In the vast ambit of Islamic tradition, there are rare, striking moments where even the greatest of adversaries is compelled to testify to the truth. This remarkable narration, traced back to the noble companion Salman al-Farsi (r.a.), unveils a scene where the veils between the seen and unseen worlds are momentarily lifted. It features an unexpected protagonist: the accursed Iblees himself, unable to remain silent in the face of human arrogance.
Salman narrates: Iblees (may Allah's curse be upon him) passed by a group of people who were speaking ill of the Ameerul Momineen, Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). He stood before them, and the group asked:
"Who is this standing before us?"
He replied: "I am Abu Murrah (Iblees)."
They said: "O Abu Murrah, do you not hear what we are saying?"
He replied: "Woe to you! Do you insult your master, Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.)?!"
They asked him: "How do you know he is our master?"
Iblees replied: "From the words of your Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who said: 'Whomsoever I am his master, then Ali is his master. O Allah, love those who love him, be an enemy to those who are his enemies, help those who help him, and forsake those who forsake him.'"
They then asked: "Are you one of his supporters and Shia?"
He said: "I am not one of his followers, but I love him. No one hates him except that I have shared in his wealth and children (implying the person's lineage or means are tainted)."
They said: "O Abu Murrah, will you tell us something about Ali (a.s.)?"
He said: "Listen to me, O assembly of the breakers of covenants (nākithīn), the unjust ones (qāsiṭīn), and the renegades (māriqīn)! I worshipped Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, for twelve thousand years among the Jinn. When Allah destroyed the Jinn, I complained of loneliness to Him. He then raised me to the heavens, and I worshipped Him for another twelve thousand years among the angels. While we were in that state, glorifying and sanctifying Allah...
"A radiant, shimmering light (Nur Shashʿani) passed by us, and all the angels fell into prostration for this light. They cried out: 'Glory be to the Holy One! This light must belong to an archangel or a messenger prophet!'
"Then, a call came from Allah, the Exalted: 'This light is neither from an archangel nor a messenger prophet! This light is the clay (teenat) of Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.)!'"
Reference: Amali of Shaikh Sadooq, page 347
We read in the Ziyarat of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.):
اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا صَاحِبَ عِلْمِ اَلْمَعَانِي وَ عِلْمِ اَلْمَثَانِي وَ اَلنُّورُ اَلشَّعْشَعَانِيُّ وَ اَلْبَشَرُ اَلثَّانِي، اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عِمَادَ دِينِ اَلْجَبَّارِ وَ هَادِيَ اَلْأَخْيَارِ، وَ أَبَا اَلْأَئِمَّةِ اَلْأَطْهَارِ وَ قَاصِمَ اَلْمُعَانِدِينَ اَلْأَشْرَارِ.
"Peace be upon you, O Master of the Knowledge of Meanings and the Knowledge of the Masaani (the Quran). Peace be upon you, O Radiant Light (Al-Nur al-Shashʿani) and the Second Human. Peace be upon you, O Pillar of the Religion of the Compeller, Guide of the Virtuous, Father of the Pure Imams, and Crusher of the Wicked Enemies."
Reference: Al-Mazar al-Kabir, p. 305,