عبد الله بن العباس العلوي

“I came to Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) at Samarrah and felicitated him for the birth of our Master, the Master of the Age.”

To ‘Abdullāh ibn al-‘Abbās

To ‘Abdullāh ibn al-‘Abbās (This letter has already been included with a different version)

To ‘Abdullāh ibn al-‘Abbās after Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr had been killed.

To ‘Abdullāh ibn al-‘Abbās. ‘Abdullāh ibn al-‘Abbās used to say, ‘‘Apart from the Prophet’s sayings I did not derive greater benefit from any saying than this one.’’

O Ans! Make complete ablutions so that you may cross the Bridge just like a cloud; express your greetings aloud so that there are increased blessings in your house; and give a lot of charity in private so as to quench the Honorable the Exalted God’s Wrath.”

7. Once a group of people were present before Amirul Momineen (a.s.) when the narrator asked, “What is your opinion about Qadiriya?” Imam asked, “Is there any Qadiri with you or in this house?” The narrator asked, “What will you tell them?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “I will ask them to repent and if they do not repent, I will behead them.”

“I came to Imam Hasan Askari (a.s) at Samarrah and congratulated him for the birth of his son, Qaim (a.s).”

Imam Baqir (a.s) said: “A group of people went to see Imam Sajjad (a.s). Abdullah ibn Abbas was with him, too. The people talked about the calamities of the Shiites and their sufferings. Then they went to see Imam Hussein (a.s) and said the same things. Imam Hussein (a.s) said: “I swear by God that the speed with which poverty and calamities rush towards our friends is more than the running speed of the zebra, the speed of the flood and the rainfall. If you are not suffering this way, then we know that you are not one of us. Your orphans will be helped by us, your debts will be repaid by us, and your sins will be forgiven by us.”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin sent ‘Abd Allah ibn al-‘Abbas to ibn al-Kawwa’ and his people. He was wearing a shirt of fine fabric and a gown. They looked at him and said, ‘O ibn al- ‘Abbas, you are the better among us in our belief and you wear this kind of clothes.’ He replied, ‘This is the first thing about which I disagree with you. “Who has made it unlawful to maintain beauty and to eat the pure foods which Allah has created for His servants?” (7:32) and He also has said, “dress well when attending the mosques.” (7:31)’”

Abdullah ibn-i-Abbas said: “God's Prophet rode on a mule that either Qaisar or Kasra had donated to him. He grabbed its hair and helped me ride behind him and said: “Young fellow, remember God, so that He protects you. Remember God so that you will always see Him. Remember God whenever you are about to err so that He helps you during times of hardship. Whenever you want to ask a question, ask it from God. Whenever you need help, ask God for help. Destiny has already specified what must take place. If people try to help you get what God has not destined for you, they will not succeed in doing so. If you can be patient and have certitude, then do so. If not, just be patient, as there is much benefit in being patient regarding what is very difficult for you. Know that victory is associated with patience, and relief is associated with suffering hardships. There always comes relief after suffering hardships.”

I heard the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny say: "Four of us will be the riders on the Day of Resurrection and none other." So someone asked: "My father and mother be your ransom, who are the riders?" He said: "I will be riding al-Buraq, and my brother Swaleh will be mounting the god-sent she-camel which was hamstrung by his people, and my daughter Fatimah will be on my bright she-camel, and ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, who will ride one of the she-camels of Paradise, whose bridle will be of fresh pearls, whose eyes will of ruby, whose stomach will of green aquamarine; upon the camel will be cupola of translucent pearls, so that its exterior will be visible from within, and her interior will be seen from outside. Its exterior will be from the mercy of Allah, and its interior will be from His grace. She will be fast as she advances, and also as she retracts. He will be ahead of me. There will be a crown of light on his head, a crown which will give light to all assembled. It will have seventy corners, each shining like a brilliant star in the heaven; and in his hands will be the praised standard, and he will set forth announcing: ’There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.’ And he will pass among the angels, they will say: ’He must be from the sent Prophets.’ And as he will pass by the Prophets, they will say: ’He must be an angel nearest to Allah.’ And then it will be announced from inside the Throne: ’O people! He is neither an angel nearest to Allah, nor a sent Prophet, nor a carrier of the Throne. He is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib.’ Then his Shi’ahs will follow, and it will be announced: ’Who are you?’ They will say: ’We are the partisans of ‘Ali.’ The answer will come: ’O partisans of ‘Ali, you are secure; enter the Paradise and be with those who you loved."

When the death of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, was approaching, there were some people, including Umar ibn al-Khattab, in the house. The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Come, let me write for you a testament so that you may never go astray after that!" So, Umar said: "Do not give him anything, for he is overwhelmed with pain; and you have the Qur’an, the Book of Allah is sufficient for us." Then the inmates began disputing each other, some saying, "Rise, and (let) the Prophet write for you", while others agreed with Umar. When there was too much noise and dispute, the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Go away from me". Ubaidullah ibn Abdullah ibn Utbah said: Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah bless him with mercy, used to say: "What a calamity! Total calamity, which prevented the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, from writing for us that testament because of their disputation and noise."

When the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, passed away, Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, together with al-Abbas and al-Fadhl ibn al-Abbas, washed him. And when they had finished washing him, he (‘Ali) removed the wrap-cloth from his face and said: "My father and my mother be your ransom, you have been pure in your life and in your death. With your passing away, there has been a cessation, which has no parallel in anyone else’s death; the cessation of Prophethood and the Divine revelations. You are so exalted that, your death has become a source of solace and consolation for all other bereavements and (at the same time) your death has such a common aspect, that all men all equally grieved by it. And, had it not been that you ordered forbearance and forbade restless grief, we would have shed incessant tears over you. (But deep sorrow and grief, both are too trivial to give any consolation on your parting). May my father and my mother be your ransom, do remember us (well) when you are in the presence of your Sustainer, and keep us in your mind." Then he fell over him, kissed his face and drew the cloth over him.

A man from Banu Tamim reported to me that we were with Amirul Mu’mineen, peace be upon him, at Dhu Qar, and we thought we were to be seized on that day. Then I heard him say: "By Allah! We will overcome this dissenting group. And these two, Talha and Zubair, will be killed and their troops will be uprooted." Al-Tameem said: I went to Abdullah ibn al-Abbas and said to him: "Do you hear what your cousin says?" He said: "Do not make haste, wait till we see what happens." When the result of Basrah battle became known, I came to him and said: "Your cousin was right in what he said." He said: "We the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his progeny, used to say that he has given him (i.e. ‘Ali) eighty pledges exclusively. Perhaps this was one of them."

I asked Aba al-Hasan Ali b. al-Hasan [b. Ali b. Fadhal] about the name of Abi Khadija what was it? he said: it was Salim b. Mukram. I said to him: was he Thiqa? He said: He was Salih. He was a resident of Kufa and was a Cameleer [in the business of renting out camels]. It is said that he was the one who transported [carried on his camels] Aba Abdillah عليه السلام from Makka to Madina. He [Ali b. al-Hasan] said: Abd al-Rahman b. Abi Hashim reported to us from Abi Khadija that Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said to him: do not use Abi Khadija as an agnomen [Kuniyya], he said: what should I use? he said: Abi Salama. Salim was among the companions of Abu al-Khattab and was inside the Masjid the day that Isa b. Musa b. Ali b. Abdallah b. Abbas – who was the governor of al-Mansur [the Abbasid Caliph] over Kufa – sent forces against Abi al-Khattab, having heard that they had become licentious [permitted the forbidden acts], called the people to accept the prophethood of Abu al-Khattab, and gathered in the Masjid [to plan a revolt] ensconcing themselves in its pillars while making it seem to the people as if they were doing so for purposes of worship. So he [Isa] sent men to them who killed them all, no one from among them escaped except for one man who was injured, fell amidst the dead and was thought to be dead, when night came he stood and disappeared. That man was Abu Salama Salim b. Mukram the Cameleer who also had the Kuniyya of Abu Khadija [before the Imam changed it]. It is said that he repented after this incident [for following Abi al-Khattab] and became among those who narrate the Hadith [from al-Sadiq].

O Lord, who are these? Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, said to him: Those whom if My creation intercede with, I would intercede for them. Then Adam said: O Lord, by their position to You, what is their name? He, Exalted is He, said: As for the first, I am the Praised and he is Muhammed, and for the second, I am the High and he is Ali, and for the third, I am the Splitter and she is Fatima, and for the fourth, I am the Beneficent and he is Hasan, and for the fifth, I am the One with Good Deeds and he is Hussain. All of them were praising Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He.

I was purchased along with other female slaves in Kufa where I was born. They took us to Al-Ma’mun. We benefited from food, drinks, perfumes and a lot of money in his paradise-like house. Al-Ma’mun bestowed me upon Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). When I went to his house, I lost all those benefits. A woman was hired as our teacher. She woke us up at night to pray. This was really hard on us and we all wished we could leave there. Then he (a.s.) donated me to your grandfather Abdullah ibn Abbas. When I went to his house, it was as if I had gone to Heaven.”Al-Sowli added, “I have never seen any woman more generous and intelligent than my grandmother. She died in the year 270 A.H. (882 A.D.) after living nearly one hundred years. The people often asked her about Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). She replied, “I do not remember anything about him except that he used to evaporate Indian aloes-wood, and then put on rose water and musk. He always said his morning prayer on time at the beginning of the time to pray. Then he prostrated and did not raise his head from that state until sunrise. He would then get up and go to attend to the needs of the people or ride. No one was able to raise his voice in his house - no matter whom he was. He always spoke gently and slowly with the people.My grandfather always sought blessings on account of this female slave. On the same day that she was donated to him, he made a covenant with her to set her free after his death. Once when my grandfather’s maternal uncle, who was a poet called Al-Abbas ibn al-Ahnaf, went to see him and saw her he became interested in her. He told my grandfather, “Can you give her to me?” My grandfather said, “She has been designated to be set free after my death.” Then Al-Abbas ibn al-Ahnaf said,O Qadr! Deceit got adorned by your name being deceitHowever, the world mistreated him who well did you treat.

Once when ‘Ali, Amirul Mu’mineen was near the mountain at Siffin, the time for maghrib prayers set in. So he went farther away and called for the prayers. When he finished the Adhan, a man appeared from near the mountain, having grey hair and beard, with a bright, white face. He said: "Peace be upon you, O Amirul Mu’mineen and mercy and blessings from Allah! Welcome to the successor of the last of the Prophets, leader of the ones with bright, brilliant faces, (on the Day of Judgement) magnanimous and protected, excellent one and one who has the reward of the Truthfuls, master of all the successors!" So, Amirul Mu’mineen, peace be upon him, said: "And peace be upon you, how are you?" He replied: "I am well, waiting for the holy spirit. I do not know of any name, which is greater in the estimation of Allah, at the time of ordeal, than yours, nor of any who has earned more rewards than you, nor of anyone who has an elevated place higher than yours. Put up with all that you are in, O my brother, till you meet the al-Habib (the beloved Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny). Verily, I have witnessed whatever befall our colleagues in the past at the hands of the children of Israel. They cut them apart with the saw and carried them over the bier." And then pointing towards the people of Syria, he said: "And if these poor, ugly faces know what chastisement and exemplary punishment awaits them for fighting against you, they would withdraw." And then pointing to the people of Iraq, he said: "And if these bright faces knew what award awaits them for having obeyed you, they would love to be cut by the scissors. And peace and His mercy and blessings be upon you." Then he disappeared. At that time, Ammar ibn Yasir, Abdul Haytham ibn al-Teehan, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, Ubadah ibn al-Samit, Khuzaima ibn Thabit and Hashim al-Marqal, a group from his followers stood up and said: "O, Amirul Mu’mineen, (for they heard what the man had said) who is this man?" Amirul Mu’mineen said: "He is Sham’oon, the successor of Isa, peace be upon him. Allah sent him to me to give me solace for this confrontation with His enemies!" They said: "May our parents be your ransom, By Allah, we will help you the way we helped the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, and none from the al-Muhajir nor al-Ansar shall desert you, except the unfortunate one." (Upon hearing this), Amirul Mu’mineen spoke to them kind words."

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, say: "Every year, when the month of Ramadhan enters, the paradise arrays itself ornately and beautifies itself. So when the first night of that month falls, a gentle wind blows from under the Throne, called al-Mutheerah; and the leaves of the heavenly trees flap and the door shutters clank, to produce a melodious tune, the like of which the hearers have never heard. And then the houris with beautiful eyes appear, standing on the balcony of the heavenly abode, exclaiming: ’Is there anyone to propose to Allah, so that He may marry him (to the houris)?’Then they say: ’O Ridhwan, what night is this?’ He answers them in all readiness and say: ’O good and beautiful ones, this is the first night of the month of Ramadhan. The gates of Paradise have been opened for those who keep the fasts in the Ummah of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his progeny." (He said): Then Allah, Most High, will say: "O Ridhwan, open the gates of Paradise. O Malik, shut the gates of hellfire from those who observe the fasts in the Ummah of Muhammad, peace be upon him and his progeny. O Jibraeel, descend to the earth and put every rebellious Satan into the shackles, fetter them by their necks and throw them into the depth of the seas, so that they may not spoil the fasts of those from the Ummah of My beloved." He said: And then Allah, Most High, will say three times every night in the month of Ramadhan. "Is there anyone who seeks so that I may bestow? Is there any repentant, so that I may pardon him? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Who is there to lend a soft loan (alms and charity for the poor) to One Who is Sufficient, Everlasting and One Who is Just and wrongs no one?" He said: "In the evening of every day of the month of Ramadhan, Allah frees a million souls from hellfire at the time of Iftar. And when the night of Friday and the day of Friday enter, He frees a million souls every hour. Those were the wretched souls who deserved chastisement. And when the month of Ramadhan ends, the number of souls freed on that day equals the total souls released from hellfire by Allah during the whole month. And when it is night of Qadr, Allah, Most High and Mighty, commands Jibraeel to descend to earth, with a phalanx of angels, carrying a green standard. He fixes it at the rear of al-Ka’bah. And he has six hundred wings, two of which he never spreads except on the night of Qadr. He spreads those two wings on that night, till they go beyond the East and the West. Then Jibraeel disperses the angels in that night, so they greet everyone who is standing, sitting, praying and chanting (remembering Allah). They shake hands with them, and say Amin to their prayers, till the day breaks. And when the day breaks, Jibraeel, peace be upon him, proclaims: ’O group of angels, it is time to depart.’ They say: ’O Jibraeel, how has Allah responded to the supplications of the believers in the Ummah of Muhammad?’ Jibraeel says: ’Allah has looked upon them in this night and has forgiven them all except four.’ He said that then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: ’These four are: persistent boozers of alcoholic drinks, and the one who has incurred displeasure of his parents, and the one who has severed relations with his consanguinal kith and kin, and the one whose heart is filled with rancour and bitter hatred.’ And when the night of al-Fitr enters, the night which is called the night of rewards, Allah bestows His rewards upon the worshippers, without measure. And when the day of al-Fitr dawns, Allah sends His angels to every part of the earth, so they descend and stand at the opening of every lane, saying: ’O Ummah of Muhammad, proceed towards the Benevolent Sustainer, for He (Alone) gives in abundance and forgives the grievous sins.’ So when they advance towards the prayers, Allah, Most High and Mighty, addresses the angels: "O My angels, what is the reward of a hired one when he has completed his task?" They reply: "O our Lord and our Master, the reward is to pay him full for his labour." He said: Then Allah, Most High and Mighty, would say: "Be My witness, O My angels, that as a reward for their fasts and prayers during the month of Ramadhan, they have earned My Pleasure and Forgiveness." Then He would say: "O My servants, seek from Me whatever you wish, for by My Honour, there is nothing which you will seek for the sake of your hereafter or for this world, but that it will be granted. And by My Honour, I shall conceal your shameful parts, the way you guarded them for My sake. By My Honour, I shall save you and shall not put you to shame before the people of Eternity. Go, with all your sins forgiven, for you have indeed pleased Me, and I am pleased with you." He said: The angels will rejoice and express felicitations to each other, for what Allah will bless this Ummah, upon breaking the fast.