Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 54

The Imams (a.s.) hear from the angels as Muhaddathun and are of Perfect Understanding

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ أَرْسَلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَى زُرَارَةَ أَنْ يُعْلِمَ الْحَكَمَ بْنَ عُتَيْبَةَ أَنَّ أَوْصِيَاءَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهم السَّلام مُحَدَّثُونَ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hajjal from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) sent (message) to Zurara to inform al-Hakam ibn ‘Utayba that the executors of the will of Muhammad (s.a.) (are Muhaddathun) hear from the angels.” al-Hakam ibn 'Utaybah (al-Kindi al-Kufi [50/670 - 115/ 733], one of the tab‘un [those who knew the companions of the Holy Prophet and famous narrators of hadith)

2ـ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ سُوقَةَ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ عُتَيْبَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يَوْماً فَقَالَ يَا حَكَمُ هَلْ تَدْرِي الايَةَ الَّتِي كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَعْرِفُ قَاتِلَهُ بِهَا وَيَعْرِفُ بِهَا الامُورَ الْعِظَامَ الَّتِي كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ بِهَا النَّاسَ قَالَ الْحَكَمُ فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي قَدْ وَقَعْتُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ مِنْ عِلْمِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ أَعْلَمُ بِذَلِكَ تِلْكَ الامُورَ الْعِظَامَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لا وَالله لا أَعْلَمُ قَالَ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ الايَةُ تُخْبِرُنِي بِهَا يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله قَالَ هُوَ وَالله قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَلا نَبِيٍّ وَلا مُحَدَّثٍ وَكَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مُحَدَّثاً فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ الله بْنُ زَيْدٍ كَانَ أَخَا عَلِيٍّ لامِّهِ سُبْحَانَ الله مُحَدَّثاً كَأَنَّهُ يُنْكِرُ ذَلِكَ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ أَمَا وَالله إِنَّ ابْنَ أُمِّكَ بَعْدُ قَدْ كَانَ يَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَلَمَّا قَالَ ذَلِكَ سَكَتَ الرَّجُلُ فَقَالَ هِيَ الَّتِي هَلَكَ فِيهَا أَبُو الْخَطَّابِ فَلَمْ يَدْرِ مَا تَأْوِيلُ الْمُحَدَّثِ وَالنَّبِيِّ.

2. Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from Ziyad ibn Suqah from al-Hakam ibn ‘Utaybah who has said the following. “One day I went to see Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.).” He said, “O Hakam do you know the verse (of the Holy Quran) from which Ali ibn abu Talib had learned who his assassin was and the extremely great matters of which he would speak to people? “ Al-Hakam has said that I said to myself in my mind, “ I have now a chance to learn of the knowledge of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) with which I will learn of those extremely great matters.” The narrator has said that he replied the Imam (a.s.), “No, O son of the Messenger of Allah, I do not know.” He has said that he then said, “Please tell me, O son of the Messenger of Allah, which verse is it?” the Imam (a.s.) said, “It, I swear by Allah, is the words of Allah, Majestic is Whose mention, “We have not sent any messenger or prophet before you (or a Muhahhdath) one who hears from the angels. (22:52) Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) was a Muhaddath. At this point a man called ‘Abdallah ibn Zayd who was a brother of Ali from his mother’s side said, “Glory belongs to Allah. A Muhaddath1!” It seemed as if he did not believe it. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then turned to us and said, “Do not have any doubts, I swear by Allah, that the son of your mother after all did have knowledge of this fact.” The narrator has said that when the Imam (a.s.) said so the man kept silent. The Imam (a.s.) then said, “This is the issue in which abu al-Khattab perished. He never learned what was the explanation of the prophet and a Muhaddath.”

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ الائِمَّةُ عُلَمَاءُ صَادِقُونَ مُفَهَّمُونَ مُحَدَّثُونَ.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ya‘qub ibn Yazid from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il who has said that I heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.) say the following. “The Imams (a.s.) are scholar, truthful people, have perfect understanding and Muhaddathum hear from the angels.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ ذُكِرَ الْمُحَدَّثُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ وَلا يَرَى الشَّخْصَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ كَلامُ الْمَلَكِ قَالَ إِنَّهُ يُعْطَى السَّكِينَةَ وَالْوَقَارَ حَتَّى يَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ كَلامُ مَلَكٍ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from a man that Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said the following. “Once Muhaddath was mentioned in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said, “He, Muhaddath, hears the voice but does not see the persons of the angels.” I then said to him, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, how he would come to know that the voice and words are from the angels?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is given the serenity and dignity to the level that he learns about its being the speech of the angels.”

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ مُحَدَّثاً فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِي فَقُلْتُ جِئْتُكُمْ بِعَجِيبَةٍ فَقَالُوا وَمَا هِيَ فَقُلْتُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ كَانَ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مُحَدَّثاً فَقَالُوا مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئاً إِلا سَأَلْتَهُ مَنْ كَانَ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي حَدَّثْتُ أَصْحَابِي بِمَا حَدَّثْتَنِي فَقَالُوا مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئاً إِلا سَأَلْتَهُ مَنْ كَانَ يُحَدِّثُهُ فَقَالَ لِي يُحَدِّثُهُ مَلَكٌ قُلْتُ تَقُولُ إِنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ قَالَ فَحَرَّكَ يَدَهُ هَكَذَا أَوْ كَصَاحِبِ سُلَيْمَانَ أَوْ كَصَاحِبِ مُوسَى أَوْ كَذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ أَ وَمَا بَلَغَكُمْ أَنَّهُ قَالَ وَفِيكُمْ مِثْلُهُ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn al-Mukhtar from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah from Humran ibn A‘yan who has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said the following. “Ali (a.s.) was a Muhaddath.” I then returned to my associates and said, “I have brought you a very strange news.” They asked, “What is it?” I then said that I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say that Ali (a.s.) was a Muhaddath. They then said, “What did you do?” Would that you had asked him as to who would speak to him (Ali (a.s.) I then went back to abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and said to him, “I went to my associates and told them about what you had told me and they said, “What did you do? Would that you had asked him as to who would speak to him (Ali (a.s.)” The Imam (a.s.) said to me, “The angel would speak to him.” I then asked, “Do you say that he was a prophet?” He has said, “He moved his hand like this. Or like the companion of Solomon, or the companion of Moses or like Dhul Qarnayn. Have not heard that he has said, “Among there one like him.” (A hadith of the Holy Prophet (s.a.) says that Ali (a.s.) is the Dhul Qarnay of this Umma)

Chapter 55

The Spirits that exist in the Imams (a.s.)

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْيَمَانِيِّ عَنْ جَابِرٍ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى خَلَقَ الْخَلْقَ ثَلاثَةَ أَصْنَافٍ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكُنْتُمْ أَزْواجاً ثَلاثَةً فَأَصْحابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ ما أَصْحابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ وَأَصْحابُ الْمَشْئَمَةِ ما أَصْحابُ الْمَشْئَمَةِ وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ أُولئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ فَالسَّابِقُونَ هُمْ رُسُلُ الله (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَخَاصَّةُ الله مِنْ خَلْقِهِ جَعَلَ فِيهِمْ خَمْسَةَ أَرْوَاحٍ أَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ فَبِهِ عَرَفُوا الاشْيَاءَ وَأَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحِ الايمَانِ فَبِهِ خَافُوا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَأَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحِ الْقُوَّةِ فَبِهِ قَدَرُوا عَلَى طَاعَةِ الله وَأَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحِ الشَّهْوَةِ فَبِهِ اشْتَهَوْا طَاعَةَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكَرِهُوا مَعْصِيَتَهُ وَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ رُوحَ الْمَدْرَجِ الَّذِي بِهِ يَذْهَبُ النَّاسُ وَيَجِيئُونَ وَجَعَلَ فِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَصْحَابِ الْمَيْمَنَةِ رُوحَ الايمَانِ فَبِهِ خَافُوا الله وَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ رُوحَ الْقُوَّةِ فَبِهِ قَدَرُوا عَلَى طَاعَةِ الله وَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ رُوحَ الشَّهْوَةِ فَبِهِ اشْتَهَوْا طَاعَةَ الله وَجَعَلَ فِيهِمْ رُوحَ الْمَدْرَجِ الَّذِي بِهِ يَذْهَبُ النَّاسُ وَيَجِيئُونَ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani from Jabir al-Ju‘fi from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “O Jabir, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has created th e creatures in three categories as mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “On that day, you (mankind) will be divided into three groups: (56:7) The people of the right hand - those whose books of records will be placed in their right hands. How happy they will be! (56:8). The people of the left hand - those whose books of records will be placed in their left hands. How miserable they will be! (56:9). The foremost ones (in faith and virtue) - the foremost ones in receiving their reward.” (56:10).

The foremost group is the messengers and the people of special status with Allah among His creatures. Allah has placed in them five spirits and has supported them with the Holy Spirit. Through this spirit they recognize things. He has supported them with the spirit of faith because of which they maintain fear of Allah (in their souls). They are supported also with the spirit of power because of which they are able to obey Allah. They are also supported with the spirit of desires with which they maintain their desire of worshipping and obeying Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and dislike disobedience. He has placed in them the social spirit to socialize and establish proper relations among people. In the believers and the people of the right hand He has placed the spirit of faith because of which they maintain fear of Allah. He has placed in them the spirit of power with which they obey Allah. He has placed in them the spirit of desire. With it they desire to obey Allah. He has also placed in the social spirit and because of this they maintain social relations.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَمَّارِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنِ الْمُنَخَّلِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عِلْمِ الْعَالِمِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّ فِي الانْبِيَاءِ وَالاوْصِيَاءِ خَمْسَةَ أَرْوَاحٍ رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ وَرُوحَ الايمَانِ وَرُوحَ الْحَيَاةِ وَرُوحَ الْقُوَّةِ وَرُوحَ الشَّهْوَةِ فَبِرُوحِ الْقُدُسِ يَا جَابِرُ عَرَفُوا مَا تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ إِلَى مَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا جَابِرُ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الارْبَعَةَ أَرْوَاحٌ يُصِيبُهَا الْحَدَثَانُ إِلا رُوحَ الْقُدُسِ فَإِنَّهَا لا تَلْهُو وَلا تَلْعَبُ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Musa ibn ‘Umar from Muhammad ibn Sinan from ‘Ammar ibn Marwan from al-Munakhkhal from Jabir who has said that when I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the knowledge the scholar he said the following. “O Jabir, in the prophets and in the executors of their will there are five spirits. They are the Holy Spirit, the spirit of faith, the spirit of life, the spirit of power and the spirit of desire. Through the Holy Spirit, O Jabir, they receive the knowledge all that is below the Throne all the way to under the land.” He then said, “O Jabir, these four spirits are the kind of spirits that may become affected by the events that take place. Only the Holy Spirit is that which does trifle and wander around.”

3ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْمُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ عِلْمِ الامَامِ بِمَا فِي أَقْطَارِ الارْضِ وَهُوَ فِي بَيْتِهِ مُرْخًى عَلَيْهِ سِتْرُهُ فَقَالَ يَا مُفَضَّلُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى جَعَلَ فِي النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَمْسَةَ أَرْوَاحٍ رُوحَ الْحَيَاةِ فَبِهِ دَبَّ وَدَرَجَ وَرُوحَ الْقُوَّةِ فَبِهِ نَهَضَ وَجَاهَدَ وَرُوحَ الشَّهْوَةِ فَبِهِ أَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ وَأَتَى النِّسَاءَ مِنَ الْحَلالِ وَرُوحَ الايمَانِ فَبِهِ آمَنَ وَعَدَلَ وَرُوحَ الْقُدُسِ فَبِهِ حَمَلَ النُّبُوَّةَ فَإِذَا قُبِضَ النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) انْتَقَلَ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ فَصَارَ إِلَى الامَامِ وَرُوحُ الْقُدُسِ لا يَنَامُ وَلا يَغْفُلُ وَلا يَلْهُو وَلا يَزْهُو وَالارْبَعَةُ الارْوَاحِ تَنَامُ وَتَغْفُلُ وَتَزْهُو وَتَلْهُو وَرُوحُ الْقُدُسِ كَانَ يَرَى بِهِ.

3. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn Idris from Muhammad ibn Sinan that al-Mufadal ibn ‘Umar who has said that I asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.) the following. “I asked him about the knowledge of the Imams of the regions of the earth when he is in his house secluded behind the curtains. The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Mufuddal, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has place five spirits in the Prophet. Of such one is the spirit of life with which is movement and activities. There is the spirit of power with is uprising and assiduousness and the spirit of desire with which is consumption of nutrients and reproduction in lawful ways. There is the spirit of faith with which is peace and justice. There is the Holy Spirit with which prophet-hood is carried. When the prophet passes away the Holy Spirit transfers and comes over to the Imam (a.s.). The Holy Spirit does not sleep or become unaware. It does not trifle or maintain false hopes. The other four spirits sleep, become unaware, may maintain false hope or trifle. With the Holy Spirit things are seen.”

Chapter 56

The Spirit with which the Imams (a.s.) are Protected

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَكَذلِكَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ رُوحاً مِنْ أَمْرِنا ما كُنْتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتابُ وَلا الايمانُ قَالَ خَلْقٌ مِنْ خَلْقِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يُخْبِرُهُ وَيُسَدِّدُهُ وَهُوَ مَعَ الائِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ.

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from abu 'al-Sabah al-Kinani from abu Basir who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was with the Messenger of Allah to give him news and protected him and he is with the Imams after the Messenger of Allah.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ أَسْبَاطِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ هِيتَ وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكَذلِكَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ رُوحاً مِنْ أَمْرِنا فَقَالَ مُنْذُ أَنْزَلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ذَلِكَ الرُّوحَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا صَعِدَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِينَا.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from Asbat ibn Salim who has said the following. “Once a man from Hayt (a town in Iraq) asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), -when I was present also-, about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, “From the day Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent that Spirit to Muhammad (s.a.) he did not ever since ascent and he is present with us.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي قَالَ خَلْقٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ كَانَ مَعَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهُوَ مَعَ الائِمَّةِ وَهُوَ مِنَ الْمَلَكُوتِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from ibn Muskan from abu Basir who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was with the Messenger of Allah and he is present with the Imams. He is from the realm of the angels.”

4ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ يَسْئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي قَالَ خَلْقٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَ أَحَدٍ مِمَّنْ مَضَى غَيْرِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَهُوَ مَعَ الائِمَّةِ يُسَدِّدُهُمْ وَلَيْسَ كُلُّ مَا طُلِبَ وُجِدَ.

4. Ali has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from abu Basir who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘“They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was present with anyone before except Muhammad (s.a.). He is present with the Imams (a.s.). He protects them. It is not that whatever is desired is found.”

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الْعِلْمِ أَ هُوَ عِلْمٌ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ الْعَالِمُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِ الرِّجَالِ أَمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ عِنْدَكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَهُ فَتَعْلَمُونَ مِنْهُ قَالَ الامْرُ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَوْجَبُ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكَذلِكَ أَوْحَيْنا إِلَيْكَ رُوحاً مِنْ أَمْرِنا ما كُنْتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتابُ وَلا الايمانُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يَقُولُ أَصْحَابُكُمْ فِي هَذِهِ الايَةِ أَ يُقِرُّونَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ فِي حَالٍ لا يَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلا الايمَانُ فَقُلْتُ لا أَدْرِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا يَقُولُونَ فَقَالَ لِي بَلَى قَدْ كَانَ فِي حَالٍ لا يَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلا الايمَانُ حَتَّى بَعَثَ الله تَعَالَى الرُّوحَ الَّتِي ذُكِرَ فِي الْكِتَابِ فَلَمَّا أَوْحَاهَا إِلَيْهِ عَلَّمَ بِهَا الْعِلْمَ وَالْفَهْمَ وَهِيَ الرُّوحُ الَّتِي يُعْطِيهَا الله تَعَالَى مَنْ شَاءَ فَإِذَا أَعْطَاهَا عَبْداً عَلَّمَهُ الْفَهْمَ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Imran ibn Musa from Musa ibn Ja‘far from Ali ibn Asbat from Muhammad ibn Fudayl from abu Hamzah who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the knowledge. Is it a knowledge that the scholar learns from the mouths of the people or it is in the with you from which you read and then learn therefrom.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The issue is greater and more urgently needed. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52)?” The The Imam (a.s.) said, “What does your people say about this verse? Do they read that he was as such that he did not know what the or the was?” I said, “I do not know, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what they say.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Yes, he lived in a condition wherein he did not know the book and the faith untill Allah, the Most High, sent the Spirit who is mentioned in the book. When the Spirit was inspired (sent) to him he learned through him the knowledge and understanding. He is the Spirit whom Allah, the Most High grants to whoever He wants. When He grants him to a servant he teaches him understanding.”

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ الاسْكَافِ قَالَ أَتَى رَجُلٌ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ الرُّوحِ أَ لَيْسَ هُوَ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحُ غَيْرُ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَكَرَّرَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فَقَالَ لَهُ لَقَدْ قُلْتَ عَظِيماً مِنَ الْقَوْلِ مَا أَحَدٌ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ الرُّوحَ غَيْرُ جَبْرَئِيلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّكَ ضَالٌّ تَرْوِي عَنْ أَهْلِ الضَّلالِ يَقُولُ الله تَعَالَى لِنَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَتى‏ أَمْرُ الله فَلا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ سُبْحانَهُ وَتَعالى‏ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلائِكَةَ بِالرُّوحِ وَالرُّوحُ غَيْرُ الْمَلائِكَةِ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمْ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘Ala’ from Sa‘d al-Iskaf who has said the following. “Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) asking him about the Spirit. “Is he not Jibril?” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then said, “Jibril is of the angels. The Spirit is not Jibril. He repeated it to the man. The man said, “You have said something very much extraordinary. No one other than you thinks that the Spirit is somme one other than Jibril.” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) said to him, “You are mislead and narrate from the mislead people. Allah, the Most High has said to His Prophet (s.a.), ‘Allah's help will certainly support (the believers), so pagans do not (seek) to hasten it. Allah is far Glorious and Exalted than to be considered equal to idols.” (16:1) He sends the angels with the Spirit. The Spirit is (a creature) other than the angels (a.s.).”

and say He said:

Chapter 57

The Time When the Imam Learns the Knowledge of the Imam before him (a.s.)

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ مِسْكِينٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَتَى يَعْرِفُ الاخِيرُ مَا عِنْدَ الاوَّلِ قَالَ فِي آخِرِ دَقِيقَةٍ تَبْقَى مِنْ رُوحِهِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hakam ibn Miskin from certain persons of our people who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘When does the succeeding one (Imam) come to know of what the one preceding him knew?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “At the last minute of the life of the Imam before him.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ مِسْكِينٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ وَجَمَاعَةٍ مَعَهُ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ يَعْرِفُ الَّذِي بَعْدَ الامَامِ عِلْمَ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ فِي آخِرِ دَقِيقَةٍ تَبْقَى مِنْ رُوحِهِ.

2. Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ali ibn Asbat from al-Hakam ibn Miskin from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah and a group with him who has said the following. “We heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘The succeeding Imam comes to know of the knowledge of the preceding Imam in the last minute of the time left from his life.’”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الامَامُ مَتَى يَعْرِفُ إِمَامَتَهُ وَيَنْتَهِي الامْرُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ فِي آخِرِ دَقِيقَةٍ مِنْ حَيَاةِ الاوَّلِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ya'qub ibn Yazid from Ali ibn Asbat from certain persons of his people who has said that I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “When does the Imam come to know that he has become the Imam and position is transferred to him?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “At the last minute of the life of the preceding Imam (a.s.).”

Chapter 58

The Imams (a.s.) are all Equal in Knowledge, Courage and Obedience

1ـ 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 قَالَ الله تَعَالَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمانٍ أَلْحَقْنا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَما أَلَتْناهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا النَّبِيُّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ الائِمَّةُ وَالاوْصِيَاءُ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمْ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ وَلَمْ نَنْقُصْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمُ الْحُجَّةَ الَّتِي جَاءَ بِهَا مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَحُجَّتُهُمْ وَاحِدَةٌ وَطَاعَتُهُمْ وَاحِدَةٌ.

1. 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 has said the following. “The offspring of the believers will also follow them to Paradise. So shall We join their offspring to them because of their faith. We shall reduce nothing from their deeds.. .”(52:21) The Imam (a.s.) said, “Believers refers to the Holy Prophet and Amir al-Mu’mini (a.s.) Offspring refers to the Imams and the executors of the wills (a.s.) We make them follow means that We will not reduce anything from the Divine authority of their offspring. It will be the same as that which Muhammad (s.a.) had transferred to Ali (a.s.). Their authority is one and the same and obedience to them is the same.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ دَاوُدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لِي نَحْنُ فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالشَّجَاعَةِ سَوَاءٌ وَفِي الْعَطَايَا عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا نُؤْمَرُ.

2. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Dawud al-Nahdi from Al,i ibn Ja‘far who has narrated the following from abu al-Hassan. “In knowledge and courage we all are equal. In benefaction and grants we do to the degree we are commanded.”

3ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) نَحْنُ فِي الامْرِ وَالْفَهْمِ وَالْحَلالِ وَالْحَرَامِ نَجْرِي مَجْرًى وَاحِداً فَأَمَّا رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَعلي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَلَهُمَا فَضْلُهُمَا.

3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ali ibn Isma‘il from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah who has narrated the following from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). “We in the matters of commands, understanding, lawful and unlawful all are alike and the same. However, the Messenger of Allah and Ali (a.s.) have their own virtue and excellence.”