Virtues of ‘Ali’s Children — part 2/3

The Holy Prophet then entered the mosque while Hasan was clutching his shirt and leaning against his arm, saying: Today, I will elaborate on the dignity that God has given to these two endeared sons of mine. Bilal was ordered to announce to people to be gathered in mosque. Addressing them, the Holy Prophet said: Shall I guide you today to the best people in terms of grandfather and grandmother? They said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He said: Do not leave Hasan and Husayn alone, for their grandfather is the Messenger of Allah and their grandmother is Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid, the lady of the women in paradise! Shall I guide you to the best persons who have dignified father and mother? The people said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! He said: Resort to Hasan and Husayn, for their father is ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib who is better than his sons, a youth who loves God and His messenger, and God and His messenger too love him. He has benefited Islam and possesses merits. Their mother is Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah and the princess of women in paradise. O people, shall I guide you to the best people who have dignified uncle and aunt? The people said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! The Holy Prophet said: The uncle of Hasan and Husayn is Jafar Tayyar who flies in paradise with two wings. Their aunt is Ummu-Hani, the daughter of Abu-Talib. O people, shall I guide you to the maternal uncle and aunt of the best people? The people said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah! The Holy Prophet said: The best people are Hasan and Husayn whose maternal uncle is Qasim, the son of the Messenger of Allah and whose maternal aunt is Zayinab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah.

O people! I hereby declare that the grandfather, the grandmother, the parents, the paternal and maternal uncles and aunts of Hasan and Husayn are in paradise. Whoever loves the sons of ‘Ali will be with us in paradise and whoever is their enemy will be in hell. One of the honors God has given to Hasan and Husayn is that their names have been mentioned in the Torah as Shubbar and Shubayr.

Mansur reports: When that clergyman heard this Hadith from me, honored me much, saying: Now that you have related this narration about ‘Ali, it does not befit you to have such a worn-out shirt. He immediately offered me a precious garment and a horse which later I sold for a hundred Dinars.

فَدَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ الْمَسْجِدَ فَقالَ: لأُشَرِّفَنَّ الْيَوْمَ ابْنَيَّ كَمَا شَرَّفَهُمَا اللهُ تَعالَى. وَقالَ: يَا بِلاَلُ، عَلَيَّ بِالنَّاسِ. فَنَادَى فِيهِمْ فَاجْتَمَعُوا. فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: يَا مَعْشَرَ أَصْحَابِي، بَلِّغُوا عَنْ نَبِيِّكُمْ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ سَمِعْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ: أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى خَيْرِ النَّاسِ جَدَّاً وَجَدَّةً؟ قالوا: بَلَى يَا رَسولَ اللهِ. قَالَ: عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ، فَإنَّ جَدَّهُمَا رَسُولُ اللهِ وَجَدَّتَهُمَا خَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِدٍ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ.

مَعْشَرَ النَّاسِ، هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى خَيْرِ النَّاسِ أَباً وََأُمَّاً؟ قَالُوا: بَلَى يَا رَسولَ اللهِ. قَالَ: عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ، فَإنَّ أَبَاهُما عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُمْا شَابٌّ يُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيُحِبُّهُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ ذُو الْمَنْفَعَةِ وَالْمَنْقَبَةِ فِي الإسْلامِ. وَأُمُّهُمَا فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ رَسُولِ اللهِ سَيِّدَةُ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ. مَعْشَرَ النَّاسِ، أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى خَيْرِ النَّاسِ عَمَّاً وَعَمَّةً؟ قَالُوا: بَلَى يَا رَسولَ اللهِ. قَالَ: عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ، فَإنَّ عَمَّهُمَا جَعْفَرٌ ذُو الْجَنَاحَيْنِ يَطِيرُ بِهِمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ مَعَ الْمَلاَئكَِةِ وَعَمَّتُهُمَا أُمُّ هَانَئٍ بِنْتُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ.

مَعَاشِرَ النَّاسِ، أَلاَ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى خَيْرِ النَّاسِ خَالاً وَخَالَةً؟ قَالُوا: بَلَى يَا رَسولَ اللهِ. قَالَ: عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ، فَإنَّ خَالَهُمَا الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللهِ. وَخَالَتُهُمَا زَيْنَبُ بِنْتُ رَسُول اللهِ. ألاَ يَا مَعْشَرَ النَّاسِ، أُعْلِمُكُمْ أَنَّ جَدَّهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَجَدَّتُهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَأَبُوهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَأُمُّهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَمُّهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَعَمَّتُهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَخَالُهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَخَالَتُهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ، وَهُمَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ. وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ ابْنَيْ عَلِيٍّ فَهُوَ مَعَنَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ. وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُمَا فَهُوَ فِي النَّارِ. وَإنَّ مِنْ كَرَامَتِهِمَا عَلَى اللهِ تَعالَى أنَّهُ سَمَّاهُمَا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ: شُبَّراً وَشُبَيْراً. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الشَّيْخُ الإمَامُ هَذَا مِنِّي قَدَّمَنِي وَقالَ: هَذِهِ حَـالُكَ وَأَنْتَ تَرْوِي فِي عَلِيٍّ هَـذَا؟

Then he said: Now, I will guide you to two of my brothers. One is the leader of a group who curse ‘Ali a thousand times in this city from morning till night and curse him four thousand times on Fridays. Recently, God has denied him His blessings and has made him an example for public and now he has become a devotee of ‘Ali. I will now guide you to the other brother who is a devotee of ‘Ali from his childhood. I am sure you will receive benefits from him.

Now, rise up and move towards him. O Sulayman, by God, I rode on the horse and the sheikh and the people who were in the mosque accompanied me to the door of his brother’s house. The sheikh had already stressed that I should not keep silent when meeting his brother.

When the companions left me, I knocked at the door. A tall man with dark complexion rushed to receive me. Looking at my horse, he welcomed me and said: This horse belongs to him. If he has favored you, it is due to your love for God and His messenger. Should you gladden me by relating a Hadith, you will be nicely rewarded. O Suleiman, by God, I related to him the most valuable narration which you have heard before and I will now relate to you. I said: My father and my grandfather reported their father as saying: I and a group of people were sitting in the presence of the Messenger of Allah when Fatimah, carrying Husayn on her shoulder entered weeping. The Holy Prophet welcomed his daughter, took Husayn from her and asked the reason of her weeping.

Fatimah said: My dear father! The women of Quraysh reproach me, saying: Your father has married you to one who has no wealth! The Holy Prophet said: Calm down, my daughter. Never repeat these words again, for your marriage was not in my hand, rather God Almighty decreed to marry you to ‘Ali after He had married you to ‘Ali with Gabriel, Michael, and Seraphiel as witnesses. O Fatimah, the Lord of universe had a look at the world with His infinite knowledge, and chose your father as a prophet. He once again looked at creatures and appointed ‘Ali as my executor on God’s order, for his illuminated heart was the most susceptible, his forbearance more than others, his belief in Islam, the foremost, his generosity above others, and his temper and morality better than others.

My daughter! On the Day of Judgment I will mission ‘Ali to quench the thirst of anyone of my followers whom he knows. O Fatimah! Your sons, Hasan and Husayn are the masters of the youths in paradise. Their names had been mentioned in the Torah as Shubbar and Shubayr even before my prophethood. They have been named Hasan and Husayn due to the dignity which their grandfather and they themselves have with God.

وَكَسَانِي خُلْعَةً وَحَمَلَنِي عَلَى بَغْلَةٍ بِعْتُهَا بِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ. ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى مَنْ يَفْعَلُ بِكَ خَيْراً؛ هَاهُنَا أَخَوَانِ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَدِينَةِ: أَحَدُهُمَا كَانَ إمَامَ قَوْمٍ وَكَانَ إذَا أَصْبَحَ لَعَنَ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَلْفَ مَرَّةٍ كُلَّ غَدَاةٍ، فَغَيَّرَ اللهُ تَعالَى مَا بِِِهِ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ فَصَارَ آيَةً لِلسَّائِلِينَ، وَهُوَ الْيَوْمَ يُحِبُّهُ. وَأَخٌ لِي يُحِبُّهُ مُنْذُ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ، فَقُمْ إلَيْهِ وَلاَ تَحْتَبِسْ عِنْدَهُ.

وَاللهِ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ لَقَدْ رَكِبْتُ الْبَغْلَةَ وَإنِّي يَوْمَئِذٍ لَجَائِعٌ. فَقَامَ مَعِيَ الشَّيْخُ وَأَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ حَتَّى صِرْنَا إلَى الدَّارِ، وَقالَ الشَّيْخُ: إنِّي أَنْتَظِرُكَ. فَدَقَقْتُ الْبَابَ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَ مَنْ كَانَ مَعِي فَإِذَا شَاٌّب أدِمٌ قَدْ خَرَجَ إلَيَّ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْبَغْلَةَ قَالَ: مَرْحَباً بِكَ، وَاللهِ مَا كَسَاكَ أَبُو فُلانٍ خُلْعَتَهُ وَلاَ حَمَلَكَ عَلَى بَغْلَتِهِ إلاَّ أَنَّكَ تُحِبُّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ. إنْ أَقْرَرْتَ عَيْنِي لأُقِرَّنَّ عَيْنَكَ. وَاللهِ يَا سليمان إنِّي لاَ أَلْبَسُ بِهَذا الْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي سَمِعْتَهُ وَتَسْمَعُهُ.

أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ جُلُوساً بِبَابِ دَارِهِ فَإِذَا فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْها السَّلامُ قَدْ أَقْبَلَتْ وَهِيَ حَامِلَةٌ الْحُسَيْنَ وَهِيَ تَبْكِي بُكَاءً شَدِيداً. فَاسْتَقْبَلَهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَتَنَاوَلَ الْحُسَيْنَ مِنْهَا وَقالَ لَهَا: مَا يُبْكِيكِ يَا فَاطِمَةُ؟ قَالَتْ: يَا أَبَةُ، عَيَّرَتْنِي نِسَاءُ قُرَيْشٍ وَقُلْنَ: زَوَّجَكِ أَبُوكِ مُعْدَماً لاَ مَالَ لَهُ. فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَهْلاً، وَإيَّايَ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ هَذَا مِنْكِ، فَإنَّنِي لَمْ أُزَوِّجْكِ حَتَّى زَوَّجَكِ اللهُ تَعالَى مِنْ فَوْقِ عَرْشِهِ وَشَهِدَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ جِبْرِيلُ. وَإنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى إطَّلَعَ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا فَاخْتَارَ مِنَ الْخَلاَئِقِ أَبَاكِ فَبَعَثَهُ نَبِيَّاً. ثُمَّ إطَّلَعَ ثَانِيَةً فَاخْتَارَ مِنَ الْخَلاَئِقِ عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَأَوْحَى إلَيَّ فَزَوَّجْتُكِ إيَّاهُ وَاتَّخَذْتُهُ وَصِيَّاً وَوَزِيراً. فَعَلِيٌّ أَشْجَعُ النَّاسِ قَلْباً، وَأَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ عِلْماً، وَأَحْلَمُ النَّاسِ حِلْماً، وَأَقْدَمُ النَّاسِ إسْلاَماً، وَأَسْمَحُهُمْ كَفَّاً، وَأَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقاً. يَا فَاطِمَةُ، آخُذُ لِوَاءَ الْحَمْدِ وَمَفَاتِيحَ الْجَنَّةِ بِيَدِي فَأَدْفَعُهُمَـا إلَى عَلِيٍّ، فَيَكُونُ آدَمُ

O Fatimah, on the Day of Judgment, your father will be dressed with two garments of heavenly garments. ‘Ali too will be adorned with such vestments. On that day, I will give the banner of al-Hamd to ‘Ali and due to the dignity he has with God, my followers will stand under his banner. At that time, the herald will declare: O Muhammad, your ancestor Ibrahim is the best man and your brother ‘Ali is the best brother. Once the Lord of universe calls me, He will call ‘Ali too. If I sit on my knees, ‘Ali will do the same. If I intercede for anyone, ‘Ali will intercede for him too. If my prayer is answered ‘Ali’s prayer will be answered too. He will not only cooperate with me in intercession but also in giving the keys of paradise to people. O Fatimah! Rejoice and know that ‘Ali and his followers attain salvation on the Day of Judgment.

Mansur reports: Another narration is that one day when Fatimah was sitting in a corner sorrowful, the Messenger of Allah came and sat near her asking the reason she was sad. Fatimah said: May I be ransom for you. How should I not be sorrowful while I know you will depart from this world? The Messenger of Allah said: Do not grieve, my daughter, for death is a certain issue and there is no doubt about it. With this, Fatimah started weeping more, saying: Dear father, where can we meet again?

The Messenger of Allah said: On mount al-Hamd where I will intercede for my Ummah with my Lord! She said: What if we do not meet there? He said: on The Discriminating Bridge where Gabriel is on my right side, Michael on my left side, Seraphiel is clutching my lap and angels move behind me and I humbly say: O Lord! My Ummah, my Ummah. Make the reckoning easy for them. At that time, I will look at my Ummah on the right and left side and see all prophets are busy with themselves, saying: Woe to me, woe to me! It is only I who say woe to my Ummah, woe to my Ummah! The first ones of my Ummah who will join me are: You, ‘Ali, Hasan, and Husayn. Then God will say: O Muhammad! If your Ummah have sinned as much as the height of lofty mountains but have not associated anything with Me and they are not under the leadership of my enemies, I will forgive them.

وَمَنْ وَلَدَ تَحْتَ لِوَائِهِ. يَا فَاطِمَةُ، إنِّي مُقِيمٌ غَداً عَلِيَّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى حَوْضِي يَسْقِي مَنْ عَرَفَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي. يَا فَاطِمَةُ، وَابْنَاكِ الْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَكَانَ قَدْ سَبَقَ اسْمُهُمَا فِي تَوْرَاةِ مُوسَى، وَكَانَ اسْمُهُمَا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ شُبَّراً وَشُبَيْراً، فَسَمَّاهُمَا الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ لِكَرَامَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عَلَى اللهِ تَعالَى وَلِكَرَامَتِهِمَا عَلَيْهِ. يَا فَاطِمَةُ، يُكْسَى أَبُوكِ حُلَّتَيْنِ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَيُكْسَى عَلِيٌّ حُلَّتَيْنِ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَلِوَاءُ الْحَمْدِ فِي يَدِي وَأُمَّتِي تَحْتَ لِوَائِي، فَأُنَاوِلُهُ عَلِيَّاً لِكَرَامَتِهِ عَلَى اللهِ تَعالَى. وَيُنَادِي مُنَادٍ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ نِعْمَ الْجَدُّ جَدُّكَ إبْرَاهِيمُ وَنِعْمَ الأَخُ أَخُوكَ عَلِيٌّ. وَإذَا دَعَانِي رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ دَعَا عَلِيَّاً مَعِي فَإذَا جَثَوْتُ جَثَى عَلِيٌّ مَعِي، وَإِذَا شَفَعْتُ شَفَعَ عَلِيٌّ مَعِي، وَإذَا أُجِبْتُ أُجِيبَ عَلِيٌّ مَعِي، وَإنَّهُ فِي الْمَقَامِ عَوْنِي عَلَى مَفَاتِيحِ الْجَنَّةِ. قُومِي يَا فَاطِمَةُ، إنَّ عَلِيَّاً وَشِيعَتَهُ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ غَداً.

وَقالَ بَيْنَا فَاطِمَةُ جَالِسَةٌ إذْ أَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إلَيْها فَقالَ: يَا فَاطِمَةُ مَا لِي أَرَاكِ بَاكِيَةً حَزِينَةً؟ قَالَتْ: بِأَبِي وَأُمِّي يَا رَسولَ اللهِ، كَيْفَ لاَ أَبْكِي وَتُرِيدُ أَنْ تُفَارِقَنِي؟ فَقالَ لَهَا: يَا فَاطِمَةُ لاَ تَبْكِي وَلاَ تَحْزَنِي، فَلاَ بُدَّ مِنْ مُفَارَقَتِكِ. فَاشْتَدَّ بُكَاؤُهَا. ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: يَا أَبَةُ، أَيْنَ أَلْقَاكَ؟ قَالَ: تَلْقِينِي عَلَى تَلِّ الْحَمْدِ أَشْفَعُ لأُمَّتِي. قَالَتْ: يَا أَبَةُ، فَإنْ لَمْ أَلْقَكَ؟ قَالَ: تَلْقِينِي عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ وَجَبْرَئِيلُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَمِيكَائِيلُ عَنْ شِمَالِي وَإسْرَافِيلُ آخِذٌ بِحُجْزَتِي وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ خَلْفِي وَأَنَا أُنَادِي: يَا رَبِّ أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي؛ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْحِسَابَ. ثُمَّ أَنْظُرُ يَمِيناً وَشِمَالاً إلَى أُمَّتِي وَكُلُّ نَبِيٍّ يَوْمَئِذٍ مُشْتَغِلٌ بِنَفْسِهِ يَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ نَفْسِي نَفْسِي. وَأَنَا أَقُولُ: يَا رَبِّ أُمَّتِي أُمَّتِي. فَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَلْحَقُ بِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَـامَةِ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَنْتِ وَعَلِيٌّ وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ. فَيَـقُولُ الرَّبُّ: يَـا مُحَمَّدُ إنَّ أُمَّتَكَ لَوْ

Mansur says: That young man, after hearing this narration gave me ten thousand Dirhams and thirty sets of suits, saying: Where do you come from? I said: From Kufah. He said: Are you from an Arab race or non-Arab? I said: I am an Arab. He said: As you gladdened me with this Hadith, I too rewarded you! Then that young man said: Come and see me in such and such mosque tomorrow. I hope you will not lose the way. Then, I went to the sheikh who was waiting for me. He became glad to see me, hugged me and asked about his brother. I told him the whole story. He said: May God reward him and place us near each other in paradise.

O Sulayman, I rode on my horse the next day and headed for the mosque the young man had described for me. But soon I lost the way to mosque. Amid this, I heard the voice of a Muezzin from a mosque. I said to myself by God I will perform my prayer with this people. So I dismounted from my horse and entered the mosque. At this time, I caught sight of a man, the Imam of the mosque and found him similar to the young man. I stood on his right side and followed him in prayer. As soon as we bowed down and prostrated, his turban fell off his head.

Surprisingly I found that his face, hands, and feet and head were like a pig! Seeing this made me unmindful of my prayer. I was at a loss not knowing what I was saying! I pondered on his affair. With the completion of prayer, the man had a look at me, saying: Was it not you who went to see my brother yesterday? I said: Yes.

He said: My brother gave you money and clothes, didn’t he? I said yes, and told him the whole story. Taking my hand in his hand, he took me out while the people who were in mosque followed us. Reaching his house, he ordered his servant to close the door. When he took off his clothes, I found that his body was like the body of a pig. This scene horrified me! Surprisingly I said: Why your body is like that?

He said: It has a story which I should tell you. I am the Imam and Muezzin of this mosque. I used to curse ‘Ali a thousand times between Azan and Iqamah of Morning Prayer. One Friday when I cursed ‘Ali and his sons four thousand times, I went out of the mosque, and leant against this shop you see. Sleep overwhelmed me.

أَتَوْنِي بِذُنُوبٍ كَأَمْثَالِ الْجِبَالِ لَغَفَرْتُ مَا لَمْ يُشْرِكُوا بِي شَيْئاً وَلَمْ يُوَالُوا لِي عَدُوَّاً. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الشَّابُّ هَذَا مِنِّي أَمَرَ لِي بِعَشَرَةِ آلاَفِ دَرْهَمٍ وَكَسانِي ثَلاَثِينَ ثَوْباً. ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟ قُلتُ: مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ. قَالَ: عَرَبِيٌّ أَنْتَ أَمْ مَوْلى؟ قُلتُ: بَلْ عَرَبِيٌّ. قَالَ: فَكَمَا أَقْرَرْتَ عَيْنِي أَقْرَرْتُ عَيْنَكَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: آتِنِي غَداً فِي مَسْجِدِ بَنِي فُلانٍ وَإيَّاكَ أَنْ تُخْطِئَ الطَّرِيقَ. فَذَهَبْتُ إلَى الشَّيْخِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَنْتَظِرُنِي. فَلَمَّا رَآنِي اسْتَقْبَلَنِي وَقالَ: مَا فَعَلَ أَبُو فُلانٍ؟ قُلتُ كَذا وَكَذا. قَالَ: جَزَاهُ اللهُ خَيْراً وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ.

فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ رَكِبْتُ الْبَغْلَةَ وَأَخَذْتُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ الَّذِي وَصَفَ لِي. فَلَمَّا سِرْتُ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيَّ الطَّرِيقُ وَسَمِعْتُ إقَامَةَ الصَّلاَةِ مِنْ مَسْجِدٍ فَقُلْتُ: وَاللهِ لأُصَلِّيَنَّ مَعَ هَؤُلاَءِ الْقَوْمِ. فَنَزَلْتُ عَنِ الْبَغْلَةِ وَدَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَوَجَدْتُ رَجُلاً قَامَتُهُ مِثْلُ قَامَةِ صَاحِبِي، فَصِرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ. فَلَمَّا صِرْنَا فِي رُكُوعٍ أَوْ سُجُودٍ إذْ عَمَامَتُهُ قَدْ رَمَى بِهَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ فَتَفَرَّسْتُ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَإذَا وَجْهُهُ وَجْهُ خِنْزِيرٍ وَرَأْسُهُ وَحَلْقُهُ وَيَدَاهُ وَرِجْلاَهُ، فَلَمْ أَعْلَمْ مَا أُصَلِّي وَمَا قُلتُ فِي صَلاَتِي مُتَفَكِّراً فِي أَمْرِهِ. وَسَلَّمَ الإمَامُ، وَتَفَرَّسَ الرَّجُلُ فِي وَجْهِي وَقالَ: أَتَيْتَ أَخِي بِالأَمْسِ فَأَمَرَ لَكَ بِكَذا وَكَذا؟ قُلتُ: نَعَمْ. فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي وَأَقَامَنِي. فَلَمَّا رَآنَا أَهْلُ الْمَسْجِدِ تَبَعُونَا. فَقالَ لِغُلاَمِهِ: أَغْلِقِ الْبَابَ وَلاَ تَدَعْ أَحَداً يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْنَا. ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ إلَى قَمِيصِهِ فَنَزَعَهَا وَإذَا جَسَدُهُ جَسَدُ خِنْزِيرٍ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَخِي مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَى بِكَ؟ قَالَ: كُنْتُ مُؤَذِّنَ الْقَوْمِ وَكُنْتُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ إذَا أَصْبَحْتُ أَلْعَنُ عَلِيَّاً أَلْفَ مَرَّةٍ بَيْنَ الأَذَانِ وَالإقَامَةِ. قَالَ: فَخَرَجْتُ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَدَخَلْتُ دَارِي هَـذِهِ وَهُوَ يَوْمُ جُمُعَـةٍ وَقَدْ لَعَنْتُهُ أَرْبَعَةَ آلاَفِ مَرَّةً وَلَعَنْتُ أَوْلاَدَهُ. فَاتَّكَـأْتُ عَلَى

In my dream, I saw a place like paradise where ‘Ali was reclining on a heavenly cushion. Hasan and Husayn too were reclining on a throne each rejoicingly. Under their feet, a prayer-mat of light spread! At that time, I saw the Messenger of Allah sitting and Hasan and Husayn standing before him while Hasan had a pitcher in hand and Husayn had a bowl in hand. The Holy Prophet said to Hasan: Give me some water. Hasan gave water to the Holy Prophet. Then he said to Husayn: Quench the thirst of your father, ‘Ali. Husayn quenched the thirst of his father. He then commissioned Hasan to give water to those who were present there, saying: My dear Hasan, give water to the man who is leaning against the wall of the shop! But Hasan turned his back on me and said: Dear father! How can I give him water while he curses my father a thousand times a day? Today, he especially cursed us and our father four thousand times!

Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah looked at me angrily and said: What made you curse my brother, ‘Ali, and my sons, Hasan and Husayn? May Allah curse you and deny you His Mercy! Then he spit on me in a way it covered my whole body! I woke up then out of horror and saw every part of my body hit by spit transformed in a way you can see. I have turned into an example of God’s wrath for the public!

Then Mansur said: O Sulayman, do you remember any Hadith like these two on the merits of ‘Ali? O Sulayman, love for ‘Ali is a sign of pure faith, and enmity with him is discord, for no one loves ‘Ali unless he is a pure devoted believer and no one is his enemy but an evil-minded unbeliever. Sulayman says: I said: O Amir al-Mu’minin, am I safe to ask you a question which just came to my mind concerning these two wonderful Hadiths? He said: Yes. I said: What do you think of those who killed ‘Ali and his sons? He said: They are being tormented in the fire of God’s chastisement. There is no doubt about it? Hearing this, he lowered his head and said implicitly: O Sulayman, kingdom is barren. But Sulayman! Given what I have told you, narrate as many Hadiths as you can remember about ‘Ali’s merits.¹⁷

The author of the book, Nihayat al-Talab wa Ghayat al-Sa’ul, has quoted Ibn Abbas as saying: I was in the presence of the Messenger of Allah while he had placed his son Ibrahim on his right knee and Husayn on his left knee. He alternately kissed one and the other.

هَذَا الدُّكَّانِ فَذَهَبَ بِيَ النَّوْمُ فَرَأَيْتُ فِي مَنَامِي كَأَنَّمَا أنَا بِالْجَنَّةِ قَدْ أَقْبَلْتُ فَإِذَا عَلِيٌّ فِيهَا مُتَّكِئٌ وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ مَعَهُ مُتَّكِئُونَ بَعْضُهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ مَسْرُورُونَ تَحْتَهُمْ مُصَلَّيَاتٌ مِنْ نُورٍ، وَإذَا أنَا بِرَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ جَالِساً وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ قُدَّامُهُ وَبِيَدِ الْحَسَنِ إِبْرِيقٌ وَبِيَدِ الْحُسَيْنِ كَأْسٌ. فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لِلْحَسَنِ: إسْقِنِي. فَشَرِبَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْحُسَيْنِ: إسْقِ أَبَاك عَلِيَّاً. فَشَرِبَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْحَسَنِ: إسْقِ الْجَمَاعَةَ، فَشَرِبُوا. ثُمَّ قَالَ: إسْقِ الْمُتَكِّئَ عَلَى الدُّكَّانِ. فَوَلَّى الْحُسَيْنُ بِوَجْهِهِ عَنِّي وَقالَ: يَا أَبَةُ، كَيْفَ أَسْقِيهِ وَهُوَ يَلْعَنُ أَبِي فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ أَلْفَ مَرَّةٍ وَقَدْ لَعَنَهُ الْيَوْمَ أَرْبَعَةَ آلاَفِ مَرَّةً؟! فَقالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَا لَكَ، لَعَنَكَ اللهُ، تَلْعَنُ عَلِيَّاً وَتَشْتُمُ أَخِي؟ مَا لَكَ، لَعَنَكَ اللهُ، تَشْتُمُ أَوْلاَدِي الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ؟! ثُمَّ بَصَقَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَمَلأَ وَجْهِي وَجَسَدِي. فَلَمَّا انْتَبَهْتُ مِنْ مَنَامِي وَجَدْتُ مَوْضِعَ البُصَاقِ الَّذِي أَصَابَنِي مِنْ بُصَاقِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَدْ مَسَخَ كَمَا تَرَى وَصِرْتُ آيَةً لِلسَّائِلِينَ.

ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا سُلَيْمَانُ، سَمِعْتَ مِنْ فَضَائِلِ عَلِيٍّ أَعْجَبَ مِنْ هَذَيْنِ الْحَدِيثَيْنِ؟ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ، حُبُّ عَلِيٍّ إيمَانٌ وَبُغْضُهُ نِفَاقٌ. لاَ يُحِبُّ عَلِيَّاً إلاَّ مُؤْمِنٌ، وَلاَ يُبْغِضُهُ إلاَّ كَافِرٌ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ، الأَمَانَ؟ فَقالَ: لَكَ الأَمَانُ. قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ: مَا تَقُولُ يَا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ فِي مَنْ يَقْتُلُ هَؤُلاَءِ؟ قَالَ: فِي النَّارِ، لاَ شَكَّ فِي ذَلِكَ. فَقُلْتُ: مَا تَقُولُ فِي مَنْ قَتَلَ أَوْلاَدَهُمْ وَأَوْلاَدَ أَوْلادِهِمْ؟ قَالَ: فَنَكَّسَ رَأْسَهُ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا سُلَيْمَانُ، الْمُلْكُ عَقِيمٌ، وَلَكِنْ حَدِّثْ عَنْ فَضَائِلِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا شِئْتَ.

وَرَوى صَاحِب كِتابِ نِهايَةُ الطَلَّبِ وَغَايَةُ السُّؤالِ لِلْحَنْبَلِيِّ بِإسْنَادِهِ إلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ:

At this time, Gabriel descended and conveyed a divine message to the Holy Prophet (S) and left. The Messenger of Allah said: It was Gabriel who said: Allah greets you and says: I will not keep these two alive for you. You have to ransom one for the other! Looking at the face of Ibrahim, the Holy Prophet started weeping and looking at the face of Husayn he started weeping too! He then said: The mother of Ibrahim is a slave. With Abraham’s death, no one but his mother and I will mourn but Husayn’s mother is Fatimah and his father is ‘Ali, my cousin whose flesh is my flesh and his blood is my blood. If Husayn dies, I, his mother and his father will mourn. Hence, I am prepared to ransom Ibrahim for Husayn! Addressing Gabriel, the Holy Prophet said: I have ransomed Ibrahim for Husayn! Ibn Abbas reports: Ibrahim died after three days. Since then, anytime the Holy Prophet (S) saw Husayn, he would hug and kiss him, saying: May I be ransom for you for the sake of whom I made my son Ibrahim a ransom.¹⁸

The merits of his sons are more evident than sunlight. So are the merits of his descendants, the Infallible Imams from the offspring of Imam al-Husayn, peace be upon them all.

Ibn Abbas has quoted the Holy Prophet as saying: The likeness of my Ahl al-Bayt is the likeness of Noah’s Ark. Whoever is sitting in it will be saved from drowning, and whoever refused to enter it was annihilated.¹⁹

The Holy Prophet (S) has been quoted by Abu-Dharr as saying: The likeness of my Ahl al-Bayt is the likeness of Noah’s ark. Whoever sits in it will be saved and whoever rejects it will be swallowed by flood. Whoever fights my Ahl al-Bayt at the end of the world is like one who accompanies anti-Christ and misleads people.²⁰

Ibn Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allah said to Husayn: Mahdi, may Allah expedite his reappearance, is from your sons.²¹ Ibn Abbas has reported: I heard it from the Messenger of Allah with my own ears (if I am lying, God may strike me deaf) say: I am the tree of prophethood, Fatimah is fruit-bearing, ‘Ali is the graft of the tree, Hasan and Husayn are fruits and followers of Ahl al-Bayt are leaves of this tree in paradise. There is no doubt about it.²²

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَعَلَى فَخِذِهِ الأَيْسَرِ ابْنُهُ إبْرَاهِيمُ وَعَلَى فَخِذِهِ الأَيْمَنِ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَهُوَ يقبل هَذَا تَارَةً وَذَلِكَ أُخْرَى إذْ هَبَطَ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِوَحْيٍ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ. فَلَمَّا سَرَى عَنْهُ قَالَ: أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ مِنْ رِبِّي عَزَّ وَجلَّ فَقالَ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ إنَّ اللهَ تَعالَى يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكَ السَّلامُ وَيَقُولُ لَكَ: لَسْتُ أَجْمَعُهُمَا لَكَ فَافْدِ أَحَدَهُمَا بِصَاحِبهِ. فَنَظَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَكَى وَنَظَرَ إلَى الْحُسَيْنِ وَبَكَى وَقالَ: إنَّ إبْرَاهِيمَ أُمُّهُ أَمَةٌ، مَتَى مَاتَ لَمْ يَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرِي، وَأُمُّ الْحُسَيْنِ فَاطِمَةُ وَأَبُوهُ عَلِيٌّ ابْنُ عَمِّي لَحْمِي وَدَمِي، وَمَتَى مَاتَ حَزَنَتْ عَلَيْهِ ابْنَتِي وَحَزَنَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَحَزَنْتُ. أنَا أُؤْثِرُ حُزْنِي عَلَى حُزْنِهِمَا. يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ يُقْبَضُ إبْرَاهِيمُ فَقَدْ فَدَيْتُ الْحُسَيْنَ بِهِ. قَالَ: فَقُبِضَ بَعْدَ ثَلاَثَةٍ فَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إذَا رَأَى الْحُسَيْنَ مُقْبِلاً قَبَّلَهُ وَضَمَّهُ إلَى صَدْرِهِ وَرَشَفَ ثَنايَاهُ وَقالَ: فَدَيْتُ مَنْ فَدَيْتُهُ بِابْنِي إبْرَاهِيمَ.

وَفَضَائِلُ أَوْلاَدِهِ أَظْهَرُ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ وَكَذا الأئِمَّةُ الْمَعْصُومُونَ مِنْ أَوْلاَدِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لاَ تُحْصَى َفَضَائِلُهُمْ كَثْرَةً.

رَوَى الخَوارِزْمِيُّ فِي مَنَاقِبهِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فِيكُمْ مَثَلُ سَفِينَةِ نُوحٍ؛ مَنْ رَكِبَهَا نَجَا وَمَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا هَلَكَ. وَعَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي مَثَلُ سَفِينَةِ نُوحٍ؛ مَنْ رَكِبَ فِيهَا نَجَا وَمَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا غَرِقَ، وَمَنْ قَاتَلَهُمْ فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَاتَلَ مَعَ الدَّجَّالِ.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لِلْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: الْمَهْدِيُّ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ. وَمِنْ كِتابِ الفِرْدَوْسُ: عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُولُ بِأُذُنَيَّ وَإلاَّ صُمَّتَا: أنَا شَجَرَةٌ، وَفَاطِمَةُ حِمْلُهَا، وَعَلِيٌّ لُقَاحُهَا، وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ ثِمَارُهَا، وَمُحِبُّونَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَرَقُهَا فِي الْجَنَّة حَقَّاً حَقَّاً.