Views on Religious Ethics
As noted earlier, Ja'far al-Sadiq was moderate in his thought, practice, and remarks. He advised his followers to restrain their affection for the Family of the Prophet:
إكقوا هللا، وأحبوا أهل بيت نببكم حبا مقتصدا.[533]
Be conscious of God, and love the Family ofyour Prophet in moderation.
He did not like exaggeration even in such essential components of Shi religious practice as visitation of the tomb of Husayn in Karbala':
حنان ين سديرقال: قلت لأبى عبد هللا: ما تقول في زيارة قبرالحسين فإئه بلغنا عن بعضكم أكه قال: تعدل حجة وعمرة؟ فقال: ما أصعب هذا الحديث! ما تعدل هذا هللا، ولكن زوروه ولا تجفوه، فإئه سبد الشهداء وسبد شباب أهل الحنة وشبيه تجتى ين زكريا وعليهما بمت اسلماء والأرض.[534]
[Hanan b.
Sadir:] I said to Abu 'Abd Allah, “What is your opinion on visiting the grave of Husayn, because we have heard that some of you said it is equivalent to a hajj and an cumra?" He said, “How difficult this hadith is! It does not equate all of that; but visit him and do not neglect him. He is the leader of the martyrs, he is the leader of the youth of the people of paradise, and he resembled Yahya b. Zakariyya, and the heavens and earth wept for both of them.”He usually appeared well dressed in public,[535] including during the hajj, attracting criticism from ascetics and impostors who would tell him that 'All or “your forefathers" used to wear rough, casual clothes. His uniform answer was that their times required what they did, but that their times were different. He said to the Basran 'Abbad b. Kathir:
كان علي في زمان بتقحم ل ما لبس فيه، ولو يبسئ مثل ذاك الراس في زماننا لقال الناس: هذا مراء مثل عباد![536]
In his time, what 'All wore was appropriate for him. If I wear the same clothes in our times, people would say, “He is ostentatious like 'Abbad!"[537]
He said to Sufyan al-Thawri (as variously quoted):
إن آبافي كانوا في زمان مقفر مقئر وهذا زمان قد أرخت الدنيا عزاليها فأحق أهلها ه٠ ٠ ٠ ٠ ٠٠ * “ ** ** ٠٠
بها أرهم.[538]
My forefathers lived in a barren and impoverished era, but the present is a time in which the world has brought forth its riches.
The most entitled to those riches among its people are the righteous ones.إن عجاكان في زمان ضيق. فإذا الشع الزمان فأيرارالزمان أولى به.[539]
'All lived during an era of hardship. If the era becomes more prosperous, the righteous people of that era are the most entitled to [that prosperity].
He reportedly said to a third person:
إن علي ين أبي طال كان ييبس ذلك في زمان لا كتكر ولولبس [أحد] مثل ذلك اليوم تكهربه، فخير, لباس كل زمان لباش أهله.[540]
'All b. Abi Talib used to wear that [kind of clothes] at a time when doing so was not unusual. If someone wore something like that today, he would be seen as odd. The best clothing for each era is the clothing of its people.
And in response to disciples who had worn good clothes and wondered if doing so was acceptable, he said,
إلبس وتجتل فإن هللا جميل يحج، الجمال.[541]
Dress and adorn yourself, for God is beautiful and loves beauty.[542]
إذا أنعم هللا علي عيده بنعمة أحجا أن يراها عله لأنه جميل يحجا الجمال.[543]
If God bestows favors upon his servant, He likes to see them on him[544] because He is beautiful and loves beauty.[545]
جئ حرم زتنة هللا ائي أحرح سابده واليبات مئ الرزفي؟^إن اهللا إذاأنعم علي عبد نعمة أحجا أن رها عله.[546]
Who outlawed the adornment of God and the delights of wealth that He bestowed upon His servants?[547] When God bestows favors upon a servant He likes to see it on him.[548]
إظهارالنعمة أحبا إلى هللا من صيانتها، فاباك أن ئرئ إلاي أحسن زي قومك.[549]
Displaying one's favors is more beloved of God than is safeguarding them.
Beware of being seen except with the best dress of your people.سض قلبك والبس ما شئت.[550]
Purify your heart and wear whatever you wish.[551]
Other statements from Ja'far provide a window onto some of his views about Muslim religious life and the nature of Islamic teachings:
أبو بصير عن أبي عبد الله قال: محك بي أبي وأنا بالطواف، وأنا حدث وقد اجتهدت
ي العبادة، فرآبي وأنا أتصابا عرها فقال لي: بتا جعفرا بتا بايدا إن هللا إذا أحبا عبدا
رئى عنه باليسير.[552]
[Abu Basil:] Abu 'Abd Allah said, “My father passed by me while I was circumambulating [the Ka'ba]. I was young and exerting myself in worship. He saw me dripping with sweat. He said to me, ‘O Ja'far! O my son! When God loves a servant, He will be satisfied with something easy from him.'”[553]
إسماعيل ين بسارقال: سمعت أبا عبد هللا يقول: إن ربكم رحيم ببشكرالقليل.[554]
[Ismal b.
Yasar:] I heard Abu 'Abd Allah say, “Your God is merciful, He lauds even something little.”أبوعبيدة الحذاء قال: سألت أبا عبد الله عن رجل نذرأن تمشي إلى مكة حافيا، فقال: إن رسول هللا - صلى هللا عله وآل وسلم — خرج حاجا فنظرإلى امرأة تمشى بين الإبل، فقال: من هذه؟ فقالوا: أخت عقبة ين عامر، نذرت أن؛نشي إلى مكة حافية. فقال رسول هللا — صلى هللا عله وآل وسلم: يا عقبة! إنطلق إلى أختك فمرها فلهرئب فإن هللا غى عن مشيها وحفاها. قال: فركبت.[555]
[Abu 'Ubayda al-Hadhdha':] I asked Abu 'Abd Allah about a man who vowed to walk to Mecca barefoot.
He said, “The Messenger of God (may God's prayer and peace be upon him and his Family) went out to perform the hajj and saw a woman walking amid the camels. He said, ‘Who is this?' They told him, ‘The sister of 'Uqba b. 'Amir. She vowed to walk to Mecca barefoot.' The Messenger of God (may God's prayer and peace be upon him and his Family) said, ‘O 'Uqba! Go to your sister and order her to ride. God has no need of her walking and being barefoot.' So she rode."[556]سيف التمارقال: قلن لأبي عبد هللا: أي سيء أحج، إليك، تمشي أونرئب [في الحح]؟ قال: ترئبون أحجا إلة، فإتن ذلك أقوى على الدعاء والعبادة,[557]
[Sayf al-Tammar:] I said to Abu 'Abd Allah, 'Which do you prefer we do [during the hajj]: walk or ride?" He said, “I prefer that you ride, for that preserves your strength for supplication and worship.”
زرارة قال: قلت لأبي عبد هللا: علمى دعاء! فقال: إن أفضل الدعاء ما جرى على ه ٠ ٠* م ٠ ٠٠ ه ٠ ه ' عده
كانك.[558]
[Zurara:] I said to Abu 'Abd Allah, “Teach me a supplication!" He said, “The best supplication is what flows [from your mind] to your tongue."
عبد الرجن ين الحجاج قال: كتت عند أبي عبد هللا إذ دخل عله عبد المكل القثي فقال ل: أصلحك هللا! أرسب الماء وأنا قاثم؟ فقال ل: إن شئت٠ قال: فأرسب بنفس واحد؟ قال: إن شئت. قال: أسجد ويدي ي ثوبي؟ فقال: إن شئت. هقال: إى والله ما من هذا وشبهه أخافى علكم.[559]
['Abd al-Rahman b. al-Hajjaj:] I was with Abu 'Abd Allah when 'Abd al-Malik al-Qummi came to him and said, “May God put you on the right path! May I drink water while standing?”[560] He said, “If you wish.” He said, “May I drink it all continuously?”[561] [562] He said, “If you wish.” He said, “May I prostrate [in prayer] with my hands in my garment?”[563] He said, “If you wish.” Then he [Ja'far] said, “By God, I am not worried for you on account of matters of this kind.” مودى ين كر قال: قلت لأبي عبد هللا: إن أصحابنا يقولون إعا يؤخذ الشارب والأظفاريوم الحئعة. قال: سبحان هللا! خذها إن شئت ي يوم الحئعة وإن شئت يسايرالأقام.[564] [Musa b. Bakr:] I said to Abu 'Abd Allah, “Our companions say that mustaches and nails should be trimmed on Friday.”[565] He said, “Praise be to God! If you wish, do it on Friday; if you wish, on any other day.” خاد بن عثمان قال: قتن لأبي عبد هللا: أمخي السفري رسء من الايام المكروهة مثل الأربعاء وغيره؟ قال: افتتح سفرك بالصدقة واخرج إذا بدا كل.[566] [Hammad b. 'Uthman:] I said to Abu 'Abd Allah, “Is traveling on any of the disapproved days, such as Wednesday or the like, religiously discouraged?” He said, “Start your trip by giving charity and depart [on your trip] whenever you wish.”[567] جميل ين درج قال: سألت أبا عبد لله عن قتل الخطاف أوإيذاؤهن ي الخرم فقال: لائقتلن، فإليكتت مع علي ين الخسين فراني وأنا أوذيهن فقال لي: يا بي! لاتقتلهن ولا تؤذهن فإذهنلاذؤينشيئا.™ [Jamil b. Darraj:] I asked Abu 'Abd Allah about killing or harming swallows in the sacred precinct. He said, “They may not be killed. I was [as a child] with [my grandfather] 'Ali b. al-Husayn [Zayn al-'Abidin] and he saw me harassing them, so he said to me: ‘O my son! Do not kill or harass these [birds], for they do not harm anything.'” عتار بن مودى عن أبي عبد الله قال: سألنه عن الخطاف فقال ذلا بأس به، هو متا يحز أكهل، لكن كره لأنه استجاربك وواي مهزلك. وكل طيربتجيربك فأجره.555 [568] ['Ammar b. Musa:] I asked Abu 'Abd Allah about [the lawfulness of eating the flesh of] the swallows. He said, “There is nothing wrong with that; it is lawful to eat, but it is discouraged because it seeks refuge with you and comes to your house. Give protection to any bird that seeks refuge with you.” عن أني عبد لله: من أقرن عند تجريد أو تخويف أو حبس أو تهديد فلا حد عليه.[569] Abu 'Abd Allah said, “Hadd punishments do not apply to someone who admits [wrongdoing] in the face of [bodily] exposure, fear, imprisonment, or threat.” معاوية ين عتارقال: سألت أبا عبد الله عن الثياب السابرة بملها المجوس. ألبسها ولاأغسلها وأصلي فيها؟ قال: نعم! قال معاوية: فقطعت هل قميصا ورداة من الساري ثم بثت بها إليه ي يوم جمعة حين ارتفع النهار. فكأهل عرف ما أريد فخرج فيها إلى الجمعة.[570] [Mu'awiya b. 'Ammar:] I asked Abu 'Abd Allah about saburi clothes,[571] made by Magians, as to whether I may wear them without washing them and then pray in them. He said, “Yes!" [Muawiya said:] I cut a shirt and cloak for him from saburi [cloth] and sent them to him on a Friday in the late morning. It was as if he noted what I meant and came out wearing them to the Friday prayer. سفيان ين خال عن أبي عبد هللا: أئه كان بيحلى ذات يوم إذ مر زجل قدامه وابنه موس جالس، قلمتا انصي قال ل ابنه: بتا أبه! ما رأيت الرجل مر قدامك؟ فقال: بتا بئ.١ إدا الذي أصلى ل أقرب إل من الذي مرقدام.[572] [Sufyan b. Khalid:] Once when Abu 'Abd Allah was praying, a man passed in front of him while his son Musa was sitting there. When [Abu 'Abd Allah] finished, his son said to him, “O father! Did you not see the man pass in front of you?"[573] He said, “O my son! The One I pray to is closer to me than the one who passed in front of me.” جميل ين دراج قال: سمعت أبا عبد هللا يقول: إذا تزوج العبد الحرة فولده أحراروإذا تزوج الحرالأمة فولده أحرار.[574] [Jamil b. Darraj:] I heard Abu 'Abd Allah say “If a slave marries a free woman, his children are free; and if a free man marries a slave woman, his children are free.”[575] 560 561 562 563 عبد الله بن سنان قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله يقول: كان أميرالمؤمنين يقول: إن الناس كلهم أحرارإلا من أقلن على نفسه بالعبودية وهو مدرك، من عبد أوأمة، ومن سهد عله بالرق صغير كان أوكبير.[576] ['Abd Allah b. Sinan:] I heard Abu 'Abd Allah say “The Commander of the Faithful ['Ah] used to say All human beings are free[577] except someone, male or female, who acknowledges, while of legal capacity, that he or she is a slave and someone, whether a child or an adult, who is legally proven to be a slave through witness testimony.'” كر٦ ين محتد الأزدي قال: دخلت، على أبي عبد الله ومى على ين عبد العزز، فقال لى: س ” هلى ٠٠٠ ض * جة * ٠٠؛ من هذا؟ فقتى: مولى لنا. فقال: أعتقتموه أوأباه؟ فقتى: بل أباه. فقال: ليس هذا مولاك. هذا أخوك واين عتك. وإثما المولى هو الذي جرت عله النعمة، فإذا جرت على أيه فهذا أخوك وابن عمك.[578] [Bakr b. Muhammad al-Azdi] I came upon Abu 'Abd Allah with 'Ah b. 'Abd al-'Aziz. The Imam said to me, “Who is this?” I said, “A client of ours.” He said, “Did you manumit him or his father?” I said, “His father.” He said, “This is not your client. He is your brother and cousin. A client is one who received the favor [of manumission], but if it was his father who received the favor [of manumission], then this one is your brother and cousin.” سماعة قال: قال أبو عبد هللا: إن هللا عز وجل فوض إلى المؤمن أموره كلها ولم يفوض إله أن بتذل نفسه« أما نسمع قول هللا عرو جل يقول: تزولل اصؤه ولرسوله وللئو^؟ فالمؤمن يتبنى أن بمون عزينا ولابمون ذلة"5 [Sama'a b. Mihran:] Abu 'Abd Allah said, “God, the Mighty and Majestic, delegated to the believer authority over all his own affairs, but he did not give him authority to humiliate himself. Did you not hear God, the Mighty and Majestic, say ‘Honor belongs to God and to His Messenger and the believers'?558 A believer should be honorable, not humiliated.” اين أبي يعفورعن أبي عبد هللا قال: قلت ل: إي أريد أن أتزوج إمر وإن أبوي أردا غيرها« قال: تزوج اني هوب ودع الني يهوى أبواك«559 [Ibn Abi Ya'fur:] I said to Abu 'Abd Allah, “I want to marry a [certain] woman, but my parents want someone else [for me].” He said, “Marry the one that you fancy and leave alone the one that your parents like.” مصادف عن أبى عبد الله قال: رجل إمرأه خيرمن رجل«570 [Musadif:] Abu 'Abd Allah said, “Many a woman is better than a man.” حبيب الخثعمي قال: سمعت ابا عبد هللا يقول: أحبوا للناس ما تحبون لأنفسكم.[579] [580] [581] [582] [583] [Habib al-Khath'ami:] I heard Abu 'Abd Allah say, “Love for others what you love for yourself.”[584] عجلان ين صالح قال أبوعبد هللا: أنصف الناس من نفسك وواسهم من ماكل وارض لهم ما ترضى لنفسك.[585] [Alan b. Salih:] Abu 'Abd Allah said, “Treat people in the same way that you deem fair for yourself; help them with your money, and be happy for them with what you are happy with for yourself.” Finally, a couple of witty responses from Ja'far that illustrate his sense of humor:[586] أبوبصيرقال: قلت لأبى عبد الله إن عيس بن 'أعين يشك في الصلاة فيعيدها. فقال: هل ببقك في الزكاة فيعطيها مجن؟[587] [Abu Basir:] I reported to Abu 'Abd Allah that 'Isa b. A'yan has doubts about [his correct performance of] his prayers, so he often repeats them. He said, “Does he ever have doubts about his zakat and pay it twice?!”[588] محتد ين مسلم قال: قلت لأبى عبد هللا: في كم ئقطع السارق؟ قال: في ربع دينار. قال: قتا ل: في درهمين؟ فقال: في رع دينار، بعل الدينار ما بعل. فقتا ل: أرأيت من سرق أقل من رع دينار هل يفع عله حين مرق اسم المعارق؟ وهل هوعند هللا سارق في تكل الحال؟ فقال: كل من سرق من مسلم شيئا قد حواه وأحرزه فهويقع عله اسم السارق وهوعند هللا سارق، ولكن لائقطع إلافي رع دينار أوأكير. ولوقطعت أبتدي الغراق في ما هوأقل من رع دينارلألغيت عاقلة الناس مقطعين.577 [Muhammad b. Muslim:] I said to Abu 'Abd Allah, 'What is the [minimum] amount [of a stolen good] for which the thief incurs amputation?” He said, “A quarter of a dinar.” I said to him, “How about two dirhams?” He said, “For a quarter of a dinar, whatever the dinar is worth.” I said to him, 'What is your position on someone who steals less than a quarter of a dinar: Is he to be called a thief for stealing? And is he a thief before God in such circumstances?" He said, “Anyone who steals something from a Muslim that is owned and protected is called a thief and is a thief before God. However, he is not subject to amputation of the hand except for a quarter of a dinar or more. If the hands of thieves were amputated for less than a quarter of a dinar, then you would find almost everyone with amputated hands!" يونس ن يوسف قال: كنت يع أبي عبد الله في الججر فاستسق فاق يقدح من صغر، فقال ل رجل إدن عباد ين كثير كره الثرب في صفر. فقال: ألا سألته ذهب هو أم فضبة؟![589] [Yunus b. Yusuf:] I was with Abu 'Abd Allah in the hijr [of Isma'il, a space adjacent to the Ka'ba where the pilgrims sit]. He asked for water and was brought some in a cup made of brass. A man told him that 'Abbad b. Kathir disliked drinking from brass. He said, “Did you not ask him whether brass is gold or silver?!"[590] حماد بن عثمان قال: بعثي عمرين يزيد إلى أق جعفرالأحول يدرهم وقال قل ل: إن أراد أن يحخ يه فيحخ وإن أراد أن ينفقها فينفقها. قال: فأنفقها ولم يحخ. فذكر ذلك أصحابتا لأق عبد لله فقال: وجدتم الشيخ فقيها![591] [Hammad b. 'Uthman:] 'Umar b. Yazid sent me to Abu Ja'far al-Ahwal[592] with some money and told me tell him he has a choice to use it either for the hajj or for himself. He used the money for himself and did not perform the hajj. Our companions mentioned this to Abu 'Abd Allah, who said, “You found the shaykh to be intelligent!"