IMAM ALI IBN AL-HUSSAYN (A.S.)

The King of Prostrators, Pride of worshipers, Imam Ali Ibn al-Hussayn (a.s) was the Fourth Divinely Appointed Imam. It is not possible to narrate all his merits in a small article like this. Hence his life history will be spread over many papers.

Miracles of Imam Zain-ul-Abidin (a.s.): The famous saint Ibrahim Adham described that once he was travelling along with a caravan, and was separated to attend to some work. He saw that a young boy was travelling all alone in the desert without any fear whatsoever. He went near the boy and said salaam to which he replied. The further conversation is reproduced below:

Ibrahim: “Young man where are you going?

Young man: “I am going to my Lord’s House.”

Ibrahim: “You are still young and nothing is obligatory on young people.”

Young man: “O’ Shaikh! Have you not seen any young people dying?

Ibrahim: “Yes, I have seen. By the way where is your provision for travelling and where is your carrier?”

Young man: “My provision is piety and my feet are my carrier and I intend to see my Master.”

Ibrahim: “I do not see any food or drink in your possession.”

Young man: “It does not look nice that someone has invited you and became a host and you carry food with you!”

Ibrahim: “Yes, it will not look nice.”

Young man: “Whoever has invited me will provide me with food.”

Ibrahim: “Alright, please make haste so as to be on time for the performance of Hajj.”

Young man: “To make an effort is my obligation. Transporting me to the destination is the responsibility of the Host and the owner of the House. Moreover, did not you listen the saying of the Creator; Surah al-Ankaboot, Ayah 69 “We shall certainly guide, those who strive for our cause (with patience), to Our path (keep them on it well protected). Allah is certainly with the righteous ones.

While they were still talking, there appeared a handsome man dressed in white attire, saluted the “Young Man” and embraced him. Ibrahim approached the man and requested him for God’s sake to disclose the identity of the “Young Man”. He said; “Don’t you know, he is Ali ibn-al-Hussayn ibne Ali ibne AbuTalib (a.s.)” Then, Ibrahim went to the Imam Ali ibn-al-Hussayn (a.s.) and requested to disclose the identity of the man in the white dress. The Imam (a.s.) said: “He is my brother Khizr (a.s.)” Ibrahim requested the Imam (a.s.) to tell him about the “Provisions” he had. The Imam (a.s.) said: “I treat the whole world to be Allah’s Kingdom; all the creatures to be His slaves and family; all sustenance and causes of sustenance in the Divine control; know that His Order is enforced in the world.”

              (Manaqib Shehre Ashob)

It is reported that an imminent Shi’a from Balkh, an ancient city in the Central Asia, used to visit the Imam every year when he would perform Hajj and bring some gifts from his native city. Once, his wife said that he carries gifts for the Imam every year but his Imam did not grant any gift to him. The man silenced her saying that he was from Ahlul Bayt and that they were the owners of everything and even whatever they had belonged to them.

Next year when he visited the Imam (a.s.), he was having food hence he invited his Shi’a to join him in the meals. After the meals, the Shi’a insisted to wash Imam (a.s.)’s hands. While he was pouring water on the Imam (a.s.)’s hand, when the pot was filled with one-third used water, the Imam (a.s.) asked what was in the pot. The man replied that it was water, the Imam (a.s.) said: “see carefully, it is Ruddy (Red Yaqoot)!” The man continued pouring water, when it was half filled, the Imam again asked him look in the used water and said: “see carefully, it is Emerald” The man continued pouring water on the Imam(a.s.)’s hand and the Imam (a.s.) asked third time what did he see to which he replied that it was water. The Imam (a.s.) said: “see carefully, it is white Pearl!” The man was surprised by the miracle. The Imam (a.s.) told him to give the three types of gems to his wife as a gift. The man knew that the Imam (a.s.), by virtue of his God-gifted knowledge heard about his wife’s comments. His wife felt ashamed that Imam (a.s.) came to know her comments and thanked Allah for the gifts of gem and pearls. Next year, when the man went for Hajj, she accompanied him but died near Madinah. The man informed the Imam (a.s.) about his wife’s death. The Imam (a.s.) recited 2 rakat prayers and recited certain Dua’as and informed the man that the Almighty Allah had revived his wife. When the man went back to his wife, he inquired what happened after her death. She said that after death when the Angel of Death was about to leave when she saw a man whose face was illuminating with bright light came. The Angel of Death was blessing the Imam. The Imam said: “O’ Angel of Death! I have requested Allah for the life of this woman and extension of 30 years, as she was coming to see us.”              (Bihar ul Anwar)

Imam Zain-ul-Abidin (a.s.) and the Shias:

Once, a group of people came to Imam Zain-al-Abidin (a.s.) saying that they were his Shi'as.

The Imam (a.s.) asked them: “What do you do when you get something?”

They said: “We say AlHamdu Lillah”

The Imam said: “What do you do when something is taken away from you?”

They said: “We lament a little then come to terms with it.”

The Imam said: “What you do when you do not receive any thing?”

They replied: “Nothing”

The Imam said: “Even the dogs of Madinah do that; when they are given something (food), they wag their tails in thankfulness. When something is taken away from them, they bark a little then walk away. When they do not get  anything, they roam around the street.”

“Our Shias are those who say; “AlHamdu Lillah (Praise be to Allah) when they receive something, when something is taken away, and when they receive nothing.”        (Ahsan ul Qasa)

Sayings of Sayyid-us-Sajideen, Imam Zain-ul-Abedin (a.s.):

The company of righteous invites you to goodness.

Beware of the company with the sinful and helping the unjust.

Do not make anyone your enemy even though you consider him as harmless and do not turn down a person’s friendship even if you think that he will not benefit you.

Abstain from telling lies both small and big and in all conditions joking or serious.

One who honors himself, dishonors the worldly things.

Sins that terminates the blessings are: oppression against people, abandoning piety, not commanding good deeds, ingratitude for blessings and favors and not offering thanks.

A Mujahid who is martyred for Allah’s cause does not deserve as much reward as a person who chooses not to commit a sin despite having the power to do so. Such a person may even become a chaste angel!

There are no drops which are dearer to Allah than two kinds of drops; Drops of blood shed in Allah’s cause (Jihad) and the tears drop in the darkness of night for which a servant does not want anything except the Pleasure of Allah.

The right of a child is that you know that he has come from you to this world, and his right and wrong are attributed to you. You are responsible for teaching and training him, guiding him to his Lord, Almighty and Glorious, and assisting him to obey Him. Therefore, be sure that if you do you favor your child, you will obtain it and if you are viciously against him, it will come back to you.

The right of your mother is that you know she carried you in her womb in a manner that nobody has carried the other. And fed you from the fruit of her heart in a way that nobody has fed the other. She protected with her ears, eyes, hands, feet, hair, skin, and all of her body parts while bearing pains, agonies, discomforts and burden till the time Allah’s hand detached you from her to the earth. Then she was contended that she remained hungry and fed you and dressed you up while remaining nude herself, and quenched your thirst while she was thirsty, she put you in the shade while she herself remained under the sun, and brought you up with extreme comforts while she herself remained in hardship. She makes you enjoy the sweet sleep while she is awake. Her womb was a soothing and comforting place for you. Her breasts were a means of quenching your thirst. And her existence was shield for protecting you. She endured the hot and cold of the world for your sake. Therefore, you must thank her in the same manner and you do not have the capability and power of doing it but with assistance of Allah and His Grace.