Mouood Mouood English Edition
The Marriage of Imam Ali (AS) and Lady Fatimah (SA)
One day, the Holy Prophet came to the Mosque holding a branch of basil in his hand. He said to Salman, “Summon Ali.” Salman went to Ali saying,“O Ali! Go and see Allah’s Messenger!” Ali said, “O Salman! How did you find Allah’s Messenger at this hour?” Salman said, “He was very happy like a shining moon.”
Ali came to the Holy Prophet who gave him that branch of basil. It had a very sweet-smell. Ali asked, “How sweet-smelling this is! What is it?”The Holy Prophet said, “It is a gift from the paradisiacal women for the marriage of my daughter, Fatimah.” Ali said, “To whom will she be married, O Allah’s Messenger?” He replied, “She will be married to you, Ali! I was sitting in the mosque when an angel came in a way I had never seen before, saying: My name is Mahmud and my station in heaven is Nedia. A third of night had passed when I heard a call from the layers of heaven saying: O archangels, heavenly creatures and cherubim! Get together in the fourth heaven. All got together. The inhabitants of Paradise were present too. A decree said: O Archangels and Favorites of the King! Recite the Quranic chapter: The Man (Insan or al-Dahr).
Then, Tuba Tree was ordered to offer the marriage of Ali and Fatimah Zahra to heavens! At this time, Tuba started shaking whereby Jewels, pearls and ornaments showered down. Then, there came a decree to put a pulpit of a white pearl under Tuba Tree. An angel went up the pulpit praising Allah and greeting all the prophets. Then Allah called: O Gabriel! O Michael! You are two witnesses of Fatimah, and I, the Lord, am Fatimah’s Guardian! O Cherubim and heavenly creatures! I take you as witnesses that I gave Fatimah in marriage to Ali. Give the good news to My beloved that we made this marriage in heaven, you do the same on the earth.
So, the Holy Prophet invited the Muhajirun and Ansar on the same occasion. Turning his face to Ali, the Holy Prophet said, “O Ali! This was decreed in heaven. Now I give Fatimah to you in marriage against four hundred Dirhams as marriage portion. Do you accept it?” Ali said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I accepted her marriage to me.” Allah’s Messenger said, “Allah bless you.” (Kashf al-Asrar: 49/7)
Imam Ali’s Knowledge
Ibn Abbas is reported as saying: One night, Ali said to me, after you have accomplished your night prayer, come to me so that I can give you a gift. It was a night shining with moonlight. Ali said, “What is the meaning of (the letter) alif in Surah al-Hamd (No. 1)?” I said, “O Ali! You know it.” So, he started speaking and spoke for an hour on the alif and another hour on (the letter) lam. He did the same with the other letters and when he finished, the sun was rising. I found that my knowledge as compared to Ali’s was like a small pond is before a sea. (Kashf al-Asrar: 686/10)
In praise of Ibn Muhammad, Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS)
(He is) the king of the nation of the Chosen Prophet, proof of prophethood, truthful agent, scholar of research, fruit of the hearts of Allah’s Favorites, a dear child of the prophets, explicator of Ali, inheritor of prophet, mystic lover, Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s). We have already said that we need a separate book to give the full account of prophets, companions and Ahl al-Bayt. Since Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s) is one of Ahl al-Bayt, a wayfarer and is reported on more occasions, we will say a few words about him.
Those who follow Imam al-Sadiq are the Twelvers; that is Shiite Muslims who believe in the Imamate of Twelve Imams. If we wish to use just one epithet to describe his character, the truthful (unaffected) would be the best. He was trustworthy and a perfect leader. He was the guide of spiritual followers, the Imam of Muslims, a man of letters, mentor of Divine lovers, prayer leader, the most noble of the pious, a man of truth, and a peerless interpreter of the Holy Quran. He has quoted Imam al- Baqir on many occasions. It is strange that the Twelvers have this impression that Sunni Muslims have nothing to do with Ahl al-Bayt. This is a wrong impression. I know that whoever believes in Muhammad but does not believe in his offspring does not truly believe in Muhammad (S). Imam Shafi’i love for Ahl al-Bayt was to the extent that he was accused of being heretic hence put in jail. He too composed a line of poem saying:
If love for Muhammad’s Family is heresy, let all jinn and men testify to my heresy.
It has been reported that once Dawud al-Tai came to Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) saying, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! Give me a piece of advice, for my heart has turned black. You have an excellence over all creatures hence you have a right to give us pieces of advice.” The Imam said, “Abu- Sulayman! I fear that on the Judgment Day my great grandfather will reproach me as to why I have not observed the right of adherence. Only Allah is the most deserving of all treatments and dealings.” Dawud burst into tears and said, “O Allah! You –the one whose entire being is from the Holy Prophet, whose constitution is based on proof and reason, whose grandfather is Allah’s Messenger and whose mother is the all-chaste Lady is this much humble, then how can Dawud be proud of his deed!
It is reported that they saw al-Sadiq wearing a precious fur coat. They said, “O Son of Allah”s Messenger! This is not becoming for Ahl al-Bayt!”The Imam took the hand of the person into his sleeve. He had worn coarse woolen clothes stinging the arm. Al-Sadiq (a.s) said,
“This is for Allah, and that is for people.”
In praise of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s)
(He is) the proof for the people who have dealings with Allah, reason for the people of vision, Imam who is the offspring of the prophet, chosen of the followers of Ali, companion of the manifest and hidden, Abu-Jafar Muhammad Baqir whose other name was Abu-Abdullah and he was called al-Baqir.
He was known as well versed in all sciences, knowledge, and fine points. He was renowned for argumentation and demonstrative proof. Commenting on this holy verse:
Whoever disbelieves in Shaitan and believes in Allah…)2:256)
Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) says: What deters you from Allah is the Satan. Behold, the veil, which has kept you from Him. Try to remove that veil, for one who has a veil before his eyes cannot claim nearness to Allah. (Tadhkirat al-Awliya: 20,125)
Abul – Qasim Al-Qushayri
Maruf ibn Fayruz al-Karkhi was one of the spiritual guides whose prayer was answered. He was one of the devotees of Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha and became Muslim at the hands of the Imam. Maruf reports: I was bound to Kufah when I met a man called Ibn al-Sammak. He would give pieces of advice to people saying, “Whoever turns his back on Allah, Allah will turn His back on him too. And whoever turns to Allah, Allah will have mercy on him and all people will be with him.” His words appealed to me; so, I turned to Allah and abandoned everything save serving Ali ibn Musa al- Ridha. I said this to the Imam who said: If you take the advice, it is sufficient.” ( Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah: 28)
Husayn ibn Ali was walking home when he met several children. They had some pieces of bread. So, they invited him to have some. After having a piece of bread, Husayn took them home giving them food and clothes and saying: They were better hosts, for they had nothing more than what they had but I have more than what I gave away. (Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah: 223)
It is reported that Shaqiq al-Balkhi asked the meaning of magnanimity from Jafar ibn Muhammad (al-Sadiq). The Imam asked, “What is your opinion?” Shaqiq said, “If we are given, we will thank and if it is withheld, we will wait.” Imam al-Sadiq said, “Dogs in Medina will do the same.” Shaqiq said, “O son of Allah’s Messenger! What is magnanimity then?” The Imam replied,“If we are given, we will give away and if we are not given, we will wait.” (Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah: 363)
A man who had come from Mecca fell asleep in Medina. When he woke up, he thought his purse had been stolen. Seeing Imam Jafar, he seized him by the collar, saying, “You have taken my purse!” The Imam said, “How much money was in it?” He said, “A thousand Dinars.” Jafar took him home and gave him a thousand Dinars. When the man went to his place, his purse was there! He apologetically came back to the Imam bringing back the money. However, the Imam did not accept it saying, “We will not take back what we have given.” The man said, “Who is this person?” They said, “He is Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s).” (Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah: 363)
It is reported that Paradise longs for three persons: Ali, Ammar and Salman – may Allah be pleased with them all. (Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah: 582)
It is reported that Amir al-Muminin Ali (a.s.) – May Allah exalt his esteem – called out at a slave but he did not take heed. The Imam called him again, yet the slave took no heed. The Imam called him again but he took no notice. Rising up from his place, Ali saw him lying down. So he asked, “Did you not hear me?” He said, “I heard you.” The Imam asked, “Then why didn’t you come?’ The slave said, “Such a noble man as you are, I knew I was free from punishment, so I was lazy.” The Imam said, “I set you free for the sake of Allah, the Honored and Glorified.” (Al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah: 394)
