5 Prominent Characteristics of Imam Hussain (AS)

Imam Hussain (AS)'s exceptional characteristics were known to everyone whether at the time of his life and generations after him. In what follows we can have a glimpse at five prominent of these characteristics: 

1. Deep Regard for the Poor
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•    Aside from helping them financially wherever and whenever he could, he always treated them with respect and equal to other people. 
•    Even while praying he couldn’t turn a blind eye to the request of a needy person and tried to recite the remainder of his prayer faster so that he could help that person and fulfill his need. 
•    He would also pay the debts’ of those who were struggling with financial problems. For instance, he paid the debt of a dying man to relieve him of the burden of owing another person before his death. 
•    After his martyrdom, some old scratches were found on his back which turned out to be the marks of the heavy bags containing food, he carried on his back every night to give them to the poor, without being noticed.

2. Patience 

•    He would not get angry quickly and lose his temper. Even when someone insulted him, he would forgive and treat him kindly and generously.
•    Considering the event of Karbala and the many unbearable hardships he and his family went through, he never complained to Allah or surrendered to this deep pain. 
•    This patience, for sure, was the result of his deep faith in Allah and having no doubt in whatever He chooses for him.  

3. Courage

•    Imam Hussain (AS), saw the injustice that was imposed upon the society of his time and realized how what the rulers called Islam was far from the true teachings of Islam. 
•    Therefore, he stood up against what was wrong. 
•    He never gave up his human virtues for the sake of furthering his purpose. He was courageous for the right cause. 
•    Neither was he after usurping the throne, nor manipulating people for his own sake. In that case, he would not be courageous anymore but selfish.

4. Love and Devotion to Allah

•    Imam Hussain (AS) was known among the people of his time for his sincere and constant prayers and devotions to Allah. 
•    He traveled the distance between Medina to Mecca to participate in Hajj rituals twenty-five times on his life-time by foot. 
•    He had a deep affection for the prayer (Salat). 
•    It has been narrated that on the night before the battle of Karbala, Imam Hussain (AS) told his brother, Ali ibn Abbas (AS): “Ask the enemy to let us spend this night praying and supplicating to Allah and reciting the Quran. My Merciful Lord knows how much I love prayer, reciting the Quran, supplication and repentant”. 
•    Also, in the midst of battle, while the enemy was attacking him and his companions on every side, he stood to perform the midday prayer (Salat al-Dhuhr) in the congregation.

5. Exemplary Knowledge  

•    Imam Hussain (AS) was the inheritor of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH&HP) vast knowledge and foresight. 
•    Everyone, whether friends or enemies, admitted this characteristic in him and found no one to be even close to him on this matter. 
•    He would answer people’s questions on different matters so wisely and with such command that impressed every person who had heard of it.
•     There remain many sayings and quotes from him, each containing a moral teaching and a lesson that would help us lead a better and more productive life.