Lessons from the Innocents

Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) and the Terrified Caravan

Imam M£s¡ Ibn Ja’far (a.s) says: “Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) accompanied a caravan that was going on in the desert. Then the caravan was informed that the thieves have hidden themselves on their way. The people of the caravan trembled with fear. Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) asked about the reason. They said: ‘We have some property and fear that the thieves take it from us. Do you take them from us so that the thieves might not take them from you?’ Imam (a.s) said: ‘You cannot be sure; maybe they only intend to rob me and then your property would be stolen by them.’ The people said again: ‘So what can we do? Is it wise to burry our property under the ground?’ Imam (a.s) answered: ‘No, because they may get damaged, someone may rob them, or you may not relocate them.’ The caravan people asked: ‘What can we do then?’ Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) said: ‘Give them to the One Who can protect them, increase the amount of them, and then give them back to you more than you need!’

‘Who is it?’ they asked. Imam replied: ‘The Lord of the worlds.’ They asked: ‘How can we do this?’ Imam (a.s) stated: ‘Give them away as charity to poor Muslims.’ They said: ‘We have no access to the poor in the middle of desert.’ Imam said: ‘Intend to give away one third of it so that Allah would save all of it.’ ‘We intended,’ they said. Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) said: ‘You are safe now so go on your journey.’

When the caravan moved the thieves appeared. The caravan people were afraid but Imam (a.s) told them: ‘Why are you afraid while Allah will save you.’ The thieves came and, recognizing Imam ¯¡diq (a.s), kissed his hands and said: ‘Last night, we dreamed of the Messenger of Allah (s.a) and he ordered us to protect you and the caravan; now we are at your service!’ Imam (a.s) said: ‘There is no need to your help. The One Who saved us from you will save us from other enemies and robbers.’ So the caravan reached the city and the people gave away one third of their property to the poor. Furthermore, they witnessed abundance in their wealth; every drachma got ten. They were astonished at this and Imam ¯¡diq (a.s) told them: ‘Now that you know about trading with Allah, continue it!’”

The Wonder of Allah’s favorites

When Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n (a.s) reached Siffiyn region, Mu’awiya had cut all the water ways to take Imam’s soldiers into trouble and weaken their fighting ability. Imam `Al¢ (a.s) ordered a group of fighters under the guidance of Imam °usayn (a.s) to open the water way. Imam °usayn (a.s) attacked the water resource, so Mu’awiya’s guards fled the place and water was again open for the Muslim army. Some people suggested Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n (a.s) cut off the water way for Mu’awiya and his troops. Imam (a.s) stated: “By Allah that I don’t do so.” Then he sent a convoy to Mu’awiya to tell him: “Your army is free to take as much water as it wants.”

A Strange letter from Imam al-Ri¤¡ (a.s)

Bazanti, a reliable Shi`¢te narrator says: I read Imam al-Ri¤¡’s letter from Khorasan to his son, Imam Jaw¡d (a.s), in Medina. He had written:

My Son! I have been informed that whenever you want to go out and mount your horse, the servants take you out from the small door of the house. This is because of their stinginess so that you could not grant anything to others. I ask you, by my fatherhood and Imamate, to come and go from the larger door. Also bring money with yourself so that you can give away to the poor. If your uncles wanted money, don’t give them less than fifty drachmas and do not give less than twenty five drachmas to your aunts and you are free to pay them more. I want Allah to grant you high position and status. Donate money and do not fear poverty by the Owner of the Empyrean!

When Allah’s favorite servants are this much generous to other servants, how would be Allah’s Generosity?

It is because of Allah’s indefinite Mercy and unending benevolence that Am¢r al-Mu’min¢n (a.s), after saying ‘O Allah! Can’t you see yourself hearing within the Fire the voice of a slave surrendered to You, imprisoned there because of his violations’, says ‘Far be it from You! That is not what is expected of You.’

هَيْهاتَ ما ذلِكَ الظَّنُ بِكَ وَلأَ الْمَعْرُوفُ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ وَلا مُشْبِهٌ لِما عامَلْتَ بِهِ الْمُوَحِّدينَ مِنْ بِرِّكَ وَإِحْسانِكَ، فَبِالْيَقينِ أَقْطَعُ لَوْ لا ما حَكَمْتَ بِهِ مِنْ تَعْذيبِ جاحِديكَ، وَقَضَيْتَ بِهِ مِنْ إِخْلادِ مُعانِدِيكَ لَجَعَلْتَ النّارَ كُلَّها بَرْداً وَسَلاماً وَما كانَت لإَِحَد فيها مَقَرّاً وَلا مُقاماً لكِنَّكَ تَقَدَّسَتْ أَسْماؤُكَ أَقْسَمْتَ أَنْ تَمْلأََها مِنَ الْكافِرينَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنّاسِ أَجْمَعينَ، وَأَنْ تُخَلِّدَ فيهَا الْمُعانِدينَ وَأَنْتَ جَلَّ ثَناؤُكَ قُلْتَ مُبْتَدِئاً، وَتَطَوَّلْتَ بِالاًِنْعامِ مُتَكَرِّماً: ”أَفَمَنْ كانَ مُؤْمِناً كَمَنْ كانَ فاسِقاً لا يَسْتَوُونَ.“

Far be it from You! That is not what is expected of You, nor what is well-known of Your Bounty; nor is it similar to the goodness and kindness You have shown to those who profess Your Oneness. So I declare with certainty that were it not for what You have decreed concerning the chastisement of Your deniers and what You have foreordained concerning the everlasting home of those who stubbornly resist, You would make the Fire, all of it, coolness and safety, and no one would have a place of rest or abode within it. But You- holy are Your Names- have sworn that You will fill it with the unbelievers, both jinn and men, and that You will place those, who stubbornly resist, therein forever. And You- majestic is Your eulogy- said through kindness as a favor: what? Is he who has been a believer like him who has been ungodly? They are not equal.