Knowing the Imam (a.s.) and Belief in His Divine Authority

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ who has said that Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl narrated to me from abu Hamza from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Only those who know Allah worship Him. Those who do not know Allah they worship Him just like that in misguidance.” I then asked, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what the knowledge about Allah?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Knowledge about Allah means is to acknowledge the existence of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, to acknowledge His messenger and to love Imam Ali (a.s.). Of such knowledge is to follow him and the Imams of guidance and to denounce before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, their (Imams’) enemies. This is how the knowledge about Allah is.”

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

1. 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, ‘Offering the greeting of peace is voluntary, but answering it is obligatory. ’”

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

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ‘Uthman from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sulayman who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is in the book of Ali (a.s.), that if the eyes move or the leg runs or the tail moves and you can achieve such opportunity, you then must slaughter it.’”

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

2. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “If one begins speaking before offering the greeting of peace, do not speak to him.”

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 ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salim from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), to teach me about the most excellent time for the morning Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘About the coming of dawn, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “You must perform Salah (prayer)) and the recitation at dawn. The recitation at dawn certainly was witnessed.” (17:78) It is a reference to the morning Salah (prayer) which is witnessed (attended) by the angels of the night and the angels of the day. When a servant of Allah performs Salah (prayer) at dawn, it is written in his favor twice: once by the angels of the night and once by the angels of the day.’”

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

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Salim al-Farra’ from al-Hassan ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Once I was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), when Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Salam came. I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. My grandfather asks you about the case of a man who has hit a cow with a hammer and it has fallen down, then he has slaughtered it.’ He (the Imam) did not send the answer but he (the Imam) called Sa‘idah, a slave-girl of ‘Umm Farwah and said to her, ‘Muhammad came to me with a letter from you but I disliked to send the answer with him. In the case of the man who has slaughtered the cow, when slaughtering if blood has come out normally you can use it for food and feed, but if its coming is heavy, then do not go close to it.’”

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

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Zurara who has said the following. “I said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘Is knowing the Imam from among you obligatory on all creatures?’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Muhammad to all people as His Messenger and as His authority over all creatures on earth. Those who have faith in Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger and have followed him and have acknowledged his message on such people it is obligatory to the Imam from us. Those who do not have faith in Allah and in His messenger and who do not follow him and do not acknowledge him and do not acknowledge the rights of Allah and His messenger then knowing the Imam (a.s.) would be obligatory on them? They do not have faith in Allah and in His messenger, do not follow him and do not acknowledge their rights.” I then asked, “What would you say about those who have faith in Allah and His messenger who acknowledge His messenger in all the matters that have come from Allah, is it obligatory for them to know the Imam (a.s.) from you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, it is obligatory. Do they not know so and so?” I said, “yes, they do.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Do you think Allah is the one who has placed such knowledge in their hearts? No, I swear to Allah that no one other than Satan has placed such knowledge in their hearts. I swear to Allah that no one other than Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has inspired our rights in hearts of the believers.”

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

3. 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, ‘A person who is closer to Allah and His Messenger is the one who initiates the offering of the greeting of peace.’”

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

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Ali ibn ‘ Atiyyah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Dawn is when you find a white line like the whiteness of Sur 5 (a certain section of Euphrates river in Iraq) 5 ”

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

3. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from Aban from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is in the book of Ali (a.s.), that if the eye turns or the leg runs or the tail moves, then slaughtering properly is achieved.’”

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

4. From the narrator of the previous Hadith from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam from Jabir who has said the following. “I heard imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Only those who know Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and worship Him. It is such people who know Him and know the Imam from the family of the Holy Prophet (sw). Those who do not know Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and do not know the Imam from us, Ahlul Bayt, such people only know and worship something other than Allah just like that in error.”

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ‘Abd al- Rahman ibn abu Najran from ‘Asim ibn Hamid from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Salman, May Allah grant him favors, would say, ‘Offer the greeting of peace from Allah openly; the unjust do not receive the greeting of peace from Allah.’”

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

4. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa has narrated from Yunus from Yazid ibn Khalifah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The time for morning Salah (prayer) is when it (the white line) appears until the coming out of rays (of the sun).’”

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

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad ibn abu Najran from Muthanna’ al-Hannat from Aban ibn Taghlib who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that in a doubtful condition about a sheep being alive or dead, see if its eyes turn, or its ears move or its tail moves, then slaughter it, it is lawful for food.’”

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

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jaumhur from Faddala ibn Ayyub from Mu‘awiya ibn Wahab from Dhurayh who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the Imams after the Holy Prophet (s.a.).” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali) (a.s.) was the Imam. Then al-Hassan (a.s.) was the Imam. Then al-Husayn (a.s.) was the Imam. Then Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.) was the Imam. Then Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) was the Imam. One who would deny this would be as if he has denied the existence of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (sw).” I asked, “may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, are you then the Imam? I repeated it three times.” The Imam said, “I only said it to you so that you will be of the witnesses before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, on His earth.”

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 ibn Faddal from Tha’Labah’ ibn Maymun from Muhammad ibn Qays from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, loves offering the greeting of peace openly, loud and clearly.”

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

5. Ali has narrated from his father Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The time for morning Salah (prayer) begins when dawn opens, until morning (with rays) brightens the sky. It is not proper to delay purposely; however, there is time for those who are preoccupied, forget or are sleeping.”

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

5. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from Muhammad al- Halabiy who has said the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about slaughtering. He (the Imam) said, ‘If the animal moves its tail or turns its eyes or moves its ears, it then is clean and properly slaughtered.’”

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

6. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from ibn Faddal from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘Really stingy is one who is stingy in offering the greeting of peace.’”

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

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasaniy from Sulayman ibn Hafs af-Marwaziy who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-‘Askariy (a.s.), has said, ‘At midnight a white spot appears in the middle of the sky like a pillar of iron, because of which it gives light in the world. This is there for an hour, then it goes out and it becomes dark. When there is one-third of the night left, whiteness appears in the east, which gives light to the world and it after an hour goes out. That is the time for Salah (prayer) of night. It then becomes dark before dawn: then the true dawn appears from the east.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Those who like to perform Salah (prayer) of night at midnight that is for them.’”

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

6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn abu Nasr from Rifa‘ah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a sheep turns its eyes or moves its tail, it then is clean and properly slaughtered.’”

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

7. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Saghir from whom he has narrated from Rib‘i ibn ‘Abdallah from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah did not want to let things work except through their means and reasons. For everything He made a cause, for every cause an explanation, for every explanation a science, for every science a speaking chapter. Some people know it and some do not know. It is the messengers of Allah and we.”

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

7. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash’ari from ibn al- Qaddah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When anyone of you offers the greeting of peace he should say it loud and clear so he will not complain that no one answered his greeting of peace. He may have offered, but no one may have heard it and when any one of you answers the greeting he should say it loud and clear so that the one offering it will not say, ‘I offered them the greeting of peace but no one answered.’ “The Imam then said, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘If you do not become angry you will not be made angry, offer the greeting of peace loud and openly, speak nicely, perform prayer at night when people are sleeping and you will enter paradise in peace.’ Then he read the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: ‘. . . the Peace, the Protector, the Watchful Guardian. . . .’” ( 59 : 23 )

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following. “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever would worship Allah in the expectation for reward and work hard but without having an Imam for himself his efforts would not be received acceptance. Such person is last and straying and Allah would dislike his deeds. The example of such person is like that of a lost sheep who would stray away from her herd. She would wonder around during the day and at nightfall she would see a different flock of sheep with a shepherd and she would glad and affectionately join it thinking it to be like her own flock. She would pass the night in their barn but in the morning when the shepherd let the flock out she could not recognize her flock and shepherd and begin to wonder in search for her own flock and shepherd and saw a flock and a shepherd. She then would rush to the flock with great interest but the shepherd shouted, ‘Go to your own flock and shepherd because you are lost and wondering.’ She then would run back and forth lost and wondering without a shepherd to show her the grazing areas and the barn. At such time a wolf would seize the opportunity and would kill her to eat. Just the same is the case, O Muhammad, those people of this ’Ummah (nation) who has no Imam from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, who is in public and possessing the noble quality of justice. Such people are lost and straying. If such people would in such a condition their death would be like that of an unbeliever and hypocrite. O Muhammad, take notice that the unjust Imams and their followers are far away from the religion of Allah. They have lost the right path and have mislead the others. The deeds that they are like dust blown away by the winds in a stormy day. They would remain helpless and unable to benefit from their deeds. Such is straying far away from the right path.”

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

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The initiator of the offering of the greeting of peace is closer to Allah and His Messenger.”

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

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from al-Haytham ibn Waqid from Muqrin who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Ibn al-Kawwa came to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin,(what do you say about; “There will be people on the Heights who know everyone by their faces . .” (7:46). The Imam said, “we will be on the Heights. We will recognize our supporters from their faces. We are the Heights without whose knowing there is no other way to know Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. We are the Heights that Allah on the Day of Judgment will make known to everyone on the bridge. No one will enter paradise without knowing us and our knowing them. No one will enter hell except those would not know us and we will ignore them. If Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would want to let people know Him He may do so but He has made us the door to knowing Him, the bridge, the path and the aspect to Him. Whoever would deviate from our authority and guardianship or would consider others more excellent than us such people will down off the bridge. People are the same in following guidance. They are not equal with those who have found the sparkling fountains with those who have gathered around polluted waters that fall over other such waters. Such are not equal with those who have found the sparkling fountains that flow by the order of the Lord without ceasing and reduction.”

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

9. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban from al-Hassan ibn al-Mundhir who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘If one offering the greeting of peace says, “(I offer) you to be in peace,” it is equal to ten good deeds. Saying, ‘(I offer) you to be in peace, and May Allah grant you favors,’ is equal to twenty good deeds. Saying, ‘(I offer) you to be in peace, and May Allah grant you favors and blessings,’ is equal to thirty good deeds.’”

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

10. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Muhammad from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Rayyan ibn Shabib from Yunus from Abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Abu Hamza, he said: Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said: “O Abu Hamza, when one of you decides to travel for just a few miles, he first finds a guide and direction for himself. Your knowledge of the paths of the heavens is much less than your knowledge of the paths of earth. You must find a guide for yourself.”

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

10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Mansur ibn Hazim from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “In three cases the ‘greeting’ is answered in a plural case even if there is only one person: for one’s sneezing, it is said, ‘May Allah grant you (plural) favor.’ when a man offers the ‘greeting of peace’ saying, ‘(I offer you to) be in peace’, the answer is ‘(I offer you to) be in peace,’ and when a man pleads before Allah for good health for another man, he should say, ‘May Allah grant you (plural) good health, even if there is only one person; there are others with him (the guarding angels).”’

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

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Ayyub al-Hurr from abu Basir from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah ‘Whoever is given wisdom he has received a great deal of goodness’ (2:273) “It means obedience to Allah and knowin who one’s Imam is.”

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

11. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn in a marfu’ manner from an Imam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) would say, ‘Three kinds of people do not offer greetings: one walking in funeral procession, one walking to attend Friday prayer and in the bathing places.’”

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

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from aban from abu Basir saying that Imam abu Ja’far‘far (a.s.) said to him the following. “Have you found out who your Imam is?” I said, “Yes, I swear by Allah, I did so before I left Kufa.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Then it is sufficient for you.”

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

12. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Harun ibn Kharijah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “It is of humility to offer the greeting of peace to whomever you meet.”

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

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Mansur ibn Yunus from Burayd who has said that he heard Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) said the following about the words of Allah, “Can the dead to whom We have given life and light so that they may walk among the people, be considered equal to those who can never come out of darkness?” (6:122) The dead do not understand anything ‘The light by the help of which they walk’ is the Imam that they follow.’ “be considered equal to those who can never come out of darkness” applies to those who do not know who their Imam is.”

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

13. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Mahbub from Jamil from abu ‘Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Once Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) passed by a people and offered them the greeting of peace and they answered, ‘(We offer) you peace, May Allah grant you favors, blessings, forgiveness and His pleasure.’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said to them, ‘Do not say to us more than what the angels said to Ibrahim. They said, ‘May Allah grant you favors and blessings, O the people of the house’ (of the Holy Prophet).”’

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

14. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’warma and Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from Ali ibn Hassan from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Abu ‘Abdallah al-Jadali once came to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Amir al-mu’minin said to him, “O abu ‘Abdallah may I say something to you about the words of Allah, ‘Whoever does a good deed will receive a better reward than what he has done. He will be secure from the terror of the Day of Judgment (27:89). Those who commit evil will be thrown headlong into hell fire. (It will be said to them) can you expect any recompense other than what you deserve for your deeds?’ (27:90) The man said, “yes, O Amir al-Mu’minin, please tell me, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause.” Amir al-Mu’mini said, “A good deed means is to acknowledge our Divine authority and have our love in one’s heart. Evil means denying our Divine authority and harboring in one’s heart hatered towards us.” Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) then read the verses to him.

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

14. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The completion of greetings of peace for one at home is to shake hands and for one on a journey it is to hold him in one’s arms.”

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

15. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘It is undesirable for a man to say, “May Allah keep you living,” then remain silent without offering the greeting of peace thereafter.’”

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

2. Al-Husayn has narrated from Mu‘alla from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Ahmad ibn ‘A’idh from his father from Ibn ‘Udhayna who has said that more than one person has narrated to us from one the two Imams (a.s.) who has said the following. “One will not be considered a Mu‘min until he knows Allah, His Messenger and all of the Imams and the Imam of ones time, acknowledges his Divine authority and submits his affairs to the Imam (a.s.).” He then said, “How would one know the last one when one is ignorant of the first one.”

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

6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from those whom he mentioned from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “You will not be of the people of good deeds until you will know. You will not know until you acknowledge. You will not acknowledge until you safeguard the four doors and the first of these doors will not do any good without the last. The people of the three strayed far away from the (right) path. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, accepts only the righteous deeds. Allah does not accept with one’s fulfilling the conditions of the covenant. Those who remain faithful to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, about His condition and follow what is prescribed in the covenant he will receive blessings from Him and He will keep His promise. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has informed the people of the path of guidance and has sanctioned for them the laws of Shari‘a as beacons. He has informed them how to follow the laws. He has said, “I am All-forgiving to the righteously striving believers who repent and follow the right guidance.” [20:82] “Allah (God) only accepts the offerings of the pious ones.” [5:27] Those who are pious before Allah about His commandments they meet Allah as believers in in whatever Prophet has brought to them from Allah. It is unfortunate that people died before finding guidance. They thought that they were believers but they became polytheist without realizing it. Those who enter the house through the door they are rightly guided. Those who go other ways they are on the path to destruction. Allah has connected the obedience to the people of Divine authority with the obedience to His Messenger and the obedience to His messenger with obedience to His Own-self. Those who would disregard obedience to the people of Divine authority they have not obeyed Allah and His Messenger. This obedience is the acknowledgment of what Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has sent. (That you) be well dressed with means of beauty near every mosque; that you should enter the doors of the houses that Allah has given permission to be uplifted wherein His names be mentioned. Allah has certainly informed you that there are certain man whose attentions and mind do not deviate from speaking about Allah, prayer and paying charity because of business and trade attractions. They only fear the Day in which the hearts and eyes turn upside down. Allah has appointed the messengers for commands. He then chose them to acknowledge in His Warning and said, “No nation who lived before was left without a Warner . .” [35:25] Stray those who are ignorant and find the right guidance those who think and understand. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “It is their hearts in the center which are blind, not their ears.” [22:46] How can one does not see find guidance and how would one understand without thinking? Follow the Messenger of Allah and his Ahlul Bayt (family) and acknowledge what Allah has sent and follow the traces of guidance. They (Ahlul Bayt) are the signs of trust and piety. Know that if a person would deny Jesus, the son of Mary (a.s.) and acknowledge all the other prophets such person will not be considered a believer. Follow the path by the help of the lighthouses and follow the signs from behind the barriers. Try to perfect the matters of your religion and have faith in Allah, your Lord.”

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