شعيب

“I heard Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) saying: No, by Allah! Allah does not leave this matter aside unless He specifies ones, who will undertake it until the Day of Resurrection.”

"Shall I show you the shirt of the Qaim that he will rise in?" I said: "Yes." He then called for a container, opened it, and took out a shirt made of coarse fabric. He unfolded it, and there was blood on its left sleeve. He said: "This is the shirt of the Messenger of Allah (saw), which he was wearing on the day his tooth was struck, and it is with this shirt that the Qaim will rise." I kissed the blood and placed it on my face. Then Abu Abdullah folded the shirt and put it away.

“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.”

“I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) to explain to me the saying of Amirul Mo’mineen (as) “Islam has begun strange and it will return strange as it has begun. Blessed are the strangers!” He said to me: “O Abu Muhammad, when al-Qa’im (as) appears, he will invite to a new mission as the Prophet (S) has done.” I got up, kissed his head and said to him: “I witness that you are my imam in this life and in the afterlife. I support your guardians and resist your enemies. I witness that you are the guardian of Allah.” He said: “May Allah have mercy upon you!”

I was present in Baghdad in the companionship of scholars of narration, may Allah bless them. Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Ibn Muhammad Saymoori, may Allah sanctify his soul, said without being questioned with this respect, “May Allah have mercy on Ali Ibn Husain Ibn Babawayh Qummi.” The scholars noted the date of that day. Later, the news came that Ibn Babawayh had passed away on that very day. Abul Hasan Saymoori died after that in the mid-Shaban of the year three hundred and twenty nine.

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.