A glance at sacred life of Imam-e-Zaamin (AS)

By: Hyder Reza Zabeth

Imam Ali ibne Musa Ar-Reza (A.S.), the eighth Imam and descendant of Holy Prophet (SAW), was born on Thursday 11th Zee al-Qa'adah 148 A.H. /29 December 765 A.D. in Madinah. He was named Ali by his holy father, Imam Musa al-Kazim (A.S.), the seventh Imam. He was divinely entitled ‘Reza’ (meaning that Allah Almighty and His Holy Messenger (S.A.W.) were deeply pleased with him), and his nickname was Abul Hasan.

More than 20 millions pilgrims and lovers of Holy Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) annually visit his holy shrine located in the holy city of Mashhad from all parts of the world.

Imam Ali Ar-Reza (A.S.) is also known as Imam-e- Zaamin (A.S.). Zaamin means ‘The Guarantor’. When Muslims go on journeys they take with them something called ‘Imam-e-Zaamin’ which is some money tied in a cloth. This tradition probably came from the time of Imam Reza (A.S.) when people used to carry money with them especially because it had Holy Imam's (A.S.) name on it. As Ma'mun, the Abbasid caliph the contemporary of Imam Reza (A.S.), had coins minted with the name of Imam Reza (A.S.) on them, it was very easy for the Muslims to carry the name of Holy Imam (A.S.) with them, especially when they went on journeys.

One day when Imam Reza (A.S.) was on his historical journey from Madinah to Marw (Khurasan), while in a jungle the Holy Imam (A.S.) came across a hunter who was about to kill a deer. The deer was trying to get away and when she saw Holy Imam (A.S.), she said something to him.

Holy Imam (A.S.) asked the hunter to free the deer so that she could go and feed her little baby deer that were very hungry. Imam Reza (A.S.) also told the hunter that once the deer had fed her babies she would come back. The hunter allowed the deer to go because Holy Imam (A.S.) had told him to, but he did not think the deer will come back. But Imam Reza (A.S.) waited with the hunter until the deer returned with her young ones. The hunter was amazed on witnessing this miraculous event and he set the deer free as a mark of respect for Imam Reza (A.S.). After this historical event Imam Reza (A.S.) became famous as Imam Zaamin (A.S.).