من مريم إلى فاطمة ومن المسيح إلى الحسين: تشكيل الرمزيّة الفدائيّة في التراث الشيعي

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of the figures of Jesus Christ and Al-Husayn ibn Ali within Shiite tradition, highlighting how the Shiite narrative intersects with Christian hagiography to affirm the sanctity of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet’s Household). More specifically, it traces the concept of the divine election of the Family of Imran as a parallel to the infallibility (Ismah) of the Prophet’s Family. It also compares the Virgin Mary and Fatima al-Zahra to reinforce the latter’s sovereign status. Furthermore, the study addresses the glad tidings and miracles surrounding their births, their celestial naming, and the shared theological dimensions regarding their gestation periods and miraculous biological characteristics.

In other words, this study sheds light on the supernatural abilities and metaphysical knowledge (Ghayb) that characterise these figures, as well as the similarities in earlier prophecies of their tragic fates—specifically linked to themes of thirst and sacrifice. The study concludes that the Shiite collective consciousness reshaped Al-Husayn’s persona with ‘messianic’ traits, transforming his martyrdom into universal redemptive symbolism that transcends historical dimensions and depicts him as the ‘Saviour and Redeemer’. This symbolic utilisation was not merely imitation but a strategy to legitimise Husayni sanctity and elevate it to the rank of a prophet, leveraging the spiritual intersections between Islam and Christianity to construct a shared religious consciousness.