Reply to the sixth objection
This funny statement shows that this man has gone to extreme lengths in
concealment of truth. In his view, he has effective destroyed the value of this
tradition by alleging that the Shia restrict the interpretation of this verse to Ali
(a.s.). While the fact is that his own scholars have recorded this tradition in their
books and he can refer to them
Hafiz Abu Muhammad Asimi has written a two volume book on this issue
and entitled it Zainul Fata fee Tafseer Surah Hal Ata.
Does this foolish and unaware author thinks that he was a Shia? Or he is
ignorant the science of traditions? Or has not paid attention to traditions favoring
the Shia?
In any case, some narrators of this tradition are:
- Abu Ja’far Iskafi (d. 240 A.H.).1
- Hakeem Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Ali Tirmizi, who according to Nawadirul Usul, was alive till the year 285 A.H.2
- Hafiz Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Jarir Tabari (d. 310 A.H.).3
- Abul Qasim Zamakhshari (d. 538 A.H.).4
- Abu Abdullah Fakhruddin Razi (d. 606 A.H.).5
- Izzuddin Abdul Hamid, alias Ibne Abil Hadeed Mutazali (d. 655 A.H.).6
- Qazi Nasiruddin Baidhawi (d. 685 A.H.).7
- Hafiz Ibne Hajar (d. 852 A.H.).8
- Hafiz Jalaluddin Suyuti (d. 911 A.H.).9
Text of the tradition
Ibne Abbas says that Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (a.s.) were indisposed.
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) visited them with some people. He said to Ali
(a.s.):
“O Abal Hasan, make a vow for the health of your children.”
So Ali, Fatima, Fizza, their servant made a vow that if Hasan and Husain
regained health, they would keep three fasts. After sometime the sons recovered,
but at that time they were not having anything in the house to eat. Ali (a.s.) was
compelled to approach Shamun, the Jew and borrowed three Saa-a10 (nine kilos)
of barley and returned home.
Fatima grinded one Saa-a and kneaded the flour and prepared five loaves of
bread for five persons to break the fast. At that moment, a beggar arrived and
called out:
“Peace be on you, O Ahle Bayt of Muhammad. I am a beggar, a Muslim and I am needy. Please feed me, so that God may bestow you with food from
Paradise.”
Those noble beings made a sacrifice and gave him their food and spent the
night in hunger, only having a drink of water. The following day, again they
made an intention to keep a fast and then again just as they were about to end
their fast, an orphan came and sought their help.
They again gave their food to the orphan and like the previous night, slept
hungry. On the third day, at the time of breaking the fast, a prisoner approached
them and asked for help. Like the previous two days, they again gave him their
shares. On the fourth day, when it was morning, Ali (a.s.) held the hands of
Hasan and Husain (a.s.), while they were trembling like chicks, and came to the
Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). When His Eminence saw them in this condition, he said:
“Nothing is more tragic than to see you in this condition.”
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) arose and accompanied them back home. When
he entered the house of Fatima, he saw Fatima praying. Due to hunger, her
stomach was clinging to her back and her eyes were sunk.
The Prophet was much aggrieved to see this and it was at that time that
Jibraeel descended from heavens and said to the Prophet:
“O Muhammad, Almighty Allah sends congratulations to you regarding
your Ahle Bayt.”
Then he recited Surah Insan. Some commentators of Quran have narrated
this tradition in this form.