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Piety of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a.s.)

People used to be astounded seeing the glory of his worship. Thus once Abu Hanifah saw him praying and was left perplexed by it. When the Imam completed the prayers he said, "O Aba Abdillah! How torturous is your prayer!" Imam (a.s) replied, "Don't you know that among all the worship acts, prayer is the greatest cause of divine proximity?"

Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) used to prolong the recitations of his bowing (ruku) and prostration (Sajdah) so much that sometimes he recited them more than sixty times. The narrator says: One day I went to Imam (as.) to inquire something from him. I found him lying in prostration in the Prophet's mosque. I sat down near him thinking that when he completes his prayer I can ask him the question. The Imam prolonged the prostration so much that I was fed up sitting there. I thought up of some idea to somehow convey to him that I was present there. I decided to also go into prostration and recite the recitation of prostration loudly so that the Imam would hear my voice and complete his prayer. Thus I began to pray and when I went into prostration I recited the recitation loudly. When I had recited it more than 360 times I realized that the Imam has concluded his prayer. I also concluded my prayer then addressed the Imam, "Master, if this is the level of your prayer, what is the worth our prayers?" He said, "More or less, both are accepted from our Shias (followers)"
One day the Imam was passing by the orchards of Kufa. After walking for sometime he sat under a date palm. There he performed the ritual ablution and began to pray. He prolonged the recitation of his prostration so much that it exceeded five hundred times.

Valour Of Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.s)

During the tenure of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) the ruling power was in the hands of Mansur Dawaniqi, who had wrought destruction upon the Hasani Sadat (Descendants of Imam Hasan). Mansur wanted to make Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) his obedient one and that Imam (a.s) may begin to accept him as his leader. But he was not able to achieve his. When he realized that the Imam couldn't come into his control through this manner he became more infuriated. One day he said to the Imam, "Your example for me is like a bone stuck in the throat." He replied, "Your suspicion is baseless. I do not interfere in any of your governmental matters. Why do you consider my guidance and teachings harmful? And why do you trouble me all the time? He said, "I consider your teachings anti-government, and thus command you to stop your classes and lectures."

Imam (a.s) said, "I seek Allah's forgiveness! Who can dare restrain me from the propagation of truth?" Mansur said, "If you do not give it up I would have you killed." Imam said, "Do you threaten me with murder? The Ahl ul-Bayt have always been martyred and imprisoned in the process of spreading the truth?" Mansur said, "I am the Caliph of the time. My obedience is incumbent on you." Imam said, "No ones obedience is incumbent on us, Ahl ul-Bayt. Rather our obedience is obligatory on everyone."

From that time Mansur was always thinking of ways to have the Imam murdered.

Now, this is moral valour. When the Shias of Khorasan and Yemen etc. learnt that Mansur was troubling Imam (a.s), his supporters came to him and said, "If the Imam allows, we can fill the fields with Shias and confront the armies of Mansur with absolute determination." Imam said, "I do not find it expedient to have a violent confrontation. If he forces me to his obedience or tries to stop my guidance and teachings, I would wage holy war against him."

Now this is true valour. On the other hand if one takes a step without any consideration causing mischief and turmoil, it would be an act of dare-devilry and not valour.

Most of the time the Imam was clothed in a dress of coarse material or wool, due to which his body was in great discomfort. This woolen dress was also patched. One of his companions was disturbed on seeing him dressed thus. He said, "Remember, one who has no modesty, has no faith. One who also does not spend according to his income may be involved in financial hardships. One who does not wear old clothes, makes himself prone to pride."

The narrator says, "One day I saw Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) sitting on bare floor. I said, 'O son of the Messenger of Allah, where is that floor spread on which you used to sit?' He said, 'I saw a person shivering in cold and told him if that spread could save him from cold he may take it. He said it would, so I gave it to him?' I said, 'Master! Then for how long could you continue to sit on a bare floor?' He said, 'I would not mind even if I have to sit on it all life long. O man, the Prophet (S) often sat on the bare ground with his companions. Why are you surprised if I also sit in the same manner?'"

Patience Of Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s)

The narrator says: One day I paid a visit to Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) when one of his sons was seriously ill. I had gone to see the ill child and I found the Imam standing at the door in an aggrieved state. Then he went inside and remained there for some time. When he came out again it was seen that his condition had changed and he did not seem as much worried as he before was. I thought that maybe the child was now better. I asked the Imam about him and he said that the child has passed away. I said, "Master! You were worried when he was alive but are no more aggrieved after his passing away?" The Imam said, "This is the practice of us Ahl ul-Bayt. We seem worried and aggrieved before the coming of a tragedy but when it actually occurs we submit to the Divine Will and we act with patience and accept with pleasure all that comes from Him.

"Satisfied with His destiny and accepting His command."

This is the specialty of us Ahl ul-Bayt. What we pray from Allah, He accepts it. But if His wisdom does not agree to accept it, we reconcile to His Will and we never utter a word of complain to Him.

Humility Of Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s)

Among the relatives of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) someone's son expired. He went to pay his condolences, but on the way the strap of his sandals broke. He picked up the sandals and continued walking. One of his companions asked, "Shall I bring a vehicle?" "No," said the Imam, "For the one facing calamity nothing is better than patience and contentment." Thus, he walked barefoot and completed the formalities of condolence.

One of his slaves fell sick. He used to visit him morning and evening and administer medicine to him with his own hands. He said, "O son of the Messenger of Allah! This illness of mine has inconvenienced you." The Imam said, "May Allah bestow cure to you soon. I am not at all inconvenienced. Rather, I obtain heavenly rewards by visiting and serving you."

Forbearance Of Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s)

The forbearance of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) was of such a level that he never punished his slaves for the mistakes they committed. Once someone said, "O Son of Allah's Messenger, these slaves of yours cause such losses and sometimes they are lazy also, but you do not give them any punishment?" The Imam said, "Slavery is sufficient enough punishment for them." One day he sent a slave on errand, when there was too much delay in his return he came out in search of him and found him asleep at a place. Instead being angry with him he began to fan him. When the guy felt cool air on his face, he awoke. The Imam asked him in a very gentle way, "Man, what is this habit that you sleep during the day as well as the night? Allah has created the day for work and the night for sleeping."

Sufyan Thawri narrates: One day I went to meet Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s). At that time, the Imam looked very worried. When I asked him the reason he said, "I had ordered that no one should go to the terrace. When I went to the house I saw the slave-maid appointed to look after children, ascending the steps with an infant in her arms. Seeing me she was so terrified that she dropped the infant and he died. I am not so much aggrieved at the death of the child as I am of the fact that why the maid was so much horrified of me." Then he said to the maid, "Do not be at all afraid, I free you for the sake of Allah."

Forgiveness Of Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s)

A Hajj pilgrim came to Medina and went to sleep in the Prophet's Mosque. When he awoke he became suspicious that a bag containing one thousand dinars has been stolen from him. He looked here and there but could not find anyone. At that time, Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) was praying in a corner. This man did not recognize him. He insisted that the Imam had stolen the bag. When the Imam asked him the man replied that it contained one thousand gold coins. Hearing this, the Imam came out of the Mosque to his residence and gave one thousand gold coins to this man. He took them and returned to his place, but he found his bag lying there.

He went back at once and seeking forgiveness tried to return those gold coins. The Imam said, "We have given what we gave and we would not take it back." The man was astounded at the high morals and forgiveness of the Imam. He asked someone who that gentleman was. He was told that it is Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s). Hearing this he threw himself at the Imam's feet and pleaded, "O son of the Messenger! Forgive my fault. I was in debt and this was the amount I was to repay to the creditor. That is why the imagination of its loss perturbed me." The Imam said, "Go, I have forgiven you."

Affection Of Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s)

One day Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) was going somewhere astride his horse. On the way he saw a person sitting. The person greeted the Imam and looked at him expectantly. The Imam alighted from the horse and inquired about his condition. He said, "Son of Allah's Messenger! I am a traveler. I am exhausted to walk any more. Please allow me to ride on your mount and convey me to such and such tribe. There are some relatives of mine there, and I will borrow their steed and go home on it." The Imam said, "This steed is at your service, mount it and go wherever you like." The person thanked the Imam and said, "I will soon return it to you." The Imam said, "No need, I have given it to you."

Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s) Kindness To Relatives

It is narrated in Al-Kafi that Abdullah Mahaz spoke some harsh words to the Imam in the morning. The Imam observed patience and did not reply to any of his statements. When the Imam met him again in the evening, he (the Imam) said with utmost humility, "O Abu Muhammad! Do you know kindness to relatives is a cause for reduction in divine chastisement?" He said, "You always talk of such things that are not accepted by us." The Imam said, "This statement of mine is testified by the saying of Allah: And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning. (Surah Ra'ad 13:21)

After this Abdullah Mahaz acknowledged his mistake and said, "Now you will not find me as one who breaks off relations."

In the last moments of his life Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) summoned all the relatives who gathered around him and he made monetary bequests to each of them. He also willed seventy dinars to his cousin Hasan Aftas. A servant of the Imam said, "You are leaving seventy dinars for Hasan Aftas, while he is the same person who had come to assassinate you with a sword." The Imam became angry at this and said, "Do you want that I should not accord kindness to relatives and not be included among those who are described in the following words by Allah: And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined…(Ibid.)

Know that! I am making bequest of money to Hasan Aftas because the Messenger of Allah (S) has said: The disobedient child and one who breaks-off relations would not smell the fragrance of Paradise, that reaches upto a distance of 2000 years' travel."

Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq’s (a.s) Kind Behavior To Slaves

The Imam was very kind upon the slaves and always overlooked their mistakes. Once he had sent a slave on some errand, but when he took a long time to return the Imam went out to search for him and found him sleeping at one place. Instead of awaking him, the Imam began to fan him. When the fellow awoke the Imam told him, "You have the habit of sleeping in the day as well as at night. Allah has made the day for work and night for rest."

Once a slave of his fell sick. The Imam visited him and found that he was groaning due to a severe headache. "What is the problem?" asked the Imam. He said that he had a terrible headache. The Imam began to press his head. The slave got up abruptly and said, "Son of Allah's Messenger more than the headache it is painful for me that you press my head. I can never accept it." Another slave was standing there. He tried to press the sick man's head but the Imam said, "Man! Why do you want to deprive me from a great reward?"

Contentment Of Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s)

One day Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) said to his manager Motab, "Day by day there is increase in the food-grain prices of Medina. How much food-grain do we have with us?" He said, "We have no fear of famine, we have sufficient rations." The Imam told him to sell it all. He said that it would not be advisable to sell it at that time and it would be difficult to purchase it later. The Imam said it didn't matter, "Whatever others undergo, we would also face it." When all the grain was sold the Imam instructed his employee to purchase it on day-to-day basis like other people do. And also told them to mix barley flour in wheat flour at a 50-50 percent proportion for making bread. Even though there was enough wheat the Imam said that it was by way of sharing the hardships of the people. After some days inflation increased and the Imam distributed all the money among the needy people. Now the situation so worsened that there was nothing to eat at the Imam's place. Motab says that he told the Imam, "If we had not sold our stocks we would not have to face this." The Imam said, "O Motab! Then how would we have realized the people's hardships? O Motab! We are content in all conditions and we are thankful in every calamity."

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