الكافي- ط الاسلامية, volume 1, page 216

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Talha ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The Imams mentioned in the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, are of two kinds. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has said, ‘We appointed them as leaders (Imams) to guide the people through Our command . .” (21:73) They do so but not because of the commads of the people. They allow our command to come first and before their own orders, and our laws before their own laws and judgment. “We made them the kinds of leaders (Imams) who would invite people to the fire . .” (28:41) ‘They let their own commands to come before the commands of Allah and their laws before the laws of Allah. They follow their desires against what the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High requires.’”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ’Isa from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub who has said that he asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “We have chosen heirs for every legacy that parents and relatives may leave. Let those who have been promised a bequest receive their share of the legacy. . .” [4:33] It is a refrence to the Imams (a.s.) With the Imams (a.s.) Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has established your covenants.” 1. There have been a variety of interpretations of who are the last group of heirs mentioned in this verse, i.e., those with whom you have sworn compact, and, as a result of this, and so as to reconcile these various interpretations with the law, it has at different times been asserted that this verse was abrogated or that it was not. For example, see at.-Taban, at-Taf~ir, vol.5,

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from Musa ibn Akayl al-Numayri from al-‘Ala’ ibn Sayaba, from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) regarding the words of The Almigthy: “This Quran shows the way to that which is the most upright . .” (17:9) He (a.s.) said, “It guides to the Imam.”

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