THE HOLY QURAN – PART 45

IMAM AL-HADI (A.S.) & THE HOLY QURAN- (SECTION 1)

HAFIDH & ‘AALIM OF QURAN IN CHILDHOOD

Imam Ali al-Hadi (as) assumed the official role of Imamate at a very young age of 7 or 8 years. At that tender age, he (as) had become a point of reference for the Muslims. People would refer to him and seek his guidance in almost everything pertaining to their lives. When the enemies of Ahlul-Bayt (as) saw this, they were displeased with the situation. So, in conjunction with the government of the time, which was in opposition of Ahlul-Bayt (as), they began looking for a person who was the most knowledgeable of the time yet a sworn enemy of Ahlul-Bayt (as) so that Imam al-Hadi (as) is put under his care for training and the Muslims, particularly the Shia’hs do not get any access to him.

Finally, ‘Ubaydullah Junaydi, a prominent scholar from ‘Iraq and a sworn enemy of Ahlul-Bayt (as) was appointed for the task. ‘Ubaydullah took our Imam (as) into his care and did not allow any Shia’h to visit him. This way, the guidance of Imam al-Hadi (as) was suspended for his Shia’hs.

One day a person came to ‘Ubaydullah Junaydi and asked him, “How is the Hashimite servant doing?” Junaydi, a sworn enemy of Ahlul-Bayt (as) became extremely furious with the man and said to him, “Do not call him a Hashimite servant for he is not a servant but a leader of Banu Hashim. By Allah! Despite his young age, he is more knowledgeable than I am. People think that I am disciplining him but the truth is that he is disciplining me. I swear by Allah! He is not only the Hafidh of Quran but also possesses its knowledge. To be precise, he is the best of all on the face of this earth”.

                                                                         (Al-Dam’ah al-Saakibah)

PREDICTING THE DEATH OF MUTAWAKKIL

The people of Madayin wrote to Imam Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi (as) inquiring from him about the period of Mutawakkil’s rule. Imam (as) responded through the following verse of the Holy Quran: “You will sow for seven consecutive years. The leave in the ear whatever (grain) you harvest, except a little you eat. Then after that there will come seven hard years which will eat up whatever you have set aside for them – all except a little which you preserve (for seed). Then after that will come a year wherein the people will be granted relief and provided with rains therein”. (12:47-49) Therefore, Mutawakkil was killed in 115 AH.

                                                                                         (Quran-o-‘Itrat)