قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاء مَّعِينٍ
“Say: Just think. if your water were to dry up who then can bring you flowing water?”
Janabe Ammar (ra) says, I was with the Messenger of Allah (as) in one of his battles. Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as) had killed all the flag-bearers and had scattered the enemies.
After Imam Ali (as) killed Amr bin Abdillah Al-Jomahi and Shaiba bin Nafi (these were leaders of the disbelievers) I went close to the Messenger of Allah (sawa) and said, O Messenger of Allah! Verily Ali (as) is fighting for Allah the way one should fight for Him.
The Prophet (sawa) replied, (Yes) because he is from me and I am from him. Ali is the heir of my knowledge; he will repay my debts; he will fulfill my promises; and he is the caliph after me.
If it was not for Ali, the loyal believers would not be known. Ali’s war is my war, and my war is the war of Allah. Ali’s peace is my peace, and my peace is the peace of Allah.
Verily Ali is the father of my two grandsons. The righteous Imams are from his backbone, and the Mahdi of this nation is one of them.
I (Ammar) said, May I sacrifice my father and mother for you, O Messenger of Allah! Who is the Mahdi to whom you are referring?
The Prophet (sawa) replied, O Ammar! Allah, the Most Exalted, promised me that He will make nine Imams emerge from the backbone of Husain, and the ninth one will disappear from (the eyes of) the people. This is the meaning of the words of Allah, “Say: ‘Just think. If your water were to dry up who then can bring you flowing water?”
He (the Qaem) will have a long occupation during which (most) people will turn away from believing in him, but (a few) will stay steady in their belief.
He will rise at the end of time and he will fill the earth with justice and equity, just as it will be filled with oppression and inequity. He will fight based on the Taweel (hidden interpretation) of the Quran, just as I fought based on the Tanzeel (outer meaning) of the Quran.
His name is my name and he looks the most like me.
O Ammar! There will be a conspiracy after me. When that happens, follow Ali and accompany him, because Ali is with Haqq and Haqq is with him.
O Ammar! You will fight (along) with Ali (against) two groups: the Nakeseen (treacherous) and the Qaseteen (apostates) and you will be killed by the tyrant group.
I (Ammar) asked, O Messenger of Allah! Will I be killed while Allah and His Messenger (sawa) are pleased with me?
The Prophet (sawa) replied, Yes. (You will be killed) while Allah and I are pleased with you; and your last sustenance in this life will be a glass of milk.
On the Day of Siffeen, Ammar went to Ameerul Momeneen (as) and said, O brother of the Messenger of Allah! Do you give me permission to fight?
He (as) replied, May Allah have mercy on you, wait (a while).
After a while, Ammar went back to Ameerul Momeneen (as) and repeated his request. He (as) gave him the same answer. When Ammar went for the third time to Ameerul Momeneen (as), he (the Imam (as)) started to cry.
Ammar said, O Commander of the Believers! Today is the day that the Messenger of Allah (sawa) described for me.
Ameerul Momeneen (as) came down from his mule, hugged Ammar, bid farewell to him, and then said, O Abal Yaqzaan! May Allah reward you with the best of rewards for supporting the Prophet (sawa) and for supporting me. You were a great brother and a great companion.
Then Ameerul Momeneen (as) and Ammar both started to cry.
Ammar said, O Ameerul Momeneen (as)! I swear to Allah that I did not follow you except with insight, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (sawa) say during the Battle of Khaibar:
O Ammar! There will be a conspiracy after me. When that happens, follow Ali and his party because Ali is with Haqq and Haqq is with Ali.
O Ammar! You will fight (along) with Ali (against) two groups: the Nakeseen and the Qaseteen.
O Ameerul Momeneen (as)! May Allah reward you with the best of rewards for supporting Islam. Verily you have advised the people, guided them, and performed all of your duties.
Then Ammar and Ameerul Momeneen (as) rode (toward the enemies).
Ammar started to fight. In the middle of the battle, he asked for some water but was told that there was no water. Then a man from among the Ansar brought some milk for Ammar.
After he (Ammar) drank a little, he said, This is what the Messenger of Allah (sawa) promised me – that my last sustenance in this life would be some milk.
Then he attacked the people and he killed eighteen men. However, two men from Shaam attacked him with spears and killed him (may Allah’s mercy be on him).
At night, while Ameerul Momeneen (as) was going through the bodies of the dead, he found Ammar lying among them. He took the head of Ammar, placed it on his lap, and started to cry.
Then he recited this poem:
O death! You are not leaving me alone. Relieve me (by taking me) because you have taken every one of my friends.
O death! Parting from friends is very difficult and you do not leave any lasting friendship for friends.
I see that you are looking for those whom we love and it is as if you are being guided toward (taking) them. (Tafseer Al Burhan volume 8 page 881)
Imam Kazim (as) was asked about the verse “Say: ‘Just think. If your water were to dry up who then can bring you flowing water?”
He replied, (It means) what will you do when your Imam is missed and you cannot see him?(Kamaluddin volume 2 page 360)
Imam Reza (as) was asked about the verse, “Say: ‘Just think. If your water were to dry up who then can bring you flowing water?”
Imam (as) replied, “Your water” refers to your doors (to Allah) who are the Imams. Imams are the doors between Allah and His creation. “Who then can bring you flowing water?” means who can have the knowledge of an lmam?! (Tafseer Al Qummi volume 3 page 379)
