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Self-Possession And Temperament

Sayyid Radi being a self-made and decorated personality always believed that true greatness and honor of a person depends upon his being possessed with high moral character and spiritual virtues. Accordingly in his entire life he practiced a moderate economics with the spirit of contentment without ever stretching his hands before others. It was due to these reasons that his characteristics such as the loftiness of the spirit, dignity, good honor, eminence, and enterprising talents were the topic of discussion among the common as well special classes of the people.

Because he never attached any importance to wealth and property and never showed any inclination towards the material splendor and glittering, by limiting the consumption of material things only to the extent they were essential for fulfilling his genuine needs. Also, he raised and trained his disciples with the same philosophy and moral characteristics.

Sharif Radi in his beautiful instructing poetic verses introduces the world as deceitful, tempting, and unfaithful, as follows:

"I do not have the last attachment and liking for the world.

Oh deceitful-world! I do not need you, let your magic and temptation be exposed and insulted

Heart's attachment to this (deceitful-world) is dangerous, because it's unfaithful to its promises and commitments.

In order to be relieved from its pain I have divorced it for one thousand times, while the real divorce consists of three times only."1

The Ale-Buyeh kings always were very keen and insisted that their gifts and awards should be accepted by Sayyid Radi, but his freedom loving nature and his being detached to the world's riches were always acted as obstacles of the path in fulfillment of their desires. Abi Muhammad Mohallabi, Bahaud.-dowleh's minister narrates as follows:

"One day, I was informed that God-Almighty had blessed Sayyid Radi with the birth of a son. I wanted to utilize this golden opportunity for sending a gift for the new-born, thus finding a way for obliging Sayyid Radi. Accordingly, I ordered the servants to prepare a tray and placed two thousand golden Dinars upon it, and dispatched them to carry it for Sayyid Radi, as a traditional gift for such associations.

Sayyid Radi declined to accept the gift and send the following message:

‘At least you must be aware that I don't accept any gift from anybody, and in case you were not already aware of this fact, I want you to know now that I accept gift from no one.’

Hoping that pursuance might be fruitful, I ordered the servants to take it back to Sayyid Radi with the following message:

‘Please accept this insignificance gift and donate it to the midwife and other maids as a reward for their services.’

Sayyid again returned the tray with the following message:

‘Midwife and other maids are not strangers since according to our customs we do not allow strangers to enter into privacy of our homes. They are my own relatives and are not ready to accept any reward for their services.’

For the third time I ordered the servants to take it back to Sayyid Radi with the following message:

‘Since you are not ready to accept this gift for your own use, please distribute it among the tullab (religious students) studying in your school.’

When the tray was brought for the third time with the above message the teacher in the presence of his disciples said:

‘The disciples are present here,’ and then looking at them said:

'Anyone who requires this money is free to take it.'

Then one of the disciples came forward, and picked up a single dinar, and after cutting it picked up a small portion leaving the remaining portion inside the tray. Sharif Radi asked him:

'Why did you pick up only a small portion of that Dinar?' He replied:

‘Last night, while studying the lamp's oil was finished, and at that time the school storekeeper was not available for filling the lamp. Therefore, I purchased oil on credit from the nearby shop. I took this small portion of Dinar to pay for the oil purchased last night.’

After hearing disciple's story, Sayyid Radi ordered that each disciple should be provided his own separate key for the storeroom and other facilities, so that they may fulfill their needs freely without any inconvenience. "2

  • 1. The memoirs of Allamah Ash-Sharif ar-Radi p. 328.
  • 2. Ayan al-Shia, vol. 9, p. 217.