The ancient historical city of Baghdad has witnessed plenty of sweet and bitter incidents since its birth, and each of these events has left a mark upon its facade. It would not be an exaggeration, to say that the walls of this ancient city have been raised by the bricks, each one of them representing a historical accident. Sometimes the tyranny and oppression of cruel kings covered the face of the Baghdad with the blood of innocent people. The darkness and hard-heartedness of their hearts covered the city with intense darkness, while at other occasions, the city witnessed the rising of bright son of knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment turning the despair night of darkness into a bright sunny day; saturating the hearts of believers with joys and hopes.

Throughout these historical incidents the most important thing which attracts the attention of coming generations of researchers is the existence of refreshing, life giving, beautiful fountainheads of higher Islamic learning, which have glorified the pages of Islamic History of Fourth and Fifth Centuries. During this period, the city of Baghdad reached to it zenith in fame and greatness.

The existence of brightest stars upon the sky of knowledge and literature invited the thirsty seekers to quench their thirst for enlightenment. Because that a lot of people from the near and far off villages and cities of vast Islamic land, came to Baghdad for acquiring knowledge, and a huge number of institutions of higher learning were established during this period.

In that golden era, the sky of Baghdad full of these radiant brightest stars was indeed a thing of beauty worth to be seen; especially the period when the most eminent scholar and Jurisprudent of Shi’i- the world illuminating moon Shaykh al Mufid (R.A)1 - had joined that assembly. The eminent scholar and learned Jurisprudent Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Nayman, famous as Shaykh a1-Mufid (ra) established a small center of religious learning where he trained his students in Jurisprudence. With the passage of time its fame and prestige increased day by day, and within a short period it became the largest and most prestigious religious learning center of Baghdad.

One day, the Grand Shaykh, the perfect manifestation of piety, as a daily routine was walking with quiet but firm steps towards the Bratha Mosque in Karkh locality. Throughout his walk the people stood up from their places and offered him regards and salutations. Walking with dignity, when his graceful personality reached at the entrance door of the mosque; the huge crowd of his pupils stood up from their places instantaneously, as though a piece of mountain has slid off from its position.

Walking with meaningful steps over the spread wings of angels inside the pleasant garden, the grand Shaykh made his way towards the seat of enlightenment. The path opened itself automatically as the exalted figure walked through the lines, finally ascending to the top of pulpit. The audience eagerly awaited in pin drop silence to be blessed by his lecture.

After a short pause, opening his lips with the Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate and praising God-Almighty, delivered a short sermon, and then started his lecture. It was an exhilarating, beautiful, and exciting scene as all the pupils listened eagerly and attentively in complete silence to the spiritual sound of their beloved learned teacher.

Suddenly he stopped his lecture and stood up on the pulpit in respect of someone, offering salutations: Salam un-Alykum (peace be upon you)! The pupils also turned their heads backward and were astonished to see a respectful lady covered in a dress of modesty and dignity from head to toe, holding the hands of two innocent children, whose faces were showing the signs of greatness and honor. The honorable lady in a tone of coolness with due respect said: Oh your excellency Shaykh! Here are my two sons Sayyid Murtada and Sayyid Radi at your complete disposal. Please accept the responsibility of their tutorship for teaching the Jurisprudence. Hearing these words, the eminent scholar started crying with tears rolling over his cheeks.

The pupils were all astonished and curious to ponder about the reason of crying of their teacher. Suddenly the surprising words uttered by their learned teacher caught their attention; with tearful eyes the Shaykh said:

"Last night, after finishing my daily routine of lecturing, discussions, and studies I retired to bed for rest and sleep. In a strange dream, I found myself lecturing right here in this mosque, and suddenly it become illuminated with the celestial light of prophet Muhammad (S) the heavenly sweet smell covering the entire place. Then the exalted lady of the both worlds- Fatimah al-Zahra' (‘a) holding the hands of her two sons al-Hasan and al-Husayn entered the mosque where I was engaged in teaching. After replying to my salutation, the noble visitor said:

‘Oh Shaykh! I have brought these two sons of mine al-Hasan an al-Husayn before you, so that you may teach them Jurisprudence’.

Till this very moment I have not forgotten the sweetness of that strange special dream, and after awakening, I was sub­merged into thoughts pondering about the interpretation of this special and strange dream. I kept reminding myself: Oh God-Almighty! How for someone like me is it possible to teach the two Sinless Imams of the Prophet's progeny? Sub­merged into these deep thoughts, I came to mosque, till this chaste descendant of Fatimah al-Zahra' (‘a) together with these two beautiful buds of the Muhammad's rose garden entered the mosque. Now I have understood the interpretation of last night's special dream."

Since the above incident Shaykh ai-Mufid (ra) accepted the responsibility of teaching and training of Sayyid Murtada and Sayyid Radi because he had discovered that these two children are not the ordinary ones rather are the dearest ones of Fatimah al-Zahra' (‘a) and have especially been recommended by her. He did his best endeavors to educate them the best possible manner.2

• 1. Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Nayman, famous as Shaykh al-Mufid and Ibn-Moalim born in 366 A.H. was the greatest Jurisprudent, Shi’i spokesman and pillar, and most eminent marja at-taqlid of Shi’i world. He established the famous Religious Learning Center at Baghdad and trained a lot of students. He is remembered everywhere as the most outstanding Shi’i scholar who revived this school. Shaykh al-Mufid after passing a life full of endeavors for reviving Shi’i thoughts left this world for eternal abode in the year 413 A.H.
• 2. Abstract from al-Ghadir Vol 4, p.184.