الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 1, page 212

8. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ who has said that he heard Imam al-Rida say the following. “Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn has said that there are certain obligation for the Imams that are not obligatory for their followers and certain obligation of our followers are not obligatory for us. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has commanded them to ask us their questions saying, “Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know,’ Thus, Allah has commanded them to ask us their questions but it is not obligatory for us to answer them. We may answer them or may not answer them if we may so decide.” the is not said:

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

9. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr who has said that he wrote a letter to Imam al-Rida (a.s.). Of the issues for which he requested explanation in the letter one was about the following words of Allah, Most Holy, the Most High. “Ask the people of Dhikr (people who remind of Allah) if you do not know.” The other question was about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “Not all believers have to become specialists in religious learning. Why do not some people from each group of believers seek to become specialists in religious learning and, after completing their studies, guide their group so that they will have fear of God.” (9:122) thus, it is obligatory for them to ask but it is not obligatory for you to answer.” The Imams (a.s.) has said the following for the answer. “If they would not do what you would ask them, know that they are only following their (evil) desires. Who strays more than one who follows his desires without guidance from God? . .” (28:50)

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd al-Mu’min ibn al-Qasim al-Ansari from Sa‘d from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only the people of reason take heed.” (39:9) ‘We are the people of knowledge, the people who and it is our enemies who do not know and our followers are the people who take heed and are the people of reason.’”

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

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from an-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High: “Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only the people of reason take heed.” (39:9) He said, ‘We are the people of knowledge, and our enemies are those who do not know, and our followers (Shias) are the people of reason.’”

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