Holy Grave of Imam Zain-ul-Abdeen(Second from Left).
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Azadar world recalls the martyrdom of
Imam Zain-ul-Abdeen on Muharram 25 every year. They remember him as ‘Beemar-e-Karbala’
and weep bitterly over his overwhelming grief and sufferings after the
martyrdom of his father Imam Hussain at Karbala. Mourners have given him title
of ‘Beemar’ (Ailing) because he was too ill and weak to go for Jihad like his
brother Hazrat Ali Akbar. Moreover, the Almighty also wanted him to keep the
mantle of Imamate (Right Guidance) alive against heavy odds. He performed his
role in the most exemplary manner immediately after becoming Imam. He
maintained calm, composure and spiritual serenity when enemies turned to plunder
and burn tents after severing the head of Imam Hussain. He witnessed the plight
of widowed women, thirsty children and harsh treatment meted out to his aunt Hazrat
Zainab and three-year-old sister Janab-e-Sakina. But neither the barbarism of Yazidi
soldiers nor his inability to offer burial to uncovered body of his father and
his faithful adherents could deter him from keeping the grace of a true
believer.
Despite crushing impact of tragic
events of Ashura (Muharram 10) and stricken with severe illness, Imam offered
his prayers on Shaam-e-Ghareeban and remained in prostration all night with his
tongue repeating these phrases:
“There
is no deity but Allah in all certainty, There is no Allah but Allah in truth
and faith, I bear witness to this in submission and humility”.
Imam was born on 15th of
Jumada 11 in Hijri year 38, corresponding to November 19,658 AD. He lost his
mother Janab-e-Shaharbanu soon after his birth. He enjoyed the company of his
grandfather Maula Ali for two years. After his martyrdom, Imam Zain-ul-Abdeen
remained under the care of his uncle Imam Hasan. When he too attained martyrdom,
Imam Hussain took Zain-ul-Abdeen under his control. He watched the circumstances
leading to massacre of his pious and innocent father at Karbala as a youth of
22.He took the Imamate with a firm resolution to save Islam like his father and
fulfilled his mission in most unfavorable conditions for 34 years. He braved the
painful sight of passing through the site of his father’s slaughter with
hapless women and children in captivity. Then, he suffered the most humiliating
situations in the market of Kufa and court of Ibn Ziyad. From Kufa, he was
taken with ladies of his family to Damascus to be presented before Yazid. He
found the Damascus markets decorated and people congratulating each other over
the victory of Yazid. Under such adverse condition, Imam never exhibited any
sign of weakness in the court of Yazid or ibn Yazid and silenced both with his
logical replies when they dared to remind him that his father had sacrificed
his life unnecessarily. Imam told them death was a tradition in his illustrious
family and martyrdom was a reward from Allah.
Unable to counter his knowledge and
logic, Yazid confined him to prison with helpless folk of Imam Hussain. He
remained in captivity till his release after a year when Yazid found difficult
to keep Imam in Damascus following mounting resentment against his regime for ordering
the killing of Prophet’s grandson. It was oratory skills and logical addresses
of Imam in Damascus that turned people against Yazid. He sent back Imam and
other captives to Medina to avoid rebellion. Being aware of the dangers from
the regime, Imam formulated a strategy to save Islam through silence and
supplications as his father had done with his pious blood at Karbala. He detached
himself from worldly affairs and dedicated himself to prayers, supplications
and mourning. Though he did not get a chance to openly deliver sermons like his
grandfather yet many a distinguished scholars derived benefit from his vast knowledge.
Even his opponents admitted that he was matchless in jurisprudence and
religious sciences. Besides prayers, he helped the needy secretly. He used to
carry loaves of bread and flour himself to them. Many of them came to know
about their benefactor when he left the world to meet his Mabood-e-Haqeeqi.
By leading an isolated life, Imam remained
safe during the raid by Yazidi forces on Medina and Mecca. He also managed to keep the tragic Karbala narratives afresh in
the minds of people by constantly mourning for the martyrs. Situation did not
change for him even after the death of Yazid in 64 Hijri. His successors also
considered his quiet and calm life as a threat to their empire. Being aware of
the respect commanded by Imam from people, Umayyad rulers always found his
presence on earth as a potential danger to their rule. To get rid of their
apprehension, Walid Ibn Abdul Malik had Imam poisoned on Muharram 25 in Hijri 95.His
son and successor imam Muhammad Baqar laid him to rest in Jannat-ul- Baqi cemetery
on Medina. A collection of his hymns and prayers miraculously survived despite
all out efforts of the Umayyad rulers to destroy literature of infallible Imams.
The collection is known as Al-Sahifa-Al-Kamila and it contains prayers that can
transform an individual into an example of human perfection.(The article has
been posted to mark the martyrdom day of Imam Zain –ul-Abdeen on November
8,2015. Refernces available on request. Photo Courtesy-Google Image).
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