Our God Fearing Young Imam al-Askari (as) (Must Read Reminder to All)
To note some qualities of the Imam (as), one of his distinct aspects in his childhood was the fear of Allah (swt):
The historians mention this story, that one day some man passed by Imam Abu Muhammad (as) and saw him cry while he was with his fellow children, just children of the neighborhood it may seem. The man than thought that this child might be crying for the toys in the children's hands and that he could not participate in their games. The man than told the child that the would buy him what he wanted, the child than said:
‘No! We have not been created to play games’
The man of course when hearing such a reply was amazed, astonished, and he than said: ‘Then, for what have we been created?’
The child responded, ‘For knowledge and for worship’
The man asked the child, ‘Where have you got this from?’
The child responded, ‘From this saying of Allah (swt): What! Did you then think that We had created you in vain [Qur’an 23:115]
The man was again amazed and he said to the child: ‘What has happened to you while you are still a so young’
The Child said’ I have seen my mother set fire to big pieces of firewood, but fire is not lit except with small pieces, and I fear that I shall be from the small pieces of the firewood of the hell.’
[Jawharat al-Kalam, p.155, the Encyclopedia of al-Bustani, vol.7 p.45.]
