Imam Al-Husayn’s (‘as) Answers of the Questions Put by the King of the Romans that He Sent to Yazid Ibn Mu’awiya and Him4
The king of the Romans asked about the galaxy and seven creatures that were not created in a womb. Imam Al-Husayn (‘as) laughed. He was asked about his laughing, and he answered that these questions are as small as a mote in an ocean. He (‘as) then answered:5
The galaxy is the bow of God. The seven things that were not created in a womb are Adam, Eve, the crow, the ram of Abraham (‘as), the she-camel of God, the stick of Moses (‘as), and the bird that was created by Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon them).
He then was asked about the sustenance of the servants. The Imam (‘as) answered:
The sustenance of the servants are in the fourth heaven. God descends and extends them in definite quantities.
He was then asked about the place where the believers’ souls gather. The Imam (‘as) answered:
The believers’ souls gather under the stone of Jerusalem on Friday nights. This site is the minor throne of God. This stone is the center of the extension of the earth and the point at which God will fold the earth and He established His dominance over the heavens.
The disbelievers’ souls gather in this world in Hadhramaut beyond Yemen. Then God will send fire from the east and the west between which there will be two winds that crowd people to that stone of Jerusalem and detain them to the right of the stone. There, Paradise will be brought near for the God-fearing individuals. Hell will be to the left of the stone in the depths of the earth where there are the bastinado and the Sijjin. The creatures will be separated at that stone. Those who will win Paradise will enter it from that stone, and those whose share is Hell will enter it from that stone, too.