The
Infallible Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was the 6th Gem of the
“Golden Chain” “Silsila az-Zahabiyyah”. He was born in Madinah on 17th Rabi
al-Awwal 83 A.H. He used to visit the grand school of his father Imam Muhammad
al-Baqir a.s.). At the age of 11 years, he surprised the students by
saying, “The earth was not flat, because the way sun rises in the East and sets
in the West and day and night changes in 24 hours, it cannot be possible!”
Bani
Umayyad’s evil kingdom came to an end and Abbasids raised slogan, “Right to
rule is for the family of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)” but once they came to
power, they were the worst enemy of the “Ahlul Bayt” Like Banu Umayyads, Banu
Abbas also felt guilty that worldly power belonged to the Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.)’s Progeny. Hence, they tried every dirty trick to harass the
Infallible Imams, who possessed every virtue and remained patient to their
excesses.
Once, a
pilgrim who was visiting the Prophet’s Mosque fell asleep. On waking up, he
searched for his purse containing money but could not find it. There was only
Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq in the mosque praying in one corner. He accused the Imam (a.s.)
of having picked up the purse. He (a.s.) took the man to his house and paid him
the amount he was missing. On return in the Mosque, the man searched his
belongings thoroughly and found his missing money. He was ashamed of himself
and wanted to return Imam’s money, but the Imam refused to take back as Ahlul
Bayt only grants but never take it back.
His
(a.s.) profound knowledge was famed across the Muslim world. Students came from
distant places to quench their thirst of knowledge from the Imam (a.s.) who was
the “Inheritor of the Gateway of Knowledge”. The number of students exceeded
four thousand in his school in Madinah, which included Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam
Malik bin Anas, Ja’bir bin Haiyan etc. He used to teach mathematics, chemistry,
medicine, astrology among other prevalent faculties. Influenced by his mentor, the
Imam (a.s.), Jabir wrote about 400 treatises on the above subjects.
Imam
Abu Hanifa remarked his disagreements with his teacher Imam Sadiq (a.s.) on
three questions.
1. The Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said,
“Good is from God and evil is from the man’s own deeds” whereas I say that man
has no choice; good and evil both come from God.
2. The Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said,
“In the Final Judgement, the devil will burn in the Fire” whereas I say that
fire cannot burn devil as the same material cannot injure itself (devil was
made from fire)
3. The Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said,
“It is impossible to see God in this world or in the next world” whereas I say
that anyone who has an existence may be seen, if not in this world then in the
next world.
Shaikh
Behlul, who was one of the companions of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) but pretended to be
insane, picked up a clod of earth and threw at the head of Imam Abu Hanifa
shouting at him saying, “All of your three points are refuted”. Imam Abu Hanifa
complained of pain in his head, to the caliph who summoned Behlul and asked,
“Why did you throw the clod of earth at Abu Hanifa? He replied, “I did not
throw it” Abu Hanifa protested and said, “You did throw it.” Behlul replied,
“You yourself have said that good and evil is from God and that man has no
choice, so why you are blaming me? And you have also said that same material
will not injure itself. The devil is made from fire and fire of Hell will not
hurt him. Accordingly, you are made from earth, how the clod of earth could
hurt you? You have also claimed that you cannot see God to prove His existence.
Show me the pain you are complaining about that exists in your head. “Imam Abu
Hanifa had no answer to that, and the complaint was dismissed. In the end he
agreed with the sayings of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.)
Imam
as-Sadiq (a.s.) quoted the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) that the prayers of the
following were unacceptable:
· Persons, who
wish ill for their parents.
· Persons who
lend money without any witness or written pledge.
· Persons who
sit idle at home and pray for sustenance.
· Persons who
are granted abundant wealth, waste it through abundant generosity.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Our intercession will not be available to
those who ignore the importance of Salaat.”
Source:
Story of the Holy Ka’ba and its people by S.M.R. Shabbar
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