On one occasion, Prince Hisham, the son of the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik, was performing the pilgrimage in Mecca. The sheer size of the crowd meant that he was unable to touch the Black Stone in the Ka'ba, as pilgrims often did as part of the rituals. But when Hazrat Imam Zayn al-Abidin approached, the crowd immediately parted and let him through. At that moment. Hisham asked his entourage, “Who is this?”
The famous poet al-Farazdaq was close by. Overhearing Hisham's question, he replied with a spontaneous poem. It contained these lines:
Are you ignorant of who he is?
He is the son of Fatima God's prophets were sealed with his grandfather
His tree springs from that of God's Messenger.
How delightful its orchard, its nature, its character.
The poem illustrates the deep affection and respect that many Muslims of the time felt for the Ahl al-Bayt. In this case, it was for Imam Zayn al-Abidin. In it al-Farazdaq highlights the Imam’s virtues and also stresses a particular line of descent of the Imams, which comes from Imam Ali and Bibi Fatima.
Full text of the poem believed to have been composed by al-Farazdaq
about Hazrat Imam Zayn al-Abidin:
This is he whose very footsteps are known to the whole valley of Mecca!
The surrounding land, the sanctuary and the Sacred House* itself know him well.
This is the child* of the best of all God's servants,*
peerless, pious, pure, and pristine.Are you ignorant of who he is? He is the son* of Fatima!
God's prophets were sealed with his grandfather!
Your words, 'Who is this?´ harm him not,
for Arabs and non-Arabs, all know well the one of whom you pretend to be ignorant.His giving hands, ever-generous like the bounteous rain clouds
Shower abundantly, untouched by want
So gentle and mild, there is no fear of outbursts.
For two ornaments adorn him:
Charming character and delightful disposition
When cares weigh heavily on the people, he bears their burdens.He has embraced all people with his favours.
Such that their gloom is dispelled, their poverty and privation put to flight.
When the Quraysh see him, their speaker proclaims:
Nobility culminates in his noblesse!He lowers his gaze in modesty, while others do so in awe of him.
A smile always accompanies his speech.
Recognising his touch, the Ka'ba's wall.
Always leaps forth to greet his hand.
For God exalted and ennobled him in pre-eternity.
* Notes: the Sacred House= the Ka'ba; child= descendant; the best of all servants= the Prophet Muhammad; sealed with his grandfather= Muhammad, the last Prophet; Quraysh= the most important tribe in Mecca, of which both the Ahl al-Bayt and the Umayyads were part.
# Text adapted from the Secondary Ta‘lim Curriculum’s module titled “Muslim Societies and Civilisations,” volume 1, pp. 207-8.
