A`sim b. Umar al-Bajali and Ka`b al-Ahbar

I was seated at the side of Abi Ja`far عليه السلام who was seated with his legs drawn up to the belly [enfolding them with his hands] while facing the Ka`ba when he [the Imam] said: looking at it [the Ka`ba] is a form of worship. Then a man from Bajila called A`sim b. Umar came to him and said: Ka`b al-Ahbar used to say: the Ka`ba prostrates to Bayt al-Maqdis every morning, Abu Ja`far عليه السلام said: what is your opinion about what Ka`b said? He [A`sim] said: he spoke the truth – it is as Ka`b said, so Abu Ja`far عليه السلام said: you have lied and Ka`b al-Ahbar has lied with you, and he became angry, Zurara said: I had never seen him saying to someone ‘you have lied’ to his face other than to him [i.e. A`sim] …