Imam al-Hadi’s (as) Silencing Response to ibn Aksam

Musa bin Muhammad bin Ali ar-Ridha, the brother of Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him), related that he had attended a public gathering in which he encountered Yahya bin Aktham, the chief justice of the time. During the meeting, Yahya posed several complex questions to him—questions for which he had no immediate answers.

Following the gathering, Musa returned to his brother, Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him), who offered him valuable admonitions that deeply moved him and led him to fully submit to the Imam. Musa then said to the Imam, “May I be your sacrifice. Yahya bin Aktham asked me various questions and sought their answers.”

The Imam (peace be upon him) smiled and asked whether Musa had been able to respond to them. Musa admitted, “No, I could not answer them.” The Imam then inquired, “What were the questions he asked?”

The Question of Yahya

Among Yahya bin Aktham’s inquiries was one concerning the verse from the Holy Qur’an:

“If all the trees on the earth were pens, and the ocean [were ink], with seven more oceans added to it, still the Words of God would not be exhausted. God is Majestic and All-Wise.” (Surah Luqman 31:27)

Yahya had asked what these oceans were and where they were located.

Imam's (as) Brilliant Answer

In response to the question about the Qur'anic verse, the Imam (peace be upon him) wrote:

“As for your question regarding God’s saying: ‘If all the trees on the earth were pens, and the ocean, with seven more oceans, were ink, still these could not suffice to record all the Words of God. God is Majestic and All-Wise’—this statement is indeed true. The Words of God are without end, and even if all the trees of the earth were made into pens and ink were drawn from all the oceans, they would still fall short of recording the totality of God’s Words.

The oceans referenced in the verse are: the Spring of Sulfur, the Spring of Nemr, the Spring of Barahut, the Spring of Tabariya, the Spring of the hot waters of Sabthan, the Spring of the hot waters of Africa (called Lasnan), and the Spring of Bahroun.

The reality is that we—the Ahlul Bayt—are the endless Words of God referred to in this verse, and our merits are beyond count.”