Download PDF: [S] Imam Zainul Abedeen (Islamic story)

It is mentioned that before he was nominated as the Caliph,Hisham bin Abdul Malik was once inside the Haram Shareef and wanted to kiss the Hajre Aswad. However, due to the crowd, he did not get a chance of even getting near the Hajre Aswad.

 

Suddenly people began to notice an extremely handsome looking person approaching the Hajre Aswad. His blessed face was also full of Nur and he looked extremely pious. Everyone moved to one side and gave this person a path to approach the Hajre Aswad and kiss it. This person then kissed the Black Stone peacefully without any rush and left.

 

The people around Hishaam asked him who this person was he replied that he had no idea who this person was. However, Farzuq, who was a famous poet of the era and was a great admirer of the Ahle Bayt stood up and said, “I know who this person is,” and he then read a few couplets in praise of this person. This Saint was none other than Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Ali bin Husain bin Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – or as he is famously known, “Imam Zainul Aabideen”.

 

The immense scale of his Ibadah was such that he used to perform nearly one thousand rak’ah every day. Even when Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – was travelling, he never missed the Tahajjud Salaah. When he made Wudu, his face became pale and when he stood up to commence his Salaah, he used to tremble. When someone once asked him the reason for this, he replied, “Have you any idea in front of Whom I am about to stand?” When a severe wind passed by, Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – used to lose consciousness thinking that the moment of Qiyamah has arrived.

 

Some of Imam Zainul Aabideen’s – may Allah be pleased with him – Du’a and advice are:

 

  1. I seek protection in Allah Almighty from the fact that in the eyes of people I look good and noble while in reality I am bad.

 

  1. There are certain people who make Ibadah out of fear for Allah Almighty, this is the Ibadah of the slaves or servants. There are some who make Ibadah for reward. This is the Ibadah of the business people. There are some who make Ibadah merely to thank Him for His Divine Favours, this is the Ibadah of the slave who is free.

 

Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – never allowed anyone to help him in Wudu. He used to bring water himself for Wudu and in the evening, and used to cover the container of water. When he walked, he never shook his hands at the side as people do who are full of pride.

 

Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – was also shocked at those who showed pride. He used to say to these people, “Yesterday, you were a piece of impure flesh and tomorrow, you will just be a rotting corpse.”

 

Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – used to say that he was shocked at those who worked so hard for a world which will be destroyed and completely ignore deeds which will help and enable them in the Hereafter.

 

There was also a large population in Madina Shareef who had no idea where they used to get provisions from. However, when Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – passed away, only then did they realise that he was the person who used to help them. It is said that there were more than a hundred families like this. In other words, the great Imam used to leave food parcels at their doorway without them noticing who was leaving these food parcels. This is the message given in the Hadith where it is stated that among the beloved servants of the Allah Almighty are those who give with their right hand and give so silently that their left hand remains ignorant.

 

Imam Mohammed Baqir – may Allah be pleased with him, the beloved son of the great Imam, has stated that his blessed father gave him advice to refrain from the company of five types of people. The first is a sinful or rude person because he will sell you for a mere morsel of bread or for even less. The second is a liar. The reason is that these people are fraudulent. That which is near, they make it look far and that which is far, they make it look near. The third person is someone who is an idiot or is stupid. He is someone who thinks that he is creating a benefit for you but in reality, he is only creating danger for you. The fourth person is that person who breaks family ties. Such a person has been cursed on three occasions in the Qur’an.

 

It is mentioned that once someone accused Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – without any basis. To this, he replied, “If I am as you say I am, then I seek forgiveness from the Allah Almighty and if I am not like you say, then I ask the Allah Almighty to pardon you.”

 

When the accuser saw the immense humility of the great Imam, he could do nothing but apologise for this show of disrespect. He then kissed the great Imam on his forehead and then declared, “There is no doubt that you are as people have mentioned. Please forgive me for this show of disrespect”. The person then mentioned that indeed Allah Almighty knows where He places his Prophethood.

 

Once a certain person came to visit Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him. A servant brought a hot bowl of food and accidentally, this fell on the little child that was nearby. This was the son of the great Imam. The child was burnt was so badly that he passed away. Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – pardoned the servant saying that he had not done this deliberately and also freed him. Thereafter, the great Imam performed the final rites for this child.

 

It is mentioned that once the great Imam went to meet the son of Hadrat Sayyiduna Usaamah bin Zaid – may Allah be pleased with him – who was unwell. When he saw the great Imam, Hadrat Sayyiduna Mohammed bin Usaamah – may Allah be pleased with him – began to weep. When Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – asked him the reason for his weeping, he mentioned that he had a debt of nearly fifteen thousand Dinaars and was extremely worried about this. However, Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – mentioned that he should not bother about this because he will personally pay off this debt.

Once day, while Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – was leaving the Masjid, a person approached him and started to insult him. His friends and Mureeds wanted to take this person to task, but Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – stopped them. He then looked at the person and said, “What you have explained about me, in fact, I am worse than what you have explained. If there is any need you have, please explain that need so that I can fulfil it.”

 

It is mentioned that the person was extremely embarrassed. He then took his shawl and gave it to the person and also asked his servants and Mureeds to give the person another one thousand Dinaars. After this incident, the person used to always say, “I bear witness that indeed you are the son of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.”

 

Some people had the false impression that Imam Zainul Aabideen – may Allah be pleased with him – was extremely wealthy, but this was far from the truth. It was his habit never to turn away any person who came to him. He was someone who was blessed with immense kindness and generosity. When the Dunya came near him in the form of wealth and riches, he was always in a hurry to distribute this among the poor and needy. (Ar Rouad Ar Riyaheen)