Chapter on Kinds of People

1. Ali ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa all from ibn Mahbub from abu ’Usama from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu Hamza from Abu Ishaq al-Saba'iy from a narrator he deems reliable that he heard Amir al-Mu'minin (as) say: 'After the holy Prophet people become of three kinds. One group went to a divinely well guided scholar. Allah had given him such a high degree of knowledge that made him independent of the knowledge of the others. The second group was the ignorant group, who claimed to have knowledge but in fact they had no knowledge. This was an egotist group. The worldly attractions had made them to lose sight of the truth and to mislead other people. The third group consisted of those people who learned from a divinely guided scholar who taught them for the sake of Allah and for their salvation. It then was obvious that those who claimed (to be scholars while, in fact, they were not scholars) and those who forged certain matters falsely were destroyed.'

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 Hammad ibn ‘Uthman who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help repeals al- Qada, what is already determined, and severs it as threads are incised, even though it (threads) may have been coiled and knotted extremely strong and solid.’”

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 Jamil from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has stated this Hadith. ‘If a woman experiences blood discharge before the passing of ten days from the end of a period of her Hayd (menses), it is part of the first period of Hayd (menses); but if it is after ten days from the end of a period of her menses, it then is of her future period of her Hayd (menses).’”

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 Safmah, Sahib af-Sabiriy from abu af-Sabbah af-Kinaniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the reward for one who serves food to a fasting person is equal to the reward for the fasting person for his fasting.”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from af-Nawfafiy from af-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The best helper of piety is (financial) self-sufficiency.’”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘People do not behave properly in matters of obligations and divorce without the sword (enforcing authority).’”

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

2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘A’idh from Abu Khadija Salim ibn Mukram that Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) said: 'People are of three kinds: A scholar, a student [of knowledge] and a scum.'

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

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from ‘Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘Prayer, and pleading before Allah for help, repeals Quddira, what is already measured, and the unmeasured.’ I (the narrator) then asked the Imam, ‘I know the meaning of what is ‘Measured’, but what is the meaning of the ‘Unmeasured’?’ The Imam said, ‘So that it (a measure, of misfortune) will not come into being.’”

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

2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from al-Hassan ibn Sa‘id from Zur’ah, from Sanaa ‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a woman who experiences blood discharge before the time of her Hayd (menses) period. He (the Imam) said, ‘If she experiences blood discharge before the time of her Hayd (menses) she must stop performing Salah (prayer). Perhaps it has started earlier. If blood discharge continues for more than the period of time she normally experiences, she must wait for three days above the normal period of time and if it did not stop after three days she then must follow the procedure for one experiencing Istihadah (irregular menses).”’

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 Sa‘dan ibn Muslim from Musa ibn Bakr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Your serving food to your fasting brother (in belief) is better than your fasting.’”

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

2. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from abu al-Mighra’, from Sama‘ah from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Were I to govern the people I would teach them how to divorce, thereafter I would make the back of the violators painful. Those who divorce against the Sunnah must be returned to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, despite their opposing.’”

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

2. Humayd ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from certain persons of his people from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from Durust ibn abu Mansur from Mu’ammar ibn Yahya who has narrated the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Obligations and divorce are not dealt with properly without the sword.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Abu Hamza al-Thumali that Abu ‘Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) said to him: "Be a scholar or a student [of knowledge] or love the scholars. Do not become of the fourth group lest you will be destroyed by their hatred."

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

3. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from Bistam al-Zayyat from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, repeals al- Qada ’, what is already determined, has already come down from heavens and is firmly established.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from those who narrated to him who have said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If normal duration of a woman’s blood discharge due to Hayd (menses) is ten days, she does not need to perform an examination but if it is less, she must perform an examination.’”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ali has narrated from Ali ibn Asbat, from Sayabah from Durays from Hamzah ibn Humran who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that on the first day of his fasting, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would ask his people to prepare a sheep for food. In the evening, the cooking pots gave out a fine fragrance while he was fasting, and he would then say, ‘Fill up this pot for the family of so and so and fill up this one for the family of so and so.’ He would then ask for bread and dates for his own dinner. May Allah grant him and his ancestors the compensation worthy of their service to His cause.”

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

3. Ali ibn Muhammad Bandar has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafiy from Ali ibn Mu‘alla’ from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad in a marfu’ manner who has said the following: “Once it was asked of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘How is it that disciples of Jesus could walk on water and the companions of Muhammad (SAW), do not have such ability? Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), replied, ‘The disciples of Jesus were self-sufficient financially and these people have trouble with their financial matters.’”

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 Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from ‘Umar ibn Mu’ammar ibn’Ata’ ibn Washik who has said the following: “I once heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), saying, ‘In matters of divorce people do not behave properly without the sword. Had I been governing them I would return them to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Yahya al-Halabiy from Shu’ayb al-Haddad from Yazid al- Sa’igh who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about women; if they inherit from the house. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but they inherit from the value of the building.’ I (the narrator) then said, ‘People do not agree with it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When we will be in authority if people disagree we will use the sword and whip and if they will not behave properly we will strike them with the sword.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Jamil that he heard Abu 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) say: "People become of three groups: Scholars, students [of knowledge] and scum. We are the scholars, our Shi'a are the students and the rest of the people are scum."

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 abu Hammam Isma’Il ibn Hammam from al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, and misfortune are joined together and will remain so until the Day of Judgment. Prayer repeals misfortunes even though it (misfortune) may have already been firmly established.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah from abu ‘Abd Allah, from his father, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, who has said the following: “Once, during the month of Ramadan, Sadir went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). The Imam asked, ‘O Sadir, do you know which nights are these days?’ He replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul and the soul of my father in service for your cause, these are the nights of the month of Ramadan, but what do they signify?’ The Imam then said, ‘Can you set free ten slaves from the descendants of Isma‘il in every one of these nights?’ Sadir replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep the souls of my parents in service for your cause, my belongings are not that much.’ The Imam then reduced the number of slaves until it was only one slave, but he kept saying, ‘My belongings are not enough.’ The Imam then asked, ‘Can you serve food to a Muslim every night.’ He replied, ‘Yes, I can do so. I can even serve food to ten people every night.’ The Imam then said, ‘That is what I meant, O Sadir. Your serving food to your Muslim brother is equal in reward to setting free of ten slaves from the descendants of Isma‘il.’”

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah ibn Maymun from ‘Abd al-‘Ala’ who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Ask Allah to grant you (financial) self-sufficiency and good health in this world, forgiveness and paradise in the hereafter.’”

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

4. Ahmad has said that certain persons of our people have narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from the virtuous servant (of Allah) has said the following: “Had I been governing people I would teach them how to finalize a divorce case and thereafter make the violators to suffer pain.’”

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, repels the misfortune that has already come down and that which has not yet come down.’”

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abd Allah from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad from al-Harith ibn Bahram from ‘Amr ibn Jami’ who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘There is not much good in one who does not love to accumulate lawful wealth with which he can safeguard his dignity, pay off his debts and maintain good relations with relatives.’”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from certain persons of our people from Aban from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘Had the affairs of people been in my hands I would straighten them with the sword and whip until they divorced with waiting period as Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has commanded.’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurara who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) once said to me, ‘Should I tell you something about a case in which even the Messenger of Allah is not an exception?’ I said, ‘Yes, (I like to know).’ The Imam said, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help repeals al-Qada, what is already determined, even though it may have firmly been established. He folded his fingers together (to form a fist as a sign of firmness).’”

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

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ja’far ibn Muhammad from al-Qasim ibn al-Rabi‘ in his (Imam’s) advice to al- Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘You should use certain items of these resources to overcome other tasks and do not become a burden on people.’”

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

7. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al- Washsha’ from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Prayer and pleading before Allah for help, repeals what is already determined, even after it is firmly established. Thus, increase your prayers; it is the key to all favors, success and need. What is with Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, cannot be achieved by any means other than prayer and any door that is knocked very often will sooner or later open up to the one knocking.’”

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

7. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ahmad ibn ‘Abd Allah from abu al-Khazraj al-Ansariy from Ali ibn Ghurab who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Condemned is one who shifts his burden over on other people.’”

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

8. It is narrated from him (narrator of the previous Hadith) from Ahmad from his father from Safwan ibn Yahya from Darih ibn Yazid al-Muharibiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The worldly resources are best means to overcome the difficulties of the next life.”’

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

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated in a marfu ’ manner from Ishaq ibn ‘ Ammar who has said the following: ‘‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘By means of prayer, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, repels a thing (a misfortune) that He knows He will divert it if a plea will be made before Him. However, if the servant (of Allah) fails to pray and plead before Allah for help, the misfortune will afflict him to the extent of pulling him to pieces from the face of earth.’”

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Safwan ibn Yahya from Darih al-Muharibiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the worldly resources are best means to overcome the difficulties of the next life.”

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

11. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Khalid in a marfu’ manner who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘A wealth that keeps you away from injustice is better than poverty which leads you to commit sins.’”

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

12. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from A number of our people has narrated who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A believer’s spending days and nights with suffering from the losses of his loved ones is better than his spending days and nights in the state of war. We seek protection with Allah against war.’”

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

13. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from abu al-Bakhtariy in a marfu’ manner who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘O Allah, grant us blessings with our loaves of bread and do not take them away from us. Without bread we cannot perform Salat (prayer) or fast, perform our obligations toward our Lord.’”

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

14. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali al-Ahmasiy from a man who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘The worldly help in one’s quest for success in the hereafter is the best help.’”

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

15. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from Darih al-Muharibiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The worldly help in one’s quest for success in the hereafter is the best help.’”

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from abu Wallad who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) has said, ‘You must pray and plead before Allah for help; pleading before Allah for help and requesting from Him repels misfortunes even though they may have already been measured and determined, Qudiya and Quddira, and are set to take place free of all obstacles except final approval, al-’Imda’. When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is called for help and is requested to remove a misfortune. He diverts it without fail.’”

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 ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘O Lord, grant us good in this world and in the next world’, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is Allah’s happiness with one, paradise in the next life, good living and excellent moral manners in this world.’”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from ‘Abd Allah ibn abu Ya’fur who has said the following: “A man once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘We, by Allah, ask for the worldly things and we love to receive worldly gains.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What do you want to do with it?’ He replied, ‘I like to improve my own conditions, the conditions of my family, maintain good relations with others, give charity, perform Hajj and al-‘Umrah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is not asking for worldly things. It is asking for success in the hereafter.’”

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