Congratulations Birthday of Imam Hadi (a.s)

 

Every year the 15th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah provides us the opportunity to glance at the service to humanity of the person born on this day.

Before presenting you a special feature on his life and times, here is a beautiful passage from one of his moving supplications to God Almighty:

“O Allah, the fountains of Your bestowal are brimful, the doors of Your supplications for the one who has trust in You are wide-open… Whoever takes refuge with You will be secure, and whoever resorts to You will succeed…”

Named Ali (a.s.) in honor of the One and Only Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (a.s.), his epithets of “an-Naqi” or The Spotlessly Pure and al-Hadi or The Divinely-Inspired Guide, are indicative of the fact that he was a member of the blessed group, whose unsullied purity has been touched by none other than God Almighty in the Holy Qur’an:

“Allah desires to keep away all uncleanness from you Ahl al-Bait and keep you pure as pure can be.” (The Holy Quran, 33:33)

He was the 10th infallible successor of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). He was born in the Prophet’s city Medina in the year 212 AH corresponding to 825 of the Christian calendar. His knowledge with certitude made him the Pride of Prophets. The fact that he was a mere boy of 8 years when the divine mantle of Imamate came to rest on his tender shoulders is ample proof of the Jesus-like wisdom he possessed. This is proven by his debates with silver-bearded scholars who were all at sea against his immaculate reasoning and explanation of facts and realities. For instance, when the famous ideologue of the Abbasid regime, Yahya ibn Aksam, who some twenty years ago had been outclassed and outwitted in a memorable debate with his father, Imam Mohammad Taqi al-Jawad (a.s.), tried to pose similarly baffling questions to him by taking advantage of his young age, Imam Hadi (a.s.), gave a perfect demonstration of his God-given knowledge.