الحارث بن

Harith bin Mazaz Jurhami also lived for 400 years; he composed the following two lines: As if there was no one on way from Hajun to Safa and in Mecca who was a worshipper, who spent the nights in prayers. Yes, we are from the worshippers of Mecca, who spend their nights in worship. We make the passage of days and nights old.

I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “We have tradition saying that the imam will be missed in some period of time. What will we do then?” He said: “Keep to the previous one that you have kept to until the matter becomes clear.”

“Nothing remains between us and the Arabs except slaughter. (He pointed with his hand at his mouth).”

I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “Will there be a time, in which the Muslims will not know who their imam is?” He said: “It is said so.” I said: “what will we do then?” He said: “If that occurs, then keep to the previous one until the next one becomes clear to you.”

“As if I see our Shia in the mosque of Kufa setting up pavilions to teach the people the Qur’an as it has been revealed but when our Qa’im appears, he will destroy it (the mosque) and level its mihrab to the ground.”

“I heard Ali (AS) saying: “It's as if I see non-Arabs setting up their pavilions in the mosque of Kufa and teaching people the Qur’an as it has been revealed!” I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, is the Qur’an not as it has been revealed?” He said: “No, it is not. The names of seventy ones of Quraysh have been removed from it. The name of Abu Lahab has been left (in the Qur’an) just to remind the Messenger of Allah (sw) of something because he is his uncle.”

I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “With what will the imam (al-Mahdi) be recognized?” He said: “With calmness and gravity.” I said: “What else?” He said: “You will know him by (executing) halal and haram (permissibility and impermissibility), by the need of people to him whereas he will never need any one and that the weapon of the Prophet (S) will be with him.” I said: “Is he a guardian and a son of a guardian?” He said: “He is not but a guardian and a son of a guardian.”

I heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say from the pulpit: Mahdi is from my descendants and Ahle Bayt (a.s). He would stage an uprising in the last period of time. The sky will send down rain for him and the earth would put forth its vegetation for him. He would fill the earth with justice and equity just as others would have fraught it with injustice and oppression.

“Once I came to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) and said to him: Are you the man of this matter?” He said: “No.” I said: “Is he your son?” He said: “No.” I said: “Is he your grandson?” He said: “No.” I said: “Is he your grandson’s son?” He said: “No.” I said: “Who is he then?” He said: “It is he, who will fill the world with justice after it has been filled with injustice and oppression. He will come after a cessation of imams as Prophet Muhammad (as) has been sent after a cessation of prophets.”

“ Once I went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and said to him, “Are you the in charge of this task ((to rise with divine power)?” he said, “No, I am not he.” I then asked, “Is he your son?” He said, “No, my son will be he either.” I then asked, “Will the son of your son be he?” He said, “No, my grandson will not be he.” I then asked will your great grandson be he?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, my great grandson will not be he also.” I the asked, “Who then be he?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He will be the one who will fill the earth with justice after its being filled with injustice and cruelty. (He will come) at a time when the Imams will be absent just as the Messenger of Allah was raised (to preach) when for a long time there had come no messengers.”

Among the long lived persons of the world is Harith bin Kaab bin Amr bin Waala Madh-haji. Madh-haj was the mother of Malik bin Adad and the reason of her being named thus was that she was born on a hill named as Madh-haj. Abu Hatim says: When the death of Harith approached, he gathered his children and said: My children, I have reached an age of a hundred and sixty years, but so far I have neither made peace with any traitor nor befriended any transgressor or infidel, nor flirted with cousins and sisters-in-law. I have never kept a woman of loose character in my house. I have never exposed the secrets of my friends. I follow the religion of Prophet Shuaib (a.s) and except for me, Asad bin Khuzaima and Tamim bin Murrah, no one in the Arab Peninsula follows this faith. So remember my will and live on my religion. Continue to fear the Almighty Allah as He is sufficient for you in every way. Never disobey Him as you would be destroyed and your city and abode would be terrified of your destruction [It is an allusion of divine chastisement]. My sons, be united and never should you fall into discord. Without any doubt, a death of honor is better than a life of degradation and helplessness. What is destined would come to pass. Everything is of two different types. Thus time is also of two kinds: A time of prosperity and a time of troubles. People are also of two types: One kind will benefit you and another will harm you. Also remember that you should take in marriage, a woman who is compatible to your status and is chaste. Avoid foolish girls as their issues will be useless. Those who cut off relations will never get peace. There is enmity in discord with the people of your community. That is if you oppose them, they will become inimical to you. No matter how numerous you may be; if you have no unity, you are in great trouble. Goodness erases evil. To reciprocate evil with evil is to participate in evil. Sins destroy good deeds. Breaking off relations creates sorrow. Disrespect destroys blessings. Disowning of parents leads to destruction. It reduces population and houses are destroyed. Bad behavior cuts off benefits. Mutual enmity causes separations. He had composed the following couplets: I spent my youth and I wasted it; and I destroyed one day with another. I lived with three wives and all of them passed away and I have also become an old man. My food is less and my getting up is with difficulty and the long life span has shortened my steps. I remain awake the nights and observe the stars and contemplate on the hidden and apparent aspects of my life. These were some examples of Arabs who had the good fortune of having long life spans and their accounts are preserved in books of history.

“One day I came to Imam Ali (as) and I found him pondering and scratching up the ground. I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, you are scratching up the ground. Do you like it (the ground)?” He said: “No, by Allah. I have not liked it nor have I liked this worldly life a moment. But I am pondering on someone that will be born from my progeny. He will be the eleventh son of mine (descendant-eleventh successor in the imamate). He will be al-Mahdi, who will spread justice and equity allover the world after it has been filled with injustice and oppression. There will be confusion and disappearance for him. Some people will go astray and others will be guided.” I said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, how long will that confusion and that disappearance last?” He said: “A period of time.” I said: “Will that really occur?” He said: “Yes, it will. It has already been determined.” I said: “Shall I be alive until that time? He said: “How far it is to you, O Asbugh! Those (the companions of al-Mahdi) are the best of this umma with the pure ones of the Prophet’s progeny.” I said: “Then what will happen after that?” He said: “Then Allah will do what He wills. He has wills, wishes and ends.”

“Once I went to see Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and found him thinking and he drawing lines on the ground. I then said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) I can see you thinking and drawing lines on the ground. Have you become interested in it (worldly things) ?” He said, no, by Allah, I have not become interested in it and the whole world not even for a day but I thought about a baby from my descendants, the eleventh generation. He will be al-Mahdi who will fill the earth with justice and fairness after its being filled with suffering and injustice. He will disappear from the public sight and in confusing conditions. Certain people will deviate and others find the path of guidance.” I then asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), how long will be the duration of confusion and the disappearance?” He said, “Six days or six months or six years.” I then said, “Will this really come to pass?” He said, “Yes, just his creation will be necessary (so also will be his disappearance). However, O Asbagh, this is not your concern. Those people will of the best in this nation with the best virtuous ones of this family (Ahl al-Bayt).” I then said, “What then will happen afterwards?” He said, “Allah will do whatever He will so decide. He possesses, Bada’s, (seemingly change of plan) wills, goals and ends.”

“Be like the bees among the birds. All the birds deem them weak but if they know what blessing there is inside their (the bees’) interiors, they will not do that to them. Mix with people with your tongues and persons and be far away from them with your hearts and deeds. I swear by Him, in Whose hand my soul is, you will not meet what you like until a time comes that you spit at the face of each other, call each other as liars and until none of you remains except like the kohl in an eye and like the salt in food. I give you an example. It is like a man having some food (grains). He sifts and purifies it and then he keeps it in a store for some time. Then he comes back to find that his food has been worm-eaten. He takes it out, purifies it and puts it back into the store for some time. After a time he comes to find that his food has been worm-eaten again. He takes it out, purifies it and puts it back into the store. He does so again and again until nothing of his food remains except the least, which will never be harmed by the worms. So are you! You are going to be clarified until none of you remains save a very few ones, who will never be affected by seditions.” The same was narrated by Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa’eed from Ali bin al-Hasan at-Taymali from Muhammad and Ahmad the sons of al-Hasan from their father from Tha’laba bin Maymoon from Abu Kahmas and others from Amirul Mo’mineen (as). This tradition has been mentioned at the beginning of this book.

I came to Amirul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s) and found him thoughtful. He was drawing lines on the ground. I said: “O Chief of believers, why do I see you thoughtful and you are making lines on the earth? Is it out of desire for the earth?” He said: “No, by Allah, I have never desired it, nor for what is in the world even for one day. I was thinking about the son, who will be born from my seed – the eleventh from my sons. He is the Mahdi and he would fill up the earth with equity as it will be fraught with oppression and injustice. There will be a perplexity and occultation related to him, in which communities will go astray and communities will be guided.” I asked: “O Chief of believers, how long would this perplexity and occultation last?” He said: Six days, six months or six years. I asked: “Would this really come to pass?” He replied: Yes, he has been created. How would you know this, Asbagh! They are the best of this Ummah and companions of the righteous of this Household. I asked: “What will happen after that?” He said: “Allah will do what He desires, for He has wills, purposes and outcomes.”