إبراهيم بن أبي يحيى المدائني

Everything in this book that is narrated from Ibrahim ibn Abi Yahya Al-Mada'ini has been transmitted by me from Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan - may Allah (swt) be pleased with him - from Muhammad ibn Al-Hasan Al-Saffar, from Muhammad ibn Abd Al-Jabbar, from Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from Zharif ibn Nasih, from Ibrahim ibn Abi Yahya Al-Mada'ini.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The weight of dirham in those days was six.’”

"There is no harm in setting out on a journey on the night of Friday."

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, rode on a piece of marigold red color cloth.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has propounded the following. ‘Al-Maythab is that garden upon which Salman contracted for his freedom; then Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, granted it to His messenger, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, as properties captured from the enemies; and it is in her charity.’” (The Messenger of Allah planted the garden. O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, Amir al-Mu’minin, and Salam for the Jewish slave master which miraculously grew immediately as payment for the freedom of Salman)

The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) said: Those who come to my Ziyārah during my life or after my death will be my neighbours on the Day of Judgment.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah married ‘Umm Salamah and she was given in marriage to him (the Messenger of Allah) by ‘Umar ibn abu Salmah who was small and was not mature yet.’”

I heard Aba Umama say: Whenever `Ali (as) would say something, we would not doubt it. That is because we surely heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say: “The treasurer of my secret after me is `Ali.”

I was present when Abu Bakr died and Umar succeeded him. A Jew from Medina, who was a leader of Jews and whom the Jews considered to be the most knowledgeable person of the time, came to Umar and said: O Umar, I want to embrace Islam at your hands. If you can answer my questions, I would know that you are the most knowledgeable follower of this Book and Sunnah. Umar said: “I am not having this capability, but I will show you one who is the most knowledgeable about our Book and Prophet’s Sunnah and you can ask all you want from him and it is him.” And he pointed to Imam Ali (a.s)” The Jew said: O Umar, if it is as such as you say, what right do you have that people should pay allegiance to you while that person is most knowledgeable of you all? Umar told him to shut up and warned him. After that the Jew arose and came to Ali (a.s) and asked: “Are you like Umar has told?” Imam Ali (a.s) asked: what did Umar say? The Jew explained the situation to him and said: I will ask you some questions and I want to know whether anyone has asked you about them; and whether you are true in your claim that you are the best and the most knowledgeable of nation, so that I may also enter the fold of Islam. Imam Ali (a.s) said: Yes, I am as Umar has told you. Ask me whatever you like and I will answer, if Allah wills. The Jew said: I will ask you about three, three and one thing. Imam Ali (a.s) said: Why don’t you say: I’ll ask you about seven things? The Jew said: No, first I will ask you about three and if you give the right answers, I will ask you about another three and if you give the right answers, I will ask you the last one. If you fail to answer the first three, I will keep quiet and not ask you anything else. Imam Ali (a.s) said: Ask whatever you like. The Jew said: Which was the first stone to be placed on the earth, the first tree that has grew on the earth and the first fountain that flowed on the earth? Amirul Momineen (a.s) replied to all three questions. Then the Jew asked: How many Imams of guidance are there in this nation? In what position Muhammad would be in Paradise? Who would be with Muhammad in Paradise? Imam Ali (a.s) said: This nation has twelve guiding Imams from the progeny of the Prophet of this nation and they are from my descendants. The position of Muhammad (s) is in the best and the most honored location of the Garden of Eden. As for those from this nation, who would be in the company of the Messenger of Allah (s) are the same twelve from his progeny and their mother and their grandmother – mother of their mother and their progeny – no one else will share this.

“We attended the prayer (for the dead) when Abu Bakr died. While we were sitting around Umar, who had been paid homage to be the caliph, a young Jew from the Jews of Medina, whose father was the jurisprudent of the Jews in Medina and the Jews claimed that he was one of Aaron’s descendants, came to Umar. He greeted him and said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, who is the most aware of your Book and the Sunna of your prophet among you?” Umar said: “It is this one. (He pointed to Ali bin Abu Talib.) This is the most aware of our Book and our Prophet’s Sunna.” The young Jew said (to Ali): “Would you answer my questions?” Imam Ali (as) said: “Yes, I would. Ask me as you like.” The young boy said: “I ask you about three things and three things and one thing.” Imam Ali (as) said: “Why do you not say: I ask you about seven things?” The young boy said: “No, but I ask you about the first three and if you give the right answers then I will ask you about the other three and if you give the right answers then I will ask you about the last one. If you fail to answer the first three ones, I will keep silent and not ask you about anything.” Imam Ali (as) said: “If I give you the right answer, will you know that my answer is right or not?” He said: “Yes, I will.” Imam Ali (as) said: “I adjure you before Allah that if I give you right answers, you are to be a Muslim and to give up Judaism.” He said: “I agree. I promise you to be a Muslim and to give up Judaism.” Imam Ali (as) said: “Then ask me as you like.” The young Jew said: “Would you tell me about the first stone that has been put on the surface of the earth, the first tree that has grown on the earth and the first fountain that has flowed on the earth?” Imam Ali (as) said: “O Jew, as for the first stone that has been put on the surface of the earth, the Jews has claimed that it is the rock, which is in Jerusalem, but they have told a false thing. It is the Black Stone that Adam (as) has brought from Paradise and put in the corner (of the Kaaba). The believers kiss it to renew the covenant of being loyal to Allah. As for the first tree, the Jews have claimed that it is the olive tree but they have told a lie. It is the date-palm, which Adam (as) has brought with him from Paradise. And as for the first fountain, the Jews have claimed that it is the one under the rock (in Jerusalem) but they have told a lie. It is the fountain of life, in which a dead is dipped to be alive again. It is the fountain of Moses (as), beside which he has left the salted fish and when water touched it, it revived and slipped into the sea and then Moses (as) and his servant followed it when they met with al-Khidhr (as).” The young Jew said: “I swear that you have said the truth. This is a book that I have inherited from my ancestors. It has been dictated by Moses (as) and written by Aaron (as). It has these seven things. By Allah, if you give right answers to the rest of the seven questions, I will give up my religion and believe in yours.” Imam Ali (as) said: “Ask!” The Jew said: “Would you tell me how many imams of guidance, who will not be harmed by the disappointment of the plotters, this umma will have after its prophet? In which position Muhammad will be in Paradise? How many ones will be with Muhammad in his position?” Imam Ali (as) said: “This umma has twelve imams. All of them are guided and guiding imams and they will never be harmed by the disappointment of the plotters. The position of Muhammad (as) is in the best position of the Garden of Eden, the most honored and the closest to Allah. As for those, who will be with Muhammad in his position, they are twelve imams.” The Jew said: “I swear that you have said the truth. If you answer the last one as you have done with these six, by Allah I will be a Muslim before you and give up Judaism.” Imam Ali (as) said: “Ask!” He said: “Would you tell me how long the successor of Muhammad will live after Muhammad? Will he die or be killed?” Imam Ali (as) said: “He will live for thirty years and then this will be dyed (of blood) from this. (He grasped his beard and made a sign with his head.)” The young Jew said: “I witness that there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah and you are the caliph of the umma after the Prophet (S). Whoever precedes you, will be oppressive.” Then he left.