Bab-ul-Hawaij [The Door to Fulfilling Peoples Needs]

By: Abbas Shahid Baqir

IMAM MUSA AL-KADHIM (AS) AND MODESTY:

One day 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) was passing by the tent of a Nomad who was a black man. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) went up to him and said "Salam Alaikum", in a warm and friendly manner.

Upon leaving, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) said good-bye to him in a very kind manner with these words: "If there is anything I can do for you, I'm more than willing to do it".

One of the followers of 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) who saw this attitude said "Is it suitable for you, the son of the messenger of Allah, to sit and talk with a man of no reputation and make such an offer as: If you need me in any work, I'm more than willing to do it? Is it right for a man of great dignity to talk to a man like that?"

7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) replied, "This is one of Allah's creatures. Allah has created all men equal. Besides, as a Muslim, he is our brother in faith. After all, life does not remain the same forever. One who needs help today may be the one who will be able to help us tomorrow when we'll need help! If we don't pay any attention to him today, one day when we may need him we will be embarrassed to ask him for help".

Moral: In Islam everyone is equal. Allah is the giver of things, so what you may have today, someone else may have tomorrow.

IMAM MUSA AL-KADHIM (AS) AND KINDNESS:

There was a poor uneducated farmer who was very rude to our 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) whenever he saw him.

No matter how rude this man was, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) never got angry and he never said anything to the man.

Imam Musa Al-Kadhim's (as) friends wanted to punish the rude man, but Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) would not allow them to. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) told them that he himself would teach this man a lesson.

One day Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) rode out to the rude man's farm where the man was working. When the man saw Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) he stopped working and put his hands on his hips, ready to be abusive again.

Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) dismounted, went towards the man and greeted him with a friendly, smiling face. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) then told him that he should not overwork himself and that the land he had was very good. He then asked him how much he was expecting to receive for the crop.

The farmer was amazed at Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) politeness and sincerity, he waited a little then said that he was expecting to get around 200 gold pieces. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) took out a purse and gave it to the farmer telling him that in it was 300 gold pieces, more than the value of his crop. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) told the man to take the money and also to keep the crop, and that he hoped the man would receive more for it.

The farmer faced with such kind behavior and good manner (Akhlaq), was very ashamed of himself and asked Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) for forgiveness.

After that when ever the man would see Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) he would greet him very politely. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim's (as) friends were very surprised!

Moral: Do not treat people the way they treat you but always better. Give to people even if they do not act as if they deserve it.

IMAM MUSA AL-KADHIM (AS) AND IMAM ABU HANIFA:

One day when our 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) was only 5 years old, Imam Abu Hanifa asked him who is responsible for our deeds. Does man do them of his own free will or does Allah make him do them.

Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) replied that were are three possibilities:

1. Allah makes man do them.

2. Both Allah and man are responsible.

3. Man does them alone.

If the first is true than Allah should be judged on the day of Qiyamah and sent to heaven or hell.

If the second is true that both Allah and man should be judged on the day of Qiyamah and sent to heaven or hell.

The only one that is true is the third one because only man will be judged on the day of Qiyamah and sent to heaven or hell, as only man alone is responsible for his actions and deeds.

Moral: Although Allah has power over everything he allows us to do as we please so that we may be held accountable for our deeds on the day of Qiyamah.

IMAM MUSA AL-KADHIM (AS) AND PRISON GUARDS:

In the time of our 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) the ruler was a bad man called Haroon Rasheed, who hated Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as).

Haroon Rasheed came to Madina where Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) lived and had Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) arrested and sent to a prison in Basra.

Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) stayed in this prison under the guard of a man called Yahyah.

Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) was a kind man who always talked nicely to everyone, even Yahyah who kept him in prison. Soon Yahyah felt bad for keeping such a nice person in prison.

Haroon Rasheed found out and took Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) to another prison. Again Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) through his kindness and politeness made the other person also feel bad.

The cruel Caliph, Haroon Rasheed, poisoned the food of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) in the prison of Baghdad. The dose proved fatal and the 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) kissed martyrdom.

Moral: No matter how horrible someone is to you, you should always be nice to them and soon they will feel bad about how horrible they are being to you.

IMAM MUSA AL-KADHIM (AS) AND KNOWLEDGE OF UNSEEN (Ilm-e-Ghaib):

One day Haroon Rasheed sent some robes to Ali bin Yaqtin to honour him. Among their number was a black woolen cloak adorned with gold like the robes of kings. Ali bin Yaqtin dispatched those robes to Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as). Among their number he (also) sent that cloak adorned with gold. Ali bin Yaqtin added some money which he had already prepared specifically for him as the fifth of his money (Khums - tax for the Imams) which he was going to pay him.

When that reached Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as), he accepted the money and the robes but returned the cloak by the hand of the messenger to Ali bin Yaqtin. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as), wrote to him: "Keep it and do not let it leave your hands. For an event will occur to you because of it when you will have the need of it with him (Haroon Rasheed)."

Ali bin Yaqtin was suspicious about it being returned to him and did not understand the reason for that. Some time later, Ali bin Yaqtin changed (his attitude) towards a servant who had a special position with him and he left his service.

The servant knew about Ali bin Yaqtin's inclination towards Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as). He was acquainted with the money, robes and other things (Ali bin Yaqtin) had sent to (Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as)) on every occasion. He (went and) informed on him to Haroon Rasheed. He told (Haroon Rasheed) that (Ali bin Yaqtin) maintained the Imamate of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) and paid him a fifth of his money each year, and also that he had given him the cloak with which the Commander of the faithful (Haroon Rasheed) had honoured him at such-and-such a time. Haroon Rasheed burned with anger and was furious. He declared: "I will expose this situation. If the matter is as you say, his life will be destroyed."

Haroon Rasheed immediately sent for Ali bin Yaqtin to be brought. When he appeared before him, Haroon Rasheed said: "What have you done with the cloak which I bestowed upon you?"

"Commander of the faithful," (Ali bin Yaqtin) replied, "I still have it in a sealed chest and there I keep perfume with it. In the mornings I open it and look at it to gain blessings from it. I kiss it and then put it back in its place. Every night I do the same thing."

"Bring it, immediately," Haroon Rasheed ordered.

"Yes, Commander of the faithful," he answered. Ali bin Yaqtin summoned one of his servants and told him: "Go to such-and-such a room in my house. Take the key for it from my custodian and open it. Open such-and-such a box and bring me the sealed chest which is in it."

It was not long before the servant returned with the chest still sealed. Ali bin Yaqtin put it before Haroon Rasheed and told him to break the seal and open it. When Haroon Rasheed opened it, he saw the cloak in it folded and laid out in perfume.

Haroon Rasheed's anger became pacified and he said to Ali bin Yaqtin: "Return it to its place and go away righteously. I will never disbelieve you again on the word of an informer."

Haroon Rasheed ordered a magnificent gift to be sent after him and he had the informer flogged with a thousand lashes. After he had been flogged about a hundred lashes, informer died.

SAYINGS OF IMAM MUSA AL-KADHIM (AS):

"If there is a walnut in your hand and people say that it is a pearl, their saying will not benefit you in any way when you know that it is actually a walnut. And if there is a pearl in your hand and people say that it is a walnut, their saying will not harm you in any way when you know that it is actually a pearl."

"Indeed cultivation and growth takes shape in a soft, even land and not in a rocky (barren) land. Likewise, wisdom grows and develops in a humble heart and not in a proud, vain and arrogant heart."

"Always say the right thing although it may lead to your loss."