Before narrating this miracle of Amir al-mu’minin Imam Ali (as), it is necessary here to explain the meaning of Tay al-Ard.
Human’s travel in a twinkle of an eye is called Tay al-Ard; no matter how far is the distance between the two places, one may travel from one place to another in an extraordinary speed and come back. It is something beyond human’s knowledge and reason.
And it is among the miraculous acts and related issues that science has not yet reached its unknown limits.
Of course, in the glorious Qur’an, in verses 38 to 40 of Sura An-Naml, it is mentioned about the minister of Prophet Solomon (a), which we will discuss in the future, God willing.
In his personal life, Imam Ali (a) used “Tay al-Ard” after the burial ceremony of Salman Farsi.
Qanbar says:
I was sitting with Imam Ali (a) in Medina, when as if suddenly answering someone, he got up and said:
“Salman Farsi is dying in Madain.
Are you coming with me to go there?”
I said: “We are now in Medina, and Salman Farsi is in Madain in the west of Iran! how can we be with him?” (meaning that the distance was several thousand kilometers)
Imam (a) said: “Do not think about these things; just take steps after mine.”
Qanbar says:
After taking a few steps, I saw that I was in the city of Madain next to Salman’s bed.
All infallible leaders (a) had the miracle of Tay al-Ard.
It is also narrated about Imam Musa b. Ja’far (a):
He would go to Medina from Baghdad prison whenever he wished.
It is narrated about Imam al-Sajjad (a) that he (a) took one of his companions who was imprisoned to visit Madina, Mecca and his wife and children.
Also, Imam Muhammad Taqi (a) used the mentioned miracle to attend the funeral of Imam Reza (a) and traveled the distance between Medina to Khorasan in a few moments.
Reference:
Qanbar (Arabic: قنبر) was Imam ‘Ali’s (a) servant and one of his close companions. He was a member of Shurtat al-Khamis and the standard bearer of a wing in Imam ‘Ali’s army in the Battle of Siffin. He was martyred by al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf al-Thaqafi.
Salmān al-Fārsī (Arabic: سلمان الفارسي) was a companion of prophet Muhammad (s) and of Imam Ali (a). The Prophet (s) liked him and said about him, “Salman is one of us, the Ahl al-Bayt”. His idea of digging a trench in the Battle of Khandaq brought victory to Muslims.
Hurr ‘Amili, Ithbat al-hudat, vol. 5, p. 60.
