Oneness of Allah

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ ما ظَلَمُونا وَ لكِنْ كانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ‌ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى أَعْظَمُ وَ أَعَزُّ وَ أَجَلُّ وَ أَمْنَعُ مِنْ أَنْ يُظْلَمَ وَ لَكِنَّهُ خَلَطَنَا بِنَفْسِهِ فَجَعَلَ ظُلْمَنَا ظُلْمَهُ وَ وَلَايَتَنَا وَلَايَتَهُ حَيْثُ يَقُولُ- إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ‌ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَعْنِي الْأَئِمَّةَ مِنَّا ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَ

“I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “They (children of Israel) did not wrong Us but they wronged themselves.” (2:57) The Imam said, “Allah is far Great and Majestic and Mighty above being wronged. But He has mixed us with His Own-self. He has considered the wrong done to us as bein

مَا عُبِدَ اللَّهُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مِثْلِ الْبَدَاءِ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا عُظِّمَ اللَّهُ بِمِثْلِ الْبَدَاءِ[1].

“Allah is best worshipped with belief in al-Bada’. In another Hadith from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said, “Allah’s Greatness is not understood as well as it is understood with example of al-Bada’.”

فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ- يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ ما يَشاءُ وَ يُثْبِتُ‌ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ هَلْ يُمْحَى إِلَّا مَا كَانَ ثَابِتاً وَ هَلْ يُثْبَتُ إِلَّا مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ.

The Imam (a.s.) said, “Can anything be affaced without being established? Can anything be esblished unless it is out of nothing?”

مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً حَتَّى يَأْخُذَ عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ الْإِقْرَارَ لَهُ بِالْعُبُودِيَّةِ وَ خَلْعَ الْأَنْدَادِ وَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُقَدِّمُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُؤَخِّرُ مَا يَشَاءُ.

"Allah has not sent a prophet without first taking three pledges from him: acknowledgment of servitude to Him (Allah), renouncement of rivals (associating partners with Allah), and that Allah advances what He wills and delays what He wills."

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- قَضى‌ أَجَلًا وَ أَجَلٌ مُسَمًّى عِنْدَهُ‌ قَالَ هُمَا أَجَلَانِ أَجَلٌ مَحْتُومٌ وَ أَجَلٌ مَوْقُوفٌ.

“I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, “It is He who has created you from clay to live for a life-time and the span of your life is only known to Him. . .” (6:2) The Imam said, “There are two appointed times. One is is a definit time and the other is the conditional one.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَ وَ لَمْ يَرَ الْإِنْسانُ‌ أَنَّا خَلَقْناهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ‌ وَ لَمْ يَكُ شَيْئاً قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا مُقَدَّراً وَ لَا مُكَوَّناً قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ- هَلْ أَتى‌ عَلَى الْإِنْسانِ‌ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئاً مَذْكُوراً فَقَالَ كَانَ مُقَدَّراً غَيْرَ مَذْكُورٍ.

The Imam (a.s.) said, “It means that he did not exist in a definit or in the form of a being.” I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, “There was certainly a time when there was no mention of the human being” (76:1) The Imam said, “ It was definit but not mentioned.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْعِلْمُ عِلْمَانِ فَعِلْمٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَخْزُونٌ لَمْ يُطْلِعْ عَلَيْهِ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ عِلْمٌ عَلَّمَهُ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ فَمَا عَلَّمَهُ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ فَإِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ لَا يُكَذِّبُ نَفْسَهُ وَ لَا مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ لَا رُسُلَهُ وَ عِلْمٌ عِنْدَهُ مَخْزُونٌ يُقَدِّمُ مِنْهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُؤَخِّرُ مِنْهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُثْبِتُ مَا يَشَاءُ.

"Knowledge is of two types: One type of knowledge is with Allah, kept hidden, He has not disclosed it to any of His creation. And the other is knowledge which He taught to His angels and His messengers. As for what He taught His angels and His messengers, it will certainly occur; He does not contradict Himself, nor His

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ أُمُورٌ مَوْقُوفَةٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يُقَدِّمُ مِنْهَا مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُؤَخِّرُ مِنْهَا مَا يَشَاءُ.

Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Hammad from Rib‘i from Fudayl who said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, saying, ‘Of the issues there are those that Allah has withheld. He brings forward whatever He wills and withholds whatever He wills.’”

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْمٌ مَكْنُونٌ مَخْزُونٌ لَا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلَّا هُوَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ يَكُونُ الْبَدَاءُ- وَ عِلْمٌ عَلَّمَهُ مَلَائِكَتَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ وَ أَنْبِيَاءَهُ فَنَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُ.

“Allah has two kinds of knowledge. There is the hidden, treasured knowledge of which no one has any information except Allah. From this knowledge comes al-Bada’. There is the knowledge that Allah has given to His angels, His messengers and His prophets and we know this knowledge.”

مَا بَدَا لِلَّهِ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَّا كَانَ فِي عِلْمِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْدُوَ لَهُ.

“Nothing appeared to Allah in a thing except that He knew it before al-Bada’ would take place.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَبْدُ لَهُ مِنْ جَهْلٍ.

"Al-Bada' does take place to Allah (swt) from ignorance."

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَلْ يَكُونُ الْيَوْمَ شَيْ‌ءٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ بِالْأَمْسِ قَالَ لَا مَنْ قَالَ هَذَا فَأَخْزَاهُ اللَّهُ قُلْتُ أَ رَأَيْتَ مَا كَانَ وَ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ أَ لَيْسَ فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ قَالَ بَلَى قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ.

I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “Can anything happen today that was not in the knowledge of Allah the day before?’ The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, this does not happen. Whoever would say so Allah will make him to suffer a great deal.” I then said, “Do you consider that all that were there and all that will take place up to th

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَوْ عَلِمَ النَّاسُ مَا فِي الْقَوْلِ بِالْبَدَاءِ مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مَا فَتَرُوا عَنِ الْكَلَامِ فِيهِ.

“I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Had the people known of the reward in the belief in al-Bada’ there would have been no weakness in their words about it.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا تَنَبَّأَ نَبِيٌّ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُقِرَّ لِلَّهِ بِخَمْسِ خِصَالٍ بِالْبَدَاءِ وَ الْمَشِيئَةِ وَ السُّجُودِ وَ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ وَ الطَّاعَةِ.

“No prophet has ever proclaimed prophethood before acknowledging before Allah about five things. Acknowledgement of al-Bada’, of the wish of Allah, the prostration, affirmation of worshipping and obedience.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَخْبَرَ مُحَمَّداً ص بِمَا كَانَ مُنْذُ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا وَ بِمَا يَكُونُ إِلَى انْقِضَاءِ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَخْبَرَهُ بِالْمَحْتُومِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ اسْتَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا سِوَاهُ.

13. With the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad from Yunus from Jahm ibn abu Jahma from whom he narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, inform Prophet Muhammad about all that was there from the beginning of

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً قَطُّ إِلَّا بِتَحْرِيمِ الْخَمْرِ وَ أَنْ يُقِرَّ لِلَّهِ بِالْبَدَاءِ.

“I heard Imam al-Rida (a.s.) saying, “Allah never sent a prophet without the law that prohibits the use of wine and without belief in al-Bada.’”

سُئِلَ الْعَالِمُ ع كَيْفَ عِلْمُ اللَّهِ قَالَ عَلِمَ وَ شَاءَ وَ أَرَادَ وَ قَدَّرَ وَ قَضَى وَ أَمْضَى فَأَمْضَى مَا قَضَى وَ قَضَى مَا قَدَّرَ وَ قَدَّرَ مَا أَرَادَ فَبِعِلْمِهِ كَانَتِ الْمَشِيئَةُ وَ بِمَشِيئَتِهِ كَانَتِ الْإِرَادَةُ وَ بِإِرَادَتِهِ كَانَ التَّقْدِيرُ وَ بِتَقْدِيرِهِ كَانَ الْقَضَاءُ وَ بِقَضَائِهِ كَانَ الْإِمْضَاءُ وَ الْعِلْمُ مُتَقَدِّمٌ عَلَى الْمَشِيئَةِ وَ الْمَشِيئَةُ ثَانِيَةٌ وَ ا

Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad who said, ‘The Knowledgeable one asws was asked, ‘How does Allah azwj Know?’ He asws said: ‘He azwj Knows, and Desires, and Intends, and Determines, and Ordains, and Accomplishes. So He azwj Accomplishes what He azwj Ordains, and Ordains what He azwj Determines, and Dete

لَا يَكُونُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ لَا فِي السَّمَاءِ إِلَّا بِهَذِهِ الْخِصَالِ السَّبْعِ بِمَشِيئَةٍ وَ إِرَادَةٍ وَ قَدَرٍ وَ قَضَاءٍ وَ إِذْنٍ وَ كِتَابٍ وَ أَجَلٍ فَمَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يَقْدِرُ عَلَى نَقْضِ وَاحِدَةٍ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ. - وَ رَوَاهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَفْصٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُمَارَةَ عَنْ حَرِيزِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“There is nothing in the heavens and on earth without these seven charateristics: the wish, the will, the measure, the decree, the permission, the record and duration.Whoever thinks that he can do without any one of these he has become a unbeliever.” From Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father from Muhammad ibn Hafs from Muha

لَا يَكُونُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ لَا فِي الْأَرْضِ‌ إِلَّا بِسَبْعٍ بِقَضَاءٍ وَ قَدَرٍ وَ إِرَادَةٍ وَ مَشِيئَةٍ وَ كِتَابٍ وَ أَجَلٍ وَ إِذْنٍ فَمَنْ زَعَمَ غَيْرَ هَذَا فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَوْ رَدَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

There is nothing in heavens or on earth without seven: the decree, the measure, the will, the wish, the record (book) the duration and the permission. Whoever, would think something else he certainly has spoken a lie against Allah or has rejected Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَكُونُ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ أَرَادَ وَ قَدَّرَ وَ قَضَى قُلْتُ مَا مَعْنَى شَاءَ قَالَ ابْتِدَاءُ الْفِعْلِ قُلْتُ مَا مَعْنَى قَدَّرَ قَالَ تَقْدِيرُ الشَّيْ‌ءِ مِنْ طُولِهِ وَ عَرْضِهِ قُلْتُ مَا مَعْنَى قَضَى قَالَ إِذَا قَضَى أَمْضَاهُ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي لَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ‌[1].

“I heard abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, ‘There can nothing until Allah would wish it to be, will, measure and decree.” I asked what is the meaning of wish (Sha’a)? The Imam replied, “It is to begin the act.” I asked, “What is the meaning of measure (Qaddara)? The Imam replied, “It is measuring the length

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع شَاءَ وَ أَرَادَ وَ قَدَّرَ وَ قَضَى قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ وَ أَحَبَّ قَالَ لَا قُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ شَاءَ وَ أَرَادَ وَ قَدَّرَ وَ قَضَى وَ لَمْ يُحِبَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا[2].

2. It is narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Aban from abu Basir who has said the following. “asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about, “(Allah) Wished, Willed, Measured and Decreed.” The Imam said, “Yes.” I asked, “Did He love?” The Imam said, “No.” I asked, “How is it that

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ وَ لَمْ يَشَأْ وَ شَاءَ وَ لَمْ يَأْمُرْ أَمَرَ إِبْلِيسَ أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لآِدَمَ وَ شَاءَ أَنْ لَا يَسْجُدَ وَ لَوْ شَاءَ لَسَجَدَ وَ نَهَى آدَمَ عَنْ أَكْلِ الشَّجَرَةِ وَ شَاءَ أَنْ يَأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَ لَوْ لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَأْكُلْ.

“Allah commanded but did not want. He wanted but did not command. He commanded Satan to prostrate but He did not want it. If He wanted Satan would have prostrated. He prohibited Adam from eating of the tree and wanted him to eat. Had He not wanted he would not have ate.”

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ إِرَادَتَيْنِ وَ مَشِيئَتَيْنِ إِرَادَةَ حَتْمٍ وَ إِرَادَةَ عَزْمٍ يَنْهَى وَ هُوَ يَشَاءُ وَ يَأْمُرُ وَ هُوَ لَا يَشَاءُ أَ وَ مَا رَأَيْتَ أَنَّهُ نَهَى آدَمَ وَ زَوْجَتَهُ أَنْ يَأْكُلَا مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ وَ شَاءَ ذَلِكَ وَ لَوْ لَمْ يَشَأْ أَنْ يَأْكُلَا لَمَا غَلَبَتْ مَشِيئَتُهُمَا مَشِيئَةَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَ أَمَرَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ أَنْ يَذْبَحَ إِسْحَاقَ وَ لَمْ يَشَأْ أَنْ يَذْبَحَهُ وَ لَوْ شَا

“Allah has two wills and two wishes. He has a definite will and an intended will. He prohibits but He wants it. He commands but He does not want it. Consider that He prohibited Adam and his spouse from eating of the tree but He wanted them to eat. Had He not wanted their wish would not have surpassed Allah’s wish. He c

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ شَاءَ وَ أَرَادَ وَ لَمْ يُحِبَّ وَ لَمْ يَرْضَ- شَاءَ أَنْ لَا يَكُونَ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِلَّا بِعِلْمِهِ وَ أَرَادَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يُحِبَّ أَنْ يُقَالَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَ لَمْ يَرْضَ‌ لِعِبادِهِ الْكُفْرَ.

‘He wanted and willed and did not love and did not agree. He wanted something nor to happen except in His knowledge and He willed in the same way but He did not love it to be said, “The third of the three and He did not agree that His servants become unbelievers.”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ بِمَشِيئَتِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَشَاءُ لِنَفْسِكَ مَا تَشَاءُ وَ بِقُوَّتِي أَدَّيْتَ فَرَائِضِي وَ بِنِعْمَتِي قَوِيتَ عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِي جَعَلْتُكَ سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً قَوِيّاً ما أَصابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ‌ وَ ما أَصابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ‌ وَ ذَاكَ أَنِّي أَوْلَى بِحَسَنَاتِكَ مِنْكَ وَ أَنْتَ أَوْلَى بِسَيِّئَاتِكَ مِنِّي وَ

“Allah said, ‘O son of Adam through My wish you came into existence and it is you who wish for yourself whatever you wish. Through My power you fulfill your obligations and through My bounties you receive strength to disobey Me. I made you to hear and see and be strong. Whatever good you receive is from Allah and whate

مَا مِنْ قَبْضٍ وَ لَا بَسْطٍ إِلَّا وَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ مَشِيئَةٌ وَ قَضَاءٌ وَ ابْتِلَاءٌ.

“There is no expansion or reduction but that Allah therein has a wish, decree and testing.”

إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فِيهِ قَبْضٌ أَوْ بَسْطٌ مِمَّا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَوْ نَهَى عَنْهُ إِلَّا وَ فِيهِ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ابْتِلَاءٌ وَ قَضَاءٌ[1].

“ There is nothing in which there is expansion or reduction of the matters that Allah has commanded or has prohibited except that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, therein has a decree and a testing.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ السَّعَادَةَ وَ الشَّقَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ خَلْقَهُ فَمَنْ خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ سَعِيداً لَمْ يُبْغِضْهُ أَبَداً وَ إِنْ عَمِلَ شَرّاً أَبْغَضَ عَمَلَهُ وَ لَمْ يُبْغِضْهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ شَقِيّاً لَمْ يُحِبَّهُ أَبَداً وَ إِنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحاً أَحَبَّ عَمَلَهُ وَ أَبْغَضَهُ لِمَا يَصِيرُ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ شَيْئاً لَمْ يُبْغِضْهُ أَبَداً وَ إِذَا أَبْغَضَ شَيْئاً لَمْ يُحِبَّهُ أَبَد

“Allah created good fortune and bad fortune before He created the creatures. Whoever Allah has created fortunate He never becomes angry with him even though he may do bad deeds. He to reach and nor do the deep diving intelligence is capable to grasp. Most High is Allah. It is He who is not subject to the effects of the

كُنْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَالِساً وَ قَدْ سَأَلَهُ سَائِلٌ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ لَحِقَ الشَّقَاءُ أَهْلَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ حَتَّى حَكَمَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ فِي عِلْمِهِ بِالْعَذَابِ عَلَى عَمَلِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ حُكْمُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يَقُومُ لَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ بِحَقِّهِ فَلَمَّا حَكَمَ بِذَلِكَ وَهَبَ لِأَهْل

“I was in presence of Imam abu ‘abdallah (a.s.) when a certain person asked him saying, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, O great-great-great-great-grandson of the holy Prophet (s.a.), wherefrom misfortune took hold of the people committing sins and so Allah in His knowledge deemed it for them to suffe

يُسْلَكُ بِالسَّعِيدِ فِي طَرِيقِ الْأَشْقِيَاءِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ النَّاسُ مَا أَشْبَهَهُ بِهِمْ بَلْ هُوَ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَدَارَكُهُ السَّعَادَةُ وَ قَدْ يُسْلَكُ بِالشَّقِيِّ فِي طَرِيقِ السُّعَدَاءِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ النَّاسُ مَا أَشْبَهَهُ بِهِمْ بَلْ هُوَ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَدَارَكُهُ الشَّقَاءُ إِنَّ مَنْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ سَعِيداً وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا فُوَاقُ نَاقَةٍ خَتَمَ لَهُ بِالسَّعَادَةِ

The Imam said, “A fortunate person is made to walk on the path of the unfortunate ones so much so that people would say, “How similar has he become with them? In fact, he has become one of them. Then good fortune helps him. Sometimes a unfortunate one is made to walk on the path of the fortunate ones and people begins

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ مِمَّا أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى مُوسَى ع وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ أَنِّي‌ أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنَا خَلَقْتُ الْخَلْقَ وَ خَلَقْتُ الْخَيْرَ وَ أَجْرَيْتُهُ عَلَى يَدَيْ مَنْ أُحِبُّ فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ أَجْرَيْتُهُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ وَ أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنَا خَلَقْتُ الْخَلْقَ وَ خَلَقْتُ الشَّرَّ وَ أَجْرَيْتُهُ عَلَى يَدَيْ مَنْ أُرِيدُهُ فَو

“I heard (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘It was of the facts that Allah revealed to Moses and sent down in the Torah, ‘I am Allah, no one deserves to be obeyed and worshipped besides Me. I have created the creatures and created the Good and made it to run through the hands of those whom I love. Fortunate are tho

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي بَعْضِ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ كُتُبِهِ أَنِّي‌ أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنَا خَلَقْتُ الْخَيْرَ وَ خَلَقْتُ الشَّرَّ فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ أَجْرَيْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ الْخَيْرَ وَ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ أَجْرَيْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ الشَّرَّ وَ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ يَقُولُ كَيْفَ ذَا وَ كَيْفَ ذَا.

“In certain matters that Allah has revealed through His books is, ‘I am Allah. No one deserves to be obeyed and worshipped besides Me. I created the Good and Evil. Fortunate are those through whose hands I have made good to run and unfortunate are those through whose hands I have made evil to run and unfortunate are th

قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ أَنَا اللَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنَا خَالِقُ الْخَيْرِ وَ الشَّرِّ فَطُوبَى لِمَنْ أَجْرَيْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ الْخَيْرَ وَ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ أَجْرَيْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ الشَّرَّ وَ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ يَقُولُ كَيْفَ ذَا وَ كَيْفَ هَذَا قَالَ يُونُسُ يَعْنِي مَنْ يُنْكِرُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ بِتَفَقُّهٍ فِيهِ.

“Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, ‘I am Allah. No one deserves to be obeyed and worshipped besides I the Creator of good and evil. Fortunate are those through whose hands I have made good to run and unfortunate are those through whose hands I have made evil to run and unfortunate are those who say, “How i

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع جَالِساً بِالْكُوفَةِ بَعْدَ مُنْصَرَفِهِ مِنْ صِفِّينَ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ شَيْخٌ فَجَثَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ‌[1]- ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ مَسِيرِنَا إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ أَ بِقَضَاءٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ قَدَرٍ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَجَلْ يَا شَيْخُ مَا عَلَوْتُمْ تَلْعَةً وَ لَا هَبَطْتُمْ بَطْنَ وَادٍ إِلَّا بِقَضَاءٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ قَدَرٍ فَقَالَ

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad and Is’haq Bin Muhammad and someone else, raising it, He asws said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen asws was seated in Al-Kufa, after his asws leaving from (the battle of) Siffeen, when an old man squatted in front of him asws , then said to him asws , ‘O Amir Al-Momineen asws ! Inform us about

مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ- فَقَدْ كَذَبَ‌ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ وَ الشَّرَّ إِلَيْهِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ‌[1].

“Whoever thinks that Allah orders people to commit sins has ascribed lies to Allah and whoever thinks that good and evil are from Allah has ascribed lies to Allah.” (See also Hadith No. 6 below).

سَأَلْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُ فَوَّضَ الْأَمْرَ إِلَى الْعِبَادِ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعَزُّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ فَجَبَرَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَعَاصِي قَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْدَلُ وَ أَحْكَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ أَنَا أَوْلَى بِحَسَنَاتِكَ مِنْكَ وَ أَنْتَ أَوْلَى بِسَيِّئَاتِكَ مِنِّي- عَمِلْتَ الْمَعَاصِيَ بِقُوَّتِيَ الَّتِي جَعَلْتُهَا فِيكَ.

“Once I asked the Imam (a.s.), ‘Has Allah left all the matters to people?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah, Most Exalted, is by far above and beyond such things.’ I then asked, ‘Has He compelled them to commit sins?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah’s justice and His judgment are far above and beyond such things.’ The Imam further said, ‘A

قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَا يُونُسُ لَا تَقُلْ بِقَوْلِ الْقَدَرِيَّةِ فَإِنَّ الْقَدَرِيَّةَ لَمْ يَقُولُوا بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ لَا بِقَوْلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَ لَا بِقَوْلِ إِبْلِيسَ- فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَنَّةِ قَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدانا لِهذا وَ ما كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْ لا أَنْ هَدانَا اللَّهُ‌ وَ قَالَ أَهْلُ النَّارِ رَبَّنا غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْنا شِقْوَتُنا وَ كُنَّا قَوْماً ضال

“O Yunus do not say what pre-determinists say. The pre- determinists do not say what people of paradise say or what people of hell say or what Satan says. The people of paradise say, ‘. . . all praise is due to Allah for His guiding us. We could never have been guided without Allah’s guiding us.’ (7:43) The people of h

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ- فَعَلِمَ مَا هُمْ صَائِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ- وَ أَمَرَهُمْ وَ نَهَاهُمْ فَمَا أَمَرَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَقَدْ جَعَلَ لَهُمُ السَّبِيلَ إِلَى تَرْكِهِ وَ لَا يَكُونُونَ آخِذِينَ وَ لَا تَارِكِينَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ.

“Allah created the creatures and He knew what they will do. He commanded and prohibited them. He has not commanded them to do anything but that He has placed there a way for them not to obey the command (if they so wanted). They do not obey or disobey except by Allah’s permission.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالسُّوءِ وَ الْفَحْشَاءِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ- وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ وَ الشَّرَّ بِغَيْرِ مَشِيئَةِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ أَخْرَجَ اللَّهَ مِنْ سُلْطَانِهِ وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْمَعَاصِيَ بِغَيْرِ قُوَّةِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ[2].

“The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, ‘Whoever believes that Allah has commanded to do evil and sin has ascribed lies to Allah. Whoever thinks that good and evil are without the wish of Allah, has considered Allah without authority. Whoever thinks that sins are without the power from Allah, has ascribed lies to Allah and

كَانَ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَتَكَلَّمُ فِي الْقَدَرِ وَ النَّاسُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا هَذَا أَسْأَلُكَ قَالَ سَلْ قُلْتُ يَكُونُ فِي مُلْكِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مَا لَا يُرِيدُ قَالَ فَأَطْرَقَ طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ لِي يَا هَذَا لَئِنْ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ يَكُونُ فِي مُلْكِهِ‌ مَا لَا يُرِيدُ إِنَّهُ لَمَقْهُورٌ وَ لَئِنْ قُلْتُ لَا يَكُونُ فِي مُلْكِهِ إِلَّا مَا

“In the mosque of Madina there was a person who spoke of the issue of predetermination and people had gathered around him. I said to him, ‘O you, can I ask you a question?’ He said, ‘Yes, you may do so.’ I then said, ‘Can there be a thing in the kingdom of Allah the Majestic, the Glorious, that He may not want?’ He rem

قُلْتُ أَجْبَرَ اللَّهُ الْعِبَادَ عَلَى الْمَعَاصِي قَالَ لَا قُلْتُ فَفَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِمُ الْأَمْرَ قَالَ قَالَ لَا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا ذَا قَالَ لُطْفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ‌[2].

“I asked the Imam (a.s.), ‘Has Allah compelled the servants to sin?’ The Imam replied, ‘No, He has not compelled them.’ I then asked, ‘Has He left all matters to them?’ He replied, ‘No, He has not done so.’ I asked, ‘Then how is it?’ The Imam then said, ‘It is a way of kindness from your Lord in between.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَرْحَمُ بِخَلْقِهِ مِنْ أَنْ يُجْبِرَ خَلْقَهُ عَلَى الذُّنُوبِ ثُمَّ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَ اللَّهُ أَعَزُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُرِيدَ أَمْراً فَلَا يَكُونَ قَالَ فَسُئِلَا ع هَلْ بَيْنَ الْجَبْرِ وَ الْقَدَرِ مَنْزِلَةٌ ثَالِثَةٌ قَالا نَعَمْ أَوْسَعُ مِمَّا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ.

“Allah is more kind to His creatures than to compel them to sin and then punish them. Allah, the Most Majestic, is by far beyond willing something that cannot come into existence.” The two Imams (a.s.) were asked if there was a third reality between compulsion and predetermination. They replied, ‘Yes, there is somethin

سُئِلَ عَنِ الْجَبْرِ وَ الْقَدَرِ فَقَالَ لَا جَبْرَ وَ لَا قَدَرَ وَ لَكِنْ مَنْزِلَةٌ بَيْنَهُمَا فِيهَا الْحَقُّ الَّتِي بَيْنَهُمَا لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُ أَوْ مَنْ عَلَّمَهَا إِيَّاهُ الْعَالِمُ.

“He was asked about compulsion and predetermination. He said, “There is no compulsion and no predetermination. It is something between the two. In this there is the truth that is known only to a scholar or one whom the scholar has taught.”

قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَجْبَرَ اللَّهُ الْعِبَادَ عَلَى الْمَعَاصِي فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَعْدَلُ مِنْ أَنْ يُجْبِرَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَعَاصِي ثُمَّ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَفَوَّضَ اللَّهُ إِلَى الْعِبَادِ- قَالَ فَقَالَ لَوْ فَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِمْ لَمْ يَحْصُرْهُمْ بِالْأَمْرِ وَ النَّهْيِ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَبَيْنَهُمَا مَنْزِلَةٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ أَوْسَعُ مَا بَيْنَ

“Once a man said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, has Allah compelled people to sin?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah is just and by far beyond compelling people to sin and then punishing them for it.’ The man then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, has He then le

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِنَّ بَعْضَ أَصْحَابِنَا يَقُولُ بِالْجَبْرِ وَ بَعْضَهُمْ يَقُولُ‌ بِالاسْتِطَاعَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي اكْتُبْ‌ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ بِمَشِيئَتِي كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَشَاءُ وَ بِقُوَّتِي أَدَّيْتَ إِلَيَّ فَرَائِضِي وَ بِنِعْمَتِي قَوِيتَ عَلَى مَعْصِيَتِي جَعَلْتُكَ سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً م

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Certain persons of our people believe in compulsion and others believe in people’s capabilities. The Imam said, ‘Write down, “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, (Imam) Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), has said that Allah, the Most Majestic has said, ‘O son of Adam,

لَا جَبْرَ وَ لَا تَفْوِيضَ وَ لَكِنْ أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا أَمْرٌ بَيْنَ أَمْرَيْنِ قَالَ مَثَلُ ذَلِكَ رَجُلٌ رَأَيْتَهُ عَلَى مَعْصِيَةٍ فَنَهَيْتَهُ فَلَمْ يَنْتَهِ فَتَرَكْتَهُ فَفَعَلَ تِلْكَ الْمَعْصِيَةَ- فَلَيْسَ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَقْبَلْ مِنْكَ فَتَرَكْتَهُ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ الَّذِي أَمَرْتَهُ بِالْمَعْصِيَةِ.

“There is no compulsion and no total freedom but it is a matter between the two.” The narrator has said, ‘I asked what is, “it is a matter between the two?” The Imam (a.s.), said, ‘One example of this is the case of a man whom you may see that sins and you try to stop him but he does not listen. You then leave him alon

اللَّهُ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُكَلِّفَ النَّاسَ مَا لَا يُطِيقُونَ وَ اللَّهُ أَعَزُّ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي سُلْطَانِهِ مَا لَا يُرِيدُ.

“Allah is by far Gracious and beyond ordering people to do what they are not capable of doing. Allah is by far Majestic and beyond a situation wherein things may exist in His kingdom that He does not want.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الِاسْتِطَاعَةِ فَقَالَ يَسْتَطِيعُ الْعَبْدُ بَعْدَ أَرْبَعِ خِصَالٍ أَنْ يَكُونَ مُخَلَّى السَّرْبِ صَحِيحَ الْجِسْمِ سَلِيمَ الْجَوَارِحِ- لَهُ سَبَبٌ‌ وَارِدٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ- قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَسِّرْ لِي هَذَا قَالَ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْعَبْدُ مُخَلَّى السَّرْبِ صَحِيحَ الْجِسْمِ سَلِيمَ الْجَوَارِحِ- يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَزْنِيَ فَلَا يَجِدُ امْرَأَةً ثُمَّ يَجِدُهَا فَإِم

“Once I asked Imam abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about capability. The Imam said, ‘A servant (of Allah) has the capability if four things exist. That he is free and on his own, that he is physically well and of sound limbs and that for him there is reason and means from Allah.’ I asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in the s

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الِاسْتِطَاعَةِ فَقَالَ أَ تَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَعْمَلَ مَا لَمْ يُكَوَّنْ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَتَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ تَنْتَهِيَ عَمَّا قَدْ كُوِّنَ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَمَتَى أَنْتَ مُسْتَطِيعٌ قَالَ لَا أَدْرِي قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً فَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ آلَةَ الِاسْتِطَاعَةِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يُفَوِّضْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَهُمْ

“He asked (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about capability. The Imam said, ‘Can you do something before its existence?’ He Said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam said, ‘Can you stop doing what has already been done?’ He said, ‘No, I cannot do so.’ The Imam then asked, ‘When then can you have the capability?’ He said, ‘I do

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع هَلْ لِلْعِبَادِ مِنَ الِاسْتِطَاعَةِ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي إِذَا فَعَلُوا الْفِعْلَ كَانُوا مُسْتَطِيعِينَ بِالاسْتِطَاعَةِ الَّتِي جَعَلَهَا اللَّهُ فِيهِمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا هِيَ قَالَ الْآلَةُ مِثْلُ الزَّانِي‌[1] إِذَا زَنَى كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً لِلزِّنَا حِينَ زَنَى وَ لَوْ أَنَّهُ تَرَكَ الزِّنَا وَ لَمْ يَزْنِ كَانَ مُسْتَطِيعاً لِتَرْكِهِ إِذَا تَرَكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَي

“Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Do the servants (of Allah) have any capability?’ The Imam said, ‘When they act an act they do have the capability that Allah has placed in them.’ I asked, ‘What is it?’ The Imam said, ‘It is a means. In a sin like adultery when one commits such sins he has the capability when he is