Islam Guidance

“So relate the stories that perhaps they will give thought.” (7:16)
History is filled with stories about miracles and happenings that we today consider ‘supernatural’. Each miracle serves a purpose and is suited to the circumstances it is in. Learning about these ‘miracles’ helps strengthen the attachment to our beliefs and principles.
In this article, we discuss one phenomenon that today we agree is ‘impossible’, but history has served us with numerous examples of it happening. That phenomenon is babies speaking a comprehensible language.

Prophet Jesus (A.S)
By far, the most prominent case and the one that is directly mentioned in the Qur’an is Prophet Jesus (A.S) speaking after his birth. This was a miracle that Prophet Jesus was armed with in order to spread the message of God.
When the people came to Lady Maryam (S.A) and accused her of being unchaste, she remained silent and pointed to the baby. At that point, God gave the power of speech to Prophet Isa, who spoke and introduced himself to everyone and mentioned some of his qualities. In essence, this speech from the baby was proof for every one of the status of Prophet Isa and his mother. Also, it was a direct answer to the accusations that the people made towards Lady Maryam. This story is recounted in the 19th chapter of the Holy Qur’an.
   
The Witness of Prophet Joseph (A.S)
In the story of Prophet Joseph(A.S), Zulikha accused the prophet of trying to seduce her when in fact she was the one who did so. When the king was questioning both, Prophet Yusuf told him what happened. It was at that point that Allah inspired Prophet Yusuf to point to a baby which was still in a cradle. Prophet Yusuf then told the king to question the baby. Allah gave the power of speech to that baby, who said, “If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth, and he is of the liars. But if his shirt is torn from the back, then she has lied, and he is of the truthful.” (12:26-27) It was that baby who became a witness through the will of Allah and was the one who saved the Prophet of Allah from being wrongfully accused by Zulikha. (Bihar Al-Anwar)

Son of the Hairdresser of Pharaoh’s Daughter
The hairdresser of Pharaoh’s daughter secretly believed in Allah and Prophet Moses. One day, while she was combing the hair of the daughter, the comb fell. As she picked it up, she said “In the name of Allah”. The daughter surprisingly asked, “[Do you mean] my father?” The hairdresser replied, “No, but my Lord, and the Lord of you and your father.” The daughter told the Pharaoh about the hairdresser’s secret faith, so Pharaoh punished her by throwing her children one by one alive into a blazing fire. The hairdresser was patient as she saw her kids martyred before her very eyes. But her last child was a newborn, a baby! She was devastated. It was at the point that Allah gave the hairdresser that last surge of patience and hope through her baby son. Allah let the baby speak, and he told his mother, “Have patience, mother, because you are on the right path.” Upon hearing these words, she stood there armed with more patience than ever, and she was martyred right after her son. (Bihar Al-Anwar)

The Baby from the Companions of the Trench
This story is similar to that of the hairdresser of Pharaoh. The companions of the trench were those who followed a prophet sent by Allah, but the disbelievers fought him and hurt him until he was martyred. Then they dug trenches and filled them with fire, warning everyone to either abandon the prophet and his path or be thrown in the ignited trenches. Many people feared for their lives and abandoned the right path. Only a few held on to what they believed in, and they were consequently martyred. These are the companions of the trench mentioned in the Qur’an in chapter 85, verse 4.
One lady from these true followers was willing to throw herself into the fire, but then she saw her newborn, who was only two months old. She pitied him and was close to abandoning martyrdom. Just like in the story of the hairdresser of Pharaoh, Allah let the baby talk. The baby told his mother, “O mother, throw yourself and me in the fire. This is little in [the way] of Allah.” (Bihar Al-Anwar)

A Final Look
Indeed, history is filled with fascinating stories. And what we consider today as ‘impossible’ has repeatedly occurred throughout history. Given these multiple examples of babies speaking, it is rather ironic that people have a hard time believing that our Infallibles (peace be upon them) testified to God’s Oneness as soon as they were born.
Yes, when Imam Mahdi (A.S) was born, his father Imam Askari (A.S) held him and told him to speak, and Imam Mahdi (A.S) recited the testimony of faith. And according to narrations, on the seventh day, Imam Mahdi (A.S) recited the following verse: “And we wish to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors.” (28:5) (Kamal Al Deen Wa Tamam Al Ne’ma)
And similar stories regarding the Prophet, Imam Ali, and the rest of Ahlul Bayt (A.S) exist, and if Allah made other babies in history speak, is it really difficult for Him to make the best of all people speak when they were babies?
No, and “indeed, Allah is over all things competent.”

Taken From: Islamic Insight

Shaikh Abul Qasim Jafar bin Muhammad bin Qawlawyh relates from his father, who relates from Ibn Mahboob, who relates from Hussein, the grandson of Abu Hamza Sumali, that during the last days of the caliphate of Bani Marwan, I left for the pilgrimage to the grave of Imam Hussein (A.S) hiding from the Syrians. I reached Karbala and took shelter in a corner of the desert.
At midnight I went towards the grave, and when I reached further, a man came and stood facing me saying, “Your reward is with Allah! Return back, for you shall not reach the grave”. I returned back, and when it was early morning, I went towards the grave. When I reached there, the same man approached me and said, “O slave of Allah! You shall not reach the grave”. I said, “May Allah pardons you! Why would I not reach it when I have come from Kufa for the pilgrimage? Do not desist me, for I fear lest it dawns and the Syrians find me here and kill me”.
He replied, “Wait for a moment, for (Prophet) Moses bin Imran (A.S) has solicited permission from Allah to visit the grave of Imam Hussein (A.S), he has received permission and has descended from the heavens accompanied by seventy thousand Angels. They are in his (Imam’s) presence since the beginning of the night and are waiting dawn so as to return back to the heavens”. I asked him, “May Allah pardon you! Who are you?” And he replied, “I am one of the Angels appointed to guard the grave of Imam Hussein (A.S) and invoke forgiveness for his pilgrims”.
I returned back and wondered whether my intellect would part away having heard his words. I again went to the head of the grave after dawn, while there was none to desist me now. I offered salutations and cursed his murderers, and then I offered the morning Prayers and hastened back in fear of the Syrians.
He (Ibn Qawlawayh) relates through his chain of authorities from Ishaq bin Ammar, that I asked Imam Jafar as Sadiq (A.S) that, “May I be your ransom, O son of the Prophet of Allah! On the night of Arafah I was in the Shrine of Imam Hussein (A.S) and I witnessed three thousand men with glowing countenance, emitting fragrance and adorning white clothes praying there until the morning. And as much as I tried to reach near the grave and recite invocations, I could not do so due to the immense crowd of men. When it dawned, I fell into prostration, and when I lifted my head, not a single one of them was visible”. Imam Sadiq (A.S) replied, “Do you know who they were?”
And I replied in the negative. Imam (A.S) continued, “My father has related to me from his father, that when Imam Hussein (A.S) was being martyred, four thousand angels passed by and flew upon the heavens. Allah revealed to them: ‘O group of Angels! You passed by the son of my friend and beloved Muhammad (P.B.U.H&H.P) while they killed him when he was in severity and you did not assist him?’ Then return back to the earth and reside at the head of his grave, and weep with dishevelled hair and smeared in sand until the day of Qiyamah. Thus they remain at his grave until the arrival of the time”.

Ref: Shia Studies Articles