Monday, March 12, 2007

Miracles and Prophecies when they came on earth

Hadees 692 of Bihar-al-Anwar quotes from Husain who said that Ahlebayts are the ones who are the link between man and Allah (God) and even says that all the good for mankind has been created under their command, thereby amounts to saying that Allah does not interfere in their work regarding creation of good for mankind.
I went into the presence of Husain and I heard him say: ‘Truly Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, has educated his Prophet in moral perfections (Addaba) because of His love for him, and He has said: Surely thou art upon a mighty morality (al-Qalam, 68:4). Then He delegated (the duty, for example, to educate others) to him, and He to Whom belong Might and Majesty said: Whatever the Messenger gives you, take; whatever he forbids you, give over (Quran: al-Hashr, 59:7); and He to Whom belong Might and Majesty said: Whosoever obeys the Messenger, thereby obeys Allah (Quran: an-Nisa, 4:80).’” He said: “Then he said: ‘Verily, the Prophet of Allah delegated (it) to Ali and entrusted (it) to him. Then you accepted this but the (other) people rejected it. By Allah, we desire that you should speak when we speak, and be silent when we are silent. We are what is between you and Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty. Allah has not created any good for anyone against our commands.’
This quote of Husain confirms the Upanishadic view that running of the cosmos is being done by the Manifest Self (the fourteen devatas), even human beings have been created by the Self and the Absolute God is the Supreme in the sense that He created the Manifest Self, who further created the rest of the creation. Moreover, this statement also gives credence to the Hadees-e-Kisa, that all things were created by God in love of these divine beings so much so that even distribution of good is done under their orders.
A very interesting incident occurred when a man came to Prophet Mohammad seeking his blessing for a son. Prophet Mohammad replied that there is no son in his destiny. Husain, a young child then, too was there. Husain said to the man that he has granted a son. Prophet told Husain that there was no son in destiny. Husain said that he grants another son. In this manner, Husain went on to grant seven sons to the man. Later, seven sons were actually born to that man.
In another narration, it is said that Pitrus – the angel – had been punished by God. His wings had been burnt and he was lying on the ground. When Husain took birth in Ali and Fatima’s house, Pitrus saw angels rushing towards a particular place. He asked them the reason and they told him that Husain has taken birth on earth. Pitrus requested the angels to carry him along. He was taken to where Husain had taken birth and regained his wings.
“Allah has not created any good for anyone against our commands”, said Husain. This statement cannot be understood by the Muslims unless they accept our interpretation, based on Upanishads and other scriptures, as true.
Upanishads as well as Gita too cite the role of devatas in creation of all beings. Gita says the God can be reached only through identifying the Self. Upanishads describe that Self comprise of nothing but these devatas. Several quotes of Masooms too confirm that the original spirit that was created had a direct relationship with them.
Hadees No. 694 also states that the entire affairs of the creatures are presented in front of Mohammad, which is exactly what the Upanishads had meant when they said that the animate and non-animate – all were created because of them and when God was pleased of their worship.
See:
I heard the fifth Imam and seventh Masoom Mohammad (al-Baqar) says: ‘Verily, Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, has delegated to His Prophet the affairs of His creatures, so that He can see how (good) their obedience is.’ Then they recited this verse: Whatever the Messenger gives you, take; whatever he forbids you, give over.”
This narration confirms that the Masooms, like the devatas, have a role to play in running the affairs of the Universe. Also, it confirms the Upanishadic statement that the Manifest Self (the 14 devatas) took upon themselves the task of leading the mankind to the worship of God.
Hadees no. 695 is a long narration from the sixth Imam Jafar (al-Sadiq), which talks of the One Spirit and its relation to Mohammad:
“I heard Jafar Sadiq say to one of the companions Qays al-Masir: ‘Surely Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, educated His Prophet in moral perfections and made his education excellent, and when He had perfected his education for him he said: Surely thou art upon a mighty morality (Quran: al-Qalam, 68:4). Then he delegated to him the affairs of the religion and the community, so that he might rule over and guide His creatures. And He, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, said: Whatever the Messenger gives you, take; whatever he forbids you, give over (Quran, al-Hashr, 59:7). Verily, the Messenger of Allah was the one who was rightly guided, the one who succeeded, and the one who was confirmed by the ruhu’l-qudus (the Pure Spirit). He neither slipped nor erred in anything by which he ruled and guided the creatures. So he was educated in the moral perfection of Allah.
“`In this way Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty made the prayer obligatory as two two rakahs, then rakahs (all together, in the daily prayers). The Messenger of Allah added to the two rakahs, two rakahs (i.e., in the prayers of noon, afternoon and night), and one rakah at sunset (maghrib), and these are counted as equal to the obligatory ones. They may not be omitted except while journeying; and he made the additional rakah in maghrib single and made it fixed both while journeying and while at home. And Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, permitted all of this to him, and the obligation became seventeen rakahs. Then the Messenger of Allah actualized the supererogatory prayers as thirty-four rakahs, twice the obligatory (number of) prayers, and Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, permitted this to him. So the obligatory and supererogatory prayers were fifty-one rakahs. Of these are the two rakahs sitting down after darkness (utamah, that is, after obligatory night prayer), which is counted as one rakah to go with (the one rakah of) al-watr. (The supererogatory prayers are: noon, eight rakish; afternoon, eight; sunset four; after mid-night, eight and two (ash-shaf) and one (al-watr); morning two; altogether thirty three, plus the two maghrib ones sitting counted as one, making a total of thirty-four).
“`Allah has made the fast of Ramazan obligatory in every year, and the Messenger of Allah actualized the fasting of Shaban and of three days in each month, twice the obligatory (fast) (i.e., 30 plus (3x10) days, not obligatory, just as the supererogatory prayers), and Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty permitted this to him. Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, made wine (khamr) forbidden in its essence, and the Messenger of Allah made any drink, which intoxicates, forbidden, and Allah permitted all this to him.
Does this not reveal the super-human role of Mohammad in formulating the rules and regulations jointly with Allah (the God)? When the Masoom talked of this, he wanted us to explore this role. The role of Prophet Mohammad described in the following narration too is exactly the same as the role described for the devatas and tells that he is to be the judge of the obedience of creatures towards God.
Hadees No. 696 further confirms that we all owe obedience to the Messenger of God. Mohammad Baqar and Jafar Sadiq, the fifth and sixth Imams respectively, have both said: “Verily, Allah, the Blessed, the Sublime, has delegated to His Prophet the affairs of His creatures, so that He can see how (good) their obedience is.” Then they recited this verse: Whatever the Messenger gives you, take; and whatever he forbids you, give over.
There are proofs that Prophet Mohammad was aware about future events. 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.
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.
In another narration, Al-Awzai has reported on the authority of Abd Allah b. Shaddad, on the authority of Umm al-Fadl, daughter of al-Harith:
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 he 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).”
In another narration, it is reported with another chain of authorities on the authority of Umm Salama that she said:
One evening the Apostle of God left us and was away for a long time. He came back, he was disheveled and dusty and his hand was holding (something). I said to him: “Apostle of God, why do I see you disheveled 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 (Ahlebayt). 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.”
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.
Also, 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.”
In another incident, 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.
At another instance, a mosque was being built and while every one 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.
Likewise, Prophet told the names of the 12 imams to come and incidents related to the life of the 12th imam – the Mahdi. 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 future that were told by Prophet and Imams. Like the Muslims would get divided into 73 sects and only one of them would be on the right path. Like a particular friend of Prophet would be killed in such and such manner. And so on.
Our opinion, formulated on the basis of our study of Upanishads, Vedas and Gita, is that all the Masooms possessed knowledge not only about past but also about future. Whether this knowledge was there right from birth or it was bestowed on them when they were passed on the position of Imam, at the death of previous Imam, is a subject of debate?
Upanishads explicitly say that God has given time in their possession. They also say that they created the worlds for the worship of God. Read entire lives of their stay on earth and you will find them only showing how to worship the God. They themselves did the same all through their lives, so much so that Ali offered prayers when arrows were flying past him and Husain continued to offer prayer even when an evil man slit off his neck from behind. We give here some more incidents about knowledge of the invisible from the life of the Masooms. Surely, you would agree that the Masooms were aware of incidents that occurred in the past and that would take place in future. See a few of them.
Hadees number 678 from chapter 48 of al-Kafi clearly mentions that the Masooms had fore-knowledge of all that would happen in future:
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).
On another occasion, Al-Kafi states (hadees no. 679) that Husain said that he know all that was in heavens and earth, Paradise and Hell and also what has happened and what will happen. Since it was difficult for the people of the time to understand their true role in the cosmos, they merely gave hints and then gave statements like “I know this from the book of Allah’ or ‘Prophet Mohammad passed this to us.’:
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.”
Hadees no. 690 states that the fifth Imam Mohammad 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.’”
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 such incidents 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.
Ali 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.
In another narration, 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: “Praisebe 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).
He 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).

In a similar vein is the account which Walid b. Harith and others report on the authority of the men (whom they cite):
When 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.
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. Umar will seize the tax-collectors and those who collect the taxes of the tax-collectors.”
That happened as he predicted.
Yet another example is reported by Jarir on the authority of al-Mughira, who said:]
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, 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 him).
Another narration recorded by the historians (Ashab al-sira) on various authorities says:
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 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. Therefore it follows on from what has been presented before.
In the same way Ismail b. Sabih reported on the authority of Yahya b. al-Musawir al-Abdo, on the authority of Ismail b. Ziyad, who said:
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.
Not just Mohammad, Ali and Husain, even Fatima foretold what was to happen in future in her last sermon. See:
Fatima’s last sermon, when she was ill and the wives of the Emigrants and Companions of the Prophet 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 newborn.
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.”

Miracles as proof
The Holy Prophet performed several miracles. Besides those mentioned in the Quran, a large number of miracles, performed by him, have been recorded in the books of history reported on the authentic and unbreakable evidence of the traditions. We have seen a passage as per which 4444 miracles are assigned to him.
Not only the Holy Prophet, but also the rest of the Masooms performed miracles whenever they deemed it necessary and thought that it could serve a definite purpose but refused to put them to use as an answer to the challenge of any antagonistic individual or group, who even after witnessing a miracle would not accept the truth. It is also true that the belief, generated by a miracle, deprives the individual of the possibility of enjoying the real value of the faith acquired through reason and conviction. The demand for miracles (as stated in verses 90 to 93 of Surah Bani Israel, Quran) was made to satisfy the lust for witnessing wonders. It was not the true mission of the last prophet of Allah to satisfy the vain desires of the people who merely wanted to watch and enjoy miracles. The signs of Allah are enough for those who are sure. Likewise when Prophet Isa was brought before Herod to perform a miracle, he, who had already performed a large number of miracles and whose very birth was the greatest miracle ever witnessed, refused to comply with the request. At another place he said to the Pharisees:
It is a wicked, godless generation that asks for a sign. (Matthew 12: 39)
This is the reason why, keeping in mind the higher IQ levels of the people after Mohammad, Quran has even called itself as a miracle or sign from God, and challenged all and sundry to attempt to come with even a chapter like it. See verse 2:23:
And if you are in doubt as to that which We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it and call on your witnesses besides Allah if you are truthful.
Pooya/Ali Commentary says: “In this verse the almighty all-wise Allah throws an open challenge to mankind for making an effort to compose even one surah (chapter) in the style and manner of the Quran, not only to assert the genuineness of the divine words revealed to a man who did not receive any type of education from any mortal, but also to put an end to doubts and speculations, for ever, that it could be the fabrication of any human mind.
This challenge refers to the Quran as a work of literature and wisdom, and not to its effects as some commentators wrongly try to prove. The inimitable literary excellence and the pure and perfect wisdom of the Quran has been and will always be beyond the reach of the literary and intellectual genius of mankind.
Say (O Mohammad), If men and jinn should unite to produce the like of this Quran they could not produce the like of it though they were helpers one of another. (Quran, Bani Israel: 88)
The following are some of the miracles performed by Ali, which indicate his position with regard to God, We give the accounts of miracles here as given by Shaykh Mufid (336A.H./948A.D. – 413A.H./1022A.D.) in his book Kitab Al-Irshad and few other sources.

Ali’s miraculous victory over the Jinn
One example is the tradition which has become well known about Prophet Mohammad sending him to the valley of the jinn. Gabriel had told him that groups of them had gathered to plot against him. Ali (Commander of the faithful) took the place of the Prophet and through God was sufficient for the believers against the plotting (of the jinn). He repelled them from the believers through his strength by which he was set apart from the rest of them.
(Mohammad b. Abi al-Sirri al-Tamimi reported on the authority of Ahmad b. al-Faraj, on the authority of al-Hasan b. Musa al-Nahdi, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Wabira b. al-Harith, on the authority of Ibn al-Abbas, who said:)
When the Prophet set out against the Banu al-Mustaliq, he avoided the road. Night came and stopped near a rugged valley. Towards the end of the night, Gabriel, came down to tell him that a group of unbelieving jinn had gone into the valley with the intention of plotting against him and causing harm to his Companions. He called for the Commander of the faithful and told him: “Go to this valley, those of the jinn who are enemies of God, who want (to attack) you, will come against you. Repel them with the strength which God has given you. You will be protected by the names of God which He has specially endowed you with knowledge of.”
He sent with him a hundred men from different groups among the people. He told them: “Stay with him and obey his orders.”
The Commander of the faithful (Ali) set out for the valley. When he was near the side of the valley, he ordered the hundred men who had accompanied him to stand close to the side and not do anything until he gave them permission. He went forward and stood at the edge of the valley. He sought refuge with God from his enemies and he named God. He signaled to the people who had followed him to come closer. They came closer and there was a gap between him and them of the distance of a bowshot. Then he began to go down into the valley when a hurricane arose, which almost made the people fall on their faces because of its violence. They could not keep their feet on the ground because of terror of opposition and terror of what would come upon them. The Commander of the faithful shouted: “I am Ali b. Abi Talib b. Abd al-Muttalib, the testamentary trustee of authority (wasi) of the Apostle of God and his cousin. Defy (us) if you want to.” Persons in the form of gypsies appeared before the people who seemed to have torches of fire in their hands and they dried up (all) the sides of the valley. The Commander of the faithful penetrated deep into the valley, while reciting the Quran and signaling to right and left with his sword. It was not long before the persons became like black smoke. The Commander of the faithful magnified God. Then he climbed back the way he had come down. He stood with the people who had accompanied him. The place became yellow as a result of what had happened to it. The Companions of the Apostle of God said to him: “Abu al-Hassan (Ali), we almost died of fear and anxiety for you because of what you met. It was worse than (anything else) that has happened to us.”
“When the enemy showed themselves to me,” he told them, “and I shouted the names of God, the Exalted, among them, they became smaller and I knew the terror which had come upon them. Therefore I went into the valley without any fear of them. If they had remained in substantial forms, I would have attacked them to the last one. God was sufficient (protection) against their plotting and He was sufficient (help) for the Muslims against their wickedness. The rest of them will go ahead of me to the Apostle of God in order to (confess that they) believe in him.”
The Commander of the faithful returned with those who had been with him to the Apostle of God. He gave him the news. (The Apostle) was delighted with him and prayed for his well being. Then he said to him: “Ali, those whom God filled with fear through you have come ahead of you to me. They submitted to Islam and I accepted their submission.”
Then he continued the journey with all the Muslims and they passed through the valley in safety and without fear.

Ali sending back the sun
Among the wonderful signs which God has brought forth through the hands of the Commander of the faithful, Ali b. Abi Talib, is one, the reports of which have become widespread among the biographers and historians (ulama al-siyar wa al-athar) and about which the poets have composed verses – (namely) when he sent back the sun (to its earlier position) on two occasions, once during the life of the Prophet and another time after his death.
The account of it being sent back on the first occasion has been reported by Asma daughter of Umays, Umm Salama, the wife of the Prophet, Jabir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari, Abu Said al-Khudri and a group of the Companions.
One day the Prophet was in his house and Ali was in front of him when Gabriel came to him to speak privately to him about God. When inspiration closed in upon him, he used the thigh of the Commander of the faithful as a pillow. He did not raise his head from it until the sun had set. Thus he compelled the Commander of the faithful in that position. So he prayed the afternoon prayer sitting, giving a nod (with his head) for his bowing and prostration. When (the Apostle) awoke from his trance, he said to the Commander of the faithful: “Have you missed the afternoon prayer?”
“I could not pray it standing because of your position, Apostle of God, and the circumstances of hearing inspiration which I was in,” he answered.
“Ask God to send the sun back for you so that you may pray it standing at its proper time just as (it was) when you missed being able to d it,” he told him. “God, the Exalted, will answer you because of your obedience to God and to His Apostle.” [Note the verses from the Upanishads which say that sun, moon, earth and all beings were created by the devas; God gave this power owing to the intense worship that they performed.]
The Commander of the faithful asked God to send back the sun. It was sent back for him so that it came into its position in the sky at the time for the afternoon prayer. The Commander of the faithful prayed the afternoon prayer at it proper time. Then it set.
(Asma reported:)
By God we heard it at its setting screeching like the screech of the saw in wood.

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Another incidence of the sun being sent back happened after the Prophet’s death when Ali wanted to cross the Euphrates at Babylon and many of his followers were occupied in taking their animals and baggage across. He prayed the afternoon prayer himself with a group who were with him. The people did not finish their crossing and many of them missed the time of the prayer. The people recalled the merit of being together for that (prayer) and they spoke about that. When he heard their talk about it, he asked God to send back the sun so that all his followers might be together to perform the afternoon prayer at its proper time. God, the Exalted, answered him by sending back the sun for him. The horizons became such as they are for the time of the afternoon prayer. When the people had said the final greeting (at the end of the prayer), the sun disappeared and a violent throbbing was heard from it which terrified the people. They became profuse in their glorification of God, in their declarations of His uniqueness, and in seeking forgiveness form him, and in praising God for the favour which he had shown to them.
The reports of that have reached the (distant) horizons and its account is widespread among the people. Concerning that al-Sayyid b. Mohammad al-Himyari recited:
The sun was sent back for him when he missed the time of the afternoon prayer and sunset had drawn near.
So that its light shone (the same as) at its time for the afternoon. Then it fell like a shooting star.
For him it was sent back another time at Babylon. It has not been sent back for any Arab creature,
Only so that his first (view of it) may be mixed with his later (view of it) and so that it being sent back be an explanation of a wondrous matter.

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Ali talking to the fish too is widely reported, as is the fame of wolves speaking to the Prophet and the stones praising God in the palm of Mohammad’s hand. [Last Hymn of the Yajur Veda that we have described in the Book-III confirms that the sun, the moon, the earth and trees – all supplicate to God.]
Also, we request you to remember The Matsya Purana where a fish talks and tells the future events to a person, perhaps a Prophet. Truth is that the Prophet Mohammad, Ali and the rest of the Imams showed all the miracles collectively that the earlier Apostles were given individually as proof. Therefore, we have seen that some Apostle brought back the sun (like Krishna and Yusha ibn Noon), some brought dead back to life (like Jesus), some used to talk of animals (like Solomon), some foretold the future (like those on whom Vedas were revealed), and other such miracles performed by the earlier prophets. This is just a small portion of the list of miracles that are attributed to Ali. Likewise, the entire 4444 miracles attributed to the Holy Prophet cannot be recounted here, as that description itself would go into a voluminous book.

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Ali and the Jinn
The historians (hamalat al-athar wa-ruwat al-akhbar) have also reported the story of the snake and the sign and miraculous nature of it, which is like the story of the fishes and the abating of the waters of the Euphrates.
(They reported:)
One day the Commander of the faithful was making a speech on the pulpit at Kufa, when a snake appeared at the side of the pulpit and began to climb up until it was near the Commander of the faithful. The people shook with fear at that and were worried about its purpose and about driving it away from the Commander of the faithful. He signaled to them to keep away from it. When it reached the raised platform on which the Commander of the faithful was standing, he bent down towards the snake and the snake spread itself up towards him so that it could gobble his ear.
The people fell silent and became distraught at that. It made a croaking sound that many of them heard. Then it went down from its position. The Commander of the faithful moved his lips in a whisper and the snake acted as if it was listening to him. Then it glided away. The ground had swallowed it up. The Commander of the faithful went on with his speech and broughtit to a close.
When he had finished it and gone down, the people gathered around him, questioning him about the circumstances of the snake and the wonder of it. He told them: “That was not as you had thought. It was only one of the judges of the jinn, whom a case had confused. He came to me to find out from me about it. I informed him about it. He wished me well and departed.”

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A very interesting incident regarding the Ashab-e-Kahf (the Men of the Cave) and Imam Ali is mentioned in the booklet “Ziarat Places in Syria” published by Al-Mahdi Special Needs Organization, UK”. It says: (The Ashab-e-Kahf said to be sleeping at a place in Syria) are six or nine people. According to history and belief, they are the inhabitants of Rome. At that time the king of Rome was Dakyanus, who used to worship idols and also forced the people to worship idols. But the people of Ashab-e-Kahf used to believe in Allah and never used to worship idols. The king Dakyanus was very angry and ordered that the people of Ashab-e-Kahf be killed. So to save their lives they ran away to this cave, praying to Allah to save them from king. So, by the Grace of the Almighty Allah, they went to sleep. And they were sleeping in such a way that it looked as if they were dead. When the king arrived at the cave with his men, he thought that they were dead and went away. After many years they woke up, and feeling very hungry, they went to the town but found that everything had changed. The coins (money) were also old-fashioned. The King Dakyanus had died and also many years had passed. When the King of that time heard of the incidence, he decided to come and visit them. When the people of the cave heard of this visit, they became very frightened and prayed to Allah to keep them in the same condition as they were before. So they went to sleep again. When the king came, he saw them and ordered the cave to be closed and they are still sleeping there. It is said that every six months, the angels come and change their sides. When our 12th Imam will come, they will wake up.
The names of these are as follows:
a) Yamlikha
b) Maksalmina
c) Maslina
d) Marnosh
e) Dabarnosh
f) Shaznosh
g) Kafshsat-tayush
h) Kutmir
By the time of Prophet Mohammad, the people had forgotten about the incidence of Ashab-e-Kahf. This incident occurred before the time of Hazrat Isa (Jesus). When Allah revealed the above incidence to the Prophet in Quran in Sura-e-Kahaf, that is the time when people wanted to know more about it. With the permission and blessing of Prophet Mohammad, Hazrat Ali and four other people, namely Umar, Abu Bakr, Salman Farsi and Anas bin Malik sat on a carpet, and by a miracle, they flew in air from Medina to Shaam (Syria) and landed near the cave of Ashab-e-Kahf. Hazrat Ali said: “This is the cave. Please salute to them.” All of them said salaam. Nobody got the reply. Hazrat Ali went near the cave, put his foot on the stone and said Salaam (greetings) as follows:
“Assalamun Alaykum Ya Ashabe Kahf Var Raqim.” (Salam on you the people of the cave)
He got the reply as follows:
“Wa Alaykum Salaam Ya Wasiy Yur Rasullulah.” (Also Salam on you the vicegerent of the Prophet of Allah.)

*****

In Allepp town in Syria, which is on the way to Siffin, there is a mosque where a stone is kept on which Imam Husain’s head was kept and a drop of blood fell on the stone. There was a noor (light) in that stone and therefore the king of that time preserved it.

More incidents and prophecies
The incident occurred in July, 1951. A team of Russian experts found certain wooden pieces while excavating in the valley of Qaf. The group officer started excavating further and found a lot many pieces of wood that were surely hiding a secret. Upon further excavation, a wooden tablet too was found along with the pieces of wood. The experts were surprised to see that while the majority of wooden pieces had rotten, this 14-inch long and 10-inch broad tablet had not been affected by the ravages of time.
Towards the end of 1952, the experts came to conclusion that these woods belonged to the ship of Noah (Nooh). The ship had finally embarked near a mountain peak Joodi in the mountains of Qaf. They also concluded that the tablet, on which something was written in an old language, had been fixed on the ship when it was sailing in the sea.
The Soviet government instituted a board of seven experts to find what was written on the tablet. The board started its work on 27th February, 1953 and after 8 months of research, they concluded that the tablet was made of the same wood from which the ship of Noah was made. They also concluded that Noah had placed this tablet on the ship to safeguard it from calamities.
The Russian experts translated the text on the tablet in Russian language, which was translated by Mr. N.F. Mox of Manchester, England, into English. Mr. Mox was an expert on ancient languages. The translation is as follows:
O my God, help me … hold my hand as you are the most beneficient
And because of your lofty Selfs.
Mohammad, Ailya, Shabbar, Shabbir, Fatima
Who all the greatest and worthy of our respects
The entire world has been created only because of them
In their names, help me
You are the one who guides towards truth.
(Ailya is another name of Ali and Shabbar and Shabbir are names of Hasan and Husain, thus making the Panjetans or the five persons.)
When this script came to the forefront, every one was greatly surprised. Their greatest surprise was that while the rest of the wood had rotten and was taken out in bad condition, the wood that contained these names was intact even after remaining buried for thousands of years.
This tablet is still kept at Russia’s Centre for Archaeological Sciences, Moscow.
[This incident was published in Monthly Star Britannia, January 1954; London Newspaper Sunlight Manchester, 23 February, 1953; Newspaper Weekly Mirror, London, 1 February, 1954; Akhbarul Huda, Cairo, 31 March, 1954 and few Russian newspapers.]

*****

When Noah’s ship finally rested after the Great Flood, then the Messenger of God, Noah, came down from the ship with his companions and said:
God, I shower the utmost praises on you, I thank you greatly that you saved me from your wrath, and I also thank your Prophet Ahmed and also that Ailya who helped me, who will be born in your house, and I thank the daughter of your Prophet Mohammad and also thank her sons, who also helped me.
[Jawahirul Adiya, Nawal Kishore, Lucknow, 1869; Tarikh-e-Aalam, Sajaveezdani, Mumbai, 1913; Mahmood Gilani, Lahore, 1934]

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The tablet of Solomon (Sulaiman) – the Prophet
The year was 1916 and the First World War was in progress. A few army men were passing from close to Bethlehem (Baitul Muqaddas). When they passed from a small village named Oontar, a few miles away from Bethlehem, they saw a light coming out from a mound at night. The soldiers stopped upon seeing this light. Some of the soldiers proceeded towards the source of light. When they reached nearer, they found that there was a small mound of sand and stone and the light was coming out from a crack in the mound. The soldiers started digging at the place. After digging for about 4 yards, they unearthed a silver tablet, which was emanating the white rays of light that attracted them to it. This tablet was about ¾ yard long and ½ yard broad. When they took it out, the light stopped coming out of it. This further perplexed them. They were jubilant on unearthing the tablet but were also afraid because of the ceasing of the light. They took the tablet to their senior officer whose name was Major A.N. Gadgill. He saw the tablet through the torch and was dumbstruck on seeing it. Innumerable precious jems and jewels were pasted on its corners and in the midst of it were written few words in gold. Major was unable to read what was written but he knew that this was not an ordinary tablet.
From Major Gadgill, this tablet was transferred to the man in charge of British troops, Lt. General D.O. Gladstone, who handed it over to few British experts on archaeology.
Research started on this tablet in 1918. A committee was made of the experts of European languages. After several months of research, this committee concluded that this tablet belonged to Solomon. The words on this tablet were written in ancient Hebrew language. The same language had been used in Zuboor and Gazlul Ghazlat. The committee was finally able to solve the mystery on 21st January, 1920.
The committee was amazed to find that the tablet contained the names of Ahmad, Ali, Butool, Hasan and Husain. It was decided that the tablet should be kept in the British Imperial Museum, England. But when the highest priest of England, the Lord Bishop got to know of the details of this research, he was greatly disturbed. On 1st of March, 1923, it was secretly decided that if this tablet is kept in a museum, or at a place which is frequented by common men, it would prove to be the graveyard for Christianity. It was decided that it would be better to keep it in a special secret room of the Church, so that none other than those who knew of it could know about it. Since then, the light emanating from the names mentioned on this tablet has remained confined to the secret room of the Church.
[Wonderful Storeys of Islam, Col. P.C. Empley, London, p. 249; Risala-e-Tahqeeqat-e-Ajeeba, Abul Hasan Shirazi, p. 21-24; Ailya, Lahore, p. 19]

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What is written on this tablet?
[The book which is the source of this information also has a photograph of this tablet, the text of which is as follows:]
Allah, Ahmad,
Aily, Bahtool,
Haasan, Haasin.
Help me.
O Ahmad, come
O Bahtool, keep an eye on me
O Haasan, shower your favour
O Haasin, bestow happiness
O Ali, O Ali, O Ali.
This Sulaiman is seeking only from these five
And the power of Allah is Aily.

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The Prayer of Solomon
[Translation:]
My friend whose colour is wheatish, he is one in thousands, the light on his head shines like a mirror. His hair is curly and dark like a night. His both eyes are as if pure water is placed in a utensil cleaned with milk and on it two pigeons are swimming. Or as if two precious stones have been placed at their places, the beard on his face is like a sweet-smelling creeper. His moon-like face smells in fragrances. His lips are like the petals of flowers. From whom a very pleasing smell arises. His hands are molded in gold. In which jewels shine. His stomach is white and bejeweled, his legs are like poles of white stone that have been placed strongly on golden feet. His face shines like a full-moon, he is young like the plant of sanobar and very well-mannered.
This is my friend, Mohammad! O, daughters of Jerusalem!

[Seeratul Saleheen, p. 57; Sahifa-e-Ghazlul Ghazlaat, Chapter 5, p.1-10; Nuskha-e-Ibrani (Hebrew Prescriptions; 1800, London British Bible Association; Ailya, Lahore, p. 12]

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The Prayer of David (Dawood) in the Sacred Book Zuboor
[Translation:]
It is obligatory to obey the person whose name is Aily. Only through following him the worldly and religious merit is achieved. That person who is worthy of respect is also called Hedar (Haider).He is the support of the weak, a lion, extremely powerful, who will be born in Khaba (Kaaba).Hold him and live a servant to him. Hear, all those who have ears, understand all those who have brains, think, all those who have hearts, if time passes you won’t be able to retrieve it. He alone is the support of my life and body.
[(The original manuscript is in possession of Priest Ahjanud Damishqi, Syria and the Mufti of Egypt has said that he saw it with his own eyes); Risalahul Haram, Cairo, Zeeqat 1374; Ailya, Lahore, p.10]

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