HIS LIFE AND HIS GOOD MANNERS
Prelude:
The life of a person denotes his inner-self. And his inner-self is hidden in his life. The seducers of fraud who pretense to conceal what their hearts have through showing good manners and guidance. Their words and acts quickly expose their inward thoughts. Indeed, the slips of their tongue and their acts show what has been hidden in their beans.
The garment of pretense reveals what is under it.
So, if you cover yourself with it, then you are naked.
Good men with knowledge always try to hide their pure innerselves to avoid enchantment and fame. However, their good deeds spread. And the glory of their holy souls shines. (As the poet says):
And whatever a quality the person has
even if he thinks that it remains secret for people,
it (the quality) is known.
Yes, perhaps a group of people stands up to protect this deceiving band because of the party or deception by the surface of those good affairs. Besides, a group of people may rush to damage the great figures to follow some persons whom the diseases of envy, spite, ignorance, and stubbornness have mined, but the clear- headed person does not ignore the truth. And the sieve cannot cover the sun.
The life of al- Sâdiq, peace be on him, guides us to his qualities and informs us about his inner- self. He was among the members of the house (ahl al Bayt), whom Allah drove away uncleanness and purified them thoroughly. He was among the family whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, left among his community to explain the silent Book of Allah. Besides, his family and Allah’s Book formed ‘the firmest handle which shall not break off. And whoever holds fast to it shall be saved from the ways of misguidance.’
Thus,. through his righteous life, at- Sâdiq wanted to bring people out of misguidance, and ignorance. Also he wanted to make them enter guidance and knowledge. Mid his inner- self was embodied in the career of his life. So, we will mention some examples of his life to indicate his great manners and his holy Alawid soul who spared no effort to lead people toward guidance and righteousness.
His Social Mannera:
Laudable manners maybe psychological instincts and natural habits, such as generosity, bravery, cheerfulness, and eloquence. Also they maybe acquisitive, such as worship, religious devotion, knowledge, sciences, arts, and so on.
Whoever considers carefully the life of Hâshim and of his Sons understands that they had the natural and the learned manners. Also Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, had those outstanding manners which suited his Divine office. Then his progeny adopted the same manners.
Whoever studies carefully the life of AbU Abd Allah (at- Sadiq), peace be on him, knows that he embraced the outstanding life of his grandfather (the Chosen one), may Allah bless him and his family. “Then the person is known through his deeds.” Although at- Sâdiq did not speak about his life, his deeds have indicated his qualities.
One day, at- Sadiq and his companions went to condole his reaative whose child died. While al- Sâdiq was walking, the thong of his sandal broke off. So, al- Sadiq picked up his sandals and walked bare- footed. One of his companions catted b. AbEl Ya’far’
looked at him, and then he took off his own sandal, cut off its thong and handed it to Abii Abd Allah (at-Sâdiq), peace be on him. However, at- Sadiq became angry and refused to take the thong.Then he said:” No, the owner of the misfortune is worthier than others in enduring it.” Then he went on walking bare- footed till he entered the house of the person whom he wanted to condole.
When at- Sadiq spread the table, he urged his companions to eat and made them enjoy the food. Perhaps, he brought some food after they had become satisfied. However, they refused to eat. So, he said:” You have eaten nothing. Indeed, those who love us very much are those who eat very much with us.” Then he told them some traditions on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, to encourage them to eat the food and to appeal to additional food. He used to report the following words which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, said to Salman, al- Muqdad, and Abti Dharr:” Those who love us very much are those who eat much food with us.”
In spite of his importance and old age, at- Sadiq prevented his guests from fulfilling any need. When he found no one to fulfill their needs, he himself stood up to serve them, and then he said:” Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, prevented (the Muslims) from putting the guest into service.”
As at- Sâdiq wanted the guest to stay for a longer time with him, he did not help him to go as he did with the people of Juhayna. He ordered his servants not to help them to depart. So, they said to him:” Son of Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, you entertained us in an excellent manner, and you offered us many gifts, then you ordered your servants not to help us to depart.” So, he, peace be on him, said:” We, the members of the house (ahl a! Bayt), do not help our guests to leave us.”
His Liberality:
Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said to al- Mu’alla b. KhanTs:” Mu’alla, show love to your brothers (friends) through sending them gifts. Indeed, Allah, the Most High, has made giving love and preventing hatred. By Allah, If you ask me (for something) and I give you (that thing) is more desirable than that you ask me (for something) and I do not give you (that thing), so you hate me.”
One day, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, gave a poor man four hundred dirhams. The poor man took them, thanked him for them, and went away. Al- Sâdiq said to his servant:” bring the poor man BACK.” The poor man said:” Master, I asked you (for a need), and you have given me (the need), then what do want to give me?” Al- Sadiq said to him:” Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said:’ The best alms is that which brings about riches. We have not made you rich. So, take this ring. I wanted to sell it for ten thousand dirhams. When you becomes in need of it, then sell it at this cost.”
One day, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, was ill. A companion of his called Ashja’ at- Salami
came and asked him about his illness. Al- Sadiq said to him:” Leave my illness and ask me for your need.” Then, he (al- Sâdiq) said:” Servant, have you anything?” The servant said:” Four hundred dirhams.” Al- Sadiq said:” Give them to Ashja’.”
Al- Mufaddal b. Qays b. Rummâna, a reliable narrator of at- Sadiq, came to at- Sâdiq and told him about his poor condition and ask him to pray to Allah for him. Al- Sâdiq said:” Female slave, give me the bag which AbU Ja’far has sent to us.” The female stave brought the bag. Then at- Sâdiq said:” There are four hundred dinars in this bag. Help yourself with them.” Ashja’ said: No, may I be ransom for you, by Allah, I do not want these (dinars), I only want your supplication.” Al- Sadiq said to him:” I will say the supplication However, do not tell people all about you, for they will disdain you.”
His Secret Gifts:
At night aI- S&liq, peace be on him, carried on his shoulder bag full bread, meat, and dirhams. He went to the needy people of Medma. divided those things among them, while they did not know him. After bia death, they asked about those gifts. So, they knew that Abü Abd Allah (aIa Sadiq), peace be on him, sent them.
Al- Sadiq’s grandfathers embraced that custom, then his grand soa adopted it, too.
Al- Sadiq sent secret gifts to the people of Medina. In the mean time sent such gifts to the Hashimites. He sent them parcels of dinars and said the messenger:” Say to the Hashimites that these parcels have been sent you from Iraq. When the messenger came BACK, at- Sädiq asked him What did they say?” The messenger said:” They said:’ As for you, in Allah reward you good because you bring gifts to the relatives of Allaai Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. And as for Ja’far (at- Sädi may Allah judge between us and him.”’ So, Abfl Abd Allah (at- Sädi peace be on him, sank to the around and said:” Allah, humiliate my n for my grandfather’s children.
One day, al- Sâdiq gave AbtI Ja’far at- Khth’ami
a parcel (of dinars) aiaj ordered him to send it secretly to a man of the Hashimites. When Khth’ami brought the parcel to the man, he (the man) said:” May A1la reward him (i.e. the sender of the parcel) good. He always send mej parcel. I live with the parcel till another one comes. However, Ja’far (4 Sâdiq) sends me no dirham though he has a lot of money.”
Also at- Sadiq, peace be on him, sent secret gifts to those who showaj enmity toward him. For example, he allotted a sum of money to atb.al-Aftas.
So, it was said to him (al- Sädiq):” Will you give the man who attackca you and wanted to kill you with the sword?” Al- Sädiq, peace be on hiua said:” Woe unto you! Have not read these Words of Allah:’ And those wla join that which has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fea the evil reckoning.’
Indeed, Allah has created Paradise and made a good.”
His CIemency
When at- Sädiq, peace be en him, heard someone defamed him or BACKbited him or abused him, he prepared himself to prayers. Then, he invoked1 Allah for a long time not to punish the Sinner and to forgive him his Sins.
Concerning his blood relatives, at- Sâdiq was very clement. So, he said:” I want Allah to know that I have humiliated my neck for my blood relatives. And I send gifts to the people of my house before they are in no need of me.”
Also at- Sädiq was clement with his servants and all people. For instance, he sent a servant of his to get him a certain need. The servant was late. So, at- Sädiq went out to look for him. He found the servant sleeping. At- Sâdiq sat by his head fanning him till he woke. When the servant woke, at- Sädiq said nothing but:” Servant, why do you sleep day and night - night is for you, and day is for us.”
One day, at- Sädiq sent a non- Arab servant to bring him a certain need. When the servant came BACK, al- Sfldiq, peace be on him, questioned him, but he was unable to answer. Al- Skliq repeated the question several times, but the servant was still unable to answer. Anyhow, at- Sädiq did not become angry with him, he mere Looked sharply at him, and then said to him:” If your tongue is tired, then your heart is not tired.” Then al- Sâdiq, peace be on him, added:” Indeed, modesty, chastity, and tiredness (the tiredness of the tongue not of the heart) are acts of belief, while obscenity, abusiveness, and insolence are acts of hypocrisy.”
Al- Sâdiq, peace be on him, prevented the members of his house from going up to the house. One day a female slave, who looked after his children, went up to the house carrying a child of his. Suddenly, at- Sadiq came into the house. When the female slave saw him, she trembled with fear. So, the child fell down the ground and died. At- Sãdiq turned pale and went out of the house. When he was asked about the reason why he had turned pale, he answered:’ I have turned pale because I have terrified the female slave, not because of the death of the child.’ Moreover, he said to her:” Don’t worry! You are free for Allah!”
Al- Sädfq, peace be on him, was clement with all people. For example, a man of the pilgrims in Medina slept. The man thought that his bag (of money) had been stolen. He went out. He saw at- Sädiq praying. He accused him of stealing, saying to him:” You have taken my bag!” “ What ‘Mushkat alaal.
was in your bag?” asked at- Sadiq. “One thousand dinars,” answered the man. So, at- S&Iiq took the man with him to his house and gave him One thousand dinars. The man came BACK home and found his bag. Then came BACK to at- Sädiq, gave him the money, and apologized to him that. Then the man asked some people about at- Sâdiq. They said:” This Ja’far at- Sädiq.” “No wonder!” said the man.
Al- Sãdiq, peace be on him, was clement even with his arch When at- Mansflr permitted at- Sâdiq to leave at- HIra (a town in Iraq), (at- Sâdiq) left it at night. When he reached the place of the armed mc one of them said to him:” I will not let you go!” Al- Sädiq begged hiz several times, but the armed man refused that. Murazim (at- Sâdiq’ companion) and Musâdif (his servant) accompanied at- Sâdiq. Musâdif saj to him:” May I be ransom for you! This dog (i.e. the armed man) has hi1 you! I think that he wilt bring you BACK. I do not know how Abü Ja’far Mansflr wilt treat you. So, permit Murâzim and I to behead him and throw him into the river.” No,’ said at- Sâdiq. Then he went on convii that armed man till most of night was over. At last, the armed man let’ pass. So, at- Sâdiq said:” Muräzim, is this better or what you have (Murâzim) said:” May I be ransom for you, this is better....”’
His Kindness:
Al- Sädiq, peace be on him, treated Alt people kindly. One day summoned his servant Musâdif and said to him:” The members of I family have become many. So, prepare yourself and go with the traders Egypt. When they reached Egypt, a caravan received them out of. They asked them about the goods with them and told them that there nothing of those goods in Egypt. So, the traders from Medina sold t goods a dit)ar for a dinar. When they took their money, they came BACK Medina. Musâdif came to Abfl Abd Allah (at- Sadiq), peace be on him,. carrying two bags. There was a thousand dinar in each bag. Musâdif said to at- Sadiq:” May I be your ransom, this is the capital and these are the interests.” Al- Sâdiq said to him:” These interests are many. How did you sell the goods?” Musâdif told him all about the goods.” So, at- Sâdiq took one of the two bags and said:” This is my capital. I am in no need of the interests.” Then he added:” Musãdif, dueling with words is easier th seeking the lawful.”
Abü HanTfa at- Häjj
quarreled with his son- in- law about inheritance. Suddenly, at- Mufaddle b. ‘Amru, at- Sädiq’s agent in Kufa, passed by them. When he understood their matter, he ordered them to go with him to his home. He made peace between them and gave them four hundred dirhaflls. When they became pleased with each other, he said to them:” These four hundred dirhanis are not mine. However, AbU Abd Allah (atsftdiq), peace be on him, ordered me to settle the quarrel between two men of our companions with his money. So, these four hundred dirhams belong to him.,,
His Patience:
Ismâ’Tl was the elder son of at- Sâdiq, peace be on him. He had 0atstanding merits, such as virtue, reason, worship, and the like. Al- Sädiq, peace be on him, loved him very much. So, some people thought that he would be the Imam after his father at- Sädiq. When Ismä’Tl became ill, atSadiq became sad. Stil, he invited his companions and offered them good food. He did not make them feel that he was sad. They thought that he would be impatient or weep. So, they asked him about his firm patience. Al- Sädiq said to them:”I should be patient, for the Prophet said:’I will die as you die.”’
One day a boy of at- Sâdiq’s was walking before him. Suddenly, the boy died. So, at- Sadiq wept and said:” You (Allah) have taken and left, You have tried and healed.” Then, he carried the boy to the women. When they saw him, they cried. So, at- Sâdiq ordered them not to cry. Then he took him out to bury him and said:” Glory is to Him Who kills our children, but we love Him very much.” Then when he buried his son, he said:” Indeed, we are the people who ask Allah for what we love in what we love so He gives us. If He loves what we hate in what we love, we are pleased.”
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His Prestige:
Sometimes the person himself creates prestige through his pride, and sometimes through his servants family, tribe, soldiers, state, and the like. This kind of prestige does not belong to certain people. Rather, it belongs to every one who gets one or more of the affairs. So, we may call this kind of prestige artificial.
The person may have prestige without anny, servants sates, authority, pride, and so on. This kind of prestige is not called artificial. Rather, it is the prestige which Allah, the Exalted, gives to anyone, of his creatures. The person can create this prestige through humbleness, good manners, knowledge, and the like. “Whoever wants glory without a tribe and prestige Without authority, then should come out of the humiliation of the disobedience of Allah to the glory of his obedience. Whoever fears Allah, Allah makes everything afraid of him. And whoever does not fear Allah, Allah makes him afraid of everything.” Indeed, we can call this kind of prestige genuine.
Al- Mansflr had artificial prestige. Though he had a wide kingdom, and a big army, he respected Ja’far b. Mohammed at- Sidiq, peace be on him, when he looked at him.
Al- Mufaddal b. ‘Amr said:” At- Mansflr tried to kill Abfl Abd Allah (atSädiq), peace be on him, several times. However, he respected him when he looked at him. So, he did not kill him.”’
All people respected AbO Abd Allah (at- SSdiq), peace be on him, whether they were friends or enemies. For example, Hishäm b. at- Hakam, who was a Jahami before he became an Imami, said to at- Sâdiq:” Son of Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, I respect you, I am shy of you. My tongue is not able to utter even a word before you.”
Though at- Sâdiq, peace be on him, had such great prestige, he was very humble in word to his companion and those who sat with him. He sat with them, ate with them, and talked with them.
His worship:
Al- SSdiq, peace be on him, was the best of alt creatures during his time in worshipping, such as fasting, prayers, hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), and the like.
In Tadhkirat at- Khawas, at- Sibt b. al- Jawzy says:” The biographers say:’ Al- Sâdiq was busy worshipping. He was indifferent to leadership.’” In Matälib at- Sa’fll, b. Talha says:” Al- Sadiq had many sciences. He worshipped (Allah) very much. He read cvntinuos parts of the Koran. And he divided his time according to the religious duties.” In Hutyat at- Awlia’, AbU Na’Tm says:” Al- Sãdiq devoted all his time to worshipping and submission to Allah. He preferred isolation and humbleness to leadership and parties.” Mâlik b. Anas says:” Ja’far b. Mohammed had three qualities: he fasted, or .prayed, or remembered Allah. He was among the greatest scholars of creatures and among the great devout.” We.have mentioned all these qualities in the topics: Who was at- Sädiq? and His scientific Life.
His Bravery:
There were no holy battles during the time of at- Sâdiq, peace be on him, so that people may know his bravery. However, there were many attitudes which have indicated his firm powers, such as the strong- heart self-
possessions and the like. You have already read these attitudes in the topicaHis Attitudes with al- Mansflr.
His Religious Devotion:
“Al- SEdiq wore a thick, short, woolen cloak on his body, and wore silk garment on it. And he said:’ We wear the cloak for Allah, and the silk (garments) for you.”’
“Al- Sädiq offered meat to his guest, while he ate vinegar and animal oil. Then he said:’ This is our food and the food of the Prophets.”’
One day, Sufyan at- Thawry
came to at- Sidiq. He. saw him wearing a silk cloak. So, Sufyan criticized him and said:” Why have you worn this (cloak), while you are among the family of Prophethood?” At- Sädiq, peace be on him, said:” You do not know. Insert your hand into here.” There was a garment of rough hair. Then at- Sädiq said:” Thawry, show me what is under your cloak.” There was a shirt thinner than the crust of the egg. So, Sufyän became shy of at- Sädiq. Then at- Sädiq said to him:” Thawry, do not come to us many times so as not to harm us nor do we harm you.”
Al- Sadiq said these words before al- Thawry, for the tatter disagreed with the former on his behavior, knowledge, and act. In the meantime, the ruler prevented at- Sâdiq from meeting people and preventcd them from meeting him. So, the person would expose himself and at- Sädiq to danger when be wanted to meet him, especially if the person was of great importance among people, such as Sufa’an at- Thawry.
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Author: Shaykh Muhammad al-Hussein al-Mudaffar
