Byname/title: Zayn al-abidin (the adornment of the worshippers), al-Sajjad (the oft-prostrating), al-Abid (the worshipper, and Sayyid al-Sajidin (the chief of the prostrating ones).
Father’s name: al-Husayn ibn Ali
Mother’s name: Shahr-Banu (daughter of Yazdegerd III, the last king of the Sasanid dynasty).
Date of birth: 5th of Shaaban, 38 AH.
Period of Imamat: 35-36 years.
Date of martyrdom: 25th of Mu¦arram, 95 AH (poisoned by the order of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, the Umayyad ruler).
Age: 57 years (22 years with Imam al-Husayn
35 years as the 4th Imam).
Shrine: Jannat al-Baqi Cemetery, Holy al-Madinah.
Imam Al-Sajjad witnessed the astounding event of Karbala’, but he was too ill to fight. In fact, God Almighty had kept him alive for continuation of Imamat. During the reigns of the Umayyad tyrannical rulers who practiced extreme oppression and suppression against Imam al-Sajjad
Imam Al-Sajjad and his partisans, the Imam occupied himself with explaining for people the purposes of Imam al-Husayn’s martyrdom and guiding them to their duty toward the Household of the Holy Prophet Mu¦ammad (i.e. the Ahl al-Bayt). Thus, he could reveal the hideous reality of the Umayyad dynasty.
When he was taken to al-Kufah and then to Damascus as captive following the massacre of Karbala, Imam al-Sajjad delivered a convincing speech in the Grand Mosque of Damascus and Yaz¢d ibn Muawwiyah, the tyrant was put to shame by Imam’s words. Ever since that incident, the throne of Yazid was shaken and later on collapsed completely.
It is reported that one of the Umayyad rulers asked Imam al-Sajjad (AS) to request him for something; so, the Imam picked up a few stones in his fist and, when he opened it, the stones were turned into glittering jewels.
In fact, the Holy Imams are possessed of such miraculous power, but they lived like ordinary people so as to act as models for them.
After the event of Karbala, whenever Imam al-Sajjad (AS) drank water, he wept in remembrance of thirst of Imam Husain(AS) and his companions in Karbala’. When he was asked to alleviate his excessive sorrow for their martyrdom he answered, (Prophet) Jacob wept so much for his son Joseph (who was lost but alive) that he lost his eyesight whereas my father Imam Husain (AS) and a group of my housefolk slain around me!”
