‘Ali ibn Husayn (as) 

 

The Best of Worshippers   

 

Hisham, a prominent political figure, struggled to push through the sea of pilgrims in an attempt to reach the holy black stone. His attempts were unsuccessful. Suddenly, a man who was undeniably pious approached. The pilgrims swiftly made way for the devout master until he reached the stone.  

 

Upon seeing this, a crowd near the politician asked, “Who is that?”  

Hisham responded dismissively, “I don’t know him,” even though he did.  

 

The celebrated poet, Farazdaq, heard the exchange and declared, “But, indeed, I know him. This is ‘Ali, the son of Husayn – Zayn al-‘Abidin (the Finest of Worshippers).” Farazdaq then proceeded to recite some verses of poetry on the spot:   

 

“This is the one whose footsteps are known to the soil 

He is known by the House of God, the sanctuary and its surroundings  

This is the son of God’s finest servants, in their entirety 

This is the pious, the untainted, the pure, and the beacon 

This is the grandson of (Lady) Fatimah, if you do not know who he is 

With his great-grandfather, the Prophets of God have been concluded  

And your utterance, “Who is this?” does no harm to him 

The citizens and foreigners alike know the one you have denied…”i 

 

The Fourth Imām 

 He was the only adult male to have survived the onslaught of ‘Ashūrā’. His role would reach beyond the plains of Karbalā’. Imām ‘Alī, the son of Ḥusayn, lived on as the voice of the revolution, even in the tyrant’s very own palace. Imām ‘Alī Zayn al-‘Abidīn was the fourth immaculate Imām. 

 

Imām Ḥusayn did not allow Zayn al-‘Abidīn to fight during the battle of ‘Ashūrā’, due to his illness and because he needed to survive as the Divine representative on earth. For indeed, when Imām Ḥusayn was asked about who the authority would go to if he passed, he said, “To ‘Alī, this son of mine. He is the Imām, and the forefather of the (following) Imāms.

 

Imām Zayn al-‘Abidīn had a long journey ahead of him. A journey of spreading awareness and sparking an awakening. The fourth infallible Imām struggled, but not on the battlefield as Imām Ḥusayn did. The struggle was the same struggle – the struggle of Awareness, Truth, and Love. But the methods and tools varied.  

Imām Zayn al-‘Abidīn pursued his struggle by speaking out, teaching, and praying...Yes, by praying. Not the prayer of one who has given up and surrendered to injustice or ignorance. Rather, the prayer of one who encoded the secrets of awakening into the words of his prayer. The Imām taught of rights and detailed the prescription required for true balance. He educated, inspired and invigorated the people. He revived true life by preparing the hearts of the people to ignite with the fire of purpose.