His name was Muhammad ibne Ahmed and was born in Ardbel,
in Azerbaijan, at that time a province of Iran. He authored many books. Two of his books were very famous; one
was “Zabdat al Bayan” that deals with all the Ayahs of the Glorious Qur’an
dealing with “Fiqh”, the other book was “Hadiqat al- Nadiya” on the lives of
the Fourteen Infallibles. Among his disciples were so many Muj’tahids that
beside Shaikh Tusi, none had this many disciples. Among his disciples was the
author of “Mu-Aaalim”, the son of Shaheed-e-Saani. This book is on Fiqh and is
being taught in the curriculum of Shia Seminaries all over the world.
Throughout his
life, he did not do any permissible (Mubah) act. He performed only mandatory
(Wajib) and optional (Mustahab) acts! He met Imam Zamana several times, unlike
our eminent ulema who meet the Imam only once or two times! Muqaddas Ardabili was
acknowledged as a Marja of his time when his contemporaries were Mir Baqar Damad and Shaikh Baha’i. His great achievement
was that he put new life into the Seminary of Najaf-e-Ashraf which was founded
by Shaikh Tusi and is producing thousands of Mujtahids for the last one
thousand years. It is reported that his
piety was like the manners of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.s.), the valor of
the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.), and the magnanimity of Hatim
Ta’i.
His scholastic
achievement may be gauged by a dream he had and narrated by himself: “I saw in
the dream that the Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and Prophet Musa were sitting.
Prophet Musa asked the Messenger pointing towards me: Who is this person?” The
Messenger replied: “He is one of the scholars from my Ummat” Prophet Musa asked
me: “Tell me what is your name ?” I replied: “My name is Muhammad ibne Ahmed and
I am from a place called Ardbil. These days I am residing in Najaf-e-Ashraf.”
Hazrat Musa said: “I have just asked your name. Why did you give such a lengthy
introduction?” I replied: “In Surah al-Ta’Ha when you went in search of fire
and you heard a voice’ O Musa! I am your God. What is in your hand? You
replied’ in my right hand is my staff. I take its support while I sit on the
ground. With it I herd my sheep and there are several other uses of this
staff of mine.” Prophet Musa replied: “It was my first experience of conversing
with Allah. I wanted to prolong my conversation.” I replied: “O Allah’s
Prophet! I am conversing with you for the first time and wanted to prolong my
conversation with you.” Prophet Musa turned to the Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.s.) and said: “You had rightly said that the Ulema in your Ummat are
like the prophets of Bani Isra’il.”
Safavid Dynasty was ruling over Iran and Shah Abbas was
the king at that time. One time he was furiously angry with one of his ministers. The minister approached Muqaddas Ardabili and
requested for his help. Muqaddas Ardbili
wrote a letter to Shah Abbas starting with the words: “To Shah Abbas, the
founder of a temporary realm: This person was an oppressor but is now the
oppressed! You must now pardon and forgive him and Allah might forgive you!”
Shah Abbas was a very big king like King Akbar of India. When the king Shah
Abbas learned that a letter had arrived from Muqaddas Ardabili, he stood up,
took the letter in his hands with great respect, touched it to his eyes, opened
it and read it and immediately ordered to comply with the orders of Muqaddas
Ardabili and requested him to remember the king in his prayers!
Muqaddas Ardabili
had a great status in view of Allah (s.w.t.). In those days there were no
proper arrangements for the supply of water. People would draw water from the
wells. It was late night and Muqaddas Ardabili was drawing water from the well
for night prayer (Namaz-e-Shab) at the Mausoleum of Imam Ali (a.s.). He put the
bucket tied to a rope in the well. When he drew it out, it came out full of
precious stones and not water. He turned back the precious stones in the well,
put the rope and bucket in the well, drew them back and again he found that
only precious stones came out. His eyes watered. He said, “O Allah! I want
water for my ablution and not any riches!” He put the bucket in the well a
third time and he got pure water from the well!
During the famine,
he would cut small pieces from his expensive turban, distribute it to the poor,
and the rich people will buy it as tabarruk. In this way, the poor were supported by
him. Once, when he distributed the food material to the poor, his wife was
upset. He went straight to Masjid-e-Kufa and did “E’tikaf” for 3 days. When he
returned home his wife told him that she had received bags of quality flour
sent by him! He knew who had sent the flour. He immediately performed prayer of thanks.
He died in the year 993 A.H. and was laid to rest on the
left corner of Imam Ali (a.s.) Mausoleum in Najaf-e-Ashraf.
Please also read “Meetings with Imam Mahdi during Great
Occultation”
Condensed from Islamic-Laws.com
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