Imam Ali b. al-Husayn al-Sajjad (a.s) is the fourth Imam. His father was Imam al-Husayn b. Ali (a.s) and his mother was a noble Persian known as Shahrbanu. Imam Ali b. al-Husayn al-Sajjad (a.s) was born on the 5th of Shaban in the year 38 A.H.
Imam al-Sajjad (a.s) is referred to in several narrations for his devotion to God and commitment to prayer. Two of his titles are Zayn al-‘Abideen (The Adornment of the Worshippers) and al-Sajjad (The Often in Prostration).
The Imam was a survivor of the massacre at Karbala in which he witnessed the murder of his father and family. Imam al-Sajjad (a.s) thereafter played a crucial role in narrating the tragedies and confronting Yazid’s Government in Syria.
The Imam had a long period as Imam (34 years). From 61 A.H until 95 A.H he was known for his discipline and commitment to Allah. During his tenure, the Imam wrote many works which served to revive some of the religious knowledge of the Prophet (s.a.w) to the followers of Ahlulbayt in particular and Muslims in general.
His two famous works; “al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyyah” (The Psalms of al-Sajjad) and “Risalat al-Huqooq” (The Treatise on Rights), remain crucial documents and are still celebrated and studied as primary sources of the Shi’a today.
