Bahlul the Most Sane of the Insane, Companion of Imam Musa Al-Kadhim
Bahlul was the companion of both imam Jafar Al-Sadiq and Musa Al-Kadhim ( Peace be upon them ). He was present during the time of the Absat calipah Haroon Al-Rashed who killed anyone who followed the teachings of the prophet’s household (PBUH &HP). During this time Imam Musa was imprisoned; Bahlul and two other close companions of the Imam went to go see him and asked ‘“what are we supposed to do during this Time of oppression?” . The imam replied with the arabic letter jeem ( ج), each companion interpreted what the imam said differently ; bahlul believed it be jnoon(جنون), insanity . Bahlul would stay around Haroon’s palace who wouldn’t think much of it because he thought bahlul was insane. Bahlul used that to his advantage by delivering strong and powerful messages of the prophet’s household to Haroon.
Sources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O41YBtkgjuo&pbjreload=10 (Bahlul - بهلول Companion of Imam Musa Al-Kathim)
- Sayyed Ammar Nashqwani’s 08 - Biography of Imam Musa Kazim (as) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JlOjQ5ksUM&t=2776s)
- Figure: http://www.artnet.com/artists/eloïse-caroline-huitel/harun-ar-rashid-and-the-poet-lRm-nqQlMK2mUD2PEfh-Lg2