The Spirits that exist in the Imams (a.s.)

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani from Jabir al-Ju‘fi from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “O Jabir, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has created th e creatures in three categories as mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “On that day, you (mankind) will be divided into three groups: (56:7) The people of the right hand - those whose books of records will be placed in their right hands. How happy they will be! (56:8). The people of the left hand - those whose books of records will be placed in their left hands. How miserable they will be! (56:9). The foremost ones (in faith and virtue) - the foremost ones in receiving their reward.” (56:10). The foremost group is the messengers and the people of special status with Allah among His creatures. Allah has placed in them five spirits and has supported them with the Holy Spirit. Through this spirit they recognize things. He has supported them with the spirit of faith because of which they maintain fear of Allah (in their souls). They are supported also with the spirit of power because of which they are able to obey Allah. They are also supported with the spirit of desires with which they maintain their desire of worshipping and obeying Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and dislike disobedience. He has placed in them the social spirit to socialize and establish proper relations among people. In the believers and the people of the right hand He has placed the spirit of faith because of which they maintain fear of Allah. He has placed in them the spirit of power with which they obey Allah. He has placed in them the spirit of desire. With it they desire to obey Allah. He has also placed in the social spirit and because of this they maintain social relations.”

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

1. Muhammad ibn ’Isma’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from all from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hafs ibn al-Bakhtariy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) alone then finds a congregation. He (the Imam) said, ’He can perform Salah (prayer) with them and make it to be an obligatory one.”’

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Musa ibn ‘Umar from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from al-Munakhkhal from Jabir who has said that when I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the knowledge the scholar he said the following. “O Jabir, in the prophets and in the executors of their will there are five spirits. They are the Holy Spirit, the spirit of faith, the spirit of life, the spirit of power and the spirit of desire. Through the Holy Spirit, O Jabir, they receive the knowledge all that is below the Throne all the way to under the land.” He then said, “O Jabir, these four spirits are the kind of spirits that may become affected by the events that take place. Only the Holy Spirit is that which does trifle and wander around.”

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

2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from Yunus ibn Ya’qub from abu Basir from who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I enter Masjid and Salah (prayer) begins while I have already performed Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘You can perform Salah (prayer) with them; Allah chooses the lovelier one of the two.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Sulayman ibn Khalid who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who enters Masjid and begins Salah (prayer). While he is standing up in Salah (prayer) Adhan is said and Salah (prayer) begins. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can perform it as a two Rak‘at, then commence Salah (prayer) with the Imam and the two Rak‘at has to be optional Salah (prayer)”’

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

4. A group has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ya’qub ibn Yaqtin who has said the following: “I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, it is time for al-Dhuhr and we are not able to come down for Salah (prayer) in time until they come down. We come down with them and perform Salah (prayer). They quickly leave and we stand up to perform al-‘Asr and show them as if we perform Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees). They then come down for al-‘Asr and lead us. Can we perform Salah (prayer) with them? He (the Imam) said, ‘Perform Salah (prayer) with them. May Allah never grant them any Salah (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 Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever performs Salah (prayer) with them in the first row it is as if he has performed Salah (prayer) with the Messenger of Allah.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) and has completed only one Rak‘at of an obligatory Salah (prayer) that the Imam arrives. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he is an Imam who possesses the quality of justice, he performs one more Rak‘at, completes and makes it an optional Salah (prayer). He joins the Imam in his Salah (prayer) as is. If he (the Imam) does not have the quality of justice, he (the man) continues with his Salah (prayer) as is. He performs one more Rak‘at with him (the Imam) and sits down for a time within which one can say: I testify that only Allah deserves worship, He is one and has no partners and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. He then completes his Salah (prayer) with him as possibly he can; Taqiyah (fear) provides great chances and there is nothing performed in Taqiyah for which one is not rewarded by the will of Allah.’”

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

8. A group has narrated from has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from form al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Haytham ibn Waqid from al-Husayn ibn ’Abd Allah al-Arjaniy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one performs Salah (prayer) in his house then comes to one of their Masjid and performs Salah (prayer) with them, he leaves with all of their good deeds.’”

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

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma’il who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘I go to Masjid with my neighbors and others and they ask me to lead Salah (prayer) with them, when I have already performed Salah (prayer) before coming to them. Perhaps certain ones have followed me in Salah (prayer) that I have already performed and they are people of weak understanding and the ignorant ones. I dislike leading. I have performed in such condition that I have mentioned. Command me so I obey and follow your command by the will of Allah. He (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘You must lead them in Salah (prayer).”’

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