A Bedouin Arab came to Imam Hussain (PBUH) and said,” O son of the Messenger of Allah! I owe a huge debt which I cannot afford to pay. I thought with myself that I should ask the most generous person for help. And I did not find anyone more generous than the Ahl al-Bayt of the Messenger of Allah (PBUT).”
The Imam (PBUH) said to the man,” O Arab brother! I will ask you three questions. If you answer one of them, I will give you one third of your debt; if you answer two, I will give you two thirds of your debt; and if you answer all of them, I will give you as much as you owe”.
The Bedouin replied,” O son of the Messenger of Allah! How is it that a person respected and knowledgeable like you asks question from a person like me?”
Imam Hussain (PBUH) said,” Yes, I heard my grandfather say ‘Doing good to someone should be as much as his knowledge”.
The Bedouin said,” Ask whatever you will. If I know the answer, I will respond, and if not, I will learn the answer from you”.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) asked,” What is the best deed?”
The man replied,” Having faith in Allah”.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) said,” What will save people from destruction?”
The man replied,” Trust and reliance on Allah”.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) asked,” What is the ornament of a person?”
The man replied,” Knowledge that is combined with patience and endurance”.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) said,” What if that is not possible?”
The man replied,” Wealth which is combined with generosity and grace”.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) said,” What if that is not possible?”
The man replied,” Poverty which is combined with patience”.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) said,” What if that is not possible?”
The man replied,” A thunder shall come and destroy him; because that is what such a person is worthy of”.
Imam Hussain (PBUH) smiled, took out a pouch which had one thousand gold coins and a ring whose stone was worth two hundred gold coins in it, and offered it to the man and said,” O Bedouin! Give the coins to the people you owe, and use the ring for your personal expenses” (1).
The man took the pouch and said,” Allah best knows where and in which family He places His message (Prophethood)” (2).
(The above is a selection taken from “Durar al-Akhbar”, by Allamah Muhammad Baqir Majlisi)
The Roshd Website congratulates all freemen of the world, especially you dear friend, upon 3rd of Sha’ban, the birthday anniversary of the leader of the freemen and the master of the martyrs, the third Imam of Shiites, Imam Hussain ibn Ali (PBUH).
Footnotes:
1. Jaami al-Akhbar, p. 381
2. It refers to verse 124 of Chapter 6 of the Holy Quran where Allah (SWT) says,” Allah best knows where He places His message”.
