Kāmil al-Ziyārāt 1, record 178 of the digital edition

Translation

1. My father and all of my scholars narrated to me from Sa’d ibn ‘Abdillāh, from Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Isā, from Ḥusain ibn Sa’īd, from someone, from Yaḥyā ibn Bashīr, from Abī Basīr, who said: Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Hishām ibn ‘Abdil Malik sent (some of his soldiers) to take my father (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) to Shām. When my father (a.s.) entered (the palace), Hishām said, “O Abā Ja’far! I have brought you here to ask you a question that should not be asked by anyone other than me. I do not think that it is possible for anyone to know of this matter nor do I think that anyone is even capable of knowing of this matter except for one man.” My father (a.s.) said, “The commander of the believers can ask me whatever he wishes. If I know the answer, I will answer it. And if I do not, I will say that I do not know, for truth is more worthy of being told.” Hishām asked: Tell me about the night on which ‘Ali ibn Abī Ťālib (a.s.) was killed. How did those who were absent from the city in which he was killed learn of his killing? And what was the sign of his death (that appeared) for the people? If you know the answer, then tell me if that sign ever reappeared at the death of anyone other than ‘Ali (a.s.). My father (a.s.) said: O commander of the believers! On the night on which the Commander of the Believers (a.s.) was killed, no rock was moved (anywhere) on earth without fresh blood being seen under it until the break of dawn. The same thing happened on the night on which Hārūn (a.s.), brother of Mūsā (a.s.), was killed. The same thing happened on the night on which Yūsha’ ibn Nūn (a.s.) was killed. The same thing happened on the night on which ‘Isā ibn Maryam (a.s.) was raised to the sky. The same thing happened on the night on which Sham’ūn ibn Ḥammūn Al-Safā (a.s.) was killed. The same thing happened on the night on which ‘Ali ibn Abī Ťālib (a.s.) was killed. The same thing happened on the night on which Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali (a.s.) was killed. Imam Sādiq (a.s.) continued: Hishām’s face and colour changed out of anger (when he heard this) and he was about to attack my father (a.s.). However, my father (a.s.) said, “O commander of the believers! It is obligatory for the slaves (of Allāh) to obey their Imam and to be truthful to him. That which led me to answer this question was my knowledge of the fact that I have to obey the commander of the believers. So may the commander of the believers judge me favourably!” Hishām said, “You may return to your family if you so choose.” So as my father (a.s.) was leaving, Hishām asked him to promise him not to narrate this Ḥadīth to anyone for as long as Hishām lived, to which my father (a.s.) agreed.

Translation: Sayyid Mohsen Al-Husayni Al-Milani — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.