سورة الإسراء

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah ibn al-Qasim al-Batal says: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said regarding the verse فَإِذا جاءَ وَعْدُ أُولاهُما بَعَثْنا عَلَیْکُمْ عِباداً لَنا أُولِی بَأْسٍ شَدِیدٍ فَجاسُوا خِلالَ الدِّیارِ وَ کانَ وَعْداً مَفْعُولاً [So when the promise for the first of the two came, We sent over you Our servants, of mighty prowess, so they went to and fro among the houses, and it was a promise to be accomplished]: "It refers to the shedding of the blood of Husayn (peace be upon him). And the verse بَعَثْنا عَلَیْکُمْ عِباداً لَنا أُولِی بَأْسٍ شَدِیدٍ فَجاسُوا خِلالَ الدِّیارِ [We sent over you Our servants, of mighty prowess, so they went to and fro among the houses] indicates a people whom Allah will send before the rising of Imam al-Qa'im (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance), and they will not leave anyone responsible for [shedding] the blood of the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) except that they will kill him; and this is a definite promise."

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): فَإِذا جاءَ وَعْدُ أُولاهُما [So when the promise for the first of the two came] — that is, when the first strife appears, meaning the Battle of the Camel that you brought about; بَعَثْنا عَلَیْکُمْ عِباداً لَنا أُولِی بَأْسٍ شَدِیدٍ [We sent over you Our servants, of mighty prowess] — We set upon you Our servants who are severely powerful. And they are Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (peace be upon him) and the companions of that Hazrat (peace be upon him); فَجاسُوا خِلالَ الدِّیارِ وَ کانَ وَعْداً مَفْعُولًا [so they went to and fro among the houses, and it was a promise to be accomplished] — then they will search you out even if you take refuge in the houses, and kill you, so that you may know that Allah's will is to be carried out. Then We will give you victory over them (Isra 17:6) — that is, the Banu Umayya who will prevail over the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). "And We shall aid you with wealth and children, and make you a larger host [than the enemy]" (Isra 17:6) — that is, you martyred Husayn ibn Ali (peace be upon him) and his companions, and took the women of the family of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) captive.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Humran says: Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) was reciting the verse بَعَثْنَا عَلَیْکُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَا أُولِی بَأْسٍ شَدِیدٍ [We sent over you Our servants, of mighty prowess], then he said: "It refers to al-Qa'im (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance) and his companions [warrior, powerful men]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): One of the Shi'a narrates: I was sitting with Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) when he recited this verse: فَإِذا جاءَ وَعْدُ أُولاهُما بَعَثْنا عَلَیْکُمْ عِباداً لَنا أَوْلَی بَأْسٍ شَدِیدٍ فَجاسُوا خِلالَ الدِّیارِ وَ کانَ وَعْداً مَفْعُولًا [So when the promise for the first of the two came, We sent over you Our servants, of mighty prowess, so they went to and fro among the houses, and it was a promise to be accomplished]. I said: "May I be your ransom! Who are they?" Three times he said: "By Allah, they are the people of Qum."

The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family)- Salman al-Farsi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I came into the presence of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him and his family); as soon as his eye fell upon me he said: "Allah did not send any prophet or messenger except that He appointed for him twelve chiefs (naqibs)." I said: "I have seen this matter in the Torah and the Gospel as well." He said: "Salman! Do you know my twelve chiefs, who have been chosen for the imamate and leadership after me?" I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "Salman! Allah created me from the purity of His light... then his son Hujjat ibn al-Hasan al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance), the speaker, the one who rises with the command of Allah." I fell silent, then I said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Pray that I may reach them." He said: "Salman! You will reach them, and those who are like you, and everyone who loves them with the reality of true recognition." I gave great thanks to Allah for this blessing. I said: "Will my lifespan be so long that I reach them?" He said: "Recite this verse: فَإِذا جاءَ وَعْدُ اولاهُما بَعَثْنا عَلَیْکُمْ عِباداً لَنا أَوْلَی بَأْسٍ شَدِیدٍ فَجاسُوا خِلالَ الدِّیارِ وَ کانَ وَعْداً مَفْعُولًا* ثُمَّ رَدَدْنا لَکُمُ الْکَرَّةَ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ أَمْدَدْناکُمْ بِأَمْوالٍ وَ بَنِینَ وَ جَعَلْناکُمْ أَکْثَرَ نَفِیراً [So when the promise for the first of the two came, We sent over you Our servants, of mighty prowess, so they went to and fro among the houses, and it was a promise to be accomplished. Then We gave you back the turn against them, and aided you with wealth and sons, and made you a larger host]."