Hadith No: 3
Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi - Tarikh Baghdad - Introduction of the Author
Chapter on what is mentioned about the cemeteries in Baghdad specifically for scholars and ascetics
Volume: (1) - Page Number: (135/136)
- Abu Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah al-Suri narrated to us, saying:
I heard Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ahmed ibn Jama'i say: I heard Abu Abd Allah ibn al-Muhamili say: "I have known the grave of Maruf al-Karkhi for seventy years. No one who is troubled has approached it except that Allah relieved their trouble." On the eastern side, there is a cemetery called al-Khayziran, which contains the grave of Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Yasar, the author of the Sirah, and the grave of Abu Hanifa al-Nu'man ibn Thabit, the Imam of the scholars of opinion.
- Al-Qadi Abu Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Muhammad al-Saimari narrated to us, saying: Umar ibn Ibrahim informed us, saying: Ali ibn Maymun narrated to us, saying: I heard al-Shafi'i say: "I indeed seek blessings from Abu Hanifa and come to his grave every day, meaning as a visitor. If I have a need, I pray two rak'ahs and come to his grave, asking Allah, the Exalted, for the need at it, and it is not long before it is fulfilled." The cemetery of Abdullah ibn Malik is where many scholars, narrators, ascetics, and righteous individuals are buried, and it is known as the Maliki cemetery. The cemetery at Bab al-Bardan also has groups of virtuous people, and near the prayer area designated for the Eid prayer,
his grave was known as the Grave of Vows, and it is said that a man buried there is a descendant of Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), whom people visit to seek blessings, and those in need among them go to him to have their needs fulfilled.- Al-Qadi Abu al-Qasim Ali ibn al-Muhsin al-Tanukhi narrated to me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying: I was sitting in the presence of 'Adud al-Dawlah while we were encamped near the Eid prayer area on the eastern side of the City of Peace, preparing to leave with him to Hamadan on the first day the camp was set up, when his gaze fell upon the structure over the Grave of Vows. He said to me: "What is this structure?" I replied: "This is the shrine of the Vows," and I did not say grave, knowing its fate would be less than this. He appreciated the wording and said: "I knew it was the grave of Vows; I only wanted an explanation of its matter." I said: "It is said that this is the grave of Ubayd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Umar ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, and that it is also said to be the grave of Ubayd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Umar ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is reported that one of the caliphs intended to kill him secretly, so a small enclosure was made for him there, concealed from him, and he unknowingly fell into it, with earth shoveled on him while he was alive.
He became known as the Grave of Vows because it is seldom that a vow made to him is not fulfilled, and the one who vows attains what they desire, making it necessary for them to fulfill their vows. I am one of those who have vowed to him multiple times, countless in number, regarding difficult matters, and I have achieved them, and I fulfilled the vow."This statement was not accepted, and he spoke in a way that indicated this was merely a rare occurrence on his part, while the common people exaggerated it many times over, spinning false stories about it. So, I remained silent. Then, a few days later, while we were still encamped in our place, he called for me one morning and said: "Ride with me to the Shrine of Vows." I rode with him and he took a few of his entourage with us until we arrived at the location. He entered, visited the grave, and prayed two rak'ahs there, after which he prostrated for a long time, engaging in supplication with words that none heard. Then, we rode back with him to his tent and stayed for several days before he departed, and we departed with him, heading to Hamadan. We reached Hamadan and stayed there with him for months. Later, he called for me and said: "Do you not remember what you told me about the matter of the Shrine of Vows in Baghdad?" I replied: "Yes." He said: "I spoke to you in a manner related to it, but without what was truly on my mind, relying on the goodness of our companionship. What was on my mind, in truth, is that I believe everything said about it is false." After some time, an issue arose that I feared might happen, and I contemplated ways to prevent it, even if it meant using all that was in my treasury or my entire army, but I found no course of action. I remembered what you informed me about the vows to the Grave of Vows, so I thought, "Why not try that?" I vowed that if Allah, the Exalted, spared me from that matter, I would bring to the shrine's box ten thousand sound dirhams. When the day came, I received news that I was spared from that matter, so I instructed Abu al-Qasim Abdul Aziz ibn Yusuf, meaning his scribe, to write to Abu al-Rayan, who was his deputy in Baghdad, to take it to the shrine. Then he turned to Abdul Aziz, who was present, and said to him, "Abdul Aziz has written that, and the letter has been sent."