It is recounted by one narrator that: One night I was performing circumambulation (Tawaf) around the Holy Kaaba in Makkah. I saw a young man who had caught the cover of the Holy Kaaba in his hands and was crying. He was beseeching Allah (SWT), saying:

"O Lord of the universe, the eyes of all people of the world have closed for sleep, the sun has set and the stars have appeared in the sky, but You, O Master of the universe. You are always awake, alive and are the only permanence, and You are controlling the world and its inhabitants."

"O Lord of all beings, the rulers have shut firm their gates, and have assigned watchmen over them, but the door to Your House. O dear Lord is always open to all, and You are always ready to relieve the distressed, cure the sick and help the oppressed."

"O Merciful Allah (SWT), O creation's Beloved, this helpless creature has come to Your House this dark night, perhaps You will favor him."

"O Allah (SWT), You Who answer the call of the helpless in the darkness of night."

"O Allah (SWT), You Who rescue the distressed from their difficulties."

"O Allah (SWT), You Who aid Your creatures when they are in distress."

"O Allah (SWT), You Who cure those in pain."

"O Lord, Your guests are asleep around Your House. But You, O Adored Lord, are the only One Who has no sleep. You are He Who is controlling the world and all its creatures."

"O Lord, I have come to Your House this dark night and am calling on You, for You Yourself have told us to call on You."

"O Allah (SWT), I implore You by this Holy House to have mercy on Your servant. O Lord, if Your creatures don't come to Your House and place their hopes in You. To whose house will they go and in whom will they place their hopes?"

"I became very joyful," the narrator continued.

"Listening to the young man imploring Allah (SWT) and from witnessing his devotion to Him. I went closer to see who the young man was? I saw that it was 4th Imam, Imam Sajjad (as), and I realized that only he could beseech Allah (SWT) in such a way."

At the time of our 4th Imam, Imam Sajjad (as) it was very difficult for Imam Sajjad (as) to teach Islam to the people. This was because Yazid's men used to keep a close watch on Imam Sajjad (as) movements.

Imam Sajjad (as) had seen his father, Imam Hussain (as), and other loyal friends and family die for the sake of Islam.

Imam Sajjad (as) decide that the best way to teach people about Islam, was by prayers (Dua). As a result, we have today a beautiful collection of his Dua in a book called: "As Sahifa Al-Kamilah Al-Sajjadiyya (The Psalms of Islam)".

An extract from a dua for Sunday (the 1st verse) from As Sahifa Al-Kamilah Al-Sajjadiyya (The Psalms of Islam):

In the name of Allah, the most Kind and the most Merciful.

In the name of Allah (SWT) from whom I hope for nothing but bounty, and from whom I fear nothing but justice! I rely only upon His word, and I cling only to His cord!

Just in these few lines Imam Sajjad (as) is teaching us so much: He (as) is teaching us that only Allah (SWT) is the provider. Imam Sajjad (as) is teaching us that we should not fear Allah (SWT) as He is the most forgiving and the most Merciful but at the same time HE is also the Most Just and it is this justice that we should fear.

There was once a man who was a very religious man and because he was so sure of himself he always used to pray to Allah (SWT) to judge him on Justice, (we are told always to pray to Allah (SWT) to judge us with His mercy).

When this man died he saw a scale which was being weighted down with all his good actions. The angels then brought an apple which they put on the other side of the scale and the scale came down on the side of the apple.

The man did not understand how a single apple could outdo all his good actions. He was then told that, that apple was one that he had tasted in the market without the permission of the shop owner. Because the man had insisted that Allah (SWT) judge him on justice, Allah (SWT) did not intervene with His mercy.

Imam Sajjad (as) then finished the 1st verse with the lesson that we should only rely on Allah (SWT) and attach ourselves to Him alone.

Moral: We should always ask Allah (SWT) to judge us with His mercy. We should try to read the dua from As Sahifa Al-Kamilah Al-Sajjadiyya (The Psalms of Islam), as there is so much to learn from them.

Even though Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik was the crown prince, and those years were the first decade of the second century when the Umayyad power was at its peak, he could not touch Hajar al-Aswad, the Black Stone after circumambulation (Tawaf) of Holy Kaaba. All people were dressed in the same simple garb of Ihram, saying the same remembrance of Allah (SWT), and doing the same thing. They were so overwhelmed in their pure emotions that they had no mind to pay attention to the worldly glory of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik. The guards, who were with him to protect Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, were feeling helpless in the sight of this glory. Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik tried very hard to come close to Hajar al-Aswad, the Black Stone and touch it. But due to the large crowd, it was not possible. Thus he returned and sat on a high chair to see the pilgrims. The Syrians who had come with him also stared at the crowd.

At this time, a man who seemed to be a pious spiritual man, having the simple white Ihram appeared. Signs of worship and piety were apparent on his face. He circumambulated around the Holy Kaaba. Then with a calm composure, and determined steps, he went towards Hajar al-Aswad, the Black Stone. The crowd made way for him, as soon as they saw him approaching. The Syrians, who had failed to take the crown prince to Hajar al-Aswad, the Black Stone, were amused with this sight.

One of them asked Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik: "Who is this person?" While Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik knew that this was Imam Sajjad (as), he said: "I don't know." No one could have the courage to dispute Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik's claim, for their swords were always wet with the blood of the brave, and the bold.

But, Farazdaq, the articulate Arab poet, who should have feared Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik more than any one else, was so emotional that he said: "But I know him." Thus, he stood on an elevated ground and read a beautiful poem, which is one of the masterpieces of the Arab language. These were words that could only take form when the soul of the poet flows as the tide of the ocean.

Thus he said: "This man is the one, who is known to all the sands of the land of Batha. This Holy Kaaba knows him. This Haram, and the land outside it knows him. This is the child of the best of Allah's servants. This is the pure, and pious infallible. If you say that you don't know him, does not hurt his status. Perhaps you don't know him. But all the Arab and non Arab know him..."

Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik was furious at Poet Farazdaq after hearing this poem. He ordered that his portion from the public treasure be discontinued, and that he should be imprisoned in Asfan, located between Makkah, and Madina. But Poet Farazdaq wasn't bothered by this nuance which he gained as an outcome of his boldness and honesty. He continued to create poetry against Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik in the prison.

Imam Sajjad (as) sent some money to Poet Farazdaq, since he was in the prison and had no means of earning. Poet Farazdaq didn't accept it, and said that he had said the poem only for Allah (SWT). Imam Sajjad (as) resent him the money saying: "Allah (SWT) is well aware of your intention, and will reward you appropriately. If you accept this money, it shall not suffer your reward from Allah (SWT)." And he urged Poet Farazdaq to accept the gift. Finally Poet Farazdaq accepted it.

A caravan of Muslims was headed towards Makkah. As it arrived in Madina, it rested a few days, and continued on towards Makkah.

On their way from Madina to Makkah, a man joined the group. This man noticed one of them who had the appearance of a guided person. He was eagerly busy in service of the passengers. The man recognized him. With much surprise, he asked the pilgrims if they knew this man who was at their service.

"No, we don't know him. He joined us in Madina. He is a decent and pious man. We haven't asked him for help. But he has been eager in helping us."

"Obviously you don't know him. For if you did, you would never have allowed a man like him to be at your service."

"Who is this person?"

"This is 4th Imam, Imam Sajjad (as)."

The group stood with shame and apologized to Imam Sajjad (as). Then complaining to him, they said:

"Why did you treat us as such? We may have gone beyond our bounds in our ignorance, and would have committed a big sin in being disrespectful to you."

Imam Sajjad (as): "I intentionally joined your group, for you didn't know me. When I join a group, where people know me, for the sake of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh), they are very kind to me. They don't allow me to be of some service. Thus I was eager to join a group where I will be anonymous, so that I may have the honor of being of some service to my brethren."