NAJMUS SAAQIB Incident Thirty-two: A Grocer who met the Imam

Also the respected Sayyid has stated verbally as well as in
writing that:

When I was residing in Najaf Ashraf for my religious studies
around the year 1275 A.H. I heard about a grocer who was supposed to have met
Imam Zamana (a.s.).

I desired to know this person and to meet him in private and
learn directly from him how he met Imam (a.s.).

So, I initiated the process of developing friendship with
him. Many a times when I met him I greeted him and bought from him the
provisions he sold till there developed friendship between us. All this was
only to hear that blessed report from him. Till the time when I had the chance
to go to Masjid Sahla on Wednesday to perform the prayer of Istijaara.

When I reached the Masjid, I saw that person standing over
there. I saw it as an opportunity to ask him to spend the night with me. He was
with me till I finished the main rituals of that Masjid and we set out for the
grand Masjid of Kufa as per the usual customs of that time as no lodging was
possible in Masjid Sahla due to lack of water and attendants etc.

When we reached that Masjid and performed some of its
rituals and we settled down in the house, I asked him about the report of the
promised one and requested him to narrate his story in detail.

He said: I had often heard from people with the gnostic bent
of mind that one, who performs the rituals of Istijaara in Majid Sahla for
forty Wednesdays eves continuously with the intention of seeing the Awaited
Imam (a.s.), he would have the good fortune of seeing the Imam and it has often
occurred. Thus, I also became eager to perform the ritual of Istijaara every
Wednesday eve and neither heat nor cold or rain hindered me from performing
this till almost a year passed and I continued to perform the ritual of
Istijaara and maintained vigil at night in Masjid Kufa according to the common
practice till it was the time of Asr when I came out from Najaf Ashraf on foot
as per my habit and it was the winter period and condensed clouds and the
atmosphere was dark and there was a light drizzle.

So, I became attentive to the Masjid and I was assured of
people coming over there as per habit till I reached the Masjid when the sun
had set and a thick darkness had enveloped the atmosphere along with thunder
and lightning. A terror gripped me as I was alone and I could not see anyone
there. So much so that even the attendant, who was supposed to be there on
Wednesdays was absent.

Since I was terrified I thought that I should first of all
perform the Maghrib Prayer and rituals of Istijaara and hasten back to Masjid
Kufa as soon as possible; thus I pacified myself with this.

I arose and prayed the Maghrib Prayer, then the prayers and Amaal
of Istijaara and during that I glanced at the holy place popularly known as the
place of Imam Sahibuz Zamaan (a.s.), which is in the direction of Qibla. I saw
a perfect light over there and sound of recitation of Quran arose from there.

I became confident that there were some other pilgrims as
well over there and I was not alone in that predicament, although I had not
noticed them when I entered. I completed the Amaal of Istijaara with proper
decorum. Then I noticed the place of Imam Zamana (a.s.) that it was lit up with
a bright effulgence and I fell into a deep thought and I saw the Holy Imam (a.s.)
over there in full splendor, standing up in prayers.

My heart became inclined to him and I thought that he was a
pilgrim from some far off land, because when I thought on it, I concluded that
he was not from the area of Najaf Ashraf. So I began to recite the Ziyarat of
Imam Asr (a.s.) from the fixed recitations of that place and then prayed Namaz Ziyarat.

After I concluded the Ziyarat I decided to ask him to
accompany me to Masjid Kufa, but I could dare not approach him. On the other
hand, I looked at the terrible darkness, thunder and lighting, which terrified
me. He himself looked at me with kindness and said: Would you like us to move
to Kufa Masjid?

I said: Yes, O my chief. Such is the practice of us, people
of Najaf; that when we conclude the rituals of this Masjid, we move to Kufa
Masjid.

So I went out with that gentleman and I was very pleased at
his presence there and was elated with his company. Thus, I walked in
illuminated atmosphere and in a nice climate and dry atmosphere that nothing
stuck to the feet. I was oblivious of the rainy climate and darkness till I
reached the Masjid. His Eminence was with me and I was completely filled with
confidence and joy due to his company. Neither I encountered darkness nor rain.
So I knocked the outer gate of the Masjid as it was locked. The caretaker
asked: Who is knocking at the door?

I said: Please open the door.

He asked: Where are you coming from at this dark hour and in
this rainy climate?

I said: I am coming from Masjid Sahla.

When the attendant opened the door, I turned my attention to
that Sayyid, but could not see him; and I saw the world in utter darkness and
it was raining heavily. So I started wailing: O our chief, O our master, please
come as the door has been opened. I retraced my steps to search for him, but
could find no trace. At that time the rain and cold began to trouble me.

I entered the Masjid and then woke up from a condition of
thoughtlessness as if I was in a trance. I chastised myself at being so
careless of the clear signs when everything should have been so clear for me. Now,
it dawned to me that the light displayed by the Sayyid was so bright that even
dozens of lamps cannot provide. Secondly, how did he call me by my name?
Another notable point was that when I was inside the Masjid, I heard the sound
of lightning and rain, but when I came out with him, there was no trace of rain
and when I looked underneath my feet, the road was dry and the wind was gentle
till I reached the gate of the Masjid. And from the time he separated, I saw
the darkness of the atmosphere and the coldness of the rain and moreover, the
reason was that I forgot that His Eminence is the one to meet whom I had
performed this ritual (Amaal Istajara) and bore heat and cold for this: