CHILDRENS SHOWCASE Book Excerpts Subjects: Husan bin Ali (RA) and Husain bin Ali (RA)

Child Companions around the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him)

Prepared by Darussalam Research Division; 2003. Hasan bin Ali: Hasan (RA) used to keep company with the Prophet (SAWS) and play with him often, and the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) found great pleasure in the playing of Hasan (RA) and he would remain patient with any mischief the children got up to in his presence. It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah (RA) that he said: We were offering the Isha prayer with the Prophet (SAWS) and when he prostrated, Hasan and Husain climbed on his back and when he raised his head, he would lift them gently, then when he prostrated, they would return. After he had prayed, I said, Shall I not take them to their mother? Then lightning flashed and they remained illuminated by it until they entered their mothers house. (Declared authentic by Al-Hakim and it is in Al-Musnad) It is reported on the authority of Abdullah bin Shaddad from his father that he said: The Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) came out to us and he was carrying Hasan or Husain and he approached and put him down, then he made the Takbir in prayer and prostrated and prolonged the prostration and I raised my head and saw the boy on his back and so I returned to my prostration. After he had finished praying, they said: Oh, Messenger of Allaah! You prolonged (the prostration). He said: My boy was riding on me and I disliked hurrying him before he had finished playing. (Ahmad and An-Nasai) The Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) used to kiss him frequently and carry him on his shoulder; it is reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas (RA) that once the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) came out carrying Hasan on his shoulder and a man said: Oh, boy, what an excellent mount you are riding. The Prophet (SAWS) said: And an excellent rider is he. (Tirmidhi)

Husain bin Ali: The names of Hasan and Husain (RAA) are so closely linked in peoples minds that many believe that they were twins but the truth of the matter is that the love between them was even stronger than the love between twins. The difference in age between them was less than a year and from the time when Husain (RA) was being [nurse-fed] and Hasan (RA) was not yet able to speak properly, they were inseparable; they ate together, they played together, they shared the same memories and they went to the same places.

The Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) said: Hasan and Husain are the Masters of the young men of Paradise, apart from the sons of the maternal aunt, Jesus (Eesa) and John (Yayha) the son of Zachariah (Zakariya) (peace be upon them all). (Tirmidhi) And a Hadith reported on the authority of Usamah bin Zaid (RA) states: These two are my sons and the sons of my daughter; Oh, Allaah! I love them, so love them and love those who love them. (Tirmidhi) And it is reported on the authority of Hudhaifah (RA) that the Prophet (SAWS) said: Oh, Hudhaifah! Gabriel (Jibrael) came to me and he gave me the glad tidings that Hasan and Husain are the Masters of the young men of Paradise. (Ahmad) [Hasan and Husain] were always found together and they always went out together. One day, they went out and they went far from the house and lost their way; their mother was frantic because of their absence, fearing that some ill had befallen them, so she hastened to the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS), crying and said: Hasan and Husain have gone out and I do not know where they have gone. He replied: Verily, He Who

created them is Kinder and more Caring towards them than you are. Then he supplicated Allaah, the Most Glorified, the Most High to protect them, saying: Oh, Allaah! If they have taken to the land or the sea, deliver them safely and protect them. Then the Prophet (SAWS) was informed of their location and he went to the enclosure where they were and found them asleep in each other arms. The Prophet (SAWS) knelt down to them and kissed them, then he carried Hasan (RA) on his right shoulder and Husain (RA) on his left and he said: By Allaah, I will watch over you as Allaah, the Most Glorified, the Most High has watched over you. As he was walking, he was met by Abu Bakr (RA), who said to him: Oh, Messenger of Allaah! Let me carry one of the boys and lighten the load for you. But the Prophet (SAWS) said: What an excellent load is theirs and what excellent riders they are; and their father is better than them. And he carried them until he reached the mosque. (From Majmauz-Zawaid by Al-Haithami, vol.9, page 182) Both of them also loved the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) and would search for him wherever he might be. The Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) was delivering a sermon when Hasan and Husain (RAA) arrived and they were wearing red shirts, stumbling and getting up as they walked. He descended and took them and placed them before him, then he said: Verily, Allaah has spoken the truth: Your wealth and your children are only a trial. (Q64:15) I saw these two boys and I could not wait. Then he continued his sermon. (Ahmad, Abu Dawud,
and Ibn Majah)

It is reported on the authority of Abu Ayub Al-Ansari (RA) that he visited the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) and Hasan and Husain were playing on his chest and he said to him: Oh, Messenger of Allaah! Do you love them? He replied: How could I not love them when they are my two Raihanahs in the life of this world?
(At-Tabarani)

In another Hadith reported on the authority of Yala Al-Amiri (RA), it is said that he went out with the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) to a meal to which they had been invited and the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) turned towards the people and saw Husain playing with some boys and he wished to take him with him, but they boy ran away, running first in this direction and then in that direction; the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) began to play with him until he caught him and he placed one of his hands under the nape of his neck and the other under his beard and he placed his mouth over his mouth and kissed him and said: Husain is from me and I am from Husain; Allaah loves whoever loves Husain. He is one of my grandchildren and whoever loves me, should love Husain. (Ibn Majah) We see in this Hadith how much the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) loved Husain (RA), accompanying everywhere, even when he was invited to eat. He was patient with him when he was playing and he kissed him out of love and affection for him and spoke well of him, saying that he was Sibtun minal-Asbat, i.e., a nation from the nations of goodness. He supplicated Allaah on his behalf, indeed he called upon the Muslims to love him and it is a love and affection which we can almost touch and feel. It is reported on the authority of Usamah bin Zaid (RA) that he said: I visited the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) one night due to some need and he came out to me holding something in his arms which I could not identify and when I had fulfilled my need, I said: What is that you are holding in your arms? So he revealed it to me and I saw that Hasan and Husain were on his hips and he said: These are my sons and my daughters sons. Oh, Allaah! You know that I love them, so love them. And he said it twice. (From Tarikh Ibn Asakir, vol.
4)

The Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) once passed by the door of Ali (RA) and he heard the sound of Husain (RA) crying, so he called to Az-Zahra (RA) saying: Oh, Zahra! Do you not know that his crying pains me?
(At-Tirmidhi)

Husain (RA) also returned the Messenger of Allaahs (SAWS) love for him and almost never left his side, even when he ascended the pulpit. And due to his great closeness to him and love for him, he would call him, saying: Oh, my father.