For the first time in his life he was invaded by...

For the first time in his life he was invaded by irresistible feelings inviting him to know more and more about that virgin, who had stopped at Qom one thousand years ago. The old books on the shelf seemed as if they invited him to a journey to the bottom of history. Thus Muhammad had begun his journey to probe the past so that he might see from near the virgin of Qom!

History is the memory of mankind…That old man drowned in the years and events, rubbed his forehead, which was full of wrinkles, to light a candle in this age or that, in this point of the wide world or that. So what had he talked about that young girl, who had come to Qom by the fate? The cold wind was still blowing and the snow was still falling heavily. The small city slumbered.

Only the travelers alone in that land, which had drowned in the night and snow, opened their eyes difficultly to move their steps on the right way. Muhammad was sitting with the sheikh listening to his loud silence. * * * The sun shone in a clear sky save from bits of clouds scattered here and there. The wind stopped blowing. Muhammad put on his suit to stand at the gate of the shrine. The sun overcame the domes and minarets with its shining lights.

Muhammad was still under the effect of the vision. The angelic voice, which he had heard in his sleep, still circulated inside him. The visitors from among the people of Qom began to come to the haram. Some of them saluted while approaching toward the dome. Near the gate there were some travelers covering themselves with woolen cloths. They were sitting drinking tea and talking with each other.

One of them shook his head saying: “How do we thank the Alawite lady for her favor on us last night?!” The other said: “It was a terrible (kolak). We lost the way” --“If lighting the minarets was delayed some minutes, we should have perished.” --“Suddenly we saw a light shining like the light of lighthouses in the ports.” --“O my friend, it is Ahlul Bayt (s)!

They are the harbor for straying people.” --“After tomorrow we shall go to Mashhad**[117]** to visit her brother ar-Redha (s).” --“Let us stay for some days here near al-Ma’ssooma (s) and then we depend upon Allah to set out.” Ar-Radhawi was listening to the talks of the travelers surprisedly. He approached to them and his eyes were full of tears. He said to them: “O brothers, it was me, who lit the lamps of the minarets. I did not do that by myself.

I saw in my sleep a young girl like a houri covered with light.