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Ali Zayn al Abidin

Ali Zayn al Abidin (658 - 713) was the fourth Shia Imam. He was the son of Husayn ibn Ali and the great-grandson of Muhammad. His given birth name was Ali ibn Husayn. The title of Zayn al Abidin means ornament of the pious.

Ali Zayn al Abidin was born in Medina in 658 to Husayn and his wife Shahr Banu who was the daughter of the last Sassanid emperor, Yazdegerd III. His mother did not live long after his birth. He was about two years old when his grandfather, Ali ibn Abu Talib was killed. When his father Husayn set out for Iraq, Ali was not able to go with him due to illness. Before his death, Husayn left orders to pass on his position to his eldest son should he die. At the Battle of Karbela, Husayn and most of his family were killed. Ali survived because he was too sick to fight, and was forced to stay in bed. Afterwards, he was taken prisoner by the Umayyad forces and transported to Damascus where he was made a prisoner of Yazid I. Eventually, he was freed, and he returned to Medina where he lived in general forced seclusion, although he did highly engage in preaching and teaching of Islam.

Ali Zayn al Abidin would die in 713, some claim that he was poisoned. He is buried in the Jannat ul-Baqi cemetery in Medina.

He excelled all others in his time in his vast knowledge, worshipping Allah, spiritual perfections, piety and helping the needy.

The jurists, in the matters of the Islamic Sharia, quote him widely and there are many facts of spiritual guidance, prayers and words of wisdom that he left behind as his legacy.

Very often at night he would carry money and sacks of food to the needy with his face covered up so that no one would recognize him. Because the people would intercede and would take his load off him.

Only when he had died, then only, then did the people of Medina realize that the person who used to deliver to them food with his face covered by a mask was no one other than Imam Ali son of Imam Hussain(as).

When he ever saw any orphans and destitute he would invite and share with them his meal.

Every month he would call a meeting of his employees and would offer them help if any of them needed to get married or wanted to be set free.

Whenever a needy person would come to him asking for help he would say this,

"Welcome to those who carry for me supplies to the after life"

It is said that he would pray a thousand rakat of prayer in every twenty four hours. At the time of prayer his face would change out of his realization of the greatness of Allah the Most High(swt). Due to his prostrating so much before Allah his forehead and knees were clearly marked.

Once a person from his relatives spoke to him some improper words as such that normally would hurt one's feelings. After a while the Imam stood up and stepped nearer to that person. People around thought that he, perhaps, wants to answer him in the same manner, but the Imam, instead, recited this from the Holy Koran,

" Allah loves Those who control their anger and be forgiving towards the people and who do good."

He then said to that person,

"Brother, I heard all that you said to me. If all that you said about me is true, then I ask Allah to forgive me and if all that you said about me is not true, then may Allah forgive you."

The issue of who succeeded him as Imam led to a split within Shiism. While the Imami Twelver Shia believe that it was Muhammad al Baqir, the minority Zaidis believe it was Ali's other son, Zaid ibn Ali.