The only son of an indigent woman had gone on a journey which had transformed into a protracted one. Extremely worried, she approached Imam Sadiq (a.s) and complained: “My son has been away on a journey, which has turned into a very long one and I am terribly distressed.”
The Imam (a.s) said: “O’ Lady! Be patient and control yourself.”
The lady left, but after having waited for a few more days and with no sign of her son’s arrival she was not able to take it any more and so, approaching the Imam (a.s) again, she said: “My son has still not returned. What should I do?”
The Imam (a.s) said to her: “But did I not advise you to be patient and exhibit fortitude.” She lamented: “By Allah! I have reached the limit of my patience and do not possess the strength to bear this separation any more!”
Hearing this, the Imam (a.s) said: “Return home for your son has arrived.”
Confounded, she returned to her house only to find her son back from his journey. Even as she was overjoyed at seeing him, she thought to herself: “How did the Imam (a.s) know that he had returned? Does Revelation descend upon him? Let me go and ask him about this issue.”
Approaching the Imam (a.s) she asked: “Just as you had informed, my son has returned from his journey. But tell me, do you receive revelation that you were able to inform me of the unseen?” He (a.s) said: “I deduced this from one of the traditions of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w). He (s.a.w) had said:
عِندَ فَناَءِ الصَّبرِ ياِتيِ الْفَرَجُ
“When man’s patience reaches its end, ease and relief sets in upon him.” When I observed that your patience had reached its termination, I realized that relief had arrived and so informed you that your son had arrived and my deduction proved to be correct.’” ( Hikayat-ha-e-Shanidani, vol. 5, pg. 147, Layali al-Akhbar, vol. 1, pg. 266 )