The Fourth Imam, titled Sayyid al-‘Abideen (the Master of Worshippers), Sayyid al-Muttaqeen (the Master of the Pious), Ameen (the Trustworthy), Sajjad (the One Who Prostrates Often), and more, was granted numerous titles in recognition of his virtues. Among these, Sajjad and Zayn al-‘Abideen gained the greatest renown.
These titles, attributed to Imam Ali ibn Husayn (peace be upon him), are not akin to those commonly given to Arab children at birth or during early childhood. Nor are they like the titles that became popularized in the Islamic realms after the third century Hijri. Instead, these were conferred upon him by the people—not in the literal sense of “people,” but in the sense of insightful connoisseurs and sages who discerned the Imam’s divine qualities.
In a dark period of history, the Fourth Imam’s presence was a beacon of light for those seeking humanity. Through his conduct and words, he revived the forgotten legacy of his grandfather, father, and the household of prophethood. For people long distanced from the era of the Prophet, he embodied the essence of Islamic upbringing, allowing them to witness firsthand the noble character Islam cultivates.
Most of those who gave him these titles were neither Shi’a nor did they consider him an Imam divinely appointed by God. Yet they could not ignore the virtues they observed in him. Each title reflects a dimension of his spiritual perfection, a degree of his faith, a stage of his piety, and a level of his sincerity. These titles signify the trust and reverence people held for him. As will be exemplified briefly under two accounts, Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him) was truly the embodiment of these attributes. This is a point on which all are unanimous:
Shaykh Mufid narrates: When Ali ibn Husayn (peace be upon him) performed ablution, his complexion would turn pale. He was asked, “What is happening to you?” He replied, “Do you realize before whom I am about to stand?”
In the book `Ilal al-Sharā’iʿ, it is narrated from Zuhri:One cold and rainy night, I saw Ali ibn Husayn (peace be upon him) carrying flour and firewood on his back as he walked. I asked, “O son of the Messenger of Allah, what is this?”
The Imam replied, “I am preparing provisions for a journey to a secure place.”
Zuhri said, “Let my servant carry it for you.”
The Imam refused. I then offered, “Allow me to carry it myself.”
The Imam said: “No. Why should I not carry that which will benefit me during my journey and earn me a good reception from my host? By Allah, leave me to my task and go back to your own.”
A few days later, I met the Imam again and asked him about the journey he had mentioned.
The Imam replied: “Zuhri, it was not as you thought. That journey is the journey of death, and I prepare myself for it with abstinence from the unlawful, acts of charity, and righteous deeds.”
It was then that Zuhri realized the Imam had been carrying the flour and firewood to help the weak and needy, personally bearing the burden to ensure it reached them.
Source: Adapted from the book The Life of Ali ibn Husayn (peace be upon him) by Dr. Sayyid Ja’far Shahidi.