In the year 419 or 420 H the Abbasid Caliph Qadir Billah’s prime minister fell seriously ill. Treatment by the best physicians of the realm was of no avail. His health deteriorated day by day. This person, although a very important functionary at the Caliph’s court, was an ardent follower and admirer of the Prophet (s.a)’s Progeny.
One night during the illness, he was very uneasy and listless and he dreamt that Hazrat Ali ibne Abi Talib (a.s) came and said, “If you want a cure for your illness, you must approach my son, Ilm al Huda and ask him to pray to Allah for you.”
The Abbasi Caliph’s prime minister was surprised and asked Hazrat Ali (a.s) in his dream, “O Ameer al Momineen! Who is this Ilm al Huda?” Hazrat Ali (a.s) replied, “He is my son Ali ibn al Hussain Moosavi!” This was the given name of Sayed Murtada. This was a very well known name those days.
The minister awoke from his dream and immediately wrote a letter to Sayed Murtada addressing him as Ilm al Huda and requested him to pray to Allah to restore him to health.When the letter reached Sayed Murtada he was surprised and rather worried.that he was being addressed as Ilm al Huda! He felt that it could be a befitting title for the Infallible.
He immediately responded to the minister’s letter asking him why he took the liberty of addressing him with the august title ? He wrote that it would be tantamount to belittling of Islam and that he didn’t like it! The prime minister immediately replied writing in detail about his dream and said that the title of Ilm al Huda wasn’t given by him. This title had been given to him by his forbear. The minister pleaded with him to offer prayer for his recovery. Sayed Murtada thus prayed to Allah for the recovery of the prime minister. He recuperated very soon and presented himself at the court of Qadir Billah.
In surprise the caliph asked him how he had made such a speedy recovery from his illness. The prime minister explained in detail about his dream and what happened thereafter. The caliph issued orders that Sayed Murtada, from that day, be addressed with the title of Ilm al Huda because Hazrat Ali (a.s) had endowed him with the title. Then on Sayed Murtada was popularly addressed with this title.