(The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Abbas (ibn Hilal al-Shami) - the servant of Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), “I heard Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, ‘Whoever says the following supplication when he hears the morning or evening call to prayer and dies on that day or night has died having repented (and will enter Paradise): O my God! I ask Thee on behalf of Thy morning and Thy night, and the voice of Thy callers that You send Blessings upon Muhammad and his Household and that You forgive me as Thee are the Forgiver, the Merciful.’”
A neighbor to the Kufa Mosque Ali ibn Isa - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Isma’il ibn Ali ibn Razin - the brother of De’bel ibn Ali al-Khoza’ee quoted on the authority of Ali ibn De’bel (al-Khoza’ee), on the authority of Abul Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.), on the authority of Ali (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) said, “There are four groups on whose behalf I will intercede on the Resurrection Day: Those who honor my offspring after me; those who fulfill their needs; those who try to assist them in times they need them; and those who love them both wholeheartedly and verbally.”
Abu Talib Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja’far ibn Al-Mudhaffar al-Alawi al-Samarqandi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood quoted on the authority of his father Abil Nadhr Muhammad ibn Mas’ood al-Ayyashi, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Ahmad, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Shoja’, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Uthman, on the authority of Hameed ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Al-Hassan al-Salih, on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Gorgani, “I wrote a letter to Abil Hassan (a.s.) and asked about a man who makes love to a woman ten times - whether it be legitimate or not - on one of the days of the (Arabic) month of fasting - Ramadan. He (a.s.) replied, He has to pay ten times the expiation: an expiation for each time, and if he eats or drinks something he should also pay for the expiation of one day.”
Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim al-Jurjani the interpreter known as Abil Hassan - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Yusuf ibn Muhammad ibn Ziyad quoted on the authority of his father Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Muhammad (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Al-Ridha’ Ali ibn Musa (a.s.), on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father As-Sadiq Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.) Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (a.s.), on the authority of his father - the Ornament of the Worshippers - Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) that Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) said, “When Ja’far ibn Abi Talib returned from Ethiopia, the Prophet (S) stood up in front of him and took twelve steps forward. The Prophet (S) hugged him, kissed him on the forehead, cried and said, ‘O Ja’far! I do not know what has pleased me more? Is it your return or is it the conquering of Khaybar by God through the means of your brother (Ali bin Abi Talib).’ The Prophet cried being happy to see him.”
(The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abdullah ibn Ja’far al-Himyari quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’, on the authority of Abil Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.), on the authority of Ali (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) said, “When I was being taken to the heavens on my ascension I saw someone hanging onto the heavens and complaining to his Lord about one of his relatives. I asked him how many generations apart they were from each other. He said that they reach each other to the same grandfather in lineage forty generations back.”
Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja'far Al-Mudhaffar al-Alawi As-Samarqandi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Waleed, on the authority of Al-Abbas ibn Hilal, “I heard Abul Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, ‘Whoever fasts on one of the days in the (Arabic) month of Sha’ban for the sake of God or repents seventy times on one of the days in the (Arabic) month of Sha’ban will be resurrected by the Honorable the Exalted God along with the nation of God’s Prophet (S). He will deserve to receive an honor from God. God will forbid the Fire from touching the corpse of whoever gives some charity in the (Arabic) month of Sha’ban, even if it be as much as half of a date. God will record two consecutive months of fasting for whoever fasts for three days in the (Arabic) month of Sha’ban and continues on fasting for the (Arabic) month of Ramadhan.’”
(The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar and Ahmad ibn Idris quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Al-Husayn ibn Abdullah, on the authority of Adam ibn Abdullah al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Zakariya ibn Adam, “I heard Abil Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, ‘There are forty-thousand gates to prayer.’”
Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Bashshar - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abul Faraj al-Mudhaffar ibn Ahmad ibn Al-Hassan al-Qazvini quoted on the authority of Abul Fadhl Al-Abbas ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim ibn Hamza ibn Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Sahl al-Qumi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Hamid, on the authority of Abi Hashem al-Ja’fari, “I asked Abil Hassan (a.s.) about the reward of praying for one who is hung? The Imam (a.s.) said, Don’t you know that my grandfather (a.s.) prayed for his uncle (Zayd)? I said, I know this, but cannot clearly understand how. The Imam (a.s.) said, I will explain it to you. If the face of the hanged person is towards the Qibla, you should stand on the side of his right shoulder. If his back is towards the Qibla you should stand on the side of his left shoulder. Whichever way he is facing, you should not stand away from his shoulders. Your face should be in between the East and the West. You should neither face him, nor should you have him at your back.” Abu Hashem added, “Then Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, God willing, you understood!”
The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God have Mercy upon him - said, “This is a strange tradition which I have not found anywhere else. I have not found any other narrations of this tradition.” [1]
[1] This tradition has also been narrated in al-Kafi through a different chain of narrators.
(The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Idris quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of al-Harith ibn al-Dalhath - a servant of Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) that he had heard Abul Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, “One cannot be a true believer unless he possesses the following three traits - one from his Lord, one from his Prophet and one from his Imam. The one from his Lord is guarding secrets as the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘He (alone) knows the Unseen, nor does He make anyone acquainted with his Mysteries, except an Apostle whom He has chosen. [2] ’
However, the one from the Prophet is kind treatment with people, as the Honorable the Exalted God has ordered His Prophet (S) to treat the people with kindness and patience and said, ‘Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; but turn away from the ignorant.’ [3]
And the one from the Imams (a.s.) is patience and perseverance during times of hardship and calamities. The Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘…and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, …’ [4] “
Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his uncle Muhammad ibn Abil Qasim quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Abi Ayyoub al-Madani, on the authority of Soleiman ibn Ja’far al-Ja’fari, on the authority of Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.), on the authority of Ali (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) said, “Learn three traits from the crow: having sex in private, going out after your daily bread early in the morning and being cautious.”
Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad al-Waleed - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Hamza al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Yasir - the servant that he had heard Abul Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, “There are three days which are the most horrible for man: the day he is born, leaves his mother’s stomach and sees this world; the day that he dies and sees the Hereafter and its people; and the day he is resurrected and sees decrees which he has not seen in this world. On these three occasions, the Honorable the Exalted God sends peace on Yahya (John) and says, ‘So Peace on him the day he was born, the day that he dies, and the day that he will be raised up to life (again)!’ [5] Jesus (a.s.) - the son of (the Blessed Lady) Mary (a.s.) has also sent peace on himself on these three occasions and said, ‘So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!’” [6]
ِ(The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Idris quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Salama ibn al-Khattab, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali, on the authority of Al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Daylami - the servant of Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), “I heard Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, ‘Whoever sends three believers to the Hajj pilgrimage has indeed bought himself from God with that money. God will not ask him where he has brought the money from - whether it is legitimately earned or illegitimately earned.’” [7]
The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) said, “This means that God will not ask him about the doubtful portions of his money and will compensate for them by giving the people he probably is indebted to some other wealth.”
[7] This might be conditional upon his repenting and not knowing the original owners of that wealth.
Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, on the authority of al-Sayyari, on the authority of al-Harith ibn al-Dalhath, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abil Hassan Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God has ordered three things which are along with three other things. He has ordered us to pray and pay the alms. The prayers of whoever prays but does not pay the alms is not accepted of him. He has also ordered to thank Him and our parents. Whoever thanks God but does not thank his parents has not really thanked God. God has ordered us to fear God and to visit the relations of kin. Whoever does not visit his relatives has indeed not feared God.”
(The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Musa ibn Ja’far ibn Abi Ja’far al-Komandani quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr al-Bezanti that Abul Hassan (Imam Ridha’) (a.s.) said, “Patience, knowledge and silence are among the signs of the jurisprudent. Silence is one of the gates of wisdom. Silence attracts affection and it is a guide to any good affair.”
Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran ad-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Salih al-Razi, on the authority of Hamdan ad-Diawni that Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “The friend of any individual is his mind and his enemy is his ignorance.”
Abu Mansoor Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Khori [8] narrated that Zayd ibn Muhammad al-Baghdadi quoted on the authority of Abul Qasim Abdullah Muhammad al-Ta’ee at Basra, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), on the authority of his forefathers that a man invited Ali ibn Abi
Talib (a.s.) to his house. The Imam (a.s.) accepted upon the fulfillment of three conditions. The man said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful! What are they?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘They are that you bring nothing for me from the outside; that you do not deny me of anything that is in the house; and that you do not burden your wife on my behalf.’ The man said, ‘Fine.’ Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) accepted his invitation.
Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Wahhab narrated that Abu Nasr Mansoor ibn Abdullah ibn Ibrahim al-Isfahani quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Abdullah, on the authority of Dawood ibn Soleiman, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), on the authority of his grandfather (a.s.), on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.), on the authority of Ali (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) said, “There are four groups on whose behalf I will intercede on the Resurrection Day: those who honor the members of my Household after me; those who fulfill their needs; those who try to assist my Family in times of need; and those who love them both wholeheartedly and verbally.”
(The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of Abil Hassan (a.s.), “The moon did not shine for the Children of Israel for some time. The Honorable the Exalted God revealed the following to Moses (a.s.), ‘Take the remaining bones of Joseph (a.s.) out of Egypt.’ God promised that once the bones were taken out, the moon would shine again.’ Moses (a.s.) sought for someone who knew where they were. He was told that an old lady knew where they were. Moses (a.s.) sent for her. They brought a crippled blind old woman. Moses (a.s.) asked her, ‘Do you know where Joseph (a.s.) is buried?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ Moses (a.s.) said, ‘Then let me know where it is.’ She said, ‘I have four conditions for this. First, you must heal my legs; second you must return my youth to me; third you must return my sight; fourth you must take me to Paradise along with you.’ Moses (a.s.) thought that these conditions were too much to be asked for, but the Honorable the Exalted God revealed to him, ‘O Moses! Give her what she asks for as you are doing that on My behalf.’ Moses (a.s.) did that and the lady showed him the grave. Moses (a.s.) brought the bones out of a marble coffin from the Nile's shore. Then the moon rose. They took the bones to Syria. From then on the People of the Book take their dead ones to Syria.” [9]
[9] This is a weak tradition and seems to be made up.
Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that ِAhmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed - the servant of the Hashemites quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) about the meaning of ‘In the Name of Allah.’” Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘The meaning of saying ‘In the Name of Allah’ is that I put one of the marks of the Honorable the Exalted God that is His servitude on myself.’ Then I asked Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) what is meant by ‘the mark of’?’ Al-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘It means a sign of.’”
Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab al-Qurashi narrated that Abu Nasr Mansoor ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of al-Monthir ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Soleiman ibn Ja’far, on the authority of Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father (a.s.), on the authority of his grandfather (a.s.), on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.) that Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) said, “It is written in Assyrian on the wings of all hoopoes [10] that are created, ‘The Household of Muhammad are the best of the people.’”
[10] Any of several Old World non-passerine birds having a slender decurved bill
Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab narrated that Abu Nasr Mansoor ibn Abdullah ibn Ibrahim al-Isfahani quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Abdullah al-Iskandarani, on the authority of Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Mehdi al-Raqi, 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 (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.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) said, “O Ali! Blessed be [11] whoever loves you and acknowledges you. Woe be to whoever hates you and denies you. Your lovers are known in the seventh heaven and the lower seventh earth and in between. They are religious, pious, good- mannered and humble to the Honorable the Exalted God. Their gazes are humble and their hearts are wary of remembering the Honorable the Exalted God. They have recognized the worth of your Mastery. Their tongues are busy mentioning your nobilities. Their eyes are full of tears out of their love for you and the Divine Leaders from your progeny. They adhere to what God has ordained in His Book and what His Prophet (S) has brought in his traditions and is supported by reasons. They follow what the one in charge of the affairs amongst them orders. They are united and are not separate from each other. They love each other and have no despise for one another. The angels will send blessings upon them, say Amen when they pray, implore forgiveness for those of them who repent, are present when they die, and feel lonely when they perish up until the Resurrection Day.”
[11] In the Arabic text of this verse, the word ‘Tooba is used which is translated to mean ‘blessedness’ here. ‘Tooba is the name of a Heavenly tree which is rooted in the Prophet's (a.s.) house according to some traditions and is rooted in the house of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) according to some other traditions. There are branches of this tree in the homes of the believers. These branches will yield whatever you desire. The branches are so extensive that if someone races under them with a fast horse for even one hundred years, he will not leave the shade of this branch. If a crow starts from the trunk of the tree and tries to fly towards the top, it can never reach the top until it gets old.
In Kufa in the year 354 A.H. (964 A.D.) Al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Hashemi al-Kufi narrated that Forat ibn Ibrahim ibn Forat al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ali al-Hamdani, on the authority of Abul Fadhl Al-Abbas ibn Abdullah al-Bukhari, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, on the authority of Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father Al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), “God’s Prophet (S) said, ‘God has not created any creature nobler than me and more honored near Himself than me.’ Ali (a.s.) said, ‘O Prophet of God! Are you nobler or is Gabriel nobler?’ The Prophet (S) said, ‘O Ali! The Blessed the Sublime God has made the Messengers nobler than the nearby-stationed angels. He has also made me nobler than all the Prophets and Messengers. O Ali! He has made you and the Divine Leaders after you the noblest after me. O Ali! The angels are at our service and at the service of those who love us. O Ali! They are the same angels ‘... who sustain the Throne (of God) and those around it, and sing Glory and Praise to their Lord; believe in Him; and implore forgiveness for those who believe’ [12] in our Mastery. Were it not for us, God would not have created Adam (a.s.), Eve, Paradise, Hell, the heavens and the Earth. Then how could we not be nobler than the angels? We recognized our Lord earlier than they did, we sang Glory and Praise be to Him and Sanctified Him before them. The first things that the Honorable the Exalted God created were our spirits which He made declare His Unity and Exalt Him. Then He created the angels. Once the angels saw our spirits as a single light, they found it to be majestic. We sang Glory be to God the Sublime, so that they realize that we are creatures and that God is Exalted High above our traits. Then the angels sang Glory be to God the Sublime and declared Him Exalted High above our traits. When the angels saw the majesty of our rank we testified to the Unity of God, so that the angels would know that there is no god but God, that we are only servants, that we are not gods and should not be worshipped along with Him or besides Him. Then the angels declared that there is no god but God. When they saw the greatness of our position we declared God is the Greatest, so that the angels would know that God is Great and no one can attain a high position unless God grants him that position. When they saw the honor and strength that God has granted us, we declared that there is no power nor any strength save in God, so that they would know that whatever power or strength we have is from God. When they saw the blessings granted to us by God - that is our being obliged to obey Him - we declared praise be to God, so that the angels would know that praising God for His Blessings is the right of God - High is His Remembrance - incumbent upon us. Then the angels declared Praise be to God.
Thus it was by us that the angels were led to the recognition of the Unity of the Honorable the Exalted God, His Glory, Majesty, Praise, and Exaltation. Then the Blessed the Sublime God created Adam, placed us in his loin and ordered the angels to fall in prostration in order to exult and honor us. Their prostration was indeed equal to their worship of the Honorable the Exalted God and a form of honoring and obedience for Adam due to our being in his loin. How could we then not be nobler than the angels while all the angels have fallen in prostration for Adam?
When I (Muhammad (a.s.)) was taken up to the heavens for the Ascension, Gabriel recited the ‘Azan [13] and the ‘Iqamah [14] saying each part twice. Then Gabriel told me, ‘O Muhammad! Stand up in the front.’ Then I said, ’O Gabriel! Should I stand in front of you?’ Gabriel said, ‘Yes because the Blessed the Sublime God has honored His Prophets over all of His angels and He has especially honored you.’ Then I stood in the front and they followed me, but I am not haughty about this. Then we reached a screen of Light. Gabriel told me, ’You go ahead.’ Gabriel himself stood back. I told him, ‘O Gabriel! Will you abandon me here in this position?’ Gabriel said, ‘O Muhammad! This place is the end of the limits which the Honorable the Exalted God has established for me. If I go beyond this point, my wings will burn due to transgressing beyond the limits set by my Lord - the Exalted the Magnificent.’ At this time the Light pushed me forward until I reached to as close a High Position that the Honorable the Exalted God had willed. Then I was called. I said, ‘Yes, my Lord! You are Blessed and High!’ Then I was called again, ‘O Muhammad! You are My servant and I am your Lord! Then worship Me and rely on Me. You are My Light amongst My creatures, and My Proof amongst the people. I have created Paradise for you and your followers, and created Hell for those who oppose you. I have made it incumbent to honor your Trustees, and have assured reward for their followers.’
Then I asked, “O Lord! Who are my Trustees?” Then I was called, “O Muhammad! The names of your Trustees are recorded on the base of My Throne.” When I was in front of my Lord - the Exalted the Magnificent - I looked at the base of the Throne and saw twelve Lights. Over each Light there was a green line on which the name of one of my Trustees was written. The first of them was Ali ibn Abi Talib. The last one was the Al-Mahdi (Divinely Guided One) of my nation. Then I said, “O Lord! Are these the Trustees after me?” Then I was called, “O Muhammad! They are My Trustees, Loved Ones, Chosen Ones and Proofs for my creatures after you. They are your Trustees and successors and are the best of the people after you. I swear by My Honor and Majesty that I will make my Religion victorious by means of them. I will announce My Word by them. I will cleanse the Earth from My enemies by the last one of them (Imam al-Mahdi). I will Rule the East and the West of the Earth by him. I will make the winds subdued to him. I will debase tough clouds for him. I will raise him up to the heavens and assist him with My Troops. I will assist him with the angels so that he propagates My invitation and unites the people concerning My Unity. Then I will extend his rule and continue the times under the control of my Masters up until the Resurrection Day.”
Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad, on the authority of Al-Husayn ibn Khalid, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.), One day Solomon - the son of David (a.s.) - told his companions, “In fact, the Blessed the Sublime God has granted me such a rule that no one deserve to have after me. He has empowered me with the power to harness the winds, power over the people, the genies, the birds and the beasts. He has taught me the speech of birds. God has given me some of everything. However, I am not able to be happy one full day from the morning to the night in spite of all this rule. I would like to go to my palace tomorrow, climb to the uppermost level and look at all the countryside around under my rule. Do not let anyone come in lest he might ruin my day.” They said, “Yes.”
The following morning he took his cane and climbed up to the uppermost level of his palace. He leaned on his cane and was looking at the country over which he ruled happily. Then he saw a young handsome and well-dressed man who was approaching him from one of the corners of the palace. When Solomon (a.s.) saw him, he said, “Who has allowed you to enter this palace? I had decided to be alone here today. Who let you in?” The young fellow said, “The owner of this palace has brought me in here and I have come in with His permission.” Solomon (a.s.) said, “The owner has more rights over it than I do. Who are you?” The young fellow said, “I am the angel of death.” Solomon said, “What have you come here for?” He said, “To take away your spirit.” Solomon (a.s.) said, “Then do whatever you are ordered to do with me. Today is my happy day. My Lord the Honorable the Exalted God wanted me to have no pleasure other than meeting Him.” Then the angel of death took away his spirit when he was leaning on his cane. He died as God willed. The people kept looking at him thinking that he was alive. Then a dispute arose amongst them. Some of them said, “Solomon (a.s.) has remained leaning on his cane for several consecutive days while standing. He has neither eaten nor drank anything. He has neither become tired nor has he fallen asleep. Just he is our lord. It is incumbent upon us to worship him.” Others said, “Solomon (a.s.) is a magician. He has placed a talisman on our eyes and makes us imagine that he is standing and leaning on his cane, while it is not so.” The believers said, “Solomon (a.s.) is God’s servant. God will do whatever He wills with him.” When the arguments reached a climax, the Honorable the Exalted God appointed a little warm of the earth to go into the cane and eat it up from within. Then the cane broke, Solomon fell out of the palace and landed on his face. The genies thanked the little worm for that. That is why where there is any life there is also some water and mud as we read in the following by the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘Then, when We decreed (a.s.olomon's) death, nothing showed them his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept (a.s.lowly) gnawing away at his staff…’ [15] that is his cane. And ‘…so when he fell down, the Jinn saw plainly that if they had known the unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating Penalty (of their Task)…’” [16] As-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “This verse was not revealed this way. It was revealed as follows, ‘…so when he fell down, the people realized that if the Jinn had known the unseen, they would not have tarried in the humiliating Penalty (of their Task).’” [17]
[15] Qur’an, 34:14
[16] Ibid.
[17] We should not think that this means that the verse was changed when recorded. What the author means here is that this is what is implied by the verse.
