Once a Syrian (who those days were usually against the Ahlu...

Once a Syrian (who those days were usually against the Ahlu ‘1-Bayt because of the Umayyad propaganda) entered the gathering of the Imam. Upon inquiring the purpose of his visit, he said, “I have been told whatever the people ask you, you have an answer for that. So I have come to debate with you.” Imam (a.s.): “On what issue would you like to debate with me?” Syrian: “About the Qur’an.” 7 Nu’man was the first name of Imam Abu Hanifa.

Imam pointed towards Hamran bin A’yan and said, “Go and debate with him.” Syrian: “I have come to challenge you and debate with you, not with him.” Imam (a.s.): “Defeating Hamram would be like defeating me!” So the Syrian went to Hamran and had a debate with him about the Qur’an. Hamran answered all questions satisfactorily until the Syrian ran out of them. He finally conceded his own defeat.

Mufazzal bin ‘Umar: He is well known for a treatise which the Imam dictated for him on the subject of tawhid. Here we will just mention one incident which shows that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq was also actively working for peace and social harmony among his followers. One day Mufazzal saw that two Shi’as were arguing and fighting with one another on the division of the estate of their relative. Mufazzal took both of them home and after discussion, resolved their conflict.

In bringing about the resolution he had to add four hundred dirhams from himself. As the two Shi’as were leaving, Mufazzal said, “You should know that the money I have used to resolve your conflict is not my own money; it belongs to Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) who had given it to me with the instruction that whenever I see conflict among his followers, I should try to maintain peace among them by using that money.” 4.

Rulers & their Attitude Imam as-Sadiq’s imamate coincided with the rule of the last five Umayyad rulers (Hisham bin ‘Abdu 1-Malik, Walid bin Yazid, Yazid bin Walid, Ibrahim bin Walid, and Marwan al- Himar) and the first two ‘Abbasid caliphs (Abu ‘l-’Abbas Saffah and Mansur Dawaniqi). As mentioned in the previous lesson, the Muslim people were gradually turning away from the Umayyads.

The anti-Umayyad sentiment which had started with the massacre of Karbala, finally led to the fall of the Umayyads in 132 A.H. However, those who were leading the revolt in the name of Ahlu 1-Bayt could not resist the temptation of power, and seized the seat of caliphate for themselves. These were the descendants of ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul Muttalib, the uncle of the Prophet.