The Holy Quran guides people to the Imam (a.s.)

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Abd al-Malik from abu Bakr al-Hadramiy who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.), once asked me, ’Do you know what the limits of Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees) and Sujud (prostration) are?’ I replied, ’No, I do not know them.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Say Tasbih (my Lord, (Allah) most Great, is free of all defects and I praise Him) in Ruku’ three times. In Sujud position say, ’My Lord, (Allah) most High, is free of all defects and I praise Him. One who reduces one of these Tasbih has reduced one-third of his Salah (prayer). One who has reduced two of them has reduced two-thirds of his Salah (prayer) and one who does not say Tasbih has lost his Salah (prayer).”’

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 Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from Musa ibn Akayl al-Numayri from al-‘Ala’ ibn Sayaba, from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) regarding the words of The Almigthy: “This Quran shows the way to that which is the most upright . .” (17:9) He (a.s.) said, “It guides to the Imam.”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja’far who has said the following: “If in your association with people you can maintain the upper hand (be more beneficial), you should do so.”

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

2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from ibn Faddal from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabiy from his father from Aban ibn Taghlib who has said the following: “I once went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when he performed Salah (prayer). I counted his Tasbih in Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees) and Sujud (prostration) which were sixty Tasbih.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the two companions, the one who is more kind to his companion is more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from A number of our people have narrated from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘It is of the rights of a traveler on his companions to look after him for three days if he falls ill.”’

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ’How many Tasbih is sufficient in Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees) and in Sujud (prostration) in the case of one suffering from illness?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘One Tasbih is sufficient.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas’adah ibn Sadaqah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once, Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) accompanied a taxpaying non- Muslim. The taxpaying non-Muslim asked, ‘Where you want to go, O servant of Allah?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘I want to go to al-Kufah.’ The taxpayer’s road changed. Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) kept walking along with him. He asked, ‘Did you not say that you wanted to go to al-Kufah? He said, ‘Yes, that is true.’ The non-Muslim taxpayer said, ‘You have missed the road to al-Kufah.’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, I know that.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Why are you then coming with me when you know the road?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘This is to observe a part of the companionship rights, that is, escorting one gently on their departing each other. This is what our Holy Prophet has instructed us with.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Has he said that?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, that is what he has said.’ The non-Muslim said, ‘It is true that whoever followed him did so because of his noble deeds. I testify that I have accepted your religion. The non-Muslim came back along with Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) and when he recognized him, he became a Muslim.’”

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

5. Ali has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘No word is lighter, easier and more eloquent for the tongue than Subhana Allah (Allah is free of all defects).’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Can I say Tahlil (no one deserves worship except Allah), Tahmid (it is Allah only who deserves all praise) and Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), instead of Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, all of them are speaking of Allah.’ I (the narrator) said, ‘We know the meaning of Tahmid (it is Allah only who deserves all praise) and Tahlil (no one deserves worship except Allah). What is the explanation of Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is to speak of the glory of Allah, consider when a man is marveled because of something says, ‘Subhana Allah (Allah is free of all defects).””

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

6. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from certain persons of our people from Marwak ibn ‘Ubayd from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “I once said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘I am an Imam of the village. During Salah (prayer) I hear the sound of their shoes walking when I am in Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Wait in your Ruku‘ for the length of your Ruku‘ until the sound stops, otherwise, you can rise to stand up straight.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Fiamzah ibn Humran and al-Hassan ibn Ziyad who have said the following: “Once we went to visit abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, when there a group of people was with him. He (the Imam) performed al-’Asr Salah (prayer) with them and we had already performed our Salah (prayer). We counted the number of Tasbih (my Lord, (Allah) most Great, is free of all defects) thirty- three or thirty-four times. One of them (narrators) in his Hadith has said that the number of his Tasbih (my Lord, (Allah) most Great, is free of all defects and I praise Him) in both Ruku’ and Sujud (prostration) were of the same number. This is because he (the Imam) knew they were ready for lengthy Ruku’ and Sujud (prostration). This also is because of a Hadith that it is better for an Imam to make it light and perform Salah (prayer) according to the condition of the weakest of the people (performing Salah (prayer) with him).”’

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