Is the head of Sayyidna al-Husayn really at his shrine in Cairo?

The issue of the burial of the head of Sayyidna al-Husayn in Cairo is a historical question, not a legal question. This means that it is not necessary for people to believe it, so there are no consequences of belief or disbelief for denying it. For example, if someone were to say that the pyramids are not in Egypt and that they were really in some other country, would they be a disbeliever because of it? Certainly not, they would just be ignorant of the truth.

The historians and authors of biographies are in agreement that the body of al-Husayn is buried in Karbala. As for his head, it was carried around until it was placed in Asqalan, a Palestinian port on the Mediteranean near ports of Egypt and Jerusalem. The presence of al-Husayn’s head in Asqalan and its being transported to Egypt is supported by a great number of historians including Ibn Maysar, al-Qalqashandi, Ali ibn Abu Bakr who is known as al-Sayih al-Harawi, Ibn Iyas, Sibt al-Juzi, and al-Hafidh al-Sakhawi.

The historian al-Maqrizi says, “The head of Sayyidna al-Husayn was transported to Cairo from Asqalan on Sunday the eighth of Jumadi al-Akhir 548 H. (August 31st 1153 C.E.). The person who brought the head from Asqalan was Prince Sayf al-Mamlaka Tamim Waliha. It was brought to the palace on Tuesday the tenth of Jumadi al-Akhir (September 2nd 1153 C.E.).” He added, “The head was brought forth by al-Ustadh Maknun in an ‘ashari min ‘asharat al-khidmah. He brought it to al-Kafuri, then it was carried in a cellar (sardab) to the palace of al-Zumrud, then it was buried in the dome of al-Daylam by Bab Dahliz al-Khidmah.” Then he said, “Tala'a’ build a mosque for the head outside of Bab Zawaylah on the side of al-Darb al-Ahmar and it is known as the mosque of al-Salih Tala’a’. They washed the head in the mosque on wooden boards and it is said that they are still in the mosque.”

Those who specialize in the field of artifacts have confirmed this. ‘Atiyat al-Shatwa, who was the artifacts inspector and who oversaw the renovation of the dome some a few years ago said, “Documents in the possession of the Bureau of Artifacts confirm that the head of al-Husayn was transported to Cairo from Asqalan, as is stated by al-Maqrizi, on Sunday the eighth of Jumadi al-Akhir 548 H. (August 31st 1153 C.E.), and the person who brought the head from Asqalan was Prince Sayf al-Mamlaka Tamim Waliha. It was brought to the palace on Tuesday the tenth of Jumadi al-Akhir (September 2nd 1153 C.E.).”

Researchers at the British Library in London acquired a copy of a manuscript from Tarikh Amad by Ibn al-Awraq who died in 572 H. The Manuscript was written in 560 H, and it is catalogued under the number 5803 East. The author of this work established with certainty that the head of al-Husayn was brought to Cairo from Asqalan in 549 H, during the lifetime of the author himself, in his presence participating with the people of Egypt in greeting the noble head.

Al-Shabrawi, the past Sheikh of al-Azhar, wrote a book entitled al-Ithaf in which he definitively establishes that the head is in its well-known resting place in Cairo. He mentions that among those who have established this are al-Imam al-Mundhari, al-Hafidh Ibn Dahyah, al-Hafidh Najm al-Din al-Ghayti, al-Imam Majd al-Din ibn Uthman, al-Imam Muhammad ibn Bashir, al-Qadi Muhyi al-Din ibn ‘Abd al-Dhahir, al-Qadi ‘Abd al-Rahim, ‘Abd Allah al-Rifa’i al-Makhzumi; Ibn al-Nahwi, al-Sheikh al-Qurashi, al-Sheikh al-Shiblinji, al-Sheikh Hasan al-‘Adawi, al-Sheikh al-Sha’rani, al-Sheikh al-Manawi, al-Sheikh al-Ajhuri, Abu al-Mawahib al-Tunsi, and others.

Sheikh Muhammad Zaki al-Din Ibrahim composed a treatise on this subject called Ra’s al-Imam al-Husayn bi Mashhadihi bi al-Qahirah Tahqiqan Mu’aqidan Hasiman, which is full of evidence and proofs that satisfy the heart.

From this presentation one’s heart may be at ease in that which most of the historians have said concerning the head of Imam al-Husayn honoring Cairo the Protected. And all praise is to God, Lord of the Worlds. And God is Most High and knows best.