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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Story of the Holy Ka’aba The Fourth Imam, ‘Ali Ibn Al Husayn, Zainul Abedeen (as) When the young ‘Ali took the mantle of Imamate, times were hard on the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet. His is the saddest story of all time.

On the 10th of Muharram at the time of Asr Prayers, when his father Husayn (as) was alone in the battlefield ready to do battle, he withdrew to the camp of his ailing son, came beside his bed, woke him and told him that the story of Karbala’ was over, that he was about to go to sacrifice his own life for the cause of Islam. It was at that time that the father transferred the mantle of Imamate, the spiritual guidance, to his son to lead the Muslim Ummah towards the Right Path.

He was born in Madina some 22 years ago, on 5th Shabaan 38 year of Hijra. In some history books his date of birth is shown as 15th Jamadiul Awwal 38 AH. His mother was Shahr Bano the daughter of Yazdjurd II, the last of the Persian Kings before Islam. She was taken prisoner when Muslim armies conquered Persia. When she was brought in Madina Imam ‘Ali (as) spoke to her and she embraced Islam and was married to his 2nd son Imam Husayn. (as) She had died after giving birth to her only son.

He was only two years old when his grandfather ‘Ali (as) was martyred in the Mosque at Kufa. After that the whole family of the Prophet returned to live in Madina. For the next 10 years under Imam Hasan (as) as Imam and after his martyrdom, his father Imam Husayn (as) as the Imam, the young ‘Ali was growing in their shadow and watching the workings of the Imamate without the worldly authority.

People knew they were the grand sons of the Holy Prophet and followed them by their hearts but outwardly because of the fear of the Ummayad ruler in Damascus, there was very little following of the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet. In 60 Hijri when his father Imam Husayn (as) had to leave Madina for Makka and then for Karbala’, he was with him all the time.

In Karbala’ all male children of ‘Ali (as) and Husayn (as) were killed except ‘Ali Ibn el Husayn who with providence became so ill that he was unable to participate in the Jihad with his father and survived the massacre. His life and with that the line of descendants of Husayn (as) survived because the Imamate had to go on. He became the 4th Imam on the 10th of Muharram 61 Hijri. He was taken captive and was brought to Kufa and then to Damascus in chains.