Source: Shaheed Murtada Mutahhari, The Narrative of Veracious, Vol.1, STORY,
NO.70, p.160-162
“Abu Is'haq Sãbi” is counted among the learned people and famous writers of the
fourth century of Hijrah. He was at the court of both Abbassid Caliphs and In
Dullah Bakhtiãr (of Buyeh's descendants) for some time.
Abu Is'haq was of Sabian religion. The Sabians believe in 'monotheism', but they
have no belief in 'prophethood.' Izu Dullah tried to convince Abu Is'haq of
embracing Islam but did not succeed. Nevertheless, in the month of Ramazan, Abu
Is'haq used to fast in the respect for Muslims. He knew by heart many verses of
the Holy Qur'an which he frequently quoted in his letters and writings.
He was an erudite, a writer, man of letter and a poet as well as a great friend
of Sayid al—Sharif al—Radi (the compiler of Nahj al—balaghah) who was also a
scholar and literary man of genius.
Abu Is'haq passed away in the year 384 of Hijrah, Sayid al—Sharif al-Raji
composed an exalted poem in his funeral which three couplets of them are as
follows:
“Did you see what personality had been carried on the sticks of coffin? And how
the torch of assembly had been distinguished?”
“Down broke a mountain; had it fallen in the sea, the sea would have agitated
with surface foamed.”
“I was not in this belief the soil would embrace you; the earth would entomb the
great mountains.”
Afterwards, certain narrow-minded reproached Sayid al—Radi and laid the blame on
him, claiming that it was not advisable for such a man like him, who was of the
Holy Prophet's (s) descendants, to recite the funeral oration and to express his
regrets for a Sabian who had refused to embrace Islam.
Sayid al—Radi in reply said: “I recited the elegy for his knowledge and talent,
in fact, that was the knowledge and preeminence which I had praised.”1