جعفر بن أحمد بن يوسف

I heard al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad (as) saying: “Surely, our narrations are difficult and distressing. None can handle them except an angel brought near, a commissioned prophet, a believer whose heart has been tested by Allah for faith, or a fortified city.” `Amr said: So I said to Shu`ayb: “O Abu’l Hasan! What is the fortified city?” He said: I said: I asked al-Sadiq (as) about it, and he said to me: “The well-constituted heart.”

Indeed our sayings are hard to understand. Only the following four can understand them: either a nearby-stationed angel; a dispatched Prophet; a servant of God whose faith has been tested or a strong town.” Shoayb al-Had’dad asked, “What do you mean by a strong town?” The Imam (MGB) replied, “I mean a heart with a firm belief.”

I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: Indeed, our narration is difficult and complicated; it is not endured except by an Angel who is brought near (to Allah), or a Prophet that is sent (with a Divine Message), or a believer whom Allah has tested his heart with faith or a fortified city. Amru said: Then I said to Shu’aib: O Abu’l-Hasan, and what thing is a fortified city? He said: Then he said: I asked Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, about it, and so he said to me: A united heart.

It was said to the Messenger of Allah (sw): Sa`d b. Mu`adh has died. So, the Messenger of Allah (sw) stood, and his companions stood with him. While he was standing at the door, he commanded that Sa`d was to be washed. When he was embalmed, shrouded, and carried on his coffin, the Messenger of Allah (sw) followed him without sandals and without a cloak. He would take to the right of the coffin once and to the left of the coffin once until he ended up at the grave. So, the Messenger of Allah (sw) entered the grave and settled it, saying: Give me stones, and give me fresh soil to fill in the gaps.
When he finished preparing his grave, the Messenger of Allah (sw) said: Surely, I know that he will be afflicted, and that affliction will reach him, but Allah loves a servant that does an act that He proscribed. When he evened the dust on him, the mother of Sa`d said: O Sa`d! Congratulations to you on Paradise. So, the Messenger of Allah (sw) said: O mother of Sa`d! Stop, and do not make assumptions for your Lord, for Sa`d has been afflicted with constriction [in his grave]. He said: So, the Messenger of Allah (sw) returned, and the people returned. So, they said to him: O Messenger of Allah! We have seen you do for Sa`d that which we have not seen you do for anyone else. You followed his funeral without sandals and without a cloak. So, he (sw) said: The angels were without their cloaks and without their sandals, so I did the same. They said: You took to the right of the coffin once and to the left of the coffin once. He said: My hand was in the hand of Gabriel (as), and I went where he took me. They said: You commanded that he be washed, and you offered his funeral prayer, and placed him in his grave, then you said: “Sa`d has been afflicted with constriction.” So, he (sw) said: Yes. He had poor character when dealing with his family.