Imamology, Lesson 46-51: Mentioning some of the miracles and virtuous of the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace

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Mentioning some of the miracles and virtuous of the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace

The Holiness Imam Bāqir, upon him be peace, stated that: ‘When Jowaira bin Mosahhar was setting out for a journey, the Commander of the Believers told him: “On the way you will come across a lion.” He asked: ‘Then, what should I do?” The Holiness stated: “Remember me to him, and say: The Commander of believers, has trusted me to you.”

Jowaira set out and on the way he saw a lion, Jowaira told him: ‘O Aba Harith, the Commander of the believers has remembered you and he has enjoined you to protect me.’

Jowaira says: ‘by hearing what I say, the lion turned his back to me and roared for ‘Five’ times.’ Then, when I was back from my journey, I related the story of the lion to the Commander of the believers. Hearing What I say, the Holiness counted up to five on his fingers and said: “His ‘five-times-roaring’ were five salutations he has sent to me!”’ ^[53]

Amru bin Hamzat al-Alavi has pointed it in the book of “Fazaeel al-Kofa” that: Once, the Commander of the believers was sitting in the altar of the Kofa Mosque when a man stood up to go out to refresh his ablution, in the mean time, a viper was in the open to take his life away. The man ran back to the mosque and informed the case to the Holiness. The Holiness stood up, went to the hole of the viper and blocked its hole with the point of his sword and, in the mean time, saying to the sword: “If you have such power and miracle as the rode of Moses had, then, do bring this viper out of this hole.” It did not take long when the viper leapt out of the hole and first it began whispering something to the Commander of the believers, and then, turned to that frightful Arab saying: ‘When you caught sight of me, did you not understand that I was one of those four?’ The Arab said: ‘You are right,’ then, he slapped himself on the face and surrendered. ^[54]

Either of, Ammar bin Yasir and Jabir Ansari, says: ‘In the outskirt of the town, I was with the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace, when suddenly he left the road, I followed him and noticed that he raise his hands, looked at the sky, and said: “Well done! O the bird, you freed yourself from the hunter’s reach!”

I asked: ‘O my Master, where is this bird you are talking about?’ The Holiness said: “Do you want to see him, and hear his word?”

I said: ‘Yes, my Master.’

The Holiness looked at the sky, supplicated in silence and all of a sudden that bird came down and rested on the Holiness’ hand. The Holiness stroked it on the back and said: “Do speak with the permission of Allah, you know, I am Ali bin Abī Tālib.”

Allah made the bird speak fluently in Arabic and it said:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أميرالْمُؤمِنِينَ وَ رَحْمَة اللهِ وَ بَرَكاتُهُ.

‘Peace be upon you o the Commander of the believers, and may Allah’s mercy and blessing be on you!’

The Holiness replied his greeting and sated: “How do you get your nourishment and water in this dead and dried desert and wilderness!” He said: ‘O my Master, I satisfy my hunger whenever I remember you, the Household’s Guardianship, and I quench my thirst by disgusting your enemies.’

The Holiness stated: “Bless you, bless you!” Then, the bird flew, similar to the statement of Allah with the quotation of Solomon who says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنْطِقَ الطَّيْر. ^[55]

‘O people, we know the logic of the bird.’

In the “Miracles of the Prophet-hood”, Muhammad bin Wahban Azedi Dibali relates concerning the Commander of the believers that: There flew a line of ducks in the sky, above the Commander of the believers, the were cackling and up-roaring all together. The Holiness turned to his companions saying: “They are greeting you.” However, some hypocrites among them, took it as a mockery and laughed up in their sleeves. The Holiness told his servant: “O Ghanbar! Cry on top of your voice ‘O the company of the ducks! Do respond the invitation of the Commander of the believers, the brother of the Messenger of Allah.’”   

Ghanbar did so, and suddenly the birds came down close to the Commander of the believers and began circling around him.

The Holiness commanded Ghanbar to tell them to land, he did so, and the birds resting on the ground peacefully. The Holiness spoke to them in a language unknown to us. They were all ears and while drawing the necks out to the Holiness were trying to caught his words. Thus, the Holiness stated: “Do speak with the permission of Allah,” at that very moment, all of them could speak with clear and fluent Arabic. The first speech they made was to say:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَميِرَالمؤمِنِينَ وَ خَلَيفَة رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ.

‘Peace be upon you, o the Commander of the believers, and the Caliph of the Lord of all Beings.’

And this subject is similar to the Statement of Allah, the Exalted, concerning the Holiness Dawood, upon him be peace, states:

يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبّى مَعَهُ وَ الطَّيْرَ وَ أَلَّنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدُ. ^[56]

‘… O mountains, echo Allah's praise with him, and you birds [do so]!” We also softened iron for him, (Qur’an:34/10).’

And in the “Elal ash-Sharaye” it is quoted from Ali bin Hatam Ghazvini, by means of his documents, from A‘mash, quoting Ibrahim bin Ali bin Abī Tālib saying that: ‘Once, the Holiness left his house and while staying by the Euphrates he was going to tell me something when suddenly ‘a Jirri’, a kind of snake which Arab calls as ‘Hankalis or Tho‘ban’ rose up from the water. The Holiness asked it: “Who are you?” He answered: ‘I was of the nation of the Children of the Israel and when I was invited to embrace your Guardianship but I refused it, it was then, as you see, Allah changed me into a snake!’ ^[57] 

Ibn Shahr Ashub says: ‘Ibn Mardoweia in the book of “Managhib”, Abu Ishaq Tha‘labi in his “Commentary”, Abu Abdullah bin Mandah in the book of “Ma‘rafat”, Abu Abdullah Natanzi in “Khasaees”, Khatib in “Arbaeen” and Abu Ahmad Jorjani in “The History of Jorjan” all have mentioned the event of  the Commander of the believers’ turning back the sun. And Abu Bakr Warraq has written a book concerning his turning back the sun; and Abu Abdullah has written a book to prove the righteousness of the “turning back the sun”. And Abu al-Ghasim Hasekani has written a subject concerning the righteousness of moving the sun and answering the obstinate. And Abu al-Hassan ibn Shazan has written a book concerning the quality of turning the sun and relating it to the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace. And Abu Bakr Shirazi has written the story of turning back the sun in details; and with his own documents from Ghattada, Mostofa has quoted Hassan Basari quoting Umm Hani and then has added that: ‘After this narrative, Hassan Basari has said that: “Allah, the Exalted, has sent down two Verses concerning this subject, the first one is His statement:   

وَ هُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ الَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ خِلْفَة لِمَنْ أَرادَ أَن يَذَّكَّرَ أَو أَرَادَ شُكُورًا. ^[58]

‘… and He is the One Who has appointed the night and day in succession for anyone who wants to remember or wants to gratitude, (Qur’an: 25/62).’

That is, they are replaceable for anyone who wants to fulfill his individual duty, or has gone to bed without fulfilling his duties – or he has in his mind to praise and give thanks to his Creator.

The second Statement of the Exalted is:

يُكَوِّرُ الَّيْلَ عَلَى النَّهَارِ وَ يُكَوِّرُ النَّهَارَ عَلَى الَّيْل. ^[59]

‘… He wraps up the night into the daytime, and wraps up the daytime into night, (Qur’an: 39/5).’

Then, he has added that several times the sun returned for the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace. Once, it was when Salman related the event, and the rest were: on the Day of Basat, on the Day of Khandaq, on the Day of Honain, on the Day of Kheibar, on the Day of Gharqisa,^[60] on the Day of Baratha, on the Day of Ghazereiia, on the Day of Nahrawan, on the Day of the Allegiance of Rizwan, on the Day of Siffin, in Najaf, in Bani Mazer, in the Land of Aqigh and after the Ohud.

And Koleini has related that when he was in the Mosque of Fazikh in Medina, the sun has returned for him!

However, the most well-known ones were twice: one was at the time of the Messenger of Allah at the KORA‘e al-GHAMIM, and the other one was in Babylon, after the demise of the Holiness.

The one which occurred at the time of the Messenger is the same one that Umm Salama and Asma the daughter of Omais, and Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari, Abuza Ghaffari, ibn Abbas, Abu Saeed Khodri and Abu Huraira have quoted the Holiness Imam Sādiq, upon him be peace, saying that: the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants, performed his prayer at the KORA‘e al-GHAMIM and as soon as ended up the prayer, there was sent a revelation to the Holiness. At that moment, Ali bin Abī Tālib went to the Holiness and witnessed the revelation descending, so he sat and held the Holiness in his arms and pressed him to his own body – the revelation was continually coming until the sun set. The revelation stopped and the Holiness asked Ali: “Have you performed your prayer?” Ali answered, ‘No,’ and he went on explaining the event to the Messenger of Allah, and the Messenger stated: “Let’s pray Allah to turn the sun for you.” The Commander of the believers prayed as the Messenger commanded and all of a sudden the illuminating sun turned up [for him to say his prayer].

And it is in the narrative of Abu Ja‘far Tahawi that: the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants, implored: ‘O my Creator! Ali has been busy in Your obedience as well the obedience of Your Messenger, so please return the sun for him,’ then, the sun miraculously returned. The Commander of the believers stood up and said his prayer; after his prayer ended, the sun settled and the stars appeared.

And in the narrative of Mahruia it has been related that: Asma said: ‘By Allah, when the sun was going to settle down, a sound, but clattering sound could be heard.’

Abu Bakr Mahrawiia says: ‘This event took place at the district of Zahya^[61] "ضَهیاء", on the way of Kheibar battle (in a wilderness). And also there is a narrative that: the Holiness said his prayer sign and allusion and when the sun returned, he repeated it by the permission of the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants.^[62] And concerning this event, Sahib bin Abbad says:

لَا تُقْبَلُ التَّوبَة مِن تائِبٍ             إلّا بحبِّ ابنِ أبى طالبٍ

 Not a sinner’s repentance is accepted,

Unless he has the affection of bin Abī Tālib.

  أخى رَسُولِ اللهِ بَلْ صِهْرِهِ         وَ الصِّهْرُ لَا يُعْدَلُ بِالصَّاحِب

The Messenger’s brother, and his son-in-law is he,

The son-in-law cannot be compared with a friend.

يَا قَوْمِ مَن مِثْلُ عَلِىٍّ وَ قَدْ         رُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ غَائِب ^[63]

O my tribe, o my nation! Who is like Ali

For indeed the gone-sun returned for him!

And Hem‘yari says:

فَلَمّا  قَضَى  وَحْىُ  النَّبِىّ   دَعالَهُ       وَ لَمْ يَكُ صَلَّى الْعَصْرُ وَ الشَّمْسُ تَنْزِعُ

فَرُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ بَعْدَ غُرُوبِهَا       فَصارَ لَها فِى أوَّلِ اللَّيلِ مَطْلَعُ ^[64]

As the flowing revelation to the Messenger ended, and Ali bin Abī Tālib has not said his [sunset] prayer, but the sun was setting down in the horizon, the Messenger of Allah prayed for him. Thus, the sun reappeared for Ali – that is, the late evening, for the sun, was its dawn-brake! 

The second occasion was after the demise of the Messenger Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants. Juwirah bin Mosahhar and Abu Rafi and Hussein bin Ali, upon him be peace, relate that: When the Commander of the believers set out for the Siffin Battle, and he crossed the Euphrates River, the Holiness himself established his prayer, and in the mean time, some of his men said their prayers. However, the rest of the army who could not cross the river in time, reached the other side after the sunset, so they lost the occasion to say their prayers. They went to the Holiness and said: ‘We failed to say our prayers.’ It was then the Holiness implored Allah to return the sun – the sun rose and lighten the horizon. Then, as the army has said their prayers, there came a loud frightening sound and everyone began to praise Allah in hymns until the sun reset in the horizon.’

And the mosque called “The sun return” is known and famous in Babylon.   

And has been related from ibn Abbas in different styles “The sun return” had not happened but only for Solomon, the Successor of Dawood, and Joshua bin Noun the Successor of Moses, and Ali bin Abī Tālib, the Successor of Muhammad, peace and blessing be upon them all. ^[65]

Sayyid Hem‘yari says:

رُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ لَمَّا فَاتَهُ             وَقْتُ الصَّلَاة وَ قَدْ دَنَت لِلْمَغْرِبِ

حَتَّى  تَبَلَّجَ  نُورُها فى افُقِهَا             لِلْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ هَوَتْ هَوَىَّ الْكَوْكَبِ

وَ عَلَيْهِ  قَدْ رُدَّتْ بِبَابِلَ  مَرَّة             اخرى وَ مَا رُدَّتْ لِخَلْقٍ مُعْرَبِ

إلّا  لِيُوشَعَ  أوْلَهُ  مِنْ  بَعْدِهِ             وَ لِرَدِّهَا تَأْوِيلُ امْرٍ مُعْجِبِ ^[66]

‘When the prayer-time for the Commander of the believers had passed, and the sun was almost set, it returned for Ali’s benefit to pray. It turned to brighten the horizon and its shining was enough for Ali to say the evening prayer. Then, like a falling star, it dropped down.

And in another occasion, the sun returned for Ali in Babylon.

Apart from Ali, and the first time, for Joshua bin Noun, for no man has ever the sun returned – and there is an astounding secret in this return. ‘

And also Hem‘yari says:

عَلِىُّ عَلَيْهِ رُدَّتِ الشَّمْسُ مَرَّة             بِطَيْبَة يَوْمَ الوَحْىِ بَعْدَ مُغَيَّب

وَ رُدَّتْ لَهُ  اخرى  بِبَابِلَ  بَعْدَ             مَا افَتْ ^[67] وَ تَدَلَّتْ عَيْنُهَا لِغُروبِ ^[68]

‘Ali is the same one for whom once the sun, after being hidden in the horizon, was returned on the Day of the Revelation, in the pure [Town of Medina].

And once more in Babylon, when it had stopped its show off in the sky and the flaming tablet had set in the horizon, came into sight.’ 

And ibn Himad says:

وَ رُدَّتْ لَكَ الشَّمْس فى بَابِلِ            فَسامَيْتَ يُوشَعَ لَمّا سَمى

وَ  يَعْقُوبُ  مَا كَانَ  اسباطُهُ             كَنَجلَيْكَ سِبطى نَبِىِّ الهُدى ^[69]

‘And the sun turned back for your sake in Babylon’ so you were prouder than Joshua when you were honoured such a position; and never can the tribes and the children of Jacob be like the two sweet Children of you, who are the two sons of the Messenger of guidance.’

And also ibn Hammad says:

قَرَنَ   الإلَهَ   وِلَاءَهُ     بِوِلَائِهِ          لَمّا تَزَكّى وَ هُو حَانٍ يَرْكَعُ‏

سَمَّاهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ نَفْسَ مُحَمَّدٍ             يَوْمَ البِهالِ وَذَاكَ مَا لا يُدْفَعُ‏

فَالشَّمْسُ قَدْ رُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ بَخيبرٍ             وَ قَدِ ابْتَدَتْ زَهْرُ الكوَاكِبِ تَطْلُعُ‏

وَ بِبَابِلَ رُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ  وَ لَمْ  يَكُنْ             وَ اللهِ خَيْراً مِنْ عَلِىٍّ يُوشَع ^[70]

‘Allah allied Ali’s Guardian to His Own Guardian; it was when Ali bowed down to pray and, in the mean time, gave out as the charity to the needy.

The Creator of the firmament called him as the soul of Muhammad on the Day of “Disputation”, this is not a subject to be rejected.

Once, the sun returned for his sake on the Day of Kheibar; it was when the night had fallen and the shining stars had appeared in the sky.

On another occasion, the sun turned back for him in Babylon – by Allah, Joshua is never better than Ali.’

And Ouni says:

وَ لَا تَنْسَ يَوْمَ الشَّمْسِ إذ رَجَعَتْ لَهُ             بِمُنْتَشَرٍ وَارِى مِنَ النُّورِ مُمْنِعِ

فَذَلِكَ   بِالضَّهيا   وَ قَدْ   رَجَعَتْ   لَهُ             بِبَابِلَ أيضاً رَجْعَة المُتَطوِّع ^[71]

‘And do not forget the Day of the Sun when it returned for him, in its vast and expanded light it appeared.

And this occurred close to a pond, a certain place, and once more in Babylon – it returned as the obedient to his command.’

And Soruji says:

وَ  الشَّمْسُ  لَمْ  تَعْدِلُ   بِيَومِ   بَابِلِ             وَ لَا تَعَدَّتْ امْرُهُ حينَ امَر

جاءت صَلاة العَصْرِ وَ الحَرْبُ عَلَى             ساقٍ فأومى نحْوَها ردَّ النَّظَر

فَلَمْ   تَزَلْ    واقِفَة    حَتَّى    قَضى             صَلاتُهُ ثُمَّ هَوَتْ نَحْوَ المَقَر ^[72]

‘And on that Day in Babylon, the sun did not disobey its duty was command by Ali. When the time for the Evening Prayer approached, and the battle broke out, the Commander of the believers cast a glance at the sun and commanded it [stop] with his look. The sun ceased to move until Ali said his prayer, and then fell into the invisible state.’

Ibn Shahr Aashub says: ‘The series of documents in my disposal from ibn Shiroya Deilami, Abdus Hamadani, and Khatib Kharazmi from among his books have related from my great grand father, Shahr Aashub, and Muhammad Fattal from the books of our companions, such as ibn Gholweia, Kash’shi, aAbdaki from Salman, Abuzar, ibn Abbas and Ali bin Abī Tālib, upon him be peace, that: ‘When, along with the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants, we conquered Mecca and reached HAWAZIN, the Holiness stated: “o Ali, stand up and try your status and position with Allah, the Exalted – when the sun is going to rise speak to it.” The Commander of the believers stood up and spoke to the sun while rising:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أيَّهُا الدائبُ فى طاعَة اللهِ رَبِّهِ.

‘Peace be upon you o the perseverance creature of  your Creator for your obedience and slavery for His cause.’

The son replied the Holiness by saying: 

    وَ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ يا أخا رَسُولِ الله وَ وَصِيَّهُ وَ حُجَّة اللهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ.

‘And peace be upon you, o brother and the Successor of the Messenger of Allah, and o you the Proof of Allah for His worshippers.’

The Commander of the believers suddenly dropped himself on the ground and prostrated, and while weeping, he was giving thanks to Allah. The Holiness Messenger helped Ali to stand on his feet and while stroking him on his face stated: “Stand up my beloved, the angels in the heavens kept crying for your sad cry; and Allah has become proud of you for carrying His firmament.”

Then, he stated:

الحَمدُ لِلَّهِ الّذي فَضَّلَنى عَلى سائِر الانبياء وَ أيَّدَنِى بِوَصِيَّة سَيِّدِ الاوصِياءِ. ثُمَّ قَرَأ: وَ لَهُ أَسْلَمَ مَنْ فِى السَّمَواتِ وَ الارْضِ طَوْعًا وَ كَرْهًا وَ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ. ^[73]

‘Praise be to One Who gave me priorities over the other messengers and helped me with the Master Successor of all the Successors;’ then he recited: ‘… and whatever in the heavens and on the earth exists submits to Him; and willingly or unwillingly to Him they shall be returned, (Qur’an: 3/83).’ ^[74]

Ouni says:

إمامى كَليمُ الشَّمْسِ راجَعَ نُورَها     فَهَلْ بِكَليمِ الشَّمْسِ فِى القَوْمِ مِنْ مِثلِ ^[75]

‘My Imam is he who spoke to the sun, and he returned its faded light; thus, is there one alike him among this nation to speak to the sun?’

And ibn Himad says:

وَ رَجَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ حينَ تَكَلَّمْت             وَ أَبَدَتْ مِن أسماءِ الإمامِ حامَها ^[76]

‘When he spoke to the sun it returned and informed him of the names of the Imams, the beginning of the Advent, and the appearing of the whole names and beauties.’

And ibn Hani Maghribi says:

وَ الشَّمْسُ حاسِرَة القِناعِ وَ وُدُّها             لَو تَسْتَطيعُ الارضَ التَّقبيلا

وَ  عَلى  أمير  المؤمنينَ  غَمامَة             نَشَأت تُظَلِّلُ تاجَهُ تَظليلا

وَ مُديرُها مِنْ حيثُ شاءَ وَ طالَما             زاحَت تَحِثُّ ظِلالُهُ جِبريلا ^[77]

‘The sun appeared unveiled

Wishing to give kisses to the earth,

Above the Commander of the believers hung a cloud

Casting shade on the crown of his head.

The turner of that cloud was no one, but Gabriel

Who moved the cloud wherever Ali wanted;

Long period passed by, until the shades of Ali’s own

Pushed back Gabriel and brought him down from his pose.’

And in Amali, Sheikh Tousi has related it by means of his documents, from Abu Muhammad Fakh’kham quoting Abu Maryam  who quotes Salman saying: ‘We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants, when Ali bin Abī Tālib, upon him be peace, came in. The Messenger of Allah gave a pebble to the Commander of the believers and when he was having the pebble in his hand, the Holiness began saying:

لَا إلَهَ إلّا اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ، رَضيتُ باللهِ رَبَّاً وَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِياً وَ بِعَلِىٍّ وَلِيًّا.

‘There is no Deity except Allah, the Honourable and Exalted, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; I am pleased that Allah is my Creator and Muhammad is my Messenger as well Ali is my Guardian and Master.’

And the Messenger, Bless be to him and his Descendants, stated:

مَنْ أصبَحَ مِنكُم راضِياً بِوِلَايَة عَلىٍّ فقَدْ أَمِنَ خَوْفَ اللهِ وَ عِقَابَهُ.

‘Whoever, among you, runs his life and is pleased with the Guardianship of Ali bin Abī Tālib, then, for sure, he is secured against the fright and chastisement.’  ^[78]

Ouni says:

مَن صاحِبُ المِنديلِ وَ السَّطْلِ وَ مَن  فى كَفِّهِ سَبَّحَ لِلّهِ الحَصى؟ ^[79]

‘Who is the owner of the towel and pail and in whose hand the pebbles praised Allah in hymns?’

 And ibn Himad says:                          

 من سَبَّحَتْ فى كَفِّهِ بيضُ الحَصى    لِيَكُونَ ذَاكَ لِفَضْلِهِ تِبياناً ^[80]

He, [Ali], is the one in whose hand, the white pebbles praised Allah in hymns so that it might be the sign of his priorities and manifest proof.’

Abdul Wahid bin Zaid says: ‘I was circumambulating Ka‘ba when I heard a girl say to her sister:

لا وَ حَقِّ المُنتَجَبِ بِالوَصِيَّة الحَاكِمِ بِالسَّويَّة العادِلِ فى القَضِيَّة العالى البَيِّنَة زَوْجِ فَاطِمَة المَرْضِيَّة ما كان كذا.

‘… by that man whom Allah chose as the Successor of His Messenger;  the one who commands and brings equality among the people, he administers justice in disputes and enmities among the people, he is certain and owns manifest proof  for his Imamate, he is the partner of Fatima, the laudable, that the subject is… :’

I asked that girl: “Do you know Ali?”

She answered: ‘Why should I not know him! My father, in the Battle of Siffin, was martyred in his army. Once, Ali came to our house and asked my mother: “O the mother of the innocent orphans, how are you getting on?”

My mother answered: ‘I am alright,’ then she took my sister and I to the Commander of the believers. Of course, because of being affected with small-pox, I had gone blind, so when Ali saw us, he felt petty for us,  sighed and said:

مَا إن تَأوَّهْتُ مِن شَى‏ءٍ رُزيتُ بِهِ       كَما تأوَّهْتُ لِلاطْفالِ فى الصِّغَر

قَدْ ماتَ وَالِدُهُمْ  مَن  كانَ  يَكْفُلُهُمْ       فى النائباتِ وَ فى الاسفارِ وَ الحَضَر

“I have never sighed about the loss and calamities as I have sighed for the young orphans. Because their father has died, the father who helped them in their hardship – whether at home or on his journey.” Then he passed his blissful hand on my eyes and I regained my eye-sight. Now, I dear say that they are so sharp and bright that I can clearly see the startling camel in the dark midnight.’ ^[81]

Hatami, by his series of documents, has related ibn Abbas ‘ saying: ‘A negro went to the Commander of the believers confessing that he had committed theft. The Holiness questioned him of his claim for three times and he confessed it each time and said: ‘O the Commander of the believers, do purify my soul, do punish me for I have stolen something.’ The Holiness commanded his men and they chopped off his hand. Then, the negro turned back and on the way, ibn Kawwa saw him and said: ‘Who has chopped off your hand?’He answered:

 لَيْثُ الحِجازِ، وَ كَبْشُ العِراقِ، وَ مُصادِمُ الابطالِ، المُنتَقِمُ مِنَ الجُهَالِ، كريمُ الاصلِ، شريفُ الفصْلِ، مُحِلُّ الحَرَمينِ، وَارِثُ المَشعَرَينِ، أبو السِّبْطَينَ، وَ آخر الوصِيّن من آل يس، المُؤيَّدُ بِجَبرائيل، المنصُورُ بِميكائِيلُ، الحَبْلُ المَتينُ، المَحْفُوظُ بِجُنْدِ السَّماءِ أجمَعِينَ، ذَاكَ وَ اللهِ أميرالُمؤمِنِينَ عَلَى رَغْمِ الرّاغمين.

[The negro said, ‘It is chopped by:] the lion of Hejaz, the ram of Iraq, the over-thrower of the valiant, the vengeance taker of the ignorance, the one whose source is genuine and his relationship is noble, the custodian of two Shrines, the inheritor of two Sacred Monuments, the father of the two sons of the Messenger of Allah, the First of the first embracers of the Islam and the Last Successor among the Household of the Messenger of Allah. The one whom Gabriel confirmed and Michael helped him, the strongest means to connect to Allah, saved with the Divine armies – by Allah, in spite of what his enemies say, he is the Imam and the Emir of the believers.’

Ibn Kawwab said: ‘Look! Ali has chopped off your hand but you are still praising him!’

The negro answered: “By Allah, even if he cut me into pieces my affection would increase towards him.”

Then, ibn Kawwa went to the Commander of the believers and informed him his meeting with the negro. The Holiness said: “O ibn Kawwa, our friends and lovers are those whom even if we cut into pieces, their love and affection would increase towards us. On the other hand, our enemies are those who would increase their grudge and enmity to us even if we buttered them and nourished with honey!”

Then, the Holiness turned to Imam Hassan, upon him be peace, saying: “Come on, fetch that coloured uncle of yours.”

The Holiness Imam Hassan directed that negro to his father, the Commander of the believers. Then, he explains: ‘The Holiness took the severed hand of that negro, placed it on the broken spot and also covered it with the end of his robe and supplicated calmly.  The negro found his sound hand back, and he was so happy that he joined the army of my father, the Commander of the believers, he fought until was martyred in the Battle of Nahrawan.’

It has been related that the Negro was called ‘Aflah’. ^[82]

Ibn Makki says:

ما رَدَّ كَفَّ العَبْدِ بَعْدَ انقِطاعِها      امّا رَدَّ عَيناً بَعْدَ مَا انطَمَسَتْ طَمساً. ^[83]

‘Did Ali not joined the chopped off hand?

Did Ali not bring back the sight of the blind eyes?’

And one of the hands of Hisham bin Adi‘i was cut off in the Battle of Siffin,the Holiness took his hand, prayed on it and joined it in its palace. Hisam asked: ‘O the Commander of the believers, what did you recite?’ The Holiness answered: “I recited the Chapter of the Opener to the Book.”

As if Hisham took the Verse a bit humble for his hand disconnected the broken piece fell on the ground, the Commander of the believers did not take any more care of him and left him on his own and went. ^[84]

Ibn Makki says:

رُدَدْتَ  الكَفَّ  جَهراً  بَعْ  قَطْع         كَرَدِّ العَيْنِ مِن بَعْدِ الذَّهابِ

 وَ جُمْجُمَة الجُلَندِى وَ هُوَعَظمٌ       رَميمٌ جاوَبَتْكَ عَنِ الخِطَابِ ^[85]

‘O the Commander of the believers! Did you not, in front of some people,  join that hand which had been cut off? Did you not attach it to the right place of its owner? Similar to the eyes which had gone blind you cured! And did that skull of Jolandi, which was ruined and rotten, not answer you when you called at it?’

And, in their books, ibn Babwiia, Abul Ghasim Bosti, Ghazi Abu Omar bin Ahmad have related of Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari and Anas bin Malik that: ‘Some people took Ali bin Abī Tālib’s complaint to Omar and despised him. But, Salman said: “O Omar, do you remember the day when you, Abu Bakr, Abuzar and I were in the presence of the Messenger of Allah? He spread a woolen cloth on the ground and each of us sat on the corner of that. Then, he held Ali on the hand and let him sit in the middle and then stated: “O Abu Bakr, stand up and greet Ali by the title of ‘the Commander of the believers’ and also salute him as ‘the Caliph of the Muslim’. Then, he commanded all the three to do the same. Next he stated: “O Ali, now you stand up and salute the light, the sun.” The Commander of the believers stood up and said: ‘Hail to you, o the sign of the light, the illuminator of Allah.’ The sun responded Ali when shivering and said: ‘Peace be on you!’ And then, the Messenger of Allah stated:

اللهُمَّ إنَّكَ أعْطَيْتَ لاخِى سُلَيْمانَ صَفِيَّكَ مُلْكاً وَ ريحاً "غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَ رَواحُهَا شَهْر". ^[86]

اللهُمَّ أرسِلْ تِلكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ إلى أصحابِ الكَهْفِ.

‘O Creator of mine! You did bestow to my brother, Solomon, of Your Kingdom and how to control the wind which could carry a month’s journey of his in a single hour of the morning and brought him back in the evening’s single bit of time. O Lord! Do send that wind to take these to the Companions of the Cave.’ 

The Commander of the believers said: “O wind, do move us.” Then, we felt ourselves in the sky flying until the Holiness said: “O wind, put us on the ground.” The wind landed us by the entrance to the Cave, (the Cave of the Companions), then, each of us stood up and offered our peace and greeting to the Companions of the Cave, though we heard no response.

The Commander of the believers stood up and said: Peace be upon you, o the Companions of the Cave! السَّلَامُ عَلَيكُم أهلَ الكَهف

It was then we heard they answer: وَ عَلَيكَ السَّلَامُ يا وَصِى مُحَمَّدٍ and peace be upon you, o the Successor of Muhammad.

Then, they said: ‘We have been imprisoned here since the period of Decius.’ The Holiness asked: “Why did you not respond the greetings of these people?”

They answered: ‘We are such people that never answer anyone but only the Messengers and the Successors of the Messengers; now, you are the Successor of the Seal of the Messengers and the Caliph of the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds.’

Therefore, the Commander of the believers stated us: “Sit on the rug,” and we did so, then he commanded to the wind: “O wind, take us,” right then, we felt ourselves high in the sky moving ahead, it was taking us the same until he commanded: “O wind, descend us to the ground.”

The wind landed us on the ground. Then, the Holiness struck the ground with his feet and water gushed out. The Holiness performed ablution so did we and the Holiness said: “We are going to say part of our prayers and then we are going to follow the Messenger in mass prayers.”

Next, he commanded: “O wind, now take us,” it obeyed him until the Holiness directed it to land us. After his command, we saw ourselves being in the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah and the Holiness had already prayed one cycle of the morning prayers.

 In another occasion, Anas bin Malik says: ‘The Commander of the believers related this event to the people in the Mosque of Kufa, and in the mean time, he asked me to bear witness to it, but I failed doing so.’ The Holiness stated: “If your dismissal, after so much of the advice the Messenger of Allah to you, is due to your rejection, Allah will cause leprosy afflict your body, a kind of burning settle in your stomach and loose eyesight to become blind.” Anas says: ‘Before I was going to stand up, I felt leprosy had afflicted my body and I had gone blind.’ Since then, Anas could not fast in the Ramedhan or in any other months.

The rug that the Commander of the believers was riding on, was presented to him by the people of “Herbouq”, and the Cave is a place in Roman’s land called “Arkadi” – the place used to be called the “BAHEDAT KINGDOM, which is now the name of a garden. And it is reported that “the woolen cloth or rug” was presented to the Holiness by Ka‘b’s brother, Kht‘tai bin Ashraf. As he had noticed the miracles of the Holiness, he had embraced Islam and was re-named “Muhammad” by the Messenger of Allah. ^[87]

Khatib Manih says:

وَ مَن  حَمَلَتْهُ  ريحُ  اللهِ  حَتَّى             أتَى أهْلَ الرَّقيمِ الرَّافِدينا

مَنْ نَادَى بِأهلِ الكَهْفِ حَتَّى             أَقَرُّوا بِالوِلَايَة مُفَرحينا. ^[88]

‘[Ali is the one that]: the wind carried him, by the permission of Allah, so that he could reach the Companions of “Raqim”, who were the Successors of  the Sovereignty; and Ali is the one who called on the Companions of the Cave, so that in their delight and cheerfulness, they accepted his Guardianship.’

Ouni says:

عَلِىُّ كَليمُ القَوْمِ فِى الكَهْفِ فَاعْلما            وَ قَدْ صَمَّ مِن شَيْخا كُما الصَّديان. ^[89]

‘Ali is the orator to the Cave Companions, in the Cave; so you should remember this story well!

While the two Sheikhs of you blocked their ears to catch the voices [coming to them as advice]: it intimates that they had ruined themselves and were perished!’

And also Ouni says:

وَ مَن حَمَلْتُه الرِّيحُ فَوقَ بَساطِهِ             فَاسْمَعَ أهلَ الكَهْف حينَ تَكلَّماً. ^[90]

‘[Ali is the one that]: the wind carried him away while sitting on the rug, and when he was speaking to the Companions of the Cave, he made them be [good] listeners.’

Hem‘yari says:

لَهُ  البَساطُ  إذ سَرى             وَ فِتيَة الكَهْفِ دَعا

فَما أجابُوا فى النِّدآء             سِوَى الوَصِىِّ المُرْتَضى. ^[91]

‘For him there was a rug upon which he sat and moved forward [like Solomon]; and Ali called on the Companions of the Cave and spoke to them.

And they answered no one except to the question of Ali, the Successor of the Messenger of Allah.’

And also Hem‘yari says:

سَلْ فِتيَة الكَهْفِ الَّذينَ أتاهُمُ             فَأيقَظَ فِى رَدِّ السَّلَامِ مَنامَها. ^[92]

 ‘Do ask the generous youths of the Cave whom Ali called on and greeted them; and in that greetings, he ceased their sleep and awakened all.’

And Barqi says:

حَتَّى إذا يَئِسوا جَوابَ سَلَامِهِم             قامَ الوَصِىُّ إلَيْهِمْ ابداءا

قالَ  السَّلَامُ  عَلَيْكُمْ  مِن   فِتيَة             عَبَدُوا الالَهَ وَ تَابَعُوا السَّناءا

قَالُوا  عَلَيْكَ  مِنَ  الإلَهِ   تَحِيَّة             تُهْدَى إلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَة وَ ضِياءا

إنّا   مُنِعنا   أن   نُكَلِّم    هَاتِفاً             إلّا نَبياً كانَ أوْ مُوصاءا. ^[93]

‘When the tribe greeted the Companions of the Cave, but were disappointed of their responding it, Ali, the Successor, stood up and initiated his greeting as: “May Allah’s peace be upon you, the generous youths, who have obeyed Allah and followed the light and height!”They replied: ‘May Allah’s salutation be upon you for bringing mercy and light for us as a gift.

We are not allowed to speak to anyone, or respond to his question unless he is a messenger or the successor of a messenger.’

And ibn Atyas says:

وَ طارِقُ البابِ عَلَى كَهْفِهِم             فِى الخَبَرِ المَشهُورِ عَن جَابِر. ^[94]

‘[Ali is the one]:  who knocked at the gate of the Cave and spoke with the people inside: that is the well-known news by Abdullah Ansari.’

And ibn al-Azod says:

مَن كَلَّمَ الفِتيَة فِى الكَهْفِ وَ لَمْ             يُكَلِّمُوا حَقّاً سِواهُ إذ دَعا. ^[95]

‘[Ali is the one]:  who has spoken to the Companions of the Cave; they had never before answered  to anyone’s question when they were asked.’

And Abu al-Fat‘h says:

وَ فِى الكَهْفِ مَنقَبَة حُسْنُها             عَلَى الرَّغْمِ مِن مَعْطَسِ الادْلَم‏

غَداة  يُسَلِّمُ   فِى  صَحْبِهِمْ             سَلامَ الصُّحاة عَلَى النوَّمِ‏

فَنادَوْهُ أجْمَعْ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَام             فَذَاكَ عَظِيمٌ لِمُسْتَعْظِمُ. ^[96]

‘Ad for the Commander of the believers is a virtue in the Cave, and the fairness of that virtue has caused that gloomy-face man look lowly.

In the morning, when Ali greeted the Companions of the Cave – the greeting of a wise and vigilant man to the sleepy ones – they all together answered: ‘Peace be upon you. For anyone who considers this virtue to be great, is really a great virtue.’

There is a narrative from Salman Shalqan who says: ‘I heard the Holiness Imam Sādiq, upon him be peace, say: “The Commander of the believers had motherliness’ relatives, (Kho‘oula), among the tribe of “Bani Makhzoum”. A young man of them came to the Holiness saying: ‘O my material uncle, my twin brother has died and now I am very sad about him.’ The Holiness asked: “Would you like to visit him?” He answered: ‘Yes, I do.’ The Holiness told him: “Show his grave to me.”

The Holiness stood up and wrapped his head with the shawl of the Messenger of Allah which would grant the prayers of anyone using it. When we approached the grave, the Holiness gently booted the grave and my brother stood un in the gave mumbling: “VAMIKA”, in none-Arab language. He Holiness asked: “Are you not the Arab? Did you not die in Arab’s language? Then, how does it come you speak like that?” He answered: ‘Yes, I was an Arab, but I died with the laws and traditions of such and such and it why Allah changed our dialogues,’^[97]  

Hem‘yari says:

فَقَالَ لَهُ فَرْمانُ: عِيسَى بنُ مَريم ^[98]         بِزعْمِكَ يُحيى كُلَّ مَيْتٍ وَ مُقْبَرٍ

فَمَ  الَّذى  اعطيتَ؟   قالَ   مُحَمَّدٌ          لِمِثْلِ الَّذى اعطِيهُ إن شِئتَ فَانظُر

إلى مِثْلِ مَا اعطى فَقالُوا لِكُفْرِهِم         ألا ارنا ما قُلْتَ غَيْرَ مُعَذَّرِ

فَقالَ   رَسُولُ  اللهِ   قُمْ    لِوَصِيَّة         فَقامَ وَ قِدْمَا كانَ غَيْرَ مُقَصِّر

وَ رَدّاهُ  بِالمَنجابِ  وَ اللهُ   خَصَّهُ         وَ قَالَ اتْبَعُوهُ بِالدُّعاءِ المُبَرَّرِ

فَلَمَّا   أتَى  ظَهْرَ   الْبَقِيعِ     دَعا         فَرَجَّتْ قُبُورٌ بِالوَرى لَمْ تَغَيَّر

فَقَالوا لَهُ: يَا وَارِثَ الْعِلْمِ اعفِنا بِهِ        وَ مُنَّ عَلَيْنا بِالرِّضَا مِنْكَ وَ اغْفِر. ^[99]

1- ‘So Farman said to the Messenger of Allah: ‘Do you imagine that Jesus, the son of Mary, restored to life any new and old dead lying in the graves?

2- So tell me what have you been given to?’ Muhammad said: “I have been given similar to what Jesus, the son of Mary, has been given to. Now, look, if you want to.”

3- Through their contumacy and disbelief they all said: ‘Now, without making any excuses, show us what you have claimed.’

4- The Messenger of Allah said to his Successor: “Stand up.” He stood up, for he was always obedient to him and never failed in carrying out his commands.

5- The Messenger of Allah and the Commander of the believers fulfilled the commands for revealing the Fact; and Allah has favoured Ali such priorities and virtue. Thus, the Messenger stated: “Go after Ali, for his praise and supplication are pure and are answered.

6- When Ali, upon him be peace, arrived at the “Graveyard of Baqi”, he raised his hand to supplicate. It was then the whole untouched graves began shaking.

7- (The graves were nearly bursting apart and the dwellers were immerging out that) those obstinate and disbelieving people asked Ali: ‘O you, the inheritor of the knowledge of the messengers, do forgive us! Do favour us by your forgiving us, be pleased with us and excuse us for our shortcoming!’  

Then, ibn Shar Aashub says: ‘Curing the diseases and restoring the dead by the messengers of Allah and their successors were by the permission of Allah.’

The Holiness Jesus said:

وَ ابِرِىُّ الاكْمَهَ وَ الأبْرَصَ وَ أُحْيِى الْمَوتَى بِإِذْنِ اللَه. ^[100]

‘ … and I cure the blind from the birth and so do I [cure] the lepers, and I revive the dead with the permission of Allah, (Qur’an: 3/49).’

وَ إِذْ تَخْلُقُ مِنَ الطِّينِ كَهَيْئَة الطَّيْرِ بِإِذْنِى ... وَ إِذْ تُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِى. ^[101]

‘… and you created something out of clay resembling as a bird with My permission;…and so is the dead restored with My permission, (Qur’an: 5/110).’

وَ قَالَ إبراهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْيى الْمَوْتَى قَالَ: أَ وَ لَمْ تُؤْمِنُ قَالَ بَلَى وَ لَكِن لِيَطْمَئنَّ قَلْبِى قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبِعَة مِنَ الطَّيْرِ... ^[102]

‘… and Abraham said, ‘O my Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead,’ stated He: “Why! Do you not believe?” ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘but I want to reassure my heart.’ He stated: “Take four birds…, (Qur’an: 2/260).’

وَ قَالَ فِى عُزَيْرَ أوْ ارميا: أوْ كَالَّذِى مَرَّ عَلَى قَرْيَة- إلى قوله: قديرٌ ^[103]

And it is said in the section of Ozair or Ermia: ‘… or similar to [the story of] one who came upon a town… up to the end of the verse, Powerful, (Qur’an: 2/2/259).’

  وَ كَذَلِكَ فِى قِصَّة بنى اسرائيل: وَ هُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ ثُمَّ أَحْيَاهُمْ. ^[104]

And such is in the story of the Children of Israel: ‘… and they were thousands when they died and then He revived them, (Qur’an: 2/2/243).’

Muhammad bin Thabit, by means of his documents from ibn Masoud, and the commentator Faleki with his own documents from Muhammad bin Hanafi‘ia have related that: ‘At the Night of Badr, the Holiness Messenger asked for water in the Desert of Badr. All the companions kept quiet until the Commander of the believers took the skin water-carrier and in the darkness he searched for the water until he reached a well. He went down to the well, filled up the skin water-carrier with water and while hanging it on his shoulder, he climbed up out of the well. He had hardly stepped on the land than the whirlwind took away the skin water-carrier from his shoulder and the water ran into the sand. Once again, the Holiness went into the well, filled up the water skin and carried it up out of the well but the storm blew it away and the water poured out on the ground. He had to go fetch water for the third time, so he went down the well, filed up the leather-can, drew it up and as before, the wind troubled it and water splashed everywhere about him. For the fourth time, the Holiness went back into the well, filled up the water-can, brought it up to the mouth of the well, then to the open space, but the wind was calm, so he took the water to the Messenger, the Holiness asked him: “O Ali, why were you so late?” The Commander of the believers told him all about the wind and storm.

The Messenger of Allah stated: “But know that, the first wind was Gabriel, along with a thousand angels, who had come to greet you, but the second wind was Michael, with a thousand angels, who came and greeted you. Then, the third wind was Seraph, along with a thousand angels, who greeted you.”

In a separate narrative, it is related that they had come to save the Holiness.

 And Abd-ur-Rahman bin Salih, by means of his documents from Leith, has quoted him saying: ‘There have been three thousand and three virtues for Ali bin Abī Tālib in a single night – and he was telling this story. ^[105]

Sayyid Hem‘yari says:

اقسِمُ بِالله ِوآلائِهِ             وَ المَرْءُ عَمّا قالَ مَسؤولُ‏

إنَّ عَلِىَّ بنَ أبيطالِب             عَلَى التُّقى وَ البِرَّ مَجْبُول‏

كانَ إذا الحَرْبُ مَرَتها القَنا             وَ احجَمَت عَنْها البَهاليلُ‏

يَمشى إلى القِرْنِ وَ فى كَفِّهِ             أبيَضُ ماضِى الحَدِّ مَصقولُ‏

مَشَىَ العَقَرْنا بَيْنَ أشبالِهِ             أبرَزَهُ لِلقَنَصِ الغِيلُ‏

ذَاكَ الَّذى سَلَّمَ فى لَيلَة             عَلَيْهِ ميكالُ وَ جِبريلُ‏

ميكالُ فى ألفٍ وَ جبريلُ فى             ألفٍ وَ يَتلوُهُمْ سِرافيلُ‏

لَيْلَة بَدْرٍ مَدَداً انزِلُوا             كَأنَّهُم طَيْراً أبابيلُ . ^[106]

1- By Allah and by His blessings that man is responsible for his utterance,

2- Indeed the nature of Ali bin Abī Tālib was formed with the goodness and virtue.

3- It was because the war so broke out that the people abandoned it, and the brave quarrelsome men, and the chiefs of the tribe, turned away from it.

4- He attacked his own alike men while holding the sharp and polished sword in his hand –

5- he, like a fierce lion, moved forward among his cubs – free from coveting the hunts among the foliages of the reed-beds.

6- Ali is the same man who was greeted by Michael and Seraph at a single night,

7- Michael with a thousand angels, Gabriel with a thousand angels and Seraph along with a thousand angels all greeted him.

8- And all those angels, like abābīls, (swallow-type-of the birds), from the sky descended to help him at the night of the BADR, (the moon in its full appearance). 

And then Hem‘yari says:

وَ سَلَّمَ جِبريلُ وَ مِيكالُ لَيْلَة             عَلَيْهِ وَ حَيّاهُ سرافيلُ مُعْرِباً

أحاطوا بِهِ فى رَدْءهِ جاءَ يَستَقى             وَ كانَ على ألفٍ بِها قَدْ تَحَزَّبا ^[107]

ثَلَاثَة آلافٍ مَلائكَ سَلَّمُوا             عَلَيْهِ فَأدناهُمْ وَ حَيّا وَ رَحَّبا. ^[108]

On a certain night, Gabriel, Michael and Seraph greeted Ali, and they clearly saluted him;

They guarded Ali who was going to bring some water, every one of them was accompanied with a thousand angels who were the soldiers of his.

Thus, three thousand angels saluted him; Ali had them come closer to him and then greeted and saluted them.

And Mohib-ad-Din Tabari ^[109] has related from “Manaqib-e-Ahmad”, and Ghandouzi Shafiee ^[110] has extracted it from “Mosnad” of Ahmad Hanbal that the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace, has stated:

لَمَّا كانَت‌ لَيْلَةٌ في‌ بَدْرٍ (‌لَيْلَةُ يَوْمِ بَدْرTabari states=ٍ) قال‌ رسولُ اللهِ صلّي‌ الله‌ عليه‌ وآله‌ وَسلَّم‌: مَن‌ يَسْتَسقي‌ لَنا مِنَ الماء؟ فَما أجابَ النّاسُ

 (فَأحْجَمَ النّاسُ=Tabari states) فَقَالَ عَلِيٌ: اَنا يا رسولَ اللهِ، فَاخْتَضَنَ قِرْبَة‌ ثُمَّ أتَي‌ بِئراً بَعيدَةَ القَعْرِ مُظْلِمَةً فَانّحَدَرَ فيها، فَأوحَي‌ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إلي‌ جَبرائيلَ وَ ميكائِيلَ وَ إسرافِيلَ تأهَّبُوا لِنصْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ حِزْبِهِ، فَهَبَطوا مِنَ السَّماء

ِ (لَهُمْ لَغُطْ يَذْعَرُمَنْ سَمِعَه=Tabari states‌) فَلَمّا حاذُوا البئرَ سَلَّموا عَلي‌ عَلِيٍّ مِنْ عِند رَبِّهِمْ

 (سَلَّموا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ آخِرِهِمْ إكراماً وَ تَبْجيلاً=Tabari states).

‘In the Land of Badr, at the night when the next morning the war would break out between the Muslims and the disbelievers, the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants, stated: “Who is going to bring water for us?” All the companions were frightened, they stepped back and did not answer the Messenger of Allah. However, the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace, stood up, hung the skin water-carrier on his shoulder and went to the well. It was pitch dark, and the well proved to be too deep nonetheless, he made his way into it. In the mean time, Allah revealed it to Gabriel, Michael and Seraph to get ready to help Muhammad, Bless be to him and his Descendants, and his companions. The angels kept descending from the heavens, and they made strange frightening noises. When they reached the mouth of the well, all of them, for the greatness of the Holiness and honoring him,  greeted the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace.

And it is related in

 “جمع الفوائد”: " قالَ عَلِىُّ عليه السّلام: كُنتُ على قَليبِ بَدْرٍ أميحُ وَ أمنَحُ مِنهُ ماءً جاءتْ ريحٌ شديدَة ثمَّ جاءت ريحٌ شديدَة ثمّ جاءت ريحٌ شديدَة فكانَتِ الاولى ميكائيلَ و الثانيَّة إسرافيلَ وَ الثالِثَة جَبرائيل مَعَ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُم ألفٌ مِنَ المَلائِكَة فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَى‏ّّّّّّّّ لاحمد و الموصلي ^[111]

from Ahmad and Mosali." there is a narrative from Ahmad Hanbal and Moseli concerning the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace, saying: ‘At that pitch dark night, I climbed down the well to fetch some water for the Messenger of Allah. I filled up the skin water carrier with water, I carried it up to the mouth of the well when suddenly a harsh wind blew; I repeated it two times more and each time the wind blew and wasted my water. The first wind was Michael, the second one Seraph and the third wind Gabriel. And either of them was accompanied with a thousand heavenly angels who kept on greeting me.’

And regarding this, the poet has said:

أنِى الَّذى سَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ جَبرائيلُ فى        لَيْلَة بَدْرٍ وَ مِيكائِيلُ وَ اسرافِيلُ ^[112]

Virtuous is one whom greeted Gabriel, Michael and Seraph in the Night of Badr.

And in the book of “Manaqib”, ibn Shahr Aashub, with his own documents from A‘mash quotes Salim bin Abi Ja‘d who is quoting Abuza Ghaffari relating that:

إنَّ عَلِيًّا قالَ لَاصحابِ الشُّورى: هَل فيكُم مَنْ سَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فِى سَاعَة وَاحِدة ثَلاثَة آلافٍ مِنَ الملائِكَة وَ فِيهِم جَبرائيلُ وَ مِيكائيلُ وَ اسرافِيلُ لَيْلَة فى قَليب بَدْرٍ مِثلى لَمّا جِئتُ بِالماءِ إلى رَسُولِ الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ؟ قَالُوا: لَا. نقله أيضاً ابن مسعود.  ^[113]

[Abuzar Ghaffari says that]: ‘After the demise of Omar, the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace, said to the members of the Council: “Is there among you a man, except me, who has been greeted by three thousand angels in an hour’s time, and above all, Gabriel, Michael and Seraph to be along with them? It was at a dark night, when I had gone to the Well of Badr to fetch some water for the Messenger of Allah.” All of them said: ‘No’.

And it is put in the book of “ASABA” from “FAEED”, the servant of Abdullah bin Salam, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah, arrived at Ghazwa Hadibeiia, in Johfa, where there was now water, so he sent Sa‘d bin Abi Wagh‘ghas to find some water. He did so, but after a while returned saying there was no water. Then, he sent Ali bin Abī Tālib and he soon returned with a full skin water-carrier. ^[114]

And also the miracle of the stone splitting in the hands of Moses occurred to the Commander of the believers. It was when, on the way to Siffin, the army of the Holiness were badly in the need of the water. The Holiness commanded some of his men to dig a well, they did so, but before getting a good result, they encountered a big rock – they could neither lift it out of the ditch nor could break it, so they stopped hopelessly. The Holiness got closer to the well, gave a strike to the rock. Although it was too gigantic to be broken with a thousand hard strike, it simply cracked and water gushed out. The water was so forcefully gushing out that in a few seconds it was overflowing. Everyone there began to drink and quench his thirst and they were all surprised by seeing the miracle.

Khatib has also, by means of his series of documents from Abu Saeed Aghisa,  related this event in “The History of Baghdad”, volume 12, page 305. He says: ‘We were going from ANBAR to KUFA with, upon him be peace, the thirst prevailed the men and some went after the mirages in the desert, and some people went to the large river in sight. However, some of us were following Ali in the bare desert. Some men among us were saying: ‘O the Commander of the believers, we are frightened of the thirst, ‘ the Holiness answered: “Allah will give you water.”

We got to know that a monk was living in a nearby temple.

The Commander of the believers stopped at a certain point saying: “Dig this place up,” the men started digging the appointed position, I did too. We dug it some dipper until we encountered a huge rock, the Holiness commanded us to draw it out of the ditch. We did our best, and tried more until moved the rock away and, to our very surprise, we saw that a fresh cold water sprig gush out. We began drinking and quenching our thirst.

Then, we moved forward, and again after a mile walking, some people complained of their thirst; they had in mind to return and drink water out of the well they had dug up. Thus, we all returned but it was useless, for we did not find any springs or the well we ourselves had dug up.

We went to the monk and asked him what had happened to the well we had dug already. He asked: ‘What spring are you speaking about?’

We said: “The same spring we drank water out of, but now, we cannot find if.”

The monk said: ‘But no one can open or operate this spring except a messenger or his successor!’

With a little differences, Al‘lāma Amini has related this event from the book of “Siffin” of Nasr bin Mozahim, in “Al-Ghadir”, volume 3, page 393. And at the end, he says: ‘Khatib has mentioned it in “The History of Baghdad”.

Concerning this event, Hem‘yari says:

وَ مَنْ  حَمَلَتْهُ الرِّيحُ فَوْق  سَحابِة       بِقُدْرَة رَبِّ قَدْرَ مَن شَاءَ يَرْفَعُ‏

وَ مَرَّ  بِأصحَابِ  الرَّقِيمِ  مُسَلِّماً         فَرَدُّوا مِنَ الكَهْفِ السَّلَامَ فَاسْمَعُوا

وَ مَنْ  فَجَّرَ الصَّخْرَ الاصَمَّ  لِجُنْدِهِ        فَفَاضَ مَعيناً مِنْهُ لِلْقَوْمِ يَنْبَعُ‏

وَ مَنْ لِصَلاة العَصْرِ عِندَ غُرُوبِهَا        تُرَدُّ لَهُ الشَّمْسُ بِيضاءُ تَلْمَعُ‏

فَصَلَّى صَلاة العَصْرِ ثُمّ انْثَنَت  لَه         تَسيرُ كَسيَرِ البَرْقِ وَ البَرْقُ مُسْرِعُ‏

فَيا لائمى فى  حُبِّهِمْ كُف انَّنى         بِحُبِّ أميرالُمؤمِنِينَ لَمُولِعُ‏

وَ لا دِنْتُ  إلّا حُبَّ   آل مُحَمَّدٍ         وَ لَا شَى‏ء مِنْهُ فِى القِيامَة أنفَعُ‏

إذَا العَدْلُ وَ التَّوحِيدُ كَانَا  وَ حُبُّهُ         بِقَلْبِى فَانِّى العَابِدُ المَنطَوعُ‏

انَا  السَّيِّدُ  القَوّالُ  فِيهِمْ  مَدائِحا         تَمَرُّ بِقَلْبِ النَّاصِبِينَ فَتَصْدَعُ  ^[115]

He whom the wind moved forward, on the cloud,

Was through His power, He rises whomsoever He desires;

He passed by the companions of the Raqim, for sure,

Greeted them [Ali] and they responded his greeting.

He is the one who split the rock, for his armies,

With fresh water pouring out for them to drink.

For him to say his sunset prayer at the latest chance

The sun returned in its full brightness.

And when Ali said his sunset prayer, the sun bowed for him, and then moved backward as fast as the lighting – in the highest speed.

So you, who are blaming me for my affection towards him,

Stop blaming me for I am drenched amid his love.

I have nothing except the love of the Household of Muhammad

And nothing is more valuable than them on Resurrection Day.

 As the Monotheism and Justice are in my heart

Thus I am considered to be a believer.

I am Sayyid, who always praises the Household

My eulogies but tear up the hearts of the enemies.

1- Ali is the one who, by the might and permission of Allah, sat on a piece of cloud and the wind moved him forward; this event was by the power of Allah for He raises high whomsoever He desires.

2- Then, has passed by the companions of the Raqim, he greeted them, and they too from the inside of the cave greeted – responded Ali’s greeting – and made their greeting be heard.

3- And [Ali is the one] who split the hard rock for his armies so that fresh water gushed out of the rock for his armies to drink.

4- To say his sunset prayer, when the sun had almost disappeared, it turned back for him; and it was in its full brightness and illumination.

5- Then, when Ali said his sunset prayer, the sun bowed to him [in reverent] and moved back as fast as lightening – that is utmost speed the lightening travels.

6- So O you! Who are blaming me for having the excessive affection of Ali with me! Stop your blaming, for I am so eager and greedy in hid love.

7- I have not other means – faith or love – except the love of the Household, for there is nothing useful and more valuable than the love of the Household of Muhammad on the Day of Resurrection!

8- As long as the Monotheism and Justice of Allah as well the affection of Ali are in my heart I am considered a believer and pious – and I consider the rules and etiquette.

9- I am Sayyid, the very Sayyid who is the strict narrator in praising the Household of Muhammad! I have composed such eulogies that if they find their ways into the hearts of the enemies and revengeful, will tear them down.

The foregoing subjects were just brief explanations of the miracles of the Commander of the believers, upon him be peace. If we wanted to take the whole miracles of the messengers into consideration and compared them one by one with the Holiness’ miracles, then we needed a separate book to write. However, so far, we understood that the miracles of the Holiness are outnumbered, and like the Messenger of Allah, the Holiness had such high status and position that no messenger was at that level. However, we must know that his Divine attributions, the distinct priorities and such God-given power were not given to the Holiness for nothing. He was given them through trial, agony and strange tests that not any of the messengers was tried so much. Every suffering of the messengers, their hardship, the people’s blaming and mocking them, pushing them out of their towns, killing them, forsaking their religions, sending them into prisons and the ignorant people’s being among them and many other disasters were in the Holy Personality of the Messenger of Allah, Bless be to him and his Descendants. As he himself stated:

مَا اوذِىَ نَبِىُّ مِثْلَ ما اوذيتُ

‘Not a messenger suffered as I did suffer!’

And all of them, as heritage, transferred to the Master of the believers, upon him be peace. He was never free from annoyance since his childhood until he was struck on the head when praying in the altar. It was the same either in the Honourable Mecca, or later on in Medina, and even the worse, after the demise of the Messenger of Allah, and the twenty-five years of dark age though he was apparently governing some part of it.

Though Ishmael was tested by slaughtering which in the end it did not occur, the Holiness Ali volunteered himself to lie in the bed of the Messenger of Allah in such a perilous night of immigration. He prepared himself to meet the sharp swords of the Arabs’ tribes – every second could the murdering and martyrdom happen.

If the Holiness Abraham was tested by twenty-four trials, and the hardest one of them was slaughtering his son, Ishmael, the Holiness Ali was quite certain of the occasion of the children of Fatima – the martyrdom of Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein and the event of Karbala. He, time and again, would speak about it and weep. But it was a covenant that Allah and His Messenger had made with him, he had accepted it and signed it to support the laws and rules of Allah.

On the basis of : البَلاءُ بِقَدْرِ الوِلاء.  the sufferings of the Holiness were greater than the other messengers, and so was his patience and jihad [in the way of Allah].

May Allah’s bless be upon you, O Aba al-Hassan!

Abu Na‘im Isfahani, in “Hil‘li‘iat al-Ouleia” volume 1, pages 66 and 67, by his documents, has quoted Abu Borza that he has said:

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ: إنَّ اللهَ عَهِدَ إلَىَّ عَهْداً فى عَلِىٍّ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَبِّ بَيْنَهُ لِى، فَقَالَ: اسْمَع، فَقُلْتُ: سَمِعْتُ: فَقَالَ: إنَّ عَلِيًّا رَايَة الهُدى وَ امامُ اولِيائِى وَ نُورُ مَن اطاعَنى وَ هُوَ الكَلِمَة الَّتى الزَمْنُها المُتَّقِينَ؛ مَن أحَبَّهُ أحَبَّنى وَ مَنْ أبْغَضَهُ أبْغَضَنى، فَبَّشَّرْهُ بِذَلِكَ فَجاءَ عَلِىُّ فَبَشَّرْتُهُ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولُ اللهِ انَا عَبْدُ اللهِ وَ فِى قَبْضَتِهِ فَإن يُعَذِّبْنى وَ إن يُتِمَّ لِيز الَّذى بَشَّرْتَنى بِهِ فَاللهُ أولَى بِى. قالَ: قُلْت اللهُمَ اجلُ قَلْبَهُ وَ اجْعَلُ رَبيعَهُ الايمانَ. فَقالَ اللهُ: قَدْ فَعَلْتُ بِهِ ذَلِكَ. ثُمَّ إنَّهُ رَفَعَ الَىَّ أنَّهُ سَيَخُصُّهُ مِنَ البَلاءِ بِشَى‏ءٍ لَمْ يَخُصَّ بِهِ احَدٌ مِنْ أصحابِى، فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَبِّ أخِى وَ صاحِبى! فَقَالَ: إنَّ هَذَا شَى‏ءٌ قَدْ سَبَقَ أنَّهُ مُبْتَلَىً وَ مُبْتَلَىً بِهِ.

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his Descendants, said: “Allah entrusted me a covenant concerning Ali, I said: O Lord, explain it to me, He stated: "Listen, I said: I listen: He stated: “Ali is indeed the banner of guidance, and the Imam of My saints, the light of those who obey me, and he is the tongue of  the righteous.

He who loves him, in truth loves Me, and he who hates him, in fact, he hates Me.”

So he beckon to him to get closer, and while pointing at him, he said: "O Messenger of Allah, I am the slave of Allah and I am in His grip when He wants to torture me, or honour me for He is in Authority upon me.”

I said: “O Allah, increase belief to his heart and let his have the blossom of faith.” Allah stated: “I did indeed do so.” It was since then he was raised to such lofty position that not of anyone of my companions did, I said: “O my Creator, is he my brother and companion?” He stated: "This is what already has been appointed – it has been confirmed.”   

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