Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār 1, record 157 of the digital edition

Translation

1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Ali bin Ibrahim bin Hashim, from his father, from Muhammed bin Khalid al-Barqi, from Abu Qutada al-Qummi, that he ascribed to Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him. Also, we were told by Ahmad bin Hasan al-Qattan al-‘Adl, that he said: We were told by Abu’l-Abbas, Ahmad bin Yahya bin Zakariya al-Qattan, that he said: We were told by Bikr bin Abdullah bin Habib, that he said: We were told by Tamim bin Buhlul, from his father, that he said: We were told by Abu’l-Hasan al-‘Abdi, from Sulayman bin Mahran, from ‘Abaya bin Rab’I, that he said: I said to Abdullah bin Abbas: Why did the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, nickname Ali, peace be upon him, as the Father of Sand [1]? He said: Because is the Master of Earth, the Proof of Allah upon its people after him, by him is its remaining, and to him it is to keep it calm. I have, verily, heard Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, say: When the Day of Resurrection will be and the disbeliever sees what Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has prepared for the Shi’a of Ali of rewards, nearness and dignity, he will say: I wish that I was sand. Meaning: I wish that I was from the Shi’a of Ali. That is the saying of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And the disbeliever says: I wish that I was sand.» (78:40)

Translation: Basel Kadem — published with the edition, reproduced verbatim.