his state to anyone, but that the fourth day shall not pass before relief comes to him."

I performed the ablution perfectly and came to the Sanctuary (al-Haram). I stayed in retreat (i'tikaf) for three days and nights, during which I ate no food, drank no drink, and tasted no sleep. The fourth day came, and as the end of the day passed, I stood up to pray when a vapor rose to my eyes from which my eyes darkened, my strength weakened, and something seized the core of my heart. I fell unconscious. Then I woke from my faint, and behold, there was a man—the most beautiful of people in face, the finest in appearance, the most pleasant in scent, and the sweetest in speech. He had taken my head and placed it in his lap; he was wiping my face and kissing my hand. When I opened my eyes and observed his face, I sat up feeling ashamed. When he sensed me and my shame, he ordered the people to disperse from me, and they did so.

When no one remained, he took my hand, shook it, and said to me: "Who are you, may Allah support you?" I said to him: "Your friend, Abu al-Tahir Sabur ibn al-Qasim ibn Sabur." He said: "Where are you from, O Abu al-Tahir?" I said: "From Khorasan." He said: "From which Khorasan?" I said: "From Talqan." He said: "Are you from the Shia of 'Ali — Exalted Glory — or from the Shia of Aisha, Abu Bakr, and Umar, may Allah curse them?" I said: "From the Shia of 'Ali." He said: "O Abu al-Tahir:

It has been related from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that he said: I was with the Prophet — Exalted Glory— when Amir Al-Muminin — Exalted Glory — came to him. He [the Prophet] stood up for him on his feet, kissed him between his eyes, and said to him: 'By Allah, my nation is not honored except through your Shia, O 'Ali, and your love, O 'Ali. Indeed, none shall love you, O 'Ali, except those who are not impure, nor filthy, nor defiled, nor stained, nor a base-born, nor a blameworthy one, nor a sinner, nor a mute, nor a leper, nor