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Imam Zain al-Abideen: The Beauty Of The Worshippers And The Voice Of Karbala

By Editor on 11th July 2026 • ( 0 )

Imam Zain al-Abideen: The Beauty Of The Worshippers And The Voice Of Karbala

Ali ibn Al Hussain (AS) is the great-grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as well as the fourth Imam. His mother was Shahrbanu and his father was Imam Hussain ibn Ali (AS). Ali al-Asghar ibn Hussain and Ali al-Akbar ibn Hussain were his brothers. He is known as Zain al-Abideen “Beauty/Best of the Worshippers”. He is also referred to as Imam al-Sajjad “the Prostrating Imam” and Sayyid as-Sajjadina war-Rakiin “Leader of Those who Prostrate and Bow”.

Ali ibn Hussain (AS) was born on the 5th of Shaban 38 AH (654) in Madinah. His father, Hussain ibn Ali (AS), was the grandson of Prophet Muhammad Sall Allahu Alaihi Wa Aalihi Wassallam.

He was beside his father right from the moment of his migration towards Karbala. When his father asked for help on Ashura, he got up to extend his help. Zaynab bint Ali (SA) stopped him and said:

“You are the only memorial remnant of this family and the Imam after Hussain ibn Ali and you are the guardian of all of us. Your divine mission is to convey the message of the martyrs to the people.”

One of the special features of Ali ibn Hussain’s character was his piety and abstinence. The sixth Imam, Sayyidina Jafar as-Ṣadiq (AS) said:

“Ali ibn Hussain resembled most with Ali ibn Abi Talib of all the sons of Bani Hashim.”

Muhammad al-Baqir (AS), the fifth Imam who was the son of Ali ibn Hussain (AS) said:

‘One day I happened to see my father, I saw him (completely) immersed and (thoroughly preoccupied) in the prayers and with all the attention towards Allah. His colour was faded and his eyes were sore and red due to weeping, his feet were swollen by (prostration) and legs, and knees had developed corns. I said humbly “Oh father, why do you lose your self-control during the prayers and put yourself in such an inconvenience and discomfort.” My father wept and said, “Oh son however and whatsoever number of prayers I perform even then it is meagre and very little as compared to the prayers of your grandfather, Ali ibn Abi Talib.”’

It is said that for forty years, whenever food or water was placed before him, he would weep. One day, a servant said to him:

“O son of Allah’s Messenger! Is it not time for your sorrow to come to an end?”

He replied:

“Woe upon you! Jacob the prophet had twelve sons, and God made one of them disappear. His eyes turned white from constant weeping, his head turned grey out of sorrow, and his back became bent in gloom, though his son was alive in this world. But I watched while my father, my brother, my uncle, and seventeen members of my family were slaughtered all around me. How should my sorrow come to an end?”

Ali ibn Hussain (AS) resided in Madinah until his death on 25th of Muharram, 95 AH (approximately 23 October 23, 712). He was poisoned by Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. He was buried in Jannatul Baqee, the cemetery in Madinah where other important figures of Islamic history are buried. The period of his Imamate is 33 years.