FORE KNOWLEDGE AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE INVISIBLE
We have seen in the chapter on Hadees-e-Kisa that all the Ahlulbayt knew beforehand that the verse was about to be revealed. Therefore all of them endeavoured to prepare the ground for the verse. Fatima even narrated the discussion between God [Manifest Self] and Gabriel in the highest heaven. Likewise, we have also seen certain portions in the Upanishads and Puranas seem to be foretelling the events that would happen in future. The incidents related to the coming of Kalki Avatar prove our point. Same is the case with the gathering near Mount Meru that has been described in the Vishnu Purana. Similarly, the narration from Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad seems to be mentioning the events that would happen much later in the house of Fatima. This narration is attributed to the sage Yajnavalkya.
In this regard, Allama Ali Naqi Naqvi has narrated a few verses from Quran, which say that other than God, there is no one who has the knowledge of the invisible. However, there is a verse in Surah Jinn, where it is said that He does not pass His knowledge of the invisible to anybody but to those He chooses.
Therefore, it is evident that it is up to the wish of God whether He gives the knowledge of the invisible to any of His subjects or not. The True Knowledge of the Invisible is surely with God; He may give more knowledge in a certain field to any of His creations. To what extent He gives that knowledge too is up to Him. As per descriptions given in Quran, Moses was a Prophet of higher order than Khizr but Khizr was given that knowledge of the future that even Moses was not aware of.
Two of the appellations of Prophet Mohammad are Basheer and Nazeer. Basheer means one who gives the good news and Nazeer means one who gives the bad news. Nobody can be Basheer and Nazeer unless he has the knowledge of the invisible. After all, telling about the invisible God too means that they had knowledge of the invisible. Messengers who told of the life after death, heaven and hell – were they not giving the knowledge of the invisible? Even the fact that the Prophet was the Prophet was based on knowledge of the invisible. Moreover, Prophet is one who prophesies. History has seen that not just the Prophets, there have been pious men like Nematullah Shah Wali whose prophesies are so accurate that they confound us to this day.
If Prophet Mohammad was not aware about the future events, how is it that he mentioned several incidents about the future? He is reported to have narrated the events of Karbala in advance and tears used to come in his eyes while narrating these incidents. When asked the reasons for this behaviour, he said that you do not know the kind of tortures and hardships that Husain would have to face.
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On other occasion, an incident is reported when Husain as a child came to the Prophet Mohammad. He lifted Husain’s garment and started kissing on various parts of the body. Ali asked the reason for this act and Prophet said that he was kissing at all those places where Husain would get wounded from attacks of sword. Husain was killed by the swords 50 years after the departure of Prophet Mohammad.
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She visited the Apostle of God and said: “Apostle of God, I have had a strange dream during the night.”
“What was it?” he asked.
“It was terrible,” she said.
“What was it?” he repeated.
“I saw (something) like a piece of your body cut up and put in my lap,” she answered.
“You have seen well,” said the Apostle of God. “Fatima will give birth to a boy when she is sitting on your lap (to give birth).”
(She reported:) Fatima did give birth to Husain, and she was in my lap just as the Apostle of God had said. One day I took him to the Prophet and I put him in his lap. His gaze turned away from me. Behold, both the eyes of the Apostle of God were flowing with tears. I said: (May I ransom you) with my father and mother, Apostle of God, what is the matter with you?”
“Gabriel came to me,” he said. “He told me that my community will seek to kill this son of mine and he brought me dust made red by his (blood).”
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(Simak reported on the authority of Ibn al-Mukhariq on the authority of Umm Salama, who said:)
One day while the Apostle of God was sitting down and Husain was sitting on his knee, his eyes suddenly filled with tears. I said to him: “Apostle of God, why do I see you weeping, may I be your ransom?”
“Gabriel came to me,” he said. “He consoled me for the death of my son, Husain and he told me that a group of my community will kill him. May God never let them have intercession from me.” [Proof that Mohammad will act as intercessor and give salvation to his followers.]
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One evening the Apostle of God left us and was away for a long time. He came back, he was dishevelled and dusty and his hand was holding (something). I said to him: “Apostle of God, why do I see you dishevelled and dusty?”
He said: “I have just been on a night journey to a place in Iraq called Karbala. There I saw the death of my son, Husain, and a group of my children and the members of my family (Ahlulbayt). I could not stop (myself) from gathering (some of) their blood and here it is in my hand.”
He opened his hand and said: “Take it and look after it.” [This shows these divine spirits are even capable of travelling through time, seeing the events with naked eye and even bringing something back from the future. Not just divine spirits, common people like Nematullah Shah Wali have the capacity to elevate their spirits too such levels that it appears they were looking at the events of the future.]
I took it. It was like red soil. I put it in a phial, fastened its top and kept it. When Husain left Makkah on his way to Iraq, I took out that phial every day and night. I used to smell it and look at it. Then I would weep for his fate. On the 10th of (the month of) Moharram, the day on which Husain was killed, I took it out. At the beginning of the day it was in its usual condition, but at the end of the day, behold, it was fresh blood. I shrieked (with grief) and wept. Then I restrained my anger out of fear that the enemies (of the family of the Prophet) in Medina would hear and would hurry to rejoice at their misfortune. I have kept it secret up to the present time, then to the day when the messenger bringing the news of his death came to announce it. Then what I had seen was proved.
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It is reported that one day the Prophet was sitting down. Around him were Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain. He asked them: “How would you feel if when you were killed, your tombs were scattered around (the country).”
“Will we die an (ordinary) death or will we be killed?” Husain asked.
“Rather you will be killed unjustly, my little son, and your brother will be killed unjustly,” he answered. “Your offspring will be scattered over the land.”
“Apostle of God, who will kill us?” asked Husain.
“The evil men among the people,” he said.
“Will anyone visit (our graves) after we are killed?” he asked.
“Yes, my little son,” he told him, “a group (taifa) of my community will gain my beneficence and favour through visiting (your graves). On the Day of Resurrection, I will bring them to the place so that I may take them by the arms and save them from its terrors and sorrows.”
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Prophet mentioned the future conduct of one of his wife too. He said that the dogs of a particular place named Howab would bark on one of them, and at that point she would surely be on the wrong. The incident occurred when Ayesha, his wife, and daughter of the first Caliph of Muslims – Abu Bakr – revolted against Ali’s caliphate at the instigation of Muawiya - father of Yazid - and others.
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At another instance, a mosque was being built and while everyone was bringing two bricks each Ammar-e-Yasir was bringing four bricks at a time. On seeing this Prophet said, what to say of Ammar who would be killed by a rebel group. Ammar would be calling them to heaven and they would be calling him to hell. Ammar was later killed at the age of 80 while fighting as the commander of forces sent by Ali to Siffin against the army of Muawiya.
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Likewise, Prophet told the names of the 12 Imams to come and incidents related to the life of the 12th Imam (the 14th Ahlulbayt – Mahdi or Kalki). Even the succeeding Imams foretold about the future Imams and told of the incidents related to the life of 12th Imam, which are yet to unfold. There are several incidents about the End Times that were told by Prophet and Imams. For instance, they foretold that the Muslims would get divided into 73 sects and only one of them would be on the right path. And they foretold that a particular friend of Prophet [like Hujr or Juwayriyya] would be killed in such and such manner.
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Our opinion, formulated on the basis of our study of Upanishads, Vedas and Gita, is that the Ahlulbayt possessed knowledge not only about past but also about future. Whether this knowledge was complete and was present when Imamate had not been bestowed upon them is subject of debate? As Upanishads say, they are all powerful in Noor state and possess limited powers when Noor descends in human bodies.
Upanishads explicitly say that God has given time in their possession. They also say that the rest of beings were created for the worship of God. This has been their purpose all through life. And they are surely not gods; neither are they sons of God.
We give here some more incidents about knowledge of the invisible from the life of the Ahlulbayt. Surely, you would agree that the Ahlulbayt were aware of incidents that occurred in the past and that would take place in future. See a few of them.
Hadees no. 678 from chapter 48 of book al-Kafi says:
We, a group of Shia, were in the company of Husain at Hijr (a place close to the Kaaba in Makkah). He said: ‘Does anyone have their eyes on us?’ We turned to the right and to the left, but did not see anyone, and we said: ‘No-one has his eyes on us.’ Then he said: ‘By the Lord of Kaaba, and by the Lord of this building (the Kaaba),’ – three times (he said this) – ‘if I had been with Musa and Khizr, I would have told them that I had more knowledge than them, and I would have informed them of what was not then present to them, for Musa and Khizr were given the knowledge of what was, but were not given the knowledge of what would be and what will be till the Hour (of Judgment) will come, and we indeed have inherited this from the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Mohammad).
If you notice, Husain is mentioning his superhuman role by talking of the knowledge that he possessed about what will happen till the Day of Judgment, but in the end, camouflaging it by saying that “we inherited this from the Messenger of Allah.” You will find several such narrations. This is because the Ahlulbayt knew people were not prepared to accept their Divine role then but they also knew that a day would come in future when their true role will be known.
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On another occasion, book Al-Kafi states (Hadees no. 679) that Husain said:
Verily, I know what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. I know what is in Paradise, I know what is in the Fire (Hell), and I know what has been and what will be.” He (the narrator) said: “Then he paused for a moment, and then he saw that this was too difficult for those who heard it from him, so he said: “I have learnt (all this) from the Book of Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty. Truly Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, says: “In it is the classification of all things.”
Unfortunately, from statements like this people concluded that Quran possess knowledge of all things. Ask them where all that knowledge is and they wouldn’t know. This is because they missed the vital links and also left the side of the Ahlulbayt who were in position to make us understand the Quran in a better manner and bestow all knowledge.
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In Hadees no. 681, it is stated that the 7th Ahlulbayt, Mohammad al-Baqar said to a group of companions: “I am surprised at the group who accept our mastership, take us as their Imams and claim that obedience to us is obligatory on them just as obedience of the Messenger of Allah and then go against the evidence they have and defeat themselves and find fault concerning this (explained later) with those whom Allah has given the evidence for the truth of the recognition of us and submission to our degree. Can you conceive that Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime, would make obedience to those? He has appointed masters (awliya) obligatory on His creatures, and would then conceal from the information of the heavens and the earth, and would then cut off from them sources of knowledge concerning (those matters that) turn up for them in which there is (question of) the very basis of their religion?” [These are the Saptrishis of Gita and Veda.]
“Then Humran said to him: ‘May I be made your ransom, what do you say about the affair of the stance of ‘Ali ibn Abu Talib, Hasan and Husain, their rising up and their establishing the religion of Allah, may His remembrance be glorified, and of those who exceeded in corruption overcoming them and killing them, their being slaughtered and defeated?’ Then Mohammad al-Baqar said: ‘O Humran! Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime fore-ordained this for them, decreed it, finalized it and made it a reality by means of their volition, then He carried it out. Thus Ali, Hasan and Husain stood up through the knowledge which had come before from the Messenger of Allah; and through (this) knowledge are silent those among us who are silent. O Humran! When what came to them of the will of Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, befell them, and He caused those who exceeded in corruption to stand over them, if they had asked Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, that He rid them of this and I had implored Him in their request that the power of those who exceed in corruption be destroyed and their rule be brought to an end, He would have accepted and rid them of it; and then the finishing of the period of those who exceeded in corruption and the termination of their rule would have been quicker than a string of beads which is cut and (the beads) scattered. That which befell them, O Humran, was not because of a wrongdoing that they had committed, nor as a punishment for disobedience in which they disobeyed Allah, but (it was) for stages and honour from Allah, which He wished them to reach. So do not search here and there about them.’”
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In Hadees no. 682, it is stated that when Hisham asked Husain from where he gets his knowledge, Husain replied: “Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime does not use a Proof as an argument for His creatures unless he has everything of which they are in need.” Talking on the same subject, Mohammad al-Baqar said: ‘No, by Allah, indeed no; no man of knowledge can ever be an ignorant person, (that is,) a man who knows something but is ignorant of something (else).’ Then he said: ‘Allah is more glorified, more mighty and more generous than that He should make obedience to one slave obligatory, and conceal from him the knowledge of His heaven and His earth.’ Then he said: ‘He does not conceal that from him.’”
The aforementioned Hadees clearly states that Husain and others were Divine Proofs, sent on earth for our well-being, and their powers were bestowed on them by God.
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Hadees no. 690 states that the 7th Ahlulbayt Mohammad al-Baqar said to a group of associates: “If your tongues had been tied (i.e. if you could keep to yourself what you know), I would have told everyone what is to their advantage and what is to their disadvantage.”
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I will tell you what you will eat and what you will store in your houses.
Quran. 3. 49
God made several similar miraculous signs for Prophet Mohammad. Upon the defeat of the Romans’ (i.e. Byzantines) horsemen:
Rome has been conquered in the lower lands (of its empire) but in a few years after their defeat they will conquer.
Quran. 30. 1-4
The matter turned out just as God had said. God said of those who took part in the Battle of Badr before the battle (occurred):
The groups (of the enemy) will be defeated and they will turn their backs (in flight).
Quran. 54. 45
The matter occurred just as God had said without there being any difference in it. The God also said:
Indeed you will enter the Sacred Mosque in safety, if God wills, with your heads shaved or shortened, without fear.
Quran. 48. 27
The matter took place in the 8 A.H. with the conquest of Makkah. Also He said:
When the help of God comes and victory, you will see the people entering the religion of God in parties.
Quran. 110. 1-3
This event occurred as He described.
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Likewise, there are several reports of Ali – the commander of the faithful - concerning the unknown and (foretelling) things which would happen before they happen. He never said anything without his statement agreeing with the report of the event so that in this way his truthfulness was established. Some of incidents from the life of Imam Ali are being mentioned here. We wish to tell you that incidents like this are in such abundance that they are themselves a subject of an entire book.
He said to Talha and Zubair, when they asked permission to leave to go on the lesser pilgrimage: “By God, you are not going to make the lesser pilgrimage, you are going to Basra.”
The matter was as he had said.
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He also said to Ibn Abbas when informing him about their asking for permission to go on the lesser pilgrimage: “I have given them permission despite knowing of the treachery they harboured within themselves. I have appealed for the help of God against them. Indeed God, the Exalted, will rebuff their plotting and give me victory against them.”
The matter happened as he predicted.
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Another example to prove this is what he said when the Syrians raised copies of the Quran and a group of his followers began to have doubts (about their position) and insisted (that he agree) to making a truce: “Shame on you, this is a deceitful trick. Those people do not really mean (to settle the issue by) the Quran because they are not people (who accept) the Quran. Fear God and carry out your decision to fight against them. If you do not, you will be separated into (different) groups and you will regret it when regret will not bring any advantage.”
The matter turned out just as he had predicted. This group of people fell into disbelief after the arbitration (between Ali and Muawiya) and they regretted the action which they had previously hastily embarked on and made him accept. They were separated into different groups and destruction came to them soon after.
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Ali said as he was setting out to fight against the Kharijites: “If it was not for the fact that I am afraid that you would just carry on discussions and abandon (all other) action, I would tell you the decision God has made through the words of His Prophet concerning those who fight against these people (i.e. against the Kharijites) as a result of seeing them to be misguided. Indeed, among them is a man with a stunted arm who has breasts like the breasts of a woman. They are the wickedest of creatures and the one who fights against them is the closest in relationship to God among His creatures.”
The malformation of the man (mukhdaj) had not been known to the people. After the battle, Ali caused a search to be made for him among those killed saying: “By God, I have not lied nor have I been lied to.”
Eventually (his body) was found among those people and his shirt was torn open. On his shoulder there was a swelling like the breast of a woman, on which were hairs. When the hairs were pulled, his shoulder came forward with it. When they were left, his shoulder went back to its position. When he was found, Ali said: “God is greater. In this there is a warning for anyone who reflects.” We invite our readers to reflect!
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[The historians (ashab al-sira) report in their account on the authority of Jundub b. Abd Allah al-Azdi, who said:]
I (i.e. Jundub b. Abd Allah) took part with Ali in the battles of the Camel and Siffin. I never had any doubts about fighting against those who fought him until I took part in the battle of al-Nahrawan (against the Kharijites). Then doubts came to me about fighting against these people I said: “It is our reciters of the Quran and our choice men whom we are killing. This matter is dreadful.”
In the morning I went for a walk, (taking) some vessels of water with me, until I left the lines (of the army). Then I fixed my spear in the ground, fitted my shield on it and shaded myself from the sun. While I was sitting, the Commander of the faithful, came along. He said to me: “Brother from (the tribe of) al-Azd, do you have water for ritual purification with you?”
“Yes,” I answered and I gave him a vessel.
He went aside so that I could not see him. Then he came back after he had purified himself. He sat down in the shade of the spear. Suddenly a horseman appeared asking for him. I said: “Commander of the faithful, there is a horseman who wants you.”
“Make a sign to him (to come here),” he told me.
I made a sign and he came. He said: “Commander of the faithful, the people have crossed the river.”
“No,” he retorted, “they have not crossed.”
“Yes, by God, they have crossed,” (the man) insisted.
“You are lying,” he said.
Then another man came. He said: “Commander of the faithful, the people have crossed.”
“No,” he replied, “they have not crossed.”
“By God,” (the man) said, “I did not come to you until I saw the standards and the baggage on that side.”
“By God,” he declared, “They have not done so. (What you want) is to kill them and shed their blood.”
Then he arose and I arose with him. I said to myself: “Praise be to God, who has given me insight into this man and enabled me to recognize his affair. He is one of two men: he is either a thoroughgoing liar or (one given) evidence (for his authority) by his Lord and a covenant by his Prophet. O God, I give You a solemn undertaking which You can ask me about on the Day of Resurrection. If I find that the people have crossed, I will be the first to fight against him, the first to thrust my spear into his eye. If the people have not crossed, then I will go forth with him and fight alongside him.”
We returned to the lines (of the army) and we found that the standards and baggage were as they had been (before).
Ali took me by the scruff of the neck and pushed me. Then he said: “Brother of (the tribe of) al-Azd, has the matter become clear to you?”
“Yes, Commander of the faithful,” I replied.
“Your business is with your enemy,” he said.
I killed one man from those people (i.e. the Kharijites) and then I killed another, and I and another of them were exchanging blows. I struck him and he struck me. We both fell together. My comrades carried me back. By the time I recovered consciousness, there were none of the people (i.e. the Kharijites) left (there).
This is famous account which has a wide circulation among the reporters of historical traditions (athar). In it the man tells of his own solemn undertaking towards the Commander of the faithful and (what happened) after that. There is no way that it can be rejected or its truthfulness denied. In it (the Commander of the faithful) provides information about the unknown, gives clear evidence of his knowledge of the inner conscience (of man) and his knowledge of what is in men’s hearts. The evidence in it is outstanding which could only be equalled by evidence of a similar nature in terms of the greatness of the miracle and its clear proof.
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In a similar vein is the account which Walid b. Harith and others report on the authority of the men (whom they cite):
When the Commander of the faithful (Ali) learnt what Busr b. Artaa had done in Yemen, he said: “O God, Busr has sold his religion for the world, so take his reason away. Do not let there remain to him in his religion anything by which he would merit Your mercy. May Busr survive until his mind becomes disordered.”
(Later) Busr used to ask for a sword and a sword of wood would be brought to him. He would strike with it until he became unconscious. When he recovered consciousness, he would say: “The sword, the sword.” It would be given to him and he would strike with it. He continued like that until he died.
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There is another report of his words with the same implication: “People, I have called you to the truth and you turned your backs away from me. I have flogged you and you have made me tired. After me rulers will rule you. They will not be satisfied with this (attitude) from you so that they will torment you with whips and iron. Whoever torments people in this world will be tormented by God in the next. The sign of that will be that the ruler of Yemen will come against you to settle in your midst. A man called Yusuf b. Omar will seize the tax-collectors and those who collect the taxes of the tax-collectors.”
That happened as he predicted.
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Juwayriyya b. Mishar stood at the gate of Ali’s house.
“Where is the Commander of the faithful?” he asked.
“Sleeping,” was the reply.
“You who are sleeping wake up,” he shouted. “For by Him in Whose hands is my soul, a blow will be struck on your head from which your blood will be coloured with blood, as you have told us before.”
The Commander of the faithful heard that. He called out: “Come, Juwayriyya so that I can discuss with you what you are saying.”
He came and (the Commander of the faithful) said to him: “By Him in Whose hands is my soul, you will be pulled before a rough harsh man. He will cut off your hand and your leg. Then you will be crucified below the tree trunk where an unbeliever (has already been crucified).”
Time went by after that until in the days of Muawiya, Ziyad became governor. He cut off his hand and his leg, then he crucified him on the tree trunk where Ibn Mukabir (was crucified). It was a long trunk and he was under him.
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When al-Hajjaj became governor, he sought for Kumayl b. Ziyad. The latter fled from him. (al-Hajjaj) deprived his people of their allowances (ata). When Kumayl saw that, he said: “I am an old man and my life is nearly finished. It is not right for me to deprive my people of their allowances.”
So he went and offered his hand to al-Hajjaj. When the latter saw him, he said: “I would have liked to have found a way to get you, myself.”
“Don’t gnash your teeth at me and don’t threaten me,” Kumayl replied. “What is left of my life is like mere specks of dust. Therefore give judgment as long as you are a judge. For there is an appointed time to be with God and after death there is the reckoning. The Commander of the faithful (Ali), told me that you would kill me.”
“Then that is evidence against yourself,” al-Hajjaj said to him.
“But the judgment is yours,” answered Kumayl.
“Indeed,” he retorted, “you were among those who killed Usman b. Affan. Strike off his head.”
Then he was executed.
This report is also recorded by the non-Shia (amma) which they report on the authority of men whom they regard as trustworthy. The Shia (khassa) participates in reporting it. Hence it has been included in this section where we mention miracles, proofs and evidence (concerning Ali).
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One day al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf al-Thaqafi said: “I would like to strike down one of the followers of Abu Turab (derogatory name of Ali). Through his blood, I would get closer to God.”
“We know of no one who was a companion of Abu Turab for a longer time than Qanbar, his retainer,” he was told.
He sent in search of him and he was brought.
“Are you Qanbar?” he asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
“(Your kunya) is Abu Hamdan?” he asked [Kunya means ‘tribe’]
“Yes,” he replied.
“Is your master Ali b. Abu Talib?”
“God is my Master,” he replied, “and the Commander of the faithful Ali is the master of my provisions.”
“Disassociate yourself from his religion,” he ordered him.
“If I disassociate myself from his religion, will you show me another better than it?” he asked.
“I will kill you,” he answered. “So choose what sort of death you prefer.”
“I leave that to you,” he responded.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because in whatever way you kill me, you will be killed in the same way,” he said. “The Commander of the faithful told me that my fate would be to be slaughtered unjustly and without right.”
Then he ordered him to be slaughtered.
This is also one of the reports which is established with regard to the Commander of the faithful (Ali), speaking about the unknown. It has been included in the section concerning the compelling miracles and outstanding evidence and the knowledge which God specially endowed to His proof among His prophets, apostles and chosen ones. In similar manner, Ali also prophesied the death of Meesam (Tammar) to him.
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One day Ali said to al-Bara b. Azib: “Bara, my son Husain will be killed while you are alive and you will not help him.”
After Husain was killed, al-Bara b. Azib used to say: “By God, Ali b. Abu Talib spoke the truth about Husain being killed and my not helping him.”
He showed (much) grief and regret about that.
This belongs to what we have mentioned about Ali giving information about the unknown and the prevailing attitudes of men’s hearts.
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(Abd Allah b. Ibrahim reported on the authority of Ziyad al-Makhariqi, who said:)
When death was close to Hasan, he summoned Husain, and said: “My brother, I am leaving you and joining my Lord. I have been given poison to drink and have spewed my liver into a basin. I am aware of the person who poisoned me and from where I have been made a subject to this deceitful action. I will oppose him before God, the Mighty and High. Therefore by the right I have with regard to you, say nothing about that and wait for what God, the Mighty and High, will decide concerning me. When I have died, shut my eyes, wash me and shroud me. Then carry me on my bier to the grave of my grandfather - the Apostle of God - so that I may renew my covenant with him. After that take me to the grave of my grandmother - Fatima daughter of Asad - and bury me there. My brother, the people will think that you intend to bury me with the Apostle of God. For that reason, they will gather to prevent you from doing it. I swear by God that you should not shed even your blood into the cupping-glass in (carrying out) my command.”
Then he made his testamentary bequests to his family and his children. (He gave him) his heirlooms and the things which the Commander of the faithful (Ali) had bequeathed to him when he had made him his successor, had declared him worthy to occupy his position, and had indicated to his followers that he was his successor, and set him up as their sign-post after himself.
When he passed on his (final) journey, Husain washed and shrouded his (body). Then he carried him on his bier. Marwan and those of the Banu Umayyah who were with him had no doubt that they would try to bury him beside the Apostle of God. They gathered together and armed themselves. When Husain approached the tomb of the Apostle of God with (the body of Hasan) so that he might renew his covenant with him, they came towards them with their group. Ayesha had joined them on a mule and she was saying: “What is there between you and me that you should allow someone I don’t want to, to enter my house?”
Marwan began to recite:
“O Lord, battle is better than ease.”
(Then he went on:) “Should Usman be buried in the outskirts of Medina and Hasan be buried alongside the Prophet? That will never be while I carry a sword.”
Discord was about to occur between the Banu Umayyah and the Banu Hashim. Ibn Abbas hurried to Marwan and said to him: “Go back to where you came from, Marwan. Indeed we do not intend to bury our companion with the Apostle of God. But we want him to be able to renew his covenant with him by visiting him. Then we will take him back to his grandmother – Fatima - and bury him alongside her according to his last instructions concerning that. If he had enjoined that he should be buried alongside the Prophet, you know that you would be least able to deter us from that. However, he, was much too aware of God and His Apostle and the sacredness of his tomb to bring bloodshed to it as others have done (who) have entered it without his permission.”
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(Abd Allah b.Sharik al-Amiri reported:)
I heard the followers of Ali say when Omar b. Saad went through the gate of the mosque: “There is the killer of Husain b. Ali.” That was some time before he was killed. [Even the followers of Ali had been told of it.]
(Salim b. Abi Hafsa reported:)
Omar b. Saad said to Husain: “Abu Abd Allah (title used for Husain), stupid people have come to me claiming that I will kill you.”
“They are not stupid,” Husain told him.
“They are men who dream (of the future). Yet it pleases me that you will not enjoy the land of Iraq for long after me.”
(Yusuf b. Abida reported: I heard Mohammad b. Sirin say:)
Such a redness, which was in the sky, was never seen except after the killing of Husain b. Ali.
Saad al-Iskaf reported: Mohammad Baqar, the 7th Ahlulbayt said:)
The killer of (Prophet) Yahya b. Zakariyya (John the Baptist) was a son born out of wedlock. The killer of Husain b. Ali was a son born out of wedlock. The sky only went red for those two.
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Fatima’s last sermon, when she was ill and the wives of the Emigrants and Companions of the Prophet came to visit her, foretells dire consequences in future, because of not choosing the Caliph designated by the Prophet. The land of Arabia, Iraq and Syria sure has been witness to a lot many of these.
“What a terrible leader they have elected (Abu Bakr). What a terrible helper they have appointed (Omar). What a wrong and oppressive exchange they have made! By God, they gave superiority to those who deferred their decision to become Muslims rather than to those who were the pioneers. They elected weak ones instead of strong ones. They destroyed those who believe they are performing good affairs. They are corrupters who do not understand.
Woe be to them! Is it not more worthy to follow the one who guides rather than the one who cannot find his way if he is not guided? What has happened to you? What kind of a judgment is this? You have impregnated the earth with your act. Just wait until the time when it gives birth. I swear to you, instead of milk, you will have buckets full of blood and poison will flow from the breasts of the new-born.
It is then that the destroyers of rights will lose and those who will come in the future will find and realize the terrible results of what the ancestors have done. So you should be satisfied with your daily affairs and live in peace prior to the storm and terrible revolts.
For them, the sharp swords of the dominations of the oppressors, anarchy and the rule of tyrants will overcome you. The oppressors will enslave you. No public assets except a small quantity will remain. They will cultivate with force what you have planted with love. At that time you will only sigh for there will be nothing that you can do because you were blind and could not see the truth. They will oblige you because you have turned your faces from the right way and you did not accept it.”
Future proved that all she was saying was true. Umayyads and Abbasids were followed by Arabia and Iraq being ruled by tribes from as far as Mongolia, who were cruel and savage.
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