A Brief Biography of Ali Ibn Husain_a_s

8/13/2019 A Brief Biography of Ali Ibn Husain_a_s

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Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

ABriefBiographyofAliibnHusain(A.S)

Author

:

Muhammad

Reza

Dungersi.

PH.D

Preface

Chapter1:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S.):Childhood

Chapter2:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S): Adulthood

TheImam

As

Prisoner

of

War

Chapter3:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S):LifeinMedinaAfterTheTragedyofKerbala

EffectofTheImam'sApproachToPreachThroughPrayers

Chapter4:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S):HisCharacterandPersonality

HisPatience("Sabr")andForgiving Nature

HisGenerosity

Chapter5:SomeMiraclesofImamAliBinHusain(A.S)

TheMiraclesofImamZainulAbidin(A.S)

Chapter6:ImamAliBinHusain'sSermons,Supplications(Duas)andsaying

SahifaEKamila

Chapter7:His

Family


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Preface

Inthelate50'sandearly60's,whenIwasamadressastudentinSchoolFarzeinZanzibarAfrica,

therewasnosuchasubjectasIslamicHistoryonthemadressacurriculum.Naturally,therefore,

whenIjoinedtheteachingstaffoftheHuseiniMadressainDaresSalaamTanzaniainearly80's

andwhenIwassubsequentlyassignedtoteachIslamicHistory,Iwasataloss,notknowing

exactlywhattoteach.

Notthattherewasnosyllabusforthissubject.Rather,mymainconcernwasthescopeofthe

syllabus.ForatthecoreofIslamicHistorysyllabuswasthestudyofthelifeoftheProphet(may

peacebeuponhimandhisprogeny)andthoseoftheotherthirteenMASOOMINfromhis

progeny.

Inmyview,besidesYusufLaljee'sexcellentbook,KNOWYOURISLAM,therewasnoothersimple

butinformativetextthatcouldbeusedcomfortablybyboththeteachersandthestudentsalike.

Eventhen,thesectiononthelife historyofMASOOMINwasrathersketchyinKNOWYOUR

ISLAM.

Sincethosedays,IhavefelttheneedtocompilebriefteachingnotesonthelivesofourTwelve

Imams(maypeacebeuponthemall)withtwoobjectivesinmind:First,tofocusonalithoseareas

ofinformation,notexclusivelyhistoric,thatwouldenablethelearnertoappreciatethecomplex

situationsinwhichourImamslivedandperformedtheirdutiesasdivinelyappointedguidesfor

theuniverse.

Secondly,topresentthisinformationinastylewhichhasatitscoretheinterestaswellasthe

aptitudeoftheteachersandstudentsalike.Ifoundthistaskeasytoconceiveinmind,butvery

difficulttoimplement.Needlesstosay,IcouldaccomplishlittleinthisfielduntilwhenImigrated

to

the

U.S.A.

Asluckwouldhaveit,atHuseiniMadressainNewYork,Iwasoncemoreassignedtotteach

IslamicHistory.ForreasonsIneednotdisclosethemhere,Ifoundthistaskevenmoredaunting

thanitwasinAfrica.

Thelinked imagecannotbedisplayed.Thefilemay havebeen moved,renamed,or deleted.Verify thatthelink pointsto thecorrectfileand location.


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Fortunately,atthiscriticaltimewhenIwasgropingindarknessinsearchofsuitablereachingtext

formyclass,IwascommissionedbySayyyidSaeedAkhtarRizvi,theChiefMissionaryofBilal

MuslimMissionofTanzaniatowriteteachingunitsencompassingthelivesofourTwelveImams

(maypeacebeuponthem)fortheCorrespondenceCourseoftheMission.TomethiswasAllah

sentbountyintwoways.

Firstly,thiscommissiongavemecourageandconfidencethatIhithertolacked.NowIhadthe

supportofoneofthemostrenownedShiascholarsofourtimes SayyidSaeedAkhtarRizvi.

Secondly,Iwouldnothavetoworryaboutsearchingforsponsorstofinancetheprinting,the

publishingandthecirculationofmywritings;theBilalMuslimMissionofTanzaniawoulddothat.

ThisunitandotherstofollowMethereforetheresultoftheinitiativeandcompletesupportof

SaeedAkhtarRizvi,theadministrationofBilalMuslimMissionofTanzaniaanditsoldchairman

FidahuseinAbdullahHameer.

Boththesubstanceaswellasthestyleofthisunit(andtheonestofollow)havebeenoverly

simplified,tocomplywithSaeedAkhtar'sadvicethat"Wehavetokeepinmindthattheseunits

aremeantforyouthsandnotforscholars."Allsaidanddone,despitethemaximumprecautions

thatweretakentokeepthisunitfreeoffactualoranyothererrors,if,however,somehave

remaineduncorrected,theresponsibilityismine.

MayAllahforgivemefortheseunintentionalerrorsandmayHerewardhereandinthehereafter

allthosewhohaveinonewayoranother,assistedmeinthewriting,theproductionandthe

circulationofthisunit.

WASSALAMUALAYKUMWARAHMATULLAHIWABARAKATUH.

MOHAMEDRAZADUNGERSI.PH.D.

Chapter1:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S.):Childhood

INTRODUCTION


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HISCHILDHOOD

Whenhewasborn,ImamAli(A.S)wasstillaliveandheremainedincompanyofhisgrandfather

foranothertwoyears.ItissaidthattimeandagainImamAli(A.S)wouldhughimandsay,"My

sonyou

are

Zainul

Abidin."

OnedaywhenImamAli(A.S)waspraying,theyoungZainulAbidin,whothenwasonlyoneand

halfyearsold,startedimitatinghisgrandfather.HeprayedthesamewayImamAli(A.S)did.On

completinghisprayers,ImamAli(A.S)said,"HowtruthfulwastheProphetwhenhesaidour

youngandouroldareallthesame,allbeingMuhammed."Asayoungboytillwhenhebecame12

yearsofage,hespentalothistimewithhisuncleImamHassan(A.S).

ThereafterhestayedwithImamHusain(A.S)till61A.H.AtthetimeofImamHusain'smartyrdom,

ImamZainulAbidinwasayouthof22years.Hischildhoodwasnotfreefromtrouble.Hismother

diedwhenhewasonlyaninfant.Helostthecareandloveofhisgrandfatherwhenhewasonly

two.AsayoungboyhesawtheinjusticesthatweredonetohisuncleImamHassan(A.S).

Asayoungboyof12,hesawhisUncle'sbierbeinghitwitharrows.Itmusthavepainedhimtosee

hisUncle'slastwishesofwantingtobeburiednexttohisgrandfather,theProphet(S.A.W.W),

beingunfulfilled.Allthesedisturbedhimandmadehimsadbut,theynevershookhisfaithin

Allah.Asamatteroffact,theincidentsthatweareabouttodescribeshowhowpeacefulhewas

inhismindandhowstronghislovewasforAllah.

Asayoungboy,heshowedgreatloveandrespectAsayoungboyforthesickpeople.Once,

someoneinhisneighbourhoodfellsick,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)spentalotofhistimecaringand

comfortinghim.Whenthesickmanbecamewell,hewassopleasedwiththeyoungImamthathe

wantedtopayhimbackinanywaythattheImamwanted.

AlibinHusain(A.S),andthathecameforHajjinthismannereveryyear.

ImamHasan(A.SthatforthetimeAliBinHusain(A.S)stayedwithhim,thoughstillonlyachild,he

showedgreatloveforprayers.Hewouldgetupinthemidstofthenightandpraytilldawn.

Chapter2:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S): Adulthood


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LIFEWITHHISUNCLEIMAMHASAN(A.S.)ANDHISFATHERIMAMHUSAIN(A.S)

AlltheTwelveImamswhowerethetruesuccessorsoftheProphetwerebornImams,theydidnot

becomeImams.

They

did

not

attend

any

school

or

centre

of

learning.

Their

knowledge

was

directlyfromAllah.However,therewascertaintrainingandinformationthatanImamgotfrom

hisfatherandgrandfatherwhothemselveswereImams.InthismannerImamZainulAbidin'slife

wasinfluencedbythreeImams:ImamAli(A.S),ImamHasan(A.S)andImamHusain(A.S).

Sofarashisfatherwasalive,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)spentsignificantpartofhislifeinprayers

andinserviceofhumanbeings.Hewasthechampionofthepoorandthesick.

HISRESPONSIBILITIESASTHEIMAMOFHISTIMES.

Whenhisfather,ImamHusain(A.S)leftMedinaforIraqinA.H.60,ImamZainulAbidinwent

togetherwithhim.Becausetheworldcannotsurviveeven.foroneatomofasecondwithoutthe

presencea"Masoom"Imam,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)couldnotejoinhisfartherandothermale

membersofhiscaravaninbecomingmartyrsofIslamonthedayofAshura.Allahmadeaspecial

forthat.ImamZainulAbidin(A.s)wasveryonthedayofAshuraandhecouldnottakepartinthe

Jihad.

Eventhen,whenhisfather,ImamHusain(A.S)cametovisithim,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)

requestedhisfathertoallowhim,too,togivehislifefightinginthewayofAllah.ImamHusain

(A.S)toldhimthatforIslamhehadamoredifficult"Jihad"tofightthantheonehewaswishingto

doatthattime,namelytakingresponSibilityofthewomenfolkfromthefamilyoftheProphetand

stayingwiththemtoKufa,andthentoDamascusandthenreturnwiththemtoMedina.

Trulyspeaking,forhim,itwouldhavebeenveryeasytodieonthebattlefieldasamartyrthanto

betakenasprisonerofwarandseealltheinsultandhumiliationsthrownonhimandonthe

womenfolkofthehouseoftheProphet.However,hedidwhatAllahwishedhimtodo.

AfterthemartyrdomofImamHusain(A.S),thesurvivalofIslamdependedonImamZainulAbidin

(A.S),andthatalsoatatenderageoftwentytwo.Hehadaveryhardjoboflettingtheworld

knowthemissionofImamHusain(A.S.)andexposingtheevilintentionsofYezidandtheBani

Umayyah.HehadtokeepthemessageofIslamaliveandsaveitfrombeingconfusedbytheevil

BaniUmayyah.

TheImamAsPrisonerofWar


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AlthoughthearmyofYeziddidnotkillhimbecausehewassick,theytreatedhimverybadlyby

puttinghiminheavychains.Asaprisoner,hewasmadetotravelontheopenbackofacamelin

burningsunshinefromKerbalatoKufaandthenfromKufatoSham(Damascus) adistanceof

about750kilometres.Sometimes,hewouldbemadetowalkontheburningsandsofthedesert.

Thiswas

not

all.

Women

and

children

belonging

to

the

family

ofthe

Prophet,

Hazrat

Muhammad

(S.A.W.W),too,werehandcuffedandtreatedliketheywereslaves.ThedaughtersofImamAli

(A.S)andHazratFatima(A.S)weretreatedworsethancriminals,theirHijabhavingbeentaken

awayfromthem.Acallerwouldaccompanythemintroducingthemtothepassersbyas"Those

whohaddisobeyedtheMuslimruler,Yezid".Theywerethenpresentedasprisoners,firsttoIbne

ZiyadinKufaandthentoYezidinDamascus.

IMAMZAINULABIDIN(A.S)INTHECOURTOFIBNEZIYADINKUFA.

Yezid'sgovernorofKufa,IbneZiyad,wasknownforhiscrueltyandhisenmitytowardsImamAli

(A.S)andhisfamily.InordertoshowthepeopleofKufahowpowverfulhewas,IbneZiyadasked

howcomeAliBinHusainwasnotkilledbyAllah.

AnyoneelseinthepositioninwhichImamZainulAbidin(A.S)was,wouldhavekeptquietand

beartheinsult.ButnotImamZainulAbidin.AstheImamofthetimeheknewwhenitwasproper

forhimtoshowthepatience(Subr)ofhisuncleImamHassan(A.S)andwhentoshowthebravery

ofhisfather,ImamHusain(A.S)andtofacehisenemieslikeasoldier.Withoutanyfear,hereplied

IbneZiyadsaying"Ihadanotherbrotherbythename.ofAliandhewasmartyredbybeingkilled

byyoursoldiers"

Hisshortbutstrongreplywasenough toletpeopleknowwhatkindofliarandabeastIbneZiyad

was.IbneZiyadbecameveryangrybytheyoungImam'sbravery.Heorderedhissoldierstokill

theImam.HazratZainab(A.S)challengedIbneZiyad,sayinghissoldierswouldfirsthavetokillher

beforetheycouldgetholdofhernephew,ZainulAbidin.ShethentooktheImam(A.S)inthefold

ofherarms.Therewassuchanuproarinthecourt,allblamingIbneZiyad,thatIbneZiyadcould

notdoanyharmtoImamZainulAbidin(A.S).

ButeventhentheImamrepliedIbneZiyadsaying,"Doyoufrightenmewithdeath,OIbneZiyad?

Don'tyouknowthattobekilledisourtraditionandmartyrdomisanhonourfromAllah?"

IMAMZAINULABIDININTHECOURTOFYEZIDINSHAM(DAMASCUS)

Followingtheinstructionsofhismaster,Yezid,IbneZiyadsentImamandtheladiesandchildren

ofthehouseoftheProphet(S.A.WW)asprisonerstoDamascus.


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Toshowhispowerandtofrightenothers,Yezidtreatedtheseprisonersverybadly.Theywere

firsttakenfromonebazaartoanother.Thewomenandchildrenweretiedbyoneropeand

treatedverybadly.TheImamwastorememberthisincidentfortherestofhislife.Withtearsin

hiseyesheusedtosay"InSham(Damascus)wewereinsultedandtreatedlikewewereslaves

whosemasterwasnotthere(toprotectthem)"Theywerethenputinprison.

YezidwouldregularlycallImamZainulAbidin(A.S)toinsulthiminfrontofthepublic.Ononesuch

occasion,apreacherwhowasemployedbyYezidwentonthe'Mimber'(pulpit)oftheMosqueand

abusedtheImamAli(A.S)andhisfamily.

Whenthepreacherfinishedhislecture,theImamturnedtohimandsaid,"Beashamedof

yourself,youevilspeaker.WithyourwordsyouhavedispleasedAllahsoastopleasepeople".

ThentheImam(A.S)askedYezidtolethimtalktothepeople.Yezidrefusedtodoso.Thepeople

ofSyria,however,forcedYezidtoallowtheImamtogoontheMimber.

OnceontheMimber,ImamZainulAbidinfirstpraisedAllahandHisMessenger.Afterthatthe

ImamgavealongandverypowerfulspeechlettingtheSyriansknowthegreatpositionofImam

Husain(A.S)toAllah,andhowevilYezidandhisfamilywere.Partofthespeechissummarised

below:"OlistenersIAllahhasgivenus(AhleBart)sixthingswhichnooneelsehas.Hehasgiven

usspecialWisdom,Patience,Dignity,Powerofspeech,CourageandRespect.

HegaveusspecialbenefitofbelongingtothefamilyofhisProphet.TousbelongHamzaandJafar.

TousbelongAsadullah(ThelionofAllah,ImamAli(A.S)).Tousbelongtheleaderoftheyouthsof

paradise(ImamHassan(A.S)andImamHusain(A.S)).

"Thosewhoblowme,knowme.Thosewhodonot,thenknowthatIamthesonofMeccaand

Mina.IamthesonofZamzamandSafa.IamthesonofhewhogaveZakattothepoor.Iamthe

sonofthebestofthosewhohaveeverputonIhramandperformedceremoniesofHajj.Iamthe

sonofhewhowastakenonthenightjourneyfromhouseofAllahtotheMosqueofAqsaand

thentoMiraj.IamthesonofhewhowastakenaroundbyGibraeltotheLotetreeofthe

boundary(SidratulMuntaha).

"IamthesonofMuhammadMustafa(S.A.WW).IamthesonofAliAlMurtazawhofoughtthe

polytheistsinthebattletilltheysubmittedtoIslamandfoughtinthepresenceoftheProphet

untilhisswordwasbrokenandtowhomZulfikarwasgiven.Iamthesonofhewhohadthe

honourtomigratetwiceinIslam.IamthesonofFatimathebestwomenoftheworld...".

TheeffectofthespeechwassopowerfulthateverybodyintheMosquebegantoweepandto

blameYezid.YezidwasafraidthatiftheImamcontinuedhisspeech,therewouldbearevolution.

AtthesametimeYezidcouldnomorestoptheImamandgethimdownfromtheMimber.He


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thereforeordereda"Muazzin"togiveAzan,knowingthatthiswouldautomaticallycuttheImam's

speech.ButheunderestimatedtheImam,sbraveryandintelligence.TheImamstoppedhis

speechbutdidnotgetdownfromtheMimber.

WhentheMuazzinsaid"AllahuAkber"theImamtestifiedAllah'sgreatness.WhentheMuazzin

said,"Ash

hadu

anna

Muhammaddan

Rasulullah",

the

Imam

stopped

the

Muazzin

from

going

any

further.HethenturnedtoYezidandaskedhim.

"TellmeoYezid,wasMuhammad(S.A.WW)yourgrandfatherormine?Ifyousayhewasyour

grandfatheritwillbeanopenlieandifyousayhewasmygrandfatherthenwhyhaveyoukilled

hissonandimprisonedhisfamily?Whyhaveyoukilledmyfatherandbroughthiswomenand

childrentothiscityasprisoners?"

Yezidhadnoreplytogive.

TheeffectofthiswastoturnSyriansagainstYezid.EveryoneofthemnowfoundoutaboutYezid's

crimesthathehadcommittedagainsttheProphet(S.A.WW)andhisfamily.Theybegantoblame

himandaskforthereleaseofImamZainulAbidin(A.S)andthewomenfolkofthehouseofthe

Prophet.Yezidwasnowafraidthatifhedidnotactfasthisrulershipwouldbelostfromhim.He

thereforefreedImamZainulAbidin(A.S)andlet.himreturntoMedinawithfullhonourand

respect.

IMAMZAINULABIDIN(A.S)RETURNSTOMEDINA.

HavingspentnotlessthanoneyearintheprisonofYezidinDamascus,ImamZainulAbidin

returnedtoMedina.OnreachingMedina,hecampedoutsidethetownandletthepeopleof

Medinaknowthathewasback.Whenpeoplecametomeethim,withoutfearingthegovernorof

Kufa,heletpeopleknowofalltheinjusticesthatweredonetothefamilyoftheProphet.

Dressedinmourningdress,hesatonachairandaddressingthepeopleofMedina,hesaid,

"'PraisebetoAllahatalltimes.Hegaveusstrengthtobeargreathardships.Agreatlosshastaken

placeinIslam.Myfather,AbaAbdillah,hisdearonesandhisfriendshavebeenkilled.Hiswomen

andchildrenweretakenasprisoners.Myfather'sheadwascutandputontheedgeofaspear

andparadedfromoneIslamiccitytoanother.

"Opeople!Weweretreatedlikewewerenon MuslimsandKafirs,althoughwehadcommitted

nocrimeorsinandhadnotinanywaywrongedIslam.ByAllah!IftheProphetofAllahhad

orderedthemtofightagainstus,theywouldstillhavedonenothingmorethanwhattheydid".


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Chapter3:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S):LifeinMedinaAfterTheTragedyofKerbala

THEPROBLEMSFAUNGTHEIMAMTOCARRYOUTTHEPREACHINGOFISLAM.

ItwillberecalledthatYezidhadgiventheImamhisfreedomtoreturntohishomeinMedinanot

outoflovebutoutoffear.TheImam,therefore,wasstillnotoutofdanger.TheImam,therefore,

hadtofindoutawaytopreachthetruemessageofAllahwithoutappearingtobeworking

againstthegovernment.

ThisproblembecameevenmoredifficultasMuslimsthroughouttheempirebegantoriseagainst

Yezid.

For

example,

Abdullah

Ibne

Zubair

declared

himself

the

ruler

of

Mecca.

In

A.H

63

the

MuslimsofMedinadroveawayYezid'sgovernorfromMedinaandappointedamanof.theirown

choiceinhisplace.

Tosavehiscrown,Yezidturnedtousingforce.Hedecidedtokillanyonewhoopposedhim.The

Imamhadtoplacehimselfinsuchapositionthatnoonecouldsaythathewasalsoamongst

thoseplottingtooverthrowYezid.Otherwise,theImamwouldnotbeabletocompletethe

missionofsavingIslamfromitsenemies.Hewouldeitherbeimprisonedagainorevenbekilled.

WhowouldthenbetheretoserveIslamthewayAllahwishedittobeserved?

HOWTHE

IMAM

KEEPS

THE

MISSION

OF

ISLAM

ALIVE

WITHOUT

ANGERING

THE

GOVERNMENT.

WhenmartyrdomwasnecessarytokeepIslamalive,ImamHusain(A.S)publiclyopposedYezid

andgave.hislife.WhensilencebecamenecessarytokeepIslamalive,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)

retiredinhishousetoserveIslaminthebestwaypossible.

FromA.H.62toA.H.95whenheleftthisworld,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)ledaquietlife,

preachingtheIslamintwoways.

Firstly,hekeptalivethemessageofImamHusain(A.S)regardingIslamtroughmourning.There

wasnot

aday

that

passed

without

the

Imam

crying

in

memory

of

his

father

Imam

Husain

(A.S)

and

otherswhogavetheirlivesinKerbala.Heencouragedhisfollowersalsotoregarditastheirduty

torememberthemartyrsofKerbalaasoftenastheycould.

ThefirsttimeheenteredMedinawhenreturningfromDamascus,helaiddownthetraditionof

mourningforImamHusain(A.S).HepitchedatentoutsideMedinaandmoUmingdressheletthe


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MuslimsofMedinawhatwasexpectedofthemfromthenonwards.

AmanbythenameofNoamanwenttoMedinathreeyearsaftertheeventsofKerbala.Hesaw

theImamstandingnearthegraveoftheProphetweepingandcomplainingtotheProphetabout

theIIItreatmentthatImam(A.S)andtheothermembersoftheProphet'sfamilyhadreceived

fromthe

Bani

Umayyah.

The

Imam

(A.S)

remained

in

this

position

until

when

he

fainted

and

was

thentakenbyhisfollowerstohishouse.

NoamanwenttoImam'shouse.ThenaskedtheImamwhatwasthemostdifficulttimehehadto

faceinKerbalaandduringhisimprisonmenttoKufaandDamascus.TheImamsaid,"ASham,A

Sham,ASham"andthenexplainedthatinShamthefamilyoftheProphetwastreatedlike

animalsandpresentedtothecourtofYezidlikeslaves.

InthiswaypeopleofMedinaweretoseehimmourningforhisfatherfromthentillhisdeath

somethirtyfiveyearslater.

ItisreportedthatwhentheImamsawwaterhewouldweep,rememberingthethirstofthe

martyrsofKerbala.Whenhesawagoatorsheepbeingslaughtered,hewouldasktheslaughterif

hehadfedtheanimalandgivenitwater.Onbeingassuredthatthishad,indeed,beendone,the

Imamwouldweep,sayingthathisfatherandothermartyrsofKerbalawereslaughteredhungry

andthirstyofthreedays.

Heheldregularmourningsessioninhishouse.Thosewhoattendedthesesessionswouldthenbe

servedwithfoodinthenameofhisfather,ImamHusain(A.S)

Onedaysomebodytoldhim."OsonofAllah'sMessenger!.Uptowhenwouldyouweeplike

this?"

TheImamreplied"'OservantofAllah.ProphetYakubhadtwelvesonsbutonlyoneofthem

(Yusuf)wastakenawayformhim,heweptsomuchandforsuchlongthathiseyesturnedwhite,

hisheadturnedgrayandhisbackwasbentalthoughhissonYusufwasstillalive.WhereasI

watchedmyfather,mybrotherandseventeenmembersofmyfamilybeingslaughteredall

aroundme.Howcouldmysorrowcometoanend?".

ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)throughsuchmourningsessionslettheworldknowthereasonwhyit

wasnecessaryforImamHusain(A.S)tosacrificehislifebutnotacceptYezidastherightfulrulerof

theMuslims.

TheplotofYezidandhisfamilyofBaniUmayyahtodestroyIslamwasbroughtoutintheopen

throughtheImam'sweepingforhisfather.


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ThesecondmostimportantthingthattheImamdidafterreturningfromDamascuswastospend

alotofhistimeprayingtoAllah.Hisprayerswerenotonlyintheformof"Namaz"butalsointhe

wayof"Duas"orsupplications.Hewouldreadthesesupplicationsandthenteachthemtohissons

HazratMuhammadBaqir(A.S)andHazratZaid.Thesesupplicationswerelatercompliedinabook

calledSAHIFA

KAMILA.(The

complete

book).

ThisbookisalsoknownbyothernamessuchasSAHIFASAJJADIA(thebookofSajjad;Sajjadbeing

anothernameofImamZainulAbidin(A.S);Sajjadmeansonewhospendsalotofhistimein

"Sijda"),orZABUREALE(PsalmsofthehouseholdofMed).TheSAHIFAasweknowit,todayismade

of54Duas,14additional'Duas'and15'Munajat'.OverandabovetheSAHIFA,therearemany

othersupplicationsoftheImamwhichappearunderdifferentcovers.

Withthehelpofthese'Duas',ImamZainul.Abidin(A.S)taughtMuslimsnotonlyhowtoprayto

AllahbutalsowhatistheessenceofIslam.Alsothemajorelementsofreligionarecontainedin

theseDuas.Moreover,theDuasteachuswhoAllahisandwhotheProphetisandwhatkindof

lifeweshouldlead.Forexample,intheDuacalled"AKHLAQ"(Theexcellenceofcharacter),the

Imamlooksatdifferenttypesandqualitiesofbehaviourwhichmakeaman'scharacterand

personality,andtellshisfollowerstohavethosequalities.

TheDuaalsoteacheshowMuslimsshouldlinkthemselveswiththehouseoftheProphet,the

AhlulBayt.Theseideas,ifpreachedinanyotherform,wouldwithoutanddoubt,invitethe

governmentofBaniUmayyahtoputtheImamintrouble.ButwhowouldcomplainiftheImam

addressedhiscreator,Allahusing"Duas"?

InthiswaythroughmourningforhisfatherandprayingtoAllah,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)keptthe

truemessageofAllahalivefromtheevilmindedBaniUmayyah.

EffectofTheImam'sApproachToPreachThroughPrayers

ThegreatestresultoftheImam'sdecisiontoleadaquietlifewas:thegovernmentbecamesure

thathewasnotgoingtobedangeroustothem.They,therefore,lefthimalone.Forexample,

whenMuslimbinAqabaattackedMedinainA.H.63,hedidnoharmtotheImam.Whereas

MuslimshowedcompletedisrespectfortheMosqueoftheProphet,hedidnoharmtoImam

ZainulAbidin'shouse.ThosewhosoughtshelteroftheImam'shousealsoremainedsafefromthe

army'scruelties.InfactMuslimBinAqabacalledImamtohisheadquartersandtreatedhimwith

courtesyandrespect.


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AllthiswasbecausetheImam(A.S)hadshownnosignofwantingtooverthrowthegovernment.

WhatthegovernmentfailedtounderstandwasthatImamZainulAbidin(A.S)wasestablishingthe

foundationsoftruthwhichwould,infuture,providestrongbasisofIslamwhichwouldlivefor

ever.

Bybeing

left

on

his

own,

not

only

did

Imam

(A.S)

widened

the

horizons

of

Islam,

but

al

so

found

a

placeforhimselftolettheMuslimscommunityseeforthemselveswhotrulywasthe

representativeoftheProphet.

ThiswasaveryimportantjobtobedonebytheImam.ThisISbecausetherulersofhistimeYezid,

Marwan,AbdulMalikbinMarwanandWalidbinAbdulMalikallleadveryunIslamiclivesyetthey

presentedthemselvesastherepresentativesoftheProphet(S.A.W.W).ThepresenceoftheImam

wasacontinuouslessonforMuslims.TheMuslimscouldcomparetheexcellentlifeoftheImam

withthatoftherulersanddecideforthemselveswhowasthetruesuccessoroftheProphetand

thereforetheleaderofthecommunity.

TheeffectoftheteachingandthepurelifestyleoftheImamwassuchthathecametobe

regardedasanexcellentpersonandanauthorityofthereligionofIslam.Athistime,therewere

sevenscholarinMedinawhowerecalled""ThesevenlawyersofMedina",andwhowere

consideredtobethebestauthoritiesonIslamictraditionsandlaw.ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)was

notonlyoneamongthesesevenscholars,hewasthebestofthemall.

OneofthesesevenlawyerscalledSaidbinAlMusayyabconsideredtheImamwithhighest

respect:therespectthatalesserpesonshowstoahigherperson.Anotherveryfamousand

knowledgeablelawyer,AlZuhri,gavethetitleofZainulAlAbidintotheImam!.

SufyanSurisaysthatheonceaskedZuhriastowhyhealwayscalledtheImambythenameof

ZainulAbidin.Zuhrireplied:"OntheDayofJudgementacallerwillsay.WhereisZainulAbidin?

ThenHusain'ssonAli,willcomeforward."

BythetimetheBaniUmayyahrealisedthewisdomofImamZainulAbidin'sapproachtoestablish

IslamthroughthememoryofhisfatherandprayersofAllah,itwastoolate.Withoutthe

knowledgeofthegovernmenttheImamhadraisedhispositionintheMuslimscommunitysohigh

thatnoneoftherulerscouldreach,withalltheirwealthandpower.Thefollowingincident

illustratesthispointverywell.

Hasham,theBaniUmayyahprince,wenttoMeccaforpilgrimage.AftercompletinghisHajjhe

wantedtokissthe"HajareAswad"buttherewassuchabigcrowdthathecouldnotreachthere.

Hewasthereforewaitingforthecrowdtodecreasesothathecouldthengetnear"Hajare

Aswad".Withhimwerestandinghisroyalattendants.


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Thencameapersondressedinsimpleclothes.HewasapproachingtheKaabaveryslowlywhen

thecrowdsawhimtheyallscattered,makingwayforhim.Themanslowlyandwitheasewent

roundthe"HouseofAllah"(Kaaba)seventimes,kissedthe"HajareAswad"andwentaway

Hasham,theprinceoftheMuslimsempire,couldnotbelievewhathesaw.wasn'thetheprince?

Whyhad

he

to

wait

and

astranger

be

shown

such

respect?

Who

was

he

after

all?

He

asked

his

attendantswhothestrangerwasthatheshouldenjoysucharespectwithpeoplethateventhe

princecouldnot.

Theattendantssaidtheydidnotknowwhothepersonwas,thoughtheyknewverywellthatthe

personwasImamZainulAbidin(A.S)butwereafraidthatiftheysaidthetruthHashamwouldbe

offended.

However,thefamouspoetFarazdaq,whowasbeingpaidbythekingtowritepoemsinpraiseof

theroyalfamilycouldnotkeepquiet.HereadlongpoeminpraiseofImamZainulAbidin(A.S)the

mostimportantpartofwhichis...

"..ThisisAli(BinHusain)whoseparentistheProphet,ThisisthesonofFatima,ifyoudonotknow

whoheis.

WhoeverrecognizeshisGodknowsalsothegreatnessandimportanceofthisman,Becausethe

religionhasreachedthenationsthroughhishouse."

Hishamburnedwithjealousy.HegotFarazdaqinprisonforpraisingtheImam(A.S).

WhentheBaniUmayyahrulersrealisedtheirmistaketheydecidedtokilltheImam.Bythe

instructionsofWalidBinMerwan,thegovernorofMedinapoisonedtheImam(A.S).TheImam

(A.S)diedfromthispoisonon25thMuharramA.H95(A.D.713).

Chapter4:ImamAliBinHusain(A.S):HisCharacterandPersonality

GENERALREMARKS

ThebeliefthatourProphetMuhammad(S.A.WW),hisdaughter,HazratFatima(A.S),ImamAli

(A.S)andotherelevenImams(whosebiographieswearegoingtostudyinthiscourse)areall


16/33


sinlessandmakenomistakes,isaveryimportantpartofourfaith.Tousthesefourteen

personalitieswereperfect.

However,aseachofthemhadaspecialjobtodoandmostofthemlivedindifferentperiodsof

time,eachofthemhadachancetoshowonlyafewsidesofhisorhercharacter.Intheworldin

whichImam

Zainul

Abidin

(A.S)

lived,

the

parts

of

his

character

which

people

could

be

seen

very

clearlyaredescribedinthefollowingpagesofthischapter.

HISPIETY

HehadgreatloveandfearofAllah.Thesecouldbeseenthewaythecarriedouthisdaily'Wajib'

prayersandotherrecommendedprayers.ThreethingscanbesaidabouthisprayerstoAllah:

1)OncehesetuphismindtopraytoAllah,heforgotabouteverythingelse.Hegavehimself

totallytoAllah.Nothingwoulddisturbhisprayers.Considerthefollowingincidents.

*Oncewhilehewaspraying,hishousecaughtfire.Toputdownthefireandmoreimportantlyto

savetheirliveseverybodyinthehousewasrunninghereandthere.ButnottheImam(A.S).He

continuedhisprayersasifnothinghadhappened.Whenhefinishedhisprayers,thefirehad

alreadybeenputdown.Somebodyaskedhim,nothesonProphet,whydidn'tyoucutshortyour

"Sajda"whenyouheardthepeopleshoutingthatthehousewasonfire?"

TheImamreplied,"WhenIheard'fire,fire'IrememberedthefireofHell.Icomparedthatwith

fireinmyhouse.IfoundthefireofHellmoreseveresoIcontinuedpraying."

*Atanothertimehisson,HazratMuhammedBaqir(A.S)hadfalleninawell.Thechild'smother

wasdeeplyupsetandcriedfortheImam'shelp.TheImamwasinthemiddleofhisprayers.He

neitherbrokehisprayersnordidherushtocompletehisprayersfast.Hecontinuedhisprayers,at

hisusualspeed.Oncompletinghisprayershewenttothewellandbroughtoutthechild.The

childwassafeandwasnothurtatall.

*ItissaidthatonceShaitan(Devil)decidedtodisturbtheImam'sprayers.TheDevilthentookthe

formofasnakeandstungtheImam'slegscontinuously.TheImamfeltthepainbuthecontinued

prayingasifnothinghadhappened.WhenhehadfinishedhetoldtheShaitantogoaway.Then

cameavoicefromHeavenssaying,"YouareZainulAbidin(A.S)(thedecorationofthepious)";

everybodywhowaspresentheardthisandtheImam(A.S)becamefamousbythatname;*Itis

commonwithhumanbeings,toshortentheirprayersoreventoneglectthematthetimeof

difficulties.ThiswasnotsowiththeImam(A.S).OntheeveningofAshurainKerbala,Imam(A.S)

wentthroughaveryhardtime.


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HerememberedthesehardtimesthroughouthislifeButhisprayersremainedaspureasever He

Spentthewholenightin"Sajda"praisingAllahinthesewords:

"ThereisnootherGodbutAllahandthatisthetruth.ThereisnootherGodbutAllahinterms.of

faithandtruth.ThereisnootherGodbutAllah.ItestifythisbyprayingtoHim".

ThroughouthisdifficultjourneyfromKerbalatoKufaandfromKufatoDamascusandallthetime

hewasinprison,hisprayersremainedthesameastheyhadbeenduringthenormaltimes.

2)Hespentalotofhistimeinprayers.Besidethedailyobligatoryprayerslikehisgrandfather

ImamAli(A.S),heprayed1000rakatsofrecommendedprayers(Mustahab)dailyinthedayandat

night.Iftherewasanytimeleftthat,too,hewouldspendin"Duas"and"Sujud".*TaoosYamani

reportsthatoncehewenttotheHouseofAllahandtherehesawAliBinHusain(A.S)near"Hajare

Aswad"(Blackstone).Hefirstprayedandthenboweddownin'Sajda'.Taussaysthathewent

neartheImamtohearwhathewassayingandheheardtheImamsayinpresenceofAllah:

"Yourhumbleservantisatyourcourtyard"

"Yoursadoneisatyourcourtyard"

"Yourpooroneisatyourcourtyard"

"Yourbeggarisatyourcourtyard"

TaoossayssincethattimewheneverIneedhelpfromAllahIaddressHiminthiswayandIgetthe

helpthatIneed.

*ItisreportedthattheImamwouldgetoutofhisbedatmidnightdailyandgotohisprayer

carpetsaying,"Omycreator,thethoughtthatIwillhavetofaceyouontheDayofJudgementhas

gotmeoutofmybedandmademesleepless."Havingsaidso,hewouldbowdowninprayersand

puthischeeksontheground.HewouldthenweepinfearofAllahandweepsomuchthatthe

groundwouldbecomewetwithhistears.Hisfamilywouldgatheraroundhimbuthewouldnot

evennoticethem.HewouldcontinueaddressingAllahsaying,"Omycreator,Idon'twishforthe

restfullifeofthisworld.IaskforyourmercyatthattimewhenIshallbebroughtinyour

presence."

*AmanbythenameofZuraraBinAyanonceheardatmidnightacallersaying,"Wherearethose

peoplewhogiveawaythisworldforthenextworld?"anothercallcameasareplyfromthe

graveyardofBaqisaying,"SuchapersonisAliBinHusain(A.S)."

*Ifanymemberofhisfamilyaskedhimastowhyhewasprayinglikethiseventhoughhewas

sinless,hewouldreply,"Whyshouldn'tItrytobenearertoAllahthanIamnow?"


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*ItisreportedbySheikhMufidthatonceImamMuhammedBaqir(A.S)sawthathisfather'sface

hadturnedyellowthroughweepingallnight.Hisforeheadwashurt.Hislegsandfeetwere

swollenfromstandinglonghoursinprayers.ImamBaqirstartedweeping.ImamZainulAbidin

(A.S)askedhisweepingsontobringtohimthebookcontainingtheprayersofImamAli(A.S).

Hethen

read

from

the

book

for

awhile

and

closing

it,

he

said,."

who

is

strong

enough

to

worship

thewayAliIbneAbiTalibusedtodo?"themassagefromImamZainulAbidinwas:comparedto

mygrandfathermyprayersaretooshortandtoolittle.SoletmedoasmuchasIcan.

FatimaBintiAli,theImam'sauntcalledJabirBinAbdullahAnsariandrequestedtotalktothe

Imamandpersuadehimnottopraysomuchthathishealthcouldsuffer.WhenJabirtalkedtothe

Imam,theImamremindedJabirabouttheProphet'slongprayerswhichledtotherevelationof

thoseQuranicversesinwhichAllahtellstheProphettoreducehisnightprayers.TheProphet's

Allah.InthereasonforsuchlongprayerswastothanksamewaytheImam'slongprayerwere

onlytothankAllah.

Wheneverheheardofgoodnews,hewouldbowdownin"Sajda"topraiseandthankAllah.

Wheneverhisdesireswerefulfilledhewouldgoinsajda.Wheneverhisproblemsweresolvedhe

wouldgoinsajda.Somuchdidhespendhistimeinsajda;prayingorpraisingorthankingAllah

thathebecameknownas"SayyiduSajidin"ortheleaderofthosewhodo"Sajda".

Becausehebentsomuchinprayerstheskinoverhiskneesandonhisforeheadwasashardas

thatofthecamel.FromtimetothisskinhadtobepeeledoffHisforehead,too,waswounded

becauseofremaininginthepositionof"Sajda"forlonghours.

3)BothbeforeprayersandduringprayerstheImam'sbehaviourwouldchangeinfearofAllah.For

example,whenhedidhis"Wudhu"hisfacewouldbecomepaleandhisbodywouldshake.When

hewasaskedforareasonhewouldreply,"Don'tyouknowbeforewhomIampreparingto

stand?".Throughouthisprayershisfacecontinuedtoremainpale.Aftercompletinghisprayers,

inhis"Duas"and"Sajdas"hewouldweepsomuchthathisbeardwouldbewetwithtears.

Oncesomeonesawhimprayinginthemountainsonabarerockwhichhadbecomehotwiththe

sun'sray's.Themanaskedforthereason.TheImnamexplainedsaying,"Thisheatfromtherock

remindsmeoftheheatoftheHellandgivesmeabetterunderstandingwhenIprayfor

forgivenessfromHellfire."

Itwasbecauseofhisprayersthathebecameknownas"ZainulAbidin"orthedecorationofthe

piouspeople.

Hispietywasnotjustinprayers.Heusedtospendalmostallhisdaysfasting.Amaidwhospent


19/33


severalyearsservingImamreportsthatthroughoutherserviceshenevercookedanyfoodforhim

norpreparedhisbeddingatnight.

BysomeaccountshefastedeverydayexceptonforbiddendayssuchasonIdddays.

Whenhe

went

for

'Hajj'

he

would

do

so

most

of

the

time

walking.

When

he

did

use

abeast

of

burden,hewouldneverbeattomakeitmovefasterItthereforetookhimtwentydaystotravel

betweenMedinaandMecca.

OncehewasonsuchapilgrimagetoMecca.Heputonhis"Ihram"andwasabouttosay"Labaik

AllahummaLabaik"whichisrequiredfromeverypersondoing"Hajj",hisfaceturnedyellowand

hecouldnotsay"Labaik"loudly.Whenhewasaskedwhyhedidnotdoso,hereplied,"SupposeI

saidLabaikandAllahrepliedLaLabaik(Idon'tacceptyourLabaik)whatwouldhappentome?"Itis

reportedthathiswholeHajjwasspentinfearofAllah.

HisPatience("Sabr")andForgiving Nature

ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)wassimilartohisuncleImamHassan(A.S)andhisgrandsonImamMusa

Kazim(A.S)(Our7thImam)byshowingalotofpat,iencetotheirenemies.

YouwillrememberthataftertheeventsofKerbala,hewentthroughverybadtimesinthehands

ofhisenemies,butatnooccasiondidheshowsignofangerorimpatience.Whenevernecessary,

herepliedtohisenemiesbravelybutwithoutshowinganyangerorlossofpatience.Considerthe

followingincidents.

*WhentheImamwasaprisonerofYezidinDamascusandwasbeingtakentothecourt,aSyrian

cameforwardandabusedtheImamsaying,"TellmewhohascomeoutsuccessfulyouorYezid?"

WithoutgettingangrytheImamreplied,"WhenyouheartheAzanyoumakeyourowndecision

asto

who

is

and

who

afailure."

In

the

same

way,

another

old

man

of

Syria

addressed

the

Imam

saying"PraisebetoAllahwhodestroyedyou,whokilledyourbroughtpeaceinthecountryby

givingvictorytothecaliphofMuslims."

TheImamfirsttheverseofQur'an(42:23)meaning:"OProphettothem"Idonotasktobepaid

backformyservicesexcepttheyyoushouldlovemyverses?"


20/33


Theoldmanrepliedthat,indeed,hehadreadthoseversesbuthedidnotknowhowtheseverses

hadanythingtodowiththeImam.TheImamthenreadtwomoreversesfromtheQur'an,

meaning:

"Knowoyou

believers'.

Whatever

of

athing

you

acquire,

afifth

of

it

is

for

the

Prophet

and

for

the

Prophet'sfamily(8:41).And"Allahwishestokeepyouawayfromuncleanness,Oyouthepeople

ofthehouse,andtopurifyyouwithcompletepurification.(33:33)ThentheImamtoldthethathe

prisonerswerethefamilyoftheProphetintheseversesandtheyweretheonesforwhomthe

Prophethadaskedforrespectandlove.

TheoldmanthenfeltverysorryandapologizedandtheImamforgavehim.

*HishamBinIsmail,thegovernorofMedinausedtogivealotoftroubletotheImam.Astime

wentby,hewasremovedfromhispositionbyWalid,theking.Ashispunishment,hewasmadeto

standatapublicplace.Peopleweregivenpermissiontodowhatevertheywishedtohim.Imam

(A.S)hadsufferedthemostfromhishandsandthechancetotakehisrevenge.Instead,theImam

nowwas(A.S)wenttohimandgreetedhimwithrespectandkindnessknowingthatifhedidso

thenotherswouldfollowhimandsaveHishamfrominsultsandinjury.

Togetherwithhispatiencewashisforgivingnatureandhiskindness.Thefollowingincidentsfrom

Imam'slifeshowthisveryclearly.

*Onceaslavegirl,whileservinghim,droppedonhimaheavyjugfullofwaterandcuthisface.

Shesaidtohim,,"Allah,themosthighsays:

thosewhocontroltheiranger.""BeforeshecouldcompletethisverseoftheQur'an,hesaid,"I

havecontrolledmyanger."

Shecontinued,saying,"Andthosewhoforgivethepeople.."Hereplied."'MayAllahforgiveyou."

Shewenton,saying,",Allahlovesthose,whodogood."Hereplied,"'Go,youareafreepersonin

thepresenceofAllah,TheHigh,TheMighty."

*OncetheImamcalledhisslavebuttheslavedidnotreplyhim.TheImamcalledhimtwomore

times;onlythenhereplied.TheImamaskedhimifhedidnothearbeingcalled.Theslavereplied

thathedidhearbutheignoredtoanswerbecauseheknewthatnoharmwouldcometohim

fromtheImam(A.S).

WhentheImamheardthishesaid,"PraisebetoAllahwhomademyslavesafefromme."


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DuringthetimesoftheImam(A.S)slaverywascommon.Slaveswouldcomefromwars.TheImam

usedtogetthemas"Khums"fromthosewhotookpartinthesewars.AlsotheImamusedto

purchasesomeslavesandthensetthemfree.

Hetreatedhisslavesverywellandwouldneverbeatthemforanymistakes.Instead,hewould

recordall

their

mistakes.

At

the

end

of

the

month

of

Ramadhan,

he

would

call

them

and

let

them

knowofalltheirmistakes.HewouldthentellthemtopraytoAllahtoforgivetheImamtheway

theImamforgavethem(theslaves).Hewouldthensetfreeallslavesandgivethemgenerous

gifts.

ItissaidthatoneofhissuchslaveswhomtheImamhadsetfreeprogressedsomuchthatonone

occasionheloaned10,000dinarstoImamZainulAbidin(A.S).TheImam(A.S)laterrepaidthis

loan.

*ApersononcespokeveryharshlytotheImamandwronglyblamedtheImamforthingshehad

neverdone.TheImamlistenedtoallthesequietlyandwithoutansweringhim.Themangottired

andwentaway.

AfterhehadgonetheImamaskedhisfollowerstogowithpunishtheperson.Theyallwentwith

theImam(A.S).OnhiswaytheImamstartedreadingthefollowingversesofQur'an:

"'Thosewhocontroltheirangerandforgivethepeople,Allahlovesthosewhodogood."(3'133).

HiscompanionsimmediatelyknewthattheImamwouldforgivetheperson.

Whentheyarrivedattheperson'shouseandwhenthepersonsawthemall,hewassure,the

Imamhadcometopunishhim.However,theImamaddressedhimverygentlysaying,"Brother,

yousaidthingsaboutme,iftrulyIhavethosefaults,thenIpraytoAllahtoforgiveme.If,

however,Idonothavethosefaults,IpraytoAllahtoforgiveyou."

Themanwasputtoshame.Hesaid,"Youarefreefromallthosefaults.MayAllahforgivemefor

makingthosefalseclaimsagainstyou."*OnceamanabusedtheImam(A.S)inhispresence.The

Imamactedlikehedidnothearit.Thenthemanshouted,"Imeanyou."TheImam(A.S)replied,

"AndfromyouIamturningaway."BythistheImam(A.S)wasactingaccordingtotheQur'an

whichsays"'Gotowhatishonourableandturnawayfromtheignorant"(7:199).

HisGenerosity

HisactsofpietydidnotendwithonlyspendinghistimecommunicatingwithAllah.Hespentalot


22/33


ofhistime34servinghumanbeingsalso.Heregularlyvisitedthepoorandthesickandprovided

fortheirnecessitiesoflifewithouttheirknowledge.Inthedarknessofthenight,hewouldcarry

onhisbackbagsofbreadandfood,coverhisfacesothatnoonecouldrecognizehimandgofrom

doortodooroftheneedyandservethemfood.

Noneknew

that

this

person

was

Imam

Zainul

Abidin(A.S)

until

his

death

Zuhir

says

that

once

when

itwasrainingheavilyatnight,hesawtheImamcarryingaheavyloadonhisback.Heofferedto

help.TheImamsaidhewasonhiswaytoajourney.

ThenextdayZuhirstillsawtheImaminMedina.HadtheImampostponedhisjourney?No.The

Imamexplainedthathewaspreparingforthejourneyofthenextworld.Hewasonhiswayto

feedthepooranddidnotwantZuhirtogowithhimasthiscouldleadtothepoortorecognize

whotheirbenefactorwas.

SheikhMufidrecordsthatImamZainulAbidin(A.S)paidavisittoZaidBinUthamaBinZaidwho

wasverysick.Zaidwasweepingbecausehehaddebtoffifteenthousanddinars.TheImam

promisedZaidthathewouldpaythefulldebtimmediatelyandhedidso.

TheseactsofgenerositywerenotmeantforthepoorandfortheImam'sfriendsonly.Itwas

extendedevento hisenemies.Aswillbeillustratedinthefollowingincidents.

YouwillrecallthatinA.H64thepeopleofMedinaremovedYezid'sgovernorfromhispostof

governorshipinMedina,Fearingfortheirlives,theBaniUmmayyahstartedrunningawayfrom

Medina.MarwanBinHakamhadalargefamilyofwomenandchildrenandcouldnotrunawayfor

hislifeunlesshecouldfindsomeonewhowouldagreetohousehiswomenandchildren.Marwan

approachedseveralpeopleincludingAbdullahBinOmarBinKhattabbutallrefusedtohelphim.

FinallyMarwanturnedtoImamZainulAbidinforhelp.

MarwanwasenemynumberoneoftheProphet(S.A.W.W)andhisfamily.Asamatteroffact,the

Prophet(S.A.WW)hadorderedMarwanandhisfatherHakamBinAastoleaveMedinaas

unwantedpersons.ItisthesameMerwanwhohadfoughtagainstImamAli(A.S)intheBattleof

Jamal.MerwanalsowasoneofthosewhopreventedImamHassantobeburiednexttohis

grandfather'sgrave.Again,itwasMerwanwhohadtoldWalid,theGovernorofMedinainA.H.60

toforce"Bayah"fromImamHusain(A.S)inthecourtortocutoffhisheadifherefused.

Despitethis,theImam(A.S)agreedtohelpMarwan.Merwan'sfamilystayedwiththeImamin

Imam'shouseforaslongastheywished.TheImamthenarrangedforthemtogotowhere

Merwanwas.


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Infact,Imam'shousewasopenforanyonewhocameseekingforprotectionatthistime.

ToputdowntherebellioninMedina,Yezidsentastrongarmyundertheoneeyedgeneralcalled

MuslimBinAqaba.MuslimbroughtbackMedinaunderthecontrolofYezidbutbeforehecould

dothesametoMeccahedied.

HasinBinNamirtookoverfromMuslimandwenttoMecca,todealwithAbdullahIbneZubair

whohadtakencontrolofMeccafromYezid.BeforeHasincouldwinbackMecca,hegotthenews

thatYezidhaddied.

HasinhurriedbacktoDamascuswithwhateverthathewasleftwithoutfoodwasleftofhisarmy.

Onthewayandwater.Heandhisarmywereabouttodieinthedesertoutofthirstandhunger.

Thenhesawamancominginhisdirection.Themanhadacamelloadedwithfoodandwater.

Hasinbeggedthemantoselltohimthefoodandwaterwhichhehadwithhimforanyprice.The

manrepliedthathisprovisionswerenotforsale.However,asHasinneededthemsobadlyhe

couldhaveitallforfree.!

Inhisconversationwiththestranger,Hasinrecognizedthestrangerasbeingnootherpersonthan

AliBinHusain(A.S).ThinkingthattheImamhadnotrecognisedhim,HasinaskedtheImamifhe

knewtowhomtheImamwasextendinghisgenerosity.

TheImamreplied,"Iknowthatyouarethemurdererofmybrotherandfatherandthatyou

deniedmyfatherwaterandfoodtillhismartyrdombutthatshowswhoyouareandmy

generosityshowswhatIam".

HasinofferedtohelptheImamtakecontrolofDamascus.TheImamrefusedsaying,allthathedid

forhimwasbecausehewasahumanbeingneedinghelp.TheImamneedednorewardorthanks.

Sayingsohewentaway leavingbehindHasintobitehisfiguresindisbeliefSuchwasthe

generosityofourfourthImam,AliBinHusain,ZainulAbidin(A.S).

Chapter5:SomeMiraclesofImamAliBinHusain(A.S)

WHATISAMIRACLE?

Allahhasmadelawsforallhiscreation.Theselawscanbedividedintotwotypes.First,thereare


24/33


thoselawswhichnoonecanchange.Thesearesometimescalledthelawsofnature.Forexample,

thesunrisesintheeastandsetsinthewest.Thecharacterofwateristocoolandthatoffireisto

burn.Noonecanbringthedeadbackfromdeath;thesearebutafewexamplesofthelawsof

nature.

Thenthere

are

the

laws

of

Allah

which

are

in

the

hands

of

man

and

they

can

change

them

against

thewillofAllah.Forexample,thelawofAllahforbidstohaverelationshipwithanothermanasif

hewasawoman.(ThisactwasverycommonwiththepeoplewholivedduringthetimesofNabi

Loot)Butmancanchangethislaw,thoughbydoingsohecommitsasin.

Miracleissaidtohavetakenplacewhenalawofnature,whichinnormalconditionscannotbe

changed,isindeedchanged.Forexample,theQur'antellsusofthemiraclesofNabiIsa(A.S).He

wasbornwithouthismotherhavinganyrelationshipwithaman.Again,whenhewasborn,he

startedtalking,tellingpeoplethathewasaProphetwithabookfromAllah.Orthathemadethe

deadreturntolife.Theseactsarenotnormalandtheyarecalledmiraclesor"Mojiza".

MiraclestakeplaceonlywhenAllahwishesandHedoessoforveryspecialreasons.Themain

reasonisthat:Allahwantstoprovehisexistence.TheProphetsand12Imamsshowmiraclesonly

whenAllahwishesthemtodoso.Forexample,NabiMusacouldturnhisstickintoasnaketo

showthathehadthispowergiventohimbyAllah.

Anothergoodexampleofmiracleisthat':OurProphet,HazratMuhammad(S.A.WW),splitthe

moonintotwopartstoprovetothe"Kuffar"ofMeccathathewasatrueMessengerofAllah.

BesidestheProphet(S.A.W.W),theother13Masoomin(ThatisHazratFatimaandour12Imams)

alsodidshowmiracleswhenitwasnecessarytodosoandwhenAllahwishedthemtodoso.

BeforeIgiveexamplesofthemiraclesthatImamZainulAbidinshowed,Ishallexplainthe

differencebetweenamiracleandmagic.

WhereasamiracleistheworkofthemenofAllah,magicistheworkofShaitanoronlyatrick

performedsocleverlythatforsometimeweseeachangeinnaturallaws.Forexample,inthe

Qur'anwearetoldthatFirawn(Pharo)calledmagicianswhocouldturnthreadsintosnakes.

Thedifferencebetweenmagicandmiracleisthesameasthedifference.betweenthesnakesof

magiciansandthatofNabiMusa.Themagician'ssnakeswerenotreal,theoneofNabiMusawas.

Asaresult,themagician'ssnakesonlyappearedlikesnakesandthereforecoulddonoharmor

evenfightwithNabiMusa'ssnakewhichswallowedthethreadsofthemagicians.Thethreads

disappearedforgood.


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TheMiraclesofImamZainulAbidin(A.S)

Severalmiracles

were

shown

by

the

Imam

(A.S)

but

we

shall

look

at

only

two

of

them.

MIRACLE1

AfterthemartyrdomofImamHusain(A.S),thearmyofYezidcutofftheheadsofallthemartyrs

ofKerbalaandremovedthemfromtheirbodies.Thentheyleftthosebodieswithoutburying

them.TheydidnotallowImamZainulAbidin(A.S)toburythesemartyrs.Instead,theytookhima

prisonertoKufa.

AfterthearmyofYezidhadleftforKufa,thetribeofBaniAsad,wholivedintheneighbourhoodof

Kerbala,came

to

bury

the

martyrs.

Since

there

was

no

way

by

which

they

could

know

whose

body

belongedtowhom,theywereworried.

Suddenly,theysawamanonahorsecomingintheirdirection.Fearingthatthiscouldbeaspyof

Yezidcomingtocheckonthem,theBaniAsadwentintohiding.Themancamewheretheywere

hidingandcalledthemtocomeout.HetoldthemthathewasAliIbnHusain(A.S)andhadcome

throughmiraclefromKufatohelpthemidentifyandburythemartyrs.

InthiswayImamZainulAbidin(A.S)buriedthemartyrsandhisfatherwheretheylieburiedtoday.

Hiscoming

to

Kerbala

was

very

important

for

two

reasons.

Firstly,

an

Imam

from

Allah

has

to

be

giventheburialservices,whenhedies,bytheImamwhotakesoverfromhim.Noonecouldgive

theburialservicestoImamHusain(A.S)excepthim.Buthewasmilesawayandinchainsasa

prisonerofIbnZiyadinKufa.HethereforecametoKerbalabymiracle.Secondlyonlyheknew

whowaswho.Otherwise,wewouldneverknowwhowasburiedwherethewayweknowtoday.

MIRACLE2

AfterthemartyrdomofImamHusain(A.S)andafterImamZainulAbidin(A.S)hadreturnedto

Medina,somepeoplebegantoconsiderHazratMuhammadHanafiyaastheirImam.Hazrat

MuhammadHanafiyawasImamHusain'syoungerbrotherHewasverypiousandhadnothimself

saidthathewasImam.OnlysomemisguidedpeoplebegantoconsiderhimastheirImam.

Itbecamenecessarytoremovethismisunderstanding.Therefore,Imam(A.S)andhisuncle,

MuhammadHanafiyadecidedtogotogethertowhere"HajarAswad"(Theblackstonenear


26/33


Ka'aba)was.

Atfirst,HazratMuhammadHanafiyaaddressedtheHajaraskingittoconfirmwhotheImamwas.

Buttherewasnoreply.ThenImamZainulAbidin(A.S)addressedtheHajar.Aloudandclearvoice

camefrom"HajarAswad"salutingtheImambyhisfullnameandconfirmingthatheandhealone

wasthe

Imam

of

the

time.

LetitberememberedthatHazratMuhammadHanafiyahimselfhadneverclaimedtobeImam.He

fullysupportedImamZainulAbidin(A.S)butheaddressedHajarAswadonlytoletthemisguided

peopleseeforthemselvesthathewasnotanImam.

Chapter6:ImamAliBinHusain'sSermons,Supplications(Duas)andsaying

INTRODUCTION

Ashehaveseenbefore,thepoliticsofhistimesweresobadthatImam(A.S)couldnotopenly

preachIslam.Ifhedidso,hisenemieswouldgetachanceofpreventinghimfromdoingsoby

puttinghimawayinprisonorevenkillinghim.Hecouldnotthereforeallthetimepreachas

openlyashisgrandparentshaddonebeforehim.

AsanImamappointedbyAllah,heknewwhentoopenlyexposetheenemiesofIslamandwhen

topreachIslamwithoutopenlynamingtheenemies.Wheneverpossible,hegavesermonsin

whichheopenlynamedtheenemiesofIslamandthewrongsthattheydidtothefamilyofthe

Prophet,thoughsuchmomentswererare.Otherwise,theImamusedthesupplications(Duas)

andsayingstoteachproperIslamasopposedtoIslamwhichwasbeingpreachedbythe

oppressivegovernmentofBaniUmayyah.

SERMONS

Theonly

chance

that

the

Imam

had

to

give

an

open

sermon

was

in

the

court

of

Yezid.

It

was

very

importantforhimtodosobecauseallalong,thepeopleofSyriawerebeingtoldliesaboutthe

Prophet(S.A.WW)andhisfamily,especiallyaboutImamAli(A.S),HazratFatima(S.A),Imam

Hassan(A.S)andImamHusain(A.S).IntheeyesoftheSyrians,MuawiyaandYezidwerethetrue

representativesoftheProphet(S.A.W.W)andImamAli(A.S)andhischildrenweretheenemiesof

Islam.


27/33


Asamatteroffact,ImamZainulAbidin(A.S)andthefamilyoftheoftheProphetwerepresented

inthecourtofYezidasthosewhohadfoughtagainstIslam.ItwasveryimportantfortheImam

thereforetotelltheSyrianswhatwasthetruth.ThatistosaythatMuawiyyahandYezidwerethe

enemiesofIslamandtheyhadmurderedtheinnocentmembersofthefamilyoftheProphet

(S.A.WW);

and

the

Imam

gave

avery

powerful

sermon

which

you

have

already

seen

in

chapter

2.

Noticethatinthissermon,theImamdescribesveryopenlyhighpositionoftheProphet(S.A.WW)

hisfamilyandotherrelativesoftheProphet.HealsoprovesthatYezid,hisparentsandhis

grandparentsweretrulytheenemyofIslam.Althoughhenevergotanotherchancetogivea

sermonlikethis,thisonesermonwasenoughtoawakentheSyriansfromthesleepofignorance.

ThissermonwillalwaysbeaguidetothoseMuslimswhoneedtoknowtrulyhoweviltheBani

UmayyahwereandhowvirtuoustheAhlulBaytwere.

TheothersermonthattheImamgavewasveryshortbutveryeffective.WesawthatinChapter2.

ThiswasgiventothepeopleofMedinaonthedaytheImamreturnedfromtheprisonofYezid.

ThepeopleofMedinawerenotindarknessregardingthegoodnessofthefamilyoftheProphet,

thewaythepeopleofSyriawere.ItwasnotatthistimenecessaryfortheImamtoremindthe

peopleofMedinaabouttheevilsofBaniUmayyah;whatthepeopleofMedinaneededtobetold

weretwothings.

First,theyhadtobemadetoknowwhatBaniUmayyahdidtoImamHusain(A.S).Secondly,they

neededtobetoldofwhatwasexpectedofthemnowthatImamHusain(A.S)hadgivenhislife.

AndtheImamdidjustthatinthisshortaddresstothemwhichyouhavealreadyseeninChapter

2.

SUPPLICATION(DUAS)

Supplications("Duas")areakindofprayerstoAllah.Apersonwhoreadsa"Dua"isactually

addressingAllah.

IntheQur'anitselfAllahtellsusofthe"Duas"ofseveralProphetssuchasNabiNuh,NabiIbrahim

andNabiMusa.TheProphettaughthiscompanionSseveralDuas.ImamAlitaughtKumaylBin

ZiyadtheDuaofNabiKhizrwhichcametobeknownas"DuaeKumayl"andwhichisreadevery

Thursdayevening.ImamHusain's(A.S)DuaofthedayofArafatwasintroducedtoyouwhen.we

werelearningaboutthebiographyofImamHusain(A.S).ImamZaiunlAbidin(A.S)thereforewas

notthefirstperson.tostartthisartofaddressingAllahthroughasupplication.

WhatmakesImamZainulAbidin(A.S)sospecialisthat:hemade"Duas"onalmostevery

importantoccasioninaMuslim'slifeandfilledtheseDuaswithknowledgeofverybranchof


28/33


Islam.NoImambeforehimorafterhimhastaughtusasImamZainulAbidin(A.S)didthrough

Duas.

MostofthesupplicationsofImamZainulAbidin(A.S)todayexistinabookcalled"Sahifa

Sajjadiya"(ThebookofSajjad)or"SahifaKamila"(Acompletebook)or""ZabureAle

Muhammad"(The

psalms

of

the

house

of

Muhammad).

The

Imam

used

to

teach

these

Duas

to

his

sonsImamMuhammadBaqir(A.S)andZayd,themartyrThesebooksremainedinthefamilyof

ImamZaiunulAbidinfromgenerationtogenerationandhassurvivedtilltoday.

SahifaEKamila

The"Sahifa"asweknowittodayisacollectionof54Supplications,I4othersupplicationsand15

Munajat.

These"Duas"canbeputintotwogroups:TheDuasthatcanbereadonanyoccasion(E.g.

SupplicationforonesParents,SupplicationinaskingforPardon)andthosewhichareforspecial

occasions(E.g.SupplicationsfordayofArafat,ThedayofIdd).These"Duas"arefullofknowledge

onIslam.ThesubjectslistedherearebutafewexamplesofwhatiscontainedintheseDuas:

HowtoaddressAllah

MeritsoftheProphet(S.A.W.W)andhisfamily

WhatarethemainpartsofIman(Faith)

WhatbehaviorisexpectedfromMuslims

ThroughtheseDuas,theImamtaughtthestandardsandprinciplesforMuslimswhowouldthen

beabletosavethemselvesfrom"CorruptedIslam"thatwasbeingtaughtbytheBaniUmmayya.

SAYINGS

Wheneverhegotachance,theImamwouldadvisehisfollowersonhowtheyweretoleadtheir

lives.Theseadvisesorsayingsareinplenty.Overandabovethat,theImamgavealengthyadvice

onhumanrights.ThesetodayappearinabookformandiscalledRISALATALHUQUQ(Ora

treatiseonrights).Inthisbook,theImam(A.S)givesexamplesof51differentrights.

WeshallreproducehereafewsayingsoftheImamandfewrightsthattheImam(A.S)describes

fullyinhisRISALATALHUQUQ.

ASMALLSELECTIONOFHISSAYINGS:


29/33


1)Once,oneofhiscompanionscomplainedtohimthatoutofjealousysomepeoplewhomhe

hadservedverywellweretreatinghimbadly.TheImamgavehimsomeadvicewhichwas:

*Guardyourtongueanddonotspeakaboutpeoplewhatevercomesoutofyourmouth,

otherwiseyou

will

turn

your

friends

into

your

enemies.

*Avoidsayingthingswhichthemindsofpeoplearenotpreparedtoaccept.

*Hewhodoesnothavewisdomwillberuinedbytheasmallestthing(Mistake).

*WhatharmwillcometoyouifyoutakeallMuslimstobeyourfamilyandyourrelations?

Consideryourelderstobeyourparents,thoseyoungerthanyouasyourchildrenandthoseof

yourageasyourbrothers.Ifyoudosowhoisgoingtoharmorabuseyou?

*Wheneverathoughtcomesinyourmindthatyouarebetterthananyotherperson,thenthink

alongtheselines:Ifthepersonisolderthanyouthenremindyourselfthatthispersonisbetter

thanyouinmattersofIslambecausehehasdonemoregooddeedsthanyouhave.Ifthepersonis

youngerthanyouthenremindyourselfthatthispersonisbetterthanyoubecausehehas

committedlesssinsthanyouhave.Ifheisofyouragethanyourargumentshouldbe:heisbetter

thanyouinmattersofIslamsinceyouknowofyourownsinsbutnotofhis.

*Ifpeopleshowrespecttoyou,thinkthatthisisbecausethepeopleareverygoodnotthatyou

aregood.Ifthepeoplesaybadthingsaboutyou,thinkthatsomethingisreallywrongwithyou.If

youliveinthisway,lifewillbecomepleasantforyou,youwillmakemanyfriendsandyour

enemieswillbefew.

(2)TheImamsaid,"Donothaverelationshipwith,nortalkwithnorgivecompanyto5typesof

people:

*TheLiar:becausetheyarelikemirage:Withtheirwordstheyshowthingsdifferentfromwhat

theyreallyare.Whatisneartheymakeitlookfarandwhatisfartheymakeitlooknear.Inthis

way,theytakeyouawayfromtruth.

*TheGreedyandtheSinner:becauseyoucannotrelyontheirfriendship;forasmallpieceoffood

orevenlessthanthat,theywillsellyou.*TheMiser:becausetheywillletyoudownwhenyou

needthemmost.

*TheFool:becauseevenwhentheytrytodoyougood,theywillendyouindifficulties.


30/33


*ThoseWhohavecutrelationshipwiththeirrelatives,becauseAllahhascursedtheminthe

Qur'an.

(3)TrytoearnahighpositioninParadise(Jannah).

Remember:Highest

positions

will

be

given

to

those

who

have

been

most

useful

to

their

brothers

infaithandwhohavebeenmosthelpfultotheneedy.Remember:Therearetimeswhenaperson

saysbutonegoodsentenceandthatbringshimveryneartoAllahandbringshisfreedomonthe

DayofJudgement.

Neverthinkthatwhatyoudoforyourbrotherinfaithisunimportantbecausethesearethethings

thatwillbeofmuchusetoyouonadaywhennothingelsewillbeofanyuse.

(4)Drinking(Alcoholandotherforbiddendrinks)andGamblingaresuchsinsthattheydestroythe

powertostopcommittingothersins.

(5)(Speaking)Goodwordsincreaseaperson'swealthandsustenance(Rizk),prolonghislife,make

himtobelovedbyhiswifeandchildrenandtakehimtoparadise.

SELECTIONSFROMRISLATEHUQUQ

*MayAllahhavemercyonyou knowthatAllahhasrightsagainstyou.Theserightssurroundyou

inallyourmovements,inyourrest,inallyourbodypartsandeverythingthatyouuse.Someof

theserightsarebigothersaresmall.

*ThegreatestrightwhichisonyouisfromAllahHimselfandthisistherootofallotherrights....

ThegreatestrightofAllahonyouistoworshipHimwithoutassociatinganythingwithHim.Ifyou

dothatwithpurityofheart,Hepromisestogiveyousufficientlywhatyouneedhereandinthe

nextworld...

*Therightsofyourteacheronyouare:Youshouldlookathimwithhonour,listentohimwithfull

attention,sitfacinghimwithrespectanddonotraiseyourvoiceinhispresence.Ifsomeoneasks

himaquestion,youshouldnotreplyitbutlettheteacherdoit.Donotspeaktoanyoneortalk

badthingsaboutothersinfrontofhim.Youshouldhidehisfaultsandspeakofhisgoodqualities.

Keepawayfromhisenemiesanddonotmakeenemieswithhisfriends.Ifyoudoallthese,angels

willbeyourwitnessthatyoudidwhatyouwererequiredtodoandthatyouobtainedknowledge

fromhimforthepleasureofAllahonly.

*Therightsofyourmotherare:shecarriedyouwherenoonecarriesanyoneelse;shefedyou

thefruitofherheartwhichnoonegivestoanyoneelse;sheprotectedyouwithallpartsofher


31/33


body.Shedidnotcareifsheremainedhungryaslongasyouwerefed;ifshewasthirstyaslongas

youdrank;ifshewasnakedaslongyouhadclotheson,ifshewasinthesunsolongasyouwere

inshade.Shelosthersleepforyou,sheprotectedyoufromcoldandheatsothatyoushouldlive.

YouwillneverbeabletothankherunlessifAllahhelpsyou....

*The

right

of

your

neighbour

is

that

you

should

guard

him

(His

belongings)

when

he

is

absent,

respecthimwhenheispresentandhelphimwhenheiswronged.Donotdoanyshamefulactto

him.Ifyouknowofanybadthingsabouthimkeepthatsecret.Ifyouknowhewillacceptyour

advicethengiveittohim.Donotleavehimalonewhenheisintrouble.Helphimoutofhis

troubles,forgivehimifhehaswrongedyouandtreathimgenerously.

Chapter7:HisFamily

HISMARRIAGES

TheImam'sfirstwifewashiscousin,thedaughterofImamHassan(A.S).HernamewasFatima.

Shewasaverypiousperson.ShewasthemotherourfifthImam,HazratMuhammadBaqir(A.S).

Itisreportedthatonceshewassittingleaningagainstthewall.Allofasudden,thewallbeganto

fallon

her.

She

called

out

saying.

"O

wall,

by

the

honour

of

the

Messenger

of

Allah

you

have

no

permissiontofalldownrightknow"andthewallstoodstill.Shemovedawayonlythendidthe

wallfall.Shethengaveincharity100currencies.

OtherthanImamMuhammedBaqir(A.S),hehadfromthismarriage,threeothersonswhose

nameswereAbdAllah,AlHassanandAlHusain.

AccordingtoSheikhMufid,besidesLadyFatima,hehadashiswives,atdifferenttimes,several

slavegirls.Themainreasonbehindthesemarriagewastoraisethepositionofthesehelpless

womenwhohadbecomeslavesbecauseofwars.Bygivingthemaplaceinhishouse,hegave

themaway

to

live

alife

of

independence

and

honor.

For

these

ladies

gave

birth

to

children

who

becamepartofImam'sfamily.Forexample,HazratZaid,whocametobeknownasZaidthe

martyr,wasbornfromaslavegirlfromSindh(India)calledHuriya.

HISCHILDREN


32/33


SheikhMufidinhisbook"AlIrshad"saysthatbesidesImamMuhammadBaqir(A.S),ImamZainul

Abidinhadtenmoresonsandfourdaughters.InthenextunitweshalllearnmoreaboutImam

MuhammadBaqir(A.S);fortherestofthischapterweshalllearnaboutZaid,ImamMuhammad

Baqir'shalfbrother.

ZAIDTHE

MARTYR

ItisreportedthatonceImam'scompanion,AbuHamzaThimaliwassittingwiththeImaminthe

Imam'shouse.SuddenlyamalechildcameinthehouseandrantowardstheImam.

Unfortunately,whilerunning,thechildfelldownandwashurt.TheImam(A.S)wentquicklyto

wherethechildwasandtookhiminhishandswithkindnessandlove.AfterthattheImam(A.S)

begantoweep.

HethentoldthecompanionthatthechildwasnonebuthissonZaidandthatthosedayswerenot

farwhen,asanadult,hewouldriseagainstthecruelgovernment.Hewouldthenbekilledandhis

deadbodybehanged.HealsotoldAbuHamzathathe(AbuHamza)wouldlivetoseethis.Years

laterwhattheImamsaidwouldhappeninfactdidhappen.

HazratZaidwasverypiousandwasagoodreaderoftheQur'an.TheBaniUmayyah'sgovernment

treatedthefamilyoftheProphet,especiallythegrandchildrenofImamAli(A.S)sobadlythat

HazratZaidcouldnotsitquiet.

Hewenttocomplaintothekingofthattime,BinAbdulmalikinDamascus.Hashamreceivedhim

verybadlyinhiscourt.HazratZaidsaidtohim,"FearAllah".

ThisWasenoughtomakeHashamangry.HeshoutedatHazratZaidsaying,"Alowpersonlikeyou

isadvisingmetofearAllah?"HazratZaidreplied,"Thereisnoquestionofbeingloworhigh

amongsttheservantsofAllahwhenitcomestogivingadviceandcallingeachothertowardsfear

ofAllah."

Hashamsaid,"Ihaveheardthatyouwanttobecometherulerbutyouarenotfittobeoneasyou

arethesonofaslavegirl."HazratZaidreplied,"NooneisbettertoAllahthanhisMessenger.

HazratIsmail,smother(Hajra)wasaslavegirlyetHazratIsmailwasaProphetandProphet

Muhammad(S.A.W.W)wasfromhisprogeny."

AsHishamhadnoreplytogive,hestartedabusingImamMuhammadBaqir(A.S)saying,"What

doesyourbrotherBaqarah(TheCow)do?"Hearingthis,HazratZaidwasgreatlyhurtandreplied,

Hashamwithoutanyfear,saying'"OHisham,theProphet(S.A.W.W)gavehimthenameofBaqir

andyoucallhimBaqarrah.YouractionsMeoppositetothatoftheProphet(S.A.WW).OntheDay

ofJudgementyouwillbeequallyfarfromhim.Baqirwillgotoparadiseandyouwillgotohell."


33/33

Presented by http://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

BytheordersofHisham,HazratZaidwasthrownoutofcourt'HewentawaytoKufa.Fromthere

heraisedanarmytofightagainsttheBaniUmayyah.HehadfollowersinWasit,Mosel,Khurasan

Ray,andJurjan.InKufaalonehehadabout15000supporters.Amonghisfollowerswerereaderof

Qur'an,religiousscholarsandlawyers.

HishamsentabigarmyunderthecommandofYusufBinUmarSaqafi.Unfortunately,mostof

HazratZaid'ssupporterslefthim.Onlythreehundredsoldiersremainedwithhimwhenhecame

tothebattlefield.Hefoughtverybravelyuntil.hewasmartyred,havingbeenhitbyanarrowon

hisforehead.ThiswasinA.H.121.

HissonYahyaburiedhimsecretlyunderariverbankbutHasham'smenfounditoutanddugout

thebodyHazratZaid'sbodywasputonascaffoldinEgypt.Itremainedthereforsometimethen

itwasburntandtheashesthrowninthewind.Thusendedthelifeofoneofthemostnoble

servantsofAllah.

A Brief Biography of Ali Ibn Husain_a_s

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