In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Imam Hadi [AS] and the Christian man (for teens)
Our tenth Imam, Imam Ali al-Naqi [AS] was born on the 15th of Dhu al-Hijjah, 212 years after the Hijrah of the Prophet [PBUH] to the city of Madina. His father is the ninth Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Taqi [AS], and his mother was a very pious lady by the name of Samanah.
Imam Ali al-Naqi [AS] was eight years old when his father passed away. He has many titles, some of which are: al-Murtada, al-Hadi, al-Naqi, al-Alim, and al-Faqih.
Of these, the most popular are al-Hadi (which means ‘the guide’) and al-Naqi (which means ‘the pure’).
The Tenth Imam [AS] lived a very contented life and often quoted from Imam Ali [AS] saying, ‘the one whose greatest concern is the Akhirah (Hereafter), he will be content with his life even without wealth’.
Imam Ali al-Naqi [AS] lived a simple lifestyle in a room that had no furniture. There was a straw prayer mat for his Salah. He would spend a lot of time reading the Quran and reflecting on the meaning of the verses.
The tenth Imam [AS] warmly welcomed people. He loved to help poor people. The Caliph at the time of the tenth Imam [AS] was Mutawakkil and he tried to make sure that the Imam had no access to any wealth or luxuries. He kept the Imam under house arrest and watched his every move.
No matter how hard Mutawakkil tried to harm the Imam, the personality and great akhlaq of the Imam caused people to love him and be humble towards him as he was towards them.
The reverence towards Imam Hadi [AS] was not limited to Muslims only. Even non-Muslims believed in his high position near God. When they faced a misfortune, they carried gifts to Imam Hadi [AS] and took him as a means to relieve their misfortunes.
Once a day a Christian man named Yusuf bin Ya’qub was recalled to meet Mutawakkil and he did not know what for. He was concerned about this meeting because Mutawakkil was very cruel and immoral.
So, Yusuf brought with himself one hundred dinars to give Imam Hadi [AS] before going to meet Mutawakkil. He knew Imam Hadi [AS] will spend all the money on poor people and he wished that nothing bad would happen to him with Imam’s prayers.
Yusuf did not know the address of Imam Hadi’s house. He knew Mutawakkil had prevented the Imam from going out and he kept to his house. So, he feared to ask about Imam Hadi’s address. It came to his mind that he would ride on his stumper and go to the town so that he might find out more about him without asking conspicuously. After passing some streets, the stumper stopped in front of a house. It was the house of Imam Hadi [AS]. A man came out towards him and asked, ‘Are you Yusuf bin Ya’qub?’ ‘Yes!’ He replied.
He said, ‘Dismount!’ Yusuf dismounted from his sumpter and the man took him into a vestibule. The man went in and then came out asking Yusuf, ‘Where are the one hundred dinars?’ Yusuf gave them to him and he took them to the Imam. After a while, the man came and permitted Yusuf to come in. Yusuf came in. Imam Hadi [AS] was alone. He looked at Yusuf kindly and compassionately and said, ‘Is it not yet enough for you? (He meant, has he not seen enough to be guided).’
Yusuf said, ‘O my master, a sufficient proof has appeared to me!’
Imam Hadi [AS] said, ‘How far! You will not be Muslim, but your son will, and he will be from our Shia. O Yusuf, there are some people claiming that our guardianship does not benefit ones like you. Go to what you have come to! You shall see what you like.’
Yusuf was astonished at the miracle he saw from Imam Hadi [AS]. He went to Mutawakkil and nothing bad happened.
Yusuf died and his son became a Muslim after the death of his father. He often said, ‘I am the good tiding of my master’.
The people of the Book believed in Imam Hadi [AS] and found in his life a continuity to the lives of prophets and saints.
