Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 7

Knowing the Imam (a.s.) and Belief in His Divine Authority

1ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُ الله مَنْ يَعْرِفُ الله فَأَمَّا مَنْ لا يَعْرِفُ الله فَإِنَّمَا يَعْبُدُهُ هَكَذَا ضَلالاً قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَمَا مَعْرِفَةُ الله قَالَ تَصْدِيقُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَتَصْدِيقُ رَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَمُوَالاةُ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَالائْتِمَامُ بِهِ وَبِأَئِمَّةِ الْهُدَى (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَالْبَرَاءَةُ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِمْ هَكَذَا يُعْرَفُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ who has said that Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl narrated to me from abu Hamza from abu Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Only those who know Allah worship Him. Those who do not know Allah they worship Him just like that in misguidance.” I then asked, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what the knowledge about Allah?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Knowledge about Allah means is to acknowledge the existence of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, to acknowledge His messenger and to love Imam Ali (a.s.). Of such knowledge is to follow him and the Imams of guidance and to denounce before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, their (Imams’) enemies. This is how the knowledge about Allah is.”

2ـ الْحُسَيْنُ عَنْ مُعَلىً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مُؤْمِناً حَتَّى يَعْرِفَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ وَالائِمَّةَ كُلَّهُمْ وَإِمَامَ زَمَانِهِ وَيَرُدَّ إِلَيْهِ وَيُسَلِّمَ لَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ يَعْرِفُ الاخِرَ وَهُوَ يَجْهَلُ الاوَّلَ.

2. Al-Husayn has narrated from Mu‘alla al-Hassan ibn Ali from Ahmad ibn ‘A’idh from his father from ’Udhayna who has said that more than one person has narrated to us from one the two Imams (a.s.) who has said the following.

“One will not be considered a Mu‘min until he knows Allah, His Messenger and all of the Imams and the Imam of ones time, acknowledges his Divine authority and submits his affairs to the Imam (a.s.).” He then said, “How would one know the last one when one is ignorant of the first one.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الامَامِ مِنْكُمْ وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْخَلْقِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِلَى النَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ رَسُولاً وَحُجَّةً لله عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ فَمَنْ آمَنَ بِالله وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ رَسُولِ الله وَاتَّبَعَهُ وَصَدَّقَهُ فَإِنَّ مَعْرِفَةَ الامَامِ مِنَّا وَاجِبَةٌ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِالله وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَمْ يَتَّبِعْهُ وَلَمْ يُصَدِّقْهُ وَيَعْرِفْ حَقَّهُمَا فَكَيْفَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ مَعْرِفَةُ الامَامِ وَهُوَ لا يُؤْمِنُ بِالله وَرَسُولِهِ وَيَعْرِفُ حَقَّهُمَا قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِيمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِالله وَرَسُولِهِ وَيُصَدِّقُ رَسُولَهُ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا أَنْزَلَ الله يَجِبُ عَلَى أُولَئِكَ حَقُّ مَعْرِفَتِكُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَ لَيْسَ هَؤُلاءِ يَعْرِفُونَ فُلاناً وَفُلاناً قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ أَ تَرَى أَنَّ الله هُوَ الَّذِي أَوْقَعَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَعْرِفَةَ هَؤُلاءِ وَالله مَا أَوْقَعَ ذَلِكَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلا الشَّيْطَانُ لا وَالله مَا أَلْهَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَقَّنَا إِلا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from Zurara who has said the following.

“I said to abu Ja'far (a.s.), ‘Is knowing the Imam from among you obligatory on all creatures?’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Muhammad to all people as His Messenger and as His authority over all creatures on earth. Those who have faith in Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger and have followed him and have acknowledged his message on such people it is obligatory to the Imam from us. Those who do not have faith in Allah and in His messenger and who do not follow him and do not acknowledge him and do not acknowledge the rights of Allah and His messenger then knowing the Imam (a.s.) would be obligatory on them? They do not have faith in Allah and in His messenger, do not follow him and do not acknowledge their rights.” I then asked, “What would you say about those who have faith in Allah and His messenger who acknowledge His messenger in all the matters that have come from Allah, is it obligatory for them to know the Imam (a.s.) from you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, it is obligatory. Do they not know so and so?” I said, “yes, they do.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Do you think Allah is the one who has placed such knowledge in their hearts? No, I swear to Allah that no one other than Satan has placed such knowledge in their hearts. I swear to Allah that no one other than Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has inspired our rights in hearts of the believers.”

4ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّمَا يَعْرِفُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَعْبُدُهُ مَنْ عَرَفَ الله وَعَرَفَ إِمَامَهُ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَمَنْ لا يَعْرِفِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلا يَعْرِفِ الامَامَ مِنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّمَا يَعْرِفُ وَيَعْبُدُ غَيْرَ الله هَكَذَا وَالله ضَلالاً.

4. From the narrator of the previous Hadith from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from ‘Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam from Jabir who has said the following.

“I heard imam abu Ja'far (a.s.) saying, ‘Only those who know Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and worship Him. It is such people who know Him and know the Imam from the family of the Holy Prophet (s.a). Those who do not know Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and do not know the Imam from us, Ahlul Bayt, such people only know and worship something other than Allah just like that in error.”

5ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ ذَرِيحٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الائِمَّةِ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ الْحَسَنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ إِمَاماً ثُمَّ كَانَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ إِمَاماً مَنْ أَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ كَمَنْ أَنْكَرَ مَعْرِفَةَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَمَعْرِفَةَ رَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثُمَّ قَالَ قُلْتُ ثُمَّ أَنْتَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَعَدْتُهَا عَلَيْهِ ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَقَالَ لِي إِنِّي إِنَّمَا حَدَّثْتُكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنْ شُهَدَاءِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فِي أَرْضِهِ.

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jaumhur from Faddala ibn Ayyub from Mu‘awiya ibn Wahab from Dhurayh who has said the following.

“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 deny this would be as if he has denied the existence of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and the truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad (s.a).” I asked, “may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, are you then the Imam? I repeated it three times.” The Imam said, “I only said it to you so that you will be of the witnesses before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, on His earth.”

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لا تَكُونُونَ صَالِحِينَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا وَلا تَعْرِفُوا حَتَّى تُصَدِّقُوا وَلا تُصَدِّقُوا حَتَّى تُسَلِّمُوا أَبْوَاباً أَرْبَعَةً لا يَصْلُحُ أَوَّلُهَا إِلا بِ‏آخِرِهَا ضَلَّ أَصْحَابُ الثَّلاثَةِ وَتَاهُوا تَيْهاً بَعِيداً إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لا يَقْبَلُ إِلا الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ وَلا يَقْبَلُ الله إِلا الْوَفَاءَ بِالشُّرُوطِ وَالْعُهُودِ فَمَنْ وَفَى لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِشَرْطِهِ وَاسْتَعْمَلَ مَا وَصَفَ فِي عَهْدِهِ نَالَ مَا عِنْدَهُ وَاسْتَكْمَلَ مَا وَعَدَهُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَخْبَرَ الْعِبَادَ بِطُرُقِ الْهُدَى وَشَرَعَ لَهُمْ فِيهَا الْمَنَارَ وَأَخْبَرَهُمْ كَيْفَ يَسْلُكُونَ فَقَالَ وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدى‏ وَقَالَ إِنَّما يَتَقَبَّلُ الله مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الله فِيمَا أَمَرَهُ لَقِيَ الله مُؤْمِناً بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ فَاتَ قَوْمٌ وَمَاتُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَهْتَدُوا وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا وَأَشْرَكُوا مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّهُ مَنْ أَتَى الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا اهْتَدَى وَمَنْ أَخَذَ فِي غَيْرِهَا سَلَكَ طَرِيقَ الرَّدَى وَصَلَ الله طَاعَةَ وَلِيِّ أَمْرِهِ بِطَاعَةِ رَسُولِهِ وَطَاعَةَ رَسُولِهِ بِطَاعَتِهِ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ طَاعَةَ وُلاةِ الامْرِ لَمْ يُطِعِ الله وَلا رَسُولَهُ وَهُوَ الاقْرَارُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَالْتَمِسُوا الْبُيُوتَ الَّتِي أَذِنَ الله أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ فَإِنَّهُ أَخْبَرَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ رِجَالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الله وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْماً تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالابْصَارُ إِنَّ الله قَدِ اسْتَخْلَصَ الرُّسُلَ لامْرِهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْلَصَهُمْ مُصَدِّقِينَ بِذَلِكَ فِي نُذُرِهِ فَقَالَ وَإِنْ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلا خَلا فِيها نَذِيرٌ تَاهَ مَنْ جَهِلَ وَاهْتَدَى مَنْ أَبْصَرَ وَعَقَلَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فَإِنَّها لا تَعْمَى الابْصارُ وَلكِنْ تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ وَكَيْفَ يَهْتَدِي مَنْ لَمْ يُبْصِرْ وَكَيْفَ يُبْصِرُ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَدَبَّرْ اتَّبِعُوا رَسُولَ الله وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ وَأَقِرُّوا بِمَا نَزَلَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله وَاتَّبِعُوا آثَارَ الْهُدَى فَإِنَّهُمْ عَلامَاتُ الامَانَةِ وَالتُّقَى وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَوْ أَنْكَرَ رَجُلٌ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَقَرَّ بِمَنْ سِوَاهُ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ اقْتَصُّوا الطَّرِيقَ بِالْتِمَاسِ الْمَنَارِ وَالْتَمِسُوا مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْحُجُبِ الاثَارَ تَسْتَكْمِلُوا أَمْرَ دِينِكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُوا بِالله رَبِّكُمْ.

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 until you acknowledge. You will not acknowledge until you safeguard the four doors and the first of these doors will not do any good without the last. The people of the three strayed far away from the (right) path. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, accepts only the righteous deeds. Allah does not accept with one’s fulfilling the conditions of the covenant. Those who remain faithful to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, about His condition and follow what is prescribed in the covenant he will receive blessings from Him and He will keep His promise. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has informed the people of the path of guidance and has sanctioned for them the laws of Shari‘a as beacons. He has informed them how to follow the laws. He has said, “I am All-forgiving to the righteously striving believers who repent and follow the right guidance.” (20:82) “Allah (God) only accepts the offerings of the pious ones.” (5:27)

Those who are pious before Allah about His commandments they meet Allah as believers in in whatever Prophet has brought to them from Allah. It is unfortunate that people died before finding guidance. They thought that they were believers but they became polytheist without realizing it.

Those who enter the house through the door they are rightly guided. Those who go other ways they are on the path to destruction. Allah has connected the obedience to the people of Divine authority with the obedience to His Messenger and the obedience to His messenger with obedience to His Own-self. Those who would disregard obedience to the people of Divine authority they have not obeyed Allah and His Messenger. This obedience is the acknowledgment of what Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has sent. (That you) be well dressed with means of beauty near every mosque; that you should enter the doors of the houses that Allah has given permission to be uplifted wherein His names be mentioned. Allah has certainly informed you that there are certain man whose attentions and mind do not deviate from speaking about Allah, prayer and paying charity because of business and trade attractions. They only fear the Day in which the hearts and eyes turn upside down.

Allah has appointed the messengers for commands. He then chose them to acknowledge in His Warning and said, “No nation who lived before was left without a Warner . .” (35:25) Stray those who are ignorant and find the right guidance those who think and understand. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “It is their hearts in the center which are blind, not their ears.” (22:46) How can one does not see find guidance and how would one understand without thinking? Follow the Messenger of Allah and his Ahlul Bayt (family) and acknowledge what Allah has sent and follow the traces of guidance. They (Ahlul Bayt) are the signs of trust and piety. Know that if a person would deny Jesus, the son of Mary (a.s.) and acknowledge all the other prophets such person will not be considered a believer. Follow the path by the help of the lighthouses and follow the signs from behind the barriers. Try to perfect the matters of your religion and have faith in Allah, your Lord.”

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ صَغِيرٍ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ رِبْعِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَبَى الله أَنْ يُجْرِيَ الاشْيَاءَ إِلا بِأَسْبَابٍ فَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ سَبَباً وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ سَبَبٍ شَرْحاً وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ شَرْحٍ عِلْماً وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ عِلْمٍ بَاباً نَاطِقاً عَرَفَهُ مَنْ عَرَفَهُ وَجَهِلَهُ مَنْ جَهِلَهُ ذَاكَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَنَحْنُ.

7. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Saghir from whom he has narrated from Rib‘i ibn ‘Abdallah from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Allah did not want to let things work except through their means and reasons. For everything He made a cause, for every cause an explanation, for every explanation a science, for every science a speaking chapter. Some people know it and some do not know. It is the messengers of Allah and we.”

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَلاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ كُلُّ مَنْ دَانَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِعِبَادَةٍ يُجْهِدُ فِيهَا نَفْسَهُ وَلا إِمَامَ لَهُ مِنَ الله فَسَعْيُهُ غَيْرُ مَقْبُولٍ وَهُوَ ضَالٌّ مُتَحَيِّرٌ وَالله شَانِئٌ لاعْمَالِهِ وَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ شَاةٍ ضَلَّتْ عَنْ رَاعِيهَا وَقَطِيعِهَا فَهَجَمَتْ ذَاهِبَةً وَجَائِيَةً يَوْمَهَا فَلَمَّا جَنَّهَا اللَّيْلُ بَصُرَتْ بِقَطِيعِ غَنَمٍ مَعَ رَاعِيهَا فَحَنَّتْ إِلَيْهَا وَاغْتَرَّتْ بِهَا فَبَاتَتْ مَعَهَا فِي مَرْبِضِهَا فَلَمَّا أَنْ سَاقَ الرَّاعِي قَطِيعَهُ أَنْكَرَتْ رَاعِيَهَا وَقَطِيعَهَا فَهَجَمَتْ مُتَحَيِّرَةً تَطْلُبُ رَاعِيَهَا وَقَطِيعَهَا فَبَصُرَتْ بِغَنَمٍ مَعَ رَاعِيهَا فَحَنَّتْ إِلَيْهَا وَاغْتَرَّتْ بِهَا فَصَاحَ بِهَا الرَّاعِي الْحَقِي بِرَاعِيكِ وَقَطِيعِكِ فَأَنْتِ تَائِهَةٌ مُتَحَيِّرَةٌ عَنْ رَاعِيكَ وَقَطِيعِكَ فَهَجَمَتْ ذَعِرَةً مُتَحَيِّرَةً تَائِهَةً لا رَاعِيَ لَهَا يُرْشِدُهَا إِلَى مَرْعَاهَا أَوْ يَرُدُّهَا فَبَيْنَا هِيَ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا اغْتَنَمَ الذِّئْبُ ضَيْعَتَهَا فَأَكَلَهَا وَكَذَلِكَ وَالله يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الامَّةِ لا إِمَامَ لَهُ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ظَاهِرٌ عَادِلٌ أَصْبَحَ ضَالاً تَائِهاً وَإِنْ مَاتَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالَةِ مَاتَ مِيتَةَ كُفْرٍ وَنِفَاقٍ وَاعْلَمْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَنَّ أَئِمَّةَ الْجَوْرِ وَأَتْبَاعَهُمْ لَمَعْزُولُونَ عَنْ دِينِ الله قَدْ ضَلُّوا وَأَضَلُّوا فَأَعْمَالُهُمُ الَّتِي يَعْمَلُونَهَا كَرَمَادٍ اشْتَدَّتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ فِي يَوْمٍ عَاصِفٍ لا يَقْدِرُونَ مِمَّا كَسَبُوا عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلالُ الْبَعِيدُ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan ibn Yahya from al-‘Ala’ ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following.

“I heard abu Ja'far (a.s.) saying, ‘Whoever would worship Allah in the expectation for reward and work hard but without having an Imam for himself his efforts would not be received acceptance. Such person is last and straying and Allah would dislike his deeds. The example of such person is like that of a lost sheep who would stray away from her herd. She would wonder around during the day and at nightfall she would see a different flock of sheep with a shepherd and she would glad and affectionately join it thinking it to be like her own flock. She would pass the night in their barn but in the morning when the shepherd let the flock out she could not recognize her flock and shepherd and begin to wonder in search for her own flock and shepherd and saw a flock and a shepherd. She then would rush to the flock with great interest but the shepherd shouted, ‘Go to your own flock and shepherd because you are lost and wondering.’ She then would run back and forth lost and wondering without a shepherd to show her the grazing areas and the barn. At such time a wolf would seize the opportunity and would kill her to eat. Just the same is the case, O Muhammad, those people of this ’Ummah (nation) who has no Imam from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, who is in public and possessing the noble quality of justice. Such people are lost and straying. If such people would in such a condition their death would be like that of an unbeliever and hypocrite. O Muhammad, take notice that the unjust Imams and their followers are far away from the religion of Allah. They have lost the right path and have mislead the others. The deeds that they are like dust blown away by the winds in a stormy day. They would remain helpless and unable to benefit from their deeds. Such is straying far away from the right path.”

9ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنِ الْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ عَنْ مُقَرِّنٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ جَاءَ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَلَى الاعْرافِ رِجالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلاً بِسِيماهُمْ فَقَالَ نَحْنُ عَلَى الاعْرَافِ نَعْرِفُ أَنْصَارَنَا بِسِيمَاهُمْ وَنَحْنُ الاعْرَافُ الَّذِي لا يُعْرَفُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلا بِسَبِيلِ مَعْرِفَتِنَا وَنَحْنُ الاعْرَافُ يُعَرِّفُنَا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ فَلا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلا مَنْ عَرَفَنَا وَعَرَفْنَاهُ وَلا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ إِلا مَنْ أَنْكَرَنَا وَأَنْكَرْنَاهُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَوْ شَاءَ لَعَرَّفَ الْعِبَادَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَكِنْ جَعَلَنَا أَبْوَابَهُ وَصِرَاطَهُ وَسَبِيلَهُ وَالْوَجْهَ الَّذِي يُؤْتَى مِنْهُ فَمَنْ عَدَلَ عَنْ وَلايَتِنَا أَوْ فَضَّلَ عَلَيْنَا غَيْرَنَا فَإِنَّهُمْ عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ لَنَاكِبُونَ فَلا سَوَاءٌ مَنِ اعْتَصَمَ النَّاسُ بِهِ وَلا سَوَاءٌ حَيْثُ ذَهَبَ النَّاسُ إِلَى عُيُونٍ كَدِرَةٍ يَفْرَغُ بَعْضُهَا فِي بَعْضٍ وَذَهَبَ مَنْ ذَهَبَ إِلَيْنَا إِلَى عُيُونٍ صَافِيَةٍ تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا لا نَفَادَ لَهَا وَلا انْقِطَاعَ.

9. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from al-Haytham ibn Waqid from Muqrin who has said the following.

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, ‘Ibn al-Kawwa came to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin,(what do you say about; “There will be people on the Heights who know everyone by their faces . .” (7:46). The Imam said, “we will be on the Heights. We will recognize our supporters from their faces. We are the Heights without whose knowing there is no other way to know Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. We are the Heights that Allah on the Day of Judgment will make known to everyone on the bridge. No one will enter paradise without knowing us and our knowing them. No one will enter hell except those would not know us and we will ignore them.

If Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would want to let people know Him He may do so but He has made us the door to knowing Him, the bridge, the path and the aspect to Him. Whoever would deviate from our authority and guardianship or would consider others more excellent than us such people will down off the bridge. People are the same in following guidance. They are not equal with those who have found the sparkling fountains with those who have gathered around polluted waters that fall over other such waters. Such are not equal with those who have found the sparkling fountains that flow by the order of the Lord without ceasing and reduction.”

10ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الرَّيَّانِ بْنِ شَبِيبٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا أَبَا حَمْزَةَ يَخْرُجُ أَحَدُكُمْ فَرَاسِخَ فَيَطْلُبُ لِنَفْسِهِ دَلِيلاً وَأَنْتَ بِطُرُقِ السَّمَاءِ أَجْهَلُ مِنْكَ بِطُرُقِ الارْضِ فَاطْلُبْ لِنَفْسِكَ دَلِيلاً.

10. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn muhammad from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Rayyan ibn Shabib from yunus from abu Ayyub al-Khazziz from abu Hamza who has narrated from Imam abu Ja'far‘far (a.s.) the following.

“O abu Hamza, when one of decide to travel for just a few miles he first finds a guide and direction for himself. Your knowledge of the paths of heavens is much less than your knowledge of the paths of earth. You must find a guide for yourself.”

11ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ الْحُرِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْراً كَثِيراً فَقَالَ طَاعَةُ الله وَمَعْرِفَةُ الامَامِ.

11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Ayyub al-Hurr from abu Basir from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah

‘Whoever is given wisdom he has received a great deal of goodness’ (2:273) “It means obedience to Allah and knowin who one’s Imam is.”

12ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَلْ عَرَفْتَ إِمَامَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِي وَالله قَبْلَ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْكُوفَةِ فَقَالَ حَسْبُكَ إِذاً.

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from aban from abu Basir saying that Imam abu Ja'far‘far (a.s.) said to him the following.

“Have you found out who your Imam is?” I said, “Yes, I swear by Allah, I did so before I left Kufa.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Then it is sufficient for you.”

13ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ فِي قَوْلِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَ وَمَنْ كانَ مَيْتاً فَأَحْيَيْناهُ وَجَعَلْنا لَهُ نُوراً يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ فَقَالَ مَيْتٌ لا يَعْرِفُ شَيْئاً وَنُوراً يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ إِمَاماً يُؤْتَمُّ بِهِ كَمَنْ مَثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُماتِ لَيْسَ بِخارِجٍ مِنْها قَالَ الَّذِي لا يَعْرِفُ الامَامَ.

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Mansur ibn Yunus from Burayd who has said that he heard Imam abu Ja'far (a.s.) said the following about the words of Allah,

“Can the dead to whom We have given life and light so that they may walk among the people, be considered equal to those who can never come out of darkness?” (6:122) The dead do not understand anything ‘The light by the help of which they walk’ is the Imam that they follow.’ “be considered equal to those who can never come out of darkness” applies to those who do not know who their Imam is.”

14ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أُورَمَةَ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) دَخَلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله الْجَدَلِيُّ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله أَ لا أُخْبِرُكَ بِقَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنْ جاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْها وَهُمْ مِنْ فَزَعٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ آمِنُونَ. وَمَنْ جاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَكُبَّتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ فِي النَّارِ هَلْ تُجْزَوْنَ إِلا ما كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ قَالَ بَلَى يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ الْحَسَنَةُ مَعْرِفَةُ الْوَلايَةِ وَحُبُّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَالسَّيِّئَةُ إِنْكَارُ الْوَلايَةِ وَبُغْضُنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ عَلَيْهِ هَذِهِ الايَةَ.

14. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’warma and Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from Ali ibn Hassan from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imam abu Ja'far (a.s.) has said, ‘Abu ‘Abdallah al-Jadali once came to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Amir al-mu’minin said to him, “O abu ‘Abdallah may I say something to you about the words of Allah, ‘Whoever does a good deed will receive a better reward than what he has done. He will be secure from the terror of the Day of Judgment (27:89). Those who commit evil will be thrown headlong into hell fire. (It will be said to them) can you expect any recompense other than what you deserve for your deeds?’ (27:90) The man said, “yes, O Amir al-Mu’minin, please tell me, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause.” Amir al-Mu’mini said, “A good deed means is to acknowledge our Divine authority and have our love in one’s heart. Evil means denying our Divine authority and harboring in one’s heart hatered towards us.” Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) then read the verses to him.