Personalities

Abid Allah b. Abu Ya'fur al- 'Abdi al- Cufi was among the companions of al- Sadiq, peace be on him. When he had died, al- Sadiq, peace be on him wrote the following words to al- Mufaddal b. 'Amr al- Ju'fi to show his excellent qualities: "Mufaddal, I have entrusted you to my covenant, which was for Abid Allah b. Ya'fur. Anyhow, he passed away fulfilling the covenant between him and Allah, the Great and Almighty and his Prophet and his Imam. He, the blessings of Allah be on his soul, passed away while his act is laudable, his effort is worthy of thanks, his sin is forgiven. Mercy is on him because Allah, his Prophet, and his Imam are pleased with him. I swear by my birth from the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family, there was no one in our time more obedient than him for Allah, his Prophet, .and his Imam. He went on obeying till Allah made him die with His Mercy and domiciled him in His Paradise. Allah has domiciled him between the two abodes- the Abode of Mohammed, May Allah bless him and his family, and the Abode of the Commander of the Faithful. Though the abodes are the same and the ranks are the same, Allah has increased his pleasure because I am pleased with him."

To show his absolute trust in his Imam al- Sadiq, Abid Allah said to him: "If you split a pomegranate into two parts and you say that this (part) is lawful and this (part) is unlawful, I will bear witness that (the part) which you have said lawful is lawful, and (the part) which you have said unlawful is unlawful." So, al- Sadiq said: "May Allah have mercy upon you! May Allah have mercy upon you!"

Adapted from: "Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.)"