Who is a Youth?

 Imam Sadiq (a.s.) once asked the students and companions who had gathered around him:

 “Who is a ‘youth?”

 A person answered, “Someone who is young in age.”

 The Imam (a.s.) said, “Despite the old age of the People of the Cave, on account of the faith which they possessed, God has referred to them as ‘youths’.  In verse 10 of the chapter al-Kahf, He says: When the youths sought refuge in the cave^[120]. 

 He then continued^[121], “Whoever believes in God and observes piety is a youth.”122

 

[120]اِذ آوَى الفَتْيَةُ اِلىَ الْكَهْفِ

[121]مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَ اتَّقَى فَهُوَ الْفَتى

[122] Hikaayat-ha-e-Shanidani, vol. 5, pg. 58; Tafsir Nur al-Thaqalain, vol. 3, pg. 244.

It is Forbidden to Hurt a Mu’min

It is Forbidden to Hurt a Mu’min

 

Husain Ibn Abi al-A’laa narrates:

 

I started out for Makkah in the company of twenty other persons. At every resting place, I would slaughter a goat, in order to provide the people with food.  When I arrived in the presence of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), he said to me:

 

“O’ Husain! Woe be unto you that you hurt and cause inconvenience to the Mu’mineen.”

 

“I seek refuge in God from such an act,” I said.

 

He explained, “I have been informed that at every resting-place you used to slaughter a goat for your companions.”

 

“Yes, but By God, it was only for His happiness that I acted in this manner”.

 

The Imam (a.s.) continued, “Don’t you realize that amongst the group there were some, who desired to possess wealth so they too could perform good deeds like you, but not having the means, they have become upset.”

 

“I repent over my actions and resolve never to act in that way again,” I said.

 

The Imam (a.s.) advised, “A Mu’min, in the eyes of God, is more honourable than the angels, the mountains, the seven skies, the seven earths and everything that exists in them.

Namunah-e-Ma’arif, vol. 2, pg. 453; La-aali al-Akhbaar, pg. 135.

It is Forbidden to Hurt a Mu’min

It is Forbidden to Hurt a Mu’min

 Husain Ibn Abi al-A’laa narrates:

 I started out for Makkah in the company of twenty other persons. At every resting place, I would slaughter a goat, in order to provide the people with food.  When I arrived in the presence of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), he said to me:

 “O’ Husain! Woe be unto you that you hurt and cause inconvenience to the Mu’mineen.”

 I seek refuge in God from such an act,” I said.

 He explained, “I have been informed that at every resting-place you used to slaughter a goat for your companions.”

 “Yes, but By God, it was only for His happiness that I acted in this manner”.

 The Imam (a.s.) continued, “Don’t you realize that amongst the group there were some, who desired to possess wealth so they too could perform good deeds like you, but not having the means, they have become upset.”

 “I repent over my actions and resolve never to act in that way again,” I said.

 The Imam (a.s.) advised, “A Mu’min, in the eyes of God, is more honourable than the angels, the mountains, the seven skies, the seven earths and everything that exists in them.”

Namunah-e-Ma’arif, vol. 2, pg. 453; La-aali al-Akhbaar, pg. 135.

Haroon Makki

Haroon Makki

 
Sahl Khorasani approached Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and complained:

 “Why is it that in spite of the truth being on your side, you do not stage an uprising?  At the present time, there are one hundred thousand of your Shiites, who upon your orders, would immediately unsheathe their swords for battle.”

 

The Imam (a.s.), with the intention of giving him a practical answer, ordered the furnace to be lighted. He then instructed Sahl to jump into the flames.

 

Sahl said, “O’ My Master!  May God shower you with His grace and favours! Do not place me in the fire.  I take back my words and request you to withdraw your instruction too.” 

 

Meanwhile, one of the sincere companions of the Imam (a.s.), by the name of Haroon Makki, happened to arrive.  Just as he entered, the Imam (a.s.) told him to take off his shoes and walk into the hot furnace. As soon as Haroon heard the Imam’s (a.s.) order, he entered the furnace and sat within the flames.

 

The Imam (a.s.) then turned to Sahl and started to brief him about the circumstances prevailing in Khorasan, as if he had been there to witness the events taking place.

 

After a while, he said to Sahl, “Get up and have a look inside the furnace.”

 

When Sahl peered into the furnace, he saw Haroon sitting cross-legged and unharmed inside, surrounded by the fiery flames.

 

“How many individuals like this one exist in Khorasan?” the Imam (a.s.) questioned Sahl.

 

“ By Allah!  Not a single person like Haroon Makki exists in Khorasan,” replied Sahl.

 

The Imam (a.s.) then explained, “I shall not stage an uprising when I do not have even five sincere companions. (And do remember) we are very well aware as to when we should stage an uprising.”

Hikaayat-ha-e-Shanidani, vol. 4, pg. 65; Safinah al-Bihaar, vol. 2, pg.

Remaining Faithful when Someone Trusts you

Remaining Faithful when Someone Trusts you

A’bdullah Ibn Sinaan says:

“I approached Imam Sadiq (a.s.) in the mosque at a time when he had completed his A’sr prayers and was sitting down facing the Qiblah. I asked him:

“Some of the governors and rulers consider us to be trustworthy and thus place their wealth with us, but at the same time, they do not pay their ‘khums’. Do we return their money to them or do we keep it for our use?”

The Imam (a.s.) replied three times,“By the Lord of the Ka’bah! Even if Ibn Muljam, the murderer of my father A’li (a.s.), were to place something in trust with me, I would return it to him whenever he wanted it back

Namunah-e-Ma’arif, vol. 1, pg. 354; Bihaar al-Anwaar vol. 15, pg. 149.