Hadhrat Imaam Zainul Aabideen (rahmatullahi alayh
Hadhrat Imaam Zainul Aabideen (rahmatullahi alayh), was the son of Hadhrat Husain (radhiyallahu anhu) .
WHO HE WAS
Once Hishaam Bin Abdul Maalik went for Hajj prior to his appointment to the Khilaafat. During Tawaaf, he struggled to kiss Hajr-e-Aswad. However, due to the huge crowd he was unable to do so. Precisely at the same time, Hadhrat Imaam Zainul Aabideen (rahmatullahi alayh), who was the son of Hadhrat Husain (radhiyallahu anhu) appeared on the scene. When the people saw him, they made way out of devotion and honour. Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen made Tawaaf in comfort and kissed the Hajr-e-Aswad without hassle or inconvenience. Hishaam looked on with awe.
[The Auliyaa are the true kings. While worldly kings rule people by force, the Auliyaa are the kings of the hearts of people. They rule by love and piety.]
Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen would spend the greater part of the night and the day in Salaat. When he would make wudhu, his colour turned extremely pale and he would tremble during Salaat.
HIS GENEROCITY
Once Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen (rahmatullahi alayh)went to visit Muhammad Bin Usama. On seeing Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen, he broke down crying. When Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen asked him for the reason for his grief, he replied that he was in debt.
Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen said: “How much is your debt?”
Usama said: “Fifteen thousand dinar.” (Dinar is a gold coin)
Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen: “Payment of your debt is my responsibility.”
CHARITY IN CONCEALMENT
Many poor and destitute people were obtaining their needs without being aware of the benefactor. Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen (rahmatullahi alayh) exercised great care to conceal his acts of charity. He arranged for his charitable contributions to be delivered to the poor during the night.
He concealed his charity so much that some people being unaware of his generosity branded him a miser. Only when he died, was it discovered that a hundred families were secretly supported by him. These families too were not aware who their benefactor was while Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen (rahmatullahi alayh) was alive
HIS DUA AND ADVICE
“O Allah! I seek Your Protection from that my outward appearance be pious to people while my heart is corrupt.”
Hadhrat Baqir (rahmatullahi alayh) narrates: “My father (Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen) instructed me not to associate with four types of people. (1) A fasiq. He will betray you for a morsel of food.
(2) A liar. He will deceive you.
(3) A stupid man. He will harm you even if he does something with a good intention.
(4) A person who severs family ties. He is described as a Ma’loon (accursed) in three places in the Qur'aan Shareef .”
HIS DEVOTION
Once the house of Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen was on fire while he was immersed in Salaat. The people shouted: “O Son of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)! Your house is on fire.”
However, Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen was fully absorbed in his Salaat. He was oblivious of the fire and the shouts of the people. He remained engrossed in Salaat until the fire died out. When people asked him about his obliviousness, he said: “The fire of the Aakhirah has made me oblivious of the fire of this world.”
HIS TOLERATION
Once a slave of Hadhrat Zainul Aabideen (rahmatullahi alayh) was bringing a pot of steaming hot food from the stove for the guests. The pot accidentally fell from the slave’s hands onto Imam Zainul Aabideen’s baby son. As a result of the accident the child immediately died. Spontaneously Imam Zainul Aabideen set the slave free and commented: “He did not do it deliberately.” He then commenced preparation for the kafan and dafan (burial) of his son.