“What we conceal is more than what we make apparent.”

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Jabir bin Yazid Jofi narrates that he came to Imam Muhammad
Baqir (a.s.) and complained to the Imam about his needfulness. He
said: “We don’t have a single dirham.” Not much time passed, but
that Kumayt, the poet entered and said: “May I be sacrificed on you,
if you permit, I would like to recite a panegyric, which I have
composed in your honor.” His Eminence said: “Recite.” Kumayt
recited his couplets.

His Eminence ordered his servant: “Bring a money bag from
that room and give it to Kumayt.” The servant did that. After that
Kumayt said: “If you permit, I will recite another poem.” Imam (a.s.)
accorded the permission and he recited another panegyric. Again His
Eminence ordered his servant to bring another purse from the room
and give to Kumayt. The servant did that. Again Kumayt sought
permission to recite another poem. Imam accorded the permission
and Kumayt recited the third poem. Imam ordered his servant to give
him another bag of money and the servant brought another purse and
gave it to Kumayt.

Kumayt said: “By God, I did not recite these poems in greed of
wealth and I had no intention, except fulfillment of your rights.” His
Eminence prayed for him and said:
“O servant, take back these purses.”

Jabir says: When Kumayt went away and I witnessed all this, a
thought passed my mind that: Imam told me: I don’t have a dirham.
Then he ordered 30000 dirhams be given to Kumayt? When I was in
these thoughts, Imam (a.s.) said: “Jabir, arise and go into that room.”
Jabir says: “I went into the room from where they had brought out
the money. I couldn’t find anything there.”

Imam (a.s.) said: “What we conceal is more than what we makeapparent.” Then he took my hand and took me inside that room and
kicked at the ground. Suddenly something like the neck of a camel
made of gold emerged from the ground. He said: “Look at this and
don’t divulge this, except to your reliable believer brothers.”
“Almighty Allah has enabled us to do whatever we like. If we
like, we can pull the earth in any direction we like.”

al Ikhtisaas

Isbaatul Wilayah (Part One) – Ayatullah AliNamazi Shahroodi (r.a.)