anajmi wrote:
"The rule of action, however, based on what was witnessed by the people and according to the calls to prayer whereof the Imams were apprised, is that the call for the asr should be given at the beginning of the ninth hour [after sunrise], and this is two complete hours after midday. This closely resembles the prayer of Abu Jafar Muhammad b Ali [Imam al Baqir] reported by us and the dictum of Jafar b. Muhammad [Imam al Sadiq]. He, who offers his zuhr prayer in a leisurely fashion - the compulsory, the sunna, and the supererogatory prayers - and prays in the proper manner, would not take less than two hours of the day [to perform them].
The 2 hour gap closely resembles the prayer of Abu Jafar Muhammad [Imam al Baqir] and the dictum of Jafar b. Muhammad [Imam al Sadiq]. Case closed.
Before the above paragraph in the Daim, we have already been told by the Daim that Imam offered zuhr and asr prayers without gap. Thus the Imam's practice had already been made clear.
This paragraph starts with a 'however'. This is a device to bring in an exception. Here, attention of the Imams is being drawn to what was happening among people. It clearly states that
whereof (meaning about this situation) Imams were apprised. Imam has already given his verdict by his practice as earlier described. This is not Imam overturning his practice. I
t is the Imam who is being informed. Imam is not making a ruling.
The author then states that this is similar to Imam Baqir's prayers. He writes that there are reports that the time elapsed between Imam's prayers had been observed to be about two hours because he performed many optional prayers. Imam Sadiq confirmed the report. That is what is meant by 'according to the dictum of Imam Sadiq. If this was not the case, would all the Shia violate their Imam's practice?
In another thread Ghulam Mohammed mentioned the tawwabun. Tawwabun were responsible for killing both Shimr, who beheaded Imam Husain and the Governor of Kufa at the time of Karbala, Ubaidullah bin Ziyad. This was, according them, punishments meted out to them because of their crimes agains ahlul bayt. Do you think the tawwabun were right in doing this? After all, the victims were engaged in carrying out the orders of the 'rightful' Khalifa, Yazid bin Muawiyah. And, remember, they established a fabulous dynasty which ruled Spain in the name of Islam for several centuries.