Monday, July 28, 2014

The Wise Answers

Once Taus Yemeni asked Imam MOHAMMAD BAQIR (a.s), 
“When did one-third of Adam die?”
Imam replied,“ It never happened so. Rather you should ask when did one-fourth of human population die? 
It was when Haabeel killed Qaabeel. At that time there were four human beings, Adam, Hawwa, Habeel and Qabeel.
Thus by the slaying of Qaabeel, one-fourth of the population decreased.”
Taus Yemeni asked, “ What is that, which is permitted in small quantity but prohibited in large measure. 
Imam (a.s) replied, “It was the stream of Talut, drinking more water from it was not allowed, only a handful was permitted.”
Then he asked, “Which fast was it, when it was allowed to eat and drink?” 
“It was the vow of silence that Maryam (a.s) had observed,” replied the Imam (a.s). That is she did not speak to anyone in this fast.
Taus asked, “What is that goes on decreasing and never increases?”
“Life,” replied Imam (a.s).
“What is that which goes on increasing and never decreased?”
“The sea,” replied the Imam (a.s).
Then he asked, “What is that, which became airborne only once?”
“Mount Tur, which rose up and hovered on the heads of Bani Israel,” said the Imam (a.s).
He asked, “Who are those people who gave a true testimony that ALLAH (swt) considered false?”
“It was the testimony of the hypocrites regarding the Prophethood of ALLAH"S Messenger, but ALLAH (swt) considered it false.”
It means that what they had stated was correct but their statements were considered false because they did not testify with sincerity, they only claimed so verbally.
(Reference : Akhlaq al-A’imma, Morals & Manners of the Holy Imams)

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Details of a Human Face

Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) discourse with a physician :::
A physician attached to the court of al-Mansur once and asked Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s) if he wanted to learn something in this field from him.
The Imam (a.s) said: 'No. What I have is better than what you have.' Then began a very interesting discourse, in which the Imam (a.s) asked the physician questions like these:
Why is the head covered with hair?
Why are there lines and wrinkles on the forehead?
Why are the eyes shaped like almonds?
Why has the nose been placed between the eyes?
Why are the hair and the nails without life (sensation)?
These questions moved from the head downwards, till he ended by asking:
Why do the knees fold backwards, and why is the foot hollow on oneside?
To all these questions, the physician had only one reply: 'I do not know.'
The Imam (a.s) said: 'But I do know.' Then he explained all the questions, showing the wisdom and power of the Creator.
The hair is created over the head so that oil may reach inside, and heat may go out through it, and so that it may protect the head from heat and cold.
There are lines and wrinkles on the forehead so that sweat from the head does not reach the eyes, giving the person a chance to wipe it away.
The eyes are almond-shaped so as to make it easy to put medicine inside them and remove dirt from them. Had they been square or round, both would have been difficult. The nose is put between the eyes as it helps to divide the light equally towards both eyes.
The hair and nails lack sensation to make it easier to cut and trim them. If there were life in them it would have hurt a person to cut them.
The knees fold backwards because human beings walk forward, and the foot is hollow to make movement easier.'