“Indeed, he wrote this letter for his companions and instructed them to read it to one another, reflect upon it, renew their commitment, and act upon its content [1].”
The late Kulayni, in his esteemed book Al-Kafi, narrates the recommendations of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) delivered in the form of a letter to the Shia community. The points mentioned in this letter are of such significance that Imam (peace be upon him), before delving into the contents, urged the Shia to read it to one another, reflect deeply, repeatedly renew their commitment, and act upon the principles outlined in this epistle. In one section of the letter, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) instructs his followers to “show courtesy towards the people of falsehood.”
“Behave with courtesy (gentleness and forbearance) towards the people of falsehood and endure their oppression [2].”
The term mujamala signifies interacting with beauty and grace, implying a mutual and reciprocal relationship. This reciprocity suggests that when one treats the people of falsehood with kindness, such interaction might influence the other party as well. Even if the initial response from the opposing side lacks propriety, continued courteous interaction can potentially lead to the development of a mutual, graceful relationship. Imam (peace be upon him) calls upon believers to commit themselves to beautiful conduct with their opponents, for the ultimate goal of the prophets’ mission is nothing but the guidance of humanity—a goal that is achieved through exemplary character.
The lives of the Infallibles (peace be upon them) abound with instances of kind treatment towards opponents, each carrying its own moral lessons. The approach of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), who was the epitome of divine mercy, in dealing with the adherents of falsehood is particularly noteworthy. For example, even after the strength of the Muslim community had increased and the Prophet had access to extensive resources, whenever he passed by a Jewish man, he would greet him and inquire about his well-being. One day, the Prophet learned that this man had fallen ill. The Prophet (peace be upon him) went to visit him. This act of kindness eventually led the man to embrace faith before his death.
After urging believers to treat opponents with kindness, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) continues, saying, “Endure their oppression.” The term zaym signifies oppression and harm. In this context, it means that believers must exhibit patience and gentleness in the face of adversities they might encounter and endure the hardships of this path. Just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), when cursed by a group, stoned, or insulted, prayed for their guidance and supplicated to God on their behalf [3].
Indeed, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) was a product of the same tradition where God addresses the Prophet in the following manner:
“And indeed, you are of a great moral character [4].”
Truly, it is only by adhering to these moral subtleties that Muslims can align their conduct with the ethical ideals envisioned by Islam.
(Adapted from the book “Imam Sadiq’s Lesson Manual”, authored by Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, with slight modifications.)
Footnotes:
[1] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, Page 2
[2] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, Page 595
[3] Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 11, Page 298
[4] Surah Al-Qalam, Verse 4