Sometimes...

Sometimes, as a result of strong currents, some small fishes are pulled into the air, and become a prey of hunting falcons. Kings hide the fish in their palms to test the knowledge of the children of the Prophet." Mamoon was very much impressed by the Imam's superb reply and took him to his palace. Such display of intelligence was not accidental. The Imam (A.S.) was to show it again so abundantly that both friends and foes could not help but acknowledge his unsurpassable knowledge and wisdom.

We shall see these instances at the appropriate places in this unit. At this point it is enough to mention that at such young age he used to run classes in Medina in the Mosque of the Prophet, surrounded by scholars from different parts of the world. At one such instance, a group of pilgrims asked him as many as thirty thousand questions and he answered them all, to their satisfaction. His recognition as a scholar was universal.

Ismail bin Ibrahim says that one he was present among scolars in the luminous presence of their great teacher, Ali bin Imam Jaffer Sadiq (A.S.). Then came a young boy who was hardly thirteen years old. Their teacher, Ali Bin Jaffer stood up and would not sit down, out of respect, till the young boy implored him to do so. After a short conversation, the young boy went away. The respected teacher accompanied him for some distance.

In the presence of the young man the teacher behaved as if he himself was a learner. After the departure of the young man, Ismail bin Ibrahim says they could not help but protest to their teacher, saying that he had no cause for treating a young boy with such respect, not minding his own advance age and high status as a scholar. These objections upset Ali Bin Jaffer. Holding his white, flowing beard in his hands, he said, "What else am I supposed to do?

What Allah did not see in these white hairs, that He saw in the youthfulness of the one whom you can a child, and made him His representative on this earth. I seek refuse in Allah from underestimating the position of that child and from failing to show due respect to him." HIS FAMILY His first marriage was to Ummul Fazl, the daughter of Mamoon, the Caliph of the time. His second marriage was to a Nubian lady from the same clan as Ammar Yasir, the Prophet's dear companion. Her name was Sumannah.

She was the mother of our tenth Imam, Ali Naqi (A.S). According to Mufid, the Imam had one more son, named Musa and two daughters, Fatima and Imama. Previous…