The Fundamentals of Islam

1. ʿAlī b. Ibrāhīm, from his father, from Ḥammād, from Ḥarīz, from Muḥammad b. Muslim, who said: I asked Abū Jaʿfar (AS) about a man who urinates but does not have water with him (for purification). He replied: He should squeeze the base of his penis to its tip three times and then shake the tip. If anything comes out after that, it is not from urine but from the ḥabā'il (moisture from passageways and veins).

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Ya’qub ibn Yazid and other people from Ziyad al- Qandiy from those whom he has mentioned who have said the following: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘When you give charity, ask them to pray; their prayer for you is answered, but it is not heard for themselves.”’

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from af-Minqariy from ‘Isa ibn Yunus al-Awza’iy from al-Zuhri from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s), who has said the following: “If you take a prisoner who is not able to walk and you do not have a carriage to carry him, then allow him to go and do not kill him; you do not know what is the command of the Imam about him.’ The narrator has said that he (the Imam) then said, ‘If a prisoner becomes a Muslim, his life is spared and he is one of us.’”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu ’Isma‘il al-Sayqal from abu Yahya al- Raziy who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked, ‘When a child is born what do you do for the child?’ I replied, ‘I do not know what we should do.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Take Jawshir [Persian Arabicized word for cow milk] of the size of a lentil and warm it up with water then drop it in the nostrils of the child; two drops in the right and one drop in the left; say Adhan in the right ear and Iqamah in the left ear. You should do it before cutting off the umbilical cord. This protects the child against shock and seizure.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who makes a will about more than one-third of his legacy, or setting free a slave during his illness, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If it is more than one-third it is returned to one-third and setting free of slave is permissible/”

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

13. Sahl, from Muhammad, from his father has narrated: Abu Abdullah (asws) having said when it was said to him (asws) “[88:1] Has not there come to you the news of the overwhelming calamity?”, he (asws) said: ‘They will be overwhelmed by the sword of the Rising One (Al-Qaim (asws))’. He said, ‘I said, (What about) “[88:2] Some faces, that Day, will be humiliated”?’ He (asws) said: ‘They will be so humiliated that they will not be able to bear the exclusion’. He said, ‘I asked. ‘(What about) “[88:3] Labouring”?’ He (asws) said: ‘Labouring for other than what Allah (azwj) Revealed’. I then asked, (What about) “[88:3] Appointing”?’ He (asws) replied: ‘Having appointed other than the Master (asws) of the Command (Wali Al-Amr)’. He says then I asked, (What about) “[88:4] Entering into burning fire”?’ He (asws) replied: ‘Entering into the fire of the war in the world during the era of the Rising One (Al-Qaim (asws)), and in the Hereafter the Fire of Hell’.

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from and abu Dawud all al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ ibn abu Ya‘fur who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who urinates, then takes Wudu. He then stands up for Salah (prayer) and finds a certain moisture. He (the Imam) said, ’He does not need Wudu; it is of Haba’il (passageways, veins).”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm from abu al-Hassan (a.s.), who has said the following: “You must not ignore anyone’s prayers; the prayers of Jews and Christians for you are answered, but they are not answered for themselves.”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that feeding the prisoner is upon the one who has captured him even if he wants to eliminate him the next day. He should feed him, quench his thirst, [provide him shadow, shelter] and be kind to him, regardless, he is an unbeliever or not.”

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

2. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban from Hafs al-Kunasiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Instruct the doctor or someone involved to say Salat (prayer) in the right ear of the child to protect the child against the effect of insanity or the Jinn that follows human beings.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man when about to die sets free a servant, then makes another will, the will is dropped and the servant is set free from the one-third of his legacy except if the will exceeds one-third of the legacy.”’

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ushaym from Safwan who has said the following: “Once a man asked al-Rida (a.s.), when I was present, saying, ‘There is a wound in my anus. I take Wudu and wash clean; but then I find wetness and yellowness there. Do I need to take Wudu again ? He (the Imam) said, ‘Had you cleaned it? He replied, ‘Yes, I did so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but pour water on it and you do not need to take Wudu again.” Ahmad ibn abu Nasr has said that a man asked al-Rida (a.s.), a question like that in Hadith of Safwan.

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

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Kufiy has narrated from Hamdan al-Qalanisiy from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that feeding the prisoner is upon the one who has captured him, even if he is an unbeliever whom he wants to eliminate the next day. He should be kind to him, feed him and quench his thirst.”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ’Isma‘il ibn Marrar from Yunus from some of his companions, from Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), he said, ‘Drops of water from the Euphrates should be dropped in the newborn’s mouth, and Iqamah should be recited in his ear.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ’Isma‘il ibn Hammam who has narrated the following: “This about the case of a man who makes a will when about to die, for relatives and setting free of a slave but the total exceeds one-third of the legacy and about how to deal with it. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘First it is executed about setting free of the slave then about the rest.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ’Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-‘Arzami from his father from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The tripod of Islam consists of prayer, al-Zakat (charity) and al-Wilayah. No one of these can be considered correct without the other two.”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hanan ibn Sadir who said: “Once a man asked abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), saying, ‘At times when I urinate, I cannot find water and it becomes severe for me . He (the Imam) said, ‘When you urinate and wipe it clean, you can then wipe your penis with saliva; and if you find something then say it is of that (moisture from passageways and veins).”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’iniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), spoke about feeding the prisoners of war and said, ‘Feeding of prisoners of war is on the one who has taken him as a prisoner even if he wants to eliminate him the next day. He must feed him quench his thirst, provide him shadow and be kind to him, regardless, the prisoner is an unbeliever or other.’”

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

4. In another Hadith it is said: ‘You should drop water from the Euphrates and soil from the grave of al-Husayn (a.s.) in the mouth of your children, and if it is not possible, then water from the sky (rain).’

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Hakam from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who when about to die sets free his slave and makes a will but the total is more than one-third of his legacy, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is executed about the setting free of the slave and the deficit falls on the rest of the will.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Salt all of them from Hammad ibn ’Isa from Hariz ibn ‘Abd Allah from Zurara from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is based on five issues. It is based on prayer, alms (al-Zakat), Hajj, Fasting and al-Wilayah.’’ Zurara has said, ‘I then asked the Imam, “Which of these is more important than the others?’” The Imam said, ‘Al-Wilayah is more important. It is the key to the others. The person who possesses Divine Authority is the guide to the other principles.’ I then asked, ‘Which is the next important?’ The Imam said, ‘Thereafter is prayer. The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “Prayer is the pillar of your religion.’” I then asked, ‘Which is the next important among them?’ The Imam said, ‘Al-Zakat is the one thereafter. Allah has mentioned it next to prayer but He has mentioned prayer first. The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “Al-Zakat removes sins.’” I then asked, ‘Which one is important thereafter?’ The Imam said, ‘Hajj is important thereafter. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “It is a duty of the people to Allah to perform Hajj of the House if they are capable to do so. Whoever rejects it should know that Allah does not need anyone in the world.” (3:97) The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “Performing Hajj that is accepted is more virtuous than twenty Rak’at optional prayer. Whoever walks around the House seven times and performs the two Rak’at prayers thereafter properly Allah will grant him cover.” He (The Messenger of Allah) did say on the ninth of the month of Dil Hajj and on the tenth of the month of Dil Hajj in Muzdalifa (a place in Makka), what he wanted to say.’ I then asked, ‘Which one is important thereafter?’ The Imam said, ‘It is fasting.’ “I then asked, ‘Why is fasting the last of all in importance?’ The Imam said, ‘The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “Fasting is a shield against the fire.’” The narrator has said that the Imam said, ‘The best of all things is that for which, if you miss, you do not find an alternative except going back to achieve it. Prayer, al-Wilayah and Hajj are not of matters replaceable with their own kind. On the other hand if fasting is missed on a journey one has the choice to fast on other days as remedy, or compensate for the sin with expiation and no fasting is necessary as a remedy. In the cases of the other four issues there is no alternative for them.’ The narrator has said that the Imam then said, ‘The topmost, the peak of the issue, the key and the door to it and the pleasure of the Beneficent (Lord) is to obey the Imam properly after knowing him clearly. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says, “Whoever obeys the Messenger he has obeyed Allah and whoever turns away from such obedience then you should know that We have not sent you to guard them.” (4:80) ‘Without recognizing the Divine Authority of the Imam, the deputy of Allah, no one has the right to receive any reward from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. This is true even though in his lifetime he may stand up in worship the whole night, fast during the day, give all his belongings in charity and perform Hajj every year. So also it is if he does not acknowledge the Divine Authority of his Imam with which all of one’s deeds can take place with the guidance of the Imam. Without al-Wilayah, one is not considered of the people of belief.’ Thereafter the Imam said, ‘Allah will admit, those of them who do good deeds into paradise through His extra mercy.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has the urge to urinate and cannot hold it any longer. He (the Imam) said to me, ‘If he is not able to hold, Allah is the foremost to accept apologies, he can allow it to come out in a bag.”

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Qasim ibn Yahya from his grandfather al-Hassan ibn Rashid from abu Basir, from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) has said, ‘Feed your newborn children dates, because the Holy Prophet (sw) did so with al-Hassan and al-Husayn, peace be upon them both.”’

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

5. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Ali al-Nu’man from Suwayd al-Qala’ from abu Ayyub ibn al-Jumhur from abu Bakr al-Hadramiy who has narrated the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘’Alqamah ibn Muhammad has made a will that I must set free a slave for him, and I set free for him a woman: if this is sufficient or must I set free for him from my own property.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is sufficient.’ He (the Imam) then said to me, ‘Fatimah, mother of my son, made a will that I set free for her a slave and I set free for her a woman.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Isa ibn al-Sariyy abu al-Yasa’ who has said the following: “Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Teach me, please, the basic principles of Islam that are necessary for everyone to know to his limits of understanding, and if he fails to learn them to the necessary levels his religion is destroyed and Allah does not accept his deeds. What is the limit of learning about the deeds with which someone’s religion can take proper shape and Allah may accept his deeds? What are the limits and degrees of the permissible level of ignorance and lack of knowledge of certain aspects of these principles?’ “The Imam said, ‘The matters necessary to learn are to testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, that Muhammad (a.s.) is the Messenger of Allah, that whatever he has brought from Allah is the truth and to affirm that paying Zakat (charity) is a right. (Of such necessary matters is) to affirm al-Wilayah (Divine Authority of ‘ A’immah ) that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made obligatory upon the other people to obey and acknowledge the Divine Authority of certain members of the family of Prophet Muhammad (a.s.).’ I (the narrator) then asked the Imam, ‘Is al-Wilayah of an exclusive nature?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “O believers, obey Allah, obey the Messenger and those among you who possess Divine Authority.” (4:59) The Merssenger of Allah has said, “Whoever dies without knowing who the Imam of his time is, he is considered as a person dying in the time of ignorance (as an unbeliever).” There was the Messenger of Allah and there was Ali (a.s.) but others said there was Mu’awiyah. Then there was al-Hassan (a.s.) and then there was al-Husayn (a.s.). Others said that there were Yazid ibn Mu’awiyah and Husayn ibn Ali. They were not equals and certainly they were not equals, meaning thereby Ali, al-Hassan and al-Husayn with Mu’awiyah and his son Yazid.’ He has said that the Imam remained calm for a while and then said, ‘Do you want me to tell you additional facts?’ Hakam ibn al-’A’War said, ‘Yes, may Allah keep my soul in service to your cause.’ The Imam said, ‘Then there was Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) then there was Muhammad ibn Ali, abu Ja’far. The Shi’a before abu Ja’far did not know the rules of Hajj, the lawful matters and the unlawful matters until there was abu Ja’far (a.s.). He opened it (system of religion) for them and explained to them the rules of their Hajj, the lawful and unlawful matters. People began to realize that they needed him very much while before they would ask other people for what they needed. This is how the facts are. The earth does not remain without an Imam and one who dies without knowing, who his Imam is, he is as though he was of the people of the dark ages of ignorance. The time when you need al-Wilayah most urgently is the time when your soul reaches here (pointing to his throat) and the world is cut off from you and then you say, ‘I have certainly been on the good side of the affairs, (a supporter of al-Wilayah).”’’ Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ‘Isa ibn al-Sariyy abu al-Yasa’ from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) a similar Hadith.

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

6. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Sa‘dan from ‘Abd al-Rahman who said: “I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a castrated man who when urinating feels great pain and finds wetness time after time. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must take Wudu and pour water on it once during the day.”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who said: “The Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, ‘Whoever has a newborn child, let them recite the call to prayer (adhan) in their right ear, and let them recite the iqamah in their left (ear), for it serves as protection from the accursed Satan.’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man once asked me about a woman who died without performing al-Hajj but made a will about an amount which is sufficient for al-Hajj. He asked if it is better to spend it on the needy people from the descendents of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, it will be done so; if performing al-Hajj is better al-Hajj would be performed for her. I said to him that if al-Hajj was obligatory on her, spending it for al-Hajj is more beloved to me than distributing on other things.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘Ala’ who said: “I once asked Abu ’Abdillah (a.s.), about urine which pollutes the body. He (the Imam) said: 'Pour water on it twice.' It is also narrated that one can wash it with the same amount of water if it is on the tip of the penis or on something else. It is also narrated that it is water and not dirt and it needs to be dropped down.’”

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

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from all Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “This is about the case of a man who dies but makes a will to perform al-Hajj for him. He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If it is his first al-Hajj then al-Hajj is performed from the center of the legacy, but if it is not his first al-Hajj then it is paid for from the one-third of his legacy.’”

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn Faddal from Ghalib ibn ‘Uthman from Rawh ibn ‘Abd al-Rahim who said: “Once, abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), urinated. I was standing nearby with a water container or a jug. When the jet of urine stopped, he (the Imam) made a gesture with his hand for water and I gave it to him and he (the Imam) made Wudu’ at the same place.”

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

8. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “About the case of a woman who makes a will to set free a slave, pay charity and al-Hajj but there is not enough, he (the Imam) (a.s.), said that first is al-Hajj because it is obligatory and if anything remains extra then spend something on charity and something for setting free a slave.’”

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Isa al-Sariyy who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) to teach me the principles of Islam in such a way that on holding to them my deeds can take pure and correct form and thereafter the ignorance of whatever I am ignorant of cannot harm me. The Imam said, ‘Of the principles of Islam are to testify and acknowledge that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, and that Muhammad (a.s.) is the Messenger of Allah. Of such principles is to affirm and acknowledge that whatever he has brought is from Allah, to pay al-Zakat (charity) is a right and that al-Wilayah which Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has commanded to accept and acknowledge is al-Wilayah (Divine Authority) of Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad (a.s.). The Messenger of Allah has said, “Whoever dies while he does not know who his Imam is, he is considered as one who has died in the darkness of ignorance.” Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Obey Allah, obey the Messenger of Allah and the persons among you who possess Divine Authority.” (4:59). Imam Ali was there (possessed Divine Authority) and after him were Imam Hassan, Imam Husayn and Ali ibn al-Husayn and after them was Muhammad ibn Ali, recipients of divine supreme covenant, successively and thus it will continue. The land will not take an ideal shape without an Imam. Whoever dies while he does not know who his Imam is, he is considered as one who has died in the darkness of ignorance. What everyone of you will need very urgently when his soul will reach here (pointing to his chest) is to know him (the Imam) so that he can say it is certain that I have been holding to a genuinely good matter.”’

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who has made a will about thirty dinars to set free a man from our people but it cannot be done with that much. (The Imam) said, ‘A slave then must be bought from other people for this purpose.’”

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

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has narrated the following: “I once asked the virtuous servant of Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has made a will about thirty dinar to set free a Muslim slave but it cannot be done with that amount. He (the Imam) said, ‘They must then buy from the rest of the people as long as he is not hostile to ‘A’immah (a.s.).’”

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

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindy from Ja’far ibn al-Bashir from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once I heard abu Basir asking Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, teach me the religion that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made obligatory for people to follow. Teach me the religion of which they must not remain ignorant and besides which no other religion is accepted. What is this religion?’ The Imam said, ‘Repeat your question.’ He repeated his question. The Imam said, ‘It (such religion) is to testify that no one else deserves to be worshipped except Allah, that Muhammad (a.s.) is the Messenger of Allah, and that it is obligatory to perform prayer, pay al-Zakat (charity), perform Hajj of the House if one has the ability and fast in the month of Ramadan.’ Then he remained silent for a little while and said twice, “ Al-Wilayah .” He then said, ‘This is what Allah has made obligatory upon His servants. The Lord on the Day of Judgment will not sk His servants why you have not done more than what I had made obligatory upon you. However, if someone does more good deeds Allah will grant him additional rewards. The Messenger of Allah has set up noble and beautiful traditions and it is very good for the people to practice them all.’”

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

11. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Aban from Muhammad ibn Marwan who has narrated the following: “The Shaykh (a.s.), has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), died and left sixty slaves of whom he set free one-third and I determined such slaves by raffle and took the one-third away.’”

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

12. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’ alia ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from abu Zayd al-Hallal from ‘Abd al-Hamid ibn abu al-‘Ala’ al-Azdi who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has made five things obligatory upon His creatures. He has given them permission in four but in one of them He has not given permission.’”

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

12. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about a slave-girl who was set free by my brother who served with slave-girls and was in his dependents. He made a will to spend for her from the center of the legacy. He (the Imam) said, ‘If she was with the slave-girls and managed them, then you must spend for her and execute the will.’”

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

13. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from Sama‘ah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who made a will to set free a slave for five hundred dirham from the one-third of his legacy. A slave was bought for less than five hundred dirham and something remained extra. What do you say about it? He (the Imam) said, ‘Give the extra to the slave before setting him free, then set him free for the deceased.’”

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

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and abu Ali al-Ash’ari from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar all of them from Safwan from ‘Amr ibn Harith who has said the following: “Once I went to see Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and he was in the house of his brother, ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad, and I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what has brought you to this house?’ ‘Seeking privacy,’ said the Imam. I said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, can I state before you my religion?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, you may do so.’ I then said, ‘I follow a religion (that requires me) to obey Allah and testify that no one else deserves to be worshipped except Allah Who has no partners. That Muhammad (a.s.) is His servant and messenger, that the Hour (of reckoning) will certainly come, that Allah will bring all people from their graves, that it is obligatory to pray, pay Zakat (charity), fast in the month of Ramadan and perform Hajj of the House. I affirm and acknowledge the Divine Authority of Ali ibn abu Talib after the Messenger of Allah, the Divine Authority of al-Hassan, al- Husayn, the Divine Authority of Ali ibn al-Husayn, the Divine Authority of Muhammad ibn Ali and your Divine Authority after him (your father), recipients of divine supreme covenant. You are my Imam. With such beliefs I live and with them I will die and such is my religion before Allah.’ The Imam said, ‘Such, O ‘Amr, I swear by Allah, is the religion of Allah and the religion of my ancestors and such is the religion that 1 follow to obey Allah in private and in public. Maintain piety before Allah and hold your tongue except from good and do not say, “I have guided myself.” In fact, Allah has guided you. Give thanks to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for the favor that He has done to you. Do not be of those who on their moving forward are hit in the eyes or when moving backwards are hit from the back. Do not allow people ride on your shoulders for if you do so they cause injury to your shoulders.’”

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

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “A woman of our family made a will about one-third of her legacy and asked to set free a slave, perform al-Hajj and give charity; but the one-third was not sufficient. I asked abu Hanifah about it and he said, ’Make it in three equal parts and spend one part for each cause/ I then visited abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), and said that a woman from our family has died and made a will about one-third of her legacy and has asked to set free a slave, perform al-Hajj and pay charity. I checked it but it is not sufficient. He (the Imam) said, ’You must begin with al-Hajj because it is obligatory of the obligation to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and make the remaining into two parts: one for setting free a slave and one for charity.’ I then informed abu Hanifah about the words of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He changed his fatwa and accepted the words of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.).”

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

15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Ni’man from ibn Maskan from Sulayman ibn Khalid from abu Ja’far recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “Do you want me to teach you the root of Islam, its branch and its peak? I said, ‘Yes, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause.’ The Imam said, ‘Its root is prayer, its branch is al-Zakat (charity) and its peak is Jihad (the hard work in defense and preaching of the belief).’ The Imam then said, ‘If you want 1 can teach you about the gates to all good.’ I said, ‘Yes, please, May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, do so.’ “The Imam said, ‘Fasting is a shield against fire, charity removes sins and of the gates to good is to stand up (for worship) during the night to speak of Allah.’ He then read (the words of Allah) ‘They do not allow their sides to rest in bed (but they stand up at night to pray to Allah).”’ (32:16)

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

15. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from ibn Mahbub from abu Jamilah from Humran who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who at the time of his death makes a will to set free a slave so and so and so and so. I looked into the one-third of his legacy and found that it is not even equal to one-eighth of the five slaves whom he had mentioned, he (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘You must evaluate the slaves and begin setting free one, two, three, four and five. The slave (or slaves) whom he mentioned last cannot be freed if the one-third is not sufficient for his (or their) cost.’”

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

16. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Dawud ibn abu Yazid who has narrated the following: “Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who on a journey was with a slave-girl and two slaves. He said to them, ‘You are free for the sake of Allah and bear witness that the child in the womb of the slave-girl is from me. She gave birth to a son. When they came back, the heir refused the will and kept them as slaves. The two slaves were later set free and they testified that their previous master had asked them to bear witness that the child in the womb of the slave-girl was his child. He (the Imam) said, ‘Their testimony is acceptable and the child about whom they testified cannot make them slaves because they proved his genealogical relation.’”

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

17. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Ahmad ibn Ziyad who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who is about to die and sets free all of his slaves. He owns certain slaves and certain others with a partner and about the condition of the ones that he owns with a partner. He (the Imam) said, ‘His slaves of the partnership must be evaluated; if his share covers them, they are all free.’”

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

18. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-Nadr ibn Shu’ayb al-Mharibiy who has narrated the following: “This is about the case of a man who dies and leaves as his legacy a slave-girl whose one-third he sets free and the executor of the will marries her before the distribution of the legacy. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘She is appraised, then with her husband both are made to work to pay for the remaining of her cost after being appraised. Thereafter, whatever of her becomes free or remains in slavery applies to her child also.’”

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

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Muthanna al-Hannat from ‘Abd Allah ‘Ajlan from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is based on five principles. They are al-Wilayah, (accepting the Divine Authority of ‘ A’immah ), the prayer, al- Zakat (charity), fasting in the month of Ramadan and al-Hajj.’”

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

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindy from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Aban from Fudayl from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is based on five principles: The prayer, al-Zakat (charity), fasting, al-Hajj and al-Wilayah. The call to no one of the other principles has been so emphatic as it was for al-Wilayah on the day of al-Ghadir (name of a place between Makka and Madina.)”’

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

10. It is narrated from him (Ali ibn Ibrahim) from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘Do you know, O child of the Messenger of Allah that I love you ( Ahl al-Bayt). that 1 have disassociated myself from other people to associate with you only and that I support you ( Ahl al-Bayt )?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, I know it.’ 1 then said, ‘I ask you to answer my question; my eyes are restricted, I walk very little and I am not able to visit you except every now and then.’ The Imam said, ‘What is your question?’ I then said, ‘What is the religion by which you obey Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, and the religion that your Ahl al-Bayt follow so that I will also obey Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, by the rules of your religion?’ The Imam said, ‘Although your introduction was brief, your question is a great question. By Allah, I will certainly teach you my religion and the religion of my ancestors by the rules of which we worship Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy. It is to testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, that Muhammad (a.s.) is the Messenger of Allah, and that whatever (message) he has brought is from Allah. That it is obligatory to love and support those who support and love us ( Ahl al-Bayt ) and disassociate from our enemies. That it is obligatory to obey our commands, cherish the hope for the coming of the one from us who will rise with Divine Authority and to strive hard ( Ijtihad) for progress in the matters of religion and live a life of piety, warn’ (stay away from sins).”’

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

13. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Aban from Isma’il al-Ja’fi who has said the following: “Once a man came to abu Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant. He had a book with him. Abu Ja’far said, ‘This is the book of a polemicist who wants to learn a religion that if followed ones deeds are accepted.’ The man said, ‘May the blessings of Allah be with you, this is exactly what I want.’ Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘Such religion is to testify that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, Who has no partners. That Muhammad (a.s.) is His servant and Messenger. And that you affirm and acknowledge that whatever he has brought is from Allah. That one has love (in his heart) for us, Ahl al-Bayt, and disassociates himself from our enemies, obeys our commands, maintains piety and humbleness in life and has hope in the rise from us of one with the Divine Authority. For us there is a government and he will establish it when Allah wills.’”

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