Abu Abdillah Imam Ja’far Sadiq once proved to the Ahle Tasannun Imam Abu Hanifah through two verses of the Holy Quran that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) grants sustenance to everyone in this world. These Quranic verses also answer those who raise objections against the Shias for directly asking their needs from the Holy Ahl al-Bait (peace be on them).
The incident goes like this –
“Once Abu Hanifah was eating food along with Imam Sadiq, Ja’far Ibn Muhammad (peace be on him). When Imam Sadiq (peace be on him) raised his hands after completing his food, he expressed:
‘All Praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds! O Allah, this is from You and Your Messenger (peace be on him and his progeny)!’
Abu Hanifah objected, ‘O Abaa Abdillah! Have you associated a partner with Allah?’ – he questioned the Imam (peace be on him) for associating the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) as a partner with Allah in granting sustenance.
Imam (peace be on him) retorted, ‘Woe unto you! Surely Allah, the High, says in His Book
وَ ما نَقَمُوا إِلَّا أَنْ أَغْناهُمُ اللهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ
“And they did not find fault except because Allah and His Messenger have enriched them (Muslims) out of His Grace.” [Surah Taubah (9): Verse 74]
And He says at another place
وَ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا ما آتاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ قالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَ رَسُولُهُ
“And if they were content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them, and had said: Allah is sufficient for us; Allah will soon give us (more) out of His Grace as well as His Messenger” [Surah Taubah (9): Verse 59]
Upon hearing these two verses, Abu Hanifah surprisingly expressed, “By Allah, it seems as if I have never read or heard these verses from the Book of Allah except now.”
Notes:
A few significant conclusions from this incident are as follows:
- The surprise of Abu Hanifah is proof that merely reading the Holy Quran and understanding it are two very different things
- Some may outrightly deny this incident for reasons best known to them. However, they cannot deny the two verses that Imam Sadiq (peace be on him) quoted to prove that whoever received sustenance in this world was through the grace of Allah and the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny). Hence, there is no harm in directly asking the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) for sustenance and other needs.
- While departing from this world, the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) commanded us to hold fast unto Thaqalain viz. Holy Quran and his progeny, the Holy Ahl al-Bait (peace be on them all). Therefore, just as the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his progeny) was the Divine Proof and the sustainer of the creation during his time, after him, his successors from his progeny are the sustainers of the creation.
- This also proves that calling out “Ya Ali Madad (O Ali help me!)” or “Ya Saaheb-az-Zamaan Adrikni (O Imam of the time, reach out for my help)” is not polytheism. Rather this is true Monotheism (Tauheed). Whoever denies this, has indeed denied the Holy Quran and Allah’s religion.
References:
- Kanz al-Fawaaed, vol. 2, p. 36
- Wasaael al-Shia, vol. 24, p. 351, H. 30752
- Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 10, p. 216, H. 17