Virtues of ‘Ali’s Children — part 1/3

The sons of Amir al-Mu’minin, two of whom, are Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn have merits which cannot be counted. The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Abdullah ibn Masud as saying: Hasan and Husayn are two masters and leaders of youths in paradise.⁷ The Holy Prophet (S) has been reported by Abu-Hurayrah as saying: An angel was permitted to come to visit me and to give good tidings to me. The good tidings were: Fatimah is the princess of the women of my Ummah, and Hasan and Husayn are two masters of the youths in paradise.

فِي أنَّهُ صَاحِبُ الْحَوْضِ وَالإذْنِ فِي دُخُولِ الْجَنَّةِ وَصَاحِبُ اللِّوَاءِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالصِّرَاطِ وَافْتِخَارُ مَلَكَيْهِ عَلَى الْمَلائِكَةِ: رَوَى الخَوارِزْمِيُّ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: عَلِيٌّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى الْحَوْضِ. لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إلاَّ مَنْ جَاءَ بِجَوَازٍ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّ مَلَكَيْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ لَيَفْتَخِرَانِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الأَمْلاكِ لِكَوْنِهِمَا مَعَ عَلِيٍّ، لأَِنَّهُمَا لَمْ يُصْعِدا إلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ مِنْهُ قَطُّ بِشَيْءٍ يُسْخِطُهُ. وَعَنْ مُجاهِدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيامَةِ أَمَرَ اللهُ تَعالَى جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ عَلَى بَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَلا يَدْخُلُهَا إلاَّ مَنْ مَعَهُ بَرَاءَةٌ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

وَعَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمَرَةَ قَالَ: قِيلَ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، مَنْ صَاحِب لِوَائِكَ فِي الآخِرَةِ؟ قَالَ: صَاحِبُ لِوَائِي فِي الآخِرَةِ صَاحِبُ لِوَائِي فِي الدُّنْيَا؛ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ وَنُصِبَ الصِّرَاطُ عَلَى شَفِيرِ جَهَنَّمَ لَمْ يَجُزْ عَلَيْهِ إلاَّ مَنْ مَعَهُ كِتَابٌ بِوِلاَيَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. فِي أوْلادِهِ:

كَانَ أَوْلادُ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنْ جُمْلَتِهِمُ الإمَامَانِ الحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلامُ وَفَضَائِلُهُمَا لاَ تُحْصَى كَثْرَةً.

رَوَى الخَوارِزْمِيُّ بِإسْنادِهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ. وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّ مَلَكاً إسْتَأْذَنَ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ فِي زِيَارَتِي فَبَشَّرَنِي بِمَا بَشَّرَنِي، وَأَخْبَرَنِي بِمَا أَخْبَرَنِي أنَّ فَاطِمَة سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ أُمَّتِي وَأَنَّ الحَْسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ.

The Messenger of Allah has been quoted by Yali Amiri as saying: Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn. God loves one who loves Husayn. He is one of my grandsons.⁸ It has been reported on the authority of Ibn Abbas: Gabriel came to the presence of the Holy Prophet, saying: Verily God Almighty annihilated seventy thousand persons against martyrdom of the innocent Yahya (John), the son of Zachariah, but He will annihilate twice this number against the martyrdom of your daughter’s son, Husayn.⁹

The Holy Prophet of Islam has said: Beyond doubt, the abode of the killer of Husayn is in a coffin of fire and his punishment is as much as that of half the world people. This torment is at a time when his hands and feet are tied to hot chains thrown into the fire on face in a way that he is placed in the abyss. This evil criminal has stinking smell from which the dwellers of hell seek refuge to God. He abides in the fire of hell, is tormented, cannot get rid of it even for an hour and the fetid water of hell is poured into his throat. Woe to the killers of Husayn from the chastisement on the Day of Judgment.¹⁰

Musab has reported: Imam Husayn went on Hajj pilgrimage on foot for twenty five times.¹¹

Bara has reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah carrying Hasan on his shoulder, saying: O Lord! I love Hasan. You love him too.¹² Hudhayfah ibn Yaman has reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah holding Husayn’s hand in his hand, saying: O people! This is Husayn ibn ‘Ali! Hold him in high esteem! This is Husayn whose grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, maternal uncle and aunt, brother and himself are in paradise. Their devotees and followers of their devotees are in paradise too.¹³

Abu-Hurayrah has reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah relishing the saliva of Hasan and Husayn like one who relishes dates.¹⁴ Usamah ibn Zayd reports: One of the other nights, I knocked the door of the Holy Prophet’s house for a need. The Holy Prophet came out of the house and met what I needed. At this time, I saw the Holy Prophet wrap with something which I did not know what it was. So I said: O Messenger of Allah! What is it? The Holy Prophet unwrapped himself.

وَعَنْ يَعْلِيّ العامِرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: حُسَيْنٌ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْ حُسَيْنٍ. أَحَبَّ اللهُ مَنْ أَحَبَّ حُسَيْناً. حُسَيْنٌ سِبْطٌ مِنَ الأَسْبَاطِ. وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: نَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: إنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجلَّ قَتَلَ بِيَحْيَى بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا سَبْعِينَ أَلْفاً وَإنَّهُ قَاتِلٌ بِابْنِ ابْنَتِكَ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلامُ سَبْعِينَ أَلْفاً وَسَبْعِينَ أَلْفاً.

وَقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: قَاتِلُ الْحُسَيْنِ فِي تَابُوتٍ مِنْ نَارٍ عَلَيْهِ نِصْفُ عَذَابِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ، أَوْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا، وَقَدْ شُدَّ يَدَاهُ وَرِجْلاَهُ بِسَلاَسِلَ مِنْ نَارٍ، مُنَكَّسٌ فِي النَّارِ حَتَّى يَقَعَ فِي قَعْرِ جَهَنَّمَ، وَلَهُ رِيحٌ يَتَعَوَّذُ أَهْلُ النَّارِ إلَى رَبِّهِمْ عَزَّ وَجلَّ مِنْ شِدَّةِ رِيحِ نَتْنِهِ، وَهُوَ فِيهَا خَالِدٌ ذَائِقُ الْعَذَابِ الأَلِيمِ، لاَ يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُ سَاعَةً، وَيُسْقَى مِنْ حَمِيمِ جَهَنَّمَ. الْوَيْلُ لَهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجلَّ. وَعَنْ مُصْعَبٍ قَالَ: حَجَّ الْحُسَيْنُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ خَمْساً وَعِشْرِينَ حِجَّةً مَاشِياً. وَعَنِ البَراءِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ حَامِلاً الْحَسَنَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أُحِبُّهُ فَأَحِبَّهُ.

وَعَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ الْيَمَانِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ آخِذاً بِيَدِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلام وَقالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، هَذَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ؛ ألاَ فَاعْرِفُوهُ وَفَضِّلُوهُ، فَوَاللهِ لَجَدُّهُ أَكْرَمُ عَلَى اللهِ تَعالَى مِنْ جَدِّ يُوسُفَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلامُ. هَذَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ؛ جَدُّهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَجَدَّتُهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَأُمُّهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَأَبُوهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَعَمُّهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَعَمَّتُهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَخَالُهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَخَالَتُهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَأَخُوهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَهُوَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَمُحِبُّوهُمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَمُحِبُّو مُحِبِّيهِمْ فِي الْجَنَّةِ. وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَمُصُّ لُعَابَ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ كَمَا يَمُصُّ الرَّجُلُ اللَّبَنَ.

وَعَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ: طَرَقْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ لِحَاجَةٍ، فَخَرَجَ وَهُوَ مُشْتَمِلٌ عَلَى شَيْءٍ لاَ أَدْرِي مَا هُوَ. فَلَمَّا فَرَغْتُ مِنْ حَاجَتِي قُلتُ: مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَنْتَ

I saw that he was holding Hasan and Husayn in his arms. Then, he said: These are my sweethearts and the sweethearts of my daughter! O Lord! You know that I love them. You too do not deny them love. He repeated this three times.¹⁵ Jabir reports: One day I went to the presence of the Holy Prophet while Hasan and Husayn were riding on his back. He was saying: You are riding on a good horse and you two are good riders

Abu-Sa’id Khidri reports: I and a group of people were in the presence of the Holy Prophet (S) speaking to one another till it was the time of siesta. Given that the conversation prolonged and the Holy Prophet (S) was accustomed to siesta, seeing the signs of tiredness on his face, we left the meeting place. But at this time, we saw Lady Fatimah knocking at the door. ‘Ali who was among us said to her: O Fatimah! Why are you out at this hot time of the day? She said: Hasan and Husayn have not come back home. I thought they were at their grandfather’s house. I am here for this reason. ‘Ali said: They are not at their grandfather’s house. Go back home and do not bother your father. The Holy Prophet who was inside heard them. Despite being tired, he came out. Seeing her father Fatimah said: O Messenger of Allah! Your sons, Hasan and Husayn have not returned home. I thought they were in your house. I came here to be sure of it!

The Messenger of Allah said: God Almighty will protect them from any harm. Now, go back home with peace of mind. We deserve more to go and look for them. So Fatimah went back home while the Messenger of Allah and ‘Ali went in different directions. We all went to look for them and after a short while, we found them near a wall while one was lying in the shelter of another from the sunlight. As soon as the Holy Prophet’s look fell on them, he started weeping. He bint, took them up and while kissing them put Hasan on his right shoulder and Husayn on his left shoulder and headed for the house. It was a hot day then and the Holy Prophet did not let his two sons put their feet on the hot ground lest their feet be hurt. He carried them on his shoulders throughout the way.

Sulayman ibn Salim reported Amash as saying: The errand boy of Abu-Jafar Mansur called me to see him at midnight, saying: Abu-Jafar wants to see you immediately.

مُشْتَمِلٌ عَلَيْهِ؟ فَإذَا هُوَ حَسَنٌ وَحُسَيْنٌ عَلَى وِرْكَيْهِ. فَقالَ: هَذَانِ ابْنَايَ وَابْنَا ابْنَتِي. اللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي أُحِبُّهُمَا فَأَحِبَّهُمَا - ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ -. وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَعَلَى ظَهْرِهِ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: نِعْمَ الْجَمَلُ جَمَلُكُمَا وَنِعْمَ الْعَدْلانِ أَنْتُمَا.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخِدْرِيِّ قَالَ: كُنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ عِنْدَ رَسُول اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ حَتَّى دَنَتِ الْقَائِلَةُ، فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَمِيلُ مَرَّةً عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَمَرَّةً عَنْ يِسَارِهِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَا ذَلِكَ قُمْنَا عَنْهُ. فَلَمَّا خَرَجْنَا إلَى الْبَابِ إِذَا نَحْنُ بِفَاطِمَةَ ابْنَتِهِ عَلَيْهَا السَّلامُ. فَقالَ لَهَا عِلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَا فَاطِمَةُ مَا أَزْعَجَكِ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ مِنْ رَحْلِكِ؟ قَالَتْ: ابْنَاكَ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ فَقَدْتُهُمَا مُنْذُ أَصْبَحْتُ وَمَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّهُمَا إلاَّ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. قَالَ: مَا هُمَا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، فَارْجِعِي وَلاَ تُؤْذِيهِ فَإنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ بِسَاعَةِ إذْنٍ. فَسِمَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ كَلاَمَ عَلِيٍّ وَفَاطِمَةَ فَخَرَجَ فِي إزَارٍ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرُهُ فَقالَ: مَا أَزْعَجَكِ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ مِنْ رَحْلِكِ؟ فَقَالَتْ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، ابْنَاكَ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ خَرَجَا مِنْ عِنْدِي فَلَمْ أَرَهُمَا حَتَّى السَّاعَةَ وَكُنْتُ أَحْسَبُهُمَا عِنْدَكَ وَقَدْ دَخَلَنِي وَجَلٌ شَدِيدٌ. قَالَ: فقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا فَاطِمَةُ إنَّ اللهَ وَلِيُّهُمَا وَحَافِظُهُمَا، لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِمَا ضَيْعَةٌ إنْ شَاءَ اللهُ. إرْجِعِي يَا بُنَيَّةُ فَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالطَّلَبِ. فَرَجَعَتْ فَاطِمَةُ إلَى بَيْتِهَا فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي وَجْهٍ وَعَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي وَجْهٍ آخَرَ فَابْتَغَيَاهُمَا فَانْتَهَيَا إلَيْهِمَا وَهُمَا فِي أَصْلِ حَائِطٍ قَدْ أَحْرَقَتْهُمَا الشَّمْسُ وَأَحَدُهُمَا مُسْتَتِرٌ بِصَاحِبهِ. فَلَمَّا رَآهُمَا فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالَةِ خَنَقَتْهُ الْعَبْرَةُ وَأَكَبَّ عَلَيْهِمَا يُقَبِّلُهُمَا. ثُمَّ حَمَلَ الْحَسَنَ عَلَى مَنْكِبِه الأَيْمَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ عَلَى مَنْكِبِهِ الأَيْسَرِ. ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ بِهِمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَرْفَعُ قَدَماً وَيَضَعُ أُخْرَى مِمَّا يُكَابِدُ مِنْ حَرِّ الرَّمْضَاءِ، وَكَرِهَ أَنْ يَمْشِيَا فَيُصِيبَهُمَا مَا أَصَابَهُ فَوَقَاهُمَا بِنَفْسِهِ.

وَعَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي الأَعْمَشُ قَالَ: بَعَثَ إلَيَّ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورُ يَطْلُبُنِي.

I said: For what reason has Amir al-Mu’minin summoned me at this time of night? He said: I have no idea. I said: Tell him that I will come to see you after a few minutes. But I said to myself: To be summoned at this hour of night is certainly not for something fair. Perhaps, he wants to ask me something about the virtues and merits of ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib. If I tell the truth, he will kill me. Hence, I purified myself (performed Ghusl), put on my shroud, applied Camphor, wrote my last will and testament, gave it to my family and headed for the palace of Mansur. When I entered the palace, I found my old friend, Amr ibn Ubayd Basri with him. Hence, I was relieved of anxiety, for I knew he would defend me in all conditions. At any rate, after exchange of greetings, I took a seat in a corner. Mansur said: Leave that place and come near me. I went near to him while exchanging a few words with Amr ibn Ubayd. However the smell of camphor had spread in that palace. Mansur asked: What is the smell for? I said: For something urgent.

Mansur said: Should you not tell the truth, I will have you killed! I said: O Amir al-Mu’minin, your errand boy called on me at midnight. I said to myself, this untimely call has no reason other than asking questions about the virtues of ‘Ali. Since I am not going to conceal them, it will result in my being killed! For this reason, I performed Ghusl, applied camphor, put on my shroud, and came to you. This is the whole truth! Sitting on his knees and reclining as if he was announcing his readiness to hear me, Mansur said: I seek refuge to God to have an innocent person killed. Now tell me what is my name and do you know my name at all? I said: yes, your name is Abdullah ibn Mansur, the son of Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Abdullah Ibn Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. He said: That is true. Now, by God and by my relation to the Messenger of Allah, what do you and other scholars know about ‘Ali’s virtues and merits? I said: My knowledge is little. I know about ten thousand Hadiths and a little more! Mansur said: O Sulayman, I will now recite two Hadiths about ‘Ali’s virtues which will overshadow all the Hadiths you and other jurisprudents know provided that you will not tell it to anyone of the Shi’ite Muslims and take an oath for your undertaking. I said: I do not take an oath, but I will not tell it to anyone. Then he said: When I feared the rule of Banu-Marwan and I was running from one city to another, I was trying to narrate ‘Ali’s virtues to attract the love of ‘Ali’s devotees to spreading his merits.

فَقُلْتُ لِلرَّسُولِ: مَا يُرِيدُ مِنِّي أَمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ: لاَ أَعْلَمُ. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: أَبْلِغْهُ أَنِّي آتِيهِ. ثُمَّ تَفَكَّرْتُ فِي نَفْسِي فَقُلْتُ: مَا دَعَانِي فِي هَذَا الْوَقْتِ مُتَخَيِّراً، وَلَكِنْ عَسَى أَنْ يَسْأَلَنِي عَنْ فَضَائِلِ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ. فَإنْ أَخْبَرْتُهُ قَتَلَنِي. قَالَ فَتَطَهَّرْتُ وَلَبِسْتُ أَكْفَانِي وَتَحَنَّطْتُ ثُمَّ كَتَبْتُ وَصِيَّتِي ثُمَّ سِرْتُ إلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْتُ عِنْدَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ فَحَمِدْتُ اللهَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَقُلْتُ: وَجَدْتُ عِنْدَهُ عَوْناً صَادِقاً مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ. فَقالَ لِي: أُدْنُ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ. فَدَنَوْتُ. فَلَمَّا قَرُبْتُ مِنْهُ أَقْبَلْتُ عَلَى عَمْرِو بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ أَسْأَلُهُ، وَفَاحَ رِيحُ الْحَنُوطِ مِنِّي. فَقالَ: يَا سُلَيْمَانُ، مَا هَذِهِ الرَّائِحَةُ؟ وَاللهِ لَتَصْدُقُنِي وَإلاَّ قَتَلْتُكَ. قُلتُ: يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ، أَتَانِي رَسُولُكَ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي: مَا بَعَثَ أمِيرُ المُؤْمِنِينَ إلَيَّ فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ إلاَّ لِيَسْأَلَنِي عِنْ فَضَائِلِ أمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ؛ فَإنْ أَخْبَرْتُهُ قَتَلَنِي، فَكَتَبْتُ وَصِيَّتِي وَلَبِسْتُ كَفَنِي وَتَحَنَّطْتُ.

فَأَهْوَى جَالِساً وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إلاَّ بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَتَدْرِي يَا سُلَيْمَانُ مَا اسْمِي؟ قُلتُ: نَعَمْ ، يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ. قَالَ: مَا اسْمِي؟ قُلتُ: عَبْدُ اللهِ الْمَنْصُورُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ. قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ، فَأَخْبِرْنِي بِاللهِ وَبِقَرَابَتِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ، كَمْ رَوَيْتَ فِي عَلِيٍّ مِنْ فَضِيلَةٍ عَنْ جَمِيعِ الْفُقَهَاءِ وَكَمْ يَكُونُ؟ قُلتُ: يَسِيراً يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ؛ نَحْوَ عَشَرَةِ آلاَفِ حَدِيثٍ وَمَا زَادَ.

قَالَ: يَا سُلَيْمَانُ، لأُحَدِّثَنَّكَ فِي فَضَائِلِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ حَدِيثَيْنِ يَأْكُلاَنِ كُلَّ حَدِيثٍ رَوَيْتَهُ عَنْ جَمِيعِ الْفُقَهَاءِ. فَإنْ حَلَفْتَ لِيَ الآنَ ألاَّ تَرْوِيَهُمَا لأَحَدٍ مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ حَدَّثْتُكَ بِهِمَا. فَقُلْتُ: لاَ أَحْلِفُ وَلا أُخْبِرُ بِهِمَا أَحَداً مِنْهُمْ. فَقالَ: كُنْتُ هَارِباً مِنْ بَنِي مَرْوَانَ وَكُنْتُ أَدُورُ

People highly respected me inviting me to their houses and received me in the best way till I reached Syria. Contrary to other places, the people of Syria were Khawarij and the followers of Muawiyah. They would curse ‘Ali in their mosques every morning. One day, I arrived in a mosque at noon disguised as a poor man. Knowing about the people of Syria, I feared that they might know me and surrender me to the ruling authorities. The congregational noon prayer started. Wearing a worn-out cloak, I too prayed with them. When the prayer was completed, the prayer leader leant against the wall; the worshipers circled around him and did not say anything out of respect for him.

At this time, two boys entered the mosque. Seeing them, the prayer leader opened his arms, saying: My sons! Come here. He gave them a hug, called their names respectfully, saying: By God, the names I have given you was motivated only by my love for Muhammad and his household. I heard him calling them Hasan and Husayn. I rejoiced, saying to myself my wish has been realized. To be on the safe side, I asked a young man who was near to me: Who is the prayer leader and what is the relation of these two boys with him?

He said: This sheikh is the two boy’s grandfather. In this city no one has the love for ‘Ali except him. It is for this reason he has named them Hasan and Husayn. This added to my joy. So I rose up quickly and said to myself: Today I am a sharp sword and do not fear anyone. Approaching the sheikh, I said: O sheikh, I find you a devotee of Ahl al-Bayt. If you like I will relate to you a narration about them which will please you. He said: I am very much fond of it. Should you gladden me by telling it, I will gladden you too.

I said: My father has related it on the authority of my grandfather, and he too on the authority of his father has quoted the Messenger of Allah but the sheikh interrupted me by saying: Who is your father, your grandfather, and father of your grandfather? I said: Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Abdullah Ibn Abbas, and then related the tradition.

Ibn Abbas reported: I and a group of people were in the presence of the Holy Prophet (S) when all of a sudden, Fatimah while weeping came to the presence of her father. The Messenger of Allah said: My daughter, why are you weeping? May your eyes never be tearful! She said: Dear father! Hasan and Husayn have disappeared since morning. I searched for them in the houses of your wives and other places but I could not find any trace of them.

الْبُلْدَانَ أَتَقَرَّبُ إلَى النَّاسِ بِحُبِّ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَفَضَائِلِهِ، وَكَانُوا يَرْوُونِي وَيُطْعِمُونِي وَيَزُورُونِي وَيُكْرِمُونِي وَيَخْدِمُونِي وَيَحْمِلُونِي حَتَّى وَرَدْتُ بِلادَ الشَّامِ. فَكَانُوا إذَا أَصْبَحُوا لَعَنُوا عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي مَسَاجِدِهِمْ لأَنَّ كُلَّهُمْ خَوَارِجُ وَأَصْحَابُ مُعَاوِيَةَ. فَدَخَلْتُ مَسْجِداً وَفِي نَفْسِي مِنْهُمْ شَيْءٌ، فَأُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَصَلَّيْتُ الظُّهْرَ وَعَلَيَّ كِسَاءٌ خَلِقٌ. فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ الإمَامُ اتَّكَأَ عَلَى الْحَائِطِ وَأَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ حُضُورٌ، فَجَلَسْتُ فَلَمْ أَرَ أَحَداً مِنْهُمْ يَتَكَلَّمُ تَوْقِيراً لإمَامِهِمْ.

فَإِذَا بِصَبِيَّيْنِ قَدْ دَخَلاَ الْمَسْجِدَ. فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إلَيْهِمَا الإمَامُ قَالَ: إدْخُلاَ مَرْحَباً بِكُمَا وَمَرْحَباً بِمَنْ سُمِّيتُمَا بِاسْمَيْهِمَا. وَاللهِ مَا سَمَّيْتُكُمَا بِاسْمَيْهِمَا إلاَّ لِحُبِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ. فَإِذا أَحَدُهُمَا يُقَالُ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ وَالآخَرُ الْحُسَيْنُ. فَقُلْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ نَفْسِي: قَدْ أَصَبْتُ الْيَوْمَ حَاجَتِي، وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إلاَّ بِاللهِ. وَكَانَ شَابٌّ إلَى جَنْبِي فَسَأَلْتُهُ: مَنْ هَذَا الشَّيْخُ وَمَنْ هَذَانِ الصَّبِيَّانِ؟ فَقالَ: الشَّيْخُ جَدُّهُمَا وَلَيْسَ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَدِينَةِ أَحَدٌ يُحِبُّ عَلِيَّاً غَيْرُهُ؛ وَلِذَلِكَ سَمَّاهُمَا الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ. فَقُمْتُ فَرِحاً وَإِنِّي يَوْمَئِذٍ لَصَارِمٌ لاَ أَخَافُ الرِّجَالَ، فَدَنَوْتُ مِنَ الشَّيْخِ فَقُلْتُ: هَلْ لَكَ فِي حَدِيثٍ أُقِرُّ بِهِ عَيْنَكَ؟ فَقالَ: مَا أَحْوَجَنِي إلَى ذَلِكَ! وَإنْ أَقْرَرْتَ عَيْنِي أَقْرَرْتُ عَيْنَكَ. فَقُلْتُ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ… فَقالَ: مَنْ وَالِدُكَ وَجَدُّكَ؟ قُلتُ: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ. قَالَ: إنَّا كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَإذَا فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَتْ تَبْكِي. فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَا يُبْكِيكِ يَا فَاطِمَةُ؟ قَالَتْ: يَا أَبَةُ، إنَّ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ قَدْ غَدَوْا فَذَهَبَا مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ وَقَدْ طَلَبْتُهُمَا وَلاَ أَدْرِي أَيْنَ هُمَـا، وَإنَّ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ

‘Ali has been irrigating the trees for the past five days and has not come home to search for them. The Messenger of Allah assigned Abu-Bakr who was sitting on his right side to search for them and assigned Umar, Salman, Abu-Dharr, and a group of companions whose number amounted to seventy to search for Hasan and Husayn who were, in the words of the Holy Prophet, the apple of his eye. They all searched for Hasan and Husayn but they could not find them and returned without any news! The Messenger of Allah was upset with this unexpected event so he headed for the mosque to pray for them. Raising his hands, he said: O Lord! Through the position of Ibrahim, your friend! And through the position of Adam, your chosen one, protect the apple of my eye and return them safely to me whether they are on sea or land!

At this time Gabriel appeared saying: O Messenger of Allah, your Lord hailed you and said: Do not grieve! These two children have merits in this world and the hereafter, having abode in paradise. I have assigned an angel over them to guard them in sleep and wakefulness. Being gladdened by this news, the Messenger of Allah set out while Gabriel, the trustworthy, was on the right side and Muslims were around him till they reached the orchard of Banu-Najjar. The Messenger of Allah hailed the guardian angel, kneeled down, finding that Hasan had put his hand around Husayn’s neck and they had both gone to sleep. The guardian angel too had spread one wing as bed and the other wing as cover. The Holy Prophet (S) kept on kissing them till they woke up. He took up Hasan and Gabriel took up Husayn and went out of orchard.

Ibn Abbas reports: After exit from orchard, I saw Hasan on the right side and Husayn on the left side of the Messenger of Allah who showered them with kisses, saying: Whoever loves you has loved the Messenger of Allah and whoever has rancor against you is the enemy of the Messenger of Allah. Abu-Bakr said: O Messenger of Allah! Allow me to carry one of them on my shoulder but the Holy Prophet said: What good riders they are and what a good horse they have. Umar requested the same thing and received the same answer.

السَّلامُ يَسْقِي عَلَى الدَّالِيَةِ مُنْذُ خَمْسَةِ أَيَّامٍ يَسْقِي الْبُسْتَانَ. وَإِنِّي طَلَبْتُهُمَا فِي مَنَازِلِكَ فَمَا حَسَسْتُ لَهُمَا أَثَراً. وَإذَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، فَقالَ: يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ، قُمْ فَاطْلُبْ قُرَّتَيْ عَيْنِي. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا عُمَرُ، قُمْ فَاطْلُبْهُمَا. يَا سَلْمَانُ، يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ، يَا فُلانُ، يَا فُلانُ. قَالَ: فَأَحْصَيْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلاً بَعَثَهُمْ فِي طَلَبِهِمَا وَحَثَّهُمْ. فَرَجَعُوا وَلَمْ يُصِيبُوهُمَا، فَاغْتَمَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ غَمَّاً شَدِيداً. وَوَقَفَ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: بِحَقِّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِكَ وَبِحَقِّ آدَمَ صَفِيِّكَ إنْ كَانَا قُرَّتَا عَيْنِي وَثَمَرَتَا فُؤَادِي أُخِذَا بَرَّاً أَوْ بَحْراً فَاحْفَظْهُمَا وَسَلِّمْهُمَا. قَالَ: فَإذَا جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ هَبَطَ فَقالَ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلامَ وَيَقُولُ لَكَ: لاَ تَحْزَنْ وَلاَ تَغْتَمَّ، الصَّبِيَّانِ فَاضِلاَنِ فِي الآخِرَةِ وَهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، قَدْ وَكَّلْتُ بِهِمَا مَلَكاً يَحْفَظُهُمَا إذَا نَامَا وَإذَا قَامَا. فَفَرِحَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَرَحاً شَدِيداً وَمَضَى جِبْرِيلُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَالْمُسْلِمونَ حَوْلَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ حَظِيرَةَ بَنِي النَّجَّارِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكِ الْمُوَكَّلِ بِهِمَا. ثُمَّ جَثَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَإذَا الْحَسَنُ مُعَانِقٌ الْحُسَيْنَ وَهُمَا نَائِمَانِ وَذَلِكَ الْمَلَكُ قَدْ جَعَلَ جَنَاحَهُ تَحْتَهُمَا وَالآخَرَ فَوْقَهُمَا وَعَلَى كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْا دَرَّاعَةٌ مِنْ شَعْرٍ أَوْ صُوفٍ وَالْمِدادُ عَلَى شَفَتَيْهِمَا. فَمَا زَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَلْثِمُهُمَا حَتَّى اسْتَيْقَظَا. فَحَمَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ الْحَسَنَ وَحَمَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ الْحُسَيْنَ وَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِنَ الْحَظِيرَةِ.

قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: وَجَدْنَا الْحَسَنَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ يَمِينِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَالْحُسَيْنَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ يِسَارِهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَهُوَ يُقَبِّلُهُمَا وَيَقُولُ: مَنْ أَحَبَّكُمَا فَقَدْ أَحَبَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ، وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَكُمَا فَقَدْ أَبْغَضَ رَسُولَ اللهِ. فَقالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، أَعْطِنِي أَحَدَهُمَا أَحْمِلُهُ. فقَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: نِعْمَ الْحُمُولَةُ وَنِعْمَ الْمَطِيَّةُ تَحْتَهُمَا. فَلَمَّا أَنْ صَارَ إلَى بَابِ الْحَظِيرَةِ لَقِيَهُ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ مَقَالَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ كَمَا رَدَّ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ. فَرَأَيْتُ الْحَسَنَ مُتَشَبِّثاً بِثَوْبِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَوَجَدْنَا يَدَ النَّبِيِّ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ.