The Prophecy of Issa (a.s.) regarding the Battle of Siffeen

Another significant incident that proves the wrongness of Mu’awiyah and his supporters, is the prophecy of Issa (a.s.) regarding the Battle of Siffeen.

          This prophecy has been narrated by the prominent authors of both Shia and Sunni sect where they have also mentioned the incident of a monk’s martyrdom.

 In the book ‘Tareekh e Raudatus Safa’, the prophecy of Issa (a.s.) is mentioned in the following manner:

          ‘Imam Ali (a.s.) moved from Nukhaila with an organised army and when the time of prayer arrived, he descended near a mosque that was on his way. He recited the prayer in its short manner and moved quickly from that place until he reached the monastery of Abu Musa. There he offered the Asr prayer and moved ahead until he reached the bank of river Euphrates where he offered the Maghrib prayer. Then he halted his army in the camps of Madaa’in, the farmers there requested him to stay with them but he refused their offer and after passing the night at that place, he moved forward until he reached the ‘Dar ul Mulk’ of Cyrus Anusherwaan, and then moved forward from that place passing by different places until he entered the boundaries of the Arabian peninsula and reached the monastery of a monk, which was built above a Minaret. Imam (a.s.) tied the curbs of his horses and called the monk, when the monk heard a loud voice, he came outside his monastery with his red-coloured lean body wearing a black dress.

Imam Ali (a.s.) asked him: Do you have some water as my soldiers are thirsty?

The monk said: Wait for a while so that I can bring a bucket of drinkable water.

Imam Ali (a.s.): That quantity of water will not be sufficient.

The monk said: I will bring in such quantity that will be sufficient for twenty people.

Imam (a.s.) said: There is a large group of people with me.

The monk said: I have three vessels full of water, I will give it all for you and will place everything that I have before your feet.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: O Monk! There is a spring of water near this minaret, from which six prophet of Bani Israel have drank water. At present, that spring is hidden from the eyes of an observer like the water of animals.

          When the monk heard these words, he descended the roof and said: My father narrated from his father that in this area, there is a spring of water which is concealed, it will not be opened by anyone but a Prophet or his successor.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said: I will find that hidden spring, by the will of Allah.

The monk asked: What is your name?

Imam (a.s.) said: Ali bin Abi Talib.

The monk said: I have inherited a book from my father in which the name of the last Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and the name of the person who will find the spring is written. And if this case is resolved by you, I will become Muslim on your hand.

          Thereafter, Imam Ali (a.s.) moved towards the eastern side of the monastery and drew a circle of approximately twenty metres circumference and asked the people to dig the land within that area; and after digging a small portion, a large stone was found which could not be moved by the individuals of a powerful tribe together; all their effort to move the stone went in vain.

Imam Ali (a.s.): If the Almighty God wishes, I will move this stone from the opening of the spring myself.

The monk asked: How can you possibly do this alone? Because a group of powerful and athletic men were unable to lift it.

Imam Ali (a.s.) said:

                   ‘O Monk! One day, I was walking along with the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), out of nowhere, he saw a group of powerful men of Quraysh striving with all their might and power to lift a stone from its position.The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) addressed them: Do you assume that this is strength? Strength is to control your wrath and anger when you are filled with it.

Then, he went at the peak of Mount Abu Qubais and pushed a huge rock, when that rock reached the ground, it spoke miraculously: Who can put this rock back on its position?

They said: No one has the strength to lift it.

The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: All of you rise together, except my uncle Hamza, Abbas and my cousin Ali (a.s.).

Abu Jahl, the cursed, began to laugh upon hearing this word and said: Who is this child whom you count among your dignified people?

When the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) witnessed the mockery of Abu Jahl, he said: I know something that you do not know.

Then he said: O Ali! Recite the phrase ‘La Haula wa La Quwwata illa Billah’ and lift this rock.

I recited those words and easily lifted that rock.

O Monk! We are the treasurers of the Divine treasures and the inheritors of the heavenly revelations! With the assistance of the divine force, I will solve the matter.”

When his speech ended, he placed his chest on the stone and exerted power, then lifted that huge stone from the opening of the spring and threw it away, and a stream of clean, cold and drinkable water ran from beneath the stone which quenched the thirst of his soldiers and rides, and people’s faith on his position and greatness exceeded.

After witnessing this incident, the monk accepted Islam and took his holiness’ leave to bring that book which he inherited from his forefathers for Imam (a.s.). That book was in Syriac and the translation of its summary is that Sham’oon narrates from Issa (a.s.) that he said:

          ‘After me, the Almighty God will sent a Prophet who will be the seal of all the prophets and messengers.

          He will be of good ethics and not speak aloud in the markets, and will not do a commit a bad deed if he faced one, he will forgive and be merciful to them, and his nation will praise the Almighty both in solitude and in open.

          And when he passes away from this world, his followers will unite after their conflict, and after sometime, there will be a conflict between them again. Then a man from his nation, will move ahead with the people of east to fight against the people of west, and he will cross this seashore. His looks and character will be similar to that Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and his decisions will be based on justice and righteousness; he will not show laziness in giving the crucial verdicts, and will not accept bribe; the worldly ornaments are less precious than ashes for him, death is easier for him than swallowing water down his throat; he fears the Almighty in solitude and practices justice and righteousness openly.

          Whoever lives in his time, should follow him and be obedient to him as his happiness will take you close to the satisfaction of the Almighty.

          How fortunate is someone who will see him!

When his holiness, Amir al-Momineen (a.s.) became aware of its context, he praised the Almighty saying:

‘How can I express my gratitude for this blessing, with his will, I am among those who are remembered and not the ones who are forgotten’.

          The monk said: O Amir al-Momineen, I will not depart from your holy service ever, and will serve your highness throughout my life and will bear the difficulties and miseries that I have to face in this world with all my heart and soul.

Habibatul Ghurba says: That man was with Amir al-Momineen until he attained Martrydom in the Battle of Siffeen and Imam Ali (a.s.) offered prayer for him and said: ‘He belongs to my Ahl e Bait’.[1]

          The most significant point that can be derived from this narration is that Muwaiyah’s army is reffered to as the people of west, which can be an indication towards the connection of Mu’awiyah and the Roman emperor. We will discuss about this topic under a suitable discussion, if Allah wishes.