Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 12

Chapter On Attribute Of Essence (Sifat al-DhDhat) Of Allah

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الطَّيَالِسِيِّ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَمْ يَزَلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ رَبَّنَا وَالْعِلْمُ ذَاتُهُ وَلا مَعْلُومَ وَالسَّمْعُ ذَاتُهُ وَلا مَسْمُوعَ وَالْبَصَرُ ذَاتُهُ وَلا مُبْصَرَ وَالْقُدْرَةُ ذَاتُهُ وَلا مَقْدُورَ فَلَمَّا أَحْدَثَ الاشْيَاءَ وَكَانَ الْمَعْلُومُ وَقَعَ الْعِلْمُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الْمَعْلُومِ وَالسَّمْعُ عَلَى الْمَسْمُوعِ وَالْبَصَرُ عَلَى الْمُبْصَرِ وَالْقُدْرَةُ عَلَى الْمَقْدُورِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الله مُتَحَرِّكاً قَالَ فَقَالَ تَعَالَى الله عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ الْحَرَكَةَ صِفَةٌ مُحْدَثَةٌ بِالْفِعْلِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الله مُتَكَلِّماً قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْكَلامَ صِفَةٌ مُحْدَثَةٌ لَيْسَتْ بِأَزَلِيَّةٍ كَانَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلا مُتَكَلِّمَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Tayalisi from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Maskan from abu Basir who has said the following.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Exalted, the Glorious, Allah, our Lord, is Eternal. Knowledge is His self even if there is nothing to be known. Hearing is His self even if there is nothing to be heard. Seeing is His-self even when there is nothing to be seen. Power is His self even if there is nothing to feel the power. When He brought things into existence the perceptible objects became the objects of His knowledge, His hearing applied to audible objects, His seeing to visible objects and His power to the objects that feel power.’”

Abu Basir adds; “I further asked, ‘Has Allah always been in motion?” He replied, “Allah is High Exalted above that. Motion is an attribute that is created through action.” I asked, “Did Allah always have the ability to speak?” He replied, “ Speech is a created attribute and not an eternal one. Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, existed when there was nothing able to speak.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ كَانَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلا شَيْ‏ءَ غَيْرُهُ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ عَالِماً بِمَا يَكُونُ فَعِلْمُهُ بِهِ قَبْلَ كَوْنِهِ كَعِلْمِهِ بِهِ بَعْدَ كَوْنِهِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following.

“I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah, to Whom belong Might and Majesty, existed when nothing else existed. He eternally knows whatever comes into being. His knowledge of things before their coming into existence and afterwards is exactly the same.’”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْكَاهِلِيِّ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي دُعَاءٍ الْحَمْدُ لله مُنْتَهَى عِلْمِهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ لا تَقُولَنَّ مُنْتَهَى عِلْمِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِعِلْمِهِ مُنْتَهًى وَلَكِنْ قُلْ مُنْتَهَى رِضَاهُ‏.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-Kahili who has said the following.

“I wrote to abu al-Hassan (al-Kazim) (a.s.), praising Allah in my letter as, ‘All praise belongs to Allah to the limit of His knowledge.’” He wrote back to me, “Do not say, “To the limit of His knowledge because there is no limit to His knowledge. Instead say, “All praise belongs to Allah to the limit of His pleasure.”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ الاشْيَاءَ قَبْلَ أَنْ خَلَقَ الاشْيَاءَ وَكَوَّنَهَا أَوْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى خَلَقَهَا وَأَرَادَ خَلْقَهَا وَتَكْوِينَهَا فَعَلِمَ مَا خَلَقَ عِنْدَ مَا خَلَقَ وَمَا كَوَّنَ عِنْدَ مَا كَوَّنَ فَوَقَّعَ بِخَطِّهِ لَمْ يَزَلِ الله عَالِماً بِالاشْيَاءِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الاشْيَاءَ كَعِلْمِهِ بِالاشْيَاءِ بَعْدَ مَا خَلَقَ الاشْيَاءَ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Sa‘d ibn ‘Abdallah from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ayyub ibn Nuh, who wrote to abu al-Hassan (al-Thalith (a.s.) asking him about Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious. “Did He know all things before creating and giving them being, or did He not know until He brought them into existence or until He willed their creation and existence? Did Allah come to know what He created during the process of their creation and what He originated during their being originated?” The Imam wrote in reply in his own handwriting, “Eternally Allah has had full knowledge of all things, before as well as after their creation.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ أَنَّ مَوَالِيَكَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِي الْعِلْمِ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَمْ يَزَلِ الله عَالِماً قَبْلَ فِعْلِ الاشْيَاءِ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لا نَقُولُ لَمْ يَزَلِ الله عَالِماً لانَّ مَعْنَى يَعْلَمُ يَفْعَلُ فَإِنْ أَثْبَتْنَا الْعِلْمَ فَقَدْ أَثْبَتْنَا فِي الازَلِ مَعَهُ شَيْئاً فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ جَعَلَنِيَ الله فِدَاكَ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَا أَقِفُ عَلَيْهِ وَلا أَجُوزُهُ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِخَطِّهِ لَمْ يَزَلِ الله عَالِماً تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn Hamzah who has said the following.

“I wrote to the man (Imam (a.s.), ‘Your followers differ about the knowledge of Allah. There are those who say that before creating all things Allah had eternally full knowledge of them. Others say that we should not say so because His knowing is like His action. If we prove that His Knowledge is eternal we have also established another thing eternal along with Him. May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if you would consider it proper, kindly enlighten me in this issue so that I would have a firm stand and do not waver therefrom.” He wrote in his own handwriting, “Eternally Allah , the Most Holy, the Most High has had the Knowledge of all things.”

?? and Allah's Positive Attributes such as His knowledge are the same as His Essence without any duality between His Essence and His Positive Attributes).' “

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ سُكَّرَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي هَلْ كَانَ الله جَلَّ وَجْهُهُ يَعْلَمُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ أَنَّهُ وَحْدَهُ فَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَ مَوَالِيكَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ قَدْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ شَيْئاً مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِنَّمَا مَعْنَى يَعْلَمُ يَفْعَلُ فَهُوَ الْيَوْمَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لا غَيْرُهُ قَبْلَ فِعْلِ الاشْيَاءِ فَقَالُوا إِنْ أَثْبَتْنَا أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَالِماً بِأَنَّهُ لا غَيْرُهُ فَقَدْ أَثْبَتْنَا مَعَهُ غَيْرَهُ فِي أَزَلِيَّتِهِ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ يَا سَيِّدِي أَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِي مَا لا أَعْدُوهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا زَالَ الله عَالِماً تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from 'Abd al-Samad ibn Bashir from Fudayl ibn Sukkarah who has said the following.

“I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if you would consider it proper please enlighten me about whether Allah, Majestic is Whose face, had knowledge of His Oneness before He brought the creation into existence? Your followers differ on this issue. There are those who believe that Allah did have knowledge of His Oneness before He created anything. Others say His knowledge is His action. Thus, now Allah has come to know that before He created things there had been nothing besides He Himself. They say that if we believe in the eternal knowledge of Allah of His Oneness, we have established another thing eternal along with Him. If you would consider it proper please enlighten me in this issue so I may not waver here and there.” He wrote, “Allah, the Blessed and Exalted has always had the Knowledge of all things.” (See Hadith No. 294 – 53)

Chapter 13

Another Chapter of The Previous Chapter

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي صِفَةِ الْقَدِيمِ إِنَّهُ وَاحِدٌ صَمَدٌ أَحَدِيُّ الْمَعْنَى لَيْسَ بِمَعَانِي كَثِيرَةٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَزْعُمُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ أَنَّهُ يَسْمَعُ بِغَيْرِ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُ بِغَيْرِ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ قَالَ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا وَأَلْحَدُوا وَشَبَّهُوا تَعَالَى الله عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ يَسْمَعُ بِمَا يُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُ بِمَا يَسْمَعُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ بَصِيرٌ عَلَى مَا يَعْقِلُونَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ تَعَالَى الله إِنَّمَا يَعْقِلُ مَا كَانَ بِصِفَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِ وَلَيْسَ الله كَذَلِكَ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Hammad from Hariz from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following about being eternal.

“He, Allah, is One, the Self-sufficient. He is One and only One without any multiplicity in different meaning.” The narrator said that I further inquired, “May Allah take my soul in your service, certain people in Iraq think, that Allah hears with something different from what He sees with, and He sees with something different from what He hears with.” The Imam replied, “They have said a lie and have become atheists for considering Allah similar to other things. Allah, the Most High, indeed is above all things. He is All-hearing and All-seeing. He hears with what He sees, and sees with what He hears.” The narrator has said that he further asked, “Those people are also of the opinion that Allah is All-seeing in the same sense and in the same way as they perceive.” The Imam said, “Allah is High Exalted above all such things. Only such things are perceived, which has the attributes of created things. Allah is not created.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ قَالَ فِي حَدِيثِ الزِّنْدِيقِ الَّذِي سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ أَ تَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله هُوَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ سَمِيعٌ بِغَيْرِ جَارِحَةٍ وَبَصِيرٌ بِغَيْرِ آلَةٍ بَلْ يَسْمَعُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَيُبْصِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَلَيْسَ قَوْلِي إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بِنَفْسِهِ أَنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَالنَّفْسُ شَيْ‏ءٌ آخَرُ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ عِبَارَةً عَنْ نَفْسِي إِذْ كُنْتُ مَسْئُولاً وَإِفْهَاماً لَكَ إِذْ كُنْتَ سَائِلاً فَأَقُولُ يَسْمَعُ بِكُلِّهِ لا أَنَّ كُلَّهُ لَهُ بَعْضٌ لانَّ الْكُلَّ لَنَا لَهُ بَعْضٌ وَلَكِنْ أَرَدْتُ إِفْهَامَكَ وَالتَّعْبِيرُ عَنْ نَفْسِي وَلَيْسَ مَرْجِعِي فِي ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ إِلا أَنَّهُ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ الْعَالِمُ الْخَبِيرُ بِلا اخْتِلافِ الذَّاتِ وَلا اخْتِلافِ مَعْنًى.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-‘Abbass ibn 'Amr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam, who about the debate with an atheist (see Hadith No.225 - 6), has said the following.

“He asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Do you say that He is All-hearing and All-seeing?’ Abu ‘Abdallah said, “Allah is All-hearing, All-seeing. He hears without any organ and sees without any instrument. He Himself hears and He Himself sees. When I say He Himself hears I do not mean thereby that He is One and His self is something different. I only try to express what I have in my mind to answer a question and help you understand the answer. So I say, “His whole self hears. This does not mean that His whole has parts. In our perception whole consists of parts. It is to make you understand and express my thoughts. It all amounts to saying that He is All-hearing, All-seeing, All-knowing and All-aware, without any multiplicity in the meaning.”

Chapter 14

Chapter On Will Power (IRADAH) it is of the Attributes of Action (SIFAT al-FI‘L) and the Rest of the Attributes of Action

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى الاشْعَرِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الاهْوَازِيِّ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَمْ يَزَلِ الله مُرِيداً قَالَ إِنَّ الْمُرِيدَ لا يَكُونُ إِلا لِمُرَادٍ مَعَهُ لَمْ يَزَلِ الله عَالِماً قَادِراً ثُمَّ أَرَادَ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa al-Ash‘ari from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id al-Ahwazi from an-Nadr ibn Suwayd from ‘Asim ibn Hamiyd who has said the following.

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Is Allah’s will eternal?’”

He replied, Will is always with what is willed. Allah is eternally All-knowing and All-powerful and then He wills.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عِلْمُ الله وَمَشِيئَتُهُ هُمَا مُخْتَلِفَانِ أَوْ مُتَّفِقَانِ فَقَالَ الْعِلْمُ لَيْسَ هُوَ الْمَشِيئَةَ أَ لا تَرَى أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ سَأَفْعَلُ كَذَا إِنْ شَاءَ الله وَلا تَقُولُ سَأَفْعَلُ كَذَا إِنْ عَلِمَ الله فَقَوْلُكَ إِنْ شَاءَ الله دَلِيلٌ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَشَأْ فَإِذَا شَاءَ كَانَ الَّذِي شَاءَ كَمَا شَاءَ وَعِلْمُ الله السَّابِقُ لِلْمَشِيئَةِ.

2. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm from Bukayr ibn A‘yan who has said the following.

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Are the knowledge and the will of Allah different or the same?’”

He replied, “His knowledge is not the same as His will. Consider when you say, ‘If Allah wills, I will do this,' and you do not say, “If Allah knows I will do this.” Your own words, if Allah wills are proof that Allah has not yet willed it. If He would will what He would do, it happens exactly as He wills. His knowledge is before His will.”

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الارَادَةِ مِنَ الله وَمِنَ الْخَلْقِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الارَادَةُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ الضَّمِيرُ وَمَا يَبْدُو لَهُمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفِعْلِ وَأَمَّا مِنَ الله تَعَالَى فَإِرَادَتُهُ إِحْدَاثُهُ لا غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ لانَّهُ لا يُرَوِّي وَلا يَهُمُّ وَلا يَتَفَكَّرُ وَهَذِهِ الصِّفَاتُ مَنْفِيَّةٌ عَنْهُ وَهِيَ صِفَاتُ الْخَلْقِ فَإِرَادَةُ الله الْفِعْلُ لا غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ بِلا لَفْظٍ وَلا نُطْقٍ بِلِسَانٍ وَلا هِمَّةٍ وَلا تَفَكُّرٍ وَلا كَيْفَ لِذَلِكَ كَمَا أَنَّهُ لا كَيْفَ لَهُ.

3. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said the following.

“I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘Enlighten me about the will of Allah and the will of His creatures.’”

He said, “The will of His creatures comes from what goes in their minds and leads to action. Will of Allah, the Most High, is His inventing and nothing else because Allah does not need to reflect, deliberate or think. Such qualities do not exist with Him. They are the attributes of His creation. Allah’s will is His acts and nothing else. He says to it: Be, and it comes into existence, without any words or utterance of the tongue, any inclination and reflection. His will has no conditions just as His self has no conditions.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ خَلَقَ الله الْمَشِيئَةَ بِنَفْسِهَا ثُمَّ خَلَقَ الاشْيَاءَ بِالْمَشِيئَةِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhaynah from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Allah created His Will by Will itself. Then, He created all things by His Will.”

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْمَشْرِقِيِّ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ الْمُرْتَفِعِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ كُنْتُ فِي مَجْلِسِ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَوْلُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَمَنْ يَحْلِلْ عَلَيْهِ غَضَبِي فَقَدْ هَوى‏ مَا ذَلِكَ الْغَضَبُ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ الْعِقَابُ يَا عَمْرُو إِنَّهُ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّ الله قَدْ زَالَ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ فَقَدْ وَصَفَهُ صِفَةَ مَخْلُوقٍ وَإِنَّ الله تَعَالَى لا يَسْتَفِزُّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَيُغَيِّرَهُ.

5. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Mashriqi Hamzah ibn al-Murtafi‘ from some of our people who has said the following.

“I was in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) when ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd said, ‘May Allah take my soul in your service, what is the meaning of Allah’s words, “Whoever becomes subject to my anger he is destroyed.” 20:84 What is this anger?’

Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) replied, “O ‘Amr, His anger is His punishment. O ‘Amr, whoever thinks Allah changes from one state to another, has ascribed to Allah the attributes of His creatures. Nothing can provoke Allah, the Sublime, to change Him.”

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ فِي حَدِيثِ الزِّنْدِيقِ الَّذِي سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَكَانَ مِنْ سُؤَالِهِ أَنْ قَالَ لَهُ فَلَهُ رِضًا وَسَخَطٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نَعَمْ وَلَكِنْ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى مَا يُوجَدُ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الرِّضَا حَالٌ تَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِ فَتَنْقُلُهُ مِنْ حَالٍ إِلَى حَالٍ لانَّ الْمَخْلُوقَ أَجْوَفُ مُعْتَمِلٌ مُرَكَّبٌ لِلاشْيَاءِ فِيهِ مَدْخَلٌ وَخَالِقُنَا لا مَدْخَلَ لِلاشْيَاءِ فِيهِ لانَّهُ وَاحِدٌ وَاحِدِيُّ الذَّاتِ وَاحِدِيُّ الْمَعْنَى فَرِضَاهُ ثَوَابُهُ وَسَخَطُهُ عِقَابُهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْ‏ءٍ يَتَدَاخَلُهُ فَيُهَيِّجُهُ وَيَنْقُلُهُ مِنْ حَالٍ إِلَى حَالٍ لانَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صِفَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ الْعَاجِزِينَ الْمُحْتَاجِينَ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-‘Abbass ibn ‘Amr from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has narrated the following in the debate with the atheist who asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) (See Hadith Nos.225 - 6 and 297 -2).

“Does Allah become pleased and displeased?” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) replied, “Yes, but not like that which is found in His creatures. In His creatures the pleasure is a state (hal), which enters into him and changes him from one state to another. The creatures are hollow, active and compound with entrance in them. Nothing can enter into our Creator. Because He is One, a single self, a single meaning. His pleasure is His reward and His anger is His punishment without anything entering in Him to motivate and change Him from one state to another because these are of the attributes of His creatures who are weak and needy.”

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْمَشِيئَةُ مُحْدَثَةٌ.

جُمْلَةُ الْقَوْلِ فِي صِفَاتِ الذَّاتِ وَصِفَاتِ الْفِعْلِ.

إِنَّ كُلَّ شَيْئَيْنِ وَصَفْتَ الله بِهِمَا وَكَانَا جَمِيعاً فِي الْوُجُودِ فَذَلِكَ صِفَةُ فِعْلٍ وَتَفْسِيرُ هَذِهِ الْجُمْلَةِ أَنَّكَ تُثْبِتُ فِي الْوُجُودِ مَا يُرِيدُ وَمَا لا يُرِيدُ وَمَا يَرْضَاهُ وَمَا يُسْخِطُهُ وَمَا يُحِبُّ وَمَا يُبْغِضُ فَلَوْ كَانَتِ الارَادَةُ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الذَّاتِ مِثْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَالْقُدْرَةِ كَانَ مَا لا يُرِيدُ نَاقِضاً لِتِلْكَ الصِّفَةِ وَلَوْ كَانَ مَا يُحِبُّ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الذَّاتِ كَانَ مَا يُبْغِضُ نَاقِضاً لِتِلْكَ الصِّفَةِ أَ لا تَرَى أَنَّا لا نَجِدُ فِي الْوُجُودِ مَا لا يَعْلَمُ وَمَا لا يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ وَكَذَلِكَ صِفَاتُ ذَاتِهِ الازَلِيِّ لَسْنَا نَصِفُهُ بِقُدْرَةٍ وَعَجْزٍ وَعِلْمٍ وَجَهْلٍ وَسَفَهٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ وَخَطَإٍ وَعِزٍّ وَذِلَّةٍ وَيَجُوزُ أَنْ يُقَالَ يُحِبُّ مَنْ أَطَاعَهُ وَيُبْغِضُ مَنْ عَصَاهُ وَيُوَالِي مَنْ أَطَاعَهُ وَيُعَادِي مَنْ عَصَاهُ وَإِنَّهُ يَرْضَى وَيَسْخَطُ وَيُقَالُ فِي الدُّعَاءِ اللهمَّ ارْضَ عَنِّي وَلا تَسْخَطْ عَلَيَّ وَتَوَلَّنِي وَلا تُعَادِنِي وَلا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُقَالَ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ وَلا يَقْدِرُ أَنْ لا يَعْلَمَ وَيَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَمْلِكَ وَلا يَقْدِرُ أَنْ لا يَمْلِكَ وَيَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً وَلا يَقْدِرُ أَنْ لا يَكُونَ عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً وَيَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ جَوَاداً وَلا يَقْدِرُ أَنْ لا يَكُونَ جَوَاداً وَيَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ غَفُوراً وَلا يَقْدِرُ أَنْ لا يَكُونَ غَفُوراً وَلا يَجُوزُ أَيْضاً أَنْ يُقَالَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَكُونَ رَبّاً وَقَدِيماً وَعَزِيزاً وَحَكِيماً وَمَالِكاً وَعَالِماً وَقَادِراً لانَّ هَذِهِ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الذَّاتِ وَالارَادَةُ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الْفِعْلِ أَ لا تَرَى أَنَّهُ يُقَالُ أَرَادَ هَذَا وَلَمْ يُرِدْ هَذَا وَصِفَاتُ الذَّاتِ تَنْفِي عَنْهُ بِكُلِّ صِفَةٍ مِنْهَا ضِدَّهَا يُقَالُ حَيٌّ وَعَالِمٌ وَسَمِيعٌ وَبَصِيرٌ وَعَزِيزٌ وَحَكِيمٌ غَنِيٌّ مَلِكٌ حَلِيمٌ عَدْلٌ كَرِيمٌ فَالْعِلْمُ ضِدُّهُ الْجَهْلُ وَالْقُدْرَةُ ضِدُّهَا الْعَجْزُ وَالْحَيَاةُ ضِدُّهَا الْمَوْتُ وَالْعِزَّةُ ضِدُّهَا الذِّلَّةُ وَالْحِكْمَةُ ضِدُّهَا الْخَطَأُ وَضِدُّ الْحِلْمِ الْعَجَلَةُ وَالْجَهْلُ وَضِدُّ الْعَدْلِ الْجَوْرُ وَالظُّلْمُ.

7. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhaynah from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said, “The will is created.”

Summery Statements on the Attributes of His self

Sifat al-Dhat and the Attributes of His Actions Sifat al-Fi‘1

For every two attributes which you attribute to Allah (e.g. The Creator, The Sustainer), of which each has its own separate being, (i.e. The Creator achieves its being, as an attribute of Allah' through something which Allah creates, and The Sustainer achieves its being, as an attribute of Allah, through a created being which He sustains), these attributes are attributes of (His) action. (Because if two attributes are separate in being, obviously each of them differs in their being with the thing with which they are attributed, and therefore both the attribute and the attributed have their own being.

Therefore, in order to distinguish an attribute of action from an attribute of essence, it is always necessary to compare that attribute with another one. If we perceives these two to be independent of each other in being, then both of them are attributes of action). The explanation (and proof) of this sentence is that you prove (establish), in respect of His Being, what He intends to do and what He does not intend, what pleases Him and what displeases Him, what He likes and what He dislikes. If the intention had been the attribute of His essence like the attribute of knowledge and power, His not intending (for something) would have been its contradiction. Similarly, if His liking for something had been the attribute of His essence, His dislike (of something) would have been its contradiction. Do you not see, we do not find in His Being anything which He does not know and anything over which He has no power? Such are the attributes of His essence (Self), which are everlasting. We can never attribute to Allah power and (its opposite) weakness. (Similarly, we can neither attribute to Him knowledge and [its opposite] ignorance and stupidity, nor can we attribute to Him wisdom and 1 its opposite] error. Nor can we attribute to Him honor and [its opposite] disgrace). It is permissible to say, “He (Allah) loves him who obeys Him and hates him who disobeys Him. He favors him who obeys Him and is hostile to him who disobeys Him. And verily, He is pleased and He is also displeased. It is also permissible to say in the invocations: ‘O my Allah, be pleased with me and do not be angry at me. Favor me and do not be hostile to me.’”

But it is not permissible to say, “Allah has power to know and has no power not to know. He has power to possess and has no power not to possess. He has power to be powerful and wise, and has no power to be otherwise, i.e. without power and wisdom. He has power to be generous and has no power to be not generous. He has power to be forgiving and has no power to be not forgiving.” It is also not permissible to say, “Allah intended to be the Nourishing, the Everlasting, the Mighty, the Wise, the Possessor, the all-knowing, the all-Powerful.” Since these are the attributes of His essence while intention is among His attributes of action.

“Do you not see that it is said; “Allah intended this and did not intend that.” Every Attribute of His essence negates its opposite in respect of Him. He is called: “The Living, the All-knowing, the All-hearing, the All-seeing, the All-mighty, the All-wise, the Rich, the King, the Clement, the Just and the Generous.” The opposite of knowledge is ignorance. The opposite of power is inability. The opposite of life is death. The opposite of honor is humiliation. The opposite of wisdom is error. The opposite of clemency is haste and ignorance. The opposite of justice is oppression and tyranny. (So, by proving any of His essential attributes its opposite is negated.)