The Miraculous Infant Imam Nativity and Childhood of al-klusayn b. 'Ali

This article examines the similarities between Fatima (d. n/632) and Mary with a view to compare al-Husayn b. All (d. 6i/68o) andjesus to contextualize al-Husayn's broader infancy and childhood miracles in imdmi Shicism. I focus on the infant and child al-Husayn as a miraculous figure, outlining two trends in the miracles associated with him: al-Husayn as puer solar and al-Husayn as puer aeternus. Although al-Hasan b. 'Ali (d. 50/670) shares some of these miracles with his brother, they sometimes reflect a certain slant in favor of al-Husayn. Other miracles are exclusive to al-Husayn, namely, his miracles with various errant angels who sinned and were forgiven for his sake. I will examine these latter miracles in detail in part II of this essay after having established al-Husayn as a miraculous figure and contextualized the miraculous in relation to him.