Imam Kadhim (A.S): the ornament of those who spend nights in prayer

Part 3

[Ahmad bin Mihran reported on the authority of Muhammad b. Ali, on the authority of Abu Basir, who said:]

I (i.e. Abu Basir) said to Abu al-Hassan Musa bin Ja’far, peace be on them: "May I be your ransom, by what is the Imam known?"

"By special characteristics," he answered."The first of them is something by which preference has been given him by his father and an indication (has been made) by his (father) that he should be proof (hujja) (to the world). When he is asked (anything), he can answer it. If (a person) holds back from speaking to him, he may begin (the conversation) by telling him what will happen tomorrow and speaking to each person in his own tongue."

Then he said: "Abu Muhammad (i.e. Abu- Basir) I will give you a sign before you rise to go."

I did not wait long before a man from the people of Khorassan entered. The Khorassani spoke to him in Arabic and Abu al-Hassan, peace be on him, answered him in Persian.

"By God, what prevented me speaking to you in Persian was that I thought you were not fluent in it," the Khorassani said to him.

"Praise be to God," he replied, "if I was not fluent enough to reply to you, I would not have the merit over you, by which I am entitled to the Imamate."

Abd Allah bin Idris reported on the authority of Ibn Sinan, who said:]

One day al-Rashid sent some robes to Ali bin Yaqtin to honor him. Among their number was a black woolen cloak adorned with gold like the robes of kings. Ali bin Yaqtin dispatched those robes to Musa bin Ja’far, peace be on them. Among their number he (also) sent that cloak. He added some money which he had already prepared specifically for him as the fifth of his money (khums - tax for the Imams) which he was going to pay him. When that reached Abu-al- Hassan Musa, peace be on him, he accepted the money and the robes but returned the cloak by the hand of the messenger to Ali bin Yaqtin. He wrote to him: "Keep it and do not let it leave your hands. For an event will occur to you because of it when you will have the need of it with him (al-Rashid)." Ali bin Yaqtin was suspicious about it being returned to him and did not understand the reason for that. Some time later, Ali bin Yaqtin changed (his attitude) towards a servant who had a special position with him and he left his service. The servant knew about Ali bin Yaqtin’s inclination towards Abu al-Hassan Musa, peace be on him. He was acquainted with the money, garments and other things (Ali) had sent to (Musa) on every occasion. He (went and) informed on him to al-Rashid. He told (al-Rashid) that (Ali) maintained the Imamate of Musa bin Ja’far and paid him a fifth of his money each year, and also that he had given him the cloak with which the Commander of the faithful (al-Rashid) had honored him at such-and-such a time Al-Rashid burned with anger and was furious. He declared: "I will expose this situation. If the matter is as you say, his life will be destroyed."

He immediately sent for Ali bin Yaqtin to be brought. When he appeared before him, he said: "What have you done with the cloak which I bestowed upon you?"

"Commander of the faithful," (Ali) replied, "I still have it in a sealed chest and there I keep perfume with it. In the mornings I open it and look at it to gain blessings from it. I kiss it and then put it back in its place. Every night I do the same thing."

"Bring it, immediately," he ordered.

"Yes, Commander of the faithful," he answered. He summoned one of his servants and told him: "Go to such-and-such a room in my house. Take the key for it from my custodian and open it. Open such-and-such a box and bring me the sealed chest which is in it."

It was not long before the servant returned with the chest still sealed. He put it before al-Rashid and told him to break the seal and open it. When he opened it, he saw the cloak in it folded and laid out in perfume.

Al-Rashid’s anger became pacified and he said to `Ali bin Yaqtin: "Return it to its place and go away righteously. I will never disbelieve you again on the word of an informer."

He ordered a magnificent gift to be sent after him and he had the informer flogged with a thousand lashes. After he had been flogged about a hundred lashes, he died.

By Sheikh al Mufid

Source: Book named al-Irshad

Other links:

Imam Al-Khadim(A.S) Words of Wisdom

Anecdotes of Imam Musa al_khadim(A.S)

Bab-ul-Hawaij : The Door to Fulfilling

Imam Kadhim (A.S) and Christian scholar

Friends and students of Imam kadhim (A.S)