AL-MA'MUN told them that AR-RIDA'S son Muhammad was no doubt a boy of tender age...

AL-MA'MUN told them that AR-RIDA'S son Muhammad was no doubt a boy of tender age, but he had inherited his father's virtues and qualities in full; the learned scholars of the Islamic world could not vie with him, and that if they doubted, they could put the said boy to test. This reply, though totally said in jest, amounted to a challenge. Impulse by AL-MA'MUN'S taunt, they consented to judge the boy's knowledge in contest with the most learned authority of Baghdad then, namely YAHYA IBN AKTHAM.

AL-MA'MUN convened a magnificent gathering for this open expostulation. There was anxiety to see this unequal match where a boy of eight was to contend with the seasoned and renowned Chief Justice of the land. People crowded from every quarter. Historians have recorded that apart from dignitaries and nobles, 900 seats were reserved only for scholars.

AL-MA'MUN'S reign was described as the golden age of learning; experts of every trade and profession had assembled in that great capital from every corner of the world. AL-MA'MUN had a carpet laid by the side of his throne to seat IMAM MUHAMMD AT-TAQI (AS). In front of him was accommodated the Chief Justice YAHYA IBN AKTHAM. There was pin drop silence among the audience who waited to hear the arguments.

Silence was broken by YAHYA who said: "Will His Majesty allow me to put some questions to MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI?" AL-MA'MUN answered; "You may seek that permission from MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI himself. YAHYA (to MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI): "Do you allow me to put some problem?" MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI: "Yes you may ask whatever you please".

YAHYA: "What is the atonement for a person who hunts a game while he is dressed in the pilgrimage garb?" The question itself indicated that YAHYA underestimated the scholarly attainments of his opponent.

During with the pride of position and knowledge, he thought that the young boy might well be aware of simple daily routine problems of prayer or fasting, but the possibility that he might be totally ignorant of the statues of pilgrimage or of the atonements of the sins or mistakes committed by a pilgrim never entertained his mind. The sagacious, young Imam was clever enough for the old seasoned inquirer.

Instead of giving a general or a vague reply, he analyzed the different aspects of the problem so dexterously that the audience immediately had a true estimate of the Imam's knowledge and of YAHYA'S shallow-mindedness.