إبراهيم بن شعيب المزني الكوفي

“I said to Abū ʿAbdillāh (a), ‘Verily my father has become very old and weak, so we carry him [to the lavatory] when he needs to relieve himself.’ He said, ‘If you can continue doing that [yourself] then do so, and feed him morsels with your own hand, for that will be a shield for you tomorrow [from the Fire].’”

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘My father has become very old and weak. We pick him up and help him for the restrooms.’ The Imam said, ‘If you can, you should do all of this for him and feed him with your own hand; it is paradise for you tomorrow. ’”

“I was in al-Mawqaf (‘Arafat). When I left for al-Muzdalifah I met Ibrahim ibn Shu‘ayb. I offered him greeting of peace. He had trouble in one of his eyes and I found his trouble-free eye had turned red like a piece of blood clot. I said to him, ‘One of your eyes is damaged and I am afraid for your other eye. I wish you reduce weeping.’ He said, ‘By Allah O abu Muhammad, I did not pray for myself today.’ I then asked for whom then did you pray today?’ He replied, ‘I prayed for my brothers (in belief) because I have heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, “If one prays for his brother (in belief) in his absence, Allah appoints an angel who says, ‘Double of the same is for you.’” I decided to pray for my brothers (in belief) so that the angel prays for me; I have doubts about the acceptability of my prayer for myself but I have no doubt about the acceptability of the prayer of the angel for me.’”

I heard al-Sadiq Abu `Abdillah (as) say: When al-Husayn b. `Ali (as) was born, Allah ordered Jibra’il that he descend with a thousand angels and offer congratulations to the Messenger of Allah (s) from Allah and from Jibra’il. He said: So Jibra’il descended and he passed by an island in the sea wherein was an angel, named Futrus, who was from the bearers (of the Throne). Allah had dispatched him for something and he had delayed it. So, He broke his wings and banished him to that island. He worshipped Allah therein for seven hundred years until al-Husayn b. `Ali (as) was born. The angel said to Jibra’il: O Jibra’il! Where do you intend (i.e. to go)? He said: Allah has bestowed a bounty on Muhammad. So, I have been sent to offer him congratulations from Allah and myself. He said: O Jibra’il! Carry me with you; perhaps Muhammad (s) will pray for me. He said: So, he carried him. He said: When Jibra’il entered the Prophet’s presence, he conveyed to him the congratulations from Allah and himself and informed him about the state of Futrus. The Prophet (s) said: Say to him: Rub (yourself) against this newborn and revert to your abode. He said: So Futrus rubbed (himself) against al-Husayn b. `Ali (as) and he ascended. He said: O Messenger of Allah! Your Nation will certainly kill him soon, and upon me is the remuneration for him. A visitor shall not visit him but that I will notify him and a Muslim shall not send his salutation upon him but that I will convey to him his salaam. A praying one shall not say a prayer (benediction of Allah) upon him but that I will convey to him his prayer. Then he ascended.

I heard Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) say: When Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.) was born, Allāh ordered Jabra`īl to descend (to the earth) with one thousand angels to congratulate the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) on behalf of Allāh and himself. (On his way to the Prophet (s.a.a.w.)) Jabra`īl descended on an island in the sea where an angel named Fuťrus lived. Fuťrus was one of the carriers (of the Throne). At one point, he had procrastinated about carrying out an order of Allāh. Therefore, his wings were broken and he was thrown onto this island. He continued worshipping Allāh on that island for six hundred years, after which Ḥusain (a.s.) was born. Fuťrus asked him, “Where are you going?” “Allāh has blessed Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.) with a blessing (child), and I have been sent to congratulate him on behalf of Allāh and myself,” Jabra`īl replied. “O Jabra`īl! Take me with you. Perhaps Muḥammad (s.a.a.w.) will intercede for me,” Fuťrus said. So Jabra`īl carried Fuťrus. When they arrived, Jabra`īl congratulated the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) on behalf of Allāh and himself, and then informed him of Fuťrus. The Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.) told Jabra`īl to bring Fuťrus inside. After Fuťrus was brought inside, he informed the Prophet (s.a.a.w.) of his situation. The Prophet (s.a.a.w.) prayed for him and said to him, “Rub (your wings) on this newborn child (Ḥusain (a.s.)) and (you will) return to your (original) position.” Fuťrus rubbed his wings on Ḥusain (a.s.) and started ascending (to the heavens). As he was ascending, he said, “O Messenger of Allāh! Verily your nation will kill him. Verily, as my repayment to him (Ḥusain (a.s.)), no one will come to his Ziyārah, say Salām to him, or send blessing(s) on him without me informing him of it.” Then Fuťrus ascended (to the heavens).