٤ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ وَنَحْنُ مَعَهُ بِالْعُرَيْضِ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ أَتَيْتُكَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ بَعِيدٍ وَسَفَرٍ شَاقٍّ وَسَأَلْتُ رَبِّي مُنْذُ ثَلاثِينَ سَنَةً أَنْ يُرْشِدَنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الادْيَانِ وَإِلَى خَيْرِ الْعِبَادِ وَأَعْلَمِهِمْ وَأَتَانِي آتٍ فِي النَّوْمِ فَوَصَفَ لِي رَجُلاً بِعُلْيَا دِمَشْقَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ فَكَلَّمْتُهُ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ أَهْلِ دِينِي وَغَيْرِي أَعْلَمُ مِنِّي فَقُلْتُ أَرْشِدْنِي إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ فَإِنِّي لا أَسْتَعْظِمُ السَّفَرَ وَلا تَبْعُدُ عَلَيَّ الشُّقَّةُ وَلَقَدْ قَرَأْتُ الانْجِيلَ كُلَّهَا وَمَزَامِيرَ دَاوُدَ وَقَرَأْتُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَسْفَارٍ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَقَرَأْتُ ظَاهِرَ الْقُرْآنِ حَتَّى اسْتَوْعَبْتُهُ كُلَّهُ فَقَالَ لِيَ الْعَالِمُ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ فَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ الْعَرَبِ وَالْعَجَمِ بِهَا وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ الْيَهُودِ فَبَاطِي بْنُ شُرَحْبِيلَ السَّامِرِيُّ أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِهَا الْيَوْمَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ الاسْلامِ وَعِلْمَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَعِلْمَ الانْجِيلِ وَعِلْمَ الزَّبُورِ وَكِتَابَ هُودٍ وَكُلَّ مَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الانْبِيَاءِ فِي دَهْرِكَ وَدَهْرِ غَيْرِكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ خَبَرٍ فَعَلِمَهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ فِيهِ تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَشِفَاءٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ وَرَوْحٌ لِمَنِ اسْتَرْوَحَ إِلَيْهِ وَبَصِيرَةٌ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ الله بِهِ خَيْراً وَأَنِسَ إِلَى الْحَقِّ فَأُرْشِدُكَ إِلَيْهِ فَأْتِهِ وَلَوْ مَشْياً عَلَى رِجْلَيْكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَحَبْواً عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَزَحْفاً عَلَى اسْتِكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَعَلَى وَجْهِكَ فَقُلْتُ لا بَلْ أَنَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ فِي الْبَدَنِ وَالْمَالِ قَالَ فَانْطَلِقْ مِنْ فَوْرِكَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ يَثْرِبَ فَقُلْتُ لا أَعْرِفُ يَثْرِبَ قَالَ فَانْطَلِقْ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ مَدِينَةَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِي الْعَرَبِ وَهُوَ النَّبِيُّ الْعَرَبِيُّ الْهَاشِمِيُّ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتَهَا فَسَلْ عَنْ بَنِي غَنْمِ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ النَّجَّارِ وَهُوَ عِنْدَ بَابِ مَسْجِدِهَا وَأَظْهِرْ بِزَّةَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ وَحِلْيَتَهَا فَإِنَّ وَالِيَهَا يَتَشَدَّدُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ أَشَدُّ ثُمَّ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ مَبْذُولٍ وَهُوَ بِبَقِيعِ الزُّبَيْرِ ثُمَّ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ وَأَيْنَ مَنْزِلُهُ وَأَيْنَ هُوَ مُسَافِرٌ أَمْ حَاضِرٌ فَإِنْ كَانَ مُسَافِراً فَالْحَقْهُ فَإِنَّ سَفَرَهُ أَقْرَبُ مِمَّا ضَرَبْتَ إِلَيْهِ. ” ثُمَّ أَعْلِمْهُ أَنَّ مَطْرَانَ عُلْيَا الْغُوطَةِ غُوطَةِ دِمَشْقَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْشَدَنِي إِلَيْكَ وَهُوَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلامَ كَثِيراً وَيَقُولُ لَكَ إِنِّي لاكْثِرُ مُنَاجَاةَ رَبِّي أَنْ يَجْعَلَ إِسْلامِي عَلَى يَدَيْكَ فَقَصَّ هَذِهِ الْقِصَّةَ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ مُعْتَمِدٌ عَلَى عَصَاهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنْ أَذِنْتَ لِي يَا سَيِّدِي كَفَّرْتُ لَكَ وَجَلَسْتُ فَقَالَ آذَنُ لَكَ أَنْ تَجْلِسَ وَلا آذَنُ لَكَ أَنْ تُكَفِّرَ فَجَلَسَ ثُمَّ أَلْقَى عَنْهُ بُرْنُسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَأْذَنُ لِي فِي الْكَلامِ قَالَ نَعَمْ مَا جِئْتَ إِلا لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ ارْدُدْ عَلَى صَاحِبِي السَّلامَ أَ وَمَا تَرُدُّ السَّلامَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَلَى صَاحِبِكَ إِنْ هَدَاهُ الله فَأَمَّا التَّسْلِيمُ فَذَاكَ إِذَا صَارَ فِي دِينِنَا فَقَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ أَصْلَحَكَ الله قَالَ سَلْ قَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ كِتَابِ الله تَعَالَى الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَنَطَقَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وَصَفَهُ بِمَا وَصَفَهُ بِهِ فَقَالَ حم. وَالْكِتابِ الْمُبِينِ. إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ. فِيها يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ مَا تَفْسِيرُهَا فِي الْبَاطِنِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا حم فَهُوَ مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهُوَ فِي كِتَابِ هُودٍ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ مَنْقُوصُ الْحُرُوفِ وَأَمَّا الْكِتابِ الْمُبِينِ فَهُوَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَمَّا اللَّيْلَةُ فَفَاطِمَةُ (عليها السلام) وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُ فِيها يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ يَقُولُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا خَيْرٌ كَثِيرٌ فَرَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ وَرَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ وَرَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ صِفْ لِيَ الاوَّلَ وَالاخِرَ مِنْ هَؤُلاءِ الرِّجَالِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الصِّفَاتِ تَشْتَبِهُ وَلَكِنَّ الثَّالِثَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَصِفُ لَكَ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ نَسْلِهِ وَإِنَّهُ عِنْدَكُمْ لَفِي الْكُتُبِ الَّتِي نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ لَمْ تُغَيِّرُوا وَتُحَرِّفُوا وَتُكَفِّرُوا وَقَدِيماً مَا فَعَلْتُمْ قَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ إِنِّي لا أَسْتُرُ عَنْكَ مَا عَلِمْتُ وَلا أُكَذِّبُكَ وَأَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ مَا أَقُولُ فِي صِدْقِ مَا أَقُولُ وَكَذِبِهِ وَالله لَقَدْ أَعْطَاكَ الله مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَقَسَمَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نِعَمِهِ مَا لا يَخْطُرُهُ الْخَاطِرُونَ وَلا يَسْتُرُهُ السَّاتِرُونَ وَلا يُكَذِّبُ فِيهِ مَنْ كَذَّبَ فَقَوْلِي لَكَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَا ذَكَرْتُ فَهُوَ كَمَا ذَكَرْتُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أُعَجِّلُكَ أَيْضاً خَبَراً لا يَعْرِفُهُ إِلا قَلِيلٌ مِمَّنْ قَرَأَ الْكُتُبَ أَخْبِرْنِي مَا اسْمُ أُمِّ مَرْيَمَ وَأَيُّ يَوْمٍ نُفِخَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ وَلِكَمْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ وَأَيُّ يَوْمٍ وَضَعَتْ مَرْيَمُ فِيهِ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَلِكَمْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ فَقَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ لا أَدْرِي فَقَالَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَمَّا أُمُّ مَرْيَمَ فَاسْمُهَا مَرْثَا وَهِيَ وَهِيبَةُ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ وَأَمَّا.  الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي حَمَلَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ لِلزَّوَالِ وَهُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي هَبَطَ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ الامِينُ وَلَيْسَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِيدٌ كَانَ أَوْلَى مِنْهُ عَظَّمَهُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَعَظَّمَهُ مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ عِيداً فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ وَأَمَّا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي وَلَدَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الثَّلاثَاءِ لارْبَعِ سَاعَاتٍ وَنِصْفٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ وَالنَّهَرُ الَّذِي وَلَدَتْ عَلَيْهِ مَرْيَمُ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَلْ تَعْرِفُهُ قَالَ لا قَالَ هُوَ الْفُرَاتُ وَعَلَيْهِ شَجَرُ النَّخْلِ وَالْكَرْمِ وَلَيْسَ يُسَاوَى بِالْفُرَاتِ شَيْ‏ءٌ لِلْكُرُومِ وَالنَّخِيلِ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي حَجَبَتْ فِيهِ لِسَانَهَا وَنَادَى قَيْدُوسُ وُلْدَهُ وَأَشْيَاعَهُ فَأَعَانُوهُ وَأَخْرَجُوا آلَ عِمْرَانَ لِيَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ فَقَالُوا لَهَا مَا قَصَّ الله عَلَيْكَ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَعَلَيْنَا فِي كِتَابِهِ فَهَلْ فَهِمْتَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَقَرَأْتُهُ الْيَوْمَ الاحْدَثَ قَالَ إِذَنْ لا تَقُومَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِكَ حَتَّى يَهْدِيَكَ الله قَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ مَا كَانَ اسْمُ أُمِّي بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ وَبِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَقَالَ كَانَ اسْمُ أُمِّكَ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ عَنْقَالِيَةَ وَعُنْقُورَةَ كَانَ اسْمُ جَدَّتِكَ لابِيكَ وَأَمَّا اسْمُ أُمِّكَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَهُوَ مَيَّةُ وَأَمَّا اسْمُ أَبِيكَ فَعَبْدُ الْمَسِيحِ وَهُوَ عَبْدُ الله بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ وَلَيْسَ لِلْمَسِيحِ عَبْدٌ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ وَبَرِرْتَ فَمَا كَانَ اسْمُ جَدِّي قَالَ كَانَ اسْمُ جَدِّكَ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَهُوَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ سَمَّيْتُهُ فِي مَجْلِسِي هَذَا قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ مُسْلِماً قَالَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نَعَمْ وَقُتِلَ شَهِيداً دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْنَادٌ فَقَتَلُوهُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ غِيلَةً وَالاجْنَادُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ قَالَ فَمَا كَانَ اسْمِي قَبْلَ كُنْيَتِي قَالَ كَانَ اسْمُكَ عَبْدَ الصَّلِيبِ قَالَ فَمَا تُسَمِّينِي قَالَ أُسَمِّيكَ عَبْدَ الله قَالَ فَإِنِّي آمَنْتُ بِالله الْعَظِيمِ وَشَهِدْتُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ فَرْداً صَمَداً لَيْسَ كَمَا تَصِفُهُ النَّصَارَى وَلَيْسَ كَمَا تَصِفُهُ الْيَهُودُ وَلا جِنْسٌ مِنْ أَجْنَاسِ الشِّرْكِ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْحَقِّ فَأَبَانَ بِهِ لاهْلِهِ وَعَمِيَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رَسُولَ الله إِلَى النَّاسِ كَافَّةً إِلَى الاحْمَرِ وَالاسْوَدِ كُلٌّ فِيهِ مُشْتَرِكٌ فَأَبْصَرَ مَنْ أَبْصَرَ وَاهْتَدَى مَنِ اهْتَدَى وَعَمِيَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَدْعُونَ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ وَلِيَّهُ نَطَقَ بِحِكْمَتِهِ وَأَنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ مِنَ الانْبِيَاءِ نَطَقُوا بِالْحِكْمَةِ الْبَالِغَةِ وَتَوَازَرُوا عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ لله وَفَارَقُوا الْبَاطِلَ وَأَهْلَهُ وَالرِّجْسَ وَأَهْلَهُ وَهَجَرُوا سَبِيلَ الضَّلالَةِ وَنَصَرَهُمُ الله بِالطَّاعَةِ لَهُ وَعَصَمَهُمْ مِنَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ فَهُمْ لله أَوْلِيَاءُ وَلِلدِّينِ أَنْصَارٌ يَحُثُّونَ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِهِ آمَنْتُ بِالصَّغِيرِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْكَبِيرِ وَمَنْ ذَكَرْتُ مِنْهُمْ وَمَنْ لَمْ أَذْكُرْ وَآمَنْتُ بِالله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ثُمَّ قَطَعَ زُنَّارَهُ وَقَطَعَ صَلِيباً كَانَ فِي عُنُقِهِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ مُرْنِي حَتَّى أَضَعَ صَدَقَتِي حَيْثُ تَأْمُرُنِي فَقَالَ هَاهُنَا أَخٌ لَكَ كَانَ عَلَى مِثْلِ دِينِكَ وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ مِنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ ثَعْلَبَةَ وَهُوَ فِي نِعْمَةٍ كَنِعْمَتِكَ فَتَوَاسَيَا وَتَجَاوَرَا وَلَسْتُ أَدَعُ أَنْ أُورِدَ عَلَيْكُمَا حَقَّكُمَا فِي الاسْلامِ فَقَالَ وَالله أَصْلَحَكَ الله إِنِّي لَغَنِيٌّ وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ ثَلاثَمِائَةِ طَرُوقٍ بَيْنَ فَرَسٍ وَفَرَسَةٍ وَتَرَكْتُ أَلْفَ بَعِيرٍ فَحَقُّكَ فِيهَا أَوْفَرُ مِنْ حَقِّي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَنْتَ مَوْلَى الله وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَنْتَ فِي حَدِّ نَسَبِكَ عَلَى حَالِكَ فَحَسُنَ إِسْلامُهُ وَتَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِي فِهْرٍ وَأَصْدَقَهَا أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) خَمْسِينَ دِينَاراً مِنْ صَدَقَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَخْدَمَهُ وَبَوَّأَهُ وَأَقَامَ حَتَّى أُخْرِجَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَمَاتَ بَعْدَ مَخْرَجِهِ بِثَمَانٍ وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً.
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  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  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  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  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  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  The blessed night stands for Fatima .”. . 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 ” The man then said, “Describe to me the first and last of these men.” The Imam  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  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  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  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  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  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  said, “It was ‘Abd al-Salib.” The Christian man asked, “What name would you like to give me?” The Imam  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  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  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  paid her dowry (marriage gift) which was fifty Dinars from the charities of Ali ibn abu Talib . He hired for him a servant and provided him accommodation until abu Ibrahim  was taken (to Baghdad). Thereafter he died only after twenty eight days.”