4-146 Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluyih - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his uncle Muhammad ibn Abil-Qasim quoted Abu Samina Muhammad ibn Ali al-Kufy, on the authority of Musa ibn Sa’edan, on the authority of Abdullah ibn al-Qasim, on the authority of Salih ibn Sahl that Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB) said the following regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘Take four birds. Tame them to turn to thee. Put a portion of them on every hill and call out to them. They will come to thee (flying) with speed. Then know that God is Exalted in Power, Wise.’The Imam (MGB) said, “Abraham (MGB) took a hoopoe, a shrike, a peacock and a crow. He chopped them into pieces and mixed them up. Then he placed a part of their mixed flesh on top of (each of) the ten hillsaround there. He held each bird’s beak in his hand. He placed some seeds and water near himself and called out to them. The various parts of each bird started to fly towards each other and formed a perfect body. Each body went towards its own head and joined it to become a live bird. Then Abraham (MGB) let their beaks go. The birds flew and then landed. They drank the water and ate some seeds and said, ‘O Prophet of God! You have revived us. May God revive you.’ Abraham (MGB) said, ‘It is God who revives and takes away life. He has power over all things.’ This is the superficial interpretation.”The Imam (MGB) added, “However, the deep interpretation of this verse is as follows: Find four of the wise people. Teach them your knowledge. Send them around the world to invite the people to worship God.”The compiler of the book - may God be pleased with him - said, “I believe that Abraham (MGB) was ordered to do both things. The birds which he was ordered to catch were: a peacock, an eagle, a rooster and a duck. I heard Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Tayfur say the following regarding the following verse of the Holy Quran, ‘Behold! Abraham said, "My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead." He said, "Dost thou not then believe?" He said, "Yea! but to satisfy My own undertaking." He said, "Take four birds; Tame them to turn to thee; put a portion of them on every hill and call to them: They will come to thee (Flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.”’“Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God ordered Abraham to visit one of His good servants. When Abraham saw him, the man told him, ‘Indeed the Blessed the Sublime God has a servant in this world called Abraham whom He has taken as His friend.’ Abraham asked him, ‘What are the signs of this servant?’ The man said, ‘God will bring back to life the dead for him.’ Then Abraham had doubts that he himself may not be that servant. That is why Abraham asked God to bring the dead back to life for him. ‘He said, "Dost thou not then believe?" He said, "Yea! but to satisfy My own undertaking."’That was when he was ordered to offer his son Ishmael. Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God ordered Abraham (MGB) to offer four birds - a peacock, an eagle, a duck and a rooster. The peacock referred to the adornments of this world. The eagle referred to great expectations. The duck referred to being needy, and the rooster referred to lustfulness. Indeed, in order to revive Abraham’s heart, the Honorable the Exalted God told him that he should abandon these four characteristics, since as long as he have them you cannot be with God.”The Imam (MGB) was asked, ‘Why did God ask Abraham whether or not he believed in God, although God is well-aware of his secrets and conditions?’ The Imam (MGB) replied, ‘When Abraham (MGB) said, ‘My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead?’ It seems that on the surface Abraham had doubts. However, this was asked so that he may be given a chance to answer and be acquitted of any such accusations.”