‘Ali and the Jews — part 1/2

‘Ali and the Jews (The Story of the Companions of the Cave)

Abu-Ishaq Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Tha’labi in his book, al-Ara'is writes: When ‘Umar ibn Khattab took the seat of caliphate, a group of the Jewish scholars came to him, saying: Today, you are the leader of Muslims after Muhammad as well as one of his companions. We have come here to ask you questions. Should you respond our questions, we will understand that Islam is a truthful religion and Muhammad is God’s prophet and messenger. Otherwise, Islam is not truthful and Muhammad is not God’s messenger! ‘Umar said: Ask me any question you wish!

The Jewish scholars (rabbis) said: Inform us of locks of heavens and keys to them, of a grave with its companions in motion, of a being which warned its people but was neither jinn nor human, of five creatures walking on the earth while they were not in any womb, of what francolin say in crying, horse in its neighing, a toad when it croaks, and a lark when singing. ‘Umar failed to answer to these questions. Hence, lowering his head, shamefully said: ‘Umar is not ashamed of saying I do not know what he does not know and ask it from others!

Being pleased with Umar’s failure to answer their questions, the Jews said: This is a proof that Muhammad is not a prophet and Islam is not a true religion.

At this time Salman who was present and had everything under watch excitedly rose up and said to the Jews: Stop a little while. Then, he went to ‘Ali’s house, saying: O ‘Ali! Come and save Islam! ‘Ali said: Why are you so worried? Salman told him the whole story. Having the striped cloak of the Holy Prophet on his shoulder, ‘Ali hurriedly went to the mosque. Seeing that ‘Ali was coming, ‘Umar hastily welcomed and kissed him, saying: O Abul Hasan! It is only you who can solve the problems. I seek refuge in you in this relation. You are an asset for Islam and the only one on whom we set our hope when an emergency arises!

Anyway, ‘Ali expressed his readiness for answering the questions, saying: Ask me about anything you wish, for the Messenger of Allah opened a thousand gates of knowledge to me and opened a thousand other gates from each gate. I assure you that you will receive your answers.

فِي قِصَّةِ أَصْحَابِ الْكَهْفِ وَمُحَادَثَتِهِ مَعَ الْيَهُودِ:

رَوَى أَبُو إسْحَاقَ أحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إبْرَاهِيمَ الثَّعْلَبِيُّ فِي كِتابِ العَرَائِسُ قَالَ: لَمَّا تَوَلَّى عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ الْخِلاَفَةَ أَتَاهُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَحْبَارِ الْيَهُودِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ: يَا عُمَرُ، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّ الأَمْرِ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَصَاحِبِهِ، وَإنَّا نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ خِصَالٍ إِنْ أَخْبَرْتَنَا بِهَا عَلِمْنَا أَنَّ الإسْلاَمَ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً كَانَ نَبِيَّاً، وَإِنْ لَمْ تُخْبِرْنَا بِهَا عَلِمْنَا أَنَّ الإسْلاَمَ بَاطِلٌ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً لَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِيَّاً. فَقالَ عُمَرُ: سَلُوا عَمَّا بَدَا لَكُمْ. قَالُوا: أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ أَقْفَالِ السَّمَاوَاتِ مَا هِيَ، وَأَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ مَفَاتِيحِ السَّمَاوَاتِ مَا هِيَ، وَأَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ قَبْرٍ سَارَ بصَاحِبِهِ مَا هُوَ، وَأَخْبِرْنَا عَمَّنْ أَنْذَرَ قَوْمَهُ لاَ هُوَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَلاَ هُوَ مِنَ الإِنْسِ، وَأَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ مَشَوا عَلَى الأَرْضِ وَلَمْ يُخْلَقُوا فِي الأَرْحَامِ، وَأَخْبِرْنَا عَمَّا يَقُولُ الدَّرَّاجُ فِي صِيَاحِهِ وَمَا يَقُولُ الدِّيكُ فِي صَرِيخِهِ وَالْفَرَسُ فِي صَهِيلِهِ وَمَا يَقُولُ الْحِمَارُ فِي نَهِيقِهِ وَمَا يَقُولُ الضِّفْدَعُ فِي نَقِيقِهِ وَمَا يَقُولُ الْقُنْبُرُ فِي صَفِيرِهِ؟

قَالَ: فَنَكَسَ عُمَرُ رَأْسَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: لاَ عَيْبَ لِعُمَرَ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ عَمَّا لاَ يَعْلَمُ أَنْ يَقُولَ لاَ أَعْلَمُ.

فَوَثَبَ الْيَهُودُ وَقَالُوا: نَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً لَمْ يَكُنْ نَبِيَّاً وَأَنَّ الإِسْلاَمَ بَاطِلٌ.

فَوَثَبَ سَلْمَانُ الْفَارِسِيُّ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُ وَقالَ لِلْيَهُودِ: قِفُوا قَلِيلاً. ثُمَّ تَوَجَّهَ نَحْوَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَقالَ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ، أَغِثِ الإِسْلاَمَ. فَقالَ: وَمَا ذَاكَ؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ الْخَبَرَ. فَأَقْبَلَ يَرْفُلُ فِي بُرْدَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ عُمَرُ إلَيْهِ وَثَبَ قَائِماً فَاعْتَنَقَهُ وَقالَ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ، أَنْتَ لِكُلِّ ذِي مُعْضِلَةٍ وَشَدِيدَةٍ تُدْعَى. فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِلْيَهُودِ: سَلُوا عَمَّا بَدَا لَكُمْ، فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عَلَّمَنِي أَلْفَ بَابٍ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَتَشَعَّبَ لِي مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ أَلْفُ بَابٍ. فَسَأَلُوهُ عَنْهَا، فَقالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ:

But there is one condition which you have to observe. The Jews said: What is that condition? ‘Ali said: If I answer your questions as mentioned in the Torah, will you convert to Islam and believe in the Messenger of Allah? They said: Yes, we accept this condition. Then they asked: What are locks of heavens? ‘Ali said: Locks of heavens are to associate something with God. If a person is atheist, no deeds of him or her will go up to heaven.

• What are the keys to those locks?

• The keys to those locks are to bear witness that God is one and Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

• At this time, they looked at one another, saying: This young man said the truth and his answers correspond with truth.

• What is that grave which is in motion with its companion?

• That grave was the fish which swallowed Jonah the son of Mattie which moved in the seven seas.

• What is the creature which warned its people while it was neither a jinn nor a human being?

• It is the ant of Sulayman ibn Dawud, which said to the ants: Take refuge in your nests, lest Sulayman and his companions walk on you inattentively!

• Who are those five creatures walking on the earth but they were not generated in a womb?

• Those five creatures were: Adam, Eve, the she-camel of Salih, the ram of Ibrahim, and Moses’ Rod.

• What does francolin say when singing?

• It says: The Beneficent God is firm in power.

• What does the rooster say when crowing?

• It says: O the unmindful, remember God!

• What does the horse say when neighing?

• When believers are fighting the unbelievers in the battlefield, they invoke God: Make Your believing servants victorious over unbelievers and assist them.

إِنَّ لِي عَلَيْكُمْ شَرِيطَةً، إذَا أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ كَمَا فِي تَوْرَاتِكُمْ دَخَلْتُمْ فِي دِينِنَا وَآمَنْتُمْ بِنَبِيِّنَا.

فَقَالُوا: لك ذَلِكَ. فَقالَ: سَلُوا خِصْلَةً خِصْلَةً. فَقَالُوا: أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ أَقْفَالِ السَّمَاوَاتِ مَا هِيَ.

فَقالَ: أَقْفَالُ السَّمَاوَاتِ الشِّرْكُ بِاللهِ، لأَِنَّ الْعَبْدَ وَالأَمَةَ إذَا كَانَا مُشْرِكَيْنِ لَمْ يَرْتَفِعْ لَهُمَا عَمَلٌ.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ مَفَاتِيحِ السَّمَاوَاتِ مَا هِيَ.

فَقالَ: مَفَاتِيحُهَا شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.

قَالَ: فَجَعَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ يَنْظُرُ إلَى بَعْضٍ ويقُولُون: صَدَقَ الْفَتَى.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ قَبْرٍ سَارَ بِصَاحِبِهِ.

قَالَ: ذَلِكَ الْحُوتُ إِذْ إلْتَقَمَ يُونُسَ بْنَ مَتِّي عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَسَارَ بِهِ فِي الْبِحَارِ السَّبْعَةِ.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا عَمَّنْ أَنْذَرَ قَوْمَهُ لاَ هُوَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَلاَ مِنَ الإِنْسِ.

قَالَ: تِلْكَ نَمْلَةُ سُلَيْمَانَ إِذْ قَالَتْ ﴿أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لاَ يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ.﴾

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ مَشَوا عَلَى وَجْهِ الأَرْضِ لَمْ يُخْلَقُوا فِي الأَرْحَامِ.

قَالَ: ذَلِكَ آدَمُ وَحَوَّاءُ وَنَاقَةُ صَالِحٍ وَكَبْشُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَصَا مُوسَى.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا عَمَّا يَقُولُ الدَّرَّاجُ فِي صِيَاحِهِ.

قَالَ: يَقُولُ: الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا مَا يَقُولُ الدِّيكُ فِي صَرِيخِهِ؟

قَالَ: يَقُولُ: اذْكُرُوا اللهَ يَا غَافِلِينَ.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا مَا يَقُولُ الْفَرَسُ فِي صَهِيلِهِ؟

قَالَ: يَقُولُ إذَا مَشَى الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إلَى الْكَافِرِينَ: اللَّهُمَّ أُنْصُرْ عِبَادَكَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ.

• What does an ass say when braying?

• It curses customs officers and yells at Satan’s eye.

• What does a toad say while croaking?

• It says: Glory be to my creator who is being glorified in the depth of seas and among the stormy waves.

• What does a lark say while singing?

• It prays: O Lord! Curse the enemies of Muhammad and his household.

After these questions and answers, two of the three Jewish scholars testified to oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad and thus became Muslims but the third of them rose up and said: O ‘Ali! What you said and appealed to my friends appealed to me too but there is one more question the answer to which I would like to receive from you. ‘Ali said: Ask me any question you wish! He said: Tell me the story of a group of people who in the distant past, slept for 309 years and then were raised to life by God! ‘Ali said: They were the companions of the cave about whom God Almighty revealed verses to our prophet with their description. I will tell you the whole story from the Holy Qur’an if you are interested in it. The Jewish man said: O ‘Ali! I have heard about the Qur’an. Tell me about them if you know their names, the names of their fathers, the name of the city, the king, the dog, and their cave! Wrapping the Holy Prophet’s cloak round himself, ‘Ali said: O Jewish brother! My beloved, the Messenger of Allah told me the story as such:

In Rome, there was a city by the name of Ephesus or Tartus (before Islam, it was Ephesus and after the advent of Islam it was Tartus) ruled by a benefactor man. After a long time, the ruler passed away and the situation in that city became chaotic. The news of chaos reached a Persian king who was oppressor and unbeliever. With his military expedition to that city, he seized the city in a short time, and made that city his capital where he built a glorious palace. The Jewish scholar who was all ears, listening to what ‘Ali said, interrupted him, saying: O ‘Ali! Should you know anything about that palace, describe it more elaborately? ‘Ali said: O Jewish brother! The palace had been built of flat marble stones, one farasang long and one farasang wide with four thousand gold columns from which a thousand gold condyles with chain silvers hanging.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا مَا يَقُولُ الْحِمَارُ فِي نَهِيقِهِ؟

قَالَ: يَلْعَنُ الْعَشَّارَ وَيَنْهَقُ فِي أَعْيُنِ الشَّيَاطِينِ.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا مَا يَقُولُ الضِّفْدَعُ فِي نَقِيقِهِ؟

قَالَ: يَقُولُ: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْمَعْبُودِ الْمُسَبَّحِ فِي لُجَجِ الْبِحَارِ.

قَالُوا: فَأَخْبِرْنَا مَا يَقول الْقُنْبُرُ فِي صَفِيرِهِ؟

قَالَ: يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ إلْعَنْ مُبْغِضِي مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ.

وَكَانَ الْيَهُودُ ثَلاَثَةَ نَفَرٍ فَقالَ اثْنَانِ مِنْهُمْ: نَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. وَوَثَبَ الْحَبْرُ الثَّالِثُ فَقالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، لَقَدْ وَقَعَ فِي قُلُوبِ أَصْحَابِي مَا وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي مِنَ الإِيمَانِ وَالتَّصْدِيقِ، وَبَقِيَتْ خِصْلَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهَا.

فَقالَ: سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ.

فَقالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْمٍ فِي أَوَّلِ الزَّمَانِ مَاتُوا ثَلاَثَمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ أَحْيَاهُمُ اللهُ، مَا كَانَ قِصَّتُهُمْ؟

قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَا يَهُودِيُّ، هَؤُلاَءِ أَصْحَابُ الْكَهْفِ، وَقَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعالَى عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا قُرْآناً فِي صِفَتِهِمْ. فَإِنْ شِئْتَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَيْك قِصَّتَهُمْ.

فَقالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ: مَا أَكْثَرَ مَا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنَكُمْ! إِنْ كُنْتَ عَالِماً بِهِ فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِهِمْ وَاسْمِ مَدِينَتِهِمْ وَاسْمِ مَلِكِهِمْ وَاسْمِ كَلْبِهِمْ وَاسْمِ جَبَلِهِمْ وَاسْمِ كَهْفِهِمْ وَقِصَّتِهِمْ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا إلَى آخِرِهَا.

فَاحْتَبَى عَلِيٌّ بِبُرْدَةِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا أَخَا الْيَهُودِ، حَدَّثَنِي حَبِيبِي مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ بِأَرْضِ الرُّومِ مَدِينَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا: أَفْسُوسَ. وَيُقَالُ: هِيَ طَرْسُوسُ. وَاسْمُهَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَفْسُوسُ. فَلَمَّا جَاءَ الإِسْلاَمُ سَمَّوْهَا طَرْطُوسَ. قَالَ: وَكَانَ لَهُمْ مَلِكٌ صَالِحٌ فَمَاتَ مَلِكُهُمْ وَانْتَشَرَ أَمْرُهُمْ فَسَمِعَ بِهِمْ مَلِكٌ مِنْ مُلُوكِ فَارِسَ يُقَالُ لَهُ: دَقْيَانُوسَ، وَكَانَ جَبَّاراً كَفَّاراً. فَأَقْبَلَ فِي عَسَاكِرِهِ حَتَّى دَخَلَ أَفْسُوسَ فَاتَّخَذَهَا دَارَ مُلْكِهِ وَبَنَى فِيهَا قَصْراً.

فَوَثَبَ الْيَهُودِيُّ وَقالَ: إِنْ كُنْتَ عَالِماً فَصِفْ لِي ذَلِكَ الْقَصْرَ وَمَجَالِسَهُ.

فَقالَ: يَا أَخَا الْيَهُودِ، إبْتَنَى قَصْراً مِنَ الرُّخَامِ طُولُهُ فَرْسَخٌ فِي فَرْسَخٍ مِنَ الرُّخَامِ الْمُمَرَّدِ

The palace was illuminated with the best and most aromatic lamp oil. On the eastern side of the palace, there were two hundred windows and the same number on the western side. The sun lit the palace from morning till evening. A throne of gold measuring eighty meters long and forty meters wide, adorned with different precious Jewels, had been built. On the right side of the throne, there were eighty chairs on which senior officers who had ten thousand army men under their command were sitting at his beck and call.

On the left side of the throne too, there were eighty chairs on which scholars and judges were sitting, waiting for his command.

Then the king sat on the throne and put the royal crown on his head. The Jewish scholar once again interrupted ‘Ali and said: If you know anything about that crown, elaborate on it! ‘Ali said: The royal crown was made of melted gold having nine bases on which there was a pearl which radiated in night like a lamp.

Fifty slaves who were the sons of senior officers with red silk coat and beautiful green breeches, a crown on head, bracelet on hand, ankle-ring on feet, with each having a club of gold in hand were standing over the king’s head ready to carry out his orders. Out of six sons of scholars who were younger, three stood on the right side and the other three on the left side.

They were special cancellers without whose consultation the king did not decide on anything. The Jewish scholar said: O ‘Ali, what were the names of those six persons? ‘Ali said: My beloved, the Messenger of Allah said: The names of those standing on the right side were Amlikhius, Maximinyanius, and Motyanius, and those standing on the left side were Danius, Yanius, and Mertus.

When he sat on the throne and people gathered in the palace, three slaves entered from entrance. In the hand of the first slave, there was a gold chalice full of musk. In the hand of the second slave, there was a silver chalice full of rosewater and in the hand of the third slave, there was a bird which with a call started flying dipped its wings in the rosewater chalice. At another call, the bird started flying again, dipped its wings in the musk chalice, and with the last call, the bird started flying and sat on the royal crown, sprinkling rosewater and musk on the head and face of king.

وَاتَّخَذَ فِيهِ أَرْبَعَةَ آلاَفِ أُسْطُوَانَةٍ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَأَلْفَ قِنْدِيلٍ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ لَهَا سَلاَسِلُ مِنَ اللُّجَيْنِ تُسْرَجُ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ بِالأَدْهَانِ الطَّيِّبَةِ. وَاتَّخَذَ لِشَرْقَيِ الْمَجْلِسِ مِائَتَيْ كُوَّةٍ وَلِغَرْبَيْهِ كَذَلِكَ. فَكَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ حِينَ تَطْلُعُ إلَى أَنْ تَغِيبَ تَدُورُ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ كَيْفَ مَا دَارَتْ. وَاتَّخَذَ فِيهِ سَرِيراً مِنَ الذّهَبِ طُولُهُ ثَمَانُونَ ذِرَاعاً فِي عَرْضِ أَرْبَعِينَ ذِرَاعاً مُرَصَّعاً بِالْجَوَاهِرِ. وَنَصَبَ عَلَى يَمِينِ السَّرِيرِ ثَمَانِينَ كُرْسِيَّاً مِنَ الذَّهَبِ فَأَجْلَسَ عَلَيْها بَطَارِقَتَهُ. وَاتَّخَذَ أَيْضاً عَنْ يِسَارِهِ ثَمَانِينَ كُرْسِيَّاً مِنَ الذَّهَبِ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَأَجْلَسَ عَلَيْها هَرَاقِلَتَهُ وَقُضَاتَهُ. ثُمَّ جَلَسَ عَلَى السَّرِيرِ وَوَضَعَ التَّاجَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ.

فَوَثَبَ الْيَهُودِيُّ وَقالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، إِنْ كُنْتَ عَالِماً فَأَخْبِرْنِي مِمَّ كَانَ تَاجُهُ؟

قَالَ: يَا يَهُودِيُّ، كَانَ تَاجُهُ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ السَّبِيكِ، لَهُ سَبْعَةُ أَرْكَانٍ، عَلَى كُلِّ رُكْنٍ لُؤْلُؤَةٌ تُضِيءُ كَمَا يُضِيءُ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي اللَّيَلَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ. وَاتَّخَذَ خَمْسِينَ غُلاَماً مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْبَطَارِقَةِ فَمَنْطَقَهُمْ بِمَنَاطِقِ الدِّيبَاجِ الأَحْمَرِ وَسَرْوَلَهُمْ بِسَراوِيلاَتِ الْفَرِيدِ الأَخْضَرِ وَتَوَّجَهُمْ وَدَمْلَجَهُمْ وَخَلْخَلَهُمْ وَأَعْطَاهُمْ عُمُدَ الذَّهَبِ وَأَقَامَهُمْ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ. وَاصْطَفَى سِتَّةَ غِلْمَةٍ مِنْ أَوْلاَدِ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَجَعَلَهُمْ وُزَرَاءَهُ، فَمَا كَانَ يَقْطَعُ أَمْراً دُونَهُمْ، وَأَقَامَ ثَلاَثَةً مِنْهُمْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَثَلاَثَةً عَنْ يِسَارِهِ.

فَوَثَبَ الْيَهُودِيُّ وَقالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، إِنْ كُنْتَ عَالِماً بِهِمْ فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَا كَانَ أَسْمَاءُ الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالثَّلاثَةِ الَّذِينَ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ؟

فَقالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: حَدَّثَنِي حَبِيبِي رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنَّ الثَّلاَثَةَ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا عَنْ يَمِينِهِ أَسْمَاؤُهُمْ تَمْلِيخَا وَمَكْسَلَمِينَا وَمَحْسِيمِينَا. وَأَمَّا الثَّلاَثَةُ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا عَنْ يَسَارِهِ فَمُرْطِلْيُوسُ وَكَشْطُوشُ وَسَادِنْيُوسُ. وَكَانَ يَسْتَشِيرُهُمْ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِ. وَكَانَ إذَا جَلَسَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فِي صَحْنِ دَارِهِ وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عِنْدَهُ دَخَلَ مِنْ بَابِ الدَّارِ ثَلاَثَةُ غِلْمَةٍ فِي يَدِ أَحَدِهِمْ جَامٌ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ مَمْلُوءٌ مِنَ الْمِسْكِ، وَفِي يَدِ الثَّانِي جَامٌ مِنَ الْفِضَّةِ مَمْلُوءٌ مِنْ مَاءِ الْوَرْدِ، وَعَلَى يَدِ الثَّالِثِ طَائِرٌ، فَيَصِيحُ فَيَطِيرُ الطَّائِرُ حَتَّى يَقَعَ فِي جَامِ مَاءِ الْوَرْدِ فَيَتَمَرَّغُ فَيُنَشِّفُ مَا فِيهِ بِرِيشِهِ وَجَنَاحَيْهِ، ثُمَّ يَصِيحُ بِهِ ثَانِيَةً فَيَطِيرُ حَتَّى يَقَعَ فِي جَامِ الْمِسْكِ فَيَتَمَرَّغُ فِيهِ فَيُنَشِّفُ مَا فِيهِ بِرِيشِهِ وَجَنَاحَيْهِ، ثُمَّ يَصِيحُ بِهِ الثَّالِثَةَ فَيَطِيرُ الطَّائِرُ فَيَقَعُ عَلَى تَاجِ الْمَلِكِ فَيَنْفَضُ رِيشَهُ وَجَنَاحَيْهِ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْمَلِكِ مِمَّا فِيهِ مِنَ الْمِسْكِ وَمَاءِ الْوَرْدِ.

Decius ruled over that territory for 30 years with peace of mind. During this time, no sorrow or pain afflicted him. This made him feel so arrogant that he claimed to be God. Hence, he called all the chiefs of tribes and associates, telling them about his claim.

Whoever accepted his claim, he would be honored and given royal garments and whoever disobeyed him, would be murdered. Given that situation, people accepted his claim and started worshipping him instead of God either out of greed for royal garment or out of fear for death. This situation continued until a festival day when Decius was sitting on the throne with his royal crown on his head that one of the officers entered the palace and reported that the Persian army was quickly advancing towards them with the intention of war!

Hearing this, Decius was so upset that he almost fainted. The crown fell off his head and he rolled on the ground from the throne. At this time, one of the three youths sitting on the right side of him, called Temlikha who was wiser than the others became pensive, saying to himself: If Decius is really God, as he claims, why he eats, drinks, and defecates like human beings whereas these acts are not Godly?

Those six youths gathered in one another’s house, ate, drank, and enjoyed themselves. When the event happened to Decius, they happened to be in Temlikha’s house. The other five youth were eating and drinking but Temlikha abstained from eating or drinking. When he was asked the reason, he said: O brothers! A new idea has found its way into my heart which stops me from eating and drinking.

They asked: What is that idea? He said: I have long been thinking as who is holding the sky which is spread like a canopy over our heads or what pillars are under it? Who is it that has made the sun and moon move and has decorated the sky with stars? I think the same about the earth. Who is linking the seas and the sky-touching mountains to stop from falling off? I ask myself who brought me to this world from my mother’s womb, gave me daily food, and nourished me.

After pondering, I have come to the conclusion that this world has a maker other than the tyrant and oppressive Decius! Hearing this, all the other youths bowed to him, kissed him, and said: Whatever has passed in your heart has passed in our hearts too. Now tell us what should be done! Temlikha said: O brothers! We have no option other than seeking refuge to the Lord of the heavens and the earth and fleeing this territory!

فَمَكَثَ الْمَلِكُ فِي مُلْكِهِ ثَلاَثِينَ سَنَةً مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُصِيبَهُ صُدَاعٌ وَلاَ وَجَعٌ وَلاَ حُمَّى وَلاَ لُعَابٌ وَلاَ بُزَاقٌ وَلاَ مُخَاطٌ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ عَتَى وَطَغَى وَتَجَبَّرَ وَاسْتَعْصَى وَادَّعَى الرُّبُوبِيَّةَ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ وَدَعَا إلَيْهَا وُجُوهَ قَوْمِهِ. فَكُلُّ مَنْ أَجَابَهُ أَعْطَاهُ وَحَبَاهُ وَكَسَاهُ وَخَلَعَ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُجِبْهُ وَيُتَابِعْهُ قَتَلَهُ. فَاسْتَجَابُوا بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ فَأَقَامَ فِي مُلْكِهِ زَمَاناً يَعْبُدُونَهُ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ.

فَبَيْنَا هُوَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ جَالِسٌ فِي عِيدٍ لَهُ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ وَالتَّاجُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ إِذْ أَتَاهُ بَعْضُ بَطَارِقَتِهِ فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَسَاكِرَ الْفُرْسِ قَدْ غَشِيَتْهُ يُرِيدُونَ قِتَالَهُ. فَاغْتَمَّ لِذَلِكَ غَمَّاً شَدِيداً حَتَّى سَقَطَ التَّاجُ عَنْ رَأْسِهِ وَسَقَطَ هُوَ عَنْ سَرِيرِهِ.

فَنَظَر إلَى ذَلِكَ أَحَدُ الْفِتْيَةِ الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا عَلَى يَمِينِهِ وَكَانَ غُلاَماً عَاقِلاً يُقَالُ لَهُ تَمْلِيخَا، فَتَفَكَّرَ وَتَذَكَّرَ نَفْسَهُ وَقالَ: لَوْ كَانَ دِقْيَانُوسُ هَذَا إِلَهاً كَمَا يَزْعُمُ لَمَا حَزِنَ وَلَمَا كَانَ يَنَامُ وَلَمَا كَانَ يَبُولُ وَيَتَغَوَّطُ، وَلَيْسَتْ هَذِهِ الأَفْعَالُ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الإِلَهِ. وَكَانَتِ الْفِتْيَةُ السِّتَّةُ يَكُونُونَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ عِنْدَ أَحَدِهِمْ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ نَوْبَةَ تَمْلِيخَا. فَاجْتَمَعُوا عِنْدَهُ وَأَكَلُوا وَشَرِبُوا وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ تَمْلِيخَا وَلَمْ يَشْرَبْ. فَقَالُوا لَهُ: يَا تَمْلِيخَا، لَمْ لاَ تَأْكُلُ وَلاَ تَشْرَبُ؟ فَقالَ: يَا إِخْوَتِي، قَدْ وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي شَيْءٌ مَنَعَنِي عَنِ الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ وَالْمَنَامِ. فَقَالُوا: وَمَا هُوَ يَا تَمْلِيخَا؟ فَقالَ: أَطَلْتُ فِكْرِي فِي هَذِهِ السَّمَاءِ فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ رَفَعَهَا سَقْفاً مَحْفُوظاً بِلاَ عَلاَّقَةٍ فَوْقَهَا وَلاَ دِعَامَةٍ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا؟ وَمَنْ أَجَرَى فِيهَا شَمْسَهَا وَقَمَرَهَا؟ وَمَنْ زَيَّنَهَا بِالنُّجُومِ؟ ثُمَّ أَطَلْتُ فِكْرِي فِي هَذِهِ الأَرْضِ فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ سَطَّحَهَا عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْيَمِّ الزَّاخِرِ؟ وَمَنْ حَبَسَهَا وَرَبَطَهَا بِالْجِبَالِ الرَّوَاسِي لِئَلاَّ تَمِيدَ؟ ثُمَّ أَطَلْتُ فِكْرِي فِي نَفْسِي فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ أَخْرَجَنِي صَبِيَّاً مِنْ بَطْنِ أُمِّي؟ وَمَنْ غَذَّانِي وَرَبَّانِي؟ إنَّ لَهَا صَانِعاً وَمُدَبِّراً سِوَى دَقْيَانُوسَ الْمَلِكِ. فَانْكَبَّتِ الْفِتْيَةُ عَلَى رِجْلَيْهِ يُقَبِّلُونَهُمَا وَقَالُوا: يَا تَمْلِيخَا، لَقَدْ وَقَعَ فِي قُلُوبِنَا مَا وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِكَ فَأَشِرْ عَلَيْنَا. فَقالَ: يَا إِخْوَتِي، مَا أَجِدُ لِي وَلَكُمْ حِيلَةٌ إلاَّ الْهَرَبَ مِنْ هَذَا الْجَبَّارِ إلَى مَلِكِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ.

The other five youths said: Your decision is right. After this, Temlikha sold some of the dates of his palm-groove for three Dirhams, wrapped it in his cloak, saying to his companions: Ride on your horses so as to set out for a desert! The youths mounted their horses and went as far as three miles from their city. Temlikha said: We were in danger of being chased by the tyrant up to here but from now on we are safe. We should dismount our horses and let them go. We should go on our path in this desert till God will guide us on the right path.

The youths walked for seven Farsakhs but since they were not used to walking, their feet were bleeding. On their way, they met a shepherd from whom they asked for milk or water! Seeing their handsome faces, the shepherd said: What you want is with me. But you do not look like common people. You must be princes who have fled your country. Tell me your story. The youths said: O shepherd! We have a religion which does not prescribe telling lies! Will you keep our secret if we tell you the truth? The shepherd said: Yes, indeed. The youths told him the whole story.

Hearing their story, the shepherd while bowing to them, kissed them and said: What has gone into your heart, has gone into my heart too. I ask you now to give me a chance to return this flock of sheep to their owners and then to accompany you! The youths agreed. The shepherd returned the flock of sheep to their owners and joined the six youths with his dog.

Here the Jew once again interrupted Imam ‘Ali and asked about the color and name of the dog. Imam ‘Ali said: O Jewish brother, my beloved, the Messenger of Allah, informed me that the dog was black and white though black was prevailing and its name was Qatmir.

Seeing the dog was following them, one of the youths said: This dog with its barking may betray us. We would better drive it away to be safe from any possible danger. Nevertheless, however much they tried to drive it away, the dog did not take distance from them. Seeing that they insisted to expel it, the dog sat on its claws saying in human speech: Why are you driving me away while I bear witness that God is one and has no partner. Let me be with you and keep watch on you, hoping that I will get close to my Lord!

فَقَالُوا: الرَّأْيُ مَا رَأَيْتَ. فَوَثَبَ تَمْلِيخَا فَبَاعَ تَمْراً مِنْ حَائِطٍ لَهُ بِثَلاَثَةِ دَرَاهِمَ وَصَرَّهَا فِي رِدَاءِهِ وَرَكِبُوا خُيُولَهُمْ وَخَرَجُوا. فَلَمَّا صَارُوا إلَى ثَلاَثَةِ أَمْيَالٍ مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ قَالَ لَهُمْ تَمْلِيخَا: يَا إِخْوَتَنَا، ذَهَبَ عَنَّا مُلْكُ الدُّنْيَا وَزَالَ عَنَّا أَمْرُهُ فَانْزِلُوا عَنْ خُيُولِكُمْ وَامْشُوا عَلَى أَرْجُلِكُمْ لَعَلَّ اللهَ تَعالَى أَنْ يَجْعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ فَرَجاً وَمَخْرَجاً. فَنَزَلُوا عَنْ خُيُولِهِمْ وَمَشُوا عَلَى أَرْجُلِهِمْ سَبْعَةَ فَرَاسِخَ حَتَّى صَارَتْ أَرْجُلُهُمْ تَقْطُرُ دَماً، لأَِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَعْتَادُوا الْمَشْيَ عَلَى أَقْدَامِهِمْ.

فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُمْ رَجُلٌ رَاعٍ فَقَالُوا: أَيُّهَا الرَّاعِي، هَلْ عِنْدَكَ شَرْبَةٌ مِنْ مَاءٍ أَوْ لَبَنٍ؟ فَقالَ: عِنْدِي مَا تُحِبُّونَ، وَلَكِنِّي أَرَى وُجُوهَكُمْ وُجُوهَ الْمُلُوكِ وَمَا أَظُنُّكُمْ إلاَّ هُرَّاباً، فَأَخْبِرُونِي بِقِصَّتِكُمْ. فَقَالُوا: يَا هَذَا، إِنَّا دَخَلْنَا فِي دِينٍ لاَ يُحِلُّ لَنَا الْكَذِبَ، أَفَيُنْجِينَا الصِّدْقُ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. فَأَخْبَرُوهُ بِقِصَّتِهِمْ. فَأَكَبَّ الرَّاعِي عَلَى أَرْجُلِهِمْ يُقَبِّلُهَا وَيَقُولُ: قَدْ وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي مَا وَقَعَ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ، فَقِفُوا لِي هَاهُنَا حَتَّى أَرُدَّ هَذِهِ الأَغْنَامَ إلَى أَرْبَابِهَا وَأَعُودَ إِلَيْكُمْ. فَوَقَفُوا لَهُ فَرَدَّهَا وَأَقْبَلَ يَسْعَى يَتَّبِعُهُ كَلْبٌ لَهُ.

فَوَثَبَ الْيَهُودِيُّ قَائِماً فَقالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، إِنْ كُنْتَ عَالِماً فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَا كَانَ لَوْنُ الْكَلْبِ وَمَا اسْمُهُ.

قَالَ: يَا أَخَا الْيَهُودِ، حَدَّثَنِي حَبِيبِي مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنَّ لَوْنَ الْكَلْبِ كَانَ أَبْلَقَ بِسَوَادٍ، وَأَنَّ اسْمَ الْكَلْبِ كَانَ قِطْمِيرَ. فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ الْفِتْيَةُ إلَى الْكَلْبِ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ: إِنَّا نَخَافُ أَنْ يَفْضَحَنَا هَذَا الْكَلْبُ بِنُبَاحِهِ، فَأَلَحُّوا عَلَيْهِ ضَرْباً بِالْحِجَارَةِ. فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ الْكَلْبُ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ أَلَحُّوا عَلَيْهِ بِالطَّرْدِ أَقْعَى عَلَى ذَنَبِهِ وَتَمَطَّى وَقالَ بِلِسَانٍ طَلِقٍ ذَلِقٍ: يَا قَوْمُ، تَطْرُدُونِي فَإنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، دَعُونِي أَحْرُسُكُمْ مِنْ عَدُوِّكُمْ وَأَتَقَرَّبُ إلَى اللهِ تَعالَى بِذَلِكَ. فَتَرَكُوهُ وَمَضَوْا. فَصَعِدَ بِهِمْ الرَّاعِي جَبَلاً وَانْحَطَّ بِهِمْ عَلَى

Hearing this,the youths stopped driving it away and continued their way. The shepherd led the youths to the top of mountain till they reached a cave.

The Jewish scholar asked another question: O ‘Ali! What are the names of that mountain and the cave? Imam ‘Ali said: The name of mountain is “Yankloosh” and the name of the cave is “Wasid.”