The story of Abu Dawaniq

256. Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Mahboub, from Ali Bin Abu Hamza, from Abu Baseer who said: I was seated with Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام when Dawood Bin Ali, and Suleyman Bin Khalid, and Abu Ja’far Abdullah Bin Muhammad Abu Al-Dawaniqy came over and sat down in an area of the Masjid. It was said to them, ‘This is Muhammad Bin Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام seated (over there)’. So Dawood Bin Ali, and Suleyman Bin Khalid stood up and came over, whilst Abu Al-Dawaniqy remained seated in his place, until they greeted to Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام. So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said to them: ‘What prevented your tyrant from coming to me عليه الصلاة والسلام?’ So they offered excuses on his behalf in his عليه الصلاة والسلام presence. So Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام said with regards to that: ‘But, by Allah عز وجل, (not many) nights and days would go by before he rules over the two regions. Then the men from his offspring would strengthen it for whom would be the reins, then they would govern with a severe government’. So Dawood Bin Ali said to him عليه الصلاة والسلام, ‘And he will be ruling over us before your عليه الصلاة والسلام rule?’ He عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘Yes, O Dawood! He will rule over you before our عليه الصلاة والسلام kingdom, and have authority over you before our عليه الصلاة والسلام authority’. Dawood said to him عليه الصلاة والسلام, ‘May Allah عز وجل Keep you عليه الصلاة والسلام well, is there a time frame for it?’ He عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘Yes, O Dawood. By Allah عز وجل, the Clan of Umayya will not rule for a day except that you will rule for twice as much, and will not rule for a year but you will rule for twice as much, and the children from among you would seize it just like children seize the ball’. Dawood Bin Ali stood up from the presence of Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام with joy, intending to inform Abu Al-Dawaniqy of that. So when both, him and Suleyman Bin Khalid arose, Abu Ja’far called them back (to him عليه الصلاة والسلام): ‘O Suleyman Bin Khalid! The people would not cease from having space from their reign if they do not shed the blood from us عليه الصلاة والسلام unlawfully’ – and he عليه الصلاة والسلام gestured by his عليه الصلاة والسلام hand to his عليه الصلاة والسلام chest. ‘So if they shed that blood, the inside of the earth would be better for them than its surface, for on that Day there would not be any helper for them in the earth, nor a Forgiver for them in the sky’. Then Suleyman Bin Khalid went and informed Abu Al-Dawaniqy. So Abu Al-Dawaniqy came over to Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام. He greeted to him عليه الصلاة والسلام, then informed him عليه الصلاة والسلام of what Dawood bin Ali and Suleyman Bin Khalid had told him. So he عليه الصلاة والسلام said to him: ‘Yes, O Abu Ja’far! Your government is before our عليه الصلاة والسلام government, and your authority would be before our عليه الصلاة والسلام authority. Your authority would be extremely difficult and there would be no ease in it and would have a long duration for it. By Allah عز وجل! The Clan of Umayya will not rule for a day but you will (rule) for twice as much, nor for a year but you will rule for twice as much, and the children from among you would seize it just as children seize the ball. Do you understand?’ Then he عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘The force of your reign will not decline so long as you do not shed our عليه الصلاة والسلام blood unlawfully. But if you shed that blood, Allah عز وجل would be Wrathful, so your kingdom and authority would go away, and your power would go away, and Allah عز وجل would Make you to be overcome by a slave from the blind slaves, and he would not be more blind than the progeny of Abu Sufyan, and your eradication would be by his hands and the hands of his companions’. Then he عليه الصلاة والسلام discontinued the speech’.