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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Sufferings of Amirol Mo’minin Ali Ibn Abi Talib Life and Martyrdom in the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful The battle of Nahrawan with all its hardships ended finally. It had been so bitter and full of painful events, much more than the battles of Jamal and Siffeen. After that, Ameerul Mo'minin, Ali ibn abi Talib (a.s.) with his small group of followers returned to Kufa.

When he entered the city, (or some say: the day after he returned), he went directly to the mosque of Kufa, and before the masses of people, he began his sermon by saying, “O people! It was I, who cut the roots of sedition and rebellion! Something that no one had been able to do, but I did it! Even though the waves of darkness turned to a great storm and its difficulty increased more and more. So, before loosing me, ask me about whatsoever that you wish to know!

I swear by Allah in Whose Hand my soul rests, that if you wish to ask me about everything that will happen in these days to come until the Resurrection Day, I will answer them all! Or ask me about some specific or unknown groups which shall direct hundreds of persons in the right path, or on the contrary, mislead them, alas! I will tell you who is their leader, where they will set up their camp and which one of them shall die…” After the sermon, some people stood up and asked him some questions.

Among the masses of people, there was a sad looking Jewish man. He listened patiently to the words of Imam Ali (a.s.) and he was most surprised about that strange pretension. He knew that this strange request was so important “ask me before loosing me” that if somebody should happen to talk about it, he should be either a Prophet or a Prophet’s successor. He was deeply drowned in his thoughts. He then went to his lonely room to think better.

He was one of the great Jewish Rabbis; a famous man and a most wise Rabbi in the whole Arab Peninsula. A few days ago, he had arrived in disguise to Kufa, and had taken a room for himself in a small inn. He searched for a man with some specific characteristics and features that he had found in Moses’ Torah and the Gospel of Jesus. That day, when he saw Imam Ali (a.s.) for the first time, he felt that he had known this man for many years.

When he heard the words of Imam Ali (a.s.), a strange impression came into his heart. People around him told him that Imam Ali (a.s.) was the fourth caliph of the Muslims.