The incident is that ten Jews came to His
Eminence (s.a.w.a.) to ask him some questions just for argument sake. In the
meantime, a Bedouin came running there as if someone was pushing him from
behind. And he had a stick on his shoulder and a bag on his head and the bag
was tied up tightly. Nobody knew what was inside it. He came and loudly
shouted: O Muhammad, answer my question at once! His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said:
O brother Arab, these Jews have came before you and want to ask some questions.
If you allow me, I will answer them first. That Bedouin said: No, because I am
a traveler and I have to move on. His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said: Indeed, being a
traveler you are worthier than them.
The Bedouin said: I want to you warn you
that these people have a book also and according to their view it is right. And
I am afraid that they may testify you and enter the folds of Muslims only to
spoil the religion of others. I shall not be content with this without seeing
any sign. His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) asked his companions: Where is Ali Ibne Abi
Talib (a.s.)? Call him here at once. Ali (a.s.) came to attend His Eminence (s.a.w.a.).
That Bedouin said: O Muhammad (s.a.w.a.)! When we both are talking, why has he
come? His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said: O Bedouin! You asked me a question of
clarification, and Ali (a.s.) has sufficient knowledge. I am the city of
knowledge and he is the gate. Whoever wants to pose any question, must enter
from the gate. When Ali (a.s.) came before the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), His
Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said in a loud voice: O people, one who wants to see the
grandeur of Adam, wisdom of Sheeth, intelligence and awe of Idrees, gratitude
and worship of Nuh, faithfulness and friendliness of Ibrahim, enmity of Musa
with enemies of Allah, love to believers and way of living of Isa (a.s.),
should look at Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.).
These words of His Eminence (s.a.w.a.)
increased the faith of believers and the hypocrisy of the hypocrites increased.
The Bedouin said: O Muhammad, you have praised the son of your uncle as his
excellence is your excellence, his prestige is your prestige, I do not agree
with any of this till such a one testifies, whose testimony I don’t doubt. When
he was asked who was that, he said: If the porpoise testifies, I shall agree.
His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said: O brother Arab, open your bag and take it out and
ask for witness. It will testify of my prophethood and my brother’s excellence.
The Bedouin said: I took too much pain to catch it and I am afraid it would run
away. His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said: Don’t be afraid. It will not run away. It
will testify to my excellence and truth. The Bedouin said: But I am afraid it
will run away. His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) said: If she runs away it would be
enough for you to falsify us. She will not run away, and she will give true
witness of me. After she gives the witness, let it go. I shall give you such
reward that will be better than it.
Hence the Bedouin took it out from his
bag and put it on the ground. It stood still there and looked at His Eminence (s.a.w.a.)
and rubbed her head on the ground and then raised her head. Allah make her
speak and she said: I testify that no one is worthy of worship except Allah. He
is One and has no partner and I testify that Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) is His Apostle
and His obedient one and he is such a Prophet that he is the leader of all
apostles and most excellent of them and the last apostle and he will take the
believers to Paradise. And I testify that his brother, Ali Ibne Abi Talib
(a.s.) has excellence and qualities mentioned above, and I testify that his
friends will be respected in Paradise and his enemies will be disgraced in
Hell.
Seeing this miracle, the Bedouin cried
and said: O Allah’s Messenger, I also testify to all that this porpoise
testified. I cannot deny what I have seen and heard. Then he turned to the Jews
and said: Woe to you, seeing this miracle, which other miracle you want to see
and ask for divine sign? Now believe in him or you shall all be destroyed. On
hearing his argument, all the Jews became Muslims and said: O brother Arab,
your porpoise is blessed for us.
After that His Eminence (s.a.w.a.) asked
the Bedouin to release the porpoise so that Allah gives him something better in
return, because she has brought faith on Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and
on the brother of the Prophet (a.s.) and given true testimony. It is not
desirable to catch it and keep in captivity, it should be released, so that she
should be the leader of all porpoises.
The porpoise said to the Prophet (s.a.w.a.):
O Allah’s Messenger, allow me to compensate him. The Bedouin asked: What
compensation can you give? The porpoise replied: O Bedouin, the burrow from
where you caught me is having ten thousand dinars and three hundred thousand
dirhams of Choesroe in it, you may take them. The Bedouin said: What should I
do? All have heard this porpoise and right now I am very tired. Those who have
rested will surely go there and take away all the wealth. The porpoise said: O
Bedouin, Allah has kept that wealth for you, in exchange of releasing me. Allah
will not allow anyone to touch it before you. If anyone tries to take it, Allah
will destroy him. Since the Bedouin was very tired, he set out from there
slowly but a group of hypocrites present there, setout before him and reached
the spot. When they put their hands into the hole to take the wealth, a large
snake came out of it and stung them and they all died. The snake waited there
till the Bedouin arrived. When he reached there, the snake cried: O brother
Bedouin, look at them! Allah has appointed me to kill them before they could
take away the treasure, that you have obtained instead of the porpoise. Now you
may take it.
The Bedouin took out all the dinars and
dirhams but could not lift them all. The snake said: Untie the string from your
waist and tie one end of it to this bag and another to my tail. I will pull it
and bring it to your house and protect you and your wealth. Thus the snake came
along with the treasure.
(Tafseer-e-Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.),
under verse 108 of Surah Baqarah)
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