mouth of river Euphrates.
There, in a big mosque, people used to assemble to discuss various
subjects on Islamic rules and laws. A famous learned
priest/clergymanby name Amr Bin Ubeid was once preaching on the
subject of Imamate (An Islamic term referringto "leadership" of Imams
who followed Prophet Muhammad (saw) in leadership of Islam, according
to Shi'a belief ).He was surrounded by a big crowd of people whowere
asking various questions on the subject. Suddenly, a young and
intelligent student of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) by name of Hesham,
entered the gathering and sat down in the first row. He addressed the
priest saying that he was a stranger and would liketo ask some
questions. Ongetting the permission todo so, he asked the following:
Hesham: First, Sir! May I please know if you have eyes?
Amr: Young Boy! Is this a question to ask?
Hesham: Whatever it maybe, this is my question to which I shall
appreciate your answer.
Amr: Alright! You are at liberty to ask, even though it is a foolish question.
Hesham: As I have alreadyasked, Sir, may I please know if you have eyes?
Amr: Yes, I have.
Hesham: For what use arethey?
According to a verse (2:124) of Noble Qur'an, Imamate is a station
that was granted to prophet Ibrahim al-Khalil (pbuh) after that great
test, trial by Kalimat (words). According to traditions that are
consecutively narrated (mutawatir) and which both Shi'a andSunnis have
related, this station was also placed inAhlul Bayt of the Prophet
Muhammad (saw). Amr: With eyes, I can see faces of people and color of
various things.
Hesham: And you have a nose also?
Amr: Yes. I do have one.
Hesham: What is its function?
Amr: I smell the scent andodor by it.
Hesham: And do you havea mouth?
Amr: Yes I do have.
Hesham: For what use is it?
Amr: I can talk to people or taste food and drink with it.
Hesham: Do you have ears?
Amr: Yes, I have two ears.
Hesham: What is their function?
Amr: I can hear voices by them.
Hesham: And do you havea mind?
Amr: Almighty has bestowed me with that also.
Hesham: What is its use?
Amr: With that I am able to distinguish things whatever is felt by the
other senses like hands, eyes, ears, nose, tongue etc. In case of a
difference, I am able to solve with its help. In case of a doubt, I
can dispel with it and be sure.
Hesham: So, does it meanthat despite being sound and healthy, all
these organs cannot function independently without the help of the
mind.
Amr: No, No! None of the organs can function independently without the
help of the mind.
Hesham: Why is it so? After all, the organs are perfect and strong
enough to differentiate between things?
Amr: Young Boy! When any organ has some doubt about a thing, which it
smells, sees or tastes, it brings the matter to the mind and itis the
mind, which confirms the truth and removes the doubt.
Hesham: So, from what you have said, do you want me to understand that
Almighty Allah (SWT) has created and designedthe mind to guide the
organs and remove doubts?
Amr: Yes! It is so.
Hesham: So the mind is a necessity, otherwise the organs could not
work independently.
Amr: Yes.
Hesham: Please Sir! Proclaim your opinion with fairness and justice on
this point also. If Almighty Allah (SWT) has not left the organs of
man's body without the guidance of the mind, how is it possible that
Almighty Allah (SWT) could leave millions of Hiscreatures without an
IMAM to guide and solve their problems arising out of doubts and
conflicts? Should not our common sense accept this fact?
On hearing this logic argument, and having noanswer to give, Amr Bin
Ubeid kept silent and went into deep thinking.
Hesham was a deeply learned person and one of the closest companions
of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) from whom he had obtained his knowledge.
Note: There is a Hadith, according to which Prophet Muhammad (saw)
said: "If (as few as) three persons go on a journey, they must appoint
one out of themselves as their leader." From this one may infer to
what extent our Prophet Muhammad (saw) regarded as harmful the
disorder and absence of an authority that could resolve social
conflicts and serve as a unifying bond among individuals.
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