imam_al kadhim

8/13/2019 Imam_Al Kadhim

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Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

ImamAlKadhim(A.S)

Author

:

Al

Balagh

Foundation

Foundation'sWord

ImamAlKadhim

HisSchoolandKnowledge

Politicaland

Social

Conditions

During

Imam's

Time

TheImam(A.S.)andHaroonAlRasheed

ImamCaliphaAliBinMusaAlRidha(A.S.)

TheEternalBeacon

Endnotes

Foundation'sWord

AllpraisebelongstoAllah,Whodestroyskingsandreplacesthemwithothers.Peaceandthe

blessingsofAllahbeontheleaderoftheMuslimpreachers,theSealoftheProphetsand

Messengers,Muhammad,thechosenProphet,andontheguardsofshar'iah,thesuccessors

ofthegreatMessenger,hishousehold,andonhispiousfollowers.

SinceSatantemptedAdam(a.s.)toeattheforbiddenfruit,andhewasdrivenoutofParadise,

whenCainmurderedhisbrotherAbel,thefierce,andbloodystrugglebeganbetweenvirtue

andvice,truthandfalsehood,justiceandinjustice,humblenessandarrogance,moralityand

corruption,goodandevil,guidanceanddeviation...andinanutshell,betweenIslamand

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ignorance.ThisstrugglewillgoonuntiltheAwaitedOneeliminatesallnegativecharacteristics

ofman.

Whenevertheswordofoppressionwasdrawn,itwasthetonguethatsaidnothingbutthe

truth,thebloodofafreemanwhofortifiedhimselfwithpiety,andthetruepreacherwho

heldonto

Allah,

the

Almighty,

that

confronted

it.

EveryconflictonearthendsinthetriumphofAllah'sword,andthefulfillmentofHiswill.The

tyrants'wordremainslow,andtheirpowerdiminisheslikethesea froth.

TheAbbassidsinheritedthecorruptruleandunjustpowerfromtheUmayyads,butthey

outrantheminbrutalityandoppression.Theypersecuted,murdered,andmadehomelessthe

membersofthefamilyoftheProphet(s.a.w.),theleadersofMuslims,whostooduptotheir

tyranny,andtradedtheirsoulsforthepleasureofAllah.Thesepeopleshedtheirbloodand

laidouttheirsoulschallengingtheforcesofdeviation,defendingthefaith,andaidingthe

Muslims.TheywonimmortalityuntiltheJudgementDay.Theirenemiesreapednothingbut

disgrace,shameanddamnation.

Likeahighmountain,ourrevolutionaryImamMusaalKadhim(a.s.),thescionof

prophethoodandgrandsonofthepurefamilyoftheProphet(s.a.w.),stoodboldlyintheface

ofcorruption.Liketrue,bravewarnors,hefoughtthepoliciesofextravagance,debauchery

andterrorism.Hekeptupdefendingtheshar'iahfromthefalsehoodsoftheoppressorsand

corrupters,andprotectingtheummahfromthebrutalitiesofthetyrants,untilhewas

martyredbypoison,inhisshacklesinsidehisjail,andhisbodywasthrownonabridgein

Baghdad.

AlBalaghFoundationishonouredtopresenttoitsdearreaders,glimpsesfromthelifeofthis

divinelyinfallibleImam.

WepraytoAllahtograntussuccessinkeepingupourjihad,andpurifyingtheearthfromthe

mischiefofthemischiefmakersandthecorruptionofthecorruptrulers,untilAllahmakesHis

religiontriumphoverallreligions,evenifthepolytheistshateit.

AlBalaghFoundation

INTRODUCTION

"..Allahonlydesirestotakeawayuncleannessfromyou,Opeopleofthehousehold,andto

purifyyoua(thorough)purifying."


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HolyQur'an(33:33)

Thegreatmessagebegetsgreatmen.Theimmortalprinciplesproduceimmortalleaders.The

uniquelygreatcreediscertainlyabletonurtureuniquelygreatmen.

Islam,the

great

faith,

the

immortal

creed

and

the

divine,

uniquely

great

message,

came

to

changelifeforthebetter,teardownthefoundationsofignorance,uprootthecausesof

backwardnessandcorruption,andmouldman'scharacteronthebasisofdivineguidance,and

inaccordancewiththemoralvaluesandtheprinciplesofequityandperfection.Bythis

religion,mancanreachperfectionandjoinhimselftotheEternal,AbsoluteTruth.

Islamispractical,takinglife'sfactsintoconsideration,whenitlaystheplanforman'slife,

refinesbehaviour,leadshumankind,andcreatescivilization.

ThephenomenonofleadershipandImamateisunmistakablythemostcriticalphenomenonin

man'ssociallife.Themostcontroversialandimportantissuefacedbythecreeds,principles

andvaluesistheexistenceofthepioneeringman,theexemplarypersonality,andthegood

examplewhounderstandshisrole,carriesouthistask,andleadsthewayforotherpeopleto

march.AllahchosetheImamsandleadersofthisummahfromtheProphetichousehold,

CommanderoftheFaithful,ImamAliandhissons(a.s.).TheQur'anicexegetessaythatthe

abovementionedversewasrevealedconcerningAlibinAbiTalibandhiswifeFatimah(a.s.),

thedaughteroftheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.),andtheirsons,HassanandHussein(a.s.).

AbuHurayrah,quotedUmmSalamah,mayAllahbepleasedwithher,assaying,"Fatimah

cametoseetheApostleofAllahwithanearthenwarepotfilledwithsweetpastesheherself

hadmade.Sheplacedthepotinatrayandputitinfrontofhim.'Whereisyourcousinand

yourtwosons?'askedtheProphet.'Athome,'repliedFatimah.'Callthemover'orderedthe

ApostleofAllah.ShewenttoAliandsaidtohim,'TheProphet(s.a.w.)wantstoseeyouand

yourtwosons.'

UmmSalamahwenton,"Whenhesawthemcoming,hestretchedouthishandtoashawlon

thebedandspreaditoutonthefloorandseatedthemonit.Then,withhislefthand,he

grabbedthefourcornersoftheshawlanddrewthemtogetherovertheirheads.He

motioned,withhisrighthand,tohisLord,mayHisNamebeexalted,andsaid,'OLord!,these

aremyfamily.Removeuncleannessfromthemandpurifythem'"[1]

TheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)isreportedtohavesaid,"Allahhadcertainlymadetheoffspring

ofeveryprophetinhisloins,andhasmademyoffspringintheloinsofthisman,"pointingto

Ali.[2]


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Thetruthful,trustworthyProphet(s.a.w.)alsosaid,"Allthesonsofafatherareinclined

towardshim,withtheexceptionofthesonsofFatimah.IamtheirfatherandIamtheoneto

whomtheyarecloselyrelated".[3]

IbnAbbasisreportedtohavesaid,"IheardtheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)saying,'IAli,

Hassan,Hussein,

and

nine

men

from

the

loins

of

Hussein

are

purified

and

infallible".[4]

TheCommanderoftheFaithful,ImamAli(a.s.),bytheexactwordsoftheMessengerofAllah

(s.a.w.)andtheconsensusofthecompanionsoftheProphet(s.a.w.),wasthemost

knowledgeable,judicious,andcourageousman,amongthem.Heprecededthemin

embracingIslam.Bythesevirtues,hedeservedtrulytobetheImamofMuslims.Onthe21st

oftheholymonthofRamadhan,40A.H.theCommanderoftheFaithful,ImamAli(a.s.),just

beforehismartyrdom,gatheredhissons,membersofhisfamilyandcompanions,and

appointedhiselderson,Hassan(a.s.),asthenextImam.ImamHassan(a.s.)didthesame

thingwhenhewasonhisdeathbed.Heappointedhisbrother,Hussein(a.s.),thenextImam

afterhim.OnhismartyrdomdayatKarbala,ImamHussein(a.s.)appointedhisson,al Sajjad

AlibinHussein(a.s.),thenextImam.ImamAlSajjad(a.s.)appointedhisson,Muhammadal

Baqir(a.s.),hissuccessortotheofficeofImamate.ImamAl Baqir(a.s.)appointedhisson,

Ja'faralSadiq(a.s.),theImamwhowouldsucceedhim.ImamAlSadiq(a.s.)appointedhis

son,MusaalKadhim(a.s.),thenextImam.ImamalKadhim(a.s.)appointedhisson,Alibin

MusaalRidha(a.s.),thenextImam.ImamalRidha(a.s.),inturn,appointedhisson,

Muhammadal Jawad(a.s.),thenextImam.ImamalJawad(a.s.)appointedhisson,Alial

Hadi(a.s.),asImamafterhim.ImamalHadi(a.s.)appointedhisson,HassanAlAskari(a.s.),

thenextImamafterhim.ImamAlAskari(a.s.)appointedhisson,MuhammadbinalHassan

alMahdi(a.s.),thenextImam.TheAwaitedMahdiisbelieved,byallMuslims,tobethehope

ofhumanityandtheawaitedsaviourofhumankind.Muslims,fromallschoolsofthoughtand

denominationsagreeonthefactthatheisadescendantoftheProphet(s.a.w.),buttheyhold

diverseviewsregardingthesaying,

"DaysandnightswillnorceaseuntilAllahsendsamanfrommyhousehold,whosenameis

similartomine.Heshallfillitup(theearth)withjusticeandequity,thesamewayithasbeen

filledupwithinjusticeandoppression."[5]

Humanityisstillwaitingforthisgreatsaviour,andleadingreformer,whowillestablishthe

stateofdivinejusticeandpullout,forever,therootsofloathsomejahiliyyah(preIslamicera

ofignorance).

HistoryrecordedtheascensionoftheImamsfromthefamilyoftheProphet(s.a.w.)tothe

officeofImamate,whomtheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)praisedbysaying,"Myhouseholdis

certainlylikethearkofNoah.Hewhoembarksonitshallfindsalvation,buthewholags


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behindshalldrown"

He(s.a.w.)urgedMuslimstofollowthem.Hesaid,"Iamleavingamongyoutwoweighty

things:theBookofAllahandmydescendants,myhousehold.Aslongasyouholdontothem

youshallnevergoastrayafterme".

Theirreligious,militaryandpoliticalroleswererecordedbyhistoryforthecoming

generations.Everyoneofthemcarriedouthisresponsibility,boretheburdenofthemessage

inhistime,raisedthebanner,andlaterhandeditovertothefollowingImam.

IfonecloselyexaminestheProphetictraditions,historicalaccounts,Qur'anicexegesis,Islamic

beliefs,biographicalbooks,Islamicsciences,andprobesthepoliticalhistoryofthedawnof

Islam,andthatoftheUmayyadandAbbassideeras,hewillcertainlyfindthatthetwelve

Imams,camesuccessivelyanduninterruptedlytohoisttheIslamicbanner.Eachoneofthem

wastheImamofhistime,andthemostprominentandleadingmaninknowledgeandjihad.

Theywerenotfuqaha'squattingintheirschoolsandclassrooms,norweretheyworshippers,

shutoutofffromlife.Theywerebeaconsofguidance,andwellknownhistoricalsymbols.

Theywereleaderstowhomfingerswerepointed,andleaderswhompeopleresortedtoin

adversities,andindefenseofthefaithandtheummah.Thetyrantsfearedthem.Thescholars

feltdwarfedbeforethem.Theminds,howeversharp,weremodestcomparedtotheirs.They

wereexemplaryimagesfortheasceticsandordinaryworshippers.

ThatiswhyAhlulBait(a.s.)hadenteredallthepure,faithfulheartsacrossgenerationsand

decades.Theirimpactandinfluenceremainvividaslongasthefaithisimmortalonearth.This

istheDivineWill.

"Nay,Wehurlthetruthagainstfalsehood,soitknocksoutitsbrainsandlo!itvanishes..."

HolyQur'an(21:18)

"...thenasforthescum,itpassesawayasaworthlessthing;andasforthatwhichdoesgood

topeople,ittarriesintheearth"

HolyQur'an(13:17)

Ontheotherside,theirfoesandadversariesachievednothingbutashortlivedecstasyof

power,enjoyingcheapwordilygains.

ThusthestudyofthehistoryofAhlulBait(a.s.),theexaminationoftheirlives,horizonsof

thought,andjihadareofgreatimportanceforMuslims.TheImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.)


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representtheschoolofIslam,thespiritualleadersofthisummahandtheleadersofits

historicalmarch.Theirparamountconcernwascontinuousfightingforthesakeofpreserving

Islam'soriginalityandpureness.Theresearcherwouldfindabitter,longdrawnepicof

strugglebetweentheImams(a.s.)andtheirenemies.Itisastrugglethatstillpoundsonthe

gatesoftime,andkeepsthespiritofjihadalive.

ImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)isagoodexampletobefollowedbyMuslims,especiallyregarding

hisoppositiontooppressionandinjustice.HeisamemberofahouseholdchosenbyAllah,

theExalted,fromamongthesonsofAdam(a.s.).Hepurifiedthem,andsetthemasgood

examplesandbeaconsofguidanceformankind.Theyare,astheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)said

regardingthem,"Wearemembersofahouseholdtowhomnoonecouldeverbecompared"

ItisonlynaturalthatAhlulBait(a.s.)wouldsufferfromtheoppressionoftherulers,andthe

injusticeofthetyrants.

Theyweremadehomeless,hunteddown,killed,throwninprisonandintimidated.TheImams

(a.s.)ledtheummah,liftedthebannerofopposition,andcalledfortheimplementationof

Islam'slaws.Asaresult,people'sheartsleanedtowardthem,andtheireyeswerefixedon

them.Thedowntroddenralliedaroundthem,seeinginthemthehopeofsalvation.Anditis

onlynaturalthatthetyrantswouldfightthem,anduseeverymeanspossibletosilencethem.

ThisisafactpointedoutbytheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.).Heisreportedtohavesaid:

"WeareafamilyforwhomAllahpreferredtheHereafteroverthislife.Themembersofmy

familyshallcertainlyfacetribulations,madehomeless,andexiledfromtheirhomeland.That

shallgoonuntilsomepeoplecomefromtheeast,raisingblackstandards.Theyshallaskfor

theirright,butshallbedeniedit.Theyshallfight,helpedbyothers,andshallbegivenwhat

theyseek.Theyshallnotacceptituntiltheygiveit(theleadership)overtoamanfrommy

family,whoshallfilltheearthwithjusticeafterbeingfilledwithinjustice.Whoeverisluckyto

liveatthattime,lethimjointhemevenifitishardforhimtodoso,ashardascrawlingovera

snowyland"[6]

MuslimsagreethatthisgreatmanisfromthehouseholdoftheProphet(s.a.w.).Heisthe

Mahdi,thesaviour.Heshallimplementtheshari'ah,andmakethedreamoftheprophets

(a.s.)ofastateinwhichjusticeprevails,areality,andraisethebannerofmonotheismoverall

partsoftheworld.

ImamAlKadhim


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ImamMusabinJa'faralSadiqbinMuhammadalBaqirbinAliZainalAbideenbinHusseinbinAli

binAbiTalib(a.s.)isthesonofthehouseholdoftheProphet(s.a.w.),andthemanwhowasborn

intoafamilyknownforitshonourandloftyglory.Hisfather,ImamJa'faralSadiq(a.s.),wasthe

Imamof

Muslims,

the

mas

ter

of

ulama'

and

fuqaha',

and

the

leading

unchallenged

master

of

the

descendantsofImamAli(a.s.).

ImamMusaalKadhim(a.s.)inheritedhisfather'sImamateandgreatstature.Heistheseventh

ImamoftheImamsoftheJa'fari(twelveImams)schoolofthought.Hismother,Hamidah,wasa

freedslavegirl,whohailedfromAndalus.ItissaidshewasaBerber,or,asothersmaintain,a

Roman,butshewasmostlikelyofanAndalusianextraction.Shewasnicknamed"Lu'lu'ah"(Pearl).

ImamMuhammadalBaqirboughtherandpresentedherasagiftofhissonalSadiq,whomarried

her.ShegavebirthtoImamMusabinJa'faralKadhim(a.s.).AbuAbdullahJa'faralSadiq(a.s.)

paidspecialattentiontoHamidah'seducation.Asaresultshebecamealeadingfaqih.Imamal

Sadiq(a.s.)assignedhertoeducatewomen,andsteerthemtoIslam'steachings,beliefs,and

concepts.

ImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)wasbornunderthecaliphateoftheUmayyadtyrantAbdulMalikbin

Marwan,atalAbwa',theveryplacewherethemotheroftheNobleProphet(s.a.w.),Aminah,the

daughterofWahab,hadpassedawayandwasburied.Itislocatedmidwaybetweenthecitiesof

MakkahandMadinah.

OnSunday,Safar7,128A.H.,littleMusaopenedhiseyestotheworld.Thegoodnewsofhisbirth

wasgiventohisfatherwhilehavinglunchwithagroupofhiscompanions.Happyandoverflowing

withpaternalloveandkindness,herushedtoseehisnewbornson.NotlongafterthatImamal

Sadiq(a.s.)leftalAbwa'toMadinah.AccordingtoArabtraditiononthebirthofachild,heinvited

peopletoagreatfeastforthreedays.PeoplefloodedtothepresenceoftheImam(a.s.)to

congratulatehim.Hecouldn'tresistmakingpublichisoverwhelmingloveforhischild.He

welcomedhimbysaying,"IwishIhadnosonotherthanhim,sothatnobodywouldsharemylove

forhim."[7]

Thefatherknewhowgreatthebabywouldbe,andwhataleadingrolehewouldplayintheworld

ofIslam.HewouldbeagreatMuslimleaderwhowoulddohisbesttoservetheDivineMessage.

ImamalKadhim(a.s.)livedunderthecareofhisfather,andlearnedfromtheschoolofhisfather,

towhichthescholars,jurisprudents,philosophersandpreachersflocked.Heinheritedfromhis

fatherhisknowledge,mannersandmorals.

Hecametoepitomizehighmorals,generosity,asceticism,patience,bravery,perseveranceand


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jihad.DuringtheImamateofhisfatherhedirectedhisattentiontoacquiringknowledge,andafter

hisfather'sdeath,heshoulderedtheresponsibilityofleadingtheummah.

ImamJa'faralSadiq(a.s.)emphasizedthisfact,andpraisedhissonbysaying,"Praiseisdueto

AllahWhomadeyouasubstituteformyparents,asourceofdelightamongmysons,anda

replacementfor

my

friends."[8]

ImamalKadhim(a.s.)earnedmanynicknamesforhisgreatstatusamongthepeopleandhis

uniquerefinedcharacter.Hewascalledal'AbdalSalih(TheGoodServant)forhisperfect

characterandmanners,ZainalMujtahideen(TheOrnamentofToilers)forhislengthyworship

andsupplication,alKadhim(TheonewhocurbshisAnger)forhisextremeendurance,patience

andbraveryinthefaceofadversities,hiscurbingofpainandanger,andforbeingkindtothose

whoharassedhim,BabalHawa'ij(TheGatewaytoSatisfactionofpeoples'needs)forhisgreat

positioninthesightofAllah,andthefulfillmentofone'sdesiresandneedswhenonebeseeches

Allah,invokinghisname.HewascalledalsoAbulHassanalAwwal(FatherofHassanI)andAbu

Ibrahim(FatherofIbrahim).

Peopledescribedhimasbeingfairskinned,handsomeandthin.

Helivedtwentyyears,ornineteenyearsaccordingtoanotherversion,intheshadeofhisfather,

butremained,asImamoftheummah,thirtyfiveyearsafterhisfather.Hefirsttookonthat

responsibilityattheageof20.

Hissonsanddaughterswerenumerous.HissonswereAlialRidha,Ibrahim,alAbbas,alQasim,

Isma'il,Haroon,alHassan,Ahmad,Muhammad,Hamzah,Abdullah,Ishaq,Ubaydullah,Zayd,al

Fadhi,andSulayman.

HisdaughterswereFatimahalKubra,FatimahalSughra,Ruqayyah,Hakimah,UmmAbiha,

RuqayyahalSughra,Kaltham,UmmJa'far,Lubabah,Zainab,Khadijah,Aliyyah,Aminah,Hassnah,

Burayhah,A'ishah,UmmSalamah,Maymoonah,UmmKulthoom.[9]

AhlulBait(a.s.)wereaschoolandawellconnectedchain.Itappearspurelytransparenttothe

researcher,ifstudiedfromtheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)totheMahdioftheummah.Thehistoryof

Islam,withitsvalues,itswaragainstitsenemiesconceptsaboutlife,rule,politics,andshari'ah,

pointstothisfact,andoutlinesthisschool.ThatiswhyanyoftheAhlulBaitImams(a.s.)appoint

theImamwhosucceedshim.Likewise,ImamJa'farbinMuhammadalSadiq(a.s.)appointedhis

sonMusabinJa'far(a.s.),ashissuccessor.Numerousstatementsconcerningthisappointment

exist,butwehavechosenthefollowing:

"MansoorbinHazimwenttoseeImamAbuAbdullah,andaskedhimtospecifytheImamwho


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wouldsucceedhim.'Maymyfatherandmotherbeyourransom',saidhe,'soulsshallcertainly

tastedeath.Ifthatistobe,thenwhowillsucceedyou?saidtheImam,pointingto,'Thisisyour

man',AbulHassanMusa.Thenheplacedhishandontheshoulderofhisson,asagestureof

emphasis.Musawas,atthetime,fiveyearsold."[10]

Yazidbin

Saleet

al

Zaydi

is

reported

to

have

said;

"On

our

way

to

Makkah,

we,

anumber

of

travellers,metAbuAbdullah(a.s.).'Maymyfatherandmotherbeyourransom',saidItohim'You

arethepurifiedImams.Andnobodycanescapedeath.SotellmesomethingwhichImayconvey

tosonsandrelatives.'Yes',repliedhe,'thesearemysons,andthisoneistheirmaster.Andhe

pointedtoMusa(a.s.),hisson.nllTheperiodduringwhichheassumedImamatewastheworst,

themostbrutalandtroublesomeforAhlulBait(a.s.)andthedowntrodden.ButtheImam

enduredalltheatrocitieswithhisperseverance,patience,andcourage.Forhisabilitytocontain

hissorrow,painandsuffering,hewonthenicknameofal Kadhim.

TheDevotedWorshipper

WhenaMuslimknowslittleaboutAllah,andhasnoideaabouthisrelationshipwithhisLord,he

endsupconfused,troubled,uncertainwhichwaytotake,withnostableandsatisfactory

relationshipwithAllah.Suchconditionisexpressedinlaziness,thelackofdesiretoperformthe

religiousobligations,thedisruptofone'stiewithAllah,theemergenceofatroubled,confused

character,tornapartbylowdesiresandthevaluesandidealsofIslam.Tothecontrary,theman

whoisneartoAllah,enjoysastrongdesiretokeephimselfclosetoHim,asHeisthesourceof

graceandperfectioninthisworld.Suchamanknowsthepathhetreads,holdsfirmlyto

monotheism,faithfullyworshipshisLord,andhisLordalone.Hefeelsheisaboveworldlygains,

andtrivialpleasures,tiedtotheExaltedAllah.

ThesecretbehindthegreatnessofAhlulBait(a.s.)andtheirperfection,whichsetsthemaside

fromtherestofpeople,istheirdivineknowledge,andtheirabsolutedevotiontotheOneand

OnlyAllah,theembodimentofgraceandabsolute,pureperfection.Theywerewholeheartedly

devotedtoAllah,fullygraspingthemonotheisticconceptswhichwerereflectedclearlyintheir

conduct,attitudes,anddeeds.Itisn'tsurprisingthentoseethemrefrainfromenjoyingthis

world'spleasures,thinkinglittleofthem,whentheycontradicttheprinciplesofrightandthe

marchoftheImamstowardsperfection.ItcomesasnosurprisealsotoseedevotiontoAllah,and

truehumblenessencompasstheheartoftheImam,anddirecthisfeelings,desiresand

aspirations.IsitasurprisethenthatImamMusabinJa'farwonthenicknamesofZainal

MujtahideenandalAbdalSalih.Hewhospendshisdaysandnightsinworshipanddeepthought,

riskingbeingthrownintheterribleprisons,overlookingthepleasuresoflife,givingouthimself

andhiswealthsoastowinAllah'spleasure,workinghardtosavehumanityandguidingitonthe

rightpath?


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HistoryportraystherelationshipbetweenImamalKadhimandAllah,hisworship,asceticismand

uniquespiritualcharacter.Hewas,ashisfatherandgrandfatherswere,educatedandbroughtup

tolovetheQur'anandliveit,asitistheBookofAllah,the"container.oftherevelation,andthe

sourceofeverygoodandguidance.

ImamMusa

al

Kadhim

(a.s.)

was

in

the

habit

of

reciting

the

Qur'an.

He

was

at

pains

to

learn

it

by

heart,reciteit,actinaccordancewithitsteachings,andholdontoitsmessageandmethodology.

HewasimpressedbytheQur'anwheneverhereadit.Theverseswouldmovehimtotears.

Itwassaidthat:"HewasthebestoneamongthememorizersoftheBookofAllah,theExalted.He

hadamellifluousvoicewhenherecitedtheQur'an.WhenherecitedtheQur'an,thosepresent

wouldbesomovedthattheywouldbreakintotearsformerelylisteningtohim.Peopleinthecity

ofMadinahcalledhim'TheOrnamentoftheToilers.'"[12]

HisclosenesstoAllah,hislongingtomeetHimandhisendeavourstopleaseHim,madehim

journeytotheSacredHouseofAllahonfoot.ItwasreportedthathehadgonetoMakkah,along

withhisbrother,AlibinJa'far,fourtimesonfoot.Ittook26daysforhimtoreachMakkahthefirst

time,25daysthesecondtime,24daysthethirdtime,and21daysthefourthtime.

Asforhisprayer,hewasunmatched.Thedevotedandpiousonesfollowedhisexample.Itissaid

that"WhenhestoodinthepresenceofAllah,toperformhisprayer,tearswouldrolldownhis

face."

HeusedtoaskAllah'sforgivenessandthankHimforhisgraces.Ibrahimbinal Biladsaid,"Abul

Hassansaidtome;'IaskAllah'sforgivenessfivethousandtimesaday.'"

HishambinAhmarisreportedtohavesaid:"IwasridingwithAbulHassan(MusabinJa'far)ona

streetinMadinahwhenhedismountedandprostrated.Heremainedso,motionless,foralengthy

periodoftime.Thenheraisedhisheadandremounted."MayIbeyourransom",askedI."Isaw

yougoingdowninalongprostration?"Hereplied;'IrememberedagracewhichAllahfavoured

mewith.IlovedtothankmyLordforit."[13]

ImamalKadhim(a.s.)wasapious,monotheisticsaint.HisheartwasbrimmingwithloveforAllah.

ThemostofAllah'sbelovedthingsforhimwasworshipandtheremembranceofAllah.He(a.s.)

wishedthatAllahwouldgranthimanopportunitytoserveHim.Oneofthespiesplacedinthe

prisonwiththeImam,tokeepawatchfuleyeonhim,reportedtothegovernorIsabinJa'far,that

hehadheardtheImam(a.s.)saying,"OmyLord,YouknowthatIhadbeenaskingyoutospareme

timetodevotemyselftoYourservice.Youhavedonethat.PraisebetoYou."[14]


12/65


TheImam(a.s.)wouldnotthinkmuchofjails.Norwouldhegetboredbythem.Hesimplydidn't

feartherulers,hisopponents.Hewastoweringoverthislife,loftyandhigh,nojailwoulddeteror

intimidatehim.Hehadgivenupthepleasuresoflife,foramoresublimegoal,todefendtheright,

andservehisLord.

Heconsidered

prison

life

adivine

favour.

It

is

reported

that

al

Rasheed

would

sit

in

aplace

overlookingtheprison.HesawtheImaminprostration."Whatisthatgarment?",alRasheed

askedalRabi',"whichIseeeverydayonthatspot?"Al Rabi'replied;'Itisnotagarment.Thatis

MusabinJa'far.Heprostrateseverydayfromsunriseuntilnoon'".[15]

ItwasnosecretthattheImam(a.s.)lovedtoserveAllahdevotedlyandwholeheartedly.

Historiansandbiographerswroteabouthisworshipandprayer.

"ItbecamewidelyknownamongpeoplethatAbulHassanMusawasthehighestinstatusfrom

amongalSadiq'ssons,themostdevotedinhisfaith,andthemostfluentinexpressinghismind.

Notonlywashethemostdevotedinhisworshipamongthepeople,buthewasalsothemost

wellversedmaninIslamicsciencesandjurisprudence.Itisreportedthathewouldperformthe

optionalprayersofthenightuntilthemorningprayer.Hewouldperformitandremainawake

recitingsomesupplicationsuntilsunrise.Hethenwouldgodowninprostrationduringwhichhe

praised,thankedandglorifiedAllah,andwouldnotlifthisheaduntilitwasnoon.Hesaid,inhis

prostration:"Thesinofyourservantisshamefullyugly.Letyourforgivenessandpardonbe

bountiful"[16]

QuotingalIrshad(guidance),abookauthoredbySheikhalMufid,theauthorofBiharalAnwar

(SeasofLights),adds:

"HeusedtoweepoutofhisfearofAllahuntilhisbeardgotwet.Hewasdistinguishedbyhiscare

forhisfamilyandrelatives,whomhewouldvisitandhelpiftheyneededhim.Inthedeadofnight,

heusedtocallonthepoorpeopleofMadinah,carryingtothem,inabasket,goldDinarsand

ordinaryDirhams,flouranddates.Hewoulddeliverallthattothemwithoutlettingthemknow

whohewas,orwhothedonorwas."[17]

Hisfoeandjaileracknowledgedhisreligiousdevotionandpiety.AlFadhlbinal Rabi'quoted

HaroonalRasheedassaying,"ThisiscertainlyasaintfromtheHashimites;'Then,'enquiredI,

'whyhaveyouharassedhimbythrowinghimintoprison?'"Alas,"repliedhe,"ThisissomethingI

cannotresistdoing."[18]

Hafsreportedfromanumberoftraditiontransmitters,thefollowing:"Ihaveneverseenaman

moregodfearingthanMusabinJa'far.NorhaveIseenamanmorehopingforAllah'skindness

thanhe.HisrecitationoftheQur'anarousedsorrow(onthepartofthelistener.)Itwasasifhe


13/65


wasaddressingahumanbeingwhenhereadtheQur'an."[19]

Whatahighminded,devotedmanwasImamalKadhim!

GiverofForgivenessandFreedom:

"Thosewhospendineaseaswellasinadversityandthosewhorestrain(their)angerandpardon

people.AndAllahlovesthedoersofgood(toothers)."

HolyQur'an(3:133)

Islamaimedatliberatingman,andmakingslavesenjoythefavouroffreedom.Forthisgrand

civilizedgoal,Islampresentedasetofconceptsandvalues,teachingsandlaws.AhlulBait(a.s.)

contributedeffectivelytothiscause.ImamAlibinHusseinbinAlibinAbiTalib(a.s.),forexample,

wascalled'TheLiberatorofSlaves'duetothegreatnumberofslavesheboughtandsetfree.

Fatimah(a.s.),daughteroftheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.),themotherofthetwelveImams,soldher

necklaceandwiththemoneyshegotsheboughtaslaveandemancipatedhimforthesakeof

Allah.ImamalKadhim(a.s.),likewise,setfreenumerousslaves.Historiansnarratedthatoncea

youngblackslave,burdenedwiththeshacklesofslavery,andtroubledbytheyokeofbondage,

longedforthefragranceoffreedom,andthelifeofthefreemen.Hefoundnonetorelievehimof

histroubleotherthanthesonofprophethood,alKadhimMusabinJa'far(a.s).Tonguetied,the

slavecouldn'texpresshisdemand,sohepresentedamodestgifttotheImam(a.s.),Thestoryis

asfollows:

"ImamMusaKadhim(a.s.),accompaniedbyhisentourageandsomeofhissons,leftYathrib

(Madinah)forhisfarmsatSayah.[20]Beforereachingtheirdestination,theystoppedtohave

somerestataspotnearby.Itwasextremelycold.Theywerestillrestingwhenablackslave,

speakinggoodArabic,carryingaboilingpotonhishead,approachedthem.Hesawtheservants

oftheImam(a.s.)andaskedthem:

"Whereisyourmaster?"

"Overthere"saidtheypointingtotheImam(a.s.).

"AbulHassan,"saidthey.

TheyhesteppedforwardandimploringlysaidtoImamMusaKadhim(a.s.):

"Thisissweetmeat.Itismypresenttoyou,sir."


14/65


ImamMusaKadhim(a.s.)acceptedhispresentandaskedhimtohandittotheservants.Theblack

slavedidsoandwentaway.Itwasnotlongbeforehereturnedcarryingabunchoffirewood.He

wentovertotheImam(a.s.)andsaid:

"Thisisfirewood.Itismypresenttoyou,sir."

TheImam(a.s)acceptedhispresentandorderedhimtobringfire.Themaninstantlycarriedout

Imam'sorder,whereupontheImam(a.s.)orderedhisnameandthenameofhismastertobe

writtendown.Herecommendedthatthenamebekeptathand.Then,theyproceededtothe

farmswheretheystayedforafewdays.FromtheretheywenttotheHolyHouseofAllah.Having

finishedhisumrah(Minorpilgrimage),theImam(a.s.)orderedSa'idtolookforthemasterofthe

blackslave.

"Shouldyoufindhishouse,tellme,soImaycallonhim.IhatetosendforsomeonewhileIneed

him."

Sa'idwentout.Hesearchedfortheman,andfinallyfoundhim.Herecognizedhimandlearned

thathewasaShi'ite.Sa'idapproachedandgreetedhim.ThemanaskediftheImam(a.s.)had

cometoMadinah,towhichquestionSa'idreplied'No.'Themanthenaskedwhyhadhecometo

thecity.Sa'idtoldhimthathehadsomebusinesstodo.Unconvinced,thinkingthattheImam

mightbeinthetownafterall,themanfollowedSa'idwhohadbidhimfarewell.Sa'idfelttheman

followinghim,buttriedinvaintoevadehim.Resigned,Sa'idwalkedwiththemanuntilthey

reachedtheImam'sresidence.Whenbothmenwentin,theImam(a.s.)severelyblamedSa'idfor

tellingthemanabouthisarrivalinMakkah.Sa'idapologizedbutsaidthathedidn'ttelltheman

aboutthat,butthemanhimselfhadfollowedhim,againsthiswill.Whenthemanseatedhimself,

theImam(a.s.)welcomedhimandasked:

"Doyousellyourslave?"

"MayIbeyourransom,"saidtheman,"theslave,thefarm,andallmypropertyareallyours."

"Asforthefarm,Idonotwanttostripyouofit,"repliedtheImam(a.s.).

ThemanpleadedwiththeImam(a.s.)andentreatedhimtoacceptboththefarmandtheslave.

TheImam(a.s.)turnedhisofferdown.Butfinallyheboughttheslave'sfreedomandgavehimthe

farm.WiththeblessingoftheImam(a.s.)Allahmadetheslave'sbusinessprosperuntilhissons

becameamongMakkah'smostwealthymenandmoney changers."[21]

TheImam(a.s.),historytestifies,onceboughtawholefamilyofslaves,thenheemancipated

them.


15/65


AllamahalMajlisireportsinhisfamousbook'BiharalAnwar'ontheauthorityofalKafi,froma

chainoftransmitters:

"MuhammadbinYahyareportedontheauthorityofMuhammadbinAhmad,ontheauthorityof

Alibin

al

Rayyan,

on

the

authority

of

Ahmad

bin

Abi

Khalaf,

aslave

of

Abul

Hassan

whom

the

Imam(a.s.)hadbought,alongwithhisfather,motherandbrotherandsetthemallfree.Thenhe

madeacontractwithAhmadbywhichAhmadbecameImam'ssteward."[22]

KindnessandGenerosity:

ImamMusaalKadhim(a.s.)iswidelyknownforhiskindness,altruism,generosityandhis

tendencytohelpthepoorsecretlyandpublically.Hehelpedthepeopletosolvetheirproblems,

settheslavesfree,paidthedebtsoftheindebted,andkeptgoodrelationswithhisrelatives.

SheikhalMufid,mayAllahbepleasedwithhim,explains,inhisbook"alIrshad",Imam's

attributes:

"AbulHassanwasthemostdevotedworshipperamongthepeopleofhistime,andthemost

versedinfiqh.Hewasthemostgenerous,andthekindestofallpeople...""Hewasverykindtohis

familyandrelatives,readytohelpthemwhentheyneededhim",addedSheikhalMufid."Inthe

deadofnight,heusedtocallonthepoorofMadinah,givethemmoneyandfoodsecretlysothat

theydidnotknownwhohewas."[23]

Historiansmaintainthatwhensomeonereviledhimorsaidsomethingbadabouthim,theImam

(a.s.)wouldsendabagstuffedwith200300Dinars.Thushereturnedthebadwithgood,lavishing

hiskindnessonallpeople.Suchbagsweresenttotheneedyandindebted.Themoney bagsof

MusabinJa'far(a.s.)becameproverbial."[24]

AboutthegenerosityofImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)MuhammadbinAbdullahal Bikrisays:

"IcametoMadinahseekingsomeonewhowouldlendmesomemoney.Ifoundnone.Whynotgo

toAbulHassanandcomplaintohimaboutmytrouble?"Isaidtomyself.Accordingly,Iwentto

seehimataplacecalledNiqma[25]wherehehadafarm.Hecameoutwithoneofhisservants

carryingasievefilledwithveined,curedmeat.Isawnothingelsetobeeaten.Hesetouteating

andIfollowedsuit.Thenheaskedmeaboutmytrouble,andInarratedmystory.Hewentintothe

house,andreturnedshortly.'Getoff,'saidhetohisservant.Heputouthishandwithabagof

money.Therewere300Dinarsinit.Thenherosetohisfeetandleftme.Istoodup,mountedmy

animalandleft."[26]


16/65


Heusedtoforgivethewrongdoers,returningtheirbadbehaviourwithgoodness."Whenheheard

someonetalkingevilofhim,hesenthimamoneybagfilledwithDinars.Eachbagcontainednearly

200300Dinars."[27]

Anexcellentinstanceofhistoleranceandforgivenessisdetailedinthefollowingstory:

"TherewasamanwhousedtorevileAlibinAbiTalib(a.s.)whenhemetImamMusabinJa'far.He

missednochanceofannoyinghimwheneverhesawhim.SomeofImam'sservantsandfollowers

askedhimtopermitthemtokilltheman,buttheImamrejectedthis.Thenhemountedhis

donkey,andwentacrossthefarmoftheman,crushingthegrass.'Donottrampleonthegrass!'

criedouttheman.TheImam(a.s.)didnotanswerhim.Drawingneartheman,hedismounted,sat

downandbegantalkingkindlyandhumorouslytotheman.'Howmuchdidyouspendonthis

farm?'askedtheImam(a.s.).'OnehundredDirhams,'repliedtheman,'Andwhatprofitdoyou

hopetogain?'inquiredtheImam.'Idonotknow,'saidtheman.'Ihaveaskedyou:howmuchdo

youhopetoget?'repeatedtheImam.'AnextraonehundredDirhams,'answeredtheman."The

Imam(a.s)gotout300Dinarsfromhispocketandhandedthemtohim.Theman,movedby

Imam'sgesture,rosetohisfeetandkissedtheImam(a.s.)onthehead.WhentheImam(a.s.),

afterwards,enteredthemosque,themansprangup,greetedhim,andsaid,Allahknowsbest

whomtoentrustwithHismessage''Whatisthat?'thefriendsofthemanrebukedhim.Theman

reviledthem.

Fromthattimeon,themanbegantostandupasasignofreverenceandgreetImamMusa(a.s.)

wheneverheenteredthemosque.ImamMusa(a.s.)saidtothosewhowantedtogetridofthe

man'whatwasbetter,whatyouwantedorwhatIdid?'"."[28]

SuchwasAhlulBait's(a.s.)manners,andtheirtolerance.Thisisoneanecdoteofnumerouswhich

reflectsImam'sforgiveness,andthecurbingofhisanger.HewasnotcalledalAbdalSalih,Zayn

alMujtahideenandalKadhimfornothing.

"Wefeedyou,forAllah'spleasureonly Wedesirefromyouneitherrewardnorthanks."

HolyQur'an(76..9)

Suchgenerosity,forgiveness,openhandednessandloveoffreedomaredifferentwhentheyissue

fromtheImam(a.s.).Otherpeoplespendliberally,givelavishly,andgrantboundlessly,butthey

dothisonlyinpursuitoffame,socialstatus,andthebuyingofotherpeople'sconscience.

AsfortheImam(a.s.),hisselfistoosereneandperfecttoseekpraise,socialpositionand

reputation.Hedidgood,gavelavishly,helpedtheneedy,andemancipatedtheslavesforthesake


17/65


ofAllah,demandingnothinginreturn.

HisSchoolandKnowledge

A.HisPositionasaScholar:

"...Notonlywashethemostdevoutinhisworshipamongthepeople,buthewasalsothemost

wellversedmaninIslamicsciencesandjurisprudence."[29]

ImamMusabinJafar(a.s.)isthegrandsonoftheProphetMuhammad(s.a.w.),andtheinheritor

of

the

knowledge

of

Ahlul

Bait

(a.s.).

He

was

the

disciple

of

his

father,

Imam

Ja'far

al

Sadiq

(a.s.),

thegreatspiritualleader,andthetopscholarofhistime,aboutwhomMalikbinAnas,theleader

oftheMalikiyyahschoolofthought,said:

"Neverhasaneyeseen,norhasanearheard,norhasamindofamaneverthoughtofaman

betterthanJa'faralSadiqinhisoutstandingmerits,knowledge,worshipandpiety."[30]

ThewellknownhistorianalYa'qoobiwrote,describinghim,"Hewasthebestamongpeopleand

themostwellversedinthefaith.Thescholarswhoreportedfromhim,wouldopentheir

narratives,iftheyconveyedthemfromhim,withthesewords,'Thegreatalimtoldusthat..."[31]

ImamJa'faralSadiq(a.s.)appointedhissonMusaalKadhimashissuccessortotheofficeof

Imamate.AlibinJa'far,thebrotherofImamMusaalKadhim(a.s.),adependable,trustworthy

narrator,isreportedtohavesaid,"IheardAbuJa'farbinMuhammad(a.s.)sayingtosomepeople

fromhisentourageandclosefriends,'Takegoodcareofthissonofmine,Musa.Heisthebestof

mysons,andthebestamongwhomIleaveafterme.Heshallbemysuccessorandtheproofof

Allah,theExalted,overallhisservantsafterme."[32]

ImamalSadiq(a.s.)himselfoncesaidtoacompanionofhis,"Shouldyouaskthissonofmine,

whomyouknow,aboutwhatisbetweenthetwocoversoftheQur'an,hewillcertainlyanswer

youknowledgeably."[33]

AndsoImamalKadhim(a.s.)receivedtheheavytrustofguidingtheummahfromhisfather.The

Imam(a.s.)raisedagenerationof'ulama',preachersandnarratorsofProphetictraditions.His

missionlasted35years.


18/65


Hiserawasabundantwithideologicalandphilosophicalcurrents.Divergentviewsonfiqh,

Qur'anicexegesisandscienceoftraditionsemerged.

ThaterawasthemostcriticalinthelifeofMuslims.Atheism,polytheism,andhyperbole

penetratedtheMuslimsociety,andnewideologicaltrends,withconflictingbeliefsanddoctrines

surfaced.Schools

of

fiqh

diversified

and

new

sciences,

including

logic,

philosophy,

linguistics,

in

additiontocomparison,appreciationandpersonaltastes,wereadoptedasbassfordeducingfiqh

decrees.Somejudgesandfuqaha'distortedtheirjudgementsanddecreessoastosuittherulers.

Distortedandfabricatedtraditionswerespread.

Thoughextremelyrestrictedandbeleaguered,ImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)didn'tgiveuphis

mission.ItwashistopprioritytocorrecttheIslamicmarchbyshowingtotheummahwhatwas

originalandwhatwasnonIslamic.Aidedbyhisdisciples,hefacedthenewideologicaltrends,

exactlyashis.

father,alSadiq(a.s.),andhisgrandfather,alBaqir(a.s.),haddonebefore,anddisplayedtheir

flaws,anddemonstratedthattheywereonlydistortedviewsoftheoriginalIslam.Asforfiqh,he

enricheditwithhisexplanations,statementsanddeductions.Bysodoing,theImam(a.s.)

solidifiedthepillarsofIslam,purifiedmethodologiesoffiqhandIslamiclaws.Hekepttheschool

ofAhlulBait(a.s.)original,andenrichedit.

Biographicalbooksandthoserelatedtotraditionsmaintainthatupwardto300menhadreported

fromImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.).ProudlyhistorycitesalistofImam'sstudentswhowere

distinguishedasgreatscholars,andprominentulama'.Mostofthemauthoredandcompiledrich,

andgreatbooksonthedifferentsciencesofIslam.

SheikhalToosiwrites,"Thefollowersofourschoolofthoughthaveagreedontheprobityand

trustworthinessofsixfuqaha',whoweretaughtandeducatedbyal KadhimandalRidha(a.s.).

Theywere:YunusbinAbdulRahman,SafwanbinYahya,Bayya'alSabiri,MuhammadbinAbi

Umayr,AbdullahbinalMughirah,alHassanbinMahboobalRadandAhmadbinMuhammadbin

AbiNasr."[34]

DistinguishedamonghisstudentswerealsoHishambinalHakam,thegreataliminthescienceof

monotheismandIslamicbeliefs,AlibinSuworyd,MuhammadbinSinan...etc.

FollowingareverybriefbiographiesoffourofImam'sstudentsandfollowers.Thesemightgiveus

anideaofhowgreatwastheimpactoftheschoolofImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)ontheummah.

AlibinSuwaydalSoo'i:


19/65


HetransmittedtraditionsfromImamalKadhim(a.s.)andImamalRidha(a.s.).Hecorresponded

withAbulHassanI,namelyImamalKadhim(a.s.)whenthelatterwasinprison.Judgingfromthe

letterstheImam(a.s.)senthim,hewasamanofgreatsocialposition,andwasawellknown

scholar.HeauthoredabookmentionedbyAhmadbinZaydalKhuza'i.[35]

Muhammadbin

Sinan:

MuhammadbinalHassanbinSinanwasknownbythenameofhisgrandfatherbecausehisfather

diedwhilehewasstillachild.Hisgrandfathertookcustodyofhim.HewasnicknamedAbuJa'far

andalZahiri,afterthenameofZahir,theservantofUmarbinalHumqalKhuza'i,awellknown

companionofbothImamAbulHassanalKadhim(a.s.)andImamAbulHassanalRidha(a.s.).He

authoredbooksmentionedby,amongothers,alHassanbinSham'oon,Muhammadbinal

Hussein,AhmadbinMuhammad,andMuhammadbinAlial Sayrafi.Anumberofreputedpeople

likeSafwanandalAbbasbinMa'roof,andAbdulRahmanbinalHajjaj[36],quotedhim.

MuhammadbinAbiUmayralAzdi:

HisfatherisZiyadbinIsa.HewasBaghdadibybirthandlivedinBaghdad.Inthesightofall

people,thecommonandthoseclosetotheImams,hewasoneofthemosttrustworthy,pious

anddevoutamongpeople."Hewasunique,amongallpeople,inallhisqualities,"wrotealJahidh.

"HewasaleadingShi'ite,"addsal Jahidh."UnderalRasheedhewasthrowninprison,soasto

forcehimtonametheShi'ites,andespeciallythefollowersofMusabinJa'far(a.s.).Hewasso

severelybeatenthathewasabouttoconfess,whenheheardMuhammadbinYunusbinAbdul

Rahmansayingtohim,'FearAllah,MuhammadbinUmay.'HebravelyenduredtortureuntilAllah

grantedhimfreedom."

AlKishshireportsthat,inthedaysofHaroon,Muhammadwasbeaten120timeswithathick

pieceofwood.AlSindibinShahikbeathimbecauseofbeingaShi'ite.Hewasimprisonedand

keptthereuntilhepaidatotalof21,000Dirhamsfromhisownmoney.

ItwasalsosaidthatalMa'moon,theAbbassidecaliph,kepthiminprisonuntilheacceptedthe

postofjudgeinaMuslimtown.AccordingtoSheikhalMufid,inhisbookalIkhtisas(abookof

traditions)hewasimprisoned17years.Hissisterburiedhisbooksforfouryears,duringwhich

periodthebooksdecayed.Itwasalsosaidthathehadkepttheminaroomwheretherain

destroyedthem.Sohedependedonhismemory,oronthetraditionsandnarrativeshehad

conveyedearliertopeople,whenhestartedonceagainorallynarratingthetraditionsorwriting

themdown.HelivedduringtheImamateofalKadhim(a.s.)[37]butdidnotquotehim,but

quotedbothalRidhaandalJawad(a.s.).Hediedin217A.H.[38]Historianssaythathewrote94

booksondifferentIslamicsciencesandarts.[39]


20/65


HishambinalHakam:

AbulHakamHishambinalHakamalBaghdadialKindiwastheservantofthefamilyofShayban.

Shi'iteagreeonhisprobityandgreatpositionintheeyesoftheImams(a.s.).Hehadlong

discussionswiththosewhodifferedwithhimonmanyaspectsofthefaith.Heassociatedwith

AbuAbdullah

Ja'far

al

Sadiq

(a.s.),

then

with

his

son

al

Kadhim

(a.s.),

then

with

al

Ridha

(a.s.),

untilhisdeathin179A.H.inthecityofKufa.[40]

Historiansmaintainthathewasamanofprofoundknowledge,particularlyintheareasof

philosophyofmonotheism,ImamateandIslamicbeliefs.Hewrote30books.[41]

TheseareonlyfourleadingscholarswepickedthemfromalistofstudentsofImamalKadhim's

school.SayyidIbinTawoossays,"ThecompanionsandclosefriendsoftheImamusedtoattend

hisassembly,carryingebonyboardsandsticksintheirsleeves.Theywouldwritedownanything

hesaid,oranyjudgementhegaveonanyaffair".[42]

B.SomeofImam'sStatementsonMonotheism:

Withoutanyphilosophizationorcomplication,Muslimstookplainlyandsimplymonotheismfrom

thepreacherofmonotheism,Muhammad(s.a.w.).TheygraspeditfromtheBookofAllahand

believedinit.Theyfullyunderstoodthisdoctrineandbelievedinprophethood,revelation,the

Hereafter,Paradise,Hell,attributesofAllah,theGlorified,andHisrelationwiththedeedsofHis

servants,theuniverse,sustenanceofHisservants,thingscloselyrelatedtomonotheism.But

throughthepassageoftime,philosophy,logic,anddialecticsinfiltratedIslamicbeliefs,andpeople

begantodifferonsuchthingsasthedivineattributes,thedeedsofpeople,theHereafterand

otherthingslinkedtocoreIslamicbeliefs.SomepeoplesaidthatAllah,likeanyofhiscreatures,

hadabody.OtherssaidAllahdescendedtoourskyonawhitedonkey.SomeMuslimsbelievedin

fatalismandfreechoice.Agroupofpeopledeniedthetortureofthegrave,whileanothergroup

deniedthatpeoplewouldberesurrectedbodilyontheJudgementDay.Somepeoplecalledfor

asceticismandthecuttingofone'stieswiththislife,ImamsofAhlulBait(a.s.),especiallyalBaqir,

alSadiq,alKadhimandalRidha(a.s.),withtheirstudentsstoodagainstallkindsofideological

deviations,andrefutedthemwithproofs,logic,andreasonedanswers.

WhensomepeopleclaimedthatAllah,theBlessedandExalted,descendedtothesky,hesaid,

"Allahneverdescends.HeneednotdescendHeisthesame,whethercloseorremote.Noremote

thingisfarfromHim,noraclosethingisnearHim.Heneedsnobodyandnothing,buteverybody

andeverythingareinneedofHim.HeistheGenerousandPowerfulThereisnogodbutHe,the

MightyandWise.

AsforthosedescriberswhosaythatHedescends,theBlessedandExaltedAllahisfarabovethis


21/65


description.ThosewhosaysobelievethatAllahisvulnerabletodecreaseorincrease.Any

movablethingneedssomeoutsideforcethatmovesisorservesasamediumforitsmovement.

DoomedishewhosefaithinAllahisshaken.BewaretoattributetoAllahqualitiesthatdepictHim

asdecreasingorincreasing,movingorbeingmoved,changingordescending,standingorsitting.

Allah,theAlmightyandPowerful,iscertainlybeyondthewordsofthedescribers,thedepictionof

depicters,and

the

fancy

of

the

fanciful"[43]

Somepeopleexplainedtheverse"TheBeneficentisestablishedontheThroneofPower."by

sayingthatAllahsitsonathronelikeachair.Hecorrectedtheirideawhenhesaid,"Themeaning

ofthis"TheBeneficentisestablishedontheThroneofPower"isthatAllahhaspoweroverall

things,tinyorhuge.[44]ThatmeansHehastruepoweroverthewholeuniverse.'Sitting'hereis

equal,initsmeaning,tothedescriptionofAllah,theExalted,asbeingPowerfulandenjoying

masteryoverallthings.Thoughnearandpresenteverywhere,Hedoesnotgofaraway,nor

diminish."

Oneofhiscontemporariesarguedwithhimabouttheexegesisofthisverse.Themansaid,'Isee

hereacomingoutoftheunseen,andadescensiontotheearth.IthinkMuhammad(s.a.w.)saw

hisLordwithhisheartbutitwasattributedtohiseyesight.Howcanthisbeexplained?'

'Hedrewnearandcamedown,'repliedtheImam(a.s.),'ButHedidnotleaveaplace,nordidHe

comedowninabody.'

'IdescribeHimbyHisowndescription,'saidtheman.'HedidnotcomedownfromHisplace

withoutleavingit.Ifthematterwasnotso,HewouldnotdescribeHimselfinthisway.'

'ThisisanexpressionusedbythetribeofQuraish,'saidtheImam(a.s.).'Whenamanfromthem

wantstosay'qadsam'it'Ihaveheard,hesays'qadtadallayt' Ihavecomedown.'Comingdown'

meansunderstandingintheQuraishidialect."[45]

InanotherstatementImamalKadhim(a.s.)explainstherelationbetweenAllah'swillandman's.

Heshowshowman'sbehaviourhasdeveloped,whetheritisgoodorbad.Heemphasizesthefact

thatmanisfree,andheenjoysthefullfreedomofchoice.Hecandosomethingandcanrefrain

fromdoingit.Allahneverabolishesman'swill.Butthisfreedomtoactonthepartofmandoesn't

meanthatAllahisunabletopreventHisservantsfromdoingevil,orthatHecan'tforcethemto

dogood.Allahsimplywantstotestmaninthislife,ImamalKadhim(a.s.)says:

"WhenAllahcreatedHiscreatures,Heknewwhattheirfateswouldbe.Heorderedthemtodo

certainthingsandforbadethemtodootherthings.IfHeorderedthemtodocertainthings,He

leftthemfreetodothemornot.TheycannotdosomethingorabstainfromdoingitwithoutHis

will.NeverdidAllahforceanyofHisservantstodisobeyHim.'HesimplytestsHisservantswith


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tribulations'."[46]

C.ImamStatesKeySourcesofIslamicThoughtandLegislation:

Herewehaveabrieflookatcertainideas,conceptandbasicstandardslaiddownbytheImamto

controlthe

foundations

of

fiqh,

deduction

of

Islamic

laws

from

Islamic

text,

and

thought.

They

werestatedandexplainedinaletterhewroteatthebehestoftheAbbassidcaliph,Haroonal

Rasheed."Iaskyou,bythenamesofyourfathers,tosummarizethediscussionwehavejusthad

innumbered,comprehensivewords,"askedHaroonalRashid."Yes,"agreedtheImam(a.s.).An

inkpotandpaperwerebroughttohim.Hewrotethefollowing:

"InthenameofAllah,theCompassionate,theMerciful.Allthatconcernreligionscanbesummed

upinfourcategories,concerningwhichthereisnodissent:Therearematterssoclearthatpeople

unanimouslyagreeontheirauthenticity,amongwhicharethereligioustextsandtraditions,the

authentic,agreeduponones,inthelightofwhichdoubtedmattersareexamined,andnew

judgementsareinferred.TherearemattersthatappeardoubtfulTheyaresettledbyaskingthe

knowledgeable,whoseekaproof,fromtheBookofAllah,onwhichallMuslimsasauthentic,or

syllogismreasonsacknowledgeitsfairness,andneitherscholarsnorthecommonpeopledoubtit.

Thesetwocategoriescoverallmatters,includingmonotheismandwhatislessgrave,andthe

compensationoneshouldmakeforaslightinjuryonecausestoothers,andwhatisgraver.So

thesearebasicstandardsaccordingtowhichreligiousmattersarescrutinized.Whatisprovedto

becorrectyoushouldaccept,andwhatremainsvagueanddoubtfulyoushouldputaside.Any

oneofthesethreeistheconclusiveproofwhichAllahemphasizesisHisaddresstoHisMessenger.

Suchconclusiveproofisunderstoodbytheignorant,inspiteoftheirignorance,andalsobythe

knowledgeable,byvirtueoftheirknowledge.ThatisbecauseAllahisJust,andnevertreatsHis

servantsunjustly.HeargueswithHisservantswithwhattheyknow.Hecallstowhattheyblow,

nottowhattheydonotblowordeny."[47]

TheImam(a.s.),bythesewords,statesthesourcesofthefaithandIslamiclaws,soastokeep

reason,thinking,andconductfromslippingintodeviation.HenamesspecificallytheNoble

Qur'an,theauthenticSunnah,andsyllogismbasedontheBookandSunnah.ImamalKadhim

(a.s.)definessyllogismasawaytokeepthinking,andreligiousinferencesawayfrom

methodologicalmistakes.Thatiswhyhecallstounifyourthinking,understanding,studyingand

judgementinference,inordertopreservetheoriginalityofthefaithononehand,andtoenrich

Islamicthoughtandlegislation,ontheotherhand.HedecidesthatweshouldmaketheQur'anic

concepts,acceptedbyMuslimswithoneinterpretation,andthereligiouslyauthenticSunnah,a

basisfordeducingideas,conceptsandjudgements.Healsomakessyllogism,whichisviewedas

fairbymatureintellects,amethodbywhichopinions,conceptsandjudgementsarededuced

fromthesetwosources.Thus,neithervariousinterpretationsofQur'anicconcepts,norevery

traditionandstatementhandeddownfromeachnarrator,northefairlookingsyllogism,that


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appearstotheresearchergood,canbejustifiablymadeabasisforthecomprehensionofthe

faith,ordeductionofthelawsandjudgements.

And,aswehavesaidbefore,theImam(a.s.)raisedagenerationoffuqaha',ulama',andtradition

transmittershebestowedonhiscompanions,studentsandfellowulama',religiousdecrees,

judgements,lessons,

arguments...etc.

HistoryconveyedtoussessionsinwhichtheImamhadarguedwiththeaccomplishedthinkers

andfuqaha'ofhistime,amongwhomAbuHanifah,andAbuYusuf,thesupremejudge,under

HaroonalRasheedandothers.TheyallacknowledgedthecorrectnessofImam'sjudgementsand

decrees.

ThechieffaqihofHanbalis,AhmadbinHanbal,confidentlyandrespectfullyconveyedcertain

thoughtsandconceptsfromhim.Thisfactisattestedtobyagroupofnarrators,authorsandmen

concernedwiththetraditions.AhmadbinHanbalisquotedassaying,"MusabinJa'farsaidtome,

ontheauthorityofAbu Ja'farbinMuhammad...ontheauthorityoftheProphet."Ahmadthen

added:"Thischainoftransmittersissoindisputablyauthenticthatifitisreadtoafool,hewould

certainlyrestorehisreason."[48]

D.Reason,itsScientificandBehavioural

ValueintheSightof,heImam:

ReasonenjoysgreatvalueandimportanceinIslam.ByitAllah,theExaltedandHigh,isknownand

Hisgreatnessisgrasped.Byitknowledgeandsciencesareacquired,andsolifeprogresses.Byit

mantakesthepathleadingtogood,anddifferentiatesbetweengoodandevil.Andfinallyby

virtueofreasonman'shumanityandvaluefindtheirsense.ThatiswhyIslamregardsreasonas

somethingunequallyprecious.Itrespectsreasonandthemenofsoundjudgements,andattaches

muchimportancetoknowledgeandtheknowledgeable.Itmakesthinkingobligatory,andurges

thegooduseofreasonandtheconquestofnewhorizonsofresearchandthinking.

WhenImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)describesreason,andexplainsitsvalueandimportance,hein

factconveystheviewoftheQur'anandstatesthestandpointofIslam.Thefollowingadvicegiven

bytheImamtoHishambinalHakam,oneofhisdisciples,isconsideredasoneofthemost

valuablestatementseversaidaboutreason,itspreciousnessandresponsibility.Herewequote

partsofthestatementoftheImam(a.s.):

TheImam(a.s.)said,"Allah,theBlessedandExalted,certainlygavethegoodnewstothe

possessorsofgoodreasonandunderstanding,inHisBook,bythesewords,"...sogivegoodnews

toMyservants,wholistentotheWord,thenfollowthebestofit.SucharetheywhomAllahhas


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guided,andsucharethemenofunderstanding."

"OHisham!Allah,theAlmightyandHigh,completedHisproofstopeoplewithreason,

communicatedtothemHismessagewithplaineloquence,andacquaintedthemwithHisLordship

bymeansofHisguides.

"OHisham!Thenheexplainedthatreasongoeswithsciencebysaying,"Andtheseparables,We

sentthemforthforpeople,andnoneunderstandthembutthelearned."

"OHisham!Allahsays,"AndcertainlyWegaveLuqmanwisdom,..."whichmeansunderstanding

andreason."OHisham!Luqmansaidtohisson,'Behumbletowardrightandyoushallbethe

sagestamongpeople.Thesagaciousaremodesttowardright.Mylittleson!Lifeisadeepsea,in

whichagreatnumberofpeopledrownedSomakefearofAllahyourshiponit.Andmakefaithits

contents,trustinAllahitssails,reasonitscaptain,knowledgeitsguide,andpatienceitsrudder.

"OHisham!Everythinghasaguide,andtheguideofthesagaciousiscontemplation.Andthe

guideofcontemplationissilence.Everythinghasamount,andthemountofthesagaciousis

modesty.Itiscertainlythepinnacleofignorancetodowhatyouareforbiddentodo.

"OHisham!Allahhascertainlytwoproofsbeforepeople:Arevealedproof,andahiddenone.As

fortherevealed,itistheMessengers,ProphetsandImams,andthehiddenisreason.

"OHisham!Whodestroyshisreason,heundoubtedlyspoilsbothhisfaithandlife.

"OHisham!PeoplewerecreatedtoserveAllah.Thereisnosalvationwithoutobedience.

Obedienceisthefruitofknowledge.Knowledgeisacquiredbylearning,andlearningisspurredby

thedesiretoknow.Thereisnoknowledgeequaltothatacquiredfromaspiritualscholar.The

learnedgainknowledgebyvirtueoftheirreason.

"OHisham!Asagaciousmanagreestobegiftedwithwisdomthoughhisshareoflife'sspoilsis

little.Buthecannotbesatisfiedwithalittleshareofwisdom,evenifprovidedwithluxuryinthis

life.

"OHisham!TheCommanderoftheFaithful,AlibinAbiTalib(a.s.)said,'Thereisnothingbetter

thanreasonwithwhichAllahisserved'

"OHisham!TheCommanderoftheFaithful(a.s.)said,'Nooneshouldleadanumberofpeople

withoutenjoyingthreequalities:Heshouldbeabletoprovideanswersforeveryquestionposed

tohim.Heshouldbeabletospeakplainlywhenotherpeoplefailtodoso.Andheshouldbeable

toofferthecounselwhichbenefitspeople.Heiscertainlyafoolwholacksthesethreequalities


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butseekstheleadership.'

"HassanbinAli(a.s.)said,'Whenyouareinneedofsomething,askitfromthoseabletograntit.'

'OsonoftheMessengerofAllah,,hewasasked,'andwhoarethese?''Theyarethosewhose

mentionwasmadebyAllahinHisBook,whenHesays,"...onlymenofunderstandingmind'which

meansthose

endowed

with

good

reason.'

"AlibinHussein(as.)said,'Sittingwiththerighteouspeopleleadsonetouprightness.Politeness

ofscholarsisacomplimentaddedtotheirsoundunderstanding.Obedienceofthelegitimate

rulersofjusticeisthepeakofpower.Investmentofone'smoneyistheepitomeofunselfishness.

EnlighteningadviceseekersisanactofgratitudeinreturnforAllah'sfavours.Abstentionfrom

harmingothersisasignofsagacity.Itisthesourceofthebody'srest,inthislife,andthenext

one.'

"OHisham!Asagaciousmandoesnottellsomethingtosomeonewhomhefearstogivethelieto

himonaccountofit.

Hewillnotaskthefavourofwhomhefearstorefuse,nordoeshepromisewhatheisnotableto

deliver,nordoeshehopetogetwhathewouldbescoldedonaccountofnordoesheadvance

voluntarilytodowhatheisunableto.TheCommanderoftheFaithful(a.s.)isreportedtohave

givenhiscompanionsthispieceofadvice,'IadviseyoutofearAllahinprivacyandinpublic,stick

tojusticeintimeofsatisfactionandanger,workispovertyandrichness,keepyourrelationswith

whoeverendshisrelationswithyou,forgivewhoeverwrongsyou,andtobekindtowhoever

deprivesyou.Letyourcontemplationbeforthesakeofdrawingusefullessons,yoursilencebe

thinking,yourwordsberemembranceofAllah,andyournaturegenerosity,fornomiseris

entitledtoenterParadise,andnophilanthropistisgoingtoenterHell'

"OHisham!ThebestwaystogainclosenesstoAllah,afterknowingHim,areprayer,kindnessof

one'sparents,andgivingupenvy,vanityandpride.

"OHisham!Isa(a.s.)saidtohisdisciples.'People,withregardtowisdom,fallintotwocategories;

thosewhomasteritinwordsandsuittheiractionstotheirwords.Andthosewhomasteritin

wordsbutmissitwiththeirmisdeeds.matagreatdifferenceistherebetweenthem!Blessedbe

thelearnedwiththeirgooddeeds,andwoetotheknowledgeablewhoonlytalk'

"Makeyourheartsabodesofpiety,butnevermakeyourheartsthedwellingofpleasures.Those

whoextremelygrieveintimeofadversityarethosewhoexcessivelylovethislife.Thosewho

patientlybeartribulationsarecertainlythosewhoarelessattachedtothislife.Itisnouseto

purifyyourskinsaslongasyourheartsareimpure.


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"Donotbelikeasievethatpassesthefineflourandretainsthebran.Hereyouarebringingout

wisdomfromyourmouths,whileyourchestsremainfullwithrancour.Oslavesofthisworld!

Youarelikeacandlewhichgiveslighttopeople,butbumsitself]OIsraelites!Payspecial

attentiontoattendlearnedmen'sassemblies,evenifyouhavenootherchoicebuttocrawlon

yourhands

and

knees,

for

Allah

certainly

revives

the

dead

hearts

in

exactly

the

same

way

He

revivesthedeadearthwithadownpour.'

"OHisham!matabadservantofAllahistheonewhoisdoublefaced,whopraiseshisbrother

whenheseeshim,andbackbiteshimduringhisabsence,theonewhoenvieshisbrotherwhenhe

acquiressomewealth,andfailshimwhenheisafflictedwithanadversity...Therewardofgood

deedsiscertainlyathand,andtheretributionforaninjusticeissurelyathand.Themostevil

servantsofAllaharecertainlythosewhomyoudetesttotalktoonaccountoftheirobscenity.

Whatcausespeopletoenterhellfacedownotherthantheproductoftheirtongues?Asignof

one'sgoodfaithisone'sleavinganythingthatdoesnotconcernone.

"OHisham!Bewareofpride,fornoonewhonurturesaniotaofprideinhisheartisentitledto

enterParadise.PrideisAllah'smantle,andwhoevertriestoshareitwithHim,Hethrowshiminto

hellfacedown..butwhosubmitstoAllah,Allahcertainlyraiseshimup.

"OHisham!Hewhodoesnotmakeareckoningwithhimselfattheendofeveryday,withthe

intentionofdoingmoregoodworks,ifhehasgotmanygooddeedsonthatday,andnotasking

Allah'sforgivenessandturningtoHiminrepentanceifhehasdoneevilthingsonthatday,is

certainlyoutofourfold(AhlulBait).

"MindtotakerefugeinAllah,putyourtrustinHim,andfightyourselftopreventitfromfollowing

itsownlowdesires..."[49]

ThisisabunchofrosespickedfromImam'sgardensofknowledge.Itgivesthearomaof

faithfulness,andbloomswiththebeautyofworshipandspirituality.Thesearethegardensof

prophethood,thefragranceoftheQur'an,andIslam'sbeautifulroses,growninImam'sserene

soul.

HowimportantisforustolearnfromtheImam(a.s.),andwalkinthelightofhisguidance,soas

nottostrayinthewrongdirectionorhaveablurredvision.WhattheImamsleftforusisinfacta

highlyvaluedintellectuallegacy,whichcontributestothemakingofman,andcorrecthismarch.It

isafortunethatcan'tbefoundanywhere.Weshouldmakegooduseoftheserich,educational,

andintellectualtreasures,byemployingtheminimprovingoursociallife,buildingourIslamic

cultureandraisingcommitted,faithfulmen.Nootherpeople,intheworldofIslam,havethe

privilegeof"designing"thecharacterofmanandlife,andplanningitsoutlinesandframe,beside


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theguidingImamsfromthehouseoftheProphet(s.a.w.),whowereuniqueintheircharacters.

Theyhadpureconscience,uprightconduct,soundreason,ripeawarenessoflife,deepspiritual

sense,andthegiftoftakingthewholeshari'ah,fromtheirgrandfather,theApostleofAllah

(s.a.w.),who,inturn,hadgottenitthroughJabra'il(a.s.),fromAllah.

Theseare

the

people

whom

the

faithful

should

follow,

in

the

light

of

their

guidance

the

reformers

andrighteousmenshouldwalk,andtotheirprinciplesthereligiousgoodmen,whoseekthe

shortestwaystoAllah'spleasure,shouldcling.

E.GuidelinesonEducation:

Followingareeducationalguidelinesandgeneralteachingsonsocialbehaviour,ethics,worship,

andmediation,quotedfromtheImamofMuslims,theguideofpeople,martyrMusabinJa'faral

Kadhim(a.s.).

Heisreportedtohavesaid,"ThatwhoknowsAllahwell,shouldnevermistrustAllahwithregard

toHissustenance,norshouldhethinkillofthewayHemanagesHisservants'lives."

Askedaboutcertitude,hesaid,"Itisputtingone'strustinAllah,submittingtoAllah,being

satisfiedwithAllah'sordinance,andcommendingoneselftoAllah."

Healsosaid,"HewhodiscussesthenatureofAllahisdoomed.Hewhoseeksleadershipis

doomed.Hewhothinksveryhighlyofhimselfisdoomed"

"Goodneighborlinessisnotrefrainingfrommischief.Itispatienceandtolerancetowards

mischief."

Oncehesaidtooneofhissons,"Mylittleson,takecarenottoletAllahseeyoucommittingasin

Heforbidsyoutodo.TakecarenottoletAllahmissyoudoingaritualofdevotionHeordersyou

todo.NeverthinkthatyouarenotremissinworshipandobediencetoAllah,forAllahisnever

servedasHeshouldbeserved.Bewareofjoking,foritremovesthelightofyourfaith,and

deprivesyouofsolemnity.Bewareofdisinterestandlaziness,astheyblockyoursuccessinthis

lifeandthehereafter."

HesaidtoZiyadbinAbiSalamah,pointingouttheattitudeoneshouldtaketowardsthe

oppressors,emphasizingthenecessitytoboycottthem,

"OZiyad,beingthrowndownfromahighplace,andcutintopieces,ismorepleasingtomethan

workingontheirbehalf,orsettingfootonamatofoneofthem."[50]


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"Ifoppressionwasprevailing,andrightwasshrinking,onehadnottothinkwellofanyoneelse

untilhehadknownonetoberighteous.""Workhardtodivideyourdayintofourtimes:Onefor

prayingtoAllah.Oneforbreadwinning.Oneforsittingwiththebrothersandtrustworthywho

knowyourfaultsandarefaithfultoyoufromthedepthsoftheirhearts.Andoneforyour

pleasures,withoutdoingtheforbidden.Itisthistimethathelpsyoutomanagetheotherthree

timesproperly."

Donotthinkofpovertyorlonglife,forwhoeverthinksofpovertyturnstomisery,andwhoever

thinksoflivinglongcovetsworldlyspoils.Letyourselvesenjoylifebymoderatelygettingwhat

halalyoudesire,whichdoesnotharmyoursolemnity.Fortifyyourselveswiththis,sothatyoucan

performyourreligiousduties.Itisreportedthathewhohasgivenuphisworldlylifeforthesake

ofhisfaith,orhisfaithforthesakeofhisworldlylife,iscertainlynotcountedasoneofour

followers."

"Hewhoispunishedunjustlyknowsfullwellwhatinjusticemeans."

"Acalamityisonetrialforthepatient.Butitisdoubledfortheimpatient."

"Conveywhatisgood.Saywhatisgood.Donotbeanaiveimitator."'Whatismeantbynaive

imitator?'askedI."Donotsay,"repliedtheImam(a.s.)"Iamwithpeople.AndIamoneof

them."[51]TheMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)isreportedtohavesaid,"Opeople!Thereareonlytwo

pathsaheadofyou',thepathofgoodness,andthepathofevil,donotletthepathofevilbemore

desirabletoyouthanthatofgoodness."[52]

WehavequotedthesestatementsandadvicefromtheImam(a.s.)withoutcommentingonthem.

Theyareselfexpressiveandclear.HowgreatisourneedtodaytostudythelivesoftheAhlulBait

Imams(a.s.),andexamine,unbiasedly,theirlegacy.Weneedtomakethemourexemplaries.

"ThesearetheywhomAllahguided,sofollowtheirguidance..."

HolyQur'an(6:91)

PoliticalandSocialConditionsDuringImam'sTime

ImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)wasbornintheclosingyearsoftheUmayyadrule.ImamalKadhim


29/65


(a.s.)wasn'tfiveyearsoldwhentheUmayyadswereoverthrown.Peoplewerehopingthat

politicalandsocialconditionswouldgetbetter.AhlulBait(a.s.)andtheoffspringofAbuTalib,in

general,borethebulkoftheUmayyadsterrorandoppression.TheUmayyadsshedthebloodof

AhlulBait(a.s.)andtheleadingmenfromthedescendantsofAlibinAbiTalibandFatimahal

Zahra'(a.s.)anddealtwiththeminthemostbrutalandsavageways.Themostbitterandpainful

tragedyfor

Ahlul

Bait

(a.s.)

was

the

massacre

of

Karbala'

which

was

perpetrated

by

the

Umayyad

dictatorYazidbinMu'awiyah,onthetenthofMuharram,61A.H,inwhichImamHusseinbinAli

binAbiTalib(a.s.),thegrandsonoftheProphet(s.a.w.),alongwithanumberofthemembersof

hisfamilyandfollowersweremartyred.

Thesecondheartrendingtragedytookplacein121A.H,inthemonthofSafar.ZaydbinAlibin

HusseinbinAlibinAbiTalibwasmartyredontheordersoftheUmayyadruler,HishambinAbdul

Malik.

AbulFarajalAsfahani,thefamoushistorian,mentioned33martyrsfromthedescendantsofAbu

Talib,whowereslaughteredatthehandsoftheUmayyadrulers.ThelistbeginswithImams

HassanandHussein(a.s.),thetwomasteryouthsofParadise,andthesonsofImamAli(a.s.)and

FatimahMu'awiyahbinAbiSufyan,thefirstUmayyadruler,wasthefirstmurdererofthesonsof

Abu Talib.ThevictimswerealldescendantsofImamAli(a.s.),Ja'farandAqeelbinAbiTalib,

ImamsHassanandHussein(a.s.)thetwosonsofImamAli(a.s.)andFatimahalZahra'(a.s.),the

MistressoftheWomenoftheWorld.Theywerealllookedatbythepeopleasmenofoutstanding

meritsandpiety.TheUmayyadscouldn'ttoleratethemandunjustlyandbrutallyslaughtered

them.Theyliquidatedthembecausetheywouldn'tyieldtooppressionandhatedtobe

humiliated,andforsuchconsiderationstheydeclaredwarontherulers,indefenceofIslam,

hopingtoimplementitsteachings.InhisbookMaqatilalTalib(MurdersoftheDescendantsof

AbuTalib),AbulFarajalAsfahanisaysthat33membersofthefamilyofAbu Talibwerekilledas

fromthedayAbulAbbasalSaffahseizedpoweruntilthedeathofImamMusaalKadhim(a.s.).

Thethreemostwellknownmartyrsamongthemwere:MuhammadbinAbdullahbinalHassan

(alNafsalZakyyah),whowaskilledin145A.H.,HusseinbinAlibinalHassan(MartyrofFakh),

whowaskilledonthe8thofDulHijjah,169A.H.atthehandsoftheAbbassidruler,MusaalHadi

binAbiJa'faralMansoor,nearthewellofFakhinthevicinityoftheholycityofMakkah,and

ImamMusabinJa'faralKhadhim(a.s.),thechiefandImamofAhlulBaitonthe25thofRajab,183

A.H,whowaskilledontheordersoftheAbbassidrulerHaroonalRasheed.Butthese33

victimizedShi'iteswereonlytheleadingmen,famousanddistinguishedamongthedescendants

ofAbuTalib.Asfortheactualnumberofthevictims,itisbelieved,basedonhistoricalaccounts,

thatthenumberisatleastmanytimeslarger.

ImamalKadhim(a.s.)livedinthemostcriticalandcrucialtimeinthelifeofAhlul Bait(a.s.).

TheAbbassidshunteddownthedescendantsofImamAlibinAbiTalib(a.s.)andtheirfollowers,


30/65


prosecutingthemineverypartoftheIslamicstate.Menrecruitedforthispurposeweretreated

lavishly.TheirjobwasuprootingtheAlawites,gettingridoftheirleadersbecauseoftheirfearof

thehostileactivitiesoftheAlawitesandthelovethecommonpeopleheldforthem.

Inthiseventfulperiodoftimerevolutionserupted,followedbyarrestsandsingleormass

murdersof

the

descendants

of

Imam

Ali

bin

Abi

Talib

(a.s.)

and

their

followers.

It

was

adark

age,

menwerecaughtandsentencedtodeathontheslightestsuspicion.TheAbbassidsmonopolized

powerandthoughtlittleofpeoples'dignity.Eventually,imprisonment,beatingandkillingbecame

commonpractices.TheIslamicstatewasturnedintoanempiregovernedbyahereditary

dictatorshipinwhichtheIslamicstatewasdividedintofieldoms.Governorsruled,abusingpower,

andactingaccordingtotheirownwishesaslongastheyremainedloyaltothecentral

governmentandtheAbbassidcaliph.

Therulerssoughtmenofthiscaliberwhowouldremainfaithfultothem.TheAbbassidswerenot

concernedwithestablishingjustice,implementingIslamiclawsandintroducingreforms.Theyonly

thoughtoftheirthronesandlusts.Theybusiedthemselveslayingplanstoeliminatetheir

Entertainment,singingandbaseartspermeatedtheMuslimSociety.Thepalacesofcaliphs,

princes,governors,ministersandtheirentouragewerefilledwithmaidensandmusical

instrumentsanddancers,andpoetswhosemainwerecollectingmoney.

Therulersbeganeagerlytobuymaidens,[53]jewels,perfumes,clothes,toolsofentertainment,

pleasureandluxury.

Theypilferedmillionsandsquanderedthewealthoftheummahwhichtheymilkedfromtheveins

oftheoppressed,thehunted,theprisonersorthosesentencedtodeathInspiteofthis

oppression,science,literatureandculturebloomed.Knowledgeingeneral,literaryworks,arts

anddiscoveriesprosperedandnewschoolsinphilosophyandfiqhsurfaced.Suchtrendshadboth

positiveandnegativeeffectsonthelifeofMuslims.Theydeepeneddivisionanddissension

amongMuslims.Theysplitintonumerousideologicalschoolsthatledtothegrowingofdistrust,

disbelief,anddistortionsinthebeliefsofMuslims.Positively,suchnewtrendscontributedtothe

developmentofIslamicwayofthinking,enrichmentoftheIslamicmentalityandpushingit

towardnewhorizonsofinnovationandadvancement.Islamicstudiesexpandedtonewareasand

realms.

ImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)followedinthefootstepsofhisfather,alSadiq(a.s.).Heplayedakey

roleinstandingagainstdecadenceinpolitics,moralsandtheIslamicwayoflife,broughtaboutor

helpedbytheAbbassidrule.Eveninprison,ImamalKadhim(a.s.)didn'tgiveuphisresponsibility

towardsthefaithandthefaithful.Somescholars,andmanyofhisfollowersandstudents,kept

contactwithhimsecretly,askinghimaboutanyaspectofIslamicthoughtandbeliefs.Hehadhis

meansofwritingbacktothemansweringtotheirquestions.


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DuetotheharshconditionsImamalKadhim(a.s.)wentthrough,duringhisImamate,researchers

findthatthepercentageoftraditionsandstatementsonthevariousbranchesofknowledge

handeddownfromhimislesscomparedtothoseofImamalSadiq(a.s.),andImamMuhammad

alBaqir(a.s.),hisgrandfather.

IfhisfatherandgrandfatherweremostlybusyexplainingtheknowledgeofAhlul Bait(a.s.)and

outliningtheirschoolofthoughtanditsmethodologyconcerningfiqh,Islamicbeliefs,Qur'anic

exegesis,politics,morals,etc.,whichtheytookfromtheirforefatherImamalSajjad(a.s.),who

tookitfromhisfatherImamalHussein(a.s.),whotookitfromhisfatherImamAlibinAbiTalib

(a.s.),whotookitfromtheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.);ImamalKadhim's(a.s.)rolewasmanifestin

hispoliticalmilitancy.Hepeacefullychallengedtherulers,and,asaresult,wasthrowninto

prison.Heactedwiselyaccordingtotheconditionsofhistime.

Itisonlynaturalthatthe"official"historians,whoadheredtotherulersoutoffearoftheirpower,

wouldendearthemselvestothem,falsifyingthetruth,lavishingthequalitiesofgreatness,

sacrednessandidealismonthesetyrants.Theytriedhardtodrownthevoiceofrightandavoid

thementionofrejectionandoppositiontotheoppressors.Theywoulddepictthepolitical

opponentsintheirwritings,assubversives,mutineesandoutlaws.Muchhavewereadaboutthe

Abbassiderabeingdescribedas"thegoldenage".Itiscorrectthatsciencesandknowledge,in

general,advancedclearly,thankstothehardworkofthescholars,menofletters,intellectuals,

fuqaha',philosophers,andresearchers,butthedynastyoftheAbbassidsonlyspreadterrorand

savageness.

AhlulBait(a.s.),andthereformers,fuqaha'andscholarswerethevictims,whilethemaidens,

singers,entertainers,opportunists,royalpoets,judges,governors,thewelloffandtheirlikes,

baskedinthewealthoftheummah.

Thetruevalueofthecivilizationcanonlybejudgedthroughitshumanside,itseffortstoestablish

justice,andthecourseittread,notthroughthematerialsidewhichonlyrepresentsthetoolof

therulerstoplunderandexpandtheirpower.

Duringthatterribleera(148183A.H.)ImamalKadhim(a.s.)tookontheresponsibilityof

Imamate.

FollowingisabrieflookatthedevelopmentofeventswhichweretothedisadvantageofAhlul

Bait(a.s.),duringthatcriticalera.

A.TheImam(a.s.)andAbuJafaralMansoor:


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UndertheruleofAbuJa'faralMansoor,Alawitessufferedbeyonddescription.Theywere

terrorizedinthemostheartbreakingway.AsthepicturewascrystalclearforImamalKadhim

(a.s.),heknewinadvancethatarmedstrugglewouldyieldnothing,heavoidedmakinghisreal

attitudepublic,preferringtokeephisoppositiontoAbuJa'faralMansoorsecret.Theyearsofal

Mansoordraggedon,heavyandbitter,forImamalKadhim(a.s.),andthesonsofAbuTalibin

particular,and

the

opposition

of

the

broad

sections

of

the

ummah

in

general.

Abu

Ja'far

al

MansoorconfiscatedthepropertyoftheAlawites,threwthembehindbars,andhuntedthem

down.Hesubjectedthemtounspeakabletorture,innovatednewwaysofkillingthem,andshed

theirbloodruthlessly.Heputtheminhalfbuiltpillarsandcompletedthebuildingleavingthem

theretodie.Healsowithheldfoodandwaterfromtheprisonerstoletthemdiefromstarvation

inthedepthsofhisdarkhorriblecells.Healsousedtoweighthemdownwithshacklesandchains

ofwhichtheyslowlydied.ThetermofImamalKadhim's(a.s.)Imamate,underal Mansoor'srule,

lastedtenyears.HistoriansagreethatalMansoordidn'timprisonImamalKadhim(a.s.),butthey

saidthathewasundersurveillanceassigningafewmentospyonhim.

WhenalMansoordiedonthethirdofThilHijjah158A.H.,hisson,MuhammadalMahdi,took

over.

B.TheImam(a.s.)andMuhammadalMahdi:

TheyearsofAbuJa'faralMansoor,themiserandmurderer,whoplunderedpeople'swealth,

shedblood,stifledfreedomandthrottledpeople,finallycametoaclose.Peoplereceivedthe

newsofhisdeathwithreliefanddelight,fortheyfeltthechainsbrokenwhichboundthem.

However,thefear,gloomandgeneralmistrustintheAbbassidpolicyremained.Inaccordance

withhereditaryruleadoptedbytheAbbassids,MuhammadalMahdisucceededhisfatherand

ascendedtothecaliphate.AlMahdisensedthebrutalityofthepolicyhisfatherhadtakenand

triedtosoothepeople'spainsatthebeginningofhiscaliphate.Hereleasedprisonersandgave

backconfiscatedproperty.ThisdecisionappliedalsotothedescendantsofAbuTalib.[54]The

propertyofImamJa'farbinMuhammadalSadiq(a.s.),takenbytheAbbassidauthorities,was

turnedbacktohisson,ImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.).

Thatperiod,extendingfrom3ThulHijjah158A.H.to22Muharram169[55]wasabreathingspace

fortheImamandthedescendantsofAbuTalib.ButfearofthestrongpersonalityofImamMusa

binJa'far(a.s.)waseatingawayatalMahdi'sheart.Hesawhowthemassesralliedaroundthe

descendantsofAbuTalib,andhewasworriedthattherewouldbeanuprisingagainsthisrule.His

enmityforAhlulBait(a.s.)increased.Asaresult,heorderedhisgovernorinMadinahtoaskImam

alKadhim(a.s.)totraveltoBaghdadtostandtrialandmaybefaceaprisonsentence.The

governorinstantlydidalMahdi'sbidding.ImamalKadhim(a.s.)didn'tresist.Hesetoutonalong

journey,acrossextendeddeserts,toBaghdad.Ashestartedhistrip,theheartsoftheShi'itesand

hisfollowershoveredoverhiscaravan,frightenedandtroubled.ButImamMusaalKadhim(a.s.)


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wassurethatalMahdiwouldn'tdohimanyharm.Heassuredhiscloseassociatesand

companionsofthis.

AssoonasImamKadhim(a.s.)arrivedinBaghdad,alMahdiorderedhisguardtoarresthimand

throwhiminprison.ButAllahwouldn'tforgethisdevotedservant.Heguardedhisservantagainst

anyevil.

Astrangethinghappenedafterwards.AlMahdi,inadream,sawtheCommanderoftheFaithful

(a.s.),threateninghimandsaying"OMuhammad,'Butifyouturnaway,youaresuretomake

mischiefinthelandandcutoffthetiesofkinship."AlMahdiawoke,seizedwithgreatpanic.He

sentforalRabi',hisvizier,andorderedhimtosetImamKadhim(a.s.)free.

ImamKadhim(a.s.),releasedfromprison,returnedtothecityofhisgrandfather,theApostleof

Allah(s.a.w.),andresumedhisreligious,educationalandculturalmission.

C.TheImam(a.s.)andMusaalHadi:

AlHadi'srulewasoneofthemostdifficultperiodsforthedescendantsofAbu Talib.Headopted

thepolicyofhatredtowardtheAlawites,thedescendantsofAlibinAbiTalib,andthesonsof

AbuTalibingeneral.Hepersecutedandharassedthem.TheAlawites,whocouldenduresuch

savagenessnomore,revoltedagainsthimundertheleadershipofalHusseinbinAlinearaplace

calledFakhin169A.H.ThatwasduringtheImamateofImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.).

ThatrevoltreflectedthespiritofthestrugglebetweenAhlulBait(a.s.)andtheirfollowers,and

thecorruptAbbassidrulers.BecausetherevolttookplaceinthetimeofImamalKadhim(a.s.),

andbecauseofitshistoricalimportance,anditssignificanceasabeaconforthemilitants,we

provide,inthefollowingpages,anearlydetailedaccountofit

1."Fakh":StarintheSkyofHistory:

IntheSkyofIslamichistory,places,eventsandpersonalitiesshone.Fromtheheartoftheummah

anditsarteriestoomuchpurebloodflowedandirrigatedthesaplingoffaith.Withglitteringtitles

andshiningletters,thisbloodwrotetheepicsofgloryandjihad.ThelandofFakhisoneofthose

neverforgottenplaces.Soistheleaderoftheuprising,alHusseinbinAlibinalHassanbinal

HassanbinAlibinAbiTalib,andhisdevotedfollowers.FakhwasperpetuatedthesamewayBadr,

Karbala'andtheirlikeswereimmortalized.

ThegreattragedyofFakhisactuallyarepetitionofKarbala',andanechoofthegreatmartyr

ImamHussein(a.s.).


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IfyoureadtheprosecutionofZainabtothepeopleofKufa,andlistentohercomplaintand

lamentation,youwillhavenodoubtsthatKarbala'wasrepeatedatFakh.Thedisasterthathad

befallenAhlulBait(a.s.)atKarbala'wasrecountedonthepuredustofFakh.Zainab,thedaughter

ofImamAlibinAbiTalib(a.s.),andherholinessFatimah(a.s.),hadonlyjustaddressedthepeople

ofKufahaftershehadwitnessedthetragedyandsurveyedthebattlefieldexaminingthebodies

ofher

slaughtered

family

with

these

words,

"Woetoyou!DoyouknowhowyoutoretheliveroftheApostleofAllah?Whomofhiswomen

folkyouexposed?Whatbloodofhisyoushed?Whathonourofhisyoudefamed?"

Historyrepeateditself.YearsafterthetragedyofKarbala',Zainab,thedaughterofAbdullahbin

alHassanbinalHassanbinAlibinAbiTalib,themotherofal HusseinbinAli,theleaderofthe

uprisingofFakh,livedthesametragedy,andsufferedthesameanguish.Thiswomanmourned

herfather,brother,husband,hercousinsandtheirsonswhowereputtotheswordbyAbuJa'far

alMansoor,andworeonlycalloushairygarments,asasignofherdeepgriefovertheirdeath.

Thisdevoutwomanusedtolamentthem,cryinguntilshefainted.Shewouldn'trevileAbuJa'far

alMansoor,lestsheshouldfindconsolationinsomethingdispleasing.Shewouldsay,"OYouwho

createdtheskiesandtheearth,OYouWhoknowstheunseenandthevisible,Whojudges

betweenHisservants,judgebetweenusandourpeoplefairly,andYouarethebestamongthose

whojudge."[56]

"ZainabusedtopranceaboutwithalHussein,whowasstillalittleboy,andalHassan,his

brother,chanting:

"Youknow,OthesonofZainabandHind,howmanymenyouhaveinthedesertreadyforbattle.

Howmanytruthful,honourablematernalunclesyouhave,howmanygreatgrandfathersyou

have."[57]

Timehadcomeforherson,alHussein,therevolutionaryAlawitetofollowinthefootstepsof

ImamHussein(a.s.),hoistthebannerofjihadandmartyrdom,shedhispureblood,andleavethe

ApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)togrieveoverhim,ashehaddoneoverthemartyrsofKarbala'.Both

tragedies,FakhandKarbala',movedtheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)andthemembersofhisfamilyto

tears.Hetalkedabouttheminadvanceandcriedbitterlyforthetribulationshisfamilywould

face.

ShaikhAbulHassanAlibinMuhammadalMawardialShafi'i,inhisbook,A'lamalNubuwwah

(SignsofProphethood),p.83,theeditionpublishedinEgypt,says:

"OfhisforewarningsisthatwhichwasreportedbyUrwah,ontheauthorityofA'ishah(awifeof

theProphet).Urwahsaid,'HusseinbinAli(a.s.)wenttoseetheMessengerofAllahofthetime


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whenhewasreceivingrevelationsfromhisLord.HusseinmountedthebackoftheProphet

(s.a.w.)whowasprostrate.Husseinplayedthere.'OMuhammad,'calledGabrial,'yourummah

wouldcertainlysufferfromdissensionafteryourdeath.Thissonofyourswouldcertainlybekilled

afteryou.'Gabrialstretchedouthishandandbroughtahandfulofwhitedust,andsaid,'Onthis

landyoursonwillbeslaughtered.Itiscalledal Taff'"AfterGabrialhadgone,theApostleofAllah

(s.a.w.)came

out

to

meet

his

followers,

including

Abu

Bakr,

Umar,

Ali,

Hudaifah,

Ammar

and

Abu

Thar.TheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)wascrying.'Whatmakesyoucry,OMessengerofAllah?'asked

hisfollowers,towhichquestionhereplied,'Gabrialhasjusttoldmethatmyson,Hussein,willbe

killedaftermydeathinthelandofal TaffHehasbroughttomethisdustandsaidthatitwas

takenfromthespotwherehewouldbemurdered"[58]

InadditiontothetragedyofKarbala',theMessengerofAllah(s.a.w.)hadtoldhiscompanions

aboutthebattleofFakh.AbuJa'farMuhammadalBaqirbinAli(a.s.)isreportedtohavesaid

throughachainoftransmitters,that,"theProphet(s.a.w.)oncepassedbyFakh.Hedismounted

andofferedtworuk'ahprayer.Inthesecondruk'ahhiseyeswelledwithtears.Whenpeoplesaw

theProphet(s.a.w.)cryingtheycriedWhentheyleftthatplaceheaskedthem,matmadeyou

cry.?''Whenwesawyoucrying,wealsocried,OApostleofAllah,,saidthepeople.'Attheendof

thefirstruk'ah,Gabrialdescended,'repliedtheProphet(s.a.w.),'andsaid:'OMuhammad,aman

fromyourdescendentswillbemurderedinthisplace.Thedivinerewardforeveryonewhowould

bemartyredwithhimshallbetwofold."[59]

ImamJa'farbinMuhammadalSadiq(a.s.)stopped,ononeofhisjourneysfromMadinahto

Makkah,atFakh.Thereheofferedaprayer."MayIbeyourransom,"askedalNadhrbinArwash,

theownerofthecamelsrentedforthejourney,"Ihaveseenyoudosomething.Isitoneofthe

ritesofhajj?"

"No,"saidtheImam(a.s.),"butamanfrommyhouseholdwillbekilledrighthere,fightingalong

sideabunchofmenwhosesoulswillflyaheadoftheirbodiestowardsParadise."[60]

ZaydbinAlibinalHusseinisreportedtohavesaidthattheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)had

performedprayeratFakhandsaid,"Righthere,amanfrommyownfamilywillbekilledalong

withagroupofdevoutmen.Theirshroudsandperfume(whichisrituallyappliedtothedead)

shallbebroughttothemfromParadise.TheirsoulswilloutruntheirbodiestoParadise."[61]

IftheApostleofAllah(s.a.w.)andAhlulBait(a.s.),whodidn'twitnessthemassacre,weregreatly

shockedatthehorrendousnews,ImamMusabinJa'faral Kadhim(a.s.),theImamofMuslims

andthechiefofAhlulBait(a.s.)ofthetime,musthavebeenmovedbeyonddescriptionbythe

tragedyasitunfoldedinfrontofhim.Thattragedyhadaheavyimpactonhislifeandmission.

ThatisbecausethedayofFakhwasaterriblysaddeningmemoryinthehistoryofAhlulBait(a.s.).

ImamMuhammadalJawad(a.s.),thegrandsonofImamalKadhim(a.s.),wasquotedassaying,


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37/65


longerendurethebrutalitiesdonetoAhlulBait(a.s.).WhenImamMusabinJa'far(a.s.)sawthat

alHusseinbinAliwouldn'tyield,andthathisdecisiontorevoltwasfinal,heexpressedhisgrief

overalHussein'sinevitablefate,andtookfarewellofhim,sayingthesewordswhichsignalhis

convictionthathewouldseealHusseinnomore:

"Youwill

surely

be

killed

So

strike

hard

in

the

battle,

for

those

people

are

irreligious.

They

pretend

tobefaithful,buttheyhidetheirhypocrisyanddisbeliefWearefromAllahandtoHimweshall

return.IseekAllah'srewardbyyourloss,Ogoodpeople."[63]

Historianswroteaboutthisheroicuprising,analyzingitsterribleandtragicoutcome.AbulFarajal

Isfahanisays:

"ThereasonwhyalHusseinbinAlibinalHassanbinalHassanbinalHassanbinAlibinAbiTalib

revoltedwasthatMusaalHadiappointedIshaqbinIsabinAliasthegovernorofMadinah.Ishaq

putamancalledAbulAzizbinAbdullahal Umari[64]inhisplace.AlUmarihatedthehouseof

AbuTalib.Heoffendedthemandwenttoexcessivelengthsinmaltreatingthem.Heorderedthem

toreporttohimeverydayatthereceptionhallofhispalace.Eachoneofthemstoodsuretyfor

hiscompanionorrelative.AlHasanbinMuhammadbinAbdullahbinalHassanwasguaranteed

bybothalHusseinbinAliandYahyabinAbdullahbinalHassan.

AlHusseinbinMuhammadarrivedinthefirstdaysofhajj.AboutseventymenfromtheShi'ites

alsocamewithhim.TheyallstayedatthehouseofIbnAflahatalBaqi'.There,theymetal

Hussein,amongmanyothers.AlUmariheardofthatandheflewintoafury.Beforethat,alUmari

hadarrestedalHassanbinMuhammadbinAbdullah,IbnJundubalHuthali,thepoet,andaslave

ofUmarbinalKhattab[65]whiletheywerepresentatameeting.Heclaimedpublicallythatthey

werecaughtdrinkingwine.HeorderedalHassantobegiven80lashes,IbnJundub15,andthe

slaveofUmarbinalKhattabseven.Thenheorderedthemtobedisplayedthroughoutthecity,

withbarebacks,sothattheywouldbedisgraced..."[66]

Finally,hebackedoffalthoughheonceagainbegantopersecutethedescendantsofAbuTalib.

AbuBakrbinIsaalHa'ik,whomheappointedinchargeoftheiraffairs,maltreatedthem.One

FridayhelockedtheminthemosquetillthetimeoftheFridayprayerentered.Hethenallowed

themonlytodotheirablution(wudoo').Havingfinishedtheprayer,hethrewtheminthe

receptionhall.Intheafternoonhecheckedthem,lookingforalHassanbinMuhammadwhohad

notpresentedhimselfforthreesuccessivedaystoAbuBakrbinIsa.Notfindinghimamongthe

detaine

imam_al kadhim

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