Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

His Birth and The Story Of His Mother

1- Al-Ka-fi: He was born in mid-Sha‘ba-n of the year two hundred and fifty five.

2- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of ‘Alla-n al-Ra-zi: One of our scholars have informed me that when the bondmaid of Abu Muhammad (a.s)[1] became pregnant, he said, “You shall carry a male and his name isM. U. H. A. M. M. A. D. and he is the al-Qa-’im after me.”

3- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Musa- Ibn Muhammad, saying, Lady Haki-ma Bint Muhammad Bin ‘Ali Ibn Musa- Ibn Ja‘far Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Ali Ibn al-Husain Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Abi Ta-lib narrated to me: Abu Muhammad al-Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (a.s) sent for me and said, “O aunt, have your ifta-r tonight with us. This is the night of mid-Sha‘ba-n and Allah, the High, will bring forth the Hujja on this night. He will be His Hujja on His earth.” Lady Haki-ma says, I said to him, “And who is his mother?”

“Narjis,” he said to me. “May Allah make me your ransom,” I said to him, “there is no sign in her.” “It is as I tell you,” he said. Lady Haki-ma says, I came and when I greeted and sat, she came to take off my shoes and said, “My lady, how are you this evening?” “Rather, you are my lady,” said I, “and the lady of my household.” She turned my word down and said, “What is this, dear aunt?” “My dear daughter, Allah, the Exalted, will grant you in this night of yours a boy, a master in this world and in the hereafter.

“She sat and felt shy. When I finished the ‘isha-’ prayers and had ifta-r, I went to bed and slept. When it was in the middle of the night, I got up to perform prayers. I finished my prayers and she was sleeping and there was no sign of any kind in her. I sat saying the ta‘qi-ba-t[2] , then I went to the bed, and then I woke up suddenly. She was still asleep. She then woke up and rose and performed prayers.

ولادته وأحوال أمه (صلوات الله عليه)

1- الكافي: ولد (ع) للنصف من شعبان سنة خمس وخمسين ومأتين.

2- إكمال الدين: ابن عصام عن الكليني، عن علان الرازي، قال: أخبرني بعض أصحابنا أنه لما حملت جارية أبي محمد (ع) قال: ستحملين ذكرا واسمه محمد وهو القائم من بعدي.

3- إكمال الدين: ابن الوليد، عن محمد العطار، عن الحسين بن رزق الله، عن موسى ابن محمد بن القاسم بن حمزة بن موسى بن جعفر، قال: حدثتني حكيمة بنت محمد ابن علي بن موسى بن جعفر بن محمد بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام قالت: بعث إلي أبو محمد الحسن بن علي عليهما السلام فقال: يا عمة اجعلي إفطارك الليلة عندنا فانها ليلة النصف من شعبان فان الله تبارك وتعالى سيظهر في هذه الليلة الحجة وهو حجته في أرضه قالت: فقلت له: ومن امه؟ قال لي: نرجس. قلت له: والله جعلني الله فداك ما بها أثر؟ فقال: هو ما أقول لك قالت: فجئت فلما سلمت وجلست جاءت تنـزع خفي وقالت لي: يا سيدتي كيف أمسيت؟ فقلت: بل أنت سيدتي وسيدة أهلي قالت: فأنكرت قولي وقالت: ما هذا يا عمة؟ قالت: فقلت لها: يا بنية إن الله تبارك وتعالى سيهب لك في ليلتك هذه غلاما سيدا في الدنيا والآخرة. قالت: فجلست واستحيت فلما أن فرغت من صلاة العشاء الآخرة وأفطرت وأخذت مضجعي فرقدت فلما أن كان جوف الليل قمت إلى الصلاة ففرغت من صلاتي وهي نائمة ليس بها حادث. ثم جلست معقبة ثم اضطجعت ثم انتبهت فزعة وهي راقدة ثم قامت فصلت

Lady Haki-ma says, As doubts came to me, Abu Muhammad (a.s) called out, “Do not haste, aunt, the affair has come near.” I recited the Su-ras Alam Sajda and Ya-si-n. And as I was doing that, she woke up suddenly; I rushed towards her and read the name of Allah on her and then asked, “Do you feel anything?” “Yes, aunt,” she said. “Pull yourself together and gather your heart,” I told her. “It will be as I told you.” Lady Haki-ma said, And then faintness overwhelmed me as parturition seized her. I woke up by sensing my Master, (a.s); I removed the sheet from him, and there he was, prostrating touching the earth with his forehead and palms and knees and toes; I pulled him to myself and there he was, pure and clean. Abu Muhammad (a.s) called on me, “Bring my son to me, Aunt.” I took his son to him. He put his hands under his thighs and back and put the infant’s feet on his chest. He then put his tongue in his mouth and touched his eyes, ears, and joints with his hands. “My son, talk,” he said then.

The baby said, “I bear witness that a deity other than Allah, the One without a partner, is not; and I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.” He then beseeched blessings for the Prince of the Believers and the Imams until he reached at his father and then respectfully stopped.

Abu Muhammad (a.s) said, “Aunt, take him to his mother so he may give her greetings and then bring him to me.” I took her to his mother and he greeted her. Then I brought him back and put him in the sitting room. He then said, “Aunt, when it is the seventh day, come to us.” Lady Haki-ma says, In the morning, I came to offer my greetings to Abu Muhammad (a.s). I removed the curtain looking for my Master. Not seeing him, I asked his father, “May I be your ransom, where is my Master?”

He said, “We entrusted him to the one that mother of Moses had entrusted Moses to.” When it was the seventh day, I came and greeted and sat. He said, “Bring to me my son.” I brought my Master in a wrap. He acted towards his son in the same way he had acted the fist time. Then he put his tongue into his mouth; meseemed as if he was feeding him milk or honey. Then he said, “Talk O’ my son.”

The blessed infant said, “I bear witness that a deity other than Allah is not.” He then praised and beseeched blessings for Muhammad and ‘Ali, the Prince of the Believers, and every one of the Imams, blessings of Allah be upon all of them, until his father. He then recited this verse, “In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate; And we desire to confer kindness upon those who have been enfeebled on earth and make them Imams and make them heirs and give them power on earth and show Pharaoh and Ha-ma-n and their armies from them what they have been averting.”

Musa- Ibn Muhammad says, I asked ‘Aqaba, the servant, about this and he authenticated and verified Lady Haki-ma’s narration.

قالت حكيمة: فدخلتني الشكوك فصاح بي أبو محمد (ع) من المجلس فقال: لا تعجلي يا عمة فان الامر قد قرب قالت: فقرأت الم السجدة ويس فبينما أنا كذلك إذا انتبهت فزعة فوثبت إليها فقلت: اسم الله عليك ثم قلت لها: تحسين شيئا؟ قالت: نعم يا عمة. فقلت لها: اجمعي نفسك واجمعي قلبك فهو ما قلت لك. قالت حكيمة: ثم أخذتني فترة وأخذتها فطرة فانتبهت بحس سيدي (ع) فكشفت الثوب عنه فإذا أنا به (ع) ساجدا يتلقى الارض بمساجده فضممته إلي فإذا أنا به نظيف منظف فصاح بي أبو محمد (ع) هلمي إلي ابني يا عمة فجئت به إليه فوضع يديه تحت أليتيه وظهره ووضع قدميه على صدره ثم أدلى لسانه في فيه وأمر يده على عينيه وسمعه ومفاصله ثم قال: تكلم يا بني فقال: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمدا رسول الله(ص) ثم صلى على أمير المؤمنين (ع) وعلى الائمة إلى أن وقف على أبيه ثم أحجم. قال أبو محمد (ع): يا عمة اذهبي به إلى امه ليسلم عليها وائتني به فذهبت به فسلم عليها ورددته ووضعته في المجلس ثم قال: يا عمة إذا كان يوم السابع فائتينا. قالت حكيمة: فلما أصبحت جئت لاسلم على أبي محمد (ع) فكشفت الستر لافتقد سيدي (ع) فلم أره فقلت له: جعلت فداك ما فعل سيدي؟ فقال: يا عمه استودعناه الذي استودعته ام موسى (ع). قالت حكيمة: فلما كان في اليوم السابع جئت وسلمت وجلست فقال: هلمي إلي ابني فجئت بسيدي في الخرقة ففعل به كفعلته الاولى ثم أدلى لسانه في فيه. كأنه يغذيه لبنا أو عسلا ثم قال: تكلم يا بني فقال (ع): أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وثنى بالصلاة على محمد وعلى أمير المؤمنين والائمة صلوات الله عليهم أجمعين حتى وقف على أبيه (ع) ثم تلا هذه الآية: "بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيمِ. وَنُرِيدُ أَنْ نَمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ الْوَارِثِينَ وَنُمَكِّنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنُرِي فِرْعَوْنَ وَهَامَانَ وَجُنُودَهُمَا مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَحْذَرُونَ." قال موسى: فسألت عقبة الخادم عن هذا فقال: صدقت حكيمة

4- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Mu‘alla- Ibn Muhammad: When al-Zubairi was killed a letter came from Abu Muhammad (a.s) stating, “This is the punishment of the one who attributes lies to Allah, the Exalted, with respect to His bosom friends. He had presumed that he will kill me while I do not have an offspring. So how did he witness the might of Allah, the Victorious and the Exalted.” He sired a son and he named himM. U. H. A. M. M. A. D. This was in the year two hundred and fifty six.

Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi narrates a similar letter through another chain. It is possible to remove inconsistency between this account and the accounts, which mention the year of his birth as two hundred and fifty five, on the grounds that in this narration the said year is the time of the writing of the letter or the year of the murder.

5- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad: The Patron (a.s) was born in mid-Sha‘ba-n of the year two hundred and fifty five.

6- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Ibra-him Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdillah Ibn Musa- Ibn Ja‘far (a.s) from al-Sha-ri, from Nasi-m and Ma-riya: When the Patron of the Age fell from the abdomen of his mother, he fell hobbling on his knees, while raising his two forefingers towards the heavens. He then sneezed and said, “Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and may Allah bless Muhammad and his household. The oppressors have assumed that the Hujja of Allah has expired. Should we be allowed to talk, doubts would perish.”

7- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Ibra-hi-m Ibn Muhammad: Narrated to me Nasi-m, the servant of Abu Muhammad (a.s), “When I entered upon him one night after his birth and sneezed in his presence, the Patron of the Age (a.s) said to me, ‘May Allah have mercy on you.’ I became very happy so he said to me, ‘May I not give you happy tidings about sneezing?’ I said, ‘Sure so.’ He said, ‘It is protection from death for three days.’”

8- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: On the authority of Nasi-m, the servant, saying, I entered upon the Patron of the Age ten nights after his birth and sneezed in his presence. He said, “May Allah bless you.” That made me very happy. He said, “May I not give you glad tidings about sneezing? It is protection from death for three days.”

9- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Abu Ja‘far al-‘Amri: When the Master was born, Abu Muhammad (a.s) said, “Call Abu ‘Amr.” He was sent for and he came. The Imam said to him, “Buy ten thousand pounds of bread and ten thousand pounds of meat and distribute them according to the status of people.” He told him to distribute it to Bani Ha-shim and offer his ‘aqi-qa of a certain number of sheep.

4- إكمال الدين: جعفر بن محمد بن مسرور، عن الحسين بن محمد بن عامر، عن معلى بن محمد قال: خرج عن أبي محمد (ع) حين قتل الزبيري: هذا جزاء من افترى على الله تبارك وتعالى في أوليائه زعم أنه يقتلني وليس لي عقب فكيف رأى قدرة الله(عزوجل). وولد له وسماه م ح م د سنة ست وخمسين ومأتين. غط: الكليني، عن الحسين بن محمد، عن المعلى، عن أحمد بن محمد قال: خرج عن أبي محمد (ع) وذكر مثله.

5- إكمال الدين: ابن عصام، عن الكليني، عن علي بن محمد قال: ولد الصاحب (ع) (في) النصف من شعبان سنة خمس وخمسين ومأتين.

6- إكمال الدين: ماجيلويه والعطار معا، عن محمد العطار، عن الحسين بن علي النيسابوري، عن إبراهيم بن محمد بن عبد الله بن موسى بن جعفر (ع)، عن الشاري عن نسيم وماريه أنه لما سقط صاحب الزمان (ع) من بطن امه سقط جاثيا على ركبتيه، رافعا سبابتيه إلى السماء ثم عطس فقال: الحمد لله رب العالمين وصلى الله على محمد وآله، زعمت الظلمة أن حجة الله داحضة، ولو اذن لنا في الكلام لزال الشك.

7- إكمال الدين: قال إبراهيم بن محمد: وحدثتني نسيم خادم أبي محمد (ع) قالت: قال لي صاحب الزمان (ع) وقد دخلت عليه بعد مولده بليلة فعطست عنده فقال لي: يرحمك الله، قالت نسيم: ففرحت بذلك فقال لي (ع): ألا ابشرك في العطاس؟ فقلت بلى، قال: هو أمان من الموت ثلاثة أيام.

8- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: الكليني، رفعه عن نسيم الخادم قال: دخلت على صاحب الزمان (ع) بعد مولده بعشر ليال، فعطست عنده فقال: يرحمك الله، ففرحت بذلك فقال: ألا ابشرك في العطاس؟ هو أمان من الموت ثلاثة أيام.

9- إكمال الدين: ماجيلويه، وابن المتوكل، والعطار جميعا عن إسحاق بن رياح البصري، عن أبي جعفر العمري قال: لما ولد السيد (ع) قال أبو محمد (ع): ابعثوا إلي أبا عمرو، فبعث إليه فصار إليه فقال: اشتر عشرة آلاف رطل خبزا وعشرة آلاف رطل لحما وفرقه أحسبه قال: على بني هاشم وعق عنه بكذا وكذا شاة

10- Ikma-l al-Di-n: Abu ‘Ali al-Khaizara-ni narrates pm the authority of a concubine he had offered to Abu Muhammad (a.s) and when Ja‘far, the Liar, had seized over the house, she had escaped from Ja‘far and Abu ‘Ali had married her. Abu ‘Ali said, She told me that she had been present at the birth of the Master (a.s) and that the Master’s mother’s name is Saqi-l; and that Abu Muhammad (a.s) had told the Master’s mother what will happen to his family. Therefore, she had asked Abu Muhammad (a.s) to pray for her that her death comes before his. Thus, she died before him in the life of Abu Muhammad (a.s). There is a tablet on her tomb on which it is inscribed, This is Umm Muhammad. Abu ‘Ali said, I heard this bondmaid reminisce that when the Master was born, she saw a beam of light shining from him and reaching the zenith of the heaven; and that she saw white birds descending from the heavens and touching their wings against his head and face and the rest of his body and then fly away. She said, We informed Abu Muhammad (a.s) about it. He laughed and then said, “These are angels from the heavens, who descended to be blessed by him. They are his aides when he rises.”

11- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Abu Gha-nim, the servant: Abu Muhammad (a.s) sired a son and named himM. U. H. A. M. M. A. D. He presented him to his companions on the third day and said, “This is your Patron after me and my successor over you. He is the Qa-’im towards whom necks have stretched in waiting. When the earth will be filled with oppression and corruption, he will rise and fill it with equity and justice.”

12- Al-Ghaiba of Sheikh Tusi: On the authority of Sahl al-Shayba-ni, saying, Said Bishr Ibn Sulayma-n al-Nakhkha-s, a descendent of Abu Ayyu-b al-Ansa-ri and a devotee of Abu al-Hasan (a.s) and Abu Muhammad (a.s) and their neighbor at Surra Man Ra’a-, Ka-fu-r, the servant, came to me and said, “Our Master Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad al-‘Askari (a.s) is calling you.” I went to the Master and as I sat in front of him, he said, “O Bishr, you are from the descendents of Ansa-r. This devotion is your legacy, which your each coming generation inherits from your preceding generation. You are trustworthy men of us Ahl al-Bait.

I am elevating you and ennobling you by an excellence through which you will surpass all Shi-‘a in devotion, by sharing a secret with you and sending you to purchase a certain bondmaid.” He then wrote a very fine letter in Roman script and Roman language and imprinted his seal on it. He took out a yellow cloth in which were two hundred dina-rs. He said, “Take this and go with it to Baghdad.” He told me to go to the crossing of the Euphrates on the noon of such and such day and when I reach the boats of the captives, “you will see bondmaids in them. You will find buyers working for the procurers of the Abbasids and a small group from the Arab youths. When you see that, keep an eye on a man called ‘Omar Ibn Yazi-d al-Nakhkha-s from a distance all day long, until a bondmaid is brought to the buyers,” who has such-and-such quality.

10- إكمال الدين: ماجيلويه، عن محمد العطار، عن أبي علي الخيزراني، عن جارية له كان أهداها لابي محمد (ع) فلما أغار جعفر الكذاب على الدار جاءته فارة من جعفر فتزوج بها قال أبو علي: فحدثتني أنها حضرت ولادة السيد (ع) وأن اسم ام السيد صقيل وأن أبا محمد (ع) حدثها بما جرى على عياله فسألته أن يدعو لها بأن يجعل منيتها قبله، فماتت قبله في حياة أبي محمد (ع) وعلى قبرها لوح عليه مكتوب هذا ام محمد. قال أبو علي: وسمعت هذه الجارية تذكر أنه لما ولد السيد رأت له نورا ساطعا قد ظهر منه وبلغ افق السماء ورأت طيورا بيضا تهبط من السماء وتمسح أجنحتها على رأسه ووجهه وسائر جسده ثم تطير، فأخبرنا أبا محمد (ع) بذلك فضحك ثم قال: تلك ملائكة السماء نزلت لتتبرك به وهي أنصاره إذا خرج.

11- إكمال الدين: ابن المتوكل، عن الحميري، عن محمد بن أحمد العلوي، عن أبي غانم الخادم قال: ولد لابي محمد (ع) ولد فسماه محمدا فعرضه على أصحابه يوم الثالث وقال: هذا صاحبكم من بعدي وخليفتي عليكم، وهو القائم الذي تمتد إليه الاعناق بالانتظار فإذا امتلات الارض جورا وظلما خرج فملاها قسطا وعدلا.

12- الغيبة للشيخ الطوسي: جماعة عن أبي المفضل الشيباني، عن محمد بن بحر بن سهل الشيباني قال: قال بشر بن سليمان النخاس وهو من ولد أبي أيوب الانصاري أحد موالي أبي الحسن وأبي محمد وجارهما بسر من رأى: أتاني كافور الخادم فقال: مولانا أبو الحسن علي بن محمد العسكري يدعوك إليه فأتيته فلما جلست بين يديه قال لي: يا بشر إنك من ولد الأنصار وهذه الموالاة لم تزل فيكم يرثها خلف عن سلف وأنتم ثقاتنا أهل البيت وإني مزكيك ومشرفك بفضيلة تسبق بها الشيعة في الموالاة بسرٍّ أطلعك عليه، وانفذك في ابتياع أمة فكتب كتابا لطيفا بخط رومي ولغة رومية وطبع عليه خاتمه وأخرج شقة صفراء فيها مائتان وعشرون ديناراً فقال: خذها وتوجه بها إلى بغداد واحضر معبر الفرات ضحوة يوم كذا فإذا وصلت إلى جانبك زواريق السبايا وترى الجواري فيها ستجد طوايف المبتاعين من وكلاء قواد بني العباس وشرذمة من فتيان العرب فإذا رأيت ذلك فأشرف من البعد على المسمى عمر بن يزيد النخاس عامة نهارك إلى أن تبرز للمبتاعين جارية صفتها كذا وكذا

“Her dress is two thick silks; she refuses to be seen or touched by the examiners; she does not submit to anyone who would want to touch her; and you hear a cry in Roman from behind a thin veil. You should know she is saying, Alas from the violation of the veil. One of the buyers says, Mine for three hundred dina-rs; her modesty has ever increased my desire for her. She replies to him in Arabic, Even if you come in the figure of Solomon the son of David and with a kingdom like his, I will not be interested in you. So, save your money.

“The slave-dealer says, Then what is the solution? I have to sell you. The bondmaid replies, What is the rush? There must be a buyer that my heart finds rest in him and in his fidelity and honesty. At that moment, go to ‘Amr Ibn Yazi-d al-Nakhkha-s and tell him you have ‘a kindhearted letter from a certain man of nobility, which he has written in Roman language and in Roman script, describing therein his benevolence, his fidelity, his excellence, and his generosity, so she may discern from it the character of its author. Should she be interested in him and choose him, then I am his representative in buying her from you.’”

Bishr Ibn Sulayma-n says, I performed all that which my Master Abu al-Hasan (a.s) had ordered me to do with respect to the bondmaid. When she saw the epistle, she cried very profusely and said to ‘Amr Ibn Yazi-d, “Sell me to the author of this letter.” She took the solemnest of oaths that should he refuse to sell her to him, she will take her life. I negotiated the price with the dealer until it settled exactly on the amount of dina-rs my Master had given me. The money being sufficient, I took the bondmaid, who was so very happy and in laughter. I returned with her to the quarters I was residing at in Baghdad. She was very restless until she took out from her pocket the letter of our Master. She would kiss it and put it on her eyes and place it on her cheeks and touch it to her body. Astonished by this, I said, “You are kissing a letter you do not know who wrote it.”

“O incapable and feeble from knowing the position of the progeny of prophets,” she said, “lend me your ears and empty your heart for my words. I am Mali-ka the daughter of Yashu‘a-, son of the Caesar of Rome. My mother is from the descendents of the Disciples of Jesus (Hawa-riyi-n), and her lineage goes back to the successor of Jesus, Sham‘u-n. I will narrate to you the wondrous story. My grandfather the Caesar wanted to marry me to his nephew when I was a girl of thirteen years of age. So he gathered in his palace three hundred priests and monks from the descendents of the Hawa-riyi-n, and from their men of stature seven hundred men. He gathered four thousand men from commanders of the army and officers of the military and leaders of the armed forces and chiefs of the tribes. He erected a throne from the dearest of his riches, which was adorned with varieties of jewels and was raised over forty steps.

لابسة حريرين صفيقين تمتنع من العرض ولمس المعترض والانقياد لمن يحاول لمسها وتسمع صرخة رومية من وراء ستر رقيق فاعلم أنها تقول: واهتك ستراه! فيقول بعض المبتاعين علي ثلاثمأة دينار فقد زادني العفاف فيها رغبة فتقول له بالعربية: لو برزت في زي سليمان بن داود وعلى شبه ملكه ما بدت لي فيك رغبة فاشفق على مالك. فيقول النخاس: فما الحيلة ولا بد من بيعك فتقول الجارية: وما العجلة ولابد من اختيار مبتاع يسكن قلبي إليه وإلى وفائه وأمانته. فعند ذلك قم إلى عمر بن يزيد النخاس وقل له: إن معك كتابا ملطفة لبعض الاشراف كتبه بلغة رومية وخط رومي ووصف فيه كرمه ووفاءه ونبله وسخاءه تناولها لتتأمل منه أخلاق صاحبه فان مالت إليه ورضيته فأنا وكيله في ابتياعها منك. قال بشر بن سليمان: فامتثلت جميع ما حده لي مولاي أبو الحسن (ع) في أمر الجارية فلما نظرت في الكتاب بكت بكاء شديدا وقالت لعمر بن يزيد: بعني من صاحب هذا الكتاب وحلفت بالمحرجة والمغلظة أنه متى امتنع من بيعها منه قتلت نفسها. فما زلت اشاحه في ثمنها حتى استقر الامر فيه على مقدار ما كان أصحبنيه مولاي (ع) من الدنانير فاستوفاه وتسلمت الجارية ضاحكة مستبشرة وانصرفت بها إلى الحجيرة التي كنت آوي إليها ببغداد. فما أخذها القرار حتى أخرجت كتاب مولانا (ع) من جيبها وهي تلثمه وتطبقه على جفنها وتضعه على خدها وتمسحه على بدنها فقلت تعجبا منها تلثمين كتابا لا تعرفين صاحبه؟ فقالت: أيها العاجز الضعيف المعرفة بمحل أولاد الانبياء أعرني سمعك وفرغ لي قلبك أنا مليكة بنت يشوعا بن قيصر ملك الروم وأمي من ولد الحواريين تنسب إلى وصي المسيح شمعون انبئك بالعجب. إن جدي قيصر أراد أن يزوجني من ابن أخيه وأنا من بنات ثلاث عشرة سنة فجمع في قصره من نسل الحواريين من القسيسين والرهبان ثلاثمائة رجل ومن ذوي الاخطار منهم سبعمائة رجل وجمع من امراء الاجناد وقواد العسكر ونقباء الجيوش وملوك العشاير أربعة آلاف وأبرز من بهي ملكه عرشا مساغا من أصناف الجوهر ورفعه فوق أربعين مرقاة

When his nephew climbed, the crosses were fixed about, the bishops took their stands in great reverence, and the pages of the Evangel were opened, suddenly the crosses collapsed from the top and hit the ground. The pillars of the throne crumbled and crashed onto the floor. My grandfather’s nephew, who had risen over the throne, fell down unconscious. The colors of the bishops changed and their chests trembled. Their leader said to my grandfather, ‘Please excuse me from facing this evil, which forebodes the demise of this Christian religion and the regal creed.’ “My grandfather took this as an evil omen and said to the bishops, ‘Erect these scaffolds and raise the crosses and bring the brother of this deceased man, whose dreams have been ruined, so I may marry him this young girl; so the evil of his dead brother may go away through his fortune.’

“And when they did that, the same thing happened to the second as had happened to the first nephew. People scattered away. My grandfather the Caesar stood in great distress and entered the quarters of the womenfolk. I drooped the curtains and in the same night saw in my dream that Jesus, Sham‘u-n, and a number of the Disciples (Hawa-riyi-n) had gathered at my grandfather’s palace. They had installed there a pulpit of light that was defying heavens in height and elevation. It was in the same spot where my grandfather had installed his throne. At this, Muhammad, (a.s), his son in law and his successor the Prince of the Believers (a.s) and a number of his sons entered. Jesus went forward and embraced him. Muhammad (a.s) said to him, ‘O Ruhallah, I have come to you to propose to your successor Sham‘u-n for his daughter Mali-ka for this son of my mine’, pointing with his son towards Abu Muhammad (a.s), the son of the writer of this epistle. Jesus looked at Sham‘u-n and said to him, ‘The greatest honor has come to you. Let your relation be bonded with the relation of the house of Muhammad (a.s).’

“Sham‘u-n said, ‘It will be my honor to do so.’ He climbed over that pulpit. Muhammad (a.s) said the rituals and married me to his son. Jesus bore witness and the sons of Muhammad (a.s) and the Hawa-riyi-n bore witness. When I woke up, I was scared to report this to my father or grandfather, fearing they will kill me. I was keeping this a secret and was not revealing it to them. Meanwhile, my heart throbbed with Abu Muhammad’s love (a.s) so much that I forsook eating and drinking. I became weak and my body grew lean and I became very sick. There was no physician left in the cities of Rome that my grandfather did not bring and ask him to heal me. When despair overwhelmed him, he said to me, ‘O solace of my heart, does any wish occur to your heart in this world, so I may fulfill it?’ ”I said, ‘Grandfather, I see the doors of relief shut on me. However, if you save the Muslim captives in your prison torture, and remove their manacles, and do them favors, and kindly release them, I am hopeful that Jesus and his mother will give me health.’

فلما صعد ابن أخيه وأحدقت الصلب وقامت الاساقفة عكفا ونشرت أسفار الانجيل تسافلت الصلب من الاعلى فلصقت الارض وتقوضت أعمدة العرش فانهارت إلى القرار وخر الصاعد من العرش مغشياً عليه. فتغيرت ألوان الاساقفة وارتعدت فرائصهم فقال كبيرهم لجدي: أيها الملك اعفنا من ملاقاة هذه النحوس الدالة على زوال هذا الدين المسيحي والمذهب الملكاني. فتطير جدي من ذلك تطيراً شديداً وقال للاساقفة: أقيموا هذه الاعمدة وارفعوا الصلبان واحضروا أخا هذا المدبر لعاهر المنكوس جده لأزوجه هذه الصبية فيدفع نحوسه عنكم بسعوده. ولما فعلوا ذلك حدث على الثاني مثل ما حدث على الاول وتفرق الناس وقام جدي قيصر مغتما فدخل منـزل النساء وارخيت الستور واريت في تلك الليلة كأن المسيح وشمعون وعدة من الحواريين قد اجتمعوا في قصر جدي ونصبوا فيه منبرا من نور يباري السماء علوا وارتفاعا في الموضع الذي كان نصب جدي وفيه عرشه ودخل عليه محمد(ص) وختنه ووصيه (ع) وعدة من أبنائه. فتقدم المسيح إليه فاعتنقه فيقول له محمد(ص): يا روح الله إني جئتك خاطبا من وصيك شمعون فتاته مليكة لابني هذا وأومأ بيده إلى أبي محمد (ع) ابن صاحب هذا الكتاب فنظر المسيح إلى شمعون وقال له: قد أتاك الشرف فصل رحمك برحم آل محمد(ع) قال: قد فعلت، فصعد ذلك المنبر فخطب محمد(ص) وزوجني من ابنه وشهد المسيح (ع) وشهد أبناء محمد(ع) والحواريون. فلما استيقظت أشفقت أن أقص هذه الرؤيا على أبي وجدي مخافة القتل فكنت أسرها ولا أبديها لهم وضرب صدري بمحبة أبي محمد (ع) حتى امتنعت من الطعام والشراب. فضعفت نفسي ودق شخصي ومرضت مرضاً شديداً فما بقي في مداين الروم طبيب إلا أحضره جدي وسأله عن دوائي. فلما برح به اليأس قال: يا قرة عيني هل يخطر ببالك شهوة فازودكها في هذه الدنيا فقلت: يا جدي أرى أبواب الفرج علي مغلقة فلو كشفت العذاب عمن في سجنك من أسارى المسلمين وفككت عنهم الاغلال وتصدقت عليهم ومنيتهم الخلاص رجوت أن يهب المسيح وأمه عافية

When he did that, I made effort to display health and ate a little food. This made him very happy and he became ever intense to confer kindness and respect upon the captives. “I also saw in my dreams for fourteen nights the Mistress of the Women of the Worlds, Fa-timah (a.s). She visited me along with Marry, the daughter of ‘Imra-n, and one thousand serfs from the Gardens. Marry says to me, ‘This is the Mistress of the Ladies (a.s), the mother of your husband Abu Muhammad, (a.s).’ So I hold her and cry and complain why Abu Muhammad (a.s) does not come to visit me. The Mistress of the Ladies (a.s) said, ‘My son Abu Muhammad (a.s) will not visit you so long as you believe in a partner with Allah in the religion of the Christians. This is my sister Marry, the daughter of ‘Imra-n, and she turns to Allah with disdain from your religion. If you want the pleasure of Allah, the Exalted, and the pleasure of Jesus and his mother, and to have Abu Muhammad (a.s) visit you, say, I bear witness that a deity other than Allah is not and that my father Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.’

“When I spoke these words, the Mistress of the Ladies of the World pulled me to her chest and my soul was blessed. She said, ‘Now expect the visitations of Abu Muhammad (a.s). I am sending him to you.’ I woke up in great excitement and expectation of meeting Abu Muhammad (a.s). When it was the next night, I saw Abu Muhammad (a.s) and as if I was saying to him, ‘You abandoned me, my beloved, while the remedy of your love ruined my soul.’ He said, ‘My delay was not but for your polytheistic belief. Now you have embraced Islam and I am going to be visiting you every night until Allah brings us together.’ Until now, his visitations to me have not ceased yet.”

Bishr says, I said to her, “How did you fall amongst the captives?”

She said, “Abu Muhammad (a.s) told me on one of the nights, Your grandfather will shortly be dispatching an army to fight the Muslims on such and such day, and he will follow them. You have to join them in the wardrobe of servants along with a number of servants from such and such route. I did that and the vanguards of Muslims encountered us, which led to my situation that you see and observe. And no one knew that I am the granddaughter of the Roman Caesar until now except you and that is because I told you. The gentleman in whose share of booty I fell, asked me of my name. I hid my identity from him and said, ‘Narjis.’ He said, ‘A name of the servants.’ I said to her, “It is amazing that you are Roman and your language is Arabic.”

She said, “Due to my grandfather’s persistence and encouragement that I should increase my learning, he appointed a woman to me, who was his interpreter, to visit me. She would come to me day and night and teach me Arabic until I became fluent and articulate.”

فلما فعل ذلك تجلدت في إظهار الصحة من بدني قليلا وتناولت يسيرا من الطعام فسر بذلك وأقبل على إكرام الاسارى وإعزازهم. فأريت أيضا بعد أربع عشرة ليلة كأن سيدة نساء العالمين فاطمة عليها السلام قد زارتني ومعها مريم بنت عمران وألف من وصايف الجنان فتقول لي مريم هذه سيدة النساء عليها السلام ام زوجك أبي محمد فأتعلق بها وأبكي وأشكو إليها امتناع أبي محمد من زيارتي فقالت سيدة النساء عليها السلام: إن ابني أبا محمد لا يزورك وأنت مشركة بالله على مذهب النصارى وهذه اختي مريم بنت عمران تبرؤ إلى الله من دينك فان ملت إلى رضى الله تعالى ورضى المسيح ومريم(ع) وزيارة أبي محمد إياك فقولي أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن أبي محمدا رسول الله. فلما تكلمت بهذه الكلمة ضمتني إلى صدرها سيدة نساء العالمين وطيب نفسي وقالت الآن توقعي زيارة أبي محمد وإني منفذته إليك. فانتبهت وأنا أنول وأتوقع لقاء أبي محمد (ع) فلما كان في الليلة القابلة رأيت أبا محمد (ع) وكأني أقول له: جفوتني يا حبيبي بعد أن أتلفت نفسي معالجة حبك، فقال: ما كان تأخري عنك إلا لشركك فقد أسلمت وأنا زائرك في كل ليلة إلى أن يجمع الله شملنا في العيان فلما قطع عني زيارته بعد ذلك إلى هذه الغاية. قال بشر: فقلت لها: وكيف وقعت في الاسارى فقالت: أخبرني أبو محمد (ع) ليلة من الليالي أن جدك سيسير جيشاً إلى قتال المسلمين يوم كذا وكذا ثم يتبعهم فعليك باللحاق بهم متنكرة في زي الخدم مع عدة من الوصايف من طريق كذا. ففعلت ذلك فوقفت علينا طلايع المسلمين حتى كان من أمري ما رأيت وشاهدت وما شعر بأني ابنة ملك الروم إلى هذه الغاية أحد سواك وذلك باطلاعي إياك عليه ولقد سألني الشيخ الذي وقعت إليه في سهم الغنيمة عن اسمي فأنكرته وقلت: نرجس فقال: اسم الجواري. قلت: العجب أنك رومية ولسانك عربي؟ قالت: نعم، من ولوع جدي وحمله إياي على تعلم الآداب أن أوعز إلي امرأة ترجمانة له في الاختلاف إلي وكانت تقصدني صباحا ومساء وتفيدني العربية حتى استمر لساني عليها واستقام

Bishr says, When I brought her back to Surra Man Ra’a-, I entered upon my Master Abu al-Hasan, (a.s). He said to her, “How did Allah show you the glory of Islam and the disgrace of Christianity and the nobility of Muhammad and his Household?” She said, “How would I describe, O son of the Messenger of Allah, something which you know better than me.” “I would like to confer kindness on you,” he said to her. “Which one is dearer to you, ten thousand dina-rs or a happy tiding of eternal grandeur?” “Happy tidings of a son for me,” she said. “Rejoice the tidings of having a son who will rule the world, from the east to the west, and will fulfill the earth with equity and justice, as it will be filled with oppression and corruption.” “From whom,” she asked. From the one for whom the Messenger of Allah (a.s) proposed for you on such and such night, in such and such year, replied my Master in Roman. He said, “To whom Jesus and his successor married you.” “From your son Abu Muhammad (a.s)?” she asked. “Do you know him?” “Has there been a night he has not visited me since I have embraced Islam on the hands of Mistress of the Ladies!”

Our Master said, “Ka-fu-r, call my sister Haki-ma.” And when she entered, he said to her, “Here she is.” Lady Haki-ma embraced her long and was very much happy to see her. Abu al-Hasan (a.s) said to her, “O’ daughter of the Messenger of Allah, take her to your house and teach her the duties and the traditions, for she is the wife of Abu Muhammad and the mother of al-Qa-’im.”

13- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Abu al-Husain Muhammad Ibn Yahya- al-Shaiba-ni: I entered Karbala on the year two hundred and eighty six and visited the tomb of the forlorn son of the Messenger of Allah (a.s) and then returned towards Baghdad, intending towards the Cemetery called Maqa-bir Qureish, the Shrine of the Ka-dhimayn (a.s). It was burning hot, so much so that it seemed that the noontime has been set ablaze and the heavens were burning in flames. When I reached from there at the shrine of al-Ka-zim (a.s) and smelled the breeze of his Tomb that is engulfed in Divine compassion and encircled by gardens of forgiveness, I shed trickling tears and took many grievous sighs with blocking my eyes from seeing.

When my tears ceased and groans stopped and I opened my eyes, I saw an old man whose back was bent and his knees were curved and his forehead and palms have dried like the knees of a camel. Near the Tomb, he was saying to another gentleman who was with him, “O nephew, through the most esoteric secrets and the noblest of all knowledge, which the two Masters possess, your uncle has reached a nobility the like which none has carried but Salma-n. Your uncle has reached at the end of his time and the expiration of his life, yet he does not find in the people of the locality a man to confide his knowledge in.” I said to myself, “O’ my soul, unkindness and suffering come from you, inasmuch as I exhaust the foot and the hoof in search of knowledge. Now my ears have caught from this old man a word which alludes to the greatest knowledge and a magnificent affair.”

قال بشر: فلما انكفأت بها إلى سر من رأى دخلت على مولاي أبي الحسن (ع) فقال: كيف أراك الله عز الاسلام وذل النصرانية وشرف محمد وأهل بيته(ع) قالت: كيف أصف لك يا ابن رسول الله ما أنت أعلم به مني. قال: فاني احب أن أكرمك فأيما أحب إليك عشرة آلاف دينار أم بشرى لك بشرف الابد قالت: بشرى بولد لي. قال لها: ابشري بولد يملك الدنيا شرقا وغربا ويملأ الأرض قسطاً وعدلاً كما ملئت ظلماً وجوراً. قالت: ممن؟ قال: ممن خطبك رسول الله(ص)، له ليلة كذا في شهر كذا من سنة كذا بالرومية قال لها: ممن زوجك المسيح (ع) ووصيه؟ قالت: من ابنك أبي محمد (ع) فقال: هل تعرفينه قالت: وهل خلت ليلة لم يزرني فيها منذ الليلة التي أسلمت على يد سيدة النساء عليها السلام قال: فقال مولانا: يا كافور ادع اختي حكيمة فلما دخلت قال لها: هاهيه فاعتنقتها طويلا وسرت بها كثيرا فقال لها أبو الحسن (ع): يا بنت رسول الله خذيها إلى منـزلك وعلميها الفرايض والسنن فانها زوجة أبي محمد وام القائم (ع).

13- إكمال الدين: محمد بن علي بن محمد بن حاتم. عن أحمد بن عيسى الوشاء، عن أحمد بن طاهر القمي، عن أبي الحسين محمد بن يحيى الشيباني قال: وردت كربلاء سنة ست وثمانين ومائتين قال: وزرت قبر غريب رسول الله(ص) ثم انكفأت إلى مدينة السلام متوجها إلى مقابر قريش وقد تضرمت الهواجر وتوقدت السماء. ولما وصلت منها إلى مشهد الكاظم (ع) واستنشقت نسيم تربته المغمورة من الرحمة المحفوفة بحدايق الغفران أكببت عليها بعبرات متقاطرة وزفرات متتابعة، وقد حجب الدمع طرفي عن النظر فلما رقأت العبرة وانقطع النحيب وفتحت بصرى وإذا أنا بشيخ قد انحنى صلبه وتقوس منكباه وثفنت جبهته وراحتاه وهو يقول لآخر معه عند القبر: يا ابن أخ فقد نال عمك شرفا بما حمله السيدان من غوامض الغيوب وشرايف العلوم التي لم يحمل مثلها إلا سلمان وقد أشرف عمك على استكمال المدة وانقضاء العمر وليس يجد في أهل الولاية رجلا يفضي إليه قلت: يانفس لا يزال العناء والمشقة ينالان منك باتعابي الخف والحافر في طلب العلم وقد قرع سمعي من هذا الشيخ لفظ يدل على علم جسيم وأمر عظيم

I said to the old gentleman, “Ya- Sheikh, who are the two Masters?” He said, “The Two Heavenly Stars Treasured on earth in Surra Man Ra’a-.” I said, “I take an oath by the love and the majestic position of Imamate and Succession of these two Masters that I am a searcher of their knowledge and a seeker of their words. I profess the solemnest of the oaths to protect their secrets.” He said, “If you are truthful in what you are saying, then present the words from the narrators of their traditions.” As he examined the books and the traditions therein, he said, “You are truthful. I am Bishr Ibn Sulayma-n al-Nakhkha-s from the children of Abu Ayyu-b al-Ansa-ri, one of the devotees of Abu al-Hasan and Abu Muhammad (a.s) and their neighbor at Surra Man Ra’a-.” I said to him, “Do favor on your brother by sharing some of the things you have seen from them.”

He said, “My master Abu al-Hasan (a.s) made me knowledgeable about slaves. I would not buy nor sell but with his permission, which helped me avoid dubious occasions, until my knowledge of the subject matured and I could make good distinction between the permissible and the illegal. As such, one night I was at my house at Surra Man Ra‘a, and a certain portion of the night had passed, when someone knocked at my door. I ran with speed and saw Ka-fu-r, the servant, the messenger of our Master Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Muhammad (a.s) calling me to him. I put on my wardrobe and went to him. I saw him talking to his son Abu Muhammad (a.s) and his sister Haki-ma from behind the curtain. When I sat, he said, ‘O’ Bishr, you are from the descendents of the Ansa-r, and this love has always been in you, with each coming generation inheriting it from the preceding one, and you are trustworthy men of us Ahl al-Bait…,” then Ikma-l al-Di-n continues with the tradition like Sheikh Tusi until its end.

14- Ikma-l al-Di-n: On the authority of Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdillah al-Mutahhari: I went to see Lady Haki-ma the daughter of Muhammad (a.s) after the demise of Abu Muhammad (a.s) to ask her about the Hujja and the confusion in which people had split many ways. She said to me, “Sit down.” I sat down and she said, “O’ Muhammad, verily Allah, the Exalted, does not leave the earth without a Hujja, be he a speaking one or a silent one. He has not put it in two brothers after Hasan and Husain, as a token of distinction for Hasan and Husain and to mark their superiority lest there will be their peer on earth. However, Allah, the Exalted, gave excellence to the progeny of Husain over the progeny of Hasan, as He gave excellence to the progeny of Aaron over the progeny Moses, though Moses was Hujja over Aaron. And this excellence is for his progeny until the Day of Judgment.

فقلت: أيها الشيخ ومن السيدان؟ قال النجمان المغيبان في الثرى بسر من رأى. فقلت: إني اقسم بالموالاة وشرف محل هذين السيدين من الامامة والوراثة أني خاطب علمهما وطالب آثارهما وباذل من نفسي الايمان الموكدة على حفظ أسرارهما. قال: إن كنت صادقا فيما تقول فأحضر ما صحبك من الآثار عن نقلة أخبارهم. فلما فتش الكتب وتصفح الروايات منها قال: صدقت أنا بشر بن سليمان النخاس من ولد أبي أيوب الانصاري أحد موالي أبي الحسن وأبي محمد(ع) وجارهما بسر من رأى. قلت فأكرم أخاك ببعض ما شاهدت من آثارهما. قال: كان مولاي أبو الحسن (ع) فقهني في علم الرقيق فكنت لا أبتاع ولا أبيع إلا باذنه فاجتنبت بذلك موارد الشبهات حتى كملت معرفتي فيه فأحسنت الفرق فيما بين الحلال والحرام فبينا أنا ذات ليلة في منـزلي بسر من رأى وقد مضى هوي من الليل إذ قد قرع الباب قارع فعدوت مسرعا فإذا بكافور الخادم رسول مولانا أبي الحسن علي بن محمد(ع) يدعوني إليه. فلبست ثيابي ودخلت عليه فرأيته يحدث ابنه أبا محمد (ع) واخته حكيمة من وراء الستر فلما جلست قال: يا بشر إنك من ولد الانصار وهذه الولاية لم تزل فيكم يرثها خلف عن سلف وأنتم ثقاتنا أهل البيت… وساق الخبر نحوا مما رواه الشيخ إلى آخره.

14- إكمال الدين: ابن إدريس عن أبيه، عن محمد بن إسماعيل، عن محمد بن إبراهيم الكوفي عن محمد بن عبد الله المطهري، قال: قصدت حكيمة بنت محمد (ع) بعد مضي أبي محمد (ع) أسألها عن الحجة وما قد اختلف فيه الناس من الحيرة التي فيها. فقالت لي: اجلس فجلست. ثم قالت لي: يا محمد إن الله تبارك وتعالى لا يخلي الارض من حجة ناطقة أو صامتة ولم يجعلها في أخوين بعد الحسن والحسين تفضيلاً للحسن والحسين(ع) وتمييزا لهما أن يكون في الارض عديلهما إلا أن الله تبارك وتعالى خص ولد الحسين بالفضل على ولد الحسن كما خص ولد هارون على ولد موسى وإن كان موسى حجة على هارون والفضل لولده إلى يوم القيامة

“There must be a trial for the Ummah,” said she, “in which falsifiers will fall in doubts, and in which verifiers will find salvation, lest people will have an argument against Allah after the apostles. This trial has occurred after the demise of Abu Muhammad al-Hasan (a.s).” I asked her, “O’ my lady, did Hasan (a.s) have a son?” She smiled and then said, “If Hasan (a.s) did not have a son, then who is the Hujja after him, considering I told you that Imamate will not be in two brothers after Hasan and Husain, (a.s).” So I said, “O’ my lady, tell me about the birth of my master and his occultation.” She said, “Yes, there was a bondmaid of mine called Narjis. My nephew came to visit me. He came forward intensely looking at her. I said, ‘My Master, perhaps you have a desire for her. So, I will send her to you.’ He said, ‘No, Aunt, rather I wonder at her.’ I asked, ‘What makes you wonder?’ he said, ‘She will give birth to a boy, who is much dignified before Allah, the Exalted, Who will fill the earth through him with equity and justice as it will be full of corruption and oppression.’ I said, ‘So, I will send her to you, O’ my master.’ He said, ‘Seek my father’s permission in that regard.’

“I put on my clothes and came to the house of Abu al-Hasan (a.s). I greeted at him and sat down. He initiated the conversation and said, ‘Haki-ma, send Narjis to my son Abu Muhammad.’ I said, ‘My Master, I came for this purpose to you to seek your permission.’ He said, ‘O blessed lady, Allah, the Exalted, desired to give you a share in the reward and put a stake for you in the good.’ Lady Haki-ma said, “I did not stand and returned to my house and adorned her and gave her to Abu Muhammad, (a.s). I facilitated the union between them at my house and he stayed with me a few days and then went to his father. I sent her with him.”