Birth Anniversary of Imam Ali al-Hadi (p), 1446 A.H.

January 2, 2025

Friday, January 3rd, 2025 is the 2nd of Rajab 1446 A.H. which marks the birth anniversary of Imam Ali al-Hadi (p).

The Wisdom of Eighty Dirhams

During the oppressive reign of Al-Mutawakkil, the Abbasid tyrant, he fell gravely ill. In desperation, he made a vow to God: if he recovered, he would donate “many” as a sign of gratitude. When his health was restored, Al-Mutawakkil sought to fulfill his vow but was unsure of what “many” truly meant.

He summoned his scholars and asked them to define the term. Opinions clashed—some said “many” meant a thousand dirhams, others claimed it was ten thousand, and a few even suggested one hundred thousand. The lack of consensus left Al-Mutawakkil frustrated and troubled.

His trusted guard, Al-Hasan, approached him with a proposal. “If I bring you a man who can provide the correct answer, what will my reward be?” he asked.

Al-Mutawakkil replied sternly, “If you bring me the truth, I will reward you with ten thousand dirhams. But if you fail, you will be struck a hundred times with a stick.”

Determined, Al-Hasan sought out Imam Ali al-Hadi (p), known for his unparalleled wisdom and divine knowledge. He explained the situation and asked the Imam for the answer.

The Imam (p) responded calmly, “Tell him to donate eighty dirhams.”

When Al-Hasan relayed this answer to Al-Mutawakkil, the tyrant was intrigued but unconvinced. “Ask him for the reason behind this specific number,” he ordered.

Al-Hasan returned to the Imam with the query. The Imam (p) explained, “God, the Almighty, said to His Prophet in the Quran: ‘Indeed, God has granted you victory in many places’ (9:25). We counted the places where the Prophet (pbuh&hp) was granted victory, and they amounted to eighty.”

When Al-Hasan conveyed the Imam’s reasoning, Al-Mutawakkil was astonished by the depth of the answer, rooted in divine scripture. True to his word, he rewarded Al-Hasan with ten thousand dirhams, and the matter was resolved with clarity and wisdom.

This incident not only highlighted Imam al-Hadi’s profound knowledge but also underscored the Quran’s role as a source of guidance for all matters, great or small.

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For more information on Imam Ali al-Hadi (p), click here.

(Click here to learn about varying dates for Islamic eve