«MAHDI IS FROM THE OFFSPRING OF THE HOLY PROPHET»

The author of «Yanabi-ul-Muwadda» on page 234 narrates from the author of Firdaus who narrates from Jaber-ibn-Abdullah Ansari who said:

Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) said: Indeed Allah, the Exalted placed the offspring of every Prophet from their own rear and placed my offspring from the rear of Ali-ibn-Ali Talib.

The author says:- The explicitness of this valuable ,tradition is .that the children of Ali-ibn-Abi Talib Amir-ul-Mumineen (A.S.) from Fatemah (A.S.) are indeed the offspring of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.)and there is no difference between Hassan and Hussein. Verily, as Mahdi, the Awaited one is from this particular house and this pure offspring, he is therefore counted to be from the offspring of Muhammad (S.A.W.A.) (as per research and previous explanation of the meaning of offspring).

The author of «Tuhuful-Uqool» has brought a lengthy tradition in this regard from Musa-ibn-Jafar's conversation with Haroon ar-Rashid and we shall produce here only that portion which serves our discussion. He writes:

'Hazrat Musa-ibn-Jafar approached Haroon for the reason that the letter wished to inquire from him the (false) things which people have ascribed to Hazrat before Haroon. So he took out a lengthy scroll which contained accusations about his Shias and read it out. Then Hazrat said: 'O Amir-ul-Mumineen, we are a family which have been afflicted with such accusations and Allah is 'All-Forgiving' and 'One veils the vices' and He refrains from lifting the veil from the deeds of His servants except when He will be taking their account and that will be the Day when wealth and children shall be of no avail and only the one who comes in the presence of Allah with a pure heart shall benefit. Thereafter he said: 'My father narrated (for me) from Ali who in turn narrated from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.A.) as such:-

«Whenever the ties of relationship are felt and maintained with the other. there occurs some movement and excitement and then it calms down.» If Amir-ul-Mumineen (i.e. Haroon) deems it advisable to maintain relationship and shake hands with me, he can do so.

Then Haroon came down from his throne and stretched out his right hand and caught hold of Hazrat's hand. He embraced him and made him sit besides him and said: I bear witness that you are truthful and your father and grand-father too were truthful. When you came to inquire I was the most harshful person towards you because of the hatred and anger which I had acquired about you. Since you spoke to me in the manner which you did and so shook hands with me, the feeling of hatred and anger has disappeared from my heart and I have become satisfied with you. Thereafter, he felt silent for some moment and then said: 'I wish to ask you something about Abbass and Ali. On what basis was Ali more worthy of inheritance (from the Holy Prophet) than Abbass, the Uncle of the Holy Prophet.

Hazrat replied: 'You excuse me from this matter.'

He said: 'I swear by Allah that I shall not excuse you until you answer me.'

Hazrat replied: 'If you do not excuse me then grant me safety.'

He said: 'I gaurantee your safety.'

Hazrat said: 'Surely, the Holy Prophet did not nominate as heir the one who was able to migrate but did not migrate. Indeed, Abbass your father was amongst those who brought faith but did not migrate and Ali brought faith and migrated too. Allah says:

Haroon turned pale and then said: 'On what basis do you relate yourself to the Holy Prophet and not Ali notwithstanding the fact that Ali was your father and the Holy Prophet your grand-father!

Hazrat replied: Surely Allah related Isa-ibn-Maryam to Hazrat Ibrahim, His «Khaleel» through Isa's mother who was a virgin. As Allah says:

Thus He related Isa to Ibrahim through Maryam only, just as He related Sulaiman, Ayub, Yusuf, Musa and Haroon to their father and mother. From the view-point of excellence of Isa which concluded in him only from his mother's side without any other person, it has come in the holy Quran in the verse below that:-

('O Maryam! Surely Allah has chosen you and purified you and He has chosen you above the women of the world) because of Messiah.

So in the same manner, Allah chose Fatemah and purified her and made her superior to all the women of the world through Hassan and Hussein, the two youthful Chiefs of Paradise.