On the sad occasion of the martyrdom anniversary of the fourth Infallible imam, Imam Ali ibn Hussain (as), World Ahlul Bayt  Islamic League (WABIL) extends its condolences to the Imam of our time Imam Mahdi (atfs), the Ahlul Bayt (as), all righteous scholars and all believers.  Imam Ali ibn Hussain is often known as Imam Sajjad, the one who prostrated so much, and Imam Zainul Abideen, the adornment of the believers. for his extremely devotional worshipful life that he led. But there was also a reason behind this piety.
 

Imam Sajjad was born in Madinah in 38 AH. He present in Karbala during the horrific massacre of his father Imam Hussain (as) and his famly, But he was so ill that he was slipping in and out of consciousness and thus was unable to fight. When his father passed on the cloak of imamte to him, he was barely 22​. However Allah made him appear an emaciated young boy to the enemies, and thus his life was spared and he was taken captive along with the women. Imam was protected by his aunt Zainab bint Ali (sa) at every juncture in captivity. But even when Yazid tried to humiliate the Imam in his court by jesting that the Ahlul Bayt had been wiped out, Imam reminded him that the Prophet and his family would be forever mentioned in the Azaan and in prayer. Even in illness and captivity, Imam stood up the the tyrant of his time. After a year, the captives were released and after visiting Karbala to mourn their loved ones, they returned to Madinah.
 

Imam Sajjad however was kept under a watchful eye in Madinah, for Yazid did not want to risk another uprising. Indeed many people encouraged Imam to rise, but having seen how people had deserted his father, and under dicine instruction, he did not, but instead opted an outward quietist stance but inwardly strengthened his people. During the three day attack by Yazid's forces, Imam controlled himself and exhibited such patience. In fact we could say, was there anyone as patient as Imam Sajjad knowing how he had seen his entire family being massacred.
 

Imam cried continuously over the tragedy of Karbala, but more so over the unveiling and captivity of his women folk. But his generosity and kindness knew no bounds: when he heard of the captivity of one of his torturers, he sent him food and helped arrange his release. The Ahlul Bayt's love and sympathy drew even the enemies to them.
 

However, Imam was surrounded by Umayyad spies who feared a revolt. But Imam knew that in order to ensure the survival of Islam's real message, he needed to continue teaching his followers. Allah inspired him to use supplications as a method of teaching: he would spend hours in prostration, crying on the prayer mat, and uttered some of the most beautiful heart-wrenching prayers. The miracle of all these prayers is that Imam laced the, with the remembrance of the Prophet and his holy progeny and remembered the tragedy of Karbala, the oppression of the Ahlul Bayt, and the need to hold to the truth, in these prayers. What a wonderful and sutble way of ensuring the message was recorded and survived. Imam's prayers have been canonised in the Sahifa Sajjadiya, and cover prayers for every situation, from war, to peace, illness to fear, livelihood to familial duties.

 
Imam Sajjad is also famous for his Treaty on Human Rights, and yet each and every right of his own was denied to him. Perhaps the greatest legacy that he has left for us is that under no circumstances should one abandon prayer: even when captive, chained from feet to neck, on camel back or on foot, deprived of water for ablutions, Imam and the Ahlul Bayt (as) still offered every prayer on time. We have no right to claim that we love the Ahlul Bayt (as) if we cannot even offer the five compulsory daily prayers.
 

However, the calm and peaceful life of the Imam was not to be tolerated by the Ummayad’s cruel regime. They realized that the Imam was succeeding in his mission of spreading the message of his father Husainn (as) The Syrian monarch Walid Ibn Abdul Malik had him poisoned. He died in Madina on the 25th of Muharram 95 AH after 35 years of Imamate. His eldest son Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali al Baqir arranged the burial and laid him to rest in the grave yard of Jannatul Baqii, which today lies destroyed by the Saudi wahabi regime.
 

Some of Imam's well-known sayings are:
 
* Never think that what you do for your brother in faith is unimportant because these are the things that will be of much use to you on a day when nothing else will be of any use.
* (Speaking) Good words increase a person's wealth and sustenance, prolong his life, make him to be loved by his wife and children and take him to paradise.
* He who honors himself will debase the worldly life.
* The richest of people is that who is satisfied with what Allah has chosen for him.
* The whole goodness is to protect yourself (against all that which is unacceptable).


May we follow the example of Imam Sajjad and live our lives under the shade of his teachings.
 

Sayed Mohammad Al-Musawi
World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL)
London, UK
 

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