The Enduring Light: The Martyrdom of Imam Zayn al-Abideen (AS)
The Fourth Imam’s Suffering, Strength, and Legacy After Karbala
The story of Imam Ali Zayn al-Abideen (AS), also known as Imam Sajjad, is one of profound sorrow, unwavering faith, and unbreakable spirit. As the fourth Imam in the lineage of the Ahl al-Bayt, he was the son of Imam Hussain (AS) and Bibi Shahrbano (SA), a Persian princess and daughter of King Yazd Gard II. Imam Sajjad (AS) was just 22 or 23 years old when the tragedy of Karbala unfolded—a calamity that would forever change the course of Islamic history.
Though Imam Sajjad (AS) left Madina in good health, the horrors he witnessed at Karbala left him gravely ill. His illness prevented him from fighting on the battlefield, but it was the suffering endured by the Prophet’s family in the aftermath—especially during their captivity in Shaam—that truly weakened his body. Yet, even in this state, the survival of Islam rested on his shoulders.
In the courts of the tyrants Ibn Ziyaad and Yazid, Imam Sajjad (AS) stood with the courage of a lion. His words, filled with truth and conviction, exposed the evil of Yazid and the Banu Umayyah. Through his eloquent speeches, he revealed the mission of Imam Hussain (AS) and the atrocities committed against the Prophet’s family. The people of Syria, once ignorant of Yazid’s crimes, began to turn against him. Fearing the Imam’s influence, Yazid eventually allowed him to return to Madina.
But safety was an illusion. In Madina, the Umayyad ruler Walid was consumed by hatred.
“I can’t rest as long as Ali ibn Hussain is in this world,” he declared, sending poison to his governor with orders to end the Imam’s life.
When the poison was administered, Imam Sajjad (AS) endured excruciating pain. His beloved wife, Lady Fatima bint Hasan (AS), remained by his side. As his condition worsened, he gathered those close to him and instructed them to follow his son, Muhammad Baqir (AS), who would become the next Imam. In a moment of tenderness, he asked Imam Muhammad Baqir (AS) to care for the camel he had used for Hajj for twenty years—a creature he had never once struck, knowing it would mourn his loss. He requested that the camel be set free, to roam as it pleased.
The poison’s effects grew stronger, and Imam Sajjad (AS) fainted three times. Each time he regained consciousness, he recited Surah al-Fateha, Surah Inna Fatahna, and verses from the Holy Quran. Finally, on the 25th of Muharram in the year 95 A.H., at the age of 57, his soul returned to his Creator. During his funeral rites, the wounds and bruises from Karbala and Shaam were so severe that Imam Muhammad Baqir (AS) wept uncontrollably.
Imam Sajjad (AS) was laid to rest in Jannatul Baqi, the sacred graveyard in Madina, beside his uncle Imam Hasan (AS). The loyal camel, now free, made its way to the Imam’s grave, where it wept and remained until it too passed away—a silent testament to the love and loss that surrounded the Imam.
Tragically, the Imam’s grave, once marked by a beautiful dome, was destroyed in 1926 by the Wahhabis in Saudi Arabia. Today, pilgrims who visit Madina are moved to tears by the humble and neglected state of his resting place. The pain of this loss lingers in the hearts of believers, who pray for the day when the grave of Imam Sajjad (AS) will be restored to its former glory.
The legacy of Imam Zayn al-Abideen (AS) is one of resilience, compassion, and unwavering devotion to truth. His suffering and sacrifice continue to inspire millions, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, the light of faith and justice can never be extinguished.