The Battle of Karbala and the story of Imam Hussain (as) is well-known to many of us.
We remember them, we honour them, and we live in their holy legacy.
But who were some of the other warriors – the forgotten heroes – who also gave their lives towards the cause?
Read more about the Battle of Karbala here.
Muslim Bin Aqeel was the cousin of Imam Hussain (as), and was personally sent by the Imam to Kufa to try and gather support.
In the beginning the people of Kufa pledged their loyalty to Imam Hussain, causing Muslim Bin Aqeel to write a letter to Imam Hussain that Kufa would stand behind them.
However, Ubaidullah Ibn Zayed, the governor of Kufa who was appointed by Yazid himself, threatened the people if they showed allegiance to Imam Hussain (as).
Unfortunately, this caused many Kufians to withdraw support from Imam Hussain (as). But it should be remembered that Muslim Bin Aqeel was one of the first who worked tirelessly to gather support and loyalty to Imam Hussain (as) from the people of Kufa – risking his own life in the process.
A close companion of Imam Hussain (as), Sulayman Ibn Razeen was sent to Basra with a letter from Imam Hussain (as) to the chiefs of the city, to try and gain support.
Some of the leaders of Basra, however, suspected a plot, and quickly ordered the beheading of Sulayman Ibn Razeen – who had only come with a letter of peace and love towards his Imam Hussain (as).
A Christian by birth but having converted to Islam, Abu Wahab Abdullah Ibn Umayr was another one of Imam Hussain’s (as) loyal companions.
Abu Wahab in fact converted to Islam after being inspired by Imam Hussain (as), begging the Imam to let him fight in his army against Yazid.
Abu Wahab’s wife, Umm Wahab, was also present at the battle of Karbala. When she saw her husband killed on the battlefield, she ran towards the headless corpse, where she was also killed by Yazid’s army after refusing to leave the body.
Umm Wahab is one of the few female martyrs of the Battle of Karbala, making both her and her husband one of the most tragic cases of the forgotten heroes of the Battle of Karbala.
A staunchly devoted companion of Imam Ali (as) and later of Imam Hussain (as), Habib Ibn Muthahir was one of the people of Kufa who pledged loyalty to Imam Hussain (as) – and kept his word.
After realising many of the people of Kufa had turned their back on Imam Hussain (as) after being threatened, he left Kufa to join Imam Hussain (as) and his army.
At the age of 75, Habib Ibn Muthahir was one of the oldest – however fought as one of the bravest.
Said to be one of the last martyrs of the Battle of Karbala, Suwayd Ibn Amr Al Khathami was one of the companions of Imam Hussain (as) who fought bravely and with honour during the battle.
Struck down in the midst of battle and severely injured, he was left for dead amongst the other corpses, only half conscious.
Only half alive and barely able to defend himself, Suwayd Ibn Amr Al Khathami fought in the tragic memory of his beloved Imam Hussain (as) until he was finally killed – making him one of the last loyal companions killed in the Battle of Karbala.
As we remember, honour, and weep for the loyal heroes of the Battle of Karbala, we must also keep their legacy alive.
Keep the message of Karbala alive through long-term, life-changing projects.
Your contribution builds a lasting legacy of Karbala for generations to come.
The forgotten heroes of Karbala include companions like Muslim bin Aqeel, Sulayman Ibn Razeen, Abu Wahab, Umm Wahab, Habib Ibn Muthahir, and Suwayd Ibn Amr Al Khathami. These individuals showed immense loyalty and courage by sacrificing their lives in support of Imam Hussain (as).
Muslim bin Aqeel was sent by Imam Hussain (as) to Kufa to gather support. Despite early loyalty from the Kufans, political pressure led to betrayal. He was captured and martyred, becoming one of the first to give his life for the cause.
Abu Wahab was a Christian convert inspired by Imam Hussain (as). He bravely fought and was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. His wife, Umm Wahab, also became a martyr, making them one of the most tragic yet devoted couples in Karbala’s history.
Habib Ibn Muthahir was a loyal companion of both Imam Ali (as) and Imam Hussain (as). At 75 years old, he fought valiantly and led the left flank of Imam Hussain’s army before being martyred. His loyalty never wavered, even when many others abandoned the cause.
The companions of Karbala teach us the value of standing for truth, justice, and unwavering faith – even at the cost of one’s life. Their sacrifice continues to inspire generations to live with dignity and uphold the values of the Ahlulbayt (as).
You can honour them by embodying the values they died for: supporting justice, helping the oppressed, and engaging in meaningful acts of charity. Contributing to causes like building mosques, providing clean water, and supporting orphans reflects their noble mission.
