أحمد بن زكريا

I asked Abal Ḥasan Al-Māďi (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) about establishing prayers in the two Ḥarams. Imam (a.s.) replied, “Establish prayers in full form even if you are passing through (Makkah or Madīnah).”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Wherever three or more believing people gather together an equal number of angels also attend it (gathering). If they pray for a good purpose the angels say Amen! If they seek protection (from Allah) against an evil matter, the angels pray to Allah to divert it from them. If they pray so their wishes come true, the angels intercede for them before Allah and pray to Him to grant their wishes. Wherever three or more rejectors (of belief) gather together, ten times their number, Satan also attends it. If they speak Satan also speaks likewise, if they laugh, they (Satans) laugh with them. If they succeed (in abuse) against the friends of Allah, they (Satans) do the same. If any of the believing people is trapped among them and when they involve themselves in such behaviors he should move away from them so he does not become of the attendance along with Satan; the wrath of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is insurmountable and His condemnation is irremovable.’ The Imam (a.s.) then said, ‘If he cannot do so (move away) he must condemn it in his heart and stand up even for a short while and move a little, like the time of allowing the young animal to have its share of milk while milking the mother.’”

"I accompanied Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) in the year he performed Hajj during the beginning of al-Mu'tasim's caliphate. While we were at the table, and a group of the Sultan's officials were present, I said to him: 'May I be your ransom, our governor is a man who is loyal to you, Ahl al-Bayt, and he loves you. I owe taxes in his registry. If you see fit, may Allah make me your ransom, to write a letter to him recommending kindness to me.'
He (the Imam) said to me: 'I do not know him.' I replied: 'May I be your ransom, he is as I have described—a lover of you, Ahl al-Bayt. Your letter would benefit me with him.' So, he took a piece of paper and wrote: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. The bearer of this letter has mentioned something praiseworthy about you. Indeed, you shall be rewarded for your good deeds, so be kind to your brothers. And know that Allah, the Almighty and Exalted, will question you about even the weight of an atom and a mustard seed (of deeds).
The man continued: When I arrived in Sijistan, news had already reached Husayn ibn Abdullah al-Naysaburi, the governor. He met me two farsakhs (around 12 kilometers) outside the city, and I handed him the letter. He kissed it and placed it on his eyes. Then he said to me: 'What do you need?' I replied: 'I owe taxes in your records.' He ordered for the taxes to be removed from my name and said to me: 'You will not have to pay any taxes as long as I am in office.' He then asked about my family, and I informed him of their situation. He provided for me and my family generously, enough for our sustenance and more. I did not pay taxes as long as he was in office, and he continued supporting me until his death."

The Blessed the Sublime God has many angels.
Some of them are so big that if any of them comes down to Earth, the Earth cannot house them in it due to their extensive size and great amount of feathers and large wings. Some of the angels are so stout and handsome that if all the genies and men cooperate with each other, they cannot describe them. Some of the angels are so big that it would take seven-hundred years to travel the distance between their two shoulders or the distance between their two earlobes. Some of the angels are so large that they can block off the whole horizon with just one of their wings, and their body is very large in size. Some of the angels are so tall that when they stand up the heavens are below their belly buttons. Some of them are such that they can step on no support on the inner layers of the Earth and all of the Earth is only as high as their knee. Some of them are so large that just the back of their large nail can house all the waters in the oceans of the Earth. Some of the angels are so large that they can house as many ships as there ever will be in their eyes and they can sail there forever. Blessed be the Best of the Creators.”
Then he (AS) was asked about the veils. He (AS) said, “There are seven types of veils. The thickness of each veil is the distance of a five-hundred year journey, and the distance from one veil to the next is five-hundred years. The second veil includes seventy-thousand veils with the distance from one veil to the next is five-hundred years, and the thickness of each veil is the distance of a five-hundred year journey. There are seventy-thousand angels as the gate-keepers for each veil each as powerful as all the genies and the men. Some of the veils are darkness, some are light. Some of the veils are fire, some are smoke. Some of the veils are clouds, some are lightening. Some of the veils are thunder, some are illumination. Some of the veils are pebbles, some are hills. Some of the veils are dust. Some of the veils are water and some are creeks. They are a variety of veils the thickness of each is the distance of a seventy-thousand year journey.
Then there are the pavilions of majesty which are sixty in number. There are seventy-thousand angels in each pavilion. The distance between each pavilion is the distance of a five-hundred year journey. Then there is the pavilion of glory. Then there is the pavilion of grandeur. Then there is the pavilion of magnificence. Then there is the pavilion of holiness. Then there is the pavilion of almightiness. Then there is the pavilion of pride. Then there is the pavilion of white light. Then there is the pavilion of Unity which is as large as a square each side of which measures the distance of a seventy-thousand journey. Then there is the Imperial Veil.”
Then, Ali (AS) ended his speech and stopped talking. Umar said, “O Abal-Hassan! I could not survive even for one day without you.” The compiler of the book - may God be pleased with him - said, “These veils are not covering up the Honorable the Exalted God since the Sublime God cannot be said to be confined in a place. However, they are placed upon the great world which He has created and no one but the Blessed the Sublime God knows its size.”