Tradition 1: Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) said: Hisham Ibn Abdul Malik sent someone to bring my father [Imam Al-Baqir ('a)] to Sham. When he arrived there, Hisham said, “Abu Ja'far! I invited you here to ask you a question that should not be asked by anyone other than me. And basically, I didn't find anyone knowledgeable about this matter nor do I think that anyone is capable of knowing of this matter except you.”

Father said, “Amir Al-Mu’minin can ask me whatever he wishes. If I know, I will answer and if I don't, I will say that I don't know, for truth is more worthy of being told.”

“Tell me about the night on which Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a) was assassinated. How did the people of other areas learn of his killing? And what was the sign of his death for people? If you know the answer, tell me if that sign ever reappeared at the death of anyone other than Ali Ibn Abi Talib ('a).

Father said: O Amir Al-Mu’minin! On the night on which Amir Al-Mu’minin ('a) was martyred, no stone was lifted without fresh blood seen under it until dawn break. The same happened when Prophet Harun ('a) was killed. The same happened when Yusha Ibn Nun ('a) was killed. The same happened when Isa Ibn Maryam ('a) was raised to the sky. The same happened when Shamun Ibn Hamum Al-Safa ('a) was killed. The same happened when Husayn Ibn Ali('a) was martyred.

Imam As-Sadiq (‘a) says: Hisham was infuriated at this and was about to attack father ('a).

But father ('a) said, “O Amir Al-Mu’minin! It is obligatory for people to obey their Imam and to be truthful to him. The only thing that led me to answer this question was my knowledge of the fact that I have to obey Amir Al-Mu’minin. So may Amir Al-Mu’minin judge me favourably!”

Hisham said, “You can return to your family, if you like.”

As my father ('a) was leaving, Hisham asked him to promise him not to narrate this tradition to anyone as long as Hisham was alive, to which my father ('a) consented.

Tradition 2: A man from Bayt al-Muqaddas said, “By Allah, we, the people of Bayt al-Muqaddas and its suburbs, learnt of the martyrdom of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) on the night he was martyred.

I (the narrator) asked, “How?”

He said: We did not displace any rock, stone, or mud clod without seeing fresh, boiling blood underneath. And all the walls became red like blood. The skies rained fresh blood for three days and nights and we heard a herald saying:

Does the Ummah that slew Husayn ('a) hope to receive the intercession of his grandfather on Judgment Day?

Allah indeed, forbids you to receive the intercession of Ahmad (S) and Abu Turab ('a).

You killed the best of all who ever rode a mount. You killed the best of all from youth to elderly.

The Sun appeared dull for three days, after which the sky filled with a lot of stars. The following day, we were grief-stricken about the martyrdom of Imam Al-Husayn ('a) when we received the news of his martyrdom.

Tradition 3: Same point mentioned in no. 2.