The Book of Belief and Disbelief

قَوْمٌ كَانُوا مُشْرِكِينَ فَقَتَلُوا مِثْلَ حَمْزَةَ وَ جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَشْبَاهَهُمَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ دَخَلُوا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ فَوَحَّدُوا اللَّهَ وَ تَرَكُوا الشِّرْكَ وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا الْإِيمَانَ بِقُلُوبِهِمْ فَيَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَتَجِبَ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةُ وَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا عَلَى جُحُودِهِمْ فَيَكْفُرُوا فَتَجِبَ لَهُمُ النَّارُ فَهُمْ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ‌ إِمَّا يُعَذِّبُهُمْ وَ

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . there are others who have no good deeds for which they may receive any reward or sins for which they may be punished. Their fate will be in the hands of Allah. Allah is All-knowing and All-wise,’ (9:106) the Imam said, ‘Certain people were pagans. They

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ الْمُرْجَوْنَ قَوْمٌ كَانُوا مُشْرِكِينَ فَقَتَلُوا مِثْلَ حَمْزَةَ وَ جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَشْبَاهَهُمَا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ دَخَلُوا فِي الْإِسْلَامِ فَوَحَّدُوا اللَّهَ وَ تَرَكُوا الشِّرْكَ وَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا يُؤْمِنُونَ فَيَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا فَتَجِبَ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةُ وَ لَمْ يَكْفُرُوا فَتَجِبَ لَهُمُ النَّارُ فَهُمْ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘Al- Murjawn were a pagan people. They murdered people like Hamza and Ja’far and similar persons from the believers. Then they accepted Islam. They accepted Allah only. They gave up paganism, but did not believe to be among believing people. They did not believe to deserve paradise. They we

قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع مَا تَقُولُ فِي أَصْحَابِ الْأَعْرَافِ فَقُلْتُ مَا هُمْ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنُونَ أَوْ كَافِرُونَ إِنْ دَخَلُوا الْجَنَّةَ فَهُمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ وَ إِنْ دَخَلُوا النَّارَ فَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا هُمْ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ لَا كَافِرِينَ وَ لَوْ كَانُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ دَخَلُوا الْجَنَّةَ كَمَا دَخَلَهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ لَوْ كَانُوا كَافِرِينَ لَدَخَلُوا النَّارَ كَمَا دَخَلَهَا الْكَافِرُو

“Once, abu Ja’far (a.s.) asked me, ‘What do you say about the people of al-‘A’raf?’ I said, ‘They are either believing people or unbelievers. If they will enter paradise they will be believing people, and if they go in fire they will be unbelievers.’ The Imam then said, ‘By Allah, they are not believing people nor are

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ الَّذِينَ‌ خَلَطُوا عَمَلًا صالِحاً وَ آخَرَ سَيِّئاً فَأُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ مُؤْمِنُونَ يُحْدِثُونَ فِي إِيمَانِهِمْ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ الَّتِي يَعِيبُهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَ يَكْرَهُونَهَا فَأُولَئِكَ‌ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ‌[2].

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘Those who have mixed good deeds with bad deeds’ are a believing people. They create in their belief such things, due to sins, that believing people censure and dislike. They are as such that perhaps Allah may accept their repentance.’”

لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْقَدَرِيَّةَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْخَوَارِجَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْمُرْجِئَةَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْمُرْجِئَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لَعَنْتَ هَؤُلَاءِ مَرَّةً مَرَّةً وَ لَعَنْتَ هَؤُلَاءِ مَرَّتَيْنِ قَالَ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ قَتَلَتَنَا مُؤْمِنُونَ فَدِمَاؤُنَا مُتَلَطِّخَةٌ بِثِيَابِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَكَى عَنْ قَوْمٍ فِي كِتَابِهِ- أَلَّا نُؤْمِنَ لِرَسُولٍ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَنا ب

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said, ‘May Allah condemn al-Qadriah, may Allah condemn al- Khawarij, may Allah condemn al-Murji’a and may Allah condemn al-Murji’a.’ I asked, ‘Why did you condemn these once and those twice?’ The Imam said, ‘These say, ‘Our assassins are believers, thus our blood will stain their clothes up

سَأَلَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ مَا هُمْ فَقُلْتُ مُرْجِئَةٌ وَ قَدَرِيَّةٌ وَ حَرُورِيَّةٌ فَقَالَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ تِلْكَ الْمِلَلَ الْكَافِرَةَ الْمُشْرِكَةَ الَّتِي لَا تَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ[2].

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asked me about the people of Basra in respect to who they are. I said, ‘They are Murji’a, Qadriah and Harawriah .’ The Imam said, ‘May Allah condemn such pagan nations who do not worship Allah on good grounds.’”

أَهْلُ الشَّامِ شَرٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الرُّومِ وَ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ شَرٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ وَ أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ جَهْرَةً[3].

“People of Damascus are more evil than the people of Rome, who are more evil than the people of Madina, who are more evil than the people of Makka, who disbelieve Allah openly.” Note: This Hadith, according to al-Majlisi, perhaps dates from the period of the rule of Umayyads, when there were many hypocrites in those ci

إِنَّ أَهْلَ مَكَّةَ لَيَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ جَهْرَةً وَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ أَخْبَثُ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ أَخْبَثُ مِنْهُمْ سَبْعِينَ ضِعْفاً.

“People of Makka disbelieve Allah openly and people of Madina are seventy times filthier than those of Makka.”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَهْلُ الشَّامِ شَرٌّ أَمْ أَهْلُ الرُّومِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الرُّومَ كَفَرُوا وَ لَمْ يُعَادُونَا وَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الشَّامِ كَفَرُوا وَ عَادَوْنَا.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Are people of Damascus more evil than the people of Rome?’ The Imam said, ‘People of Rome disbelieved, but are not hostile to us. The people of Damascus have disbelieved and are hostile to us.’”

لَا تُجَالِسُوهُمْ يَعْنِي الْمُرْجِئَةَ لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مِلَلَهُمُ الْمُشْرِكَةَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ.

“Do not sit with them -al-Murji’a. May Allah condemn them! Allah has condemned their pagan nations which do not worship Allah on any good grounds.”

الْمُؤَلَّفَةُ قُلُوبُهُمْ قَوْمٌ وَحَّدُوا اللَّهَ وَ خَلَعُوا عِبَادَةَ مَنْ يُعْبَدُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ لَمْ تَدْخُلِ الْمَعْرِفَةُ قُلُوبَهُمْ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ وَ يُعَرِّفُهُمْ لِكَيْمَا يَعْرِفُوا وَ يُعَلِّمُهُمْ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Musa ibn Bakr and Ali ibn Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from a man all from Zurara from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “ Al-Mu’ allafah Qulubuhum (people with inclined hearts to Islam) were a people who had

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ الْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ‌ قَالَ هُمْ قَوْمٌ وَحَّدُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ خَلَعُوا عِبَادَةَ مَنْ يُعْبَدُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ شَهِدُوا أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ هُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ شُكَّاكٌ فِي بَعْضِ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ ص فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيَّهُ ص أَنْ يَتَأَلَّفَهُمْ بِالْمَالِ وَ الْعَطَاءِ

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘A/- Mu’allafah Qulubuhum (the people with inclined hearts)’ (9:60) the Imam said, ‘They were a people who accepted Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, only, stopped worshipping things that were worshipped besides Allah, th

الْمُؤَلَّفَةُ قُلُوبُهُمْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا قَطُّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمُ الْيَوْمَ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘A/- Mu’allafah Qulubuhum (People of inclined hearts) have never been more numerous than they are today.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا إِسْحَاقُ كَمْ تَرَى أَهْلَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ- فَإِنْ أُعْطُوا مِنْها رَضُوا وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُعْطَوْا مِنْها إِذا هُمْ يَسْخَطُونَ‌ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ هُمْ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ثُلُثَيِ النَّاسِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once asked, ‘O Ishaq, how many people can you find to whom this verse, ‘ . . . They are pleased when you give them something from it, but if they receive nothing, they become angry with you,’ (9:58) applies? The Imam then said, ‘They are more than two thirds of the people.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَا كَانَتِ الْمُؤَلَّفَةُ قُلُوبُهُمْ قَطُّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمُ الْيَوْمَ وَ هُمْ قَوْمٌ وَحَّدُوا اللَّهَ وَ خَرَجُوا مِنَ الشِّرْكِ وَ لَمْ تَدْخُلْ مَعْرِفَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قُلُوبَهُمْ وَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ فَتَأَلَّفَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ تَأَلَّفَهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لِكَيْمَا يَعْرِفُوا.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘People of inclined hearts had never been as many as they are today. They were a people who accepted Allah only, had come out of paganism but the true knowledge about Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah had not entered their hearts as well as certain issues of what he had brought from Allah. T

كَانَ الطَّيَّارُ يَقُولُ لِي إِبْلِيسُ لَيْسَ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ إِنَّمَا أُمِرَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ بِالسُّجُودِ- لآِدَمَ ع فَقَالَ- إِبْلِيسُ لَا أَسْجُدُ فَمَا لِإِبْلِيسَ يَعْصِي حِينَ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ وَ لَيْسَ هُوَ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ[1] قَالَ فَدَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَ هُوَ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ فَأَحْسَنَ وَ اللَّهِ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَ رَأَيْتَ مَا نَدَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

“Al-Tayyar would say to me that Satan is not among the angels. Only angels were commanded to bow down in prostration before Adam and Satan said, ‘I will not bow down in prostration.’ Why should Satan be called disobedient for not bowing down in prostration when he is not among the angels? The narrator has said that he

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلى‌ حَرْفٍ‌ فَإِنْ أَصابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَ إِنْ أَصابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلى‌ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيا وَ الْآخِرَةَ[1] قَالَ زُرَارَةُ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهَا- أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ عَبَدُوا اللَّهَ وَ خَلَعُوا عِبَادَةَ مَنْ يُعْبَدُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَ شَكُّوا فِي مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ فَتَكَلَّمُوا

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from al-Fudayl and Zurara who has said the following: “Once I (Zurara) asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Certain people worship Allah to achieve worldly gains. They are confide

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلى‌ حَرْفٍ‌ قَالَ هُمْ قَوْمٌ وَحَّدُوا اللَّهَ وَ خَلَعُوا عِبَادَةَ مَنْ يُعْبَدُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَخَرَجُوا مِنَ الشِّرْكِ وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوا أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ص رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَهُمْ يَعْبُدُونَ اللَّهَ‌ عَلَى شَكٍّ فِي مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ فَأَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَ قَالُوا نَنْظُرُ فَإِنْ كَثُرَتْ أَمْوَالُنَ

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Certain people worship Allah for worldly gains.’ (22:11) The Imam said, ‘They were a people who accepted Allah only, gave up the worship of things worshipped besides Allah; thus they came out of paganism and did not know that M

سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً ص يَقُولُ‌ وَ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ مُؤْمِناً وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ كَافِراً وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ ضَالًّا فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدْ سَأَلْتَ فَافْهَمِ الْجَوَابَ أَمَّا أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ مُؤْمِناً أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى نَفْسَهُ- فَيُقِرَّ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ يُعَرِّفَهُ نَبِيَّهُ ص فَيُقِ

“Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and asked him, ‘What is the least of that with which a servant (of Allah) becomes a believer, or an unbeliever or a straying person?’ I heard the Imam say, ‘You asked the question, now try to understand the answer. The least of that with which one may be co

إِنَّ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ أَطْلَقُوا لِلنَّاسِ‌[3] تَعْلِيمَ الْإِيمَانِ- وَ لَمْ يُطْلِقُوا تَعْلِيمَ الشِّرْكِ لِكَيْ إِذَا حَمَلُوهُمْ عَلَيْهِ لَمْ يَعْرِفُوهُ‌[1].

“The Amawides provided people with studies of Islamic belief in generalized manner but did not allow people to study paganism, so that when they might impose it (paganism and evil deed) upon people they (people) would not consider it evil; (the Amawides preached predestination to cover up their own evil deeds).”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لِمَ يَكُونُ الرَّجُلُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مُؤْمِناً قَدْ ثَبَتَ لَهُ الْإِيمَانُ عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ يَنْقُلُهُ اللَّهُ بَعْدُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ إِلَى الْكُفْرِ[3] قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هُوَ الْعَدْلُ إِنَّمَا دَعَا الْعِبَادَ إِلَى الْإِيمَانِ بِهِ لَا إِلَى الْكُفْرِ وَ لَا يَدْعُو أَحَداً إِلَى الْكُفْرِ بِهِ فَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ لَهُ الْإِيمَانُ عِنْدَ الل

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Why is it that a man is a believer before Allah and belief is established for him, then Allah transfers him from belief to disbelief?’ The narrator has said that the Imam said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, is just. He has called the servants to believe in Him, not to dis

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً لِلْإِيمَانِ لَا زَوَالَ لَهُ وَ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً لِلْكُفْرِ لَا زَوَالَ لَهُ وَ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَ اسْتَوْدَعَ بَعْضَهُمُ الْإِيمَانَ فَإِنْ يَشَأْ أَنْ يُتِمَّهُ لَهُمْ أَتَمَّهُ وَ إِنْ يَشَأْ أَنْ يَسْلُبَهُمْ إِيَّاهُ سَلَبَهُمْ وَ كَانَ فُلَانٌ مِنْهُمْ مُعَاراً[2].

“I heard either of the two Imams (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has created a creature for belief and there is no transition in it. He has created a creature for disbelief and there is no transition in it. He has created a creature in between. He has deposited belief in certain individuals amo

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ يُصْبِحُ مُؤْمِناً وَ يُمْسِيَ كَافِراً وَ يُصْبِحُ كَافِراً وَ يُمْسِيَ مُؤْمِناً وَ قَوْمٌ يُعَارُونَ الْإِيمَانَ ثُمَّ يُسْلَبُونَهُ وَ يُسَمَّوْنَ الْمُعَارِينَ ثُمَّ قَالَ فُلَانٌ مِنْهُمْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘A servant (of Allah) may live in the morning as a believer and in the evening as an unbeliever. One may live in the morning as an unbeliever and in the evening as a believer. A people borrow belief then it is removed from them and they are called people with transient (belief).’ Then t

كُنْتُ قَاعِداً فَمَرَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع وَ مَعَهُ بَهْمَةٌ[1] قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا غُلَامُ مَا تَرَى مَا يَصْنَعُ أَبُوكَ يَأْمُرُنَا بِالشَّيْ‌ءِ ثُمَّ يَنْهَانَا عَنْهُ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ نَتَوَلَّى أَبَا الْخَطَّابِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَنَا أَنْ نَلْعَنَهُ وَ نَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع وَ هُوَ غُلَامٌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً لِلْإِيمَانِ لَا زَوَالَ لَهُ وَ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً لِلْكُفْرِ لَا زَوَالَ لَهُ

“Once I was sitting when abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) passed by and with him was a goat. I (the narrator) asked him, ‘O young man, do you know what your father does? He commands us to do something and then he prohibits us to do the same thing. He commanded us to be friends with abu al-Khattab and then he commanded us to c

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَى النُّبُوَّةِ فَلَا يَكُونُونَ إِلَّا أَنْبِيَاءَ وَ خَلَقَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ فَلَا يَكُونُونَ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنِينَ وَ أَعَارَ قَوْماً إِيمَاناً فَإِنْ شَاءَ تَمَّمَهُ لَهُمْ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ سَلَبَهُمْ إِيَّاهُ قَالَ وَ فِيهِمْ جَرَتْ- فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ وَ مُسْتَوْدَعٌ‌[3] وَ قَالَ لِي إِنَّ فُلَاناً كَانَ مُسْتَوْدَعاً إِيمَانُهُ فَلَمَّا كَذَبَ عَلَيْنَا سُلِبَ إِيمَان

‘Allah has created the prophets with prophet-hood, thus, they are nothing else but prophets. He has created the believers upon belief and they are nothing else but believers. He has deposited belief in a people. If He wills He completes it in them and if He wishes He removes it from them.’ The Imam said, ‘About these p

إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَبَلَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَى نُبُوَّتِهِمْ فَلَا يَرْتَدُّونَ أَبَداً وَ جَبَلَ الْأَوْصِيَاءَ عَلَى وَصَايَاهُمْ فَلَا يَرْتَدُّونَ أَبَداً وَ جَبَلَ بَعْضَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ فَلَا يَرْتَدُّونَ أَبَداً وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أُعِيرَ الْإِيمَانَ عَارِيَّةً فَإِذَا هُوَ دَعَا وَ أَلَحَّ فِي الدُّعَاءِ مَاتَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ‌[1].

‘Allah has formed the prophets upon their prophet-hood, thus they never, turn away therefrom. He has formed the successors of the prophets upon their successor-ship and they never turn away therefrom. He has formed certain believers upon belief and they never turn away therefrom. Belief in certain ones among them is de

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الْحَسْرَةَ وَ النَّدَامَةَ وَ الْوَيْلَ كُلَّهُ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَنْتَفِعْ بِمَا أَبْصَرَهُ وَ لَمْ يَدْرِ مَا الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي هُوَ عَلَيْهِ مُقِيمٌ أَ نَفْعٌ لَهُ أَمْ ضَرٌّ[1] قُلْتُ لَهُ فَبِمَ يُعْرَفُ النَّاجِي مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ مَنْ كَانَ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُوَافِقاً- فَأُثْبِتَ‌[2] لَهُ الشَّهَادَةُ بِالنَّجَاةِ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِعْلُهُ لِقَوْلِهِ مُ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Sorrow, regret and lamentation strikes one who does not benefit from what he sees and does not know upon what ground is he standing; is it beneficial for him or harmful?’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, by what means are the ones who have

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ الْقَلْبَ لَيَكُونُ السَّاعَةَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ مَا فِيهِ كُفْرٌ وَ لَا إِيمَانٌ كَالثَّوْبِ الْخَلَقِ‌[3] قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي أَ مَا تَجِدُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ تَكُونُ النُّكْتَةُ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي الْقَلْبِ بِمَا شَاءَ مِنْ كُفْرٍ وَ إِيمَانٍ. - عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي ع

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘The heart in certain hours of the night and day has no disbelief or belief in it and it is like an old mg.’ The narrator has said that the Imam then asked, ‘Do you not find that in yourself? Then there is a dot from Allah in the heart of the kind that He wills in the form of disbelief

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ يَكُونُ الْقَلْبُ مَا فِيهِ إِيمَانٌ وَ لَا كُفْرٌ شِبْهَ الْمُضْغَةِ[4] أَ مَا يَجِدُ أَحَدُكُمْ ذَلِكَ.

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘There is the heart in which there is no belief or disbelief, like a chunk of flesh. Does any one of you feel it is as such sometimes?’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ قُلُوبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَطْوِيَّةً مُبْهَمَةً عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ‌[1] فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اسْتِنَارَةَ مَا فِيهَا[2] نَضَحَهَا بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَ زَرَعَهَا بِالْعِلْمِ وَ زَارِعُهَا وَ الْقَيِّمُ عَلَيْهَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

“Allah has created the hearts of the believers, in which belief is wrapped up and is unknown. When He wills to light up what is in it He sprinkles it with wisdom and plants knowledge therein. The fanner and guardian thereof is the Lord, the Cherisher of the worlds.”

إِنَّ الْقَلْبَ لَيَتَرَجَّجُ‌[3]- فِيمَا بَيْنَ الصَّدْرِ وَ الْحَنْجَرَةِ حَتَّى يُعْقَدَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ فَإِذَا عُقِدَ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ قَرَّ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ مَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ‌[4].

“The heart vibrates between the chest and the throat until it forms belief, when it does so it rests as is in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘Whoever believes in Allah his heart calms down.’” (64:11)

إِنَّ الْقَلْبَ لَيَتَجَلْجَلُ‌[5] فِي الْجَوْفِ يَطْلُبُ الْحَقَّ فَإِذَا أَصَابَهُ اطْمَأَنَّ وَ قَرَّ ثُمَّ تَلَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ فَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَهْدِيَهُ‌ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلْإِسْلامِ‌ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ‌ كَأَنَّما يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّماءِ[6].

“The heart beats noisily inside in search of the truth. If it finds the truth it calms down and rests.’ The Imam then recited this verse: ‘Allah will open the hearts of whomever He wants to guide to Islam, but He will tighten the chest of one whom He has led astray, as though he were climbing high up into the sky. Thus

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الْقَلْبَ يَكُونُ فِي السَّاعَةِ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ- لَيْسَ فِيهِ إِيمَانٌ وَ لَا كُفْرٌ أَ مَا تَجِدُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَكُونُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ نُكْتَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدِهِ بِمَا شَاءَ إِنْ شَاءَ بِإِيمَانٍ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ بِكُفْرٍ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The heart in (certain) hours of the night and day has no belief or disbelief in it. Do you not find that in yourself? Thereafter, a dot from Allah comes in the heart of His servant in the form that He wills. If He wills, it is with belief and if He wills, it is in disbelief.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ قُلُوبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُبْهَمَةً عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ اسْتِنَارَةَ مَا فِيهَا فَتَحَهَا بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَ زَرَعَهَا بِالْعِلْمِ وَ زَارِعُهَا وَ الْقَيِّمُ عَلَيْهَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ‌[1].

“Allah has created the hearts of the believers wrapped up over belief. When He wills to light it up He opens it with wisdom and plants it with knowledge. The farmer and guardian thereof is the Lord of the worlds.”

قَالَ لَنَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ‌ تَجِدُ الرَّجُلَ لَا يُخْطِئُ بِلَامٍ وَ لَا وَاوٍ خَطِيباً مِصْقَعاً[2] وَ لَقَلْبُهُ أَشَدُّ ظُلْمَةً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ وَ تَجِدُ الرَّجُلَ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ يُعَبِّرُ عَمَّا فِي قَلْبِهِ بِلِسَانِهِ وَ قَلْبُهُ يَزْهَرُ كَمَا يَزْهَرُ الْمِصْبَاحُ.

“One day the Imam said to us, ‘You may find a man who does not make any mistakes of the size of letter ‘L’ or ‘W’ and he is an exuberant speaker while his heart is darker than the darkest night. You may also find a man who is not able to express what is in his heart with his tongue while his heart shines like a lantern

إِنَّ الْقُلُوبَ أَرْبَعَةٌ- قَلْبٌ فِيهِ نِفَاقٌ وَ إِيمَانٌ وَ قَلْبٌ مَنْكُوسٌ وَ قَلْبٌ مَطْبُوعٌ وَ قَلْبٌ أَزْهَرُ أَجْرَدُ فَقُلْتُ مَا الْأَزْهَرُ قَالَ فِيهِ كَهَيْئَةِ السِّرَاجِ فَأَمَّا الْمَطْبُوعُ فَقَلْبُ الْمُنَافِقِ وَ أَمَّا الْأَزْهَرُ فَقَلْبُ الْمُؤْمِنِ إِنْ‌ أَعْطَاهُ شَكَرَ وَ إِنِ ابْتَلَاهُ صَبَرَ وَ أَمَّا الْمَنْكُوسُ فَقَلْبُ الْمُشْرِكِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ- أَ فَمَنْ يَمْشِي مُك

“There are four kinds of hearts: the heart in which there is hypocrisy and belief, the heart that is upside down, the heart that is stamped and the heart that is Azhar and is free. I then asked, ‘What is ‘Azhar’? The Imam said, ‘In it (the heart) there is something like a lamp. The stamped heart is the heart of hypocri

الْقُلُوبُ ثَلَاثَةٌ قَلْبٌ مَنْكُوسٌ لَا يَعِي شَيْئاً مِنَ الْخَيْرِ[3] وَ هُوَ قَلْبُ الْكَافِرِ وَ قَلْبٌ فِيهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فَالْخَيْرُ وَ الشَّرُّ فِيهِ يَعْتَلِجَانِ‌[4] فَأَيُّهُمَا كَانَتْ مِنْهُ غَلَبَ عَلَيْهِ‌[5] وَ قَلْبٌ مَفْتُوحٌ فِيهِ مَصَابِيحُ تَزْهَرُ وَ لَا يُطْفَأُ نُورُهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ هُوَ قَلْبُ الْمُؤْمِنِ.

“Hearts are of three kinds: an upside down heart that holds nothing good is the heart of an unbeliever. The heart in which there is a black dot, thus, good and evil duel therein. Whichever dominates the heart defeats the other. There is the open heart. In it lamps shine and its light does not extinguish until the Day o

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ حُمْرَانُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ وَ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ فَلَمَّا هَمَّ حُمْرَانُ بِالْقِيَامِ قَالَ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أُخْبِرُكَ أَطَالَ اللَّهُ بَقَاءَكَ لَنَا وَ أَمْتَعَنَا بِكَ أَنَّا نَأْتِيكَ فَمَا نَخْرُجُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ حَتَّى تَرِقَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَ تَسْلُوَ أَنْفُسُنَا[6] عَنِ‌ الدُّنْيَا وَ يَهُونَ عَلَيْنَا مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَمْوَالِ ثُمَّ ن

“Once I was in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) when Humran ibn ‘A’yan came in and asked him a few things. When Humran wanted to stand up and leave he said to abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘I like to tell you, may Allah grant you long life for us so we benefit from you more, whenever we come to you and then leave our hearts feel

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الْوَسْوَسَةِ وَ إِنْ كَثُرَتْ فَقَالَ لَا شَيْ‌ءَ فِيهَا تَقُولُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What if temptation (soul’s tale telling) becomes a great deal.’ The Imam said, ‘There is nothing in it. Say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُ يَقَعُ فِي قَلْبِي أَمْرٌ عَظِيمٌ فَقَالَ قُلْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ قَالَ جَمِيلٌ فَكُلَّمَا وَقَعَ فِي قَلْبِي شَيْ‌ءٌ قُلْتُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ فَيَذْهَبُ عَنِّي.

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘A great thing happens in my heart.’ The Imam told me to say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah.’ Jamil has said, ‘Whenever anything happens in my heart I say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah,’ and it goes away.’”

جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلَكْتُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ع أَتَاكَ الْخَبِيثُ فَقَالَ لَكَ مَنْ خَلَقَكَ فَقُلْتَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَنْ خَلَقَهُ فَقَالَ إِي وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لَكَانَ كَذَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ذَاكَ وَ اللَّهِ مَحْضُ الْإِيمَانِ. - قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ فَحَدَّثْتُ بِذَلِكَ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الْحَجَّاجِ فَقَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ أَ

“Once a man came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am destroyed,’ and the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Has the filthy one come to you and asked you, “Who has created you?” and you said, ‘Allah has created me,’ and he said, “Who has created Allah?” The man said, ‘Yes, by the One Who has sent you with t

كَتَبَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ لَمَماً يَخْطُرُ عَلَى بَالِهِ فَأَجَابَهُ فِي بَعْضِ كَلَامِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنْ شَاءَ ثَبَّتَكَ فَلَا يَجْعَلُ لِإِبْلِيسَ عَلَيْكَ طَرِيقاً قَدْ شَكَا قَوْمٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص لَمَماً يَعْرِضُ لَهُمْ لَأَنْ تَهْوِيَ بِهِمُ الرِّيحُ‌[1] أَوْ يُقَطَّعُوا أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِمْ مِنْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمُوا بِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَ تَجِدُونَ ذَلِكَ

“A man wrote to abu Ja’far (a.s.) and complained about what would pass in his mind. The Imam answered him in certain parts of his words: ‘If Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, wills, He will keep you steadfast and He will not allow Satan to find way in you. Certain people complained to the Holy Prophet for what h

إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّنِي نَافَقْتُ فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا نَافَقْتَ وَ لَوْ نَافَقْتَ مَا أَتَيْتَنِي تُعْلِمُنِي مَا الَّذِي رَابَكَ أَظُنُّ الْعَدُوَّ الْحَاضِرَ[1] أَتَاكَ فَقَالَ لَكَ مَنْ خَلَقَكَ فَقُلْتَ اللَّهُ خَلَقَنِي فَقَالَ لَكَ مَنْ خَلَقَ اللَّهَ قَالَ إِي وَ الَّذِي بَعَثَكَ بِالْحَقِّ لَكَانَ كَذَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ أَتَاكُمْ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْأ

“Once a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, O Messenger of Allah, ‘I have become a hypocrite.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘By Allah, you have not become a hypocrite, otherwise, you would not have come to me to tell me what has made you suspicious. I think the present enemy has come to you asking, “Who has cr

وَ اللَّهِ مَا يَنْجُو مِنَ الذَّنْبِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَقَرَّ بِهِ. - قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ كَفَى بِالنَّدَمِ تَوْبَةً.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘By Allah no one escapes sins except those who confess it.’ The narrator has said that abu Ja’far (a.s.) then said, ‘Repenting is enough proof of one’s being regretful.’”

لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مِنَ النَّاسِ إِلَّا خَصْلَتَيْنِ أَنْ يُقِرُّوا لَهُ بِالنِّعَمِ فَيَزِيدَهُمْ وَ بِالذُّنُوبِ فَيَغْفِرَهَا لَهُمْ‌[2].

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘By Allah, Allah, the Most High, wants two characteristics from people: to confess that He has granted them favors so He will increase them and to confess their sins so He will forgive them.”’

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيُذْنِبُ الذَّنْبَ فَيُدْخِلُهُ اللَّهُ بِهِ الْجَنَّةَ قُلْتُ يُدْخِلُهُ اللَّهُ بِالذَّنْبِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّهُ لَيُذْنِبُ فَلَا يَزَالُ مِنْهُ خَائِفاً مَاقِتاً لِنَفْسِهِ فَيَرْحَمُهُ اللَّهُ فَيُدْخِلُهُ الْجَنَّةَ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘A man commits a sin and because of it Allah will admit him in paradise.’ I asked, ‘Will Allah admit him in paradise because of his sin?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, he commits a sin and continues living in fear, and angry on his own self. Allah then grants him mercy and admits him in par

إِنَّهُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا خَرَجَ عَبْدٌ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ بِإِصْرَارٍ وَ مَا خَرَجَ عَبْدٌ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ إِلَّا بِإِقْرَارٍ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘By Allah a servant cannot get out of sin while persisting in it and a servant cannot get out of sin without confessing to it.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَذْنَبَ ذَنْباً فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ مُطَّلِعٌ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُ غَفَرَ لَهُ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَغْفِرْ.

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘If one commits a sin and knows that Allah is aware of it. He punishes him if He so wills or forgives him if He so wills. In such case. He (Allah) forgives him even if he does not ask forgiveness.’”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْعَبْدَ أَنْ يَطْلُبَ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْجُرْمِ الْعَظِيمِ‌[2] وَ يُبْغِضُ الْعَبْدَ أَنْ يَسْتَخِفَّ بِالْجُرْمِ الْيَسِيرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Allah loves that a servant asks Him for help in great crimes and He hates the servant who considers trivial sins insignificant.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص‌ إِنَّ النَّدَمَ عَلَى الشَّرِّ يَدْعُو إِلَى تَرْكِهِ.

“Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) has said, ‘Regret for an evil deed leads one to stay away from it.’”