the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had finished praying and revelation had descended (1) upon him. ‘Alī supported him against his chest and continued to hold him there until the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—regained awareness. He then asked: ‘Have you prayed ‘Asr, ‘Alī?’

He replied: ‘I came while revelation was descending upon you, and I have kept you supported against my chest until now.’ The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—then faced the qiblah, although the sun had already set, and said: ‘O Allah, ‘Alī was engaged in obeying You, so bring it back for him.’

Asmā’ said: The sun then returned, making a creaking sound like that of a millstone, until it stood still at its position at ‘Asr time. ‘Alī rose with ease (2) and prayed ‘Asr. When he finished, the sun went back, making a creaking sound like that of a millstone. When the sun set, darkness gathered and the stars appeared.”

I say: This fifth version contradicts those other mutually contradictory versions and makes it still clearer to anyone examining them that they are lies and fabrications. This version states that the sun was restored to its position at ‘Asr time; the preceding version says it returned to its position at midday; and another says it rose until it appeared above the mountaintops. In this version, ‘Alī was supporting him against his chest, whereas in the other, his head was in ‘Alī’s lap.

‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Hasan never narrated this. He was far too distinguished to narrate such a lie, nor did his father al-Hasan narrate this from Asmā’. It also contains the statement: “Allah has revealed (3) nothing concerning ‘Alī in His Book greater than the return of the sun (4).” Yet it is well known that Allah has revealed nothing in His Book concerning the return of the sun, whether in relation to ‘Alī or anyone else (5).