Aqil b. Abi Talib: Difference between revisions

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== Biography ==

Aqil reluctantly was present in mushrikin army during Badr war. He became captive in this war and his uncle Abbas paid 4000 dirham as fidyah to set him free.

There are different narrations about the time at which he became Muslim. According to what Ibn Qatiba believes Aqil became Muslim right after his freedom. On the basis of Ibn Hujr's statements, he joined Islam when Muslims conquered Mecca. Yet Ibn Hujr states in the following: Some have said he became Muslim after Hudaybiyyah peace treaty was made, and he migrated to Medina at the beginning of 8th year of Hijra.

He took part in Mawtah ghazwah. According to a narration, he was one of those who did not run away in Hunayn war.

To share the government treasure (bayt al-mal) among people, he was invited along with two other people to write down people's names based on their status in Umar b. Khattab age.

According to Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Aqil went to Iraq, then to Sham, and after that came back to Medina, not having participated in any wars of Imam Ali (a). Even though he told Imam Ali (a) his sons and he were ready to assist him in wars, Imam (a) did not oblige him to take part in the wars.

At the time Imam Ali (a) was governing the Islamic territory and all the Islamic lands treasure was under his control, Aqil met him and asked him to pay his debts, stating that he himself was not able to pay them. When Imam Ali (a) learned his debt was 100 thousand dirhams, he said: "I take oath to God that I cannot afford this much now, wait until I receive my salary, then I will help you as much as I can". Aqil asked Imam (a) to lend the money from the government treasure, but Imam Ali (a) refused to do so. Imagining it was money, Aqil who was blind, touched the cauterizing-iron which Imam Ali (a) had brought near his hand. Imam Ali (a) replied to his protesting reaction by stating: "You are not able to endure the heat of this peace of iron, so how can I tolerate the burning fire of the hell which is the consequence of violating people's right?"

Aqil visited Mu'awiya for requesting for financial assistance. It is not plain that his visit happened at the time of Imam Ali (a) or after his death.

Some others believe his meeting with Mu'awiya was after Imam Ali (a)'s death. This idea is preferred by Ibn Abi al-Hadid. The reason of this side is the letter which Aqil wrote at the end of Imam Ali (a)'s government and the answer to this letter.

== Offspring ==

Among all his offspring, only Ja'far Akbar, Muslim, Abdullah Akbar, Abd al-Rahman, and Muhammad are martyrs of Karbala. Some believe that six of Aqil's offspring were martyrs beside [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]].

After Hakamiyyat event and consequently the separation among Imam Ali (a)'s friends, Dahhak b. Qiys Fahari, by Mu'awiya's order and along with an army consisting of 3 or 4 thousands soldiers, plundered and killed people and their properties in towns and villages, and confiscated Ka'bah pilgrims (haji) and killed some of them. Kufah people hesitated in defending the innocent people and confronting the enemy despite Imam Ali (a)'s order. Having being notified of this happening, Aqil wrote a letter to his brother (Imam Ali (a)) which some of it has been brought in the following:

"Damn this age when Dahhak attacked you. Dahhak is an unfortunate mean person. When I learned about these things (pointing to Dahhak's attack and disloyalty of Kufah people), I supposed your followers have abandoned you. My mother's son! Write your opinion for me. If you would rather death, I will bring all your brothers and nephews to you. Since we live until you live, and die when you die. I take oath to God that I do not wish to live even a second after you. I take oath to God that our life is unpleasant after you. God bless you."