By studying history, we find that the spiritual states of the Imams (peace be upon them) and their deep devotion to worship and humility before God were so sincere that they astonished both their friends and enemies. For instance, in the account of the fourth Shiite Imam, Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon him), it is narrated that when he performed ablution, the color would fade from his blessed face, and during prayer, his holy body would tremble. Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) speaks of his noble father’s humility in prayer, saying: “When Ali ibn al-Husayn (peace be upon them) would stand for prayer, it was as if he were a tree trunk, motionless, except when the wind would stir a branch of it.” [1]
But truly, what secret lies in this profound humility and submission? These revered figures, who were the best of all nations and whose status is well known, why then did they engage so diligently in such difficult acts of worship? In the following story, Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him) himself responds to this truth:
“During the reign of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, some Muslims were imprisoned. When news of this reached Imam Zayn al-Abidin (peace be upon him), he went to Abd al-Malik to intercede for their release. As soon as Abd al-Malik saw the Imam, he was astonished by the marks of prostration on his forehead and said:
‘O son of the Prophet! The signs of hardship and effort in worship are visible upon you, even though you have good deeds with God, you are a part of the family of the Messenger of God, and you have a strong connection and relationship with Him. You are the best among your family and the best of all people of your time…’
Abd al-Malik continued to describe the Imam (peace be upon him), recounting his virtues and qualities. When he finished speaking, the Imam (peace be upon him) replied:
‘What you say about the grace, support, and success granted by God is true, but what about gratitude and thanks for all these blessings? The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) would stand in prayer so much that his feet would swell, and when fasting, he would become so thirsty that his mouth would become dry. He was asked: ‘O Messenger of God! Are you not infallible, and do you not have a high rank with God?’ The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) replied: ‘Should I not be a grateful servant?’
Thanks be to God for His trials and tribulations, and praise be to Him in this world and the hereafter. By God, if my limbs were severed and tears flowed from my eyes down to my chest, I could never thank even one percent of the blessings of God, which are so numerous that even those who count cannot enumerate them, and no one can fully describe even one of them. And if all the praise of the grateful were gathered, they would not have truly praised Him — no, by God!’
While saying these words, the Imam (peace be upon him) wept profoundly. The Imam’s radiant speech and heavenly demeanor had such an effect on the tyrant of his time that he was moved and astonished, saying:
‘How great is the distance between the servant who seeks the hereafter and strives for it, and the one who seeks this world and is deprived of the hereafter!’ He then showed respect, and Imam (peace be upon him) interceded for those who were imprisoned, and Abd al-Malik accepted and ordered their release.” [2]
(Excerpted from the book An Analytical Study of the Life of Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him), by Baqir Sharif Qureshi (with some additions))
Footnotes:
[1] Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, p. 300
[2] Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 46, p. 57 (quoted from Fath al-Awab by Sayyid ibn Tawus, p. 171)