The incident narrated below from the book Kamaluddin is one amongst many which establishes that Hazrat Khizr met Imam Ali (as) and is alive till today. In fact we are reminded time and again that Allah kept Hazrat Khizr alive only so that there would remain no doubt in the minds of the people for the long life of Imam Mahdi (as)One day Ameerul Momeneen (as) entered Masjidul Haram accompanied by Imam Hasan (as) and leaning on the hand of Salman. He entered and sat down (in the Masjid).
A man of elegant appearance and nice dress entered and saluted Ameerul Momeneen (as). He (As) returned his salutations. He said, “O Ameerul Momeneen (as) I wish to ask you about three things. If you give me correct replies I would know that those who claimed caliphate before you were false and that their world and the hereafter are not safe. If you do not reply correctly I will know that your path is the same as those who preceded you.
Ameerul Momeneen (as) said: “Ask me whatever you like”.
He asked, “When a person dies, where does his soul go?” “How does man remembers one thing and forgets the other?” “Whom does a child resemble more, the paternal uncles or the maternal.”
His Eminence told Imam Hasan (as) to reply to the questions.
The answers given by Imam Hasan (as) are as follows:
As for your question that where does the soul of man goes when he is asleep, the reply is that his soul is related to the breeze/wind. And breeze is related to the air till the time the one who is asleep begins to wake up. And when the Almighty Allah permits, his soul is returned to his body. In this way the soul is pulled out from the breeze. And the breeze is pulled out from the air. And the soul comes and stays in the body of its owner. If the Almighty does not allow that the soul may be restored to its owner, the air pulls the breeze and the breeze pulls the soul. And then the owner of the soul will not be restored his soul till the time of resurrection.
As for your next question that how does a man remember and how does he forget, the heart of man is in a casket which is covered with a tray. If he recited complete Salawat on Mohammed and Aale Mohammed the tray moves away from the casket and he recalls whatever he has forgotten. But if he does not recite the Salawat on Mohammed and Aale Mohammed or recites an incomplete Salawat the tray covers the casket and his heart remains in darkness, thus he forgets whatever he has been told.
As for your question that how does a man resemble his paternal or maternal uncle, the reply is that when a man goes to his wife with tranquility, rested nerves and comforted body, and his seed stays restfully in her womb, the child resembles its parents. But if the man approaches his wife in a disturbed state the seed will rest on one of the nerves of the wife. If those are related to paternal side the child will resemble the paternal uncle and if the nerves are concerned with the maternal side the child will resemble the maternal uncle.
The man said, “I bear witness that there is no god except Allah and I have always borne witness thus. And I bear witness that Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah and I have always testified to it. And I bear witness that you are the legatee of the Messenger (sawa), and one who establishes his proof and evidence (pointing towards Ameerul Momeneen (as) he said, “I have always testified this.”
Then indicating towards Imam Hasan (as) he said, “I bear witness that you are the legatee of Ameerul Momeneen (as) and one who shall establish his proof and evidence. That is you and the one who proves the prophethood of the Messenger of Allah (sawa). And I bear witness that Husain bin Ali (as) is the legatee of his brother and he is the one to establish the proof after him. And I bear witness that Ali bin al-Husain (as) after the Imamate of Husain (as) is the proof of Allah. Then Mohammed bin Ali, after him Ja’far bin Mohammed, then Musa bin Ja’far, then Ali bin Musa, then Mohammed bin Ali, then Ali bin Mohammed, then Hasan Ibne Ali. After that I bear witness that that person is the Divine Proof who is the son of Hasan bin Ali whose name and patronymic (Kunniyat) will not be revealed till the time he fills the earth with justice and equity like it would have been fraught with injustice and oppression. And peace be on you, O Ameerul Momeneen (as)!”
After that he arose and departed from there. His Eminence told Imam Hasan (as), “O Aba Mohammed, go after him and see where he goes.” Imam Hasan (as) went out and returned after a moment and said, “He placed one foot outside the Masjid and after that I don’t know where he disappeared.” Ameerul Momeneen (as) said, “O Aba Mohammed, do you know who it was?” Imam Hasan (as) replied “Allah, His Messenger and Ameerul Momeneen (as) know better.” Ali (as) said, “He was Khizr.” (Kamaluddin, chapter 29, tradition 1)
Read More: Another incident when Hazrat Khizr (as) met Ameerul Momeneen Imam Ali (as)
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