al-Husayn.

al-Husayn. When I saw him, I hated myself. I never saw him laugh.[^19]” A person said to Sa‘id: “I have never seen a person more pious than so-and-so.” Sa‘id asked him: “Have you seen ‘Ali b. al-Husayn?” “No,” replied the person. “You have never seen a person more pious than him,[^20]” explained Sa‘id. Sa‘id was sitting and there was a young man from Quraysh beside him.

When Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin appeared, the Qarashi asked Sa‘id about him, and Sa‘id replied: “That is the Lord of worshippers, ‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^21]” “I have never seen a person gentler and more pious than Zayn al-‘Abidin, ‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^22]” These words, which this jurist said, have included some of the Imam’s qualities such as piety, obedience to Allah, and gentle conduct toward the people. 5.

Zayd bin Aslam Zayd bin Aslam was among the leading jurists of Medina as well as he was among the interpreters of the Holy Qur’an.[^23] He devoted himself to Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him. He admired the Imam’s outstanding qualities such as, piety, Allah-fearingness, ideals, and values. He said many words concerning him. The following are some of them: “There is no one among the people of the Qibla like him, namely like ‘Ali b. al-Husayn.[^24]” “I have never seen a person like ‘Ali b.

al-Husayn among them, namely among the members of the House. ^25 ” “I have never seen a person better than ‘Ali b. al-Husayn in understanding and memorizing (the Qur’an).[^26]” This means that the Imam was the best Muslim and the best Hashimi of his time and that Sa‘id b. al-Musayyab had never seen a person better then him in understanding and memorizing (the Qur’an). Hence, the Shi‘ites emphasize that the Imam should be the best of his time in merits and gifts. 6.

Hammad bin Zayd As for Hammad bin Zayd al-Jahdi, he was among the most prominent jurists in Basrah and was one of the Imams of the Muslims.[^27] He made friends with Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him, and admired him, saying: “‘Ali b. al-Husayn was the most meritorious Hashimi I met.[^28]” Indeed the Imam was the best of the Hashimis of his time in high moral standards. 7. Yahya bin Sa‘id As for Yahya bin Sa‘id b.

Qays al-Ansari al-Madani, he was among the great figures of the next generation and among the most meritorious jurists and religious scholars.[^29] He made friends with the Imam and knew of his outstanding merits, so he said these valuable words concerning him: “I heard ‘Ali b.