The Imams 
know when they will die and they die voluntarily
8 Aḥadīth
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salamah ibn-al-Khattab from ) Sulayman ibn Sama‘a and ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim al-Batal from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following. “Whoever of the Imams that would not know what would happen to him and to what events he would proceed such a person is not a possessor of Divine authority over His creature.”
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ وَعَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْبَطَلِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله أَيُّ إِمَامٍ لا يَعْلَمُ مَا يُصِيبُهُ وَإِلَى مَا يَصِيرُ فَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِحُجَّةٍ لله عَلَى خَلْقِهِ.
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Bashshar has said that a respectable man from Qati‘a al- Rabi‘ (a quarter in the Karkh part of Baghdad) from the general public (non-Shi‘a) of Baghdad, from whom people would narrate hadith has said to me the following. “I have seen (experienced) from the people of this family of whose virtues people speak, things that I have never seen (experienced) no one else to be like him in his virtue and worship.” The narrator has said that he asked the man. “Who is he? And how did you find him?” He then said, “In the days of al-Sindi ibn Shahik (a vazir of Harun al-Rashid) we gathered eighty people of the leading personalities in goodness to meet Musa ibn Ja‘far Al-Sindi asked us, “Gentlemen, please examine this man. Has anything happened to him?” People think that he is tortured and they make a huge noise about it. This is his dwelling place and his bed which, has enough room and he is not constrained. Amir al-Mu’minin (Harun al-Rashid) has not done any bad things to him. He is kept here until the right time comes so he can debate Amir al-Mu’minin (Harun al-Rashid). He is quite well and comfortable from all aspects. You may ask him questions.” The narrator has said, “We had no other intention but to see to the man, to his virtue and his excellent attitude. Musa ibn Ja‘far then said, “Whatever he (al-Sindi) has said about the capacity of the place and other such things are as he has said. However, O people, I let you know that I am being poisoned with seven pieces of dates. Tomorrow my color will turn green and after tomorrow I will die.” The man has said, “I looked at al-Sindi ibn Shahik. He shivered in terror and shook like the leaves of a branch of palm tree.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ قَطِيعَةِ الرَّبِيعِ مِنَ الْعَامَّةِ بِبَغْدَادَ مِمَّنْ كَانَ يُنْقَلُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ لِي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ بَعْضَ مَنْ يَقُولُونَ بِفَضْلِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَهُ قَطُّ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَنُسُكِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَنْ وَكَيْفَ رَأَيْتَهُ قَالَ جُمِعْنَا أَيَّامَ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ ثَمَانِينَ رَجُلاً مِنَ الْوُجُوهِ الْمَنْسُوبِينَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ فَأُدْخِلْنَا عَلَى مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَنَا السِّنْدِيُّ يَا هَؤُلاءِ انْظُرُوا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ هَلْ حَدَثَ بِهِ حَدَثٌ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ فُعِلَ بِهِ وَيُكْثِرُونَ فِي ذَلِكَ وَهَذَا مَنْزِلُهُ وَفِرَاشُهُ مُوَسَّعٌ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرُ مُضَيَّقٍ وَلَمْ يُرِدْ بِهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سُوءاً وَإِنَّمَا يَنْتَظِرُ بِهِ أَنْ يَقْدَمَ فَيُنَاظِرَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَهَذَا هُوَ صَحِيحٌ مُوَسَّعٌ عَلَيْهِ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِ فَسَلُوهُ قَالَ وَنَحْنُ لَيْسَ لَنَا هَمٌّ إِلا النَّظَرُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ وَإِلَى فَضْلِهِ وَسَمْتِهِ فَقَالَ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ أَمَّا مَا ذَكَرَ مِنَ التَّوْسِعَةِ وَمَا أَشْبَهَهَا فَهُوَ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرَ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أُخْبِرُكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ أَنِّي قَدْ سُقِيتُ السَّمَّ فِي سَبْعِ تَمَرَاتٍ وَأَنَا غَداً أَخْضَرُّ وَبَعْدَ غَدٍ أَمُوتُ قَالَ فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَى السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ يَضْطَرِبُ وَيَرْتَعِدُ مِثْلَ السَّعَفَةِ.
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from ‘Abdallah ibn abu Ja‘far who has said that my brother narrated from Ja‘far (abu ‘Abdallah from his father that he went to Ali ibn al-Husayn on the night in which he passed away and offered him a drink requesting, “Father, please drink it.” He said, “Son, this is the night in which I will pass away and during such night the Messenger of Allah also passed away.” (The date of the demise of the two holy ones, as generally held, is not the same. However, being the same day is a possibility).
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَخِي عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَنَّهُ أَتَى عَلِيَّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) لَيْلَةً قُبِضَ فِيهَا بِشَرَابٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ اشْرَبْ هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أُقْبَضُ فِيهَا وَهِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي قُبِضَ فِيهَا رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه )
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said that he said to al-Rida the following. “Amir al-Mu’minin Ali knew his assassin, the night in of being murdered and the spot whereat who be murdered. It is his words on hearing the ducks at the house, “These are the quacks that will be followed by lamentations.” Also the words of ’Umm Kulthum (his daughter). “Would that you pray inside the house and send someone else to lead the prayer in the Mosque.” He refused to do so and at that night he went many times out of the house unarmed. He knew that ibn Muljim, may he be condemned will murder him with a sword. He must not have exposed himself to it” The Imam said, “It is true but it was chosen that night wherein the measure and the determination of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High would come to pass.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدْ عَرَفَ قَاتِلَهُ وَاللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي يُقْتَلُ فِيهَا وَالْمَوْضِعَ الَّذِي يُقْتَلُ فِيهِ وَقَوْلُهُ لَمَّا سَمِعَ صِيَاحَ الاوَزِّ فِي الدَّارِ صَوَائِحُ تَتْبَعُهَا نَوَائِحُ وَقَوْلُ أُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ لَوْ صَلَّيْتَ اللَّيْلَةَ دَاخِلَ الدَّارِ وَأَمَرْتَ غَيْرَكَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهَا وَكَثُرَ دُخُولُهُ وَخُرُوجُهُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ بِلا سِلاحٍ وَقَدْ عَرَفَ أَنَّ ابْنَ مُلْجَمٍ لَعَنَهُ الله قَاتِلُهُ بِالسَّيْفِ كَانَ هَذَا مِمَّا لَمْ يَجُزْ تَعَرُّضُهُ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ وَلَكِنَّهُ خُيِّرَ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ لِتَمْضِيَ مَقَادِيرُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from some of our people from abu al-Hassan Musa who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High expressed anger at the Shi‘a. He, therefore, let me choose either myself or them (to receive protection). I swear by Allah, that I protected them with my own soul.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ غَضِبَ عَلَى الشِّيعَةِ فَخَيَّرَنِي نَفْسِي أَوْ هُمْ فَوَقَيْتُهُمْ وَالله بِنَفْسِي.
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Musafir that abu al-Hassan al-Rida said to him the following. “O Musafir, in this water passage there is fish.” The narrator has said that he said, “Yes, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, there is fish there.” The Imam then said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah last night and was saying, “O Ali, what is with us is better for you.” (The mention of fish is to show equality of degree of certain in his knowledge from observation and his knowledge from his dream.)
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ مُسَافِرٍ أَنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا قَالَ لَهُ يَا مُسَافِرُ هَذَا الْقَنَاةُ فِيهَا حِيتَانٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ الْبَارِحَةَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ يَا عَلِيُّ مَا عِنْدَنَا خَيْرٌ لَكَ.
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘Aidh from abu Khadija from abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following. “I was in the presence of my father during the day in which he passes away. He made several recommendations to me about his funeral matters, such as washing his whole body, shrouding him and placing him in his grave. I then said to him, “Father, I have not seen in a better health from the day you complained illness than today. I do not see in you any sign of death.” The Imam said, “Son, have you not heard about Ali ibn al-Husayn calling from behind the wall, ‘O Muhammad, come. Be quick.’”
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَدِيجَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ فَأَوْصَانِي بِأَشْيَاءَ فِي غُسْلِهِ وَفِي كَفْنِهِ وَفِي دُخُولِهِ قَبْرَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَاهْ وَالله مَا رَأَيْتُكَ مُنْذُ اشْتَكَيْتَ أَحْسَنَ مِنْكَ الْيَوْمَ مَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَثَرَ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ عَلِيَّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يُنَادِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجِدَارِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ تَعَالَ عَجِّلْ.
A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan from abu Ja‘far who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent support for Imam al-Husayn up to the fill between the heavens and earth. Then he was let to choose either victory or meeting Allah. He, however, chose the meeting of Allah the Most High.”
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ ابي جعفر قَالَ أَنْزَلَ الله تَعَالَى النَّصْرَ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ حَتَّى كَانَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالارْضِ ثُمَّ خُيِّرَ النَّصْرَ أَوْ لِقَاءَ الله فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ الله تَعَالَى.