Ali ibn al-Husayn Zaynul-Abidin

The holy Imam Ali Zaynul-Abidin is the Fourth Apostolic Imam. His epithet was Abu Muhammad and was popularly titled as Zaynul-Abidin. The mother of this Holy Imam was the royal personage, Shahr Banu, the daughter of King Yazdgerd, the last pre-Islamic Ruler of Persia. Imam Zaynul-Abidin spent the first two years of his infancy in the lap of his grandfather Ali ibn Abi Talib and then for twelve years he had the gracious patronage of his uncle, the second Holy Imam al-Hassan ibn All. In 61 AH, he was present in Karbala, at the time of the gruesome tragedy of the wholesale massacre of his father, his uncles, his brothers, his cousins and all the godly comrades of his father; and suffered a heartless captivity and imprisonment at the hands of the devilish forces of Yazid. When Imam Hussein had come for the last time to his camp to bid goodbye to his family, Ali Zaynul-Abidin was lying semiconscious in his sickbed and hence he escaped the massacre in Karbala.

Imam Husayn could only manage a very brief talk with the inmates of his camp and departed nominating his sick son as Imam.The Holy Imam Zaynul-Abidin lived for about thirty-four years after his father and all his life he passed in prayers and supplication to Allah and in remembrance of his martyred father.

 It is for his ever being in prayers to Allah, mostly lying in prayerful prostration, that this Holy Imam was popularly called "Sajjad". The knowledge and piety of this Holy Imam was matchless.

 az-Zuhrl, al-Waqid; and Ibn ’Uyaynah say that they could not find any one equal to him in piety and godliness. He was so mindful of Allah that whenever he sat for ablution for prayers, the complexion of his face would change and when he stood at prayer his body was seen trembling. When asked why this was, he replied, "Know ye not before whom I stand in prayer, and with whom I hold discourse?Even on the gruesome day of Ashura when Yazid’s forces had massacred his father, his kith and kin and his comrades and had set fire to the camp, this Holy Imam was engrossed in his supplications to the Lord.

When the brutal forces of Yazid’s army had taken the ladies and children as captives, carrying them seated on the bare back of the camels, tied in ropes; this Holy Imam, though sick, was put in heavy chains with iron rings round his neck and his ankles, and was made to walk barefooted on the thorny plains from Karbala to Kufah and to Damascus; and even then this godly soul never was unmindful of his prayers to the Lord and was always thankful and supplicative to Him. His charity was unassuming and hidden. After his passing away, the people said that hidden charity ended with the departure of this Holy Imam. Like his grand-father Ali ibn Abi Talib, Ali Zaynul-Abidin used to carry on his own back at night bags of flour and bread for the poor and needy families in Medina and he so maintained hundred of poor families in the city.The Holy Imam was not only hospitable even to his enemies but also used to continually exhort them to the right path. Imam Zaynu l-Abidin along with the AhluI-Bayt passed through dreadful and very dangerous times, for the aggressions and atrocities of the tyrant rulers of the age had reached a climax. There was plunder, pillage, and murder everywhere.

The teachings of Islam were observed more in their breach. The heartless tyrant al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf ath-Thaqaf; was threatening every one who professed allegiance or devotion to the AhluI-Bayt; and those caught were mercilessly put to death. The movement of the Holy Imam was strictly restricted and his meeting with any person was totally banned. Spies were employed to trace out the adherents of the AhluI-Bayt. Practically every house was searched and every family scrutinized.

Imam Zaynul-Abidin was not given the time to offer his prayers peacefully, nor could he deliver any sermons. This God’s Vicegerent on earth therefore, adopted a third course which proved to be very beneficial to his followers.

 This was in compiling supplicative prayers for the daily use of man in his endeavour to approach the Almighty Lord. The invaluable collection of his edited prayers are known as as-Sahifah al-Kdmilah or as-Sahifah as-Sajjddiyyah; it is known also as az-Zabur (Psalm) of Al Muhammad The collection is an invaluable treasury of wonderfully effective supplications to the Lord in inimitably beautiful language. Only those who have ever come across those supplications would know the excellence and the beneficial effect of these prayers. Through these prayers the Imam gave all the necessary guidance to the faithful during his seclusion. On the 25th of Muharram 95 AH when he was in Medina, al-Walid ibn Abdi l-Malik ibn Marwan, the then ruler got this Holy Imam martyred by poison. The funeral prayers for this Holy Imam were conducted by h

Imam Sajjad’s Forgiveness

There is a Joy in Forgiveness in which You cannot Find in Revenge

A man related to Imam Sajjad (as) came to him, and started cursing the Imam.

Imam Sajjad (as) did not answer the man. When the man left, Imam Sajjad (as) said to his companions, "you have heard what this man said to me; I would like you to come with me so that you can hear my reply to him."

The companions replied, "We will come with you, for we would like you to answer him back. We too would like to say something to him."

Imam Sajjad (as) put on his shoes and he read this verse as he began to leave, "...Those who lower and suppress their anger, yet forgive people, truly Allah loves them." (3:134)

Hearing that, the companions of Imam Sajjad (as) understood that the Imam will not answer the man back.

They walked towards the man’s house till they reached to his door. With a loud voice Imam (as) said, "Tell him Ali-ibn al-Hussain is here." The man came out offensively prepared to face the punishment of Imam Sajjad (as). But Imam Sajjad (as) told the man, "My Brother! A few moments ago you came to me, and you said whatever you wished.

If what you said about me is true within me, then I will ask Allah for forgiveness; and if what you said is not within me, then May Allah forgive you."

At that time the man kissed Imam Sajjad’s (as) forehead and said: "I said something about you that is not in you, yHazrat Sajjad (as) and the Sahifa-e-Sajjadia

   When the Imam got stuck in a tight corner and was virtually besieged he was obliged to state his objects and motive in the form of the prayers. These prayers have been compiled in the shape of a book named "Sahifa-e-Sajjadia." This is an ocean of topics and objects of science, mathematics, physics, astronomy, social and political sciences and ethics. Obviously and apparently this is a book of prayers.

But, in fact, this is the expression of fact, pains, and difficulties. We present here a few sentences of it as a specimen.

1. Oh God! I take asylum and refuge with you from the revolt, and rebellious (attitude) refractoriness, of the anger and jealousy and the scarcity of patience, and extravagance and intemperance in life.

Oh God! Keep me alive till my life is led in your service and obedience and when it becomes the pasture and meadow of Satan, take me towards yourself and take my life.

2. Oh sons! Respect you father and mother because if the father was not there you would not have come into existence. Look at the mother that she looks after you with all of her existence (energies). She is not afraid of it that she herself remains hungry and feeds you. She herself remains cloth less (without dress) and covers (dresses) you. She remains in the sun and places you in the Shadow. You cannot thank her. This is God who has the power of thanking her (giving her the reward).

3. Watch over and attend your child because his good or bad (virtues) are related and connected to you and you are responsible for his training and guidance.

4. Be kind to your brother and sister because he/she is your hand (helper) and your power. Help him against the enemy and be his well wisher.

5. Respect your teacher and be polite in his assembly (session) and listen carefully to his words. Do not talk loudly before him. If somebody questions him about something do not reply before he does although you may know the answer to that (question).

6. Respect your neighbor and help and assist him. If you happen to observe a fault or sin of him do hide it and when he slips (commits sin) admonish him.

7. Be just in your conduct and behavior with friend and love him as he loves you.

If he makes up his mind to commit a sin stop him from that and always be a blessing for him, not a torment for him.

Sahife Sajjadiya(text and translation)

et I deserve whatever I said to you."

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا خُزَّانَ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا تَرَاجِمَةَ وَحْيِ اللَّه

 Peace be on you, O depositories of Allah"s knowledge! Peace be on you, O commentators of "Wahi"

(revealed words of Allah)!

  السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَئِمَّةَ الْهُدَى السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَعْلاَمَ التُّقَى

Peace be on you, O rightly guided Guides unto the true way of life! Peace be on you, O symbols of devotion to duty!

  السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَوْلاَدَ رَسُولِ اللَّه

Peace be on you, O descendants of the Messenger of Allah!

  أَنَا عَارِفٌ بِحَقِّكُمْ مُسْتَبْصِرٌ بِشَأْنِكُمْ مُعَادٍ لِأَعْدَائِكُمْ مُوَالٍ لِأَوْلِيَائِكُمْ بِأَبِي أَنْتُمْ وَ أُمِّي صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُم

I am aware of your true rights;look attentively at your refined disposition, full of joy, honour and dignity, take leave and go far away from your enemies, love dearly and keep company of your friends, with my father (I am) at your disposal, and also my mother, blessings of Allah be on you.

  اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَتَوَالَى آخِرَهُمْ كَمَا تَوَالَيْتُ أَوَّلَهُم

O my Allah, I willingly submit (out of love and friendship) to all of them in unbroken succession, just as Thou appointed the first of them the "Mawlaa",

  وَ أَبْرَأُ مِنْ كُلِّ وَلِيجَةٍ دُونَهُمْ وَ أَكْفُرُ بِالْجِبْتِ وَ الطَّاغُوتِ وَ اللاَّتِ وَ الْعُزَّى

and I am free from the guilt of taking shelter with any other save them, deny and curse "Jibt" and "taghoot""Laat" and "Uzzaa"

  صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا مَوَالِيَّ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُه

Blessings of Allah be on you O my beloved Mawlaas! Mercy of Allah be on you, and His blessings

  السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا سَيِّدَ الْعَابِدِينَ وَ سُلاَلَةَ الْوَصِيِّين

Peace be on you, O pride of worshippers (of Allah)(Zaynul A"abideen), the founder of the family of the successors (Imams).

  السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بَاقِرَ عِلْمِ النَّبِيِّين

Peace be on you, (O Baaqir), he who inherited, knew, and enlarged the knowledge of the Prophets.

  السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا صَادِقاً مُصَدَّقاً فِي الْقَوْلِ وَ الْفِعْل

Peace be on you, O (Saadiq) truthful, his words were true, his deeds were good.

  يَا مَوَالِيَّ هَذَا يَوْمُكُمْ وَ هُوَ يَوْمُ الثُّلاَثَاءِ وَ أَنَا فِيهِ ضَيْفٌ لَكُم

O my Mawlaas! today is your day, Tuesday, in its hours I take refuge with you,

  وَ مُسْتَجِيرٌ بِكُمْ فَأَضِيفُونِي وَ أَجِيرُونِي بِمَنْزِلَةِ اللَّهِ عِنْدَكُمْ وَ آلِ بَيْتِكُمْ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِين

and seek your nearness, therefore receive me with open arms, and let me be near you, in the name and for the sake of your belief in Allah, and (belief) of your pure and pious family.