Birth and death
We are not aware of the date of birth of this poet. We only know that he passed away in the year 301 A.H. and that his father was born in 206 A.H. during the reign of Motamid1 – as mentioned in Murujuz Zahab2 – thus, showing that the Sayyid lived a long life and was present during the third century from the
beginning to the end.
The poet was from the lineage of the Holy Imams (a.s.) and he held a very
esteemed position among poets and orators. He was from the Qazwini clan
famous for its accomplishment in knowledge and education and they had settled
down in Iraq.
He had very prominent ancestors, among them being Zaid, the martyr.
Now, we would like to discuss the beliefs of Shia regarding him, so that we
may expose the crimes towards him and allegations laid against him.
Zaid, the martyr and the Twelver Imamite Shia
He is of those, who never accepted persecution and injustice and he is in the
first row of the scholars of Ahle Bayt (a.s.). His possessed merits from different
aspects. He was extremely intelligent, he was a very pious and religious man. He
was a famous valiant man of his time. He was a terrific fighter; he was so vicious
on the enemies that he humiliated all of them most severely. He never accepted
any injustice. All this was with prophetic nobility and Alawite majesty, Fatimid
leadership and spirituality of Imam Husain (a.s.).
All Shia, without exception, have mentioned his righteousness and
religiosity and they think that every act, which Zaid performed, like his beneficial
confrontation, his great uprising, and calling people for approval of Aale
Muhammad (a.s.) [that is their Imam, whom Allah likes and whose Imamate He
approves], was commendable.
Traditions, which Shia attribute to Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Imams of
Ahle Bayt (a.s.) and explanation of their scholars, their praises, recitation of
elegies by their poets and independent books, the Shia scholars have written on
him, all prove this claim.
As for traditions
Among them being the statement of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) to
Imam Husain (a.s.):
“A person named Zaid will come from your progeny. He and his
companions would pass over the heads of people on Judgment Day3
and enter Paradise without accounting.”4
And he said: “Indeed, he would stage an uprising, would be martyred in
Kufa, would be crucified in Kinasa locality of Kufa and exhumed from the grave
and the gates of heavens would open for his soul. And folks of the heavens and the earth would be eager to meet him.”5
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) and his companions stood and wept at the place of
his hanging. They asked: “What made you weep?” He replied: “Indeed, he is one
of my descendants. He would be crucified here. Almighty Allah would throw
headlong into Hellfire whoever glances at his private parts.”6
Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said: “O God, strengthen my back through Zaid.”
When Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) heard the news of his martyrdom, he remarked:
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
“Surely we are Allah’s and to Him we shall surely return.”7
I deem the martyrdom of my uncle in the account of Allah and for His
pleasure. Indeed, he was a nice uncle. Indeed, my uncle was a man for our world
and hereafter. By God, my uncle became a martyr like those martyred with
Messenger of Allah, Ali and Husain. By God, he passed away from the world as
a martyr.8
He also said: “Indeed, Zaid was a scholar and very truthful person. He did
not call you to himself. He only staged an uprising for Aale Muhammad (their
Imam). If he were victorious, he would have indeed called you to them and
would have been loyal. Indeed, he staged an uprising against the ruler, who had
gathered his forces against him.”9
Statements of scholars10
Refer to Shaykh Mufeed in Irshad, Shaheed Awwal in Qawaid, Allamah
Majlisi in Miratul Uqul, Shaykh Hurre Amili in the conclusion of Wasail, Shaykh
Noori in the conclusion of Mustadrak, and Shaykh Mamqani in Tanqihul Miqal.
All these scholar have consensus that Zaid was free from every kind of
blemish and believe that his call was divine and his Jihad was in the path of God.
In view of all Shia, the statement of their great scholar Shaykh Bahai, in the
treatise Ithbate Wajudul Imamul Muntazar proves this; when he writes:
“We, Imamiyah scholars have nothing, except positive views regarding Zaid
bin Ali; and this is due to the fact that we have exceeding statements from our
Imams.”