The third Imām, Imām al-Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī (a) was born in Madinah on the 3rd of Shaʻbān in the 4th year after Hijrah. He was the second child born to Amīr al-Mu’minīn and Sayyidah Fāṭimah (a).
Two of the commonly mentioned names of the Imām are Qatīl al-ʻAbarāt and Thārullāh. The first refers to someone who was killed for whom others cry, while the second refers to how it is Allah who will take revenge for his blood. In the words of Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (a), “That is blood that Allah will seek retaliation for. No one from the children of Fāṭimah was or ever will be afflicted like al-Ḥusayn was. He was killed along with seventeen of his family members. They admonished for the sake of Allah and they had patience in the path of Allah. Therefore, Allah gave them the best reward of those who have patience.”
Imām ar-Riḍā narrates that when Imām al-Ḥusayn (a) was born, the Messenger of Allah (s) told Asmā bint ‘Umays, “O Asmā, bring me my son!” Asmā wrapped him in a white cloth and brought him to the Messenger of Allah (s). He put the baby in his lap and recited the adhān in his right ear and the iqāmah in his left. Then, the angel Jibrā’īl descended upon the Prophet, gave him Allah’s congratulations, and said, “Surely ‘Alī is to you in the same way that Harūn was to Mūsā. So name him with the name of the (younger) son of Harūn.” “What is his name?” asked the Prophet. “Shabīr” replied angel Jibrā’īl. “My language is Arabic!” said the Prophet. “Name him al-Ḥusayn!” came the reply.
After this the Prophet of Allah (s) kissed the baby and wept. He said “Indeed there is a big calamity awaiting you. O Allah deprive his killer of your mercy!…”