Leadership & Responsibility

مَا مِنْ لَيْلَةِ جُمُعَةٍ إِلَّا وَ لِأَوْلِيَاءِ اللَّهِ فِيهَا سُرُورٌ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ وَافَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْعَرْشَ وَ وَافَى الْأَئِمَّةُ ع وَ وَافَيْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَمَا أَرْجِعُ إِلَّا بِعِلْمٍ مُسْتَفَادٍ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَنَفِدَ مَا عِنْدِي.

“There is no Friday night in which except that in it there is joy and happiness for those who possess Divine authority.” I asked, “How is it, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When Frinday night comes the Messenger of Allah arrives to the throne with the Imams (a.s.) and I also

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ كَانَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَوْ لَا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لَأَنْفَدْنَا. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ‌ مِثْلَهُ.

“Would we not receive (new knowledge) we would diminish (in knowledge).” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Safwan from abu a1-Hassan (a.s.) a similar Hadith.

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا ذَرِيحُ لَوْ لَا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لَأَنْفَدْنَا.

“O Dharih, “Would we not receive (new knowledge) we will diminish (in knowledge).”said:

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَوْ لَا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لَأَنْفَدْنَا قَالَ قُلْتُ تَزْدَادُونَ شَيْئاً لَا يَعْلَمُهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ عُرِضَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ عَلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ ثُمَّ انْتَهَى الْأَمْرُ إِلَيْنَا.

“Would we not receive additional (knowledge) we would diminish (in knowledge).” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.) “Do receive additional something that the Messenger of Allah does not know?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The fact of the matter is that when that happens, it is presented to the Messenger of A

لَيْسَ يَخْرُجُ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ حَتَّى يَبْدَأَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ بِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع ثُمَّ بِوَاحِدٍ بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ آخِرُنَا أَعْلَمَ مِنْ أَوَّلِنَا.

“Nothing comes from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, except that first it begins with the Messenger of Allah then Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then the Imams one after the other so that the last us would not be more knowledgeable than the first of us.”

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

كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَ يَحْيَى الْبَزَّازُ وَ دَاوُدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ فِي مَجْلِسِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا وَ هُوَ مُغْضَبٌ فَلَمَّا أَخَذَ مَجْلِسَهُ قَالَ يَا عَجَباً لِأَقْوَامٍ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّا نَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ مَا يَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ بِضَرْبِ جَارِيَتِي فُلَانَةَ فَهَرَبَتْ مِنِّي فَمَا عَلِمْتُ فِي أَيِّ بُيُوتِ الدَّارِ هِيَ قَالَ سَد

The Imam (a.s.) came to us while he was angry. When he settled in his seat he then said, “How strange is it that certain people think we know the hidden facts. No one knows the hidden things except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. I thought to discipline our house maid, so and so, and could not find in which quarte

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْإِمَامِ يَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَكِنْ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ الشَّيْ‌ءَ أَعْلَمَهُ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ.

“Does the Imam have the knowledge of the hidden facts?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, but if he would like to know about a thing Allah grants him that.”

إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ عُلِّمَ.

“Would the Imam (a.s.) like to know he would know.”

إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ أُعْلِمَ.

“Would the Imam (a.s.) want to know he would know.”

إِذَا أَرَادَ الْإِمَامُ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ شَيْئاً أَعْلَمَهُ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ.

“When the Imam (a.s.) would will to know something Allah will grant him such knowledge.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَيُّ إِمَامٍ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَا يُصِيبُهُ وَ إِلَى مَا يَصِيرُ فَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِحُجَّةٍ لِلَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ.

“Whoever of the Imams that would not know what would happen to him and to what events he would proceed such a person is not a possessor of Divine authority over His creature.”

قَالَ لِي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ بَعْضَ مَنْ يَقُولُونَ بِفَضْلِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَهُ قَطُّ فِي فَضْلِهِ وَ نُسُكِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَنْ وَ كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَهُ قَالَ جُمِعْنَا أَيَّامَ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ‌[2]- ثَمَانِينَ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْوُجُوهِ الْمَنْسُوبِينَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ فَأُدْخِلْنَا عَلَى مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ لَنَا السِّنْدِيُّ يَا هَؤُلَاءِ انْظُرُوا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ

“I have seen (experienced) from the people of this family of whose virtues people speak, things that I have never seen (experienced) no one else to be like him in his virtue and worship.” The narrator has said that he asked the man. “Who is he? And how did you find him?” He then said, “In the days of al-Sindi ibn Shahi

أَنَّهُ أَتَى عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع لَيْلَةً قُبِضَ فِيهَا بِشَرَابٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ اشْرَبْ هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي أُقْبَضُ فِيهَا وَ هِيَ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي قُبِضَ فِيهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص.

he went to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) on the night in which he passed away and offered him a drink requesting, “Father, please drink it.” He said, “Son, this is the night in which I will pass away and during such night the Messenger of Allah also passed away.” (The date of the demise of the two holy ones, as generally he

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَدْ عَرَفَ قَاتِلَهُ وَ اللَّيْلَةَ الَّتِي يُقْتَلُ فِيهَا وَ الْمَوْضِعَ الَّذِي يُقْتَلُ فِيهِ وَ قَوْلُهُ لَمَّا سَمِعَ صِيَاحَ الْإِوَزِّ[6] فِي الدَّارِ صَوَائِحُ تَتْبَعُهَا نَوَائِحُ وَ قَوْلُ أُمِّ كُلْثُومٍ- لَوْ صَلَّيْتَ اللَّيْلَةَ دَاخِلَ الدَّارِ وَ أَمَرْتَ غَيْرَكَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ فَأَبَى عَلَيْهَا وَ كَثُرَ دُخُولُهُ وَ خُرُوجُهُ تِلْكَ اللَّيْل

I said to al-Rida (peace be upon him): “The Commander of the Faithful knew his killer, the night on which he would be killed, and the place where he would be killed. He even said, when he heard the cries of the geese in the house: ‘Cries that will be followed by wailing.’ And Umm Kulthum said to him: ‘If only you would

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ غَضِبَ عَلَى الشِّيعَةِ[1] فَخَيَّرَنِي نَفْسِي أَوْ هُمْ فَوَقَيْتُهُمْ وَ اللَّهِ بِنَفْسِي.

“Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High expressed anger at the Shi‘a. He, therefore, let me choose either myself or them (to receive protection). I swear by Allah, that I protected them with my own soul.”

لَهُ يَا مُسَافِرُ هَذَا الْقَنَاةُ فِيهَا حِيتَانٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص الْبَارِحَةَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ يَا عَلِيُّ مَا عِنْدَنَا خَيْرٌ لَكَ‌[2].

“O Musafir, in this water passage there is fish.” The narrator has said that he said, “Yes, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, there is fish there.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah last night and was saying, “O Ali, what is with us is better for you.” (The mention of fish is to

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ فَأَوْصَانِي بِأَشْيَاءَ فِي غُسْلِهِ وَ فِي كَفْنِهِ وَ فِي دُخُولِهِ قَبْرَهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا أَبَاهْ وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُكَ مُنْذُ اشْتَكَيْتَ‌[3] أَحْسَنَ مِنْكَ الْيَوْمَ مَا رَأَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ أَثَرَ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يُنَادِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْجِدَارِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ تَعَالَ عَجِّلْ.

“I was in the presence of my father during the day in which he passes away. He made several recommendations to me about his funeral matters, such as washing his whole body, shrouding him and placing him in his grave. I then said to him, “Father, I have not seen in a better health from the day you complained illness tha

أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى النَّصْرَ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ع حَتَّى كَانَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ‌[4] ثُمَّ خُيِّرَ النَّصْرَ أَوْ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ فَاخْتَارَ لِقَاءَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى.

8. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent support for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) up to the fill between the heavens and earth. Then he wa

كُنَّا مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَمَاعَةً مِنَ‌ الشِّيعَةِ فِي الْحِجْرِ فَقَالَ عَلَيْنَا عَيْنٌ فَالْتَفَتْنَا يَمْنَةً وَ يَسْرَةً فَلَمْ نَرَ أَحَداً فَقُلْنَا لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا عَيْنٌ فَقَالَ وَ رَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ وَ رَبِّ الْبَنِيَّةِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ لَوْ كُنْتُ بَيْنَ مُوسَى وَ الْخَضِرِ لَأَخْبَرْتُهُمَا أَنِّي أَعْلَمُ مِنْهُمَا وَ لَأَنْبَأْتُهُمَا بِمَا لَيْسَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمَا لِأَنَّ مُوسَى وَ الْخَضِرَ

“An eye is watching over us.” We then looked right and left and did not see anyone. We said, “No eye is watching over us.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I swear by the Lord of the Ka‘ba. I swear by the Lord of the House.” He said so three times. “Had I been with Moses and al-Khidr I would have told them that I had more than t

إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِي النَّارِ وَ أَعْلَمُ مَا كَانَ وَ مَا يَكُونُ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ هُنَيْئَةً فَرَأَى أَنَّ ذَلِكَ كَبُرَ عَلَى مَنْ سَمِعَهُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ عَلِمْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ فِيهِ تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ[1].

“I certainly know what is the heavens and what is in the earth. I know what is in paradise and what is the fire. I know what was there and what will be there.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) paused for a while and found that what he had just said was much heavy for the audience then he (a.s.) said, “I learn

كَانَ الْمُفَضَّلُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمُفَضَّلُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَفْرِضُ اللَّهُ طَاعَةَ عَبْدٍ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ وَ يَحْجُبُ عَنْهُ خَبَرَ السَّمَاءِ قَالَ لَا اللَّهُ أَكْرَمُ وَ أَرْحَمُ وَ أَرْأَفُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَفْرِضَ طَاعَةَ عَبْدٍ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ ثُمَّ يَحْجُبَ عَنْهُ خَبَرَ السَّمَاءِ صَبَاحاً وَ مَسَاءً.

Al-Mufaddal asked the Imam (a.s.) the following. “May Allah, take my soul in service for your cause, does Allah command (his) servants to obey a servant and hide the news of the heavens from him?” The Imam (a.s.) said, Allah is by far much honorable, kind and caring towards His servants than to command them to obey a s

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

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِمِنًى- عَنْ خَمْسِمِائَةِ حَرْفٍ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ فَأَقْبَلْتُ أَقُولُ يَقُولُونَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا قَالَ فَيَقُولُ قُلْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا الْحَلَالُ وَ هَذَا الْحَرَامُ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ صَاحِبُهُ وَ أَنَّكَ أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِهِ وَ هَذَا هُوَ الْكَلَامُ فَقَالَ لِي وَيْكَ‌[5] يَا هِشَامُ لَا يَحْتَجُّ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ بِحُجَّةٍ لَا

“They say that he has said so and so.” Then he says, “You say so and so.” I then said to the Imam (a.s.), “May Allah, take my soul in service for your cause, “This is lawful and that is not lawful. I know that you are the authority in this and you are the most knowledgeable person in it and this is al-Kalam.” The Imam

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَكُونُ عَالِمٌ‌[6] جَاهِلًا أَبَداً عَالِماً بِشَيْ‌ءٍ جَاهِلًا بِشَيْ‌ءٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَجَلُّ وَ أَعَزُّ وَ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يَفْرِضَ طَاعَةَ عَبْدٍ يَحْجُبُ عَنْهُ عِلْمَ سَمَائِهِ وَ أَرْضِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا يَحْجُبُ ذَلِكَ عَنْهُ.

“No, I swear by Allah, the scholar (who possesses Divine authority) is never ignorant or knowledgeable in something and ignorant of other things. The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Allah, the Most Holy, Most High and Most Gracious, is far exalted and above imposing the obedience of a servant (of His) on the others and then hi

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

قَالَ: مَبْلَغُ عِلْمِنَا عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ وُجُوهٍ مَاضٍ وَ غَابِرٍ وَ حَادِثٍ‌[2] فَأَمَّا الْمَاضِي فَمُفَسَّرٌ وَ أَمَّا الْغَابِرُ فَمَزْبُورٌ[3] وَ أَمَّا الْحَادِثُ فَقَذْفٌ فِي الْقُلُوبِ وَ نَقْرٌ فِي الْأَسْمَاعِ‌[4] وَ هُوَ أَفْضَلُ عِلْمِنَا وَ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّنَا.

"The extent of our knowledge is based on three categories: past, present, and future. As for the past, it is explained; as for the present, it is recorded; and as for the future, it is a whisper in the hearts and a knocking in the ears, and this is the best of our knowledge. There is no prophet after our prophet."

قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ عِلْمِ عَالِمِكُمْ قَالَ وِرَاثَةٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ ع قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّا نَتَحَدَّثُ أَنَّهُ يُقْذَفُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَ يُنْكَتُ فِي آذَانِكُمْ‌[5] قَالَ أَوْ ذَاكَ‌[6].

“It is inherited from the Messenger of Allah and from Ali (a.s.).” The narrator has said that he asked him, “We narrate that it is thrown into your hearts and is dotted in your ears.” He then said, “Is that so?”

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.”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ لَوْ كَانَ لِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ أَوْكِيَةٌ[7] لَحَدَّثْتُ كُلَّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا لَهُ وَ عَلَيْهِ.

“Had there been a thing (zip) to contain (to sack) your tongues I would have spoken to everyone about what is for or against him.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا بَصِيرٍ يَقُولُ‌ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مِنْ أَيْنَ أَصَابَ أَصْحَابَ عَلِيٍّ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ مَعَ عِلْمِهِمْ بِمَنَايَاهُمْ وَ بَلَايَاهُمْ قَالَ فَأَجَابَنِي شِبْهَ الْمُغْضَبِ مِمَّنْ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا مِنْهُمْ فَقُلْتُ مَا يَمْنَعُكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ ذَلِكَ بَابٌ أُغْلِقَ إِلَّا أَنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ صَلَوَاتٌ عَلَيْهِمَا فَتَحَ مِنْهُ شَيْئاً يَسِيراً ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَ

“from who could it come except from their own selves.?” I then asked, “What prevents you, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, from telling it all (to your friends). The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is a door that is closed door except that al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) opened it to a small degree (told a few things a

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَدَّبَ نَبِيَّهُ عَلَى مَحَبَّتِهِ فَقَالَ‌ وَ إِنَّكَ لَعَلى‌ خُلُقٍ‌ عَظِيمٍ‌[1] ثُمَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ‌ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ‌ فَانْتَهُوا[2] وَ قَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطاعَ اللَّهَ‌[3] قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ فَوَّضَ إ

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from Ali ibn Isma‘il from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Asim ibn Humayd from abu Ishaq al-Nahwi who has said that he went see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and heard him say the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, discipline and education His Messenger with His a

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَسَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَنْ آيَةٍ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِهَا ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ دَاخِلٌ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ تِلْكَ الْآيَةِ فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِخِلَافِ مَا أَخْبَرَ بِهِ الْأَوَّلَ فَدَخَلَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ حَتَّى كَأَنَّ قَلْبِي يُشْرَحُ بِالسَّكَاكِينِ‌[4] فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي تَرَكْتُ أَبَا قَتَادَةَ بِالشَّامِ لَا يُخْطِئُ فِي الْوَاوِ وَ شِبْه

“I was in presence o abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) a man asked him about a verse of the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The Imam (a.s.) explained it to him. Then another person came to see the Imam (a.s.) and asked him about the same verse. The Imam (a.s.) gave him a different explanation. This made as many things

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولَانِ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَى نَبِيِّهِ ص أَمْرَ خَلْقِهِ لِيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ طَاعَتُهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا.

3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hajjal from Tha‘labah that Zurarah who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far and abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has made the Holy Prophet in charge of the affairs of His creatures to see how their obedience

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لِبَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ قَيْسٍ الْمَاصِرِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَدَّبَ نَبِيَّهُ فَأَحْسَنَ أَدَبَهُ فَلَمَّا أَكْمَلَ لَهُ الْأَدَبَ قَالَ- إِنَّكَ لَعَلى‌ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ‌ ثُمَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِ أَمْرَ الدِّينِ وَ الْأُمَّةِ لِيَسُوسَ عِبَادَهُ فَقَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا وَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ مُسَدَّد

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah say the following to some of the companions of Qays al-Masir. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, discipline and education His Messenger. He then made his discipli

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولَانِ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى فَوَّضَ إِلَى نَبِيِّهِ ص أَمْرَ خَلْقِهِ لِيَنْظُرَ كَيْفَ طَاعَتُهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ مِثْلَهُ.

5. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from Tha‘laba ibn Maymun from Zurarah who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, made His Prophet the in charge of His creatures to se how their obedien

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَدَّبَ نَبِيَّهُ ص فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى مَا أَرَادَ قَالَ لَهُ‌ إِنَّكَ لَعَلى‌ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ‌[2] فَفَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِ دِينَهُ فَقَالَ‌ وَ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ الْفَرَائِضَ وَ لَمْ يَقْسِمْ لِلْجَدِّ شَيْئاً وَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص أَطْعَمَهُ السُّدُسَ فَأَجَازَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ لَه

6.Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disciplined and educated His Prophet to the level that He wanted and said, ““O Muhammad, you certainly possess a great degre

وَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص دِيَةَ الْعَيْنِ وَ دِيَةَ النَّفْسِ وَ حَرَّمَ النَّبِيذَ وَ كُلَّ مُسْكِرٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ وَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَكُونَ جَاءَ فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ لِيَعْلَمَ مَنْ يُطِيعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَعْصِيهِ.

“The Messenger of Allah (s.a.) sanctioned the compensation for a damaged eye and the blood-money for the slain person. He pronounced the consumption of Nabidh (a beverage from dates) and all intoxicants as unlawful.” A man asked the Imam (a.s.) said, “Did the Messenger of Allah sanction this law without receiving any t

وَجَدْتُ فِي نَوَادِرِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ‌ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا فَوَّضَ اللَّهُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ إِلَّا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ إِلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ قَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِما أَراكَ اللَّهُ‌[1] وَ هِيَ جَارِيَةٌ فِي الْأَوْصِيَاءِ ع.

“No, I swear by Allah, that He has no made anyone of His creatures the in charge except the Messenger of Allah and the Imams (a.s.). Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “ We have sent down to you the Book with the truth, so that you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you (4:105) and i

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَدَّبَ رَسُولَهُ حَتَّى قَوَّمَهُ عَلَى مَا أَرَادَ ثُمَّ فَوَّضَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ- ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا فَمَا فَوَّضَ اللَّهُ إِلَى رَسُولِهِ ص فَقَدْ فَوَّضَهُ إِلَيْنَا.

“Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disciplined and educated His Messenger until he was well established in whatever He wanted. Then He made him the in charge as He, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “. .what the Messenger (of Allah) you, you must take (obey) and what he prohibits you, you must desist from. .”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى- هذا عَطاؤُنا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ‌ قَالَ أَعْطَى سُلَيْمَانَ مُلْكاً عَظِيماً ثُمَّ جَرَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَكَانَ لَهُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ مَا شَاءَ مَنْ شَاءَ وَ يَمْنَعَ مَنْ شَاءَ وَ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا أَعْطَى سُلَيْمَانَ لِقَوْلِهِ‌ ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا.

The Imam (a.s.) said, “Solomon was given a great kingdom. This verse continued to apply to the Messenger of Allah. He had authority to grant whatever he wished to whomever he wished and withhold from whomever he wished. Allah granted him a favor greater than what He had granted to Solomon as He has said, “. .what the M

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا مَوْضِعُ الْعُلَمَاءِ[2] قَالَ مِثْلُ ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ وَ صَاحِبِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَ صَاحِبِ مُوسَى ع.

It is like Dhul Qarnayn, (see 18:83 – 99 Holy Quran),the companion of Solomon (see 27:40),and the companion of Moses (a.s.) (See 18:65)”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّمَا الْوُقُوفُ عَلَيْنَا فِي الْحَلَالِ وَ الْحَرَامِ فَأَمَّا النُّبُوَّةُ فَلَا.[3]

“To refer to us (as the Divine authorities) is valid only in finding the lawful and unlawful matters. To refer to us as prophet-hood is not valid.”