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, Yazd’jurd. 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. After
the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a.s.) in Karbala, 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 on route to Karbala.
The Imam (a.s..) led a quiet life after his return to
Madinah. Because of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a.s.), the Muslim Ummah
realized the gravity of the sin and crime of Yazid and the people rose against
his tyrannical rule. Yazid’s army ruthlessly suppressed the revolt
in Madinah. They 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 the
Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). 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 thoroughly influenced by this Treatise.
He loved and cared for the poor. The Imam would carry bags of
bread on his back at night, without disclosing his identity, would go around
the streets of Madinah and distribute it among the needy. Even when he gave
alms to the needy, he would cover his face not to embarrass the recipient!
Hisham bin Abdul Malik, the heir of the caliph, was visiting Makkah
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 son of Fatima and Ali and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.).”
Hisham became furious, stopped the financial aid and imprisoned him. When Imam
Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) heard 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 and said, “Martyrdom
was the grace and inheritance of Ahlul Bayt”. The Imam replied that
humiliation was not the inheritance of Ahlul Bayt!
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 complied. It became a part of the
authentic account of the tragedy of Karbala and became a source of majalis all
over the Muslim 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-al-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 bite the toe of the Imam (ads.) 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 the 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 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” The
Imam (a.s.) was very pleased with 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 then the elder
in the family. The Imam first advised him that the imamate is a Divine
responsibility and when he disagreed, he requested his uncle to accompany him
to the 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-Abidin”
At the time of the destruction of Madinah, Marwan, who was an arch
enemy of Ahlul Bayt, 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 told him that he had 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 (a.s.) 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 polluted
water, the Imam asked him, “What is it?” He said “water”. The Imam said, “Look again
carefully” When he looked carefully he saw the red gems instead of water. The
Imam told him to take it and 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
Gardens of Fadak to Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.)’s progeny and ordered to stop
the sinful tradition of cursing Imam Ali from the mosques as started by Moa’via
bin Abu Sufiyan.
Source: Behar-ul-Anwar by Allama Baqir
Majlisi
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