On Al-Ridha’’s Words about the Man from Syria and His Questions from the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) in the Kufa Mosque

Abul Hassan Muhammad ibn Amr ibn Ali ibn Abdullah al-Basri in Ilaq narrated that the preacher Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Jabala quoted on the authority of Abul Qasim Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Amer Al-Ta’ee, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (al-Kazim) (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (as-Sadiq) (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.), “Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) was in the Jami’a Mosque of Kufa. A man from Syria stood up and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! I have several questions.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask in order to understand. Do not ask in order to bother us.” All the people were staring at them. The man asked, “Let me know what was that which the Sublime God created first.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was light.” The man asked, “What are the heavens made of? “ The Imam (a.s.) said, “From water vapour.” The man asked, “What is the Earth made of? “ The Imam said, “From the foam on top of the water.” The man asked, “What are the mountains made of?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “From the waves.” The man asked, “Why have they called Mecca the mother of the towns?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Because the Earth has expanded out from beneath it.” The man asked, “What is the sky of this world made of?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is made of a restricted wave.” The man asked, “What is the width and length of the sun and the moon?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is nine-hundred Farsakhs square.” [1] The man asked, “What is the width and length of the stars?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Twelve Farsakhs times the same amount.” The man asked, “What are the colors of the seven heavens and what are their names?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The lowest heaven is called ‘Rafi’a’ made of smoke and water. The second heaven is called ‘Faydoom’ and it is the same color as copper. The third heaven is called ‘Maroom’ and it is the same color as brass. The fourth heaven is called ‘Arfoloon’ and it is the same color as silver. The fifth heaven is called ‘Hayoon’ and it is the same color as gold. The sixth heaven is called ‘Aroos’ and it is the same color as chrysolite [2] green. The seventh heaven is called ‘Ajma’ and it is the same color as a while pearl.” And the man asked why cows stare at the ground and never raise their head up towards the sky. The Imam (a.s.) said, “They are ashamed of the Honorable the Exalted God. The cows keep their heads down from the time when the people of Moses (a.s.) worshipped the calf.” And the man asked about marrying two sisters at once. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yaqoob ibn Ishaq married Hibar and Rahil. However, this was forbidden from then on and the following verse was revealed, ‘…and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time…’ [3] And the man asked about what the high and the low tides are. The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is one of the angels of God who is appointed to be at the sea. Whenever it steps into the water, they rise and whenever it leaves the water it lowers.” The man asked about the name of the father of the genies. The Imam (a.s.) said, “His name was Shooman. He is the one created from flames of the fire.” And the man asked if the Honorable the Exalted God has appointed any Prophets for the genies. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes. God had appointed a Prophet named Joseph for them, but they killed him.” The man asked, “What was the name of Satan while he was in the heavens?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “His name was al-Harith.” The man asked, “Why was Adam named Adam?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Since he was created from the Earth’s expanse that is called “Adeem” in Arabic.” [4] The man asked, “Why does a man inherit twice that of a woman?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is because of the wheat branch which had three seeds. Eve ate one and gave two to Adam. That is why men inherit double the amount that women do.” The man asked, “Which of the Prophets (a.s.) did the Honorable the Exalted God create circumcised at birth?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “The Honorable the Exalted God create Adam, Seth, Idris, Noah, Shem the son of Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Lot, Ishmael, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (a.s.) circumcised” [5] The man asked about the age of Adam (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He lived for 930 years.” The man asked, “Who was the first poet? The Imam (a.s.) answered, “It was Adam.” The man asked, “What was the poem about?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When Adam was cast down to the earth he saw the extent of the earth and its air. When Abel killed Cane, then Adam said, Then Satan - may God damn it - replied, The man asked about Adam crying in Paradise and how much he (a.s.) cried. The Imam (a.s.) said, “He cried one hundred years and tears flowed down his right eye like the Tigris River and from his right eye like the Euphrates River.” The man asked, “How many times did Adam (a.s.) perform the Hajj pilgrimage?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He performed it seventy times on foot. On the first visit the Shrike [8] accompanied him and showed him where there was water. It had come out of Paradise along with him. Adam (a.s.) was admonished against eating shrikes and swallows.” The man asked, “Why does a swallow not walk on the Earth?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Because it lamented over the Bayt al-Maqdis [9] and cried over it for forty years. It always cried along with Adam (a.s.) and stayed with him in several homes. It carried along nine of the verses of the Honorable the Exalted God’s Book which Adam (a.s.) had recited in Paradise, still has them and will have them forever. The verses were the first three verses from the beginning of Al-Kahf, three verses from Bani Israel - that are verses [The Holy Quran: Bani Israel 17:45-47] , and three of the verses of Ya Sin starting with ‘And We have put a bar in front of them and a bar behind them, and further, We have covered them up; so that they cannot see.’” [10] The man asked about the first atheist and the initiator of atheism. The Imam (a.s.) answered, “It was the damned Satan.” The man asked about Noah’s name. The Imam (a.s.) said, “His name was As-Sakan. He was called ‘Noah’ because he lamented for his people for 950 years.” [11] The man asked about the width and length of Noah’s Ark. The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was eight-hundred arm-lengths in length and five hundred arm-lengths in width and eighty arm-lengths in height.” Then the man sat down. Another man stood up and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Let me know about the name of the first tree planted on the Earth.” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was called ‘Al-Osaje. The cane of Moses (a.s.) was also made of the same tree.” The man asked about the first plant that grew on the Earth?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was pumpkin that is a gourd.” The man asked, “Who was the first of the people of the heavens and the Earth who performed the Hajj pilgrimage?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was Gabriel.” The man asked about the first part of the Earth that was leveled during the flood?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was the location of the Kaaba that was fresh chrysolite green in color.” The man asked about the noblest valley on the Earth. The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is a valley called “Sarandib” where Adam descended to from Paradise.” The man asked about the worst valley on the Earth. The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is a valley in Yemen called “Barahut” and it is one of the valleys of Hell.” The man asked about the prison which carried its own prisoner. The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was the fish which carried Yunus ibn Matta (Jonah) with it.” The man asked about the six creatures which were not born from the womb. The Imam (a.s.) answered, “Adam, Eve, the sheep of Abraham, the cane of Moses, the she-camel of Salih, and the bat which Jesus (a.s.) - the son of (the Blessed Lady) Mary (a.s.) - made and it flew with the permission of the Honorable the Exalted God.” ِAnd the man asked about the accused thing which is neither human nor of the genies. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is the wolf which Joseph’s brothers accused.” The man asked about the thing to whom God had revealed something but is neither human nor of the genies. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is the bee to which God had revealed something.” The man asked about the purest spot on the Earth on which one cannot pray. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is the roof of the Kaaba.” [12] The man asked, “What part of the Earth felt the sunshine for a portion of one day but will never again feel it?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is that part of the sea which God split apart for Moses (a.s.) and the sun shined at its depth. Then the water covered it again and the sunshine will never reach there again.” The man asked about the thing which drank while it was alive and ate while it was dead. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was the cane of Moses (a.s.).” The man asked about the one who advised but it was neither human nor of the genies. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was an ant.” [13] The man asked about the first one to prescribe circumcision. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was Abraham (a.s.).” The man asked about the first female to be circumcised. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was Hagar - the mother of Ishmael whom Sarah circumcised to have honored her oath.” The man asked about the first woman to have dragged her skirt on the ground. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was Hagar who was running away from Sarah.” The man asked about the first man to have dragged his garment on the ground. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was Qarun.” [14] The man asked about the first one to wear sandals. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was Abraham (a.s.).” The man asked about the one with the noblest lineage. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It was God’s friend Joseph - the son of Jacob Israel ul-lah ibn Ishaq Thabihullah ibn Abraham (a.s.) - God’s close friend.” The man asked about the six Prophets who had two names. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “They are Yusha’ ibn Noon [15] , also called Thul Kifl; Jacob also called Israel; Khazr also called Heliqa; Yunus also called Thul Noon; Jesus also called the Messiah; and Muhammad (a.s.) also called Ahmad.” The man asked about the thing which breezes but has no flesh and blood. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is the morning.” [16] The man asked about the five Prophets who spoke Arabic. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “They are Hud, Sho’aib, Salih, Ishmael and Muhammad.” Then the man sat down. Another man stood up and tried to make trouble with his questions. He said, “O Commander of the Faithful! Let me know who flees from whom in the following verse from the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘That Day shall a man flee from his own brother, And from his mother and his father, And from his wife and his children. Each one of them, that Day, will have enough concern (of his own) to make him indifferent to the others.’ [17] The Imam (a.s.) said, “Cane flees from Abel. The one who flees from his mother is Moses (a.s.). The one who flees from his father - that is the one who raised him not his real father - is Abraham (a.s.). The one who flees from his wife is Lot (a.s.). The one who flees from his son is Noah (a.s.) fleeing from his son Kan’an.” The man asked, “Who was the first one to undergo a sudden death?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was David (a.s.) who died on the pulpit on a Wednesday.” The man asked, “What are the four things that never get satiated with another four things?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The Earth never gets satiated with rain. The female never gets satiated with the male. The eyes never get satiated with looking and the scientist never gets satiated with knowledge.” The man asked, “Who was the first man to coin Dinar and Dirham?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was Nimrood, the son of Kan’an after Noah (a.s.).” The man asked, “Who was the first one to do the acts of the people of Lot (homosexuality)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was Satan who offered himself.” The man asked about the meaning of the sound of the dove called ‘Ra’ebia?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is cursing those who are people of musical instruments, singing maidens, clarinets and lutes.” The man asked about the nickname of Al-Boraq. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Its nickname is Aba Hilal.” The man asked, “Why was the king of Tobba called Tobba?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He was a young writer who used to write for the king before himself. He used to start writing by writing, “In the Name of God who created the wind and the cry.” The king asked him to start by writing, “In the name of the king of lightning.” But he refused to do so and said, “I will only start writing in the Name of my Worshipped One. Then I will consider your needs.” Then the Honorable the Exalted God thanked him for that and granted him the kingdom of that king and the people obeyed him. That is why he was called “Tobba.” The man asked, “Why is a goat’s tail upwards and his private parts can be seen?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When Noah (a.s.) wanted to have it get on the Ark, it disobeyed Noah (a.s.). Therefore, Noah (a.s.) used force to push it into the Ark and its tail broke. The private parts of sheep are covered since it got on the Ark by itself. Then Noah (a.s.) caressed it and the private parts got covered with fat.” The man asked him about the language of the people in Paradise. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “The people in Paradise speak in Arabic.” He asked him about the language of the people in the Fire. The Imam replied, “They speak in Magi.” [18] The man asked him about the various ways to sleep. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) said, “There are four ways to sleep. The Prophets (a.s.) sleep on their back. Their eyes do not go to sleep and await revelations from their Lord - the Honorable the Exalted. The believers sleep on their right side and face the Qibla. [19] The Kings and their children sleep on their left side so that they can enjoy what they eat. Satan, his followers, mad and ill persons sleep on their stomach.” Then the man sat down. Another man stood up and said, “O Commander of the Faithful! What is your opinion about Wednesdays having bad omen?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is the last Wednesday of the month on which the moon is wane. It was on that day that Abel killed his brother Cane. Abraham was thrown into the fire on Wednesday. He was put in a catapult on Wednesday. God drowned Pharaoh on Wednesday. The Honorable the Exalted God destroyed the people of Lot. God sent the ‘furious wind’ [20] to the people of ‘Ad on Wednesday. The ‘(garden) became, by the morning, like a dark and desolate spot, (whose fruit had been gathered)’ [21] on Wednesday. The Honorable the Exalted God had the bug overcome Nimrood on Wednesday. Pharaoh wanted to kill Moses on Wednesday. The roof fell down upon one of the pagan tribes in the past. Pharaoh issued the order to kill baby boys on Wednesday. The Bait ul-Moqaddas was ruined on Wednesday. The mosque of Solomon, the son of David, in Astakhar was burnt on Wednesday. John, the son of Zacharias, was killed on Wednesday. The punishment started to overtake the people of Pharaoh on Wednesday. Jacob (a.s.) lost his family, wealth and children on Wednesday. Joseph was taken to prison on Wednesday. God said ‘..., that We destroyed them and their people, all (of them)’ [22] on Wednesday. The heavenly cry overtook them on Wednesday. The people of Thamud slaughtered the she-camel on Wednesday. Stones fell down like rain on the people of Lot on Wednesday. The Prophet’s (a.s.) head and tooth broke on Wednesday. The Amaliqa [23] took the Ark of Covenant from the Children of Israel on Wednesday.” The man asked the Imam (a.s.) about the days of the week and what can be done on them. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) said, “Saturdays are for deceit and trickery. Sundays are for planting and building. Mondays are for war and bloodshed. Tuesdays are for traveling and making requests. Wednesdays are for pessimism and bad omen. Thursdays are for visiting the chiefs and Fridays are for proposing to and getting married.” [24]

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