His Proclaiming Knowledge
After the tragedy of Karbala, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, devoted himself to proclaiming knowledge among the people. He did not confine himself to the science of tradition and jurisprudence. Rather, he took care of ethics, literature, philosophy, and wisdom. Moreover, he supplied the Islamic thought with large abilities of knowledge, wisdom, and etiquette. His book called ' al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiya', his treatise on rights, the encyclopedias of tradition, and the books of ethics are full of them.His Urging (the Moslems) to seek Knowledge
He, peace be on him, urged the Moslems to seek knowledge. He summoned them to strive to study knowledge because it is the creative means for their development and the prosper of their life. He, peace be on him said: "If people knew what is in seeking knowledge, they would seek it even through shedding blood and wading into the depth of the sea.He, peace be on him, advised some of his companions to spread knowledge. In addition he ordered them not to be proud towards the teacher. He, peace be on him, said: Indeed if you are good in teaching the people and do not show pride towards them, Allah will increase you from His favor. If you prevent them from learning your knowledge, then it is incumbent on Allah, the Great and Almighty, to deprive you of knowledge and its splendor and to drop your position from the hearts.1
His Honoring the Seekers of Knowledge
He, peace be on him, took care of the seekers of knowledge and raised their position. When he saw one of them, he said: "Welcome to the will of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family. "Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "When my father, Zayn al-____________
1. Radi al-Din al-Tubrisi, Makarim al-Akhlaq, p. 143.
'Abidin, looked at the young men who sought knowledge, he made them nearer to him, saying:' Welcome to you, you are the deposits of knowledge. If you are the young men of people, you are about to be the elders of others.1
The Readers of the Koran cleaved to him
The readers of the Koran devoted themselves to Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin to learn from him sciences, knowledge, and manners of conduct. Sa'id b. al-Musayyab talked about their cleaving to the Ima`m, saying: "Indeed, the readers of the Koran did not go to Mecca till 'Ali b. al-Husayn went there. He went there and a thousand riders went with him.2His Freeing of Slaves
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, felt pity for slaves. Thus, he bought them and their women. Then he released them all to enjoy freedom and dignity. When he released them, he gave them enough money to be in no need of people.He adopted a group of slaves. Then he taught them various kinds of knowledge and sciences. A large group of them graduated from his school. They were among the great scholars at that time. That was the reason why the slaves headed the scientific movement during those times. That was also the reason why they followed the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, and joined every political movement that summoned the people to get rid of the Umayyad government and to return the caliphate to the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, who were the refuge for every poor and deprived person.
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1. Al-Dur al-Nazim, p. 181. Al-Anwar al-Bahiya, p. 103.
2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. p. 83.
His Worship and his Piety
Imam Zayn al-'Abidin was among the monks of this community in his worship and piety. He was given the nick-name of Dhi al-Thafanat (the one with calluses). That was because of his many prostrations (in prayer). He was also given the nick-name of al-Mujtahid (the hardworking one), Zayn al-'Abidin (the ornament of the worshipers), and Sayyid al-'Abidin (the Lord of the worshipers).1 The nick-name of al-Sajja`d refers to his constant worship and his great cleaving to Allah. The historians reported that when he used to perform ritual ablutions, his skin would turn yellow. Thus, his family said to him: "What is that which hits you during the ablution? "He said to them: "Do you not know before whom I want to stand?2 His son, al-Ba`qir, came to him. He found him worshipping Allah to the extent that he turned pale because of staying up at night, his eyes had white secretion because of weeping, his forehead festered because of much prostration (in prayer), and his legs swelled because of praying at night. So, his son burst into tears. However, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin was praying. When he saw his son, he ordered him to give him the parchments in which there was the (practice of) worship of his grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. His son gave him those parchments. He considered them carefully. Then he left them out of boredom and said: "Who is strong enough to perform the worship of 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib ?3When he, peace be on him, rose to pray before Allah, he turned toward the Great Creator with his heart and his feelings. No affair of this life made him busy. Imam al-Ba`qir said : "When my father rose to pray, he did not busy himself in other than it and did not hear anything, for he devoted himself to it. "One of his children fell and broke his hand. His family cried. Then they sent for the bone setter. He set the hand of the child who was crying because of the intense pain. The Ima`m did not hear anything. When he entered upon
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1. Al-Dur al-Nazim, p. 179.
2. Durr al-Abkar fi Safwat al-Akhyar.
3. A'lam al-Wara, p. 360.
morning and saw the boy's splint hand, he asked about that. So, his family told him about that.1
Worship strained him very much. Indeed he overexerted himself for it. Thus, his family feared for his safety. They begged him to decrease his worship. However, he refused that. Imam al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "When Fa`tima, the daughter of the Commander of the Faithful, saw her nephew, 'Ali b. al-Husayn, overexerting himself in worshipping, she went to Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri and said to him: "O Companion of the Apostle of Allah, indeed, we have rights with you. Among our rights with you is that when you see one of us overexerting himself, you must make him remember Allah and ask him to relieve himself. The nose of 'Ali b. al-Husayn, the rest of his father, al-Husayn, has been torn. His forehead, his kneels, and his palms (of the hands) have become swollen. That is because he has overexerted himself in worshipping.
So, Ja`bir went to Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin. He found him overexerting himself in worshipping at his mihrab. The Ima`m rose to receive Ja`bir. He seated him beside him and asked him very much about his condition. Then Ja`bir asked the Ima`m:
O Son of the Apostle of Allah, do you not know that Allah has created Paradise for you and for those who love you and created Fire for those who hate you and show enmity towards you ? So, why do you overexert yourself ?"
The Ima`m answered Ja`bir with kindness and affection: "O Companion of the Apostle of Allah, do you not know that Allah has forgiven my grandfather, Allah's Apostle, his past and following faults ? Still he overexerted himself for Allah. May my father and mother be ransom for Allah's Apostle, he worshipped Allah till his leg and his foot became swollen. It was said to him:' Do you do that while Allah has forgiven you your past and following faults ?' Thus, he said:' Should I not be a grateful servant ?'
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1. Al-Dur al-Nazim, p. 179.
When Ja`bir knew that the Ima`m insisted on overexerting himself, he said to him: "O Son of the Apostle of Allah, spare your life. That is because you are from the family through whom the tribulation is driven away, through whom the illness is cured, and through whom the sky rains."
The Ima`m replied him with a faint voice: "I will continue the way of my father and of my grandfather. I will follow their example till I meet them.
Ja`bir was astonished. Thus, he said to those who were around him : "No child of the prophets was like 'Ali b. al-Husayn except Joseph, the son of Jacob. By Allah, the children of al-Husayn are better than the children of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Indeed one of them will fill the earth with justice as it had been filled with injustice.1
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin was the Ima`m of the pious and the repentant. Indeed he overexerted himself in his worshipping. He was loyal in his obedience. He cleaved to Allah to the extent that even saints did not do that.
His Alms and his Kindness
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin was the kindest of all the people to the weak, the gentlest of them to the needy and the most merciful of them to the miserable. He preferred the poor to himself and his family. The historians have unanimously agreed that he carried a bag of bread on his back and divided it among the poor as alms. He said: "Indeed the secret alms put out the Lord's wrath. 2He maintained one hundred families in Medina.3 He had kissed the poor person before he gave____________
1. Ahmed Fahmi, Imam Zayn al-'Abidin, pp. 72-73.
2. Hulyat al-Awliya', vol. 3, p. 136.
3. Ibid.
him the alms.1 He did that lest the poor should feel abasement. The historians said: "When Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) washed his father, some of those who attended his washing saw that his kneels and the outside of his feet were like those of the he-camel. That is because the Imam prostrated (in prayer) very much. Meanwhile they looked at his shoulders and saw that they were similar to his kneels and feet. Thus, they asked Ima`m al-Ba`qir about that. He, peace be on him, said: "If he was living, I would not tell you about that. Every day, he as far as possible fed a needy person up wards. When the night came, he looked at what remained from the food of his family at that day of theirs. He put the food into the bag. When the people became calm, he put the bag on his shoulder. He went through (the streets) of Medina. He intended to reach a group of people who did not ask the people for alms. He reached them while they did not know him. No one of his family knew that except me. I knew that he wanted to give alms secretly with his own hand. He said: "The secret alms put out the Lord's wrath.2
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, reported some of his father's alms, saying: "Perhaps my father bought a silk garment for fifty dinars. He spent the winter wearing it. He entered the mosque wearing it. When the summer came, he ordered the garment to be given as alms or he ordered it to be bought to give its price as alms.3
Indeed Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin was unique in the history of mankind. That is because his moral criteria and his psychological merits raised him to the level which nobody reached except his grandfathers.
The Wonderful Poem of al-Farazdaq
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, went to the Sacred____________
1. Ibid.
2. Da'a'im al-Islam, vol. 2, p. 188.
3. Ibid, p. 156.
House of Allah to perform the pilgrimage. Meanwhile Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik went there for the same purpose. The latter did his best to touch the Black Stone but he was unable to do that, for the people overcrowded around it. A pulpit was installed and he sat on it. He began looking at the circumambulation of the people. Then Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin came to perform his circumambulation. When the pilgrims saw him, they were astonished at his solemnity that was similar to the solemnity of his grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. The people were shouting loudly: "There is no god but God! Allah is great!"They made two queues for him. Happy was he who saw him, kissed his hand, and touched his shoulder. That is because the Ima`m was the rest of Allah in his earth. The Syrians were astonished when they saw that situation. That is because the pilgrims did not received Hisha`m, who was the nominated caliph after his father, warmly though the Syrians honored him and the policemen surrounded him. One of Hisha`m's companions asked him: "Who is that man whom the people have honored very much?
Hisha`m burst into anger, shouted at the man, saying : "I do not know him!
He claimed that he did not know the Ima`m lest the people should know him. Al-Farazdaq was there. He did not control himself. Thus, he said to the Syrians:
I know him.
Who is he, Abu` Fira`s?"asked the Syrians.
Hisha`m shouted at al-Farazdaq, saying:
I do not know him!"
Yes, you know him,"replied al-Farazdaq.
Then he rose and composed the following poem whose effect was stronger than the hitting of the swords and the stabbing of the spears against Hisha`m. He said:
This is the son of Husayn and the son of Fa`tima the daughter of the Apostle through whom the darkness dispersed.
This is he whose ability the valley (of Mecca) recognizes, and whom the (Sacred) House (as do) the sanctuary and the area outside
the sanctuary (al-hill).
This is the son of the best of Allah's servants. This is the pure pious man, the pure eminent man.
When Quraysh saw him, their spokesman said:
Liberality terminates at the outstanding qualities of this (man).
He belongs to the top of glory which the Arabs of Islam and non-Arabs fall short of obtaining.
When he comes to touch the wall of the Kaaba, it almost grasps the palm of his hand.
He takes care to be modest and he is protected from his terror. He only speaks when he smiles.
There is a cane in his hand. Its smell is fragrant from the hand of the most wonderful (of all the people), who is proud.
The prophets yielded to his grandfather's favor. The nations yielded to the favor of his community.
The light of guidance emanates from the light of his forehead. He is like the sun whose shining disperses darkness.
His tree belongs to the Apostle of Allah. Its elements, its natures, and its qualities are good.
This is the son of Fa`tima if you do not recognize him. The prophets of Allah were ended by his grandfather.
Allah honored and favored him from antiquity.
Your words ' who is this?’ do not harm him. The Arabs and non-Arabs recognize him whom you deny.
Both his hands are relief. Their advantage has prevailed. The hands are equal. Nonexistence does not befall them.
He is the carrier of the burdens of the people when they are oppressed.
His qualities are good. The ' yes’ is sweet with him.
He does not break the promise. His soul is blessed. His courtyard is wide. He is clever when he decides.
He is from the people whose love is religion, whose hate is unbelief, whose approach is refuge and protection.
If the God-fearing are numbered, they are their Ima`ms. If it is said who are the best of the earth, it is said they are.
No generous man can reach their far purpose. No people, though generous, can compete with them (for generosity).
They are rain when a crisis happens. They are lions when fear becomes intense.
Poverty does not decreases the relief from their hands. That is the same, whether they are rich or poor.
Misfortune and tribulation are driven away through their love.
Kindness and the blessings are regained through it.
In every affair their praise is after the praise of Allah. The speech is ended by it.
Abasement refuses to stop at their space. Their natures are noble, and their hands are full of liberality.
None of mankind has within their souls such primacy as he does nor such grace as he does.
Whoever knows Allah, knows His friend. Religion is from the House of this man.
Hisham burst into anger. He wished that the earth would swallow him up. He was displeased to hear this poem called al-'Asma`'. That is because it indicated the high social rank of the great Ima`m. Besides it made the Syrians recognize him, for they did not recognize him nor did they recognize his grandfathers. Accordingly, Hisha`m ordered al-Farazdaq to be imprisoned at a place called 'Asfan between Mecca and Medina. Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin heard of that, so he sent al-Farazdaq twelve thousand dirhams. However, al-Farazdaq returned them. He refused to accept them and said: "I said that concerning you as anger for Allah and His Apostle."The Ima`m returned them and al-Farazdaq agreed to accept them. Then al-Farazdaq began dispraising Hisham.1
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1. Nihayat al-Irab, vol. 21, pp. 327-331
Deep Sadness
In this world nobody was afflicted with disaster as Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him. That is because he suffered from the fears of the disaster of Karbala`'. He saw the stages of that tragedy that is immortal in the world of grief. He was ill, for illnesses and diseases attacked him. Those sad sights melted his heart. Thus, they moved him to weep continuously. His deep sadness increased in the course of days. So, sadness melted him. His sadness for his father became great to the extent that he mixed his food with his tears.1 Thus, some of his followers begged him to be patient, saying : "We are afraid that you will be among the perished. "However, the Ima`m answered them kindly : "I express my grief and my sadness before Allah. I know what you do not know. Indeed Jacob was a prophet. He had twelve children. Allah concealed on of his children. Jacob knew that his child was living. Still, he wept over him to the extent that his eyes became white because of sadness. For me, I looked at my father, my brothers, my uncles, and my companions. They were killed around me. So, how does my sadness end ? When I remember the murder of the son of Fa`tima (Ima`m Husayn), I burst into tears. When I look at my aunts and my sisters, I remember the day when they escaped from tent to tent at the Battle of Karbala`'. Nevertheless, the caller of the people shouted:' Burn the tents of the oppressive. 'Those painful sights that occurred at Karbala`' motivated his sadness and sorrow. So, he is numbered as one of the five weeping persons who have represented sadness and weeping in the arena of life for centuries.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, witnessed that exhausting sadness that befell his father. Thus, he became very impatient. Perhaps he shared his father his weeping and his grief.
His Commandments to his Son al-Ba`qir
The great Ima`m supplied his son al-Ba`qir and all his children with educational commandments full of high manners and noble____________
1. Hayat al-Imam al-Husayn, vol. 3, p. 327.
values. They achieve safety, rest, and tranquillity to those who put them into practice. The following are some of them:
1. He, peace be on him, said to his son, al-Ba`qir: "O My little son, do not make friends with five (persons), and do not talk with them. Do not make friends with the sinner, for he sells you for a meal or less than it. I (al-Baqir) said: My father, what do you mean by less than it ?' He replied:' He wishes for it, then he will not obtain it. ' Do not make friends with the miser, for he abandons you when you are in need of him. Do not make friends with the liar, for he is like the mirage. He makes the near (things)far for you, and he makes the distant (things) near for you. Do not make friends with the fool, for he wants to avail you but he harms you. It was said:' A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend. ' Do not make friends with him who abandons his close relatives, for he is cursed at three places in Allah's Book: in the Chapter of Mohammed, Allah, the Most High, said:' But if you held command, you were sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship! It is those whom Allah has cursed. So, He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes.1 In the Chapter of al-Ra'd, Allah, the Exalted, said: 'And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut asunder that which Allah has ordered to be joined and make mischief in the land; (as for) those, upon them shall be a curse and they shall have the evil (issue) of the abode.2 In the Chapter of al-Ahza`b, Allah, the Most High, said:' Surely (as for) those who speak evil things of Allah and His Apostle, Allah has cursed them in this world and the hereafter, and He has prepared for them a chastisement bringing disgrace.’34
In these commandments the Ima`m, peace be on him, warned Moslems of making friends with the above-mentioned persons whose morals are bad, for the psychological illnesses of such people pass along their friends. Indeed friendship has a great effect on forming the
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1. Koran, 47, 22-23.
2. Koran, 13, 25.
3. Kpran, 33, 57.
4. Al-Ithaf bi Hub al-Ashraf, p. 282.
personal behavior of the individual.
2. He, peace be on him, recommended his son, al-Ba`qir, with these valuable commandments. He said to him: "Do good for everybody who asks you for it. If he is appropriate for it, then you are right in giving it. If he is inappropriate for it, then you are appropriate for it. If a man abuses you on your right hand and then the man moves to your left hand and apologizes to you, then accept his apology.1
These commandments are full of the noble ethics which the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, adopted. They urged the Moslems to do good and asked them to forgive those who mistreated them. These are the most prominent qualities of them.
3. Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "My father, 'Ali b. al-Husayn, said to his children:' Be careful of small and big lies during seriousness and joking. That is because if the person tells a small lie, he will tell a big one.’2
The Ima`m, peace be on him, urged his children to adopt good deeds. He planted noble qualities in themselves. He prevented them from practicing the deeds that corrupt man's behavior.
4. Imam Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, recommended his son, Ima`m al-Ba`qir, to cleave to the following excellent commandments. He, peace be on him, said: "My little son, intellect is the guide of the soul. Knowledge is the guide of the intellect. Intellect is the translator of knowledge. Know that knowledge is more surviving, the tongue is more prattling, and that the reform of all the world is in two words- cleverness and heedlessness.3 For man does not neglects what he has already regonized. Know that the hours decrease your lifetime. You do not obtain a blessing but through
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1. Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 282.
2. Wasa'il al-Shi'a. vol. 3, p. 232.
3. Many authors ascribed these golden words to Imam al-Baqir.
leaving another blessing. Beware of the long hope.1
These are some of his commandments. They are full of high morals, valuable wise sayings, and sound directions. The Ima`m did not put them for his children only. Rather he put them for all people regardless of their nationalities and their religions.
