The Imams (a.s.) do have the knowledge of what was and will be, and that nothing is unknown to them (a.s.)

1. Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmar from ‘Abdallah ibn Hammad from Sayf al-Tammar who has said that he with a group of Shi‘a were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) in Hijr and the Imam (a.s.) said the following. “An eye is watching over us.” We then looked right and left and did not see anyone. We said, “No eye is watching over us.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I swear by the Lord of the Ka‘ba. I swear by the Lord of the House.” He said so three times. “Had I been with Moses and al-Khidr I would have told them that I had more than they did and would have informed them of what they had no knowledge. This is because Moses and al-Khidr were given the knowledge of what was in the past and they were given the knowledge what will be in future or what will exist up to the Day of Judgment while we have inherited all of them from the Messenger of Allah as heirs.”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam from au ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhddha’ who has said the following: “I heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘If one builds a Masjid, Allah builds for him a house in paradise.’ Abu ‘Ubaydah has said, ‘Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once passed by on the way to Makkah and I had built a Masjid with stones and asked him, “I pray to Allah to keep my souls in the service of your cause , I hope this will be of those (houses in paradise).” He (the Imam) said, “Yes, it will be so.’””

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

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sinan from Yunus ibn Ya‘qub from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah and a group of our people, among whom were ‘Abd al-A‘la’, abu ‘Ubaydah and ‘Abdallah ibn Bishr al-Khath‘ami, who have said that they heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “I certainly know what is the heavens and what is in the earth. I know what is in paradise and what is the fire. I know what was there and what will be there.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) paused for a while and found that what he had just said was much heavy for the audience then he (a.s.) said, “I learned all of it from the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “In it there is the clarification of all things.”

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

2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Aban ‘Uthman from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a Masjid which is in a house and the people of the house want to expand it to a certain extent or relocate it in another place. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ He (the narrator) has said that he then asked him (the Imam) about a place which is filthy, then it is cleansed and is made a Masjid. He (the Imam) said, ‘Soil is poured on it until it is covered; it is cleaner.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Aabu Nasr from ‘Abd al-Karim from Jama‘a ibn Sa‘d al-Khath‘ami who has said that al-Mufaddal was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). Al-Mufaddal asked the Imam (a.s.) the following. “May Allah, take my soul in service for your cause, does Allah command (his) servants to obey a servant and hide the news of the heavens from him?” The Imam (a.s.) said, Allah is by far much honorable, kind and caring towards His servants than to command them to obey a servant (of His) and then hide form him the news of the heavens mornings and evenings.”

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

3. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan from al-‘Is who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Biya‘ and churches if they can be changed into Masjid. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is possible.’”

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 ibn ‘Isa from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once was asked about Masjid, which is made to also provide shadow, if performing Salah (prayer) therein is undesirable. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is as such but today it is not harmful for you. Had there been justice you would see how it is dealt with.’ He (the narrator) has said that he then asked, ‘Can arms be hanged in Masjid? He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible; however, it is not permissible in the greater Masjid; my grandfather prohibited a man trimming an arrow in the Masjid.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Ma‘bad from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) at Mina five hundred letters from al-Kalam (theology). I asked the Imam (a.s.), “They say that he has said so and so.” Then he says, “You say so and so.” I then said to the Imam (a.s.), “May Allah, take my soul in service for your cause, “This is lawful and that is not lawful. I know that you are the authority in this and you are the most knowledgeable person in it and this is al-Kalam.” The Imam (a.s.) said to me, “O poor, Hisham, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not require any duty from His creatures without first availing them all that they need to comply with the command.”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from Ja‘far ibn Ibrahim who has said the following: “Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘If you hear someone reciting poems in Masjid say to him, “May Allah tear your mouth, Masjid is built only for al-Quran (to read).””’

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamzah who has that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “No, I swear by Allah, the scholar (who possesses Divine authority) is never ignorant or knowledgeable in something and ignorant of other things. The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Allah, the Most Holy, Most High and Most Gracious, is far exalted and above imposing the obedience of a servant (of His) on the others and then hide the knowledge of things in the heavens and on earth from him and then say, “Do not hide that from him.”

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

6. Al-Husayn ibn Ali al-‘Alaviy has narrated from al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn al-‘Uraniy from ‘Amr ibn Jumay’ who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if it is permissible to perform Salah (prayer) in a Masjid with pictures. He (the Imam) said, ‘I dislike it, however, today it is not harmful to you. Had justice been established you would see how it is dealt with.’”

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

7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Shammun from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al- Rahman from Misma’ abu Sayyar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, “The Messenger of Allah has prohibited speaking jargon language in Masjid (expressions understood by two people or a group only).’”

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

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah prohibited unsheathing of swords and trimming arrows in the Masjid saying, “Masjid is built for something other than such things.’””

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

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from Rifa‘ah ibn Musa who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about taking Wudu’ in Masjid and he disliked it because of defecation and urination.”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Mu‘awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about sleeping in Masjid al-Haram and Masjid of the Holy prophet. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, they can do so, where else can people sleep?”’

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

11. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, about sleeping in Masjid. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not an offense, except two Masjids: Masjid of the Holy prophet and Masjid al-Haram.’ He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) would in certain parts of the night hold my hand and move to one side where he would sit and speak in Masjid al-Haram and perhaps sleep and I also sleep. I then spoke to him about it and he (the Imam) said that it is undesirable to sleep in Masjid al-Haram that was in the time of the Messenger of Allah but sleeping in this area is not an offense.’”

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

12. A group has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Muhammad ibn Mehran al-Karkhiy from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about a man who is in Masjid in Salah (prayer) and wants to spit away. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can do it toward his left and if he is not in Salah (prayer); he must not do so in front of al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) but do so toward his left or right sides.’”

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

13. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from who has said the following: “I once saw abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy, Alayhi al-Salam, emit saliva in Masjid al-Haram between al- Yemaniy corner and the Blackstone and did not bury it.’”

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

14. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from in a marfu‘ manner from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, ‘I dislike performing Salah (prayer) in their Masjid.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not dislike it; every Masjid is built on the grave of a prophet or the executor of the will of a prophet who was murdered and that site received a sprinkle of his blood and Allah loved to be spoken of therein. So you can perform obligatory Salah (prayer) therein as well as optional Salah (prayer) and what you need to perform as Qada’ (compensatory prayer).’”

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

15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from abu Usamah Zayd al-Shahham who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘You must not go near Salah (prayer) while you are drunk.’ (4:46) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a reference to sleep.’”

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

16. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from ibn Sinan from ’Umar ibn Yazid who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Nothing of sleep is permissible in Salah (prayer).”’ (Ahadith 2-16 are best explained in the form of fatwa.)

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

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Durays al-Kunasi who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) the following to an audience of his companions. “What an strange case is the case with a group of followers! They acknowledge us as the Divine authority over themselves, accept us as their Imam and say that obedience to us is obligatory just as is the case with the Messenger of Allah. They then destroy the veracity of their belief as such and dispute against their own selves due to weakness of their hearts. They then diminish our right and blame those whom Allah has granted evidence to know us as it should be and the (abulity) to submit themselves to our Divine authority. Do you not consider that how would Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, make it obligatory to obey those who possess Divine authority over his servants and then hide from them (people who possess Divine authority) `the new of the heaves and the earth? How would He cut them off of the sources of knowledge that might come to them to maintain their religion?” Humran then said to the Imam (a.s.), “May Allah, take my soul in service for your cause, how would you explain the case of the uprising of Ali ibn abu Talib, al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.)? They came out and rose up for the cause of Allah, Whose mention is so Majestic. How much they suffered and how mercilessly were they murdered at the hands of the rebels? They were defeated, murdered and over powered.” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “O Humran, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, had determined it on them. He had decreed, approved and made it unavoidable though the voluntary manner. He then allowed to take place. It, thus, happened with a pre-existing knowledge that had come to them from the Messenger of Allah. Ali al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.) rose up for the cause of Allah with full knowledge of the consequences and remained silent from us those who remained silent. Had they, O Humran, when facing what Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, made them to face and suffer defeat at the hands of the rebels, asked Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, to remove their suffering and would implore Him to destroy the government and kingdom of the rebels He would have answered their prayers and would grant them relief. In such case the destruction of the governments of the rebels and the ending of their time would take place quicker than the dispersal under a great pressure, of beads threaded together. The suffering, O Humran, that befell them, because of the sins that they might have committed or the punishment for their opposition to Allah. It was because of the high marvelous position that Allah had prepared and wanted them to reaCh Do not let people’s opinions take you away from the right path.”

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