Gate of Knowledge Foundation

The one who spends his life in refuge of God, world’s discomforts will become easy for him. The one who does not counsel with others in his matters will be harmed. World is a bazaar in which one group makes benefit and the other faces loss. Cutting jokes and mockery is the activity and enjoyment and amusement of foolish ones. People are respected in this world for possessing wealth and in the Hereafter for possessing righteous deeds.

One day one of the flatterer and glib tongued person said to Al-Mutawakkil, the cruel Abbasid Caliph, “Why do you command your court offices to honor Imam Ali Naqi (as), and when he arrives they must raise the curtains and open the doors for him. This itself is against your conduct. Let Imam Ali Naqi (as) come and go like the rest of the people so that he looses his worth in the eyes of people.”

Al-Mutawakkil agreed to his demand and ordered his officials not to hold the curtains and open the doors while Imam Ali Naqi (as) comes or leaves.

One day, one of his servants came rushing to him and said: “Imam Ali Naqi (as) is coming and to whichever part of the court he arrives, the doors open and curtains are drawn automatically. This thing attracted the attention of all and if this continues on the superiority and supremacy of Imam Ali Naqi (as) will become clear and evident to all, thus your Caliphate will be endangered.

Al-Mutawakkil at once ordered that the officials must adopt the previous conduct with Imam Ali Naqi (as) and honor him more than ever.

People observed from Imam Ali Naqi (as) due to his connection with Allah and the unseen world, works which were considered to be the specimen of Allah’s might and power.

One of the friends of our 10th Imam, Imam Ali Naqi (as) traveled from Baghdad, Iraq to Madina and had the honor to visit Imam Ali Naqi (as). Imam Ali Naqi (as) enquired from him the condition of Al-Wathiq the Abbasid Caliph and he replied, “when I left Iraq he was fit and fine, and Al-Mutawakkil was in prison and Ibn-e-Zayyat had become famous and well known among the people.

Imam Ali Naqi (as) after a moment’s silence said, “That which is Allah’s will, shall take place, and there is no way to stop his orders and commands. Oh my friend be aware that Al-Wathiq has passed away and Al-Mutawakkil has succeeded him and Ibn-e-Ziyyat has been slain upon the behest of Al-Mutawakkil.”

I asked, “When was it?”

Imam Ali Naqi (as) replied, “Six days after you moved out of Baghdad, Iraq.”

Al-Mutawakkil, the cruel Abbasid Caliph was very fearful that people were so drawn to our 10th Imam, Imam Ali Naqi (as). He was very upset with the realization of the fact that people were ready to do anything that the Imam Ali Naqi (as) would order. Some of the conspirators also gathered around the Caliph and told him that perhaps the Imam Ali Naqi (as) has intention of revolt. And that they might find some evidence from his house.

Thus Al-Mutawakkil ordered some of his cruel fellow men to break in and search Imam Ali Naqi’s (as) house and arrest him, in the middle of the night without a notice when all were asleep. Al-Mutawakkil made this decision while he was in a party and was drinking heavily. Al-Mutawakkil’s men entered Imam Ali Naqi’s (as) house and decided to arrest him first. They found him alone, in a room. He had taken the carpet out and was sitting on the gravel of the floor busy in remembrance of Allah. They searched everywhere and couldn’t find anything. Thus they arrested the Imam Ali Naqi (as) and took him to Al-Mutawakkil.

When the Imam Ali Naqi (as) arrived. Al-Mutawakkil was at the prime of his drinking party. He ordered the Imam Ali Naqi (as) to sit next him. Then he offered a glass of wine to the Imam Ali Naqi (as). Imam Ali Naqi (as) refuse and said: “By Allah never has wine entered my body. Excuse me from it.” Al-Mutawakkil accepted and said: “Then sing for us and entertain us with beautiful poems.” Imam Ali Naqi (as) said: “I am not interested in poetry and I remember only but a little of the poems of other”. Al-Mutawakkil said: “There is no excuse; you must read us some poetry.”

Imam Ali Naqi (as) started: “They made rising mountains their residence. And they always had armed men guarding them. But none could save them from the attack of death. At the end they were descended from those hills and placed in the deeply dug graves with misery and humility. At this time a caller called: Where is all that glory, crowns, and luxury? Where is the face that knew comfort and hid itself behind silk curtains from the gazes of the commoner? The grave disgraced them at end. Those delicate faces are the ground for worms to crawl on. For a long time they sucked, swallowed, drank and ate of the earth. But today they are food for the earth and its pests.”

Imam Ali Naqi’s (as) voice resonated with a deep and effected melody onto the ears of the attendants, and destroyed the high of the wine. Al-Mutawakkil threw his glass away and started crying. Thus was Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil’s party ruined, and the light of truth shun into a disease heart even if it were for a fleeting moment.

During the time of Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil a lady claimed that she was Zainab the daughter of Fatimah (sa). Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil said, “Many long years have passed since that period when Zainab lived and you are quite young.”

She replied, “Yes, but the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) drew his hand upon my head and prayed for me to remain young for ever. As such, after every forty years I turn back to become young.” Al-Mutawakkil called upon all the wise men to visit him and enquired from them, “What do you say about the claim of this women.” All of them said, “she tells a lie.”

Al-Mutawakkil said, “I know that she is lying, but what proof and logic do you have to condemn her.”

They said, “We do not know, Imam Ali Naqi (as) should solve this problem.”

Al-Mutawakkil at once summoned Imam Ali Naqi (as) and told him about that matter.

Imam Ali Naqi (as) said, send her to the cage of the lions, if she is telling the truth, because the beasts do not molest the children of Fatimah (sa) and do not eat their flesh. Al-Mutawakkil said to the woman, “what do you say?”

She said, “This man wishes that I may be killed. If he is right then let him do it himself.” Al-Mutawakkil said, “she is right, you must do it first yourself.”

Imam Ali Naqi (as) replied, “There is no hurdle to it” He went to the lions in the cage and sat among them. All observed with amazement, that the lions sat very respectfully before the Imam Ali Naqi (as) and sometimes caressed themselves against his body and he caressed their bodies with his hand, affectionately. When Imam Ali Naqi (as) ordered that they might move to a corner, all of them crept to a nook. Then Imam Ali Naqi (as) came out of the cage and went to Al-Mutawakkil and said, “Oh woman now it is your turn.”

The woman started crying and begging saying, “I told a lie, I am the daughter of such and such man, and wanted to play a trick and a hoax but it did not work.”

• This life (Dunia) is a market in which some people gained and other lost.
• Do not expect honesty and purity of intention from someone who has suffered from your malice; do not expect loyalty from one to whom you have been disloyal; do not expect goodwill from someone whom you regard with ill will; as his heart towards you is the same as your heart towards him.

During the time of our 10th Imam, Imam Hadi (as) Al-Mutawakkil, the cruel Abbasid Caliph fell very ill. The doctors could not make him better.

 

Imam Hadi (as) and the cruel Abbasid Caliph Al-MutawakkilAl-Mutawakkil’s mother was very sad and asked Imam Hadi (as) to help him. Imam Hadi (as) told her what medicine to use to make her son, Al-Mutawakkil better and when she used what Imam Hadi (as) had told her to use, Al-Mutawakkil became well again.

 

All the doctors were very surprised.

 

Although Al-Mutawakkil was a cruel, bad man, Imam Hadi (as) still helped him, because his mother had come to him for help.

 

Moral: If anyone ever asks you for help you should help them even if they are not very nice.

Once Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil was poisoned so he kept a vow (Nadhr) saying that, “If I recover fully then I will spend ‘Maal al-Katheer’ in the cause of Allah (SWT)”.

Maal al-Katheer means ‘plenty of money’, but Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil did not specify the amount.

When he finally recovered, Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil called for his scholars, informed them about his vow and sought their guidance on the amount which he should pay so that it should be regarded as Maal al-Katheer. He got different answers. One said that he should pay 1000 dirham; the other said he should pay 10,000 dirham and the third said that the money should amount to 100,000 dirham. Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil was confused and did not know which scholar’s advice he should follow.

One of the courtiers, whose name was Hasan, said, “O Al-Mutawakkil! If you allow me then I shall acquire a correct answer to your question”. Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil said to him, “Alright, go then and acquire for me a correct answer. If you satisfy me, I will gift you 10,000 dirham other wise I will have you whipped”.

The courtier came to our 10th Imam, Imam Hadi (as) who was under surveillance. As soon as the Imam Hadi (as) saw him, he (as) said, “You have come to ask me about Maal al-Katheer. Go and tell Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil it is 80 dirham”. When Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil heard this, he asked for a proof.

Imam Hadi (as) told the courtier, “Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur’an to His Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): ‘Allah (SWT) rendered you with victory in many places’ Noble Qur’an (9:25) When we counted the places of victory, they were 80 in number. This therefore, shows that the interpretation of ‘Katheer’ is eighty”.

When Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil heard this, he was satisfied and extremely pleased. As promised, the courtier was awarded with 10,000 dirham.

There was a great Shia Scholar in the days of our 10th Imam, Imam Hadi (as). Once a Nasibi (a person who curses the Ahlul Bayt) had a debate with this scholar and the scholar defeated him through Qura’nic verses and Prophetic traditions.

One day this scholar came into a gathering, which consisted mostly of Alavids and people of Banu Hashim; and Imam Hadi (as) was also present. In the centre of that gathering, Imam Hadi (as) was seated and there was a huge pillow placed at that spot. As soon as Imam Hadi (as) saw this scholar, he (as) rose from his place and asked the scholar to come forward until the Imam Hadi (as) made him sit next to him and offered him the pillow to relax.

One old man from Banu Hashim did not like this, so he complained saying, “O Son of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)! How can you give preference to an ordinary person over a Sayyid who belongs to the progeny of Abu Talib and Abbas?”

When the Imam Hadi (as) heard this, he (as) was extremely furious with the old man and started quoting verses from the Noble Qur’an to prove the supremacy of a scholar over everyone else.

Imam Hadi (as) asked the people present there: “Do you believe the commands of Allah (SWT) in the Noble Qur’an?”

They all said, “Yes!”

Then the Imam Hadi (as) said, “Hasn’t Allah (SWT) said: ‘Allah will raise those who have faith and those who have been given knowledge in rank…’? Noble Qur’an (58:11)

Then know that just as Allah (SWT) loves a Mumin over a non-Mumin, similarly, He loves a Mumin with knowledge over a Mumin without knowledge. (Now tell me) Hasn’t Allah (SWT) also said, ‘Say (O Muhammad): Can those who know and those who do not know be equal? Verily only the men of understanding take the heed’? Noble Qur’an (39:9)

Then why are you people trying to stop me from giving preference to one who has been preferred by Allah (SWT)? This Scholar has utilized his knowledge, which Allah (SWT) has blessed him and defeated our enemy with it. This act is better than any family ties and relation in my eyes”.

Once “Younas Naqqash” came terrified and trembling to see our 10th Imam, Imam Hadi (as) and said, “Oh the son of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) I am at the verge and threshold of death, you help my family.” Imam Hadi (as) asked him as to what was the matter. Younas Naqqash said so, “one of the courtiers of Abbasid Caliphate has given me a gem to engrave a design upon it. During the work, the gem broke into two pieces. Tomorrow, he will send someone to collect the gem. If he comes to know about the matter he will kill me.”

Imam Hadi (as) bent his head downward then he raised it saying, “I prayed for you, be satisfied no harm will reach you from him, instead, this work will end to your benefit. Get up and go you will face no trouble tomorrow.”

The next day Younas Naqqash moved towards the house of that man with trembling legs along with one of the officials deputed. Not very long afterwards, the owner of the house arrived and said, “Oh Younas Naqqash it was settled that you engrave a design over that gem but two of my daughters have a conflict upon this gem.” If it is possible, break the gem into two pieces, and engrave the design on each of the two parts of it. I will give you a reward too, for that, Younas Naqqash said, “Permit me to think about this matter.”

He came out of that place and returned happily to Imam Hadi (as) and expressed his gratitude and thankfulness over the kindness he had shown to him.

Moral: No matter what trouble you are faced with always trust in Allah (SWT) and ask for His help as He can make anything happen.