Imam Ali, Zayn-al-Abidin, was the
son of the King of the Martyrs, Imam Husayn (a.s.). His mother was Shaher Bano, daughter of the last Persian king, Yazdjurd. He was
born in Madinah on 5th Sha’baan
38 A.H. He was entrusted with the Divine Imamate on the Day of Ashura 61 A.H.
He led the imprisoned women of Ahlul Bayt and children from Karbala to Kufa and
then to Damascus. This was the most painful and humiliating journey.
When Yazid tried to talk in an
insulting manner, he bravely spoke the truth whereupon Yazid threatened to kill
him but Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) intervened. During this journey, he delivered
sermons introducing himself and the AhlulBayt and explained the objectives of
their sacrifices which were to save Islam. When the news of Tragedy of Karbala
spread far and wide and signs of revolt were apparent, Yazid released the
AhlulBayt. Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) asked for a house to mourn the martyrs of
Karbala. This was the first assembly of
mourning (Majlis) for the martyrs.
Imam Zayn-al-Abidin and the AhlulBayt returned to Madinah en route to Karbala.
The Imam (a.s..) led a quiet life
after his return to Madinah. Yazid’s
army ruthlessly suppressed the revolt in Madinah. His army turned the Sacred
Mosque of the Prophet into a stable for horses, killed hundreds of innocent
Muslims including many companions of the Noble Messenger, and destroyed the
chastity of numerous females on the clear instructions of Yazid. These beasts destroyed Madinah for three
days.
The Imam lived 35 years after the tragedy of
Karbala. Because of the unfavorable circumstances, the Imam started writing
supplications, which demonstrates the immense knowledge of the progeny of Imam
Ali (a.s.) “The Gateway of Knowledge” His
supplications were collected in the famous book, “Saheefa-e-Sajjadia”. In
eloquence, the book is next to his grandfather, Imam Ali (a.s.)’ “Nahjul
Balagha”.
Imam Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) also
compiled a treatise known as “Risalat-ul-Huqooq”
or a Treatise of Rights, which contains the rights of human beings,
including the rights of every part of the human body. If one compares this book with the
United Nation’s “Charter
of Human Rights”, it appears to have been copied from this Treatise.
He loved
and cared for the poor. The Imam would carry bags of bread on his
back at night, without showing his identity, would go around the streets of Madinah
and distribute among the needy. Even when he gave alms to the needy, he would
cover his face not to embarrass the person.
Hisham bin Abdul Malik, the heir of
the caliph, was visiting Makka for Hajj and was sitting in a chair waiting to kiss
the Black Stone in Ka’ba, he saw that a young man came towards the Black Stone
and the crowd automatically separated to give way to him. The man gracefully
came and kissed the Black Stone and left. He knew who the man was. It was Imam
Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) but to overcome his embarrassment, he enquired from his
companions about the identity of the young man. The famous poet of Arabia,
Farazdaq, compiled a poetry extempore praising the Imam. Some of the stanzas of
his poem read as, “He is the one whom the whole Makkah knows. Every stone
in Ka’ba knows him. He is the grandson of Fatima and Ali and the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.).” Hisham became furious and imprisoned him. When Imam
Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) came to know about it, he sent some money to Farazdaq who
said that he composed that poetry for the love of Allah and did not want any
worldly compensation, but the imam insisted him to accept the gift.
It is said that after Karbala,
the Imam wept and cried for a long time and when someone asked as to how long
he was going to cry as “martyrdom
was the grace and inheritance of AhlulBayt”. The Imam replied that humiliation
was not the inheritance of AhlulBayt!
The Imam through his
supplications had spread the teachings of Islam. Abu Hamza al Thamali was one
of his companions. The Imam had taught him a supplication known as “Duae Abu
Hamza Thamali”. Abu Makhnuf was another companion who was instructed by Imam
Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) to write the story of Karbala in a narrative form which he
did. It became a part of the authentic account of the tragedy of Karbala and
became a source of majalis all over the world.
Walid bin Abdul Malik, the Umayyad
monarch realized that Imam’s teachings were spreading all over the Arabia and
influencing the Muslims, hence he poisoned the Imam and he was martyred on 25th of Muharrum 95 A.H.
Once a person asked Imam
Zain-ul-Abidin (A.S.), “What is the criterion for the acceptance of the
prayers? The Imam replied, “Acknowledging our Wilayah and dissociating from our
enemies.”
The reason why the Imam was given
the title of “Zayn-al-Abidin” was that one night the Imam was praying and
Shaitaan manifested himself as a huge serpent and tried to distract him. When
the Imam did not take notice of him, he bites the toe of the Imam (a.s.)
causing great pain, but the Imam remained oblivious of him, and carried on with
his prayers. After completing his prayers, the Imam realized that it was
Shaitaan, he cursed him saying, “O’ Accursed! Go away” and once again engaged
himself in worship. It was at that moment that an angel called three times:
“You are the embellishment of the worshippers.” Or “Zayn-al-Abidin”
Among the sayings of Imam
Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) are, “The attributes of a believer are: piety in private,
donating charity at the time of need, patience when misfortune comes, tolerance
at the time of anger, and truthfulness when there is fear.”
Once, the young Imam fell sick. His
father, Imam Husayn (a.s.) inquired about his health and asked further if he
had any wish. The Imam
replied, “My only wish is that may Allah count me among those who do not have
any wish against His “Divine Decree and Divine Fate” or “Qaza-o-Qadr” He was very pleased by the answer.
The Imam’s face would turn yellow
while preparing for wudu and he would tremble performing prayers due to fear of
Allah. Once, Imam was praying
and young Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) fell in a well in the house and his mother
was upset and called the Imam to rescue the boy. The Imam peacefully completed
his prayer and after finishing it, he went near the well and put his hand in
the well and pulled out Imam Baqir completely unharmed and without his clothes
being wet.
After his return from Karbala,
his uncle Mohammad-e- Hanafiyya, asked the Imam to give him the sacred assets
of Imamate as he was the elder in the family. The Imam first advised him that
the imamate is a Divine responsibility and when he disagreed requested his
uncle to accompany him to Holy Ka’ba and let the Black Stone decide about the Imamate.
Both offered salaam to the Black Stone but his salaam was replied by the Black
Stone and further said, “Imamate is the right of Zayn-al-Abiding”
At the time of the destruction of
Madinah, Marwan, who was an arch enemy of AhlulBayt, came to the Imam for
shelter of his family. The Imam gladly provided the requested shelter!
Similarly, Haseen Ibne Numair,
one of the murderers in Karbala, requested to buy food grains from the Imam.
The Imam recognized him and said that he did not want to sell it but can give
him free!
One of his Shias from Balakh used
to come for Hajj and visit the Imam in Madinah. Once his wife told him, “You
always take gifts for your Imam but has your Imam ever given you anything?”
Next year when he visited the Imam the Imam asked him to join him for food.
After finishing the food, the Imam wanted to pour water on his hands to wash.
When the pot was full of dirty water, the Imam asked him, “What is it?” He said
“water”. The Imam said, “Look carefully” When he looked carefully he saw red
gems instead of water. The Imam told him to give it to his wife.
Omer Ibne Abdul Aziz was the only
exception in the corrupt Umayyad Dynasty. When he was the Governor of Hejaz,
one of the walls of Prophet’s mausoleum fell. After the repair, he invited Imam
Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) to perform the opening ceremony of the mosque. He was the
one who returned the Garden of Fadak to Bani Hashim and ordered to stop the
sinful tradition of cursing Imam Ali from the mosques as started by Moa’via bin
Abu Sufiyan.
(24/2017) TAHAWWUR
ALI MIRZA
