Al-Qāsim ibn al-Ḥasan () (Sha'ban 7, 47 AH / October 4, 667 CE in Medina – Muharram 10, 61 AH / October 10, 680 CE in Karbala) was the son of Hasan ibn Ali. He supported his uncle Husayn ibn Ali in fighting off the Umayyad forces during the Battle of Karbala where he was killed at the age of 13.
Early life
Qasim was born the son of Hasan ibn Ali, the second Imam, and his wife Umm Farwa. His father was the elder son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima. Qasim was thus a great-grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, who was the father of Fatima.
Death of Hasan ibn Ali
Hasan ibn Ali, Qasim's father died on the 28th Safar 50 AH (2 April 670 CE) by Mu'awiya I due to poisoning.
Qasim was only three years old when his father died. However he grew up in the company of his paternal family. Like his cousins, Awn and Muhammad, the sons of his paternal aunt Zaynab bint Ali, Qasim was taught fencing by his uncle Abbas ibn Ali and cousin Ali al-Akbar ibn Husayn. When Hasan's brother Husayn ibn Ali prepared to leave Medina in 680, Qasim's mother Umm Farwa asked Husayn to take her and the young Qasim with him. Yazid tried to desire religious authority by obtaining the allegiance of Husayn ibn Ali, but Husayn would not give up his principles. After the people of Kufa sent letters to Husayn and asking his help and pledging their allegiance to him, Husayn and his family members (including Qasim) and his companions traveled from Mecca to Kufa in Iraq but were forced to camp in the plains of Karbala by Yazid's army of 30,000 men. Husayn and most of his family and companions, including Qasim ibn Hasan, were killed and then beheaded in the Battle of Karbala on 10 October 680 (10 Muharram 61 AH) by Yazid, and the women and children were taken as prisoners.
Battle
Qasim asked his uncle, "Will I also be among the martyrs?" Husayn ibn Ali replied: "How do you see death?" Qasim said, "O uncle, death to me is sweeter than honey."
Ashura
On the day of Ashura, Qasim, like other cousins before him, went to his uncle to ask for permission. Husayn would not permit him to fight because he was too young and Husayn could not bear the thought of anything happening to him. Qasim asked many times before going to his mother. When his mother saw that her son was upset, she gave him a letter that Qasim's father had written before he died. The letter stated: