Introduction

The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance

Chapter on the necessity to seek knowledge and the recommendations to learn

Chapter on the quality of knowledge its virtue and the virtue of the scholars

Chapter on Kinds of People

Chapter on the reward for the scholars and those who seek knowledge

Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars

Chapter on the Rights of the scholars

Chapter on the Loss of a Scholar

Chapter on Meeting the Scholars and Associating with Them

Chapter on Asking the Scholar and Discussing with him

Chapter on Giving Knowledge as Charity

Prohibition on Speaking without Knowledge.

Chapter on Those who Act without Knowledge

Chapter on Utilization of Knowledge

Chapter on Those who use their Knowledge to Fill their Stomach and are Boastful for it

Chapter on the Need for the Existence of a Divine Authority in the World and the Seriousness of this Matter

Chapter on Miscellaneous Issues

Chapter on narrating books and Hadith (The virtue of writing and its preservation)

Chapter on Taqlid, following the opinions of someone

Chapter on Innovations, Personal Opinions and Analogies

Chapter on the need to refer to the book and Sunnah

Chapter on the Differences in al-Hadith

Chapter on Following the Sunnah and Evidence of the Book

Chapter on Contingency of the Universe and Proof of the Existence of its Creator

Chapter on Can Allah (God) be Considered a Thing?

Chapter on (the Issue) that only He is proof of His Own Existence

Chapter on the minimum degree of knowledge of the existence of Allah

Chapter on Who is Worshipped

Chapter On Being and Space (al-Kawn WA al-Makan)

Chapter On The relationships (Nisbah) Of Allah

Chapter On Prohibition on Saying How is Allah (al-Kayfiyyah)

Chapter On The Invalidity of the Belief to see God (Ru’yah of Allah)

Chapter On Prohibition on Attributing to Allah What He Himself has not Done so

Chapter On Prohibition on Considering Allah as having Body (JISM) and Form (SURAH)

Chapter On Attribute Of Essence (Sifat al-DhDhat) Of Allah

Another Chapter of The Previous Chapter

Chapter On Will Power (IRADAH) it is of the Attributes of Action (SIFAT al-FI‘L) and the Rest of the Attributes of Action

Chapter On the Coming into the Existence of the Names of Allah

Chapter On The Meanings of the Names of Allah and their Derivatives

Chapter on Another Chapter (Related) to the Previous Chapter

Chapter on the Interpretation of al-Samad, Self-sufficient

Chapter on Motion and Change

Chapter about al-‘Arsh and al-Kursi

Chapter on al-Ruh, the Spirit

Chapter on Comprehensive (Ahadith) about the Oneness of Allah

Chapter on Miscellaneous Ahadith

Chapter on al-Bida’

Chapter on the issue that there is nothing in heavens and earth but that they are in seven

Chapter on Wish and Will

Chapter on Test and Choice

Chapter on Fortunateness and Un-fortunateness

Good and Evil

Predestination, Fate and the Middle Road in Between

The Capabilities

Declaration, Definition and the Need for Solid Proof

Differences in the Justification of Divine Authority among People

Allah’s Authorities and Means of Justification of Accountability in People

Guidance Is From Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

The necessity of the presence of Divine Authority among the people

The Categories of the Prophets, the Messengers and the Imams (a.s.)

The Difference among he Messengers, the Prophets and the al-Muhaddath

The issue that Allah’s holding people accountable remains unjustified without the Imam

The Issue that the Earth at no time is without a Person with Divine Authority

The Issue that even if only two people would remain on earth one of them would certainly be the Imam, the person with divine authority

Knowing the Imam (a.s.) and Belief in His Divine Authority

The obligation to obey the Imams (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) are witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over His creature

The Imams (a.s.) are the only true guides

The Imam (a.s.) Possess Divine Authority and the Treasure of Divine Knowledge

The Imams (a.s.) are the Deputies of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, on earth and the Gates through which people go nearer to Allah

The Imams (a.s.) are the light of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

The Imams are the corner stone on earth

The Unique Ahadith that sums up the Virtue and Qualifications of the Imam (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) possess Divine authority, they are Envied and Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken of them

The Imams (a.s.) are the Sings of whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran

The Signs of which Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran are The Imams (a.s.)

The matters that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and His Messenger (s.a.) have sanctioned as obligatory of the beings with the Imams (a.s.)

The people of Dhikr (memory and knowledge) that Allah has commanded the creatures to ask for their questions are the Imams (a.s.)

Those whom Allah has called people of knowledge they are the Imams (a.s.)

The People Well-grounded in Knowledge are the Imams (a.s.) alone

The Imams are those who have received Knowledge and it is firmly Established in their Hearts

The people whom Allah has Chosen and has Made the Heirs of His Book are the Imams (a.s.)

Two Kinds of Imam are mentioned in the Holy Quran: the Imams (a.s.) who call to Allah and the Imams who call to Fire

The Holy Quran guides people to the Imam (a.s.)

The Bounty and Blessings that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has mentioned in His book, the Holy Quran are the Imams (a.s.)

The People whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has called Mutawassimin (distinguished) in His book are the Imams (a.s.) who are also the straight path

The deeds of the people are presented before the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and the Imams (a.s.)

The Path, Urged to be Maintained Steadfastly is Acknowledgement of the Divine Authority of Imam Ali (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) are the Mines of Knowledge, the Tree of Prophet-hood and the Centers wherein angels Interchange

The Imams (a.s.) are the Heirs of Knowledge to Inherit it one from the other

The Imams (a.s.) inherited the knowledge of the Holy prophet (s.a.) and all the prophets and their successors before them

The Imams (a.s.) have with all the books that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has revealed and that they know them even the language in them are different

No one collect all of the Holy Quran except the Imams (a.s.) and that they have the knowledge of all of the Holy Quran

The degree of the Great Names of Allah that are given to the Imams (a.s.)

Sacred objects of the Prophets transferred to the Imams (a.s.)

The Armaments and Sacred Items belonging to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that transferred to the Imam (a.s.)

The case of the Arms of the Messenger of Allah is like the Ark among the Israelites

Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima (a.s.)

Chapter Ninety Seven of the Holy Quran and its interpretation

 وُلِدَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالابْوَاءِ سَنَةَ ثَمَانٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةٍ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةٍ وَقُبِضَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِسِتٍّ خَلَوْنَ مِنْ رَجَبٍ مِنْ سَنَةِ ثَلاثٍ وَثَمَانِينَ وَمِائَةٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعٍ أَوْ خَمْسٍ وَخَمْسِينَ سَنَةً وَقُبِضَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِبَغْدَادَ فِي حَبْسِ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ وَكَانَ هَارُونُ حَمَلَهُ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ لِعَشْرِ لَيَالٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ شَوَّالٍ سَنَةَ تِسْعٍ وَسَبْعِينَ وَمِائَةٍ وَقَدْ قَدِمَ هَارُونُ الْمَدِينَةَ مُنْصَرَفَهُ مِنْ عُمْرَةِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ شَخَصَ هَارُونُ إِلَى الْحَجِّ وَحَمَلَهُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْبَصْرَةِ فَحَبَسَهُ عِنْدَ عِيسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ثُمَّ أَشْخَصَهُ إِلَى بَغْدَادَ فَحَبَسَهُ عِنْدَ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ فَتُوُفِّيَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي حَبْسِهِ وَدُفِنَ بِبَغْدَادَ فِي مَقْبَرَةِ قُرَيْشٍ وَأُمُّهُ أُمُّ وَلَدٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا حَمِيدَةُ.

                     Abū al-Ḥasan Mūsā (AS) was born in Al-Abwāʾ in the year 128 AH, though some say it was 129 AH. He passed away on the 6th of Rajab in the year 183 AH at the age of either 54 or 55. He (AS) died in Baghdad while imprisoned by Al-Sindī ibn Shāhak. <br>Hārūn (Al-Rashīd) had him brought from Medina on the 20th of Shawwāl in 179 AH. Hārūn had entered Medina after performing the ʿUmrah of the month Ramadan, then proceeded to the Ḥajj, taking Mūsā (AS) with him. On his return via the route of Basra, he imprisoned him with ʿĪsā ibn Jaʿfar. Later, he sent him to Baghdad, where he was imprisoned by Al-Sindī ibn Shāhak. <br>Mūsā (AS) passed away in that prison and was buried in Baghdad in the Quraysh cemetery. His mother was Umm Walad, she was named as Ḥamīda.

 1ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ الْقُمِّيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ دَخَلَ ابْنُ عُكَّاشَةَ بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ الاسَدِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَكَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَائِماً عِنْدَهُ فَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ عِنَباً فَقَالَ حَبَّةً حَبَّةً يَأْكُلُهُ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَالصَّبِيُّ الصَّغِيرُ وَثَلاثَةً وَأَرْبَعَةً يَأْكُلُهُ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ لا يَشْبَعُ وَكُلْهُ حَبَّتَيْنِ حَبَّتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُ يُسْتَحَبُّ فَقَالَ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لايِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لا تُزَوِّجُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ التَّزْوِيجَ قَالَ وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ صُرَّةٌ مَخْتُومَةٌ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ سَيَجِي‏ءُ نَخَّاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَرْبَرَ فَيَنْزِلُ دَارَ مَيْمُونٍ فَنَشْتَرِي لَهُ بِهَذِهِ الصُّرَّةِ جَارِيَةً قَالَ فَأَتَى لِذَلِكَ مَا أَتَى فَدَخَلْنَا يَوْماً عَلَى ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ أَ لا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنِ النَّخَّاسِ الَّذِي ذَكَرْتُهُ لَكُمْ قَدْ قَدِمَ فَاذْهَبُوا فَاشْتَرُوا بِهَذِهِ الصُّرَّةِ مِنْهُ جَارِيَةً قَالَ فَأَتَيْنَا النَّخَّاسَ فَقَالَ قَدْ بِعْتُ مَا كَانَ عِنْدِي إِلا جَارِيَتَيْنِ مَرِيضَتَيْنِ إِحْدَاهُمَا أَمْثَلُ مِنَ الاخْرَى قُلْنَا فَأَخْرِجْهُمَا حَتَّى نَنْظُرَ إِلَيْهِمَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا فَقُلْنَا بِكَمْ تَبِيعُنَا هَذِهِ الْمُتَمَاثِلَةَ قَالَ بِسَبْعِينَ دِينَاراً قُلْنَا أَحْسِنْ قَالَ لا أَنْقُصُ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ دِينَاراً قُلْنَا لَهُ نَشْتَرِيهَا مِنْكَ بِهَذِهِ الصُّرَّةِ مَا بَلَغَتْ وَلا نَدْرِي مَا فِيهَا وَكَانَ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ أَبْيَضُ الرَّأْسِ وَاللِّحْيَةِ قَالَ فُكُّوا وَزِنُوا فَقَالَ النَّخَّاسُ لا تَفُكُّوا فَإِنَّهَا إِنْ نَقَصَتْ حَبَّةً مِنْ سَبْعِينَ دِينَاراً لَمْ أُبَايِعْكُمْ فَقَالَ الشَّيْخُ ادْنُوا فَدَنَوْنَا وَفَكَكْنَا الْخَاتَمَ وَوَزَنَّا الدَّنَانِيرَ فَإِذَا هِيَ سَبْعُونَ دِينَاراً لا تَزِيدُ وَلا تَنْقُصُ فَأَخَذْنَا الْجَارِيَةَ فَأَدْخَلْنَاهَا عَلَى ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَجَعْفَرٌ قَائِمٌ عِنْدَهُ فَأَخْبَرْنَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ بِمَا كَانَ فَحَمِدَ الله وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا مَا اسْمُكِ قَالَتْ حَمِيدَةُ فَقَالَ حَمِيدَةٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَحْمُودَةٌ فِي الاخِرَةِ أَخْبِرِينِي عَنْكِ أَ بِكْرٌ أَنْتِ أَمْ ثَيِّبٌ قَالَتْ بِكْرٌ قَالَ وَكَيْفَ وَلا يَقَعُ فِي أَيْدِي النَّخَّاسِينَ شَيْ‏ءٌ إِلا أَفْسَدُوهُ فَقَالَتْ قَدْ كَانَ يَجِيئُنِي فَيَقْعُدُ مِنِّي مَقْعَدَ الرَّجُلِ مِنَ الْمَرْأَةِ فَيُسَلِّطُ الله عَلَيْهِ رَجُلاً أَبْيَضَ الرَّأْسِ وَاللِّحْيَةِ فَلا يَزَالُ يَلْطِمُهُ حَتَّى يَقُومَ عَنِّي فَفَعَلَ بِي مِرَاراً وَفَعَلَ الشَّيْخُ بِهِ مِرَاراً فَقَالَ يَا جَعْفَرُ خُذْهَا إِلَيْكَ فَوَلَدَتْ خَيْرَ أَهْلِ الارْضِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام )

 1. al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Sindi al-Qummi who has said that narrated to us ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from his father the following. “Once ibn al-‘Ukkasha ibn Muhsin al-Asadi went to see abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) was present with him. Grapes were offered to him. The Imam (a.s.) said, “The old man and the small boy eat grasps one piece at a time and one who is anxious for filling himself up eats several pieces at a time but you should take two pieces at a time because it is mustahab (preferable) to do so.” He then asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), “Why do you not arrange a marriage for abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has grown up already?” He has said that before abu Ja‘far (a.s.) there was a bag filled with money and he said, “Very soon traders will come from Barbar and find accommodation in the house of Maymun and with the money in this bag we will buy for him a slave girl.” The narrator has said that time went by and one day we went to see abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and he said, “Do you want me to tell you about the traders of whom I spoke to you a few days ago? He has just arrived. Go and with the money in this bag buy a slave girl from him.” The narrator has said, “We went to the trader but he had sold all of his slave girls accept two of them who were ill and one of them was more beautiful than the other. We said that we would like to see them. Then we saw them and asked as to for how much he would sell the more beautiful one.” He said, “Seventy Dinars is the price.” We asked him to reduce the price but he said that he will not accept anything less than seventy Dinars. We then said, “We will give all the money that is in the bag but we do not know how much is in it.” There was a man with gray hair and beard who, said, “Open the bag and weigh it.” The trader said, “Do not open because if it would be less then seventy Dinars I will not accept.” The old man said, “Come close and we went closer and opened the bag and weighed the Dinars in it and there were exactly seventy Dinars no more and no less. We brought the slave girl to abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and Ja‘far (a.s.) was also there. We informed abu Ja‘far (a.s.) of the whole story and he offered thanks to Allah and praised Him and then he asked the girl, “What is your name?” She said, “My name is Humayda.” He said, “You are Humayda in this world and a praised one in the next life. Tell me more, “Are you virgin or not virgin?” She said, “I am virgin.” He said, “How can that be true? The traders corrupt whatever may come in their hands.” She said, “He would come to me and would sit next to me just as man and woman would do but Allah would make a man with gray hairs and beard would appear and would slap him until he would go away from me. This happened several times on his part and on the part of the man with gray hairs and beard.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Ja‘far (a.s.) take her for yourself.” She then give birth to the best person on earth who was Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.).”

 2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ سَابِقِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الْمُعَلَّى بْنِ خُنَيْسٍ أَنَّ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ حَمِيدَةُ مُصَفَّاةٌ مِنَ الادْنَاسِ كَسَبِيكَةِ الذَّهَبِ مَا زَالَتِ الامْلاكُ تَحْرُسُهَا حَتَّى أُدِّيَتْ إِلَيَّ كَرَامَةً مِنَ الله لِي وَالْحُجَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِي.

 2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from ‘Abdallah ibn Ahmad from Ali ibn al-Husayn from ibn Sinan from Sabiq ibn al-Walid from al-Mu‘alla ibn Khunays who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, “Humayda is clean of uncleanliness like purified gold. The angels continuously guarded her until she reach me due to Allah’s regards for me and the possessor of Leadership with Divine Authority after me.”

 3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ الْقُمِّيِّ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ الزُّبَالِيِّ قَالَ لَمَّا أُقْدِمَ بِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَلَى الْمَهْدِيِّ الْقُدْمَةَ الاولَى نَزَلَ زُبَالَةَ فَكُنْتُ أُحَدِّثُهُ فَرَآنِي مَغْمُوماً فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا خَالِدٍ مَا لِي أَرَاكَ مَغْمُوماً فَقُلْتُ وَكَيْفَ لا أَغْتَمُّ وَأَنْتَ تُحْمَلُ إِلَى هَذِهِ الطَّاغِيَةِ وَلا أَدْرِي مَا يُحْدِثُ فِيكَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيَّ بَأْسٌ إِذَا كَانَ شَهْرُ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَيَوْمُ كَذَا فَوَافِنِي فِي أَوَّلِ الْمِيلِ فَمَا كَانَ لِي هَمٌّ إِلا إِحْصَاءَ الشُّهُورِ وَالايَّامِ حَتَّى كَانَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ فَوَافَيْتُ الْمِيلَ فَمَا زِلْتُ عِنْدَهُ حَتَّى كَادَتِ الشَّمْسُ أَنْ تَغِيبَ وَوَسْوَسَ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي صَدْرِي وَتَخَوَّفْتُ أَنْ أَشُكَّ فِيمَا قَالَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ إِذَا نَظَرْتُ إِلَى سَوَادٍ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الْعِرَاقِ فَاسْتَقْبَلْتُهُمْ فَإِذَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَمَامَ الْقِطَارِ عَلَى بَغْلَةٍ فَقَالَ إِيهٍ يَا أَبَا خَالِدٍ قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله فَقَالَ لا تَشُكَّنَّ وَدَّ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنَّكَ شَكَكْتَ فَقُلْتُ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي خَلَّصَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْهِمْ عَوْدَةً لا أَتَخَلَّصُ مِنْهُمْ.

 3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father all from abu Qatada al-Qummi from Ali ibn Khalid al-Zabali who has said the following “When abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) was brought before al-Mahdi the first time he was accommodated in Zabala and I talked to him. He found me depressed and asked, “O abu Khalid, why is it that I see you are depressed?” I said, “How can I be not depressed when you are being take to this transgressor and I do not know wha will happen to you.” He said, “I will be alright. In so and so month and day come to me on one mile’s distance.” I then had no worries but count the months and days pass by until that particular day. I then went up to a mile’s distance and spent the day there until it was almost sun set. Suddenly, Satan caused temptations to my heart and I was afraid to doubt in what he had said. At this point I saw figures coming from the direction of Iraq. I went to meet them and abu al-Hassan (a.s.) was in front of them on a mule. He said, “Is it you O abu Khalid” I said, “Yes, grand son of the Messenger of Allah.” He said, “ Do not doubt; Satan loved that you had doubts.” I then said, “Thanks to Allah Who saved you from them.” He said, “I will have a return to them in which I will not find any safety.”

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ وَنَحْنُ مَعَهُ بِالْعُرَيْضِ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ أَتَيْتُكَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ بَعِيدٍ وَسَفَرٍ شَاقٍّ وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي مُنْذُ ثَلاثِينَ سَنَةً أَنْ يُرْشِدَنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الادْيَانِ وَإِلَى خَيْرِ الْعِبَادِ وَأَعْلَمِهِمْ وَأَتَانِي آتٍ فِي النَّوْمِ فَوَصَفَ لِي رَجُلاً بِعُلْيَا دِمَشْقَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ فَكَلَّمْتُهُ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ أَهْلِ دِينِي وَغَيْرِي أَعْلَمُ مِنِّي فَقُلْتُ أَرْشِدْنِي إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ فَإِنِّي لا أَسْتَعْظِمُ السَّفَرَ وَلا تَبْعُدُ عَلَيَّ الشُّقَّةُ وَلَقَدْ قَرَأْتُ الانْجِيلَ كُلَّهَا وَمَزَامِيرَ دَاوُدَ وَقَرَأْتُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَسْفَارٍ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَقَرَأْتُ ظَاهِرَ الْقُرْآنِ حَتَّى اسْتَوْعَبْتُهُ كُلَّهُ فَقَالَ لِيَ الْعَالِمُ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ فَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ الْعَرَبِ وَالْعَجَمِ بِهَا وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ الْيَهُودِ فَبَاطِي بْنُ شُرَحْبِيلَ السَّامِرِيُّ أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِهَا الْيَوْمَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ الاسْلامِ وَعِلْمَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَعِلْمَ الانْجِيلِ وَعِلْمَ الزَّبُورِ وَكِتَابَ هُودٍ وَكُلَّ مَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الانْبِيَاءِ فِي دَهْرِكَ وَدَهْرِ غَيْرِكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ خَبَرٍ فَعَلِمَهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ فِيهِ تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَشِفَاءٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ وَرَوْحٌ لِمَنِ اسْتَرْوَحَ إِلَيْهِ وَبَصِيرَةٌ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ الله بِهِ خَيْراً وَأَنِسَ إِلَى الْحَقِّ فَأُرْشِدُكَ إِلَيْهِ فَأْتِهِ وَلَوْ مَشْياً عَلَى رِجْلَيْكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَحَبْواً عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَزَحْفاً عَلَى اسْتِكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَعَلَى وَجْهِكَ فَقُلْتُ لا بَلْ أَنَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ فِي الْبَدَنِ وَالْمَالِ قَالَ فَانْطَلِقْ مِنْ فَوْرِكَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ يَثْرِبَ فَقُلْتُ لا أَعْرِفُ يَثْرِبَ قَالَ فَانْطَلِقْ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ مَدِينَةَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِي الْعَرَبِ وَهُوَ النَّبِيُّ الْعَرَبِيُّ الْهَاشِمِيُّ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتَهَا فَسَلْ عَنْ بَنِي غَنْمِ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ النَّجَّارِ وَهُوَ عِنْدَ بَابِ مَسْجِدِهَا وَأَظْهِرْ بِزَّةَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ وَحِلْيَتَهَا فَإِنَّ وَالِيَهَا يَتَشَدَّدُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ أَشَدُّ ثُمَّ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ مَبْذُولٍ وَهُوَ بِبَقِيعِ الزُّبَيْرِ ثُمَّ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ وَأَيْنَ مَنْزِلُهُ وَأَيْنَ هُوَ مُسَافِرٌ أَمْ حَاضِرٌ فَإِنْ كَانَ مُسَافِراً فَالْحَقْهُ فَإِنَّ سَفَرَهُ أَقْرَبُ مِمَّا ضَرَبْتَ إِلَيْهِ. ” ثُمَّ أَعْلِمْهُ أَنَّ مَطْرَانَ عُلْيَا الْغُوطَةِ غُوطَةِ دِمَشْقَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْشَدَنِي إِلَيْكَ وَهُوَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلامَ كَثِيراً وَيَقُولُ لَكَ إِنِّي لاكْثِرُ مُنَاجَاةَ رَبِّي أَنْ يَجْعَلَ إِسْلامِي عَلَى يَدَيْكَ فَقَصَّ هَذِهِ الْقِصَّةَ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ مُعْتَمِدٌ عَلَى عَصَاهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنْ أَذِنْتَ لِي يَا سَيِّدِي كَفَّرْتُ لَكَ وَجَلَسْتُ فَقَالَ آذَنُ لَكَ أَنْ تَجْلِسَ وَلا آذَنُ لَكَ أَنْ تُكَفِّرَ فَجَلَسَ ثُمَّ أَلْقَى عَنْهُ بُرْنُسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَأْذَنُ لِي فِي الْكَلامِ قَالَ نَعَمْ مَا جِئْتَ إِلا لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ ارْدُدْ عَلَى صَاحِبِي السَّلامَ أَ وَمَا تَرُدُّ السَّلامَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَلَى صَاحِبِكَ إِنْ هَدَاهُ الله فَأَمَّا التَّسْلِيمُ فَذَاكَ إِذَا صَارَ فِي دِينِنَا فَقَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ أَصْلَحَكَ الله قَالَ سَلْ قَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ كِتَابِ الله تَعَالَى الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَنَطَقَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وَصَفَهُ بِمَا وَصَفَهُ بِهِ فَقَالَ حم. وَالْكِتابِ الْمُبِينِ. إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ. فِيها يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ مَا تَفْسِيرُهَا فِي الْبَاطِنِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا حم فَهُوَ مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهُوَ فِي كِتَابِ هُودٍ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ مَنْقُوصُ الْحُرُوفِ وَأَمَّا الْكِتابِ الْمُبِينِ فَهُوَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَمَّا اللَّيْلَةُ فَفَاطِمَةُ (عليها السلام) وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُ فِيها يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ يَقُولُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا خَيْرٌ كَثِيرٌ فَرَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ وَرَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ وَرَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ صِفْ لِيَ الاوَّلَ وَالاخِرَ مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجَالِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الصِّفَاتِ تَشْتَبِهُ وَلَكِنَّ الثَّالِثَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَصِفُ لَكَ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ نَسْلِهِ وَإِنَّهُ عِنْدَكُمْ لَفِي الْكُتُبِ الَّتِي نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ لَمْ تُغَيِّرُوا وَتُحَرِّفُوا وَتُكَفِّرُوا وَقَدِيماً مَا فَعَلْتُمْ قَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ إِنِّي لا أَسْتُرُ عَنْكَ مَا عَلِمْتُ وَلا أُكَذِّبُكَ وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ مَا أَقُولُ فِي صِدْقِ مَا أَقُولُ وَكَذِبِهِ وَالله لَقَدْ أَعْطَاكَ الله مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَقَسَمَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نِعَمِهِ مَا لا يَخْطُرُهُ الْخَاطِرُونَ وَلا يَسْتُرُهُ السَّاتِرُونَ وَلا يُكَذِّبُ فِيهِ مَنْ كَذَّبَ فَقَوْلِي لَكَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَا ذَكَرْتُ فَهُوَ كَمَا ذَكَرْتُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أُعَجِّلُكَ أَيْضاً خَبَراً لا يَعْرِفُهُ إِلا قَلِيلٌ مِمَّنْ قَرَأَ الْكُتُبَ أَخْبِرْنِي مَا اسْمُ أُمِّ مَرْيَمَ وَأَيُّ يَوْمٍ نُفِخَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ وَلِكَمْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ وَأَيُّ يَوْمٍ وَضَعَتْ مَرْيَمُ فِيهِ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَلِكَمْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ لا أَدْرِي فَقَالَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَمَّا أُمُّ مَرْيَمَ فَاسْمُهَا مَرْثَا وَهِيَ وَهِيبَةُ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ وَأَمَّا.  الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي حَمَلَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ لِلزَّوَالِ وَهُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي هَبَطَ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ الامِينُ وَلَيْسَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِيدٌ كَانَ أَوْلَى مِنْهُ عَظَّمَهُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَعَظَّمَهُ مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ عِيداً فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ وَأَمَّا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي وَلَدَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الثَّلاثَاءِ لارْبَعِ سَاعَاتٍ وَنِصْفٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ وَالنَّهَرُ الَّذِي وَلَدَتْ عَلَيْهِ مَرْيَمُ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَلْ تَعْرِفُهُ قَالَ لا قَالَ هُوَ الْفُرَاتُ وَعَلَيْهِ شَجَرُ النَّخْلِ وَالْكَرْمِ وَلَيْسَ يُسَاوَى بِالْفُرَاتِ شَيْ‏ءٌ لِلْكُرُومِ وَالنَّخِيلِ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي حَجَبَتْ فِيهِ لِسَانَهَا وَنَادَى قَيْدُوسُ وُلْدَهُ وَأَشْيَاعَهُ فَأَعَانُوهُ وَأَخْرَجُوا آلَ عِمْرَانَ لِيَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ فَقَالُوا لَهَا مَا قَصَّ الله عَلَيْكَ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَعَلَيْنَا فِي كِتَابِهِ فَهَلْ فَهِمْتَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَقَرَأْتُهُ الْيَوْمَ الاحْدَثَ قَالَ إِذَنْ لا تَقُومَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِكَ حَتَّى يَهْدِيَكَ الله قَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ مَا كَانَ اسْمُ أُمِّي بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ وَبِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَقَالَ كَانَ اسْمُ أُمِّكَ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ عَنْقَالِيَةَ وَعُنْقُورَةَ كَانَ اسْمُ جَدَّتِكَ لابِيكَ وَأَمَّا اسْمُ أُمِّكَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَهُوَ مَيَّةُ وَأَمَّا اسْمُ أَبِيكَ فَعَبْدُ الْمَسِيحِ وَهُوَ عَبْدُ الله بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ وَلَيْسَ لِلْمَسِيحِ عَبْدٌ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ وَبَرِرْتَ فَمَا كَانَ اسْمُ جَدِّي قَالَ كَانَ اسْمُ جَدِّكَ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَهُوَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ سَمَّيْتُهُ فِي مَجْلِسِي هَذَا قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ مُسْلِماً قَالَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نَعَمْ وَقُتِلَ شَهِيداً دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْنَادٌ فَقَتَلُوهُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ غِيلَةً وَالاجْنَادُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ قَالَ فَمَا كَانَ اسْمِي قَبْلَ كُنْيَتِي قَالَ كَانَ اسْمُكَ عَبْدَ الصَّلِيبِ قَالَ فَمَا تُسَمِّينِي قَالَ أُسَمِّيكَ عَبْدَ الله قَالَ فَإِنِّي آمَنْتُ بِالله الْعَظِيمِ وَشَهِدْتُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ فَرْداً صَمَداً لَيْسَ كَمَا تَصِفُهُ النَّصَارَى وَلَيْسَ كَمَا تَصِفُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَلا جِنْسٌ مِنْ أَجْنَاسِ الشِّرْكِ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْحَقِّ فَأَبَانَ بِهِ لاهْلِهِ وَعَمِيَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رَسُولَ الله إِلَى النَّاسِ كَافَّةً إِلَى الاحْمَرِ وَالاسْوَدِ كُلٌّ فِيهِ مُشْتَرِكٌ فَأَبْصَرَ مَنْ أَبْصَرَ وَاهْتَدَى مَنِ اهْتَدَى وَعَمِيَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَدْعُونَ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ وَلِيَّهُ نَطَقَ بِحِكْمَتِهِ وَأَنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ مِنَ الانْبِيَاءِ نَطَقُوا بِالْحِكْمَةِ الْبَالِغَةِ وَتَوَازَرُوا عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ لله وَفَارَقُوا الْبَاطِلَ وَأَهْلَهُ وَالرِّجْسَ وَأَهْلَهُ وَهَجَرُوا سَبِيلَ الضَّلالَةِ وَنَصَرَهُمُ الله بِالطَّاعَةِ لَهُ وَعَصَمَهُمْ مِنَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ فَهُمْ لله أَوْلِيَاءُ وَلِلدِّينِ أَنْصَارٌ يَحُثُّونَ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِهِ آمَنْتُ بِالصَّغِيرِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْكَبِيرِ وَمَنْ ذَكَرْتُ مِنْهُمْ وَمَنْ لَمْ أَذْكُرْ وَآمَنْتُ بِالله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ثُمَّ قَطَعَ زُنَّارَهُ وَقَطَعَ صَلِيباً كَانَ فِي عُنُقِهِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ مُرْنِي حَتَّى أَضَعَ صَدَقَتِي حَيْثُ تَأْمُرُنِي فَقَالَ هَاهُنَا أَخٌ لَكَ كَانَ عَلَى مِثْلِ دِينِكَ وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ مِنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ ثَعْلَبَةَ وَهُوَ فِي نِعْمَةٍ كَنِعْمَتِكَ فَتَوَاسَيَا وَتَجَاوَرَا وَلَسْتُ أَدَعُ أَنْ أُورِدَ عَلَيْكُمَا حَقَّكُمَا فِي الاسْلامِ فَقَالَ وَالله أَصْلَحَكَ الله إِنِّي لَغَنِيٌّ وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ ثَلاثَمِائَةِ طَرُوقٍ بَيْنَ فَرَسٍ وَفَرَسَةٍ وَتَرَكْتُ أَلْفَ بَعِيرٍ فَحَقُّكَ فِيهَا أَوْفَرُ مِنْ حَقِّي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنْتَ مَوْلَى الله وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَنْتَ فِي حَدِّ نَسَبِكَ عَلَى حَالِكَ فَحَسُنَ إِسْلامُهُ وَتَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِي فِهْرٍ وَأَصْدَقَهَا أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) خَمْسِينَ دِينَاراً مِنْ صَدَقَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَخْدَمَهُ وَبَوَّأَهُ وَأَقَامَ حَتَّى أُخْرِجَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَمَاتَ بَعْدَ مَخْرَجِهِ بِثَمَانٍ وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً.

4. Ahmad ibn Mihran and Ali ibn Ibrahim all have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Ya’qub ibn Ja‘far who has said the following “I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) that a Christian man came to see him. At this time we were with him in al-‘Urayd. The Christian man said, “I have come to you from a far away place after a difficult journey. I have been praying to my Lord for thirty years to guide me to the best of the religions and to the best of the servants (of Allah) and the most knowledgeable among them. I saw a person in my dream who described to me a man who lived in ‘Ulya’ (upper) of Damascus. I went to see that man and I talked to him. He said , “I am the most knowledgeable one among the people who follow my religion but other than me is more knowledgeable than me I then asked him to guide me to the one who is more knowledgeable than him because I like traveling and I can endure difficulties. I have read the whole Gospel, the Psalms of David and the four parts of Torah. I have read the apparent text of the whole Quran. The scholar then said to me, “ If you would like Christianity I am the most knowledgeable person in it among the Arab and none Arab people. If you would like the knowledge of Judaism then Bati ibn Shurahbil al-Samari is the most knowledgeable person in that religion today. However, you may like to learn the knowledge of Islam, the knowledge of Torah, the knowledge of the Gospel, the knowledge of Psalms, the book of Hud and all that is revealed to any of the prophets in your time or in the times of the others. You may like to learn all that has come from the heavens in the form of information. People may have learned or not learned such information. In such information there is the explanation for everything, the cure for the worlds, the spirit for those who wish to have comfort, understanding in what Allah has willed to be for their good and seek intimacy with the truth. I can guide you to a person who can teach you all such things). Go to him even if you would have to walk to him on foot. If would not be able to walk then you must crawl to him on your knees. If you would be able to do that also then you must drag yourself on your hips. If you would be able to reach him that way you must move to him on your face.” I then said, “ No, none of these is necessary. I can walk to him. Physically I am capable and financially I am capable.” He then said, “Go on to him without any delay until you will reach Yathrib.” I said, “I do not know where Yathrib is?” He said, “Go until you reach Madina of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) who was raised among the Arabs. He was a prophet from the Arabs, from the tribe of al-Hashim. When you will arrive there ask for banu Ghanam ibn Malik ibn al-Najjar who is near the door of the Mosque in that city. Show your self to him in the Christian dress because their governor is strict on them and the caliph is even stricter on them. Thereafter ask for the tribe of banu ‘Amr ibn Mabdhul that is in the area of al-Zubayr. Then ask for Musa ibn Ja‘far and his house and that where he himself is that is he on a journey or at home. If he would be on a journey then you must reach him because his destination is shorter than the distance you have to travel. When you will meet him say that the chief monk of al-Ghuta, Ghuta of Damascus guided me to you. That he asked me to convey his great deal greetings of peace to you and has said to you the following. “I pray to my Lord very often to make my Islam take form in your hands.”
 The Christian man told this story of his dream while he was standing and supporting himself with his staff. Then he said, my master, if you would grant me permission I would like to fold my hands before you and sit down.” He said, “I you have my permission to sit down but I will not give permission to fold your hands before me” He sat down and removed his hat and said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, will you grant me permission to speak?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, you have come just for it.” The Christian man said, “Return the greetings to my friend. Do you not return the greetings of peace?” Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, “The answer to your friend is that he must accept Islam. The greeting of peace will be returned when he will accept our religion.” The Christian man then said, “I like to ask you questions, may Allah grant you well being.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask your questions.” He said, “Tell me about the book that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has revealed to Muhammad that he read to people and introduced it to them the way he did. And said, “Ha. Mim (44:1). I swear by the illustrious Book (44:2) that We have revealed the Quran on a blessed night to warn mankind (44:3). On this night, every absolute command coming from Us becomes distinguishable.” (44:4) What is its intrinsic interpretation and meaning?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ha Mim stands for Muhammad (s.a.) who is mentioned in the book of Hud which was revealed to him and its letters are shortened. The ‘illustrious book’ stands for Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) The blessed night stands for Fatima (a.s.).”. . absolute command coming from Us becomes distinguishable.” (44:4) It means that in that night there comes a great deal of good. There is the man of wisdom, the man of wisdom and the man of wisdom. (a reference to the first three Imams from the descendants of Fatima (a.s.)” The man then said, “Describe to me the first and last of these men.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Qualities are similar. However I will describe the third of these people and his descendants and he is mentioned in your books revealed to you. If you have not altered and changed and reject them as you have been doing so for a long time.” The Christian man said, “I will not hide from you what I know and will not lie to you and you already know what I will say is true and what is false. By Allah, He has granted you through His grace so much distinction and has given the opportunity through His bounties so much that people can not even think how much they are? No one can hide them and falsify them even those who reject (the truth). My words in the matter are true as I mentioned and it is as such that I said.” Abu Ibrahim then said to him, “I can tell you a news that only very few people who read books know.” Tell me what was the name of the mother of Mary and when the spirit was blown in Mary and in which hour of the day? What was the date when Jesus was born and during which hour of the day?” The Christian man said, “I do not know.” Abu Ibrahim then said, “The name of the mother of Mary was Martha and ‘Wahayba’ in Arabic. The day Mary conceived with Jesus was a Friday at noontime. It was the day in which the trusted spirit descended and among the Muslims there is no holiday of greater preference than this. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has advanced it with greatness and Muhammad (s.a) has venerated it with greatness. He commanded it to be observed as a holiday, thus, it is the day of congregation. The day in which Mary was born was a Tuesday four and a half hour before noon. Do you know the river on the side of which Mary gave birth to Jesus?” The Christian man said, “No, I do not know it.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was Euphrates that has palm trees and vineyards on its banks. No other place is like Euphrates for vineyards and palm trees. Have you noticed the day in which her tongue was curtained in speaking and Qaydus (the king of Israel) called his sons and subjects for support to take the family of ‘Imran out and look at Mary? They said to her, “What has Allah told you in His book and against us in His book?” The Christian man said, “Yes, I have read about the day of suffering.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Therefore, you will not rise from this meeting before Allah will grant you the right guidance.” The Christian man asked, “What was the name of my mother in Asyrian language and in Arabic.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In Asyrian it was ‘Anqalia. ‘Unqura was the name of your grandmother from your father’s side. The name of your mother in Arabic was Mayyata. The name of your father was ‘Abd al-Masih and it is ‘Abdallah in Arabic. Al-Masih (Messiah) did not have any servant.” The Christian man said, “You have spoken the truth and did a good deed. Would you tell me what the name of my grandfather was?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The name of your grandfather was Gibrael and I call him ‘Abd al-Rahman in this our meeting.” The Christian man asked, “Was he a Muslim?” Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) said, “Yes, he was a Muslim and he was martyred. Soldiers attacked him and murdered him in his home senselessly and the soldiers were from the people of Damascus.” The Christian man asked, “What was my name before my Kunya (such as ‘abu’ so and so or ‘ibn’ so and so)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was ‘Abd al-Salib.” The Christian man asked, “What name would you like to give me?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I will call you ‘Abdallah.” The Christian man said, “I then declare my faith in Allah the great and testify that there is no lord besides Allah Who is One and no one is His partner. He is One, Self-sufficient. He is not like what the Christians describe Him. He is not like what the Jews describe Him. He is not a genus of the categories of polytheism. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. He has sent him with all truth. He has manifested the truth to the people of truth and has turned the people of falsehood blind. That Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah to all mankind, red and black all alike. Thus, those who have understanding have understood and those who sought guidance have received guidance. The people of falsehood have turned blind and have lost what they were calling. I testify that His representative His Wali (the Leader with Divine Authority) have spoken with His wisdom. That all the prophets before him had spoken with pure wisdom, supported each other in obedience to Allah and stayed away from falsehood and the people of falsehood and filth and the people of filth. That they kept aloof from error and that Allah supported them through obedience to Him and kept them infallible and sinless. Thus, they were the Awliya’ of Allah, possessing Divine Authority and the protectors of religion. They encouraged others to do good and commanded them to do so. I declare my faith in the small ones among them and greater ones among them, those of them whom I have mentioned as well as those that I have not mentioned. I declare my faith in Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, the Lord of the worlds”
 He then cut off his necktie and the cross that was made of gold and hanged from his neck. He then said, “Command me as you would wish as to who must I pay charities due on me.’ The Imam (a.s.) said, “There is one of your brethren in religion and he is of your own people, from Qays ibn al-Tha‘laba and is doing well financially like your self. You must cooperate with each other and be lenient to each other and I will not allow that your rights in Islam be ignored.” He then said, “By Allah,-may Allah grant you well being- I am doing very well financially. In my town I have three hundred horses male and female and a thousand camels. Your rights in them is more than mine.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “You are the slave of Allah and His Messenger and your lineage is natural.” He improved himself in Islam and married a lady from the tribe of Fihr. Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) paid her dowry (marriage gift) which was fifty Dinars from the charities of Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.). He hired for him a servant and provided him accommodation until abu Ibrahim (a.s.) was taken (to Baghdad). Thereafter he died only after twenty eight days.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ نَجْرَانَ الْيَمَنِ مِنَ الرُّهْبَانِ وَمَعَهُ رَاهِبَةٌ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ لَهُمَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ سَوَّارٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِذَا كَانَ غَداً فَأْتِ بِهِمَا عِنْدَ بِئْرِ أُمِّ خَيْرٍ قَالَ فَوَافَيْنَا مِنَ الْغَدِ فَوَجَدْنَا الْقَوْمَ قَدْ وَافَوْا فَأَمَرَ بِخَصَفَةِ بَوَارِيَّ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وَجَلَسُوا فَبَدَأَتِ الرَّاهِبَةُ بِالْمَسَائِلِ فَسَأَلَتْ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ كَثِيرَةٍ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يُجِيبُهَا وَسَأَلَهَا أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهَا فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ ثُمَّ أَسْلَمَتْ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ الرَّاهِبُ يَسْأَلُهُ فَكَانَ يُجِيبُهُ فِي كُلِّ مَا يَسْأَلُهُ فَقَالَ الرَّاهِبُ قَدْ كُنْتُ قَوِيّاً عَلَى دِينِي وَمَا خَلَّفْتُ أَحَداً مِنَ النَّصَارَى فِي الارْضِ يَبْلُغُ مَبْلَغِي فِي الْعِلْمِ وَلَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ بِرَجُلٍ فِي الْهِنْدِ إِذَا شَاءَ حَجَّ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فِي يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ بِأَرْضِ الْهِنْدِ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ هُوَ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهُ بِسُبْذَانَ وَسَأَلْتُ الَّذِي أَخْبَرَنِي فَقَالَ هُوَ عَلِمَ الاسْمَ الَّذِي ظَفِرَ بِهِ آصَفُ صَاحِبُ سُلَيْمَانَ لَمَّا أَتَى بِعَرْشِ سَبَإٍ وَهُوَ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ الله لَكُمْ فِي كِتَابِكُمْ وَلَنَا مَعْشَرَ الادْيَانِ فِي كُتُبِنَا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَكَمْ لله مِنِ اسْمٍ لا يُرَدُّ فَقَالَ الرَّاهِبُ الاسْمَاءُ كَثِيرَةٌ فَأَمَّا الْمَحْتُومُ مِنْهَا الَّذِي لا يُرَدُّ سَائِلُهُ فَسَبْعَةٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا تَحْفَظُ مِنْهَا قَالَ الرَّاهِبُ لا وَالله الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ عَلَى مُوسَى وَجَعَلَ عِيسَى عِبْرَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ وَفِتْنَةً لِشُكْرِ أُولِي الالْبَابِ وَجَعَلَ مُحَمَّداً بَرَكَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَجَعَلَ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عِبْرَةً وَبَصِيرَةً وَجَعَلَ الاوْصِيَاءَ مِنْ نَسْلِهِ وَنَسْلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مَا أَدْرِي وَلَوْ دَرَيْتُ مَا احْتَجْتُ فِيهِ إِلَى كَلامِكَ وَلا جِئْتُكَ وَلا سَأَلْتُكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عُدْ إِلَى حَدِيثِ الْهِنْدِيِّ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّاهِبُ سَمِعْتُ بِهَذِهِ الاسْمَاءِ وَلا أَدْرِي مَا بِطَانَتُهَا وَلا شَرَائِحُهَا وَلا أَدْرِي مَا هِيَ وَلا كَيْفَ هِيَ وَلا بِدُعَائِهَا فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى قَدِمْتُ سُبْذَانَ الْهِنْدِ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهُ بَنَى دَيْراً فِي جَبَلٍ فَصَارَ لا يَخْرُجُ وَلا يُرَى إِلا فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَزَعَمَتِ الْهِنْدُ أَنَّ الله فَجَّرَ لَهُ عَيْناً فِي دَيْرِهِ وَزَعَمَتِ الْهِنْدُ أَنَّهُ يُزْرَعُ لَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ زَرْعٍ يُلْقِيهِ وَيُحْرَثُ لَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَرْثٍ يَعْمَلُهُ فَانْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى بَابِهِ فَأَقَمْتُ ثَلاثاً لا أَدُقُّ الْبَابَ وَلا أُعَالِجُ الْبَابَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الرَّابِعُ فَتَحَ الله الْبَابَ وَجَاءَتْ بَقَرَةٌ عَلَيْهَا حَطَبٌ تَجُرُّ ضَرْعَهَا يَكَادُ يَخْرُجُ مَا فِي ضَرْعِهَا مِنَ اللَّبَنِ فَدَفَعَتِ الْبَابَ فَانْفَتَحَ فَتَبِعْتُهَا وَدَخَلْتُ فَوَجَدْتُ الرَّجُلَ قَائِماً يَنْظُرُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَيَبْكِي وَيَنْظُرُ إِلَى الارْضِ فَيَبْكِي وَيَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْجِبَالِ فَيَبْكِي فَقُلْتُ سُبْحَانَ الله مَا أَقَلَّ ضَرْبَكَ فِي دَهْرِنَا هَذَا فَقَالَ لِي وَالله مَا أَنَا إِلا حَسَنَةٌ مِنْ حَسَنَاتِ رَجُلٍ خَلَّفْتَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِكَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أُخْبِرْتُ أَنَّ عِنْدَكَ اسْماً مِنْ أَسْمَاءِ الله تَبْلُغُ بِهِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ وَتَرْجِعُ إِلَى بَيْتِكَ فَقَالَ لِي وَهَلْ تَعْرِفُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ قُلْتُ لا أَعْرِفُ إِلا بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ الَّذِي بِالشَّامِ قَالَ لَيْسَ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ وَلَكِنَّهُ الْبَيْتُ الْمُقَدَّسُ وَهُوَ بَيْتُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَمَّا مَا سَمِعْتُ بِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِي هَذَا فَهُوَ بَيْتُ الْمَقْدِسِ فَقَالَ لِي تِلْكَ مَحَارِيبُ الانْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ يُقَالُ لَهَا حَظِيرَةُ الْمَحَارِيبِ حَتَّى جَاءَتِ الْفَتْرَةُ الَّتِي كَانَتْ بَيْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعِيسَى (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَقَرُبَ الْبَلاءُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ وَحَلَّتِ النَّقِمَاتُ فِي دُورِ الشَّيَاطِينِ فَحَوَّلُوا وَبَدَّلُوا وَنَقَلُوا تِلْكَ الاسْمَاءَ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى الْبَطْنُ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَالظَّهْرُ مَثَلٌ إِنْ هِيَ إِلا أَسْماءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوها أَنْتُمْ وَآباؤُكُمْ ما أَنْزَلَ الله بِها مِنْ سُلْطانٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي قَدْ ضَرَبْتُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ بَعِيدٍ تَعَرَّضْتُ إِلَيْكَ بِحَاراً وَغُمُوماً وَهُمُوماً وَخَوْفاً وَأَصْبَحْتُ وَأَمْسَيْتُ مُؤْيَساً أَلا أَكُونَ ظَفِرْتُ بِحَاجَتِي فَقَالَ لِي مَا أَرَى أُمَّكَ حَمَلَتْ بِكَ إِلا وَقَدْ حَضَرَهَا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ وَلا أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ أَبَاكَ حِينَ أَرَادَ الْوُقُوعَ بِأُمِّكَ إِلا وَقَدِ اغْتَسَلَ وَجَاءَهَا عَلَى طُهْرٍ وَلا أَزْعُمُ إِلا أَنَّهُ قَدْ كَانَ دَرَسَ السِّفْرَ الرَّابِعَ مِنْ سَهَرِهِ ذَلِكَ فَخُتِمَ لَهُ بِخَيْرٍ ارْجِعْ مِنْ حَيْثُ جِئْتَ فَانْطَلِقْ حَتَّى تَنْزِلَ. مَدِينَةَ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الَّتِي يُقَالُ لَهَا طَيْبَةُ وَقَدْ كَانَ اسْمُهَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَثْرِبَ ثُمَّ اعْمِدْ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ مِنْهَا يُقَالُ لَهُ الْبَقِيعُ ثُمَّ سَلْ عَنْ دَارٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا دَارُ مَرْوَانَ فَانْزِلْهَا وَأَقِمْ ثَلاثاً ثُمَّ سَلْ عَنِ الشَّيْخِ الاسْوَدِ الَّذِي يَكُونُ عَلَى بَابِهَا يَعْمَلُ الْبَوَارِيَّ وَهِيَ فِي بِلادِهِمُ اسْمُهَا الْخَصَفُ فَالْطُفْ بِالشَّيْخِ وَقُلْ لَهُ بَعَثَنِي إِلَيْكَ نَزِيلُكَ الَّذِي كَانَ يَنْزِلُ فِي الزَّاوِيَةِ فِي الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي فِيهِ الْخُشَيْبَاتُ الارْبَعُ ثُمَّ سَلْهُ عَنْ فُلانِ بْنِ فُلانٍ الْفُلانِيِّ وَسَلْهُ أَيْنَ نَادِيهِ وَسَلْهُ أَيُّ سَاعَةٍ يَمُرُّ فِيهَا فَلَيُرِيكَاهُ أَوْ يَصِفُهُ لَكَ فَتَعْرِفُهُ بِالصِّفَةِ وَسَأَصِفُهُ لَكَ قُلْتُ فَإِذَا لَقِيتُهُ فَأَصْنَعُ مَا ذَا قَالَ سَلْهُ عَمَّا كَانَ وَعَمَّا هُوَ كَائِنٌ وَسَلْهُ عَنْ مَعَالِمِ دِينِ مَنْ مَضَى وَمَنْ بَقِيَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَدْ نَصَحَكَ صَاحِبُكَ الَّذِي لَقِيتَ فَقَالَ الرَّاهِبُ مَا اسْمُهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ هُوَ مُتَمِّمُ بْنُ فَيْرُوزٍ وَهُوَ مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْفُرْسِ وَهُوَ مِمَّنْ آمَنَ بِالله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَعَبَدَهُ بِالاخْلاصِ وَالايقَانِ وَفَرَّ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ لَمَّا خَافَهُمْ فَوَهَبَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ حُكْماً وَهَدَاهُ لِسَبِيلِ الرَّشَادِ وَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَعَرَّفَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ عِبَادِهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ وَمَا مِنْ سَنَةٍ إِلا وَهُوَ يَزُورُ فِيهَا مَكَّةَ حَاجّاً وَيَعْتَمِرُ فِي رَأْسِ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ مَرَّةً وَيَجِي‏ءُ مِنْ مَوْضِعِهِ مِنَ الْهِنْدِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَضْلاً مِنَ الله وَعَوْناً وَكَذَلِكَ يَجْزِي الله الشَّاكِرِينَ ثُمَّ سَأَلَهُ الرَّاهِبُ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ كَثِيرَةٍ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يُجِيبُهُ فِيهَا وَسَأَلَ الرَّاهِبَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَ الرَّاهِبِ فِيهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِهَا ثُمَّ إِنَّ الرَّاهِبَ قَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ ثَمَانِيَةِ أَحْرُفٍ نَزَلَتْ فَتَبَيَّنَ فِي الارْضِ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ وَبَقِيَ فِي الْهَوَاءِ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ عَلَى مَنْ نَزَلَتْ تِلْكَ الارْبَعَةُ الَّتِي فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَمَنْ يُفَسِّرُهَا قَالَ ذَاكَ قَائِمُنَا يُنْزِلُهُ الله عَلَيْهِ فَيُفَسِّرُهُ وَيُنَزِّلُ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ عَلَى الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالرُّسُلِ وَالْمُهْتَدِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ الرَّاهِبُ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الاثْنَيْنِ مِنْ تِلْكَ الارْبَعَةِ الاحْرُفِ الَّتِي فِي الارْضِ مَا هِيَ قَالَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِالارْبَعَةِ كُلِّهَا أَمَّا أَوَّلُهُنَّ فَلا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ بَاقِياً وَالثَّانِيَةُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مُخْلَصاً وَالثَّالِثَةُ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الْبَيْتِ وَالرَّابِعَةُ شِيعَتُنَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَرَسُولُ الله مِنَ الله بِسَبَبٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرَّاهِبُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ الله وَأَنَّ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله حَقٌّ وَأَنَّكُمْ صَفْوَةُ الله مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَأَنَّ شِيعَتَكُمُ الْمُطَهَّرُونَ الْمُسْتَبْدَلُونَ وَلَهُمْ عَاقِبَةُ الله وَالْحَمْدُ لله رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ فَدَعَا أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِجُبَّةِ خَزٍّ وَقَمِيصٍ قُوهِيٍّ وَطَيْلَسَانٍ وَخُفٍّ وَقَلَنْسُوَةٍ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهَا وَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ وَقَالَ لَهُ اخْتَتِنْ فَقَالَ قَدِ اخْتَتَنْتُ فِي سَابِعِي.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim and Ahmad ibn Mihran all have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Rashid from ya‘qub ibn Ja‘far who has said the following. “Once I was in the presence of abu Ibrahim (a.s.) that a monk and a nun from the people of Najran, Yemen came to see him. al-Fadl ibn Sawwar sought permission for them and the Imam (a.s.) said, “Tomorrow bring them to the well of ’Umm Khaayr.” The narrator has said that on the next day we went to see him and we found the people also there. The Imam (a.s.) ordered to spread a mat that was made of palm tree fibers. He then sat down on it and the people sat down on The Imam (a.s.).The nun began asking questions. She asked may questions. The Imam (a.s.) answered them all. Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) asked her certain questions but she could not answer. She then accepted Islam. The monk then began to ask questions and the Imam (a.s.) would answer whatever he would ask. The monk then said, “I was very strong in my religion and no one of the Christians was as knowledgeable as I am. I heard of man from India who could go for pilgrimage to the Holy House in one day and one night and then go back to India to his home. I asked as to where did he live? I was told that he lived in Sibdhan. The one who informed me about him said that he knew the knowledge with which Asaf, the companion of Solomon brought the throne of Sheba before Solomon. He is the one whom Allah has mentioned in your book and in the books of the followers of the Bible.” Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) then said, “How many are the names of Allah that if invoke would not leave one without the desired result?” The monk said, “They are many but the ones with perfect effects that do not leave the person invoking them without the desired results are seven.” Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) asked him, “Tell of whichever that you know.” The monk said, “By Allah, who has sent the Torah to Moses and has made Jesus to be a lesson for the worlds and a trial for the thankfulness of the people of reason, Who has made Muhammad (s.a.) to be a blessing and mercy and has made Ali (a.s.) a lesson and the source of understanding, Who has made the executors of his will from his descendants and the descendants of Muhammad (s.a.) that I do not know.” Had I known them you would not have to ask me, I would not have come to you and would have asked you questions.” Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) then said, “Tell me more about the man from India.” The monk said, “I have heard certain names but I do not know their meanings and interpretations. I do not know what they are and how they are and how they are read? I journeyed until I reached Sidhan in India. I asked about the man and I was told that he has built a monastery in the mountain and can only be seen twice a yea. The people of India believe that Allah has made a stream flow through his monastery. They think that a different kincheloe, MI 49784 of farming is done for him therein and that all is done for him without normal labor. I then went to his door and waaited for three days without knocking and trying to open the door. On the fourth day Allah opened the door. A cow loaded wth fire wood came. Her breast was so heavily filled with milk that it would almost touch the ground and the milk would almost to come out. The cow pushed the door open and I followed her. I found the man in a standing position looking towards the sky and would weep. Then he would look to the earth and weep. He would look at the mountains and would weep. I said, “Glory belongs to Allah. How few are the people like you in our times.” He said, “By Allah, I am only one good of the deeds of the one whom you have left behind you.” I then said, “I am told that you know certain names of the name s of Allah through which you can reach every day and night the Holy house that is in al-Sham (Syria). Is it true?”He asked me, “Do you recognize the Holy House?” I replied, “I do not know any other Holy House besides that in al-Sham.” He said, “Not Bayt al-Maqdis (the mosque in Jerusalem). The Holy House that is the House of the family of Muhammad (s.a.).” I then said, “What I have heard up to this day is the Holy House that I just mentioned.” He said, “That is the place where the prophets worshipped Allah. It had been called the center of the places of worship until the period between the time of Jesus and the coming of Muhammad (s.a.) in which the calamities approached the pagans and misfortune entered the houses of Satan. They moved, changed and transferred those names as Allah has said in His words whose intrinsic meaning stand for the family of Muhammad and apparently stand as a proverb, “These are only names given by yourselves and your fathers. God has not given them any authority. . .”(53:23). I then said, to him, “I have come to your from a far away land. On the way I crossed , oceans, sadness, anxieties and fear. I have passed days and night in despair for falling to reach my goal.” He said to me, “I do not see that your mother conceived with you at any time without a noble angel with her. I never found your father without formal purification whenever he would go to bed with your mother. He went to bed with her in purified condition. I do not think there was any other reason except his reading the fourth part of the Torah during his nightly vigil, thus, arrived with him to the good end. Go back jus as you came. Leave until you reach Madina of Muhammad (s.a.) which also called the pure and clean. In the age of darkness of ignorance they called it Yathrib. Then go a place therein called al-Barqi’. Then ask for a house called the house of Marwan. Logde there for three days. Then ask for a black old man who works with the fibers of the palm tree (to make mats and other such things) that they call al-Khasf. Be kind to him and tell him, “I am sent to you by your guest who would stay with you in the corner of the house wherein there are the four pieces of woods. Then ask him about so and so son of so and so. Ask him where he forms his gathering and what time he passes thereby. He will show him to you or will give full description and dyou recognize him through the description and I also describe him for you.” .I said, “After meeting him what would I do?” He said, “Ask him of whatever happened and whatever will happen. Ask him about religious guidance of those past and those yet to come.” The narrator has said that abu Ibrahim (a.s.) said to him, “Your friend who you met has given you very good advise.” The monk then asked the Imam (a.s.), “What is his name, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause,?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “His name is Mutammim ibn Firuz from the people of Persia. He established faith in Allah Who is only One and has no partners and worshipped Him sincerely with certainty and devotion. He ran away from his people when was afraid of them. His Lord granted him authority and guided him to the way of right guidance and progress. He made him to be of the pious ones and granted him the knowledge of who the His sincere servants are. Every year he he visits Makka for Hajj and performs ‘Umra at the beginning of every month once. He comes from his place in India to Makka because of the distinction that Allah ahs granted to him and His support and thus Allah rewards those who give thanks.” The monk then asked him many questions. The Imam (a.s.) answered them all. He asked the monk certain questions which he could not answer but the Imam (a.s.) himself answered them.. The monk then said, “Tell me of the eight letters that were revealed out of which four were manifested on earth and the other four remained in space. To who the four were sent thhe fpur that remained in space? Who will interpret them?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He will be our al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine authority). Allah will sent them to him and he will interpret them. He will sent to him what has not even been sent to the truthful ones, the messengers and the rightly guided ones.” Then the monk said, “Tell me about the of the four that were sent to earth. What are they?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I will tell you about all four. The first one was ‘there is no lord except Allah Who is One and has no partners that He is eternal ’. The second was, ‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah purely’. The third one was we the Ahl al-Bayt (infallible members of the family of Muhammad (s.a.). the fourth one was our Shi‘a (followers) who are from us and we are from the Messenger of Allah and the Messenger of Allah is from Allah through means.” The monk then said, “I testify that there is no lord except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and that whatever he brought from Allah is true and that your, Ahl al-Bayt (the infallible members of the family of Muhammad (s.a.) are the chosen of Allah from His creatures and that you Shi‘a are pure who are the replacement (of those who oppose you). They will have the good end. All thanks are due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) called to bring for him a gown, a shirt made in Gha’in Khurasan, a scarf, a shoe and a hat. He gave them to him and prayed the noon time prayer and asked him to circumcise. He said, “ It had been done when he was seven years old.”

 6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ قَالَ مَرَّ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ بِامْرَأَةٍ بِمِنًى وَهِيَ تَبْكِي وَصِبْيَانُهَا حَوْلَهَا يَبْكُونَ وَقَدْ مَاتَتْ لَهَا بَقَرَةٌ فَدَنَا مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا مَا يُبْكِيكِ يَا أَمَةَ الله قَالَتْ يَا عَبْدَ الله إِنَّ لَنَا صِبْيَاناً يَتَامَى وَكَانَتْ لِي بَقَرَةٌ مَعِيشَتِي وَمَعِيشَةُ صِبْيَانِي كَانَ مِنْهَا وَقَدْ مَاتَتْ وَبَقِيتُ مُنْقَطَعاً بِي وَبِوُلْدِي لا حِيلَةَ لَنَا فَقَالَ يَا أَمَةَ الله هَلْ لَكِ أَنْ أُحْيِيَهَا لَكِ فَأُلْهِمَتْ أَنْ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ يَا عَبْدَ الله فَتَنَحَّى وَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَهُ هُنَيْئَةً وَحَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَوَّتَ بِالْبَقَرَةِ فَنَخَسَهَا نَخْسَةً أَوْ ضَرَبَهَا بِرِجْلِهِ فَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الارْضِ قَائِمَةً فَلَمَّا نَظَرْتِ الْمَرْأَةُ إِلَى الْبَقَرَةِ صَاحَتْ وَقَالَتْ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ فَخَالَطَ النَّاسَ وَصَارَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمَضَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

 6. From Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Mughira who has said the following: "The pious servant of Allah (Imam Kadhim (a.s)) passed in Mina by a woman who was weeping and her children around her also were weeping because her cow was dead. He went close to her and asked, 'What has caused you to weep O slave of Allah?' She said, 'O servant of Allah, we have orphan children. Our cow that was our means for our living has died and we are left without any means of living.' He asked 'Oh maiden of Allah, would you like me to bring your cow back to life?' She was just inspired to say, 'Yes, O servant of Allah I will be very happy.' He stepped aside and said two Rak‘at prayers. He then raised his hands gently and moved his lips. He then stood up and called the cow to get up. He pushed the cow with his foot or a staff and she was up straight and standing. When the woman looked at the cow she cried and said, 'Jesus, son of Mary, I swear by the Lord of the Ka‘aba!' Many people gathered around and he disappeared among them and went."

 7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ رَحِمَهُ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ يَنْعَى إِلَى رَجُلٍ نَفْسَهُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي وَإِنَّهُ لَيَعْلَمُ مَتَى يَمُوتُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ شِبْهَ الْمُغْضَبِ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ قَدْ كَانَ رُشَيْدٌ الْهَجَرِيُّ يَعْلَمُ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَالْبَلايَا وَالامَامُ أَوْلَى بِعِلْمِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ اصْنَعْ مَا أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ فَإِنَّ عُمُرَكَ قَدْ فَنِيَ وَإِنَّكَ تَمُوتُ إِلَى سَنَتَيْنِ وَإِخْوَتَكَ وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِكَ لا يَلْبَثُونَ بَعْدَكَ إِلا يَسِيراً حَتَّى تَتَفَرَّقَ كَلِمَتُهُمْ وَيَخُونُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً حَتَّى يَشْمَتَ بِهِمْ عَدُوُّهُمْ فَكَانَ هَذَا فِي نَفْسِكَ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أَسْتَغْفِرُ الله بِمَا عَرَضَ فِي صَدْرِي فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ إِسْحَاقُ بَعْدَ هَذَا الْمَجْلِسِ إِلا يَسِيراً حَتَّى مَاتَ فَمَا أَتَى عَلَيْهِمْ إِلا قَلِيلٌ حَتَّى قَامَ بَنُو عَمَّارٍ بِأَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ فَأَفْلَسُوا.

 7. Ahmad ibn Mahziyar, may Allah grant him blessings, has narrated from mmmd ibn ali from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following. “Once I heard the pious servant of Allah giving the news of his own death to a man. I thought that he might or might not know when a person from his Shi‘a (followers) would die. He turned to me as if angry and said, “O Ishaq, if Rashid al-Hajri possessed the knowledge of deaths and suffering, the necessity for such knowledge for the Imam is much greater.” Then he said, “O Ishaq, do whatever you may like. Your life is destroyed and you will die within two years. Your brothers and family will very soon after you will scatter in disunity turn as traitors against each other so much so that even their enemies would scold them. Was this in your mind?” I said, “I seek refuge to Allah for what went in my center (heart or chest).” After that meeting Ishaq, did live for very long time.and he died. And very soon after banu (children of) ‘Ammar began to live on loans and they became very poor and destitute.”

 8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْبَجَلِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ جَاءَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَقَدِ اعْتَمَرْنَا عُمْرَةَ رَجَبٍ وَنَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ يَا عَمِّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ بَغْدَادَ وَقَدْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أُوَدِّعَ عَمِّي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) وَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ تَذْهَبَ مَعِي إِلَيْهِ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ نَحْوَ أَخِي وَهُوَ فِي دَارِهِ الَّتِي بِالْحَوْبَةِ وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ بِقَلِيلٍ فَضَرَبْتُ الْبَابَ فَأَجَابَنِي أَخِي فَقَالَ مَنْ هَذَا فَقُلْتُ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ هُوَ ذَا أَخْرُجُ وَكَانَ بَطِي‏ءَ الْوُضُوءِ فَقُلْتُ الْعَجَلَ قَالَ وَأَعْجَلُ فَخَرَجَ وَعَلَيْهِ إِزَارٌ مُمَشَّقٌ قَدْ عَقَدَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ حَتَّى قَعَدَ تَحْتَ عَتَبَةِ الْبَابِ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ فَانْكَبَبْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَبَّلْتُ رَأْسَهُ وَقُلْتُ قَدْ جِئْتُكَ فِي أَمْرٍ إِنْ تَرَهُ صَوَاباً فَالله وَفَّقَ لَهُ وَإِنْ يَكُنْ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَمَا أَكْثَرَ مَا نُخْطِىُ قَالَ وَمَا هُوَ قُلْتُ هَذَا ابْنُ أَخِيكَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُوَدِّعَكَ وَيَخْرُجَ إِلَى بَغْدَادَ فَقَالَ لِيَ ادْعُهُ فَدَعَوْتُهُ وَكَانَ مُتَنَحِّياً فَدَنَا مِنْهُ فَقَبَّلَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَوْصِنِي فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ أَنْ تَتَّقِيَ الله فِي دَمِي فَقَالَ مُجِيباً لَهُ مَنْ أَرَادَكَ بِسُوءٍ فَعَلَ الله بِهِ وَجَعَلَ يَدْعُو عَلَى مَنْ يُرِيدُهُ بِسُوءٍ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَقَبَّلَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ يَا عَمِّ أَوْصِنِي فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ أَنْ تَتَّقِيَ الله فِي دَمِي فَقَالَ مَنْ أَرَادَكَ بِسُوءٍ فَعَلَ الله بِهِ وَفَعَلَ ثُمَّ عَادَ فَقَبَّلَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَمِّ أَوْصِنِي فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ أَنْ تَتَّقِيَ الله فِي دَمِي فَدَعَا عَلَى مَنْ أَرَادَهُ بِسُوءٍ ثُمَّ تَنَحَّى عَنْهُ وَمَضَيْتُ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ لِي أَخِي يَا عَلِيُّ مَكَانَكَ فَقُمْتُ مَكَانِي فَدَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ ثُمَّ دَعَانِي فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَتَنَاوَلَ صُرَّةً فِيهَا مِائَةُ دِينَارٍ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَقَالَ قُلْ لابْنِ أَخِيكَ يَسْتَعِينُ بِهَا عَلَى سَفَرِهِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ فَأَخَذْتُهَا فَأَدْرَجْتُهَا فِي حَاشِيَةِ رِدَائِي ثُمَّ نَاوَلَنِي مِائَةً أُخْرَى وَقَالَ أَعْطِهِ أَيْضاً ثُمَّ نَاوَلَنِي صُرَّةً أُخْرَى وَقَالَ أَعْطِهِ أَيْضاً فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِذَا كُنْتَ تَخَافُ مِنْهُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي ذَكَرْتَ فَلِمَ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ فَقَالَ إِذَا وَصَلْتُهُ وَقَطَعَنِي قَطَعَ الله أَجَلَهُ ثُمَّ تَنَاوَلَ مِخَدَّةَ أَدَمٍ فِيهَا ثَلاثَةُ آلافِ دِرْهَمٍ وَضَحٍ وَقَالَ أَعْطِهِ هَذِهِ أَيْضاً قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَأَعْطَيْتُهُ الْمِائَةَ الاولَى فَفَرِحَ بِهَا فَرَحاً شَدِيداً وَدَعَا لِعَمِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْطَيْتُهُ الثَّانِيَةَ وَالثَّالِثَةَ فَفَرِحَ بِهَا حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيَرْجِعُ وَلا يَخْرُجُ ثُمَّ أَعْطَيْتُهُ الثَّلاثَةَ آلافِ دِرْهَمٍ فَمَضَى عَلَى وَجْهِهِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى هَارُونَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْخِلافَةِ وَقَالَ مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ فِي الارْضِ خَلِيفَتَيْنِ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ عَمِّي مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يُسَلَّمُ عَلَيْهِ بِالْخِلافَةِ فَأَرْسَلَ هَارُونُ إِلَيْهِ بِمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ فَرَمَاهُ الله بِالذُّبَحَةِ فَمَا نَظَرَ مِنْهَا إِلَى دِرْهَمٍ وَلا مَسَّهُ.

 8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Musa ibn al-Qasim al-Bajali from Ali ibn Ja‘far who has said the following. “Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il came to me when we were still in Makka after completing our ‘Umra in the month of Rajab. He said, “Uncle, I intend to go to Baghdad but I want to say farewell to my uncle, abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) aand I would like that you also come with me.” I came with him to my brother and he was in his house in al-Hawba It was just after sun set. I knocked the door and my brother answered the door asking, “Who is it?” I replied, “It is Ali.” He said, “I am just coming.” He would do his Wudu very slowly. I said, “Be quick please.” He said, “I will be quick.” He came out wearing dyed clothe that he secured around his neck and sat down just below the door steps. I, Ali ibn Ja‘far leaned over him and kissed his head and said, “I have come for a matter to find out if you would agree then Allah may grant him success, if you would not agree then it is one of those mistake that we make.” He asked, “what is it?” I said, “This is the son of your brother. He wants to say farewell to you because he wants to go to Baghdad.” He said to me, “Call him.” I called him and he had kept some distance. He came close to him and kissed his head and said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, please advise me.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I advise you to be pious before Allah and spare my life.” He in answer said, “Whoever would have bad intentions towards you, may Allah have the same for him.” He continued to pray against those who would have bad intentions towards the Imam (a.s.). He them kiss the head of the Imam (a.s.) again and said, “Please advise me.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I advise you to be pious before Allah and spare my life.” may or not.” He in answer said, “Whoever would have bad intentions towards you, may Allah have the same for him.” He kissed the head of the Imam (a.s.) and said, “Please advise me.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I advise you to be pious before Allah and spare my life.” He prayed against those who would have bad intentions towards the Imam (a.s.) and moved away and I left along with him. My brother called me and said, “O Ali, wait where you are.” I waited and he went inside and then called me inside. I went inside and he gave me a bag with a hundred Dinars in it and said, “Tell your cousin to use it during his journey.” The narrator has said, “I secured the money in my dress and he gave me another hundred Dinar to give to him also and then he give me one more bag to give to him. I said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “When you are afraid of him so much then why do you give him all this money and why do you support him to against your own self?.” He said, “When I would maintain good relations with him and would cut off such relationships Allah will cut his life short.” Then he gave to me a pillow with three hundred pure Dirhams (units of money) in it and asked to give him also.” The narrator has said, “I then left and gave him the first one hundred and he became extremely happy and prayed for his uncle. I then gave him the other money and he became so happy that I thought he might not go to Baghdad any more. I then gave him all the Dirhams and he left for Baghdad. He greeted Harun as the Caliph and said, “I did not think that there can be two caliphs on earth at the same time. I also saw my uncle Musa ibn Ja‘far being greeted as the Caliph.” Harun sent him one hundred thousand Dirhams. He fell sich with Diphtheria or scrofulous and died before seeing or touching any of those money.”

 9ـ سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله وَعَبْدُ الله بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ عَنْ أَخِيهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قُبِضَ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعٍ وَخَمْسِينَ سَنَةً فِي عَامِ ثَلاثٍ وَثَمَانِينَ وَمِائَةٍ وَعَاشَ بَعْدَ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) خَمْساً وَثَلاثِينَ سَنَةً.

 9. Sa‘dibn ‘Abdallah and ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far all have narrated from Ibrahim ibn Mahziyar from his brother Ali ibn Mahziyar from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following. “Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) died at the age of fifty five in the year one hundred eighty three. He lived for thirty five years after Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.).”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 120