4. Imam ah
The imamah - as it is defined - is the general leadership in matters of the religion and the affairs of the world for an individual in lieu of the prophet peace be upon him and his pure progeny. It is mandatory from the rational view point,
for it, the imamah, is a grace. And we know with certainty that if the people have a guiding leader who is obeyed and who applies justice to defend the victim against the offender and discourages the offender from his offence and aggression, those people are closer to righteousness and happiness, and most distant from corruption and misfortune.
The discussion of imamah follows from that of prophethood and its details, for it is a continuation to prophethood and an extension to it, and it is mandatory in it everything that is mandatory in prophethood such as infallibility [‘esmah], purity [taharah] and such matters as his appointment by Almighty Allah, and identification by name. In a nut shell, the imam has everything common with the prophet except for revelation [wahy], for the imam does not receive wahy in the common sense of the word.
So, just as Almighty Allah appoints the prophets and the messengers peace be upon them, He also appoints the imam as the was i (deputy, heir, and executor of his will and the teachings revealed to) the Prophet peace be upon him and his pure progeny, and his caliph (successor).
Indeed Almighty Allah appointed for our prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his pure progeny, twelve was i (executor of his will/heir/deputy) and caliph (successors), and they are the renowned Twelve Imams known to all the Muslims.
In order they are as follows:
1. Imam Amir al-Mo’mineen,
Ali ibn Abi-Talib, the Prophet’s cousin and the husband of his daughter Fatimah al-Zahra’, peace be upon them all.
2. Imam Hasan, son of Imam Ali and Fatimah al-Zahra’, daughter of the Prophet, (A).
3. Imam Husayn, the Martyr, son of Imam Ali and Fatimah al-Zahra’, daughter of the Prophet, (A).
4. Imam Zayn-al-Abidin, Ali son of al-Husayn, (A).
5. Imam al-Baqir, Muhammad son of Ali, (A).
6. Imam al-Sadiq, Ja’far son of Muhammad, (A).
7. Imam al-Kadim, Mossa son of Ja’far, (A).
8. Imam al-Rida, Ali son of Mossa, (A).
9. Imam al-Jawad, Muhammad son of Ali, (A).
10. Imam al-Hadi, Ali son of Muhammad, (A).
11. Imam al-Askari, Hasan son of Ali, (A).
12. Imam al-Mahdi, Muhammad son of Hasan, al-Qa’em (The Upholder of Allah’s command), al-Muntadar (The Awaited One) (may Allah hasten his reappearance).
These Imams are Allah’s authorities upon all creation, and His Messenger’s blessed successors. They are all from the sacred light of Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his pure family.
They were like Allah’s Messenger in knowledge, forbearance, moral excellence, piety, justice, immunity from sin or error, high moral values, noble disposition, and all other praiseworthy attributes . and how can it be otherwise while they are his successors and deputies, and leaders of all creation and Allah’s authorities over all mankind after the prophet.
Describing the role and the significance of Imam and Imamah, Imam Rida (A) states:
‘It is only by the means of the Imamah that Islam is established and its aims achieved. Through it the order of the Muslims is accomplished, the prosperity of the world attained, and the honour and the glory of the faithful are safeguarded. Imamah is the growing and ongoing root of Islam as well as its exalted branch.
It is only through the leadership of the Imam
that completeness is attained in daily prayers, zakah, fasting, hajj, jihad, tribute, income, executing the Hodood and jurisdictions, and safeguarding the borders of the Muslim lands.’
In addition to numerous prophetic hadith in this respect, there are many verses in the holy Qur’an regarding the vital issue of Imamah. One such verse that the above hadith is referring to, and therefore it is supported by, is: .O Messenger! Convey that that has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have conveyed His Message.
In this holy verse Almighty Allah is equating the proclamation of a particular message to the fulfilment of His entire message, and Allah warns that failure to make this proclamation is tantamount to failing His entire mission. This holy verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S) at Ghadir Khum on the 18th of Dhil- Hijjah year 10 H, only two months before the death of the Prophet of Islam (S). The particular message or revelation concerned the appointment of Imam Ali (A) as the immediate successor or caliph of Allah’s messenger (S). Prophet Muhammad (S) had always, and throughout the 23 years of his mission stated that Ali is his successor. After this revelation, and on direct instructions from Almighty Allah, the prophet (S) appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib (A) as Amir-ul-Mo’mineen and his first caliph and Imam of his Ommah
. The significance and importance of this appointment is indicated by the comparison Almighty Allah makes between this appointment and the mission of the prophet (S), which is Islam. In this holy verse Almighty Allah equates the appointment of Imam Ali (A) to the entire mission of the prophet (S), which is the final revelation for mankind. Furthermore Almighty Allah then goes on to emphasise that without the Imamah (of Imam Ali (A)), the mission of the prophet (S) is to no avail, and thus the above hadith by Imam Rida (A).
In the following section, a brief biography of them is presented starting with that of the gracious daughter of the holy Prophet and the wife of the was i, Fatimah al-Zahra’ (A).
The Prophet’s Daughter, Fatimah al-Zahra
She is Fatimah al-Zahra’, her father was the Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah, her mother was the great Lady Khadijah - the Mother of the Believers. Sayyidah Fatimah’s husband was the master of the Aws iya’ Commander of the Believers [Amir-ul- Mo’mineen
] Ali ibn Abi-Talib peace be upon them, and all the pure Imams are her sons and grandsons and great grandsons, peace be upon them all.
She was born on 20th of Jamadi-II forty-five years after the birth of the holy Prophet (S). She died a martyr and oppressed on Tuesday the 3rd of Jamadi-II
in the year 11 Hijrah, when she was only eighteen years. Imam Ali (A) prepared her body for burial and buried her in the holy city of Medinah, and concealed her grave and kept its location secret in accordance with her specific will [to her husband Imam Ali] as a protest against those who wronged her and usurped her right.
She was like her father in worship and asceticism, moral excellence and piety, and Almighty Allah has revealed many verses of the holy Qur’an in her praise and about her station.
Allah’s Messenger gave her the title Sayyidatu Nisa’ al-Alameen [meaning “Master of the ladies of the worlds”], and gave her the agnomen Ommo_Abeeha [meaning “mother of her father” out of his sheer love for her]. He loved her immensely and he used to greatly glorify and respect her. When she used go to him, the Prophet would stand up, out of respect for her, lovingly greet her and would give her his place to sit, and kiss her hands, and he used to say,
“Whatever pleases Fatimah, pleases Allah, and whatever angers Fatimah, angers Allah”.
Lady Fatimah and Imam Ali had two sons; Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn, and also a third son, Mohsen, who was miscarried because of the horrific injuries his mother sustained.
They also had two daughters; Lady Zaynab and Lady Omm-Kulthoum (A).
Anyone who follows the sirah or way of life of Sayyidah Fatimah al-Zahra’ would find that this lady is a perfect paradigm, and a school in the various domains of life and therefore an ideal exemplar for every woman, and every man.
She was the one who supported her father in his call to Islam, and she, together with a few other faithful believers in the valley of Abu Talib, sustained severe hardship perpetrated by the idolaters of Quraysh . she was the one who supported Amir-ul-Mu’minin Ali (A), who strengthened the foundation of Islam, after the death of the Prophet (S).
She suffered the severe pains and cruelty of the difficult circumstances that surrounded her when she chose the path that leads to the hereafter instead of that leading to this world. She married her cousin Amir-ul-Mu’minin, Ali (A) and joined him along with her father Prophet Muhammad (S), in the support and strengthening of both the Mission (Risalah) and the Leadership (Imamah), as well as forming the foundation of an Islamic society and conveying the Message of Allah . and this is the best model and example Muslim women could possibly follow.
Lady Fatimah (A) divided the duties of their married life with Imam Ali (A). Her responsibility was the duties within the house and his was those without.
Imam Baqir (A), said that:
“Fatimah (A) guaranteed Ali (A) the duties inside the house, (preparing) the dough, (baking) the bread and house keeping. Ali (A) guaranteed Fatimah all that is needed from outside the house, such as providing the firewood and food.
One day he said to her: O Fatimah do you have something (to eat in the house)? She replied: By He who glorified you we do not have anything to give you since three days.
He said: Why did you not inform me?
She said: Rasulollah (S) always advised me against asking you for anything. He said to me ‘Do not ask your cousin for anything. If he brought you something, fine! and if not then do not ask him for anything.’
Then Imam Ali (A) left the house (seeking to provide something for the home). He met someone and borrowed one Dinar from him. On his way back, and it was night time, he met Miqdad al-Aswad. He said to Miqdad; What brings you out at this hour? Miqdad replied: By He who has glorified you, it is hunger O Amir-ul-Mu’minin!
The narrator interrupted Imam Baqir (A) and asked ‘and Rasulollah was alive (at that time)?’ Imam Baqir (A) replied ‘Yes Rasulollah was alive.’
Imam Ali (A) said to Miqdad: ‘It is what brought me out too. I have borrowed one Dinar which I shall give to you.’ And he gave it to him.
Imam Ali (A) returned home and found Rasulollah (S) sitting and Fatimah (A) praying and something covered with a cloth between them. When she finished her prayers, she brought that thing which was some bread and meat. He (A) said: O Fatimah! From where this comes to you? She (A) replied: From Allah! Verily Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure.
Rasulollah (S) said to Imam Ali (A): Shall I tell you of the like of you and her? Imam Ali (A) replied: Yes.
Rasulollah (S) said: Your example like Zacharias when he came to see Mary in the chamber he found her supplied with sustenance, he asked: .O Mary! From where this comes to you? She (A) replied: From Allah! Verily Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure.
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Some of the other attributes that Lady Fatimah decorated herself with, which should be the model for every society and nation who wants to progress forward, are Zuhd or non-attachment to material things, kindness and graciousness, altruism and selflessness, perseverance in the face of severe hardship, and many other highly noble characters.
The story of feeding the needy referred to in the holy Qur’an in the Surah of Mankind (76) is the best evidence for it. They gave their food, which were only a few pieces of bread to three needy people on three consecutive days. This is after they had vowed to fast three days for Allah for the recovery of their two sons Hasan and Husayn from illness. On the first day, when they wanted to break their fast, a destitute person knocked on the door asking for some food. They all gave all their food, leaving themselves nothing to eat that night. They did the same thing on the next day when an orphan came to their door asking for food, and on the third day in row they gave all their food to a captive who came to them for help. Almighty Allah revealed an entire Surah, Mankind (76) in this regard praising their conduct. Verse eight of the Surah reads:
And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive..
Hadith from Fatimah al-Zahra(AS)
‘He (Allah) invented all things not from a thing which existed before, and designed them not by emulating other samples. He created them by His might, and gave them life by His will; not because of a need He had for their creation, or a benefit He had for their design, except for the establishment of His wisdom, awareness (of His creation) about His obedience, appearance of His might, (to invite) His creation to servitude and worship, and to glorify His invitation.
‘ . So my father (Muhammad (S)) rose amongst the people to guide them. He saved them from perversion and aberration, and turned their blindness into enlightenment, and guided them towards the right religion, and invited them to the straight path.’
‘The holy Qur’an . following it leads to the pleasure of Allah, listening to it (implementing its teachings) results in salvation. Through it can be achieved the clear and enlightening proofs and evidences of Allah, His forewarned prohibitions, His conspicuous arguments, His comprehensive reasoning, His desired virtues, His bestowed permissions, and His written divine laws.’
‘Therefore Allah set faith as the purifier, for you, from polytheism,
And (He set) the daily prayers to distance you from arrogance and egoism, And the (giving of) Zakah as the purity of your soul and the growth of your sustenance, And rendered fasting for the firm establishment of sincerity, And the Hajj pilgrimage for the consolidation of the religion, And rendered justice for the harmonisation of the hearts, And (He set) the obedience of us (the Ahl-ul-Bayt) as the order (organising factor) for the religion, and our leadership (the Imamah) as the guarantor against disunity and division, And Jihad as the honour for Islam, and humiliating for the infidels and hypocrites,
And perseverance as an aid for obtaining reward, And the ‘Enjoining good and forbidding evil’ for the interest and correction of the society and the public, And He rendered kindness to the parents as a shield from displeasure,
And (He set) keeping bond with the kinship the cause for lengthening of life span, ‘O Allah! Belittle myself in my eyes, and glorify and magnify Your Station to me. Inspire me Your obedience, and the practice which brings about Your pleasure, and (inspire me) the avoidance of anything which may bring about Your wrath, O most merciful of all.’
The First Imam: Imam Ali
Imam Ali (A) is the son of Abi-Talib (A) and Fatimah daughter of Asad (A). He is the cousin and the son-in-law of the Prophet (S), his was i, and the first successor of the Prophet as leader of mankind after the prophet, and father of all the ma‘soom Imams (A).
Imam Ali was born - uniquely - inside the holy Ka‘bah
on Friday the thirteenth of Rajab, thirty years after the birth of the holy Prophet (S) and he was fatally wounded by the sword of Ibn Muljim al-Muradi (curses of Allah be upon him) - one of the Kharidjites - on Friday, the nineteenth of the holy month of Ramadan in the Mosque of Kufah, and joined the company of the Almighty three days later at the age of sixty three.
His body was prepared for burial by his sons Imam Hasan (A) and Imam Husayn (A) and he was buried in Najaf where his shrine stands today. They kept the location of his burial site secret as he instructed, in order to be safe from transgressions and desecration by the Kharidjites, and al-Hajjaj, which subsequently proved valid.
Later on, [some one hundred years later] Imam Sadiq and Imam Kadim made it known to the people.
He has virtues and excellent attributes that are not countable. He was the first person to believe in the Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him and his pure family, and he never attributed any partner to Allah not even for a blink of the eye, nor did he ever prostrate before an idol, such that it became the norm to say, after the mention of his name, karram Allah wajhah, meaning “Allah has protected and purified his face”. In all battles victory depended on his participation and contribution. He was a relentless and repetitive attacker, and not a deserter [karrar and not farrar, he never gave his back to fighting, and never run away, not even once. He was immaculate as a judge, such that the Prophet said about him, “Ali is the best judge among you”.
About his vast knowledge the Prophet (S) said, “I am the city of knowledge and Ali is the gate of this city”.
In relation to his adherence to the Truth the Prophet (S) said, “Ali is with the Truth and Truth is with Ali”.
He was just in his dealings with people. He treated people equally. He never indulged himself in the worldly matters. He would go to the public treasury and would look at the gold and silver and say, “O yellow (meaning gold) and O white (meaning silver), deceive and delude other than me”.
He would then distribute them among the people until none remains.
He would treat the destitute with mercy and would accompany the poor and spend time with them and would help people in need. He would speak the truth out loud and make judgement fairly and justly. He would rule according to the laws Almighty Allah has revealed, implement Allah’s rules, and follow the way the Prophet followed, until goodness, blessing, welfare and comfort became widespread and covered all the people throughout the land.
In short, Imam Ali was like the Prophet Muhammad (S) in virtuous traits and attributes - except for revelation and prophethood - such that Allah, the Most High, considered Imam Ali (A) - in the verse of mubahalah in the Qur’an - as the Prophet himself (S).
Hadith from Amir-ul-Mu’minin (AS)
On the Almighty’s attributes Imam Ali peace be upon him states:
“He cannot be conceived of by the imagination and He cannot be determined by comprehension. He cannot be perceived by the senses and He cannot be compared with any person. He is One but not numerable and He is Eternal without end. He is the One who supports without being supported.” Imam Ali (AS) also said:
‘He is Allah, the Clear Truth, truer and clearer than the eyes perceive. The intellects cannot reach Him by any definition, since that would be to compare Him; and the imagination cannot reach Him by any evaluation; since that would be to give Him a likeness. There is no beginning to His primacy and there is no end to His eternity. He is the First and the Eternal, and He is the Everlasting without end. Foreheads bow down before Him and lips declare His Oneness. He gave all things limitations when He created them, so as to make it clear that He is not like them.’ Amir-ul-Mu’minin (AS) also said:
‘Time never changes for Him so as to cause a change in His state, and He is never in any particular place so as to entail His moving to another place. He knows of the secrets in the minds of the secretive, and the intimate meetings of those who meet behind closed doors, and the thoughts and opinions of those who speculate.’
Amir-ul-Mu’minin, Imam Ali (AS) also said:
‘The eyes cannot perceive Him with the sense of sight, but the heart can perceive Him through the realities of trust. He is close to all things without being associated with them. He is remote from them without being distanced from them. He speaks yet without speech. He wills yet without wanting. He creates yet without physical means. He is Subtle yet obscurity cannot be attributed to Him. He is Great yet aloofness cannot be attributed to Him. He is Seeing yet sensory perception cannot be attributed to Him. He is Compassionate but sentimentality cannot be attributed to Him.’
Imam Ali (AS) also said:
‘The first part of the deen is knowledge of Him. The perfection of knowledge of Him is affirmation of Him. The perfection of affirmation of Him is affirming His Oneness. The perfection of affirming His Oneness is being sincere towards Him. He who makes a comparison to Him has set up a second with Him. He who sets a second with Him has divided Him.
He who divides Him is ignorant of Him. Whoever tries to indicate to Him has given Him limitations, and whoever gives Him limitations has rendered Him finite.’ [On another occasion Imam Ali (A) says ‘The perfection of sincerity is avoiding disobedience’.] ‘No one accompanies the Qur’an except that when he departs from it he does so with a gain and a loss. (He leaves with) a gain of guidance (to the truth) and a loss of ignorance. Rest assured that there is no destitution for anyone after (knowing) the Qur’an, and no one has any riches before (knowing) the Qur’an.’
‘Do not enslave yourself to another person, for Allah has made you a free person.’
‘Make your own self as a judge between yourself and others. Therefore, love for others whatever you love for yourself, and dislike for others whatever you hate for yourself. Do not transgress just as you do not like to be transgressed upon, and be kind to others just as you like to see kindness from others.
What you regard as bad and ugly to come from others also regard it bad and ugly (if it were) to come from yourself. If it pleases you what you do to others, then be pleased with that if they do it to you.
Do not talk about what you do not know, still do not say all that you know.
Do not say (to others) what you do not like to be told.’ ‘Do not look at who is talking but look at what is said.’ ‘He who corrects his covert affairs, Allah would correct his overt (aspects of life). He who worked for his religious affairs, Allah would take care of his material life. He who enhances what is between him and Allah, Allah would improve what is between him and other people.’
‘The example of the world is that of a snake; it is soft to touch but inside it carries a deadly poison. The ignorant one may be charmed by it, but the sage and the sane person would avoid.’ ‘How plenty are the lessons to learn from and how few are those who would learn from them.’
‘Get rid of your wrong actions before they get rid of you.’ ‘Being thankful for every blessing is being careful to avoid what Allah has forbidden.’ ‘The least of what Allah demands of you is that you do not use His blessings to disobey Him.’
‘Be in awe of Allah in your dealings with His servants and His lands, for surely you are responsible, even if it is for a small piece of land and a few animals. Obey Allah and do not disobey Him. if you see good then take hold of it, and if you see evil then turn away from it.’
‘Beware of being disobedient to Allah when you are alone, for surely the One who witnesses is also the One who judges.’ ‘Well-being consists of ten parts; nine of them are in being silent - except in the remembrance of Allah - and one of them is in leaving the company of the foolish.’
‘Supplication is the key to divine mercy.’ ‘Deflect the waves of misfortune by supplication.’ ‘Fortunate is he who remembers the promised Day of Judgement, and who acts with the Reckoning in mind, and who is content with what is just enough, and who is pleased with Allah.’
‘Perfect happiness comes with knowledge, and partial happiness comes with abstinence. Worship without knowledge and without abstinence merely exhausts the body.’ ‘The most excellent worship is refraining from disobedience...’ ‘Wherever there is wisdom, there is fear of Allah, and wherever there is fear of Allah, there is His mercy.’ ‘The most glorious thing to come down from the heavens is divine succour, and the most glorious thing to rise up from the earth is sincerity.’
‘There are three things that set you free:
Fear of Allah in secret and in public, Moderation in times of poverty and wealth, and Being just in times of anger and contentment.’ ‘He who takes his self into account will profit, and he who is heedless of it will loose. He who is fearful will be secure, and he who reflects will discern, and whoever discerns will comprehend, and whoever comprehends will have knowledge.’ ‘The best way of life is the one that does not make you do wrong or make you distracted.’
‘Always observe your appearance in the mirror, and if it looks good consider it repulsive to associate an ugly action with it and so spoil it, and if it looks ugly consider it even more repulsive by combining the two forms of ugliness!’ ‘Train yourself in good behaviour with regard to what you dislike in others.’
‘The devil of everyone is his own self.’
‘I am amazed at the heart of man: It possesses the substance of wisdom as well as the opposites contrary to it . for if hope arises in it, it is brought low by covetousness; and if covetousness is aroused in it, greed destroys it. If despair possesses it, self-pity kills it; and if it is seized by anger, this is intensified by rage.
If it is blessed with contentment, then it forgets to be careful; and if it is filled with fear, then it becomes preoccupied with being cautious. If it feels secure, then it is overcome by vain hopes; and if it is given wealth, then its independence makes it over-extravagant. If want strikes it, then it is smitten by anxiety.
If it is weakened by hunger, then it gives way to exhaustion; and if it goes too far in satisfying its appetites, then its inner becomes clogged up. So all its shortcomings are harmful to it, and all its excesses corrupt it.’ ‘Ask your hearts about friendship, for surely it is a witness that cannot be bribed.’ ‘Kindle your heart with courteous behaviour just as you kindle a fire with fuel.’
‘Surely hearts grow tired just as bodies grow tired, so seek out the novelties of wisdom for them.’
‘The most self-sustaining wealth is the intellect.’ ‘The intellect is a king and the characteristics are its subjects, so if it is weak in governing them, disorder overtakes it.’ ‘The intellect is better than desire, for the intellect makes you king over your destiny, and desire makes you a salve of your destiny.’
‘Bodies are sustained by food, and intellects are sustained by wisdom, and whenever either of them is deprived of its sustenance then it perishes and disintegrates.’ ‘Keep company with the people of intellect, whether they are your enemies or your friends; for surely one intellect is only confirmed by another intellect.’
‘If the intellect is given a free reign, and if it is not imprisoned by the desires of the self or by religious customs or by partisanship, then it will lead the one who possesses it to salvation.’
‘When Allah wishes to remove a favour from His servant, the first thing He changes in him is his intellect.’ ‘The spirit gives life to the body, and the intellect gives life to the spirit.’
‘Knowledge is the most precious of treasures, and the most beautiful. It is easy to carry, tremendously useful, beautiful in its completeness, and delightful in its uniqueness.’ ‘Life is too short for you to learn all the knowledge that find attractive, so learn what inspires you, only what inspires.’ ‘Knowledge is accompanied by action, for whoever has knowledge (should) act (accordingly). Knowledge calls out for action: if it responds to the call then it lives on . otherwise it perishes.’
‘Nobility of characters consists of ten qualities: generosity, modesty, sincerity, and fulfilment of trust, humility, selfesteem, courage, forbearance, patience, and gratitude.’
The Second Imam: Imam Hasan
Imam Hasan (A) is the elder son of Imam Ali (A) and Fatimah al- Zahra (A) daughter of the holy Prophet (S). He is the Prophet’s elder grandson and his second successor and leader of the people after his father Imam Ali.
He was born in the holy city of Medina on Tuesday the fifteenth of the holy month of Ramadan in the third year of Hijrah. He died a martyr by the poison administered by Mo‘awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan through his wife Jo‘dah bint al-Ash‘ath on Thursday the seventh of the month of Safar
in the year fifty after Hijrah. His brother, Imam Husayn prepared his body for burial and buried him in the Baqi’ cemetery in the holy city of Medinah where his shrine stood until recently when, unfortunately, the [Saudi] Wahhabies destroyed it along with its courtyard.
He excelled all others of his time in worshipping Allah, in knowledge and in spiritual perfections. He was more like the Prophet than all other people. He was seen as the most noble and kind-hearted person in his family at his time and the most forbearing amongst the people.
Prophet Muhammad (S) said, while hugging his grandson Imam Hasan (A) ‘O Allah love him for I dearly love him.’
The Messenger of Allah (S) used to say about Imam Hasan and his brother Imam Husayn (A):
‘they are my sweet basil of this world, whoever loves me should love them, and whoever angers them, he angers me and whoever anger me Allah’s anger will be upon him and He enter him in Hell, For they are the masters of the youth of Paradise.’ On many occasions Imam Hasan divided all of his wealth and possession in two; giving one half of it to (the cause of) Allah. He did so to the extent that if he had just one pair of sandals, he gave one of the sandals away and kept the other.
On one occasion Imam Hasan (A) was passing by when he saw a group of destitute people sitting on the ground and eating bread. They invited the Imam to join them and he duly did, saying .Verily Allah does not like the arrogant.
. When they finished, the Imam (A) then invited them to his hospitality and fed them and gave them clothing.
A man approached Imam Hasan (A) hinting at seeking help from him. In order to save the man the embarrassment of going through his request, the Imam asked him to write down his wishes. On receiving the request letter, the Imam gave him double the amount the man had requested. The people sitting in the vicinity of the Imam said ‘what a blissful letter this was for him, O son of Rasulollah!’ Imam Hasan (A) said ‘its bliss is greater for us, for He has made us the people of nobility. Did you not know that nobility is to give to someone and fulfil his needs while protecting his honour and dignity by sparing him the embarrassment of making his request in detail?’
On another occasion a Bedouin man approached Imam Hasan (A) wishing to seek assistance from him . the Imam told his assistants to give to the man whatever there was in coffer. There were twenty thousand Dirhams, which they gave to the Bedouin man. The man said lord give me a chance to state my request and praise you . replied the Imam (A):
We are a people whose grace and grant is spattered, In which hope and wish revel.
We wish to give abundantly before the request (is made), Anxious about the honour and dignity of the seeker. On one occasion a servant gave him a bunch of followers, so in return the imam said to her, “You are free for the sake of Allah”, and then the imam said, “this is how Almighty Allah has taught us” .and if you were greeted, greet with that that is better than it, or return it likewise..
On another occasion a man from the province of Sham
came across Imam Hasan (A). He started to verbally assault and curse the Imam. Imam Hasan (A) remained silent and did not respond to him. After the man finished his assault and name calling, Imam Hasan smiled to him and, said:
‘May peace be with you. O Sheikh! I guess you are a stranger in this territory, and you might have mistaken me. If you seek contentment we would gratify you, if you ask us anything we shall give it to you, if you seek any guidance from us we shall guide you, if you seek any help from us we shall help you, and if you are hungry we shall feed you, if you need any clothing we shall give you them, if you are deprived we shall give you money, if you have been expelled (from your home town) we shall accommodate you, if you had any need we shall fulfil your need . .’
When the man from Sham heard the response of the Imam, he broke in tears saying: “I now truly believe that you are Allah’s caliph and vicegerent on earth, .indeed Allah knows best as to whom He entrust His Message.
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Hadith from Imam Hasan (AS)
‘He who claims he does not like wealth is, to me, a liar, and if his truth is established in this respect, then, to me, he is stupid.’ ‘Have you seen an oppressor who is more like an oppressed one? The Imam was asked: ‘How is that O son of Rasulollah?’ The Imam (A) replied: ‘He is the jealous person who is in perpetual anguish whereas the envied is in comfort.’
Imam Hasan (A) used to encourage the people to gain more and more knowledge, and used to say: ‘Teach others and learn from others’ knowledge, in this way you would have perfected your knowledge and learnt things you did not know . and to ask a question is half of the knowledge.’
‘He who does not have intellect, does not have etiquette, and he who does not have determination, does not have goodwill, and he who does not have a belief does not have morality. The peak of intellect is to socialise with, and treat the people nicely and kindly. Through intellect you can achieve the prosperity of both worlds and without it you would loose all.’
Someone asked Imam Hasan (A) about politics, the Imam replied ‘Politics is to attend to the rights and duties of Allah and to protect the rights of the people; dead or alive. As for the rights of Allah, it is to fulfil what He ordered and abstain from what forbade.
And as for the rights of the living it is to discharge your duties towards your Muslim brethrens and not to hesitate serving your community, to be sincere towards leader as long as he is sincere to the Ommah, and to raise your objection to him if he deviated from the straight path. As for the rights of the dead, it is to commemorate their good deeds and conceal their bad deeds, for they have their Lord to deal with them.’ ‘There is no poverty like ignorance.’
‘The peak of wit and intelligence is the good conduct with the people.’
‘The distance between right and falsehood is (the width of) four fingers (i.e. the distance between the eye and the ear). What you see with your eyes is the truth, whereas you could hear many false things.’ ‘The people who practice consultation are guided (towards perfection).’ ‘(The beneficences of) both worlds are achieved through reasoning.’
‘Do not hasten punishment for offence, and allow room for reason for the offence.’
‘I am surprised at one who takes care at what he eats, but does not do so about what he believes in. He avoids that which hurts him from entering his stomach, but allows that which makes him inferior to enter his heart (and mind).’
The Third Imam: Imam Husayn
Imam Husayn (A) is the son of Imam Ali (A) and Fatimah (A) daughter of the holy Prophet (S), and the grandson of Allah’s messenger (S) and the third of his successors, and the father of the nine ma‘soom imams who come after him, and the leader of the people after his brother Imam Hasan peace be upon them.
He was born in the holy city of Medina on the third of Sha‘ban of the fourth year of Hijrah, and he was brutally killed while suffering extreme thirst at the hands of the Omayyads on the orders of Yazeed ibn Mo‘awiyah on the Day of Ashura on Saturday the tenth day of the holy month of Muharram, in year 61 after Hijrah in the desert now known as Karbala’.
His son Imam Zayn al-Abidin (A) prepared his decapitated and mutilated pure body, and of those who were martyred along with him, after being left on the battlefield for three days. He performed the prayer of the deceased, and buried him where his mausoleum stands today in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq. His virtues are beyond mention, for he is the rayhanah
of Allah’s messenger about whom he said, “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn”
.
The prophet also said about him and his brother Imam Hasan peace be upon them:
“They are my two rayhanah of this world”
“Hasan and Husayn are the masters of the youth of the people of Paradise”
“Hasan and Husayn are both Imams whether they rise up (to publicly assume the position of leadership) or not”
He was the most knowledgeable and the best worshipper among the people of his time. He would pray one thousand Rak‘ahs every night like his father Amir al-Mo’mineen peace be upon him, and on many nights he would carry sacks of food to the needy, to the extent that the marks of carrying heavy sacks were visible on his back after his death. He was very kind, had a great and forbearing personality, and was severe on those who disobeyed Allah.
When a Bedouin Arab came to Imam Husayn seeking help he recited the following poem for the Imam:
Disappointed will not be he who makes a request from you, For you are generous and trustworthy and your father was the killer of the profligate and the corrupt, were it not for the former (family members) of yours
, we would still have been in hell. Then Imam Husayn (A) while avoiding eye contact with the man, gave him four thousand gold coins (Dinars) and apologized to him saying:
Take this for I apologise to you, and rest assure that you have my sympathy Were I in a different position and I had more to offer you, I would have given you far more.
Throughout his life the Muslims used to revere and adore Imam Husayn (A), and used to see in him what they had seen in his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (S). Their adoration for Imam Husayn was not just because he was the grandson of the prophet (S), but also because he was the manifestation of the teachings of Islam and the conducts of the Messenger of Allah (S), no one could fail to see examples of the highest moral qualities in his behaviour.
The holy Prophet has said in the praise of Imam Husayn (A): “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn.”
Chroniclers and historians have individually remarked that Imam Husayn was the manifestation of the best examples of noble manners and conduct, as well as his vast knowledge, which he inherited from the Messenger of Allah (S). His actions spoke before his words. Imam Husayn (A) was humbly gracious and generous to the poor and those in need. He used to support what is right and fight what was wrong.
People always noticed such attributes in his conduct and behaviour as perseverance, forbearance, and magnanimity. He was the most pious and Godfearing of all people of his time.
Through his courageous uprising, the like of which there has been none in the world, he revived the Islamic teachings and law, and the religion of his grandfather Allah’s Messenger peace be upon him and his pure progeny. In fact he revived the whole world until the Day of Judgment. He is the Master of the Martyrs and the best among the people after his elder brother.
Hadith from Imam Husayn (AS)
‘I do not see death except prosperity and life along with the oppressors except anguish.’ ‘O Allah! You know that all there was from us was not in competition to seek power, nor to gain refuse of the world (i.e. wealth), but it was nothing other than to present the signs and essence of Your religion, and to promote reform in Your land, (so that) oppressed members of your servants find safety and security, and Your laws, orders and obligations are acted upon.’
‘I have not arisen for the purpose of exuberance, arrogance, corruption, or oppression, but I have done so in order to seek reform in the nation of my Grandfather, Muhammad (S). I want to enjoin Good and forbid Evil, and I want to go down the path and tradition of my Grandfather, Muhammad (S), and the path of my father Ali ibn Abi Talib (A).
‘There are people who worship Allah out of desire (for reward), and this is the worship of traders, and there are people worship Allah out of fear (of punishment), and this is the worship of slaves. Whereas certain people worship Allah out of gratitude, and this is the worship of the free, and this is the best of the worships.’
‘There are seventy benefactions for saluting, sixty nine for the one who initiates it and one for the replier.’ ‘Do not say about your brother in his absence other than that which you would like him to say about you in your absence.’ ‘(O Allah) . How can You be reasoned about with that that is in need of You in its existence?
‘(O Allah) . What did he find he who lost You? And what did he loose he who found You? Truly he has failed who is contented with other than You.’
The Fourth Imam: Imam Zayn al-Ab idin
Imam Ali Zayn al-Abidin (A) is the son of Imam Husayn (A) and princess Shahr Banu the daughter of Yazdgerd, king of Persia. He used to be called the son of the best two, on the basis of the words of Allah’s messenger peace be upon him and his pure progeny who said, “From amongst his servants, Allah has made two choices; his choice from the Arabs is the Quraysh, and from amongst the non-Arabs the Persians”.
He was born in Medina on Thursday the fifth of Sha‘ban in the year thirty-eight after Hijrah. He died a martyr after being poisoned on Saturday the twenty fifth of Muharram,
in the year ninety five after Hijrah, at the age of fifty seven. His son Imam Baqir prepared his body for burial and buried him next to his uncle Imam Hasan in Baqi’ cemetery in the holy city of Medina.
He excelled all others of his time in knowledge, worshipping Allah, spiritual perfections, piety, and helping the needy, and all other virtues. Jurists and scholars have narrated from him extensively such that it cannot be counted, and there are many aspects of words-of-wisdom, spiritual guidance, prayers, and invocations that have been recorded as his legacy. Because of his extensive prayers and invocations he became known as Zayn al- Abidin, meaning the best of the worshipers. He is also known as al-Sajjad, meaning the prostrater, for his frequent and prolonged prostrations.
Very often he would carry on his back, at night, money and sacks of food or fire log, to the needy, and nock on the door one by one and give it to the person answers the call, with his face covered so that the person would not recognise him. When he left this world, then people of Medina realised that the person who used to deliver to them food etc. with his face covered, was none other than Imam Zayn al-Abidin. He loved to see the orphans and destitute join him for food, and eat his food sitting next to them.
Every month he would call upon his servants and would offer them help if any of them needed to get married or if anyone wanted to be set free.
Whenever a needy person would come to him asking for help he would say this, “welcome to he who carries my supplies to the hereafter.”
It is said that he would pray a thousand rak’ahs of prayer in every twenty-four hours. At the time of prayer his face would change, and he would shiver like a leaf out of realisation of the greatness of Allah, the Most High. Due to his extensive and prolonged prostrating before the Almighty his forehead and knees were clearly marked.
Once a person spoke rudely to him using offending words that were hurting, the Imam remained silent not uttering a word. After a while the Imam went to the person, and recited this verse from the holy Qur’an, and those who control their anger and forgive people, Allah loves those who do good..
The Imam then said to that person, “Brother, I heard all that you said to me. If all that you said about me is true, then I ask Allah to forgive me and if all that you said about me is not true, then may Allah forgive you”
In the course of his supplications which he became best known for, Zayn al-Abidin (A) left behind a magnificent intellectual and doctrinal masterpiece known as the Sahifah al-Sajjaddeyyah. Of course the Sahifah does not include all of his supplications, as many others are found in other reference books.
The supplications of Imam Zayn al-Abidin (A) are well known for their immense influence on the soul of the reader, and that of the listener. The choice of words and meaning of the supplications move the reader in such a way that change one’s life and give his life purpose and direction.
The collection of the supplications of Zayn al-Abidin (A) is a great school for he who seeks the truth. It is a school, which points to the love, wisdom and power of Almighty Allah. It points man to the values and the qualities of the teachings of Islam. It teaches him how to repent and how to talk to Allah.
Imam Zayn al-Abidin (A) is also responsible for the creation of the book of rights, which includes fifty fundamental rights one has, or is responsible for. This book of rights served as a guide to the Muslims as well as a challenge to the society and the ruling circumstances.
In his book Manaqib, ibn Shahr Ashub reports that Imam Zayn al- Abidin (A) received some guests, and the servant was rushing to serve the guests when some of the hot cooking cutlery fell on the Imam’s child, killing him. The servant was extremely disturbed and frightened. When the Imam saw him in that state said to him ‘You did not intend this! Go for you are free for the sake of Allah.’
Zayn al-Abidin (A) used to buy a thousand slaves at a time and then he used to educate them with the teachings of Islam and within a year free them into the society as well mannered, educated, and honourable members of the society. It is reported 77
that he directly bought, educated and freed some fifteen thousands slave during his lifetime.
Hadith from Imam Zayn al-Ab idin (A)
Imam Zayn al-Abidin (A) said to his son, al-Baqir (A)
: ‘Do good to whoever seeks it from you. For if he deserved it then you have achieved your goal, and if he did not deserve it, you are the kind to do so. If someone swore at you, and he is on your right hand side, and he then turns to your left and apologised to you, accept his apologies.’
On the subject of trustworthiness and honesty, Imam Zayn al- Abidin (A) says:
‘By He who sent Muhammad (S), with the Truth (I swear that) if the killer of my father al-Husayn (A) entrusts me with the sword which he killed him (A) with, I would return it back to him.’ ‘Contemplate and strife for what you have been created for, for Allah did not create you in vain.’
‘Do not have animosity towards anyone even if you thought he would not harm you, and do not fail to befriend anyone even if you thought he would not benefit you.’
‘Indeed the ultimate knowledge and the perfection of the religion (and way of life) of a Muslim is to avoid talking about things which do not concern him, lack of his boasting, his forbearance, perseverance, and well-manners.’ ‘Do not stop from refraining from evil even if you have been known to commit it.’
‘The best keys to (one’s) affairs is truthfulness, and the best endings is faithfulness and loyalty.’
The Fifth Imam: Imam al-Baqir
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A) is the son of Ali ibn al-Husayn (A) and his mother is Fatimah daughter of Imam Hasan (A).
He was born in the holy city of Medina on Friday the first day of Rajab in the year fifty seven after Hijrah. He is the first Alawite of Alawite parents, and Hashemite of Hashemite parents, and Fatimid of Fatimid parents, for he is the first to born to parents who were descendants of Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn, peace be upon them.
He died a martyr by poisoning on Monday the seventh day of the month of Dhil-Hijjah in the year one hundred fourteen after Hijrah, at the age of fifty seven. His son Imam Sadiq prepared his body for burial and buried him next to his father’s grave, and that of his grandfather Imam Hasan Mujtaba in the Baqi’ cemetery in the holy city of Medina.
Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (A) was a man of great virtue and leadership, a man of vast knowledge, great forbearance, great moral discipline, worship, generosity, humility and kindness. A Christian man, [deliberately mispronouncing Imam’s name], once said to him, “Are you baqar? (meaning, a ‘cow’). The Imam said, “No, I am Baqir.” The man then said, “Are you the son of a female cook?” The Imam said, “That is her profession.”
The man then said, “Are you the son of the bad Negro woman?” The Imam said, “If what you say is true, then may Allah forgive her, and if what you say is not true then may Allah forgive you.” This transformed the Christian man, and became a Muslim. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A) had profound knowledge and he would answer every question when asked without delay. Ibn ‘Ataal-Makki said about the Imam, “I never saw the scholars look so small as they did in the presence of Imam Muhammad Baqir. I saw al-Hakam ibn ‘Otaybah, with all his prestige and majesty amongst the people, looked just like a child in the presence of his teacher.”
Muhammad ibn Muslim said, “I asked Imam Muhammad al-Baqir all the questions that would come to my mind, until I had asked him about thirty thousand matter.” Imam al-Baqir used to practice remembrance (dhikr) of Allah constantly, such that his son Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq said, “My father used to practiced remembrance of Allah very often; I used to walk with him and he would practice dhikr of Allah, I would eat with him and he used to practice dhikr of Allah, and if he talked to people that would not distract him from the dhikr of Allah”. He used to pray for long hours at night and his tears would flow tremendously during his worshipping.
Imam al-Baqir (A) may be credited to have established the first Islamic university in the history of Islam. Given the turmoil in political situation of the time, the Omayyad rulers had less time to suppress Imam al-Baqir (A) and therefore he had more breathing space to teach those who sought the teachings of Islam in the sciences of the Qur’an, Fiqh, doctrine, etc.
Hadith from Imam Baqir (A)
‘The practice of Islam is founded on five matters: upholding of the daily prayers, purification of the wealth (giving the Khums and Zakah), performing the Hajj pilgrimage, Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, and allegiance to the authority (walayah) of the us the Ahl-ul-Bayt. Exceptions are given in four of them but none is given for the walayah. He who does not possess sufficient wealth, does not give Khums/Zakah. He who does not possess sufficient wealth, is not obliged to go to Hajj. He who is ill can perform the daily prayers in sitting mode, and does not fast during the month of Ramadan.
However the walayah is obliged upon him regardless of his health and wealth.’
‘Three are amongst the noble values of this world and the hereafter: To forgive he who transgresses against you, To bond ties with he who severs ties with you, To forbear he who insults you.’ ‘The most regretting individual on the Day of Judgement is he who preaches to others to do good but does not practices it himself.’
‘He who says the truth, his acts would be purified, and he whose intention is good, his sustenance will be increased, and he who is kind to his family his lifespan would increase.’ ‘He who teaches guidance, will have a reward similar to the rewards of all of those who act upon it without reducing anything from their reward. He who teaches misguidance, will have a punishment similar to the punishments of all of those who act upon it without reducing anything from their punishment.’
The Sixth Imam: Imam Sadiq
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (A) is the son of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A) and his mother is Fatimah, agnomen Omm Farwah. He was born in Medina on Friday the seventeenth of the month of Rabi’-I - which is the birthday of the prophet - in the year eightythree after Hijrah. He died a martyr after being poisoned on Monday twenty-fifth day of the month of Shawwal in the year one hundred forty eight after Hijrah at the age of sixty-five. His son Imam Kadim prepared his body for burial and buried him in the Baqi’ cemetery next to the graves of his father Imam Baqir and his grandfathers Imam Sajjad and Imam Hasan Mujtaba peace be upon them all.
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (A) possessed unquestionably vast knowledge, wisdom, and piety. He lived abstinently and piously, and his qualities and traits such as truthfulness, justice, graciousness, generosity and bravery were beyond reach.
Sheikh al-Mofid
said, “scholars have reported from no one of his household as much they have reported from him, and people of hadith and narrators of reports have not known any one like Muhammad ibn Ja’far al-Sadiq, peace be upon him. Indeed researchers have gathered together and collated the names of the reliable narrators [of hadith] from him, notwithstanding their differing views and opinions, whose numbers have been at four thousands
”. .
Abu Hanifah, the founder and leader of the Hanafi sect, [one of the four Sunni sects nowadays] was one of Imam Sadiq’s students, who attended his lessons.
While Abu Hanifah studied directly at the hands of Imam Sadiq, the founders and leaders of the other sects learned of Imam Sadiq’s teachings via those who had attended Imam Sadiq at first hand.
Many of the new sciences such as chemistry, physics, astronomy, mineralogy and deposit-exploration, and other sciences which is too long to mention, were founded or guided to by Imam Sadiq peace be upon him.
The Imam used the ensuing conflict within the Abbasids, who were spearheading a revolt against the ruling Omayyads, and the ongoing power struggle within the Omayyad dynasty, who were on the verge of collapse, to establish his mammoth scholarly school. He engaged in teaching and educating his students and seekers of truth, elucidating the teachings and essence of Islam the traits of the shari‘ah - the Islamic Law. He clarified the falseness of the imported thoughts and the invalidity of the spurious and sinister doubts raised, until the foundations of the shari‘ah were fortified and the structure of Islam erected. He became known as the leader and chief of the Ja’fari madh-hab or school, just as his followers became known as the Ja’fari Shi‘a.
Imam Ja’far Sadiq lived a simple life. He used to eat bread with vinegar or oil
, used to wear a coarse shirt, which often used to be with patches, and he used to work in his orchard himself.
He would pray extensively and with great deal of attention and concentration to the extent that he would loose consciousness during prayer.
One night al-Mansoor al-Dawaneeqi, the tyrant ruler of the time, wanted to meet him and he sent for him. The servant who sent to call the imam said that when he arrived at the imam’s house, he found the Imam in his private room in the state of prostration before Allah with his hands and face on the ground and his forehead and the sides of his face having dust on them.
Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (A) had generous nature, excellent moral perfections and of very polite manners in his social dealings.
Like his father, Imam Sadiq (A) lived during a period when the political situation was going through turbulence stages and therefore the rulers did not have the time to target the Imam to the extent of preventing him from any activity. This gave Imam al- Sadiq (A), just like his father, the opportunity to continue the task Imam al-Baqir (A) started, which was the managing of the Islamic university and the teaching of Islamic sciences such as Qur’an, jurisprudence (Fiqh), etc. It is reported that more than four thousand scholars graduated from the school of Imam Ja’far al- Sadiq (A), and between them, up to ninety thousand hadith have been reported from Imam Sadiq (A).
Hadith from Imam Sadiq (A)
‘Nothing other than three matters continue to bring an individual rewards after death. A charity that Allah helped him establish during his life and this (charity) continues after his death, a good practice acted upon (by others), and an offspring who prays for him.’
‘The right of a Muslim upon another is that he is not full when his brother goes hungry, and he does not quench his thirst when his brother is thirsty, and he is not clothed when his brother is naked; it is most great the right of a Muslim upon his brother.’ ‘Love for your Muslim brother what you love for yourself.’ ‘Amongst the manners of the ignorant is to answer before he hears (the argument), to oppose before he understands, and to give a judgement upon what he does not know.’
‘He who acts not in accordance with a vision, is like he who is going down the wrong way, and then speeding does not give him anything other than distancing him further from the truth.’ ‘The most beloved of my brothers to me is he who presents me my mistakes.’
‘Seventy sins of the ignorant are forgiven before one is forgiven for the scholar.’
‘Make bonds with he who sever ties with you, give to he who denies you, be kind to he who was bad to you, salute he who swore at you, be fair and just to he who fought you, forgive he who oppressed you just as you would like to be forgiven, learn from Allah when He forgives you; do you not see the sun shines upon the believers and the non-believers, and the rain comes down upon the good and the bad?’
The Seventh Imam: Imam Kadim
Imam Mossa al-Kadim (A) is the son of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (A) and his mother was Hamidah al-Musaffah.
He was born in Abwa’, a place between Mecca and Medina on Sunday the seventh of Safar, in the year one hundred twenty eight after Hijrah. He died at the age of fifty-five after being poisoned while imprisoned in the jail of the Abbasid ruler Haroon, after fourteen years of unjust and hostile confinement therein, on Friday the twenty-fifth day of the month of Rajab, in the year one hundred eighty three Hijrah. His son Imam Ali al-Rida prepared his body was for burial and was buried where his shrine stands today in Kadimiyyah, Iraq.
He was the most knowledgeable person of his time and the best of them. He was very generous and brave, apparent and evident in his virtue and learning, of great station and magnificent standing. He was of excellent spiritual perfections, worship extensively and prolonged prostrations before Allah. His immense control over his anger was as such that he became known as al-Kadim, which means one who curbs or contains one’s anger, and for his good deeds and putting things right he used to became known al-‘Abd alSaleh , the Righteous Servant.
The extent of the Imam’s knowledge and learning became obvious and apparent in the various fields of learning such that people were astonished and amazed of. One case is that of the famous Christian scholar Borayha, and at the end of the debate the Imam overwhelmed Borayha, and as a result he embraced Islam and became a devout Muslim.
Once a poor person asked him for one hundred and the Imam, in order to test the man’s knowledge and understanding, asked him a question. When the man answered them, the Imam gave him two thousand Dirhams (gold coins).
He had the most beautiful voice in reciting the holy Qur’an, and he was most of the people in reciting the Qur’an, worshiping, and in his prolonged bowing and prostration before Allah, and more than anyone else in weeping out of fear of the Almighty Allah; so much so that he attained martyrdom while prostrating before Allah.
Hadith from Imam Kadim (A)
‘Allah has given the people two proofs, an apparent one and a hidden one. The apparent one is His messengers, prophets and Imams, and the hidden one is the intellect.’
‘Learn thoroughly the teachings of Islam for this learning is the key to the (correct) vision, perfect worship, the means to elevated stations, and honourable ranks in this world and the hereafter. For the merit of the learned scholar (Faqeeh) over the lifelong worshiper (Abid) is that of the sun over the planets. And he who does not seek knowledge about his religion, none of his achievements would be accepted by Allah.’
‘Endeavour to divide your time into four categories: one for the supplication with Allah, another to make a living, the third for socialising with the brethrens and those trustworthy individuals who are honest to you and point out to you your mistakes in confidence, and the fourth to seek in seclusion non-forbidden pleasures, and with this you gain strength and vigour for the other three.’
‘. . and the believer is the brother of the believer even if not born by the same parents. Cursed is he who accuses his brother, cursed is he who cheats his brother, cursed is he who does not admonish and advise his brother, cursed is he who backbites his brother.’
‘He whose two days are equal is a looser, and he whose second day is worse than his first is cursed. He who does not observe progress in himself is in retreat and he who is in retreat, death is better for him than life.’ Addressing one of his disciples:
‘O Hisham! If you had a nut in your hand and the people said you have a pearl, it would be of no benefit to you and you know it is a nut. And if you had a pearl in your hand and the people said you have a nut in your hand, it would be of no detriment to you and you know that it is a pearl.’ ‘Any word of wisdom is sought after by the faithful Muslim, so always seek knowledge . .’
The Eighth Imam: Imam Rida
He is Imam Ali al-Rida (A), son of Imam Mossa al-Kadim (A) and his mother was Lady Najmah.
He was born on Thursday the eleventh day of the month of Dhilqa’dah, in the year one hundred forty eight in the holy city of Medina, and he died a martyr after being poisoned on Friday on the last day of Safar in the year two hundred and three. His body was prepared for burial by his son Imam Muhammad al-Jawad and buried him in Khurasan, Iran where his shrine stands today. His knowledge, virtue, nobility, generosity, moral perfections, humility, and worship of Allah are too well known to require mentioning.
Ma’mun, the Abbasid ruler of the time, as part of his devious plot, requested Imam Rida leave the holy city of Medina and go to Khurasan and called upon him to take charge of the administration of the Muslim government instead of Ma’mun, but Imam Rida refused the offer, because he was aware of the intrigue and devious intention behind it, just as his great grandfather Amir-ul- Mo’mineen refused the offer of khilafah [i.e. leadership of the Muslim nation] - in the case of the shawra
- when it was offered to him by Ibn ‘Awf on the condition that he runs the government according to the policies of the sheikhayn.
Imam Ali could see that acceptance of the offer of khilafah hinges on one of two scenarios both of which necessitate lying and are contrary to Allah’s contentment.
The first is that for him to accept the condition and not act upon it - just as Othman did - and this is verbal lying, and loathed by the Almighty, and as for the second possibility, that the imam accepts the condition and acts accordingly, which means accepting the policies of the sheikhayn while he opposed them, which is practical lying and condemned by the Almighty. So the imam had no option to please Allah other than rejecting the offer and not accepting the precondition.
When Imam Ali al-Rida (A) did not accept the offer of heading the government, Ma’mun could see his plot disintegrating and his whole plot failing; the very plot he had called the imam upon to go to Khurasan. As a last resort, he offered the imam to be his successor, and he forced the imam to accept the offer. The imam accepted on the precondition that he would never be asked to partake in any aspect or business of the government.
Imam Ali al-Rida, peace be upon him, inherited his knowledge from his noble fathers and his grandfather Allah’s messenger peace be upon him and his pure family. Some of his vast knowledge with respect to religions, beliefs, and principles came to light in debate sessions when Ma’mun invited him and scholars from various religions and different schools of thought to attend a seminar of debate over the theological issues and matters of the doctrines of faith.
This particular event became known as al- Rukban seminar. History books report the details of the debates that took place between the Imam and the other scholars and how Imam Ali al-Rida (A) provided convincing and irrefutable proofs and evidence to their questions and arguments.
For his worship he would stay many nights awake keeping vigil in prayers and worship and would complete reading the holy Qur’an in three days. Very often he would pray one thousand rak’ahs in twenty-four hours, with prolonged prostrations lasting many hours and he would fast very often.
He was very generous and he would help people particularly during the night.
He never did any injustice to anyone in words or deeds. He would never speak harshly. He would never sit back leaning in the presence of someone sitting.
He would never laugh loudly. He would call upon all the members of his family and servants to have food together.
Hadith from Imam Rida (A)
‘Socialise with one another, so that you get friendlier.’ ‘He who repents is as he who has no sin.’ ‘Cleanliness and hygiene is one of the traits and manners of the prophets.’
‘The most superior knowledge is the knowledge of the self.’ ‘(In the Qur’an) Allah has commanded (us to do) three things which are linked to another three. He ordered (us to perform) the daily prayers and Zakah, and he who performs the prayers but not the Zakah, his prayers would not be accepted. He ordered (us) to be thankful to Him and to the parents, and he who is not thankful to his parents is not thankful to Allah. He ordered (us) to be pious and have fear of him, and keep close ties with the relatives, and he who does not keep close ties with his relatives is not pious.’
‘He who likens Allah to His creations is a Mushrik (polytheist), and he who attributes to Him something which He has forbidden is a Kafir (infidel).’
‘The merit of Eman (faith) is a grade higher than that of Islam (Submission to Allah’s will), and the merit of Taqwa (Fear-of- Allah) is a grade higher than that of Eman, and the merit of Yaqeen (conviction) is a grade higher than that of Taqwa, and the sons of Adam (or human beings) are not given anything better than Yaqeen.’
‘Eman has four pillars: Trusting and relying on Allah, Contentment and pleasure with the will of Allah, Submitting to the ordinance of Allah, and Delegation and turning over (the affairs) to Allah.’
‘Eman is to discharge the obligatory duties and to refrain from committing forbidden acts. Eman is recognition by heart, admission by tongue, and practicing, by all limbs, everything that has been ordered.’
‘The Qur’an is the sturdy rope of Allah and His firm grip, and His perfect road that leads to paradise, and delivers from the fire. It does not pall despite the passing of aeons, and does not dissipate despite being oft repeated, because it was not created for one time rather than another but it is the argument and proof for all humanity. Falsehood does not approach it from before or from behind, a revelation from The All Wise, The All Praised.’
A narrator reports, I asked Imam al-Rida (A) ‘What do you say about the Qur’an?’ Imam Rida (A) replied: ‘It is the word of Allah, and so do not surpass it, and do not seek guidance in anything else, for you will be deviated and go astray.’
The Ninth Imam: Imam al-Jawad
Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (A) is the son of Imam Ali al-Rida (A) and his mother is lady Sabikah.
He was born on Friday the tenth of Rajab in the year one hundred and ninety-five after the Hijrah in the holy city of Medina. He died a martyr in Baghdad after being poisoned at the end of Dhi- Qqa’dah in the year two hundred and twenty after Hijrah. His son Imam Ali al-Hadi prepared his body for burial and he was buried in the Quraysh cemetery - as it was then known - next to the grave of his grandfather Imam Mosa al-Kadim where his shrine stands now, currently in the Kadimiyyah district of Baghdad, Iraq.
Imam Muhammad al-Jawad excelled all others of his time in knowledge, spiritual perfection, generosity, social and moral manners, and in the art of eloquent communications.
He would carry gold and silver with him to give to the needy. If he was asked for assistance by any of his uncles Imam al-Jawad (A) would give them no less than 50 gold coins, and if any of his aunts asked him for assistance, he would give them no less than 25 gold coins.
More people became aware of the vast knowledge of Imam al- Jawad when some eighty scholars from different places met with him on his way back from Hajj and asked him various questions, to all of which the Imam provided convincing and irrefutable answers. On one occasion an amazing event is reported that many people gathered around him to ask him various questions, which numbered around thirty thousand, and he answered all of them correctly, and at that time he was only nine years old. Age factor, however, is not an issue in the case of the members of the Family Revelation [of the Prophet], in particular when the holy Qur’an speaks of giving the Book and Prophethood to Jesus son of Mary while he was a toddler in the cradle.
In appreciation to the Imam’s station, Ma’mun, the ruler of the time, gave to him his daughter in marriage after the Imam answered all the questions that the ruler had asked him for trial purposes.
Hadith from Imam Jawad (A)
‘He who trusts upon Allah, He guides him to felicity and happiness. He who depends upon Allah, He suffices him the matters of his life.
The trust in Allah is a fortress where no one other than the trustworthy believer is housed. Reliance on Allah is salvation from all evil and protection from all enemies. Islam is a source of honour. Knowledge is treasure. Silence is light.
The utmost degree of Zuhd (abstinence) is avoiding sin. There is no destruction for Islam like innovations (heresy). Nothing is more decadent for man then greed. Through (the pious) ruler the people are guided. Through supplication calamities are repelled. . .’ ‘If the ignorant keeps silent, people would not differ.’ ‘As the beneficences of Allah upon a person increase, the needs of the people towards him enhance. Thus he who does not meet those needs, exposes those beneficences to annihilation.’
‘You should know that you never go out of sight of Allah, so watch in what state you are.’ ‘The one who commits aggression and tyranny, and the one who helps him to it, and the one who condones it, they are all partners in crime.’
‘Forbearance is the garment of the scholar, make sure you clothe yourself with it.’ ‘The believer needs three qualities; facility from Allah, selfadmonishing, and acceptance of constructive criticism.’ ‘Three practices enable an individual to reach the pleasure and approval of Almighty Allah: frequent repentance, leniency, and giving to charity regularly.
And (there are) three qualities which if one possesses, he would never regret: avoiding hastiness, consulting (with others), and to rely on Allah once a decision is made.’
The Tenth Imam: Imam Hadi
Imam Ali al-Hadi (A) is the son of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (A) and his mother was Samanah.
He was born in the holy city of Medina on the second of Rajab in the year two hundred and twelve after Hijrah. He died martyr after being poisoned on Monday the third of Rajab in the year two hundred fifty four after the Hijrah in Samara, Iraq, and his son Imam Hasan al-Askari prepared his body for burial and buried him in his house in Samara where his shrine stands today.
Imam al-Hadi remarkably excelled all others of his time in the fields of human perfections, knowledge, generosity, politeness of manners, worshipping Allah, moral qualities, way of life, and discipline.
One example of his generosity is the case when the Abbasid ruler of his time sent him thirty thousand Dirhams, the imam gave the lot to an Arab from Kufah, saying, “pay your debts out of this and spend the rest on your family and relatives, and accept our apologies.” The man, thanking the Imam, said, “Sir, the debts on me are less than one third of it but .Allah best knows to whom He entrusts His message.
and took the money and left.
Hadith from Imam Hadi (A)
‘Better than the good-deed is he who performs it. More striking than the beautiful words is he who says them. More worthy than knowledge is he who conveys it. More evil than evil is he who causes it. More frightening than fear is he who brings it.’
‘Allah cannot be defined except with what he has defined himself. How can He be defined when wits are unable to perceive Him, imaginations fail to reach Him, minds cannot explain Him, and the visions cannot encompass Him?’
‘When justice is dominant, one may not suspect another unless he is sure of his suspicion about him, and when injustice is dominant, one should not assume good thing about another unless he is sure of it.’
‘Jealousy erodes the good deeds and brings about the bad fortunes.’
‘Beware of jealousy for it will work against you and will have no effect on your foe.’ ‘Indeed, both the scholar and the student share in prosperity.’ ‘Allah has made the world a place of calamity and the hereafter a place of outcome. He has set the calamities of the world to be the cause of the reward of the hereafter, and has made the reward of the hereafter a substitute for the calamities of the world.’
‘Self-conceit restrains (one) from seeking knowledge and brings about scorn and ignorance.’
The Eleventh Imam: Imam Askari
Imam Hasan al-Askari is the son of Imam Ali al-Hadi and his mother is lady Hudayth.
He was born in the holy city of Medina on Friday the tenth
of Rabi’-II in the year two hundred thirty two after the Hijrah. He died a martyr after being poisoned on Friday the eighth of Rabi’-I in the year two hundred and sixty Hijrah. His son Imam al-Mahdi prepared his body for burial and buried him next to the grave of his father Imam al-Hadi in Samara where his shrine stands today.
His noble qualities such as his knowledge, generosity, perfect manners, servitude to Allah and excellent personality are well known and are ideal examples for others to follow. In physical terms, he was beautifully tall, had a handsome face, and was perfectly shaped. He generated great awe in the hearts and electrifying station in the souls. In his manners, way of life, and the beautiful treatment with people he used to resemble his great grand father Allah’s messenger peace be upon them.
On the matter of his generosity Ismael narrates:
“Once I sat on the way waiting for the Imam to pass by and when he did I complained about my difficulties and asked him for financial help. The Imam said, “You swear by Allah falsely while you have buried 200 Dinars as a saving! What I say is not to deny you financial help.” Then the Imam asked his servant to give him all he had. So his servant gave me 100 Dinars.”
Having heard about his grace and generosity, a man, who needed 500 Dirhams, approached Imam al-Askari (A) and the Imam gave him 500 Dirhams, and another 300 Dirhams on top of that.
Everyone testified to his beautiful and righteous attributes magnanimous traits, such that the Christians testified that he resembled Jesus Christ in his knowledge, noble virtues, and miracles.
The Imam was known for his extensive worship to Allah, continuous night prayers, his good deeds as well as his nobility and awe.
Hadith from Imam Askari (A)
‘No respectful individual abandons the truth unless he becomes debased, and no abject individual pursues the truth unless he becomes honourable.’
‘He who advices and criticises his brother covertly, has decorated him. He who does so in public has rebuked him.’ ‘The best of your brothers is the one who forgets your sins and remembers your favour to him.’ ‘The heart of the fool is in his mouth, and the mouth of the wise is in his heart.’ ‘He who uses false means to achieve his ends would regret his policy.’
‘Rage is the key to every evil.’ ‘It is sufficient politeness and courtesy for you to refrain from what you dislike to see from others.’ ‘Be cautious about seeking fame and power for they lead to annihilation.’
Twelfth Imam: Imam Mahdi
Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, al-Hujjah - the Proof or Authority (of Allah over mankind) - is the son of Imam Hasan al-Askari peace be upon him and may Allah hasten his honourable reappearance, and his mother is Lady Nargis peace be upon her.
He was born in Samarra’, Iraq, on the eve of the fifteenth of Sha’ban, in the year two hundred fifty five after Hijrah.
He is the last of the authorities (Hujjah) of Allah on earth and the seal of the caliphs or successors of Allah’s messenger peace be upon him and his progeny. He is the last of the twelve Imams or leaders of the Muslims. By His will, Almighty Allah has prolonged his honourable life span in this world so that the earth is not left without an authority (Hujjah), for if it were not for the hujjah, “the earth would have subsided and swallowed its people”
. He is hidden from views, and Almighty Allah shall permit him to reappear when the earth has been filled with wrong and oppression, in order to fill it with justice and righteousness
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The holy Prophet peace be upon him and his pure family, and the ma‘soom Imams peace be upon them, have stated that Imam Mahdi will have a long occultation, when no one remain steadfast and adhere to his walayah except those whom Allah has tested their hearts. His benefit to the people of the earth during his occultation will be like that of the sun from behind the clouds.
Almighty Allah will keep him alive, but hidden from views, until the time of his reappearance, when he will reappear by the leave of Almighty Allah and have total sovereignty over the entire world and spreads justice and righteousness throughout, and extends Islam through its every corner, and implements the Qur’an over all and in every aspect of life; thus goodness, happiness, and prosperity will cover all lands, all creatures, and then will be realised the Almighty’s word, .to proclaim it over all religions, though the polytheists may resent.
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O Allah! Hasten his reappearance, ease his immergence, make us amongst his supporters and helpers.
When Imam Mahdi came to prepare his father body for burial and performed the deceased-prayer for him, the tyrants of the time learned of there being a successor to Imam al-Askari, and thus they feared for their throne, plotted to detained him and eliminate him - just as they did to his pure forefathers - in a bid to rid themselves of what is awaiting them, according to the prophecies made by Allah’s messenger about the news of the 12th imam who will terminate the reigns of the tyrants and overcome them.
However, Imam Mahdi was commanded by Allah Almighty to go into occultation and hide from the views of the people. So when Abbasid spies located his whereabouts, and they stormed his house, he hid from their views, through exiting from the other door, of the basement of his house, to outside the house, without any one of them seeing him. And since the place of his disappearance from views was his house, the Muslims took the place attributed to him - in the holy city of Samarra’ - which is known as “sirdab al-ghaybah” as a shrine and a mosque.
Abu Sa’id al-Khidri reports that when Rasulollah (S) was ill, which led to his death, Fatimah al-Zahra’ (A) entered the room he was laying in to nurse him (S) and I was sitting on the right of Rasulollah (S). Noticing his weakness Fatimah (A) was upset by his state she started to cry. Rasulollah (S) said to her (A):
‘Why do you cry O Fatimah? Do you not know that Allah sought for the best on earth and chose your father as His Messenger, and then sought again He chose your husband and advised me to marry him to you and instructed me to appoint him as my successor. Do you not know that by the grace of Allah upon you, Allah married you to the most knowledgeable of all, and the most forbearing of all, and the foremost of all having the faith of Islam? Fatimah (A) smiled and Rasulollah (S) went on to inform her about what Allah has given to the Ahl-ul-Bayt (A) by saying:
Allah has given us we the Ahl-ul-Bayt six qualities which have not been given to anyone before us and or to anyone after us the Ahl-ul-Bayt.
1. Our prophet is the best of the prophets and he is your father,
2. and our wasi, or caliph, is the best wasi and he is your husband,
3. and our martyr is the best martyr and he is your father’s uncle Hamzah,
4. and from us is al-Hasan the Sibt (grandson of the prophet) of this Ommah , and he is your son,
5. and from us is al-Husayn the Sibt (grandson of the prophet) of this Ommah , and he is your son,
6. and from us is the Mahdi, Saviour, of this Ommah, behind whom Jesus will pray.
Then the prophet patted the shoulder of al-Husayn (A) and said ‘and from him is the Mahdi of this Ommah’’ Ibn Abbas reports that Rasulollah (S) said:
‘Indeed Ali ibn Abi Talib is the Imam of my Ommah and my caliph and successor upon this Ommah after me, from his sons is the Qa’im (al-Mahdi) the Awaited, who would fill the world with justice after it had been overcome by tyranny and injustice. By He who sent me with Truth as a Bearer of glad tidings and a Warner, those who remain steadfast and believe in him are dearer than red sulphur.
Then Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari stood up and asked: ‘O Rasulollah! Will the Qa’im from your descendants go into an occultation?’ Rasulollah (S) replied, ‘Yes by my Lord. For Allah shall test and purify the believers and wipe out the non-believers. O Jabir! This matter is one of the secrets of Allah, hidden from the servants of Allah. Thus I warn you about doubting about this for doubting the wish of Allah is Kufr (disbelief).’
Hadith from Imam Mahdi (A)
‘Almighty Allah sent Muhammad peace be upon him as a Mercy to the worlds, and with him He perfected His beneficence, and sealed His prophets, and He sent him (with His message) to all people (to come).’
‘And as for the reason of the occultation, Almighty Allah says, .O ye who believe! ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble.
‘My benefit (to the people) during my occultation is similar to that of the sun when it disappears from sight behind the clouds.’
‘I am the Mahdi, and I am the leader of the time, I am the one who would fill it (the earth) with justice after it has been overcome with injustice and aggression. Indeed the earth never remains without a Proof and Authority (of Allah).’ ‘I am the seal of the awsiya’ (successors) and through me Allah would remove the hardship from my people and my followers (Shi’a).’
‘We have not ignored your consideration, and have not forgotten your mention; otherwise hardship would have descended upon you and your enemies would have exterminated you.’
‘. . and if Allah give us the permission of speech, then truth will manifest and falsehood would disappear.’
‘As for the ongoing events, refer to the narrators of our hadith (i.e. the Fuqaha’), for they are my claim and proof upon you and I am the claim and proof of Allah upon them.’ ‘Let every one of you do what brings closer to our love, and abstain from what brings about our displeasure and anger.’ ‘Increase and maintain the Du’a for the Faraj (the reappearance of the Imam) for that is the relief for you too.’
‘Allah insists that eventually Truth must hold and Falsehood must decline.’
‘Nothing like the daily prayers forces the nose of the Satan to the ground, so perform the daily prayers and force his nose to the ground.’
‘If our Shi’a (followers), may Allah help and succeed them to His obedience, were united in wholeheartedly honouring the promise and obligation that is upon them, there would have been no delay in meeting us (i.e. in our reappearance), and bliss and felicity for them would have hastened by seeing us with full knowledge and certainty of testifying to our (leadership)’ ‘As for the Dawn of the Relief (i.e. the reappearance of the Imam), this is for Allah to say, and those foretellers (about the time of the dawn) say lies.’
‘None of my fathers, peace be upon them, but each of them had (enforced) upon him an allegiance to the tyrant of his time. However when I arise there will be no allegiance upon me for any of the tyrants.’
‘O My Master! You are the One who bestowed upon me this position and station, and with it favoured me over many of Your creatures. I ask You to send your mercy and bliss upon Muhammad and his household, and to fulfil what You promised, for You are truthful and You do not break Your promise, and You are able upon everything.’
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Author: Ayatullah Seyyed Muhammad Sadiq Shirazi
