Debate of Hisham bin Hakam (r.
Debate of Hisham bin Hakam (r.a.) about Ghaibat 1 - Narrated to us Ahmad bin Ziyad bin Ja’far Hamdani (r.a.) and Husain bin Ibrahim bin Natana - May Allah be pleased with them - they said: Narrated to us Ali bin Ibrahim bin Hashim from his father from Muhammad bin Abi Umair that he said: Informed us Ali Aswari: “Yahya bin Khalid used to hold a debate every week at his house in which scholars of all the sects participated and tried to prove the veracity of their faith and expose the defects of the religion of their opponents.
When Harun Rashid came to know about this he asked Yahya bin Khalid: O Abbaside, what type of gatherings you have at your place where the participants undertake discussions? He replied: O chief of believers, these gatherings is the highest example of all the honors that you have bestowed me. I bring together the scholars of all the sects so that they may expose each other and thus the falsity of all of them is proved.
Harun Rashid said: I would also like to attend this gathering and listen to the participants but the audience and participants should not learn about my presence because they would not be able to have a frank talk due to my fear. Yahya said: Arrangement will be made as per the wish of the chief of believers. Harun told him to swear that his presence will be kept confidential and Yahya swore to assure that. However the Motazela people learnt about it somehow.
They discussed this among themselves and then decided that they would argue with Hisham bin Hakam on the subject of Imamate so that Harun Rashid comes to know what the faith of Hisham is with regard to Imamate. On the appointed day they all reached the venue of debate. Among those present were Hisham bin Hakam and Abdullah bin Yazid Abazi, who was the most truthful person. He was from the Khawarij sect and was a business partner of Harun Rashid. When Hisham entered, he greeted Abdullah bin Yazid.
Yahya bin Khalid told Abdullah bin Yazid: O Abdullah, talk to Hisham on the subject of Imamate. Hisham said: O Vizier, we cannot speak on this subject because these people were having unanimity with us on the Imamate of the same person, but after that they separated from us without knowledge and recognition. And even after separating from us on this matter it is not known why they separated.
That is why they neither have any objection against us nor a reply to any objection, so how can they talk to us?