After Ashura, for around 34 years until the end of Imam Sajjad’s life, the Imam always wept tears of sorrow for the tragedy of Karbala. The Imam is one of the five divine characters who wept the most, along with the Prophets Adam, Jacob, Joseph, and Lady Fatimah. The Imam was constantly reminded of Karbala. Every glance at water would evoke tears in his eyes. He used to fast during the day, and at night upon seeing food, tears would roll down his cheeks. Once the Imam saw a butcher slaughtering a sheep. He asked him if the animal had been given water before it was slaughtered. The Imam’s eyes used to fill up with tears as he would say that the grandson of the Prophet had been slaughtered thirsty by the (Euphrates) river. Someone once requested the Imam to come out of grief, to which the Imam responded, “(Prophet) Jacob had 12 sons. God only hid one (Prophet Joseph) and he wept for 40 long years while he knew that his son was alive. Why shouldn’t I cry when my beloved father, brother, and 17 of my family members were beheaded and cut into pieces?” Imam Sajjad was also the first person to perform his prayers on the sands of Karbala to keep the message of Imam Hossein alive. This custom exists until today.
