He said a group of valuable words in which he expressed the...

He said a group of valuable words in which he expressed the noble qualities and the great ideals of the Imam, peace be on him. The following are some of his words: “I have never seen a Hashimi like ‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^5]” “I have never seen a Qarashi more pious and more meritorious than ‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^6]” “I have never seen a Qarashi more meritorious than ‘Ali b.

al-Husayn.[^7]” “I have never met in Medina a person more meritorious than him.[^8]” “I have never met among the members of the House a person more meritorious than ‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^9]” “I sat with ‘Ali b. al-Husayn many times. I have never seen a person more knowledgeable than him in jurisprudence.[^10]” “‘Ali b.

al-Husayn was the most meritorious of the people of his time and the best of them in obedience.[^11]” “A caller will call out on the Day of Judgment: Let the Lord of the worshippers of his time stand up, so ‘Ali b.

al-Husayn will stand up.[^12]” He meant the famous prophetic tradition: “When the Day of Judgment takes place, a caller will call out from inside the Throne: Let the Lord of the worshippers stand up, so he will stand up.[^13]” Al-Zuhri was asked about the most ascetic one of all the people in the world and he replied: “‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^14]” Sufyan b. ‘Ayyina said: “I asked al-Zuhri: Have you met ‘Ali b. al-Husayn? ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I have met him.

I have never met a person more meritorious than him. By Allah, I have never known that he had a friend in secret or an enemy in public.’ I asked him: ‘Why was that?’ He answered: ‘Because all those who loved him envied him out of their abundant knowledge of his outstanding merits, and all those who hated him took care of him because he took great care of them.’[^15]” It is certain that al-Zuhri said these words concerning the Imam because there was a close relationship between the former and the latter.

Al-Zuhri had perfect knowledge of the Imam’s ideals and noble values. He admired him to the extent that he wept and said: “‘Ali b. al-Husayn![^16]” Sa‘id bin al-Musayyab Sa‘id bin al-Musayyab was among the prominent jurists in Medina. The narrators said: “None of the next generation was more knowledgeable than Sa‘id.[^17]” He made friends with Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin and knew of his piety and his firm devotion to religion.

He admired the Imam, so he said the following words concerning him: “I have never seen a person more pious than him, namely ‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^18]” “I have never seen a person more meritorious than ‘Ali b.