CHAPTER III
HIS CHILDHOOD AND BEHAVIOR
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, had access to the best education. No one had access to such an education but him. These conditions helped him educate himself and build his character in such a way that he was among the leading generation of the Muslim Ima`ms whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, trusted, and made the leaders of his community and trustees for carrying out his message. Indeed all the elements of good and virtue and perfection were embodied in the childhood and behavior of the Ima`m. We will briefly explain these two phenomena of the early stages of his life:
His Childhood
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, grew up in the House of Prophethood and Ima`mate. That was the House which Allah permitted to be exalted so that His Name might be remembered in it. The Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, took care of him in the early stage of his childhood. He supplied him with some rays of his spirit, the scent of which covered the whole world. The grandson was indeed a picture of his grandfather; he was similar to him in his psychological elements and qualities.
As for the period of time in which Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin lived under the wing of his grandfather, it was very short. The historians limited it in two years. It was among the critical years which Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, witnessed. During these years the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, suffered from terrible crises and events. Among them was that his army which fought against the falsehood of Mu'a`wiya suffered defeat, mutiny, and disobedience. As a result the Ima`m asked Allah, the
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Glorified, to cause him die and to save him from that mobbish society which did not understand its objectives. Hence 'Abd al-Rahma`n b. Muljim(the most wretched person of the community, the terrorist, and criminal(attacked and killed him in one of Allah's houses, where he was standing and praying to Allah. In the last hours of his life, the members of his family and his children surrounded him, including Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin. Then Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, entrusted the Ima`mate to his two sons al-Hasan and al-Husayn. In the meantime he designated his little grandson Zayn al-'Abidin as an Ima`m. He recited to him the greetings of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and to his son Ima`m Mohammed al-Ba`qir, who is the leading figure of this community and pioneer of its scientific and cultural movement.
Ima`m al-Hasan is the lord of the youth of Heaven and plant of sweet basil of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, and his first grandson. He was the pioneer of thought and righteousness in Islam. He was Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin's pure uncle. Hence he took care of him, treated him with kindness and affection. He planted in him his great ideals and his excellent inclinations. He accompanied him till he (Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin) became a grown-up. Accordingly, he had great effect on his inner self.
Ima`m al-Husayn, peace be on him, is the father of the free and lord of martyrs. He was Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin's father. He thought that his son's qualities were similar to those of the Prophet and of the Ima`m. Hence he took great care of him. He poured in him his noble abilities and values, preferred him to his sons, and accompanied him most of the time. In this respect the historians said: "When Zayn al-'Abidin became ill, Ima`m al-Husayn hurried to visit him and made him wish, saying: 'What do you wish, my little son?' He (Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin) answered him with the answer of those who turned to Allah in repentance and devoted themselves to Him: 'I wish I would be among those who did not suggest (anything) to their Lord. (I am satisfied) with what my Lord decides.' Ima`m al-Husayn admired these brilliant words which indicated great knowledge and deep faith, and then he said with admiration: 'Bravo! You are similar to Ibra`him, the friend (of Allah) when Gabriel asked him: 'Have you any need?' He
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(Ibra`him) replied: 'I do not suggest (anything) to my Lord, rather Allah is sufficient for me and the best Agent!
1'"
Indeed Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, was similar to Ibra`him, the friend of Allah, in his great faith, his turning to Allah in repentance, and his cleaving to Him.
According to his education in his childhood , Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, was a model for those who were proud of sublime perfection and noble moral traits.
His Behavior
As for the behavior of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, it was similar to that of his grandfathers, who were the source of guidance to mankind. The Ima`m spared no effort to follow the behavior and guidance of his grandfather Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him. The narrators said: "He (Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin) followed his grandfather's behavior. When worship made him tired, he sighed deeply and said with regret: 'I am not strong enough to perform the worship of my grandfather, the Commander of the faithful.'"
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin carried in his inner self the spirit of his grandfather, the Commander of the faithful and the Lord of those who were cognizant of Allah. He followed his method and imitated his actions. Now, we will talk about some aspects of this part of his life.
His Behavior in his House
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, was the most merciful of all the people and the kindest of them to the members of his house. He did not distinguish himself from them, rather he was one of them. It was reported on his authority that he said: "To buy meat from the market with the dirhams which are on me for my family when they long for meat is more lovable for me than freeing a slave.
2" He went out early in the morning to seek the daily bread of his family. He was asked: "Where do you go?" He replied: "I go to seek alms for my
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1. Al-Bihar, vol. 46, p. 66. Qutb al-Rawandi, al-Da'wat.
2. Al-Bihar, vol. 46, p. 67.
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family by seeking lawful daily bread because it is (the daily bread) is alms from Allah, the Great and Almighty, for them.
1" He helped his family in meeting their needs. He did not order anyone of them to carry out his personal affairs; he performed them himself, especially if it concerned the affairs of his worship; he did not ask anyone of them to perform them.
The Ima`m's behavior toward his household was unique; he behaved exceptionally with his family. His behavior was full of mercy, cooperation, kindness, and self-negation.
His Kindness to his Nursemaid
When Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, grew up, he found out that his mother died, that his nursemaid treated him kindly in order to seek nearness to Allah. As a result he treated her with great kindness to the extent that he prevented from eating with her. The people blamed him for that and asked him frequently: "You are the kindest of all the people and the best of them in taking care of your blood relatives, so why do you not eat with your mother?" He replied to them with great politeness: "I fear that I stretch out my hand for what she stretches out her hand for.
2, then I am disobedient to her.
3"
Which humanity is similar to this humanity? Which angelic soul is this soul? It is sufficient for this Ima`m that he is the son of al-Husayn, who filled the world with his honor and perfection.
A Fabricated Narration
Ibn Kuthayr mentioned a fabricated report when he said that Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin married his mother to one of his retainers, and he freed a slave girl and married her, so 'Abd al-Malik wrote a letter to him and blamed him in it, saying: "Certainly you have in the Apostle of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much. He (Ima`m Zayn
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1. Ibid.
2. Shadharat al-Dhahab, vol. 1, p. 105, Al-Mubarrad, al-Kamil, vol. 1, p. 302.
3. Ibn Qutayba, 'Uyyn al-Akhbar, vol. 3, p. 97.
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al-'Abidin) freed Safiya and married her, and he married his retainer, Zayd b. Ha`ritha to his cousin, Zaynab, daughter of Jahsh.
1"
This narration is fabricated from the beginning to end for the following reasons:
1. A great number of the historians and narrators mentioned that the lady, the Ima`m's mother, died during her confinement.
2. Ima`m Abu` al-Hasan al-Rida`, peace be on him, mentioned that in his conversation with Sahl b. al-Qa`sim al-Nu`shja`ni when he said to him: "She (Zayn al-'Abidin's mother) died during her confinement, and one of his father's slave-wives looked after him. The people claimed that she was his mother, while she was his retainer. They claimed that he married his mother (to a retainer of his). I seek refuge in Allah from that, rather he married his nursemaid to a retainer of his." Sahl said: "All the students in Khurasa`n reported this on the authority of al-Rida`
2."
The sources of this narration are fabricated. As for that the Ima`m freed one of his slave girls and married her, it is lawful because it agrees with the Islamic teachings.
His Behavior toward his Parents
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, was the kindest of all the people to his parents because he treated them with great love and mercy and obedience. He was so kind to his father that he asked his aunt Zaynab, the heroine of Karbala`', to give the sticks to lean upon and a sword to defend his father at the Battle of al-Taf. This was while he was ill to the extent that he was unable to walk, but his aunt prevented him from doing that lest the progeny of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, should be destroyed. Therefore, which kindness is similar to this kindness? Among the services which he rendered to his father, after his martyrdom, was that he settled the heavy debts his father spent on the needy and the deprived. Among his acts of kindness to his parents is his supplication for them.
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1. Ibn Kuthayr, al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, vol. 9, p. 108.
2. 'Uyyun Akhbar al-Rida, p. 270.
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His Supplication for his Parents
As for the supplication of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, for his parents, it concerns one of the most brilliant rules of Islamic education. This rule aims at achieving the reform and happiness of the family, spreading love and respect among its members. It is natural for society to be righteous when the family is righteous, and when it is corrupt, the society is also corrupt. This is because it is the first cell of building and forming society. The following is the masterpiece of his supplication:
"O Allah, bless Mohammed Your servant and Your messenger and his Household, the pure, and single them out for the best of Your blessing, Your mercy, Your benedictions, and Your peace! And single out my parents, O Allah, for honor with You and blessings from You, O Most Merciful of the merciful!
"O Allah, bless Mohammed and His Household, teach me through inspiration, knowledge of everything incumbent upon me toward them, and gather within me knowledge of all that completely! Then make me act in accordance with what You have inspired me and give me success to put into practice the knowledge You have shown to me, lest I fail to act according to something You have taught me or my limbs feel too heavy to perform that with which You have inspired me!"
These brilliant words represent the high manners and morals and respect of the Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin toward his parents. He supplicated to Allah to single them out with honor and dignity and to help him perform their rights against him. Now let's listen to another masterpiece of his supplication for them.
"O Allah, bless Mohammed and His Household, as You have ennobled us through them and bless Mohammed and His Household as You have made incumbent upon us rights toward the creatures because of him.
"O Allah fill me with awe of my parents, the awe one has toward a tyrannical sovereign, and let me be devoted to them, with the devotion of a compassionate mother! Make my obedience and devotion to them more gladdening to my eyes than sleep to the
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drowsy and more refreshing to my breast than drink to the thirsty, so that I may prefer their inclination to my inclination, set their satisfaction before my satisfaction, make much of their devotion to me though it be little, and make little of my devotion to them though it be great." In the world of obedience and kindness to parents, there is nothing like that which the Ima`m has mentioned in this paragraph. He asked Allah, the Almighty, to fill him with awe of his parents to obey them and not to disobey them and to be devoted to them with the devotion of a compassionate mother and to prefer their inclination to his inclination and to set their satisfaction to his satisfaction and to thank them for their kindness to him and to regard as little his devotion to them. It is natural that such children treat their parents in such a manner which agrees with the troubles of life and pains of old age, and which brings about the happiness of family and the prosperity of social life. Now let's continue mentioning the brilliant paragraphs of his supplication for his parents.
"O Allah lower before them my voice, make agreeable to them my words, make mild before them my temper, make tender toward them my heart, and turn me into their kind companion, their loving friend! O Allah thank them for my upbringing, reward them for honoring me, and guard them as they guarded me in my infancy! O Allah and whatever harm has touched them from me, detested thing has reached them from me, or right of theirs which has been neglected by me, allow it to alleviate their sins, raise them in their degrees, and add to their deeds! O He who changes evil deeds into manifold good deeds!"
This masterpiece represents the high education and morals of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt) , peace be on them. In it, the Ima`m has added other rights to the parents' rights he has already mentioned, they are as follows:
1. The son should lower his voice before his parents.
2. He should make his temper mild before them.
3. He should make his heart tender toward them.
4. He should ask Allah to forgive them and to be pleased with them for their kindness to him during the days of his infancy.
5. He should ask Allah to reward them for whatever harm has
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touched them from him, detested thing has reached them from him or right of their rights which has been neglected by him. In the world of ideal education there is no morals like these morals through which man is sublime and his life is prosperous. Now, let's listen to another part of the supplication of the Ima`m, peace be on him.
"O Allah, whatever word through which they have transgressed against me, act through which they have been immoderate with me, right of mine which they have neglected, or obligation toward me in which they have fallen short, I grant it to them and bestow it upon them, and I beseech You to remove from them its ill consequence, for I do not accuse them concerning myself, find them slow in their devotion toward me, or dislike the way they have attended to my affairs, my Lord! They have rights against me which are more incumbent, precedence in beneficence toward me that is greater, and kindness toward me that is mightier than that I should settle accounts with justice or repay them with equivalents. Where then, my Allah, would be their long occupation with bringing me up? Where is the hardship of their toil in taking care of me? Where is the stinting of themselves to provide me with plenty? What an idea! I can never discharge their right against me, fulfill my obligations toward them, or accomplish the duty of serving them. So bless Mohammed and his Household and help me, O Best of those whose help we seek! Give me success, O Most Guiding of those whom we beseech! Place me not among the people of disrespect to fathers and mothers on the day when every soul will be repaid for what it has earned; they shall not be wronged." Indeed this 'Alid education is a breath of Allah's spirit and is a signpost for peoples and nations to raise the value of man and exalt him to the Kingdom. This pious Ima`m shows that it is incumbent on children to forgive their parents for whatever word through which they have transgressed against them, act through which they have been immoderate with them, right of theirs which they have neglected, or obligation toward them in which they have fallen short. They must grant it to them and bestow it upon them as a reward to them for their education, their taking care of them, and their blessing toward them. Now, let's listen to the last part of the Ima`m's supplication:
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"O Allah, bless Mohammed, his Household, and his progeny and single out my parents for the best which You have singled out for the fathers and mothers of Your faithful servants, O Most Merciful of the merciful! O Allah, let me not forget to remember them after my ritual prayers, at every time throughout my night, and in each of the hours of my day! O Allah, bless Mohammed and his Household, forgive me through my supplication for my parents, forgive them their devotion toward me with unfailing forgiveness, be pleased with them through my intercession for them with resolute good pleasure, and make them reach through Your generosity the abodes of safety! O Allah, if Your forgiveness reaches them first, make them my intercessors, and if Your forgiveness reaches me first, make me their intercessors, so that we may gather together through Your gentleness in the house of Your generosity and the place of Your forgiveness and mercy! Verily You are Possessor of abounding bounty and ancient kindness, and
You are the Most Merciful of the merciful!1."
In this last paragraph, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, supplicated for his parents asking Allah to forgive them and to be pleased with them and to forgive him through the blessing of his supplication for them and to forgive them through their kindness to him, so which love and mercy for the parents is like this love and mercy?
His Behavior toward his Children
As for the behavior of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, toward his children, it is distinguished by exalted Islamic education. He planted in his children his good inclinations and great reformatory trends, so they became among the most brilliant men of thought, knowledge, and struggle in Islam. For example, his son Ima`m Mohammed al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, is among the most famous Ima`ms of the Muslims and the most knowledgeable of them. He was the founder of the greatest jurisprudence school from which the great jurists and religious scholars graduated, such as Aba`n b. Taghlub, Zara`ra b. A'yun, and the like, from among those who enlightened the
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1. Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiya, supplication no 24.
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ideological life in Islam. As for his son 'Abd Allah al-Ba`hir, he was among the leading Muslim scholars with excellent qualities and high scientific position, so the people reported that on his authority.
1 As for his son Zayd, he was among the great Muslim religious scholars, and he was a specialist in many sciences such as jurisprudence, tradition, interpretation of the Qur'a`n, theology, and the like. It was he who adopted the rights of the oppressed and the persecuted , and he led their movement of struggle. That was when he proclaimed his immortal revolt which spread political awareness in the Islamic society. He also took part in overthrowing the Umayyad rule.
We will mention in brief some parts of the behavior of Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, toward his children.
His Commandments to his Children
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, supplied his children with some educational commandments which were the summary of his experiences in this life, as guidance for them. The following are some of his commandments:
1. He, peace be on him, recommended some of his children to follow these valuable commandments which shed light on friends, and which made it incumbent on them to refrain from making friends with those who had evil inclinations which might pollute their pure nature. The following is the text of his commandments: "My little son, beware of five persons. Do not make friends with them, do not converse with them, and do not accompany them." His son asked him: "Who are they?" He, peace be on him, replied: "Beware of making friends with a liar because he is like a mirage, making you feel that distant things are near and near things are distant. Be careful of making friends with a sinner because he would sell you for a meal or less than that. Beware of making friends with a miser because he would desert you because of his money when you are in need of him. Guard against a fool because he may intend to benefit you but may harm you. Be cautious of making friends with the one who abandons
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1. Ghayat al-Ikhtisar, p. 106.
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his blood relations because I have found him cursed in the Book of Allah.
1" Indeed, making friends with such people brings about destruction and loss and great harm. Such people are many in the past and in the present while good and pure friends are few!
2. Among his excellent commandments to his children are these great ones, which read: "My little son, be patient during a misfortune, do not interfere with rights, and do not force your friend (to do) a thing whose harm is greater than its benefit for you.
2" The wise Ima`m recommended his son to be patient in the face of misfortunes and events that afflicted him and not to collapse before them, for that would strengthen his character. He also recommended him not to interfere with the rights of others lest they should transgress against him. Moreover, he recommended him not to force his friend to do a certain thing that might bring about harm and loss.
3. Among his wonderful commandments to one of his children is the following: "My little son, Allah is not satisfied with you as one for me and He enjoined you in respect of me; He is satisfied with me as one for you and He warned me from you. Know that the best of fathers is he whose love does not cause him to neglect his children, and the best of children to fathers is one whose father's shortcomings does not make him disobedient to him.
3"
These commandments have the following points:
A. Children do not harbor love and mercy for their parents as their parents do for them. So Allah, the Glorified, has stressed in more than one verse of His Glorious Book that children should treat their parents kindly and obey them.
B. Allah, the Exalted, has warned parents from their children whom He regarded as among the sources of discord and unhappiness for their parents.
C. Successful upbringing is that the parents should not go too far in showing love and mercy for their children, for that would
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1. Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 279. Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya, vol. 9, p. 105. Wasa'il al-Shi'a.
2. Al-Bayan wa al-Tabbyyin, vol. 2, p. 76. Al-'Aqd al-Farid, vol. 3, p. 88.
3. Al-'Aqd al-Farid, vol. 3, p. 89.
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weaken the child's character and make him unable to resist events. It is worth mentioning that educationists and psychologists have underlined this issue.
D. The best children are those who serve their parents and treat them kindly.
4. He singled out his son Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, with these valuable commandments in which he warned him against making friends with a fool, saying: "My little son, beware of making friends and associating with a fool. Abandon a fool and do not converse with him because he is deficient and faultfinding whether he is present or absent. When he talks, his foolishness exposes him. When he keeps silent, his silence shows his feebleness. When he acts, he corrupts (his act). He loses (the care) when someone takes care of him. Neither his own knowledge nor the others' knowledge avails him. He does not obey his adviser. Those who associate with him find no rest (with him). His mother and his wife wish that they would lose him. His neighbor wishes that his house would be far from him. His friend prefers loneliness to sitting with him. If he is the youngest of those who are in the assembly, he tires out those who are older than him. If he is the oldest of them, he corrupts those who are younger than him.
1" The Ima`m, peace be on him, made it incumbent on his children to refrain from making friends with a fool whose defects and shortcomings he had mentioned.
5. The following are some of his wonderful commandments to his children: "Sit with the men of religion and knowledge. If you are unable (to sit with them), therefore loneliness is more sociable and safer. If you insist on sitting with people, therefore sit with the men of generosity because they are not strict in their assemblies.
2"
These are some of his educational commandments to his children. In these commandments he has shown his children the best methods necessary for their behavior in this life.
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1. Wasa'il al-Shi'a, vol. 5, p. 421.
2. Al-Kashi, Rijal, p. 419.
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His Supplication for his Children
As for his supplication for his children, it is very wonderful in showing his behavior toward them and what he hoped for them such as excellent manners and noble morals. Now, let's listen to this supplication, which is part of the greatest wealth in the Islamic education.
"O Allah, be kind to me through the survival of my children, setting them right for me and allowing me to enjoy them! My Allah, make long their lives for me, increase their terms, bring up the smallest for me, strengthen the weakest for me, rectify for me their bodies, their religious dedication, and their moral traits, make them well in their souls, their limbs, and everything that concerns me of their affairs, and pour out for me and upon my hand their provisions! Make them pious, fearing, insightful, hearing, and obedient toward You, loving and well-disposed toward Your friends, and stubbornly resistant and full of hate toward all Your enemies! Amen!"
This paragraph represents the great spirituality the Ima`m, peace be on him, followed to educate his children. He educated them according to the inclusive setting right and the absolute education. He prayed to Allah to be kind to him through:
A. The survival of his children in order that he might enjoy them.
B. Rectifying their bodies, their religious dedication, and their moral traits.
C. Rectifying their souls through purifying them from vices and sins.
D. Making them well in their limbs lest they should become handicap.
E. Making abundant their provisions lest they should suffer from poverty which was among the most dangerous disasters.
F. Making them pious, fearing, insightful, hearing, and obedient toward Him (Allah).
G. Making them loving and well-disposed toward His (Allah's)
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friends, and stubbornly resistant and full of hate toward all His enemies.
This kindness to children strengthens the ties of the members of family. When the child is brought up according to these high moral traits, his parents will enjoy him. Let's listen to another part of this holy supplication. "O Allah, through them strengthen my arm, straighten my burdened back, multiply my number, adorn my presence, keep alive my name, suffice me when I am away, help me in my needs, and make them loving toward me, affectionate, approaching, upright, obedient, never disobedient, disrespectful, opposed, or offenders! Help me in their education, and my devotion toward them, give me among them from Yourself male children, make that a good for me, and make them a help for me in that which I ask from You! Give me and my progeny refuge from the accursed Satan, for You have created us, commanded us, prohibited us, and made us desire the reward of what You have commanded, and fear its punishment! You assigned to us an enemy who schemes against us, gave him an authority over us in a way You did not give us an authority over him, allowed him to dwell in our breasts and let him run in our blood vessels; he is not heedless, though we be heedless, he does not forget, though we forget; he makes us feel secure from Your punishment and fills us with fear toward other than You. If we are about to commit an indecency, he gives us courage to do so, and if we are about to perform a righteous act, he holds us back from it. He opposes us through passions, and sets up for us doubts. If he promises us, he lies, and if he raises our hopes, he fails to fulfill them. If You do not turn his trickery away from us, he will misguide us, and if You do not protect us from his corruption, he will cause us to slip. O Allah, so defeat his authority over us through Your authority such that You hold him back from us through the frequency of our supplication to You and we leave his trickery and rise up among those preserved by You from sin!"
This wonderful paragraph has two important matters, which are:
First, the Ima`m asked Allah, the Glorified, to help him achieve what he hoped in respect to his pure children. He hoped that:
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1. Allah would strengthen his arm through them, for a good child is strength for his father.
2. He would straighten his burdened back.
3. He would multiply their number, so that they would be a notable family before the people.
4. He would adorn his presence and keep alive his name, that was through the high standards of his children.
5. He would suffice him when he was away, that was when his children carried out his affairs.
6. He would make his children help him in his needs and not leave him alone.
7. He would make his children loving toward him, affectionate, approaching, upright, obedient, never disobedient, disrespectful, opposed, or offenders!
When children are righteous and obedient to their parents, their parents will enjoy them during the time of their old age which is the center of weakness.
Second, the Ima`m asked Allah, the Glorified, to protect him and his children from the evil of the accursed Satan, who is the first enemy of man; he tempts man to be disobedient to Allah through committing sins and vices. The Ima`m has mentioned the authority and domination of Satan over man as follows:
1. Satan tempts man to commit sins, makes easy the punishment Allah has prepared for his disobedient servants, and makes man afraid of those other than Allah, so he makes him afraid of them more than they are afraid of Allah.
2. If man is about to commit an indecency, he gives him courage to do so.
3. If man is about to perform a righteous act, he holds him back from it.
4. Satan opposes man through passions.
5. He sets up doubts for man to make him far from his Lord.
The Ima`m mentioned all the ways Satan uses to entice man such
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as lying and deception, and then he warned all the believers from the trickery of Satan. Now, lets listen to the last paragraph of this holy supplication.
"O Allah, grant me every request, accomplish for me my needs, withhold not from me Your response when You have made Yourself accountable for it to me, veil not my supplication from Yourself, when you have commanded me to make it, and be kind to me through everything that will set me right in this world and the next, in everything that I remember or forget, display or conceal, make public or keep secret! In all of this, place me through my asking You among those who set things right, those who are answered favorably when they request from You and from whom is not withheld when they put their trust in You, those who always seek refuge in You, those who profit through commerce with You, those granted sanctuary through Your might, those given lawful provision in plenty from Your plentiful bounties through Your munificence and generosity, those who reach exaltation after abasement through You, those granted sanctuary from wrong through Your justice, those released from affliction through Your mercy, those delivered from need after poverty through Your riches, those preserved from sins, slips, offenses through reverential fear toward You, those successful in goodness, right conduct, and propriety through obeying You, those walled off from sins through your power, the refrainers from every act of disobedience toward You, the dwellers in Your neighborhood! O Allah, give me all of that through Your granting of success and Your mercy, grant us refuge from the chastisement of burning, and to give to all the Muslims, male and female, and all the faithful, male and female, the like of what I have asked for myself and my children, in the immediate of this world and the deferred of the next! Verily You are the Near, the Responder, the All-hearing, the All-knowing, the Pardoner, the Forgiving, the Clement, the Merciful!
And give us in this world good, and in the next world good, and protect us from the chastisement of the Fire! .
2"
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1. Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiya, supplication no 25.
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Peace be on you, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, you were given wisdom and sound judgment of which no one of the people was given except your children, who created the rules of eloquence in the world of Islam.
In the above-mentioned paragraph, Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, showed his great loyalty, his turning to Allah, his obedience, and his cleaving to Allah. He asked Allah, the Almighty, to grant him every request, to accomplish for him his needs, to withhold not from him His response when He has made Himself accountable for it to him, to veil not his supplication from Himself, when He has commanded him to make it, and to be kind to him through everything that will set him right in this world and the next. He humbly supplicated to Allah, and then he asked Him to give to all the Muslims, male and female, and all the faithful, male and female, the like of what he had asked for himself and his children, in the immediate of this world and the deferred of the next.
Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, brought up his children according to these manners, which represented the essence of Islam and true faith, so his children were the most pious of the children of all the Muslims in religion.
