The Return of the Sun

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Jovayrieh Ibne Moshar has reported: Imam Ali (AS) and I were going towards Kufah with no one else with us.  On our way, we reached a salt marsh where we came across a male lion sitting on the ground.  The female lion and the cubs were behind him.  I pulled the reins of my horse to withdraw.  At this moment the Imam said: “O Jovayrieh! Go ahead, this animal is a dog to God, as other animals whose control is in the hands of God.  No one but He can ward off the evil of this animal.”   I saw that lion, wagging his taile, came to Imam Ali (AS).  The Imam rubbed his foot against the lion’s face.  At this point, God with His Omnipotence made the lion speak, saying: Peace be upon you O Amiralmoamenin and the successor of the Holy Prophet!   The Imam said: Peace be upon you lion too! How do you praise God?   The lion said: Glory be to My Lord! He is free from all defects.  Glory be to the One who has placed my awe in the hearts of His servants! Glory be to Him! Glory be to Him!   Imam Ali (AS) passed by that place while I was accompanying him.  The salt marsh was vast hence the afternoon prayer was being missed.  I was worried about the afternoon prayer, saying to myself:   Woe to you O Jovayrieh! Are you interested in prayer more than Ameeral moamenin when you saw the adventure of lion with your own eyes?   We rode on together until the salt marsh was behind us.  The Imam descended from the horse.  then he recited Adhan and Eqamah, whispered something and made an indication with his hand.  At this time, with God’s absolute power, the sun returned to its former position in afternoon.  We performed the afternoon prayer together.  After prayer, I raised my head and saw that the sun had returned to its former position all at once, and the stars had appeared.  Imam Ali once again recited Adhan and Eqamah, performed the evening prayer, mounted the horse, turned to me and said:   -O Jovayrieh! Do you think I am an enchanter?  Do you say I have never seen this sunrise and sunset?  Is it magic or visual error?  Soon I will drive Satan’s temptations from your heart.  Don’t you know that in verse 180 of the Quranic Chapter, the Araf, God says:

  -And Allah’s are the best names, therefore call on Him thereby.”   -O Jovayrieh! One day when the Holy Prophet was receiving revelation and his head rested on my lap, the sun set while I had not performed the afternoon prayer.  The Holy Prophet asked me: Have you performed the afternoon prayer.  The Holy Prophet said: No.  The Holy Prophet said: O God, Ali was in a stage of worship, meeting the need of Your Messenger.  Then the Holy Prophet called God by His Chief Name.  All of a sudden the sun returned from its position and I performed my prayer with tranquillity.  The sun set after sometime.  Then the Holy Prophet – may my parents be sacrificed for him – taught me that name.  I too recited the Du with the same name.   O Jovayrieh! Truth in the hearts of believers is more clear than Satan’s suggestions.  I called on God to remove those suggestions from your heart.  What do you see now?  I said:  My master! Those suggestions are removed from my heart.

Reference : Oddatud Daee