One of the best ways to understand an\nideology is to observe the intellect within it. If an ideology is able to\ndeliver scholars to the society, then it shows the value and capability of such\nideology in growth and enlightens intellects in the society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historians have reported that over\n4000 scholars studied in the school of Imam Sadiq (PBUH). Each student would\nstudy a particular subject and specialize in. As an example: \u201cHamran Ibn \u201cAyan\u201d\nstudied Qur\u2019anic recitation, \u201cAban Ibn Taqlib\u201d studied Arabic Literature,\n\u201cZarareh\u201d studied Jurisprudence, \u201cMu\u2019min Taaq\u201d studied theology, \u201cHamza Tayyar\u201d\nstudied Predestination and Free choice, \u201cHesham Ibn Salem\u201d studied Divine Unity\nand \u201cHesham Ibn Hakam\u201d studied Imamate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite his young age, Hisham Ibn\nHakam was very respected by Imam Sadiq (PBUH). Hesham had sought different\nsects until he found what he was looking for in Imam Sadiq\u2019s (PBUH) school of\nthought. Hesham was spectacular in debates with different sects; many scholars\nconsidered him an eminent intellectual. His debates with Jatheeq Nasrani (the\ngreatest Christian scholar in the Arab world at the time) on the subject of\nChristian theology and with Nazzam about the everlasting feature of the\nhereafter are very popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon the martyrdom anniversary of Imam\nSadiq (PBUH) who was the great teacher of Hesham, it would be nice to review an\nexcerpt of Hesham\u2019s debates with a Sunni scholar named \u201cZerar Bin \u2018Amro (Abaa\n\u2018Amro)\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once \u201cZerar Bin \u2018Amro\u201d came to visit\n\u201cYahya Ibn Khalid Barmaki\u201d (1). Yahya asked: \u201cAbaa \u2018Amro! Would you be\ninterested in a debate about a Shiite belief?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zerar responded: \u201cBring whoever you\nwant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yahya ordered to call upon Hesham Ibn\nHakam. After his entrance, Yahya told him: \u201cO Aba Muhammad! This is Zerar. You\nare aware of his strength in theology and you know that he does not agree with\nyou in beliefs. Talk to him about Imamate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hesham said: \u201cAlright\u201d and turned to\nZerar and said: What is the scale of accepting or denying ones friendship, is\nit by appearance or inner self?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Zerar:\nObviously, it is not possible to know what is in the hearts of people other\nthan by divine inspiration, so we can only know by what is apparent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hesham: True. But now say which of the two defended the\nHoly Prophet more, and drew his sword more often, killing more of the enemies\nof the Lord, being more effective in the Holy Wars? Ali ibn Abi Talib or the first caliph? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Zerar:\nObviously, Ali ibn Abi Talib has served more, but Abu Bakr had a higher degree\nof faith and assurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hesham: Assurance is an innate matter\nwhich as you already said, innate matters cannot be proven, and as you said we\nshall not talk about that. But according\nto what you confirmed, Ali ibn Abi Talib had a higher status in what was\napparent. He had a higher virtue in the\nconcept of leadership that the first caliph did not have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zerar: Yes, apparently it is so, and\nwe accept this appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hesham: Now if the appearance is one\nwith the heart, wouldn\u2019t this be an even better virtue?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zerar: Indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hesham: Have you not heard what the\nprophet said to Ali (PBUH)? \u201cYou are to me as Harun is to Musa. With the\ndifference that there is no prophet after me.\u201d2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zerar: I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hesham: Would it seem suitable for the\nprophet to say such a thing about a person if he didn\u2019t know whether that\nperson has true faith or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zerar: No it would not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hesham: So the appearance and inner\nself of Ali (PBUH) is equal. [And it now proven that that which is a\nrequirement for leadership, whether apparent or innate has been has been in Ali\nibn Abi Talib]. But this matter does not hold true for your leader. The innate does not match the apparent as\nmuch and praise is for Allah (SWT) only. (3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom the book Hisham ibn al-Hakam; Defender of Divine Leadership\u201d, by Sayyed\nAhmad Safayeee, with minor changes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd offers condolences to all\nMuslims, especially you dear friend, upon 25th of Shawwal, the anniversary of\nthe martyrdom of the sixth Imam of Shiites, the discoverer of realities and the\ntruthful Imam, Imam Ja\u2019far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(We humbly\napologize for the delay in sending out this note.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1-Yahya ibn\nKhalid Barmaki, advisor to Harun al-Rashid Abbasi who had a role in the making\nhim a caliph. In the beginnings of his\nrule, Harun appointed him as his advisor and gave him his ring. Tarikh al-Rosol wal Moluk, p. 5231. He was\nthe first advisor who was also called an Amir, Alwuzara\u2019 wal-ketab, p. 229.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2-This narration\nhas been reported in various Sunni and Shia sources, including: Shia sources: Usul kafi, vol. 8, p. 107;\nAmali Tousi pp. 171 and 253; Irshad, vol. 1, pp. 8 and 156; Khesal, vol. 1, p.\n311.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sunni Sources: Sahih Bukhari, vol. 5,\np. 19, #3706; Sahih Muslim, vol. 4, p. 1870, # 2404; Musnad Ahmad, vol. 3, p.\n160, #1608; Sunnan ibn Majeh, vol. 1, p. 45, #121; Sunnan Tirmidhi, vol. 6, p.\n88, #3730…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the best ways to understand an ideology is to observe the intellect within it. If an ideology is able to deliver scholars to the society, then it shows the value and capability of such ideology in growth and enlightens intellects in the society. Historians have reported that over 4000 scholars studied in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[21770,21769,19,20151,18418,19238,17873,19251,19683],"class_list":["post-4434","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2014-08-22","tag-a-ray-from-the-sun-shine","tag-christian","tag-imam-sadiq","tag-occasion-letters","tag-school","tag-shia","tag-society","tag-value"],"yoast_head":"\n