| One day Imam Ali Ibn al-Hussain as-Sajjad
(A.S.) was sitting in the company of his followers when a man, who
was related to him, approached and began insulting the Imam (A.S.).
This man's name was al-Hassan Ibn al-Muthanna. Imam Ali (A.S.)
ignored the man and when he had left said to his companions: "You
heard what that man said to me, I would like you to come with me to
hear my reply to him."
The companions of Imam Ali (A.S.) then said:
"We will come with you, although we wanted you or us to say
something (an equal response) to him."
The Imam (A.S.) proceeded to the man's home reciting:
"And those who when they commit an indecency or do injustice
to their souls remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their faults;
and who forgives the faults but Allah, and (who) do not knowingly
persist in what they have done." (3:135)
His companions hearing this concluded that the Imam (A.S.) would
say only kind words to the man. The Imam (A.S.) reached al-Hassan
Ibn al-Muthanna's house and said:
"Tell him this is Ali Ibn al-Hussain." The man heard this and
came out prepared for an encounter. He was sure that Imam Sajjad (A.S.)
came only to revenge his actions. When al-Hassan al-Muthanna
appeared. Imam Sajjad (A.S.) said:
"My Brother! You have come to me and have said something's. If
you have said that which truly lies in me, I seek forgiveness from
Allah; and if you have accused me of that which I am innocent, I ask
Allah to forgive you!!"
When the man heard the words of the Imam (A.S.) he kissed his
forehead and said:
"Indeed I accused you of that which you are innocent of. These
words describe me." |
Imam
(AS) replied that he had not heard anything and would not have if
the man had not told him. Imam (AS) then continued that the person
who had said the horrible things was as if he had shot an arrow and
missed the target but the man who had told him was as if he had
picked up the fallen arrow and hit the target with it.