Complying with the laws – Government

It is incumbent upon us to comply with the laws of a ruler/governing body. Some Ahadith are presented below to better understand our legal responsibilities and act accordingly.

فَوَلَجْتُ‏ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِغُلَامٍ أَسْوَدَ بِيَدِهِ مِقَصٌّ يَأْخُذُ اللَّحْمَ مِنْ جَبِينِهِ وَ عِرْنِينِ أَنْفِهِ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ سُجُودِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهُ أَجِبِ الرَّشِيدَ فَقَالَ مَا لِلرَّشِيدِ وَ مَا لِي أَ مَا تَشْغَلُهُ نِعْمَتُهُ عَنِّي

I (manage) passing through to him^-asws, and there was a black slave having scissor in his hand. He was cutting out the flesh from his^-asws forehead, and the bridge of his^-asws nose, due to the frequency of his^-asws Sajdahs. I said to him^-asws, ‘The greetings be to you^-asws, O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Answer Al-Rasheed!’ He^-asws said: ‘What is for Al-Rasheed and what is for me^-asws? Do his bounties not pre-occupy him from me^-asws?’

ثُمَّ قَامَ مُسْرِعاً وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ لَوْ لَا أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ فِي خَبَرٍ عَنْ جَدِّي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّ طَاعَةَ السُّلْطَانِ لِلتَّقِيَّةِ وَاجِبَةٌ إِذاً مَا جِئْتُ

Then he^-asws stood up hurriedly and he^-asws was saying, ‘Had I^-asws not heard in a Hadeeth from my^-asws grandfather^-saww Rasool-Allah^-saww: ‘Obedience to the Sultan, out of Taqiyya (dissimulation) is obligatory’, then I^-asws would not have come!’

فَقُلْتُ لَهُ اسْتَعِدَّ لِلْعُقُوبَةِ يَا أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ ع أَ لَيْسَ مَعِي مَنْ يَمْلِكُ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةَ وَ لَنْ يَقْدِرَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى سُوءٍ بِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

I said to him^-asws, ‘Be prepared for the punishment, O Abu Ibrahim^-asws! May Allah^-azwj have Mercy on you^-asws!’ He^-asws said: ‘Isn’t He^-azwj with me^-asws, the One^-azwj Who Rules the world and the Hereafter? And you will never be able with evil upon me^-asws today if Allah^-azwj so Desires!’ [1](an extract)

الكتاب العتيق الغرويّ مهج، مهج الدعوات الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّوْفَلِيُّ عَنِ الرَّبِيعِ صَاحِبِ الْمَنْصُورِ قَالَ: حَجَجْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ لِيَ الْمَنْصُورُ يَا رَبِيعُ إِذَا نَزَلْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَاذْكُرْ لِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ فَوَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ لَا يَقْتُلُهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي احْذَرْ [أَنْ‏] تَدَعَ أَنْ تُذَكِّرَنِي بِهِ

‘Kitab Al Ateeq’ of Al Garwy, (and) ‘Mahj Al Dawaat’ – Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Al Nowfaly, from Al-Rabie, companions of Al-Mansour who said,

‘I performed Hajj with Abu Ja’far Al-Mansour. When we were in one of the roads, Al-Mansour said to me, ‘O Rabie! When you descended at Al-Medina, then remind me of Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws Bin Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws Bin Ali^-asws. By Allah^-azwj the Magnificent! No one will kill him^-asws apart from me. Be cautious of leaving reminding me of him^-asws’.

قَالَ فَلَمَّا صِرْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ أَنْسَانِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذِكْرَهُ قَالَ فَلَمَّا صِرْنَا إِلَى مَكَّةَ قَالَ لِي يَا رَبِيعُ أَ لَمْ آمُرْكَ أَنْ تُذَكِّرَنِي بِجَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِذَا دَخَلْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ نَسِيتُ ذَلِكَ يَا مَوْلَايَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘When we came to Al-Medina, Allah^-azwj Caused me to forget mentioning him^-asws. When we came to Makkah, he said to me, ‘O Rabie! Did I not order you to remind me of Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws when we enter Al-Medina?’ I said, ‘I forgot that O my master! O commander of the faithful!’

قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا رَجَعْتُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَاذْكُرْنِي بِهِ فَلَا بُدَّ مِنْ قَتْلِهِ‏ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ لَأَضْرِبَنَّ عُنُقَكَ فَقُلْتُ نَعَمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘He said to me, ‘When I return to Al-Medina, then remind me of him^-asws, for there is no escape from killing him^-asws. If you don’t do so, I shall strike off your neck!’ I said, ‘Yes, O commander of the faithful!’

ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لِغِلْمَانِي وَ أَصْحَابِي اذْكُرُونِي بِجَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِذَا دَخَلْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَلَمْ يَزَلْ غِلْمَانِي وَ أَصْحَابِي يُذَكِّرُونِي بِهِ فِي كُلِّ وَقْتٍ وَ مَنْزِلٍ نَدْخُلُهُ وَ نَنْزِلُ فِيهِ حَتَّى قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ

Then I said to my servants and my companions, ‘Remind me of Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws when we enter Al-Medina, if Allah^-azwj the Exalted so Desires’. So, my servants and my companions did not cease to remind me of him^-asws during every time and stop we had entered and paused in it, until we arrived at Al-Medina.

فَلَمَّا نَزَلْنَا بِهَا دَخَلْتُ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ فَوَقَفْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ

When we descended at it, I entered to see Al-Mansour and stood in front of him, and said to him, ‘O commander of the faithful! Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws’.

قَالَ فَضَحِكَ وَ قَالَ لِي نَعَمْ اذْهَبْ يَا رَبِيعُ فَأْتِنِي بِهِ وَ لَا تَأْتِنِي بِهِ إِلَّا مَسْحُوباً قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا مَوْلَايَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حُبّاً وَ كَرَامَةً وَ أَنَا أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ طَاعَةً لِأَمْرِكَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘He laughed and said to me, ‘Go, O Rabie and come to me with him^-asws, and do not come to me with him^-asws except dragged’. I said, ‘O my master! O commander of the faithful! Love and honour, and I shall do that, obedient to your order’.

قَالَ ثُمَّ نَهَضْتُ وَ أَنَا فِي حَالٍ عَظِيمٍ مِنِ ارْتِكَابِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُ الْإِمَامَ الصَّادِقَ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ هُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي وَسَطِ دَارِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَدْعُوكَ إِلَيْهِ

He (the narrator) said, ‘Then I got up and I was in a grievous state from my involvement in that. I came to the Imam Al-Sadiq Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, and he^-asws was seated in the middle of his house. I said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! Commander of the faithful is summoning you^-asws to him!’

فَقَالَ لِي السَّمْعَ وَ الطَّاعَةَ ثُمَّ نَهَضَ وَ هُوَ مَعِي يَمْشِي قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ لَا آتِيَهُ بِكَ إِلَّا مَسْحُوباً

He^-asws said to me: ‘The hearing and the obeying!’ Then he^-asws got up and he^-asws walked with me. I said to him^-asws, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! He has ordered me that I should not come to him with you^-asws except dragged’.

قَالَ فَقَالَ الصَّادِقُ امْتَثِلْ يَا رَبِيعُ مَا أَمَرَكَ بِهِ قَالَ فَأَخَذْتُ بِطَرَفِ كُمِّهِ أَسُوقُهُ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا أَدْخَلْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ رَأَيْتُهُ وَ هُوَ جَالِسٌ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ وَ فِي يَدِهِ عَمُودُ حَدِيدٍ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ بِهِ وَ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ فَلَمْ أَشُكَّ أَنَّهُ قَاتِلُهُ وَ لَمْ أَفْهَمِ الْكَلَامَ الَّذِي كَانَ جَعْفَرٌ يُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْهِ بِهِ فَوَقَفْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمَا

He (the narrator) said, ‘Al-Sadiq^-asws said: ‘Comply, O Rabie, whatever you have been ordered with!’ I grabbed an end of his^-asws sleeve and ushered him^-asws to him. When I entered him^-asws to see him, I saw him, and he was seated upon his throne, and in his hand was an iron rod intending to kill him^-asws with it, and I looked at Ja’far^-asws, and he^-asws was moving his^-asws lips. So, I had no doubt that he would be killing him^-asws, and I did not understand the speech which Ja’far^-asws was moving his^-asws lips with. I stood looking at them both.

قَالَ الرَّبِيعُ فَلَمَّا قَرُبَ مِنْهُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ لَهُ الْمَنْصُورُ ادْنُ مِنِّي يَا ابْنَ عَمِّي وَ تَهَلَّلَ وَجْهُهُ وَ قَرَّبَهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى أَجْلَسَهُ مَعَهُ عَلَى السَّرِيرِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا غُلَامُ ائْتِنِي بِالْحُقَّةِ فَأَتَاهُ بِالْحُقَّةِ فَإِذَا فِيهَا قَدَحُ الْغَالِيَةِ فَغَلَفَهُ مِنْهَا بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ حَمَلَهُ عَلَى بَغْلَةٍ وَ أَمَرَ لَهُ بِبَدْرَةٍ وَ خِلْعَةٍ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ بِالانْصِرَافِ

Al-Rabie said, ‘When Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws went near him, Al-Mansour said to him^-asws, ‘Come near me, O son^-asws of my uncle^-asws!’ And his face was joyful, and he drew him^-asws closer until he seated him^-asws upon the throne. Then he said, ‘O slave! Bring me the container!’ He brought him the container, and there was expensive perfume in it. He applied on him^-asws from these by his own hand, then had him^-asws carried upon a mule and ordered Dinars and garments for him^-asws, then instructed him^-asws with leaving.

قَالَ فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ خَرَجْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى وَصَلَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَمْ أَشُكَّ فِيهِ سَاعَةَ تَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ يَقْتُلُكَ وَ رَأَيْتُكَ تُحَرِّكُ شَفَتَيْكَ فِي وَقْتِ دُخُولِكَ فَمَا قُلْتَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘When he^-asws got up from his presence, I went out in front of him^-asws until I arrived to his^-asws house. I said to him^-asws, ‘May my father and my mother be (sacrificed) for you^-asws, O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! I had no doubt regarding him, the moment you^-asws enter to see him, he would kill you^-asws, and I saw you^-asws moving your^-asws lips during the time of your entry. So, what did you^-asws say?’

قَالَ لِي نَعَمْ يَا رَبِيعُ اعْلَمْ أَنِّي قُلْتُ حَسْبِيَ الرَّبُّ مِنَ الْمَرْبُوبِينَ الدُّعَاءَ.

He^-asws said to me: ‘O Rabie! Know that I^-asws said: ‘Sufficient for me^-asws is the Lord^-azwj from the slaves’ – the supplication’’.[2]

مهج الدعوات مِنْ كِتَابٍ عَتِيقٍ بِهِ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَفْوَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ الْعَاصِمِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَقْطِينٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ الْحَاجِبِ قَالَ: قَعَدَ الْمَنْصُورُ يَوْماً فِي قَصْرِهِ فِي الْقُبَّةِ الْخَضْرَاءِ وَ كَانَتْ قَبْلَ قَتْلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ تُدْعَى الْحَمْرَاءَ وَ كَانَ لَهُ يَوْمٌ يَقْعُدُ فِيهِ يُسَمَّى ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ يَوْمَ الذَّبْحِ وَ كَانَ أَشْخَصَ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ ع مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ فِي الْحَمْرَاءِ نَهَارَهُ كُلَّهُ حَتَّى جَاءَ اللَّيْلُ وَ مَضَى أَكْثَرُهُ

(The book) ‘Mahj Al Dawaat’ – From the book of Ateeq, ‘It is narrated to us by Muhammad Bin ahmad Bin Abdullah Bin Safwah, from Muhammad Bin Al Abbas Al Aasimy, from Al hassan Bin Ali Bin Yaqteen, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Al-Rabie, the guard (of Al-Mansour) who said,

‘One day Al-Mansour saw in his castle, in the green dome, and before the killing of Muhammad and Ibrahim, it was called ‘The red (dome)’, and there was a day for him in which he used to it. That day was called, ‘The day of slaughter’, and Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws was being brought from Al-Medina, so he did not cease to be in the red (dome) for whole of his day until the night came, and most of it went.

قَالَ ثُمَّ دَعَا أَبِي الرَّبِيعَ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا رَبِيعُ إِنَّكَ تَعْرِفُ مَوْضِعَكَ مِنِّي وَ إِنِّي يَكُونُ لِيَ الْخَبَرُ وَ لَا تَظْهَرُ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّهَاتُ الْأَوْلَادِ وَ تَكُونُ أَنْتَ الْمُعَالِجُ لَهُ

He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he called my father Al-Rabie and said to him, ‘O Rabie! You know your place from me, and there happens to be the news for me, and do not reveal it to mothers of the children, and you happen to be the healer for it’.

فَقَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيَّ وَ فَضْلِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ مَا فَوْقِي فِي النُّصْحِ غَايَةٌ

He (Rabie) said, ‘I said, ‘O commander of the faithful! That is from the Grace of Allah^-azwj upon me, and grace of commander of the faithful, and there is no peak above me in the advice’.

قَالَ كَذَلِكَ أَنْتَ سِرِ السَّاعَةَ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ فَاطِمَةَ فَأْتِنِي عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّذِي تَجِدُهُ عَلَيْهِ- لَا تُغَيِّرْ شَيْئاً مِمَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ

He said, ‘You are like that. Travel right now to Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws son^-asws of (Syeda) Fatima^-asws, and bring him upon the state which you find him^-asws to be upon, not changing anything from what he^-asws is upon’.

فَقُلْتُ‏ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ‏ هَذَا وَ اللَّهِ هُوَ الْعَطَبُ إِنْ أَتَيْتُ بِهِ عَلَى مَا أَرَاهُ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ قَتَلَهُ وَ ذَهَبَتِ الْآخِرَةُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ آتِ بِهِ وَ أَدْهَنْتُ فِي أَمْرِهِ قَتَلَنِي وَ قَتَلَ نَسْلِي وَ أَخَذَ أَمْوَالِي فَخُيِّرْتُ بَيْنَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَمَالَتْ نَفْسِي إِلَى الدُّنْيَا

I said, ‘We are for Allah^-azwj and are returning to Him^-azwj! By Allah^-azwj, it would be the Punishment, if I were to come with him^-asws upon what I can see him of his anger, he will kill him^-asws and the Hereafter would be gone! And if I don’t come with him^-asws and do not carry out his order, he would kill me and kill my offspring and seize my wealth’. So I had a choice between the world and the Hereafter, and I inclined myself to the world’.

قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ فَدَعَانِي أَبِي وَ كُنْتُ أَفَظَّ وُلْدِهِ وَ أَغْلَظَهُمْ قَلْباً فَقَالَ لِي امْضِ إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ فَتَسَلَّقْ عَلَى حَائِطِهِ وَ لَا تَسْتَفْتِحْ عَلَيْهِ بَاباً فَيُغَيِّرَ بَعْضَ مَا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَكِنِ انْزِلْ عَلَيْهِ نُزُولًا فَأْتِ بِهِ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي هُوَ فِيهَا

Muhammad Bin Al-Rabie said, ‘My father called me, and I was rudest of his children and their hardest of heart. He said to me, ‘Go to Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws Bin Ali^-asws, climb upon his^-asws wall, and do not open a door to him^-asws for he^-asws would change what he^-asws is upon, but descend upon him^-asws with a descent and come with him^-asws being upon a state which he^-asws is in’.

قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَ قَدْ ذَهَبَ اللَّيْلُ إِلَى أَقَلِّهِ فَأَمَرْتُ بِنَصْبِ السَّلَالِيمِ‏ وَ تَسَلَّقْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْحَائِطَ فَنَزَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ دَارَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَائِماً يُصَلِّي وَ عَلَيْهِ قَمِيصٌ وَ مِنْدِيلٌ قَدِ ائْتَزَرَ بِهِ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَجِبْ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘I came to him^-asws, and the night had gone to its little, and I set up the steps (ladder) and climbed upon it and descended over it in his^-asws house. I found him^-asws standing, praying Salat, and upon him^-asws was a shirt and a towel he^-asws had trousered with. When he^-asws performed Salaam from his^-asws Salat, I said to him^-asws, ‘Answer commander of the faithful!’

فَقَالَ دَعْنِي أَدْعُو وَ أَلْبَسُ ثِيَابِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَيْسَ إِلَى تَرْكِكَ وَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلٌ قَالَ وَ أَدْخُلُ الْمُغْتَسَلَ فَأَتَطَهَّرُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ لَيْسَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ‏ سَبِيلٌ فَلَا تَشْغَلْ نَفْسَكَ فَإِنِّي لَا أَدَعُكَ شَيْئاً

He^-asws said: ‘Leave me^-asws and I^-asws shall wear my^-asws clothes’. I said to him^-asws, ‘There isn’t any way for me to leave you and that’. He^-asws said: ‘And can I^-asws entered the washroom and cleanse?’ I said, ‘And there isn’t any way to that, so do not pre-occupy yourself^-asws for I will not leave you for anything!’

قَالَ فَأَخْرَجْتُهُ حَافِياً حَاسِراً فِي قَمِيصِهِ وَ مِنْدِيلِهِ وَ كَانَ قَدْ جَاوَزَ ع السَّبْعِينَ فَلَمَّا مَضَى بَعْضُ الطَّرِيقِ ضَعُفَ الشَّيْخُ فَرَحِمْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ ارْكَبْ فَرَكِبَ بَغْلَ شَاكِرِيٍ‏ كَانَ مَعَنَا ثُمَّ صِرْنَا إِلَى الرَّبِيعِ

He (the narrator) said, ‘I brought him^-asws out bare-footed in his^-asws shirt and his^-asws towel, and he^-asws had exceeded the seventy (years). When he^-asws had passed some of the road, the old man weakened, so I pitied him^-asws. I said to him^-asws, ‘Ride!’ So he^-asws rode a hired mule which was with us. Then we came to Al-Rabie.

فَسَمِعْتُهُ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ لَهُ وَيْلَكَ يَا رَبِيعُ قَدْ أَبْطَأَ الرَّجُلُ وَ جَعَلَ يَسْتَحِثُّهُ اسْتِحْثَاثاً شَدِيداً فَلَمَّا أَنْ وَقَعَتْ عَيْنُ الرَّبِيعِ عَلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ هُوَ بِتِلْكَ الْحَالِ بَكَى وَ كَانَ الرَّبِيعُ يَتَشَيَّعُ

I heard him (Al-Mansour) and he was saying to him, ‘O Rabie! The man has been delayed!’ And he went on to provoke him with severe provoking. When the eyes of Al-Rabie fell upon Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, and he^-asws was in that state, he cried, and Al-Rabie was escorting him^-asws.

فَقَالَ لَهُ جَعْفَرٌ ع يَا رَبِيعُ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ مَيْلَكَ إِلَيْنَا فَدَعْنِي أُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ أَدْعُو قَالَ شَأْنَكَ وَ مَا تَشَاءُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ خَفَّفَهُمَا ثُمَّ دَعَا بَعْدَهُمَا بِدُعَاءٍ لَمْ أَفْهَمْهُ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ دُعَاءٌ طَوِيلٌ وَ الْمَنْصُورُ فِي ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ يَسْتَحِثُّ الرَّبِيعَ

Ja’far^-asws said to him: ‘O Rabie! I^-asws know of your inclination towards us^-asws, so leave me to pray two Cycles Salat and supplicate’. He said, ‘Your^-asws concern and whatever you like’. So he^-asws prayed two Cycles (Salat), lightening them, then supplicated after them with a supplication I could not understand except that it was a lengthy supplication, and during all that, Al-Mansour was scolding Al-Rabie.

فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ عَلَى طُولِهِ أَخَذَ الرَّبِيعُ بِذِرَاعَيْهِ فَأَدْخَلَهُ عَلَى الْمَنْصُورِ فَلَمَّا صَارَ فِي صَحْنِ الْإِيوَانِ وَقَفَ ثُمَّ حَرَّكَ شَفَتَيْهِ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ لَمْ أَدْرِ مَا هُوَ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلْتُهُ فَوَقَفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ

When he^-asws was free from his^-asws supplication upon its length, Al-Rabie grabbed his^-asws forearm and entered him^-asws to see Al-Mansour. When he^-asws came to be in the courtyard hall, he^-asws paused, then moved his^-asws lips with something, I do not know what it was, then I entered to pause him^-asws in front of him.

فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ وَ أَنْتَ يَا جَعْفَرُ مَا تَدَعُ حَسَدَكَ وَ بَغْيَكَ وَ إِفْسَادَكَ عَلَى أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ مِنْ بَنِي الْعَبَّاسِ وَ مَا يَزِيدُكَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ إِلَّا شِدَّةَ حَسَدٍ وَ نَكَدٍ مَا تَبْلُغُ بِهِ مَا تُقَدِّرُهُ

When he looked at him^-asws, he said, ‘And you^-asws, O Ja’far^-asws! You^-asws have not left your^-asws envy, and your rebellion, and your^-asws spoiling (matters) upon the people of this house from the clan of Al-Abbas, and Allah^-azwj has not Increased you^-asws except severity of the envy and hate what you^-asws have reached with, what you^-asws can measure’.

فَقَالَ لَهُ وَ اللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا فَعَلْتُ شَيْئاً مِنْ هَذَا وَ لَقَدْ كُنْتُ فِي وَلَايَةِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ وَ أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ أَعْدَى الْخَلْقِ لَنَا وَ لَكُمْ وَ أَنَّهُمْ لَا حَقَّ لَهُمْ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ

He^-asws said to him: ‘By Allah^-azwj, O commander of the faithful! I^-asws have not done anything from this, and I^-asws used to be in the governance of the clan of Umayya and you know they are the most inimical of the people to us^-asws and to you all, and they, there are no rights for them in this command (caliphate).

فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا بَغَيْتُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لَا بَلَغَهُمْ عَنِّي سُوءٌ مَعَ جَفَاهُمُ الَّذِي كَانَ بِي وَ كَيْفَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَصْنَعُ الْآنَ هَذَا وَ أَنْتَ ابْنُ عَمِّي وَ أَمَسُّ الْخَلْقِ بِي رَحِماً وَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَطَاءً وَ بِرّاً فَكَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ هَذَا

By Allah^-azwj! I^-asws neither rebelled against them nor did any evil reach them from me^-asws, along with their tyranny which was with me^-asws, and how, O commander of the faithful, can I^-asws be doing this now and you are a son of my^-asws uncle, and the closest of the people with me^-asws in kinship, and their most abundant of awarding and righteous. So, how can I^-asws be doing this?’

فَأَطْرَقَ الْمَنْصُورُ سَاعَةً وَ كَانَ عَلَى لِبْدٍ وَ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ مِرْفَقَةٌ جُرْمُقَانِيَّةٌ وَ تَحْتَ لِبْدِهِ سَيْفٌ ذُو فَقَارٍ كَانَ لَا يُفَارِقُهُ إِذَا قَعَدَ فِي الْقُبَّةِ

Al-Mansour lowered his head for a while, and he was (sitting) upon fluffy wool, and on his left was a Jumurqany pillow, and under his wood was a sharp sword he would not separate from whenever he would sit in the dome.

قَالَ أَبْطَلْتَ وَ أَثِمْتَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ ثِنْيَ الْوِسَادَةِ فَأَخْرَجَ مِنْهَا إِضْبَارَةَ كُتُبٍ فَرَمَى بِهَا إِلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ هَذِهِ كُتُبُكَ إِلَى أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى نَقْضِ بَيْعَتِي وَ أَنْ يُبَايِعُوكَ دُونِي‏

He said, ‘I was tried, and I sinned’. Then he raised the pillow and brought out a dossier of letters and threw these towards him^-asws and said, ‘These are your^-asws letters to the people of Khurasan, calling them to break my allegiance, and that they should pledge allegiance to you^-asws besides me’.

فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا فَعَلْتُ وَ لَا أَسْتَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ وَ لَا هُوَ مِنْ مَذْهَبِي وَ إِنِّي لَمَنْ يَعْتَقِدُ طَاعَتَكَ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَ قَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ السِّنِّ مَا قَدْ أَضْعَفَنِي عَنْ ذَلِكَ لَوْ أَرَدْتُهُ فَصَيِّرْنِي فِي بَعْضِ جُيُوشِكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَنِي الْمَوْتُ فَهُوَ مِنِّي قَرِيبٌ

He^-asws said: ‘By Allah^-azwj, O commander of the faithful! I^-asws have not done so, nor did I^-asws allow that, nor is it from my^-asws doctrine, and I^-asws am one who believes in obeying you upon every situation, and I^-asws have reached from the years what has weakened me^-asws from that. If I^-asws had wanted it. Make me^-asws to be in one of your armies until the death comes to me^-asws, for it is near from me^-asws’.

فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَا كَرَامَةَ ثُمَّ أَطْرَقَ وَ ضَرَبَ يَدَهُ إِلَى السَّيْفِ فَسَلَّ مِنْهُ مِقْدَارَ شِبْرٍ وَ أَخَذَ بِمَقْبِضِهِ فَقُلْتُ‏ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ‏ ذَهَبَ وَ اللَّهِ الرَّجُلُ

He said, ‘No, and there is no honour (in doing that)!’ Then he lowered his head and struck his hand to the sword and he bared from it the measurement of a palm’s width and held its hilt. I said, ‘We are for Allah^-azwj! By Allah^-azwj, the man is gone!’

ثُمَّ رَدَّ السَّيْفَ وَ قَالَ يَا جَعْفَرُ أَ مَا تَسْتَحِي مَعَ هَذِهِ الشَّيْبَةِ وَ مَعَ هَذَا النَّسَبِ أَنْ تَنْطِقَ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَ تَشُقَّ عَصَا الْمُسْلِمِينَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُرِيقَ الدِّمَاءَ وَ تَطْرَحَ الْفِتْنَةَ بَيْنَ الرَّعِيَّةِ وَ الْأَوْلِيَاءِ

Then he returned the sword and said, ‘O Ja’far^-asws! Are you^-asws not ashamed being with this grey hair, and being with this lineage that you^-asws speak with the falsehood and are splitting the stick (unity) of the Muslims intending to spill the blood, and drop the discord to be between the citizens and the friends?’

فَقَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا فَعَلْتُ وَ لَا هَذِهِ كُتُبِي وَ لَا خَطِّي وَ لَا خَاتَمِي

He^-asws said: ‘No, by Allah^-azwj, O commander of the faithful! I^-asws have neither done so, nor are these my^-asws letters, nor my^-asws handwriting, nor my^-asws seals!’

فَانْتَضَى مِنَ السَّيْفِ ذِرَاعاً فَقُلْتُ‏ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ‏ مَضَى الرَّجُلُ وَ جَعَلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي إِنْ أَمَرَنِي فِيهِ بِأَمْرٍ أَنْ أَعْصِيَهُ لِأَنَّنِي ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ يَأْمُرُنِي أَنْ آخُذَ السَّيْفَ فَأَضْرِبَ بِهِ جَعْفَراً

He removed a cubit from the sword. I said, ‘We are for Allah^-azwj! The man is gone!’ And I made it to be in myself that he would order me regarding him with an order, and I shall disobey him because I thought he would be ordering me to take the sword and strike Ja’far^-asws with it.

فَقُلْتُ إِنْ أَمَرَنِي ضَرَبْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ وَ إِنْ أَتَى ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ وَ عَلَى وُلْدِي وَ تُبْتُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِمَّا كُنْتُ نَوَيْتُ فِيهِ أَوَّلًا فَأَقْبَلَ يُعَاتِبُهُ وَ جَعْفَرٌ يَعْتَذِرُ ثُمَّ انْتَضَى السَّيْفَ إِلَّا شَيْئاً يَسِيراً مِنْهُ فَقُلْتُ‏ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ‏ مَضَى وَ اللَّهِ الرَّجُلُ

I said (within myself), ‘If he orders me, I shall strike Al-Mansour (instead), and even if that goes against me and my children’, and I repented to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic from what I had intended at first. He went one to rebuke him^-asws and Ja’far^-asws was excusing. Then he brought out the sword except for a little bit from it. I said, ‘We are for Allah^-azwj! By Allah^-azwj, the man is dead!’

ثُمَّ أَغْمَدَ السَّيْفَ وَ أَطْرَقَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ وَ قَالَ أَظُنُّكَ صَادِقاً يَا رَبِيعُ هَاتِ الْعَيْبَةَ مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ كَانَتْ فِيهِ فِي الْقُبَّةِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ أَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِيهَا فَكَانَتْ مَمْلُوءَةً غَالِيَةً وَضَعَهَا فِي لِحْيَتِهِ وَ كَانَتْ بَيْضَاءَ فَاسْوَدَّتْ

Then he sheathed the sword and lowered his head for a while, then raised his head and said, ‘I think you^-asws are truthful. O Rabie! Bring the container’, which was in such and such place in the dome. He came with it. He said, ‘Insert your^-asws hand in it’. It was filled with expensive perfume. He placed it in his^-asws beard, and it was white, and it became black.

وَ قَالَ لِي احْمِلْهُ عَلَى فَارِهٍ‏ مِنْ دَوَابِّيَ الَّتِي أَرْكَبُهَا وَ أَعْطِهِ عَشَرَةَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ وَ شَيِّعْهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ مُكَرَّماً وَ خَيِّرْهُ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ بِهِ إِلَى الْمَنْزِلِ بَيْنَ الْمُقَامِ عِنْدَنَا فَنُكْرِمُهُ وَ الِانْصِرَافِ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ جَدِّهِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص

And he said to me, ‘Carry him^-asws upon my light animal which I tend to ride, and give him^-asws ten thousand Dirhams, and escort him^-asws to his^-asws house honourably and give him^-asws a choice when you come with him^-asws to the house, between the staying with us, and we shall honour him^-asws, and the leaving to the city of his^-asws grandfather^-saww Rasool-Allah^-saww!’

فَخَرَجْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَ أَنَا مَسْرُورٌ فَرِحٌ بِسَلَامَةِ جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ مُتَعَجِّبٌ مِمَّا أَرَادَ الْمَنْصُورُ وَ مَا صَارَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ فَلَمَّا صِرْنَا فِي الصَّحْنِ قُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَعْجَبُ مِمَّا عَمَدَ إِلَيْهِ هَذَا فِي بَابِكَ وَ مَا أَصَارَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ كِفَايَتِهِ وَ دِفَاعِهِ

We went out from his presence and I was cheerful with happiness for the safety of Ja’far^-asws and was surprised from what Al-Mansour had intended and what he had come to of his^-asws matter. When we came to the courtyard, I said to him^-asws, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! I am surprised from what this one had deliberated to regarding your^-asws matter, and Allah^-azwj Caused him to come to, from his sufficing, and his repelling.

وَ لَا عَجَبَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَدْ سَمِعْتُكَ تَدْعُو فِي عَقِيبِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بِدُعَاءٍ لَمْ أَدْرِ مَا هُوَ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ طَوِيلٌ وَ رَأَيْتُكَ قَدْ حَرَّكْتَ‏ شَفَتَيْكَ هَاهُنَا أَعْنِي الصَّحْنَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ لَمْ أَدْرِ مَا هُوَ

And I am not surprised from the Command of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and I have heard you^-asws during the follow-up of your^-asws two Cycles of Salat, with a supplication I do not know what it was except that it was lengthy, and I saw you^-asws to be moving your^-asws lips over there, I mean in the courtyard, with something I do not know what it was’.

فَقَالَ لِي أَمَّا الْأَوَّلُ فَدُعَاءُ الْكَرْبِ وَ الشَّدَائِدِ لَمْ أَدْعُ بِهِ عَلَى أَحَدٍ قَبْلَ يَوْمِئِذٍ جَعَلْتُهُ عِوَضاً مِنْ دُعَاءٍ كَثِيرٍ أَدْعُو بِهِ إِذَا قَضَيْتُ صَلَاتِي لِأَنِّي لَمْ أَتْرُكْ أَنْ أَدْعُوَ مَا كُنْتُ أَدْعُو بِهِ

He^-asws said to me: ‘As for the first, it is a supplication for the distress and the adversities (Do’a Al-Karb Wa Al-Shadaaid). I^-asws have not supplicated with it against anyone before today. I^-asws made it to be instead of a lot of supplications I^-asws could have supplicated with when I^-asws had fulfilled my^-asws Salat, because I^-asws have not left supplicating what I^-asws had been supplicating with.

وَ أَمَّا الَّذِي حَرَّكْتُ بِهِ شَفَتِي فَهُوَ دُعَاءُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يَوْمَ الْأَحْزَابِ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الدُّعَاءَ

And as for that which I^-asws moved my^-asws lips with, it was a supplication of Rasool-Allah^-saww on the days of (battle of) Al-Ahzaab’. Then he^-asws mentioned the supplication.

ثُمَّ قَالَ لَوْ لَا الْخَوْفُ مِنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَدَفَعْتُ إِلَيْكَ هَذَا الْمَالَ وَ لَكِنْ قَدْ كُنْتَ طَلَبْتَ مِنِّي أَرْضِي بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَ أَعْطَيْتَنِي بِهَا عَشَرَةَ آلَافِ دِينَارٍ فَلَمْ أَبِعْكَ وَ قَدْ وَهَبْتُهَا لَكَ

Then he^-asws said: ‘Had it not been for the fear from commander of the faithful, I^-asws would have handed over this wealth to you, but he had sought a request from me^-asws at Al-Medina, and had given me^-asws then thousand dinars. I^-asws am not lending it to you, and I^-asws am gifting it to you’.

قُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا رَغْبَتِي فِي الدُّعَاءِ الْأَوَّلِ وَ الثَّانِي فَإِذَا فَعَلْتَ هَذَا فَهُوَ الْبِرُّ وَ لَا حَاجَةَ لِيَ الْآنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ

I said, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! But rather, my desire is regarding the first supplication and the second. So, when you^-asws are doing this, it is the righteousness, and there is no need for me now regarding the wealth’.

فَقَالَ إِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ لَا نَرْجِعُ فِي مَعْرُوفِنَا نَحْنُ نَنْسَخُكَ الدُّعَاءَ وَ نُسَلِّمُ إِلَيْكَ الْأَرْضَ صِرْ مَعِي إِلَى الْمَنْزِلِ فَصِرْتُ مَعَهُ كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ الْمَنْصُورُ وَ كَتَبَ لِي بِعُهْدَةِ الْأَرْضِ وَ أَمْلَى عَلَيَّ دُعَاءَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَمْلَى عَلَيَّ الَّذِي دَعَا هُوَ بَعْدَ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ

He^-asws said: ‘We^-asws, People^-asws of the Household, do not retract from our^-asws acts of kindness. We^-asws shall copy the supplication for you and we^-asws shall submit the wealth to you. Come with me to the house’. I went with him^-asws like what Al-Mansour had sent him^-asws, and he^-asws wrote out for me with the gift of the wealth and dictated unto me the supplication of Rasool-Allah^-saww and dictated to me that which he^-asws had supplicated with after (praying) the two Cycles Salat.

قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ كَثُرَ اسْتِحْثَاثُ الْمَنْصُورِ وَ اسْتِعْجَالُهُ إِيَّايَ وَ أَنْتَ تَدْعُو بِهَذَا الدُّعَاءِ الطَّوِيلِ مُتَمَهِّلًا كَأَنَّكَ لَمْ تَخْشَهُ

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! The scolding by Al-Mansour has been a lot, and his hastening me, and you^-asws supplicated with this lengthy supplication relaxed, as if you^-asws did not fear him’.

قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي نَعَمْ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَدْعُو بِهِ بَعْدَ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ بِدُعَاءٍ لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُ فَأَمَّا الرَّكْعَتَانِ فَهُمَا صَلَاةُ الْغَدَاةِ خَفَّفْتُهُمَا وَ دَعَوْتُ بِذَلِكَ الدُّعَاءِ بَعْدَهُمَا

He (the narrator) said, ‘He^-asws said to me: ‘Yes. I^-asws had supplicated with it after Salat Al-Fajr with a supplication there was not escape from it. As for the two Cycles Salat, these were the morning Salat. I^-asws had lightened these and supplicated with that supplication after them’.

فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَ مَا خِفْتَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ قَدْ أَعَدَّ لَكَ مَا أَعَدَّ قَالَ خِيفَةُ اللَّهِ دُونَ خِيفَتِهِ وَ كَانَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي صَدْرِي أَعْظَمَ مِنْهُ

I said to him^-asws, ‘Did you not fear Abu Ja’far (Al-Mansour), and he had prepared to you^-asws what he had prepared?’ He^-asws said; ‘I^-asws feared Allah^-azwj besides fearing him, and Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic was in my^-asws chest, greater than him’.

قَالَ الرَّبِيعُ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِي مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنَ الْمَنْصُورِ وَ مِنْ غَضَبِهِ وَ خِيفَتِهِ عَلَى جَعْفَرٍ وَ مِنَ الْجَلَالَةِ لَهُ فِي سَاعَةٍ مَا لَمْ أَظُنُّهُ يَكُونُ فِي بَشَرٍ فَلَمَّا وَجَدْتُ مِنْهُ خَلْوَةً وَ طَيَّبَ نَفْسِي قُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَأَيْتُ مِنْكَ عَجَباً قَالَ مَا هُوَ

Al-Rabie said, ‘There was in my heart, from what I had seen from Al-Mansour, and of his anger, and his frightening upon Ja’far^-asws, and from the majesty to him^-asws during a time I did not thing I would be in glad tidings. When I found privacy from him and my soul felt good, I said, ‘O commander of the faithful! I have seen a wonder from you!’ He said, ‘And what is it?’

قُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَأَيْتُ غَضَبَكَ عَلَى جَعْفَرٍ غَضَباً لَمْ أَرَكَ غَضِبْتَهُ عَلَى أَحَدٍ قَطُّ وَ لَا عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ لَا عَلَى غَيْرِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ النَّاسِ حَتَّى بَلَغَ بِكَ الْأَمْرُ أَنْ تَقْتُلَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ وَ حَتَّى إِنَّكَ أَخْرَجْتَ مِنْ سَيْفِكَ شِبْراً ثُمَّ أَغْمَدْتَهُ ثُمَّ عَاتَبْتَهُ ثُمَّ أَخْرَجْتَ مِنْهُ ذِرَاعاً ثُمَّ عَاتَبْتَهُ ثُمَّ أَخْرَجْتَهُ كُلَّهُ إِلَّا شَيْئاً يَسِيراً فَلَمْ أَشُكَّ فِي قَتْلِكَ لَهُ

I said, ‘O commander of the faithful! I was your anger upon Ja’far^-asws such anger I had not seen you being angered upon anyone at all, nor upon Abdullah Bin Al-Hassan, nor upon someone else from all the people, until the matter reached with you that you would kill him^-asws with the sword, and until you extracted from your sword a palm’s width, then sheathed it, then rebuked him, then extracted a cubit from it, then rebuked him, then you extracted all of it except something little, so I had no doubt regarding you killing him^-asws.

ثُمَّ انْجَلَى ذَلِكَ كُلُّهُ‏ فَعَادَ رِضًى حَتَّى أَمَرْتَنِي فَسَوَّدْتَ لِحْيَتَهُ بِالْغَالِيَةِ الَّتِي لَا يَتَغَلَّفُ مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَ لَا يَغْلِفُ مِنْهَا وَلَدُكَ الْمَهْدِيُّ وَ لَا مَنْ وَلَّيْتَهُ عَهْدَكَ وَ لَا عُمُومَتَكَ وَ أَجَزْتَهُ وَ حَمَلْتَهُ وَ أَمَرْتَنِي بِتَشْيِيعِهِ مُكَرَّماً

Then all that was gone, and you returned to be pleased to the extent that you ordered me and blackened his beard with the expensive perfume which no one applies from it except you, nor does your son Al-Mahdy apply from it, one who you have chosen as governors, nor your generality, and you rewarded him^-asws, and carried him^-asws (upon your mule) and ordered me with escorting him^-asws honourably!’

فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا رَبِيعُ لَيْسَ هُوَ كَمَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تُحَدِّثَ بِهِ وَ سَتْرُهُ أَوْلَى وَ لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ وُلْدَ فَاطِمَةَ فَيَفْتَخِرُونَ وَ يَتِيهُونَ بِذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا حَسْبُنَا مَا نَحْنُ فِيهِ وَ لَكِنْ لَا أَكْتُمُكَ شَيْئاً انْظُرْ مَنْ فِي الدَّارِ فَنَحِّهِمْ

He said, ‘Woe be to you, O Rabie! It isn’t like what is befitting that you should be narrating with it, and concealing it is foremost, and I do not like that it should reach the sons^-asws of (Syeda) Fatima^-asws, so they^-asws would be priding and boasting with that upon us. It suffices us (Abbasids) what we are in. But I shall not conceal anything from you. Look who is in the house, so forbid them’.

قَالَ فَنَحَّيْتُ كُلَّ مَنْ فِي الدَّارِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي ارْجِعْ وَ لَا تُبْقِ أَحَداً فَفَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي لَيْسَ إِلَّا أَنَا وَ أَنْتَ وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ سَمِعْتُ مَا أَلْقَيْتُهُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ وَ وُلْدَكَ وَ أَهْلَكَ أَجْمَعِينَ وَ لَآخُذَنَّ مَالَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أُعِيذُكَ بِاللَّهِ

He (the narrator) said, ‘I got everyone in the house to step back. Then he said to me, ‘Return and no one should remain’. I did so. Then he said to me, ‘There isn’t anyone except I and you. By Allah^-azwj! If I were to hear from anyone what I am casting to you, I will kill you, and your children, and destroy them all, and will seize your wealth’. He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘O commander of the faithful! I seek Refuge with Allah^-azwj!’

قَالَ يَا رَبِيعُ قَدْ كُنْتُ مُصِرّاً عَلَى قَتْلِ جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَنْ لَا أَسْمَعَ لَهُ قَوْلًا وَ لَا أَقْبَلَ لَهُ عُذْراً وَ كَانَ أَمْرُهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مِمَّنْ لَا يَخْرُجُ بِسَيْفٍ أَغْلَظَ عِنْدِي وَ أَهَمَّ عَلَيَّ مِنْ أَمْرِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ فَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمُ هَذَا مِنْهُ وَ مِنْ آبَائِهِ عَلَى عَهْدِ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ

He said, ‘O Rabie! I was insistent upon killing Ja’far^-asws and not to listen to any word for him^-asws nor accept any excuse for him^-asws, and his^-asws affair was from the ones which could not be extracted with a sword. It was harsh in my view and worrying upon me than the matter of Abdullah Bin Al-Hassan, for I was more knowing of this than him^-asws, and from his^-asws forefathers^-asws in the era of the clan of Umayya.

فَلَمَّا هَمَمْتُ بِهِ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الْأُولَى تَمَثَّلَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَإِذَا هُوَ حَائِلٌ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ بَاسِطٌ كَفَّيْهِ حَاسِرٌ عَنْ ذِرَاعَيْهِ قَدْ عَبَسَ وَ قَطَّبَ فِي وَجْهِي عَنْهُ

When I thought of killing him^-asws the first time, Rasool-Allah^-saww resembled to me, and there, he^-saww was a barrier between me and him^-asws, extending his^-saww hands, protecting by his^-saww forearms. He^-saww was frowning and scowling in my face about him^-asws.

ثُمَّ هَمَمْتُ بِهِ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الثَّانِيَةِ وَ انْتَضَيْتُ مِنَ السَّيْفِ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا انْتَضَيْتُ مِنْهُ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الْأُولَى فَإِذَا أَنَا بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَدْ قَرُبَ مِنِّي وَ دَنَا شَدِيداً وَ هَمَّ لِي أَنْ لَوْ فَعَلْتُ لَفَعَلَ فَأَمْسَكْتُ

Then I thought of killing him the second time and I drew out from the sword more than I had drawn out the first time. There I was with Rasool-Allah^-saww having come closer to me and was severed and thought of killing me. If I had done it, he^-saww would have done it. So, I withheld.

ثُمَّ تَجَاسَرْتُ وَ قُلْتُ هَذَا بَعْضُ أَفْعَالِ الرَّئِيِّ ثُمَّ انْتَضَيْتُ السَّيْفَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ فَتَمَثَّلَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بَاسِطَ ذِرَاعَيْهِ قَدْ تَشَمَّرَ وَ احْمَرَّ وَ عَبَسَ وَ قَطَّبَ حَتَّى كَادَ أَنْ يَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَيَّ فَخِفْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ فَعَلْتُ لَفَعَلَ

Then I dared and said, ‘This is one of the deeds of opinion (imagination). Then I drew out the sword during the third time. Rasool-Allah^-saww resembled to me, spreading his^-asws arms, furious, reddened, and frowned and scowled until he^-saww had almost placed his^-saww hand upon me. So, I feared. By Allah^-azwj! If I had done it, he^-saww would have done it.

وَ كَانَ مِنِّي مَا رَأَيْتَ وَ هَؤُلَاءِ مِنْ بَنِي فَاطِمَةَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ لَا يَجْهَلُ حَقَّهُمْ إِلَّا جَاهِلٌ لَا حَظَّ لَهُ فِي الشَّرِيعَةِ فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ هَذَا مِنْكَ أَحَدٌ

And there has happened from me what you saw, and they^-asws are from the sons^-asws of (Syeda) Fatima^-asws. May the Salawaat of Allah^-azwj be upon them^-asws. No one will ignore their^-asws rights except an ignorant one, nor would there be any share for him in the Law. So beware of this being heard from you by anyone!’

قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ فَمَا حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ أَبِي حَتَّى مَاتَ الْمَنْصُورُ وَ مَا حَدَّثْتُ أَنَا بِهِ حَتَّى مَاتَ الْمَهْدِيُّ وَ مُوسَى وَ هَارُونُ وَ قُتِلَ مُحَمَّدٌ.

Muhammad Bin Al-Rabie said, ‘So my father did not narrate to me with it until Al-Mansour died, and I did not narrate with it until Al-Mahdy, and Musa, and Haroun died, and Muhammad was killed’’.[3]

[1] Bihar ul Anwar, vol. 48

[2] Bihar Al Awaar – V 46, The book of History – Ja’far Al Sadiq^asws, Ch 6 H 37

[3] Bihar Al Awaar – V 46, The book of History – Ja’far Al Sadiq^asws, Ch 6 H 40