Disbelief

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع سُنَنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص كَفَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ فَرَائِضَ مُوجَبَاتٍ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ الْمُوجَبَاتِ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْ بِهَا وَ جَحَدَهَا كَانَ كَافِراً وَ أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ بِأُمُورٍ كُلُّهَا حَسَنَةٌ فَلَيْسَ مَنْ تَرَكَ بَعْضَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ عِبَادَهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ بِكَاف

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Are the traditions, Sunan of the Messenger of Allah like the obligations Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has sanctioned?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has sanctioned obligations that are compulsory for the servants (of Allah). Whoever ignores an o

وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْكُفْرَ لَأَقْدَمُ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ وَ أَخْبَثُ وَ أَعْظَمُ قَالَ‌ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ كُفْرَ إِبْلِيسَ حِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ لَهُ اسْجُدْ لآِدَمَ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَسْجُدَ فَالْكُفْرُ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ فَمَنِ اخْتَارَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَبَى الطَّاعَةَ وَ أَقَامَ عَلَى الْكَبَائِرِ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ وَ مَنْ نَصَبَ دِيناً غَيْرَ دِينِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَهُوَ مُشْرِكٌ.

“By Allah, disbelief is older than polytheism and more vile and greater (in filth.) The narrator has said that the Imam then mentioned the disbelief of Iblis when Allah said to him: 'Prostrate to Adam,' but he refused to prostrate. Thus, disbelief is greater than polytheism. So, whoever chooses anything over Allah, Exa

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ سَالِمُ بْنُ أَبِي حَفْصَةَ وَ أَصْحَابُهُ‌[1] فَقَالَ إِنَّهُمْ يُنْكِرُونَ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَنْ حَارَبَ عَلِيّاً ع مُشْرِكِينَ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَإِنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ كُفَّارٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي إِنَّ الْكُفْرَ أَقْدَمُ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ كُفْرَ إِبْلِيسَ حِينَ قَالَ لَهُ اسْجُدْ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَسْجُدَ وَ قَالَ الْكُفْرُ أَقْدَمُ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ فَمَنِ اجْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ فَأَ

“The narrator has said that once Salim ibn abu Hafs and his companions were mentioned before abu Ja’far (a.s.) and that they denied that those who waged war against Ali (a.s.) are of the people who consider things as partners of Allah ( Mushrik ). Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘So they think such people are unbelievers.’ The

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِنَّا هَدَيْناهُ السَّبِيلَ‌ إِمَّا شاكِراً وَ إِمَّا كَفُوراً[2] قَالَ إِمَّا آخِذٌ فَهُوَ شَاكِرٌ وَ إِمَّا تَارِكٌ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘We showed him the right path, whether he would be grateful or ungrateful.’ (76:3) The Imam said, ‘If he accepts it (belief), he is then grateful or rejects it; he then is an unbeliever.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالْإِيمانِ‌ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ‌[4] قَالَ تَرْكُ الْعَمَلِ الَّذِي أَقَرَّ بِهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنْ يَتْرُكَ الصَّلَاةَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُقْمٍ وَ لَا شُغُلٍ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘The deeds of anyone who rejects belief, certainly, become fruitless. He, on the Day of Judgment will be of those who lose.’ (5:5) The Imam said, ‘It is disregarding the deeds that he has confessed to be true. Of such deeds i

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الْكُفْرِ وَ الشِّرْكِ أَيُّهُمَا أَقْدَمُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي مَا عَهْدِي بِكَ تُخَاصِمُ النَّاسَ‌[1] قُلْتُ أَمَرَنِي هِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِي الْكُفْرُ أَقْدَمُ وَ هُوَ الْجُحُودُ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبى‌ وَ اسْتَكْبَرَ وَ كانَ مِنَ الْكافِرِينَ‌[2].

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about disbelief and al-Shirk (paganism) as to which is before. The Imam said to me, ‘I have not experienced your involvement in polemics among the people.’ I then said, ‘Hisham ibn Salim has ordered me to ask you this question.’ The Imam said, ‘Disbelief is before and it is denial and

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ مُؤْمِنٌ قَالَ لَا وَ اللَّهِ قُلْتُ فَمَا يَدْخُلُهَا إِلَّا كَافِرٌ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَلَمَّا رَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِرَاراً قَالَ لِي أَيْ زُرَارَةُ إِنِّي أَقُولُ لَا وَ أَقُولُ إِلَّا مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ أَنْتَ تَقُولُ لَا وَ لَا تَقُولُ إِلَّا مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنِي‌[3] هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ وَ حَمَّادٌ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فِي

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘Will a believer go in the fire?’ The Imam said, ‘No, by Allah.’ I then asked, ‘So no one will be sent in the fire except the unbelievers?’ The Imam said, ‘No, except whoever Allah wills.’ I (the narrator) repeated my question several times and the Imam said, ‘O Zurara, I say, “No,” and

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الْكُفْرِ وَ الشِّرْكِ أَيُّهُمَا أَقْدَمُ فَقَالَ الْكُفْرُ أَقْدَمُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ كَفَرَ وَ كَانَ كُفْرُهُ غَيْرَ شِرْكٍ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَدْعُ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ وَ إِنَّمَا دَعَا إِلَى ذَلِكَ بَعْدُ فَأَشْرَكَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, when he was asked about disbelief and paganism which one was first, ‘Disbelief is first. Satan was the first to become an unbeliever and his disbelief was something other than al-Shirk (paganism) he did not invite to worship anyone other than Allah, he invited to such worship after

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ وَ سُئِلَ مَا بَالُ الزَّانِي لَا تُسَمِّيهِ كَافِراً وَ تَارِكُ الصَّلَاةِ قَدْ سَمَّيْتَهُ كَافِراً وَ مَا الْحُجَّةُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لِأَنَّ الزَّانِيَ وَ مَا أَشْبَهَهُ إِنَّمَا يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ لِمَكَانِ الشَّهْوَةِ لِأَنَّهَا تَغْلِبُهُ وَ تَارِكُ الصَّلَاةِ لَا يَتْرُكُهَا إِلَّا اسْتِخْفَافاً بِهَا وَ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّكَ لَا تَجِدُ الزَّانِيَ يَأْتِي الْمَرْأَةَ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when he was asked, ‘Why is it that a fornicator is not considered an unbeliever as one ignoring the prayer is? What is the reason and evidence?’ The Imam said, ‘A fornicator and so forth commits such act due to lust that influences him, while one ignoring the prayer does so due to his cons

مَنْ شَكَّ فِي اللَّهِ وَ فِي رَسُولِهِ ص فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever doubts Allah and the Messenger of Allah is an unbeliever.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنْ شَكَّ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ كَافِرٌ قُلْتُ فَمَنْ شَكَّ فِي كُفْرِ الشَّاكِّ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأَمْسَكَ عَنِّي فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَاسْتَبَنْتُ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْغَضَبَ‌[1].

The Imam said, ‘He is an unbeliever.’ I then asked, ‘What if one doubts the disbelief of such a doubting person? Is he also an unbeliever?’ The Imam did not answer me and I asked it three times. Then 1 noticed anger on his face?”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالْإِيمانِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ‌[2] فَقَالَ مَنْ تَرَكَ الْعَمَلَ الَّذِي أَقَرَّ بِهِ قُلْتُ فَمَا مَوْضِعُ تَرْكِ الْعَمَلِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهُ أَجْمَعَ قَالَ مِنْهُ الَّذِي يَدَعُ الصَّلَاةَ مُتَعَمِّداً لَا مِنْ سُكْرٍ وَ لَا مِنْ عِلَّةٍ.

The Imam said, ‘ It is one who abandons the deed he has affirmed (believed in.)’ I then asked, ‘What is the extent of abandoning the deed? Until he leaves it entirely?’ The Imam said, ‘Among them is the one who intentionally abandons prayer, not out of drunkenness or illness.’”

سَأَلَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا هُمْ قُلْتُ مُرْجِئَةٌ وَ قَدَرِيَّةٌ وَ حَرُورِيَّةٌ[3] فَقَالَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ تِلْكَ الْمِلَلَ الْكَافِرَةَ الْمُشْرِكَةَ الَّتِي لَا تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ.

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asked me about the people of Basra and asked me, ‘Who are they?’ I said, ‘They are Murji’a’, Qadriah and Harawriah’ (names of groups of certain beliefs). The Imam said, ‘May Allah condemn such nations of disbelief and paganism who have no basis for worshipping Allah.’” Note: Murji’a were thos

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ عِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ فَلَمَّا قَعَدْتُ قَامَ الرَّجُلُ فَخَرَجَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا فُضَيْلُ مَا هَذَا عِنْدَكَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ حَرُورِيٌّ قُلْتُ كَافِرٌ قَالَ إِي وَ اللَّهِ مُشْرِكٌ.

“Once I went in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and saw a man with him. As I sat down, the man stood up and left. The Imam said to me, ‘O Fudayl, what is this with you?’ I asked, ‘What is he?’ The Imam said, ‘He is a Harawri .’ I asked, ‘Is he an unbeliever?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, by Allah, he is a Mushrik (one who co

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يَجُرُّهُ الْإِقْرَارُ وَ التَّسْلِيمُ فَهُوَ الْإِيمَانُ وَ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يَجُرُّهُ الْإِنْكَارُ وَ الْجُحُودُ فَهُوَ الْكُفْرُ.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Anything that professing and submission carry is belief, and anything that denial and rejection carry is disbelief.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ص بَابٌ فَتَحَهُ اللَّهُ مَنْ دَخَلَهُ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ كَانَ كَافِراً.

‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) is a (means of) access that Allah has prepared. Whoever approaches through this access is a believer and whoever departs is an unbeliever.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ طَاعَةُ عَلِيٍّ ع ذُلٌ‌[1] وَ مَعْصِيَتُهُ كُفْرٌ بِاللَّهِ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ طَاعَةُ عَلِيٍّ ع ذُلًّا وَ مَعْصِيَتُهُ كُفْراً بِاللَّهِ قَالَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع يَحْمِلُكُمْ‌[2] عَلَى الْحَقِّ فَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُ ذَلَلْتُمْ وَ إِنْ عَصَيْتُمُوهُ كَفَرْتُمْ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Obedience to Ali (a.s.) is suffering (in this world) and disobedience to him is disbelief in Allah.’ It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, how can obedience to Ali (a.s.) be suffering and disobedience to him disbelief in Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Ali (a.s.) leads you to the

إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْهُدَى فَمَنْ دَخَلَ مِنْ بَابِ عَلِيٍّ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْهُ كَانَ كَافِراً وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ فِيهِ وَ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْهُ كَانَ فِي الطَّبَقَةِ الَّذِينَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِمُ الْمَشِيئَةُ.

“I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) saying, ‘Ali (a.s.) is a door of the doors of guidance. Whoever enters by the door of Ali (a.s.) is a believer and whoever ignors this door is an unbeliever. Whoever does not enter and does not leave is among the group about whom Allah has the will and decision.’”

لَوْ أَنَّ الْعِبَادَ إِذَا جَهِلُوا وَقَفُوا وَ لَمْ يَجْحَدُوا لَمْ يَكْفُرُوا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Had the servants (of Allah) when ignorant stood on hold and did not reject or deny they would not become unbelievers.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَصَبَ عَلِيّاً ع عَلَماً بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ فَمَنْ عَرَفَهُ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ مَنْ أَنْكَرَهُ كَانَ كَافِراً وَ مَنْ جَهِلَهُ كَانَ ضَالًّا وَ مَنْ نَصَبَ مَعَهُ شَيْئاً كَانَ‌ مُشْرِكاً وَ مَنْ جَاءَ بِوَلَايَتِهِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَ مَنْ جَاءَ بِعَدَاوَتِهِ دَخَلَ النَّارَ.

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has appointed Ali (a.s.) as a sign between Him and His creation. Whoever recognizes him is a believer, whoever denies him is a disbeliever, whoever is ignorant of him is misguided, and whoever sets up something alongside him is a polytheist. Whoever comes with his allegiance wi

إِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ فَمَنْ دَخَلَ بَابَهُ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَ مَنْ خَرَجَ مِنْ بَابِهِ كَانَ كَافِراً وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ فِيهِ وَ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْهُ كَانَ فِي الطَّبَقَةِ الَّتِي لِلَّهِ فِيهِمُ الْمَشِيئَةُ.

“Ali (a.s.) is a door of the doors of paradise. Whoever approaches through him is a believer, those who depart him are unbelievers, and those who do not approach or leave are among the group about whom Allah has the will to decide.”