Old Age

1
Old Age

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

2
Two types of diseases

• Jaber asked Why do we get old?
• Imam Sadiq replied Diseases are of two kinds
  Acute and chronic.
• Acute- These diseases come all of a sudden. They
  are either cured or they kill the patients.
• Chronic- These diseases are also of two kinds
• 2(i) Some of them have a prolonged life.
• 2(ii) Some are incurable.
• Old age is a chronic disease, which is incurable.

3
A Benefit of following the commands of Allah

• Jaber said It is the first time I hear from you
  that old age is a kind of chronic disease.
• Imam said All of us suffer from this disease.
• Some at an early age and some at an advanced
  age.
• People who obey the commands of Allah and
  abstain from the things prescribed under the
  Islamic code, take a long time to age, but others
  get old soon.

4
Do we become childish in old age?

• Jaber asked Why do we become dull minded and
  childish in our old age?
• Imam replied It is not a general rule. Everyone
  does not become dull minded in his old age.
• Some people are dull minded and stupid when they
  are young, but because of their blooming age no
  one takes much notice of their stupidity. But as
  they grow older it becomes apparent and
  noticeable.
• Those people who are intelligent and wise when
  they are young, remain so in their old age.
  However, they do not retain physical strength of
  their youth. The store of knowledge of the
  learned people may not be very big when they are
  young, but increases with age and becomes very
  big in old age.
• Moreover, in old age, their wits become sharper,
  views become balanced, and judgement becomes
  impartial. They always side and support the just
  cause.

5
Do we become forgetful in old age?

• Jaber asked It is said that we become forgetful
  in our old age. Is it a general rule?
• Imam replied No. Its not the old age which
  makes one forgetful.
• It is the decrease in the power of memory. The
  power of memory is just like any other power of
  human body. Every power, which is not used,
  becomes weak. A young man, who does not use his
  memory, becomes forgetful.

6
Factors which can cause forgetfulness in old age

• Imam continued Old people will become forgetful
  if
• they confine themselves within the four walls of
  their houses,
• do not pay any attention to their environment,
• do not take any notice of the events and
  happenings of the world,
• and add nothing to their reservoir of memory.
• These people start losing gradually what they
  had stored in their memory till they forget
  everything!
• Sometimes they do not even recognise their own
  grandchildren!
• But a person, who does not let the weakness of
  old age deteriorate his power of memory, will
  find that his memory is even stronger compared to
  when he was young.
• Since he has been using his memory throughout
  his whole life, he finds it at its zenith in his
  old age.
• Hence, it is important that we continue to use
  our memory, keep learning and remain active even
  in our old age.