The Imams (a.s.) never did and would not do anything except because of the covenant of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and a command from Him and they did not go beyond such limits

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya and al-Husayn ibn Muhammad have narrated from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali from Isma‘il ibn Mihran from abu Jamilah from Mu‘adh ibn Kathir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The will came from the heavens to Muhammad (sw) in a book (written). Nothing came to Muhammad (sw) from heavens in a written sealed document form except the will. Jibril (a.s.) said, “O Muhammad, this is your will about your followers with your family. The Messenger of Allah (sw) asked, “Which family of mine, O Jibril?” Jibril replied, “The noble of Allah among them, and his descendents, so they inherit your knowledge as Abraham (as) left it (knowledge) as his legacy. And his legacy (Abraham's) is for Ali (a.s.) and your descendents from his lineage.” He (the Imam) said, “The document had several seals on it.” He further said, “Ali (a.s.) opened the first seal and followed what the instructions therein. Then al-Hassan (a.s.) opened the second seal and followed the commandments and instructions therein. When al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away, al-Husayn (a.s.) opened the third seal and found therein: 'Fight to do away with the enemy and be murdered and rise up (against the enemy) with a group of people for martyrdom. There is no matrydom for them except with you.'” He (the Imam) said, “He (Al-Husayn (a.s.)) followed the instructions and when he left this world he delivered it, to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) just before (his martyrdom). So he opened the fourth seal and found in it: 'Remain silent and gaze in your front because of the concealment of knowledge.' When he passed away and left (this world), he delivered it to Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.). So he opened the fifth seal and found therein: 'Interpret the book of Allah, the Most High, affirm veracity of your father and leave it as your legacy for your son. Do good to the ’Ummah (the Islamic nation), stand up for right of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, say the truth in fear and in peace and do not be afraid of anyone except Allah.' He did as he was instructed and delivered it to the succeeding Imam.” He (the narrator) said that he said to him (the Imam (a.s.)), “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, are you then the succeeding Imam?” He said that he (as) responded: “There is nothing wrong in a positive answer to your question except if then you would go, oh Mu‘adh, and narrate things about me (to the public, which would harm me).” The narrator said that he then said to the Imam (a.s.), “I pray to Allah who has granted you through your noble ancestors this high position to grant to your successor the same high position before you will die.” He (a.s.) replied, “Allah has already done so, oh Mu‘adh.” The narrator said that he then asked him (a.s.), “Who is he then, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” He (a.s.) replied, “This sleeping one.“ He pointed with his hand to the righteous servant of Allah who was asleep (Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.)).”

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

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir Ali ibn Mahziyar from Safwan from al-‘Is ibn al-Qasim who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) wearing another man’s clothes for many days, then the owner of clothes inform him that he does not wear them for Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘He does not need to perform any of his Salah (prayer) again.’”

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

2. Through the same chain of narrators as that of the previous Hadith it is narrated from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Fadalah ibn Ayyub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) and there is feces of human being, cat or dog in his clothes, ‘Must he perform his Salah (prayer) again?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He is not required to perform his Salah (prayer) again, if he did not know about it.’”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from abu Sa‘id al-Mukariy from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far, or abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You are not required to perform your Salah (prayer) again, because of blood that you did not see except that which is from Hayd (menses), a small amount or otherwise, you see it or not are all the same.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from certain persons of who narrated to him who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If your clothes come in contact with wine or intoxicating al-Nabidh (a kind of wine), you must wash it, if you know the area but if you do not know the area then wash all of that cloth and if you have performed Salah (prayer) with it perform it again.’”

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

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Khayran al-Khadim who has said the following: “I once wrote to the man (a.s.), asking him about clothes which come in contact with wine and flesh of pig, if I can perform Salah (prayer) wearing such cloth or not. Our people have differences on the issue. Certain ones say, ‘You can perform Salah (prayer) with it because only drinking is unlawful.’ Certain others say, ‘You must not perform Salah (prayer) wearing them.’ He (the Imam) wrote, ‘You must not perform Salah (prayer) wearing them: it is rijs (filthy).’ I then asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about someone who borrows clothes from one whom he knows consumes al- Jirry (scale-less fish) or drinks wine. He then returns what he has borrowed. Can he perform Salah (prayer) wearing them before washing? He (the Imam) said, ‘He does not perform Salah (prayer) wearing them before washing.’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs two Rak‘at Salah (prayer) wearing clothes in which one has experienced sexual relation, then he comes to know it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to perform it from the beginning.’ He (the narrator) has said that he then asked him (the Imam) about one who performs Salah (prayer) wearing clothes in which sexual relation is experienced or there is blood in it. He completes his Salah (prayer) then he comes to know it. He (the Imam) said, ‘His Salah (prayer) is passed. He is not required to perform it again.”’

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn ‘Abd Allah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from Sayf from Mansur al- Sayqal who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who experiences sexual relation during the night and takes Ghusl (bath). In the morning finds semen in his clothes. He (the Imam) said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has not left anything without a limit. If he gets up in the morning and looks but does not find anything, he is not required to perform his Salah (prayer) again, but if he gets up and does not look, he is required to perform his Salah (prayer) again.’”

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-‘Ala’ from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: I once asked one of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about a man who finds blood in clothes of his brother while he is performing Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘He is not required to inform him until he completes his Salah (prayer) again.’”

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

9. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who finds semen or blood in his clothes. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he learns before performing Salah (prayer) that there is semen in his clothes, then performs Salah (prayer) in it without washing; he is required to perform his Salah (prayer) again, but if he did not know, he is not required to perform his Salah (prayer) again. If he thinks that something has happened then investigates but does not see anything it is sufficient to pour water on it.’”

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

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ibn Muskan who has said the following: “I once sent a question to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), through Ibrahim ibn Maymun and told him to ask him (the Imam) about the case of a drop of urine found on one’s thigh but one performs Salah (prayer) and then remembers that he has not washed it. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to perform his Salah (prayer) again.’”

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

11. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from Fadalah from Aban from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who performs Salah (prayer) with clothes in which there is feces of human beings or cat or dog, if he is required to perform his Salah (prayer) again. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he did not know he is not required to perform his Salah (prayer) again.’”

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

12. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Wash your clothes clean because of urine of all inedible animals.’”

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

13. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqah from ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who vomits in his clothes, if he can perform Salah (prayer) in them without washing. He (the Imam) said, ’It is not an offense to do so.’”

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

14. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Amir from Ali ibn Mahziyar from and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali and Ali ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Mahziyar who has said the following: “I read in the letter of ’Abd Allah ibn Muhammad to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), in which he has said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. Zurarah has narrated for abu Ja’far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about wine which pollutes one’s clothes that the two Imam had said, “It is not an offense to perform Salah (prayer) with such clothes. Only drinking wine is unlawful.” People other than Zurarah have narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) has said, “If wine or al-Nabidh (a kind of wine) or any intoxicating thing pollutes your clothes, wash if you know the area of contact. If you do not know the area of contact, then wash all of such clothes. If you have performed Salah (prayer) with it perform such Salah (prayer) again.” Please instruct me which one I must follow. He (the Imam) wrote with his signature, “You must follow the words of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.).’”

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

16. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Wasitiy, from al-Qasim al-Sayqal who has said the following: “I once wrote to al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘I make sword sheathing of leather from dead donkeys. My clothes come in contact with it and I perform Salah (prayer) with them. He (the Imam) (a.s.), wrote to me, ‘Find other clothes for your Salah (prayer).’ I then wrote to abu Ja’far, the second (a.s.), saying, ‘I would write to your father (a.s.), about such and such issues. It became difficult for me and I then began to make them from leather of wild donkeys, properly slaughtered.’ He (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘All good deeds require patience, I pray to Allah to grant you blessings. If what you do is from wild ones and properly slaughtered, then it is not harmful.’”

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

15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from certain persons of our people from abu Jamil al-Basriy who have said the following: “Yunus and I were in Baghdad. I walked with him in the market. An owner of beer opened the container of his beer and drops from it came in contact with clothes of Yunus and I saw him depressed until it became Zawal (declining of the sun toward the west at noontime). I asked him, ‘O abu Muhammad, do you want to perform Salah (prayer)?’ He said, ‘I do not want to perform Salah (prayer) until I return home and wash this wine from my clothes.’ I then said, ‘Is this your opinion or it is something you narrate.’ He said, ‘Hisham ibn al-Hakam has narrated that he asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about beer. He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not drink it; it is unknown wine. If it pollutes your clothes, wash them clean.’”

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