By Muhammad Talha Amin Baruah
Hussaini Brahmins—Hindu warriors who stood with Imam Husayn at the Battle of Karbala (680 AD) — offers a remarkable glimpse into the shared histories and values of Hinduism and Islam. Brahmins from Punjab and Sindh who are said to have sacrificed their lives for Al Husayn’s cause, this narrative blurs religious boundaries and celebrates courage, loyalty, and interfaith solidarity. By analyzing the authenticity of this legend we will find out if the legend is a real story or fiction.
There are three versions that are widely famous. All the three versions are as follows :
1. Rahab Sidh Dutt, a Hindu Brahmin trader from Punjab, developed a close bond with Imam Husayn while living in Arabia. Rahab, who was childless, sought Imam Husayn’s blessings and was granted seven sons. When the Battle of Karbala broke out in 680 AD, Rahab and his seven sons stood by Imam Husayn’s side, fighting against Yazid’s army. All seven sons of Rahab are said to have sacrificed their lives for Imam Husayn’s cause.¹
2. Yazidi troops after beheading Al Husayn ibn Ali at Karbala, brought his head along with him. They stopped at Sialkot, where the head was placed at Rahab’s house. Rahab upon finding that it was Al Husayn’s head, kept it and gave his own son’s head. Sooner or later, the Yazidi forces realised that it was not the head that they brought. Rahab beheaded all his seven sons and traded their heads to keep Al Husayn’s head.²
3. When Al Husayn felt defeated, he was invited for refuge in the Sindhi Brahmin kingdom known as the Chach kingdom, which was ruled by Raja Dahir. This Raja Dahir was the one who invited him.³ When Al Husayn was heading towards Sindh, he was attacked by Yazid’s forces. Al Husayn was ultimately martyred in the battle. Dahir sent his army to save Al Husayn but when the army reached Karbala, the battle had ended.¹
Having discussed the three narrations, let us look at their authenticity. Regarding the first narration, Rahab and his sons are said to have died fighting at Karbala. But surprisingly no Shia or Sunni source report of such a thing. There are no Mawdu (fabricated) or Daif (weak) accounts present in any Arab chronicle. We do not have any evidence regarding this narration except that it is an oral tradition among the Hussaini Brahmins. Al-Tabari in his work, has mentioned all the martyrs at the battle of Karbala, but it seems that all of them were Hashemites. We find no mention of Rahab or any other Brahman name. (Refer to ‘History of Tabari’ by Al-Tabari, volume 19 page 179-181)
The tradition narrated by Hussaini Brahmins do say that Rahab survived in Karbala. He returned to Punjab and met a chess player named Pir Wiahun. The Pir offered him a round of chess but if the person loses, he must embrace Islam or offer their head to the Pir. Wiahun invited Rahab for a match in which Rahab beated Wiahun three times. As a result, Rahab demanded three heads. Wiahun agreed to offer his head, his wife’s head and his son’s head. But Rahab was a merciful man and he pardoned Wiahun. Wiahun learnt of Rahab’s tragic tale at Karbala and famously quoted “waah dutt sultan! Hindu ka dharm , Musalmaan ka imaan.” (Wow Raja Dutt, Hindu in religion, Muslim in faith?) [See ‘The History of the Muhiyals the militant Brahman race of India’, by General Muhiyal Sabha and T.P Russell, page 32]
Regarding the second narration, it is very obvious that it’s false since we have an authentic account which refutes this narrative. It is authentically reported in Sahih Al Bukhari (hadith #3748) that Al Husayn’s head was presented in a tray (somewhere in Arabia) where Ubaydullah bin Ziyad started playing with a stick at the nose and mouth of Al Husayn’s head. At that time, Anas Ibn Malik said to Ubaydullah “Al-Husain resembled the Prophet more than the others did.” Since we know that Anas ibn Malik was a companion of Prophet Muhammad PBUH and had seen the prophet, this quoting done by him is evident that indeed it was the head of Al Husayn in front of Ubaydullah. Another authentic narration in the same context further proves that it was the head of Al Husayn. Anas ibn Malik said to Ubaydullah to lift up the stick from Al Husayn’s face, he said that where the stick was, was the same place where Anas ibn Malik saw Prophet Muhammad PBUH kiss Al Husayn’s face. (Refer to ‘Siyar Alam An-Nubala’ by Al-Dhahabi, volume 3 page 311)
Regarding the third narrative, it’s the most unpopular one. We already know that Dahir was a cruel leader and he treated non Hindus with cruelty⁴ (especially Buddhists). The Arab sources like Futuh Al Buldan by Al-Baladhuri also describe Dahir as a tyrant. It is most unlikely that Dahir would propose help to Al Husayn who was a Non-Hindu. Furthermore, there is a dispute on when Dahir started his reign, according to most historians like Chintaman Vinayak Vaidya and David Nicolle, Dahir reigned from 695 AD approximately. Some other assumptions are like 670 or 679 AD. But the fact is that Dahir is least likely to act in favour of Muslims since he wasn’t a pluralist man.
It Is not completely impossible for Brahmins to have fought by the side of Imam Husayn ibn Ali, but we have no evidence to support such a claim. The stories narrated by Hussaini Brahmans are no more then legends which might be true. The lack of evidence and the narrations going against authentic main stream history thus make it sound ‘untrue’. According to most historians, the first narrative sounds more suitable to be possible. Today the Hussaini Brahmins in India are a group of people who are not orthodox hindus nor orthodox Muslims. They do practice Islamic beliefs but along with Hindu customs and rituals.⁵ Hussaini brahmins do not accept charity from Hindus, but only from Muslims. They use the Tilak on their foreheads and wear the white thread (yogyapavit) across them ⁶, defining their status of being a Brahmin.
References :
1. Decoding India: For its own people, by Deepak Jena, page 39
2. A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West frontier province, volume 2 page 142
3. Sindh : Land of Hope and Glory, by Ramu Amarlaʻlu Panjvani and Savitri Kotumal Mansukhani, page 103
4. Know The Jat (2020), by Amir Kadyan, page 10
5. The Vision Of India (1949), by Sisir Kumar Mishra, page 230
6. Hamara Samaj (1949), by Santram, page 103
About the Author: Muhammad Talha Amin Baruah is a historian from Assam and the author of The Shamli Uprising. He has contributed several articles to newspapers and online magazines. He can be reached at talhaamin799@gmail.com.