Perhaps no one imagined that such a friendship would be broken, and that the two, who were always together, would one day part ways. People knew one of them by his friend’s name more than by his own. Often, when they referred to him, they didn’t pay attention to his actual name and simply said, “The companion of Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him).”
On that day, as usual, he was with Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), and they entered the shoemakers’ market.
His Black servant was also with him that day, walking behind him. In the middle of the market, he suddenly looked behind him but did not see his servant. After a few more steps, he looked back again, but still could not find him. For the third time, he turned around, and still, there was no sign of the servant, who had become distracted by the surroundings and had fallen behind.
When he turned his head for the fourth time and saw him, he angrily cursed his mother and said, “Where were you?”
As soon as these words left his mouth, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) raised his hand in astonishment and struck his forehead, saying, “Subhan Allah! You curse his mother? You accuse his mother of wrongdoing? I thought you were a pious and god-fearing man. Now I realize that there is no piety or godliness in you.”
The man, greatly shaken, replied, “O son of the Messenger of God! This servant and his mother are from the city of Sind. You know that the people of that city are not Muslims. His mother was not a Muslim woman, so I did not speak falsely about her.”
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), displeased, said, “Whether or not his mother was Muslim, every people has their own traditions and laws regarding marriage. When they act according to those traditions and laws, their children are considered legitimate.”
Imam (peace be upon him) then said to him, “Stay away from me now.”
After this incident, no one saw Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) walking with him again, until death completely separated them.[1]
But truly, why did Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) sever his friendship with this man? The answer can be found in the words of the Imam himself:
“One of the signs of a partner of Satan, which leaves no doubt, is that a person is accustomed to cursing, and does not care what is said or what he hears.”[2]
Thus, the man who curses chose the companionship of Satan, and friendship with such a person is never appropriate for a true believer.
Let us be careful not to become companions of Satan…
(Adapted from the book “The Story of the Righteous,” by: “Martyr Morteza Motahari” (with some modifications and additions))
Footnotes:
[1] Usul al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 324 – Wasa’il al-Shia, Volume 2, Page 477
[2] Usul al-Kafi, Volume 2, Page 323