Imam Ali Naqi (as) – Judgements

Ja’far bin Rizqillah said, ‘Some Christian man, who committed adultery with a Muslim woman, was brought to al-Mutawakkil, the Abbasid caliph, in order to punish him. When the caliph wanted to punish the man, he turned to Islam. Yahya bin Aktham said, ‘His faith (in Islam) cancelled his polytheism and sin.’ Some other one said, ‘He is to be punished with three penalties.’ Another one said, ‘He is to be punished with so-and-so.’ Then, al-Mutawakkil ordered his men to ask Imam Abul Hasan (al-Hadi) about his opinion on the matter and the imam said, ‘He (the sinner) is to be hit until he dies.’ Yahya and the rest of jurisprudents denied this fatwa and asked al-Mutawakkil to write to Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) and ask him for the evidence he depended on in his fatwa. Al-Mutawakkil wrote to Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) and Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) replied,‘But when they saw Our punishment, they said: We believe in Allah alone and we deny what we used to associate with Him. But their faith could not avail them when they saw Our doom. This is Allah’s law which hath ever taken course for His bondmen. And then the disbelievers will be ruined).’ Then, al-Mutawakkil ordered the sinner to be hit and he was hit until he die ( Wassa’il ash-Shia, vol.18 p.331) Reference : The Life of Imam ALI bin Muhammad AL-HADI