Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 67

Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of al-Husayn ibn Ali’s (a.s.) (a.s.) Divine Authority over the people after al-Hassan (a.s.)

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ قَالَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ وَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ ابْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَمَّا حَضَرَ الْحَسَنَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ لِلْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا أَخِي إِنِّي أُوصِيكَ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَاحْفَظْهَا إِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَهَيِّئْنِي ثُمَّ وَجِّهْنِي إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لاحْدِثَ بِهِ عَهْداً ثُمَّ اصْرِفْنِي إِلَى أُمِّي (عليها السلام) ثُمَّ رُدَّنِي فَادْفِنِّي بِالْبَقِيعِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ سَيُصِيبُنِي مِنْ عَائِشَةَ مَا يَعْلَمُ الله وَالنَّاسُ صَنِيعُهَا وَعَدَاوَتُهَا لله وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَعَدَاوَتُهَا لَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ الْحَسَنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَوُضِعَ عَلَى السَّرِيرِ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقُوا بِهِ إِلَى مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الَّذِي كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ عَلَى الْجَنَائِزِ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَحُمِلَ وَأُدْخِلَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَلَمَّا أُوقِفَ عَلَى قَبْرِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) ذَهَبَ ذُو الْعُوَيْنَيْنِ إِلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقَالَ لَهَا إِنَّهُمْ قَدْ أَقْبَلُوا بِالْحَسَنِ لِيَدْفِنُوا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَخَرَجَتْ مُبَادِرَةً عَلَى بَغْلٍ بِسَرْجٍ فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ امْرَأَةٍ رَكِبَتْ فِي الاسْلامِ سَرْجاً فَقَالَتْ نَحُّوا ابْنَكُمْ عَنْ بَيْتِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يُدْفَنُ فِي بَيْتِي وَيُهْتَكُ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله حِجَابُهُ فَقَالَ لَهَا الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَدِيماً هَتَكْتِ أَنْتِ وَأَبُوكِ حِجَابَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَدْخَلْتِ عَلَيْهِ بَيْتَهُ مَنْ لا يُحِبُّ قُرْبَهُ وَإِنَّ الله سَائِلُكِ عَنْ ذَلِكِ يَا عَائِشَةُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Bakr ibn Salih (alKulayni has said) and a number of our people from ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Daylami from Harun ibn al-Jahm from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “When al-Hassan (a.s.) ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he said to al-Husayn (a.s.), “O my brother, I want to entrust you with my directive will (please) safeguard and preserve it. When I will die prepare and help me towards (the Shrine of) the Messenger of Allah so I can renew my covenant with him then help me towards my mother (a.s.). Thereafter return me back for burial in Baqi‘ graveyard. You must know that ‘A’isha will create problems for me. Allah and the people know her deeds and her hostile attitude towards Allah and His Messenger and her animosity towards us Ahl al-Bayt (family) of the Holy Prophet. When al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away his body was placed on the stretcher and then the procession was lead to the place where the Holy Prophet prayed for the dead for burial. Al-Husayn (a.s.) performed the prayer therein and then the body was taken to the Mosque. When (the procession) paused on the grave of the Messenger of Allah Dhul ‘Aynayn (spy) went to ‘A’isha and told her, “They have brought al-Hassan’s body to bury with the Holy Prophet.” She them came out quickly on the mule with saddle. She was the first woman in the Muslim community to ride on the saddle. She then said, “Take your son away from my house. He will not be buried in my house to disregard the privacy of the Messenger of Allah. Al-Husayn (a.s.) said to her, “A long time ago you and your father had disregarded the privacy of the Messenger of Allah. You brought to his house those whose nearness he did not love. Allah will held you responsible for this O ‘A’isha.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا حَضَرَتِ الْحَسَنَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ يَا قَنْبَرُ انْظُرْ هَلْ تَرَى مِنْ وَرَاءِ بَابِكَ مُؤْمِناً مِنْ غَيْرِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) فَقَالَ الله تَعَالَى وَرَسُولُهُ وَابْنُ رَسُولِهِ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي قَالَ ادْعُ لِي مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ هَلْ حَدَثَ إِلا خَيْرٌ قُلْتُ أَجِبْ أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَعَجَّلَ عَلَى شِسْعِ نَعْلِهِ فَلَمْ يُسَوِّهِ وَخَرَجَ مَعِي يَعْدُو فَلَمَّا قَامَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ سَلَّمَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) اجْلِسْ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِثْلُكَ يَغِيبُ عَنْ سَمَاعِ كَلامٍ يَحْيَا بِهِ الامْوَاتُ وَيَمُوتُ بِهِ الاحْيَاءُ كُونُوا أَوْعِيَةَ الْعِلْمِ وَمَصَابِيحَ الْهُدَى فَإِنَّ ضَوْءَ النَّهَارِ بَعْضُهُ أَضْوَأُ مِنْ بَعْضٍ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الله جَعَلَ وُلْدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَئِمَّةً وَفَضَّلَ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَآتَى دَاوُدَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) زَبُوراً وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ بِمَا اسْتَأْثَرَ بِهِ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكَ الْحَسَدَ وَإِنَّمَا وَصَفَ الله بِهِ الْكَافِرِينَ فَقَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كُفَّاراً حَسَداً مِنْ عِنْدِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ما تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الْحَقُّ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلشَّيْطَانِ عَلَيْكَ سُلْطَاناً يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَ لا أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ أَبِيكَ فِيكَ قَالَ بَلَى قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَاكَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ يَوْمَ الْبَصْرَةِ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَبَرَّنِي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالاخِرَةِ فَلْيَبَرَّ مُحَمَّداً وَلَدِي يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ لَوْ شِئْتُ أَنْ أُخْبِرَكَ وَأَنْتَ نُطْفَةٌ فِي ظَهْرِ أَبِيكَ لاخْبَرْتُكَ يَا مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ نَفْسِي وَمُفَارَقَةِ رُوحِي جِسْمِي إِمَامٌ مِنْ بَعْدِي وَعِنْدَ الله جَلَّ اسْمُهُ فِي الْكِتَابِ وِرَاثَةً مِنَ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَضَافَهَا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ فِي وِرَاثَةِ أَبِيهِ وَأُمِّهِ فَعَلِمَ الله أَنَّكُمْ خِيَرَةُ خَلْقِهِ فَاصْطَفَى مِنْكُمْ مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَاخْتَارَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَاخْتَارَنِي علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالامَامَةِ وَاخْتَرْتُ أَنَا الْحُسَيْنَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ أَنْتَ إِمَامٌ وَأَنْتَ وَسِيلَتِي إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالله لَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ نَفْسِي ذَهَبَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ مِنْكَ هَذَا الْكَلامَ أَلا وَإِنَّ فِي رَأْسِي كَلاماً لا تَنْزِفُهُ الدِّلاءُ وَلا تُغَيِّرُهُ نَغْمَةُ الرِّيَاحِ كَالْكِتَابِ الْمُعْجَمِ فِي الرَّقِّ الْمُنَمْنَمِ أَهُمُّ بِإِبْدَائِهِ فَأَجِدُنِي سُبِقْتُ إِلَيْهِ سَبَقَ الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ أَوْ مَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَإِنَّهُ لَكَلامٌ يَكِلُّ بِهِ لِسَانُ النَّاطِقِ وَيَدُ الْكَاتِبِ حَتَّى لا يَجِدَ قَلَماً وَيُؤْتَوْا بِالْقِرْطَاسِ حُمَماً فَلا يَبْلُغُ إِلَى فَضْلِكَ وَكَذَلِكَ يَجْزِي الله الْمُحْسِنِينَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِالله الْحُسَيْنُ أَعْلَمُنَا عِلْماً وَأَثْقَلُنَا حِلْماً وَأَقْرَبُنَا مِنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) رَحِماً كَانَ فَقِيهاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُخْلَقَ وَقَرَأَ الْوَحْيَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْطِقَ وَلَوْ عَلِمَ الله فِي أَحَدٍ خَيْراً مَا اصْطَفَى مُحَمَّداً (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَلَمَّا اخْتَارَ الله مُحَمَّداً وَاخْتَارَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَلِيّاً وَاخْتَارَكَ عَلِيٌّ إِمَاماً وَاخْتَرْتَ الْحُسَيْنَ سَلَّمْنَا وَرَضِينَا مَنْ هُوَ بِغَيْرِهِ يَرْضَى وَمَنْ غَيْرُهُ كُنَّا نَسْلَمُ بِهِ مِنْ مُشْكِلاتِ أَمْرِنَا.

2. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan and Ali ibn Muhammad have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Daylami from one of our people from al-Mufaddal ibn ‘Umar from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. (a.s.), “When al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he said, “O Qanbar, see if you there is any believer (in Islam) other than the members of the family of Muhammad (s.a.) behind the door.” He (Qanbar) said Allah, His Messenger and the grand son of His Messenger know better than I do.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Call to me Muhammad ibn Ali. I (Qanbar) then went to him and when I was in his presence he said, “I hope nothing but good has happened.” I said, “Answer the call of abu Muhammad. He quickly wore his shoes and did not even wear it properly. He came out with me running. When he arrived in the presence of al-Hassan (a.s.) he offered his greeting. Al-Hassan (a.s.) said to him, “Please, sit down. A person like you must not remain absent from hearing the words that can bring the dead to life and cause death to the living. You must be the container of knowledge and the beacon of guidance. Some of the lights of the day are brighter than others.

Have you come to know that Allah made the sons of Abraham the Imams (‘A’imma) and granted to some of them more excellence than the others. He gave psalms to David and you know what kind of preference He granted to Muhammad (s.a.). O Muhammad ibn Ali, I fear for you of envy. Allah has said it to be of the characteristics of the unbelievers. Thus, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “. . out of envy, turn you back to disbelief, even after the Truth has become evident to them. .” (2:109). Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has not given your control in the hands of Satan, O Muhammad ibn Ali. May I relate to you what I heard your father say about you?” He said, “Yes, I like to hear it.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I heard your father say on the day of Basra, “Whoever likes to do good to me in this and the next life he should do good to my son, Muhammad. O Muhammad ibn Ali if you would like I can inform you of the time you were only a potential person in the back of your father I can do so. O Muhammad ibn Ali, have you come to know that al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) after I will die and my spirit depart my body will be the Imam (Leader with Divine Authority) afret me before Allah, Most great Whose name is, in the Book as the inheritance from the Holy Prophet. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has added it to the inheritance from his father and mother. You are the choosen ones from His creatures. He selected Muhammad from among you and Muhammad (s.a.) selected Ali and Ali (a.s.) selected me for Imamat (Leadership with Divine Authority). I have choosen al-Husayn (a.s.) as the Imam (Leader with Divine Authority) after me.” Muhammad ibn Ali then said, “ You are the my Imam (Leader with Divine Authority) and you are my connectio to Muhammad (s.a.). I swear by Allah, I wish I was dead before hearing these words from you. Certainly there is a great deal of facts in my head (about your excellence and virtues) that even with buckets can not be drained and by the songs of the winds can not be changee. It is like an encyclopedia with decorated pages. I ready myself to speak them out but I find others have preceded me like the preceding of a heavenly book or what the messengers have have brought. It is a book that exhausts the speaking tongue and the writing hand. I do not find enough pens to complete writing and it can turn all papers to ashes. Thus, there is no reach to your excellence and virtues. This is how Allah rewards those who do good and there is no power without Allah. Al-Husayn (a.s.) is the most knowledgeable among us and his forebearance is the greatest among us in gravity. He is the closest to the Messenger of Allah among us in his relationship. He was a Faqih before he was created. He has read the messages of the Divine revelation before he would speak. Had Allah known any good in anyone He would not have choosen Muhammad (s.a.). Since Allah has choosen Muhammad (s.a.) and Muhammad (s.a.) choose Ali (a.s.) and Ali choose you as the Imam (Leader with Divine Authority ) and have choosen al-Husayn (a.s.) we accept and agree. Who is he that accept a person other than him (al-Husayn (a.s.)) Who is he that would seek assistance in his difficulties from a person other than him (al-Husayn (a.s.) )?”

3ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ سَهْلٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَمَّا احْتُضِرَ الْحَسَنُ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ لِلْحُسَيْنِ يَا أَخِي إِنِّي أُوصِيكَ بِوَصِيَّةٍ فَاحْفَظْهَا فَإِذَا أَنَا مِتُّ فَهَيِّئْنِي ثُمَّ وَجِّهْنِي إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لاحْدِثَ بِهِ عَهْداً ثُمَّ اصْرِفْنِي إِلَى أُمِّي فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) ثُمَّ رُدَّنِي فَادْفِنِّي بِالْبَقِيعِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ سَيُصِيبُنِي مِنَ الْحُمَيْرَاءِ مَا يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مِنْ صَنِيعِهَا وَعَدَاوَتِهَا لله وَلِرَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَعَدَاوَتِهَا لَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ الْحَسَنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَوُضِعَ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ فَانْطَلَقُوا بِهِ إِلَى مُصَلَّى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الَّذِي كَانَ يُصَلِّي فِيهِ عَلَى الْجَنَائِزِ فَصَلَّى عَلَى الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَلَمَّا أَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهِ حُمِلَ فَأُدْخِلَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَمَّا أُوقِفَ عَلَى قَبْرِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بَلَغَ عَائِشَةَ الْخَبَرُ وَقِيلَ لَهَا إِنَّهُمْ قَدْ أَقْبَلُوا بِالْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ لِيُدْفَنَ مَعَ رَسُولِ الله فَخَرَجَتْ مُبَادِرَةً عَلَى بَغْلٍ بِسَرْجٍ فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ امْرَأَةٍ رَكِبَتْ فِي الاسْلامِ سَرْجاً فَوَقَفَتْ وَقَالَتْ نَحُّوا ابْنَكُمْ عَنْ بَيْتِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يُدْفَنُ فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يُهْتَكُ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله حِجَابُهُ فَقَالَ لَهَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِمَا قَدِيماً هَتَكْتِ أَنْتِ وَأَبُوكِ حِجَابَ رَسُولِ الله وَأَدْخَلْتِ بَيْتَهُ مَنْ لا يُحِبُّ رَسُولُ الله قُرْبَهُ وَإِنَّ الله سَائِلُكِ عَنْ ذَلِكِ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ أَخِي أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُقَرِّبَهُ مِنْ أَبِيهِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لِيُحْدِثَ بِهِ عَهْداً وَاعْلَمِي أَنَّ أَخِي أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِالله وَرَسُولِهِ وَأَعْلَمُ بِتَأْوِيلِ كِتَابِهِ مِنْ أَنْ يَهْتِكَ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله سِتْرَهُ لانَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتَ النَّبِيِّ إِلا أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ وَقَدْ أَدْخَلْتِ أَنْتِ بَيْتَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الرِّجَالَ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ وَقَدْ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْواتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ ضَرَبْتِ أَنْتِ لابِيكِ وَفَارُوقِهِ عِنْدَ أُذُنِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْمَعَاوِلَ وَقَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْواتَهُمْ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ الله أُولئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ الله قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوى‏ وَلَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ أَدْخَلَ أَبُوكِ وَفَارُوقُهُ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِقُرْبِهِمَا مِنْهُ الاذَى وَمَا رَعَيَا مِنْ حَقِّهِ مَا أَمَرَهُمَا الله بِهِ عَلَى لِسَانِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الله حَرَّمَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمْوَاتاً مَا حَرَّمَ مِنْهُمْ أَحْيَاءً وَتَالله يَا عَائِشَةُ لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا الَّذِي كَرِهْتِيهِ مِنْ دَفْنِ الْحَسَنِ عِنْدَ أَبِيهِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) جَائِزاً فِيمَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ الله لَعَلِمْتِ أَنَّهُ سَيُدْفَنُ وَإِنْ رَغِمَ مَعْطِسُكِ قَالَ ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ وَقَالَ يَا عَائِشَةُ يَوْماً عَلَى بَغْلٍ وَيَوْماً عَلَى جَمَلٍ فَمَا تَمْلِكِينَ نَفْسَكِ وَلا تَمْلِكِينَ الارْضَ عَدَاوَةً لِبَنِي هَاشِمٍ قَالَ فَأَقْبَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَتْ يَا ابْنَ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ هَؤُلاءِ الْفَوَاطِمُ يَتَكَلَّمُونَ فَمَا كَلامُكَ فَقَالَ لَهَا الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَنَّى تُبْعِدِينَ مُحَمَّداً مِنَ الْفَوَاطِمِ فَوَ الله لَقَدْ وَلَدَتْهُ ثَلاثُ فَوَاطِمَ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ عَائِذِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ مَخْزُومٍ وَفَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ أَسَدِ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ وَفَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ زَائِدَةَ بْنِ الاصَمِّ ابْنِ رَوَاحَةَ بْنِ حِجْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَعِيصِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ قَالَ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ لِلْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نَحُّوا ابْنَكُمْ وَاذْهَبُوا بِهِ فَإِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ قَالَ فَمَضَى الْحُسَيْنُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَى قَبْرِ أُمِّهِ ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَهُ فَدَفَنَهُ بِالْبَقِيعِ.

3. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Sahl from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from Harun ibn al-Jahm from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “When al-Hassan (a.s.) ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he said to al-Husayn (a.s.), “O my brother, I want to entrust you with my directive will (please) safeguard and preserve it. When I will die prepare and help me towards (the Shrine of) the Messenger of Allah so I can renew my covenant with him then help me towards my mother (a.s.). Thereafter return me back for burial in Baqi‘ graveyard. You must know that al-Humayra will create problems for me. The people know her deeds and her hostile attitude towards Allah and His Messenger and her animosity towards us Ahl al-Bayt (family) of the Holy Prophet. When al-Hassan (a.s.) passed away his body was placed on the stretcher and then the procession was lead to the place where the Holy Prophet prayed for the dead for burial. Al-Husayn (a.s.) performed the prayer therein and then the body was taken to the Mosque. When (the procession) paused on the grave of the Messenger of Allah new reached ‘A’isha and she was told, “They have brought al-Hassan’s body to bury with the Holy Prophet.” She them came out quickly on the mule with saddle. She was the first woman in the Muslim community to ride on the saddle. She stood and then said, “Take your son away from my house. Nothing will be buried in my house and the privacy of the Messenger of Allah. Al-Husayn (a.s.) said to her, “A long time ago you and your father had disregarded the privacy of the Messenger of Allah. You brought to his house those whose nearness he did not love. Allah will hold you responsible for this O ‘A’isha. My brother commanded me to place him near his grandfather the Messenger of Allah so can renew his covenant with him. You, O ‘A’isha, must know that my brother is the most knowledgeable person. He is by far the most knowledgeable one in interpreting the book of Allah than to cause disregard the privacy of the Messenger of Allah. Allah says, “. . do not enter the houses of the Prophet for a meal without permission.. .” (33:53) but you have admitted into the house of the the Messenger of Allah men without his permission. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “. . do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet,. .” (49:2). It is you have consrtucted a barking place for your father and his Faruq (discerning) near the ear of the Messenger of Allah. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “The hearts of those who lower their voices in the presence of the Messenger of God are tested by God through piety. .” (49:3) By my life that your father and his Faruq have brough trouble forthe the Messenger of Allah due to coming so close. The two of them did not maintain the respect for the Messenger of Allah that He had commanded them through the words of the Messenger of Allah to do so. What Allah has made unlawful about a believer who is dead He has also made unlawful about a living believer. I swear by Allah, “O ‘A’isha, if the burial that you dislike to take place near the Messenger of Allah would have been permissible in or view and from Allah, you would have learned about it to have taken place despite your opposition.”

The narrator has said that Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiya then spoke and said, “O ‘A’isha, one day you ride a mule and the other day rode a camel. You do not control yourself. You can not own the earth for your animosity against banu Hashim” The narrator has said that she then turned to him and said, “O ibn al-Hanafiya, these are the sons of Fatima who speak. What for do you speak?” al-Husayn (a.s.) then said to her, “To what direction do you want to distance Muhammad from the sons of Fatima (a.s.). I swear by Allah that he has three Fatima in his lineage from the mothers side. 1. Fatima daughter of ‘Imran ibn ‘A’idh ibn ‘Amr ibn Makhdhum (b) fatima daughter of Asad ibn Hashim (c) Fatima daughter of Za’ida ibn al-Asamm ibn Rawaha ibn Hijr ibn ‘Ad Mu‘is ibn ‘Amir.” The narrator has said that she then said, “Move your son and take him away. You are a quarrelsome people.” The narrator has said that the al-Husayn (a.s.) went tothe grave of his mother and then took the body of al-Hassan (a.s.) out (of the shrine of the Messenger of Allah) and buried him in al-Baqi‘.”

Chapter 68

Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of Ali ibn al-Husayn’s (a.s.) Divine Authority over the people after al-Husayn (a.s.)

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَأَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بن علي (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) لَمَّا حَضَرَهُ الَّذِي حَضَرَهُ دَعَا ابْنَتَهُ الْكُبْرَى فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَدَفَعَ إِلَيْهَا كِتَاباً مَلْفُوفاً وَوَصِيَّةً ظَاهِرَةً وَكَانَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) مَبْطُوناً مَعَهُمْ لا يَرَوْنَ إِلا أَنَّهُ لِمَا بِهِ فَدَفَعَتْ فَاطِمَةُ الْكِتَابَ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) ثُمَّ صَارَ وَالله ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ إِلَيْنَا يَا زِيَادُ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا فِي ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابِ جَعَلَنِيَ الله فِدَاكَ قَالَ فِيهِ وَالله مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ وُلْدُ آدَمَ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ الله آدَمَ إِلَى أَنْ تَفْنَى الدُّنْيَا وَالله إِنَّ فِيهِ الْحُدُودَ حَتَّى أَنَّ فِيهِ أَرْشَ الْخَدْشِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn and Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Mansur ibn Yunus from abu al-Jarud from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “When al-Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.) was about to leave this world he called his eldest daughter, Fatima and gave her a sealed document and openly before the people his directive will. Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was ill with some internal illness and the people would see as dying. Fatima then gave the document to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.). Thereafter, that document, by Allah, came to us, O Ziyad.” The narrator has said that he asked the the Imam (a.s.). “What is in that document, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In it there is all that the children of Adam needed from the day Allah created Adam to the end of the world. In it there is the law of penalties and even the rules of compensation for an scratch on a victim’s body.”

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا حَضَرَ الْحُسَيْنَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا حَضَرَهُ دَفَعَ وَصِيَّتَهُ إِلَى ابْنَتِهِ فَاطِمَةَ ظَاهِرَةً فِي كِتَابٍ مُدْرَجٍ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْحُسَيْنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا كَانَ دَفَعَتْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قُلْتُ لَهُ فَمَا فِيهِ يَرْحَمُكَ الله فَقَالَ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ وُلْدُ آدَمَ مُنْذُ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى أَنْ تَفْنَى.

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “When al-Husayn (a.s.) was about to leave this world he gave his directive will to his daughter, Fatima in a sealed document before the people onpenly. When what had to happen to al-Husayn (a.s.) did happen she gave it to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s..” The narrator has said that then he asked the Imam (a.s.). “What was in it, may Allah grant you blessings?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It contained all that the children of Adam would need from the beginning of the world until it will end.”

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ لَمَّا صَارَ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ اسْتَوْدَعَ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهَا الْكُتُبَ وَالْوَصِيَّةَ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) دَفَعَتْهَا إِلَيْهِ.

3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Amira from abu Bakr al-Hadrami from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “When al-Husayn (a.s.) was about to leave for Iraq he entrusted ’Umm Salama (may Allah be pleased with her) with the books and directive will. When Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) returned (to Madina) she delivered them to him.

According to the manuscript of al-Safwan the hadith reads as follows:

4ـ وَفِي نُسْخَةِ الصَّفْوَانِيِّ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ فُلَيْحِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ قَالَ وَالله إِنِّي لَجَالِسٌ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَعِنْدَهُ وُلْدُهُ إِذْ جَاءَهُ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله الانْصَارِيُّ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَخَلا بِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَخْبَرَنِي أَنِّي سَأُدْرِكُ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ يُكَنَّى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَإِذَا أَدْرَكْتَهُ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلامَ قَالَ وَمَضَى جَابِرٌ وَرَجَعَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَجَلَسَ مَعَ أَبِيهِ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) وَإِخْوَتِهِ فَلَمَّا صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَالَ لَكَ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله الانْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ إِنَّكَ سَتُدْرِكُ رَجُلاً مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِيَ اسْمُهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ يُكَنَّى أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلامَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُوهُ هَنِيئاً لَكَ يَا بُنَيَّ مَا خَصَّكَ الله بِهِ مِنْ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ لا تُطْلِعْ إِخْوَتَكَ عَلَى هَذَا فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْداً كَمَا كَادُوا إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ لِيُوسُفَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hanan ibn Sadir from Falih ibn abu Bakr al-Shaybani who has said the following. “ I swear by Allah, I was sitting in the presence of Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) whose sons also were there when Jabur ibn ‘Abdallah al-Ansari came. He offered his greeting then he held the hand of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and took him aside for privacy and said, “The Messenger of Allah informed me that I would find my self with a man from Ahl al-Bayt (family the Holy Prophet (s.a.) who would be called ‘Muhammad ibn Ali’ also called abu Ja‘far (father of Ja‘far). When abu Ja‘far returned to the meeting he sat near his father, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) and his brothers. When the Imam performed the Maghrib prayer (the prayer at sun set, Ali ibn al-Husayn asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), “What did Jabut ibn ‘Abdallah al-Ansari say to you?” He (abu Ja‘far ) said, “Jabur said that the Messenger of Allah said to him the following, “You will soon find yourself with a man from my Ahl al-Bayt (my family) whose name is Muhammad ibn Ali also called abu Ja‘far (father of Ja‘far). Convey that offer him greetings.” His father (abu Ja‘far’s father) then said, “Success for you, my son, for what Allah has granted to you exclusively from His messenger from among the members of your family. Do not tell it to your brothers lest they may plan against you a plot as his brothers plotted against Joseph.”

Chapter 69

Tacit and Explicit Testimony as proof of abu Ja‘far’s (a.s.) Divine Authority over the people after Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.)

1 ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ أَبِي الْقَاسِمِ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي الْبِلادِ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا حَضَرَ عَلِيَّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) الْوَفَاةُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ أَخْرَجَ سَفَطاً أَوْ صُنْدُوقاً عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ احْمِلْ هَذَا الصُّنْدُوقَ قَالَ فَحَمَلَ بَيْنَ أَرْبَعَةٍ فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ جَاءَ إِخْوَتُهُ يَدَّعُونَ مَا فِي الصُّنْدُوقِ فَقَالُوا أَعْطِنَا نَصِيبَنَا فِي الصُّنْدُوقِ فَقَالَ وَالله مَا لَكُمْ فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مَا دَفَعَهُ إِلَيَّ وَكَانَ فِي الصُّنْدُوقِ سِلاحُ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَكُتُبُهُ.

1. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from abu al-Qasim al-Kufi from Muhammad ibn Sahl from Ibrahim ibn abu al-Bilad from Isma’il ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “When Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) was about to leave this world he took out a basket or a box that was with him. He then said, “O Muhammad take this box. “ The narrator has said that then he (Muhammad) took the box with four people. When The Imam (a.s.) died his sons came asking for the box and said, “Give us our share from the box.” He (Muhammad) then said to them, “By Allah, there is nothing for you in it. Had there been anything for you he would not have given it to me.” In the box there were the Armament of the Messenger of Allah and his books.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ الْتَفَتَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) إِلَى وُلْدِهِ وَهُوَ فِي الْمَوْتِ وَهُمْ مُجْتَمِعُونَ عِنْدَهُ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا الصُّنْدُوقُ اذْهَبْ بِهِ إِلَى بَيْتِكَ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ دِينَارٌ وَلا دِرْهَمٌ وَلَكِنْ كَانَ مَمْلُوءاً عِلْماً.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Imran ibn Musa from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abdallah from his father that his grandfather who has said the following. “Ali ibn al-Husayn looked at his sons when he was about to leave this world and they had all gathered around him. He then looked at his son, Muhammad ibn Ali and said, “O Muhammad, take this box to your house.” He said, “It was not full of Dirhams and Dinars (valuable properties), it, however, was full of knowledge.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ كَتَبَ إِلَى ابْنِ حَزْمٍ أَنْ يُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ بِصَدَقَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَإِنَّ ابْنَ حَزْمٍ بَعَثَ إِلَى زَيْدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَكَانَ أَكْبَرَهُمْ فَسَأَلَهُ الصَّدَقَةَ فَقَالَ زَيْدٌ إِنَّ الْوَالِيَ كَانَ بَعْدَ عَلِيٍّ الْحَسَنَ وَبَعْدَ الْحَسَنِ الْحُسَيْنَ وَبَعْدَ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَبَعْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ فَابْعَثْ إِلَيْهِ فَبَعَثَ ابْنُ حَزْمٍ إِلَى أَبِي فَأَرْسَلَنِي أَبِي بِالْكِتَابِ إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى دَفَعْتُهُ إِلَى ابْنِ حَزْمٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُنَا يَعْرِفُ هَذَا وُلْدُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ نَعَمْ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَنَّ هَذَا لَيْلٌ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَحْمِلُهُمُ الْحَسَدُ وَلَوْ طَلَبُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْحَقِّ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَهُمْ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَطْلُبُونَ الدُّنْيَا.

3. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan has narrated from Sahl from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Fadala ibn Ayyub from al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘ala’ who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following.

“’Umar ibn ‘ad al-‘Aziz wrote ibn Hazm to send him the endowment documents of Ali, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman. Inb Hazm sent a person to Zayd ibn al-Hassan (a.s.) who was the eldest among them and asked him about the documents. Zayd said, “The high authority after Ali was al-Hassan and after him al-Husayn and Ali ibn al-Husayn was after al-Husayn and after Ali ibn al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ali was the high authority. Send to him. Ibn Hazm then sent to my father and my father sent me with document to him and I went and delivered it to ibn Hazm.”

The narrator has said that some of our people asked The Imam (a.s.), “did the sons of al-Hassan (a.s.) know this.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “They knew it just as they know that this is night but envy influences them. Had they sought truth with truth it would have been better for them but they seek the worldly things.

* Abu Baker ibn Muhammad ibn 'Amr ibn Hazm al-Ansari (37/657 -120/738), the judge of Madina from 87/706 appointed by ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdi al-‘Aziz when he was governor of Madina. When ‘Umar became the Caliph he also appointed ibn Hazm governor of Madina. (al-Tabari, vol.2, pp.ll91, 1255, 1305, 1346, 1372 - 1375, 1437, 1452; vol.3, p.2460; ibn al-Athir, vol.5, pp.55,67; Tahdhib al-Takdhib, vol.l2, pp.38 -40.

4ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ كَتَبَ إِلَى ابْنِ حَزْمٍ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ إِلا أَنَّهُ قَالَ بَعَثَ ابْنُ حَزْمٍ إِلَى زَيْدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَكَانَ أَكْبَرَ مِنْ أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ مِثْلَهُ

4. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ from ‘Abd al-Karim ibn ‘Amr from ibn abu Ya‘fur who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “ ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz wrote ibn Hazm. He then have narrated a hadith similar to the above one except that he has said, “Ibn Hazm sent to Zayd ibn al-Hassan who was older than my father.”

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ a similar hadith.

Chapter 17

Chapter on Another Chapter (Related) to the Previous Chapter

Some additions concerning the different connotations of names (and attributes) used both for Allah, the Creator and the created.

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْمُخْتَارِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْعَلَوِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْفَتْحِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُرْجَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ الْوَاحِدُ الاحَدُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ لَوْ كَانَ كَمَا يَقُولُ الْمُشَبِّهَةُ لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْخَالِقُ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِ وَلا الْمُنْشِئُ مِنَ الْمُنْشَإِ لَكِنَّهُ الْمُنْشِئُ فَرْقٌ بَيْنَ مَنْ جَسَّمَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَأَنْشَأَهُ إِذْ كَانَ لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يُشْبِهُ هُوَ شَيْئاً قُلْتُ أَجَلْ جَعَلَنِيَ الله فِدَاكَ لَكِنَّكَ قُلْتَ الاحَدُ الصَّمَدُ وَقُلْتَ لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَالله وَاحِدٌ وَالانْسَانُ وَاحِدٌ أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ تَشَابَهَتِ الْوَحْدَانِيَّةُ قَالَ يَا فَتْحُ أَحَلْتَ ثَبَّتَكَ الله إِنَّمَا التَّشْبِيهُ فِي الْمَعَانِي فَأَمَّا فِي الاسْمَاءِ فَهِيَ وَاحِدَةٌ وَهِيَ دَالَّةٌ عَلَى الْمُسَمَّى وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الانْسَانَ وَإِنْ قِيلَ وَاحِدٌ فَإِنَّهُ يُخْبَرُ أَنَّهُ جُثَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ وَلَيْسَ بِاثْنَيْنِ وَالانْسَانُ نَفْسُهُ لَيْسَ بِوَاحِدٍ لانَّ أَعْضَاءَهُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ وَأَلْوَانَهُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ وَمَنْ أَلْوَانُهُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ وَهُوَ أَجْزَاءٌ مُجَزَّاةٌ لَيْسَتْ بِسَوَاءٍ دَمُهُ غَيْرُ لَحْمِهِ وَلَحْمُهُ غَيْرُ دَمِهِ وَعَصَبُهُ غَيْرُ عُرُوقِهِ وَشَعْرُهُ غَيْرُ بَشَرِهِ وَسَوَادُهُ غَيْرُ بَيَاضِهِ وَكَذَلِكَ سَائِرُ جَمِيعِ الْخَلْقِ فَالانْسَانُ وَاحِدٌ فِي الاسْمِ وَلا وَاحِدٌ فِي الْمَعْنَى وَالله جَلَّ جَلالُهُ هُوَ وَاحِدٌ لا وَاحِدَ غَيْرُهُ لا اخْتِلافَ فِيهِ وَلا تَفَاوُتَ وَلا زِيَادَةَ وَلا نُقْصَانَ فَأَمَّا الانْسَانُ الْمَخْلُوقُ الْمَصْنُوعُ الْمُؤَلَّفُ مِنْ أَجْزَاءٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ وَجَوَاهِرَ شَتَّى غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ بِالاجْتِمَاعِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَاحِدٌ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي فَرَّجَ الله عَنْكَ فَقَوْلَكَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ فَسِّرْهُ لِي كَمَا فَسَّرْتَ الْوَاحِدَ فَإِنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ لُطْفَهُ عَلَى خِلافِ لُطْفِ خَلْقِهِ لِلْفَصْلِ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَشْرَحَ ذَلِكَ لِي فَقَالَ يَا فَتْحُ إِنَّمَا قُلْنَا اللَّطِيفُ لِلْخَلْقِ اللَّطِيفِ وَلِعِلْمِهِ بِالشَّيْ‏ءِ اللَّطِيفِ أَ وَلا تَرَى وَفَّقَكَ الله وَثَبَّتَكَ إِلَى أَثَرِ صُنْعِهِ فِي النَّبَاتِ اللَّطِيفِ وَغَيْرِ اللَّطِيفِ وَمِنَ الْخَلْقِ اللَّطِيفِ وَمِنَ الْحَيَوَانِ الصِّغَارِ وَمِنَ الْبَعُوضِ وَالْجِرْجِسِ وَمَا هُوَ أَصْغَرُ مِنْهَا مَا لا يَكَادُ تَسْتَبِينُهُ الْعُيُونُ بَلْ لا يَكَادُ يُسْتَبَانُ لِصِغَرِهِ الذَّكَرُ مِنَ الانْثَى وَالْحَدَثُ الْمَوْلُودُ مِنَ الْقَدِيمِ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَا صِغَرَ ذَلِكَ فِي لُطْفِهِ وَاهْتِدَاءَهُ لِلسَّفَادِ وَالْهَرَبَ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْجَمْعَ لِمَا يُصْلِحُهُ وَمَا فِي لُجَجِ الْبِحَارِ وَمَا فِي لِحَاءِ الاشْجَارِ وَالْمَفَاوِزِ وَالْقِفَارِ وَإِفْهَامَ بَعْضِهَا عَنْ بَعْضٍ مَنْطِقَهَا وَمَا يَفْهَمُ بِهِ أَوْلادُهَا عَنْهَا وَنَقْلَهَا الْغِذَاءَ إِلَيْهَا ثُمَّ تَأْلِيفَ أَلْوَانِهَا حُمْرَةٍ مَعَ صُفْرَةٍ وَبَيَاضٍ مَعَ حُمْرَةٍ وَأَنَّهُ مَا لا تَكَادُ عُيُونُنَا تَسْتَبِينُهُ لِدَمَامَةِ خَلْقِهَا لا تَرَاهُ عُيُونُنَا وَلا تَلْمِسُهُ أَيْدِينَا عَلِمْنَا أَنَّ خَالِقَ هَذَا الْخَلْقِ لَطِيفٌ لَطُفَ بِخَلْقِ مَا سَمَّيْنَاهُ بِلا عِلاجٍ وَلا أَدَاةٍ وَلا آلَةٍ وَأَنَّ كُلَّ صَانِعِ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَمِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ صَنَعَ وَالله الْخَالِقُ اللَّطِيفُ الْجَلِيلُ خَلَقَ وَصَنَعَ لا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mukhtar al-Hamadani and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan al-‘Alawi both of them from al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Jurjani from abu al-Hassan (a.s.) al-Thani or al-Thalith who has said the following.

“I heard the Imam saying, ‘He (Allah) is the Subtle, All-aware, All-hearing, All-seeing, the One, the Self-sufficient, Who does not have any children, is not any one’s child and there is no one similar to Him. Had Allah been as those believing in similitude (al-Mushabbihah) say there would have been no distinction between the Creator and the created, the inventor and the invented but He is the Inventor.

There would have been no distinction between Allah and what He has given body and form to bring into existence. In fact, nothing is similar to Him and He is not similar to anything.” I then said, “Yes, may Allah take my soul in your service, but you just said, The One the Self-sufficient, that no one is similar to Him. Allah is One and a man is one. Are the two not similar in oneness?” The Imam replied, “O Fath, you said something impossible. May Allah grant you steadfastness. Similarity is in meaning. In the case of names they are all the same. The names refer to the nominee. When it is said a man it, at the same time, is a report about one body and not two bodies. In fact, man is not one thing. His parts, colors and the color of his colors that consist of distinct parts, that are not equal. His blood is different from his flesh. His nerves are different from his vines, his hairs are different from his skin. The black things in him are different from the white things therein. The same is true of all other creatures. Human beings are one in name but not in meaning.

Allah, Great Whose Majesty is, is only One and no one other than Him is one. There is no difference, imbalance, increase or decrease in Him. Human beings are created, designed, compounded of different parts and various substances. Only when combined becomes one.”

I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, and grant you happiness, would you explain to me the meaning of your words “Subtle and All-aware? Explain it as you just did with the One? I know that His Subtlety or kindness is different from those of His creatures but I like more clarity.” The Imam said, “O Fath, we said He is Subtle it is because of His knowledge of the delicate creatures, may Allah give you success and steadfastness, so you should consider His creation. Consider His design in delicate and not so delicate plants and other creatures like animals, small and large such as flies and cricket and smaller ones that even eyes can not. Because of their small size no one knows which is male and which is female, which is new born and which is old. We find tremendously delicate things with signs of His Subtlety, in their desire for reproduction, running away from death, collecting what is good for them and what is in the depth of the oceans and on the barks of trees, in the wilderness and desolate places. We find more fastidiousness in such animals and their ability to communicate with each other, and what their offspring understand from them, their transporting food to their young and their colors, red along with yellow, white along with red so fine that our eyes are not able to catch for their very exquisite shape. Our eyes are not able to see them and our hands are not able to touch them. All these show that the Creator of all such marvelous creatures are Subtle Who is kind to all the creatures we mentioned. He has done it without instruments and means. Every designer and manufacturer builds and manufactures some thing from something but Allah does it from nothing.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ مُرْسَلاً عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ اعْلَمْ عَلَّمَكَ الله الْخَيْرَ أَنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَدِيمٌ وَالْقِدَمُ صِفَتُهُ الَّتِي دَلَّتِ الْعَاقِلَ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لا شَيْ‏ءَ قَبْلَهُ وَلا شَيْ‏ءَ مَعَهُ فِي دَيْمُومِيَّتِهِ فَقَدْ بَانَ لَنَا بِإِقْرَارِ الْعَامَّةِ مُعْجِزَةُ الصِّفَةِ أَنَّهُ لا شَيْ‏ءَ قَبْلَ الله وَلا شَيْ‏ءَ مَعَ الله فِي بَقَائِهِ وَبَطَلَ قَوْلُ مَنْ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ أَوْ كَانَ مَعَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ مَعَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ فِي بَقَائِهِ لَمْ يَجُزْ أَنْ يَكُونَ خَالِقاً لَهُ لانَّهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ مَعَهُ فَكَيْفَ يَكُونُ خَالِقاً لِمَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ مَعَهُ وَلَوْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ كَانَ الاوَّلَ ذَلِكَ الشَّيْ‏ءُ لا هَذَا وَكَانَ الاوَّلُ أَوْلَى بِأَنْ يَكُونَ خَالِقاً لِلاوَّلِ ثُمَّ وَصَفَ نَفْسَهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى بِأَسْمَاءٍ دَعَا الْخَلْقَ إِذْ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَعَبَّدَهُمْ وَابْتَلاهُمْ إِلَى أَنْ يَدْعُوهُ بِهَا فَسَمَّى نَفْسَهُ سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً قَادِراً قَائِماً نَاطِقاً ظَاهِراً بَاطِناً لَطِيفاً خَبِيراً قَوِيّاً عَزِيزاً حَكِيماً عَلِيماً وَمَا أَشْبَهَ هَذِهِ الاسْمَاءَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَسْمَائِهِ الْقَالُونَ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ وَقَدْ سَمِعُونَا نُحَدِّثُ عَنِ الله أَنَّهُ لا شَيْ‏ءَ مِثْلُهُ وَلا شَيْ‏ءَ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ فِي حَالِهِ قَالُوا أَخْبِرُونَا إِذَا زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّهُ لا مِثْلَ لله وَلا شِبْهَ لَهُ كَيْفَ شَارَكْتُمُوهُ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ الْحُسْنَى فَتَسَمَّيْتُمْ بِجَمِيعِهَا فَإِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ دَلِيلاً عَلَى أَنَّكُمْ مِثْلُهُ فِي حَالاتِهِ كُلِّهَا أَوْ فِي بَعْضِهَا دُونَ بَعْضٍ إِذْ جَمَعْتُمُ الاسْمَاءَ الطَّيِّبَةَ قِيلَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَلْزَمَ الْعِبَادَ أَسْمَاءً مِنْ أَسْمَائِهِ عَلَى اخْتِلافِ الْمَعَانِي وَذَلِكَ كَمَا يَجْمَعُ الاسْمُ الْوَاحِدُ مَعْنَيَيْنِ مُخْتَلِفَيْنِ وَالدَّلِيلُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ النَّاسِ الْجَائِزُ عِنْدَهُمُ الشَّائِعُ وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَاطَبَ الله بِهِ الْخَلْقَ فَكَلَّمَهُمْ بِمَا يَعْقِلُونَ لِيَكُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ حُجَّةً فِي تَضْيِيعِ مَا ضَيَّعُوا فَقَدْ يُقَالُ لِلرَّجُلِ كَلْبٌ وَحِمَارٌ وَثَوْرٌ وَسُكَّرَةٌ وَعَلْقَمَةٌ وَأَسَدٌ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى خِلافِهِ وَحَالاتِهِ لَمْ تَقَعِ الاسَامِي عَلَى مَعَانِيهَا الَّتِي كَانَتْ بُنِيَتْ عَلَيْهِ لانَّ الانْسَانَ لَيْسَ بِأَسَدٍ وَلا كَلْبٍ فَافْهَمْ ذَلِكَ رَحِمَكَ الله وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ الله تَعَالَى بِالْعِلْمِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ حَادِثٍ عَلِمَ بِهِ الاشْيَاءَ اسْتَعَانَ بِهِ عَلَى حِفْظِ مَا يُسْتَقْبَلُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَالرَّوِيَّةِ فِيمَا يَخْلُقُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَيُفْسِدُ مَا مَضَى مِمَّا أَفْنَى مِنْ خَلْقِهِ مِمَّا لَوْ لَمْ يَحْضُرْهُ ذَلِكَ الْعِلْمُ وَيَغِيبُهُ كَانَ جَاهِلاً ضَعِيفاً كَمَا أَنَّا لَوْ رَأَيْنَا عُلَمَاءَ الْخَلْقِ إِنَّمَا سُمُّوا بِالْعِلْمِ لِعِلْمٍ حَادِثٍ إِذْ كَانُوا فِيهِ جَهَلَةً وَرُبَّمَا فَارَقَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بِالاشْيَاءِ فَعَادُوا إِلَى الْجَهْلِ وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ الله عَالِماً لانَّهُ لا يَجْهَلُ شَيْئاً فَقَدْ جَمَعَ الْخَالِقَ وَالْمَخْلُوقَ اسْمُ الْعَالِمِ وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمَعْنَى عَلَى مَا رَأَيْتَ وَسُمِّيَ رَبُّنَا سَمِيعاً لا بِخَرْتٍ فِيهِ يَسْمَعُ بِهِ الصَّوْتَ وَلا يُبْصِرُ بِهِ كَمَا أَنَّ خَرْتَنَا الَّذِي بِهِ نَسْمَعُ لا نَقْوَى بِهِ عَلَى الْبَصَرِ وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخْبَرَ أَنَّهُ لا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الاصْوَاتِ لَيْسَ عَلَى حَدِّ مَا سُمِّينَا نَحْنُ فَقَدْ جَمَعْنَا الاسْمَ بِالسَّمْعِ وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمَعْنَى وَهَكَذَا الْبَصَرُ لا بِخَرْتٍ مِنْهُ أَبْصَرَ كَمَا أَنَّا نُبْصِرُ بِخَرْتٍ مِنَّا لا نَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ فِي غَيْرِهِ وَلَكِنَّ الله بَصِيرٌ لا يَحْتَمِلُ شَخْصاً مَنْظُوراً إِلَيْهِ فَقَدْ جَمَعْنَا الاسْمَ وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمَعْنَى وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ لَيْسَ عَلَى مَعْنَى انْتِصَابٍ وَقِيَامٍ عَلَى سَاقٍ فِي كَبَدٍ كَمَا قَامَتِ الاشْيَاءُ وَلَكِنْ قَائِمٌ يُخْبِرُ أَنَّهُ حَافِظٌ كَقَوْلِ الرَّجُلِ الْقَائِمُ بِأَمْرِنَا فُلانٌ وَالله هُوَ الْقَائِمُ عَلَى كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَالْقَائِمُ أَيْضاً فِي كَلامِ النَّاسِ الْبَاقِي وَالْقَائِمُ أَيْضاً يُخْبِرُ عَنِ.

الْكِفَايَةِ كَقَوْلِكَ لِلرَّجُلِ قُمْ بِأَمْرِ بَنِي فُلانٍ أَيِ اكْفِهِمْ وَالْقَائِمُ مِنَّا قَائِمٌ عَلَى سَاقٍ فَقَدْ جَمَعْنَا الاسْمَ وَلَمْ نَجْمَعِ الْمَعْنَى وَأَمَّا اللَّطِيفُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَى قِلَّةٍ وَقَضَافَةٍ وَصِغَرٍ وَلَكِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى النَّفَاذِ فِي الاشْيَاءِ وَالامْتِنَاعِ مِنْ أَنْ يُدْرَكَ كَقَوْلِكَ لِلرَّجُلِ لَطُفَ عَنِّي هَذَا الامْرُ وَلَطُفَ فُلانٌ فِي مَذْهَبِهِ وَقَوْلِهِ يُخْبِرُكَ أَنَّهُ غَمَضَ فِيهِ الْعَقْلُ وَفَاتَ الطَّلَبُ وَعَادَ مُتَعَمِّقاً مُتَلَطِّفاً لا يُدْرِكُهُ الْوَهْمُ فَكَذَلِكَ لَطُفَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَنْ أَنْ يُدْرَكَ بِحَدٍّ أَوْ يُحَدَّ بِوَصْفٍ وَاللَّطَافَةُ مِنَّا الصِّغَرُ وَالْقِلَّةُ فَقَدْ جَمَعْنَا الاسْمَ وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمَعْنَى وَأَمَّا الْخَبِيرُ فَالَّذِي لا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يَفُوتُهُ لَيْسَ لِلتَّجْرِبَةِ وَلا لِلاعْتِبَارِ بِالاشْيَاءِ فَعِنْدَ التَّجْرِبَةِ وَالاعْتِبَارِ عِلْمَانِ وَلَوْ لا هُمَا مَا عُلِمَ لانَّ مَنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ جَاهِلاً وَالله لَمْ يَزَلْ خَبِيراً بِمَا يَخْلُقُ وَالْخَبِيرُ مِنَ النَّاسِ الْمُسْتَخْبِرُ عَنْ جَهْلٍ الْمُتَعَلِّمُ فَقَدْ جَمَعْنَا الاسْمَ وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمَعْنَى وَأَمَّا الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُ عَلا الاشْيَاءَ بِرُكُوبٍ فَوْقَهَا وَقُعُودٍ عَلَيْهَا وَتَسَنُّمٍ لِذُرَاهَا وَلَكِنْ ذَلِكَ لِقَهْرِهِ وَلِغَلَبَتِهِ الاشْيَاءَ وَقُدْرَتِهِ عَلَيْهَا كَقَوْلِ الرَّجُلِ ظَهَرْتُ عَلَى أَعْدَائِي وَأَظْهَرَنِي الله عَلَى خَصْمِي يُخْبِرُ عَنِ الْفَلْجِ وَالْغَلَبَةِ فَهَكَذَا ظُهُورُ الله عَلَى الاشْيَاءِ وَوَجْهٌ آخَرُ أَنَّهُ الظَّاهِرُ لِمَنْ أَرَادَهُ وَلا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَأَنَّهُ مُدَبِّرٌ لِكُلِّ مَا بَرَأَ فَأَيُّ ظَاهِرٍ أَظْهَرُ وَأَوْضَحُ مِنَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لانَّكَ لا تَعْدَمُ صَنْعَتَهُ حَيْثُمَا تَوَجَّهَتْ وَفِيكَ مِنْ آثَارِهِ مَا يُغْنِيكَ وَالظَّاهِرُ مِنَّا الْبَارِزُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَالْمَعْلُومُ بِحَدِّهِ فَقَدْ جَمَعَنَا الاسْمُ وَلَمْ يَجْمَعْنَا الْمَعْنَى وَأَمَّا الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَى مَعْنَى الاسْتِبْطَانِ لِلاشْيَاءِ بِأَنْ يَغُورَ فِيهَا وَلَكِنْ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ عَلَى اسْتِبْطَانِهِ لِلاشْيَاءِ عِلْماً وَحِفْظاً وَتَدْبِيراً كَقَوْلِ الْقَائِلِ أَبْطَنْتُهُ يَعْنِي خَبَّرْتُهُ وَعَلِمْتُ مَكْتُومَ سِرِّهِ وَالْبَاطِنُ مِنَّا الْغَائِبُ فِي الشَّيْ‏ءِ الْمُسْتَتِرُ وَقَدْ جَمَعْنَا الاسْمَ وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمَعْنَى وَأَمَّا الْقَاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَى مَعْنَى عِلاجٍ وَنَصَبٍ وَاحْتِيَالٍ وَمُدَارَاةٍ وَمَكْرٍ كَمَا يَقْهَرُ الْعِبَادُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً وَالْمَقْهُورُ مِنْهُمْ يَعُودُ قَاهِراً وَالْقَاهِرُ يَعُودُ مَقْهُوراً وَلَكِنْ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَلَى أَنَّ جَمِيعَ مَا خَلَقَ مُلَبَّسٌ بِهِ الذُّلُّ لِفَاعِلِهِ وَقِلَّةُ الامْتِنَاعِ لِمَا أَرَادَ بِهِ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْهُ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ وَالْقَاهِرُ مِنَّا عَلَى مَا ذَكَرْتُ وَوَصَفْتُ فَقَدْ جَمَعْنَا الاسْمَ وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمَعْنَى وَهَكَذَا جَمِيعُ الاسْمَاءِ وَإِنْ كُنَّا لَمْ نَسْتَجْمِعْهَا كُلَّهَا فَقَدْ يَكْتَفِي الاعْتِبَارُ بِمَا أَلْقَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَالله عَوْنُكَ وَعَوْنُنَا فِي إِرْشَادِنَا وَتَوْفِيقِنَا.

2. It is narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad, in a mursal manner, from abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following to one of his followers.

“May Allah, bestow up on you knowledge of the good, notice that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is eternal. Eternity is that attribute which guides the wise that there was nothing before Him in eternity nor is there anything with Him eternal. That this attribute is a miraculous one has come to light from the acknowledgement of the ‘Ammah (common people) that there is nothing before Allah, with and after Him. At the same time, it invalidates the belief that there was something before or with Him. Had there been something with Him eternal He would not have been the Creator of that thing. If it was with Him how then He could have been its creator? Had there been something before Him then that thing might have been His creator because of its existing earlier.

Allah, the Most Holy, the Exalted, has ascribed certain names to Himself. He told His creatures when He created them, give them the ability to worship Him and made them responsible, to call Him with those names. He called Himself All-hearing, All-seeing, All-powerful, Guarding, Rationalizing, Manifest, Hidden, Subtle, All-aware, Powerful, Majestic, Wise, All-knowing and with such other similar names. When the animosity-mongers, who speak lies heard us mention such names as that there is nothing similar to Him and nothing of the creatures is like Him they began to speak out. “When you (the Imams (a.s.) say that there is nothing like Him and no one is similar to Him then how is it that you also have those beautiful names for yourselves? This is proof that you are similar to Him or in certain conditions and not in other conditions because of having all those beautiful names.” It is said to them that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, made it necessary for His servants to have certain names from among His names with differences in their meanings. The difference is because one name may have two different meanings. One example is what people consider permissible and is widely used. This is the way Allah has addressed people. He has spoken to them by means of things that they understand so that they will have no excuse in their misdeeds.

A man is sometimes called a dog, a bull, sweet, bitter and a loin. All these are different from him and his conditions. The names were not used in their original meaning because man is not a loin or a dog etc. Note this carefully, may Allah grant you blessings.

Allah is called All-knowing. It is other than the created knowledge. With His knowledge of things He knows things and uses it to preserve His future commands and the process of whatever He creates of His creatures, destroys what He destroys of His creatures and without such knowledge He would have been weak and ignorant. We see that people of knowledge among people are called knowledgeable because of the created knowledge, which they did not have at one time. Perhaps such knowledge may go away from them and they become ignorant.

Allah is called All-knowing because He is not ignorant of anything. Thus, the Creator and created are both called as having knowledge but the meaning is different as you may have noticed.

Our Lord is called All-hearing but it is not through the perforated piece and with sound so He would hear with it but would not see with it, which is the case with us. We do not see with what we hear but Allah has told us that from Him nothing of the sounds is hidden. His hearing is not in the way we are called as hearing people. We are called as hearing but the meaning is different. In the same way is seeing not that He sees through a hole as we do and can not use it for other uses. Allah sees but not by looking to an object. We also are called as seeing but the meaning is different.

Allah is called Standing but not in the sense of standing in an upright position on the legs as is the case with the things but that He has said He is preserving as in the saying of a man, “standing for our affairs.” Allah stands over every soul and what it gains. The word standing is also in the usage of people. Words like remaining and standing also mean to suffice as in the words as you may say to a man, “Stand up over the affairs of so and so” which means deal with them in a sufficient manner. We stand on our legs, thus, the name is similar but the meaning is different.

The name, Subtle is not in the sense of fastidiousness or being infinitesimal but it is in the rarity and hard to perceive nature of things. As an example it may be said, “It has become very delicate for me and that so and so is very delicate in his manners and dealings.” This means that it is profound for intelligence and difficult to find. It has become bottomless and delicate so much that even imagination is not able to reach it. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is far Subtle to be comprehended through definitions or be combined in an attribute or in the way we are subtle, small and delicate. Names are the same but different in meaning.

The name al-Khabir, meaning All-aware, is for One Who knows all things completely but not by means of experience and learning lessons from the past. Experience and learning from mistakes are of the means of learning for people. Without them there would exist no knowledge. One without experience and learning lessons is an ignorant person. Allah is All-aware eternally of what He has created but well aware and expert among people are those who ask questions and learn. Our names are the same but they, again, are different in meaning.

The name al-Zahir meaning clear and conspicuous is not because of being over and on top of all things or sitting on them at their peak but it is because of His domination and having power over all things. An example of this is when a person says, “I over came my enemies or that Allah gave me victory over my enemies.” In this there is report of the failure and victory. Also there is Allah’s domination over all things. Another example is that His existence is clear for those who want (to know) Him. Nothing is hidden from Him and that He is the guardian of all that He has curved and fashioned. In such case whose existence can be clearer than Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High? You will not live without His creatures, no matter wherever you may be. Only within your own self there is enough of His creation. His existence by far is clearer than ours. He manifest all by His Own-self and is Known by His own self. We are of the same name but the meaning is different.

The name al-Batin, means hidden. This is not in the sense of being inside of things by means of diving or so but is in the sense of His dealing, having knowledge, preserving and regulating the inside of all things. As one may say, “I tried to find the inside to learn and discover the secrets.” Hidden for us is what is unseen and covered. In this case again our names are the same but different in meaning.

The name al-Qahir, means subduing. It is not in the sense of plotting, using certain devices and speaking attractive words or cunning means. It is not the way people subdue each other. The victorious among people may become subdued and vice versa. For Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High all the creatures have the garment of weakness on them. Due to the absence of obstacles in what He wills about them, it only takes less than a blinking of the eye to say it Be and it is, comes into existence. Subduing in our case is how I mentioned and explained. Our names are alike but the meaning is different. Thus, is the case for all the names although we have not mentioned all of them. For learning a lesson what we have mentioned for you is sufficient. May Allah be your and our helper in the matters of guidance and success.”

Chapter 18

Chapter on the Interpretation of al-Samad, Self-sufficient

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ وَلَقَبُهُ شَبَابٌ الصَّيْرَفِيُّ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا الصَّمَدُ قَالَ السَّيِّدُ الْمَصْمُودُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْقَلِيلِ وَالْكَثِيرِ.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid, whose title was Shabab al-Sayrafi from Dawud ibn al-Qasim al-Ja‘fari who has said the following.

“I asked Imam abu Ja‘far al-Thani (the 2nd (a.s.), ‘May Allah take my soul in your service, what is the meaning of the word al-Samad?’” The Imam replied, al-Samad means the Lord to Who one turns for help, big or small.”

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ السَّرِيِّ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ التَّوْحِيدِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَتْ أَسْمَاؤُهُ الَّتِي يُدْعَا بِهَا وَتَعَالَى فِي عُلُوِّ كُنْهِهِ وَاحِدٌ تَوَحَّدَ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ فِي تَوَحُّدِهِ ثُمَّ أَجْرَاهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ فَهُوَ وَاحِدٌ صَمَدٌ قُدُّوسٌ يَعْبُدُهُ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَيَصْمُدُ إِلَيْهِ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَوَسِعَ كُلَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عِلْماً.

فَهَذَا هُوَ الْمَعْنَى الصَّحِيحُ فِي تَأْوِيلِ الصَّمَدِ لا مَا ذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُشَبِّهَةُ أَنَّ تَأْوِيلَ الصَّمَدِ الْمُصْمَتُ الَّذِي لا جَوْفَ لَهُ لانَّ ذَلِكَ لا يَكُونُ إِلا مِنْ صِفَةِ الْجِسْمِ وَالله جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ مُتَعَالٍ عَنْ ذَلِكَ هُوَ أَعْظَمُ وَأَجَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ تَقَعَ الاوْهَامُ عَلَى صِفَتِهِ أَوْ تُدْرِكَ كُنْهَ عَظَمَتِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ تَأْوِيلُ الصَّمَدِ فِي صِفَةِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْمُصْمَتَ لَكَانَ مُخَالِفاً لِقَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ لانَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ صِفَةِ الاجْسَامِ الْمُصْمَتَةِ الَّتِي لا أَجْوَافَ لَهَا مِثْلِ الْحَجَرِ وَالْحَدِيدِ وَسَائِرِ الاشْيَاءِ الْمُصْمَتَةِ الَّتِي لا أَجْوَافَ لَهَا تَعَالَى الله عَنْ ذَلِكَ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً فَأَمَّا مَا جَاءَ فِي الاخْبَارِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَالْعَالِمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَعْلَمُ بِمَا قَالَ وَهَذَا الَّذِي.

قَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الصَّمَدَ هُوَ السَّيِّدُ الْمَصْمُودُ إِلَيْهِ.

هُوَ مَعْنًى صَحِيحٌ مُوَافِقٌ لِقَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَالْمَصْمُودُ إِلَيْهِ الْمَقْصُودُ فِي اللُّغَةِ قَالَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ فِي بَعْضِ مَا كَانَ يَمْدَحُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مِنْ شِعْرِهِ.

وَبِالْجَمْرَةِ الْقُصْوَى إِذَا صَمَدُوا لَهَا يَؤُمُّونَ قَذْفاً رَأْسَهَا بِالْجَنَادِلِ‏.

يَعْنِي قَصَدُوا نَحْوَهَا يَرْمُونَهَا بِالْجَنَادِلِ يَعْنِي الْحَصَى الصِّغَارَ الَّتِي تُسَمَّى بِالْجِمَارِ وَقَالَ بَعْضُ شُعَرَاءِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ شِعْراً.

مَا كُنْتُ أَحْسَبُ أَنَّ بَيْتاً ظَاهِراً لله فِي أَكْنَافِ مَكَّةَ يُصْمَدُ.

يَعْنِي يُقْصَدُ وَقَالَ ابْنُ الزِّبْرِقَانِ.

وَلا رَهِيبَةَ إِلا سَيِّدٌ صَمَدٌ.

وَقَالَ شَدَّادُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ فِي حُذَيْفَةَ بْنِ بَدْرٍ.

عَلَوْتُهُ بِحُسَامٍ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ خُذْهَا حُذَيْفُ فَأَنْتَ السَّيِّدُ الصَّمَدُ.

وَمِثْلُ هَذَا كَثِيرٌ وَالله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ هُوَ السَّيِّدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِي جَمِيعُ الْخَلْقِ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالانْسِ إِلَيْهِ يَصْمُدُونَ فِي الْحَوَائِجِ وَإِلَيْهِ يَلْجَئُونَ عِنْدَ الشَّدَائِدِ وَمِنْهُ يَرْجُونَ الرَّخَاءَ وَدَوَامَ النَّعْمَاءِ لِيَدْفَعَ عَنْهُمُ الشَّدَائِدَ.

2. A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abdallah from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from al-Hassan ibn al-Sari from Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ju‘fi who has said the following.

“I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) a few things about the Oneness of Allah. The Imam replied, “Allah, Holy are Whose names, with which He is mentioned is Exalted and Most High in His Own-self. He is One. In Oneness He is the One and only in Oneness. He then made His creatures to know Him as the only One. He is One, Self-sufficient and the Holy. All things worship Him and He has the knowledge of all things.”

Al-Kulayni has said that this is the correct meaning of al-Samad but not what al-Mushabbihah (people who consider Allah similar to certain things) believe. Al-Samad literally means solid as opposed to hallow which applies only to physical objects. Allah, the Most High, is far above such attributes. Had such attribute applied to Allah, the Most High, it would have contradicted with Allah’s statement that says, “There is nothing similar to Him.”

In the Ahadith of the scholar, the Imam (a.s.) al-Samad refers to a master whom people consider a recourse or stronghold and such meaning is close to Allah’s words, “There is nothing similar to Him.” (42:11)

An example of such usage is what abu Talib had expressed in praise of the holy Prophet (s.a.) during his performing Hajj in throwing pebbles onto the pillars of stones that symbolically stand for Satan. He has used the word al-Samad to mean aiming.

An other example is found in the expression of ibn Zabarqan, “Mr Rahibah is but a master and a (al-Samad) recourse.”

One more example can be found in the expression of Shaddad ibn Mu‘awiyah about Kudhayfah ibn Badr, “Hold it O Hudhayfa, you are a master, ( al-Samad) recourse.” There are many such examples in normal usage.

Allah, the Majestic, the Most High, the Master and the Recourse to Who all man and Jinn turn for help in their difficulties and from Him they expect relief.