Al-Mutawakkil asked the prominent scholar Ya’qub bin Isaaq known as ibn as-Sikkit to ask Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) about a complicated, ambiguous question that he (the Imam) might not find an answer and then al-Mutawakkil would have an excuse to defame and degrade him. Ibn as-Sikkit prepared a question to try Imam al-Hadi (a.s.).
A scientific conference was held in the Abbasid Palace where prominent ulama’, jurisprudents, and theologians attended. At the head of the conference was al-Mutawakkil. Ibn as-Sikkit advanced and asked Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), “Why Allah sent Moses with the rod and white hand, sent Jesus with the healing of the blind and leprous and giving life to the dead, and sent Muhammad with the Qur'an and sword?’
Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) showed the percept behind all that by saying, ‘Allah sent Moses with the rod and white hand in a time where the predominant thing among people was magic. Therefore, Moses came to them with that and defeated their magic, dazed them, and proved authority over them. And Allah sent Jesus Christ with the healing of the blind and leprous and the giving of life to the dead by the will of Allah in a time where the predominant thing among people was medicine.
Therefore, Jesus Christ came to them with that and defeated and dazed them. And Allah sent Muhammad with the Qur'an and sword in a time where the predominant things among people were sword and poetry. Therefore, Muhammad came to them with the Qur'an and sword and dazed their poetry, defeated their sword, and proved authority over them.’
Allah the Almighty has assisted his prophets with clear signs and dazing miracles that human beings were unable to make like them. Those signs and miracles fitted the ages when the prophets were deputed. Allah had given His messenger Moses the rod that changed into a huge adder eating the ropes and rods which the magicians of the Pharaoh changed to snakes.
The magicians of that age, who had reached the top of magic, could not invalidate the miracle of Moses or do even a little like it. Allah had also given him the white hand that was like the sun in its light and brightness. The magicians were unable to do something like this miracle which was the evidence on the truthfulness of Moses.
Allah had given His messenger Jesus the son of Mary the miracle of healing the blind and leprous and giving life to the dead in the time where medicine had reached the top of progress and development; nevertheless, people could not do anything like this miracle which dazed minds. Allah had given Jesus this miracle to be a sign on his truthfulness.
Allah had deputed Muhammad to be the last of His prophets and assisted him by the Qur'an which falsehood would not come to it from before it nor from behind it and which was the supreme miracle in its eloquence, rhetoric, excellent style, and wonderful expression in the time when the Arabs had reached the top of eloquence and rhetoric; but nevertheless, they were unable to keep pace with it or compose something like it or like a little of it. Therefore, the Qur'an was the sign that proved the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and upon his progeny.
Allah the Almighty had assisted the Prophet (S) with the defeating sword that was the sword of Amir’ul- Mu’minin ‘Ali (a.s.) which harvested the heads of polytheists and unbelievers. The brave of Arabs were coward before this sword and they said that fleeing from battle is shame except from the sword of ‘Ali. The sword of ‘Ali (a.s.) was like a thunderbolt that annihilated the masses of polytheists, separated the parties of unbelievers, gave the victory to Islam, and made Muslims mighty.
After this answer of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), ibn as-Sikkit said to him, ‘What is the argument then?’
Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) said, ‘Reason! By it one, who fabricates lies against Allah, is known and denied.’
Reason is the judge that distinguishes the truthful from liars, and its judgment is the final decision.
When ibn as-Sikkit failed to go on with the Imam, he said, ‘What does ibn as-Sikkit have in arguing with him (with the Imam)? He (ibn as-Sikkit) is but a man of grammar, poetry, and linguistics!’
A scientific conference was held in the Abbasid Palace where prominent ulama’, jurisprudents, and theologians attended. At the head of the conference was al-Mutawakkil. Ibn as-Sikkit advanced and asked Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), “Why Allah sent Moses with the rod and white hand, sent Jesus with the healing of the blind and leprous and giving life to the dead, and sent Muhammad with the Qur'an and sword?’
Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) showed the percept behind all that by saying, ‘Allah sent Moses with the rod and white hand in a time where the predominant thing among people was magic. Therefore, Moses came to them with that and defeated their magic, dazed them, and proved authority over them. And Allah sent Jesus Christ with the healing of the blind and leprous and the giving of life to the dead by the will of Allah in a time where the predominant thing among people was medicine.
Therefore, Jesus Christ came to them with that and defeated and dazed them. And Allah sent Muhammad with the Qur'an and sword in a time where the predominant things among people were sword and poetry. Therefore, Muhammad came to them with the Qur'an and sword and dazed their poetry, defeated their sword, and proved authority over them.’
Allah the Almighty has assisted his prophets with clear signs and dazing miracles that human beings were unable to make like them. Those signs and miracles fitted the ages when the prophets were deputed. Allah had given His messenger Moses the rod that changed into a huge adder eating the ropes and rods which the magicians of the Pharaoh changed to snakes.
The magicians of that age, who had reached the top of magic, could not invalidate the miracle of Moses or do even a little like it. Allah had also given him the white hand that was like the sun in its light and brightness. The magicians were unable to do something like this miracle which was the evidence on the truthfulness of Moses.
Allah had given His messenger Jesus the son of Mary the miracle of healing the blind and leprous and giving life to the dead in the time where medicine had reached the top of progress and development; nevertheless, people could not do anything like this miracle which dazed minds. Allah had given Jesus this miracle to be a sign on his truthfulness.
Allah had deputed Muhammad to be the last of His prophets and assisted him by the Qur'an which falsehood would not come to it from before it nor from behind it and which was the supreme miracle in its eloquence, rhetoric, excellent style, and wonderful expression in the time when the Arabs had reached the top of eloquence and rhetoric; but nevertheless, they were unable to keep pace with it or compose something like it or like a little of it. Therefore, the Qur'an was the sign that proved the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and upon his progeny.
Allah the Almighty had assisted the Prophet (S) with the defeating sword that was the sword of Amir’ul- Mu’minin ‘Ali (a.s.) which harvested the heads of polytheists and unbelievers. The brave of Arabs were coward before this sword and they said that fleeing from battle is shame except from the sword of ‘Ali. The sword of ‘Ali (a.s.) was like a thunderbolt that annihilated the masses of polytheists, separated the parties of unbelievers, gave the victory to Islam, and made Muslims mighty.
After this answer of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.), ibn as-Sikkit said to him, ‘What is the argument then?’
Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) said, ‘Reason! By it one, who fabricates lies against Allah, is known and denied.’
Reason is the judge that distinguishes the truthful from liars, and its judgment is the final decision.
When ibn as-Sikkit failed to go on with the Imam, he said, ‘What does ibn as-Sikkit have in arguing with him (with the Imam)? He (ibn as-Sikkit) is but a man of grammar, poetry, and linguistics!’
