Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.s) Kindness To Relatives

Reading Time: 2 minutes

It is narrated in Al-Kafi that Abdullah Mahaz spoke some harsh words to the Imam in the morning. The Imam observed patience and did not reply to any of his statements. When the Imam met him again in the evening, he (the Imam) said with utmost humility, “O Abu Muhammad! Do you know kindness to relatives is a cause for reduction in divine chastisement?” He said, “You always talk of such things that are not accepted by us.” The Imam said, “This statement of mine is testified by the saying of Allah:

And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined and have awe of their Lord and fear the evil reckoning. (Surah Ra’ad 13:21)

After this Abdullah Mahaz acknowledged his mistake and said, “Now you will not find me as one who breaks off relations.”

In the last moments of his life Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s) summoned all the relatives who gathered around him and he made monetary bequests to each of them. He also willed seventy dinars to his cousin Hasan Aftas. A servant of the Imam said, “You are leaving seventy dinars for Hasan Aftas, while he is the same person who had come to assassinate you with a sword.” The Imam became angry at this and said, “Do you want that I should not accord kindness to relatives and not be included among those who are described in the following words by Allah:

And those who join that which Allah has bidden to be joined…(Ibid.)

Know that! I am making bequest of money to Hasan Aftas because the Messenger of Allah (S) has said: The disobedient child and one who breaks-off relations would not smell the fragrance of Paradise, that reaches upto a distance of 2000 years’ travel.”

Reference :Akhlaq al-A’imma, Morals & Manners of the Holy Imams