Chapter On Prohibition on Saying How is Allah (al-Kayfiyyah)

1. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from abu Basir From Imam abu Ja‘ far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Speak about the creation of Allah and do not speak about Allah His-self. Speaking about the Allah’s self does not increase anything to one’s knowledge except more confusion.” In another Hadith from Hariz it reads, “Speak about every thing but do not speak about Allah’s essence.”

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 Ya’qub ibn Yazid in a marfu’ manner from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “If one reads the Holy Quran from a copy, he benefits from his eyesight, and his parents receive relief even if they are unbelievers.”

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 ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from Muyassir who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), say, ‘If one visits a Muslim patient, that day seventy thousand angels pray for him from morning until night, if the visit is in the morning and until morning, if the visit takes place in the evening, and such visitor will have a house in paradise.”’

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from certain individuals of his people from al-Washsha’ from Ali ibn abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once said to me, ‘Noah’s Ark was commanded to perform Tawaf around the House as the land was submerged in water; then it went to Mina during its days, then it returned back and it was commanded to perform Tawaf around the House in the form of Tawaf of women.’”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Hajjaj from Khalid ibn al-Hajj aj who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Do not eat the prey that falls in water and dies.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ’Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from Sulayman ibn Khalid from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), who has said the following. “The words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, that say, ‘And that the final end is unto thy Lord.” (53:42) instructs people to end a discussion that would take up Allah’s self as an object of investigation.”

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

2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Husayn from al-Hassan al-Darir from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, T love the presence of a copy of the Holy Quran in a house; Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, thereby wards off devils.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a patient, seventy thousand angels escort him and ask Allah to forgive his sins until he returns back home.”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu Ayyub from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “O Muhammad, people rationalize everything. They even speak about Allah’s self. When you hear such discources, say to them ‘There is no god but Allah, the One and no one is similar to Him.’”

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 ibn Faddal from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Three things will complain before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: A Mosque where no one of the neighborhood performs prayer, a scholar among the ignorant people and the copy of the Holy Quran on which dust has accumulated and no one reads it.”

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

3. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Fladith) by Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamzah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient, he enters deep into mercy, and when he sits down, mercy covers him altogether. When he returns, Allah assigns seventy thousand angels to ask forgiveness and mercy for him saying, “You did a good deed, may paradise become your dwelling,” until such hour of the next day. For him, O abu Hamzah, there is a Kharif in paradise.’ I then asked, ‘What is a Kharif, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause?’ The Imam said, ‘A Kharif is a corner in paradise with a diameter of forty years journey on horseback.’”

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

3. Ali has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘Moses, son of ‘Imran, passed by the wide road in al- Rawha’ (a place between al-Madinah and Makkah), along with seventy prophets dressed with gowns made in al-Qatwan, near al-Kufa, Iraq, saying, “Here I am to obey Your command O Lord, Your servant, son of Your servant.’””

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

4. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Humran from Abu ‘Ubaydah (Ziyad ibn ‘Isa) al-Hadhdha’ that Abu Ja'far (al-Baqir) (as) said, “O Ziyad, beware of debates because they create doubts, invalidate one’s good deeds and turn one into a complete wreck. One may say a thing, perhaps, he will not be forgiven. In the past there lived a people who ignored acquiring the necessary knowledge and instead they sought a knowledge that was not required of them. They came to speak of Allah’s self and they became confused. Their extreme perplexity was such that if called from the front they would reply to the back and to the front if called from the back.” In another hadiths it reads, “Until they get lost on earth.”

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

4. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Jumhur from Muhammad ibn ‘Umar ibn Mas’adah from al-Hassan ibn Rashid from his grandfather from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Reading of the Holy Quran from a copy relieves suffering punishment of one’s parents even if they are unbelievers.”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Dawud al-Riqqiy from a man of the companions of abu ‘Abd Allah, who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient just for the sake of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, Allah assigns an angel of the visiting angels to visit him in his grave and ask forgiveness for him up to the Day of Judgment.’”

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

4. Ali has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Moses, the prophet, passed on his way to Makkah over the hillsides of al-Rawha’ on a red camel harnessed with fibers. He had two gowns, made in al- Qatwan and said, ‘Here I am, O Gracious Lord, to obey Your command; here I am.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yunus ibn Mathew passed over the hillsides of al-Rawha’ on his way to Makkah, saying, ‘Here I am, O remover of greatly intense suffering; here I am to obey Your command.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Jesus son of Mary passed over the hillsides of al-Rawha’ on his way to Makkah saying, ‘Here I am, Your servant, the son of Your female servant; here I am, to obey Your command, O Lord.’ Muhammad (SAW), passed over the hillsides of al-Rawha’ on his way to Makkah, saying, ‘Here I am to obey your command, O Most Exalted Lord; here I am to obey Your command.’”

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

5. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from some of his people from al-Husayn ibn al-Mayyah from his father from Imam abu ‘Abdallh (a.s.) who has said the following. “He who thinks of how and when about Allah he has met his doomed.”

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 Yahya ibn al- Mubarak from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab from Ishaq ibn ‘ Ammar who has said the following: “Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I memorize the Holy Quran by heart and read from my memory, is that more virtuous or looking on a copy of the Holy Quran?’ The narrator has said that the Imam said to me, ‘It is better to look in a copy. Have you not heard that looking at a copy of the Holy Quran is an act of worship?”’

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran from Safwan al- Jammal who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a Muslim patient, Allah assigns seventy thousand angels who come to his house saying Tasbih, Taqdis, Tahlil and Takbir up to the Day of Judgment. Half of their Salah (prayer) is for the visitor of the patient.”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ali ibn Isma‘il, from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Mufaddal ibn Salih from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Moses (a.s.), dressed himself up for Ihram (one of the acts for Hajj) at Ramlah of Misr, (name of a city).’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘He passed over the hillsides of al-Rawha’ on his way to Makkah, in the state of Ihram, driving his camel with a harness made of fiber and having two gowns made in Qatwan, saying, “Here I am O Lord, to obey Your command,” and the hills joined him to say what he said.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah ibn A’yun from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “A king of great splendid once before a gathering in his court spoke of the (Self of) Lord, the Holy, the Most High. Thereafter the monarch became extremely confused and could not understand where was he.”

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 ibn Mahbub from Wahab ibn ‘Abdu Rabbi hi who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If a believing person visits a believing patient in his illness in the morning, seventy thousand angels escort him, and when he sits down, mercy covers him altogether and they ask Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, until nightfall to forgive him. If his visit takes place in the evening, similar things happen for him until the next morning.’”

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

7. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn ’Abdal Hamid from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Beware of thinking about Allah’s self. If you would like to think about the greatness of Allah, think about His great and wonderful creations.”

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

7. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Ubays ibn Hisham from Ibrahim ibn Mihzam from certain individuals of his people who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if one visits a patient, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, assigns an angel to visit him in his grave.”

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

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Najran from al-Mufaddal from Jabir who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Seven hundred prophets said salat (prayer) in the Masjid of al-Khif, in Mina. The area between the corner and al-Maqam (the station of Ibrahim) is full of the graves of prophets; and Adam is in the Sacred place of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious.”

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

8. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah in a marfu‘ manner has narrated from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “O son of Adam, if a bird were to feed upon your heart, it would not satisfy its hunger. Only the eye of a needle, if placed over your eye, would be totally cover your vision. With such (insignificant) means of perception how would you comprehend (Allah’s) vast dominion over the earth and the heavens? And if you think you can do so, there is the sun, one of creations of Allah. If your eyes can see the sun fully you then may think that you are right.”

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if a believing person visits a believing patient in the morning, seventy thousand angels escort him. When he sits down, mercy covers him altogether until nightfall. If he visits in the evening, similar things happen for him until the next morning.”

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

8. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Zayd al-Shahham from those whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Moses along with seventy Israelite prophets performed Hajj. They harnessed their camels with fiber. (Everyone) said, “Here I am, O Lord, to obey Your command,” and the hills responded along with them. Moses had two gowns which were made in Qatwan and he said, “Here I am, O Lord, to obey Your command; here is Your servant, son of Your servant, to obey Your command.’””

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Ali from al-Ba’qubi (Dawud ibn Ali al-Hashimi) from some of our people from ’Abd al-‘Ala’ Mawla Ala Sam from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “A Jew named Sabhut came to the Prophet, (s.a.) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have come to ask about your Lord. If you will answer my question it will be fine, otherwise, I will go back.” The Prophet replied, “Ask whatever you like.” He asked, “Where is your Lord?” The Prophet replied, “He is everywhere, but He is not confined in any limited space.” He asked, “How is He?” The Prophet replied, “How can I describe my Lord by means of conditions that are created. Allah cannot be describe by His creation.” The Jew asked further, “What is the proof that you are the Messenger of Allah?” The Imam said, “At this point nothing remained around him (the Jew), the stones and all other things, but that they spoke in clear Arabic language, ‘O Sabhut he (Muhammad) is the Messenger of Allah.’ Sabhut said, “I have not seen anything so clearly as this today.” And then he declared, “I testify that there is no god but Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah.”

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

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘One of the conversations of Moses with his Lord was this, “O Lord, what is the reward for one who visits a person during his illness?’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, replied, ‘I assign an angel to visit him in his grave until the Day of Judgment.’”

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

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad from abu Bilal al-Makkiy who has said the following: “I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), enter al-Hijr from the side of the door. He stood up to say salat (prayer) at a distance of two yards from the House and I said to him, ‘I have not seen anyone from your family pray under al-Mizab.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is the place where Shabbar and Shabir, sons of Harun said their salat (prayer).”’

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khath‘ami from ’Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Utayk al-Qasir who has said the following. “I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about certain attributes of Allah. The Imam raised his hand towards the heavens and said, ‘High is the Almighty. High is the Almighty. One who pursues beyond this, he is doomed.’”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If one visits a patient, a caller from the heaven calls, “O so and so, you have done a good deed. I congratulate you for your walking to paradise.’””

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 Muhammad ibn al-Walid, Shabab al-Sayrafiy from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar al-Duhniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that between al-Yamaniy corner and Black Stone seventy prophets are buried; Allah caused them to die because of hunger and hardships.”

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

11. Abu Ali al-Ash’ariy has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufiy from Ali ibn Mahziyar from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from ibn Muskan from those whom he has mentioned who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Dawud (David) stayed at the station in ‘Arafat and looked at the people who seemed of great number to him. He then climbed the hill and began to pray. When he completed that act of Hajj, Jibril came to him and said, ‘O Dawud, your Lord asks, “Why did you climb the hill? Did you think that the voice of one who calls Me (prays to Me) may remain hidden from Me?”’ He (Jibril) then took him to the sea near Jaddah. He (Jibril) made him swim underwater for a distance equal to forty mornings on land. At that point there was a rock, which he (Jibril) cut open and inside there was a little worm. He (Jibril) said, ‘O Dawud, your Lord says, “I hear the voice of this worm inside this rock in the depth of this sea, but you thought that the voice of a caller (one who prays to Me) may remain hidden and obscure before Me.’””

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub, from al-Hassan ibn Salih who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘I heard abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when speaking to ‘Ata’ say, “The length of the Ark of Noah was one thousand two hundred yards, its width was eight hundred and its height was two hundred yards. The Ark performed Tawaf around the House and Sa‘iy between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah seven times, then it took a stationary position on al-Judiy.’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah, from his father from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Sulayman son of Dawud (Solomon son of David) performed Hajj along with Jinn, man, bird and wind, wearing a Coptic gown.’”

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