A man from Sham with vast knowledge stopped by Imam al-Sadiq (as) to examine his companions during his existence. At that time, the Imam (as) was at the Holy House of Allah (SwT) and he stayed in his camp in the way of the shrine. Then the Syrian man said: “I am a man of theology, jurisprudence and instruction and I came to have a debate with your companions.”
Imam (as) asked the following question: “Is that theology from the one of the Holy Prophet, Allah’s blessing and peace be to him and his family, or from yourself?”
The Syrian man started telling: “Some are from that of the Holy Prophet, Allah’s blessing and peace be to him, and some are from myself.”
Imam (as) answered him, saying: “So, aren’t you the participant of the Prophet, Allah’s blessing and peace be to him and his family?”
“No,” he answered.
“Is your obeying necessary as well as that of the Holy Prophet, Allah’s blessing and peace be to him?”
“No”
The Syrian man was confused and did not give a reply as the Imam (as) has closed all the paths in front of him. Then the Imam (as) turn to Younus who was among the most sincere companions, saying: “O Younus! He is the enemy of himself before starting his talk. If you were good in theology, I would ask you to talk with him.”
The Imam (as) asked Younus to go out and bring those companions of the Imam (as) who were among the theologians to debate the Syrian man. He found Hamran ibn Ayun, Muhammad Ibn Numan al-Ahwal, Husham ibn Salim and Qays al-Mahir. He informed them about the order and they hurried towards the Imam (as).
Husham ibn al-Hakam entered. The Syrian man debated Hamran and overcame him. Then he debated most of the students of the Imam (as) and they couldn’t reject his doubts. Husham confronted him and the Syrian man told him: “Do you allow me to debate with you around this – pointing to Imam al-Sadiq (as)?”
Husham was extremely angry and said the following to him: “Inform me Mr. This, who is kinder: Allah (SwT) for his creatures or the creatures for themselves?”
The Syrian man answered: “Of course Allah (SwT) is kinder to his creatures.”
Husham went on preparing an absolute reason to make the Syrian man silent and he said: “What do you think He does for their religion?”
The Syrian man answered: “He obligated them, provided signs and reasons for them for what they were obligated to perform and removed in that case their pretences.”
Husham went on saying: “What is this reason that He specified for them?”
He replied: “The reason and sign is the Holy Prophet, Allah’s blessing and peace be to him and his family.”
Husham said: “What else? Other than the Holy Prophet (S)?”
“The Holy Book and the Sunnah,” the Syrian man replied.
Husham started to complete his reasoning by his profuse logic, saying: “Did the Book and the Customs assist us today in what we are debating in order to solve this dissimilarity and reach an agreement?”
“Yes,” he answered.
Husham took the control of the debate, saying: “So why are we disagreeing while you came from Sham to express your enmity and claim that you are on the Guided Path of the religion whilst you have confessed that different opinions would not be agreed upon a single idea?”
The Syrian man became confused and did not reply. Husham has already closed all the ways in front of him. Imam al-Sadiq (as) disagreed with this silence and said: “Why aren’t you speaking?”
The Syrian man expressed his confusion and disability in answering, saying: “If I say we do not disagree, I will lie and if I say that the Book and the Customs would remove this disagreement, I will make wrong, because they carry different point of views. But I have the same against you.”
Imam (as) said to him the following: “Ask him! You’ll find the answer.”
The Syrian man started his reasoning after he setup his mind, saying: “Who is kinder for the creature, their Allah (SwT) or themselves?”
That was the same starting point that Husham used for his reasoning. Then Husham said: “Of course, Allah (SwT) is kinder.”
The Syrian man said: “Doesn’t He appoint someone or something to unite their words and get rid of the differences in order to distinguishing between truth and falsity?”
Husham said: “Yes”
“Who is that?” the Syrian man said.
Husham set forth his evident reasoning, saying: “At the beginning there was the Prophet of Allah, Allah’s blessing and peace be to him and his family, but after the Prophet (S), there were his family members.”
The Syrian man hurried saying: “Who are the family Members of the Holy Prophet (S) and the ones who are taking over his role in expressing Allah’s (SwT) reasoning?”
Husham said: “At this time or earlier?”
“At this time, I mean” the Syrian man replied.
Husham said: “The one who is sitting here,” while pointing towards Imam Abu Abdullah (as), “whom people come to see.”
The Syrian man replied: “How should I know that?”
Husham replied: “Ask him whatever you want.”
“You’ve left nothing to complain about” the Syrian man replied.
Then Imam al-Sadiq (as) answered all his questions and Syrian man made the following statements afterwards: “I swear by Allah (SwT) that I believed.” Then he said: “I committed myself to Allah (SwT) at this moment.”
Then Imam (as) replied, saying: “It is better to say that I believed in Allah (SwT) at this moment. Islam is before faith and through which people inherit and marry, but people are awarded because of their faith.”
The Syrian man went on, saying: “You are right! So at this moment I witness that there is no Lord but Allah (SwT) and that Muhammad (S) is the Prophet of Allah and you are the successor of the prophets (as).”
The Syrian man returned back to truth after it became apparent for him. Then the Imam (as) approached Husham and told him: “Try to do your best and be very careful in your speech with people and get away from wrong and we’ll guarantee your safety”.
THE LIFE OF IMAM JAF’AR AL-SADIQ (AS) – BAQIR SHARIF AL-QURASHI