ZAIN AL-'ABIDIN

Title: A BIOGRAPHY OF THE FOURTH SHI'AH IMAM 'ALI IBN AL- HUSSAIN (AS) ZAIN AL-'ABIDIN
Author: The Ahl al-Bayt ('a) World Assembly
Project supervisor: Translation Unit, Cultural Affairs Department, the Ahl al-Bayt ('a) World Assembly (ABWA)
Translator: The Islamic Ahl al-Bayt (a) Foundation, London
Editor: The Ahl al-Bayt ('a) Islamic Ahl al-Bayt (a) Foundation, London
Proofreader: Muhammad Mahdi Baghi
Publisher: ABWA Publishing and Printing Center
First Printing: 2014
All rights reserved.

CONTENTS
PREFACE—13
INTRODUCTION—15
Philosophy and Tools of Divine Guidance—17
Persistent Efforts of the Prophets and their Successors—22
The Achievements of Prophet Muhammad, the Chief of the Messengers—22
Prerequisites of the Sealing Message—23
The Divine Planning for the Endurance of the Divine Guidance after the Departure of the Holy Prophet—23
Divine Planning in the Words of the Holy Prophet—24
The Holy Prophet's Household - the Real Embodiment of the Divine Plan—24
Characteristics of the Ahl al-Bayt's Progression and their
Tasks—25
Encyclopaedia of "Epitomes of True Guidance"; a Pioneering Step—26
SECTION ONE
CHAPTER ONE A QUICK GLANCE AT IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) LIFE—31
The Milieu and the Purified Family—31
The Imamah and the religious leadership—32
His Imamah, the Feature of his Era and his Achievements—33
The First Challenge—34
The Second Challenge—34
CHAPTER TWO OTHERS' IMPRESSIONS OF IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) PERSONALITY—36
The Views of the Imam's (as) Contemporaries Regarding his Personality—36
The Views of the Intellectuals and Historians on Imam
Sajjad (as)—40
CHAPTER TREE SOME ASPECTS OF IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) PERSONALITY—44
Imam's Patience—44
Imam's Generosity—45
Imam's (as) Generous Attitude to the Poor—45
A. Treating them with respect—45
B. His affection and feeling for them—46
C. The Forbiddance of Turning Away a Beggar—46
Giving Charity—47
A. Giving his clothes as charity—48
B. Giving those things, which Imam (as) loved the most, as
charity—48
C. Distribution of properties—49
D. Giving charity in secret—49
E. Solely Seeking the Almighty's Approval—51
His Dignity and Glorified Spirit—51
Asceticism of Imam (as)—52
Supplication of Imam Sajjad (as) to Allah (swt)—54
The Imam's (as) Family Life—54
With His Father and Mother—55
With His Children—57
With His Slaves—59
SECTION TWO
CHAPTER ONE IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) EARLY STAGES OF
LIFE—63
His Mother—64
CHAPTER TWO THE PHASES OF IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) LIFE—67
CHAPTER TREE IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) LIFE FROM BIRTH TO IMAMAH (LEADERSHIP)—69
Iraq's Political State in Parallel to Mu‛awiyah's Death—71
The Clear Evidence of Zain al-'Abidin's (as) Imamah (socio-political and religious leadership)—72
Imam Zain al-'Abidin (as) on the Day of 'Ashura—74
SECTION THREE
CHAPTER ONE IMAM SAJJAD'S LIFE (AS) FROM KARBALA TO MADINAH—79
The Speeches of Imam Zain al-'Abidin and Sayyidah Zainab (as) in Kufah—79
Imam Zain al-'Abidin (as) confronts Ibn Ziad's Tyranny—82
Ahl al-Bayt's Captivity in Sham—84
Imam Sajjad (as) challenging Yazid in his Court—86
CHAPTER TWO THE LIFE OF IMAM ZAIN AL-'ABIDIN (AS) IN MADINAH—92
The People of Madinah's revoking their Allegiance to Yazid—95
The Revolution of Madinah and its Consequences—96
Imam Zain al-'Abidin and Muslim ibn 'Uqbah—100
Destroying and Burning the Ka'bah—102
Separation of the Umayyad Family—103
Increasing Opposition Against Umayyad Rulings—104
The Tawwabin's (Repentant) Revolution—105
Al- Mukhtar's Revolution—105
The Years of Turbulence and Conflicts—107
Al- Hajjaj's Cruelty and his Extensive Transgression—108
The Reign of al-Walid ibn 'Abdul- Malik—109
CHAPTER TREE IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) MARTYRDOM—110
SECTION FOUR
CHAPTER ONE IMAM SAJJAD'S (AS) ROLE THROUGHOUT THE MISSION OF AHL AL-BAYT (AS)—115
The Perils Faced by Islam—119
The Negative Consequences of the Deviation in Islamic Leadership—120
The Elements Involved in the Decline of Islamic
...