Celebrating the Birth of Imam Hussein ibne Ali (a.s.)
Source: Celebrating the Wiladat of 3rd Imam (AS)

The blessed month of Shabaan is filled with happiness for the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). It is in this month that we commemorate the birth of four towering personalities (three of whom are Imams), the first being the grandson of the Prophet (or as the Quran refers to him, the son of the Prophet) - Imam Hussein ibne Ali (peace be upon him).

Born on the 3rd of Shabaan in the forth year after the migration to Madina, Shaykh Abbas al-Qummi narrates that he was only 10 months and twenty days younger than his brother, Imam Hasan ibne Ali (peace be upon him)! These two Imams would later be known as the Chiefs of the Youths of Paradise, a title bestowed upon them by the Messenger of Allah and accepted by all Muslims.

The birth of this child into the family of the Prophethood was a cause of great celebration and also pain (as the Prophet and his family had been foretold of the murder of this Imam on the plains of Kerbala).

After his birth, the Angel Jibreel came to the Prophet, and after conveying the greetings of Allah, said to the Prophet, “Since Ali is to you as Harun was to Musa, thus, you must name this new born with the same name as the young son of Harun which was Shabbir. Since your tongue is Arabic, the name (which is equivalent in your language) is Hussein.” At this, the Prophet kissed the baby, cried and then said to him that “You will see great tribulations in the future, may Allah curse those who force this upon you...”

From this Imam, we have been given many recommended acts - which make up his Sunnah.

As we know today, the scholars of the Fiqh of Jaffari have said that it is highly recommended to begin one's Salat with seven takbeers followed by the Takbiratul Ihraam - and this has been taught to us by the grandson of the Prophet!

Other Ahadith refer to this act of the seven takbeers as breaking through the veils which exist between the servant and Allah. Once the seven takbeers are said with true understanding of what those two words mean, the servant has then entered into the sacred presence of Allah and may start his prayers.