Signs of Imam Hussein in the Torah and the Gospel

The history of monotheistic religions is filled with divine revelations and prophecies of God’s prophets, each foretelling the coming of future prophets or events. This article examines the signs of Imam Hussein (AS) and the Karbala event in three holy scriptures revealed before his birth. Note that we have previously written about the signs of Imam Hussein (AS) in the Holy Quran, which we kindly request you to read before this article.

1. Book of Prophet Jeremiah Prophet Jeremiah (peace and blessings be upon him), one of the prophets of the Jewish people, lived during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, a Babylonian ruler remembered both positively and negatively in history. During his time, the kingdom left by Prophet Solomon was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and the Jews were exiled to Babylon, later liberated by Cyrus the Great. Prophet Jeremiah is known for a miracle where God caused his donkey to die for a hundred years and then revived it to prove life after death. In the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 47, verse 10, an event is foretold over a thousand years later: “Today is the day of the Lord’s vengeance (the day of the final savior’s appearance). The Lord has willed to take vengeance on His enemies. And the sword of God will begin its vengeance; the sword of God will be sated with their blood, for the Lord has offered a sacrifice; by the northern bank of the Euphrates River.” Remarkably, this points directly to the location of Imam Hussein’s (AS) martyrdom, the northern bank of the Euphrates. Even more striking is that God has already taken vengeance for Imam Hussein’s blood through Mukhtar al-Thaqafi, with the ultimate vengeance to occur after the savior’s appearance against those involved in his martyrdom.
2. Hidden Jewish Book of Prophecy (Huldah) Seventy years before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a Jewish scholar had a son named Lahman Hafuta. This child was extraordinary, falling into prostration immediately after birth and speaking words to his mother. His father, alarmed, ordered him to remain silent, knowing his words could cause fear among people. After twelve years, the child spoke again, prophesying about the final prophet. His words were so cryptic that even Jewish scholars were astonished. These sayings were later compiled but kept hidden from the public. He spoke of a “son of a bondwoman” whose descendants would transform the world, referring to Sarah, the wife of Prophet Abraham. Subsequent verses referenced Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), mentioning the breaking of idols and his ascension (Mi’raj). Alarmed, Jewish scholars hid the book for centuries. In 1726, a Jewish scholar who converted to Islam published a book in Istanbul titled Exile and Commandment, which included the Child’s Revelation. The name of Muhammad (PBUH) was explicitly mentioned in it. The most astonishing parts of the book concern prophecies about the Karbala event. In verse 16, it states: “Six people, full of hope, will fall into hardship, hardship upon hardship, and those clinging to them will face distress.” This likely refers to Imam Hussein’s sons: Ali Akbar, Muhammad, Uthman Awn, the two infant sons Ali Asghar and Abdullah, or possibly Abbas, Ali Akbar, Qasim, Abdullah ibn Hasan, and Muslim’s two sons. Verse 17 states: “They will fall into hardship and torment, be torn apart, and crushed.” This likely refers to the dismemberment of Imam Hussein’s (AS) sacred body by Yazid’s army’s horses. Verse 18 mentions: “A head will be severed from behind with a dagger, two hands will be cut off, it will happen by the Euphrates River, and changes will occur in the heavens and earth.” The phrase “head severed from behind” refers to the beheading of Imam Hussein’s (AS) sacred head from behind by Shimr ibn Dhi’l-Jawshan. Some historians confirm this, noting that Shimr severed the head from behind because the Prophet (PBUH) had kissed Imam Hussein’s throat, or because Shimr and others feared looking into his eyes, which paralyzed them with fear. Another account suggests that, like the sacrifice of Ishmael, the head could not be cut from the front, so Shimr severed it from behind, aligning with the term “qafa” (nape) used in the prophecy. The “two hands cut off” refers to the severing of Hazrat Abbas’s (AS) hands while fetching water. The Euphrates points to Karbala’s location. The final part is remarkable, as a narration states that Satan, on the afternoon of Ashura, lamented his actions, saying this should not have happened, and cried out that truth and falsehood were forever separated by Imam Hussein (AS), who became the criterion for distinguishing right from wrong. Other narrations mention two suns rising on Ashura, a red wind, and darkness the day after, which may align with this prophecy. Verse 19 states: “Colorful tents, the resting place of the descendants, will be burned, and the renowned kin, raised in comfort, will be revealed and widely known to have been killed with parched lips.” This refers to the burning of the tents by Umar ibn Sa’d’s army.
3. Revelation of John The Book of Revelation, the final part of the New Testament, differs from other parts. It unveils future events. God permitted Jesus Christ (PBUH) to reveal these events in a vision to his disciple John, who recorded what he saw and what an angel explained. In Revelation 5:5, John sees 24 spiritual leaders, one of whom gives him a scroll to open. John expects a lion from the tribe of Judah to open it, but instead: “I wept bitterly because no one was found worthy to open or read the scroll (5:4). But one of the 24 elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals’ (5:5). Then I looked, but instead of a lion, I saw a Lamb standing before the throne, among the living creatures and the 24 elders, with wounds on its body that had once caused its death. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth (5:6).” In sacred texts, a lamb symbolizes a sacrifice. As noted in our exegesis of Surah As-Saffat, Imam Hussein (AS) is referred to as the great sacrifice. The wounds on the lamb’s body are significant. John expected the triumph of Judah’s descendants (from Isaac), but instead, a lamb (sacrifice) appeared, indicating the great sacrifice from Ishmael’s lineage, not Isaac’s. The lion may also hint at Yazid’s Jewish advisor in the Karbala event. “Then the Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne (5:7-8). When it took the scroll, the 24 elders fell before it, each holding a harp and a golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.’ Then I saw millions of angels around the Lamb and the spiritual beings, singing loudly: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea singing: ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and power forever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped (end of chapter 5).” According to narrations, Imam Hussein (AS) will return after the appearance of the savior and rule for a thousand years. Chapter 6 “As I watched, the Lamb opened the first seal. Then one of the four living creatures said in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. Then the Lamb opened the second seal, and I heard the second living creature say, ‘Come!’ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given a sword to take peace from the earth and create chaos, resulting in war and bloodshed everywhere.” These verses refer to Imam Hussein’s loyal horse, Dhuljanah, which was white, wounded in battle, and eventually died bloodied. Some Christian interpretations claim this refers to Jesus (PBUH), but Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) rode a camel. The Great Multitude of the Saved “After this, I saw a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and the Lamb. They were so numerous they could not be counted. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands. They cried out, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures, and they fell before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!’ Then one of the 24 elders asked me, ‘Who are these in white robes, and where did they come from?’ I answered, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said, ‘These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple. He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. They will never again suffer hunger, thirst, or scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.’” These verses refer to the intercession of Imam Hussein (AS) for the people of the earth, a belief accepted in Shi’ism. Chapter 9, Sixth Trumpet “When the sixth angel sounded his trumpet, I heard a voice from the four corners of the golden altar before God, saying to the sixth angel, ‘Release the four angels bound at the great river Euphrates.’ So the four angels, prepared for this hour, day, month, and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. I heard their number: two hundred million mounted troops. I saw the horses and their riders in the vision: the riders wore breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow. The horses’ heads were like lions’ heads, and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur, which killed a third of mankind.” This verse also refers to the Euphrates, the site of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom, while Christian interpretations (not accepted by Muslims) claim Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem and ascended to heaven. Muslims believe Judas Iscariot was crucified in his place, and Jesus, like Imam Mahdi (AJ), remains alive for the global revolution. Chapter 11 “When the two witnesses complete their three-and-a-half-year testimony, the beast from the bottomless pit will declare war on them, defeat them, and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the streets of the great city for three and a half days, a city figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. No one will be allowed to bury them, and people from various nations will gaze at them.” This refers to the parading of the sacred bodies of the Ashura martyrs in Damascus, using “bodies” rather than a single body, ruling out a reference to Jesus Christ (PBUH). Chapter 12 mentions a woman clothed with the sun and a crown of twelve stars, referring to Lady Fatima (SA), which we will explore in detail in a separate article.