RESCUE OF ISLAM BY THE "GATEWAY OF KNOWLEDGE" - IMAM ALI (A.S.)

The historical dialogue between the Archbishop from Rome and the Infallible Imam Ali (a.s.), the “Gateway of Knowledge” and the “Soul of the Prophet”. This incident occurred immediately after the sad demise of the Chief of the Prophets, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) in Madinah. It was reported in the following authentic books:

“Jasaleeq” by Salman Farsi, Shaikh Tusi’s Fehrist, Shaikh Najjashi’s Musanafeen and Musannafat, Shaikh Deylamie’s Irshad al Quloob, Ibn Babeveh’s Al-Tawheed, Shaikh Mufid’s Al-Amali, and Allama Majlisi’s Bihar ul Anwar.

The Archbishop: Whether The Throne (Arsh) carries the Almighty or Almighty carries the Throne?

Imam Ali (a.s.): If you hear the correct answers, will you embrace Islam?

The Archbishop: Yes, I swear by God, if you answer our question accurately, all my companions and myself will embrace Islam.

Imam Ali (a.s.): Almighty carries the Throne and the skies. He has stated in the Qur’an that Almighty prevents skies and the earth from clashing against each other.

The Archbishop: O the learned scholar! Tell me where is God?

Imam Ali (a.s.): Above and beneath, in the North and in the South, in the East and in the West, He is dominant over all creations. Encompasses everyone everywhere. This verse of Qur’an is a witness to my words. “There is no secret talk among three and God is their fourth, nor among five but He is their sixth. God is with them even if less than that or more and wherever they may be. Then on the Day of Judgment He will inform them about what they have done.” (Mujadela:7)

The Archbishop: I swear by God! This scholar speaks the truth with divine grace exactly like Jesus. O the wise intellectual! Let me know whether Heaven is in this world or in the Hereafter and where these two exist?

Imam Ali (a.s.): The world is situated in the Hereafter and the Hereafter has circumambience over the world. The Hereafter is the place of rest for life. It is as if the person is sleeping and its soul is roaming. Our body dies but our soul is eternally alive. Almighty said: “The Hereafter is the relaxing place of the life, if you comprehend.”

 (Ankabut:64) Heaven and Hell are in this world. Dead person is buried and lives therein. It (grave) may be either a garden from the heaven or may be a ditch from the ditches of the Hell fire.

The Archbishop: O The great intellectual! Qur’an states that the entire earth will be in His fist on the Day of Resurrection and skies will be folded or scrolled in His right hand. (Zumar:67) When such a thing will happen, where would Heaven and Hell be located? Since they are under the same earth and skies.

Imam Ali (a.s.): Asked for a piece of paper and pen. He wrote “Heaven” and “Hell” on the paper and scrolled it and gave it to the Archbishop and asked to scroll it. He did it. Imam Ali (a.s.) asked: Has the writing disappeared or vanished?

The Archbishop: No, it is as it was.

Imam Ali (a.s.): As the writings of “Heaven” and “Hell” did not move, relocated or vanished from the paper by scrolling the paper, similarly, Heaven and Hell won’t disappear by scrolling of skies.

The Archbishop: O the great scholar! It is mentioned in Qur’an: “All things will perish except the face of God.” What does it mean and what is its evidence?

Imam Ali (a.s.): Asked one of the Muslims sitting nearby to bring logs of wood. When the logs of wood were brought, he lit the fire in them. When the logs were burning, and flames were rising in all directions, Imam Ali (a.s.) asked the Archbishop to show him the “face” of the fire.

The Archbishop: I cannot specify, it could be all over.

Imam Ali (a.s.): Fire is one of creations of God and we are incapable of identifying its face, so how could you label the face of the Almighty when no eye can see Him, nor mind can comprehend Him. There is nothing like God and He is hearing and forbearing as is written in Qur’an. (An’am:103)

The Archbishop: (was extremely fascinated by his knowledge, explanation, discussion based on his convincing logic and said: O the rightful Successor of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.), you have satisfactorily answered all my questions and I am guided to the true path through you.” He and his 200 companions converted to Islam.

               Source: Jasaleeq translated in English by Sanjeedeh Adedi