In matters of bravery

553. Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Ahmad Al-Kufy, from Ali Bin Al-Hassan Al-Taymi, from Ali Bin Asbaat, from Ali Bin Ja’far who said, ‘Narrated to me Moattab, or someone else, who said: ‘Abdullah Bin Al-Hassan sent a message to Abu Abdullah عليه الصلاة والسلام saying, ‘Abu Muhammad says to you عليه الصلاة والسلام, ‘I am braver than you عليه الصلاة والسلام, and I am more generous than you عليه الصلاة والسلام, and I am more knowledgeable than you عليه الصلاة والسلام’. So he عليه الصلاة والسلام said to his messenger: ‘As for the bravery, by Allah عز وجل there has not been an incident whereby your cowardice can be distinguished from your bravery. And as for the generosity, so it is taking something and placing it in its rightful place. And as for the knowledge, your forefather Ali عليه الصلاة والسلام Bin Abu Talib عليه الصلاة والسلام had freed a thousand slaves, therefore name five of them for us عليه الصلاة والسلام if you are a knowledgeable one’. So the messenger returned to him. He told him, then he returned back to him عليه الصلاة والسلام saying, ‘He is saying to you عليه الصلاة والسلام, that you عليه الصلاة والسلام are a man of Books’. So Abu Abdullah عليه الصلاة والسلام said to him; ‘Tell him, ‘Yes, by Allah عز وجل, the Books of Ibrahim عليه السلام, and Musa عليه السلام, and Isa عليه السلام, which I عليه الصلاة والسلام have inherited from my عليه الصلاة والسلام forefathers عليه الصلاة والسلام’.