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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Brief Biography of Ali Ibn Husain (a.s) Chapter 7 : His Family HIS MARRIAGES The Imam's first wife was his cousin, the daughter of Imam Hassan (A.S). Her name was Fatima. She was a very pious person. She was the mother our fifth Imam, Hazrat Muhammad Baqir (A.S). It is reported that once she was sitting leaning against the wall. All of a sudden, the wall began to fall on her. She called out saying.

"O wall, by the honour of the Messenger of Allah you have no permission to fall down right know" and the wall stood still. She moved away only then did the wall fall. She then gave in charity 100 currencies. Other than Imam Muhammed Baqir (A.S), he had from this marriage, three other sons whose names were Abd Allah, Al-Hassan and Al-Husain. According to Sheikh Mufid, besides Lady Fatima, he had as his wives, at different times, several slave-girls.

The main reason behind these marriage was to raise the position of these helpless women who had become slaves because of wars. By giving them a place in his house, he gave them a way to live a life of independence and honor. For these ladies gave birth to children who became part of Imam's family. For example, Hazrat Zaid, who came to be known as Zaid the martyr, was born from a slave girl from Sindh (India) called Huriya.

HIS CHILDREN Sheikh Mufid in his book "Al-Irshad" says that besides Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S), Imam Zainul Abidin had ten more sons and four daughters. In the next unit we shall learn more about Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S); for the rest of this chapter we shall learn about Zaid, Imam Muhammad Baqir's half brother. ZAID THE MARTYR It is reported that once Imam's companion, Abu Hamza Thimali was sitting with the Imam in the Imam's house.

Suddenly a male child came in the house and ran towards the Imam. Unfortunately, while running, the child fell down and was hurt. The Imam (A.S) went quickly to where the child was and took him in his hands with kindness and love. After that the Imam (A.S) began to weep. He then told the companion that the child was none but his son Zaid and that those days were not far when, as an adult, he would rise against the cruel government. He would then be killed and his dead body be hanged.

He also told Abu Hamza that he (Abu Hamza) would live to see this. Years later what the Imam said would happen in fact did happen. Hazrat Zaid was very pious and was a good reader of the Qur'an.