The knowledgeable scholar Abu Ali Hasan bin Abi Jaafar Al-Tousi narrated from his blessed father Abu Jaafar Mohammad bin Hasan Al-Tousi, from the scholar Abu Abdillah Mohammad bin Mohammad bin No’man, from Abul Hasan Zaid bin Mohammad bin Jaafar Al-Selmi, from Abu Abdillah Husain bin Hakam Al-Kendi, from Isma’eel bin Sabeeh Al- Sokkari, from KhALId bin ALI, from Minhal bin Amr, who said:
I was sitting with MOHAMMAD BIN ALI (ASWS) when a man came and said Salaam.
MOHAMMAD BIN ALI (ASWS) replied his Salaam.
The man asked, “How are you?”
MOHAMMAD bin ALI (ASWS) replied:
Is it not time for you people to know how we are? Our sons are being slaughtered ……. Our plight is like the example of the Bani Israel who faced similar oppression.
Arabs claim that they have a higher status than others. When they are asked for the reasoning (behind their claim), they reply that MOHAMMAD (ASWS) was an Arab.
Quraysh claim that they have a higher status than other Arabs. When they are asked for the reasoning (behind their claim), they reply that MOHAMMAD (ASWS) was from the Quraysh.
If this reasoning is correct, then we have the highest status because we are the family of the PROPHET (SAWW) and we are his progeny, and no one shares this status with us.
Then the man said, “I swear to ALLAH (SWT) that I love you, O family of the PROPHET(SAWW).”
MOHAMMAD BIN ALI (ASWS) replied, “Then be prepared for difficulties. I swear to ALLAH (SWT) that difficulties run toward us and our Shia faster than water that runs in a valley.
We face the difficulties of life before you, just as we experience ease before you.”
(Ref: Amaali of Tousi 1:154. Bihar Al-Anwar 67:238)