Imam Zain Ul Abideen – Beacon of guidance for the Ummah

  

Imam Zain Ul Abideen – Beacon of guidance for the Ummah

 

The Holy Quran attests to the high status and purity of the Prophet’s Family.  They are peerless in their beliefs and deeds, in outward and inward excellence.  It is but obvious that such folk will be born in their progeny as well.

 

Hadhrat Imam Zain Ul A’abideen (May Allah be well pleased with him) is the son of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) and the grandson of Hadhrat ‘Ali and Hadhrat Fatima (May Allah be well pleased with them).

 

He was born in 38 Hijri, 2 years before the martyrdom of Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him), on 5^th Sha’abaan on Thursday in the city of Madina.  His name was “Ali Ausat.”  He is remembered as Imam Zain Ul A’abideen.

 

These are the words Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder-Director Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center in the weekly lecture held in Masjid Abul Hasanaat, Jahanuma, under the aegis of Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center.

 

The revered Mufti said that each detail of his life is full of greatness and each aspect of his life is pure and virtuous.

 

He is peerless in knowledge, piety, generosity and all praiseworthy qualities.  By virtue of his relationship to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Almighty Allah has granted him great glory.

 

The revered Mufti said that the names and details of many powerful kings and rulers have been forgotten.  The thousands-strong army of Yazid, the accursed, is left without any descendent.  Only 1 son of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) was left alive, but Almighty Allah blessed his line in such a manner that descendents of Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) are present all over the world and they are illuminating the world with their presence.

 

The revered Mufti said that among the 7 Jurisprudents of Madina, who were seated on the thrones of deduction and extraction of rulings (Ijtihaad), Imam Zain Ul A’abideen was the foremost among them.  He is the 4^th Imam in the 12 Imams of Prophet’s Family.

 

The canons of history and Tradition, which are of prime importance, also make it a point to mention and describe Imam Zain Ul A’abideen.

 

The revered Mufti quoted from Imam Malik (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) that because of his profuse worship, the Imam was addressed as Zain Ul A’abideen.

 

The Imam was so overwhelmed by fear and consciousness of Allah Most High that when he would make his ablutions, his blessed face would pale.  When people would ask him the reason for it, the Imam would say:  Before whom will I stand and to whom am I going to supplicate?  His worship was such that he would offer 1000 Raka’at of Supererogatory (Nafl) Salaat every day.  At night, he would carry sacks of grains and wheat and distribute them among the poor and the needy folk.  They wouldn’t even know who is helping them.  There were many such people in Madina who didn’t know who provided food for them and who took care of their needs.  It came to light after the Imam’s demise that there were 100 whole families who were taken care of by the Imam.

 

The Imam would say that concealed good deeds calm the wrath of Almighty Allah.

 

The revered Mufti said on the authority of Shawahidun Nubuwwa that the Imam was so affectionate on the creation that even animals loved him immensely.  When the Imam passed away, his dromedary placed her breast on the head of the blessed grave and started shedding tears.  The dromedary eventually died out of grief.

 

The revered Mufti said on the authority of Imam Abu Nu’aim (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), a Hadith-expert of the 4^th century Hijri, that a group of people from Iraq came to the Imam and spoke ill of the 3 Caliphs.  The Imam asked them:  Are you from the earliest emigrants?  They replied in the negative.  The Imam again asked:  Are you of the Helpers (Ansaar).  They again gave the same reply.  Then the Imam said:  Then I testify that you are not among those whom Almighty Allah has praised in His Word:  Surah Hashr-10

 

Then the Imam spoke to them in anger:  You get out from here.  May Allah treat you as you deserve to be treated.  (Hilyatul Auliya, Vol. 3, Pg. No. 453)

 

The revered Mufti said that someone mentioned the piety of a person before Hadhrat Sa’eed bin Musayyib (May Allah be well pleased with him), who is regarded as the leader of all Successors (Sayyid Ut Taba’een) that I haven’t seen anybody more pious than him.  Hadhrat Sa’eed (May Allah be well pleased with him) asked:  Have you seen ‘Ali bin Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him)?  I have never seen anyone more ascetic and more pious than him.

 

Imam Zain Ul A’abideen (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  The person who is content with what Almighty Allah has granted him (or her) is the most affluent.  The Imam also said:  One should sit with those people who can benefit one in matters of religion.

 

The revered Mufti said that Imam Zain Ul A’abideen is a beacon of guidance and each and every aspect of his life is a shining example for the Ummah.

 

The session ended with Salaam and Dua.  Maulana Hafidh Syed Ahmed Ghouri led the proceedings.