insulting the Imam.
Hassan Ibn Ali listened to the man calmly and did not respond to the insults. When he got closer to the man, he cheerfully said, “Old man, maybe you have mistaken me for someone else. If you seek forgiveness, it will be given to you. If you are looking for transportation, it will be provided. If you are hungry, you will be provided with food. If you need clothes, we will give them to you. If you are deprived of anything, you will be provided with it. If you are running from someone, you will be given refuge. Whatever you need, we will give it to you. If you wish to go on with your caravan or stay as a guest, you are free to do so. We have a great position and numerous belongings.”
Upon hearing this, the Syrian man started to cry. He then said that he considered Imam Hassan and his father Imam Ali one of the most resented creatures. However, this act of kindness changed his view and made them Allah’s most beloved creations. The man then stayed with his caravan as a guest.
This story shows the calm nature of Imam Hassan. He did not wish ill on the man even after he insulted him. Instead, he offered to help him in any way possible and welcomed him as his guest.
Lesson for Muslims: Let go of your ego; respond with kindness even when people are insolent to earn Allah’s reward.
Imam Hussain’s Lesson of Equality
The next story we would like to discuss in Muharram 2022 is that of Imam Hussain’s disregard for social status and belief in equality.
Once, Imam Hussain was riding his horse when he saw a group of beggars sitting at the side of the road. The beggars were about to eat what they had gathered during the day. Upon seeing Imam Hussain, the beggars saluted him and invited him to eat with them.
The Imam informed them that he was the grandson of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). So, he was forbidden from taking anything given in alms or as Sadaqah. If this had not been the case, he would have happily joined them.
Imam Hussain invited them to his house for dinner to reciprocate their kindness and generosity, where they ate together.
Lesson for Muslims: This story shows Imam Hussain’s kindness and generosity. It shows us the importance of treating everyone equally and not looking down on people.
Teaching with Kindness
Once, Imam Hassan and Hussain saw an elderly man performing Wudhu and Salah, but the man did it incorrectly. The brothers decided to inform the man of his mistake but wanted to do it without disrespecting him as he was their elder.
So, they went to the old man and asked him to judge who among the brothers performed Wudhu correctly. The brothers asked the man to kindly watch how they performed Wudhu and correct them if they erred. Upon seeing how the brothers performed Wudhu, the man realized his mistake. He also realized that the Prophet’s grandsons were doing this for his benefit.
He exclaimed, “By Allah! The Wudhu done by you is correct. I am grateful for you for teaching me the correct method in such a gentle manner.”
Lesson for Muslims: This story teaches us that it is alright to tell someone if they make a mistake. However, it is essential to do so in a way that does not hurt or belittle them.
Imam Hassan’s Generosity
Imam Hassan was very generous. He believed that money was only for helping people. It was for helping the destitute, feeding the hungry, helping people in debt, and more. Once, he was asked, “We have never seen you return a beggar empty-handed. Why is that?”
He replied, “I ask Allah for His blessings and favors; I love to be close to Him. I am ashamed to return a beggar empty-handed as I need Allah myself. I have gotten accustomed to Allah’s habit of showering me with His blessings. I have made it my habit of showering His blessings and bounties on other people. I am scared that if I stop my habit, He might stop His habit.”
Lesson for Muslims: This story teaches us to help those who are less fortunate. Allah showers his blessings on those who help others.
Conclusion for 4 Beautiful Stories of Imam Hassan & Hussain to Remember in Muharram 2022
As Muharram 2022 dawns upon us, we must reflect on the lives of Imam Hassan, Imam Hussain, and their household. Their lives are filled with examples that are a beacon of guiding light for the rest of the Muslims.
Their lives can help us understand the beautiful religion of Islam in a better way. If we followed their example, we would surely be on our way to becoming better Muslims.
