The proper Islamic penalty is that the fingers of a hand...

The proper Islamic penalty is that the fingers of a hand, except the thumb, must be cut off.” The Caliph asked: “Why?” The Holy Imam (as) replied: “Because the Apostle of Allah (S) has said that prostration ( sujud ) should be made with seven parts of the body, namely, forehead, the palms of the hands, both knees, and the tips of the toes; so if the hand is cut off either at the wrist or elbow or from shoulder, then there will remain no limb for prostration before Almighty Allah, and it is mentioned in the Qur’an as follows: ﴾The places of prostration belong to Allah ...﴿ (Al-Qur’an, 72: 18); therefore no one should cut them off.” Mu‘tasim got very delighted at this logical and Divine precept.

He approved it and commanded the amputation of the thief's fingers to be carried out according to Imam al-Jawad (as)'s precept.” Dharqan goes on to say: “lbn Abi Du’ad was intensely upset as to why his opinion had been rejected in the presence of the caliph.” Three days later, he went to Mu‘tasim and said: “O Amir al-Mu’minin! I have come here to admonish you, and I do this as a token of gratitude for your favors on me.” “What is it?” Asked Mu‘tasim.

lbn Abi Du’ad said: “When you hold a meeting consisting of the jurists and scholars to bring up a question or two, all the civil and military nobles are present, and even the retainers and doormen and guards witness the meeting and the debates being carried out in your presence. As they see that your great scholars' opinions are worthless vis-à-vis those of Muhammad b.

‘Ali al-Jawad, little by little people will get attracted to him and the caliphate will slip from your dynasty to the household of ‘Ali (as), which will tremble the foundations of your power and glory.” This slanderous and spiteful admonition left its impact on Mu‘tasim, who since then had been seeking to extinguish this glazing torch and block up this overflowing fountain of science and piety.[^2] Before Mu‘tasim, Ma’mun too had applied the same procedure to Imam al-Jawad (as), as at the beginning of Imam al-Jawad (as)'s Imamate, Ma’mun proceeded again to hold debate sessions and among other things he asked Yahya b.

Aktham, the grand Judge in his court, to propound some questions to the Imam (as) hoping he would be able to mar the Imam (as)'s reputation and status. It was of no avail, however, and the Imam left behind all these sessions with pride and confidence. Once, as a compromise between Yahya b.