It is recorded in history that Buraijah Abbasī, who was assigned by al-Mutawakkil the responsibility of leading the Friday prayers in the cities of Madinah and Makkah and was one of his beneficiaries, wrote to al-Mutawakkil: “If you need Makkah and Madinah (and their people and their authorities), order that Ali ibn Muhammad (Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS)) be removed from here, for he is inviting the people towards himself, and many have become his followers.” Buraijah wrote several letters with this content to al-Mutawakkil.
Due to such gossip and false reports, and because al-Mutawakkil was a staunch enemy of Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS) and his ancestors, he sent Yahya ibn Harthama to the presence of Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS) with a letter. The letter read: “I long to see you and request that you come to me.” He also wrote a letter to Buraijah to convey al-Mutawakkil’s request to the Imam.
Yahya ibn Harthama came to Madinah, handed over al-Mutawakkil’s letter to Buraijah, and both of them went together to the presence of Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS) and presented the letter from al-Mutawakkil to him. The Imam (AS) requested a delay of three days, and after the three days had passed, he saddled the horses, packed the belongings, and began heading towards Iraq (the seat of al-Mutawakkil’s government). A number of people and dignitaries from Madinah accompanied Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS) as he left, including Buraijah Abbasī. After traveling some distance, Buraijah turned to the Imam and said: “I know you are aware that I am the one who caused you to be taken to Iraq. I swear that if you complain about me to al-Mutawakkil or any of his close associates or his sons, I will destroy your palm groves, kill your friends, and destroy the springs and canals of your land. I will certainly do these things.”
Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS) turned to Buraijah and said: “As for me, I complain about you to God. When I complain to God, I will never complain about you to anyone among God’s creation.”
Buraijah fell to the ground at the Imam’s feet, crying and pleading for forgiveness. Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS) said: “I forgive you,” and continued on his way…
Thus, although Buraijah had committed a great injustice against Imam Ali al-Naqi (AS), causing his exile and separation from his family and friends (an exile that ultimately led to his martyrdom), the Imam (AS) forgave him and responded to his insolence and threat with composure. This behavior of the Imam (AS) could be seen as a clear example of the verse in the Holy Quran where Allah says: “Practice forgiveness, command what is good, and turn away from the ignorant” [1].
(Source: Ithbat al-Wasiya by Ali ibn Husayn al-Mas’udi, with minor changes and additions)[2]
Footnotes:
[1] Surah Al-A’raf, verse 199
[2] The Persian text is adapted from the translation presented in Seerah-i Ma’soomin by Ali Hojjati Kermani.