“And those (people of understanding) who maintain the ties that Allah has commanded to be maintained, and fear their Lord, and dread the severity of the reckoning [1].”
When an individual hears logical and eloquent speech from someone, they naturally desire to see alignment between that person’s words and actions. Such consistency enhances the speaker’s credibility. Unfortunately, in many cases, beautiful words are abundant, but actions fall short. A similar concept applies to educating and nurturing others; one can only effectively assume the role of a teacher or mentor when they themselves adhere to the teachings in practice. Reviewing the behavior of the Imams (peace be upon them) reveals notable examples of this principle, such as the story of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) and his cousin.
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) entrusted Abu Ja’far Khath’ami—a trustworthy companion of his—with a pouch of money to deliver to one of his cousins from the Banu Hashim. The Imam instructed Abu Ja’far, “Keep this matter confidential.”
When Abu Ja’far handed the money to the Imam’s cousin, the man exclaimed: “May Allah reward the one who sent this money! Every year, he provides us with such a sum, and it sustains us until the next year. But as for Ja’far ibn Muhammad (Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him), despite his wealth, he does not give me even a single dirham [2].”
A similar incident is recounted during the time of the Imam’s passing:
When the Imam’s death was imminent, he ordered seventy dinars to be given to Hasan ibn Ali Aftas, one of his relatives. Someone present asked, “Will you give wealth to a man who once attacked you with a sword, intending to kill you?”
In response, the Imam said:
“Woe to you! Have you not read:
‘And those (people of understanding) who maintain the ties that Allah has commanded to be maintained, and fear their Lord, and dread the severity of the reckoning [3].’
Indeed, Allah created Paradise and infused it with a delightful fragrance that can be perceived from a distance of a thousand years, but this fragrance will not reach those who are disobedient to their parents or those who sever ties of kinship [4].”
These examples demonstrate that Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of maintaining family ties, even when his relatives exhibited unkindness towards him. Yet, he fulfilled the divine command regarding them. The Imam’s actions, alongside his words about Paradise and its blessings, highlight the significance of maintaining connections with one’s relatives and how neglecting such ties can distance a person from Allah’s boundless mercy.
(Adapted from the book “Guides of the Path of Light – The Life of Imam Ja’far Sadiq (peace be upon him),” authored by Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Taqi al-Modarresi, with additions.)
Footnotes:
[1] Surah Ar-Ra’d, Verse 21
[2] Al-Imam Al-Sadiq, authored by Allama Muzaffar, pp. 251–255
[3] Surah Ar-Ra’d, Verse 21
[4] Allama Majlisi explains parental disobedience as: “Disrespect towards them, hurting them through actions or words, or opposing them in matters that are deemed reasonable and permissible by intellect and Sharia.”
[5] Al-Imam Al-Sadiq, authored by Allama Muzaffar, pp. 251–255