The personality of Imam Hussain bin Ali (PBUT), the Prince of the Martyrs and their supreme pioneer, is worthy of special attention. This is due to the distinction and uniqueness of his personality throughout history. He was the first and the last son of a prophet slain by cliques nominally belonging to the nation of his grandfather, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). He is the last martyr whose memory has been made immortal by lamentation and tears for some millennium and a half on end. That is not a normal occurance throughtout the times, yet it is perceptible in terms of faith considerations. Imam Hussain is the symbol of faith and the icon of sacrifice on the way of truth and righteousness, which of themselves are eternal values that are not vulnerable to undulation of the times.

I believe this remarkably distinctive Hussaini personage is rightly entitled to eternity through projects of high degree of diligence. Hence the birth of the Hussaini Encyclopedia which undertakes the study of the personality and biography of Imam Hussain in a deductive style, both by rational reasonaing and narration. This goal has been introduced in an extensive set of works tackling a host of various topics with the common denomator being the personality of The Martyr Imam.

The whole scheme and ultimate purpose of the Hussaini Encyclopedia are deemed to be enormous in the world of authorship. This is a sort of work usually not accessible to individuals or a groop of them on their own if not assisted by spiritual inspiration that is not attainable by everyone. In short this is the fruit of labour of love.

However such highly valuable enterprise does indeed need to be supported by the followers of Imam Hussaini who are keen to see the warmth of his memory keep glowing in the hearts of the faithful and all lovers of freedom and justice and those who commend the noble values of man.

Scholar Al-Karbassi is in the hope that the Hussaini Encyclopedia will take part in conserving the Hussaini heritage from oblivation, loss or scatter.