The Categories of the Prophets, the Messengers and the Imams (a.s.)

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Whoever you associate with, if you can maintain an upper hand (in your dealings with him) do so (be more beneficial).”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj that Aban ibn Taghlib said: “Once I performed Salah (prayer) with Abi 'Abdillah (al-Sadiq) (as) in Muzdalifah (a place in Makkah). When he completed his Salah, he turned to me and said, ‘O Aban, the five daily prayers are obligatory. Those who observe their duties regarding them, and are careful of their timings, will meet Allah on the day of Judgement with a covenant that will enter them into heaven. Whoever does not observe their duties regarding them, and are not careful regarding their timings, will meet Allah and have no covenant. If Allah wishes, He will punish them or forgive them.'"

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “About the case of slaughtering without iron, abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘In an emergency when you cannot find iron you can slaughter with stone.”’

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

2. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated those whom he mentioned from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following. “I heard Imam Abu ‘Abdallah saying, ‘Allah chose Abraham as a servant before choosing him as a prophet. Allah chose him as a prophet before choosing him as a messenger. Allah chose him as a messenger before choosing him as a friend of His. Allah chose him as a friend of His before choosing him as an Imam. When all of the above things were gathered in Abraham, Allah said, “I have certainly appointed you as the Imam for the people.” Because to Abraham it was so great he asked, “Can this (Imamate, leadership) be in my descendants also?” Allah said, “The feeble-minded can not become the leader of the pious one.”

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

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Isma’il ibn Mehran from Muhammad ibn Hafs from abu al-Rabi’ al-Shami who has said the following: “Once I went in the presence of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) and the house was full of people. There were people from Khurasan, from al-Sham and from various horizons and I could not find a place to sit. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) sat in his place and he was leaning against a pillow. He said, ‘O Shi’a (followers) of the family of Muhammad (a.s.) bear in mind that one who is not able to control his soul when angry is not from us, and so also is one who does not better his association with his associates, show proper behavior with those who exercise proper behavior, befriend those who befriend him, provide protection to those who protect him, observe proper table manners with those who share with him the table. O Shi’a (followers) of the family of Muhammad (a.s.) be pious before Allah to the best of your abilities. There are no means and no power without Allah.’”

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

2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash'ari reported from Abdullah ibn Amir, from Ali ibn Mahziyar, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Abdul-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj, from Aban ibn Taghlib, who said: I prayed with Abā ʿAbdillah al-Sadiq (as) the Maghrib prayer at al-Muzdalifah. When he finished, he established the prayer and prayed the last night prayer without offering a unit of prayer between them. Then I prayed with him after that for a year. He prayed Maghrib and then stood up and offered four units of prayer. Then he established the prayer and prayed the last night prayer. He then turned to me and said, "O Abān, these are the five obligatory prayers. Whoever establishes them and maintains their times will meet Allah on the Day of Resurrection, and he will have a covenant with Him that He will admit him into Paradise. And whoever does not pray them at their times and does not preserve them, it is up to Him; if He wills, He may forgive him, and if He wills, He may punish him."

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 those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘We believe you to be a righteous person,’ (12:36) the Imam said, ‘He would make room for others in a gathering, lend money to the needy and assist the weak.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Yunus ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Someone asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), while I was present, ‘What is the rule about a man who is in Salah (prayer) free of negative feelings but then he feels self-importance?’ Imam replied, ‘If in the beginning his intention was only for his Lord, then such feeling does not affect his prayer negatively, he should continue his Salah (prayer) and Satan is humiliated.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who does not have a knife; if he can slaughter with a piece of reed. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can use reeds, stones, bones or wood for slaughtering when you cannot find iron, if such things cut the throat and blood comes out; then it is not unlawful.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ishaq ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from abu al-Saffah from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said the following. “I heard the Imam saying, ‘Allah chose Abraham as a servant before He chose him as a prophet. He chose him as a prophet before He chose him as a messenger. He chose him as a messenger before He chose him as a friend of His. He chose him as a friend of His before He chose him as an Imam. When all of these things gathered in him (the Imam holding his hands said, “Allah said, ‘O Ibrahim I have appointed you as the Imam (leader) of the people.” Because of the greatness of the position Abraham them asked, “O Lord, can it be in my descendants also?” The Lord said, ‘My covenant does not go to the unjust ones.”

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 ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah from Husayn ibn ‘Uthman from Sama‘ah from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), say, ‘Every mistake in Salah (prayer) is dropped thereby except that Allah, the Most High, completes it with optional prayers. The first item of deeds with which one is judged is Salah (prayer). If Salah (prayer) is accepted, other deeds are also accepted. If Salah (prayer) is raised in the beginning of its designated time, it comes to the person prayed it all white and radiant, saying, “You preserved me, may Allah protect you.” If Salah (prayer) is raised in other times without observance of the rules about it Salah (prayer) returns back to the person who has performed it, all black and dark, saying, “You wasted me away, may Allah lay you waste.’”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hajjal from Dawud ibn abu Yazid and Tha’Labah and Ali ibn ‘Aqabah from certain individuals who narrated to him from one of the two Imam (a.s.) who has said the following: “Restraint from associating people brings in their animosity.”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who said: “I asked a pious servant (Imam Sadiq (AS)) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic and Most Glorious, ‘Those who are unmindful of their prayers.’ (107:5) He replied, ‘It means loss (of prayer).’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “A man entered the Masjid when the Messenger of Allah was present. He began to perform Salah (prayer) without properly doing Ruku‘ and Sajdah. He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘He acted like a crow picking up grain from the ground. If he dies with his Salah (prayer) of such condition he dies in a religion other than my religion.’”

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

7. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘You must not consider your Salah (prayer) insignificant; the Holy Prophet said when he was about to pass away, “Those who consider their Salah (prayer) insignificant are not of my people, as well as those who drink intoxicating liquor. They will not be able to come to me at the pond of al-Kawthar, no by Allah (they will not be able to do so).””’

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

8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Satan continues to be afraid of a believing person as long as he protects his five times daily Salah (prayers), but when he loses them, Satan becomes daring, then he takes him into great sins.’”

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

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man may become fifty years old, but Allah has accepted not even one Salah (prayer) from him. What can be more serious than this? By Allah, you may also find someone in your neighborhood who performs Salah (prayer) with you, but is not accepted from him due to his considering it insignificant. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, does not accept anything other than what is good. How then He will accept what he considers insignificant?”’

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

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when a man stands up for Salah (prayer) but considers it insignificant, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says to His angels, ‘Look at this servant of Mine. It seems as if he thinks someone other than Me is a person in charge of fulfilling his needs. Does he not know that I am the One who fulfills all of his needs by My own hand?”’

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

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘When a man completes one Salah (prayer) properly, all of his other prayers are accepted; even though they may not be complete. If he loses them, altogether, none of his Salah (prayer) is accepted, and not even his optional or obligatory prayers are counted. Optional Salah (prayer) are accepted only after obligatory prayers are accepted. If one does not perform obligatory prayers, optional prayers are not accepted; they are to complete therewith the shortcomings of the obligatory ones.”

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

12. It narrated through the same chain of narrators from Hariz from af-Fudayl who has said the following: “I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Those who are protective of their Salah (prayers)” (23:9). The Imam said, It means obligatory prayer.’ I then asked about, ‘Those who are ever observing their prayer’ (70:23). The Imam said, It means optional prayers.’”

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

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Dawud ibn Farqad who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, ‘Salah (prayer) was made obligatory in designated times’ (4:105). The Imam replied, It is an established obligation. If you performed earlier or delayed a little, it is not harmful as long as you did not lose them altogether. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, says about a people, “They lost Salah (prayer) and followed their lustful desires so they face deviation” (19:60).’”

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

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Darraj from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever of the believers preserves his obligatory Salah (prayers) and performs them in time, he is not of the neglectful people.’”

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

15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il from abu ’Isma‘il al-Sarraj from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan the first (a.s.), has said, ‘When my father was about to pass away he said, “My son, those who consider Salah (prayers) insignificant will not be able to benefit from our intercession.’””

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

16. Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Nawfaliy from al-Sakuniy from Ja‘far from his father who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Everything has a face. The face of your religion is Salah (prayer), no one of you, therefore, must deface his religion. Everything has a nose. The nose of Salah (prayer) is al-Takbir (saying, “Allah is greater than can be described”).”’

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

3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khath‘ami from Hisham from abu Ya‘qub who has said the following “I heard abu ‘Abdallah saying, ‘The leaders and masters of the prophets and the messengers are five who are called ’ulul ‘Azm (people with determination) among the messengers who have the central role. They are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (s.a.).”

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 Sinan from ‘Ala’ ibn al-Fudayl from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) would say, ‘Show respect for your friends and dignify them. Do not be aggressive to each other, do not harm or envy each other. Beware of stinginess and be sincere and righteous servants of Allah.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Um ay r from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajj aj who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, if slaughtering with stone, sharp reeds, and wood when a knife cannot be found is acceptable. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they can cut the jugular veins it is not unlawful.’” Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajj aj from abu Ibrahim, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, a similar Hadith.

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