Seerah

Certain relatives of the Holy Imam (a.s.) not only failed to acknowledge his rights but even bore enmity against him in their hearts. Although the enmity against Imam (a.s.) makes him a disbeliever. Yet Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) willed that seventy Dinars be given to Hasan Aftas. Hasan Aftas was an evil person and had such deep malice against Imam (a.s.) that he had once tried to attack Imam (a.s.) with a sword. The goodly behaviour of Imam (a.s.) towards his enemy was due entirely to his relationship.

Conversation of Imam as-Sadiq (a.s.) With Abdullah Hasani

Once Abdullah Hasani, a relative of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) met him on the streets of Madinah. He had a meaningless argument with Imam (a.s.) and spoke ill of him. Imam (a.s.) replied to this misbehavior in the best way. He went to the house of this person the very next day and said, “Yesterday I recited the following Ayat of the Qur’an,

“And those who joined that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning. (Surah ar-R?’d 13:21)

I became very fearful because of it.” Abdullah understood that Imam (a.s.) was intending to correct him. He began to weep and said, “I have willfully forgotten this verse. After this, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) and Abdullah embraced each other. (al-K?fi)

The Grief of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) on the Oppression upon the Descendants of Imam Hasan (a.s.)

When Mans?r Dawaniqi arrested and imprisoned Abdullah Mahej and other Hasani Sad?ts, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was grief-stricken. Although the Hasanis were opposed to Imam (a.s.), the Imam’s (a.s.) distress was such that he was confined to bed for twenty days. He wrote a lengthy letter to them to express his sorrow and to offer comfort and consolation. He sent this letter to the prison of Kufa and was in regular contact with them to know their well-being. Often he wept on their imprisonment.

The Inimical Relative of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.)

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) made a will in his last moments: “Pay seventy Dinars to my paternal cousin Hasan Aftas.”

He was asked, “Master you are making a gift to someone who has attacked you with a sword?”
Imam (a.s.) replied,

“Do you think I should not be included among those concerning whom the Qur’an says: ‘And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning…” (Surah ar-R?’d: 13:21)

Allah has created Paradise, purified it and made it fragrant. Its fragrance is felt at a distance of two thousand years (of travel). But the one who disobeys his parents or breaks ties with the kin will be so far away from Paradise, that he will not even experience its fragrance. (Bih?r al-Anw?r)

Daw?d Raqqi says: “I was sitting in the company of Imam (a.s.) when Imam (a.s.) himself started speaking and said: “Daw?d, on Thursday the report of your deeds was presented to me and I saw among your deeds the Silet ar-Rahm which you have performed with your cousin (brother), I was very pleased. However, I know that this Silet ar-Rahm of yours will (because of his Qat’a ar-Rahm towards you) be the cause of his early death.” (Bih?r al-Anw?r)

Daw?d, the companion of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: “My cousin used to bear enmity towards me. He was an evil person. When I came to know about his destitution, I went to Makkah and gave him some money so that he could manage himself for some time. It was this action of mine about which Imam (a.s.) was informed and he told of it on my return to Madinah.”