Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

1710 - إرمِيا عليه السلام‏

1710. IRMIYA (AS)

(أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَى‏ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى‏ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّى‏ يُحْيِي هَذِهِ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ...).1

“Or him who came upon a township as it lay fallen on its trellises. He said, 'How will Allah revive this after its death?!” 2

6014. الإمامُ الباقرُ عليه السلام - لَمّا سَألَهُ عالِمٌ نَصرانِيٌّ عن رجُلٍ دَنا مِنِ امرأتِهِ فحَملَت باثنَينِ ، حَمَلَتهُما جَميعاً في ساعَةٍ واحِدَةٍ ، ووَلَدَتهُما في ساعَةٍ واحِدَةٍ ، وماتا في ساعَةٍ واحِدَةٍ ، ودُفِنا في قَبرٍ واحِدٍ ، عاشَ أحَدُهُما خَمسينَ ومِائَةَ سَنَةٍ وعاشَ الآخَرُ خَمسِينَ سَنَةً ، مَن هُما ؟ - : عُزَيرٌ وعُزرَةُ ، كانا حَمَلَت اُمُّهُما بِهما على‏ ما وَصَفتَ ووَضَعَتهُما على‏ ما وَصَفتَ وعاشَ عُزَيرٌ وعُزرَةُ كذا وكذا سَنَةً ، ثُمّ أماتَ اللَّهُ تباركَ وتعالى‏ عُزَيراً مِائةَ سَنَةٍ ، ثُمّ بُعِثَ وعاشَ مَع عُزرَةَ هذهِ الخَمسينَ سَنَةً ، وماتا كِلاهُما في ساعَةٍ واحِدَةٍ3

6014. Imam al-Baqir (AS), when a Christian scholar asked him about a man who copulated with his wife and she became pregnant with two, both in one hour, and she gave birth to both in one hour, and they both died in one hour, and they were both buried in one grave, but one lived for one hundred and fifty years and the other lived for fifty years - who were they? He replied, ' Uzair and Uzra. Their mother was pregnant with them as you have described, and she gave birth as you described, and Uzair and Uzra lived for so and so years. Allah then made Uzair die for one hundred years, then he was revived and lived with Uzra for fifty years. Then they both died together at one time.'4

6015. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : أماتَ اللَّهُ إرمياءَ النَّبيَّ عليه السلام الّذي نَظَرَ إلى‏ خَرابِ بَيتِ المَقدِسِ وما حَولَهُ حِينَ غَزاهُم بُختُ نَصَّرُ ، وقالَ : أنَّى‏ يُحيي هذهِ اللَّهُ بَعدَ مَوتِها ؟! فأماتَهُ اللَّهُ مِائةَ عامٍ ثُمّ أحياهُ ، ونَظَرَ إلى‏ أعضائهِ كيفَ تَلتَئمُ وكيفَ تَلبَسُ اللَّحمَ ، وإلى‏ مَفاصِلِهِ وعُروقِهِ كَيفَ تُوصَلُ ، فلَمّا استَوى‏ قاعِداً قالَ : (أعْلَمُ أ نّ اللَّهَ على‏ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَديرٌ)5 6

6015. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Allah brought death to the prophet Irmiya' who looked at the ruins of Jerusalem and its surroundings when Nebuchadnezzar invaded it. He said, 'How will Allah revive this after its death?!' So Allah made him die for a hundred years, then He resurrected him. He looked at his organs and how they came together and how they became covered in flesh, and at his limbs and veins and how they were connected together. When he sat upright he said, 'I know that Allah has power over all things'.7

Notes

1. البقرة : 259

2. Quran 2 :259

3. الكافي : 8 / 123 / 94

4. al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 123, no. 94

5. البقرة : 259

6. الاحتجاج : 2 / 230 / 223

7. al-Ihtijaj, v. 2, p. 230, no. 223

1711 - يونُس عليه السلام‏

1711. JONAH (AS) [YuNUS]

( وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ * إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ * فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ * فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ * فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ * لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَى‏ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ * فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ * وأَنْبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِنْ يَقْطِينٍ * وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَى‏ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ * فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَى‏ حِينٍ)1

“And indeed Jonah was one of the apostles, when he absconded toward the laden ship. Then he drew lots with them and he was the one to be refuted. Then the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy. And had he not been one of those who celebrate Allah's glory, he would have surely remained in its belly till the day they will be resurrected. Then We cast him on a bare shore, and he was sick. So we made a gourd plant grow above him. We sent him to a [community of] hundred thousand or more, and they believed [in him]. So We provided for them for a while.” 2

(اُنظر) يونس : 98 والأنبياء : 87 ، 88 والقلم : 48 - 50

(See also: 10:98, 21:87-88, 68:48-50)

6016. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : لايَنبَغي لأحَدٍ أن يَقولَ : أنا عندَ اللَّهِ خَيرٌ مِن يُونُسَ بنِ مَتّى‏3

6016. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'It is not appropriate for a prophet to say: 'I am better in the eyes of Allah than Jonah son of Matta'.'4

6017. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - لَمّا سَألَهُ بَعضُ اليَهودِ عن سِجنٍ طافَ أقطارَ الأرضِ بِصاحِبِهِ - : يا يَهوديُّ، أمّا السِّجنُ الّذي طافَ أقطارَ الأرضِ بِصاحِبِهِ فإنّهُ الحُوتُ الّذي حُبِسَ يُونُسُ في بَطنِهِ5

6017. Imam Ali (AS), when some Jews asked him about a jail which went around the whole world with its prisoner, replied, 'O Jew, as for the jail that circled all parts of the world with its captive, it was the whale that imprisoned Jonah in its stomach.'6

كلامٌ فِي قِصّةِ يونس عليه السلام

Details of the Story of Jonah (AS)

أنّ يونس عليه السلام كان من الرسل أرسله اللَّه تعالى‏ إلى‏ قومه وهم جمع كثير يزيدون على‏ مائة ألف فدعاهم فلم يجيبوه إلّا بالتكذيب والردّ ، حتّى‏ جاءهم عذاب أوعدهم به يونس ، ثمّ خرج من بينهم

فلمّا أشرف عليهم العذاب وشاهدوه مشاهدة عيان أجمعوا علَى الإيمان والتوبة إلَى اللَّه سبحانه ، فكشف اللَّه عنهم عذاب الخزي في الحياة الدنيا

مّ إنّ يونس عليه السلام استخبر عن حالهم فوجد العذاب انكشف عنهم - وكأنّه لم يعلم بإيمانهم وتوبتهم - فلم يعد إليهم ، وذهب لوجهه على‏ ما به من الغضب والسخط عليهم ، فكان ظاهر حاله حال من يأبق من ربّه مغاضباً عليه ظانّاً أنّه لا يقدر عليه ، وركب البحر في فُلك مشحون ، فعرض لهم حوت عظيم لم يجدوا بدّاً من أن يلقوا إليه واحداً منهم يبتلعه وينجو الفلك بذلك ، فساهموا وقارعوا فيما بينهم فأصابت يونس عليه السلام ، فألقوه في البحر فابتلعه الحوت ونجت السفينة

ثمّ إنّ اللَّه سبحانه حفظه حيّاً سويّاً في بطنه أيّاماً وليالي ، ويونس عليه السلام يعلم أنّها بليّة ابتلاه اللَّه بها مؤاخذة بما فعل ، وهو ينادي في بطنه أن (لا إلهَ إلّا أنْتَ سُبْحانَكَ إنّي كُنْتُ مِن الظّالِمينَ).

فاستجاب اللَّه له ، فأمر الحوت أن يلفظه ، فنبذه بالعراء وهو سقيم ، فأنبت اللَّه سبحانه عليه شجرة من يقطين يستظلّ بأوراقها ، ثمّ لمّا استقامت حاله أرسله إلى قومه ، فلبّوا دعوته‏

وآمنوا به فمتّعهم اللَّه إلى حين7

Jonah (AS) was a messenger whom Allah Almighty sent to his people, and they were a large group exceeding one hundred thousand. He invited them and they did not respond other than to call him a liar and to repudiate him, until the punishment Jonah warned them of came. He then left them.

When the punishment came down upon them, and they saw it with their own eyes they all turned to belief and repentance to Allah Almighty. So, Allah lifted the punishment of shame from them in this world. Jonah (AS) then asked about their situation when he saw that the punishment had been raised from them - since he did not know of their [recent] belief and repentance - so he did not return to them. He left angry and upset with them, and his state was like that of one who absconds from his Lord, in a rage, thinking that He would not put him through hardship. He left for the sea in a laden ship, and a large fish came after them. They could not avert it in any way other than to throw one of them overboard so that the fish may swallow him and the boat would be safe from it. They drew lots between themselves and Jonah (AS) was chosen, so they threw him in the sea where the fish swallowed him and the ship was saved.

Allah, Glory be to Him, kept him alive and well inside the fish's belly for days and nights, and Jonah (AS) knew that this was a trial that Allah was testing him with as a punishment for what he did. He was calling out while inside its belly, ''There is no god except You! You are immaculate! I have indeed been among the wrongdoers!”

Allah answered his prayer and ordered the fish to spit him out. It cast him on a bare shore, and he was sick. So Allah Almighty made a gourd plant grow above him so he used its leaves to shadow him. Then when his health was restored, Allah sent him back to his people. They accepted his call and believed in him, so Allah gave them provision until a fixed time.'8

Notes

1. الصافّات : 139 - 148

2. Quran 37:139-148

3. كنز العمّال : 32422

4. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 32423

5. بحار الأنوار : 14 / 382 / 2

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 14, p. 382, no. 2

7. تفسير الميزان : 17 / 165

8. Tafsir al-Mizan, v. 17, p. 165

371 - النُّبُوَّةُ (3) «محمّد رسول اللَّه »

371. PROPHETHOOD (3)

Muhammad the Messenger of Allah

1712 - مُحَمَّدٌ رَسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله‏

1712. Muhammad, THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SAWA)

( مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ)1

“Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.”2

( لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِين رَؤُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ)3

“There has certainly come to you an apostle from among yourselves. Grievous to him is your distress; he has deep concern for you, and is most kind and merciful to the faithful.” 4

( يَا أَيُّهَا النِّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِداً وَمُبَشِّراً وَنَذِيراً * ودَاعِياً إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجاً مُنِيراً)5

“O Prophet! Indeed We have sent you as a witness, as a bearer of good news and as a warner and as a summoner to Allah by His permission, and as a radiant lamp.” 6

6018. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله - لَمّا سألَهُ يَهوديٌّ عَن وَجهِ تَسمِيَتِهِ بمُحمّدٍ وأحمَدَ وأبي القاسِمِ وبَشيرٍ ونَذيرٍ وداعٍ ؟ - : أمّا مُحمّدٌ فإنّي مَحمودٌ في الأرضِ ، وأمّا أحمَدُ فإنّي مَحمودٌ في السَّماءِ ، وأمّا أبو القاسِمِ فإنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّوجلَّ يَقسِمُ يَومَ القِيامَةِ قِسمَةَ النّارِ ؛ فمَن كَفَرَ بِي مِن الأوَّلينَ والآخِرينَ ففي النّارِ ، ويَقسِمُ قِسمَةَ الجَنّةِ ؛ فمَن آمَنَ بي وأقَرَّ بِنُبُوَّتي ففي الجَنّةِ وأمّا الدّاعي فإنّي أدعُو النّاسَ إلى‏ دِينِ ربّي عَزَّوجلَّ ، وأمّا النَّذيرُ فإنّي اُنذِرُ بالنّارِ مَن عَصاني ، وأمّا البَشيرُ فإنّي اُبشِّرُ بالجَنّةِ مَن أطاعَني7

6018. The Prophet (SAWA), when a Jew asked him about the reason for him being called Muhammad, Ahmad, Abu al-Qasim, Bashir, Nadhir, and Dai - he replied, 'As for Muhammad, I am praised [mahmud] in this earth, and Ahmad is that I am praised in the Heaven. As for Abu al-Qasim, Allah will divide the Day of Resurrection into two parts; the part (qisma) of Hell, and those who disbelieve in me from among the first ones to the last ones will be in the Hellfire; and the part of Heaven, and whoever believes in me from among the first ones to the last ones, and has acknowledged my prophethood will be in Heaven. Al-Dai [the caller] is that I call people to the religion of my Lord Almighty. Al-Nadhir [the warner] is that I warn people who disobey me about the Hellfire. Al-Bashir [bringer of good news] is that I bring the good news of Heaven to those who obey me.'8

Notes

1. الفتح : 29

2. Quran 49:29

3. التوبة : 128

4. Quran 10:128

5. الأحزاب : 45 و 46

6. Quran 33:45,46

7. معاني الأخبار : 52 / 2

8. Maani al-Akhbar, p. 52, no. 2

1713 - خاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله‏

1713. THE SEAL OF THE PROPHETS

( مَا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عَلِيماً)1

“Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Apostle of Allah and the seal of the Prophets, and Allah has knowledge of all things.” 2

6019. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا العاقِبُ الّذي لَيسَ بَعدَهُ نَبيٌّ3

6019. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I am the successor after whom there is no prophet.'4

6020. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : إنّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ ذِكرُهُ خَتَمَ بنَبِيِّكُمُ النَّبيِّينَ فلا نَبيَّ بَعدَهُ أبَداً ، وخَتَمَ بكِتابِكُمُ الكُتُبَ فلا كِتابَ بَعدَهُ أبداً5

6020. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, 'Allah, may His remembrance be exalted, sealed the prophets with your prophet, so there will never be a prophet after him, and He sealed the books with your Book, so there will never be a Book after it.'6

6021. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عليه السلام : حتّى‏ جاءَ محمّدٌ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله فجاءَ بالقرآنِ وبشَريعَتِهِ ومِنهاجِهِ ، فحَلالُهُ حَلالٌ إلى‏ يَومِ القِيامَةِ ، وحَرامُهُ حَرامٌ إلى‏ يَومِ القِيامَةِ7

6021. Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, '.... till Muhammad came, and he brought the Quran and its laws and teachings. So, the permitted (halal) of Muhammad is permitted until the Day of Resurrection, and his forbidden (haram) is forbidden until the Day of Resurrection.'8

Notes

1. الأحزاب : 40

2. Quran 33 :40

3. الطبقات الكبرى‏ : 1 / 105

4. al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, v. 1, p. 105

5. الكافي : 1 / 269 / 3

6. al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 269, no. 3

7. الكافي : 2 / 17 / 2

8. Ibid. v. 2, p. 17, no. 2

1714 - مُحَمَّدٌ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله عَلى‏ لِسانِ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله‏

1714. Muhammad (SAWA) IN THE WORDS OF Muhammad (SAWA) HIMSELF

6022. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا أديبُ اللَّهِ وعليٌّ أدِيبي1

6022. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I have been educated by Allah Himself and Ali has been educated by me.'2

6023. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أيُّها النّاسُ ، إنّما أنا رَحمَةٌ مُهداةٌ3

6023. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'O people, verily I am a mercy gifted [to you].'4

6024. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا دَعوَةُ إبراهيمَ ، قالَ وهُو يَرفَعُ القَواعِدَ مِن البَيتِ : (ربَّنا وابْعَثْ فِيهِم رَسُولاً مِنْهُم ...)5 .6

6024. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I am the [fulfilment of the] prayer of Abraham which he recited while raising the foundations of the House: 'Our Lord, raise amongst them an apostle from among them, who should recite to them Your signs, and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them.'78

6025. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا سَيِّدُ وُلدِ آدَمَ ولا فَخرَ9

6025. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I am the chief of the children of Adam, without pride.'10

6026. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا قائدُ المُرسَلينَ ولا فَخرَ ، وأنا خاتَمُ النَّبيِّينَ ولا فَخرَ ، وأنا أوّلُ شافِعٍ وأوّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ ولا فَخرَ11

6026. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I am the leader of the messengers, without pride, and I am the seal of the prophets, without pride; and I am the first intercessor and the first mediator, without pride.'12

6027. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا أوّلُ وافِدٍ علَى العَزيزِ الجَبّارِ يَومَ القِيامَةِ وكِتابُهُ وأهلُ بَيتي ثُمّ اُمَّتي ، ثُمّ أسألُهُم: ما فَعَلتُم بكِتابِ اللَّهِ وبأهلِ بَيتي ؟13

6027. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I will be the first to enter into the presence of the Noble, all-Conqueror on the Day of Judgment, with His Book and my household, then my community, where I will ask them, 'What did you do with the Book of Allah and with my household?'14

6028. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا أتقاكُم للَّهِ ، وأعلَمُكُم لِحُدودِ اللَّهِ15

6028. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Indeed the most pious one from among you and the person most acquainted with Allah is me.'16

6029. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : ما خَلَقَ اللَّهُ خَلقاً أفضَلَ مِنّي ، ولا أكرَمَ علَيهِ مِنّي17

6029. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Allah has not created a creation better than me, nor dearer to Him than me.'18

6030. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : اُعطيتُ خَمساً لَم يُعطَهُنَّ نَبيٌّ كانَ قَبلي : اُرسِلتُ إلَى الأبيَضِ والأسوَدِ والأحمَرِ، وجُعِلَت لِيَ الأرضُ طَهوراً ومَسجِداً ، ونُصِرتُ بالرُّعبِ ، واُحِلَّت ليَ الغَنائمُ ولَم تُحَلَّ لأحَدٍ - أو قالَ : لنَبيٍّ - قَبلي ، واُعطِيتُ جَوامِعَ الكَلِمِ19

6030. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I have been given five things that no prophet before me was given: I was sent to the white, black and red; the earth has been made pure for me and a place for prostration; I have been made victorious with awe; and spoils were permitted for me when they were not permitted to any before me [or to any prophet before me]; and I have been given the collection of wise words [the Quran].'20

Notes

1. مكارم الأخلاق : 1 / 51 / 19

2. Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 1, p. 51, no. 19

3. الطبقات الكبرى‏ : 1 / 192

4. al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, v. 1, p. 192

5. البقرة : 129

6. كنز العمّال : 31833

7. Quran 2: 129

8. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 31833

9. بحار الأنوار : 8 / 48 / 51

10. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 8, p. 48, no. 51

11. كنز العمّال: 31883

12. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 31883

13. الكافي : 2 / 600 / 4

14. al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 600, no. 4

15. كنز العمّال : 31964

16. Kanz al-Ummal, no. 31991

17. عيون أخبار الرِّضا : 1 / 262 / 22

18. Uyun Akhbar al-Rida (AS), v. 1, p. 262, no. 22

19. الأمالي للطوسيّ : 484 / 1059

20. Amali al-Tusi, p. 484, no. 1059

1715 - مُحَمَّدٌ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله عَلى‏ لِسانِ عليٍّ عليه السلام‏

1715. Muhammad (SAWA) IN THE WORDS OF Ali (AS)

6031. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام - لمّا سُئلَ عن صِفَةِ النَّبيِّ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله وهُو مُحْتَبٍ بحَمائلِ سَيفِهِ في مَسجِدِ الكُوفَةِ - : كانَ رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله أبيَضَ اللَّونِ مُشرَباً حُمرَةً ، أدعَجَ العَينِ ، سَبطَ الشَّعرِ ، كَثَّ اللِّحيَةِ ، سَهلَ الخَدِّ ، ذا وَفرَةٍ ، دَقيقَ المَسرُبَةِ ، كأنّ عُنقَهُ إبريقُ فِضَّةٍ ، لَهُ شَعرٌ مِن لَبَّتِهِ إلى‏ سُرَّتِهِ يَجري كالقَضيبِ ، لَيسَ في بَطنِهِ ولا صَدرِهِ شَعرٌ غَيرُهُ ، شَثْنُ الكَفِّ والقَدَمِ ، إذا مَشى‏ كأنّما يَنحَدِرُ مِن صَبَبٍ ، وإذا قامَ كأنّما يَنقَلِعُ مِن صَخرٍ ، إذا التَفَتَ التَفَتَ جَميعاً ، كأنَّ عَرَقَهُ في وَجهِهِ اللُّؤلؤُ ، ولَريحُ عَرَقِهِ أطيَبُ مِن المِسكِ الأذفَرِ ، لَيسَ بالقَصيرِ ولا بالطَّويلِ ، ولا بالعاجِزِ ولا اللَّئيمِ ، لَم أرَ قَبلَهُ ولا بَعدَهُ مِثلَهُ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله1

6031. Imam Ali (AS), when asked about the characteristics of the Prophet (SAWA) while he was sitting with his legs tucked under his sword-belt in the mosque of Kufa, said, 'The messenger of Allah (SAWA) had white skin tinted with redness, with large black eyes, abundant lank hair, a thick beard, flat hairy cheeks, fine hair on his chest. His neck was [white] like a silver pitcher, he had hair from the top of his chest to his belly flowing like a cane, and he did not have any other hair on his stomach or chest. He had thick hands and feet [big bones], when he walked he walked fast and when he stood up it was like he had been erected from a rock. When he turned he would turn his whole body. The perspiration on in his face was like pearls, and the scent of his perspiration was more fragrant than strong musk. He was neither short nor tall, nor was he frail, nor avaricious. I have never seen someone like him (SAWA) before him or after him.'2

6032. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : حتّى‏ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ محمّداً صلى اللَّه عليه وآله شَهيداً وبَشيراً ونَذيراً ، خَيرَ البَريَّةِ طِفلاً ، وأنجَبَها كَهلاً، وأطهَرَ المُطَهَّرينَ‏شِيمَةً، وأجوَدَ المُستَمطَرينَ دِيمَةً3

6032. Imam Ali (AS) said, '...until Allah sent Muhammad (SAWA) as a witness, a warner and a bringer of glad tidings. He was the best of people as a child, and the most noble of them when old. He was the purest of the pure in character and the most generous of all givers of all time.'4

6033. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : لا عَرَضَ لَهُ أمرانِ إلّا أخَذَ بأشَدِّهِما5

6033. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'No sooner was he confronted with two tasks than he took the hardest of them.'6

6034. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : ما بَرَأ اللَّهُ نَسمَةً خَيراً مِن محمّدٍ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله7

6034. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'Allah did not create a human being better than Muhammad (SAWA).'8

6035. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : طَبيبٌ دَوّارٌ بطِبِّهِ ، قد أحكَمَ مَراهِمَهُ ، وأحمى‏ (أمضى‏) مَواسِمَهُ ، يَضَعُ ذلكَ حَيثُ الحاجَةُ إلَيهِ ، مِن قُلوبٍ عُميٍ ، وآذانٍ صُمٍّ ، وألسِنَةٍ بُكمٍ ، مُتَتبِّعٌ بدَوائهِ مَواضِعَ الغَفلَةِ ومَواطِنَ الحَيرَةِ ، لَم يَستَضيئوا بأضواءِ الحِكمَةِ ، ولَم يَقدَحوا بزِنادِ العُلومِ الثّاقِبَةِ ، فهُم في ذلكَ كالأنعامِ السّائمَةِ ، والصُّخورِ القاسِيَةِ9

6035. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'The Prophet (SAWA) was like a roaming physician who has set ready his ointments and heated his instruments. He used them wherever the need arose for curing blind hearts, deaf ears, and dumb tongues. He followed with his medicines the spots of negligence and the places of perplexity. They [the people] did not take the light from the lights of his wisdom nor did they produce flame from the flint of his sparkling knowledge. So in this matter, they are like grazing cattle and hard stones.'10

6036. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام: إنّما أنا عَبدٌ مِن عَبيدِ محمّدٍ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله11

6036. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'I am but a servant from among the servants of Muhammad (SAWA).'12

Notes

1. الطبقات الكبرى‏ : 1 / 410

2. al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, v. 1, p. 410

3. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة : 105

4. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 108

5. مكارم الأخلاق : 1 / 61 / 55

6. Makarim al-Akhlaq, v. 1, p. 61, no. 55

7. الكافي : 1 / 440 / 2

8. al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 440, no. 2

9. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 108

10. Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 108

11. التوحيد : 174 / 3

12. al-Tawhid, p. 174, no. 3

1716 - عالَمِيَّةُ رِسالَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله‏

1716. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE MESSAGE OF Muhammad (SAWA)

( وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِلنَّاسِ بَشِيراً وَنَذِيراً وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَايَعْلَمُونَ)1

“We did not send you except as a bearer of good news and a warner to all mankind, but most people do not know.” 2

6037. رسول اللَّه صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : أنا رَسولُ مَن أدرَكتُ حَيّاً ومَن يُولَدُ بَعدي3

6037. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'I am the messenger of those who live in my time, as well as those who will be born after me.'4

6038. رسولُ اللَّهِ صلى اللَّه عليه وآله : بُعِثَ كلُّ نَبيٍّ كانَ قَبلي إلى‏ اُمَّتِهِ بلِسانِ قَومِهِ ، وبَعَثَني إلى‏ كُلِّ أسوَدَ وأحمَرَ بالعَربيَّةِ5

6038. The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Every prophet before me was sent to their people in their own language, but I was sent to all, black and red [skinned], in Arabic.'6

Notes

1. سبأ : 28

2. Quran 34 :28

3. الطبقات الكبرى : 1 / 191

4. al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, v. 1, p. 191

5. بحار الأنوار : 16 / 316 / 6

6. Bihar al-Anwar, v. 16, p. 316, no. 6

1717 - خَيرُ النّاسِ أُسرَةً

1717. THE BEST FAMILY AMONG ALL PEOPLE

6039. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : اُسرَتُهُ خَيرُ اُسرَةٍ ، وشَجَرَتُهُ خَيرُ شَجَرَةٍ ، أغصانُها مُعتَدِلَةٌ ، وثِمارُها مُتَهَدِّلَةٌ ، مَولِدُهُ بمَكّةَ ، وهِجرَتُهُ بطَيبَةَ، عَلا بِها ذِكرُهُ ، وامتَدَّ مِنها صَوتُهُ1

6039. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'His family is the best family and his tree is the best tree. Its branches are moderate and its fruits hang down. His birth was in Makkah and his migration was to Tayba [Madina]. In it his remembrance was elevated and from it his voice spread.'2

6040. الإمامُ عليٌّ عليه السلام : أشهَدُ أنّ محمّداً عَبدُهُ ورَسولُهُ ، وسَيّدُ عِبادِهِ ، كُلَّما نَسَخَ اللَّهُ الخَلقَ فِرقَتينِ جَعَلَهُ في خَيرِهِما3

6040. Imam Ali (AS) said, 'I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, and the chief of His creation; whenever Allah divided the line of descent, He put him in the better one.'4

Notes

1. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 161

2. Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 161

3. نهج البلاغة : الخطبة 214

4. Ibid. Sermon 214