الدقاق

I asked Aba `Abdillah (as) about desire (al-`ishq), so he said: Hearts that are empty of the remembrance of Allah, so Allah gives them the taste of a love that is other than His.

Fasting Sha`ban and the month of Ramadan [results in] the forgiveness of Allah, even [from] the prohibited [shedding of] blood.

Al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad (as) said: If Allah wishes goodness to an outcast, He gives her a merciful ruler, and appoints a just vizier for him.

I heard al-Sadiq (as) say: Whoever sees his brother doing something he hates and does not turn him away from it when he is able to, then he has betrayed him. Whoever does not avoid friendship with a fool, then I suspect that he is of his character.

There were two rings for al-Husayn b. `Ali (as). The inscription on one of them was: “There is no god but Allah, prepare for the meeting with Allah” (La ilaha illa ‘llah, `uddatu liliqaa’illah), and the inscription on the other was: “Surely, Allah brings about His order (Innallaha balighu amrih).” And the inscription on the ring of `Ali b. al-Husayn (as) was: Debased and wretched is the murderer of al-Husayn b. `Ali (as) (Khizi wa shaqi qatil al-Husayn b. `Ali).

I heard Muhammad b. `Ali al-Rida (as) say: Whoever visits my father (as) and is afflicted by any harm from rain, cold, or heat, Allah will forbid the Fire from his body.

I heard Musa b. Ja`far (as) say: My father narrated to me from his father from the Master of Worshipers `Ali b. al-Husayn from the Master of Martyrs al-Husayn b. `Ali b. Abi Talib (as). He said: Amir al-Mu’minin `Ali b. Abi Talib (as) passed by a man who was speaking superfluously. So, he stopped by him, and then said: Surely, you are dictating a letter to your Lord through your two guardian [angels]. So, speak about what concerns you, and leave that which does not concern you.

Salman the Good (ra) narrated to me, saying: O Aba’l Hasan! Rarely do you and I visit the Messenger of Allah (s) and he does not say: “O Salman! This [`Ali] and his party are the triumphant on the Day of Resurrection.”

O cousin of the Messenger of Allah! Tell me about Abi Talib. Was he a Muslim? So, he said: How can he not be a Muslim when he is the one that said: “They know that our son is not a liar, The false sayings do not receive our attention.” Surely, Aba Talib was like the companions of the cave, who kept the faith a secret and feigned paganism, so Allah gave them their reward twice.

One day, the Messenger of Allah (s) looked to `Ali b. Abi Talib (as) and came forward while a group of his companions were around him. So, he said: He who wants to see Yusuf in his beauty, Ibrahim in his generosity, Sulayman in his delight, and Dawud in his strength should look to this one.

Al-Sadiq Abu `Abdillah Ja`far b. Muhammad (as) said: When al-Husayn b. `Ali (as) was struck with the sword, and they prepared to sever his head, a caller called from the direction of the Lord of Glory from the depth of the Throne, saying: “O Nation that has become perplexed and misguided after its Prophet! Allah will not allow you to find success in Adha nor in Fitr.” He said: Then, Abu `Abdillah (as) said: By Allah, they will never find support nor success until the Revolutionary of al-Husayn (as) rises.

Muhammad b. al-Husayn al-Khashab. He said: Muhammad b. Muhsan b. `Isa from Yunus b. Thibyan. He said: Al-Sadiq (as) said: Allah revealed to a prophet from the prophets of the Children of Israel: If you would like to meet Me anon in the Guarded Sanctuary, then be, in this world, alone, strange, worried, sorrowful, and away from the people – like a bird flying by itself in an uninhabited land, eating from the tops of trees, and drinking from the water of rivers. When night comes, it dwells alone, without seeking refuge in the other birds, and it finds comfort in its Lord away from the birds.

I saw al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali, peace be upon him, in dream and related to him: "Mukhawwal ibn Ibrahim has reported to me from al-Rabee’ ibn al-Munzir, from his father from you that you said: Whoever sheds a tear from his eyes for us, or fills his eyes with tears for us, Allah will grant him an eternal place in Paradise." He said: "Yes." So I said: "(In that case), the chain of narration between you and me does not exist any more."

I heard Jabir b. `Abdullah al-Ansari say: The Messenger of Allah (s) was in the house of Umm Ibrahim one day, and a delegation of his companions was with him. `Ali b. Abi Talib (as) came forward. When the Prophet (s) saw him, he said: O people! The best of people after me has come forward to you. He is your Master. Obedience to him is an obligation, just like obedience to me. Disobeying him is prohibited, just like disobeying me. O people! I am the House of Wisdom and `Ali is its Key, and the house cannot be sought except by the key. He who alleges to love me yet hates `Ali has lied.

I was assisted by an angelic power and a soul illuminated by its Lord. I am of Ahmad just as light is of light. By Allah, had the Arabs unified upon my killing, I would not flee, and had I been given a chance to strike their necks, none would remain. He who is awaited by Gardens does not mind death. This was narrated to me along with its entire letter by Ahmad b. Musa al-Daqqaq (ra). He said: Muhammad b. Harun al-Sufi narrated to us from Abi Bakr `Ubaydullah b. Musa al-Hibal al-Tabari. He said: Muhammad b. al-Husayn al-Khashab narrated to us. He said: Muhammad b. Muhsan narrated to us from Yunus b. Thibyan from al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad from his father from his forefathers (as).

`Anbasa b. Bijad al-`Abid narrated to me. He said: When Isma`il b. Ja`far b. Muhammad died and we left his funeral, al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad (as) sat down, and we sat down around him. He was melancholy. Then, he raised his head and said: O people! This world is the abode of departure – an abode of crookedness and not an abode of straightness. Departure is a tragedy that cannot be repelled and a woe that cannot be deterred. Surely, people are only distinguished by beautiful mourning and good contemplation. Whoever does not mourn for his brother, his brother will mourn for him. Whoever does not have a child, then he is the one who will proceed [toward death] without a child. Then, he (as) presented the poem of Abi Khurash al-Hadhali when he mourned for his brother: “Do not think that I have forgotten his covenant, but rather, my patience – O Amim – is beautiful.”

I was sitting with al-Sadiq Ja`far b. Muhammad (as) when Zayd b. `Ali b. al-Husayn (as) came and held onto the peg of the door. So, al-Sadiq (as) said to him: O uncle! I seek refuge in Allah for you being crucified in Kinasa. So, the mother of Zayd said to him: By Allah, nothing caused you to say this except for envy for my son. So, he (as) said: I wish it were envy, I wish it were envy – three times. Then, he said: My father narrated to me from my grandfather (as) that he would have a descendant named “Zayd”, who will be killed in Kufa, crucified in Kinasa, and resurrected from his grave. The gates of heaven will be opened for his spirit, and the people of heaven will be rejoiced by him. His spirit will be put in the stomach of a green bird, which will wander wherever it wishes in Paradise.

The Prophet (s) was asked: Where were you and Adam in Paradise? He said: I was in his loins. He fell to the Earth with me in his loins. I boarded the Ark in the loins of my father Nuh. I was thrown into the Fire in the loins of my father Ibrahim. None of my ancestors ever committed adultery. Allah did not cease in transferring me from pure loins to purified wombs, guiding and guided, until Allah took my pledge in prophethood and my covenant in Islam. He clarified every one of my characteristics, and He made my mention resolute in the Torah and the Gospel. He raised me up to His heaven. He derived my name from His beautiful names – my Nation are the praising ones, the owner of the Throne is the Praised (Mahmud), and I am Muhammad.

Allah revealed to Dawud (as): Why do I see you alone? He said: I have abandoned the people, and they have made me flee to You. He said: Why do I see you silent? He said: My awe of You has silenced me. He said: Why do I see you exhausted? He said: Loving You has exhausted me. He said: Why do I see that you are poor when I have redeemed you? He said: Fulfilling my responsibilities towards You has made me poor. He said: Why do I see you humbled? He said: The greatness of Your majesty, which cannot be described, has humbled me; and that is Your right, O Master. Allah said: So be glad for My reward, for you will have whatever you like on the Day that you will meet Me. You will receive whatever you want from Me on the Day of Resurrection. Al-Sadiq (as) said: Allah revealed to Dawud (as): O Dawud! Be happy by Me, seek pleasure by remembering [Me], and seek enjoyment by speaking to Me. Soon, I will empty the house of the transgressors, and I will place My damnation upon the oppressors.

I heard Aba Talib narrate from `Abd al-Muttalib: Once, I was sleeping in the Hijr [of Isma`il] when I saw a dream that frightened me. So, I went to the soothsayer of Quraysh. I was gowned in a sheet of fur, and my hair flowed to my shoulders. When she looked at me, she noticed the change on my face, and she sat down. At that time, I was the chief of my people. So, she said: What happened to the chief of the Arabs – your colour has changed! Has something terrible happened at this time? So, I said to her: Of course. This past night, while I was sleeping in the Hijr, I saw as though a tree had sprung from my back. Its top had reached heaven, and its branches had reached East and West. I saw a light illuminating from it that was seventy times greater than the light of the Sun. I saw the Arabs and the non-Arabs prostrating to it. Its light would intensify everyday. I saw a group from Quraysh who wanted to cut it down – whenever they approached it, a young man with the most beautiful face and the cleanest clothing would take them, break their backs, and gouge their eyes. So, I raised my hand to hold onto one of its branches, but the young man screamed to me: “Stop, you have no share of it.” So, I said: “Then who has a share in it when the tree is from me?” So, he said: “Its share is for these who cling onto it. You will return to it.” Then, I regained consciousness in fear and worry, and my colour had changed. I saw the colour of the soothsayer change. Then, she said: If you are telling the truth, then a child from your descendants will rule the East and the West, and he will prophesy among the people. So, my worry went away. So, pay attention, Aba Talib, for this may be you. Abu Talib would narrate this saying when the Prophet (s) appeared. He would say: This tree, by Allah, was Aba’l Qasim the Trustworthy.