حارث بن المغيرة النصري

I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “We have tradition saying that the imam will be missed in some period of time. What will we do then?” He said: “Keep to the previous one that you have kept to until the matter becomes clear.”

When the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB) buried Fatimah (MGB), Abu Bakr and Umar went to see him. During a long speech he (MGB) told them, “Considering your complaint concerning why I did not call you in for the task of the ritual ablutions of the dead (ghusl) for the Prophet (MGB), I should tell you that the Prophet (MGB) had told me that except for me whoever sees the Prophets (MGB) private parts would become blind. That is why I did not inform you. However, the reason I put my head near his ear was because the Prophet (MGB) taught me one-thousand letters each of which would explain one-thousand other letters. Since this was a Prophetic secret, I did not want you to become informed about it.”

He means by the scholars the one whose deeds conform with his words, as for the one whose deeds are contrary to his words then he is not a scholar.

“The Knowledge that came with Adam was not taken away. No man of knowledge has ever died without his knowledge being inherited. The earth does not remain without a man of knowledge.”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who while in the state of Ihram eats the egg of pigeons of al-Haram (the sacred area). He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one animal offering for each egg as well as the cost of each egg which is about one-sixth or one-fourth of one dirham in a settlement.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘The animal offering is obligatory because of his eating them in the state of Ihram and the penalty of payment of the cost of eggs is because of his taking them in al- Haram (the sacred area).”’

"The meaning of the knowledgable ones (al-'Ulama) are those whose actions testify to the truthfulness of their words and whosever actions are not truthful to their words, then he is not a knowledgable one."

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Say Qunut (supplication after recitation in second Rak‘at) before Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) in every two Rak‘at in obligatory Salah (prayer) or optional ones’”

I came to Amirul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s) and found him thoughtful. He was drawing lines on the ground. I said: “O Chief of believers, why do I see you thoughtful and you are making lines on the earth? Is it out of desire for the earth?” He said: “No, by Allah, I have never desired it, nor for what is in the world even for one day. I was thinking about the son, who will be born from my seed – the eleventh from my sons. He is the Mahdi and he would fill up the earth with equity as it will be fraught with oppression and injustice. There will be a perplexity and occultation related to him, in which communities will go astray and communities will be guided.” I asked: “O Chief of believers, how long would this perplexity and occultation last?” He said: Six days, six months or six years. I asked: “Would this really come to pass?” He replied: Yes, he has been created. How would you know this, Asbagh! They are the best of this Ummah and companions of the righteous of this Household. I asked: “What will happen after that?” He said: “Allah will do what He desires, for He has wills, purposes and outcomes.”

I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “With what will the imam (al-Mahdi) be recognized?” He said: “With calmness and gravity.” I said: “What else?” He said: “You will know him by (executing) halal and haram (permissibility and impermissibility), by the need of people to him whereas he will never need any one and that the weapon of the Prophet (S) will be with him.” I said: “Is he a guardian and a son of a guardian?” He said: “He is not but a guardian and a son of a guardian.”

“Once I went to see Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and found him thinking and he drawing lines on the ground. I then said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) I can see you thinking and drawing lines on the ground. Have you become interested in it (worldly things) ?” He said, no, by Allah, I have not become interested in it and the whole world not even for a day but I thought about a baby from my descendants, the eleventh generation. He will be al-Mahdi who will fill the earth with justice and fairness after its being filled with suffering and injustice. He will disappear from the public sight and in confusing conditions. Certain people will deviate and others find the path of guidance.” I then asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), how long will be the duration of confusion and the disappearance?” He said, “Six days or six months or six years.” I then said, “Will this really come to pass?” He said, “Yes, just his creation will be necessary (so also will be his disappearance). However, O Asbagh, this is not your concern. Those people will of the best in this nation with the best virtuous ones of this family (Ahl al-Bayt).” I then said, “What then will happen afterwards?” He said, “Allah will do whatever He will so decide. He possesses, Bada’s, (seemingly change of plan) wills, goals and ends.”

“One day I came to Imam Ali (as) and I found him pondering and scratching up the ground. I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, you are scratching up the ground. Do you like it (the ground)?” He said: “No, by Allah. I have not liked it nor have I liked this worldly life a moment. But I am pondering on someone that will be born from my progeny. He will be the eleventh son of mine (descendant-eleventh successor in the imamate). He will be al-Mahdi, who will spread justice and equity allover the world after it has been filled with injustice and oppression. There will be confusion and disappearance for him. Some people will go astray and others will be guided.” I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, how long will that confusion and that disappearance last?” He said: “A period of time.” I said: “Will that really occur?” He said: “Yes, it will. It has already been determined.” I said: “Shall I be alive until that time? He said: “How far it is to you, O Asbugh! Those (the companions of al-Mahdi) are the best of this umma with the pure ones of the Prophet’s progeny.” I said: “Then what will happen after that?” He said: “Then Allah will do what He wills. He has wills, wishes and ends.”