Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Alhassanain (p) Network for Islamic Heritage and Thought

Hisham ibn Hakam

A biography of the great companion of the 6th Imam (a), Hisham ibn Hakam. Includes discussions of wilaya, and other debates in which he was engaged.

Author(s): Muhammad Reza Atai

Publisher(s): Islamic Research Foundation (Astan-i-Quds Razavi)

www.alhassanain.org/english

Table of Contents

Foreword 3

Introduction 4

The First University of Shi'a 4

Numbers of Students 5

Who is Hisham? 6

Abu Muhammad or Abul Hakam Hisham ibn Hakam Kendi 6

The Business Activities of Hisham 6

Notes 6

Characteristics of Hisham 8

Remarks of the Scholars Regarding Hisham 8

Victorious Champion 9

Witticism of Hisham 9

Books of Hisham 9

The Founder of the Science of the Fundamentals of Religion 10

Unfair Accusations 10

Notes 12

The First Meeting of Hisham with Imam (a) 14

Notes 15

Debates of Hisham: Defending of Wilayah 16

Notes 18

Hisham - The Champion with Inductive Reasoning 20

Notes 22

Imam, the centre of the existing world 23

Notes 25

The Debate of Hisham with the chief of the Kharajites (Khawarej) 26

Notes 28

The Divine Help 29

Note 30

The debate that became the cause of the death of Hisham 31

Notes 32

The Cause of the Death of Hisham 33

Notes 34

Foreword

The present book which is in the hands of our esteemed readers, is a translation of"Hisham ibn Hakam" written by the honourable writer Hujjatol Islam Muhammad Reza Atai, who has also written and translated many works which have been published in the recent years.

This is a superb book to introduce the readers to the champions and the assistants to the Imamate and the cause of Wilayah. This condensed book should be published in English, Urdu and other languages to assist the seekers of knowledge in their search for information regarding their religious champions.

We believe the translation, publication and distribution of Islamic literature to foreign countries where there is a lack of Islamic information, will be a great service to the Islamic world.

We feel obliged to extend our thanks and gratitude to Mr. Muhammad Hashem, a member of the translation department, and all other colleagues who have tried their best in editing and preparing the text for publication. We wish them success in promoting Islamic culture.

Islamic Research Foundation

Astan-e-Quds Razavi

Mashad

August 21 1988

Shahrivar 6, 1367.

Introduction

The mechanical life has taken the blessings away from many things, especially from time and life. In our days, there is no one who lives a natural life, and does not leave this world by natural death and does not make the most of the opportunities available during his short secular life.

There are very few people who make the most of those opportunities and use every minute of their time collecting intellectual benefits. Most of our time is devoted to worldly matters, and opportunities are wasted for the sake of the material objectives. Most of our thoughts rotate around the axis of economy. Our general goal is to attain worldly pleasure. Human feelings have become the captive of desire and personal passion and everything is at the disposal of human lust!

Really, how the years of life are spent so uselessly and rapidly; opportunities flee without benefit so swiftly! In the past, when human beings travelled on horses and camels, Amirul Mu'mineen Ali (a) used to comment on the importance of time and the lapse of opportunities as follows:"Make the most of your opportunities as they pass away swiftly like the pieces of a cloud."

Today human beings are really puzzled when they examine the developments and speeds of the modern means of transportation. They do not know to which things in the past to compare these modern developments with. For this reason the elite and learned men are of the opinion that today, people do not have sufficient time to read long stories and voluminous books.

Therefore, the storywriters and biographers try to summarize their attempts and write as concisely as they can. According to them, the characteristic of a good story is that it should be short and brief. People are tired. They have no patience and time, especially for the study of the accounts of a human life.

The study of the biographies of great heroes and distinguished men and the study of their time periods and the acknowledgement of the truth and reality of their features is very necessary for everyone in the present circumstances.

This is especially true when haste and impatience are epidemic. On the other hand, it is the cherished wish of every seeker of the real path and code of life to know about the blazing and glorious heroes of knowledge and faith. Therefore, it is very necessary to provide short accounts of the lives of the champions of Islam to our young generation as models.

The First University of Shi'a

Undoubtedly, the second half of the second century of Hijra has been a critical chapter in the history of Islam. At a time when Abbasids and Umayyads were tearing each other apart like wild beasts to take the reins of the Islamic dynasty into their own hands and like vultures, they were attacking each other on the corpse of khilafat, the so-called Islamic one, the true leaders grasped the suitable opportunity to expand the realities of Islam and propagate the Qur'anic teachings. Two of our exalted Imams took the most advantage of these opportunities.

The fifth Imam Hazrat Baqerul Ulum (the analyzer of science) (a) laid the foundation of a university and prepared the way in such a manner that all interested people were attracted there and all seekers of knowledge gathered around to acquire different sciences from all over the world.

Similarly, our 6th Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad (a) could teach thousands of capable persons in the different fields of arts and sciences and introduced the Shi'a Ja'fary sect to the world. Actually he presented the real outlook of Islam to the people of the world because the realities of Islam were changed completely during the caliphate of Umayyads and Marwans. This was due to the improper acts of the caliphs and the people were bewildered and puzzled.

Numbers of Students

Shaikh at-Tusi has mentioned the total number of the followers of Imam al-Baqer (a) as 484 persons and the total number of the students of Imam al-Sadiq (a) as 3197 men and 12 women, in his book Rijal (the biographies of the transmitters of the prophetic traditions). It is obvious that these numbers refer only to those persons whose names are individually mentioned in different books or are famous.

Otherwise, there were many others who were not famous or their names were not mentioned and have been forgotten. The learned men have written about the numbers of the students and those who flourished under Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) as two thousand persons, just in the great Mosque of Kufa alone who used to come and listen to his lectures. Therefore, the number of students should be more than this in all other centres and towns.

In fact, each of these liberal men is a burning candle and a shining star. So to have the knowledge and information about the life of each of them is a must for every Muslim because their lives are marked by bravery and chivalry. Undoubtedly, every one can change his mode of life and can rediscover the real path of life by reading the stories of their lives.

So our aim is to manifest the biography of the youngest man of this group of great personalities along with some of his adventurous acts - the perfect man, the pupil of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) namely Hisham ibn Hakam. We want to present one of the greatest champions of Islam to the young generation. Maybe we can learn a lesson from the story of his continuous efforts in the path to reach the target and his unparalleled devotion to defending the cause of Wilayah (trusteeship).

Who is Hisham?

Hisham is one of the best scholars and authorities of Islam. He was famous for his knowledge and virtue among the learned men of his time. He was a genius and a gifted improviser and due to his good sense of taste and capability he used to be victorious over all of his rivals in debate and speech; the champion who was never defeated, the man whose tongue was sharper than a sword. Indeed, he is recognized as one of the greatest champions and the most distinguished supporters of Wilayah (trusteeship). It was Hisham who originally put the topics of Imamate and Wilayah (trusteeship) forward on the basis of wisdom and logic; and he proved himself to be fully competent for this task.

Abu Muhammad or Abul Hakam Hisham ibn Hakam Kendi

Although most of the writers have written his name as Hisham ibn Hakam and they know him as the son of"Hakam" , an inhabitant of Kufa, in some of the books written by modern writers,1 the name of his father has been mentioned as Yazid. According to this source Hisham had a brother who was one of the Hadith relaters.

His brother had two sons and one daughter; and one of those two sons was very famous in the field of rhetoric. Most of the writers have mentioned Kufa as Hisham's birthplace; so he is known as Hisham ibn Hakam from Kufa. Some mention Baghdad and a few name Waset, near Basra as his birth place. Perhaps this mistake occurred because Hisham passed his early life in Waset and a part of his life in Baghdad.

There is a dispute regarding his descent also. Some have mentioned him as"Maula Bani-Kandah" 2 or"Maula Bani Shayban" .3 As the term"Maula" was used for non-Arabs, so it means that he did not belong to an Arab race. Some think him to be descended from Bani-Khazaya4 - the largest Arab tribe. Then there would be no doubt that he belongs to an Arab race.

The exact year of the birth of Hisham is also not written in any book, but we understand from different sources that he was born in Kufa,5 the centre of Iraqi's Shi'as, in the beginning of the second century of Hijra. He passed a part of his childhood in Waset and grew up there. Afterwards he lived a few years in Baghdad in the Karkh area where he was conducting some business.

The Business Activities of Hisham

It is clear by studying the biography of Hisham that he not only acquired knowledge, fought for the cause of religion and conducted campaigns and debates against the infidels and unbelievers in Wilayah (trusteeship), but also he was active in the business of selling fabrics. As Hisham himself states: One day while he was busy selling the Saberi6 fabric under a shaded tree, the seventh Imam Musa ibn Ja'far (a) happened to ride by. He turned his face to me and said,"O Hisham, selling something in the shadows is similar to cheating, and cheating is unlawful in Islam." 7

Notes

1. Hisham ibn Hakam- written by: Ahmad Safai, P.14.

2. "Rejal"- by Abu 'Amr Kashi

3. "One of the Mawalis of Bani Sheiban, and inhabitant of Baghdad". Al- Fehrist Ibn Nadim.

4. "Hisham ibn al-Hakam" by Abdullah Na'mah, quoted from - Ketab - Ta'sis al- Shia by Sayyid Sadr.

5. Hisham ibn Hakam - by Ahmad Safai, pg.10.

6. A Kind of delicate and costly silk which was woven in those days in Sabur, Persia, and it was very difficult to distinguish the complete characteristics of that cloth in darkness and shadow.

7. Al Fehrist of Ibn Nadim Hassan, a poet during the time of the Prophet (s) whose odes including "Ghadirieh", are famous.

Characteristics of Hisham

Hisham enjoyed the special favour of the Imams (a). Those distinguished remarks which have been quoted in the books of great writers in praise of Hisham have not been quoted regarding any other person. The 6th Imam (a) has prayed for him and said:

"Hisham, I have said about you that very thing which the Prophet (s) said about Hassan (a) May the Holy spirit assist you always as long as you assist us by the help of your tongue (speech)." 1 Imam al-Sadiq (a) said,"Hisham is the protector of our cause (right) and the annihilator of the babbling and idle speeches of our enemies. To follow him is just like following us and likewise to be at enmity with him is like being at enmity with us." 2

One day the Imam said to Hisham,"O Hisham, discuss and argue about religious topics and problems. I am so glad that a person like you were among our Shi'as." 3 Sulaiman ibn Ja'far has narrated when people asked Imam Reza (a) about Hisham, he replied,"May God bless him; he was a benevolent fellow. His fellowmen envied and insulted him." 4

Hisham, from the very beginning of his life as a Shi'a, was favoured by the Shi'a leaders; all followers of the Prophet's household respected him. The Prophet's household and the religious leaders looked upon him with respect and honour.

Remarks of the Scholars Regarding Hisham

"Hisham ibn Hakam was one of the greatest followers of Imam al-Sadiq (a) and a pious man and an expert on Islamic laws." 5

Hisham was one of the closest helpers of the 6th Imam (a) and the 7th Imam and had discourses with his opponents on the basic principles and the other religious matters. He was alive for sometime even after the death of the 7th Imam (a).6

"Hisham is respected and of a high rank and reliable in quoting Hadith (tradition)" .7

"There was a group of brilliant students of the Holy Family and Shi'a Imams who were outstanding in speculative theology (Ilm-Kalam) due to their skillfulness, proficiency and reasoning power like Hisham ibn Hakam and..." 8

Hisham has many writings, discourses and books on the topics of Imamate and speculative theology. The contemporary scholars of Hisham have counted him as the greatest defender of"Wilayah" (trusteeship) and the honour of Shi'a (i.e. eye and face); the"eye of the Shi'a" (Ain-al-Taefe) in the sense that he was a watchful and vigilant protector against the deeds of the opponents. He did not neglect the smallest impudent act of the opponents against the exalted rank of"Wilayah" and did not leave even the least objections un-replied against"Imamate" .

He was called"the face of Shi'a" (i.e. Wajh-al-Taefe) in the sense that anyone from among the opponents of the Shi'a who used to confront him either surrendered, converted or became fearful and refused to discuss and argue with him. Hisham used to say,"I wonder why the opponents of the Shi'a chose the man as caliph whose dismissal came from heaven and dismiss the man whose appointment came from heaven; and quoted the story of the verse Bara'at for justification." 9

Victorious Champion

Hisham, like many others, was fond of virtue and excellence and thirsty for knowledge from the vast ocean of Imam's wisdom (a). He used to perform Hajj every year and he used to pay a visit to the 6th Imam (a) or his beloved son, the 7th Imam (a) at Mecca or Madina. He benefited greatly from these two honourable personalities and returned very much successful. So it was this very acquired knowledge that gave him strength at the time of debate against his opponents and made him always victorious.

That very year the Imam (a) was at the place of sacrifice and there were groups of learned pupils and famous scholars around him like: Hamran ibn Ain Shaybani. Ghais ibn Maser, Yunus ibn Yaqub and Abu Ja'far Ahwal (Momen Tagh) and a number of other Shi'a brave men who were encircling the Imam (a) like a precious stone around a ring. Hisham, who was still very young, entered Mina and presented himself to Imam al-Sadiq (a).

Imam (a) held Hisham extraordinarily dearer to himself than others. Then because he thought that this excessive honouring might annoy the others present there, Imam al-Sadiq (a) said:

"This young man assists and defends our cause with all of his strength (i.e. with his heart, hand and tongue)."

Then to prove the special intellectual position of Hisham, Imam al-Sadiq (a) asked him a few questions regarding the Exalted Divine names (of Allah) and the formation of names relating to the creator's attributes. Hisham replied to them all correctly and very eloquently and clearly. Then Imam al-Sadiq (a) said:

"O Hisham, God has bestowed this versatility and farsightedness upon you because you must repel the evil acts of our enemies."

Then he prayed to God for him and said:

"May God reward you for your knowledge and make your foot firm in the path, of God and our way of guidance.

After that, it was due to this blessing bestowed by the Imam (a) that Hisham was always victorious like a champion over his enemies in discourses. He used to say always that he achieved this power in himself and felt a holy light due to the blessing of Imam (a). " By God, till this day when I am standing here, nobody has defeated me in religious discourses."

Witticism of Hisham

The respected scholar Sayyid Mohsen Jabal Amili (God bless him) writes in his valuable book A'yan al Shi'a that too many eulogies have been quoted by the two Imams (the 6th Imam Ja'far ibn Muhammad and the 7th Imam (a) about Hisham. Then he adds: It is enough to say regarding Hisham's readiness to answer and his impromptu speeches, that one day people asked him whether Mu'awiyah was present in the Battle of Badr or not? He replied quickly: Yes, but on the other side. That is, he was present but was among the opponents and a member of the enemy's army.

Books of Hisham

Hisham is the first man who discussed and deliberated the fundamentals of beliefs and topic of leadership in the Islamic world on the basis of the scientific point of view. He wrote books on those topics and opened the way for research and debate for the coming generations. By using rational and traditional reasoning in his speeches and writings, he made the sublime goal and the benefit of the Shi'a school clear for the other Muslims and foreign scholars. Hisham had many books on different scientific fields but unfortunately, today there is nothing left except their names written in the books. Ibn Nadeem and a group of other great writers have counted his books to be about thirty volumes. Allamah Helli writes: Hisham has compiled a book against dualists and separatists and another book against"Aristotle" ,"Shaikh and the Slave" and"Eight Chapters" were among his books.

The Founder of the Science of the Fundamentals of Religion

The late Allamah Sayyid Mohsen Amili, the writer of A'yan al Shi'a says: Hisham has written the book- Al-Alfaz. So the statement of Jalaluddin Seuti: that the first writer of the fundamentals of Muslim laws, according to the consensus of scholars, is Shafei, "is not correct, because Hisham b. Hakam has been living a very long time before him.

Moreover to emphasize this point it is known that Imam al-Baqer (a) and Imam al-Sadiq (a) used to teach the complete and useful rules of this science from the chapters of etymological arguments and rational proofs to their pupils and followers. A group of scholars have also compiled a few books regarding the traditions quoted from the holy Imams on this very topic.

Furthermore, the respected Allamah also mentions the names of some of the great scholars to prove that Hisham is the first man who has written books on the topic of the science of the fundamentals of speculative theology. Hisham was well informed of the different topics of the fundamentals: Beliefs, philosophical (Divine Metaphysics) discourses and Muslim laws.

He was also well-versed in argumentation about the Creator, unity of God, attributes of His Glory and Beauty and God's will. He was expert at reasoning for Imamate (leadership) and Wilayah, knowledge, chastity, all other qualities of the Imams and also regarding miracles and unusual actions of those pious men. He was well acquainted with the Qur'an, the words of God and the discussion on free will and freedom of human beings. Likewise, he was well versed in the topics of the atom and metaphysics, the materiality of some matter, the reality of human beings, cause of earthquakes, rain and etc., in natural philosophy.

Unfair Accusations

The sensational life and ramming debates of Hisham are known to us and we also know that his decisive speech was just like a sharp sword, but sometimes, he had to use dissimulation in his speeches to save himself from attack by the unjust people and also to get rid of tyrants. So his speeches had double meanings and as a result the enemies used to keep quiet but his short sighted friends could not understand the reality of his speeches. So people either being aware or unaware of the fact, have accused Hisham unfairly. Thus, according to Allamah Sayyid Mohsen Amili, (May God bless him), these accusations were due to some well-wishing as he says:"This was like making a hole in the ship (as Khidr (a) did in the story of the Qur'an) i.e. for the good reasoning." 10

The learned scholar Mr. Atarodi Ghochani writes: "The shallow narrators and flimsy opponents have unfairly accused Hisham of having beliefs contrary to the ideas of the Qur'an whereas he is the first person who has spoken about the Imamate. And Imam al-Sadiq (a) was extraordinarily attached to him and preferred him over all of his followers.11

Then he adds:"Sunni scholars have blamed him (Hisham) for infidelity and dualism and have made unfair accusations against him. However, the Shi'a scholars have given replies to all those unfair accusations and cleared his sacred personality from all those unfair accusations." 12

He writes in another place:"Shahristani has mentioned a particular sect namely Hishamiyah in his book - al-Melal wa-Nahal- and has counted them as the followers of Hisham-bin-Hakam. He says that this belief of Shahristani has no genuine source and is only a mere accusation. Shahristani has taken his information from the long-time enemies and opponents of Hisham. So for this reason his writings have no value and the sacred personality of Hisham is free from any unfair blame." 13

Abu Mansur Abdul Qaher Baghdadi has blamed Hisham for believing in the corporeality of God and writes clearly that he believes in the corporeality of God.14

In reply to these accusations, Sayyid Murtaza known as 'Alamul Huda, notes that:"this famous sentence 'God is corporeal but not like other corporal bodies' which Hisham has been accused of saying, has been interpreted in different ways." For example, Hisham was debating with Mo'atazalah group and to defeat them Hisham used their own phraseology. Hisham said to them that suppose you are of the opinion that God is a (material) thing but not like any other things; then you must say He is a body but not like other bodies.15

The writer of the book - al-Melal wan-Nahal - has also confirmed this matter, when he writes that Hisham has used this phrase during his debates with the group of Ghulat (exaggerators).16 Some others have also accused Hisham, saying that he had no belief in the knowledge of God about the happenings and accidents of the future, i.e., Hisham was of the opinion that the knowledge of God about accidental matters is also accidental and His knowledge is apart from His Essence.

The late Sayyid Murtaza also writes concerning this: The story of the knowledge of God regarding the accidents and happenings is also a creation of Hisham's enemies and is nothing but a condemnation as in this matter there is nothing in the records; neither from Hisham's own works nor has any other reliable and trustworthy person quoted such things regarding him.17

In the same manner, he is blamed for the matter of the visibility of God on the Day of Judgement. As according to the apparent meaning of some of the Qur'anic verses, it is said that the Creator would be seen in corporeal form. So this is also one of the accusations directed against his sacred personality. But the fact is that in the beginning of his career, Hisham was the disciple of Abu Shaker Deisani - the learned materialist. Later on he was for a time one of the followers of Jahm b. Safwan - the fatalist and was also one of his disciples. But the research authorities do not approve of the idea: that if the master deviates from the true path, the disciple will also deviate from it.

Secondly, for a seeker of truth and a researcher of reality, this process of philosophical evolution and transformation of ideas was vital and necessary for his intellectual and spiritual development. For this reason we must not accuse Hisham of deviation and we must not find fault with him. Rather all of this reveals Hisham's evolutionary philosophical endeavour and inclination towards righteousness. Moreover, some writers have recorded that he associated with Deisani in his early life, before he reached the threshold of Wilayah (trusteeship) and met with Imam al-Sadiq (a).

Notes

1. Wasail al-Shiah by Sheikh Horr Ameli, vol. 2. Pg. 208.

2. Ma'alem al-Ulama, by Ibn Shahr Ashob.

3. "Hazarah e at-Tusi = Millenery of at-Tusi", vol. 2. P.142.

4. Tanqih al-Maqal by Mamghani

5. Sheikh Mufid, Tanqih al-Maqal- quoted from the writings of Marhum Majlisi.

6. Khalesah by Allamah Helli.

7. "Rejal" by Sheikh at-Tusi.

8. A'yan a-Shiah by Allamah Sayyid Mohsen Amili, Part 2. Vol. 1. P.6.

9. Fehrist Ibn Nadim - (Hisham has indicated in his speech that after the inspiration of the verses of the chapter Barayat, (Immunity) the Prophet should first hand them to Abubakr to take to Mecca and recite at the Hajj gathering. And then by the order of God, Prophet (s.a.w.) was to take the verses back from him and give them to Amir al-Mu'minen, who then took the verses to Mecca and recited them during the Hajj season.

10. It refers to the story of the meeting of Moses (a) and Khidhr (a) and how they became travel companions. After sitting in the ship, Khidhr (a) started to make holes in the ship. Although it was agreed upon that Moses (a) would not interfere in the work of Khidhr (a) he began to object. Anyhow, Khidhr (a) explained his good intention in doing so and said that a tyrant king usurped the ships from its owners by force at the shore, and this belonged to a group of faithful labourers. I wanted to make a hole in it so that the ship might not attract the king and he would not usurp it from the owners. (Holy Qur'an. Cave 18:60)

11. Life of Abdul Azim Hasani, chapter, on gnostics and teachers, Pg. 202.

12. Ibid. Pg. 203.

13. Mohammad b. Abdul Karim Shahristani, the famous speculative theologian and philosopher, is one of the most learned men and philosophers of Islam. His book -Melal wal Nahal- is the most famous among the books on faiths and religions. He actually lived in the town of Sharistan, situated in the north of Khorasan which is now a part of Dargaz. He also died there. According to Yaqut Hamavi, Shahristan was a town in the vicinity of Nesa, and had an unfavourable climate and a large number of people used to die of the plague there every year. Muhammad ibn Abdul Karim was an inhabitant of that place.

14. Abu Mansour Abdul Qaher ibn Taher Baghdadi (d. 429), writer of the book- Al Farq Bain al-Feraq. In the same way in the book - Melal wal Nahal of the Zaidi sect, learned scholar AI-Imam Ahmad ibn Yahya b. al-Murtaza, has also quoted this: - Hisham ibn Hakam and Hisham Javalighi and all shias except for a small group of them like the sect of Abi al-Ahvas Moatazali believe in the corporeality of God. As you see, this writer has announced with the utmost injustice, Hisham and all other Shia groups as Mojassamah (believers of the corporeal body of God) and Moshabbaha (believers in the similarity of God to other beings). What an injustice!!!

15. Al-Shafi written by Sayyid Murtaza (regarding the remedying of the taunt against Hisham, the interested may please refer to vol.13 of Usul Kafi Pg. 337, Raudhat al-Kafi Pg. 379. Commentaries of Sha'rani).

16. "Ghulat"- pl. of Ghali, means a group of people who believe in Amirul Mu'mineen as God. (Amid. Persian Dictionary).

17. Al Shafi by Sayyid Murtaza.

The First Meeting of Hisham with Imam (a)

Hisham's first meeting and contact with the light of Wilayah, Imam Ja'far ibn Muhammad (a), happened after an evolution through different religions and the deep deliberation of the philosophical schools and also the compilation of his book - Refutation of Aristotle.

It is quoted that he was first introduced to the Imam (a) by his uncle, Umar ibn Yazid ibn Zebyan.1 This meeting was arranged by him. Umar ibn Yazid, who was himself a follower of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a) says:

"From the beginning Hisham, my brother's son was the follower of Jahm ibn Safvan, one of the leaders of the Mo'atazalah sect and also one of the followers of the Jahamiyah sect.2 He was a young, witty and impudent person. He had heard about the attributes of the Imam (a). One day, he requested me to present him to Imam al-Sadiq (a) to have a discussion with him (Imam (a)). As I was aware that Hisham was bold and rude, I said:

"I would not do this without his permission."

Then I visited the Imam (a) and asked his permission for Hisham's visit. The Imam said:"Let him come" .

After I went a few steps away from the house of the Imam (a) I remembered Hisham's audacity and meanness. I said to myself perhaps Hisham might speak impertinently in the presence of the Imam, so I returned and said (to the Imam):

"Hisham is such and such."

The Imam said:"O Umar, perhaps you are afraid of the meeting of Hisham with me."

I became ashamed of myself and understood that I had made a big mistake. Embarrassed I came out of the Imam's house and told Hisham to go to the Imam (a).

When Hisham entered, he asked about his own problems and difficult matters and he received their correct answers.

Then the Imam (a) also asked him a few questions. But as Hisham was amazed and bewildered (due to this being the first meeting with the Imam (a)) he asked for a deadline of a few days. He returned after a few days to the Imam but without any reply to the Imam's questions. He requested him to reply to those questions. The Imam answered all those questions and solved his problems. Again the Imam (a) asked a few more questions which were related to the invalidity of the Jahmiyah sect (until that very day Hisham was a follower of that sect). Hisham again asked for more time.

After a few days later, Hisham again asked me (Umar ibn Yazid) to go to the Imam's (a) residence and obtain permission to see him. When I went to see him (the Imam (a)) and asked for the permission, the Imam (a) told me about a place named"'Herah" and said:

"I shall be there tomorrow."

When I went to Hisham and told him about this matter, he became happy.

On the fixed day, Hisham reached there earlier than the Imam (a). Hisham says:

"While I was waiting there, suddenly Imam al-Sadiq (a) appeared in the far distance riding on a donkey, in great show. As he came nearer and nearer, I was impressed more and more by his greatness and splendour. Then he stopped and waited for me to say something. But I was so overwhelmed by his splendour that I could not speak a word. I believed that this formidableness was from God and it was due to the respect and position which the Imam (a) had before God."

Umar ibn Yazid says:

"This was the very meeting that changed Hisham. He left his previous sect (religion) and was converted whole-heartedly to the true religion. From that time on he was always in the presence of the 6th Imam (a)." 3

The late Mamghani writes:

"Hisham asked the Imam (a) about five hundred problems and questions in his first meeting and received correct answers for all of them. As a result he was so much enchanted by the divine greatness of the Imam (a) that as long as he was alive, he was the greatest defender of the Wilayah of the Ahlul Bayt (the guardianship of the Prophet's household (a))." 4

Notes

1. This chapter (the first meeting) is quoted from the book - Rejal Kashi.

2. The Moatazalah sect is affected by Jahmiyah sect and have accepted all the teachings of Jaham ibn Safwan except the Problem of Jabr (compulsion) Jamaluddin Qasemi Damishqi has mentioned the "Moatazalah" sect as one of the branches of the Jahmiyah sect, in his book (History of al-Jahmiyah and al-Moatazalah), and has attributed most of the latest problems of the speculative theologians of Ash'ari to Jahmiyah.

3. Rejal by Kashi.

4. Tanghih al-Maghal by Mamghani; "Usul Kafi" vol.2. Pg. 13: all 500 problems and questions belonged to theological complications.