“Put a piece of meat in various parts of town and see in which place it will get rotten more slowly, that would be the proper place for a hospital.” That was the extraordinarily wise and innovative advice of a famous Iranian physician, who at that time lived in Baghdad, to the people who were in search of the most suitable place for building a hospital.This great physician is no one other than Muhammad Ibn Zakariya Razi, also known as Ar-Razi or Rhazes among European scholars, who for the first time in the history of medicine and chemistry, discovered a chemical substance, which served a great deal to these fields, called “alcohol.”
He was born in 865 A.D in the city of Rey, located in Iran. Though his father tried so hard to make him follow his occupation which was gold smithery, he finally pursued his interest which was alchemy and chemistry at that time.
Having spent many years of his life as an alchemist, he eventually found out that the only field worth learning and working in, was medicine. Moreover, as Al-Birooni [1] claimed, he lost his eyesight when he was occupied in alchemy, and finding a cure for this disability became his motive in turning his direction to medicine.
To learn medicine thoroughly, he left his hometown for Baghdad where the most advanced hospitals were located. He studied and practiced medicine at the local hospital. After spending many years in Baghdad and gaining experience, he moved back to his beloved hometown, Rey.
There, he became the head of its local hospital. He is known to have been the first person who introduced the method of teaching medicine in its modern form used today in our hospitals. As compassionate and devoted as he was, he never stopped curing sick people, rich or poor, and teaching medicine to the students of any background.
He died on the 15th of October in 925 A.D where he was born and spent most of his life, in the city of Rey.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica [2], he was the first physician who differentiated between measles and smallpox. Besides he is considered to be the father of pediatrics and a pioneer in ophthalmology- the study and treatment of eye disorders and diseases.
He also believed in treatment with proper diet rather than prescribing medicines to his patients. The translation of his most important works in medicine such as “Al-Hawi” [3] and “Al-Mansuri” [4] has long been taught in medical universities of European countries such as Germany and France.
He was a devoted Muslim who was profoundly influenced by the teachings of Islam. His idea about the importance of seeking knowledge with one’s full capacity is in close association with the idea of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he said: “those who peruse knowledge, will be perused by heaven” [4] & [5].
The great Iranian Muslim physician, chemist, and philosopher, Muhammad Ibn Zakariya Razi, with his everlasting contributions in medicine and chemistry, did not remain limited to his time or geographical boundaries. He was the great physician of his time and is considered a respected and influential doctor of our age in all parts of the world.
Reference:
- "ar-Razi." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.Jun. 2014
- ibid.
- Mahmud Najm Abadi, The History of Medicine in Iran and World of Islam.
- Mottaqi Hindi, Kanz al-Aamal.
- Muhammad, Mizan al Hekmah, vol. IV, Qum: Dar al-Hadith Institution, 1386. p.398.
Imam Rida (AS) is the eighth infallible Shiite Imam and successor of the final holy Prophet (PBUH&HP). His name is Ali, and among all his other names and titles the most famous honorary one is “Rida,” which means ‘satisfaction’. But why was he called this name?
According to his son, Imam Jawad (AS), “The Almighty Allah named him Rida because He was pleased with him in the heavens and the Prophet of Allah (PBUH&HP) and the Imams of guidance (AS) were pleased with him on earth” [1]. In fact, Imam Rida (AS)’s moral qualities and virtues were so high that even his enemies were attracted to and admired him. You might wonder what these traits are!
Imam Rida (AS) was the exemplar of a patient man. There were times when he was treated disrespectfully, but he would not react and preferred to remain silent. It has been narrated that when Caliph Mamun[i] tried to degrade Imam Rida’s (AS) position through scientific and theological debates with the contemporary scholars of other religions and opponents, Imam would patiently make the best use of those meetings and introduced the true religion of Islam to the world.
While having a meal alone, Imam Rida (AS) would invite all his slaves, servants, including the Blacks, to have the meal with him at the same place. And when he was told to make separate eating arrangements for the servants, he would refuse and say: “We are all created by God, our parents (Adam and Eve) are the same, everyone will be dealt with by God according to their deeds” [2].
Once a man said to Imam Rida (AS): “By God, you are the best in the world,” but Imam replied: “Do not swear by the name of Allah. Anyone who is more pious than me can be better than me.” Then he recited the following verse of the Quran:
“O, humankind! Verily, We created you all From a male and female [Adam and Eve] and appointed for your tribes and Nations to be known to each other [by Specified characteristics] Verily, in Allah's Sight the most honorable of you Is the most pious of you; and Allah is The Informed Owner of Knowledge” (49:13) [3].
Imam Rida (AS) would never hurt anybody with his words; He treated people as respectfully and kindly as possible; he would never talk badly to anyone or interrupt someone when speaking; he never stretched his legs or lean upon something in front of people. He always smiled instead of laughing loudly [4].
One night while Imam Rida (AS) was talking to his guest, there was a problem with the light. The guest wanted to fix it, but Imam did not let him do so. He started fixing it himself and said: “We are the ones who do not put our guests to work.”
Also, it frequently happened that Imam called a servant for some work, and he was told that the servant was busy having a meal; then Imam would say: “Let him finish his food” [5].
One day a foreign traveler came to visit Imam Rida (AS). After saying hello and expressing his love and affection towards Imam Rida (AS), his fathers and ancestors, he said he had come back from Hajj and had run out of money. He asked Imam to give him some money to go back home and promised to spend the same amount there on charity and giving alms (Sadaqah).
Imam stood up and went to another room. Then he came, stretched his hand from behind the door, and said: “Get this 200 Dinar and spend it for your journey, there is no need to pay the same back as alms.” The man got the Dinars and left. Imam later was asked for the reason for his secret help, and he answered: “Because I did not want the man to feel ashamed” [6].
Also, whenever Imam Rida (AS) wanted to have his meal, he would bring a large plate and put the best of the food on it to be given away to the poor. If he afforded to help, he would always give alms to the destitute at nights.
In another account, One of Imam’s companions narrated that One day after he arrived home, he saw his servants busy repairing the house. Imam noticed a stranger among them and asked about him. They answered he was there to help them and they would pay him. Imam asked if they had defined the amount of payment.
The answer was no. Imam became disturbed and said: “when one works without any contraction, he thinks that you have paid him little, even if you give him three times more. But if you contract and pay him according to the contraction, he will be pleased with receiving his right. Now if you pay more even just a little, he will understand you have paid more and will be thankful” [7].
Imam Rida (AS) had inherited the divine knowledge from his ancestor, our Holy Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH&HP).
He was the wisest man of his time and all his contemporaries. His knowledge was so rich in all religious matters and other realms of knowledge that the people of various tribes in their language would turn to him when they had questions, and he provided them with the best answers. Ma'mun, the ruling caliph, summoned the knowledgeable scholars in an attempt to defeat Imam Rida (AS) in several scientific debates and to discredit him in public. Nonetheless, Imam succeeded in all of them, and no one was capable of overcoming his power of knowledge.
Whoever dared to challenge Imam Rida (AS) ended up yielding to his unique power of reasoning. It has been confirmed by historians that Ma'mun, who was himself a celebrated erudite, pointed out the following statement, in his official charter for the appointment of Imam Rida (AS) as his immediate successor:
"I do not know any person superior to this man [Imam Rida (AS)] in the whole world" [8].
The life of Imam Rida (AS) and our other infallible Imams (AS) contains countless anecdotes of this sort, which reveals how they teach us the correct way of life both by their sayings and behaviors.
In a famous tradition or saying (Hadith) called the Golden Chain (Selselah al-Zahab), Imam Rida (AS) said that he had heard from dignified ancestors quoting from Gabriel and Almighty Allah that: “The word of La Ilaha Illallah -there is no god but Allah- is My stronghold (then whoever acknowledges this has entered My stronghold) and will be saved from My punishment”. After reciting this saying for his companions, Imam paused for a while and then continued, “Few conditions are entitling this entrance, and I am one of its conditions.”
Through this account, Imam Rida (AS) confirms that the belief in monotheism (Tawhid) will be counted as perfect when it is based on the obedience of the infallible Holy Imams (AS). In fact, Imams’ lifestyle and traditions were so good that if we idolize them and follow in their footsteps, we will certainly be able to move through the stages of spiritual perfection and win Allah’s satisfaction. Insha’Allah!
Notes:
[i] The Abbasid caliph in power at Imam Reza’s (AS) time.
References:
- Bihar al-Anwar, V.49, P.4.
- Osool al-Kafi vol.8 p.230.
- Oyoun Akhbar al-Reza, v.2, p.236.
- Al-Fadl ibn al-Hasan Tabarsi, Aa’lam al-Vara p.314.
- Osool al-Kafi vol.6 p.383 & 298.
- Managhib vol.4 p.360.
- Osool al-Kafi vol.5 p.288.
- Al-Irshad, v.2, p. 261.
Once Imam Sajjad (AS), the fourth Shiite Imam, heard a beggar asking people for charity on the 9th day of Dhu al-Hajjah, the day of Arafah. Imam Sajjad (AS) was surprised and said:
Shame on you! Are you asking somebody for help other than Allah on this holy day? While on this day, even the fetus in the uterus hopes that Allah might grant them a happy future in the world (1)
As Imam Sajjad (AS) said, the day of Arafah is the day of Allah’s great mercy toward humanity. There are two important occasions in the Islamic calendar that are considered as the most important ones: the day of Arafah and the night of Qadr.
On the second day of their pilgrimage, hajj pilgrims must stay in the Arafat plain from noon until sunset, praying and seeking forgiveness from Allah Almighty and thanking Him for the opportunity to perform Hajj. This is known as “Wuquf in Arafat”. The Arafat plain is a special place near Mecca, and it is said that no one has ever sinned in this plain.
There is also a mountain named Arafah in this plain, also known as “Jabal ar-Rahmah” which means “the mountain of Mercy”. About this mountain, Imam Baqir (AS) said:
Anyone who stays on this mountain, Allah will grant them their wishes. For the good people, Allah will grant all their wishes whether they are about this world or the Hereafter but for the bad people, only their worldly wishes will be granted (2)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH & HP) stood on this mountain in his last days and bid farewell to his followers.
The most important practice for all the pilgrims in Mecca and those who couldn’t make it there is praying.
Ibrahim ibn Hashim, one of the Shiite scholars, once saw Abdullah ibn Jundab, one of the pupils of Imam Kazim (AS), in the Arafat plain. He said, “I saw no one like him in the plain; his hands were up in prayer all the time, shedding tears that dropped onto the earth. When people left, I told him ‘I didn’t see no one praying like you in this plain’. Abdullah ibn Jundab replied ‘I swear to Allah that I prayed only for my brothers (other Shiites) because Imam Kazim (AS) told me that anyone who prays on this day for their brothers will be called from the heavens, and Allah has given them thousand more things than what they wished for their brothers’”. (3)
Imam Ali (AS) said:
It is not obligatory for the people to gather in the Arafah Day, except if they are in Mecca, but it’s no problem if people gather in the other cities and call upon Allah together. (4)
Sudair as-Sirafy, one of the pupils of Imam Sadiq (AS), asked him about fasting in the Arafah day. Imam Sadiq (AS) said “My father wouldn’t fast on this day [and I won’t neither]”. Sudair asked: “why don’t you?” Imam Sadiq (AS) said:
The Day of Arafah is a day of supplicant and prayer. Therefore, I worry that fasting would make me weak and I couldn’t pray enough, so I don’t want to fast on this day. (5)
There are some famous prayers narrated from the Shiite Imams that should be recited on this day. Imam Hussain (AS), before he moved to Karbala, stayed in the Arafat Plain and prayed humbly with his hands raised, asking Allah for forgiveness and mercy. This beautiful prayer is full of teachings about Allah and its recitation is highly recommended. Shias mostly go to holy places like mosques and shrines and recite this prayer together.
Imam Sajjad (AS) also has a prayer exclusively for this day, which is written in the book “Sahifah as-Sajjadiah”.
Other than praying, there are some rituals mentioned in the hadiths that one can do on this day:
• Those who can’t make it to Mecca can visit the shrine of Imam Hussain (AS) in Karbala. In this regard Imam Sadiq (AS) said,
Anyone who makes pilgrimage to Karbala and washes their body in the Forat (a famous river there), and then goes to the shrine of Imam Hussain (AS), for every step they take, Allah considers it like a pilgrimage of Hajj”. (6)
• Giving charity to the needy ones
• Performing ghusl (a ritual bath)
• Fasting. Imam Ridha (AS) said,
Fasting on the day of Arafah is equal to fasting for a year. (7)
However, as Imam Sadiq (AS) mentioned, if fasting weakens you and hinders your prayer, it’s better not to fast.
Resources
- Man la Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Sheikh Saduq, vol.2, pg.211
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.13, pg.546
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.13, pg.544
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.13, pg.561
- I’lal ash-Shara’I, Sheikh Saduq, vol.2, pg.386
- Al-Kafi, Sheikh Koleini, vol.4, pg.580
- Al-Istibsar, Sheikh Toosi, vol.2, pg.133