The Story of Imam Zamin

Have you ever come across men or women wearing coins on their arms, wrapped up in a piece of cloth and wondered what it is?

This practice, followed by Muslims from many schools of thought, is associated with the story of Imam Ali Reza, whose shrine is in Mashad, Iran. Imam Reza is also know as Imam-e-Zamin. Learn why this honorific title belongs to him and find out what lies at the root of the Imam Zamin, which is tied to the upper arm of a traveller or a newlywed.

There are many stories about how this practice originated. It begins during the life of Imam Ali Reza who was alive during the reign of the Caliph Ma’moun.

The time period of Imam Ali Reza’s life marked the start of the practice of “Imam-e-Zamin”. It became customary for people at this time to take the coin that had his name on it and wrap it around their arms when travelling. It was believed that when a person travelled with the Imam’s name, he would also be protected by the Imam’s blessings on his journey. When a person arrived safely at their destination, they would take the coin and give it away as sadaqah or charity, in the name of the Imam Zamin. The practice of Imam Zamin has this name ( the trilateral root za-ma-na in Arabic means to be responsible for, vouch for or guarantee) because it relates to him, the protector who guarantees a safe journey.

Another story of its origin is that it started when there was a ban on visiting the grave of Imam Hussein, issued by Harun al-Rashid (an Abbasid ruler and father to Ma’moun). However, this was brought to an end by Imam Ali Reza. Ma’moun implemented a condition that anyone wishing to go to Karbala to pay respects to Imam Hussein had to obtain Imam Reza’s personal guarantee. The Imam gave this guarantee to everyone who sought it, establishing the honorific Imam Zamin, the Imam who is a guarantor.