In Islam, one character is famous for his uniquely individual interpretation of upholding the truth in a time of oppression. This person was a man called Bahlool.
Born in Kufa, Bahlool's real name was Wahab bin Amr. The caliph, Haroon Rashid, harboured a hostility against the Shi'ite and their Imam that had been carried down for decades since the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
In his attempts to crush out the family of the Prophet (pbuh), Haroon accused the Imam of that time, Musa bin Ja'far al-Kadhim (the 7th of the 12 Shi'ite Imams), of plotting a rebellion. Haroon then demanded a judicial decree from all the scholars to condemn the Imam.
Bahlool was amongst the most influential and respected of scholars. He and some others were Shias and found themselves in a dilemma. They could not go against their faith and condemn their leader, yet they were not in a position to oppose the order by Haroon. So they turned to the Imam for advice on how to react.
Unable to give them explicit instructions in case Haroon used this to his own advantage, Imam answered them by writing the Arabic letter 'Jeem' on a piece of paper.
Each recipient understood the Imam's advice in his own way. One person took the Jeem to stand for 'Jala watan' meaning 'Exile' and left the city.
Another thought it meant 'Jihad' (to struggle) and he spent his life actively opposing the caliphate. Bahlool took it to mean 'Junoon' i.e. insanity.
Turning his face away from his influential and powerful rank, Bahlool donned the rags of a madman and lived amongst the people as one who had lost his senses.
By doing this, he gained the sympathy of the people who pitied him, and also a free reign over the courts. Haroon Rashid saw him as a harmless, lunatic and humoured him when he came to the court to speak or comment.
Bahlool used this circumstance to his full advantage and exposed the oppressive reign time and time again. Having accepted him as a mad man, Haroon was not able to justify any harm against him.
And thus, Bahlool became a legendary figure in Islamic history. The man who hid wisdom in insanity - a concept that is mystifying in its absurdity.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Fatima Aly Jaffer's Shi'ite Islam topic, please visit the Discussions page.