Story No. 327 – Piety and Generosity of Imam Zeynel Abidin (as)

The narrator says that one day he saw Imam Zeynel Abidin (as) in such a way that the straps of his sandals were broken, due to which he was walking with a lot of difficulty. The narrator asked him, “O son of the Messenger of Allah! Why don’t you buy a new pair of shoes?” He replied, “Whatever amount I save for it, before I could purchase it some needy person comes with a request and I give it to him.” The narrator said, “Please permit me to buy you a pair of shoes.” Just then a beggar came and requested the Imam for something. Imam Zeynel Abidin (as) said to the narrator, “Give him whatever you had intended to spend for buying me a pair of shoes. This person is more deserving of it. If I had the money, I would myself have fulfilled his need.”

Abdullah Damishqi says, “One day I went to Imam Zeynel Abidin (as) and found him patching his cloak. I had come with 5000 Dirhams as Khums money and I presented it to the Imam and said, ‘Master, it is my desire that you take some money from this amount and buy yourself a new cloak, your cloak has become very old.’ Imam Zeynel Abidin (as) said, Keep the money here and announce in Medina that whoever is in need may come to me in the Prophet’s mosque. I made the announcement according to his directions and very soon people converged in hordes. Imam Zeynel Abidin (as) distributed all the money and I was left astounded.”