A believer from the elders of Balkh got the good sense (Taufeeq)
to perform Hajj and Ziyarat of Medina for many years; and every year, when he
went there he took gifts and presents for Imam Sajjad (a.s.), learnt religious
laws from him and then returned to his country.
One year, when he returned, his wife asked: “Does the Imam
not give you anything in return for these gifts you take for him?” That
believer replied: “This honorable person, for whom I take presents is the owner
of the world and the hereafter and whatever is with the people is also under
his discretion. Because the Caliph of the Lord, the Divine Proof on people and
the son of the Prophet is the leader of everyone.” When the wife heard this,
she fell silent.
The following year, that believer made preparations for Hajj
and performed Hajj and Ziyarat of Medina. He came to meet Imam Zainul Abideen
(a.s.) and sought permission to enter. He entered and kissed the Imam’s hand. Food
was laid. Imam commanded him to eat. After the dinner, pail and jug (Ibreeq)
was brought for washing the hands.
The Balkhi believer wanted to pour water over the hands of
the Imam. His Eminence said: “You are my guest and you want to wash my hands?”
He said: “I wish to serve you.” Imam (a.s.) said: “Though you like to do this,
by Allah, I also wish to show that which would please you much.”
The Balkhi man poured water on the hands of the Imam till
one-third of the pail was filled. Imam (a.s.) asked: “What do you see in the
pail?” He replied: “Water.” His Eminence asked: “There are red rubies.” When he
looked carefully, he saw that water had turned into red rubies. After that Imam
(a.s.) asked him to pour more water. He poured some more water on the hands of
the Imam till two-thirds of the pail was full. His Eminence asked: “What is
there?” He replied: “Water.” This time, through the intention of the
Imam it
changed into green emeralds. Once more Imam (a.s.) said: “Pour water.” He
poured till the whole pail was full. And this time the water changed into white
pearls. The pail was filled with rubies, emeralds and pearls.
That man was highly amazed and he kissed the hands of the
Imam. His Eminence said: “Take these gems to your wife in return of the gifts,
which you have presented us, and express regret from our side.”
When Balkhi man returned and brought those jewels for his
wife, she prostrated in thanks and adjured her husband to take her as well for
Hajj the following year. When the Hajj season arrived, the wife set out with
her husband, but fell ill on the way and died near Medina .
The man from Balkh
placed the body of his wife in his tent and weeping and wailing rushed to Imam
Sajjad (a.s.) and narrated the happenings. His Eminence prayed two units of ritual
prayer and supplicated. Then he said: “Go back to your wife, as Almighty Allah
has returned her to life through His power and wisdom.”
That man hastened to his tent and indeed found her alive and
in health. He asked: “How did Almighty Allah bring you back to life?” she
replied: “The angel of death arrived and captured my soul; but suddenly a
gentleman with the following characteristics came – to every quality that she
mentioned, her husband responded that it is the quality of my master, Ali bin
Husain (a.s.).
The wife continued: “When the angel of death noticed the
master, he kissed the Imam’s feet and said with utmost respect: “Peace be on
you, O Proof of Allah on His earth, peace be on you, O ornament of the pious
(Zainul Abideen),” and received the reply to that.
The Imam (a.s.) told him: “Return the
soul of this woman to her body. She was intending to perform my Ziyarat and I
supplicated my Lord to give her additional good life of thirty years.”
The angel of death said: “O beloved of the Lord, I am obedient to you.” Then he
returned my soul to my body.
After that the Balkhi and his wife set out for Medina . When they met
Imam (a.s.), the wife said: “By God, this is the same master, who ordered the
angel of death to return my soul. This wife and husband visited the Imam many
times after that till they passed away.
(Isbaatul
Wilayah of Ayatullah Haaj Shaykh Ali Namazi Shahroodi (r.a.) Section Twelve: Obedience of water to the Prophet and Holy
Imams (a.s.), Behaarul Anwaar, vol. 46, p. 47)
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