Ali’s Prescience

One of the spiritual merits and superiorities of `Ali was his prescience which has not been related in the history of Islam for the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (s.a).

An example of `Ali’s prescience was that he used to say: Pose your questions to me before I will depart from among you. By God, if you ask me about a hundred deviated groups or a hundred guided groups, I will inform you of their leaders throughout the time till the Day of Judgment. Amid this, a man rose up and mockingly said: If your knowledge is to that extent, tell me how many hairs are there on my face and head. `Ali said: By God, my friend and my beloved, the Messenger of Allah informed me of this question of yours. I

الثَّاني عَشَر: أنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ تَحَدّى العُلَماءَ فِي زَمانِهِ وَأمَرَهُمْ بِسُؤالِهِ. فَقالَ فِي غَيْرِ مَوْطِنٍ: سَلُونِي قَبْلَ أَنْ تَفْقِدُونِي.

وَقالَ لِكُمَيْلِ بْنِ زِيادٍ مُتَأَوِّهاً: آهٍ إنَّ هُنا لَعِلْماً جَمَّاً، وَأَشارَ بِيَدِهِ إلَى صَدْرِهِ، لَوْ أَصَبْتُ لَهُ حَمَلَةً. بَلى لاَ تَخْلو الأرْضُ مِنْ قائِمٍ للهِ بِحُجَّةٍ عَلَى عِبادِهِ؛ إمَّا ظَاهِرٌ مَشْهورٌ أوْ خائِفٌ مَغْمورٌ، لِئَلاَّ تَبْطِلَ حُجَجُ اللهِ وَبَيِّناتُهُ.

وَقالَ فِي بَعْضِ خِطَبِهِ: أَيُّها النَّاسُ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالطَّاعَةِ وَالمَعْرِفَةِ لِمَنْ لاَ تُعْذَرونَ بِجَهالَتِهِ. فَإنَّ العِلْمَ الَّذِي هَبَطَ بِهِ آدَمُ وَجَمِيعَ مَا فُضِّلَتْ بِهِ النَّبِيُّونَ إلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ فِي عِتْرَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَأَيْنَ يُتَاهُ بِكُمْ؟ بَلْ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ؟

الإِخْبارُ بِالغَيْبِ:

وَكَانَ مِنْ جُمْلَةِ فَضائِلِهِ النَّفْسانِيَّةِ إخْبارُهُ بِالمُغَيَّباتِ وَلَمْ يَحْصَلْ لأَحَدٍ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ ذَلِكَ.

فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ أنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ خَطَبَ يَوْماً فَقالَ فِي خِطْبَتِهِ: سَلُونِي قَبْلَ أَنْ تَفْقِدُونِي؛ فَوَاللهِ لاَ تَسْأَلوني عَنْ فِئَةٍ تُضِلُّ مِائَةً وَتَهْدِي مِائَةً إلاَّ أنْبَأْتُكُمْ بِناعِقِها وَسائِقِها إلَى يَوْمِ القِيَامَةِ.

فَقامَ إلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقالَ: أَخْبِرْني كَمْ عَلَى رَأْسِي وَلِحْيَتي مِنْ طاقَةِ شَعْرٍ؟

فَقالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: وَاللهِ لَقَدْ حَدَّثَني خَلِيلي رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِمـا سَــأَلْتَ

 can privately tell you that for each hair on your head, there is an angel who will curse you and for each hair on your face there is a Satan who whispers into your heart to do evil. Let it be known to you that in your house, there is a kid (son) who will kill the son of the Messenger of Allah in a not too far future. I would bring up the main reason behind your question if answer to this question did not create a problem. Yet, the reason I will not say more about your question is the same information I gave about you and your cursed son.

At the time the man posed this question, his son was no more than a small child but it was not long before the child became the same commander of the army of Yazid in the events of Karbala’ who killed Imam Husayn.[98]

One of the other examples of `Ali’s prescience was his words about Talhah and Zubayr when they went to him to get permission to go on the minor Hajj! Reacting to this, `Ali said: By God, you two are not leaving here for performing minor Hajj! In fact, you have not intended to do so. Your main destination is Basrah. But let it be known to you that God will foil their plot and will return their trick to themselves. I will soon gain victory over them. The situation later turned out to be what `Ali had foreseen.[99]

Another example of `Ali’s prescience is when he was holding a session to receive allegiance from people. In that session he said: A thousand-strong crowd (no more, no less) will come to you from Kufah. Ibn `Abbas who was a devoted student and kept everything under watch reports: To speak about the fixed number of a thousand made my heart beat anxiously, saying to myself: If the crowd will turn out to be less or more than a thousand, the blind-hearted hypocrites will start mocking and denying him. For this reason, I started counting newcomers one by one till it came to be 999. The fact that the number of those attending the session was not a thousand brought sadness to me, saying to myself: Can a true leader like `Ali say something wrong. Amid this, I saw a person coming from afar. When he came near, I found out that he was Uways Qarani whose presence made the number perfect.[100]

Another example of `Ali’s prescience was the prophecy of the killing of Dhu’l-Thadyah, the Kharijite to people in the battle of Nahrawan.

عَنْهُ. وَإنَّ عَلَى كُلِّ طاقَةِ شَعْرٍ مِنْ رَأْسِكَ مَلَكاً يَلْعَنُكَ، وَإنَّ عَلَى كُلِّ طاقَةِ شَعْرٍ مِنْ لِحْيَتِكَ شَيْطاناً يَسْتَفِزُّكَ، وَإنَّ فِي بَيْتِكَ لَسَخْلاً يَقْتُلُ ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللهِ. وَلَوْلا أنَّ الَّذِي سَأَلْتَ عَنْهُ يَعْسُرُ بُرْهانُهُ لأَخْبَرْتُ، وَلَكِنْ آيَةُ ذَلِكَ مَا نَبَّأْتُكَ بِهِ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ وَسَخْلِكَ الْمَلْعونِ.

وَكانَ ابْنُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ الوَقْتِ صَبِيَّاً صَغيراً. فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِن أمْرِ الحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا كَانَ تَوَلّى ابْنُهُ قَتْلَهُ.

وَمِنْ ذَلِكَ: قَوْلُهُ لِطَلْحَةَ وَالزُّبَيْرِ لَمَّا اسْتَأْذَناهُ فِي الخُروجِ لِلْعُمْرَةِ: لاَ وَاللهِ، مَا يُريدَانِ العُمْرَةَ إنَّما يُريدانِ البَصْرَةَ، وَأنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى سَيَرُدُّ كَيْدَهُما وَيُظْفِرُنِي بِهِما.

وَكانَ الأَمْرُ كَما قَالَ.

وَمِنْ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَقَدْ جَلَسَ لأَخْذِ البَيْعَةِ: يَأتيكُمْ مِنْ قِبَلِ الكُوفَةِ ألْفُ رَجُلٍ لاَ يَزيدونَ واحِداً وَلا يَنْقُصونَ واحِداً يُبايِعوني عَلَى الْمَوْتِ.

قَالَ ابن عَبَّاسٍ: فَجَزِعْتُ لِذَلِكَ وَخَشِيتُ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ القَوْمُ عَنِ العَدَدِ أَوْ يَزِيدوا عَلَيْهِ، فَلَمْ أَزَلْ مَهْموماً فَجَعَلْتُ أُحْصيهِمْ فَاسْتَوْفَيْتُ تِسْعَ مِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَةً وَتِسْعيــنَ رَجُـلاً ثُمَّ انْقَطَـعَ مَجيءُ القَوْمِ. فَبَيْنا مُفَكِّرٌ فِي ذَلِكَ إذْ رَأَيْتُ شَخْصاً قَدْ أقْبَلَ فَإذا هُوَ أُوَيْسٌ القِرَنيُّ تَمامَ العَدَدِ.

وَمِنْ ذَلِكَ إخْبارُهُ بِقَتْلِ ذي الثَّدْيَةِ مِنَ الخَوارِجِ. فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ جَعَلَ يَطْلُبُهُ فِي القَتْلى وَيَقولُ:

Searching for Dhu’l-Thadyah’s body after the battle among those killed, `Ali said: By God, I am not telling lie, for he has been killed. Soon, he was found killed among the dead. To assure others, `Ali tore Dhu’l-Thadyah’s shirt on the top exposing swelling on his shoulder looking like a woman breast with a few hairs on it. If this swelling were pulled his shoulder blade would be pulled too and if it were set free, his shoulder blade would go back to its place.[101]

About `Ali’s prescience, Jandab ibn `Abdullah Azdi reports: A horse rider who informed `Ali of the situation in the front, coming to `Ali said: the Khawarij have crossed Nahrawan river. `Ali said: They have not crossed the river yet. The man said: By God, they have crossed it. `Ali said: They have never crossed the river. A second man came, reporting what the first man had said, adding: I saw them crossing the river. Again `Ali said: By God, they have not crossed the river, for all of them except a few will be killed here while referring to their killing place.

Jandab reports: I took an oath in my heart to be the first one to fight `Ali if what the reporters say is true and to be among `Ali’s army if they are wrong. We then went to the front with `Ali to discover the truth. It was there that I found out what `Ali had said was true, for they had not crossed the river and eventually all of them except a few were killed there.[102]

Another example of `Ali’s knowledge about things before they happen, is his own martyrdom, saying: By God, this will be dyed, pointing to his beard which was dyed with the blood running from his head.[103]

One of the other examples of `Ali’s prescience was when he said: Juwayriyah ibn Ma`shar would be hanged after amputation of his hands and legs. A short time after this, under the rule of Mu`awiyah, Ziyad ibn Abi- amputated his hands and legs and then hanged him.[104]

Foreseeing the martyrdom of Maytham Tammar, `Ali said: He would be the tenth person killed with a dagger in his side at the door of the house of `Amr ibn Harith and then hanged by a palm tree, pointing the tree to Maytham. Thence, he would come to the tree, performed prayer, to `Amr: As I will be your neighbor, you have to observe good neighborly relations. Soon afterwards, `Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad hanged him by the same tree and had him stricken in his side which led to his martyrdom.[105]

وَاللهِ مَا كَذِبْتُ وَلا كُذِّبْتُ. حَتَّى وَجَدَهُ فِي القَوْمِ فَشَقَّ قَميصَهُ وَكانَ عَلَى كَتِفِهِ سَلْعَةٌ كَثَدْيِ المَرْأَةِ عَلَيْها شَعراتٌ إذَا جُذِبَتْ انْجَذَبَتْ كَتِفُهُ مَعَها وَإذا تُرِكَتْ رَجَعَتْ كَتِفُهُ إلَى مَوْضِعِها.

ومن ذَلِكَ: مَا رَواهُ جُنْدُبُ بنُ عُبَيْدِ اللهِ الأزدِيُّ قَالَ: جاءَ فارِسٌ إلَى أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَ: إنَّ القَوْمَ قَدْ عَبَروا النَّهَرَ. فَقالَ: كلاّ مَا عَبَروهُ. فَقالَ: بَلى وَاللهِ لَقَدْ فَعَلوا. فَقالَ: كلاّ مَا فَعَلوا. فَجاءَ آخَرُ فَأَخْبَرَ بِعُبورِهِمْ وَقالَ: مَا جِئْتُ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ الرَّاياتِ فِي ذَلِكَ الجانِبِ وَالأثْقالَ. فَقالَ: وَاللهِ مَا فَعَلوا وَأنَّهُ لَمَصْرَعُهُمْ. فَحَلَفْتُ فِي نَفْسي إنْ كَانَ الأمْرُ كَما أخْبَرَ أُولئِكَ لأَكونَنَّ أوَّلَ مَنْ يُقاتِلُهُ وَإنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَقِيتُ عَلَى المُحارَبَةِ مَعَهُ. ثُمَّ مَضَيْتُ مَعَهُ إلَى الصُّفوفِ فَوَجَدْتُ الأمْرَ كَما قَالَ أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: إخْبارُهُ عَنْ قَتْلِ نَفْسِهِ فَقالَ: وَاللهِ لَتُخَضَّبُنَّ هَذِهِ مِنْ هَذَا، وَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأسِهِ وَلِحْيَتِهِ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: إخْبارُهُ بِصَلْبِ جُوَيْرِيَةَ بْنِ مُسْهِرٍ بَعْدَ قَطْعِ يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ. فَقَطَعَ زِيادٌ فِي أيَّامِ مُعاوِيَةَ يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ وَصَلَبَهُ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: إخْبارُهُ بِصَلْبِ مَيْثَمٍ التَّمَّارِ وَطَعْنِهِ بِحَرْبَةٍ عاشِرَ عَشَرَةٍ عَلَى بابِ دارِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حُرَيْثٍ. وَأراهُ النَّخْلَةَ الَّتي يُصْلَبُ عَلَى جِذْعِها، فَكانَ مَيْثَمُ يَأتيها وَيُصَلّي عِنْدَها وَيَقولُ لِعَمْرِو بْنِ حُرَيثٍ: إنّي مُجاوِرُكَ فَأَحْسِنْ جِوارِي. فَصَلَبَهُ عُبَيْدُ اللهِ بْنُ زِيادٍ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَوْضِعِ وَطَعَنَهُ بِحَرْبَةٍ.

Imam `Ali also foresaw amputation of hands and legs of Rashid Hejri as well as his hanging.[106]

Another example of Imam `Ali’s prescience was foreseeing the martyrdom of his faithful aide, Kumayl ibn Ziyad by Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, the cruel. After not long time since the martyrdom of `Ali, Hajjaj martyred Kumayl and `Ali’s prediction came true.[107]

On another occasion, Imam `Ali foresaw the martyrdom of Qanbar at Hajjaj’s hands, for he had heard these predictions from the Messenger of Allah and he had to inform people of it at a proper time. One day when Hajjaj was sitting among his treacherous collaborators he said: I would like to kill one of the aides of Abu-Turab to get near to God, introduce one to me. They said: One who has been long with Abu-Turab is Qanbar. So he immediately summoned him saying: Give up the faith of Abu-Turab! Qanbar said: Do you know any better faith than that of `Ali? Being helpless to give an answer, Hajjaj said: I have decided to kill you. It is up to you to choose its kind! Qanbar said: I will give you the option. Hajjaj said: Why? Qanbar said: I will kill you the same way you will kill me, for my master, Amir al-Mu’minin had informed me that I would be martyred by a blood-thirsty like you! The blood-sucking Hajjaj immediately ordered to behead Qanbar and the executioner beheaded him. In this way Qanbar went to heaven.[108]

Another example of `Ali’s prescience was that a man came to him saying: I passed by Wadi al-Qira, saw Khalid ibn Arfatah passing away and buried there. O Amir al-Mu’minin, seek forgiveness for him. `Ali said: He has not died and will not die till he will lead the deviated group whose standard bearer is Habib ibn Hammar. At this time, a man sitting there said: O Amir al-Mu’minin, I am a Shi`ite following you. `Ali said: Who are you? He said: Habib ibn Hammar! `Ali said: Beware not to be the standard bearer of that group but I am sure, you will be! You will enter the mosque through this gate, pointing to the gate called Bab al-Fil. When `Ali was martyred, Imam Hasan was poisoned and passed away, when Imam Husayn’s uprising came about and Karbala’ event happened, and `Umar ibn Sa`d was appointed as commander of the army by `Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad and equipped Kufah’s army to fight Imam Husayn, he entrusted the army command to Khalid ibn `Arfatah and made Habib

ومن ذَلِكَ: إخْبارُهُ بِقَطْعِ يَدَيْ رَشيدٍ الهَجْريِّ وَرِجْلَيْهِ وَصَلْبِهِ، فَفُعِلَ بِهِ ذَلِكَ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: إخْبارُهُ بِأنَّ الحَجَّاجَ يَقْتُلُ كُمَيلَ بنِ زِيادٍ، وَكانَ الأمْرُ كَذَلِكَ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: إخْبارُهُ بِقَتْلِ قَنْبَر. وَكانَ الحَجَّاجُ قَالَ يَوْماً: أُحِبُّ أنْ أُصيبَ رَجُلاً مِنْ أصْحابِ أَبِي تُرابٍ فَأَتَقَرَّبُ إلَى اللهِ تَعالَى بِدَمِهِ. فَقيلَ لَهُ: مَا نَعْلَمُ أَحَداً كَانَ أطْوَلَ صُحْبَةً لأبي تُرابٍ مِنْ قَنْبَرٍ مَوْلاهُ. فَأحْضَرَهُ وَقالَ: إبْرَأْ مِنْ دينِهِ. قَالَ: فَإذا بَرِئْتُ مِنْ دِينهِ تَدُلُّني عَلَى دينٍ غَيْرِهِ أفْضَلَ مِنْهُ؟ قَالَ: إنّي قاتِلُكَ فَاخْتَرْ أيَّ قَتْلَةٍ أحِبُّ إلَيْكَ. قَالَ: قَدْ صَيَّرْتُ ذَلِكَ إلَيْكَ. قَالَ: وَلِمَ؟ قَالَ: لأنَّكَ لاَ تَقْتُلُني قَتْلَةً إلاَّ قَتَلْتُكَ مِثْلَها. وَبِهذا أخْبَرَني أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إنّ مَنِيَّتي تَكونُ ذَبحا ظُلْماً بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ. فَأمَرَ بِهِ فَذُبِحَ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: أنَّ رَجُلاً جاءَ إلَى أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَ: يَا أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ إنّي مَرَرْتُ بِوادِي القِرى فَرَأَيْتُ خالِدَ بْنَ عَرْفَطَةَ قَدْ ماتَ بِها فَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُ. فَقالَ أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إنَّهُ لَمْ يَمُتْ وَلا يَموتُ حَتَّى يَقودَ جَيْشَ ضَلالَةٍ، صاحِبُ لِوائِهِ حَبيبُ بْنُ حَمَّارٍ. فَقامَ رَجُلُ مِنْ تَحْتِ المِنْبَرِ فَقالَ: يَا أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ، إنّي لَكَ شيعَةٌ وَإنّي لَكَ مُحِبٌّ. فَقالَ: وَمَنْ أنْتَ؟ قَالَ: أنَا حَبيبُ بْنُ حَمَّارٍ. قَالَ: إيَّاكَ أنْ تَحْمِلَها، وَلَتَحْمِلُنَّها فَتَدْخُلُ بِها هَذَا البابَ. وَأَومَأَ بِيَدِهِ إلَى بابِ الفيلِ. فَلَمَّا مَضى أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَمضى الحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِما السَّلامُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَكانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا كَانَ، بَعَثَ ابْنُ زِيادٍ بِعُمَرَ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَلَيْهِمُ اللَّعْنَةُ، إلَى الْحُسَـيْن عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَجَعَلَ خالِدَ بْنَ

ibn Hammar its standard bearer. The latter entered the mosque from the same gate, i.e., Bab al-Fil, and thence went to Karbala’, taking part in the fight against the son of the Holy Prophet (s.a).[109]

Another occasion which shows Imam `Ali’s prescience was when addressing Bara' ibn `Azib. `Ali said: My son, Husayn will be killed while you are alive but you do not help him. After martyrdom of the master of the martyrs, Bara' said: By God, `Ali informed me of Husayn’s martyrdom. Yes, he was martyred but I did not help him. He expressed regret as long as he lived following the events of Karbala’ for not having helped Imam Husayn.[110]

One of the other examples of `Ali’s prescience is a Hadith reported by Juwayriyah ibn Ma`shar Abdi on the authority of `Ali about Imam Husayn. He has reported: When I was accompanying `Ali on the way to Siffin, when we reached the high lands of Karbala’, `Ali stood in a corner of the army camp, looking right and left, he started weeping. Then, he said: By God, this is their landing place where they are killed. Someone asked: O Amir al-Mu’minin, what is the name of this land? `Ali said: This is the land of Karbala’ and the place of martyrdom of a group who will go to paradise without reckoning. People did not understand what he meant till Imam Husayn and his companions were martyred there.[111]

The last example of `Ali’s prescience is about the building of the city of Baghdad, Abbasid rule, their performance for five hundred and odd years, name of each of them and their fall by Hulagu Khan.

`Allamah Hilli says: My father has related this news and has a few words as to why Mongol did not invade the cities of Hillah and Kufah nor the two holy cities of Najaf and Karbala’, for Mongol did not invade any city without having ruined it and killed its inhabitants. It was for this reason that when Hulagu besieged Baghdad, looting by Mongols had intimidated everyone though Baghdad had not collapsed yet.

When the news of Mongols reached the people of Hillah, they all left their homes for deserts out of fear and a few of them including my late father, Sayyid Majd al-Din ibn Tawus and the great jurisprudent, ibn Abi’l-`Izz who remained in the city. These people gathered in a place, exchanged views on how to save themselves and

عَرْفَطَةَ عَلَى مُقَدِّمَتِهِ وَحَبيبَ بْنَ حَمَّارٍ صاحِبَ رايَتِهِ. فَسارَ بِها حَتَّى دَخَلَ المَسْجِدَ مِنْ بابِ الفيلِ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: قَوْلُهُ لِلبَراءِ بْنِ عازِبٍ: يُقْتَلُ ابْني الْحُسَيْنُ وَأنْتَ حَيٌّ لاَ تَنْصُرُهُ.

فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ الحُسَيْنُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَانَ البَراءُ يَقولُ: حَدَّثَنِي، وَاللهِ، عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِقَتْلِ الحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَلَمْ أَنْصُرْهُ. ثُمَّ أَظْهَرَ الحْسَرَةَ وَالنَّدَمَ.

ومن ذَلِكَ: مَا رَواهُ جُوَيْرِيَّةُ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ العَبْديُّ قَالَ: لَمَّا تَوَجَّهْنا إلَى صِفِّينَ مَعَ أمِير المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَبَلَغْنا طُفُوفَ كَرْبَلاءَ وَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ ناحِيَةً مِنَ العَسْكَرِ ثُمَّ نَظَرَ يِميناً وَشِمالاً وَاسْتَعْبَرَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: هَذَا وَاللهِ مَناخُ رِكابِهِمْ وَمَوْضِعُ مَنِيَّتِهِمْ. فَقيلَ لَهُ: يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ، مَا هَذَا المَوْضِعُ؟ فَقالَ: هَذَا كَرْبَلاءُ، يُقْتَلُ فِيهِ قَوْمٌ يَدْخُلُونَ الجَنَّةَ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ. ثُمَّ سارَ وَكانَ النَّاسُ لاَ يَعْلَمونَ تَأْويلَ مَا قَالَ حَتَّى كَانَ مِنْ أمْرِ الحُسَيْن عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا كَانَ.

وَمِنْ ذَلِكَ: إخْبارُهُ بِعِمارَةِ بَغْدادَ وَمُلْكِ بَني العَبَّاسِ وَذِكْرِ أحْوالِهِمْ وَأَخْذِ المَغُولِ المُلْكَ مِنْهُمْ. رَواهُ والِدِي رَحِمَهُ اللهُ تَعالَى. وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ سَبَبَ سَلامَةِ أَهْلِ الحِلَّةِ وَالكُوفَةِ وَالمَشْهَدَيْنِ الشَّريفَيْنِ مِنَ القَتْلِ،  لأنَّهُ لَمَّا وَصَلَ السُّلْطانُ هولاكو إلَى بَغْدادَ وَقَبْلَ أنْ يَفْتَحَها هَرَبَ أكْثَرُ أهْلِ الحِلَّةِ إلَى البَطائِحِ إلاَّ القَليلَ. فَكَانَ مِنْ جُمْلَةِ القَليلِ والِدِي رَحِمَهُ اللهُ وَالسَّيِّدُ مَجْـدُ الدِّينِ بْنِ طاوُوسٍ وَالفَقيهُ ابْنُ أَبِي العِزِّ. فَأجْمَعَ رَأْيُهُمْ عَلَى مُكــاتَبَةِ

the residents of Hillah and finally decided to write a letter to Hulagu expressing their allegiance to him and assuring him that they would not confront him but were obeying his instructions. They sent the letter to Hulagu through a Persian-speaking man. Having received the letter, Hulagu ordered two men by the names of Tekolm and Aladdin to go to the city of Hillah and convey to the inhabitants of the city the message to the effect that if you obey the sultan, you must rush to meet him. The two men came to the city of Hillah informing people of Sultan’s order but no one dared to take any action or go to Hulagu with them, for they did not know what would finally happen. My father said: If I go to Hulagu by myself and brief him on the affair, there will be no need for the presence of others. Sayyid ibn Tawus and ibn Abi’l-`Izz too approved his decision, saying: You go to Hulagu along with these two agents and convey to him the decision of others. It is well to mention that my father went to meet Hulagu before the conquest of Baghdad and the killing of the last Abbasid caliph.

Receiving my father, Hulagu said: How did you decide to come to me when the end of affairs is not clear, when Caliph’s problem with me is still unresolved, when he may decide to make peace with me and I may leave him to himself and leave this place? My father said: What we have done is based on a narration from our master, Amir al-Mu’minin who has spoken of Baghdad in this way: Al-Zawra' and what will make you comprehend what Al-Zawra’ is? It is a land abounding in Manna trees. Sky-touching buildings will be made there and people turn to it from everywhere. There are abundant treasures in the depth of it persuading its inhabitant to suffer a lot in order to gain it. The sons of `Abbas will turn it into the seat of their rule. They will also turn it into a place of debauchery, oppression, injustice and violation of the rights of the deprived people. The leaders of this city are a group of adulterers, lewd scientists, and treacherous viziers. Their employees are the sons of Persia and Rome. If there is any praiseworthy act, no one will do it and if there is any blameworthy act, they will not forsake it. In that city, men have inclination towards men and women have intercourse with women. Amid this tumult, people of this city will be afflicted with murder and looting by the dominating Turks. Long-lasting moaning and cries will be raised among the residents of this city. What will make you comprehend

السُّلْطانِ بِأَنَّهُمْ مُطِيعونَ داخِلونَ تَحْتَ الأيلِيَّةِ. وَأَنْفَذوا بِهِ شَخْصاً أعْجَمِيَّاً. فَأَنْفَذَ السُّلْطانُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَرَماناً مَعَ شَخْصَيْنِ: أَحَدُهُما يُقال لَهُ: تَكْلَمُ. وَالآخَرُ يُقالُ لَهُ: عَلاءُ الدِّينِ. وَقالَ لَهُما إنْ كَانَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ كَما وَرَدَتْ بِهِ كُتُبُهُمْ فَيَحْضُرونَ إلَيْنا.

فَجاءَ الأمِيرانِ فَخَافوا لِعَدَمِ مَعْرِفَتِهِمْ بِما يَنْتَهِي الحَالُ إلَيْهِ. فَقالَ وَالِدِي رَحِمَهُ اللهُ: إنْ جِئْتُ وَحْدي كَفَى؟ فَقالا: نَعَمْ. فَصَعَدَ مَعَهُما. فَلَمَّا حَضَرَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ فَتْحِ بَغْدادَ وَقَبْلَ قَتْلِ الخَليفَةِ قَالَ لَهُ: كَيْفَ أَقْدَمْتُمْ مُكاتَبَتِي وَالحُضُورَ عِنْدِي قَبْلَ أنْ تَعْلَموا مَا يَنْتَهي إلَيْهِ أَمْري وَأمْرُ صاحِبِكُمْ؟ وَكَيْفَ تَأْمَنونَ أنْ صالَحَنِي وَرَحَلْتُ عَنْهُ؟

فَقالَ لَهُ والِدِي: إنَّما أقْدَمْنا عَلَى ذَلِكَ لأنَّا رُوينا عَنْ إمَامِنا عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أنَّهُ قَالَ فِي بَعْضِ خُطَبِهِ: الزَّوُراءُ وَما أدْراكَ مَا الزَّوْراءُ؟ أرْضٌ ذاتُ أثْلٍ يَشْتَدُّ فِيها البُنْيانُ وَيَكْثُرُ فِيها السُّكَّانُ وَيَكونُ فيهَا قَهازِمُ وَخُزَّانٌ. يَتَّخِذُها وِلْدُ العَبَّاسِ مَوطِناً وَلِزُخْرُفِهِمْ مَسْكناً. تَكونُ لَهُمْ دارُ لَهْوٍ وَلَعِبٍ يَكونُ بِهَا الْجَوْرُ الْجَائِرُ وَالْخَوْفُ الْمُخيفُ وَالأئِمَّةُ الْفَجَرَةُ وَالقُرَّاءُ الفَسَقَةُ وَالوُزَراءُ الخَوَنَةُ. يَخْدِمُهُمْ أبْناءُ فارِسٍ وَالرُّومِ. لاَ يَأْتَمِرُونُ بِمَعْروفٍ إذَا عَرَفُوهُ وَلا يَتَناهَوْنَ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ إذَا أنْكَروهُ. يَكْتَفي الرِّجالُ مِنْهُمْ بِالرِّجالِ وَالنِّساءُ بِالنِّساءِ. فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ الغَمُّ الغَميمُ وَالبُكَاءُ الطَّويلُ وَالوَيْلُ وَالعَويلُ لأَِهْــلِ

what the Turks are? They are people with slant eyes, shield-like faces who are iron-clad with no hair on their faces. Their commander is a man with loud voice whose authority is all-encompassing with a great ambition. He will not pass by any city without conquering it. No banner is raised against him without being toppled. Woe to one who is hostile to him. He keeps on seizing all the cities till he conquers everywhere and brings them under his control.

When we heard, read about and saw all these features about you, we found out that you have all these features in you, so we set our hope on you and decided to come to you. Hearing this, Hulagu became extremely pleased and happy. So, he wrote a decree in the name of my father in which he gave amnesty to the residents of Hillah and the nearby cities and never invaded them.[112]

`Ali’s Courage In Battlefields

Muslims unanimously believe that `Ali was the most courageous man after the Holy Prophet (s.a) in the battlefields. `Ali attacked the enemy in such a way that surprised the angels in heaven!

Speaking about fighting between `Amr ibn `Abd-Wudd `Amiri and `Ali who eventually killed him, the Holy Prophet (s.a) said: The killing of `Amr by `Ali is better that the worship of Jinn and human beings.[113]

In the battle of Badr in which many atheists of Quraysh were killed by `Ali, Gabriel was present. All the Muslims heard him saying with a loud voice: There is no man more valorous than `Ali and there is no sword sharper than Dhu’l-Fiqar.[114]

Ahmad ibn Hanbal has written: Following martyrdom of his father, Hasan ibn `Ali made a speech in which he said: O people, yesterday an honorable man departed from among you and rushed to the hereafter who was unrivaled among the former nations, and the future generations too will fail to comprehend him, for anytime the Holy Prophet (s.a) sent him to a battle, he was accompanied by Gabriel on the right side and by Michael on the left side and he would not return from battlefield until he achieved victory.[115]

Khawarizmi has reported: `Abdullah ibn `A’ishah quoted his father as saying: Anytime the polytheists looked at `Ali in the battlefield, they would make their last will and testament, for they could see death before their eyes.[116]

الزَّوْراءِ مِنْ سَطَواتِ التُّرْكِ وَما هُمُ التُّرْكُ؟ قَوْمٌ صِغارُ الحُدُقِ وُجُوهُهُمْ كَالْمِجانِّ المُطْرَقَةِ، لِباسُهُمُ الحَديدُ، جُرْدٌ مُرْدٌ، يَقْدِمُهُمْ مَلِكٌ يَأتِي مِنْ حَيْثُ بَدَأَ مُلْكُهُمْ جَهْوَرِيُّ الصَّوْتِ قَويُّ الصَّوْلَةِ عالِي الهِمَّةِ، لاَ يَمُرُّ بِمَدينَةٍ إلاَّ فَتَحَها وَلا تُرْفَعُ لَهُ رَايَةٌ إلاَّ نَكَّسَها. الوَيْلُ الوَيْلُ لِمَنْ نَاوَأَهُ. فَلا يَزالُ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَظْفُرَ.

فَلَمَّا وُصِفَ لَنا ذَلِكَ وَوَجَدْنا الصِّفاتِ فِيكُمْ رَجَوْناكَ فَقَصَدْناكَ. فَطَيَّبَ قُلوبَهُمْ وَكَتَبَ لَهُمْ فَرَماناً بِاسْمِ وَالِدي رَحِمَهُ اللهُ يُطَيِّبُ فِيهِ قُلُوبَ أَهْلِ الحِلَّةِ وَأعْمَالِها.

فِي الشَّجاعَةِ:

وَلا خِلافَ بَيْنَ الأُمَّةِ أنَّ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَانَ أشْجَعَ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَأعْظَمَهُمْ بَلاءً فِي الحُروبِ، تَتَعَجَّبُ مِنْ حَمْلاتِهِ مَلائِكَةُ السَّماءِ.

وَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقولُ: قَتْلُهُ لِعَمْرِو بْنِ عَبْدِ وُدٍّ العَامِرِيِّ أفْضَلُ مِنْ عِبادَةِ الثَّقَلَيْنِ.

وَنَزَلَ جَبْرَئيلُ فِي يَوْمِ أُحُدٍ وَهُوَ يَقولُ وَيَسْمَعُهُ المُسْلِمونَ كافَّةٍ: لاَ سَيْفَ إلاَّ ذو الفِقارِ ولا فَتَى إلاَّ عَلِيٌّ.

وَنَقَلَ أحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ فِي مُسْنَدِهِ قَالَ خَطَبَ الحَسَنُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقالَ: لَقَدْ فارَقَكُمْ رَجُلٌ بِالأَمْسِ لَمْ يَسْبِقْهُ الأَوَّلونَ بِعِلْمٍ وَلا يُدْرِكُهُ الآخِرونَ. كَانَ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَبْعَثُهُ بِالرَّايَةِ، جِبْريلُ عَنْ يَمينِهِ وَميكَائيلُ عَنْ شِمالِهِ، لاَ يَنْصَرِفُ حَتَّى يُفْتَحُ لَهُ.

وَرَوى الخَوارِزْمِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنا عُبَيْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عائِشَةَ عَنْ أبِيهِ قَالَ: كَانَ المُشْرِكونَ إذَا أبْصَروا عَلِيَّاً فِي الحَرْبِ عَهِدَ بَعْضُهُمْ إلَى بَعْضٍ.

Imam `Ali’s situations in this field are too many to be counted. Only through his sword did the religion of Islam raise and achieve maintenance and the wrong diminish and fade away.

In the coming chapter about jihad, we will refer to some of his campaigns.

`Ali’s Piety

It was unanimously believed that `Ali was the most pious man after the Holy Prophet (s.a). He was detached from the world which he had divorced three times. The Holy Prophet (s.a) has been quoted by `Ammar ibn Yasir as saying: O `Ali, God Almighty has adorned you with an ornament which was extremely praiseworthy with Him whereas He has not adorned anyone of His servants with such an adornment. This divine ornament has three stages which are all rooted in you: He detached you from the world; made the world look disgusting to you; and placed the love for the poor in your heart to the extent that they are pleased with your leadership and you are pleased to be followed by them. Happy is one who has the love for you, he is steadfast in following you and practically approves your instructions. Woe is to your enemy and one who denies you. As for your friends and followers, they are your brothers in faith and they will abide in paradise with you. As for your enemies and those who have denied you, God Almighty should place them in the abode of liars.[117]

`Abdullah ibn Abi- al-Hudhayl reports: I saw `Ali wearing a Razi shirt which was such that, if stretched, it would reach the nail of his finger and if let loose, it could hardly reach the elbow.[118]

`Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz reports: Among this Ummah we do not know anyone more pious than `Ali after the Holy Prophet (s.a).[119]

Qubaysah ibn Jabir reports: I have not found anyone more pious than `Ali ibn Abi-Talib.[120]

Suwayd ibn Ghaflah reports: I went to see Imam `Ali while he was in Caliphate’s seat. Before the Imam, there was a bowl of sour yoghourt the smell of which I could feel. A loaf of bread of barley the husk of which I could see was in his hands. The Imam was breaking the dry bread with his hand and when the bread is too hard to be broken by his

وَمَقاماتُهُ فِي الغَزَواتِ مَشْهورَةٌ، وَبِسَيْفِهِ قامَ الدِّينُ وَاعْتَدَلَ، وَاضْمَحَلَّ الكُفْرُ وَبَطَلَ.

وَسَيَأْتِي فِي بابِ الجِهادِ نُبَذٌ مِنْ غَزَواتِهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ.

فِي الوَرَعِ وَالزُّهْدِ:

وَقَدْ أجْمَعَ النَّاسُ كافَّةً عَلَى أنَّهُ أزْهَدُ النَّاسِ فِي الدُّنْيَا بَعْدَ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَأكْثَرَهُمْ تَرْكاً لَهَا، وَقَدْ طَلَّقَ الدُّنْيَا ثَلاثاً.

رَوَى الخَوارِزْمِيُّ فِي مَنَاقِبِهِ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ يَاسِرٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقولُ: يَا عَلِيُّ إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى زَيَّنَكَ بِزِينَةٍ لَمْ يُزَيِّنِ العِبادَ بِزِينَةٍ أَحَبَّ إلَيْهِ مِنْهَا: زَهَّدَكَ فِيهَا وَبَغَّضَهَا إلَيْكَ وَحَبَّبَ إلَيْكَ الفُقَراءَ فَرَضِِيتَ بِهِمْ أتْباعاً وَرَضُوا بِكَ إمَاماً. يَا عَلِيُّ طُوبَى لِمَنْ أَحَبَّكَ وَصَدَّقَ بِكَ، وَالْوَيْلُ لِمَنْ أبْغَضَكَ وَكَذَّبَ عَلَيْك. أمَّا مَنْ أحَبَّكَ وَصَدَّقَ بِكَ فَإخْوانُكَ فِي دِينِكَ وَشُرَكاؤكَ جَنَّتَكَ، وَأمَّا مَنْ أبْغَضَكَ وَكَذَّبَ عَلَيْك فَحَقيقٌ عَلَى اللهِ تَعالَى أنْ يُقيمَهُ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ مَقَامَ الكذَّابِينَ.

قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ أَبِي الْهُذَيْلِ: رَأَيْتُ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَميصاً زَريَّاً إذَا مَدَّهُ بَلَغَ الظُّفُرَ وَإذَا أرْسَلَهُ كَانَ مَعَ نِصْفِ الذِّراعِ.

وَقالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ العَزيزِ: مَا عَلِمْنا أنَّ أحَداً كَانَ فِي هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أزْهَدَ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

وَقالَ قُبَيْصَةُ بْنُ جابِرٍ: مَا رَأَيْت فِي الدُّنْيَا أزْهَدَ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ.

وَقالَ سُوَيْدُ بْنُ غَفْلَةَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ جالِساً بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ صَحيفَةٌ فِيهَا لَبَنٌ أجِدُ ريحَهُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ حُموضَتِهِ وَفِي يَدِهِ رَغـيفٌ أرَى آثـَارَ قِشـارِ

hand, the Imam would break it with his knee and then throw it in the yoghurt. He then asked me to approach him and share him in eating that food. “I am observing fasting,” I apologized. The Imam said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: He whom is prevented by fasting from eating from food that he desired, it will be incumbent upon Allah to feed him from the food of Paradise and serve him from its drink.” At this time, I said to Fiddah, his slave-girl who was standing by him: Don’t you fear Allah for treating this old man as such? Fiddah said: He has asked me not to sieve the flour. `Ali asked: What are you talking about? I told him the story. At this time `Ali said: May my parents be ransom for the one for whom the flour was not sieved, nor did he eat fill bread of wheat for three straight says until he passed away.[121]

One day Imam `Ali (a.s) went to the market, bought a shirt for three Dirhams and wore it. The sleeve of the shirt was not long enough to cover his wrist completely and the shirt itself was not long enough to cover the legs properly. Raising his hand in prayer while wearing it, Imam `Ali said: O Lord, thank you for blessing me with a shirt which both covers my body and gives me splendor among people.[122]

Imam `Ali (a.s) used to say: O yellow gold and white silver! Deceive someone else and set the trap on the way of others.[123]

One day, Imam `Ali who had prepared his special sword for selling went to the market, saying: Who will buy this sword? By God who makes the grain grow in the earth, this sword has long served the Messenger of Allah, removing the dust of sorrow from his holy face. If I could afford to buy one piece of clothes, I would never sell it.[124]

One day, Imam `Ali who was wearing a garment with patches attended a gathering. An ignorant man started blaming him. Imam `Ali said: Wearing this shirt for a leader like me is not blameworthy, for it makes my heart humble on the one hand, and a believer who sees me wearing it will follow me on the other.[125]

One day, Imam `Ali went to the market buying two coarse shirts. He said to Qanbar, his servant: Choose between the two. He chose one and put it on. Putting on the other one, `Ali found that the sleeves were too long, so he cut it short and wore it.[126]

الشَّعيرِ فِي وَجْهِهِ وَهُوَ يَكْسِرُهُ بِيَدِهِ أحْياناً أعْيَى عَلَيْهِ كَسَرَهُ بِرُكْبَتِهِ وَطَرَحَهُ فِي اللَّبَنِ. فَقالَ: أُدْنُ فَأَصِبْ مِنْ طَعامِنا هَذَا. فَقُلْتُ: إنّي صائِمٌ. فَقالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقولُ: مَنْ مَنَعَهُ الصِّيامُ مِنْ طَعامٍ يَشْتَهيهِ كَانَ حَقَّاً عَلَى اللهِ أنْ يُطْعِمَهُ مِنْ طَعامِ الجَنَّةِ وَيَسْقِيَهُ مِنْ شَرابِها.

فَقُلْتُ لِجَارِيَتِهِ وَهِيَ قائِمَةٌ بِقُرْبٍ مِنْهُ: وَيْحَكِ يَا فِضَّةُ ألاَ تَتَّقينَ اللهَ فِي هَذَا الشَّيْخِ؟ ألا تَنْخُلينَ لَهُ طَعاماً مِمَّا أرَى فِيهِ مِنَ النُّخالَةِ؟ فَقالَتْ: لَقَدْ تَقَدَّمَ إلَيْنا لاَ نَنْخُلُ لَهُ طَعاماً. قَالَ لي: مَا قُلتُ لَهَا؟ فَأخْبَرْتُهُ. فَقالَ: بِأبِي وَأُمّي مَنْ لَمْ يُنْخَلْ لَهُ طَعامٌ وَلَمْ يَشْبَعْ مِنْ خُبْزِ البُرِّ ثَلاثَةَ أيَّامٍ حَتَّى قَبَضَهُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجلَّ.

وَاجْتازَ يَوماً فِي السُّوقِ فَاشْتَرى قَميصاً بِثَلاثَةِ دَراهِمَ وَلَبِسَهُ مَا بَيْنَ الرِّسْغَيْنِ إلَى الكَعْبَيْنِ وَقالَ حينَ لَبِسَهُ: الحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي رَزَقَني مِنَ الرِّياشِ مَا أتَجَمَّلُ بِهِ النَّاسَ.

وَقالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَا صَفْراءُ غُرِّي غَيْرِي. يَا بَيْضَاءُ غُرِّي غَيْرِي.

وَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَوْماً إلَى السُّوقِ وَمَعَهُ سَيْفُهُ لِيَبيعَهُ فَقالَ: مَنْ يَشْتَري مِنّي هَذَا السَّيْفَ؟ فَوَالَّذي فَلَقَ الحَبَّةَ لَطالَما كَشَفْتُ بِهِ الكُرَبَ عَنْ وَجْهِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، وَلَوْ كَانَ عِنْدي مِنْ إزارٍ لَما بِعْتُهُ.

وَخَرَجَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَوْماً وَعَلَيْهِ إزَارٌ مَرْقوعٌ فَعُوتِبَ. فَقالَ: يَخْشَعُ القَلْبُ بِلِبْسِهِ وَيَقْتَدي بِهِ المُؤْمِنُ إذَا رَآهُ عَلَيَّ.

وَاشْتَرَى يَوْماً ثَوْبَيْنِ غَليظَيْنِ فَخَيَّرَ قَنْبَراً فِيهِما فَأخَذَ واحِداً وَلَبِسَ هُوَ الآخَرَ فَرَأى فِي كُمِّهِ طُولاً عَنْ أصَابِعِهِ فَقَطَعَهُ.

Imam `Ali appointed a man from the tribe of Thaqif as governor of the city of `Akbar, saying to him: Come to me tomorrow after the Noon Prayer. I have a business with you. The man reports: I went to see him the next day. Contrary to what is usual with rulers, I did not find any doorkeeper to stop me at the time of appointment. So I went to the Imam and found him sitting with a clay bowl and a jug of water only. At this time, the Imam ordered to bring him a sealed package. I said to myself: The Imam considers me as trustworthy, so he wants to show me a precious Jewel he has kept hidden from others. Soon, he removed the seal from the package and opened it. Suddenly, my eyes fell on some soft flour of barley and wheat. He poured it into a bowl, added some water to it, ate a little of it and offered the rest to me. To see this scene made me lose my patience, so I said: O Amir al-Mu’minin, it is strange that you are living in a country like Iraq which abounds with so many blessings yet you are living a hard life.

The Imam said: By God, the seal I have put on this package is not because of meanness so that no one will eat with me rather I wish to use it to the extent of my need. I am also afraid that one of my kinsmen may take away some of it and add some delicious food to it and as a result of it add some non-pure food which I do not like. The Imam then warned me against eating a food about which I was doubtful. He further said: Do not eat anything but lawful (Halal) food.[127]