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 Madina on 5th
Shabaan 38 A.H. He was entrusted with the Divine Imamate on the day of Ashura
61 A.H. He led the imprisoned AhlulBayt women 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 AhlulBayt and explained the objectives of their sacrifices 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 so as to arrange the mourning of the martyrs of Karbala. This was
the first assembly of mourning (Majlis) for the martyrs. Imam Zayn-al-Abidin
and the AhlulBayt returned to Madina en route to Karbala.
The Imam (a.s..) led a quite life after his
return to Madina. Yazid’s army
ruthlessly suppressed the revolt in Madina. His army turned the Sacred Mosque
of the Prophet into stable for horses, killed hundreds of innocent Muslims
including many companions of the Prophet, and destroyed the chastity of
numerous females on the clear instructions of Yazid. These beasts destroyed Madina 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 family of Imam Ali (a.s.)-“The
Gateway of Knowledge” His supplications were collected in the famous book, “Saheefa-e-Sajjadia”.
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”-a
Treatise of Rights, which contains the rights of human beings, including
the rights of every part of the body. If
one compares this book with the United Nation’s “Charter of Human Rights”, it appears to have been copied from this Treatise.
The Imam would carry
bags of bread on his back at night, without showing his identity, would go around
in Madina and distribute among the needy. Only his close companions were aware
of it.
Hisham
bin Abdul Malik, the heir apparent of the caliph, was visiting Makka for Hajj and
was sitting in a chair waiting to kiss the Black Stone in Ka’aba, 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. 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’aba 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 sake of Allah and Hereafter 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 told by
Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) to write the story of Karbala in narrative form
which 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 monarch at
Damascus 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-Abedeen (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”
Imam
Zayn-al-Abidin (a.s.) said, “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. 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 Estimation” or “Qaza-o-Qadr”
The Imam’s face would turn yellow while
preparing for wudu and he would tremble in prayers due to fear of Allah. Once, Imam was praying and young Imam
Mohammad Baqir 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 wetting his clothes.
After
his return from Karbala, his uncle Mohammad-e- Hanafiyya, asked the Imam to
give him the sacred assets of Imamat as he was the elder in the family. The
Imam advised him to accompany him to Holy Ka’aba and let the Black Stone decide
about the Imamat. By the order of Allah, there was a voice from the Black Stone
saying, “Imamat is the right of Zayn-al-Abidin”
At
the time of the destruction of Madina, Marwaan, 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 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 Madina.
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 with 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 down.
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 also stopped the sinful tradition of cursing Imam Ali from the
mosques as started by Moa’via bin Abu Sufyanl.
