Seeking Knowledge

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الْعِلْمُ قَالَ الْإِنْصَاتُ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَهْ قَالَ الِاسْتِمَاعُ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَهْ قَالَ الْحِفْظُ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَهْ قَالَ الْعَمَلُ بِهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ مَهْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ نَشْرُهُ.

“Once a man came to the holy Prophet (s.a.) and said, ‘O messenger of Allah what is knowledge?’ The holy Prophet replied, “It is silence.” The man then asked, “Then what?” The holy Prophet said, “It is listening.” The man asked, “Then what?” The holy Prophet (s.a.) said, “Then it is memorizing.” The man asked, “Then wh

طَلَبَةُ الْعِلْمِ ثَلَاثَةٌ فَاعْرِفْهُمْ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ وَ صِفَاتِهِمْ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلْجَهْلِ وَ الْمِرَاءِ وَ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلِاسْتِطَالَةِ وَ الْخَتْلِ وَ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلْفِقْهِ وَ الْعَقْلِ فَصَاحِبُ الْجَهْلِ وَ الْمِرَاءِ مُوذٍ مُمَارٍ مُتَعَرِّضٌ لِلْمَقَالِ فِي أَنْدِيَةِ الرِّجَالِ بِتَذَاكُرِ الْعِلْمِ وَ صِفَةِ الْحِلْمِ قَدْ تَسَرْبَلَ بِالْخُشُوعِ وَ تَخَلَّى مِنَ الْوَرَعِ فَدَقَّ الل

“The seekers of knowledge are of three kinds. The more noticeable of them in person or character are: (a) the group who seeks knowledge for ignorance and quarrel. (b) The group who seeks knowledge to dominate and cheat others. (c) The group who seeks knowledge for proper understanding, Fiqh, and power of intelligence.

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ رُوَاةَ الْكِتَابِ كَثِيرٌ وَ إِنَّ رُعَاتَهُ قَلِيلٌ وَ كَمْ مِنْ مُسْتَنْصِحٍ لِلْحَدِيثِ مُسْتَغِشُّ لِلْكِتَابِ فَالْعُلَمَاءُ يَحْزُنُهُمْ تَرْكُ الرِّعَايَةِ وَ الْجُهَّالُ يَحْزُنُهُمْ حِفْظُ الرِّوَايَةِ فَرَاعٍ يَرْعَى حَيَاتَهُ وَ رَاعٍ يَرْعَى هَلَكَتَهُ فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ اخْتَلَفَ الرَّاعِيَانِ وَ تَغَايَرَ الْفَرِيقَانِ.

“(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘The narrators of the book are a great many but those who would follow the proper discipline are very few. There are many, who are sincere about Hadith but mess up with the book. Lack of protection and discipline saddens the scholars and the (zeal) of ignorant ones to protect the (wor

مَنْ حَفِظَ مِنْ أَحَادِيثِنَا أَرْبَعِينَ حَدِيثاً بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَالِماً فَقِيهاً.

“Whoever would preserve and memorize forty of our Hadith on the Day of Judgment Allah will raise him as a scholar and Faqih, one with proper understanding of religion.”

قُلْتُ مَا طَعَامُهُ قَالَ عِلْمُهُ الَّذِي يَأْخُذُهُ عَمَّنْ يَأْخُذُهُ.

“It is his knowledge that he acquires from whoever he acquires.” This he said in answer to the question ‘What is his food’ in the words of Allah, “Let the human being think about (how We produce) his food.” (80:24)?’

الْوُقُوفُ عِنْدَ الشُّبْهَةِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الِاقْتِحَامِ فِي الْهَلَكَةِ وَ تَرْكُكَ حَدِيثاً لَمْ تُرْوَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ رِوَايَتِكَ حَدِيثاً لَمْ تُحْصِهِ.

“Holding back in an uncertain conditions is better than indulging in a destructive case. Your ignoring a Hadith that you do not narrate is better than your narrating a Hadith that you have not verified.”

لَهُ كُفَّ وَ اسْكُتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا يَسَعُكُمْ فِيمَا يَنْزِلُ بِكُمْ مِمَّا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ إِلَّا الْكَفُّ عَنْهُ وَ التَّثَبُّتُ وَ الرَّدُّ إِلَى أَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى حَتَّى يَحْمِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ عَلَى الْقَصْدِ وَ يَجْلُوا عَنْكُمْ فِيهِ الْعَمَى وَ يُعَرِّفُوكُمْ فِيهِ الْحَقَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‌ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ‌[3].

“(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘In the case of what may come to you and you have no knowledge of its veracity you can do nothing but to hold and verify and refer it to the Imams of guidance so that he would show the way of justice in it and enlighten you in the darkness and introduce to you the truth. Allah, the Mo

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ وَجَدْتُ عِلْمَ النَّاسِ كُلَّهُ فِي أَرْبَعٍ أَوَّلُهَا أَنْ تَعْرِفَ رَبَّكَ وَ الثَّانِي أَنْ تَعْرِفَ مَا صَنَعَ بِكَ وَ الثَّالِثُ أَنْ تَعْرِفَ مَا أَرَادَ مِنْكَ وَ الرَّابِعُ أَنْ تَعْرِفَ مَا يُخْرِجُكَ مِنْ دِينِكَ.

‘I have found all the knowledge of people in four categories: (a) The knowledge that would teach you about your Lord. (b) The knowledge that would teach you what the Lord has done for you. (c) The knowledge that would teach you what the Lord wants from you. (d) The knowledge that would teach you what destroys your reli

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا حَقُّ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ فَقَالَ أَنْ يَقُولُوا مَا يَعْلَمُونَ وَ يَكُفُّوا عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ أَدَّوْا إِلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّهُ.

"What is the right of Allah over His creation?" He replied: "That they should only say that which they know and should remain silent over that which they do not know, so if they were to do that then they have fulfilled the right of Allah."

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اعْرِفُوا مَنَازِلَ النَّاسِ عَلَى قَدْرِ رِوَايَتِهِمْ عَنَّا.

‘Note the position of the people from the degree of their narration of Hadith from us.’”

فِي بَعْضِ خُطَبِهِ‌ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ بِعَاقِلٍ مَنِ‌ انْزَعَجَ مِنْ قَوْلِ الزُّورِ فِيهِ وَ لَا بِحَكِيمٍ مَنْ رَضِيَ بِثَنَاءِ الْجَاهِلِ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ أَبْنَاءُ مَا يُحْسِنُونَ وَ قَدْرُ كُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا يُحْسِنُ فَتَكَلَّمُوا فِي الْعِلْمِ تَبَيَّنْ أَقْدَارُكُمْ.

‘O people, know that there is no man of intelligence who would become disappointed for a lie spoken about him. There is no man of wisdom who would become pleased with the praises of ignorant people of him. People are children of what they do best and the value of a man is what he does best. Speak knowledge, it will man

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ وَ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ يُقَالُ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ الْأَعْمَى وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَ الْبَصْرِيَّ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ الْعِلْمَ يُؤْذِي رِيحُ بُطُونِهِمْ أَهْلَ النَّارِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَهَلَكَ إِذَنْ مُؤْمِنُ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ مَا زَالَ الْعِلْمُ مَكْتُوماً مُنْذُ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نُوحاً ع فَلْيَذْهَبِ الْحَسَنُ يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا فَوَ

The Imam said, “The true believer of the people of Pharaoh is then destroyed. Knowledge from the time of Noah became veiled (s.a). Let Hassan go left and right. I swear by Allah he will not find knowledge in no other place but here with us.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْلَ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ- الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ‌[1] قَالَ هُوَ الرَّجُلُ يَسْمَعُ الْحَدِيثَ فَيُحَدِّثُ بِهِ كَمَا سَمِعَهُ لَا يَزِيدُ فِيهِ وَ لَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْهُ.

“He is a man who learns Hadith and reports it as he has learned without any additions of omissions”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَسْمَعُ الْحَدِيثَ مِنْكَ فَأَزِيدُ وَ أَنْقُصُ قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ مَعَانِيَهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Can I add to or omit from a Hadith that I hear from you?’” He said, “It is alright, if you would preserve the meaning,’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي أَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ مِنْكَ فَأُرِيدُ أَنْ أَرْوِيَهُ كَمَا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْكَ فَلَا يَجِي‌ءُ قَالَ فَتَعَمَّدُ[2] ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ لَا فَقَالَ تُرِيدُ الْمَعَانِيَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I asked (Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘I hear your statement and I want to narrate to others but it does not come through exactly.’” The Imam asked, “Do you do it purposely?” He said, “No, I do not do it purposely.” The Imam asked, “Do you keep the meaning?” He said, “Yes, I keep the meaning.” The Imam said, “It then i

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْحَدِيثُ أَسْمَعُهُ مِنْكَ أَرْوِيهِ عَنْ أَبِيكَ أَوْ أَسْمَعُهُ مِنْ أَبِيكَ أَرْوِيهِ عَنْكَ قَالَ سَوَاءٌ إِلَّا أَنَّكَ تَرْوِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِجَمِيلٍ مَا سَمِعْتَ مِنِّي فَارْوِهِ عَنْ أَبِي.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), ‘Can I narrate a Hadith I hear from you as a Hadith of your father or narrate what I have heard from your father as your Hadith?’ The Imam said, ‘It is all the same. However, I would love if you narrate from my father.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to Jamil, ‘What you hear from m

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَجِيئُنِي الْقَوْمُ فَيَسْتَمِعُونَ مِنِّي حَدِيثَكُمْ فَأَضْجَرُ وَ لَا أَقْوَى قَالَ فَاقْرَأْ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ أَوَّلِهِ حَدِيثاً وَ مِنْ وَسَطِهِ حَدِيثاً وَ مِنْ آخِرِهِ حَدِيثاً.

“I said to (Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘People come to me and they listen to the Ahadith that I narrate to them from you. I become tired and weak.’” The Imam said, “Narrate to them a Hadith from the beginning and one from the middle and one from the end.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع الرَّجُلُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا يُعْطِينِي الْكِتَابَ وَ لَا يَقُولُ ارْوِهِ عَنِّي يَجُوزُ لِي أَنْ أَرْوِيَهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِذَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْكِتَابَ لَهُ فَارْوِهِ عَنْهُ.

“If you knew that the book is his then narrate it from him.”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِذَا حَدَّثْتُمْ بِحَدِيثٍ فَأَسْنِدُوهُ إِلَى الَّذِي حَدَّثَكُمْ فَإِنْ كَانَ حَقّاً فَلَكُمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ كَذِباً فَعَلَيْهِ.

“When you would narrate Hadith you must say who its narrator is. If it would be true it will be for you and if it would be false it will be his responsibility.

الْقَلْبُ يَتَّكِلُ عَلَى الْكِتَابَةِ.

“The heart relies on writing.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اكْتُبُوا فَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَحْفَظُونَ حَتَّى تَكْتُبُوا.

“(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘You must write down because you will not memorize until you write down.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ احْتَفِظُوا بِكُتُبِكُمْ فَإِنَّكُمْ سَوْفَ تَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهَا.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘You must preserve your books because you will soon need them.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ اكْتُبْ وَ بُثَّ عِلْمَكَ فِي إِخْوَانِكَ فَإِنْ مِتَّ فَأَوْرِثْ كُتُبَكَ بَنِيكَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانُ هَرْجٍ لَا يَأْنَسُونَ فِيهِ إِلَّا بِكُتُبِهِمْ.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘You must write down (Hadith) and spread your knowledge among your brethren. If you will die your children will inherit your books. A time will come when people will face chaos and they will find no comfort but with their books.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْكَذِبَ الْمُفْتَرِعَ قِيلَ لَهُ وَ مَا الْكَذِبُ الْمُفْتَرِعُ قَالَ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَكَ الرَّجُلُ بِالْحَدِيثِ فَتَتْرُكَهُ وَ تَرْوِيَهُ عَنِ الَّذِي حَدَّثَكَ عَنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘Beware of the branched-out lies.’ They asked the Imam, “What is branched-out lies?” The Imam replied, “It is when a person narrates a Hadith to you and you would ignore him and narrate it from the person from whom he had narrated the Hadith.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَعْرِبُوا حَدِيثَنَا فَإِنَّا قَوْمٌ فُصَحَاءُ.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘Speak our Hadith clearly because we are eloquent people.’”

حَدِيثِي حَدِيثُ أَبِي وَ حَدِيثُ أَبِي حَدِيثُ جَدِّي وَ حَدِيثُ جَدِّي حَدِيثُ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ حَدِيثُ الْحُسَيْنِ حَدِيثُ الْحَسَنِ وَ حَدِيثُ الْحَسَنِ حَدِيثُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ حَدِيثُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَدِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ حَدِيثُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

My Hadith is the Hadith of my father. The Hadith of my father is the Hadith of my grandfather. The Hadith of my grandfather is the Hadith of al-Husayn. The Hadith of al-Husayn is the Hadith of al-Hasan. The Hadith of al-Hasan is the Hadith of Amir al-Mu'mineen (a.s.). The Hadith of Amir al-Mu'mineen is the Hadith of th

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ مَشَايِخَنَا رَوَوْا عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ كَانَتِ التَّقِيَّةُ شَدِيدَةً فَكَتَمُوا كُتُبَهُمْ وَ لَمْ تُرْوَ[1] عَنْهُمْ فَلَمَّا مَاتُوا صَارَتِ الْكُتُبُ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ حَدِّثُوا بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا حَقٌّ.

“You may narrate from them because they contain the truth.”

قُلْتُ لَهُ- اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبارَهُمْ‌ وَ رُهْبانَهُمْ أَرْباباً مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ‌[2] فَقَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا دَعَوْهُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ لَوْ دَعَوْهُمْ مَا أَجَابُوهُمْ وَ لَكِنْ أَحَلُّوا لَهُمْ حَرَاماً وَ حَرَّمُوا عَلَيْهِمْ حَلَالًا فَعَبَدُوهُمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ.

“I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the verse of the holy Quran that says, ‘They (unconditionally) obeyed the rabbis and the monks and worshipped the Messiah, son of Mary, as they should have obeyed God. . (9:31)’. The Imam replied, “By Allah they did not call people to worship them. If they had done so people wou

قَالَ لِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَنْتُمْ أَشَدُّ تَقْلِيداً أَمِ الْمُرْجِئَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَلَّدْنَا وَ قَلَّدُوا فَقَالَ لَمْ أَسْأَلْكَ عَنْ هَذَا فَلَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدِي جَوَابٌ أَكْثَرُ مِنَ الْجَوَابِ الْأَوَّلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ الْمُرْجِئَةَ نَصَبَتْ رَجُلًا لَمْ تَفْرِضْ طَاعَتَهُ وَ قَلَّدُوهُ وَ أَنْتُمْ نَصَبْتُمْ رَجُلًا وَ فَرَضْتُمْ طَاعَتَهُ ثُمَّ لَمْ تُقَلِّدُوهُ فَهُمْ أَشَدّ

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, ‘O Muhammad, Do you observe Taqlid more strictly or the group of Murji’a?’ Muhammad ibn ‘ubaydah has said, “I replied, ‘They observe Taqlid and we observe Taqlid.’ The Imam then said, “I did not ask you about this.” I did not have any answer other than the first one. The Imam then said, “The

وَ اللَّهِ مَا صَامُوا لَهُمْ وَ لَا صَلَّوْا لَهُمْ وَ لَكِنْ أَحَلُّوا لَهُمْ حَرَاماً وَ حَرَّمُوا عَلَيْهِمْ حَلَالًا فَاتَّبَعُوهُمْ.

“They (unconditionally) obeyed the rabbis and the monks and worshipped the Messiah, son of Mary, as they should have obeyed God . (9:31).’ “By Allah, they (the people) did not pray or fast for them (rabbis and monks) but they (rabbis and monks) made lawful for the people what was unlawful and unlawful what was lawful a

خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع النَّاسَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَدْءُ وُقُوعِ الْفِتَنِ أَهْوَاءٌ تُتَّبَعُ وَ أَحْكَامٌ تُبْتَدَعُ يُخَالَفُ فِيهَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ يَتَوَلَّى فِيهَا رِجَالٌ رِجَالًا فَلَوْ أَنَّ الْبَاطِلَ خَلَصَ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَى ذِي حِجًى وَ لَوْ أَنَّ الْحَقَّ خَلَصَ لَمْ يَكُنِ اخْتِلَافٌ وَ لَكِنْ يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ هَذَا ضِغْثٌ‌[1] وَ مِنْ هَذَا ضِغْثٌ فَيُمْزَجَانِ فَيَجِيئَانِ مَعاً

“Imam Ali said in one of his sermons to people, ‘O people, mischief begins with following certain desires and obeying certain invented rules that are different from the rules and laws of the book of Allah. In such case people yield to other people as high authority if falsehood would have been clear they would have no

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا ظَهَرَتِ الْبِدَعُ فِي أُمَّتِي فَلْيُظْهِرِ الْعَالِمُ عِلْمَهُ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ.

“When innovations emerge it will be obligatory for the scholars to make their knowledge public, otherwise, Allah will condemn them.”

مَنْ أَتَى ذَا بِدْعَةٍ فَعَظَّمَهُ فَإِنَّمَا يَسْعَى فِي هَدْمِ الْإِسْلَامِ.

“If one would meet an innovator and considers him great such person has, in fact, the destruction of Islam.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ أَبَى اللَّهُ لِصَاحِبِ الْبِدْعَةِ بِالتَّوْبَةِ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ أُشْرِبَ قَلْبُهُ حُبَّهَا.

“Allah has rejected repentance of an innovator (in religion).” People asked the holy Prophet as to why is this. The holy Prophet replied, “He (Allah) has quenched his heart with the love of his innovation.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ عِنْدَ كُلِّ بِدْعَةٍ تَكُونُ مِنْ بَعْدِي يُكَادُ بِهَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلِيّاً مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي مُوَكَّلًا بِهِ يَذُبُّ عَنْهُ يَنْطِقُ بِإِلْهَامٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ يُعْلِنُ الْحَقَّ وَ يُنَوِّرُهُ وَ يَرُدُّ كَيْدَ الْكَائِدِينَ يُعَبِّرُ عَنِ الضُّعَفَاءِ فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ وَ تَوَكَّلُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said that the holy Prophet has said, ‘It is certain that against every innovation with plots to destroy faith there will be an (religious) authority from my family as guardian of faith and as its defender. (Such) authority will speak on inspiration from Allah to declare the truth and bring it to l

إِنَّ مِنْ أَبْغَضِ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَرَجُلَيْنِ رَجُلٌ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ فَهُوَ جَائِرٌ عَنْ قَصْدِ السَّبِيلِ مَشْعُوفٌ‌[1] بِكَلَامِ بِدْعَةٍ قَدْ لَهِجَ بِالصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ فَهُوَ فِتْنَةٌ لِمَنِ افْتَتَنَ بِهِ ضَالٌّ عَنْ هَدْيِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ‌[2] مُضِلٌّ لِمَنِ اقْتَدَى بِهِ فِي حَيَاتِهِ وَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ حَمَّالٌ خَطَايَا غَيْرِهِ رَهْنٌ بِخَطِيئَتِهِ وَ رَجُلٌ

“Of the most intensely disliked men before Allah, the Majestic, the Most Glorious, are two kinds of people: A man whom Allah has left all to his own soul and he deviates from the path of justice and is intensely attracted towards the words innovation. He seems a master in performing prayer and fasting but is a mischief

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْمَقَايِيسِ طَلَبُوا الْعِلْمَ بِالْمَقَايِيسِ فَلَمْ تَزِدْهُمُ الْمَقَايِيسُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا بُعْداً وَ إِنَّ دِينَ اللَّهِ لَا يُصَابُ بِالْمَقَايِيسِ.

The people of analogy have sought knowledge through analogy and it has increased to their knowledge nothing but further remoteness. The religion of Allah is beyond the reach of analogy.’”

قَالا كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وَ كُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ سَبِيلُهَا إِلَى النَّارِ

“All innovations are misguidance and all misguidance leads to Hell.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فُقِّهْنَا فِي الدِّينِ وَ أَغْنَانَا اللَّهُ بِكُمْ عَنِ النَّاسِ حَتَّى إِنَّ الْجَمَاعَةَ مِنَّا لَتَكُونُ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ مَا يَسْأَلُ رَجُلٌ صَاحِبَهُ تَحْضُرُهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ وَ يَحْضُرُهُ جَوَابُهَا فِيمَا مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا بِكُمْ فَرُبَّمَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْنَا الشَّيْ‌ءُ لَمْ يَأْتِنَا فِيهِ عَنْكَ وَ لَا عَنْ آبَائِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَنَظَرْنَا إِلَى أَحْسَنِ مَ

I said to Abu al-Hasan Musa (as), "May I be your ransom! We have been given understanding in religion, and Allah has made us self-sufficient through you from the people, to the extent that a group of us may be in a gathering where no one asks his companion [about a religious issue], for when a question arises, its answ

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ع بِمَا أُوَحِّدُ اللَّهَ فَقَالَ يَا يُونُسُ لَا تَكُونَنَّ مُبْتَدِعاً مَنْ نَظَرَ بِرَأْيِهِ هَلَكَ وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّهِ ص ضَلَّ وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَ قَوْلَ نَبِيِّهِ كَفَرَ.

“I asked (Imam) abu al-Hassan the First, ‘How would I prove that Allah is one?’” The Imam replied, “O Yunus, do not be an innovator. One who depends on his personal opinion he is destroyed. One who abandons the members of the family of his prophet, goes stray. Whoever abandons the book of Allah and the words of His pro

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع تَرِدُ عَلَيْنَا أَشْيَاءُ لَيْسَ نَعْرِفُهَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا سُنَّةٍ فَنَنْظُرُ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لَا أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ أَصَبْتَ لَمْ تُؤْجَرْ وَ إِنْ أَخْطَأْتَ كَذَبْتَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.), 'There come to us matters which we do not find in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah, so we consider them (using our opinion).' He (as) said, 'No, indeed, if you are correct, you will not be rewarded, and if you are wrong, you will have lied against Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.'"”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ كُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وَ كُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ.

“The Holy Prophet said, ‘All innovations are misguidance and all misguidance is Hell.’”

قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِنَّا نَجْتَمِعُ فَنَتَذَاكَرُ مَا عِنْدَنَا فَلَا يَرِدُ عَلَيْنَا شَيْ‌ءٌ إِلَّا وَ عِنْدَنَا فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ مُسَطَّرٌ[1] وَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا بِكُمْ ثُمَّ يَرِدُ عَلَيْنَا الشَّيْ‌ءُ الصَّغِيرُ لَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ فَيَنْظُرُ بَعْضُنَا إِلَى بَعْضٍ وَ عِنْدَنَا مَا يُشْبِهُهُ فَنَقِيسُ عَلَى أَحْسَنِهِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا لَكُمْ وَ لِلْقِيَاسِ إِنَّمَا هَل

“I said to abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), ‘May Allah keep you well, in our meetings we discuss the issues and find out that for almost every thing there is something in writing with us, and that is all because of the blessings of your existence among us. We only find few small things for which we do not find any thing in w

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ ضَلَّ عِلْمُ ابْنِ شُبْرُمَةَ عِنْدَ الْجَامِعَةِ[2] إِمْلَاءِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ خَطِّ عَلِيٍّ ع بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ الْجَامِعَةَ لَمْ تَدَعْ لِأَحَدٍ كَلَاماً فِيهَا عِلْمُ الْحَلَالِ وَ الْحَرَامِ إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْقِيَاسِ طَلَبُوا الْعِلْمَ بِالْقِيَاسِ فَلَمْ يَزْدَادُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا بُعْداً إِنَّ دِينَ اللَّهِ لَا يُصَابُ بِالْقِيَاسِ.

“I heard (Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Ibn Shabrama’s knowledge is lost and void before al-Jami‘ah. It is a large book that was dictated by the holy Prophet to Imam Ali (a.s.), who wrote it with his own hands. Al-Jami‘ah has left nothing for any one to say. In it is the knowledge of all lawful and unlawful matte

إِنَّ السُّنَّةَ لَا تُقَاسُ أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّ امْرَأَةً تَقْضِي صَوْمَهَا وَ لَا تَقْضِي صَلَاتَهَا يَا أَبَانُ إِنَّ السُّنَّةَ إِذَا قِيسَتْ مُحِقَ الدِّينُ.

“The Sunnah can not be analogized (with qiyas). Don't you see that a woman has to make up for her fast (missed due to menses) but she does not have to make up for the prayers (missed due to the same)? O Aban, if the Sunnah was analogized, the religion would have been destroyed.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع عَنِ الْقِيَاسِ فَقَالَ مَا لَكُمْ وَ الْقِيَاسَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُسْأَلُ كَيْفَ أَحَلَّ وَ كَيْفَ حَرَّمَ.

“I asked (Imam) Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) about the use of analogy and the Imam said, ‘What do you have to do with analogy? Allah is not asked about how he made things lawful or unlawful.’”

مَنْ نَصَبَ نَفْسَهُ لِلْقِيَاسِ لَمْ يَزَلْ دَهْرَهُ فِي الْتِبَاسٍ وَ مَنْ دَانَ اللَّهَ بِالرَّأْيِ لَمْ يَزَلْ دَهْرَهُ فِي ارْتِمَاسٍ- قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع مَنْ أَفْتَى النَّاسَ بِرَأْيِهِ فَقَدْ دَانَ اللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ وَ مَنْ دَانَ اللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فَقَدْ ضَادَّ اللَّهَ حَيْثُ أَحَلَّ وَ حَرَّمَ فِيمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ.

‘Whoever sets out for analogy his whole life will get in confusion. Whoever would practice the religion of Allah by means of analogy his whole life will pass in a drowning condition.’” Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “Whoever gives Fatwa on the basis of his personal opinion he has practiced the religion of Allah by m

إِنَّ إِبْلِيسَ قَاسَ نَفْسَهُ بِآدَمَ فَقَالَ خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نَارٍ وَ خَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ وَ لَوْ قَاسَ الْجَوْهَرَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ آدَمَ بِالنَّارِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ أَكْثَرَ نُوراً وَ ضِيَاءً مِنَ النَّارِ.

“Satan analogized himself with Adam saying, “Lord, You have created me from fire and created him from clay. In an analogical explanation if the substance from which Adam was made would be compared with fire it would come to light that it has more light and value than fire.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الْحَلَالِ وَ الْحَرَامِ فَقَالَ حَلَالُ مُحَمَّدٍ حَلَالٌ أَبَداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ حَرَامُهُ حَرَامٌ أَبَداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَا يَكُونُ غَيْرُهُ وَ لَا يَجِي‌ءُ غَيْرُهُ وَ قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ ع مَا أَحَدٌ ابْتَدَعَ بِدْعَةً إِلَّا تَرَكَ بِهَا سُنَّةً.

“Whatever Muhammad (sw) has made lawful will remain lawful forever up to the Day of Judgment, and whatever he has made unlawful will remain unlawful forever up to the Day of Judgment. There will be no one other than him and there will come no one other than him. He said that Ali (as) has said, ‘No one has established a

دَخَلَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا حَنِيفَةَ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَقِيسُ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ لَا تَقِسْ فَإِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَنْ قَاسَ إِبْلِيسُ حِينَ قَالَ‌ خَلَقْتَنِي مِنْ نارٍ وَ خَلَقْتَهُ مِنْ طِينٍ* فَقَاسَ مَا بَيْنَ النَّارِ وَ الطِّينِ وَ لَوْ قَاسَ نُورِيَّةَ آدَمَ بِنُورِيَّةِ النَّارِ عَرَفَ فَضْلَ مَا بَيْنَ النُّورَيْنِ وَ صَفَاءَ أَحَدِهِمَا عَلَى الْآخَرِ.

“Once abu Hanifah came to see Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who said to abu Hanifah, “O abu Hanifah, do you practice analogy as I hear you do?” Abu Hanifah replied, “Yes, I do practice analogy.” The Imam then said to him, “Do not practice it because the first person who used analogy was Satan when he said, “Lord, you have