Aktham and Ma’mun...

Aktham and Ma’mun, a meeting was convoked and Imam al-Jawad (as) and all nobles and scholars were called in to witness what questions Aktham was going to ask the Holy Imam (as) and how he would manage to answer them. Upon arrival the Imam (as) was respectfully welcomed by Ma’mun. The latter asked Yahya to raise whatever questions he wanted to ask.

Yahya, an elderly man, upon permission from Ma’mun and Imam al-Jawad (as), turned his face to the Imam (as) and inquired: “Do you permit me to ask you a question on jurisprudence?” The Imam (as) replied: “Ask whatever you wish”. Yahya b. Aktham asked: “What do you say about a muhrim (one who is in his/her pilgrim's garb) who kills a game”? Imam al-Jawad (as) said: “Did the muhrim kill the game in the Holy Precinct or out of it? Was he discerning or ignorant?

Was this killing willful or unintentional? Was he a slave or a master? Was he a boy or an adult? Was it the first time or not? Was the game bird or not? Was the muhrim insisting – after killing the game – or regretful? Did he kill the game at night when it was in its nest or in daylight and…