The Infallible Imam Ali, Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.) was the son
of the King of Martyrs, the Infallible Imam Husayn (a.s.) and Lady Shaher Banu
(Shahzanan), Princess of Persian King. He (a.s.) was present in Karbala but was
sick, hence exempted from performing jihad in the battlefield. Apparently, it
was the Divine decree to safeguard and protect the sacred members of AhlulBayt
(a.s.) and other females who were made captive by Yazid (cursed one)’s army.
After the Ashura, along with the AhlulBayt (a.s.), including 3-year-old Sakina the
daughter of Imam Husayn, Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s.), also known as “Sajjad”, also
made captive and was hand-cuffed and made to wear thorny chains and collar. All
captives were made to ride camels without seats and taken first to Kufa then
to Damascus. On the 13th of Muharram 61 A.H., Imam Sajjad miraculously
returned to Karbala to bury his father Imam Husayn (a.s.) as only an infallible
Imam can bury an infallible Imam.
When the captives reached Kufa, Imam Sajjad addressed the crowd,
“I am Ali ibnal Husayn ibne Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s.). O Kufians! You invited
my father by writing letters promising allegiance, then deceived and fought with
him. May you be ruined by what you have committed against your own
souls. How you will face the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) when he says to
you: ‘You killed my Progeny, violated my sanctity, so you do not belong to my
community?” The Kufians, who had blanked the face of history, wept loudly,
and lamented. They promised to obey him and safeguard his trust. The Imam rejected
them saying, “It is far away from you to do so, O people of treachery and
conniving! Do you want to come to me as you did to my father? No, by the Lord
of those (angels) that ascend and descent, the wound is yet to heal.”
While in Damascus, replying to Yazid (cursed one) about the
martyrdom of his father, the Imam Sajjad said, “ Whatever misfortune befalls
the earth on your own selves is already in a Book even before we cause it to
happen; this is easy for Allah, so that you may not grieve about what you
missed nor feel elated on account of what you receive. And Allah does not
love those who are haughty and proud.” Yazid (cursed one) burst in anger
and recited Surat al-Shura Ayah 30, “Whatever affliction that may visit you is
because of what your hands have earned, and He excuses many (an offense). The
Imam answered him, saying; “This verse concerns those who do wrong, not those
who are wronged.” Yazid (cursed one)
ordered a speaker to defame Imam Husayn (a.s.) and Imam Ali (a.s.). The speaker
did that and lauded in a false way Yazid (cursed one) and his father Muawiya (cursed
one). The Imam Sajjad interrupted him and said,” Woe unto you, you have
traded the pleasure of the creature for the Wrath of the Creator, so take your
place in Fire of Hell. “Then the Imam wanted to speak and Yazid (cursed
one) reluctantly agreed. The speech is partly given here:
“O People, we were granted six things and were favored with
seven: We were granted knowledge, clemency, leniency, fluency, courage, and love
for us in the hearts of the believers. We were favored with the fact that from
among us came the chosen prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.), al-siddiq (truthful
one), al-Tayyar (the one who flies in the heaven), the Lion of Allah and the
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.), the Mistress of the women of the World, Fatima, the Chaste,
and both Lords of the Youths of Heaven from among this nation. Whoever
recognizes me knows me; I am the son of Makkah and Mina; I am the son of Zamzam
and al-Safa; I am the son of the best man who ever made tawaf (of Ka’ba) and Sai' (running seven times between Safa and Marwa); I am the son of the best man who
offered Hajj; I am the son of the best man who was transported on “Buraq” in
the air; I am the son of the one who was made to travel from the Sacred Mosque
to the Remote Mosque; so Glory belongs to Him Who made (His servant) travel; I
am the son of the one who was taken by Gabriel to Sidrat al-Muntaha; I am the
son of the one who drew near(His Lord) and suspended, so he was the measure of
two bows or closer still; I am the son of the one who led the angels of heavens
in prayer.”
People started crying and wailing. To distract attention, Yazid
(cursed one) ordered “Azaan” to be recited. When mozzen said, “Ashhadu anna
Muhammadun Rasool Allah”, the Imam asked Yazid (l.a.), “Yazid, is Muhammad your
grandfather or mine?” If you say that he is yours, then you are a liar, and if
you say that he is mine, then why did you kill his family?”
Imam Sajjad was murdered on 25th of Muharram 95
A.H.by Walid bin Abdul Malik through poison.
Source:
The Life of Imam Zayn al-Abidin by Baqir Sharif al-Qurashi
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