Imam Zayn al-Abidin in the Assembly of Yazid

The police men of Yazid tied with ropes the wise women of Revelation and the children of Imam al-Hussein, as sheep are tied. The beginning of the rope was around the neck of Imam Zayn al-Abidin, then around the neck of his aunt Zeinab, up to all the daughters of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. Whenever they relaxed in their walking, they (the police men of Yazid) whipped them. They brought them in this condition whose terror cracked the mountains and made them stop before Yazid. So Imam Zayn al-Abidin turned to him and asked him: "What do you think the reaction of our grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, might have been had he seen us looking like this? The tyrant, Yazid, collapsed. All those who were in his assembly wept. Yazid felt pain of that tragic sight, so he said: "May Allah detest b. Marjana the ugly. If there had been (any bond of) kinship between him and you, he would not have done this to you; he would not have sent you in this state." Then the tyrannical one, Yazid, ordered the ropes to be cut off, turned to Zayn al-Abidin and said him: "How did you, Ali, see what Allah did to your father al-Hussein?"

Al-Hussein's brave son (Zayn al-Abidin) answered with calmness and tranquillity: "Whatever misfortune befalls the earth or your own selves is already in a Book even before we cause it to happen; this is easy for Allah, so that you may not grieve about what you missed nor feel elated on account of what you receive. And Allah does not love those who are haughty and proud."

The tyrant, Yazid, burst in anger, his elation went away, and recited these words of Him, the Exalted: "Whatever misfortune befalls you is due to what your hands commit." The Imam answered him, saying: "This (verse) concerns those who do wrong, not those who are wronged." Then he turned his face away from him to disdain him and his position.¹

* The Life of Imam Zayn al-Abidin. By Baqir Sharif al-Qarashi.

1- Ibid., p. 376.