Angels

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ بَيْنَا أَبِي ع يَطُوفُ بِالْكَعْبَةِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ مُعْتَجِرٌ[3] قَدْ قُيِّضَ لَهُ‌ فَقَطَعَ عَلَيْهِ أُسْبُوعَهُ‌[1] حَتَّى أَدْخَلَهُ إِلَى دَارٍ جَنْبَ الصَّفَا فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ فَكُنَّا ثَلَاثَةً فَقَالَ مَرْحَباً يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِي وَ قَالَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ يَا أَمِينَ اللَّهِ بَعْدَ آبَائِهِ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ[2] إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَخْبِر

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Once while my father was walking around the Ka‘ba for Tawaf a man who had covered his face partially with his turban suddenly came by. He caused discontinuation in the Tawaf of the Imam (a.s.) and took him (a.s.) to a house adjacent to al-Safa. He sent for me also and then we were there

بَيْنَا أَبِي جَالِسٌ وَ عِنْدَهُ نَفَرٌ إِذَا اسْتَضْحَكَ حَتَّى اغْرَوْرَقَتْ عَيْنَاهُ دُمُوعاً ثُمَّ قَالَ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا أَضْحَكَنِي قَالَ فَقَالُوا لَا قَالَ زَعَمَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّهُ مِنَ‌ الَّذِينَ قالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ‌ ثُمَّ اسْتَقامُوا[2] فَقُلْتُ لَهُ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ يَا ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ تُخْبِرُكَ بِوَلَايَتِهَا لَكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ مَعَ الْأَمْنِ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَ الْحُ

“Once, in a meeting in the presence of my father with a group of people also present my father smiled and (the feeling was quite intense it caused) tears flooded his eyes. He then asked, “Do you know what made me laugh?” The narrator has said that they said, “No, we do not know the reason.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ibn ‘

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ- وَ ما أَدْراكَ ما لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا أَدْرِي قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هَلْ تَدْرِي لِمَ

“Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, “We revealed the Quran on the Night of Destiny ((97:1) Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has certainly said the truth has reveal the Holy Quran on the Night of Determination. “Would that you knew what the Night of Destiny is! (97:2)” the Messenger of Allah said, “I do not kn

كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ‌- مَا اجْتَمَعَ التَّيْمِيُّ وَ الْعَدَوِيُّ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ يَقْرَأُ- إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ بِتَخَشُّعٍ وَ بُكَاءٍ فَيَقُولَانِ مَا أَشَدَّ رِقَّتَكَ لِهَذِهِ السُّورَةِ فَيَقُولُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِمَا رَأَتْ عَيْنِي وَ وَعَى قَلْبِي وَ لِمَا يَرَى قَلْبُ هَذَا مِنْ بَعْدِي فَيَقُولَانِ وَ مَا الَّذِي رَأَيْتَ وَ مَا الَّذِي يَرَى قَالَ فَيَكْتُبُ لَهُمَا فِي ال

“Ali (a.s.) would say very often, “(What for) al-Taymies and al-‘Adawies have gathered around the Messenger of Allah (s.a.). He, the Messenger of Allah, would read, “We have revealed it on the Night of Determination” very humbly and tearfully. They (al-Taymi and al-‘Adwi) would say, “How intense is the tenderness that

لَقَدْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ- لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ أَوَّلَ مَا خَلَقَ الدُّنْيَا وَ لَقَدْ خَلَقَ فِيهَا أَوَّلَ نَبِيٍّ يَكُونُ وَ أَوَّلَ وَصِيٍّ يَكُونُ وَ لَقَدْ قَضَى أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ لَيْلَةٌ يَهْبِطُ فِيهَا بِتَفْسِيرِ الْأُمُورِ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا مِنَ السَّنَةِ الْمُقْبِلَةِ مَنْ جَحَدَ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ رَدَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِلْمَهُ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَقُومُ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الرُّسُلُ

7. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, Majestic is Whose mention, created the Night of Determination when He first created the world and created in it the first prophet that would come and the first executor of the will (of prophet) that would co

وَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ لَا تَغْضَبُ عَلَيَّ قَالَ لِمَا ذَا قَالَ لِمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهُ قَالَ قُلْ قَالَ وَ لَا تَغْضَبُ قَالَ وَ لَا أَغْضَبُ قَالَ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَكَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ وَ تَنَزُّلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوحِ فِيهَا إِلَى الْأَوْصِيَاءِ يَأْتُونَهُمْ بِأَمْرٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَدْ عَلِمَهُ أَوْ يَأْتُونَهُمْ بِأَمْرٍ كَانَ رَسُو

8. The narrator has said that a man said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), “O child of the Messenger of Allah, “Please do not be angry with m.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Why should I be angry?” The man said, “It is because of the question that like to ask you.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask your question.” He said, “Please do not be ang

لَمَا تَرَوْنَ‌[1] مَنْ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِلشَّقَاءِ- عَلَى أَهْلِ الضَّلَالَةِ مِنْ أَجْنَادِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ‌[1] أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا تَرَوْنَ خَلِيفَةَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي بَعَثَهُ لِلْعَدْلِ وَ الصَّوَابِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ قِيلَ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ قَالَ كَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ السَّائِلُ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ إِنِّي لَوْ ح

9. The narrator has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said the following. “You, certainly, find those whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has sent to induce misfortune into the heretics and misleading people of the army (followers) of Satan and their companions in greater numbers than those sent to the deputy of Allah,

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْماً أَظْهَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ أَنْبِيَاءَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ فَمَا أَظْهَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ وَ أَنْبِيَاءَهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْنَاهُ وَ عِلْماً اسْتَأْثَرَ بِهِ فَإِذَا بَدَا لِلَّهِ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهُ أَعْلَمَنَا ذَلِكَ وَ عَرَضَ عَلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلِنَا. - عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْ

"Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, has two kinds of knowledge: One kind He has made apparent to His angels, His prophets, and His messengers. Whatever He has made apparent to His angels, His prophets, and His messengers, we have learned it. And another kind He has kept exclusively to Himself. So, whenever Allah decid

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْماً عِنْدَهُ لَمْ يُطْلِعْ عَلَيْهِ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ عِلْماً نَبَذَهُ إِلَى مَلَائِكَتِهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ فَمَا نَبَذَهُ إِلَى مَلَائِكَتِهِ وَ رُسُلِهِ فَقَدِ انْتَهَى إِلَيْنَا.

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is His only and no creature knows abo

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْمٌ مَبْذُولٌ وَ عِلْمٌ‌ مَكْفُوفٌ فَأَمَّا الْمَبْذُولُ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَعْلَمُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ الرُّسُلُ إِلَّا نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُ وَ أَمَّا الْمَكْفُوفُ فَهُوَ الَّذِي عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا خَرَجَ نَفَذَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from Durays who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is that which is granted and the kind is that which I withheld. Of the one which, is grant

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْمٌ لَا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا هُوَ وَ عِلْمٌ عَلَّمَهُ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ فَمَا عَلَّمَهُ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ ع فَنَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُ.

The other kind is that which He has taught to the His angels and His messengers. Whatever His angels and Messengers have learned we know it.”

سَأَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ فَارِسَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ تَعْلَمُونَ الْغَيْبَ- فَقَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يُبْسَطُ لَنَا الْعِلْمُ فَنَعْلَمُ وَ يُقْبَضُ عَنَّا فَلَا نَعْلَمُ وَ قَالَ سِرُّ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَسَرَّهُ إِلَى جَبْرَئِيلَ ع وَ أَسَرَّهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ أَسَرَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَى مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ‌[1].

“Do you know al-Ghayb (the hidden facts)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘It opens to us then we know it and it is withheld from us then we do not know.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “It is the secret of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, who has secretly given to Jibril and Jibril has secretly giv

سَمِعْتُ حُمْرَانَ بْنَ أَعْيَنَ يَسْأَلُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- بَدِيعُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ‌[2] قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ابْتَدَعَ الْأَشْيَاءَ كُلَّهَا بِعِلْمِهِ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِثَالٍ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ فَابْتَدَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرَضِينَ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ قَبْلَهُنَّ سَمَاوَاتٌ وَ لَا أَرَضُونَ أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى- وَ كانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى

about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High Allah, “. . One Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. .” (6:101) Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, originated all things through His knowledge in unprecedentedly. He Invented the heavens and eath and there was heavens and e

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ وَ عِنْدَهُ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ عَجِبْتُ مِنْ قَوْمٍ يَتَوَلَّوْنَا[3] وَ يَجْعَلُونَا أَئِمَّةً وَ يَصِفُونَ أَنَّ طَاعَتَنَا مُفْتَرَضَةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ كَطَاعَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ يَكْسِرُونَ حُجَّتَهُمْ وَ يَخْصِمُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ بِضَعْفِ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَيَنْقُصُونَا حَقَّنَا وَ يَعِيبُونَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَنْ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ بُرْهَانَ حَقِّ مَعْرِفَتِنَا وَ التَّسْلِيمَ لِ

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from Durays al-Kunasi who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) the following to an audience of his companions. “What an strange case is the case with a group of followers! They acknowledge us as the Divine authority over thems

إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص بِرُمَّانَتَيْنِ فَأَكَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِحْدَاهُمَا وَ كَسَرَ الْأُخْرَى بِنِصْفَيْنِ فَأَكَلَ نِصْفاً وَ أَطْعَمَ عَلِيّاً نِصْفاً ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَا أَخِي هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا هَاتَانِ الرُّمَّانَتَانِ قَالَ لَا قَالَ أَمَّا الْأُولَى فَالنُّبُوَّةُ لَيْسَ لَكَ فِيهَا نَصِيبٌ وَ أَمَّا الْأُخْرَى فَالْعِلْمُ أَنْتَ شَرِيكِي فِيهِ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّه

“Once Jibril came to the Messenger of Allah and brought him two pieces of pomegranates. The Messenger of Allah ate one of them and broke the other one into two pieces. He then ate one half and fed the other half to Ali (a.s.). The Messenger of Allah said, “O my brother, do you know what those pieces of pomegranates wer

نَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص بِرُمَّانَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُمَا فَأَكَلَ وَاحِدَةً وَ كَسَرَ الْأُخْرَى بِنِصْفَيْنِ فَأَعْطَى عَلِيّاً ع نِصْفَهَا فَأَكَلَهَا فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ أَمَّا الرُّمَّانَةُ الْأُولَى الَّتِي أَكَلْتُهَا فَالنُّبُوَّةُ لَيْسَ لَكَ فِيهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ أَمَّا الْأُخْرَى فَهُوَ الْعِلْمُ فَأَنْتَ شَرِيكِي فِيهِ.

“Once Jibril brought from Paradise two pieces of pomegranate to the Messenger of Allah and brought him two pieces of pomegranates. The Messenger of Allah ate one of them and broke the other one into two pieces. He then ate one half and gave the other half to Ali (a.s.) who also ate it (a.s.). The Messenger of Allah sai

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ نَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص بِرُمَّانَتَيْنِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَلَقِيَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع فَقَالَ مَا هَاتَانِ الرُّمَّانَتَانِ اللَّتَانِ فِي يَدِكَ فَقَالَ أَمَّا هَذِهِ فَالنُّبُوَّةُ لَيْسَ لَكَ فِيهَا نَصِيبٌ وَ أَمَّا هَذِهِ فَالْعِلْمُ ثُمَّ فَلَقَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِنِصْفَيْنِ فَأَعْطَاهُ نِصْفَهَا وَ أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص نِصْفَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَنْتَ شَرِيكِي فِيهِ

“Once Jibril descended to Muhammad (s.a) (and) brought two pieces of pomegranate from Paradise. Ali (a.s.) meet him and asked, “What (kind of ) pomegranate are those in your hands?” He replied, “As to this one, it is the Prophet-hood in which there is no share for you. As to this one, it is knowledge. Then the Messenge

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع رُوِّينَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ عِلْمَنَا غَابِرٌ وَ مَزْبُورٌ وَ نَكْتٌ فِي الْقُلُوبِ وَ نَقْرٌ فِي الْأَسْمَاعِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا الْغَابِرُ فَمَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ عِلْمِنَا وَ أَمَّا الْمَزْبُورُ فَمَا يَأْتِينَا وَ أَمَّا النَّكْتُ فِي الْقُلُوبِ فَإِلْهَامٌ وَ أَمَّا النَّقْرُ فِي الْأَسْمَاعِ فَأَمْرُ الْمَلَكِ.

“As for that about the matters of the past is that which is passed our knowledge. That which is written is the kind that will come in future. That which is dotted into the hearts is the inspired kind and that which is struck against the ears is the order of the angel.”

أَرْسَلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى زُرَارَةَ أَنْ يُعْلِمَ الْحَكَمَ بْنَ عُتَيْبَةَ أَنَّ أَوْصِيَاءَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ مُحَدَّثُونَ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) sent (message) to Zurara to inform al-Hakam ibn ‘Utayba that the executors of the will of Muhammad (s.a.) (are Muhaddathun) hear from the angels.” al-Hakam ibn ’Utaybah (al-Kindi al-Kufi [50/670 - 115/ 733], one of the tab‘un [those who knew the companions of the Holy Prophet and famous narrators of

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَوْماً فَقَالَ يَا حَكَمُ هَلْ تَدْرِي الْآيَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع يَعْرِفُ قَاتِلَهُ بِهَا وَ يَعْرِفُ بِهَا الْأُمُورَ الْعِظَامَ الَّتِي كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ بِهَا النَّاسَ قَالَ الْحَكَمُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي قَدْ وَقَعْتُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ أَعْلَمُ بِذَلِكَ تِلْكَ الْأُمُورَ الْعِظَامَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا

“One day I went to see Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.).” He said, “O Hakam do you know the verse (of the Holy Quran) from which Ali ibn abu Talib had learned who his assassin was and the extremely great matters of which he would speak to people? “ Al-Hakam has said that I said to myself in my mind, “ I have now a chance to le

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْأَئِمَّةُ عُلَمَاءُ صَادِقُونَ مُفَهَّمُونَ مُحَدَّثُونَ.

“The Imams (a.s.) are scholar, truthful people, have perfect understanding and Muhaddathum hear from the angels.”

ذُكِرَ الْمُحَدَّثُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ وَ لَا يَرَى الشَّخْصَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ كَلَامُ الْمَلَكِ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يُعْطَى السَّكِينَةَ وَ الْوَقَارَ حَتَّى يَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ كَلَامُ مَلَكٍ.

“Once Muhaddath was mentioned in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said, “He, Muhaddath, hears the voice but does not see the persons of the angels.” I then said to him, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, how he would come to know that the voice and words are from the angels?” The Imam (a.s.)

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَانَ مُحَدَّثاً فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِي فَقُلْتُ جِئْتُكُمْ بِعَجِيبَةٍ فَقَالُوا وَ مَا هِيَ فَقُلْتُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع مُحَدَّثاً فَقَالُوا مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئاً إِلَّا سَأَلْتَهُ مَنْ كَانَ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَرَجَعْتُ‌[1] إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي حَدَّثْتُ أَصْحَابِي بِمَا حَدَّثْتَنِي فَقَالُوا مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئاً إِلَّا سَأَلْتَهُ مَنْ كَان

“Ali (a.s.) was a Muhaddath.” I then returned to my associates and said, “I have brought you a very strange news.” They asked, “What is it?” I then said that I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say that Ali (a.s.) was a Muhaddath. They then said, “What did you do?” Would that you had asked him as to who would speak to him (Ali (

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- وَ كَذلِكَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ‌ رُوحاً مِنْ أَمْرِنا ما كُنْتَ تَدْرِي‌ مَا الْكِتابُ وَ لَا الْإِيمانُ‌[1] قَالَ خَلْقٌ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَ مِيكَائِيلَ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص يُخْبِرُهُ وَ يُسَدِّدُهُ وَ هُوَ مَعَ الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from abu ’al-Sabah al-Kinani from abu Basir who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Thus, We have revealed a Spi

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- يَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ‌ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي‌[3] قَالَ خَلْقٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَ مِيكَائِيلَ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُوَ مَعَ الْأَئِمَّةِ وَ هُوَ مِنَ الْمَلَكُوتِ.

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was with the Messenger of Allah and he is present with the Ima

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ يَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي‌ قَالَ خَلْقٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَ مِيكَائِيلَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَ أَحَدٍ مِمَّنْ مَضَى غَيْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ هُوَ مَعَ الْأَئِمَّةِ يُسَدِّدُهُمْ وَ لَيْسَ كُلُّ مَا طُلِبَ وُجِدَ.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘“They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was present with anyone before except Muhammad (s.a.). He is present with the Imams (a.s.). He protects them. It

أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ أَ لَيْسَ هُوَ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع جَبْرَئِيلُ ع مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوحُ غَيْرُ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَكَرَّرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَقَالَ لَهُ لَقَدْ قُلْتَ عَظِيماً مِنَ الْقَوْلِ مَا أَحَدٌ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ الرُّوحَ غَيْرُ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِنَّكَ ضَالٌّ تَرْوِي عَنْ أَهْلِ الضَّلَالِ يَقُو

“Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) asking him about the Spirit. “Is he not Jibril?” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then said, “Jibril is of the angels. The Spirit is not Jibril. He repeated it to the man. The man said, “You have said something very much extraordinary. No one other than you thinks that the Spi

إِنَّ الْوَصِيَّةَ نَزَلَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ كِتَاباً[2] لَمْ يُنْزَلْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص كِتَابٌ مَخْتُومٌ إِلَّا الْوَصِيَّةُ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ وَصِيَّتُكَ فِي أُمَّتِكَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ قَالَ نَجِيبُ اللَّهِ‌[3] مِنْهُمْ وَ ذُرِّيَّتُهُ لِيَرِثَكَ عِلْمَ النُّبُوَّةِ كَمَا وَرَّثَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع وَ مِيرَاث

“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

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْزَلَ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ ص كِتَاباً قَبْلَ وَفَاتِهِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ وَصِيَّتُكَ إِلَى النُّجَبَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ قَالَ وَ مَا النُّجَبَةُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ وُلْدُهُ ع وَ كَانَ عَلَى الْكِتَابِ خَوَاتِيمُ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَدَفَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَفُكَّ خَاتَماً مِنْهُ وَ يَعْمَلَ بِمَا فِيهِ فَفَكّ

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu al-Hassan al-Kinani from Ja‘far ibn Najih al-Kindi from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ubaydallah al-‘Umari from his father from his grandfather from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَ لَيْسَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَاتِبَ الْوَصِيَّةِ وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمُمْلِي عَلَيْهِ وَ جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ع شُهُودٌ قَالَ فَأَطْرَقَ طَوِيلًا[2] ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ قَدْ كَانَ مَا قُلْتَ‌[3] وَ لَكِنْ حِينَ نَزَلَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْأَمْرُ نَزَلَتِ الْوَصِيَّةُ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ كِتَاباً مُسَجَّلًا نَزَلَ بِهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ مَ

4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Harith ibn Ja’far from Ali ibn Isma‘il ibn Yaqtin from ‘Isa ibn al-Mustafad, abu Musa al-Darir who has said that Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) narrated to me the following. “I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Was Amir al-

إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي أَوْلَى بِكُمْ أَيْ أَحَقُّ بِكُمْ وَ بِأُمُورِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ أَمْوَالِكُمُ‌ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَعْنِي عَلِيّاً وَ أَوْلَادَهُ الْأَئِمَّةَ ع إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثُمَّ وَصَفَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ‌ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ‌ راكِعُونَ‌ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي صَلَاةِ الظُّهْرِ وَ قَدْ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَ

3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad al-Hashimi from his father from Ahmad ibn ‘Isa from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Only God, His Messenger, and the

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ خَمْساً أَخَذُوا أَرْبَعاً وَ تَرَكُوا وَاحِداً قُلْتُ أَ تُسَمِّيهِنَّ لِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ الصَّلَاةُ وَ كَانَ النَّاسُ لَا يَدْرُونَ كَيْفَ يُصَلُّونَ فَنَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَخْبِرْهُمْ بِمَوَاقِيتِ صَلَاتِهِمْ ثُمَّ نَزَلَتِ الزَّكَاةُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَخْبِرْهُمْ مِنْ زَكَاتِهِمْ مَا أَخْبَرْتَه

“I heard Abu Ja’far (a.s.) say: Allah, to Whom belongs Might and Majesty, made five things incumbent on (his) servants: they accepted four and rejected one.’ I asked: ’May I be made your ransom, name them for me?’ He said: ’Prayer; but the people did not understand how to pray, then Jibril (a.s.) came down and said: “O

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ لَمَّا أَنْ قَضَى مُحَمَّدٌ نُبُوَّتَهُ وَ اسْتَكْمَلَ أَيَّامَهُ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ قَدْ قَضَيْتَ نُبُوَّتَكَ وَ اسْتَكْمَلْتَ أَيَّامَكَ فَاجْعَلِ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي عِنْدَكَ وَ الْإِيْمَانَ وَ الِاسْمَ الْأَكْبَرَ وَ مِيرَاثَ الْعِلْمِ وَ آثَارَ عِلْمِ النُّبُوَّةِ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَإِنِّي لَنْ أَقْطَعَ الْعِلْمَ وَ الْإِيمَ

“When Muhammad (s.a.) completed his task of prophet-hood and the duration of his life was about to end Allah, the Most High sent him wahy information through the angels. It said, “O Muhammad, your task of prophet-hood has come to an end and the duration of your life is about to reach a close. Therefore, you must place

أَوْصَى مُوسَى ع إِلَى يُوشَعَ بْنِ نُونٍ وَ أَوْصَى يُوشَعُ بْنُ نُونٍ إِلَى وَلَدِ هَارُونَ وَ لَمْ يُوصِ إِلَى وَلَدِهِ وَ لَا إِلَى وَلَدِ مُوسَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَهُ الْخِيَرَةُ يَخْتَارُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِمَّنْ يَشَاءُ وَ بَشَّرَ مُوسَى وَ يُوشَعُ بِالْمَسِيحِ ع فَلَمَّا أَنْ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمَسِيحَ ع قَالَ الْمَسِيحُ لَهُمْ إِنَّهُ سَوْفَ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي نَبِيٌّ اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ مِنْ

“Moses prepared his will and be given to Yusha‘ ibn Nun. Yusha‘ ibn Nun made his will to be given to the sons of Harun. He did not made a will to be given to his own sons nor to be given to the sons of Moses. To Allah, the Most High belong all the good choice. He chooses whoever He wants from whomever He wants. He gave

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

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي صَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ شَبَهاً مِنْ يُوسُفَ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ كَأَنَّكَ تَذْكُرُهُ حَيَاتَهُ أَوْ غَيْبَتَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي وَ مَا يُنْكَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ أَشْبَاهُ الْخَنَازِيرِ- إِنَّ إِخْوَةَ يُوسُفَ ع كَانُوا أَسْبَاطاً أَوْلَادَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ تَاجَرُوا يُوسُفَ وَ بَايَعُوهُ وَ خَاطَبُوهُ وَ هُمْ إِخْوَتُهُ وَ هُوَ أَخُوهُمْ- فَلَمْ يَعْرِفُ

“In the (case) of the person in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority, the twelfth Imam (a.s.)) there is a similarity to Yusuf (Joseph) (a.s.).” I then said, “Are you, O Imam, speaking of his life time or his disappearance.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) then said, “ What then is it that ce

أَنَّ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع دَخَلَ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَ مَعَهُ كُتُبٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ يَدْعُونَهُ فِيهَا إِلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ يُخْبِرُونَهُ بِاجْتِمَاعِهِمْ وَ يَأْمُرُونَهُ بِالْخُرُوجِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع هَذِهِ الْكُتُبُ ابْتِدَاءٌ مِنْهُمْ أَوْ جَوَابُ مَا كَتَبْتَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِمْ وَ دَعَوْتَهُمْ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ بَلِ ابْتِدَاءٌ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ لِمَعْرِف

16. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Husayn ibn al-Jarud from Musa ibn Bakr ibn Dab from the one who narrated to him from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn went to see abu Ja’far, Muhammad ibn Ali. He carried with him l

أَتَيْنَا خَدِيجَةَ بِنْتَ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع نُعَزِّيهَا بِابْنِ بِنْتِهَا فَوَجَدْنَا عِنْدَهَا مُوسَى بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ فَإِذَا هِيَ فِي نَاحِيَةٍ قَرِيباً مِنَ النِّسَاءِ فَعَزَّيْنَاهُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ يَقُولُ لِابْنَةِ أَبِي يَشْكُرَ الرَّاثِيَةِ قُولِي‌[1] فَقَالَتْ‌ اعْدُدْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ اعْدُدْ بَعْدَهُ- أَسَدَ

“We went to Khadijah, the daughter of ‘Umar ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) to offer our condolences for the death of the son of her daughter. We met at her place Musa ibn ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan. She was to one side near the ladies. We offered them our condolences to all of them. We then turned to h

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

رَوَى غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ: لَا تَتَكَلَّمُوا فِي الْإِمَامِ فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ وَ هُوَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ كَتَبَ الْمَلَكُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ- وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَ عَدْلًا لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ‌ فَإِذَا قَامَ بِالْأَمْرِ رُفِعَ لَهُ فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ مَنَارٌ يَنْظُرُ مِنْهُ إِلَى أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ.

The Imam (a.s.) has said, “Do not speak about the Imam. The Imam (a.s.) hears the words while he still is in the womb of his mother. When she would give birth the angel write between his eyes, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord’s Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowi

كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ ابْنُ فَضَّالٍ جُلُوساً إِذْ أَقْبَلَ يُونُسُ فَقَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ فِي الْعَمُودِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا يُونُسُ مَا تَرَاهُ أَ تَرَاهُ عَمُوداً مِنْ حَدِيدٍ يُرْفَعُ لِصَاحِبِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا أَدْرِي قَالَ لَكِنَّهُ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ بِكُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ يَرْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَعْمَالَ تِلْكَ الْبَلْدَةِ قَالَ فَقَامَ اب

“I and ibn Faddal were sitting tha Yunus came and said, ‘I went to see abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and said to him, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “People speak so much about pillar.” He said to me, “O Yunus, what do you see? Do you see it as a pillar of iron that you would raise for your friend?”

لِلْإِمَامِ عَشْرُ عَلَامَاتٍ يُولَدُ مُطَهَّراً مَخْتُوناً وَ إِذَا وَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَقَعَ عَلَى رَاحَتِهِ رَافِعاً صَوْتَهُ بِالشَّهَادَتَيْنِ وَ لَا يُجْنِبُ وَ تَنَامُ عَيْنَاهُ وَ لَا يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ وَ لَا يَتَثَاءَبُ وَ لَا يَتَمَطَّى وَ يَرَى مِنْ خَلْفِهِ كَمَا يَرَى مِنْ أَمَامِهِ وَ نَجْوُهُ كَرَائِحَةِ الْمِسْكِ وَ الْأَرْضُ مُوَكَّلَةٌ بِسَتْرِهِ‌ وَ ابْتِلَاعِهِ وَ إِذَا لَبِسَ دِرْعَ رَسُولِ ال

“Imam has ten signs. He is born clean and circumcised. When falls on the earth his palms reach the ground first while he raises his head to the sky and loudly says the two testimonies. He does not experience wit dream. His eyes sleep but not his heart. He does not yawn and stretCh He sees behind just as he sees in fron

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ نَهَراً دُونَ عَرْشِهِ وَ دُونَ النَّهَرِ الَّذِي دُونَ عَرْشِهِ نُورٌ نَوَّرَهُ وَ إِنَّ فِي حَافَتَيِ النَّهَرِ رُوحَيْنِ مَخْلُوقَيْنِ- رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ وَ رُوحٌ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَشْرَ طِينَاتٍ خَمْسَةً مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ خَمْسَةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ فَفَسَّرَ الْجِنَانَ وَ فَسَّرَ الْأَرْضَ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَ لَا مَلَكٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ جَبَلَهُ إِل

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Hassa’n and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Salma ibn al-Khattab and others from Ali ibn Hassa’n from Ali ibn ‘Atiyya from Ali ibn Ri’ab who has narrated it in a marfu‘ manner from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah has a canal below His Throne. Below the can

كُنْتُ لَا أَزِيدُ عَلَى أَكْلَةٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ فَرُبَّمَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَجِدُ الْمَائِدَةَ قَدْ رُفِعَتْ‌[2] لَعَلِّي لَا أَرَاهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُ دَعَا بِهَا فَأُصِيبَ مَعَهُ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ لَا أَتَأَذَّى بِذَلِكَ وَ إِذَا عَقَّبْتُ بِالطَّعَامِ عِنْدَ غَيْرِهِ لَمْ أَقْدِرْ عَلَى أَنْ أَقِرَّ وَ لَمْ أَنَمْ مِنَ النَّفْخَةِ فَشَكَوْتُ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْه

“I used to eat one meal in twenty four hours. I would ask permission to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) at such time that I would expect that their table cloth is collected and they have fished their meal. When I would arrive he would ask to return the table cloth. I would find food in it but it would not harm me while if I w

قَالَ يَا حُسَيْنُ وَ ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى مَسَاوِرَ[3] فِي الْبَيْتِ مَسَاوِرُ طَالَ مَا اتَّكَتْ عَلَيْهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ رُبَّمَا الْتَقَطْنَا مِنْ زَغَبِهَا.

“Once Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘O Husayn, tapping his hand on a cushion in the house, saying, ‘Cushions on which for a long time angels have been leaning and perhaps we pick up some of their fluff around.”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَاحْتُبِسْتُ فِي الدَّارِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ دَخَلْتُ الْبَيْتَ وَ هُوَ يَلْتَقِطُ شَيْئاً وَ أَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ السِّتْرِ فَنَاوَلَهُ مَنْ كَانَ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَاكَ تَلْتَقِطُهُ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ فَقَالَ فَضْلَةٌ مِنْ زَغَبِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ نَجْمَعُهُ إِذَا خَلَّوْنَا نَجْعَلُهُ سَيْحاً[1] لِأَوْلَادِنَا فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَا

“Once I went to see Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and I became confounded in the room for an hour then I went inside the house while he was picking up things and would give to someone behind the curtain. I then said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, What was that thing that I saw you picking up?” The Imam (

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ مَلَكٍ يُهْبِطُهُ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرٍ مَا يُهْبِطُهُ إِلَّا بَدَأَ بِالْإِمَامِ فَعَرَضَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنَّ مُخْتَلَفَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِلَى صَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) say, ‘Every angels that Allah sends down for a task that angel first begins with meeting the Imam to present the task to him. The presence of Imam, Leader with Divine Authority is the scene of great mix of the angels from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.”

كُنْتُ مُزَامِلًا لِجَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيِّ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَوَدَّعَهُ وَ خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَ هُوَ مَسْرُورٌ حَتَّى وَرَدْنَا الْأُخَيْرِجَةَ[3] أَوَّلَ مَنْزِلٍ نَعْدِلُ مِنْ فَيْدَ[4] إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ- يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ فَصَلَّيْنَا الزَّوَالَ فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ بِنَا الْبَعِيرُ إِذَا أَنَا بِرَجُلٍ طُوَالٍ آدَمَ مَعَهُ كِتَابٌ فَنَاوَلَهُ جَابِراً فَتَن

“Once I was a companion of Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi on a journey. When reached he went to meet abu Ja‘far (a.s.). He said farewell to him and came out very happy until we arrived in al-’Ukhayraja, the first length of journey from Fayd to Madina. It was a Friday. We said our prayers at noon. When the camel rose to l