Anecdotes from the Life of Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.)

In the Land of Mina
The pilgrims had assembled in Mina. Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) and his companions sitting in a place were eating some grapes placed before them.
A beggar appeared and asked for alms. The Imam (A.S.) took some grapes to give him, but he refused to accept it and asked for money. Imam (A.S.) told him to excuse him as he did not have money. The beggar went away disappointed.
After going a few steps he had second thoughts came back and asked for the same grapes. The Imam (A.S.) now refused to give him those grapes too.
Soon after, another beggar appeared. The Imam (A.S.) again took some grapes and gave to him. He accepted it and said, "Thanks to the Lord of universe who gave me my sustenance". On hearing these words, the Imam (A.S.) told him to wait and gave him two handfuls of grapes.
The beggar thanked God for the second time.
The Imam (A.S.) again told him to wait and then turning to one of his friends and asked, "How much money is with you?" The man searched his pockets and produced nearly twenty Dirham which he gave to the beggar at he order of the Imam (A.S.).
The beggar thanking God for the third time said, "Thanks are exclusive to God. O God! Thou art the Bestower of the good, and thou hast no companion." On hearing these words, the Imam (A.S.) took off his garment and gave it to the beggar.
Now, the beggar changed his tone and spoke a few words of thanks to the Imam (A.S.) himself. Then the Imam (A.S.) did not give anything and he went away.
His friends and companions who were present there said, "We thought that had the beggar continued thanking God in the same manner as before, the Imam (A.S.) would have continued giving him more and more. But when he changed his words and praised and thanked the Imam (A.S.) himself, the Imam (A.S.) did not continue his assistance."

The Black Market
The dependants of Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.) had increased in number; so had his expenses. The Imam (A.S.) decided to invest some money in trade to meet the increased expenses of the house. He arranged for an amount of thousand Dinars, which he gave to his slave named 'Musadif' directing him to proceed to Egypt and to invest the amount in business on behalf of Imam.
Musadif purchased some goods usually exported to Egypt, and joined a Caravan of traders, who were taking the same type of merchandise to Egypt.
When they reached near Egypt, they met another Caravan coming out of the City. They enquired about each other's affairs. During the course of conversation, they learnt that the goods, which Musadif and his friends were carrying, were not available in Egypt and were in great demand there. They became very happy at their good fortune. Indeed that was an article of common uses and people had to buy it at all costs.
The traders on hearing the good news decided to exploit the situation. They agreed together not to sell the goods at less than hundred percent profit.
They entered the city. The situation was same, as they had been told. As previously agreed, they created a black market, and did not sell the goods at less than double the cost.
Musadif returned to Madinah with a net profit of one thousand Dinars. Happy as he was he went to Imam Sadiq (A.S.), and placed before him two bags, each containing one thousand Dinars. The Imam (A.S.) asked:
"What is this?"
"One of the two bags represents the capital you gave me, and the other one (which is equal to the capital) is the profit I have made."
"Certainly the profit is unexpectedly high. Tell me how could you make so much profit?" "The fact is when we learnt near Egypt that the merchandise we were carrying had become scarce there, we agreed not to sell the goods at less than double the cost; and we did accordingly." "Glory be to God! You did such a work! You took oath to create a black market among the Muslims! You swore not to sell the goods at less than double the actual cost! No I don't want such business and such profit."
Then picking up one of the bags, he said, "This is my capital." He did not even touch the other one, and said that he did not want to have any connection with that.
Then he said:
"O Musadif! It is easier to fight with a sword than to earn the livelihood lawfully."

Moral Story
Mufaddhal was one of the most remarkable companions of Imam Jafar Sadiq (A.S.). One day, as he was passing through the market of Kufa, in Iraq, he saw two followers of Imam Sadiq (A.S.) quarrelling with each other. Mufaddhal came closer and asked them why they were quarrelling. It seemed that the quarrel was over some kind of inheritance and one of them was claiming a sum of four hundred dirhams from the other.
When Mufaddhal heard this story, he took both of them to his house. There he gave the money to the claimant, made them friends again and pleaded with them to live in peace.
When they were leaving, Mufaddhal told them,
"Verily this money is not from me but from my master Jafar ibn Muhammad (A.S.) who has permitted me to use it for maintaining peace amongst the believers".
When two believers are quarrelling, Islam teaches us to make peace between them and not to add wood to the fire. Whoever encourages a fight or quarrel is not a believer, but a devil in the form of a human being.