It is written in ‘Darus Salaam’ that the great Scholar Allamah Sayyed Hashim Husain Bahrani says: In Najaf there lived a shopkeeper who counseled and advised people daily at his shop after Namaze Zohr. At that moment his shop would be full of people who gathered to hear the guidance. One day an Indian prince came to settle in Najaf, and planed to proceed on a journey. He came to the shopkeeper to keep his ornaments and valuables as a trust with him, because he thought the shopkeeper to be a trust-worthy believer. After some days when he returned from the journey, he went to the shopkeeper to take back the things entrusted to him. The shopkeeper completely denied having taken the valuables from him. The prince was dejected and went to the Shrine of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (a.s.) and called out, “O Ali! I left my motherland and came and settled here near your grave, and entrusted my wealth to the shopkeeper believing him to be a trust-worthy person. But alas, now he denies having my wealth and I have no witness to prove my claim except you.” In the night he dreamt that Hazrat Ali (a.s.) came and told him to go in the morning to the gate of the city. And when the gate opens, the first person to enter therein would help him acquire his lost wealth. He got up the next morning and went to the city-gate. The first person to enter the gate was an old and feeble man, who looked virtuous and was carrying a load of wood on his head. He entered the city and sat down to sell the wood so as to earn something for his family. The prince felt ashamed to ask for his help and returned to the Shrine. He again dreamt the same, and the next day again went to the city-gate and saw the old man and returned back. When on the third night he dreamt the same, in the morning he went to the gate and finding the old man related the whole incident to him. The man thought for a moment and told the prince to come to the shopkeeper’s place after Namaze Zohr, and he would get his wealth back if Allah desires. After the Namaz people as usual gathered at the shop and the shopkeeper got up to give advice.
Suddenly the old man got up and requested the shopkeeper to let him say something, to which he agreed. The old man said, “O people! I am so and so, the son of so and so, and am worried about the Rights of people (Haqqun Naas). Praise be to Allah! For I have no lust for the wealth of this world, and am a contented man and passing my days in solitude. I would like to narrate to you an incident of my life and warn you about the wrath of Allah, and the punishment of Hell, and the hardships of Qiyamat. Once I was in great debt and hence borrowed ten ‘Qiraat’ (equal to 21 dinars) from a Jew and promised him to pay half a ‘Qiraat’ daily. I fulfilled my promise for ten days. On the eleventh day the Jew was not to be found anywhere. I inquired about his whereabouts and was told that he had migrated to Baghdad.
After some days I dreamt that Qiyamat had dawned, and I was being brought for reckoning alongwith others. After giving my account, I was sent towards Paradise. While passing on the Pul-e-siraat, I suddenly saw the Jew appearing from the raging fire below and he obstructed my way. He asked me to return the five ‘Qiraats’ that I owed him. I told him that I had no intention of usurping his money, and that I had searched for him, but he was nowhere to be found. He said that he would not permit me to go any further until I return his trust back to him. I said that I did not have anything at that moment, to which he replied that in that case I should allow him to place his finger on my chest. I agreed to it.
As soon as he placed his fingers on my chest, I felt intense pain, and I woke up from my sleep. I saw that there was a wound on my chest, which is not yet cured, and is still fresh. Whatever treatment I do is of no avail.” Saying this the old man opened his shirt buttons and showed the wound to the people. When the people saw the wound, they started weeping and wailing and asked repentance from Allah. The shopkeeper who was also hearing this was very much affected and regretted his sin. He called the Indian prince and returned him his wealth, and apologized sincerely for his sin.(Ma’ad)