The Book about people with Divine Authority

قَالَ لِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‌ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْمُنْكِرُ لِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَ غَيْرِهِمْ سَوَاءٌ فَقَالَ لِي لَا تَقُلِ الْمُنْكِرُ وَ لَكِنْ قُلِ الْجَاحِدُ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَ غَيْرِهِمْ قَالَ‌ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ فَتَفَكَّرْتُ فِيهِ فَذَكَرْتُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي إِخْوَةِ يُوسُفَ- فَعَرَفَهُمْ وَ هُمْ لَهُ مُنْكِرُونَ‌[1].

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘are those who are ignorant of this matter (Leadership with Divine Authority) of the descendants of Hashim and others the same?” He said to me, “Do not say, “al-Munkir” (ignorant) but say al-Jahid (rejecter ) of the descendants of Hashim and other people.” Abu al-Hassan has said I thoug

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع قُلْتُ لَهُ الْجَاحِدُ مِنْكُمْ وَ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ سَوَاءٌ فَقَالَ الْجَاحِدُ مِنَّا لَهُ ذَنْبَانِ وَ الْمُحْسِنُ لَهُ حَسَنَتَانِ.

He replied, “Those of our own people who would reject us (our Leadership with Divine Authority) would be considered as having committed twice as much sin and the good deed from our own people who are virtuous would also considered as of twice as much value.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذَا حَدَثَ عَلَى الْإِمَامِ حَدَثٌ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ النَّاسُ قَالَ أَيْنَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَلَوْ لا نَفَرَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ طائِفَةٌ لِيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ‌ وَ لِيُنْذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ‌ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ‌[2] قَالَ هُمْ فِي عُذْرٍ مَا دَامُوا فِي الطَّلَبِ وَ هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ يَنْتَظِرُونَهُمْ فِي عُذْرٍ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ

“I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘If something would happen to the Imam what should then the people do?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Where are the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, ‘Not all believers have to become specialists in religious learning. Why do not some people from each group of believers seek

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ الْعَامَّةِ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ مَنْ مَاتَ وَ لَيْسَ لَهُ إِمَامٌ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً فَقَالَ الْحَقُّ وَ اللَّهِ- قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ إِمَاماً هَلَكَ وَ رَجُلٌ بِخُرَاسَانَ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ وَصِيُّهُ لَمْ يَسَعْهُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ لَا يَسَعُهُ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ إِذَا هَلَكَ وَقَعَتْ حُجَّةُ وَصِيِّهِ عَلَى مَنْ هُوَ مَعَهُ فِي الْبَلَدِ وَ حَقُّ النَّفْرِ عَلَى مَن

“I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the statement of the general populace (Sunnis) that says the Messenger of Allah (sw) has said, “If a person would die without having an Imam, his death would be as if he has died as the death of ignorance (pre-Islamic period)” The Imam (a.s.) said, “That is true, by Allah.” I then as

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ بَلَغَنَا شَكْوَاكَ وَ أَشْفَقْنَا فَلَوْ أَعْلَمْتَنَا أَوْ عَلَّمْتَنَا مَنْ قَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَانَ عَالِماً وَ الْعِلْمُ يُتَوَارَثُ فَلَا يَهْلِكُ عَالِمٌ إِلَّا بَقِيَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ مِثْلَ عِلْمِهِ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ قُلْتُ أَ فَيَسَعُ النَّاسَ إِذَا مَاتَ الْعَالِمُ أَلَّا يَعْرِفُوا الَّذِي بَعْدَهُ فَقَالَ أَمَّا أَهْلُ هَذِهِ الْبَلْد

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “May Allah grant you good health, we heard that you were not feeling good and it caused us great anxiety. Would that you inform or teach us who will be the succeeding Imam.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ali (a.s.) was the scholar and knowledge is inherited. No scholar dies except that leaves

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ عَرَفْتَ انْقِطَاعِي إِلَى أَبِيكَ ثُمَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ حَلَفْتُ لَهُ وَ حَقِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ حَقِّ فُلَانٍ وَ فُلَانٍ حَتَّى انْتَهَيْتُ إِلَيْهِ بِأَنَّهُ لَا يَخْرُجُ مِنِّي مَا تُخْبِرُنِي بِهِ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَ حَيٌّ هُوَ أَوْ مَيِّتٌ فَقَالَ قَدْ وَ اللَّهِ مَاتَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَكَ يَرْوُونَ أَنّ

“I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, you know how devoted I have been towards your father and after him to yourself. I then swore before him up on the rights of the Messenger of Allah and the rights of so and so and so and so (Ali, al-Hassan, al-Husayn . (a.s.) until his o

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع إِنَّ رَجُلًا عَنَى‌[1] أَخَاكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَذَكَرَ لَهُ أَنَّ أَبَاكَ فِي الْحَيَاةِ وَ أَنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا يَعْلَمُ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ يَمُوتُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ لَا يَمُوتُ مُوسَى ع قَدْ وَ اللَّهِ مَضَى كَمَا مَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ لَكِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَمْ يَزَلْ مُنْذُ قَبَضَ نَبِيَّهُ ص هَلُمَّ جَرّاً يَمُنُّ بِهَذَا الدِّينِ عَلَى أَوْلَادِ الْأَ

The Imam (a.s.) said, “Glory belongs to Allah. The Messenger of Allah dies. How is it that Musa (Imam Musa al-Kadhim) does not die? Certainly, by Allah, he passed away just as the Messenger of Allah passed away. However, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, ever since that He took his Prophet from this world has contin

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ‌[1] ع إِنَّهُمْ رَوَوْا عَنْكَ فِي مَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع‌[2] أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لَكَ عَلِمْتَ ذَلِكَ بِقَوْلِ سَعِيدٍ[3] فَقَالَ جَاءَ سَعِيدٌ بَعْدَ مَا عَلِمْتُ بِهِ قَبْلَ مَجِيئِهِ قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ طَلَّقْتُ أُمَّ فَرْوَةَ بِنْتَ إِسْحَاقَ‌[4] فِي رَجَبٍ بَعْدَ مَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ بِيَوْمٍ قُلْتُ طَلَّقْتَهَا وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ بِمَوْتِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ

“I said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘They have narrated from you about the death of abu al-Hassan (Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.) that a man said to you, “You have learned that (the death of your father) through the report of Sa‘id.” He said, “Sa‘id came after I learned about that (death of my father) before his coming.” The narra

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِمَامِ مَتَى يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ إِمَامٌ حِينَ يَبْلُغُهُ أَنَّ صَاحِبَهُ قَدْ مَضَى أَوْ حِينَ يَمْضِي مِثْلَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ قُبِضَ بِبَغْدَادَ وَ أَنْتَ هَاهُنَا قَالَ يَعْلَمُ ذَلِكَ حِينَ يَمْضِي صَاحِبُهُ قُلْتُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ قَالَ يُلْهِمُهُ اللَّهُ.

“I requested abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Enlighten me when an Imam comesto know that he is the Imam (a.s.)? Does it take place when the preceding Imam has already passes away or when he is about to leave this world? For example abu al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away in Baghdad and you were here (in the city of Madina)?” T

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي تُوُفِّيَ فِيهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ‌ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ راجِعُونَ‌ مَضَى أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقِيلَ لَهُ وَ كَيْفَ عَرَفْتَ قَالَ لِأَنَّهُ تَدَاخَلَنِي ذِلَّةٌ لِلَّهِ لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْرِفُهَا.

“I saw abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Muhammad on the day abu Ja‘far (a.s.) passed away. He said, “To Allah we belong and to Him we return. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) passed away.” He was asked, “How do you know that he passed away?” He said, “A form of humbleness before Allah that I had never experienced overwhelmed me.”

أَمَرَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع حِينَ أُخْرِجَ بِهِ- أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع أَنْ يَنَامَ عَلَى بَابِهِ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ أَبَداً مَا كَانَ حَيّاً إِلَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ خَبَرُهُ قَالَ فَكُنَّا فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ نَفْرُشُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ فِي الدِّهْلِيزِ ثُمَّ يَأْتِي بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ فَيَنَامُ فَإِذَا أَصْبَحَ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ قَالَ فَمَكَثَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ أَرْبَعَ سِنِينَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ لَيْلَةٌ مِنَ اللّ

“Abu Ibrahim commanded –at the time he was taken out to Baghdad- abu al-Hassan (a.s.) to sleep every night at his (abu Ibrahim’s) house until the coming of the news of his death. The narrator has said narrator has said that we would prepare the bed for abu al-Hassan every night in the terrace and he would come after th

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع أَ كَانَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ع حِينَ تَكَلَّمَ فِي الْمَهْدِ حُجَّةَ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ فَقَالَ كَانَ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَبِيّاً حُجَّةَ اللَّهِ غَيْرَ مُرْسَلٍ أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ لِقَوْلِهِ حِينَ قَالَ- إِنِّي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ‌ آتانِيَ الْكِتابَ وَ جَعَلَنِي نَبِيًّا. وَ جَعَلَنِي مُبارَكاً أَيْنَ ما كُنْتُ‌ وَ أَوْصانِي بِالصَّلاةِ وَ الزَّكاةِ ما دُمْتُ حَيًّا[2] قُلْتُ فَكَانَ يَوْمَئِ

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Was Jesus at the time he spoke to people from the cradle a Divine authority over the people of his time?” He said, “At that time he was a prophet, a Divine authority over the people but not a Mursal (Messenger). Have you not heard the words of Allah that say, “He said, “I am the servant of

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع قَدْ كُنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَهَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ- أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَكُنْتَ تَقُولُ يَهَبُ اللَّهُ لِي غُلَاماً فَقَدْ وَهَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فَقَرَّ عُيُونُنَا فَلَا أَرَانَا اللَّهُ يَوْمَكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ كَوْنٌ فَإِلَى مَنْ فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا ابْنُ ثَلَاثِ سِنِينَ قَالَ وَ مَا يَضُرُّهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ ق

“Once I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Before Allah would grant you the blessed birth of abu Ja‘far we would ask you the question and you would say that Allah will soon grant you a son. Allah, now, has blessed you with such a favor and may He make him to be the delight for your heart. We wish not to experience a single da

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ فِي حَدَاثَةِ سِنِّكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى أَوْحَى إِلَى دَاوُدَ أَنْ يَسْتَخْلِفَ سُلَيْمَانَ وَ هُوَ صَبِيٌّ يَرْعَى الْغَنَمَ فَأَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ عُبَّادُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ عُلَمَاؤُهُمْ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى دَاوُدَ ع أَنْ خُذْ عَصَا الْمُتَكَلِّمِينَ وَ عَصَا سُلَيْمَانَ وَ اجْعَلْهَا فِي بَيْتٍ وَ اخْتِمْ عَلَيْهَا بِخَوَاتِيمِ الْقَوْمِ فَإِذَا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ

“They speak about (and question) your very young age. He said, “Allah informed David through inspiration to appoint Sulayman as the executor of his will and successor while he was just a child minding sheep. The worshippers and scholars of the Israelites disliked it. Allah then inspired David to take the staff of those

أَبُو بَصِيرٍ دَخَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَ مَعِي غُلَامٌ يَقُودُنِي خُمَاسِيٌّ لَمْ يَبْلُغْ فَقَالَ لِي كَيْفَ أَنْتُمْ إِذَا احْتَجَّ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمِثْلِ سِنِّهِ أَوْ قَالَ سَيَلِي عَلَيْكُمْ بِمِثْلِ سِنِّهِ.

“Once I went to see him. Along with me there was a of five years old boy who had not yet attained puberty. The Imam (a.s.) said, “How would you feel if people will debate you about the divine authority of someone of his age? Or he said about the Divine authority of one who will come and will be of the same age as his.”

سَأَلْتُهُ يَعْنِي أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْإِمَامِ فَقُلْتُ يَكُونُ الْإِمَامُ ابْنَ أَقَلَّ مِنْ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ وَ أَقَلَّ مِنْ خَمْسِ سِنِينَ فَقَالَ سَهْلٌ فَحَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ مَهْزِيَارَ بِهَذَا فِي سَنَةِ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ وَ مِائَتَيْنِ.

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) of an issue of the Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) and I said, “Can the Imam be a boy less than seven years old?” He said, “Yes, he can even be less the five years old.” Sahl has said that ibn Mahziyar narrated this to me in the year two hundred twenty one.”

كُنْتُ وَاقِفاً بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع- بِخُرَاسَانَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ يَا سَيِّدِي إِنْ كَانَ كَوْنٌ فَإِلَى مَنْ قَالَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ابْنِي فَكَأَنَّ الْقَائِلَ اسْتَصْغَرَ سِنَّ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بَعَثَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ع رَسُولًا نَبِيّاً صَاحِبَ شَرِيعَةٍ مُبْتَدَأَةٍ فِي أَصْغَرَ مِنَ السِّنِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ.

“Once I was standing in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in Khurasan and someone said to him, ‘O my master if something will happen to you to who must we then turn for guidance?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “You must turn for guidance to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), my son.” The person asking the question seemed to have thought of

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ قَدْ خَرَجَ عَلَيَّ فَأَخَذْتُ النَّظَرَ إِلَيْهِ وَ جَعَلْتُ أَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَأْسِهِ وَ رِجْلَيْهِ لِأَصِفَ قَامَتَهُ لِأَصْحَابِنَا بِمِصْرَ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى قَعَدَ فَقَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ احْتَجَّ فِي الْإِمَامَةِ بِمِثْلِ مَا احْتَجَّ بِهِ فِي النُّبُوَّةِ فَقَالَ‌ وَ آتَيْناهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا[1] وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ‌[2] وَ بَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً[3

“Once I saw abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who had come out to me and I began to look at him from head to his toes so I can describe him to our people in Egypt. I was looking until he sat down and said, “O Ali, Allah has supported His argument against the people in the case of Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) just as He ha

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ حَسَّانَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا سَيِّدِي إِنَّ النَّاسَ يُنْكِرُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَدَاثَةَ سِنِّكَ فَقَالَ وَ مَا يُنْكِرُونَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِنَبِيِّهِ ص- قُلْ هذِهِ سَبِيلِي‌ أَدْعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلى‌ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي‌[4] فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا تَبِعَهُ إِلَّا عَلِيٌّ ع وَ لَهُ تِسْعُ سِنِينَ وَ أَنَا ابْنُ تِسْعِ سِنِينَ.

“My mater, people refuse to accept your Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority) because of you very young age.” He said, “Why do they not refuse to accept the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has said to His prophet, “ (Muhammad), say, “This is my way.

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ يُحَاجُّونَّا يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ لَا يُغَسِّلُهُ إِلَّا الْإِمَامُ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَنْ غَسَّلَهُ فَمَا قُلْتَ لَهُمْ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِنْ قَالَ‌ مَوْلَايَ إِنَّهُ غَسَّلَهُ تَحْتَ عَرْشِ رَبِّي فَقَدْ صَدَقَ وَ إِنْ قَالَ غَسَّلَهُ فِي تُخُومِ الْأَرْضِ فَقَدْ صَدَقَ قَالَ لَا هَكَذَا قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَمَا أَقُولُ لَهُمْ قَالَ قُلْ لَهُمْ إِنّ

"I told him that they (al-Waqifiyya) argue with us, saying that no one can wash the body of an Imam except another Imam." Imam al-Ridha (as) replied, "How do they know who washed him (Imam al-Jawad)?" I then asked, "What should I say to them?" He instructed, "Tell them that if he (the Imam) said, 'My master, he washed

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنِ الْإِمَامِ يُغَسِّلُهُ الْإِمَامُ قَالَ سُنَّةُ مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ ع‌[1].

2. It is narrated from him from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Yunus from Talha who has said the following. “Once I said to al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Is it true that only an Imam has the authority to wash the body of an Imam for burial?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Do you know who comes to wash his body for buria

قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا ع إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ لَا يُغَسِّلُهُ إِلَّا الْإِمَامُ فَقَالَ أَ مَا تَدْرُونَ مَنْ حَضَرَ لِغُسْلِهِ‌[2] قَدْ حَضَرَهُ خَيْرٌ مِمَّنْ غَابَ عَنْهُ الَّذِينَ حَضَرُوا يُوسُفَ فِي الْجُبِّ حِينَ غَابَ عَنْهُ أَبَوَاهُ وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِهِ.

“Once I said to al-Rida (a.s.), ‘Is it true that only an Imam has the authority to wash the body of an Imam for burial?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Do you know who comes to wash his body for burial? One who is better than the one who is absence from his presence comes to wash. Those who came to Joseph in the well to help w

حَجَجْنَا مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي السَّنَةِ الَّتِي وُلِدَ فِيهَا ابْنُهُ مُوسَى ع فَلَمَّا نَزَلْنَا الْأَبْوَاءَ[4] وَضَعَ لَنَا الْغَدَاءَ وَ كَانَ إِذَا وَضَعَ الطَّعَامَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ أَكْثَرَ وَ أَطَابَ قَالَ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ نَأْكُلُ إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَسُولُ حَمِيدَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ حَمِيدَةَ تَقُولُ قَدْ أَنْكَرْتُ نَفْسِي وَ قَدْ وَجَدْتُ مَا كُنْتُ أَجِدُ إِذَا حَضَرَتْ وِلَادَتِي وَ قَدْ أَمَرْتَنِ

When we arrived at al-Abwa lunch was served When he would serve food to his people he would serve good and plentiful food. At such time the messenger of Hamida, (his wife), came saying, “Hamida says, “I have almost lost my self and I have found what I was to find, I am about to give birth. You had commanded me not to d

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِذَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْإِمَامَ أَمَرَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ فَيَسْقِيهَا أَبَاهُ فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ يَخْلُقُ الْإِمَامَ فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ لَيْلَةً فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ لَا يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ ثُمَّ يَسْمَعُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْكَلَامَ فَإِذَا وُلِدَ بَعَثَ ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكَ فَيَكْتُبُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَ

‘When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would love to create the Imam He would command an angel to take a drink of water from under the Throne and his father to drink it and from this He creates the Imam. for the first forty days and nights in his mothers womb he would hear anything. After that he would hear the wor

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْإِمَامَ مِنَ الْإِمَامِ بَعَثَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ ثُمَّ أَوْقَعَهَا أَوْ دَفَعَهَا إِلَى الْإِمَامِ فَشَرِبَهَا فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً لَا يَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ ثُمَّ يَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ أُمُّهُ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ الْمَ

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, decides to create the Imam from another Imam He sends an angel with a drink of water from under the Throne. Then the angel would make the Imam to drink it and would give it to him to drink. For the first forty days he would not hear a

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ لَيَسْمَعُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا وُلِدَ خُطَّ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ‌ وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَ عَدْلًا لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ‌ فَإِذَا صَارَ الْأَمْرُ إِلَيْهِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ عَمُوداً مِنْ نُورٍ يُبْصِرُ بِهِ مَا يَعْمَلُ أَهْلُ كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘The Imam hears in the womb of his mother and when he is born these words of Allah will be written between his shoulders, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord’s Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.”. (6:115) When the matter (Leade

سَمِعْتُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ‌ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ إِذَا حَمَلَتْ بِهِمْ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ أَصَابَهَا فَتْرَةٌ شِبْهُ الْغَشْيَةِ فَأَقَامَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ‌ يَوْمَهَا ذَلِكَ إِنْ كَانَ نَهَاراً أَوْ لَيْلَتَهَا إِنْ كَانَ لَيْلًا ثُمَّ تَرَى فِي مَنَامِهَا رَجُلًا يُبَشِّرُهَا بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ حَلِيمٍ فَتَفْرَحُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَنْتَبِهُ مِنْ نَوْمِهَا فَتَسْمَعُ مِنْ جَانِبِهَا الْأَيْمَنِ فِ

“When the mothers of the executors of the will conceive them she will go through a condition as if she has fainted for the rest of day if it would take place during the day or for the rest of the night if it would take place at night. She then would see in her dream a man congratulating her with the birth of a son, ver

رَوَى غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ: لَا تَتَكَلَّمُوا فِي الْإِمَامِ فَإِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَسْمَعُ الْكَلَامَ وَ هُوَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ كَتَبَ الْمَلَكُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ- وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَ عَدْلًا لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ‌ فَإِذَا قَامَ بِالْأَمْرِ رُفِعَ لَهُ فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ مَنَارٌ يَنْظُرُ مِنْهُ إِلَى أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ.

The Imam (a.s.) has said, “Do not speak about the Imam. The Imam (a.s.) hears the words while he still is in the womb of his mother. When she would give birth the angel write between his eyes, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord’s Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowi

كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ ابْنُ فَضَّالٍ جُلُوساً إِذْ أَقْبَلَ يُونُسُ فَقَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ فِي الْعَمُودِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا يُونُسُ مَا تَرَاهُ أَ تَرَاهُ عَمُوداً مِنْ حَدِيدٍ يُرْفَعُ لِصَاحِبِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا أَدْرِي قَالَ لَكِنَّهُ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ بِكُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ يَرْفَعُ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَعْمَالَ تِلْكَ الْبَلْدَةِ قَالَ فَقَامَ اب

“I and ibn Faddal were sitting tha Yunus came and said, ‘I went to see abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and said to him, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “People speak so much about pillar.” He said to me, “O Yunus, what do you see? Do you see it as a pillar of iron that you would raise for your friend?”

لِلْإِمَامِ عَشْرُ عَلَامَاتٍ يُولَدُ مُطَهَّراً مَخْتُوناً وَ إِذَا وَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ وَقَعَ عَلَى رَاحَتِهِ رَافِعاً صَوْتَهُ بِالشَّهَادَتَيْنِ وَ لَا يُجْنِبُ وَ تَنَامُ عَيْنَاهُ وَ لَا يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ وَ لَا يَتَثَاءَبُ وَ لَا يَتَمَطَّى وَ يَرَى مِنْ خَلْفِهِ كَمَا يَرَى مِنْ أَمَامِهِ وَ نَجْوُهُ كَرَائِحَةِ الْمِسْكِ وَ الْأَرْضُ مُوَكَّلَةٌ بِسَتْرِهِ‌ وَ ابْتِلَاعِهِ وَ إِذَا لَبِسَ دِرْعَ رَسُولِ ال

“Imam has ten signs. He is born clean and circumcised. When falls on the earth his palms reach the ground first while he raises his head to the sky and loudly says the two testimonies. He does not experience wit dream. His eyes sleep but not his heart. He does not yawn and stretCh He sees behind just as he sees in fron

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَنَا مِنْ عِلِّيِّينَ وَ خَلَقَ أَرْوَاحَنَا مِنْ فَوْقِ ذَلِكَ وَ خَلَقَ أَرْوَاحَ شِيعَتِنَا مِنْ عِلِّيِّينَ وَ خَلَقَ أَجْسَادَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ الْقَرَابَةُ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَ قُلُوبُهُمْ تَحِنُّ إِلَيْنَا.

“Allah has created us from ‘Illiyin (high above) and He has created our spirits from above that. He has created the spirit of our Shi‘as (followers) from ‘Illiyin and their bodies from below that. For this reason there is relationship among us and among them and their hearts are affectionate towards us.”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَنَا مِنْ نُورِ عَظَمَتِهِ ثُمَّ صَوَّرَ خَلْقَنَا مِنْ طِينَةٍ مَخْزُونَةٍ مَكْنُونَةٍ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْعَرْشِ فَأَسْكَنَ ذَلِكَ النُّورَ فِيهِ فَكُنَّا نَحْنُ خَلْقاً وَ بَشَراً نُورَانِيِّينَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِأَحَدٍ فِي مِثْلِ الَّذِي خَلَقَنَا مِنْهُ نَصِيباً وَ خَلَقَ أَرْوَاحَ شِيعَتِنَا مِنْ طِينَتِنَا وَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ مِنْ طِينَةٍ مَخْزُونَةٍ مَكْنُونَةٍ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ ذَلِك

“Allah has created us from the light of His greatness. Thereafter He shaped our form from a preserved and hidden clay under the Throne. Then He made that light to reside in that clay. We then were a spiritual creature of the human being species. He has not placed anything as a share from that which we were created in a

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ نَهَراً دُونَ عَرْشِهِ وَ دُونَ النَّهَرِ الَّذِي دُونَ عَرْشِهِ نُورٌ نَوَّرَهُ وَ إِنَّ فِي حَافَتَيِ النَّهَرِ رُوحَيْنِ مَخْلُوقَيْنِ- رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ وَ رُوحٌ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَشْرَ طِينَاتٍ خَمْسَةً مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ خَمْسَةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ فَفَسَّرَ الْجِنَانَ وَ فَسَّرَ الْأَرْضَ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَ لَا مَلَكٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ جَبَلَهُ إِل

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Hassa’n and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Salma ibn al-Khattab and others from Ali ibn Hassa’n from Ali ibn ‘Atiyya from Ali ibn Ri’ab who has narrated it in a marfu‘ manner from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah has a canal below His Throne. Below the can

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَنَا مِنْ أَعْلَى عِلِّيِّينَ- وَ خَلَقَ قُلُوبَ شِيعَتِنَا مِمَّا خَلَقَنَا وَ خَلَقَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَقُلُوبُهُمْ تَهْوِي إِلَيْنَا لِأَنَّهَا خُلِقَتْ مِمَّا خُلِقْنَا ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتابَ الْأَبْرارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ. وَ ما أَدْراكَ ما عِلِّيُّونَ. كِتابٌ مَرْقُومٌ. يَشْهَدُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ‌[1] وَ خَلَقَ عَدُوَّنَا مِنْ سِجِّينٍ وَ خَلَقَ قُلُوبَ

“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say, “Allah has created us from A‘la ‘Illiyin (above the high above). He has created the hearts of our Shi‘a from what He has created us, and He has created their bodies from below that, thus, their hearts incline towards us because they are created from what we are created. Then he recited t

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مَوَالِيَكَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ يَتَبَرَّأُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ مَا أَنْتَ وَ ذَاكَ إِنَّمَا كُلِّفَ النَّاسُ ثَلَاثَةً مَعْرِفَةَ الْأَئِمَّةِ وَ التَّسْلِيمَ لَهُمْ فِيمَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ الرَّدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ.

“I said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘I just left your supporters and followers opposing and disdaining each other.” The narrator has said that The Imam (a.s.) then said, “What do you have to do with their conditions. People have three obligations. They must recognize the Imams, submit to the instructions they have received f

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَوْ أَنَّ قَوْماً عَبَدُوا اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَ آتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ وَ حَجُّوا الْبَيْتَ وَ صَامُوا شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ ثُمَّ قَالُوا لِشَيْ‌ءٍ صَنَعَهُ اللَّهُ أَوْ صَنَعَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَلَّا صَنَعَ خِلَافَ الَّذِي صَنَعَ أَوْ وَجَدُوا ذَلِكَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ لَكَانُوا بِذَلِكَ مُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- فَلا وَ رَبِّكَ‌ لا يُؤْمِن

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘If a people would worship Allah only Who has no partner, maintain the prayers, pay Zakat, perform Hajj of the House and fast in the month of Ramadan but say about something that Allah or the Messenger of Allah has done, would that it had been done differently or find such feelings in th

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا رَجُلًا يُقَالُ لَهُ كُلَيْبٌ فَلَا يَجِي‌ءُ عَنْكُمْ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِلَّا قَالَ أَنَا أُسَلِّمُ فَسَمَّيْنَاهُ كُلَيْبَ تَسْلِيمٍ قَالَ فَتَرَحَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تَدْرُونَ مَا التَّسْلِيمُ فَسَكَتْنَا فَقَالَ هُوَ وَ اللَّهِ الْإِخْبَاتُ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ وَ أَخْبَتُوا إِلى‌ رَبِّهِمْ‌[1].

“I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Among us there is a man called Kulayb. Nothing comes from you but that he says, “I submit to it.” Thus, we call him, “Kulayb, the submissive.” The narrator has said that The Imam (a.s) expressed kindness towards him and prayed and then said, “Do you know what submission is?” We remaine

الِاقْتِرَافُ التَّسْلِيمُ لَنَا وَ الصِّدْقُ عَلَيْنَا وَ أَلَّا يَكْذِبَ عَلَيْنَا.

The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘achievement’ refers to one’s submission to us, his speaking the truth from us and not to ascribe any lies to us.”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ‌ أَ تَدْرِي مَنْ هُمْ قُلْتُ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْمُسَلِّمُونَ إِنَّ الْمُسَلِّمِينَ هُمُ النُّجَبَاءُ فَالْمُؤْمِنُ غَرِيبٌ فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ.

Triumphant indeed are the believers,” (23:1) Do you know who they are?” I said, “You know best.” He said, Triumphant indeed are the believers, who are Muslims (submissive to Allah). The Muslims are noble people. The believers are rare. Congratulations to the believers.”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَكْمِلَ الْإِيمَانَ كُلَّهُ فَلْيَقُلِ الْقَوْلُ مِنِّي فِي جَمِيعِ الْأَشْيَاءِ قَوْلُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِيمَا أَسَرُّوا وَ مَا أَعْلَنُوا وَ فِيمَا بَلَغَنِي عَنْهُمْ وَ فِيمَا لَمْ يَبْلُغْنِي.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘Whoever loves to have a complete belief he must say, “Everything that I say is from the family of Muhammad whether those that they kept secret or those that they made public those that have reached me from them and those that have not reached me.”

قَالَ: لَقَدْ خَاطَبَ اللَّهُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي كِتَابِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فِي أَيِّ مَوْضِعٍ قَالَ فِي قَوْلِهِ‌ وَ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ جاؤُكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ‌ وَ اسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ‌ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّاباً رَحِيماً. فَلا وَ رَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيما شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ‌ فِيمَا تَعَاقَدُوا عَلَيْهِ لَئِنْ أَمَاتَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّداً أَلَّا يَرُ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah has addressed Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) in His book.” The narrator has said that asked him, “where and in which passage?” He said, “It is in His words that read, “If they ever do injustice to themselves and come to you (Muhammad) asking for God’s forgiveness and if the Messenger also w

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ‌[1] إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ قَالَ هُمُ الْمُسَلِّمُونَ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذِينَ إِذَا سَمِعُوا الْحَدِيثَ لَمْ يَزِيدُوا فِيهِ وَ لَمْ يَنْقُصُوا مِنْهُ جَاءُوا بِهِ كَمَا سَمِعُوهُ.

“Once I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious. “. .those of Our servants who listen to the words and only follow the best ones. .” .(39:18) The Imam (a.s.) said, “They are those who are submissive to the (commands) of Ahl al-Bayt of Muhammad (s.a). It is those who whe

نَظَرَ إِلَى النَّاسِ يَطُوفُونَ حَوْلَ الْكَعْبَةِ فَقَالَ هَكَذَا كَانُوا يَطُوفُونَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ إِنَّمَا أُمِرُوا أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بِهَا ثُمَّ يَنْفِرُوا إِلَيْنَا فَيُعْلِمُونَا وَلَايَتَهُمْ وَ مَوَدَّتَهُمْ وَ يَعْرِضُوا عَلَيْنَا نُصْرَتَهُمْ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ‌ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ‌[2].

“abu Ja‘far (a.s.) looked at the people perform Tawaf (walking around the Ka‘ba seven times) and said, “This is how they used to perform Tawaf in the times ignorance (pre-Islamic era). What they are required to do is to perform Tawaf and come to us, declare their support and love for us and express their help for us. T

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ رَأَى النَّاسَ بِمَكَّةَ وَ مَا يَعْمَلُونَ قَالَ فَقَالَ فِعَالٌ كَفِعَالِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أُمِرُوا بِهَذَا وَ مَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا أَنْ يَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ‌ وَ لْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْ‌ فَيَمُرُّوا بِنَا فَيُخْبِرُونَا بِوَلَايَتِهِمْ وَ يَعْرِضُوا عَلَيْنَا نُصْرَتَهُمْ.

“I heard abu Ja‘far say, (a.s.) when he saw people in Makka and what they were doing, “Activities like those in the days of ignorance. By Allah, they are not commanded to do as suCh What they are commanded to do is to complete their Hajj, relieve themselves of the obligations of vows and visit us to inform us of their

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ هُوَ دَاخِلٌ وَ أَنَا خَارِجٌ وَ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي ثُمَ‌ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْبَيْتَ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ إِنَّمَا أُمِرَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَأْتُوا هَذِهِ الْأَحْجَارَ فَيَطُوفُوا بِهَا ثُمَّ يَأْتُونَا فَيُعْلِمُونَا وَلَايَتَهُمْ لَنَا وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ‌ وَ إِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تابَ‌ وَ آمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صالِحاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدى‌[1] ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ إِلَى وَلَايَتِنَا ثُمَّ

"I heard Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) while I was exiting, and he took my hand and faced the house (Kaaba) and said: 'O Sudair, the people were commanded to come to these stones and perform tawaf around them, then come to us and nd declare their allegiance to us. This is the word of Allah: Indeed, I am the Forgiving for wh

كُنْتُ لَا أَزِيدُ عَلَى أَكْلَةٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ فَرُبَّمَا اسْتَأْذَنْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَجِدُ الْمَائِدَةَ قَدْ رُفِعَتْ‌[2] لَعَلِّي لَا أَرَاهَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَإِذَا دَخَلْتُ دَعَا بِهَا فَأُصِيبَ مَعَهُ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَ لَا أَتَأَذَّى بِذَلِكَ وَ إِذَا عَقَّبْتُ بِالطَّعَامِ عِنْدَ غَيْرِهِ لَمْ أَقْدِرْ عَلَى أَنْ أَقِرَّ وَ لَمْ أَنَمْ مِنَ النَّفْخَةِ فَشَكَوْتُ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْه

“I used to eat one meal in twenty four hours. I would ask permission to see abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) at such time that I would expect that their table cloth is collected and they have fished their meal. When I would arrive he would ask to return the table cloth. I would find food in it but it would not harm me while if I w

قَالَ يَا حُسَيْنُ وَ ضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى مَسَاوِرَ[3] فِي الْبَيْتِ مَسَاوِرُ طَالَ مَا اتَّكَتْ عَلَيْهَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ رُبَّمَا الْتَقَطْنَا مِنْ زَغَبِهَا.

“Once Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘O Husayn, tapping his hand on a cushion in the house, saying, ‘Cushions on which for a long time angels have been leaning and perhaps we pick up some of their fluff around.”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَاحْتُبِسْتُ فِي الدَّارِ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ دَخَلْتُ الْبَيْتَ وَ هُوَ يَلْتَقِطُ شَيْئاً وَ أَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ مِنْ وَرَاءِ السِّتْرِ فَنَاوَلَهُ مَنْ كَانَ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَاكَ تَلْتَقِطُهُ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ هُوَ فَقَالَ فَضْلَةٌ مِنْ زَغَبِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ نَجْمَعُهُ إِذَا خَلَّوْنَا نَجْعَلُهُ سَيْحاً[1] لِأَوْلَادِنَا فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَا

“Once I went to see Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and I became confounded in the room for an hour then I went inside the house while he was picking up things and would give to someone behind the curtain. I then said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, What was that thing that I saw you picking up?” The Imam (

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ مَلَكٍ يُهْبِطُهُ اللَّهُ فِي أَمْرٍ مَا يُهْبِطُهُ إِلَّا بَدَأَ بِالْإِمَامِ فَعَرَضَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنَّ مُخْتَلَفَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِلَى صَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) say, ‘Every angels that Allah sends down for a task that angel first begins with meeting the Imam to present the task to him. The presence of Imam, Leader with Divine Authority is the scene of great mix of the angels from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.”

أَتَيْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فِي بَعْضِ مَا أَتَيْتُهُ فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ لَا تَعْجَلْ حَتَّى حَمِيَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَيَّ وَ جَعَلْتُ أَتَتَبَّعُ الْأَفْيَاءَ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَنْ خَرَجَ عَلَيَّ قَوْمٌ كَأَنَّهُمُ الْجَرَادُ الصُّفْرُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْبُتُوتُ‌[3] قَدِ انْتَهَكَتْهُمُ الْعِبَادَةُ قَالَ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَأَنْسَانِي مَا كُنْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ حُسْنِ هَيْئَةِ الْقَوْمِ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ لِي أَرَانِي قَدْ شَق

“On one of the occasion of my meeting with abu Ja‘far (a.s.) when I went tosee him he asked me to wait until the sun became very hot on me. I tried to follow the shadow from the sun. No very long thereafter a people came out of his presence that looked like locusts dressed in large gowns and very oale and slim due to e