ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Pearls of Wisdom Stories and Sayings of Infallibles (as) and their Noble Are you Asleep or Awake Taken from: Anecdotes of Pious Men by Murtadha Mutahhari, Contributed by Sister Mahwash Hirmendi, mhirmend@opal.tufts.edu Habbah 'Arni and Nawf Bakali were lying in the courtyard of Darul-Amarah (fort) of Kufah. After the midnight, they saw that the Leader of the Faithful, ‘Ali (as), was coming from the fort towards the courtyard.

But his condition was bad; he was having extraordinary fear and was unable to keep the equilibrium of his body. Keeping his hands on the wall and having his body in bent position, he was walking slowly with the support of the wall. And he was reciting the last Ayahs of Surah ‘Ali 'Imran as follows: “Indeed in the creation of the heaven and the earth and alteration of the night and the day, there are signs for men of acumen.

Those who extol Allah, standing, sitting and (lying) on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): 'Our Lord! You have not created this in vain! Glory is Yours; protect us against the torment of the Fire. Our Lord! indeed whomsoever You enter the Fire, You have surely disgraced him, and there shall be no helpers for the worng-doers. Our Lord! surely we have heard a caller calling to faith (saying): 'Believe in your Lord', so we did believe; Our Lord!

forgive us, therefore, our sins and cover our evil deeds and recieve us with the righteous. Our Lord! grant uswhat You have promised us through Your messengers and do not disgrace us on the Resurrection Day; surely You do not break the promise (3: 190-194).” As soon as he finished these Ayahs, his condition became bad; he then repeated these Ayahs again and again and his condition became bad to worse and he became almost unconscious.

Both Habbah and Nawf were witnessing this amazing scene, while lying on their beds. Habbah, while quite startled, was looking this astonishing scene. But Nawf was unable to control his tears and he was continuously weeping. By this time, ‘Ali (as) reached the bed of Habbah and said: “Are you awake or asleep?” Habbah replied: “I am awake, O Leader of the Pious!

If a person like you has such a condition with awe and fear of Allah, then what would happen to we poor people.” The Leader of the Pious looked down and wept. He then said: “O Habbah! all of us will be presented before Allah one day. And no deed of ours is hidden from Him. He is very near to you and me.