معلى بن محمد

When Abraha ibn al-Sabbah, the king of Abyssinia, advanced towards Makkah to demolish the House (of Allah, i.e. Ka’bah), the Abyssinias hastened to raid it and they captured the grazing camels of Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim. Then Abdul Muttalib came to the King, seeking permission to see him, and he was granted. The king was sitting under a silken cupola on his throne. He greeted him, and Abraha returned the greeting, staring at his face. He was impressed by his (Abdul Muttalib’s) grace, handsomeness and appearance. The king said: "Did your ancestors have the same light as this which I see in you and the same comeliness?" He said: "Yes, O king, all my ancestors had this light, comeliness and radiance." So Abraha said to him: "You have indeed superceded the kings in your glory and nobility! And you deserve to be the chief of your people." Then he made him sit with him on his throne, and he sent for the groom, who looked after his huge elephant. The elephant was white and huge, having two tusks studded with pearls and gems, and the king prided over other kings because of it. He said: "Bring the elephant." The groom came with the elephant, flourished with beautiful adornments. When it came to face to face with Abdul Muttalib, it bowed before him, and it had never bowed before the king. And then Allah made it utter in Arabic, so it greeted Abdul Muttaliibn When the king saw this, he was disturbed and considered it a magic. So he said: "Take back the elephant to its place." Then he turned to Abdul Muttalib and asked: "What have you come for? For I know of your generosity and your magnanimity, and I have observed your dignified appearance and comeliness which prepares me to fulfil your need. So ask of me whatever you wish." He thought Abdul Muttalib would ask him to return from Makkah. But Abdul Muttalib said: "Your people have captured my grazing camels and taken them away. So order them to return them to me." He said: The king was furious at this and said: "You have fallen in my estimate. You come to me to ask for your camels, while I am here to destroy your glory and the glory of your people, and to demolish your distinction, which distinguishes you from every other people, and that is the House which people of all lands come for pilgrimage. You did not ask me about it and your are calling for your camels?" Abdul Muttalib said: "I am not the Lord of the House, which you intend to wreck. I am the master of my camels which have been taken away by your people! I have come to ask for that which I own, and as for the House, it has a Lord Who is All-Powerful and mightier than all His creatures, and has more authority over it than others." The king said: "Return his camels, and attack the House, breaking it stone by stone." Then Abdul Muttalib took his camels and preceded to Makkah. The king followed him with his huge elephant and the army to demolish the House. When they pushed the elephant to enter the sanctuary (of Kabah) it stopped, and when they left him, it hurriedly drew back. So Abdul Muttalib told his servants: "Bring me my son." They came with al-Abbas. He said: "I did not mean him. Bring me my son." They came with Abu Talib. He said: "I did not mean him, call my son for me." So they came with Abdullah, the father of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny. When he arrived, he (i.e. Abdul Muttalib) said: "O my son, go and climb the mountain of Abu Qubais, and cast your glance towards the sea, and see what is coming from there and inform me." He said: Abdullah climbed Abu Qubais. After a short while, he saw flights of birds coming, like a storm and darkness of the night, and descended on Abu Qubais. Then they proceeded towards the House, and circled around it seven times. Then they came to al-Safa and al-Marwah, and went to and fro seven times. Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, returned to his father and gave him the news. He said: "O my son, go and see what has become of those people, and then inform me." So he went, and saw them directed towards the army of Abyssinia. He informed Abdul Muttalib about it. Then Abdul Muttalib, may Allah bless him with mercy, proceeded exclaiming: "O people of Makkah! Go towards the army and pick up your share of the spoils." He said: They came upon the army who had become like whittled wood. And every bird had three pebbles in its beak and hands, killing every one of the army with every single pebble. As they came to see all of them, the birds had gone. And nothing like it had ever been seen before or after. When all had perished, Abdul Muttalib came to the House, and clinging to its curtains said: "O One who held back the elephant from al-Mughammas (i.e. a place on the road of al-Taif where Abraha’s guide lived), You indeed held it back, as if it were topsy-turvy. In a strait in which men lose their breath." Then he went away, commenting on the runaway Quraish, and their anxiety over the invading Abyssinians: "The Quraishites flew when they saw the army, and I remained alone, finding no one for comfort, and I never heard even a whisper from them except from my honoured and distinguished brother (who was) made a chief and a leader among his people."

I heard Abal Ḥasan the First (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) say: Those who go to the Ziyārah of Ḥusain (a.s.) knowing his rights will be forgiven for all of their past and future sins.

I heard Abal Ḥasan the First (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) say: Those who go to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) knowing his rights will be forgiven for all of their past and future sins.

Those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) on the Day of ‘Āshūrā are like those who were ensanguined with their blood in front of him.

Generosity is a tree rooted in Paradise with its branches extended out all over this world. Whoever grabs onto one of its branches will go to Paradise.’”

I asked Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS): “What is the proof of Allah over the servants?” He (AS) answered, “They should only say what they know, and refrain from saying what they know not.”

The sins that change graces are transgression. The sins that cause regret are murder. The sins that cause wraths to descend is oppression. The sins that violate protections, which are the veils, is the drinking of wine. The ones that restrain sustenance is fornication. The ones that cause termination to haste is disconnecting from relatives. The ones that repel (the answering of) prayer and darken the atmosphere is disobedience to parents.

I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) the following. “I asked him about the knowledge of the Imams of the regions of the earth when he is in his house secluded behind the curtains. The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Mufuddal, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has place five spirits in the Prophet. Of such one is the spirit of life with which is movement and activities. There is the spirit of power with is uprising and assiduousness and the spirit of desire with which is consumption of nutrients and reproduction in lawful ways. There is the spirit of faith with which is peace and justice. There is the Holy Spirit with which prophet-hood is carried. When the prophet passes away the Holy Spirit transfers and comes over to the Imam (a.s.). The Holy Spirit does not sleep or become unaware. It does not trifle or maintain false hopes. The other four spirits sleep, become unaware, may maintain false hope or trifle. With the Holy Spirit things are seen.”

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he asked for dates which he ate and then he kept drinking water. I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I wish you refrain from drinking water.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I eat dates only to make water taste more delicious.’”

“I had a neighbor who followed the Sultan and he gains certain properties. He would arrange parties and invite female singers. They would drink wine and would disturb me. I complained to the man several times but he would not pay any attention. When I insisted he said, “O man, “I am an addicted man and you are sober. I wish you take me to your master and hope Allah will save me through him. His words impressed me a great deal. When I went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and mentioned the condition of the man to him. The Imam (a.s.) said, “When you will go back to Kufa he may come to you, say to him, “Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) said to you, “Stay away from what are involved in I guarantee that Allah will admit you in Paradise.” When returned to Kufa he came to me. I kept him with me until just two of us were let alone. I then said to him, “O man, I mentioned you to abu ‘Abdallah, Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (a.s.) and he said to me, “When you will return to al-Kufa, the man will soon come to you. Say to him, ‘Ja‘far ibn Muhammad said to you, “Stay away from what you are involved in and I will guarantee that Allah will admit you in Paradise.’” The narrator has said that the man then wept and said to me, “I swear you to Allah, did abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) really say this to you?” The narrator has said that swore before him that abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) did really said so.” He said, “This is enough for you and he left. After few days he called me while he was behind his house naked and said to me, “O abu Basir, by Allah, there is nothing left in my house. I gave all of them away and I am left as you see”. The narrator has said, “I then went to our people and collected for him to clothe him. Shortly afterwards he sent someone to me that he was ill and that I must see him. Thereafter I would come and go to him and provide him treatment until he was about to die. I was sitting near to him and was experiencing the agony of dieath. He fainted and then regained conscience and said to me, “O abu Basir, your master has fulfilled his promise to me.” He then passed away. May Allah grant him blessings. When I went for Hajj I went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and asked permission for a meeting. As I was about to enter to his presence, one step in the corridor and one inside, the Imam (a.s.) before I would say anything, said from the inside, “O abu Basir, we fulfilled our promise to your friend.”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said, “I swear to Allāh that it is as if I can see a crowd of angels around the believers next to the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.).” I asked, “Do they appear for the believers?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Impossible! Impossible! (But) I swear to Allāh that they are attached to the believers and they touch their faces with their hands. Every morning and every night, Allāh sends down food for the Zuwwār of Ḥusain (a.s.) from Paradise and the angels are their servants. If they ask Allāh for any matter related to this life or the Hereafter, Allāh will grant it to them.” I said, “I swear to Allāh that this is the (great) honour.” Imam (a.s.) said, “O Mufaďďal! Should I tell you more?” I replied, “Yes, O my master.” Imam (a.s.) said: It is as if I can see a throne made of light which has been established. A dome made of a red ruby and decorated with gems has been placed on it and there are ninety thousand green domes surrounding it. And it is as if I can see Ḥusain (a.s.) sitting on this throne and the believers are going to his Ziyārah and saying Salām to him. Therefore, Allāh, the Great and Almighty, will say to them, “O My friends! Ask Me (anything) because you have been hurt, humiliated, and oppressed for a long time. However, today is the day that you will not ask Me for anything related to this life or the Hereafter without it being granted.” Imam (a.s.) added: Their food and drinks are in Paradise, and I swear to Allāh that this is the honour which will never end and its greatness cannot be perceived.

I asked Abal Ḥasan (Imam Riďā (a.s.)), “Which one is better: going to Makkah but not going to Madīnah or going to (the Ziyārah of) the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) but not going to Makkah?” Imam (a.s.) said, “What do you think?” I said, “We believe that (even going to the Ziyārah of) Ḥusain (a.s.) is better (than going to Makkah), let alone (going to the Ziyārah of) the Prophet (s.a.a.w.).” Imam (a.s.) said: Now that you said this, then know that one Eid day when Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sadiq (a.s.)) was in Madīnah, he went to (the grave of) the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) and said Salām to him. He told those who were with him, “Verily we have been elevated above all people in every land including Makkah and every other city for having said Salām to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).”

I heard Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon him, say: "When the Day of Resurrection will dawn, Allah will gather all people together on one plane, naked and barefooted, and they will be ranged on the road to the gathering place, till they will sweat profusely and their breathing will become difficult. They will be there for as long as Allah wills, and that is what Allah says in Qur’an: ’... and you shall hear nothing but whispers.’ (20:108)" He said: Then an announcer will announce from the Throne: "Where is the Makkan Prophet?" (He said), the people will say: "You have caused all to hear, now name him." It will be announced: "Where is the Prophet of mercy, Muhammad, son of Abdullah?" Then the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, will rise and proceed before the people till he reaches the Pool, its length equal to the distance between Ayla and Sana; and then your master (i.e. ‘Ali) will be called and he will proceed in front of the people and stand with him (i.e the Prophet). Then people will be summoned to pass by. Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him said: "Among them on that Day, some will arrive (to stay) and some will be driven away. When the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, will see that those sent away are from those who love us the Ahlul Bayt, he will weep and say: "O Lord, these are partisans of ‘Ali, O Lord, these are partisans of ‘Ali!" He said: Allah will send an angel who will say: "O Muhammad! What makes you weep?" He will say: "Why should I not weep for the fate of those who followed my brother ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. I see they are being sent off with the inmates of hell, and are prevented form being at my Pool?" He said: Then Allah will say: "O Muhammad, I give them away to you, and pardon them their sins for your sake, and I will unite them with those who loved your progeny; I will keep them in your group, and station them at your Pool, and accept your intercession for them. This is how I have honoured you." Then Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn said: There will be several men and women weeping on that Day, when they witness this, exclaiming: "O Muhammad, (help us). So no one who is our partisan and loves us will remain except that he will be in our party and with us, and will arrive at our Pool."

“I heard one of them (the two Imam) (a.s.) saying, ‘When reviling words come from the mouth of reviling people they move back and forth. They will reach the deserving party, if any; otherwise, they come back to the reviling person.’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever asks us for help, we help, and whoever shows himself as rich, even though not so in reality, Allah will make him rich.”’

abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the meaning of the following words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those who possess (Divine) authority among you.” (4:59 Holy Quran). The read the following words of Allah. “Have you seen how those who had been given a share of the Book believe in idols and Satan and who say, “The disbelievers are better guided than the believers” (4:51) ‘The say that the leaders of misguidance and those who call people to Hell’ “God has condemned them. No one can help one whomGod has condemned. (4:52) Do they have a share in the Kingdom (Divine authority and Imamat)? Even if they did, they would not have given the smallest thing to the people.” (4:53) “ People is a reference to us and the word ‘Naqir’ means the seed inside the nutt.” The Imams (a.s.) explained and added. “Do they enviey the favors that God has done to some people?” ‘We are the ones who are envied because of the Divine authority that Allah has given us exclusively.’ The Imams (a.s.) commented. “We have given to the family of Abraham the Book, Wisdom, and a great Kingdom (4:54). Aliah says that from the descendents of Abraham He has made His Messengers, Prophets and Imams. How is it that these people acknowledge the case about the descents of Abraham but they refuse to accept the leadership (Imamat) in the family of Muhammad?’ The Imams (a.s.) further explained. “Some have believed, others have disbelieved and tried to prevent people from believing. For these people, only the intense fire of hell is a sufficient punishment (4:55). We will make those who reject Our revelations suffer in hell fire. As soon as the fire destroys their skins, We will give them new skins so that they may suffer more of the torment. God is Majestic and All-wise.” (4:56 Holy Quran)

And whatever is narrated from Al-Mualla ibn Muhammad Al-Baṣri, I have narrated it from my father, and from Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan, and from Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Masrur - may Allah (swt) be pleased with them - from Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Amir, from Al-Mualla ibn Muhammad Al-Baṣri.

foiiowing: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘One sign of the manhood of a man is plumpness of his stumpers.’ He (the narrator) has said that he heard him (the Imam) saying, ‘Three things are of the signs of manhood of a man. One is liveliness of his stumper, good looking slaves and distinguished house furnishings.’”

“Once abu al-Hassan (a.s.), asked me, ‘What do you ride?’ I replied, ‘It is a donkey.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘For how much have you bought it?’ I replied, ‘I have bought it for thirteen dinars.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is improper spending. You have bought a donkey for thirteen dinar and ignored buying a mule.’ I then said, ‘My master, maintenance of a mule is more than that for a donkey.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The one who maintains a donkey maintains a mule also. Did you not know that if one rides a stumper expecting our cause to materialize and makes our enemies feel jealous because he is counted on us, Allah manages his affairs, opens his chest, makes his wishes to come true and He is a helper in his affairs.’”

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can a person weep during Salah (prayer)?’ The Imam replied, ‘It is a matter of great congratulations even if it (tears) is of the size of the head of a fly.’”