The Issue that the Earth at no time is without a Person with Divine Authority

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Husayn ibn Abu al-‘Ala’ who said the following: “I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Can there be a time on earth without Imam?” The Imam said, “No, it can not be without an Imam.” I asked, “Can there be two Imams at a time?” He said, “No, unless one of them is silent.”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Basir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once an Arab man came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘Instinct me with good advice.’ Of the good advice to him was: ‘Love people, they will love you.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Yazid ibn Khalifah who has said the following: “I once said to abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), that ’Umar ibn Hanzalah has reported to us from you about timing (for Salah (prayer)). Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘If so, he does not fabricate things to call them to be from us.’ I (the narrator) then said that he quotes your statement. It says, ‘The first Salah (prayer) that Allah made obligatory on His Holy prophet was al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer). Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “Perform Salah (prayer) from the time of declining of the sun toward the west at noontime” (17:78), so when the sun declines toward the west at noontime, there is no other obstacle except your Nafl (optional Salah (prayer)). This time continues until the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length and that is the end of this time. When the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length, it is the time for al-‘Asr Salah (prayer) which continues until the shadow of an object becomes double its length and that is evening.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He has spoken the truth.’”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Safwan from ‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once in al-Kufah a bull revolted and broke loose. People rushed with their swords and beat it down. They asked ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), about it and he (the Imam) said, ‘It is a fast slaughtering but its flesh is lawful for food.’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Mansur ibn Yunus and Su‘dan ibn Muslim from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammara from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “I heard the Imam (a.s.) saying, ‘The earth is never left without an Imam so that if the believers would add any thing it would be brought back and if they would reduce anything it would be completed.”

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 ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama’a from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Dealing with people in a graceful manner is one third of (the power) reason.”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salmah ibn af-Khattab from Ali ibn Sayf ibn ‘Amirah from his father form ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When the sun declines toward the west at noontime, it is time for al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer) except that there is Nafl (optional Salah (prayer) before al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer). It is up to you to spend a longer time for it or a short one.’”

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

2. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar and Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from ibn Muskan from Muhammad al-Halabiy who has said the following: “About the case of a bull that broke loose and people rushed with their swords and beat it down, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘They asked ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), about it and he (the Imam) said, ‘It is a fast slaughtering but its flesh is lawful for food.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Rabi‘ ibn Muhammad al-Musalliy from ‘Abdallah ibn Sulayman al- ‘Amiriy from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The earth has never been without a person with Divine authority who would teach people about the lawful and unlawful matters and call them to the path of Allah.”

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, ‘Three things purify a Muslim’s love for his brother (in belief): meeting him in a cheerful manner, preparing for him a seat if he wants to sit down in a gathering, and calling him by his names that he loves most.’”

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 Dharih al-Muharibiy who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘When can I perform al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform the eight Rak‘at (the optional Salah (prayer) when the sun declines (toward the west at noontime), then perform al-Dhuhr. Thereafter perform your optional Salah (prayer) for a longer or short time, then perform al-‘Asr Salah (prayer).”’

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ‘Uthman from Ali has narrated from his father from-Fadl ibn ‘Abd al-Malik and ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that certain people once came to the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and said that their cow became difficult with them and they had only to subdue it with their sword. He (the Messenger of Allah) commanded them to use it for food.’”

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

4. Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Husayn Ibn Abu ‘Ala’ from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.): I (the narrator) said to him: “Can the earth be without Imam?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No.”

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

4. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Showing that one loves people is half (the power) of reason.’”

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

4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ariy has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from al-Husayn ibn ‘Uthman from ibn Muskan formal-Harith ibn al-Mughirah and ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah and Mansur ibn Hazim who have said the following: “We would measure the sun in al-Madinah by the yards. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Allow me to show you a way clearer than this. When the sun declines toward the west at noontime, it is the time for al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer), except for the optional Salah (prayer) before it, which is up to you to make it longer or shorter.’” Sa‘id has narrated from Musa al-Hassan from al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn al-Lu’lu’i from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah al-Nadriy and ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah: In a similar Hadith it is said, ‘It is up to you to make the optional one light thereafter, or make it longer, thereafter is the time (for al-Dhuhr).”’

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

4. Humayd ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Mithamiy from Aban from ’Isma‘il al-Ju‘fiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a camel that falls in a well and about how to Nahr (manner of slaughtering camels) it. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can use weapons for Nahr and mention the name of Allah; then you can use it for food.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from ibn Muskan from Abu Basir from one of them (a.s.), who said: “Allah does not leave the earth without a ‘Alim (scholar). Without this the truth would not be distinguished from falsehood.”

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 Ali ibn Hassan from Musa ibn Bakr from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following: “Showing that one loves people is one half (the power) of reason.”

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

5. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn ‘Urwah from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah from who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when the sun declines (toward the west at noontime), it is the time for two Salah (prayer) except that this is before that.” “Also Sa‘d has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Sa’eed and Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Barqiy and al- ‘Abbas ibn Ma’ruf all from al-Qasim and Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Barqiy from al-Qasim: “In a similar Hadith it is said, Time for al-Dhuhr and al- ‘Asr together has come’ and in addition, it is said that you are in the time for both of them (al-Dhuhr and al- ‘Asr Salah (prayer)) until it is sunset.”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is far greater and above leaving the earth without an Imam of justice.”

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 Muhammad ibn Sinan from Hudhayfah ibn Mansur who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever holds his hands off the people has held back only one hand, however, they will hold many hands off of him.’”

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

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Hashim al-Bajaliy from Salim abu Khadijah who has said the following: “Once, when I also was present, a human being asked abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.), ‘ I may enter a Masjid when certain persons of our people perform al- ‘Asr and others perform al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘ I have commanded them to do so; were they to perform at one time they would have been recognized and caught by their necks.’”

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

7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from abu ’Usama and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from abu ’Usama and Hisham ibn salim from abu Hamza from abu Ishaq from those reliable among the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) who has said the following. “O Lord. You do not leave your earth without a person who would represent Your authority among the people.”

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

7. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from certain individuals of his people from Salih ibn ‘Aqabah from Sulayman ibn Ziyad al-Tamimi from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) has said, ‘A person close to another person is one whom love has brought so close even though his lineage is far remote. A person far away is one whom love has distanced a part even though his lineage is near and close. There is nothing so close to another thing than the hands to the body, but when it becomes disloyal it is cut off and when it is cut off the body’s blood is held back from flowing out.’”

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

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamza from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “I swear to Allah that He has not, from the day Adam died, left the earth without an Imam who would guide people to the Lord as with divine authority over the servants of the Lord. The earth will never remain without an Imam with Divine authority over His servants.”

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

8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Misma’ ibn ‘Abd Malik who has said the following: “He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘When you complete al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer), it is time for al- ‘Asr Salah (prayer) except that before it there is Nafl (optional Salah (prayer) and it is up to you to make it lengthy or a short one.’”

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

9. Al-Hassan ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from some of our people from abu Ali ibn Rashid from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) who has said the following. “ The earth is never without a person with divine authority and I swear to Allah that I am the person with Divine authority.”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Fudayl from ibn abu Hamza who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Can the earth be left without the Imam?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “ Were to remain without Imam it would obliterate its inhabitants.”

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

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘isa from Muhammad al-Fudayl who has said the following. “I asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Can the remain without Imam?’” He replied, “No, it will not remain so.” I then said, “We narrate from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that the earth will not remain without Imam unless Allah becomes extremely angry with the people of the earth or with His servants.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In such condition it will not remain but it would obliterate with its inhabitants.”

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

12. Ali has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abd al_Mu’min from abu Harassa from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Would the Imam be taken away from the earth it will create waves against her inhabitants just like what the inhabitants of the ocean face.”

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

13. Al-Husayn ibn Ali has narrated from Muhammad from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ who has said the following. “I asked al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), “I can the earth remain without Imam?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “No, it will not remain so.” I said, “We narrate that it will not remain without the Imam unless Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, becomes angry with the people.” The Imam said, “In such condition it will not remain but it will obliterate its inhabitants.”

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

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Salih ibn Sa‘id from Yunus from certain persons of his people who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abdullah (a.s.), about the meaning of Hadith that says, ’Perform al- Dhuhr Salah (prayer) when the sun is equal to one length or two, one yard or two or one step or two steps from this and from there. When is it and how is it? At certain times is half of one step.’ He (the Imam) said that in the Hadith is it said, ‘ An object’s shadow’ and not the shadow of an object’ is because the shadow of an object may appear in different sizes, sometimes longer and sometimes shorter, but an object is an object all the time and it does not change. Hadith has said that it is one yard or two yards, one step or two steps.” Thus one yard or two yards have become explanation of one length or two lengths during the time when an object’s shadow is of the size of one yard and two object’s shadows of the size of two yards. Therefore one object’s or two objects’ shadows and one yard or two yards are in agreement with each other in times as understood one, explaining the other and supported thereby. At a given time, for example at one O’clock, when an object’s shadow is of the size of one yard the time (for Salah (prayer)) is one yard of an object’s shadow and the object is a yard of the shadow. When an object’s shadow is less or more, the time is measured in yards or two yards. This is the explanation of one length and a yard or two yards.’” (The theme of Hadith is obvious; it only may need a little thinking to grasp it fully.)

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