Abu Khalid al-Kabuli was among the esteemed companions Imam Sajjad (a.s.). However, he was not always believing in his Imamate and, in fact, he used to believe in Muhammad Ibn al-Hanafiyyah as the Imam after Imam Husain (a.s.). But, one incident changed him completely and he became not just an ardent follower (Shia) but was also included among the Hawaari (disciples) of Imam Ali Ibn al-Husain Zain al-Aabideen (a.s.).
Here’s the incident that Abu Khalid has himself narrated. Abu Ja’far Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) said:
رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ الْكَابُلِيِّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ
It is narrated from Abu Khalid al-Kabuli that he said:
كُنْتُ أَقُولُ بِمُحَمَّدٍ بْنِ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ فَلَقِيَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ أُمِ الطَّوِيلِ فَدَعَانِي إِلَى عَلِيِّ ابْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ)،
I used to believe in the Imamate of Muhammad Ibn al-Hanafiyyah. Then Yahya Ibn Umm al-Taweel met me and invited me to Ali Ibn al-Husain (a.s.).
فَامْتَنَعْتُ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لِي: مَا يَضُرُّكَ أَنْ تَقْضِيَ حَقِّي بِأَنْ تَلْقَاهُ لَقْيَةً وَاحِدَةً
I refused, so he said to me, “What will harm you to fulfil my right (of friendship) by meeting him just once?”
فَصِرْتُ مَعَهُ إِلَيْهِ، فَوَجَدْتُهُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) جَالِساً فِي بَيْتٍ مَفْرُوشٍ بِالْمُعَصْفَرِ مُلَبَّسُ الْحِيطَانِ وَ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ مُصْبَغَةٌ،
So, I went with him to him (a.s.), and I found him (a.s.) sitting in a room furnished with a saffron-coloured mat, the walls draped, and he was wearing colourful garments.
فَلَمْ أُطِلْ عِنْدَهُ، فَلَمَّا نَهَضْتُ قَالَ لِي: صِرْ إِلَيْنَا فِي غَدٍ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ. فَخَرَجْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ.
I did not stay long with him. When I got up to leave, he (a.s.) said to me, “Come back to us tomorrow, God willing.” So, I left his presence.
فَقُلْتُ لِيَحْيَى: أَدْخَلْتَنِي إِلَى رَجُلٍ يَلْبَسُ الْمُصْبَغَاتِ! وَ عَزَمْتُ أَنْ لَا أَرْجِعَ إِلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ فَكَّرْتَ أَنَّ رُجُوعِي غَيْرُ ضَائِرٍ، فَصِرْتُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْوَقْتِ فَوَجَدْتُ الْبَابَ مَفْتُوحاً، وَ لَمْ أَرَ أَحَداً فَهَمَمْتُ بِالرُّجُوعِ،
I said to Yahya, “You brought me to a man who wears colourful clothes!” And I resolved not to return to him. Then I reconsidered, thinking that my returning would not harm, so I went to him at the appointed time and found the door open. I saw no one, so I thought to leave.
فَنَادَانِي مِنْ دَاخِلِ الدَّارِ: ادْخُلْ. ثَلَاثَةَ أَصْوَاتِ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ غَيْرِي،
Then a voice called out to me from inside the house: “Enter” three times. I thought he was calling someone else.
فَصَاحَ: يَا كَنْكَرُ، ادْخُلْ. وَ هَذَا الِاسْمُ كَانَتْ أُمِّي سَمَّتْنِي بِهِ، وَ لَمْ يَسْمَعْهُ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ غَيْرِي،
Then he called out loud, “O Kankar, enter!” – and this was a name my mother had given me, and none had ever heard it from her except me.
فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ جَالِساً فِي بَيْتٍ مُطَيَّنٍ، عَلَى حَصِيرٍ بَرَدِيٍّ، وَ عَلَيْهِ قَمِيصُ كَرَابِيسَ،
So, I entered and found him sitting in a clay room, on a mat made of palm fibres, wearing a woollen shirt.
فَقَالَ لِي: يَا أَبَا خَالِدٍ، إِنِّي قَرِيبُ عَهْدٍ بِعُرْسٍ، وَ إِنَّ الَّذِي رَأَيْتَ بِالْأَمْسِ مِنْ آلَةٍ الْمَرْأَةِ، وَ لَمْ أُحِبَّ خِلَافَهَا.
He (a.s.) said to me: “O Abaa Khaalid, I was newly-wed, and what you saw yesterday was among the belongings of the woman, and I did not wish to oppose her.”
فَمَا بَرِحْتُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ حَتَّى أَرَانِي الْأَعَاجِيبَ، فَقُلْتُ بِإِمَامَتِهِ، وَ هَدَانِي اللهِ بِهِ وَ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ.
From that day, I never left his presence until he showed me wonders. I started believing in his Imamate, and Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He, guided me to him and through him.
References:
1. Dalaael al-Imamah by Muhammad Ibn Jarir Ibn Rustam Tabari, p. 208, H. 132
2. Madinah al-Ma’aajiz, vol. 4, p. 296, H. 72
3. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 46, p. 103, H. 92
Notes:
After the martyrdom of Imam Husain (a.s.), it was not easy for people to recognize their true Imam because the prevalent conditions at that time
Abu Khalid al-Kabuli witnessed the divinely gifted knowledge of the unseen which Imam Ali Ibn al-Husain Zain al-Aabideen (a.s.) possessed
Divinely gifted knowledge of the unseen is one of the important characteristics of an Imam appointed by Almighty Allah
Once he witnessed this sign, there was no turning back for Abu Khalid al-Kabuli and he was included among the Hawaari (disciples) of Imam Sajjad (a.s.)