When Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAlī رضي الله عنه set out on his journey that ended at Karbala, he did not travel alone. He was accompanied by members of his family — his wives, his sisters, and his children. The presence of children at Karbala is not a circumstantial detail in the classical sources — it is one of the most important moral dimensions of the event, which classical Sunni scholars including Imām Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله and Imām al-Dhahabī رحمه الله understood as one of the reasons the massacre carried the weight of a particular injustice. Among all the scenes of that day, none is more difficult to read than the account of the infant ʿAlī al-Aṣghar.
The Children Who Were Present
Classical sources record that Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه had multiple children with him at Karbala. His son Sayyiduna ʿAlī al-Akbar رضي الله عنه — who resembled the Prophet ﷺ more closely than any other person — was a young man who fought and was martyred on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ. When Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه saw his son killed, the classical sources record his grief with a directness that is almost unbearable to read. His son Sayyiduna ʿAlī al-Aṣghar — an infant, some months old — was also present. And his son Sayyiduna ʿAlī al-Zain al-ʿĀbidīn رحمه الله — the future Imām, then ill with fever — was in the camp and survived.
ʿAlī al-Aṣghar — The Infant
The account of the infant ʿAlī al-Aṣghar is among the most heartbreaking scenes in the classical account of Karbala. The classical sources record that on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, after Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه had seen his companions fall one by one, and as the thirst in the camp had reached its extreme — the women and children had been without water for three days — he came forward holding the infant. He addressed the army, showing them the child, and asked whether the infant at least could be given water. An arrow came from the army and killed the infant in his arms. Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه caught the blood in his hands and called out: “O Allāh, be You the judge between us and those who invited us, then abandoned us and killed our children.”
Sayyiduna ʿAlī al-Akbar — The Young Man Who Resembled the Prophet ﷺ
Sayyiduna ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Akbar رضي الله عنه was old enough to fight, and he did — going into battle on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ. The classical sources record that when Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه looked at his son and saw in him the Prophet’s ﷺ face, he said: “O Allāh, bear witness that against this people I am sending forth a youth whose bearing, character, and appearance most closely resemble Your Prophet.” When Sayyiduna ʿAlī al-Akbar رضي الله عنه fell, Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه came to his side and wept over him with the grief of a father who has lost the face of the Prophet ﷺ from the world again.
What These Scenes Require of Sunni Muslims
Classical Sunni scholars who wrote about Karbala did not paper over these scenes. Imām Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله recorded them. Imām al-Dhahabī رحمه الله recorded them. They are part of the honest account of what happened on that day. And they are part of why classical Sunni scholarship condemned those responsible and why grief for Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه — and for all who died with him — is described in the tradition as appropriate for every Muslim heart.
Who was ʿAlī al-Aṣghar and what happened at Karbala?
ʿAlī al-Aṣghar was an infant son of Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه present at Karbala. When Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه brought the infant to the army asking for water for the child, an arrow was shot and killed the infant in his arms. This scene is recorded in classical sources and is among the reasons classical Sunni scholars described the events of Karbala as one of the greatest tragedies to befall the Ummah.
Who was Sayyiduna ʿAlī al-Akbar and why did Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn describe him as resembling the Prophet?
Sayyiduna ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn al-Akbar رضي الله عنه closely resembled the Prophet ﷺ in bearing, character, and appearance. When Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn رضي الله عنه sent him into battle, he invoked Allāh’s witness that he was sending the one who most closely resembled His Prophet. He was killed on ʿĀshūrāʾ and his father came to weep over him.
Which son of Sayyiduna al-Ḥusayn survived Karbala?
Sayyiduna ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn — known as Zayn al-ʿĀbidīn رحمه الله — survived because he was too ill with fever to fight. He was taken as a prisoner to Kūfah and Damascus with the surviving women and children. He later became one of the greatest scholars and worshippers of his generation, and his Ṣaḥīfah al-Sajjādiyyah is among the most celebrated devotional texts in Islamic history.