1. Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub has narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim from his father, from al-Hassan ibn Ibrahim from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Ali ibn Mansur who narrated the following: “Hisham ibn al-Hakam has reported that in Egypt there lived a heretic who had heard about Abu ‘Abdillah a great deal. He traveled to Medina to debate the Imam but he missed to find the Imam therein. He was told that the Imam has traveled to the city of Makkah. He then left for Makkah and we were with Abu ‘Abdillah when we came across him during our performing Tawaf (the seven times walking around the Ka‘bah). The man’s name was ‘Abdul Malik, and his kunya was Abu ‘Abdallah.

He touched Imam Abu ‘Abdillah’s shoulder with his shoulder as he walked along. Abu ‘Abdillah asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, ”It is ‘Abdul Malik (meaning slave of the King).” He further asked, “What is your kunyah?” He replied, “It is Abu ‘Abdallah (meaning father of slave of Allah).” Abu 'Abdillah then asked, “Who is this king whose slave you are? Is he of the earthly kings or of the heavenly ones? Tell us about your son. Is he a slave of the Lord of the heavens or a slave of the Lord of the earth? Say whatever you may, it will be against you.” Hisham has said that I asked him (the heretic man), “Why do you not answer?” The man seemed to dislike my words.

Abu ‘Abdillah then told him, “Meet us when we finish our Tawaf.” The heretic man came to Abu ‘Abdillah later and sat in front of the Imam and we were all gathered around him. Abu ‘Abdillah then asked him, “Do you know that the earth has an underside and an upperside?” The man replied, “Yes, I know it.” The Imam then asked, “Have you gone in the underside of the earth?” The man replied, “No, I have not gone there.” The Imam then asked, “Do you know what is therein?” He said, “I do not know but I guess there is nothing therein.” The Imam then said, “Guessing is weakness. Why do you not acquire certainty?” The Imam then asked, “Have you climbed up into the sky?” The man replied, “No, I have not done so.” The Imam then asked, “Do you know what is up there?” He replied, “No, I do not know.” The Imam said, “It is very strange. Without reaching the East or West, without going under the earth or climbing up the sky and not even have crossed anything to know what is behind you deny what is in them. Does any man of reason deny what he does not know?” The heretic man then said, “No one has ever come up with such statements to me as you have.” The Imam then said, “So you are uncertain about Him. Perhaps He is or may be He does not exist.” The heretic man then said, “Perhaps He is.”

The Imam then said, “O man, one who does not know has no authority over the one who knows. O Egyptian brethren, listen carefully. We have no doubts in the existence of Allah. Think about the sun, the moon, the day and the nights follow each other and do not miss their turns or become confused. They each have its place and do not have any choice. If they had any other choice they would not come back again. If they had a choice the day would not end with night and the night would not end in the day. They are forced to continue, O Egyptian brethren, I swear by Allah. The One who has forced them is stronger than them and greater. What people speak of and you guess it is (dahr) motionless time if it was so, then when it would take them away it would not return them and if time have returned them then why it is not taking them away? These things, O Egyptian brethren, are compelled. Why the sky is up high and why the earth is low? Why the sky does not fall down on earth? Why the earth does not flow one layer over the other and the two do not stick to each other and why those on it do not stick to it?”

The man then said, “God their Lord has made them to hold together.” Hisham has said, “He professed belief in God in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah .” Humran then said to the Imam, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if heretics profess belief in Allah before you, it is because the unbelievers converted to faith because of your father.” The man who had just professed belief in Allah requested Abu ‘Abdillah to allow him to become one of his students. The Imam then asked Hisham to teach him. Hisham taught him well and he became a teacher for the people in Syria and Egypt. His purification was very well and the Imam became happy with him.”