Morality of Imam al-Hadi (A.S.)

Compiled by: Allama Husayn Ansariyan
Abu-Hashim Jafari has reported: I was afflicted with a bad poverty; so, I went to Abul-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad. When I sat in his presence, he asked, “Abu-Hashim! Which of the bounties of your Lord will you thank?” I could not speak nor did I know what answer to give to the Imam. He said, “Allah has given you faith as sustenance hence made your body immune from hellfire. He has also given you good health hence helped you to obey Him. And He has given you contentment as sustenance hence made you immune from unrestrained way of living.
O Abu-Hashim! I have started speaking to you with these words, for I had the impression that you were going to complain to me of One Who has given you all these blessings. Meanwhile I have ordered one hundred dinars to be given to you.”144

Sanitation and Climate
Fahham Mansuri reports while quoting his uncle,: One day Imam al-Hadi (a.s) said, “I was brought reluctantly to the city of Samarra (literally meaning one who sees it becomes happy). Now if they make me leave this city, I will do it reluctantly.” I said, “Why is that, my master?” The Imam said, “For its good climate, its sanitation and its little diseases.”145

Special Favor Towards Shiites
A group of people from Isfahan including Abul-Abbas Ahmad ibn Nazar and Abu-Jafar Muhammad ibn Alawiah report: In Isfahan, there was a man of Shiite faith named Abd al-Rahman. He was asked, “Why in our time you have made belief in the Imamate of Ali al-Naqi (a.s) incumbent upon yourself?” He answered: I have seen something which made the Imam’s leadership obligatory to me: I dare to say I was a needy man and one year, the people of Isfahan sent me along with other persons to the court of al-Mutawakkil, the Abbasid ruler, to plead for justice.
We were in Mutawakkil’s court when the order to summon Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ridha was issued. I asked some of the persons present in the court who was this man. It was said that he was an Alawi and the heretics believe in his Imamate. Mutawakkil might have summoned to kill him. I decided not to leave this place to see what he looks like.
Finally, when the Imam came on a horse while people were standing on the two sides of the road, I was watching him. As soon as I saw him, I began to love him and said: May Allah relieve him from the evil of Mutawakkil. He was looking only at the mane of his horse without paying attention to his right or left side. I was also praying for him. When he was passing by me, he turned his holy face towards me and said, “Allah has answered your prayer, prolonged your life, and made your wealth and children abundant.” Hearing this, I trembled and fell down among my friends, they asked, “What happened?” I said, “Just a blessing and said no more.”
I then returned to Isfahan. Allah gave me such a fortune that in addition to what I have outside my house, I have assets worth several thousands of dirham at home. I am also blessed with ten children. I am now seventy and odd years, believing in the Imamate of that honorable Imam who knew what was in my mind and whose prayer Allah answered in relation to me.146

Healing a Leper
Abu Hashim Jafari has reported: A man from Samarra was afflicted with leprosy hence life had become hard for him. One day, he was complaining to Abu-Ali Fahri of his plight. Abu-Ali said, “Should you ask Abul-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad ibn al-Ridha to pray for you, your disease will be healed.”
One day when the Imam was returning from Mutawakkil’s house, the leper who was sitting on the way rose up to get close to the Imam to ask him to pray for the healing of his disease. Before he could ask, the Imam said three times, “Go aside; Allah will restore your good health”, while pointing to him with his holy hand. Abu-Ali Fahri later saw the leper who had told him about his meeting with the Imam. Abu-Ali said, “The Imam had prayed for you before you asked him to do so. Be sure you will have your good health restored soon.” The leper went home. The night passed; and when it dawned there was no sign of leprosy on his body.147

Kindness to Relatives
Dawud ibn Qasim Jafari reports: I had gone to say farewell to the Imam in Samarra before going on Hajj. He came out with me and when he came to the end of the retaining wall, he descended and I descended too. The Imam drew a circle on the ground saying, “O uncle! Take what is inside this circle for spending during your Hajj.” I pounded on the earth with my fist and found a bar of gold containing two hundred misqals of gold.148

Generosity
Muhammad ibn Talhah has reported: One day, Imam al-Hadi left Samarra for a village for an important case, which had come about. An Arab came to meet him. So, the man was told that the Imam had gone to such and such place. The Arab too went to that village to see him. The Imam asked, “What do you need?” He answered, “I am an Arab from Kufah who believes in the Imamate of your great grandfather, Ali ibn Abu-Talib. I have a heavy debt, which is hard to pay. I find no one but you to pay my debt.” The Imam said, “Be happy.”
The Imam received him as a guest, and in the morning said, “I will ask you something that you should not oppose!” The Arab said, “I will not oppose to what you do.” The Imam wrote a note in his own handwriting admitting that he owed the Arab a certain amount of money, which was more than the Arab’s debt. Then the Imam said, “Take this note and bring it to me in Samarra. There will be a group of people beside me. Show this note, speak harshly and demand your money.” The Arab agreed and left the Imam.
When the Imam reached Samarra, a group of the companions of the ruler were with him when the Arab arrived, showed the handwriting, demanded the money and spoke as the Imam had advised him. Imam al-Hadi spoke softly to him and promised to pay his debt. The story of Imam al-Hadi and the Arab reached Mutawakkil. He ordered to take thirty thousand Dirhams for Imam al-Hadi. When The Imam received the money, he did not touch it until the Arab came. Then the Imam said, “Take this money, pay your debt, spend the rest for your living expenditures and accept our apology.” The Arab said, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! By Allah! I expected only one third of this money but Allah knows where to place His message He took the money and left for home.”149

Choosing A Name For A Child
Ayyub ibn Nuh has reported: I wrote a letter to Imam al-Hadi saying, “My wife is pregnant. Pray to Allah to give me a son.” Imam al-Hadi wrote back, “When your son is born, name him Muhammad.” My wife gave birth to a son whom I named Muhammad.150
Notes:
144. Man-la-Yahduruhul-Faqih 401/4, H. 5863
145. Al-Amali by Shaykh al-Tusi: 281, H. 545
146. Al-Kharaij wal-Jaraih: 392/1, 11
147. Al-Kharaij wal-Jaraih: 399/1, 11
148. Al-Manaqib: 409/4
149. Kashf al-Ghummah: 374/2
150. Kashf al-Ghummah: 385/2