Imam Ali, Zayn-al-Abidin, was the son of the King of the Martyrs,
Imam Husayn (a.s.). His mother was Shahar Bano, daughter of the last Persian king, Yazdjurd. He was
born in Madinah on 5th Shaban 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 of his life.
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 everywhere 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 in 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 many 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.)’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 receiving it.
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, 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, stopped his stipend, 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 Ahlul Bayt”. The Imam replied that
humiliation was not the inheritance of Ahlul Bayt!
The Imam through his supplications had spread the true teachings
of Islam. Abu Hamza al Thamali was one of his companions. The Imam had taught
him a supplication known as “Dua-e- Abu Hamza Thamali.” Abu Makhnuf was another
companion who was instructed by Imam Mohammad Baqir (a.s.) to write about the tragedy
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 Moharram 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 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 when
you are in 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 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 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 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.
