H 273 - A group of scholars has narrated from Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali bin Husain that he said: Narrated to me Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq Taliqani that: “I was in the company of Shaykh Abul Qasim Husain Ibn Rauh (q.s.) with a group of people, including Ali bin Isa Qasri when a man stood up and said: ‘I wish to pose some questions to you.’ He (Ibn Rauh) replied, ‘You may ask.’ He asked, ‘Please tell me if Husain is the Wali (saint) of Allah?’ He replied at once, ‘Yes.’ He asked, ‘Is it possible for Allah to give power to His enemy over this friend?’ Husain bin Rauh said, “Pay attention to what I am saying and remember it. You should know that the Almighty Allah does not speak to the people directly. But He sends some prophets to them. If He had sent non-humans as prophets, they would not have gathered near him, they would have shunned him. That is why the prophets were from human beings. They ate like humans and walked the streets and bazaars. People used to say: You are like us and we are like you. We do not accept that you are a prophet, but that you present some miracle. If you show a miracle, we would know that you have a special distinction from Allah, which we don’t have. Thus the miracles of the prophets are the greatest proof of the veracity of their claims. Therefore, some of them after warnings and completion of proof, presented the miracle of the flood and storm and the arrogants were drowned. Some were such that when thrown into the fire, it became cool and comfort for them. For some of them the sea split and the enemies drowned in it. The Almighty Allah turned the dry staff into a python. Of them were such through whose hands the Almighty enlivened the dead and for some split the moon and in the same way gave speech to animals like camel and wolf, etc. In other words, the divine prophets presented such miracles that people were not capable of performing them. The wisdom of the Almighty was such that the prophets, though they possessed miracles, sometimes they were victorious and sometimes suffered defeat. If they had always been victorious and had never suffered defeat and calamities the people would have mistaken them for being gods and considered them all-powerful. Thus the prophets, despite their miracles were sometimes victorious and successful and sometimes vanquished, therefore the people did not perceive them to be omnipotent and realized that there was a power above the prophets; that is the creator and nourisher of the Universe? They were compelled to confess to Him and obey His prophets, who are the proofs of Allah over the people. Anyone who saw their propagation, warnings and signs decided and confessed that it was truth and worth obedience. In this way they secured their salvation and those who deviated from this and became inimical to the divine messengers fell into everlasting chastisement. So: that he who would perish might perish by clear proof, and he who would live might live by clear proof.’” Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq says that the reply of Husain bin Rauh was so astonishing that the next day he went to him to ask him whether it was his own reply or he had learnt it from the Infallible Imam . Husain bin Rauh told him: “O Muhammad bin Ibrahim! I never say anything on my own even in the most difficult circumstances. Rather the source of everything is the favors I have received from the Proof of Allah and heard from him...”