Like Imam Hasan (a.s.), Imam Husayn (a.s.) also was very much liked by the Prophet. Not only would the Prophet kiss and fondle his grandson Husayn (a.s.), he would carry him in his arms or even on his back. Like Imam Hasan (a.s.), Imam Husayn (a.s.) also on several occasions mounted on the Prophet’s back when in “Sajda” and the Prophet would prolong his Sajda until when the child would come down from the back of the Prophet on his own. It is reported that once the Prophet heard the cries of a child. These cries sounded like those of Imam Husayn (a.s.). The Prophet requested that the child be made quiet and should never be upset as to cry since his cries were like those of Imam Husayn (a.s.) and as such they pained the Prophet. Once the Prophet was giving sermon (KHUTBA) from the Pulpit (MIMBAR) in the Mosque of Medina. Imam Husayn (a.s.) walked into the Mosque. He stumbled and fell. The Prophet stopped his sermon. He stepped down from the Pulpit and carried the young Imam to the Pulpit. Not only that but the Prophet advised the Muslims to love Husayn (a.s.) as loving him was like loving the Prophet himself and that in turn meant loving Allah. All scholars of Islam agree on the truthfulness of the famous “HADITH” of the Prophet namely that “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn.” It is easy to see how Imam Husayn (a.s.) is from the Prophet. But how do we explain the Prophet saying “I am from Husayn”? What the Prophet knew, others did not. The Prophet knew of the role that his grandson Husayn (a.s.) would play to save Islam and the mission of the Prophet. As we shall see in the course of this unit, Imam Husayn (a.s.) was the key to survival of Islam. It was because of this the Prophet said that “I am from Husayn.” Allah had given the Prophet information about what would happen in the future. The Prophet therefore knew of all the cruelties and hardships that his grandson Husayn (a.s.) would 8 face from the enemies of Islam and these made him sad and even made him weep from time to time. Every time an opportunity arose, the Prophet would advise the Muslims to love and to honour his grandsons Hasan (a.s.) and Husayn (a.s.) as they would always be on the right path. Abu Bakr Ibne Abu Kahafa is reported to have said, “I have heard the Apostle of Allah saying: Hasan and Husayn are the two lords of the youth of paradise.” The famous Historian Tabari reports the Prophet to have said about Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.): “O Allah, I love them and love those who Love them.” “These two sons of mine are two plants of sweet basil (flowers) in this World.” “Whoever loves Hasan and Husayn loves me, and whoever dislikes them dislike me.” “Whoever loves me should love them.” “Whoever wants to see a man from paradise, he should look at Husayn.” Unfortunately, many Muslims forgot about the Prophet’s advice and turned against Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.). Imam Husayn (a.s.) lost the loving company of his grandfather when he was only seven years old.