Singing
Singing was famous during the Umayyad time. Medina (Yathrib) took care of singing. The Umayyad government intentionally encouraged singing in the city to degrade its holy position in the souls of the Moslems.
Abu` al-Faraj said: "Neither the scholar nor the worshiper of Medina denied singing."
1
Malik b. Anas, the jurist of Medina, had knowledge of singing. Husayn b. Dahma`n al-Ashqar reported. He said: "I was in Medina. I was lonely in the street. So, I began singing: O Raba`b, what is wrong with your family? They are frowning. It seems that they are angry. However, I heard a man saying: 'O Sinner, you do not sing well. You have prevented the singerstress. You have announced the atrocity.’ Then he began singing. So, I asked him: May Allah make you righteous. From where have you learned this singing? He replied: 'When I was a boy, I followed the singers and learned from them. Mother said to me: My little son, if the singer has an ugly face, no one will listen to his singing. So, leave singing and seek jurisprudence. For the ugly face is not
necessary for jurisprudence. Hence, I left the singers and followed the jurists. Then I said to him. Repeat (singing). He said: No, do you want to say that you have learned singing from Malik b. Anas?’ However, I had not known that the man was Malik b. Anas.
2
Dahma`n, the singer, witnessed before the judge for a man from Medina against an Iraqi. The judge accepted Dahma`n's testimony. The Iraqi man said to the judge: "He is Dahma`n, the singer." "I know him," replied the judge , "If I did not know him, I would ask (the people) about him." The Iraqi man continued: "He sings. He teaches slave girls singing." "May Allah forgive you and us. We all sing," said the judge.
3
In this manner singing spread in Medina, which was the capital
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1. Ibid, vol. 3, p. 276.
2. Ibid, vol. 4, p. 222.
3. Ibid, vol. 6, p. 21.
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of Islam. Without doubt, it was the Umayyad government that encouraged singing to degrade the holy position of Medina, which was the capital of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family.
The Umayyad government encouraged singing and spent money on singers. The historians reported. They said: "Mi'bid, Malik b. Abu` al-Samh, and b. 'A'isha came to Yazid b. 'Abd al-Malik. He ordered one thousand dinars to be given to each of them.
1
Al-Walid b. Yazid spent generously on the singers. He gave Mi'bid twelve thousand dinars. The he summoned all the singers of Saudi Arabia (Hija`z) and gave them many gifts.
2
Singing became famous. The Umayyad king approached singers. They spent generously on them. So, the people practiced singing.
The historians reported: "When al-Walid b. Yazid became caliph, he sent for 'Atrad from Medina. 'Atrad was handsome. He sang beautifully. So, al-Walid tore his clothes and threw himself into the pond of wine. He was still in it. Then he was brought out of it. He looked like a dead person. When he recovered, he said to 'Atrad: 'It is as if that I saw you returning to Medina standing before its assemblies and saying: The Commander of the Faithful summoned me. I entered his house. He asked me to sing. When I sang, he tore his clothes and threw himself into the pond of wine. By Allah, if your lips mentioned a thing of what had happened and I heard of that, I would behead you.’ Then, he gave one thousand dinars to 'Atrad, who took it and went away.
3
The historians reported many examples of this. These examples show the impudence of the Umayyads. They show that the Umayyads deviated from Islam, which ordered them to refrain from the life of play and impudence.
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1. Ibid, vol. 5, p. 109.
2. Ibid, p. 161.
3. Ibid, vol. 3, p. 307.
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Fabricated Traditions
The Moslems suffered from many hardships and misfortunes. Among them was fabricating traditions. Some people had no relationship with religion. They fabricated traditions to distort Islam and to divert the Moslems from the precepts of their religion and the teachings of their Prophets.
Mu'a`wiya b. Abu` Sufya`n was the first to form committees to fabricate traditions and ascribe them to the great Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. So, the committees fabricated traditions and proclaimed them among the people. Then the narrators memorized the fabricated traditions. If they had known that the traditions were fabricated, they would have abandoned them.
In this connection, al-Mada`'ini said: "Many fabricated traditions appeared. Slanders spread. The jurists, the judges, and the governors followed that. The hypocrite readers (of the Koran) and the deprived ones, who showed humility and asceticism, were the most dangerous of all the people in that. They fabricated traditions to enjoy the favor of their rulers, to approach their assemblies, and to get money and country estates and houses. Then those (fabricated) narrations and traditions reached the religious ones
who regarded lying and slander as unlawful. They accepted the narrations and the traditions and reported them. They thought that the narrations and the traditions were authentic. If they had known that the narrations and the
traditions were fabricated, the would not have reported them nor would have they believed in them.
1
Mu'a`wiya and the Umayyads ordered the narration and the traditions to be fabricated to degrade the Prophet's pure family whose love Allah made obligatory in the Book. They entrusted the committees to create narrations and traditions concerning the Companions (of the Prophet). For they wanted to defame the Ha`shimites.
The traditionalist b. 'Arafa, known as Naftawayh, said: "(The committees) fabricated most traditions concerning the Companions
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1. Al-Nahjj, vol. 3, p. 16.
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(of the Prophet) during the days of the Umayyads. For they (the committees wanted to enjoy the favor of the Umayyads. With the traditions they (the Umayyads) thought that they would degrade the Ha`shimites.
1
Mu'a`wiya also entrusted the committees to fabricate traditions to dispraise Ima`m 'Ali, peace be on him, and defame him.
Ibn Abu` al-Haddid said: "Our Shaykh, Abu` Ja'far al-Iska`fi mentioned that Mu'a`wiya appointed a group of the Companions (of the Prophet) and a group of the next generation to fabricate traditions concerning 'Ali to slander him and to renounce him. He gave them money for that. So, they fabricated what pleased him. Among them were Abu` Hurayra, 'Amru`` b. al-'As, and al-Mughira b. Shu'ba. Among the next generation was 'Urwa b. al-Zubayr.
2
Concerning the fabricated traditions, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, said: "They narrated ugly (traditions) concerning 'Ali, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn, peace be on him. Allah knew that they reported nothing except lying and falsehood.
3
Fabricated traditions spread widely. The traditionalist 'Asim b. Nabil said: "The righteous person did not lie in a thing except in traditions." Waqi' said: "Though Ziya`d b. 'Abd Allah was honest in the tradition, he was a liar." Yazid b. Ha`ru`n said: "The traditionalists of Ku`fa were liars in traditions. The Sufya`niyyin were also liars.
4 Moslem reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, ordered dogs to be killed except hunting and cattle dogs.
5
Exploiting al-Zahri
The Umayyads exploited the traditionalist al-Zahri. So, he fabricated traditions to defend and support the Umayyad government. Among his fabricated traditions is that he reported on the authority of
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1. Al-Nasai' al-Kafiya, p. 74.
2. Ibn Abi al-Haddid, Sharh Nahjj al-Balagha, vol. 4, p. 63.
3. Salim bin Qays, p. 45.
4. Nazra 'Amma fi Tarikh al-Fiqh al-Islami, p. 128.
5. Moslem, Sahih, Kitab al-Sayd.
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the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, that he said: "Luggage is not tied but to three (mosques): this mosque of mine, the Ka`ba, and Jerusalem.
Al-Zahri regarded Jerusalem as the Ka`ba. He fabricated this tradition when the Umayyads prevented the Syrians making the pilgrimage (to Mecca). For the Umayyads wanted to prevent the Syrians from meeting the Saudis whom b. al-Zubayr ruled. Hence, the Syrians made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem
instead of Mecca.
1
Fabricated Narration against Ima`m Abu` Ja'far
Among the fabricated narrations against Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, is what Abu` al-Bakhtari reported. He said: "Abu` Hanifa came to Ima`m Abu Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. The Ima`m said to him: 'The sunna (practices) of my grandfather has become obliterated. You have enlivened it. You are the helper of every grieved person. The perplexed ones follow you. You guide them to the plain path. So, may Allah help you and grant you success to participate the righteous in the way.
2
This is one of the fabricated narrations of Abu` al-Bakhtari. In his biography, it was mentioned that he was the most dangerous of all the creatures in telling lies.
Fabricators against Abu` Ja'far
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was troubled by a group of fabricators. For they fabricated traditions and narrations ascribed them to him. The following is some of them:
1. Baya`n bin Sam'a`n al-Hindi
Baya`n belonged to the Banu` Tamim.
3 He fabricated traditions
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1. Nazra 'Amma fi Tarikh al-Fiqh al-Islami, p. 129.
2. Ibn al-Bazzaz, Manaqib al-Imam Abi Hanifa, vol. 1, p. 31.
3. Lisan al-Mizan, vol. 2, p. 69.
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and attributed them to the Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family.s
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) and his son Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on them, asked their followers to renounce Baya`n, for he fabricated traditions and ascribed them to the Ima`ms, peace be
on them.
1
Zara`ra reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, who said: "May Allah curse Baya`n, for he fabricated (traditions) and attributed them to my father. I bear witness that my father 'Ali b. al-Husayn was a righteous servant.
2
After the death of Abu` Ha`shim, Baya`n claimed prophecy. Then he wrote to Abu` Ja'far to follow him and recognize his prophecy.
3
It was attributed to him that he believed in the divinity of 'Ali, al-Hasan, al-Husayn, Mohammed b. al-Hanafiya, and Abu` Ha`shim. Among his fabrication is that he said: "Allah, the Exalted, will
perish except his face.
4 Then he was killed because of his fabrications.
5
2. Hamza al-Barbari
Hamza b. 'Amma`ra al-Barbari fabricated traditions and ascribed them to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. So, the Ima`m, peace be on him, renounced him.
Hamza was an unbeliever. He said: "Whoever knows the Ima`m, let him do whatever he wants. For he does not commit a sin.
6 He said that Mohammed b. al-Hanafiya was Allah, the Great and Almighty. So, Kha`lid b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri killed him.
7
3. Al-Mughira bin Sa'id
Al-Mughira bin Sa'id al-Bajali al-Ku`fi created heresies and
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1. Al-Kashi, Rijal, p. 223.
2. Mu'jam, Rijal al-Hadith, vol. 3, p. 364.
3. Firaq al-Shi'a, p. 31.
4. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 231.
5. Firaq al-Shi'a, p. 31.
6. Ibid, p. 25.
7. Ibid.
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events in Islam. We will mention some of his affairs:
His Heresies
Al-Mughira created heresies and abominable deeds. The following is some of them:
A. He believed in incarnation. He said: "Allah is in the shape of a man. There is a crown on His head. His parts are as equal as the alphabet. He has an abdomen. He has a heart full of wisdom.
1Then he classified the parts of Allah according to the alphabet.
2 Then he said: "When Allah wanted to create (the creatures), He talked with his name. So, He flew and fell on His crown. Then he wrote the deeds of the creatures with His own fingers. When He saw the sins, He oozed sweat. Two sees formed from His sweat. One was fresh the other was salty. He created the unbelievers from the salty sea and the believers from the fresh sea.
3
B. He was a juggler. Among his jugglery is that he went to the cemetery. He spoke and saw things like locusts on the graves.
4
C. He was skillful in creating and inserting traditions in the books of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. He inserted excessiveness in the books of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Baqir), peace be on him.
Ima`m Abu` 'Abd Allah al-Sa`diq said to his companions: "Do not accept the traditions reported on our authority except the traditions that agrees with the Koran and the Sunna. You must compare them with our previous traditions, for al-Mughira b. Sa'id has inserted fabricated traditions in the books of the companions of my father. Fear Allah. Do not accept the traditions that disagree with the words of our Lord and the Sunna of our Prophet.
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1. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 230.
2. Al-Hur al-'In, p. 168.
3. Mizan al-I'tidal, vol. 4, p. 162.
4. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 230.
5. Al-Kashi, Rijal, p. 224.
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Hisha`m b. al-Hakam reported on the authority of Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, who said: "Al-Mughira b. Sa'id intentionally fabricated lies against my father. He took the books of the companions of my
father. The companions of al-Mughira concealed themselves among the companions of my father. They took the books and gave them to al-Mughira b. Sa'id. He inserted unbelief in them. Then he attributed them to my father. Then he gave them to his companions. Then he ordered them to spread the books among the Shi'a.
The Shi'a were unable to bear al-Mughira b. Sa'id. So, Abu` Hurayra al-'Ajali hurried to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. He told him that the Shi'a were indignant with the fabrications and heresies of al-Mughira b. Sa'id.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir renounced him
It was natural for Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, to renounce al-Mughira b. Sa'id. For the latter disbelieved in Allah. Moreover, he deviated from human qualities.
Kathir al-Nawa` reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, who said: "Allah and His Apostle renounced al-Mughira b. Sa'id, and Bana`n b. Sm'a`n, for they fabricated lies against the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.
2
Ima`m Abu` 'Abd Allah al-Sa`diq was so indignant with al-Mughira b. Sa'id that he said: "May Allah curse al-Mughira b. Sa'id. May Allah curse the Jewish woman with whom al-Mughira b. Sa'id sat. For he learned from her magic, jugglery, and false things. Al-Mughira fabricated lies against my father, so Allah deprived him of faith. If some people fabricate lies against me, Allah will make them taste the heat of the iron. By Allah, we are mere servants. Allah created and chose us. We do neither harm nor benefit. If Allah has mercy on us, that is out of His mercy. If He tortures us, that is out of our sins. We will die. We will be buried. We will be raised from the dead and reckoned. May Allah curse them (the fabricators). They hurt
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1. Ibn Qutayba, 'Uyyun al-Akhbar, vol. 2, p. 151.
2. Lisan al-Mizan, vol. 6, p. 76.
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Allah. They hurt Allah's Apostle in his grave. They hurt the Commander of the Faithful, Fa`tima, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn. Now, they hurt me.
The Revolt of al-Mughira b. Sa'id
Al-Mughira b. Sa'id announced his revolt in Ku`fa. Kha`lid b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri heard of that. So, he sent a phalanx to arrest al-Mughira b. Sa'id.
1Then he ordered him companions to be burnt.
2
Unbelief and Polytheism
Unbelief and Polytheism appeared during the Umayyad time. Spiteful persons brought that to the Moslem countries to destroy them. The Umayyad government refrained from punishing unbelievers and polytheists. Hence, they spread among the Moslems. Accordingly, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far al-Baqir and his son Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on them, resisted unbelief and polytheism.
One day while Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was sitting in the yard of the Ka`ba, a man came and questioned him:
- Did you see Allah when you worshipped Him?
- I do not worship the thing which I do not see.
- How did you see Him?
-No eyes see Him with the faculty of sight.
However, the hearts see Him through the
realities of belief. Allah cannot be known
through correspondence (i.e., He cannot be
known as material things are known through
sense), nor can He be perceived through the
senses, nor is He like any person. He is referred
to by His miraculous tokens and known
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1. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 230.
2. Ibid.
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through His signs. There is no tyranny or
oppression in His dominion. Such is Allah.
There is no god except He.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, refuted the views of the man. The Ima`m, peace be on him, supported his answer with the bight dimensions of monotheism. The man was astonished with the words of the Ima`m, peace be on him. So, he said: "Allah knows very well where to place His
message.
1
The talk about Allah's attributes, whether they are simple or compound, became widespread. Hence, Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, prevented (the Moslems) from discussing them.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir and a Syrian Scholar
Mohammed b. 'Atiya narrated that a Syrian scholar came to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, and said to him: "I have a question. I had asked the scholars about the question. However, they were
unable to answer it.
"What is it?" asked the Ima`m.
My question is about the first thing Allah created. Some (people) answered me with self-determining. Some of them answered me with the pen. Some of them answered me with the spirit," replied the Syrian scholar.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, explained: "The people did not reach the correct answer. I will tell you: Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, was and there was nothing other than him. He was Almighty, and no one was before His might. That is because of these words of Him, the Exalted: 'Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe.’
"The creator was before the creature. If the thing was created from the thing, that would never end. Therefore, Allah was eternal. There was nothing other than Him. Then He created water. Then He created all things from water.
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1. Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 51, p. 45. Zahra al-Adab, vol. 1, p. 116.
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The Syrian scholar asked: "O Abu` Ja'far, what is the meaning of the words of Him, the Exalted: Do not those who disbelieve realize that the heavens and the earth were rataq and we made them fitq? what is rataq and this fitq?
The earth was rataq (means) that no rain came down from it," answered Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, "and that the earth was fitq (means) that no plants came out of it.
The Syrian scholar stopped. He could not find any opposition. So, Said: "I testify that you are one of the children of prophets, and your knowledge is theirs.
1
The historians said: "Jahm b. Safwa`n wanted to debate with some of the Samaniya
2 on some theological matters. They said to him: 'We will debate with you. If you defeat us, we will follow your religion. If we defeat you, you shall follow our religion.
(The Samaniya were the first to question):
- Do you not say that you have a God?
- Yes.
- Have you seen your God?
- No.
- Have you heard His words?
- No.
- Have you smelt Him?
- No.
- How do you know that you have God?
Jahm replied:
- Do you not say that you have spirit?
- Yes.
- Have you seen your spirit?
- No.
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1. Bihar al-Anwar.
2. A tribe from India. It believed in reincarnation.
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- Have you heard its words?
- No.
- Such is Allah. No one can see Him, hear His words, and smell him. The eyes cannot see him. He is not in a place other than a place.
1
Besides, there were strong debates between the Moslems and the Christians at that time. Yohanna al-Dimashqi was the thinker of the Christians. He wrote a treatise to answer the Moslems. He was the friend of Yazid b. Mu'a`wiya. His son Sirgon was in charge of the financial affairs in
Damascus.
2
However, the Umayyad government was indifferent to this ideological debates. So, may people tried to doubt Islamic ideological principles.
