The Book on Oneness of Allah (God)

ذَاكَرْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِيمَا يَرْوُونَ مِنَ الرُّؤْيَةِ فَقَالَ الشَّمْسُ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءاً مِنْ نُورِ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَ الْكُرْسِيُّ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءاً مِنْ نُورِ الْعَرْشِ وَ الْعَرْشُ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءاً مِنْ نُورِ الْحِجَابِ وَ الْحِجَابُ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءاً مِنْ نُورِ السِّتْرِ فَإِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ فَلْيَمْلَئُوا أَعْيُنَهُمْ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ لَيْسَ دُونَهَا

The Imam said, “The light of the sun has a ratio equal to one seventieth of the light of the Kursi (the throne). The same is the ratio of the light of Kursi to al-‘Arsh, the light of which is of the same ration to that of al-Hijab the light of which is of the same ration to the light of al-Satr. If they tell the truth

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِي إِلَى السَّمَاءِ بَلَغَ بِي جَبْرَئِيلُ مَكَاناً لَمْ يَطَأْهُ قَطُّ جَبْرَئِيلُ فَكَشَفَ لَهُ فَأَرَاهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ نُورِ عَظَمَتِهِ مَا أَحَبَّ. فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‌ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصارُ وَ هُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصارَ

“When I ascended to the heavens, Jibril took me to a place where he had never stepped foot on before. Then it was unveiled to him and Allah showed him of the light of His greatness that which he loved.” On the words of Allah “ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware. (6:103)

إِحَاطَةُ الْوَهْمِ أَ لَا تَرَى إِلَى قَوْلِهِ- قَدْ جاءَكُمْ بَصائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ‌ لَيْسَ يَعْنِي بَصَرَ الْعُيُونِ- فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ‌ لَيْسَ يَعْنِي مِنَ الْبَصَرِ بِعَيْنِهِ- وَ مَنْ عَمِيَ فَعَلَيْها لَيْسَ يَعْنِي عَمَى الْعُيُونِ إِنَّمَا عَنَى إِحَاطَةَ الْوَهْمِ كَمَا يُقَالُ فُلَانٌ بَصِيرٌ بِالشِّعْرِ وَ فُلَانٌ بَصِيرٌ بِالْفِقْهِ وَ فُلَانٌ بَصِيرٌ بِالدَّرَاهِمِ وَ فُلَانٌ بَصِيرٌ بِالثِّ

It means within what is called al-Wahm which in terms of the degrees of knowledge is less than fifty percent. Consider the words of Allah in: “Clear proofs have certainly come to you from your Lord.. .” (6:104) It does not mean eye-witnessed knowledge. Also consider, “Whosoever sees clearly, it is to his own gain.” (ib

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اللَّهِ هَلْ يُوصَفُ فَقَالَ أَ مَا تَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ قُلْتُ بَلَى- قَالَ أَ مَا تَقْرَأُ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى- لا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصارُ وَ هُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصارَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَتَعْرِفُونَ الْأَبْصَارَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ مَا هِيَ قُلْتُ أَبْصَارُ الْعُيُونِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَوْهَامَ الْقُلُوبِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أَبْصَارِ الْعُيُونِ فَهُوَ لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَوْهَامُ وَ هُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَوْهَامَ.

“I asked Imam abul Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), about Allah if He can be described (defined in words). The Imam (a.s.) said, “Have you not read the Quran?” I replied, “Yes, I do read the Quran.” He then said, “Have you not read the words of Allah, the Most High, “No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع- لا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصارُ وَ هُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصارَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا هَاشِمٍ أَوْهَامُ الْقُلُوبِ أَدَقُّ مِنْ أَبْصَارِ الْعُيُونِ أَنْتَ قَدْ تُدْرِكُ بِوَهْمِكَ السِّنْدَ وَ الْهِنْدَ وَ الْبُلْدَانَ الَّتِي لَمْ تَدْخُلْهَا وَ لَا تُدْرِكُهَا بِبَصَرِكَ وَ أَوْهَامُ الْقُلُوبِ لَا تُدْرِكُهُ فَكَيْفَ أَبْصَارُ الْعُيُونِ.

“I mentioned the words of Allah , ‘No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’ (6:103) to Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.). He said, “O abu Hashim, Awham (mentioned above) of hearts are keener and sharper than the perceptions of the eyes. Through the Awham of the heart you can perceive cou

الْأَشْيَاءُ كُلُّهَا لَا تُدْرَكُ إِلَّا بِأَمْرَيْنِ بِالْحَوَاسِّ وَ الْقَلْبِ وَ الْحَوَاسُّ إِدْرَاكُهَا عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ مَعَانٍ إِدْرَاكاً بِالْمُدَاخَلَةِ وَ إِدْرَاكاً بِالْمُمَاسَّةِ وَ إِدْرَاكاً بِلَا مُدَاخَلَةٍ وَ لَا مُمَاسَّةٍ فَأَمَّا الْإِدْرَاكُ الَّذِي بِالْمُدَاخَلَةِ فَالْأَصْوَاتُ وَ الْمَشَامُّ وَ الطُّعُومُ وَ أَمَّا الْإِدْرَاكُ بِالْمُمَاسَّةِ فَمَعْرِفَةُ الْأَشْكَالِ مِنَ التَّرْبِيعِ وَ ا

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from some of his people from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following. “Things can be perceived by two means: (1) By the senses and (2) by the heart, intellect. Perceptions of the senses are of three kinds: (1) Perception in the form of penetration, (2) Perception

كَتَبْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّ قَوْماً بِالْعِرَاقِ يَصِفُونَ اللَّهَ بِالصُّورَةِ وَ بِالتَّخْطِيطِ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ أَنْ تَكْتُبَ إِلَيَّ بِالْمَذْهَبِ الصَّحِيحِ مِنَ التَّوْحِيدِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ سَأَلْتَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ وَ مَا ذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ قِبَلَكَ فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الَّذِي‌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ

“In Iraq there are people who attribute to Allah forms and lines. If you consider it proper, may Allah take my soul in your service, please write for me the correct belief in the issue of the Oneness of Allah.” The Imam wrote for me, “May Allah grant you blessings. You have asked about the Oneness of Allah and the beli

قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُوصَفُ بِمَحْدُودِيَّةٍ عَظُمَ رَبُّنَا عَنِ الصِّفَةِ فَكَيْفَ يُوصَفُ بِمَحْدُودِيَّةٍ مَنْ لَا يُحَدُّ وَ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصارُ وَ هُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصارَ وَ هُوَ اللَّطِيفُ‌ الْخَبِيرُ.

“O abu Hamzah, Allah cannot be defined by the created things. Our Lord is far above being described through the attributes. How can the infinite be defined by the finite? ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103)

سُبْحَانَكَ مَا عَرَفُوكَ وَ لَا وَحَّدُوكَ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ وَصَفُوكَ سُبْحَانَكَ لَوْ عَرَفُوكَ لَوَصَفُوكَ بِمَا وَصَفْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ سُبْحَانَكَ كَيْفَ طَاوَعَتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ أَنْ يُشَبِّهُوكَ بِغَيْرِكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَا أَصِفُكَ إِلَّا بِمَا وَصَفْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ وَ لَا أُشَبِّهُكَ بِخَلْقِكَ أَنْتَ أَهْلٌ لِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ فَلَا تَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ مَ

3. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Sa‘id from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Khazzaz and Muhammad ibn al-Husayn they both have said the following. “We met Imam abu abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and stated to him that Prophet M

قَالَ: لَوِ اجْتَمَعَ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ أَنْ يَصِفُوا اللَّهَ بِعَظَمَتِهِ لَمْ يَقْدِرُوا[1].

“Even if all those in heavens and earth would gather together to speak of the greatness of Allah they will not be able to do so.”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ ع‌[2] أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ جِسْمٌ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ صُورَةٌ فَكَتَبَ ع بِخَطِّهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَا يُحَدُّ وَ لَا يُوصَفُ‌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ ... وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ*-" أَوْ قَالَ‌ الْبَصِيرُ".

The Imam replied in his own handwriting, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-knowing, or the Imam said All-seeing.”

كَتَبَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى أَبِي أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَعْلَى وَ أَجَلُّ وَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُبْلَغَ كُنْهُ صِفَتِهِ فَصِفُوهُ بِمَا وَصَفَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ وَ كُفُّوا عَمَّا سِوَى ذَلِكَ.

“Imam abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) wrote to my father, ‘Allah is far High, Glorious and Great than that one can reach the essence of His attribute. Speak of only those of His attributes of which He Himself has spoken and refrain from attributes other than those ones.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الصِّفَةِ فَقَالَ لَا تَجَاوَزْ مَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ.

“I asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about certain matters of the attributes (of Allah) and the Imam said, “Do not exceed what is in the holy Quran.”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ ع أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ ع سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَا يُحَدُّ وَ لَا يُوصَفُ‌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

“I wrote to the Imam explaining that people before us had differences on the issue of the Oneness of Allah.” The Imam wrote, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-seeing.”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ ع أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ جِسْمٌ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ‌ هُوَ صُورَةٌ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَا يُحَدُّ وَ لَا يُوصَفُ وَ لَا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

“Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-seeing.”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع سَنَةَ خَمْسٍ وَ خَمْسِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ قَدِ اخْتَلَفَ يَا سَيِّدِي أَصْحَابُنَا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ جِسْمٌ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ صُورَةٌ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ يَا سَيِّدِي أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا أَقِفُ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا أَجُوزُهُ فَعَلْتَ مُتَطَوِّلًا عَلَى عَبْدِكَ فَوَقَّعَ بِخَطِّهِ ع سَأَلْتَ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ وَ هَذَا عَنْكُمْ مَعْزُولٌ‌[1] ا

The Imam answered in his own handwriting, “You have asked about the Oneness of Allah. It is not your duty to find Allah’s self. Allah is One, the Only One. He has no children and is not anyone’s child. There nothing similar to Him. He is the Creator and is not created. He, the Most Holy, the Most High, creates whatever

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُوصَفُ وَ كَيْفَ يُوصَفُ وَ قَدْ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ- وَ ما قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ‌[2] فَلَا يُوصَفُ بِقَدَرٍ إِلَّا كَانَ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ.

“I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah cannot be defined. How can He be defined when He Himself has said in His book, “They have not respected Allah the way He truly should have been respected.” (6:91) Therefore, He cannot be described in any way but that He is great and above that.’”

قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَظِيمٌ رَفِيعٌ لَا يَقْدِرُ الْعِبَادُ عَلَى صِفَتِهِ وَ لَا يَبْلُغُونَ كُنْهَ عَظَمَتِهِ‌ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصارُ وَ هُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصارَ وَ هُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ وَ لَا يُوصَفُ بِكَيْفٍ وَ لَا أَيْنٍ وَ حَيْثٍ وَ كَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِالْكَيْفِ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي كَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ‌[3] حَتَّى صَارَ كَيْفاً فَعَرَفْتُ الْكَيْفَ بِمَا كَيَّفَ لَنَا مِنَ الْكَيْفِ- أَمْ كَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِأَي

“Allah is Great and High. People cannot describe Him nor can they reach the depth of His Greatness. ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103) He cannot be described by means of how and where. How can I describe Him by means of any condition? He Himself has created th

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ يَرْوِي عَنْكُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جِسْمٌ صَمَدِيٌّ نُورِيٌّ مَعْرِفَتُهُ ضَرُورَةٌ يَمُنُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ فَقَالَ ع سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَا يَعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ كَيْفَ هُوَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ لَا يُحَدُّ وَ لَا يُحَسُّ وَ لَا يُجَسُّ وَ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصارُ وَ لَا الْحَوَاسُّ وَ لَا يُحِيطُ

“I stated before abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that I have heard Hisham ibn al-Hakam quoting you that Allah is a body of Self-subsisting nature and is from light. He can very clearly be recognized and He bestows such knowledge to whoever among His creatures He wills.” The Imam said, “Glorious is He, Whom no one knows how He is

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْجِسْمِ وَ الصُّورَةِ فَكَتَبَ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ‌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ لَا جِسْمٌ وَ لَا صُورَةٌ. - وَ رَوَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‌[2] إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُسَمِّ الرَّجُلَ.

“I wrote to Imam abu al-Hassan (al-Thalith 3rd (a.s.) asking about the body and form (of Allah). He wrote in reply, ‘Glorious is He similar to Who there is nothing. He is not a body nor has He any form.’” This Hadith has also been narrated by Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah without giving the name of the person (from whom h

جِئْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ فَأَمْلَى عَلَيَّ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ الْأَشْيَاءِ إِنْشَاءً وَ مُبْتَدِعِهَا ابْتِدَاعاً بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَ حِكْمَتِهِ‌[1] لَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ فَيَبْطُلَ الِاخْتِرَاعُ وَ لَا لِعِلَّةٍ فَلَا يَصِحَّ الِابْتِدَاعُ خَلَقَ مَا شَاءَ كَيْفَ شَاءَ مُتَوَحِّداً بِذَلِكَ لِإِظْهَارِ حِكْمَتِهِ وَ حَقِيقَةِ رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ لَا تَضْبِطُهُ الْعُقُولُ وَ لَا تَبْلُغُهُ الْأَو

“I went to Imam al-Rida (a.s.) to ask about the Oneness of Allah (God). The Imam dictated to me thus, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Who is the originator of all things. He is the inventor of all things, an invention that came from His power and wisdom but not from a thing so it would invalidate the invention and not fr

وَصَفْتُ لِأَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ الْجَوَالِيقِيِّ وَ حَكَيْتُ لَهُ قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ أَنَّهُ جِسْمٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَيُّ فُحْشٍ أَوْ خَناً[2] أَعْظَمُ مِنْ قَوْلِ مَنْ يَصِفُ خَالِقَ الْأَشْيَاءِ بِجِسْمٍ أَوْ صُورَةٍ أَوْ بِخِلْقَةٍ[3] أَوْ بِتَحْدِيدٍ وَ أَعْضَاءٍ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً.

The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most High, is not similar to any of the things. What can be more blasphemous and scandalous than to describe the Creator of all things by means of body, form, type of creation, limitations, limbs and organs. Allah, the Most High, the Great, is far above these things.”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَمَّا قَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ فِي الْجِسْمِ وَ هِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ فِي الصُّورَةِ فَكَتَبَ دَعْ عَنْكَ حَيْرَةَ الْحَيْرَانِ وَ اسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لَيْسَ الْقَوْلُ مَا قَالَ الْهِشَامَانِ‌[5].

Remove from yourself the confusion of the confounded people and seek refuge from Allah against Satan. The (correct) position is not what the two Hishams have said.’”

سَمِعْتُ يُونُسَ بْنَ ظَبْيَانَ يَقُولُ‌ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ يَقُولُ قَوْلًا عَظِيماً إِلَّا أَنِّي أَخْتَصِرُ لَكَ مِنْهُ أَحْرُفاً فَزَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جِسْمٌ لِأَنَّ الْأَشْيَاءَ شَيْئَانِ جِسْمٌ وَ فِعْلُ الْجِسْمِ فَلَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ الصَّانِعُ بِمَعْنَى الْفِعْلِ وَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ بِمَعْنَى الْفَاعِلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَيْ

“I heard Yunus ibn Zabyan saying, ‘I went to meet abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), and said, “Hisham ibn al-Hakam has uttered monstrous words. I will briefly mention a few words. He thinks Allah has a body because things are of two types; (a) body and (b) the acts. It is not possible for the Creator Himself to be just actions or

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ جِسْمٌ‌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ[1] عَالِمٌ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ قَادِرٌ مُتَكَلِّمٌ نَاطِقٌ وَ الْكَلَامُ وَ الْقُدْرَةُ وَ الْعِلْمُ يَجْرِي مَجْرَى وَاحِدٍ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْهَا مَخْلُوقاً فَقَالَ قَاتَلَهُ اللَّهُ أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْجِسْمَ مَحْدُودٌ وَ الْكَلَامَ غَيْرُ الْمُتَكَلِّمِ مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْرَأُ إِل

“I said to abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Hisham ibn al-Hakam claims that Allah is a body like unto Whom there is no one. He is All-knowing, All-hearing, All-seeing, All-powerful. He speaks and reasons. His word, His power, His knowledge are all in one. No one of them is created.’” The Imam said, “May Allah be

وَصَفْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قَوْلَ هِشَامٍ الْجَوَالِيقِيِّ وَ مَا يَقُولُ فِي الشَّابِّ الْمُوفِقِ وَ وَصَفْتُ لَهُ قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ.

The Imam said, “Allah, certainly, is not similar to any thing.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رَبَّنَا وَ الْعِلْمُ ذَاتُهُ وَ لَا مَعْلُومَ وَ السَّمْعُ ذَاتُهُ وَ لَا مَسْمُوعَ وَ الْبَصَرُ ذَاتُهُ وَ لَا مُبْصَرَ وَ الْقُدْرَةُ ذَاتُهُ وَ لَا مَقْدُورَ فَلَمَّا أَحْدَثَ الْأَشْيَاءَ وَ كَانَ الْمَعْلُومُ‌[1] وَقَعَ الْعِلْمُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْمَعْلُومِ وَ السَّمْعُ عَلَى الْمَسْمُوعِ وَ الْبَصَرُ عَلَى الْمُبْصَرِ وَ الْقُدْرَةُ عَلَ

"Allah (azwj) has always been our Lord. Knowledge was His essence without anything known, hearing was His essence without anything heard, sight was His essence without anything seen, and power was His essence without anything within His power. Then, when He created things and there were things to be known, His knowledg

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَا شَيْ‌ءَ غَيْرُهُ وَ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَالِماً بِمَا يَكُونُ فَعِلْمُهُ بِهِ قَبْلَ كَوْنِهِ كَعِلْمِهِ بِهِ بَعْدَ كَوْنِهِ.

"Allah (azwj) existed when nothing else existed. He eternally knows whatever comes into being. His knowledge of things before their coming into existence and afterwards is exactly the same."

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فِي دُعَاءٍ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ مُنْتَهَى عِلْمِهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ لَا تَقُولَنَّ مُنْتَهَى عِلْمِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِعِلْمِهِ مُنْتَهًى وَ لَكِنْ قُلْ مُنْتَهَى رِضَاهُ.

Do not say 'the extent of His knowledge,' for His knowledge has no end. Rather, say, 'the extent of His pleasure.'"

أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ الْأَشْيَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ خَلَقَ الْأَشْيَاءَ وَ كَوَّنَهَا أَوْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى خَلَقَهَا وَ أَرَادَ خَلْقَهَا وَ تَكْوِينَهَا فَعَلِمَ مَا خَلَقَ عِنْدَ مَا خَلَقَ وَ مَا كَوَّنَ عِنْدَ مَا كَوَّنَ فَوَقَّعَ بِخَطِّهِ لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ عَالِماً بِالْأَشْيَاءِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْأَشْيَاءَ كَعِلْمِهِ بِال

"Allah has always known things before creating them, just as He knows them after creating them."

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى‌ الرَّجُلِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ أَنَّ مَوَالِيَكَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي الْعِلْمِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ عَالِماً قَبْلَ فِعْلِ الْأَشْيَاءِ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَا نَقُولُ لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ عَالِماً لِأَنَّ مَعْنَى يَعْلَمُ يَفْعَلُ فَإِنْ أَثْبَتْنَا الْعِلْمَ فَقَدْ أَثْبَتْنَا فِي الْأَزَلِ مَعَهُ شَيْئاً فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا أَقِفُ عَلَيْ

“I wrote to the man (the Imam) (as) saying: "Some of your followers have disagreed about the nature of knowledge. Some of them say that Allah has always been knowing before the creation of things, while others say that we should not say that Allah has always been knowing because "knows" implies "acts," and if we affirm

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي هَلْ كَانَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَجْهُهُ يَعْلَمُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ أَنَّهُ وَحْدَهُ فَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَ مَوَالِيكَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ قَدْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ شَيْئاً مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِنَّمَا مَعْنَى يَعْلَمُ يَفْعَلُ فَهُوَ الْيَوْمَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا غَيْرُهُ قَبْلَ فِعْلِ الْأَشْيَاءِ فَقَالُوا إِنْ

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if you would consider it proper please enlighten me about whether Allah, Majestic is Whose face, had knowledge of His Oneness before He brought the creation into existence? Your followers differ on this issue. There are those who believe tha

فِي صِفَةِ الْقَدِيمِ إِنَّهُ وَاحِدٌ صَمَدٌ أَحَدِيُّ الْمَعْنَى لَيْسَ بِمَعَانِي كَثِيرَةٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَزْعُمُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ أَنَّهُ يَسْمَعُ بِغَيْرِ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ وَ يُبْصِرُ بِغَيْرِ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ قَالَ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا وَ أَلْحَدُوا وَ شَبَّهُوا تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ يَسْمَعُ بِمَا يُبْصِرُ وَ يُبْصِرُ بِمَا يَسْمَعُ قَالَ قُل

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following about being eternal. “He, Allah, is One, the Self-sufficient. He is One and only One without any multiplicity in different meaning.” The narrator said that

فِي‌ حَدِيثِ الزِّنْدِيقِ الَّذِي سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ أَ تَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ هُوَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ سَمِيعٌ بِغَيْرِ جَارِحَةٍ وَ بَصِيرٌ بِغَيْرِ آلَةٍ بَلْ يَسْمَعُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ يُبْصِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ لَيْسَ قَوْلِي إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بِنَفْسِهِ أَنَّهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ النَّفْسُ شَيْ‌ءٌ آخَرُ وَ لَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ عِبَارَةً عَنْ نَفْسِي إِذْ كُنْتُ مَسْئُو

“He asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Do you say that He is All-hearing and All-seeing?’ Abu ‘Abdallah said, “Allah is All-hearing, All-seeing. He hears without any organ and sees without any instrument. He Himself hears and He Himself sees. When I say He Himself hears I do not mean thereby that He is One and His self

قُلْتُ لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ مُرِيداً قَالَ إِنَّ الْمُرِيدَ لَا يَكُونُ إِلَّا لِمُرَادٍ مَعَهُ- لَمْ يَزَلِ اللَّهُ عَالِماً قَادِراً ثُمَّ أَرَادَ.

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Is Allah’s will eternal?’” He replied, Will is always with what is willed. Allah is eternally All-knowing and All-powerful and then He wills.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عِلْمُ اللَّهِ وَ مَشِيئَتُهُ هُمَا مُخْتَلِفَانِ أَوْ مُتَّفِقَانِ فَقَالَ الْعِلْمُ لَيْسَ هُوَ الْمَشِيئَةَ أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ سَأَفْعَلُ كَذَا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ لَا تَقُولُ سَأَفْعَلُ‌[1] كَذَا إِنْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ فَقَوْلُكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَشَأْ فَإِذَا شَاءَ كَانَ الَّذِي شَاءَ كَمَا شَاءَ وَ عِلْمُ اللَّهِ السَّابِقُ لِلْمَشِيئَةِ.

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Are the knowledge and the will of Allah different or the same?’” He replied, “His knowledge is not the same as His will. Consider when you say, ‘If Allah wills, I will do this,’ and you do not say, “If Allah knows I will do this.” Your own words, if Allah wills are proof that Allah has n

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِرَادَةِ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الْإِرَادَةُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ الضَّمِيرُ وَ مَا يَبْدُو لَهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفِعْلِ وَ أَمَّا مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَإِرَادَتُهُ إِحْدَاثُهُ لَا غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يُرَوِّي‌[2] وَ لَا يَهُمُّ وَ لَا يَتَفَكَّرُ وَ هَذِهِ الصِّفَاتُ مَنْفِيَّةٌ عَنْهُ وَ هِيَ صِفَاتُ الْخَلْقِ فَإِرَادَةُ اللَّهِ الْفِ

“I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘Enlighten me about the will of Allah and the will of His creatures.’” He said, “The will of His creatures comes from what goes in their minds and leads to action. Will of Allah, the Most High, is His inventing and nothing else because Allah does not need to reflect, deliberate or think.

خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْمَشِيئَةَ بِنَفْسِهَا ثُمَّ خَلَقَ الْأَشْيَاءَ بِالْمَشِيئَةِ.

“Allah created the Will by itself, then He created all things by the Will.”

كُنْتُ فِي مَجْلِسِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى‌ وَ مَنْ يَحْلِلْ عَلَيْهِ غَضَبِي فَقَدْ هَوى‌[2] مَا ذَلِكَ الْغَضَبُ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع هُوَ الْعِقَابُ‌[3] يَا عَمْرُو إِنَّهُ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ زَالَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ إِلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ فَقَدْ وَصَفَهُ صِفَةَ مَخْلُوقٍ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَا يَسْتَفِز

“I was in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) when ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd said, ‘May Allah take my soul in your service, what is the meaning of Allah’s words, “Whoever becomes subject to my anger he is destroyed.” 20:84 What is this anger?’ Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) replied, “O ‘Amr, His anger is His punishment. O ‘Amr, whoever thinks

لَهُ فَلَهُ رِضًا وَ سَخَطٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع نَعَمْ وَ لَكِنْ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَا يُوجَدُ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ الرِّضَا حَالٌ تَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ فَتَنْقُلُهُ‌[5] مِنْ حَالٍ إِلَى حَالٍ لِأَنَّ الْمَخْلُوقَ أَجْوَفُ مُعْتَمِلٌ‌[6] مُرَكَّبٌ لِلْأَشْيَاءِ فِيهِ مَدْخَلٌ وَ خَالِقُنَا لَا مَدْخَلَ لِلْأَشْيَاءِ فِيهِ لِأَنَّهُ وَاحِدٌ وَاحِدِيُّ الذَّاتِ وَاحِدِيُّ الْمَعْنَى فَرِضَاهُ ث

“Does Allah become pleased and displeased?” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) replied, “Yes, but not like that which is found in His creatures. In His creatures the pleasure is a state (hal), which enters into him and changes him from one state to another. The creatures are hollow, active and compound with entrance in them. Nothing

الْمَشِيئَةُ مُحْدَثَةٌ. جُمْلَةُ الْقَوْلِ فِي صِفَاتِ الذَّاتِ وَ صِفَاتِ الْفِعْلِ‌ يقدر أن يعلم. و الحاصل أن القدرة صفة ذاتية تتعلق بالممكنات لا غير فلا تتعلق بالواجب و لا بالممتنع فكل ما هو صفة الذات فهو أزليّ غير مقدور و كل ما هو صفة الفعل فهو ممكن مقدور و بهذا يعرف الفرق بين الصفتين و قوله:« و لا يقدر أن لا يعلم» الظاهر أن« لا» لتأكيد النفي السابق أي لا يجوز أن يقال: يقدر أن لا يعلم و يمكن أن يكون من مقول القو

7. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhaynah from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said, “The will is created.” Summery Statements on the Attributes of His self Sifat al-Dhat and the Attributes of His Actions Sifat a

- 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

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع هَلْ كَانَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَارِفاً بِنَفْسِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ يَرَاهَا وَ يَسْمَعُهَا قَالَ مَا كَانَ مُحْتَاجاً إِلَى ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَسْأَلُهَا وَ لَا يَطْلُبُ مِنْهَا هُوَ نَفْسُهُ وَ نَفْسُهُ هُوَ قُدْرَتُهُ نَافِذَةٌ فَلَيْسَ يَحْتَاجُ أَنْ يُسَمِّيَ نَفْسَهُ وَ لَكِنَّهُ اخْتَارَ لِنَفْسِهِ أَسْمَاءً لِغَيْرِهِ يَدْعُوه

“I asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Did Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, know Himself before He created the creation?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes, He knew Himself.” I further asked, “Did He see and hear His Own Self?” The Imam replied, “Allah did not need such things because He did not ask or demand it. He is

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الِاسْمِ مَا هُوَ قَالَ صِفَةٌ لِمَوْصُوفٍ.

“I asked the Imam, (perhaps abu al-Hassan al-Rida) about the name (of Allah), ‘What is it?’ The Imam replied, “It is an attribute of the attributes of (Allah).”

اسْمُ اللَّهِ غَيْرُهُ وَ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ شَيْ‌ءٍ[1] فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ مَا خَلَا اللَّهَ فَأَمَّا مَا عَبَّرَتْهُ الْأَلْسُنُ أَوْ عَمِلَتِ الْأَيْدِي فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ وَ اللَّهُ غَايَةٌ مِنْ غَايَاتِهِ‌[2] وَ الْمُغَيَّا غَيْرُ الْغَايَةِ وَ الْغَايَةُ مَوْصُوفَةٌ وَ كُلُّ مَوْصُوفٍ مَصْنُوعٌ وَ صَانِعُ الْأَشْيَاءِ غَيْرُ مَوْصُوفٍ بِحَدٍّ مُسَمًّى لَمْ يَتَكَوَّنْ فَيُعْرَفَ كَيْنُونِيَّتُهُ بِص

“The name of Allah is something other than Allah Himself. Every thing that is called a thing is created except Allah. Whatever is expressed by the tongue or is worked out by hands are all created. The word Allah is an intent amongst His intents, and the intended one is different from the intention. The purpose is descr

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ تَفْسِيرِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ- قَالَ الْبَاءُ بَهَاءُ اللَّهِ وَ السِّينُ سَنَاءُ اللَّهِ وَ الْمِيمُ مَجْدُ اللَّهِ وَ رَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ الْمِيمُ مُلْكُ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ إِلَهُ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الرَّحْمَنُ بِجَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ وَ الرَّحِيمُ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ خَاصَّةً[1].

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the interpretation of ‘In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Especially Merciful.’ (Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim) He (the Imam (as)) replied, “B is Baha ’Ullah (the beauty of Allah); and S is Sana ’Ullah (the radiance of Allah); and M is Majdullah (the grandeur of Allah), or ac

يَا هِشَامُ اللَّهُ مُشْتَقٌّ مِنْ إِلَهٍ وَ إِلَهٌ يَقْتَضِي مَأْلُوهاً وَ الِاسْمُ غَيْرُ الْمُسَمَّى فَمَنْ عَبَدَ الِاسْمَ دُونَ الْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَ لَمْ يَعْبُدْ شَيْئاً وَ مَنْ عَبَدَ الِاسْمَ وَ الْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ وَ عَبَدَ اثْنَيْنِ وَ مَنْ عَبَدَ الْمَعْنَى دُونَ الِاسْمِ فَذَاكَ التَّوْحِيدُ أَ فَهِمْتَ يَا هِشَامُ قَالَ قُلْتُ زِدْنِي قَالَ لِلَّهِ تِسْعَةٌ وَ تِسْعُونَ اسْماً فَلَوْ كَانَ

The Imam replied, “O Hisham, the word Allah is derived from ’ilah, that is, the One Who is worshipped and the One who is worshipped is supposed to be worth worshipping. The name of Allah is different from His Own self. Whoever worships the name not the meaning has disbelieved and has, in fact, worshipped nothing. Whoev

سُئِلَ عَنْ مَعْنَى اللَّهِ فَقَالَ اسْتَوْلَى عَلَى مَا دَقَّ وَ جَلَ‌[1].

The Imam replied, “He (Allah) dominates all things small or big.”

- سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ‌ اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ‌ فَقَالَ هَادٍ لِأَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَ هَادٍ لِأَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ الْبَرْقِيِّ هُدَى مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَ هُدَى مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ.

“I asked Imam al-Rida (a.s.), about the words of Allah, ‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth’” (24:35). The Imam replied, “Allah is the Guide for all that is in the heavens and the Guide for all that is on the earth.” According to another Hadith narrated by al-Barqi,(the Imam said), “Allah has guided everyo

- سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَ الْآخِرُ وَ قُلْتُ أَمَّا الْأَوَّلُ فَقَدْ عَرَفْنَاهُ وَ أَمَّا الْآخِرُ فَبَيِّنْ لَنَا تَفْسِيرَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِلَّا يَبِيدُ أَوْ يَتَغَيَّرُ أَوْ يَدْخُلُهُ التَّغَيُّرُ وَ الزَّوَالُ أَوْ يَنْتَقِلُ مِنْ لَوْنٍ إِلَى لَوْنٍ وَ مِنْ هَيْئَةٍ إِلَى هَيْئَةٍ وَ مِنْ صِفَةٍ إِلَى صِفَةٍ وَ مِنْ زِيَادَةٍ إِل

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, The Mighty and Glorious, ‘He (Allah) is the first and the last.’ (57:3) As for him being the first, we have understood that, but explain for us the meaning of Him being the last.” He (the Imam) said, “Nothing exists except that it is subject to annihilation, alte