Ijtihad Network Being Wise and Faithful Muslim in the Contemporary World
In addition to what we have described of his merit in knowledge film), headship and leadership and the Imamate, there was the obvious excellence (of the man) to both the Shia (khassa) and the non-Shia (amma). He was recognised by all for his nobleness and well-known for generosity and kindness through the abundance of his help to the poor and his moderate temperament.
[Al-Sharif Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Muhammad told me: My grandfather (Yahya ibn al-Hasan) told me: Abu- Nasr told us: Muhammad ibn al-Husayn told me: Aswad ibn ‘Amir told us: Hayyan ibn ‘Ali told us on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Kuthayyir, who said:]
I (i.e. al-Hasan ibn Kuthayyir) complained to Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn CAli, peace be on them, of (my) need and the uselessness of brothers.
“Shame on the brother,” he said, “(who is) a brother who looks after you when you are rich and separates from you when you are poor.”
Then he ordered his servant-boy to take out a pouch in which were seven hundred dirhams.
“Spend this,” he told me, “and when you have used it, tell me.”
[Muhammad ibn al-Husayn reported: Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr told us: They told us on the authority of Amr ibn Dinar and Abd Allah ibn Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr, who said:]
We (i.e. Amr ibn Dinar and Abd Allah ibn Ubayd) never met Abu- Ja’far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali, peace be on them, without him giving us money, gifts and clothes. He used to say: “This is something which had been prepared for you before you met me.”
[Abu Nuaym al-Nakhai reported on the authority of Mu’awiya ibn Hisham on the authority of Sulayman ibn Qarm, who said:]
Abu- Ja’far Muhammad ibn ‘‘Ali, peace be on them, used to pay us five hundred dirhams to six hundred dirhams to a thousand dirhams as gifts. He never tired of bestowing generosity on the brethren, and on those who came to visit him, and on those who placed their hopes and trust in him.
It is reported on his authority, on the authority of his fathers, peace be on them, that the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, used to say: “The best of works are three: Looking after brothers with money; giving the people justice on your own account; and mentioning God in every circumstance.”
[Ishaq ibn Mansur al-Saluli reported: I heard al-Hasan ibn Salih say:]
I (al-Hasan ibn Salih) heard Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali peace be on them, say: “There is not anything that can be mixed with anything better than clemency (mixed) with knowledge.”
It is reported on his authority, peace be on him, that he was asked about traditions which he put forward and did not support with a chain of authorities. He said:
If I report a tradition without giving it a chain of authorities, then my chain of authorities for it is in fact my father on the authority of my grandfather on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, the Apostle of God, may God bless him and his family, on the authority of Gabriel, peace be on him, on the authority of God, the Mighty and High.
He, peace be on him, (also) used to say: “The people cause us great trouble. We summon them but they do not answer us. If we abandoned them, they would be guided by no one.”
He, peace be on him, used to say: “What is it that the people hate in us who are the family of the House of Mercy, the Tree of Prophethood, the Source of Wisdom, (the people) frequented by angels and (those upon whom) inspiration descended?”
He, peace be on him, died and left behind seven sons. Each of his brothers had great merit, even though they did not attain his merit because of his position with regard to the Imamate, because of his rank with God with regard to closeness and love (wilaya), and because of his position with regard to succession (khilafa) of the Prophet, may God bless him and his family. The period of his Imamate and of his undertaking the position of his father in the succession (on behalf of) God, the Mighty and High, over His servants was nineteen years.
