Table of Contents

• The Prophet's Two Sweet Fragrances
• The Family of the Prophet
• The Maternal Grandfather
• The Parents: Fatimah and Ali
• Children of Fatimah and Ali
• The Prophet's ﷺ love for al-Hasan and al-Husayn
• Qualities and contributions
• al-Hasan qualities and contributions
• al-Husayn's qualities and contributions
• Narrations from the Prophet
• Narrations of al-Hasan
• Narrations from al-Husayn
• The tragedies that shaped history
• al-Hasan
• al-Hasan: the fifth khalifah
• al-Hasan relinquished his khilafah
• al-Hasan's children
• al-Husayn
• al-Husayn killed at Karbala
• Martyrs of Karbala
• al-Husayn's children
• Love for the family of the Prophet ﷺ
• Abu Bakr's respect for the family
• Umar's respect for the family
• Uthman's respect for the family
• Salawat on the family of the Prophet ﷺ
• The Imamate
• The Twelver Imamate
• The Zaydi Imamate
• Timeline of Early Islamic Civil Wars

The Prophet's Two Sweet Fragrances

Hadith: My two sweet basils

• «سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ وَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْمُحْرِمِ أَحْسِبُهُ يَقْتُلُ الذُّبَابَ
  فَقَالَ أَهْلُ الْعِرَاقِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنِ الذُّبَابِ وَقَدْ قَتَلُوا ابْنَ ابْنَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ!
  وَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ هُمَا رَيْحَانَتَاىَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا» (البخاري ٣٧٥٣ صحيح)

A person asked ʿAbdullah bin ʿUmar whether a Muslim could kill flies. I heard him saying (in reply). "The people of Iraq are asking about the killing of flies while they themselves murdered the son of the daughter of Messenger of Allah ﷺ . The Prophet ﷺ said, They (i.e. Hasan and Husain) are my two sweet basils in this world."

Meaning of Rayhan: Fragrance

• ﴿فَأَمَّا إِنْ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ ۝ فَرَوْحٌ وَرَيْحَانٌ وَجَنَّتُ نَعِيمٍ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الواقِعَة ٥٦:٨٨)

56:88 And if the deceased was of those brought near to Allah, 89 Then ˹for him is˺ rest and fragrance and a garden of bliss.

The Family of the Prophet

Quran: Allah intends to purify the Ahl Bayt

• ﴿وَقَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتِينَ الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِعْنَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ الأحزَاب ٣٣:٣٣)

33:33 And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as ˹was˺ the display of the former times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah intends only to remove from you the impurity ˹of sin˺, O people of the ˹Prophet's˺ household, and to purify you with ˹extensive˺ purification.

Quran: The Ahl Bayt of Musa

• ﴿وَحَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَرَاضِعَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَقَالَتْ هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ يَكْفُلُونَهُ لَكُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُ نَاصِحُونَ ۝﴾ (سُورَةُ القَصَص ٢٨:١٢)

28:12 And We had prevented from him ˹all˺ wet nurses before, so she said, "Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him ˹for his upbringing˺ sincere?"

• Ahl = people who belong together, family
• Bayt = house
• Ahl Bayt = household family
• Not just Ali, Fatimah and the grandsons
  • Majority: [[Banu Hashim]] / [[Banu Abd al-Muttalib]]
  • Sunni position: Includes wives, children, grandchildren
  • There are varying opinions on uncles, cousins and second or third cousins.

Hadith: Lineage and ==bloodline brings honor and not privilege==

• «وَمَنْ بَطَّأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ۔» (مسلم ٢٦٩٩a صحيح)

and one who is held back in doing ˹good˺ deeds, his ˹noble˺ lineage will not make him go ahead."

The Maternal Grandfather

The Parents: Fatimah and Ali

[[Fatimah b. Muhammad]] (11 H)

• 3rd or 4th child
  • after [[Zaynab b. Muhammad]] (8 H) and [[Ruqayyah b. Muhammad]] (2 H), [[Umm Kulthum b. Muhammad]] (6/9 H)
• Both sons, al-Qasim, and Ibrahim also died while he was alive.
• Only child surviving before the death of the Prophet
• Fatimah died about 6 months after the Prophet

[[Ali b. Abu Talib]] (40 H)

• Cousin of the Prophet
• Grew up in the household of the Prophet
• First child to accept Islam
• Fourth Khalifah

Ali and Fatimah's love for each other

• Deeply in love with each other
• They lived a very humble life

Children of Fatimah and Ali

al-Hasanayn

• [[al-Hasan b. Ali]] (3 H Ramadan)
• [[al-Husayn b. Ali]], (4 H Shaban)
• There was less than 1 year between their births
• Grew up to be 6 and 7 years old before the death of the Prophet

Additional children

• [[Zaynab b. Ali]], (5 H) aka Zaynab al-Kubra
• [[Umm Kulthum b. Ali]], (7 H)
• Muhsin/Muhassin: died in his, infancy
• Ali himself had many many more children with same/similar names

Hadith: Uttering the adhan in the ears

• «رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَذَّنَ فِي أُذُنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ حِينَ وَلَدَتْهُ فَاطِمَةُ بِالصَّلاَةِ» (أبو داود ٥١٠٥ حسن)

I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ uttering the adhan in the ear of al-Hasan b. Ali when Fatimah gave birth to him.

Hadith: Performing the aqiqah

• «أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَقَّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ كَبْشًا كَبْشًا» (أبو داود ٢٨٤١ لا نعرف حكم له)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sacrificed a ram for both al-Hasan and al-Husayn each.

The Prophet's ﷺ love for al-Hasan and al-Husayn

Hadith: Wanting to smell them and kiss hug them

• «سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَىُّ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْكَ
  قَالَ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ لِفَاطِمَةَ ادْعِي لِي ابْنَىَّ فَيَشُمُّهُمَا وَيَضُمُّهُمَا إِلَيْهِ» (الترمذي ٣٧٧٢ ضعيف)

That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked: "Which of the people of your house are most beloved to you?" He said: "al-Hasan and al-Husayn." And he used to say to Fatimah: "Call my two sons for me so that I may smell them." And he would hug them.

Hadith: Waited for al-Hasan to come out of his mother's house

• «… فَجَلَسَ بِفِنَاءِ بَيْتِ فَاطِمَةَ فَقَالَ «أَثَمَّ لُكَعُ! أَثَمَّ لُكَعُ!»
  فَحَبَسَتْهُ شَيْئًا فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهَا تُلْبِسُهُ سِخَابًا أَوْ تُغَسِّلُهُ
  فَجَاءَ يَشْتَدُّ حَتَّى عَانَقَهُ وَقَبَّلَهُ وَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ أَحْبِبْهُ وَأَحِبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّهُ» (البخاري ٢١٢٢ متفق عليه)

… and then he sat in the compound of Fatima's house and asked about the small boy (al-Hasan) but Fatima kept the boy in for a while. I thought she was either changing his clothes or giving the boy a bath. After a while the boy came out running and the Prophet ﷺ embraced and kissed him and then said, 'O Allah! Love him, and love whoever loves him.'

Hadith: Riding on this shoulders

• «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَامِلَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ
  فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: نِعْمَ الْمَرْكَبُ رَكِبْتَ يَا غُلاَمُ!
  فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَنِعْمَ الرَّاكِبُ هُوَ» (الترمذي ٣٧٨٤ ضعيف)

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was carrying al-Hasan bin 'Ali upon his shoulder, so a man said: "What an excellent mount you are riding, O child." So the Prophet ﷺ said: "And what an excellent rider he is."

• «رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَالْحَسَنُ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُحِبُّهُ فَأَحِبَّهُ» (البخاري ٣٧٤٩ متفق عليه)

I saw the Prophet ﷺ carrying al-Hasan on his shoulder an saying, "O Allah! I love him, so please love him."

Hadith: Playing catch: al-Husayn is from me

• «…فَإِذَا حُسَيْنٌ يَلْعَبُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَأَسْرَعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَمَامَ الْقَوْمِ ثُمَّ بَسَطَ يَدَيْهِ فَجَعَلَ يَمُرُّ مَرَّةً هَا هُنَا وَمَرَّةً هَا هُنَا يُضَاحِكُهُ حَتَّى أَخَذَهُ فَجَعَلَ إِحْدَى يَدَيْهِ فِي ذَقْنِهِ وَالأُخْرَى فِي رَأْسِهِ ثُمَّ اعْتَنَقَهُ
  فَقَبَّلَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ حُسَيْنٌ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْهُ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ سَبِطَانِ مِنَ الأَسْبَاطِ» (الأدب المفرد ٣٦٤ حسن)

We went out with the Prophet ﷺ and we were invited to eat. Husayn was playing in the road and the Prophet ﷺ raced the people and then spread out his arms. The boy began to run this way and that and the Prophet made him laugh until he caught hold of him. He put one of his hands under his chin and the other on his head and then embraced him. Then the Prophet ﷺ said, 'Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. Allah loves anyone who loves al-Hasan and al-Husayn. They are two of my distinguished descendants.'

Hadith: Long sajdah

• «خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي إِحْدَى صَلَاتِيِ الْعَشِيِّ الظُّهْرِ أَوِ الْعَصْرِ
  وَهُوَ حَامِلٌ أَحَدِ ابْنَيْهِ الْحَسَنِ أَوِ الْحُسَيْنِ فَتَقَدَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَوَضَعَهُ عِنْدَ قَدَمِهِ الْيُمْنَى
  فَسَجَدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَجْدَةً أَطَالَهَا قَالَ أَبِي فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي مِنْ بَيْنِ النَّاسِ فَإِذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَاجِدٌ وَإِذَا الْغُلَامُ رَاكِبٌ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ فَعُدْتُ فَسَجَدْتُ
  فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ النَّاسُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ سَجَدْتَ فِي صَلَاتِكَ هَذِهِ سَجْدَةً مَا كُنْتَ تَسْجُدُهَا أَفَشَيْءٌ أُمِرْتَ بِهِ؟ أَوْ كَانَ يُوحَى إِلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ «كُلُّ ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ وَلَكِنِ ابْنِي ارْتَحَلَنِي فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَعْجَلَهُ حَتَّى يَقْضِيَ حَاجَتَهُ»» (الحاكم ٤٧٧٥ على شرط البخاري ومسلم)

• The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out with us in one of the evening prayers of Dhuhr or Asr while carrying one of his sons, either al-Hasan or al-Husayn. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then went forward and placed him at his right foot, and
• the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prostrated for a long time. My father said, "I raised my head among the people, and behold, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was prostrating, and the boy was riding on his back. So I went back and prostrated. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished, the people said, 'O Messenger of Allah, you prostrated in this prayer, a prostration we have not seen you do before. Were you commanded to do so, or did something specific inspire you?'" He said, "All of that was not the case, but my son rode on me, so I disliked to hurry him until he had satisfied his need."

Hadith: Hiding them in his cloak

• «طَرَقْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ فِي بَعْضِ الْحَاجَةِ فَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَهُوَ مُشْتَمِلٌ عَلَى شَيْءٍ لاَ أَدْرِي مَا هُوَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْتُ مِنْ حَاجَتِي قُلْتُ مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَنْتَ مُشْتَمِلٌ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَكَشَفَهُ فَإِذَا حَسَنٌ وَحُسَيْنٌ ؑ عَلَى وَرِكَيْهِ فَقَالَ: «هَذَانِ ابْنَاىَ وَابْنَا ابْنَتِي اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أُحِبُّهُمَا فَأَحِبَّهُمَا وَأَحِبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّهُمَا.»» (الترمذي ٣٧٦٩ صحيح)

"I came to the Prophet ﷺ one night concerning some need, so the Prophet ﷺ came out while he was covering up something, and I did not know what it was. Once I had tended to my need, I said: 'What is this that you were covering up?' So he uncovered it, and I found it was Hasan and Husayn upon his hips. So he said: 'These are my two sons, and the sons of my daughter. O Allah! Indeed, I love them, so love them, and love those who love them.'"

Hadith: Didn't want to let them go

• «كُنَّا نُصَلِّي مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْعِشَاءَ
  فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي فَإِذَا سَجَدَ وَثَبَ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ وَإِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ أَخَذَهُمَا فَوَضَعَهُمَا وَضْعًا رَفِيقًا فَإِذَا عَادَ عَادًا
  فَلَمَّا صَلَّى جَعَلَ وَاحِدًا هَا هُنَا وَوَاحِدًا هَا هُنَا
  فَجِئْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَلَا أَذْهَبُ بِهِمَا إِلَى أُمِّهِمَا؟ قَالَ «لَا» فَبَرَقَتْ بَرْقَةً فَقَالَ «الْحَقَا بِأُمِّكُمَا» فَمَا زَالَا يَمْشِيَانِ فِي ضَوْئِهَا حَتَّى دَخَلَا» (الحاكم ٤٧٨٢ صحيح)

We used to pray the evening prayer with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . When he would prostrate, al-Hasan and al-Husayn would climb onto his back, and when he raised his head, he would take them and place them gently beside him. When he finished, he made one sit here and the other sit there. So I approached him and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, shall I not take them to their mother?' He replied, 'No.' Then he smiled and said, 'Indeed, their mother's right is upon them.' So they continued to walk in its light until they entered."

Hadith: While giving a khutbah: Children are a test

• «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَخْطُبُنَا إِذْ جَاءَ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ ؑ عَلَيْهِمَا قَمِيصَانِ أَحْمَرَانِ يَمْشِيَانِ وَيَعْثُرَانِ
  فَنَزَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْمِنْبَرِ فَحَمَلَهُمَا وَوَضَعَهُمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
  ثُمَّ قَالَ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ ( إنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلاَدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ )
  نَظَرْتُ إِلَى هَذَيْنِ الصَّبِيَّيْنِ يَمْشِيَانِ وَيَعْثُرَانِ فَلَمْ أَصْبِرْ حَتَّى قَطَعْتُ حَدِيثِي وَرَفَعْتُهُمَا» (الترمذي ٣٧٧٤ حسن)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was delivering a Khutbah to us when al-Hasan and al-Husayn came, wearing red shirts, walking and falling down. So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ descended from the Minbar and carried them, and placed them in front of him. Then he said: 'Allah spoke the Truth: Indeed, your wealth and your children are a trial (64:15). I looked at these two children walking and falling down, and I could not bear patiently anymore until I interrupted my talk and picked them up.

Hadith: Seeking protection for them like Ibrahim did

• «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُعَوِّذُ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ يَقُولُ: «أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ»
  وَيَقُولُ هَكَذَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يُعَوِّذُ إِسْحَاقَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ ؑ» (الترمذي ٢٠٦٠ صحيح)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to seek refuge for al-Hasan and al-Husayn saying: "I seek refuge for the two of you in the Perfect Words of Allah, from every devil and every poisonous pest, and from every harmful eye)." And he would say: "It is with this that Ibrahim would seek refuge for Ishhaq and Ismail."

Hadith: al-Hasan looked like the Prophet

• «رَأَيْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ؓ وَحَمَلَ الْحَسَنَ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ: بِأَبِي شَبِيهٌ بِالنَّبِيِّ لَيْسَ شَبِيهٌ بِعَلِيٍّ، وَعَلِيٌّ يَضْحَكُ» (البخاري ٣٧٥٠ صحيح)

I saw Abu Bakr carrying al-Hasan and saying, "Let my father be sacrificed for you; you resemble the Prophet and not ʿAli," while ʿAli was laughing at this.

• «لَمْ يَكُنْ أَحَدٌ أَشْبَهَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ﷺ مِنَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ» (البخاري ٣٧٥٢ صحيح)

None resembled the Prophet ﷺ more than al-Hasan bin ʿAli did.

Hadith: Leaders of the youth

• حُذَيْفَةَ: «… فَسَمِعَ صَوْتِي فَقَالَ: «مَنْ هَذَا حُذَيْفَةُ؟» قُلْتُ نَعَمْ
  قَالَ: «مَا حَاجَتُكَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَلأُمِّكَ … إِنَّ هَذَا مَلَكٌ لَمْ يَنْزِلِ الأَرْضَ قَطُّ قَبْلَ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةِ، اسْتَأْذَنَ رَبَّهُ أَنْ يُسَلِّمَ عَلَىَّ وَيُبَشِّرَنِي بِأَنَّ: (١) فَاطِمَةَ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ (٢) وَأَنَّ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ» (الترمذي ٣٧٨١ حسن)

… He heard my voice, and said: 'Who is this? Hudhaifah?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: "What is your need, may Allah forgive you and your mother?' He said: 'Indeed, this is an angel that never descended to the earth ever before tonight. He sought permission from his Lord to greet me with peace and to give me the glad tidings that Fatimah is the chief of the women of Paradise, and that al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the chiefs of the youths of the people of Paradise.'"

Hadith: Of the Kisa / Cloak

• «نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺَّ ( إنمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا ) فِي بَيْتِ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ
  فَدَعَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَاطِمَةَ وَحَسَنًا وَحُسَيْنًا فَجَلَّلَهُمْ بِكِسَاءٍ وَعَلِيٌّ خَلْفَ ظَهْرِهِ فَجَلَّلَهُ بِكِسَاءٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «اللَّهُمَّ هَؤُلاَءِ أَهْلُ بَيْتِي فَأَذْهِبْ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهِّرْهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا»» (الترمذي ٣٧٨٧ صحيح)

"When these Ayat were revealed to the Prophet ﷺ: 'Allah only wishes to remove the Rijs from you, O members of the family, and to purify you with a thorough purification...' (33:33) in the home of Umm Salamah, he called for Fatimah, Hasan, Husain, and wrapped them in a cloak, and 'Ali was behind him, so he wrapped him in the cloak, then he said: 'O Allah! These are the people of my house, so remove the Rijs from them, and purify them with a thorough purification.' So Umm Salamah said: 'And am I with them O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'You are in your place, and you are a goodness to me.'"

Qualities and contributions

al-Hasan qualities and contributions

Looks

• Described as handsome. Resembled the Prophet more than al-Husayn.
• Known to dye his hair.
• Sometimes wore black clothes and a black turban.

Character

• Known for his wisdom, dignity, generosity, piety, and integrity.
• Known for his intelligence، composure, and praiseworthiness,
• Known to be virtuous and devout, cautious and dignified, of great stature.
• Known to recite Surat al-Kahf before sleeping.
• Performed Hajj many times, often walking from Madinah to Mecca, with his camels being led alongside him.
• Extremely generous: Divided his wealth with Allah three times, even giving away one of his sandals while keeping the other. Known to give 100,000 dirhams to individuals.
• Known to marry frequently, having married around seventy women, and it was rare for him to be without four wives at any given time.

Contributions

• Grew up in Kufah with his father.
• Participated in battles alongside his father
• Was almost assassinated with a poisoned dagger

al-Husayn's qualities and contributions

Looks

• Also resembled the Prophet, less so than al-Hasan.
• Also known to wear black.
• Also known to dye his hair.

Character

• Strong-hearted leader who was willing to fight against oppressors.
• Like his brother, he also performed Hajj many times on foot.

Contributions

• Also grew up in Kufah with his father.
• Also participated in battles alongside his father.
• Fought alongside Muawiyah in the conquest of Constantinople.

Narrations from the Prophet

Narrations of al-Hasan

Hadith: Supplication of Qunut

• الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيّ «عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَلِمَاتٍ أَقُولُهُنَّ فِي الْوِتْرِ -قُنُوتِ الْوِتْرِ- اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ» (أبو داود ١٤٢٥ صحيح)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me some words that I say during the witr. (The version of Ibn Jawwas has: I say them in the supplication of the witr.) They were: "O Allah, guide me among those Thou hast guided, grant me security among those Thou hast granted security, take me into Thy charge among those Thou hast taken into Thy charge, bless me in what Thou hast given, guard me from the evil of what Thou hast decreed, for Thou dost decree, and nothing is decreed for Thee. He whom Thou befriendest is not humbled. Blessed and Exalted art Thou, our Lord."

Narrations from al-Husayn

Hadith: Leaving what doesn't concern you

• الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيّ «إِنَّ مِنْ حُسْنِ إِسْلامِ الْمَرْءِ قِلَّةَ الْكَلامِ فِيمَا لَا يَعْنِيهِ» (أحمد ١٧٣٢ حسن)

the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Surely, of the excellence of a person's Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him."

The tragedies that shaped history

al-Hasan

al-Hasan: the fifth khalifah

• 40 H Following the assassination of Ali by one of the Khawarij
• al-Hasan is recognized as caliph by the people of Iraq and some other regions
• Was considered a khalifah by the people of Iraq for 7 months and 11 days

Hadith: Thirty years of khilafah

• «الْخِلاَفَةُ فِي أُمَّتِي ثَلاَثُونَ سَنَةً، ثُمَّ مُلْكٌ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ» (الترمذي ٢٢٢٦ حسن)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Al-Khilafah will be in my Ummah for thirty years, then there will be monarchy after that."

Approximate calculation of the 30 years of righteous caliphate
According to some scholars, the thirty years of righteous caliphate includes that of al-Hasan. Following months and days are estimates based on narrations. The exact dates cannot be definitively confirmed.

al-Hasan relinquished his khilafah

Hadith: This son of mine is a leader

• «سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَالْحَسَنُ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى النَّاسِ مَرَّةً وَإِلَيْهِ مَرَّةً وَيَقُولُ: ابْنِي هَذَا سَيِّدٌ وَلَعَلَّ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُصْلِحَ بِهِ بَيْنَ فِئَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ» (البخاري ٣٧٤٦ صحيح)

I heard the Prophet ﷺ talking at the pulpit while al-Hasan was sitting beside him, and he (i.e. the Prophet ) was once looking at the people and at another time al-Hasan, and saying, "This son of mine is a Saiyid (i.e. chief) and perhaps Allah will bring about an agreement between two sects of the Muslims through him."

• 41 H Abdicates the caliphate in favor of [[Muawiyah b. Abu Sufyan]]

• الحسن بن على: (كَانَتْ جَمَاجِمُ العَربِ فِي يَدِي، يُسَالِمُوْنَ مَنْ سَالَمْتُ، وَيُحَاربُوْنَ مَنْ حَاربْتُ، فَتركْتُهَا للهِ، ثُمَّ أَبْتَزُّهَا بِأَتْيَاسِ الحِجَازِ) (سير أعلام النبلاء للذهبي)

I have powerful influence over the Arabs — they would make peace with whomever I made peace with, and fight whomever I fought. But I relinquished that for the sake of Allah. Shall I then seize it back with the petty men of the Hijaz?

• Withdraws from political life and lives quietly in Madinah, focusing on worship and scholarship.
• 50 H Dies of natural causes or is (unauthentically) reported to be poisoned
• Buried in al-Baqi cemetery in Madinah next to his mother, Fatimah
• He was 47 years old

Hadith: Aishah's advice to Muawiyah

• عَائِشَةُ: «سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكَ، أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ
  مَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَاءَ اللَّهِ بِسَخَطِ النَّاسِ كَفَاهُ اللَّهُ مُؤْنَةَ النَّاسِ
  وَمَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَاءَ النَّاسِ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ» (الترمذي ٢٤١٤ حسن)

Muawiyah wrote a letter to 'Aishah, that: 'Write a letter to advise me , and do not overburden me.'" He said: "So 'Aishah wrote to Muawiyah: 'Peace be upon you. As for what follows: Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying: Whoever seeks Allah's pleasure by the people's wrath, Allah will suffice him from the people. And who ever seeks the people's pleasure by Allah's wrath, Allah will entrust him to the people. And Peace be upon you.'"

al-Hasan's children

• al-Hasan al-Muthanna
• Zayd
• Talha
• al-Qasim
• Abu Bakr
• Abdullah
• Amr
• Abd al-Rahman

al-Husayn

al-Husayn killed at Karbala

Hadith: al-Husayn is from me

• «قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حُسَيْنٌ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْ حُسَيْنٍ أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ حُسَيْنًا حُسَيْنٌ سِبْطٌ مِنَ الأَسْبَاطِ» (الترمذي ٣٧٧٥ حسن)

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Husain is from me, and I am from Husain. Allah loves whoever loves Husain. Husain is a Sibt among the Asbat." (Meaning, Al-Husain would have many offspring, such that they would become a great tribe)

Hadith: Told that this son of yours will be killed

• «أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ لِإِحْدَاهُمَا لَقَدْ دَخَلَ عَلَيَّ الْبَيْتَ مَلَكٌ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ عَلَيَّ قَبْلَهَا
  فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ ابْنَكَ هَذَا حُسَيْنٌ مَقْتُولٌ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَرَيْتُكَ مِنْ تُرْبَةِ الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي يُقْتَلُ بِهَا قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَ تُرْبَةً حَمْرَاءَ» (أحمد ٢٦٥٢٤ حسن)

The Prophet ﷺ said to one of them, "Indeed, a housefly has entered upon me that has not entered upon me before her." He said to me, "Verily, your son, Hussain, will be killed. And if you wish, I can show you the soil of the earth by which he will be killed." So he took out a red soil.

• 60 H al-Husayn refuses to pledge allegiance to [[Yazid b. Muawiyah]]
• Goes to Makkah for refuge
• Kufan invite al-Husayn to lead them, promising support

Everyone including Ibn Umar urged him to not go to Kufah

• Ibn Umar asked him, “Where are you going?”
• He replied, “To Iraq,” and he had with him letters (from its people).
• Ibn Umar said, “Do not go to them.”
• He replied, “These are their letters and pledges of allegiance.”
• Abu Said al-Khudri said: “Indeed, Allah gave His Prophet the choice between this world and the Hereafter, and he chose the Hereafter. And you are a part of him. No one from you will ever rule over this affair. Allah did not divert it from you except toward what is better for you. So return.”
• Ibn Umar said: “The people of Iraq are treacherous; they killed your father, struck your brother, and did such and such.”
• But al-Husayn refused.
• Ibn Umar embraced him and said: ‘I entrust you to Allah, O soon-to-be martyr.’
  – [[Siyar Aalam al-Nubala by Dhahabi]]

Hadith of Muwayhibah: I have chosen to meet Allah

• «إِنِّي قَدْ أُوتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْخُلْدِ فِيهَا ثُمَّ الْجَنَّةُ فَخُيِّرْتُ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَبَيْنَ لِقَاءِ رَبِّي … لَقَدِ اخْتَرْتُ لِقَاءَ رَبِّي» (الدارمي ٧٩ إسناده جيد)

"Then he turned towards me and said, 'O Abu Muwayhibah, I have been given the keys to the treasures of the world, and the keys to eternal life in it, then Paradise. I was given the choice between that and meeting my Lord.' I said, 'May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, take the keys to the treasures of the world, and the keys to eternal life in it, then Paradise.' He said, 'No, by Allah, O Abu Muwayhibah, "I have chosen to meet my Lord.' Then he sought forgiveness for the people of Al-Baqi' and left. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ began to feel the pain in which he died.

• 60 H Dhu al-Hijjah, Receives a message from [[Muslim b. Aqil]] confirming the support from Kufans
• Leaves Makkah for Kufah with his family and companions.
• Caravan is intercepted by the army of Ibn Ziyad led by [[Umar b. Saad]]
• 61 H Muharram 2: Forced to stop at Karbala (2 Muharram)
• 61 H Muharram 10: Small fight takes place; one by one, companions and family are martyred.
• al-Husayn is killed brutally by [[Shimr ibn Dhu al-Jawshan]];
• [[Ali b. al-Husayn b. Ali]] (Zayn al-Abidin) survives as he was sick in a tent
• Other women and children are taken as captives
• His head is severed and sent to [[Ibn Ziyad]] / [[Yazid b. Muawiyah]]

Hadith: Ibn Ziyad poking at the severed head of al-Husayn

• «أُتِيَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ بِرَأْسِ الْحُسَيْنِ ؑ
  فَجُعِلَ فِي طَسْتٍ فَجَعَلَ يَنْكُتُ وَقَالَ فِي حُسْنِهِ شَيْئًا
  فَقَالَ أَنَسٌ:كَانَ أَشْبَهَهُمْ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَكَانَ مَخْضُوبًا بِالْوَسْمَةِ» (البخاري ٣٧٤٨ صحيح)
• وفي رواية ضعيفة: لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ ﷺ يُقبِّلُ مَوْضِعَ قَضِيبِكَ مِنْ فِيْهِ

The ˹severed˺ head of al-Husayn was brought to Ubaydullah b. Ziyad and was put in a tray, and then Ibn Ziyad started playing with a stick at the nose and mouth of al-Husayn’s head and saying something about his handsome features. Anas then said ˹to him˺, "al-Husayn resembled the Prophet ﷺ more than the others did." Anas added, "His hair was dyed with wasmah (a type of plant dye).
In another weak narration, Anas ᴿᴬ said to Ibn Ziyad: "I saw the Prophet ﷺ kiss the spot where your stick is."

Martyrs of Karbala

• Total martyrs: About 72, traditionally
  • al-Husayn and 18 members of his household (including brothers, sons, nephews)
  • 50+ companions and supporters
• Women and children were not killed, but taken as captives

al-Husayn's children

• Jafar
• Ali al-Akbar
• Abdullah (Ali al-Asghar) (infant)
• Survived Karbala
  • Ali (Zayn al-Abidin)
  • Sakinah
  • Fatimah
  • Zaynab

Love for the family of the Prophet ﷺ

Hadith: Those who love me, then love these two

• «أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ حَسَنٍ وَحُسَيْنٍ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَحَبَّنِي وَأَحَبَّ هَذَيْنِ وَأَبَاهُمَا وَأُمَّهُمَا كَانَ مَعِي فِي دَرَجَتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» (الترمذي ٣٧٣٣ ضعيف)

The Prophet ﷺ took Hasan and Husain by the hand and said: 'Whoever loves me and loves these two, and their father and mother, he shall be with me in my level on the Day of Judgement.

Hadith: Those who love them love me

• «مَنْ أَحَبَّهُمَا فَقَدْ أَحَبَّنِي وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُمَا فَقَدْ أَبْغَضَنِي» (أحمد ٧٨٧٦ إسناده قوي)

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever loves Hasan and Husain, loves me; and whoever hates them, hates me.'" (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 143)

Hadith: al-Thaqalayn v1 (Muslim)

• «وَأَنَا تَارِكٌ فِيكُمْ ثَقَلَيْنِ:
  (١) أَوَّلُهُمَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ فِيهِ الْهُدَى وَالنُّورُ فَخُذُوا بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَاسْتَمْسِكُوا بِهِ فَحَثَّ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَرَغَّبَ فِيهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ
  (٢) وَأَهْلُ بَيْتِي أُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللَّهَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي، أُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللَّهَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي، أُذَكِّرُكُمُ اللَّهَ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي» (مسلم ٢٤٠٨a صحيح)

"I am leaving among you two weighty things: the one being the Book of Allah in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it. He exhorted (us) (to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said: The second are the members of my household and I remind you ˹of your duties˺ to the members of my family, I remind you ˹of your duties˺ to the members of my family, I remind you ˹of your duties˺ to the members of my family."

Hadith: al-Thaqalayn v2

• «إِنِّي تَارِكٌ فِيكُمْ مَا إِنْ تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدِي أَحَدُهُمَا أَعْظَمُ مِنَ الآخَرِ :
  (١) كِتَابُ اللَّهِ حَبْلٌ مَمْدُودٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الأَرْضِ
  (٢) وَعِتْرَتِي أَهْلُ بَيْتِي
  وَلَنْ يَتَفَرَّقَا حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَىَّ الْحَوْضَ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ تَخْلُفُونِي فِيهِمَا» (الترمذي ٣٧٨٨ صحيح)

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:"Indeed, I am leaving among you, that which if you hold fast to them, you shall not be misguided after me. One of them is greater than the other: The Book of Allah is a rope extended from the sky to the earth, and my family - the people of my house - and they shall not split until they meet at the Hawd, so look at how you deal with them after me."

Hadith: al-Thaqalayn v3

• «إِنِّي قَدْ تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ شَيْئَيْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا بَعْدَهُمَا:
  (١) كِتَابَ اللَّهِ
  (٢) وَسُنَّتِي
  وَلَنْ يَتَفَرَّقَا حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ» (الحاكم ٣١٩ لا نعرف حكم له)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, I have left among you two things that you will never go astray as long as you hold fast to them: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah. And they will never separate from each other until they meet me at the Pond."

Abu Bakr's respect for the family

Playing and joking around with al-Hasan and Ali

• «رَأَيْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ؓ وَحَمَلَ الْحَسَنَ وَهْوَ يَقُولُ بِأَبِي شَبِيهٌ بِالنَّبِيِّ لَيْسَ شَبِيهٌ بِعَلِيٍّ وَعَلِيٌّ يَضْحَكُ» (البخاري ٣٧٥٠ صحيح)

I saw Abu Bakr carrying al-Hasan and saying, "Let my father be sacrificed for you; you resemble the Prophet and not ʿAli," while ʿAli was laughing at this.

Hadith: More than love for my family

• «وَاللَّهِ لَقَرَابَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أَصِلَ مِنْ قَرَابَتِي» (البخاري ٤٠٣٥ صحيح)

By Allah, I would love to do good to the Kith and kin of Allah's Apostle rather than to my own Kith and kin."

Umar's respect for the family

Hadith: Dua of istisqa

• «أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ كَانَ إِذَا قَحَطُوا اسْتَسْقَى بِالْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِنَبِيِّنَا فَتَسْقِينَا وَإِنَّا نَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْكَ بِعَمِّ نَبِيِّنَا فَاسْقِنَا قَالَ فَيُسْقَوْنَ» (البخاري ١٠١٠ صحيح)

Whenever drought threatened them, ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab, used to ask Al-Abbas bin ʿAbdul Muttalib to invoke Allah for rain. He used to say, "O Allah! We used to ask our Prophet to invoke You for rain, and You would bless us with rain, and now we ask his uncle to invoke You for rain. O Allah ! Bless us with rain."(1) And so it would rain.

Hadith: Umar married [[Umm Kukthum b. Ali]]

• «وَرُوِّينَا فِي تَزْوِيجِ أُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ بِنْتِ عَلِيٍّ مِنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ قَالَ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ لِحَسَنٍ وَحُسَيْنٍ ؓ زَوِّجَا عَمَّكُمَا فَزَوَّجَاهُ» (البيهقي ١٣٧٩٦ لا نعرف حكم له)

It has also been narrated about the marriage of Umm Kulthum, the daughter of Ali, to Umar ibn al-Khattab. Ali said to Hasan and Husayn, "Marry off your uncle," so they married her to him.

Umar instituted the highest rank of the salary was Al al-Bayt

Uthman's respect for the family

• Called Dhu al-Nurayn
• Married [[Ruqayyah b. Muhammad]] (2 H) and [[Umm Kulthum b. Muhammad]] (6/9 H)
• [[Ali b. Abu Talib]] made al-Hasan a personal bodyguard for [[Uthman b. Affan]] during the siege

Salawat on the family of the Prophet ﷺ

Hadith: Salawat on the family of the Prophet

• «أَتَانَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَنَحْنُ فِي مَجْلِسِ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ۔ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَشِيرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ: أَمَرَنَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنْ نُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، فَكَيْفَ نُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ؟ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ حَتَّى تَمَنَّيْنَا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْأَلْهُ۔
  ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «قُولُوا: (اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي الْعَالَمِينَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ؛ وَالسَّلاَمُ كَمَا قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ۔»» (مسلم ٤٠٥ صحيح)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us while we were sitting in the company of Saʿīd b. ʿUbādah. Bashīr b. Saʿd said, "Allah has commanded us to send ṣalāh (Allah's praise, mention, forgiveness, blessings) upon you O Messenger of Allah! But how should send ṣalāh upon you?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept quiet ˹for such a long time˺ that we wished we had not asked him. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Say: O Allah, send ṣalāh upon Muhammad and upon the family/followers of Muhammad just as You sent ṣalāh upon the family/followers of Ibrahim. And bestow blessings upon Muhammad and the family/followers of Muhammad just as You bestowed blessings upon the family/followers of Ibrahim in the world; for You are indeed the One Worthy of All Praise and Majesty),' and ˹sending of the˺ salutation ˹is˺ as you ˹already˺ know."

The Imamate

The Twelver Imamate

• Based on descendancy
• Based on nass (explicit designation)

The Zaydi Imamate

• Rightful descendants of al-Hasan and al-Husayn
• Not based on descendancy
• More similar to caliphates
• There is no fixed number of Zaydi Imams

Timeline of Early Islamic Civil Wars

35 H Murder of Uthman
The third caliph, Uthman b. Affan, was assassinated in his home in Madinah by rebellious factions who accused him of nepotism and misgovernance. His death marked the beginning of intense civil strife and division within the Muslim ummah.

35 H Allegiance to Ali b. Abi Talib
Following the death of Uthman, many of the senior companions and citizens of Madinah pledged allegiance to Ali as the fourth caliph. However, his leadership was immediately challenged, leading to political instability.

36 H Battle of the Camel
This battle occurred near Basrah between the forces of Caliph Ali and those led by Aishah, Talhah, and Zubayr, who sought justice for Uthman's killers. The confrontation ended in Ali's victory but with great loss of life.

37 H Battle of Siffin
A major conflict took place between Ali and Muawiyah, governor of Syria and relative of Uthman, over the legitimacy of Ali's caliphate. It ended indecisively after arbitration was agreed upon.

37–38 H Arbitration
The arbitration between Ali and Muawiyah failed to resolve the leadership dispute, causing further fragmentation and the rise of dissenting factions.

37–38 H Emergence of the Khawarij
Disillusioned by the arbitration, a group of extremists known as the Khawarij broke away from Ali's camp, declaring both him and Muawiyah illegitimate and demanding strict adherence to their interpretation of Islam.

38 H Battle of Nahrawan
Ali launched a military campaign against the Khawarij near Nahrawan, resulting in a decisive victory over the rebels but at the cost of further internal division.

40 H Assassination of Ali
While heading to Fajr prayer in Kufa, Ali was fatally struck by a poisoned sword by a Kharijite assassin, bringing his caliphate to a tragic end.

40–41 H Accession and abdication of Hasan
After Ali's death, his son Hasan b. Ali briefly became caliph but relinquished leadership to Muawiyah in a treaty aimed at preventing further bloodshed.

41 H Muawiyah's reign begins
Muawiyah assumed control and founded the Umayyad dynasty, marking a shift from the elective caliphate to hereditary monarchy and restoring political order.

60 H Yazid becomes caliph
Muawiyah appointed his son Yazid as successor, a move widely opposed by many companions and their descendants, sparking rebellion.

61 H Event of Karbala
Husayn b. Ali, refusing to recognize Yazid's authority, was martyred along with his family and companions in Karbala by Yazid's forces, a tragedy that deeply impacted Islamic history.

63 H Harrah, Massacre of Madinah
In response to a revolt, Yazid's army stormed Madinah, killing thousands of its inhabitants and violating its sanctity in one of the darkest episodes of Islamic history.

64 H Siege of Makkah and destruction of the Kabah
Yazid's forces then marched on Makkah to suppress Abdullah b. al-Zubayr, resulting in the partial destruction of the Kabah by fire during the siege.

64 H Death of Yazid
Yazid died unexpectedly, throwing the Umayyad caliphate into temporary disarray and giving momentum to rival claims.

64 H Abdullah b. al-Zubayr declared caliph
Recognized as caliph by large regions including Hijaz, Iraq, and parts of Egypt, Abdullah b. al-Zubayr ruled from Makkah, challenging Umayyad authority.

64–73 H Civil war between Umayyads and b. al-Zubayr
A prolonged and fragmented civil war ensued, with shifting control across the Muslim lands and weakening the unity of the ummah.

64–65 H Marwan b. al-Hakam's reign
Marwan was declared caliph in Syria, reestablishing Umayyad rule and preparing the ground for his son's more enduring leadership.

65 H Abd al-Malik b. Marwan becomes caliph
A strong and strategic ruler, Abd al-Malik consolidated power, reformed administration, and aggressively pursued b. al-Zubayr's defeat.

65 H Battle of Marj Rahit
This battle secured Umayyad dominance in Syria by defeating rival factions including supporters of b. al-Zubayr and other claimants.

67 H Suppression of Mukhtar al-Thaqafi's revolt
Mukhtar led a Shii uprising in Kufa avenging Husayn's death but was eventually defeated by forces loyal to b. al-Zubayr.

73 H Martyrdom of Abdullah b. al-Zubayr
After a prolonged siege of Makkah by Hajjaj under orders from Abd al-Malik, b. al-Zubayr was killed, marking the Umayyads' full return to power.