Sheik Toosi wrote a book, ‘Al Nihaya’ on Fiqh. Other people were against this work saying that there were almost thousand books on the subject. Therefore criticism started among the followers of Aaal e Mohammed (s.a) about this effort of the Sheik.
In particular three eminent scholars, Hassan ibne Babawiya, Abd al Jabbar ibne Abd Allah and Hanifa Abd al Ali were very critical. These scholars were in virtual retirement when Sheik Toosi arrived at Baghdad. But they actively opposed and rejected the book written by Sheik Toosi because they felt that he had collected bits and pieces from here and there and had put it in the shape of a book.
The three scholars fasted for three days, and at the end of the third fast, in the night, that was the eve of Friday, they had a Ghusl (Ritual Bath) and entered the mausoleum of Amir al Momineen (a.s) and circumambulated the sarcophagus, recited the Ziarat, put their hands up in supplication and prayed, “O Ameer al Momineen (a.s)! The matter of this book isn’t getting resolved! You must resolve this matter!”
The three scholars then returned to their respective homes. All three of them saw Hazrat Amir al Momineen (a.s) in their dream saying, “The book Nihaya is an excellent book and none else has written such a book! I like the book and the author has written it to please Allah! I order that you accept and approve the book and act according to it.and issue your Fatwa (Edicts) on the basis of the book!”
When the three scholars woke up in the morning, they assembled at the mausoleum of Hazrat Amir al Momineen (a.s.) They narrated the dream to one another. They decided that they would individually write down the content of the dream on a piece of paper and compare the contents. The content was verbatim the same. They thought about their criticism of Sheik Toosi and they decided to go to him and offer their apology. They went to him and found him beaming with a smile.
The Sheik said, “ I had been repeatedly asking you to accept the book, but you were reluctant! Now that Hazrat Amir al Momineen (a.s) has intervened, would you still oppose it! All the three scholars were surprised. They felt how Sheik Toosi knew about their dream. They then learned that Sheik Toosi too was informed by the Amir (a.s) in his dream. After the release of the book the Mujtahids abstained from giving Fatwa