“Have you read...

“Have you read,” continued al-Sajjad, “the verse saying, ‘Say: I do not ask you for a reward for it [for conveying the Islamic Message to you] except that you treat my kinsfolk with kindness,' (Qur’an, 42:23), the verse saying, ‘And give the [Prophet's] kinsfolk their due rights,'(Qur’an, 17:26), and the verse saying, ‘And be informed that whatever you earn by way of booty, for Allah belongs the fifth thereof and for the Messenger [of Allah] and for the [Prophet's] kinsfolk' (Qur’an, 8:41)?” The man answered by saying, “Yes, I have read all of them.” He (‘a) then said, “We, by Allah, are the kinsfolk referred to in all these verses.” Then the Imam (‘a) asked him whether he had read the verse saying, “Allah only desires to remove all abomination from you, O , and purifies you with a perfect purification” (Qur’an, 33:33).

“Yes” was the answer. Al-Sajjad (‘a), said to him, “We are whom Allah purified.” “I ask you in the Name of Allah,” asked the man, “are you really them?” Al-Sajjad (‘a), said, “By our grandfather, the Messenger of Allah, I swear that we are, without any doubt.” It was then that the elderly man fell on al-Sajjad's feet kissing them as he said, “I dissociate myself before Allah from whoever killed you.” He sought repentance of the Imam (‘a) from whatever rude remarks he had earlier made.

The encounter involving this elderly man reached Yazid who ordered the man to be killed.[^8] What miracle will Yazid bring On the Day the Books of deeds are read When the Lord of ‘Arsh will recite And in denial stunned will be every being?[^9] Before they were brought to Yazid's court, they were tied with ropes.

The beginning of the rope was around the neck of Zayn al-’Abidin [‘Ali son of Imam al-Husayn (‘a), also called al-Sajjad, the one who prostrates to Allah quite often], then around the necks of Zainab, Umm Kulthum, up to all the daughters of the Messenger of Allah (S). Whenever they laxed in their walking, they were whipped. This went on till they were brought face to face with Yazid who was then sitting on his throne.

‘Ali Ibn al-Husayn (‘a) asked him, “What do you think the reaction of the Messenger of Allah might have been had he seen us looking like this?” Everyone wept.