Abu Khadijah said: "A man from Kinda, who was the swordsman of the Abbasids, said: 'When Abu Al-Dawaaniq brought Abi Abdullah and Isma'il, may their glories be exalted, he ordered their killing. They were imprisoned in a house. The man came to Abi Abdullah at night, took him out, and struck him with his sword until he killed him. Then he took Isma'il to kill him, waited for a moment, then killed him. Then he came to him and said: 'What did you do?' He said: 'I have killed them and relieved you of them.' When morning came, behold, Abi Abdullah and Isma'il were sitting. They asked permission (to enter). Abu Al-Dawaaniq said to the man: 'Did you not claim that you killed them?' He said: 'Yes! I recognized them as I recognize you.' He said: 'Go to the place where you killed them and see.' He came, and behold, there were two slaughtered camels (al-jazoorayn). He said: 'He was bewildered,' and he returned and informed him. He bowed his head and acknowledged what he saw. He said: 'Let no one hear this from you.' His statement was like the saying of the Exalted about Jesus: {They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them.}"1
In this narration, there is a great proof of the reality of similitude and its occurrence, even with the opposite (Al-Didd). We will address later that the two slaughtered camels here are the two opponents (Al-Diddan), may Allah curse them. And the Abbasid Caliph's, may Allah curse him, knowledge of the concept in the verse {And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them.}2 is because he is truly one of the deniers who fall short and are at war (Al-Muqassira Al-Jahida Al-Muhariba), not one of the striving ones who fall short and desire the truth but have not found it until they fulfill the conditions and the covenants.
The Incident of Al-Ma'mun's soldiers attacking our Master Al-Rida, may his glory be exalted
Among Al-Ma'mun's trustworthy men was a servant named Subayh Al-Daylami, who was truly devoted to Al-Rida, may his glory be exalted. Harthama bin A'yan narrated from him: Subayh said to me: "Do you not know that I am Al-Ma'mun's trustworthy man in his secret and public affairs?" I said: "Yes." He said: "Know, O Harthama, that Al-Ma'mun summoned me and a trustworthy servant of his, in the first third of the night. We entered upon him, and his night had become day from the abundance of candles before him.