A Brief Introduction of Imam Sadiq (A.S)
Fulfilling the People’s Demands
Fulfilling the public demands and helping people is a common practice among the followers of the Infallible Imams that bring about consolidation of relationships in the Muslim societies. The Infallible Imams such as Imam Sadiq (A.S) have stressed on serving the public and meeting the public demands in word and action.
Imam Sadiq (A.S) has recommended his Shia followers to serve the people: «يابن جندب الماشي في حاجه اخيه كالساعي بين الصفا و المروه و قاضي حاجته كالمشحط في سبيل الله يوم بدر و احد و ما عذب الله امه الا عند استهانتهم بحقوق فقراء اخوانهم؛ “You son of Jondab! He who helps his religious brother is like the one who has performed his ritual between Safa and Marva. He who meets the demands of his religious brothers deserves the rank of those martyred in the battles of Badr and Uhud. God has never punished a nation unless people become indifferent towards the rights and demands of their religious brothers.”
He continues: “You son of Jondab! Tell our Shia brothers that they must be careful not to be derailed by the deviants. I swear by God the obedience of Infallible Imams shall not be possible but through piety and by helping religious brothers (by sacrificing life and property) in the cause of God. He who oppresses and suppresses his Muslim brother does not belong to our Shia community.”
It is important to know why despite all these recommendations and expectations the precepts of Shiism have sunk into oblivion. Sympathy, cooperation and collaboration, and rendering services to the people are among the distinctive features of Shia Muslims. Imam Sadiq (A.S) says: “Truly our Shia brothers are known for several manners such as fulfilling the demands of the needy and poor.”
This is what all Infallible Imams expect from their followers. Imam Sadiq’s father Imam Baqir (A.S) has also expressed the same expectation from his followers. One day a person told Imam Baqir (A.S) “Thanks to God, your Shia followers are great in number.” Imam cast a meaningful glance at him and said: “Do those you claim to be our Shia followers observe the following? Do the rich meet the demands of the poor and take care of their needs? Do the elders and pious persons forgive the faults of those individuals you say Shia brothers, or punish them more than what needed? Do they express sympathy with their religious brothers? Do they share their sorrows and joys?” The man, hearing all these, felt ashamed and said “No, they do not possess these qualities.”
The Imam said: “They people are not among our Shia followers. Shia is the one who observes what I said.”
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
Imam Sadiq in others' Views
Imam Jafar Sadiq's Contribution To The Sciences
The Characteristic distinctions of Imam Jafar as Sadiq (A.S)
Different Aspects of Imam Sadiq's (PBUH) Imamate
