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.'

Watch Your Shoes

I went to see Imam Jafar Sadiq a.s while I was wearing black shoes. 
He (a.s) asked me, ‘Why are you wearing black shoes?’ Don’t you know that there are three attributes for them?’ 
I said, ‘May I be your ransom! No. What are they?’ 
The Imam (a.s) said, ‘They will weaken your vision, weaken your sexual drive and make you depressed. Moreover, it is part of the apparel of the oppressors. You should wear yellow (skin,brown) shoes, since that would sharpen the vision, improve your sexual drive and reduce your depression. It is part of the Prophets’ apparel.”
Narrated by Han’nan ibn Sadeer
Al khisal pg 178

Imam Husain’s (a.s.) Kindness to the Camel-Driver

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said:
“A man was trailing a woman when she was busy circling the Ka’bah.  The woman was raising her hands in prayer when the man placed his hand upon her arm; at that moment God glued his hand to the women’s arm.
People thronged to witness this strange happening in such great numbers that all movement was hindered.  A person was sent to the Emir of Makkah to inform him of the incident.  He gathered all the scholars around him and together they tried to settle on a suitable resolution to the problem.  Many ordinary people also assembled, interested to know the sentence that would be pronounced for this crime.
As they all stood perplexed over the issue, the Emir finally said, “Is there anyone from the family of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) here?”
Those around him said, “Yes!  Husain Ibn 'A'li (a.s.) is here.”
That night, the Emir ordered the Imam (a.s.) to be brought before him.  He sought to know the ruling for this incident from the Imam (a.s.).
First, the Imam (a.s.) turned towards the Ka’bah and raised his hands.  He stood in this position for a while, after which he supplicated.  Then, approaching the man the Imam separated his glued hand from the arm of the woman by the power of his Imamate.
The Emir asked the Imam (a.s.), “O’ Husain (a.s.)!  Should I not punish him?”
“No,” replied the Imam (a.s.).

Imam Ja'far as Sadiq (AS) Advice to Ibne Sayyaba

Ibne Sayyaba, a resident of Kufa in Iraq, was a young man whose father had died. The tragedy of the death of his father, coupled with poverty and unemployment, was destroying the soul of the sensitive man. One day while sitting in his house, he heard a knock at the door. He was a friend of his father. After offering his condolences, he said:

"Did your father leave anything for you?"

"No"

"Then take this thousand Dirham; try to turn it into a capital, and meet your expense from its profit".

Saying these words he went away. Ibne Sayyaba, happy as he was, went to his mother and showing the money told her the story. The same day, he used the money in purchasing some merchandise and opening a shop; and set his heart to it. He made a rapid progress. Soon after he realised that not only he had met his household expenses from the profit, but also the capital had increased to a great extent. Now he thought of performing Hajj Pilgrimage, and approached his mother for her advice. She said, "First you should repay the thousand Dirham which has brought such prosperity to us, and then you may go to Makkah for Hajj."

He went to see the friend of his father, and placing a purse of one thousand Dirham before him, said, "Please accept your money back." The man thought that Ibne Sayyaba was returning the same money because it was not sufficient for any trade. So he said:

"If the amount is insufficient I can increase it."

"Good God, it was not insufficient. It has brought great prosperity to us and since I am now quite well off financially, I have come to repay your money, and to express my thanks to you, particularly when I have decided to go on pilgrimage to Makkah.

He came to his home and packed his luggage for Makkah.

After performance of the Hajj pilgrimage, he came to Medina and went to see Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (AS) along with other pilgrims. There was a huge crowd in the house of the Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (AS). Being young he chose to sit at the far end of the gathering, and from there watched the people coming and going; and heard their questions and the answers given by the Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (AS). When the house became nearly empty, Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (AS) pointed to him and said:

"What can I do for you?"

"I am Abdur Rehman, son of Sayyaba, of Kufa (from the tribe of Bijilly)."

"How is your father?" asked Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (AS)

"He died"

"Ah! Ah! May Almighty Allah (SWT) have His mercy upon him. Did he leave anything for you?"

"No, he didn't"

"Then how could you perform Hajj Pilgrimage?"

"After the death of my father we were in distress. On one side his death and on the other side poverty and unemployment, were crushing us extremely. Then one day a friend of my father gave me one thousand Dirham and advised me to invest the amount in business. I followed his advice and from its profit I came to perform Hajj Pilgrimage".

Before he could finish his story, Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (AS) said, "Tell me what did you do about the money of your father's friend?"

I refunded the amount on the advice of my mother before coming out for Hajj Pilgrimage".

"Very good. Do you like me to give you an advice?"

"May I be your ransom; of course"

Imam Jaffar as Sadiq (AS) said, "Be truthful and righteous. A truthful and righteous man is a partner in the wealth of others".