Aspects of the Knowledge of the Imams (a.s.)

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘ Attar has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’In Salah (prayer) with an Imam I complete the recitation before he does.’ He (the Imam) said, ’Leave one verse, speak of the glory of Allah and praise Him and when he (the Imam) completes, read that verse, then perform Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from Ali ibn Musa from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah who has said that he asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “Tell me about the knowledge of your scholar.” He said, “It is inherited from the Messenger of Allah and from Ali (a.s.).” The narrator has said that he asked him, “We narrate that it is thrown into your hearts and is dotted in your ears.” He then said, “Is that so?”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

2. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by Ahmad from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Hajjal from Tha’labah from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about performing Salah (prayer) behind those who oppose our belief. He (the Imam) said, ‘To me they are but walls (scarecrows).”’

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from the person who narrated (it) to him from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said that he said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.) the following. “We narrate from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that he has said, ‘Our knowledge consists (of the knowledge of the things) of past, of the written nature, that which is dotted in the hearts and that which is struck against the ears. He then said, “As for that about the matters of the past is that which is passed our knowledge. That which is written is the kind that will come in future. That which is dotted into the hearts is the inspired kind and that which is struck against the ears is the order of the angel.”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

3. Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has narrated from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from the one who has asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said the following: I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Can I perform Salah (prayer) behind one whom I do not follow and complete recitation when he has not yet completed?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Say Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects) until he completes.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthaman from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you perform Salah (prayer) behind an Imam who is not qualified, read behind him the recitation, regardless, you hear him or not.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Ali ibn Rashid who has said the following: “I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘You have different friends, thus, I perform Salah (prayer) behind every one of them.’ The Imam said, ‘Do not perform Salah (prayer) behind anyone whom you cannot trust in matters of his religion.’ He then said, ‘I have many friends.’ I said, ‘You have many companions.’ He then immediately, before I could mention their names, said, ‘No, (do not mention their names). Ali ibn Hadid requires you to do this. Is this what Ali ibn Hadid commands you to do?’ I replied, ‘Yes, that is correct.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘Certain people have narrated that ’Amir al-Mu’minin performed four Rak‘at after Friday without any interval of saying Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) in between. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Zurarah, ’Amir al-Mu’minin performed Salah (prayer) behind a sinful one. When he said Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace) and moved away ’Amir al-Mu’minin stood up, performed four Rak‘at without interval in between by means of saying Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace). A man from his side then said, ‘O abu al- Hassan you performed four Rak‘at without interval in between.’ He (’Amir al-Mu’minin)) said, ‘They were four similar Rak‘at’ and remained quiet. By Allah, he did not understand what he said.’”

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadid from Jamil ibn Darraj from Humran ibn ’A‘yan who has said the following: “I once said to Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, we perform Salah (prayer) with these people on Friday and they perform in a certain time. What must we do? He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) with them? Humran then went to Zurarah and said to him, ‘We are commanded to perform Salah (prayer) with them with their Salah (prayer)? Zurarah said, ‘This cannot be accepted without interpretation? Humran said to him, ‘Come and hear it from him (the Imam)? He (the narrator) has said that both went to him (the Imam) and Zurarah said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, Humran thinks you have commanded us to perform Salah (prayer) with them and I did not accept it? He (the Imam) said to us, ‘Ali ibn al- Husayn (a.s.), would say two Rak‘at with them and when they would complete he stand up to perform two more Rak‘at?” (Ahadith 1-7 are best explained by fatwa.)

Translation: Muhammad Sarwar·Thaqalayn link·The Arabic above is the original.