Thursday, March 5, 2015

THE INFALLIBLE IMAM ALI IBN AL-HUSAYN, ZAYN-AL-ABIDIN (A.S.)

He was born in Madinah 15 Jamad-as-Saani  38 A.H. His parents were the Infallible King of Martyrs Imam Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) and Sayyida Shahr Bano daughter of the last Sassanid Emperor Yazd Jard III of Persia. His titles were Al-Sajjad and Zayn-al-Abidin apart from others. He opened his eyes in the most sacred atmosphere; 2 years with the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) and 12 years with the Infallible Imam Hasan (a.s.). He was present but sick in the most deadly massacre of human history, the tragedy of Karbala and was duly appointed an Imam by Imam Husayn (a.s.) on Ashura.
He was martyred by poison on 25th of Muharram 95 A.H. by the Umayyad ruler Waleed bin Abdul Malik Marwan and was buried in “the Jannat-ul-Baqi” graveyard in Madinah.
After his release from the prison of Damascus along with the sacred daughters of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) along with other Hasimite ladies and the widows and orphans of companions of Imam Husayn (a.s.), he had three important tasks; to announce his Imamate publicly, to weld the community together, and to expand the true faith. Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah, his uncle, claimed his Imamate. It was the time of Hajj and thousands of Muslims had gathered in Makkah. Imam Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) suggested that the “Black Stone” of Ka’bah decide the authenticity of the claim. Muhammad Hanafiyya agreed and both of them approached in front of thousands of Hajjis. First Muhammad Hanafiyya addressed the Black Stone but there was response. Then Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.) prayed to Allah and asked the Black Stone to state in clear Arabic as to who were the Wasi and Imam after Imam Husayn (a.s.). There was a tremor in the stone and Allah made it speak in clear Arabic: “O’ Allah, verily Wisayah and Imamah, after Husayn ibn Ali are for Zayn-al-Abidin Ali ibn al-Husayn, son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima bint Rasulillah.”
After the tragedy of Karbala, he used to weep and cry when water was brought to him as his father was mercilessly slaughtered deprived of water for 3 days!
Similarly, his compilation of Sahifa Sajjadiya, a book of prayers and supplications, spread the true faith directly from the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) to Imam Ali (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.). By the way, when this book was shown to the famous Egyptian scholar Shaikh Tantavi, he wrote: “...How the Muslims all along been ignorant of such valuable treasure. They have been in deep slumber all these centuries. They could not even feel that Allah had supplied them with such a precious store of knowledge.”
Imam Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) fell sick while he was a young man. Imam Husayn (a.s.) after inquiring about his health asked him if any desire, the young Imam had replied: “My only wish is that Allah may count me among those people who do not have any wish against the destiny settled by Allah!” Imam Husayn (a.s.) was very pleased by his reply.
On instruction from Abdul Malik ibn Marwan, the tyrant Hujjaj bin Yousuf attacked Ka’ba and the people looted every article inside Ka’ba. When they decided reconstruction, a huge snake appeared and sat at site. At last Imam was requested for help. The Imam (a.s.) said that unless all the looted articles are not returned. When articles were returned, the Imam went near the snake and it moved away. Hence, reconstruction started.
Abdul Malik ibn Marwan came to perform Hajj. Incidentally, Imam Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) was also performing Hajj and was walking in front of the ruler. He asked the Imam (a.s.) if he needed any financial help. The Imam (a.s.) replied that he did not need any help as Allah was there to help him. Saying this, he spread his cloak on the ground and addressing towards Ka’ba said: “My Lord! Grant me your gift” Momentarily the cloak was filled with pearls, and he distributed to the needy.
Hasham bin Abdul Malik went to Makkah to perform Hajj and tried to kiss the Black Stone but failed and sat on a chair waiting for clearance of rush. Imam Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) came near the Black Stone and everybody squeezed to give passage to him. Hasham was jealous to see this special treatment of people to Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Showing his deliberate ignorance, he inquired as to who was that person? Farazdaq, the poet of the court spontaneously recited a Qasidah paying glowing tribute to the Imam (a.s.). Hasham in rage punished Farazdaq by cancelling his court status. When Imam Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) heard about it, he sent 12,000 dirham to Farazdaq, which he first refused to accept but when the Imam told him that when AhlulBayt grants anything, they do not take it back, he reluctantly accepted.
Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz, the lone ruler of Umayyad Dynasty who was fair minded and judicious, requested the Imam (a.s.) to grace the occasion of repair of a wall of Masjid-e-Nabavi. He was the man who stopped the sinful practice of cursing Imam Ali (a.s.) from every mosque which was started by Muawiya ibn Abu Sufyan. He also returned the property of Fidak to AhlulBayt (a.s.) which was gifted by the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) to his beloved daughter Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and  was confiscated after the sad demise of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.).
Sources used:

ImamReza Network, Fourteen Stars by Allama Sayyid Najmul Hasan Karrarvi (r.a.)

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