The Jinns Come to the Imam for Religious Instructions and for Dealing with their Affairs
7 Aḥadīth
Certain persons of our people have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Yahya ibn Musawir from Sa‘d al-Askaf who has said the following. “On one of the occasion of my meeting with abu Ja‘far when I went tosee him he asked me to wait until the sun became very hot on me. I tried to follow the shadow from the sun. No very long thereafter a people came out of his presence that looked like locusts dressed in large gowns and very oale and slim due to extensive worshipping. Their beautiful scene made me to forget other things. When I went in the presence of the Imam he said, “I am afraid I caused you hardships.” I said, “Yes, it was difficult but, by Allah, I forgot other things when I saw them. A people passed by the like of whose beauty I had not seen before. They looked like locusts and pale and slim due to worshipping a great deal.” The Imam said, “O Sa‘d , did you see them?” I said, “Yes, I saw them.” The Imam said, “They are your brethren from Jinns.” The narrator has said that he asked The Imam , “Do they come to you?” He said, “Yes, they come to us for religious instructions and to learn the lawful and unlawful matters.”
بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ مُسَاوِرٍ عَنْ سَعْدٍ الاسْكَافِ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فِي بَعْضِ مَا أَتَيْتُهُ فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ لا تَعْجَلْ حَتَّى حَمِيَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَيَّ وَجَعَلْتُ أَتَتَبَّعُ الافْيَاءَ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ خَرَجَ عَلَيَّ قَوْمٌ كَأَنَّهُمُ الْجَرَادُ الصُّفْرُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبُتُوتُ قَدِ انْتَهَكَتْهُمُ الْعِبَادَةُ قَالَ فَوَ الله لانْسَانِي مَا كُنْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ حُسْنِ هَيْئَةِ الْقَوْمِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ لِي أَرَانِي قَدْ شَقَقْتُ عَلَيْكَ قُلْتُ أَجَلْ وَالله لَقَدْ أَنْسَانِي مَا كُنْتُ فِيهِ قَوْمٌ مَرُّوا بِي لَمْ أَرَ قَوْماً أَحْسَنَ هَيْئَةً مِنْهُمْ فِي زِيِّ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ كَأَنَّ أَلْوَانَهُمُ الْجَرَادُ الصُّفْرُ قَدِ انْتَهَكَتْهُمُ الْعِبَادَةُ فَقَالَ يَا سَعْدُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ أُولَئِكَ إِخْوَانُكَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَأْتُونَكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَأْتُونَّا يَسْأَلُونَّا عَنْ مَعَالِمِ دِينِهِمْ وَحَلالِهِمْ وَحَرَامِهِمْ.
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Hassa’n from Ibrahim ibn ’Isma‘il from ibn Jabal who has said the following. “Once we were in front of the door of the house of abu ‘Abdallah that a people who looked Indian gypsies came out with loin clothe and covering on them. We asked abu ‘‘Abdallah about them and he said, “They were your brethren from Jinns.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَx بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ ابْنِ جَبَلٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ كُنَّا بِبَابِهِ فَخَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْمٌ أَشْبَاهُ الزُّطِّ عَلَيْهِمْ أُزُرٌ وَأَكْسِيَةٌ فَسَأَلْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله عَنْهُمْ فَقَالَ هَؤُلاءِ إِخْوَانُكُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ.
Ahmad ibn Idris and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufiy from ibn al-Faddal from certain person of our people from Sa‘d al-Askaf who has said the following. “Once I to ask permission to meet abu Ja‘far . I found saddles of camels lined up in front of the door and noises coming very loud and then a people came out with turbans like those of the Indian gypsies. I asked abu Ja‘far about them and said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause. Today it took a long time to receive permission to meet you. I saw a people coming out with turbans whom I could not recognize.” He said, “Do you know, O Sa‘d, who they are?” I said, “No, I do not know.” The Imam said, “They were your brethren in religion from Jinns. They come to us for religious instructions, to learn the lawful and unlawful matters and the principles of their religion.”
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَعْدٍ الاسْكَافِ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ أُرِيدُ الاذْنَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا رِحَالُ إِبِلٍ عَلَى الْبَابِ مَصْفُوفَةٌ وَإِذَا الاصْوَاتُ قَدِ ارْتَفَعَتْ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ قَوْمٌ مُعْتَمِّينَ بِالْعَمَائِمِ يُشْبِهُونَ الزُّطَّ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى ابي جعفر فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَبْطَأَ إِذْنُكَ عَلَيَّ الْيَوْمَ وَرَأَيْتُ قَوْماً خَرَجُوا عَلَيَّ مُعْتَمِّينَ بِالْعَمَائِمِ فَأَنْكَرْتُهُمْ فَقَالَ أَ وَتَدْرِي مَنْ أُولَئِكَ يَا سَعْدُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ فَقَالَ أُولَئِكَ إِخْوَانُكُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ يَأْتُونَّا فَيَسْأَلُونَّا عَنْ حَلالِهِمْ وَحَرَامِهِمْ وَمَعَالِمِ دِينِهِمْ.
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far asked me to help him in a few things in Maina. I left and when reached fajj al-Rawha’ a man waved to me with his cloths. The narrator has said that I turned to him and I though he was thirsty. I offered the cup but he declined saying, “I do not need it.” He gave a letter with its ink still not dried up. The narrator has said that when looked at it, it had the seal of abu Ja‘far on. I asked him when were you in the presence of abu Ja‘far ?” He said, “Just now I was in his presence.” In the letter there were few things that he had commanded me to do. When looked around there was no one with me.” The narrator has said that then I went to meet abu Ja‘far and said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, a man came to me with your letter the ink of which was not yet dried up.” He said, “O Sadir, we servants from Jinns. When we would need a thing to happen quickly we send them to do it.”
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي الْبِلادِ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ أَوْصَانِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ بِحَوَائِجَ لَهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا بَيْنَ فَجِّ الرَّوْحَاءِ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِي إِذَا إِنْسَانٌ يَلْوِي ثَوْبَهُ قَالَ فَمِلْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ عَطْشَانُ فَنَاوَلْتُهُ الادَاوَةَ فَقَالَ لِي لا حَاجَةَ لِي بِهَا وَنَاوَلَنِي كِتَاباً طِينُهُ رَطْبٌ قَالَ فَلَمَّا نَظَرْتُ إِلَى الْخَاتَمِ إِذَا خَاتَمُ ابي جعفر فَقُلْتُ مَتَى عَهْدُكَ بِصَاحِبِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ السَّاعَةَ وَإِذَا فِي الْكِتَابِ أَشْيَاءُ يَأْمُرُنِي بِهَا ثُمَّ الْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا لَيْسَ عِنْدِي أَحَدٌ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَدِمَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ فَلَقِيتُهُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ أَتَانِي بِكِتَابِكَ وَطِينُهُ رَطْبٌ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ إِنَّ لَنَا خَدَماً مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا السُّرْعَةَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى قَالَ إِنَّ لَنَا أَتْبَاعاً مِنَ الْجِنِّ كَمَا أَنَّ لَنَا أَتْبَاعاً مِنَ الانْسِ فَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا أَمْراً بَعَثْنَاهُمْ.
Alki ibn Muhammad aand Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from the person who he mentioned from Muhammad ibn Jahrash who has said that Halima daughter of Musa has said the following. “Once I saw al-Rida standing at the door of the firewood room and he was whispering but I would not see any9ne ellse around. I then asked him, “My. master, who are you talking to?” He said, “This is ‘Amir al-Zahra’i. He has come to ask a few questions and he has certain complains.” I then asked, “My master, I like to hear his words.” He said, “If you would hear his words you will have fever for one year.” I said, “My master, I like to hear him.” He said, “All right, then listen.” I listened and I heard something like a whistle. I then felt fever for one year.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَحْرَشٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي حَكِيمَةُ بِنْتُ مُوسَى قَالَتْ رَأَيْتُ الرِّضَا وَاقِفاً عَلَى بَابِ بَيْتِ الْحَطَبِ وَهُوَ يُنَاجِي وَلَسْتُ أَرَى أَحَداً فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي لِمَنْ تُنَاجِي فَقَالَ هَذَا عَامِرٌ الزَّهْرَائِيُّ أَتَانِي يَسْأَلُنِي وَيَشْكُو إِلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ كَلامَهُ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّكِ إِنْ سَمِعْتِ بِهِ حُمِمْتِ سَنَةً فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْمَعَهُ فَقَالَ لِيَ اسْمَعِي فَاسْتَمَعْتُ فَسَمِعْتُ شِبْهَ الصَّفِيرِ وَرَكِبَتْنِيَ الْحُمَّى فَحُمِمْتُ سَنَةً.
Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ibrahim ibn Hashim from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Ibrahim ibn Ayyub from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir from abu Ja‘far who has said the following. “Once when Amir al-Mu’minin was on the pulpit a serpent entered from one of the doors of the mosque. People wanted to kill him. Amir al-Mu’minin asked them to leave him alone. They left him alone. The serpent began to crawl to the pulpit. He stretched and saluted to Amir al-Mu’minin . Amir al-Mu’minin made a gesture to him to wait until the sermon is completed. When the sermon was completed he came to him and said, “Who are you?” He said, “I am ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman, your deputy among the Jinns. My father has died and he has asked me in his will to come to you and find out your instructions and that is why I am here. What do you command me to do and what do you see.” Amir al-Mu’minin said, “I ask you to be pious before Allah and go back and act as the successor of your father among the Jinns. I appoint you as my deputy over them.” The narrator has said that ‘Amr then said farewell to Amir al-Mu’minin and left as his deputy over the Jinns. I asked The Imam , may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, does ‘Amr fulfill that obligation on him?” He said, “Yes, he does so.”
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر قَالَ بَيْنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ ثُعْبَانٌ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَهَمَّ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ فَأَرْسَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ كُفُّوا فَكَفُّوا وَأَقْبَلَ الثُّعْبَانُ يَنْسَابُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَتَطَاوَلَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَأَشَارَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَقِفَ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ وَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ خَلِيفَتِكَ عَلَى الْجِنِّ وَإِنَّ أَبِي مَاتَ وَأَوْصَانِي أَنْ آتِيَكَ فَأَسْتَطْلِعَ رَأْيَكَ وَقَدْ أَتَيْتُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي بِهِ وَمَا تَرَى فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى الله وَأَنْ تَنْصَرِفَ فَتَقُومَ مَقَامَ أَبِيكَ فِي الْجِنِّ فَإِنَّكَ خَلِيفَتِي عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ فَوَدَّعَ عَمْرٌو أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَانْصَرَفَ فَهُوَ خَلِيفَتُهُ عَلَى الْجِنِّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَيَأْتِيكَ عَمْرٌو وَذَاكَ الْوَاجِبُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from Muhammad ibn ’Urma from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr from al-Ni‘man ibn Bashir who has said the following. “Once I was a companion of Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi on a journey. When reached he went to meet abu Ja‘far . He said farewell to him and came out very happy until we arrived in al-’Ukhayraja, the first length of journey from Fayd to Madina. It was a Friday. We said our prayers at noon. When the camel rose to leave I saw a tall man brownish with a letter. He give it to Jabir who kissed it and placed over his eyes. It was from Muhammad ibn Ali to Jabir ibn Yazid. It had a black ink that was still wet. He asked him, “When were you in the presence of my master?” He said, “Just now.” He asked, “Were you in his presence before or after the prayer?” He said, “I was there after the prayer.” He then opened the seal and began to read the letter and his face began to look strained until he read it to the end. He held the letter and I did not see him laughing or happy until we arrived in Kufa. In Kufa I spent my night and in the morning I went to see him out of respect for him and I found him coming out to me with a large ring made of anklebones around his neck riding on a twig of reeds saying. “I see Mansur ibn Jumhur a ruler but no one obeys him” and such other rhymes. He looked at me and I looked at him and he did not say anything to me and did not say anything to him. I began to weep when I saw him. Children and people gathered around us. He came in al-Rahba and would go in circles with the children and people say, “Jabir has gone mad, Jabir has gone insane. By Allah, only a few days had passed that a letter from Hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik came to the governor to look for a man called Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi. It said, “Kill him and send his head to me.” The governor turned to the people in his court and asked, “Who is this Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi?” they replied, “May Allah grand well being to the governor, he was a man of knowledge, excellence, hadith and Hajj but now he has become insane. He is there with the children riding on a twig of reeds plays with them.” He went to see him and found him playing with the children while riding a twig of reeds. He said, “Thanks to Allah for saving me from killing him.” The narrator has said that just within few days Mansur ibn Jumhur entered Kufa and did what Jabir was speaking of before.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أُورَمَةَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ مُزَامِلاً لِجَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيِّ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ دَخَلَ عَلَى ابي جعفر فَوَدَّعَهُ وَخَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَهُوَ مَسْرُورٌ حَتَّى وَرَدْنَا الاخَيْرِجَةَ أَوَّلَ مَنْزِلٍ نَعْدِلُ مِنْ فَيْدَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ فَصَلَّيْنَا الزَّوَالَ فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ بِنَا الْبَعِيرُ إِذَا أَنَا بِرَجُلٍ طُوَالٍ آدَمَ مَعَهُ كِتَابٌ فَنَاوَلَهُ جَابِراً فَتَنَاوَلَهُ فَقَبَّلَهُ وَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ وَإِذَا هُوَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ وَعَلَيْهِ طِينٌ أَسْوَدُ رَطْبٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَتَى عَهْدُكَ بِسَيِّدِي فَقَالَ السَّاعَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَبْلَ الصَّلاةِ أَوْ بَعْدَ الصَّلاةِ فَقَالَ بَعْدَ الصَّلاةِ فَفَكَّ الْخَاتَمَ وَأَقْبَلَ يَقْرَؤُهُ وَيَقْبِضُ وَجْهَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى عَلَى آخِرِهِ ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَ الْكِتَابَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ ضَاحِكاً وَلا مَسْرُوراً حَتَّى وَافَى الْكُوفَةَ فَلَمَّا وَافَيْنَا الْكُوفَةَ لَيْلاً بِتُّ لَيْلَتِي فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ أَتَيْتُهُ إِعْظَاماً لَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَدْ خَرَجَ عَلَيَّ وَفِي عُنُقِهِ كِعَابٌ قَدْ عَلَّقَهَا وَقَدْ رَكِبَ قَصَبَةً وَهُوَ يَقُولُ أَجِدُ مَنْصُورَ بْنَ جُمْهُورٍ أَمِيراً غَيْرَ مَأْمُورٍ وَأَبْيَاتاً مِنْ نَحْوِ هَذَا فَنَظَرَ فِي وَجْهِي وَنَظَرْتُ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ لِي شَيْئاً وَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَهُ وَأَقْبَلْتُ أَبْكِي لِمَا رَأَيْتُهُ وَاجْتَمَعَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَيْهِ الصِّبْيَانُ وَالنَّاسُ وَجَاءَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الرَّحَبَةَ وَأَقْبَلَ يَدُورُ مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ وَالنَّاسُ يَقُولُونَ جُنَّ جَابِرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ جُنَّ فَوَ الله مَا مَضَتِ الايَّامُ حَتَّى وَرَدَ كِتَابُ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَى وَالِيهِ أَنِ انْظُرْ رَجُلاً يُقَالُ لَهُ جَابِرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيُّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَابْعَثْ إِلَيَّ بِرَأْسِهِ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَى جُلَسَائِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ مَنْ جَابِرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيُّ قَالُوا أَصْلَحَكَ الله كَانَ رَجُلاً لَهُ عِلْمٌ وَفَضْلٌ وَحَدِيثٌ وَحَجَّ فَجُنَّ وَهُوَ ذَا فِي الرَّحَبَةِ مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ عَلَى الْقَصَبِ يَلْعَبُ مَعَهُمْ قَالَ فَأَشْرَفَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ يَلْعَبُ عَلَى الْقَصَبِ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِنْ قَتْلِهِ قَالَ وَلَمْ تَمْضِ الايَّامُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَنْصُورُ بْنُ جُمْهُورٍ الْكُوفَةَ وَصَنَعَ مَا كَانَ يَقُولُ جَابِرٌ.