Sermon of Muttaqin, Part 7 — They long to see their beloved

The Seventh Characteristic of the God-Conscious (Muttaqīn), Based on the Sermon of Muttaqīn by Amir al-Mu’minin (pbuh)

They long for the meeting with their Lord:

“Were it not for the appointed term that Allah has decreed for them, their souls would not remain in their bodies for even the blink of an eye, out of longing for Him.”

Ali ibn Mahziyar al-Qummi relates:

“Driven by my longing to meet Hazrat Baqiyyatallah (AJ), I traveled to Makkah forty times.

On my fortieth journey, I said to myself:

‘My Master, I will not come again. If I were meant to see you, I would have seen you by now.’”

That night, the Imam appeared to him in a dream and said:

“Ali, come. On this journey, We give you the glad tidings of reunion.”

Overjoyed, he immediately set out for Makkah.

After completing the rites of Hajj, while standing beside the Ka’bah before beginning his return journey, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

The man asked,

“Are you Ali ibn Mahziyar?”

He replied,

“Yes. What do you want with me?”

The man said,

“Come. Did you not wish to meet your Master? Come with me.”

He seated Ali upon his horse, and in the middle of the night they journeyed into the desert.

Gradually, a tent appeared in the distance.

As they approached, the man said,

“This is the tent of the Greatest Guardian of Allah (may our souls be sacrificed for him).

When they reached the entrance, he said,

“Wait here while I seek permission from my Master to see whether you are granted permission to enter.”

Ali ibn Mahziyar could hardly contain himself.

For forty years he had burned with longing for his Master.

Soon the man emerged from the tent with a smile upon his face.

Ali rushed inside.

What transpired during that meeting remains unknown.

On the third day, he was told:

“Ali ibn Mahziyar, if you wish to leave, then leave. The days of reunion have now come to an end.”

With a heart filled with sorrow, he departed from the blessed tent and returned to Ahvaz.

It is narrated that after returning to Ahvaz, he neither ate nor drank, nor did he sleep.

From morning until evening, he continuously repeated:

“Mahdi… Mahdi…”

From night until dawn, he struck his head in grief and cried:

“Mahdi… Mahdi…”

He remained in this state until, after seven days, those around him realized that he would not survive.

Having finally met his beloved Master, he lived for no more than seven days thereafter.

References

• The account of Ali ibn Mahziyar’s meeting with Imam al-Mahdi (AJ) is recorded by:
• Shaykh al-Tusi in al-Ghaybah.
• Shaykh al-Saduq in Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’mah, Chapter 43.
• Sayyid Hashim al-Bahrani in Tabsirat al-Wali fi Man Ra’a al-Qa’im al-Mahdi (AJ) (narrations 35, 38, and 46).
• Dala’il al-Imamah, p. 298.