He gave the Alids their Rights.
From its early days, the Umayyad government spared no effort to deprive the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, of their right. It spread poverty among their houses. Thus, the Alids suffered from poverty. However, when 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz became caliph, he gave them their full rights. He wrote to his governor of Medina (Yathrib) to divide ten thousand dinars among them. His governor asked him: "'Ali has many children from Quraysh, among which of his children shall I divide the money?" Then 'Umar wrote to him: "When this letter of mine comes to you, divide ten thousand dinars among the children of 'Ali from Fa`tima, may Allah be pleased with her. For they had been deprived of their own rights.
1 This was the first gift to be given to the Alids during the days of the Umayyads.
He returned Fadak
'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz achieved a generous initiative when he returned Fadak (country estate) to the Alids. Noteworthy, the family of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, was deprived of Fadak, for it had been confiscated for many generations. His returning Fadak has been reported in many ways. The following is some of them:
1. 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz visited Medina, the city of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. He ordered his caller to call: "Whoever has a complaint should attend!" So, Ima`m Abu Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, came to 'Umar, who stood for him and received him warmly. Thus, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said to him:
____________
1. Al-Manaqib, vol. 4, pp. 207-208.
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"The world is a market. The people buy from it what benefits and harms them. How many a people bought what harmed them. However, death came to them before they had entered upon morning. So, they left the world blamed. For they did not take what would avail them in the hereafter. Then, what they had gathered has been divided among those who will not thank them, and they have come to the One Who will not excuse them. By Allah, we had better consider carefully their bad deeds to refrain from (doing) them. Therefore, fear Allah. Put two (things) in yourself: Look at what you love to be with you when will you meet your Lord, for He will put it before you. Look at what you hate to be with you when you meet your Lord, so throw it behind you. Do not wish for the unsalable commodity of those who had been before you. Then, you hope that He will forgive you. Open the doors. Make easy the veil. Treat the oppressed with justice. Punish the oppressive. Whoever has three (qualities), his belief in Allah is perfect: When he is satisfied, his satisfaction does not enter him into falsehood. When he becomes angry, his anger does not take out of the truth. When he is powerful, he does not take what does not belong to him." Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, preached to 'Umar with these valuable words. He advised him to follow high standard morals and good deeds. However, the Ima`m, peace be on him, did not mention the complaint of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, concerning Fadak and the like.
When 'Umar heard these words of the Ima`m, peace be on him, he ordered a pen and a piece of paper to be brought to him. Then, he wrote the following: "In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This is what 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz has answered to the complaint of Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn b. 'Ali b. Abi Ta`lib concerning Fadak.
2. When 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz became caliph, he summoned Quraysh and the prominent figures of the people. Then, he said to them: "In deed Fadak was in the hand of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. He put it where Allah had taught him. Then Abu` Bakr controlled it. Then 'Umar (b. al-Khatta`b) controlled it. Then Marwa`n controlled it. Then it has come to me. However, it does
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not belong to my property. I call you to witness that (it is not my property), and that I have returned it as it was at the time of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family.
1
This narration shows that 'Umar did not return Fadak to the Alids. Rather, he put it where Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, had put it. It is well-known that Allah's Apostle allotted it to his daughter Fa`tima, the mistress of the women of the world, peace be on her. Thus, Fa`tima owned Fadak during the lifetime of her father, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. However, the people confiscated it to support their political interests.
3. When 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz returned Fadak to the Alids, the Umayyads harbored malice against him. Thus, they said to him: "You have harbored malice against the deed of the two Shaykhs (i. e., Abu` Bakr and 'Umar). You have slandered them. You have ascribed them to oppression and usurpation." Then 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz said: "It has be come correct to me and to you that Fa`tima, daughter of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, demanded of Fadak, for it was in her hand. She did not tell lies to Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. 'Ali, Umm Ayman, and Umm Salama testified that. Fa`tima is truthful with me in what she said, the she did not supply proof of that. She is the mistress of the women of Heaven. Today I will return Fadak to its inheritors. With that I want to approach to Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. I hope that Fa`tima, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn will intercede (with Allah) for me on the Day of Judgment. If I had been in the place of Abu` Bakr and Fa`tima claimed that, I would have believed her complaint." Then, 'Umar handed over Fadak to Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him.
2
These are some of the narrations which have been mentioned concerning how 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz returned Fadak to the Alids. He opposed his predecessor, who harbored malice towards the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.
____________
1. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 164.
2. Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 272.
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'Umar bin 'Abd al-'Aziz
and Ima`m al-Ba`qir
There were several meetings between Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, and 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz. The following is some of them:
Ima`m al-Ba`qir predicted of 'Umar's Caliphate.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, foretold of the caliphate of 'Umar bin 'Abd al-'Aziz. That was before 'Umar became caliph. Abu` Basir said: "I was with Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, in the mosque. Then, 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz entered. Thus, the Ima`m said: 'That young man will be a caliph He will show justice.' However, the Ima`m slandered 'Umar's caliphate, for there was a person more appropriate for the caliphate than 'Umar.
1
2. 'Umar honored Ima`m al-Ba`qir
When 'Umar became caliph, he honored Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. He sent Funu`n b. 'Abd Allah b. 'Uttba b. Mas'u`d- he was one of the Ku`fan worshipers- to Ima`m al-Ba`qir to ask him to
go to Damascus. The Ima`m, peace be on him, responded to him and went to Damascus. When the Ima`m arrived in Damascus, 'Umar received him warmly. Conversations took place between them. The Ima`m visited 'Umar for several
days. When he wanted to return to Medina (Yathrib), he went to 'Umar's palace to see him off. He introduced himself to the chamberlain, who told 'Umar of the Ima`m. The chamberlain came and called out: "Where is Abu` Ja'far? He is permitted to enter." However, the Ima`m did not enter. For he thought the chamberlain did not mean him. So, the chamberlain returned to 'Umar and told him that the Ima`m was not present. "What did you say?" asked 'Umar. "Where is Abu` Ja'far?" the chamberlain replied. "Go and call: Where is Mohammed b. 'Ali?" 'Umar ordered the chamberlain. The latter did that. Thus, the Ima`m rose and entered. He talked to 'Umar, then he said to him: "I want to see you off." "Preach to me," 'Umar asked the Ima`m.
____________
1. Ibid, p. 172.
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Thus, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "Fear Allah. Regard the old man as father, the young man as brother, and the man as brother.
'Umar admired these commandments of the Ima`m. In this connection, he said: "By Allah, you have gathered (good commandments) for me. If I put them into effect and Allah helps me with that, good will last for me, Allah willing." Then, the Ima`m left 'Umar. When he wanted to travel, 'Umar's messenger came to him and said: "'Umar wants to come to you." The Ima`m waited till 'Umar came. When 'Umar came, he sat before the Ima`m to honor him. Then, the Ima`m saw him off.
1
3. 'Umar exchanged letters with Ima`m al-Ba`qir.
The Umayyad secret agents told 'Umar that Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him, was like the rest of his fathers, who raised the banner of truth and justice in the earth. 'Umar wanted to test the Ima`m. He wrote to him. So, the Ima`m answered him with a letter in which were sermons and pieces of advice. Then, 'Umar said: "Bring me his (al-Ba`qir's) letter to Sulayma`n." The letter was brought to him. In it was laud and praise. 'Umar sent the letter to his governor of Medina (Yathrib). He ordered him to show the letter to the
Ima`m along with his letter to 'Umar. Moreover, he ordered him to record what the Ima`m, peace be on him, would say in this respect. The governor submitted the two letters to the Ima`m. So, the Ima`m said: "Sulayma`n was tyrannical. I wrote to him what is written to tyrants. Your leader showed an affair. So, I wrote to him what is appropriate for him." The governor wrote these words of the Ima`m to 'Umar. When 'Umar read them, he admired the Ima`m. Thus, he said: "Allah always does favors for the members of this House.
2
These are some of the Ima`m's meetings with 'Umar. They show that 'Umar had genius thinking when he honored and respected the Ima`m.
____________
1. Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 51, p. 38.
2. Al-Ya'qubi, Tarikh, vol. 2, 48.
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Baseless Accusation
Several baseless accusations were made against 'Umar. He was accused of not knowing the times of the obligatory prayers. Dr. 'Ali Hasan reported this claim on the authority of some references.
1 This claim is untrue. For 'Umar was pious. He sat with religious scholars and jurists. Surely, he knew the times of the obligatory prayers.
Criticisms
Umar faced some criticisms. The following is some of them:
1. He recognized the country estates, which the caliphs and the previous ones from his house, controlled. Without doubt, these country estates were illegally taken.
2. His governors of the Islamic cities spared no effort to oppress the people and to deprive them of their properties. Addressing 'Umar, Ka'ab al-Ash'ari said:
You maintain your followers.
However, the governors of your land
are wolves in the country.
They will not respond to what you summon till you cut off necks with the sword.
2
While 'Umar was addressing the people from the pulpit, a person interrupted him, saying:
Those whom you appointed over the countries have left your Book and regarded as lawful the forbidden.
3
3. He adopted the giving of the chiefs. He did not change that. However, Islamic principles refuse that. For they force the Moslem ruler to treat all Moslems with justice.
4. He increased the giving of the Syrians to ten dinars. However,
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1. Nazra 'Amma fi Tarikh al-Fiqh al-Islami, p. 110.
2. Hayat al-Imam Musa b. Ja'far, vol. 1, p. 305.
3. Ibid.
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he did not do the same with the Iraqis.
1There is no justification for this discrimination in treatment that opposes Islam.
These are some of the criticism that face the policy of 'Umar. They are regarded as many for him. For he adopted justice in his policy, as the biographers said.
His Death
Illnesses attacked 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz. The historians said: "'Umar refused to take any medicine. It was said to him: 'You must take medicine.' 'If my healing was in rubbing my ear, I would not rub it. The best One to Whom I will go is my Lord,' he replied.
2 Some references mentioned that the Umayyads gave him poison to drink. For they knew that his day would become long. Thus, they would lose government. They
thought that there would be an appropriate person for the caliphate. Accordingly, they killed him quickly.
3
'Umar died at Dir Sam'a`n, in the month of Rajab, in the year 101.
4'Umar left behind him good behavior. All people admire such behavior.
Yazid bin 'Abd al-Malik
Yazid bin 'Abd al-Malik became caliph according to the pledge of allegiance of his bother, Sulayma`n, to him. He ruled the people with the policy of 'Umar for forty days. However, the Umayyads found that difficult for them. They brought him forty old men. They bore witness before him that the caliphs would face neither reckoning nor punishment.
5 So, Yazid abandoned the policy of 'Umar. He ruled the people with violence and tyranny. He removed the governors of 'Umar from their offices. Then, he wrote a decree to his governors. The decree read as follows: "'Umar bin 'Abd al-'Aziz was self-
____________
1. Al-Ya'qubi, Tarikh, vol. 2, 48.
2. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh vol. 4, p. 161.
3. Al-Inafa fi Ma'athir al-Khilafa', vol. 1, p. 142.
4. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 161.
5. Ibn Kuthayr, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 232.
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conceited. Leave what you have known from his time. Return the people willingly or unwillingly to their previous classes.
1 So, oppression and tyranny prevailed all over the country. Noteworthy, Yazid b. 'Abd al-Malik was ignorant. He harbored hatred against religious scholars. He disdained them. He called al-Hasan al-Basri the ignorant shaykh.
2
Yazid was excessive in playing and impudence. He fell in love with Habba`ba. One day, he drank wine and said: "Let me fly." "To whom will you leave the community?" Habba`ba asked him. "To you," he replied.
3 She went with him to Jordan. He threw a grape at her. The grape entered her mouth. She choked and became ill. Then she died. He did not bury her. However, he kissed her. He looked at her and wept. The people spoke to him concerning her. So, he permitted them to bury her. Then, he returned to his house sad.
4 Al-Mas'udi said: "Yazid sat by the grave of Habba`ba, saying:
The soul will leave you and your love out of despair not out of patience.
5
It was said that Yazid dug the grave of Habba`ba to see her.
6 In this connection, he had many shameful attitudes. I will not mention them. He died in the year 105.
Hisha`m bin 'Abd al-Malik
Hisha`m became caliph on the day when his brother Yazid died. That was on Friday, the twenty-fifth of the month Shawwa`l, in the year 105. He was called the Ahwal of the Umayyads. He harbored malice against the high-born figures. He was a miser. Thus, he said:
____________
1. Al'Aqd al-Farid, vol. 3, p. 180.
2. Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, vol. 5, p. 95.
3. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 191.
4. Ibid.
5. Murujj al-Dhahab, vol. 3, p. 191.
6. Al-Inafa fi Ma'athir al-Khilafa, vol. 1, p. 146.
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"Add the dirham to the dirham to make money.
1He collected money of which no Caliph had collected.
2He said: "The caliphate needs money as the patient needs medicine.
3 He entered fruit garden. His companions began eating fruit. So, he ordered his retainer to uproot the fruit trees and to grow olive-trees instead of them to prevent every person from eating fruit.
4 He had a green outer garment. He wore the garment when he was Emir, then he wore it when he became caliph.
5 Al-Ya'qu`bi said: "Hisha`m was miserly, rude, oppressive, cruel, merciless, and impudent. He detested the Alids. It was he who killed Zayd b. 'Ali. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, suffered from many persecutions during his time. The following is some of them:
Ima`m al-Ba`qir in Damascus
Hisha`m, the tyrannical, ordered his governor of Medina (Yathrib) to send Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, to Damascus. In this connection, the historians have mentioned to narrations:
The first narration: Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, arrived in Damascus. Hisha`m knew of his arrival. Thus, he ordered his retinues to scold the Ima`m. Then, the Ima`m, peace be on him, came to Hisha`m. He greeted the people, but did not greet Hisha`m as caliph. So, Hisha`m was enraged. He walked towards the Ima`m, peace be on him, and said to him: "O Mohammed b. 'Ali, you have divided the Moslems. You have summoned (the people) for yourself. You have claimed that you are the Ima`m out of foolishness and the paucity of knowledge."
Hisha`m kept silent. However, his hirelings began defaming the
____________
1. Al-Bukhla', p. 150.
2. Akhbar al-Duwal, vol. 2, p. 200.
3. Ansab al-Ashraf.
4. Al-Bukhala', p. 105.
5. Al-Adab al-Sultaniya.
6. Al-Ya'qubi, Tarikh, vol. 2, 393.
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Ima`m and mocking him.
So, Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "O People, where do you go? Where they want to (lead) you? With us Allah guided the first of you. With us He will terminate the last of you. You have early reign. But we have later reign. There will be no reign after our reign. For we are the people of the final result. The final result will be for the pious.
1
Then the Ima`m, peace be on him, went out. He filled their souls with sadness and sorrow. For they were unable to refute his rational words.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir made a Speech in Damascus.
The Syrians crowded around Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him. They said: "That is the son of Abu` Tura`b (i. e., Ima`m 'Ali)." They showed malice and enmity towards him. However, the Ima`m, peace be on him, decided to guide them to the right path. He wanted them to know the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. He rose among them to make a speech. He praised Allah and lauded Him. He blessed Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, then he said: " The people of discord, the progeny of hypocrisy, and the food of the fire kept away from the luminous Moon, the abounding Sea, the piercing Metro, the Metro of the believers, and the right Path. Before We alter faces then turn them on their backs, or curse them as We cursed the violators of the Sabbath, and command of Allah shall be executed." Then, after a speech of his, he said: "Do you mock the brother of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family? (He meant Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the
Faithful, peace be on him.) Do you slander the Commander of religion? Which of the ways do you follow after him? Which sadness do you pay after him? How far! By Allah, he (Ima`m 'Ali) became prominent with priority (in Islam). He won with the outstanding qualities. He dominated the purpose. He overcame the perfidy. So, the eyes faded away from him. The necks
____________
1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 11, p. 75.
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yielded to him. He was the branch of the high progeny."
1
We think that these are extracts from Ima`m al-Ba`qir's speech. However, they showed the laudable deeds and outstanding qualities of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, to that society that harbored malice against them.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir was arrested.
The outstanding merits of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, spread among the Syrians. Hence, Hisha`m ordered him to be imprisoned. However, the prisoners gathered around the Ima`m. They began to learn his sciences and his excellent morals. The prison manager was afraid of the discord. So, he told Hisha`m about that. Thus, Hisha`m ordered the Ima`m to be released and to be returned to his homeland.
2
The second narration: Lu`t b. Yahya` al-Asadi reported this narration on the authority of 'Amma`ra b. Zayd al-Wa`qidi, who said: "One year, Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik made a pilgrimage (to Mecca). In the year Ima`m Mohammed b. 'Ali al-Baqir and his son Ima`m Ja'far al-Sa`diq, peace be on them, also made a pilgrimage. There was a gathering of people. Muslima b. 'Abd al-Malik was among them. Before that gathering, Ima`m Ja'far al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, said: 'Praise belongs to Allah Who appointed Mohammed as prophet with the Truth. He has honored us with him. We are the chosen ones of Allah over His creatures. We are the best of His servants. Whoever follows us is happy. Whoever opposes and disobeys us is unhappy.'
Hence, Muslima b. 'Abd al-Malik hurried to his brother Hisha`m and told him about the words of Ima`m Ja'far al-Sa`diq, peace be on him. However, Hisha`m kept that secret. He did not mistreat the two Ima`ms in Saudi Arabia (Hija`z). Then he came back to Damascus. When he arrived there, he wrote to his governor of Medina (Yathrib) to send the two Ima`ms to Damascus. When they arrived in Damascus, 'Abd al-Malik prevented them from meeting the people for three
____________
1. Al-Manaqib, pp. 203-204.
2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 11, p. 75.
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days. For he wanted to disdain them. On the forth day, he permitted them to meet the people. His assembly was full of the Umayyads and all his retinues. His associates installed a target which the Umayyads were shooting at.
Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, said: "When we entered, my father was before me and I was behind him. Hisha`m called out: 'Mohammed, shoot with the oldest ones of your people.' My father said: 'I am old enough to shoot. I think you have to forgive me.' Hisha`m cried out: 'By Him Who supported us with His religion and His Prophet Mohammed, my Allah bless him and his family, I will not forgive you.' Hisha`m thought that Ima`m al-Ba`qir would fail in shooting. So, he would be able to degrade him before the Syrians. Thus, he ordered an Umayyad old man to hand the Ima`m his bow and arrow. The Ima`m took them. He shot an arrow at the target and hit it in the center. He did that nine times. Hisha`m became angry. He did not control himself. Thus, he said: 'O Abu Ja'far, you are the best archer of all Arabs and non-Arabs in shooting. But you say that you have become an old man.' Then, Hisha`m felt regret for praising the Ima`m. He bowed his head. Ima`m al-Ba`qir was standing. When his standing became long, he became angry. When he became angry, he looked at the sky. When Hisha`m saw the anger of the Ima`m, he rose for him, embraced him, and sat him on his right, turned to him, and said to him: 'Quraysh will go on ruling Arabs and non-Arabs as long as they have the like of you. How good you
are! Who taught you this archery. How long did it take you to learn it? Does Ja'far shoot as you do?'
Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him, said: "We inherit perfection from each other.
Hisha`m burst with anger. He bowed his head. Then he raised his head and began saying: "Are we not the children of 'Abd Mana`f? Are our lineage and yours not one?"
Ima`m al-Ba`qir answered Hisha`m's claims, saying: "We are so. However, Allah singled us out with His hidden secret and His pure knowledge. He singled no one out except us.
Then Hisha`m asked: "Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his
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family, belonged to the tree of 'Abd Mana`f. He sent him to all people, the white, the black, and the red. How have you inherited what other than you has not inherited? Allah sent His Apostle to all people. For Allah, the Great and Almighty, said: 'And Allah's is the heritage of the heavens and the earth.' So, from where have you inherited this knowledge? There will be no prophet after Mohammed. Moreover, you are not prophets.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir answered him with the strongest proof, saying: "From the words of Him, the Exalted, to His Prophet: 'Do not move your tongue with it to make haste with it.' Allah, the Most High, ordered the Prophet to single us out with it. Then these words of Him: 'And that a retaining ear might retain it.' Hence, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'O 'Ali, I asked Allah to make it your ear.' For this reason, 'Ali said: 'Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, taught me a thousand doors of knowledge and he opened from each (of these) doors a thousand (more) doors.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, singled him out with knowledge, as Allah singled his Prophet out with it. Thus, we inherited knowledge with the exception of our people.
Hisha`m became displeased. So, he turned angrily to the Ima`m al-Ba`qir, and said to him: "'Ali knew the unseen world. Allah did not tell anyone of His unseen knowledge. Why did 'Ali say that?"
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, answered him through the brilliant life of Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. In this connection, he said: "Allah sent down a Book to His Prophet. Between the two covers of the Book is what was and what will be till the Day of Judgment. In the words of Him, the Exalted: 'We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything.' In the words of Him, the Exalted: 'And We have recorded everything in a clear writing.' In the words of Him, the Exalted: 'We have not neglected anything in the Book.' Allah commanded His Prophet to teach 'Ali his secret knowledge. Thus, the Prophet ordered 'Ali to collect the Koran after him, and to wash him. The Prophet said to his companions: 'It is
forbidden for my companions and my people to look at my intimate parts except my brother 'Ali. He is from me, and I
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am from him. What is for me is for him. What is (incumbent) on me is (incumbent) on him. He will pay my debt and fulfill my promises.' Then he said to his companions: ''Ali will fights on (the basis of) the interpretation of the Koran as I fought (on the basis) of its revelation.' No one had the perfect and general interpretation of the Koran except 'Ali. So, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'The best one of you in giving judgments is 'Ali.' Namely, he is your judge. 'Umar b. al-Khatta`b said: 'Had it not been for 'Ali, 'Umar would have perished.'
Hisha`m bowed is head. He had no way to answer Ima`m al-Ba`qir. Hence, he said to him: "Ask you need.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "I left my family lonely when I went out.
Hisha`m said: "May Allah remove their lonesomeness through your returning to them. Do not stay any more. Go from this day of yours.
1
This narration does not mention the arrest of Ima`m al-Ba`qir in Damascus. Besides, the first narration has neglected all what has been mentioned in the second narration.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir and a Priest
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was in Syria. He met a priest. The priest was one of the main Christian scholars. A debate took place between them. The priest recognized his inability to debate with the Ima`m. The debate read as follows: Abu` Basir said: [Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, said:] "I went to Syria. While I was going to one of the Umayyad caliphs, I saw some people walking. I asked them: Where are you going? 'We are going to a matchless scholar. He will tell us about the interest of our affair,' they replied. I followed them till they entered a large building. In the building were many people. After a short time, an old man came out. The old man was leaning on two persons. His eye-brows fell over his two
eyes. He tied them. When he sat down, he looked at me and
____________
1. Diya' al-'Amilin, vol. 2.
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began asking me:
- Are you from us or from the blessed community?
- I am from the blessed community.
- Are you from its scholars or from its ignorant ones?
- I am not from its ignorant ones.
- Are you who say that you will go to the garden and eat and drink and do not discharge feces?
- Yes.
- Supply proof of that.
- Yes. That is the fetus. In its mother, it eats from her food, drinks from her drink, but does not discharge feces.
- Did you not say that you are not from its scholars?
- I said: I am not from its ignorant ones.
- Tell me about the hour that is neither from day nor from night.
- This hour is from the sun rise. We do not number it from our night nor from our day. At it the sick die.
The priest was out of breath Then, he went on asking the Ima`m:
- Did you not say that you are not from its scholars?
- I said: I am not from its ignorant ones.
- By Allah, I will ask you about a difficult question.
- Give me what you have.
- Tell me about the two men who were born at one hour and died at one hour. One of them lived for one hundred and fifty years. The other lived for fifty years.
- They were 'Uzayr and 'Uzayrah. One of them lived for fifty years. Then Allah made him die for one hundred years. It was said to him: "How long have you tarried?" He said: "I have tarried a day or a part of a day." The other lived for a hundred and fifty years. Then they both died.
Then, the priest cried out among his companions: "By Allah, I will not speak to you. You will not see my face for twelve months.
1The priest thought that he would refute Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir),
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1. Al-Durr al-Nazim, p. 190.
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peace be on him. Then, the Ima`m, peace be on him, left the assembly. Hence, the Syrians
talked about his outstanding merits and his scientific abilities.
Hisha`m ordered the Shops to be closed
in the Face of Ima`m al-Ba`qir.
Hisha`m, the tyrannical, ordered Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, to leave Damascus. For he was afraid that the people would admire the Ima`m. Accordingly, the public opinion would be against the Umayyads. Hence, he ordered the city markets and trade shops to be shut in the face of the Ima`m.
He ordered their owners not to sell any commodity to the Ima`m. For he wanted to hurt and destroy the Ima`m, peace be on him. The caravan of the Ima`m, peace be on him, walked. Hunger and thirst exhausted it. It passed some cities. The people of the cities hurried to close their stores in the face of the Ima`m. When the Ima`m understood that, he went up on a mountain there. Then, he shouted out, saying: "O People of the city whose people are oppressive, I am the abiding one of Allah. Allah, the Exalted, says: 'What remains with Allah is better for you if you are believer. And I am not a keeper over you.'" When the Ima`m finished these words, an old man from the city said to his people: "O people, by Allah, this is the prayer of (Prophet) Jethro (Shu'ayb). By Allah,
if you do not go to market for this man (Ima`m al-Ba`qir), you will be punished from over your heads and from under your feet. Believe me this time and obey me. For I am an adviser for you." So, the people of the city responded to the old man's summons, for he advised them. Then, they hurried to open their stores. Thus, Ima`m al-Ba`qir bought what he wanted.
1Accordingly, Hisha`m's trick against the Ima`m, peace be on him, failed. He heard of the failure of his plot. However, he went on plotting against the Ima`m. At last, he gave the Ima`m poison to drink. We will mention that at the end of the book. With this we will end our talk about the kings whom Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir),
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1. Al-Manaqib, vol. 4, p. 690. Al-Bihar, vol. 11, p. 75.
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peace be on him, coincided.
