The celebrated Muhaddith, Mirza Hussain Noori has chronicled this incident in his ‘Najmus Saqib’.
‘A trader by the name of Sayyed Rashti had the good fortune of visiting Najaf. This
person was a very sincere mo’min. The noted scholar of that era, Shaykh Ali Rashti
came to my house and introduced me to that trader, Sayyed Rashti. He then
mentioned about a very strange incident that occurred with the latter. However, I was
too occupied at that time to really inquire into that episode. I decided to ask him some
other time.
After a few years, I had the opportunity of visiting Najaf. By some strange
coincidence I met the that same trader, Sayyed Rashti. He was to return home after his
visit to Samarrah. I had lost my way when he advised, ‘Recite Namaze Shab, you
shall soon find your way’. I occupied myself in reciting the Namaz. On its completion
I stepped out of the mosque, when I met him again. He exclaimed, ‘You are still here!’ I said, ‘By Allah, I do not know my way.’ Then he recommended, ‘Recite Ziarate Jaame’a.’ Although I had recited the Ziarat several times in the past, I had not memorised it. But on that day, I could recite the entire Ziarat very easily.
Later, by some strange coincidence I met that person again. Again he said with
amazement, ‘You have not gone as yet!’ I broke into tears and confessed once again
my helplessness in finding the way. This time he suggested recitation of Ziarate
Ashoora to relieve me of my helplessness. My problem with Ziarate Ashhora was the
same as with Ziarate Jaame’a. I had not committed the Ziarat to memory nor its dua.
But I somehow I recited the complete Ziarat along with the curses and salaam and
Duae Alqamah.
Later, I chanced upon that person once again and he asked me the same question once
more. I replied that I had still not found my way and would be here till the next
morning. He volunteered, ‘I will reunite you with your caravan with which you have
got separated.’ He went and returned mounted on a steed with his shovel on his left
shoulder. He approached me and said, ‘Mount the horse!’ I did likewise. I caught hold
of the reins and beckoned the horse to move ahead, but the horse did not budge. He
said, ‘Give me the reins.’ I surrendered the reins to him. He shifted the shovel to his
left shoulder and took the reins in his right hand. I witnessed with amazement that the
horse began trotting forward calmly and started covering the distance with minimum
fuss.
After a while he placed his hand on my thigh and remarked, ‘Why don’t you recite the ‘Nafelah?’ Then he reiterated thrice, ‘Recite Nafelah, Nafelah, Nafelah !’
Then he remarked, ‘Why don’t you recite Ziarate Ashoora?’ Then he again he
repeated thrice, ‘Recite Ziarate Ashoora, Ashoora, Ashoora !’ I then asked him to
narrate the incident. He then proceeded to recount the incident accurately without any
exaggeration.
He narrated, ‘This incident occurred in 1280 A.H. when I had left Rasht for Hajj. I
had halted at Haji Safar Ali’s house, the latter being a respected trader from Tabriz.
Since I was not affiliated to any caravan, I was a little concerned and was on the
lookout for someone. After sometime I saw a caravan led by Haji Jabbar Isfahani
headed for the city of Tabruzan. I decided to unite with it. We had only proceeded a
little when some more persons attached themselves with the caravan. Mulla Baqir
Tabrizi, Haji Sayyed Hussain Tabrizi, Haji Ali Zami and I kept walking till we arrive
at Arzantehur Rum.
From there we departed for Tabruzan. Earlier, Haji Jabbar had cautioned us about that
the perilous area between Arzantehur Rum and Tabruzan. He warned us never to
disengage from the caravan. Daybreak was another 2 hours to 2 and half hours away.
We proceeded from that place. We had barely traversed a quarter to a half of a farsakh when we saw dark clouds looming in the horizon. And soon those threatening clouds
engulfed us in darkness. Soon there was a hailstorm, and we all were protecting
ourselves and moving briskly ahead at the same time. I made every effort to keep pace
with the others in the group. But unable to keep up, ultimately I found myself
separated from the group.
I felt totally lost in the darkness of that blizzard. I got off my horse to rest awhile on
the side of the path. I was wary and a little fearful of being looted for the 600 tuman
that I had with me. I decided to discontinue my journey at that place till daybreak.
Then in the morning I would retrace my footsteps back to where I had started. There I
would seek some escort who could guide me back to the caravan. I was still
deliberating over my next course of action when across the road I happened to notice
a garden. Strangely, there was also a gardener, who was removing the snowflakes that
had accumulated on the plants. On seeing me, he advanced towards me. He stopped at
a distance and asked, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I have got separated from my
companions’ He replied, ‘Why don’t you recite Ziarate Jaame’a? Recite Ziarate
Jaame’a, Jaame’a, Jaame’a!!!
Then we proceeded on his horse. After awhile he turned to me and beckoned, ‘See,
there are your companions by the riverbank. They are performing wuzu for Namaze
Subh.’ I dismounted from his horse. I tried to mount my own steed, but couldn’t. He
himself came forward and helped me get on my horse, and then directed my horse
towards the caravan. It was while moving ahead that I began thinking about that
person. Who was this person who conversed with me in my own (Persian) language,
when that area was only inhabited by Turks who were Christians? How did he
manage to unite me with my group so effortlessly? When I turned back again, there
was no on sight, and there was no trace of that person who seemed to have vanished
in thin air!!!
Anyhow I went towards the caravan, and finally I was united with my companions.