The Case of those who would Die without having an Imam from the Imams of Guidance

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘Aidh from ibn ’Udhayna from al-al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following. “ One day abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) initiated to speak to us and said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Whoever would die and is not under the (guardianship) of the Imam his death would be like a death in ignorance.” The narrator has said that I asked, “Is that what the Messenger of Allah has said?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, by Allah, he has said so.” I then said, “Do all who die without acknowledging the Imam die as if died in ignorance (without religion)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, that is right.”

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

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim al-Qummiy has narrated from his father from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Muhammad ibn ‘Adhafir who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When horses roam and swords shake, two Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) are sufficient for him and this is another reduction.”’

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

2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ who has said that ‘Abd al-Karim ibn ‘Amr narrated to me from ibn abu Ya‘fur who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words the Messenger of Allah. ““Whoever would die and is not under the (guardianship) of the Imam his death would be like a death in ignorance.” The narrator has said I then asked, “Is it death in disbelief (in religion)?” He said, “It is death in error .” I then said, “Thus, whoever would die today and would not have an Imam would his death be considered as if he has died in ignorance (without religion)?” He said, “Yes, that is true.”

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

3. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from al-Fudayl from al-Harith ibn al-Mughira who said: “I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.): ‘the Messenger of Allah (sw) said, "Whoever dies and does not know his Imam dies the death of ignorance." He (the Imam) replied in the affirmative. I asked, "Is it the death of ignorance (in the sense) of being ignorant or is it the death of ignorance in not knowing his Imam?" He replied, "(It is the death of) ignorance in terms of disbelief, hypocrisy, and misguidance."“

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

3. It is a narration from him (narrator of previous Hadith) by ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah who has said the following: “I have heard from certain persons of our people saying that the minimum recitation when swords are at work is two Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) for every Salah (prayer) except that there are three Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) for al-Maghrib.”

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

4. Certain persons of our people have narrated from ‘Abd al-‘Azim ibn ‘Abdallah al-Hassani from Malik ibn ‘Amir from al-Mufaddal ibn Za’id from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever would follow the religion of Allah without hearing (instructions) from a truthful (Imam) person Allah will cause him, inevitably, to suffer hardships. Whoever would claim to have heard from a source other than the one Allah has opened for him, he will be considered as polytheist. The source and door that Allah has opened is the one that trustworthy in the matters of the hidden secrets of Allah.”

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

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from and Ahmad ibn Idris Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from all from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz who has said the following: “About the word of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘It is permissible for you to reduce of Salah (prayer) if you fear that the unbelievers may create mischief for you,’ (4:101), abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Two Rak‘at becomes one Rak‘at.’”

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

5. 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 Salah (prayer) during fighting. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they meet (the armies) and kill each other, then Salah (prayer) in such time is Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), but if they are standing and are not able to overpower the group, then it is in the form of gestures.’”

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

6. Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad from Hammad from Hariz from Zurarah who has said the following: “Once, I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a soldier who does not have Wudu’ and what is he required to do when he is not able to dismount? He (the Imam) said, ‘He can make Tayammum on his pad, saddle or mane of his stumper over which dust accumulates. He then performs Salah (prayer), makes Sujud (prostrations) lower than Ruku‘ (bowing down on one’s knees) and does not turn to al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) but turns his face wherever his stumper goes, except that he turns to al-Qiblah (al-Ka‘bah) when saying the first Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) when paying attention.’”

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

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from al-‘Amrakiy ibn Ali from Ali ibn Ja‘far who has said the following: “I once asked my brother, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about one who faces a beast and it is time for Salah (prayer). He is not able to walk, because of fear from the beast. If he stands up he fears to perform Ruku’ (bowing down on one’s knees) or Sujud (prostrations) with the beast in front of him in a direction other than that of al-Qiblah (al-Ka’bah). If he turns to al-Qiblah (al-Ka’bah), he fears the lion’s attack. What is he required to do in such case? He (the Imam) said, ‘ He faces the lion and performs his Salah (prayer) with gestures in a standing position, if the lion is in a direction other than that for al-Qiblah (al-Ka’bah).’”

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

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhaynah from Zurarah and Fudayl and Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about performing Salah (prayer) in frightening conditions during pursuits and the skirmishes, has said, ‘Every one of them perform Salah (prayer) by making gestures to whatever direction they face, even if swords work neck and neck and the fight goes on in a hand-to- hand manner. ’Amir al-Mu’minin, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, performed Salah (prayer) during the night of Siffin which is called Lilatu al-Harir. Their Salah (prayer) of al-Dhuhr, al-‘Asr, al-Maghrib and al-‘Isha’ were only Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), Tahlil, (no one deserves worship except Allah), Tasbih (Allah is free of all defects), Tahmid (all praise belongs to Allah) and supplications. It was their Salah (prayer) and they were not commanded to perform Salah (prayer) again.’”

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