Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 42

The Imams (a.s.) Receive additional (knowledge) every Friday night

1ـ حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ الْقُمِّيُّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ سَعْدَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى الصَّنْعَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا يَحْيَى إِنَّ لَنَا فِي لَيَالِي الْجُمُعَةِ لَشَأْناً مِنَ الشَّأْنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا ذَاكَ الشَّأْنُ قَالَ يُؤْذَنُ لارْوَاحِ الانْبِيَاءِ الْمَوْتَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَرْوَاحِ الاوْصِيَاءِ الْمَوْتَى وَرُوحِ الْوَصِيِّ الَّذِي بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْكُمْ يُعْرَجُ بِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ حَتَّى تُوَافِيَ عَرْشَ رَبِّهَا فَتَطُوفَ بِهِ أُسْبُوعاً وَتُصَلِّيَ عِنْدَ كُلِّ قَائِمَةٍ مِنْ قَوَائِمِ الْعَرْشِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّ إِلَى الابْدَانِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ فِيهَا فَتُصْبِحُ الانْبِيَاءُ وَالاوْصِيَاءُ قَدْ مُلِئُوا سُرُوراً وَيُصْبِحُ الْوَصِيُّ الَّذِي بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْكُمْ وَقَدْ زِيدَ فِي عِلْمِهِ مِثْلُ جَمِّ الْغَفِيرِ.

1. Ahmad ibn Idris al-Qummi and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufi from Musa ibn Sa‘dan from ‘Abdallah ibn Ayyub from abu Yahya al-San‘ani from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “O abu Yahya, on every Friday night there is a special task for us to pursue.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), ““May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, of what nature is this special task?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The spirits of the deceased prophets and the spirits of the deceased executors of the will of the prophets and the spirit of the executor of the will of the Holy Prophet living with you now are all taken to heavens until they arrive to the throne of their Lord and then walk around it seven times. They perform prayers near every column of the columns of the throne, in a two Rak‘at form after which they are returned to their bodies in which they were before. The prophets and the executors of the will of the prophets become full of joy and the executor of the will of the Holy Prophet living with you receives a huge increase I n his knowledge.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي زَاهِرٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ يُوسُفَ الابْزَارِيِّ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَكَانَ لا يُكَنِّينِي قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله قَالَ قُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ قَالَ إِنَّ لَنَا فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةِ جُمُعَةٍ سُرُوراً قُلْتُ زَادَكَ الله وَمَا ذَاكَ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ وَافَى رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْعَرْشَ وَوَافَى الائِمَّةُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) مَعَهُ وَوَافَيْنَا مَعَهُمْ فَلا تُرَدُّ أَرْوَاحُنَا إِلَى أَبْدَانِنَا إِلا بِعِلْمٍ مُسْتَفَادٍ وَلَوْ لا ذَلِكَ لانْفَدْنَا.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Kufi from Yusuf al-Abzari from al-Mufaddal who has said the following. “One day abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) addressed me with a surname, “O abu ‘Abdallah, –he would address me this way before- and I responded, “Yes, O Imam, here I am.” He said, “Every Friday night it’s a time of happiness for us.” I said, “May Allah increase such a happiness for you. Of what nature is this happiness?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When Friday night comes the Messenger of Allah arrives to the throne of Allah and the Imams (the leaders who has said the following. possess Divine authority) also arrive there with him and we also arrive with them. Our souls are returned back to our bodies only after receiving very new useful knowledge without which we would already be left without of knowledge.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ يُونُسَ أَوِ الْمُفَضَّلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا مِنْ لَيْلَةِ جُمُعَةٍ إِلا وَلاوْلِيَاءِ الله فِيهَا سُرُورٌ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ وَافَى رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْعَرْشَ وَوَافَى الائِمَّةُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَوَافَيْتُ مَعَهُمْ فَمَا أَرْجِعُ إِلا بِعِلْمٍ مُسْتَفَادٍ وَلَوْ لا ذَلِكَ لَنَفِدَ مَا عِنْدِي.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salama ibn al-Khattab from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Minqari from Yunus or al-Mufaddal from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “There is no Friday night in which except that in it there is joy and happiness for those who possess Divine authority.” I asked, “How is it, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When Frinday night comes the Messenger of Allah arrives to the throne with the Imams (a.s.) and I also arrive there with them. I do not return before receiving new knowledge without which I would have already be left without out of knowledge.”

Chapter 43

Would the Imams (a.s.) not receive new knowledge their previous know would be Exhausted

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ كَانَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَوْ لا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لانْفَدْنَا.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مِثْلَهُ.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Would we not receive (new knowledge) we would diminish (in knowledge).”

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Safwan from abu a1-Hassan (a.s.) a similar Hadith.

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ ذَرِيحٍ الْمُحَارِبِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا ذَرِيحُ لَوْ لا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لانْفَدْنَا.

2. Muhammad ibn Yabya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from an-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from Dharih al-Muharibi who has said that abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said to him the following. “O Dharih, “Would we not receive (new knowledge) we will diminish (in knowledge).”said:

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَوْ لا أَنَّا نَزْدَادُ لانْفَدْنَا قَالَ قُلْتُ تَزْدَادُونَ شَيْئاً لا يَعْلَمُهُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ عُرِضَ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثُمَّ عَلَى الائِمَّةِ ثُمَّ انْتَهَى الامْرُ إِلَيْنَا.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu Nasr from Tha‘labah from Zurarah who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Would we not receive additional (knowledge) we would diminish (in knowledge).” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.) “Do receive additional something that the Messenger of Allah does not know?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The fact of the matter is that when that happens, it is presented to the Messenger of Allah then to the Imams and then it reaches us.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَيْسَ يَخْرُجُ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ حَتَّى يَبْدَأَ بِرَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثُمَّ بِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ثُمَّ بِوَاحِدٍ بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ لِكَيْلا يَكُونَ آخِرُنَا أَعْلَمَ مِنْ أَوَّلِنَا.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from some of his people from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Nothing comes from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, except that first it begins with the Messenger of Allah then Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then the Imams one after the other so that the last us would not be more knowledgeable than the first of us.”

Chapter 44

The Imams know all the knowledge that has come to the angels, the prophets and the Messenger

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ شَمُّونٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ لله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْماً أَظْهَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَلائِكَتَهُ وَأَنْبِيَاءَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ فَمَا أَظْهَرَ عَلَيْهِ مَلائِكَتَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ وَأَنْبِيَاءَهُ فَقَدْ عَلِمْنَاهُ وَعِلْماً اسْتَأْثَرَ بِهِ فَإِذَا بَدَا لله فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْهُ أَعْلَمَنَا ذَلِكَ وَعَرَضَ عَلَى الائِمَّةِ الَّذِينَ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلِنَا.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنِ الْعَمْرَكِيِّ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَخِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) مِثْلَهُ.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from Sama‘a from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is that which is revealed to the angels, the prophets the Messenger of Allah. Whatever is revealed to the angels, the Messenger of Allah and the prophets, is known to us also. The other is the kind which is exclusively for Allah. When Allah wants to make public anything from it is taught to us first and it is presented to the Imams before us also.”

Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn al-Qasim and Muhammad ibn Yahya from al-‘Amrakiy ibn Ali all of them from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) a similar Hadith.

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْماً عِنْدَهُ لَمْ يُطْلِعْ عَلَيْهِ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَعِلْماً نَبَذَهُ إِلَى مَلائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ فَمَا نَبَذَهُ إِلَى مَلائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ فَقَدِ انْتَهَى إِلَيْنَا.

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is His only and no creature knows about it. The other kind is that which He has thrown unto His angels and His Messenger. Whatever is thrown to the angels and the Messengers have reached us.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ ضُرَيْسٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْمٌ مَبْذُولٌ وَعِلْمٌ مَكْفُوفٌ فَأَمَّا الْمَبْذُولُ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَعْلَمُهُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَالرُّسُلُ إِلا نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُ وَأَمَّا الْمَكْفُوفُ فَهُوَ الَّذِي عِنْدَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي أُمِّ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا خَرَجَ نَفَذَ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from Durays who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is that which is granted and the kind is that which I withheld. Of the one which, is granted, nothing is known to the angels and the Messengers, but only we know it. The one which is withheld iis the kind that is before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High in the original Book. When it appears it permeates.” come of Allah said:

4ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ سُوَيْدٍ الْقَلاءِ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ لله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِلْمَيْنِ عِلْمٌ لا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلا هُوَ وَعِلْمٌ عَلَّمَهُ مَلائِكَتَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ فَمَا عَلَّمَهُ مَلائِكَتَهُ وَرُسُلَهُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَنَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُ.

4. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabber from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Ali ibn al-Nu‘man from Suwayd al-Qalla from abu Ayyub from abu Basir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind of knowledge is that which no one knows except He. The other kind is that which He has taught to the His angels and His messengers. Whatever His angels and Messengers have learned we know it.”

Chapter 45

The Unique Ahadith about the hidden facts

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَأَلَ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ فَارِسَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ تَعْلَمُونَ الْغَيْبَ فَقَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يُبْسَطُ لَنَا الْعِلْمُ فَنَعْلَمُ وَيُقْبَضُ عَنَّا فَلا نَعْلَمُ وَقَالَ سِرُّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَسَرَّهُ إِلَى جَبْرَئِيلَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَسَرَّهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَسَرَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَى مَنْ شَاءَ الله.

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said that a man from Persia asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) the following. “Do you know al-Ghayb (the hidden facts)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘It opens to us then we know it and it is withheld from us then we do not know.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “It is the secret of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, who has secretly given to Jibril and Jibril has secretly given to Muhammad (s.a.) and Muhammad (s.a.) has secretly given to whoever Allah wished.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حُمْرَانَ بْنَ أَعْيَنَ يَسْأَلُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَدِيعُ السَّماواتِ وَالارْضِ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ابْتَدَعَ الاشْيَاءَ كُلَّهَا بِعِلْمِهِ عَلَى غَيْرِ مِثَالٍ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ فَابْتَدَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالارَضِينَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ قَبْلَهُنَّ سَمَاوَاتٌ وَلا أَرَضُونَ أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى وَكانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْماءِ فَقَالَ لَهُ حُمْرَانُ أَ رَأَيْتَ قَوْلَهُ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ عالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلا يُظْهِرُ عَلى‏ غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلا مَنِ ارْتَضى‏ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَكَانَ وَالله مُحَمَّدٌ مِمَّنِ ارْتَضَاهُ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُ عالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَإِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَالِمٌ بِمَا غَابَ عَنْ خَلْقِهِ فِيمَا يَقْدِرُ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَيَقْضِيهِ فِي عِلْمِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَهُ وَقَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْضِيَهُ إِلَى الْمَلائِكَةِ فَذَلِكَ يَا حُمْرَانُ عِلْمٌ مَوْقُوفٌ عِنْدَهُ إِلَيْهِ فِيهِ الْمَشِيئَةُ فَيَقْضِيهِ إِذَا أَرَادَ وَيَبْدُو لَهُ فِيهِ فَلا يُمْضِيهِ فَأَمَّا الْعِلْمُ الَّذِي يُقَدِّرُهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَيَقْضِيهِ وَيُمْضِيهِ فَهُوَ الْعِلْمُ الَّذِي انْتَهَى إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said that he heard Humran ibn A‘yan ask abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High Allah, “. . One Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. .” (6:101) Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, originated all things through His knowledge in unprecedentedly. He Invented the heavens and eath and there was heavens and earths before. Have you not considered the words of Allah, “. .His Throne existed on water. .” (11:7)

Humran then said, “Have you considered His words, Majestic is Whose mention, ‘He knows the unseen and He does not allow anyone to know His secrets. .” (72:26). Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “ except those of His Messengers whom He chooses. (72:26) Muhammad (s.a.), I swear by Allah, was one of those whom Allah had chosen. However, there are His words “He knows the hidden facts.” The fact that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, through what is hidden from His creatures of the things that He measures and determines and decrees in His knowledge before creating it and before assigning to the angels it is because of the following. O Humran, there is the knowledge withheld before Him in which He has a wish. He then decrees it when He wills. Bada’ may take place in it and He then will not decree it. The knowledge that, however, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, measures and determines and approves is the knowledge that reaches the Messenger of Allah and then it reaches us.”

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَبَّادِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَيَحْيَى الْبَزَّازُ وَدَاوُدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ فِي مَجْلِسِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذْ خَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا وَهُوَ مُغْضَبٌ فَلَمَّا أَخَذَ مَجْلِسَهُ قَالَ يَا عَجَباً لاقْوَامٍ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّا نَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ مَا يَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ إِلا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ بِضَرْبِ جَارِيَتِي فُلانَةَ فَهَرَبَتْ مِنِّي فَمَا عَلِمْتُ فِي أَيِّ بُيُوتِ الدَّارِ هِيَ قَالَ سَدِيرٌ فَلَمَّا أَنْ قَامَ مِنْ مَجْلِسِهِ وَصَارَ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَمُيَسِّرٌ وَقُلْنَا لَهُ جُعِلْنَا فِدَاكَ سَمِعْنَاكَ وَأَنْتَ تَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فِي أَمْرِ جَارِيَتِكَ وَنَحْنُ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ عِلْماً كَثِيراً وَلا نَنْسُبُكَ إِلَى عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ أَ لَمْ تَقْرَأِ الْقُرْآنَ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ فِيمَا قَرَأْتَ مِنْ كِتَابِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ قَرَأْتُهُ قَالَ فَهَلْ عَرَفْتَ الرَّجُلَ وَهَلْ عَلِمْتَ مَا كَانَ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ عِلْمِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي بِهِ قَالَ قَدْرُ قَطْرَةٍ مِنَ الْمَاءِ فِي الْبَحْرِ الاخْضَرِ فَمَا يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا أَقَلَّ هَذَا فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ مَا أَكْثَرَ هَذَا أَنْ يَنْسِبَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى الْعِلْمِ الَّذِي أُخْبِرُكَ بِهِ يَا سَدِيرُ فَهَلْ وَجَدْتَ فِيمَا قَرَأْتَ مِنْ كِتَابِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَيْضاً قُلْ كَفى‏ بِالله شَهِيداً بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتابِ قَالَ قُلْتُ قَدْ قَرَأْتُهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ أَ فَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ كُلُّهُ أَفْهَمُ أَمْ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ بَعْضُهُ قُلْتُ لا بَلْ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ كُلُّهُ قَالَ فَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ وَقَالَ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ وَالله كُلُّهُ عِنْدَنَا عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ وَالله كُلُّهُ عِنْدَنَا.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Abbad ibn Sulayman from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from his father from Sadir who has said that he, abu Basir, Yahya al-Bazzaz and Dawud ibn Kathir were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) came to us while he was angry. When he settled in his seat he then said, “How strange is it that certain people think we know the hidden facts. No one knows the hidden things except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. I thought to discipline our house maid, so and so, and could not find in which quarter she was.” Sadir has said, “When the meeting was over and the Imam (a.s.) went home, I, abu Basir and Muyassir went to his house. We said to him, “May Allah take our souls in service for your cause, we heard you say so and so about the matter of your house maid but we know that you have a great deal of knowledge. We do not say that you possess the knowledge of (al-Ghayb) hidden facts.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) said, “O Sadir, Do you not read the Holy Quran?” I said, “Yes, I do read the Holy Quran.” The Imam (a.s.) then asked, “In your reading have you found the following words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High? “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 he said that he has read those words. The Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you know who the man is? Do you know how much knowledge of the Book he had?” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.) “Please tell me about his knowledge.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “His knowledge of the Book was like one drop compared to the green ocean (Atlantic). The narrator has said that he said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, that is very little..” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “O Sadir, say, “What a great knowledge is that when Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would ascribe to a knowledge that I am about to speak of to you. Have you found in the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, the following. “Say, “God and those who have the knowledge of the Book are sufficient witness (to my prophethood).” (13:43)

The narrator has said that he said to the Imams (a.s.), “Yes. “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I have read it.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Is the knowledge of one who possesses the knowledge of the whole book greater or that of the one who possesses some knowledge of the Book?” I said, “The knowledge of one who possesses the knolwedge of the whole book is greater.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) pointing to his chest said, “The knowledge of the whole Book, I swear by Allah, is with us. The knowledge of the whole Book, I swear by Allah, is with us.”

4ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ مُصَدِّقِ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ السَّابَاطِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الامَامِ يَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ فَقَالَ لا وَلَكِنْ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ الشَّيْ‏ءَ أَعْلَمَهُ الله ذَلِكَ.

4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ahmad ibn a1-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqa from ‘Ammar al-Sabati who has said that he asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “Dose the Imam have the knowledge of the hidden facts?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, he does not have such knowledge but if he would like to know about a thing Allah grants him such knowledge.”

Chapter 46

Would the Imams (a.s.) like to know they would know

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ بْنِ نُوحٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ بَدْرِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ الشَّامِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الامَامَ إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ عُلِّمَ.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad and others have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ayyub ibn Nuh from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from Badr ibn al-Walid from abu al-Rabi‘ al-Shami from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Would the Imam (a.s.) like to know he would know.”

2ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ بَدْرِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الامَامَ إِذَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ أُعْلِمَ.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ibn Muskan from Badr ibn al-Walid from Abu al-Rabi‘ from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Would the Imam (a.s.) want to know he would know.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ الْمَدَائِنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا أَرَادَ الامَامُ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ شَيْئاً أَعْلَمَهُ الله ذَلِكَ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Umrah ibn Musa from Musa ibn Ja‘far from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id al-Mada’ini from abu ‘Ubayda al-Mada’ini from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “When the Imam (a.s.) would will to know something Allah will grant him such knowledge.”