27th Rajab Prophet-hood descended upon Muhammad (saww)

The significance of 27^th of Rajab:

There are several Ahadith, all describing the significance of 27^th of Rajab, as when the Prophet-hood was bestowed upon Rasool Allah^saww, however most Muslims related 27^th of Rajab to the ‘Mi’raj’. First we present the Hadith describing the importance of 27^th of Rajab:

There were several visits of Rasool Allah to the Heavens (Mi’raj), in some Ahadith, Mi’raj had occurred one hundred and twenty (120) times.

محمد بن الحسن الصفار: عن علي بن محمد بن سعيد، عن حمدان بن سليمان، عن عبد الله بن محمد اليماني، عن منيع، عن يونس، عن صباح المزني، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: «عرج بالنبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) مائة و عشرين مرة، ما من مرة إلا و قد أوصى الله النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) بولاية علي (عليه السلام) و الأئمة من بعده، أكثر مما أوصاه بالفرائض».

Muhammad Bin Al Hassan Al Saffar, from Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Saeed, from Hamdan Bin Sulayman, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al Yamani, from Mani’e, from Yunus, from Sabah Al Mazny,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws having said: ‘The Ascension took place with the Prophet^saww one hundred and twenty (120) times. There was not a single time except that Allah^azwj Advised the Prophet^saww with the Wilayah of Ali^aswsand the Imams^asws from after him^saww, more than what He^azwj Advised him^saww with the Obligations’.[1]

Two Ahadith on the recommended Amal (acts of worship) are cited below and some Ahadith on Mi’raj are included in the Appendix.

Recommended Worship (Amal) on the 27^th of Rajab:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ النِّصْفُ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ فَصَلِّ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ تَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ الْحَمْدَ وَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي إِلَيْكَ فَقِيرٌ وَ إِنِّي عَائِذٌ بِكَ وَ مِنْكَ خَائِفٌ وَ بِكَ مُسْتَجِيرٌ رَبِّ لَا تُبَدِّلِ اسْمِي رَبِّ لَا تُغَيِّرْ جِسْمِي رَبِّ لَا تُجْهِدْ بَلَائِي أَعُوذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ وَ أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَ أَعُوذُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ وَ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ وَ فَوْقَ مَا يَقُولُ الْقَائِلُونَ

Ali Bin Muhammad, raising it, from

Abu Abdullah^asws has said: ‘Whenever it is from the middle of Shabaan, so pray four Rak’at of Salāt, reciting in each Rak’at Al-Hamd (Chapter 1) and [112:1] Say He Allah is One (Chapter 112) one hundred times, So when you are free, say, ‘O Allah^azwj! I am needy to You^azwj, and I seek Refuge with You^azwj, and fearful from You^azwj, and Sanctuary with You^azwj. Lord^azwj! Do not Change my name. Lord^azwj! Do not Change my body. Lord^azwj! Do not Overload my afflictions. I seek Refuge with Your^azwj Pardon; and I seek Refuge with Your^azwj Pleasure from Your^azwj Wrath; and I seek Refuge with Your^azwj Mercy from Your^azwj Punishment; and I seek Refuge with You^azwj from You^azwj. Masjestic is Your^azwj Praise. You^azwj are just as You^azwj Praised Yourself^azwj, and above what the speakers are saying’.

قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَوْمُ سَبْعَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ مِنْ رَجَبٍ نُبِّئَ فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مَنْ صَلَّى فِيهِ أَيَّ وَقْتٍ شَاءَ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً يَقْرَأُ فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ وَ سُورَةٍ مَا تَيَسَّرَ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ وَ سَلَّمَ جَلَسَ مَكَانَهُ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ أُمَّ الْقُرْآنِ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ الْمُعَوِّذَاتِ الثَّلَاثَ كُلَّ وَاحِدَةٍ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ وَ هُوَ فِي مَكَانِهِ قَالَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Abdullah^asws said: ‘On the day of the twenty seventh of Rajab, Rasool-Allah^sawwgave the news during it: ‘The one who prays a Salāt of twelve Rak’at during it, whichever time he so desires to, reciting in each Rak’at with the Mother of the Book (Chapter 1) and a Chapter what is easy,

So when he is free and Salām, sits in his place, then recites the Mother of the Quran (Chapter 1) four times, and Al-Mawizat (Chapters 112, 113 & 114), each one four times, so when he is free and he is in his place, says,

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ

‘There is no god except for Allah^azwj, and Allah^azwj is the Greatest, and the Praise is for Allah^azwj, and Glorious is Allah^azwj, and there is neither a Might nor Strength except with Allah^azwj’, four times,

ثُمَّ يَقُولُ

then he is saying,

اللَّهُ اللَّهُ رَبِّي لَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً أَرْبَعَ مَرَّاتٍ

‘Allah^azwj! Allah^azwj is my Lord^azwj. There is nothing which associates with Him^azwj’, four times,

ثُمَّ يَدْعُو فَلَا يَدْعُو بِشَيْ‏ءٍ إِلَّا اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ فِي كُلِّ حَاجَةٍ إِلَّا أَنْ يَدْعُوَ فِي جَائِحَةِ قَوْمٍ أَوْ قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ .

then supplicates, so he would not supplicate with anything except that it would be Answered for him regarding every need, except if he were to supplicate regarding a catastrophe (to befall upon a) people, or cutting-off of a relationship’.[2]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ جَدِّهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِيدٌ غَيْرَ الْعِيدَيْنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا حَسَنُ أَعْظَمُهُمَا وَ أَشْرَفُهُمَا قُلْتُ وَ أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ قَالَ هُوَ يَوْمٌ نُصِبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ وَ سَلَامُهُ عَلَيْهِ فِيهِ عَلَماً لِلنَّاسِ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Qasim Bin Yahya, from grandfather Al Hassan Bin Rashid,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^asws, said, ‘I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^asws! Is there for the Muslims an Eid other than the two Eids?’ He^asws said: ‘Yes, O Hassan, one greater than these two and more noble’. I said, ‘And which day is it?’ He^asws said: ‘It is the day in which Amir Al-Momineen^asws was nominated as a flag for the people’.

قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا يَنْبَغِي لَنَا أَنْ نَصْنَعَ فِيهِ قَالَ تَصُومُهُ يَا حَسَنُ وَ تُكْثِرُ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ تَبَرَّأُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِمَّنْ ظَلَمَهُمْ فَإِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ كَانَتْ تَأْمُرُ الْأَوْصِيَاءَ بِالْيَوْمِ الَّذِي كَانَ يُقَامُ فِيهِ الْوَصِيُّ أَنْ يُتَّخَذَ عِيداً

I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^asws! And what is befitting for us that we should be doing during it?’ He^aswssaid: ‘You should be Fasting it, O Hassan, and frequenting the Salawaat upon Muhammad^asws and the Progeny^asws of Muhammad^saww, and disavowing to Allah^azwj from the one who oppressed them, for the Prophets^as used to order their^as successors^as with the day in which the successor^as was nominated in, that they (the people) should be taking it as an Eid’.

قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا لِمَنْ صَامَهُ قَالَ صِيَامُ سِتِّينَ شَهْراً وَ لَا تَدَعْ صِيَامَ يَوْمِ سَبْعٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ مِنْ رَجَبٍ فَإِنَّهُ هُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي نَزَلَتْ فِيهِ النُّبُوَّةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ ثَوَابُهُ مِثْلُ سِتِّينَ شَهْراً لَكُمْ .

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘So what is for the one who Fasts it?’ He^asws said: ‘The Fasts of sixty months; and do not leave the Fast of the twenty seventh of Rajab, for it is the day in which the Prophet-hood descended upon Muhammad^saww, and its Reward is like sixty months for you’.[3]

Appendix: Ahadith related to Mi’raj (Ascension):

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لَمَّا عُرِجَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) انْتَهَى بِهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى مَكَانٍ فَخَلَّى عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ تُخَلِّينِي عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالَةِ فَقَالَ امْضِهْ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ وَطِئْتَ مَكَاناً مَا وَطِئَهُ بَشَرٌ وَ مَا مَشَى فِيهِ بَشَرٌ قَبْلَكَ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Abu Baseer,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^asws having said: ‘When there was an Ascension (Mi’raj) with Rasool-Allah^saww, Jibraeel^as ended up with him^saww to a place, and he^as isolated from him^saww. So he^saww said to him^as: ‘O Jibraeel^as! You^as are isolating from me^saww upon this state?’ So he^as said: ‘Carry on, for by Allah^azwj, you^saww are treading in a place in which no person has trod upon and no person has walked in it before you^saww’.[4]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْقَمَّاطِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا حَالُ الْمُؤْمِنِ عِنْدَكَ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَنْ أَهَانَ لِي وَلِيّاً فَقَدْ بَارَزَنِي بِالْمُحَارَبَةِ وَ أَنَا أَسْرَعُ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِلَى نُصْرَةِ أَوْلِيَائِي وَ مَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ كَتَرَدُّدِي عَنْ وَفَاةِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَ أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Ismail Bin Mihran, from Abu Saeed Al Qammat, from Aban Bin Taghlub,

Abu Ja’far^asws has said: ‘When there was Ascension (Mi’raj) with the Prophet^saww, he^saww said: ‘O Lord^azwj! What is the state of the Momin in Your^azwj Presence?’ He^azwj Said: “O Muhammad^saww! The one who despises a friend of Mine^azwj, so he has declared a war against Me^azwj and I^azwj am the Quickest to Helping My^azwj friends and I^azwj do not Hesitate from anything which I^azwj Do like I^azwj Hesitate from the death of the Momin. He dislikes the death and I^azwj Dislike Disappointing him.

وَ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ لَا يُصْلِحُهُ إِلَّا الْغِنَى وَ لَوْ صَرَفْتُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ لَهَلَكَ وَ إِنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ لَا يُصْلِحُهُ إِلَّا الْفَقْرُ وَ لَوْ صَرَفْتُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ لَهَلَكَ

And from My^azwj Momineen servants there is one for whom it is not correct except for the riches, and were I^azwj to Exchange it to other than that, he would be destroyed; and from My^azwj Momineen servants there is one for whom it is not correct except for the poverty, and were I^azwj to Exchange it to other than that, he would be destroyed.

وَ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ عَبْدٌ مِنْ عِبَادِي بِشَيْ‏ءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّافِلَةِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ إِذاً سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ وَ بَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ وَ لِسَانَهُ الَّذِي يَنْطِقُ بِهِ وَ يَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا إِنْ دَعَانِي أَجَبْتُهُ وَ إِنْ سَأَلَنِي أَعْطَيْتُهُ .

And a servant will not (be able to) come near to Me^azwj with anything more Beloved to Me^azwj than what I^azwjhave Obligated upon him, and let him come closer to Me^azwj with the Optional (Salāt) until I^azwj Love him. So when I^azwj do Love him, I^azwj would be the hearing which he listens with, and his vision which he sees with, and his tongue which he speaks with, and his hand which he strikes with. If he were to supplicate to Me^azwj, I^azwj would Answer him, and if he were to ask Me^azwj, I^azwj would Give it to him”’.[5]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْجُمُعَةَ عَلَى غَيْرِهَا مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ وَ إِنَّ الْجِنَانَ لَتُزَخْرَفُ وَ تُزَيَّنُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ لِمَنْ أَتَاهَا وَ إِنَّكُمْ تَتَسَابَقُونَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ سَبْقِكُمْ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَ إِنَّ أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ لَتُفَتَّحُ لِصُعُودِ أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ .

Muhammad in Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Al Nazar Bin Suweyd, from Abdullah Bin Sinan who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws said: ‘Allah^azwj Preferred the Friday over the others from the days and that the Gardens (of Paradise) are decorated and adorned on the day of Friday for the ones who come to it, and you all would be preceding to the Paradise upon a measurement of your preceding to the Friday; and that the Gates of the skies are opened for the ascension of the deeds of the servants’.[6]

The Mi’raj (Ascension)

علي بن إبراهيم، قال: حكى أبي، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن هشام بن سالم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: «جاء جبرئيل و ميكائيل و إسرافيل بالبراق إلى رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، فأخذ واحد باللجام و واحد بالركاب، و سوى الآخر عليه ثيابه، فتضعضعت البراق فلطمها جبرئيل (عليه السلام)، ثم قال لها: اسكني يا براق، فما ركبك نبي قبله، و لا يركبك بعده مثله- قال- فرقت به و رفعته ارتفاعا ليس بالكثير، و معه جبرئيل (عليه السلام) يريه الآيات من السماء و الأرض.

Ali Bin Ibrahim said, ‘My father told me, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws said: ‘Jibraeel^as, and Mikaeel^as, and Israfeel^as came with Al-Buraaq (the ride) to Rasool-Allah^saww. So one of them^as grabbed the harness, and one of them (grabbed) the stirrup, and the other evened his^saww robe for him^saww. Al-Buraq became restless, so Jibraeel^as said to it: ‘Calm down, O Buraaq, for no Prophet^saww has ridden you before him^saww, nor would any ride upon you after him^saww, the like of him^saww’. So it dispersed with him^saww, and rose up with him^saww, not much, and with him^saww was Jibraeel^as, showing him^saww the Signs from the sky and the earth.

قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): فبينا أنا في مسيري، إذ نادى مناد عن يميني: يا محمد. فلم أجبه، و لم ألتفت إليه، ثم نادى مناد عن يساري: يا محمد. فلم أجبه، و لم ألتفت إليه، ثم استقبلتني امرأة كاشفة عن ذراعيها، و عليها من كل زينة الدنيا، فقالت: يا محمد، انظرني حتى أكلمك. فلم ألتفت إليها، ثم سرت فسمعت صوتا أفزعني، فجاوزت،

He^saww said: ‘So while I^saww was in my^saww journey, a Caller called out from my^saww right: ‘O Muhammad^saww!’ I^saww did not answer him, nor did I^saww turn towards him. Then a Caller called out from my^saww left: ‘O Muhammad^saww!’ I^saww did not answer him, and did not turn towards him. Then a woman faced me^saww, uncovering her arms, and upon her were all adornments of the world. So she said, ‘O Muhammad^saww! Look at me until I speak to you’. But I^saww did not turn towards her. Then a chill ran down my^saww spine when I^saww heard a sound which frightened me^saww, but I^saww ignored it.

فنزل بي جبرئيل، فقال: صل. فنزلت و صليت. فقال لي: أ تدري أين صليت؟ فقلت: لا. فقال: صليت بطيبة، و إليها مهاجرتك.

So Jibraeel^as descended unto me^saww and said: ‘Pray Salat!’ So I^saww descended and prayed Salat. So he^assaid to me: ‘Do you^saww know where you^saww have prayed Salat?’ So I^saww said: ‘No’. So he^as said: ‘You^sawwhave prayed Salat at Tayba, and to it is your^saww emigration’. Then I^saww rode.

ثم ركبت فمضينا ما شاء الله، ثم قال لي: انزل و صل. فنزلت و صليت، فقال لي: أ تدري أين صليت؟ فقلت: لا. فقال: صليت بطور سيناء، حيث كلم الله موسى تكليما.

So time went by for what Allah^azwj so Desired, then he^as said to me^saww: ‘Descend and pray Salat!’ So I^sawwdescended and prayed Salat. So he^as said to me^saww: ‘Do you^saww know where you^saww have prayed Salat?’ So I^saww said: ‘No’. So he^as said: ‘You^saww prayed Salat at (Mount) Toor of Sinai, where Allah^azwj Spoke to Musa^as with a Speech’.

ثم ركبت فمضينا ما شاء الله، ثم قال: انزل فصل. فنزلت و صليت. فقال لي: أ تدري أين صليت؟ فقلت: لا. فقال: صليت في بيت لحم. و بيت لحم بناحية بيت‏ المقدس، حيث ولد عيسى بن مريم (عليه السلام).

Then I^saww rode, so time went by for what Allah^azwj so Desired. Then he^as said to me: ‘Descend and pray Salat!’ So I^saww descended and prayed. So he^as said me: ‘Do you know where you^saww have prayed Salat?’ So I^saww said: ‘No’. So he^as said: ‘You^saww prayed Salat in Bayt Laham, And Bayt Laham is around Bayt Al Maqdas, where Isa Bin Maryam^as was born’.

ثم ركبت فمضينا حتى أتينا إلى بيت المقدس، فربطت البراق بالحلقة التي كانت الأنبياء تربط بها، فدخلت المسجد، و معي جبرئيل (عليه السلام) إلى جنبي، فوجدنا إبراهيم و موسى و عيسى (عليهم السلام)، فيمن شاء الله من أنبياء الله، قد جمعوا إلي، و أقيمت الصلاة، و لا أشك إلا و جبرئيل يستقدمنا، فلما استووا أخذ جبرئيل بعضدي، فقدمني فأممتهم و لا فخر.

Then, I^saww rode, so we^as went by until we^as came to Bayt Al Maqdas. So Buraq went to a group where the Prophets^as were. I^saww entered the Masjid, and with me^saww was Jibraeel^as to my^saww side. We^as found Ibrahim^as, and Musa^as, and Isa^as, and the ones whom Allah^azwj so Desired to, gathered around me^saww, and I^saww established the Salat, and I^saww not doubt except that Jibraeel^as would be leading us^as. So when they had evened themselves out, Jibraeel^as grabbed my^saww upper arm, and placed me^saww forward, so I^saww led them^as, and I^saww do not pride.

ثم أتاني الخازن بثلاثة أوان: إناء فيه لبن، و إناء فيه ماء، و إناء فيه خمر، فسمعت قائلا يقول: إن أخذ الماء غرق و غرقت أمته، و إن أخذ الخمر غوى و غوت أمته، و إن أخذ اللبن هدي و هديت أمته. فأخذت اللبن فشربت منه، فقال جبرئيل: هديت و هديت أمتك.

Then the treasurer came to me with three containers – a container in which was milk, and a container in which was water, and a container in which was wine. So I^saww heard a speaker saying, ‘If he^saww takes the water, he^saww would drown and his^saww community would drown with him^saww. And if he^saww takes the wine, he^sawwwould go astray and his^saww community would go astray. And if he^saww takes the milk, he^saww would be Guided, and his^saww community would be Guided’. So I^saww took the milk and drank from it. So Jibraeel^as said: ‘You^saww are Guided, and your^saww community is Guided!’

ثم قال لي: ماذا رأيت في مسيرك؟ قلت: ناداني مناد عن يميني. فقال لي: أ و أجبته؟ فقلت: لا، و لم ألتفت إليه. فقال: ذلك داعي اليهود، لو أجبته لتهودت أمتك من بعدك.

Then he^as said to me^saww: ‘What did you^saww see in your^saww journey?’ I^saww said: ‘A Caller called out from my^saww right. So he^as said to me^saww: ‘Did you^saww answer him?’ So I^saww said: ‘No, and I^azwj did not turn towards him either’. So he^as said: ‘That was the Jewish caller. Had you^saww answered him, your^sawwcommunity would have become Jews from after you^saww’.

ثم قال: ماذا رأيت؟ قلت: ناداني مناد عن يساري. فقال: أو أجبته؟ فقلت: لا، و لم ألتفت إليه. فقال: ذلك داعي النصارى، لو أجبته لتنصرت أمتك من بعدك.

Then he^as said: ‘What did you^saww see?’ I^saww said: ‘A Caller called out to me^saww from my^saww left’. So he^assaid: ‘Did you^saww answer him?’ I^saww said: ‘No, and I^saww did not turn towards him either’. So he^as said: ‘That was the Christian caller. Had you^saww answered him, your^saww community would have become Christians from after you^saww’.

ثم قال: ماذا استقبلك؟ فقلت: لقيت امرأة كاشفة عن ذراعيها، عليها من كل زينة الدنيا، فقالت: يا محمد، انظرني حتى أكلمك. فقال لي: أ فكلمتها؟ فقلت: لم أكلمها، و لم ألتفت إليها. فقال: تلك الدنيا، و لو كلمتها لاختارت أمتك الدنيا على الآخرة.

Then he^as said: ‘What did you^saww face?’ So I^saww said: ‘I^saww met a woman who had uncovered her arms, and upon her were every adornments of the world. She said, ‘O Muhammad^saww! Look at me until I speak to you^saww’. So he^as said to me^saww: ‘Did you^saww speak to her?’ So I^saww said: ‘I^saww did not speak to her, and did not turn towards her’. So he^as said: ‘That is the world. Had you^saww spoken to her, your^saww community would have chosen the world over the Hereafter’.

ثم سمعت صوتا أفزعني، فقال لي جبرئيل: أ تسمع، يا محمد؟ قلت: نعم. قال: هذه صخرة قذفتها عن شفير جهنم منذ سبعين سنة، فهذا حين استقرت.

Then I^saww heard a sound which terrified me^saww, so Jibraeel^as said to me^saww: ‘Did you^saww hear, O Muhammad^saww! I^saww said: ‘Yes’. He^as said: ‘This is a rock which was cast from the brink of Hell seventy years ago, so this is where it has hit the bottom of it’.

قالوا: فما ضحك رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) حتى قبض.

He^asws: ‘So Rasool-Allah^saww did not laugh (after that), until he^saww passed away’.

قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): فصعد جبرئيل و صعدت معه إلى السماء الدنيا، و عليها ملك يقال له: إسماعيل، و هو صاحب الخطفة التي قال الله عز و جل: إِلَّا مَنْ خَطِفَ الْخَطْفَةَ فَأَتْبَعَهُ شِهابٌ ثاقِبٌ و تحته سبعون ألف ملك، تحت كل ملك سبعون ألف ملك،

He^saww said: ‘So Jibraeel^as ascended, and I^saww ascended with him^as, to the sky of the world, and upon it was an Angel called Ismaeel, and he was in charge of the snatching which Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Speaks of: Except one who snatches the snatch, so there pursues him a shooting star [37:10]. And under him were seventy thousand Angels, and under each of those Angels were seventy thousand Angels.

فقال: يا جبرئيل، من هذا الذي معك؟ فقال: محمد رسول الله. قال: و قد بعث؟ قال: نعم. ففتح الباب، فسلمت عليه و سلم علي، و استغفرت له و استغفر لي، و قال: مرحبا بالأخ [الناصح و النبي‏] الصالح.

So he said: ‘O Jibraeel^as! Who is this one^saww with you^as?’ So he^as said: ‘Muhammad Rasool-Allah^saww’. He said: ‘And he^saww had been Sent?’ He^as said: ‘Yes’. So he opened the gate. So I^saww greeted him and he greeted me^saww, and I^saww sought Forgiveness for him, and he sought Forgiveness for me^saww, and said: ‘Welcome to the brother, the adviser and the righteous Prophet^saww’.

و تلقتني الملائكة حتى دخلت سماء الدنيا، فما لقيني ملك إلا ضاحكا مستبشرا حتى لقيني ملك من الملائكة، لم أر خلقا أعظم منه، كريه المنظر، ظاهر الغضب، فقال لي مثل ما قالوا من الدعاء، إلا أنه لم يضحك، و لم أر فيه من الاستبشار ما رأيت ممن ضحك من الملائكة،

And the Angels kept meeting me^saww until I^saww entered the sky of the world. No Angel met me^saww except that he was laughing, joyful, until I^saww met and Angel from the Angles. I^saww had never seen a creature greater than it, unpleasant to view, manifesting the anger. So he said to me what the other said, except that he did not laugh, and I^saww did not see in him any joyfulness what I^saww had seen from the laughter of the other Angels.

فقلت: من هذا- يا جبرئيل- فإني قد فزعت منه؟ فقال: يجوز أن تفزع منه، و كلنا نفزع منه، إن هذا مالك خازن النار، لم يضحك قط، و لم يزل منذ ولاه الله جهنم يزداد كل يوم غضبا و غيظا على أعداء الله، و أهل معصيته، فينتقم الله به منهم، و لو ضحك إلى أحد كان قبلك أو كان ضاحكا إلى أحد بعدك لضحك إليك، و لكنه لا يضحك.

So I^saww said: ‘Who is this – O Jibraeel^as – for I^saww am scared from him^saww?’ So he^as said: ‘It is permissible that you^saww should be scared from him, and all of us are scared of him. This is Maalik, the Keeper of the Fire. He does not laugh at all, and he has not ceased being increasingly angry and with full rage since Allah^azwjMade him the ruler of Hell and the people of the disobedience. Thus, Allah^azwj Takes Revenge upon them, by him. And had he laughed with anyone before you^saww, or would be laughing with anyone after you^saww, he would have laughed with you^saww, but he does not laugh’.

فسلمت عليه، فرد علي السلام و بشرني بالجنة، فقلت لجبرئيل، و جبرئيل بالمكان الذي وصفه الله: مُطاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ: ألا تأمره أن يريني النار؟ فقال له‏ جبرئيل: يا مالك، أر محمدا النار.

So I^saww greeted him, and he returned my^saww greeting, and gave me the good news of the Paradise. So I^saww said to Jibraeel^as, and Jibraeel^as was at the status which Allah^azwj has Described as: Obeyed, then trustworthy [81:21]: ‘Will you^as not order him to show me the Fire?’ So Jibraeel^as said to him: ‘O Maalik! Show Muhammad^saww the Fire!’

فكشف عنها غطاءها، و فتح بابا منها، فخرج منها لهب ساطع في السماء، و فارت فارتفعت حتى ظننت ليتناولني مما رأيت، فقلت: يا جبرئيل، قل له فليرد عليها غطاءها. فأمرها فقال لها: ارجعي. فرجعت إلى مكانها الذي خرجت منه.

So he uncovered its covering, and opened the gates from it. A flame came out from it shining in the sky, soaring up, until I^saww though that it would engulf me^saww from what I^saww saw. So I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as! Tell him to return the covering upon it’. So he^as ordered for it, and he said to it: ‘Return!’ So it returned to its place which it had come out from.

ثم مضيت فرأيت رجلا آدما جسيما، فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذا أبوك آدم. فإذا هو تعرض عليه ذريته، فيقول: روح طيب و ريح طيبة، من جسد طيب،

Then I^saww went, and I^saww saw a man or wheatish complexion. So I^saww said: ‘Who is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ He^as said: ‘This is your^saww father Adam^as. So when your^saww offspring were presented to him^as, he^as was saying: ‘Good (male) soul, good (female) soul, ones with good bodies’.

ثم تلا رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) سورة المطففين على رأس سبع عشرة آية: كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتابَ الْأَبْرارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ وَ ما أَدْراكَ ما عِلِّيُّونَ كِتابٌ مَرْقُومٌ إلى آخرها.

Then Rasool-Allah^saww recited Surah Al-Mutaffiffeen (Chapter 83), seventeen Verses from its start: Never! Surely the Book of the righteous would be in Illiyeen [83:18] And what will make you realise what Illiyeen is? [83:19] A labelled Book [83:20] – up to its end.

قال: فسلمت على أبي آدم و سلم علي، و استغفرت له و استغفر لي، و قال: مرحبا بالابن الصالح، و النبي الصالح، و المبعوث في الزمن الصالح

He^saww said: ‘So I^saww greeted my^saww father^as Adam^as, and he^as greeted me^saww, and I^saww sought Forgiveness for him^as and he^as sought Forgiveness for me^saww, and said: ‘Welcome to the son^saww of the righteous, and the righteous Prophet^saww, and the one^saww Sent in the righteous era’.

ثم مررت بملك من الملائكة و هو جالس على مجلس، و إذا جميع الدنيا بين ركبتيه، و إذا بيده لوح من نور، مكتوب فيه كتاب ينظر فيه، و لا يلتفت يمينا و لا شمالا، مقبلا عليه كهيئة الحزين، فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟

Then I^saww passed by an Angel from the Angels, and he was seated in a gathering, and the whole of the world was in between his knees. And in his hand was a Tablet of Light, in which was writing he was looking into. He was neither turning to the right nor to the left, facing towards it only, as if he was in grief. So I^saww said: ‘Who is this, O Jibraeel^as?’

فقال: هذا ملك الموت، دائب في قبض الأرواح. فقلت: يا جبرئيل، أدنني منه حتى أكلمه. فأدناني منه، فسلمت عليه، و قال له جبرئيل: هذا محمد نبي الرحمة الذي أرسله الله إلى العباد،

So he^as said: ‘This is the Angel of Death, allocated with the capturing of the souls’. So I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as! Take me^saww closer to him until I^saww speak to him’. So he^saww took me^saww closer to him. I^sawwgreeted him, and Jibraeel^as said to him: ‘This is Muhammad^saww, the Prophet^saww of Mercy whom Allah^azwjSent to His^azwj servants’.

فرحب بي و حياني بالسلام، و قال: أبشر- يا محمد- فإني أرى الخير كله في أمتك. فقلت: الحمد لله المنان ذي النعم و الإحسان على عباده، ذلك من فضل ربي و رحمته علي.

He welcomed me^saww, and greeted me^saww, and said: ‘Receive good news – O Muhammad^saww – for I see all the good in your^saww community’. So I^saww said: ‘The Praise is for Allah^azwj, the Bestower with the Bounties and the Favours upon His^azwj servants. That is from the Grace of my^saww Lord^azwj, and His^azwj Mercy upon me^saww’.

فقال جبرئيل: هو أشد الملائكة عملا. فقلت: أكل من مات، أو هو ميت فيما بعد هذا، تقبض روحه؟ قال: نعم. قلت: تراهم حيث كانوا و تشهدهم بنفسك؟ فقال: نعم.

Jibraeel^as said: ‘He is the most intense of the Angels in his work’. I^saww said: ‘Everyone who dies, he dies after you capture his soul?’ He said: ‘Yes’. I^saww said: ‘You see them where they are and are present yourself?’ So he said: ‘Yes’.

و قال ملك الموت: ما الدنيا كلها عندي فيما سخرها الله لي و مكنني منها، إلا كالدرهم في كف الرجل، يقلبه كيف يشاء، و ما من دار إلا و أنا أتصفحها في كل يوم خمس مرات، و أقول إذا بكى أهل الميت على ميتهم: لا تبكوا عليه، فإن لي فيكم عودة و عودة حتى لا يبقى منكم أحد.

And (then) the Angel of Death said: ‘What is this world in my presence which Allah^azwj Made to be subservient to me and has Enabled me from it, except like a Dirham (coin) in the palm of the man. He turns it howsoever he desires to. And there is none from the house except that I browse in it five times a day, and I say to the family of dead when they weep over their dead: ‘Do not be weeping over him, for with regards to you all is the returning, the returning, until there does not remain any one from among you’.

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): كفى بالموت طامة، يا جبرئيل. فقال جبرئيل: إن ما بعد الموت أطم و أطم من الموت.

Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘Enough with the death, O Jibraeel^as’. So he^as said: ‘There is nothing more sufficient after the death, and more sufficient than the death’.

قال: ثم مضيت فإذا أنا بقوم بين أيديهم موائد من لحم طيب و لحم خبيث، يأكلون اللحم الخبيث و يدعون الطيب، فقلت: من هؤلاء، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هؤلاء الذين يأكلون الحرام و يدعون الحلال، و هم من أمتك، يا محمد.

He^saww said: ‘Then I^saww went, and was with a people in front of whom was good meat, and bad meat. They were eating the bad meat, and were leaving the good. So I^saww said: ‘Who are they, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^assaid: ‘They are the ones who were consuming the Prohibited and were leaving out the Permissible, and they are from your^saww community, O Muhammad^saww!’

و قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): ثم رأيت ملكا من الملائكة، جعل الله أمره عجبا، نصف جسده من النار و النصف الآخر ثلج، فلا النار تذيب الثلج و لا الثلج يطفئ النار، و هو ينادي بصوت رفيع: سبحان الذي كف حر هذه النار فلا تذيب الثلج، و كف برد هذا الثلج فلا يطفئ حر هذه النار، اللهم يا مؤلف بين الثلج و النار ألف بين قلوب عبادك المؤمنين.

And Rasool-Allah^saww said:’ Then I^saww saw an Angel from the Angels. Allah^azwj had Made his matter to be strange. Half of his body was from the fire and the other half was from the ice. Neither was the fire melting the ice, nor was the ice extinguishing the fire, and he was calling out in a loud voice: ‘Glory be to Him^azwj who Restrains the heat of this fire, so it does not melt the ice, and restrains the cold of this ice, so it does not extinguish the heat of this fire! Our Allah^azwj! O Composer of a thousand compositions of the ice and the fire between the hearts of Your^azwj Momineen servants!’

فقلت: من هذا يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذا ملك و كله الله بأكناف السماوات و أطراف الأرضين، و هو أنصح ملائكة الله تعالى لأهل الأرض من عباده المؤمنين، يدعو لهم بما تسمع منه منذ خلق، و ملكان يناديان في السماء، أحدهما يقول: اللهم أعط كل منفق خلفا، و الآخر يقول: اللهم أعط كل ممسك تلفا.

So I^saww said: ‘Who is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ He^as said: ‘This is an Angel whom Allah^azwj has Allocated with the protection of the skies and the ends of the firmaments, and he is the adviser to the Angels of Allah^azwj the Exalted of the Momineen servants, supplicating for them with what he hears from them, since the creation. And two Angels call out in the sky, and one of them is saying: ‘Our Allah^azwj! Replace the spending of every spender’, and the other one is saying: ‘Our Allah^azwj! Replace the damage of everyone who attaches himself to You^azwj’.

ثم مضيت فإذا أنا بأقوام لهم مشافر كمشافر الإبل، يقرض اللحم من جنوبهم و يلقى في أفواههم، فقلت: من هؤلاء يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هؤلاء الهمازون اللمازون. ثم مضيت، فإذا أنا بأقوام ترضخ رؤوسهم بالصخر، فقلت: من هؤلاء، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هؤلاء الذين ينامون عن صلاة العشاء.

Then I^saww went, and I^saww was with a people whose heads were bowed down due to the rocks, so I^saww said: ‘Who are they, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: ‘They are the ones who were sleeping during the evening Salat’.

ثم مضيت، فإذا أنا بأقوام تقذف النار في أفواههم، و تخرج من أدبارهم، فقلت: من هؤلاء، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هؤلاء الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوالَ الْيَتامى ظُلْماً إِنَّما يَأْكُلُونَ فِي بُطُونِهِمْ ناراً وَ سَيَصْلَوْنَ سَعِيراً.

Then I^saww went, so I^saww was with a group of people, fire was being cast into their mouths, and it was coming out from their backs, so I^saww said: ‘Who are they, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: They are the ones: who are devouring the wealth of the orphans unjustly, but rather they are swallowing fire into their bellies, and they shall be arriving at the Blazing Fire [4:10]’.

ثم مضيت، فإذا أنا بأقوام يريد أحدهم أن يقوم فلا يقدر من عظم بطنه، فقلت: من هؤلاء، يا جبرئيل؟ قال: هؤلاء الَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ الرِّبا لا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَما يَقُومُ الَّذِي يَتَخَبَّطُهُ الشَّيْطانُ مِنَ الْمَسِّ و إذا هم بسبيل آل فرعون، يعرضون على النار غدوا و عشيا، يقولون: ربنا متى تقوم الساعة؟

Then I^saww went, so I^saww was with a people, one of who wanted to stand up, but he was not able to due to the hugeness of his belly. So I^saww said: ‘Who are they, O Jibraeel^as?’ He^as said: ‘They are the ones: Those who are consuming the interest are not standing except as the standing of the one whom the Satan has confused him from the craze [2:275], and they were upon the way of the people of the Pharaoh^la, being presented to the Fire morning and evening, saying, ‘Our Lord^azwj! When will the Hour be Established?’

قال: ثم مضيت، فإذا أنا بنسوان معلقات بأثدائهن، فقلت: من هؤلاء، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هؤلاء الزواني، يورثن أموال أزواجهن أولاد غيرهم.

He^saww said: ‘Then I^saww went, and I^saww was with women being suspended with their breasts. So I^saww said: ‘Who are they, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: ‘The adulteresses, who were making to inherit the wealth from their husbands for the sons of others’.

ثم قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): اشتد غضب الله على امرأة أدخلت على قوم في نسبهم من ليس منهم، فاطلع على عوراتهم و أكل خزائنهم.

Then Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘The Anger of Allah^azwj is Intensified against the woman who includes upon a people, in their kinship, one who is not from them. So they see their nakedness and eat from their treasures’.

قال: ثم مررنا بملائكة من ملائكة الله عز و جل، خلقهم الله كيف شاء، و وضع وجوههم كيف شاء، ليس شي‏ء من أطباق أجسادهم إلا و يسبح الله و يحمده من كل ناحية، بأصوات مختلفة، أصواتهم مرتفعة بالتحميد و البكاء من خشية الله، فس

Then we passed by an Angel from the Angels of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic. Allah^azwj Created him howsoever He^azwj Desired to, and Placed their faces howsoever He^azwj so Desired to. There was nothing from the layers of their bodies but it Glorified Allah^azwj from every area, in different voices. Their voices were rising with the Praise, and the weeping from the fear of Allah^azwj.

ألت جبرئيل عنهم، فقال: كما ترى خلقوا، إن الملك منهم إلى جنب صاحبه ما كلمه قط، و لا رفعوا رؤوسهم إلى ما فوقها، و لا خفضوها إلى ما تحتهم خوفا من الله و خشوعا.

So I^saww asked Jibraeel^as about them. He^as said: ‘They have been Created as you^saww see. An Angel from among them does not speak at all to his companion by his side, nor do they raise their heads to what is above them, nor do their lower them to what is underneath them out of fear from Allah^azwj and their humility’.

فسلمت عليهم، فردوا علي إيماء برؤوسهم، لا ينظرون إلي من الخشوع، فقال لهم جبرئيل: هذا محمد نبي الرحمة أرسله الله إلى العباد رسولا و نبيا، و هو خاتم النبيين و سيدهم، أ فلا تكلمونه؟

So I^saww greeted them, and their replied to me^saww by the nodding of their heads, not looking towards me^sawwfrom the fear. So Jibraeel^as said to them: ‘This is Muhammad^saww, Prophet^saww of Mercy. Allah^azwj Sent him^saww to the servants as a Rasool^saww, a Prophet^saww, and he^saww is the last of the Prophets^as and their Chief. Will you not be speaking to him^saww?’

قال: فلما سمعوا ذلك من جبرئيل، أقبلوا علي بالسلام و أكرموني و بشروني بالخير لي و لأمتي.

He^saww said: ‘So when they heard that from Jibraeel^as, faced towards me^saww with the greetings, and honoured me^saww, and gave me^saww the good news with the goodness for me^saww and my^saww community’.

قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): ثم صعدنا إلى السماء الثانية، فإذا فيها رجلان متشابهان، فقلت: من هذان، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال لي: ابنا الخالة يحيى و عيسى. فسلمت عليهما و سلما علي، فاستغفرت لهما و استغفرا لي، و قالا: مرحبا بالأخ الصالح و النبي الصالح،

He^saww said: ‘Then we ascended to the second sky, so there was in it two men resembling each other. So I^saww said: ‘Who are these two, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said to me^saww: ‘Two cousins, Yahya^as and Isa^as’. So I^saww greeted them both^as, and they both^as greeted me^saww. I^saww sought Forgiveness for both^as of them, and they both^as sought Forgiveness for me^saww and said: ‘Welcome to the righteous brother, and the righteous Prophet^saww!’

و إذا فيها من الملائكة مثل ما في السماء الأولى، و عليهم الخشوع، قد وضع الله وجوههم كيف شاء، ليس منهم ملك إلا يسبح الله و يحمده بأصوات مختلفة.

And in it (the second sky) were Angels the likes of which were in the first sky, and they had humility. Allah^azwjhad Placed their faces howsoever He^azwj so Desired to. There was no Angel from them except that he Glorified Allah^azwj, and Praised Him^azwj in difference voices.

ثم صعدنا إلى السماء الثالثة، فإذا فيها رجل فضل حسنه على سائر الخلق كفضل القمر ليلة البدر على سائر النجوم،

Then we ascended to the third sky, so there was in it a man the preference of whose beauty over the rest of the creatures was like the preference of the moon on the night of the full moon over the rest of the stars.

فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذا أخوك يوسف. فسلمت عليه و سلم علي، و استغفرت له و استغفر لي، فقال: مرحبا بالنبي الصالح و الأخ الصالح و المبعوث في الزمن الصالح.

So I^saww said: ‘Who is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: ‘This is your^saww brother Yusuf^as’. So I^saww greeted him^as and he^as greeted me^saww. And I^saww sought Forgiveness for him^as, and he^as sought Forgiveness for me^saww. He^as said: ‘Welcome to the righteous Prophet^saww and the righteous brother, and the one Sent in the righteous era’.

و إذا فيها ملائكة عليهم من الخشوع مثل ما وصفت في السماء الأولى و الثانية، و قال لهم جبرئيل في أمري مثل ما قال للآخرين، و صنعوا بي مثل ما صنع الآخرون.

And in it (the third sky) were Angels who had humility similar to what was described with regards to the first and the second sky. And Jibraeel^as said to them regarding my^saww matter, similar to what he^as said to the ones in the other two, and did with me^saww what he^as did in the others.

ثم صعدنا إلى السماء الرابعة، و إذا فيها رجل، فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ قال: هذا إدريس، رفعه الله مكانا عليا، فسلمت عليه و سلم علي و استغفرت له و استغفر لي،

Then we ascended to the fourth sky, and in it was a man, so I^saww said: ‘Who is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ He^as said: ‘This is Idrees^as. Allah^azwj Raised him^as to an elevated position’. So I^saww greeted him^as and he^as greeted me^saww. And I^saww sought Forgiveness for him^as and he^as sought Forgiveness for me^saww.

و إذا فيها ملائكة عليهم من الخشوع مثل ما في السماوات، فبشروني بالخير لي و لامتي. ثم رأيت ملكا جالسا على سرير، تحت يديه سبعون ألف ملك، تحت كل ملك سبعون ألف ملك. فوقع في نفس رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) أنه هو، فصاح به جبرئيل، فقال: قم. فهو قائم إلى يوم القيامة.

And in it (the fourth sky) were Angels who had humility similar to what was in the (first three) skies. So they gave me the good news with the goodness for me^saww and for my^saww community. Then I^saww saw and Angel seated upon a couch; under his hand were seventy thousand Angels, and under each of these Angels were seventy thousand Angels’. So it occurred within Rasool-Allah^saww that he was him^as (Jibraeel^as), so Jibraeel^asshouted at him: ‘Stand!’ So he will be standing up to the Day of Judgement’.

ثم صعدنا إلى السماء الخامسة، فإذا فيها رجل كهل، عظيم العين، لم أر كهلا أعظم منه، حوله ثلة من أمته فأعجبتني كثرتهم، فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذا المحبب في قومه هارون بن عمران. فسلمت عليه و سلم علي، و استغفرت له و استغفر لي، و إذا فيها من الملائكة الخشوع مثل ما في السماوات.

He^saww said: ‘Then we ascended to the fifth sky, so there was an old man, with great eyes. I^saww had not seen a man older than him, and around him were a group of his community. So their great numbers astounded me, so I^saww said: ‘Who is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: ‘This is the beloved one of his community Haroun Bin Imran^as’. So I^saww greeted him^as and he^as greeted me^saww, and I^saww sought Forgiveness for him^as and he^assought Forgiveness for me^saww. And in it (the fifth sky) were Angels with humility similar to what was in the (other four) skies’.

ثم صعدنا إلى السماء السادسة، و إذا فيها رجل آدم، طويل، كأنه من شبوة، و لو أن عليه قميصين لنفذ شعره فيهما، فسمعته يقول: تزعم بنو إسرائيل أني أكرم ولد آدم على الله، و هذا رجل أكرم على الله مني

Then we ascended to the sixth sky, and in it was a tall man, as if he was from heads of a tribe (شبوة), and if he had two shirts upon him, his hair would have been carried in these two. So I^saww heard him saying: ‘The Children of Israel are alleging that I am the most honourable of the sons of Adam^as, to Allah^azwj, and here is a man^saww who is more honourable to Allah^azwj than I am!’

فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذا أخوك موسى بن عمران. فسلمت عليه و سلم علي، و استغفرت له و استغفر لي، و إذا فيها من ملائكة الخشوع مثل ما في السماوات.

So I^saww said: ‘Who is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: ‘This is your^saww brother Musa^as Bin Imran^as. So I^sawwgreeted him, and he^as greeted me^saww, and I^saww sought Forgiveness for him^as and he^as sought Forgiveness for me^saww. And in it (the sixth sky) were Angels with the humility similar to what was in the (other) skies’.

قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): ثم صعدنا إلى السماء السابعة، فما مررت بملك من الملائكة إلا قالوا: يا محمد، احتجم و أمر أمتك بالحجامة. و إذا فيها رجل أشمط الرأس و اللحية جالس على كرسي،

He^saww said: ‘Then we ascended to the seventh sky, so we did not pass by an Angel from the Angels except that they said: ‘O Muhammad^saww! Perform cupping and order your^saww community for the cupping!’ And in it was a man who was of dual-coloured head and beard, seated upon a chair.

فقلت: يا جبرئيل، من هذا الذي في السماء السابعة على باب البيت المعمور في جوار الله؟ فقال: هذا- يا محمد- أبوك إبراهيم، و هذا محلك‏ و محل من اتقى من أمتك.

So I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as, who is this one in the seventh sky upon the gate of the Frequented House (البيت المعمور) in the closeness of Allah^azwj?’ So he^as said: ‘This – O Muhammad^saww – is your^saww father Ibrahim^as, and this is your^saww place and the place of the ones who are pious from your^saww community’.

ثم قرأ رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْراهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَ هذَا النَّبِيُّ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فسلمت عليه و سلم علي، و قال: مرحبا بالنبي الصالح، و الابن الصالح، و المبعوث في الزمن الصالح. و إذا فيها من الملائكة الخشوع مثل ما في السماوات، فبشروني بالخير لي و لامتي.

Then Rasool-Allah^saww recited: Surely the foremost of people to Ibrahim are those who follow him and this Prophet and those who are believing; and Allah is the Guardian of the Momineen [3:68]. So I^sawwgreeted him^as and he^as greeted me^saww and said: ‘Welcome to the righteous Prophet^saww, and the righteous son, and the one Sent in the righteous era. And in it (the seventh sky) were Angels with the humility similar to what was in the (other) skies, and they gave me^saww the good news with the goodness for me^saww and my^saww community’.

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): و رأيت في السماء السابعة بحارا من نور يتلألأ، يكاد تلألؤه يخطف بالأبصار، و فيها بحار مظلمة و بحار ثلج ترعد، فكلما فزعت و رأيت هؤلاء سألت جبرئيل، فقال: أبشر يا محمد، و اشكر كرامة ربك، و اشكر الله بما صنع إليك.

Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘And I^saww saw in the seventh sky sparkling oceans of light, the sparkle of which almost takes away your vision, and in it were oceans of darkness, and oceans of ice with thunder. So when I^saww saw these, I^saww got scared and asked Jibraeel^as, so he^as said: ‘Receive good news, O Muhammad^saww, and be thankful for the Prestige of your^saww Lord^azwj, and thank Allah ^azwj for what He^azwj has done with you^saww’.

قال: فثبتني الله بقوته و عونه حتى كثر قولي لجبرئيل و تعجبي، فقال جبرئيل: يا محمد، تعظم ما ترى؟ إنما هذا خلق من خلق ربك، فكيف بالخالق الذي خلق ما ترى، و ما لا ترى أعظم من هذا من خلق ربك؟ إن بين الله و بين خلقه تسعين  ألف حجاب، و أقرب الخلق إلى الله أنا و إسرافيل، و بيننا و بينه أربعة حجب: حجاب من نور، و حجاب من ظلمة، و حجاب من غمام، و حجاب من الماء.

He^saww said: ‘So Allah^azwj Made me^saww to be steadfast by His^azwj Strength and Support until it broke my^sawwspeech to Jibraeel^as and my^saww astonishment. So Jibraeel^as said: ‘O Muhammad^saww! You consider it great what you^saww see? But rather, this is a creation from the creation of your^saww Lord^azwj. So how would it be with the Creator Who Created what you^saww see, and what you^saww do not see is greater than this from the creation of your^saww Lord^azwj? Surely, in between Allah^azwj and the creatures are thousand Veils, and the creatures closest to Allah^azwj are I^as and Israfeel^as, and between us^as and between Him^azwj are four Veils – A Veil of Light, and a Veil of darkness, and a Veil of clouds, and a veil of water’.

قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): و رأيت من العجائب التي خلق الله و سخره على ما أراده، ديكا رجلاه في تخوم الأرضين السابعة، و رأسه عند العرش، و ملكا من ملائكة الله، خلقه الله كما أراد، رجلاه في تخوم الأرضين السابعة، ثم أقبل مصعدا حتى خرج في الهواء إلى السماء السابعة، و انتهى فيها مصعدا حتى انتهى قرنه إلى قرب العرش، و هو يقول: سبحان ربي حيثما كنت، لا تدري أين ربك من عظم شأنه، و له جناحان في منكبيه إذا نشرهما جاوزا المشرق و المغرب،

He^saww said: ‘And I^saww saw from the wonders which Allah^azwj has Created, and Made it to be subservient upon what He^azwj Intended, a rooster whose feet are in the edge of the seven firmaments, and its head is in the Presence of the Throne, and it is an Angel from the Angels of Allah^azwj. Allah^azwj has Created it just as He^azwj Intended to in the edges of the seven firmaments. Then it ascended until it went in the air to the seventh sky, and its ascension does not end until it ends up near the Throne, and it is saying: ‘Glorified is my Lord^azwj everywhere. You do not know where the Glory of your Lord^azwj is the Greatest’. It has two wings in its shoulders. If it were to display them, they would exceed the east and the west.

فإذا كان في السحر، نشر ذلك الديك جناحيه و خفق بهما و صرخ بالتسبيح، يقول: سبحان الله الملك القدوس، سبحان الله الكبير المتعال، لا إله إلا الله الحي القيوم. و إذا قال ذلك سبحت ديوك الأرض كلها، و خفقت بأجنحتها، و أخذت في الصراخ، فإذا سكت ذلك الديك في السماء سكتت ديوك الأرض كلها، و لذلك الديك زغب أخضر و ريش أبيض كأشد بياض، ما رأيته قط، و له زغب أخضر أيضا تحت ريشه الأبيض كأشد خضرة، ما رأيتها قط.

So when it is the dawn, that rooster displays its wings, and flaps with it, and shouts out its Glorification saying: ‘Glory be to Allah^azwj, the King, the Holy! Glory be to Allah^azwj the Great, the most Exalted! There is not God except for Allah^azwj, the Living, the Eternal!’ So when it says that, all the roosters of the earth Glorify Allah^azwj, and flap their wings, and join up with the scream. So when that rooster becomes silent, all the roosters of the earth become silent with it. And for that rooster is green fluff and white feathers of such extreme whiteness which have not been seen at all. And there is also green fluff underneath is jaw of extreme greenness, which has not been seen at all’.

قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): ثم مضيت مع جبرئيل (عليه السلام)، فدخلت البيت المعمور، فصليت فيه ركعتين، و معي أناس من أصحابي عليهم ثياب جدد، و آخرون عليهم ثياب خلقان، فدخل أصحاب الجدد و جلس أصحاب الخلقان، ثم خرجت، فانقاد لي نهران: نهر يسمي الكوثر، و نهر يسمي الرحمة، فشربت من الكوثر و اغتسلت من الرحمة،

He^saww said: ‘Then I^saww went with Jibraeel^as and entered Frequented House (البيت المعمور). So I^saww prayed two Cycles Salat therein, and with me^saww were a people from my^saww companions upon whom were new clothes, and others had worn out clothes. So the ones with the new clothes came up and confined the ones with the worn out clothes, then went out. Two Rivers were submitted to me^saww – a River called Al Kawsar, and a River called Al Rahmat. So I^saww drank from Al Kawsar and bathed in Al-Rahmat.

ثم انقادا لي جميعا حتى دخلت الجنة فإذا على حافتيها بيوتي و بيوت أزواجي، و إذا ترابها كالمسك، فإذا جارية تنغمس في أنهار الجنة، فقلت: لمن أنت، يا جارية؟ قالت: لزيد بن حارثة. فبشرته بها حين‏ أصبحت،

Then everything was submitted to me^saww until I^saww entered the Paradise. So there was upon its edges was my^saww house and the houses of my^saww wives. And its dust is like the Musk, and there was a maiden immersed in the Rivers of the Paradise. So I^saww said: ‘Who are you for, O maiden?’ She said, ‘For Zayd Bin Harisa’. So I^saww gave him the good news of it in the morning.

و إذا بطيرها كالبخت، و إذا رمانها مثل الدلاء العظام، و إذا شجرة لو أرسل طائر في أصلها ما دارها سبعمائة سنة، و ليس في الجنة منزل إلا و فيه فنن منها، فقلت: ما هذه، يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذه شجرة طوبى، قال الله: طُوبى لَهُمْ وَ حُسْنُ مَآبٍ.

And therein were weird and wonderful birds, and its pomegranates were like the buckets. And there was such a tree that if a bird were to be sent from its roots to its branches, it would take it seven hundred years, and there is no house in the Paradise except in it is a branch from it. So I^saww said: ‘What is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: ‘This is the Tooba tree. Allah^azwj Says: (the tree of) Tooba would be for them and an excellent resort [13:29]’.

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): فلما دخلت الجنة، رجعت إلى نفسي فسألت جبرئيل عن تلك البحار و هولها و أعاجيبها، قال: هي سرادقات الحجب التي احتجب الله بها، و لو لا تلك الحجب لهتك نور العرش كل شي‏ء فيه.

Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘So when I^saww entered the Paradise, I^saww returned to myself^saww, and I^saww asked Jibraeel^as about those oceans, and their surroundings, and their wonders. He^as said: ‘These are pavilions of Veils by which Allah^azwj Veils Himself^azwj, and had those Veils not been there, the Light of the Throne would have Violated everything in it’.

و انتهيت إلى سدرة المنتهى، فإذا الورقة منها تظل أمة من الأمم، فكنت منها كما قال الله تبارك و تعالى: قابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنى

And I^saww ended up at the Lote Tree (سدرة المنتهى), and a leaf from it can shade a community from the communities. So I^saww was from it, as Allah^azwj Blessed and Exalted Said: So he was (at a distance of) two bows or nearer [53:9]’.

فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): يا رب أعطيت أنبياءك فضائل فأعطني، فقال الله: قد أعطيتك فيما أعطيتك كلمتين من تحت عرشي: لا حول و لا قوة إلا بالله، لا منجى منك إلا إليك.

Then Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘O Lord^azwj! You^azwj have Granted Your^azwj Prophets^as, so (now) Grant me^saww!’ So Allah^azwj Said: “I^azwj Grant you^saww two Words from underneath the Throne – There is no Might nor Strength except by Allah^azwj; There is no Refuge from You^azwj except with You^azwj’.

ثم سمعت الأذان، فإذا ملك يؤذن لم ير في السماء قبل تلك الليلة، ثم أممت الملائكة في السماء كما أممت الأنبياء في بيت المقدس، قال: ثم غشيتني ضبابة فخررت ساجدا، فناداني ربي: أني قد فرضت على كل نبي كان قبلك خمسين صلاة، و فرضتها عليك و على أمتك، فقم بها أنت في أمتك.

Then I^saww heard the Azaan. There was an Angel Calling Salat, who had not been seen in the sky before that night. Then I^saww led (in the Prayer) the Angels in the sky in the Salat just as I^saww had led the Prophets^as at Bayt Al Maqdas. Then I^saww was overwhelmed and fell down in Sajdah, so my^saww Lord^azwj Called out to me^saww: “I^azwj had Obligated upon every Prophet^as who was before you^saww, fifty Salats (daily), and I^azwjObligate these upon you^saww and upon your^saww community, there you^saww establish these in your^sawwcommunity”.

فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): فانحدرت حتى مررت بإبراهيم فلم يسألني عن شي‏ء، حتى انتهيت إلى‏ موسى، فقال: ما صنعت، يا محمد؟ فقلت: قال ربي: فرضت على كل نبي كان قبلك خمسين صلاة، و فرضتها عليك و على أمتك.

So Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘I^saww descended until I^saww passed by Ibrahim^as, but he^as did not ask me^sawwabout anything, until I^saww ended up to Musa^as. So He^as said: ‘What happened, O Muhammad^saww?’ So I^sawwsaid: ‘My^saww Lord^azwj Said: “I^azwj had Obligated upon every Prophet^as who was before you^saww, fifty Salats (daily), and I^azwj Obligate these upon you^saww and upon your^saww community”.

فقال موسى: يا محمد، إن أمتك آخر الأمم و أضعفها، و إن ربك لا يرد عليك شيئا، و إن أمتك لا تستطيع أن تقوم بها، فارجع إلى ربك فسله التخفيف لامتك.

So Musa^as said: ‘O Muhammad^saww! Your^saww community is the last of the communities, and the weakest of them all, and your^saww would never Refuse you^saww anything, and your^saww community would not be able to establish these. Therefore, return to your^saww Lord^azwj, and ask Him^azwj for the Lightening for your^sawwcommunity’.

فرجعت إلى ربي حتى انتهيت إلى سدرة المنتهى، فخررت ساجدا، ثم قلت: فرضت علي و على امتي خمسين صلاة، و لا أطيق ذلك و لا امتي، فخفف عني. فوضع عني عشرا فرجعت إلى موسى فأخبرته، فقال: إرجع، لا تطيق.

So I^saww returned until I^saww ended up at the Lote Tree, and fell down in Sajdah. Then I^saww said: ‘You^azwjObligated upon me^saww and my^saww community fifty (daily) Salats, and I^saww cannot tolerate it, nor can my^saww community. Therefore, Lighten it from me^saww’. So He^azwj Reduced ten from me^saww. Then I^sawwreturned to Musa^as and informed him^as of it. He^as said: ‘Return! It will not be tolerated’.

فرجعت إلى ربي فسألته، فوضع عني عشرا، فرجعت إلى موسى فأخبرته، فقال: إرجع، و في كل رجعة أرجع إليه أخر ساجدا، حتى رجع إلى عشر صلوات.

So I^saww returned to my^saww Lord^azwj and asked Him^azwj. So He ^azwj Reduced ten from me^saww. Then I^sawwreturned to Musa^as and informed him^as of it. He^as said: ‘Return!’ And during every return to Him^azwj with another Sajdah, I^saww returned with a reduction of ten Salats, until it was ten Salats.

فرجعت إلى موسى فأخبرته، فقال: لا تطيق. فرجعت إلى ربي فوضع عني خمسا، فرجعت إلى موسى فأخبرته، فقال: لا تطيق. فقلت: قد استحييت من ربي، و لكن أصبر عليها.

So I^saww returned to Musa^as and informed him^as about it, so he^as said: ‘It cannot be tolerated’. So I^sawwreturned to my^saww Lord^azwj, so He ^azwj reduced five from me^saww. Then I^saww returned to Musa^as and informed him^as about it. So he^as said: ‘It cannot be tolerated!’ So I^saww said: ‘I^saww am bashful from my^sawwLord^azwj, and I^saww would be patient over these now.

فناداني مناد: كما صبرت عليها، فهذه الخمس بخمسين، كل صلاة بعشر، من هم من أمتك بحسنة يعملها فعملها كتبت له عشرا، و إن لم يعملها كتبت له عشرا، و إن لم يعملها كتبت له واحدة، و من هم من أمتك بسيئة فعملها كتبت عليه واحدة، و إن لم يعملها لم أكتب عليه شيئا».

Then a Caller called out to me^saww: ‘If you^saww are patient upon these, so these five would be (multiplied by) fifty, each Salat by ten. The one who is from your^saww community who does these with good deeds, it would be Written ten for him, and if he does not do these good deeds, one would be Written for him. And the one from your^saww community who does an evil deed, one would be written for him, and if he does not do it, nothing would be written for him’.

فقال الصادق (عليه السلام): «جزى الله موسى عن هذه الامة خيرا». فهذا تفسير قوله تعالى: سُبْحانَ الَّذِي أَسْرى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا إلى آخر الآية.

Al-Sadiq^asws said: ‘May Allah^azwj Recompense Musa^as with goodness, from this community’. So, this is the Tafseer (explanation) of the Words of the Exalted: Glorified is He Who Journeyed His Servant on a night [17:1] – up to the end of the Verse’.[7]

The Signs Shown to Rasool-Allah^saww were not Allah^azwj

الطبرسي في (الاحتجاج): عن صفوان بن يحيى، قال: سألني أبو قرة المحدث صاحب شبرمة أن أدخله على أبي الحسن الرضا (عليه السلام)- إلى أن قال- و سأله عن قول الله عز و جل: سُبْحانَ الَّذِي أَسْرى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى.

Al-Tabarsy in Al-Ihtijaj – From Safwan Bin Yahya who said,

‘Qarat Al-Muhaddith, a companion of Shabramat (a judge), asked me if I could get him permission to see Abu Al Hassan Al Reza^asws’ – until he said, ‘And ask him^asws about the Words of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic:  I would like to see Abu Al-Hassan^asws Al-Reza^asws, and I asked him^asws about the Words of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic: Glorified is He Who Journeyed His Servant on a night from the Sacred Masjid to Masjid Al Aqsa [17:1]’.

فقال أبو الحسن (عليه السلام): قد أخبر الله تعالى أنه أسرى به، ثم أخبر أنه لم أسرى به، فقال: لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آياتِنا ،

So Abu Al-Hassan^asws said: ‘Allah^azwj the Exalted has Informed that He^azwj Made him^saww to journey, and then Informed as to why He^azwj Made him^saww to journey, so He^azwj Said:  in order to Show him form Our Signs [17:1].

فآيات الله غير الله، فقد أعذر و بين لم فعل به ذلك، و ما رآه و قال: فَبِأَيِّ حَدِيثٍ بَعْدَ اللَّهِ وَ آياتِهِ يُؤْمِنُونَ، فأخبر أنه غير الله.

Thus, the Signs of Allah^azwj are other than Allah^azwj and He^azwj has Given the reason as to why He^azwj did that with him^saww and what he^saww saw: These are the Signs of Allah. We Recite these upon you with the Truth, so afterwards, with which Hadeeth of Allah and His Signs will you be believing? [45:6]. So He^azwjInformed that (the Signs) were other than Allah^azwj’’.[8]

و عنه، قال: حدثنا الحسين بن إبراهيم بن أحمد بن هشام المؤدب، و علي بن عبد الله الوراق و أحمد بن زياد بن جعفر الهمداني (رضي الله عنه)، قالوا: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه، عن يحيى بن أبي عمران و صالح بن السندي، عن يونس بن عبد الرحمن، قال: قلت لأبي الحسن موسى بن جعفر (عليهما السلام): لأي علة عرج الله بنبيه (صلى الله عليه و آله) إلى السماء، و منها إلى سدرة المنتهى، و منها إلى حجب النور و خاطبه و ناجاه هناك، و الله لا يوصف بمكان؟

And from him, from Al Husayn Bin Ibrahim Bin Ahmad Bin Hisham Al Mo’dab, and Ali Bin Abdullah Al Waraaq and Ahmad Bin Ziyad Bin Ja’far al Hamdany, from Ali Bin Ibrahim Bin Hashim, from his father, from Yahya Bin Abu Umran and Salih Bin Al Sandy, from Yunus Bin Abdul Rahman who said,

‘I said to Abu Al-Hassan Musa^asws Bin Ja’far^asws, ‘What was the reason for Allah^azwj to Ascend His^azwjProphet^saww to the sky, and from it to the Lote Tree, and from it to Veils of Light. And He^azwj Addressed him^saww and he^saww whispered to Him^azwj over there, and Allah^azwj cannot be described by a place?’

فقال (عليه السلام): «إن الله لا يوصف بمكان، و لا يجري عليه زمان، و لكنه عز و جل أراد أن يشرف به ملائكته و سكان سماواته، و يكرمهم بمشاهدته، و يريه من عجائب عظمته ما يخبر به بعد هبوطه، و ليس ذلك على ما يقوله المشبهون، سبحانه و تعالى عما يصفون».

So he^asws said: ‘Surely, Allah^azwj cannot be described to be in a place, nor does the time flow for Him^azwj, but the Mighty and Majestic Intended that He^azwj should Grant the Nobility to His^azwj Angels and the inhabitants of the skies, and Honour them by looking at him^saww. And He^azwj Showed him^saww from the great wonders what he^saww informed of after his^saww descent. And that is not as per what the resemblers (who make resemblances of Allah^azwj) are saying. Glorious is He and Exalted from what they are ascribing [6:100]’.[9]

و عنه: بإسناده عن ثابت بن دينار، قال: سألت زين العابدين علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب (عليهم السلام) عن الله عز و جل هل يوصف بمكان؟ فقال: «لا، تعالى الله عن ذلك». قلت: فلم أسرى بنبيه (صلى الله عليه و آله) إلى السماء؟ قال: «ليريه ملكوت السماوات و ما فيها من عجائب صنعه و بدائع خلقه».

And from him (Al Sadouq), by his chain from Sabit Bin Dinar who said,

‘I asked Zayn Al-Abideen Ali^asws Bin Al-Husayn^asws Bin Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws about Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic, can He^azwj be described by a place?’ So he^asws said: ‘No, Allah^azwj is Exalted from that’. I said, ‘So why did He^azwj Journey His^azwj Prophet^saww to the sky?’ He^asws said: ‘In order to Show him^saww the kingdoms of the skies and whatever is therein from the wonders of His^azwj Making and manifestation of His^azwj creation’’.[10]

The main purpose of Mi’raj (Ascension)

محمد بن الحسن الصفار: عن علي بن محمد بن سعيد، عن حمدان بن سليمان، عن عبد الله بن محمد اليماني، عن منيع، عن يونس، عن صباح المزني، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: «عرج بالنبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) مائة و عشرين مرة، ما من مرة إلا و قد أوصى الله النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) بولاية علي (عليه السلام) و الأئمة من بعده، أكثر مما أوصاه بالفرائض».

Muhammad Bin Al Hassan Al Saffar, from Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Saeed, from Hamdan Bin Sulayman, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad Al Yamani, from Mani’e, from Yunus, from Sabah Al Mazny,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws having said: ‘The Ascension took place with the Prophet^saww one hundred and twenty times. There was not a single time except that Allah^azwj Advised the Prophet^saww with the Wilayah of Ali^aswsand the Imams^asws from after him^saww, more than what He^azwj Advised him^saww with the Obligations’.[11]

و عنه: عن عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن القاسم بن محمد الجوهري، عن علي بن أبي حمزة، قال سأل أبو بصير أبا عبد الله (عليه السلام) و أنا حاضر، فقال: جعلت فداك، كم عرج برسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)؟ فقال: «مرتين، فأوقفه جبرئيل (عليه السلام) موقفا فقال له: مكانك- يا محمد- فلقد وقفت موقفا ما وقفه ملك قط و لا نبي، إن ربك يصلي.

And from him (Al Kulayni), from a number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Husayn Bin Saeed, from Al Qasim Bin Muhammad Al Jowhary, from Ali Bin Abu Hamza who said,

Abu Baseer asked Abu Abdullah^asws and I was present. He said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^asws! How many times was the Ascension with Rasool-Allah^saww?’ So he^asws said: ‘Twice, and Jibraeel^as paused him^saww at a pausing stop and said to him^saww: ‘(Be) in your^saww place, O Muhammad^saww, for you^saww have paused in a pausing stop, no Angel has paused at all, nor any Prophet^as. Your^saww Lord^azwj is performing Salat’.

فقال: يا جبرئيل، و كيف يصلي؟ قال: يقول: سبوح قدوس أنا رب الملائكة و الروح، سبقت رحمتي غضبي.

So he^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as! And how does He^azwj perform Salat?’ He^as said: ‘He^azwj is Saying: “Glorious! Holy am I^azwj, Lord^azwj of the Angels and the Spirit! My^azwj Mercy precedes My^azwj Anger!”’.

فقال: اللهم عفوك عفوك- قال- و كان كما قال الله: قابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنى».

So he^saww said: ‘O Allah^azwj! Your^azwj Pardon! Your^azwj Pardon!’ He^asws said: ‘And it was just as Allah^azwjSaid: So he was (at a distance of) two bows or nearer [53:9]’.

فقال له أبو بصير: جعلت فداك، و ما قاب قوسين أو أدنى؟

So Abu Baseer said to him^asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^asws! And what is (the meaning of): two bows or nearer [53:9]’.

قال: «ما بين سيتها إلى رأسها، فقال: كان بينهما حجاب يتلألأ- و لا أعلمه إلا و قد قال: زبرجد- فنظر في مثل سم الإبرة إلى ما شاء الله من نور العظمة،

He^asws said: ‘What is between its bottom to its top’. And he^asws said: ‘And between them was a shining Veil’ – and I (the narrator) do not know it except and he^asws had said: ‘Aquamarine’. (He^asws said): ‘So he^saww looked into like an eye of the needle towards whatever Allah^azwj so Desired from the Light of the Magnificence.

فقال الله تبارك و تعالى: يا محمد، قال: لبيك ربي. قال: من لامتك من بعدك؟ قال: الله أعلم. قال: علي بن أبي طالب أميرالمؤمنين، و سيد المسلمين، و قائد العز المحجلين».

Then Allah^azwj Blessed and Exalted Said: “O Muhammad^saww!” He^saww said: ‘At Your^azwj service, my^sawwLord^azwj!’ He^azwj said: “Who is for your^saww community from after you^saww?” He^saww said: ‘Allah^azwj is more Knowing’. He^azwj Said: ‘Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws, is the Emir of the Momineen, and Chief of the submitters, and Guide of the resplendent!”

قال: ثم قال أبو عبد الله (عليه السلام) لأبي بصير: «يا أبا محمد، و الله ما جاءت ولاية علي (عليه السلام) من الأرض، و لكن جاءت من السماء».

He (the narrator) said, ‘Then Abu Abdullah^asws said to Abu Baseer: ‘O Abu Muhammad! By Allah^azwj! The Wilayah of Ali^asws did not come from the earth, but it came from the sky’’.[12]

الشيخ في (مجالسه)، قال: أخبرنا جماعة، عن أبي المفضل، قال: حدثنا أبو القاسم جعفر بن محمد بن عبد الله الموسوي في داره بمكة بعشرين و ثلاثمائة، قال: حدثني مؤدبي عبيد الله بن أحمد بن نهيك الكوفي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن زياد بن أبي عمير، قال: حدثني علي بن رئاب، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي عبد الله‏ جعفر بن محمد، عن آبائه، عن علي (عليهم السلام) قال: قال لي رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): «يا علي، إنه لما أسري بي إلى السماء تلقاني الملائكة بالبشارات في كل سماء حتى لقيني جبرئيل (عليه السلام) في محفل من الملائكة، قال: يا محمد، لو اجتمعت أمتك على حب علي، ما خلق الله عز و جل النار.

Al Sheykh in his Majaalis, said’ A group informed us, from Abu Al Mufazzal, from Abu Al Qasim Ja’far Bin Muhammad bin Abdullah Al Musawi in his house at Makkah in the year three hundred and twenty, from Mu’daby Ubeydullah Bin Ahmad Bin Naheyk Al Kufi, from Muhammad Bin Ziyad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Ali Bin Ra’ib, from Abu Baseer,

‘Abu Abdullah Ja’far^asws Bin Muhammad^asws, from his^asws forefathers^asws, from Ali^asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww said to me^asws: ‘O Ali^asws! When I^saww was journeyed with to the sky, the Angels met me^saww with the good news in every sky, to the extent that Jibraeel^as took me^saww to a forum of the Angels and said: ‘O Muhammad^saww! If your^saww community had united upon the love for Ali^asws, Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic would not have Created the Fire.

يا علي، إن الله تعالى أشهدك معي في سبعة مواطن حتى أنست بك. أما أول ذلك: فليلة أسري بي إلى السماء، قال لي جبرئيل (عليه السلام): أين أخوك يا محمد؟ فقلت: خلفته ورائي، فقال: ادع الله عز و جل فليأتك به فدعوت الله عز و جل فإذا مثالك معي،

O Ali^asws! Allah^azwj the Exalted Made you^asws to be present with me^saww in seven places until I^saww (felt) closeness with you^asws. As for the first of that – So, it was on the night I^saww was ascended with to the sky, Jibraeel^as said to me: ‘Where is your^saww brother^asws, O Muhammad^saww?’ So I^saww said: ‘I^saww left him^aswsbehind me^saww’. He^as said: ‘Supplicate to Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic, so He^azwj would Bring him^asws to you^saww’. So I^saww supplicated to Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic, and your^asws resemblance was with me^saww.

و إذا الملائكة وقوف صفوف، فقلت: يا جبرئيل، من هؤلاء؟ فقال: هؤلاء الذين يباهيهم الله عز و جل بك يوم القيامة، فدنوت فنطقت بما كان و بما يكون إلى يوم القيامة.

And when the Angels paused in rows, I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as, who are they?’ So he^as said: ‘They are the ones whom Allah^azwj would Boast about you^saww on the Day of Judgement’. So I^saww approached, and spoke with what had happened and what has to happen up to the Day of Judgement.

و الثاني: حين أسري بي إلى ذي العرش عز و جل، قال جبرئيل: أين أخوك يا محمد؟ فقلت: خلفته ورائي. فقال: ادع الله عز و جل فليأتك به فدعوت الله عز و جل فإذا مثالك معي، و كشط لي عن سبع سماوات حتى رأيت سكانها و عمارها و موضع كل ملك منها.

And the second – When I^saww was ascended with to the One with the Throne, Mighty and Majestic, Jibraeel^assaid: ‘Where is your^saww brother^asws, O Muhammad^saww?’ So I^saww said: ‘I^saww have left him^asws behind me^saww’. So he^as said: ‘Supplicate to Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic so that He^azwj would Bring him^asws to you^saww’. So I^saww supplicated to Allah ^azwj Mighty and Majestic, so there was your^asws resemblance with me^saww, and the seven skies were opened up for me^saww to the extent that I^saww saw its inhabitants, and its patient ones, and the place of every Angel from these.

و الثالثة: حين بعثت إلى الجن، فقال لي جبرئيل (عليه السلام): أين أخوك؟ فقلت: خلفته ورائي. فقال: ادع الله عز و جل فليأتك به فدعوت الله عز و جل فإذا أنت معي، فما قلت لهم شيئا و لا ردوا علي شيئا إلا سمعته و وعيته.

And the third – Where I^saww was Sent to the Jinn, so Jibraeel^as said to me^saww: ‘Where is your^sawwbrother^asws?’ So I^saww said: ‘I^saww left him^asws behind me^saww’. So he^as said: ‘Supplicate to Allah ^azwj Mighty and Majestic, so that He ^azwj would Bring him^asws to you^saww’. So I^saww supplicated to Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic, and there you^asws were, with me^saww. So there was nothing which I^saww said to them, nor anything which they responded to me^saww with, except that you^asws heard it and realised it (as well).

و الرابعة: خصصنا بليلة القدر، و أنت معي فيها، و ليست لأحد غيرنا.

And the fourth – We^asws have been specialised with the Night of Pre-destination (ليلة القدر), and you^asws are with me^asws in it, and there is no one else apart from us^asws.

و الخامسة: ناجيت الله عز و جل و مثالك معي، فسألت فيك خصالا أجابني إليها إلا النبوة، فإنه قال: خصصتها بك، و ختمتها بك.

And the fifth – I^saww whispered to Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic, and your^asws resemblance was with me^saww. So I^saww asked regarding your^asws merits, it was Answered for me^saww except for the Prophet-hood, for He^azwjSaid: “This is especially for you^saww, and ends with you^saww.

و السادسة: لما طفت بالبيت المعمور كان مثالك معي.

And the sixth – When I^saww performed Tawaaf of the Frequented House (البيت المعمور), your^asws resemblance was with me^saww.

و السابعة: هلاك الأحزاب على يدي و أنت معي.

And the seventh – The destruction of the allies (see Chapter 33) upon my^saww hands, and you^asws were with me^saww.

يا علي، إن الله أشرف إلى الدنيا فاختارني على رجال العالمين، ثم اطلع الثانية فاختارك على رجال العالمين، ثم اطلع الثالثة فاختار فاطمة على نساء العالمين، ثم اطلع الرابعة فاختار الحسن و الحسين و الأئمة من ولده على رجال العالمين.

O Ali^asws! Allah^azwj Looked over to the world, so He^azwj Chose me^saww over the men of the worlds, then Gave it a second Look, so He^azwj Chose you^asws over the men of the worlds. Then Gave it a third Look, so He^azwjChose (Syeda) Fatima^asws over the women of the worlds. Then gave it a fourth Look, so He^azwj Chose Al-Hassan^asws, and Al-Husayn^asws, and the Imams^asws from his^asws sons, over the men of the worlds’.

يا علي، إني رأيت اسمك مقرونا باسمي في أربعة مواطن فأنست بالنظر إليه: إني لما بلغت بيت المقدس في معارجي إلى السماء وجدت على صخرتها: لا إله إلا الله، محمد رسول الله أيدته بوزيره و نصرته به. فقلت: يا جبرئيل: و من وزيري؟ فقال: علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام).

O Ali^asws! I^saww saw your^asws name paired with my^saww name in four places, so I^saww (felt) closeness to you^asws by looking at it – When I^saww reached Bayt Al Maqdas during my^saww ascension to the sky, I^sawwfound (inscribed) upon its rock: ‘There is no God except for Allah^azwj, Muhammad^saww is Rasool-Allah^saww, I^azwj have Supported him^saww by his^saww Vizier and Helped him^saww by him^asws’. So I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as, and who is my^saww Vizier?’ So he^as said: ‘Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.

فلما انتهيت إلى سدرة المنتهى وجدت مكتوبا عليها: لا إله إلا الله، أنا وحدي، و محمد صفوتي من خلقي، أيدته بوزيره و نصرته به. فقلت يا جبرئيل و من وزيري؟ فقال: علي بن أبي طالب.

So when I^saww ended up to the Lote Tree (سدرة المنتهى), I^saww found written upon it: ‘There is no God except for Allah^azwj, I^azwj am Alone, and Muhammad^saww is My^azwj elite from My^azwj creatures. I^azwj support him^saww by his^saww Vizier, and help him^saww by him^asws’. So I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as, and who is my^saww Vizier?’ So he^assaid: ‘Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.

فلما جاوزت السدرة و انتهيت إلى عرش رب العالمين وجدت مكتوبا على قائمة من قوائم العرش: أنا الله، لا إله إلا أنا وحدي، محمد حبيبي و صفوتي من خلقي، أيدته بوزيره و أخيه و نصرته به.

So when I^saww exceeded the Lote Tree and ended up to the Throne of the Lord^azwj of the Worlds, I^saww found written upon a Pillar from the Pillar of the Throne: “I^azwj am Allah^azwj! There is no God except for Me^azwj Alone! Muhammad^saww is My^azwj Beloved and My^azwj elite from My^azwj creatures. I^azwj Support him^saww by his^sawwVizier and his^saww brother, and help him^saww by him^asws’.

يا علي، إن الله عز و جل أعطاني فيك سبع خصال: أنا أول من يشق القبر و أنت معي، و أنت أول من يقف معي على الصراط، فتقول للنار: خذي هذا فهو لك،

O Ali^asws! Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic has Given me^saww, with regards to you^asws, seven merits – I^saww am the first one to come out from my^saww grave and you^asws would be with me^asws; and you^asws would be the first one to pause with me^saww upon the Bridge. So the Fire would say: ‘Take this one for he is for you^asws, and leave this one for he is not for you^asws!’

و ذري هذا فليس هولك و أنت أول من يكسى إذا كسيت، و يحيا إذا حييت، و أنت أول من يقف معي عن يمين العرش، و أول من يقرع معي باب الجنة، و أول من يسكن معي في عليين، و أول من يشرب معي من الرحيق المختوم الذي ختامه مسك، و في ذلك فليتنافس المتنافسون».

And you^asws would be the first one to be clothed (with the Robes of the Paradise) when I^saww am clothed, and live (in the Paradise) when I^saww live in it; and you^asws would be the first one to pause along with me^saww at the right of the Throne, and the first one to knock upon the Gate of the Paradise along with me^saww, and the first one to dwell with me^saww in the Illiyeen, and the first one to drink with me^saww: They would be Quenched from sealed nectar [83:25] Its sealing being of musk, and regarding that, so let the aspiring ones aspire [83:26]’.[13]

The Signs of Allah^azwj

قال: و سمعته يقول: «كذبوا بآياتنا كلها، في بطن القرآن، أن كذبوا بالأوصياء كلهم».

He (the narrator) said, ‘And I heard him (Abu Ja’far^asws) saying: ‘They belying our^asws signs, all of them, in the esoteric of the Quran, and they were belying the succesors^asws, all of them^asws’’.[14]

و قال علي بن إبراهيم: الآيات: أمير المؤمنين و الائمة (عليهم السلام)، و الدليل على ذلك‏ قول أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام): «ما لله آية أكبر مني».

And Ali Bin Ibrahim said,

‘The Signs are Amir-Al-Momineen^asws and the Imams^asws, and the evidence upon that are the words of Amir-Al-Momineen^asws: ‘There is no ‘Sign’ of Allah^azwj greater than I^asws!’[15]

محمد بن يعقوب: عن محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن محمد بن أبي عمير أو غيره، عن محمد بن الفضيل، عن أبي حمزة، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، قال: كان أمير المؤمنين (صلوات الله عليه) يقول: ما لله عز و جل آية هي أكبر مني، و لا لله من نبأ أعظم مني».

Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr or someone else, from Muhammad Bin Al Fazeyl, from Abu Hamza,

From Abu Ja’far^asws having said, Amir-Al-Momineen^asws was saying: ‘There is no ‘Sign’ of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic which is greater than I^asws, nor a News from Allah^azwj greater than I^asws!’[16]

الشيخ في (أماليه): بإسناده عن الحفار، قال: حدثني ابن الجعابي، قال: حدثنا أبو عثمان سعيد ابن عبد الله بن عجب الأنباري، قال: حدثنا خلف بن درست، قال: حدثنا القاسم بن هارون، قال: حدثنا سهل بن سفيان، عن همام، عن قتادة، عن أنس، قال: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): «لما عرج بي إلى السماء دنوت من ربي عز و جل حتى كان بيني و بينه قاب قوسين أو أدنى، فقال: يا محمد، من تحب من الخلق؟ قلت: يا رب، عليا. قال: التفت يا محمد، فالتفت عن يساري فإذا علي بن أبي طالب».

Al Sheykh, in his Amaali, by his chain from Al Hafaar, from Ibn Al Ja’alby, from Abu Usman Saeed Ibn Abdullah Bin Ajab Al Anbary, from Khalaf Bin Darasat, from Al Qasim Bin Haroun, from Sahal Bin Sufyan, from Hamam, from Qatada, from Anas who said,

‘Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘When I^saww was ascended with to the sky, I^saww approached my^saww Lord^azwj Mighty and Majestic until there was in between me^saww and Him^azwj So he was (at a distance of) two bows or nearer [53:9]. He^azwj Said: “O Muhammad^saww! Whom do you^saww love the most from the creatures?” I^sawwsaid: ‘O Lord^azwj! Ali^asws!’ He^azwj Said: ‘Turn around, O Muhammad^saww!” So I^saww turned around from my^sawwright, so there was Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.[17]

المفيد في (الاختصاص): عن أحمد بن عبد الله، عن عبيد الله بن محمد العيشي، قال: أخبرني حماد بن سلمة، عن الأعمش، عن زياد بن وهب، عن عبد الله بن مسعود، قال: أتيت (فاطمة (صلوات الله عليها))، فقلت لها: أين بعلك؟ فقالت: «عرج به جبرئيل (عليه السلام) إلى السماء». فقلت: في ماذا؟ فقالت: «إن نفرا من الملائكة تشاجروا في شي‏ء فسألوا حكما من الآدميين، فأوحى الله إليهم أن تخيروا، فاختاروا علي بن أبي طالب».

Al-Mufeed, in Al Ikhtisas, from Ahmad Bin Abdullah, from Ubeydullah Bin Muhammad Al Ayyashi, from Hamad Bin Salmat, from Al Amsh, from Ziyad Bin Wahab, from Abdullah Bin Mas’oud who said,

‘I came up to (the door of Syeda) Fatima^asws so I said to her^asws, ‘Where is your^asws husband?’ So she^aswssaid: ‘Gone up to the sky, with Jibraeel^as’. So I said, ‘Regarding what?’ she^asws said: ‘A number of the Angels quarrelled with regards to something, so they asked for a judgement (to be given) by someone from the human beings. So Allah^azwj Revealed to them that they should choose (a judge), and they chose Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.[18]

Presence of Amir Al-Momineen^asws in the sky

الشيخ في (أماليه)، قال: أخبرنا أبو الفتح هلال بن محمد بن جعفر الحفار، قال: حدثنا ابن الجعابي، قال: حدثنا أبو عثمان سعيد بن عبد الله بن عجب الأنباري، قال: حدثنا خلف بن درست، قال: حدثنا القاسم بن هارون، قال: حدثنا سهل بن صقين، عن همام، عن قتادة، عن أنس، قال: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): «لما عرج بي إلى السماء، دنوت من ربي عز و جل، حتى كان بيني و بينه قاب قوسين أو أدنى، فقال: يا محمد من تحب من الخلق؟ قلت: يا رب عليا، قال: التفت يا محمد فالتفت عن يساري، فإذا علي بن أبي طالب».

Al-Sheykh in his Amaali, from Abu Al-fatah HilAl-Bin Muhammad Bin Ja’far Al-Hafar, from Ibn Al-Ja’aby, from Abu Usman Saeed Bin Abdullah Bin Ajab Al-Anbary, from Khalaf Bin Darast, from Al-Qasim Bin Haroun, from Sahl Bin Saqeen, from Hamam, from Qatada, from Anas who said,

‘Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘When I^saww ascended up to the sky, I^saww approached my^saww Lord^azwj Mighty and Majestic, until there was between me^saww and Him^azwj So he was (at a distance of) two bows or nearer [53:9]. So He^azwj Said: “O Muhammad^saww! Whom do you^saww love from the creation?” I said: ‘O Lord^azwj! Ali^asws!’ He^azwj Said: “Turn, O Muhammad^saww!” So I^saww turned to my^saww left, and there was Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.[19]

Testification of Ali^asws Inscribed in the kingdoms of the skies

وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ أَخَذَ جَبْرَئِيلُ بِيَدِي وَ أَقْعَدَنِي عَلَى دُرْنُوكٍ‏ مِنْ دَرَانِيكِ الْجَنَّةِ، ثُمَّ نَاوَلَنِي سَفَرْجَلَةً، فَإِذَا أَقْلِبُهَا إِذَا انْفَلَقَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ مِنْهَا جَارِيَةٌ حَوْرَاءُ لَمْ أَرَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا،

And by his chain going up to Al-Reza^asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘When He^azwj Journeyed me^saww to the sky, Jibraeel^as grabbed my^saww hand and got me^saww to be seated upon a rug from the rugs of the Paradise. Then he^as gave me^saww a quince. But when I^saww turned it, it broke, and there came out from it a Hourie girl, I^saww had not seen one more beautiful than her.

فَقَالَتْ: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ قُلْتُ: مَنْ أَنْتِ؟ قَالَتْ: أَنَا الرَّاضِيَةُ الْمَرْضِيَّةُ خَلَقَنِي الْجَبَّارُ مِنْ ثَلَثَةِ أَصْنَافٍ: أَسْفَلِي مِنَ الْمِسْكِ، وَ وَسَطِي مِنْ كَافُورٍ، وَ أَعْلَايَ مِنْ عَنْبَرٍ، وَ عَجَنَنِي مِنْ مَاءِ الْحَيَوَانِ، قَالَ الْجَبَّارُ: كُونِي فَكُنْتُ خَلَقَنِي لِأَخِيكَ وَ ابْنِ عَمِّكَ.

She said, ‘The greetings be upon you^saww, O Muhammad^saww’. I^saww said: ‘Who are you?’ She said, ‘I am the pleasing one, being pleased. The Compeller Created me from three types – my lower part is from musk, and my middle is from camphor, and my upper part is from anber, and He^azwj Kneaded me from the water of (the river) Haywaan. The Compeller Said: “Be!” So I came into being. He^azwj Created me for your^saww brother^aswsand your^saww cousin (Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws)’’.[20]

فِي كِتَابِ ثَوَابِ الْأَعْمَالِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي وَصِيَّةٍ لَهُ: يَا عَلِيُّ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ اسْمَكَ مَقْرُوناً إِلَى اسْمِي فِي أَرْبَعَةِ مَوَاطِنَ فَأَنِسْتُ بِالنَّظَرِ إِلَيْهِ،

In the book Sawaab Al Amaal –

‘From Ali^asws, from the Prophet^saww having said in a bequest of his^saww: ‘O Ali^asws! I^saww saw your^asws name paired with my^saww name in four places, and I^saww loved looking at it.

إِنَّي لَمَّا بَلَغْتُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ فِي مِعْرَاجِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَجَدْتُ عَلَى الصَّخْرَةِ مَكْتُوباً: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَيَّدْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ وَ نَصَرْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ، فَقُلْتُ لِجَبْرَئِيلَ: مَنْ وَزِيرِي؟ قَالَ: عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،

I^saww, when I^saww reached Bayt Al-Maqdas during my ascension (Mi’raj) to the sky, I^saww found inscribed upon the rock: “There is no god except Allah^azwj. Muhammad^saww is Rasool-Allah^saww. I^azwj Assisted him^saww by his^saww Vizier and Helped him^saww by his^saww Vizier”. So I^saww asked Jibraeel^as: ‘Who is my^saww Vizier?’ He^assaid: ‘Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.

فَلَمَّا انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى وَجَدْتُ‏ مَكْتُوباً عَلَيْهَا: إِنِّي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا وَحْدِي، مُحَمَّدٌ صَفْوَتِي مِنْ خَلْقِي، أَيَّدْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ وَ نَصَرْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ، فَقُلْتُ لِجَبْرَئِيلَ: مَنْ وَزِيرِي؟ فَقَالَ: عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ،

So when I^saww ended up to Sidrat Al-Muntaha, I^saww found inscribed upon it: “I^saww am Allah^azwj. There is no god except I^saww Alone. Muhammad^saww is My^saww elite from My^azwj creatures. I^saww Assisted him^saww by his^saww Vizier and Helped him^saww by his^saww Vizier”. So I^saww said to Jibraeel^as: ‘Who is my^saww Vizier?’ He^as said: ‘Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.

فَلَمَّا جَاوَزْتُ السِّدْرَةَ انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى عَرْشِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ فَوَجَدْتُ مَكْتُوباً عَلَى قَوَائِمِهِ: أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا وَحْدِي، مُحَمَّدٌ حَبِيبِي، أَيَّدْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ وَ نَصَرْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ،

So when I^saww exceeded Al-Sidrat, I^saww ended up to the Throne of the Lord^azwj of the worlds, Majestic is His^azwj Majesty, and I^saww found inscribed upon its Pillar: “I^azwj am Allah^azwj. There is no god except I^sawwAlone. Muhammad^saww is My^azwj Beloved. I^azwj Assisted him^saww by his^saww Vizier and Helped him^saww by his^saww Vizier”.

فَلَمَّا رَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي نَظَرْتُ عَلَى بُطْنَانِ الْعَرْشِ مَكْتُوباً: أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ عَبْدِي وَ رَسُولِي، أَيَّدْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ وَ نَصَرْتُهُ بِوَزِيرِهِ.

So when I^saww raised my^saww head, I^saww looked at the interior of the Throne (wherein) was inscribed: “I^azwjam Allah^azwj. There is no god except I^azwj. Muhammad^saww is My^azwj servant and My^azwj Rasool^saww. I^azwjAssisted him^saww by his^saww Vizier and Helped him^saww by his^saww Vizier”’.[21]

Why Rasool-Allah^saww returned to Allah^azwj to Reduce the daily Salats

فقد روى محمد بن علي بن بابويه في (من لا يحضره الفقيه): عن زيد بن علي بن الحسين، أنه قال: سألت أبي سيد العابدين (عليه السلام)، فقلت له: يا أبت، أخبرني عن جدنا رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) لما عرج به إلى السماء، و أمره ربه عز و جل بخمسين صلاة، كيف لم يسأله التخفيف عن أمته حتى قال له موسى بن عمران (عليه السلام): «ارجع إلى ربك فاسأله التخفيف فإن أمتك لا تطيق ذلك»؟

Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Babuwayh in Man La Yahzar Al Faqih,

‘Zayd son of Ali^asws Bin Al-Husayn^asws, said, ‘I asked my father^asws the Chief of the worshippers, so I said to him^asws, ‘O father^asws! Inform me about our^asws grandfather^saww Rasool-Allah^saww when he^saww was ascended with to the sky, and his^saww Lord^azwj Mighty and Majestic Commanded him^saww with fifty (daily) Salats. How come he^saww did not ask Him^azwj to Lighten these from his^saww community until Musa^as Bin Imran^as said to him: ‘Return to your^saww Lord^azwj, and ask Him^azwj for the Lightening, for your^saww community would not be able to tolerate that’?’

فقال: «يا بني، إن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) لا يقترح على ربه عز و جل، و لا يراجعه في شي‏ء يأمره به، فلما سأله موسى (عليه السلام) ذلك، و صار شفيعا لامته إليه لم يجز له أن يرد شفاعة أخيه موسى (عليه السلام)، فرجع إلى ربه عز و جل فسأله التخفيف، إلى أن ردها إلى خمس صلوات».

So he^asws said: ‘O my^asws son! Rasool-Allah^saww did not suggest (anything) to his^saww Lord^azwj nor did he^sawwreturn (disagree to) anything with what He^azwj Commanded him^saww with. So when Musa^as asked him^saww to do that, it became an intercession for his^saww community, and it was not proper for him^saww that he^saww should reject the intercession of his^saww brother Musa^as Bin Imran^as. Thus, he^saww returned to his^saww Lord^azwjMighty and Majestic, asked Him^azwj for the Lightening, to it being five Salats (daily)’.[22]

Inferiority of Jibraeel^as to Rasool-Allah^saww

و في رواية اخرى: عن هشام، عنه (عليه السلام) قال: «لما أسري برسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) حضرت الصلاة، فأذن جبرئيل و أقام للصلاة، فقال: يا محمد، تقدم. فقال له رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): تقدم يا جبرئيل. فقال له: إنا لا نتقدم الآدميين منذ أمرنا بالسجود لآدم».

And in another report, from Hisham, from him^asws (Imam Al-Sadiq^asws) having said: ‘When Rasool-Allah^sawwwas journeyed with, the Salat (time) presented itself, so Jibraeel^as recited the Azaan and established the Salatsaying: ‘O Muhammad^saww, proceed (to lead)!’ So Rasool-Allah^saww said to him^as: ‘Proceed, O Jibraeel^as!’ So he^as said to him^saww: ‘We (Angels) can never lead the human beings ever since we were Commanded with the Sajdah to Adam^as’.[23]

عن هشام بن الحكم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: «إن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) صلى العشاء الآخرة و صلى الفجر في الليلة التي أسري به فيها بمكة».

From Hisham Bin Al Hakam,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww Prayed Al-Isha and Al-Fajr (Salats) at Makkah, during the night which he^saww was journeyed with’.[24]

The ultimate point of Jibraeel^as

محمد بن يعقوب: عن علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن أحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر، عن حماد ابن عثمان، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) قال: «لما عرج برسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) انتهى به جبرئيل إلى مكان فخلى عنه. فقال له: يا جبرئيل، أ تخليني على هذه الحال؟! فقال: أمضه، فو الله، لقد وطئت مكانا ما وطئه بشر و ما مشى فيه بشر قبلك».

Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr, from Hamaad Ibn Usmaan, from Abu Baseer,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws has said: ‘When Rasool-Allah^saww was ascended with, Jibraeel^as ended up with him^saww at a place, and left him^saww alone at it. So he^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as, you^as are leaving me^asws alone in this situation?’ So he^as said: ‘Carry on, for by Allah^azwj, you^saww have trodden upon a place which not one has trodden upon, and no one has ever walked upon it before you^saww’.[25]

Refusal of Quraysh to believe the Mi’raj (Ascension)

الخصيبي في (هدايته): بإسناده عن الصادق (عليه السلام) أنه قال: «لما أسري برسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، رأى في طريق الشام عيرا لقريش بمكان، فقال لقريش حين أصبح: يا معشر قريش، إن الله تبارك و تعالى قد أسرى بي في هذه الليلة من المسجد الحرام إلى المسجد الأقصى- يعني بيت المقدس- حتى ركبت على البراق، و قد أتاني به جبرئيل (عليه السلام)، و هو دابة أكبر من الحمار و أصغر من البغل و خطوتها مد البصر، فلما صرت عليه صعدت إلى السماء و صليت بالنبيين أجمعين، و الملائكة كلهم و رأيت الجنة و ما فيها، و النار و ما فيها، و اطلعت على الملك كله.

Al Khusaybi, is his Hidaaya, by his chain,

‘Al-Sadiq^asws has said: ‘When Rasool-Allah^saww was journeyed with, he^saww saw on the road to Damascus a camel of the Quraysh at a place. So he^saww said to the Quraysh in the morning: ‘O group of Quraysh! Allah^azwjBlessed and Exalted Made me^saww to ascend last night from the Sacred Masjid to the Masjid Al-Aqsa – meaning Bayt Al-Maqdas – and I^saww rode upon Al-Buraaq which Jibraeel^as had come with, and it is an animal which is larger than the donkey and small than a mule and its steps were as extensive as the eye could see. So when I^saww journeyed upon it, it ascended to the sky, and I^saww prayed Salat with all the Prophets^as, and all the Angels. And I^saww saw the Paradise and whatever was in it and the Fire and whatever was in it, and looked at whole Kingdom’.

فقالوا: يا محمد، كذب بعد كذب يأتينا منك مرة بعد مرة، لئن لم تنته عما تقول و تدعي لنقتلنك شر قتلة، تريد أن تأفكنا عن آلهتنا، و تصدنا عما كان يعبد آباؤنا الشم الغطاريف؟ فقال: يا قوم، إنما أتيتكم بالخير، إن قبلتموه، فإن لم تقبلوه فارجعوا، و تربصوا بي، إني متربص بكم، و إني لأرجوا أن أرى فيكم ما آمله من الله، فسوف تعلمون.

So they said, ‘O Muhammad^saww! Lies after lies keep coming from you^saww to us, time after time. If you^sawwdo not end what you^saww are saying and calling for, we will kill you^saww with an evil killing. You^saww are intending to restrain us from our gods, and turn us away from what our noble and high forefathers have been worshipping?’ So he^saww said: ‘O people! But rather, I^saww come to you with the good if you were to accept it. And if you were not to accept it, so return, and you wait for me^saww and I^saww wait for you, and I^saww have seen among you what your deeds are, from Allah^azwj, so very soon you shall come to know’.

فقال له أبو سفيان: يا محمد، إن كنت صادقا فيما تقول، فإنا قد دخلنا الشام و مررنا على طريق الشام، فخبرنا عن طريق الشام و ما رأيت فيه، و نحن نعلم أنك لم تدخل الشام، فإن أنت أعطيتنا علامته علمنا أنك نبي و رسول.

So Abu Sufyan said to him^saww, ‘O Muhammad^saww! If you^saww were truthful regarding what you^saww are saying, so we have entered Damascus and passed by the roads of Damascus. So, inform us about the road of Damascus and what you^saww have seen in it, and we know very well that you^saww have never entered Damascus. So, if you^saww were to come to us with its signs, we would know that you^saww are a Prophet^saww, and a Rasool^saww’.

فقال: و الله لأخبرنكم بما رأت عيناي الساعة، رأيت عيرا لك يا أبا سفيان، و هي ثلاثة و عشرون جملا يقدمها جمل أرمك، عليه عباءتان قطوانيتان، و فيهما غلامان لك: أحدهما صبيح، و الآخر رياح، في موضع كذا و كذا، و رأيت لك يا هشام بن المغيرة عيرا في موضع كذا و كذا، و هي ثلاثون بعيرا يقدمها جمل أحمر، فيها ثلاثة مما ليك: أحدهم ميسرة، و الآخر سالم و الثالث يزيد، و قد وقع لهم بعير، و يأتونكم يوم كذا و كذا في ساعة كذا و كذا، و وصف لهم جميع ما رأوه في بيت المقدس.

So he^saww said: ‘By Allah^azwj! I^saww shall inform you all with what I^saww saw with my^saww own eyes, this very moment. I^saww saw your caravan, O Abu Sufyan, and it is of twenty three camels, led by a camel upon which is a short white cloak, wherein are two young boys of yours – one of them Sabeeh, and the other one Rayaah, in such an such a place. And I^saww saw for you, O Hisham Bin Al-Mugheira, a caravan in such and such a place, and it is of thirty camels, led by a red camel, wherein are three herders – one of them is Maysara, and the other Saalim, and the third Yazeed. And the caravan would be coming to you on such and such a day in such and in such a time’ – and he^saww described for them all of what he^saww had seen in Bayt Al-Maqdas.

قال أبو سفيان: أما في بيت المقدس فقد وصفت لنا إياه، و أما العير فقد ادعيت أمرا، فإن لم يوافق قولك، علمنا أنك كذاب، و أن ما تدعيه الباطل.

Abu Sufyan said, ‘As for with regards to Bayt Al-Maqdas, so you^saww have described it for us, and as for the caravan, so you^saww have made a claim for its matter, so if it is not compatible with your^saww speech, we will know that you^saww are a liar, and that your^saww claim is false’.

فلما كان ذلك اليوم الذي أخبرهم أن العير تأتيهم فيه، خرج أبو سفيان و هشام بن المغيرة حتى لقيا العير و قد أقبلت في الوقت الذي وعده النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله)، فسألا غلمانهم عن جميع ما كانوا فيه، فأخبروهم مثل ما أخبرهم به النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله).

So, when it was that day which he^saww had informed them that the caravan would be reaching them, Abu Sufyan and Hisham Bin Al-Mugheira went out until they met up with the caravan, and it had arrived at the time which the Prophet^saww had promised that it would. So, they asked the boys about all what they had been through, so they informed them similar to what the Prophet^saww had informed them of’.

فلما أقبلا قال لهما: ما صنعتما؟ فقالا جميعا: لقد رأينا جميع ما قلت، و ما يعلم أحد السحر إلا إياك، و إن لك شيطانا عالما يخبرك بجميع ذلك، و الله لو رأينا ملائكة من السماء تنزل عليك ما صدقناك و لا قلنا إنك رسول الله و لا آمنا بما تقول، فهو علينا سواء، أو عظت أم لم تكن من الواعظين».

So when the caravan arrived, he^saww said to the two of them: ‘What will you do now?’ so they both said, ‘We have seen all of what you^saww have said, and no one knows the sorcery except what you^saww do, and for you^saww are Satans^la who inform you^saww of all that. By Allah^azwj! Even if we were to see the Angels from the sky descending upon you^saww, we would not ratify you^saww, nor would we ever say that you^saww are Rasool-Allah^saww, nor believe in what you^saww are saying, for it is the same to us, whether you preach or do not become from the preachers’.[26]

Description of Al-Buraaq

في (صحيفة الرضا (عليه السلام)): قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): «إن الله تعالى سخر لي البراق، و هي: دابة من دواب الجنة، ليست بالطويل و لا بالقصير، فلو أن الله عز و جل أذن لها لجالت الدنيا و الآخرة في جرية واحدة، و هي أحسن الدواب لونا».

In Saheefa Al-Reza^asws – ‘Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘Allah^azwj the Exalted Made Al-Buraaq to be subservient to me^saww and it is an animal from the animals of the Paradise, not very long and not very short. If Allah^azwj were to Permit it to gallop the world and the Hereafter, it would do so in one gallop. And it is the best of the animals in colour’.[27]

البرسي: عن ابن عباس: أن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) لما جاء جبرئيل (عليه السلام) ليلة الإسراء بالبراق و أمره عن أمر الله بالركوب قال: «ما هذه»؟ فقال: دابة خلقت لأجلك و لها في جنة عدن ألف سنة. فقال له النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله): «و ما سير هذه الدابة؟» فقال: إن شئت أن تجوز بها السماوات السبع و الأرضين السبع فتقطع سبعين ألف عام ألف مرة كلمح البصر قدرت.

Al-Barsy, from Ibn Abbas having said that,

‘The Prophet^saww, when Jibraeel^as came up with Al-Buraaq, and told him^saww of the Command of Allah^azwj to ride upon it, said: ‘What is this?’ So he^as said: ‘An animal, Created for you and it has been in the Garden of Eden for a thousand years’. So, the Prophet^saww said to him^as: ‘And what is the travelling of this animal?’ So he^as said: ‘If you^saww so desire, by it you^saww can exceed the seven skies and the seven firmaments, and you^saww would be able to cut the journey of seven thousand years in one time like the twinkling of an eye’.[28]

العياشي: عن عبد الله بن عطاء، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، قال: «إن جبرئيل (عليه السلام) أتى بالبراق إلى النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) و كان أصغر من البغل و أكبر من الحمار، مضطرب الأذنين، عيناه في حوافره، خطوته مد البصر».

Al Ayyashi, from Abdullah Bin Ata’a,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^asws having said: ‘Jibraeel^as came with Al-Buraaq to the Prophet^saww, and it was smaller than the mule and larger than the donkey. Its two ears were trembling, its eyes were in its hooves, it’s step was for as far as the eye could see’.[29]

The Origin of the Azan and the Aqamah and the Salat

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ مَا تَرْوِي هَذِهِ النَّاصِبَةُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فِيمَا ذَا فَقَالَ فِي أَذَانِهِمْ وَ رُكُوعِهِمْ وَ سُجُودِهِمْ فَقُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ أُبَيَّ بْنَ كَعْبٍ رَآهُ فِي النَّوْمِ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا فَإِنَّ دِينَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَعَزُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُرَى فِي النَّوْمِ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Ibn Azina,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^asws having said: ‘What are these Hostile Ones (Nasibis) reporting?’ So, I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^asws! With regards to what?’ So he^asws said: Regarding their Azans, and their Rukū and their Sajdahs. So I said, ‘They are saying that Abayy Bin Ka’ab saw it during the sleep (dream)’. So he^asws said: ‘They are lying, for the Religion of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic is more Honourable than for it to be seen during the sleep (dreamt)’.

قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ سَدِيرٌ الصَّيْرَفِيُّ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَحْدِثْ لَنَا مِنْ ذَلِكَ ذِكْراً فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا عَرَجَ بِنَبِيِّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) إِلَى سَمَاوَاتِهِ السَّبْعِ أَمَّا أُولَاهُنَّ فَبَارَكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ الثَّانِيَةَ عَلَّمَهُ فَرْضَهُ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مَحْمِلًا مِنْ نُورٍ فِيهِ أَرْبَعُونَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ النُّورِ كَانَتْ مُحْدِقَةً بِعَرْشِ اللَّهِ تَغْشَى أَبْصَارَ النَّاظِرِينَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘So Sudeyr Al-Sayrafi said to him^asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^asws! So narrate to us a reminder of that’. So Abu Abdullah^asws said: ‘When Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Ascended His^azwjProphet^saww to the seven skies, so as for the first of these, He^azwj Blessed upon him^saww, and (in) the second, Taught him^saww his^saww Obligations. So Allah^azwj Sent down a carriage of Light wherein were forty varieties from the varieties of Light which engulf the Throne of Allah^azwj, overwhelming the sights of the onlookers.

أَمَّا وَاحِدٌ مِنْهَا فَأَصْفَرُ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ اصْفَرَّتِ الصُّفْرَةُ وَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهَا أَحْمَرُ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ احْمَرَّتِ الْحُمْرَةُ وَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهَا أَبْيَضُ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ ابْيَضَّ الْبَيَاضُ وَ الْبَاقِي عَلَى سَائِرِ عَدَدِ الْخَلْقِ مِنَ النُّورِ وَ الْأَلْوَانِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَحْمِلِ حَلَقٌ وَ سَلَاسِلُ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ

As for one of these, so it was yellow, and due to that is the yellowness of the yellow; and one of these was red, and due to that is the redness of the red; and one of these was white, and due to that is the whiteness of the white; and the remainder were upon the number of the rest of the creatures of light; and the colours in that carriage, the ring, and the chain were from silver.

ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَنَفَرَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِلَى أَطْرَافِ السَّمَاءِ وَ خَرَّتْ سُجَّداً وَ قَالَتْ سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ مَا أَشْبَهَ هَذَا النُّورَ بِنُورِ رَبِّنَا فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام ) اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثُمَّ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ فَسَلَّمَتْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَفْوَاجاً وَ قَالَتْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ كَيْفَ أَخُوكَ إِذَا نَزَلْتَ فَأَقْرِئْهُ السَّلَامَ

Then he^saww was ascended with to the sky, so the Angels alienated towards the horizons of the sky and fell down in Sajdah and said, ‘Glorious One! Holy One! How resembling is this light with the Light of our Lord^azwj!’ So Jibraeel^as said: ‘Allah^azwj is the Greatest!’ Then the door of the sky were opened and the Angels gathered around. So, they greeted upon the Prophet^saww in droves, and said, ‘O Muhammad^saww! How is your^sawwbrother^asws? When you^saww descend, so convey the greetings to him^asws’.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَ فَتَعْرِفُونَهُ قَالُوا وَ كَيْفَ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ وَ قَدْ أُخِذَ مِيثَاقُكَ وَ مِيثَاقُهُ مِنَّا وَ مِيثَاقُ شِيعَتِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَيْنَا وَ إِنَّا لَنَتَصَفَّحُ وُجُوهَ شِيعَتِهِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ خَمْساً يَعْنُونَ فِي كُلِّ وَقْتِ صَلَاةٍ وَ إِنَّا لَنُصَلِّي عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَيْهِ

The Prophet^saww said: ‘Do you all recognise him^asws?’ They said, ‘And how can we not recognise him^asws, and he^asws has taken your^saww Covenant and his^saww own Covenant from us, and the Covenant of his^asws Shias upon us up to the Day of Judgement, and we browse through the faces of his^asws Shias five times during every day and night, meaning during every time for Salāt, and we send Blessings upon you^saww and upon him^asws’.

قَالَ ثُمَّ زَادَنِي رَبِّي أَرْبَعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ النُّورِ لَا يُشْبِهُ النُّورَ الْأَوَّلَ وَ زَادَنِي حَلَقاً وَ سَلَاسِلَ وَ عَرَجَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَلَمَّا قَرِبْتُ مِنْ بَابِ السَّمَاءِ الثَّانِيَةِ نَفَرَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِلَى أَطْرَافِ السَّمَاءِ وَ خَرَّتْ سُجَّداً وَ قَالَتْ سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوحِ مَا أَشْبَهَ هَذَا النُّورَ بِنُورِ رَبِّنَا فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام ) أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ فَاجْتَمَعَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ قَالَتْ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ مَنْ هَذَا مَعَكَ قَالَ هَذَا مُحَمَّدٌ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) قَالُوا وَ قَدْ بُعِثَ قَالَ نَعَمْ

He^saww said: ‘Then my^saww Lord^azwj Increased for me^saww forty types from the verities of the Light, non resembling the earlier Lights (Given to me^saww before), and Increased me^saww with a ring, and chain, and Ascended with me to the second sky. So when I^saww was near to the door of the second sky, the Angels alienated towards the horizons of the sky and fell down in Sajdah, and said: ‘Glorious One! Holy One! Lord^azwjof the Angels and the Spirit! How resembling is this light with the Light of our Lord^azwj!’ So Jibraeel^as said: ‘I testify that there is no god except for Allah^azwj’. So the Angels gathered around and said, ‘O Jibraeel^as! Who is this one with you^as?’ He^as said: ‘This is Muhammad^saww’. They said: ‘And he^saww has (already) been sent (with the Prophet-hood)?’ He^as said: ‘Yes’.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَخَرَجُوا إِلَيَّ شِبْهَ الْمَعَانِيقِ فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيَّ وَ قَالُوا أَقْرِئْ أَخَاكَ السَّلَامَ قُلْتُ أَ تَعْرِفُونَهُ قَالُوا وَ كَيْفَ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ وَ قَدْ أُخِذَ مِيثَاقُكَ وَ مِيثَاقُهُ وَ مِيثَاقُ شِيعَتِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَيْنَا وَ إِنَّا لَنَتَصَفَّحُ وُجُوهَ شِيعَتِهِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ خَمْساً يَعْنُونَ فِي كُلِّ وَقْتِ صَلَاةٍ

The Prophet^saww said: ‘So they came out towards me^saww resembling the swarms, and they greeted upon me^saww and said: ‘Convey the greetings to your^saww brother^asws’. I^saww said: ‘Do you all recognise him^asws?’ They said: ‘How can we not recognise him^asws, and he^asws has taken your^saww Covenant, and his^asws own Covenant, and the Covenant of his^asws Shias upon us up to the Day of Judgement, and we browse through the faces of the Shias five times during every day and night, meaning during every time for Salāt’.

قَالَ ثُمَّ زَادَنِي رَبِّي أَرْبَعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ النُّورِ لَا تُشْبِهُ الْأَنْوَارَ الْأُولَى ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَنَفَرَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ خَرَّتْ سُجَّداً وَ قَالَتْ سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوحِ مَا هَذَا النُّورُ الَّذِي يُشْبِهُ نُورَ رَبِّنَا فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام ) أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ

He^saww said: ‘Then my^saww Lord^azwj Increased me with forty types from the varieties of the Light, non resembling the earlier Lights (Given to me^saww before). Then I^saww was ascended with to the third sky. So the Angels alienated and fell down Sajdah, and said: ‘Glorious One! Holy One! Lord^azwj of the Angels and the Spirit! What is this light which resembles the Light of our Lord^azwj?’ So Jibraeel^as said: ‘I^as testify that Muhammad^saww is Rasool-Allah^saww! I^as testify that Muhammad^saww is Rasool-Allah^saww!’

قَالَ فَاجْتَمَعَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ قَالَتْ مَرْحَباً بِالْأَوَّلِ وَ مَرْحَباً بِالْآخِرِ وَ مَرْحَباً بِالْحَاشِرِ وَ مَرْحَباً بِالنَّاشِرِ مُحَمَّدٌ خَيْرُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ عَلِيٌّ خَيْرُ الْوَصِيِّينَ

He^saww said: ‘So the Angels gathered around and said: ‘Welcome to the first one! And welcome to the last one! And welcome to the Resurrector (of souls)! And welcome to the Publisher (of the deeds), Muhammad^saww, the best of the Prophets^as, and Ali^asws the best of the successors^as’.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ثُمَّ سَلَّمُوا عَلَيَّ وَ سَأَلُونِي عَنْ أَخِي قُلْتُ هُوَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَ فَتَعْرِفُونَهُ قَالُوا وَ كَيْفَ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ وَ قَدْ نَحُجُّ الْبَيْتَ الْمَعْمُورَ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ وَ عَلَيْهِ رَقٌّ أَبْيَضُ فِيهِ اسْمُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اسْمُ عَلِيٍّ وَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ ( عليهم السلام ) وَ شِيعَتِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ إِنَّا لَنُبَارِكُ عَلَيْهِمْ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَ لَيْلَةٍ خَمْساً يَعْنُونَ فِي وَقْتِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ وَ يَمْسَحُونَ رُءُوسَهُمْ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ

The Prophet^saww said: ‘Then they greeted upon me^saww and asked me^asws about my^saww brother^asws. I^sawwsaid: ‘He^asws is in the earth. Do you all recognise him^asws?’ They said: ‘And how can we not recognise him^aswsand we perform the Hajj of the Bayt Al-Mamour (The Frequented House) every year, and upon it is a white Parchment wherein is the name of Muhammad^saww, and name of Ali^asws, and Al-Hassan^asws, and Al-Husayn^asws, and the Imams^asws, and their^asws Shias up to the Day of Judgement, and we Bless upon them five times during every day and night, during the time for every Salāt, and we wipe their heads by their hands’ (while performing Wuzu).

قَالَ ثُمَّ زَادَنِي رَبِّي أَرْبَعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ النُّورِ لَا تُشْبِهُ تِلْكَ الْأَنْوَارَ الْأُولَى ثُمَّ عَرَجَ بِي حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الرَّابِعَةِ فَلَمْ تَقُلِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ شَيْئاً وَ سَمِعْتُ دَوِيّاً كَأَنَّهُ فِي الصُّدُورِ فَاجْتَمَعَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ فَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ وَ خَرَجَتْ إِلَيَّ شِبْهَ الْمَعَانِيقِ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام )

He^saww said: ‘Then my^saww Lord^azwj Increased for me forty types from the varieties of Light not resembling the earlier Lights (Given to me^saww before). Then I^saww was ascended with to the sky until I^saww ended up to the fourth sky. Where the Angels were quiet, and I heard a vibration as if it is in the chests. So the Angels gathered around, and the doors of the sky were open, and they came out towards me^saww resembling the hordes. So Jibraeel^as said:

حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ حَيَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ فَقَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ صَوْتَانِ مَقْرُونَانِ مَعْرُوفَانِ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ( عليه السلام ) قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاةُ قَدْ قَامَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَقَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ هِيَ لِشِيعَتِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

‘Hasten to the Salāt! Hasten to the Salāt! Hasten to the success! Hasten to the success!’ So the Angels said: ‘These two voices are paired and well-known’. So Jibraeel^as said: ‘The Salāt has been established! The Salāthas been established!’ So the Angels said: ‘(These phrases) are for his^saww Shias up to the Day of Judgement’.

ثُمَّ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ قَالَتْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتَ أَخَاكَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ وَ تَعْرِفُونَهُ قَالُوا نَعْرِفُهُ وَ شِيعَتَهُ وَ هُمْ نُورٌ حَوْلَ عَرْشِ اللَّهِ وَ إِنَّ فِي الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ لَرَقّاً مِنْ نُورٍ فِيهِ كِتَابٌ مِنْ نُورٍ فِيهِ اسْمُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ وَ شِيعَتِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يَزِيدُ فِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ وَ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْهُمْ رَجُلٌ وَ إِنَّهُ لَمِيثَاقُنَا وَ إِنَّهُ لَيُقْرَأُ عَلَيْنَا كُلَّ يَوْمِ جُمُعَةٍ

The Angels gathered around and said: ‘How did you^saww leave your^saww brother^asws?’ So I^saww said to them: ‘And you all recognise him^asws?’ They said: ‘We recognise him^asws, and his^asws Shias when they were lights around the Throne of Allah^azwj, and in the Bayt Al-Mamour (The Frequented House) is a Parchment of light wherein is writing of light, in which are names of Muhammad^saww, and Ali^asws, and Al-Hassan^asws, and Al-Husayn^asws, and the Imam^asws, after the Imam^asws, and their^asws Shias up to the Day of Judgement. Neither is a man increased among them nor is a man reduced from them; and it is our Covenant which is read out to us every Friday’.

ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِي ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا أَطْبَاقُ السَّمَاءِ قَدْ خُرِقَتْ وَ الْحُجُبُ قَدْ رُفِعَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي طَأْطِئْ رَأْسَكَ انْظُرْ مَا تَرَى فَطَأْطَأْتُ رَأْسِي فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى بَيْتٍ مِثْلِ بَيْتِكُمْ هَذَا وَ حَرَمٍ مِثْلِ حَرَمِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ لَوْ أَلْقَيْتُ شَيْئاً مِنْ يَدِي لَمْ يَقَعْ إِلَّا عَلَيْهِ

Then it was Said to me^saww: “O Muhammad^saww! Raise your^saww head!” So I^saww raised my^saww head, and there were the layers of the sky which had been pierced and the veils had been raised. Then He^azwj Said to me^saww: “Lower your^saww head, look! What do you^saww see?” So I^saww lowered my^saww head and looked at a house similar to these houses of yours, and a Sanctuary like the Sanctuary of this House (Kabah). If I^saww had thrown something from my^saww hand, it would not have fallen except upon it.

فَقِيلَ لِي يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ هَذَا الْحَرَمُ وَ أَنْتَ الْحَرَامُ وَ لِكُلِّ مِثْلٍ مِثَالٌ ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيَّ يَا مُحَمَّدُ ادْنُ مِنْ صَادٍ فَاغْسِلْ مَسَاجِدَكَ وَ طَهِّرْهَا وَ صَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ

So it was Said to me^saww: “O Muhammad^saww! This is the Sanctuary and you^saww are the sanctimonious, and for every like there is a like”. Then Allah^azwj Revealed unto me^saww: “O Muhammad^saww! Approach Sa’ad (a river) and wash your^saww places of Sajdah, and clean these, and pray Salāt to your^saww Lord^azwj”.

فَدَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مِنْ صَادٍ وَ هُوَ مَاءٌ يَسِيلُ مِنْ سَاقِ الْعَرْشِ الْأَيْمَنِ فَتَلَقَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْمَاءَ بِيَدِهِ الْيُمْنَى فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ صَارَ الْوُضُوءُ بِالْيَمِينِ

So Rasool-Allah^saww approached Sa’ad (a river), and it is water which flows from the right Pillar of the Throne. So Rasool-Allah^saww scooped the water with his^saww right hand, and due to that the Wuzu came to be performed with the right hand.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اغْسِلْ وَجْهَكَ فَإِنَّكَ تَنْظُرُ إِلَى عَظَمَتِي ثُمَّ اغْسِلْ ذِرَاعَيْكَ الْيُمْنَى وَ الْيُسْرَى فَإِنَّكَ تَلَقَّى بِيَدِكَ كَلَامِي ثُمَّ امْسَحْ رَأْسَكَ بِفَضْلِ مَا بَقِيَ فِي يَدَيْكَ مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَ رِجْلَيْكَ إِلَى كَعْبَيْكَ فَإِنِّي أُبَارِكُ عَلَيْكَ وَ أُوطِئُكَ مَوْطِئاً لَمْ يَطَأْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُكَ فَهَذَا عِلَّةُ الْأَذَانِ وَ الْوُضُوءِ

Then Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him^saww: “Wash your^saww face for you^saww would be looking at My^azwj Magnificence. Then wash your^saww right arm and the left for you^saww would be receiving My^azwj Speech with your^saww hands. Then wipe your head with the remnants of what remain in your hands from the water, and the feet up to your ankles, for I^azwj would Bless upon you^saww, and Make you^saww to tread upon a place where not one had trod upon before apart from you”. Thus this is the reason for the Azan and the Wuzu’.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اسْتَقْبِلِ الْحَجَرَ الْأَسْوَدَ وَ كَبِّرْنِي عَلَى عَدَدِ حُجُبِي فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ صَارَ التَّكْبِيرُ سَبْعاً لِأَنَّ الْحُجُبَ سَبْعٌ فَافْتَتِحْ عِنْدَ انْقِطَاعِ الْحُجُبِ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ صَارَ الِافْتِتَاحُ سُنَّةً وَ الْحُجُبُ مُتَطَابِقَةٌ بَيْنَهُنَّ بِحَارُ النُّورِ وَ ذَلِكَ النُّورُ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ صَارَ الِافْتِتَاحُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ لِافْتِتَاحِ الْحُجُبِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَصَارَ التَّكْبِيرُ سَبْعاً وَ الِافْتِتَاحُ ثَلَاثاً

Then Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him^saww: “O Muhammad^saww! Face the Black Stone and exclaim My^azwj Greatness upon the number of My^azwj Veils”. So due to that, the exclamations of Takbīr’ came to be seven, because the Veils are seven. So he^saww commenced at the intermission of the Veils, and due to that the commencement came to be a Sunnah; and the Veils are layered, there being oceans of Light between them, and that is the Light which descended unto Muhammad^saww, and due to that, the commencement is three times because of the opening of the Veils three times. Thus the exclamations of the Takbīrs (altogether before commencement) came to be seven, and the commencement, three.

فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنَ التَّكْبِيرِ وَ الِافْتِتَاحِ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ سَمِّ بِاسْمِي فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ جُعِلَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ فِي أَوَّلِ السُّورَةِ ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ احْمَدْنِي فَلَمَّا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ فِي نَفْسِهِ شُكْراً فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ قَطَعْتَ حَمْدِي فَسَمِّ بِاسْمِي فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ جُعِلَ فِي الْحَمْدِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَرَّتَيْنِ

So when you are free from the exclamations of Takbīr’ and the commencement, Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Name Me^azwj by My^azwj Name”. So due to that, ‘In the Name of Allah^azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful’ is in the first Chapter. Then Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Praise Me^azwj”. So when he^saww said: ‘The Praise is for Allah^azwj, Lord^azwj of the worlds’, the Prophet^saww said within himself^saww: ‘Thanks’. So Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him^saww: “Now you discontinued speaking of Me^azwj. Call Me^azwjby My^azwj Name”. So due to that ‘The Beneficent, the Merciful’ was Made to be twice in Al-Hamd (Chapter 1).

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ وَ لَا الضَّالِّينَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ شُكْراً فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ قَطَعْتَ ذِكْرِي فَسَمِّ بِاسْمِي فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ جُعِلَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ فِي أَوَّلِ السُّورَةِ

So when he^saww reached ‘nor of those who has strayed’, the Prophet^saww said: ‘The Praise is for Allah^azwj the Lord^azwj of the worlds, thanks’. So Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Revealed unto him^saww: “Now you discontinued speaking of Me^azwj. Call Me^azwj by My^azwj Name”. So due to that, ‘In the Name of Allah^azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful was made to be in the first Chapter.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ اقْرَأْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ نِسْبَةَ رَبِّكَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ. اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ. وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ

Then Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him^saww: “Read, O Muhammad^saww, a Relationship of your^saww Lord^azwj Blessed and Exalted. Read: Say: ‘He, Allah, is One [112:1] Allah is the He on Whom all depend [112:2] He does not beget and is not begotten [112:3] And there does not happen to be anyone a match for Him [112:4].

ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَ عَنْهُ الْوَحْيَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْوَاحِدُ الْأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ. وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ .

Then the Revelation was Withheld from him, so Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘The Alone, the One, the Depended upon’. So Allah^azwj Revealed until him^saww: He does not beget and is not begotten [112:3] And there does not happen to be anyone a match for Him [112:4].

ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَ عَنْهُ الْوَحْيَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّنَا فَلَمَّا قَالَ ذَلِكَ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ارْكَعْ لِرَبِّكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَرَكَعَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ رَاكِعٌ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثاً

Then the Revelation was Withheld from him^saww, so Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘Like that is our Lord^azwj! Like that is our Lord^azwj!’ So when he^saww said that, Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Perform Rukū to your^sawwLord^azwj, O Muhammad^saww!” So he^saww went down into Rukū, and Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Say Glorious is my^saww Lord^azwj, the Magnificent”. So he^saww did that three (times).

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَفَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَقَامَ مُنْتَصِباً فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اسْجُدْ لِرَبِّكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَخَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) سَاجِداً فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثاً

Then Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Raise your^saww head, O Muhammad^saww!” So Rasool-Allah^saww stood upright and Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him^saww: “Perform Sajdah to your^saww Lord^azwj, O Muhammad^saww!” So Rasool-Allah^saww fell down in Sajdah, and Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed onto him^saww: “Say: Glorious is my^saww Lord^azwj, the Exalted”. So he^saww did that three (times).

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ اسْتَوِ جَالِساً يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَفَعَلَ فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مِنْ سُجُودِهِ وَ اسْتَوَى جَالِساً نَظَرَ إِلَى عَظَمَتِهِ تَجَلَّتْ لَهُ فَخَرَّ سَاجِداً مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِهِ لَا لِأَمْرٍ أُمِرَ بِهِ فَسَبَّحَ أَيْضاً ثَلَاثاً فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ انْتَصِبْ قَائِماً فَفَعَلَ فَلَمْ يَرَ مَا كَانَ رَأَى مِنَ الْعَظَمَةِ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ صَارَتِ الصَّلَاةُ رَكْعَةً وَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ

Then Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Sit upright, O Muhammad^saww!” So he^saww did. So when he^sawwraised his^saww head from his Sajdah and sat upright, he^saww looked at His^azwj Magnificence being Manifested to him^saww, so he^saww fell down in Sajdah from his own self, not to a Command he^saww been Commanded with, and he Glorified three (times) as well. So Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^as: “Stand upright!” So he^saww did, but could not see what he^saww had seen from the Magnificence. Thus, from the reason of that, the Salāt came to be with one Rukū and two Sajdahs.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ اقْرَأْ بِالْحَمْدِ لِلَّهِ فَقَرَأَهَا مِثْلَ مَا قَرَأَ أَوَّلًا ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ اقْرَأْ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فَإِنَّهَا نِسْبَتُكَ وَ نِسْبَةُ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ فَعَلَ فِي الرُّكُوعِ مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلَ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الْأُولَى

Then Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him^saww: “Read the Praise for Allah^azwj”. So he^saww recited it similar to what he^saww had recited firstly. Then Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him: “Read: Surely We revealed it [97:1] (Chapter 97), for it is your^saww relationship and the relationship of the People^asws of your^saww Household, up to the Day of Judgement”. And he^saww did in the Rukū the like of what he^saww had done the first time.

ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَةً وَاحِدَةً فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ تَجَلَّتْ لَهُ الْعَظَمَةُ فَخَرَّ سَاجِداً مِنْ تِلْقَاءِ نَفْسِهِ لَا لِأَمْرٍ أُمِرَ بِهِ فَسَبَّحَ أَيْضاً

Then he prostrated (and performed) one Sajdah. So when he^saww raised his^saww head, the Magnificence Manifested to him^saww, so he^saww fell down in Sajdah from his^saww own self, not to a Command he^saww had been Commanded with, and he^saww Glorified, as well.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ ثَبَّتَكَ رَبُّكَ فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ لِيَقُومَ قِيلَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اجْلِسْ فَجَلَسَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِذَا مَا أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكَ فَسَمِّ بِاسْمِي فَأُلْهِمَ أَنْ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ بِاللَّهِ وَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى كُلُّهَا لِلَّهِ

Then Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Raise your^saww head, O Muhammad^saww, your^saww Lord^azwj has Affirmed you^saww”. So when he^saww went on to stand, He^azwj Said: “O Muhammad^saww! Be seated”. So he^saww sat, and Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “O Muhammad^saww! Whenever I^azwj Favour upon you^saww, so Name Me^azwj by My^azwj Name”. So he^saww was inspired that he^saww should say: ‘In the Name of Allah^azwj, and by Allah^azwj, and there is no god except for Allah^azwj, and the beautiful Names, all of them are for Allah^azwj’.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ صَلِّ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ فَقَالَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِي وَ قَدْ فَعَلَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا بِصُفُوفٍ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ النَّبِيِّينَ فَقِيلَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ سَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ

Then Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “O Muhammad^saww! Send Blessings upon yourself^saww and upon the People^asws of your^saww Household”. So he^saww said: ‘May Allah^azwj Send Blessings upon me^saww and upon the People^asws of my^saww Household’, and it had been done. Then he^saww turned, and he^saww was with rows of Angels, and the Mursil Prophets^as, and the Prophets^as. So it was said: “O Muhammad^saww! Greet upon them!” So he^saww said: ‘The greetings be upon you, and the Mercy of Allah^azwj and His^azwj Blessings’.

فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّ السَّلَامَ وَ التَّحِيَّةَ وَ الرَّحْمَةَ وَ الْبَرَكَاتِ أَنْتَ وَ ذُرِّيَّتُكَ

So Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “The greetings, and the salutation, and the Mercy, and the Blessings, are you^saww and your^saww children^asws”.

ثُمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ لَا يَلْتَفِتَ يَسَاراً وَ أَوَّلُ آيَةٍ سَمِعَهَا بَعْدَ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ آيَةُ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ وَ أَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ

Then Allah^azwj Revealed unto him^saww: “Do not turn towards the left!” And the first Verse he^saww heard after: Say: ‘He, Allah, is One [112:1] (Chapter 112) and: Surely, We revealed it [97:1] (Chapter 97), was the Verse of the companions of the right and the companions of the left (Chapter 56).

فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَانَ السَّلَامُ وَاحِدَةً تُجَاهَ الْقِبْلَةِ وَ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ كَانَ التَّكْبِيرُ فِي السُّجُودِ شُكْراً وَ قَوْلُهُ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ لِأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) سَمِعَ ضَجَّةَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ بِالتَّسْبِيحِ وَ التَّحْمِيدِ وَ التَّهْلِيلِ

Thus, it was due to that, the Salām is one with you facing the Qiblah, and due to that the exclamation of Takbīr’ in the Sajdah is the thanks, and His^azwj Words: “Allah^azwj Hears the one who Praise Him^azwj”, is because the Prophet^saww heard the sounds of the Angels with the Glorifications, and the Praises, and the Extollation of Holiness.

فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ وَ مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ صَارَتِ الرَّكْعَتَانِ الْأُولَيَانِ كُلَّمَا أَحْدَثَ فِيهِمَا حَدَثاً كَانَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهِمَا إِعَادَتُهُمَا فَهَذَا الْفَرْضُ الْأَوَّلُ فِي صَلَاةِ الزَّوَالِ يَعْنِي صَلَاةَ الظُّهْرِ .

Thus, it was due to that He^azwj Said: “Allah^azwj Hears the one who Praises Him^azwj; and it was due to that the first two Rak’at of Salāt came to be such that every time your Wudu breaks in these two, it would be upon its performer that he repeats it. So this is the first necessity (Obligation) during Salāt of midday, meaning Salāt Al-Zohr’.[30]

و عنه: عن أبيه، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن هشام بن سالم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، عن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) في حديث الإسراء، قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): «ثم صعدت إلى السماء الرابعة، و إذا فيها رجل، فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ قال: هذا إدريس رفعه الله مكانا عليا، فسلمت عليه و سلم علي، و استغفرت له و استغفر لي».

And from him (Ali Bin Ibrahim), from his father, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^asws, from Rasool-Allah^saww, in a Hadeeth of the Ascension (Mi’raj), having said; ‘Then I^saww ascended to the fourth sky, and therein was a man. So I^saww said: ‘Who is this one, O Jibraeel^as?’ He^as said: ‘This is Idrees^as. Allah^azwj has Elevated him^as to a high status. So I^saww greeted him^asand he^as greeted me^saww. And I^saww sought Forgiveness for him^as, and he^as sought Forgiveness for me^saww’.[31]

في تفسير على بن ابراهيم حديث طويل عن النبي صلى الله عليه واله في ذكر ما راى في المعراج وفيه قال صلى الله عليه واله: ثم مررنا بملائكة من ملائكة الله عزوجل خلقهم الله كيف شاء، ووضع وجوههم كيف شاء، ليس شئ من أطباق أجسادهم الا وهو يسبح الله ويحمده من كل ناحية بأصوات مختلفة، أصواتهم مرتفعة بالتحميد والبكاء من خشية الله،

In Tafseer of Ali Ibn Ibrahim (Qummi) –

‘In a lengthy Hadeeth from the Prophet^saww regarding the mention of what he^saww saw during the Ascension, and in it he^saww said: ‘Then we passed by certain Angels from the Angels of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic. Allah^azwj had Created them howsoever He^azwj Desired to, and Placed their faces howsoever He^azwj Desired to. There was nothing from the layers of their bodies except that it was Glorifying Allah^azwj, and Praising Him^azwj from every area by different sounds. Their voices were rising with the Praise, and the wailing from fear of Allah^azwj.

فسألت جبرئيل عنهم فقال: كما ترى خلقوا، ان الملك منهم الى جنب صاحبه ما كلمه قط، ولا رفعوا رؤسهم الى ما فوقها، ولا حفظوها ! الى ما تحتها خوفا وخشوعا، فسلمت عليهم فردوا على ايماءا برؤوسهم، ولا ينظرون الى من الخشوع،

So I^saww asked Jibraeel^as about them, so he^as said: ‘They have been Created as you^saww see them to be. An Angel from them does not speak to his companion by the side of him, nor does he raise his head to what is above him, nor to look below him out of fear and humbleness. I^saww greeted them, and they responded by nodding their heads, and did not look at me^saww out of the fear.

فقال لهم جبرئيل: هذا محمد نبى الرحمة أرسله الله الى العباد رسولا ونبيا، وهو خاتم النبيين وسيدهم أفلا تكلموه ؟ قال: فلما سمعوا ذلك من جبرئيل أقبلوا على بالسلام وأكرمونى وبشرونى بالخير لى ولامتى.

Then Jibraeel^as said to them: ‘This is Muhammad^saww, the Prophet^saww of Mercy. Allah^azwj Sent him^saww to the servants as a Rasool^saww, and a Prophet^saww, and he^saww is the final of the Prophets^as, and their^as Chief. Will you all not speak to him^saww?’ So when they heard that from Jibraeel^as, they welcomed me^saww with the greetings, and honoured me^saww, and gave me the good news with the goodness, and were not blamed for it’.[32]

Mention of Idrees^as

و عنه: عن أبيه، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن هشام بن سالم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، عن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) في حديث الإسراء، قال (صلى الله عليه و آله): «ثم صعدت إلى السماء الرابعة، و إذا فيها رجل، فقلت: من هذا، يا جبرئيل؟ قال: هذا إدريس رفعه الله مكانا عليا، فسلمت عليه و سلم علي، و استغفرت له و استغفر لي».

And from him (Ali Bin Ibrahim), from his father, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^asws, from Rasool-Allah^saww, in a Hadeeth of the Ascension (Mi’raj), having said; ‘Then I^saww ascended to the fourth sky, and therein was a man. So I^saww said: ‘Who is this one, O Jibraeel^as?’ He^as said: ‘This is Idrees^as. Allah^azwj has Elevated him^as to a high status. So I^saww greeted him^asand he^as greeted me^saww. And I^saww sought Forgiveness for him^as, and he^as sought Forgiveness for me^saww’.[33]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامٍ الْخُرَاسَانِيِّ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) بِالْكُوفَةِ أَيَّامَ قَدِمَ عَلَى أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ فَلَمَّا انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى الْكُنَاسَةِ قَالَ هَاهُنَا صُلِبَ عَمِّي زَيْدٌ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ مَضَى حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى طَاقِ الزَّيَّاتِينَ وَ هُوَ آخِرُ السَّرَّاجِينَ فَنَزَلَ وَ قَالَ انْزِلْ فَإِنَّ هَذَا الْمَوْضِعَ كَانَ مَسْجِدَ الْكُوفَةِ الْأَوَّلَ الَّذِي خَطَّهُ آدَمُ (عليه السلام) وَ أَنَا أَكْرَهُ أَنْ أَدْخُلَهُ رَاكِباً

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Mahboub, from Hisham Al-Khurasany, from Al-Mufazzal Bin Umar who said:

I was in the presence of Abu Abdullah^asws at Al-Kufa in the days of Ali Bin Al-Abbas. So when we ended up to Al-Kunasa, he^asws said: ‘Over there is where they crucified my^asws uncle Zayd, may Allah^azwj have Mercy upon him’. Then we went until we ended up at the (market) stall of the oilmen, and it was at the end of the two lamps, and he^asws descended and said: ‘Descend, for this is the place where the Masjid Al-Kufa used to be at first which Adam^as had marked, and I^asws do not like that I^asws should enter it riding’.

قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَنْ غَيَّرَهُ عَنْ خِطَّتِهِ قَالَ أَمَّا أَوَّلُ ذَلِكَ الطُّوفَانُ فِي زَمَنِ نُوحٍ (عليه السلام) ثُمَّ غَيَّرَهُ أَصْحَابُ كِسْرَى وَ نُعْمَانَ ثُمَّ غَيَّرَهُ بَعْدُ زِيَادُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ

I said, ‘So who was the other one who had marked it?’ He^asws said: ‘As for the first one, that was the storm during the era of Nuh^as. Then others from the companions of Chosroe and Nu’man, and thereafter Ziyad Bin Abu Sufyan’.

فَقُلْتُ وَ كَانَتِ الْكُوفَةُ وَ مَسْجِدُهَا فِي زَمَنِ نُوحٍ (عليه السلام) فَقَالَ لِي نَعَمْ يَا مُفَضَّلُ وَ كَانَ مَنْزِلُ نُوحٍ وَ قَوْمِهِ فِي قَرْيَةٍ عَلَى مَنْزِلٍ مِنَ الْفُرَاتِ مِمَّا يَلِي غَرْبِيَّ الْكُوفَةِ

So I said, ‘And there was a Masjid at Al-Kufa during the era of Nuh^as?’ He^asws said to me; ‘Yes, O Mufazzal. And the houses of Nuh^as and his^as people were in a town, at a place from the Euphrates which follows west of Al-Kufa’.

قَالَ وَ كَانَ نُوحٌ (عليه السلام) رَجُلًا نَجَّاراً فَجَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيّاً وَ انْتَجَبَهُ وَ نُوحٌ (عليه السلام) أَوَّلُ مَنْ عَمِلَ سَفِينَةً تَجْرِي عَلَى ظَهْرِ الْمَاءِ

He^asws said: ‘And Nuh^as was a carpenter. So Allah^azwj Made him^as a Prophet^as and Answered him^as. And Nuh^as was the first one to make a ship which flowed upon the back of the water’.

قَالَ وَ لَبِثَ نُوحٌ (عليه السلام) فِي قَوْمِهِ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عَاماً يَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَيَهْزَءُونَ بِهِ وَ يَسْخَرُونَ مِنْهُ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ دَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ رَبِّ لا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكافِرِينَ دَيَّاراً إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا عِبادَكَ وَ لا يَلِدُوا إِلَّا فاجِراً كَفَّاراً

He^asws said: ‘And Nuh^as lived among his^as people for fifty years less a thousand years (950), calling them to Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic. However, they derided him^as and laughed at him^as. So when he^as saw that from them, he^as supplicated against them saying: ‘Lord^azwj! Do not Leave upon the earth any house of the infidels. If You^azwj Leave them, they will lead astray Your^azwj servants, and will not give birth to anyone except the infidel tyrants’.

فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى نُوحٍ أَنِ اصْنَعْ سَفِينَةً وَ أَوْسِعْهَا وَ عَجِّلْ عَمَلَهَا فَعَمِلَ نُوحٌ سَفِينَةً فِي مَسْجِدِ الْكُوفَةِ بِيَدِهِ فَأَتَى بِالْخَشَبِ مِنْ بُعْدٍ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهَا

So Allah^azwj Revealed unto Nuh^as that he^as should make a ship and make it a big one, and hurriedly. So Nuh^asmade a ship in Masjid Al-Kufa by his^as hands. He brought the wood from afar until he^as finished it’.

قَالَ الْمُفَضَّلُ ثُمَّ انْقَطَعَ حَدِيثُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) عِنْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ فَقَامَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) فَصَلَّى الظُّهْرَ وَ الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَالْتَفَتَ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى مَوْضِعِ دَارِ الدَّارِيِّينَ وَ هُوَ مَوْضِعُ دَارِ ابْنِ حَكِيمٍ وَ ذَاكَ فُرَاتٌ الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا مُفَضَّلُ وَ هَاهُنَا نُصِبَتْ أَصْنَامُ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ (عليه السلام) يَغُوثَ وَ يَعُوقَ وَ نَسْراً

Al-Mufazzal said, ‘Then Abu Abdullah^asws interrupted the Hadeeth during the sunset. So Abu Abdullah^aswsstood up and prayed the Midday Salat (Al-Zohar), and the afternoon Salat (Al-Asar), then left from the Masjid. He^asws indicated by his^asws hand to his^asws left to a place where there was a house among the houses, and it was the place of the house of Ibn Hakeym, and where is Euphrates today, and he^asws said to me: ‘O Mufazzal! Over there is where the idols of the people of Nuh^as were fixed – Yagows, and Yaowq, and Nasraa’.

ثُمَّ مَضَى حَتَّى رَكِبَ دَابَّتَهُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فِي كَمْ عَمِلَ نُوحٌ سَفِينَتَهُ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهَا قَالَ فِي دَوْرَيْنِ قُلْتُ وَ كَمِ الدَّوْرَيْنِ قَالَ ثَمَانِينَ سَنَةً قُلْتُ وَ إِنَّ الْعَامَّةَ يَقُولُونَ عَمِلَهَا فِي خَمْسِمِائَةِ عَامٍ فَقَالَ كَلَّا كَيْفَ وَ اللَّهُ يَقُولُ وَ وَحْيِنا

Then he^asws went and rode upon his^asws animal. So I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^asws, how long did it take for Nuh^as to build his^as ship until he^as finished it?’ He^asws said: ‘In two time periods’. I said, ‘And how long are these two time periods?’ He^asws said: ‘Eighty years’. I said, ‘The general Muslims are saying that he^as built it over five hundred years’. He^asws said: ‘No! How are they saying this, and by Allah^azwj it has been Revealed to us^asws?’

قَالَ قُلْتُ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَتَّى إِذا جاءَ أَمْرُنا وَ فارَ التَّنُّورُ فَأَيْنَ كَانَ مَوْضِعُهُ وَ كَيْفَ كَانَ فَقَالَ كَانَ التَّنُّورُ فِي بَيْتِ عَجُوزٍ مُؤْمِنَةٍ فِي دُبُرِ قِبْلَةِ مَيْمَنَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ مَوْضِعُ زَاوِيَةِ بَابِ الْفِيلِ الْيَوْمَ

I said, ‘Inform me about the Words of Allah^azwj: and when Our Command comes and the oven overflows [23:27], so where is its place and how was it?’ He^asws said: ‘It was the oven in the house of an elderly believing woman in the direction of the Qiblah, on the right of the Masjid’. I said to him^asws, ‘So that is the place of the corner of the Baab Al-Feel today’.

ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ كَانَ بَدْءُ خُرُوجِ الْمَاءِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ التَّنُّورِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يُرِيَ قَوْمَ نُوحٍ آيَةً ثُمَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَطَرَ يُفِيضُ فَيْضاً وَ فَاضَ الْفُرَاتُ فَيْضاً وَ الْعُيُونُ كُلُّهُنَّ فَيْضاً فَغَرَّقَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ أَنْجَى نُوحاً وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ فِي السَّفِينَةِ

Then I said to him^asws, ‘And is that the oven where the water started coming from?’ He^asws said: ‘Yes. Allah^azwjLoved to show a sign to the people of Nuh^as. Then Allah^azwj Sent rain upon them which flooded them with a flood, and the Euphrates overflowed with a flood, and then all the rivers overflowed. Thus Allah^azwj Drowned all of them and saved Nuh^as and those who were with him^as in the ship’.

فَقُلْتُ لَهُ كَمْ لَبِثَ نُوحٌ فِي السَّفِينَةِ حَتَّى نَضَبَ الْمَاءُ وَ خَرَجُوا مِنْهَا فَقَالَ لَبِثُوا فِيهَا سَبْعَةَ أَيَّامٍ وَ لَيَالِيَهَا وَ طَافَتْ بِالْبَيْتِ أُسْبُوعاً ثُمَّ اسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِيِّ وَ هُوَ فُرَاتُ الْكُوفَةِ

So I said to him, ‘How long did Nuh^as remain in the ship until the water subsided, and he^as came out from it?’ He^asws said: ‘He^as remained in it for seven days and nights. It circled around the House for a week, then settled upon the Mount Joudy, and it is Euphrates of Al-Kufa’.

فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ مَسْجِدَ الْكُوفَةِ قَدِيمٌ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ هُوَ مُصَلَّى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ (عليهم السلام) وَ لَقَدْ صَلَّى فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) حِينَ أُسْرِيَ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ (عليه السلام) يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا مَسْجِدُ أَبِيكَ آدَمَ (عليه السلام) وَ مُصَلَّى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ (عليهم السلام) فَانْزِلْ فَصَلِّ فِيهِ فَنَزَلَ فَصَلَّى فِيهِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ (عليه السلام) عَرَجَ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ.

I said to him^asws, ‘The Masjid of Al-Kufa is old?’ He^asws said: ‘Yes, and it is a praying place of the Prophets^as, and the Rasool Allah^saww had prayed in it when he^saww Taken on an ascension to the sky. Jibraeel^as said to him^as: ‘O Muhammad^saww! This is a Mosque of your^saww father Adam^as, and a praying place of the Prophets^as’. So he^saww descended and prayed therein. Then Jibraeel^as ascended with him^saww to the sky’.[34]

ابن شهر آشوب: من أحاديث علي بن الجعد، عن شعبة، عن قتادة في تفسير قوله تعالى: وَ تَرَى الْمَلائِكَةَ حَافِّينَ مِنْ حَوْلِ الْعَرْشِ الآية، قال أنس: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): «لما كانت ليلة المعراج نظرت تحت العرش أمامي، فإذا أنا بعلي بن أبي طالب قائم أمامي تحت العرش، يسبح الله و يقدسه، قلت: يا جبرئيل سبقني علي بن أبي طالب؟

Ibn Shehr Ashub, from the Ahadeeth of Ali Bin Al-Ja’ad, from Sha’bat, from Qatada –

Regarding the interpretation of the Words of the Exalted: And you shall see the Angels surrounding the Throne [39:75] – the Verse, Anas said, ‘Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘When it was the night of the Ascension (المعراج), I^saww looked towards underneath the Throne in front of me^saww, so I^saww was looking at Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws standing in front of me^saww underneath the Throne, Glorifying Allah^azwj and Extolling His^azwjHoliness. I^saww said; ‘O Jibraeel^as! Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws has preceded me^saww?’

قال: لا، لكني أخبرك يا محمد، أن الله عز و جل يكثر من الثناء و الصلاة على علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) فوق عرشه، فاشتاق العرش إلى رؤية علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام)، فخلق الله تعالى هذا الملك على صورة علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) تحت عرشه، لينظر إليه العرش، فيسكن شوقه،

He^as said: ‘No, but I^as inform you^saww, O Muhammad^saww, that Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Frequents in the Praising and the Greetings upon Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws above the Throne, so the Throne Yearned to see Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws. Therefore Allah^azwj Created this Angel upon the image of Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^aswsunderneath the Throne, so that the Throne may look at him, and its Yearning would settled down.

و جعل تسبيح هذا الملك و تقديسه و تحميده ثوابا لشيعة أهل بيتك، يا محمد».

And He^azwj has Made the Glorification of this Angel, and the Extollation of His^azwj Holiness, and Praise of Him^azwj to be a Reward for the Shias of the People^asws of your^saww Household, O Muhammad^saww!’[35]

علي بن إبراهيم، قال: حكي أبي، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن هشام بن سالم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)- في حديث الإسراء-: «ثم مضيت فإذا أنا بأقوام يريد أحدهم أن يقوم فلا يقدر من عظم بطنه، فقلت: من هؤلاء يا جبرئيل؟ قال: هؤلاء الذين [يأكلون الربا لا يقومون إلا كما يقوم الذي‏] يتخبطه الشيطان من المس، فإذا هم بسبيل آل فرعون يعرضون على النار غدوا و عشيا، يقولون: ربنا متى تقوم الساعة؟».

Ali Bin Ibrahim, ‘My father related it to me, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww said – in a Hadeeth of the Ascension (Mi’raj): ‘Then I^sawwpassed by a people, and one of them wanted to stand up but could not do so due to the greatness of his belly, so I^saww said, ‘Who are these, O Jibraeel^as?’ He^as said: ‘They are the ones: Those who are consuming the interest are not standing except as the standing of the one whom the Satan has confused him from the craze [2:275]. So they are upon the way of the people of Pharaoh^la who: The Fire – they would be presented to it morning and evening [40:46]. They would be saying, ‘Our Lord^azwj! When with the Hour be Established?’[36]

محمد بن العباس: عن جعفر بن محمد الحسني، عن علي بن إبراهيم القطان، عن عباد بن يعقوب، عن محمد بن الفضل، عن محمد بن سوقة، عن علقمة، عن عبد الله بن مسعود، قال: قال لي رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، في حديث الإسراء: «فإذا ملك قد أتاني، فقال: يا محمد، سل من أرسلنا من قبلك من رسلنا: على ماذا بعثتم؟

Muhammad Bin Al-Abbas, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al-Hasany, from Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Qatan, from Abaad Bin Yaqoub, from Muhammad Bin Al-Fazal, from Muhammad Bin Sowqat, from Alqama, from Abdullah Bin Mas’oud who said,

‘Rasool-Allah^saww said to me in a Hadeeth of the Ascension (Mi’raj): ‘An Angel came to me^saww and said: ‘O Muhammad^saww! And ask ones We Sent from before you from Our Rasools [43:45] – upon what (stipulation) were they^as Sent?’

فقلت لهم: معاشر الرسل و النبيين على ماذا بعثكم الله قبلي؟ قالوا: على ولايتك يا محمد، و ولاية علي بن أبي طالب».

I^saww said to them^as: ‘O group of the Rasools^as and the Prophets^as, upon what (stipulation) did Allah^azwj Send you^as all before me^saww?’ They^as said: ‘Upon your^saww Wilayah, O Muhammad^saww, and the Wilayah of Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.[37]

During the event of Mi’raj (Ascension)

و عنه، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن هوذة الباهلي، عن إبراهيم بن إسحاق النهاوندي، عن عبد الله بن حماد الأنصاري عن محمد بن عبد الله، عن أبي عبد الله جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن جده، عن علي (عليهم السلام)، قال: «قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): ليلة أسري في إلى السماء صرت إلى السماء صرت إلى سدرة المنتهى، فقال لي: جبرئيل، تقدم يا محمد،

And from him, from Ahmad Bin Howzat Al-Bahily, from Ibrahim Bin Is’haq Al-Nahawandy, from Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Ansary, from Muhammad Bin Abdullah,

‘Abu Abdullah^asws Ja’far^asws Bin Muhammad^asws, from his^asws father^asws, from his^asws grandfather^asws, from Ali^asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘On the night of the Ascension (Mi’raj), I^saww came to the sky, and (then arrived above) the sky, and came to the Lote Tree (سدرة المنتهى). So Jibraeel^as said to me^saww (and said) ‘Proceed, O Muhammad^saww!’

فدنوت دنوة- و الدنوة مد البصر- فرأيت نورا ساطعا، فخررت لله ساجدا، فقال لي: يا محمد، من خلفت في الأرض؟

So I^saww advanced an advance – and the advance was as far as the eye could see – and I^saww saw a brilliant Light, so I^saww fell down in Sajdah to Allah^azwj. He^azwj Said to me^saww: “O Muhammad^saww! Whom have you^saww left behind (in your^saww place) in the earth?’

قلت يا ربي أعدلها و أصدقها و أبرها و آمنها  علي بن أبي طالب، وصيي و وارثي، و خليفتي في أهلي. فقال لي: أقرئه مني السلام، و قل له: إن غضبه عز، و رضاه حكم.

I^saww said, ‘O my^saww Lord^azwj! I^saww have left for it, and ratified for it, and fulfilled it, and entrusted it to Ali^aswsBin Abu Talib^asws as my^saww successor, and my^saww inheritor, and my^saww Caliph in my^saww Family’. So He^azwj Said to me^saww: “Convey to him^asws the Greetings from Me^azwj, and tell him^asws: ‘His^asws strike is mighty and his^asws approval is wise’.

يا محمد، إني أنا الله لا إله إلا أنا العلي الأعلى، و هبت لأخيك اسما من أسمائي، فسميته، عليا، و أنا العلي الأعلى:

O Muhammad^saww! I^azwj am Allah^azwj. There is no god except Me^azwj, the most Exalted of the exalted ones, and I^azwj have Gifted to your^saww brother^asws a Name from My^azwj Names, so I^azwj Named him^asws Ali^asws, and I^azwj am the most Exalted of the exalted ones.

يا محمد، إني أنا الله لا إله إلا أنا فاطر السماوات و الأرض، و هبت لابنتك اسما من أسمائي، فسميتها فاطمة، و أنا فاطر كل شي‏ء، .

O Muhammad^saww! I^azwj am Allah^azwj. There is no god except for Me^azwj, the Originator of the Skies and the earth. And I^azwj have Gifted to your^saww daughter^asws a Name from My^azwj Names, so I^azwj Named her Fatima^asws, and I^azwj am the Originator of everything.

يا محمد، إني أنا الله لا إله إلا أنا الحسن البلاء، و هبت لسبطيك اسمين من أسمائي، فسميتهما الحسن و الحسين، و أنا الحسن البلاء.

O Muhammad^saww! I^azwj am Allah^azwj. There is no god except for Me^azwj, I^azwj am the Beauty spread out, and have Gifted two Names from My^azwj Names, so I^azwj Named them Al-Hassan^asws and Al-Husayn^asws, and I^azwjam the Beauty spread out”.

قال: فلما حدث النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) قريشا بهذا الحديث، قال قوم: ما أوحى الله إلى محمد بشي‏ء، و إنما تكلم هو عن نفسه،

He^asws said: ‘So when the Prophet^saww narrated this Hadeeth to the Quraysh, the people said, ‘Allah^azwj has not Revealed to Muhammad^saww anything. But rather, he^saww speaks from his^saww own self’.

فأنزل الله تبارك و تعالى تبيان ذلك وَ النَّجْمِ إِذا هَوى ما ضَلَّ صاحِبُكُمْ وَ ما غَوى وَ ما يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوى إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحى عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوى».

Therefore Allah^azwj Blessed and Exalted Revealed the explanation of that: (I Swear) by the star when it swoops down [53:1] Your companion does not err, and does not deviate [53:2] And he does not speak out of (personal) desire [53:3] Surely it is only a Revelation He Revealed [53:4]’.[38]

Speaking from (on behalf of) Allah^azwj

في اصول الكافي على بن محمد عن سهل بن زياد عن أحمد بن محمد عن عمر بن عبد العزيز عن هشام بن سالم وحماد بن عثمان وغيره قالوا: سمعنا أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: حديثى حديث أبى، وحديث أبى حديث جدى، وحديث جدى حديث الحسين، وحديث الحسين حديث الحسن، وحديث الحسن حديث أمير – المؤمنين، وحديث أمير المؤمنين حديث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، وحديث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله قول الله عزوجل.

In Usool Al-kafi – Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Umar Bin Abdul Aziz, from Hisham Bin Salim and Hamad Bin Usman, and someone else.

They said, ‘We heard Abu Abdullah^asws saying: ‘My^asws Hadeeth is a Hadeeth of my^asws father^asws; and a Hadeeth of my^asws father^asws is a Hadeeth of my^asws grandfather^asws; and a Hadeeth of my^aswsgrandfather^asws is a Hadeeth of Al-Husayn^asws; and a Hadeeth of Al-Husayn^asws is a Hadeeth of Al-Hassan^asws; and a Hadeeth of Al-Hassan^asws is a Hadeeth of Amir-al-Momineen^asws; and a Hadeeth of Amir-al-Momineen^asws is a Hadeeth of Rasool-Allah^saww; and a Hadeeth of Rasool-Allah^saww are the Words of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic’.[39]

Punishment of the rejecter

[ أبو الفرج الاصفهاني ] أخبرني الحسن بن القاسم البجلي الكوفي قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم بن المعلى قال: حدثني الوليد بن وهب، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي، عن عكرمة قال: لما نزلت: * (والنجم إذا هوى) *، قال عتبة للنبي (صلى الله عليه وآله): أنا أكفر برب النجم إذا هوى. فقال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله): اللهم أرسل عليه كلبا من كلابك.

Abu Al Faraj Al Isfahany – Al Hassan Bin Al Qasim Al Bajaly Al Kufy informed me, from Ali Bin Ibrahim Bin Al Moala, from Al Waleed Bin Wahab, from Abu Hamza Al Sumaly, from Akrama who said,

‘When (the Surah): (I Swear) by the star when it swoops down [53:1], was Revealed, Oteyba said to the Prophet^saww, ‘I reject the Lord^azwj of the star which swoops down’. So Rasoo-Allah^saww said: ‘O Allah^azwj! Send to him a hound from Your^azwj hounds!’

قال: فقال ابن عباس: فخرج إلى الشام في ركب فيهم هبار بن الأسود، حتى إذا كانوا بوادي الغاضرة، وهي مسبعة، نزلوا ليلا، فافترشوا صفا واحدا، فقال عتبة: أتريدون أن تجعلوني حجزة ؟ لا، والله، لا أبيت إلا وسطكم. فبات وسطهم.

He (the narrator) said, ‘Ibn Abbas said, ‘So he (Oteyba) went out to Syria in the footsteps of Habar Bin Al-Aswad, until when they were at Al-Ghazara valley, and it is Masba’at. The night descended, and they slept in one row. So Oteyba said, ‘Are you intending to make room for me? No, by Allah^azwj, I shall not sleep except in your midst’. So he slept in their midst.

قال هبار: فما أنبهني إلا السبع يشم رؤوسهم رجلا رجلا، حتى انتهى إليه، فأنشب أنيابه في صدغيه، فصاح: أي قوم، قتلتني دعوة محمد، فأمسكوه، فلم يلبث أن مات في أيديهم.

Habar said, ‘So what awakened me was the lion which was smelling their heads, man by man, until it ended up at him, and it sunk its teeth in his temples. So he shrieked, ‘O people, the supplication of Muhammad^sawwkilled me!’ It seized him, and it was not before he died in their hands’.[40]

وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏: لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ كُنْتُ مِنْ رَبِّي كَقَابِ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى فَأَوْحَى إِلَيَّ رَبِّي مَا أَوْحَى

And by this chain, said, ‘Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘When I^saww was taken to the sky during Ascension, I^saww was from my^saww Lord^azwj: So he was (at a distance of) two bows or nearer [53:9], and my^saww Lord^azwjRevealed unto me^saww what He^azwj Revealed.

ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ اقْرَأْ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَمَا سَمَّيْتُ بِهَذَا الِاسْمِ أَحَداً قَبْلَهُ وَ لَا أُسَمِّي بِهَذَا أَحَداً بَعْدَهُ.

Then He^azwj Said: “O Muhammad^saww! Convey that Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws is the Emir of the Momineen, for I^azwj have not Named with this name before him^asws not will I^azwj Name anyone with this after him^asws”’.[41]

حدثنا احمد بن محمد عن الحسين بن سعيد عن النضر بن سويد عن عبد الصمد بن بشير قال ذكر عند ابى عبد الله عليه السلام بدو الاذان وقصة الاذان في اسراء النبي صلى الله عليه وآله حتى انتهى إلى السدرة قال فقالت السدرة المنتهى ما جاوزني مخلوق قبلك

It has been narrated to us by Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al-Husayn Bin Saeed, from Al-Nazar Bin Suweyd, from Abdul Samad Bin Bashir who said:

‘It has been mentioned from Abu Abdullah^asws, the beginning of Azaan (Call for Salat) and story of the Azaan during the ascension (Mi’raj) of the Prophet^saww until he^asws ended at (mention of) Al-Sidrat. He^asws said, ‘So Al-Sidrat Al-Muntaha (The Lote Tree), said: ‘No creature has exceeded before you^saww’.

قال ثم دنى فتدلى فكان قاب قوسين أو أدنى فأوحى إلى عبده ما اوحى قال فدفع إليه كتاب اصحاب اليمين واصحاب الشمال

He^azwj said: ‘And he was in the highest horizon [53:7] Then he approached, so he bowed [53:8] So he was (at a distance of) two bows or nearer [53:9] And He Revealed unto His servant what He Revealed [53:10]. He^asws said: ‘And He^azwj Handed over to him^saww a Book of the companions of the right and (a Book of) companions of the left.

فاخذ كتاب اصحاب اليمين بيمينه وفتحه ونظر فيه فإذا فيه اسماء اهل الجنة واسماء آبائهم وقبايلهم

He^saww took the Book of companions of the right by his^saww right hand, and opened it, and looked in it. In it were the names of the inhabitants of the Paradise and the names of their fathers and their tribes’.

قال وفتح كتاب اصحاب الشمال ونظر فيه فإذا هي اسماء اهل النار واسماء آبائهم وقبايلهم ثم نزل ومعه الصحيفتان فدفعهما إلى على بن ابي طالب عليه السلام.

He^asws said: ‘And he^saww opened the Book of companions of the left and looked in it. In it were the names of the inhabitants of the Fire and the names of their fathers and their tribes. Then he^saww came down and with him^saww were two Parchments. He^saww handed them both over to Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.[42]

ثم قال: حدثني أبي، عن إبراهيم بن محمد الثقفي، عن أبان بن عثمان، عن أبي داود، عن أبي بردة الأسلمي، قال: سمعت رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) يقول لعلي (عليه السلام): «يا علي إن الله أشهدك معي في سبعة مواطن أما أول ذلك: فليلة أسري بي إلى السماء، قال لي جبرئيل: أين أخوك؟ فقلت خلفته ورائي.

Then (Ali Bin Ibrahim) said, ‘My father narrated to me, from Ibrahim Bin Muhammad Al-Saqafy, from Aban Bin Usman, from Abu Dawood, from Abu Bardat Al-Aslamy who said,

‘I heard Rasool-Allah^saww saying to Ali^asws: ‘O Ali^asws! Allah^azwj is a Witness with me^saww in seven occasions. As for the first of that is on the night of the Ascension (Mi’raj) to the sky. Jibraeel^as said to me^saww: ‘Where is your^saww brother^asws?’ So I^saww said: ‘I^saww left him^asws behind me^saww’. He^as said: ‘Supplicate to Allah^azwjand He^azwj will Bring him^asws to you^saww’. So I^saww supplicated to Allah^azwj, and there was your^aswsresemblance with me^saww.

قال: ادع الله فليأتك به، فدعوت الله، فإذا مثالك معي، و إذا الملائكة وقوف صفوف، فقلت: يا جبرئيل، من هؤلاء؟ قال: هم الذين يباهيهم الله بك يوم القيامة، فدنوت و نطقت بما كان و بما يكون إلى يوم القيامة.

And when the Angels paused in rows, I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as, who are they?’ He^as said: ‘They are the ones whom Allah^azwj will Boast to regarding you^saww on the Day of Judgement. So I^saww approached, and we spoke of what has happened and what will be happening up to the Day of Judgement’.

و الثاني: حين أسري بي في المرة الثانية، فقال لي جبرئيل: أين أخوك؟ قلت: خلفته ورائي. قال ادع الله فليأتك به فدعوت الله، فإذا مثالك معي، فكشط لي عن سبع سماوات حتى رأيت سكانها و عمارها و موضع كل ملك منها.

And the second (occasion) – Where I^saww went on Ascension for the second time. Jibraeel^as said to me^saww: ‘Where is your^saww brother^asws?’ I^saww said: ‘I^saww left him^asws behind me^saww’. He^as said: ‘Supplicate to Allah^azwj, so He^azwj would Bring him^asws to you^saww’. So I^saww supplicated to Allah^azwj, and there was your^aswsresemblance with me^saww. So the seven skies were Displayed to me^saww to the extent that I^saww saw its dwellers, and its buildings, and the place of every Angel from it’.

و الثالث: حين بعثت إلى الجن، فقال لي جبرئيل أين أخوك؟ قلت: خلفته ورائي. فقال: ادع الله فليأتك به، فدعوت الله، فإذا أنت معي، فما قلت لهم شيئا، و لا ردوا علي شيئا إلا سمعته.

And the third (occasion) – Where I^saww was sent to the Jinn. Jibraeel^as said to me^saww: ‘Where is your^sawwbrother^asws?’ I^saww said: ‘I^saww left him^asws behind me^saww’. So he^as said: ‘Supplicate to Allah^azwj, so He^azwjwill Bring him^asws to you^saww’. So I^saww supplicated to Allah^azwj, and there you^asws were with me^saww. So there was nothing which I^saww said to them, nor did they reply anything to me^saww except that you^asws heard it (as well)’.

و الرابع: خصصنا بليلة القدر، و ليست لأحد غيرنا.

And the fourth (occasion) – Specialised us with the Night of Pre-destination (ليلة القدر), and it is not for anyone apart from us^asws’.

و الخامس: دعوت الله فيك فأعطاني فيك كل شي‏ء إلا النبوة، فإنه قال: خصصتك- يا محمد- بها، و ختمتها بك.

And the fifth (occasion) – I^saww supplicated to Allah^azwj regarding you^asws, so Allah^azwj Gave me^sawweverything regarding you^asws except for the Prophet-hood, for He^azwj Said: “I^azwj have Specialised it for you^saww – O Muhammad^saww – and end it with you^saww’.

و أما السادس: لما أسري بي إلى السماء، جمع الله النبيين فصليت بهم و مثالك خلفي.

And as for the sixth (Occasion) – When I^saww ascended to the sky, Allah^azwj Gathered the Prophets^as. So I^saww Prayed with them^as, and your^asws resemblance was behind me^saww’.

و السابع: هلاك الأحزاب بأيدينا».

And the seventh (Occasion) – Destruction of the confederates (الأحزاب) by our^asws hands’.

فهذا رد على من أنكر المعراج.

(Ali Bin Ibrahim) said, ‘So this is the rebuttal to the one who denies the (physical) Ascension (المعراج)’.[43]

و عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن همام، عن محمد بن إسماعيل، عن عيس بن داود، عن أبي الحسن موسى بن جعفر، عن أبيه، عن جده، عن علي (عليه السلام) في قوله عز و جل: إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ ما يَغْشى.

And from him, from Muhammad Bin Hamam, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Ays Bin Dawood,

‘Abu Al-Hassan^asws Al-Musa^asws Bin Ja’far^asws, from his^asws father^asws, from his^asws grandfather^asws, from Ali^asws regarding the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: When the Lote Tree was overwhelmed by what overwhelmed it [53:16].

قال: «إن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) لما أسري به إلى ربه، قال: وقف بي جبرئيل (عليه السلام) عند شجرة عظيمة، لم أر مثلها، على كل غصن منها ملك، و على كل ورقة منها ملك، و على كل ثمرة منها ملك، و قد تجللها نور من نور الله عز و جل،

He^asws said: ‘When the Prophet^saww went on Ascension (Mi’raj) to his^saww Lord^azwj, he^saww said (about it): ‘Jibraeel^as paused with me^saww in the presence of a Magnificent Tree. I^saww had never seen the like of it before. Upon each of its branches was an Angel, and upon each of its leaves was an Angel, and upon each of its fruit was an Angel, and it was radiating Noor from the Noor of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic.

فقال جبرئيل [ (عليه السلام): هذه سدرة المنتهى، كان ينتهي الأنبياء قبلك إليها]، ثم لا يتجاوزونها، و أنت تجوزها إن شاء الله ليريك من آياته الكبرى، فاطمئن أيدك الله تعالى بالثبات حتى تستكمل كراماته، و تصير إلى جواره،

Jibraeel^as said: ‘This here is The Lote Tree (سدرة المنتهى). The Prophets^as before you^saww have ended up to here, then they^as never exceeded it, and you^saww exceed it, and if Allah^azwj so Desires, He^azwj will Show you^saww from the Greatest Signs. Be assured that Allah^azwj the Exalted will Support you^saww to be steadfast until He^azwj Completes His^azwj Prestige (upon you^saww), and you^saww travel to His^azwj Nearness’.

ثم صعد بي إلى تحت العرش، فدلي إلي رفرف أخضر، ما أحسن أصفه، فرفعني بإذن ربي، فصرت عنده، و انقطع عني أصوات الملائكة و دويهم، و ذهبت المخاوف و الروعات، و هدأت نفسي و استبشرت، و جعلت أمتد و أنقبض، و وقع علي السرور و الاستبشار، و ظننت أن جميع الخلائق قد ماتوا، و لم أر غيري أحدا من خلقه،

Then I^saww ascended to be underneath the Throne, so a green flap approached me^saww, the beauty of which I^saww cannot describe, and it raised me^saww by the Permission of my^saww Lord^azwj. I went to be in His^azwjPresence, and the voices of the Angels and their sounds was cut off from me^asws, and the fears and the concerns went away from me^saww and I^saww calmed myself^saww and was encouraged, and I^saww extended myself^saww and was overcome by the delightfulness and the serenity of it all, and I^saww thought that the whole of the creation had died out, and I^saww did not see anyone apart from myself^saww from His^azwj Creatures.

فتركني ما شاء الله، ثم رد علي روحي فأفقت، و كان توفيقا من ربي أن غمضت عيني، و كل بصري و غشي عن النظر، فجعلت أبصر بقلبي كما أبصر بعيني، بل أبعد و أبلغ، و ذلك قوله تعالى: ما زاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَ ما طَغى لَقَدْ رَأى مِنْ آياتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرى و إنما كنت أبصر مثل مخيط  الإبرة نورا بيني و بين ربي لا تطيقه الأبصار.

So I^saww was left (in that situation) for as long as Allah^azwj so Desired to. Then He^azwj Returned my^saww soul back to me^saww, so I^saww came around, and it was a Guidance from my^saww Lord^azwj that my^saww eyes were closed, and every vision and look was covered. So I^saww went on to visualise with my^saww heart just as I^sawwvisualise with my^saww eyes. But it was more extensive and more profound, and these are the Words of the Exalted: The heart did not belie what it saw [53:11]. But rather, I^saww was visualising a corridor of Light like a needle, between me^saww and my^saww Lord^azwj, which the sight cannot bear’.

فناداني ربي، فقال تبارك و تعالى: يا محمد. قلت: لبيك ربي و سيدي و إلهي لبيك. قال: [هل‏] عرفت قدرك عندي، و موضعك و منزلتك؟ قلت: نعم، يا سيدي. قال: يا محمد، هل عرفت موقعك مني و موقع ذريتك؟ قلت: نعم، يا سيدي،

So my^saww Lord^azwj Blessed and Exalted Called out to me^saww: “O Muhammad^saww!” I^saww said: ‘Here I^sawwam my^saww Lord^azwj, and my^saww God^azwj, and my^saww Master^azwj!’ He^azwj Said: “Do you^saww understand your^saww worth in my^saww Presence, and your^saww place, and your^saww status?” I^saww said: ‘Yes, my^sawwMaster^azwj!’ He^azwj Said: “O Muhammad^saww! Do you^saww understand your^saww place from Me^azwj and the place of your^saww descendants?’ I^saww said: ‘Yes, my^saww Master^azwj!’

قال: فهل تعلم يا محمد فيما اختصم الملأ الأعلى؟ قلت: يا رب أنت أعلم و أحكم، و أنت علام الغيوب.

He^azwj Said: “So do you^saww know, O Muhammad^saww, regarding what the Exalted Assembly quarrelled?’ I^saww said: ‘O Lord^azwj, You^azwj are more Knowing and more Wise, and You^azwj are the Knower of the Hidden matters’.

قال: اختصموا في الدرجات و الحسنات [فهل تدري ما الدرجات و الحسنات‏]، قلت: أنت أعلم سيدي و أحكم.

He^azwj Said: “They quarrelled regarding the Levels, and the Rewards. So, do you^saww know what are these Levels and the Rewards?” I^saww said: ‘You^azwj are more Knowing my^saww Master^azwj, and more Wise’.

قال: إسباغ الوضوء في المفروضات، و المشي على الأقدام إلى الجماعات [معك‏]، و مع الأئمة من ولدك، و انتظار الصلاة بعد الصلاة، و إفشاء السلام، و إطعام الطعام، و التهجد بالليل و الناس نيام.

He^azwj Said: “The performance of the Wudu during the Obligations (Salat), and the walking upon the feet to the congregation (Salat) with you^saww, and with your^saww children^asws, and the awaiting for the Salat after the Salat, and disclosure of the greetings, and the feeding of the food, and the Tahajjud (Salat) at night when the people sleep”.

قال: أسألك عما أنا أعلم به منك، من خلفت في الأرض بعدك؟ قلت: خير أهلها، أخي و ابن عمي، و ناصر دينك و الغاضب لمحارمك إذا استحلت و لنبيك غضب النمر إذا غضب علي بن أبي طالب.

He^azwj Said: “I^azwj Ask you^saww, although I^azwj am more Knowing of it than you^saww are, who is the one^aswswhom you^saww have left behind (in your^saww place) in the earth after you^saww?’ I^saww said: ‘The best of my^sawwFamily, my^saww brother and cousin, and helper of Your^azwj Religion, and the angry one at those who permit Your^azwj Prohibitions, and for the sake of Your^azwj Prophet^saww, has the anger of the angry tiger, Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws’.

قال: صدقت يا محمد، إني اصطفيتك بالنبوة، و بعثتك بالرسالة، و امتحنت عليا بالبلاغ و الشهادة على أمتك و جعلته حجة في الأرض معك و بعدك، و هو نور أوليائي، و ولي من أطاعني، و هو الكلمة التي ألزمتها المتقين،

He^azwj Said: “You^saww have spoken the truth, O Muhammad^saww! I^azwj Chose you^saww for the Prophet-hood, and Sent you^saww with the Message, and Selected Ali^asws with the preaching and the martyrdom upon your^saww community, and Made him^asws as a Divine Authority in the earth with you^saww and after your^saww. And he^asws is the Light of the Former ones, and the Guardian of the one who obeys Me^azwj, and he^asws is the ‘Word’ which is necessitated upon the pious.

يا محمد، و زوجه فاطمة، فإنه وصيك و وارثك و وزيرك، و غاسل عورتك، و ناصر دينك، و المقتول على سنتي و سنتك، يقتله شقي هذه الامة.

O Muhammad^saww! And get him^asws married to Fatima^asws, for he^asws is your^saww successor, and your^sawwinheritor, and your Vizier, and washer of your^saww body, and helper of your^saww Religion, and the murdered one upon My^azwj Sunnah and your^saww Sunnah, and it would be the wretched one of this community who would kill him^asws”.

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): ثم إن ربي أمرني بأمور و أشياء، و أمرني أن أكتمها، و لم يأذن لي في إخبار أصحابي بها

Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘Then my^saww Lord^azwj Commanded me^saww with matters and things, and Commanded me^saww that I^saww keep these concealed, and did not Permit me^saww for informing my^saww companions about these.

ثم هوى بي الرفرف، فإذا بجبرئيل (عليه السلام) فتناولني حتى صرت إلى سدرة المنتهى، فوقف بي تحتها، ثم أدخلني جنة المأوى، فرأيت مسكني و مسكنك يا علي فيها،

Then the (green) flap raised me^asws, and took me^saww back to Sidrat Al-Muntaha to be with Jibraeel^as, who was waiting for me^saww underneath it. Then he entered me^saww into the Garden of Abode (جنة المأوى). So I^sawwsaw my^saww dwelling place, and your^asws dwelling, O Ali^asws, in it.

فبينما جبرئيل يكلمني إذ علاني نور من نور الله، فنظرت إلى مثل مخيط الإبرة، مثل ما كنت نظرت إليه في المرة الاولى، فناداني ربي جل جلاله: يا محمد. قلت: لبيك يا ربي و إلهي و سيدي؟

While Jibraeel^as was speaking to me^saww, I^saww noticed a Light from the Light of Allah^azwj. So I^saww looked at it, and it was like a needle, similar to what I^saww saw the first time. My^saww Lord^azwj, Majestic is His^azwj Majesty Called out to me^saww: “O Muhammad^saww!” I^saww said: ‘Here I^asws am, my^saww Lord^azwj, my^saww God^azwj, my^saww Master^azwj?’

قال: سبقت رحمتي غضبي لك و لذريتك، أنت صفوتي من خلقي، و أنت أميني و حبيبي و رسولي، و عزتي و جلالي لو لقيني جميع خلقي يشكون فيك طرفة عين أو ينقصونك أو ينقصون صفوتي من ذريتك لأدخلتهم ناري و لا ابالي.

He^azwj Said: “My^azwj Mercy Precedes My^azwj Anger for you^saww and for your^saww descendants^asws. You^sawware of My^azwj qualities from My^azwj creatures, and you^saww are My^azwj Trustworthy one, and My^azwj Beloved, and My^azwj Rasool^saww, and My^azwj Honour, and My^azwj Majesty. Even if all of My^azwj creatures were to doubt regarding you^saww, for the blink of an eye, or (try to find) faults in you^saww, or (try to find) fault in your^sawwdescendants^asws, I^azwj would Enter all of them into the Fire, and I^azwj would not Care.

يا محمد، علي أمير المؤمنين، و سيد المرسلين، و قائد الغر المحجلين إلى جنات النعيم، أبو السبطين سيدي شباب جنتي المقتولين بي ظلما.

O Muhammad^saww! Ali^asws is the Amir-al-Momineen^asws, and the Chief of the Rasools^as, and the Guide of the Resplendent to the Garden of Bliss, father^asws of the grandsons (السبطين) the Chiefs of the youths of My^azwjParadise, the ones (who will be) murdered by injustice”.

ثم فرض علي الصلاة و ما أراد تبارك و تعالى، و قد كنت قريبا منه فى المرة الأولى مثل ما بين كبد القوس إلى سيته، فذلك قوله تعالى: كقاب قوسين أو أدنى من ذلك».

Then He^azwj Obligated upon me^saww the Prayer, and whatever the Blessed and Exalted Wanted, and I^sawwwas closer to Him^azwj in the first time, similar to what is in between the two ends of the bow. So these are the Words of the Exalted: So he was (at a distance of) two bows or nearer [53:9]’.[44]

في مجمع البيان وعن أنس عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: مررت ليلة اسرى بى بنهر حافتاه قباب المرجان فنوديت عنه: السلام عليك يا رسول الله فقلت: يا جبرئيل من هؤلاء ؟ قال: هؤلاء جوار من الحور العين استأذن ربهن ان يسلمن عليك فأذن لهن فقلن: نحن الخالدات فلا نموت ونحن الناعمات فلا نيأس أزواج رجال كرام، ثم قرء صلى الله عليه وآله ” حور مقصورات في الخيام”.

In Majma Ul Bayaan, and from Anas,

‘From the Prophet^saww: ‘I^saww passed by, on the night of the Ascension (Mi’raj), by a river, on the banks of which were domes of rubies. They called out “Peace be upon you^saww, O Rasool-Allah^saww!” I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as, who are they?’ He said: ‘They are from the vicinity of the Maiden Houries who asked permission from their Lord^azwj to be able to salute you^saww. They were Given the permission.’ They said, ‘We are the eternal ones, we do not die, and we are the Bounties. We do not lose hope of marrying the prestigious men.’ Then he^saww recited: Houries restrained in the pavilions [55:72]’.[45]

Testimony of the Prophets^as on the night of Ascension (Mi’raj)

ویحدّث الإمام أمیر المؤمنین (علیه السلام) أن رسول االله (صلى االله علیه وآله) لمّا صلّى بالنبیّین لیلة المعراج أمره االله أن یسألهم: بم تشهدون؟

And the Imam Amir Al-Momineen^asws has narrated that Rasool-Allah^saww, when he^saww prayed Salat with (all) the Prophets^as on the night of the Ascension (Mi’raj), Allah^azwj Commanded him^asws that he^saww asks them^as: ‘With how many did you^as all testify?’

فالتفت إلیهم وقال: (بم تشهدون؟ قالوا: نشهد أن لا إله إلا االله وحده لا شریك له، وأنك رسول االله، وأن علیاً أمیر المؤمنین وصیّك على ذلك، أخذت مواثیقنا لكما بالشهادة

So he^saww turned around towards them^as and said: ‘With how many did you^as all testify?’ They^as said: ‘We^astestified that there is no god except Allah^azwj Alone, there being no associates for Him^azwj, and you^saww are a Rasool^saww of Allah^azwj, and that Ali^asws is Amir Al-Momineen^asws, being your^saww successor^asws upon that. He^azwj Took our^as Covenant for both of you^asws with the testimonies’’.[46]

Overall explanation

قال: و قال رجل لأبي جعفر (عليه السلام): يا بن رسول الله، لا تغضب علي. قال: «لماذا؟». قال: لما أريد أن أسألك عنه. قال: «قل». قال: و لا تغضب. قال: «و لا أغضب». قال: أ رأيت قولك في ليلة القدر، تنزل الملائكة و الروح فيها إلى الأوصياء، يأتونهم بأمر لم يكن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) قد علمه، [أو يأتونهم بأمر كان رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) يعلمه‏] و قد علمت أن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) مات و ليس من علمه شي‏ء إلا و علي (عليه السلام) له واع؟

And a man said to Abu Ja’far^asws, ‘O son^asws of the Rasool-Allah^saww, do not be angry with me.’ He^asws said: ‘Why?’ He said, ‘Because of what I am about to ask you^asws.’ He^asws said: ‘And I will not be angry.’ He said, ‘And do not be angry, for I has seen your^asws statement regarding the Night of Pre-determination (Laylat Al-Qadr), that the Angels and the Spirit descend during it upon the successors^asws. Do they bring to them^asws the affairs that the Rasool-Allah^saww did not have the knowledge of, or do they bring to them^asws the affairs that the Rasool-Allah^saww did know of, and from what I know, the Rasool-Allah^saww passed away, and there was nothing from his^saww knowledge but it was preserved with Ali^asws?’

قال أبو جعفر (عليه السلام): «ما لي و ما لك أيها الرجل، و من أدخلك علي»؟ قال: أدخلني عليك القضاء لطلب الدين،

Abu Ja’far^asws said: ‘What is it to me^asws and what is it to you, O man, and from where have you come to me?’ He said, ‘I have come to you^asws for fulfilling the seeking of the Religion.’

قال: «فافهم ما أقول لك، إن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) لما أسري به لم يهبط حتى أعلمه الله جل ذكره علم ما قد كان و ما سيكون، و كان كثير من علمه ذلك جملا يأتي تفسيرها في ليلة القدر، و كذلك كان علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) قد علم جمل العلم، و يأتي تفسيره في ليالي القدر، كما كان مع رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)».

He^asws said: ‘Understand what I^asws say to you. Surely, the Rasool-Allah^saww, when he^saww went on ascension (Me’raaj), did not come down until Allah^azwj had Taught him^saww about all that had transpired and all that has yet to transpire, and that was a lot from His^azwj Knowledge that was in a summary, the detail of which was to come during the Night of Predestination (Laylat Al-Qadr), and similarly Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws had the total knowledge, and its detail came during the Night of Predestination (Laylat Al-Qadr), as was with the Rasool-Allah^saww.’

قال السائل: أو ما كان في الجمل تفسيره؟ قال: «بلى، و لكنه إنما يأتي بالأمر من الله تبارك و تعالى في ليالي القدر إلى النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) و إلى الأوصياء: افعل كذا و كذا، لأمر قد كانوا علموه، أمروا كيف يعملون فيه».

The questioner said, ‘Or was there no explanation of the summary available?’ He^asws said: ‘Yes, but the affairs come from Allah^azwj Blessed and Exalted during the Night of Pre-determination (Laylat Al-Qadr) to the Prophet^saww and to the successors^asws: “Do such and such act”, the Command that they knew about, and the Command was how to go about it.’

قلت: فسر لي هذا؟ قال: «لم يمت رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) إلا حافظا لجملة العلم و تفسيره». قلت: فالذي كان يأتيه في ليالي القدر، علم ما هو؟ قال: «الأمر و اليسر فيما كان قد علم».

The man said, ‘Can you explain this to me?’ He^asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww did not pass away but after preserving the total knowledge and its explanation.’ The man said, ‘That which came to him during the Night of Pre-determination (Laylat Al-Qadr), what knowledge was that?’ He^asws said: ‘The Command and the easiness in what he^saww already knew about.’

قال السائل: فما يحدث لهم في ليالي القدر علم سوى ما علموا؟ قال: «هذا مما أمروا بكتمانه، و لا يعلم تفسير ما سألت عنه إلا الله عز و جل».

The questioner said, ‘What happens to them^asws during the Night of Predestination (Laylat Al-Qadr), is it the knowledge other than what they^asws already knew?’ This is what they^asws have been Ordered to conceal, and no one knows the detail of that which you have asked except Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic.’

قال السائل: فهل يعلم الأوصياء ما لا يعلم الأنبياء؟ قال: «لا، و كيف يعلم وصي غير علم ما اوصي إليه؟».

The questioner said, ‘Do the successors^asws know that which the Prophets^as did not?’ He^asws said: ‘No, and how can the successor^asws know any knowledge other than what has been bequeathed to him^asws?’

قال السائل: فهل يسعنا أن نقول: إن أحدا من الوصاة يعلم ما لا يعلم الآخر؟ قال: «لا، لم يمت نبي إلا و علمه في جوف وصيه، و إنما تنزل الملائكة و الروح في ليلة القدر بالحكم الذي يحكم به بين العباد».

The questioner said, ‘Can we say that one from the successors^asws knows what the other successor^asws does not know?’ He^asws said: ‘No, no Prophet^as passes away but his^as knowledge gets known to the successor^asws, and it is on him^asws that the Angels descend, and the Spirit during the Night of Pre-determination (Laylat Al-Qadr) with the Judgements by which he^asws will judge among the servants.’

قال السائل: و ما كانوا علموا ذلك الحكم؟ قال: «بلى، قد علموه، و لكنهم لا يستطيعون إمضاء شي‏ء منه حتى يؤمروا في ليالي القدر كيف يصنعون إلى السنة المقبلة».

The questioner said, ‘Did they^asws know of that Judgement?’ He^asws said: ‘Yes, they^asws knew, but they^aswsdid not know of the method carrying anything out from it until they^asws are Commanded for it during the Night of Pre-determination (Laylat Al-Qadr), until the next year.’

قال السائل: يا أبا جعفر، لا أستطيع إنكار هذا؟ قال أبو جعفر (عليه السلام): «من أنكره فليس منا».

The questioner said, ‘O Abu Ja’far^asws, Can I not deny this?’ Abu Ja’far^asws said: ‘One who denies this is not from us^asws.’

قال السائل: يا أبا جعفر، أ رأيت النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) هل كان يأتيه في ليالي القدر شي‏ء لم يكن علمه؟

The questioner said, ‘O Abu Ja’far^asws, Do you^asws think that the Prophet^saww received something during the Night of Pre-determination (Laylat Al-Qadr) which he had no knowledge of previously?’

قال:  «لا يحل لك أن تسأل عن هذا، أما علم ما كان و ما يكون؟ فليس يموت نبي و لا وصي إلا و الوصي الذي بعده يعلمه، أما هذا العلم الذي تسأل عنه، فإن الله عز و جل أبى أن يطلع الأوصياء عليه إلا أنفسهم».

He^asws said: ‘It is not permissible for you to ask about this. As for the knowledge of the past and the future, no Prophet^as passes away or the successor^asws except that the successor^asws after him^asws gets to know it all, and as for the knowledge that you have asked about, Allah^azwj Might and Majestic Disdains that the successors^asws will tell anyone about it except to themselves^asws.’

قال السائل: يا بن رسول الله، كيف أعرف أن ليلة القدر تكون في كل سنة؟ قال: «إذا أتى شهر رمضان فأقرأ سورة الدخان في كل ليلة مائة مرة، فإذا أتت ليلة ثلاث و عشرين فإنك ناظر إلى تصديق الذي سألت عنه».

The questioner said, ‘O son^asws of the Rasool-Allah^saww, how do I recognise the Night of Pre-determination taking place every year?’ He^asws said: ‘When the month of Ramadhan comes, recite the Chapter Al-Dukhanone hundred times every night. When the twenty third night comes up, you will see the verification of that which you have asked for.’[47]

The slanderer and the defamer on the Day of Judgment

 في عوالي اللئالى وقال صلى الله عليه وآله: رايت ليلة الاسراء قوما يقطع اللحم من جنوبهم ثم يلقمونه، ويقال: كلوا ما كنتم تأكلون من لحم أخيكم فقلت: يا جبرئيل من هؤلاء ؟ فقال: هؤلاء الهمازون من امتك اللمازون.

In Awaly Al Lu’aly –

And he^saww said: ‘I^saww saw on the night of the ascension, a group of people whose flesh was being cut off from their sides and being fed to them, and it was being said to them: ‘Eat! What you used to eat from the flesh of your brothers’. So I^saww said: ‘O Jibraeel^as! Who are these people?’ So he^asws said: ‘They are the slanderers from your^saww community, the defamers’.[48]

و روى صاحب كتاب (المقتضب في إمامة الاثني عشر): [عن أبي الحسن علي بن سنان‏ الموصلي المعدل‏]، عن أحمد بن [محمد الخليلي الآملي، عن‏] محمد بن صالح، عن سليمان بن محمد، عن زياد بن مسلم، عن عبد الرحمن بن يزيد بن جابر، عن سلام بن أبي عمرة،

And it is reported by the author of the book ‘The brief regarding the Imamate of the twelve’, from Abu Al Hassan Ali Bin Sinan Al Mowsaly Al Ma’dal, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Khaleeli Al Amily, from Muhammad Bin Salih, from Suleyman Bin Muhammad, from Ziyad Bin Muslim, from Abdul Rahman Bin Yazeed Bin Jabir, from Salam Bin Abu Umra,

عن أبي سلمى راعي رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، قال: سمعت رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): يقول: «ليلة أسري بي إلى السماء، قال لي الجليل جل جلاله: آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ. فقلت: و المؤمنون. فقال تعالى: صدقت- يا محمد- من خلفت في أمتك؟ قلت: خيرها. قال الله تعالى علي بن أبي طالب؟ قلت: نعم.

(It has been narrated) from Abu Salmy, a herder or Rasool-Allah^saww who said, ‘I heard Rasool-Allah^sawwsaying: ‘On the night of my^saww Ascension (Mi’raj) to the sky, the most Majestic Said to me^saww: “The Rasool believes in what is Revealed unto him from his Lord [2:285]. So I^saww said: ‘And (so do) the Momineen. So the Exalted Said: “You^saww speak the truth, O Muhammad^saww! Who have you^saww left behind as a Caliph in your^saww community?”. I^saww said: ‘The best one of it’. Allah^azwj the Exalted Said: “Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws?”. I^saww said: ‘Yes’’.[49]

The tree of Tooba

و عنه: عن أبيه، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن هشام بن سالم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)- في حديث الإسراء بالنبي (صلى الله عليه و آله)-، قال فيما رأى ليلة الإسراء، قال: «فإذا شجرة لو أرسل طائر في أصلها، ما دارها سبعمائة سنة، و ليس في الجنة منزل إلا و فيه فنن منها. فقلت: ما هذه يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: هذه شجرة طوبى، قال الله تعالى: طُوبى لَهُمْ وَ حُسْنُ مَآبٍ».

And from him, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Saalim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^asws – in a Hadeeth of the Ascension (Mi’raj) of the Prophet^saww – said: ‘Regarding what he^saww saw during the night of the Ascension, he^saww said: ‘So it is (such) a tree that if a bird were to fly from its roots, if won’t reach it (the top) for seven hundred years. And there is no house in the Paradise, except that in it is a branch from it’. So I^saww said: ‘What is this, O Jibraeel^as?’ So he^as said: ‘This is the Tooba tree’. Rasool-Allah^saww said: ‘(the tree of) Tooba would be for them and an excellent resort [13:29]’.[50]

الطبرسي: روى الحاكم أبو القاسم الحسكاني، بالإسناد عن موسى بن جعفر، عن أبيه، عن آبائه (عليهم السلام)، قال: «سئل رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) عن طوبى، قال: شجرة أصلها في داري، و فروعها على أهل الجنة، ثم سئل عنها مرة اخرى، فقال: في دار علي. فقيل له في ذلك، فقال: إن داري و دار علي في الجنة بمكان واحد».

Al Tabarsy – ‘It has been reported by Al Hakam Abu Al Qasim Al Haskany, by the chain,

(It has been narrated) from Musa^asws Bin Ja’far^asws, from his^asws father^asws, from his^asws forefathers^aswshaving said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww was asked about (the tree of) Tooba. He^saww said: ‘A tree, the roots of which are in my^saww house, and its branches are upon the inhabitants of the Paradise’. Then he^saww was asked for a second time, so he^saww said: ‘In the house of Ali^asws’. So it was said to him^saww during that, so he^saww said: ‘My^saww house, and the house of Ali^asws in the Paradise are at one place’.[51]

حدثنا أبو علي احمد بن يحيى المكتب قال حدثنا احمد بن محمد الوراق قال حدثنا بشر بن سعيد بن قلبويه المعدل بالرافقه قال حدثنا عبد الجبار بن كثير التميمي اليماني قال سمعت محمد بن حرب الهلالي أمير المدينة يقول: سألت جعفر بن محمد ” ع ” فقلت له يابن رسول الله في نفسي مسألة أريد ان اسألك عنها فقال: ان شئت أخبرتك بمسألتك قبل أن تسألني وان شئت فسل،

Abu Ali Ahmad Bin Yahya Al Maktab narrated to us, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Waraq, from Bishr Bin Saeed Bin Qalbawayh, the revisionist at Rafaqa, from Abdul Jabbar Bin Kaseer Al Tameemi who said, ‘I heard Muhammad Bin Al Hilali, the Emir of Al Medina saying,

‘I asked Ja’far^asws Bin Muhammad^asws, ‘O son^asws  of Rasool-Allah^saww! I have within myself, a certain question which I want to ask you about’. So he^asws said; ‘If you like I^asws  would inform you of your questions before you even ask me^asws , and if you so like, then ask’.

قال: قلت له يابن رسول الله وبأي شئ تعرف ما في نفسي قبل سؤالي؟ فقال بالتوسم والتفرس أما سمعت قول الله عزوجل (ان في ذلك لآيات للمتوسمين) وقول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله اتقوا فراسة المؤمن فإنه ينظر بنور الله، قال: فقلت له يابن رسول الله فاخبرني بمسألتي

I said, ‘O son^asws  of Rasool-Allah^saww! And by which thing do you^asws recognise what is within myself before I even ask you^asws ?’ He^asws  said: ‘By expectation and insight. Have you not heard the Words of Allah^azwjMighty and Majestic: Surely, in that are Signs for the distinguishers [15:75], and the words of Rasool-Allah^saww: ‘Fear the insight of a Momin for he looks by the Light of Allah^azwj?’ I said, ‘O son^asws  of Rasool-Allah^saww, so inform me regarding my questions’.

قال: أردت ان تسألني عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله لم لم يطق حمله علي ” ع ” عند حط الاصنام من سطح الكعبة مع قوته وشدته وما ظهر منه في قلع باب القموص بخيبر والرمي به إلى ورائه اربعين ذراعا وكان لا يطيق حمله اربعون رجلا وقد كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله يركب الناقة والفرس والحمار، وركب البراق ليلة المعراج وكل ذلك دون علي في القوة والشدة، قال: فقلت له عن هذا والله اردت ان اسألك يابن رسول الله فاخبرني

He^asws  said: ‘You intend to ask me about Rasool-Allah^saww as to why did he^saww carry Ali^asws Bin Abu Talib^asws  to bring down the idols from the surface of the Kabah, when he^asws  had the strength and the intensity which he^asws  displayed when he^asws  ripped off the door of the fort of Khaybar and threw it behind him to a distance of forty cubits, and it was not being carried by forty men, and Rasool-Allah^saww had ridden upon the camel, and the horse, and the mule, and rode upon Al-Buraaq on the night of the Ascension (المعراج), and all that was lower than Ali^asws  in strength and intensity?’ I said, ‘By Allah^azwj, this is what I intended to ask you^asws, O son^asws of Rasool-Allah^saww, so inform me’.

فقال: ان عليا عليه السلام برسول الله تشرف وبه ارتفع وبه وصل إلى ان اطفأ نار الشرك وابطل كل معبود من دون الله عزوجل ولو علاه النبي صلى الله عليه وآله لحط الاصنام لكان عليه السلام بعلي مرتفعا وتشريفا وواصلا إلى حط الاصنام ولو كان ذلك كذلك لكان أفضل منه ألا ترى ان عليا عليه السلام قال: لما علوت ظهر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله شرفت وارتفعت حتى لو شئت ان انال السماء لنلتها

So he^asws said: ‘Ali^asws had nobility with Rasool-Allah^saww, and by it he^asws was raised to extinguish the fire of Polytheism, and invalidate every worshipped one besides Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic. And had the Prophet^saww been raised for the bringing down of the idols, it would have been by Ali^asws that he^saww would have been raised, and been ennobled, and arrived to the bringing down of the idols. And that was like that, he^asws would have been higher than him^saww. Have you not seen that Ali^asws said: ‘When I^asws was raised upon the shoulders of Rasool-Allah^saww, I^asws was ennobled and raised to the extent that if I^asws had so desire to, I^asws would have touched the sky.

أما علمت ان المصباح هو الذي يهتدى به في الظلمة وانبعاث فرعه من أصله، وقد قال علي عليه السلام أنا من احمد كالضوء من الضوء،

But, do you know that the Lantern it which guides in the darkness, and its emission is a branch of the original source. And Ali^asws said: ‘I^asws am from Ahmad^saww like the Illumination is from the illumination’.

أما علمت ان محمدا وعليا صلوات الله عليهما كانا نورا بين يدي الله عزوجل قبل خلق الخلق بألفي عام وان الملائكة لما رأت ذلك النور رأت له اصلا قد تشعب منه شعاع لامع فقالت: إلهنا وسيدنا ماهذا النور؟ فأوحى الله تبارك وتعالى إليهم هذا نور من نوري أصله نبوة وفرعه إمامة، أما النبوة فلمحمد عبدي ورسولي واما الامامة فلعلي حجتي ووليى ولولاهما ما خلقت خلقي،

But, do you know that Muhammad^saww and Ali^asws were two Lights in front of Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic before the Creation of the creatures, by two thousand years, and that the Angels, when they saw that Light, saw it as original from which was radiating a blinding radiance, so they said: ‘Our Allah^azwj, and our Master^azwj! What is this Light?’ So Allah^azwj Blessed and High Revealed unto them: “This is a Light from My^azwj Light. Its root is Prophet-hood and its branch is Imamate. As for the Prophet-hood, so it is for Muhammad^saww, My^azwjservant, and My^azwj Rasool^saww. And as for the Imamate, so it is for Ali^asws, My^azwj Proof, and My^azwjGuardian. And had it not been for these two^asws, I^azwj would not have Created My^azwj creation”.

اما علمت ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله رفع يد علي ” ع ” بغدير خم حتى نظر الناس إلى بياض إبطيهما فجعله مولى المسلمين وإمامهم

But do you know that Rasool-Allah^saww raised the hand of Ali^asws at Ghadeer Khumm, to the extent that the people looked at the whiteness of his^asws two arms. So he^asws was made to be a Master of the Muslims and their Imam^asws.

وقد احتمل الحسن والحسين عليهما السلام يوم حظيرة بني النجار فلما قال له بعض أصحابه ناولني احدهما يارسول الله قال: نعم الراكبان وابوهما خير منهما،

And he^saww had carried Al-Hassan^asws and Al-Husayn^asws on the day of Hazeera of the Clan of Najjar. So when one of his^saww companions said, ‘Let me carry one^asws of them^asws, O Rasool-Allah^saww’, he^saww said: ‘These two^asws are the best of the riders and the father^asws of these two^asws is better than these two^asws’.

وانه صلى الله عليه وآله كان يصلي باصحابه فاطال سجدة من سجداته فلما سلم قيل له يارسول الله لقد اطلت هذه السجدة فقال صلى الله عليه وآله ان ابني ارتحلني فكرهت ان اعاجله حتي ينزل، وإنما أراد بذلك صلى الله عليه وآله رفعهم وتشريفهم فالنبي صلى الله عليه وآله إمام ونبي وعلي ” ع ” إمام ليس بنبي ولا رسول فهو غير مطيق لحمل اثقال النبوة.

And he^saww was Praying with his^as companions, so he^saww prolonged a Prostration from his^saww Prostrations. So when he^saww greeted (at the end of the Prayers), it was said to him^as, ‘O Rasool-Allah^saww! You^saww have prolonged this Prostration’. So he^saww said: ‘My^saww two son^asws were riding upon me^saww, so I^saww disliked that I^asws should hasten them^asws, until they^asws descended (by themselves)’. But rather, what he^sawwintended by that was to raise them^asws, and their^asws nobility. So the Prophet^saww was an Imam^asws and a Prophet^saww, and Ali^asws was an Imam^asws and neither a Prophet^as nor a Rasool^as.

قال محمد بن حرب الهلالي: فقلت له زدنى يابن رسول الله فقال إنك لاهل للزيادة

Muhammad Bin Harb Al-Hilaly said, ‘So I said to him^asws, ‘O son^asws of Rasool-Allah^saww! Increase it for me’. So he^asws said: ‘You are indeed deserving of the increase’.

ان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله حمل عليا عليه السلام على ظهره يريد بذلك أنه أبو ولده وإمام الائمة من صلبه كما حول ردائه في صلاة الاستسقاء واراد ان يعلم أصحابه بذلك انه قد تحول الجدب خصبا،

Rasool-Allah^saww carried Ali^asws upon his^saww shoulders, intending by that, that he^asws was the father^asws of his^saww (grand) sons, and an Imam^asws from the Imams^asws from his^asws back, just as overturning of his^sawwcloak during the Prayer of Al-Istiqsa’a (the rain), it is intended by that it be known by his^saww companions, that he^saww had overturned the famine’.

قال: قلت له زدنى يابن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him^asws, ‘Increase it for me, O son^asws of Rasool-Allah^saww’.

فقال: احتمل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله عليا ” ع ” يريد بذلك ان يعلم قومه انه هو الذي يخفف عن ظهر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله ما عليه من الدين والعدات والاداء عنه من بعده،

So he^asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^saww carried Ali^asws, intending by that to let his^saww people know that he^aswswould lighten from the shoulders of Rasool-Allah^saww, what is upon him^saww from the debts and the fulfilment of the promised made, from after him^saww’.

قال: فقلت له يابن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله زدني

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said to him ^asws, ‘O son ^asws of Rasool-Allah^saww, Increase it for me’.

فقال: احتمله ليعلم بذلك انه قد احتمله وما حمل إلا لانه معصوم لا يحمل وزرا فتكون افعاله عند الناس حكمة وصوابا وقد قال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله لعلي يا علي ان الله تبارك وتعالى حملني ذنوب شيعتك ثم غفرها لي وذلك قوله تعالى (ليغفر لك ما تقدم من ذنبك وما تأخر)

So he^asws said: ‘He^saww carried him^asws, to it would be known by that he^saww has carried him^asws, and has not carried except that he^asws was Infallible (sinless), and he^saww has not carried a burden, so that his^asws action would become one of wisdom, and correct. And the Prophet^saww had said to Ali^asws: ‘O Ali^asws! Allah^azwjBlessed and High Loaded me^saww with the sins of your^asws Shiah, then Forgave them for me^saww, and these are the Words of the Exalted: For Allah to Forgive you what has preceded from your sins and what is delayed [48:2].

ولما أنزل الله عزوجل إذا اهتديتم وعلي نفسي وأخى اطيعوا عليا فإنه مطهر معصوم لا يضل ولا يشقى ثم تلا هذه الآية: (قل أطيعو الله واطيعوا الرسول فإن تولوا فإنما عليه ما حمل وعليكم ما حملتم وان تطيعوه تهتدوا وما على الرسول إلا البلاغ المبين).

And when Allah^azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed: when you are guided to the right way [5:105], and Ali^asws is my^saww own self, and my^saww brother. Obey Ali^asws, for he^asws is Purified, Infallible, neither does he^asws stray nor does he^asws have a parallel’. Then he^saww recited this Verse: Say: ‘Obey Allah and obey the Rasool; but if you turn back, so rather upon him is what is Imposed on him and upon you is what is Imposed on you. And if you were to obey him, you would be rightly Guided, and it is not upon the Rasool except for the clear delivery (of the Message)’ [24:54]’.

 قال محمد بن حرب الهلالي: ثم قال جعفر بن محمد ” ع ” أيها الامير لو اخبرتك بما في حمل النبي صلى الله عليه وآله عليا عند حط الاصنام من سطح الكعبة من المعاني التي أرادها به لقلت ان جعفر بن محمد لمجنون فحسبك من ذلك ما قد سمعت

Muhammad Bin Harb Al-Hilaly said, ‘Then Ja’far^asws Bin Muhammad^asws said: ‘O you Emir! If I^asws were to inform you with what (all) the intended meanings were with regards to the Prophet^saww carrying Ali^asws during the bringing down of the idols from the roof of the Kabah, you would say that Ja’far^asws Bin Muhammad^asws is insane. Therefore, let it suffice, what you have heard’.

فقمت إليه وقبلت رأسه وقلت الله أعلم حيث يجعل رسالته.

So he stood up and kissed his^asws forehead and said, Allah is more Knowing of where to Place His Message [6:124]’.[52]

[1] بصائر الدرجات: 99/ 10.

[2] الكافي (ط – الإسلامية)، ج‏3، ص: 469, Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt  CH 92 H 7

[3] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 63 H 1

[4] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 111 H 12

[5] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 145 H 8

[6] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 66 H 9

[7] تفسير القمّي 2: 3.

[8] الاحتجاج 2: 405

[9] علل الشرائع: 132/ 2.

[10] علل الشرائع: 131/ 1. (Extract)

[11] بصائر الدرجات: 99/ 10.

[12] الكافي 1: 367/ 13

[13] الأمالي 2: 255

[14] تفسير القمّي 1: 199.  (Extract)

[15] تفسير القمّي 1: 309.

[16] الكافي 1: 161/ 3 (Extract)

[17] الأمالي 1: 362.

[18] الاختصاص: 213.

[19] الأمالي 1: 362.

[20] تفسير نور الثقلين، ج‏3، ص: 99 – H 28

[21] تفسير نور الثقلين، ج‏3، ص: 123 – H 31

[22] من لا يحضره الفقيه 1: 126/ 603

[23] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 277/ 5

[24] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 279/ 11.

[25] الكافي 1: 367/ 12.

[26] الهداية الكبرى: 57/ 12

[27] صحيفة الإمام الرضا (عليه السّلام): 154/ 95.

[28] مشارق أنوار اليقين: 218.

[29] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 276/ 3.

[30] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt  CH 100 H 1

[31] تفسير القمّي 2: 8.

[32] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – Ch 21 H 23 &  كمال الدين و تمام النعمة: 666/ 8.

[33] تفسير القمّي 2: 8.

[34] Al Kafi – H 14869

[35] المناقب 2: 233

[36] تفسير القمّي 2: 7.

[37] تأويل الآيات 2: 562/ 29.

[38] تأويل الآيات 2: 624/ 7.

[39] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – CH 53 H 15

[40]Tafseer Abu Hamza Al Sumali –  Hadeeth No. 303

[41] Bashaarat Al Mustafa^saww Li Shia Al Murtaza^asws – P 5 H 9

[42] Basaair Al Darajaat – P4  CH 5 H 6

[43] تفسير القمّي 2: 335.

[44] تأويل الآيات 2: 625/ 9

[45] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn– CH 55 H 80

[46] AL YAQEEN – SYED IBN TAWOOS – 589 TO 684 AH

[47] (الكافي 1: 195/ 8.)

[48] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn – CH 104 H 5

[49] مقتضب الأثر: 10، فرائد السمطين 2: 319/ 571

[50] تفسير القمّي 2: 11

[51] مجمع البيان 6: 448

[52] Al Illal Al Sharaie – V 1 Ch 139 H 1