Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Alhassanain (p) Network for Islamic Heritage and Thought

HAYAT AL-QULUB

Succession to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)

VOL. 3

By: ALLAMAH MUHAMMAD BAQIR AL-MAJLISI

Translator: Syed Athar Husain S.H.Rizvi

www.alhassanain.org/english

حياة القلوب ج3

بحث امامت

Hayat al-Qulub

Succession to Muhammad (s.a.w.s.)

vol. 3

Author: Allamah Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi

Translator: Syed Athar Husain S.H. Rizvi

Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum

First Edition 1424-2003-1382

ISBN Vol.3: 964-438-462-8 ISBN Set: 964-438-463-6

ALL RIGHTS RECORDED AND RESERVED FOR THE PUBLISHER

www.ansariyan.org & www.ansariyan.org

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH,
THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL

Table of Contents

A Brief Introduction 11

CHAPTER ONE 12

There is an Imam in every age and his obedience is compulsory 12

PART 1 13

Essentiality of the Imam and there not being any period without an Imam 13

First Verse 13

Second verse 15

PART 2 26

The Imam should be Infallible (inerrant/sinless) from all sins 26

First Argument 26

Second Argument 26

Third Argument 26

Fourth Argument 27

PART 3 36

Imamate is established through the explicit mention 36

First argument 36

Second argument 36

Third argument 36

Fourth argument 37

Fifth argument 37

Sixth argument 38

Seventh argument 38

Eight argument 38

Verses that mention the appointment of the Imams (a.s.) 40

The First Verse: 40

The Second Verse 42

PART 4 46

It is mandatory to know the Imam of the time 46

PART 5 53

The one who denies one Imam is like the one who denies all Imams 53

PART 6 59

It is obligatory to obey the True Imams 59

PART 7 63

No guidance except through the True Imams 63

PART 8 65

Hadith Thaqalayn (Tradition of the Two weighty things) and similar Traditions 65

PART 9 73

Different traditions that mention the nomination of all the Imams together 73

CHAPTER TWO 79

Description of Verses revealed summarily about the status of the Imams 79

PART 1 80

Interpretation of “Peace be upon Ilyasin” 80

PART 2 82

Describing that “Zikr” (remembrance) means Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and that Shias are duty-bound to ask them but that they are not bound to answer them 82

PART 3 87

In the description that those who have the knowledge of the Quran and who are perfect in knowledge and who fear the Quran are the Imams 87

PART 4 92

The Signs and Proofs as mentioned in the Holy Quran and also what is meant by the Book of Allah (according to their inner meaning) are the Holy Imams (a.s.) 92

PART 5 95

The Infallible Imams (a.s.) are the most exalted of the creatures and the most respected of Ibrahim’s progeny. There are some verses in this 95

The First Verse: 95

The Second Verse: 98

The Third Verse: 100

The Fourth Verse: 100

The Fifth Verse: 101

The Sixth Verse: 101

The Seventh Verse: 102

PART 6 103

Necessity of having love and devotion for Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) because their love is the recompense of Messengership 103

First opinion: 103

Second opinion: 103

Third opinion: 103

PART 7 113

Parents/Children denote the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and Imams and their followers 113

PART 8 123

Trust (Amanat) denotes Imamate in Quran. There are two verses on this 123

First verse 123

Second Verse 125

PART 9 128

Quranic verses that prove the necessity of following the path of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) 128

PART 10 139

Exegesis of the verse of Noor - Luminosities denote these divine personalities and the exalted houses denote the houses of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Darkness denotes their enemies 139

First verse: 139

Second verse: 145

The third and the fourth verses: 148

The fifth verse: 150

The sixth verse: 150

The Seventh verse: 151

The Eighth verse: 152

The Ninth verse: 153

The tenth verse: 155

The Eleventh verse: 156

The twelfth verse: 158

The Thirteenth verse: 158

The Fourteenth verse: 159

PART 11 162

The Purified Imams (a.s.) are witnesses upon the creatures and the deeds of people are shown to them 162

First verse: 162

Second verse: 162

Third verse: 162

Fourth verse: 162

Fifth verse: 162

Sixth verse: 162

Seventh verse: 163

Eighth verse: 163

Ninth verse: 163

Tenth verse: 163

PART 12 173

Traditions that discuss believers and belief, Muslims and Islam and Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and their Wilayat as mentioned in the Quranic verses. Traditions that discuss disbelief, polytheism and idol worship and those who leave all these things 173

PART 13 188

Traditions that confirm that Imams (a.s.) are the ‘helpers of Allah’, ‘pious ones’ and ‘the foremost’. And their Shias are ‘the companions of the right’ and their enemies are ‘the companions of the left’ 188

PART 14 199

Traditions that interpret words like Sirat (Path), Sabil (way) to signify the Imams (a.s.) 199

PART 15 208

Quranic verses based on the variations of the word ‘Truth’ 208

First Verse: 208

Second Verse: 208

Third Verse: 210

Fourth Verse: 211

Fifth Verse: 212

Sixth Verse: 213

PART 16 215

Traditions that indicate ‘good deeds’ to mean the Wilayat of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and ‘evil’ indicates enmity towards them 215

First Verse: 215

Second Verse: 216

Third Verse: 216

Fourth Verse: 216

PART 17 219

According to the interpreters of Quran, ‘bounty’ denotes the Wilayat of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Also that the greatest bounty are these very personalities. There are some verses about this 219

First verse: 219

Second verse: 220

Third verse: 222

Fourth verse: 222

Fifth verse: 223

Sixth verse: 223

Seventh verse: 225

Eighth verse: 225

Ninth verse: 225

Tenth verse: 225

Eleventh verse: 225

Twelfth verse: 226

Thirteenth verse: 226

PART 18 227

Traditions that explain, Sun, Moon, Stars and the firmament to denote the Holy Imams (a.s.) 227

PART 19 234

The Purified Imams (a.s.) are the Hablul Mateen (strong rope) and Urwatul Wuthqa (firmest handle) 234

First verse: 234

Second verse: 235

Third verse: 235

PART 20 237

Wisdom and ‘those endowed with understanding’ refers to the Holy Imams (a.s.) 237

Part 21 239

‘Companions of a Known place’ and ‘Carriers of the Heavens’ denote the Holy Imams (a.s.) 239

PART 22 244

The Satisfied folk in Paradise denote the Imams (a.s.) and the people bearing the punishments of Hell are their enemies 244

First verse: 244

Second verse: 244

Third verse: 244

Fourth verse: 245

PART 23 246

‘Naas (people)’ refers to the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and ‘Semi-Naas’ refers to their Shias and the others are ‘Not-naas’ 246

Part 24 247

Ocean of pearls and corals denote the Imams (a.s.) 247

Part 25 249

‘Maa-e-Maeen’ (Flowing water), ‘Be-ar-e-Motala’ (Deserted well), ‘Qasr-e-Mushayyad’(high palace), ‘Sahab, ‘Barish’, and ‘Favakeh’ and all those apparent things which give benefits refer to the Pure Imams (a.s.), their sciences and blessings 249

First verse: 249

Second verse: 249

Third verse: 249

Fourth Verse: 250

Fifth verse: 251

Sixth verse: 251

Seventh verse: 251

Part 26 255

‘Nahl’ denotes the Infallible Imams (a.s.) 255

Part 27 257

Interpretation of the Seven oft repeated verses 257

Part 28 260

In Quran, ‘Scholars’ imply the Imams and ‘people of understanding’ stands for their Shias 260

Part 29 263

The Imams are ‘those who examine’. They can glance at a person and come to know whether he is a believer or not 263

Part 30 267

The interpretation of the last verses of Surah Furqan points towards the Imams 267

Part 31 271

Shajrae Tayyiba (The Consecrated Tree) denotes Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and the Accursed Tree denotes their enemies 271

Part 32 275

Verses whose interpretation points towards the guidance of the Holy Imams 275

There are some verses regarding this 275

First verse: 275

Second verse: 275

Third verse: 275

Fourth verse: 276

Fifth verse: 276

Sixth verse: 276

Seventh verse: 277

Eighth verse: 277

Ninth verse: 277

Tenth verse: 277

Eleventh verse: 278

Twelfth verse: 278

Thirteenth verse: 278

Part 33 279

Verses that mention Imam or Ummah; Their interpretation 279

First verse: 279

Second verse: 279

Third verse: 280

Fourth verse: 280

Fifth verse: 281

Sixth verse: 281

Part 34 283

Regarding the fact that ‘Salam’ and ‘Islam’ denote the Holy Imams and their Shias 283

First verse: 283

Second verse: 283

Third verse: 284

Part 35 286

The Imams are the appointed Caliphs of Allah; Allah wishes to establish them in the Earth and has promised them help 286

First verse: 286

Second verse: 288

Third verse: 288

Fourth verse: 289

Fifth verse: 290

Sixth verse: 290

Part 36 292

Kalimah and Kalam denotes the Wilayat and friendship of Aale Muhammad 292

First verse: 292

Second verse: 293

Third verse: 293

Fourth verse: 294

The Sixth verse: 295

The Seventh verse: 295

Eighth verse: 296

Ninth verse: 296

Tenth verse: 297

Eleventh verse: 298

Twelfth verse: 298

Thirteenth verse: 299

Part 37 300

In the discussion that the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) are included in the sanctity of Allah 300

Part 38 302

Verses that mention Justice, goodness, equity and weighing scales actually mean the Wilayat of Imams and words like disbelief, evil, transgression and disobedience stand for the enmity and rejection of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) 302

First verse: 302

Second verse: 302

Third verse: 303

Fourth verse: 303

Fifth verse: 304

Sixth verse: 304

Seventh verse: 304

Part 39 306

Terms like ‘Side of Allah’, ‘Face of Allah’ and ‘Hands of Allah’ denote the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the Holy Imams (a.s.) 306

First verse: 306

Second verse: 307

Third verse: 309

Part 40 312

The Imams (a.s.) and their Shias are the recipients of Divine Grace; They are the Helpers of Allah, the remnants of Allah and the repositories of the Knowledge of the Prophets 312

First verse: 312

Second verse: 313

Third verse: 313

Fourth verse: 315

Fifth verse: 316

Part 41 318

Verses that indicate the love and regard of the Angels for the Holy Imams and their Shias 318

Part 42 321

Verses that mention patience and contentment etc. were revealed for the Imams (a.s.) and their Shias 321

First verse: 321

Second verse: 321

Third verse: 323

Fourth verse: 323

Fifth verse: 324

Sixth verse: 324

Part 43 326

Verses that speak of the afflictions and tragedies that befell the Infallible Imams (a.s.) 326

First verse: 326

Second verse: 327

Third verse: 327

Fourth verse: 328

Fifth Verse: 328

Sixth Verse: 329

Seventh Verse: 329

Eighth Verse: 329

Ninth Verse: 330

Tenth Verse: 330

Eleventh Verse: 330

Twelfth Verse: 330

Notes 331

A Brief Introduction

The third volume deals with the topic of Imamate, the appointment of the Imam (a.s.), the inerrancy of the Imams and the obligation of the people to obey them. After this the Author has collected all the verses of the Holy Quran whose Exegesis (Tafsir) points towards Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). He has supported his statements with traditions. This volume can be said to be a Special Tafsir of the Holy Quran.

CHAPTER ONE

There is an Imam in every age and his obedience is compulsory

[Which mentions that the existence of Imam is essential in every period of the time and that no age ever remains without an Imam and that it is obligatory to obey him and that people do not get guidance but through the Imam and that it is necessary that the Imam must be clear of all sins and that he ought to be appointed by Allah. Also a brief description of the Divine texts (Nusoos) revealed regarding the Imams. So also some of their virtues. There are several Parts in this.]

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