Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 5

Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ اطْلُبُوا الْعِلْمَ وَتَزَيَّنُوا مَعَهُ بِالْحِلْمِ وَالْوَقَارِ وَتَوَاضَعُوا لِمَنْ تُعَلِّمُونَهُ الْعِلْمَ وَتَوَاضَعُوا لِمَنْ طَلَبْتُمْ مِنْهُ الْعِلْمَ وَلا تَكُونُوا عُلَمَاءَ جَبَّارِينَ فَيَذْهَبَ بَاطِلُكُمْ بِحَقِّكُمْ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Mu‘awiya ibn Wahab who has said the following. “Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said.

“Seek knowledge and beautify it with forbearance and dignity. Be humble to your students and to those from whom you learn. Do not be a tyrant scholar lest your falsehood would destroy the truth in you.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ النَّصْرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّما يَخْشَى الله مِنْ عِبادِهِ الْعُلَماءُ قَالَ يَعْنِي بِالْعُلَمَاءِ مَنْ صَدَّقَ فِعْلُهُ قَوْلَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُصَدِّقْ فِعْلُهُ قَوْلَهُ فَلَيْسَ بِعَالِمٍ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from al-Harith ibn Mughirah al-Nasri from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious.

“Only God's knowledgeable servants fear Him . ..”, (35:28) that scholars are those whose deeds would testify to the truthfulness of their words, otherwise, they are not scholars.’”

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْقَمَّاطِ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَ لا أُخْبِرُكُمْ بِالْفَقِيهِ حَقِّ الْفَقِيهِ مَنْ لَمْ يُقَنِّطِ النَّاسَ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ الله وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْهُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ الله وَلَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لَهُمْ فِي مَعَاصِي الله وَلَمْ يَتْرُكِ الْقُرْآنَ رَغْبَةً عَنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ أَلا لا خَيْرَ فِي عِلْمٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ تَفَهُّمٌ أَلا لا خَيْرَ فِي قِرَاءَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا تَدَبُّرٌ أَلا لا خَيْرَ فِي عِبَادَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا تَفَكُّرٌ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى أَلا لا خَيْرَ فِي عِلْمٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ تَفَهُّمٌ أَلا لا خَيْرَ فِي قِرَاءَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا تَدَبُّرٌ أَلا لا خَيْرَ فِي عِبَادَةٍ لا فِقْهَ فِيهَا أَلا لا خَيْرَ فِي نُسُكٍ لا وَرَعَ فِيهِ.

3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from ’Isma’il ibn Mihran from abu Sa‘id al-Qammat from al-Halabi from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘Do you want me to describe to you the true Faqih, person who truly has a good understanding of religion? A true Faqih is one who does not cause people to despair from the mercy of Allah and does not make them to be unconcerned about the punishment of Allah, who does not allow them to consider disobedience to Allah as permissible and who doe not abandon the holy Quran because of being attracted towards other matters. You must know that there is no goodness in knowledge without good understand (Fiqh). You must know that there is nothing good in a recitation without thinking about it. You must know that there is nothing good in worship without thoughtfulness. In another Hadith it says, “ You must know that there is nothing good in a knowledge without good understanding. You must know that there is nothing good in a recitation without thinking about it. You must know that there is nothing good in worship without having a good understanding of religion. You must know that there is nothing good in performing the acts of Hajj etc. without piety.’”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ النَّيْسَابُورِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ مِنْ عَلامَاتِ الْفِقْهِ الْحِلْمَ وَالصَّمْتَ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and Muhammad ibn ‘Ism’il from al-Fadl ibn Shadhan al-Naysaburi, all from Safwan ibn Yahya from abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Of the signs of Fiqh, good understanding of religion is forbearance and quietness.”

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا يَكُونُ السَّفَهُ وَالْغِرَّةُ فِي قَلْبِ الْعَالِمِ.

5. Ahmad ibn ‘Abdallah from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from certain persons of his people in a marfu‘ manner (rafa'ahu) from Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Foolishness and arrogance are not found in the hearts of the scholars.”

6ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا مَعْشَرَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ لِي إِلَيْكُمْ حَاجَةٌ اقْضُوهَا لِي قَالُوا قُضِيَتْ حَاجَتُكَ يَا رُوحَ الله فَقَامَ فَغَسَلَ أَقْدَامَهُمْ فَقَالُوا كُنَّا نَحْنُ أَحَقَّ بِهَذَا يَا رُوحَ الله فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَحَقَّ النَّاسِ بِالْخِدْمَةِ الْعَالِمُ إِنَّمَا تَوَاضَعْتُ هَكَذَا لِكَيْمَا تَتَوَاضَعُوا بَعْدِي فِي النَّاسِ كَتَوَاضُعِي لَكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالتَّوَاضُعِ تُعْمَرُ الْحِكْمَةُ لا بِالتَّكَبُّرِ وَكَذَلِكَ فِي السَّهْلِ يَنْبُتُ الزَّرْعُ لا فِي الْجَبَلِ.

Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Sinan in a marfu‘ manner (rafa'ahu ) from Jesus son of Mary who has said the following to his disciples.

“O disciples, I need your help so help me.” They replied, “Your request is granted, O Spirit of God.” Jesus then got up and washed their feet. To this the disciples said, “We were supposed to serve you O Spirit of God.” Jesus then said, “Of the people who must serve others are the scholars. I acted in this humble way so that you will act among people in the humble way I acted before you.” Jesus then said, “With humbleness wisdom is established but not with arrogance. Just as plants grow in plain and soft grounds but not on the hard grounds and rocks.”

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ يَا طَالِبَ الْعِلْمِ إِنَّ لِلْعَالِمِ ثَلاثَ عَلامَاتٍ الْعِلْمَ وَالْحِلْمَ وَالصَّمْتَ وَلِلْمُتَكَلِّفِ ثَلاثَ عَلامَاتٍ يُنَازِعُ مَنْ فَوْقَهُ بِالْمَعْصِيَةِ وَيَظْلِمُ مَنْ دُونَهُ بِالْغَلَبَةِ وَيُظَاهِرُ الظَّلَمَةَ.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Ma‘bad from the person whom he mentioned from Mu‘awiya ibn Wahab from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Imam Ali (a.s.), would often say, ‘O seekers of knowledge, (note that) a scholar has three signs: Knowledge, forbearance and quietness. An orator has three signs: He quarrels those higher then him through disobedience. He does injustice to those lower than him in position through domination and he becomes a supporter of the unjust.’”

Chapter 6

Chapter on the Rights of the scholars

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ مِنْ حَقِّ الْعَالِمِ أَنْ لا تُكْثِرَ عَلَيْهِ السُّؤَالَ وَلا تَأْخُذَ بِثَوْبِهِ وَإِذَا دَخَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ وَعِنْدَهُ قَوْمٌ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِمْ جَمِيعاً وَخُصَّهُ بِالتَّحِيَّةِ دُونَهُمْ وَاجْلِسْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَلا تَجْلِسْ خَلْفَهُ وَلا تَغْمِزْ بِعَيْنِكَ وَلا تُشِرْ بِيَدِكَ وَلا تُكْثِرْ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ قَالَ فُلانٌ وَقَالَ فُلانٌ خِلافاً لِقَوْلِهِ وَلا تَضْجَرْ بِطُولِ صُحْبَتِهِ فَإِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْعَالِمِ مَثَلُ النَّخْلَةِ تَنْتَظِرُهَا حَتَّى يَسْقُطَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ وَالْعَالِمُ أَعْظَمُ أَجْراً مِنَ الصَّائِمِ الْقَائِمِ الْغَازِي فِي سَبِيلِ الله.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Sulayman ibn Ja’far al-Ja’fari from the person who he mentioned from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Imam Ali (a.s.) said, ‘One of the rights of a scholar is that one must not ask him a great many questions and must not hold to his garment (excessive questioning). When one would enter in his presence while other people are there one should offer salutation to all of them and special greetings to the scholar only. One must sit before him and not behind him. One must not blink his eyes before him or make hand gestures and must not speak much in his presence such as so and so said so and so opposite to what he says. The length of his meeting must not disappoint one because the case of a scholar is like a fruit bearing tree in which case one needs to wait until three lets fruits to fall onto one. The reward for a scholar is greater than that for one who fasts and prays very often and those who fight for the cause of Allah.’”

Chapter 7

Chapter on the Loss of a Scholar

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَمُوتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَحَبَّ إِلَى إِبْلِيسَ مِنْ مَوْتِ فَقِيهٍ.

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Sulayman ibn Khalid from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“ Of the deaths of the true believers the one that Satan loves most is the death of a Faqih, one who has very good understand of religion and its laws.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِذَا مَاتَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْفَقِيهُ ثُلِمَ فِي الاسْلامِ ثُلْمَةٌ لا يَسُدُّهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from certain persons of his people from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“When a true believer who is a Faqih, dies, it causes an irreparable damage in the Islamic system.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِذَا مَاتَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بَكَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَلائِكَةُ وَبِقَاعُ الارْضِ الَّتِي كَانَ يَعْبُدُ الله عَلَيْهَا وَأَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ الَّتِي كَانَ يُصْعَدُ فِيهَا بِأَعْمَالِهِ وَثُلِمَ فِي الاسْلامِ ثُلْمَةٌ لا يَسُدُّهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ لانَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْفُقَهَاءَ حُصُونُ الاسْلامِ كَحِصْنِ سُورِ الْمَدِينَةِ لَهَا.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn abu Hamza who has said the following.

“(Imam) abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘When a true believer dies the angels and the parts of earth where he worshipped Allah weep because of his death. Also the doors of the heavens through which his good deeds had been taken up weep and it causes an irreparable damage in the Islamic system. It is because the true believing Fuqaha, people of proper understanding in religion and its laws are the strongholds of the Islamic system just as the fortress around a city is a stronghold for it.’”

4ـ وَعَنْهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَمُوتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَحَبَّ إِلَى إِبْلِيسَ مِنْ مَوْتِ فَقِيهٍ.

4. From him (Muhammad ibn Yahya) from Ahmad from ibn Mahbub from abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz from Sulayman ibn Khalid from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Of the deaths of the true believers the one that Satan loves most is the death of a Faqih, one who has very good understand of religion and its laws.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ عَمِّهِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ أَبِي كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لا يَقْبِضُ الْعِلْمَ بَعْدَ مَا يُهْبِطُهُ وَلَكِنْ يَمُوتُ الْعَالِمُ فَيَذْهَبُ بِمَا يَعْلَمُ فَتَلِيهِمُ الْجُفَاةُ فَيَضِلُّونَ وَيُضِلُّونَ وَلا خَيْرَ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ لَيْسَ لَهُ أَصْلٌ.

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from his uncle Ya’qub ibn Salim from Dawud ibn Farqad who has said the following.

“Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘My father used to say, ‘Allah does not take back the knowledge that He has sent down. But when the scholar dies it takes away his knowledge and after this the unjust ones come and they go astray and mislead people and there is no good in things without basis.’”

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ يُسَخِّي نَفْسِي فِي سُرْعَةِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْقَتْلِ فِينَا قَوْلُ الله أَ وَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الارْضَ نَنْقُصُها مِنْ أَطْرافِها وَهُوَ ذَهَابُ الْعُلَمَاءِ.

6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ali from the person who he mentioned from Jabi from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, ‘My soul shows generosity in accepting the quickening of our death or being murdered. It is due to the words of Allah that say, “Have they not considered that We have taken over the land and reduced its borders?” the reference here is to the death of the scholars.”

Chapter 8

Chapter on Meeting the Scholars and Associating with Them

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ اخْتَرِ الْمَجَالِسَ عَلَى عَيْنِكَ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ قَوْماً يَذْكُرُونَ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ فَاجْلِسْ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنْ تَكُنْ عَالِماً نَفَعَكَ عِلْمُكَ وَإِنْ تَكُنْ جَاهِلاً عَلَّمُوكَ وَلَعَلَّ الله أَنْ يُظِلَّهُمْ بِرَحْمَتِهِ فَيَعُمَّكَ مَعَهُمْ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ قَوْماً لا يَذْكُرُونَ الله فَلا تَجْلِسْ مَعَهُمْ فَإِنْ تَكُنْ عَالِماً لَمْ يَنْفَعْكَ عِلْمُكَ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ جَاهِلاً يَزِيدُوكَ جَهْلاً وَلَعَلَّ الله أَنْ يُظِلَّهُمْ بِعُقُوبَةٍ فَيَعُمَّكَ مَعَهُمْ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus in a marfu‘ manner (rafa'ahu) from Luqman the wise who has said the following to his son.

“My son chose your own meeting place. If you find a people who speak of Allah, the Glorious, the Majestic, sit with them. If you know already you will benefit from your knowledge and if you would be ignorant they will teach you. Perhaps Allah may cover them with the shadow of His mercy and you may be covered along with them. If you see a people who do not speak of Allah, do not sit with them because even if you would know it would not benefit you and if you would be ignorant they would increase your ignorance. Perhaps Allah may cover them with the shadow of His punishment and it may cover you also along with them.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ بْنِ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ مُحَادَثَةُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْمَزَابِلِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُحَادَثَةِ الْجَاهِلِ عَلَى الزَّرَابِيِّ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa, all from ibn Mahbub from Durust ibn abu Mansur from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Speaking to a scholar even at a dump-site is better than speaking to an ignorant person at a best furnished palace.”

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ شَرِيفِ بْنِ سَابِقٍ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ أَبِي قُرَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَتِ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ لِعِيسَى يَا رُوحَ الله مَنْ نُجَالِسُ قَالَ مَنْ يُذَكِّرُكُمُ الله رُؤْيَتُهُ وَيَزِيدُ فِي عِلْمِكُمْ مَنْطِقُهُ وَيُرَغِّبُكُمْ فِي الاخِرَةِ عَمَلُهُ.

3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Sharif ibn Sabiq from al-Fadl ibn abu Qurrah from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“The Holy Prophet said, ‘The disciples asked Jesus, ‘O the spirit of Allah who should we associate with?’ Jesus replied, “Associate with those whose visitation would remind you of Allah, whose speech and logic increase your knowledge and whose deeds would attract you to the next life.’”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مُجَالَسَةُ أَهْلِ الدِّينِ شَرَفُ الدُّنْيَا وَالاخِرَةِ.

4. Muhammad ibn ‘Ism’il has narrated from al-Fadl ibn Shadha from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Mansur ibn Hazim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“The holy Prophet said, ‘Association with religious people is a honor in this life as well as in the next life.’”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الاصْبَهَانِيِّ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ مِسْعَرِ بْنِ كِدَامٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لَمَجْلِسٌ أَجْلِسُهُ إِلَى مَنْ أَثِقُ بِهِ أَوْثَقُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ عَمَلِ سَنَةٍ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Asbahani from Sulayman ibn Dawud al-Minqari from Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayna from Mis‘ar ibn Kidam who has said the following.

“(Imam) abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘The place where I may sit with one who I trust is more comforting to my soul than working for one whole year.’”

Chapter 9

Chapter on Asking the Scholar and Discussing with him

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مَجْدُورٍ أَصَابَتْهُ جَنَابَةٌ فَغَسَّلُوهُ فَمَاتَ قَالَ قَتَلُوهُ أَلا سَأَلُوا فَإِنَّ دَوَاءَ الْعِيِّ السُّؤَالُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from certain persons of our people from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

It is About a person who had smallpox and needed a formal bath due to sexual activities. Certain people had washed him and then he died. The Imam said, “They have killed him. Why did they not ask about it? The medicine for the illness due to ignorance, certainly, is to ask.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ وَبُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ قَالُوا قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِحُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ سَأَلَهُ إِنَّمَا يَهْلِكُ النَّاسُ لانَّهُمْ لا يَسْأَلُونَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Hammed ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Zurra, Muhammad ibn Muslim and Burayd al-‘Ijli who has said the following.

“(Imam) abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘People are destroyed only because they do not ask (what they do not know).’”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الاشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا الْعِلْمَ عَلَيْهِ قُفْلٌ وَمِفْتَاحُهُ الْمَسْأَلَةُ.

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِثْلَهُ.

3. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ari from 'Abdallah ibn Maymun al-Qaddah from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“This knowledge (the knowledge of the holy Prophet and Ahlul Bayt(a.s.)) is under a lock and the key to it is asking”

Ali ibn Ibrahim, from his father from al-Nawfali, from al-Sakuni from Imam abu ‘Abdallah has narrated the same Hadith.

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الاحْوَلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لا يَسَعُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَسْأَلُوا وَيَتَفَقَّهُوا وَيَعْرِفُوا إِمَامَهُمْ وَيَسَعُهُمْ أَنْ يَأْخُذُوا بِمَا يَقُولُ وَإِنْ كَانَ تَقِيَّةً.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Yunus ibn 'Abd al-Rahman from abu Ja’far al-Awwal from abu ‘Abdallahh (a.s.) who has said the following.

“People can do nothing until they ask, acquire proper understand of religion and know their Imam and then they can follow what the Imam (a.s.) says even if the he (a.s.) would say some thing differently under (taqiyah) pressure.”

5ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أُفٍّ لِرَجُلٍ لا يُفَرِّغُ نَفْسَهُ فِي كُلِّ جُمُعَةٍ لامْرِ دِينِهِ فَيَتَعَاهَدُهُ وَيَسْأَلُ عَنْ دِينِهِ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ.

5. Ali has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from the person who he mentioned from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“The holy Prophet has said, ‘Woe is to a man who does not save a time every Friday for learning about his religion and make a habit to ask about his religion.” In another Hadith it says, “woe is to every such Muslim.”

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ تَذَاكُرُ الْعِلْمِ بَيْنَ عِبَادِي مِمَّا تَحْيَا عَلَيْهِ الْقُلُوبُ الْمَيْتَةُ إِذَا هُمُ انْتَهَوْا فِيهِ إِلَى أَمْرِي.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“The Holy Prophet said, ‘Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious says, ‘The discussions of the scholars among My servants are of the matters that bring the dead hearts to life if they come to and end up to My commandments.’”

7ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ رَحِمَ الله عَبْداً أَحْيَا الْعِلْمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا إِحْيَاؤُهُ قَالَ أَنْ يُذَاكِرَ بِهِ أَهْلَ الدِّينِ وَأَهْلَ الْوَرَعِ.

7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu al-Jarud from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“May Allah grant forgiveness to a man who revives knowledge.” Abu al-Jarud has said, “I asked the Imam, ‘What is reviving knowledge?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is his discussing knowledge among the religious people and the people of piety.”

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) تَذَاكَرُوا وَتَلاقَوْا وَتَحَدَّثُوا فَإِنَّ الْحَدِيثَ جِلاءٌ لِلْقُلُوبِ إِنَّ الْقُلُوبَ لَتَرِينُ كَمَا يَرِينُ السَّيْفُ جِلاؤُهَا الْحَدِيثُ.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Hajjal from certain persons of our people in a marfu’ manner from the Messenger of Allah who has said the following.

He said addressing the people said, “Discuss facts, meet each other and speak to each other because speaking is brightness for the hearts. Hearts become stained just as the swords become stained and speaking cleanses it up.” In some scripts it is ‘Iron’ instead of ‘speaking’ at the end of the sentence.”

9ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ الصَّيْقَلِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ تَذَاكُرُ الْعِلْمِ دِرَاسَةٌ وَالدِّرَاسَةُ صَلاةٌ حَسَنَةٌ.

9. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Faddala ibn Ayyub from ‘Umar ibn Aban from Mansur al-Sayqal who has said the following.

“Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘Discussing knowledge is study and study is a good prayer.’”

Chapter 10

Chapter on Giving Knowledge as Charity

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَرَأْتُ فِي كِتَابِ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله لَمْ يَأْخُذْ عَلَى الْجُهَّالِ عَهْداً بِطَلَبِ الْعِلْمِ حَتَّى أَخَذَ عَلَى الْعُلَمَاءِ عَهْداً بِبَذْلِ الْعِلْمِ لِلْجُهَّالِ لانَّ الْعِلْمَ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْجَهْلِ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Mansur ibn Hazim from Talha ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“I read in the book of Imam Ali (a.s.) that Allah had no commitment from and covenant with the ignorant people to seek knowledge before having a commitment from and covenant with the scholars to give knowledge as charity to the ignorant ones because knowledge existed before ignorance.”

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي هَذِهِ الايَةِ وَلا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ قَالَ لِيَكُنِ النَّاسُ عِنْدَكَ فِي الْعِلْمِ سَوَاءً.

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from his father from ‘Abdullah ibn Mughirah and Muhammad ibn Sinan from Talha ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about this verse.

“Do not scornfully turn your face away from people. .” (31:18) ‘so that people would all be equal in matters of knowledge.’”

3ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ زَكَاةُ الْعِلْمِ أَنْ تُعَلِّمَهُ عِبَادَ الله.

3. Through the same chain of narrators he has narrated from his father from Ahmad ibn Nadr from ‘Amr and ibn Shimr from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Zakat, the tax, on knowledge is teaching it to the servants of Allah.”

4 - عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَامَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) خَطِيباً فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فَقَالَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لا تُحَدِّثُوا الْجُهَّالَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ فَتَظْلِمُوهَا وَلا تَمْنَعُوهَا أَهْلَهَا فَتَظْلِمُوهُمْ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Yunus ibn 'Abd al-Rahman from the person who he mentioned from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Jesus, son of Mary (a.s.) once stood up to speak to the Israelites saying, ‘O Israelites, do not speak the words of wisdom to the ignorant people because you will be doing injustice to them (words of wisdom). Do not keep them (words of wisdom) from those who deserve lest you will do injustice to them (deserving people).’”