His Holy Virtues
Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedin AlaihisSalam was the reassurer and restorer of his ancestors’ spiritual and moral virtues. He was always respecting others, his own near and dear and also other people. He used to listen to the suppressed ones very carefully. Poor and avoided people always felt secure in his presence, and he showed great sympathy towards downtrodden people. Hazrat Umar Abu Nasar writes that he bought enumerable slaves and freed them. Even with the enemies, he was quite tolerant, and if the chance came, he would show great favour, in words and actions, towards them.
When Marvan Ibn-e-Hakim, who was always leading the group against Hazrat Imam Husain, came to him for protection after being accused and punished by the government, for quite a long time he protected him and his family members. He cared for their safety and was keeping himself in touch with them.
His way of life, sacrifice in the name of Allah, the Almighty and serving the public welfare, earned him a great love of the people. It is said that someone was criticizing him and was speaking very bad for him at his back. He went to him, behaved in such a a nice and noble way that, the person, immediately and whole-heartedly, submitted him. The poets have written many verses in praise of his nobility, virtuous words and deeds, his kindness towards the down-trodden and his services to Allah.
(Masalikul Sa’alikin)
His Outstanding Virtues and Qualities
During his time, Saiyedna Abul Hasan Ali Al Maroof as Zain-ul-A’abedin bin-Imam Husain AlahisSalam, an heir of prophethood, light-house for the community, was the foremost worshiper of Allah, the Almighty, an advocate of truth and giver of perfect solutions of very difficult problems. Hazrat Imam Zahari says, “I have seen no other Quresh better than Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedin.” Hazrat Saeed-bin-Musaib says, “In my opinion, no other person is as advanced as Hazrat Zain-ul-A’abedin-bin Imam Husain AlahisSalam, in respect of high moral conduct and conscience.
When Hazrat Ibn-e-Abbas used to see him, he would say, “Brave! 0 beloved son of a beloved father.” Abu Hazim says, they had not seen any person nobler and having more knowledge about the Islamic Law (Shariat). Zahabi and Ayayana say, “We have not seen any Quresh better than him.” Hazrat Imam Maalik says, “He is from the Men Excellence.” Ibn-e-Abu Shaiba states, “The best among all the explanations of Hadiths, the ones are given by and described by Hazrat Dre Imam Zainul Abedin on the authority of his holy father, Hazrat Imam Husain and holy grandfather Amir-ul-Mominin Hazrat Ali Murtuza, are the best. (Taarikh-ul-Khulfa-e-Masalik-ul-Sa’alikin Vasehul Tavarikh) “”
His Sacrifice and Detachment (sacrifice)
Twice in his life, he bestowed all his belongings and property to the needy, in the name of Allah. The modus operandi of his charity was such that he used to send help to the families in such a way that none could come to know who donated the things and amount. But when he left this finite world, the beneficiaries came to know that help was coming from Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedin. (Taarikh-ul-Khulfa)
His Humility and Patience
He had great patience, was always satisfied with whatever Allah bestowed upon him and was quite humble towards one and all. During the rule of Yazid -the rascal he was brought from Karbala to Damascus, with handcuffs and fetters. Then, during his regime, Abdul Malik-bin-Marvan forced him to walk from Medina Munavvara to Sham with heavy fetters in the neck and iron handcuffs. After that, he was imprisoned in Damascus. He bore all the tortures very patiently. He thanked Allah, the Almighty on every step and quietly submitted to the situation. His follower and disciple Imam Zahari, when came to know about his imprisonment, he was greatly moved. He immediately went to the court of Abdul Malik bin Marvan and got him relieved. After that, he was brought to Medina with all respect and honour. (Khazinat-ul-Sufia) –
His Tolerance
Once, Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedin left home and was going somewhere. On the way, an indiscriminate fellow met him and abused him like anything. On hearing this, he said, “O brother! If I have all the vices you named me, let Allah, the Almighty forgive me for that. And if I do not have those vices, may Allah forgive you.” The fellow was very much ashamed, came forward and kissed his forehead. He said, “Huzur, you do not have any of the vices I projected upon you. But I am the liar. Please pray for my forgiveness.” Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedin said, “Let Allah forgive YOU.
Exemplum
Once, while he was passing through a lane in Medina, he saw a butcher who made the she-goat lie on the ground and was sharpening his knife to kill (cut its throat) it. His inner being was moved. As he was reminded of his holy father’s martyrdom, he so severely wept that the sobs suffocated his breathing. Then, he asked the butcher whether he had given food and water to the animal. He replied, “O Imam, I feed it for three days and, a few moments back also I offered it water.” When he heard this, he was satisfied, and while weeping, he told, “The cruel and ruthless people did not consider my father even as well as a she-goat. For three days, he was kept without food and water, and was martyred in that position.”
(Ravz ul Rehan, Masa’alikul Sa’alikin)
Worship and Penance
After his holy father, Saiyedna Imam Husain’s sad demise, he gave up all worldly luxuries, and every moment, he was in the presence of Allah, the Almighty. Twenty four hours, he used to remember his holy father and kept on weeping. During day and night, he always used to be sorrowful. When he remembered his father’s helplessness and touched with his love, he so much wept that sometimes he would be unconscious. In this position, he would recite couplets of poetry and narrate the situation related to Karbala.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 