Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 93

The Birth of the Imams (a.s.)

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْعَلَوِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الرِّزَامِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الدَّيْلَمِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ حَجَجْنَا مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي السَّنَةِ الَّتِي وُلِدَ فِيهَا ابْنُهُ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَلَمَّا نَزَلْنَا الابْوَاءَ وَضَعَ لَنَا الْغَدَاءَ وَكَانَ إِذَا وَضَعَ الطَّعَامَ لاصْحَابِهِ أَكْثَرَ وَأَطَابَ قَالَ فَبَيْنَا نَحْنُ نَأْكُلُ إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَسُولُ حَمِيدَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ حَمِيدَةَ تَقُولُ قَدْ أَنْكَرْتُ نَفْسِي وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُ مَا كُنْتُ أَجِدُ إِذَا حَضَرَتْ وِلادَتِي وَقَدْ أَمَرْتَنِي أَنْ لا أَسْتَبِقَكَ بِابْنِكَ هَذَا فَقَامَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَانْطَلَقَ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَالَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ سَرَّكَ الله وَجَعَلَنَا فِدَاكَ فَمَا أَنْتَ صَنَعْتَ مِنْ حَمِيدَةَ قَالَ سَلَّمَهَا الله وَقَدْ وَهَبَ لِي غُلاماً وَهُوَ خَيْرُ مَنْ بَرَأَ الله فِي خَلْقِهِ وَلَقَدْ أَخْبَرَتْنِي حَمِيدَةُ عَنْهُ بِأَمْرٍ ظَنَّتْ أَنِّي لا أَعْرِفُهُ وَلَقَدْ كُنْتُ أَعْلَمَ بِهِ مِنْهَا فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا الَّذِي أَخْبَرَتْكَ بِهِ حَمِيدَةُ عَنْهُ قَالَ ذَكَرَتْ أَنَّهُ سَقَطَ مِنْ بَطْنِهَا حِينَ سَقَطَ وَاضِعاً يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الارْضِ رَافِعاً رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَأَخْبَرْتُهَا أَنَّ ذَلِكَ أَمَارَةُ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَمَارَةُ الْوَصِيِّ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا هَذَا مِنْ أَمَارَةِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَمَارَةِ الْوَصِيِّ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّهُ لَمَّا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي عُلِقَ فِيهَا بِجَدِّي أَتَى آتٍ جَدَّ أَبِي بِكَأْسٍ فِيهِ شَرْبَةٌ أَرَقُّ مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَأَلْيَنُ مِنَ الزُّبْدِ وَأَحْلَى مِنَ الشَّهْدِ وَأَبْرَدُ مِنَ الثَّلْجِ وَأَبْيَضُ مِنَ اللَّبَنِ فَسَقَاهُ إِيَّاهُ وَأَمَرَهُ بِالْجِمَاعِ فَقَامَ فَجَامَعَ فَعُلِقَ بِجَدِّي وَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي عُلِقَ فِيهَا بِأَبِي أَتَى آتٍ جَدِّي فَسَقَاهُ كَمَا سَقَى جَدَّ أَبِي وَأَمَرَهُ بِمِثْلِ الَّذِي أَمَرَهُ فَقَامَ فَجَامَعَ فَعُلِقَ بِأَبِي وَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي عُلِقَ فِيهَا بِي أَتَى آتٍ أَبِي فَسَقَاهُ بِمَا سَقَاهُمْ وَأَمَرَهُ بِالَّذِي أَمَرَهُمْ بِهِ فَقَامَ فَجَامَعَ فَعُلِقَ بِي وَلَمَّا أَنْ كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي عُلِقَ فِيهَا بِابْنِي أَتَانِي آتٍ كَمَا أَتَاهُمْ فَفَعَلَ بِي كَمَا فَعَلَ بِهِمْ فَقُمْتُ بِعِلْمِ الله وَإِنِّي مَسْرُورٌ بِمَا يَهَبُ الله لِي فَجَامَعْتُ فَعُلِقَ بِابْنِي هَذَا الْمَوْلُودِ فَدُونَكُمْ فَهُوَ وَالله صَاحِبُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي إِنَّ نُطْفَةَ الامَامِ مِمَّا أَخْبَرْتُكَ وَإِذَا سَكَنَتِ النُّطْفَةُ فِي الرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَأُنْشِىَ فِيهَا الرُّوحُ بَعَثَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَكاً يُقَالُ لَهُ حَيَوَانُ فَكَتَبَ عَلَى عَضُدِهِ الايْمَنِ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ وَإِذَا وَقَعَ مِنْ بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ وَقَعَ وَاضِعاً يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الارْضِ رَافِعاً رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَأَمَّا وَضْعُهُ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الارْضِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقْبِضُ كُلَّ عِلْمٍ لله أَنْزَلَهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الارْضِ وَأَمَّا رَفْعُهُ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَإِنَّ مُنَادِياً يُنَادِي بِهِ مِنْ بُطْنَانِ الْعَرْشِ مِنْ قِبَلِ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ مِنَ الافُقِ الاعْلَى بِاسْمِهِ وَاسْمِ أَبِيهِ يَقُولُ يَا فُلانَ بْنَ فُلانٍ اثْبُتْ تُثْبَتْ فَلِعَظِيمٍ مَا خَلَقْتُكَ أَنْتَ صَفْوَتِي مِنْ خَلْقِي وَمَوْضِعُ سِرِّي وَعَيْبَةُ عِلْمِي وَأَمِينِي عَلَى وَحْيِي وَخَلِيفَتِي فِي أَرْضِي لَكَ وَلِمَنْ تَوَلاكَ أَوْجَبْتُ رَحْمَتِي وَمَنَحْتُ جِنَانِي وَأَحْلَلْتُ جِوَارِي ثُمَّ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي لاصْلِيَنَّ مَنْ عَادَاكَ أَشَدَّ عَذَابِي وَإِنْ وَسَّعْتُ عَلَيْهِ فِي دُنْيَايَ مِنْ سَعَةِ رِزْقِي فَإِذَا انْقَضَى الصَّوْتُ صَوْتُ الْمُنَادِي أَجَابَهُ هُوَ وَاضِعاً يَدَيْهِ رَافِعاً رَأْسَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَقُولُ شَهِدَ الله أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلا هُوَ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ وَأُولُوا الْعِلْمِ قائِماً بِالْقِسْطِ لا إِلهَ إِلا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ قَالَ فَإِذَا قَالَ ذَلِكَ أَعْطَاهُ الله الْعِلْمَ الاوَّلَ وَالْعِلْمَ الاخِرَ وَاسْتَحَقَّ زِيَارَةَ الرُّوحِ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرُّوحُ لَيْسَ هُوَ جَبْرَئِيلَ قَالَ الرُّوحُ هُوَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبْرَئِيلَ إِنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَإِنَّ الرُّوحَ هُوَ خَلْقٌ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ أَ لَيْسَ يَقُولُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ.

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنِ الْمُخْتَارِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ مِثْلَهُ.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Ishaq al-‘Alawi from Muhammad ibn Zayd al-Rizami from Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Daylami from Ali ibn Hamza from abu Basir who has said the following. “Once we went for Hajj with abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) in the year that his son Musa (a.s.) was born. When we arrived at al-Abwa lunch was served When he would serve food to his people he would serve good and plentiful food. At such time the messenger of Hamida, (his wife), came saying, “Hamida says, “I have almost lost my self and I have found what I was to find, I am about to give birth. You had commanded me not to do anything to this child without you.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) left with the messenger. When he came back his companions congratulated him and said, “May Allah take our souls in service for your cause, what did you do to Hamida?” He said, “Allah granted her good health and gifted me with a boy whom He has formed as the best in His creatures. Hamida informed me of a matter about him that she thought I did not know. I, however, knew it better than her.” I then asked him, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what was it that Hamida told you about the child?” He said that she informed him about the baby’s actions as soon as he fell on the ground. “The baby placed his hands on the ground and raised his head to the sky.” I explained to her that it was a sign like that of the Messenger of Allah and a sign of the executor of his will after him.” I then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what sign is the sign of the Messenger of Allah and the sign of the executor of his will after him?” He said to me, “In the night that the mother of my grandfather conceived him someone came to my great grandfather with a drink finer than water, softer than butter, sweeter than honey, cooler than ice and whiter than milk. He was asked to drink it and then go to bed with his wife. He went to bed with his wife and she conceived with the baby. In the night that the mother of my father conceived him someone came to my grandfather with the same kind of drink as that brought to my great-grandfather. He was asked to drink it as my great-grandfather had done. He was commanded to do as my great grandfather had done. He then went to bed with his wife and she conceived with my father. In the night that my mother would conceive with me someone came to my father with the same kind of drink as that brought for my great-grandfather and grandfather and made him to drink as they had done and commanded him as he had commanded them before him. He then went to bed with his wife and my mother conceived with me. In the night that my wife was to conceive with my son someone came to me with the same kind of drink as that for my great grandfather, my grandfather and my father. He did to me as he done to them. I then went with the knowledge of Allah and with joy for what Allah had granted to me to bed with my wife and she conceived with the baby that is just born. The newborn is with you and he, by Allah, will be your companion after me. The seed of the Imam is from what I just explained to you. When the seed is accommodated in the womb for four months and the spirit is established therein Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, then send an angel. This angel is called Haywan (animal or living). He then writes on his right shoulder “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord's Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.”. (6:115) When he comes out of his mothers womb he places his hands on the floor and raises his head to the sky. Placing his hands on earth is an indication of his taking possession of all the knowledge of Allah that is sent from the heavens to earth. Raising his head to the sky is that because a caller from inside the Throne calls him from the high horizon with his name and the name of his father. It is for (on behalf of) the Lord, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, saying, “O so and so, son of so and so. Be firm so that you would be established. For the great purpose that I have created you, you are my chosen one in my creatures. You are the keeper of My secrets, the container of My knowledge, the trustee of My inspiration and My deputy and representative on earth. I have made it necessary for My blessings and mercy to reach you and those who would love you (and acknowledge your Divine Authority). I have gifted My paradise and given a place near Myself to you and to them. Also, by My Majesty and Grace, I will make your enemies to feel the heat of My punishment even though I may have given them expanded prosperity in My world such as prosperity in their livelihood. When the call of caller ends he responds to it by placing his hands on the ground and raising his head to the sky and says the following. “God Himself testifies that He is the only Lord. The angels and the men of knowledge and justice testify that God is the only Lord, the Majestic, and All-wise.” (3:18)

The Imam (a.s.) said, “When he says this, Allah grants him the knowledge of the fist and the knowledge of the last the qualification to be visited by the spirit in the nights of destiny.” I then said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, is the Spirit different from Jibril?” He said, “The Spirit is a creature greater than Jibril. Jibril is of the angels. The Spirit is a creature greater than the angels. Is it not true that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “On this Night, the angels and the Spirit descend .” .(97:4)

Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan from al-Mukhtar ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from his father from abu Basir a similar hadith.

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ سَعْدَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِذَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الامَامَ أَمَرَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ فَيَسْقِيهَا أَبَاهُ فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ يَخْلُقُ الامَامَ فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَلَيْلَةً فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ لا يَسْمَعُ الصَّوْتَ ثُمَّ يَسْمَعُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْكَلامَ فَإِذَا وُلِدَ بَعَثَ ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكَ فَيَكْتُبُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ فَإِذَا مَضَى الامَامُ الَّذِي كَانَ قَبْلَهُ رُفِعَ لِهَذَا مَنَارٌ مِنْ نُورٍ يَنْظُرُ بِهِ إِلَى أَعْمَالِ الْخَلائِقِ فَبِهَذَا يَحْتَجُّ الله عَلَى خَلْقِهِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from mmd ibn al-Husayn from Musa ibn Sa‘dan from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from al-Hassan ibn Rashid who has said the following. “I Heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would love to create the Imam He would command an angel to take a drink of water from under the Throne and his father to drink it and from this He creates the Imam. for the first forty days and nights in his mothers womb he would hear anything. After that he would hear the words. When he is born that angel comes and writes between his eyes, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord's Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.” (6:115) When the preceding Imam passes away a light house made from light is prepared for him and this light house he examines the deeds of the creatures. By this means Allah establishes His authority over the creatures.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ ظَبْيَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الامَامَ مِنَ الامَامِ بَعَثَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ ثُمَّ أَوْقَعَهَا أَوْ دَفَعَهَا إِلَى الامَامِ فَشَرِبَهَا فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الرَّحِمِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً لا يَسْمَعُ الْكَلامَ ثُمَّ يَسْمَعُ الْكَلامَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ أُمُّهُ بَعَثَ الله إِلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ الْمَلَكَ الَّذِي أَخَذَ الشَّرْبَةَ فَكَتَبَ عَلَى عَضُدِهِ الايْمَنِ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ فَإِذَا قَامَ بِهَذَا الامْرِ رَفَعَ الله لَهُ فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ مَنَاراً يَنْظُرُ بِهِ إِلَى أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadidfrom Mansur ibn Yunus from Yunus ibn Zabyan who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, decides to create the Imam from another Imam He sends an angel with a drink of water from under the Throne. Then the angel would make the Imam to drink it and would give it to him to drink. For the first forty days he would not hear any words and thereafter he would hear words. When his mogthor would give birth Aallah would send the same angel who had brought the water. The angels would on his right should, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord's Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.”. (6:115) When he would rise to execute the task of an Imam Allah would raise a light house for him in every town through which he would examine the deeds of the servants of Allah.”

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الرَّبِيعِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الامَامَ لَيَسْمَعُ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا وُلِدَ خُطَّ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ فَإِذَا صَارَ الامْرُ إِلَيْهِ جَعَلَ الله لَهُ عَمُوداً مِنْ نُورٍ يُبْصِرُ بِهِ مَا يَعْمَلُ أَهْلُ كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ.

4. A number of our people has narrated Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from al-Rabi‘ ibn Muhammad al-Musalli from Muhammad ibn Marwan who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘The Imam hears in the womb of his mother and when he is born these words of Allah will be written between his shoulders, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord's Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.”. (6:115) When the matter (Leadership with Divine Authority) is delivered to him Allah establishes a pillar of light for him through which he can see the deeds of the people of every town.”

5ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِسْحَاقَ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ الاوْصِيَاءُ إِذَا حَمَلَتْ بِهِمْ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ أَصَابَهَا فَتْرَةٌ شِبْهُ الْغَشْيَةِ فَأَقَامَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ يَوْمَهَا ذَلِكَ إِنْ كَانَ نَهَاراً أَوْ لَيْلَتَهَا إِنْ كَانَ لَيْلاً ثُمَّ تَرَى فِي مَنَامِهَا رَجُلاً يُبَشِّرُهَا بِغُلامٍ عَلِيمٍ حَلِيمٍ فَتَفْرَحُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ تَنْتَبِهُ مِنْ نَوْمِهَا فَتَسْمَعُ مِنْ جَانِبِهَا الايْمَنِ فِي جَانِبِ الْبَيْتِ صَوْتاً يَقُولُ حَمَلْتِ بِخَيْرٍ وَتَصِيرِينَ إِلَى خَيْرٍ وَجِئْتِ بِخَيْرٍ أَبْشِرِي بِغُلامٍ حَلِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ وَتَجِدُ خِفَّةً فِي بَدَنِهَا ثُمَّ لَمْ تَجِدْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ امْتِنَاعاً مِنْ جَنْبَيْهَا وَبَطْنِهَا فَإِذَا كَانَ لِتِسْعٍ مِنْ شَهْرِهَا سَمِعَتْ فِي الْبَيْتِ حِسّاً شَدِيداً فَإِذَا كَانَتِ اللَّيْلَةُ الَّتِي تَلِدُ فِيهَا ظَهَرَ لَهَا فِي الْبَيْتِ نُورٌ تَرَاهُ لا يَرَاهُ غَيْرُهَا إِلا أَبُوهُ فَإِذَا وَلَدَتْهُ وَلَدَتْهُ قَاعِداً وَتَفَتَّحَتْ لَهُ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ مُتَرَبِّعاً يَسْتَدِيرُ بَعْدَ وُقُوعِهِ إِلَى الارْضِ فَلا يُخْطِىُ الْقِبْلَةَ حَيْثُ كَانَتْ بِوَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ يَعْطِسُ ثَلاثاً يُشِيرُ بِإِصْبَعِهِ بِالتَّحْمِيدِ وَيَقَعُ مَسْرُوراً مَخْتُوناً وَرَبَاعِيَتَاهُ مِنْ فَوْقٍ وَأَسْفَلَ وَنَابَاهُ وَضَاحِكَاهُ وَمِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ مِثْلُ سَبِيكَةِ الذَّهَبِ نُورٌ وَيُقِيمُ يَوْمَهُ وَلَيْلَتَهُ تَسِيلُ يَدَاهُ ذَهَباً وَكَذَلِكَ الانْبِيَاءُ إِذَا وُلِدُوا وَإِنَّمَا الاوْصِيَاءُ أَعْلاقٌ مِنَ الانْبِيَاءِ.

5. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from ibn Mas‘ud from ‘Abdallah ibn Ibrahim al-Ja‘fari who has said the following. “I heard Ishaq ibn Ja‘far say that he heard his father say as herein below. “When the mothers of the executors of the will conceive them she will go through a condition as if she has fainted for the rest of day if it would take place during the day or for the rest of the night if it would take place at night. She then would see in her dream a man congratulating her with the birth of a son, very knowledgeable and very forbearing. The condition then goes away annnd she wakes up and from her right side in the house she hears a voice. It says, “You have conceived with good, you are changing into good and you have come up with good. Congratulations to you for a son who is very forbearing and very knowledgeable. She then would feel light and thereafter she would feel no discomfort from her sides or from her belly. After nine months she would hear (something) intensely in the house On the night of the birth of the child a light would appear to her in the house that only she and the father of the child can see. When the child would born he would be found in a sitting position. There would be enough opening for the child to come out with both thighs and legs folded. The child would turn on the ground so as not to miss facing the direction of Makka. He will sneeze three time and would point with his fingers for the words of blessings said up on sneezing. He would be born his umbilical cord already cut off and circumcised. Both of his Ruba‘ia (molar) teeth from the upper and lower jaws, both of his (Na‘b) canine teeth and both of his Dahika (bicuspids) would have already grown. In front of him there would a light shine like flowing gold. For the next day and night a golden light would flow from his hands. This is how the prophets are when they are born. The executors of their will are the only ones who are the attachments of the prophets.”

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ قَالَ رَوَى غَيْرُ وَاحِدٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُ قَالَ لا تَتَكَلَّمُوا فِي الامَامِ فَإِنَّ الامَامَ يَسْمَعُ الْكَلامَ وَهُوَ فِي بَطْنِ أُمِّهِ فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْهُ كَتَبَ الْمَلَكُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً لا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِماتِهِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ فَإِذَا قَامَ بِالامْرِ رُفِعَ لَهُ فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ مَنَارٌ يَنْظُرُ مِنْهُ إِلَى أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ.

6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Hadid from Jamil ibn Darraj who has said the following. “Several persons of our people have narrated that The Imam (a.s.) has said, “Do not speak about the Imam. The Imam (a.s.) hears the words while he still is in the womb of his mother. When she would give birth the angel write between his eyes, “. .in all truth and justice, your Lord's Word has been completed. No one can change His Words. He is All-hearing and All-knowing.”. (6:115) When takes charge of the matter (Leadership with Divine Authority) in every a light house will be established for him through which he would examine the deeds of the servants (of Allah).”

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَابْنُ فَضَّالٍ جُلُوساً إِذْ أَقْبَلَ يُونُسُ فَقَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَدْ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسُ فِي الْعَمُودِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا يُونُسُ مَا تَرَاهُ أَ تَرَاهُ عَمُوداً مِنْ حَدِيدٍ يُرْفَعُ لِصَاحِبِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا أَدْرِي قَالَ لَكِنَّهُ مَلَكٌ مُوَكَّلٌ بِكُلِّ بَلْدَةٍ يَرْفَعُ الله بِهِ أَعْمَالَ تِلْكَ الْبَلْدَةِ قَالَ فَقَامَ ابْنُ فَضَّالٍ فَقَبَّلَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ الله يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ لا تَزَالُ تَجِي‏ءُ بِالْحَدِيثِ الْحَقِّ الَّذِي يُفَرِّجُ الله بِهِ عَنَّا.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd who has said the following. “I and ibn Faddal were sitting tha Yunus came and said, ‘I went to see abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) and said to him, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, “People speak so much about pillar.” He said to me, “O Yunus, what do you see? Do you see it as a pillar of iron that you would raise for your friend?” The narrator has said that he said, “I do not know.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In fact, it is an appointed angel in every town. Through him Allah raises the deeds of that town.” The narrator has said that ibn Faddal then stood up and kissed his head and said, “May allah grant you blessings, O abu Muhammad, you continue to bring us true hadith with which Allah grants us relief and comfort.”

8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لِلامَامِ عَشْرُ عَلامَاتٍ يُولَدُ مُطَهَّراً مَخْتُوناً وَإِذَا وَقَعَ عَلَى الارْضِ وَقَعَ عَلَى رَاحَتِهِ رَافِعاً صَوْتَهُ بِالشَّهَادَتَيْنِ وَلا يُجْنِبُ وَتَنَامُ عَيْنَاهُ وَلا يَنَامُ قَلْبُهُ وَلا يَتَثَاءَبُ وَلا يَتَمَطَّى وَيَرَى مِنْ خَلْفِهِ كَمَا يَرَى مِنْ أَمَامِهِ وَنَجْوُهُ كَرَائِحَةِ الْمِسْكِ وَالارْضُ مُوَكَّلَةٌ بِسَتْرِهِ وَابْتِلاعِهِ وَإِذَا لَبِسَ دِرْعَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَفْقاً وَإِذَا لَبِسَهَا غَيْرُهُ مِنَ النَّاسِ طَوِيلِهِمْ وَقَصِيرِهِمْ زَادَتْ عَلَيْهِ شِبْراً وَهُوَ مُحَدَّثٌ إِلَى أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ أَيَّامُهُ.

8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from some of our people from ibn abu ‘umayr from Hariz from Zurara from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imam has ten signs. He is born clean and circumcised. When falls on the earth his palms reach the ground first while he raises his head to the sky and loudly says the two testimonies. He does not experience wit dream. His eyes sleep but not his heart. He does not yawn and stretCh He sees behind just as he sees in front. His excretion would smell like musk. The earth is made to conceal and devour it. When he would dress up with coat of arms of the Messenger of Allah it would perfectly fit him. However, when other people, taller or shorter would try it would be taller on them by a hand stretch of thump and pinkeye. He is a Muhaddath (the one spoken to by angels) up to the time of his passing away.”

Chapter 94

The Creation of the bodies, spirits and the Hearts of the Imam (a.s.)

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى الْوَاسِطِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله خَلَقَنَا مِنْ عِلِّيِّينَ وَخَلَقَ أَرْوَاحَنَا مِنْ فَوْقِ ذَلِكَ وَخَلَقَ أَرْوَاحَ شِيعَتِنَا مِنْ عِلِّيِّينَ وَخَلَقَ أَجْسَادَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ الْقَرَابَةُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ تَحِنُّ إِلَيْنَا.

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu Yahya al-Wasiti from some of our people from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “Allah has created us from ‘Illiyin (high above) and He has created our spirits from above that. He has created the spirit of our Shi‘as (followers) from ‘Illiyin and their bodies from below that. For this reason there is relationship among us and among them and their hearts are affectionate towards us.”

2ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الزَّعْفَرَانِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله خَلَقَنَا مِنْ نُورِ عَظَمَتِهِ ثُمَّ صَوَّرَ خَلْقَنَا مِنْ طِينَةٍ مَخْزُونَةٍ مَكْنُونَةٍ مِنْ تَحْتِ الْعَرْشِ فَأَسْكَنَ ذَلِكَ النُّورَ فِيهِ فَكُنَّا نَحْنُ خَلْقاً وَبَشَراً نُورَانِيِّينَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لاحَدٍ فِي مِثْلِ الَّذِي خَلَقَنَا مِنْهُ نَصِيباً وَخَلَقَ أَرْوَاحَ شِيعَتِنَا مِنْ طِينَتِنَا وَأَبْدَانَهُمْ مِنْ طِينَةٍ مَخْزُونَةٍ مَكْنُونَةٍ أَسْفَلَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الطِّينَةِ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلِ الله لاحَدٍ فِي مِثْلِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُمْ مِنْهُ نَصِيباً إِلا لِلانْبِيَاءِ وَلِذَلِكَ صِرْنَا نَحْنُ وَهُمُ النَّاسَ وَصَارَ سَائِرُ النَّاسِ هَمَجٌ لِلنَّارِ وَإِلَى النَّارِ.

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Muhammad ibn Shu‘ayb from ‘Imran Ishaq al-Za‘farani from Muhammad ibn Marwan who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say as herein below. “Allah has created us from the light of His greatness. Thereafter He shaped our form from a preserved and hidden clay under the Throne. Then He made that light to reside in that clay. We then were a spiritual creature of the human being species. He has not placed anything as a share from that which we were created in anyone else. He has created the spirits of our Shi‘a from our clay and their bodies from a preserved and hidden clay from below that clay. Allah has not placed anything as a share of that which they are created in anyone except the prophets. Therefore, we and our followers became the people. The rest of the people became riffraff for the fire and to the fire.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَغَيْرِهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ لله نَهَراً دُونَ عَرْشِهِ وَدُونَ النَّهَرِ الَّذِي دُونَ عَرْشِهِ نُورٌ نَوَّرَهُ وَإِنَّ فِي حَافَتَيِ النَّهَرِ رُوحَيْنِ مَخْلُوقَيْنِ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ وَرُوحٌ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ وَإِنَّ لله عَشْرَ طِينَاتٍ خَمْسَةً مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَخَمْسَةً مِنَ الارْضِ فَفَسَّرَ الْجِنَانَ وَفَسَّرَ الارْضَ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَلا مَلَكٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ جَبَلَهُ إِلا نَفَخَ فِيهِ مِنْ إِحْدَى الرُّوحَيْنِ وَجَعَلَ النَّبِيَّ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مِنْ إِحْدَى الطِّينَتَيْنِ قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ الاوَّلِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا الْجَبْلُ فَقَالَ الْخَلْقُ غَيْرَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَنَا مِنَ الْعَشْرِ طِينَاتٍ وَنَفَخَ فِينَا مِنَ الرُّوحَيْنِ جَمِيعاً فَأَطْيِبْ بِهَا طِيباً وَرَوَى غَيْرُهُ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّامِتِ قَالَ طِينُ الْجِنَانِ جَنَّةُ عَدْنٍ وَجَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَى وَجَنَّةُ النَّعِيمِ وَالْفِرْدَوْسُ وَالْخُلْدُ وَطِينُ الارْضِ مَكَّةُ وَالْمَدِينَةُ وَالْكُوفَةُ وَبَيْتُ الْمَقْدِسِ وَالْحَائِرُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Ali ibn Hassa’n and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Salma ibn al-Khattab and others from Ali ibn Hassa’n from Ali ibn ‘Atiyya from Ali ibn Ri’ab who has narrated it in a marfu‘ manner from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah has a canal below His Throne. Below the canal that is below His Throne is a light that has lighted it up. On both rims of the canal there are two created spirits. One is the holy Spirit and the other is the Spirit from His command. Allah has ten (kinds) of clay. Five from paradise and five from earth.” He then explained the earth and the Paradise. Then he said, “There is no prophet or angel that He has formed (Jabala) but that He has blown into them from one of those spirits. He has formed the Prophet (s.a) from one of those clays.” The narrator has said, “I asked abu al-Hassan the 1st , “What is Jabala?” He said, “It is the creatures exclusive of us Ahl al-Bayt (family of Prophet Muhammad). Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has created us from ten clays and has into us from both the Spirits and has added fragrance to fragrance.”

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي نَهْشَلٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله خَلَقَنَا مِنْ أَعْلَى عِلِّيِّينَ وَخَلَقَ قُلُوبَ شِيعَتِنَا مِمَّا خَلَقَنَا وَخَلَقَ أَبْدَانَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَقُلُوبُهُمْ تَهْوِي إِلَيْنَا لانَّهَا خُلِقَتْ مِمَّا خُلِقْنَا ثُمَّ تَلا هَذِهِ الايَةَ كَلا إِنَّ كِتابَ الابْرارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ. وَما أَدْراكَ ما عِلِّيُّونَ. كِتابٌ مَرْقُومٌ. يَشْهَدُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَخَلَقَ عَدُوَّنَا مِنْ سِجِّينٍ وَخَلَقَ قُلُوبَ شِيعَتِهِمْ مِمَّا خَلَقَهُمْ مِنْهُ وَأَبْدَانَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَقُلُوبُهُمْ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ لانَّهَا خُلِقَتْ مِمَّا خُلِقُوا مِنْهُ ثُمَّ تَلا هَذِهِ الايَةَ كَلا إِنَّ كِتابَ الفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ. وَما أَدْراكَ ما سِجِّينٌ. كِتابٌ مَرْقُومٌ‏.

4. Others have narrated from abu al_Samit who has said the following. “He said, “Clay of paradise is the paradise of Eden, Jannat al-Ma’al-Washsha’, Jannat al-Na‘im, firdaws and al-Khuld. The clay from earth is from Makka, al-Madina, al-Kufa, Byat al-Maqdis and al-Ha’ir. 4 A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from abu Nahshal who has said that Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il narrated to me from abu Hamza al-Thumali who has said the following. “I heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say as herein below. “Allah has created us from A‘la ‘Illiyin (above the high above). He has created the hearts of our Shi‘a from what He has created us and He has created their bodies from below that, thus, their hearts incline towards us because they are created from what we are created. Then he recited this verse of the Holy Quran, “However, the records of the deeds of the virtuous ones will certainly be in ö illiy4 n (83:18).

Would that you knew what ö illiy4 n is! (83:19). It is a comprehensively written Book (of records) (83:20). The ones nearest to God will bring it to public.” (83:21) Our enemies are created from Sijjin aand the hearts of their followers are created from what they are created and their bodies are created from below that, thus, their hearts incline to them because they are created from what they are created. Then he recited this verse of the Holy Quran. “Let them know that the records of the sinner's deeds are in Sij4 n (83:7).Would that you knew what Sij4 n is!? (83:8). It is a comprehensively written Book (of records).” (83:9).”

Chapter 1

The necessity of the presence of Divine Authority among the people Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub al-Kulayni, the author of this book, may Allah grant him blessings has said the following.

1ـ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ الله حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْفُقَيْمِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِلزِّنْدِيقِ الَّذِي سَأَلَهُ مِنْ أَيْنَ أَثْبَتَّ الانْبِيَاءَ وَالرُّسُلَ قَالَ إِنَّا لَمَّا أَثْبَتْنَا أَنَّ لَنَا خَالِقاً صَانِعاً مُتَعَالِياً عَنَّا وَعَنْ جَمِيعِ مَا خَلَقَ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ الصَّانِعُ حَكِيماً مُتَعَالِياً لَمْ يَجُزْ أَنْ يُشَاهِدَهُ خَلْقُهُ وَلا يُلامِسُوهُ فَيُبَاشِرَهُمْ وَيُبَاشِرُوهُ وَيُحَاجَّهُمْ وَيُحَاجُّوهُ ثَبَتَ أَنَّ لَهُ سُفَرَاءَ فِي خَلْقِهِ يُعَبِّرُونَ عَنْهُ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ وَعِبَادِهِ وَيَدُلُّونَهُمْ عَلَى مَصَالِحِهِمْ وَمَنَافِعِهِمْ وَمَا بِهِ بَقَاؤُهُمْ وَفِي تَرْكِهِ فَنَاؤُهُمْ فَثَبَتَ الامِرُونَ وَالنَّاهُونَ عَنِ الْحَكِيمِ الْعَلِيمِ فِي خَلْقِهِ وَالْمُعَبِّرُونَ عَنْهُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ وَهُمُ الانْبِيَاءُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَصَفْوَتُهُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ حُكَمَاءَ مُؤَدَّبِينَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ مَبْعُوثِينَ بِهَا غَيْرَ مُشَارِكِينَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى مُشَارَكَتِهِمْ لَهُمْ فِي الْخَلْقِ وَالتَّرْكِيبِ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ أَحْوَالِهِمْ مُؤَيَّدِينَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الْحَكِيمِ الْعَلِيمِ بِالْحِكْمَةِ ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ ذَلِكَ فِي كُلِّ دَهْرٍ وَزَمَانٍ مِمَّا أَتَتْ بِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَالانْبِيَاءُ مِنَ الدَّلائِلِ وَالْبَرَاهِينِ لِكَيْلا تَخْلُوَ أَرْضُ الله مِنْ حُجَّةٍ يَكُونُ مَعَهُ عِلْمٌ يَدُلُّ عَلَى صِدْقِ مَقَالَتِهِ وَجَوَازِ عَدَالَتِهِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-‘Abbass ibn ‘Umar al-Qummi from Hisham ibn al-Hakam from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following.

“An atheist asked the Imam (a.s.), ‘How do you prove the truthfulness of the prophets and the messengers?’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is a fact that we have established with sufficient evidence the existence of our Creator, the Most Holy, the Most High and Exalted above all creatures. It is a fact that this Creator is All wise and Most High. His creatures can not see, touch, associate and directly communicate with Him. It proves that His deputies must be present among His creatures. It is His deputies and ambassadors who speak to people for Him and provide them guidance to protect their interests, to tell them what is beneficial to them and what are the best means of survival and what may cause their destruction. This proves the presence among people of those who conveys the commandments of the Creator, Who is All wise and All knowing Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, to people. Such people are the prophet (a.s.) the chosen ones from among His creatures. They are the people of wisdom, disciplined with wisdom and sent to people with the message of wisdom. They are different from other people - although are like them in physical form and shape - in their conditions of discipline and their receiving direct support from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High and All-Wise. This also proves their presence among people in all times to ensure the availability of the people with Divine authority who would have the kind of knowledge that would establish their truthfulness and trustworthiness.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله أَجَلُّ وَأَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْرَفَ بِخَلْقِهِ بَلِ الْخَلْقُ يُعْرَفُونَ بِالله قَالَ صَدَقْتَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ مَنْ عَرَفَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبّاً فَيَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ أَنَّ لِذَلِكَ الرَّبِّ رِضًا وَسَخَطاً وَأَنَّهُ لا يُعْرَفُ رِضَاهُ وَسَخَطُهُ إِلا بِوَحْيٍ أَوْ رَسُولٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَأْتِهِ الْوَحْيُ فَقَدْ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يَطْلُبَ الرُّسُلَ فَإِذَا لَقِيَهُمْ عَرَفَ أَنَّهُمُ الْحُجَّةُ وَأَنَّ لَهُمُ الطَّاعَةَ الْمُفْتَرَضَةَ وَقُلْتُ لِلنَّاسِ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَ هُوَ الْحُجَّةَ مِنَ الله عَلَى خَلْقِهِ قَالُوا بَلَى قُلْتُ فَحِينَ مَضَى رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَنْ كَانَ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ فَقَالُوا الْقُرْآنُ فَنَظَرْتُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَإِذَا هُوَ يُخَاصِمُ بِهِ الْمُرْجِئُ وَالْقَدَرِيُّ وَالزِّنْدِيقُ الَّذِي لا يُؤْمِنُ بِهِ حَتَّى يَغْلِبَ الرِّجَالَ بِخُصُومَتِهِ فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّ الْقُرْآنَ لا يَكُونُ حُجَّةً إِلا بِقَيِّمٍ فَمَا قَالَ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَانَ حَقّاً فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ مَنْ قَيِّمُ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالُوا ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ قَدْ كَانَ يَعْلَمُ وَعُمَرُ يَعْلَمُ وَحُذَيْفَةُ يَعْلَمُ قُلْتُ كُلَّهُ قَالُوا لا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ أَحَداً يُقَالُ إِنَّهُ يَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ إِلا عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَإِذَا كَانَ الشَّيْ‏ءُ بَيْنَ الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ هَذَا لا أَدْرِي وَقَالَ هَذَا لا أَدْرِي وَقَالَ هَذَا لا أَدْرِي وَقَالَ هَذَا أَنَا أَدْرِي فَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَانَ قَيِّمَ الْقُرْآنِ وَكَانَتْ طَاعَتُهُ مُفْتَرَضَةً وَكَانَ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَنَّ مَا قَالَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَهُوَ حَقٌّ فَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ الله.

2. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said the following.

“I said to Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘Allah by far above Majestic and Gracious to be known through His creatures. In fact, the creatures are known through Allah.’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “You have spoken the truth.” I said, “One who knows that he has a Lord, he must also learn that his Lord agrees with certain things and disagrees with certain other things. The only way he would know what his like and dislikes is revelation or a messenger. On e does not receive revelation he must find the messengers and when finds the messengers he will know that they the Divine authority and that obedience to them is necessary.

I say to people, “Do you know that the messenger of Allah was the Divine authority over His creatures?” They say, “Yes, he was the Divine authority.” I then ask, “After the messenger of Allah who was the Divine authority over His creatures?” They said, “After the messenger of Allah the Divine authority is the Holy Quran.” I considered the Holy Quran and found out that various kinds of people consider this Holy Book as support for their beliefs. For example the Murji’a (people who say Allah has postponed punishment), the pre-determinists and the atheist who even do not believe in it but take it as the basis for their arguments against the others. I then learned that the Holy Quran can not serve as Divine authority without a guardian whose words from the Holy Quran would be the truth. I then ask the people, “Who is the guardian of the Holy Quran?” They say, “Ibn Mas‘ud knew the Holy Quran, ‘Umar knew it and Hudhayfa knew the Holy Quran.” I ask them, “Did they know all of the Holy Quran?” The people say, “No, they did not know all of it.” I have not found anyone who would know all of the Holy Quran except Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.). It is a fact that if any issue would emerge that needed a Quranic solution, except for Imam Ali (a.s.) every one of the others would, in many cases, say, “I do not know.” Only Imam Ali (a.s.) would say, “I know.” I then acknowledge that Imam Ali (a.s.) is the guardian of the Holy Quran and obedience to him is obligatory and he is the Divine authority over the people after the Holy Prophet (s.a.). Whatever Imam Ali (a.s.) has said from the Holy Quran is the truth.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “May Allah grant you blessing.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ مِنْهُمْ حُمْرَانُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ وَهِشَامُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ وَالطَّيَّارُ وَجَمَاعَةٌ فِيهِمْ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ وَهُوَ شَابٌّ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا هِشَامُ أَ لا تُخْبِرُنِي كَيْفَ صَنَعْتَ بِعَمْرِو بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ وَكَيْفَ سَأَلْتَهُ فَقَالَ هِشَامٌ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله إِنِّي أُجِلُّكَ وَأَسْتَحْيِيكَ وَلا يَعْمَلُ لِسَانِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ فَافْعَلُوا قَالَ هِشَامٌ بَلَغَنِي مَا كَانَ فِيهِ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ وَجُلُوسُهُ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْبَصْرَةِ فَعَظُمَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيَّ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَدَخَلْتُ الْبَصْرَةَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَأَتَيْتُ مَسْجِدَ الْبَصْرَةِ فَإِذَا أَنَا بِحَلْقَةٍ كَبِيرَةٍ فِيهَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ وَعَلَيْهِ شَمْلَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ مُتَّزِراً بِهَا مِنْ صُوفٍ وَشَمْلَةٌ مُرْتَدِياً بِهَا وَالنَّاسُ يَسْأَلُونَهُ فَاسْتَفْرَجْتُ النَّاسَ فَأَفْرَجُوا لِي ثُمَّ قَعَدْتُ فِي آخِرِ الْقَوْمِ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيَّ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ أَيُّهَا الْعَالِمُ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ غَرِيبٌ تَأْذَنُ لِي فِي مَسْأَلَةٍ فَقَالَ لِي نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَ لَكَ عَيْنٌ فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ أَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ هَذَا مِنَ السُّؤَالِ وَشَيْ‏ءٌ تَرَاهُ كَيْفَ تَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ فَقُلْتُ هَكَذَا مَسْأَلَتِي فَقَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ سَلْ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مَسْأَلَتُكَ حَمْقَاءَ قُلْتُ أَجِبْنِي فِيهَا قَالَ لِي سَلْ قُلْتُ أَ لَكَ عَيْنٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَ أَرَى بِهَا الالْوَانَ وَالاشْخَاصَ قُلْتُ فَلَكَ أَنْفٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ أَشَمُّ بِهِ الرَّائِحَةَ قُلْتُ أَ لَكَ فَمٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ أَذُوقُ بِهِ الطَّعْمَ قُلْتُ فَلَكَ أُذُنٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَصْنَعُ بِهَا قَالَ أَسْمَعُ بِهَا الصَّوْتَ قُلْتُ أَ لَكَ قَلْبٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَصْنَعُ بِهِ قَالَ أُمَيِّزُ بِهِ كُلَّ مَا وَرَدَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْجَوَارِحِ وَالْحَوَاسِّ قُلْتُ أَ وَلَيْسَ فِي هَذِهِ الْجَوَارِحِ غِنًى عَنِ الْقَلْبِ فَقَالَ لا قُلْتُ وَكَيْفَ ذَلِكَ وَهِيَ صَحِيحَةٌ سَلِيمَةٌ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّ الْجَوَارِحَ إِذَا شَكَّتْ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ شَمَّتْهُ أَوْ رَأَتْهُ أَوْ ذَاقَتْهُ أَوْ سَمِعَتْهُ رَدَّتْهُ إِلَى الْقَلْبِ فَيَسْتَيْقِنُ الْيَقِينَ وَيُبْطِلُ الشَّكَّ قَالَ هِشَامٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَإِنَّمَا أَقَامَ الله الْقَلْبَ لِشَكِّ الْجَوَارِحِ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ لا بُدَّ مِنَ الْقَلْبِ وَإِلا لَمْ تَسْتَيْقِنِ الْجَوَارِحُ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا مَرْوَانَ فَالله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمْ يَتْرُكْ جَوَارِحَكَ حَتَّى جَعَلَ لَهَا إِمَاماً يُصَحِّحُ لَهَا الصَّحِيحَ وَيَتَيَقَّنُ بِهِ مَا شُكَّ فِيهِ وَيَتْرُكُ هَذَا الْخَلْقَ كُلَّهُمْ فِي حَيْرَتِهِمْ وَشَكِّهِمْ وَاخْتِلافِهِمْ لا يُقِيمُ لَهُمْ إِمَاماً يَرُدُّونَ إِلَيْهِ شَكَّهُمْ وَحَيْرَتَهُمْ وَيُقِيمُ لَكَ إِمَاماً لِجَوَارِحِكَ تَرُدُّ إِلَيْهِ حَيْرَتَكَ وَشَكَّكَ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لِي شَيْئاً ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ لِي أَنْتَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ فَقُلْتُ لا قَالَ أَ مِنْ جُلَسَائِهِ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ فَمِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ قَالَ قُلْتُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ قَالَ فَأَنْتَ إِذاً هُوَ ثُمَّ ضَمَّنِي إِلَيْهِ وَأَقْعَدَنِي فِي مَجْلِسِهِ وَزَالَ عَنْ مَجْلِسِهِ وَمَا نَطَقَ حَتَّى قُمْتُ قَالَ فَضَحِكَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَقَالَ يَا هِشَامُ مَنْ عَلَّمَكَ هَذَا قُلْتُ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَخَذْتُهُ مِنْكَ وَأَلَّفْتُهُ فَقَالَ هَذَا وَالله مَكْتُوبٌ فِي صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Ibrahim from Yunus ibn Ya‘qub who has said the following.

“In the presence of Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) once there was a group of his followers consisting of Humran ibn ’Ayun, Muhammad ibn al-Ni‘man, Hisham ibn Salim, al-Tayyar and others among whom was also Hisham ibn al-Hakam, a young man. Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, “O Hisham can you tell us what did you do to ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd and how did you ask him questions?” Hisham said, “O descendant of the Holy Prophet Your greatness makes me feel shy and my tongue does not work in your presence.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When I would order you something you should do it.” Hisham, then said, “I came to learn about the gathering of ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd and sessions of speeches for people in the Mosque of Basra. It disturbed me a great deal and I went to Basra. It was a Friday. I went to the Mosque and found a large circle of people among was ‘Arm ibn ‘Ubayd with a black piece of woolen cloth used as a loin cloth and another piece over him as a gown and people would ask him questions. I asked people for room, which they made for me. I sat in front of the people with my legs folded beneath and said, “O scholar, I come from out of town. Can I ask you questions?” He said, “Yes, you may ask.” I asked, “Do you have eyes?” He said, “Son, what kind of question is this? Something that you can see why then do you ask?” I said, “That is how my questions are.” He said, “Son, you may ask your questions even if they would be foolish ones.” I asked, “Do you have eyes?” He said, “Yes, I have eyes.” I asked, “What do you do with them?” He said, “I see with them the colors and persons.” I asked, “Do you have a nose?” He said, “Yes, I have a nose.” I asked, “What do you do with it?” He said, “ I use it to smell things.” I asked, “Do you have a mouth?” He said, “Yes, I have a mouth.” I asked, “What do you do with it?” He said, “I test things with it.” I asked, “Do you have ears?” He said, “Yes, I have ears.” I asked, “What do you do with them?” He said, “I hear sounds with them.” He I asked, “Do you have a heart?” He said, “Yes, I have a heart.” I asked, “What do you do with it?” He said, “I distinguish and discern things that come to it from the other senses.” I asked, “Why are your others senses independent of your heart and why do they need it?” He said, “They are not independent of my heart.” I said, “Why do they need your heart when they are all healthy and sound?” He said, “Son, when the other senses face a doubt about something, such as smell, test, etc., I send it to my heart and it ascertains certainty and discards doubts.” I asked him, “Do you mean that Allah has set up the heart to remove doubts from the other senses?” He said, “Yes, that is true.” I asked, “Is then the existence of the heart necessary to remove the doubts of the other senses?” He said, “Yes, it is necessary.”

I then said, “O abu Marwan, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, as you say, has not left your senses without an Imam to correct the doubts and the mistakes of the other senses in you and remove doubts therefrom, how would He leave all the people with doubts and confusions without an Imam who would remove their doubts and settle their disputes?” He remained quite and did not say anything for a while. He then asked, “Are you Hisham ibn al-Hakam?” I said, “No, I am not.” He asked, “Are you of his associates?” I said, “No.” He asked, “Wherefrom are you?” I said, “I am from Kufa.” He said, “You then must be Hisham ibn al-Hakam.” He then took to himself and gave me room nearby. He discontinued his speech until I left.” Imam abu ‘abdallah (a.s.) smiled and said, “O Hisham who has taught you this?”

I replied, “I learned something from you and added something of my self.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “This, I swear by Allah, is written in the books of Abraham and Moses.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَوَرَدَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَجُلٌ صَاحِبُ كَلامٍ وَفِقْهٍ وَفَرَائِضَ وَقَدْ جِئْتُ لِمُنَاظَرَةِ أَصْحَابِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَلامُكَ مِنْ كَلامِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَوْ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَقَالَ مِنْ كَلامِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَمِنْ عِنْدِي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَنْتَ إِذاً شَرِيكُ رَسُولِ الله قَالَ لا قَالَ فَسَمِعْتَ الْوَحْيَ عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُخْبِرُكَ قَالَ لا قَالَ فَتَجِبُ طَاعَتُكَ كَمَا تَجِبُ طَاعَةُ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ لا فَالْتَفَتَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا يُونُسَ بْنَ يَعْقُوبَ هَذَا قَدْ خَصَمَ نَفْسَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا يُونُسُ لَوْ كُنْتَ تُحْسِنُ الْكَلامَ كَلَّمْتَهُ قَالَ يُونُسُ فَيَا لَهَا مِنْ حَسْرَةٍ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي سَمِعْتُكَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْكَلامِ وَتَقُولُ وَيْلٌ لاصْحَابِ الْكَلامِ يَقُولُونَ هَذَا يُنْقَادُ وَهَذَا لا يُنْقَادُ وَهَذَا يُنْسَاقُ وَهَذَا لا يُنْسَاقُ وَهَذَا نَعْقِلُهُ وَهَذَا لا نَعْقِلُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّمَا قُلْتُ فَوَيْلٌ لَهُمْ إِنْ تَرَكُوا مَا أَقُولُ وَذَهَبُوا إِلَى مَا يُرِيدُونَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي اخْرُجْ إِلَى الْبَابِ فَانْظُرْ مَنْ تَرَى مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّمِينَ فَأَدْخِلْهُ قَالَ فَأَدْخَلْتُ حُمْرَانَ بْنَ أَعْيَنَ وَكَانَ يُحْسِنُ الْكَلامَ وَأَدْخَلْتُ الاحْوَلَ وَكَانَ يُحْسِنُ الْكَلامَ وَأَدْخَلْتُ هِشَامَ بْنَ سَالِمٍ وَكَانَ يُحْسِنُ الْكَلامَ وَأَدْخَلْتُ قَيْسَ بْنَ الْمَاصِرِ وَكَانَ عِنْدِي أَحْسَنَهُمْ كَلاماً وَكَانَ قَدْ تَعَلَّمَ الْكَلامَ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَلَمَّا اسْتَقَرَّ بِنَا الْمَجْلِسُ وَكَانَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَبْلَ الْحَجِّ يَسْتَقِرُّ أَيَّاماً فِي جَبَلٍ فِي طَرَفِ الْحَرَمِ فِي فَازَةٍ لَهُ مَضْرُوبَةٍ قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) رَأْسَهُ مِنْ فَازَتِهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ بِبَعِيرٍ يَخُبُّ فَقَالَ هِشَامٌ وَرَبِّ الْكَعْبَةِ قَالَ فَظَنَنَّا أَنَّ هِشَاماً رَجُلٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ عَقِيلٍ كَانَ شَدِيدَ الْمَحَبَّةِ لَهُ قَالَ فَوَرَدَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ مَا اخْتَطَّتْ لِحْيَتُهُ وَلَيْسَ فِينَا إِلا مَنْ هُوَ أَكْبَرُ سِنّاً مِنْهُ قَالَ فَوَسَّعَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَقَالَ نَاصِرُنَا بِقَلْبِهِ وَلِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا حُمْرَانُ كَلِّمِ الرَّجُلَ فَكَلَّمَهُ فَظَهَرَ عَلَيْهِ حُمْرَانُ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا طَاقِيُّ كَلِّمْهُ فَكَلَّمَهُ فَظَهَرَ عَلَيْهِ الاحْوَلُ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا هِشَامَ بْنَ سَالِمٍ كَلِّمْهُ فَتَعَارَفَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِقَيْسٍ الْمَاصِرِ كَلِّمْهُ فَكَلَّمَهُ فَأَقْبَلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَضْحَكُ مِنْ كَلامِهِمَا مِمَّا قَدْ أَصَابَ الشَّامِيَّ فَقَالَ لِلشَّامِيِّ كَلِّمْ هَذَا الْغُلامَ يَعْنِي هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لِهِشَامٍ يَا غُلامُ سَلْنِي فِي إِمَامَةِ هَذَا فَغَضِبَ هِشَامٌ حَتَّى ارْتَعَدَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلشَّامِيِّ يَا هَذَا أَ رَبُّكَ أَنْظَرُ لِخَلْقِهِ أَمْ خَلْقُهُ لانْفُسِهِمْ فَقَالَ الشَّامِيُّ بَلْ رَبِّي أَنْظَرُ لِخَلْقِهِ قَالَ فَفَعَلَ بِنَظَرِهِ لَهُمْ مَا ذَا قَالَ أَقَامَ لَهُمْ حُجَّةً وَدَلِيلاً كَيْلا يَتَشَتَّتُوا أَوْ يَخْتَلِفُوا يَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ وَيُقِيمُ أَوَدَهُمْ وَيُخْبِرُهُمْ بِفَرْضِ رَبِّهِمْ قَالَ فَمَنْ هُوَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ هِشَامٌ فَبَعْدَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ الْكِتَابُ وَالسُّنَّةُ قَالَ هِشَامٌ فَهَلْ نَفَعَنَا الْيَوْمَ الْكِتَابُ وَالسُّنَّةُ فِي رَفْعِ الاخْتِلافِ عَنَّا قَالَ الشَّامِيُّ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَلِمَ اخْتَلَفْنَا أَنَا وَأَنْتَ وَصِرْتَ إِلَيْنَا مِنَ الشَّامِ فِي مُخَالَفَتِنَا إِيَّاكَ قَالَ فَسَكَتَ الشَّامِيُّ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِلشَّامِيِّ مَا لَكَ لا تَتَكَلَّمُ قَالَ الشَّامِيُّ إِنْ قُلْتُ لَمْ نَخْتَلِفْ كَذَبْتُ وَإِنْ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الْكِتَابَ وَالسُّنَّةَ يَرْفَعَانِ عَنَّا الاخْتِلافَ أَبْطَلْتُ لانَّهُمَا يَحْتَمِلانِ الْوُجُوهَ وَإِنْ قُلْتُ قَدِ اخْتَلَفْنَا وَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنَّا يَدَّعِي الْحَقَّ فَلَمْ يَنْفَعْنَا إِذَنِ الْكِتَابُ وَالسُّنَّةُ إِلا أَنَّ لِي عَلَيْهِ هَذِهِ الْحُجَّةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَلْهُ تَجِدْهُ مَلِيّاً فَقَالَ الشَّامِيُّ يَا هَذَا مَنْ أَنْظَرُ لِلْخَلْقِ أَ رَبُّهُمْ أَوْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ فَقَالَ هِشَامٌ رَبُّهُمْ أَنْظَرُ لَهُمْ مِنْهُمْ لانْفُسِهِمْ فَقَالَ الشَّامِيُّ فَهَلْ أَقَامَ لَهُمْ مَنْ يَجْمَعُ لَهُمْ كَلِمَتَهُمْ وَيُقِيمُ أَوَدَهُمْ وَيُخْبِرُهُمْ بِحَقِّهِمْ مِنْ بَاطِلِهِمْ قَالَ هِشَامٌ فِي وَقْتِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَوِ السَّاعَةِ.

قَالَ الشَّامِيُّ فِي وَقْتِ رَسُولِ الله رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالسَّاعَةِ مَنْ فَقَالَ هِشَامٌ هَذَا الْقَاعِدُ الَّذِي تُشَدُّ إِلَيْهِ الرِّحَالُ وَيُخْبِرُنَا بِأَخْبَارِ السَّمَاءِ وَالارْضِ وِرَاثَةً عَنْ أَبٍ عَنْ جَدٍّ قَالَ الشَّامِيُّ فَكَيْفَ لِي أَنْ أَعْلَمَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ هِشَامٌ سَلْهُ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ قَالَ الشَّامِيُّ قَطَعْتَ عُذْرِي فَعَلَيَّ السُّؤَالُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا شَامِيُّ أُخْبِرُكَ كَيْفَ كَانَ سَفَرُكَ وَكَيْفَ كَانَ طَرِيقُكَ كَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَأَقْبَلَ الشَّامِيُّ يَقُولُ صَدَقْتَ أَسْلَمْتُ لله السَّاعَةَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَلْ آمَنْتَ بِالله السَّاعَةَ إِنَّ الاسْلامَ قَبْلَ الايمَانِ وَعَلَيْهِ يَتَوَارَثُونَ وَيَتَنَاكَحُونَ وَالايمَانُ عَلَيْهِ يُثَابُونَ فَقَالَ الشَّامِيُّ صَدَقْتَ فَأَنَا السَّاعَةَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَنَّكَ وَصِيُّ الاوْصِيَاءِ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَى حُمْرَانَ فَقَالَ تُجْرِي الْكَلامَ عَلَى الاثَرِ فَتُصِيبُ وَالْتَفَتَ إِلَى هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ فَقَالَ تُرِيدُ الاثَرَ وَلا تَعْرِفُهُ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى الاحْوَلِ فَقَالَ قَيَّاسٌ رَوَّاغٌ تَكْسِرُ بَاطِلاً بِبَاطِلٍ إِلا أَنَّ بَاطِلَكَ أَظْهَرُ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى قَيْسٍ الْمَاصِرِ فَقَالَ تَتَكَلَّمُ وَأَقْرَبُ مَا تَكُونُ مِنَ الْخَبَرِ عَنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَبْعَدُ مَا تَكُونُ مِنْهُ تَمْزُجُ الْحَقَّ مَعَ الْبَاطِلِ وَقَلِيلُ الْحَقِّ يَكْفِي عَنْ كَثِيرِ الْبَاطِلِ أَنْتَ وَالاحْوَلُ قَفَّازَانِ حَاذِقَانِ قَالَ يُونُسُ فَظَنَنْتُ وَالله أَنَّهُ يَقُولُ لِهِشَامٍ قَرِيباً مِمَّا قَالَ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا هِشَامُ لا تَكَادُ تَقَعُ تَلْوِي رِجْلَيْكَ إِذَا هَمَمْتَ بِالارْضِ طِرْتَ مِثْلُكَ فَلْيُكَلِّمِ النَّاسَ فَاتَّقِ الزَّلَّةَ وَالشَّفَاعَةُ مِنْ وَرَائِهَا إِنْ شَاءَ الله.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from those whom mentioned from Yunus ibn Ya’qub who has said the following.

“I was in the presence of Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that a man from Sham (Syria) came to him and said, ‘I am a man of Kalam (meaningful words) Fiqh (laws) and rules of obligations and I have come to debate your people.” Imam abu ‘Abdallah asked, “ Are your meaningful words those of the Messenger of Allah or your own words?” He replied, “Somme of them are from the Messenger of Allah and some of them are my own words.” The Imam said, “Are then you a partner of the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “No, I am not.” The Imam (a.s.) asked, “Have you received any revelation from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High ?” He said, “No, I have not.” The Imam then asked, “Is it obligatory to obey you just as it is obligatory to obey the Messenger of Allah?” He said, “No, it is not.” The Imam (a.s.) then turned to me and said, “O Yunus, this man has just defeated himself before debating others.”

The Imam then said, “O Yunus, why do you not speak to him if you do well in debate?” I said, “I wish I could but, may Allah take my soul in the service for your cause, I have heard that you do not allow debating and say that wayl (a place in hell) is for those who debate. Some of them say, ‘This is accepted and that is not accepted and this is alright to say but that is not alright to say that this we understand and that we do not understand.’ The Imam (a.s.) said, “I said so if they would ignore what I say and follow what they themselves want.”

The Imam then said, “find out who is outside who could debate and bring them in. The reporter has said, “I then brought in Humran ibn ’Ayun who was good in debating, Ahwal who also was good in debate. I brought Hisham ibn Salim who debated well. Another person I brought was Qays ibn Masir who the best of them to me. He had learned Kalam (theology) from Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) Our gathering took place in Makka before Hajj. Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) would stay near the Holy Mosque for few days in a small tent. Once the Imam (a.s.) looked outside the tent and there was a camel growling and said, “By the Lord of the Ka‘ba, it is Hisham.” We thought it must be Hisham, the man from the family of ‘Qil who was very beloved to the Imam (a.s.). It was Hisham ibn al-Hakam who came in. He had just grown a small beard and all of us were older than him. The Imam (a.s.) made room for him and said, “He is our supporter with his heart, tongue and hands.” The Imam then asked Humran to debate the man. Humran came out strong. Then the Imam asked Taqi to debate the man. Ahwal also came strong. Then the Imam asked Hisham ibn Salim to debate the man. They both remained the same. The Imam (a.s.) then asked Qasys al-Masir to debate the man. When they debated the Imam (a.s.) laughed because of the man from Sham sometimes saying the right thing.

The Imam then asked the man from to speak with Hisham ibn al-Hakam. The man said, “O boy, ask me about the Imamat (spiritual leadership) of this man.” Hisham become angry and began to shake and said, “O you, is your Lord more protective of His people or people themselves?” The man said, “It is My Lord Who is more protective of His creatures.” Hisham then asked, “What then He in His opinion has done for them?” The Man said, “He has established His authority and guidance so that they would not differ and disunite and be united to support each other and remind them of their duties towards Allah.” Hisham asked, “Who is he?” The man said, “He is the Messenger of Allah.” Hisham then asked, “Who is the Divine authority after the Messenger of Allah?” The man replied, “It is the book if Allah and the Sunnah.” Hisham then said, “Have the Book and Sunnah helped us today in removing our differences?” The man said, “Yes, they have helped us.” Hisham then asked, “Why then do we have differences among us. You have come all the way from Sham to oppose and debate us?” The man then remained quite. The Imam asked him, “Why do not speak?” The man said, “If I were to say that we have no differences I would speaking lies. Were I to say that the Book and Sunnah solves our differences it would be invalid because they can be interpreted in so many ways. Were I to say that we do have differences and each claims to be the rightful party then the Book and the Sunnah would have been proved of no help. However, I can ask the same question from him also.” The Imam (a.s.) then said to man from Sham, “Why do not then ask him this question?”

The man from Sham (Syria) then turned to Hisham and asked, “O you, is your Lord more protective of His people or people themselves?” Hisham said, “It is My Lord Who is more protective of His creatures.” The man then asked, “Has He then established for them a means that would remove their differences, unite them, remove their difficulties and show them the right from wrong?” Hisham asked, “Do you mean for the time of the Messenger of Allah or at this time?”

The man from Sham said, “At the time of the Messenger of Allah was the Messenger of Allah. Who is the (Divine) authority at this time?” Hisham said, “(The Divine authority) at this time is this person sitting among us. To him people journey long distance to find answer to their questions. He tells us about the news of the heavens and the earth as he has inherited it from his father and grand father.” The man from Sham said, “How would I know that?” Hisham then said, “Ask him whatever you would like.” The man from Sham said, “You have left no excuse for me and I must ask.”

Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) then said, “O man from Sham, “I can tell you how was your journey and how was your road. It was so and so.” The Imam (a.s.) informed him with details. The man agreed and acknowledged the details and said, “Now I have become a Muslim.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In fact, you have become a believer in Allah now. Islam is before Iman (faith). Because of Islam people inherit each other and marry. Because of faith people receive rewards.” The man then said, “You have spoken the truth. At this time I testify that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger and that you are the executor of the will of the Executor of wills of the Messengers of Allah.”

The Imam (a.s.) then turned to Humran and said, “When you speak on the basis of Hadith you speak the truth.” Turning to Hisham ibn Salim the Imam (a.s.) said, “You want the Hadith but you do not know them.” About the al-Ahwal the Imam said, “You analogized and use a great deal of cunning ways and break falsehood with falsehood but your falsehood is stronger.” To Qays al-Masir the Imam (a.s.) said, “You speak of something very near to the Hadith of the Holy Prophet (s.a) but use something very far from the Hadith of the Holy Prophet. You mix the truth with falsehood while a small degree of truth is enough to remove falsehood. You and Ahwal are experts in jumping here and there.” Yunus has said, “I thought the Imam will say about Hisham something similar to those he said about the other two.” The Imam then said, “O Hisham, you sometimes almost fall but you spring up like a bird on take-off. People like you should speak but be careful of slipping and intercession will follow, Allah willing.”

5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي الاحْوَلُ أَنَّ زَيْدَ بْنَ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ قَالَ فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مَا تَقُولُ إِنْ طَرَقَكَ طَارِقٌ مِنَّا أَ تَخْرُجُ مَعَهُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ إِنْ كَانَ أَبَاكَ أَوْ أَخَاكَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي فَأَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ أُجَاهِدُ هَؤُلاءِ الْقَوْمَ فَاخْرُجْ مَعِي قَالَ قُلْتُ لا مَا أَفْعَلُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي أَ تَرْغَبُ بِنَفْسِكَ عَنِّي قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّمَا هِيَ نَفْسٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَإِنْ كَانَ لله فِي الارْضِ حُجَّةٌ فَالْمُتَخَلِّفُ عَنْكَ نَاجٍ وَالْخَارِجُ مَعَكَ هَالِكٌ وَإِنْ لا تَكُنْ لله حُجَّةٌ فِي الارْضِ فَالْمُتَخَلِّفُ عَنْكَ وَالْخَارِجُ مَعَكَ سَوَاءٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ كُنْتُ أَجْلِسُ مَعَ أَبِي عَلَى الْخِوَانِ فَيُلْقِمُنِي الْبَضْعَةَ السَّمِينَةَ وَيُبَرِّدُ لِيَ اللُّقْمَةَ الْحَارَّةَ حَتَّى تَبْرُدَ شَفَقَةً عَلَيَّ وَلَمْ يُشْفِقْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ حَرِّ النَّارِ إِذاً أَخْبَرَكَ بِالدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْبِرْنِي بِهِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مِنْ شَفَقَتِهِ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حَرِّ النَّارِ لَمْ يُخْبِرْكَ خَافَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ لا تَقْبَلَهُ فَتَدْخُلَ النَّارَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي أَنَا فَإِنْ قَبِلْتُ نَجَوْتُ وَإِنْ لَمْ أَقْبَلْ لَمْ يُبَالِ أَنْ أَدْخُلَ النَّارَ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنْتُمْ أَفْضَلُ أَمِ الانْبِيَاءُ قَالَ بَلِ الانْبِيَاءُ قُلْتُ يَقُولُ يَعْقُوبُ لِيُوسُفَ يَا بُنَيَّ لا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَى إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْداً لِمَ لَمْ يُخْبِرْهُمْ حَتَّى كَانُوا لا يَكِيدُونَهُ وَلَكِنْ كَتَمَهُمْ ذَلِكَ فَكَذَا أَبُوكَ كَتَمَكَ لانَّهُ خَافَ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ أَمَا وَالله لَئِنْ قُلْتَ ذَلِكَ لَقَدْ حَدَّثَنِي صَاحِبُكَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَنِّي أُقْتَلُ وَأُصْلَبُ بِالْكُنَاسَةِ وَإِنَّ عِنْدَهُ لَصَحِيفَةً فِيهَا قَتْلِي وَصَلْبِي فَحَجَجْتُ فَحَدَّثْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِمَقَالَةِ زَيْدٍ وَمَا قُلْتُ لَهُ فَقَالَ لِي أَخَذْتَهُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَعَنْ شِمَالِهِ وَمِنْ فَوْقِ رَأْسِهِ وَمِنْ تَحْتِ قَدَمَيْهِ وَلَمْ تَتْرُكْ لَهُ مَسْلَكاً يَسْلُكُهُ.

5. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban who has that al-Ahwal reported to him the following.

“Zayd ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) sent called up on to meet him when he was in hiding. When I met him, Zayd said, “O abu Ja‘far, what would say if someone will from us would come to you asking to join us? Will you rise up with him (against the enemies)?” I said, “Would it be your father or brother I would have joined them.” He then said, “I want to rise up against these people. Come and join me.” I then said, “No, may Allah my soul of service to you.” He then said, “Is it that you keep yourself away from me?” I said, “ It is only one soul. If Allah’s authority on earth exists, then those keeping away from you would have saved themselves and those joining you would have faced their destruction. If there would Divine authority exist one earth then people joining and keeping away from would be the same.” He then said, “O abu Ja‘far, I would sit with my father at the same table he would feed me chunky morsels and cool off for me the hot one out kindness and diligent care. Do you think he was not afraid for me from the fire of hell? So he has informed you about religion and did not inform me?” I said, “ May Allah make my soul of service to you, it is also because of the kindness of your father to you that to save you from the fire he did not inform you. He was afraid for you that after having the information you would ignore his guidance and so you become subject of fire He informed me also and if I would follow I will be safe and become destroyed if disobeyed for he which he was not that much concerned. Then I told him, “..” May Allah make my soul of service to you, are you of a higher degree of excellence or the prophets?” He said, “It is the prophets.” I said, “Consider that Ya‘qub has said to Joseph, ‘My son do not tell your dream to your brothers. They may plot against you. Why he not inform the brothers so that they would not plot against Josephe?.He hid it from them such the way your father has done because he was afraid about you.” Then He said, “When you say that, I swear to Allah that your friend (the Imam (a.s.) told me in Madina that I will be killed and crucified in al-Kunnasa and that he has a book with him that lists the people killed and crucified.” I then went for Hajj and reported the story of Zayd to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and what I said to Zayd. The Imam (a.s.) said, “You surrounded him from his fron, back, left, right, above and below and did not leave for any way out.