Hadrat Imam Zain al-‘Abideen had a very soft heart and always thought of the sacrifice that was given by his Father Imam Hussain and all the other Martyrs on the plains of Karbala.

Once, he was walking in the blessed streets of Madinah Munawwarah, when he saw a person placing a goat on the ground, and was sharpening the knife before making the animal zibah. On seeing this, he became very saddened and thought of the martyrdom of his father. He then began to weep bitterly and asked the man, “My dear Brother! Did you give the goat some food and water or not?”The man replied that he had fed and given water to the goat for the past three days and had also fed it water just before laying in down. On hearing this, Hadrat Imam Zain al-‘Abideen let out a sigh of pain and said, “It is sad, that the people of Kufa did not even care for him like (you care for) the goat. They starved him for three days and nights and then martyred him in this state.” 

HIS FEAR FOR ALLAH:

He was a personality who truly feared Allah. His heart flowed with the fear of Allah. Once during Hajj, he tied his Ehraam but did not say the Labbaik. The people asked him the reason for this, and he said, I fear the I will say Labbaik and Allah will say, I do not accept your presence (Hajj). The people then told him that his Ehraam would not be proper if he did not say Labbaik. He then said Labbaik, and began to tremble in the fear of Allah until he fell off his camel and became unconscious. This continued throughout the Hajj, every time that he said Labbaik. [Khazinat al-Asfiyah]

RECITATION OF THE HOLY QUR’AN:

Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) says, When my grandfather, Hadrat Imam Zain al-‘Abideen (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) used to recite the Quran, then the beauty of his recitation attracted the people towards him and all those listening to him would become so overwhelmed with the fear of Allah, that one did not know the condition of the other.

RETURN FROM THE BATTLE OF KARBALA:

When Imam Zain al-‘Abideen was returning to Madinah after the Battle of Karbala, he said a few stanzas. A few stanzas are being presented for blessing.

“O Winds! If someday you pass by the sacred land, then pass my salaams
before the Rawda al-Aqdas where the most exalted Nabi rests

The Sadness of separation from Madinah feels
like a sword stuck deep into my liver

How fortunate are the people of that city in
which is the Exalted and Beloved Prophet

O Rahmatulil Aalameen! Assist Zain al-‘Abideen.
Who is standing alone and in difficulty amongst the tyrants.”

Once a person asked Imam Zain al-‘Abideen about who will be looked upon as pious and good on the last day and he said, “That person, who when he is happy, his happiness does not drive him towards wrong and that person, when he is angry, then his anger does not remove him from what is right.”

In other words, when you are happy, you should not let your happiness take you towards bad deeds and when you are angry, then you should not allow your anger to blind you from that which is right. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen]

Maqam Sayyaduna Imam Zain al-‘Abideen in Egypt

RESPECT FOR THE KHULAFA:

Once some people from Iraq, came to visit Imam Zain al-‘Abideen (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho). During their visit, they began to say disrespectful words concerning Hadrat Abu Bakr, Hadrat Umar and Hadrat Uthman (Ridwanullahi Ta’aal Alaihim Ajma’een).

When they had completed saying what they wished to, He said, Tell me, are you from amongst the first Muhajireen, concerning whom Almighty Allah says, “Those who were driven out from their homes and their possessions seeking the grace of Allah and His Pleasure, and helping Allah and His Messenger. They are the truthful.” [Surah Hashr verse 8]

They replied in the negative, by saying that the verse did not refer to them. Hadrat Imam Zain al-‘Abideen (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anho) then asked if they were from amongst the Ansaar, concerning whom Almighty Allah says in the Quran, And those who had established their homes in this city, with faith, from inception, They, (who) show love to those, who migrated towards them, and who find no need in their hearts, for that which has been left, and they give preference to them over their lives, even though they are in great need.[Surah Hashr verse 9]

Again, they answered in the negative. He then said, I swear, that you are not even worthy of this verse of the Quran wherein Allah says, And those who came after them say, O Allah! Pardon us and our brothers, who brought faith before us, And keep not in our hearts hostility towards those with Imaan. O Our Lord, Verily you are most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

After saying this, he asked them to leave his presence. In other words, he showed them that they were not from amongst the Muhajireen, or the Ansaar, or even from amongst the believers. He therefore shunned them for being disrespectful to the Khulafa-e-Thalaasa.

KARAAMAT:

The Karaamats of Imam Zain al-‘Abideen are numerous, but a few are being quoted for attaining blessings.

Incident During Hajj:

Two people where making tawaaf of the Kaaba and came to Hajr-e-Aswad. When they touched the Hajr-e-Aswad, both their hands became stuck on it. People tried very hard to release their hands, but it was not possible. Hadrat Imam Zain al-‘Abideen entered the Haram whilst this was happening. He said Bismillah hir rahmaan nir rahim and then placed his hands on the Hajr-e-Aswad. Immediately the two peoples hands were released. [Khazinat al-Asfiyah, Vol. 1, Page 34]

The Deer:

Once Hadrat had gone into the jungle with his companions. As they sat to eat, a deer passed by them. The Imam called to the deer and asked it to partake in the meal with them. The Deer immediately came to the Imam and partook in the meal provided. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol. 1, Page 11]

A Deers Complaint:

A deer once came to Hadrat Imam Zain al-‘Abideen (Radi ALLAHu Ta