The pilgrims had assembled in the land of Mina during Hajj Pilgrimage. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) and his companions sitting in a place were eating some grapes placed before them.

A beggar appeared and asked for alms. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) took some grapes to give him, but he refused to accept it and asked for money. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) told him to excuse him, as he did not have money. The beggar went away disappointed.

After going a few steps he had second thoughts came back and asked for the same grapes. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) now refused to give him those grapes too.

Soon after, another beggar appeared. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) again took some grapes and gave to him. He accepted it and said, "Thanks to the Lord of universe who gave me my sustenance". On hearing these words, Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) told him to wait and gave him two handfuls of grapes.

The beggar thanked Allah (SWT) for the second time.

Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) again told him to wait and then turning to one of his friends and asked, "How much money is with you?" The man searched his pockets and produced nearly twenty Dirham, which he gave to the beggar at the order of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS).

The beggar thanking Allah (SWT) for the third time said, "Thanks are exclusive to Allah (SWT). O Allah (SWT)! Thou art the Bestower of the good, and thou hast no companion." On hearing these words, Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) took off his garment and gave it to the beggar.

Now, the beggar changed his tone and spoke a few words of thanks to Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) himself. Then Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) did not give anything and he went away.

His friends and companions who were present there said, "We thought that had the beggar continued thanking Allah (SWT) in the same manner as before, Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) would have continued giving him more and more. But when he changed his words and praised and thanked Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) himself, Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) did not continue his assistance."

Moral of the Story: Whenever you get anything remember that although it may be from someone, Allah (SWT) has wished for you to have it. So not only should you thank the person who has given it to you (Jazakallah) but also thank Allah (Alhamdulillah).

The dependants of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) had increased in number; so had his expenses. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) decided to invest some money in trade to meet the increased expenses of the house. He arranged for an amount of thousand Dinars, which he gave to his slave named 'Musadif' directing him to proceed to Egypt and to invest the amount in business on behalf of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS).

Musadif purchased some goods usually exported to Egypt, and joined a Caravan of traders, who were taking the same type of merchandise to Egypt.

When they reached near Egypt, they met another Caravan coming out of the City. They enquired about each other's affairs. During the course of conversation, they learnt that the goods, which Musadif and his friends were carrying, were not available in Egypt and were in great demand there. They became very happy at their good fortune. Indeed that was an article of common uses and people had to buy it at all costs.

The traders on hearing the good news decided to exploit the situation. They agreed together not to sell the goods at less than hundred percent profit.

They entered the city. The situation was same, as they had been told. As previously agreed, they created a black market, and did not sell the goods at less than double the cost.

Musadif returned to Medina with a net profit of one thousand Dinars. Happy as he was he went to Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS), and placed before him two bags, each containing one thousand Dinars. Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) asked:

"What is this?"

"One of the two bags represents the capital you gave me, and the other one (which is equal to the capital) is the profit I have made."

"Certainly the profit is unexpectedly high. Tell me how could you make so much profit?" "The fact is when we learnt near Egypt that the merchandise we were carrying had become scarce there, we agreed not to sell the goods at less than double the cost; and we did accordingly."

"Glory is to God! You did such a work! You took oath to create a black market among the Muslims! You swore not to sell the goods at less than double the actual cost! No I don't want such business and such profit."

Then picking up one of the bags, he said, "This is my capital." He did not even touch the other one, and said that he did not want to have any connection with that.

Then Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said:

"O Musadif! It is easier to fight with a sword than to earn the livelihood lawfully (Halal Rizq)."

Abu Baseer was once in the company of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS), when a woman came and said to Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS), "I have come to ask a question. I am ill. Physicians in Iraq have told me to take liquor. Now I want to know what to do in such circumstances?"

Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) asked her, "Why don't you drink what the doctors have prescribed for you?"

She replied, "As I am your follower, I shall obey what you say. If you permit me, I shall drink it; if not, I shall keep away from it; so that if I am asked by Almighty Allah (SWT) on the Day of Judgement why I did so, I shall reply that I followed the instructions of the Imam of the time."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) turned to Abu Baseer and said: "O Abu Baseer. Did you listen to what this woman has to say? Are you not moved by her faith? Inspite of her illness, she is refraining from taking liquor without the Imam's permission."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) then turned to the woman and said, "By God, I do not permit you to drink. If you do so, you shall be sorry when your soul reaches your throat (that is at the time of death)".

So saying Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) pointed at her throat; and asked her three times if she understood what he had said. The woman nodded her head.

One of the things which Islam has strongly forbidden is the taking of any intoxicating drink, like beer, wine. They are harmful to the body and mind. Under their influence one loses one's senses and is apt to commit criminal acts. We read of fatal accidents and crimes committed because of drinks.

Even trading in liquor and sitting in bars where people are drinking are also forbidden in Islam, so that there is no temptation in the way of people to taking them.

Noble Qur'an says, "O Believers, Intoxicants and games of chance, idols and divining arrows, are abominations devised by Satan. Avoid them, so that you may prosper. Satan desires to stir up enmity and hatred among you by means of intoxicants and gambling, and to keep you from the remembrance of Allah and from your prayers. Will you not abstain from them?" (Chapter 5, Verses 90, 91)

The above verses from the Noble Qur'an warn us of the effects of drinking. Our first Imam Ali (AS), said, "Suppose a drop of liquor is put in a well and from its water a land is irrigated. Grass grows on the land and a sheep grazes there. That sheep then gets mixed in a flock of other sheep that have grazed elsewhere. If all the sheep are slaughtered making it difficult to identify the meat of the sheep who had grazed on a land which was irrigated from the water of the well, then I shall not eat any of that meat."

Thus Imam Ali (AS) has emphasized the evil of alcohol.

For the sake of our own physical, mental and spiritual welfare, we should always keep away from drinks and gambling.

Mufaddal was one of the most remarkable companions of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS). One day, as he was passing through the market of Kufa, in Iraq, he saw two followers of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) quarrelling with each other. Mufaddal came closer and asked them why they were quarrelling. It seemed that the quarrel was over some kind of inheritance and one of them was claiming a sum of four hundred dirhams from the other.

When Mufaddal heard this story, he took both of them to his house. There he gave the money to the claimant, made them friends again and pleaded with them to live in peace.

When they were leaving, Mufaddal told them, "Verily this money is not from me but from my master Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) who has permitted me to use it for maintaining peace amongst the believers in Muslim Society."

When two believers are quarrelling, Islam teaches us to make peace between them and not to add wood to the fire. Whoever encourages a fight or quarrel is not a believer, but a devil in the form of a human being.

"Indeed the faithful are brothers (to each other). Therefore make peace between your brothers and be wary of Allah (SWT), so that you may receive His mercy." (Noble Qur'an, 49:10)

I advise you, and all my children, my relatives, and whosoever receives this message, to be conscious of Allah (SWT), to remove your differences, and to strengthen your ties. I heard your grandfather, peace be upon him, say: "Reconciliation of your differences is more worthy than all prayers and all fasting." [The Last Will of Imam Ali (AS)]

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) has said, "To look at a brother lovingly for the pleasure of Allah (SWT) is a worship".