Imam Hassan al-Askari and the Christian Rain-Maker (story)

In the time of our 11th Imam, Imam Hasan al-Askari (A) there was a drought in Baghdad. The people were very worried and prayed for rain, but there was no rain. Then a strange event occurred. A Christian priest came out and told the Muslims that he could make it rain. He raised his hands up to the sky in prayer, and it began to rain heavily! The next day he did the same thing. The Christian then told the people to follow his faith and leave Islam. Many people thought that if he was this powerful, perhaps his religion was the correct one. The Muslims became confused and did not know what to do. They came to the Imam (A) for his advice. He said to them that the next time when the priest gathered the people, the Imam (A) would come and help.

At the next gathering, the Imam (A) asked the Christian priest to pray for rain. When the priest raised his hands to pray it began to rain. The Imam (A) asked for whatever was in the priest's hand to be taken away and then told him to pray for rain again. The priest tried and tried but he could not get it to rain. He was ashamed. The Imam (A) then showed everyone what the priest had been holding in his hands. It was a small piece of bone! The Imam (A) informed the people that it was a bone of one of the Prophets (A) of Allah. One of the qualities of such a bone is that if it is raised towards the sky, it always rains. The Muslims realized that the priest had tried to trick them. Then the Imam (A) prayed for rain and it rained heavily until the drought was over. 1

A hadith from the Imam

Indeed, generosity & charity has a limit so when it exceeds that, it becomes spending lavishly (squandering). And so does foresightedness & caution has a limit & when it exceeds that then it is cowardice. And Observing the middle way in economy has a quantity when It exceeds that then it is stinginess & avarice. And there Is a limit to bravery & gallantry & when It exceeds that then it is rashness & impetuousness. 2

1. lbn Hajar, Sawa'iq al-Muhraqa
2. Bihar ul-Anwar Vol. 78, P 377
إِنَّ لِلسَّخاءِ مِقداراً،فَإن زادَ عَلَيهِ فَهُوَ سَرَفٌ، وَلِلحَزمِ مِقداراً، فَإن زادَ عَلَيهِ فَهُوَ جُبنٌ.
وَلِلإِقتِصادِ مِقداراً فَإن زادَ عَلَيهِ فَهُوَ بُخلٌ،وَ لِلشَّجاعَةِ مِقداراً فَإن زادَ عَلَيهِ فَهُوَ تَهَوُّرٌ.