جعفر بن بشير

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who is speechless. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must wrap her scarf around her head, then pull it away.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Build your house seven yards high; anything higher than this becomes residence of Satans. Satans do not live in the sky or on earth. They live in the air.’”

“Those fewer in number initiate greetings of peace to those of a greater number, one riding to the one walking, people riding mules to those riding donkeys and those riding horses offer greeting of peace to those riding on mules.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that a man may enter the grave of his father, but a father should not enter the grave of his sons.”

“I once said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘A Hadith has reached me from al-Hassan al-Basriy. If it is a true Hadith then, ‘We are for Allah and to Him we return.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What does it say?’ ‘I am told that al-Hassan al-Basriy would say that even if his brain comes to a boiling point due to the hot sun, he will not seek shelter of the shadow of a wall that belongs to a money changer. Even if his liver cracks down because of thirst he will not use the water that comes from the house of a money changer.’ This is my business and profession. With this business my flesh and blood have grown. With this business I have performed Hajj and ‘Umrah.’ He (the Imam) sat straight and said, ‘Al-Hassan has spoken a lie. Take with fairness and give with fairness. When it is time for Salat (prayer), stop doing business and rise for Salat (prayer). Did you know that people of the cave were Say ar if ah (money exchangers)?”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me about the shroud of abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’, ‘Camphor is for hunut; however, go and do what people do.’”

“I once went to visit ’Amir al-Mu’minin and before him (the Imam) there was roasted meat. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Come close and eat.’ I said, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin, this thing is harmful for me.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Come close. I will teach you certain words with which not even one thing will harm you of which you are afraid. Say, ‘In the name of Allah, the best of names, to the fill of the earth and sky, the Beneficent, the Merciful, the one with whose name not even one thing and illness harms.’ Now you can have lunch with us.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Be careful and do not give up on a good deed that you may have decided to do, before twelve lunar months end.’” Note: The good deeds and acts of worship in the above Ahadith refer to the optional acts of worship; the obligatory ones do not decrease or increase.

"I heard Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) while I was exiting, and he took my hand and faced the house (Kaaba) and said: 'O Sudair, the people were commanded to come to these stones and perform tawaf around them, then come to us and nd declare their allegiance to us. This is the word of Allah: Indeed, I am the Forgiving for whoever repents, believes, and does righteous deeds, and then follows guidance.' Then he gestured with his hand to his chest, indicating our leadership. He then said: 'O Sudair, let me show you those who lead people away from the religion of Allah.' Then he looked at Abu Hanifa and Sufyan al-Thawri at that time, and they were sitting in a circle in the mosque. He said: 'These are the ones who lead people away from the religion of Allah without guidance from Allah and without a clear Book. If these evil ones had sat in their homes, people would have wandered about and would not have found anyone to inform them about Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, and about His Messenger (saw) until they come to us, and we inform them about Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, and about His Messenger (saw).'"

"The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: 'The imamate is not suitable for anyone except for a man who possesses three qualities: piety that safeguards him from the disobedience of Allah, forbearance that controls his anger, and excellence in guardianship over those under his care, such that he treats them with the compassion of a merciful parent." In another narration, it is stated, "to the extent that they regard him as a merciful father."