The Imams (a.s.) are the light of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Mirdas who has said that Saffron ibn Yahya and al-Hassan ibn Mahbub have narrated from abu Ayyub from abu Khalid al-Kabuli who has said, "I asked Abu Ja'far (peace be upon him) about the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, 'So believe in Allah and His Messenger and the light which We have sent down.' (68:4) He said: 'O Abu Khalid, by Allah, the light is the Imams from the family of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) until the Day of Resurrection. And by Allah, they are the light of Allah which has been sent down. And by Allah, they are the light of Allah in the heavens and on the earth. By Allah, O Abu Khalid, the light of the Imam in the hearts of the believers is brighter than the shining sun by day. And by Allah, they illuminate the hearts of the believers, and Allah, the Mighty and Exalted, hides their light from whomever He wills, causing their hearts to darken. By Allah, O Abu Khalid, no servant loves us and takes us as authority until Allah purifies his heart, and Allah does not purify the heart of a servant until he fully submits to us and is at peace with us. When he is at peace with us, Allah will protect him from the severe reckoning and will secure him from the greatest terror on the Day of Resurrection.'"

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

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Hajjal from Tha’Labah ibn Maymun from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) there were people speaking to him. One man mentioned the name of another man and he began to criticize him and complained against him. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) asked, ‘Where from can you have a perfect brother? Who is among man, free and pure of faults and flaws?”’

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

1. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘The Messenger of Allah built his Masjid with an arrangement of one brick. The number of Muslims increased and they asked, “O Messenger of Allah, issue a command to expand the Masjid.” He responded positively and commanded to expand it and it was expanded. It was built with an arrangement of one and a half bricks. Then Muslims became greater in number and they asked the Messenger of Allah to expand the Masjid again. He agreed and commanded to increase the size of the Masjid and this time, the walls were built with an arrangement of bricks. (The arrangements of bricks, as mentioned, apply more clearly to the width of the wall). When during the warm season it became hot, they asked the Messenger of Allah to provide shadow. He agreed and commanded them to do so, they placed beams of palm tree trunks over which branches and bushes were placed. They remained until it rained and water leaked down upon them. They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, we wish you command to cover the roof of the Masjid with clay.” The Messenger of Allah said to them, “There must be no trellises like the trellis of Moses.” It remained in that form until the Holy prophet passed away. The height of the walls before placing the roof was of the size of the height of a man. When the length of its shadow would become of the size of one yard, which is of the size of a goat, they would perform Salah (prayer) soon after noontime. When its length doubled, they would perform ‘Al-‘Asr Salah (prayer).’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated through his chain of narrators from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah that say, There are those who follow the Messengers, the illiterate Prophet (not conventionally educated), whose description they find written in the Torah and the Gospel. [He (the Messengers) enjoins them to do good and forbids them to do all that is unlawful, makes lawful for them all that is pure and unlawful all that is filthy, removes their burdens and the entanglements in which they are involved]. Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light which is sent down to him, will have everlasting happiness.” (7:157) The Imams (a.s.) said, “It is Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) and the Imams (a.s.) after him who are called ‘light’ in the above verse of the Holy Quran.”

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 Ali ibn al-Hakam and Muhammad ibn Sinan from, Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Do not be a spy against people; you will remain without friends.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the Masjid which was built for a pious purpose. He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is Masjid al-Quba””

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from al-Fudayl, Zurarah, and Muhammad ibn Muslim who have said the following: “They had asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the meat from the market place about which one does not know what the butchers do. He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘You can use it for food if it is in the market place of Muslims and do not ask about it.’”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Fudala from Tha‘laba ibn Maymun from abu al-Jarud who has said that he said the following to Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.). “Allah has given a great deal of good to the people of the heavenly books.” The Imam (a.s.) then asked, “What is it?” I then said it said in Holy Quran, “We sent Our guidance to them so that perhaps they might take heed. (28:51) (Some of) the followers of the Bible believe in the Quran (28:52). When it is recited to them, they say, “We believe in it. It is the Truth from our Lord. We were Muslims before it was revealed” (28:53). These will receive double reward for their forbearance, replacing evil by virtue, and for their spending for the cause of God.” (28:54) The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah has given you also a great deal of good as He has given to them and he recited, ‘Believers, have fear of God and believe in His Messenger. God will grant you a double share of mercy, a light by which you can walk, and forgive your sins. God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.’ (57:28) The light mentioned in this verse mean the Imam (a.s.) who you follow.’”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Idris and other people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn ’Isma‘il from Muhammad ibn ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id who has said that Musa ibn ‘Ukayl narrated from ‘Abd al-‘A’la’ from Mawla Ala Sam who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘What was the size of Masjid of the Messenger of Allah?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It was three thousand and six hundred square yards.’”

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

4. Ahmad ibn Mahran has narrated from ‘Abd al-‘Azim ibn ‘Abdallah al-Hassani from Ali ibn Asbat and al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub from abu Khalid al-kabuli who has said that he asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, in the following verse of the Holy Quran. “Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light which is sent down to him, will have everlasting happiness.” (7:157) The Imams (a.s.) said, “O abu Khalid, the light in this verse, I swear by Allah, means the Imams. O abu Khalid the light of the Imam (a.s.) in the hearts of the true believers is more bright than the light of the sun in midday. It is they who brighten the hearts of the true believers and Allah withholds their light from reaching whomever He would will, thus, their hearts become dark and Allah covers them with the darknesss.”

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

5. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn sham?? From ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmanal-Asamm from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from salih ibn Sahl al-Hamadani who has said that abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said the following about the verse of the Holy Quran below. “God is the light of the heavens and the earth. A metaphor for His light is a lantern in which there is a lamp placed in a glass. The glass is like a shining star which is lit from a blessed olive tree that is neither eastern nor western. Its oil almost lights up even though it has not been touched by the fire. It is light upon light. God guides to His light whomever He wants. God uses various metaphors. He has the knowledge of all things.” (24:35) The Imam (a.s.) said that the lantern metaphorically stands for the Holy lady, Fatima (a.s.), the lamp stands for Imam al-Hassan (a.s.) and the glass stands for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). The shining star stands for the Holy lady Fatima (a.s.) who shines among the ladies of the world. The blessed olive tree stands for Prophet Abraham. Neither eastern nor western means not Jewish nor Christian. ‘Its oil almost lights up’ means that it almost bursts up with knowledge. ‘Light up on light’ means that there will one Imam after the other Imam (a.s.) ‘God guides to His light who ever He wants’ means that Allah guides through the Imams whomever He wants.” About ‘God uses various metaphors’ I said, “Or it (the deeds of the unbelievers) are like the darkness of a deep, stormy sea with layers of giant waves, covered by dark clouds. It is darkness upon darkness whereby even if one stretches out his hands he can not see them. One can have no light unless God gives him light. (24:40) The Imam (a.s.) said, “ ‘darkness’ refers to the first and his friend, ‘with layers of giant waves’ refers to the third, ‘covered with darkness’ refers to the second. ‘it is darkness up on darkness’ refers to Mu‘awiya and the disasters caused by the Amavides. ‘even if one stretches out his hands’ means that even if a true believer would stretch his hands in such disastrous condition ‘he can not see them’. ‘One can have no light unless God gives him light, means the light from the children of the Holy Lady, Fatima (a.s.) ‘Can have no light’ means an Imam on the Day of Judgment.” The Imam (a.s.) said that, “On the Day of Judgment you will see the believers with their light shining in front of them and to their right. They will be told, “Paradise wherein streams flow is the glad news for you today. You will live therein forever. This is the greatest triumph.” (57:12), the shining light in front . .’ is a reference to the Imams (a.s.) whom would walk in front and on the right of the true believers until they all enter paradise.” Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn al-Qasim al-Bajali and Muhammad ibn yahya from al-‘Amrakiy ibn Ali altogether from Ali ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) from his brother a similar Hadith.

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

6. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from al-husayn ibn ‘Ubadallah from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan and Musa ibn ‘umar from al-hassan ibn Mahbub from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who has said that he asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, in the following verse of the Holy Quran. “They want to put out the light of God with their mouths, but God will certainly make His light shine forever - even though the unbelievers may dislike this.” (61:8) The Imam (a.s.) said, “They want to put out the divine authority of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) with their mouths. ‘but Allah completes His light’ means the Imams (a.s.) as mentioned in, “Those who believe in him, honor and help him, and follow the light which is sent down to him, will have everlasting happiness.” (7:157) The light stands for Imam (a.s.).”

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