paused, being in such a state, when suddenly a cloud approached containing lightning and thunder, and behold, Amir Al-Muminin — Exalted Glory — appeared from the cloud. I addressed him regarding things that were between me and him.

The idolater said: "Some of these signs are sufficient; for whoever returned the sun once was capable of returning it a thousand times, whoever was capable of splitting the moon was capable of creating the likes of it, and whoever revived the dead was capable of reviving all the dead and capable of putting the living to death. I do not doubt what you mentioned; my heart is certain, not doubting it nor any part of it, nor suspicious. I would like you to mention what the people said of him after his absence manifested."

The Muslim said: "The people differed in speech regarding him after his absence. As for the great mass (as-sawād al-a'ẓam), the common people, and their rabble, they said regarding him—by their claim—that he was surpassed [in rank]." The idolater said: "I did not ask you to mention what the dregs of the people, the commoners, and the rabble said; for 'the mass' (as-sawād) is derived from darkness, 'the commoners' (al-'āmma) from blindness, and the 'dregs and rabble' are those of no worth. I only want you to mention what his Shia and the people of his choice said regarding him."

He [the Muslim] said: "Likewise, the Shia differed in speech regarding him. Some said he only attained this degree through action, striving, his kinship to the Messenger of Allah — Exalted Glory —, his jihad, and sacrificing himself before him. A group opposed them and said: He is the one whose obedience is obligatory, he is infallible from error and slip, he knows what is behind the wall and is the Knower of the Unseen; however, he is an originated creation like the creation of humans, and there befell him what befalls humans of ailments, diseases, life, and death. They say he suffered from ophthalmia until the Messenger — Exalted Glory — came and spat in his eye and healed him. And that 'Amr ibn Wadd al-'Amiri struck him on the crown of his head and