Chapter on al-Bida’

1. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from abu Ishaq Tha‘laba from Zurara ibn A‘yun from one of the two Imams who has said the following. “Allah is best worshipped with belief in al-Bada’. In another Hadith from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said, “Allah’s Greatness is not understood as well as it is understood with example of al-Bada’.”

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

1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan all from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from al-Hassan ibn Ziyad al-Sayqal who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Two pieces of twig are placed with a deceased, one on the right and the other on the left.’ He (the narrator) has said, that he (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) benefits both, believers and non-believers.’”

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Shadhan ibn al-Khalil abu al-Fadl from Sama‘ah ibn Mehran who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who owed to me a certain amount of goods and he was absent from me for a certain time. I saw him doing Tawaf around al-Ka‘bah. Can I ask him for payment? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, do not offer him greeting of peace and do not frighten him until he gets out of al-Haram (the sacred area).’”

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Husayn ibn Bashshar al-Wasitiy who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and asked him about marriage. He (the Imam) wrote back to me the answer that said, ‘If one proposes marriage and if you are happy with that person’s religion and trust, then accept his proposal. If you do not do so there will be mischief in the land and a great destruction.’”

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

2. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim and Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari and others from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) whos has said the following about the words of Allah. “God establishes or effaces whatever He wants . .” (13:39) The Imam (a.s.) said, “Can anything be affaced without being established? Can anything be esblished unless it is out of nothing?”

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 ibn Bazi‘ from Hanan ibn Sadir from Yahya ibn ‘Ubadah al-Makkiy who has said the following: “I heard Sufyan al-Thawriy asking him (the Imam) about greening. He (the Imam) said that once a man from al-Ansar died and the Messenger of Allah was asked to attend his funeral. He (the Messenger of Allah) asked one of the relatives of the deceased to green up their fellow man; greening people are very few.’ They asked, ‘What is greening?’ He (the Messenger of Allah) replied, ‘It is a fresh twig which is placed near the hands up to the collar bones.’”

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

2. Sahl ibn Ziyad Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from all from Ali ibn Mahziyar from who has said the following: “Ali ibn Asbat once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the issue of his daughters and that he cannot find anyone as equal match for them. He (the Imam) (a.s.), wrote to him, ‘I understood what you have written about the issue of your daughters that you do not find anyone as their equal match, you must not see to it, may Allah grant you kindness, because the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “If one proposes marriage and you are happy with his character and religion, then accept his proposal. If you do not do so mischief and great destruction will take place in the land.’”

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

3.Ali, from his father, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Hisham ibn Salim, from Muhammad ibn Muslim, narrated that Abu Abdillah al-Sadiq (as) said: "Allah has not sent a prophet without first taking three pledges from him: acknowledgment of servitude to Him (Allah), renouncement of rivals (associating partners with Allah), and that Allah advances what He wills and delays what He wills."

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 a man from Yahya ibn ‘Ubadah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Two pieces of fresh twigs one yard in length are placed with a deceased’ - pointing with his hand - ‘one end from collar bones to the hands wrapped with cloth.’ He (the narrator) has said that the man then said, ‘I met abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), afterwards and asked him (the Imam) about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes I spoke about it to Yahya ibn ‘Ubadah.’”

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

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad Ibn Abdillah from Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad al-Hamadani who has said: “I once wrote to Abu Ja‘far (al-Jawad) (as) about marriage, then his letter came to me with his own handwriting that said, 'Rasulullah (saw) said: If one proposes to you and you are happy with his moral character and religion, then you should marry him. If you do not do so mischief and vast corruption will take place in the land.'"

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

4. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurara from humran from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, “It is He who has created you from clay to live for a life-time and the span of your life is only known to Him. . .” (6:2) The Imam said, “There are two appointed times. One is is a definit time and the other is the conditional one.”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), what happens if two fresh al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) are not placed with a deceased? He (the Imam) said, ‘Torture and accounting is kept away from him as long as the al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) are fresh. All tortures take place in one day in one hour for a duration within which people return and leave the gravesite. The two al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) (branches) are placed for this reason, and after they dry there will be no torture and accounting by the will of Allah.’”

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

5. It is narrated from Ahmad ibn Mahran from ‘Abdal ‘Azim ibn ‘Abdallah al-Hassani from Ali ibn Asbat from Khalaf ibn Hammad from ibn Maskan from Malik al-Juhanni who has said the following. “I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah “Does he not remember that We created him when he did not exist?” (19:67) The Imam (a.s.) said, “It means that he did not exist in a definit or in the form of a being.” I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, “There was certainly a time when there was no mention of the human being” (76:1) The Imam said, “ It was definit but not mentioned.”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following: “He (the Imam) has said, ‘Al-Jaridah (twigs of palm tree) are of the size of one Shibr (ten inches) of which one is placed with one end near the collarbones downward as far as it reaches next to the skin, and the other on the left side near the collarbones downward as far as it reaches over the shirt.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Isma'il narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan, from Hammad ibn ‘Isa, from Rib‘i ibn ‘Abdillah, from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who said: I heard Abu Ja‘far (as) say: "Knowledge is of two types: One type of knowledge is with Allah, kept hidden, He has not disclosed it to any of His creation. And the other is knowledge which He taught to His angels and His messengers. As for what He taught His angels and His messengers, it will certainly occur; He does not contradict Himself, nor His angels, nor His messengers. And as for the knowledge that is kept with Him, He brings forward from it whatever He wills, delays from it whatever He wills, and establishes whatever He wills."

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

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Muhammad ibn Sanaa ‘ah from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that two pieces of al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) are placed with a deceased: one on the right and the other on the left side.’”

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

7. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ja‘far ibn ‘Uthman from Suma‘a from abu Basir and Wahab ibn Hafs from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah has two kinds of knowledge. There is the hidden, treasured knowledge of which no one has any information except Allah. From this knowledge comes al-Bada’. There is the knowledge that Allah has given to His angels, His messengers and His prophets and we know this knowledge.”

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

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Hariz and Fudayl and ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ’Abd Allah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, ‘Why a twig is placed with a deceased? He (the Imam) replied, ‘Torture is kept away from him as long as it (twig) is fresh.”’

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

8. It is narrated from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn sa‘id from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Nothing appeared to Allah in a thing except that He knew it before al-Bada’ would take place.”

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

8. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad in a marfu‘ manner who has said the following: “It was said to him (the Imam), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, because of the presence of fear I may not be able to place al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree) as you have told us.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Place them just as it is possible for you to do.’”

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

9. It is narrated from him (Muhammad Ibn Yahya al-Attar) from Ahmad (Ibn Muhammad), from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faddal, from Dawud ibn Farqad, from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman al-Juhanni that Abu Abdillah al-Sadiq (as) said: "Al-Bada' does take place to Allah (swt) from ignorance."

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

9. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Kindiy from more than one person from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the twig which is placed in the grave. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

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

10. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following. I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “Can anything happen today that was not in the knowledge of Allah the day before?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, this does not happen. Whoever would say so Allah will make him to suffer a great deal.” I then said, “Do you consider that all that were there and all that will take place up to the Day of Judgment are all in the knowledge of Allah?” The Imam said, “Yes, it was so before He created the creatures.”

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

10. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from more than one person of our people who have said the following: “We said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘We pray to Allah to keep our souls in service for your cause. What should we do if we cannot find al-Jaridah (twig of palm tree)? He (the Imam) said, ‘Twig of berry tree is also good.’ It then was asked, ‘What should be done if twig of berry tree is also not found? He (the Imam) said, ‘Then it is twig of al-Khilaf (certain tree).”’

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

11. It is narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad from Yunus from Malik al-Juhanni who has said the following. “I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Had the people known of the reward in the belief in al-Bada’ there would have been no weakness in their words about it.”

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

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn m h al-Qasaniy from Muhammad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Bilal who has said the following: “I wrote to him (the Imam) asking about al-Jaridah (palm tree twig) if it is not available, can any other branch be used if palm tree is not available? He (the Imam) wrote, ‘It is permissible if al-Jaridah (palm tree twig) is not available, but al-Jaridah (palm tree twig) is better; there is Hadith about it.’”

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

12. It is narrated from a number of our peole from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid fro some of our people from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr al-Kufi brother of Yahya from Murazim ibn Hakimwhos has said the following. I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, “No prophet has ever proclaimed prophethood before acknowledging before Allah about five things. Acknowledgement of al-Bada’, of the wish of Allah, the prostration, affirmation of worshipping and obedience.”

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

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated in another Hadith that the branch of pomegranate is placed in place of al- Jaridah (palm tree twig). H 4365, Ch. 24, 13

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

13. With the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad from Yunus from Jahm ibn abu Jahma from whom he narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, inform Prophet Muhammad about all that was there from the beginning of the world and that will be there to the end of the world. He informed him about is definit in them and made an except about what is otherwise.”

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

14. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt who has said the following. “I heard Imam al-Rida (a.s.) saying, “Allah never sent a prophet without the law that prohibits the use of wine and without belief in al-Bada.’”

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

Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Hammad from Rib‘i from Fudayl who said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, saying, ‘Of the issues there are those that Allah has withheld. He brings forward whatever He wills and withholds whatever He wills.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·The Arabic above is the original.