Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 33

The Imams (a.s.) inherited the knowledge of the Holy prophet (s.a.) and all the prophets and their successors before them

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ الْمُهْتَدِي عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ جُنْدَبٍ أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَ أَمِينَ الله فِي خَلْقِهِ فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كُنَّا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَرَثَتَهُ فَنَحْنُ أُمَنَاءُ الله فِي أَرْضِهِ عِنْدَنَا عِلْمُ الْبَلايَا وَالْمَنَايَا وَأَنْسَابُ الْعَرَبِ وَمَوْلِدُ الاسْلامِ وَإِنَّا لَنَعْرِفُ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا رَأَيْنَاهُ بِحَقِيقَةِ الايمَانِ وَحَقِيقَةِ النِّفَاقِ وَإِنَّ شِيعَتَنَا لَمَكْتُوبُونَ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِهِمْ أَخَذَ الله عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَيْهِمُ الْمِيثَاقَ يَرِدُونَ مَوْرِدَنَا وَيَدْخُلُونَ مَدْخَلَنَا لَيْسَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ الاسْلامِ غَيْرُنَا وَغَيْرُهُمْ نَحْنُ النُّجَبَاءُ النُّجَاةُ وَنَحْنُ أَفْرَاطُ الانْبِيَاءِ وَنَحْنُ أَبْنَاءُ الاوْصِيَاءِ وَنَحْنُ الْمَخْصُوصُونَ فِي كِتَابِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَنَحْنُ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِكِتَابِ الله وَنَحْنُ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِرَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَنَحْنُ الَّذِينَ شَرَعَ الله لَنَا دِينَهُ فَقَالَ فِي كِتَابِهِ شَرَعَ لَكُمْ يَا آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنَ الدِّينِ ما وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحاً قَدْ وَصَّانَا بِمَا وَصَّى بِهِ نُوحاً وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَما وَصَّيْنا بِهِ إِبْراهِيمَ وَمُوسى‏ وَعِيسى‏ فَقَدْ عَلَّمَنَا وَبَلَّغَنَا عِلْمَ مَا عَلِمْنَا وَاسْتَوْدَعَنَا عِلْمَهُمْ نَحْنُ وَرَثَةُ أُولِي الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ يَا آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَلا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ وَكُونُوا عَلَى جَمَاعَةٍ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَنْ أَشْرَكَ بِوَلايَةِ عَلِيٍّ ما تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَلايَةِ عَلِيٍّ إِنَّ الله يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ يُنِيبُ مَنْ يُجِيبُكَ إِلَى وَلايَةِ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn al-Muhtadi from ‘Adallah ibn Jundab to who Imam al-Rida (a.s.) wrote the following. “Thereafter, (thanking Allah) Muhammad (s.a.) was the trustee of Allah for His creatures. When he was taken away from this world we, Ahl al-Bayt inherited him, thus, we are the trustees of Allah over His earth. With us is the knowledge of the sufferings, the death, the genealogy of the Arabs and the birth of Islam. We know the man when we see him in the truth of faith or hypocrisy. Our followers (Shi‘a) are listed (with us) by their names and the names of their fathers. Allah has established a covenant with them and with us. They land wherever we would do so and enter wherever we would enter. There is no besides us and our followers as living the Islamic culture. We are the noble saviors and the descendents of the prophets and of the children of the successors of the prophets. We the ones to whom the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has come exclusively. We, of all people, have the first priority (closeness) to the book of Allah. We, of all people, have the first priority (closeness) to the Messenger of Allah. For us He formed His religion.

“He has established for you (family of Muhammad) a form of religion which is of the commands to Noah {we are commanded with whatever Noah was commanded}. It is of the mattes that We have revealed to you (Muhammad) and of the commands to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus to follow.{We have taught and preached the knowledge that was taught to us. We were given the knowledge of these prophets. We are the heirs of the commissioned Messengers}. (He has explained it) so that you (family of Muhammad) would be steadfast and united (all in a united group) in your religion. What you call the polytheists {polytheists in the acknowledgement of the Divine authority of Imam Ali (a.s.} to{the acknowledgement of the Divine authority of Imam Ali (a.s.}is extremely grave for them. God {O Muhammad} attracts to (the religion) whomever He wants and guides to it whoever turns to Him in repentance.” (42:13)

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ أَوَّلَ وَصِيٍّ كَانَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الارْضِ هِبَةُ الله بْنُ آدَمَ وَمَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ مَضَى إِلا وَلَهُ وَصِيٌّ وَكَانَ جَمِيعُ الانْبِيَاءِ مِائَةَ أَلْفِ نَبِيٍّ وَعِشْرِينَ أَلْفَ نَبِيٍّ مِنْهُمْ خَمْسَةٌ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ نُوحٌ وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمُحَمَّدٌ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَإِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ كَانَ هِبَةَ الله لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَوَرِثَ عِلْمَ الاوْصِيَاءِ وَعِلْمَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ أَمَا إِنَّ مُحَمَّداً وَرِثَ عِلْمَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ مِنَ الانْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ عَلَى قَائِمَةِ الْعَرْشِ مَكْتُوبٌ حَمْزَةُ أَسَدُ الله وَأَسَدُ رَسُولِهِ وَسَيِّدُ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَفِي ذُؤَابَةِ الْعَرْشِ عَلِيٌّ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَهَذِهِ حُجَّتُنَا عَلَى مَنْ أَنْكَرَ حَقَّنَا وَجَحَدَ مِيرَاثَنَا وَمَا مَنَعَنَا مِنَ الْكَلامِ وَأَمَامَنَا الْيَقِينُ فَأَيُّ حُجَّةٍ تَكُونُ أَبْلَغَ مِنْ هَذَا.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The first successor and executor of the will on earth was Hibbatullah, the son of Adam. No prophet has ever left this world without first leaving behind one who would execute his will. The prophets were one hundred twenty thousand persons. Five of them were commissioned Messengers, like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (s.a.) Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) was the Hibbatullah for Muhammad (s.a.).He inherited the knowledge of the executors of the wills of the prophets and the knowledge of those who were before him. (Is not it true) that Muhammad (s.a.) inherited the knowledge of the prophets and the Messengers who lived before him? It is written on the columns of the throne, “Hamza is the loin of Allah and the loin of His Messenger. He (Hamza) is the master of the martyrs. On top of the throne is Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.). This evidence against those who deny our rights and refuse to yield to us our right of inheritance. We are not forbidden to speak. Before us is all certainty. What supporting evidence could be more clear than this.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ زُرْعَةَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ وَرِثَ دَاوُدَ وَإِنَّ مُحَمَّداً وَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّا وَرِثْنَا مُحَمَّداً وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا عِلْمَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالانْجِيلِ وَالزَّبُورِ وَتِبْيَانَ مَا فِي الالْوَاحِ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْعِلْمُ قَالَ لَيْسَ هَذَا هُوَ الْعِلْمَ إِنَّ الْعِلْمَ الَّذِي يَحْدُثُ يَوْماً بَعْدَ يَوْمٍ وَسَاعَةً بَعْدَ سَاعَةٍ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salama ibn al-Khattab from ‘Adallah ibn Muhammad from ‘Adallah ibn al-Qasim from Zur‘a ibn Muhammad from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from who has said the following. “Solomon inherited David. Muhammad (s.a.) inherited Solomon and we inherited Muhammad (s.a.). We have the knowledge of Torah and the Gospel (Injil), the Psalms, (al-Zabur) and the explanation of what the tablets contained.” I (the narrator) said, “This certainly is the knowledge.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “This is not knowledge. Knowledge is what happens day after day and hour after hour.”

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ شُعَيْبٍ الْحَدَّادِ عَنْ ضُرَيْسٍ الْكُنَاسِيِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَعِنْدَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ دَاوُدَ وَرِثَ عِلْمَ الانْبِيَاءِ وَإِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ وَرِثَ دَاوُدَ وَإِنَّ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَرِثَ سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّا وَرِثْنَا مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا صُحُفَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَأَلْوَاحَ مُوسَى فَقَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْعِلْمُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ لَيْسَ هَذَا هُوَ الْعِلْمَ إِنَّمَا الْعِلْمُ مَا يَحْدُثُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ يَوْماً بِيَوْمٍ وَسَاعَةً بِسَاعَةٍ.

4. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Shu‘ayb al-Haddad from Durays al-Kunasi who has said the following. “I was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and abu Basir also was there. The Imams (a.s.) said, “David inherited the knowledge of the prophets. Solomon inherited David. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) inherited Solomon and we inherited Muhammad (s.a.). With us are the pages of Abraham and the tablets of Moses.” Abu Basir then said, “This is the knowledge.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “O abu Muhammad, this is not the knowledge. The knowledge is what happens in the nights and in the days, day after day and hour after hour.”

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَمْ يُعْطِ الانْبِيَاءَ شَيْئاً إِلا وَقَدْ أَعْطَاهُ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ وَقَدْ أَعْطَى مُحَمَّداً جَمِيعَ مَا أَعْطَى الانْبِيَاءَ وَعِنْدَنَا الصُّحُفُ الَّتِي قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ صُحُفِ إِبْراهِيمَ وَمُوسى‏ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هِيَ الالْوَاحُ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Ali ibn an-Nu‘man from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following. “Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said to me, “O abu Muhammad, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has not given anything to the prophets that He has not given to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). The Imams (a.s.) further said, “Allah gave to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) all that He had given to the prophets. With us is the book about which Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “The books of Abraham and Moses.” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, are they the tablets?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “Yes, they are the tablets.”

6ـ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ سَأَلَهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ مَا الزَّبُورُ وَمَا الذِّكْرُ قَالَ الذِّكْرُ عِنْدَ الله وَالزَّبُورُ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى دَاوُدَ وَكُلُّ كِتَابٍ نَزَلَ فَهُوَ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَنَحْنُ هُمْ.

6. Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from ‘Adallah ibn Sinan who has said that he asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “We have written in the psalms which We had revealed after the Torah. .” (21:105). What is al-Zabur and what is al-Dhikr?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “Al-Dhikr is with Allah and al-Zabur is what He gave to David.” Every book that was revealed is with the people of knowledge and we are the people of knowledge.”

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي زَاهِرٍ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الاوَّلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَرِثَ النَّبِيِّينَ كُلَّهُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ مِنْ لَدُنْ آدَمَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى نَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا بَعَثَ الله نَبِيّاً إِلا وَمُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَعْلَمُ مِنْهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ كَانَ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى بِإِذْنِ الله قَالَ صَدَقْتَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ يَفْهَمُ مَنْطِقَ الطَّيْرِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَقْدِرُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْمَنَازِلِ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ قَالَ للهدْهُدِ حِينَ فَقَدَهُ وَشَكَّ فِي أَمْرِهِ فَقالَ ما لِيَ لا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كانَ مِنَ الْغائِبِينَ حِينَ فَقَدَهُ فَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لاعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذاباً شَدِيداً أَوْ لاذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِّي بِسُلْطانٍ مُبِينٍ وَإِنَّمَا غَضِبَ لانَّهُ كَانَ يَدُلُّهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ فَهَذَا وَهُوَ طَائِرٌ قَدْ أُعْطِيَ مَا لَمْ يُعْطَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَقَدْ كَانَتِ الرِّيحُ وَالنَّمْلُ وَالانْسُ وَالْجِنُّ وَالشَّيَاطِينُ وَالْمَرَدَةُ لَهُ طَائِعِينَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْرِفُ الْمَاءَ تَحْتَ الْهَوَاءِ وَكَانَ الطَّيْرُ يَعْرِفُهُ وَإِنَّ الله يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآناً سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الارْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتى‏ وَقَدْ وَرِثْنَا نَحْنُ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ الَّذِي فِيهِ مَا تُسَيَّرُ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ وَتُقَطَّعُ بِهِ الْبُلْدَانُ وَتُحْيَا بِهِ الْمَوْتَى وَنَحْنُ نَعْرِفُ الْمَاءَ تَحْتَ الْهَوَاءِ وَإِنَّ فِي كِتَابِ الله لآَيَاتٍ مَا يُرَادُ بِهَا أَمْرٌ إِلا أَنْ يَأْذَنَ الله بِهِ مَعَ مَا قَدْ يَأْذَنُ الله مِمَّا كَتَبَهُ الْمَاضُونَ جَعَلَهُ الله لَنَا فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ إِنَّ الله يَقُولُ وَما مِنْ غائِبَةٍ فِي السَّماءِ وَالارْضِ إِلا فِي كِتابٍ مُبِينٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنا مِنْ عِبادِنا فَنَحْنُ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَانَا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَوْرَثَنَا هَذَا الَّذِي فِيهِ تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir or another man from Muhammad ibn Hammad from his brother Ahmad ibn Hammad from Ibrahim from his father who has said the following. “I said to abu al-Hassan al-Thani (a.s.), ““May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “Would you tell me about the Prophet who inherited all the prophets.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “Yes, I may do so. I asked, “Did he inherit from Adam up to his-self?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “Of prophet that Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) was more knowledgeable.” I then said, “Jesus son of Mary would bring the dead to life by the permission of Allah.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “You spoke the truth. Solomon son of David could understand the language of the birds. The Holy Prophet (s.a.) was also capable of doing such things.” The narrator has said that The Imams (a.s.) then said, “Solomon son of David said to the (Hoopoe) Hud Hud when he found him missing and had doubts about the bird. “(Solomon) inspected the birds and said, “How is it that I cannot see the hoopoe {when he did not find him present and became angry}. Is he absent? (27:20). I shall certainly punish him severely or slaughter him unless he has a good reason for his absence.” (27:21) He became angry because the bird would show him how to find water. This is only a bird but is given something that is not given to Solomon. The wind, ants, man, Jinn, devils and the rebbles obey him in submission but he did not know about the water in the space but the bird knew it as Allah says iin His book. “Even if the Quran would make mountains move, cut the earth into pieces and make the dead able to speak,. .” (13:31) We have inherited this Quran which contains such things that can make the mountains move, cross the lands and make the dead to come to life. We know there is water in space. In the book of Aallah there are verses that are indecative of certain issues only if Allah would give permission. This is along with fact that Allah sometime grants permission to make use of the things that people of the past had written. Allah has set them for us in the origin of the book as Allah says, “All the secrets in heavens and earth are recorded in the illustrious Book. (27:75) Then Allah has said, “We gave the Book as an inheritance to Our chosen servants,. .” (35:32) We are the ones whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has chosen and has given this which contain the explanation of all things.”

Chapter 34

The Imams (a.s.) have with all the books that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has revealed and that they know them even the language in them are different

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ فِي حَدِيثِ بُرَيْهٍ أَنَّهُ لَمَّا جَاءَ مَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَلَقِيَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَحَكَى لَهُ هِشَامٌ الْحِكَايَةَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِبُرَيْهٍ يَا بُرَيْهُ كَيْفَ عِلْمُكَ بِكِتَابِكَ قَالَ أَنَا بِهِ عَالِمٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ كَيْفَ ثِقَتُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَالَ مَا أَوْثَقَنِي بِعِلْمِي فِيهِ قَالَ فَابْتَدَأَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقْرَأُ الانْجِيلَ فَقَالَ بُرَيْهٌ إِيَّاكَ كُنْتُ أَطْلُبُ مُنْذُ خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً أَوْ مِثْلَكَ قَالَ فَ‏آمَنَ بُرَيْهٌ وَحَسُنَ إِيمَانُهُ وَآمَنَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ الَّتِي كَانَتْ مَعَهُ فَدَخَلَ هِشَامٌ وَبُرَيْهٌ وَالْمَرْأَةُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَحَكَى لَهُ هِشَامٌ الْكَلامَ الَّذِي جَرَى بَيْنَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَبَيْنَ بُرَيْهٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُها مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَالله سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ فَقَالَ بُرَيْهٌ أَنَّى لَكُمُ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالانْجِيلُ وَكُتُبُ الانْبِيَاءِ قَالَ هِيَ عِنْدَنَا وِرَاثَةً مِنْ عِنْدِهِمْ نَقْرَؤُهَا كَمَا قَرَءُوهَا وَنَقُولُهَا كَمَا قَالُوا إِنَّ الله لا يَجْعَلُ حُجَّةً فِي أَرْضِهِ يُسْأَلُ عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَيَقُولُ لا أَدْرِي.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Ibrahim from Yunus from Hisham ibn al-Hakam about the narration of Burayh with whom he came to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) but they met abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.). Hisham explained to the Imams (a.s.) about Burayh. When he finished abu al-Hassan (a.s.) asked, “O Burayh, how is your knowledge of your book?” He rplied, “I know it.” The Imam (a.s.) then asked, “What is the degree of your confidence in its interpretation?” He said, “Not so muCh”??? The narrator has said, “Abu al-Hassan then begun to read (from) the Gospel. Burayh then said, “It is you whom I was searching for fifty years or someone like you.” He has said that Burayh accepted the faith and also the lady who was with him.” Burayh and Hisham and the lady then came to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). Hisham informed the Imam (a.s.) about what had happene between Burayh and abu al-Hassan (a.s.). Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “The generations that are from each other and Allah hears and knows best.” Burayh then asked, “How have possessed the Torah and the Gospel and the books if the prophets?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “ We receive them as in the form of inheritance from them. We read them as they would read them and speak about them as the prophets would do. Allah does grant Divine authority on His earth to those who if questioned would be able to give the right answer and say I do not know.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ أَتَيْنَا بَابَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَنَحْنُ نُرِيدُ الاذْنَ عَلَيْهِ فَسَمِعْنَاهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِكَلامٍ لَيْسَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَتَوَهَّمْنَا أَنَّهُ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ ثُمَّ بَكَى فَبَكَيْنَا لِبُكَائِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا الْغُلامُ فَأَذِنَ لَنَا فَدَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ الله أَتَيْنَاكَ نُرِيدُ الاذْنَ عَلَيْكَ فَسَمِعْنَاكَ تَتَكَلَّمُ بِكَلامٍ لَيْسَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَتَوَهَّمْنَا أَنَّهُ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ ثُمَّ بَكَيْتَ فَبَكَيْنَا لِبُكَاءِكَ قَالَ نَعَمْ ذَكَرْتُ إِلْيَاسَ النَّبِيَّ وَكَانَ مِنْ عُبَّادِ أَنْبِيَاءِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَقُلْتُ كَمَا كَانَ يَقُولُ فِي سُجُودِهِ ثُمَّ انْدَفَعَ فِيهِ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ فَلا وَالله مَا رَأَيْنَا قَسّاً وَلا جَاثَلِيقاً أَفْصَحَ لَهْجَةً مِنْهُ بِهِ ثُمَّ فَسَّرَهُ لَنَا بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَقَالَ كَانَ يَقُولُ فِي سُجُودِهِ أَ تُرَاكَ مُعَذِّبِي وَقَدْ أَظْمَأْتُ لَكَ هَوَاجِرِي أَ تُرَاكَ مُعَذِّبِي وَقَدْ عَفَّرْتُ لَكَ فِي التُّرَابِ وَجْهِي أَ تُرَاكَ مُعَذِّبِي وَقَدِ اجْتَنَبْتُ لَكَ الْمَعَاصِيَ أَ تُرَاكَ مُعَذِّبِي وَقَدْ أَسْهَرْتُ لَكَ لَيْلِي قَالَ فَأَوْحَى الله إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ فَإِنِّي غَيْرُ مُعَذِّبِكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنْ قُلْتَ لا أُعَذِّبُكَ ثُمَّ عَذَّبْتَنِي مَا ذَا أَ لَسْتُ عَبْدَكَ وَأَنْتَ رَبِّي قَالَ فَأَوْحَى الله إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ فَإِنِّي غَيْرُ مُعَذِّبِكَ إِنِّي إِذَا وَعَدْتُ وَعْداً وَفَيْتُ بِهِ.

2. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Bakr ibn Salih from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. “We went to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and wanted permission. We heard him speaking in a none Arabic language and we thought it was Suryani (0r Syrian) language. The Imams (a.s.) then wept and we did so because of his weeping. A boy then came out to give us permission for a meeting. In the meeting I asked him, “May Allah keep you well, we came to ask permission for a meeting and we heard you speak in a none Arabic language and we thought it was Suryani language. Then we heard you weeping and because of that we also wept.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “Yes, I remembered prophet Ilyas, one of the Israelite prophets and devoted in worship. I then said what he used to say in his prostration. He then went into it in Suryani language. Swearing to Allah, we had not seen any monk or minister as eloquent in it as he in it. He then explained it to us in Arabic, “Ilyas would say in his prostration, ‘O Lord, will I find you punish me although you know of thirst in the heat of the midday? Will I find you punish me although you know that I rub my face on earth to worship you? Will I find you punish me although you know that I give up sins for you? Will I find you punish me although you know that I stay awake all night just for you?” The Imams (a.s.) then said, “Allah then told him through inspiration, “Rise your head from the earth. I will not punish you.” The Imams (a.s.) then said that he said to Allah, “What if say, “I will not punish you but then you punished me? Am I not your slave and you are my Lord.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “Allah then spoke to him through inspiration, “Rise your head. I will not punish you because when I promise I then keep My promise.”

Chapter 35

No one collect all of the Holy Quran except the Imams (a.s.) and that they have the knowledge of all of the Holy Quran

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَا ادَّعَى أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَنَّهُ جَمَعَ الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّهُ كَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلا كَذَّابٌ وَمَا جَمَعَهُ وَحَفِظَهُ كَمَا نَزَّلَهُ الله تَعَالَى إِلا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَالائِمَّةُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام )

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ‘Amr ibn abu al-Miqdam from Jabir who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “No one from the people has claimed to have collected the whole of the Holy Quran (in a book form) as it was revealed. If anyone would come up with such a claim, he is liar. No one collected this Holy Book and memorized as Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High revealed it except Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and the Imams after him.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنِ الْمُنَخَّلِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَدَّعِيَ أَنَّ عِنْدَهُ جَمِيعَ الْقُرْآنِ كُلِّهِ ظَاهِرِهِ وَبَاطِنِهِ غَيْرُ الاوْصِيَاءِ.

2. Muhammad ibn al-Husayn has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from al-Munakhkhal from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “No one is able to claim that with him is the whole of the Holy Quran; its apparent and hidden essence, except the executors of the will of the Holy Prophet (s.a.).

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُصْعَبٍ عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ مِنْ عِلْمِ مَا أُوتِينَا تَفْسِيرَ الْقُرْآنِ وَأَحْكَامَهُ وَعِلْمَ تَغْيِيرِ الزَّمَانِ وَحَدَثَانِهِ إِذَا أَرَادَ الله بِقَوْمٍ خَيْراً أَسْمَعَهُمْ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَ مَنْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ لَوَلَّى مُعْرِضاً كَأَنْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَ هُنَيْئَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ وَلَوْ وَجَدْنَا أَوْعِيَةً أَوْ مُسْتَرَاحاً لَقُلْنَا وَالله الْمُسْتَعَانُ.

3. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Qasim ibn al-Rabi‘ from ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Abdallah ibn abu Hashim al-Sayrafi from ‘Amr ibn Mus‘ab from Salma ibn Muhriz who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Of the knowledge that we have received is the interpretation of the Holy Quran and its laws, the knowledge of the changes of time and the happenings therein. When Allah wants good for a people, He makes them to understand. If He would make to understand one who does not want to understand such a person turns away as if he has heard nothing. The Imams (a.s.) paused, briefly, then said, “Had we found keepers and trusted people for our knowledge, we would have said it (all to him). Allah is the best supporter.”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله الْمُؤْمِنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الاعْلَى مَوْلَى آلِ سَامٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ وَالله إِنِّي لاعْلَمُ كِتَابَ الله مِنْ أَوَّلِهِ إِلَى آخِرِهِ كَأَنَّهُ فِي كَفِّي فِيهِ خَبَرُ السَّمَاءِ وَخَبَرُ الارْضِ وَخَبَرُ مَا كَانَ وَخَبَرُ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِ تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn 'Isa from abu ‘Abdallah al-Mu‘min from ‘Abd al-A‘la Mawla ’Ala Sam who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “I swear by Allah that I know the Holy Quran from the beginning to end as if it is in the palm of my hand. In it there is the news of the heavens and the earth, the news of what has been and the new of what will come into being. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “In it there is the explanation of all things.” (16:89)

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي زَاهِرٍ عَنِ الْخَشَّابِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ قَالَ فَفَرَّجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ فَوَضَعَهَا فِي صَدْرِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَعِنْدَنَا وَالله عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ كُلُّهُ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from al-Khashshab from Ali ibn Hass’an from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Kathir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who recited the following verse. “The one who had knowledge from the Book said, “I can bring it to you before you even blink your eye. . .” (27:40). The narrator has said that the Imams (a.s.) opend his two fingers and placed them on his chest and then said, “With us, I swear by Allah, is the knowledge of the whole of the Book.”

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قُلْ كَفى‏ بِالله شَهِيداً بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتابِ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى وَعَلِيٌّ أَوَّلُنَا وَأَفْضَلُنَا وَخَيْرُنَا بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه )

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from those he mentioned, both of them from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ’Udhayna from Burayd ibn Mu‘awiya who has said that he asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the meaning of the following verse. “. . Say, ‘God and those who have the knowledge of the Book are sufficient witness (to my prophet-hood).’” (13:43) The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is a reference to us. Ali (a.s.) is the first among us and the most virtuous and the best among us after the Holy Prophet (s.a.)”

Chapter 36

The degree of the Great Names of Allah that are given to the Imams (a.s.)

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي شُرَيْسٌ الْوَابِشِيُّ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ اسْمَ الله الاعْظَمَ عَلَى ثَلاثَةٍ وَسَبْعِينَ حَرْفاً وَإِنَّمَا كَانَ عِنْدَ آصَفَ مِنْهَا حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ فَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ فَخُسِفَ بِالارْضِ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ سَرِيرِ بِلْقِيسَ حَتَّى تَنَاوَلَ السَّرِيرَ بِيَدِهِ ثُمَّ عَادَتِ الارْضُ كَمَا كَانَتْ أَسْرَعَ مِنْ طَرْفَةِ عَيْنٍ وَنَحْنُ عِنْدَنَا مِنَ الاسْمِ الاعْظَمِ اثْنَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً وَحَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ عِنْدَ الله تَعَالَى اسْتَأْثَرَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَهُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِالله الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who has said that Shurays al-Wabishi narrated from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“The greatest name of Allah has seventy three letters. There was only of these letters. He spoke that one letter and land between him and throne of the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis) sunk down as such that he could reach her throne with his hand and the land returned to the original state. This happened in a blinking of A number of our people has narrated from eye. Of the greatest name of Allah there are seventy two letters with us. Allah has kept one letter exclusively for Himself in the knowledge of the unseen. There is no means and no power except by the help of Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ عِمْرَانَ الْقُمِّيِّ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمْ أَحْفَظْ اسْمَهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أُعْطِيَ حَرْفَيْنِ كَانَ يَعْمَلُ بِهِمَا وَأُعْطِيَ مُوسَى أَرْبَعَةَ أَحْرُفٍ وَأُعْطِيَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَحْرُفٍ وَأُعْطِيَ نُوحٌ خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ حَرْفاً وَأُعْطِيَ آدَمُ خَمْسَةً وَعِشْرِينَ حَرْفاً وَإِنَّ الله تَعَالَى جَمَعَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَإِنَّ اسْمَ الله الاعْظَمَ ثَلاثَةٌ وَسَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً أُعْطِيَ مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) اثْنَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ حَرْفاً وَحُجِبَ عَنْهُ حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id and Muhammad ibn Khalid from Zakariyya ibn 'Imran al-Qummi from Harun ibn al-Juhm that a man from the companions of abu 'Abdallah (a.s.). I (Harun ibn al-Jahm) have forgotten his name. He has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “Two letters were given to Jesus and he would work with them. Four letters were given to Moses. Eight letters were given to Abraham. Fifteen letters were given to Noah. Twenty five letters were given to Adam. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, have combined all of them in Muhammad (s.a.). The greatest name of Allah has seventy three letters. Seventy two letters are given to Muhammad (s.a.) and only one letter is kept hidden from him.”

3ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ صَاحِبِ الْعَسْكَرِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ اسْمُ الله الاعْظَمُ ثَلاثَةٌ وَسَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً كَانَ عِنْدَ آصَفَ حَرْفٌ فَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ فَانْخَرَقَتْ لَهُ الارْضُ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ سَبَإٍ فَتَنَاوَلَ عَرْشَ بِلْقِيسَ حَتَّى صَيَّرَهُ إِلَى سُلَيْمَانَ ثُمَّ انْبَسَطَتِ الارْضُ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ طَرْفَةِ عَيْنٍ وَعِنْدَنَا مِنْهُ اثْنَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً وَحَرْفٌ عِنْدَ الله مُسْتَأْثِرٌ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ.

3. al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Nawfali who has said that he heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) Sahib al-‘Askar say the following. “The greatest name of Allah has seventy three letters. There was only one letter with Asif. He spoke with it and the land between him and the throne of the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis) sunk down as such that he took her throne and placed it before Solomon. The land then came to normal state within less than a blinking of an eye. There are seventy-two of those letters with us. One letter is with Allah which, He has kept it exclusively in the knowledge of the unseen.”