Imam Sadiq (as) and Jaber Ibn Hayyan (Part II)

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Imam Sadiq (as) and Jaber Ibn Hayyan (Part II)

• Imam Jafar Sadiq (as)
• Reference The Great Muslim Scientist and
  Philosopher,
• Jafar As-Sadiq

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Difference between humans and inorganic substances

• Jaber asked Why is there so much difference
  between human beings and inorganic substances and
  why are they (human beings) more like animals and
  plants than inanimate objects?
• Imam replied Inorganic substances follows some
  fixed and unchanging laws, while humans do not.
• That is why they are always and everywhere, more
  or less, alike, but humans differ from one
  another.
• Every person differs from the other in
  intelligence, aptitude, aspirations, taste,
  skills, and so on.

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Difference between humans and inorganic
substances contd.

• Another difference is that inorganic substances
  have no desires but humans have.
• Since inorganic substances follow fixed laws,
  there are few differences in the properties of a
  substance from one place to another and it is
  possible to predict what changes it will undergo
  in the future.
• There are so many factors which affect the life
  of a person and influence his decisions that he
  himself does not know what he would do next.

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Difference between humans and inorganic
substances contd.

• Plants and animals are like humans, because they
  are governed by changing laws.
• Although humans have some common desires, such
  as the desire to eat, drink, sleep, mate, yet
  there are so many differences among them that
  they have split into many groups and fight each
  other.

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Why Muslims are not united?

• The Prophets, advised people to follow the laws
  made by their Lord so that they may also have
  some common thoughts and actions.
• It was, no doubt, a very strong cementing
  force.
• Muslims are not united simply because they do
  not follow the laws of Islam sincerely, although
  they worship the same Allah, offer their prayers
  towards the same Kaaba 5 times a day, and fast in
  the same month of Ramadan.

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Why Qibla direction was changed?

• Jaber said Since you have mentioned the Kaaba,
  please let me know why the Holy Prophet changed
  the Qibla towards Kaaba, while offering prayers?
• Imam replied He did it by the Command of
  Allah.
• Jaber asked Why did Allah change the Qibla.
  Does He not have absolute knowledge?

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Why Qibla direction was changed?

• When He knew what would happen in future, he
  should have given an order which was not to be
  changed at all.
• We change our minds and our decisions because of
  our ignorance. We do something today and after
  some time we realise that we were wrong.
• We learn by experience and change our course of
  action. But Allah, Who is All-Knowing, does not
  make mistakes and learn by experience.

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Allah is All-Knowing

• Imam replied In your argument you have taken
  into account only the knowledge of Allah and His
  Commands and have totally ignored the fact that
  those orders were issued for human beings, who
  are subject to constant change.
• They were not for the inorganic substances. That
  is why the orders and commands of Allah given to
  the Holy Prophet were different from those, which
  were given to Moses.

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Allah is All-Knowing

• Definitely Allah is All-Knowing. He knows what
  would happen in the future.
• Since the circumstances and requirements of
  Muslims changed from time to time, He issued
  orders which were most appropriate at a
  particular time and under the prevailing
  circumstances.
• Allah always knew He would first ask Muslims to
  turn towards Jerusalem, and later order them to
  turn towards the Kaaba.
• What seems to you as a change of decision was no
  change at all.

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Allah is All-Knowing

• Example Suppose a fly born in the middle of the
  spring stays alive till winter, it would think
  that the world has gone topsy turvy, although
  there was no change in the law of the world.
• Suppose you appoint a person to manage your
  property for one year but do not tell him that
  his job is for one year only. When he is removed,
  he will think you changed your decision, which is
  incorrect.

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Allah is All-Knowing

• The Commands of Allah, which seem to be changing
  are in the same category. He had decided from the
  very beginning to change the Qibla, but orders
  were issued at the appropriate time.
• He does not change His mind or His decision.

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Reason why Qibla was changed

• Jaber said One point has been clarified, but
  another is still haunting my mind. Please tell me
  why Allah first ordered Muslims to turn towards
  Jerusalem during their prayers and then asked
  them to turn to Kaaba later?
• Imam said In the beginning Muslims were weak
  and small in number and Jews and Christians were
  strong and their number was large.
• They could have destroyed Muslims if they had
  become hostile to them. It was only to pacify
  them that Muslims were asked to turn towards
  Jerusalem.

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Reason why Qibla was changed

• This had the desired effect. In the beginning
  Jews and Christians were friendly towards
  Muslims. But when they turned towards Kaaba, the
  Jews became hostile.