Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Heavens): Arabic-English

Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Heavens): Arabic-English4%

Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Heavens): Arabic-English Author:
Publisher: www.alhassanain.org/english
Category: Supplications and Ziyarat

Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Heavens): Arabic-English
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Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Heavens): Arabic-English

Mafatih al-Jinan (Keys to Heavens): Arabic-English

Author:
Publisher: www.alhassanain.org/english
English

This book is corrected and edited by Al-Hassanain (p) Institue for Islamic Heritage and Thought


Notes:

We worked on this book in several formats, because there was not any English translation of this book freely downloadable in Word, HTML, and PDF as we have been searching for it since last year except for some parts of it on some sites.

The method of our work:

1- We took the software (android) of Mafatih from the version of Erfan.ir.

2- We transferred all parts even page by page into HTML format by sending them one by one by sharing on our email: http://alhassanain2014@gmail.com

3- Then, we pasted them into unformatted text and started to recheck. So, we found out that Surah al-Rum has only 26 verses, and like other errors.

4- We saw that this version was not chapterized, so, we chapterized it according to the original text in Persian and then Arabic Translation of it.

5- .....

 

Despite all, if you see any error, please inform us through our email mentioned above, we welcome it and will try to correct it as soon as possible.

 

May Allah accept our endeavors in His path, Amen!

Good Luck

http://www.alhassanain.org/english


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THIRD ZIYARAH

Sayyid ‘Abd al-Karim ibn Tawus has reported the following from Safwan al-Jammal:

During my journey with him to al-Kufah for meeting Abu-Ja’far al-Mansur the ‘Abbasid ruler, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (‘a) asked me to make our camels kneel down at a certain place, saying, “This is the tomb of my grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful.”

As I made the camels kneel down there, he rode off, bathed himself, changed his clothes, took off his shoes, and ordered me to imitate him in everything. He then directed towards the hillock of Najaf (al-dhakwah), saying, “If you walk in short steps and nod your head to the ground, you shall be given one hundred thousand rewards for each step, one hundred thousand sins shall be erased from your sins, you shall be elevated one hundred thousand ranks, one hundred thousand of your requests shall be granted, and you shall be granted the rewards of all veracious individuals who died and all martyrs whom were slain.”

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) then walked with tranquility and gravity, and I followed him, pronouncing statements of glorification and sanctification of Almighty Allah and confession of His Oneness until we reached the hillocks there. He stopped there, looked to the right and the left, sketched something on the ground with his stick, and asked me to look for the signs of the tomb. As I did, I could notice the traces of the tomb of Imam ‘Ali (‘a). Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) immediately shed tears down his face and said these words:

اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا الْوَصِيُّ الْبَرُّ التَّقِيُّ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا النَّبَاُ الْعَظِيمُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا الصِّدِّيقُ الرَّشِيدُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا الْبَرُّ الزَّكِيُّ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَصِيَّ رَسُولِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا خِيَرَةَ اللّٰهِ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ اَجْمَعِينَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ حَبِيبُ اللّٰهِ وَ خَاصَّةُ اللّٰهِ وَ خَالِصَتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰهِ وَ مَوْضِعَ سِرِّهِ وَ عَيْبَةَ عِلْمِهِ وَ خَازِنَ وَحْيِهِ

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) then threw himself on the tomb and said these words:

بِاَبِي اَنْتَ وَ اُمِّي يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِاَبِي اَنْتَ وَ اُمِّي يَا حُجَّةَ الْخِصَامِ بِاَبِي اَنْتَ وَ اُمِّي يَا بَابَ الْمَقَامِ بِاَبِي اَنْتَ وَ اُمِّي يَا نُورَ اللّٰهِ التَّامَّ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتَ عَنِ اللّٰهِ وَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَا حُمِّلْتَ وَ رَعَيْتَ مَا اسْتُحْفِظْتَ وَ حَفِظْتَ مَا اسْتُودِعْتَ وَ حَلَّلْتَ حَلالَ اللّٰهِ وَ حَرَّمْتَ حَرَامَ اللّٰهِ وَ اَقَمْتَ اَحْكَامَ اللّٰهِ وَ لَمْ تَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ اللّٰهِ وَ عَبَدْتَ اللّٰهَ مُخْلِصا حَتَّى اَتَاكَ الْيَقِينُ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَى الْاَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ .

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) then stood up and offered a number of units of prayer at the side of the Imam’s head. He then said to me (i.e. Safwan), “Whoever visits Amir al-Mu’minin with this form of Ziyarah and then offers the like of this prayer shall return home while all his sins are forgiven, all his efforts are accepted, and will have the rewards of all the angels who visit this tomb recorded for him.”

I asked, “Do you mean the reward of all the angels who visit this tomb?”

The Imam (‘a) answered, “Yes, I do. Each night, this tomb is visited by seventy thousand tribes of angels.”

“How many is a tribe of angels?” asked I.

“Each tribe consists of one hundred thousand angels,” answered the Imam (‘a).

The Imam (‘a) then left the place waling back but his face was still to the grave direction, uttering the following words:

يَا جَدَّاهْ يَا سَيِّدَاهْ يَا طَيِّبَاهْ يَا طَاهِرَاهْ لا جَعَلَهُ اللّٰهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنْكَ وَ رَزَقَنِي الْعَوْدَ اِلَيْكَ وَ الْمَقَامَ فِي حَرَمِكَ وَ الْكَوْنَ مَعَكَ وَ مَعَ الْاَبْرَارِ مِنْ وُلْدِكَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ عَلَى الْمَلائِكَةِ الْمُحْدِقِينَ بِكَ

I then said to him, “O master! May I inform our acquaintances in al-Kufah about this and lead them to this tomb?”

The Imam (‘a) answered in the affirmative and gave me a sum of money to construct the tomb.

FOURTH ZIYARAH

In Mustadrak al-Wasa’il, the following narration has been quoted from the book of al-Mazar al-Qadim on the authority of our master, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a):

Accompanying my father, I went for visiting the tomb of my grandfather, Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib (‘a), in al-Najaf. My father stopped at the holy tomb, wept, and said the following:

السَّلامُ عَلَى اَبِي الْاَئِمَّةِ وَ خَلِيلِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ الْمَخْصُوصِ بِالْاُخُوَّةِ السَّلامُ عَلَى يَعْسُوبِ الْاِيمَانِ وَ مِيزَانِ الْاَعْمَالِ وَ سَيْفِ ذِي الْجَلالِ السَّلامُ عَلَى صَالِحِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ وَارِثِ عِلْمِ النَّبِيِّينَ الْحَاكِمِ فِي يَوْمِ الدِّينِ السَّلامُ عَلَى شَجَرَةِ التَّقْوَى السَّلامُ عَلَى حُجَّةِ اللّٰهِ الْبَالِغَةِ وَ نِعْمَتِهِ السَّابِغَةِ وَ نِقْمَتِهِ الدَّامِغَةِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ الْوَاضِحِ وَ النَّجْمِ اللائِحِ وَ الْاِمَامِ النَّاصِحِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ

My father (‘a) then added the following:

اَنْتَ وَسِيلَتِي اِلَى اللّٰهِ وَ ذَرِيعَتِي وَ لِي حَقُّ مُوَالاتِي وَ تَأْمِيلِي فَكُنْ لِي شَفِيعِي اِلَى اللّٰهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي الْوُقُوفِ عَلَى قَضَاءِ حَاجَتِي وَ هِيَ فَكَاكُ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ وَ اصْرِفْنِي فِي مَوْقِفِي هَذَا بِالنُّجْحِ وَ بِمَا سَاَلْتُهُ كُلَّهُ [كُلِّهِ‏] بِرَحْمَتِهِ وَ قُدْرَتِهِ اللّٰهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي عَقْلا كَامِلا وَ لُبّا رَاجِحا وَ قَلْبا زَكِيّا وَ عَمَلا كَثِيرا وَ اَدَبا بَارِعا وَ اجْعَلْ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ لِي وَ لا تَجْعَلْهُ عَلَيَّ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

FIFTH ZIYARAH

Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported that Imam ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Naqi (al-Hadi) instructed the following:

At the tomb of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a), you may say the following:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰهِ اَنْتَ اَوَّلُ مَظْلُومٍ وَ اَوَّلُ مَنْ غُصِبَ حَقُّهُ صَبَرْتَ وَ احْتَسَبْتَ حَتَّى اَتَاكَ الْيَقِينُ فَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ لَقِيتَ اللّٰهَ وَ اَنْتَ شَهِيدٌ عَذَّبَ اللّٰهُ قَاتِلَكَ بِاَنْوَاعِ الْعَذَابِ وَ جَدَّدَ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابَ جِئْتُكَ عَارِفا بِحَقِّكَ مُسْتَبْصِرا بِشَأْنِكَ مُعَادِيا لِاَعْدَائِكَ وَ مَنْ ظَلَمَكَ اَلْقَى عَلَى ذَلِكَ رَبِّي اِنْ شَاءَ اللّٰهُ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰهِ اِنَّ لِي ذُنُوبا كَثِيرَةً فَاشْفَعْ لِي اِلَى رَبِّكَ فَاِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ مَقَاما مَعْلُوما وَ اِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ جَاها وَ شَفَاعَةً وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالَى وَ لا يَشْفَعُونَ اِلا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى)

SIXTH ZIYARAH

The following form of Ziyarah has been mentioned by a number of our scholars among whom is Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Mashhadi who quotes that Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Tayalisi has reported Sayf ibn ‘Umayrah to have related the following:

A group of our acquaintances and I accompanied Safwan al-Jammal to al-Ghari for the purpose of visiting the tomb of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a). When we accomplished ziyarah, Safwan turned his face toward the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and instructed that we should visit Imam al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali (‘a) from this place at the head’s side of Imam ‘Ali’s tomb. He then told us that he, once, accompanied Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) to this very place where the Imam (‘a) did the same thing that Safwan had just done and said the same supplication. Safwan added, “The Imam (‘a) then advised me to persist in this method and form of Ziyarah and to visit Imam ‘Ali and Imam al-Husayn (‘a) with this form, for he would guarantee, on behalf of Almighty Allah, that any one who visits them with this form of ziyarah and says this supplication, be it from close or far distance, will have his ziyarah accepted, his efforts rewarded, his greetings conveyed (to the Imams) without any barrier, and his requests granted by Almighty Allah whatever they are.”

The entire text of this narration about the merits of saying this form of ziyarah, along with all of its etiquettes, and saying this supplication will be cited after the famous form known as Ziyarah of ‘Ashura’ and the famous supplicatory prayer known as Du’a’ ‘Alqamah (also called Du’a’ Safwan).

Hereinafter, the form of this ziyarah is cited:

You may face the tomb of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) and say the following words:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا صِفْوَةَ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَمِينَ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنِ اصْطَفَاهُ اللّٰهُ وَ اخْتَصَّهُ وَ اخْتَارَهُ مِنْ بَرِيَّتِهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا خَلِيلَ اللّٰهِ مَا دَجَا اللَّيْلُ وَ غَسَقَ وَ اَضَاءَ النَّهَارُ وَ اَشْرَقَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ مَا صَمَتَ صَامِتٌ وَ نَطَقَ نَاطِقٌ وَ ذَرَّ شَارِقٌ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَوْلانَا اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ اَبِي طَالِبٍ صَاحِبِ السَّوَابِقِ وَ الْمَنَاقِبِ وَ النَّجْدَةِ وَ مُبِيدِ الْكَتَائِبِ الشَّدِيدِ الْبَأْسِ الْعَظِيمِ الْمِرَاسِ الْمَكِينِ الْاَسَاسِ سَاقِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِالْكَأْسِ مِنْ حَوْضِ الرَّسُولِ الْمَكِينِ الْاَمِينِ. السَّلامُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ النُّهَى وَ الْفَضْلِ وَ الطَّوَائِلِ وَ الْمَكْرُمَاتِ وَ النَّوَائِلِ السَّلامُ عَلَى فَارِسِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ لَيْثِ الْمُوَحِّدِينَ وَ قَاتِلِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَ وَصِيِّ رَسُولِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ اَيَّدَهُ اللّٰهُ بِجَبْرَئِيلَ وَ اَعَانَهُ بِمِيكَائِيلَ وَ اَزْلَفَهُ فِي الدَّارَيْنِ وَ حَبَاهُ بِكُلِّ مَا تَقِرُّ بِهِ الْعَيْنُ وَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَى آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ وَ عَلَى اَوْلادِهِ الْمُنْتَجَبِينَ وَ عَلَى الْاَئِمَّةِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الَّذِينَ اَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ نَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ فَرَضُوا عَلَيْنَا الصَّلَوَاتِ وَ اَمَرُوا بِاِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَ عَرَّفُونَا صِيَامَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ قِرَاءَةَ الْقُرْآنِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ يَعْسُوبَ الدِّينِ وَ قَائِدَ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا بَابَ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا عَيْنَ اللّٰهِ النَّاظِرَةَ وَ يَدَهُ الْبَاسِطَةَ وَ اُذُنَهُ الْوَاعِيَةَ وَ حِكْمَتَهُ الْبَالِغَةَ وَ نِعْمَتَهُ السَّابِغَةَ وَ نِقْمَتَهُ الدَّامِغَةَ السَّلامُ عَلَى قَسِيمِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى نِعْمَةِ اللّٰهِ عَلَى الْاَبْرَارِ وَ نِقْمَتِهِ عَلَى الْفُجَّارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى سَيِّدِ الْمُتَّقِينَ الْاَخْيَارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَخِي رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ وَ ابْنِ عَمِّهِ وَ زَوْجِ ابْنَتِهِ وَ الْمَخْلُوقِ مِنْ طِينَتِهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْاَصْلِ الْقَدِيمِ وَ الْفَرْعِ الْكَرِيمِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الثَّمَرِ الْجَنِيِّ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيٍّ السَّلامُ عَلَى شَجَرَةِ طُوبَى وَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنْتَهَى السَّلامُ عَلَى آدَمَ صَفْوَةِ اللّٰهِ وَ نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ اللّٰهِ وَ اِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ اللّٰهِ وَ مُوسَى كَلِيمِ اللّٰهِ وَ عِيسَى رُوحِ اللّٰهِ وَ مُحَمَّدٍ حَبِيبِ اللّٰهِ وَ مَنْ بَيْنَهُمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ حَسُنَ اُولَئِكَ رَفِيقا السَّلامُ عَلَى نُورِ الْاَنْوَارِ وَ سَلِيلِ الْاَطْهَارِ وَ عَنَاصِرِ الْاَخْيَارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى وَالِدِ الْاَئِمَّةِ الْاَبْرَارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى حَبْلِ اللّٰهِ الْمَتِينِ وَ جَنْبِهِ الْمَكِينِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَمِينِ اللّٰهِ فِي اَرْضِهِ وَ خَلِيفَتِهِ وَ الْحَاكِمِ بِاَمْرِهِ وَ الْقَيِّمِ بِدِينِهِ وَ النَّاطِقِ بِحِكْمَتِهِ وَ الْعَامِلِ بِكِتَابِهِ اَخِ الرَّسُولِ وَ زَوْجِ الْبَتُولِ وَ سَيْفِ اللّٰهِ الْمَسْلُولِ السَّلامُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الدَّلالاتِ وَ الْآيَاتِ الْبَاهِرَاتِ وَ الْمُعْجِزَاتِ الْقَاهِرَاتِ [الزَّاهِرَاتِ‏] وَ الْمُنْجِي مِنَ الْهَلَكَاتِ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ اللّٰهُ فِي مُحْكَمِ الْآيَاتِ فَقَالَ تَعَالَى وَ اِنَّهُ فِي اُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ السَّلامُ عَلَى اسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّضِيِّ وَ وَجْهِهِ الْمُضِي‏ءِ وَ جَنْبِهِ الْعَلِيِّ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ. السَّلامُ عَلَى حُجَجِ اللّٰهِ وَ اَوْصِيَائِهِ وَ خَاصَّةِ اللّٰهِ وَ اَصْفِيَائِهِ وَ خَالِصَتِهِ وَ اُمَنَائِهِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ قَصَدْتُكَ يَا مَوْلايَ يَا اَمِينَ اللّٰهِ وَ حُجَّتَهُ زَائِرا عَارِفا بِحَقِّكَ مُوَالِيا لِاَوْلِيَائِكَ مُعَادِيا لِاَعْدَائِكَ مُتَقَرِّبا اِلَى اللّٰهِ بِزِيَارَتِكَ فَاشْفَعْ لِي عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّي وَ رَبِّكَ فِي خَلاصِ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ وَ قَضَاءِ حَوَائِجِي حَوَائِجِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ

You may then throw yourself on the tomb, kiss it, and say the following:

سَلامُ اللّٰهِ وَ سَلامُ مَلائِكَتِهِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَ الْمُسَلَّمِينَ [الْمُسْلِمِينَ‏] لَكَ بِقُلُوبِهِمْ يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ النَّاطِقِينَ بِفَضْلِكَ وَ الشَّاهِدِينَ عَلَى اَنَّكَ صَادِقٌ اَمِينٌ صِدِّيقٌ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ طُهْرٌ طَاهِرٌ مُطَهَّرٌ مِنْ طُهْرٍ طَاهِرٍ مُطَهَّرٍ اَشْهَدُ لَكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰهِ وَ وَلِيَّ رَسُولِهِ بِالْبَلاغِ وَ الْاَدَاءِ وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ جَنْبُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَابُهُ وَ اَنَّكَ حَبِيبُ اللّٰهِ وَ وَجْهُهُ الَّذِي يُؤْتَى مِنْهُ وَ اَنَّكَ سَبِيلُ اللّٰهِ وَ اَنَّكَ عَبْدُ اللّٰهِ وَ اَخُو رَسُولِهِ [رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ‏] صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ اَتَيْتُكَ مُتَقَرِّبا اِلَى اللّٰهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِزِيَارَتِكَ رَاغِبا اِلَيْكَ فِي الشَّفَاعَةِ، اَبْتَغِي بِشَفَاعَتِكَ خَلاصَ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ مُتَعَوِّذا بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ هَارِبا مِنْ ذُنُوبِيَ الَّتِي احْتَطَبْتُهَا عَلَى ظَهْرِي فَزِعا اِلَيْكَ رَجَاءَ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّي اَتَيْتُكَ اَسْتَشْفِعُ بِكَ يَا مَوْلايَ وَ اَتَقَرَّبُ بِكَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ لِيَقْضِيَ بِكَ حَوَائِجِي فَاشْفَعْ لِي يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ فَاِنِّي عَبْدُ اللّٰهِ وَ مَوْلاكَ وَ زَائِرُكَ وَ لَكَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ الْمَقَامُ الْمَحْمُودُ وَ الْجَاهُ الْعَظِيمُ وَ الشَّأْنُ الْكَبِيرُ وَ الشَّفَاعَةُ الْمَقْبُولَةُ اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَبْدِكَ الْمُرْتَضَى وَ اَمِينِكَ الْاَوْفَى وَ عُرْوَتِكَ الْوُثْقَى وَ يَدِكَ الْعُلْيَا وَ جَنْبِكَ الْاَعْلَى وَ كَلِمَتِكَ الْحُسْنَى وَ حُجَّتِكَ عَلَى الْوَرَى وَ صِدِّيقِكَ الْاَكْبَرِ وَ سَيِّدِ الْاَوْصِيَاءِ وَ رُكْنِ الْاَوْلِيَاءِ وَ عِمَادِ الْاَصْفِيَاءِ اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ يَعْسُوبِ الدِّينِ وَ قُدْوَةِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ اِمَامِ الْمُخْلِصِينَ، الْمَعْصُومِ مِنَ الْخَلَلِ الْمُهَذَّبِ مِنَ الزَّلَلِ الْمُطَهَّرِ مِنَ الْعَيْبِ الْمُنَزَّهِ مِنَ الرَّيْبِ اَخِي نَبِيِّكَ وَ وَصِيِّ رَسُولِكَ الْبَائِتِ عَلَى فِرَاشِهِ وَ الْمُوَاسِي لَهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ كَاشِفِ الْكَرْبِ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ الَّذِي جَعَلْتَهُ سَيْفا لِنُبُوَّتِهِ وَ آيَةً لِرِسَالَتِهِ وَ شَاهِدا عَلَى اُمَّتِهِ وَ دِلالَةً عَلَى حُجَّتِهِ [لِحُجَّتِهِ‏] وَ حَامِلا لِرَايَتِهِ وَ وِقَايَةً لِمُهْجَتِهِ وَ هَادِيا لِاُمَّتِهِ وَ يَدا لِبَأْسِهِ وَ تَاجا لِرَأْسِهِ وَ بَابا لِسِرِّهِ وَ مِفْتَاحا لِظَفَرِهِ حَتَّى هَزَمَ جُيُوشَ الشِّرْكِ بِاِذْنِكَ وَ اَبَادَ عَسَاكِرَ الْكُفْرِ بِاَمْرِكَ وَ بَذَلَ نَفْسَهُ فِي مَرْضَاةِ رَسُولِكَ وَ جَعَلَهَا وَقْفا عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ فَصَلِّ اللّٰهُمَّ عَلَيْهِ صَلاةً دَائِمَةً بَاقِيَةً.

You may then add the following:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰهِ وَ الشَّهَابَ الثَّاقِبَ وَ النُّورَ الْعَاقِبَ يَا سَلِيلَ الْاَطَائِبِ يَا سِرَّ اللّٰهِ اِنَّ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى ذُنُوبا قَدْ اَثْقَلَتْ ظَهْرِي وَ لا يَأْتِي عَلَيْهَا اِلا رِضَاهُ فَبِحَقِّ مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ عَلَى سِرِّهِ وَ اسْتَرْعَاكَ اَمْرَ خَلْقِهِ كُنْ لِي اِلَى اللّٰهِ شَفِيعا وَ مِنَ النَّارِ مُجِيرا وَ عَلَى الدَّهْرِ ظَهِيرا فَاِنِّي عَبْدُ اللّٰهِ وَ وَلِيُّكَ وَ زَائِرُكَ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْكَ

You may then offer a six-unit prayer, which is the Ziyarah Prayer, and supplicate for whatever you want. Then, you may say the following:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْكَ مِنِّي سَلامُ اللّٰهِ اَبَدا مَا بَقِيتُ وَ بَقِيَ اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ.

You may then turn your face towards the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a), point to it, and say the following:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَبَا عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ اَتَيْتُكُمَا زَائِرا وَ مُتَوَسِّلا اِلَى اللّٰهِ تَعَالَى رَبِّي وَ رَبِّكُمَا وَ مُتَوَجِّها اِلَى اللّٰهِ بِكُمَا وَ مُسْتَشْفِعا بِكُمَا اِلَى اللّٰهِ فِي حَاجَتِي هَذِهِ .

You may then say the famous supplicatory prayer known as Du’a’ Safwan (or Du’a’ ‘Alqamah), which will be cited after the famous Ziyarah of ‘Ashura’, up to its end; i.e. up to this paragraph:

انّه قريب مجيب

You may then face the kiblah direction and say the same Du’a’ Safwan from its beginning:

يَا اللّٰهُ يَا اللّٰهُ يَا اللّٰهُ يَا مُجِيبَ دَعْوَةِ الْمُضْطَرِّينَ وَ يَا كَاشِفَ كَرْبِ الْمَكْرُوبِينَ

up to the following statements:

وَ اصْرِفْنِي بِقَضَاءِ حَاجَتِي وَ كِفَايَةِ مَا اَهَمَّنِي هَمُّهُ مِنْ اَمْرِ دُنْيَايَ وَ آخِرَتِي يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

You may then turn your face toward the tomb of Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and say the following words:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَبِي عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ الْحُسَيْنِ مَا بَقِيتُ وَ بَقِيَ اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ لا جَعَلَهُ اللّٰهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنِّي لِزِيَارَتِكُمَا وَ لا فَرَّقَ اللّٰهُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمَا.

SEVENTH ZIYARAH

This form of Ziyarah has been reported by Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in his book entitled Misbah al-Za’ir, who, instructing the method of this ziyarah, says:

When you stop at the Door of Peace (bab al-salam: the gate of Imam ‘Ali’s holy shrine) where you can see the holy tomb, you may repeat the following phrase forty-three times:

اللّه اكبر

You may then say the following words:

سَلامُ اللّٰهِ وَ سَلامُ مَلائِكَتِهِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَ اَنْبِيَائِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ عِبَادِهِ الصَّالِحِينَ وَ جَمِيعِ الشُّهَدَاءِ وَ الصِّدِّيقِينَ عَلَيْكَ يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ السَّلامُ عَلَى آدَمَ صِفْوَةِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى اِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُوسَى كَلِيمِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى عِيسَى رُوحِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ حَبِيبِ اللّٰهِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى اسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّضِيِّ وَ وَجْهِهِ الْعَلِيِّ وَ صِرَاطِهِ السَّوِيِّ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْمُهَذَّبِ الصَّفِيِّ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ اَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى خَالِصِ الْاَخِلاءِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْمَخْصُوصِ بِسَيِّدَةِ النِّسَاءِ، السَّلامُ عَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ فِي الْكَعْبَةِ الْمُزَوَّجِ فِي السَّمَاءِ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَسَدِ اللّٰهِ فِي الْوَغَى السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ شُرِّفَتْ بِهِ مَكَّةُ وَ مِنًى السَّلامُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْحَوْضِ وَ حَامِلِ اللِّوَاءِ السَّلامُ عَلَى خَامِسِ اَهْلِ الْعَبَاءِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْبَائِتِ عَلَى فِرَاشِ النَّبِيِّ وَ مُفْدِيهِ بِنَفْسِهِ مِنَ الْاَعْدَاءِ السَّلامُ عَلَى قَالِعِ بَابِ خَيْبَرَ وَ الدَّاحِي بِهِ فِي الْفَضَاءِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُكَلِّمِ الْفِتْيَةِ فِي كَهْفِهِمْ بِلِسَانِ الْاَنْبِيَاءِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُنْبِعِ الْقَلِيبِ فِي الْفَلا السَّلامُ عَلَى قَالِعِ الصَّخْرَةِ وَ قَدْ عَجَزَ عَنْهَا الرِّجَالُ الْاَشِدَّاءُ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُخَاطِبِ الثُّعْبَانِ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْكُوفَةِ بِلِسَانِ الْفُصَحَاءِ، السَّلامُ عَلَى مُخَاطِبِ الذِّئْبِ وَ مُكَلِّمِ الْجُمْجُمَةِ بِالنَّهْرَوَانِ وَ قَدْ نَخِرَتِ الْعِظَامُ بِالْبِلَى السَّلامُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الشَّفَاعَةِ فِي يَوْمِ الْوَرَى وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْاِمَامِ الزَّكِيِّ حَلِيفِ الْمِحْرَابِ السَّلامُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْمُعْجِزِ الْبَاهِرِ وَ النَّاطِقِ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَ الصَّوَابِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ عِنْدَهُ تَأْوِيلُ الْمُحْكَمِ وَ الْمُتَشَابِهِ وَ عِنْدَهُ اُمُّ الْكِتَابِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ رُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ حِينَ تَوَارَتْ بِالْحِجَابِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُحْيِي اللَّيْلِ الْبَهِيمِ بِالتَّهَجُّدِ وَ الاكْتِيَابِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ خَاطَبَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ بِاِمْرَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِغَيْرِ ارْتِيَابٍ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلامُ عَلَى سَيِّدِ السَّادَاتِ السَّلامُ عَلَى صَاحِبِ الْمُعْجِزَاتِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ عَجِبَ مِنْ حَمَلاتِهِ فِي الْحُرُوبِ مَلائِكَةُ سَبْعِ سَمَاوَاتٍ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ نَاجَى الرَّسُولَ فَقَدَّمَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاهُ صَدَقَاتٍ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَمِيرِ الْجُيُوشِ وَ صَاحِبِ الْغَزَوَاتِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مُخَاطِبِ ذِئْبِ الْفَلَوَاتِ السَّلامُ عَلَى نُورِ اللّٰهِ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ رُدَّتْ لَهُ الشَّمْسُ فَقَضَى مَا فَاتَهُ مِنَ الصَّلاةِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ السَّلامُ عَلَى سَيِّدِ الْوَصِيِّينَ السَّلامُ عَلَى اِمَامِ الْمُتَّقِينَ السَّلامُ عَلَى وَارِثِ عِلْمِ النَّبِيِّينَ ، السَّلامُ عَلَى يَعْسُوبِ الدِّينِ السَّلامُ عَلَى عِصْمَةِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ السَّلامُ عَلَى قُدْوَةِ الصَّادِقِينَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلامُ عَلَى حُجَّةِ الْاَبْرَارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَبِي الْاَئِمَّةِ الْاَطْهَارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْمَخْصُوصِ بِذِي الْفَقَارِ السَّلامُ عَلَى سَاقِي اَوْلِيَائِهِ مِنْ حَوْضِ النَّبِيِّ الْمُخْتَارِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَا اطَّرَدَ اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ السَّلامُ عَلَى النَّبَاِ الْعَظِيمِ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَنْ اَنْزَلَ اللّٰهُ فِيهِ وَ اِنَّهُ فِي اُمِّ الْكِتَابِ لَدَيْنَا لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ السَّلامُ عَلَى صِرَاطِ اللّٰهِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْمَنْعُوتِ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَ الْاِنْجِيلِ وَ الْقُرْآنِ الْحَكِيمِ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ.

You may then throw yourself on the tomb, kiss it, and say the following:

يَا اَمِينَ اللّٰهِ يَا حُجَّةَ اللّٰهِ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰهِ يَا صِرَاطَ اللّٰهِ زَارَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَ وَلِيُّكَ اللائِذُ بِقَبْرِكَ وَ الْمُنِيخُ رَحْلَهُ بِفِنَائِكَ الْمُتَقَرِّبُ اِلَى اللّٰهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ الْمُسْتَشْفِعُ بِكَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ زِيَارَةَ مَنْ هَجَرَ فِيكَ صَحْبَهُ وَ جَعَلَكَ بَعْدَ اللّٰهِ حَسْبَهُ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ الطُّورُ وَ الْكِتَابُ الْمَسْطُورُ وَ الرَّقُّ الْمَنْشُورُ وَ بَحْرُ الْعِلْمِ الْمَسْجُورُ يَا وَلِيَّ اللّٰهِ اِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَزُورٍ عِنَايَةً فِيمَنْ زَارَهُ وَ قَصَدَهُ وَ اَتَاهُ وَ اَنَا وَلِيُّكَ وَ قَدْ حَطَطْتُ رَحْلِي بِفِنَائِكَ وَ لَجَأْتُ اِلَى حَرَمِكَ وَ لُذْتُ بِضَرِيحِكَ لِعِلْمِي بِعَظِيمِ مَنْزِلَتِكَ وَ شَرَفِ حَضْرَتِكَ وَ قَدْ اَثْقَلَتِ الذُّنُوبُ ظَهْرِي وَ مَنَعَتْنِي رُقَادِي فَمَا اَجِدُ حِرْزا وَ لا مَعْقِلا وَ لا مَلْجَأً اَلْجَاُ اِلَيْهِ اِلا اللّٰهَ تَعَالَى وَ تَوَسُّلِي بِكَ اِلَيْهِ وَ اسْتِشْفَاعِي بِكَ لَدَيْهِ فَهَا اَنَا نَازِلٌ بِفِنَائِكَ وَ لَكَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ جَاهٌ عَظِيمٌ وَ مَقَامٌ كَرِيمٌ فَاشْفَعْ لِي عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ رَبِّكَ يَا مَوْلايَ

You may then kiss the tomb, turn your face towards the kiblah direction, and say the following supplicatory words:

اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَتَقَرَّبُ اِلَيْكَ يَا اَسْمَعَ السَّامِعِينَ وَ يَا اَبْصَرَ النَّاظِرِينَ وَ يَا اَسْرَعَ الْحَاسِبِينَ وَ يَا اَجْوَدَ الْاَجْوَدِينَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ رَسُولِكَ اِلَى الْعَالَمِينَ وَ بِاَخِيهِ وَ ابْنِ عَمِّهِ الْاَنْزَعِ الْبَطِينِ الْعَالِمِ الْمُبِينِ عَلِيٍّ اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ الْاِمَامَيْنِ الشَّهِيدَيْنِ وَ بِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ زَيْنِ الْعَابِدِينَ وَ بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ بَاقِرِ عِلْمِ الْاَوَّلِينَ وَ بِجَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ زَكِيِّ الصِّدِّيقِينَ وَ بِمُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْكَاظِمِ الْمُبِينِ [وَ حَبِيسِ الظَّالِمِينَ‏] وَ بِعَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا الْاَمِينِ وَ بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْجَوَادِ عَلَمِ الْمُهْتَدِينَ وَ بِعَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرِّ الصَّادِقِ سَيِّدِ الْعَابِدِينَ وَ بِالْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْعَسْكَرِيِّ وَلِيِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ بِالْخَلَفِ الْحُجَّةِ صَاحِبِ الْاَمْرِ مُظْهِرِ الْبَرَاهِينِ اَنْ تَكْشِفَ مَا بِي مِنَ الْهُمُومِ وَ تَكْفِيَنِي شَرَّ الْبَلاءِ الْمَحْتُومِ وَ تُجِيرَنِي مِنَ النَّارِ ذَاتِ السَّمُومِ بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

Then, you may pray Almighty Allah to grant you your personal requests, bid farewell to the Imam (‘a), and leave.

VISITATION OF IMAM ZAYN AL ABIDIN (A) FOR THE ZIYARAH OF IMAM ALI (A)

In his book of Farhat al-Ghari, Sayyid ‘Abd al-Karim ibn Tawus has reported that when Imam Zayn al-’Abidin (‘a) visited al-Kufah city and entered the famous mosque therein, he offered a two-unit prayer and then uttered a supplicatory prayer. Abu-Hamzah al-Thumali, one of the chiefs and ascetic people of al-Kufah, narrated that he heard an excellent accent from the Imam (‘a); he therefore approached him to listen to what he was saying. The Imam (‘a) thus was saying the famous supplicatory prayer that begins with the following statement:

اِلَهِي اِنْ كُنْتُ‏ قَدْ عَصَيْتُكَ فَاِنِّي قَدْ اَطَعْتُكَ فِي اَحَبِّ الْاَشْيَاءِ اِلَيْكَ

This famous supplicatory prayer will be mentioned in the coming chapter of the Recommended Acts in al-Kufah Mosque.( )

Back to the narration, Abu-Hamzah al-Thumali continued: The Imam (‘a) then left and I followed him. At the public stall of the city, I found a black servant holding the reins of a camel and a she-camel. When I asked him about the man, the servant answered, “Do you really not know him? Have you not realized him from his noble characters? He is ‘Ali the son of al-Husayn, peace be upon both of them.”

Immediately, I threw myself on the Imam’s feet kissing them. The Imam (‘a) raised my head with his hand and said, “No, Abu-Hamzah! Prostration must be done to none except Almighty Allah.”

I said, “Son of Allah’s Messenger, what has caused you to come to us?”

The Imam (‘a) answered, “As you have seen (I came here to offer prayers at the al-Kufah Mosque). If people realize the great favor that is obtained due to visiting this mosque, they shall visit it even crawling.”

The Imam (‘a) then offered me to accompany him for visiting the tomb of his grandfather, Imam ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib (‘a).

I, of course, responded. Hence, I walked in the shadow of his riding camel while listening to his words until we arrived in al-Ghariyyayn (i.e. Najaf), which was a white area that shone with light. The Imam (‘a) then rode off the camel, rolled his cheeks with the soil of that area, and said, “Abu-Hamzah, this is the tomb of my grandfather, ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib.”

The Imam (‘a) then visited Imam ‘Ali (‘a) with a form of ziyarah that begins with the following statement:

السّلام على اسم اللّه الرضى و نور وجهه المضئ

The Imam (‘a) then bid farewell and returned to al-Madinah, while I also returned to al-Kufah.

Unfortunately, the author of Farhat al-Ghariyy has not mentioned this form of ziyarah; therefore, I, the author of this book, have searched for it in all forms of ziyarah that are decided for Imam ‘Ali’s holy shrine, but I could not find any one beginning with the aforementioned statement except this one, which begins with the same statement but differs from it in the second statement. However, it is probable that this form of ziyarah is the same as the one Imam Zayn al-’Abidin (‘a) said, because such insignificant difference between the two is usually disregarded.

Some people may object that there is another difference between the two forms of ziyarah, since the earlier begins with salamullahi wa salamu mala’ikatihi… etc. while the latter begins with al-salamu ‘alasmil-lahir-raziyyi… etc.

To answer, the statement that precedes the one involved is regarded as form of asking for permission to enter (isti’dhan), while the form of the ziyarah begins with the statement involved. Our evidence on this claim proves itself when a comparison between this form of ziyarah and the other form, which is dedicated to the birthday of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) is made, since these two forms are similar to great extent. Hence, please refer to the form involved so that you will discover the difference yourself.

Besides, the same opening statement of this form of ziyarah is mentioned in the beginning of the sixth form and the form that is dedicated to the birthday of the Imam (‘a), with little difference in the second sentence.

To sum it up, I will mention no more general forms of ziyarah of Imam ‘Ali’s holy shrine, since these seven forms are enough. However, one who desires for more may refer to the all-comprehensive forms of ziyarah (i.e. al-ziyarah al-Jami’ah) as well as the following form, which is dedicated to the Ghadir Day.

A za’ir must seize the opportunity of his/her presence in the holy shrine of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) to offer as many prayers as possible, for one prayer in that place is equal (in reward) to two hundred thousand prayers that are offered at other places. Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said, “One who offers a four-unit prayer at the tomb of an obligatorily obeyed Imam shall have the reward of one time of hajj and one time of ‘umrah.”

Furthermore, in my book of Hadiyyat al-Za’ir, I have alluded to the reward of being in the vicinity of Imam ‘Ali’s tomb. I have also concentrated on the point that it is obligatory to observe one’s neighborhood, which is a difficult duty that can be hardly carried out. However, to elaborate on this matter leads us to lengthiness; therefore, one who desires to read about this matter is advised to see the book of Kelimeh Teyyibeh that is published in Persian.

BIDDING FAREWELL TO IMAM ALI (A)

One who intends to leave the holy shrine of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) may say the following form of bidding farewell, which has been mentioned by the scholars after the previously cited fifth form of ziyarah:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ اَسْتَوْدِعُكَ اللّٰهَ وَ اَسْتَرْعِيكَ وَ اَقْرَاُ عَلَيْكَ السَّلامَ آمَنَّا بِاللّٰهِ وَ بِالرُّسُلِ وَ بِمَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ وَ دَعَتْ اِلَيْهِ وَ دَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ لا تَجْعَلْهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنْ زِيَارَتِي اِيَّاهُ فَاِنْ تَوَفَّيْتَنِي قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فَاِنِّي اَشْهَدُ فِي مَمَاتِي عَلَى مَا شَهِدْتُ عَلَيْهِ فِي حَيَاتِي اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيّا وَ الْحَسَنَ وَ الْحُسَيْنَ وَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُوسَى بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ وَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى وَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ وَ الْحُجَّةَ بْنَ الْحَسَنِ صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ اَجْمَعِينَ اَئِمَّتِي، وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مَنْ قَتَلَهُمْ وَ حَارَبَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ وَ مَنْ رَدَّ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي اَسْفَلِ دَرَكٍ مِنَ الْجَحِيمِ وَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مَنْ حَارَبَهُمْ لَنَا اَعْدَاءُ وَ نَحْنُ مِنْهُمْ بُرَآءُ وَ اَنَّهُمْ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ عَلَى مَنْ قَتَلَهُمْ لَعْنَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَ النَّاسِ اَجْمَعِينَ وَ مَنْ شَرِكَ فِيهِمْ وَ مَنْ سَرَّهُ قَتْلُهُمْ اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ بَعْدَ الصَّلاةِ وَ التَّسْلِيمِ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ فَاطِمَةَ وَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ جَعْفَرٍ وَ مُوسَى وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُجَّةِ وَ لا تَجْعَلْهُ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ مِنْ زِيَارَتِهِ فَاِنْ جَعَلْتَهُ فَاحْشُرْنِي مَعَ هَؤُلاءِ الْمُسَمَّيْنَ الْاَئِمَّةَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَ ذَلِّلْ قُلُوبَنَا لَهُمْ بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ الْمُنَاصَحَةِ وَ الْمَحَبَّةِ وَ حُسْنِ الْمُوَازَرَةِ وَ التَّسْلِيمِ

Chapter 2

Chapter on Can Allah (God) be Considered a Thing?

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ فَقُلْتُ أَتَوَهَّمُ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ نَعَمْ غَيْرَ مَعْقُولٍ وَلا مَحْدُودٍ فَمَا وَقَعَ وَهْمُكَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَهُوَ خِلافُهُ لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الاوْهَامُ كَيْفَ تُدْرِكُهُ الاوْهَامُ وَهُوَ خِلافُ مَا يُعْقَلُ وَخِلافُ مَا يُتَصَوَّرُ فِي الاوْهَامِ إِنَّمَا يُتَوَهَّمُ شَيْ‏ءٌ غَيْرُ مَعْقُولٍ وَلا مَحْدُودٍ.

1. Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub has narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from Muhammad ibn ‘isa from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran who said the following.

“I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah about the Oneness of Allah saying, ‘Can I think of Him (the creator) as a thing?’” The Imam replied, “Yes, but not as something well understood and clearly defined with in limits. What may become a subject of your thoughts is different from Him. Nothing resembles Him and the thoughts and imaginations can not reach Him. He is different from what can become the subject of thoughts and is different from whatever that can be perceived in ones thoughts. You can think of Him as some thing but not well understood and clearly defined (under certain limits).”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُقَالَ لله إِنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُخْرِجُهُ مِنَ الْحَدَّيْنِ حَدِّ التَّعْطِيلِ وَحَدِّ التَّشْبِيهِ.

2. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id who said that I asked Imam abu Ja‘far, the second (a.s.) the following.

“Is it permissible to say that Allah is a thing?” The Imam replied, “Yes, because it removes two kinds of limitations, the limitation of being forgotten altogether and that of considering Him like other things.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ الله خِلْوٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَخَلْقَهُ خِلْوٌ مِنْهُ وَكُلُّ مَا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ مَا خَلا الله.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from abu al-Maghra in a marfu‘ manner from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Allah is distinct from His creatures and His creatures are different from Him and whatever that is called a thing is a creature except Allah.”

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله خِلْوٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَخَلْقَهُ خِلْوٌ مِنْهُ وَكُلُّ مَا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مَا خَلا الله فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ وَالله خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

4. It is narrated from Imam abu “Abdallah (a.s.) who said, “Allah is distinct from His creatures and the creatures are different from Him. Whatever could be called a thing is a creature except Allah Who is the Creator of all things. Holy is He for Whom there is no similarity and He is all-hearing and all-aware.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله خِلْوٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَخَلْقَهُ خِلْوٌ مِنْهُ وَكُلُّ مَا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مَا خَلا الله تَعَالَى فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ وَالله خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ.

5. It is narrated from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who said, “ Allah is distinct from His creatures and the creatures are different from Him and whatever could be called a thing is a creature except Allah Who is the Creator of all things.”

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْفُقَيْمِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِلزِّنْدِيقِ حِينَ سَأَلَهُ مَا هُوَ قَالَ هُوَ شَيْ‏ءٌ بِخِلافِ الاشْيَاءِ ارْجِعْ بِقَوْلِي إِلَى إِثْبَاتِ مَعْنًى وَأَنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ بِحَقِيقَةِ الشَّيْئِيَّةِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَلا يُحَسُّ وَلا يُجَسُّ وَلا يُدْرَكُ بِالْحَوَاسِّ الْخَمْسِ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الاوْهَامُ وَلا تَنْقُصُهُ الدُّهُورُ وَلا تُغَيِّرُهُ الازْمَانُ فَقَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَتَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ قَالَ هُوَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ سَمِيعٌ بِغَيْرِ جَارِحَةٍ وَبَصِيرٌ بِغَيْرِ آلَةٍ بَلْ يَسْمَعُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَيُبْصِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ لَيْسَ قَوْلِي إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ يَسْمَعُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَبَصِيرٌ يُبْصِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ أَنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَالنَّفْسُ شَيْ‏ءٌ آخَرُ وَلَكِنْ أَرَدْتُ عِبَارَةً عَنْ نَفْسِي إِذْ كُنْتُ مَسْئُولاً وَإِفْهَاماً لَكَ إِذْ كُنْتَ سَائِلاً فَأَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بِكُلِّهِ لا أَنَّ الْكُلَّ مِنْهُ لَهُ بَعْضٌ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ إِفْهَامَكَ وَالتَّعْبِيرُ عَنْ نَفْسِي وَلَيْسَ مَرْجِعِي فِي ذَلِكَ إِلا إِلَى أَنَّهُ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ الْعَالِمُ الْخَبِيرُ بِلا اخْتِلافِ الذَّاتِ وَلا اخْتِلافِ الْمَعْنَى قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَمَا هُوَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ الرَّبُّ وَهُوَ الْمَعْبُودُ وَهُوَ الله وَلَيْسَ قَوْلِي الله إِثْبَاتَ هَذِهِ الْحُرُوفِ أَلِفٍ وَلامٍ وَهَاءٍ وَلا رَاءٍ وَلا بَاءٍ وَلَكِنِ ارْجِعْ إِلَى مَعْنًى وَشَيْ‏ءٍ خَالِقِ الاشْيَاءِ وَصَانِعِهَا وَنَعْتِ هَذِهِ الْحُرُوفِ وَهُوَ الْمَعْنَى سُمِّيَ بِهِ الله وَالرَّحْمَنُ وَالرَّحِيمُ وَالْعَزِيزُ وَأَشْبَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَسْمَائِهِ وَهُوَ الْمَعْبُودُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَإِنَّا لَمْ نَجِدْ مَوْهُوماً إِلا مَخْلُوقاً قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَوْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ كَمَا تَقُولُ لَكَانَ التَّوْحِيدُ عَنَّا مُرْتَفِعاً لانَّا لَمْ نُكَلَّفْ غَيْرَ مَوْهُومٍ وَلَكِنَّا نَقُولُ كُلُّ مَوْهُومٍ بِالْحَوَاسِّ مُدْرَكٍ بِهِ تَحُدُّهُ الْحَوَاسُّ وَتُمَثِّلُهُ فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ إِذْ كَانَ النَّفْيُ هُوَ الابْطَالَ وَالْعَدَمَ وَالْجِهَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ التَّشْبِيهُ إِذْ كَانَ التَّشْبِيهُ هُوَ صِفَةَ الْمَخْلُوقِ الظَّاهِرِ التَّرْكِيبِ وَالتَّأْلِيفِ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ بُدٌّ مِنْ إِثْبَاتِ الصَّانِعِ لِوُجُودِ الْمَصْنُوعِينَ وَالاضْطِرَارِ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ مَصْنُوعُونَ وَأَنَّ صَانِعَهُمْ غَيْرُهُمْ وَلَيْسَ مِثْلَهُمْ إِذْ كَانَ مِثْلُهُمْ شَبِيهاً بِهِمْ فِي ظَاهِرِ التَّرْكِيبِ وَالتَّأْلِيفِ وَفِيمَا يَجْرِي عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حُدُوثِهِمْ بَعْدَ إِذْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا وَتَنَقُّلِهِمْ مِنَ صِغَرٍ إِلَى كِبَرٍ وَسَوَادٍ إِلَى بَيَاضٍ وَقُوَّةٍ إِلَى ضَعْفٍ وَأَحْوَالٍ مَوْجُودَةٍ لا حَاجَةَ بِنَا إِلَى تَفْسِيرِهَا لِبَيَانِهَا وَوُجُودِهَا قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَقَدْ حَدَدْتَهُ إِذْ أَثْبَتَّ وُجُودَهُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمْ أَحُدَّهُ وَلَكِنِّي أَثْبَتُّهُ إِذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَ النَّفْيِ وَالاثْبَاتِ مَنْزِلَةٌ قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَلَهُ إِنِّيَّةٌ وَمَائِيَّةٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ لا يُثْبَتُ الشَّيْ‏ءُ إِلا بِإِنِّيَّةٍ وَمَائِيَّةٍ قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَلَهُ كَيْفِيَّةٌ قَالَ لا لانَّ الْكَيْفِيَّةَ جِهَةُ الصِّفَةِ وَالاحَاطَةِ وَلَكِنْ لا بُدَّ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ مِنْ جِهَةِ التَّعْطِيلِ وَالتَّشْبِيهِ لانَّ مَنْ نَفَاهُ فَقَدْ أَنْكَرَهُ وَدَفَعَ رُبُوبِيَّتَهُ وَأَبْطَلَهُ وَمَنْ شَبَّهَهُ بِغَيْرِهِ فَقَدْ أَثْبَتَهُ بِصِفَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ الْمَصْنُوعِينَ الَّذِينَ لا يَسْتَحِقُّونَ الرُّبُوبِيَّةَ وَلَكِنْ لا بُدَّ مِنْ إِثْبَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُ كَيْفِيَّةً لا يَسْتَحِقُّهَا غَيْرُهُ وَلا يُشَارِكُ فِيهَا وَلا يُحَاطُ بِهَا وَلا يَعْلَمُهَا غَيْرُهُ قَالَ السَّائِلُ فَيُعَانِي الاشْيَاءَ بِنَفْسِهِ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ أَجَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُعَانِيَ الاشْيَاءَ بِمُبَاشَرَةٍ وَمُعَالَجَةٍ لانَّ ذَلِكَ صِفَةُ الْمَخْلُوقِ الَّذِي لا تَجِي‏ءُ الاشْيَاءُ لَهُ إِلا بِالْمُبَاشَرَةِ وَالْمُعَالَجَةِ وَهُوَ مُتَعَالٍ نَافِذُ الارَادَةِ وَالْمَشِيئَةِ فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يَشَاءُ.

6. It is narrated from Imam abu “Abdallah (a.s.), who said this to an atheist on being asked a question. “He (Allah) is a thing but different from all other things. I repeat my statement that speaks about Him as a thing. He is a thing in the sense of the reality of things except that He does not have a body and form. He does not have a feeling (like our sense of feeling) or touching and He does not comprehend with the five senses (as we do). Imaginations can not comprehend Him and the timeless (Dahr) times does not reduce Him and the times do not change Him.” The man asking questions then said, “Do you say that He hears and sees?” The Imam said, “He does hear and see: He hears without a hearing organ and sees without a means. He Himself hears and He Himself sees. My saying “He hears without a hearing organ and sees without a means. He Himself hears and He Himself sees” does not mean that He is a thing and His-self is another thing but that I only meant to express my self thereby as I was questioned and explained to you as you had asked a question. Thus, I can say that He hears with the whole of His-self but not in the sense that His whole self has parts but that I intended to explain it to you and to express my self. All I meant thereby is that He does hear, see and He is all-knowing and is the expert in knowing without any multiplicity in His-self or meaning.

The man asking questions then said, “What then is He?” The Imam said, “He is the Lord. He is the One Who is worshipped and He is Allah. When I say Allah, it does not mean establishing the proof for these letters (of alphabet) like Alif, Lam, Ha’, al-Ra’ or al-Ba’ but I intend thereby the meaning of a thing and a thing that is the Creator of all things and the Designer of all things. These letters only refer to the meaning that is called Allah, al-Rahman (the Beneficent), al-Rahim (the Merciful), al-‘Aziz (the Majestic) etc., of the other such names and He is the One Who is worshipped, the Majestic, the Glorious One.”

The man asking questions then said, “Given the above, whatever we can think of is but a creature.” The Imam then said, “Were it to the way you said we would not have had any responsibility to believe in the Oneness of the Creator because we will not have any responsibility towards something of whose existence we can not even think of. In fact we say that whatever is thought of in our senses is comprehended thereby by means of drawing limits around it and is analogized, thus, such a thing is a creature. (It then becomes necessary for us to find proof for the existence of the Creator of things.(We must find that is) clear of the two invalid and confusing aspects) if the meaning of negation would be nullification and nothingness or as is the case of the second aspect, the similarity and analogy which is of the attributes of the creatures that under go manifest composition and assemblage. It becomes necessary to prove the existence of the Creator. It is because of the existence of the creatures and their evident dependency on Him as His creatures and that their Creator is something other than them and that He is not similar to them because something similar to them would resemble them in manifest composition and assemblage. It would be as such also in the matters such as coming into existence from nothing and their changing from a smaller size to a full grown size, from blackness to whiteness from strength to weakness and other existing conditions that we do not need to explain their existence.”

The man asking questions then said, “You have already defined and limited Him in your proving His existence.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “I did not limit Him. I only proved His existence if (as you think) there is no difference between proving and disproving.”

The man asking questions then said, “Can His existence be proved through a reasoning from the effect to the cause or the cause to the effect?”

The Imam said, “Yes, there is nothing whose existence can be proved without adopting either of the two above process of reasoning.”

The man then asked, “Does the question how apply to Him?” The Imam said, “No, this question does not apply to Him because it is the aspect of qualities and limitations. However, it is necessary to avoid abandoning and analogizing Him because negating Him is denying His existence and refusing to accept Him as the Lord and abandoning Him altogether. Whoever would analogize Him with other things from His creatures he has proved the qualities of the creature in Him, the creatures that do not deserve being called the Lord. It, however, is necessary to believe that the question how applies to Him only in a way that would not apply to things other than Him and things other than Him would not deserve and share Him in it. The how question can not apply to Him if it would limit Him or make Him the subject of knowing for others.”

The man then asked, “Do things make Him tired?” The Imam then said, “He is far Exalted and above experiencing such conditions. Such conditions are due to coming into physical association or dealing with the creatures. They are of the qualities of the creatures who can only associate with others through physical contact but He is the Most High and His will and demand are effective and He does whatever He wants.”

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُقَالَ إِنَّ الله شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُخْرِجُهُ مِنَ الْحَدَّيْنِ حَدِّ التَّعْطِيلِ وَحَدِّ التَّشْبِيهِ.

7. It is narrated from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who said when he was asked, “Is it permissible to say Allah is a thing?” “Yes, it is permissible because it excludes Him from being ignored altogether and from being analogized or considered similar to the creatures.”

Chapter 3

Chapter on (the Issue) that only He is proof of His Own Existence

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ السَّكَنِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اعْرِفُوا الله بِالله وَالرَّسُولَ بِالرِّسَالَةِ وَأُولِي الامْرِ بِالامْرِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالْعَدْلِ وَالاحْسَانِ.

وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اعْرِفُوا الله بِالله يَعْنِي أَنَّ الله خَلَقَ الاشْخَاصَ وَالانْوَارَ وَالْجَوَاهِرَ وَالاعْيَانَ فَالاعْيَانُ الابْدَانُ وَالْجَوَاهِرُ الارْوَاحُ وَهُوَ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ لا يُشْبِهُ جِسْماً وَلا رُوحاً وَلَيْسَ لاحَدٍ فِي خَلْقِ الرُّوحِ الْحَسَّاسِ الدَّرَّاكِ أَمْرٌ وَلا سَبَبٌ هُوَ الْمُتَفَرِّدُ بِخَلْقِ الارْوَاحِ وَالاجْسَامِ فَإِذَا نَفَى عَنْهُ الشَّبَهَيْنِ شَبَهَ الابْدَانِ وَشَبَهَ الارْوَاحِ فَقَدْ عَرَفَ الله بِالله وَإِذَا شَبَّهَهُ بِالرُّوحِ أَوِ الْبَدَنِ أَوِ النُّورِ فَلَمْ يَعْرِفِ الله بِالله.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from the people he mentioned from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Humran from al- Fadl ibn al-Sakan from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has narrated the following.

“Imam Ali (a.s.) has said, ‘Recognize Allah by Allah’s Own-Self, recognize the Messenger through his message and the people with Divine authority through their commanding others to do what is obligatory, the practice of justice and kindness.’”

Al-Kulayni had made the following comment on the above passage. “Acknowledge the existence of Allah by His own self” means that Allah has created the individuals, the light, the substance and the objects. The objects are the bodies, the substance stand for the spirits and He is not similar to the bodies or spirit in any of the creatures. No one has any part or effect in the creation of the spirits that comprehend and feel. He is the only one who has created the spirits and the bodies. When similarity to both kinds of creatures; similarity to the bodies and spirits is negated from Him, then one has acknowledge the existence of Allah by Allah’s own self. If one considers Him similar to the spirits, lights or bodies he has not acknowledged His existence by His own self.

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ قَيْسِ بْنِ سِمْعَانَ بْنِ أَبِي رُبَيْحَةَ مَوْلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ سُئِلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِمَ عَرَفْتَ رَبَّكَ قَالَ بِمَا عَرَّفَنِي نَفْسَهُ قِيلَ وَكَيْفَ عَرَّفَكَ نَفْسَهُ قَالَ لا يُشْبِهُهُ صُورَةٌ وَلا يُحَسُّ بِالْحَوَاسِّ وَلا يُقَاسُ بِالنَّاسِ قَرِيبٌ فِي بُعْدِهِ بَعِيدٌ فِي قُرْبِهِ فَوْقَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا يُقَالُ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَوْقَهُ أَمَامَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا يُقَالُ لَهُ أَمَامٌ دَاخِلٌ فِي الاشْيَاءِ لا كَشَيْ‏ءٍ دَاخِلٍ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ وَخَارِجٌ مِنَ الاشْيَاءِ لا كَشَيْ‏ءٍ خَارِجٍ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ هُوَ هَكَذَا وَلا هَكَذَا غَيْرُهُ وَلِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مُبْتَدَأٌ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from some of our people from Ali ibn Ali ibn ‘Uqbaa ibn Qays ibn Sam‘an ibn abu Rabi‘ah Mawla of the Messenger of Allah who has said the following.

“A certain person asked Imam Ali (a.s.) saying, ‘By what means do you acknowledge the existence of your Lord?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “I acknowledge His existence by what He has made me to acknowledge His Own-Self.” He was asked, “How that has happened?” The Imam (a.s.) then replied, “He is not similar to any form and is not felt and comprehended through any of the senses and can not be analogized with the people. He is near in that He is far and He is far in that He is near. He is above every thing but one can not say that certain things are above Him. He is before every thing but one can not say that something is before Him. He is inside all things but not the way things are inside other things. He is outside every thing but not the way things are outside other things. Glory belongs to the One Who is as such and nothing else other than Him is as such and for every thing there is a beginner.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنِّي نَاظَرْتُ قَوْماً فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِنَّ الله جَلَّ جَلالُهُ أَجَلُّ وَأَعَزُّ وَأَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْرَفَ بِخَلْقِهِ بَلِ الْعِبَادُ يُعْرَفُونَ بِالله فَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ الله.

3. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated the following from al-Fadl ibn shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said that I spoke to Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, “I debated certain people and said to them, ‘Allah, Glory be to Him, is far Glorious, Majestic and Honorable than being defined by means of His creatures. In fact, the existence of the creatures is proved through the existence of Allah.’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “May Allah bestow up on you blessings.”

Chapter 4

Chapter on the minimum degree of knowledge of the existence of Allah

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْعَلَوِيِّ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْمُخْتَارِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْفَتْحِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَدْنَى الْمَعْرِفَةِ فَقَالَ الاقْرَارُ بِأَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ وَلا شِبْهَ لَهُ وَلا نَظِيرَ وَأَنَّهُ قَدِيمٌ مُثْبَتٌ مَوْجُودٌ غَيْرُ فَقِيدٍ وَأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

1. Muhammad ibn al- Hassan has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan al-‘Alawi and Ali ibn Ibrahim from al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mukhtar al-Hmadini altogether from al- Fath ibn Yazid who has said the following.

“I asked Imam abul Hassan (a.s.), “What is the minimum required degree of knowledge about Allah?” The Imam said, “To acknowledge that there is no other lord besides Him and that nothing is similar to and like Him and that He is eternal, positively existing and not absence and that nothing is like Him.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ طَاهِرِ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ فِي حَالِ اسْتِقَامَتِهِ أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ مَا الَّذِي لا يُجْتَزَأُ فِي مَعْرِفَةِ الْخَالِقِ بِدُونِهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَالِماً وَسَامِعاً وَبَصِيراً وَهُوَ الْفَعَّالُ لِمَا يُرِيدُ وَسُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الَّذِي لا يُجْتَزَأُ بِدُونِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْخَالِقِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَالِماً سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Tahir ibn Hatam when he was normal and wrote to the man (meaning thereby Imam abul Hassan al-Rida (a.s.). “What is it that without which one’s acknowledgement of the existence of Allah can not be considered sufficient?”

In answer the Imam (a.s.) replied, “That He is All-knowing, All-hearing All-awareness and that He acts as He wills.” Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) was asked about the minimum required degree of knowledge about Allah without which an acknowledgement would not be considered sufficient. The Imam (a.s.) said, “There is nothing similar to or like Him. He is All-knowing, All-hearing and All-awareness.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يُوسُفَ بْنِ بَقَّاحٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ أَمْرَ الله كُلَّهُ عَجِيبٌ إِلا أَنَّهُ قَدِ احْتَجَّ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا قَدْ عَرَّفَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Yusuf ibn Baqqah from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) has said, “The issue about Allah is totally extraordinary. Notice that He has presented to you His arguments in proof of His existence by means of that much of facts about His own self that He has made known to you.”

Chapter 5

Chapter on Who is Worshipped

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ وَعَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ عَبَدَ الله بِالتَّوَهُّمِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ دُونَ الْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ وَالْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الْمَعْنَى بِإِيقَاعِ الاسْمَاءِ عَلَيْهِ بِصِفَاتِهِ الَّتِي وَصَفَ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ فَعَقَدَ عَلَيْهِ قَلْبَهُ وَنَطَقَ بِهِ لِسَانُهُ فِي سَرَائِرِهِ وَعَلانِيَتِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَقّاً وَفِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقّاً.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Hassan ibn Muhbub from ibn Ri’ab from more than one person from the following form Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.). Abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) has said, “Whoever worships Allah with a degree of less than fifty percent knowledge of His existence he has certainly denied His existence. Whoever worships the names without their meaning he certainly has also denied His existence. Whoever worships both the names and the meanings he certainly has become a polytheist. Whoever worships the meaning, with the understanding, that names only convey the attributes, which He Himself has said are His. Thus, they have firmly tied this up to their hearts and have spoken out through their tongues in private and in public these are certainly of the friends of ’Amirul al- Mu’minin (a.s.). According to another Hadith, “They, certainly, are true believers.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ أَسْمَاءِ الله وَاشْتِقَاقِهَا الله مِمَّا هُوَ مُشْتَقٌّ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا هِشَامُ الله مُشْتَقٌّ مِنْ إِلَهٍ وَالالَهُ يَقْتَضِي مَأْلُوهاً وَالاسْمُ غَيْرُ الْمُسَمَّى فَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ دُونَ الْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَلَمْ يَعْبُدْ شَيْئاً وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ وَالْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَعَبَدَ اثْنَيْنِ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الْمَعْنَى دُونَ الاسْمِ فَذَاكَ التَّوْحِيدُ أَ فَهِمْتَ يَا هِشَامُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ زِدْنِي قَالَ إِنَّ لله تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْماً فَلَوْ كَانَ الاسْمُ هُوَ الْمُسَمَّى لَكَانَ كُلُّ اسْمٍ مِنْهَا إِلَهاً وَلَكِنَّ الله مَعْنًى يُدَلُّ عَلَيْهِ بِهَذِهِ الاسْمَاءِ وَكُلُّهَا غَيْرُهُ يَا هِشَامُ الْخُبْزُ اسْمٌ لِلْمَأْكُولِ وَالْمَاءُ اسْمٌ لِلْمَشْرُوبِ وَالثَّوْبُ اسْمٌ لِلْمَلْبُوسِ وَالنَّارُ اسْمٌ لِلْمُحْرِقِ أَ فَهِمْتَ يَا هِشَامُ فَهْماً تَدْفَعُ بِهِ وَتُنَاضِلُ بِهِ أَعْدَاءَنَا وَالْمُتَّخِذِينَ مَعَ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ غَيْرَهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَفَعَكَ الله بِهِ وَثَبَّتَكَ يَا هِشَامُ قَالَ هِشَامٌ فَوَ الله مَا قَهَرَنِي أَحَدٌ فِي التَّوْحِيدِ حَتَّى قُمْتُ مَقَامِي هَذَا.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who asked Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the names of Allah and about the root or derivative forms of those names. “What is the root word for Allah?” The Imam replied, “The word Allah is derived from the word Elah (Lord) which requires Ma’luh (some one whose Lord one has become). Note that names are something other than whatever to which they apply. O Hissham, whoever, worships the name without the fact for which the name stands he has denied the existence of Allah and has not worshipped any thing. Whoever worships the name and the meaning for which the name stands he has worshipped two things. Whoever worships the meaning without the name he is a monotheist. Did you understand it ) O Hisham?” Hisham then asked, “Please explain further.” The Imam then said, “Allah has ninety nine names. If names would have been the samething for which they stand every one of them would have been a Lord. However, Allah is a meaning for which these names stand and they all are something other than Him. O Hisham, bread is the name for a certain kind of food, water is the name for a certain kind of drink, cloth is the name for a certain kind of garment and fire is the name for a thing that burns. Did you understand, O Hisham, in a form of understanding that would help you to defend our cause against our enemies and those who worship things that are other than Allah?” I said, “Yes, I did receive such understanding.” The Imam then said, “May Allah grant you success in it and keep you steadfast (in your belief). Hisham has said, “I swear by Allah that since then no one has been able to defeat me in an argumentation on the issue of the Oneness of Allah and that has made me reach this position that I hold.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَوْ قُلْتُ لَهُ جَعَلَنِي الله فِدَاكَ نَعْبُدُ الرَّحْمَنَ الرَّحِيمَ الْوَاحِدَ الاحَدَ الصَّمَدَ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ مَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ دُونَ الْمُسَمَّى بِالاسْمَاءِ أَشْرَكَ وَكَفَرَ وَجَحَدَ وَلَمْ يَعْبُدْ شَيْئاً بَلِ اعْبُدِ الله الْوَاحِدَ الاحَدَ الصَّمَدَ الْمُسَمَّى بِهَذِهِ الاسْمَاءِ دُونَ الاسْمَاءِ إِنَّ الاسْمَاءَ صِفَاتٌ وَصَفَ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from ‘Abbass al-Ma‘ruf from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran who has the following. I wrote or said to Imam abu Ja‘far 'Abdallah (a.s.), “May Allah take my soul in your service. Do we worship the Beneficent, the Merciful, the One who is One only and Self-sufficient?” The Imam then said, “Whoever worships the names without the meaning for which they stand he has become a polytheist and has denied the existence of Allah and has worshipped nothing. You must worship Allah who is the One and only One, the Self-sufficient, Who is the meaning for these names but not these names. The names are attributes that He has said are of His attributes.”

Chapter 2

Chapter on Can Allah (God) be Considered a Thing?

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ فَقُلْتُ أَتَوَهَّمُ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ نَعَمْ غَيْرَ مَعْقُولٍ وَلا مَحْدُودٍ فَمَا وَقَعَ وَهْمُكَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَهُوَ خِلافُهُ لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الاوْهَامُ كَيْفَ تُدْرِكُهُ الاوْهَامُ وَهُوَ خِلافُ مَا يُعْقَلُ وَخِلافُ مَا يُتَصَوَّرُ فِي الاوْهَامِ إِنَّمَا يُتَوَهَّمُ شَيْ‏ءٌ غَيْرُ مَعْقُولٍ وَلا مَحْدُودٍ.

1. Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub has narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from Muhammad ibn ‘isa from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran who said the following.

“I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah about the Oneness of Allah saying, ‘Can I think of Him (the creator) as a thing?’” The Imam replied, “Yes, but not as something well understood and clearly defined with in limits. What may become a subject of your thoughts is different from Him. Nothing resembles Him and the thoughts and imaginations can not reach Him. He is different from what can become the subject of thoughts and is different from whatever that can be perceived in ones thoughts. You can think of Him as some thing but not well understood and clearly defined (under certain limits).”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُقَالَ لله إِنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُخْرِجُهُ مِنَ الْحَدَّيْنِ حَدِّ التَّعْطِيلِ وَحَدِّ التَّشْبِيهِ.

2. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah has narrated from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id who said that I asked Imam abu Ja‘far, the second (a.s.) the following.

“Is it permissible to say that Allah is a thing?” The Imam replied, “Yes, because it removes two kinds of limitations, the limitation of being forgotten altogether and that of considering Him like other things.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ الله خِلْوٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَخَلْقَهُ خِلْوٌ مِنْهُ وَكُلُّ مَا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ مَا خَلا الله.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from abu al-Maghra in a marfu‘ manner from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.

“Allah is distinct from His creatures and His creatures are different from Him and whatever that is called a thing is a creature except Allah.”

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله خِلْوٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَخَلْقَهُ خِلْوٌ مِنْهُ وَكُلُّ مَا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مَا خَلا الله فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ وَالله خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.

4. It is narrated from Imam abu “Abdallah (a.s.) who said, “Allah is distinct from His creatures and the creatures are different from Him. Whatever could be called a thing is a creature except Allah Who is the Creator of all things. Holy is He for Whom there is no similarity and He is all-hearing and all-aware.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله خِلْوٌ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَخَلْقَهُ خِلْوٌ مِنْهُ وَكُلُّ مَا وَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ اسْمُ شَيْ‏ءٍ مَا خَلا الله تَعَالَى فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ وَالله خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ.

5. It is narrated from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who said, “ Allah is distinct from His creatures and the creatures are different from Him and whatever could be called a thing is a creature except Allah Who is the Creator of all things.”

6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْفُقَيْمِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لِلزِّنْدِيقِ حِينَ سَأَلَهُ مَا هُوَ قَالَ هُوَ شَيْ‏ءٌ بِخِلافِ الاشْيَاءِ ارْجِعْ بِقَوْلِي إِلَى إِثْبَاتِ مَعْنًى وَأَنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ بِحَقِيقَةِ الشَّيْئِيَّةِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ لا جِسْمٌ وَلا صُورَةٌ وَلا يُحَسُّ وَلا يُجَسُّ وَلا يُدْرَكُ بِالْحَوَاسِّ الْخَمْسِ لا تُدْرِكُهُ الاوْهَامُ وَلا تَنْقُصُهُ الدُّهُورُ وَلا تُغَيِّرُهُ الازْمَانُ فَقَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَتَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ قَالَ هُوَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ سَمِيعٌ بِغَيْرِ جَارِحَةٍ وَبَصِيرٌ بِغَيْرِ آلَةٍ بَلْ يَسْمَعُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَيُبْصِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ لَيْسَ قَوْلِي إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ يَسْمَعُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَبَصِيرٌ يُبْصِرُ بِنَفْسِهِ أَنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَالنَّفْسُ شَيْ‏ءٌ آخَرُ وَلَكِنْ أَرَدْتُ عِبَارَةً عَنْ نَفْسِي إِذْ كُنْتُ مَسْئُولاً وَإِفْهَاماً لَكَ إِذْ كُنْتَ سَائِلاً فَأَقُولُ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ بِكُلِّهِ لا أَنَّ الْكُلَّ مِنْهُ لَهُ بَعْضٌ وَلَكِنِّي أَرَدْتُ إِفْهَامَكَ وَالتَّعْبِيرُ عَنْ نَفْسِي وَلَيْسَ مَرْجِعِي فِي ذَلِكَ إِلا إِلَى أَنَّهُ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ الْعَالِمُ الْخَبِيرُ بِلا اخْتِلافِ الذَّاتِ وَلا اخْتِلافِ الْمَعْنَى قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَمَا هُوَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ الرَّبُّ وَهُوَ الْمَعْبُودُ وَهُوَ الله وَلَيْسَ قَوْلِي الله إِثْبَاتَ هَذِهِ الْحُرُوفِ أَلِفٍ وَلامٍ وَهَاءٍ وَلا رَاءٍ وَلا بَاءٍ وَلَكِنِ ارْجِعْ إِلَى مَعْنًى وَشَيْ‏ءٍ خَالِقِ الاشْيَاءِ وَصَانِعِهَا وَنَعْتِ هَذِهِ الْحُرُوفِ وَهُوَ الْمَعْنَى سُمِّيَ بِهِ الله وَالرَّحْمَنُ وَالرَّحِيمُ وَالْعَزِيزُ وَأَشْبَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَسْمَائِهِ وَهُوَ الْمَعْبُودُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَإِنَّا لَمْ نَجِدْ مَوْهُوماً إِلا مَخْلُوقاً قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَوْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ كَمَا تَقُولُ لَكَانَ التَّوْحِيدُ عَنَّا مُرْتَفِعاً لانَّا لَمْ نُكَلَّفْ غَيْرَ مَوْهُومٍ وَلَكِنَّا نَقُولُ كُلُّ مَوْهُومٍ بِالْحَوَاسِّ مُدْرَكٍ بِهِ تَحُدُّهُ الْحَوَاسُّ وَتُمَثِّلُهُ فَهُوَ مَخْلُوقٌ إِذْ كَانَ النَّفْيُ هُوَ الابْطَالَ وَالْعَدَمَ وَالْجِهَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ التَّشْبِيهُ إِذْ كَانَ التَّشْبِيهُ هُوَ صِفَةَ الْمَخْلُوقِ الظَّاهِرِ التَّرْكِيبِ وَالتَّأْلِيفِ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ بُدٌّ مِنْ إِثْبَاتِ الصَّانِعِ لِوُجُودِ الْمَصْنُوعِينَ وَالاضْطِرَارِ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ مَصْنُوعُونَ وَأَنَّ صَانِعَهُمْ غَيْرُهُمْ وَلَيْسَ مِثْلَهُمْ إِذْ كَانَ مِثْلُهُمْ شَبِيهاً بِهِمْ فِي ظَاهِرِ التَّرْكِيبِ وَالتَّأْلِيفِ وَفِيمَا يَجْرِي عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ حُدُوثِهِمْ بَعْدَ إِذْ لَمْ يَكُونُوا وَتَنَقُّلِهِمْ مِنَ صِغَرٍ إِلَى كِبَرٍ وَسَوَادٍ إِلَى بَيَاضٍ وَقُوَّةٍ إِلَى ضَعْفٍ وَأَحْوَالٍ مَوْجُودَةٍ لا حَاجَةَ بِنَا إِلَى تَفْسِيرِهَا لِبَيَانِهَا وَوُجُودِهَا قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَقَدْ حَدَدْتَهُ إِذْ أَثْبَتَّ وُجُودَهُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لَمْ أَحُدَّهُ وَلَكِنِّي أَثْبَتُّهُ إِذْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَيْنَ النَّفْيِ وَالاثْبَاتِ مَنْزِلَةٌ قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَلَهُ إِنِّيَّةٌ وَمَائِيَّةٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ لا يُثْبَتُ الشَّيْ‏ءُ إِلا بِإِنِّيَّةٍ وَمَائِيَّةٍ قَالَ لَهُ السَّائِلُ فَلَهُ كَيْفِيَّةٌ قَالَ لا لانَّ الْكَيْفِيَّةَ جِهَةُ الصِّفَةِ وَالاحَاطَةِ وَلَكِنْ لا بُدَّ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ مِنْ جِهَةِ التَّعْطِيلِ وَالتَّشْبِيهِ لانَّ مَنْ نَفَاهُ فَقَدْ أَنْكَرَهُ وَدَفَعَ رُبُوبِيَّتَهُ وَأَبْطَلَهُ وَمَنْ شَبَّهَهُ بِغَيْرِهِ فَقَدْ أَثْبَتَهُ بِصِفَةِ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ الْمَصْنُوعِينَ الَّذِينَ لا يَسْتَحِقُّونَ الرُّبُوبِيَّةَ وَلَكِنْ لا بُدَّ مِنْ إِثْبَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُ كَيْفِيَّةً لا يَسْتَحِقُّهَا غَيْرُهُ وَلا يُشَارِكُ فِيهَا وَلا يُحَاطُ بِهَا وَلا يَعْلَمُهَا غَيْرُهُ قَالَ السَّائِلُ فَيُعَانِي الاشْيَاءَ بِنَفْسِهِ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ أَجَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُعَانِيَ الاشْيَاءَ بِمُبَاشَرَةٍ وَمُعَالَجَةٍ لانَّ ذَلِكَ صِفَةُ الْمَخْلُوقِ الَّذِي لا تَجِي‏ءُ الاشْيَاءُ لَهُ إِلا بِالْمُبَاشَرَةِ وَالْمُعَالَجَةِ وَهُوَ مُتَعَالٍ نَافِذُ الارَادَةِ وَالْمَشِيئَةِ فَعَّالٌ لِمَا يَشَاءُ.

6. It is narrated from Imam abu “Abdallah (a.s.), who said this to an atheist on being asked a question. “He (Allah) is a thing but different from all other things. I repeat my statement that speaks about Him as a thing. He is a thing in the sense of the reality of things except that He does not have a body and form. He does not have a feeling (like our sense of feeling) or touching and He does not comprehend with the five senses (as we do). Imaginations can not comprehend Him and the timeless (Dahr) times does not reduce Him and the times do not change Him.” The man asking questions then said, “Do you say that He hears and sees?” The Imam said, “He does hear and see: He hears without a hearing organ and sees without a means. He Himself hears and He Himself sees. My saying “He hears without a hearing organ and sees without a means. He Himself hears and He Himself sees” does not mean that He is a thing and His-self is another thing but that I only meant to express my self thereby as I was questioned and explained to you as you had asked a question. Thus, I can say that He hears with the whole of His-self but not in the sense that His whole self has parts but that I intended to explain it to you and to express my self. All I meant thereby is that He does hear, see and He is all-knowing and is the expert in knowing without any multiplicity in His-self or meaning.

The man asking questions then said, “What then is He?” The Imam said, “He is the Lord. He is the One Who is worshipped and He is Allah. When I say Allah, it does not mean establishing the proof for these letters (of alphabet) like Alif, Lam, Ha’, al-Ra’ or al-Ba’ but I intend thereby the meaning of a thing and a thing that is the Creator of all things and the Designer of all things. These letters only refer to the meaning that is called Allah, al-Rahman (the Beneficent), al-Rahim (the Merciful), al-‘Aziz (the Majestic) etc., of the other such names and He is the One Who is worshipped, the Majestic, the Glorious One.”

The man asking questions then said, “Given the above, whatever we can think of is but a creature.” The Imam then said, “Were it to the way you said we would not have had any responsibility to believe in the Oneness of the Creator because we will not have any responsibility towards something of whose existence we can not even think of. In fact we say that whatever is thought of in our senses is comprehended thereby by means of drawing limits around it and is analogized, thus, such a thing is a creature. (It then becomes necessary for us to find proof for the existence of the Creator of things.(We must find that is) clear of the two invalid and confusing aspects) if the meaning of negation would be nullification and nothingness or as is the case of the second aspect, the similarity and analogy which is of the attributes of the creatures that under go manifest composition and assemblage. It becomes necessary to prove the existence of the Creator. It is because of the existence of the creatures and their evident dependency on Him as His creatures and that their Creator is something other than them and that He is not similar to them because something similar to them would resemble them in manifest composition and assemblage. It would be as such also in the matters such as coming into existence from nothing and their changing from a smaller size to a full grown size, from blackness to whiteness from strength to weakness and other existing conditions that we do not need to explain their existence.”

The man asking questions then said, “You have already defined and limited Him in your proving His existence.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “I did not limit Him. I only proved His existence if (as you think) there is no difference between proving and disproving.”

The man asking questions then said, “Can His existence be proved through a reasoning from the effect to the cause or the cause to the effect?”

The Imam said, “Yes, there is nothing whose existence can be proved without adopting either of the two above process of reasoning.”

The man then asked, “Does the question how apply to Him?” The Imam said, “No, this question does not apply to Him because it is the aspect of qualities and limitations. However, it is necessary to avoid abandoning and analogizing Him because negating Him is denying His existence and refusing to accept Him as the Lord and abandoning Him altogether. Whoever would analogize Him with other things from His creatures he has proved the qualities of the creature in Him, the creatures that do not deserve being called the Lord. It, however, is necessary to believe that the question how applies to Him only in a way that would not apply to things other than Him and things other than Him would not deserve and share Him in it. The how question can not apply to Him if it would limit Him or make Him the subject of knowing for others.”

The man then asked, “Do things make Him tired?” The Imam then said, “He is far Exalted and above experiencing such conditions. Such conditions are due to coming into physical association or dealing with the creatures. They are of the qualities of the creatures who can only associate with others through physical contact but He is the Most High and His will and demand are effective and He does whatever He wants.”

7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُقَالَ إِنَّ الله شَيْ‏ءٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُخْرِجُهُ مِنَ الْحَدَّيْنِ حَدِّ التَّعْطِيلِ وَحَدِّ التَّشْبِيهِ.

7. It is narrated from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who said when he was asked, “Is it permissible to say Allah is a thing?” “Yes, it is permissible because it excludes Him from being ignored altogether and from being analogized or considered similar to the creatures.”

Chapter 3

Chapter on (the Issue) that only He is proof of His Own Existence

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حُمْرَانَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ السَّكَنِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اعْرِفُوا الله بِالله وَالرَّسُولَ بِالرِّسَالَةِ وَأُولِي الامْرِ بِالامْرِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالْعَدْلِ وَالاحْسَانِ.

وَمَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اعْرِفُوا الله بِالله يَعْنِي أَنَّ الله خَلَقَ الاشْخَاصَ وَالانْوَارَ وَالْجَوَاهِرَ وَالاعْيَانَ فَالاعْيَانُ الابْدَانُ وَالْجَوَاهِرُ الارْوَاحُ وَهُوَ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ لا يُشْبِهُ جِسْماً وَلا رُوحاً وَلَيْسَ لاحَدٍ فِي خَلْقِ الرُّوحِ الْحَسَّاسِ الدَّرَّاكِ أَمْرٌ وَلا سَبَبٌ هُوَ الْمُتَفَرِّدُ بِخَلْقِ الارْوَاحِ وَالاجْسَامِ فَإِذَا نَفَى عَنْهُ الشَّبَهَيْنِ شَبَهَ الابْدَانِ وَشَبَهَ الارْوَاحِ فَقَدْ عَرَفَ الله بِالله وَإِذَا شَبَّهَهُ بِالرُّوحِ أَوِ الْبَدَنِ أَوِ النُّورِ فَلَمْ يَعْرِفِ الله بِالله.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from the people he mentioned from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Humran from al- Fadl ibn al-Sakan from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has narrated the following.

“Imam Ali (a.s.) has said, ‘Recognize Allah by Allah’s Own-Self, recognize the Messenger through his message and the people with Divine authority through their commanding others to do what is obligatory, the practice of justice and kindness.’”

Al-Kulayni had made the following comment on the above passage. “Acknowledge the existence of Allah by His own self” means that Allah has created the individuals, the light, the substance and the objects. The objects are the bodies, the substance stand for the spirits and He is not similar to the bodies or spirit in any of the creatures. No one has any part or effect in the creation of the spirits that comprehend and feel. He is the only one who has created the spirits and the bodies. When similarity to both kinds of creatures; similarity to the bodies and spirits is negated from Him, then one has acknowledge the existence of Allah by Allah’s own self. If one considers Him similar to the spirits, lights or bodies he has not acknowledged His existence by His own self.

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ قَيْسِ بْنِ سِمْعَانَ بْنِ أَبِي رُبَيْحَةَ مَوْلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ سُئِلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِمَ عَرَفْتَ رَبَّكَ قَالَ بِمَا عَرَّفَنِي نَفْسَهُ قِيلَ وَكَيْفَ عَرَّفَكَ نَفْسَهُ قَالَ لا يُشْبِهُهُ صُورَةٌ وَلا يُحَسُّ بِالْحَوَاسِّ وَلا يُقَاسُ بِالنَّاسِ قَرِيبٌ فِي بُعْدِهِ بَعِيدٌ فِي قُرْبِهِ فَوْقَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا يُقَالُ شَيْ‏ءٌ فَوْقَهُ أَمَامَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا يُقَالُ لَهُ أَمَامٌ دَاخِلٌ فِي الاشْيَاءِ لا كَشَيْ‏ءٍ دَاخِلٍ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ وَخَارِجٌ مِنَ الاشْيَاءِ لا كَشَيْ‏ءٍ خَارِجٍ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ هُوَ هَكَذَا وَلا هَكَذَا غَيْرُهُ وَلِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مُبْتَدَأٌ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from some of our people from Ali ibn Ali ibn ‘Uqbaa ibn Qays ibn Sam‘an ibn abu Rabi‘ah Mawla of the Messenger of Allah who has said the following.

“A certain person asked Imam Ali (a.s.) saying, ‘By what means do you acknowledge the existence of your Lord?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “I acknowledge His existence by what He has made me to acknowledge His Own-Self.” He was asked, “How that has happened?” The Imam (a.s.) then replied, “He is not similar to any form and is not felt and comprehended through any of the senses and can not be analogized with the people. He is near in that He is far and He is far in that He is near. He is above every thing but one can not say that certain things are above Him. He is before every thing but one can not say that something is before Him. He is inside all things but not the way things are inside other things. He is outside every thing but not the way things are outside other things. Glory belongs to the One Who is as such and nothing else other than Him is as such and for every thing there is a beginner.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنِّي نَاظَرْتُ قَوْماً فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِنَّ الله جَلَّ جَلالُهُ أَجَلُّ وَأَعَزُّ وَأَكْرَمُ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْرَفَ بِخَلْقِهِ بَلِ الْعِبَادُ يُعْرَفُونَ بِالله فَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ الله.

3. Muhammad ibn Isma‘il has narrated the following from al-Fadl ibn shadhan from Safwan ibn Yahya from Mansur ibn Hazim who has said that I spoke to Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, “I debated certain people and said to them, ‘Allah, Glory be to Him, is far Glorious, Majestic and Honorable than being defined by means of His creatures. In fact, the existence of the creatures is proved through the existence of Allah.’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “May Allah bestow up on you blessings.”

Chapter 4

Chapter on the minimum degree of knowledge of the existence of Allah

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْعَلَوِيِّ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْمُخْتَارِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْفَتْحِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَدْنَى الْمَعْرِفَةِ فَقَالَ الاقْرَارُ بِأَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ وَلا شِبْهَ لَهُ وَلا نَظِيرَ وَأَنَّهُ قَدِيمٌ مُثْبَتٌ مَوْجُودٌ غَيْرُ فَقِيدٍ وَأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

1. Muhammad ibn al- Hassan has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan al-‘Alawi and Ali ibn Ibrahim from al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mukhtar al-Hmadini altogether from al- Fath ibn Yazid who has said the following.

“I asked Imam abul Hassan (a.s.), “What is the minimum required degree of knowledge about Allah?” The Imam said, “To acknowledge that there is no other lord besides Him and that nothing is similar to and like Him and that He is eternal, positively existing and not absence and that nothing is like Him.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ طَاهِرِ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ فِي حَالِ اسْتِقَامَتِهِ أَنَّهُ كَتَبَ إِلَى الرَّجُلِ مَا الَّذِي لا يُجْتَزَأُ فِي مَعْرِفَةِ الْخَالِقِ بِدُونِهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَالِماً وَسَامِعاً وَبَصِيراً وَهُوَ الْفَعَّالُ لِمَا يُرِيدُ وَسُئِلَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الَّذِي لا يُجْتَزَأُ بِدُونِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْخَالِقِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَالِماً سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from Tahir ibn Hatam when he was normal and wrote to the man (meaning thereby Imam abul Hassan al-Rida (a.s.). “What is it that without which one’s acknowledgement of the existence of Allah can not be considered sufficient?”

In answer the Imam (a.s.) replied, “That He is All-knowing, All-hearing All-awareness and that He acts as He wills.” Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) was asked about the minimum required degree of knowledge about Allah without which an acknowledgement would not be considered sufficient. The Imam (a.s.) said, “There is nothing similar to or like Him. He is All-knowing, All-hearing and All-awareness.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يُوسُفَ بْنِ بَقَّاحٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ أَمْرَ الله كُلَّهُ عَجِيبٌ إِلا أَنَّهُ قَدِ احْتَجَّ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا قَدْ عَرَّفَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Yusuf ibn Baqqah from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar who has said the following. Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) has said, “The issue about Allah is totally extraordinary. Notice that He has presented to you His arguments in proof of His existence by means of that much of facts about His own self that He has made known to you.”

Chapter 5

Chapter on Who is Worshipped

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ وَعَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ عَبَدَ الله بِالتَّوَهُّمِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ دُونَ الْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ وَالْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الْمَعْنَى بِإِيقَاعِ الاسْمَاءِ عَلَيْهِ بِصِفَاتِهِ الَّتِي وَصَفَ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ فَعَقَدَ عَلَيْهِ قَلْبَهُ وَنَطَقَ بِهِ لِسَانُهُ فِي سَرَائِرِهِ وَعَلانِيَتِهِ فَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَقّاً وَفِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقّاً.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn ‘Ubayd from Hassan ibn Muhbub from ibn Ri’ab from more than one person from the following form Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.). Abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) has said, “Whoever worships Allah with a degree of less than fifty percent knowledge of His existence he has certainly denied His existence. Whoever worships the names without their meaning he certainly has also denied His existence. Whoever worships both the names and the meanings he certainly has become a polytheist. Whoever worships the meaning, with the understanding, that names only convey the attributes, which He Himself has said are His. Thus, they have firmly tied this up to their hearts and have spoken out through their tongues in private and in public these are certainly of the friends of ’Amirul al- Mu’minin (a.s.). According to another Hadith, “They, certainly, are true believers.”

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ أَسْمَاءِ الله وَاشْتِقَاقِهَا الله مِمَّا هُوَ مُشْتَقٌّ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا هِشَامُ الله مُشْتَقٌّ مِنْ إِلَهٍ وَالالَهُ يَقْتَضِي مَأْلُوهاً وَالاسْمُ غَيْرُ الْمُسَمَّى فَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ دُونَ الْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَلَمْ يَعْبُدْ شَيْئاً وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ وَالْمَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَعَبَدَ اثْنَيْنِ وَمَنْ عَبَدَ الْمَعْنَى دُونَ الاسْمِ فَذَاكَ التَّوْحِيدُ أَ فَهِمْتَ يَا هِشَامُ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ زِدْنِي قَالَ إِنَّ لله تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْماً فَلَوْ كَانَ الاسْمُ هُوَ الْمُسَمَّى لَكَانَ كُلُّ اسْمٍ مِنْهَا إِلَهاً وَلَكِنَّ الله مَعْنًى يُدَلُّ عَلَيْهِ بِهَذِهِ الاسْمَاءِ وَكُلُّهَا غَيْرُهُ يَا هِشَامُ الْخُبْزُ اسْمٌ لِلْمَأْكُولِ وَالْمَاءُ اسْمٌ لِلْمَشْرُوبِ وَالثَّوْبُ اسْمٌ لِلْمَلْبُوسِ وَالنَّارُ اسْمٌ لِلْمُحْرِقِ أَ فَهِمْتَ يَا هِشَامُ فَهْماً تَدْفَعُ بِهِ وَتُنَاضِلُ بِهِ أَعْدَاءَنَا وَالْمُتَّخِذِينَ مَعَ الله جَلَّ وَعَزَّ غَيْرَهُ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَفَعَكَ الله بِهِ وَثَبَّتَكَ يَا هِشَامُ قَالَ هِشَامٌ فَوَ الله مَا قَهَرَنِي أَحَدٌ فِي التَّوْحِيدِ حَتَّى قُمْتُ مَقَامِي هَذَا.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who asked Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the names of Allah and about the root or derivative forms of those names. “What is the root word for Allah?” The Imam replied, “The word Allah is derived from the word Elah (Lord) which requires Ma’luh (some one whose Lord one has become). Note that names are something other than whatever to which they apply. O Hissham, whoever, worships the name without the fact for which the name stands he has denied the existence of Allah and has not worshipped any thing. Whoever worships the name and the meaning for which the name stands he has worshipped two things. Whoever worships the meaning without the name he is a monotheist. Did you understand it ) O Hisham?” Hisham then asked, “Please explain further.” The Imam then said, “Allah has ninety nine names. If names would have been the samething for which they stand every one of them would have been a Lord. However, Allah is a meaning for which these names stand and they all are something other than Him. O Hisham, bread is the name for a certain kind of food, water is the name for a certain kind of drink, cloth is the name for a certain kind of garment and fire is the name for a thing that burns. Did you understand, O Hisham, in a form of understanding that would help you to defend our cause against our enemies and those who worship things that are other than Allah?” I said, “Yes, I did receive such understanding.” The Imam then said, “May Allah grant you success in it and keep you steadfast (in your belief). Hisham has said, “I swear by Allah that since then no one has been able to defeat me in an argumentation on the issue of the Oneness of Allah and that has made me reach this position that I hold.”

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَوْ قُلْتُ لَهُ جَعَلَنِي الله فِدَاكَ نَعْبُدُ الرَّحْمَنَ الرَّحِيمَ الْوَاحِدَ الاحَدَ الصَّمَدَ قَالَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ مَنْ عَبَدَ الاسْمَ دُونَ الْمُسَمَّى بِالاسْمَاءِ أَشْرَكَ وَكَفَرَ وَجَحَدَ وَلَمْ يَعْبُدْ شَيْئاً بَلِ اعْبُدِ الله الْوَاحِدَ الاحَدَ الصَّمَدَ الْمُسَمَّى بِهَذِهِ الاسْمَاءِ دُونَ الاسْمَاءِ إِنَّ الاسْمَاءَ صِفَاتٌ وَصَفَ بِهَا نَفْسَهُ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from ‘Abbass al-Ma‘ruf from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Najran who has the following. I wrote or said to Imam abu Ja‘far 'Abdallah (a.s.), “May Allah take my soul in your service. Do we worship the Beneficent, the Merciful, the One who is One only and Self-sufficient?” The Imam then said, “Whoever worships the names without the meaning for which they stand he has become a polytheist and has denied the existence of Allah and has worshipped nothing. You must worship Allah who is the One and only One, the Self-sufficient, Who is the meaning for these names but not these names. The names are attributes that He has said are of His attributes.”


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