1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd and Fudala ibn Ayyub from Musa ibn Bakr from al-Fudayl who has said that he asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah: “For every nation there is a guide.” (13:7) The Imam (a.s.) said that every Imam is the guide in his own time.”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhayna from Buray al-‘Ijli from Ima abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah. “(Muhammad), you are only a Warner. For every nation there is a guide. (13:7)” The Imam (a.s.) said that at all times there is a guide from us who guides people to the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) Of the guides who possess Divine authority after the holy Prophet (s.a.) is Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and his successors one after the other.”

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

3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Sa‘dan from Abu Basir who said: “I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah: “(Muhammad), you are only a warner, and for every nation there is a guide.” (13:7) He (a.s.) replied, “The Messenger of Allah (sw) is the warner and Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) is the guide. O Abu Muhammad, is there a guide today?” I said, “Yes, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, there has always been a guide from you, one after the other, until this (noble task) is being carried on by your own self.” He (a.s.) said, “May Allah have mercy on you, O Abu Muhammad. Had it been like the coming of guidance to man and then he would die with his death, the guidance would also die and the whole book would die, but it lives and it continues with new generations as it has done so with the people in the past.”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Safwan from Mansur from ‘Abd al-Rahim al-Qusayr who has said that asked Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, “. . For every nation there is a guide. (13:7)” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The Holy Prophet (s.a.) is the Warner and Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) is the guide. Let it be known, I swear by Allah, that guidance never departed us, it is with us and will always be with us until the Day of Judgment.”

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