The Birth of abu Muhammad al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.)

كَانَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَاقَانَ عَلَى الضِّيَاعِ وَ الْخَرَاجِ بِقُمَّ فَجَرَى فِي مَجْلِسِهِ يَوْماً ذِكْرُ الْعَلَوِيَّةِ وَ مَذَاهِبِهِمْ وَ كَانَ شَدِيدَ النَّصْبِ فَقَالَ مَا رَأَيْتُ وَ لَا عَرَفْتُ بِسُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى رَجُلًا مِنَ الْعَلَوِيَّةِ مِثْلَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الرِّضَا فِي هَدْيِهِ وَ سُكُونِهِ وَ عَفَافِهِ وَ نُبْلِهِ وَ كَرَمِهِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ ب

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Asha‘ari and Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated the following. “Ahmad ibn ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Khaqan was in charge of collecting property and other taxes in the city of Qumm. One day in his presence the ‘Alawids and their beliefs were mentioned. He was a staunch Nasibi (abusive of ‘Al

كَتَبَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع إِلَى أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الزُّبَيْرِيِّ قَبْلَ مَوْتِ الْمُعْتَزِّ بِنَحْوِ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً الْزَمْ بَيْتَكَ حَتَّى يَحْدُثَ الْحَادِثُ فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ بُرَيْحَةُ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ قَدْ حَدَثَ الْحَادِثُ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي فَكَتَبَ لَيْسَ هَذَا الْحَادِثُ هُوَ الْحَادِثَ الْآخِرَ فَكَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْمُعْتَزِّ مَا كَانَ وَ عَنْهُ قَالَ كَتَبَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ آخَرَ يُقْتَلُ

‘Stay home until what is to happen will happen.’ When Burayha was killed he wrote to him, “A happening has happened. What would you command me to do?” He wrote back, “This is not the happening. It is another happening.” Then there was the case of al-Mu‘tazz the way it was.” It is narrated from the same narrator that th

ضَاقَ بِنَا الْأَمْرُ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي امْضِ بِنَا حَتَّى نَصِيرَ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ يَعْنِي أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ وُصِفَ عَنْهُ سَمَاحَةٌ فَقُلْتُ تَعْرِفُهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْرِفُهُ وَ لَا رَأَيْتُهُ قَطُّ قَالَ فَقَصَدْنَاهُ فَقَالَ لِي أَبِي وَ هُوَ فِي طَرِيقِهِ مَا أَحْوَجَنَا إِلَى أَنْ يَأْمُرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ لِلْكِسْوَةِ وَ مِائَتَا دِرْهَمٍ لِلدَّيْنِ وَ مِائَةٌ

“We were under pressure and constraint. My father said, “Let us go to Abu Muhammad (a.s.). People describe him as very generous and considerate.” I asked, “Do you know him?” He said, “No, I do not know him and I have not seen him before.” We decided to go and meet him. My father said on the way, 'I wish he would grant

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي بِسُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى وَ كَانَ أَبِي يَتَعَاطَى الْبَيْطَرَةَ فِي مَرْبِطِ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ وَ كَانَ عِنْدَ الْمُسْتَعِينِ بَغْلٌ لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُ حُسْناً وَ كِبْراً وَ كَانَ يَمْنَعُ ظَهْرَهُ وَ اللِّجَامَ وَ السَّرْجَ وَ قَدْ كَانَ جَمَعَ عَلَيْهِ الرَّاضَةَ[1] فَلَمْ يُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حِيلَةً فِي رُكُوبِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ نُدَمَائِهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ لَا تَبْعَثُ إِلَى ا

“I was with my father in the city of Surra man Ra‘a. My father was a veterinarian at the animal farm of abu Muhammad (a.s.). Al-Musta‘in had a mule the like of which in beauty and size has not been seen. No one could touch that mule to ride, saddle or harness. He had called all the trainers and they had faild to ready

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع الْحَاجَةَ فَحَكَّ بِسَوْطِهِ الْأَرْضَ قَالَ وَ أَحْسَبُهُ غَطَّاهُ بِمِنْدِيلٍ وَ أَخْرَجَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ خُذْ وَ أَعْذِرْنَا.

“I requested abu Muhammad for something that I needed. He scratched the earth with his whip. The narrator has said that I think he then covered it with a handkerchief and then took out five hundred Dinars. He then said, “O abu Hashim take it and grants us pardon.”

أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ سَنَةَ الْقَادِسِيَّةِ يُعْلِمُهُ انْصِرَافَ النَّاسِ وَ أَنَّهُ يَخَافُ الْعَطَشَ فَكَتَبَ ع‌ امْضُوا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَمَضَوْا سَالِمِينَ‌ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ*.

“continue your journey and you will have no fear by the will of Allah.” They continued their journey to Hajj safely and thanks to Allah.”

نَزَلَ بِالْجَعْفَرِيِّ مِنْ آلِ جَعْفَرٍ خَلْقٌ لَا قِبَلَ لَهُ بِهِمْ فَكَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ يَشْكُو ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ تُكْفَوْنَ ذَلِكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ فِي نَفَرٍ يَسِيرٍ وَ الْقَوْمُ يَزِيدُونَ عَلَى عِشْرِينَ أَلْفاً وَ هُوَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ أَلْفٍ فَاسْتَبَاحَهُمْ‌[1].

Al-Ja‘fari from the family of Ja‘far was attacked by such a large number of people that seemed impossible for them to defend themselves. He wrote to abu Muhammad (a.s.) about his dangerous condition. He wrote back to him in reply, “You will be adequately defended by the will of Allah, the Most High. He came out with ju

حُبِسَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ نَارْمَشَ وَ هُوَ أَنْصَبُ النَّاسِ وَ أَشَدُّهُمْ عَلَى آلِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ قِيلَ لَهُ افْعَلْ بِهِ وَ افْعَلْ‌[2] فَمَا أَقَامَ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا يَوْماً حَتَّى وَضَعَ خَدَّيْهِ لَهُ وَ كَانَ لَا يَرْفَعُ بَصَرَهُ إِلَيْهِ إِجْلَالًا وَ إِعْظَاماً فَخَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَ هُوَ أَحْسَنُ النَّاسِ بَصِيرَةً وَ أَحْسَنُهُمْ فِيهِ قَوْلًا.

“Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was imprisoned under the supervision of Ali ibn Narmasha who was extremely hostile towards the descendants of abu Talib. He was told to treat him (abu Muhammad (a.s.) as he (the guard) wished. He stayed with him only for day and the guard who was hostile towards him became so submissive before him

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْوَلِيجَةِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى- وَ لَمْ يَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ لا رَسُولِهِ وَ لَا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلِيجَةً[3] قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مَنْ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَاهُنَا[4] فَرَجَعَ الْجَوَابُ الْوَلِيجَةُ الَّذِي يُقَامُ دُونَ وَلِيِّ الْأَمْرِ وَ حَدَّثَتْكَ نَفْسُكَ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ هُمْ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ فَهُمُ الْأَ

The Walija refers to a person who would be appointed in place of the Leader with Divine Authority. You have said to yourself “To who the believers refers in this verse”? They are the Imams who ask Allah to grant security to the people and He grants their request.”

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع ضِيقَ الْحَبْسِ وَ كَتَلَ الْقَيْدِ[5] فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَنْتَ تُصَلِّي الْيَوْمَ الظُّهْرَ فِي مَنْزِلِكَ فَأُخْرِجْتُ فِي وَقْتِ الظُّهْرِ فَصَلَّيْتُ فِي مَنْزِلِي كَمَا قَالَ ع وَ كُنْتُ مُضَيَّقاً فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَطْلُبَ مِنْهُ دَنَانِيرَ فِي الْكِتَابِ فَاسْتَحْيَيْتُ فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِي وَجَّهَ إِلَيَّ بِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ إِذَا كَانَتْ لَكَ حَاجَةٌ

“I complained to abu Muhammad (a.s.) about the constraining cell of the prison and the weight of the shackles on me. He wrote back in reply to me. “Today you will pray your noontime prayer in your own home.” I then was released that day and prayed the noontime prayer in my own home as he had said.” I was under financia

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ يُكَلِّمُ غِلْمَانَهُ بِلُغَاتِهِمْ- تُرْكٍ وَ رُومٍ وَ صَقَالِبَةٍ فَتَعَجَّبْتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ قُلْتُ هَذَا وُلِدَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَ لَمْ يَظْهَرْ لِأَحَدٍ حَتَّى مَضَى أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع وَ لَا رَآهُ أَحَدٌ فَكَيْفَ هَذَا أُحَدِّثُ نَفْسِي بِذَلِكَ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بَيَّنَ حُجَّتَهُ مِنْ سَائِرِ خَلْقِهِ بِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ يُعْطِي

11. Ishaq has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Aqra‘ who has said that narrated to me abuhz Nasir al-Khadim the following. “I had heard many times that abu Muhammad (a.s.) to each of his Roman, Turkish and Saqaliba slaves in their own languages. It was astonishing to me and I would think that he is born in al-Madina

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْإِمَامِ هَلْ يَحْتَلِمُ وَ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي بَعْدَ مَا فَصَلَ الْكِتَابُ الِاحْتِلَامُ شَيْطَنَةٌ وَ قَدْ أَعَاذَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَوْلِيَاءَهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَوَرَدَ الْجَوَابُ حَالُ الْأَئِمَّةِ فِي الْمَنَامِ حَالُهُمْ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ لَا يُغَيِّرُ النَّوْمُ مِنْهُمْ شَيْئاً وَ قَدْ أَعَاذَ اللَّهُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ مِنْ لَمَّةِ الشَّيْطَانِ كَمَا حَدَّثَ

The answer came. “The conditions of the Imams when asleep is the same as when they are awake. Sleep does not change anything in them. Allah has given protection to those whom He has given authority from Satanic encounters as you spoke to yourself.”

اخْتَلَجَ فِي صَدْرِي مَسْأَلَتَانِ أَرَدْتُ الْكِتَابَ فِيهِمَا إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَكَتَبْتُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْقَائِمِ ع إِذَا قَامَ بِمَا يَقْضِي وَ أَيْنَ مَجْلِسُهُ الَّذِي يَقْضِي فِيهِ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَ أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ لِحُمَّى الرِّبْعِ فَأَغْفَلْتُ خَبَرَ الْحُمَّى فَجَاءَ الْجَوَابُ سَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْقَائِمِ فَإِذَا قَامَ قَضَى بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِعِلْمِهِ كَقَضَاءِ دَاوُدَ ع لَا ي

“Two issues would poke in my chest which made me to write to abu Muhammad (a.s.). I wrote about Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority). “When he rise by what means he will judge among the people and where will be his court house?” I also wanted to ask him about alternating fever but I had missed to ment

قَعَدْتُ لِأَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع عَلَى ظَهْرِ الطَّرِيقِ فَلَمَّا مَرَّ بِي شَكَوْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْحَاجَةَ وَ حَلَفْتُ لَهُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي دِرْهَمٌ فَمَا فَوْقَهَا وَ لَا غَدَاءٌ وَ لَا عَشَاءٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ تَحْلِفُ بِاللَّهِ كَاذِباً وَ قَدْ دَفَنْتَ مِائَتَيْ دِينَارٍ وَ لَيْسَ قَوْلِي هَذَا دَفْعاً لَكَ عَنِ الْعَطِيَّةِ أَعْطِهِ يَا غُلَامُ مَا مَعَكَ فَأَعْطَانِي غُلَامُهُ مِائَةَ دِينَارٍ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَ

“Once I sat on the side of the road waiting for abu Muhammad (a.s.) to pass by so that I can present before him my complain against a need. When he was passing by I presented my complain before him and swore that I did not have even a Dirham, nothing for lunch or dinner.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) said

كَانَ لِي فَرَسٌ وَ كُنْتُ بِهِ مُعْجَباً أُكْثِرُ ذِكْرَهُ فِي الْمَحَالِّ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ يَوْماً فَقَالَ لِي مَا فَعَلَ فَرَسُكَ فَقُلْتُ هُوَ عِنْدِي وَ هُوَ ذَا هُوَ عَلَى بَابِكَ وَ عَنْهُ نَزَلْتُ فَقَالَ لِيَ اسْتَبْدِلْ بِهِ قَبْلَ الْمَسَاءِ إِنْ قَدَرْتَ عَلَى مُشْتَرِي وَ لَا تُؤَخِّرْ ذَلِكَ وَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا دَاخِلٌ وَ انْقَطَعَ الْكَلَامُ فَقُمْتُ مُتَفَكِّراً وَ مَضَيْتُ إِلَى مَنْز

“I had a horse that I liked very much and I would admire it often in gatherings. One day I went to see abu Muhammad (a.s.) and he said, “What has your horse done?” I said, “I still have it and it is in front of your. I just dismounted it.” He said, “Change it before this evening if you can if you would find a buyer and

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع حِينَ أَخَذَ الْمُهْتَدِي فِي قَتْلِ الْمَوَالِي يَا سَيِّدِي الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي شَغَلَهُ عَنَّا فَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّهُ يَتَهَدَّدُكَ وَ يَقُولُ وَ اللَّهِ لَأُجْلِيَنَّهُمْ عَنْ جَدِيدِ الْأَرْضِ‌[3] فَوَقَّعَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع بِخَطِّهِ ذَاكَ أَقْصَرُ لِعُمُرِهِ عُدَّ مِنْ يَوْمِكَ هَذَا خَمْسَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَ يُقْتَلُ فِي الْيَوْمِ السَّادِسِ بَعْدَ هَوَانٍ وَ اسْتِخْفَافٍ ي

“I wrote to abu Muhammad (a.s.) when al-Muhtadi had began to kill the Turkish Mawali (slave or supporters). My master, we thank Allah for diverting his (al-Muhtadi’s) attention from us. I have heard that he had threatened you and has said, By Allah, I will wipe them out from the face of the earth.” Abu Muhammad (a.s.)

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع أَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ اللَّهَ لِي مِنْ وَجَعِ عَيْنِي وَ كَانَتْ إِحْدَى عَيْنَيَّ ذَاهِبَةً وَ الْأُخْرَى عَلَى شَرَفِ ذَهَابٍ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ حَبَسَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ عَيْنَكَ فَأَفَاقَتِ الصَّحِيحَةُ وَ وَقَّعَ فِي آخِرِ الْكِتَابِ آجَرَكَ اللَّهُ وَ أَحْسَنَ ثَوَابَكَ فَاغْتَمَمْتُ لِذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ فِي أَهْلِي أَحَداً مَاتَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ جَاءَتْنِي وَف

“I wrote to abu Muhammad (a.s.) requesting him to pray for because of the pain that I suffered in my eyes. One of my eye had gone and the other was about to go. He wrote back to me in reply, “Allah has kept your eye for you.” My painful eye then recovered. He had signed at the end with these words, “May Allah, grant yo

قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا بِسُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ مِصْرَ يُقَالُ لَهُ سَيْفُ بْنُ اللَّيْثِ- يَتَظَلَّمُ إِلَى الْمُهْتَدِي فِي ضَيْعَةٍ لَهُ قَدْ غَصَبَهَا إِيَّاهُ- شَفِيعٌ الْخَادِمُ وَ أَخْرَجَهُ مِنْهَا فَأَشَرْنَا عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَسْأَلُهُ تَسْهِيلَ أَمْرِهَا فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع لَا بَأْسَ عَلَيْكَ ضَيْعَتُكَ تُرَدُّ عَلَيْكَ فَلَا تَتَقَدَّمْ إِلَى السُّلْطَ

18. Ishaq has said that narrated to me ‘Umar ibn Muslim the following. “We were in the city of Surra man Ra’a that a man, called Sayf ibn al-Layth, from Egypt came with a complain to al-Muhtadi against Shafi‘ al-Khadim who had usurped his property and expelled him from the city. We gave a hint to write to abu Muhammad

كَانَ لِأَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ وَكِيلٌ قَدِ اتَّخَذَ مَعَهُ فِي الدَّارِ حُجْرَةً يَكُونُ فِيهَا مَعَهُ خَادِمٌ أَبْيَضُ فَأَرَادَ الْوَكِيلُ الْخَادِمَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَأَبَى إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ بِنَبِيذٍ فَاحْتَالَ لَهُ بِنَبِيذٍ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ثَلَاثَةُ أَبْوَابٍ مُغْلَقَةٍ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنِي الْوَكِيلُ قَالَ إِنِّي لَمُنْتَبِهٌ إِذْ أَنَا بِالْأَبْوَابِ تُفْتَحُ حَتَّى

“Abu Muhammad (a.s.) had an agent who lived in a room in the house with white servant of the Imam (a.s.). the agent invited the servant to have evil activities with him and the servant refused to do so unless he brought him wine. The agent managed to find wine and take it to him. There were three closed doors between t

نَاظَرْتُ رَجُلًا مِنَ الثَّنَوِيَّةِ بِالْأَهْوَازِ ثُمَّ قَدِمْتُ سُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى وَ قَدْ عَلِقَ بِقَلْبِي شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْ مَقَالَتِهِ فَإِنِّي لَجَالِسٌ عَلَى بَابِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْخَضِيبِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع مِنْ دَارِ الْعَامَّةِ[4] يَؤُمُّ الْمَوْكِبَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ وَ أَشَارَ بِسَبَّاحَتِهِ‌[5] أَحَدٌ أَحَدٌ فَرْدٌ[6] فَسَقَطْتُ مَغْشِيّاً عَلَيَّ.

“I debated a man who believed in dualism in Ahwaz them went to Surra man Ra‘a. However, his words were stuck to my heart. I was sitting in front of the door of Ahmad al-Khadib that I saw abu Muhammad (a.s.) coming from the house for public gathering. It was the house wherein on a certain day the Sultan would allow the

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ يَوْماً وَ أَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ مَا أَصُوغُ بِهِ خَاتَماً أَتَبَرَّكُ بِهِ فَجَلَسْتُ وَ أُنْسِيتُ مَا جِئْتُ لَهُ فَلَمَّا وَدَّعْتُ وَ نَهَضْتُ رَمَى إِلَيَّ بِالْخَاتَمِ فَقَالَ أَرَدْتَ فِضَّةً فَأَعْطَيْنَاكَ خَاتَماً رَبِحْتَ الْفَصَّ وَ الْكِرَاءَ هَنَأَكَ اللَّهُ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ وَ إِمَامِيَ الَّذِي أَدِينُ اللَّه

“One day I went to see abu Muhammad (a.s.) and I wanted him to give me a certain amount of silver so I can make a ring out of it and keep for blessing. I sat down but forgot to ask what I had come for. When was leaving and said farewell to him he threw a ring to me and said, “You wanted silver and we gave you and profi

كُنْتُ أَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَأَعْطَشُ وَ أَنَا عِنْدَهُ فَأُجِلُّهُ أَنْ أَدْعُوَ بِالْمَاءِ فَيَقُولُ يَا غُلَامُ اسْقِهِ وَ رُبَّمَا حَدَّثْتُ نَفْسِي بِالنُّهُوضِ فَأُفَكِّرُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَيَقُولُ يَا غُلَامُ دَابَّتَهُ‌[2].

“Often time I would go to see abu Muhammad (a.s.). When in his presence I would feel thirsty but I would feel shy, out of respect for him, to ask for water but he would call the people of his household to bring water for me. Often times I would think to myself of leaving and he would say, “Young man, bring his horse.”

دَخَلَ الْعَبَّاسِيُّونَ عَلَى صَالِحِ بْنِ وَصِيفٍ وَ دَخَلَ صَالِحُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ غَيْرُهُ مِنَ الْمُنْحَرِفِينَ عَنْ هَذِهِ النَّاحِيَةِ عَلَى صَالِحِ بْنِ وَصِيفٍ عِنْدَ مَا حَبَسَ أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَقَالَ لَهُمْ صَالِحٌ وَ مَا أَصْنَعُ قَدْ وَكَّلْتُ بِهِ رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ أَشَرِّ مَنْ قَدَرْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَدْ صَارَا مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ إِلَى أَمْرٍ عَظِيمٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمَا مَا فِيهِ ف

“When abu Muhammad (a.s.) was imprisoned, the ‘Abbassids, Salih ibn Wasif, Salih ibn Ali and others who were not Shi‘as all came to Salih ibn Wasif asking him to exert more pressure on abu Muhammad (a.s.).Salih told them, “What should I do? I managed to find two people who were of the harshest manners and appointed the

وَ نَاوَلَنِي عِرْقاً لَمْ أَفْهَمْهُ مِنَ الْعُرُوقِ الَّتِي تُفْصَدُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي مَا رَأَيْتُ أَمْراً أَعْجَبَ مِنْ هَذَا يَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ أَفْصِدَ فِي وَقْتِ الظُّهْرِ وَ لَيْسَ بِوَقْتِ فَصْدٍ وَ الثَّانِيَةُ عِرْقٌ لَا أَفْهَمُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَ انْتَظِرْ وَ كُنْ فِي الدَّارِ فَلَمَّا أَمْسَى دَعَانِي وَ قَالَ لِي سَرِّحِ الدَّمَ فَسَرَّحْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَمْسِكْ فَأَمْسَكْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي كُنْ فِ

Certain persons of our people have narrated from a Christian cupping expert who served in the army the following. “One day at noontime abu Muhammad (a.s.) sent for me at the time of noon prayer and told me to perform cupping on this vein. He showed me a vein that was not know to me as one of the veins used for cupping.

كَتَبَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حُجْرٍ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَشْكُو عَبْدَ الْعَزِيزِ بْنَ دُلَفَ وَ يَزِيدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَمَّا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ فَقَدْ كُفِيتَهُ وَ أَمَّا يَزِيدُ فَإِنَّ لَكَ وَ لَهُ مَقَاماً بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ فَمَاتَ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ وَ قَتَلَ يَزِيدُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ حُجْرٍ.

“mmd ibn al-Hujr once wrote to abu Muhammad (a.s.) complaining against ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Dulf and Yazid ibn ‘Abdallah. He wrote back in reply, “As far as ‘Abd al-‘Aziz is concerned I have relieved you from his troubles. As far as Yazid is concerned for each of you there is position before Allah.” ‘Abd al-‘Aziz died and

سُلِّمَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع إِلَى نِحْرِيرٍ[1] فَكَانَ يُضَيِّقُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يُؤْذِيهِ قَالَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَتُهُ وَيْلَكَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ لَا تَدْرِي مَنْ فِي مَنْزِلِكَ وَ عَرَّفَتْهُ صَلَاحَهُ وَ قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ لَأَرْمِيَنَّهُ بَيْنَ السِّبَاعِ ثُمَّ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ فَرُئِيَ ع قَائِماً يُصَلِّي وَ هِيَ حَوْلَهُ.

“Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was placed under the supervision of a zoo-keeper who would cause constraints suffering to him. He has said that his wife told him, “woe is you, be pious before Allah. Do you not know who is in your house?” She then explained to him the good manners of the Imam (a.s.) and said, “I am afraid for you

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لِأَنْظُرَ إِلَى خَطِّهِ فَأَعْرِفَهُ إِذَا وَرَدَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ الْخَطَّ سَيَخْتَلِفُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ بَيْنِ الْقَلَمِ الْغَلِيظِ إِلَى الْقَلَمِ الدَّقِيقِ فَلَا تَشُكَّنَّ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِالدَّوَاةِ فَكَتَبَ وَ جَعَلَ يَسْتَمِدُّ إِلَى مَجْرَى الدَّوَاةِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي وَ هُوَ يَكْتُبُ أَسْتَوْهِبُهُ الْقَلَمَ الَّذِي كَت

“Once I went to see abu Muhammad (a.s.) and asked him to write for me few lines so that whenever I would see his hand writing I would recognize it. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, and then said, “O Ahmad the writing with a fine pen and with thick pen will look different to you. Do not have doubts He then asked for a pen an