Prophecy of Imam Ali (a.s.) regarding Marwan

Sheikh Mufeed writes in ‘Nabard e Jamal’ that:

“Waqidi has narrated that when Imam Ali (a.s.) got relieved from the Battle of Jamal, a group of young men from Quraysh came to him and sought safety from him and asked his permission to pledge allegiance with and requested Abdullah bin Abbas to intercede for them.

Imam Ali (a.s.) accepted the intercession of Abdullah bin Abbas and permitted them to come over and when they came, he said:

‘Pity on you o Quraysh! For which crime did you fight me? Did I give an unjust verdict before you? Or did I distribute wealth unequally between you? Or did I give anyone superiority over you? Or was I away from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.)? Or did I bear fewer hardships in the path of Islam?’

They said: O Amir al-Momineen! We are similar to the brothers of Yusuf (a.s.). Forgive us and seek repentance for us.

He looked at one of them and asked: Who are you?

He said: I am Musaahiq, son of Mukharma. I accept my sins and mistakes, and have sought repentance for them.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: I have forgiven you and pardoned all of you, and by God, although there is someone among you who if pledges allegiance with me by the palm of his hand, he will later break it by showing his back.

Marwan bin Hakam came forward while he was leaning on a man. Imam Ali (a.s.) asked: What happened to you? Are you injured?

He said: Yes, and I feel that I will die of this injury.

Imam (a.s.) smiled and said: No, by God, you don’t have to fear this injury. Very soon, this nation will witness bloody days by you and your sons.

Marwan pledged allegiance and returned.

Then Abdur Rahman bin Harith bin Hisham came forward and when Imam Ali (a.s.) saw him, he said:

‘By God, although you and your family were peaceful people, and are powerful, even then I will forgive you and it was very saddening for me to find you with these people and I wished it wouldn’t have happened with you.’

    Abdur Rahman said: What shouldn’t have happened, happened. Then he pledged allegiance and returned.[1]