Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

AAMAL OF MASJID ZAYD

You may then walk to the mosque of Zayd ibn Sawhan, which is near to Masjid al-Sahlah, and offer a two-unit prayer there. After accomplishment, you may extend your hand and say the following supplicatory prayer:

اِلَهِي قَدْ مَدَّ اِلَيْكَ الْخَاطِئُ الْمُذْنِبُ يَدَيْهِ بِحُسْنِ ظَنِّهِ بِكَ اِلَهِي قَدْ جَلَسَ الْمُسِي‏ءُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ مُقِرّا لَكَ بِسُوءِ عَمَلِهِ وَ رَاجِيا مِنْكَ الصَّفْحَ عَنْ زَلَلِهِ اِلَهِي قَدْ رَفَعَ اِلَيْكَ الظَّالِمُ كَفَّيْهِ رَاجِيا لِمَا لَدَيْكَ فَلا تُخَيِّبْهُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ اِلَهِي قَدْ جَثَا الْعَائِدُ اِلَى الْمَعَاصِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ خَائِفا مِنْ يَوْمٍ تَجْثُو فِيهِ الْخَلائِقُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ اِلَهِي جَاءَكَ الْعَبْدُ الْخَاطِئُ فَزِعا مُشْفِقا وَ رَفَعَ اِلَيْكَ طَرْفَهُ حَذِرا رَاجِيا وَ فَاضَتْ عَبْرَتُهُ مُسْتَغْفِرا نَادِما وَ عِزَّتِكَ وَ جَلالِكَ مَا اَرَدْتُ بِمَعْصِيَتِي مُخَالَفَتَكَ وَ مَا عَصَيْتُكَ اِذْ عَصَيْتُكَ وَ اَنَا بِكَ جَاهِلٌ وَ لا لِعُقُوبَتِكَ مُتَعَرِّضٌ وَ لا لِنَظَرِكَ مُسْتَخِفٌّ وَ لَكِنْ سَوَّلَتْ لِي نَفْسِي، وَ اَعَانَتْنِي عَلَى ذَلِكَ شِقْوَتِي وَ غَرَّنِي سِتْرُكَ الْمُرخَى عَلَيَّ فَمِنَ الْآنَ مِنْ عَذَابِكَ مَنْ يَسْتَنْقِذُنِي وَ بِحَبْلِ مَنْ اَعْتَصِمُ اِنْ قَطَعْتَ حَبْلَكَ عَنِّي فَيَا سَوْاَتَاهْ غَدا مِنَ الْوُقُوفِ [الْمَوْقِفِ‏] بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ اِذَا قِيلَ لِلْمُخِفِّينَ جُوزُوا وَ لِلْمُثْقِلِينَ حُطُّوا اَ فَمَعَ الْمُخِفِّينَ اَجُوزُ اَمْ مَعَ الْمُثْقِلِينَ اَحُطُّ وَيْلِي كُلَّمَا كَبُرَ سِنِّي كَثُرَتْ ذُنُوبِي وَيْلِي كُلَّمَا طَالَ عُمْرِي كَثُرَتْ مَعَاصِيَّ فَكَمْ اَتُوبُ وَ كَمْ اَعُودُ اَ مَا آنَ لِي اَنْ اَسْتَحْيِيَ مِنْ رَبِّي اللّٰهُمَّ فَبِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ ارْحَمْنِي يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ وَ خَيْرَ الْغَافِرِينَ .

You may then try to weep and put your face on the dust, saying:

ارْحَمْ مَنْ اَسَاءَ وَ اقْتَرَفَ وَ اسْتَكَانَ وَ اعْتَرَفَ.

Then, you may put your right cheek on the ground and say the following words:

اِنْ كُنْتُ بِئْسَ الْعَبْدُ فَاَنْتَ نِعْمَ الرَّبُّ.

You may then put your left cheek on the ground and say the following words:

عَظُمَ الذَّنْبُ مِنْ عَبْدِكَ فَلْيَحْسُنِ الْعَفْوُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ يَا كَرِيمُ.

You may then return to the normal position of prostration and repeat the following word one hundred times:

اَلْعَفْوَ اَلْعَفْوَ

ZAYD AND SASAH

Zayd Mosque is one of the honorable mosques in the city of al-Kufah. It is ascribed to Zayd ibn Sawhan, one of the grand companions of Imam ‘Ali (‘a). He is also regarded as one of the loftiest personalities. He was martyred in the Battle of the Camel (al-jamal) under the command of Imam ‘Ali (‘a). The previously mentioned supplicatory prayer is ascribed to Zayd and he is reported to have used to said it in the supererogatory prayers of night (i.e. the night prayers).

Next to this mosque, there is the mosque of Sa’sa’ah ibn Sawhan, Zayd’s brother. Sa’sa’ah was also one of the intimate companions of Imam ‘Ali (‘a). He was one of the well-versed scholars of religious knowledge and one of the faithful believers. He was so eloquent that Imam ‘Ali (‘a) called him as al-khatib al-shahshah (the skillful orator) and praised him for his rhetoric and expressiveness. The Imam (‘a) also praised Sa’sa’ah for his asceticism and aid.

Having attended the funeral ceremony of Imam ‘Ali’s holy body at night from al-Kufah to al-Najaf, Sa’sa’ah was present; and when Imam ‘Ali’s body was buried, Sa’sa’ah stopped at the tomb, took a handful of its dust, dispersed it on his head, and said, “May Allah accept my father and mother as ransoms for you, O Commander of the Believers! Congratulations, Abu’l-Hasan! Your birth was uniquely excellent, your steadfastness was typically firm, and your striving was outstandingly great. You have thus attained that for which you hoped, your trade has been successful, and you have joined your Lord… etc.”

Sa’sa’ah went on in the same style and he then wept so heavily that all those who were present could not resist weeping. Hence, Sa’sa’ah held and orated in a consolation ceremony at midnight in the presence of Imam al-Hasan, Imam al-Husayn, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah, al-’Abbas, and the other sons and cousins of Imam ‘Ali - peace be upon them all. When Sa’sa’ah finished his oration, the attendants turned to Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn to console them for their father’s martyrdom. They then returned to al-Kufah.

In conclusion, Sa’sa’ah Mosque is also one of the holy places in the city of al-Kufah. A group of our scholars have seen Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) offering a two-unit prayer there during the month of Rajab. He then said the supplicatory prayer that begins with the following statement:

اللّهمّ يا ذالمنن السّابغة و الالاء الوازعة...

This supplicatory prayer has been previously mentioned within the acts that are advisably done each day in the month of Rajab (i.e. General Acts in Rajab). It is the fourth in the order of these acts (pp. 520 of Vol. 1).

Although it may be understood that this supplicatory prayer is within the acts that are done at Sa’sa’ah Mosque, because Imam al-Mahdi (‘a) said it there, this act (i.e. the two-unit prayer and the supplicatory prayer) is dedicated to the general acts of the month of Rajab, as is confirmed in the books of our scholars. Therefore, I have mentioned it within the acts of the month of Rajab.

SEVENTH CHAPTER: ZIYARAAT OF IMAM HUSAYN

MERITS AND METHOD OF VISITING IMAM AL HUSAYN’S TOMB

This chapter, which is dedicated to mentioning the merits of visiting the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a), the etiquettes that must be observed by the visitors during their journeys to the holy tomb and in the holy shrine, and the method of visiting the Imam (‘a), is composed of three parts, as follows:

MERITS OF VISITING IMAM AL HUSAYN (A)

Be it known to you that the merits of visiting the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) are too innumerable to be counted. According to many narrations, the reward of such pilgrimage is equal to the reward of ritual hajj, ‘umrah, and striving in Allah’s way (i.e. jihad).

Moreover, such pilgrimage to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb brings about forgiveness, alleviates the settling to account on the Resurrection Day, uplifts ranks, causes the prayers to be answered, prolongs the lifetime, brings about security of selves and properties, provides more sustenance, settles all needs, and relieves from agonies and grievances.

On the other hand, to abandon visiting the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) is regarded as deficiency in one’s duty towards one’s religion, because it is considered abandonment of one of the greatest duties towards the Holy Prophet (s). Therefore, the least reward of such pilgrims is that their sins are forgiven and their souls and properties are guarded by Almighty Allah until they return home. On the Resurrection Day, Almighty Allah shall guard them in a way better than He has done in the worldly life.

According to other narrations, visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb removes grievances, alleviates death agonies, and removes horrors in the graves. Besides, the expenditure that is spent for visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb shall be multiplied one thousand, or even ten thousand, folds.

When a pilgrim turns his face towards Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, he/she is received by four thousand angels and when he/she returns home, these angels will see him off.

All the Prophets and their successors as well as the Infallible Imams and the angels visit the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and pray Almighty Allah for the good of those who visit it and carry for them good tidings (for the abundant reward of such pilgrimage).

Almighty Allah looks at the pilgrims to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb before He looks at the pilgrims at ‘Arafat Mount.

On the Resurrection Day, all the creatures shall hope if they were included with the visitors of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, because Imam al-Husayn (‘a), on that day, shall be the source of inestimable favor and bliss.

As a matter of fact, it is impossible to contain all the narrations about the merits of pilgrimages to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb; yet, I will mention a few of them with each of the timed forms of ziyarah.

However, let us now refer to this narration:

Ibn Qawlawayh, Shaykh al-Kulayni, Sayyid Ibn Tawus, and many others have reported, through authoritative chains of authority, that Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab al-Bujali al-Kufi, the reverent and trustworthy reporter, has reported the following incident:

One day, I visited Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) and found him in his prayer-place. I thus sat down waiting for him to accomplish his prayer. When he did, I could hear him addressing his Lord with the following words:

“O He Who has endued us with special honor, promised of granting us the right of intercession, ordered us to convey His Message, made us the inheritors of the Prophets, sealed the past nations with us, given us exclusively the representation of Prophethood, given us the knowledge of the past and the coming ages, and made hearts of some people yearn towards us, (please) forgive me, my brothers, and the pilgrims to the tomb of my father al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali - peace be upon them - those pilgrims who spent their money and fatigued their bodies for purpose of fulfilling their covenant to us, hoping for the reward that You have in possession for them though observing their ties with us, bringing about happiness to Your Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his Household, responding to our instruction, and enraging our enemies. All that because they have intended for attaining Your pleasure. So, please award them on behalf of us with the reward of Your pleasure, guard them in days and nights, safeguard their family members and sons that they have left behind for the purpose of undertaking this pilgrimage (to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb) in the best way of safeguarding, be always with them, save them from the evils of all insolent oppressors and from the evils of all your created beings, be them strong or weak, and from the evils of all Satanic men and jinn. And please give them the best of what they have hoped for in their estrangement and in their homelands, because they have preferred us to their sons, family members, and relatives. O Allah, our enemies have been criticizing them for they are undertaking such pilgrimage; nevertheless, this has not stopped or disappointed them from undertaking this mission of coming to visit us despite of the criticism of these enemies. So, please have mercy upon these faces that have been tanned by the heat of the sun, have mercy upon these cheeks that have been turned on the tomb of Abu-’Abdullah (i.e. Imam al-Husayn), have mercy upon these eyes that shed tears on account of feeling pity for us, have mercy upon these hearts that have mourned and grieved over our misfortunes, and have mercy upon their screams that they have cried out for us. O Allah, I beseech You to keep under Your custody these souls and these bodies (of the pilgrims of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb) until You water them from the Divine Pond on the day of thirst.”

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) kept on praying Almighty Allah for the pilgrims of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, while prostrating himself after prayer, for a long time. When he finished, I (i.e. the reporter) said to him, “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! Even if this prayer that you have just said were said for one who does not recognize Almighty Allah, he would certainly be saved from Hellfire! By Allah I swear, I wish I had visited Imam al-Husayn’s tomb instead of undertaking on the ritual hajj!”

Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) asked, “You are close to the tomb. What then prevents you from visiting it? Mu’awiyah, never desert visiting the tomb.”

The reporter answered, “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! I have not known that the matter is of such a high importance that it brings about such rewarding.”

The Imam (‘a) said, “Listen, Mu’awiyah! Those who pray Almighty Allah for the pilgrims to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb in the heavens are more than those who pray Him for those pilgrims in the earth. Do not abandon visiting him for fear of anything. Verily, whoever shuns visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb for fear of anything shall feel extreme regret that he shall wish if he were to stay there until he would be buried next to that tomb. Do you not wish that you would present yourself before Almighty Allah among those for whom the Messenger of Allah, ‘Ali, Fatimah, and the Infallible Imams pray Him? Do you not wish that you would be among those with whom the angels shall shake hands? Do you not wish that you would be among those who shall come on the Resurrection Day while they are free from any sin? Do you not wish that you would be among those with whom the Holy Prophet of Allah (‘a) shall shake hands?”

ETIQUETTES TO BE OBSERVED DURING JOURNEY TO IMAM HUSAYN'S (A) TOMB AND INSIDE HIS HOLY SHRINE

The etiquettes that must be observed by those who intend to undertake pilgrimage to Imam al-Husayn’s holy shrine are clarified in the following points:

First: As is instructed by Imam al-Sadiq (‘a), one who intends to visit the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) must first of all observe fasting for three consecutive days before he/she leaves his/her home and then bathe himself/herself on the third day.

In the introductory acts of ziyarah on the ‘Id Days, Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Mashhadi has mentioned that if you intend to visit the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a), you may observe fasting for three days, bathe yourself on the third day, gather your family members and dependants, and then say the following supplicatory prayer:

اللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْتَوْدِعُكَ الْيَوْمَ نَفْسِي وَ اَهْلِي وَ مَالِي وَ وُلْدِي وَ كُلَّ مَنْ كَانَ مِنِّي بِسَبِيلٍ الشَّاهِدَ مِنْهُمْ وَ الْغَائِبَ اللّٰهُمَّ احْفَظْنَا [بِحِفْظِكَ‏] بِحِفْظِ الْاِيمَانِ وَ احْفَظْ عَلَيْنَا اللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا فِي حِرْزِكَ وَ لا تَسْلُبْنَا نِعْمَتَكَ وَ لا تُغَيِّرْ مَا بِنَا مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ وَ عَافِيَةٍ وَ زِدْنَا مِنْ فَضْلِكَ اِنَّا اِلَيْكَ رَاغِبُونَ

You may then leave your house while you are in a state of submission. You may repeat as many times as possible the following statements:

لا اله الاّ اللّه و اللّه اكبر و الحمد للّه

You may also repeat statements of glorification of Almighty Allah and invocations of His blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household. You may also walk with gravity and tranquility.

It is narrated that Almighty Allah creates from each drop of sweat that pours from the pilgrims of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb seventy thousand angels to glorify Him and implore His forgiveness for the pilgrims of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb up to the Hour of Resurrection.

Second: Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said, “When you visit the tomb of Abu-’Abdullah (i.e. Imam al-Husayn), you may visit him while you are sad, grieved, shaggy, covered with dust, hungry, and thirsty. This is because al-Husayn (‘a) was slain while he was sad, grieved, shaggy, covered with dust, hungry, and thirsty. You may ask him to grant you your requests and then leave without residing there.”

Third: During the journey to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, a pilgrim must not carry with him delicious and palatable food, such as roasted meat and sweets; rather, a pilgrim must feed on bread and yoghurt.

In this respect, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said, “I have been informed that some people, on their way to visiting the tomb of al-Husayn, carry with them luggage full of meat of young goats, sweats, and the like palatable food; but if they visited the tombs of their fathers and dear ones, they would never carry with them such food!”

According to another considerably reported narration, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said to al-Mufazzal ibn ‘Umar, “To visit is better than not to visit; and not to visit is better than to visit.”

“You have broken my back (i.e. this is so ambiguous that I will never understand)!” said al-Mufazzal.

The Imam (‘a) explained, “When you visit the graves of your fathers, you visit them while you are in a miserable, depressed mood! But when you visit the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a), you visit it as if you are on a picnic! No, this is not acceptable unless you visit his tomb while you are unkempt and covered with dust.”

The rich and businessmen are the worthiest of observing this instruction during their pilgrimages to the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a). Hence, when their associates who live in the towns lying on their way to Karbala’ invite them to banquets, they must refuse; and when they fill their luggage with palatable food, they must also refuse and say, ‘We are on our way to visit Karbala’ and it is unsuitable for us to have such food.’

Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported that after Imam al-Husayn (‘a) had been slain, his wife from the tribe of Kalb held a funeral ceremony in which women and servants wept so heavily that their tears dried up. She was gifted a grilled grouse to help her mourn the Imam (‘a). But she refused to take it and said, “We are not in a wedding party! We have nothing to do with this.” She thus ordered to take it out of her house.

Fourth: Among the advisable matters to be considered in journeys to the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) is that a pilgrim should show modesty, humility, and meekness and walk like subservient slaves. Hence, those who have modern vehicles, which move in high speeds… etc. are advised to avoid arrogance and vanity and to stop sturting before the other pilgrims who might suffer troubles and difficulties on their way to Karbala’; therefore, they are advised not to glance sideways at these people.

Scholars have narrated that the People of the Cave (i.e. the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus) were among the retinue of Decius (the Roman emperor), but when they were included with Almighty Allah’s mercy, they recognized Him with their minds. Therefore, they began to amend their affairs through practicing monasticism, seclusion, and resort to a cave where they worshipped Him. So, they rode on their horses and left the city. When they walked for three miles, one of them; namely, Malchus, said to them, “O brothers! The submission of the Hereafter has come and the kingdom of the worldly life has gone. So, ride off your horses and walk on your feet.” To explain, he advised them to ride off the horses and walk in the way of Allah on their foot hoping that the Lord would cover them with His compassion and mercy and make for them a relief.

These great and reverent persons rode off their horses and walked on feet for seven pharasangs( ) on that day until blood shed from their feet.

The point is that a pilgrim to the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) is advised to pay attention to this matter and to know that modesty in journeys, when intended for Almighty Allah, is in fact sublimity and elevation.

About the etiquettes of visiting the holy tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a), Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said, “Whoever comes to the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a) walking, Almighty Allah will record for him one thousand rewards, erase one thousand of his evildoings, and raise him one thousand ranks for each step he walks. So, when you reach the river Euphrates, you may wash yourself, take off your shoes, and walk barefoot like a subservient slave.”

Fifth: A pilgrim to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb is advised to make all possible efforts to help the walking pilgrims who seem to be tired and exhausted, through taking care of their affairs and carrying them to a rest house where they can have some rest. To belittle such poor pilgrims and to refrain from lending them a hand are strongly discommended matters.

Through a valid chain of authority, al-Kulayni has reported Abu-Harun as saying: One day, we were in the presence of Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) who, reproaching us, said, “Why are you belittling us?” A man from Khurasan stood up and said, “We do seek Allah’s protection against belittling you or any item of your affairs!” The Imam (‘a) answered, “Yes, you have been one of those who belittled and insulted me!” The man said, “I seek Allah’s protection against being so!” The Imam (‘a) explained, “Woe to you! Have you not heard so-and-so calling at you when we were close to al-Juhfah? He begged you to make him ride with you on your riding-animal even for a short distance, because he was too tired to walk any longer. Nevertheless, you did not even turn your face towards him; rather, you belittled him. Hence, whoever humiliates a faithful believer will have humiliated us and violated Allah’s sanctities.”

In the ninth point of the previously mentioned general manners of journeys to the holy shrines, I have mentioned a few words confirming this mannerism. Although this mannerism is not dedicated to the journeys to Imam al-Husayn’s tomb only, I have mentioned it here because it very frequently takes place during such journeys.

Sixth: Muhammad ibn Muslim, the lofty and trustworthy companion of the Imam, has reported that he asked Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a), “When we go on a journey for visiting your father, are we not on a ritual pilgrimage (i.e. hajj)?” The Imam (‘a) answered, “Yes, we are.” Muhammad asked, “Are we required to do whatever we do when we are on ritual pilgrimage?” The Imam (‘a) said, “You are required to commit yourself to excellent company with those who accompany you. You are required to speak as little as possible except when you utter good wording. You are required to mention Almighty Allah as much as possible. You are required to keep your dress clean. You are required to bathe yourself before arriving at al-Ha’ir. You are required to be fearful of Almighty Allah, to offer as many prayers as possible, and to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household. You are required to keep yourself away from whatever you are advised not to do. You are required to cast down your sight against whatever is forbidden for you to see and whatever is suspected. You are required to bestow charitably upon your needy brethren-in-faith when they are detached (of relatives or friends) and to give them the half of your expenditure. You are required to adhere to taqiyyah (self-protection: the practice of concealing one’s belief and foregoing ordinary religious duties when under threat of death or injury to oneself and one’s brethren-in-faith), which is the basis of your religion, to forsake all deeds against which you have been warned, and to leave disputation with others, taking much oath, and engaging yourself in arguments that oblige you to swear. If you do all these required instructions, your obligatory and recommended pilgrimage will be perfect and you will have been qualified to receive forgiveness, mercy, and pleasure from the One Whom you sought what He has in possession through spending such money and leaving your family members.

Seventh: According to the report of Abu-Hamzah al-Thumali, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said about the journey of visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, “As soon as you arrive at Nineveh, you may reside there. As long as you reside there, you must not anoint your body, darken your eyes with kohl, or eat meat.”

Eighth: It is recommended to bathe oneself with the water of River Euphrates. Many traditions have revealed the merits of doing so. For instance, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said, “Whoever bathes himself with the water of the Euphrates and then comes to visit Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, will be as free of sins as the day on which his mother gave birth to him, even if such sins were grand ones.”

It is also reported that the Imam (‘a) was once asked, “It happens that it becomes impossible for us to bathe ourselves with the water of the Euphrates due to cold weather or other reasons. What should we do then?” The Imam (‘a) answered, “Whoever bathes himself with the water of the Euphrates and then visits al-Husayn (‘a), will have uncountable rewards.”

Bashir al-Dahhan has reported Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) as saying, “If one comes to the tomb of al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali (‘a) and performs ablution (wuzu’) and bathes oneself with the water of River Euphrates, Almighty Allah will record for him the reward of one-time hajj and one-time Umrah with every step one makes.”

Other traditions instruct that it is advised to come to the Euphrates and bathe oneself therein in front of Imam al-Husayn’s tomb.

According to other traditions, it is recommended to repeat each of the following statements one hundred times as soon as one arrives at River Euphrates:

اللّه اكبر لا اله الاّ اللّه‏ صلوات

Ninth: On the instruction of Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) to Yusuf al-Kunnasi, it is recommended to enter the courtyard of Imam al-Husayn’s holy shrine from the eastern gate.

Tenth: Ibn Qawlawayh has reported that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said to al-Mufazzal ibn ‘Umar, “If you reach the tomb of al-Husayn (‘a), you may stop at the gate of the courtyard and say the following sentences, for each sentence brings you a share of Almighty Allah’s mercy:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ آدَمَ صَفْوَةِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ نُوحٍ نَبِيِّ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ اِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُوسَى كَلِيمِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عِيسَى رُوحِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ مُحَمَّدٍ حَبِيبِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ عَلِيٍّ وَصِيِّ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ الْحَسَنِ الرَّضِيِّ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَارِثَ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا الشَّهِيدُ الصِّدِّيقُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا الْوَصِيُّ الْبَارُّ التَّقِيُّ السَّلامُ عَلَى الْاَرْوَاحِ الَّتِي حَلَّتْ بِفِنَائِكَ وَ اَنَاخَتْ بِرَحْلِكَ السَّلامُ عَلَى مَلائِكَةِ اللّٰهِ الْمُحْدِقِينَ بِكَ اَشْهَدُ اَنَّكَ قَدْ اَقَمْتَ الصَّلاةَ وَ آتَيْتَ الزَّكَاةَ وَ اَمَرْتَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ نَهَيْتَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ عَبَدْتَ اللّٰهَ مُخْلِصا حَتَّى اَتَاكَ الْيَقِينُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ.

You may then walk towards the tomb. With each step you make, you will be awarded the reward of one who sacrifices his blood for the sake of Allah. When you approach the tomb, you may wipe your hand over it and say:

السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا حُجَّةَ اللّٰهِ فِي اَرْضِهِ وَ سَمَائِهِ.

You may then go for offering the prayer. For each unit of prayer that you offer near the tomb, you will have the reward of one who went on one thousand times of hajj and one thousand times of ‘umrah, manumitted one thousand slaves for the sake of Allah, and stood in the line of a missioned Prophet one thousand times.

Eleventh: Abu-Sa’id al-Mada’ini is reported to have said that he, once, came to Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) and asked, “May I go for visiting the tomb of al-Husayn?” The Imam (‘a) answered, “Yes, you may. Go for visiting the tomb of al-Husayn the son of Allah’s Messenger, the most immaculate of all the immaculate ones, the most infallible of all the infallible ones, and the most munificent of all those who act munificently. After you visit him, you may repeat the glorification words of the Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Mu’minin) one thousand times while you are at the head’s side and repeat the glorification words of the Luminous Lady (i.e. al-Zahra’) one thousand time while you are at the legs’ side. You may then offer a two-unit prayer reciting Surah Yasin (No. 36) and Surah al-Rahman (No. 55) in that prayer. If you do so, you will earn a great reward.”

When the reporter asked the Imam (‘a) to teach him the glorification words of the Commander of the Faithful and those of the Luminous Lady, the Imam said: The glorification words of (Imam) ‘Ali are the following:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا تَنْفَدُ خَزَائِنُهُ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا تَبِيدُ مَعَالِمُهُ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا يَفْنَى مَا عِنْدَهُ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا يُشْرِكُ اَحَدا فِي حُكْمِهِ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا اضْمِحْلالَ لِفَخْرِهِ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا انْقِطَاعَ لِمُدَّتِهِ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا اِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ.

The glorification words of Fatimah (‘a) are the following:

سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَلالِ الْبَاذِخِ الْعَظِيمِ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْعِزِّ الشَّامِخِ الْمُنِيفِ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْمُلْكِ الْفَاخِرِ الْقَدِيمِ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْبَهْجَةِ وَ الْجَمَالِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ تَرَدَّى بِالنُّورِ وَ الْوَقَارِ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ يَرَى اَثَرَ النَّمْلِ فِي الصَّفَا وَ وَقْعَ الطَّيْرِ فِي الْهَوَاءِ

Twelfth: It is recommended to perform the obligatory prayers and offer the supererogatory prayers (nafilah) near the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a), because prayers at that place are admissible. Sayyid Ibn Tawus further says, “Try your best to perform all your obligatory prayers and offer all your supererogatory prayers inside the Ha’ir (i.e. courtyard of Imam al-Husayn’s holy shrine), because the reward of one obligatory prayer that is performed therein is equal to the reward of going on ritual pilgrimage (hajj) and the reward of offering a supererogatory prayer therein is equal to the reward of going on recommended pilgrimage (‘umrah).”

A previously mentioned tradition of al-Mufazzal ibn ‘Umar has mentioned the numerous merits of offering prayers inside the holy shrine. According to another validly reported tradition, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) is reported to have said, “The reward of a one-time hajj and a one-time ‘umrah is recorded for one who offers a two-unit or a four-unit prayer near the tomb of Imam al-Husayn (‘a).”

From these traditions, it becomes apparent that the prayer of visitation (salat al-ziyarah), or any other prayer, is preferably offered behind the holy tomb or subsequent to the side of the head. One who offers a prayer subsequent to the side of the head is advised to come back a little bit so as to avoid being adjacent to the holy tomb.

According to another tradition that is reported by Abu-Hamzah al-Thumali, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) has said, “You may offer a two-unit prayer at the side of the head, reciting Surah al-Hamd (i.e. al-Fatihah; No. 1) and Surah Yasin in the first unit. In the second, you may read Surah al-Hamd and Surah al-Rahman. You may also offer a prayer behind the tomb; yet, to offer it at the side of the head is more preferable. When you accomplish the prayer, you may offer any other prayer except the two-unit prayer of ziyarah, which must be offered whenever a tomb is visited.”

Ibn Qawlawayh has reported Imam al-Baqir (‘a) as saying to someone, “What prevents you, whenever you have a need to be granted, from going to the tomb of al-Husayn, offer a four-unit prayer therein, and then pray for the granting of your request? Verily, an obligatory prayer therein is equal in reward to ritual pilgrimage (hajj), while a supererogatory prayer is equal to a supererogatory pilgrimage (‘umrah).”

DUA IN THE HOLY SHRINE OF IMAM HUSAYN (A)

Thirteenth: Be it known to you that the most important act in the pure shrine of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) is to pray Almighty Allah, because granting of requests under the supreme dome of his shrine is one of the distinctive returns that Almighty Allah has exclusively given to Imam al-Husayn (‘a) as one compensation for his martyrdom. Seizing this opportunity, a pilgrim is advised not to show any shortcoming in entreating Almighty Allah, turning to Him, repenting before Him, and providing one’s needs to Him.

Through the numerous forms of ziyarah that are said during visiting Imam al-Husayn’s tomb, many supplicatory prayers, holding high meanings, have been mentioned to be said there. However, briefness has not allowed us to cite all these supplicatory prayers here. It is most advisable to say the supplications of al-Sahifah al-Sajjadiyyah, because they are the most preferable. At the end of this section and immediately after the comprehensive forms of Ziyarah, I will cite a comprehensive supplicatory prayer that is said in all of the holy shrines. Besides, another, most comprehensive, supplicatory prayer that is said in all of the holy shrines will be also cited in this book. It is therefore advised not to miss these supplicatory prayers.

However, in order to avoid making this part of the book free of any supplicatory prayer, let us cite the following one, which is required to be said while raising one’s hands towards the sky:

اللّٰهُمَّ قَدْ تَرَى مَكَانِي وَ تَسْمَعُ كَلامِي وَ تَرَى مَقَامِي [مَكَانِي‏] وَ تَضَرُّعِي وَ مَلاذِي بِقَبْرِ حُجَّتِكَ وَ ابْنِ نَبِيِّكَ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ يَا سَيِّدِي حَوَائِجِي وَ لا يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ حَالِي وَ قَدْ تَوَجَّهْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِابْنِ رَسُولِكَ وَ حُجَّتِكَ وَ اَمِينِكَ وَ قَدْ اَتَيْتُكَ مُتَقَرِّبا بِهِ اِلَيْكَ وَ اِلَى رَسُولِكَ فَاجْعَلْنِي بِهِ عِنْدَكَ وَجِيها فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ وَ اَعْطِنِي بِزِيَارَتِي اَمَلِي وَ هَبْ لِي مُنَايَ وَ تَفَضَّلْ عَلَيَّ بِشَهْوَتِي [بِسُؤْلِي‏] وَ رَغْبَتِي وَ اقْضِ لِي حَوَائِجِي وَ لا تَرُدَّنِي خَائِبا ، وَ لا تَقْطَعْ رَجَائِي وَ لا تُخَيِّبْ دُعَائِي وَ عَرِّفْنِي الْاِجَابَةَ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا دَعَوْتُكَ مِنْ اَمْرِ الدِّينِ وَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ عِبَادِكَ الَّذِينَ صَرَفْتَ عَنْهُمُ الْبَلايَا وَ الْاَمْرَاضَ وَ الْفِتَنَ وَ الْاَعْرَاضَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ تُحْيِيهِمْ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ تُمِيتُهُمْ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ تُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ تُجِيرُهُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ وَفِّقْ لِي بِمَنٍّ مِنْكَ صَلاحَ مَا اُؤَمِّلُ فِي نَفْسِي وَ اَهْلِي وَ وُلْدِي وَ اِخْوَانِي وَ مَالِي وَ جَمِيعِ مَا اَنْعَمْتَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

SALAWAT ON IMAM HUSAYN (A)

Fourteenth: Among the rites to be done in the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) is to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon him. It is thus reported to stand behind the tomb at the side of the two shoulders and to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet (s) and Imam al-Husayn (‘a).

In his book of Misbah al-Za’ir, Sayyid Ibn Tawus has reported the following form of invocation of blessings upon Imam al-Husayn (‘a) within some forms of ziyarah:

اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى الْحُسَيْنِ الْمَظْلُومِ الشَّهِيدِ قَتِيلِ الْعَبَرَاتِ وَ اَسِيرِ الْكُرُبَاتِ صَلاةً نَامِيَةً زَاكِيَةً مُبَارَكَةً يَصْعَدُ اَوَّلُهَا وَ لا يَنْفَدُ آخِرُهَا اَفْضَلَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى اَحَدٍ مِنْ اَوْلادِ الْاَنْبِيَاءِ وَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى الْاِمَامِ الشَّهِيدِ الْمَقْتُولِ الْمَظْلُومِ الْمَخْذُولِ وَ السَّيِّدِ الْقَائِدِ وَ الْعَابِدِ الزَّاهِدِ الْوَصِيِّ الْخَلِيفَةِ الْاِمَامِ الصِّدِّيقِ الطُّهْرِ الطَّاهِرِ الطَّيِّبِ الْمُبَارَكِ وَ الرَّضِيِّ الْمَرْضِيِّ وَ التَّقِيِّ الْهَادِي الْمَهْدِيِّ الزَّاهِدِ الذَّائِدِ الْمُجَاهِدِ الْعَالِمِ اِمَامِ الْهُدَى سِبْطِ الرَّسُولِ وَ قُرَّةِ عَيْنِ الْبَتُولِ صلى الله عليه و آله و سلم اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِي وَ مَوْلايَ كَمَا عَمِلَ بِطَاعَتِكَ وَ نَهَى عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ بَالَغَ فِي رِضْوَانِكَ وَ اَقْبَلَ عَلَى اِيمَانِكَ غَيْرَ قَابِلٍ فِيكَ عُذْرا سِرّا وَ عَلانِيَةً يَدْعُو الْعِبَادَ اِلَيْكَ وَ يَدُلُّهُمْ عَلَيْكَ وَ قَامَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ، يَهْدِمُ الْجَوْرَ بِالصَّوَابِ وَ يُحْيِي السُّنَّةَ بِالْكِتَابِ فَعَاشَ فِي رِضْوَانِكَ مَكْدُودا وَ مَضَى عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ وَ فِي اَوْلِيَائِكَ مَكْدُوحا وَ قَضَى اِلَيْكَ مَفْقُودا لَمْ يَعْصِكَ فِي لَيْلٍ وَ لا نَهَارٍ بَلْ جَاهَدَ فِيكَ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَ الْكُفَّارَ اللّٰهُمَّ فَاجْزِهِ خَيْرَ جَزَاءِ الصَّادِقِينَ الْاَبْرَارِ وَ ضَاعِفْ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَذَابَ وَ لِقَاتِلِيهِ الْعِقَابَ فَقَدْ قَاتَلَ كَرِيما وَ قُتِلَ مَظْلُوما وَ مَضَى مَرْحُوما يَقُولُ اَنَا ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللّٰهِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ ابْنُ مَنْ زَكَّى وَ عَبَدَ فَقَتَلُوهُ بِالْعَمْدِ الْمُعْتَمَدِ قَتَلُوهُ عَلَى الْاِيمَانِ وَ اَطَاعُوا فِي قَتْلِهِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَ لَمْ يُرَاقِبُوا فِيهِ الرَّحْمَنَ. اللّٰهُمَّ فَصَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِي وَ مَوْلايَ صَلاةً تَرْفَعُ بِهَا ذِكْرَهُ وَ تُظْهِرُ بِهَا اَمْرَهُ وَ تُعَجِّلُ بِهَا نَصْرَهُ وَ اخْصُصْهُ بِاَفْضَلِ قِسَمِ الْفَضَائِلِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ زِدْهُ شَرَفا فِي اَعْلَى عِلِّيِّينَ وَ بَلِّغْهُ اَعْلَى شَرَفِ الْمُكَرَّمِينَ وَ ارْفَعْهُ مِنْ شَرَفِ رَحْمَتِكَ فِي شَرَفِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ فِي الرَّفِيعِ الْاَعْلَى وَ بَلِّغْهُ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَ الْمَنْزِلَةَ الْجَلِيلَةَ وَ الْفَضْلَ وَ الْفَضِيلَةَ وَ الْكَرَامَةَ الْجَزِيلَةَ اللّٰهُمَّ فَاجْزِهِ عَنَّا اَفْضَلَ مَا جَازَيْتَ اِمَاما عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى سَيِّدِي وَ مَوْلايَ كُلَّمَا ذُكِرَ وَ كُلَّمَا لَمْ يُذْكَرْ يَا سَيِّدِي وَ مَوْلايَ اَدْخِلْنِي فِي حِزْبِكَ وَ زُمْرَتِكَ وَ اسْتَوْهِبْنِي مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ رَبِّي فَاِنَّ لَكَ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ جَاها وَ قَدْرا وَ مَنْزِلَةً رَفِيعَةً ، اِنْ سَاَلْتَ اُعْطِيتَ وَ اِنْ شَفَعْتَ شُفِّعْتَ اللّٰهَ اللّٰهَ فِي عَبْدِكَ وَ مَوْلاكَ لا تُخَلِّنِي عِنْدَ الشَّدَائِدِ وَ الْاَهْوَالِ لِسُوءِ عَمَلِي وَ قَبِيحِ فِعْلِي وَ عَظِيمِ جُرْمِي فَاِنَّكَ اَمَلِي وَ رَجَائِي وَ ثِقَتِي وَ مُعْتَمَدِي وَ وَسِيلَتِي اِلَى اللّٰهِ رَبِّي وَ رَبِّكَ لَمْ يَتَوَسَّلِ الْمُتَوَسِّلُونَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ بِوَسِيلَةٍ هِيَ اَعْظَمُ حَقّا وَ لا اَوْجَبُ حُرْمَةً وَ لا اَجَلُّ قَدْرا عِنْدَهُ مِنْكُمْ اَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ لا خَلَّفَنِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْكُمْ بِذُنُوبِي وَ جَمَعَنِي وَ اِيَّاكُمْ فِي جَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي اَعَدَّهَا لَكُمْ وَ لِاَوْلِيَائِكُمْ اِنَّهُ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ وَ اَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ اللّٰهُمَّ اَبْلِغْ سَيِّدِي وَ مَوْلايَ تَحِيَّةً كَثِيرَةً وَ سَلاما وَ ارْدُدْ عَلَيْنَا مِنْهُ السَّلامَ اِنَّكَ جَوَادٌ كَرِيمٌ وَ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ كُلَّمَا ذُكِرَ السَّلامُ وَ كُلَّمَا لَمْ يُذْكَرْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

Within the recommended acts on the ‘Ashura’ Day, I have cited a form of ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a). At the end of this section, I will mention another invocation of blessings upon the Immaculate Imams (‘a), which comprises a brief invocation of blessings upon Imam al-Husayn (‘a) exclusively. So, do not miss these invocations.

Chapter 1

Chapter on Contingency of the Universe and Proof of the Existence of its Creator

1ـ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ كَانَ بِمِصْرَ زِنْدِيقٌ تَبْلُغُهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَشْيَاءُ فَخَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لِيُنَاظِرَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَادِفْهُ بِهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ خَارِجٌ بِمَكَّةَ فَخَرَجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ وَنَحْنُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله فَصَادَفَنَا وَنَحْنُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي الطَّوَافِ وَكَانَ اسْمُهُ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ وَكُنْيَتُهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله فَضَرَبَ كَتِفَهُ كَتِفَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا اسْمُكَ فَقَالَ اسْمِي عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ فَمَا كُنْيَتُكَ قَالَ كُنْيَتِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَمَنْ هَذَا الْمَلِكُ الَّذِي أَنْتَ عَبْدُهُ أَ مِنْ مُلُوكِ الارْضِ أَمْ مِنْ مُلُوكِ السَّمَاءِ وَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ ابْنِكَ عَبْدُ إِلَهِ السَّمَاءِ أَمْ عَبْدُ إِلَهِ الارْضِ قُلْ مَا شِئْتَ تُخْصَمُ قَالَ هِشَامُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ فَقُلْتُ لِلزِّنْدِيقِ أَ مَا تَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَقَبَّحَ قَوْلِي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله إِذَا فَرَغْتُ مِنَ الطَّوَافِ فَأْتِنَا فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله أَتَاهُ الزِّنْدِيقُ فَقَعَدَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله وَنَحْنُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لِلزِّنْدِيقِ أَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ لِلارْضِ تَحْتاً وَفَوْقاً قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَدَخَلْتَ تَحْتَهَا قَالَ لا قَالَ فَمَا يُدْرِيكَ مَا تَحْتَهَا قَالَ لا أَدْرِي إِلا أَنِّي أَظُنُّ أَنْ لَيْسَ تَحْتَهَا شَيْ‏ءٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَالظَّنُّ عَجْزٌ لِمَا لا تَسْتَيْقِنُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله أَ فَصَعِدْتَ السَّمَاءَ قَالَ لا قَالَ أَ فَتَدْرِي مَا فِيهَا قَالَ لا قَالَ عَجَباً لَكَ لَمْ تَبْلُغِ الْمَشْرِقَ وَلَمْ تَبْلُغِ الْمَغْرِبَ وَلَمْ تَنْزِلِ الارْضَ وَلَمْ تَصْعَدِ السَّمَاءَ وَلَمْ تَجُزْ هُنَاكَ فَتَعْرِفَ مَا خَلْفَهُنَّ وَأَنْتَ جَاحِدٌ بِمَا فِيهِنَّ وَهَلْ يَجْحَدُ الْعَاقِلُ مَا لا يَعْرِفُ قَالَ الزِّنْدِيقُ مَا كَلَّمَنِي بِهَذَا أَحَدٌ غَيْرُكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَنْتَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فِي شَكٍّ فَلَعَلَّهُ هُوَ وَلَعَلَّهُ لَيْسَ هُوَ فَقَالَ الزِّنْدِيقُ وَلَعَلَّ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيُّهَا الرَّجُلُ لَيْسَ لِمَنْ لا يَعْلَمُ حُجَّةٌ عَلَى مَنْ يَعْلَمُ وَلا حُجَّةَ لِلْجَاهِلِ يَا أَخَا أَهْلِ مِصْرَ تَفْهَمُ عَنِّي فَإِنَّا لا نَشُكُّ فِي الله أَبَداً أَ مَا تَرَى الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَاللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ يَلِجَانِ فَلا يَشْتَبِهَانِ وَيَرْجِعَانِ قَدِ اضْطُرَّا لَيْسَ لَهُمَا مَكَانٌ إِلا مَكَانُهُمَا فَإِنْ كَانَا يَقْدِرَانِ عَلَى أَنْ يَذْهَبَا فَلِمَ يَرْجِعَانِ وَإِنْ كَانَا غَيْرَ مُضْطَرَّيْنِ فَلِمَ لا يَصِيرُ اللَّيْلُ نَهَاراً وَالنَّهَارُ لَيْلاً اضْطُرَّا وَالله يَا أَخَا أَهْلِ مِصْرَ إِلَى دَوَامِهِمَا وَالَّذِي اضْطَرَّهُمَا أَحْكَمُ مِنْهُمَا وَأَكْبَرُ فَقَالَ الزِّنْدِيقُ صَدَقْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا أَخَا أَهْلِ مِصْرَ إِنَّ الَّذِي تَذْهَبُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَتَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُ الدَّهْرُ إِنْ كَانَ الدَّهْرُ يَذْهَبُ بِهِمْ لِمَ لا يَرُدُّهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانَ يَرُدُّهُمْ لِمَ لا يَذْهَبُ بِهِمُ الْقَوْمُ مُضْطَرُّونَ يَا أَخَا أَهْلِ مِصْرَ لِمَ السَّمَاءُ مَرْفُوعَةٌ وَالارْضُ مَوْضُوعَةٌ لِمَ لا يَسْقُطُ السَّمَاءُ عَلَى الارْضِ لِمَ لا تَنْحَدِرُ الارْضُ فَوْقَ طِبَاقِهَا وَلا يَتَمَاسَكَانِ وَلا يَتَمَاسَكُ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا قَالَ الزِّنْدِيقُ أَمْسَكَهُمَا الله رَبُّهُمَا وَسَيِّدُهُمَا قَالَ فَ‏آمَنَ الزِّنْدِيقُ عَلَى يَدَيْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ حُمْرَانُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنْ آمَنَتِ الزَّنَادِقَةُ عَلَى يَدِكَ فَقَدْ آمَنَ الْكُفَّارُ عَلَى يَدَيْ أَبِيكَ فَقَالَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي آمَنَ عَلَى يَدَيْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ تَلامِذَتِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله يَا هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ خُذْهُ إِلَيْكَ وَعَلِّمْهُ فَعَلَّمَهُ هِشَامٌ فَكَانَ مُعَلِّمَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَأَهْلِ مِصْرَ الايمَانَ وَحَسُنَتْ طَهَارَتُهُ حَتَّى رَضِيَ بِهَا أَبُو عَبْدِ الله.

1. Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub has narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim from his father, from al-Hassan ibn Ibrahim from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Ali ibn Mansur who narrated the following.

“Hisham ibn al-Hakam has reported that in Egypt there lived a heretic who had heard about Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) a great deal. He traveled to Madina to debate the Imam but he missed to find the Imam therein. He was told that the Imam has traveled to the city of Makkah. He then left for Makkah and we were with the Imam (a.s.) when we came across him during our performing Tawaf (the seven times walking around the Ka‘bah). The man’s name was ‘Abdul Malik also called abu ‘Abdallah as his Kunyah in Arabic. He touched Imam abu ‘Abdallah’s shoulder with his shoulder as he walked along. The Imam asked him, “What is your name?” It is ‘Abdul Malik (meaning slave of the King).” The man replied. “What is your Kunyah?” The Imam (a.s.) asked. “It is abu ‘Abdallah (meaning father of slave of Allah).” He replied. The Imam then asked, “Who is this king whose slave you are? Is he of the earthly kings or of the heavenly ones? Tell us about your son. Is he a slave of the Lord of the heavens or a slave of the Lord of the earth? Say whatever you may it will be against you.” Hisham has said that I asked him (the heretic man), “Why do you not answer?” The man seemed to dislike my words. The Imam (a.s.) then told him, “Meet us when we finish our Tawaf (walking around the Ka‘bah).” The heretic man came to the Imam (a.s) later and sat in front of the Imam (a.s.) and we were all gathered around him.

The Imam (a.s.) then asked him, “Do you know that the earth has an underside and an upperside?” The man replied, “Yes, I know it.” The Imam then asked, “Have you gone in the underside of the earth?” The man replied, “No, I have not gone there.” The Imam (a.s.) then asked, “Do you know what is therein?” He said, “I do not know but I guess there is nothing therein.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Guessing is weakness. Why do you not acquire certainty?” The Imam (a.s.) then asked, “Have you climbed up into the sky?”

The man replied, “No, I have not done so.” The Imam (a.s.) then asked, “Do you know what is up there?” He replied, “No, I do not know.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is very strange. Without reaching the East or West, without going under the earth or climbing up the sky and not even have crossed anything to know what is behind you deny what is in them. Does any man of reason deny what he does not know?”

The heretic man then said, “No one has ever come up with such statements to me as you have.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “So you are uncertain about Him. Perhaps He is or may be He does not exist.” The heretic man then said, “Perhaps He is.” The Imam then said, “O man, one who does not know has no authority over the one who knows. O Egyptian brethren, listen carefully. We have no doubts in the existence of Allah (God). Think about the sun, the moon, the day and the nights follow each other and do not miss their turns or become confused. They each have its place and do not have any choice. If they had any other choice they would not come back again. If they had a choice the day would not end with night and the night would not end in the day. They are forced to continue, O Egyptian brethren, I swear byAllah (God). The One who has forced them is stronger then them and greater.

What people speak of and you guess it is (dahr) motionless time if it was so, then when it would take them away it would not return them and if time have returned them then why it is not taking them away? These things, O Egyptian brethren, are compelled. Why the sky is up high and why the earth is low? Why the sky does not fall down on earth? Why the earth does not flow one layer over the other and the two do not stick to each other and why those on it do not stick to it?”

The man then said, “God their Lord has made them to hold together.” Hisham has said, “He professed belief in God in the presence of Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.).”

“Humran then said to the Imam, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, if heretics profess belief in Allah (God) before you it is because the unbelievers converted to faith because of your father.” The man who had just professed belief in Allah requested Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) to allow him to become one of his students. The Imam then asked Hisham to teach him. Hisham taught him well and he became a teacher for the people in Syria and Egypt. His purification was very well and the Imam (a.s.) became happy with him.”

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي هَاشِمٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَسِّنٍ الْمِيثَمِيِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ الْمُتَطَبِّبِ فَقَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَابْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ وَعَبْدُ الله بْنُ الْمُقَفَّعِ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ فَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُقَفَّعِ تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْخَلْقَ وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى مَوْضِعِ الطَّوَافِ مَا مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ أُوجِبُ لَهُ اسْمَ الانْسَانِيَّةِ إِلا ذَلِكَ الشَّيْخُ الْجَالِسُ يَعْنِي أَبَا عَبْدِ الله جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) فَأَمَّا الْبَاقُونَ فَرَعَاعٌ وَبَهَائِمُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ وَكَيْفَ أَوْجَبْتَ هَذَا الاسْمَ لِهَذَا الشَّيْخِ دُونَ هَؤُلاءِ قَالَ لانِّي رَأَيْتُ عِنْدَهُ مَا لَمْ أَرَهُ عِنْدَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ لا بُدَّ مِنِ اخْتِبَارِ مَا قُلْتَ فِيهِ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ الْمُقَفَّعِ لا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يُفْسِدَ عَلَيْكَ مَا فِي يَدِكَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ ذَا رَأْيَكَ وَلَكِنْ تَخَافُ أَنْ يَضْعُفَ رَأْيُكَ عِنْدِي فِي إِحْلالِكَ إِيَّاهُ الْمَحَلَّ الَّذِي وَصَفْتَ فَقَالَ ابْنُ الْمُقَفَّعِ أَمَّا إِذَا تَوَهَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ هَذَا فَقُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَتَحَفَّظْ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنَ الزَّلَلِ وَلا تَثْنِي عِنَانَكَ إِلَى اسْتِرْسَالٍ فَيُسَلِّمَكَ إِلَى عِقَالٍ وَسِمْهُ مَا لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ قَالَ فَقَامَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ وَبَقِيتُ أَنَا وَابْنُ الْمُقَفَّعِ جَالِسَيْنِ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ إِلَيْنَا ابْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ قَالَ وَيْلَكَ يَا ابْنَ الْمُقَفَّعِ مَا هَذَا بِبَشَرٍ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا رُوحَانِيٌّ يَتَجَسَّدُ إِذَا شَاءَ ظَاهِراً وَيَتَرَوَّحُ إِذَا شَاءَ بَاطِناً فَهُوَ هَذَا فَقَالَ لَهُ وَكَيْفَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ جَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَلَمَّا لَمْ يَبْقَ عِنْدَهُ غَيْرِي ابْتَدَأَنِي فَقَالَ إِنْ يَكُنِ الامْرُ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُ هَؤُلاءِ وَهُوَ عَلَى مَا يَقُولُونَ يَعْنِي أَهْلَ الطَّوَافِ فَقَدْ سَلِمُوا وَعَطِبْتُمْ وَإِنْ يَكُنِ الامْرُ عَلَى مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَيْسَ كَمَا تَقُولُونَ فَقَدِ اسْتَوَيْتُمْ وَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَرْحَمُكَ الله وَأَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ نَقُولُ وَأَيَّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يَقُولُونَ مَا قَوْلِي وَقَوْلُهُمْ إِلا وَاحِدٌ فَقَالَ وَكَيْفَ يَكُونُ قَوْلُكَ وَقَوْلُهُمْ وَاحِداً وَهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ لَهُمْ مَعَاداً وَثَوَاباً وَعِقَاباً وَيَدِينُونَ بِأَنَّ فِي السَّمَاءِ إِلَهاً وَأَنَّهَا عُمْرَانٌ وَأَنْتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ السَّمَاءَ خَرَابٌ لَيْسَ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ قَالَ فَاغْتَنَمْتُهَا مِنْهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا مَنَعَهُ إِنْ كَانَ الامْرُ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ أَنْ يَظْهَرَ لِخَلْقِهِ وَيَدْعُوَهُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَتِهِ حَتَّى لا يَخْتَلِفَ مِنْهُمُ اثْنَانِ وَلِمَ احْتَجَبَ عَنْهُمْ وَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِمُ الرُّسُلَ وَلَوْ بَاشَرَهُمْ بِنَفْسِهِ كَانَ أَقْرَبَ إِلَى الايمَانِ بِهِ فَقَالَ لِي وَيْلَكَ وَكَيْفَ احْتَجَبَ عَنْكَ مَنْ أَرَاكَ قُدْرَتَهُ فِي نَفْسِكَ نُشُوءَكَ وَلَمْ تَكُنْ وَكِبَرَكَ بَعْدَ صِغَرِكَ وَقُوَّتَكَ بَعْدَ ضَعْفِكَ وَضَعْفَكَ بَعْدَ قُوَّتِكَ وَسُقْمَكَ بَعْدَ صِحَّتِكَ وَصِحَّتَكَ بَعْدَ سُقْمِكَ وَرِضَاكَ بَعْدَ غَضَبِكَ وَغَضَبَكَ بَعْدَ رِضَاكَ وَحُزْنَكَ.

بَعْدَ فَرَحِكَ وَفَرَحَكَ بَعْدَ حُزْنِكَ وَحُبَّكَ بَعْدَ بُغْضِكَ وَبُغْضَكَ بَعْدَ حُبِّكَ وَعَزْمَكَ بَعْدَ أَنَاتِكَ وَأَنَاتَكَ بَعْدَ عَزْمِكَ وَشَهْوَتَكَ بَعْدَ كَرَاهَتِكَ وَكَرَاهَتَكَ بَعْدَ شَهْوَتِكَ وَرَغْبَتَكَ بَعْدَ رَهْبَتِكَ وَرَهْبَتَكَ بَعْدَ رَغْبَتِكَ وَرَجَاءَكَ بَعْدَ يَأْسِكَ وَيَأْسَكَ بَعْدَ رَجَائِكَ وَخَاطِرَكَ بِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي وَهْمِكَ وَعُزُوبَ مَا أَنْتَ مُعْتَقِدُهُ عَنْ ذِهْنِكَ وَمَا زَالَ يُعَدِّدُ عَلَيَّ قُدْرَتَهُ الَّتِي هِيَ فِي نَفْسِي الَّتِي لا أَدْفَعُهَا حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيَظْهَرُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا رَفَعَهُ وَزَادَ فِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ حِينَ سَأَلَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ عَادَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّانِي إِلَى مَجْلِسِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَجَلَسَ وَهُوَ سَاكِتٌ لا يَنْطِقُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كَأَنَّكَ جِئْتَ تُعِيدُ بَعْضَ مَا كُنَّا فِيهِ فَقَالَ أَرَدْتُ ذَلِكَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا أَعْجَبَ هَذَا تُنْكِرُ الله وَتَشْهَدُ أَنِّي ابْنُ رَسُولِ الله فَقَالَ الْعَادَةُ تَحْمِلُنِي عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَالِمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَمَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنَ الْكَلامِ قَالَ إِجْلالاً لَكَ وَمَهَابَةً مَا يَنْطَلِقُ لِسَانِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ فَإِنِّي شَاهَدْتُ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَنَاظَرْتُ الْمُتَكَلِّمِينَ فَمَا تَدَاخَلَنِي هَيْبَةٌ قَطُّ مِثْلُ مَا تَدَاخَلَنِي مِنْ هَيْبَتِكَ قَالَ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ وَلَكِنْ أَفْتَحُ عَلَيْكَ بِسُؤَالٍ وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ مَصْنُوعٌ أَنْتَ أَوْ غَيْرُ مَصْنُوعٍ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ بْنُ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ بَلْ أَنَا غَيْرُ مَصْنُوعٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَالِمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَصِفْ لِي لَوْ كُنْتَ مَصْنُوعاً كَيْفَ كُنْتَ تَكُونُ فَبَقِيَ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ مَلِيّاً لا يُحِيرُ جَوَاباً وَوَلَعَ بِخَشَبَةٍ كَانَتْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ طَوِيلٌ عَرِيضٌ عَمِيقٌ قَصِيرٌ مُتَحَرِّكٌ سَاكِنٌ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ صِفَةُ خَلْقِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَالِمُ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ لَمْ تَعْلَمْ صِفَةَ الصَّنْعَةِ غَيْرَهَا فَاجْعَلْ نَفْسَكَ مَصْنُوعاً لِمَا تَجِدُ فِي نَفْسِكَ مِمَّا يَحْدُثُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الامُورِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ لَمْ يَسْأَلْنِي عَنْهَا أَحَدٌ قَبْلَكَ وَلا يَسْأَلُنِي أَحَدٌ بَعْدَكَ عَنْ مِثْلِهَا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هَبْكَ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تُسْأَلْ فِيمَا مَضَى فَمَا عَلَّمَكَ أَنَّكَ لا تُسْأَلُ فِيمَا بَعْدُ عَلَى أَنَّكَ يَا عَبْدَ الْكَرِيمِ نَقَضْتَ قَوْلَكَ لانَّكَ تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ الاشْيَاءَ مِنَ الاوَّلِ سَوَاءٌ فَكَيْفَ قَدَّمْتَ وَأَخَّرْتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَبْدَ الْكَرِيمِ أَزِيدُكَ وُضُوحاً أَ رَأَيْتَ لَوْ كَانَ مَعَكَ كِيسٌ فِيهِ جَوَاهِرُ فَقَالَ لَكَ قَائِلٌ هَلْ فِي الْكِيسِ دِينَارٌ فَنَفَيْتَ كَوْنَ الدِّينَارِ فِي الْكِيسِ فَقَالَ لَكَ صِفْ لِيَ الدِّينَارَ وَكُنْتَ غَيْرَ عَالِمٍ بِصِفَتِهِ هَلْ كَانَ لَكَ أَنْ تَنْفِيَ كَوْنَ الدِّينَارِ عَنِ الْكِيسِ وَأَنْتَ لا تَعْلَمُ قَالَ لا فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَالْعَالَمُ أَكْبَرُ وَأَطْوَلُ وَأَعْرَضُ مِنَ الْكِيسِ فَلَعَلَّ فِي الْعَالَمِ صَنْعَةً مِنْ حَيْثُ لا تَعْلَمُ صِفَةَ الصَّنْعَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الصَّنْعَةِ فَانْقَطَعَ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ وَأَجَابَ إِلَى الاسْلامِ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِهِ وَبَقِيَ مَعَهُ بَعْضٌ فَعَادَ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ فَقَالَ أَقْلِبُ السُّؤَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَلْ عَمَّا شِئْتَ فَقَالَ مَا الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى حَدَثِ الاجْسَامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي مَا وَجَدْتُ شَيْئاً صَغِيراً وَلا كَبِيراً إِلا وَإِذَا ضُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مِثْلُهُ صَارَ أَكْبَرَ وَفِي ذَلِكَ زَوَالٌ وَانْتِقَالٌ عَنِ الْحَالَةِ الاولَى وَلَوْ كَانَ قَدِيماً مَا زَالَ وَلا حَالَ لانَّ الَّذِي يَزُولُ وَيَحُولُ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُوجَدَ وَيُبْطَلَ فَيَكُونُ بِوُجُودِهِ بَعْدَ عَدَمِهِ دُخُولٌ فِي الْحَدَثِ وَفِي كَوْنِهِ فِي الازَلِ دُخُولُهُ فِي الْعَدَمِ وَلَنْ تَجْتَمِعَ صِفَةُ الازَلِ وَالْعَدَمِ وَالْحُدُوثِ وَالْقِدَمِ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ هَبْكَ عَلِمْتَ فِي جَرْيِ الْحَالَتَيْنِ وَالزَّمَانَيْنِ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرْتَ وَاسْتَدْلَلْتَ بِذَلِكَ عَلَى حُدُوثِهِا فَلَوْ بَقِيَتِ الاشْيَاءُ عَلَى صِغَرِهَا مِنْ أَيْنَ كَانَ لَكَ أَنْ تَسْتَدِلَّ عَلَى حُدُوثِهِنَّ فَقَالَ الْعَالِمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّمَا نَتَكَلَّمُ عَلَى هَذَا الْعَالَمِ الْمَوْضُوعِ فَلَوْ رَفَعْنَاهُ وَوَضَعْنَا عَالَماً آخَرَ كَانَ لا شَيْ‏ءَ أَدَلَّ عَلَى الْحَدَثِ مِنْ رَفْعِنَا إِيَّاهُ وَوَضْعِنَا غَيْرَهُ وَلَكِنْ أُجِيبُكَ مِنْ حَيْثُ قَدَّرْتَ أَنْ تُلْزِمَنَا فَنَقُولُ إِنَّ الاشْيَاءَ لَوْ دَامَتْ عَلَى صِغَرِهَا لَكَانَ فِي الْوَهْمِ أَنَّهُ مَتَى ضُمَّ شَيْ‏ءٌ إِلَى مِثْلِهِ كَانَ أَكْبَرَ وَفِي جَوَازِ التَّغْيِيرِ عَلَيْهِ خُرُوجُهُ مِنَ الْقِدَمِ كَمَا أَنَّ فِي تَغْيِيرِهِ دُخُولَهُ فِي الْحَدَثِ لَيْسَ لَكَ وَرَاءَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ يَا عَبْدَ الْكَرِيمِ فَانْقَطَعَ وَخُزِيَ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْعَامِ الْقَابِلِ الْتَقَى مَعَهُ فِي الْحَرَمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ شِيعَتِهِ إِنَّ ابْنَ أَبِي الْعَوْجَاءِ قَدْ أَسْلَمَ فَقَالَ الْعَالِمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ أَعْمَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ لا يُسْلِمُ فَلَمَّا بَصُرَ بِالْعَالِمِ.

قَالَ سَيِّدِي وَمَوْلايَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَالِمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا جَاءَ بِكَ إِلَى هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ فَقَالَ عَادَةُ الْجَسَدِ وَسُنَّةُ الْبَلَدِ وَلِنَنْظُرَ مَا النَّاسُ فِيهِ مِنَ الْجُنُونِ وَالْحَلْقِ وَرَمْيِ الْحِجَارَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْعَالِمُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنْتَ بَعْدُ عَلَى عُتُوِّكَ وَضَلالِكَ يَا عَبْدَ الْكَرِيمِ فَذَهَبَ يَتَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ لَهُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ وَنَفَضَ رِدَاءَهُ مِنْ يَدِهِ وَقَالَ إِنْ يَكُنِ الامْرُ كَمَا تَقُولُ وَلَيْسَ كَمَا تَقُولُ نَجَوْنَا وَنَجَوْتَ وَإِنْ يَكُنِ الامْرُ كَمَا نَقُولُ وَهُوَ كَمَا نَقُولُ نَجَوْنَا وَهَلَكْتَ فَأَقْبَلَ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ عَلَى مَنْ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ وَجَدْتُ فِي قَلْبِي حَزَازَةً فَرُدُّونِي فَرَدُّوهُ فَمَاتَ لا رَحِمَهُ الله.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Ali from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn abu Hashim from Ahmad ibn Muhsin al-Maythami who said that I was with abu Mansur al-Mutatbbib who said the following.

“One of my friends has said that he was with ibn abu al-‘Awja’ and ‘Abdallah ibn al-Muqaffa‘ in the holy Mosque of Makkah and ibn al-Muqaffa‘ said, “Do you see these creatures, pointing towards the location where people walk seven times around the Kabah‘? Of all these no one deserves to be called a human being accept that Shaikh sitting there, meaning thereby Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). The rest is garble and beasts.” Upon this ibn abu al-‘Awja’ said, “For what reason do you call him a human being and not the rest?” Ibn al-Muqaffa‘ then replied, “Because I saw with him what I did not see with the others.” Ibn abu al-”Awja’ then said, “We must test your claim.” Ibn al-Muqaffa‘ then said, “I advise you not to do so lest you will lose whatever faith you have. Ibn abu al-‘Awja’ then said, “I do not think that is what you mean. I think you are afraid of failing to substantiate what you have just said about this man.” Ibn al-Muqaffa‘ then said, “If that is what you think then go to him and protect yourself as much as you can. Be strong as much as you can so you are not harnnessed and note all points against and in your favor. Ibn abu al-‘Awja’ then left and ibn al-Muqaffa‘ and I remained there. When ibn abu al-‘Awja’ returned he said, “Woe is you, O ibn al-Muqaffa‘. This is not a human being even though he lives in this world. He is a spiritual being but appears in the form of man whenever he wants the out world and turns into a spiritual being whenever he wants the inner world. That is the way he is.” Ibn al-Muqaffa‘ then asked, “How does that happen?” Ibn abu al-‘Awja’ then said, “I sat near him and when everyone had gone he turned to me and said, “If it is the way they (people walking around the Ka‘bah) say, which is true then they are saved and you are destroyed. If it is the way you say it is, which is not so then you and they are all equal.” I then asked, “May Allah be kind to you. What is it that we say and what is it that they say? We all say the same thing.” He said, “How can what you say be equal to what they say? They say that they will have a return, a day of receiving their rewards and penalties. They believe in a religion which says that in the heavens is the Lord and that they are habitable while you say that they are in ruins and there is nothing in them.”Ibn abu al-‘Awja’ has said, “I then found the opportunity to speak and I asked, “What then keeps this Lord, if it is true the way they say that He exists, from appearing to His creatures and call them to His worship so that no two people would oppose each other? Why is He hiding from them and has only sent messengers? If He would have been in direct contact with them it would have been more helpful to have faith in Him.” He then responded, “Woe is you, how someone who is already shown His power within you is hiding from you? He brought you up. You did not even exist. He made you grow when you were so small. He gave you strength and power when you were so weak and will make you weak again after being strong. He make you sick after being healthy and can give you good health after suffering sickness. He can make you happy after you experience anger and make you angry after being happy. He can make you sad after your joy and give you joy after sadness. He can give love after your experiencing hatred and hatred after enjoying love. He can give you determination after your uncertainty and uncertainty after having determination. He can give you strong desires after your experiencing dislike and dislike after having strong desires. He can give you willingness after experiencing fear and concerns and fear after having strong willingness. He can give you hope after despair and despair after having a great deal of hope. He can give you good remembrance of what you had no idea and remove what you may have had as a belief.” He kept reminding and counting for me the effects of His power within my soul that I could not deny and I begin to have a feeling that all that is between me and him will all appear in the open.”

From the same source the following is narrated from a number of our people in a Marfu‘ manner as additional statements to the above discourse of ibn abu al-‘Awja’ with Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). That abu al-‘Awja’ came the next day to the meeting of the Imam and sat down quietly. The Imam (a.s.) said to him, “Would you like to review the issues we discussed yesterday?” He replied, “I did intend to do so, O son of the messenger of Allah.” The Imam then said, “It is strange that one who does not believe in Allah acknowledges the existence of the messenger of Allah.” He replied, “It is only the habit that made me say so.” The ‘Alim (the Imam) then asked, “What is it that keeps you quite?” He replied, “It is your excellence and awesome spiritual ability that hold my tongue back from speaking. I have seen many scholars and have debated many theologians but I never experienced such an awesome feeling from them as I feel in your presence.” The Imam then said, “ It may happen. I would like to open this session with a question to you. The Imam turned to him and asked, “Are you created or uncreated?” ‘Abdul Karim ibn abu al-‘Awja’ answered, “ I am uncreated.” The ‘Alim then asked him, “Describe for us then, how you might have been if you were created.” ‘Abdal Karim remained quiet and confused and began to scribble scrabble with a piece of wood, saying, long, wide, deep, short, moving and motionless all these are the qualities of His creatures.” The ‘Alim (Imam) then said, “If you do not know anything other than these as the qualities of the creation then consider yourself a creature because that is what you find within yourself that take place and come into existence.” ‘Abdal Karim then said, “You have asked me a question that no one before had ever asked and no one ever would ask afterwards.” Abu ‘Abdallah then said, “It is fine. I noticed that you did not ask any thing in the time past but how would you know that you will not ask any thing in future? Besides, O ‘Abdal Karim, what you said is against your notion that from the beginning all things are equal. How then you made them before and after? The Imam then said, “O ‘Abdal Karim let me explain it for you. Suppose if you had a bag with you full of pearls and someone asked you, “Is there a Dinar in your bag?” You then denied and said, “No, there is no Dinar in my bag.” The person then said, “Alright, then describe for me the qualities of the Dinar but you had no knowledge of the qualities of the Dinar. Could you deny the existence of the Dinar that was from the bag but you did not know about it?” he replied, “No, I would not deny.” The Imam then said, “The world is bigger, taller and wider than a bag. Perhaps in the world there is a creature as such that you do not know in whose case you would not be able to tell the qualities of the created from the non-created.” ‘Abdal Karim remained quiet but some of his people agreed to accept Islam and a few of them remained.

He came again to the meeting of the Imam on the third day and said, “I like to reverse the question.” The Imam replied, “Ask whatever you like.” He then asked, “What is the proof that bodies did not exist and then they came into existence?” The Imam then said, “I have not seen anything small or large that on adding to it something of the same size would not make it bigger and in this there is a change and transformation from the first condition. If it, however, would have been eternal, there would have been no changing and transformation. What may cease to exist or change it may come into existence and may get destroyed, thus, with its existence after its none existence is entering into the state of coming into being and as being eternal this will take it into nothingness but the two qualities of being eternal and nothingness and the qualities of a contingent and something without a beginning in one thing do come together.” ‘Abdal Karim then said, “Suppose, I noticed that with a view to the two conditions you mentioned you considered it a proof of their contingency. If, however, things would remain small, despite the addition, then how would you prove their contingency?” The ‘Alim then said, “We speak of this universe that is already there. Were we to take it away and place another universe in its place nothingness would have, certainly, been a stronger proof of its contingency than its removal and its replacing with a different one. I, however, will answer you according to your assumption. If things would still remain small but it would certainly come into one’s thinking that whenever something like it added to another thing it then would be bigger. The fact that it can change is proof of its becoming temporal and in its changing condition is proof of its contingency. There is nothing beyond it for you, O ‘Abdal Karim. ‘Abdal Karim had nothing else to say.

Next year he met the Imam (a.s.) in Makkah again and people from his followers said that ‘Abdal Karim has become a Muslim. The Imam told him that ‘Abdal Karim was blind in this matter and would not become a Muslim. When he saw the ‘Alim he said, “My master, my chief!” The ‘Alim then asked him, “What brings you here?” He then replied, “It is the habits of the body and the traditions of the town to see what craziness makes them shave and throw pebbles.” The ‘Alim said, “It seems that you still live in your arrogance and misguidance, O ‘Abdal Karim.” He began to speak but the Imam said, “Disputation during Hajj is not permissible. The Imam freed his gown from the hand of the heretic man and said, “If it is the way you say and it is not true, then we as well as you are all saved. However, if it is the way we say and it is true we are saved but you are destroyed.” ‘Abdal Karim then turned to his people saying, “I feel pain in my heart. Take me back. They took him away and he died.

3ـ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الاسَدِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْبَرْمَكِيِّ الرَّازِيِّ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ بُرْدٍ الدِّينَوَرِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله الْخُرَاسَانِيِّ خَادِمِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الزَّنَادِقَةِ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَعِنْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيُّهَا الرَّجُلُ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ الْقَوْلُ قَوْلَكُمْ وَلَيْسَ هُوَ كَمَا تَقُولُونَ أَ لَسْنَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ شَرَعاً سَوَاءً لا يَضُرُّنَا مَا صَلَّيْنَا وَصُمْنَا وَزَكَّيْنَا وَأَقْرَرْنَا فَسَكَتَ الرَّجُلُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَإِنْ كَانَ الْقَوْلُ قَوْلَنَا وَهُوَ قَوْلُنَا أَ لَسْتُمْ قَدْ هَلَكْتُمْ وَنَجَوْنَا فَقَالَ رَحِمَكَ الله أَوْجِدْنِي كَيْفَ هُوَ وَأَيْنَ هُوَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّ الَّذِي ذَهَبْتَ إِلَيْهِ غَلَطٌ هُوَ أَيَّنَ الايْنَ بِلا أَيْنٍ وَكَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ بِلا كَيْفٍ فَلا يُعْرَفُ بِالْكَيْفُوفِيَّةِ وَلا بِأَيْنُونِيَّةٍ وَلا يُدْرَكُ بِحَاسَّةٍ وَلا يُقَاسُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَإِذاً إِنَّهُ لا شَيْ‏ءَ إِذَا لَمْ يُدْرَكْ بِحَاسَّةٍ مِنَ الْحَوَاسِّ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَيْلَكَ لَمَّا عَجَزَتْ حَوَاسُّكَ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِ أَنْكَرْتَ رُبُوبِيَّتَهُ وَنَحْنُ إِذَا عَجَزَتْ حَوَاسُّنَا عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِ أَيْقَنَّا أَنَّهُ رَبُّنَا بِخِلافِ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الاشْيَاءِ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَتَى كَانَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَخْبِرْنِي مَتَى لَمْ يَكُنْ فَأُخْبِرَكَ مَتَى كَانَ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَمَا الدَّلِيلُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنِّي لَمَّا نَظَرْتُ إِلَى جَسَدِي وَلَمْ يُمْكِنِّي فِيهِ زِيَادَةٌ وَلا نُقْصَانٌ فِي الْعَرْضِ وَالطُّولِ وَدَفْعِ الْمَكَارِهِ عَنْهُ وَجَرِّ الْمَنْفَعَةِ إِلَيْهِ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ لِهَذَا الْبُنْيَانِ بَانِياً فَأَقْرَرْتُ بِهِ مَعَ مَا أَرَى مِنْ دَوَرَانِ الْفَلَكِ بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَإِنْشَاءِ السَّحَابِ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحَ وَمَجْرَى الشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ وَالنُّجُومِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الايَاتِ الْعَجِيبَاتِ الْمُبَيِّنَاتِ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ لِهَذَا مُقَدِّراً وَمُنْشِئاً.

3. Muhammad ibn Ja‘far al-Asadi has narrated from Muhammad ibn Esma‘il al-Barmaki al-Razi from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan ibn Bard al-Daynuri from Muhammad ibn Ali from Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah al-Khurasani the an employee of Imam al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following.

“An atheist man came to Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) while group of people was present there. The Imam (a.s.) said to him, “Consider, if what you say would be true which is not true, in such case, we all will be equal. Our fasting, prayers, giving charity and belief will not harm us.” The man remained quite. The Imam then said, “If what we say would be true, which, in fact, is true then you will be the one facing your destruction and we will be saved.” The man then said, “Please help me learn where is He and how is He?” The Imam then said, “What is the matter with you? What you say is not right. He is the ‘where’ of ‘where’ but without ‘where’. He is the ‘how’ of ‘how’ without ‘how’. He can not be defined with ‘how’ and ‘where’ and can not be comprehended with the senses or compared with anything.” The man then asked, “Tell me then when was He?” The Imam replied, “You tell me, when He was not there so that I would tell when He was there?” The man then asked, “What is the proof for His existence?” The Imam said, “When I look at my body I find that I can not do any addition or alteration to it such as width and breadth or remove its sufferings and attract all its interests. I then come to understand that for this establishment there must be a founder and then I acknowledge His existence. Besides, I see all the orbiting planets and stars, the creation of the clouds and driving of the winds, the paths of the sun, the moon, the stars and other things of the marvelous clear signs I come to believe that there is One who has designed and created all such wonderful things”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ الْخَفَّافِ أَوْ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ إِنَّ عَبْدَ الله الدَّيَصَانِيَّ سَأَلَ هِشَامَ بْنَ الْحَكَمِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ لَكَ رَبٌّ فَقَالَ بَلَى قَالَ أَ قَادِرٌ هُوَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَادِرٌ قَاهِرٌ قَالَ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ الدُّنْيَا كُلَّهَا الْبَيْضَةَ لا تَكْبُرُ الْبَيْضَةُ وَلا تَصْغُرُ الدُّنْيَا قَالَ هِشَامٌ النَّظِرَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَدْ أَنْظَرْتُكَ حَوْلاً ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَنْهُ فَرَكِبَ هِشَامٌ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَاسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله أَتَانِي عَبْدُ الله الدَّيَصَانِيُّ بِمَسْأَلَةٍ لَيْسَ الْمُعَوَّلُ فِيهَا إِلا عَلَى الله وَعَلَيْكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَمَّا ذَا سَأَلَكَ فَقَالَ قَالَ لِي كَيْتَ وَكَيْتَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا هِشَامُ كَمْ حَوَاسُّكَ قَالَ خَمْسٌ قَالَ أَيُّهَا أَصْغَرُ قَالَ النَّاظِرُ قَالَ وَكَمْ قَدْرُ النَّاظِرِ قَالَ مِثْلُ الْعَدَسَةِ أَوْ أَقَلُّ مِنْهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا هِشَامُ فَانْظُرْ أَمَامَكَ وَفَوْقَكَ وَأَخْبِرْنِي بِمَا تَرَى فَقَالَ أَرَى سَمَاءً وَأَرْضاً وَدُوراً وَقُصُوراً وَبَرَارِيَ وَجِبِالاً وَأَنْهَاراً فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الَّذِي قَدَرَ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ الَّذِي تَرَاهُ الْعَدَسَةَ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْهَا قَادِرٌ أَنْ يُدْخِلَ الدُّنْيَا كُلَّهَا الْبَيْضَةَ لا تَصْغَرُ الدُّنْيَا وَلا تَكْبُرُ الْبَيْضَةُ فَأَكَبَّ هِشَامٌ عَلَيْهِ وَقَبَّلَ يَدَيْهِ وَرَأْسَهُ وَرِجْلَيْهِ وَقَالَ حَسْبِي يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله وَانْصَرَفَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ وَغَدَا عَلَيْهِ الدَّيَصَانِيُّ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا هِشَامُ إِنِّي جِئْتُكَ مُسَلِّماً وَلَمْ أَجِئْكَ مُتَقَاضِياً لِلْجَوَابِ فَقَالَ لَهُ هِشَامٌ إِنْ كُنْتَ جِئْتَ مُتَقَاضِياً فَهَاكَ الْجَوَابَ فَخَرَجَ الدَّيَصَانِيُّ عَنْهُ حَتَّى أَتَى بَابَ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَاسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا قَعَدَ قَالَ لَهُ يَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ دُلَّنِي عَلَى مَعْبُودِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا اسْمُكَ فَخَرَجَ عَنْهُ وَلَمْ يُخْبِرْهُ بِاسْمِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ كَيْفَ لَمْ تُخْبِرْهُ بِاسْمِكَ قَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُ قُلْتُ لَهُ عَبْدُ الله كَانَ يَقُولُ مَنْ هَذَا الَّذِي أَنْتَ لَهُ عَبْدٌ فَقَالُوا لَهُ عُدْ إِلَيْهِ وَقُلْ لَهُ يَدُلُّكَ عَلَى مَعْبُودِكَ وَلا يَسْأَلُكَ عَنِ اسْمِكَ فَرَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ دُلَّنِي عَلَى مَعْبُودِي وَلا تَسْأَلْنِي عَنِ اسْمِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اجْلِسْ وَإِذَا غُلامٌ لَهُ صَغِيرٌ فِي كَفِّهِ بَيْضَةٌ يَلْعَبُ بِهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نَاوِلْنِي يَا غُلامُ الْبَيْضَةَ فَنَاوَلَهُ إِيَّاهَا فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا دَيَصَانِيُّ هَذَا حِصْنٌ مَكْنُونٌ لَهُ جِلْدٌ غَلِيظٌ وَتَحْتَ الْجِلْدِ الْغَلِيظِ جِلْدٌ رَقِيقٌ وَتَحْتَ الْجِلْدِ الرَّقِيقِ ذَهَبَةٌ مَائِعَةٌ وَفِضَّةٌ ذَائِبَةٌ فَلا الذَّهَبَةُ الْمَائِعَةُ تَخْتَلِطُ بِالْفِضَّةِ الذَّائِبَةِ وَلا الْفِضَّةُ الذَّائِبَةُ تَخْتَلِطُ بِالذَّهَبَةِ الْمَائِعَةِ فَهِيَ عَلَى حَالِهَا لَمْ يَخْرُجْ مِنْهَا خَارِجٌ مُصْلِحٌ فَيُخْبِرَ عَنْ صَلاحِهَا وَلا دَخَلَ فِيهَا مُفْسِدٌ فَيُخْبِرَ عَنْ فَسَادِهَا لا يُدْرَى لِلذَّكَرِ خُلِقَتْ أَمْ لِلانْثَى تَنْفَلِقُ عَنْ مِثْلِ أَلْوَانِ الطَّوَاوِيسِ أَ تَرَى لَهَا مُدَبِّراً قَالَ فَأَطْرَقَ مَلِيّاً ثُمَّ قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَأَنَّكَ إِمَامٌ وَحُجَّةٌ مِنَ الله عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَأَنَا تَائِبٌ مِمَّا كُنْتُ فِيهِ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Khaffaf or from his father from Muhammad ibn Ishaq who has said the following. “‘Abdallah al-Daysani asked Hisham ibn al-Hakam, ‘Do you have a God?’” He replied, “Yes, I have a God.” He then asked, “Is He powerful?” Hisham then replied, “Yes, He is powerful and the most powerful One.” The man then asked, “Can He fit the whole world inside an egg without any change in the size of either one?” Hisham then said, “Give me a little time.” The man said, “I give you one whole year and he left.” Hisham then went to see Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) for an Answer. After asking permission that he was granted Hisham explained, “Al-Daysani asked me a question today and I see no one except Allah and yourself to answer it.” The Imam then asked, “What is the question?” Hisham restated the question that al-Daysani had asked. The Imam then said, “O Hisham, how many are your senses?” He replied, “They are five.” The Imam then asked, “Which one is the smallest?” He replied, “The seeing sense.” The Imam then asked, “How big is its size?” He replied, “It is about the size of the pupil or smaller.” The Imam then said, “O Hisham, look in front of you and above you and then tell me what you have seen.” Hisham then replied, “I can see the sky, the earth, the houses, the buildings, the land, the mountains and the water canals.” The Imam then said, “The One who has been able to fit all that you can see in a pupil or even a smaller thing is also able to fit the whole world in side an egg without any change in the size of any one of them. Hisham bowed down and kissed the feet, the hands and the head of the Imam (a.s.) saying, “This is enough for me O descendant of the holy Prophet and then left for his home. The next day al-Daysani met him and said, “I have come just to say greetings to you and not for an answer to my question” Hisham then said, “Even if you may have come for an answer it is ready.” Al-Daysani then left to meet Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and after asking permission for a meeting which was granted he sat down and said, “O Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, “Guide me to my Lord.” The Imam then asked, “What is your name?” He then left without answering the Imam and his people asked him, “Why did you not answer the Imam?” He replied, “Were I to tell him that it is ‘Abdallah he would then ask that who is this Lord whose slave are you?” They then said, “Return to him and ask him to guide you to your Lord without asking your name.” He then returned back to the Imam and asked, “O Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, “Guide me to my Lord but do not ask my name.” The Imam asked him to sit down. A young boy, son of the Imam was there playing with an egg in his hand and the Imam asked, “Fetch me the egg O young man. The boy gave the egg to the Imam who said, “O Daysani, this is a secure castle. It has a thicker outer shell and inside of it there is much finer shell inside of which there is liquid gold and flowing silver. The liquid gold does not mix with the flowing silver nor does the flowing silver mix the liquid gold. Such is its condition no expert comes out therefrom to find out what is beneficial to it to report back all about it nor any corrupting agent enters therein so that its problems would be reported. No one knows if it is created for a male or a female. It will burst out with colors of a peacock. Do you think there is someone to design and manage it?

Al-Daysani thought quietly and said, “I testify that there is no god but Allah Who is the only Lord and has no partner. I testify that Muhammad (s.a) is His servant and messenger and that you are the Imam and an authority from Allah over his creatures and I repent because of previous beliefs.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو الْفُقَيْمِيِّ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ فِي حَدِيثِ الزِّنْدِيقِ الَّذِي أَتَى أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَكَانَ مِنْ قَوْلِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا يَخْلُو قَوْلُكَ إِنَّهُمَا اثْنَانِ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَا قَدِيمَيْنِ قَوِيَّيْنِ أَوْ يَكُونَا ضَعِيفَيْنِ أَوْ يَكُونَ أَحَدُهُمَا قَوِيّاً وَالاخَرُ ضَعِيفاً فَإِنْ كَانَا قَوِيَّيْنِ فَلِمَ لا يَدْفَعُ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ وَيَتَفَرَّدُ بِالتَّدْبِيرِ وَإِنْ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمَا قَوِيٌّ وَالاخَرَ ضَعِيفٌ ثَبَتَ أَنَّهُ وَاحِدٌ كَمَا نَقُولُ لِلْعَجْزِ الظَّاهِرِ فِي الثَّانِي فَإِنْ قُلْتَ إِنَّهُمَا اثْنَانِ لَمْ يَخْلُ مِنْ أَنْ يَكُونَا مُتَّفِقَيْنِ مِنْ كُلِّ جِهَةٍ أَوْ مُفْتَرِقَيْنِ مِنْ كُلِّ جِهَةٍ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَا الْخَلْقَ مُنْتَظِماً وَالْفَلَكَ جَارِياً وَالتَّدْبِيرَ وَاحِداً وَاللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَلَّ صِحَّةُ الامْرِ وَالتَّدْبِيرِ وَائْتِلافُ الامْرِ عَلَى أَنَّ الْمُدَبِّرَ وَاحِدٌ ثُمَّ يَلْزَمُكَ إِنِ ادَّعَيْتَ اثْنَيْنِ فُرْجَةٌ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا حَتَّى يَكُونَا اثْنَيْنِ فَصَارَتِ الْفُرْجَةُ ثَالِثاً بَيْنَهُمَا قَدِيماً مَعَهُمَا فَيَلْزَمُكَ ثَلاثَةٌ فَإِنِ ادَّعَيْتَ ثَلاثَةً لَزِمَكَ مَا قُلْتَ فِي الاثْنَيْنِ حَتَّى تَكُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ فُرْجَةٌ فَيَكُونُوا خَمْسَةً ثُمَّ يَتَنَاهَى فِي الْعَدَدِ إِلَى مَا لا نِهَايَةَ لَهُ فِي الْكَثْرَةِ قَالَ هِشَامٌ فَكَانَ مِنْ سُؤَالِ الزِّنْدِيقِ أَنْ قَالَ فَمَا الدَّلِيلُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وُجُودُ الافَاعِيلِ دَلَّتْ عَلَى أَنَّ صَانِعاً صَنَعَهَا أَ لا تَرَى أَنَّكَ إِذَا نَظَرْتَ إِلَى بِنَاءٍ مُشَيَّدٍ مَبْنِيٍّ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ لَهُ بَانِياً وَإِنْ كُنْتَ لَمْ تَرَ الْبَانِيَ وَلَمْ تُشَاهِدْهُ قَالَ فَمَا هُوَ قَالَ 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.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abbass ibn ‘Amr al-Faqimi from Hisham ibn al-Hakam in the narration about the atheist who came to Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and the Imam had explained to him the following.

“You assume that there are two eternal and powerful powers (who control the universe) or that both are weak or only one of them is weak and the other is powerful. If they both are powerful why then neither one ever makes an effort to remove the other one so only one would become in control of the universe? If you would assume that one is powerful and the other is weak then it is proof that there is only one, as we believe because the weakness of the other is so apparent. Besides, if you would say that they are two then they either agree with each other in all matters or disagree in the same way. Since we see the creation works in an organized manner, the orbiting objects continue to do so, the organization is one, the day, the night, the sun and the moon all show that the organization is valid and correct. The harmony in the matter shows that the organizer is One. If your claim of two would involve you to believe that there must be a gap in between to show two things and in that case, the gap will become a third one and eternal. Thus, it will involve you in three and this will involve to say what you said about the two where you needed to have a gap and in this case it will become five and so on indefinite in number and multiplicity.”

Hisham has said that of the questions of the atheist from Imam abu ‘Abdallah one was that what is the evidence of His existence? The Imam (a.s.) answered, “The existence of the effects (activities) show that someone has produced those effects and activities. Consider, when you see a well constructed building you learn that there is someone, who has built it even if you have not seen the builder with your own eyes.” The atheist then asked, “What is it then?” The Imam replied, “He is something but different from all 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.”

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَفَى لاولِي الالْبَابِ بِخَلْقِ الرَّبِّ الْمُسَخِّرِ وَمُلْكِ الرَّبِّ الْقَاهِرِ وَجَلالِ الرَّبِّ الظَّاهِرِ وَنُورِ الرَّبِّ الْبَاهِرِ وَبُرْهَانِ الرَّبِّ الصَّادِقِ وَمَا أَنْطَقَ بِهِ أَلْسُنَ الْعِبَادِ وَمَا أَرْسَلَ بِهِ الرُّسُلَ وَمَا أَنْزَلَ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ دَلِيلاً عَلَى الرَّبِّ.

6. Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub has said that a number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from his father, from Ali ibn al-Ni‘man, from ibn Maskan, from Dawud ibn Farqad from abu Sa‘id al-Zuhri from Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who said the following. “For the people of understanding as proof of the existence of the Allah it is enough that He has created all things and has kept them full under His control. It is enough proof that He is the Most powerful king. It is enough proof that His Majesty is manifest everywhere. That His light is the Most bright that His testimony is the Most truthful. There is enough proof of His existence in what the people speak and what the messengers have brought and what he has revealed to people as proof of His Own existence.”