Zain Ul-Abideen

Asalam Aleykom everyone,

              I hope that you are all enjoying this blessed month. For this month's SuperMuslims issue, the theme was of course Ramadan. The following is my article on one of the great followers. The link to the whole magazine is posted at the bottom, so check it out! Enjoy!
                                               - Salam (Peace)

                                                           Zain Ul-Abideen

                                                       By: Habiba Ghanem

            Some of us have probably been Ramadan packing before. If you haven’t then it’s something that you should definitely try. There is an abundant amount of spirit that comes with packing. It is a fantastic way to get in to Ramadan mode and it is also a benevolent means of helping those that are less fortunate.

            Have you ever thought of who started the packing ritual?

              His name was Ali ibn Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, but he was known as Zain Ul-Abideen. Zain Ul-Abideen made it his duty to look after those that were less fortunate than he was. He had goats slaughtered regularly so that he could distribute the meat amongst the poor and he gave clothes and money to those that were deprived.

              During the nights when people were asleep, Zain Ul-Abideen used to cover his face, carry a sac of food, and walk about town unrecognized in order to distribute the food to the poor. Many families depended on his anonymous generosity and it was only after his death that they discovered that it was Zain Ul-Abideen who had been helping them that whole time.

            How did they discover that it was him? Firstly, the people stopped receiving food upon his death. Secondly, they found marks on his body caused by the sac of food that he used to carry.

            Zain means “beauty” and Ul-Abideen means “the worshippers,” and indeed he was given the name, Zain Ul-Abideen to epitomize his admirable character.

Zain Ul-Abideen can be taken as an example for all of us and we should all aim to adopt his giving character. Think of the smallest blessings that Allah (SWT) has bestowed on you. There are people out there who don’t have the fortune of even you’re your smallest blessings.

Take advantage of this blessed month and help those in need, and continue to help others even when the month is over. The reward for giving charity is immense and the feeling is unlike any other. It is time for all of us to become beautiful worshippers.

            

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