Informing Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) about the "Night of the Balkh River" incident:

The Balkh River Night

Balkh City:

Balkh was a city in the land of  the Great Khorasan, which is currently located in Afghanistan. At that time, this city was prosperous and one of the famous cities of Khorasan. Famous scientific and cultural figures have emerged from this city like Avicenna. This city was destroyed by wars and now only its ruins remain. In this article, Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) informs about the act of a man who did this night by the Balkh River.

Harun bin Rathab said:

“I had a brother from the followers of Ziyad bin Munzer Jarudi, I visited Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him). He asked how my brother was doing? I said:  He is a man who is worthy and acceptable to the judge and neighbors in all his situations, except that he does not acknowledge your “Wilayat” (guardianship). Imam (a.s) asked the reason for it, I said: He thinks that this is because of his virtue and piety. Imam said: Where was his piety on the night of Balkh river? When I came to my brother, I told him the story, he said: Did Abu Abdullah tell you this news?! I said: Yes, he said: I testify that he is the “Hujjat” (Proof) of the Lord of the worlds. I said: Tell your story. He said: I was coming from beyond the Balkh river. When we reached the river, a man became friend with me, and he had a beautiful maidservant. He said: Either you go to prepare a fire and I will take care of your property, or I will go and you take care of my property. I said: You go. When he left, I slept with that maid. By God, she did not tell anyone, and neither did I. And no one knew this secret except God.

The following year, my brother and I visited the Imam. My brother did not come out his house until he accepted the Imamate of the Imam.” [1]

Imam was in Madinah and this incident happened that night by the river of Balkh city. The news of that Imam tells about the control of his soul over the horizons and the soul, and it shows his special relationship with God, Who

“He knows the treachery of the eyes, and what the bosoms hide”.[2]