‘Ali’s Posthumous Miracles — part 1/2

The learned Sheikh ibn Babawayh who is a scholarly man and one of the grandchildren of the great author, Abu-Jafar Muhammad ibn Babawayh, has written a book on the merits of Imam ‘Ali. He has bound himself to relate forty Hadiths, each narrated by forty men! In this book, a wonderful story has been recounted as follows:

The poet, Bubbagha' used to visit a king once a year. During one of those visits, the king happened to be in the hunting-ground. The vizier informed the king of the poet’s coming and he ordered to accommodate the poet in one of the palace rooms. He would sleep in that room at nights. This room had a door to the palace gate. The palace watchman used to raise his voice at midnight, crying out: O the unmindful, remember God. He would then say: Curse of God be upon the enemies of Mu’awiyah, and cursed ‘Ali!

The poet was being tormented by his voice but he had no option other than being patient. The poet happened to see in his dream the Messenger of Allah along with ‘Ali at the gate of palace. The Holy Prophet ordered ‘Ali to give the watchman a blow between the shoulders for cursing him for forty years. ‘Ali too did so. The poet woke up frightened! The next night, the poet expected to hear the same cry but there was no sign of the watchman and his crying.

The next morning, there was a hubbub in palace. Everyone was rushing to the watchman’s room. The poet asked about the event. He was told that a blow of the size of a hand palm had been dealt between the two shoulders of the watchman which had taken away peace from him. The scar was bleeding too! It was long before he died and went to hell! This was witnessed by forty people.¹⁸⁸

In the city of Mosel, there was a man named Hamdan ibn Hamdun ibn Harth Adawi who had a severe rancor against ‘Ali. One of the residents of the city, who was intent to make a Hajj pilgrimage, went to see him for farewell, saying to him: I will meet your requests if you have any? Hamdan said: I want you to do something for me which is easy.

When you go to Medina for the visitation of the Messenger of Allah after you have completed your Hajj rituals, convey my message to the Holy Prophet by telling him: What feature of ‘Ali pleased you that you married your daughter to him? Was it his big belly, his slim legs, and his bald head that attracted you to do so? Hamdan emphasized his request and asked the Hajj pilgrim not to fail to do so.

فِي فَضَائِلِهِ الثَّابِتَةِ لَهُ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ

رَوَى الشَّيْخُ الْعَالِمُ ابْنُ بَابَوَيْهَ، وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ فَاضِلٌ مِنْ أَعْقَابِ الشَّيْخِ الْمُصَنِّفِ الْكَبِيرِ الْمُعَظَّمِ الصَّدُوقِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهَ فِي كِتَابٍ صَنَّفَهُ فِي فَضَائِلِ مَوْلاَنَا أَمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، وَالْتَزَمَ أَنْ يَرْوِيَ أَرْبَعِينَ حَدِيثاً؛ كُلُّ حَدِيثٍ يَرْوِيهِ أَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلاً، وَذَكَرَ فِيهِ قِصَّةً عَجِيبَةً قَالَ: إنَّ الشَّاعِرَ البَبُّغَاءَ وَفِدَ عَلَى بَعْضِ الْمُلُوكِ وَكَانَ يَفِدُ عَلَيْهِ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ، فَوَجَدَهُ فِي الصَّيْدِ. فَكَتَبَ وَزِيرُ الْمَلِكِ يُخْبِرُهُ بِقُدُومِهِ، فَأَمَرَهُ بِأَنْ يُسْكِنَهُ فِي بَعْضِ دُورِهِ. وَكَانَ عَلَى بَابِ تِلْكَ الدَّارِ غُرْفَةٌ كَانَ البَبُّغَاءُ يَبِيتُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِيهَا وَلَهَا مَطْلَعٌ إلَى الدَّرْبِ. وَكَانَ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ يَخْرُجُ الْحَارِسُ بَعْدَ نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَيَصِيحُ بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ: يَا غَافِلِينَ اذْكُرُوا اللهَ عَلَى بَاغِضِي مُعَاوِيَةَ - لَعَنَهُ اللهُ -. وَكَانَ الشَّاعِرُ البَبُّغَاءُ يَنْزَعِجُ لِصَوْتِهِ. فَاتَّفَقَ فِي بَعْضِ اللَّيَالِي أَنَّ الشَّاعِرَ رَأَى فِي مَنَامِهِ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَدْ جَاءَ هُوَ وَعَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إلَى ذَلِكَ الدَّرْبِ وَوَجَدَ الْحَارِسَ. فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَا عَلِيُّ، إصْفَعْهُ بِيَدِكَ، فَلَهُ الْيَوْمَ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً يَسُبُّكَ. فَضَرَبَهُ أَمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ. فَانْتَبَهَ الشَّاعِرُ مُنْزَعِجاً مِنَ الْمَنَامِ. ثُمَّ انْتَظَر الصَّوْتَ الَّذِي كَانَ مِنَ الْحَارِسِ كُلَّ وَقْتٍ فَلَمْ يَسْمَعْهُ، فَتَعَجَّبَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. ثُمَّ رَأَى صِيَاحاً وَرِجَالاً قَدْ أَقْبَلُوا إلَى دَارِ الْحَارِسِ، فَسَأَلَهُمُ الْخَبَرَ فَقَالُوا لَهُ: إِنَّ الْحَارِسَ حَصَلَ لَهُ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ ضَرْبَةٌ بِقَدْرِ الْكَفِّ وَهِيَ تَتَشَقَّقُ وَتَمْنَعُهُ الْقَرَارَ. فَلَمْ يَكُنْ وَقْتُ الصَّبَاحِ إلاَّ وَقَدْ مَاتَ، وَشَاهَدَهُ بِهَذِهِ الْحَالِ أَرْبَعُونَ نَفْساً.

وَكَانَ بِبَلَدِ الْمَوْصِلِ شَخْصٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ: حَمْدَانَ بْنَ حَمْدُونَ بْنِ الْحَرْثِ الْعَدَوِيَّ كَانَ شَدِيدَ الْعِنَادِ كَثِيرَ الْبُغْضِ لِمَوْلاَنَا أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. فَأَرَادَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْمَوْصِلِ الْحَجَّ فَجَاءَ إلَيْهِ يُوَدِّعُهُ وَيَقُولُ لَهُ: إِنَّنِي قَدْ عَزَمْتُ عَلَى الْخُرُوجِ إِلَى الْحَجِّ فَإِنْ كَانَ هُنَاكَ حَاجَةٌ تُعَرِّفُنِي حَتَّى أَقْضِيَهَا لَكَ. فَقالَ لَهُ: إنَّ لِي حَاجَةً مُهِمَّـةً وَهِيَ سَهْلَةٌ عَـلَيْك. فَقَـالَ

After his arrival in Medina, visitation of the Holy Prophet’s shrine, and expressing his own needs, the man forgot Hamden’s message. At night, the man saw in his dream Imam ‘Ali who said: Why did you not convey Hamden’s message? So next day the man went to the holy shrine and conveyed Hamden’s message to the Messenger of Allah, returned home and went to bed. Again in his dream he saw Imam ‘Ali holding his hand and taking him to Hamden’s house. Opening the door, ‘Ali beheaded him with the knife he had in his hand. Cleaning the knife with the bed sheet, he put it in a corner of the ceiling and went out of the house. The pilgrim woke up and told his friends the whole story. He also noted down the date of the dream.

As for the house of Hamdan in Mosel, there was such a wailing that the ruler of Mosel woke up and asked for the reason. He was told that the owner of the house had been beheaded in his bed! The ruler ordered necessary investigation and arrest of suspected people. The people of Mosel were surprised as to how the event had happened, for neither the lock of the door had been broken nor was there any trace of the killer in the house. The ruler was at a loss! No one had entered the house and nothing had been stolen! The suspected neighbors were also in prison. There was no solution for this puzzle till the Hajj pilgrims returned home. The dreamer noticed that the neighbors were in prison! He asked the reason. He was told Hamdan had been beheaded in his house and the neighbors were in prison for investigation.

Being surprised and saying “God is the Greatest”, the man took out his note of dream and read it loudly. They all noticed that Hamdan had been killed exactly the same night the Hajj pilgrim had his dream. They went to the house of Hamdan, took out the bed sheet stained with blood. He told them about his dream and then told people to bring down the knife from the ceiling. The ruler ordered all those held in prison to be free, for they found out that it was a true dream in which there was no doubt. Then people confessed to the truthfulness of ‘Ali. This was a divine favor to the household of the Messenger of Allah.¹⁸⁹

لَهُ: مُرْنِي بِهَا حَتَّى أَفْعَلَهَا. فَقالَ: إذَا قَضَيْتَ الْحَجَّ وَوَرَدْتَ الْمَدِينَةَ وَزُرْتَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَخَاطِبْهُ عَنِّي وَقُلْ لَهُ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، مَا أَعْجَبَكَ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ حَتَّى تُزَوِّجَهُ بِابْنَتِكَ: عِظَمُ بَطْنِهِ أَوْ دِقَّةُ سَاقَيْهِ أَوْ صَلْعَةُ رَأْسِهِ؟ وَحَلَّفَهُ وَعَزَمَ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُبَلِّغَ هَذَا الْكَلاَمَ. فَلَمَّا وَرَدَ الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَضَى حَوَائِجَهُ نَسِيَ تِلْكَ الْوَصِيَّةَ فَرَأَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي مَنَامِهِ فَقالَ لَهُ: أَلاَ تُبَلِّغُ وَصِيَّةَ فُلاَنٍ إلَيْكَ؟ فَانْتَبَهَ وَمَشَى لِوَقْتِهِ إلَى الْقَبْرِ الْمُقَدَّسِ وَخَاطَبَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِمَا أَمَرَهُ الرَّجُلُ بِهِ. ثُمَّ نَامَ فَرَأَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَأَخَذَهُ وَمَشَى هُوَ وَإِيَّاهُ إلَى مَنْزِلِ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ وَفَتَحَ الأَبْوَابَ وَأَخَذَ مُدْيَةً فَذَبَحَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِهَا ثُمَّ مَسَحَ الْمُدْيَةَ بِمَلْحَفَةٍ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ إلَى سَقْفِ بَابِ الدَّارِ فَرَفَعَهُ بِيَدِهِ وَوَضَعَ الْمُدْيَةَ تَحْتَهُ وَخَرَجَ. فَانْتَبَهَ الْحَاجُّ مُنْزَعِجاً من ذَلِكَ، وَكَتَبَ صُورَةَ الْمَنَامِ هُوَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ. وَانْتَبَهَ سُلْطَانُ الْمَوْصِلِ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ وَأَخَذَ الْجِيرَانَ وَالْمُشْتَبَهِينَ وَرَمَاهُمْ فِي السَّجْنِ، وَتَعَجَّبَ أَهْلُ الْمَوْصِلِ مِنْ قَتْلِهِ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَجِدُوا نَقْباً وَلاَ تَسْليِقاً عَلَى حَائِطٍ وَلاَ بَاباً مَفْتُوحاً وَلاَ قُفْلاً. وَبَقِيَ السُّلْطَانُ مُتَحَيِّراً فِي أَمْرِهِ مَا يَدْرِي مَا يَصْنَعُ فِي قَضِيَّتِهِ، فَإِنَّ وُرُودَ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْخَارِجِ مُتَعَذَّرٌ مَعَ عَدَمِ هَذِهِ الْعَلاَمَاتِ وَلَمْ يُسْرَقْ مِنَ الدَّارِ شَيْءٌ الْبَتَّةَ. وَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْجِيرَانُ وَغَيْرُهُمْ فِي السِّجْنِ إلَى أَنْ وَرَدَ الْحَاجُّ مِنْ مَكَّةَ فَلَقِيَ الْجِيرَانَ فِي السِّجْنِ فَسَأَلَ عَنْ سَبَبِ ذَلِكَ. فَقِيلَ لَهُ: إِنَّ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الْفُلاَنِيَّةِ وُجِدَ فُلانٌ مَذْبُوحاً فِي دَارِهِ وَلَمْ يُعْرَفْ قَاتِلُهُ. فَكَبَّرَ وَقالَ لأَِصْحَابِهِ: أَخْرِجُوا صُورَةَ الْمَناَم ِالْمَكْتُوبَةَ عِنْدَكُمْ. فَأَخْرَجُوهَا وَقَرَأُوهَا فَوَجَدُوا لَيْلَةَ الْمَنَامِ هِيَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَتْلِ. ثُمَّ مَشَى هُوَ وَالنَّاسُ بِأَجْمَعِهِمْ إلَى دَارِ الْمَقْتُولِ فَأَمَرَ بِإِخْرَاجِ الْمَلْحَفَةِ وَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِالدَّمِ الَّذِي فِيهَا، فَوَجَدُوهَا كَمَا قَالَ. ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِرَفْعِ الرَّدْمِ فَرُفِعَ، فَوُجِدَ السِّكِّينُ تَحْتَهُ فَعَرَفُوا صِدْقَ مَنَامِهِ. فَأُفْرِجَ عَنِ الْمَحْبُوسِينَ وَرَجَعَ أَهْلُهُ إلَى الإِيمَانِ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَلْطَافِ اللهِ تَعالَى فِي حَقِّ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ.

Abu-Dulaf had a son who had a rancor against ‘Ali. One day, a group of Dulaf’s friends were speaking about friendship and enmity with ‘Ali. One of them related a Hadith from the Holy Prophet who had said: O ‘Ali no one has love for you but he who is a pious believer and no one is your enemy but one who is the offspring of menstruation or a bastard!

Being furious with this, the son of Abu-Dulaf roughly said: What do you think of Abu-Dulaf’s wife? Has anyone had unlawful relation with her so as to give birth to a bastard. At this time, Abu-Dulaf entered and was informed of the matter. He said: There is no doubt about this narration. This son of mine is both the offspring of menstruation and a bastard! When I was sick and resting in my brother’s house a slave girl who was charged with doing my chores, entered the room. My heart was inclined to her. I told her about my desire. She refused and said she was menstruating. But I did not take heed of it and stressed my own position. Hence I went to bed with her. This son is the offspring of that intercourse. Therefore, he is both the offspring of menstruation and a bastard.

The author of the book says: My father told me a story as follows: Being accompanied by my friends, I was going through the streets of Baghdad one day. On the way, I felt thirsty. I told one of my friends to fetch me water from one of the houses. He knocked the door of a house and asked for water. The other friends and I sat in a corner, waiting for him. We caught sight of two boys who were playing. One of them said: The Imam and leader after the Messenger of Allah is ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib and the other one said: Abu-Bakr.

I said to myself: The Messenger of Allah truly said: O ‘Ali, no one loves you but a believer and no one is your enemy but an offspring of menstruation. At this time, a woman came out of the house with a bowl of water in her hand. She offered the bowl to me saying: For God’s sake, tell me what you were saying to yourselves! I said: I related a narration from the Messenger of Allah. She insisted that I should relate it once again. Therefore, I repeated it to her. She said: O gentleman! This Hadith is truthful, for these two children are my sons. The one who has a love for ‘Ali is the one I conceived when I was pure, and the other son is the one whom I conceived when I was menstruating. Hence he is ‘Ali’s enemy.¹⁹⁰

وَكَانَ لأَِبِي دَلَفٍ وَلَدٌ فَتَحَادَثَ أَصْحَابُهُ فِي حُبِّ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَبُغْضِهِ. فَرَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: يَا عَلِيُّ، مَا يُحِبُّكَ إِلاَّ مُؤْمِنٌ تَقِيٌّ وَلاَ يُبْغِضُكَ إِلاَّ مُنَافِقٌ شَقِيٌّ أَوْ وِلْدُ زَنْيَةٍ أَوْ حَيْضَةٍ. فَقالَ وَلَدُ أَبِي دَلَفٍ: مَا تَقُولُونَ فِي الأَمِيرِ، هَلْ يُؤْتَى فِي أَهْلِهِ؟ فَقَالُوا: لاَ. فَقالَ: وَاللهِ إِنِّي أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ بُغْضاً لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. فَخَرَجَ أَبُوهُ وَهَمَّ فِي التَّشَاجُرِ، فَقالَ: مَا تَقُولُونَ؟ فَقَالُوا كَذَا وَكَذَا، وَحَكَوْا كَلاَمَ وَلَدِهِ. فَقالَ: وَاللهِ إِنَّ هَذَا الْخَبَرَ لَحَقٌّ. وَاللهِ إِنَّهُ لَوَلَدُ زَنْيَةٍ وَحَيْضَةٍ مَعاً. إِنِّي كُنْتُ مَرِيضاً فِي دَارِ أَخِي فِي حُمّىً ثَلاَثٍ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى جَارِيَتِهِ لِقَضَاءِ حَاجَةٍ فَدَعَتْنِي نَفْسِي إِلَيْهَا فَأَبَتْ وَقَالَتْ: إِنِّي حَائِضٌ. فَكَابَرْتُهَا عَلَى نَفْسِهَا فَوَطَئْتُهَا فَحَمَلَتْ بِهَذَا الْوَلَدِ فَهُوَ لِزَنْيَةٍ وَحَيْضَةٍ مَعاً.

وَحَكَى وَالِدِي رَحِمَهُ اللهُ: إِجْتَزْتُ يَوْماً فِي بَعْضِ دُرُوبِ بَغْدَادَ مَعَ أَصْحَابِي فَأَصَابَنِي عَطَشٌ شَدِيدٌ فَقُلْتُ لِبَعْضِ أَصْحَابِي: أُطْلُبْ مَاءً مِنْ بَعْضِ الدُّورِ. فَمَضَى يَطْلُبُ الْمَاءَ وَوَقَفْتُ أَنَا وَبَاقِي أَصْحَابِي نَنْتَظِرِ الْمَاءَ وَصَبِيَّانِ يَلْعَبَانِ، أَحَدُهُمَا يَقُولُ: الإِمَامُ هُوَ عَلِيٌّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. وَالآخَرُ يَقُولُ: إِنَّهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ. فَقُلْتُ: صَدَقَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا عَلِيُّ، مَا يُحِبُّكَ إِلاَّ مُؤْمِنٌ وَلاَ يُبْغِضُكَ إِلاَّ وِلْدُ حَيْضَةٍ أَوْ زَنْيَةٍ. فَخَرَجَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ بِالْمَاءِ وَقَالَتْ: بِاللهِ عَلَيْكَ، أَسْمِعْنِي مَا قُلتَ. فَقُلْتُ: حَدِيثٌ رَوَيْتُهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لاَ حَاجَةَ إلَى ذِكْرِهِ. فَكَرَّرَتِ السُّؤَالَ فَرَوَيْتُهُ لَهَا. فَقَالَتْ: وَاللهِ يَا سَيِّدِي، إِنَّهُ لَخَبَرُ صِدْقٍ. إِنَّ هَذَيْنِ وَلَدَايَ؛ الَّذِي يُحِبُّ عَلِيّاً وَلَدُ طُهْرٍ وَالَّذِي يُبْغِضُهُ حَمَلْتُهُ فِي الْحَيْضِ، جَاءَ وَالِدُهُ إِلَيَّ فَكَابَرَنِي عَلَى نَفْسِي حَالَةَ الْحَيْضِ وَنَالَ مِنِّي فَحَمَلْتُ بِهَذَا الَّذِي يُبْغِضُ عَلِيّاً.

A pious man, who always admonished people, one day when he was delivering a sermon, started eulogizing ‘Ali and in this way quenched the thirst of people with the wholesome water of Wilayah. The sermon prolonged in a way the sun was about to set. At this time, the orator turned to the sun and said: O sun! Stop for moments so that I will bring to an end the eulogy of the Holy Prophet’s cousin and his son. Should you long for listening to his eulogy, hold your rein and listen to what I say to people. O sun, do you remember the day you stopped moving near sunset for my master, ‘Ali, so that he will perform his afternoon prayer? Let your pause today, be for his sake and his devotees!

Hearing the words of the orator, the sun returned to its former position, the sky became clearer and the sun stopped where it was till the eulogy of ‘Ali came to an end. This happened in the presence of a large group of people and they all saw it with their own eyes.

The author of the book says: In the city of Hillah there was a man known for his religiosity and recitation of the Holy Qur’an. The Jinn used to throw stones at him through the windows and tortured him every day in a way life had become hard for him but he had no way to escape from this plight! I saw stone-throwing with my own eyes. To stop the jinn’s’ persecution, the man resorted to supplication, prayers and recitation of the Holy Qur’an but it was useless! He then thought of threatening the jinn’s with ‘Ali. Hence, turning to them, he said: By God, if you do not stop throwing stones at me, I will seek help from ‘Ali and complain to him about you! After this, stone-throwing stopped and was not repeated again.

Once, the Emir of the city of Hillah went out for hunting. Seeing a bird on Mashhad al-Shams Tomb, he sent a falcon to chase it. The bird was flying away and the falcon chasing it. The little bird sought refuge in the house of ibn Nama, the renowned scholar but the falcon kept on chasing it till it caught the bird in its claws. Soon the falcon stopped moving, started shivering and became motionless! The entourage of Emir who were watching this scene with their own eyes reported the story to him. He realized that this place had a special sanctity with God! So he held the place in high esteem and had it repaired.¹⁹¹

وَكَانَ بَعْضُ الزُّهَّادِ يَعِظُ النَّاسَ فَوَعَظَ فِي بَعْضِ الأَيَّامِ وَأَخَذَ يَمْدَحُ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، فَقَارَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ لِلْغُرُوبِ وَاظْلَمَّ الأُفُقُ. فَقالَ مُخَاطِباً لِلشَّمْسِ شِعْراً:

لاَ تَغْرُبِي يَا شَمْسُ حَتَّى يَنْقَضِي مَدْحِي لِصِنْوِ الْمُصْطَفَى وَلِنَجْلِهِ وَاثْنِي عِنَانَكِ إِنْ أَرَدْتُ ثَنَاءَهُ أَنَسِيتِ يَوْمَكِ إِذْ رُدِدْتِ لأَجْلِهِ إِنْ كَانَ لِلْمَوْلَى وُقُوفُكِ فَلْيَكُنْ هَذَا الْوُقُوفُ لِخَيْلِهِ وَلِرِجْلِهِ

فَرَجَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَضَاءَ الأُفُقُ حَتَّى انْقِضَاءِ الْمَدْحِ. وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ بِمَحْضَرِ جَمَاعَةٍ كَثِيرَةٍ تَبْلُغُ حَدَّ التَّوَاتُرِ. وَاشْتَهَرَتْ هَذِهِ الْقِصَّةُ عِنْدَ الْخَوَاصِّ وَالْعَوَامِّ. وَكَانَ فِي الْحِلَّةِ شَخْصٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدِّينِ وَالصَّلاَحِ مَلاَزِمٌ لِتِلاَوَةِ الْكِتَابِ الْعَزِيزِ. فَرَجَمَهُ الْجِنُّ وَكَانَ تَأْتِي إِلَيْهِ الْحِجَارَةُ مِنَ الْخَزَائِنِ وَالرَّوَازِنِ الْمَسْدُودَةِ وَأَلَحُّوا عَلَيْهِ بِالرَّجْمِ وَأَضْجَرُوهُ. وَشَاهَدْتُ أَنَا الْمَوَاضِعَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَأْتِي الرَّجْمُ مِنْهَا. وَلَمْ يُقَصِّرْ فِي طَلَبِ الْعَزَائِمِ وَالتَّعَاوِيذِ وَوَضْعِهَا فِي مَنْزِلِهِ وَقِرَاءَتِهَا فِيهِ وَلَمْ يَنْقَطِعْ عَنْهُ الرَّجْمُ مُدَّةً. فَخَطَرَ بِبَالِهِ أَنْ دَخَلَ وَوَقَفَ عَلَى بَابِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَأْتِي الرَّجْمُ مِنْهُ فَخَاطَبَهُمْ وَهُوَ لاَ يَرَاهُمْ وَقالَ: وَاللهِ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهُوا عَنِّي لأَشْكُوَنَّكُمْ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. فَانْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ الرَّجْمُ فِي الْحَالِ وَلَمْ يَعُدْ إلَيْهِ.

وَكَانَ بِالْحِلَّةِ أَمِيرٌ فَخَرَجَ يَوْماً إلَى الصَّحْرَاءِ فَوَجَدَ عَلَى قُبَّةِ مَشْهَدِ الشَّمْسِ طَيْراً فَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِ صَقْراً يَصْطَادُهُ فَانْهَزَمَ الطَّيْرُ مِنْهُ، فَتَبِعَهُ حَتَّى وَقَعَ فِي دَارِ الْفَقِيهِ ابْنِ نَمَا وَالصَّقْرُ يَتْبَعُهُ حَتَّى وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ، فَتَشَنَّجَتْ رِجْلاَهُ وَجَنَاحَاهُ وَعَطَلَ. فَجَاءَ بَعْضُ أَتْبَاعِ الأَمِيرِ فَوَجَدَ الصَّقْرَ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَأَخَذَهُ وَأَخْبَرَ مَوْلاَهُ بِذَلِكَ. فَاسْتَعْظَمَ هَذِهِ الْحَالَ وَعَرَفَ عُلُوَّ مَنْزِلَةِ الْمَشْهَدِ وَشَرَعَ فِي عِمَارَتِهِ.

Ibn Jawzi, the Hanbalite, in his book, Tadhkirat al-Khawas writes: Abdullah ibn Mubarak went on Hajj pilgrimage one year and took part in battle the next year. He kept on doing this for forty years. One year when it was time to go on Hajj pilgrimage, he went to a camel-sellers’ market to but a camel for Hajj journey with five hundred Dinars. On his way, he came across a ruined place and saw an Alawi woman who was plucking a dead duck!

Abdullah said: What are you doing with this corpse the eating of which is unlawful? She said: O Abdullah! Do not ask question about that which does not concern you! Something passed in my mind. Perhaps this Alawi woman is in need of this corpse. So I repeated my question. She said: Abdullah now that you insist, I have to disclose my secret to you. I am an Alawi woman without any guardian. I have four orphaned daughters. Their father has recently died. It is the fourth straight day that we are all hungry. As you know eating corpse under emergency is permissible. Hence, I have taken this dead duck to prepare a food with it!

Seeing this, I said to myself: O Abdullah, can you forget this scene? After thinking for a while I gave all my Dinars to her. The woman was so ashamed that she did not look at me. I returned home from that place while feeling that God had taken the desire of Hajj pilgrimage from me. After the Hajj season when all the Hajj pilgrims returned home, I went to see them to say: May God accept your Hajj pilgrimage. They too reciprocally said: May God accept your Hajj pilgrimage too, adding: We saw you in Arafat, Mina, and Mashar.

Knowing that I had not gone on Hajj pilgrimage, I said to myself: What does it all mean? During the same night, I saw the Messenger of Allah in my dream, saying to me: Abdullah! Don’t be surprised. As you helped one of my oppressed children, I called God to create an angel like you to go on Hajj pilgrimage as your deputy every year till the Day of Judgment. Now if you wish, you can go on Hajj pilgrimage and if you do not desire, don’t go, for that angel will do his duty.¹⁹²

Ibn Jawzi has reported: In the lunar year 604, I told this story for Ahmad ibn Abdullah Moqaddas. He further reports: I read it in the book al-Moltaqal which I had inherited from my grandfather, Abul Faraj ibn Jawzi: An Alawi man was living with his wife and his daughters. After some time, he passed away. His wife reports: After the death of my husband, being afraid of the enemies’ reproach, I left Balkh for Samarqand. Our arrival in this city was concurrent with winter when the weather was very cold. As I did not know anyone in the city, I took my daughters to a mosque and went out to find some food. I was at a loss.

وَنَقَلَ ابْنُ الْجَوْزِيِّ، وَكَانَ حَنْبَلِيَّ الْمَذْهَبِ، فِي كِتَابِ تَذْكِرَةُ الْخَوَاصِّ: كَانَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ يَحِجُّ سَنَةً وَيَغْزُو سَنَةً وَدَاوَمَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً. فَخَرَجَ فِي بَعْضِ سِنِيِّ الْحَجِّ وَأَخَذَ مَعَهُ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ إلَى مَوْقِفِ الْجِمَالِ بِالْكُوفَةِ لِيَشْتَرِيَ جِمَالاً لِلْحَجِّ، فَرَأَى امْرَأَةً عَلَوِيَّةً عَلَى بَعْضِ الْمَزَابِلِ تَنْتِفُ رِيشَ بَطَّةٍ مَيِّتَةٍ. قَالَ: فَتَقَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْها وَقُلْتُ: لِمَ تَفْعَلِينَ هَذَا؟ فَقَالَتْ: يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ، لاَ تَسْأَلْ عَمَّا لاَ يَعْنِيكَ. قَالَ: فَوَقَعَ فِي خَاطِرِي مِنْ كَلاَمِهَا شَيْءٌ فَأَلْحَحْتُ عَلَيْها. فَقَالَتْ: يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ، قَدْ أَلْجَأْتَنِي إِلَى كَشْفِ سِرِّي إلَيْكَ؛ أَنَا امْرَأَةٌ عَلَوِيَّةٌ وَلِي أَرْبَعُ بَنَاتٍ يَتَامَى مَاتَ أَبُوهُنَّ مِنْ قَرِيبٍ، وَهَذَا الْيَوْمُ الرَّابِعُ مَا أَكَلْنَا شَيْئاً. وَقَدْ حُلَّتْ لَنَا الْمِيتَةُ فَأَخَذْتُ هَذِهِ الْبَطَّةَ أُصْلِحُهَا وَأَحْمِلُهَا إلَى بَنَاتِي فَنَأْكُلُهَا. فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي: وَيْحَكَ يَا بْنَ الْمُبَارَكِ! أَيْنَ أَنْتَ عَنْ هَذِهِ؟ فَقُلْتُ: إفْتَحِي حِجْرَكِ. فَفَتَحَتْ فَصَبَبْتُ الدَّنَانِيَر فِي طَرَفِ إِزَارِهَا وَهِيَ مُطْرِقَةٌ لاَ تَلْتَفِتُ إِلَيَّ.

قَالَ: وَمَضَيْتُ إلَى الْمَنْزِلِ وَنَزَعَ اللهُ مِنْ قَلْبِي شَهْوَةَ الْحَجِّ فِي ذَلِكَ الْعَامِ. ثُمَّ تَجَهَّزْتُ إِلَى بِلاَدِي وَأَقَمْتُ حَتَّى حَجَّ النَّاسُ وَعَادُوا. فَخَرَجْتُ أَتَلَقَّى جِيرَانِي وَأَصْحَابِي فَجَعَلَ كُلُّ مَنْ أَقُولُ لَهُ: قَبِلَ اللهُ حَجَّكَ وَشَكَرَ سَعْيَكَ، يَقُولُ لِي: وَأَنْتَ كَذَلِكَ، أَمَا قَدِ اجْتَمَعْنَا بِكَ فِي مَكَانِ كَذَا وَكَذا؟ وَأَكْثَرَ عَلَيَّ النَّاسُ فِي الْقَوْلِ فَبِتُّ مُتَفَكِّراً فِي ذَلِكَ، فَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي مَنَامِي وَهُوَ يَقُولُ لِي: يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ، لاَ تَعْجَبْ فَإِنَّكَ أَغَثْتَ مَلْهُوفَةً مِنْ وُلْدِي، فَسَأَلْتُ اللهَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مَلَكاً عَلَى صُورَتِكَ يَحِجُّ عَنَكَ كُلَّ عَامٍ إلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ. فَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ تَحُجَّ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحُجَّ.

وَنَقَلَ ابْنُ الْجَوْزِيِّ فِي كِتَابِهِ قَالَ: قَرَأْتُ فِي الْمُلْتَقِطِ وَهُوَ كِتَابٌ لِجَدِّي أَبِي الْفَرَجِ بْنِ الْجَوْزِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ بِبَلْخٍ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْعَلَوِيِّينَ نَازِلاً بِهَا، وَكَانَ لَهُ زَوْجَةٌ وَبَنَاتٌ، فَتُوُفِّي. قَالَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ: فَخَرَجْتُ بِالْبَنَاتِ إِلَى سَمَرْقَنْدَ خَوْفاً مِنْ شَمَاتَةِ الأَعْدَاءِ وَاتَّفَقَ وُصُولِي فِي

All of a sudden, I caught sight of a gentleman among people. I asked: Who is this man. They said: This man is the great Sheikh in this city. I went to him and told him about myself and my daughters. He said: Do you have anyone to witness that you are a Sayyidah (a female descendant of ‘Ali)? He said this and turned his face from me. Being desperate, I headed for the mosque where I had left my daughters. On the way, I saw a man sitting on a platform with people round him. I asked: Who is this man?

They said: This Zoroastrian man is the acting officer of the city. I said to myself: I will go to him. Perhaps he can do something for me. Therefore, I went to him, told the whole story of my life and what I had heard from that Muslim man adding that my daughters were in the mosque suffering from hunger and cold. Hearing it, the man called his servant, saying to him: Go home quickly and tell your Lady to come here. The servant went away and after some time, the wife of the man and some of her servants appeared. The Zoroastrian man said to his wife: Go with this woman to such and such mosque, take her and her daughters home and entertain them.

The Alawi woman says: The Zoroastrian woman came to the mosque with me, fondled my daughters and we all went to her house. She gave us a separate room, warmed water for us to take a bath, and brought precious gowns for us to wear. Then she prepared a delicious food for us. Having had the dinner, we went to our beds. That night was the best in our life!

As for the great Sheikh, that night he saw in his dream that the Day of Judgment had come and the Messenger of Allah was under the banner of al-Hamd. He saw a palace of emerald in his dream and asked whose it was. He was told: It is built for a monotheist Muslim. The Sheikh wanted to go to the presence of the Messenger of Allah but he turned his face from him. The Sheikh said: O Messenger of Allah! Why do you turn your face from me while I am a Muslim?

The Holy Prophet said: Bring a witness to prove that you are a Muslim? The Sheikh was so amazed that he did not know what to say.

شِدَّةِ الْبَرْدِ، فَأَدْخَلْتُ الْبَنَـاتِ مَسْجِداً وَمَضَيْتُ لأَحْتَـالَ لَهُنَّ فِي الْقُوتِ. فَرَأَيْتُ النَّـاسَ مُجْتَمِعِينَ عَلَى شَيْخٍ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ. فَقَالُوا: هَذَا شَيْخُ الْبَلَدِ. فَتَقَدَّمْتُ إلَيْهِ وَشَرَحْتُ حَالِي لَهُ. فَقالَ: أَقِيمِي عِنْدِيَ الْبَيِّنَةَ أَنَّكِ عَلَوِيَّةٌ، وَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيَّ. فَيَأِسْتُ مِنْهُ وَعُدْتُ إلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَرَأَيْتُ فِي طَرِيقِي شَيْخاً جَالِساً عَلَى دَكَّةٍ وَحَوْلَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ. فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ هَذَا؟ فَقَالُوا: ضَامِنُ الْبَلَدِ، وَهُوَ مَجُوسِيٌّ. فَقُلْتُ: عَسَى يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ فَرَجٌ. فَتَقَدَّمْتُ إلَيْهِ وَحَدَّثْتُهُ حَدِيثِي وَمَا جَرَى لِي مَعَ شَيْخِ الْبَلَدِ وَأنَّ بَنَاتِي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ مَا لَهُمْ شَيْءٌ يَقُوتُونَ بِهِ. فَصَاحَ بِخَادِمٍ لَهُ فَخَرَجَ فَقالَ: قَلْ لِسَيِّدَتِكَ تَلْبِسُ ثِيَابَهَا. فَدَخَلَ فَخَرَجَتِ امْرَأَةٌ وَمَعَهَا جَوَارٍ. فَقالَ لَهَا: إذْهَبِي مَعَ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةِ إلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْفُلاَنِيِّ وَاحْمِلِي بَنَاتِهَا إلَى الدَّارِ. فَجَاءَتْ مَعِي وَحَمَلَتِ البْنَاتِ وَقَدْ أَفَرَدَ لَنَا دَاراً فِي دَارِهِ وَأَدْخَلَنَا الْحَمَّامَ وَكَسَانَا ثِيَاباً فَاخِرَةً وَجَاءَنَا بِأَلْوَانِ الأَطْعِمَةِ وَبِتْنَا بِأَطْيَبِ لَيْلَةٍ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ نِصْفُ اللَّيْلِ رَأَى شَيْخُ الْبَلَدِ الْمُسْلِمِ فِي مَنَامِهِ كَأَنَّ الْقِيَامَةَ قَدْ قَامَتْ، وَاللِّوَاءَ عَلَى رَأْسِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، وَإِذَا قَصْرٌ مِنَ الزُّمُرُّدِ الأَخْضَرِ فَقالَ: لِمَنْ هَذَا الْقَصْرُ؟ فَقِيلَ: لِرَجُلٍ مُسْلِمٍ مُوَحِّدٍ. فَتَقَدَّمَ إلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ. فَقالَ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، لِمَ تُعْرِضُ عَنِّي وَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ؟ فَقالَ لَهُ: أَقِمِ الْبَيِّنَةَ عِنْدِي أَنَّكَ مُسْـلِمٌ. فَتَحَيَّرَ الرَّجُلُ. فَقَـالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ

Then the Holy Prophet said: Have you forgotten what you have said to that Alawi woman? Now, this palace is for the man who has accommodated that woman and her orphaned daughters at his house! The Sheikh woke up, frightened! Sheikh ordered his servants to search in the city to find that Alawi woman and the orphans hoping to find a sign of them! He himself went to look for them too! After a long search, they found out that the woman and her daughters were in the house of the deputy officer of the city.