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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin Chapter12: His School, His Students, And His The Islamic world in the time of Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him, suffered ideological stagnation and dangerous collapse in cultural, scientific life, for the Umayyad government officially waged war against knowledge and deadened awareness, that it might stay on the throne of authority for a longer time, plunder the wealth of the community, and control its fate.

It is certain that there was no trace of Islamic sciences and beliefs in the time of the Imam, peace be on him. Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him, witnessed that inactive ideological life and that ignorant community, so he began establishing his great school which was joined by a large group of religious scholars and jurists about whose biographies we will talk. Anyhow, the community in that time did not witness a profit greater than that of the Imam, peace be on him.

This is when he established his science school in its homeland and enlighten it with thoughts, sciences, and knowledge. Before we speak about the Imam’s school, students, and companions, we will mention some of his scientific affairs. His Devotion to Proclaiming Knowledge The great Imam thought that it was religiously incumbent on him to spread knowledge as well as he wanted with it to amuse himself which was full of worries and pain, hence he devoted himself to it.

Shaykh Abu’ Zahra said: “He, namely the Imam, devoted himself to knowledge, study, and research, for he found in it the diet of his heart, and an amusement for his soul.

He turned his soul away from permanent worries and pain, hence he sought hadith (tradition) and devoted himself to it.[^1]” The Imam dedicated himself to proclaiming knowledge among the people to the extent that it distracted him from everything.[^2] His only concern was to enlighten the Muslims, train their natures, and to educate them with moral teachings of the tolerant Islamic message, that they might after him carry the torches of thought and light.

His Praising the Excellence of Knowledge He, peace be on him, praised the excellence of knowledge and urged (the Muslims) to seek it when he said: “If men knew what was in seeking knowledge, they would seek it even through shedding blood and wading into the depth of the seas.