Imam Hussain’s Head

By 

GHULAM RASOOL DEHLVI 

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d July 10, 2025

 Where Is Imam Hussain’s Holy Head? A Crime Against the Human Dignity Of The Prophet’s Noble Family And An Insult To The Soul Of Islam!

Main Points:

1. Imam Hussain (AS), the Prophet’s beloved grandson, was brutally martyred in Karbala in 680 CE. His severed head was paraded by Yazid's forces—a heinous crime against the dignity of Ahl al-Bayt and a direct insult to the essence of Islamic values of justice, compassion, and sanctity.

2. The exact location of Imam Hussain’s head is still uncertain, with differing claims across Islamic traditions. Locations include Cairo (Egypt), Damascus (Syria), Karbala or Najaf (Iraq), and Medina (Saudi Arabia). The unresolved nature of this sacred relic's fate reflects a spiritual and historical loss for the Ummah.

3. Cairo's Claim and the Role of Al-Azhar: The Imam Hussain Mosque in Cairo is widely believed—especially in Sunni-Sufi circles—to house the head of the Imam. Al-Azhar University respects this tradition due to its Fatimid roots and reverence for Ahl al-Bayt but maintains academic caution, emphasizing the moral legacy of Hussain over physical relics.

4. Shi’a Perspectives Remain Divided: Shi’a scholars offer different views: some believe the head was reunited with the body in Karbala, others suggest it was buried in Najaf or secretly interred in Medina by Imam Zain ul-Abideen. Despite the divergence, the head of Imam Hussain is universally revered as a symbol of spiritual resistance and martyrdom.

5. The failure to preserve or even reach a consensus on the resting place of Imam Hussain’s head reflects a deeper crisis of historical neglect and spiritual disunity in the Muslim world—a painful reminder of how sectarianism has overshadowed the shared moral heritage of Islam.

By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi

Imam Husayn ibn Ali—the beloved grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the noblest martyr of the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE—stood courageously against tyranny and injustice. Therefore, every humane person today remembers the tragic incident of Karbala with a heavy heart and harbours deep love and admiration for the Imam. Born in 626 CE to Fatima al-Zahra (SA) and Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), Husayn was nurtured in the household of the Prophet himself, embodying piety, courage, and compassion. He was an emblem of moral uprightness and spiritual sacrifice since his childhood. But his ultimate sacrifice came on the 10th of Muharram in the year 680 CE (61 AH), when he refused to pledge allegiance to the corrupt and tyrant Umayyad caliph Yazid bin Muawiyya. Accompanied by a small band of 72 family members and followers, the Imam was mercilessly besieged and slain on the scorching plains of Karbala in Iraq. His stand was not for power or worldly gain, but a timeless cry for justice, dignity, and the moral conscience of the entire human fraternity, not just the Muslim Ummah.  Thus, the tragedy of Karbala echoes through generations as a symbol of resistance against oppression and the moral duty to uphold truth, no matter the cost. But while this tragedy inspires us to render sacrifice of our life, wealth and even our children for the sake of truth, justice and righteousness, the Imam’s merciless martyrdom deeply pains our hearts.

Yazid bin Muawiya cut off the glorious head of Hussain (AS) that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) used to kiss a thousand times. Then the tyrant ruler desecrated the holy head and placed it upon a lance, parading it through the streets of Kufa and Damascus as a show of power and intimidation. This unspeakable act was not just a brutal crime against the dignity of the beloved grandson of the Prophet and his entire noble family—Ahl-ul-Bait—but a blatant and brutal insult to the very soul of Islam. It marked the culmination of injustice, tyranny, and spiritual betrayal—a moment that continues to wound the conscience of the Muslim Ummah to this day.

But the even more tragic truth is that the exact burial site of Imam Hussain’s severed head remains unknown even today. It has now become a subject of scholarly contention, historical debate and religious dissension, with conflicting claims from various Islamic sects and scholars. The physical location of Imam Hussain’s head remains uncertain even today. Therefore, Sunni and Shi’a traditions diverge in their historical accounts. However, both Sunni and Shia scholars converge in honouring Imam Hussain's martyrdom. They stress the ethical and spiritual lessons of his stand against tyranny rather than focusing solely on the physical fate of his remains.

The moral and spiritual legacy of Imam Hussain’s sacrifice continues to resonate across the Islamic world. Sunni and Shia scholars alike emphasize the symbolism of his martyrdom—his stand for justice against tyranny—as far more significant than the exact whereabouts of his remains. As historical narratives diverge and traditions persist, the head of Imam Hussain (AS), however, remains a powerful symbol of resistance, faith, and unity for many Muslims.

Following the tragic martyrdom of Imam Hussain in 680 CE at Karbala, his holy head was reportedly severed and taken to the Umayyad caliph Yazid in Damascus. Since then, several locations have been claimed as the final resting place of his sacred head:

• Cairo, Egypt: Many Sunni scholars, including Egypt’s former Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa, believe that the head is preserved at the Imam Hussain Mosque in Cairo. Al-Azhar University, a leading Sunni institution, acknowledges this tradition, though it treats it as a matter of popular belief rather than fact.
• Damascus, Syria: Some traditions assert that the head remained in Syria and is buried near the shrine of Sayyidah Zaynab, Imam Hussain’s sister, in Damascus.
• Karbala, Iraq: Shi’a traditions are divided. Some believe the head was eventually returned to Karbala and buried with the body, while others claim it was buried near Najaf, close to Imam Ali’s shrine.
• Medina: Another view—shared by prominent Shia scholars like Sheikh al-Kulayni and Sunni scholar Shah Waliullah Dehlvi—suggests the head was brought back to Medina and secretly buried by Imam Zain ul-Abideen near the graves of Hazrat Ali and Fatima (RA).

Thus, the precise burial site of Imam Hussain’s (AS) head remains a matter of debate among Islamic scholars, with various traditions pointing to different locations including Medina, Syria, Karbala, and Najaf al-Ashraf. This writer had a profound opportunity to visit “Masjid al-Hussain” also known as the shrine of Imam Hussain in Cairo, Egypt in 2024. In my visit to the shrine, I learnt that Al-Azhar University, the leading authority in Sunni Islamic scholarship, acknowledges the Egyptian tradition linking Imam Hussain’s head to Cairo but does not endorse it as a definitive historical fact. I was told that the Al-Azhar tends to emphasize Imam Hussain’s moral legacy over debates about relics or burial sites. Scholars associated with Al-Azhar, including Mufti Ali Gomaa, treat the Cairo narrative as a respected tradition while urging caution in interpreting historical claims.

The Sunni Perspective and the Cairo Tradition

Prominent Sunni scholar Sheikh Ali Gomaa, former Grand Mufti of Egypt and a key figure at Al-Azhar University supports the tradition that the head of Imam Hussain is preserved at the Imam Hussain Mosque in Cairo. In several public statements and writings, Mufti Gomaa has affirmed this belief, which holds that the head was eventually brought from Damascus to Egypt, where it was enshrined and remains a site of pilgrimage. This can be seen as a Sunni-Sufi perspective as it is endorsed by Sunni Islam’s largest seminary in the world, Al-Azhar University and its noted Sufi-oriented Sunni scholars including Sheikh Ahmad al‑Tayyeb, the Grand Imam and Sheikh of Al‑Azhar. He has publicly recognized and respected the Imam Hussain Mosque in Cairo, emphasizing its historical and spiritual importance—even though some Sunni scholars of Al‑Azhar maintain a balanced scholarly approach toward traditions concerning the shrine.

In May 2022, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar personally toured the Imam Hussain Mosque which is adjacent to the Al-Azhar campuses. He reviewed its restoration work, inspected the architectural spaces and courtyard, and learned about the services offered and local infrastructure improvements. During a ceremony around that time, Egypt's president also praised the state’s commitment to restoring shrines linked to the Prophet's family (Ahl al-Bayt). Sheikh al-Azhar Ahmad Al‑Tayyeb’s visit reflects Al‑Azhar’s institutional stance that the shrine of Imam Hussain in Cairo is respected as a significant site of Islamic heritage, valued for its historical and devotional role. However, this respect does not equate to affirming the historical authenticity of Imam Hussain’s head being there. Al‑Azhar scholars continue to approach such claims with academic caution, emphasizing the mosque’s cultural and symbolic importance, without declaring the relic tradition as certain. In essence, Sheikh al‑Tayyeb and Al‑Azhar treat the Cairo shrine as a venerated part of Islamic history and devotion, while consciously refraining from definitive religious rulings about the actual presence of Imam Hussain's head.

Tellingly, the name Al-Azhar is derived from Fatima al-Zahra, the beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the mother of Imam Hussain (AS). “Azhar” means “radiant” or “luminous” and Fatima was often referred to as al-Zahra (the Radiant One). Therefore, Al-Azhar University—established in Cairo by the Fatimid Caliphate in the 10th century—is named in her honour. The Fatimids, who ruled parts of North Africa and Egypt from the 10th to 12th centuries, were Shi’a Muslims who traced their lineage directly to Fatima al-Zahra and Imam Ali (RA). They held the Ahl al-Bayt—the Prophet's family—in the highest reverence, particularly Imam Hussain (AS).

This context strengthens the claim that the Fatimids may have transferred the severed head of Imam Hussain from Damascus to Cairo. According to some traditions, after Yazid, the Umayyad caliph, had the head brought to Damascus, it may have remained there temporarily. The Fatimids, viewing it as desecrated and dishonoured under the Umayyads, would have had both religious motivation and political authority to recover the sacred relic and bring it to a place of honour and veneration—Cairo, their capital.

The shrine of Imam Hussain in Cairo bears architectural and symbolic resemblance to the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) shrine in Madina (Rauzatur Rasool). This resemblance is intentional and meaningful: it reflects the deep love and reverence for Imam Hussain as the Prophet’s grandson, and it mirrors the honour traditionally given to the Prophet himself. The comparison underlines the sacredness of the site and the spiritual bond between the Prophet and his family. It also suggests that Imam Hussain’s shrine was designed not only as a resting place but as a focal point of Islamic devotion, reflecting the same dignity and sanctity associated with the Prophet’s own resting place.

In essence, Cairo’s Islamic institutions—both Al-Azhar University and the Imam Hussain Mosque—are rooted in the veneration of Ahl al-Bayt, particularly Fatima al-Zahra and Imam Hussain. It presents a compelling narrative that links architecture, religious devotion, and historical events to suggest why many Muslims believe that Imam Hussain’s head was brought to Cairo, where it continues to be honoured today.

Shi’a Perspectives

Shi’a scholars are also divided on this issue. Some assert the holy head was returned to Karbala and reburied with the body, while others claim it was interred in Najaf, near the shrine of Imam Ali (AS). Classical Shia scholars like Sheikh al-Kulayni, Sheikh al-Tusi, and Ibn Shahrashub cite different narrations supporting these views. Another perspective, shared by both Shia historians and the renowned Indian Sunni scholar Shah Waliullah Dehlvi, suggests that after the head was returned from Damascus, it was brought to Madina, where Imam Zainul Abideen (RA) buried it discreetly near the graves of Imam Ali and Hazrat Fatima Zahra (RA).

According the mainstream Shia scholars, historical sources agree that following the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, Imam Hussain’s head was severed and taken to Caliph Yazid in Damascus. But from there, accounts diverge. However, despite the differing and divergent narratives, most Muslims—particularly in the Shi’a tradition—view the head of Imam Hussain as a profound symbol of resistance, justice, and sacrifice. The debate over its location remains unresolved, largely due to the absence of definitive historical evidence and the multiplicity of oral traditions.

But the holy head of Imam Hussain (AS) remains a sacred symbol, and its debated location continues to inspire reverence, reflection, and at the same time, it poses a serious question: Why has the Muslim Ummah not been able to preserve such a sacred symbol of sacrifice in the Islamic history? Why there is still no scholarly consensus about it across the Muslim world? This lack of attention and desecration meted out to the holy head of Imam Hussain (AS) is not just a crime against the human dignity of the Prophet’s noble grandson and his family but also a brazen violation of the spirit and soul of Islam!

 Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an Indo-Islamic scholar, author of “Ishq Sufiyana: Untold Stories of Divine Love,” Sufi poet, and English-Arabic-Urdu-Hindi writer with a background in a leading Sufi Islamic seminary in India. He is currently serving as Head of International Affairs at Voice for Peace & Justice, Jammu & Kashmir.