UNDER THE AUSPICES OF AL-HUSAYN AND 'ALI

Ima'm Abu' Ja'far (al-Ba'qir), peace be on him, grew up in the House of the message, the place of descent of the revelation, and the source of radiation in the world of Islam. His grandfather, Ima'm Husayn, peace be on him, and his father, Ima'm Zayn al-'Abidin, fed him with noble ideals. They taught the ways of good and guidance that settled in themselves. Moreover, they taught him bright behavior and a sound direction to be an example to this community. The following is an account of his early life under the wing of his grandfather and his father.

Under the Care of his Grandfather

Ima'm Husayn, peace be on him, took care of educating his grandson. He bestowed upon him rays of his holy soul that illuminated the horizons of this world. The historians narrated that he seated him on his lap, kissed him very much, and said to him: "Indeed, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sends you his greetings. ( 1 )

This was a hint from the grandfather to his grandson that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, wanted him to practice his leading role for his community. In other words he wanted him to split open the fountains of wisdom in the lands of his community, to proclaim knowledge all over them, and to guide his community to the right path. In his early life, Ima'm al-Ba'qir, peace be on him, saw his grandfather, Ima'm Husayn, peace be on him, facing the critical situation. That was when his grandfather was afflicted by the tyrant of his time and the pharaoh of this community, namely, Yazid b. Mu'a'wiya, who endangered Islam, summoned Ima'm Husayn to pledge allegiance to him, and to yield to his rule. Thus, Ima'm Husayn, peace be on him, cried out at his face and continued his immortal movement to raise Allah's word high in the earth and to carry out his Islamic message with honesty and loyalty. So, he sacrificed his life, the members of his house, and his companions to establish the glory of Islam, and to destroy his enemies and his opponents. His sacrifice was full of noble values and high ideals. It moved the people's sentiments and their feelings. It was abounding in positive results. It offered the most wonderful lessons about the sacrifice for the truth and the duty. It will be immortal forever. Moreover, it will represent man's honor and his high purpose.

The stages of that immortal tragedy took place before Ima'm al-Ba'qir while he was in his early life. He, peace be on him, said: "My grandfather was killed while I was four years of age. Indeed, I remember his murder and what hit us during that time. ( 2 )

Ima'm al-Ba'qir, peace be on him, reported many of its stages. Al-Tabari reported some of its pictures on his authority. A group of the prominent Companions (of the Prophet) wrote a book. They called the book 'Maqtal al-Husayn’. In it, they have written what they heard from him and from other than him about the tragedies of Karbala''. Ibn al-Nadim has mentioned many of them in his book 'al-Fihrast’. However, that immortal tragedy left great pain and sorrow in his soul. Its sorrows accompanied him throughout his life.

Under the Auspices of his Father

Imam Abu' Ja'far (al-Ba'qir), peace be on him, lived for more than 34 years under the care of his father, Ima'm Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him. He accompanied him throughout that period. He did not leave him. He was impressed by his bright guidance that represented the guidance of the prophets and of the apostles. The people did not see the likeness of Ima'm Zayn al-'Abidin in his God-fearingness, his piety, his asceticism, and his strong cleaving to Allah. We will mention some of Ima'm Zayn al-'Abidin's affairs and conditions. That is because his behavior had great influence on Ima'm al-Ba'qir's deep soul. They are as follows:

Admiration and Glorification

The intellectuals and the scholars admired and glorified Ima'm Zayn al-'Abidin. They preferred him to others. The following are some of their words concerning him:

1. Sa'id b. al-Musayyab

The solemnity of the Ima'm and his greatness astonished Sa'id b. al-Musayyab. Thus, he said: "I have never seen (a person) better than 'Ali b. al-Husayn. I have never seen him but I detest myself. I have never seen him laughing. ( 3 )

2. Al-Zuhri

Al-Zuhri adored the Ima'm. He said: "I have never seen a Qarashi (person) better than him. ( 4 ) He also said: "I have never seen (a person) more knowledgeable than 'Ali b. al-Husayn. ( 5 )

3. Zayd b. Aslam

Zayd b. Aslam said: "I have never seen (a person) similar to 'Ali b. al-Husayn. ( 6 )

4. 'Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz

When Umar b. 'Abd al-'Aziz heard of the death of the Ima'm, he said: "The lamp of the world, beauty of Islam and adornment of worshipers passed away. ( 7 )

5. Abu' Ha'zim

Abu Ha'zim said: "I have never seen a Hashimi better than 'Ali b. al-Husayn. (3)

6. Ma'lik

Ma'lik said: "There was nobody similar to 'Ali b. al-Husayn in the members of the House of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family. ( 8 )

7. Ja'bir b. 'Abd Allah

Among those who adored the Ima'm was the great Companion (of the Prophet), Ja'bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa'ri, who said: "I have never seen a boy of the Prophets similar to 'Ali b. al-Husayn. ( 9 )

8. Al-Wa'qidi

Al-Wa'qidi said: "'Ali b. al-Husayn was the most wonderful of all the people in worship and the most pious of them for Allah, the Great and Almighty. ( 10 )

These words denote the impressions of these great figures concerning the Ima'm. They have unanimously agreed that he was at his time the best of all the family of the Prophet in knowledge and outstanding merits that represent man's absolute perfection.

His high Morals

As for his high morals, they were gifts from Allah. The perplexed person follows the right way with them. The straying person is guided by them. In this phenomenon, the Ima'm imitated his grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family who was distinguished from the prophets by his high morals.

The historians have unanimously agreed that the Ima'm, peace be on him, treated kindly those who mistreated him. He forgave them and bestowed liberally upon them to uproot from them aggression against others. The following are some of his attitudes towards them:

A. The historians said: "Isma''il b. Hisha'm al-Makhzumi was the governor of Yathrib (Medina). He harbored hatred against the members of the House, peace be on them. He hurt Ima'm Zayn al-'Abidin very much and abused his grandfathers on the pulpits to approach the rulers of Damascus. When al-Walid b. 'Abd al-Malik became caliph, he removed Hisha'm from office because of a previous enmity. Then he ordered the people to take their rights from him. Hisha'm was very afraid of the Ima'm, peace be on him, for he mistreated him very much. So, he said: "I am afraid of no one but of Ali b. al-Husayn. He is a righteous man. Thus, the ruler will hear his words concerning me. "However, the Ima'm ordered his companions and followers not to mistreat him. Rather, he went to him, smiled at him, asked him about his need during his critical situation, and then said to him: "Cousin, my Allah forgive you. Indeed, what has been done towards you has displeased me.So, summon us to what you like.

Hisha'm was astonished. Thus, he said with admiration: "Allah knows where to put His mission. ( 11 ) Among his high morals is the following attitude that raises him to the level which no reformer has reached except his grandfathers. It also indicates his Ima'mate.

The historians reported that he slaughtered every day a ewe. He cooked the ewe and divided it among the poor and the deprived. One day his retainer carried a bowl of broth. The broth was boiling because of the intense heat. The retainer stumbled over a child of the Ima'm. Thus, the child died at once. So, the 'Alid women wept loudly. The Ima'm was praying. When he had finished his prayers, he was told about the death of his child. However, he, peace be on him, hurried to the retainer. He found him shaking with fear. He met him with kindness and affection, and said to him: "You have doubts about 'Ali b. al-Husayn. You have thought that he will punish you. Go, you are free for Allah. These are four thousand dinars as a gift for you. Excuse me for the fear that has hit you because of me. ( 12 )

How wonderful this soul is ! It is superior to the good servants whose hearts Allah tested with belief. The Ima'm inherited these great morals from his grandfather, the great Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, who established the standard of manners in the earth.

C. Among his high morals was that while he was going out of the mosque, a man from those who hated him began cursing and abusing him. Some of the Ima'm's companions and followers became angry with the man. However, the Ima'm, peace be on him, calmed them, and then he treated the man kindly, saying: "You do not know our affair completely. Do you have a need to help you against it.

The man felt shame. He wished that the earth would hide him. Defeat and regret appeared on his face. The Ima'm, peace be on him, walked towards him. He gave him a shirt. Besides he ordered one thousand dinars to be given to him. Thus, the man said: "I bear witness that you are among the children of the prophets. ( 13 )

These are some of his attitudes that are full of mercy, clemency, and self- denial. Indeed the morals of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on him, are a school that is based on honor, nobility, and on every thing through which man becomes high.