The Shaykh served with Masjid Kufa for many years and
was staying there along with his family. He was a very pious and
God-fearing person. Towards the latter part of his life, he became
blind. Some scholars have narrated his incident as follows:
‘A few years ago a fight erupted between two tribes in the
city of Najaf. Due to this war-like situation, the scholars and
visitors to Najaf were unable to travel to Kufa Masjid. It
continued for quite some time, that in the city of Najaf, the hotels
with which I was associated were not seeing any pilgrims due to
the wars. Even the scholars were not coming to Najaf. At this, I
became very worried as I had a large family to support. There
was an added responsibility of some orphans on me also. Things were getting very difficult and I was living a hand to mouth
existence.
On one Friday eve it so happened that there was nothing to
eat at all. My children were crying due to hunger. At this time,
my heart was very sad. I left my house and began walking and
narrating my condition to Allah, I said, “O Allah! I am satisfied
with my condition and whatever You have ordained for me. But
what should I do – I have yet to be blessed with a visit of my
master, Imam Zamana (a.s.). If You grant me permission to see
the honorable face of my master Imam Zamana (a.s.), I promise
that I will never ask You for anything else ever again and will be
happy and satisfied with the poverty that You have destined for
me.”
Suddenly, I got up from my place. I saw a white cloth in my
hand (this cloth was one which people normally place at the place
of prostration in Prayer). My other hand was in the hands of a
handsome and awesome youth. His strong personality and
striking features gave me the impression that he was some
emperor. My mind was in a daze and I did not know what was
happening.
Then I saw that he had worn a green turban and a person
dressed in white clothes was standing next to him. We started
walking towards the Mihrab (prayer niche) in the mosque. When
we reached there, the person who had taken hold of my hand
turned to me and said, “O Tahir, spread the cloth for Prayer.” I
spread the cloth. It was the whitest cloth I had ever seen and was
outstandingly beautiful, but I could not make out the material
with which it was made.
As I laid out the cloth and turned it towards the Qiblah, this
handsome Sayyid stood on it and began reciting his Prayer. I was
mesmerized by his presence and slowly the noor (light) from his
face increased so much that it was difficult to look at his face
directly. His companion too stood behind him and got busy in
reciting his prayers.
I stood ahead of them and was watching them. Who are
these persons, I wondered? When they had completed their
prayers, I saw that the person who was praying behind was no
longer with us. Before I could absorb this, I became aware of a
chair, which was about 4 feet in height and even had a shade
attached to it. The respected Sayyid who was praying ahead on
the white cloth was sitting on it. The illumination from the chair
and the face of this person was making it difficult for my eyes to
see.
The respected Sayyid said, “O Tahir, which emperor do you
take me for?”
I said, “O Master, you are the emperor of emperors. You are
a leader in knowledge and are not like the other kings.” Then he
said, “O Tahir, you have succeeded in your objective (of meeting
Imam Zamana). What do you wish now? Do we not take care of
your needs everyday? Are your deeds not presented before us?”
Finally the respected Sayyid promised me that my condition and
wealth would improve and that I would never face poverty again.
At that time, a sinful person, who I knew by name and
character entered Masjid Kufa from the direction of the courtyard
of Hazrat Muslim (a.s.). Suddenly I saw that the holy face of
Imam was seized with anger. He turned his face towards that person and said, “Till where will you run and escape? Is not the
earth and heaven our kingdom? Follow the orders which we have
issued, for you have no choice.”
Then he turned towards me, smiled and said, “You have
fulfilled your desires. Now, do you want anything else?” I was so
dumbstruck by his magnificence and brilliance that I could not
speak. He repeated his question and again I was in such a state
that I could not reply. I was unable to express my happiness in
words. Then within a flash, I saw that I was alone in the mosque
and that Imam Zamana (a.s.) had disappeared. I looked towards
the east and saw that morning was almost upon me.’
After this, the Shaykh says that the doors of sustenance were
opened to him and he never faced shortage of anything in my life.