The Essence of Belief and Certainty

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from Bazi’ from Muhammad ibn ‘Azafir from his father from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “During one of the journeys of the Messenger of Allah a group of people who were riding came to meet him. They said, ‘Salute to you O Messenger of Allah.’ He asked, ‘Who are you?’ They replied, ‘We are believers, O Messenger of Allah.’ He then asked, ‘What is the essence of your belief?’ They replied, ‘It is to agree with the decision of Allah, allow Him be the person in charge of one’s affairs and submit to the command of Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘They are scholars and people of wisdom who for their wisdom can almost be prophets. If what you say is true then do not build that which you do not use as dwelling, do not accumulate what you do not eat and be pious before Allah to whom you will return.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘If you take a Ghusl (bath) after dawn, it is sufficient for Ghusl (bath) because of sexual relations, for Friday, the day of ‘Arafah, (ninth of Dhul Hajjah), tenth of Dhul Hajjah, for shaving (during Hajj), offering sacrifice and visiting the House (al-Ka‘bah). One Ghusl (bath) suffices many reasons for it.’ He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) then said, ‘So also is the case with women. One Ghusl (bath) suffices for sexual relation, assuming the state of ‘Ihram, Friday, Hayd (menses) and for her ‘Id.’”

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 Muhammad ibn Sinan from Hudhayfah ibn Mansur who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that you must not involve yourself in the affairs of your brother (in belief) where the harm of the involvement to you is greater than the benefit for him.” Ibn Sinan has said, ‘This can happen when a man is indebted heavenly and you pay all of your belongings to pay his debt, but his debts are still not fully paid.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’Do not shave the heads of children in al-Qaza‘ and al-Qaza‘ meaning to shave certain parts and leave other parts.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who confirms his owing a certain amount of debt to one of his heirs. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible if immediate payment is not required.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from abu Muhammad al-Wabishi and Ibrahim ibn Mehzam from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Once the Messenger of Allah after leading the morningprayer for the people looked at a young man in the Mosque whose head hung down. He looked pale and slim and his eyes sunk into his head. The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘O so and so, how is your morning?’ He (the young man) replied, ‘This morning, I, O Messenger of Allah, am in a condition of certainty. The messenger of Allah admired him for his words and he said, ‘For everything there is an essence. What is the essence of your certainty?’ The young man said, ‘My certainty, O Messenger of Allah, is that which has made me depressed. It has kept me awake all night and to endure thirst during the day. My soul is withdrawn from the world and the things in it, so much so, as if I am looking at the Throne of my Lord that is established to call everyone to Judgment, all creatures are resurrected and I am among them. It is as if I am looking at the people of paradise who enjoy therein being introduced to each other while leaning against raised couches. It is also as if I am looking at the people of hell wherein they suffer and cry for help. Right now, it is as if I hear the roaring of the fire. It is striking against my ears.’ The Messenger of Allah said to his companions, ‘This is a servant of Allah whose heart He has brightened up with belief.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said to him (the young man), ‘Keep up with what you are in (condition of your belief).’ The young man said, ‘Pray to Allah for me, O Messenger of Allah, to grant me martyrdom (while working hard in support of your cause) along with you.’ The Messenger of Allah prayed for him. Not very long thereafter he joined the prophet in an armed expedition and he was the tenth man to become a martyr.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadid from Jamil ibn Darraj from certain persons of our people who have said the following: “One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘If one, because of sexual relation, takes a Ghusl (bath) after dawn, it is sufficient for all the Ghusl (bath) that he is required to have on that day.’”

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy from those who had heard who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not provide the kind of Benevolent Assistance to your brothers (in belief), which is more harmful to you than its being beneficial to him.”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Abu Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ariy from ibn al-Qaddah who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), disliked shaving the head of a child a little and leaving the top middle of the head unshaved, which is called a/-Qaza’.’”

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

2. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Mansur ibn Hazim who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who confirms his owing a certain amount of debts to one of his heirs. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the deceased is one with whom people are happy, then you must pay to the one in whose favor the will is made.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: ‘‘The Messenger of Allah once met Harithah ibn Malik al- Nu’man al-Ansari and asked him, ‘How are you, O Harithah ibn Malik?’ He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am a believer in a real sense.’ The Messenger of Allah then asked, ‘Everything has a reality and essence. What are the reality and essence of your words?’ “He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, my soul has withdrawn from this world; it has kept me awake all night and to endure thirst in the middle of the day. It is as if I am looking to the Throne of my Lord that is established to bring all people to account. It is as if I am looking at the people of paradise who are visiting each other and I hear the barking of the people of hell therefrom.’ The Messenger of Allah, then said, ‘He is a servant whose heart is brightened (by the command of) Allah. You have reached (true) understanding, remain steadfast.’ He then asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah for me to grant me martyrdom (while working hard to support your cause) along with you.’ The Messenger of Allah prayed, ‘O Allah, grant him martyrdom.’ Within very few days thereafter, he (the messenger of Allah) dispatched a group of people for an armed expedition and Harithah was among them. He (Harithah) fought the enemy and did away with eight or nine people before he became a martyr. “In the narration of al-Qasim from his father from abu Basir it is said that Harithah was martyred in the army of Ja’far ibn abu Talib after the martyrdom of nine people.”

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

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Jurjaniy from those who have narrated to him ms who has said the following: “One of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘You must not obligate your soul for others’ rights; you must exercise patience in difficulties; and you must not involve yourself in an affair where its harm to you is greater than its benefit for your brother (in belief).”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ariy from ibn al-Qaddah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ’Once a child was brought to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, so that he (the Messenger of Allah) might pray for him but the child had Qanazi ‘ and he (the Messenger of Allah) refused to pray for him. He (the Messenger of Allah) instructed them to shave his head entirely. The Messenger of Allah commanded to shave belly hairs

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ibn Muskan from al-‘Ala’ Bayya’ al-Sabiriy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who leaves a certain amount of assets in trust with a man; and at the time of her death she says to him that the asset in his trust belongs to so and so female, and she dies. Her heirs then come to the man saying that their woman had certain amount of assets but they do not find them except with him, therefore he must take an oath that her assets are not with him; if he can take an oath as they ask him to do. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can take the oath if she was trustworthy in his view; but if she was accused then he must not take the oath. He must deal with the issues as they are wherein one-third of the legacy belongs to her.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Over every truth there certainly is a reality and over every correct issue there is light.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from ’Isma‘il ibn Jabir who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who confirms in his illness his owing a certain amount of debts to one of his heirs. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible if the amount is less than one-third of the legacy.’”

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

5. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from abu Wallad who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who in his illness at the time of his death confirms his owing a certain amount of debts to one of his heirs. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible.’ I asked about his confirming his owing ‘something’ to one of his heirs. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible.’”

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