Question:

A follower of the illegitimate imams made the claim that Imam Al-Mahdi (a.) must belong to the Jewish faith because he would speak Hebrew. He cited Al-Ghaibah of An-Nu’mani on page 313 as his source. Which report is actually available to the lovers of the Ahl-ul-Bait (a.)?

Response:

Al-Mufaddal Ibn Umar reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “When the Imam (a.) calls for the prayer, he will call upon God with His name in Hebrew and his companions, which consist of 313 men, will be allowed to join him. They will gather like fallen autumn leaves and they will be the bearers of the flags. Some of them are missing in their resting places at night and in the morning they are found in Mecca. Some of them are seen moving on the clouds during the day and they are recognized by their names and the names of their fathers and their lineage.” I said: “My life be sacrificed to you! Which of them is mightier in faith?” He said: “The one who moves on the clouds in the daytime and they are the missing ones and about them the Exalted One revealed this verse: “Everyone has a direction to which he turns. So hasten to the good things. Wherever you are, God will bring you all together. God has power over all things.” (2:148) [Al-Ghaibah of An-Nu’mani, page 168]

أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد ابن عقدة قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسين التيملي قال: حدثنا الحسن ومحمد أبنا على بن يوسف، عن سعدان بن مسلم، عن رجل، عن المفضل بن عمر، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إذا أذن الامام دعا الله بأسمه العبراني فأتيحت له صحابته الثلاثمائة وثلاثة عشر قزع كقزع الخريف فهم أصحاب الالوية منهم من يفقد من فراشه ليلا فيصبح بمكة، ومنهم من يرى يسير في السحاب نهارا يعرف بأسمه واسم أبيه وحليته ونسبه، قلت: جعلت فداك أيهم أعظم إيمانا، قال: الذى يسير في السحاب نهارا، وهم المفقودون، وفيهم نزلت هذه الآية أين ما تكونوا يأت بكم الله جميعا

If it makes a Jew to express himself in the Hebrew language because there are Jews who speak it, then Prophet Muhammad (s.) must have been a Jew as well, God forbid, because he expressed himself in the Persian language, whose speakers include both Jews and Zoroastrians!

Abu Hurairah reported that Al-Hasan Ibn Ali (a.) took a date from the donations and put it in his mouth. Thereupon Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “Kakh, Kakh!” So that he would throw it away. Then he said: “Have you not realized that we do not take donations to ourselves?” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1420 in Arabic, Book 52 Hadith 306 in English]

حدثنا آدم حدثنا شعبة حدثنا محمد بن زياد قال سمعت أبا هريرة رضي الله عنه قال أخذ الحسن بن علي رضي الله عنهما تمرة من تمر الصدقة فجعلها في فيه فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كخ كخ ليطرحها ثم قال أما شعرت أنا لا نأكل الصدقة

Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani writes the following about the word: “Kakh”(كخ): “Al-Bukhari recorded it in the chapter: “Who has spoken in the Persian language.” [Fath-ul-Bari Fi Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3 page 280]

قال ابن حجر العسقلاني في قول كخ كخ: وقد أوردها البخاري في باب من تكلم بالفارسية

Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Al-Qurtubi writes: “Most of the scholars of exegesis explain that the one with whom there is knowledge of the Book (27:40) is Asif Ibn Barkhiya and he belongs to the Children of Israel. He confirmed the truth and internalized the most powerful name of God, through which that is given, whatever one asks for and through which that is answered, whatever one calls for. Aishah reported that Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “The most formidable name of God by which Asif Ibn Barkhiya called Him was: “O Living One, O Upholding One!” It is said: “He did so in their language.” [Al-Jami’ Li-Ahkam Al-Qur’an, Volume 13 Page 204]

قال محمد بن أحمد القرطبي: أكثر المفسرين على أن الذي عنده علم من الكتاب آصف بن برخيا وهو من بني إسرائيل، وكان صديقا يحفظ اسم الله الأعظم الذي إذا سئل به أعطى، وإذا دعي به أجاب. وقالت عائشة رضي الله عنها قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن اسم الله الأعظم الذي دعا به آصف بن برخيا يا حي يا قيوم قيل: وهو بلسانهم

Rather, it is a miracle that the awaited Imam and last successor of the Messenger (a.) knows the names of God in Hebrew and a sign of his truthfulness.

Ja’far As-Sufi reported that Imam Ar-Rida (a.) said: “By God, Prophet Muhammad (s.) read and wrote in 72 (or he said 73) languages.” [Basa’ir-ud-Darajat of As-Saffar, page 246 Hadith 1]

حدثنا أحمد بن محمد عن أبي عبد الله البرقي عن جعفر بن محمد الصوفي عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام محمد بن علي الرضا عليه السلام قال: والله لقد كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله يقرأ ويكتب باثنين وسبعين أو بثلاثة وسبعين لسانا