The Birth of Abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali  عليه السلام — report 5

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Asbat from Salih ibn Hamza from his father from abu Bakr al-Hadrami who has said the following. “When abu Ja‘far عليه السلام was taken to al-Sham (Damascus) to the court of hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik. When arrived at his door he (Hisham) instructed his people from the Amawids, “When I will finish exasperating Muhammad ibn Ali عليه السلام and stop then each of you one after the other should reprimand and level blames on him.” He then ordered to allow Muhammad ibn Ali to come to his presence. When abu Ja‘far عليه السلام arrived he made a gesture with his hand to all of them and offered a general greeting. He then sat down. This increased the disappointment of Hisham because he did not he did not address him as the caliph and sat down without his permission. Hisham then began to reprimand and scold him and said to him among other things, “O Muhammad ibn Ali, why is it that one or the other from cause disunity among the Muslims and call people to follow him thinking that he is the Imam because of his ignorance and foolishness. He scolded him as much as he wanted. When he became quite others one after the other began to annoy and nag him. When they all became quite, he rose and stood up and said, “O people, what is that you want and where are you headed? Through us, Allah granted you guidance to the first one of you and through us the last of you can receive guidance. If you have a temporary power to us belongs the future power and there will be no power after our power because to us belong the consequences as Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has said, “The final victory is for the pious ones.” (7:128) .” He ordered to imprison him. In the prison to whoever that he spoke he would sympathize with him. The guard came to Hisham and said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin, I am afraid for from the people al-Sham (Damascus). They may remove you from this position. He gave him the full report. Hisham then ordered to escort the Imam عليه السلام and his people to Madina. He ordered his people not to allow the Imam and his people to go to marketplaces. They were denied food and water. They traveled three days without food and water until they arrived at Madyan. They were left behind the locked doors therein. People of the Imam complained to him for hanger and thirst. The Imam عليه السلام has said the he then climbed a hill above them and said loudly, “O people of Madyan, the town of unjust people. I am Baqiyat Allah (the power that Allah has kept in reserve) as He has said, “If you are true believers then know that the profit (the reserved power) which God has left for you is better for you (than what you may gain through deceitful ways). I am not responsible for your deeds.” (11:86) The Imam عليه السلام has said that among them there was an old man who went to them (people of the town) and said, “By Allah, this is the call of Shu‘ayb the Prophet of Allah. If you would not go to this man in the marketplaces, you will be seized from the above and below. Believe me and obey me this time but you may reject me next time. I am giving you a good advise.” The Imam عليه السلام has said, ‘They came out quickly to Muhammad ibn Ali عليه السلام and his people in the marketplace. The news reached Hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik who summoned the old man and he was taken to the court but it is not known what did he do to him.”