He prohibited me from doing it...

He prohibited me from doing it, saying: “The Commander of the Faithful did not do it.” From then on, I stopped doing it. Qays ibn Rabi‘ also says: “After hearing this statement, I also stopped wiping my slippers (in ablution).” A certain man from among the Khawarij (Kharijites) came to Imam al-Baqir ( ‘a ). While addressing the Imam ( ‘a ), he said: “O Abu Ja‘far!

What do you worship?” The Imam ( ‘a ) said: “God.” The man asked: “Can you see Him?” The Imam ( ‘a ) replied: “Yes, but the vision cannot witness Him while hearts with the truth of faith can see Him. He cannot be discerned through analogy { qiyas }. He cannot be perceived through the senses.

He is not like human beings…” The Kharijite man left the Imam ( ‘a ) while saying: “God knows well to whom He shall entrust His message { risalah }.” The scholars such as ‘Amru ibn ‘Ubayd, Tawus al-Yamani, Hasan al-Basri, and Nafi‘ Mawla ibn ‘Umar used to refer to the Imam ( ‘a ) for solving scientific and juristic problems and issues.[^12] When the Imam ( ‘a ) would arrive in Mecca, people would rush to ask him questions on matters pertaining to the lawful { halal } and the prohibited { haram }, considering the chance of asking the Imam ( ‘a ) a boon and a means of acquiring more knowledge.

Imam al-Baqir’s ( ‘a ) teaching sessions were attended not only by students but also the scholars of the time.[^13] When Hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik arrived in Mecca for Hajj , he witnessed these teaching sessions that were an opportunity for him.…