Sleep & Dreams

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا قَوْماً لَهُمْ مَحَبَّةٌ وَ لَيْسَتْ لَهُمْ تِلْكَ الْعَزِيمَةُ[4] يَقُولُونَ بِهَذَا الْقَوْلِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ أُولَئِكَ مِمَّنْ عَاتَبَ اللَّهُ إِنَّمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ‌ فَاعْتَبِرُوا يا أُولِي الْأَبْصارِ.

It is narrated from him from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal that al-Hassan ibn al-Juham said: “I told Abul Hasan (al-Ridha) (as), 'We know of a people who have love [for the Ahlul-bayt] but they do not have much determination [in understanding their imamate], they make such claims.' He then replied, 'They are not o

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا قَسَمَ اللَّهُ لِلْعِبَادِ شَيْئاً أَفْضَلَ مِنَ الْعَقْلِ فَنَوْمُ الْعَاقِلِ‌ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ سَهَرِ الْجَاهِلِ وَ إِقَامَةُ الْعَاقِلِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ شُخُوصِ الْجَاهِلِ‌[1] وَ لَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً وَ لَا رَسُولًا حَتَّى يَسْتَكْمِلَ الْعَقْلَ وَ يَكُونَ عَقْلُهُ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ عُقُولِ أُمَّتِهِ وَ مَا يُضْمِرُ النَّبِيُّ ص فِي نَفْسِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنِ اجْتِهَادِ الْمُجْتَهِدِي

A number of our people has narrated Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from certain persons of his people in a marfu‘ manner that Rasulullah (sw) said: “Allah has not distributed anything among the servants more excellent than intelligence. The sleeping of a person of intelligence is better than the vigil of an ignorant per

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَا يُقَالُ لِشَيْ‌ءٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَتَى كَانَ إِنَّ رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى كَانَ وَ لَمْ يَزَلْ‌[1] حَيّاً بِلَا كَيْفٍ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كَانَ وَ لَا كَانَ لِكَوْنِهِ كَوْنُ كَيْفٍ وَ لَا كَانَ لَهُ أَيْنٌ وَ لَا كَانَ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ لَا كَانَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ لَا ابْتَدَعَ لِمَكَانِهِ مَكَاناً وَ لَا

“A man came to Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, ‘Tell me about your Lord. When did He come into existence?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Woe upon you! Such question is asked only about a thing that did not exist. My Lord, all Glory belongs to Him is and will be eternally. He lives and no How question applies to Him. He did

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ أَكَلَ قَلْبَكَ طَائِرٌ لَمْ يُشْبِعْهُ وَ بَصَرُكَ لَوْ وُضِعَ عَلَيْهِ خَرْقُ إِبْرَةٍ لَغَطَّاهُ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَعْرِفَ بِهِمَا مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً فَهَذِهِ الشَّمْسُ خَلْقٌ مِنْ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ قَدَرْتَ أَنْ تَمْلَأَ عَيْنَيْكَ مِنْهَا فَهُوَ كَمَا تَقُولُ‌[3].

“O son of Adam, if a bird were to feed upon your heart, it would not satisfy its hunger. Only the eye of a needle, if placed over your eye, would be totally cover your vision. With such (insignificant) means of perception how would you comprehend (Allah’s) vast dominion over the earth and the heavens? And if you think

- إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى خَلَقَ اسْماً بِالْحُرُوفِ غَيْرَ مُتَصَوِّتٍ وَ بِاللَّفْظِ غَيْرَ مُنْطَقٍ وَ بِالشَّخْصِ غَيْرَ مُجَسَّدٍ وَ بِالتَّشْبِيهِ غَيْرَ مَوْصُوفٍ وَ بِاللَّوْنِ غَيْرَ مَصْبُوغٍ مَنْفِيٌّ عَنْهُ الْأَقْطَارُ مُبَعَّدٌ عَنْهُ الْحُدُودُ مَحْجُوبٌ عَنْهُ حِسُّ كُلِّ مُتَوَهِّمٍ مُسْتَتِرٌ[1] غَيْرُ مَسْتُورٍ فَجَعَلَهُ كَلِمَةً تَامَّةً عَلَى أَرْبَعَةِ أَجْزَاءٍ مَعاً لَيْسَ مِنْهَا

1. Ali b. Muhammad has narrated from Salih b. Abi Hammad from al-Husayn ibn Yazid from al-Hassan b. Ali ibn Abi Hamzah from Ibrahim b. ‘Umar from Abi ‘Abdallah (a.s.), who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, created a name with letters that had no sound. He created it with the word that would

سِتَّةُ أَشْيَاءَ لَيْسَ لِلْعِبَادِ فِيهَا صُنْعٌ الْمَعْرِفَةُ وَ الْجَهْلُ وَ الرِّضَا وَ الْغَضَبُ وَ النَّوْمُ وَ الْيَقَظَةُ.

“There are six things in which the people have no doing. They are knowing, ignorance, contentment, anger, sleeping and waking up.”

قَالَ لِي اكْتُبْ فَأَمْلَى عَلَيَّ إِنَّ مِنْ قَوْلِنَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْتَجُّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ بِمَا آتَاهُمْ وَ عَرَّفَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولًا وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْكِتَابَ فَأَمَرَ فِيهِ وَ نَهَى أَمَرَ فِيهِ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ أَنَا أُنِيمُكَ وَ أَنَا أُوقِظُكَ‌ فَإِذَا قُمْتَ فَصَلِّ لِيَعْلَمُوا إِذَا أَصَابَهُمْ ذَلِكَ كَيْفَ يَصْن

“Once Imam abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘Write down.’ He dictated to me the following. ‘It is of our Hadith that Allah will, justifiably, hold people accountable for what He has given and made known to them. Allah then sent His messenger to them and sent down books upon them in which He has commanded and prohibit

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الْمُرْسَلُونَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ طَبَقَاتٍ فَنَبِيٌّ مُنَبَّأٌ فِي نَفْسِهِ لَا يَعْدُو غَيْرَهَا وَ نَبِيٌّ يَرَى فِي النَّوْمِ وَ يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ- وَ لَا يُعَايِنُهُ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ وَ لَمْ يُبْعَثْ إِلَى أَحَدٍ وَ عَلَيْهِ إِمَامٌ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَى لُوطٍ ع وَ نَبِيٌّ يَرَى فِي مَنَامِهِ وَ يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ وَ يُعَايِنُ الْمَلَكَ وَ قَدْ أُرْسِلَ إ

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu Yahya al-Wasiti from Hisham ibn Salim and Durust ibn abu Mansur from him the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said that the prophets and the messengers are of four categories. There were prophets who were given Divine news in their souls just for t

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ كانَ رَسُولًا نَبِيًّا مَا الرَّسُولُ وَ مَا النَّبِيُّ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ الَّذِي يَرَى فِي مَنَامِهِ وَ يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ وَ لَا يُعَايِنُ الْمَلَكَ وَ الرَّسُولُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ وَ يَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ وَ يُعَايِنُ الْمَلَكَ قُلْتُ الْإِمَامُ مَا مَنْزِلَتُهُ قَالَ يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ وَ لَا يَرَى وَ لَا يُعَايِنُ الْمَلَكَ ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ‘He was a messenger, a prophet’. What is a messenger and what is a prophet?’” The Imam said, “A prophet is one who sees things in his dream and hears the voice but does not see the angel. The messenger is one who hears the voice, in h

كَتَبَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ الْمَعْرُوفِيُّ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع- جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخْبِرْنِي مَا الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ الرَّسُولِ وَ النَّبِيِّ وَ الْإِمَامِ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ أَوْ قَالَ الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ الرَّسُولِ وَ النَّبِيِّ وَ الْإِمَامِ أَنَّ الرَّسُولَ الَّذِي يُنْزَلُ عَلَيْهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ فَيَرَاهُ وَ يَسْمَعُ كَلَامَهُ وَ يُنْزَلُ عَلَيْهِ الْوَحْيُ وَ رُبَّمَا رَأَى فِي مَنَامِهِ نَحْوَ رُؤْيَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع و

The Imam said or wrote, “ The difference between the messengers, the prophets and the Imams is that a messenger is one to whom Jibril (Gabriel) comes. He sees Jibril and hears his speech and Jibril (the angel) brings him (Divine) revelation and sometimes he may see in his dream like the dream of Abraham (a.s.). A proph

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الرَّسُولِ وَ النَّبِيِّ وَ الْمُحَدَّثِ قَالَ الرَّسُولُ الَّذِي يَأْتِيهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ قُبُلًا[2] فَيَرَاهُ وَ يُكَلِّمُهُ فَهَذَا الرَّسُولُ وَ أَمَّا النَّبِيُّ فَهُوَ الَّذِي يَرَى فِي مَنَامِهِ نَحْوَ رُؤْيَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ نَحْوَ مَا كَانَ رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مِنْ أَسْبَابِ النُّبُوَّةِ قَبْلَ الْوَحْيِ حَتَّى أَتَاهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ بِالرِّسَالَةِ وَ كَانَ

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the Messenger, the Prophet, and the Muhaddath. He said, 'The Messenger is the one to whom Jibril comes face to face, so he sees him and speaks to him. This is the Messenger. As for the Prophet, he is the one who sees in his dream, like the vision of Abraham and like what the Messenger o

فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ ما أَرْسَلْنا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَ لا نَبِيٍ‌ وَ لَا مُحَدَّثٍ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَيْسَتْ هَذِهِ قِرَاءَتَنَا فَمَا الرَّسُولُ وَ النَّبِيُّ وَ الْمُحَدَّثُ قَالَ الرَّسُولُ الَّذِي يَظْهَرُ لَهُ الْمَلَكُ فَيُكَلِّمُهُ وَ النَّبِيُّ هُوَ الَّذِي يَرَى فِي مَنَامِهِ وَ رُبَّمَا اجْتَمَعَتِ النُّبُوَّةُ وَ الرِّسَالَةُ لِوَاحِدٍ وَ الْمُحَدَّثُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ و

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “Satan would try to tamper with the desires of every Prophet or Messenger or Muhaddith (Muhaddith is a commentary of Imam (a.s.), whom We sent . .’” (22:52). I said, ““May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, the word Muhaddith

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

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عِلْمِ الْإِمَامِ بِمَا فِي أَقْطَارِ الْأَرْضِ وَ هُوَ فِي بَيْتِهِ مُرْخًى عَلَيْهِ سِتْرُهُ فَقَالَ يَا مُفَضَّلُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى جَعَلَ فِي النَّبِيِّ ص خَمْسَةَ أَرْوَاحٍ رُوحَ الْحَيَاةِ فَبِهِ دَبَّ وَ دَرَجَ وَ رُوحَ الْقُوَّةِ فَبِهِ نَهَضَ وَ جَاهَدَ وَ رُوحَ الشَّهْوَةِ فَبِهِ أَكَلَ وَ شَرِبَ وَ أَتَى النِّسَاءَ مِنَ الْحَلَالِ وَ رُوحَ الْإِيمَانِ فَبِهِ آمَنَ وَ عَدَل

3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn Sinan that al-Mufadal ibn ‘Umar who has said that I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) the following. “I asked him about the knowledge of the Imams of the regions of the earth when he is in his house secluded behind the

أَمَرَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع حِينَ أُخْرِجَ بِهِ- أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع أَنْ يَنَامَ عَلَى بَابِهِ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ أَبَداً مَا كَانَ حَيّاً إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ خَبَرُهُ قَالَ فَكُنَّا فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ نَفْرُشُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ فِي الدِّهْلِيزِ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ فَيَنَامُ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ قَالَ فَمَكَثَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ أَرْبَعَ سِنِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ لَيْلَةٌ مِنَ اللّ

“Abu Ibrahim commanded –at the time he was taken out to Baghdad- abu al-Hassan (a.s.) to sleep every night at his (abu Ibrahim’s) house until the coming of the news of his death. The narrator has said narrator has said that we would prepare the bed for abu al-Hassan every night in the terrace and he would come after th

سَمِعْتُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ‌ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ إِذَا حَمَلَتْ بِهِمْ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ أَصَابَهَا فَتْرَةٌ شِبْهُ الْغَشْيَةِ فَأَقَامَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ‌ يَوْمَهَا ذَلِكَ إِنْ كَانَ نَهَاراً أَوْ لَيْلَتَهَا إِنْ كَانَ لَيْلًا ثُمَّ تَرَى فِي مَنَامِهَا رَجُلًا يُبَشِّرُهَا بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ حَلِيمٍ فَتَفْرَحُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَنْتَبِهُ مِنْ نَوْمِهَا فَتَسْمَعُ مِنْ جَانِبِهَا الْأَيْمَنِ فِ

“When the mothers of the executors of the will conceive them she will go through a condition as if she has fainted for the rest of day if it would take place during the day or for the rest of the night if it would take place at night. She then would see in her dream a man congratulating her with the birth of a son, ver

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

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

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ وَ نَحْنُ مَعَهُ بِالْعُرَيْضِ‌[2] فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ أَتَيْتُكَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ بَعِيدٍ وَ سَفَرٍ شَاقٍّ وَ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً أَنْ يُرْشِدَنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الْأَدْيَانِ وَ إِلَى خَيْرِ الْعِبَادِ وَ أَعْلَمِهِمْ وَ أَتَانِي آتٍ فِي النَّوْمِ فَوَصَفَ لِي رَجُلًا بِعُلْيَا دِمَشْقَ فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ فَكَ

“I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) that a Christian man came to see him. At this time we were with him in al-‘Urayd. The Christian man said, “I have come to you from a far away place after a difficult journey. I have been praying to my Lord for thirty years to guide me to the best of the religions and

لَمَّا خَرَجَ الْمَأْمُونُ مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ يُرِيدُ بَغْدَادَ وَ خَرَجَ الْفَضْلُ ذُو الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ وَ خَرَجْنَا مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع وَرَدَ عَلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ كِتَابٌ مِنْ أَخِيهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَ نَحْنُ فِي بَعْضِ الْمَنَازِلِ إِنِّي نَظَرْتُ فِي تَحْوِيلِ السَّنَةِ فِي حِسَابِ النُّجُومِ فَوَجَدْتُ فِيهِ أَنَّكَ تَذُوقُ فِي شَهْرِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا- يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ حَرّ

“When al-Ma’mun left Khurasan for Baghdad along with him came Fadl, Dhu al-Al-Ri’asatayn and we came out with abu al-Hassan (a.s.) Fadl ibn Sahl had received a letter from his brother Hassan, while we were on our journey. Hassan had said in the letter, “I studied the Zodiac changes this year according to the astrologic

لَمَّا أَرَادَ هَارُونُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع اذْهَبْ إِلَيْهِ وَ قُلْ لَهُ لَا تَخْرُجْ غَداً فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ خَرَجْتَ غَداً هُزِمْتَ وَ قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُكَ فَإِنْ سَأَلَكَ مِنْ أَيْنَ عَلِمْتَ هَذَا فَقُلْ رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَا تَخْرُجْ غَداً فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ خَرَجْتَ هُزِمْتَ وَ قُتِلَ أَصْحَ

“When Harun ibn al-Musayyib decided to fight Muhammad ibn Ja‘far, abu al-Hassan (a.s.) told me to go to him and say, “Do not go our tomorrow. If would do so you will be defeated and your people will be killed.” If he would ask, “How do youknow that?” Say, “I saw it in my dream.” The narrator has said that he went to hi

اشْتَرَيْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع غَنَماً كَثِيرَةً فَدَعَانِي فَأَدْخَلَنِي مِنْ إِصْطَبْلِ دَارِهِ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ وَاسِعٍ لَا أَعْرِفُهُ فَجَعَلْتُ أُفَرِّقُ تِلْكَ الْغَنَمَ فِيمَنْ‌ أَمَرَنِي بِهِ فَبَعَثَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ[1] وَ إِلَى وَالِدَتِهِ وَ غَيْرِهِمَا مِمَّنْ أَمَرَنِي ثُمَّ اسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِي الِانْصِرَافِ إِلَى بَغْدَادَ إِلَى وَالِدِي وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَ التَّرْوِيَةِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ تُقِيمُ غ

“Once I bought a large number of sheeps for abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He called and admitted me into the barn area of his house into a vast location that I could not recognize. He ordered me to distribute the sheep among certain people and of such people were abu Ja‘far and his mother and others. Thereafter I requested per

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.)

كَانَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ يَقُولُ وَيْحَكُمْ قَدْ أَعْيَانِي أَمْرُ ابْنِ الرِّضَا[1] أَبَى أَنْ يَشْرَبَ مَعِي أَوْ يُنَادِمَنِي أَوْ أَجِدَ مِنْهُ فُرْصَةً فِي هَذَا فَقَالُوا لَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ مِنْهُ فَهَذَا أَخُوهُ مُوسَى قَصَّافٌ عَزَّافٌ‌[2]- يَأْكُلُ وَ يَشْرَبُ وَ يَتَعَشَّقُ قَالَ ابْعَثُوا إِلَيْهِ فَجِيئُوا بِهِ حَتَّى نُمَوِّهَ بِهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ نَقُولَ ابْنُ الرِّضَا[3] فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ وَ أُشْخِص

“Al-Mutawakkil would say, “Woe is you, the ibn (the son of) al-Rida, (Ali al-Hadi (a.s.)) has frustrated me. He refuses to share a drink (liquor) with me and associate with me and I never get a chance in it.” They (his associates) told him, “If he does not give you a chance his brother, Musa plays music, sings, eats, d

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْإِمَامِ هَلْ يَحْتَلِمُ وَ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي بَعْدَ مَا فَصَلَ الْكِتَابُ الِاحْتِلَامُ شَيْطَنَةٌ وَ قَدْ أَعَاذَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَوْلِيَاءَهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَوَرَدَ الْجَوَابُ حَالُ الْأَئِمَّةِ فِي الْمَنَامِ حَالُهُمْ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ لَا يُغَيِّرُ النَّوْمُ مِنْهُمْ شَيْئاً وَ قَدْ أَعَاذَ اللَّهُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ مِنْ لَمَّةِ الشَّيْطَانِ كَمَا حَدَّثَ

The answer came. “The conditions of the Imams when asleep is the same as when they are awake. Sleep does not change anything in them. Allah has given protection to those whom He has given authority from Satanic encounters as you spoke to yourself.”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لِأَنْظُرَ إِلَى خَطِّهِ فَأَعْرِفَهُ إِذَا وَرَدَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ الْخَطَّ سَيَخْتَلِفُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ بَيْنِ الْقَلَمِ الْغَلِيظِ إِلَى الْقَلَمِ الدَّقِيقِ فَلَا تَشُكَّنَّ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِالدَّوَاةِ فَكَتَبَ وَ جَعَلَ يَسْتَمِدُّ إِلَى مَجْرَى الدَّوَاةِ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي وَ هُوَ يَكْتُبُ أَسْتَوْهِبُهُ الْقَلَمَ الَّذِي كَت

“Once I went to see abu Muhammad (a.s.) and asked him to write for me few lines so that whenever I would see his hand writing I would recognize it. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, and then said, “O Ahmad the writing with a fine pen and with thick pen will look different to you. Do not have doubts He then asked for a pen an

إِنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ النَّضْرِ وَ أَبَا صِدَامٍ وَ جَمَاعَةً تَكَلَّمُوا بَعْدَ مُضِيِّ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فِيمَا فِي أَيْدِي الْوُكَلَاءِ وَ أَرَادُوا الْفَحْصَ‌[2] فَجَاءَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ إِلَى أَبِي الصِّدَامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ- أَبُو صِدَامٍ أَخِّرْهُ هَذِهِ السَّنَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ النَّضْرِ إِنِّي أَفْزَعُ فِي الْمَنَامِ وَ لَا بُدَّ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ وَ أَوْصَى إِل

“Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr and abu Sidam and a group of people, after abu Muhammad (a.s.) had passed away would discuss about the property (of religious dues) in their possession and how to find out (as to who should they give it). Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadr came to abu Sidam and said, “I want to go for Hajj this year.” Abu Sid

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَلَا إِنَّ لِكُلِّ عِبَادَةٍ شِرَّةً[3] ثُمَّ تَصِيرُ إِلَى فَتْرَةٍ فَمَنْ صَارَتْ شِرَّةُ عِبَادَتِهِ إِلَى سُنَّتِي فَقَدِ اهْتَدَى وَ مَنْ خَالَفَ سُنَّتِي فَقَدْ ضَلَّ وَ كَانَ عَمَلُهُ فِي تَبَابٍ‌[4] أَمَا إِنِّي أُصَلِّي وَ أَنَامُ وَ أَصُومُ وَ أُفْطِرُ وَ أَضْحَكُ وَ أَبْكِي فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ مِنْهَاجِي وَ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَ قَالَ كَفَى بِالْمَوْتِ مَوْعِظَةً وَ كَفَى بِا

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Mahbub from al-Ahwal from Salam ibn al-Mustanir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘For every form of worship there is a strong desire and willingness, then it reduces. Whoever’ s worship falls

بَعَثَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع غُلَاماً لَهُ فِي حَاجَةٍ فَأَبْطَأَ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى أَثَرِهِ لَمَّا أَبْطَأَ فَوَجَدَهُ نَائِماً فَجَلَسَ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ يُرَوِّحُهُ حَتَّى انْتَبَهَ فَلَمَّا تَنَبَّهَ قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا فُلَانُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا ذَلِكَ لَكَ تَنَامُ اللَّيْلَ وَ النَّهَارَ لَكَ اللَّيْلُ وَ لَنَا مِنْكَ النَّهَارُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once sent one of his slaves for a certain work and he delayed. The Imam then went out to find why he has delayed so much. He found him sleeping. He sat near his head fanning to comfort him until he woke up. When he fully woke up, Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to him, ‘O so and so, Allah knows, you ar

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَمَحْزُونٌ وَ إِنِّي لَمَشْغُولُ الْقَلْبِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَا شَغَلَكَ وَ مَا حَزَنَ قَلْبَكَ فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّهُ مَنْ دَخَلَ قَلْبَهُ صَافِي‌ خَالِصِ دِينِ اللَّهِ شُغِلَ قَلْبُهُ عَمَّا سِوَاهُ يَا جَابِرُ مَا الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا عَسَى أَنْ تَكُونَ الدُّنْيَا هَلْ هِيَ إِلَّا طَعَامٌ أَكَلْتَهُ أَوْ ثَوْبٌ لَبِسْتَهُ أَوِ امْرَ

“Once I went to visit abu la’ far (a.s.) and he said, ‘O Jabir, I swear by Allah, I am very sad and my heart is pre-occupied.’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, what has pre-occupied your heart and what is the reason for your sadness?’ The Imam said, ‘O Jabir, if the religion of Allah in

كَانَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ يَا مُبْتَغِيَ الْعِلْمِ كَأَنَّ شَيْئاً مِنَ الدُّنْيَا لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئاً إِلَّا مَا يَنْفَعُ خَيْرُهُ وَ يَضُرُّ شَرُّهُ إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ‌[2] يَا مُبْتَغِيَ الْعِلْمِ لَا يَشْغَلُكَ أَهْلٌ وَ لَا مَالٌ عَنْ نَفْسِكَ أَنْتَ يَوْمَ تُفَارِقُهُمْ كَضَيْفٍ بِتَّ فِيهِمْ ثُمَّ غَدَوْتَ عَنْهُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِهِمْ وَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةُ كَمَنْز

“Abu Dhar, may Allah grant him favors, has said in his sermons, ‘O you who are found of knowledge, consider worldly things as nothing except what is beneficial in it, and its evil is harmful to people except those to whom Allah has done favors. O you who are found of knowledge do not allow your family and property to p

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَثَلُ الْحَرِيصِ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا كَمَثَلِ دُودَةِ الْقَزِّ كُلَّمَا ازْدَادَتْ عَلَى نَفْسِهَا لَفّاً كَانَ أَبْعَدَ لَهَا مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ حَتَّى تَمُوتَ غَمّاً قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ فِيمَا وَعَظَ بِهِ لُقْمَانُ ابْنَهُ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا قَبْلَكَ لِأَوْلَادِهِمْ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مَا جَمَعُوا وَ لَمْ يَبْقَ مَنْ جَمَعُوا لَهُ وَ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ عَبْدٌ

20. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yahya ibn ‘Aqaba al-Azdi from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The case of a person who is greedy in worldly matters is like the case of a silkworm. The more it wraps silk around itself the more difficult it beco

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص‌ إِنَّ خِيَارَكُمْ أُولُو النُّهَى قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ أُولُو النُّهَى قَالَ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَخْلَاقِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَ الْأَحْلَامِ الرَّزِينَةِ[2] وَ صِلَةِ الْأَرْحَامِ وَ الْبَرَرَةُ بِالْأُمَّهَاتِ وَ الْآبَاءِ وَ الْمُتَعَاهِدِينَ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَ الْجِيرَانِ وَ الْيَتَامَى‌ وَ يُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعامَ‌ وَ يُفْشُونَ السَّلَامَ فِي الْعَالَمِ وَ يُصَلُّونَ وَ النَّاسُ نِيَامٌ غَافِلُون

32. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Holy Prophet has said, ‘The best among you are those who possess al-Nuha’.’ He was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, who are possessors of al-Nuha’?’ He then said, ‘They are those who possess excellent moral disci

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا عُصِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ سِتٌّ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا وَ حُبُّ الرِّئَاسَةِ وَ حُبُّ الطَّعَامِ وَ حُبُّ النَّوْمِ وَ حُبُّ الرَّاحَةِ وَ حُبُّ النِّسَاءِ[3].

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The things with which Allah was disobeyed first were six: Love of the worldly things, Love to be the leader, Love for food, Love to sleep, Love for comfort and Love of women (to such extremes that may lead one to sins).”’

الرَّجُلُ يَعْمَلُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الثَّوَابِ لَا يَطْلُبُ بِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا يَطْلُبُ تَزْكِيَةَ النَّاسِ- يَشْتَهِي أَنْ يُسْمِعَ بِهِ النَّاسَ فَهَذَا الَّذِي أَشْرَكَ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ أَسَرَّ خَيْراً فَذَهَبَتِ الْأَيَّامُ أَبَداً حَتَّى يُظْهِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَيْراً وَ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يُسِرُّ شَرّاً فَذَهَبَتِ الْأَيَّامُ أَبَداً حَتَّى يُظْهِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ شَرّاً.

that he asked the Imam about the words of the Almighty that ‘whosoever is desirous of meeting his Creator, he should perform virtuous deeds and should not ascribe any partner to God in his worship,’ (18:110) seeking an explanation. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘A person who performs good deeds but not for the sake of being

مَرَّ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ع عَلَى قَرْيَةٍ قَدْ مَاتَ أَهْلُهَا وَ طَيْرُهَا وَ دَوَابُّهَا فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَمُوتُوا إِلَّا بِسَخْطَةٍ[2] وَ لَوْ مَاتُوا مُتَفَرِّقِينَ لَتَدَافَنُوا فَقَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ يَا رُوحَ اللَّهِ وَ كَلِمَتَهُ ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُحْيِيَهُمْ لَنَا فَيُخْبِرُونَا مَا كَانَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَنَجْتَنِبَهَا فَدَعَا عِيسَى ع رَبَّهُ فَنُودِيَ مِنَ الْجَوِّ أَنْ نَادِهِمْ فَقَا

“Once Jesus, son of Mary, passed by a town, in which people, birds and animals had all died. Jesus said, ‘They all have died from violence. Had they died individually they would have buried each other.’ The disciples said, ‘O Spirit of Allah and His word, pray to Allah to bring them to life so we may ask about their de

كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ فَدَعَا اللَّهَ أَنْ يَرْزُقَهُ غُلَاماً ثَلَاثَ سِنِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُجِيبُهُ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَ بَعِيدٌ أَنَا مِنْكَ فَلَا تَسْمَعُنِي أَمْ قَرِيبٌ أَنْتَ مِنِّي‌ فَلَا تُجِيبُنِي قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ آتٍ فِي مَنَامِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّكَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ بِلِسَانٍ بَذِي‌ءٍ وَ قَلْبٍ عَاتٍ غَيْرِ تَقِيٍ‌[1] وَ نِيَّةٍ غَيْرِ صَادِق

“In the tribe of Israel there was a man who prayed to Allah for a son for three years. When he found that Allah did not answer his prayer, he then asked, ‘O Lord, am I far away from You and You do not hear me or You are close to me but do not answer me?’ The Imam said, ‘Someone came in his dream and said, ‘You have pra

قَالَ: إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقَ يَنْهَى وَ لَا يَنْتَهِي وَ يَأْمُرُ بِمَا لَا يَأْتِي وَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ اعْتَرَضَ قُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ مَا الِاعْتِرَاضُ قَالَ الِالْتِفَاتُ وَ إِذَا رَكَعَ رَبَضَ‌[1] يُمْسِي وَ هَمُّهُ الْعَشَاءُ وَ هُوَ مُفْطِرٌ وَ يُصْبِحُ وَ هَمُّهُ النَّوْمُ وَ لَمْ يَسْهَرْ إِنْ حَدَّثَكَ كَذَبَكَ وَ إِنِ ائْتَمَنْتَهُ خَانَكَ وَ إِنْ غِبْتَ اغْتَابَكَ وَ إِنْ وَعَدَكَ أَ

“Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has said, ‘A hypocrite forbids others, but himself does not desist from prohibited matters and commands others with what he himself does not perform. When prayer is to begin he (7 ’tarazd) avoids it.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘O descendent of the messenger of Allah, “What is ‘I’tirazT’ The

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ لَيُهَوَّلُ عَلَيْهِ‌[1] فِي نَوْمِهِ فَيُغْفَرُ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيُمْتَهَنُ‌[2] فِي بَدَنِهِ فَيُغْفَرُ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘A believer may suffer a nightmare so his sins are forgiven or is bodily humiliated so his sins are forgiven.’”

قَالَ: إِذَا أَتَتْ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ أَرْبَعُونَ سَنَةً قِيلَ لَهُ خُذْ حِذْرَكَ فَإِنَّكَ غَيْرُ مَعْذُورٍ وَ لَيْسَ ابْنُ الْأَرْبَعِينَ بِأَحَقَّ بِالْحِذْرِ مِنِ ابْنِ الْعِشْرِينَ فَإِنَّ الَّذِي يَطْلُبُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ وَ لَيْسَ بِرَاقِدٍ فَاعْمَلْ لِمَا أَمَامَكَ مِنَ الْهَوْلِ وَ دَعْ عَنْكَ فُضُولَ الْقَوْلِ.

“When a man reaches the age of forty it is said to him, ‘Beware, you have no excuses!’ In fact, a person at the age of forty is not obliged to exercise caution against sins more than the person at the age of twenty. What is after both of them is the same (that is death) and it is not sleeping. Perform good deeds for wh

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ فِي ابْنِ آدَمَ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ وَ سِتِّينَ عِرْقاً مِنْهَا مِائَةٌ وَ ثَمَانُونَ مُتَحَرِّكَةٌ وَ مِنْهَا مِائَةٌ وَ ثَمَانُونَ سَاكِنَةٌ فَلَوْ سَكَنَ الْمُتَحَرِّكُ لَمْ يَنَمْ وَ لَوْ تَحَرَّكَ السَّاكِنُ لَمْ يَنَمْ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِ‌ الْعالَمِينَ* كَثِيراً عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ ثَلَاثَمِائَةٍ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said that in a son of Adam there are three hundred sixty veins of which one hundred eighty are moving and one hundred eighty are quiet. If a moving vein becomes quiet one cannot sleep and if a quiet one moves one cannot sleep’. The Messenger of Allah in

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع أَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يُعَلِّمَنِي دُعَاءً فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ تَقُولُ إِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ وَ أَمْسَيْتَ- اللَّهُ اللَّهُ اللَّهُ رَبِّيَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ لَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئاً وَ إِنْ زِدْتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ ثُمَّ تَدْعُو بِمَا بَدَا لَكَ فِي حَاجَتِكَ فَهُوَ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى‌ يَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ ما يَشاءُ[1].

"I wrote to Abu Ja'far al-Thani (al-Jawad) (as) asking him to teach me a supplication. He wrote back to me saying, 'When you wake up in the morning and when you enter the evening, say: 'Allah, Allah, Allah, my Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate. I do not associate anything with Him.' And if you add to that, it is be

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا عَنَى بِقَوْلِهِ- وَ إِبْراهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّى‌[1] قَالَ كَلِمَاتٍ بَالَغَ فِيهِنَّ قُلْتُ وَ مَا هُنَّ قَالَ كَانَ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ قَالَ- أَصْبَحْتُ وَ رَبِّي مَحْمُودٌ أَصْبَحْتُ لَا أُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئاً وَ لَا أَدْعُو مَعَهُ إِلَهاً وَ لَا أَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيّاً- ثَلَاثاً وَ إِذَا أَمْسَى قَالَهَا ثَلَاثاً قَالَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ إِبْراهِيمَ الَّذِي

"What is the meaning of His words: 'And Ibrahim who fulfilled [his duties].'" (53:37) He said, "Eloquent words that he would say often." I asked, "What were they?". He said, "Whenever he would wake up in the morning, he would say three times: 'I have awakened, and by my Lord, all praise is due to Him, I do not associat

مَنْ قَالَ حِينَ يَأْخُذُ مَضْجَعَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَلَا فَقَهَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بَطَنَ فَخَبَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي مَلَكَ فَقَدَرَ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي‌ يُحْيِ الْمَوْتى‌* وَ يُمِيتُ الْأَحْيَاءَ وَ هُوَ عَلى‌ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَدِيرٌ* خَرَجَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ كَهَيْئَةِ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ.

“Whoever at the time of going to bed says three times, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Who is High, thus, He is Dominant. All praise belongs to Allah, Who is hidden, thus, He knows. All praise belongs to Allah, Who owns, thus. He has measured (all things), all praise belongs to Allah, Who gives life to the dead, and caus

إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ فَلْيَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي احْتَبَسْتُ نَفْسِي عِنْدَكَ فَاحْتَبِسْهَا فِي مَحَلِّ رِضْوَانِكَ وَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَ إِنْ رَدَدْتَهَا إِلَى بَدَنِي فَارْدُدْهَا مُؤْمِنَةً عَارِفَةً بِحَقِّ أَوْلِيَائِكَ حَتَّى تَتَوَفَّاهَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ.

“When any of you is about to go to your bed you should say, ‘O Lord, I have placed my soul in Your custody, keep it secure in a place that You like, and forgive, and if You return it to my body, return it with belief, and with knowledge of the rights of Your friends until it will die upon such belief.’”

عِنْدَ مَنَامِهِ- آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَ كَفَرْتُ بِالطَّاغُوتِ اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي فِي مَنَامِي وَ فِي يَقَظَتِي.

“At bedtime he (abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.)) would say, ‘I believe in Allah and reject the devil. O Lord, protect me in my sleep and when I am awake.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ كَانَ يَقْرَأُ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ يَقُولُ- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَ كَفَرْتُ بِالطَّاغُوتِ اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي فِي مَنَامِي وَ فِي يَقَظَتِي.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said, ‘Should I tell you about what the Messenger of Allah would say when going to his bed?’ I said, ‘Yes, please do so.’ The Imam said, ‘He would read verse 255 of Chapter two and say, “(I begin) in the name of Allah, I believe in Allah, and reject the devil. O Lord, protect me in my sleep a

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يَقُولُ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الِاحْتِلَامِ وَ مِنْ سُوءِ الْأَحْلَامِ وَ أَنْ يَلْعَبَ بِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ وَ الْمَنَامِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) would say, ‘O Lord, I seek protection with You against wet dreams and bad dreams and from Satan playing with me during my sleep or when awake.’”

تَسْبِيحُ فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهْرَاءِ ع إِذَا أَخَذْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَكَبِّرِ اللَّهَ أَرْبَعاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ احْمَدْهُ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ سَبِّحْهُ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ تَقْرَأُ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ الْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ وَ عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ مِنْ أَوَّلِ الصَّافَّاتِ وَ عَشْراً مِنْ آخِرِهَا.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa’Id all from al-Qasim ibn ‘Urwah from Hisham ibn Salim from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “ Tasbih of Fatimah al-Zahra’ (a.s.) should be said when you are about to go to your bed. It is s

أَنَّ شِهَابَ بْنَ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ سَأَلَهُ أَنْ يَسْأَلَ‌[2] أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ قَالَ‌ قُلْ لَهُ إِنَّ امْرَأَةً تُفْزِعُنِي فِي الْمَنَامِ بِاللَّيْلِ فَقَالَ قُلْ لَهُ اجْعَلْ مِسْبَاحاً[1] وَ كَبِّرِ اللَّهَ أَرْبَعاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ تَكْبِيرَةً وَ سَبِّحِ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ تَسْبِيحَةً وَ احْمَدِ اللَّهَ ثَلَاثاً وَ ثَلَاثِينَ وَ قُلْ‌ لا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ‌ وَحْدَهُ‌ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ‌ لَهُ الْم

“Ask the Imam, ‘A woman frightens me in my dream at night.’ The narrator has said that the Imam said, ‘Tell him to take rosary beads ( sabhah ) and say, ‘Allah is greater than can be described, thirty-four times, all praise belongs to Allah, thirty-three times, Allah is free of defects, thirty-three times,’ then say, “