The Pigeons

18. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from his father from certain persons of our people who has said the following: “Once, pigeons were mentioned before abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, and a man said, ‘It has come to my knowledge that once ‘Umar saw a pigeon flying and a man underneath was running. ‘Umar then said, “One Satan runs under another Satan.” Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, then said, ‘(It is because) Tsma‘il was not there with you.’ Someone then asked, ‘Was he (Tsma‘il) a friend (of pigeons)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The pigeons of al-Haram (the sacred area) are of the remaining pigeons of Tsma‘il.’”