Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 14

The Imams are the corner stone on earth

1ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) آخُذُ بِهِ وَمَا نَهَى عَنْهُ أَنْتَهِي عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مِثْلُ مَا جَرَى لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْفَضْلُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَنْ خَلَقَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْمُتَعَقِّبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ أَحْكَامِهِ كَالْمُتَعَقِّبِ عَلَى الله وَعَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِالله كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَابَ الله الَّذِي لا يُؤْتَى إِلا مِنْهُ وَسَبِيلَهُ الَّذِي مَنْ سَلَكَ بِغَيْرِهِ هَلَكَ وَكَذَلِكَ يَجْرِي الائِمَّةُ الْهُدَى وَاحِداً بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ جَعَلَهُمُ الله أَرْكَانَ الارْضِ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِأَهْلِهَا وَحُجَّتَهُ الْبَالِغَةَ عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَ الارْضِ وَمَنْ تَحْتَ الثَّرَى وَكَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ أَنَا قَسِيمُ الله بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ وَأَنَا الْفَارُوقُ الاكْبَرُ وَأَنَا صَاحِبُ الْعَصَا وَالْمِيسَمِ وَلَقَدْ أَقَرَّتْ لِي جَمِيعُ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحُ وَالرُّسُلُ بِمِثْلِ مَا أَقَرُّوا بِهِ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلَقَدْ حُمِلْتُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَمُولَتِهِ وَهِيَ حَمُولَةُ الرَّبِّ وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يُدْعَى فَيُكْسَى وَأُدْعَى فَأُكْسَى وَيُسْتَنْطَقُ وَأُسْتَنْطَقُ فَأَنْطِقُ عَلَى حَدِّ مَنْطِقِهِ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ خِصَالاً مَا سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهَا أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي عُلِّمْتُ الْمَنَايَا وَالْبَلايَا وَالانْسَابَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ فَلَمْ يَفُتْنِي مَا سَبَقَنِي وَلَمْ يَعْزُبْ عَنِّي مَا غَابَ عَنِّي أُبَشِّرُ بِإِذْنِ الله وَأُؤَدِّي عَنْهُ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الله مَكَّنَنِي فِيهِ بِعِلْمِهِ.

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ الْعَمِّيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُفَضَّلُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ الاوَّلَ.

1. Ahmad ibn Mahran from Muhammad ibn Ali and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad altogether from Muhammad ibn Sinan from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought I follow them entirely and whatever he has forbidden I desist from them altogether. Whatever virtue that were found in the Holy Prophet (s.a.) were found in Imam Ali (a.s.) also. The Holy Prophet was more virtuous than all of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Those turning away from any item of his (Imam Ali) guidance would be like one turning away from the guidance of Allah and His Prophet. Rejecting him in small or a great one matters would like considering things like Allah (shirk). Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) was the gate to Allah through which only, people could go closer to Him. Imam Ali (a.s.) was the path that if one would ignore it he would have been destroyed. This is also true of all the Imams of guidance one after the other. Allah has made them as the cornerstones of the earth so that people on it would not be destroyed. They possess the doubtless Divine authority over the inhabitants of earth and those below the earth.

Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) would very often say, “I am the supervisor for Allah to see who should go to Paradise and who should go to Hell. I am the greatest criterion, the possessor of the staff and the (marking) seal Miysam All the angels and the spirit have acknowledged the existence in me of all the matters that they had acknowledge in Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). I am held responsible for all such matters that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) was held responsible. Such responsibilities are the duties to Allah, the Lord. The Holy Prophet will be called upon and his call will be accepted. I will be called up on and my call will be accepted. The Holy Prophet will be made to speak and I will be made to speak and I will speak just the way he would speak. I have been given certain distinctions which are given to no one before me. I was taught all about the deaths, the sufferings, the genealogy of people and clear speeCh I have not missed any of the knowledge that have passed me by and nothing of the future is unseen or unknown to me. I give good news by the permission of Allah and do my duty towards Allah. All of these is from Allah Who has made it possible for me through His knowledge.”

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur al-‘Ammi from Muhammad ibn Sinan who has said that al-Mufaddal narrated to us from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). He then narrated the above Hadith.

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ شَبَابٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ الاعْرَجُ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَسُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَابْتَدَأَنَا فَقَالَ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ مَا جَاءَ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يُؤْخَذُ بِهِ وَمَا نَهَى عَنْهُ يُنْتَهَى عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مَا جَرَى لِرَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلِرَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْفَضْلُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَنْ خَلَقَ الله الْمُعَيِّبُ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ أَحْكَامِهِ كَالْمُعَيِّبِ عَلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعَلَى رَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِالله كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بَابَ الله الَّذِي لا يُؤْتَى إِلا مِنْهُ وَسَبِيلَهُ الَّذِي مَنْ سَلَكَ بِغَيْرِهِ هَلَكَ وَبِذَلِكَ جَرَتِ الائِمَّةُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَاحِدٌ بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ جَعَلَهُمُ الله أَرْكَانَ الارْضِ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَالْحُجَّةَ الْبَالِغَةَ عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَ الارْضِ وَمَنْ تَحْتَ الثَّرَى وَقَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَا قَسِيمُ الله بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ وَأَنَا الْفَارُوقُ الاكْبَرُ وَأَنَا صَاحِبُ الْعَصَا وَالْمِيسَمِ وَلَقَدْ أَقَرَّتْ لِي جَمِيعُ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحُ بِمِثْلِ مَا أَقَرَّتْ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَلَقَدْ حُمِلْتُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَمُولَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهِيَ حَمُولَةُ الرَّبِّ وَإِنَّ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يُدْعَى فَيُكْسَى وَيُسْتَنْطَقُ وَأُدْعَى فَأُكْسَى وَأُسْتَنْطَقُ فَأَنْطِقُ عَلَى حَدِّ مَنْطِقِهِ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ خِصَالاً لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي عُلِّمْتُ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَالْبَلايَا وَالانْسَابَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ فَلَمْ يَفُتْنِي مَا سَبَقَنِي وَلَمْ يَعْزُبْ عَنِّي مَا غَابَ عَنِّي أُبَشِّرُ بِإِذْنِ الله وَأُؤَدِّي عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مَكَّنَنِيَ الله فِيهِ بِإِذْنِهِ.

2. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid Shabab al-Sayrafi who has said that Sa‘id’ al-A‘raj has said that he and Sulayman ibn Khalid once went to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and al-A‘raj began the conversation as follows. “Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought is followed entirely and whatever he has forbidden is desisted from altogether. Whatever virtue that were found in the Holy Prophet (s.a.) were found in Imam Ali (a.s.) also. The Holy Prophet was more virtuous than all of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Those who would find faults any item of his (Imam Ali) guidance would be like one finding faults in the guidance of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and His Prophet. Rejecting him in small or a great matters would be like considering things similar to Allah (shirk). Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) was the gate to Allah through which only, people can get closer to Him. Imam Ali (a.s.) was the path that if one would ignore it he would have been destroyed. This is also true of all the Imams of guidance one after the other. Allah has made them as the cornerstones of the earth so that people on it would not be destroyed. They possess the doubtless Divine authority over the inhabitants of earth and those below the earth.

Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) has said, “I am the supervisor for Allah to see who should go to Paradise and who should go to Hell. I am the greatest criterion, the possessor of the staff and the (marking) seal Miysam All the angels and the spirit have acknowledged the existence in me of all the matters that they had acknowledge in Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). I am held responsible for all such matters that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) was held responsible. Such responsibilities are the duties to Allah, the Lord. The Holy Prophet will be called upon and his call will be accepted. I will be called up on and I my call will be accepted. The Holy Prophet will be made to speak, and I will be made to speak and I will speak just the way he would speak. I have been given certain distinctions which, are given to no one before me. I was taught all about the deaths, the sufferings, the genealogy of people and clear speeCh I have not missed any of the knowledge that have passed me by and nothing of the future is unseen or unknown to me. I give good news by the permission of Allah and do my duty towards Allah. All of these is from Allah Who has made it possible for me through His knowledge.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله الرِّيَاحِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّامِتِ الْحُلْوَانِيِّ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ فَضْلُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا جَاءَ بِهِ آخُذُ بِهِ وَمَا نَهَى عَنْهُ أَنْتَهِي عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا لِرَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالْفَضْلُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْمُتَقَدِّمُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ كَالْمُتَقَدِّمِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الله وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْمُتَفَضِّلُ عَلَيْهِ كَالْمُتَفَضِّلِ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِالله فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بَابُ الله الَّذِي لا يُؤْتَى إِلا مِنْهُ وَسَبِيلُهُ الَّذِي مَنْ سَلَكَهُ وَصَلَ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكَذَلِكَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَجَرَى لِلائِمَّةِ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَاحِداً بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ جَعَلَهُمُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَرْكَانَ الارْضِ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِأَهْلِهَا وَعُمُدَ الاسْلامِ وَرَابِطَةً عَلَى سَبِيلِ هُدَاهُ لا يَهْتَدِي هَادٍ إِلا بِهُدَاهُمْ وَلا يَضِلُّ خَارِجٌ مِنَ الْهُدَى إِلا بِتَقْصِيرٍ عَنْ حَقِّهِمْ أُمَنَاءُ الله عَلَى مَا أَهْبَطَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ أَوْ عُذُرٍ أَوْ نُذُرٍ وَالْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ عَلَى مَنْ فِي الارْضِ يَجْرِي لآِخِرِهِمْ مِنَ الله مِثْلُ الَّذِي جَرَى لاوَّلِهِمْ وَلا يَصِلُ أَحَدٌ إِلَى ذَلِكَ إِلا بِعَوْنِ الله وَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَا قَسِيمُ الله بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ لا يَدْخُلُهَا دَاخِلٌ إِلا عَلَى حَدِّ قَسْمِي وَأَنَا الْفَارُوقُ الاكْبَرُ وَأَنَا الامَامُ لِمَنْ بَعْدِي وَالْمُؤَدِّي عَمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلِي لا يَتَقَدَّمُنِي أَحَدٌ إِلا أَحْمَدُ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَإِنِّي وَإِيَّاهُ لَعَلَى سَبِيلٍ وَاحِدٍ إِلا أَنَّهُ هُوَ الْمَدْعُوُّ بِاسْمِهِ وَلَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ السِّتَّ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَالْبَلايَا وَالْوَصَايَا وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ وَإِنِّي لَصَاحِبُ الْكَرَّاتِ وَدَوْلَةِ الدُّوَلِ وَإِنِّي لَصَاحِبُ الْعَصَا وَالْمِيسَمِ وَالدَّابَّةُ الَّتِي تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad both have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Hassa’n who has said that abu ‘Abdallah al-Riyahi narrated to him from abu al-Samit al-Hulwani from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the virtue of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) the following Hadith. “Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has brought I follow them entirely and whatever he has forbidden I desist from them altogether. All that is true of the obedience to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) is true of the obedience to Imam Ali (a.s.) after the Holy Prophet (s.a.) but virtue belongs to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). Those who would try to be ahead of Imam Ali (a.s.) would be considered as trying to be ahead of Prophet (s.a.). Those who would to show themselves as more virtuous than Imam Ali (a.s.) would be considered as trying to show themselves as more virtuous than the Holy Prophet (s.a.). Whoever would reject any of the small or great items of the guidance of Imam Ali (a.s.) he would be like considering things as similar (shirk) to Allah. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) is the gate through which people can go to Allah. He is the path that if chosen would lead to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The same was true of Imam Ali (a.s.) after the Holy Prophet (s.a.). All such matters were true of the Imams (a.s.) one after the other. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has made them the cornerstone of the earth so that its inhabitants would not be destroyed. They were the pillars of Islam and the connection in the path of guidance. No guide can be a guide without their guidance and one would go astray unless he would ignore the rights of these Imams (a.s.). They are the trustees of Allah over whatever knowledge, warning and excuses that have been revealed to them (from the heavens). They possess the doubtless Divine authority over those on earth. Whatever, (virtue and authority) is found in one of them is true of all of them and no one can reach such a stage without support from Allah.

Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) has said, “I am the supervisor for Allah over Paradise and Hell. No one would go either one without my supervision. I am the greatest criterion and the Imam for those after me the provider of relief for those before me. No one is permitted to be ahead of me except Ahmad (s.a.). I and he are on the same path except that he is called Ahmed (the most praiseworthy). I have been given six things. I have been the knowledge of deaths, that of the sufferings, that of the wills and the clear speeCh That I have been give the power to attack the enemy, the power subdue the adversary, that I am the owner of the staff and Maysam and the being that would speak to people.” (a reference to verse 82 of chapter 27 of Quran)

“When the word about them comes true We shall make a creature appear to them on earth who will tell them that people had no faith in Our revelations.” (27:82)