Hussein

For other uses, see Hussein (disambiguation).
"Husayn" redirects here. For the grandsons of Muhammad, see Husayn ibn Ali.
Hussein
حُسَيْن
Calligraphic representation of Al-Hussein name
PronunciationArabic: [ħuˈsajn, -eːn, ħo-, ħʊ-]
Egyptian Arabic: [ħeˈseːn, ħoˈseːn]
Persian: [ho'sejn]
Turkish: [hyˈsejin]
GenderMale
Origin
Word/nameArabic
Region of originArabia
Other names
Related namesHassan, Houssin, Husseini, Ousseni, Ousseynou

Hussein, Hossein, Hussain, Hossain, Huseyn, Husayn, Husein, Hussin, Hoessein, or Husain (/huːˈseɪn/; Arabic: حُسَيْن Ḥusayn), coming from the triconsonantal root Ḥ-S-N (Arabic: ح س ن), is an Arabic name which is the diminutive of Hassan, meaning "good", "handsome" or "beautiful". It is commonly given as a male given name, particularly among Muslims.[1] In Persian language contexts, the transliterations Ḥosayn, Hosayn, or Hossein are sometimes used.[2] In the transliteration of Indo-Aryan languages, the forms "Hussain" or "Hossain" may be used. Other variants include Husên, Husejin, Husejn, Husain, Hisên, Hussain, Husayin, Hussayin, Hüseyin, Husseyin, Huseyn, Hossain, Hosein, Husseyn, Usain (etc.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, which follows a standardized way for transliterating Arabic names, used the form "Ḥusain" in its first edition and "Ḥusayn" in its second and third editions.[3][4][5]

This name was not used in the pre-Islamic period,[6] and the Shia claim it was first used by the Islamic prophet Muhammad when he named his first cousin once removed Husayn ibn Ali, saying he had been commanded to do so by Allah through the archangel Gabriel.[6]

  1. ^ Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History by Akbar S. Ahmed, 1988, page 57.
  2. ^ E.g. in Encyclopedia Iranica, the spelling Ḥosayn is found (Mohammad Ali Amir-Moezzi, "Shahrbanu" in Encyclopedia Iranica (2005) [1] Archived March 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine)
  3. ^ Encyclopaedia of Islam, First Edition (1913-1936) — Brill
  4. ^ Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition — Brill
  5. ^ Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE — Brill
  6. ^ a b al-Qarashi, Baqir Sharif (2007). The life of Imam Husain ('a). Qum: Ansariyan Publications.