The Capabilities

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from Ali ibn Asbat who said the following: “Once I asked Imam abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about capability. The Imam said, ‘A servant (of Allah) has the capability if four things exist. That he is free and on his own, that he is physically well and of sound limbs and that for him there is reason and means from Allah.’ I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in the service for your cause, please explain it to me.’ The Imam said, ‘Being free and on one’s own, physically well and of sound limbs means that one is willing to commit adultery but does not find a female party and then he finds her. He may now protect his soul and stay away from sin just as Joseph (peace be upon him) did or allow his desire to act and commit adultery and in this case he is called an adulterer. He has not obeyed Allah in coercion and disobeyed Him with defeat.’”

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 who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who gives Ghusl (bath) to a dead person must himself also take a Ghusl (bath). I then asked, ‘What is one required to do after touching a dead body when it is still warm? He (the Imam) said, ‘Ghusl (bath) is not obligatory for him in such a case. One must take Ghusl (bath) after touching a dead body when it has become cold? I then asked, ‘What is the rule for one who places a dead body in the grave?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Ghusl (bath) is not obligatory on him; he touches the cloth only.’”

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 from Safwan ibn Yahya from Dharih al-Muharibiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who dies without performing Hajjahta al-Islam when nothing such as poverty, illness with which he could not perform al-Hajj, or the ruling authorities prevent him from performing al-Hajj, he dies as a Jew or as a Christian.’”

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 Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Dawud ibn Sarhan from Zurarah who has said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘A prostitute man cannot marry but a prostitute woman or a pagan.’ (24:4) He (the Imam) said, ‘They were well-known prostitute females, and males. Today people who are convicted for fornication and punished (by the qualified court) are of the same status. No one must marry them unless it is known that they have repented.’”

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

Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ali ibn Ibrahim both have narrated from Ahmad Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam and ‘Abd Allah ibn Yazid both from a man from Basra who said the following: “He asked (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about capability. The Imam said, ‘Can you do something before its existence?’ He Said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Can you stop doing what has already been done?’ He said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam then asked, ‘When then can you have the capability?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’ “The Imam said, ‘Allah created people and placed in them the means of capability and then He did not leave all matters in their hands. Thus, they are capable of acting at the time of the act with the act when they do that act. If they did not act the ‘Act’ in His property they do not have the capability to act the ‘Act’ that they did not act. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is by far Majestic and above being opposed by someone in His property.’ “The man from Basra then said, ‘Are people, then, compelled?’ The Imam said, ‘Had they been compelled they would have been excused.’ The man said, ‘Are then all matters up to them?’ The Imam said, ‘No, all things are not left to them.’ The man said, ‘Then how is it’? “The Imam said, ‘Allah knew that they would act, thus He placed in them the means of capability. If they act at the time of action they are capable.’ The man from Basra then said, ‘I testify that this is the truth and that you are of the family of the Messenger (of Allah).’”

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 ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about a man who closes the eyes of a deceased if he must take Ghusl (bath) because of touching a dead body. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he does it when the dead body’s natural temperature is not lost, Ghusl (bath) is not obligatory on him; if he touches it after body temperature is lost, then he must take Ghusl (bath).’ I then asked if one who gives Ghusl (bath) to the deceased is required to take Ghusl (bath). He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he is required to take Ghusl (bath).’ I then asked if he is required to take it before shrouding the deceased. He (the Imam) said, ‘He gives Ghusl (bath) to the deceased first, then washes his own hands clean of any objects and shrouds the deceased before himself taking Ghusl (bath).’ I then asked if those who carry the deceased are required to take Ghusl (bath). He (the Imam) said, ‘No, they are not required to take Ghusl (bath).’ I then asked if those who place the deceased in the grave are required to take Wudu’. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, they are not required to take Wudu’; however, they can take Wudu’ (Tayammum) with the soil of the grave if they so wanted.’”

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 who has narrated from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn abu Hamzah, from abu Basir, who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘One who is blind in this life in the next life will also be blind and in much more straying.’ (17:72) He (the Imam) replied, ‘He is one who procrastinates in performing al-Hajj, which is Hajjahta al-Islam, until death takes him away.”

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 Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the word of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘A prostitute man cannot marry but a prostitute woman or a pagan.’ (24:4) He (the Imam) said, ‘They were well-known prostitute females and males. Today people who are convicted for fornication and punished (by the qualified court) are of the same status. No one must marry them unless it is known that they have repented.’”

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

Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Salih al-Nily who said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Do the servants (of Allah) have any capability?’ The Imam said, ‘When they act an act they do have the capability that Allah has placed in them.’ I asked, ‘What is it?’ The Imam said, ‘It is a means. In a sin like adultery when one commits such sins he has the capability when he is in such an act. If he however, desists from such an act he has the capability to refrain.’ The Imam further said, ‘Before the act he does not have the capability in a small or large measure but at the time of the act or desisting, he has the capability.’ “I asked, ‘What for then are they punished?’ The Imam said, ‘It is because of complete justification and because of the means that are placed in them. Allah does not compel anyone into sins. Also He does not will, in a definite form of will, disbelief for anyone, but when one disbelieves it is in the will of Allah for him to disbelieve and it is in the will and knowledge of Allah that he will not turn into anything good.’ “I asked, ‘Has He willed disbelief for them?’ The Imam said, ‘It is not quite like that but I say that Allah knew that they would disbelieve, thus He has willed it for them because of His knowledge of it. It is not a definite will. It is a will of choice.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran from abu Jamilah from Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘There is a merchant who procrastinates in performing al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he does it without good reason, he has violated one of the laws of al-Islam.’”

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

3. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla’ ibn Muhammad al-Hassan ibn Ali from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the word of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘A prostitute man cannot marry but a prostitute woman or a pagan,’ (24:4) has said, ‘During the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, there were well-known prostitutes female and male. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has prohibited forming marriage contract with such men and women. Today people who become known as such or are convicted for fornication and punished (by the qualified court) are of the same status. No one must marry them unless it is known that they have repented.’”

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

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from certain persons of our people from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara from Hamza ibn Humran who said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about capability but he did not reply. In another meeting I said, ‘May Allah keep you well, something happens to my heart that will not go away until I will get an answer from you.’ The Imam said, ‘What is in your heart will not harm you.’ I said, ‘May Allah keep you well. I say that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not hold people responsible for what they are not capable of doing or do not have the power to act. They do not do anything except with the will of Allah, His wish, decree and determination.’ The Imam said, ‘This is the religion of Allah that my forefathers and I follow,’ or that the Imam made a similar expression.”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about a man who touches a dead body: if it is proper for him to take Ghusl (bath) for it. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is only necessary if it is the dead body of a human being.’ I then asked about a man whose clothes become polluted because of contact with a dead body. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must wash the polluted area.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What do you say about a wealthy business man who procrastinates in performing al-Hajj every year when no other thing prevents him from al-Hajj except business and debts?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘He does not have any good excuse. He must not procrastinate performing al-Hajj. If he dies, he has violated one of the laws of al-Islam.’”

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman and afterwards finds out that she had committed fornication. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the husband wants he can take back from her guardian the mahr that he has paid, but she deserves the mahr because of which her marriage was made lawful, and if he wants he can separate from her (by means of divorce).”’

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 al-Hajjal from Tha’labah from Mu’ammar ibn Yahya who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, prohibit taking Ghusl (bath) because of entering the grave.”

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

5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Nahdiy from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Dharih al-Muharibiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one who dies without performing Hajjata al-Islam and without any good excuse, such as poverty, an illness with which one cannot perform al-Hajj or any ruling authority’s preventing him from performing al-Hajj, he dies as a Jew or a Christian.”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan who has said the following: ��I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘There is no goodness in one who is born out of wedlock, not in his skin, his hair, his flesh, his blood and not in anything of him, the Ark (of Noah) failed to carry him even though dogs and pigs had embarked therein.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from ’Isma‘il ibn abu Ziyad who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah kissed ‘Uthman ibn Maz’un after his death.”

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

6. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Mithamiy from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If one dies without performing al-Hajj when in good health and wealthy, he is one of those about whom Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, ‘We will, on the Day of Judgment, raise him blind.’ (20:124) I (the narrator) then said, ‘Allah is free of all defects. Will he be raised blind?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, blind he will be raised. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has turned him blind toward the true path.’”

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

6. Flumayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Mithamiy from Aban from Hakam ibn Hakim who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘A prostitute man cannot marry but a prostitute woman or a pagan,’ (24:4) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, This is about well- known, and openly committing prostitution.’ He (the Imam) then said, ’If one after committing fornication repents he can marry as he wants.’”

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 al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Ibrahim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a man’s clothes come in contact with a dead body after the deceased is given Ghusl (bath), he is not required to wash them. If they become polluted because of such contact before the dead body is given Ghusl (bath) he must wash them.’”

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

8. Sahl ibn Ziyad has narrated from ibn abu Najran from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if one who gives Ghusl (bath) to a dead person is required to take Ghusl (bath). He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he is required to take Ghusl (bath).’ I then asked if one who places the deceased in the grave is required to take Ghusl (bath). He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he is not required to take Ghusl (bath) because he only touches the cloth.’”

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 ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Those who give Ghusl (bath) to a deceased, themselves must take Ghusl (bath). If one kisses a deceased when the dead body is still warm, one is not required to take Ghusl (bath); but if he touches the dead body or kisses it when it has become cold, must take Ghusl (bath) and it is not harmful to touch or kiss after the dead body is given Ghusl (bath).”’

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