Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

1706 - سُلَيمانُ عليه السلام‏

1706. SOLOMON (AS) [SULAYMAN]

( وَوَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانُ دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ عُلِّمْنَا مَنْطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِنَّ هذا لَهُوَ الْفَضْلُ الْمُبِينُ)1

“Solomon inherited from David, and he said, 'O people! We have been taught the speech of the birds, and we have been given out of everything. Indeed this is a manifest advantage.” 2

(اُنظر) النساء : 163 والأنعام : 84 والأنبياء : 81 ، 82 وسبأ : 12 ، 13 وص : 30 - 40 والنمل : 17 - 44 والبقرة : 102

(See also: Qur'an 4:163, 6:84, 21:81-82, 34:12-13, 38:30-40, 27:17-44, 2:102)

5996. سُلَيمانُ عليه السلام - لمّا رأى‏ عُصفوراً يَقولُ لِعُصفورَةٍ : لِمَ تَمنَعينَ نَفسَكِ مِنّي ، ولو شِئتُ أخَذتُ قُبّةَ سُلَيمانَ بمِنقارِي فألقَيتُها في البَحرِ ؟! فَقال لَهُ وهو يتبسّم - : أتُطيقُ أن تَفعَلَ ذلكَ ؟ ! فقالَ : لا يا رسولَ اللَّهِ ، ولكنَّ المَرءَ قد يُزَيِّنُ نَفسَهُ ويُعَظِّمُها عِندَ زَوجَتِهِ ، والمُحِبُّ لا يُلامُ على‏ ما يقولُ ، فقالَ سُلَيمانُ عليه السلام لِلعُصفورَةِ : لِمَ تَمنَعينَهُ مِن نَفسِكَ وهُو يُحِبُّكِ ؟ فقالت : يا نَبيَّ اللَّهِ ، إنّهُ لَيس مُحِبّاً ولكنّهُ مُدَّعٍ ؛ لأ نّهُ يُحِبُّ مَعي غَيري ! فأثَّرَ كلامُ العُصفورَةِ في قَلبِ سُلَيمانَ وبَكى‏ بُكاءً شَديداً واحتَجَبَ عنِ النّاسِ أربَعينَ يَوماً يَدعُو اللَّهَ أن يُفَرِّغَ قَلبَهُ لمَحَبّتِهِ وأن لا يُخالِطَها بمَحَبَّةِ غَيرِهِ3

5996. Solomon (AS), when he saw a male sparrow saying to a female sparrow, 'Why do you deprive me of yourself, for if I wanted I could take Solomon's crown with my beak and throw it in the sea!' Solomon said to him, smiling, 'Are you really able to do so?' The bird said, 'No, O Messenger of Allah, but a man may embellish himself and greaten himself in front of his wife, and a lover cannot be rebuked for what he says.' Solomon then asked the female sparrow, 'Why do you deprive him of yourself when he loves you?' She said, 'O Prophet of Allah, he is not a lover, but a claimant [of love], for he loves someone else besides me!' The words of this sparrow affected Solomon's heart and he cried very much, and secluded himself from people for forty days praying to Allah to empty his heart for his love for Him, and to not mix it with love for anything other than Him.'4

5997. سُلَيمانُ عليه السلام : اُوتِينا ما اُوتِيَ النّاس وما لَم يُؤتَوا ، وعَلِمنا ما عَلِمَ الناسُ وما لَم يَعلَموا ، فلم نَجِدْ شيئاً أفضَلَ مِن خَشيَةِ اللَّهِ في الغَيبِ والمَشهَدِ، والقَصدِ في الغِنى‏ والفَقرِ ، وكَلِمَةِ الحَقِّ في الرِّضا والغَضبِ، والتَّضَرُّعِ إلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّوجلَّ على‏ كلِّ حالٍ5

5997. Solomon (AS) said, 'We have been given what people [in the past] were given as well as what they were not given, and we know what other people know as well as what they do not know. But we did not find anything better [in all of that] than fearing Allah in secret and in public, and moderation in times of wealth as well as poverty, speaking the truth both in [states of] pleasure and anger, and humility before Allah Almighty in every situation.'6

5998. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لَو أ نَّ أحَداً يَجِدُ إلَى البَقاءِ سُلَّماً ، أو لِدَفعِ المَوتِ سَبيلاً ، لَكانَ ذلكَ سُلَيمانُ بنُ داوودَ عليه السلام ، الّذي سُخِّرَ لَهُ مُلكُ الجِنِّ والإنسِ ، مَع النُّبُوّةِ وعَظيمِ الزُّلفَةِ ، فلَمّا استَوفى‏ طُعمَتَهُ ، واستَكمَلَ مُدَّتَهُ ، رَمَتهُ قِسِيُّ الفَناءِ بنِبالِ المَوتِ ، وأصبَحَتِ الدِّيارُ مِنهُ خالِيَةً ، والمَساكِنُ مُعَطَّلَةً ، ووَرِثَها قَومٌ آخَرونَ7

5998. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'If there was anyone who could secure a ladder to everlasting life or a way to avoid death, it would have been Solomon son of David (AS) who was given control over the domain of the jinn and humans, along with prophethood and a great position [before Allah]. But when he finished his allotment of sustenance [in this world] and exhausted his [fixed] time, the bow of destruction shot him with the arrow of death, houses became vacant of him and his habitations became empty, and another group of people inherited them.'8

5999. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام: كانَ سُلَيمانُ عليه السلام يُطعِمُ أضيافَهُ اللَّحمَ بالحُوّارى‏ ، وعِيالَهُ الخُشكارَ ، ويأكُلُ هُو الشَّعيرَ (غَيرَ) مَنخولٍ9

5999. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Solomon (AS) would feed his guests meat in white flour, and his family brown bread with bran, and he himself would eat unsifted barley.'10

6000. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : آخِرُ مَن يَدخُلُ الجَنّةَ مِن النَّبيِّينَ سُلَيمانُ بنُ داوودَ عليه السلام ، وذلكَ لِما اُعطِيَ في الدُّنيا11

6000. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'The last person to enter Heaven from among the prophets is Solomon, son of David (AS), because of all that he was given in this world.'12

6001. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنّ سُلَيمانَ بنَ داوودَ عليه السلام قالَ ذاتَ يَومٍ لأصحابِهِ : إنّ اللَّهَ تباركَ وتعالى‏ قد وَهَبَ لِي مُلكاً لا يَنبَغي لأحَدٍ مِن بَعدي ، سَخَّرَ لِي الرِّيحَ والإنسَ والجِنَّ والطَّيرَ والوُحوشَ ، وعَلَّمَني مَنطِقَ الطَّيرِ ، وآتاني مِن كلِّ شي‏ءٍ ، ومَعَ جَميعِ ما اُوتِيتُ مِن المُلكِ ماتَمَّ لِي سُروري يَوم إلَى اللّيلِ ، وقد أحبَبتُ أن أدخُلَ قَصري في غَدٍ فأصعَدَ أعلاهُ وأنظُرَ إلى‏ مَمالِكي ، فلا تَأذَنوا لأحَدٍ علَيَّ لِئلّا يَرِدَ علَيَّ ما يُنَغِّصُ علَيَّ يَومي ، فقالوا : نَعَم فلَمّا كانَ مِن الغَدِ أخَذَ عَصاهُ بيَدِهِ وصَعِدَ إلى‏ أعلى‏ مَوضِعٍ مِن قَصرِهِ ، ووَقَفَ مُتَّكِئاً على‏ عَصاهُ يَنظُرُ إلى‏ مَمالِكِهِ مَسروراً بِما اُوتِيَ فَرِحاً بِما اُعطِيَ ، إذ نَظَرَ إلى‏ شابٍّ حَسَنِ الوَجهِ واللِّباسِ قَد خَرَجَ علَيهِ مِن بَعضِ زَوايا قَصرِهِ ، فلَمّا أبصَرَهُ سُلَيمانُ قالَ لَهُ : مَن أدخَلَكَ إلى‏ هذا القَصرِ ، وقد أرَدتُ أن أخلُوَ فيهِ اليَومَ ؟ !

وبإذنِ مَن دَخَلتَ ؟! فقالَ الشابُّ : أدخَلَني هذا القَصرَ رَبُّهُ وبإذنِهِ دَخَلتُ فقالَ : ربُّهُ أحَقُّ بهِ مِنّي ، فمَن أنتَ ؟ قالَ : أنا مَلَكُ المَوتِ ، قالَ : وفيما جِئتَ ؟ قالَ : جِئتُ لأقبِضَ رُوحَكَ قالَ : إمضِ لِما اُمِرتَ بهِ فهذا يَومُ سُروري ، وأبَى اللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ أن يكونَ لِي سُرورٌ دُونَ لِقائهِ فقَبَضَ مَلَكُ المَوتِ رُوحَهُ وهُو مُتَّكئٌ على‏ عَصاهُ ، فبَقِيَ سُلَيمانُ مُتّكِئاً على‏ عَصاهُ وهُو مَيِّتٌ ما شاءَ اللَّهُ والنّاسُ يَنظُرونَ إلَيهِ وهُم يُقَدِّرونَ أنّهُ حَيٌّ ، فافتُتِنوا فيهِ واختَلَفوا ؛ فمِنهُم مَن قالَ : إنّ سُلَيمانَ قَد بَقِيَ مُتَّكِئاً على‏ عَصاهُ هذهِ الأيّامَ الكَثيرَةَ ولَم يَتعَبْ ولَم يَنَمْ ولَم يَشرَبْ ولَم يَأكُلْ، إنّهُ لَرَبُّنا الّذي يَجِبُ علَينا أن نَعبُدَهُ ! وقالَ قَومٌ : إنّ سُلَيمانَ ساحِرٌ وإنّهُ يُرِينا أ نّهُ واقِفٌ مُتّكِئٌ على‏ عَصاهُ ، يَسحَرُ أعيُنَنا ولَيس كذلكَ ! وقالَ المؤمنونَ : إنّ سُلَيمانَ ، هُو عَبدُ اللَّهِ ونَبيُّهُ يُدَبِّرُ اللَّهُ أمرَهُ بما شاءَ ؛ فلَمّا اختَلَفوا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ الأرضَةَ فدَبَّت في عَصاةِ سُلَيمانَ، فلَمّا أكَلَت جَوفَها انكَسَرَتِ العَصا وخَرَّ سُلَيمانُ عليه السلام مِن قَصرِهِ على‏ وَجهِهِ13

6001. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Solomon, son of David (AS) one day said to his companions, 'Allah Almighty has endowed upon me a kingdom that no person after me will ever have. He has given me control of the wind, the humans, the jinn, the birds and the animals, and He has taught me the language of the birds. He has given me from everything, and with all that I possess, there has never been a day when my happiness has continued until night. I would like to enter my palace tomorrow and climp atop it and oversee my subjects. So, do not permit anyone to come to me for I do not want anyone to disturb my day.' They said, 'Yes.'

When the next day came, he took his walking staff in his hand and went up to the highest point of his palace. He stood there leaning on his staff looking at his kingdom, happy for where he was and pleased with what had been given to him, when suddenly he saw a young man with a handsome face and neat clothes coming out to him from a corner of the palace.

When Solomon saw him, he asked him, 'Who let you enter the palace when I wanted to be alone here for the day? And with whose per-mission did you enter?' The young man replied, 'The Lord of this palace let me enter it, and with His permission I entered.' Solomon said, 'Indeed its Lord is more rightful to it than me, so who are you?' He said, 'I am the angel of death.' Solomon asked, 'What has brought you here?' He said, 'I have come to take your soul.' Solomon said, 'Do what you have been commanded to do, for this is the day of my happiness, and Allah Almighty has refused for me to be happy but only in meeting Him.'

So the angel of death took his soul, while he was leaning on his staff. Solomon stayed leaning on his staff while dead until Allah wished so, while the people continued to look at him [from below] thinking him to be alive. People then argued and differed among each other, some saying, 'Solomon has stayed leaning on his staff for all these days, and has neither become tired nor slept nor drunk nor eaten. Surely he must be our lord whom we must worship!' Others said, 'Solomon is a magician, and he is showing us that he can stand there leaning on his staff. He is conjuring our eyes, while it is not actually so!' The believers said, 'Solomon is a servant of Allah and His prophet, and Allah controls his affairs as He wishes.' So when they differed among each other Allah Almighty sent termites who crawled into Solomon's staff. When they had eaten the inside of the staff, it broke and Solomon (AS) fell from his palace onto his face.'14

Notes

1. النمل : 16

2. Quran 27 :16

3. بحار الأنوار : 14 / 95 / 3

4. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 14, p. 95, no. 3

5. الخصال : 241 / 91

6. al-Khisal, p. 241, no. 91

7. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 182

8. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 183

9. الدعوات : 142 / 363

10. al-Daawat, p. 143, no. 363

11. مستطرفات السرائر : 41 / 7

12. Mustatrafat al-Sara'ir, p. 41, no. 7

13. علل الشرائع : 73 / 2

14. Ilal al-Shara'i, p. 73, no. 2

1707 - زَكَرِيّا عليه السلام‏

1707. ZACHARIAS (AS) [ZAKARIYYA]

( وَزَكَرِيَّا إِذْ نَادَى‏ رَبَّهُ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِي فَرْداً وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْوَارِثِينَ * فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ يَحْيَى‏ وَأَصْلَحْنَا لَهُ زَوْجَهُ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَباً وَرَهَباً وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ)1

“And Zacharias, when he cried out to his Lord, 'My Lord! Do not leave me without an heir, and You are the best of inheritors.' So We answered his prayer, and gave him John, and remedied his wife ['s infertility] for him. Indeed they were active in [performing] good works, and they would supplicate Us with eagerness and awe and were humble before Us.” 2

(اُنظر) آل عمران : 38 - 41 ومريم : 1 - 12

(See also: Qur'an 3:38-41, 19:1-12)

6002. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : خَرَجَت بَنو إسرائيلَ في طَلَبِ زَكريّا ليَقتُلوهُ ، فخَرَجَ هارِباً في البَرِّيَّةِ ، فانفَرَجَت لَهُ شَجَرَةٌ فدَخَلَ فيها فَبَقِيَت هُدبَةٌ مِن ثَوبهِ، فجاؤوا حتّى‏ قامُوا علَيها فنَشَروهُ بالمِنشارِ3

6002. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The Children of Israel went to seek out Zacharias in order to kill him, so he left fleeing into the desert. A tree parted open and he entered into it, but the hem of his clothes remained outside, so they came and stood around it, and sawed through him with a saw.'4

6003. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : كانَ زَكريّا نَجّاراً5

6003. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Zacharias was a carpenter.'6

Notes

1. الأنبياء : 89 و 90

2. Quran 21 :89,90

3. كنز العمّال : 32330

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 32329

5. كنز العمّال : 32329

6. Ibid. no. 32330

1708 - يَحيى‏ عليه السلام‏

1708. JOHN THE BAPTIST (AS) [YAHYA]

( يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَى‏ لَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ سَمِيّاً * يَا يَحْيَى‏ خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيّاً * وَحَنَاناً مِنْ لَدُنَّا وَزَكَاةً وَكانَ تَقِيّاً * وَبَرّاً بِوَالِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ جَبَّاراً عَصِيّاً * وَسَلَامٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيّاً)1

“O Zacharias! Indeed we give you the good news of a son, whose name is “John.” Never before have We made anyone his namesake… ‘O John!’ [We said] ‘Hold on with power to the Book!’ And We gave him judgment while still a child, and a compassion and purity from Us. He was Godwary, and good to his parents, and was not self-willed or disobedient. Peace be to him, the day he was born, and the day he dies, and the day he is raised alive!”2

6004. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : رَحِمَ اللَّهُ أخي يحيى‏ حِينَ دَعاهُ الصِّبيانُ إلَى اللَّعِبِ وهُو صَغيرٌ فقالَ : ألِلَّعبِ خُلِقتُ ؟ ! فكيفَ بمَن أدرَكَ الحِنْثَ مِن مَقالِهِ ؟ !3

6004. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'May Allah be pleased with my brother John when he was invited by children to play, and he was small, and he said, 'Was I created to play?!' So, what will there be for those who perceive his statement as a sin?!'4

6005. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام عن آبائهِ : - في ذِكرِ حَديثٍ ليحيى‏ عليه السلام مَع الشَّيطانِ - : قالَ يحيى‏ عليه السلام: فهَل ظَفِرتَ بِي ساعَةً قَطُّ ؟ قالَ : لا ، ولكن فيكَ خَصلَةٌ تُعجِبُني قالَ يحيى‏ : فما هِي ؟ قالَ : أنتَ رَجُلٌ أكُولٌ ، فإذا أفطَرتَ أكَلتَ وبَشِمتَ فيَمنَعُكَ ذلكَ مِن بَعضِ صَلاتِكَ وقِيامِكَ باللَّيلِ قالَ يحيى‏ عليه السلام : فإنّي اُعطِي اللَّهَ عَهداً أنّي لا أشبَعُ مِن الطَّعامِ حتّى‏ ألقاهُ قالَ لَهُ إبليسُ : وأنا اُعطي اللَّهَ عَهداً أنّي لا أنصَحُ مُسلِماً حتّى‏ ألقاهُ ، ثُمّ خَرجَ فما عادَ إلَيهِ بعدَ ذلكَ5

6005. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) narrated from his fathers (AS) the conversation of John with the devil: 'John (AS) asked, 'Have you ever been triumphant over me for any moment?' He [the devil] said, 'No, but you have a feature that pleases me.' John asked, 'And what is that?' He said, 'You are a person who eats too much, so when you break your fast and fill yourself, it prevents you from performing some of your prayers and night vigils.' John (AS) said, 'Therefore I will make a pledge to Allah that I will never fill myself with food until I meet Him.' Satan said to him, 'I will make a pledge to Allah that I will never advise a submitter [muslim] again until I meet Him.' So he left and never returned to him after that.'6

6006. الإمامُ الكاظمُ عليه السلام: كانَ يحيَى بنُ زَكريّا عليهما السلام يَبكي ولا يَضحَكُ ، وكانَ عيسَى بنُ مَريمَ عليهما السلام يَضحَكُ ويَبكي ، وكانَ الّذي يَصنَعُ عيسى‏ عليه السلام أفضَلَ مِن الّذي كانَ يَصنَعُ يحيى‏ عليه السلام7

6006. Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, 'John, son of Zacharias (AS), cried and never laughed, and Jesus son of Mary (AS) would laugh and cry, and what Jesus (AS) used to do was better than what John (AS) used to do.'8

Notes

1. مريم : 7 و 12 - 15

2. Quran 19 :7 , 12-15

3. كنز العمّال : 32425

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 32425

5. الأمالي للطوسي : 340 / 692

6. Amali al-Tusi, p. 340, no. 692

7. الكافي : 2 / 665 / 20

8. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 665, no. 20

1709 - عيسى‏ عليه السلام‏

1709. JESUS (AS) [ISa]

( إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى‏ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ)1

“Indeed the case of Jesus with Allah is like the case of Adam: He created him from dust, then said to him, 'Be' and he was.” 2

( وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى‏ بْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِنْهُ مَا لَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا اتِّبَاعَ الظَّنِّ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِيناً * بَلْ رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً * وَإِنْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا لَيُؤْمِنَنَّ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيداً)3

“and for their saying, 'We killed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the apostle of Allah' though they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, but so it was made to appear to them. Indeed those who differ concerning him are surely in doubt about him: they do not have any knowledge of that beyond following conjectures, and certainly they did not kill him. Rather Allah raised him up toward Himself, and Allah is all-mighty, all-wise. There is none among the People of the Book but will surely believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.” 4

(اُنظر) آل عمران : 45 - 58 و مريم : 16 - 34 والبقرة : 87 ، 253 والمائدة : 110 - 118 والمؤمنون : 50 والزخرف : 57 - 65 والصفّ : 6 ، 14 والحديد : 27

(See also: 3:45-58, 19:16-34, 2:87, 2:253, 5:110-118, 23:50, 43:57-65, 62:6, 62:14, 57:27)

6007. عيسى عليه السلام : خادِمي يَدايَ ، ودابَّتي رِجلاي ، وفِراشي الأرضُ ، ووِسادي الحَجَرُ ، ودِفئي في الشِّتاءِ مَشارِقُ الأرضِ أبِيتُ ولَيسَ لِي شي‏ءٌ ، واُصبِحُ‏5 ولَيسَ لِي شي‏ءٌ ، ولَيسَ على‏ وَجهِ الأرضِ أحَدٌ أغنى‏ مِنّي6

6007. Prophet Jesus (AS) said, 'My servant is my own two hands; my riding beast is my two feet, my bed is the earth, my pillow is a rock, my warmth in the winter is the east of the earth.... I sleep and I do not possess anything, and I wake up and I do not possess anything, but there is no one on the face of this earth richer than me.'7

6008. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أوّلُ نَبيٍّ مِن بَني إسرائيلَ موسى‏ ، وآخِرُهُم عيسى‏ وستُّمِائةِ نَبيٍّ8

6008. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The first prophet from the Children of Israel was Moses (AS) and the last of them was Jesus (AS), and [they had] six hundred prophets.'9

6009. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : كانَ طَعامُ عيسَى الباقِلّاءَ حتّى‏ رُفِعَ ، ولَم يأكُلْ عيسى‏ شيئاً غَيَّرَتهُ النّارُ حتّى‏ رُفِعَ10

6009. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The food of Jesus was broad beans until he was taken up [by Allah], and Jesus never ate anything that had been changed by fire [i.e.cooked] until he was taken up.'11

6010. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : يا اُمَّ أيمَنَ ! أما عَلِمتِ أنّ أخي عيسى‏ كانَ لا يُخبئُ عَشاءً لِغَداءٍ ولا غَداءً لِعَشاءٍ ؟ ! يأكُلُ مِن وَرَقِ الشَّجَرِ ، ويَشرَبُ مِن ماءِ المَطَرِ ، يَلبَسُ المُسُوحَ ، ويَبِيتُ حَيثُ يُمسي ، ويَقولُ : يأتي كُلُّ يَومٍ برِزقِهِ12

6010. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'O Um Ayman! Did you not know that my brother Jesus never kept dinner for breakfast or breakfast for dinner?! He would eat from the leaves of trees, drink from rainwater, wear hair-cloth, sleep wherever he was, and he would say, 'Every day comes with its own sustenance.'13

6011. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : رَأيتُ عيسَى بنَ مَريمَ فإذا هُو رجُلٌ أبيَضُ مُبَطَّنٌ‏14 مِثلُ السَّيفِ15

6011. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I saw Jesus son of Mary, and lo he was a white-skinned man, and slim like a sword.'16

6012. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - في صِفَةِ عيسى‏ عليه السلام - : وإن شِئتَ قُلتُ في عيسَى‏ بنِ مَريمَ عليه السلام ، فلَقد كانَ يَتَوسَّدُ الحَجَرَ ، ويَلبَسُ الخَشِنَ ، ويأكُلُ الجَشِبَ ، وكانَ إدامُهُ الجُوعَ ، وسِراجُهُ باللَّيلِ القَمَرَ ، وظِلالُهُ في الشِّتاءِ مَشارِقَ الأرضِ ومَغارِبَها ، وفاكِهَتُهُ ورَيحانُهُ ما تُنبِتُ الأرضُ لِلبَهائمِ ، ولَم تَكُن لَهُ زَوجَةٌ تَفتِنُهُ ، ولا وَلَدٌ يَحزُنُهُ (يَخزِنُهُ) ، ولا مالٌ يَلفِتُهُ، ولا طَمَعٌ يُذِلُّهُ، دابَّتُهُ رِجلاهُ، وخادِمُهُ يَداهُ!17

6012. Imam Ali (AS), describing Jesus (AS) said, 'If you wish I will speak about Jesus son of Mary (AS). He used to use a rock for his pillow, wore rough clothes and ate dry food. His condiment was hunger; his lamp at night was the moon, his shade during the winter was the east of the earth and its west. His fruits and flowers were what the earth grew for the cattle. He had no wife to seduce him, nor any son to grieve him, nor wealth to deviate [his attention], nor greed to disgrace him. His two feet were his riding beast and his two hands his servant.'18

6013. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام - في قولِهِ تعالى‏ نَقلاً عن عيسى‏ عليه السلام: (وجَعَلَنِي مُبارَكاً أيْنَما كُنْتُ)19 - : نَفّاعاً20

6013. Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (AS) with regard to Allah's verse in the Qur'an:“He has made me blessed, wherever I may be.” 21 , narrated on the authority of Jesus (AS), that he said, '[It means] One who greatly benefits others.'22

قِصّةُ عيسى‏ عليه السلام واُمِّهِ فِي القرآنِ

The Story of Jesus and his Mother in the Quran

كانت اُمّ المسيح مريم بنت عمران حملت بها اُمّها ، فنذرت أن تجعل ما في بطنها إذا وضعته محرّراً يخدم المسجد ، وهي تزعم أنّ ما في بطنها ذكر ، فلمّا وضعتها وبان لها أنّها اُنثى حزنت وتحسّرت ثمّ سمّتها مريم أي الخادمة - وقد كان توفّي أبوها عمران قبل ولادتها - فأتت بها المسجد تسلّمها للكهنة وفيهم زكريّا ، فتشاجروا في كفالتها ، ثمّ اصطلحوا علَى القرعة وساهموا ، فخرج لزكريّا فكفلها ، حتّى‏ إذا أدركت ضرب لها من دونهم حجاباً ، فكانت تعبد اللَّه سبحانه فيها لا يدخل عليها إلّا زكريّا وكلّما دخل عليها زكريّا المحراب وجد عندها رزقاً ، قال : يامريم أنّى‏ لكِ هذا ؟! قالَت : هو من عنداللَّه ، واللَّه يرزق من يشاء بغير حساب وقد كانت عليها السلام صدّيقة ، وكانت معصومة بعصمة اللَّه ، طاهرة ، مصطفاة ، محدَّثة ؛ حدّثها الملائكة بأنّ اللَّه اصطفاها وطهّرها ، وكانت من القانتين ومن آيات اللَّه للعالمين (سورة آل عمران آية 35 - 44 ، سورة مريم آية 16 ، سورة الأنبياء آية 91 ، سورة التحريم آية 12)

ثمّ إنّ اللَّه تعالى‏ أرسل إليها الرُّوح وهي محتجبة فتمثّل لها بشراً سويّاً ، وذكر لها أنّه رسول من ربّها ليهب لها بإذن اللَّه ولداً من غير أب، وبشّرها بما سيظهر من ولدها من المعجزات الباهرة ، وأخبرها أنّ اللَّه سيؤيّده بروح القدس ، ويعلّمه الكتاب والحكمة والتوراة والإنجيل ، ورسولاً إلى‏ بني إسرائيل ذا الآيات البيّنات ، وأنبأها بشأنه وقصّته ، ثمّ نفخ الروح فيها فحملت بها حمل المرأة بولدها (الآيات من آل عمران : 35 - 44)

ثمّ انتبذت مريم به مكاناً قصيّاً ، فأجاءها المخاض إلى‏ جذع النخلة ، قالت : يا ليتني متُّ قبل هذا وكنت نسياً منسيّاً ، فناداها من تحتها أن لا تحزني قد جعل ربّك تحتك سريّاً ، وهُزّي إليك بجذع النخلة تساقط عليك رُطباً جنيّاً ، فكُلي واشربي وقرّي عيناً فإمّا ترينَّ من البشر أحداً فقولي : إنّي نذرت للرحمن صوماً فلن اُكلّم اليوم إنسيّاً ، فأتت به قومها تحمله (سورة مريم : 20 - 27) وكان حمله ووضعه وكلامه وسائر شؤون وجوده من سنخ ما عند سائر الأفراد من الإنسان

فلمّا رآها قومها - والحال هذه - ثاروا عليها بالطعنة واللوم بما يشهد به حال امرأة حملت ووضعت من غير بعل ، وقالوا : يا مريم ، لقد جئت شيئاً فريّاً ! يا اُخت هارون ما كان أبوك امرأ سوء وما كانت اُمّك بغيّاً ، فأشارت إليه ، قالوا : كيف نكلّم من كان في المهد صبيّاً ؟! قال : إنّي عبد اللَّه آتاني الكتاب وجعلني نبيّاً ، وجعلني مباركاً أينما كنت وأوصاني بالصلاة والزكاة ما دمت حيّاً ، وبرّاً بوالدتي ولم يجعلني جبّاراً شقيّاً ، والسلام عليَّ يوم ولدت ويوم أموت ويوم اُبعث حيّاً (سورة مريم آية 27 - 33)23

ثمّ نشأ عيسى‏ عليه السلام وشبّ وكان هو واُمّه علَى العادة الجارية في الحياة البشريّة : يأكلان ويشربان ، وفيهما ما في سائر الناس من عوارض الوجود إلى‏ آخر ما عاشا

ثمّ إنّ عيسى‏ عليه السلام اُوتي الرسالة إلى‏ بني إسرائيل ، فانبعث يدعوهم إلى‏ دين التوحيد ويقول : إنّي قد جئتكم بآية من ربّكم أنّي أخلق لكم من الطين كهيئة الطير فأنفُخ فيه فيكون طيراً بإذن اللَّه ، واُبرئ الأكمه والأبرص واُحيي الموتى‏ بإذن اللَّه ، واُنبّئُكُم بما تأكلون وما تدّخرون في‏

بيوتكم ، إنّ في ذلك لآية لكم ، إنّ اللَّه هو ربّي وربّكم فاعبدوه

وكان يدعوهم إلى شريعته الجديدة وهو تصديق شريعة موسى عليه السلام ، إلّا أنّه نسخ بعض ما حُرّم في التوراة تشديداً على اليهود ، وكان يقول : إنّي قد جئتكم بالحكمة ولاُبيِّن لكم بعض الذي تختلفون فيه ، وكان يقول : يا بني إسرائيل ، إنّي رسول اللَّه إليكم مصدّقاً لما بين يديّ من التوراة مبشّراً برسول يأتي من بعدي اسمه أحمد

وأنجز عليه السلام ما ذكره لهم من المعجزات كخلق الطير ، وإحياء الموتى ، وإبراء الأكمه والأبرص ، والإخبار عن المغيّبات بإذن اللَّه

... ولم يزل يدعوهم إلى‏ توحيد اللَّه وشريعته الجديدة حتّى‏ أيس من إيمانهم ؛ لِما شاهد من عتوّ القوم وعنادهم واستكبار الكهنة والأحبار عن ذلك ، فانتخب من الشرذمة التي آمنت به الحواريّين أنصاراً له إلَى اللَّه

ثم إنّ اليهود ثاروا عليه يريدون قتله فتوفّاه اللَّه ورفعه إليه ، وشُبِّه لليهود : فمن زاعم أنّهم قتلوه ، ومن زاعم أنّهم صلبوه ، ولكن شُبّه لهم

آل عمران : آية 45 - 58 ، الزخرف : آية 63 - 65 ، الصّف : آية 6 و 14 ، المائدة : آية 110 و 111 ، النساء : آية 157 و 158 ، فهذه جمل ما قصّه القرآن في عيسى بن مريم واُمّه24

The mother of Jesus was Mary daughter of Imran. Her mother was pregnant with her and she vowed to give whatever was in her womb in consecration to serve the mosque, assuming that the child in her belly was a male. But when she gave birth and saw that it was a female, she became unhappy and sorrowful and named her Mary [Maryam], which means servant - and her father Imran had passed away before her birth, so her mother took her to the mosque to hand her over to the priests, among whom was Zacharias (AS). They [the priests] argued about who would have her in his charge, but then agreed on drawing lots in which they all participated. It came out for Zacharias so he took her in his charge, and when she came to the age of maturity, he erected a veil between them and her wherein she used to worship Allah Almighty, and no one would visit her other than Zacharias. Whenever Zacharias entered the prayer niche, he found that she had ready sustenance with her. He asked, 'O Mary, where did you get this from?!' She said, 'It is from Allah; verily Allah provides to whomsoever He likes without measure.' She was truthful, and immaculate, by the protection of Allah [against sins], pure, chosen, and spoken to - the angels spoke to her that Allah had chosen her and purified her. She was one of the obedient ones and one of Allah's signs to the worlds (Quran 3:35-44, 19:16, 21:91, 66:12).

Allah, most High, then sent the Spirit down to her while she was secluded. It manifested to her as a well-proportioned human. He told her that he was a messenger from her Lord that He may gift her, by the will of Allah, a child without a father, and he also informed her of the magnificent miracles that her child would produce. He informed her that Allah would strengthen him with the Holy Spirit, and teach him the Book and the Wisdom, the Torah and the Evangel, and that he would be a messenger to the Children of Israel with miracles and signs. He also informed her of his life and story, and then blew the Spirit into her. She became pregnant from it like a lady bearing a child (Quran 3:35-44).

Mary then withdrew with him to a distant place. The birth pangs brought her to the trunk of a date palm. She said, 'I wish I had died before this and become a forgotten thing, beyond recall.' Thereupon he called her from below saying, 'Do not grieve! Your Lord has made a spring to flow at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm tree; freshly picked dates will drop upon you. Eat, drink, and be comforted. Then if you see any human, say, 'Indeed I have vowed a fast to the All-beneficent, so I will not speak to any human today.' Then carrying him she brought him to her people (Quran 19:20-27). His birth, delivery, speech and other aspects of his life were all natural and normal like other humans.

When her people saw her in such a state, they attacked her with accusations, blaming her for what they witnessed as a woman having become pregnant and given birth without a spouse. They said, 'O Mary, you have certainly come up with an odd thing! O sister of Aaron! Your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste.' Thereat she pointed to him. They said, 'How can we speak to one who is yet a baby in the cradle?!' He said, 'Indeed I am a servant of Allah! He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. He has made me blessed, wherever I may be, and He has enjoined me to [maintain] the prayer and to [pay] the zakat as long as I live, and to be good to my mother, and He has not made me overbearing and rebellious. Peace is to me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised alive.' (Quran 19:27-33).

Jesus (AS) grew up and became a youth, and lived a normal life as others did: eating, drinking, and they experienced situations that all other creations experience. Jesus (AS) was then given the message to give to the Children of Israel, so he went to invite them to the religion of monotheism, saying, 'I have come to you with a sign from your Lord that I will create for you from clay the form of a bird, and I will breathe into it and it will become a bird by the will of Allah; and I will heal the blind and the leper and raise the dead by the will of Allah; and I will inform you of what you eat and what you keep in your houses. Verily in this is a sign for you. Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him.

He continued to call them to the Oneness of Allah and His new law until he lost hope in them believing, seeing their tyranny and obstinacy, and the haughtiness of the priests and clergies. Therefore, from among the group who believed in him he chose the disciples as his helpers on the path to Allah.

The Jews revolted against him wanting to kill him, so Allah took him and raised him up to Himself, and the Jews were confused. So, whoever claims that they killed him and whoever claims that they crucified him, [it was not so] rather it was made to appear to them thus.25

Notes

1. آل عمران : 59

2. Quran 3:59

3. النساء : 157 - 159

4. Quran 4:157-159

5. في المصدر : أبيت وليس معي شي‏ء ، وأصبحت وليس لي‏شي‏ء (كما في هامش بحار الأنوار )

6. بحار الأنوار : 14 / 239 / 17

7. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 14, p. 239, no. 17

8. الخصال : 524 / 13

9. al-Khisal, p. 524, no. 13

10. كنز العمّال : 32357

11. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 32357

12. كنز العمّال : 32358

13. Ibid. no. 32358

14. المبطَّن : الضامر البطن (النهاية : 1 / 137 )

15. كنز العمّال : 32359

16. Ibid. no. 32359

17. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 160

18. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 160

19. مريم : 31

20. معاني الأخبار : 212 / 1

21. Quran 19:31

22. Maani al-Akhbar, p. 212, no. 1

23. فكان هذا الكلام منه عليه السلام كبراعة الاستهلال بالنسبة إلى‏ ما سينهض علّى البغي والظلم ، وإحياء شريعة موسى عليه السلام وتقويمه ، وتجديد ما اندرس من معارفه ، وبيان ما اختلفوا فيه من آياته

24. تفسير الميزان : 3 / 279

25. Tafsir al-Mizan, v. 3, p. 279