4. Ahmad ibn Mihran and Ali ibn Ibrahim all have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Hassan ibn Rashid from Ya’qub ibn Ja‘far who has said the following “I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) that a Christian man came to see him. At this time we were with him in al-‘Urayd. The Christian man said, “I have come to you from a far away place after a difficult journey. I have been praying to my Lord for thirty years to guide me to the best of the religions and to the best of the servants (of Allah) and the most knowledgeable among them. I saw a person in my dream who described to me a man who lived in ‘Ulya’ (upper) of Damascus. I went to see that man and I talked to him. He said , “I am the most knowledgeable one among the people who follow my religion but other than me is more knowledgeable than me I then asked him to guide me to the one who is more knowledgeable than him because I like traveling and I can endure difficulties. I have read the whole Gospel, the Psalms of David and the four parts of Torah. I have read the apparent text of the whole Quran. The scholar then said to me, “ If you would like Christianity I am the most knowledgeable person in it among the Arab and none Arab people. If you would like the knowledge of Judaism then Bati ibn Shurahbil al-Samari is the most knowledgeable person in that religion today. However, you may like to learn the knowledge of Islam, the knowledge of Torah, the knowledge of the Gospel, the knowledge of Psalms, the book of Hud and all that is revealed to any of the prophets in your time or in the times of the others. You may like to learn all that has come from the heavens in the form of information. People may have learned or not learned such information. In such information there is the explanation for everything, the cure for the worlds, the spirit for those who wish to have comfort, understanding in what Allah has willed to be for their good and seek intimacy with the truth. I can guide you to a person who can teach you all such things). Go to him even if you would have to walk to him on foot. If would not be able to walk then you must crawl to him on your knees. If you would be able to do that also then you must drag yourself on your hips. If you would be able to reach him that way you must move to him on your face.” I then said, “ No, none of these is necessary. I can walk to him. Physically I am capable and financially I am capable.” He then said, “Go on to him without any delay until you will reach Yathrib.” I said, “I do not know where Yathrib is?” He said, “Go until you reach Madina of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) who was raised among the Arabs. He was a prophet from the Arabs, from the tribe of al-Hashim. When you will arrive there ask for banu Ghanam ibn Malik ibn al-Najjar who is near the door of the Mosque in that city. Show your self to him in the Christian dress because their governor is strict on them and the caliph is even stricter on them. Thereafter ask for the tribe of banu ‘Amr ibn Mabdhul that is in the area of al-Zubayr. Then ask for Musa ibn Ja‘far and his house and that where he himself is that is he on a journey or at home. If he would be on a journey then you must reach him because his destination is shorter than the distance you have to travel. When you will meet him say that the chief monk of al-Ghuta, Ghuta of Damascus guided me to you. That he asked me to convey his great deal greetings of peace to you and has said to you the following. “I pray to my Lord very often to make my Islam take form in your hands.”
The Christian man told this story of his dream while he was standing and supporting himself with his staff. Then he said, my master, if you would grant me permission I would like to fold my hands before you and sit down.” He said, “I you have my permission to sit down but I will not give permission to fold your hands before me” He sat down and removed his hat and said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, will you grant me permission to speak?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, you have come just for it.” The Christian man said, “Return the greetings to my friend. Do you not return the greetings of peace?” Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, “The answer to your friend is that he must accept Islam. The greeting of peace will be returned when he will accept our religion.” The Christian man then said, “I like to ask you questions, may Allah grant you well being.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask your questions.” He said, “Tell me about the book that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has revealed to Muhammad that he read to people and introduced it to them the way he did. And said, “Ha. Mim (44:1). I swear by the illustrious Book (44:2) that We have revealed the Quran on a blessed night to warn mankind (44:3). On this night, every absolute command coming from Us becomes distinguishable.” (44:4) What is its intrinsic interpretation and meaning?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ha Mim stands for Muhammad (s.a.) who is mentioned in the book of Hud which was revealed to him and its letters are shortened. The ‘illustrious book’ stands for Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) The blessed night stands for Fatima (a.s.).”. . absolute command coming from Us becomes distinguishable.” (44:4) It means that in that night there comes a great deal of good. There is the man of wisdom, the man of wisdom and the man of wisdom. (a reference to the first three Imams from the descendants of Fatima (a.s.)” The man then said, “Describe to me the first and last of these men.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Qualities are similar. However I will describe the third of these people and his descendants and he is mentioned in your books revealed to you. If you have not altered and changed and reject them as you have been doing so for a long time.” The Christian man said, “I will not hide from you what I know and will not lie to you and you already know what I will say is true and what is false. By Allah, He has granted you through His grace so much distinction and has given the opportunity through His bounties so much that people can not even think how much they are? No one can hide them and falsify them even those who reject (the truth). My words in the matter are true as I mentioned and it is as such that I said.” Abu Ibrahim then said to him, “I can tell you a news that only very few people who read books know.” Tell me what was the name of the mother of Mary and when the spirit was blown in Mary and in which hour of the day? What was the date when Jesus was born and during which hour of the day?” The Christian man said, “I do not know.” Abu Ibrahim then said, “The name of the mother of Mary was Martha and ‘Wahayba’ in Arabic. The day Mary conceived with Jesus was a Friday at noontime. It was the day in which the trusted spirit descended and among the Muslims there is no holiday of greater preference than this. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has advanced it with greatness and Muhammad (s.a) has venerated it with greatness. He commanded it to be observed as a holiday, thus, it is the day of congregation. The day in which Mary was born was a Tuesday four and a half hour before noon. Do you know the river on the side of which Mary gave birth to Jesus?” The Christian man said, “No, I do not know it.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was Euphrates that has palm trees and vineyards on its banks. No other place is like Euphrates for vineyards and palm trees. Have you noticed the day in which her tongue was curtained in speaking and Qaydus (the king of Israel) called his sons and subjects for support to take the family of ‘Imran out and look at Mary? They said to her, “What has Allah told you in His book and against us in His book?” The Christian man said, “Yes, I have read about the day of suffering.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Therefore, you will not rise from this meeting before Allah will grant you the right guidance.” The Christian man asked, “What was the name of my mother in Asyrian language and in Arabic.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In Asyrian it was ‘Anqalia. ‘Unqura was the name of your grandmother from your father’s side. The name of your mother in Arabic was Mayyata. The name of your father was ‘Abd al-Masih and it is ‘Abdallah in Arabic. Al-Masih (Messiah) did not have any servant.” The Christian man said, “You have spoken the truth and did a good deed. Would you tell me what the name of my grandfather was?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The name of your grandfather was Gibrael and I call him ‘Abd al-Rahman in this our meeting.” The Christian man asked, “Was he a Muslim?” Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) said, “Yes, he was a Muslim and he was martyred. Soldiers attacked him and murdered him in his home senselessly and the soldiers were from the people of Damascus.” The Christian man asked, “What was my name before my Kunya (such as ‘abu’ so and so or ‘ibn’ so and so)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was ‘Abd al-Salib.” The Christian man asked, “What name would you like to give me?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I will call you ‘Abdallah.” The Christian man said, “I then declare my faith in Allah the great and testify that there is no lord besides Allah Who is One and no one is His partner. He is One, Self-sufficient. He is not like what the Christians describe Him. He is not like what the Jews describe Him. He is not a genus of the categories of polytheism. I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. He has sent him with all truth. He has manifested the truth to the people of truth and has turned the people of falsehood blind. That Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah to all mankind, red and black all alike. Thus, those who have understanding have understood and those who sought guidance have received guidance. The people of falsehood have turned blind and have lost what they were calling. I testify that His representative His Wali (the Leader with Divine Authority) have spoken with His wisdom. That all the prophets before him had spoken with pure wisdom, supported each other in obedience to Allah and stayed away from falsehood and the people of falsehood and filth and the people of filth. That they kept aloof from error and that Allah supported them through obedience to Him and kept them infallible and sinless. Thus, they were the Awliya’ of Allah, possessing Divine Authority and the protectors of religion. They encouraged others to do good and commanded them to do so. I declare my faith in the small ones among them and greater ones among them, those of them whom I have mentioned as well as those that I have not mentioned. I declare my faith in Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, the Lord of the worlds”
He then cut off his necktie and the cross that was made of gold and hanged from his neck. He then said, “Command me as you would wish as to who must I pay charities due on me.’ The Imam (a.s.) said, “There is one of your brethren in religion and he is of your own people, from Qays ibn al-Tha‘laba and is doing well financially like your self. You must cooperate with each other and be lenient to each other and I will not allow that your rights in Islam be ignored.” He then said, “By Allah,-may Allah grant you well being- I am doing very well financially. In my town I have three hundred horses male and female and a thousand camels. Your rights in them is more than mine.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “You are the slave of Allah and His Messenger and your lineage is natural.” He improved himself in Islam and married a lady from the tribe of Fihr. Abu Ibrahim (a.s.) paid her dowry (marriage gift) which was fifty Dinars from the charities of Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.). He hired for him a servant and provided him accommodation until abu Ibrahim (a.s.) was taken (to Baghdad). Thereafter he died only after twenty eight days.”
Ahmad ibn Mihran et Ali ibn Ibrahim, tous deux de Muhammad ibn Ali, de Hassan ibn Rashid, de Ya'qub ibn Ja'far ibn Ibrahim ont dit : "J'étais avec Abi al-Hasan Musa (que la paix soit sur lui) quand un homme chrétien vint le voir alors que nous étions à al-'Urayd. Le chrétien lui dit : 'Je viens d'une lointaine contrée, après un voyage difficile. Depuis trente ans, j'ai demandé à mon Seigneur de me guider vers la meilleure des religions, vers les meilleurs des serviteurs, pour les instruire. Un homme m'est apparu en rêve, me décrivant un homme à Damas nommé 'Ali. Je me suis donc mis en route pour le rencontrer. Je lui ai parlé et il m'a dit : 'Je connais mieux que quiconque les gens de ma religion et d'autres religions. Dis-moi vers qui je devrais me tourner pour obtenir une meilleure connaissance que la tienne.' J'ai lu l'Évangile en entier, les Psaumes de David, quatre livres de la Torah, et j'ai récité le Coran de manière approfondie jusqu'à en saisir l'ensemble.' L'homme savant me dit : 'Si tu cherches la connaissance du christianisme, je suis plus savant que les Arabes et les non-Arabes à ce sujet. Si tu cherches la connaissance du judaïsme, c'est Bati ibn Shurahbil as-Samiri qui est le plus savant parmi les gens aujourd'hui. Si tu cherches la connaissance de l'islam, de la Torah, de l'Évangile, des Psaumes, du Livre de Hud et de tout ce qui a été révélé à un prophète parmi les prophètes de ton époque et d'autres époques, ainsi que ce qui a été descendu du ciel comme nouvelles, alors il y a quelqu'un qui en a la compréhension ou qui ne l'a pas, en cela réside l'explication de toute chose, une guérison pour l'humanité, une lumière pour ceux qui s'en approchent, une vision pour ceux à qui Dieu veut du bien, et une invitation à la vérité. Je te dirige donc vers lui, va le voir, même si tu dois marcher sur tes deux pieds. Si tu ne peux pas, alors avance en rampant sur tes genoux. Si tu ne peux pas, alors avance en rampant sur ton ventre.' J'ai répondu : 'Non, je suis capable de marcher, que ce soit dans mon corps ou dans mes biens.' Il m'a alors dit : 'Alors pars immédiatement pour Yathrib. Je lui ai dit : 'Je ne connais pas Yathrib.' Il m'a dit : 'Alors pars jusqu'à la ville du Prophète (que la paix soit sur lui et sa famille) qui a été envoyé parmi les Arabes, le Prophète arabe Hashimi. Quand tu y seras, demande pour les Banu Ghannam ibn Malik ibn an-Najjar, qui se trouvent près de la porte de sa mosquée. Montre-toi avec les vêtements d'un chrétien et ses ornements, car leur gouverneur est strict envers eux, et le calife l'est encore plus. Ensuite, demande pour Musa ibn Ja'far, où se trouve sa demeure, s'il est en voyage ou présent. S'il est en voyage, rattrape-le, car son voyage est plus court que le chemin que tu as parcouru.' Puis il m'a informé que 'Ali al-Ghawthah de Damas était celui qui m'avait dirigé vers lui, et il te saluera abondamment et te dira : 'Je prie beaucoup mon Seigneur de faire de mon islam entre tes mains.' Il a ensuite raconté cette histoire tout en se tenant appuyé sur sa canne. Puis il a dit : 'Si tu me permets, ô mon maître, je te rachète.' Il m'a fait signe de m'asseoir et m'a dit : 'Je te permets de t'asseoir, mais je ne te permets pas de te racheter.' Il s'est assis, puis il a enlevé son manteau et a dit : 'Je