Imam Kadhim (A.S): the ornament of those who spend nights in prayer
Part 2
[Abu al-Qasim Ja’far bin Muhammad bin Qulawayh informed me on the authority of Muhammad bin Yaqub on the authority of "Ali bin Ibrahim on the authority of al- Wafiqi who said:]
I (al-Wafiqi) had an uncle called al-Hassan bin Abd Allah. He was an ascetic and one of the most pious people of his time. The authorities were wary of him because of his earnestness and his vigour towards religion. Sometimes he would approach the authorities concerning enjoining the good and forbidding the evil because of something which had angered him. They accepted that because of his righteousness. The state of affairs continued until one day he went into the mosque. There was Abu al-Hassan Musa, peace be on him. He beckoned to him and (my uncle) went to him.
(Musa) said to him: "Abu Ali, nothing is more pleasing to me and gives me greater joy than the way you behave. Despite that, you do not have true knowledge (marifa). Seek for true knowledge."
"May I be your ransom," he said to him, what is true knowledge?"
"Go so that you may learn," he told him. "Seek out traditions."
"From whom?" he asked.
"From the jurists of Medina," he answered, "and then brings the additions to me."
He went and wrote down (what he learnt). Then he came and read to him. However (Musa) invalidated all of it. He told him: "Go and learn."
The man was concerned about (his own attitude to) his religion. He continued to search for Abu al-Hassan until he went to (visit) an estate of his. On the road he met him. He said to him: "May I be your ransom, I have sought for you (by begging) God. Guide me to what is necessary for me to know."
Then Abu al-Hassan, peace be on him, informed him about the authority and rights of the Commander of the faithful, peace be on him, and what it was necessary for him to know. (He told him of) the authority of al-Hassan, al- Hussein, Ali bin al-Hussein, Muhammad b Ali and Ja’far bin Muhammad. Then he was silent.
(Al-Hassan) said to him: "May I be your ransom, who is the Imam today?"
"If I tell you," he answered, "will you come close to me?"
"Yes," he replied.
"I am he," he said.
"Is there anything by which this could be proved?" he asked.
"Go to that tree," he said - and he pointed towards one of the trees of Umm Ghaylan, "and tell it that Musa b. Ja’far tells you to draw near."
[He reported:] I went to it and I saw it furrow through the ground until it stopped in front of him. Then he indicated to it to go back and it went back.
He went up to him and cleaved to silence and worship. No one ever saw him talking after that.
By Sheikh al Mufid
Source: al-islam.org
Other links:
The Designation of Imam Kadhim (A.S) for the Imamate by his Father (PBUH): Part 1
The Designation of Imam Kadhim (A.S) for the Imamate by his Father (PBUH): Part 2
The Designation of Imam Kadhim (A.S) for the Imamate by his Father (PBUH): Part 3
Haroon questions to Imam Kadhim (A.S)
Imam Kadhim (A.S) and Christian scholar
