الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 1, page 163

Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Hakim who said: I asked Abu 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as): "Who is responsible for granting ma'rifa (a profound understanding of religion)?" He said: "It is the doing of Allah, and the servants have no role in it (without the intervention of Allah)."

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ibn Faddal from Tha‘laba ibn Maymun from Hamza ibn Muhammad al- Tayyar from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious: “Allah does not misguide a nation after having given them guidance until the means of piety are made known to them . . .” (9:115) The Imam (a.s.), said, ‘It (means of piety) means before giving the knowledge of what He is pleased with and what He is displeased with.’ The Imam (a.s.), said the words of Allah ‘. . . and inspired it with knowledge of evil and piety,’ (91:8) convey that He has explained what people must do and what they must not do. The words of Allah, ‘We showed him the right path whether he would be grateful or ungrateful’ (76:3), say that Allah has given them the knowledge. They may follow or they may ignore. About the words of Allah, ‘We sent guidance to the people of Thamud but they preferred blindness to guidance so a humiliating blast of torment struck them for their evil deeds.’ (41:17) The Imam said, ‘It means that Allah gave them the knowledge but they preferred blindness over guidance and they knew it.’” In another Hadith it says, “We explained to them.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al- Rahman from ibn Bukayr from Hamza ibn Muhammad from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), the following: “Once I asked the Imam (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ‘Have We not shown him the ways of ‘al-Najdayn’ ?’ (90:10) The Imam said, ‘al-Najdayn’ means the ways of good and evil.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

Through the chain of narrators of the previous Hadith from Yunus has narrated from Hammad from ‘Abd al-A‘la who has said the following: “Once I said to (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ’May Allah keep you well, Has Allah placed a means in people to know?’ He replied, ‘No, He has not done so.’ I asked, ‘Will He hold them responsible for knowing?’ He said, ‘No, because it is for Allah to explain.’ ‘Allah does not impose on any soul a responsibility beyond its ability . . .’ (2:286) ‘Allah does not impose on any soul that which he cannot afford . . .’ (65:7) “I asked the Imam about the words of Allah in, ‘Allah does not misguide a nation after having given them guidance until the means of piety are made known to them . . .’ (9:115) The Imam said, ‘It (means of piety) means not until He gives the knowledge of what pleases Him and what displeases Him.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.

Through the above chain of narrators it is narrated from Yunus from Sa‘dan, in a marfu‘ manner, from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who said the following: “Allah has not granted any bounties to a person without holding him justifiably responsible for them. He gives them bounties and gives them power, which justifies His holding them responsible for their duties. He gives smaller degrees of responsibilities to those who are of lesser degrees of capabilities. One who has received bounties from Allah He has provided him ease, thus the justification to hold him responsible is the comfort he has received. Then it is for him to help the needy in optional ways. The one whom Allah has favored and has made noble in his house and beautiful in his form, is justifiably obligated for

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar — attributed by Thaqalayn·The Arabic above is the original.