The Book of Belief and Disbelief

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ طِينَةِ عِلِّيِّينَ قُلُوبَهُمْ وَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ‌[1] وَ خَلَقَ قُلُوبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ تِلْكَ الطِّينَةِ وَ جَعَلَ خَلْقَ أَبْدَانِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ وَ خَلَقَ الْكُفَّارَ مِنْ طِينَةِ سِجِّينٍ قُلُوبَهُمْ وَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ فَخَلَطَ بَيْنَ الطِّينَتَيْنِ- فَمِنْ هَذَا يَلِدُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْكَافِرَ وَ يَلِدُ الْكَافِرُ الْمُؤْمِنَ وَ مِنْ هَاهُنَ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rib’i ibn ‘Abd Allah from a man from Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the prophets from the clay of ‘Illiyiyyn (paradise), both their bodies and souls. He made the hearts of the beli

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ خَلَقَ الْكَافِرَ مِنْ طِينَةِ النَّارِ وَ قَالَ إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً طَيَّبَ رُوحَهُ وَ جَسَدَهُ فَلَا يَسْمَعُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْخَيْرِ إِلَّا عَرَفَهُ وَ لَا يَسْمَعُ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْمُنْكَرِ إِلَّا أَنْكَرَهُ قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الطِّينَاتُ ثَلَاثٌ طِينَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ تِلْكَ الط

“Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the believers from the clay of paradise. He created the unbelievers from the clay of fire. He then said, ‘When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, decides to grant good to one of His servants. He purifies his spirit and body. Whenever he hears any good thing he recognizes it.

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ طِينَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ فَقَالَ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فَلَمْ تَنْجَسْ أَبَداً[4].

“May Allah keep my soul of service to you, from what kind of material has Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the clay of the believers? He then replied, ‘He has created them with the clay from which the prophets were made. Thus, they never become unclean.’”

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

Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalaf from abu Nahshal who has said that Muhammad ibn ‘Isma’il narrated from abu Hamza al-Thumali who has the following: “I heard abu la’ far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created us from the top most of paradise. He made the

قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنَا مَوْلَاكَ- عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ قَالَ أَمَّا النَّسَبُ فَأَعْرِفُهُ وَ أَمَّا أَنْتَ فَلَسْتُ أَعْرِفُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي وُلِدْتُ بِالْجَبَلِ وَ نَشَأْتُ فِي أَرْضِ فَارِسَ وَ إِنَّنِي أُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ فِي التِّجَارَاتِ وَ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَأُخَالِطُ الرَّجُلَ فَأَرَى لَهُ حُسْنَ السَّمْتِ‌[3] وَ حُسْنَ الْخُلُقِ وَ كَثْرَةَ أَمَانَةٍ ثُمَّ أُفَتِّشُهُ فَأَتَبَيَّن

“Once I said to the Imam, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I am your servant, abu ‘Abd Allah ibn Kaysan.’ The Imam said, ‘I know your genealogy. However, I do not know you (so well).’ I said, ‘I was born in the mountains and grew up in the land of Persia. I associate with people in business and other

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- الْمُؤْمِنُونَ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Are the believers made from the clay from which the prophets were made?’ He said, ‘Yes, that is correct.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ آدَمَ ع بَعَثَ جَبْرَئِيلَ ع فِي أَوَّلِ سَاعَةٍ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَقَبَضَ بِيَمِينِهِ قَبْضَةً بَلَغَتْ قَبْضَتُهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ السَّابِعَةِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَخَذَ مِنْ كُلِّ سَمَاءٍ تُرْبَةً وَ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً أُخْرَى مِنَ الْأَرْضِ السَّابِعَةِ الْعُلْيَا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ السَّابِعَةِ الْقُصْوَى فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَلِمَ

“When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, willed to create Adam He sent Jibril in the first hours of the Friday. He picked up with his right hand a handful. His hand had in its reach from the seventh heavens to the heaven above earth. From each of the heavens he picked up a handful. He also picked up another handful fro

لَوْ عَلِمَ النَّاسُ كَيْفَ ابْتِدَاءُ الْخَلْقِ مَا اخْتَلَفَ اثْنَانِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ قَالَ كُنْ مَاءً عَذْباً أَخْلُقْ مِنْكَ جَنَّتِي وَ أَهْلَ طَاعَتِي وَ كُنْ مِلْحاً أُجَاجاً أَخْلُقْ مِنْكَ نَارِي وَ أَهْلَ مَعْصِيَتِي ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُمَا فَامْتَزَجَا فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ صَارَ يَلِدُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْكَافِرَ وَ الْكَافِرُ الْمُؤْمِنَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ طِيناً مِنْ أَدِيمِ الْأَرْضِ

“Had people known how the beginning of the creation was, no one would have disagreed with another person. Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, before creating the creatures said, ‘Be a sweet water so I create from you My paradise and people who obey My commands. Be very salty water; from you I create My fire and those wh

وَ أَبُوهُ يَسْمَعُ ع حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً مِنْ تُرَابِ التُّرْبَةِ الَّتِي خَلَقَ مِنْهَا آدَمَ ع فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ الْعَذْبَ الْفُرَاتَ ثُمَّ تَرَكَهَا أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً ثُمَّ صَبَّ عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ الْمَالِحَ الْأُجَاجَ فَتَرَكَهَا أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً فَلَمَّا اخْتَمَرَتِ الطِّينَةُ أَخَذَهَا فَعَرَكَهَا عَرْكاً شَدِيداً فَخَرَجُوا كَالذَّرِّ مِنْ يَمِينِهِ و

“Once a man asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Majestic the Glorious, ‘When your Lord took from the back of the children of Adam their offspring and told them to bear testimony to the words of Allah, “Am I not your Lord,” they all said, “Yes, You are our Lord. . . .”’ (7:172) “He (the Imam), while hi

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ آدَمَ ع أَرْسَلَ الْمَاءَ عَلَى الطِّينِ ثُمَّ قَبَضَ قَبْضَةً فَعَرَكَهَا ثُمَّ فَرَّقَهَا فِرْقَتَيْنِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ ذَرَأَهُمْ فَإِذَا هُمْ يَدِبُّونَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ لَهُمْ نَاراً فَأَمَرَ أَهْلَ الشِّمَالِ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا فَذَهَبُوا إِلَيْهَا فَهَابُوهَا فَلَمْ يَدْخُلُوهَا ثُمَّ أَمَرَ أَهْلَ الْيَمِينِ أَنْ يَدْخُلُوهَا فَذَهَبُوا فَدَخَلُوهَا فَأَمَرَ

“When Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, willed to create Adam He sent water on the clay. He then took a handful and kneaded it and then divided it in two parts with His hands then scattered them and they began to move. He then started a fire for them and commanded the people of the left hand to enter therein. They wen

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى حَيْثُ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ خَلَقَ مَاءً عَذْباً وَ مَاءً مَالِحاً أُجَاجاً فَامْتَزَجَ الْمَاءَانِ فَأَخَذَ طِيناً مِنْ أَدِيمِ الْأَرْضِ فَعَرَكَهُ عَرْكاً شَدِيداً فَقَالَ لِأَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ وَ هُمْ كَالذَّرِّ يَدِبُّونَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ بِسَلَامٍ وَ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِ الشِّمَالِ إِلَى النَّارِ وَ لَا أُبَالِي ثُمَّ قَالَ‌ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قالُوا بَلى‌ شَهِدْنا أَنْ تَقُولُو

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘As Allah, the Most Holy the Most High, created the creation. He created sweet water and a very salty water and then mixed the two together. Then He took a (kind of) clay from the surface of the earth and kneaded it intensely. He then said to the people of the right, as they crawled about l

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا أَخْرَجَ ذُرِّيَّةَ آدَمَ ع مِنْ ظَهْرِهِ‌[4] لِيَأْخُذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ لَهُ وَ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَخَذَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ بِنُبُوَّتِهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لآِدَمَ انْظُرْ مَا ذَا تَرَى قَالَ فَنَظَرَ آدَمُ ع إِلَى ذُرِّيَّتِهِ وَ

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Habib al-Sajistani who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There was a time when Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, took the descendent

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ فَخَلَقَ مَنْ أَحَبَّ مِمَّا أَحَبَّ وَ كَانَ مَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ خَلَقَ مَنْ أَبْغَضَ مِمَّا أَبْغَضَ وَ كَانَ مَا أَبْغَضَ أَنْ خَلَقَهُ مِنْ طِينَةِ النَّارِ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُمْ فِي الظِّلَالِ فَقُلْتُ وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الظِّلَالُ فَقَالَ أَ لَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ظِلِّكَ فِي الشَّمْسِ شَيْئاً وَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَ مِنْهُمُ النَّبِيِّين

“Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, created the creation. He created His most beloved ones from that which He loved most. What was most beloved to Him was the fact that he created His most beloved ones from the clay of paradise. He created those whom He hated most from that which he hated most. What was most hated to H

لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ سَبَقْتَ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ[5]- وَ أَنْتَ بُعِثْتَ آخِرَهُمْ وَ خَاتَمَهُمْ فَقَالَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِرَبِّي وَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَجَابَ حَيْثُ‌ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ‌ مِيثاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ‌ وَ أَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلى‌ أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ‌ فَكُنْتُ أَنَا أَوَّلَ نَبِيٍّ قَالَ‌ بَلى‌ فَسَبَقْتُهُمْ بِالْإِقْرَارِ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Certain persons of Quraysh asked, ‘O messenger of Allah, by what means have you surpassed the prophets in excellence while you are the last and final one among them to come (with Divine message)?’ He replied, ‘I was the first among them to express my belief in my Lord and the first one to answer the call when Allah ma

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي لَأَرَى بَعْضَ أَصْحَابِنَا يَعْتَرِيهِ النَّزَقُ وَ الْحِدَّةُ وَ الطَّيْشُ‌[1] فَأَغْتَمُّ لِذَلِكَ غَمّاً شَدِيداً وَ أَرَى مَنْ خَالَفَنَا فَأَرَاهُ حَسَنَ السَّمْتِ‌[2] قَالَ لَا تَقُلْ حَسَنَ السَّمْتِ فَإِنَّ السَّمْتَ سَمْتُ الطَّرِيقِ وَ لَكِنْ قُلْ حَسَنَ السِّيمَاءِ- فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‌ سِيماهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I find certain persons of our people who seem light-minded and very temperamental and this extremely saddens me. On the other hand 1 find certain persons of those who do not accept our belief seem to (have very good Simt) be very di

سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ سَبَقْتَ وُلْدَ آدَمَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَوَّلُ مَنْ أَقَرَّ بِرَبِّي إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَخَذَ مِيثاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ‌ وَ أَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلى‌ أَنْفُسِهِمْ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قالُوا بَلى‌ فَكُنْتُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ أَجَابَ.

“The messenger of Allah was asked, ‘By what means have you surpassed other descendents of Adam?’ He said, ‘I was the first one to affirm my faith in my Lord. Allah established a covenant with the prophets and made them to bear testimony against their own souls when the Lord asked, “Am I not your Lord.” They all said, “

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَيْفَ أَجَابُوا وَ هُمْ ذَرٌّ قَالَ جَعَلَ فِيهِمْ مَا إِذَا سَأَلَهُمْ أَجَابُوهُ يَعْنِي فِي الْمِيثَاقِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘How did they answer when they (offspring of Adam) were small particles?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah placed in them the ability to answer Him when He questioned them at the time of establishing a covenant with them.’”

قُلْتُ‌ فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ‌ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْها[1] قَالَ التَّوْحِيدُ.

“I asked ( the Imam) about the words of Allah, ‘. . . the invention of Allah (had a certain) nature with which He created all people. . . .’ (30:30) The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘It (invention, Fitrat) refers to belief in Oneness of Allah (belief in Allah only is placed in their nature).”’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْها مَا تِلْكَ الْفِطْرَةُ قَالَ هِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ فَطَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ حِينَ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَهُمْ عَلَى التَّوْحِيدِ قَالَ‌ أَ لَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ‌[2] وَ فِيهِ الْمُؤْمِنُ وَ الْكَافِرُ.

“I asked him about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘The invention of Allah (had a certain) nature with which He created all people. . . .’ (30:30) What is that creation (and nature)? The Imam said, ‘It is al-Islam. Allah created them with such nature at the time He made a covenant with them to believe i

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْها قَالَ فَطَرَهُمْ جَمِيعاً عَلَى التَّوْحِيدِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘. . . the creation (and invention) of Allah (had a certain) nature with which He created all people. . . .’ (30:30) The Imam said, ‘He created them and placed belief in Oneness of Allah in the nature of every one of them.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- حُنَفاءَ لِلَّهِ‌ غَيْرَ مُشْرِكِينَ بِهِ‌[3] قَالَ الْحَنِيفِيَّةُ مِنَ الْفِطْرَةِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ اللَّهُ‌ النَّاسَ عَلَيْها لا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ‌- قَالَ فَطَرَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَعْرِفَةِ بِهِ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ إِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مِنْ ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَ أَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلى‌ أَنْفُسِهِمْ

“I asked him (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘They are humble before Allah and they do not consider anything as partners of Allah.’ The Imam said, ‘Humbleness comes from the nature with which Allah has created all people and there is no change in the creation of Allah.’ The Imam also said,

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ نُطْفَةَ الْمُؤْمِنِ لَتَكُونُ فِي صُلْبِ الْمُشْرِكِ فَلَا يُصِيبُهُ مِنَ الشَّرِّ شَيْ‌ءٌ[3] حَتَّى إِذَا صَارَ فِي رَحِمِ الْمُشْرِكَةِ لَمْ يُصِبْهَا مِنَ الشَّرِّ شَيْ‌ءٌ حَتَّى تَضَعَهُ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ مِنَ الشَّرِّ شَيْ‌ءٌ حَتَّى يَجْرِيَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَلَمُ.

‘The seed for a believer may exist in the loins of a pagan and it is not affected by any evil thing until it is transferred into the womb of a pagan woman wherein it is not affected by any evil thing also. Even until his birth it is not affected by any evil thing until the Pen begins writing about him. (He is responsib

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنِّي قَدْ أَشْفَقْتُ مِنْ دَعْوَةِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى يَقْطِينٍ وَ مَا وَلَدَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ لَيْسَ حَيْثُ تَذْهَبُ إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي صُلْبِ الْكَافِرِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْحَصَاةِ فِي اللَّبِنَةِ يَجِي‌ءُ الْمَطَرُ فَيَغْسِلُ اللَّبِنَةَ وَ لَا يَضُرُّ الْحَصَاةَ شَيْئاً[4].

“Once I said to the Imam, ‘I am afraid of the prayer of Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) against Yaqtin and his offspring.’ The Imam said, ‘O Abu al-Hasan, it is not as you think. A believer in the loins of an unbeliever is like a small piece of stone in a brick. Rain can wash away the brick but it never harms the solid piece of s

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَشَجَرَةً تُسَمَّى الْمُزْنَ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مُؤْمِناً أَقْطَرَ مِنْهَا قَطْرَةً فَلَا تُصِيبُ بَقْلَةً وَ لَا ثَمَرَةً أَكَلَ مِنْهَا مُؤْمِنٌ أَوْ كَافِرٌ إِلَّا أَخْرَجَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ صُلْبِهِ مُؤْمِناً.

“In Paradise there is a tree called al-Muzn. When Allah wants to create a believer He makes a drop to drip from it. It then falls on vegetable or fruit that either a believer or disbeliever then consumes for food and Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, brings out a believer from his loins.”

الْإِسْلَامُ وَ قَالَ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ‌ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقى‌[3] قَالَ هِيَ الْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ.

“About the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘. . . It is the coloring of Allah. Who has a better color than Allah’s color?’ (2:138), Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said, ‘It (color) stands for al-Islam.’ In the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘. . . He has established a firm hold onto the strong grip’. . .

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ صِبْغَةً قَالَ الصِّبْغَةُ هِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ.

“About the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious: ‘. . . it is the coloring of Allah. Who has a better color than Allah’s color?’ (2:138), the Imam said, ‘It stands for al-lslam, the religion.’”

الصِّبْغَةُ هِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ وَ قَالَ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقى‌ قَالَ هِيَ الْإِيمَانُ.

“About the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘. . . It is the coloring of Allah. Who has a better color than Allah’s color?’ (2:138), the Imam said, ‘Color stands for al-lslam, the religion.’ He, about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, also said, ‘Whoever then rejects the Taghut (falsehood) and

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- أَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‌[1] قَالَ هُوَ الْإِيمَانُ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ أَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ‌ قَالَ هُوَ الْإِيمَانُ.

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘He sent down serenity into the hearts of the believers. . . (48:4) The Imam said, ‘It (serenity) is belief.’ I (the narrator) then asked him about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘He supported them with a spirit from

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- أُولئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمانَ‌[2] هَلْ لَهُمْ فِيمَا كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ صُنْعٌ قَالَ لَا.

“I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, ‘These are those into whose hearts belief is written. . . .’ (58:22), do they have any say in what is written into their hearts? The Imam said, ‘No, they do not have any say in it. ’”

السَّكِينَةُ الْإِيمَانُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Serenity (al-Sakinah) is belief.”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‌ قَالَ هُوَ الْإِيمَانُ.

“About the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘It is He who has sent serenity (al-Sakinah) into the hearts of the believers,’ (48:4) the Imam said, ‘It (serenity) is belief.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‌ قَالَ هُوَ الْإِيمَانُ قَالَ- وَ أَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ‌ قَالَ هُوَ الْإِيمَانُ وَ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ- وَ أَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ التَّقْوى‌[3] قَالَ هُوَ الْإِيمَانُ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘It is He who has sent serenity (al-Sakinah) into the hearts of the believers.’ (48:4) The Imam said, ‘It (serenity) is belief.’ 1 then asked about, ‘ . . . and supported them with a spirit from Him. . . .’ (58:22) The Imam said, ‘

خَالِصاً مُخْلِصاً لَيْسَ فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ الْأَوْثَانِ.

“About the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, ‘. . . humble and submitted.’ (3:67), the Imam said, ‘It (humble and submitted) is one purely sincere who has nothing within him from the worship of Idols.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا هُوَ اللَّهُ وَ الشَّيْطَانُ وَ الْحَقُّ وَ الْبَاطِلُ وَ الْهُدَى وَ الضَّلَالَةُ وَ الرُّشْدُ وَ الْغَيُّ وَ الْعَاجِلَةُ وَ الْآجِلَةُ وَ الْعَاقِبَةُ وَ الْحَسَنَاتُ وَ السَّيِّئَاتُ فَمَا كَانَ مِنْ حَسَنَاتٍ فَلِلَّهِ وَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتٍ فَلِلشَّيْطَانِ لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father in a Marfa* manner from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘O people, what there is, is Allah and Satan, Truth and falsehood, guidance and straying, wisdom and error, present and fut

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص كَانَ يَقُولُ‌ طُوبَى لِمَنْ أَخْلَصَ لِلَّهِ الْعِبَادَةَ وَ الدُّعَاءَ وَ لَمْ يَشْغَلْ قَلْبَهُ بِمَا تَرَى عَيْنَاهُ وَ لَمْ يَنْسَ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ بِمَا تَسْمَعُ أُذُنَاهُ وَ لَمْ يَحْزُنْ صَدْرَهُ بِمَا أُعْطِيَ غَيْرُهُ

“Amir al Mu’minin (a.s.) has said, ‘Glad tidings to those who maintain sincerity in worshipping Allah and in prayer to Him. Whatever they see does not occupy their heart. Whatever they hear does not make them forget to speak of Allah and they do not feel depressed because of what is given to others.’”

لَيْسَ يَعْنِي أَكْثَرَ عَمَلًا وَ لَكِنْ أَصْوَبَكُمْ عَمَلًا وَ إِنَّمَا الْإِصَابَةُ خَشْيَةُ اللَّهِ وَ النِّيَّةُ الصَّادِقَةُ وَ الْحَسَنَةُ[2] ثُمَّ قَالَ الْإِبْقَاءُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ حَتَّى يَخْلُصَ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ وَ الْعَمَلُ الْخَالِصُ الَّذِي لَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ يَحْمَدَكَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ النِّيَّةُ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ النِّيَّةَ هِيَ الْعَمَلُ ثُمَّ

He said: "It does not mean the one who performs the most deeds, but rather the one whose deeds are the most correct. And correctness comes from having fear of Allah, a truthful intention, and good conduct." Then he (AS) said: "Preserving the deed until it becomes sincere is more difficult than performing the deed itsel

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ‌[4] قَالَ الْقَلْبُ السَّلِيمُ الَّذِي يَلْقَى رَبَّهُ وَ لَيْسَ فِيهِ أَحَدٌ سِوَاهُ قَالَ وَ كُلُّ قَلْبٍ فِيهِ شِرْكٌ أَوْ شَكٌّ فَهُوَ سَاقِطٌ وَ إِنَّمَا أَرَادُوا الزُّهْدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا لِتَفْرُغَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِلْآخِرَةِ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Except those who would come to Allah with safe and protected hearts. . . .’ (26:89) The Imam said, ‘A safe and protected heart is such a heart that goes in the presence of his Lord while there is nothing in it besides his Lo

مَا أَخْلَصَ الْعَبْدُ الْإِيمَانَ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً أَوْ قَالَ مَا أَجْمَلَ عَبْدٌ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً إِلَّا زَهَّدَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ بَصَّرَهُ دَاءَهَا وَ دَوَاءَهَا فَأَثْبَتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَ أَنْطَقَ بِهَا لِسَانَهُ ثُمَّ تَلَا- إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْلَ سَيَنالُهُمْ غَضَبٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَ ذِلَّةٌ فِي الْح

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘If a servant maintains pure belief in Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, for forty days, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, purifies his heart in this world and shows him his illnesses and the cure for them (illnesses).’ Also he (a.s.) said, ‘Whenever a servant of Allah speaks

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَعْطَى مُحَمَّداً ص شَرَائِعَ نُوحٍ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ مُوسَى وَ عِيسَى ع التَّوْحِيدَ وَ الْإِخْلَاصَ وَ خَلْعَ الْأَنْدَادِ وَ الْفِطْرَةَ الْحَنِيفِيَّةَ السَّمْحَةَ وَ لَا رَهْبَانِيَّةَ وَ لَا سِيَاحَةَ أَحَلَّ فِيهَا الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَ حَرَّمَ فِيهَا الْخَبَائِثَ وَ وَضَعَ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَ الْأَغْلَالَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا الصَّلَاةَ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr. And a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi from Muhammad ibn Marwan all of them have narrated from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from those whom he has mentioned from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) wh

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَاصْبِرْ كَما صَبَرَ أُولُوا الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ‌[3] فَقَالَ نُوحٌ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ وَ مُوسَى وَ عِيسَى وَ مُحَمَّدٌ ص قُلْتُ كَيْفَ صَارُوا أُولِي الْعَزْمِ قَالَ لِأَنَّ نُوحاً بُعِثَ بِكِتَابٍ وَ شَرِيعَةٍ وَ كُلُّ مَنْ جَاءَ بَعْدَ نُوحٍ أَخَذَ بِكِتَابِ نُوحٍ وَ شَرِيعَتِهِ وَ مِنْهَاجِهِ حَتَّى جَاءَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع بِالصُّحُفِ وَ بِعَزِيمَةِ تَ

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Exercise patience as the messengers who possessed determination had exercised patience. . . . ’(46:35) The Imam said, ‘They were Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (a.s.).’ I then asked, ‘How did they become messengers

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ‌[2] وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ لَمْ يُنَادَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ كَمَا نُودِيَ بِالْوَلَايَةِ.

‘Islam is based on five principles. It is based on Prayer, Charity (al-Zakat) Fasting, Hajj and al-Wilayah (Divine Authority of A ’immah). The call to none of the other principles has been so emphatic as it has been to al-Wilayah.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْقِفْنِي عَلَى حُدُودِ الْإِيمَانِ فَقَالَ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَ صَلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسِ وَ أَدَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ وَ صَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ وَ وَلَايَةُ وَلِيِّنَا وَ عَدَاوَةُ عَدُوِّنَا وَ الدُّخُولُ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ’Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al- Rahman from ’Ajlan ibn Salih who has said the following: “I requested abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) ‘Teach me, please, the principles of beliefs. The Imam said, ‘They are: to testify and affirm that there is no one who deserves to be worshipped exce

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ لَمْ يُنَادَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ كَمَا نُودِيَ بِالْوَلَايَةِ فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَ تَرَكُوا هَذِهِ يَعْنِي الْوَلَايَةَ.

‘Islam is based on five principles. They are: Prayer, al-Zakat (charity) fasting, Hajj and al-Wilayah. The call to none of the other principles has been so emphatic as it has been to al- Wilayah. People accepted the other four but they left aside this [al-Wilayah].’”

قَالَ: أَثَافِيُّ الْإِسْلَامِ‌[3] ثَلَاثَةٌ الصَّلَاةُ وَ الزَّكَاةُ وَ الْوَلَايَةُ لَا تَصِحُّ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ إِلَّا بِصَاحِبَتَيْهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The tripod of Islam consists of prayer, al-Zakat (charity) and al-Wilayah. No one of these can be considered correct without the other two.”

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسَةِ أَشْيَاءَ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ فَقُلْتُ وَ أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ فَقَالَ الْوَلَايَةُ أَفْضَلُ لِأَنَّهَا مِفْتَاحُهُنَّ وَ الْوَالِي هُوَ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَيْهِنَّ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ الَّذِي‌ يَلِي ذَلِكَ فِي الْفَضْلِ فَقَالَ الصَّلَاةُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ الصَّلَاةُ عَمُودُ دِينِكُمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُم

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is based on five issues. It is based on prayer, alms (al-Zakat), Hajj, Fasting and al-Wilayah.’’ Zurara has said, ‘I then asked the Imam, “Which of these is more important than the others?’” The Imam said, ‘Al-Wilayah is more important. It is the key to the others. The person who pos

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَخْبِرْنِي بِدَعَائِمِ الْإِسْلَامِ الَّتِي لَا يَسَعُ أَحَداً التَّقْصِيرُ عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهَا الَّذِي مَنْ قَصَّرَ عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهَا فَسَدَ دِينُهُ وَ لَمْ يَقْبَلِ [اللَّهُ‌] مِنْهُ عَمَلَهُ وَ مَنْ عَرَفَهَا وَ عَمِلَ بِهَا صَلَحَ لَهُ دِينُهُ وَ قَبِلَ مِنْهُ عَمَلَهُ‌ وَ لَمْ يَضِقْ‌[1] بِهِ مِمَّا هُوَ فِيهِ لِجَهْلِ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ جَهِلَهُ فَ

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Teach me, please, the basic principles of Islam that are necessary for everyone to know to his limits of understanding, and if he fails to learn them to the necessary levels his religion is destroyed and Allah does not accept his deeds. What is the limit of learning about the deeds

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ صَوْمِ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ الْحَجِّ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is based on five principles. They are al-Wilayah, (accepting the Divine Authority of ‘ A’immah ), the prayer, al- Zakat (charity), fasting in the month of Ramadan and al-Hajj.’”

بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ لَمْ يُنَادَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مَا نُودِيَ بِالْوَلَايَةِ يَوْمَ الْغَدِيرِ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Islam is based on five principles: The prayer, al-Zakat (charity), fasting, al-Hajj and al-Wilayah. The call to no one of the other principles has been so emphatic as it was for al-Wilayah on the day of al-Ghadir (name of a place between Makka and Madina.)”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع حَدِّثْنِي عَمَّا بُنِيَتْ عَلَيْهِ دَعَائِمُ الْإِسْلَامِ إِذَا أَنَا أَخَذْتُ بِهَا زَكَى عَمَلِي وَ لَمْ يَضُرَّنِي جَهْلُ مَا جَهِلْتُ بَعْدَهُ فَقَالَ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَ حَقٌّ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الْوَلَايَةُ الَّتِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهَ

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) to teach me the principles of Islam in such a way that on holding to them my deeds can take pure and correct form and thereafter the ignorance of whatever I am ignorant of cannot harm me. The Imam said, ‘Of the principles of Islam are to testify and acknowledge that no one deserves to

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْرِفُ مَوَدَّتِي لَكُمْ وَ انْقِطَاعِي إِلَيْكُمْ وَ مُوَالاتِي إِيَّاكُمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ- فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مَسْأَلَةً تُجِيبُنِي فِيهَا فَإِنِّي مَكْفُوفُ الْبَصَرِ قَلِيلُ الْمَشْيِ وَ لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ زِيَارَتَكُمْ كُلَّ حِينٍ قَالَ هَاتِ حَاجَتَكَ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي بِدِينِكَ الَّذِي تَدِينُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ أَنْتَ وَ أَ

10. It is narrated from him (Ali ibn Ibrahim) from abu al-Jarud who has said the following: “Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘Do you know, O child of the Messenger of Allah that I love you ( Ahl al-Bayt). that 1 have disassociated myself from other people to associate with you only and that I support you ( Ahl al-Bayt )