Story No. 379 – Supplications of Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (as)

One day, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (as) was eating dates at his home in Kufa when one of his companions, Bashar bin al-Kari, approached him. After exchanging greetings, Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) invited Bashar to share the dates but Bashar refused Imam Jafar al-Sadiq’s (as) offer.

Surprised, Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) said to him: By my right over you, sit and eat. As Bashar ate. Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) noticed that he looked very sad and asked him the reason for this.

Bashar replied: While coming, I saw something that made me feel sad. I saw the Caliph’s soldiers beating a woman on her head as they dragged her to prison. She was crying out, ‘By Allah (SWT) and His Prophet Muhammad (saw), please help me!’ But no one dared to do so.

Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) asked Bashar why the woman was treated in that manner and he explained, the woman tripped on a stone and said ‘May Allah (SWT) curse your oppressors! O’ Fatima Zahra (sa).’ When the soldiers heard her, they began to hit her and then arrested her. When he heard this, Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) stopped eating and wept so bitterly that his beard became wet with tears. He turned to Bashar and said, “O Bashar”, let us go to Masjid Al-Sahla to pray to Allah (SWT) for the freedom of this woman.

While they went to Masjid Al-Sahla, Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (as) ordered some of his companions to keep watch at Caliph’s gate and bring any news of the woman.

When they reached Masjid Al-Sahla. Imam Jafer al-Sadiq (as) and Bashar offered two Rakaats for the sake of Allah (SWT). After they had completed their prayers, Imam Jafer al-Sadiq (as) raised his hands in Du’a (Supplication) to Allah (SWT) saying: “O’ Listener of supplications, O’ Lord, O’ Master, O’ Helper, I ask You by every name You have taught us and by those you have kept hidden, to send Your blessings upon Prophet Muhammad (saw) and his pure progeny to free this woman, O’ Lord,…”

After finishing his supplication, Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) said to Bashar: Let us go back, because the woman has been freed!

When they arrived home, one of his companions, who had been sent to keep watch, had come back with the good news that Caliph had set the woman free!

Caliph had also offered her 200 dirhams and although she was very poor and needed money, she had refused to take it. Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) was very pleased to hear this and he gave Bashar some money to take to the woman.

Bashar went to the woman’s house with the money and after giving it to her, he told her of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq’s (as) tears and du’a for her freedom. The woman took the money and cried, “Peace be upon you, O’ my Master and Lord, O’ son of Prophet Muhammad (saw).” She turned to Bashar and said, “Tell Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) to pray for the followers of Ahlul-Bayt (as). He is our Imam and we do not know anyone else, who would pray and supplicate to Allah (SWT) for us. We do not know anyone else, except him and his fathers, peace be upon them all!”