If they worship Him because of desire...

If they worship Him because of desire, their worship (similar to that) of traders, and if they worship Him to show gratefulness toward him, their worship is that of the free.[^2]” These are the kinds of worship and obedience; the heaviest of them in scale and the most lovable of them for Allah is the worship of the free, which is gratefulness to the Almighty Benefactor, not because of craving for His reward nor because of fear of His punishment.

The Imam, peace be on him, underlined this in another tradition of his, saying: “The worship of the free is thankfulness to Allah, not because of fear and desire.[^3]” The Imam’s love for Allah was firm in his heart and sentiments, Hence it was among his qualities.

The narrators said: “He (Zayn al-‘Abidin) always worshipped Allah and obeyed him.” A slave girl of his was asked about his worship and she answered: “Shall I elaborate (on it) or shall I (talk about it) briefly?” “Briefly,” was the answer. “I did not bring him food by day nor did I spread for him bed by night,” the slave girl answered.[^4] Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him, spent most his lifetime fasting by day and praying by night. He was busy praying or giving charity in secret.

It is certain that there is no person in the history of the ascetics and worshippers like ‘Ali b. al-Husayn in loyalty and obedience to Allah. Now, we will mention some acts of his worship: His Ritual Ablution As for ablution, it is light and purity from sins and is the first act for prayer. The Imam, peace be on him, always performed the ritual ablution.

The narrators talked about his humility to Allah during his ablution, saying: “When he used to perform ritual ablutions, his skin would turn yellow. Hence his family asked him: ‘What is it that has afflicted you?’” He answered them with fear of Allah, saying: “Don’t you know Whom I am preparing to stand before?[^5]” He took great care of his ablution to the extent that no one helped him with it. He himself brought water for his ritual ablutions and prepared it before he slept.

When he got up at night, he started with tooth cleanser (siwak), and then he performed his ablution. Having finished it, he began praying.[^6] His Prayer As for prayer, it is the journey of every believer (to the seven heavens) and is the sacrifice of every pious one, as it is in the tradition. Prayer was among the most important desires of the Imam, peace be on him. Through it he communicate with Allah, the Creator of the universe and Giver of life.