قيس بن رمانة الأشعري

“There has been an appointment for this matter (deliverance). It has been determined (by the Heaven) that it will occur in the year one hundred and forty (A.H.) but when you announced the matter, Allah has put it off.”

“The man of this matter has a likeness to Prophet Joseph (as). He is a son of a (black) bondmaid. Allah will make him succeed within a night.” The likeness to Prophet Joseph (as) concerns the disappearance.

I said to Abi Abdillah عليه السلام: Our companions may differ about something but I say: my opinion in it is the verdict of Ja’far b. Muhammad, so he [the Imam] said: this is what Jibril came down with [revealed].

“The rising of as-Sufyani is an inevitable matter. He will rise in the month of Rajab. It will take, since his rising until his end, fifteen months. He will fight for six months. When he conquers the five districts, he will rule for nine months no more no less.”

“Once I visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and mentioned to him certain matters about my conditions. The Imam asked the housemaid to bring to him a certain bag, then he said, ‘This is the four hundred dinar that abu Ja’far (the Abbaside rule) has sent to me as a gift. Take it to ease your difficulties.’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I do not want to take the money; it is not everything in my life. I love most that you pray for me before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.’ The Imam said, ‘I will certainly do so; however, you must never speak to people about your conditions; you will seem insignificant in their sight.’”

“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.