The Prophets’ Knowledge of the Martyrdom of Ĥusain ibn ‘Ali عليه السلام

2. My father narrated to me from Sa’d ibn ‘Abdillāh, from Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Isā, Muḥammad ibn Ḥusain ibn Abil Khaťťāb, and Ya’qūb ibn Yazīd, from Muḥammad ibn Sinān, from ‘Ammār ibn Marwān, from Samā’ah ibn Mihrān, who said: Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq عليه السلام) said: The nation of one of Allāh’s prophets, who was (also) a messenger, overpowered him. They skinned his face and his scalp. A messenger (an angel) from the Lord of the Worlds came to him and said: Your Lord conveys His Salām to you and says, “I see what they are doing to you.” And He has ordered me to obey you. Therefore, order me to do that which you want (to this nation). He replied, “I follow the example of Ḥusain عليه السلام.”

3. Muḥammad ibn Ja’far Al-Razzāz narrated to me from Muḥammad ibn Ḥusain ibn Abil Khaťťāb, and from Aḥmad ibn Ḥasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Faďďāl, from his father, from Marwān ibn Muslim, from Burayd ibn Mu’āwiyah Al-‘Ijli, who said: I asked Abā ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq عليه السلام), “O son of the Messenger of Allāh! Is Ismā’īl, the one who is mentioned in this verse, ‘(Also) mention Ismā’īl in the book. Verily he was (ever) true of his promise, and he was a messenger, and a prophet’ (19:54), Ismā’īl, the son of Ibrāhīm عليه السلام, because the people believe that it is?” Imam عليه السلام replied, “Ismā’īl died before Ibrāhīm عليه السلام. Ibrāhīm عليه السلام was Allāh’s Decisive Proof and he was an owner of a SHARǏ’AH (a set of laws of religion). So then to whom was Ismā’īl sent?!” I asked, “May I sacrifice my life for you! Then to whom is this verse referring?!” Imam عليه السلام replied: It refers to Ismā’īl, son of Prophet Ḥizqīl عليه السلام. Allāh sent him to his people but they belied him, killed him, and skinned his face. So Allāh’s Wrath fell upon them. Allāh sent Saťāťā`īl, the Angel of Chastisement, to Ismā’īl عليه السلام. The angel said, “O Ismā’īl! I am Saťāťā`īl, the Angel of Chastisement. The Lord of Glory has sent me to you to torment your nation with different kinds of chastisement, if you wish.” “I do not want this,” Ismā’īl عليه السلام replied. “O Ismā’īl! What do you want then?” Allāh revealed to him. Ismā’īl عليه السلام replied: O Lord! You have taken the covenant (from the creation) to accept You as the Lord, Muḥammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم as the Prophet, and his successors عليه السلام as the Divine Authorities. And You informed the Best of Your Creation (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) about that which his nation would do to Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali عليه السلام after him. And You promised Ḥusain عليه السلام that You would bring him back in this life so that he can seek revenge against those who killed him. O my Lord! My wish is that You bring me back to life just as You will bring Ḥusain عليه السلام back to life, so that I can seek revenge against those who did this to me. Imam عليه السلام continued, “Allāh promised Ismā’īl ibn Ḥizqīl عليه السلام that He would bring him back to life. Therefore, Ismā’īl will return to life with Ḥusain عليه السلام.”

4. Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ibn ‘Ali ibn Mahziyār narrated to me from his father, from his grandfather ‘Ali ibn Mahziyār, from Muḥammad ibn Sinān, from someone whose name he mentioned, who said: Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq عليه السلام) said: The Ismā’īl about whom Allāh says in His Book, “(Also) mention Ismā’īl in the book. Verily he was (ever) true of his promise” (19:54), was captured (by his nation) and his face and scalp were skinned. Then an angel came to him and said, “Allāh has sent me to you. So order me to do that which you want (to this nation).” However, Ismā’īl عليه السلام replied, “I follow the example of Ḥusain ibn ‘Ali عليه السلام.”