Name : ‘Ali
Title : Zaynu’l-Abedin.
Agnomen : Abu Muhammd.
Father’s name : Al-Husain Sayyidu ‘sh-Shuda’.
Mother’s name : Shahr Banu, daughter of Yazdeger III, the king of Persia.
Birth : In Medina, on Saturday, 15th Jamuada ‘l-ula 36 AH.
Death : Died at the age of 58, 15th Jamuada’l-ula 36 AH. Walid ibn
Abdi’l-Malik ibn Marwan on 25th Muharram 95 AH; Buried in
Jannatul Baqi, in Medina.

The Holy Imam ‘Ali Zaynu’l-Abedin is the Fourth Apostolic Imam. His epithet was Abu Muhammad and was popularly titled as “Zaynu’l-Abedin”. The mother of this Holy Imam was the royal personage, Shahr Banu, the daughter of King Yazdegerd, the last pre-Islamic Ruler of Persia. Imam Zaynu’l-Abedin spent the first two years of his infancy in the lap of his grand father ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib and then for twelve years he had the gracious patronage of his uncle, the second Holy Imam al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali. In 61AH, 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 Husain had come for the last time to his camp to bid good-bye to his family, ‘Ali Zaynu’l-Abedin was lying semi-conscious in his sickbed and hence he escaped the massacre in Karbala’. Imam Husain (a.s) could only manage a very brief talk with the Imamates of his camp and departed nominating his sick son as Imam.
The Holy Imam Zaynu’l-Abedin lived for above 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-Zuhri, al-Waqidi 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, the 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 grandfather ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, ‘Ali Zaynu’l-Abedin 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-Abedin along with the Ahlu’l-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-Thaqafi was threatening every one who professed allegiance or devotion to the Ahlu’l-bait; 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 Ahlu’l-bayt. Practically every house was searched and every family scrutinized.
Imam Zaynu’l-Abedin 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 endeavor to approach the Almighty lord. The invaluable collection of his edited prayers are known as as-Sahifah al-Kamilah or as-Sahifah as-Sajjadiyyah; it is known also as az-Zabur (Psalm) of Ale 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 Muharram 95 AH when he was in Medina, al-Wahid ibn ‘Abdi’l-Malik ibn Marwan, the then ruler got his Holy Imam martyred by poison. The funeral prayers for this Holy Imam were conducted by his son the Fifth Imam, Muhammad al-Baqir and his body was laid to rest in the cemetery of Jannatu’l-Baqi in Medina.

Al-Allamah at’Tabataba’i writes:

Imam sajjad (Ali ibn al-Husain entitled Zaynu’l Abedin and Sajjad) was the son of the third Imam and his wife, the queen among women, the daughter of Yazdegred the King of Iran. He was the only son of Imam Husain to survive, for his other three brother’s ‘Ali Akbar, age twenty-five, five year old Ja’afar and ‘Ali al-Asghar (or Abdullah) who was a suckling baby were martyred during the event of karbala’. The Imam had also accompanied his father on the journey that terminated fatally in karbala’, but because of severe illness and the inability to carry arms or participate in fighting he was sent with the womenfolk to Damascus. After spending a period in imprisonment he was sent with honor to Medina because Yazid wanted to conciliate public opinion. But for a second time, by the order of the umayyad caliph, ‘Abdul Malik, he was chained and sent from Medina to Damascus and then again returned to Medina.

The fourth Imam, upon returning to Medina, retired from Public life completely, closed the door of his house to stranger and spent his time in worship. He was in contact only with the elite among the Shi’ites such as Abu Hamzah ath-Thumail, Abu khalid Kabuli and the like. The elite disseminated among the shi’ah the religious sciences and showed its effects during the Imamte of the Fifth Imam. Among the works of the Fourth imam is a book called Sahifah Sajjadiyyah. It consists of fifty-seven prayers concerning the most sublime Divine sciences and is known as “The Psalm of the Household of the Prophet’. The fourth Imam died (according to some Shi’ite traditions poisoned by al-Wahid ibn ‘Abd malik ibn Marwan through the instigation of the Umayyad caliph Hisham) in 95/712 after thirty-five years of Imamte.

Al-Imam ‘Ali ibn Al-Husain, (peace be on him) said:

Refrain from lying in all things, big or small, in seriousness or in jest. For when one starts lying in petty matters, soon he will have the audacity to lie in important matters (also). A man need not fear Allah except on account of his own sins, and should place his hopes only with his lord. When about something one does nor know, one should not be ashamed of having to learn about it. And patience is to faith what the head is to the body; one who does not have patience also lacks faith.

THE FIFTH IMAM MUHAMMAD IBN ‘ALI AL-BAQIR

(Peace be upon Him)

Name : Muhammad.

Title : Al-baqir.

Agnomen : Abu Ja’afar.

Father’s name : ‘Ali Zaynu’l-Abedin.

Mother’s name : Fatimah bint al-Hassan, known as Umme ‘Abdillah.

Birth : In Medina, on Tuesday, 1st Rajab 57 AH.

Death : Died at the age of 57, in Medina on Monday, 7th Zilhajj 114 AH; Poisoned by Hisham ibn ‘Abdi’l-Malik; buried in Jannatu’l Baqi’, in Medina.

The Holy Imam Muhammad al-Baqir is the fifth Apostolic Imam. His epithet was Abu Ja’afar and he was popularly titled “al-Baqir”. His mother was daughter of Imam Hasan. Thus, he was the only Imam who was connected with Hazrat Fatimu’z-Zahra, both from his paternal and maternal sides.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir was brought up in the Holy lap of his grandfather Imam Husain (a.s), for three years. For thirty-four years he was under the gracious patronage of his father, ‘Ali Zaynu’l-Abedin (a.s).

The Holy Imam was present in Karbala’ at the time of the gruesome tragedy of the wholesale massacre of his grandfather Imam Husain and his companions. He also suffered with his father and the ladies of the House of the Prophet (Ahlu’l-bayt) the heartless captivity and imprisonment at the hands of the devilish force at the command of Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah. After the tragedy of Karbala’, the Imam passed his time peacefully in Medina praying to Allah and guiding the people to the right path.

The downfall of the Umayyads had begun since Yazid, the son of Mu’awiyah, had slaughtered Imam Husain (a.s). yazid himself had completely realized the evil consequence of his deeds even during the short period of his rule. His son Mu’qwiyah, the second , refused to accept the caliphate saying:

I cannot favour such a throne, which has been erected on the basis of oppression and tyranny.

Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, a famous scholar belonging to the Sunnite School says: “Imam Muhammad al-Baqir has disclosed the secrets of knowledge and wisdom and unfolded the principles of spiritual and religious guidance. Nobody can deny his exalted character, his God-given knowledge, his divinely-gifted wisdom and his obligation and gratitude towards spreading of knowledge. He was a sacred and highly talented spiritual leader and for this reason he was popularly titled ‘al-Baqir’ which means’ the expander of knowledge’. Kind of heart, spotless in character, sacred by soul and noble by nature, the Imam devoted all his time in submission to Allah (and in advocating the teachings of the Holy Prophet and his descendants). It is beyond the power of a man to count the deep impression of knowledge and guidance left by the Imam on the hearts of the faithful. His sayings in devotion and abstinence, in knowledge and wisdom, and in religious exercise and submission to Allah are so great in number that the volume of this book is quite insufficient to cover them all.” (As-Sawa’iqul Muhriqah, p. 120).

The Holy Imam managed to collect the teachings and reforms of the Holy prophet and his Ahlu’l-bayt in the form of the books. His pupils compiled books on different branches of science and arts under his instructions and guidance.

In the excellence of his personal Purity and godly traits, the holy Imam Muhammad al-Baqir was a model of the Holy prophet and his great grandfather, ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. His admonitions created a spiritual sensation among the Muslims in general. He was not only hospitable even to his worst enemies but also used to continually exhort them to the right path. He urged people to earn their livelihood by their own hard work.

The Holy Imam gave much importance to convening majalis (meetings) incommemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.). kumayt ibn Zayd al- Asadi, one of the most famous and highly talented poets of that time, used to recite the elegy of Imam Husian (a.s) in those majalis, Such type of majalis were also greatly encouraged by Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq and Imam Ali ar-Rida, the Sixth and the Eighth Imams.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir continued his preaching peacefully till 114 AH. On the 7th Zihajj when he was fifty-seven years old, hisham ibn ‘Abdl’l-malik ibn marwan, the then ruler, got him martyred through poison. The funeral prayers for this Holy Imam were conducted by his son Imam Ja’afar as-Sadiq, the six man, and his body was laid to rest in Jannatu’l-Baqi’

Al-Allamah at Tabataba’i writes:

Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir (the word ‘Baqir’ meaning he who cuts and dissects), a title given to him by the prophet was the son of the fourth Imam and was born in 57/675. He was present at the event of karbala’ when he was four years old. After his father, through Divine command and the decree of those who went before him, he became Imam. In the 114/732 he died. According to some Shi’ite traditions, he was poisoned be Ibrahim ibn al-Walid ibn ‘Abdillah, the nephew of Hisham, the Umayyad caliph.

During the Imamte of the fifth imam, as a result of the injustice of the Umayyads, revolts, and wars broke out in some corner of the Islamic world every day. More over, there were disputes within the Umayyad family itself, which kept the caliphate busy, and to a certain extent left the members of the Household of the Prophet alone. From the other side, the tragedy of karbala and the oppression suffered by the Household of the Prophet, of which the fourth Imam was the most noteworthy embodiment, had attracted many Muslims to the Imam. These factors combined to make it possible for people and people and especially the Shi’ites to go in great numbers to Medina and to come into the presence of the Fifth Imam. Possibilities for disseminating the truth about Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet, which had never existed for the Imams before him, were presented by the fifth Imam. The proof of this fact is the innumerable traditions recounted from the Fifth Imam and the large number of illustrious men of science and Shi’ite scholars who were trained by him in different Islamic sciences. Theses name are listed in books of biographies of famous men in Islam (Shi’ite Islam)

Al ‘Imam Al ‘Baqir, peace be upon him, said:

• The height of perfection is excellence in the understanding of the religion, endurance in hard ship and administration of the affairs of life according to ones means, in the right measure.

• The scholar (alim), who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than seventy thousand devotees (abid)

• One who disobeys Allah has no knowledge of Him.

JA’FAR IBN MUHAMMAD AS-SADIQ (peace be on him)

Name : Ja’far.

Title : As-Sadiq.

Agnomen : Abu ‘Abdillah.

Father’s name : Muhammad al-Baqir.

Mother’s name : Umme farwah.

Birth : In Medina, on Monday 17th Rabi’ul awwal 83 AH.

Death : Died at the age of 65, in Medina on Monday, 25th Shawwal 148 AH: poisoned by al-Mansur ad-Dawaniqi, the Abbasid caliph.

The Holy Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq was the sixth in the succession of the Twelve Apostolic Imams. His epithet was Abu Abdillah and his famous titles were as-Sadiq, al-Fadil and at-Tahir. He was the son of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, the Fifth Imam, and his mother was the daughter of al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr.

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq was brought up by his grandfather, imam Zaynu’l-Abedin in Medina for twelve years and then remain under the sacred patronage of his father Imam Muhammad al-Baqir for a period of nineteen years.

Imamte: After the death of his Holy father in 114AH, he succeeded him as the Sixth Imam, and thus the sacred trust of Islamic mission and spiritual guidance was relayed down to his custody right from the Holy Prophet through the succession of the preceding Imams.

Political conditions: The period of his Imamate coincided with most revolutionary and eventful era of Islamic history which saw the downfall of the Umayyad Empire and the rise of the ‘Abbasid caliphate. The internal wars and political upheavels were brining about speedy reshufflements in government. Thus, the Holy Imam witnessed the reigns of various kings starting from ‘Abdu’l Malik down to the Umayyad ruler Marwan al-Himar. He further survived till the time of Abu Abbas as-Saffah and al-Mansur among the ‘Abbasids. It was due to the power that imam was left alone undisturbed to carry out his devotional duties and peacefully carry on his mission to propagate Islam and spreading the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

In the last days of the Umayyad rule, their Empire was tottering and was on the verge of collapse, and a most chaotic and demoralized state of affairs prevailed throughout the Islamic State. The ‘Abbassids exploited instability, assumed the title of “Avengers of Banu Hashim”. They pretended to have stood for the cause of taking revenge on the Umayyads fir shedding the innocent blood of the Holy Imam Husain.

The common people who were groaning under the yoke of the Umayyads were fed with their atrocities and were secretly yearning for the progeny of the Holy Prophet to take power. They realized that if the leaderships went to the Ahlu’l-bayt, who were its legitimate heir, the prestige of Islam would be enhanced and the Prophet’s mission would be genuinely propagated. However, a group of the’Abbasids secretly dedicated their lives to a campaign for seizing it only to surrender it to the Banu Hashim. Actually, they were plotting for their own ends. The common people were thus deceived into supporting them and when these ‘Abbasids did succeed in snatching the power from the Umayyads, they turned against the Ahlu’l-bayt.

Religious condition: The downfall of the Umayyads and the rise of the ‘Abbasids constituted the two principal plots in the drama of Islamic history. This was a most chaotic and revolutionary period when the religious morals of Islam had gone down and the teachings of the Holy Prophet were being neglected, and a state of anarchy was rampant. It was amidst such deadly gloom that the virtuous personage of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq stood like a beacon of light shedding its luster to illuminate the ocean of sinful darkness around. The world got inclined towards his virtuous and admirable personality. Abu Salamah al-Khallal also offered him the throne of the caliphate. But the Imam keeping up the characteristic tradition of his ancestors flatly declined to accept it, and preferred to content himself with his devotional pursuits and service to Islam. On account of his many debated with the priests of rival orders like Atheists, Christians, Jews, etc.

Teachings: The versatile genius of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq in all branches of knowledge was acclaimed throughout the Islamic world, which attracted students from far-off places towards him till the strength of his disciples had reached four thousand. The scholars and experts in Divine law have quoted many ahadith (traditions) from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq. His disciples compiled hundred of books on various branches of science and arts. Other than fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), hadith (tradition), tafsir (exegesis of the Holy Qur’an), etc., the Holy Imam also imparted mathematics and chemistry to some of his disciples. Jabir ibn Hayyan at-Tusi, a famous scholar of Mathematics, was one of the Imam’s disciples who benefited from the Imam’s knowledge and guidance and was able to write four Hundred books on different subjects.

It is and undeniable historical truth that all the great scholars of Islam were indebted for their learning to the very presence of the Ahlu’l-bayt who were the fountain of knowledge and learning for all.

Al-‘Allamah ash-Shible writes in his book siratu ‘n-Numan: “Abu Hanifah remained for a considerable period in the attendance of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, acquiring from him a great deal of precious research on Fiqh and hadith. Both the sects Shi’ah and Sunni believe that the source of Abu Hanifah’s knowledge was mostly derived from his association with Imam Ja’Far as-Sadiq”.

The Imam devoted his whole life to the cause of religious preaching and propagation’s of the teachings of the Holy Prophet and never strove for power. Because of his great devotion and respect that was his due. This excited the envy of the ‘Abbasid ruler al-Mansur ad-Dawaniqi, who fearing the popularity of the Imam, decided to do away with him.

Al ‘Allamah At ‘Tabataba’i writes:

Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad, the son of the Fifth Imam, was born in 83/702. He died in 148/765according to Shi’ite tradition, poisoned and martyred through the intrigue of the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Mansur. After the death of his father he became imam by Divine Command and decree of those who came before him.

During the Imamte of the Sixth Imam greater possibilities and a more favorable climate existed for him to propagate religious teachings. This came about as a result of revolts in Islamic lands, especially the uprising of the Muswaddah to overthrow the Umayyad caliphate, and the bloody wars, which finally led to the fall and extinction of the Umayyads. The greater opportunites for Shi’ite teachings were also a result of the favourable ground the Fifth Imam had prepared during the twenty years of his Imamte through the propagation of the rue teachings of Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet. The imam took advantage of the occasion to propagate the religious sciences until the very end of his Imamate, which was contemporary with the end of the Umayyad and beginning of the ‘Abbasid caliphates. He instructed many scholars in different fields of the intellectual and transmitted sciences, such as Zurarah ibn A’yan, Muhammad ibn Muslim, Mu’minu’t-Taq, Hisham ibn al-Hakam, Aban ibn Taghlib, Hisham ibn Salim, Hurayz, Hisham al-Kalbi an-Nassabah and Jabir ibn Hayyan (the chemist). Even some important Sunni scholars such as Sufyanath-Thawri, Abu Hanifah, the founder of the Hanafi school of Law, al-Qadhi as-Sukuni, al_Qadi Abu’l-Bakhtari, and others, had the honor of being his students. It is said that hid classes and sessions of instructions produced four thousand scholars of hadith and other sciences. The number of traditions preserved from the Fifth and Sixth Imams is more than all the hadith that have been recorded from the Prophet and the other ten Imams combined.

But toward the end of his life the Imam was subjected to severe restrictions placed upon him by the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Mansur, who ordered such torture and merciless killing of many of the descendants of the Prophet who were Shi’ite that his actions even surpassed the cruelty and heedlessness of the Umayyads. At his order they were arrested in-groups, some thrown into deep and dark prisons and tortured until they died. While others were beheaded or buried alive or placed at the base of or between walls of buildings, and walls were constructed over them.

Hisham, the Umayyads caliph, had ordered the Sixth Imam to be arrested and brought to Damascus. Later, the Imam was arrested by as-Saffah, the ‘Abbasid caliph, and brought to Iraq. Finally, al-Mansur had him arrested again and brought to Samarrah where he had the Imam kept under supervision, was in every way harsh and discourteous to him, and several times thought of killing him. Eventually the Imam was allowed to return to Medina where he spent the rest of his life in hiding, until he was poisoned and martyred through the intrigue of al-Mansur.

Upon hearing the news of the Imam’s martyrdom, al-Mansur wrote to the governor of Medina instructing him to go to the house of the Imam on the pretext of expressing his condolences to the family, to ask for the Imam’s will and testament and read it. Whoever was chosen by the imam as his inheritor and successor should be beheaded on the spot. Of course, the aim of al-Mansur was to put and end to the whole question of the Imamte and to Shi’ite aspirations. When the governor of Medina, following orders, read the last will and testament, he saw that the Imam had chosen four people rather than one to administer his last will and testament: the caliph himself, the governor of Medina, ‘Abdullah Aftah, the Imam’s older son, and Musa, his younger son. In this way the plot of al-Mansur failed (Shi’ite Islam)

Death: On 25th Shawwal 148AH, the governor of Medina by the order of al-Mansur, got the imam martyred through poison. The funeral prayer was conducted by his son Imam Musa al-Kazim, the Seventh Imam, and his body was laid to rest in the cemetery of Jannatu’l-Baqi.

Hazrat Imam Sadiq, (peace be on him) said :

• one who has these five characteristics is the choicest of men: • one who feels joyous when he does something good; • one who is repents when he does something bad; • one who is grateful when he receives something from Allah; • one who patiently endures Allah trials; one who forgives when he is done some injustice or wrong.

Closer to Allah: forgiving one who has wronged him; being generous to one who had deprived him; being kind to a kinsman who has not observed his rights of kinship.

• The true believer does not transgress the limits of fairness in a fit of anger; he does not do anything unjustifiable for the sake of favour to some; neither does he take more than his due share, though he may have the power.