One of the significant aspects of responsibility in Islam is the responsibility towards ourselves and how we treat our bodies and souls. As discussed previously, every Muslim is responsible towards himself.
Since human beings owe their existence to their unique Creature, they should treat themselves as their Creator has commanded. The spiritual responsibilities of a human towards him\herself and some of the duties that one has towards his\her body were discussed in the previous part of this topic. Here, we continue the discussion on the rights of the parts of the body.
The eyes are the means of insight and awakening of the heart. Imam Ali (AS) said that a faithful person looks to learn, but a hypocrite looks to amuse [1]. Thus, of the rights of the eyes and one's responsibility in Islam towards them is to lower the gaze from whatever that is unlawful (Haram) and not to look at everything and everywhere around, unless there is a lesson or advice behind [2]. According to Imam Ali (AS), whoever closes the eyes from Haram, his\her heart will be relieved [3].
The legs are the means to walk towards the right path and to overtake others in doing good deeds. Hence, of the rights of the legs over one and the responsibility in Islam towards them are not going towards what is unlawful (Haram) or what humiliates him\herself [2].
Of the rights of the hands are not to do what is unlawful (Haram) with them, otherwise one will be punished in the Hereafter for what has committed by his\her hands, and will be blamed by others in this world; not to prevent the hands from doing what God has commanded to; and, to allow the hands to seek what is beneficial and useful for one [2].
Of the rights of the stomach are [2]:
To be careful about what you eat (80:24);
Not to eat what is unlawful (Haram), neither a little of it nor too much;
Not to consider the stomach as a container and not to overeat while ignoring others who suffer from hunger; “eat and drink, but do not waste” (7:31);
To eat moderately even when eating lawful (Halal) foods because eating less is the key to good health [4];
Not to forget that overeating makes one bored and lazy and stops him\her from doing good deeds. According to Imam Ali (AS), to eat less enlightens the mind [5];
To remember that drinking too much will also cause indiscretion and absurdity;
Of the rights of the private parts are to protect them from what is unlawful (Haram). To do so, one requires lowering the gaze since the eyes affect the heart and mind greatly. Also, one should frequently remember the death and the afterlife. He\she should always have a fear of the divine punishment and ask God to help him\her to protect his\her private parts from sins [2].
Every human being is composed of a body and a soul. These two, together, help one to live a natural life. The health of the body is as important as the health of the soul. Devoting everything in life to prepare for the afterlife and depriving oneself of the God’s blessings in this world is blamed in Islam. In Surah Qasas verses 77, Muslims are advised to apply the capabilities and wealth that they have been given to do good deeds and to gain rewards for the afterlife.
But, they should also consider and benefit from the blessings of this world (28:77). Indeed, it is possible to consider both the physical needs as well as spiritual ones simultaneously. Although fulfilling the physical needs is known to be important in Islam, one should keep a balance in life and avoid being luxury-oriented. Otherwise, he\she will always be busy to increase his\her wealth, and this might force him\her to unlawful (Haram) ways of raising money.
References:
- S. al-Harrani “Tuhaf al-Uqul”, p. 212.
- Imam Sajjad (AS), Treatise On Rights (Risalat al-Huquq).
- “Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim”, T. 9122.
- S. al-Harrani “Tuhaf al-Uqul”, p. 172.
- “Ghurar Al-Hikam Wa Durar Al-Kalim”, T. 8462.
- M. B. Majlesi, “Bihar al-Anwar”, vol. 78, p. 321.
Shaban is the eighth month on the Hijri calendar. The three months of Rajab, Sha’ban, and Ramadan are considered among the most important months in the Islamic view. The month of Sha’ban is considered to be the month of the Prophet (PBUH & HP).
In this regard, Imam Ali (AS) says,
Ramadan is the month of Allah and Sha’ban is the month of the Prophet (PBUH & HP) and Rajab is my month (1)
Various important religious events take place in Sha’ban, including,
The most important event of this month is Imam Mahdi’s birthday. Shiite Muslims celebrate this day and congratulate each other. Some also stay up on the eve of Sha’ban 15th and pray for the arrival of Imam Mahdi (AS).
In every month of the year, various prayers and practices have been recommended by the Prophet (PBUH & HP) or the Shiite Imams (AS). Among all, these three months, Rajab, Sha’ban, and Ramadan, are full of prayers and practices that you can say or do and we mention some of them for Sha’ban month below.
Fasting is one of the most important practices you can do in Sha’ban.
In this regard Imam Sadiq (AS) said,
When Sha’ban arrives, Imam Sajjad (AS) had gathered his followers and he told them: “My companions! Do you know which month is this? the Holy Prophet (PBUH & HP) said, ‘Sha’ban is my month so fast in it for my love so that you can get closer to Allah.’” (2)
Also, the Holy Prophet (PBUH & HP) said,
The heavens are decorated every Thursday in Sha’ban and the angels tell Allah, ‘O our God! Forgive the ones who fast during this month and answer their call. (3)
He also said,
Anyone who fasts on Mondays and Thursdays of Sha’ban Allah will satisfy twenty needs of them in this world and twenty needs of them in the hereafter. (4)
As you may know, fasting in Ramadan is obligatory, but in Sha’ban it’s not mandatory and yet so recommended. It has also been recommended to fast in the last days of Sha’ban so that the fasting of Sha’ban and Ramadan combine.
Imam Sajjad (AS) said,
The fasting of Sha’ban and Ramadan can meet and if you fast these two months in a row your sins will be forgiven. (5)
Also, Imam Sadiq (AS) said,
Anyone who fasts during the last three days of Sha’ban, Allah will reward them as if they fasted two months in a row (6)
You can say 70 times every day,
اَسْتَغْفِرُاللهَ وَ اَسْئَلُهُ التَّوْبَةَ: I Ask Allah for forgiveness and want him to turn back to me
اللهُمَّ إِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ غَفَرْتَ لَنَا فِيمَا مَضَى مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا فِيمَا بَقِيَ مِنْهُ: O Allah! If you haven’t forgiven us in the past days of Sha’ban, then forgive us in the remaining days of it.
The al-Sha’baniah prayer
The al-Sha’baniah prayer is one of the most popular Shiite prayers. This prayer includes various spiritual subjects and so many points about the attributes of Allah and His love. This prayer is narrated by Imam Ali (AS) and it is said that all the other Imams had always read this prayer during Sha’ban.
You can hear this prayer through this link
There are some practices that are recommended to do before, during, and after our prayers, including;
Salwat is a prayer that you say to remember Prophet Muhammad (PBUH & HP) and his progeny. This is Salawat:
اللهُمّ صَلِّ عَلی مُحَمَّد وَ آلِ مُحَمَّد و عَجِّل فَرَجَهُم
O, Allah! Bless Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad and send their savor sooner
It is recommended to say this prayer before and after every other prayer you say. Imam Sadiq (AS) said,
Anyone who has a wish should start with Salwat, then ask Allah their wish, and after that say Salawat again because Allah is so great that he wouldn’t ignore a praying that is between two accepted prayers because Salawat is always answered by Allah and there is no obstacle for it. (7)
Imam Hussain (AS) said,
The Prophet (PBUH & HP) would always raise his hands for praying like a beggar who wants food. (8)
Imam Sadiq (AS) said,
When my father was sad, he would gather all the women and the children and pray and others would say ‘Amen.’ (9)
The Sha’ban month is a great opportunity for every servant of Allah to get closer to him by praying and doing the aforementioned practices. Actually, this month makes you ready for Ramadan because you can ask Allah for forgiveness in this month and if it is accepted, which is so likely, you will enter the Ramadan month while you are pure of any sin. So, do not lose this chance.
Resources
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.10, pg.493
- Bihar al-Anvar, Allamah al-Majlesi, vol.94, pg.82
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.10, pg.493
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.10, pg.493
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.10, pg.496
- Vasa’il ash-Shia, Sheikh Hurr al-Ameli, vol.10, pg.498
- Al-Kafi, Sheikh Koleini, vol.2, pg.494
- Bihar al-Anvar, Allamah al-Majlesi, vol.90, pg.294
- Al-Kafi, Sheikh Koleini, vol.2, pg.487
There is a question that occupies the minds of many of us; what will remain of us in this world after we are long gone? Have we left this world and the generations followed by us a worthy legacy? Or we will soon be forgotten? Or even worse, we have left so much evilness and destruction that would never be wiped away from the face of this world? Looking at the lives of prominent figures, throughout the history of Islam, we realize how much effort they have put into spreading a valuable message and leaving behind an enduring legacy for future generations. Despite being under the restraint and pressure of the Caliphs of his time, Imam Sadiq (AS), the sixth Imam of Shias and one of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH&HP) grandchildren, has left Muslims with the most considerable amount of religious content which turned into an essential point of reference for them until the present.
In what follows, we will have a look at the life of Imam Sadiq (AS), this praised personality.
Ja'far b. Muhammad b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn b. 'Ali b. Abi Talib (AS), known as Imam Sadiq (AS), was born on April 20, 702, in Medina. His father was Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS), and his mother was Umm Farwa, the daughter of al-Qasim, son of Muhammad b. Abi Bakr [1]. He had the opportunity to spend twelve years of his life with his grandfather, Imam Sajjad (AS), and thirty-one years with his father. His title al-Sadiq, which literally means "truthful," was given to him, since he avoided any direct involvement in the uprisings of his time [2].
Imam Sadiq (AS) had ten children, among whom was Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS), who was born on 745 A.D.
After the martyrdom of Imam Baqir (AS), Imam Sadiq (AS) was chosen as the leader of Shia Muslims, which lasted thirty-four years. The period of Imam Sadiq (AS) 's leadership coincided with the reign of the last five Umayyad caliphs, including Hisham b. 'Abd al-Malik, Valid b. Yazid b. 'Abd al-Malik, Yazid b. Valid b. 'Abd al-Malik, Ibrahim b. Valid b. 'Abd al-Malik and Marwan b. Muhammad.
While Imam Sadiq (AS) witnessed a period of hardship and restrain under the reign of Hisham, after some years due to the weakening of Umayyads, which finally led to the fall of this dynasty, he found the chance to engage in scholarly activities and promote the actual Islamic teachings. He held many secret gatherings and meetings in which up to four thousand people attended, Imam Sadiq (AS) transferred his knowledge to his students, which later quoted many Hadiths from him and turned into authentic sources for future Muslim scholars [3].
After the fall of the Umayyad dynasty, Imam Sadiq (AS) witnessed the rise of Abbasid caliphs and lived during the reign of two of them, including al-Saffah and al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi. During the time of the first Abbasid caliph, al-Saffah, which was a period of instability and social and political upheavals, being engaged mostly in abolishing the remaining of Umayyad dynasty and their followers, provided Imam Sadiq (AS) with an excellent chance to go on with his scholarly and religious efforts and attract as many students as he could.
Nevertheless, with the coming of al-Mansur to the throne, a period of total suppression and severe restraint began. During his realm, people lived in utter terror, and any kind of opposition was punished severely. Therefore, al-Mansur considered Imam Sadiq (AS) and his followers as a threat to his throne, and since Imam Sadiq (AS) was a public figure respected by all the people, he couldn't hurt him directly. So, he tried to weaken Imam's (AS) reputation and social status by enticing his students to engage in a debate with Imam Sadiq (AS) and defeat him. But all their efforts were futile [4].
Al-Mansur made many attempts to bring harm to Imam Sadiq (AS) and summoned him a few times to his court, intending to assassinate him, yet he wasn't successful. Imam Sadiq (AS) generally didn't tend to meet al-Mansur and attend his court. Al-Mansur was offended by Imam Sadiq's (AS) manner and one day asked him, "Why don't you come to meet me in my court like others?" and Imam (AS) answered, "I didn't do anything to be afraid of you, and you don't benefit us in the hereafter so that I would have hope in you. This position of you is not a blessing to be congratulated by me, and you don't find it a disaster to be comforted by me. So why would I attend you?" [5]
During Imam Sadiq's (AS) life, some religious groups formed, which deviated from the true teachings of Islam and Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH&HP) tradition. To oppose these movements and save Islam from such deviations, Imam Sadiq (AS) held many debates with the heads of these groups and tried to bring their falsehood into the light. Or he would send his students to have discussions with them. He always advised his students and followers to be wary of such deviatory movements and cut all ties with them.
As it was mentioned above, Imam Sadiq (AS) enjoyed an excellent opportunity to spread his knowledge among as many people as he could, which resulted in the transmission of a significant number of hadiths from him to the future generation. Therefore, most of the hadiths in fiqh or theology are from Imam Sadiq (AS) [2]. Due to his significant role in spreading the true Islamic teachings, Twelver Shiism is often called Ja'fari School [3]. Moreover, he held many dialogues and debates with theologians and scholars of different sects and religions, and even atheists, in which he managed to prove the authenticity of his stance. Some of the most famous students of Imam al-Sadiq (a) are Zurara b. A'yan, Burayd b. Mu'awiya, Jamil b. Darraj, 'Abd Allah b. Muskan, 'Abd Allah b. Bukayr, Hammad b. 'Uthman, Hammad b. 'Isa, Aban b. 'Uthman, 'Abd Allah b. Sinan, Abu Basir, Hisham b. Salim, Hisham b. al-Hakam.
Imam Sadiq was famous for his piety, knowledge, abundant and devoted worship, and great generosity [7]. It is reported that he spent a significant part of his time praying, fasting, or saying dhikr (remembrance) [8].
Many narrations are reported about his generosity and kind manner toward people who lived in poverty. For instance, "it is reported that the Imam (AS) gave four hundred dirhams to a beggar, and when he thanked the Imam (a), he (a) gave him his ring, which was worth 10,000 dirhams. According to another report, the Imam would put some bread, meat, and money in a bag and would take it to the houses of the poor and divide it among them, without letting them know who he was. Abu Ja'far al-Khath'ami reports that Imam al-Sadiq (a) gave him a bag of money and asked him to give it to someone from Banu Hashim without telling him from where the money was coming. When Abu Ja'far gave the money to that man, he prayed for the sender and told him that this person always sends him money, but Imam al-Sadiq (a) never sends him anything even though he is rich!" [9]
Imam Sadiq (AS) was martyred on 765 A.D. at the age of sixty-three, poisoned by order of al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi. He was buried in the al-Baqi' Cemetery beside his father, Imam Baqir (AS), his grandfather Imam Sajjad (AS), and his uncle Imam Hasan (AS) [10].
References:
- Mufīd, Muḥammad b. Muḥammad al-. Al-Irshād fī maʿrifat ḥujaj Allāh ʿalā l-ʿibād. Vol.2, P.180.
- Pākatchī, Aḥmad. 1389 Sh. "Imām Jaʿfar Ṣādiq (a)". Dāʾirat al-Maʿārif-i Buzurg-i Islāmī 18:180-220.
- Shahīdī, Sayyid Jaʿfar. Zindigānī-yi Imām Ṣādiq Jaʿfar b. Muḥammad (a), p. 47.
- Al-Suyuti, History of the Caliphs, p. 208-209.
- Baha' al-Din 'Ali b. 'Isa al-Irbili, Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma, vol.2, p.208.
- Kulaynī, Muḥammad b. Yaʿqūb al-. Al-Kāfī. vol. 1, p. 79, 80, 171-173.
- Baha' al-Din 'Ali b. 'Isa al-Irbili, Kashf al-ghumma fi ma'rifat al-a'imma, vol.2, p.691.
- Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir, Biḥār al-anwār, vol. 47, p. 16.
- Imam sadiq
- Ibn Shahrāshūb, Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib, vol. 4, p. 210.