Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Imam Mohammad Al-Jawad (A.S.)

LINEAGE

MOHAMMED is son of IMAM ALI AL-RIDHA. He was born in Al-Medina on the 10th of RAJAB of the year 195 of HIJRA. His mother was called KHAIZARAN. He was blessed with martyrdom on the 6th of THIL-HIJJA of the HIJRI year 220 in KADHIMAIN (Baghdad) and was buried there.

THE FIRST ENCOUNTER

On a warm day, when the sun's rays spread gently over the alleys of the city of Baghdad and wrapped the wide plains surrounding it, the ABBASI caliph AL-MA'MOUN, accompanied by his entourage, went out hunting. They were on their horsed treading along with their dogs and eagles heading towards the plains outside.

Baghdad was then a big city surrounded by vineyards, fruit orchards and date palms. Gardens full of flowers were all round with green fields. The caliph's procession passed through the capital's streets at a great speed, causing terror among the people. In one of the streets, some children were playing, running here and there. When they saw the ruler's procession, they ran away in all directions. Former unjust rulers such as AL-RASHID, AL-MA'MOUN, HISHAM, and AL-HAJJAJ had left a horrible image of terror and cruelty in the hearts of all people.

All the children ran away except one who stood up paying no attention to the procession of the ruler AL-MA'MOUN who was surprised. He ordered someone to bring him the child. He asked him, "Why have not you run away as the others have?" The child said, "Why should I run away?! I have done nothing wrong. The street is wide enough for you to pass".

AL-MA'MOUN was surprised at the child's courage, so he asked him who he was. The child said, "I am Mohammed son of Ali son of MUSA son of JA'FER son of Mohammed son of Ali son of AL-HUSAIN son of ALI BIN ABI TALIB, peace be on them".

AL-MA'MOUN said, "How much is your knowledge?"

AL-MA'MOUN asked a child about his knowledge which could not be acquired except through learning for many years. Why did he ask him? Surely because AL-MA'MOUN knew that child was the son of IMAM AL-RIDHA. He was a branch of the blessed tree of AHLUL BAYT (AS) who inherited all science and Divine knowledge. It was quite natural to ask him.

The child said, "Ask me about heavens' news and I will answer you".

AL-MA'MOUN left him and proceeded towards the far plains, drowned in deep thoughts of that boy. He could not hunt but very little. He sent his eagle to catch a prey. The bird flew high and disappeared for an hour. It came back with a snake in its paws. It threw the snake in front of AL-MA'MOUN who ordered his servants to keep it in a box. He said to his companions, "The boy's end is near at my hand today". On his way back, AL-MA'MOUN met the same children; AL-RIDHA'S son was among them. AL-MA'MOUN approached him and said, in continuation of his previous question, "What news of heaven do you know?" The child said, "My father told me, through his forefathers, through the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), through the angel JIBRAEL, that Allah says, 'Between the heaven and the earth there is dust (smoke gases) that causes waves. There are snakes of green bellies with spotted backs. Kings hunt the snakes with their eagles to test the scholars'".

AL-MA'MOUN said, "You, your father, your grandfather and your Lord are truthful (i.e. they tell only the truth)". That was the first encounter between AL-MA'MOUN and Imam Mohammed AL-JAWAD (AS). Other encounters followed, and AL-MA'MOUN acquired more and more information about the Imam's qualifications. He made up his mind to give him his daughter in marriage.

THE ABBASI CLAN OBJECTS

Through marrying his daughter to IMAM AL-JAWAD, AL-MA'MOUN aimed at pleasing the noble ALAWIS and thus erasing the memory of the sudden death of IMAM AL-RIDHA and putting it out of their minds. He wanted to establish friendly relations with them. On the other hand, he wanted to have the young Imam near him, under his spies' watch, and to be informed of all his actions and connections. It was AL-MA'MOUN'S same method which he had applied when dealing with IMAM AL-RIDHA (AS).

When the ABBASIS heard of the affair, they were greatly annoyed, and they exaggerated their feelings. They feared AL-JAWAD just as they had feared his father lest he should become crown prince and thus deprive them of the opportunity to inherit the caliphate.

They came to AL-MA'MOUN and said, "By Allah, we want you to discard the idea of such a marriage. We fear lest we should be deprived of our kingship and might. You know our past and present feelings regarding the progeny of Ali. You remember how the early (three) caliphs treated them. We were scared when you favored AL-RIDHA with the office of crown prince until Allah spared us the important part of the affair. By Allah, do not bring back what had caused us to be greatly concerned. Do not marry your daughter to AL-RIDHA'S son and find someone else of our household to marry her to".

AL-MA'MOUN said, "Whatever happened between Ali's progeny and you was due to your own stance. Had you been fair to them, they would have taken your side. The early caliphs' stance towards them was unfair. They betrayed the blood relation. I will not do that. I have chosen Mohammed son of AL-RIDHA to marry my daughter because he is the best of all in knowledge, though he is still young. I will demonstrate his knowledge to you, and everyone of you will see that I am right".

They said, "He is too young; he is not versed in religious sciences. He does not know what is lawful and what is unlawful. How can you marry your daughter to him? Give him time to acquire religious sciences and legislation, then do as you please". AL-MA'MOUN said, "Woe unto you! I am better aware of his knowledge than you are. He is the best of all in religious sciences. If you want, test him. If he fails, I will accept your suggestion".

The said, "We agree, so let us test him. Qualified scholars will ask him about religious legislation. If he gives the right answers, we will agree to your suggestion. If he does not, the matter is over". AL-MA'MOUN agreed, and a day was fixed for that test. They chose the chief theologian YAHYA IBN AKTHAM to raise the religious inquiries to him to answer. The inquiries should be quite difficult. They promised the theologian a good present if he defeated the young IMAM AL-JAWAD.

MEETING FOR A TEST

On the special day appointed by AL-MA'MOUN, the Imam (as), the ABBASI chiefs, the state officials, and other people met. Each sat according to his status. AL-MA'MOUN sat next to IMAM AL-JAWAD.

It is worth mentioning that such aristocratic meetings held by the ABBASIS now and then were no more than for fun and entertainment. They were not held in conformity with Islamic ethics that demand neither class discrimination nor social differences. The Islamic meetings held by AHLUL BAYT (AS) were to discuss Islamic sciences and religious verdicts. They were not held for debates and contentment through words as well as poetry in praise of the ruler of the time.

IMAM AL-JAWAD (AS) was forced to attend such meetings. He was not considered a guest or a participant, but he had no way to avoid having to attend. Anyway, IMAM AL-JAWAD (as) sat near AL-MA'MOUN on a decorated sofa, just as Prophet YOUSUF used to sit next to the Pharaoh of Egypt as we are told in the QUR'ANIC which teach us many lessons and expose factors behind historic events throughout the ages. While Prophet YOUSUF assisted the Pharaoh in the state affairs, we see later another Prophet: MUSA (AS) confronting and defeating another Pharaoh. Yet people are heedless of such historical events and cannot perceive their implication. The holy QUR'AN says, {Certainly in YOUSUF and his brothers there are signs for the inquirers}. [YOUSUF: 7].

The attendants sat silently, anxious to see the IMAM, the newcomer to Baghdad. They had never seen him before and were not aware of his religious knowledge as he was still under age. They wondered how he could hold firm in front of the chief theologian. Could the Prophet's grandson answer the scholar's questions? The chief theologian YAHYA IBN AKTHAM broke the silence by asking AL-MA'MOUN, "Will the caliph allow me to ask AL-RIDHA'S son a question?" AL-MA'MOUN said, "you had better ask him permission". IBN AKTHAM turned to IMAM AL-JAWAD and said, "May I be your sacrifice, do you allow me to ask you a question?"

The young Imam said, "Ask if you wish".

IBN AKTHAM said, "What is the atonement for the sin of one who hunts while still in the pilgrimage attire (IHRAM)?"

The young Imam said, "This is not a clear question. It lacks details: Was the hunting outside the sanctified area or inside it? Was the hunter aware of his sin or was he ignorant? Did he kill purposely or by mistake? Was he a bondsman or a free one? Is it his first sin or not? Was the hunted a bird or something else? Was it a small animal or a big one? Is he sorry or hot? Does he insist on it? Did he kill it secretly at night or openly in daylight? Was he performing the major pilgrimage or the minor one (UMRA)? Without such details, you cannot have a clear answer". IBN AKTHAM was at a loss for words. For the first time, he seemed unable to give an answer. He hesitated and uttered unclear words. The attendants became aware of his poor knowledge.

Till that day, he knew no more than one ruling relevant to hunting during the sacred months, along with one verdict. Now he was taken by so much detail for such a brief question.

Not only IBN AL-AKTHAM, but also all the attendants were amazed at the Imam's knowledge. They realized that he was endowed with profound knowledge despite his young age. He gave them a lesson in religious verdicts. They understood that verdicts differ according to those details. AL-MA'MOUN wanted IMAM AL-JAWAD to ask IBN AKTHAM a question and he did, but IBN AKTHAM could not know the answer. He said, "By Allah, I do not know the answer. If you want, let us benefit from your knowledge in giving the answer". The Imam answered that question.

Following that meeting, AL-MA'MOUN said to his household, "Woe unto you! Do you not know that the members of that house (the Prophet's household) alone, out of all creatures, are entrusted with such a Divine favor? Being young does not mean they are of less knowledge. Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.) started his message by calling to Islam the leader of the believers Ali son of ABI TALIB who then was only ten years old? He accepted him at such an early age while he accepted no other one of his age. Allah has entrusted them with profound sciences; they are all offspring, one from the other. What the first of them enjoyed of Divine favor the last of them will also enjoy". They said, "You are right, O Caliph of the Muslims!"

A POLITICAL MARRIAGE

AL-MA'MOUN rejoiced at his successful plan to earn the approval of his family of marrying his daughter off to IMAM AL-JAWAD. He turned to IMAM AL-JAWAD and said, "O relic of the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H.)! I know your high status and qualifications, hence I have chosen you to marry my daughter UMM AL-FADHIL. Despite someone's disapproval, I do want you to agree". IMAM AL-JAWAD was aware of AL-MA'MOUN'S intention and aim behind that marriage. It was only a political marriage to achieve AL-MA'MOUN'S goals: to please the ALAWIS and to have him near him under close watch. He felt annoyed, but it was difficult for him to reject that marriage in Baghdad and in the presence of the high officials of the government. Such a rejection would be considered a serious insult to the caliph, one of unknown consequences.

The Imam accepted the marriage on the condition that he would pay a dowry of no more than 500 DIRHAMS, the same as was that of his grandmother Fatima AL-ZAHRA.

On that occasion, AL-MA'MOUN ordered a splendid celebration with all grandeur and luxury. The servants and the entourage were ordered to put on their best to welcome the guests and to distribute gifts. Food tables were set with the most delicious types of food for all people to eat. IMAM AL-JAWAD concealed his annoyance at that marriage relationship which was a burden imposed on him. He felt AL-MA'MOUN'S domination over him and wished he could have stayed in Al-Medina. He was aware of the man who killed his father in cold blood and now had become his father-in-law. He would surely proceed with his devilish plots to uproot the Imamate which posed a major risk to his authority and future.

IMAM AL-JAWAD knew all of that, but he had no other choice except to be patient and to turn to Allah in his affairs.

When the couple grew up and got married, they spent some years in Baghdad. AL-MA'MOUN tired to make IMAM AL-JAWAD attend the ABBASI meetings, but he failed. The Imam tried to avoid those meetings, and if by chance he attended one, he would use it as an opportunity to advise the attendants and to refute the deviated ideas and the wrong trends of the era which despite troubles was generally peaceful. The Imam dedicated his time to reforming the Muslim community.

One year before AL-MA'MOUN'S death, IMAM AL-JAWAD and his wife left Baghdad for holy Mecca to perform the HAJJ ritual. From Mecca they went to Al-Medina where they stayed till AL-MA'MOUN'S death. AL-MAU'TASIM, who assumed power after AL-MA'MOUN, was more oppressive than his brother. He spent most of his time drinking, hunting and having fun. He, however, feared IMAM AL-JAWAD'S influence on people and the great respect and good reputation the Imam enjoyed. He, therefore, summoned him to Baghdad to place him under strict surveillance, plotting against him. The Imam (as) left in Al-Medina his son ALI AL-HADI whom he entrusted with the Imamate after his demise.

He went to Iraq while the caliph AL-MU'TASIM, with the help of the Imam's nephew JA'FER son of AL-MA'MOUN and YA'QUB IBN DAQOOD, the chief theologian at the palace, and other agents, plotted to get rid of him.

IBN DAWOOD hated the Imam because he considered him a challenge to his authority among the people and a threat to AL-MU'TASIM'S leadership. Often in debates, the Imam defeated IBN DAWOOD through logic and the truth. Once a thief was brought to AL-MU'TASIM'S court and the theologians were asked to give their verdicts of punishment. IBN DAWOOD said that the hand should be cut off to the wrist. Most of the theologians approved of the verdict. Some said it should be cut off as far as the elbow. AL-MU'TASIM asked IMAM AL-JAWAD about his opinion. The Imam said that only the fingers should be cut off and the palm should be kept to help one perform the prayers and other deeds.

AL-MU'TASIM accepted that verdict and ignored the verdicts of the other theologians. This caused IBN DAWOOD'S great unrest, since it was the first time that his verdict was ignored.

IBN DAWOOD looked for an opportunity to instigate AL-MU'TASIM against the Imam. He reminded him of the ALAWIS' danger to his leadership. He also reminded him of the preceding ABBASI rulers' treatment of the Prophet's household and that he should follow in their footsteps. AL-MU'TASIM made up his mind to put an end to him, so he gave him poisoned food and cowardly used the Imam's wife UMM AL-FADHIL who was angry with her husband because he preferred his other wife. The Imam was blessed with martyrdom on the 6th of THIL-HIJJA, in the year 220 of HIJRA. He was in the prime of his age. He was buried in KADHIMAIN near his grandfather IMAM AL-KADHIM, peace be on both of them.

THE GOOD LEGACY

His life was an image of his forefathers' life: pure and righteous. He performed his mission of disseminating Islamic instructions despite all difficulties and hardships. He had many followers and dozens of narrators who recorded his narrations. Most of his sayings are adages and preaching. One day, one of his followers said to him, "O Master! I wish you were the awaited savior of the Prophet's progeny so you could achieve justice in the world as it is full of oppression".

He (as) said, "Everyone of us performs his mission and carries out Allah's orders in guiding mankind towards the right path. "The awaited savior who will purify the world and spread justice is of hidden birth and will go into occultation. "This world will be at his service, and every hardship will be easy for him. His followers are the same in number as those of the combatants of the battle of BADR: 313 men from all over the world. Allah Almighty says,

{And We desired to bestow a favor upon those who were weak in the land and to make them the Imams, and to make them the heirs}. [AL-QASAS: 5]. "When this number of supporters follow him, Allah will manifest him to the people. Ten thousand of the best believers will help him kill the enemies of Allah".

Some of his sayings and adages are:

1- Perfect dignity of one is to give up that which is of no use.

2- One's good moral is never to meet someone with what someone hates.

Imam Ali Al-Hadi (A.S.)

LINEAGE

ALI is the son of IMAM Mohammed AL-JAWAD; his mother is called SAMANA. He was born on the 15th THIL HIJJA in the year 214 A.H. in SARIYA (a suburb of Al-Medina), and he was blessed with martyrdom on the 3rd of RAJAB of the HIJRI year 254 in SAMARRA where he was buried.

SARIYA: THE BLESSED FARM

The holy QUR'AN states, {And say: Work, so Allah will see your work and (so will) His Apostle and the believers…}. [AL-TAWBA: 105].

The above cited QUR'ANIC verse was a torch for the guiding Imams (as) as they strove to guide the community on the right path. They acted according to the Divine order and taught the people to do likewise in order to enjoy the pleasure of Allah and of His Messenger. They confirmed the virtue of cultivating and farming the land and the value of work linked with the earth's produce. They themselves (as) worked the land and planted different trees; thus, they were a good example for other people to benefit from the fertile land. IMAM AL-KADHIM'S farm was an evidence to this fact.

He started a farm in SARIYA, near Al-Medina AL-MUHAWARA. The successive Imams after him carried on the task. His grandson IMAM AL-JAWAD loved it very much and spent most of his time as a worker, a farmer, and an instructor. He built a house for his second wife SAMANA (daughter of AMMAR IBN YASIR) where she settled. Through his efforts, the area became a village where the Imam's followers and supporters could meet him and listen to his wise guidance. It was on that farm that his son ALI AL-HADI (as) was born. He enjoyed a peaceful childhood under his parents' care and among the working farmers. He enjoyed the beauty of nature and pondered on the greatness of the Creator. However, those quiet days did not last long, for the ABBASI ruler AL-MU'TASIM summoned his father to Baghdad. Leaving his wife and his son behind, IMAM AL-JAWAD headed towards Iraq where he was blessed with martyrdom and was buried in KADHIMAIN (Baghdad) near his grandfather IMAM AL-KADHIM (peace be upon all of them); thus did his link with the village and his family come to an end.

Prior to his journey, he entrusted the Imamate to his son ALI AL-HADI who was then six years old.

THE IMAMATE

The ABBASI caliph AL-MU'TASIM ordered one of his trusted agents to tutor IMAM AL-HADI in order to brainwash him with regard to AHLUL BAYT'S trend and to lead him towards the ABBASI line. The tutor tried to teach him obedience to the ABBASI rulers and to recognize their legitimacy to the caliphate, but he was confronted by the young Imam's bright talent and profound knowledge which he had inherited from the Prophet's progeny. Despite all his efforts to teach the Imam according to the ABBASI instruction, the tutor was stunned when one day he asked the Imam to repeat what he had taught him. The Imam said, "Do ask me about the QUR'ANIC verses so that I may recite them to you by heart". Perhaps that tutor forgotten the Prophetic narration that says:

"I am leaving among you two precious (weighty) objects. If you hold firm to both of them, you will not go astray. They are: The Book of Allah (the holy QUR'AN) and my offspring. The two will never separate (from each other) till they meet me at the pool (of AL-KAWTHAR)". The tutor forgot or seemed to have forgotten that the Prophet's offspring enjoyed the prophetic sciences and perceived the religious instructions thoroughly as well as the legislation relevant to every day's life.

Despite the strict watch and harassment, the Imam (as) performed the duties of his Imamate quietly. When he was twenty years old, he was quite famous among the Muslim masses. Everyone tried to contact him for religious information or to solve life's problems.

A BIG OVEN

The ABBASI caliph AL-MU'TASIM died, and HAROUN son of Mohammed, known as AL-WATHIQ, succeeded him in office. AL-WATHIQ was a playboy, careless of his official duties, hence his minister AL-ZIAT had a free hand to act according to his own whims. He was a cruel man who opened the prisons' doors widely for the caliph's opponents. He tortured and killed many detainees. In one prison he built a big oven and supplied it with torture equipment in order to put an end to the opponents. Even the caliph's brother AL-MUTAWAKKIL was one of AL-ZIAT'S victims. He suffered all types of torture at his hands due to the enmity between the two brothers and their pursuit for authority.

After six years of rule, AL-WATHIQ died and his brother AL-MUTAWAKKIL assumed the caliphate. The latter started his regime by seeking revenge against his brother's minister AL-ZIAT. He threw him in the very oven which he himself had built. Hence, whoever sows evil will harvest evil.

HATRED TOWARDS THE DEAD AND THE LIVING

As soon as AL-MUTAWAKKIL took hold of the affairs, he demonstrated hostility towards the Prophet's progeny (as). He was greatly hostile towards them and exceeded the preceding rulers in his hatred. He ordered the demolition of Imam HUSAIN'S shrine in KERBALA and flooded the area with water in order to remove all traces of the holy shrine. He killed many of its visitors, the devotees of the martyred Imam. He knew that such visits incited people to revolt against unjust and oppressive rulers.

Despite all hardship and oppression, the sacred shrine was traced out and is still visited by thousands of devotees from all over the world, throughout the year. The holy QUR'AN says, {They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, and Allah will not consent save to perfect His light, though the infidels are averse thereto}. [AL-TAWBA: 32]. Many poets composed poetry denouncing AL-MUTAWAKKIL'S crimes against the Prophet's progeny (as). One of those poets says: By Allah, it was an unjust crime of the UMAYYADS: To murder the Prophet's grandson,

The son of Fatima. Yet his father's kin (the ABBASIS) had it done:

A similar crime: demolishing his shrine.

It was a pity; not to have a hand in that killing.

Thus, they chased his bones in their dwelling.

The ABBASI injustice was not different from that of the UMAYYADS regarding the Prophet's offspring who suffered torture and death and were chased by both dynasties. The ABBASIS surpassed the UMAYYADS in their hostility towards AHLUL BAYT, hence the Imam's shrines were demolished while the living Imams suffered hardship at their hands despite the blood relation and the ABBASI claim of devotion to them.

AL-MUTAWAKKIL was informed of the Imam's popularity among the masses. This caused him to be greatly concerned. It enraged him to see people gather around IMAM AL-HADI with such devotion and respect. Yet he could not find an excuse to put an end to him or even to accuse him of some guilt. He employed the old means of the previous rulers. He summoned the Imam to Baghdad on the pretext of liking to see him close to him. He wrote a letter full of flattery and hypocrisy. It said, "… the caliph longs to see you. If you visit him and settle with your family near him, it will be done for your ease and comfort… you are free to leave whenever you wish. Seek Allah's guidance and come to see the caliph who offers you the highest office and considers you in better status than all of his sons and near ones…. Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you".

AL-MUTAWAKKIL ordered one of his men, YAHYA IBN HARTHAMA, to carry his letter to the Imam. He also ordered him to search the Imam's house as he was informed of the Imam gathering weapons and money in order to revolt against him.

When IBN HARTHAMA entered Al-Medina, the people sensed his evil intention. They were concerned about the Imam's safety because they were aware of AL-MUTAWAKKIL'S hostility towards the Prophet's offspring. However, IBN HARTHAMA put them at ease by saying that he was not ordered to cause him any harm, only to search his house. He searched the house and found nothing except a copy of the holy QUR'AN and some books of religious sciences. The Imam was aware of AL-MUTAWAKKIL'S evil intentions and was not deceived by his hypocritical letter. He knew how much AL-MUTAWAKKIL hated Ali (as) and his offspring and whoever was related to him. He knew that he would not be spared to lead a peaceful life in his grandfather's town and had no other choice but to make his way towards Baghdad in the company of AL-MUTAWAKKIL'S men.

THE WAY TO SAMARRA

IBN HARTHAMA relates the following: "While we were on our way towards Baghdad, the sky was clear blue and the sun was shining. IMAM AL-HADI put on a garment to protect himself from the rain. Within a few minutes, clouds gathered; it became dark, and heavy rain came down". The Imam (as) said to IBN HARTHAMA, "I know that you were surprised on seeing me putting on the rain garment. You thought that I might know what you do not. It is not like that. I grew up in the open country and I know the winds that are followed by rain. When I got up in the morning, I smelled the wind and expected rain, as you have seen".

The Prophet's household are Allah's chosen people from among all creatures. They are His true worshippers who are blessed by His favors as signs to all mankind. They are obedient to His orders and devotees of His religion. Throughout their lives, they openly struggled against injustice and tyranny. Their sacrifice for Allah's sake is a clear evidence of their sublime status. Peace and blessing of Allah be upon them all.

IBN HARTHAMA continues to say the following: "When we reached Baghdad ('DAR AL-SALAM', the abode of peace), the people came out to welcome the Imam. At the head was the governor of Baghdad, ISHAQ IBN IBRAHIM AL-TAHIRI. He said to me, 'O YAHYA! This man is the Prophet's grandson. You know that AL-MUTAWAKKIL hates him! If you incite AL-MUTAWAKKIL to kill him, then the Messenger of Allah will call you to account for it'. I said, 'By Allah, I saw nothing wrong in his deeds'. When we reached SAMARRA, I met WASIF AL-TURKI, a high government official, who said to me, 'If one hair of this man is fallen, only I will be called upon to account for it'. I was surprised at how similar their opinions were. When I met AL-MUTAWAKKIL, he asked me about him. I told him of his good conduct, piety and God-fearing attitude. I told him that I found no weapons in his house, only a copy of the holy QUR'AN and books of knowledge. I also told him how the people of Al-Medina were concerned about his safety and how I swore to them that no evil was intended for him".

AL-MUTAWAKKIL honored the Imam and hosted him in a special house. However, it is related that, on reaching SAMARRA, the Imam (as) was kept for one night at a humble in for the homeless. Then AL-MUTAWAKKIL met him the second day and gave him a house to live in.

HIS STAY IN SAMARRA

During the Imam's stay in SAMRRA, AL-MUTAWAKKIL made a show of respect to him. He bestowed on him generously, but also put him under strict surveillance. Most of his followers contacted him through letters. AL-MUTAWAKKIL often summoned him to meet him just as he dispatched his mercenaries to search his house in order to look for weapons and money. The Imam sometimes would help them search his house. One of AL-MUTAWAKKIL'S agents named AL-BATTHANI greatly hated the Imam and incited AL-MUTAWAKKIL against him.

Instigated by AL-BATTHANI, AL-MUTAWAKKIL called his special guard SA'ID and his men climbed up a ladder to the roof, but it was dark and they could not find the way down, so the Imam shouted at them saying, "O SA'ID! Wait till someone brings you a candle!" They gave him a candle, so they all came down. They saw the Imam in his garment and headgear standing for the prayers. He said to them, "You have the rooms; go and search". The searched the house and, as usual, found neither weapons nor money save some books. They apologized to him for being ordered to search the house, but he only said to them, "The unjust will surely be punished".

One night, the imam was called upon to attend the caliph's court meeting. The caliph was sitting with a cup of wine in his hand. He asked the Imam to sit near him, then he offered him the cup to drink. The Imam refused. The caliph did not insist but asked the imam to recite some poetry for him. He again refused, but the caliph this time insisted, so the Imam recited few lines of poetry which portrayed a clear image of the tyrants' life, the life of those who enjoy every luxury and who have men ready to serve them, then suddenly they leave everything and settle in graves where they become foodstuff for each earth worms.

The poetic versed say:

The glories of our blood and state

Are shadows, not substantial things.

There is no armor against the fate:

Death lays its icy hands on kings.

Scepter and crown

Must tumble down,

And in the earth be equally made

To the laborer's scythe and spade.

No fortress on the mountain peak

Could save the kings from the jaws of death

Their pomp and power proved too weak,

The cold earth asks them in contempt:

"Wither is thy robe, crown, and throne?!

"Did cruel Death thy beauty exempt?!

"Did it respect thy royal blood and bone?!" The grave replies

With sorrowful sighs:

"Those beautiful forms "Are but food for the worms!" This poem clearly highlights the fact that no matter how long one lives, or however rich he may be, he is surely one day to die and leave everything behind. He takes nothing with him except his deeds, whether good or bad. He will be called upon to account for them. It was clear that the Imam wanted to advise the caliph and to halt his sins and indifference regarding his religious duties and responsibilities. AL-MUTAWAKKIL did not expect to hear that kind of poetry; he was shocked, and he cried bitterly. He ordered the servants to clear the table from wine then apologized to the Imam and bade him farewell.

AL-MUTAWAKKIL intended to humiliate the Imam in front of his attendants. He offered him wine although he knew that wine is forbidden in Islam and is a sin as heinous as idol worship. When the Imam refused, he wanted him to recite poetry in praise of the caliph as poets usually do. But the Imam was not such a flatterer. He slapped the caliph with the actual image of the tyrants' life and their dreadful end. This caused AL-MUTAWAKKIL to cry then give up drinking - though for a while - and then apologized to the sublime Imam (as).

THE IMAM'S ACHIEVEMENTS

IMAM AL-HADI (AS) dedicated all his time to serve the religion of Islam through spreading its sublime principles and commandments. He would attend meetings in order to refute the deviated trends of the time and to explain every religious issue quietly and clearly through reason and logic. He received letters from all over the Muslim world and accepted the religious revenues to be spent according to religious instructions for the welfare of the Muslim community. He bravely confronted the extremists and the deviated. He exposed their deviation and declared them on the wrong path. All the Infallible Imams confronted such deviated trends.

Once he said to someone who exaggerated in praising him, "Too much praise (flattery) stirs doubt and suspicion. If you favor your brother in religion, do not flatter him. Do him good in action and in intention". Following are some of his sayings:

1- He who obeys the Creator won't be bothered by the creatures' displeasure.

2- He who is aware of the Creator's clear sign is not bothered by life's hardship.

3- Whoever is true in love and advise to you, you should obey him.

4- Whoever lacks self-respect should be avoided in order to escape his evil.

5- One who is pleased with himself will have many who will be displeased with him.

6- To the patient person, calamity is of one impact. To the impatient one, it is of a double impact.

7- Ignorance and misery are two of the worst manners.

8- Covetousness is bad quality.

9- Mocking is the fools' joke and theignorant's career.

JA'FER THE LIAR

IMAM AL-HADI had four sons and one daughter. The eldest of his sons was IMAM HASAN AL-ASKARI (AS). All his sons, except JA'FER, were of great piety and righteousness. JA'FER the liar was notorious for his bad conduct. He used to lie and spread false news, hence he was called "JA'FER the liar". He was not different from Prophet Noah's son who was drowned for his sins. As a result of his lies, people turned away from him, so he suffered negligence of any other factor. Lineage of good tree is useless if the branch suffers a defect.

HIS MARTYRDOM

As previously mentioned, IMAM AL-HADI lived with his parents in Al-Medina till he was six years old when his father IMAM AL-JAWAD passed away. He stayed in Al-Medina till he was 20 years old. That was during AL-MU'TASIM'S reign. AL-MUTAWAKKIL summoned him to SAMARRA where he stayed till AL-MUTAWAKKIL was killed at the hands of his own son.

AL-MUNTASIR, AL-MUSTA'IN, and AL-MU'TAZZ ruled successively for seven years which was a peaceful period for the Imam who did not suffer harassment like the one he had to endure during AL-MUTAWAKKIL'S reign. Yet he was deprived of his right to return to Al-Medina, his grandfather's town, which he greatly longed to see and preferred over any other place. That meant that he was in exile and under house arrest. The peace which he enjoyed for a while was not due to the rulers' good nature but to their weak authority. The caliphs became weak and mere tools in the hands of their Turkish officers and others. The latter were the actual rulers, giving orders of all kinds. They could appoint someone in office and rob the other of his right. They would do that according to their whims and desires. They would even kill a caliph and appoint another one. They once toppled AL-MUTA'IN and put AL-MU'TAZZ in his place.

IMAM AL-HADI was blessed with martyrdom during the caliphate of AL-MU'TAZZ. It is said that AL-MU'TAZZ poisoned his food and, as usual, claimed that the Imam had died a natural death. On hearing of his death, a great number of the HASHIMIS and the ABBASIS gathered at his house. AL-MU'TAZZ'S men attended his funeral. His son, IMAM HASAN AL-ASKARI, performed the funeral prayers. He was buried in his own home in SAMARRA (Iraq) in the year 254 of HIJRA. We love AHLUL BAYT and respect them and consider them unique examples to be followed. This is due to their great piety, righteousness and sound faith. Allah Almighty has purified them; He says so in the following verse of the holy QUR'AN: {Allah only desires to keep away uncleanness from you, O people of the House, and to purify you wish a (thorough) purification}. [AL-AHZAB: 33].