The price of wheat and bread was rising day by day in Media. Citizens were therefore overtaken by bewilderment and anxiety. Anyone who had not stored wheat for the year use would try hard to provide and stock it, and those who had enough were conserving their supply. There were also the poor who needed to purchase their wheat from bazaar on day to day basis.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (PBUH) called the man in-charge of his house, named Muattab and asked him: “How much wheat do we have at present?”

Muattab replied: “Sir, we have enough to last us for several months.”

 “Take it to the bazaar and offer all for sale to the people”, instructed the Imam.

“Oh! Son of the Prophet! Wheat is very scarce in Medina. If we sell our stock, perhaps it would be impossible to purchase later.” advised the care-taker.

”Do as I have said (Sell all our stock to the people).” replied Imam.

Muattab, did as he was told and sold all the wheat. He reported the result to his master.

Next, the Imam ordered him: “Henceforth, buy the requirement of his house on day to day basis. The bread of my household must not be different from that of the masses. The bread from now must be half wheat and half barley. By the grace of Almighty I have the strength to easily provide my house with bread made from pure wheat. However, I am not doing so, because I want to keep my life in a moderate status before Allah for compassionating, assisting people, and seeking equality with them in my household’s expenses.(1)

(The above is a selection taken from, “Anecdotes of Pious Men”, by the Martyr Scholar Murtada Mutahhari)

Roshd Website congratulates all Muslims, especially you dear friend, on the 17th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, the birth anniversary of Imam Sadiq (PBUH), the source of knowledge, and the manifestation of divine commandments.

Footnotes:

1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 47, p. 59