The Birth of the Imams (a.s.)

“Once we went for Hajj with abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) in the year that his son Musa (a.s.) was born. When we arrived at al-Abwa lunch was served When he would serve food to his people he would serve good and plentiful food. At such time the messenger of Hamida, (his wife), came saying, “Hamida says, “I have almost lost my self and I have found what I was to find, I am about to give birth. You had commanded me not to do anything to this child without you.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) left with the messenger. When he came back his companions congratulated him and said, “May Allah take our souls in service for your cause, what did you do to Hamida?” He said, “Allah granted her good health and gifted me with a boy whom He has formed as the best in His creatures. Hamida informed me of a matter about him that she thought I did not know. I, however, knew it better than her.” I then asked him, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what was it that Hamida told you about the child?” He said that she informed him about the baby’s actions as soon as he fell on the ground. “The baby placed his hands on the ground and raised his head to the sky.” I explained to her that it was a sign like that of the Messenger of Allah and a sign of the executor of his will after him.” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what sign is the sign of the Messenger of Allah and the sign of the executor of his will after him?” He said to me, “In the night that the mother of my grandfather conceived him someone came to my great grandfather with a drink finer than water, softer than butter, sweeter than honey, cooler than ice and whiter than milk. He was asked to drink it and then go to bed with his wife. He went to bed with his wife and she conceived with the baby. In the night that the mother of my father conceived him someone came to my grandfather with the same kind of drink as that brought to my great-grandfather. He was asked to drink it as my great-grandfather had done. He was commanded to do as my great grandfather had done. He then went to bed with his wife and she conceived with my father. In the night that my mother would conceive with me someone came to my father with the same kind of drink as that brought for my great-grandfather and grandfather and made him to drink as they had done and commanded him as he had commanded them before him. He then went to bed with his wife and my mother conceived with me. In the night that my wife was to conceive with my son someone came to me with the same kind of drink as that for my great grandfather, my grandfather and my father. He did to me as he done to them. I then went with the knowledge of Allah and with joy for what Allah had granted to me to bed with my wife and she conceived with the baby that is just born. The newborn is with you and he, by Allah, will be your companion after me. The seed of the Imam is from what I just explained to you. When the seed is accommodated in the womb for four months and the spirit is established therein Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, then send an angel. This angel is called Haywan (animal or living). He then writes on his right shoulder “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord’s Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.”. (6:115) When he comes out of his mothers womb he places his hands on the floor and raises his head to the sky. Placing his hands on earth is an indication of his taking possession of all the knowledge of Allah that is sent from the heavens to earth. Raising his head to the sky is that because a caller from inside the Throne calls him from the high horizon with his name and the name of his father. It is for (on behalf of) the Lord, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, saying, “O so and so, son of so and so. Be firm so that you would be established. For the great purpose that I have created you, you are my chosen one in my creatures. You are the keeper of My secrets, the container of My knowledge, the trustee of My inspiration and My deputy and representative on earth. I have made it necessary for My blessings and mercy to reach you and those who would love you (and acknowledge your Divine Authority). I have gifted My paradise and given a place near Myself to you and to them. Also, by My Majesty and Grace, I will make your enemies to feel the heat of My punishment even though I may have given them expanded prosperity in My world such as prosperity in their livelihood. When the call of caller ends he responds to it by placing his hands on the ground and raising his head to the sky and says the following. “God Himself testifies that He is the only Lord. The angels and the men of knowledge and justice testify that God is the only Lord, the Majestic, and All-wise.” (3:18) The Imam (a.s.) said, “When he says this, Allah grants him the knowledge of the fist and the knowledge of the last the qualification to be visited by the spirit in the nights of destiny.” I then said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, is the Spirit different from Jibril?” He said, “The Spirit is a creature greater than Jibril. Jibril is of the angels. The Spirit is a creature greater than the angels. Is it not true that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “On this Night, the angels and the Spirit descend .” .(97:4) Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan from al-Mukhtar ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from his father from abu Basir a similar hadith.

“Imam has ten signs. He is born clean and circumcised. When falls on the earth his palms reach the ground first while he raises his head to the sky and loudly says the two testimonies. He does not experience wit dream. His eyes sleep but not his heart. He does not yawn and stretCh He sees behind just as he sees in front. His excretion would smell like musk. The earth is made to conceal and devour it. When he would dress up with coat of arms of the Messenger of Allah it would perfectly fit him. However, when other people, taller or shorter would try it would be taller on them by a hand stretch of thump and pinkeye. He is a Muhaddath (the one spoken to by angels) up to the time of his passing away.”