Afterlife & Resurrection

بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورُ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ هُوَ جَالِسٌ عَلَى كُرْسِيٍّ وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ شَمْعَةٌ وَ فِي يَدِهِ كِتَابٌ قَالَ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ رَمَى بِالْكِتَابِ إِلَيَّ وَ هُوَ يَبْكِي فَقَالَ لِي هَذَا كِتَابُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ يُخْبِرُنَا أَنَّ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ قَدْ مَاتَ فَ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ‌ ثَلَاثاً و

“Abu Ja‘far, al-Mansur summoned me in the middle of the night and I went to see him. When met him he was sitting in a chair. Before him there was a candle and a letter in his hand. The narrator has said that I greeted him and he threw the letter to me while was weeping. He said, “This is a letter of Muhammad ibn Sulaym

بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع فَجَمَعَنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَنَا أَ تَدْرُونَ لِمَ دَعَوْتُكُمْ فَقُلْنَا لَا فَقَالَ اشْهَدُوا أَنَّ ابْنِي هَذَا وَصِيِّي وَ الْقَيِّمُ بِأَمْرِي وَ خَلِيفَتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ عِنْدِي دَيْنٌ فَلْيَأْخُذْهُ مِنِ ابْنِي هَذَا وَ مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ عِنْدِي عِدَةٌ فَلْيُنْجِزْهَا مِنْهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ بُدٌّ مِنْ لِقَائِي فَلَا يَلْقَنِي إِلَّا بِكِتَابِهِ.

“Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) once called all of us to see him. We all gathered and then he said to us, “Do you know why have I called you?” We said, “We do not know.” He then said, “Bear testimony that this my son is the executor of my will, the director of my affairs and the succeeding Imam (a.s.). Whoever has a loan du

جِئْتُ إِلَى أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع بِمَالٍ فَأَخَذَ بَعْضَهُ وَ تَرَكَ بَعْضَهُ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ لِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَرَكْتَهُ عِنْدِي قَالَ إِنَّ صَاحِبَ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ يَطْلُبُهُ مِنْكَ فَلَمَّا جَاءَنَا نَعْيُهُ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع ابْنُهُ فَسَأَلَنِي ذَلِكَ الْمَالَ فَدَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ.

“Once I went to deliver some property to abu Ibrahim (a.s.). He accepted some of it and left the others. I asked him, “May Allah keep you well, why have you left it with me?” He said, “The in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will demand it from you.” When we heard the news of his (abu Ibrahim’s) d

لَمَّا أَوْصَى أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع أَشْهَدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجَعْفَرِيَّ وَ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجَعْفَرِيَّ وَ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ صَالِحٍ وَ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْجَعْفَرِيَّ وَ يَحْيَى بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَ سَعْدَ بْنَ عِمْرَانَ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ وَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ الْحَارِثِ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ وَ يَزِيدَ بْنَ سَلِيطٍ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ وَ مُحَمَّدَ

I ask them to witness and bear testimony that he testifies that there is no Lord except Allah Who is the only Lord Who has no partner and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. The coming of the Hour (of judgment ) after death is true. The warning is true and that all people will be held responsible for their

كُنْتُ وَاقِفاً بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع- بِخُرَاسَانَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ يَا سَيِّدِي إِنْ كَانَ كَوْنٌ فَإِلَى مَنْ قَالَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ابْنِي فَكَأَنَّ الْقَائِلَ اسْتَصْغَرَ سِنَّ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بَعَثَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولًا نَبِيّاً صَاحِبَ شَرِيعَةٍ مُبْتَدَأَةٍ فِي أَصْغَرَ مِنَ السِّنِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع.

The Imam (a.s.) said, “It will go to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), my son.” The person asking the question thought of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) as very young for such task. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Jesus, son of Mary as a messenger prophet, the owner of a whole legal system. He began his task

اجْتَمَعْتُ أَنَا وَ الشَّيْخُ أَبُو عَمْرٍو رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ عِنْدَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ فَغَمَزَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنِ الْخَلَفِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا عَمْرٍو إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ مَا أَنَا بِشَاكٍّ فِيمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ‌ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهُ فَإِنَّ اعْتِقَادِي وَ دِينِي أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَا تَخْلُو مِنْ حُجَّةٍ إِلَّا إِذَا كَانَ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَرْ

“I and shaykh abu ‘Amr, may Allah grant him blessings met each other before Ahmad ibn Ishaq. Ahmad ibn Ishaq made an eye gesture to me to ask him about the succeeding Imam. I said to him, “O abu ‘Amr, I like to ask you a question about a matter, although, I do not any doubts in the question I am about to ask. It is my

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَنْتَ صَاحِبُ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ فَقَالَ لَا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُكَ فَقَالَ لَا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُ وَلَدِكَ هُوَ قَالَ لَا فَقُلْتُ فَوَلَدُ وَلَدِ وَلَدِكَ فَقَالَ لَا قُلْتُ مَنْ هُوَ قَالَ الَّذِي يَمْلَأُهَا عَدْلًا كَمَا مُلِئَتْ ظُلْماً وَ جَوْراً عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الْأَئِمَّةِ كَمَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص بُعِثَ‌ عَلى‌ فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ‌.

Once I went to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and said to him, “Are you the in charge of this task ((to rise with divine power)?” he said, “No, I am not he.” I then asked, “Is he your son?” He said, “No, my son will be he either.” I then asked, “Will the son of your son be he?” He said, “No, my grandson will not be he.” I th

بَعَثَ طَلْحَةُ وَ الزُّبَيْرُ رَجُلًا مِنْ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ يُقَالُ لَهُ خِدَاشٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص وَ قَالا لَهُ إِنَّا نَبْعَثُكَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ طَالَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْرِفُهُ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ بِالسِّحْرِ وَ الْكِهَانَةِ وَ أَنْتَ أَوْثَقُ مَنْ بِحَضْرَتِنَا مِنْ أَنْفُسِنَا مِنْ أَنْ تَمْتَنِعَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ أَنْ تُحَاجَّهُ لَنَا حَتَّى تَقِفَهُ عَلَى أَمْرٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ النَّاس

“Once Talha and al-Zubayr sent a man called Khidash from the tribe of ‘Abd a1-Qays, to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Before he would leave they spoke to him as herein below. “We are sending you to a man who and whose family are known to us since a long time as magicians and soothsayers. You are more trusted to us, than thos

دَخَلْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَ لَسْتُ أَعْرِفُ شَيْئاً مِنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ عَالِمِ أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَقَالُوا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ فَأَتَيْتُ مَنْزِلَهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ غُلَامٌ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِي عَلَى مَوْلَاكَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ لِيَ ادْخُلْ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذ

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ali who has said that Sama‘a ibn Mihran narrated to me that al-Kalbi al-Nassaba narrated to him the following. “ I went to Madina and I had no knowledge of this matter (Leadership with Divine Authority, Imamat ). I went to the Mosque

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الرِّضَا ع وَ أَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاقِفٌ- وَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي سَأَلَ أَبَاهُ عَنْ سَبْعِ مَسَائِلَ فَأَجَابَهُ فِي سِتٍّ وَ أَمْسَكَ عَنِ السَّابِعَةِ فَقُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَأَسْأَلَنَّهُ عَمَّا سَأَلَ أَبِي أَبَاهُ فَإِنْ أَجَابَ بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِ أَبِيهِ كَانَتْ دَلَالَةً فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَأَجَابَ بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِ أَبِيهِ أَبِي فِي الْمَسَائِلِ السِّتِّ فَلَمْ يَزِدْ فِي الْجَوَابِ وَاواً وَ لَا يَاءً وَ أَ

“Once I went to see Ali al-Rida (a.s.). At that time I was a memebr of Waqifi sect. My father had asked his (al-Rida’s) father seven questions. He had replied to six of them and had refrained from answering the seventh. I said to my self, “By Allah, I will ask him what my father had asked his father if his answers will

كَتَبَ يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ إِلَى مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ع أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي أُوصِي نَفْسِي بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ بِهَا أُوصِيكَ فَإِنَّهَا وَصِيَّةُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ وَصِيَّتُهُ فِي الْآخِرِينَ خَبَّرَنِي مَنْ وَرَدَ عَلَيَّ مِنْ أَعْوَانِ اللَّهِ عَلَى دِينِهِ وَ نَشْرِ طَاعَتِهِ بِمَا كَانَ مِنْ تَحَنُّنِكَ مَعَ خِذْلَانِكَ وَ قَدْ شَاوَرْتُ فِي الدَّعْوَةِ لِلرِّضَا مِنْ‌ آلِ م

19. And by this chain, from Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al Ja'fari who said, ‘Yahya bin Abdullah bin Al-Hassan wrote to Musa bin Ja’far (AS), ‘Following on from that, I hereby bequeath myself to fear Allah, and by it I bequeath you, for it is a bequest of Allah among the former ones and His bequest among the later ones. They

فِيهَا أَلَا إِنَّ بَلِيَّتَكُمْ قَدْ عَادَتْ كَهَيْئَتِهَا يَوْمَ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ ص وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَهُ بِالْحَقِّ لَتُبَلْبَلُنَّ بَلْبَلَةً وَ لَتُغَرْبَلُنَّ غَرْبَلَةً حَتَّى يَعُودَ أَسْفَلُكُمْ أَعْلَاكُمْ وَ أَعْلَاكُمْ أَسْفَلَكُمْ وَ لَيَسْبِقَنَّ سَبَّاقُونَ كَانُوا قَصَّرُوا وَ لَيُقَصِّرَنَّ سَبَّاقُونَ كَانُوا سَبَقُوا وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَتَمْتُ وَسِمَةً وَ لَا كَذَبْتُ كَذِبَةً وَ لَقَدْ نُبِّئْت

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ya‘qub al-Sarraj and Ali ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “When people pledged allegiance to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) after the assassination of ‘Uthman he addressed the people from the pulpit and delivered a se

قُلْتُ لَهُ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ تَرَى الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ‌ وُجُوهُهُمْ مُسْوَدَّةٌ[2] قَالَ مَنْ قَالَ إِنِّي إِمَامٌ وَ لَيْسَ بِإِمَامٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَوِيّاً قَالَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عَلَوِيّاً قُلْتُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ وُلْدِ عَلِيِّ ابْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع قَالَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ.

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, ‘On the Day of Judgment you will see the faces of those who had invented falsehood against God blackened. . .” (39:60). The Imam (a.s.) said, “It refers to whose who claim to be the Imam but in fact, is not the Imam.” I then aske

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ‌ وَ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ تَرَى الَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ‌ قَالَ كُلُّ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ إِمَامٌ وَ لَيْسَ بِإِمَامٍ قُلْتُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فَاطِمِيّاً عَلَوِيّاً قَالَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فَاطِمِيّاً عَلَوِيّاً.

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of the words of Allah, ‘On the Day of Judgment you will see the faces of those who had invented falsehood against God blackened. . .”? (39:60). He said, “Itrefers to whoever would claim to be the Imam and, in fact, is

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ لا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ- يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ وَ لا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَ لَهُمْ عَذابٌ أَلِيمٌ‌ مَنِ ادَّعَى إِمَامَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ وَ مَنْ جَحَدَ إِمَاماً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمَا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ نَصِيباً.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘On the Day of Judgment Allah will not speak to them, He will not purify them and for them there will be painful suffering. He said it three time. (He added) they are those who claim to be the Imam with Divine authority and, in fact, he is not so, those who reject the Imam who possess

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يَنْظُرُ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ لا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَ لَهُمْ عَذابٌ أَلِيمٌ* مَنِ ادَّعَى إِمَامَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ وَ مَنْ جَحَدَ إِمَاماً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمَا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ نَصِيباً.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘There will be three kinds of people to whom Allah will not look on the Day of Judgment, will not purify them and they will suffer pain full punishments. They are those who claim to be the Imam with authority from Allah, those who would reject the Imam, Leader with Divine Authority an

كُنْتُ وَاقِفاً بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع- بِخُرَاسَانَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ يَا سَيِّدِي إِنْ كَانَ كَوْنٌ فَإِلَى مَنْ قَالَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ابْنِي فَكَأَنَّ الْقَائِلَ اسْتَصْغَرَ سِنَّ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بَعَثَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ع رَسُولًا نَبِيّاً صَاحِبَ شَرِيعَةٍ مُبْتَدَأَةٍ فِي أَصْغَرَ مِنَ السِّنِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ.

“Once I was standing in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in Khurasan and someone said to him, ‘O my master if something will happen to you to who must we then turn for guidance?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “You must turn for guidance to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), my son.” The person asking the question seemed to have thought of

حَجَجْنَا مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي السَّنَةِ الَّتِي وُلِدَ فِيهَا ابْنُهُ مُوسَى ع فَلَمَّا نَزَلْنَا الْأَبْوَاءَ[4] وَضَعَ لَنَا الْغَدَاءَ وَ كَانَ إِذَا وَضَعَ الطَّعَامَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ أَكْثَرَ وَ أَطَابَ قَالَ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ نَأْكُلُ إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَسُولُ حَمِيدَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ حَمِيدَةَ تَقُولُ قَدْ أَنْكَرْتُ نَفْسِي وَ قَدْ وَجَدْتُ مَا كُنْتُ أَجِدُ إِذَا حَضَرَتْ وِلَادَتِي وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتَنِ

When we arrived at al-Abwa lunch was served When he would serve food to his people he would serve good and plentiful food. At such time the messenger of Hamida, (his wife), came saying, “Hamida says, “I have almost lost my self and I have found what I was to find, I am about to give birth. You had commanded me not to d

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْإِمَامَ أَمَرَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ فَيَسْقِيهَا أَبَاهُ فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ يَخْلُقُ الْإِمَامَ فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ لَيْلَةً فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ لَا يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ ثُمَّ يَسْمَعُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْكَلَامَ فَإِذَا وُلِدَ بَعَثَ ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكَ فَيَكْتُبُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَ

‘When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would love to create the Imam He would command an angel to take a drink of water from under the Throne and his father to drink it and from this He creates the Imam. for the first forty days and nights in his mothers womb he would hear anything. After that he would hear the wor

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْإِمَامَ مِنَ الْإِمَامِ بَعَثَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ ثُمَّ أَوْقَعَهَا أَوْ دَفَعَهَا إِلَى الْإِمَامِ فَشَرِبَهَا فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً لَا يَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ ثُمَّ يَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ أُمُّهُ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ الْمَ

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, decides to create the Imam from another Imam He sends an angel with a drink of water from under the Throne. Then the angel would make the Imam to drink it and would give it to him to drink. For the first forty days he would not hear a

قَالَ لِي إِنَّ الْحَكَمَ بْنَ عُتَيْبَةَ مِمَّنْ قَالَ اللَّهُ‌ وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَ بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَ ما هُمْ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ‌[1] فَلْيُشَرِّقِ الْحَكَمُ وَ لْيُغَرِّبْ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يُصِيبُ الْعِلْمَ إِلَّا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ جَبْرَئِيلُ.

Abu Basir said to me, ‘Al-Hakam ibn ‘Utayba is of those people about whom Allah has said, “Some people say, “We believe in God and the Day of Judgment,” but they are not true believers.” (2:8) Al-Hakam may easternize or westernize, he, by Allah, will not find the true knowledge in no other source except from Ahl al-Bay

قُلْتُ‌ لَهُ أَ مَا عَلَى الْإِمَامِ زَكَاةٌ فَقَالَ أَحَلْتَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَ مَا عَلِمَتْ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةَ لِلْإِمَامِ يَضَعُهَا حَيْثُ يَشَاءُ وَ يَدْفَعُهَا إِلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ جَائِزٌ لَهُ ذَلِكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ لَا يَبِيتُ لَيْلَةً أَبَداً وَ لِلَّهِ فِي عُنُقِهِ حَقٌّ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْهُ.

“Once I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Is there any Zakat on Imam?’” He said, “O abu Muhammad, you have spoken an impossible word. Do you not know that both this and the next world belong to the Imam? He can place them as he may want or give them to whoever he may want. It is permissible for him from Allah. The Imam said

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَرْضِ فَتَبَسَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بَعَثَ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَخْرِقَ بِإِبْهَامِهِ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَنْهَارٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْهَا سَيْحَانُ وَ جَيْحَانُ‌[1] وَ هُوَ نَهَرُ بَلْخٍ وَ الْخشوع وَ هُوَ نَهَرُ الشَّاشِ‌[2] وَ مِهْرَانُ وَ هُوَ نَهَرُ الْهِنْدِ وَ نِيلُ مِصْرَ وَ دِجْلَةُ وَ الْفُرَاتُ فَمَا سَقَتْ أَوِ اسْت

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘What is for you from this earth?” He smiled and then said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Jibril and commanded him to dig with his toe eight rivers on earth. Of these are the River Sayhan and Jayhan which is the River in Balkh (central Asia) the River al-Khshu‘ which is the R

قُلْتُ لَهُ لِمَ سُمِّيَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ- قَالَ اللَّهُ سَمَّاهُ وَ هَكَذَا أَنْزَلَ فِي كِتَابِهِ‌ وَ إِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَ أَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلى‌ أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ‌[4] وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولِي وَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Why is he (Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) is called Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.)?” He said, “Allah has given him this name and as such it has come in His book, “When your Lord asked all the offspring of Adam (before their birth), “Am I not your Lord?” All of them testified and bore witness to their te

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْلُهُ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ- بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَياةَ الدُّنْيا قَالَ وَلَايَتَهُمْ‌[1] وَ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَ أَبْقى‌ قَالَ وَلَايَةُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع- إِنَّ هذا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولى‌. صُحُفِ إِبْراهِيمَ وَ مُوسى‌[2].

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious. “However, (the unbelievers) prefer the worldly life, (87:16) -The Imam (a.s.) said, “They have preferred their (evil doers) friendship-” even though the life hereafter will be better and will last forever –The I

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَةِ دُعِيَ بِالنَّبِيِّ ص وَ بِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ بِالْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ ع فَيُنْصَبُونَ لِلنَّاسِ فَإِذَا رَأَتْهُمْ شِيعَتُهُمْ قَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدانا لِهذا وَ ما كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْ لا أَنْ هَدانَا اللَّهُ‌ يَعْنِي هَدَانَا اللَّهُ فِي وَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ ع.

The Imam (a.s.) said, “On the Day of Judgment The Holy Prophet (s.a), Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and the Imams from his descendants will be brought in public sight. When their followers will see them they will say, “God who guided us to this, deserves all praise. Had He not guided us, we would never have been able to find

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى- ائْتِ بِقُرْآنٍ غَيْرِ هذا أَوْ بَدِّلْهُ‌[5] قَالَ قَالُوا أَوْ بَدِّلْ عَلِيّاً ع.

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most High. “. . those who do not wish to meet Us in the life hereafter, say, “Bring us another book besides this one or change it.. .” (10:15) The Imam (a.s.) said, “They said, ‘Change Ali (a.s.).”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ نَحْنُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ اقْرَأْ فَإِنَّهَا لَيْلَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ قُرْآناً فَقَرَأْتُ‌ إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْفَصْلِ‌ كَانَ‌ مِيقاتُهُمْ‌ أَجْمَعِينَ. يَوْمَ لا يُغْنِي‌ مَوْلًى‌ عَنْ مَوْلًى‌ شَيْئاً وَ لا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ. إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ‌[5] فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي رَحِمَ اللَّهُ وَ نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي اسْتَثْنَى ال

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said to me on the way home on Friday night, “Read from the Holy Quran. It is a Friday night. I then read, “The appointed time for all of them will be the Day of Judgment (44:40) (when wrong will be distinguished from right). On this day friends will be of no benefit to one another, nor will they r

النَّبِيُّ ص وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع.

In the Praise of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful All praise belongs to Allah Who is praised for His bounties, worshipped for His Might, obeyed in His rule and feared for His Majesty. He possesses all that is attractive; His commands pervade in all of His creation. He is High, the Most High. He is near in His Highne

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الِاسْتِطَاعَةِ وَ قَوْلِ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَ لا يَزالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ‌ إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ رَبُّكَ‌ وَ لِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ‌[2] يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ النَّاسُ مُخْتَلِفُونَ فِي إِصَابَةِ الْقَوْلِ وَ كُلُّهُمْ هَالِكٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ‌ إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ رَبُّكَ‌ قَالَ هُمْ شِيعَتُنَا وَ لِرَحْمَتِهِ خَلَقَهُمْ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُهُ‌ وَ لِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ‌ يَقُول

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu ‘Ubayda al-Hadhdha’ who has said the following. “I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the capability and the people’s words. The Imam (a.s.) recited this verse of the Holy Quran. “They still have different beliefs [11:1

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ إِذا تُتْلى‌ عَلَيْهِمْ آياتُنا بَيِّناتٍ‌ قالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ‌ خَيْرٌ مَقاماً وَ أَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص دَعَا قُرَيْشاً إِلَى وَلَايَتِنَا فَنَفَرُوا وَ أَنْكَرُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ أَقَرُّوا لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ لَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ‌ أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَ

The Imam (a.s.) said, “the Messenger of Allah asked Quraysh (the powerful tribe in Makka) to acknowledge our (Wilaya Leadership with Divine Authority) they turned away and refused. The unbelievers of Quraysh told the true believers of Quraysh (those who acknowledged our Wilaya (Leadership with Divine Authority), “Which

يَعْنِي بِهِ وَلَايَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قُلْتُ‌ وَ نَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ أَعْمى‌ قَالَ يَعْنِي أَعْمَى الْبَصَرِ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَعْمَى الْقَلْبِ فِي الدُّنْيَا عَنْ وَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ وَ هُوَ مُتَحَيِّرٌ فِي الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ- لِمَ حَشَرْتَنِي أَعْمى‌ وَ قَدْ كُنْتُ بَصِيراً قالَ كَذلِكَ‌ أَتَتْكَ آياتُنا فَنَسِيتَها قَالَ الْآيَاتُ الْأَئِمَّةُ ع- فَنَسِيتَها وَ كَذلِكَ‌ الْ

about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious. “Whoever ignores My guidance will live a woeful life. .” (20:124) The Imam (a.s.) said, “It means ignoring Wilaya of Ali (a.s.).” I then read the words of Allah. “. . and will be brought in Our presence blind on the Day of Judgment.” (20:124) The Imam (a.s

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ فَخَلَقَ مَا أَحَبَّ مِمَّا أَحَبَّ وَ كَانَ مَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ خَلَقَ مَا أَبْغَضَ مِمَّا أَبْغَضَ وَ كَانَ مَا أَبْغَضَ أَنْ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ النَّارِ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُمْ فِي الظِّلَالِ فَقُلْتُ وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الظِّلَالُ قَالَ أَ لَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ظِلِّكَ فِي الشَّمْسِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ فِيهِمُ النَّبِيِّينَ يَدْعُونَه

“Allah created the creatures. He created whatever He loved from whatever He loved. The most beloved to Him He created from the clay of paradise. He created whatever He disliked from whatever He disliked. Thus, the most disliked to Him He created from the clay of fire. Then He sent them to the shadow.” I asked him, “Wha

خَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص النَّاسَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَهُ الْيُمْنَى قَابِضاً عَلَى كَفِّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تَدْرُونَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ مَا فِي كَفِّي قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ فِيهَا أَسْمَاءُ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ أَسْمَاءُ آبَائِهِمْ وَ قَبَائِلِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَهُ الشِّمَالَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَ تَدْرُونَ مَا فِي كَفِّي قَالُوا اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ فَق

“Once the Holy Prophet (s.a) addressed the people and he raised his right hand while holding his fingers closed and said, ‘Do you know, O people, what is in my hand?” They said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He then said, “In my hand there are the names of the people of Paradise, the names of their fathers and t

لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بَاتَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع بِأَطْوَلِ لَيْلَةٍ حَتَّى ظَنُّوا أَنْ لَا سَمَاءَ تُظِلُّهُمْ وَ لَا أَرْضَ تُقِلُّهُمْ لِأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَتَرَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ وَ الْأَبْعَدِينَ فِي اللَّهِ فَبَيْنَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ أَتَاهُمْ آتٍ لَا يَرَوْنَهُ وَ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَامَهُ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ إِنَّ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَاءً مِنْ كُ

19.Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Asha‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbas from Ali ibn Asbat from Ya’qub ibn Salim from a man from Abu Ja‘far (AS) who has said the following: “When the Messenger of Allah passed away the family of Muhammad (SAW) experienced the longest night. They had a feel

يُحْشَرُ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً عَلَيْهِ سِيمَاءُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ هَيْبَةُ الْمُلُوكِ.

“On the Day of Judgment ‘Abd al-Muttalib will be resurrected as a whole nation and he will have the complexion like those of the prophets and the majestic presence like those of the kings.”

إِنَّ عَبْدَ الْمُطَّلِبِ أَوَّلُ مَنْ قَالَ بِالْبَدَاءِ يُبْعَثُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أُمَّةً وَحْدَهُ عَلَيْهِ بَهَاءُ الْمُلُوكِ وَ سِيمَاءُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ.

“‘Abd al-Muttalib is the first one who believer in Bada’ (Allah’s revised will). He will be resurrected as a whole nation. He will have an august presence like kings and a countenance like that of the prophets.”

أَسْلَمَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ بِحِسَابِ الْجُمَّلِ وَ عَقَدَ بِيَدِهِ ثَلَاثاً وَ سِتِّينَ.

“I saw Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) on the day of victory in Basra while he was riding the on the mule of the Messenger of Allah (then) he said, “O people do you want me to tell who the best of the creatures of Allah will be on the Day when He will bring all of them at one place?” Abu Ayyub al-Ansari stood up and said,

رَأَيْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَوْمَ افْتَتَحَ الْبَصْرَةَ وَ رَكِبَ بَغْلَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُهُمُ اللَّهُ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ- أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ بَلَى يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَدِّثْنَا فَإِنَّكَ كُنْتَ تَشْهَدُ وَ نَغِيبُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ خَيْرَ الْخَلْقِ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُهُمُ اللَّهُ سَبْعَةٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ عَبْد

“Once I saw Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (AS) on the day of victory in Basra while he was riding the on the mule of the Messenger of Allah (SAW). Then he said, ‘Oh people, do you want me to tell you who the best of the creatures of Allah will be on the Day when He will bring all of them to one place?’ Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (RA)

إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ أَسَدٍ أُمَّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَانَتْ أَوَّلَ امْرَأَةٍ هَاجَرَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهَا وَ كَانَتْ مِنْ أَبَرِّ النَّاسِ- بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَسَمِعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يُحْشَرُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عُرَاةً كَمَا وُلِدُوا فَقَالَتْ وَا سَوْأَتَاهْ فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَإِنِّي أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ

Indeed, Fatimah daughter of Asad, the mother of the Commander of the Faithful, was the first woman to migrate on foot to the Messenger of God (s) from Mecca to Medina. She was among the people most devoted and most kind toward the Messenger of God (s). She heard the Messenger of God (s) saying, ‘People will be gathered

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِفَاطِمَةَ ع يَا فَاطِمَةُ قُومِي فَأَخْرِجِي تِلْكَ الصَّحْفَةَ[1] فَقَامَتْ فَأَخْرَجَتْ صَحْفَةً فِيهَا ثَرِيدٌ وَ عُرَاقٌ يَفُورُ فَأَكَلَ النَّبِيُّ ص وَ عَلِيٌّ وَ فَاطِمَةُ وَ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْماً ثُمَّ إِنَّ أُمَّ أَيْمَنَ رَأَتِ الْحُسَيْنَ مَعَهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ مِنْ أَيْنَ لَكَ هَذَا قَالَ إِنَّا لَنَأْكُلُهُ مُنْذُ أَيَّامٍ فَأَتَتْ أُمُّ أَيْمَنَ فَ

“Once the Holy Prophet (s.a) said to Fatima, “Rise and bring that tray.” She went and took out the tray with fresh bread and steaming meat on it. The Holy Prophet (s.a), Ali, Fatima, al-Hassan and al-Husayn (a.s.) continued to have their meals from it for thirteen days. Then ’Umm Ayman saw al-Husayn with certain things

فِيكَ مَا قَالَ وَ قَدْ حَجَجْتَ عِشْرِينَ حَجَّةً مَاشِياً وَ قَدْ قَاسَمْتَ مَالَكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ حَتَّى النَّعْلَ بِالنَّعْلِ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا أَبْكِي لِخَصْلَتَيْنِ لِهَوْلِ الْمُطَّلَعِ وَ فِرَاقِ الْأَحِبَّةِ.

"When al-Hassan was about to die he wept. He was asked, 'O son of the Messenger of Allah, why would you weep, when you have such a position with the Messenger of Allah such as you have? And all the (good things) said about you. You have performed Hajj twenty times on foot and distributed all of your belongings among th

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَنْتُمْ وَرَثَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَارِثُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ عَلِمَ كُلَّ مَا عَلِمُوا قَالَ لِي نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَأَنْتُمْ تَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْ تُحْيُوا الْمَوْتَى وَ تُبْرِءُوا الْأَكْمَهَ وَ الْأَبْرَصَ قَالَ نَعَمْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِيَ ادْنُ مِنِّي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَمَسَحَ عَلَى وَجْهِي وَ عَلَى عَ

“Once I went to see abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and asked him, “Are you the heirs of the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Yes, we are his heirs.” I then asked, “Was the Messenger of Allah the heir of the prophets and knew all that they knew?” He said to me, “Yes, it is true.” I then asked, “Do you have the power to bring the dead

عِنْدَنَا خَزَائِنُ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَفَاتِيحُهَا وَ لَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أَقُولَ بِإِحْدَى رِجْلَيَّ أَخْرِجِي مَا فِيكِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ لَأَخْرَجَتْ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِإِحْدَى رِجْلَيْهِ فَخَطَّهَا فِي الْأَرْضِ خَطّاً فَانْفَرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ ثُمَّ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ فَأَخْرَجَ سَبِيكَةَ ذَهَبٍ قَدْرَ شِبْرٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ انْظُرُوا حَسَناً فَنَظَرْنَا فَإِذَا سَبَائِكُ كَثِيرَةٌ بَعْضُهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَلَأْلَأُ فَقَالَ لَهُ

“Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said, “We have the key to the treassures of the earth. If I would say to one of my foot to say to the earth, ‘Let out whatever all the gold that is there in you, it will do so.” The narrator has said that he then said to one of his feet and made aline withit

كَانَ لِي جَارٌ يَتَّبِعُ السُّلْطَانَ فَأَصَابَ مَالًا فَأَعَدَّ قِيَاناً وَ كَانَ يَجْمَعُ الْجَمِيعَ إِلَيْهِ وَ يَشْرَبُ الْمُسْكِرَ وَ يُؤْذِينِي فَشَكَوْتُهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ غَيْرَ مَرَّةٍ فَلَمْ يَنْتَهِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ أَلْحَحْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا هَذَا أَنَا رَجُلٌ مُبْتَلًى وَ أَنْتَ رَجُلٌ مُعَافًى فَلَوْ عَرَضْتَنِي لِصَاحِبِكَ رَجَوْتُ أَنْ يُنْقِذَنِيَ اللَّهُ بِكَ فَوَقَعَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فِي قَلْبِي ف

“I had a neighbor who followed the Sultan and he gains certain properties. He would arrange parties and invite female singers. They would drink wine and would disturb me. I complained to the man several times but he would not pay any attention. When I insisted he said, “O man, “I am an addicted man and you are sober. I

دَخَلَ ابْنُ عُكَّاشَةَ بْنِ مِحْصَنٍ الْأَسَدِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ كَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَائِماً عِنْدَهُ فَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ عِنَباً فَقَالَ حَبَّةً حَبَّةً يَأْكُلُهُ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَ الصَّبِيُّ الصَّغِيرُ وَ ثَلَاثَةً وَ أَرْبَعَةً يَأْكُلُهُ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ لَا يَشْبَعُ وَ كُلْهُ حَبَّتَيْنِ حَبَّتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُ يُسْتَحَبُّ فَقَالَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع لِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ لَا تُزَوِّجُ أَبَا

“Once ibn al-‘Ukkasha ibn Muhsin al-Asadi went to see abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) was present with him. Grapes were offered to him. The Imam (a.s.) said, “The old man and the small boy eat grasps one piece at a time and one who is anxious for filling himself up eats several pieces at a time but you should take

لَمَّا انْقَضَى أَمْرُ الْمَخْلُوعِ‌[1] وَ اسْتَوَى الْأَمْرُ لِلْمَأْمُونِ كَتَبَ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع يَسْتَقْدِمُهُ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ فَاعْتَلَّ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع بِعِلَلٍ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْمَأْمُونُ يُكَاتِبُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ لَا مَحِيصَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَكُفُّ عَنْهُ فَخَرَجَ ع وَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع سَبْعُ سِنِينَ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَأْمُونُ لَا تَأْخُذْ عَلَى طَرِيقِ الْجَبَلِ وَ قُم

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from from Yasir al-Khadim and al-Rayyan ibn al-Salt all have said the following. “When the matter of the deposed Caliph (Amin) ended and it was established for al-Ma’mun he wrote to al-Rida asking to come to Khurasan. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in reply presented certain reason to justify his

مَرِضَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ مِنْ خُرَاجٍ خَرَجَ بِهِ وَ أَشْرَفَ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْهَلَاكِ فَلَمْ يَجْسُرْ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَمَسَّهُ بِحَدِيدَةٍ فَنَذَرَتْ أُمُّهُ إِنْ عُوفِيَ أَنْ تَحْمِلَ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ مَالًا جَلِيلًا مِنْ مَالِهَا وَ قَالَ لَهُ الْفَتْحُ بْنُ خَاقَانَ لَوْ بَعَثْتَ إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَسَأَلْتَهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَخْلُو أَنْ يَكُونَ عِنْدَهُ صِفَةٌ يُفَرِّجُ بِهَا عَنْكَ فَبَع

“ Al-Mutawakkil became ill because of a boil so seriously that he was about to die and no one would have the courage to touch to operate him. His mother vowed to sent a large sum of money to abu al-Hassan (a.s.) from her own property if her son would recover. Fath ibn Khaqan had advised him to ask him (the Imam (a.s.)

رَأَيْتُهُ يَعْنِي مُحَمَّداً قَبْلَ مَوْتِهِ بِالْعَسْكَرِ فِي عَشِيَّةٍ وَ قَدِ اسْتَقْبَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ وَ اعْتَلَّ مِنْ غَدٍ فَدَخَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ عَائِداً بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ عِلَّتِهِ وَ قَدْ ثَقُلَ فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ بِثَوْبٍ- فَأَخَذَهُ وَ أَدْرَجَهُ وَ وَضَعَهُ تَحْتَ رَأْسِهِ قَالَ فَكُفِّنَ فِيهِ قَالَ أَحْمَدُ قَالَ أَبُو يَعْقُوبَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع مَعَ ا

“Abu ya‘qub informed me saying, ‘ I saw him (Muhammad) before his death in the army camp in an evening. Abu al-Hassan received him and looked at him and he became ill the next day. After several days I went to visit him during his illness and his illness was worsening. He informed me that he (abu al-Hassan (a.s.) has s

كَانَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خَاقَانَ عَلَى الضِّيَاعِ وَ الْخَرَاجِ بِقُمَّ فَجَرَى فِي مَجْلِسِهِ يَوْماً ذِكْرُ الْعَلَوِيَّةِ وَ مَذَاهِبِهِمْ وَ كَانَ شَدِيدَ النَّصْبِ فَقَالَ مَا رَأَيْتُ وَ لَا عَرَفْتُ بِسُرَّ مَنْ رَأَى رَجُلًا مِنَ الْعَلَوِيَّةِ مِثْلَ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الرِّضَا فِي هَدْيِهِ وَ سُكُونِهِ وَ عَفَافِهِ وَ نُبْلِهِ وَ كَرَمِهِ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ ب

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Asha‘ari and Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated the following. “Ahmad ibn ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Khaqan was in charge of collecting property and other taxes in the city of Qumm. One day in his presence the ‘Alawids and their beliefs were mentioned. He was a staunch Nasibi (abusive of ‘Al