Imam Zainul Abideen (as), also known as Imam Sajjad, was the 4th Imam. He witnessed the tragic events of Karbala and was imprisoned afterwards. He had an extremely high level of worship, praying 1000 rakah daily and having long prostrations, earning him the title "Zainul Abideen". After release, he spread the message of Karbala through prayers and supplications. He was later poisoned by the jealous Umayyad caliph Hisham.

1. Ahad means one
and only one
Allah is forever living.
Not In need of
anyone or anything
Allah has no
parents nor
any children
There is no
one or
anything like
him

3. Imam Zainul
Abedin
Our 4th imam

4. Name: Ali (as)
Title: Zainul Abideen (The Jewel of Worshippers)
Al-Sajjad ( the one who prostrates )
Father: Imam Husain(as)
Mother: Bibi Shahr Banu(as)
Birthdate: 5th Sha’ban 38 A.H. in Madina
Imamat: From 61 A.H. to 95 A.H.
Martyrdom: 25th Muharram 95 A.H.
Buried: Madina,
Just like we wear jewelry to make us look
beautiful, Imam Sajjad’s worship to Allah was
so beautiful, that he was known as the jewel
of the worshippers

5. Childhood of Imam Sajjad (s)
Imam Sajjad’s (as) Mother dies a few days after his
birth
Aunt Sayyeda Zainab (as) takes care of Imam Sajjad (as)
and brings him up like her own son
Imam Sajjad (as) Studies under Imams Hassan
(as) and Hussain (as)

6. Imam’s level of Worship
Imam used to pray a thousand Rak'a
prayer everyday Thus, he was called
Zain al-'Abideen which means
The Adornment or Jewel of the
worshippers
Imam used to do Long prostrations, that
is why he is known as Al Sajjad
(One who prostrates to Allah a lot)

7. Imam Sajjad (as) used to
concentrate on his Salaat
so much, that he did not
know what was
happening around him.
Imam has also advised us
to concentrate in our
salaat to obtain many
benefits
Imam used to communicate with Allah through his prayers
His body used to tremble when he was preparing to pray.
When asked he said “ Don’t you know who I am preparing to stand
before and whom I am going to whisper to?

8. Once Imam Sajjad (as) joined a caravan to serve as a volunteer
to a group of people who were going for Hajj. Imam would do
all the manual work and take care of the people.
Imam purposely chose this group as the people did not know
him. It was only after they stopped at a village that somebody
recognized him

9. Just like his Grandfather Imam
Ali(as) , his Uncle Imam Hasan (as)
and father Imam Husayn(as ,
Imam Sajjad(as)used to secretly
feed people secretly dropping
food at their houses at night
Imam Sajjad (as) was
very kind to the
people. His holy heart
overflowed with
kindness.
When Imam found out
someone was in debt,
he would immediately
pay it

10. Imam in Karbala
Imam Sajjad, his wife
and young son Imam
mohamed Al Baqir (as)
accompanied Imam
Hussain(as) to karbala
Imam Sajjad(as falls
very sick a day
before Ashura and
could not fight.
This was a plan by
Allah (swt) as Imam
Sajjad was to be the
next imam
Imam Sajjad (as)
Witnessed the
savage killings of
his father, brothers,
uncles and
companions
Imam Sajjad (as) had to
witness how Yazid’s men
brutally treated His aunt
Zainab,(as) his sister Sakina
(as) and other members of
his family

11. When Imām Sajjad (as) was first taken
prisoner in Karbala, the cruel army
of Yazid chained and shackled his hands
and feet and made him wear a very heavy
iron collar with spikes facing inwards. The
chains used to heat up in the hot desert
and burn his flesh to the bone. These
wounds continued to give him pain for the
rest of his life.

12. In Kufa and Shaam
On the way to Kufa and Sham, whenever the women or children would cry or move
slowly, the cruel soldiers of Yazid would whip Imām Sajjad (as) The marks of these whips
remained on his back even when he passed away much later.
In Kufa and Shaam, Imam spoke up with incredible courage and exposed the crimes
of Yazid and informed people of what was done to his father and in Karbala. The
imam spoke with such force and eloquence that people wept and began hating Yazid
and turning away from him.
In Shaam, the prisoners were made to wait outside Yazid’s palace. There an old man came up to
Imam Sajjad and started abusing him .
Imam asked the old man if he had read verse of the Quran
I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives;
(42:23)
The old man replied he had read this verse.
Imam Sajjad then told him that he and the other prisoners are the relatives mentioned in this
verse

13. Afraid of an uprising and losing
his power, Yazid was forced to
release Imam Sajjad (as) and the
women and children survivors.
The survivors returned back to
Madina

14. In Madina, Imam spent
his time in worship and
prayers. He spread the
message of Karbala,
even though Yazid kept
spies around him. Imam
Used Duas to spread
the message of Islam

16. The Ummayad Caliph
Hisham was jealous
when he saw how the
people loved and
honored Imam Sajjad
(as)
Hisham had Imam Sajjad
poisoned
Imam passed away on
25th Muharram 95 A.H.
He is buried in Madina

17. Lessons learnt
Be patient in
times of
difficulties
Be Thankful to
Allah at all times
Improve your level of
worship
Try and concentrate
on your Salaat
Increase your length of
prostrations to Allah
Imam Sajjad played a vital role in narrating the
tragedies that happened in Karbala and
confronting Yazid’s Government in Syria.