Piety & God-consciousness

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ بِالْعَقْلِ اسْتُخْرِجَ غَوْرُ الْحِكْمَةِ[4] وَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ اسْتُخْرِجَ غَوْرُ الْعَقْلِ وَ بِحُسْنِ السِّيَاسَةِ يَكُونُ الْأَدَبُ الصَّالِحُ قَالَ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ التَّفَكُّرُ حَيَاةُ قَلْبِ الْبَصِيرِ كَمَا يَمْشِي الْمَاشِي فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ بِالنُّورِ بِحُسْنِ التَّخَلُّصِ وَ قِلَّةِ التَّرَبُّصِ.

“Through intellect, the essence of wisdom is extracted, and through wisdom, the essence of intellect is extracted. With good governance [of one's actions], righteous manners will be formed." He also used to say, "Contemplation is the life of the discerning heart, just as one walks in darkness with light, through the go

الْعُلَمَاءُ أُمَنَاءُ وَ الْأَتْقِيَاءُ حُصُونٌ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ سَادَةٌ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى الْعُلَمَاءُ مَنَارٌ وَ الْأَتْقِيَاءُ حُصُونٌ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ سَادَةٌ.

'The scholars are the trustees [of religion], the pious ones are the strongholds [of religion] and the successors (of the Prophet) are the masters [of religion].' In an another hadith it is said, 'The scholars are the light houses [of the religion], the pious ones are the strongholds [of the religion] and the successor

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِالْفَقِيهِ حَقِّ الْفَقِيهِ مَنْ لَمْ يُقَنِّطِ النَّاسَ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَ لَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لَهُمْ فِي مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ وَ لَمْ يَتْرُكِ الْقُرْآنَ رَغْبَةً عَنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ أَلَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي عِلْمٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ تَفَهُّمٌ أَلَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي قِرَاءَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا تَدَبُّرٌ أَلَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي عِبَادَةٍ لَي

“Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Do you want me to describe to you the true Faqih, person who truly has a good understanding of religion? A true Faqih is one who does not cause people to despair from the mercy of Allah and does not make them to be unconcerned about the punishment of Allah, who does not allow them to consider di

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَبْداً أَحْيَا الْعِلْمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا إِحْيَاؤُهُ قَالَ أَنْ يُذَاكِرَ بِهِ أَهْلَ الدِّينِ وَ أَهْلَ الْوَرَعِ.

“May Allah grant forgiveness to a man who revives knowledge.” Abu al-Jarud has said, “I asked the Imam, ‘What is reviving knowledge?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is his discussing knowledge among the religious people and the people of piety.”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقُولُ‌ يَا طَالِبَ الْعِلْمِ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ ذُو فَضَائِلَ كَثِيرَةٍ فَرَأْسُهُ التَّوَاضُعُ وَ عَيْنُهُ الْبَرَاءَةُ مِنَ الْحَسَدِ وَ أُذُنُهُ الْفَهْمُ وَ لِسَانُهُ الصِّدْقُ وَ حِفْظُهُ الْفَحْصُ وَ قَلْبُهُ حُسْنُ النِّيَّةِ وَ عَقْلُهُ مَعْرِفَةُ الْأَشْيَاءِ وَ الْأُمُورِ وَ يَدُهُ الرَّحْمَةُ وَ رِجْلُهُ زِيَارَةُ الْعُلَمَاءِ وَ هِمَّتُ

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Nuh ibn Shu‘ayb al-Naysaburi from ‘Ubaydallah ibn ‘Abdallah al-Dihqan from Durust ibn abu Mansur from ’Urwa cousin of Shu‘ayb al-’Aqarqi from Shu‘ayb from abu Basir who has said the following. “(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said that Imam Ali (a.

طَلَبَةُ الْعِلْمِ ثَلَاثَةٌ فَاعْرِفْهُمْ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ وَ صِفَاتِهِمْ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلْجَهْلِ وَ الْمِرَاءِ وَ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلِاسْتِطَالَةِ وَ الْخَتْلِ وَ صِنْفٌ يَطْلُبُهُ لِلْفِقْهِ وَ الْعَقْلِ فَصَاحِبُ الْجَهْلِ وَ الْمِرَاءِ مُوذٍ مُمَارٍ مُتَعَرِّضٌ لِلْمَقَالِ فِي أَنْدِيَةِ الرِّجَالِ بِتَذَاكُرِ الْعِلْمِ وَ صِفَةِ الْحِلْمِ قَدْ تَسَرْبَلَ بِالْخُشُوعِ وَ تَخَلَّى مِنَ الْوَرَعِ فَدَقَّ الل

“The seekers of knowledge are of three kinds. The more noticeable of them in person or character are: (a) the group who seeks knowledge for ignorance and quarrel. (b) The group who seeks knowledge to dominate and cheat others. (c) The group who seeks knowledge for proper understanding, Fiqh, and power of intelligence.

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا بَيْنَهُمَا مُنَازَعَةٌ فِي دَيْنٍ أَوْ مِيرَاثٍ فَتَحَاكَمَا إِلَى السُّلْطَانِ وَ إِلَى الْقُضَاةِ أَ يَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ قَالَ مَنْ تَحَاكَمَ إِلَيْهِمْ فِي حَقٍّ أَوْ بَاطِلٍ فَإِنَّمَا تَحَاكَمَ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَ مَا يَحْكُمُ لَهُ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْخُذُ سُحْتاً وَ إِنْ كَانَ حَقّاً ثَابِتاً لِأَنَّهُ أَخَذَهُ بِحُكْمِ الطَّاغُوتِ وَ قَدْ أَمَرَ اللَّه

“I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the two people with a dispute between them on the issue of debts or inheritance and they go to the king or the judges for a decision is it permissible to seek such decisions?” The Imam replied, “Whoever would go to them for a judgement in a right or wrongful matter it is like se

ضَمَّنِي وَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع‌[2] الطَّرِيقُ فِي مُنْصَرَفِي مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ وَ هُوَ سَائِرٌ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ يُتَّقَى وَ مَنْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ يُطَاعُ فَتَلَطَّفْتُ فِي الْوُصُولِ إِلَيْهِ‌[1] فَوَصَلْتُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ السَّلَامَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا فَتْحُ مَنْ أَرْضَى الْخَالِقَ لَمْ يُبَالِ بِسَخَطِ الْمَخْلُوقِ وَ مَنْ أَسْخَطَ الْخَالِقَ فَ

“A road on my way back from Makkah to Khuransan joined me with Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) the 2nd who was going to Iraq and I heard him saying, “Whoever observes piety before Allah he is protected and whoever obeys Allah he is obeyed.” I calmly walked to him and on reaching him I offered my salutation and he responded l

خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع خُطْبَةً بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ فَعَجِبَ النَّاسُ مِنْ حُسْنِ صِفَتِهِ وَ مَا ذَكَرَهُ مِنْ تَعْظِيمِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ فَقُلْتُ لِلْحَارِثِ أَ وَ مَا حَفِظْتَهَا قَالَ قَدْ كَتَبْتُهَا فَأَمْلَاهَا عَلَيْنَا مِنْ كِتَابِهِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ وَ لَا تَنْقَضِي عَجَائِبُهُ لِأَنَّهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فِي شَأْنٍ مِنْ إِحْدَاثِ بَدِيعٍ لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِ

7. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr and others whom he mentioned from ‘Amr ibn Thabit from a man whom he mentioned from abu Ishaq al-Subay‘i from Harith al-A‘war who said the following. “Amirul Mu’minin gave a speech in the afternoon an

نَحْنُ الْمَثَانِي‌[3] الَّذِي أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّنَا مُحَمَّداً ص وَ نَحْنُ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ نَتَقَلَّبُ فِي الْأَرْضِ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ وَ نَحْنُ عَيْنُ اللَّهِ فِي خَلْقِهِ وَ يَدُهُ الْمَبْسُوطَةُ بِالرَّحْمَةِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ عَرَفَنَا مَنْ عَرَفَنَا وَ جَهِلَنَا مَنْ جَهِلَنَا وَ إِمَامَةَ الْمُتَّقِينَ‌[4].

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu Salam al-Khannas from some of our people from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “We (family of Prophet Muhammad) are the al-Mathani (one of two) that Allah gave to Prophet Muhammad (s.w). We are the Waj

حَتَّى يُعَرِّفَهُمْ مَا يُرْضِيهِ وَ مَا يُسْخِطُهُ وَ قَالَ‌ فَأَلْهَمَها فُجُورَها وَ تَقْواها قَالَ بَيَّنَ لَهَا مَا تَأْتِي وَ مَا تَتْرُكُ وَ قَالَ‌ إِنَّا هَدَيْناهُ السَّبِيلَ‌ إِمَّا شاكِراً وَ إِمَّا كَفُوراً قَالَ عَرَّفْنَاهُ إِمَّا آخِذٌ وَ إِمَّا تَارِكٌ وَ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ‌ وَ أَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْناهُمْ‌ فَاسْتَحَبُّوا الْعَمى‌ عَلَى الْهُدى‌ قَالَ عَرَّفْنَاهُمْ فَاسْتَحَبُّوا الْعَمَى عَلَى الْهُدَى

The Imam (a.s.), said, ‘It (means of piety) means before giving the knowledge of what He is pleased with and what He is displeased with.’ The Imam (a.s.), said the words of Allah ‘. . . and inspired it with knowledge of evil and piety,’ (91:8) convey that He has explained what people must do and what they must not do.

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ هَلْ جُعِلَ فِي النَّاسِ أَدَاةٌ يَنَالُونَ بِهَا الْمَعْرِفَةَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا قُلْتُ فَهَلْ كُلِّفُوا الْمَعْرِفَةَ قَالَ لَا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْبَيَانُ- لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا وُسْعَها وَ لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْساً إِلَّا ما آتاها قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ‌ وَ ما كانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِلَّ قَوْماً بَعْدَ إِذْ هَداهُمْ حَتَّى يُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ما

“Once I said to (Imam) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ’May Allah keep you well, Has Allah placed a means in people to know?’ He replied, ‘No, He has not done so.’ I asked, ‘Will He hold them responsible for knowing?’ He said, ‘No, because it is for Allah to explain.’ ‘Allah does not impose on any soul a responsibility beyond i

قَالَ لِي اكْتُبْ فَأَمْلَى عَلَيَّ إِنَّ مِنْ قَوْلِنَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَحْتَجُّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ بِمَا آتَاهُمْ وَ عَرَّفَهُمْ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولًا وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْكِتَابَ فَأَمَرَ فِيهِ وَ نَهَى أَمَرَ فِيهِ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ فَنَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ أَنَا أُنِيمُكَ وَ أَنَا أُوقِظُكَ‌ فَإِذَا قُمْتَ فَصَلِّ لِيَعْلَمُوا إِذَا أَصَابَهُمْ ذَلِكَ كَيْفَ يَصْن

“Once Imam abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘Write down.’ He dictated to me the following. ‘It is of our Hadith that Allah will, justifiably, hold people accountable for what He has given and made known to them. Allah then sent His messenger to them and sent down books upon them in which He has commanded and prohibit

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَبْداً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ نَبِيّاً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ نَبِيّاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ رَسُولًا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ رَسُولًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَهُ خَلِيلًا وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اتَّخَذَهُ خَلِيلًا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ إِمَاماً فَلَمَّا جَمَعَ لَهُ الْأَشْيَاءَ قَالَ‌ إِنِّي جاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِما

“I heard Imam Abu ‘Abdallah saying, ‘Allah chose Abraham as a servant before choosing him as a prophet. Allah chose him as a prophet before choosing him as a messenger. Allah chose him as a messenger before choosing him as a friend of His. Allah chose him as a friend of His before choosing him as an Imam. When all of t

إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَكُونُونَ صَالِحِينَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا- وَ لَا تَعْرِفُوا حَتَّى تُصَدِّقُوا وَ لَا تُصَدِّقُوا حَتَّى تُسَلِّمُوا أَبْوَاباً أَرْبَعَةً[1] لَا يَصْلُحُ أَوَّلُهَا إِلَّا بِآخِرِهَا ضَلَّ أَصْحَابُ الثَّلَاثَةِ وَ تَاهُوا تَيْهاً بَعِيداً[2] إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ وَ لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا الْوَفَاءَ بِالشُّرُوطِ وَ الْعُهُودِ فَمَنْ وَفَى لِلّ

6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from those whom he mentioned from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “You will not be of the people of good deeds until you will know. You will not know

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلَانِ مِنَ الزَّيْدِيَّةِ فَقَالا لَهُ أَ فِيكُمْ إِمَامٌ مُفْتَرَضُ الطَّاعَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا[3] قَالَ فَقَالا لَهُ قَدْ أَخْبَرَنَا عَنْكَ الثِّقَاتُ أَنَّكَ تُفْتِي وَ تُقِرُّ وَ تَقُولُ بِهِ‌[4] وَ نُسَمِّيهِمْ لَكَ فُلَانٌ وَ فُلَانٌ وَ هُمْ أَصْحَابُ وَرَعٍ وَ تَشْمِيرٍ[5] وَ هُمْ مِمَّنْ لَا يَكْذِبُ‌[6] فَغَضِبَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ- م

“I was in the presence of Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) when two people from the Zaydiyya sect came to him. They asked, 'Is there with you an Imam obedience to whom is obligatory?' The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) said, 'No, there no one as such.' They then said, 'Reliable people have informed us about you that you is

إِنَّ الْوَصِيَّةَ نَزَلَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ كِتَاباً[2] لَمْ يُنْزَلْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ص كِتَابٌ مَخْتُومٌ إِلَّا الْوَصِيَّةُ فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ ع يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ وَصِيَّتُكَ فِي أُمَّتِكَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَيُّ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ قَالَ نَجِيبُ اللَّهِ‌[3] مِنْهُمْ وَ ذُرِّيَّتُهُ لِيَرِثَكَ عِلْمَ النُّبُوَّةِ كَمَا وَرَّثَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ع وَ مِيرَاث

“The will came from the heavens to Muhammad (sw) in a book (written). Nothing came to Muhammad (sw) from heavens in a written sealed document form except the will. Jibril (a.s.) said, “O Muhammad, this is your will about your followers with your family. The Messenger of Allah (sw) asked, “Which family of mine, O Jibril

كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ يَقْطِينٍ بِبَغْدَادَ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ يَقْطِينٍ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ جَالِساً فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ ابْنُهُ عَلِيٌّ فَقَالَ لِي يَا عَلِيَّ بْنَ يَقْطِينٍ هَذَا عَلِيٌّ سَيِّدُ وُلْدِي أَمَا إِنِّي قَدْ نَحَلْتُهُ كُنْيَتِي فَضَرَبَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ بِرَاحَتِهِ جَبْهَتَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَيْحَكَ كَيْفَ قُلْتَ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ يَقْطِينٍ سَمِع

Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from al-Husayn ibn Nu‘aym al-Sahhaf who has said the following. “Once I was in the presence of the pious servant (of Allah).In al-Safwani manuscript it says, “I was then he relates the rest of the above hadith.”

كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ فِي كِتَابٍ أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ عَنِ الْخَلَفِ بَعْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ قَلِقْتَ‌[2] لِذَلِكَ فَلَا تَغْتَمَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا يُضِلُ‌ قَوْماً بَعْدَ إِذْ هَداهُمْ‌ حَتَّى يُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ ما يَتَّقُونَ‌ وَ صَاحِبُكَ بَعْدِي أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ابْنِي وَ عِنْدَهُ مَا تَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْهِ يُقَدِّمُ مَا يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ وَ يُؤَخِّرُ مَا يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ- ما نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آ

“Abu al-Hassan wrote to me in a letter as herein below. “You wanted to ask about the succeeding Imam after (the death) of abu Ja‘far and you were anxious about it. Do not feel sad; “God does not misguide a nation after having given them guidance until the means of piety are made known to them. . .” (9:115) Allah, the M

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُلُوساً فَقَالَ لَنَا إِنَّ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ غَيْبَةً الْمُتَمَسِّكُ فِيهَا بِدِينِهِ كَالْخَارِطِ لِلْقَتَادِ ثُمَّ قَالَ هَكَذَا بِيَدِهِ‌[2] فَأَيُّكُمْ يُمْسِكُ شَوْكَ الْقَتَادِ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ أَطْرَقَ مَلِيّاً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَ‌ لِصَاحِبِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ غَيْبَةً فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ عَبْدٌ وَ لْيَتَمَسَّكْ بِدِينِهِ.

“Once we were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said to us, “The in charge of this task (Leadership with Divine Authority) will disappear from public sight. At that time following one’s religion would like wiping the thorns of cactus plant with one’s bare. The Imam (a.s.) made certain hand gestures. Who am

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَأُعَذِّبَنَّ كُلَّ رَعِيَّةٍ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ دَانَتْ بِوَلَايَةِ كُلِّ إِمَامٍ جَائِرٍ لَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَتِ الرَّعِيَّةُ فِي أَعْمَالِهَا بَرَّةً تَقِيَّةً وَ لَأَعْفُوَنَّ عَنْ كُلِّ رَعِيَّةٍ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ دَانَتْ بِوَلَايَةِ كُلِّ إِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَتِ الرَّعِيَّةُ فِي أَنْفُسِهَا ظَالِمَةً مُسِيئَةً.

4. He has narrated from Hisham ibn Salim from Habib al-Sajistani from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, ’I will cause to suffer punishment all those who live a religious life in Islam under the guardianship of unjust Imams who possesses no authority from Allah

قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يُعَذِّبَ أُمَّةً دَانَتْ بِإِمَامٍ لَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ فِي أَعْمَالِهَا بَرَّةً تَقِيَّةً وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يُعَذِّبَ أُمَّةً دَانَتْ بِإِمَامٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ فِي أَعْمَالِهَا ظَالِمَةً مُسِيئَةً.

“Allah will not be ashamed to punish an ’Umma (nation) who has lived a religious lile under the guardianship of an unjust Imam who has said the following.would possess no authority form Allah even though such people would be virtuous and pious in their deeds. However, Allah will be ashamed to punish a people who lived

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

بَيْنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ ثُعْبَانٌ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَهَمَّ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ فَأَرْسَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنْ كُفُّوا فَكَفُّوا وَ أَقْبَلَ الثُّعْبَانُ يَنْسَابُ‌[2] حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَتَطَاوَلَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَأَشَارَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَقِفَ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ خ

“Once when Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) was on the pulpit a serpent entered from one of the doors of the mosque. People wanted to kill him. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) asked them to leave him alone. They left him alone. The serpent began to crawl to the pulpit. He stretched and saluted to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Amir al-Mu’min

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا تَصْلُحُ الْإِمَامَةُ إِلَّا لِرَجُلٍ فِيهِ ثَلَاثُ خِصَالٍ وَرَعٌ يَحْجُزُهُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي اللَّهِ وَ حِلْمٌ يَمْلِكُ بِهِ غَضَبَهُ‌[2] وَ حُسْنُ الْوِلَايَةِ عَلَى مَنْ يَلِي حَتَّى يَكُونَ لَهُمْ كَالْوَالِدِ الرَّحِيمِ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى‌ حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِلرَّعِيَّةِ كَالْأَبِ الرَّحِيمِ.

"The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: 'The imamate is not suitable for anyone except for a man who possesses three qualities: piety that safeguards him from the disobedience of Allah, forbearance that controls his anger, and excellence in guardianship over those under his care, such that he treats them with the compassion

وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع- إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ‌ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُها مَنْ يَشاءُ مِنْ عِبادِهِ وَ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ‌ أَنَا وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِيَ الَّذِينَ أَوْرَثَنَا اللَّهُ الْأَرْضَ وَ نَحْنُ الْمُتَّقُونَ وَ الْأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا لَنَا فَمَنْ أَحْيَا أَرْضاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلْيَعْمُرْهَا وَ لْيُؤَدِّ خَرَاجَهَا إِلَى الْإِمَامِ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي وَ لَهُ مَا أَكَلَ مِنْهَا فَإِنْ تَرَكَهَا أَوْ أَخْرَبَه

“The earth belongs to Allah and He gives it in inheritance to whoever of His servants that He wishes. The good end is for those who are pious before Allah’, I and my Ahl al-Bayt are the people to whom Allah has given the earth in inheritance and we are the ones who are pious before Allah. The whole earth belongs to us.

الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَ لَنَا فَمَنْ غَلَبَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْهَا فَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَ لْيُؤَدِّ حَقَّ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ لْيَبَرَّ إِخْوَانَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَاللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ نَحْنُ بُرَآءُ مِنْهُ.

“The world and all that is therein belong to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, His Messenger and to us. If one would control a part of it he must maintain piety before Allah. He must pay the share of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, be generous to his brethren, otherwise, Allah, the Messenger of Allah and we wil

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى- الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ‌ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْناً[6] قَالَ هُمُ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ مِنْ مَخَافَةِ عَدُوِّهِمْ.

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most High. “(Among) the servants of the Beneficent God are those who walk gently on the earth . .” (25:63) The Imam (a.s.) said, “They are the executors of the will (The Holy Prophet (s.a) who are afraid of their enemies.” Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from

الْوَالِدَانِ اللَّذَانِ أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُمَا الشُّكْرَ هُمَا اللَّذَانِ وَلَدَا الْعِلْمَ وَ وَرَّثَا الْحُكْمَ وَ أَمَرَ النَّاسَ بِطَاعَتِهِمَا ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ‌ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ فَمَصِيرُ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ الْوَالِدَانِ ثُمَّ عَطَفَ الْقَوْلَ عَلَى ابْنِ حَنْتَمَةَ[3] وَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ فِي الْخَاصِّ وَ الْعَامِّ- وَ إِنْ جاهَداكَ‌ عَلى‌ أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي‌ يَقُولُ فِي

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Bastam ibn Murra from ishaq ibn Hassa’n from al-Haytham ibn Waqid from Ali ibn al-Husayn al-‘Abdi from Sa‘d al-’Iskaf from Asbagh ibn Nabata that he asked Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most High. “. . to give thanks to Me first a

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الِاسْتِطَاعَةِ وَ قَوْلِ النَّاسِ فَقَالَ وَ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَ لا يَزالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ‌ إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ رَبُّكَ‌ وَ لِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ‌[2] يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ النَّاسُ مُخْتَلِفُونَ فِي إِصَابَةِ الْقَوْلِ وَ كُلُّهُمْ هَالِكٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ‌ إِلَّا مَنْ رَحِمَ رَبُّكَ‌ قَالَ هُمْ شِيعَتُنَا وَ لِرَحْمَتِهِ خَلَقَهُمْ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُهُ‌ وَ لِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ‌ يَقُول

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu ‘Ubayda al-Hadhdha’ who has said the following. “I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the capability and the people’s words. The Imam (a.s.) recited this verse of the Holy Quran. “They still have different beliefs [11:1

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ إِذا تُتْلى‌ عَلَيْهِمْ آياتُنا بَيِّناتٍ‌ قالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ‌ خَيْرٌ مَقاماً وَ أَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص دَعَا قُرَيْشاً إِلَى وَلَايَتِنَا فَنَفَرُوا وَ أَنْكَرُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ أَقَرُّوا لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ لَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ‌ أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَ

The Imam (a.s.) said, “the Messenger of Allah asked Quraysh (the powerful tribe in Makka) to acknowledge our (Wilaya Leadership with Divine Authority) they turned away and refused. The unbelievers of Quraysh told the true believers of Quraysh (those who acknowledged our Wilaya (Leadership with Divine Authority), “Which

أَسْلَمَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ بِحِسَابِ الْجُمَّلِ وَ عَقَدَ بِيَدِهِ ثَلَاثاً وَ سِتِّينَ.

“I saw Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) on the day of victory in Basra while he was riding the on the mule of the Messenger of Allah (then) he said, “O people do you want me to tell who the best of the creatures of Allah will be on the Day when He will bring all of them at one place?” Abu Ayyub al-Ansari stood up and said,

رَأَيْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَوْمَ افْتَتَحَ الْبَصْرَةَ وَ رَكِبَ بَغْلَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِخَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُهُمُ اللَّهُ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ- أَبُو أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ بَلَى يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَدِّثْنَا فَإِنَّكَ كُنْتَ تَشْهَدُ وَ نَغِيبُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ خَيْرَ الْخَلْقِ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُهُمُ اللَّهُ سَبْعَةٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ عَبْد

“Once I saw Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (AS) on the day of victory in Basra while he was riding the on the mule of the Messenger of Allah (SAW). Then he said, ‘Oh people, do you want me to tell you who the best of the creatures of Allah will be on the Day when He will bring all of them to one place?’ Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (RA)

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَنْ غَسَلَ فَاطِمَةَ قَالَ ذَاكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ كَأَنِّي اسْتَعْظَمْتُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ فَقَالَ كَأَنَّكَ ضِقْتَ بِمَا أَخْبَرْتُكَ بِهِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ قَدْ كَانَ ذَاكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَا تَضِيقَنَّ فَإِنَّهَا صِدِّيقَةٌ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَغْسِلُهَا إِلَّا صِدِّيقٌ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ مَرْيَمَ لَمْ يَغْسِلْهَا إِلَّا عِيسَى.

“I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), 'Who washed Fatima (for burial)?' He replied, 'Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) did.' My reaction to his words seemed to be an extraordinary one. He said, 'You seem troubled by what I said.' The narrator has said that I replied, 'Yes, may I be your ransom, it is so.' The narrator has said that the

لَمَّا حُمِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع إِلَى الشَّامِ إِلَى هِشَامِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ وَ صَارَ بِبَابِهِ قَالَ لِأَصْحَابِهِ وَ مَنْ كَانَ بِحَضْرَتِهِ مِنْ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي قَدْ وَبَّخْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ثُمَّ رَأَيْتُمُونِي قَدْ سَكَتُّ فَلْيُقْبِلْ عَلَيْهِ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنْكُمْ فَلْيُوَبِّخْهُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ بِيَدِهِ السَّلَام

“When abu Ja‘far (a.s.) was taken to al-Sham (Damascus) to the court of hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik. When arrived at his door he (Hisham) instructed his people from the Amawids, “When I will finish exasperating Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) and stop then each of you one after the other should reprimand and level blames on him.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ كَانَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَ الْقَاسِمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ أَبُو خَالِدٍ الْكَابُلِيُّ مِنْ ثِقَاتِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع قَالَ وَ كَانَتْ أُمِّي مِمَّنْ آمَنَتْ وَ اتَّقَتْ وَ أَحْسَنَتْ‌ وَ اللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ* قَالَ وَ قَالَتْ أُمِّي قَالَ أَبِي يَا أُمَّ فَرْوَةَ إِنِّي لَأَدْعُو اللَّهَ لِمُذْنِبِي شِيعَتِنَا فِي الْيَوْمِ وَ اللَّيْلَةِ أَلْفَ

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib, al-Qasim ibn Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr and Abu al-Khalid al-Kabuli were of the trusted and reliable companions of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.).” The Imam (a.s.) has said, “My mother was a true believer, pious and a person of good deeds. Allah loves the people of good deed

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع وَ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ نَجْرَانَ الْيَمَنِ مِنَ الرُّهْبَانِ وَ مَعَهُ رَاهِبَةٌ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ لَهُمَا الْفَضْلُ بْنُ سَوَّارٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِذَا كَانَ غَداً فَأْتِ بِهِمَا عِنْدَ بِئْرِ أُمِّ خَيْرٍ قَالَ فَوَافَيْنَا مِنَ الْغَدِ فَوَجَدْنَا الْقَوْمَ قَدْ وَافَوْا فَأَمَرَ بِخَصَفَةِ بَوَارِيَّ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وَ جَلَسُوا فَبَدَأَتِ الرَّاهِبَةُ بِالْمَسَائِلِ فَسَأَلَتْ عَنْ

“Once I was in the presence of abu Ibrahim (a.s.) that a monk and a nun from the people of Najran, Yemen came to see him. al-Fadl ibn Sawwar sought permission for them and the Imam (a.s.) said, “Tomorrow bring them to the well of ’Umm Khaayr.” The narrator has said that on the next day we went to see him and we found t

مَرَّ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ بِامْرَأَةٍ بِمِنًى وَ هِيَ تَبْكِي وَ صِبْيَانُهَا حَوْلَهَا يَبْكُونَ وَ قَدْ مَاتَتْ لَهَا بَقَرَةٌ فَدَنَا مِنْهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا مَا يُبْكِيكِ يَا أَمَةَ اللَّهِ قَالَتْ يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ لَنَا صِبْيَاناً يَتَامَى وَ كَانَتْ لِي بَقَرَةٌ مَعِيشَتِي وَ مَعِيشَةُ صِبْيَانِي كَانَ مِنْهَا وَ قَدْ مَاتَتْ وَ بَقِيتُ مُنْقَطَعاً بِي وَ بِوُلْدِي لَا حِيلَةَ لَنَا فَقَالَ يَا أَمَة

"The pious servant of Allah (Imam Kadhim (a.s)) passed in Mina by a woman who was weeping and her children around her also were weeping because her cow was dead. He went close to her and asked, 'What has caused you to weep O slave of Allah?' She said, 'O servant of Allah, we have orphan children. Our cow that was our m

سَمِعْتُ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ يَنْعَى إِلَى رَجُلٍ نَفْسَهُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي وَ إِنَّهُ لَيَعْلَمُ مَتَى يَمُوتُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ شِبْهَ الْمُغْضَبِ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ قَدْ كَانَ رُشَيْدٌ الْهَجَرِيُّ يَعْلَمُ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْإِمَامُ أَوْلَى بِعِلْمِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ اصْنَعْ مَا أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ فَإِنَّ عُمُرَكَ قَدْ فَنِيَ وَ إِنَّكَ تَمُوتُ إِ

“Once I heard the pious servant of Allah giving the news of his own death to a man. I thought that he might or might not know when a person from his Shi‘a (followers) would die. He turned to me as if angry and said, “O Ishaq, if Rashid al-Hajri possessed the knowledge of deaths and suffering, the necessity for such kno

جَاءَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ‌[1] وَ قَدِ اعْتَمَرْنَا عُمْرَةَ رَجَبٍ وَ نَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ يَا عَمِّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ بَغْدَادَ وَ قَدْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أُوَدِّعَ عَمِّي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ يَعْنِي مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ تَذْهَبَ مَعِي إِلَيْهِ فَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ نَحْوَ أَخِي وَ هُوَ فِي دَارِهِ الَّتِي بِالْحَوْبَةِ وَ ذَلِكَ بَعْدَ الْمَغْرِبِ بِقَلِيلٍ فَضَرَبْتُ الْبَابَ فَأَج

“Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il came to me when we were still in Makka after completing our ‘Umra in the month of Rajab. He said, “Uncle, I intend to go to Baghdad but I want to say farewell to my uncle, abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) aand I would like that you also come with me.” I came with him to my brother and he was

كُنْتُ مُجَاوِراً بِالْمَدِينَةِ- مَدِينَةِ الرَّسُولِ ص وَ كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَجِي‌ءُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مَعَ الزَّوَالِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَيَنْزِلُ فِي الصَّحْنِ وَ يَصِيرُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ يُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى بَيْتِ فَاطِمَةَ ع فَيَخْلَعُ نَعْلَيْهِ وَ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّي فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيَّ الشَّيْطَانُ فَقَالَ إِذَا نَزَلَ فَاذْهَبْ حَتَّى تَأْخُذَ مِنَ التُّرَابِ الَّذِي يَطَأُ عَلَ

“I lived in al-Madina of the Messenger of Allah. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) would come every day to the mosque at noon time. He would enter the compound and would turn to the shrine of the Messenger of Allah and offer his greeting of peace. He would then turn to the house of Fatima (a.s.), take off his shoes, stand up and pray.

احْتَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع بِكُلِّ حِيلَةٍ فَلَمْ يُمْكِنْهُ فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ[5]- فَلَمَّا اعْتَلَّ وَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْنِيَ عَلَيْهِ ابْنَتَهُ‌[6] دَفَعَ إِلَى مِائَتَيْ وَصِيفَةٍ مِنْ أَجْمَلِ مَا يَكُونُ‌[7] إِلَى كُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ جَاماً فِيهِ‌ جَوْهَرٌ يَسْتَقْبِلْنَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع إِذَا قَعَدَ فِي مَوْضِعِ الْأَخْيَارِ فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَ كَانَ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ- مُخَارِق

“Al-Ma’mun did all he could to prove that abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.) was only a young man of worldly desires. However Al-Ma’mun could not succeed. When he became frustrated he gave his daughter in marriage to abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.). For the ceremony he sent two hundred most beautif

كَانَ لِأَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ وَكِيلٌ قَدِ اتَّخَذَ مَعَهُ فِي الدَّارِ حُجْرَةً يَكُونُ فِيهَا مَعَهُ خَادِمٌ أَبْيَضُ فَأَرَادَ الْوَكِيلُ الْخَادِمَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ فَأَبَى إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُ بِنَبِيذٍ فَاحْتَالَ لَهُ بِنَبِيذٍ ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ثَلَاثَةُ أَبْوَابٍ مُغْلَقَةٍ قَالَ فَحَدَّثَنِي الْوَكِيلُ قَالَ إِنِّي لَمُنْتَبِهٌ إِذْ أَنَا بِالْأَبْوَابِ تُفْتَحُ حَتَّى

“Abu Muhammad (a.s.) had an agent who lived in a room in the house with white servant of the Imam (a.s.). the agent invited the servant to have evil activities with him and the servant refused to do so unless he brought him wine. The agent managed to find wine and take it to him. There were three closed doors between t

سُلِّمَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع إِلَى نِحْرِيرٍ[1] فَكَانَ يُضَيِّقُ عَلَيْهِ وَ يُؤْذِيهِ قَالَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَتُهُ وَيْلَكَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ لَا تَدْرِي مَنْ فِي مَنْزِلِكَ وَ عَرَّفَتْهُ صَلَاحَهُ وَ قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ لَأَرْمِيَنَّهُ بَيْنَ السِّبَاعِ ثُمَّ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِ فَرُئِيَ ع قَائِماً يُصَلِّي وَ هِيَ حَوْلَهُ.

“Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was placed under the supervision of a zoo-keeper who would cause constraints suffering to him. He has said that his wife told him, “woe is you, be pious before Allah. Do you not know who is in your house?” She then explained to him the good manners of the Imam (a.s.) and said, “I am afraid for you

شَكَكْتُ عِنْدَ مُضِيِّ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ اجْتَمَعَ عِنْدَ أَبِي مَالٌ جَلِيلٌ فَحَمَلَهُ وَ رَكِبَ السَّفِينَةَ وَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ مُشَيِّعاً فَوُعِكَ‌[1] وَعْكاً شَدِيداً فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ رُدَّنِي فَهُوَ الْمَوْتُ وَ قَالَ لِيَ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فِي هَذَا الْمَالِ وَ أَوْصَى إِلَيَّ فَمَاتَ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَمْ يَكُنْ أَبِي لِيُوصِيَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ غَيْرِ صَحِيحٍ أَحْمِلُ هَذَا الْمَالَ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ وَ أَكْت

“At the time abu Muhammad (a.s.) passed away I had doubts. Large quantities of commodities (of religious dues) were accumulated with my father. He loaded them in a boat and himself also embarked. I was with him to say farewell to him. He began to feel severe fever and asked me to take him back home because he said, “It

إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى أَوْحَى إِلَى عِمْرَانَ أَنِّي وَاهِبٌ لَكَ ذَكَراً سَوِيّاً مُبَارَكاً يُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَ الْأَبْرَصَ وَ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَ جَاعِلُهُ رَسُولًا إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَحَدَّثَ عِمْرَانُ امْرَأَتَهُ حَنَّةَ[1] بِذَلِكَ وَ هِيَ أُمُّ مَرْيَمَ فَلَمَّا حَمَلَتْ كَانَ حَمْلُهَا بِهَا عِنْدَ نَفْسِهَا غُلَامٌ- فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْها قالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُها أُنْثى‌ ...

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim his father all from ibn Mahbub from al-Ri’ab from Abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who said: “Allah, the Most High, revealed to ʿImrān: “I will grant you a righteous and blessed son who will cure the blind and the leper and bring the dead

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, ‘

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

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 )

دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ مَعَهُ صَحِيفَةٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع هَذِهِ صَحِيفَةُ مُخَاصِمٍ يَسْأَلُ‌[1] عَنِ الدِّينِ الَّذِي يُقْبَلُ فِيهِ الْعَمَلُ فَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ هَذَا الَّذِي أُرِيدُ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ص عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ تُقِرَّ بِمَا جَاءَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الْوَلَايَةُ لَنَ

13. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Aban from Isma’il al-Ja’fi who has said the following: “Once a man came to abu Ja’far, recipient of divine supreme covenant. He had a book with him. Abu Ja’far said, ‘This is the book of a polemicist who wants to