Truthfulness

قَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ‌[2] لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع لِمَا ذَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ ع بِالْعَصَا وَ يَدِهِ الْبَيْضَاءِ وَ آلَةِ السِّحْرِ وَ بَعَثَ عِيسَى بِآلَةِ الطِّبِّ وَ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ بِالْكَلَامِ وَ الْخُطَبِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَّا بَعَثَ مُوسَى ع كَانَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى أَهْلِ عَصْرِهِ السِّحْرَ فَأَتَاهُمْ

“Ibn Sukayt asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s), ‘Why did Allah sent Moses with the miracle appearing through his staff and through his hand and means of magic, Jesus with means of medical tasks and Prophet Muhammad (may Allah send blessings upon him, his family and all the prophets) with means of speech and sermons?’” “Whe

يَا مُفَضَّلُ لَا يُفْلِحُ مَنْ لَا يَعْقِلُ وَ لَا يَعْقِلُ مَنْ لَا يَعْلَمُ وَ سَوْفَ يَنْجُبُ مَنْ يَفْهَمُ‌[2] وَ يَظْفَرُ مَنْ يَحْلُمُ وَ الْعِلْمُ جُنَّةٌ وَ الصِّدْقُ عِزٌّ وَ الْجَهْلُ ذُلٌّ وَ الْفَهْمُ مَجْدٌ وَ الْجُودُ نُجْحٌ‌[1] وَ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ مَجْلَبَةٌ لِلْمَوَدَّةِ وَ الْعَالِمُ بِزَمَانِهِ لَا تَهْجُمُ عَلَيْهِ اللَّوَابِسُ وَ الْحَزْمُ مَسَاءَةُ الظَّنِ‌[2] وَ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَ الْحِكْمَةِ

“O Mufaddal one can never gain success until he understands and one can never understand until he acquires knowledge. One who understands can very soon excel. One who exercises patience can very soon triumph. Knowledge serves one as a shield, truth is honor, ignorance is humility, sharp-wittedness is glory, generosity

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اطْلُبُوا الْعِلْمَ وَ تَزَيَّنُوا مَعَهُ بِالْحِلْمِ وَ الْوَقَارِ وَ تَوَاضَعُوا لِمَنْ تُعَلِّمُونَهُ الْعِلْمَ وَ تَوَاضَعُوا لِمَنْ طَلَبْتُمْ مِنْهُ الْعِلْمَ وَ لَا تَكُونُوا عُلَمَاءَ جَبَّارِينَ فَيَذْهَبَ بَاطِلُكُمْ بِحَقِّكُمْ.

“Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said. “Seek knowledge and beautify it with forbearance and dignity. Be humble to your students and to those from whom you learn. Do not be a tyrant scholar lest your falsehood would destroy the truth in you.”

يَعْنِي بِالْعُلَمَاءِ مَنْ صَدَّقَ فِعْلُهُ قَوْلَهُ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يُصَدِّقْ فِعْلُهُ قَوْلَهُ فَلَيْسَ بِعَالِمٍ.

"The meaning of the knowledgable ones (al-'Ulama) are those whose actions testify to the truthfulness of their words and whosever actions are not truthful to their words, then he is not a knowledgable one."

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ أَنْهَاكَ عَنْ خَصْلَتَيْنِ فِيهِمَا هَلَاكُ الرِّجَالِ أَنْهَاكَ أَنْ تَدِينَ اللَّهَ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَ تُفْتِيَ النَّاسَ بِمَا لَا تَعْلَمُ.

"I would like to warn you about two forms of behavior that lead a man to destruction. I prohibit you from dealing with Allah on the basis of falsehood and from giving fatwa to people without knowledge.”

مَا ذَكَرْتُ حَدِيثاً سَمِعْتُهُ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع إِلَّا كَادَ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّعَ قَلْبِي قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ ابْنُ شُبْرُمَةَ وَ أُقْسِمُ بِاللَّهِ مَا كَذَبَ أَبُوهُ عَلَى جَدِّهِ وَ لَا جَدُّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَنْ عَمِلَ بِالْمَقَايِيسِ فَقَدْ هَلَكَ وَ أَهْلَكَ وَ مَنْ أَفْتَى النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَ هُوَ لَا يَعْلَ

"I have never mentioned a hadith that I heard from Ja'far ibn Muhammad (as) except that my heart almost trembles." He said, “My father narrated from my grandfather that Rasulullah (sw) said, ‘Those who act on the basis of analogy (qiyas), will face their destruction and lead others to their destruction. Those who give

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.

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِيَّاكُمْ وَ الْكَذِبَ الْمُفْتَرِعَ قِيلَ لَهُ وَ مَا الْكَذِبُ الْمُفْتَرِعُ قَالَ أَنْ يُحَدِّثَكَ الرَّجُلُ بِالْحَدِيثِ فَتَتْرُكَهُ وَ تَرْوِيَهُ عَنِ الَّذِي حَدَّثَكَ عَنْهُ.

“Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘Beware of the branched-out lies.’ They asked the Imam, “What is branched-out lies?” The Imam replied, “It is when a person narrates a Hadith to you and you would ignore him and narrate it from the person from whom he had narrated the Hadith.’”

خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع النَّاسَ فَقَالَ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَدْءُ وُقُوعِ الْفِتَنِ أَهْوَاءٌ تُتَّبَعُ وَ أَحْكَامٌ تُبْتَدَعُ يُخَالَفُ فِيهَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ يَتَوَلَّى فِيهَا رِجَالٌ رِجَالًا فَلَوْ أَنَّ الْبَاطِلَ خَلَصَ لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَى ذِي حِجًى وَ لَوْ أَنَّ الْحَقَّ خَلَصَ لَمْ يَكُنِ اخْتِلَافٌ وَ لَكِنْ يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ هَذَا ضِغْثٌ‌[1] وَ مِنْ هَذَا ضِغْثٌ فَيُمْزَجَانِ فَيَجِيئَانِ مَعاً

“Imam Ali said in one of his sermons to people, ‘O people, mischief begins with following certain desires and obeying certain invented rules that are different from the rules and laws of the book of Allah. In such case people yield to other people as high authority if falsehood would have been clear they would have no

قُلْتُ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِنِّي سَمِعْتُ مِنْ سَلْمَانَ وَ الْمِقْدَادِ وَ أَبِي ذَرٍّ شَيْئاً مِنْ تَفْسِيرِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ أَحَادِيثَ عَنْ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ص غَيْرَ مَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ ثُمَّ سَمِعْتُ مِنْكَ تَصْدِيقَ مَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْهُمْ وَ رَأَيْتُ فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ أَشْيَاءَ كَثِيرَةً مِنْ تَفْسِيرِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ مِنَ الْأَحَادِيثِ عَنْ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ص أَنْتُمْ تُخَالِفُونَهُمْ فِيهَا وَ تَزْعُم

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hishim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani from Aban ibn abu ‘Ayyash from Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali who has said the following. “I said to Imam Ali (a.s.), ‘I have heard from Salman, al-Miqdad and abu Dhar certain matters about the interpretations of

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

كَفَى لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ بِخَلْقِ الرَّبِّ الْمُسَخِّرِ وَ مُلْكِ الرَّبِّ الْقَاهِرِ وَ جَلَالِ الرَّبِّ الظَّاهِرِ وَ نُورِ الرَّبِّ الْبَاهِرِ[1] وَ بُرْهَانِ الرَّبِّ الصَّادِقِ وَ مَا أنطق به ألسن العباد و ما أرسل به الرسل و ما أنزل على العبادِ دَلِيلًا عَلَى الرَّبِّ.

“For the people of understanding as proof of the existence of the Allah it is enough that He has created all things and has kept them full under His control. It is enough proof that He is the Most powerful king. It is enough proof that His Majesty is manifest everywhere. That His light is the Most bright that His testi

سَأَلَنِي‌ أَبُو قُرَّةَ الْمُحَدِّثُ أَنْ أُدْخِلَهُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُهُ فِي ذَلِكَ فَأَذِنَ لِي فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْحَلَالَ وَ الْحَرَامِ وَ الْأَحْكَامِ حَتَّى بَلَغَ سُؤَالُهُ إِلَى التَّوْحِيدِ فَقَالَ أَبُو قُرَّةَ إِنَّا رُوِّينَا أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَسَمَ الرُّؤْيَةَ وَ الْكَلَامَ بَيْنَ نَبِيَّيْنِ فَقَسَمَ الْكَلَامَ لِمُوسَى وَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ الرُّؤْيَةَ فَقَالَ أَبُ

Oneness of Allah (God). Abu Qurrah said, “We (the narrators of Hadith) narrate that Allah, the Almighty has divided His being seen al-Ru’yah and His al-kalam, speech between the two prophets. He gave Musa (Moses) the opportunity to hear His speech, and Muhammad (s.a.) the opportunity to see Him.” Imam abu al-Hassan (a.

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ كانَ عَرْشُهُ‌ عَلَى الْماءِ[1] فَقَالَ مَا يَقُولُونَ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْعَرْشَ كَانَ عَلَى الْمَاءِ وَ الرَّبُّ فَوْقَهُ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا مَنْ زَعَمَ هَذَا فَقَدْ صَيَّرَ اللَّهَ مَحْمُولًا وَ وَصَفَهُ بِصِفَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِ وَ لَزِمَهُ أَنَّ الشَّيْ‌ءَ الَّذِي يَحْمِلُهُ أَقْوَى مِنْهُ قُلْتُ بَيِّنْ لِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ ال

The Imam asked, “What do they say about it?” I said, “They say that al-‘Arsh (the Throne) was on the water and the Lord was on top of it.” The Imam then said, “They have said a lie. Whoever would think that way he has considered Allah as being carried and has described Him with the qualities of the creatures which invo

لَا يَكُونُ شَيْ‌ءٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ لَا فِي الْأَرْضِ‌ إِلَّا بِسَبْعٍ بِقَضَاءٍ وَ قَدَرٍ وَ إِرَادَةٍ وَ مَشِيئَةٍ وَ كِتَابٍ وَ أَجَلٍ وَ إِذْنٍ فَمَنْ زَعَمَ غَيْرَ هَذَا فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَوْ رَدَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

There is nothing in heavens or on earth without seven: the decree, the measure, the will, the wish, the record (book) the duration and the permission. Whoever, would think something else he certainly has spoken a lie against Allah or has rejected Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.

مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ- فَقَدْ كَذَبَ‌ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ وَ الشَّرَّ إِلَيْهِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ‌[1].

“Whoever thinks that Allah orders people to commit sins has ascribed lies to Allah and whoever thinks that good and evil are from Allah has ascribed lies to Allah.” (See also Hadith No. 6 below).

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالسُّوءِ وَ الْفَحْشَاءِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ- وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْخَيْرَ وَ الشَّرَّ بِغَيْرِ مَشِيئَةِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ أَخْرَجَ اللَّهَ مِنْ سُلْطَانِهِ وَ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الْمَعَاصِيَ بِغَيْرِ قُوَّةِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ كَذَبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ النَّارَ[2].

“The Messenger of Allah (sw) said, ‘Whoever believes that Allah has commanded to do evil and sin has ascribed lies to Allah. Whoever thinks that good and evil are without the wish of Allah, has considered Allah without authority. Whoever thinks that sins are without the power from Allah, has ascribed lies to Allah and

لِلزِّنْدِيقِ الَّذِي سَأَلَهُ مِنْ أَيْنَ أَثْبَتَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ وَ الرُّسُلَ قَالَ إِنَّا لَمَّا أَثْبَتْنَا أَنَّ لَنَا خَالِقاً صَانِعاً مُتَعَالِياً عَنَّا وَ عَنْ جَمِيعِ مَا خَلَقَ وَ كَانَ ذَلِكَ الصَّانِعُ حَكِيماً مُتَعَالِياً لَمْ يَجُزْ أَنْ يُشَاهِدَهُ خَلْقُهُ وَ لَا يُلَامِسُوهُ فَيُبَاشِرَهُمْ وَ يُبَاشِرُوهُ وَ يُحَاجَّهُمْ وَ يُحَاجُّوهُ ثَبَتَ أَنَّ لَهُ سُفَرَاءَ فِي خَلْقِهِ يُعَبِّرُونَ عَنْهُ

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-‘Abbass ibn ‘Umar al-Qummi from Hisham ibn al-Hakam from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “An atheist asked the Imam (a.s.), ‘How do you prove the truthfulness of the prophets and the messengers?’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is a fact that we have established wi

قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَدَعِ الْأَرْضَ بِغَيْرِ عَالِمٍ وَ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْحَقُّ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ.

“Allah does not leave the earth without a ‘Alim (scholar). Without this the truth would not be distinguished from falsehood.”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْأَئِمَّةِ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ ص فَقَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ الْحَسَنُ ع إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ إِمَاماً مَنْ أَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ مَعْرِفَةَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى وَ مَعْرِفَةَ رَسُولِهِ ص ثُمَّ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَنْتَ‌[3

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the Imams after the Holy Prophet (s.a.).” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali) (a.s.) was the Imam. Then al-Hassan (a.s.) was the Imam. Then al-Husayn (a.s.) was the Imam. Then Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.) was the Imam. Then Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) was the Imam. One who would de

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ كَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ‌ أُمَّةً وَسَطاً لِتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ‌[3] قَالَ نَحْنُ الْأُمَّةُ الْوُسْطَى وَ نَحْنُ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَ حُجَجُهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ قُلْتُ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- مِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ‌ إِبْراهِيمَ‌ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى خَاصَّةً- هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ‌ الْمُسْلِمِينَ‌ مِنْ قَبْلُ‌ فِي الْكُتُبِ الَّتِ

The Imam (a.s.) said, “We are the moderate nation and we bear witness to the activities of the people for Allah and we possess Divine authority on earth.” I then asked about the meaning following verse of the holy Quran: “. . the noble religion of your father, Abraham. God named you Muslims before and in this Book, so

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- وَ كَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطاً لِتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَ يَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيداً قَالَ نَحْنُ الْأُمَّةُ الْوَسَطُ وَ نَحْنُ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَ حُجَجُهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى‌ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَ اسْجُدُوا وَ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ‌ وَ افْعَلُو

The Imam (a.s.) said, “We are the moderate nation and we are the witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over the activities of His creatures and possess His authority on earth.” I then asked about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran that says, “Believers, worship your Lord, bow down and prost

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ كُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ‌[1] قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى.

The Imam (a.s.) replied, “ ‘The truthful ones’ is a reference to us.”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ كُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ‌ قَالَ الصَّادِقُونَ هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ وَ الصِّدِّيقُونَ بِطَاعَتِهِمْ.

The Imams (a.s.) said, “The truthful ones are the Imams (a.s.) who, are truthful in their obedience (to Allah).”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا ادَّعَى أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَنَّهُ جَمَعَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ كَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَّا كَذَّابٌ وَ مَا جَمَعَهُ وَ حَفِظَهُ كَمَا نَزَّلَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَّا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع وَ الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ ع.

“No one from the people has claimed to have collected the whole of the Quran (in a book form) as it was revealed. If anyone would come up with such a claim, he is liar. No one collected this Book and preserved it as Allah, the Most High revealed it except Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and the Imams after him.”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِنَّ فِي الْجَفْرِ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُونَهُ‌[1] لَمَا يَسُوؤُهُمْ لِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَقُولُونَ الْحَقَ‌[2] وَ الْحَقُّ فِيهِ فَلْيُخْرِجُوا قَضَايَا عَلِيٍّ وَ فَرَائِضَهُ إِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ وَ سَلُوهُمْ عَنِ الْخَالاتِ وَ الْعَمَّاتِ‌[3] وَ لْيُخْرِجُوا مُصْحَفَ فَاطِمَةَ ع فَإِنَّ فِيهِ وَصِيَّةَ فَاطِمَةَ ع وَ مَعَهُ‌[4] سِلَاحُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ

“The Jafr of which they speak certainly disappoints them because they (the Zaydis) do not speak the truth while Jafr does contain the truth. Let them bring to light therefrom the judgments of Ali (a.s.) and his rulles of inheritance if they are truthful. Ask them about (the inheritance) of paternal and maternal aunts.

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ- وَ ما أَدْراكَ ما لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا أَدْرِي قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ هَلْ تَدْرِي لِمَ

“Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, “We revealed the Quran on the Night of Destiny ((97:1) Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has certainly said the truth has reveal the Holy Quran on the Night of Determination. “Would that you knew what the Night of Destiny is! (97:2)” the Messenger of Allah said, “I do not kn

لَمَا تَرَوْنَ‌[1] مَنْ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِلشَّقَاءِ- عَلَى أَهْلِ الضَّلَالَةِ مِنْ أَجْنَادِ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ‌[1] أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا تَرَوْنَ خَلِيفَةَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي بَعَثَهُ لِلْعَدْلِ وَ الصَّوَابِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ قِيلَ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ قَالَ كَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ السَّائِلُ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ إِنِّي لَوْ ح

9. The narrator has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said the following. “You, certainly, find those whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has sent to induce misfortune into the heretics and misleading people of the army (followers) of Satan and their companions in greater numbers than those sent to the deputy of Allah,

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْأَئِمَّةُ عُلَمَاءُ صَادِقُونَ مُفَهَّمُونَ مُحَدَّثُونَ.

“The Imams (a.s.) are scholar, truthful people, have perfect understanding and Muhaddathum hear from the angels.”

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

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْزَلَ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ ص كِتَاباً قَبْلَ وَفَاتِهِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ وَصِيَّتُكَ إِلَى النُّجَبَةِ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ قَالَ وَ مَا النُّجَبَةُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ وُلْدُهُ ع وَ كَانَ عَلَى الْكِتَابِ خَوَاتِيمُ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَدَفَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَفُكَّ خَاتَماً مِنْهُ وَ يَعْمَلَ بِمَا فِيهِ فَفَكّ

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu al-Hassan al-Kinani from Ja‘far ibn Najih al-Kindi from Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn ‘Ubaydallah al-‘Umari from his father from his grandfather from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah,

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَ لَيْسَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَاتِبَ الْوَصِيَّةِ وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْمُمْلِي عَلَيْهِ وَ جَبْرَئِيلُ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ع شُهُودٌ قَالَ فَأَطْرَقَ طَوِيلًا[2] ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ قَدْ كَانَ مَا قُلْتَ‌[3] وَ لَكِنْ حِينَ نَزَلَ بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْأَمْرُ نَزَلَتِ الْوَصِيَّةُ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ كِتَاباً مُسَجَّلًا نَزَلَ بِهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ مَ

4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Harith ibn Ja’far from Ali ibn Isma‘il ibn Yaqtin from ‘Isa ibn al-Mustafad, abu Musa al-Darir who has said that Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) narrated to me the following. “I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Was Amir al-

قِيلَ لَهُ بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُعْرَفُ الْإِمَامُ قَالَ بِالْوَصِيَّةِ الظَّاهِرَةِ وَ بِالْفَضْلِ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَطْعُنَ عَلَيْهِ فِي فَمٍ وَ لَا بَطْنٍ وَ لَا فَرْجٍ فَيُقَالَ كَذَّابٌ وَ يَأْكُلُ أَمْوَالَ النَّاسِ وَ مَا أَشْبَهَ هَذَا.

“He is recognized through a publicly established will, through excellence in perfection. In the case of Imam no one must be able to raise objections in matters words, of his consumption and sexual matters so that people would say, “He is a liar, usurping other’s properties and such similar things.”

سُئِلَ عَنِ الْقَائِمِ ع فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ هَذَا وَ اللَّهِ قَائِمُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص قَالَ عَنْبَسَةُ فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ صَدَقَ جَابِرٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَرَوْنَ أَنْ لَيْسَ كُلُّ إِمَامٍ هُوَ الْقَائِمَ بَعْدَ الْإِمَامِ الَّذِي كَانَ قَبْلَهُ.

"A question was asked of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about al-Qa’im (the twelfth Imam (a.s.). He (Abu Ja‘far) tapped (at the shoulder of) Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and said, 'This, by Allah, is the Qa’im (one who will establish the kingdom of Allah) of the family of Muhammad (s.w.).' ‘Anbasa has said, 'When Abu Ja‘far passed away, we

كَتَبَ ابْنُ قِيَامَا إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع كِتَاباً يَقُولُ فِيهِ كَيْفَ تَكُونُ إِمَاماً وَ لَيْسَ لَكَ وَلَدٌ فَأَجَابَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع شِبْهَ الْمُغْضَبِ وَ مَا عَلَّمَكَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٌ وَ اللَّهِ لَا تَمْضِي الْأَيَّامُ وَ اللَّيَالِي حَتَّى يَرْزُقَنِيَ اللَّهُ وَلَداً ذَكَراً يَفْرُقُ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَ الْبَاطِلِ.

“Ibn Qiyaman wrote a letter to abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in which he had said the following. ‘How can you be an Imam when you do not have a son?” Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) replied him with signs of anger, “How do you know that I will not have a son? By Allah, not many days and nights will pass before Allah will grant me

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَ يَكُونُ إِمَامَانِ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا وَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَامِتٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ هُوَ ذَا أَنْتَ لَيْسَ لَكَ صَامِتٌ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع بَعْدُ فَقَالَ لِي وَ اللَّهِ لَيَجْعَلَنَّ اللَّهُ مِنِّي مَا يُثْبِتُ بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَ أَهْلَهُ وَ يَمْحَقُ بِهِ الْبَاطِلَ وَ أَهْلَهُ فَوُلِدَ لَهُ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ كَانَ ابْنُ قِيَامَا وَاقِف

“Once I went to see Ali ibn Musa (a.s.). (During the meeting) I asked him, “Can there be two Imams?” He replied, “No, but that one of them must remain silent.” I then said to him, “This applies to you. You are the Imam and there is no silent Imam with you.” At that time his son abu Ja‘far was not yet born. He said to m

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع بَعْدَ مَا مَضَى ابْنُهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَ إِنِّي لَأُفَكِّرُ فِي نَفْسِي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَقُولَ كَأَنَّهُمَا أَعْنِي أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فِي هَذَا الْوَقْتِ- كَأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى وَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ابْنَيْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ إِنَّ قِصَّتَهُمَا كَقِصَّتِهِمَا إِذْ كَانَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُرْجَى بَعْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ قَبْلَ أ

“Abu Ja‘far and Abu Muhammad at this time are like Abu al-Hassan Musa and ’Isma‘il, the sons of Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), and their stories are similar, since Abu Muhammad was the appointee after Abu Ja'far (AS).” At that moment, Abu al-Hassan turned to me before I could say anything and said, “Yes, O Abu Hashim, All

بَعَثَ طَلْحَةُ وَ الزُّبَيْرُ رَجُلًا مِنْ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ يُقَالُ لَهُ خِدَاشٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص وَ قَالا لَهُ إِنَّا نَبْعَثُكَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ طَالَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْرِفُهُ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ بِالسِّحْرِ وَ الْكِهَانَةِ وَ أَنْتَ أَوْثَقُ مَنْ بِحَضْرَتِنَا مِنْ أَنْفُسِنَا مِنْ أَنْ تَمْتَنِعَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ أَنْ تُحَاجَّهُ لَنَا حَتَّى تَقِفَهُ عَلَى أَمْرٍ مَعْلُومٍ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ النَّاس

“Once Talha and al-Zubayr sent a man called Khidash from the tribe of ‘Abd a1-Qays, to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Before he would leave they spoke to him as herein below. “We are sending you to a man who and whose family are known to us since a long time as magicians and soothsayers. You are more trusted to us, than thos

كُنْتُ مَعَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ النَّهْرَوَانِ فَبَيْنَا عَلِيٌّ ع جَالِسٌ إِذْ جَاءَ فَارِسٌ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عَلِيُّ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ ع وَ عَلَيْكَ السَّلَامُ مَا لَكَ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ لَمْ تُسَلِّمْ عَلَيَّ بِإِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ بَلَى سَأُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ كُنْتُ إِذْ كُنْتَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ بِصِفِّينَ فَلَمَّا حَكَّمْتَ الْحَكَمَيْنِ بَرِئْت

On the day of al-Nahrawan I was in the presence of Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.). As we were sitting with the Imam (a.s.) a horse man approached and said, “al-salamu ‘Alayka ya Ali (peace be with you O Ali).” Ali (a.s.) said, “’Alayka al-salam (with you also be peace). May your mother weep over your dead body, why did you n

لَهُمْ يَا بَيَّاعِي مُسُوخِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَ جُنْدِ بَنِي مَرْوَانَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ فُرَاتُ بْنُ أَحْنَفَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ مَا جُنْدُ بَنِي مَرْوَانَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَقْوَامٌ حَلَقُوا اللِّحَى وَ فَتَلُوا الشَّوَارِبَ فَمُسِخُوا فَلَمْ أَرَ نَاطِقاً أَحْسَنَ نُطْقاً مِنْهُ ثُمَّ اتَّبَعْتُهُ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أَقْفُو أَثَرَهُ حَتَّى قَعَدَ فِي رَحَبَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ

“I saw Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) in the (market) place of the Shurtat al-Khamis with a two pronged whip in his had. With it he would scare the sellers of inedible fish such as eel, moray and angler etc., and say, “O sellers of metamorphosed Israelites and the army of the descendants of Marwan, do not sell (inedible fishe

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَاسْتُؤْذِنَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ عَلَيْهِ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ عَبْلٌ طَوِيلٌ جَسِيمٌ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْوَلَايَةِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ بِالْقَبُولِ وَ أَمَرَهُ بِالْجُلُوسِ فَجَلَسَ مُلَاصِقاً لِي فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي لَيْتَ شِعْرِي مَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ع هَذَا مِنْ وُلْدِ الْأَعْرَابِيَّةِ صَاحِبَةِ الْحَصَاةِ الَّتِي طَبَعَ آبَائِي ع فِيهَا بِخَوَاتِيمِهِمْ فَا

“Once I was in thepresence of abu Muhammad (a.s.) that permission was requested for a man from Yemen to see the Imam (a.s.). A chubby, tall and heavy man then came in and greeted the Imam with the greeting for Wilaya, the Leader with Divine Authority and received the acceptance response. The Imam (a.s.) asked him to ha

لَمَّا قُتِلَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع أَرْسَلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ ع فَخَلَا بِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي قَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص دَفَعَ الْوَصِيَّةَ وَ الْإِمَامَةَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع ثُمَّ إِلَى الْحَسَنِ ع ثُمَّ إِلَى الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ قَدْ قُتِلَ أَبُوكَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ وَ صَلَّى عَلَى رُوحِهِ وَ لَمْ يُوصِ وَ أَنَا عَمُّكَ وَ صِنْوُ

“When al-Husayn (a.s.) was martyred, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiya asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) for a private meeting. In the meeting he said, “O son of my brother, you know that the Messenger of Allah (s.a) delivered the task of al-Wasiyya, (the executor-ship of the will) and al-Imamat, (Leadership with Divine Authority)

دَخَلْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَ لَسْتُ أَعْرِفُ شَيْئاً مِنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَإِذَا جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَقُلْتُ أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ عَالِمِ أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ فَقَالُوا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ فَأَتَيْتُ مَنْزِلَهُ فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيَّ رَجُلٌ ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ غُلَامٌ لَهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ اسْتَأْذِنْ لِي عَلَى مَوْلَاكَ فَدَخَلَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ فَقَالَ لِيَ ادْخُلْ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذ

6. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ali who has said that Sama‘a ibn Mihran narrated to me that al-Kalbi al-Nassaba narrated to him the following. “ I went to Madina and I had no knowledge of this matter (Leadership with Divine Authority, Imamat ). I went to the Mosque

كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَا وَ صَاحِبُ الطَّاقِ وَ النَّاسُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ أَنَّهُ صَاحِبُ الْأَمْرِ بَعْدَ أَبِيهِ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ أَنَا وَ صَاحِبُ الطَّاقِ وَ النَّاسُ عِنْدَهُ وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ رَوَوْا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ فِي الْكَبِيرِ مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ بِهِ عَاهَةٌ فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ نَسْأَلُهُ عَ

“We were in Medina after Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) left this world. People had gathered around ‘Abdallah ibn Ja’far thinking that he was the in charge of this task (Imamah) after his father. I and Sahib al-Taq went to see him while people were around him because of a hadith that they would narrate from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.)

كَانَ لِيَ ابْنُ عَمٍّ يُقَالُ لَهُ- الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كَانَ زَاهِداً وَ كَانَ مِنْ أَعْبَدِ أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ وَ كَانَ يَتَّقِيهِ السُّلْطَانُ لِجِدِّهِ فِي الدِّينِ وَ اجْتِهَادِهِ وَ رُبَّمَا اسْتَقْبَلَ السُّلْطَانَ بِكَلَامٍ صَعْبٍ يَعِظُهُ وَ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ يَنْهَاهُ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ كَانَ السُّلْطَانُ يَحْتَمِلُهُ لِصَلَاحِهِ وَ لَمْ تَزَلْ هَذِهِ حَالَتَهُ حَتَّى كَانَ يَوْمٌ مِنَ

“I had a son of uncle. He wascalled al-Hassan ibn ‘Abdallah He was Zahid (restricted himself from worldly pleasures). He was the foremost in worship of his time. He king would also observe cautions due to his assiduousness and seriousness in the matters of religion. He would even demand the king to respect and maintain

سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ أَكْثَمَ قَاضِيَ سَامَرَّاءَ بَعْدَ مَا جَهَدْتُ بِهِ وَ نَاظَرْتُهُ وَ حَاوَرْتُهُ وَ وَاصَلْتُهُ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عُلُومِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ: بَيْنَا أَنَا ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ دَخَلْتُ أَطُوفُ بِقَبْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَرَأَيْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ الرِّضَا ع يَطُوفُ بِهِ فَنَاظَرْتُهُ فِي مَسَائِلَ عِنْدِي فَأَخْرَجَهَا إِلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَسْأَ

It happened only after serious debates, conversations, maintaining good relations and asking him about the knowledge of the members of the family of Muhammad (s.a). He said, “Once when was walking around the grave of the Messenger of Allah I saw Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.) also walk around the grave of the Messenge

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الرِّضَا ع وَ أَنَا يَوْمَئِذٍ وَاقِفٌ- وَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي سَأَلَ أَبَاهُ عَنْ سَبْعِ مَسَائِلَ فَأَجَابَهُ فِي سِتٍّ وَ أَمْسَكَ عَنِ السَّابِعَةِ فَقُلْتُ وَ اللَّهِ لَأَسْأَلَنَّهُ عَمَّا سَأَلَ أَبِي أَبَاهُ فَإِنْ أَجَابَ بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِ أَبِيهِ كَانَتْ دَلَالَةً فَسَأَلْتُهُ فَأَجَابَ بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِ أَبِيهِ أَبِي فِي الْمَسَائِلِ السِّتِّ فَلَمْ يَزِدْ فِي الْجَوَابِ وَاواً وَ لَا يَاءً وَ أَ

“Once I went to see Ali al-Rida (a.s.). At that time I was a memebr of Waqifi sect. My father had asked his (al-Rida’s) father seven questions. He had replied to six of them and had refrained from answering the seventh. I said to my self, “By Allah, I will ask him what my father had asked his father if his answers will

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَكُونُ إِمَامَانِ قَالَ لَا إِلَّا وَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَامِتٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ هُوَ ذَا أَنْتَ لَيْسَ لَكَ صَامِتٌ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ بَعْدُ فَقَالَ لِي وَ اللَّهِ لَيَجْعَلَنَّ اللَّهُ مِنِّي مَا يُثْبِتُ بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَ أَهْلَهُ وَ يَمْحَقُ بِهِ الْبَاطِلَ وَ أَهْلَهُ فَوُلِدَ لَهُ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقِيلَ لِابْنِ قِيَامَا أ

“Once I went to see Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (a.s.) and I said to him, “Can there be two Imams (at the same time)?” He said, “No, except if one of them would be silent.” I then said, “What about your self? There is no silent Imam with you.” His son, abu Ja’far (a.s.) was not yet born. He said, “By Allah, Allah will create

أَتَيْتُ خُرَاسَانَ وَ أَنَا وَاقِفٌ فَحَمَلْتُ مَعِي مَتَاعاً وَ كَانَ مَعِي ثَوْبٌ وَشِيٌّ فِي بَعْضِ الرِّزَمِ‌[2] وَ لَمْ أَشْعُرْ بِهِ وَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْ مَكَانَهُ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْتُ مَرْوَ وَ نَزَلْتُ فِي بَعْضِ مَنَازِلِهَا لَمْ أَشْعُرْ إِلَّا وَ رَجُلٌ مَدَنِيٌّ مِنْ بَعْضِ‌ مُوَلَّدِيهَا فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ لَكَ ابْعَثْ إِلَيَّ الثَّوْبَ الْوَشِيَّ الَّذِي عِنْدَكَ قَالَ فَقُلْ

“I came to Khurasan when I was a member of the Waqifa sect. I had certain goods with me. In these goods there was a printed piece of fabric in one of the bundles. It was misplaced and did not know where it was. When I arrived in Marv and found a lodging a man who was born in the city of Madina came by and said to me, “

كُنْتُ وَاقِفاً وَ حَجَجْتُ عَلَى تِلْكَ الْحَالِ فَلَمَّا صِرْتُ بِمَكَّةَ خَلَجَ فِي صَدْرِي شَيْ‌ءٌ فَتَعَلَّقْتُ بِالْمُلْتَزَمِ‌[1] ثُمَّ قُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ طَلِبَتِي وَ إِرَادَتِي فَأَرْشِدْنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الْأَدْيَانِ فَوَقَعَ فِي نَفْسِي أَنْ آتِيَ الرِّضَا ع فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَوَقَفْتُ بِبَابِهِ وَ قُلْتُ لِلْغُلَامِ قُلْ لِمَوْلَاكَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ بِالْبَابِ قَالَ فَسَمِع

“I was a member of Waqifa sect and I wen to Hajj with the same belief. When I arrived in Makka an idea began to prick my chest. I got hold of al-Multazam (the wall next to the door of Ka‘ba) and said, “O Lord, You know what I ask for and my intention. Guide me to the best of the religions. It then occurred to me to see