سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى- وَ عَلاماتٍ وَ بِالنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ قَالَ نَحْنُ الْعَلَامَاتُ وَ النَّجْمُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص.
3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from MuAlia ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ who has said that he asked Imam al-Rida (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most High, “Through the signs and with the star people do find their way.” [16:16] The Imams (a.s.) said, “We are the signs and the messenger of Al
سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- وَ ما تُغْنِي الْآياتُ وَ النُّذُرُ عَنْ قَوْمٍ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ قَالَ الْآيَاتُ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ وَ النُّذُرُ هُمُ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ع.
The Imams (a.s.) said, “Signs are the Imams (a.s.) and warnings are the prophets (s.a.).”
فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ كَذَّبُوا بِآياتِنا كُلِّها[2] يَعْنِي الْأَوْصِيَاءَ كُلَّهُمْ.
‘The signs are all the successors (of the prophets (s.a.)
قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ الشِّيعَةَ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ تَفْسِيرِ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ- عَمَّ يَتَساءَلُونَ عَنِ النَّبَإِ الْعَظِيمِ[3] قَالَ ذَلِكَ إِلَيَّ إِنْ شِئْتُ أَخْبَرْتُهُمْ وَ إِنْ شِئْتُ لَمْ أُخْبِرْهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَكِنِّي أُخْبِرُكَ بِتَفْسِيرِهَا قُلْتُ عَمَّ يَتَساءَلُونَ قَالَ فَقَالَ هِيَ فِي أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ
the Shi‘a (your followers) ask about the meaning of the words of Allah, “Of what do they ask one another? (78:1). Do they ask about the great news?”The Imams (a.s.) said, “It depends up on my decision. I may tell them or may not tell them. Then he said: “I like, however, to tell you the meaning thereof.” I then asked w