At this, the Himyarite, his people, and all who were present—including the notables among the companions of the Messenger of Allah, the leaders of Islam, and the people of Kufa—were struck with utter amazement. Everyone stood bewildered, looking at the Commander of the Faithful and then at one another. The scholars of Iraq, Kufa, and Basra remained in a state of shock. The Himyarite then said: "O our Lord, it was said to us that you possess a sense of humor (du'aba), but surely this is not the time for it?"

The Lord—Glorified be His Might—replied: "Do you find this so monumental [to believe], O Himyarite?" The man replied: "O our Lord, yes." Then our most Mighty and Magnificent Lord said: "O Qays, open the trunk!"

He opened it, and the first thing that appeared from it was the Messenger Muhammad, the most Sublime, in his very form. By Allah, no one doubted him in any way or for any reason. He [Muhammad] was witnessing to His [Ali's] Lordship (Rububiyyah), proclaiming His Divinity (Lahutiyyah), and gesturing toward him with [the appearance of] servitude. By Allah, nothing we knew of the Messenger of Allah was missing—not his speech, his exhortations, his wisdom, his image, nor any of his commands, prohibitions, parables, words, or his decisive speech.