Hazrat Ali Akbar (a.s.)

11th of Shabaan, - the birth anniversary of Shabih-e-Payamber Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) ibn-e-Imam Hussain(a.s.).

His Geneology

Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) was the son of Imam Hussain(a.s.). His mother was Umm-e-Laila bint-e-Abi Marra  ibn-e-Urwa bin Masoos Saqafi. His Name was Ali, Title was Akbar and Kunniat was Abul Hasan.

His association with Prophet Muhammad(sawaw)

Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) had a very close resemblance with Prophet Muhammad(sawaw). That is the reason why he is also known as Shabih-e- Payambar which means the look-alike of the Prophet(sawaw).  He not only had physical resemblance with the Prophet(sawaw) but his character, his courteousness and his every day life traits were very much those of the Prophet(sawaw). He had benefited from the training and direct observation of personalities such as Imam Ali(a.s.), Imam Hasan(a.s.) and Imam Hussain(a.s.).

Some important points to consider

Some historians have raised concerns about the age of Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) and whether he was the eldest son of Imam Hussain(a.s.) or Imam Zain-al-Abideen(a.s.) was the eldest. Lets have a look at these concerns.

Sheikh Mufeed(a.r.) states his age to be 19 years in Karbala whereas ibn-e-Shahr Ashoob has stated 18 years. Allama Hilli(a.r.) says the he was 25 years and Fazil Muqaram Najfi states his age as 27 years.

It is very well established that Imam Zain-ul-Abideen(a.s.) was aged 23 years in Karbala and therefore, if the research of Allama Hilli(a.r.) is accepted as correct, then Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) will be the eldest son of Imam Hussain(a.s.). This is also substantiated by the title AKBAR which is used for the eldest son in Arabs. There are traditions that Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) had been born during the third Khilafa's time, therefore, his age accordingly would be at least 25 in Karbala.

Likewise, there are reports from several ulema such as Muhaddis Qummi, Sheikh Abbas Qummi, Fazil Mahallati and Muhaddis Noori that Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) was already married before the events of Karbala occurred.

However, the most widely accepted sayings are that Hazrat Ali Akbar(a.s.) was the second male child of Imam Hussain(a.s.) after Imam Zain-al-Abideen(a.s.) and that he was 18 years of age and still un- married when the sad event of Karbala occurred.