The audible story of Imam Zaman’s honorable mother’s marriage

Based on some authentic documents, Ibn Bābawayh and Shaykh Tūsī narrated from Bishr ibn Sulaymān. He was a slaver and one of Imām Alī al- Naqī [Hādī] and Imām Askarī (pbu th)’s neighbors in the city “Surr man Ray” and also one of their special Shiites.  He mentioned:

Once Imām Alī al- Naqī (pbuh)’s servant whose name was “Kāfūr” came to me. He told that Imām Hādī (pbuh) asked for me. So, I went to The Excellency’s service and sat there. There, he stated, ‘You are of The Helpers’ offspring. And since the time of the Messenger of God (pbuh&h), you have always loved us and accepted our guardianship/ leadership. Moreover, you have been trustable to us.

[Now], I want to give you a mission that will make you reach a higher level than other Shiites, in accepting our guardianship! We will tell you the other secrets too. You are supposed to buy a bondman!’

Then, the Imām wrote a nice letter in Latin language and in Latin style handwriting. Then, he sealed it with his seal. He also took out a sack that was full of gold and had two hundred and twenty Ashrafi1. He stated, ‘Take this letter and gold, head to Baqdād. Then you should be present at such bridge on such day.

When the ships that carry the captives landed on the shore, you could see a crowd of bondmen. Also, a group of deputies of Bani Abbās’s Emirs and a few Arab young men will gather around them. All day long, you have to be on the lookout for the slaver named “Amroo ibn Yazīd”. You will wait until the time, he introduces the bondwoman who has such and such features… she will wear silk clothes.

She will be wearing silk clothes and because of chastity, she does not like customers to look at her or touch her. Also, you will hear her speaking in the Roman language. There, she means, ‘I am worried about my chastity!

Anyhow, one of the customers will say, ‘I will pay three hundred Ashrafi for this bond girl. It was her chastity that made me more eager to buy her!’ Then, the bond girl will say in Roman, ‘If you will turn to Sulaymān ibn Dāwood [pbuh] and have his kingdom, I won’t be attracted to you! So, don’t spend your money on me and don’t waste it!

At that time, the slaver will wonder, ‘What can I do with you, when you don’t like any customers? I have to sell you!’ And the bond gild will react, ‘Why are you in a hurry?! I want to be interested in him, and trust in his faithfulness and religiosity.’

Just then, you must go to the slaver and express, ‘I have a letter in Latin language and handwriting, which is written kindly by one of the noble and honorable people. He described his generosity, faithfulness, and honor in the letter. Give the letter to the bond girl to read, then give this letter to the bond girl to read. If she likes the writer of this letter, I will be a lawyer on behalf of that honorable man [the writer]. And I will buy that bond girl for him.

Bishr ibn Sulayman said, ‘I did what the Excellency had ordered, and I put his words in order. However, when the bond girl looked at the letter, she cried a lot and told Amroo ibn Yazīd, ‘Sell me to the writer!’ Then, she swore to the greatest values and beseeched, ‘If you don’t sell me to him, I will kill myself!’

Anyhow, I discussed the price with the slaver so that, he was convinced to sell her at the price that His Excellency Imām Alī Naqī (pbuh) had meant. So, I gave the gold and took the bond girl. The bond girl became happy and smiley and came to the chamber which I rented in Baqdād. On the way, she would take out the letter, kissed it, put it on her eyes and face, and hold it close to her body.

There, I wondered, ‘You are kissing a letter which you don’t know the writer of?!’ The bond girl reacted, ‘O, you are unable to understand! You have few knowledge about the greatness of prophets (pbu th)’ offspring and successors. Listen to me carefully, so that I can explain my biography!’

I am I Malika the daughter of Yashua, son of the Caesar [king] of Rome. the son of Rome’s king.  My mother is one of the offspring of Shamʿūn ibn Hamun ibn al Safā, who was His Excellency Isā (pbuh)’s successor. [Now,] I am going to explain to you some wonderful news:

Know that, when I was thirteen years old, my ancestor wanted to marry me to his nephew. So, he invited the following people to his palace: a group who were the offspring of [His Excellency] Isā (pbuh)’s apostles, Christian scholars, and worshippers. They were three hundred people, in addition to seven hundred people of high rank. Furthermore, he invited commanders, generals, elders of the army, and the tribes’ heads who were four thousand people [, on the whole].

There, he ordered to bring a throne which had been ornamented with various jewels, during his kingship. Then, he ordered to provide forty legs for it and put his idols and crosses on the top of it! Afterward, he asked his nephew to go on the top. But as the priests had held The Bible to recite, the idols [special statues] and Crosses fell on the ground. Also, the legs broke down, the throne fell down and the nephew fell off the throne and became unconscious.

Well, the priests paled and began trembling! So, their head requested my ancestor, ‘O, king! Let us not to do it! The bad omen event means Christianity will die so soon!

However, my ancestor perceived it as a bad omen and commanded the scholars and priests, ‘Prepare the throne again and put the Crosses on their places. Then, bring the brother of my unfortunate and unlucky nephew to get this girl married to him. May the second’s prosperity remove his brother’s malevolent!’

Anyhow, when I slept at night, I dreamt of His Excellency Jesus the Christ [pbuh], Shamʿūn, and a crowd of apostles gathered together in the palace. They had installed a pulpit, made of light that looked higher than the sky. It was the very place where my ancestor had put the throne.

There, His Majesty Messenger of God (pbuh&h), his successor and son-in-law “Alī ibn Abi Talīb [pbuh]”, and a crowd of Imāms and the offspring [pbu th] made the palace illuminated by their arrival. So without pause, His Excellency Jesus the Christ [pbuh] went politely and to welcome the Messenger of God with honor and bow. Also, he wrapped his arm around His Majesty’s blessed neck.

Then, His Majesty Messenger of God (pbuh&h) stated, ‘O, Rūḥ Allah[2]! We are here to propose this prosperous son to Shamʿūn’s daughter [offspring] “Malika”. He pointed at the Moon of Imamate and caliphate tower[3] “Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh)” who is the son of the one, whom you gave the letter to me.

And, His Excellency Jesus the Christ [pbuh] took a look at His honorable Shamʿūn and stated, ‘the honorable man of both here and after the world came to you! Marry your offspring to Ale –Muḥammad (pbuh)’s offspring [son]. Shamʿūn reacted, ‘I obey!’

There, all of them went up the pulpit. The Majesty Messenger of God (pbuh&h) gave a sermon; he and His Excellency Christ [pbuh] married me to Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh). His Majesty Messenger of God (pbuh&h) and apostles were witnesses. But when I woke up of that blissful dream, I didn’t explain it to my ancestor; lest I may be killed! [Yes,]I saved this free treasure in my chest. However, the fire of kindness of the Sun of Imamate’s sky started burning in the center of my love, day by day. And it would lessen my wealth of patience and calmness, to the extent that, I was not able to drink or eat at all!

Day by day, my face turned pale, I would get thinner, and the trace of the hidden love would be shown apparently. Well, there was no doctor in Rome that my ancestor didn’t take me, to be treated. But, when he asked about the treatment, they had negative answers!

One day, as he was disappointed with my treatment, he told me, ‘O, the light of my eye! Do you have something as a wish in your mind, that you want me to fulfill it?’ I reacted, ‘O, my ancestor! I see the doors of my victory are closed on me! If you prevent torturing and bothering of the Muslim captives who are in your prison, untie their chains and shackles, and release them, I hope His Excellency Christ and his mother [pbu th] will heal me!

He did what I wanted, I turned healthy and ate some food. So, he was happy. Also, he honored and respected the Muslim captives.

After [surprisingly,] fourteen nights,

I dreamt that the Best Woman in the world “Fātimā Zahrā (pbuh)” came to visit me. Also, Her Majesty Mary (pbuh) and one thousand bond girl of Hoor al Ayan* of heaven were at her service.

There, Her Majesty Mary stated, ‘This honorable girl is the Best Woman who will be your [grand] mother- in- law, mother of Imām Haṣan Askarī (pbuh). Then, I begged, cried and complained, ‘Imām Ḥasan (pbuh) oppressed me and refused to see me. [By oppressed, she meant not paying attention]’

After that, Her Majesty [Zahrā (pbuh)] stated, ‘How can my son come to visit you, while you are polytheist; you -are [still] Christian. Yet, my sister Mary, Imrān’s daughter hates [the new] Christianity. If you prefer that The Almighty God and Mary will be pleased with you and visit Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh), recite:

اَشْھَدُ اَنْ لا اِلهَ اِلاّ اللّهُ وَ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدَا رَسُولُ اللّهِ

I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah. And testify that Muḥammad [pbuh&h] is his Messenger

When I expressed those two pure words, Her Majesty Sayyidat al Nisā [pbuh] hugged me tightly, sympathized and stated, ‘Now, look forward to seeing my son. I will send him to you!’ Then, I woke up and recited those two pure words, and I was looking forward to visiting the honorable Excellency.

When I fell asleep the next night, I dreamt the Sun- like the beauty of the Excellency.

There I requested, ‘O, my friend! Why have you oppressed me by not letting me see your grace, after you made me fall in love with you?!’He stated, ‘I have postponed coming to you, but because you were not Muslim [you were Christian]! Now that you converted to Islām, I will be visiting you every night, until The Almighty God wants for us to see each other in person. And he will turn this staying away into being with each other.’

[Yes,] since that night, there hasn’t been even one night that he hasn’t cured this staying away by coming to me!

There, Bishr ibn Sulaymān wondered, ‘How did you pretend to be captive and come along with them?!’

She replied, ‘One night, Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh) informed me, ‘Your grandfather is going to send an army to fight with the Muslims, on such a day! He is going to follow them too. So, you must come along with the servants and bond girls; while disguised yourself so that they won’t recognize you. And follow your grandfather on such a path.’’

I obeyed what he stated. And then, the vanguard of the Muslim Army encountered us, made us captive, and now I am here as you can see. Except you, no one has found out that I am the daughter of the king of Rome. The old man whom I was his share among the bond girls, asked my name and I said, ‘My name is Narjis!’ He reacted, ‘This name is usually for bond girls!’

Bishr wondered, ‘It’s astounding for me that even though you are a European, you know how to speak Arabic well!?’ She replied, ‘Due to the great love of my grandfather [ancestor] toward me, he wanted for me to learn courtesy. Therefore, he got a bilingual female translator who knew Latin and Arabic, to teach me Arabic language every morning and evening, so that I became fluent.

Bishr said, ‘I took her to Sirr Mann Rai [Sammara] to be at the service of Imām Alī al Naqī (pbuh). The Excellency told the bond girl [Narjis], ‘How come The Almighty God gave you the honor of the religion of Islam and removed the humiliation of the Christian, and gave you the honor and dignity of Muḥammad (pbuh&h) and his Ahl al Bayt (pbu th)?’ She replied, ‘O, the Messenger of God (pbuh&h)’s son! How can I explain the thing to you, which you know better than me?!’ Then, the Excellency stated, ‘I’d like to give honor to you! Which one do you prefer: to give you ten thousand Ashrafī, or give you the good news of eternal honor?’

She answered, ‘I prefer the good tidings of eternal prosperity, not wealth!’ His Excellency reacted, ‘I give you good tiding with having the child who will be the king [leader] of the east and west of the world and will fill the earth with justice after it was filled with injustice

There, she wondered, ‘Who will have [be the father of] this child?!’ He stated, ‘The one whom the Messenger of God proposed him to you.’ And he continued, ‘Who did His Excellency Christ [pbuh] and his successor marry you to?’ She replied, ‘To your son, Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh).’

His Excellency stated, ‘Do you know him?’ She answered, ‘Since I converted to Islām through The Best Woman [Her Majesty Fātimā (pbuh)]. There was no night, but the Imām come to my dream!’

There, the Excellency asked his servant Kāfūr and stated, ‘Go and call my sister, Ḥakīma Khatūn!’

As Ḥakīma Khatūn entered, the Excellency stated, ‘Here is the bond girl whom I told you about.’ There, Ḥakīma Khatūn embraced her, patted her a lot, and got happy.

The Excellency stated, ‘O, the Messenger of God (pbuh&h)’s daughter! Take her to your house and teach her the obligations and Islamic tradition; she is Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh)’s wife and the mother of Sāhib al Amr (mGehr)!’

Anyhow, based on the authentic documents, Kulaynī, Ibn Bābawayh, Shaykh Tūsī, Sayyid Murtaḍā, and some other high- ranking Muhaddithin narrated from Ḥakīma Khatūn as follows:

Once day, Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh) gave me the honor and came to my house. He looked sharply at Narjis Khatūn. There, I asked him, ‘If you love to see her, I will send her to you!’ He stated, ‘O, aunt! That looking sharply was because of wonder! Well, The Almighty God wants for this woman to give birth to a child, who spreads justice in the whole world while it will have been full of cruelty. [Again,] I asked, ‘Will I send her to you?’ He stated, ‘Ask my honorable father for permission.’

Ḥakīma Khatūn explained, ‘I wore my clothes and went to my brother “Imām Alī al- Naqī (pbuh)” ’s house. As I greeted and sat down, without hearing any other word by me, he stated

‘O, Ḥakīma! Send Narjis to my son!’ I told, ‘O, my Sayyid! That is why, I have come to you; to ask for permission.’ He stated, ‘O, honorable and the owner of blessing! As God wants you to be a partner in such a blessing, and honor you with a great abundance of goodness and prosperity, He made you a mediator for such a matter.’

Ḥakīma continued, ‘I returned my home soon and prepared the wedding of the source of magnanimity and prosperity [Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh)], in my house!

After some days, I took the Saʿd Akbar [4][Imām Askarī (pbuh)] and the Flower Face [Narjis Khatūn (mGbhs)] to the house of Shinning Sun “the Imām’s holy father”.

Well, some days passed and the Light shining from Imamate sun [Imām Hādī (pbuh)] set in the west of the survival world [was martyred], and the moon of caliphate month “Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh)” succeeded him. And I would go to the service of the Imām al Bashar [5] [Imām Askarī (pbuh)], as I did so with his father.

Anyhow, one day Narjis Khatūn came to me and requested, ‘O, Khatūn! Stretch your leg, I want to take off your shoes!’ I said in surprise, ‘You are my Khatūn and lordess [lady]! I will never let you take off my shoes and be at my service; instead, I am proud of this honor and will be at your service!’

As Imām Askarī (pbuh) heard me saying that, he stated, ‘O, aunt! May God bless you!’ Then, I sat and was at the Sir’s service until sunset. After that, I ordered my bond woman, ‘Bring my clothes! I am going to go.’

There, His Excellency stated, ‘O, aunt! Stay with us tonight. On this night, a precious infant will be born to whom, the Almighty will revive the earth with knowledge and faith, after the death of the earth, due to the spread of disbelief and misguidance!’ I wondered, ‘O, my Sayyid! Who will bear this infant?! Yet, I cannot see any sign of pregnancy in Narjis?!’ He replied, ‘Narjis will bear him, not anyone else.’”

Well, I carefully looked at Narjis’s back and belly, but didn’t find any sign! So, I turned back and showed my wonder. But His Excellency smiled and stated, ‘in the morning, sign of pregnancy will appear in her. She is similar to Mūsā [pbuh]’s mother in this case; she will not have any sign till the time of due. And no one knows [she is pregnant]. Yes, Pharaoh would split the bellies of the pregnant women to find His Excellency Mūsā [pbuh]. Therefore, this infant’s condition is similar to His Excellency Mūsā [pbuh] in this case.’

*~*

According to another narration, His Excellency stated, ‘we, the prophets [pbu th]’ successors are carried in the [mothers’] wombs, but in their sides. Also, we do not come out of their wombs, but from their thighs! It’s because, we are The Almighty God’s lights and He has removed dirt and impurity from us

Anyway, Ḥakīma continued, ‘I went to Narjis and told that news.’

She said, ‘But I don’t have any sign of the pregnancy!’

Anyhow, I stayed up all night at their house, broke the fast, and slept next to Narjis. I also checked her condition, but she was sleeping calmly.

Well, I got more wondered and wondered and I prayed and Tahajjud [6] more than other nights! I prayed Night Prayer and when I wanted to start praying “Witr prayer^[7]”. On that night, I got up to pray and perform the night prayer, more than other nights. But, as it was time for the Witr prayer, Narjis jumped out of sleep, she made ablution and performed Night Prayer. After that, I took a look at the sky and saw, it was False Morning [Zodiacal Light]

There, I was suspicious at His Excellency [Imām Ḥasan Askarī (pbuh)]’s promise! Suddenly, the Imām called from his chamber, ‘Don’t be suspicious, it’s the due date [promised time]!’

Then I saw Narjis was distressed, so I embraced her and called God’s names for her. Again, the Excellency called, ‘Recite Surah Qadr [starting with] “اِنّا اَنْزَلْناهُ فى لَیْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ” for her.’

Then, I asked her, ‘How do you feel now?’ She replied, ‘I have the symptoms which my Mawlā stated before.’

When I started reciting “اِنّا اَنْزَلْناهُ فى لَیْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ”, I heard the infant was reciting with me and also said “Hello” to me! I was terrified, but the Excellency called, ‘Don’t be shocked; due to the power and wisdom of The Almighty God, out infants can speak. And due to His greatness, He considered us as his Hujjahs on the earth.

 

1-It was a coin equal to 3.45 grams of gold.

2_The Christ (pbuh) is entitled to “Rūḥ Allah” because he was born by the inspiration of Gabriel to Prophet Mary (pbuh).

3_ It’s a sort of respect.

4_ It is a title for Jupiter. And he is called Jupiter; because, this planet is called to be one of the affluent/ blessing ones.

5_ It means, he is the Imām for all humans.

6_It is known as the “night prayer” or “Qiyam-u-Layl”, is a voluntary prayer performed by followers of Islam. It is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of all Muslims, although the Islamic prophet Muḥammad was recorded as performing the Tahajjud prayer regularly himself and encouraging his companions. The Tahajjud prayer is usually performed in the last third of the night.

7_Witr prayer is a one-Rak’ah prayer in the 11-rak’a night prayer. This prayer together with Shaf’ prayer are considered the most meritorious part of night prayer. And Witr prayer is considered having more merits