Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Alhassanain (p) Network for Islamic Heritage and Thought

TUHAF UL-UQOUL

(THE MASTERPIECES OF THE MIND)

Compiler: Abu Mohammed Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Al-Hussein bin Shu’ba Al-Harrani

Translator: Badr Shahin

Ansariyan Publications

www.alhassanain.org/english

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH

THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL

تحف العقول عن آل الرسول

Name of Book: Tuhaf ul-Uqoul

Compiler: Abu Mohammed Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Al-Hussein bin Shu’ba Al-Harrani

Translator: Badr Shahin

Publisher: Ansariyan Publications, 2000 = 1379.

ISBN 964-438- -

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPILER 8

MAXIMS OF THE PROPHET 12

Long Maxims of the Prophet 12

The Prophet’s Commandment for Imam Ali 12

Another Brief Commandment of the Prophet for Imam Ali 14

Another Commandment of the Prophet to Imam Ali 16

Maxims and Words of Wisdom of the Prophet 17

The Commandment of the Prophet for Me’aath bin Jabal when he assigned him as the governor of Yemen 23

Some Words of the Prophet 23

The Prophet’s Reference to Knowledge, Intellect, and Ignorance 24

An Advice 25

The Prophet’s Sermon of the Farewell Pilgrimage 26

Short Maxims of the Prophet 27

NARRATIONS OF IMAM ALI 48

Imam Ali’s Sermon of the Sincerity of Believing in the Oneness of Allah 48

Imam Ali’s Commandment for his son Hasan bin Ali 50

Imam Ali’s Commandment for his son Hussein bin Ali 61

Imam Ali’s Sermon of Wasila 63

Imam Ali’s Instructions to his Companions 67

Imam Ali’s Document of Instructions for Malik Al-Ashtar When He Appointed Him as the Governor of Egypt and the Surroundings 90

Imam Ali’s Sermon of Dibadge 103

Imam Ali’s Maxims and Words of Encouragement, Warning, and Admonition 107

Imam Ali’s Admonition and Description of the Negligent 109

Imam Ali’s Description of the God-Fearing 110

Imam Ali’s sermon of faith 112

Imam Ali’s Words to Kumayl bin Ziyad 115

Imam Ali’s Brief Commandment for Kuayl bin Ziyad 116

Imam Ali’s Commandment for Mohammed bin Abi Bakr when assigned him as governor of Egypt 120

Imam Ali’s Words of Asceticism and Dispraise of this World and its Present Pleasures 123

Imam Ali’s Sermon When Some People Protested Against His having Distributed Booty Equally Among People 125

Imam Ali’s Wording about Equal Distribution of Wealth 126

Imam Ali’s Description of the World for the God-Fearing 127

Imam Ali’s Sermon of Faith, Spirits, and Variety of Spirits 128

Imam Ali’s Commandment for Ziyad bin Annadr when assigned him as the commander of his army in the Battle of Siffine 130

Imam Ali’s Description of the Relaters of Narratives 131

Imam Ali’s Wording of Grounds of Islam and the Reality of Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness 133

Imam Ali’s Will to Al-Hasan His Son 134

Imam Ali’s Preference of Knowledge 135

Short Maxims of Imam Ali 136

MAXIMS OF IMAM AL-HASAN 158

Words of Wisdom of Imam al-Hasan 159

Imam Al-Hasan’s Answers of Some Questions 160

Imam Al-Hasan’s Wording about the Source of Power 162

Imam Al-Hasan’s Admonition 162

Imam Al-Hasan’s Sermon 163

Short Maxims of Imam Al-hasan 164

MAXIMS OF IMAM AL-HUSSEIN 168

Imam Al-Hussein’s sermon Regarding enjoining good and forbidding evil 168

Imam Al-Hussein’s Admonition 170

Imam Al-Hussein’s Message to People of Al-Kufa when he noticed their disappointment after he had begun his march to them 170

Imam Al-Hussein’s Answers of the Questions Put By the King of the Romans that He Sent to Yazid bin Muawiya and Him 171

Forms of Jihad 172

Monotheism 172

Short Maxims of Imam Al-Hussein 173

MAXIMS OF IMAM AS-SAJJAD 177

Imam As-Sajjad’s Advice to his companions and adherents on Fridays 177

Wording of Admonition, Ascetics, and Wisdom 179

The Treatise of Rights^* 181

RIGHTS OF GOD AGAINST ONESELF 183

RIGHTS OF ACTS 184

RIGHTS OF IMAMS 185

RIGHTS OF SUBJECTS 185

RIGHTS OF RELATIVES 186

RIGHTS OF OTHERS 187

Imam As-Sajjad’s Wording of Abstinence 192

Imam As-Sajjad’s Message of Admonition to Mohammed bin Muslim Az-Zuhri 194

Short Maxims of Imam As-Sajjad 197

NARRATIVES of IMAM AL-BAQIR 203

Imam Al-Baqir’s Commandment for Jabir bin Yazid Al-Ju’fi 203

Another Words of Imam Al-Baqir with Jabir 205

Imam Al-Baqir’s Description of Swords 205

Admonition 207

Short Maxims of Imam Al-baqir 208

MAXIMS OF IMAM AS-SADIQ 216

Imam As-Sadiq’s Commandment for Abdullah bin Jundab 216

Imam As-Sadiq’s Commandment for Abu Ja’far Muhammad Bin Annu’man Al-Ahwal 221

Imam As-Sadiq’s Message to a Group of His Adherents and Companions 224

Imam As-Sadiq’s ‘Dispersal of Gem’ 226

Imam As-Sadiq’s Wording of the Quality of Adoration to the Prophet’s Progeny, Monotheism, Faith, Islam, Atheism, And Evil 232

The Quality of Faith 234

The Quality of Islam 234

The Quality of Quitting Islam 235

Imam As-Sadiq’s Answers about the Kinds of People’s Livings 236

Explanation of Work in Governmental Offices 236

Explanation of the commerce 237

Explanation of Contracts of Lease 237

Explanation of the Industries 238

Ways of Expenses 238

The Legally Eatable food 239

Imam As-Sadiq’s Treatise re the Spoils of Wars and the Obligation of Khums 240

Imam As-Sadiq’s Discussion With the Sufis Who Instruct People Not to Seek Earnings 244

Imam As-Sadiq’s Wording about the Creation and Structure of Man 249

Imam As-Sadiq’s Words of Wisdom 251

Short Maxims of Imam As-Sadiq 252

MAXIMS OF IMAM AL-KADHIM 274

Imam Al-Kadhim’s Commandment for Husham and the Depiction of the Mind 274

Imam Al-Kadhim’s Words of Wisdom 287

Imam Al-Kadhim’s Wording to Harun ar-Rashid 288

Short Maxims of Imam Al-Kadhim 291

MAXIMS OF IMAM AR-REZA 297

Imam Ar-Reza’s Answers to Al-Ma’mun in relation to the comprehensives of the Sharia 297

Imam Ar-Reza’s Wording of Monotheism 303

Imam Ar-Reza’s Wording of Selection 304

Imam Ar-Reza’s Account of Imamate, Imam, and Position of the Imams 314

Short Maxims of Imam Ar-Reza 318

MAXIMS OF IMAM AL-JAWAD 325

Imam Al-Jawad’s Answer about a Muhrim That Kills a game 325

Strange Question 327

Short Maxims of Imam Al-Jawad 328

MAXIMS OF IMAM AL-HADI 331

Imam Al-Hadi’s Message 331

the reply on Fatalists and Indeterminists and the verification of God’s justice and the belief of intermediacy 331

Explanation of soundness of the creation: 341

Explanation of the freedom of choice: 343

Explanation of the enough time: 343

Explanation of the supplies: 344

Explanation of the means of the incitement to the doing: 344

Imam Al-Hadi’s Answers to Yahya bin Aktham’s Questions 348

In the Name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful 350

Short Maxims of Imam Al-Hadi 353

NARRATIONS OF IMAM AL-ASKARI 356

Imam Al-Askari’s Message to Is’haq bin Ismaeel An-Nisapuri 356

Short Maxims of Imam Al-Askari 358

GOD’S CONFIDENTIAL TALK TO MOSES 363

GOD’S CONFIDENTIAL TALK TO JESUS 368

Admonitions and Maxims of Jesus in the Bible 372

Al-Mufaddal bin Omar’s Commandment for the Community of Shiism 383

Islamic Terms 386

INTRODUCTION OF THE COMPILER

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

All praise is due to Allah Who made the praising him, although He does not need any praise, a way of the confession of His godhood, independence, and divinity. He also made it a way of obtaining more mercy and a means for the seekers of His grace. In the hiddens of the utterance, He enabled others to attain the true confession of His benevolent elegance. Praising Him for His elegance has been one of His elegances. The confession of His being the Gracious substitutes all the utterances of His praise, no matter how big it is.

I declare there is no god but Allah exclusively without any associate. The origin of this declaration is the pure sincerity and its articulation represents a secret truth. He is the Creator, the Designer, the Modeler, and to Him belong all the virtuous names. Nothing is like Him. Everything is a part of His will, and the thing is unlike its Maker.

I declare that Mohammed is His servant and messenger. In the eternity, He chose him among all the nations because He knew that he would have been completely different and beyond compare with others. He selected him to be His representative whose mission is to give orders and warn (others against acting disobediently to God) on behalf of Him. God assigned him in the world that He created to represent Him since the sights cannot realize Him, the notions cannot cognize Him, and the mysteries of the suppositions in the secrets cannot describe Him. There is no god but Him. He is surely the King and the Omnipotence. He joined the confession of Mohammed’s prophecy to the confession of His godhood, and gave him an exclusive rank, as a sign of honoring, that no one of the creatures would ever catch him. Mohammed (peace be upon him and his family), however, surely deserves so for his unparalleled character and mannerism. God never treats exclusively those who may change or those who have likes. He - God- ordered to bless him - Mohammed (peace be upon him and his family)- as an additional honor and as an introduction to present his progeny. God bless, honor, dignify, and sanctify him and his progeny so greatly that it will never cease or discontinue. After His Prophet, God, the Blessed the Elevated, has chosen exclusively some choice ones whom He elevated out of His elevation, took them highly to the rank of His elation, and made them the heralds and the guides to Him. They have been sinless, virtuous, and perfect imams whom God has made the claims against the creatures and chosen as His heralds. By His permission, they are the interceders who never precede Him in speech and according to His commandment only do they act. They judge according to His rules, follow His regulations, execute the doctrinal provisions that He constitutes, and fulfill the incumbent rituals (that He imposed) so that he who would perish will perish by a clear proof and he who would live will live by a clear proof. The blessings of God and the noble angels be upon Mohammed and his virtuous progeny.

As I looked deeply and carefully in the (verbal) traditions that we have received from the Prophet, his successor, and their sons (All peace, mercy, and blessings be upon them), I could conclude that we have received only a few of what they had actually said. It is surely very few if compared with what they had said but we could not receive. I could understand that these traditions contain the worldly and the religious affairs and join the good of this life and the life to come. The truth is found only with them individually, the right is taken only from them separately, and the veracity is seen only with them exclusively. Besides, I noticed that the former Shiite scholars had compiled their sayings regarding the legal and the illegal matters in addition to the obligatory rituals and the recommendable practices. God will surely record the rewards of these compilations that sufficed the next generations from shouldering the burdens of compilation. I could notice excellent words of wisdom and curative sermons that are within the instructions of the Imams (peace be upon them). These words urge desiring for what will permanently remain and leaving what will eventually expire. They also bear good tidings, threatening, encouragement on the good traits and manners, warning against the ill manners, motivation to the religiosity, and driving to abstinence. I also found that they (peace be upon them) had referred to many sentences regarding the previous aspects through their prolonged commandments, speeches, sermons, and advises. The relaters have likewise reported many short words of unparalleled references to these meanings and advantageous significances. I have not received any book that our Shiite scholars have authored regarding these meanings so that I might pursue its way of compilation and with which I might satisfy myself. Thus, I compiled the words of such meanings and added to them their likes and matches from the fascinating reports and the good indications, seeking the favor of God, the Worthy of exalted praise, and asking for His rewards. I applied these words of wisdom, maxims, and instructions to myself first. This is because I hope for obtaining the rewards and I fear the penalty. Likewise, these words and maxims would alert me in the times of inadvertence and remind me in the times of oblivion. I also expected that a faithful believer would look in them - after I would compile them in this book- and learn lessons from the maxims that he would understand and benefit by what he does not understand exactly. Hence, I will have a share in the rewards that he will get for his applying what he has learnt, since these words and maxims contain the principals as well as the secondary pillars of the religion in addition to the chapters and the general affairs of the right. They also comprise the general ethics of the Sunna, the words of wisdom and deeds of the Imams (peace be upon them), the admirable advantages, and the excellent reports. I arranged the book according to the succession of the Imams (peace be upon them) before I moved to mention four commandments that conform to the book. I neglected the series of relations for simplification and brief. However, most of the reports have been received directly because they are words of ethics and wisdom that they themselves witness their veracity. I did not compile this work for the dissidents and those who deny (the divine ranks of the Imams, peace be upon them), but I compile it for the use of the believers, who succumb to the Imams (peace be upon them), confess of their (supreme) standings, accede to their sayings, and refer to them in questions. These meanings are too many to be counted and too wide to be banned. What we have previously mentioned is completely persuasive for those who have a heart or listen carefully. It is also sufficient for those who have minds.

O followers of the Imams, Look deeply in what your Imams (peace be upon them) said and what they recommended and advised. Look at these matters in the eyes of your hearts, listen to them in opened ears, and understand them with what God has given to you and made the claims against you: your sound minds and accurate comprehensions. Do not be like your opponents who hear the binding evidences and the eloquent proofs, but they look at them negligently, and like their eloquence only. They do not benefit by the admonition. Furthermore, they neither desire for that which God drives to nor do they stop committing the matters against which they are warned. They are condemned by clear evidence and, therefore, their grief will be endless.

O believers, Cling firmly to what has come to you from those whose obedience is obligatory upon you (namely the Imams, peace be upon them). Listen to and comply with the maxims and words that the trusty narrators have related to the master Imams (peace be upon them). Beware of being negligent and confess of your imperfection.

O believers, Work hard for seeking the knowledge of that which you ignore and apply that which you know to your conducts so that your words will always agree to your deeds. The salvation and the good life are obtained only by means of the instructions of the Imams (peace be upon them) through whom God has constituted the claim, showed the very (right) path, and blocked any excuse. They ordered to take all of the courses that take to God, recommended to adhere to all of the reasons that lead to His contentment, and referred to all of the ways that carry to Paradise. They defined these ways and reasons publicly and secretly and showed them openly and suggestively. They warned against any trend that leads to acts of disobedience to God, approximates to His wrath, and nears to His punishment. They showed these trends and warned people against them so that people will not have a justifiable excuse before God. The very happy is he whom God leads to follow, pursue, and accede to their sayings. The very unhappy is he who opposes them, pursues another course, and leaves them intentionally. They -the Imams (peace be upon him)- are surely the firmest handle and the bond of God that the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) ordered us to cling to them. They are also the ship of salvation and the authorized persons whom God ordered us t obey. God says:

O you who believe, Obey God and obey the Apostle and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything, refer it to God and the Apostle, if you believe in God and the last day; this is better and very good in the end.[1]

They are also the true ones whom God ordained us to be with. He, the Exalted, says:

O you who believe, Be careful of (your duty to) God and be with the true ones.[2]

Strive, O you believers, in carrying out whatever they - the Imams (peace be upon them)- ordered, no matter how small or big it is, and beware of whatever they warned against, no matter how small or big it is. He who clings to the small matters will surely advance to the big ones. Likewise, he whoever commits few sins will surely commit many. It is said, “Beware of the insignificant sins. They are the wish if you would not commit any other sin.” It is also said, “Do not consider the insignificance of the sin. You should consider the One Whom you disobey. He is surely God, the Exalted the Great.” When God knows His servant’s pure intention of obedience to Him and the seeking of His satisfaction and the avoidance of His wrath, He will surely grant him success, aid him, and open his heart increasingly. Deeds are subject to the intentions. May God lead you and us to the best of deeds and the best wording, and help us in the affairs of this world and the life to come, include us with those who thank when they are endowed, and tolerate when they are afflicted, and seek forgiveness when they make a mistake. May Allah make our faith, profession of His oneness, and pursuance of the Imams (peace be upon them) be fixed, not shaky, in our hearts. He is surely All-benevolent and All-generous.