Story of the Heated Iron
Story of the Heated Iron (Arabic: قصة الحَدِیدَة المُحْمَاة) refers to the narration regarding the request for special privilege by Aqil b. Abi Talib from his brother, Imam Ali (a), and the Imam (a) bringing a hot iron near his hand. This narration is presented as a model of social justice and the fight against discrimination in Shi'a ethical and educational discussions. This event was depicted in scenes of the Imam Ali (a) Series.
This narration has been cited in Sermon 224 of Nahj al-Balagha[1] and al-Amali by al-Shaykh al-Saduq.[2] According to this narration, due to poverty and to provide for his children, 'Aqil asked Imam Ali (a) to allocate a portion of the wheat from the Bayt al-Mal (public treasury) to him. In response, Imam Ali (a) brought a piece of heated iron near 'Aqil's body, and upon observing his reaction, said: "How do you scream from the fire of this world but invite me to the fire of hellfire?"[3]
According to Nasir Makarim Shirazi, a Shi'a Marja', this action of Imam Ali (a) was not merely a warning to 'Aqil, but a general message to confront the culture of rent-seeking and special privileges prevalent in the society of that time.[4] Upon hearing this story from 'Aqil, Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan was also impressed by Imam Ali's steadfastness against discrimination and praised him.[5]
Notes
References
- Majlisī, Muḥammad Bāqir al-. Biḥār al-anwār. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1403 AH.
- Makārim Shīrāzī, Nāṣir. Payām-i Imām Amīr al-Muʾminīn (a). Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya, 1386 Sh.
- Qadīriyān, Maḥmūd Riḍā. “ʿAqīl va āhan-i surkh”. Website-i Iran Seda. Accessed: 19 Shahrivar 1403 Sh.
- Ṣadūq, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī al-. Al-Amālī. Tehran: Kitābchī, 1376 Sh.
- Sayyid al-Raḍī, Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn al-. Nahj al-balāgha. Edited by Ṣubḥī Ṣāliḥ. Qom: Dār al-Hijra, 1414 AH.