1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from af-Fadf ibn Shadhan all from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “I, once, was sitting near abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, while he was sitting in an Ihtiba’ position (holding one’s knees against one’s belly with one’s arms or a piece of cloth) facing al-Ka’bah. He (the Imam) said, ’Looking at al-Ka’bah is an act of worship.’ At this time a man from Bajilah people who was called ‘Asem ibn ’Umar came to abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and said, ’Ka’b al-Ahbar would say, “Al-Ka‘bah every morning prostrates before al-Bayt al-Maqdis (the holy house in Jerusalem).”’ Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, then asked, ‘What do you say about what Ka’b has said?’ He (the man) replied, ’He has spoken the truth, the word is what Ka’b has said.’ Abu Ja’far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, then said, ‘You have spoken lies. Ka’b al-Ahbar has spoken lies along with you.’ He (the Imam) became angry. Zurarah has said, ‘I never found him (the Imam) facing someone say, “You speak lies” except him (this man).’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has not created any site on earth more beloved to Him than al-Ka‘bah.’ He (the Imam) then pointed with his hand to al-Ka’bah and said, ’There is not anything more graceful before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, than al-Ka’bah. For this (al-Ka’bah) Allah made the sacred months, in His book, on the day He created the skies and earth. Of these months, three are consecutive: the months of Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa’dah and Dhu al-Hajjah, and one is alone for performing ‘Umrah (and it is) the month of Rajab.’”