Hisham: I will ask these kinds of questions only.

Hisham: I will ask these kinds of questions only. Amr: All right! Ask and I will answer, though your question is foolish. Hisham: Do you have eyes? Amr: Yes. Hisham: Of what use are these? Amr: They see colors and shapes. Hisham: Have you a nose? Amr: Yes. Hisham: What is it used for? Amr: To smell. Hisham: Have you a mouth? Amr: Yes. Hisham: What do you use it for? Amr: To taste food. Hisham: Have you mind and intellect? Amr: Yes. Hisham: Of what use is it?

Amr: Everything that I sense through my organs (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.), I recognize with my mind and intellect. Hisham: Don't your organs make you independent of your intellect? Amr: No. Hisham: Why, when all your organs are intact? Amr: When the organs face a doubt, they refer to the intellect to remove the doubt and confirm the truth. Hisham: This means that God has given us intellect to remove the doubts of our senses and to inform them of the truth. Amr: Yes, of course.

Hisham: So we are dependent on the intellect in all circumstances. Amr: Yes. Hisham: God has not left our organs and senses without an Imam who can clarify their doubts, but the same God has left His creatures amidst their doubts and did not ordain any Imam for them who could remove their doubts and confirm the truth? Amr remained silent for some time, then asked, “Are you Hisham?” “No,” said Hisham.

“Do you frequent his company?” “No.” “Then what is your native place?” “I am a native of Kufa” “Then it is confirmed that you are Hisham Ibn Hikam.” Then he seated Hisham in his place and as long as Hisham remained there, he refused to answer the questions of all the people gathered around him. After sometime Hisham returned.

After Hisham had related this incident to Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s), the Imam smiled and asked, “Who taught you this argument?” Hisham replied, “The words automatically came on my tongue, O son of Allah’s Messenger!” The Imam said, “Hisham, this method is present in the scrolls of Ibrahim and Musa.”[1] [1] Al-Kafi Vol. 1, pg. 169, *Rijal Kishi,*pg. 232 Back Index Next Previous…