Imam Sajjad (A.S.): The Secret Helper of the Poor

Imam Sajjad (A.S.): The Secret Helper of the Poor People

The view common people have towards one who isolates himself from society and devotes his life solely to performing his religious rituals, such as praying, ablution (Wudu), supplicating, Hajj, etc, is a stranger to the society. Such a person cares nothing about his materialistic and social life, and spends his life in worship. The life of Imam Ali ibn al Hussain, Sajjad ( A.S.) however, contradicts this view.

Despite his long unique prayers and supplications, Imam Sajjad (A.S.) was never ignorant of his society, its needs, and the realities of the time. In fact, in regards to interactions with society, he was a role model in the social and moral duties.

Muhammad Ishaq narrates: Many of the poor citizens of Madinah had experienced the generosity and kindness of Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain. Yet, they never found out it was the Imam as he would visit them during the nights, until Ali ibn al-Hussain ( A.S.) passed away, and that anonymous man never came to them any more. It was then that they found out that that anonymous helper was Imam Zein al-’Abedin (A.S.).1

Abu Hamzah al-Thomali also narrates: During the night, Imam Zein al-’Abedin (A.S.) would carry food on his shoulders for the poor and needy people. He would say, “Giving charity in secret will subside the anger of Allah.” 2

Ibn Sa’ad who died around 200 A.H. has narrated:
There were many poor people who would come to the Imam for help, and before they even asked for anything, the Imam would give them what they wanted. Imam Sajjad (A.S.) would then say, “Giving charity is received by Allah before it is received by the poor.”3

It was from the examples mentioned above that when the Imam was martyred, and some were helping in washing his body (giving him Ghusl), they noticed the wounds on his shoulder and back. They asked about it, and found out that the wounds were the result of carrying the food for the poor.4

(Taken from the book “Imam al-Sajjad (A.S.) the Beauty of Worshipers”, by Ahmad Torabi)

Reference :
1- Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 2, p.266
2- Aghani vol. 14, p. 74; Hilyah al-Awlia’ vol.3, p. 135; Kashf al-Ghummah, vol.2, p.266; A’yan al-Shia vol.1, p. 633
3-Tabaqat ibn Sa’ad vol.5, p. 160
4- Aghani vol. 14, p. 74; Hilyah al-Awlia’ vol.3, p. 135; Kashf al-Ghummah, vol.2 p.266; A’yan al-Shia vol.1, p. 633

Imam Sajjad (a.s.) helps the Lepers

Imam Sajjad (a.s.) helps the Lepers

 

Once, Imam Sajjad (a.s.) encountered some lepers sitting on the roadside and eating their food.   Greeting them, he passed by, when all of a sudden he stopped and said to himself:

 

“God does not like the haughty ones.”

 

Having said this, he retraced his steps and approaching the lepers, said, “Presently, I am in a state of fasting (and thus unable to sit down and share your food).  (However) I invite you to come to my house and be my guests.”

 

They accepted the offer and went to his house, where the Imam (a.s.) fed them and helped them by giving them some money.

Baa Mardum In Guneh Barkhord Kuneem, pg. 38.

The Faith of Sa’eed Ibn Jubair

The Faith of Sa’eed Ibn Jubair

 Sa’eed Ibn Jubair was one of the steadfast and loyal companions of Imam Sajjad (a.s.).  Hajjaaj was a bloodthirsty tyrant who had ruled over Kufah, Iraq and Iran for almost twenty years after being appointed by the Bani Umayyah and Bani Marwaan.  He had killed nearly one hundred and twenty thousand people during his reign, and amongst the friends and descendants of A’li (a.s.) murdered by him, were individuals like Kumail Ibn Ziyaad, Qanbar, the slave of A’li, (a.s.) and Sa’eed Ibn Jubair.

 Hajjaaj ordered Sa’eed to be arrested when he became aware of Sa’eed’s belief and inclination towards Imam Ali (a.s.).

 Initially, Sa’eed fled to Isfahan, but when Hajjaaj came to know of this, he wrote to the governor of Isfahan, seeking his arrest.  The governor possessed a high regard for Sa’eed and therefore advised him to leave Isfahan for a safer resort. 

 

Acting upon this advice, Sa’eed set out towards Qum and then proceeded to Azerbaijan and then to Iraq where he sought to enter the army of A’bd al-Rahmaan Ibn Muhammad, who had initiated a rebellion against Hajjaaj.

 

A’bd al-Rahmaan was defeated and Sa’eed fled to Makkah where he lived in hiding.

 

During that period, Makkah was under the rule of Khaalid Ibn A’bdullah Qasri, a ruthless individual, who had been placed there by the Caliph, Waleed Ibn A’bd al-Malik.  Waleed wrote to him and gave him the order to arrest the well-known Iraqi personalities who were hiding in Makkah, and to send them to Hajjaj.

 

Thus, he arrested Sa’eed and had him dispatched to Kufah.  At that time, Hajjaaj was in Waasit, a city near Baghdad, where Sa’eed was eventually brought.

 

Hajjaaj questioned him about himself, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), A’li (a.s.), Abu Bakr, U’mar, Uthmaan and many others and then asked him:

 

“How should I put you to death?”

 

“Whatever manner you may adopt to kill me, you are bound to be chastised accordingly, on the Day of Judgment,” replied Sa’eed.

 

“I would like to forgive you.”

 

“If the forgiveness is from God, then I seek it, but if it is from you, then I do not desire it,” responded Sa’eed.

 

Hajjaaj ordered the executioner to sever Sa’eed’s head before him.  Despite his hands being tied behind his back, Sa’eed recited the following verse of the holy Qur’an:

 
Surely I have turned myself, wholly to Him, Who originated the heavens and the earth, being upright, and I am not of the associators.

Holy Qur’an, ch. Al-Ana’am (6), vs. 79.

Hearing this, Hajjaaj ordered his face to be turned away from the Qiblah, whereupon he recited the following verse:

 

Whithersoever ye turn, there is the presence of Allah

Ibid, ch. Al-Baqarah (2), vs. 115

When Hajjaaj heard this, heordered his men to place Sa’eed’s face down, upon the ground.  When this was done, Sa’eed recited the following verse:

 

From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again

Ibid, ch. Taha (20), vs. 55.

 

Hajjaaj shouted, “Don’t waste any more time!  Kill him!”

 

Sa’eed testified to the Unity of God and the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and prayed: O’ God! Do not grant Hajjaaj respite after me in order that he does not kill anyone else.  As he uttered these words, the executioner severed his head.  

 

After the martyrdom of this epitome of perfect faith, Hajjaaj suffered a derangement of his senses and did not live for more than fifteen nights.  Before his death, he would occasionally lose consciousness, but regaining it, he would repeatedly mutter:

 

“Why did I ever get involved with Sa’eed Ibn Jubair?

Daastaan-ha-e-Maa, vol. 2, pgs. 39-45.

Harassment of Imam Sajjad (a.s.)

Harassment of Imam Sajjad (a.s.)

 During the time of Imam Sajjad, there lived a person in Madinah, who used to make people laugh to earn his livelihood.

 Some people suggested that they should invite Imam Sajjad (a.s.) and allow this person to make him laugh a little in an attempt to sidetrack the Imam from his deep lamentation. They gathered together and were on their way to his house when they saw him coming towards them, accompanied by two of his slaves.  When the Imam (a.s.) came near, the comediantook the cloak off Imam Sajjad’s (a.s.) shoulders and put it over his own.  The people around burst out laughing when they saw this antic.

 The Imam (a.s.) inquired, “Who is this person?”

 The people around him answered, “He is a person who makes people laugh and receives money from them for his antics.”

 “Inform him that those who expend their lives in a futile way performing absurd acts shall be the losers on the Day of Judgment,” advised the Imam (a.s.).

 

After hearing this, the comedian stopped his annoying behaviour and mended his ways

Darsi Az Akhlaaq, pg. 120; Al-Amaali (Sheikh Mufid), pg. 128.

The Conduct of Imam Sajjad (a.s.)

The Conduct of Imam Sajjad (a.s.)

Once, a relative of Imam Sajjad (a.s.) approached the Imam (a.s.) and began to revile and insult him.  The Imam (a.s.) did not utter a word in reply but, after the man had left the gathering, he turned to the people around him and said:

 

 You heard what this man said. Now I want you to accompany me andhear what I have to say in response to his abuses and insults.”

 

 
The companions complied, “We shall surely accompany you; in fact we had hoped that youwould reply to him at that very moment.”

 

 The Imam (a.s.) set off towards the person’s house and was heard reciting the following Qur’anic verse:

 

 And who restrain (their) anger, and forgive (the faults of) men; for God loves those who do good (to others)  Holy Qur’an, ch. Aale I’mraan (3), vs. 134.

The narrator says: “ When we heard the recitation of this verse, we realized that the Imam (a.s.) intended to exhibit goodness towards the person who had just insulted him.”

 

 When he reached the person’s house, the Imam (a.s.) called out to him and announced his arrival.

 

 On seeing the Imam, the person immediately assumed that he had come to respond to his abuses. 

 

 However, as soon as the Imam (a.s.) saw the man, he said, “O’ Brother! You came to me and uttered things which were appalling and unpleasant.  If what you have attributed to meis true, I seek forgiveness for myself from God, but if it is not so, then I pray that God forgives you.”

 

 The man was shocked to hear these words and repented.  He kissed Imam Sajjad (a.s.) between the eyes and apologised, saying:

 

 “My insults and abuse were unfounded and cannot be attributed to your character.  In fact, those insults befit me more than you.

Muntahal Aa’maal, vol. 2, pg. 4.