Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 10

Chapter On Prohibition on Attributing to Allah What He Himself has not Done so

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحِيمِ بْنِ عَتِيكٍ الْقَصِيرِ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ عَلَى يَدَيْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ قَوْماً بِالْعِرَاقِ يَصِفُونَ الله بِالصُّورَةِ وَبِالتَّخْطِيطِ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ جَعَلَنِيَ الله فِدَاكَ أَنْ تَكْتُبَ إِلَيَّ بِالْمَذْهَبِ الصَّحِيحِ مِنَ التَّوْحِيدِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ سَأَلْتَ رَحِمَكَ الله عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ وَمَا ذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ قِبَلَكَ فَتَعَالَى الله الَّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ تَعَالَى عَمَّا يَصِفُهُ الْوَاصِفُونَ الْمُشَبِّهُونَ الله بِخَلْقِهِ الْمُفْتَرُونَ عَلَى الله فَاعْلَمْ رَحِمَكَ الله أَنَّ الْمَذْهَبَ الصَّحِيحَ فِي التَّوْحِيدِ مَا نَزَلَ بِهِ الْقُرْآنُ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ فَانْفِ عَنِ الله تَعَالَى الْبُطْلانَ وَالتَّشْبِيهَ فَلا نَفْيَ وَلا تَشْبِيهَ هُوَ الله الثَّابِتُ الْمَوْجُودُ تَعَالَى الله عَمَّا يَصِفُهُ الْوَاصِفُونَ وَلا تَعْدُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَتَضِلُّوا بَعْدَ الْبَيَانِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-‘Abbass ibn Ma‘ruf from ibn abu Najran from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from Abd al-Rahim ibn ‘Utayk al-Qusayr who has said the following.

“I wrote through ‘Abdal Malik ibn ’a‘yan to Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). “In Iraq there are people who attribute to Allah forms and lines. If you consider it proper, may Allah take my soul in your service, please write for me the correct belief in the issue of the Oneness of Allah.”

The Imam wrote for me, “May Allah grant you blessings. You have asked about the Oneness of Allah and the belief of the group before you. Exalted is Allah, to Who nothing is similar. He is All-hearing and All-seeing. Allah is above what certain people attribute to Him and analogize Him with His creatures and the lies of those who speak lies about Him. Note that the true doctrine in the Oneness of Allah is what is revealed in the Quran in about the attributes of Allah, the Almighty, the Exalted. Keep away from the belief in Allah, the Most High, all ideas that amount to ignoring His existence altogether and those that amount to analogizing Him with the creatures. Neither should His existence be negated nor should He be considered similar to anything. He, Allah, the Most High exists. Exalted is He and far above what is falsely attributed to Him. Do not exceed the limits of the Quran lest you go astray after the clear presentation of Truth.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ إِنَّ الله لا يُوصَفُ بِمَحْدُودِيَّةٍ عَظُمَ رَبُّنَا عَنِ الصِّفَةِ فَكَيْفَ يُوصَفُ بِمَحْدُودِيَّةٍ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الابْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ.

2. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from abu Hamzah who has said that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn said to me, “O abu Hamzah, Allah cannot be defined by the created things. Our Lord is far above being described through the attributes. How can the infinite be defined by the finite? ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103)

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْخَزَّازِ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالا دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَحَكَيْنَا لَهُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَأَى رَبَّهُ فِي صُورَةِ الشَّابِّ الْمُوَفَّقِ فِي سِنِّ أَبْنَاءِ ثَلاثِينَ سَنَةً وَقُلْنَا إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ سَالِمٍ وَصَاحِبَ الطَّاقِ وَالْمِيثَمِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ أَجْوَفُ إِلَى السُّرَّةِ وَالْبَقِيَّةُ صَمَدٌ فَخَرَّ سَاجِداً لله ثُمَّ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ مَا عَرَفُوكَ وَلا وَحَّدُوكَ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ وَصَفُوكَ سُبْحَانَكَ لَوْ عَرَفُوكَ لَوَصَفُوكَ بِمَا وَصَفْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ سُبْحَانَكَ كَيْفَ طَاوَعَتْهُمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ أَنْ يُشَبِّهُوكَ بِغَيْرِكَ اللهمَّ لا أَصِفُكَ إِلا بِمَا وَصَفْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ وَلا أُشَبِّهُكَ بِخَلْقِكَ أَنْتَ أَهْلٌ لِكُلِّ خَيْرٍ فَلا تَجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ مَا تَوَهَّمْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَتَوَهَّمُوا الله غَيْرَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ نَحْنُ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّمَطُ الاوْسَطُ الَّذِي لا يُدْرِكُنَا الْغَالِي وَلا يَسْبِقُنَا التَّالِي يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حِينَ نَظَرَ إِلَى عَظَمَةِ رَبِّهِ كَانَ فِي هَيْئَةِ الشَّابِّ الْمُوَفَّقِ وَسِنِّ أَبْنَاءِ ثَلاثِينَ سَنَةً يَا مُحَمَّدُ عَظُمَ رَبِّي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي صِفَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَنْ كَانَتْ رِجْلاهُ فِي خُضْرَةٍ قَالَ ذَاكَ مُحَمَّدٌ كَانَ إِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ بِقَلْبِهِ جَعَلَهُ فِي نُورٍ مِثْلِ نُورِ الْحُجُبِ حَتَّى يَسْتَبِينَ لَهُ مَا فِي الْحُجُبِ إِنَّ نُورَ الله مِنْهُ أَخْضَرُ وَمِنْهُ أَحْمَرُ وَمِنْهُ أَبْيَضُ وَمِنْهُ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَا شَهِدَ لَهُ الْكِتَابُ وَالسُّنَّةُ فَنَحْنُ الْقَائِلُونَ بِهِ.

3. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Sa‘id from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Khazzaz and Muhammad ibn al-Husayn they both have said the following.

“We met Imam abu abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and stated to him that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) saw His Lord in the fashion of a full grown young man of thirty years and added that Hisham ibn Salim and Sahib al-Taq and al-Maythami say that He is hallow down to His navel and the rest is solid. The Imam bowed down to a prostrating position and then said, ‘(O Lord), Glory belongs to you they have not recognized You nor have they acknowledged Your Oneness thus, they attribute to You such things. (O Lord, Glory belongs to You, had they recognized You they would have attributed to You what you yourself have attributed to Yourself and they would not have considered You similar to things other than You. O Lord, I do not attribute to You anything other than what You have attributed to Yourself and do not consider You similar to Your creatures. To You belongs all good. Do not place me among the unjust ones.’ The Imam (a.s.) then turned to us saying, “Whatever you may imagine (make Wahm of) consider Allah some thing other than it.” He continued, ‘We, people of the family of the Prophet (s.a.), are the middle type and the criteria. Those who exceed can not catch up with us and those who follow can not go ahead of us. O Muhammad, when the messenger of Allah looked at the greatness of his Lord he was of the type of people as fully grown up as thirty years old people. O Muhammad, my Lord, the Majestic, the Glorious, is far greater than to be of the qualities of the creatures.” The narrator has said that I said, “May the Lord take my soul for your service, who was the one with his feet in the green?” The Imam said, “He was Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) when looked at his Lord with his heart He placed him in the light like that of the Hujub so he can see what is inside the Hujub. Of the light of Allah some are green, red, white and others. O Muhammad whatever has confirmation in the book and the Sunnah we affirm it.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ الْقَصَبَانِيُّ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ وَالارْضِ أَنْ يَصِفُوا الله بِعَظَمَتِهِ لَمْ يَقْدِرُوا.

4. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Bashir al-Barqi who has said that ‘Abbass ibn ‘Amir al-Qasbani who has said that Harun ibn al-Juham from abu Hamza from Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) has reported the following. “Even if all those in heavens and earth would gather together to speak of the greatness of Allah they will not be able to do so.”

5ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْهَمَذَانِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا مِنْ مَوَالِيكَ قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ جِسْمٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ صُورَةٌ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِخَطِّهِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُوصَفُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ أَوْ قَالَ الْبَصِيرُ.

5. Sahl has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Hamdani who has said the following.

“I wrote to the man (Imam abu al-Hassan the 3rd (a.s.) explaining, “Your followers in this city differ on the issue of the Oneness of Allah. Some of them say that Allah has a body, and others say that Allah has a form.” The Imam replied in his own handwriting, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-knowing, or the Imam said All-seeing.”

6ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ كَتَبَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَى أَبِي أَنَّ الله أَعْلَى وَأَجَلُّ وَأَعْظَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُبْلَغَ كُنْهُ صِفَتِهِ فَصِفُوهُ بِمَا وَصَفَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ وَكُفُّوا عَمَّا سِوَى ذَلِكَ.

6. Sahl has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim from Muhammad ibn Hakim who has said the following.

“Imam abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) wrote to my father, ‘Allah is far High, Glorious and Great than that one can reach the essence of His attribute. Speak of only those of His attributes of which He Himself has spoken and refrain from attributes other than those ones.’”

7ـ سَهْلٌ عَنِ السِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصٍ أَخِي مُرَازِمٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الصِّفَةِ فَقَالَ لا تَجَاوَزْ مَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ.

7. Sahl has narrated from al-Sindi ibn al-Rabi‘ from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hafs, brother of Marazim from al-Mufaddal who has said the “I asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about certain matters of the attributes (of Allah) and the Imam said, “Do not exceed what is in the holy Quran.”

8ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْقَاسَانِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ قَالَ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُوصَفُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

8. Sahl has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali al-Qasani (the right name is Ali ibn Muhammad, one of the companions of Imam abu al-Hassan al-Hadi, the tenth Imam (a.s.) who has said the following.

“I wrote to the Imam explaining that people before us had differences on the issue of the Oneness of Allah.” The Imam wrote, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-seeing.”

9ـ سَهْلٌ عَنْ بِشْرِ بْنِ بَشَّارٍ النَّيْسَابُورِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا قَدِ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ جِسْمٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ صُورَةٌ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُوصَفُ وَلا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

9. Sahl has narrated from Bishr ibn Bashshar al-Nayshaburi who has said the following.

“I wrote to the man (Imam) explaining that people before us had differences on the issue of the Oneness of Allah. There were people who said that Allah had a body, others said He had a form.” The Imam wrote for me, “Glory belongs to Allah, Who can not be defined nor described. There is nothing similar to Him. He is All-hearing, All-seeing.”

10ـ سَهْلٌ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَنَةَ خَمْسٍ وَخَمْسِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ قَدِ اخْتَلَفَ يَا سَيِّدِي أَصْحَابُنَا فِي التَّوْحِيدِ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ جِسْمٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقُولُ هُوَ صُورَةٌ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ يَا سَيِّدِي أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا أَقِفُ عَلَيْهِ وَلا أَجُوزُهُ فَعَلْتَ مُتَطَوِّلاً عَلَى عَبْدِكَ فَوَقَّعَ بِخَطِّهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَأَلْتَ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ وَهَذَا عَنْكُمْ مَعْزُولٌ الله وَاحِدٌ أَحَدٌ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ خَالِقٌ وَلَيْسَ بِمَخْلُوقٍ يَخْلُقُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَا يَشَاءُ مِنَ الاجْسَامِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ وَلَيْسَ بِجِسْمٍ وَيُصَوِّرُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَلَيْسَ بِصُورَةٍ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ وَتَقَدَّسَتْ أَسْمَاؤُهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ شِبْهٌ هُوَ لا غَيْرُهُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

10. Sahl has said that I wrote to abu Muhammad al-Hassan al-‘Askari (a.s.) in 255 AH., “Our people (ashabuna) differ on the issue of the Oneness of Allah. There are those who say he has a body and others say He has a certain form. If you would consider to instruct me in this matter on which I would rely without excess it would be a great favor to your servant.” The Imam answered in his own handwriting, “You have asked about the Oneness of Allah. It is not your duty to find Allah’s self. Allah is One, the Only One. He has no children and is not anyone’s child. There nothing similar to Him. He is the Creator and is not created. He, the Most Holy, the Most High, creates whatever He wants of the bodies and non-bodies. He is not a body or a certain form. He gives form to whatever He wills but Himself is not a form, Majestic is His praise and Holy are His names and is far above being similar to other things. Only He, and not others, is the One to Who no one is similar and He is all-hearing and All-seeing.”

11ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله لا يُوصَفُ وَكَيْفَ يُوصَفُ وَقَدْ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَما قَدَرُوا الله حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ فَلا يُوصَفُ بِقَدَرٍ إِلا كَانَ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ.

11. Muhammad ibn Isma'il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Rabi‘i ibn ‘Abdallah from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar, who has said the following.

“I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah cannot be defined. How can He be defined when He Himself has said in His book, “They have not respected Allah the way He truly should have been respected.” (6:91) Therefore, He cannot be described in any way but that He is great and above that.’”

12ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَعَنْ غَيْرِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَظِيمٌ رَفِيعٌ لا يَقْدِرُ الْعِبَادُ عَلَى صِفَتِهِ وَلا يَبْلُغُونَ كُنْهَ عَظَمَتِهِ لا؛ّّ تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الابْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ وَلا يُوصَفُ بِكَيْفٍ وَلا أَيْنٍ وَحَيْثٍ وَكَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِالْكَيْفِ وَهُوَ الَّذِي كَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ حَتَّى صَارَ كَيْفاً فَعُرِفَتِ الْكَيْفُ بِمَا كَيَّفَ لَنَا مِنَ الْكَيْفِ أَمْ كَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِأَيْنٍ وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَيَّنَ الايْنَ حَتَّى صَارَ أَيْناً فَعُرِفَتِ الايْنُ بِمَا أَيَّنَ لَنَا مِنَ الايْنِ أَمْ كَيْفَ أَصِفُهُ بِحَيْثٍ وَهُوَ الَّذِي حَيَّثَ الْحَيْثَ حَتَّى صَارَ حَيْثاً فَعُرِفَتِ الْحَيْثُ بِمَا حَيَّثَ لَنَا مِنَ الْحَيْثِ فَالله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى دَاخِلٌ فِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَخَارِجٌ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الابْصَارَ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ.

12. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and others from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from Ali ibn Ibrahim from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah is Great and High. People cannot describe Him nor can they reach the depth of His Greatness. ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103) He cannot be described by means of how and where. How can I describe Him by means of any condition? He Himself has created the conditions and how and so it came into being. We came to know conditions because of His designing them for us. How can I describe Him by means of space? It is He, Who spaced the space so it became space. I, thus, came to know space by means of what He has made it into space. How can I describe Him by means of positions when He Himself has given position to positions so it came into position. I, thus, came to know the position by means of what He has made to come into position. Allah, the Holy, the Most High, is in every place but is out of everything. ‘ No mortal eyes can see Him, but He can see all eyes. He is All-kind and All-aware.’” (6:103)

Chapter 11

Chapter On Prohibition on Considering Allah as having Body (JISM) and Form (SURAH)

1ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَمِعْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ يَرْوِي عَنْكُمْ أَنَّ الله جِسْمٌ صَمَدِيٌّ نُورِيٌّ مَعْرِفَتُهُ ضَرُورَةٌ يَمُنُّ بِهَا عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ فَقَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لا يَعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ كَيْفَ هُوَ إِلا هُوَ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُحَسُّ وَلا يُجَسُّ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَلا الْحَوَاسُّ وَلا يُحِيطُ بِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَلا تَخْطِيطٌ وَلا تَحْدِيدٌ.

1. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ali ibn abu Hamzah, who has said the following.

“I stated before abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that I have heard Hisham ibn al-Hakam quoting you that Allah is a body of Self-subsisting nature and is from light. He can very clearly be recognized and He bestows such knowledge to whoever among His creatures He wills.” The Imam said, “Glorious is He, Whom no one knows how He is except He Himself. There is no one similar to Him and He is All-hearing, All-seeing. He cannot be limited, nor can He be felt or touched or moved. Eyes cannot see Him nor any of the senses can comprehend Him. He cannot be contained in anything, nor has He any body or form or figure or confine.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الْجِسْمِ وَالصُّورَةِ فَكَتَبَ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ.

وَرَوَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله إِلا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُسَمِّ الرَّجُلَ.

Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Hamzah ibn Muhammad who has said the following.

“I wrote to Imam abu al-Hassan (al-Thalith 3rd (a.s.) asking about the body and form (of Allah). He wrote in reply, ‘Glorious is He similar to Who there is nothing. He is not a body nor has He any form.’”

This Hadith has also been narrated by Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah without giving the name of the person (from whom he has heard).

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ قَالَ جِئْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ فَأَمْلَى عَلَيَّ الْحَمْدُ لله فَاطِرِ الاشْيَاءِ إِنْشَاءً وَمُبْتَدِعِهَا ابْتِدَاعاً بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَحِكْمَتِهِ لا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَيَبْطُلَ الاخْتِرَاعُ وَلا لِعِلَّةٍ فَلا يَصِحَّ الابْتِدَاعُ خَلَقَ مَا شَاءَ كَيْفَ شَاءَ مُتَوَحِّداً بِذَلِكَ لاظْهَارِ حِكْمَتِهِ وَحَقِيقَةِ رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ لا تَضْبِطُهُ الْعُقُولُ وَلا تَبْلُغُهُ الاوْهَامُ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الابْصَارُ وَلا يُحِيطُ بِهِ مِقْدَارٌ عَجَزَتْ دُونَهُ الْعِبَارَةُ وَكَلَّتْ دُونَهُ الابْصَارُ وَضَلَّ فِيهِ تَصَارِيفُ الصِّفَاتِ احْتَجَبَ بِغَيْرِ حِجَابٍ مَحْجُوبٍ وَاسْتَتَرَ بِغَيْرِ سِتْرٍ مَسْتُورٍ عُرِفَ بِغَيْرِ رُؤْيَةٍ وَوُصِفَ بِغَيْرِ صُورَةٍ وَنُعِتَ بِغَيْرِ جِسْمٍ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ.

3. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Muhammad ibn Zayd who has said the following.

“I went to Imam al-Rida (a.s.) to ask about the Oneness of Allah (God). The Imam dictated to me thus, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, Who is the originator of all things. He is the inventor of all things, an invention that came from His power and wisdom but not from a thing so it would invalidate the invention and not from a cause so it would invalidate the novelty. He created whatever He wanted and howsoever He liked. He alone did all this to manifest His Wisdom and the truth of His Providence. Intelligence cannot comprehend Him, (Awham) imagination cannot reach Him, eyes cannot see Him and measurements cannot confine Him. The power of expression is unable to express Him in words. All sights are exhausted from reaching Him and the power of describing and defining have gone astray in its description and definition of His-self. He is hidden without any veil and is concealed without any covering. He is known without being seen; described without any form, and praised without any body. There is no god, except Allah, the Great, the Most High.’”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ وَصَفْتُ لابِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ الْجَوَالِيقِيِّ وَحَكَيْتُ لَهُ قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ أَنَّهُ جِسْمٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله تَعَالَى لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَيُّ فُحْشٍ أَوْ خَناً أَعْظَمُ مِنْ قَوْلِ مَنْ يَصِفُ خَالِقَ الاشْيَاءِ بِجِسْمٍ أَوْ صُورَةٍ أَوْ بِخِلْقَةٍ أَوْ بِتَحْدِيدٍ وَأَعْضَاءٍ تَعَالَى الله عَنْ ذَلِكَ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً.

4. Muhammad ibn Abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from those he mentioned from Ali ibn al-‘Abbass from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Muhammad ibn Hakim. He has said that I explained to abu Ibrahim (Musa al-Kazim (a.s.), the words of Hisham ibn Salim al-Jawaliqi and the words of Hisham ibn al-Hakam that say Allah is a body. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most High, is not similar to any of the things. What can be more blasphemous and scandalous than to describe the Creator of all things by means of body, form, type of creation, limitations, limbs and organs. Allah, the Most High, the Great, is far above these things.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفَرَجِ الرُّخَّجِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَمَّا قَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ فِي الْجِسْمِ وَهِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ فِي الصُّورَةِ فَكَتَبَ دَعْ عَنْكَ حَيْرَةَ الْحَيْرَانِ وَاسْتَعِذْ بِالله مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لَيْسَ الْقَوْلُ مَا قَالَ الْهِشَامَانِ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad, in a marfu‘ manner, has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Faraj al-Rukhkhaji who has said the following.

“I wrote to Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the words of Hisham ibn al-Hakam, about the body and the words of Hisham ibn Salim about the form (of Allah). He wrote in reply, ‘Remove from thyself the confusion of the confounded people and seek refuge from Allah against Shaytan (Satan). What the two Hishams have said is not correct.’”

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يُونُسَ بْنَ ظَبْيَانَ يَقُولُ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ يَقُولُ قَوْلاً عَظِيماً إِلا أَنِّي أَخْتَصِرُ لَكَ مِنْهُ أَحْرُفاً فَزَعَمَ أَنَّ الله جِسْمٌ لانَّ الاشْيَاءَ شَيْئَانِ جِسْمٌ وَفِعْلُ الْجِسْمِ فَلا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ الصَّانِعُ بِمَعْنَى الْفِعْلِ وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ بِمَعْنَى الْفَاعِلِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَيْحَهُ أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْجِسْمَ مَحْدُودٌ مُتَنَاهٍ وَالصُّورَةَ مَحْدُودَةٌ مُتَنَاهِيَةٌ فَإِذَا احْتَمَلَ الْحَدَّ احْتَمَلَ الزِّيَادَةَ وَالنُّقْصَانَ وَإِذَا احْتَمَلَ الزِّيَادَةَ وَالنُّقْصَانَ كَانَ مَخْلُوقاً قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا أَقُولُ قَالَ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَهُوَ مُجَسِّمُ الاجْسَامِ وَمُصَوِّرُ الصُّوَرِ لَمْ يَتَجَزَّأْ وَلَمْ يَتَنَاهَ وَلَمْ يَتَزَايَدْ وَلَمْ يَتَنَاقَصْ لَوْ كَانَ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَ الْخَالِقِ وَالْمَخْلُوقِ فَرْقٌ وَلا بَيْنَ الْمُنْشِئِ وَالْمُنْشَإِ لَكِنْ هُوَ الْمُنْشِئُ فَرْقٌ بَيْنَ مَنْ جَسَّمَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَأَنْشَأَهُ إِذْ كَانَ لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يُشْبِهُ هُوَ شَيْئاً.

6. Muhammad ibn Abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Sa‘id from ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mughirah from Muhammad ibn Ziyad who has said the following.

“I heard Yunus ibn Zabyan saying, ‘I went to meet abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), and said, “Hisham ibn al-Hakam has uttered monstrous words. I will briefly mention a few words. He thinks Allah has a body because things are of two types; (a) body and (b) the acts. It is not possible for the Creator Himself to be just actions or functions. But it is possible to consider Him as the agent.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, ‘That is not proper from him. Does he not know that the body has limits and the form has limits and an end? Whatever is subject to limitations is also subject to increase and reduction and such things are created.’

I then asked, “What then I should say?” He replied, ‘Allah is without body and form. He is the giver of body to all bodies and the giver of form to all forms. He can not be divided or limited. He does not grow or decrease. If it were as they say, then there would have been no difference between the Creator and the created, the inventor and the invented. But He is the Creator and the inventor. He has made the distinction and differentiation between that to which He has given body, form and that which He has invented. This is because nothing is similar to Him nor He resembles anything.’”

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمَّانِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) إِنَّ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الله جِسْمٌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ عَالِمٌ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ قَادِرٌ مُتَكَلِّمٌ نَاطِقٌ وَالْكَلامُ وَالْقُدْرَةُ وَالْعِلْمُ يَجْرِي مَجْرَى وَاحِدٍ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْهَا مَخْلُوقاً فَقَالَ قَاتَلَهُ الله أَ مَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ الْجِسْمَ مَحْدُودٌ وَالْكَلامَ غَيْرُ الْمُتَكَلِّمِ مَعَاذَ الله وَأَبْرَأُ إِلَى الله مِنْ هَذَا الْقَوْلِ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَلا تَحْدِيدٌ وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ سِوَاهُ مَخْلُوقٌ إِنَّمَا تُكَوَّنُ الاشْيَاءُ بِإِرَادَتِهِ وَمَشِيئَتِهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ كَلامٍ وَلا تَرَدُّدٍ فِي نَفَسٍ وَلا نُطْقٍ بِلِسَانٍ.

7. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Ali ibn al-‘Abbass from al-Hassan ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Hammani who has said the following.

“I said to abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Hisham ibn al-Hakam claims that Allah is a body like unto Whom there is no one. He is All-knowing, All-hearing, All-seeing, All-powerful. He speaks and reasons. His word, His power, His knowledge are all in one. No one of them is created.’” The Imam said, “May Allah be his foe. Does he not know that the body is limited, and that the speech is other than what the speaker is? I seek refuge from Allah and I disclaim such words. Allah does not have a body, form or any kind of limitations. Allah has created everything. He creates things as and when He wills without any word or planing in the mind or utterance of the tongue.”

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ قَالَ وَصَفْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلَ هِشَامٍ الْجَوَالِيقِيِّ وَمَا يَقُولُ فِي الشَّابِّ الْمُوَفَّقِ وَوَصَفْتُ لَهُ قَوْلَ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

8. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Iisa from Yunus from Muhammad ibn Hakim who has said the following.

“I mentioned to abu al-Hassan al-Awwal (the first) (a.s.), the statements of Hisham al-Jawaliqi and what he says about fully grown up young man (see Hadith 3 Chapter on prohibited Attributes). I also mentioned the statements of Hisham ibn al-Hakam in this matter.” The Imam said, “Allah, certainly, is not similar to any thing.”