Ali al-Sajjad

Ali ibn Husayn, known as Zayn al-Abidin, was the fourth Shia imam and a great-grandson of Muhammad. He survived the Battle of Karbala and became a central figure in Shia memory and devotion.

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Husayn ibn Ali: The grandson of Muhammad and third Shia imam, killed with his companions at Karbala in 680. Ali al-Sajjad was Husayn’s son and successor as imam.
Imamate in Shia Islam: The Shia doctrine that divinely guided leaders from Muhammad’s family hold religious authority. Ali al-Sajjad’s title and succession are understood through this doctrine.
Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya: A collection of supplications attributed to Ali ibn Husayn and revered in Shia Islam. It is the work most closely associated with his devotional teaching.
Arba'een: The fortieth-day observance after Ashura, especially marking mourning for Husayn ibn Ali in Shia Islam. Traditions connect the Karbala survivors’ return to the shrine with this mourning cycle.
Ali ibn Abi Talib: Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, the fourth Sunni caliph and first Shia imam. Ali al-Sajjad’s descent from Ali anchors his lineage in Shia accounts of legitimate leadership.
Twelver Shi'ism: The largest branch of Shia Islam, which recognizes a succession of twelve imams beginning with Ali ibn Abi Talib. Twelver tradition identifies Ali al-Sajjad as the fourth imam.
Risalat al-Huquq: A treatise attributed to Ali ibn Husayn that describes duties and rights owed to God and other people. Its ethical framework presents his teaching beyond personal prayer.
Zaynab bint Ali: A granddaughter of Muhammad who is remembered for her role after the Battle of Karbala. Shia accounts place her alongside Ali al-Sajjad among the survivors who bore witness.
Karbala: A city in present-day Iraq where Husayn ibn Ali and his companions were killed in 680. Ali al-Sajjad survived the battle there, an event central to his biography.
Ahl al-Bayt: The household or family of Muhammad, whose members hold particular religious significance in Islam. Ali al-Sajjad belonged to the prophetic family at the heart of Shia devotion.