A Call for Starting Muhammad ‘Ali exclaimed questioning...

A Call for Starting Muhammad ‘Ali exclaimed questioning: “Why have you hastened to go father?” “I have a mission ... I have to visit al-Shaykh Yusuf.” “But father, aren’t you fearing being ventured by his disciples? The atmosphere is alarming of danger: “No time is there for thinking ... in fact I am commanded to do so.” “Let me accompany you, father.” “No need for this ... al-Husayn won’t let me alone, he shall verily help me overcome these Akhbaris.

I will confer with them with that which is the best. Thus a chapter of debate started between al-Sayyid Muhammad Baqir and al-Shaykh Yusuf al-Bahrani. Al-Hajj Karim Al-Hajj Karim, addressing the pilgrims’ shoe-keeper at the holy shrine, said: “Do you know that man?” “Who?” Al-Hajj Karim pointed at a middle-aged man. That man said: “Not much, but I heard Mulla ‘Ali al-Wa’izi talking well of him, telling of his being among the upright men.

Seemingly he is the son-in-law of the late al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Tabataba’i. “He seems to be among the ‘ulama’.” “How come you to know?” “He is debating all the time with al-Shaykh Yusuf al-Bahrani at the shrine. They continue their discussion after maghrib and ‘isha’ prayers, up to the end of night. After closing the shrine gates, they move to the portico, and when closing its doors, they move to the courtyard.

On closing the courtyard doors, they betake themselves out of it, whereat we leave them and go home. The next morning, as we come to open the courtyard doors, we find them engaged in debate. When the dawn call (for prayer) be raised, the Shaykh goes to perform the prayer, going home then; while this man - as you see - remains standing here after prayer.

Since the Day Muhammad ‘Ali picked up the last morsel of his food, saying (to his father): “For a long time, you come home so late, father, and sometimes you stay out till morning ... are you still debating with al-Shaykh?” “Yes.” “But father, al-Shaykh - seemingly - never intends to submit to truth; otherwise, what is the use of this?” “Yes, I think that the debate was sufficient, but seemingly he is aware of what are the Akhbaris feeling of fanaticism, since he is Akhbari to the bone.

But I think too that al-Shaykh is convinced now with the arguments and proofs I cited for him.