Day: 20 October 2020

Astounded, Bishr Al-Ansari asked: You are kissing a letter of someone you do not know? Nargis Khatoon (sa) replied promptly: “You are incapable and little-knowing the position of descendants of Prophet Mohammed (SAW). Listen to me carefully; I am Malika daughter of Yashoa, the son of Caesar the King of the Romans. My mother is a descendant of Shimeon the disciple of Jesus the son of Mary (sa). I shall reveal to you my incredible story.

Nargis Khatoon (sa) said: “My grandfather the Caesar wanted to marry me off to his nephew when I was 13 years old. He summoned to his palace the descendants of the disciples of Jesus, three hundred of them were monks and priests, and a further seven hundred were high dignitaries. He also called four thousand men of his high ranking officers, generals, knights, noblemen and tribal chiefs. A magnificent throne, adorned with jewels and gems, was erected in the palace and raised forty steps high.”

Nargis Khatoon (sa) added: “As my grandfather’s nephew went up the throne, surrounded by huge crosses and the bishops stood up and opened their bibles, the palace started to shake, the crosses fell to the ground and the throne crashed down as its pillars shattered. His nephew was knocked down unconscious. The bishops turned pale and trembled. A senior bishop said to my grandfather: O’ King, relieve us from attending this ceremony and witness these signs which augur an evil omen of the end of Christianity and the Royal religion.”

Nargis Khatoon (sa) said: “My grandfather was annoyed and severely disturbed by this. He angrily commanded that the crosses be lifted and the pillars fixed. He ordered to continue the ceremony and called upon the brother of his nephew to marry me instead, so that the good fortunes of the latter nephew would stave off the jinx of his brother. Once again a tremor hit the palace causing great fear among the guests who ran away leaving the palace. My grandfather was saddened by this and returned to his sleeping chamber.”

Bishr Al-Ansari said that he followed all the instructions as given to him by his master, Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as) with regard to this slave girl. All the events that his master foretold materialized. Bishr Al-Ansari added: When she read the letter, she started to cry and said to Umar bin Yazid Al-Nakhas sell me to the writer of this letter, swearing and threatening to kill herself if he did not. Bishr Al-Ansari started to bargain with the slave trader on the price until he agreed to sell her at amount given to Bishr Al-Ansari by his master, Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as). Bishr Al-Ansari received the cheering and happy slave girl and accompanied her to the little room where he stayed in Baghdad. As she sat down, she took out the letter and started kissing it and swabbing with it her eyes, face and body.

Shaikh Tabarsi, one of the great scholars and traditionists of the fifth century, in his book titled Al-Gaiba (Seclusion ) reported Bishr Al-Ansari (a servant of 10th Imam, Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as)) as saying that one day, Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as) called him and said: “O’ Bishr, you are from the Ansars (inhabitants of Madina who believed in and supported Prophet Mohammad (SAW) when he migrated from Makkah to Madina in the early years of Islam) who have always been our loyal and our trustworthy through generations, therefore I want to exalt you and chasten you with the honor of carrying out a furtive mission.”

Bishr Al-Ansari said that he became very anxious as Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as) wrote a letter in Roman language, closed it and affixed his seal on it. Then he took out a yellow bundle containing 220 golden Dinars. Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as) handed me the gold bundle and the letter telling me to go to Baghdad and to be near the crossing of Euphrates there in the morning of so and so day. Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as) said: “when you see the arrival of ships with many captive women brought in for sale as slave girls, stay put as various panders for the Abbasid and a number of young Arab buyers gather around. Watch from distance a slave trader by the name of Umar bin Yazid Al-Nakhas, until he brings out a slave girls wearing silk and looks so and so. She will refuse to take the veil off her face, she will decline to show herself off or even let anyone touch her. She will cry out in Roman language to save her chastity from being attacked.”

Imam Ali Al-Naqi (as) added: “One buyer will admire her chastity and offers the salve trader 300 Dinars to buy her from him. She will say to him: I have no desire for you even if you wore King Solomon’s clothes and owned a kingdom like his, so do not waste your money on me. The slave trader will say to her: What’s the idea? You are to be sold anyhow. She would reply: Why the hurry? I will choose a buyer whom my heart likes and accepts his loyalty and honesty. Then you approach the slave trader and tell him that you have a letter from a nobleman written in Roman language and inscription describing his generosity, loyalty, benevolence and noblesse. Show her this letter, and that if she tends to accept the vices of the writer, then you could buy her for him.”

The master of the oppressed, the master of true believers, the master of the age and the master of Earth before Doomsday.

He is the Savior of humanity, the Disposer of justice, the Proof of God, the Awaited One, and the Heir of the Bible, the Torah, the Noble Qur’an and all other heavenly books.

He is none other than the 12th and last apostle (Imam) after Prophet Mohammed (SAW). He has many other titles, among them is also the Guided One (Al-Mahdi in Arabic). His name is Mohammed son of Imam Hassan Askari (as). He was born in Samarra (Iraq) on Friday 15th of the month of Shabaan in 255 AH.

His father our 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as), was imprisoned most of his life by Abbasid Caliphs to prevent him from having a son whom they feared will bring the justice and equity that was promised and remove tyranny and tyrants from the face of the earth. The 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) was poisoned in prison at the age of 28 in the year 260 AH by Al-Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph.

The Awaited One, the 12th Imam, Imam Mahdi (as) is the only son of his father, and he was 5 years old at the time of his father’s death. His mother was Nargis Khatoon (sa), for whom this article is being dedicated.

Nargis Khatoon (sa), the Mother of Imam Mahdi (as) was a Roman princess. She was the most pure offspring of the then European nations and races. It was destined that Nargis Khatoon (sa) would go to the streets of Baghdad to become owned by the most pure of men, the 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) and become the mother of the 12th Imam, Imam Mahdi (as).

The story of how they met and joined is recorded in many history books as well as sparsely in the scriptures of holy traditions of the infallibles (the Prophet Mohammad (SAW), his daughter Fatima (sa) and the twelve Imams (apostles)). It is in fact a most amazing love story in history.

This love story would also give a glimpse of the personality of the offspring of their holy marriage, the master of the world, the Anointed One, the twelfth Imam. So to know better our master, the Awaited One Imam Mahdi (as), it would be appropriate to introduce his mother Nargis Khatoon (sa) and the amazing love story of her marriage.

Among the attributes of Almighty God are the Cherisher, the Sustainer, the Discipliner. He is All-seeing and All-knowing, and wherever there is a need for cherish, He cherishes. There is no doubt that good issues, He shall put in the hands of good people. He knows who the best is; He chooses the important issues to give to important people among his servants, so they can accomplish it the best.

 

To cherish His servants and guide them to the right path of salvation, the complete religion, and consummate the mission of prophets from Adam (as) to Jesus (as), Almighty God created certain elite of people, Prophet Mohammad (SAW) and his pure progeny (as), whom He made pure, pious, faithful, faultless, and disciplined teachers and leaders of humanity. They are the teachers who can fulfill the law of God and nourish with their purity and piety the chosen servants of God. Almighty Allah said about those elite people: “…and surely Allah wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the family (of Mohammad), and to make you pure and spotless.” (Noble Qur’an: Al-Ahzab 33, verse 33)

 

Noble Qur’an: Al-Ahzab 33, verse 33

 

Also, Almighty God chose from among the other nations, some pure and chastised ladies who can be mixed with the pure waters of Imamate (apostle hood), so that immaculate offspring will be born.

 

The Match Maker, makes matches, above the powers of the human?

Yes, lies the power of fate, when you thought it was astray

The beloved made it strait

 

Two examples can be given, one of them is Shahr Banu (sa) the eldest daughter of Yazdegerd III, the last Emperor of the Sassanid dynasty of Persia (Iran), who was brought from Persia (Iran) to become the wife of 3rd Imam, Imam Hussain (as), the master of martyrs, and thus the mother of our 4th Imam, Imam Zainul Abideen (as).

 

Similarly, Nargis Khatoon (sa), the daughter of a great Roman Caesar, was chosen by Almighty Allah to become the Mother of our 12th Imam, Imam Mahdi (as). Nargis Khatoon (sa), the beautiful princess, who was also the descendant of one of the disciples of Prophet Jesus the son of Mary (as), was sent to Samarra, Iraq, to become the wife of our 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) so she can nourish in her pure womb the shinning joule, the awaited holy spirit, Al-Mahdi (the Guided One) the son of Imam Hassan Askari (as).

Imam Hasan Askari (as) said: “To greet everyone you pass by and to sit in a place other than the first class of a session are signs of modesty”.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) said: “Very much offering of prayers and fasting is not the worship; the very worship is the very much pondering over the affairs of Allah (SWT)”.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) said: “Anger is the key to every evil”.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) said: “The best of your brothers is the one who forgets your sin and remembers and mentions your favours done to him”.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) said: “Nothing is above two characters: believing in Allah (SWT) and benefiting the friends”.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) said: Generosity has a limit, when crossed becomes extravagance; caution has a limit when crossed becomes cowardice; thriftiness has a limit, when crossed becomes miserliness; courage has a limit, when crossed becomes fool-hardiness.

Let this moral lesson suffice: Cease from doing anything which you would disapprove of if done by someone else

It is narrated that Al-Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph had kept a spy to keep a watchful eye on our 11th Imam, Imam Hasan Askari’s (as) movements.

One day, a Shia (follower of Imam Hasan Askari (as)) sent some pomegranates to him as a gift. The pomegranates were placed in front of Imam Hasan Askari (as).

The spy, who happened to be present at that time, kept on staring at the pomegranates longingly. When Imam Hasan Askari (as) noticed this behaviour, despite his knowledge about him, Imam Hasan Askari (as) picked up one pomegranate and gave it to the spy. The spy took it but did not eat it.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) asked him: “Why aren’t you eating the pomegranate I gave you?” He said, “I have five children and I never eat without them. I was just wondering how I will share this one pomegranate with them”?

Imam Hasan Askari (as) felt pity for him and gave away all the pomegranates to him. The man refused but Imam Hasan Askari (as) insisted saying: “If your children eat these, it is better than I eat them!”

Innumerable true stories of our Holy Imams are written in the books, from which we can learn a lot. Studying the lives of our Holy personalities is important to all of us and to pass it over to our children. In conclusion we should raise our hands in supplication and pray that may Allah (SWT) guide us all to the path of the Ahlul Bayt (as) and give us Taufeeq to practice what they have taught us. Ameen

Almighty Allah (SWT) says: “… Then the male shall have the like of the portion of two females …” (Noble Qur’an 4:176)

A person well known for his knowledge and virtues came to Imam Hasan Askari (as) and asked, “Women are naturally weaker than men. Then why is it that they are given one share in inheritance? And men, despite their strength are given two shares? Justice demands that it should be on the contrary”.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) said, “You have seen apparent weakness of women but have not reflected on the duties of men and women. The difficulties of men are much more than those of women. Jihad is incumbent on men and not on women; the responsibility of earning livelihood rests on men and not on women; the maintenance of women is on men. Then in such circumstances if the share of men is double, is it against justice and equity?”

Once somebody asked Imam Hasan Askari (as), “Whom does the verse refer to: ‘Nay! These are clear communications in the breasts of those who are granted knowledge; and none deny Our communications except the unjust.’ (Noble Qur’an 29:49)?” Imam Hasan Askari (as) replied, “It refers to us – the Ahlul Bayt”.

A severe draught took shape in one of the years in Samarra, Iraq. Rain had not fallen for some time and crops were drying up. People were facing a famine. They did not know what to do. At that time, Al-Mu’tamid, was the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad. Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph ordered people to proceed to the desert and pray (for rain).

People did go to the desert for three days consecutively but rain did not fall. The next day, the Christians along with their scholars went to offer prayer and it rained.

This event, brought into effect a great zeal, fervor and excitement among the Muslim masses. The hearts of the Muslim got attracted towards the Christians. Al-Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph was very much perturbed, dismayed, and desperate over it. He sent a word for “Imam Hasan Askari (as)” in the prison, saying that the religion Islam of his grandfather was in danger and summoned him to his court and asked him about the solution to that problem.

Imam Hasan Askari (as) Said, “Tell them to go to the desert tomorrow for the sake of rain. They did so and Imam Hasan Askari (as) followed them with a great mob of people, following him to disclose and unveil the fact out of this matter. The Christians raised their hands towards the sky and prayed to God for rain. Not very long had passed that a cloud appeared and it started raining. Imam Hasan Askari (as) ordered that the hand of one of the Christians, which was raised up, be held and whatever was concealed among his finger folds be taken out. They observed a bone and took it out of his fingers. They presented that bone to Imam Hasan Askari (as). Imam Hasan Askari (as) wrapped it in a piece of cloth and then told Christians to pray after that, for rain to fall.

As soon as the Christian raised his hands all the clouds scattered and the sun appeared shinning. All the people were surprised and astonished at it. Al-Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph asked Imam Hasan Askari (as) what was the secret of that affair. Imam Hasan Askari (as) replied, “This is a piece of bone of one of the Prophets of God which they have picked up from his grave.” They swear to God and ask him for the sake of this bone. God grants their desire and prayer and makes the rainfall and whosoever will hold this bone the same thing will occur. After a test of it in the presence of people, what Imam Hasan Askari (as) said proved evidently correct and all of them praised Imam Hasan Askari (as).

This way Imam Hasan Askari (as) lifted the doubts from the minds of the people. After this the Imam Hasan Askari (as) himself spread his prayer mat and performed two Rak’ats of prayers then lifted his bare hands to God for rain to come to the land and wipe out the draught.

Imam Hasan Askari’s (as) prayers were heard by the Almighty God and rain fell so much that the land became fertile again and crops began to grow.

The people asked Imam Hasan Askari (as) where he lived. Imam Hasan Askari (as) pointed at Al-Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph. Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph was too embarrassed to say that Imam Hasan Askari (as) was his prisoner, so he pointed at the house that had originally belonged to his father, Imam Ali Naqi (as), and was forced to release Imam Hasan Askari (as) but only for one year.

During this year, Sayyida Nargis Khatoon (sa) became pregnant with our last Imam, Imam al-Mahdi (as).

Moral: When things happen that make you question your faith remember you do not know or understand everything.

In the early days of his Imamate of our 11th Imam, Imam Hasan Askari [who succeeded his father, Imam Ali Naqi in 254 AH / 868 CE at the age of 22], Al-Mu’tazz was the Abbasid Caliph. When the latter was deposed, he was succeeded by al-Muhtadi, son of al-Wathiq. After his brief reign of only eleven months and one week, Al-Mu’tamid eldest surviving son of al-Mutawakkil came to the throne. During their regimes, Imam Hasan Askari (as) did not enjoy peace at all. Although the Abbasid dynasty was involved in constant complications and disorders, each and every Caliph thought it necessary to keep Imam Hasan Askari (as) imprisoned.

One of the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s traditions ran that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) would be succeeded by twelve successors from his progeny (Ahlul Bayt), the last of whom would be Imam al-Mahdi (as).

The Book on Government (Kitab Al-Imara)
Sahih Muslim :: Book 20 : Hadith 4480

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Samura who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: Islam will continue to be triumphant until there have been twelve Caliphs. Then the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said something which I could not understand. I asked my father: What did he say? He said: He has said that all of them (twelve Caliphs) will be from the Quraish.

Judgments (Ahkaam)
Sahih Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 89 :: Hadith 329

Narrated Jabir bin Samura: I heard Prophet Muhammad saying, “There will be twelve Muslim rulers (who will rule all the Islamic world).” He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said, “All of them (those rulers) will be from Quraish.”

The Abbasids knew well that the true successors of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) were these very Imams. Imam Hasan Askari (as) being the eleventh, his son would surely be the 12th or the last. They, tried to put an end to his life in such a way, that it would ensure there would be nobody to succeed him. But these Abbasid Caliphs had forgotten how Firaun (Pharaoh) had tried to stop the reign of Prophet Musa / Moses (pbuh) by killing all the baby boys born to the Israelites, yet he himself was bringing up the one he wanted to kill.

As the simple confinement inflicted on his father, Imam Ali Naqi (as) was considered inadequate for Imam Hasan Askari (as), so he was imprisoned, away from his family. No doubt the revolutionary intervals between two regimes gave him brief periods of freedom. Yet as soon as the new Caliph came to the throne, he followed his predecessor’s policy and imprisoned Imam Hasan Askari (as) again. Imam Hasan Askari’s (as) brief life (28 years) therefore was mostly spent inside dungeon cells.

Moral: Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur’an, “And they planned, and Allah planned, and Allah is the best of planners.” (Noble Qur’an 3:54) i.e. Whatever Allah (SWT) has decided no-one can change