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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