The obligation to obey the Imams (a.s.)

أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً إِمَامٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَهُ وَ أَنَّ الْحَسَنَ إِمَامٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَهُ وَ أَنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ إِمَامٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَهُ وَ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ إِمَامٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ إِمَامٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَهُ.

“I testify that Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) is the Imam obedience to whom is obligatory by the command of Allah, that al-Hassan (a.s.) is the Imam obedience to whom is obligatory by the command of Allah, that al-Husayn is the Imam obedience to whom is obligatory by the command of Allah, that Ali ibn al-Husayn is the Imam o

نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَنَا وَ أَنْتُمْ تَأْتَمُّونَ بِمَنْ لَا يُعْذَرُ النَّاسُ بِجَهَالَتِهِ.

“We are the people obedience to whom is obligatory by the command of Allah and you follow those that people’s responsibility to obey them does not cease because of ignorance and not knowing them.”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ آتَيْناهُمْ مُلْكاً عَظِيماً[2] قَالَ الطَّاعَةُ الْمَفْرُوضَةُ.

it means the obedience that is obligatory.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أُشْرِكَ بَيْنَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ وَ الرُّسُلِ فِي الطَّاعَةِ.

“Of the matters common among the successors and the messengers themselves one is that to obey them all is obligatory.”

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

ذَكَرْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْلَنَا فِي الْأَوْصِيَاءِ إِنَّ طَاعَتَهُمْ مُفْتَرَضَةٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ هُمُ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى‌ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ‌ وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ‌ وَ رَسُولُهُ‌ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا[1].

our expression about the successors (of the Prophets (s.a.)) “That obedience to them is obligatory”, the Imam (a.s.) said, ‘It is very true because they are the people about whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “Believers, obey God, His Messenger, and your (qualified) leaders. . .’ (4:59) It is they abou

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ فَارِسِيٌّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ طَاعَتُكَ مُفْتَرَضَةٌ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ مِثْلُ طَاعَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع فَقَالَ نَعَمْ.

“Is obedience to you obligatory?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes, it is obligatory.” The man then asked is in the same way as obedience to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.)?” The Imam (a.s.) replied “Yes, it is obligatory in the same way,”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْأَئِمَّةِ هَلْ يَجْرُونَ فِي الْأَمْرِ وَ الطَّاعَةِ مَجْرَى وَاحِدٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes, they are all the same.”

كُنْتُ قَائِماً عَلَى رَأْسِ الرِّضَا ع- بِخُرَاسَانَ وَ عِنْدَهُ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَ فِيهِمْ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ عِيسَى الْعَبَّاسِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّا نَزْعُمُ أَنَّ النَّاسَ عَبِيدٌ لَنَا لَا وَ قَرَابَتِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مَا قُلْتُهُ قَطُّ وَ لَا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ آبَائِي قَالَهُ وَ لَا بَلَغَنِي عَنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ آبَائِي قَالَهُ وَ لَكِنِّي أَق

“I was in the presence of al-Rida (a.s.) in Khurasan with a group of Hashemites, among them was Ishaq ibn Musa ibn ‘Isa from the Abbasids, and the Imam (a.s.) said to him, “O Ishaq, I hear that people say we think they are our slaves. I swear upon my close relation with the Messenger of Allah (sw) that I have never sai

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ نَحْنُ الَّذِينَ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَنَا لَا يَسَعُ النَّاسَ إِلَّا مَعْرِفَتُنَا وَ لَا يُعْذَرُ النَّاسُ بِجَهَالَتِنَا مَنْ عَرَفَنَا كَانَ مُؤْمِناً- وَ مَنْ أَنْكَرَنَا كَانَ كَافِراً وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنَا وَ لَمْ يُنْكِرْنَا كَانَ ضَالًّا حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْهُدَى الَّذِي افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ طَاعَتِنَا الْوَاجِبَةِ فَإِنْ يَمُتْ عَلَى ضَلَالَتِهِ يَفْعَلِ اللَّهُ بِهِ م

“We are the ones obedience to whom is obligatory by the commands of Allah. People have no other choice except to know us and they will not be excused for not knowing us. Those who know us are the true believers and those who would refuse to acknowledge our Divine authority are unbelievers. Those who would not know us a

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ أَفْضَلُ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى اللَّهِ‌ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ طَاعَةُ اللَّهِ وَ طَاعَةُ رَسُولِهِ وَ طَاعَةُ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع حُبُّنَا إِيمَانٌ وَ بُغْضُنَا كُفْرٌ.

The Imam (a.s.) said, “Of the matters that can take people closer to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, the best one is to obey Him, His messenger and those who posses Divine authority.” Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, “To love us if faith and to harbor hatred towards us is disbelief.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَعْرِضُ عَلَيْكَ دِينِيَ الَّذِي أَدِينُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ هَاتِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً كَانَ إِمَاماً فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَهُ ثُمَّ كَانَ بَعْدَهُ الْحَسَنُ إِمَاماً فَرَضَ اللَّهُ طَاعَتَهُ ثُمَّ

I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) if I may state before him my religion and faith in Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Say it and let us hear them.” I said, “I testify that there is no god other than Allah Who is One and has no partner. I testify that Muhammad (s.a.) is the servant and messenger

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

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْأَوْصِيَاءُ طَاعَتُهُمْ مُفْتَرَضَةٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ هُمُ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ‌[1] وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ راكِعُونَ‌[2].

“I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Is obedience to the successor (of the holy Prophet) obligatory?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, it is they about whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “Believers, obey God, His Messenger, and your (qualified) leaders. . (4:59) It is they about whom Allah, the Most Holy, t

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ السَّمْعُ وَ الطَّاعَةُ أَبْوَابُ الْخَيْرِ- السَّامِعُ الْمُطِيعُ لَا حُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِ وَ السَّامِعُ الْعَاصِي لَا حُجَّةَ لَهُ وَ إِمَامُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ تَمَّتْ حُجَّتُهُ وَ احْتِجَاجُهُ يَوْمَ يَلْقَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا كُلَّ أُناسٍ بِإِمامِهِمْ‌[1].

“Listening and obeying are the gates to goodness. One who listens and is obedient has all the authority in his favor. One who listens but disobeys will have no authority in his favor. The leader, the Imam of the Muslims, on the Day of Judgment, in the presence of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, will have complete