Numerous miracles have occurred near the holy grave in the sacred mausoleum of Ameerul Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). Although enlisting all of them is a gigantic task, nevertheless we have attempted to bring a few of them over here for the benefit of readers.
(1) His (a.s.) miracle concerning Kamaaluddin Qummi:
It is narrated from Kamaaluddin Ibn Ghiyas Qummi in Irshadul Qulub:
I entered the Mausoleum of my Master (a.s.). I stood up after my prayer, ziyarat and entreaty. A nail of the shrine twisted in my coat and ripped it. Instantly, I spoke “I would want the recompense from you, My Master and none else.”
A man of a non-Shia dispensation, standing near me remarked jokingly, “You will surely get a coat and cloak.”
I travelled to Hilla, a small town in Iraq (with a predominantly Shia population) after the visitation. Kamaaluddin Ibn Qashm Nasiri had arranged for a cloak and coat to be taken to Baghdad. His servant approached me and said: The presence of Kamaaluddin Qummi is requested. He caught my hand, guided me to a room and covered (presented) me with the new cloak and coat. I came out of the room and moved towards Ibn Qashm, saluted him and began to pay him respect, when he looked towards me with disdain. Turning to his servant, he spoke: I had solicited for such and such person. The servant entreated, master I have brought the person you had called for, you can confirm this in the gathering present and he is the same Kamaaluddin Qummi. I interjected; O chief! It is not you who presented me this dress; rather, it is Ameerul Momineen (a.s.).
I narrated the entire incident on his request. On hearing it, he fell in prostration and said: All appreciation is for Allah, who has bestowed this honour through me.[1]
(2) The blind one of Tikrit:
Narrated from Shaikh Husain Ibn Abdul Karim Gharavi:
A blind man entered the holy shrine of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), due to extreme age, his eyeballs had loosened in their sockets. After frequent supplications and numerous entreaties, he stood before the mausoleum and spoke in a not-too-polite-manner with Ameerul Momineen (a.s.). Many a times, I thought of reprimanding him for such a manner of speech, but changed my mind at the last moment. This continued for some time. One day, I heard a lot of commotion outside the shrine. I thought either some wheat had arrived from Baghdad or maybe somebody had been murdered. I came out to investigate and was told that the eyesight of a blind man had been restored. I thought to myself: I wish it’s the same blind old man. I moved forward to the courtyard of the shrine and found that it was indeed the same man. I thanked God.
My revered father has added a sentence to this incident. He says: When the blind man spoke to Imam (a.s.), he spoke in a manner as if someone was actually sitting before him. One of his harsh statements was thus: I come and go from your presence while those who are not among your friends get cured.[2]
(3) A Christian
Ali Ibn Yahya Ibn Husain Tahhal Miqdadi has narrated from his father who has recounted from his father: A man of handsome countenance and beautiful attire came to me and said after presenting two Dinars, ‘Take them and allow me inside the shrine, locking it up that I may occupy myself in prayer without interruption.’ I took the money, accepted the request and went off to bed after locking him up. I saw Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) in my dream. Imam (a.s.) ordered:
Get up and remove him from my mausoleum. He is a Christian.
Ali Ibn Tahhal woke up. He tied the neck of the man in a rope and reprimanded: Get up and go. You are a Christian. Trying to cheat with the two dinars, are you?
He refuted: I am not a Christian.
I said: No, you are a Christian. For, Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) has come to me in a dream and has instructed that you are Christian and to be removed from here.
He replied: Give me your hand. I bear witness Allah is One, there is no God except Allah, Muhammad (s.a.w.a.) is His Messenger and Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) is the caliph of Allah. By the Almighty, nobody knew me when I left Syria and nobody is familiar with me in Iraq.
He spent the rest of his life as a model Muslim.[3]
(4) A Century of Service in the sacred shrine of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)
It happened in 501 A.H. when inflation was at its peak in the holy city of Najaf. Even bread was beyond the reach of the common man. Forty days passed by. People had starting moving for the villages due to scarcity and poverty. The only (poor) person remaining was the caretaker of the sacred shrine of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.), Abul Baqaa Sawiqah who was aged a hundred and ten years and was weak of body. However, despite all the calamities, he was not ready to the leave the proximity of the shrine of Imam (a.s.). Nevertheless, his wife and daughters implored: the severity of destitution has become unbearable. You should travel to seek your fortune like the others. A solution might unravel itself to solve the tribulation. Abu Qasim decided to go. He came to the sacred shrine, completed his prayers and ziyarat and then came towards the head of the shrine and pleaded forgiveness: My Master! I have been serving you for a century and have never parted from you. But, destitution and poverty has made life difficult for me and my family. Even so, parting from you is hard. Nevertheless, with a heavy heart, I have come to bid goodbye and depart from this place.
Saying this, he left. Abul Baqaa had started the journey in a rented carriage with other passengers. Najaf was now in the distance. They stopped at a place for rest. Abul Baqaa too lied down to rest and immediately fell asleep. Imam Ali (a.s.) visited him in his dream and said:
‘O Abul Baqaa, are you leaving me after such a long duration of service?‘
Abul Baqaa got up crying. The people with him became concerned. ‘Why are you weeping so bitterly?’ they asked. He explained the dream to them and immediately returned to Najaf. The daughters complained on seeing him return but he explained the situation to them; went to Abu Abdillah Ibn Shahryaar Qummi for the keys to the mausoleum and resumed his duties.
Abul Baqaa narrates, ‘Three days after this episode, a person entered the shrine carrying a heavy load on his back, akin to the one who travels to Makkah for pilgrimage. He extracted a dress from it, wore it and entered the sacred shrine. After the customary ziyarat and prayer, he gave me some money and instructed, ‘Bring some food.’ Abul Baqaa did as requested and brought some bread, milk and dates. He again asked for some chicken and bread which I brought for him.
Abul Baqaa then prayed his afternoon prayers and departed for his home. The traveller came along with him, and everyone shared the food. After the meal and the washing of hands, the man instructed Abul Baqaa, ‘Bring some scales to weigh gold.’
Abul Baqaa, brought the scales along with big and small weights from a gold smith named Zaid Ibn Waqisah, including the weights required for grains. The visitor bunched all the weights into one end of the scale and piled the other end with gold from a bag. The deed done, he gathered the gold and gave it to the caretaker of the shrine. What remained went back to the sack. Now he changed back to the old dress. The caretaker enquired; O Master! What do I do with this? He replied, ‘It is yours to keep. It has been given by the person who has called you back into his service. I was commanded to give according to the measure of weights that he brings. If you had brought more weights, I would have given more.’
Abul Baqaa fainted. The visitor had gone. The situation of Abul Baqaa changed. He married his daughters and the household prospered. And due to the miracle and the mercy of our Master (a.s.), the troubles of Abul Baqaa had been solved.
[1] Irshadul Qulub, vol. 2, pg. 343. Biharul Anwaar, vol. 42, pg. 314.
[2] Furhatul Quraa, pg. 144. Biharul Anwaar, vol. 42, pg. 317, h. 4.
[3] Irshadul Qulub, pg. 437. Farhatun Nawaa, pg. 146.