About the Words of Allah, the Most High, ’In It There Are Clear Signs’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘The first ever house built for people is that which is in Bakkah, the blessed and a guide for the worlds. In it there are signs which are very clear.’ (3:96-97) I asked, ‘What are these signs which are very clear?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One of them is the site where Ibrahim stood on the rock. His foot left a clear mark of it. Another sign is the Black Stone, and yet one more sign is the house of Isma‘il.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Did you meet al-Husayn (a.s.) ?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Yes, I remember when I was with him in the Sacred Masjid while the flood had entered it. People stood on the station of Ibrahim and those coming out said, “The flood has moved the station away,” and others when coming out said, “The station is in place.’” He (the Imam) said that he (al-Husayn) asked me, “O so and so, what do they say?” I replied, “I pray to Allah to keep you well. They are afraid and say, ‘The flood may have taken away the ‘station’” He (Imam al-Husayn) said, “Announce this, ‘Whatever Allah, most High, has made a banner (a light house), He does not take it away. So you must calm down.’” The place of the station as Ibrahim had designated was near the wall of the House, and it remained there until people of the time of ignorance moved it to the place where it is today. When the Holy Prophet liberated Makkah, he returned it to its original place where Ibrahim had placed it. It remained there until ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab took charge. He asked people, “Who among you knows the place of the station where it was before?” A man said, “I know it. I had taken its measurement on a belt and I have kept it with me.” He (‘Umar) said, “Bring it for me.” He brought it to him and he measured it, and then returned it to that place.’”