Seeking Knowledge

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَوَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ صَاحِبُ كَلَامٍ وَ فِقْهٍ وَ فَرَائِضَ وَ قَدْ جِئْتُ لِمُنَاظَرَةِ أَصْحَابِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَلَامُكَ مِنْ كَلَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَوْ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَقَالَ مِنْ كَلَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ مِنْ عِنْدِي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَنْتَ إِذاً شَرِيكُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَس

“I was in the presence of Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that a man from Sham (Syria) came to him and said, ‘I am a man of Kalam (meaningful words) Fiqh (laws) and rules of obligations and I have come to debate your people.” Imam abu ‘Abdallah asked, “ Are your meaningful words those of the Messenger of Allah or your own wo

قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَدَعِ الْأَرْضَ بِغَيْرِ عَالِمٍ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْحَقُّ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ.

“Allah does not leave the earth without a ‘Alim (scholar). Without this the truth would not be distinguished from falsehood.”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ مَنْ يَعْرِفُ اللَّهَ فَأَمَّا مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُ اللَّهَ فَإِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُهُ هَكَذَا ضَلَالًا[1] قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا مَعْرِفَةُ اللَّهِ قَالَ تَصْدِيقُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ تَصْدِيقُ رَسُولِهِ ص وَ مُوَالاةُ عَلِيٍّ ع وَ الِائْتِمَامُ بِهِ وَ بِأَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى ع وَ الْبَرَاءَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِمْ هَكَذَا يُعْرَفُ اللَّ

“Only those who know Allah worship Him. Those who do not know Allah they worship Him just like that in misguidance.” I then asked, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what the knowledge about Allah?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Knowledge about Allah means is to acknowledge the existence of Allah, the Most Holy

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْإِمَامِ مِنْكُمْ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَى‌ جَمِيعِ الْخَلْقِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً ص إِلَى النَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ رَسُولًا وَ حُجَّةً لِلَّهِ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ فَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ اتَّبَعَهُ وَ صَدَّقَهُ فَإِنَّ مَعْرِفَةَ الْإِمَامِ مِنَّا وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَيْهِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِال

“I said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘Is knowing the Imam from among you obligatory on all creatures?’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Muhammad to all people as His Messenger and as His authority over all creatures on earth. Those who have faith in Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger and

أَبَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يُجْرِيَ الْأَشْيَاءَ إِلَّا بِأَسْبَابٍ فَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ سَبَباً وَ جَعَلَ لِكُلِّ سَبَبٍ شَرْحاً وَ جَعَلَ لِكُلِّ شَرْحٍ عِلْماً وَ جَعَلَ لِكُلِّ عِلْمٍ بَاباً نَاطِقاً عَرَفَهُ مَنْ عَرَفَهُ وَ جَهِلَهُ مَنْ جَهِلَهُ ذَاكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ نَحْنُ‌[1].

It is the messengers of Allah and we.”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ يَخْرُجُ أَحَدُكُمْ فَرَاسِخَ فَيَطْلُبُ لِنَفْسِهِ دَلِيلًا وَ أَنْتَ بِطُرُقِ‌ السَّمَاءِ أَجْهَلُ مِنْكَ بِطُرُقِ الْأَرْضِ فَاطْلُبْ لِنَفْسِكَ دَلِيلًا.

“O Abu Hamza, when one of you decides to travel for just a few miles, he first finds a guide and direction for himself. Your knowledge of the paths of the heavens is much less than your knowledge of the paths of earth. You must find a guide for yourself.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ طَاعَتَنَا لَنَا الْأَنْفَالُ وَ لَنَا صَفْوُ الْمَالِ‌[3] وَ نَحْنُ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ وَ نَحْنُ الْمَحْسُودُونَ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ‌ أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلى‌ ما آتاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ‌[4].

“We are a people obedience to whom is obligatory by the command of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The Anfal (twenty percent in tax) is for us and we have been given the authority to choose the best out of the property seized from the enemy. We are the people very firmly established in knowledge. We are the ones w

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ صُحْبَةَ الْعَالِمِ‌[1] وَ اتِّبَاعَهُ دِينٌ يُدَانُ اللَّهُ بِهِ وَ طَاعَتَهُ مَكْسَبَةٌ لِلْحَسَنَاتِ مَمْحَاةٌ لِلسَّيِّئَاتِ وَ ذَخِيرَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ رِفْعَةٌ[2] فِيهِمْ فِي حَيَاتِهِمْ وَ جَمِيلٌ بَعْدَ مَمَاتِهِمْ‌[3].

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Hamza from abu Ishaq from some of the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) who has narrated the following from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). “Know that to establish companionship with the scholar and to follow him is a religion

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَجَلُّ وَ أَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْرَفَ بِخَلْقِهِ بَلِ الْخَلْقُ يُعْرَفُونَ بِاللَّهِ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ مَنْ عَرَفَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً فَقَدْ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ أَنَّ لِذَلِكَ الرَّبِّ رِضًا وَ سَخَطاً وَ أَنَّهُ لَا يُعْرَفُ رِضَاهُ وَ سَخَطُهُ إِلَّا بِوَحْيٍ أَوْ رَسُولٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِهِ الْوَحْيُ فَيَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَطْلُبَ الرُّسُلَ فَإِذَا

“I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Allah is the Most Holy, the Most High to be recognized through His creatures. In fact, it is the creature who are recognized through Allah.’” The Imam (a.s.) said you have is very true.” I then said, “One who knows that he has a creator he must also know that his creator becomes wit

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ نَحْنُ وُلَاةُ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ خَزَنَةُ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ وَ عَيْبَةُ وَحْيِ اللَّهِ‌[1].

“We are the ones who has said the following possess Divine authority of the command of Allah, we are the treasury of the knowledge of Allah and the repository of the revelations of Allah.”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا لَخُزَّانُ اللَّهِ فِي سَمَائِهِ وَ أَرْضِهِ لَا عَلَى ذَهَبٍ وَ لَا عَلَى فِضَّةٍ إِلَّا عَلَى عِلْمِهِ.

“By Allah, we are the treasurers of Allah in His heavens and on His earth, not over gold or silver, but over His knowledge.”

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا أَنْتُمْ قَالَ نَحْنُ خُزَّانُ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ تَرَاجِمَةُ وَحْيِ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ عَلَى مَنْ دُونَ السَّمَاءِ وَ مَنْ فَوْقَ الْأَرْضِ.

“may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what are you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “We are the treasurers of the knowledge of Allah. We are the translators of the revelations of Allah. We possess complete Divine authority over all that is under the heavens and those above the earth.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى اسْتِكْمَالُ حُجَّتِي عَلَى الْأَشْقِيَاءِ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ‌[2] مِنْ تَرْكِ وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ فَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ سُنَّتَكَ وَ سُنَّةَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَ هُمْ خُزَّانِي عَلَى عِلْمِي مِنْ بَعْدِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَقَدْ أَنْبَأَنِي جَبْرَئِيلُ ع بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ وَ أَسْمَا

“The Messenger of Allah (sw) said that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: "The completion of My proof against the wretched ones of your nation lies in their abandonment of the authority (wilāyah) of ʿAlī and the successors after you. For within them is your tradition and the tradition of the prophets before you. The

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاحِدٌ- مُتَوَحِّدٌ بِالْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ مُتَفَرِّدٌ بِأَمْرِهِ فَخَلَقَ خَلْقاً فَقَدَّرَهُمْ لِذَلِكَ الْأَمْرِ فَنَحْنُ هُمْ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ فَنَحْنُ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَ خُزَّانُهُ عَلَى عِلْمِهِ وَ الْقَائِمُونَ بِذَلِكَ.

“O son of Abi Ya'fur, indeed Allah is One, unique in His Oneness. He alone issues His command. He created a creation and appointed and measured them for that command (Amr, task). So, we, O son of Abu Ya‘fur, are that creation. We are the authority of Allah among His servants, the treasurers of His knowledge, and the gu

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَنَا فَأَحْسَنَ خَلْقَنَا وَ صَوَّرَنَا فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَنَا[3] وَ جَعَلَنَا خُزَّانَهُ فِي سَمَائِهِ وَ أَرْضِهِ وَ لَنَا نَطَقَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ وَ بِعِبَادَتِنَا عُبِدَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌[4] وَ لَوْلَانَا مَا عُبِدَ اللَّهُ.

6. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn al-Qasim ibn Mu‘awiya and Muhammad ibn Yahya from al-‘Amrakiy ibn Ali altogether from Ali ibn Ja’far from abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, created us and He

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى- اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ‌ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ‌ كَمِشْكاةٍ[3] فَاطِمَةُ ع‌ فِيها مِصْباحٌ‌ الْحَسَنُ- الْمِصْباحُ فِي زُجاجَةٍ الْحُسَيْنُ- الزُّجاجَةُ كَأَنَّها كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌ‌ فَاطِمَةُ كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ بَيْنَ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا- يُوقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبارَكَةٍ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع- زَيْتُونَةٍ لا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَ لا غَرْبِيَّةٍ لَا يَهُودِيَّةٍ

The Imam (a.s.) said that the lantern metaphorically stands for the Holy lady, Fatima (a.s.), the lamp stands for Imam al-Hassan (a.s.) and the glass stands for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). The shining star stands for the Holy lady Fatima (a.s.) who shines among the ladies of the world. The blessed olive tree stands for Prop

مَا جَاءَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ ع آخُذُ بِهِ وَ مَا نَهَى عَنْهُ أَنْتَهِي عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مِثْلُ مَا جَرَى لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص الْفَضْلُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَنْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمُتَعَقِّبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ أَحْكَامِهِ كَالْمُتَعَقِّبِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ‌[2] وَ الرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِاللَّهِ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِن

1. Ahmad ibn Mahran from Muhammad ibn Ali and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad altogether from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought I follow them entirely and whatever he has forbidden I desist from them altog

دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَابْتَدَأَنَا فَقَالَ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ مَا جَاءَ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يُؤْخَذُ بِهِ وَ مَا نَهَى عَنْهُ يُنْتَهَى عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مَا جَرَى لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْفَضْلُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَنْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْمُعَيِّبُ‌[2] عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ أَحْكَامِهِ كَالْمُعَيِّبِ عَل

2. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid Shabab al-Sayrafi who has said that Sa‘id’ al-A‘raj has said that he and Sulayman ibn Khalid once went to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and al-A‘raj began the conversation as follows. “Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought

فَضْلُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌[1] مَا جَاءَ بِهِ آخُذُ بِهِ وَ مَا نَهَى عَنْهُ أَنْتَهِي عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مَا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ الْفَضْلُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص الْمُتَقَدِّمُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ كَالْمُتَقَدِّمِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ الْمُتَفَضِّلُ عَلَيْهِ كَالْمُتَفَضِّلِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ الرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشّ

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad both have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Hassa’n who has said that abu ‘Abdallah al-Riyahi narrated to him from abu al-Samit al-Hulwani from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the virtue of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) the following Hadith. “Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) h

فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ يَذْكُرُ فِيهَا حَالَ الْأَئِمَّةِ ع وَ صِفَاتِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْضَحَ بِأَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّنَا عَنْ دِينِهِ وَ أَبْلَجَ بِهِمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِ مِنْهَاجِهِ وَ فَتَحَ بِهِمْ عَنْ بَاطِنِ يَنَابِيعِ عِلْمِهِ فَمَنْ عَرَفَ مِنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَاجِبَ حَقِّ إِمَامِهِ وَجَدَ طَعْمَ حَلَاوَةِ إِيمَانِهِ وَ عَلِمَ فَضْلَ طُلَاوَةِ إِسْلَامِهِ‌[4] لِأَنَّ اللَّ

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ’Isa from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub from Ishaq ibn Ghalib from abu ’Abdallah (a.s.) who has described the condition of the Imams (a.s.) and their attributes in one of his sermons. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has explained His religion through the Imams

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَقَدْ آتَيْنا آلَ إِبْراهِيمَ الْكِتابَ‌ فَقَالَ النُّبُوَّةَ قُلْتُ- الْحِكْمَةَ قَالَ الْفَهْمَ وَ الْقَضَاءَ قُلْتُ‌ وَ آتَيْناهُمْ مُلْكاً عَظِيماً فَقَالَ الطَّاعَةَ.

The Imams (a.s.) said, “It means Prophet-hood.” I then asked about the meaning of ‘wisdom’. The Imams (a.s.) said, “It means understanding and judgment.” I then asked about the meaning of ‘great kingdom.’ The Imams (a.s.) said, “It means obedience.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَحْيَا حَيَاةً تُشْبِهُ حَيَاةَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ يَمُوتَ مِيتَةً تُشْبِهُ مِيتَةَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ يَسْكُنَ الْجِنَانَ الَّتِي غَرَسَهَا الرَّحْمَنُ‌[2] فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيّاً وَ لْيُوَالِ وَلِيَّهُ وَ لْيَقْتَدِ بِالْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِتْرَتِي خُلِقُوا مِنْ طِينَتِي- اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْهُمْ فَهْمِي وَ عِلْمِي وَ وَيْلٌ لِلْمُخَالِفِينَ لَهُمْ مِنْ أُمَّتِ

“Whoever would like to live a life similar to those of the prophets, die in a similar manner as the martyrs do and live in the garden which is planted by the Beneficent, they must love Imam Ali (a.s.) (acknowledge his Divine authority) and love those who love and support him and follow the Imams after him who are of my

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ اسْتِكْمَالُ حُجَّتِي عَلَى الْأَشْقِيَاءِ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ‌[3]- مَنْ تَرَكَ وَلَايَةَ عَلِيٍّ وَ وَالَى أَعْدَاءَهُ وَ أَنْكَرَ فَضْلَهُ وَ فَضْلَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَإِنَّ فَضْلَكَ فَضْلُهُمْ وَ طَاعَتَكَ طَاعَتُهُمْ وَ حَقَّكَ حَقُّهُمْ وَ مَعْصِيَتَكَ مَعْصِيَتُهُمْ وَ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ الْهُدَاةُ مِنْ

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from al-Nadr ibn Shu’ayb from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamzah al-Thamali who has said that he heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.) said: “ Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says, “It is to establish my authority over th

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَحْيَا حَيَاتِي وَ يَمُوتَ مِيتَتِي وَ يَدْخُلَ جَنَّةَ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي غَرَسَهَا اللَّهُ رَبِّي بِيَدِهِ فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ لْيَتَوَلَّ وَلِيَّهُ وَ لْيُعَادِ عَدُوَّهُ وَ لْيُسَلِّمْ لِلْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِتْرَتِي مِنْ لَحْمِي وَ دَمِي أَعْطَاهُمُ اللَّهُ فَهْمِي وَ عِلْمِي إِلَى اللَّهِ

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Whoever would want to live like my living, die like I will die and enter the garden of Eden that my Lord has planted with His own hands, he must love (acknowledge the Divine authority of) Ali (a.s.) ibn abu Talib. He must love (acknowledge the Divine authority of his successor) those

رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الذِّكْرُ أَنَا وَ الْأَئِمَّةُ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ وَ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ إِنَّهُ لَذِكْرٌ لَكَ‌ وَ لِقَوْمِكَ‌ وَ سَوْفَ تُسْئَلُونَ‌[4] قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع نَحْنُ قَوْمُهُ وَ نَحْنُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ.

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from ’Abdallah ibn ‘Ajlan from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know.” (16:43, 21: 7 Holy Quran). The Holy Prophet (s.a.) has said, ‘I am the Dh

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ‌ قَالَ الذِّكْرُ مُحَمَّدٌ ص وَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُهُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ- وَ إِنَّهُ لَذِكْرٌ لَكَ وَ لِقَوْمِكَ وَ سَوْفَ تُسْئَلُونَ‌ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى وَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ وَ نَحْنُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ.

I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the following words of Allah. “Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know.” (16:43, 21: 7 Holy Quran) The Imams (a.s.) said, “Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) is ‘Dhikr’ and we are the people of ‘Dhikr who will be asked.” I also asked about, “It is a Dhikr for you and for y

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ‌ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ‌ فَقَالَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ وَ نَحْنُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ قُلْتُ فَأَنْتُمُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ وَ نَحْنُ السَّائِلُونَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ‌ حَقّاً عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَكُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ حَقّاً عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُجِيبُونَا قَالَ لَا[1] ذَاكَ إِلَيْنَا إِنْ شِئْنَا فَعَلْنَا وَ إِنْ شِئْنَا لَمْ نَفْعَلْ أ

“I asked al-Rida (a.s) and said, 'May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of the words of Allah, “Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know.”?' (16:43 and 21:7) He (a.s.) replied, “ We are the people of ‘Dhikr’ and we are the ones about whom questions will be asked.” I asked further, “Are

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ إِنَّهُ لَذِكْرٌ لَكَ وَ لِقَوْمِكَ‌ وَ سَوْفَ تُسْئَلُونَ‌ فَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الذِّكْرُ وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِهِ ع الْمَسْئُولُونَ وَ هُمْ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ[3].

4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from ‘Asim ibn Hamid from abu Basir from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “It is a Dhikr for you and for your people and you all wil

الذِّكْرُ الْقُرْآنُ وَ نَحْنُ قَوْمُهُ وَ نَحْنُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ.

The Imams (a.s.)said, “The Holy Quran is the ’Dhikr’ and we are the one who will be asked questions.”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْوَرْدُ أَخُو الْكُمَيْتِ فَقَالَ جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ اخْتَرْتُ لَكَ سَبْعِينَ مَسْأَلَةً مَا تَحْضُرُنِي مِنْهَا مَسْأَلَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ قَالَ وَ لَا وَاحِدَةٌ يَا وَرْدُ قَالَ بَلَى قَدْ حَضَرَنِي مِنْهَا وَاحِدَةٌ قَالَ وَ مَا هِيَ قَالَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ‌ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ نَحْنُ قَال

“I was in the presence of Imam (a.s.) abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and al-Ward brother of al-Kumayt came to see him. He to the Imams (a.s.) said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I have chosen seventy questions and I do not know the answer even for one of them.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “Not even one answer, O War

إِنَّ مَنْ عِنْدَنَا يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ‌ أَنَّهُمُ الْيَهُودُ وَ النَّصَارَى قَالَ إِذاً يَدْعُونَكُمْ إِلَى دِينِهِمْ قَالَ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ‌[4] نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ وَ نَحْنُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ.

“These are people who think that the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. ‘Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know,’ refers to the Jews and the Christians.” The Imams (a.s.) asked, “Do they call you to their religion?” He (Muhammad ibn Muslim) has aid that the Imams (a.s.) “Said, with his hand (pointing) to

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ عَلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنَ الْفَرْضِ مَا لَيْسَ عَلَى شِيعَتِهِمْ وَ عَلَى شِيعَتِنَا مَا لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا أَمَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَسْأَلُونَا قَالَ‌ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ‌ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَسْأَلُونَا وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْنَا الْجَوَابُ إِنْ شِئْنَا أَجَبْنَا وَ إِنْ شِئْنَا أَمْسَكْنَا.

“Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn has said that there are certain obligation for the Imams that are not obligatory for their followers and certain obligation of our followers are not obligatory for us. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has commanded them to ask us their questions saying, “Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع كِتَاباً فَكَانَ فِي بَعْضِ مَا كَتَبْتُ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ‌ وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ ما كانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ‌ لِيَنْفِرُوا كَافَّةً فَلَوْ لا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَ لِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ‌ إِذا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ‌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ‌[1] فَقَدْ فُرِضَتْ ع

The Imams (a.s.) has said the following for the answer. “If they would not do what you would ask them, know that they are only following their (evil) desires. Who strays more than one who follows his desires without guidance from God? . .” (28:50)

أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ‌ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ‌ وَ الَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ‌ عَدُوُّنَا وَ شِيعَتُنَا أُولُوا الْأَلْبابِ‌.

Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know? Only the people of reason take heed.” (39:9) ‘We are the people of knowledge, the people who and it is our enemies who do not know and our followers are the people who take heed and are the people of reason.’”

نَحْنُ‌ الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ‌ وَ عَدُوُّنَا الَّذِينَ لا يَعْلَمُونَ‌ وَ شِيعَتُنَا أُولُوا الْأَلْبابِ‌.

‘We are the people of knowledge, and our enemies are those who do not know, and our followers (Shias) are the people of reason.’”

نَحْنُ‌ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ* وَ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ.

“We are the people well-grounded in knowledge and we are the ones who know how to interpret it.”

فِي الْعِلْمِ قَدْ عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَمِيعَ مَا أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّنْزِيلِ وَ التَّأْوِيلِ وَ مَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئاً لَمْ يُعَلِّمْهُ تَأْوِيلَهُ وَ أَوْصِيَاؤُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ يَعْلَمُونَهُ كُلَّهُ وَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِذَا قَالَ الْعَالِمُ‌[2] فِيهِمْ بِعِلْمٍ فَأَجَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِقَوْلِهِ- يَقُولُونَ‌ آمَنَّا بِهِ‌ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنا وَ

The Messenger of Allah (sw) is the best among those who are well-grounded in knowledge. Allah, the Most Majestic and Most gracious, taught him all that He had revealed to him in the form of original text and in the form of interpretations. Allah, the Most Majestic and Most gracious, would not reveal anything to him tha

الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ* أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ ع.

“People well-grounded in Knowledge stands for Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) and the Imams after him.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ بَلْ هُوَ آياتٌ بَيِّناتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ‌[3] فَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ.

The Imams (a.s.) pointed to his own chest.”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- بَلْ هُوَ آياتٌ بَيِّناتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ‌ قَالَ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ ع.

who has said the following about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “In fact, the Quran consists of illustrious verses that exist in the hearts of those who have knowledge. . .” (29:49) ‘They are the Imams (a.s.)’.

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ- بَلْ هُوَ آياتٌ بَيِّناتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ‌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ مَا قَالَ بَيْنَ دَفَّتَيِ الْمُصْحَفِ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ مَنْ عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونُوا غَيْرَنَا.

“In fact, the Quran consists of illustrious verses that exist in the hearts of those who have knowledge. . .” (29:49) The Imams (a.s.) then said, “O abu Muhammad, for the sake of Allah, be the judge and tell, of who it is spoken (so often) between the two covers of the Holy Quran?” I then asked, “Who are they, “May All

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌- بَلْ هُوَ آياتٌ بَيِّناتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ‌ قَالَ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ ع خَاصَّةً.

“In fact, the Quran consists of illustrious verses that exist in the hearts of those who have knowledge. . .” (29:49) ‘They are the Imams (a.s.) exclusive of all others.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- بَلْ هُوَ آياتٌ بَيِّناتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ‌ قَالَ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ ع خَاصَّةً.

The Imams (a.s.) said, “They are the Imams (a.s.) exclusive of all others.”

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع‌ مَا يَنْقِمُ النَّاسُ مِنَّا[1] فَنَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ بَيْتُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مَعْدِنُ الْعِلْمِ وَ مُخْتَلَفُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ.

“What is it obscures us to people? (People do not maintain hostility towards us.) We, I swear by Allah, are the tree of the prophet-hood, the house of blessings, the mine of knowledge and the center wherein angels interchange.”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ مَوْضِعُ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ مُخْتَلَفُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ بَيْتُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مَعْدِنُ الْعِلْمِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Adallah ibn Muhammad ibn ’Isa from his father from ‘Adallah ibn al-Mughirah from Isma‘il ibn abu Ziyad from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) from his father (a.s.) from Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) who has said the following. “We, the Ahl al-Bayt (family of the Holy Prophet), are the t

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا خَيْثَمَةُ نَحْنُ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ بَيْتُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مَفَاتِيحُ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ مَعْدِنُ الْعِلْمِ وَ مَوْضِعُ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ مُخْتَلَفُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ مَوْضِعُ سِرِّ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ وَدِيعَةُ اللَّهِ فِي عِبَادِهِ وَ نَحْنُ حَرَمُ اللَّهِ الْأَكْبَرُ وَ نَحْنُ ذِمَّةُ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ وَفَى بِعَهْدِنَا فَقَدْ وَفَى بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ‘Adallah ibn Muhammad from al-Kashshab. He has said that a number of our people have narrated from al-Khaythama who has said that abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said to him the following. “O Khaythama, we are the tree of prophet-hood, the house of blessings, the

إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَانَ عَالِماً وَ الْعِلْمُ يُتَوَارَثُ وَ لَنْ يَهْلِكَ عَالِمٌ إِلَّا بَقِيَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ عِلْمَهُ- أَوْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ‌[1].

“Ali (a.s.) was a man of knowledge and knowledge is inherited. Whenever a man of knowledge dies he leave another man of knowledge behind who possess his knowledge or whatever Allah wants.”

إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مَعَ آدَمَ ع لَمْ يُرْفَعْ وَ الْعِلْمُ يُتَوَارَثُ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع عَالِمَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَهْلِكْ مِنَّا عَالِمٌ قَطُّ إِلَّا خَلَفَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ مَنْ عَلِمَ مِثْلَ عِلْمِهِ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

“The knowledge that came with Adam was not taken away. Knowledge is inherited. Ali (a.s.) was the knowledgeable person of this nation (Muslims). No one from us have ever left this world without leaving behind one like him in knowledge or what Allah wanted.”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ يُتَوَارَثُ وَ لَا يَمُوتُ عَالِمٌ إِلَّا وَ تَرَكَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ مِثْلَ عِلْمِهِ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

“Knowledge is inherited. No man of knowledge dies without leaving behind one who is as knowledgeable as his predecessor or what Allah wants.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ فِي عَلِيٍّ ع سُنَّةَ أَلْفِ نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مَعَ آدَمَ ع لَمْ يُرْفَعْ وَ مَا مَاتَ عَالِمٌ فَذَهَبَ عِلْمُهُ وَ الْعِلْمُ يُتَوَارَثُ.

“In Imam Ali (a.s.) there was the Sunnah (traditions) of a thousand prophets. The knowledge that came with Adam was not taken away. No man of knowledge ever died along with knowledge. Knowledge is inherited.”