Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Chapter 33: On What Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) Wrote Regarding the Reasons (Behind the Decrees) in Response to Questions by Muhammad ibn San’an

33-1 Muhammad ibn Ali Majilawayh - may God have Mercy upon him - narrated that his uncle Muhammad ibn Abil Qasim quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Kufi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn San’an, and also Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran al-Daqqaq, Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-San’ani, Ali ibn Abdullah al-Var’raq and Al-Husayn ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad ibn Hisham al-Mokattib - may God be pleased with them - narrated that Muhammad ibn

عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنَّهَا لَمْ تُطَلَّقْ فَوَقَّعَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي رُقْعَتِهِمْ قُلْتُ هَذَا مِنْ رِوَايَتِكُمْ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ لِمُسْلِمَةِ الْفَتْحِ وَقَدْ كَثُرُوا عَلَيْهِ أَنْتُمْ خَيْرٌ وَأَصْحَابِي خَيْرٌ وَلا هِجْرَةَ بَعْدَ الْفَتْحِ فَأَبْطَلَ الْهِجْرَةَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ هَؤُلاءِ أَصْحَاباً لَهُ فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى قَوْلِهِ.

35- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَوْنُ بْنِ مُحَمَّد قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَهْلِ بْنِ القاسِم قالَ: سَمِعَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بَعْضَ أَصْحَابِهِ يَقُولُ: لَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ حَارَبَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ قُلْ إِلا مَنْ تَابَ وَأَصْلَحَ ثُمَّ قَالَ: ذَنْبُ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهُ وَلَمْ يَتُبْ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَنْبِ مَنْ قَاتَلَهُ ثُمَّ تَابَ. وَاللَّه المُوَفَّقُ.

33- بابُ فِي ذِكرِ ما كَتَبَ بِهِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ‏ إِلى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَنانٍ فِي (جَوابِ مسائله فِي العِلَلِ)

1- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ ماجِيلوَيْه - رَحْمَةُ اللَّه - عَنْ عَمِّهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي القاسِم عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى الكُوفِي عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَنان وَحَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ السنانِي وَعَلِىِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الوَرَّاقُ وَالحُسَيْنِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ هِشامِ المكتب - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ - قالُوا: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي عَبْدِ اللَّه الكُوفِي

Ali al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma’il, on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Abbas, on the authority of Al-Qasim ibn Al-Rabi’a As-Sah’haf, on the authority of Muhammad ibn San’an, and also Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Abdullah Al-Barqi, Ali ibn Isa - the neighbor to the Kufa Mosque, and Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Musa - may God have Mercy upon them - narrated that Muhammad ibn Ali Majilawayh, quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn San’an that Abal Hassan Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) wrote the following reasons (behind the decrees) in response to Muhammad ibn San’an’s questions:

And the reason behind the obligatory ritual ablution (ghusl) for the major ritual impurity is to cleanse and purify man’s self from what has impurified him. And another reason is to purify the rest of the body from impurities as impurities have come out from all over the body. That is why it is obligatory to clean the whole body.

And the reason behind the lesser decree about urination and defecation is the frequency of these acts compared to that of the major ritual impurity, the hardships involved, and the fact that there is no will in doing these acts and there is no lust involved in doing them. However, there is lust in major ritual impurity and it is the result of an intentional act.

And the reasons behind the ritual ablution on the two major festivals1 and on Fridays, and other cases is to express a servant’s honoring of his Lord, prepare himself for Him - the Glorious the Magnificent to ask Him to forgive his sins. Another reason is that they are the holidays which are known to be for congregations in remembrance of the Sublime God. Therefore, God has established the ritual ablution on these days as a way to honor these days and to make them superior to other days - days in which many recommendable prayers are said, much servitude is expressed, and it is a way of purification from one Friday to the next.

And the reason behind the major ablution for the dead is to cleanse the corpse from the various filth, illnesses and other things that might have fallen upon him, since the dead person is going to meet the angels and associate with the people of the Hereafter.

It is highly desirable for him to be clean and pure now that he is going to meet God and the Pure Ones where they will touch him and he will touch them. This is so that the Pure Ones may ask the Honorable the Exalted God to forgive him and they may intercede on his behalf.

عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيل، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ العَبّاس حَدَّثَنا القاسِم بْنِ الرَّبِيع الصَّحَّاف، عَن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَنان وَحَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه البَرْقِي وَعَلِىِّ بْنِ عِيسَى المجاور فِي مَسْجِد الكُوفَة وَأَبُو جَعْفَر مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى البَرْقِي بِالرَّيِّ رحمهم اللَّه قالُوا: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خالِد عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَنان أَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ فِي جَوَابِ مَسَائِلِهِ:

عِلَّةُ غُسْلِ الْجَنَابَةِ النَّظَافَةُ وَتَطْهِيرُ الإِنْسَانِ نَفْسَهُ مِمَّا أَصَابَهُ مِنْ أَذَاهُ وَتَطْهِيرُ سَائِرِ جَسَدِهِ لانَّ الْجَنَابَةَ خَارِجَةٌ مِنْ كُلِّ جَسَدِهِ فَلِذَلِكَ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ تَطْهِيرُ جَسَدِهِ كُلِّهِ.

وَعِلَّةُ التَّخْفِيفِ فِي الْبَوْلِ وَالْغَائِطِ لانَّهُ أَكْثَرُ وَأَدْوَمُ مِنَ الْجَنَابَةِ فَرُضِيَ فِيهِ بِالْوُضُوءِ لِكَثْرَتِهِ وَمَشَقَّتِهِ وَمَجِيئِهِ بِغَيْرِ إِرَادَةٍ مِنْهُ وَلا شَهْوَةٍ وَالْجَنَابَةُ لا تَكُونُ إِلا بِالاسْتِلْذَاذِ مِنْهُمْ وَالإِكْرَاهِ لانْفُسِهِمْ.

وَعِلَّةُ غُسْلِ الْعِيدِ وَالْجُمُعَةِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الأَغْسَالِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ تَعْظِيمِ الْعَبْدِ رَبَّهُ وَاسْتِقْبَالِهِ الْكَرِيمَ الْجَلِيلَ وَطَلَبِ الْمَغْفِرَةِ لِذُنُوبِهِ وَلِيَكُونَ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ عِيدٍ مَعْرُوفٍ يَجْتَمِعُونَ فِيهِ عَلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَجَعَلَ فِيهِ الْغُسْلَ تَعْظِيماً لِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَتَفْضِيلاً لَهُ عَلَى سَائِرِ الأَيَّامِ وَزِيَادَةً فِي النَّوَافِلِ وَالْعِبَادَةِ وَلِيَكُونَ تِلْكَ طَهَارَةً لَهُ مِنَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ.

وَعِلَّةُ غُسْلِ الْمَيِّتِ أَنَّهُ يُغَسَّلُ لانَّهُ يُطَهَّرُ وَيُنَظَّفُ مِنْ أَدْنَاسِ أَمْرَاضِهِ وَمَا أَصَابَهُ مِنْ صُنُوفِ عِلَلِهِ لانَّهُ يَلْقَى الْمَلائِكَةَ وَيُبَاشِرُ أَهْلَ الآْخِرَةِ فَيُسْتَحَبُّ إِذَا وَرَدَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَلَقِيَ أَهْلَ الطَّهَارَةِ وَيُمَاسُّونَهُ وَيُمَاسُّهُمْ أَنْ يَكُونَ طَاهِراً نَظِيفاً مُوَجَّهاً بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِيُطْلَبَ بِهِ وَيُشْفَعَ لَهُ.

And another reason behind the major ablution for the dead is that once he dies, the sperm with which he was at first created with will be discharged from his body and he will be in a state of major ritual impurity. Thus others must perform the major ablution for him.

And the reason why once you perform the major ritual ablution for the dead or touch someone’s corpse2 you must perform the major ritual ablution yourself is to be cleansed of the filth from the corpse that might have touched your body. That is because once someone dies and his soul departs from the body, most of the impurities remain in his body. Therefore, one must do so to get cleaned and purified therefrom. And the reason behind making minor ablutions (wudu) - in which it is prescribed to wash the face, the two arms3 , rubbing the head4 , and rubbing the upper side of the feet5 - is that man wants to stand in front of the Honorable the Exalted God, facing Him and visiting the Honorable Recorders (Kiram Katibin)6 with all his apparent body parts. Then washing the face is for prostration and humbleness, washing the two arms is for preparing them to be held up towards the heavens, implore and fear God with them and use them to sincerely turn towards the worship of God. The rubbing of the head and the feet is because they are apparent in all positions of the prayer and in them there is not as much humbleness and sincerity of worship as there is in the face and the two hands.

And the reason behind the alms-tax is to aid the poor and protect the properties of the rich7 , as the Blessed the Sublime God has ordained that the healthy assist those afflicted with calamities. As the Sublime God has said, ‘Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves…’8 The way you are tried by your possessions is by paying the alms-tax, and the way you are tried by your personal selves is by getting yourselves prepared to be patient during calamities. In paying the alms-tax there is a fulfillment of gratitude for the blessings granted to us by the Honorable the Exalted God, an eagerness to have more of them, kindness and mercy for the weak, and kindness with the poor. And also there is an increased inclination towards sympathizing with the poor; assisting the poor and helping them regarding their religious affairs and a lesson for the rich to take heed to seeing their poorness in the Hereafter; and encouragement to thank the Blessed the Sublime God for what He has bestowed upon us and has

وَعِلَّةٌ أُخْرَى أَنَّهُ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الأَذَى الَّذِي مِنْهُ خُلِقَ فَيُجْنِبُ فَيَكُونُ غُسْلُهُ لَهُ وَعِلَّةُ اغْتِسَالِ مَنْ غَسَلَهُ أَوْ مَسَّهُ فَظَاهِرَةٌ لِمَا أَصَابَهُ مِنْ نَضْحِ الْمَيِّتِ لانَّ الْمَيِّتَ إِذَا خَرَجَتِ الرُّوحُ مِنْهُ بَقِيَ أَكْثَرَ آفَةً فَلِذَلِكَ يُتَطَهَّرُ مِنْهُ وَيُطَهَّرُ.

وَعِلَّةُ الْوُضُوءِ الَّتِي مِنْ أَجْلِهَا صَارَ غَسْلُ الْوَجْهِ وَالذِّرَاعَيْنِ وَمَسْحُ الرَّأْسِ وَالرِّجْلَيْنِ فَلِقِيَامِهِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَاسْتِقْبَالِهِ إِيَّاهُ بِجَوَارِحِهِ الظَّاهِرَةِ وَمُلاقَاتِهِ بِهَا الْكِرَامَ الْكَاتِبِينَ فَغَسْلُ الْوَجْهِ لِلسُّجُودِ وَالْخُضُوعِ وَغَسْلُ الْيَدَيْنِ لِيَقْلِبَهُمَا وَيَرْغَبَ بِهِمَا وَيَرْهَبَ وَيَتَبَتَّلَ وَمَسْحُ الرَّأْسِ وَالْقَدَمَيْنِ لانَّهُمَا ظَاهِرَانِ مَكْشُوفَانِ يَسْتَقْبِلُ بِهِمَا فِي حَالاتِهِ وَلَيْسَ فِيهِمَا مِنَ الْخُضُوعِ وَالتَّبَتُّلِ مَا فِي الْوَجْهِ وَالذِّرَاعَيْنِ.

وَعِلَّةُ الزَّكَاةِ مِنْ أَجْلِ قُوتِ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَتَحْصِينِ أَمْوَالِ الأَغْنِيَاءِ لانَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كَلَّفَ أَهْلَ الصِّحَّةِ الْقِيَامَ بِشَأْنِ أَهْلِ الزَّمَانَةِ وَالْبَلْوَى كَمَا قَالَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوالِكُمْ بِإِخْرَاجِ الزَّكَاةِ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ بِتَوْطِينِ الأَنْفُسِ عَلَى الصَّبْرِ مَعَ مَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَدَاءِ شُكْرِ نِعَمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالطَّمَعِ فِي الزِّيَادَةِ مَعَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَالرَّأْفَةِ لاهْلِ الضَّعْفِ وَالْعَطْفِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَسْكَنَةِ وَالْحَثِّ لَهُمْ عَلَى الْمُوَاسَاةِ وَتَقْوِيَةِ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَعُونَةِ لَهُمْ عَلَى أَمْرِ الدِّينِ وَهُمْ عِظَةٌ لأهْـلِ الْغِنَى وَعِبْرَةٌ لَهُـمْ لِيَسْتَدِلُّوا عَلَى فَقْرِ الآْخِرَةِ بِهِمْ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنَ الْحَثِّ فِي

made us needless of. And also there is an encouragement to pray, cry, and fear that we may become poor like them one day. And also there is an encouragement in performing many deeds similar to paying the alms-tax such as charity, visiting the relatives and being kind to others.

And the reason behind the Hajj pilgrimage is that it is a form of getting near to God, asking Him for extensive rewards, departing from all the sins that one has committed, to be repentant for all that he has done in the past, and to start what he will do in the future. The pilgrimage is also for experiencing the expenditures of his wealth and exert himself; avoiding lust and pleasure so as to seek nearness to the Honorable the Exalted God. The pilgrimage is also for feeling humility and courtesy; suffering from the difficulties of the trip in the various conditions of heat, cold, security and fear for a long span of time. The benefits in the Hajj pilgrimage for the people include asking the Honorable the Exalted God for the fulfillment of our needs; abandoning relentlessness of the heart; abandoning the daring of the self; abandoning forgetfulness to remember God; abandoning lack of hope and engaging in action; renewal of the rights; preventing the self from getting corrupt; benefiting the people in the East or the West of the Earth - whether they live in the deserts or at sea; whether they partake in the Hajj pilgrimage or not; whether they import things; whether they do business with men (a.s.ell or buy); and whether they are dealers or needy men. It also includes the fulfillment of the needs of the people who live in that vicinity where the Hajj pilgrims gather together as God has said, ‘That they may witness the benefits (provided) for them.’9

And the reason behind the obligation of going on the Hajj pilgrimage once (in the lifetime) is that the Honorable the Exalted God has considered the least powerful of the people in establishing the obligatory deeds (they only need to go once). One of these obligations is the Hajj pilgrimage which is obligatory once. God has encouraged the powerful people to go as often as they can.

And the reason behind establishing the House (of God) in the middle of the Earth is that it is the place where land at first came out of water. All the winds that blow in the world start from there at the point beneath the ‘al-Rokn ash-Shami. The House of God was the first mausoleum established on the Earth. Therefore, it is the center and the religious

ذَلِكَ عَلَى الشُّكْرِ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِمَا خَوَّلَهُمْ وَأَعْطَاهُمْ وَالدُّعَاءِ وَالتَّضَرُّعِ وَالْخَوْفِ مِنْ أَنْ يَصِيرُوا مِثْلَهُمْ فِي أُمُورٍ كَثِيرَةٍ مِنْ أَدَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَالصَّدَقَاتِ وَصِلَةِ الأَرْحَامِ وَاصْطِنَاعِ الْمَعْرُوفِ.

وَعِلَّةُ الْحَجِّ الْوِفَادَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَطَلَبُ الزِّيَادَةِ وَالْخُرُوجُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا اقْتَرَفَ وَلِيَكُونَ تَائِباً مِمَّا مَضَى مُسْتَأْنِفاً لِمَا يَسْتَقْبِلُ وَمَا فِيهِ مِنِ اسْتِخْرَاجِ الأَمْوَالِ وَتَعَبِ الأَبْدَانِ وَحَظْرِهَا عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَاللَّذَّاتِ وَالتَّقَرُّبِ بِالْعِبَادَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالْخُضُوعِ وَالاسْتِكَانَةِ وَالذُّلِّ شَاخِصاً فِي الْحَرِّ وَالْبَرْدِ وَالْخَوْفِ وَالأَمْنِ دَائِباً فِي ذَلِكَ دَائِماً وَمَا فِي ذَلِكَ لِجَمِيعِ الْخَلْقِ مِنَ الْمَنَافِعِ وَالرَّغْبَةِ وَالرَّهْبَةِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمِنْهُ تَرْكُ قَسَاوَةِ الْقَلْبِ وَجَسَارَةِ الأَنْفُسِ وَنِسْيَانِ الذِّكْرِ وَانْقِطَاعِ الرَّجَاءِ وَالأَمَلِ وَتَجْدِيدُ الْحُقُوقِ وَحَظْرُ النَّفْسِ عَنِ الْفَسَادِ وَمَنْفَعَةُ مَنْ فِي شَرْقِ الأَرْضِ وَغَرْبِهَا وَمَنْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ مِمَّنْ يَحِجُّ وَمَنْ لا يَحِجُّ مِنْ تَاجِرٍ وَجَالِبٍ وَبَائِعٍ وَمُشْتَرٍ وَكَاسِبٍ وَمِسْكِينٍ وَقَضَاءُ حَوَائِجِ أَهْلِ الأَطْرَافِ وَالْمَوَاضِعِ الْمُمْكِنِ لَهُمُ الاجْتَِماعُ فِيهَا كَذَلِكَ لِيَشْهَدُوا مَنافِعَ لَهُمْ.

وَعِلَّةُ فَرْضِ الْحَجِّ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً لانَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَضَعَ الْفَرَائِضَ عَلَى أَدْنَى الْقَوْمِ قُوَّةً فَمِنْ تِلْكَ الْفَرَائِضِ الْحَجُّ الْمَفْرُوضُ وَاحِدٌ ثُمَّ رَغَّبَ أَهْلَ الْقُوَّةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ طَاقَتِهِم.

وَعِلَّةُ وَضْعِ الْبَيْتِ وَسَطَ الأَرْضِ أَنَّهُ الْمَوْضِعُ الَّذِي مِنْ تَحْتِهِ دُحِيَتِ الأَرْضُ وَكُلُّ رِيحٍ تَهُبُّ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّهَا تَخْرُجُ مِنْ تَحْتِ الرُّكْنِ الشَّـامِيِّ وَهِيَ أَوَّلُ بُقْعَةٍ وُضِـعَتْ فِي الأَرْضِ

pilgrimage obligation for all the people whether they are from the East or the West. Mecca was so named because the people used to whistle there, and they called whoever intended to go there as he whistled. This is clear from the Words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘Their prayer at the House (of God) is nothing but whistling and clapping of hands…’10 Here the word ‘Mecca used in the verse in Arabic means whistling and the word ‘Tasdiyah used in the verse in Arabic means clapping.

And the reason behind the circumambulation around the House (of God) is that the Blessed the Sublime God told the angels, ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.’ They said, ‘Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?…’11 They gave this reply to the Sublime God, but then they became sorry, took refuge in the Throne and repented. The Honorable the Exalted God desired that other servants worship in a similar fashion just like the angels. Therefore, He founded a House parallel to the Throne in the Fourth Heaven called ‘Az-Zorah. Then He founded another House in the Heavens of this world parallel to ‘Az-Zorah called ‘Al-Bayt al-Ma’mur. Then He founded this House parallel to ‘Al-Bayt al-Ma’mur. Then He ordered Adam (a.s.) to circumambulate around it. Then the Honorable the Exalted God forgave him and this became a practice for his progeny all the way up until the Resurrection Day.

And the reason behind kissing or touching the Black Stone is that when the Blessed the Sublime God made a covenant with the children of Adam, the Black Stone swallowed it and thus made the people obliged to honor this covenant. That is near the Black Stone they must say, ‘This is what I was entrusted with and I fulfilled it. This is my covenant and I honored it. Therefore, bear witness that I honored my covenant.’ The same meaning lies in Salman’s words, ‘On the Resurrection Day the Black Stone will appear like Mount Abi Qays with a tongue. It will testify on behalf of whoever has visited it.’

And the reason behind naming Mina (meaning beg) is that Gabriel descended to Abraham and said, ‘Beg12 your Lord for something.’ Then Abraham asked that God establish the offering of a sheep instead of offering his son Ishmael, and God order that the sheep be slaughtered for Him. Then this request was granted.

لأنَّهَا الْوَسَطُ لِيَكُونَ الْفَرْضُ لاهْلِ الشَّرْقِ وَالْغَرْبِ فِي ذَلِكَ سَوَاءً .

وَسُمِّيَتْ مَكَّةُ مَكَّةَ لانَّ النَّاسَ كَانُوا يَمْكُونَ فِيهَا وَكَانَ يُقَالُ لِمَنْ قَصَدَهَا قَدْ مَكَا وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَما كانَ صَلاتُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ إِلا مُكاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً فَالْمُكَاءُ الصَّفِيرُ وَالتَّصْدِيَةُ صَفْقُ الْيَدَيْنِ.

وَعِلَّةُ الطَّوَافِ بِالْبَيْتِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ إِنِّي جاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيها مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيها وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّماءَ فَرَدُّوا عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ هَذَا الْجَوَابَ فَنَدِمُوا فَلاذُوا بِالْعَرْشِ وَاسْتَغْفَرُوا فَأَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَتَعَبَّدَ بِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ الْعِبَادُ فَوَضَعَ فِي السَّمَاءِ الرَّابِعَةِ بَيْتاً بِحِذَاءِ الْعَرْشِ يُسَمَّى الضُّرَاحَ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ فِي السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا بَيْتاً يُسَمَّى الْمَعْمُورَ بِحِذَاءِ الضُّرَاحِ ثُمَّ وَضَعَ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ بِحِذَاءِ الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ آدَمَ‏فَطَافَ بِهِ فَتَابَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِ فَجَرَى ذَلِكَ فِي وُلْدِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

وَعِلَّةُ اسْتِلامِ الْحَجَرِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمَّا أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَ بَنِي آدَمَ الْتَقَمَهُ الْحَجَرُ فَمِنْ ثَمَّ كَلَّفَ النَّاسَ تَعَاهُدَ ذَلِكَ الْمِيثَاقِ وَمِنْ ثَمَّ يُقَالُ عِنْدَ الْحَجَرِ أَمَانَتِي أَدَّيْتُهَا وَمِيثَاقِي تَعَاهَدْتُهُ لِتَشْهَدَ لِي بِالْمُوَافَاةِ وَمِنْهُ قَوْلُ سَلْمَانَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ لَيَجِيئَنَّ الْحَجَرُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِثْلَ أَبِي قُبَيْسٍ لَهُ لِسَانٌ وَشَفَتَانِ يَشْهَدُ لِمَنْ وَافَاهُ بِالْمُوَافَاةِ.

وَالْعِلَّةُ الَّتِي مِنْ أَجْلِهَا سُمِّيَتْ مِنًى مِنًى أَنَّ جَبْرَئِيلَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَالَ هُنَاكَ لابْرَاهِيمَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ تَمَنَّ عَلَى رَبِّكَ مَا شِئْتَ فَتَمَنَّى إِبْرَاهِيمُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي نَفْسِهِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ مَكَانَ ابْنِهِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ كَبْشاً يَأْمُرُهُ بِذَبْحِهِ فِدَاءً لَهُ فَأُعْطِيَ مُنَاهُ.

And the reason behind fasting is the realization of the feeling of hunger and thirst that one would suffer if he was poor. Another reason is to suffer and be patient (during fasting so as to receive rewards, and to act as proofs of the Hereafter’s hardships. In addition to all of this, fasting is a cause of elimination of lust and acts as an advisor for us, and as a proof for the Hereafter to see its hardships. Fasting also makes us realize the extent of hardships suffered by the poor and the indigent in this world and the Hereafter.

And God forbade killing since its allowance would corrupt the society, cause its destruction and the corruption of His Plan.

And the Honorable the Exalted God forbade doing what might result in parents’ damnation (of us) is that this would involve the disobedience of the Honorable the Exalted God and our parents; an approach to the denial of blessings; cancellation of gratitude and what might lead to the cutting off of and the disruption of family ties. This is because it involves not paying enough respect for parents, recognizing their rights; the cutting off of family ties; the lack of the inclination of parents to see their children, and quitting to upbring them since the parents no longer have any hopes in their well-being.

And God forbade adultery due to the corruption it results in, including murders, the disruption of family relations, the abandoning of the proper raising of children, corruption in inheritance issues and other similar forms of corruption.

And God forbade oppressively devouring the orphan’s property due to several corrupting reasons. Firstly, when man oppressively devours an orphan’s property he has indeed acted as a partner in murdering the orphan, since an orphan is not self-sufficient and cannot maintain himself. He cannot support himself, and he has no one else to support him and maintain him as his parents would have done. Therefore, if someone devours his property, it is as if he has killed the orphan by leading him into poverty and destitution, even though the Honorable the Exalted God has admonished us against this act. And He has established its punishment in the following Words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘Let those (disposing of an estate) have the same fear in their minds as they would have for their own, if they had left a helpless family behind: Let them fear God…’”13

وَعِلَّةُ الصَّوْمِ لِعِرْفَانِ مَسِّ الْجُوعِ وَالْعَطَشِ لِيَكُونَ الْعَبْدُ ذَلِيلاً مُسْتَكِيناً مَأْجُوراً مُحْتَسِباً صَابِراً وَيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ دَلِيلاً لَهُ عَلَى شَدَائِدِ الآْخِرَةِ مَعَ مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الانْكِسَارِ لَهُ عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَاعِظاً لَهُ فِي الْعَاجِلِ دَلِيلاً عَلَى الآْجِلِ لِيَعْلَمَ شِدَّةَ مَبْلَغِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْفَقْرِ وَالْمَسْكَنَةِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآْخِرَةِ.

وَحَرَّمَ قَتْلَ النَّفْسِ لِعِلَّةِ فَسَادِ الْخَلْقِ فِي تَحْلِيلِهِ لَوْ أَحَلَّ وَفَنَائِهِمْ وَفَسَادِ التَّدْبِيرِ .

وَحَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عُقُوقَ الْوَالِدَيْنِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ عَنِ التَّوْقِيرِ لِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالتَّوْقِيرِ لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ وَتَجَنُّبِ كُفْرِ النِّعْمَةِ وَإِبْطَالِ الشُّكْرِ وَمَا يَدْعُو مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى قِلَّةِ النَّسْلِ وَانْقِطَاعِهِ لِمَا فِي الْعُقُوقِ مِنْ قِلَّةِ تَوْقِيرِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالْعِرْفَانِ بِحَقِّهِمَا وَقَطْعِ الأَرْحَامِ وَالزُّهْدِ مِنَ الْوَالِدَيْنِ فِي الْوَلَدِ وَتَرْكِ التَّرْبِيَةِ لِعِلَّةِ تَرْكِ الْوَلَدِ بِرَّهُمَا.

وَحَرَّمَ الزِّنَا لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْفَسَادِ مِنْ قَتْلِ الأَنْفُسِ وَذَهَابِ الأَنْسَابِ وَتَرْكِ التَّرْبِيَةِ لِلأَطْفَالِ وَفَسَادِ الْمَوَارِيثِ وَمَا أَشْبَهَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ وُجُوهِ الْفَسَاد.

وَحَرَّمَ أَكْلَ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً لِعِلَلٍ كَثِيرَةٍ مِنْ وُجُوهِ الْفَسَادِ أَوَّلُ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ إِذَا أَكَلَ الإِنْسَانُ مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ ظُلْماً فَقَدْ أَعَانَ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ إِذِ الْيَتِيمُ غَيْرُ مُسْتَغْنٍ وَلا مُحْتَمِلٍ لِنَفْسِهِ وَلا عَلِيمٍ بِشَأْنِهِ وَلا لَهُ مَنْ يَقُومُ عَلَيْهِ وَيَكْفِيهِ كَقِيَامِ وَالِدَيْهِ فَإِذَا أَكَلَ مَالَهُ فَكَأَنَّهُ قَدْ قَتَلَهُ وَصَيَّرَهُ إِلَى الْفَقْرِ وَالْفَاقَةِ مَعَ مَا خَوَّفَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَجَعَلَ مِنَ الْعُقُوبَةِ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعافاً خافُوا عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا اللَّهَ.

Abi Ja’far (al-Baqir) (a.s.) said, “The Honorable the Exalted God has promised two punishments for devouring the orphan’s property: punishments in this world and punishment in the Hereafter. The reason for the forbiddance of devouring the orphan’s property is to maintain the orphan until he attains his independence and does not need other people’s property. It is also meant to safeguard the survivors of the orphan’s guardian, so that they do not have to suffer the same thing that the orphan suffers by experiencing the punishment that God has promised for this world. Also the orphan will demand his property when he grows up. Then it14 will result in such hatred, animosity and wrath that it will finally end up in the destruction of them all.

And God forbade fleeing from the battle-field since it will weaken the religion, undermine the Prophethood and the just Immaculate Leaders (a.s.), and not help them against their enemies. This will result in punishment as it equates to denying what the Prophet (S) and the Imams (a.s.) invite us to including the confession to His Lordship; expression of social justice; elimination of oppression; destruction of corruption and whatever might happen due to the enemy getting daring with the Muslims, and its consequences such as killing, destroying the Honorable the Exalted God’s religion and any other corruption.

And God forbade adopting Arab customs after the migration, since it implies returning from the religion, abandoning the assistance to the Prophets (a.s.) and the Proofs (a.s.), and other corruption that it will lead to. It would also imply the cancellation of all the rights of those who have some rights. This would be similar to living like the Bedouins. Since if one recognizes the religion perfectly then he would not associate with the ignorant ones and would fear them. Should one associate with the ignorant ones, he would not be immune from slowly abandoning his own knowledge and become ignorant - even more ignorant than the ignorant.

And God forbade whatever has been slaughtered in a name other than God’s. The Honorable the Exalted God has made it incumbent for His creatures to bear witness to Him, mention His Name over whatever (animals) they slaughter to make them allowable to eat, and as a way to make a distinction between what is done to get nearer to Him and what establishes the worship of the Satans. There lies a confession to His Lordship and Unity in mentioning the Name of the Honorable the

وَكَقَوْلِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَعَدَ فِي أَكْلِ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ عُقُوبَتَيْنِ عُقُوبَةً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَعُقُوبَةً فِي الآْخِرَةِ فَفِي تَحْرِيمِ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ اسْتِغْنَاءُ الْيَتِيمِ وَاسْتِقْلالُهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَالسَّلامَةُ لِلْعَقِبِ أَنْ يُصِيبَهُ مَا أَصَابَهُ لِمَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِيهِ مِنَ الْعُقُوبَةِ مَعَ مَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ طَلَبِ الْيَتِيمِ بِثَارِهِ إِذَا أَدْرَكَ وَوُقُوعِ الشَّحْنَاءِ وَالْعَدَاوَةِ وَالْبَغْضَاءِ حَتَّى يَتَفَانَوْا.

اوَحَرَّمَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الْفِرَارَ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْوَهْنِ فِي الدِّينِ وَالاسْتِخْفَافِ بِالرُّسُلِ وَالأَئِمَّةِ الْعَادِلَةِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَتَرْكِ نُصْرَتِهِمْ عَلَى الأَعْدَاءِ وَالْعُقُوبَةِ لَهُمْ عَلَى إِنْكَارِ مَا دُعُوا إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الإِقْرَارِ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَإِظْهَارِ الْعَدْلِ وَتَرْكِ الْجَوْرِ وَإِمَاتَةِ الْفَسَادِ لِمَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْ جُرْأَةِ الْعَدُوِّ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَمَا يَكُونُ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ السَّبْيِ وَالْقَتْلِ وَإِبْطَالِ دِينِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنَ الْفَسَادِ.

وَحَرَّمَ التَّعَرُّبَ بَعْدَ الْهِجْرَةِ لِلرُّجُوعِ عَنِ الدِّينِ وَتَرْكِ الْمُؤَازَرَةِ لِلأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْحُجَجِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ وَمَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفَسَادِ وَإِبْطَالِ حَقِّ كُلِّ ذِي حَقٍّ لا لِعِلَّةِ سُكْنَى الْبَدْوِ.

وَكَذَلِكَ لَوْ عَرَفَ الرَّجُلُ الدِّينَ كَامِلَةً لَمْ يَجُزْ لَهُ مُسَاكَنَةُ أَهْلِ الْجَهْلِ وَالْخَوْفِ عَلَيْهِ لانَّهُ لا يُؤْمَنُ أَنْ يَقَعَ مِنْهُ تَرْكُ الْعِلْمِ وَالدُّخُولُ مَعَ أَهْلِ الْجَهْلِ وَالَّتمَادِي فِي ذَلِكَ.

وَحَرَّمَ مَا أُهِلَّ بِهِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِلَّذِي أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ مِنَ الإِقْرَارِ بِهِ وَذِكْرِ اسْمِهِ عَلَى الذَّبَائِحِ الْمحَلَّلَةِ وَلِئَلا يُسَوِّيَ بَيْنَ مَا تُقُرِّبَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ وَبَيْنَ مَا جُعِلَ عِبَادَةً لِلشَّيَاطِينِ وَالأَوْثَـانِ لأنَّ فِي تَـسْمِيَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الإِقْرَارَ بِرُبُوبِيَّتِـهِ وَتَوْحِيـدِهِ وَمَـا فِي

Exalted, and there lies atheism and seeking to approach other deities in mentioning any other names (while slaughtering).15 Therefore, remembering God and mentioning His Name over what is slaughtered is what would make a distinction between what God has allowed and what He has forbidden to eat.

And God forbade eating wild birds and beasts of prey16 since they all feed on the dead animals, human corpses and human waste and the like17 . Then the Honorable, the Exalted God has established some signs in the wild animals and birds, so that those we are allowed to eat can be distinguishable from those that are forbidden to eat. My father (a.s.) said, “Any wild animals that have canine teeth and any birds that have claws are forbidden to eat. Any birds that have gizzards are allowable to eat.”

Another sign to distinguish between birds which we are allowed to eat and birds which are forbidden to eat is that my father (a.s.) said, “Eat whichever of the birds that constantly flap their wings while flying, and do not eat any of the birds that sometimes flap their wings but mostly glide.”

And God forbade eating rabbits as it has claws like cats and other beasts of prey. Therefore, the same decree about beasts of prey applies to eating rabbits. In addition to this, there is some filthiness in it and bleeding like that of menstruating women since it is a freak (perverted) animal18 .

And the reason behind the forbiddance of usury is that God has admonished against it, because in it there lies the destruction of property. When man buys one Dirham for two Dirhams while the worth of one Dirham is only one Dirham, the second Dirham has become destroyed. Thus usury on transaction is a loss under all circumstances for the buyer and the seller. Thus the Blessed the Sublime God forbade usury due to its effect on destroying property as He has admonished against letting a fool have any control over his own property, since there is the fear that he might destroy it. This holds until he matures intellectually. Thus this is the reason God has forbidden usury, and the purchase of one Dirham in exchange for two Dirhams.

And the reason behind the forbiddance of usury after the decree on it became clear is that practicing usury implies the underestimation of what God has forbidden. That is committing a major sin after it has been clarified. The Sublime God has forbidden it. This is nothing but an underestimation of the forbiddance of what is forbidden, and such an underestimation equals becoming an atheist.

الإِهْلالِ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ بِهِ وَالتَّقَرُّبِ بِهِ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ لِيَكُونَ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَتَسْمِيَتُهُ عَلَى الذَّبِيحَةِ فَرْقاً بَيْنَ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ وَبَيْنَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ.

وَحَرَّمَ سِبَاعَ الطَّيْرِ الْوَحْشِ كُلَّهَا لاكْلِهَا مِنَ الْجِيَفِ وَلُحُومِ النَّاسِ وَالْعَذِرَةِ وَمَا أَشْبَهَ ذَلِكَ فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ دَلائِلَ مَا أَحَلَّ مِنَ الْوَحْشِ وَالطَّيْرِ وَمَا حَرَّمَ كَمَا قَالَ أَبِي‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كُلُّ ذِي نَابٍ مِنَ السِّبَاعِ وَذِي مِخْلَبٍ مِنَ الطَّيْرِ حَرَامٌ وَكُلُّ مَا كَانَتْ لَهُ قَانِصَةٌ مِنَ الطَّيْرِ فَحَلالٌ وَعِلَّةٌ أُخْرَى يُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ مَا أُحِلَّ مِنَ الطَّيْرِ وَمَا حُرِّمَ قَوْلُهُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كُلْ مَا دَفَّ وَلا تَأْكُلْ مَا صَفَّ.

وَحَرَّمَ الأَرْنَبَ لانَّهَا بِمَنْزِلَةِ السِّنَّوْرِ وَلَهَا مَخَالِيبُ كَمَخَالِيبِ السِّنَّوْرِ وَسِبَاعِ الْوَحْشِ فَجَرَتْ مَجْرَاهَا مَعَ قَذَرِهَا فِي نَفْسِهَا وَمَا يَكُونُ مِنْهَا مِنَ الدَّمِ كَمَا يَكُونُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ لانَّهَا مَسْخٌ.

وَعَلَيْهِ تَحْرِيمُ الرِّبَا إِنَّمَا نَهَى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ فَسَادِ الأَمْوَالِ لانَّ الإِنْسَانَ إِذَا اشْتَرَى الدِّرْهَمَ بِالدِّرْهَمَيْنِ كَانَ ثَمَنُ الدِّرْهَمِ دِرْهَماً وَثَمَنُ الآْخَرِ بَاطِلاً فَبَيْعُ الرِّبَا وَشِرَاهُ وَكْسٌ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ عَلَى الْمُشْتَرِي وَعَلَى الْبَائِعِ فَحَظَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الرِّبَا لِعِلَّةِ فَسَادِ الأَمْوَالِ كَمَا حَظَرَ عَلَى السَّفِيهِ أَنْ يُدْفَعَ إِلَيْهِ مَالُهُ لِمَا يُتَخَوَّفُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ إِفْسَادِهِ حَتَّى يُؤْنَسَ مِنْهُ رُشْدٌ فَلِهَذِهِ الْعِلَّةِ حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ الرِّبَا وَبَيْعَ الدِّرْهَمِ بِالدِّرْهَمَيْنِ يَداً بِيَدٍ.

وَعِلَّةُ تَحْرِيمِ الرِّبَا بَعْدَ الْبَيِّنَةِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الاسْتِخْفَافِ بِالْحَرَامِ الْمحَرَّمِ وَهِيَ كَبِيرَةٌ بَعْدَ الْبَيَانِ وَتَحْرِيمِ اللَّهِ لَهَا وَلَمْ يَكُنْ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ إِلا اسْتِخْفَافاً بِالْمحَرِّمِ لِلْحَرَامِ وَالاسْتِخْفَافُ بِذَلِكَ دُخُولٌ فِي الْكُفْرِ.

And the reason behind the forbiddance of usury on loan19 is that doing good deeds will disappear, and property will be destroyed. The people will be inclined to gain a benefit without exerting any effort. The payment of loans will be abandoned while it is one of the good deeds. In this there is corruption, oppression and the destruction of property.

And God forbade eating pork as a pig is ugly. The Honorable the Exalted God has set it as a lesson to take heed of for the people, and as a scare crow and a reason to see what a freak it is for His creatures. It is also because its food is the most contaminated - plus many more reasons.

God also forbade eating monkeys as they are freaks like pigs. He has set it as a lesson to take heed of for the people, and as a scare crow and a reason to see what a freak is for His creatures. Also about the monkey’s face, God established it like man to be a proof for man that it is one of the creatures upon which there was God’s Wrath.

And God forbade eating whatever is dead due to the existence of things in them which would corrupt the body and would cause calamities (a.s.erious diseases). The Honorable the Exalted God willed to establish the mentioning of His Name to be the cause for the allowance of eating the animals and that this act be what distinguishes between the allowed and the forbidden to eat.

And the Honorable the Exalted God forbade eating blood as He forbade eating the dead due to the existence of things in them which would corrupt the body and would cause bile, bad breath, bad body odor, bad temper, getting mean, lack of kindness and mercy so much that one might even kill his own father or friend.

And God forbade eating a spleen since there is blood in it. The reason for this is the same as the reason for the forbiddance of eating blood and the dead as both are in the same direction of corruption.

And the reason behind the nuptial gift and its obligation for men, and not upon the women to give to the men is that the expenses of the woman are on the man’s shoulders. The woman is selling herself and the man is the buyer. There is no selling without a cost and no buying without a payment, even though women are excused from doing business and trade due to many reasons.

وَعِلَّةُ تَحْرِيمِ الرِّبَا بِالنَّسِيئَةِ لِعِلَّةِ ذَهَابِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَلَفِ الأَمْوَالِ وَرَغْبَةِ النَّاسِ فِي الرِّبْحِ وَتَرْكِهِمُ الْقَرْضَ وَالْقَرْضُ مِنْ صَنَائِعِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَلِمَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْفَسَادِ وَالظُّلْمِ وَفَنَاءِ الأَمْوَالِ.

وَحَرَّمَ الْخِنْزِيرَ لانَّهُ مُشَوَّهٌ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِظَةً لِلْخَلْقِ وَعِبْرَةً وَتَخْوِيفاً وَدَلِيلاً عَلَى مَا مُسِخَ عَلَى خِلْقَتِهِ وَلانَّ غِذَاءَهُ أَقْذَرُ الأَقْذَارِ مَعَ عِلَلٍ كَثِيرَةٍ وَكَذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْقِرْدَ لانَّهُ مُسِخَ مِثْلَ الْخِنْزِيرِ وَجُعِلَ عِظَةً وَعِبْرَةً لِلْخَلْقِ وَدَلِيلاً عَلَى مَا مُسِخَ عَلَى خِلْقَتِهِ وَصُورَتِهِ وَجَعَلَ فِيهِ شَيْئاً مِنَ الإِنْسَانِ لِيَدُلَّ عَلَى أَنَّهُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِ.

وَحُرِّمَتِ الْمَيْتَةُ لِمَا فِيهَا مِنْ فَسَادِ الأَبْدَانِ وَالآْفَةِ وَلِمَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ التَّسْمِيَةَ سَبَباً لِلتَّحْلِيلِ وَفَرْقاً بَيْنَ الْحَلالِ وَالْحَرَامِ.

وَحَرَّمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الدَّمَ كَتَحْرِيمِ الْمَيْتَةِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ فَسَادِ الأَبْدَانِ وَلانَّهُ يُورِثُ الْمَاءَ الأَصْفَرَ وَيُبْخِرُ الْفَمَ وَيُنَتِّنُ الرِّيحَ وَيُسِيىُ الْخُلُقَ وَيُورِثُ الْقَسْوَةَ لِلْقَلْبِ وَقِلَّةَ الرَّأْفَةِ وَالرَّحْمَةِ حَتَّى لا يُؤْمَنَ أَنْ يَقْتُلَ وَلَدَهُ وَوَالِدَهُ وَصَاحِبَهُ.

وَحَرَّمَ الطِّحَالَ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الدَّمِ وَلانَّ عِلَّتَهُ وَعِلَّةَ الدَّمِ وَالْمَيْتَةِ وَاحِدَةٌ لانَّهُ يَجْرِي مَجْرَاهَا فِي الْفَسَادِ.

وَعِلَّةُ الْمَهْرِ وَوُجُوبِهِ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ وَلا يَجِبُ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ أَنْ يُعْطِينَ أَزْوَاجَهُنَّ لانَّ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ مَئُونَةَ الْمَرْأَةِ لانَّ الْمَرْأَةَ بَائِعَةٌ نَفْسَهَا وَالرَّجُلَ مُشْتَرٍ وَلا يَكُونُ الْبَيْعُ إِلا بِثَمَنٍ وَلا الشِّرَاءُ بِغَيْرِ إِعْطَاءِ الَّثمَنِ مَعَ أَنَّ النِّسَاءَ مَحْظُورَاتٌ عَنِ التَّعَامُلِ وَالْمجِي‏ءِ مَعَ عِلَلٍ كَثِيرَةٍ.

And the reason behind the allowance of men to marry up to four women and the forbidding of women to marry more than one man, is that if a man has four wives, his children are associated with him. However, if a woman has two or more husbands, they cannot tell who the child belongs to since all the husbands equally sleep with her. This will result in the disruption of family ties, inheritance and the recognition of the father-children relations.

And the reason behind the limit of two wives for a slave is that he is like half of a free man in both divorce and marriage. He does not have possession of himself. He cannot own any property. Even his own expenses are paid by his master. This is so that there be a difference between him and a free man. And the other reason for this is that he be less involved and pay more attention to the affairs of his master.

And the reason behind allowing (a man to divorce his wife) a maximum of three times (before a woman must marry someone else before she can be remarried to)20 is that there is a chance in between each divorce for the man to get attracted to her again, and his anger lessen.21 This is also to serve as an admonishment and a way of making the women behave and not disobey their husbands. If not so, she will deserve to be separated from her husband since she has done what she should not have done - being disobedient to her husband.

And the reason behind the forbiddance of a man from ever again marrying a woman after he has divorced her nine times is to serve as a punishment for him not to take divorce lightly, not to consider the women to be weak, to carefully watch over his affairs and to know that there are no hopes for reunion with her after divorcing her for nine times.22

And the reason behind the limitation of divorcing those owned by your right hand only two times23 , is that the divorcing of slave maids is considered to be half of that of divorcing free women. Therefore, God has established a limit of two times as a precaution in order to perfect the decrees. The same rule holds for the waiting period when their husbands die.24

And the reason behind not accepting the witnessing of women in cases of divorce and seeing the moon, is due to their weakness of sight, and their friendship with other women. That is why their witnessing is not allowed

وَعِلَّةُ تَزْوِيجِ الرَّجُلِ أَرْبَعَ نِسْوَةٍ وَتَحْرِيمِ أَنْ تَتَزَوَّجَ الْمَرْأَةُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ وَاحِدٍ لانَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا تَزَوَّجَ أَرْبَعَ نِسْوَةٍ كَانَ الْوَلَدُ مَنْسُوباً إِلَيْهِ وَالْمَرْأَةُ لَوْ كَانَ لَهَا زَوْجَانِ أَوْ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْوَلَدُ لِمَنْ هُوَإِذْ هُمْ مُشْتَرِكُونَ فِي نِكَاحِهَا وَفِي ذَلِكَ فَسَادُ الأَنْسَابِ وَالْمَوَارِيثِ وَالْمَعَارِف.

وَعِلَّةُ تَزْوِيجِ الْعَبْدِ اثْنَتَيْنِ لا أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُ لانَّهُ نِصْفُ رَجُلٍ حُرٍّ فِي الطَّلاقِ وَالنِّكَاحِ لا يَمْلِكُ نَفْسَهُ وَلا لَهُ مَالٌ إِنَّمَا يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ مَوْلاهُ وَلِيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ فَرْقاً بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْحُرِّ وَلِيَكُونَ أَقَلَّ لاشْتِغَالِهِ عَنْ خِدْمَةِ مَوَالِيهِ.

وَعِلَّةُ الطَّلاقِ ثَلاثاً لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْمُهْلَةِ فِيَما بَيْنَ الْوَاحِدَةِ إِلَى الثَّلاثِ لِرَغْبَةٍ تَحْدُثُ أَوْ سُكُونِ غَضَبٍ إِنْ كَانَ وَلِيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ تَخْوِيفاً وَتَأْدِيباً لِلنِّسَاءِ وَزَجْراً لَهُنَّ عَنْ مَعْصِيَةِ أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ فَاسْتَحَقَّتِ الْمَرْأَةُ الْفُرْقَةَ وَالْمُبَايَنَةَ لِدُخُولِهَا فِيَما لا يَنْبَغِي مِنْ مَعْصِيَةِ زَوْجِهَا.

وَعِلَّةُ تَحْرِيمِ الْمَرْأَةِ بَعْدَ تِسْعِ تَطْلِيقَاتٍ فَلا تَحِلُّ لَهُ أَبَداً عُقُوبَةً لِئَلا يُتَلاعَبَ بِالطَّلاقِ وَلا تُسْتَضْعَفَ الْمَرْأَةُ وَلِيَكُونَ نَاظِراً فِي أَمْرِهِ مُتَيَقِّظاً مُعْتَبِراً وَلِيَكُونَ يَأْساً لَهُمَا مِنَ الاجْتَِماعِ بَعْدَ تِسْعِ تَطْلِيقَاتٍ.

وَعِلَّةُ طَلاقِ الْمَمْلُوكِ اثْنَتَيْنِ لانَّ طَلاقَ الأَمَةِ عَلَى النِّصْفِ فَجَعَلَهُ اثْنَتَيْنِ احْتِيَاطاً لِكَمَالِ الْفَرَائِضِ وَكَذَلِكَ فِي الْفَرْقِ فِي الْعِدَّةِ لِلْمُتَوَفَّى عَنْهَا زَوْجُهَا.

وَعِلَّةُ تَرْكِ شَهَادَةِ النِّسَاءِ فِي الطَّلاقِ وَالْهِلالِ لِضَعْفِهِنَّ عَنِ الرُّؤْيَةِ وَمُحَابَاتِهِنَّ النِّسَاءَ فِي الطَّلاقِ فَلِذَلِكَ لا يَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُنَّ إِلا فِي مَوْضِعِ ضَرُورَةٍ مِثْلِ شَهَادَةِ الْقَابِلَةِ وَمَا لا يَجُـوزُ

except in cases of necessity like the case of taking a midwife as a witness, or cases where men are not allowed to look. This is similar to the case of the People of the Book, when we cannot find anyone else to bear witness as we read in the Honorable the Exalted God’s Book, ‘…two just men of your own (brotherhood)’25 from the Muslims ‘or others from outside…’26 from the pagans. It is also similar to the witnessing of immature children in cases of murder when there are no other witnesses.

And the reason behind the requirement of four witnesses to adultery and only two for other crimes is the severity of the punishment for adultery, since there is the punishment of execution for it. Therefore, He established double witness requirements for it, since it involves the killing of the people, the disruption of the relationship between fathers and children, and causes inheritance problems.

And the reason behind the allowance of children’s property for their father without requiring any permission from them, and the forbiddance of the property of the father for the children without his permission is that the children themselves are born of their father. The Honorable the Exalted God said, “…He bestows (children) male or female according to His Will (and Plan).” Also the children get their sustenance from their father, whether they are small or have grown up. They are associated with him and they are called and are known by his name. The Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘Call them by (the names of) their fathers: that is juster in the sight of God…’27 Also the Prophet (S) said, “You and your possessions all belong to your father.” However, the mother’s case is not the same. That is she cannot take her children’s possessions without the permission of her children or their father’s permission, since the father is the one who pays for the children’s living expenses, while the mother does not have to pay for their living expenses.

And the reason why the claiming side has to provide the reasoning and the claimant has to swear (by the Qur’an) in all cases, except for bloodshed, is that the claimant cannot provide any proof for his case since he does not know anything. Thus, he has to swear that he is innocent. However, in case of bloodshed, the claimant’s side must provide the reasoning and the claiming side must swear to his claim. This is to prevent undue bloodshed of Muslims and also prevents any torture. In addition, there are usually few to swear that someone has committed murder, so it is very hard for the claimant to provide reasoning.

لِلرِّجَالِ أَنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَيْهِ كَضَرُورَةِ تَجْوِيزِ شَهَادَةِ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إِذَا لَمْ يُوجَدْ غَيْرُهُمْ وَفِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ اثْنَانِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ مُسْلِمَيْنِ أَوْ آخَرَانِ مِنْ غَيْرِكُمْ كَافِرَيْنِ وَمِثْلِ شَهَادَةِ الصِّبْيَانِ عَلَى الْقَتْلِ إِذَا لَمْ يُوجَدْ غَيْرُهُمْ.

وَالْعِلَّةُ فِي شَهَادَةِ أَرْبَعَةٍ فِي الزِّنَا وَاثْنَيْنِ فِي سَائِرِ الْحُقُوقِ لِشِدَّةِ حَدِّ الْمحْصَنِ لانَّ فِيهِ الْقَتْلَ فَجُعِلَتِ الشَّهَادَةُ فِيهِ مُضَاعَفَةً مُغَلَّظَةً لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ قَتْلِ نَفْسِهِ وَذَهَابِ نَسَبِ وَلَدِهِ وَلِفَسَادِ الْمِيرَاثِ.

وَعِلَّةُ تَحْلِيلِ مَالِ الْوَلَدِ لِوَالِدِهِ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِهِ وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لِلْوَلَدِ لانَّ الْوَلَدَ مَوْهُوبٌ لِلْوَالِدِ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشاءُ إِناثاً وَيَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشاءُ الذُّكُورَ مَعَ أَنَّهُ الْمَأْخُوذُ بِمَئُونَتِهِ صَغِيراً وَكَبِيراً وَالْمَنْسُوبُ إِلَيْهِ وَالْمَدْعُوُّ لَهُ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ادْعُوهُمْ لآِبائِهِمْ هُوَأَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَقَوْلِ النَّبِيِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ‏أَنْتَ وَمَالُكَ لابِيكَ وَلَيْسَتِ الْوَالِدَةُ كَذَلِكَ لا تَأْخُذُ مِنْ مَالِهِ إِلا بِإِذْنِهِ أَوْ بِإِذْنِ الأَبِ لانَّ الأَبَ مَأْخُوذٌ بِنَفَقَةِ الْوَلَدِ وَلا تُؤْخَذُ الْمَرْأَةُ بِنَفَقَةِ وَلَدِهَا.

وَالْعِلَّةُ فِي أَنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ فِي جَمِيعِ الْحُقُوقِ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي وَالْيمِينَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ مَا خَلا الدَّمَ لانَّ الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ جَاحِدٌ وَلا يُمْكِنُ إِقَامَةُ الْبَيِّنَةِ عَلَى الْجُحُودِ لانَّهُ مَجْهُولٌ وَصَارَتِ الْبَيِّنَةُ فِي الدَّمِ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ وَالْيمِينُ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي لانَّهُ حَوْطٌ يَحْتَاطُ بِهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ لِئَلا يَبْطُلَ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ وَلِيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ زَاجِراً وَنَاهِياً لِلْقَاتِلِ لِشِدَّةِ إِقَامَةِ الْبَيِّنَةِ عَلَيْهِ لانَّ مَنْ يَشْهَدُ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ قَلِيلٌ.

And the reason behind swearing (by the Qur’an) - that is fifty men should swear - is to make it harder and to be more cautious about shedding undue blood.

And the reason behind chopping off the right hand of a thief is that he engages in the act of robbery using his right hand which is the noblest human part, and is the most useful one. Therefore, God has established chopping it off as a punishment and as a lesson for others to take heed of and not obtain any property in ways other than what is legitimate. Also most thefts are carried out using the right hand. God also abandoned the forceful seizure of property and obtaining it through ways other than the allowed ways, since there is a lot of corruption in that. It is forbidden since corruption is the main cause of destruction, etc.

And God forbade robbery because it would have caused corruption in property and killing people were it allowed. It would also lead to killing, fighting and jealousy due to unlawful seizure. Were it allowed, it would lead to the abandonment of business and work, and everyone would be equally entitled to everything.

And the reason behind beating the body of an adulterer hard is that he or she has engaged his or her body in adultery and all of his or her body has derived pleasure. Beating the body is its punishment, and as a lesson for them to take heed of and know that this is one of the greatest crimes.

And the reason behind the punishment of eighty lashes for malicious accusation (qadhf) or drinking wine is that there lies the denial of relations, killing and breakage of family ties in malicious accusations. One who drinks wine will hallucinate when he gets drunk and will make false accusations. Therefore, he also deserves to be punished for malicious accusations.

And the reason behind killing an adulterer or adulteress after the execution of the Divine Punishment three times, is that he or she has underestimated and paid so little attention to the punishment of lashes that he or she considers himself or herself to be free to do this deed. Another reason behind this is that whoever underestimates God and the Divine Punishment is an atheist. Thus it becomes incumbent to kill him or her for becoming an atheist.

وَأَمَّا عِلَّةُ الْقَسَامَةِ أَنْ جُعِلَتْ خَمْسِينَ رَجُلاً فَلِمَا فِي ذَلِكَ مِنَ التَّغْلِيظِ وَالتَّشْدِيدِ وَالاحْتِيَاطِ لِئَلا يَهْدِرَ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ.

وَعِلَّةُ قَطْعِ الْيمِينِ مِنَ السَّارِقِ لانَّهُ يُبَاشِرُ الأَشْيَاءَ غَالِباً بِيَمِينِهِ وَهِيَ أَفْضَلُ أَعْضَائِهِ وَأَنْفَعُهَا لَهُ فَجُعِلَ قَطْعُهَا نَكَالاً وَعِبْرَةً لِلْخَلْقِ لِئَلا يَبْتَغُوا أَخْذَ الأَمْوَالِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حِلِّهَا وَلانَّهُ أَكْثَرُ مَا يُبَاشِرُ السَّرِقَةَ بِيَمِينِهِ وَحُرِّمَ غَصْبُ الأَمْوَالِ وَأَخْذُهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ حِلِّهَا لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْفَسَادِ وَالْفَسَادُ مُحَرَّمٌ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْفَنَاءِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنْ وُجُوهِ الْفَسَادِ.

وَحُرِّمَ السَّرِقَةُ لِمَا فِيهَا مِنْ فَسَادِ الأَمْوَالِ وَقَتْلِ الأَنْفُسِ لَوْ كَانَتْ مُبَاحَةً وَلِمَا يَأْتِي فِي التَّغَاصُبِ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ وَالتَّنَازُعِ وَالتَّحَاسُدِ وَمَا يَدْعُو إِلَى تَرْكِ التِّجَارَاتِ وَالصِّنَاعَاتِ فِي الْمَكَاسِبِ وَاقْتِنَاءِ الأَمْوَالِ إِذَا كَانَ الشَّيْ‏ءُ الْمُقْتَنَى لا يَكُونُ أَحَدٌ أَحَقَّ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ.

وَعِلَّةُ ضَرْبِ الزَّانِي عَلَى جَسَدِهِ بِأَشَدِّ الضَّرْبِ لِمُبَاشَرَتِهِ الزِّنَا وَاسْتِلْذَاذِ الْجَسَدِ كُلِّهِ بِهِ فَجُعِلَ الضَّرْبُ عُقُوبَةً لَهُ وَعِبْرَةً لِغَيْرِهِ وَهُوَأَعْظَمُ الْجِنَايَاتِ.

وَعِلَّةُ ضَرْبِ الْقَاذِفِ وَشَارِبِ الْخَمْرِ ثَمَانِينَ جَلْدَةً لانَّ فِي الْقَذْفِ نَفْيَ الْوَلَدِ وَقَطْعَ النَّسْلِ وَذَهَابَ النَّسَبِ وَكَذَلِكَ شَارِبُ الْخَمْرِ لانَّهُ إِذَا شَرِبَ هَذَى وَإِذَا هَذَى افْتَرَى فَوَجَبَ حَدُّ الْمُفْتَرِي.

وَعِلَّةُ الْقَتْلِ بَعْدَ إِقَامَةِ الْحَدِّ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ عَلَى الزَّانِي وَالزَّانِيَةِ لاسْتِخْفَافِهِمَا وَقِلَّةِ مُبَالاتِهِمَا بِالضَّرْبِ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهُمَا مُطْلَقٌ لَهُمَا ذَلِكَ الشَّيْ‏ءُ وَعِلَّةٌ أُخْرَى أَنَّ الْمُسْتَخِفَّ بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْحَدِّ كَافِرٌ فَوَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَتْلُ لِدُخُولِهِ فِي الْكُفْرِ.

And the reason behind the forbiddance of men for men (being gay) and women for women (being lesbian) is the nature of women and man’s natural inclination to women. In the case of gay and lesbian relationships between men with men, and women with women there will be a break in the generations, corruption of the natural order and the world’s destruction.

And the Honorable the Exalted God allowed eating cow’s meat, sheep’s meat and camel’s meat due to their abundance, and their availability. The reason for the allowance of eating wild cows and others similar animals is that they eat allowable foods which are not harmful for them or men, and not eat abominable or forbidden foods. They are also not created to be ugly.

And the reason why God has made it abominable to eat mules and domesticated asses is that the people need them to ride on and for carrying loads. There is a fear that they would become so scarce that they become extinct. It is not due to them being created ugly or eating bad things.

And God forbade looking at women’s hair who are in bonds of marriage to their husbands and also other women, since that would sexually arouse a man, and this sexual arousal would lead him into corruption and partaking of what is not proper or allowed. The same thing holds for other things like their hair which they must cover up except for what the Sublime God has allowed in the following verse, ‘Such elderly women as are past the prospect of marriage, there is no blame on them if they lay aside their (outer) garments, provided they make not a wanton display of their beauty…’28 meaning other than their garments. Then there is no problem with looking at their hair.

And the reason behind the female share of inheritance being half of the male share is that when women marry they take something, but when men marry they have to give something.29 That is why the male share has been set to be more. Another reason behind the male share being double that of a female share of inheritance is that women are maintained by men. When they need something, the men have to provide for their needs. Such a responsibility does not lie on women regarding the protection and maintenance of men. Men cannot take any expenses from their women.30 Therefore the Sublime God has established a larger share

وَعِلَّةُ تَحْرِيمِ الذُّكْرَانِ لِلذُّكْرَانِ وَالإِنَاثِ لِلإِنَاثِ لِمَا رُكِّبَ فِي الإِنَاثِ وَمَا طُبِعَ عَلَيْهِ الذُّكْرَانُ وَلِمَا فِي إِتْيَانِ الذُّكْرَانِ الذُّكْرَانَ وَالإِنَاثِ لِلإِنَاثِ مِنِ انْقِطَاعِ النَّسْلِ وَفَسَادِ التَّدْبِيرِ وَخَرَابِ الدُّنْيَا.

وَأَحَلَّ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الْبَقَرَ وَالْغَنَمَ وَالإِبِلَ لِكَثْرَتِهَا وَإِمْكَانِ وُجُودِهَا وَتَحْلِيلِ بَقَرِ الْوَحْشِ وَغَيْرِهَا مِنْ أَصْنَافِ مَا يُؤْكَلُ مِنَ الْوَحْشِ الْمحَلَّلَةِ لانَّ غِذَاءَهَا غَيْرُ مَكْرُوهٍ وَلا مُحَرَّمٍ وَلا هِيَ مُضِرَّةٌ بَعْضُهَا بِبَعْضٍ وَلا مُضِرَّةٌ بِالإِنْسِ وَلا فِي خَلْقِهَا تَشْوِيهٌ.

وَكُرِهَ أَكْلُ لُحُومِ الْبِغَالِ وَالْحَمِيرِ الأَهْلِيَّةِ لِحَاجَةِ النَّاسِ إِلَى ظُهُورِهَا وَاسْتِعْمَالِهَا وَالْخَوْفِ مِنْ قِلَّتِهَا لا لِقَذَرِ خَلْقِهَا وَلا قَذَرِ غِذَائِهَا.

وَحُرِّمَ النَّظَرُ إِلَى شُعُورِ النِّسَاءِ الْمحْجُوبِ بِالأَزْوَاجِ وَإِلَى غَيْرِهِنَّ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ لِمَا فِيهِ مِنْ تَهْيِيجِ الرِّجَالِ وَمَا يَدْعُو التَّهْيِيجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْفَسَادِ وَالدُّخُولِ فِيَما لا يَحِلُّ وَلا يَجْمُلُ وَكَذَلِكَ مَا أَشْبَهَ الشُّعُورَ إِلا الَّذِي قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالْقَواعِدُ مِنَ النِّساءِ اللاتِي لا يَرْجُونَ نِكاحاً فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جُناحٌ أَنْ يَضَعْنَ ثِيابَهُنَّ غَيْرَ مُتَبَرِّجاتٍ أَيْ غَيْرَ الْجِلْبَابِ فَلا بَأْسَ بِالنَّظَرِ إِلَى شُعُورِ مِثْلِهِنَّ.

وَعِلَّةُ إِعْطَاءِ النِّسَاءِ نِصْفَ مَا يُعْطَى الرِّجَالَ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ لانَّ الْمَرْأَةَ إِذَا تَزَوَّجَتْ أَخَذَتْ وَالرَّجُلَ يُعْطِي فَلِذَلِكَ وُفِّرَ عَلَى الرِّجَالِ وَعِلَّةٌ أُخْرَى فِي إِعْطَاءِ الذَّكَرِ مِثْلَيْ مَا تُعْطَى الأُنْثَى لانَّ الأُنْثَى فِي عِيَالِ الذَّكَرِ إِنِ احْتَاجَتْ وَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَعُولَهَا وَعَلَيْهِ نَفَقَتُهَا وَلَيْسَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ أَنْ تَعُـولَ الرَّجُـلَ وَلا تُؤْخَذَ بِنَفَقَتِهِ إِذَا احْتَاجَ فَوَفَّرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى الرِّجَالِ لِذَلِكَ.

for men. These are the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more (a.s.trength) than the other, and because they support them from their means…’31

And the reason behind a wife not inheriting from her husband’s land, except for the price of the building on it, is that the land cannot be divided. Nor can the land be moved from its place to another place. A woman is allowed to leave and cut off relationships from the family. She is allowed to change her husband, but no such possibility exists for the father and the children since their ties cannot be broken. Therefore, the inheritance for the relationship which can be broken, moved or exchanged is only from what can be moved, since they are of a similar nature. And the inheritance for the relationship that is stable and cannot be broken is from what is similarly stable and fixed.

33-2 Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil - may God have Mercy upon him - narrated that Ali ibn Al-Husayn As-Sa’dabadi quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sanan that he had heard Abal Hassan Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, “God forbade drinking wine because of its corrupting effect. Wine changes the intellect of the one who drinks it. It will drive him to deny the Honorable the Exalted God. It will result in him ascribing false accusations to Him and His Messengers. There is also other corruption in it like killing, malicious accusations, adultery, and not avoiding other forbidden things. That is why any intoxicating drink has also been forbidden, since it has the same effects as wine does. Therefore, anyone who believes in God, the Final Day, our Mastery (of the Imams), or claims our friendship should avoid any intoxicating drinks. There will be no relations between us and those who drink!”32

وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الرِّجالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّساءِ بِما فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلى‏ بَعْضٍ وَبِما أَنْفَقُوا مِنْ أَمْوالِهِمْ.

وَعِلَّةُ الْمَرْأَةِ أَنَّهَا لا تَرِثُ مِنَ الْعَقَارِ شَيْئاً إِلا قِيمَةَ الطُّوبِ وَالنِّقْضِ لانَّ الْعَقَارَ لا يُمْكِنُ تَغْيِيرُهُ وَقَلْبُهُ وَالْمَرْأَةُ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَنْقَطِعَ مَا بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ مِنَ الْعِصْمَةِ وَيَجُوزُ تَغْيِيرُهَا وَتَبْدِيلُهَا وَلَيْسَ الْوَلَدُ وَالْوَالِدُ كَذَلِكَ لانَّهُ لا يُمْكِنُ التَّفَصِّي مِنْهُمَا وَالْمَرْأَةُ يُمْكِنُ الاسْتِبْدَالُ بِهَا فَمَا يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَجِي‏ءَ وَيَذْهَبَ كَانَ مِيرَاثُهُ فِيَما يَجُوزُ تَبْدِيلُهُ وَتَغْيِيرُهُ إِذْ أَشْبَهَهُ وَكَانَ الثَّابِتُ الْمُقِيمُ عَلَى حَالِهِ لِمَنْ كَانَ مِثْلَهُ فِي الثَّبَاتِ وَالْقِيَامِ.

2- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ المُتَوَكِّل‏رحمه الله قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن السعدآبادي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خالِد، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَنان قالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الحَسَن‏مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ: حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ الْخَمْرَ لِمَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْفَسَادِ وَمِنْ تَغْيِيرِهَا عُقُولَ شَارِبِيهَا وَحَمْلِهَا إِيَّاهُمْ عَلَى إِنْكَارِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالْفِرْيَةِ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى رُسُلِهِ وَسَائِرِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْهُمْ مِنَ الْفَسَادِ وَالْقَتْلِ وَالْقَذْفِ وَالزِّنَا وَقِلَّةِ الاحْتِجَازِ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ الْحَرَامِ فَبِذَلِكَ قَضَيْنَا عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْكِرٍ مِنَ الأَشْرِبَةِ أَنَّهُ حَرَامٌ مُحَرَّمٌ لانَّهُ يَأْتِي مِنْ عَاقِبَتِهَا مَا يَأْتِي مِنْ عَاقِبَةِ الْخَمْرِ فَلْيَجْتَنِبْ مَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآْخِرِ وَيَتَوَلانَا وَيَنْتَحِلُ مَوَدَّتَنَا كُلَّ شَرَابٍ مُسْكِرٍ فَإِنَّهُ لا عِصْمَةَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ شَارِبِيهَا.

Notes

1. Ghusl for the two festivals (‘Eids): ‘Eid ul-Adha, and ‘Eid ul-Fitr. Ghusl is also recommended on the Day of al-Ghadïr, which is the eighteenth day of the month of Dhi al-Hijja, which is the day when the Prophet Muhammad (S) appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) as the successor after him.

2. Ghusl is obligatory when one touches a corpse after it has become cold and before washing it. As for the animals other than man, Ghusl is not obligatory for him when he touches them after their death.

3. From the elbow down to the finger tips

4. With a wet hand from the front of the top of the head

5. From the tip of the toes to the ankle. Rubbing should be done over the bare skin. It is not permitted to rub over an obstacle such as shoes and socks, and he who rubs over them opposes God’s Book and the traditions of His Messenger. Therefore, such a person’s ablution is invalid.

6. Kiraman Katibin: angels writing down your deeds. “But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you, kind and honorable, writing down (your deeds). They know (and understand) all that ye do.”[Qur’an, 82:10-12].

7. So that communal disagreements do not form

8. Qur’an, 3:186

9. Qur’an, 22:28

10. Qur’an, 8:35

11. Qur’an, 2:30

12. In Arabic beg means ‘Tamina, hence Mina is used meaning to beg.

13. Qur’an, 4:9

14. Devouring the orphan’s property

15. Since this would imply making an offering to deities other than the One and Only God.

16. Beasts of prey: It is forbidden to eat the flesh of beasts of prey, whether they are wild such as lions, wolves, and tigers or birds such as falcons, Egyptian vultures, and the like.

17. Birds of prey are carnivores, which means they eat animal flesh. Some of them, like vultures, feed on dead and rotting flesh that could transmit diseases. This might not affect the vulture, but it might affect humans who eat the vulture.

18. See tradition No. 27-2 in Volume 1 for a more detailed description of perverted animals like pigs, etc.

19. ‘Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say, "Trade is like usury," but God hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for God (to judge); but those who repeat (the offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (forever).’[Qur’an, 2:275]

20. ‘A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness.’ [Qur’an, 2:229]

21. Note that according to Islam once a man divorces his wife for the third time, they can no longer remarry with each other unless she marries someone else, the marriage is consummated and gets divorced.

22. The above-mentioned procedure for divorcing one’s wife three times and remarrying her after her getting married to someone else and getting divorced from him, can only be repeated for a maximum of three times. Therefore, this would limit the maximum allowable instances of a man divorcing a given wife to nine times after which they can never remarry with each other again.

23. Before they must be married to someone else, and divorced by them before they can be remarried to

24. The waiting period for divorced women before they remarry is stated in the following verses, ‘Divorced women shall wait concerning themselves for three monthly periods (before marrying another man). Nor is it lawful for them to hide what God Hath created in their wombs, if they have faith in God and the Last Day. And their husbands have the better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation. And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And God is Exalted in Power, Wise.’ [Qur’an, 2:228]

As for women who have reached menopause or are pregnant: ‘Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the prescribed period, if ye have any doubts, is three months, and for those who have no courses (it is the same): for those who carry (life within their wombs), their period is until they deliver their burdens: and for those who fear God, He will make their path easy.’[Qur’an, Divorce 65:4-5] The waiting period for such women is half that of free women, i.e. 2 months and 5 days. ‘If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait concerning themselves four months and ten days: When they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just and reasonable manner. And God is well acquainted with what ye do.’ [Qur’an, 2:234]

25. Qur’an, Maida 5:106

26. “O ye who believe! When death approaches any of you, (take) witnesses among yourselves when making bequests, two just men of your own (brotherhood) or others from outside if ye are journeying through the earth, and the chance of death befalls you (thus). If ye doubt (their truth), detain them both after prayer, and let them both swear by God, “We wish not in this for any worldly gain, even though the (beneficiary) be our near relation: we shall hide not the evidence before God: if we do, then behold! the sin be upon us!”’ [Qur’an, Maida 5:106]

27. Qur’an, 33:5

28. Qur’an, 24:60

29. Islam considers the nuptial gift and maintenance of the wife and the family as an essential and effective role for the husband in the consolidation of a marriage. These regulations ensure domestic harmony and coherence. The nuptial gift and the maintenance expenses being compulsory, naturally a woman's financial commitments have been reduced and man's burden has proportionately increased. To compensate a man for his extra burden, his share in inheritance has been fixed at twice that of a woman.

30. Islam considers the nuptial gift and maintenance of the wife and the family as an essential and effective role for the husband in the consolidation of a marriage. These regulations ensure domestic harmony and coherence. The nuptial gift and the maintenance expenses being compulsory, naturally a woman's financial commitments have been reduced and man's burden has proportionately increased. To compensate a man for his extra burden, his share in inheritance has been fixed at twice that of a woman.

31. Qur’an, Nisaa 4:34

32. This implies that in the Hereafter there will be no intercession by us (the Imams) on behalf of those who drink.

Chapter 32: On Ar-Ridha’’s Words on the Reasons for Various Things

32-1 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘O son of God’s Prophet! Why did the Honorable the Exalted God create all things

‏عنبسة قالَ: حَدَّثَنا دارِم بْنِ قبيصة قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ أَبيهِ عَنْ آبائِهِ عَنْ‏أَبي طالِب‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: اطلبوا الخَيْر عِنْدَ حِسان الوُجُوه فَإِنَّ فعالَهُمْ أحرى أَن تكون حسنا.

347- وَبِهذَا الإسناد قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: أَنَا خاتَم النَبِيِّين وَعَلِيِّ خاتَم الوَصِيِّين.

348- وَبِهذَا الإسناد قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: لا تفرد وَالجُمْعَةِ بصوم.

349- وَبِهذَا الإسناد قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: التائب من الذنب كَمَنْ لا ذنب لَهُ.

350- وَبِهذَا الإسناد قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: أطفئوا المصابيح بِاللَّيل لاتجرها الفويسقة فتحرق البِيْت وَما فِيهِ.

351- وَبِهذَا الإسناد قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: الكمأة من المن الَّذِي أَنْزَلَه اللَّه عَلَى بَنِي إسرائيل وَهِيَ شِفاءَ للعين وَالعَجْوَة الَّتِي فِي البرنِي من الجَنَّة وَهِيَ شِفاءَ من السُّمِّ.

352- وَبِهذَا الإسناد عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِب أَنَّهُ ورث الخنثى من مَوْضِع مبالته.

32- بابُ فِي ذكر ما جاءَ عَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنَ العِلَلِ‏

1- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الكُوفِيّ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضـا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قـالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: لِمَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْخَلْقَ عَلَى أَنْوَاعٍ شَتَّى

to be the same way? Why did He not create everything to be of the same kind?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘That was so that they do not think that He is incapable, and nothing can come to an atheist’s mind which the Honorable the Exalted God has not created. That was so that they cannot ask whether or not the Honorable the Exalted God is able to create such and such a creature, since the Blessed the Sublime has already created it. And considering all the varieties of creatures that He has created, they realize that He has power over all things.”

32-2 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father that Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “O son of God’s Prophet! Why did the Honorable the Exalted God immerse all the dry land in water at the time of Noah and drown all the innocent people and children there?” The Prophet (S) replied, “There were no children among them since the Honorable the Exalted God had made all the men and the women of the people of Noah sterile from forty years ago. Thus their generation was cut off and they were all drowned with no children among them. The Honorable the Exalted God will not punish the innocent for the sins of the sinners. However, some of Noah’s people that had remained were drowned for denying the Prophethood of Noah before God. Others were drowned because they were in agreement with the denial of the ones who denied, since if someone does not do something but agrees with it, it is like one who has actually done that.”

32-3 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa that Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ said that he had heard Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, “My father (a.s.) narrated that Abu Abdullah (a.s.) said that the Honorable the Exalted God told Noah, ‘…O Noah! He is not of thy family…’1 The reason for this was that Noah’s son was opposed to Noah. God considered those who followed Noah (a.s.) to be of his family.” Al-Washsha’ said that the Imam (a.s.) asked him, “How is this verse about Noah’s son recited?” Al-Washsha’ answered, “The people recite it in two different ways one form of which implies that he was not Noah’s son.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, they are liars. He was Noah’s son. However, the Honorable the Exalted God denounced him from being Noah’s son due to his opposition to Noah’s religion.”

وَلَمْ يَخْلُقْهُمْ نَوْعاً وَاحِداً. فَقَالَ: لِئَلا يَقَعَ فِي الأَوْهَامِ أَنَّهُ عَاجِزٌ فَلا تَقَعُ صُورَةٌ فِي وَهْمِ مُلْحِدٍ إِلا وَقَدْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهَا خَلْقاً وَلا يَقُولُ قَائِلٌ هَلْ يَقْدِرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَ عَلَى صُورَةِ كَذَا وَكَذَا إِلا وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فِي خَلْقِهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَيَعْلَمُ بِالنَّظَرِ إِلَى أَنْوَاعِ خَلْقِهِ أَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ.

2- حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِمٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدُ السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ، عَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: يا ابْنِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لايِّ عِلَّةٍ أَغْرَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الدُّنْيَا كُلَّهَا فِي زَمَنِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَفِيهِمُ الأَطْفَالُ وَفِيهِمْ مَنْ لا ذَنْبَ لَهُ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا كَانَ فِيهِمُ الأَطْفَالُ لانَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَعْقَمَ أَصْلابَ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَأَرْحَامَ نِسَائِهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ عَاماً فَانْقَطَعَ نَسْلُهُمْ فَغَرِقُوا وَلا طِفْلَ فِيهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِيَهْلِكَ بِعَذَابِهِ مَنْ لا ذَنْبَ لَهُ وَأَمَّا الْبَاقُونَ مِنْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَأُغْرِقُوا لِتَكْذِيبِهِمْ لِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَسَائِرُهُمْ أُغْرِقُوا بِرِضَاهُمْ بِتَكْذِيبِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ وَمَنْ غَابَ مِنْ أَمْرٍ فَرَضِيَ بِهِ كَانَ كَمَنْ شَهِدَهُ وَأَتَاهُ.

3- حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه، عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ الحَسَن بن عَلِيِّ الوَشَّاء، عَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قالَ أَبي‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّه‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ يا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ لانَّهُ كَانَ مُخَالِفاً لَهُ وَجَعَلَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ قَالَ وَسَأَلَنِي كَيْفَ يَقْرَءُونَ هَذِهِ الآْيَةَ فِي ابْنِ نُوحٍ فَقُلْتُ يَقْرَؤُهَا النَّاسُ عَلَى وَجْهَيْنِ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صالِحٍ وَإِنَّهُ عَمِلَ غَيْرَ صَالِحٍ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا هُوَابْنُهُ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَفَاهُ عَنْهُ حِينَ خَالَفَهُ فِي دِينِهِ.

32-4 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad, on the authority of Al-Husayn ibn Khalid, on the authority of Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that he (a.s.) heard his father (a.s.) say, “The Honorable the Exalted God chose Abraham (a.s.) as His friend since he never turned down any needy person without fulfilling his need, and never asked anyone but God for the fulfillment of his own needs.”

32-5 Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja'far Al-Mudhaffar Al-Alawi As-Samarqandi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Alawi al-Umari, on the authority of Isma’il ibn Humam, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said the following regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘They said, If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him). But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them….’2 The Prophet Isaac (a.s.) had a belt which he (a.s.) had inherited from the great Prophets. That belt and Yusuf (Joseph) were both with Joseph’s aunt. She really liked Joseph. Jacob (a.s.) sent her a message to return the child the following day. She told Jacob’s messenger, ‘Return and tell him to let me keep the boy with me for tonight. I will return him tomorrow.’ When the morning arrived, she undressed him, put the belt on him and then put his shirt on him and sent him to his father. When Joseph (a.s.) left, she started to look for the belt saying that it had been stolen. They found it on Joseph and it was a custom then that if the theft of someone was proved at that time they would give the thief to the owner of the stolen property to be his/her slave.”

32-6 Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja'far ibn Mudhaffar al-Alawi narrated that Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ubaydillah ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’, “I heard Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, ‘During the rule of the Children of Israel, if someone stole something, he would become the slave of the owner of that stolen property. Joseph (a.s.) was with his aunt when he was small. She really liked him. The Prophet Isaac (a.s.) had a belt which he (a.s.) had put on Jacob (a.s.). That belt was with Isaac’s daughter (Joseph’s aunt). Jacob (a.s.) asked her to return Joseph (a.s.). She got sad about this and sent him a message that she would return the

4- حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِمٍ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ معبد، عَنْ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْراهِيمَ خَلِيلاً لانَّهُ لَمْ يَرُدَّ أَحَداً وَلَمْ يَسْأَلْ أَحَداً قَطُّ غَيْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

5- حَدَّثَنا المُظَفَّر بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ المُظَفَّر العَلَوِي السَمَرْقَنْدِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه العَلَوِيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّد العَلَوِيّ العُمَري قالَ: حَدَّثَني إِسْمَاعِيل بْنِ هَمّامٍ قالَ: قالَ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قالُوا إِنْ يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَسَرَّها يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُبْدِها لَهُمْ قَالَ كَانَتْ لاسْحَاقَ النَّبِيِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنْطَقَةٌ تَتَوَارَثُهَا الأَنْبِيَاءُ الأَكَابِرُ وَكَانَتْ عِنْدَ عَمَّةِ يُوسُفَ وَكَانَ يُوسُفُ عِنْدَهَا وَكَانَتْ تُحِبُّهُ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهَا أَبُوهُ ابْعَثِيهِ إِلَيَّ وَأَرُدُّهُ إِلَيْكَ فَبَعَثَتْ إِلَيْهِ دَعْهُ عِنْدِيَ اللَّيْلَةَ أَشُمَّهُ ثُمَّ أُرْسِلَهُ إِلَيْكَ غَدَاةً قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَتْ أَخَذَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةَ فَشَدَّتْهَا فِي وَسَطِهِ تَحْتَ الثِّيَابِ وَبَعَثَتْ بِهِ إِلَى أَبِيهِ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا طَلَبَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةَ فَوَجَدَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ إِذَا سَرَقَ أَحَدٌ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ دُفِعَ إِلَى صَاحِبِ السَّرِقَةِ فَكَانَ عَبْدَهُ.

6- حَدَّثَنا المُظَفَّر بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُظَفَّر العَلَوِيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ عُبِيْداللَّه بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خالِد قالَ: حَدَّثَني الحَسَن بْنِ عَلِى الوَشَّاء قالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلىِّ بْنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ: كَانَتِ الْحُكُومَةُ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذَا سَرَقَ أَحَدٌ شَيْئاً اسْتُرِقَّ بِهِ وَكَانَ يُوسُفُ عِنْدَ عَمَّتِهِ وَهُوَصَغِيرٌ وَكَانَتْ تُحِبُّهُ وَكَانَتْ لاسْحَاقَ مِنْطَقَةٌ أَلْبَسَهَا يَعْقُـوبَ وَكَانَتْ عِنْـدَ أُخْتِهِ، وَإِنَّ يَعْـقُوبَ طَلَبَ يُوسُـفَ لِيَأْخُذَهُ مِنْ عَمَّتِهِ فَاغْتَمَّتْ لِذَلِكَ

child later. When she wanted to send him back, she undressed him, put the belt on him and then put his shirt on him and sent him to his father. When Joseph (a.s.) reached Jacob, she arrived there also claiming that the belt had been lost. They searched Joseph’s body and found the belt on him. That was why when Joseph (a.s.) found the drinking cup in his brother’s saddle-bag which he himself had hidden there, his brothers said, ‘…If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him).’3 Then Joseph (a.s.) asked them, ‘What is the punishment of the one in whose saddle-bag the drinking cup is found?’ They said, ‘The penalty should be that he in whose saddle-bag it is found, should be held (as bondman) to atone for the (crime)…’ as it is our tradition. Then ‘So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother: at length he brought it out of his brother's baggage…’4 That is why Joseph’s brothers said, ‘If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him).’5 They were referring to that belt. ‘…But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them.’”6

32-7 Abdul Wahid Muhammad ibn Ubdoos al-Neishaboori al-Attar - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Qutayba quoted on the authority of Hamdan ibn Soleiman al-Neishaboori, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Hamadani who asked Abil Hassan Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘Why did the Honorable the Exalted God drown Pharaoh, even though he believed in Him and confessed to His Unity?’ The Imam (a.s.) replied, ‘That was because he believed only when he saw the punishment, and believing when you see the punishment is not acceptable. This has been the Sublime God’s decree in the past and it will be so for the future as the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘But when they saw Our Punishment, they said, We believe in God - the one God - and we reject the partners we used to join with Him.’ But their professing the Faith when they (actually) saw Our Punishment was not going to profit them. (a.s.uch has been) God's Way of dealing with His Servants (from the most ancient times). And even thus did the Rejecters of God perish (utterly)!7 ’ And the Honorable the Exalted God has also said, ‘…the day that certain of the signs of thy Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then; if he believed not before nor earned righteousness through its faith. Say: Wait ye: we too are waiting.’8 When Pharaoh was about to drown ‘…he said, I believe that

وَقَالَتْ دَعْهُ حَتَّى أُرْسِلَهُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَخَذَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةَ وَشَدَّتْ بِهَا وَسْطَهُ تَحْتَ الثِّيَابِ فَلَمَّا أَتَى يُوسُفُ أَبَاهُ جَاءَتْ وَقَالَتْ قَدْ سُرِقَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةُ فَفَتَّشَتْهُ فَوَجَدَتْهَا مَعَهُ فِي وَسْطِهِ فَلِذَلِكَ قَالَتْ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ لَمَّا حَبَسَ يُوسُفُ أَخَاهُ حَيْثُ جَعَلَ الصَّاعَ فِي وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ فَقَالَ يُوسُفُ مَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ وُجِدَ فِي رَحْلِهِ قَالُوا هُوَجَزَاؤُهُ السُّنَّةُ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِيهِمْ فَلِذَلِكَ قَالَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ إِنْ يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَسَرَّها يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُبْدِها لَهُمْ.

7- حَدَّثَنا عَبْد الواحِدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدُوسٍ النِيْسابُوري العَطَّار رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ، عَنْ حَمْدانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمان النِيْسابُوري قالَ: حَدَّثَني إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الهَمْدانِيَّ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لايِّ عِلَّةٍ أَغْرَقَ اللَّهُ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَدْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَأَقَرَّ بِتَوْحِيدِهِ قَالَ لانَّهُ آمَنَ عِنْدَ رُؤْيَةِ الْبَأْسِ وَالإِيمَانُ عِنْدَ رُؤْيَةِ الْبَأْسِ غَيْرُ مَقْبُولٍ وَذَلِكَ حُكْمُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ فِي السَّلَفِ وَالْخَلَفِ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: (فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنا قالُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَفَرْنا بِما كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ. فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنْفَعُهُمْ إِيمانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنا.) وَقَالَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: (يَوْمَ يَأْتِي بَعْضُ آياتِ رَبِّكَ لا يَنْفَعُ نَفْساً إِيمانُها لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمانِها خَيْراً.) وَهَكَذَا فِرْعَوْنُ لَمَّا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ: آمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو

there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to God in Islam).’9 It was said to him, ‘Ah now! But a little while before, wast thou in rebellion! And thou didst mischief (and violence)! This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!’10 Pharaoh was armed to the teeth wearing iron armor. When he was drowned, God threw him up on a high piece of land so that he would be a sign for the people who came later. They could see him on the high land with all his heavy iron weapons. Iron is heavy and it will naturally submerge. That is why this in itself was a sign. Another reason that the Honorable the Exalted God drowned Pharaoh was that he sought help from Moses when he realized that he was going to be drowned, and he did not seek God’s help. Then the Honorable the Exalted God revealed to Moses (a.s.), ‘O Moses! You did not help Pharaoh since you had not created him. Had he asked Me for help, I would have saved him.’”

32-8 Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab al-Qurashi narrated that Mansoor ibn Abdullah al-Isbahani al-Sufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Mehrayat al-Qazvini, on the authority of Dawood ibn Soleiman al-Qadhi, “I heard Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) narrate the following on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘So he smiled, amused at her speech….’11 God was referring to the ant’s words when it said, ‘O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it.’12 The wind that was blowing in the air brought the ant’s voice to Solomon. Solomon stopped and called in that ant and asked it, ‘Don’t you know that I am God’s Prophet and I will not oppress anyone?’ The ant said, ‘Yes.’ Solomon (a.s.) said, ‘Then why did you make them afraid of me oppressing them?’ The ant said, ‘I feared that they might see Your Majesty and get so attracted to you that they forget the Sublime God’s remembrance.’ Then the ant asked, ‘Is your rank higher or that of your father David?’ Solomon (a.s.) said, ‘My father David!’ The ant said, ‘However, your name has one more letter than your father’s name David13 . Doesn’t it?’ Solomon said, ‘I have no knowledge of this.’ The ant said, ‘No. Your father David’s name was actually ‘Davi jorha (meaning that David heals). Then he was called David. I hope you can

إِسْرائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ آلآْنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَقَدْ كَانَ فِرْعَوْنُ مِنْ قَرْنِهِ إِلَى قَدَمِهِ فِي الْحَدِيدِ قَدْ لَبِسَهُ عَلَى بَدَنِهِ فَلَمَّا غَرِقَ أَلْقَاهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى نَجْوَةٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ بِبَدَنِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِمَنْ بَعْدَهُ عَلامَةً فَيَرَوْنَهُ مَعَ تَثَقُّلِهِ بِالْحَدِيدِ عَلَى مُرْتَفِعٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ وَسَبِيلُ الثَّقِيلِ أَنْ يَرْسُبَ وَلا يَرْتَفِعَ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ آيَةً وَعَلامَةً وَلِعِلَّةٍ أُخْرَى أَغْرَقَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَهِيَ أَنَّهُ اسْتَغَاثَ بِمُوسَى لَمَّا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ وَلَمْ يَسْتَغِثْ بِاللَّهِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُوسَى لَمْ تُغِثْ فِرْعَوْنَ لانَّكَ لَمْ تَخْلُقْهُ وَلَوِ اسْتَغَاثَ بِي لاغَثْتُهُ.

8- حَدَّثَنا عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْد الوَهَّاب القُرَشِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الأصبهانِي الصُّوفيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَلِىِّ بْنِ مهرويه القَزوِيني قالَ: حَدَّثَنا داوُدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمان الغازي قالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ عَنْ أَبيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَتَبَسَّمَ ضاحِكاً مِنْ قَوْلِها قَالَ لَمَّا قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ يا أَيُّهَا الَّنمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَساكِنَكُمْ لا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمانُ وَجُنُودُهُ حَمَلَتِ الرِّيحُ صَوْتَ الَّنمْلَةِ إِلَى سُلَيْمانَ وَهُوَمَارٌّ فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَالرِّيحُ قَدْ حَمَلَتْهُ فَوَقَفَ وَقَالَ عَلَيَّ بِالَّنمْلَةِ فَلَمَّا أُتِيَ بِهَا قَالَ سُلَيْمانُ يَا أَيَّتُهَا الَّنمْلَةُ أَمَا عَلِمْتِ أَنِّي نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ وَأَنِّي لا أَظْلِمُ أَحَداً قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ بَلَى قَالَ سُلَيْمانُ فَلِمَ حَذَّرْتِنِيهِمْ ظُلْمِي وَقُلْتِ يا أَيُّهَا الَّنمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَساكِنَكُمْ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَى زِينَتِكَ فَيُفْتَتَنُوا بِهَا فَيَبْعُدُوا عَنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ. ثُمَّ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ: أَنْتَ أَكْبَرُ أَمْ أَبُوكَ دَاوُدُ؟ قَالَ سُلَيْمانُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: بَلْ أَبِي دَاوُدُ. قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ: فَلِمَ زِيدَ فِي حُرُوفِ اسْمِكَ حَرْفٌ عَلَى حُرُوفِ اسْمِ أَبِيكَ دَاوُدَ؟ قَالَ سُلَيْمانُ: مَا لِي بِهَذَا عِلْمٌ. قَـالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ: لأنَّ أَبَـاكَ دَاوُدَ دَاوَى جُرْحَهُ بِوُدٍّ فَسُمِّيَ دَاوُدَ، وَأَنْتَ يَـا سُلَيْمانُ أَرْجُو أَنْ

reach the rank of your father.’ Then the ant added, ‘Do you know why God did not make things other than the wind subservient to you in His Kingdom?’ Solomon said, ‘I do not know.’ The ant said, ‘The Honorable the Exalted God wanted to teach you that if He had made everything else subservient to you, they would also end as fast as the wind does, and you would lose them as fast as the wind.’ Solomon (a.s.) laughed at this.”14

32-9 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Yaqoob ibn Yazid, on the authority of Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Ashyam, on the authority of Soleiman al-Ja’fari that Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, ‘Do you know why Ishmael was called strictly true?’15 He said, ‘No.’ Imam Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘It was because he made an appointment with someone and waited for him to come for one year.’

32-10 Abul Abbas Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taleqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, ‘I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.): Why were the disciples (of Jesus) called the Hawariyoon? He (a.s.) said, ‘They were called the Hawariyoon by the people since they used to wash clothes. They cleansed the filth and dirt from clothes. Another reason is that the word Hawariyoon is derived from the word Hawar (bread) that is a form of bread made with sieved flour. We call them this because they cleansed themselves and others by means of the advice they gave.’ Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal asked, ‘Why were the Christians called the Nasara. The Imam (a.s.) said, ‘Since they came from a town called Nasereh that was one of the towns in Syria. After Mary (a.s.) and Jesus (a.s.) returned from Egypt, they settled down there.’”

32-11 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah, on the authority of someone else, on the authority of Abi Tahir ibn Abi Hamza that Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “There are four kinds of temperaments. One is phlegm that is a stubborn enemy. Then there is blood which is like Ethiopian servants who often kill their masters. The third one is the wind which is a king who puts up with his people and treats them gently. The last one is ‘Safra which is like the Earthquake which will make everything on the Earth tremble when it occurs.’”

تَلْحَقَ بِأَبِيكَ. ثُمَّ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ هَلْ تَدْرِي لِمَ سُخِّرَتْ لَكَ الرِّيحُ مِنْ بَيْنِ سَائِرِ الْمَمْلَكَةِ قَالَ سُلَيْمانُ مَا لِي بِهَذَا عِلْمٌ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ يَعْنِي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِذَلِكَ لَوْ سَخَّرْتُ لَكَ جَمِيعَ الْمَمْلَكَةِ كَمَا سَخَّرْتُ لَكَ هَذِهِ الرِّيحَ لَكَانَ زَوَالُهَا مِنْ يَدِكَ كَزَوَالِ الرِّيحِ فَحِينَئِذٍ تَبَسَّمَ ضاحِكاً مِنْ قَوْلِها!

9- حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْد بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه، عَنْ يَعْقُوبِ بْنِ يَزِيد، عَنْ عَلىِّ بْن أَشيمِ، عَنْ سُلَيْمان الجَعْفَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: أَتَدْري لَمْ سُمِّيَ إِسْمَاعِيل صادِقَ الوَعْدِ؟ قالَ: قُلْتُ: لا أَدْرِي، فَقالَ: وَعَدَ رَجُلاً فَجَلَسَ لَهُ حَولاً يَنتَظِرُهُ.

10- حَدَّثَنا أَبُو العَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الكُوفِيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَنْ أَبيهِ قالَ: قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِمَ سُمِّيَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ قَالَ أَمَّا عِنْدَ النَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُمْ سُمُّوْا حَوَارِيِّينَ لانَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَصَّارِينَ يُخَلِّصُونَ الثِّيَابَ مِنَ الْوَسَخِ بِالْغَسْلِ وَهُوَاسْمٌ مُشْتَقٌّ مِنَ الْخُبْزِ الْحُوَّارَى وَأَمَّا عِنْدَنَا فَسُمِّيَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ حَوَارِيِّينَ لانَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُخْلَصِينَ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَمُخْلِصِينَ لِغَيْرِهِمْ مِنْ أَوْسَاخِ الذُّنُوبِ بِالْوَعْظِ وَالتَّذْكِيرِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَلِمَ سُمِّيَ النَّصَارَى نَصَارَى قَالَ لانَّهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَةٍ اسْمُهَا نَاصِرَةُ مِنْ بِلادِ الشَّامِ نَزَلَتْهَا مَرْيَمُ وَعِيسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بَعْدَ رُجُوعِهِمَا مِنْ مِصْرَ.

11- حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ أَبي عَبْدِ اللَّه، عَنْ واحِدٍ، عَنْ أَبي طاهِرٍ بْنِ أَبي حَمْزَة، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: الطَّبَائِعُ أَرْبَعٌ فَمِنْهُنَّ الْبَلْغَمُ وَهُوَخَصْمٌ جَدِلٌ وَمِنْهُنَّ الدَّمُ وَهُوَعَبْدٌ وَرُبَّمَا قَتَلَ الْعَبْدُ سَيِّدَهُ وَمِنْهُنَّ الرِّيحُ وَهُوَمَلِكٌ يُدَارَى وَمِنْهُنَّ الْمِرَّةُ وَهَيْهَاتَ وَهَيْهَاتَ هِيَ الأَرْضُ إِذَا ارْتَجَّتْ ارْتَجَّتْ بِمَا عَلَيْهَا.

32-12 Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Masroor - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Aamir quoted on the authority of Abu Abdullah al-Sayyari, on the authority of Abi Yaqoob ibn al-Baghdadi that Ibn al-Sikkit asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Why did the Honorable the Exalted God send Moses (a.s.) with the miracles of the rod (turning into a serpent), a white hand16 , the means of magic and sent Jesus (a.s.) with the miracles of medicine, but sent Muhammad (a.s.) with speech and eloquence. Abul Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, “Indeed magic was popular when the Blessed the Sublime God appointed Moses (a.s.). That is why he was given the miracle of negating the effect of magic by the Honorable the Exalted God, which the people did not possess. There was none like it within their powers. Therefore, he nullified their magic and proved his rightfulness to them. The Blessed the Sublime God appointed Jesus (a.s.) at a time when untreatable illnesses existed and the people needed medicine and a doctor. Therefore he gave them what they did not have the like of from the Honorable the Exalted God with which he (Jesus (a.s.)) brought their dead back to life, gave sight to those born blind, and treated those suffering from elephantiasis and leprosy17 , all with God’s permission and thereby proving his rightfulness to them. And the Blessed the Sublime God appointed Muhammad (a.s.) at a time when eloquent speech was common. I think he also added in poetry. Therefore he used the Honorable the Exalted God’s Book with its wise sayings, decrees, disproof of the claims of the atheists, and the proof of his own claims and perfected his proof for them.” Ibn al-Sikkit said, ‘I swear by God that I have never seen anyone like you in these times. Tell me, who is the Proof of God for the creatures today.’ Imam Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “It is the intellect which can recognize him who tells the truth about God, acknowledges Him, and recognizes and denounces one who lies about God.” Then Ibn al-Sikkit said, ‘I swear by God that this is the correct answer.’”

32-13 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi al-Hamdani quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father that Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Why were the Best Messengers called the ‘Ulul-Azm?”18 The Imam (a.s.) answered, ‘They were called the ‘Ulu-Azm since they had laws and regulations. The Prophets that came after Noah (a.s.) all followed the

12- حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَسْرُورٍ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عامِرٍ حَدَّثَنا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّه السَيّاري، عَنْ أَبي يَعْقُوبِ البَغدْاديّ قالَ: قَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ لابِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِمَا ذَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ بِيَدِهِ الْبَيْضَاءِ وَالْعَصَا وَآلَةِ السِّحْرِ وَبَعَثَ عِيسَى بِالطِّبِّ وَبَعَثَ مُحَمَّداًبِالْكَلامِ وَالْخُطَبِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمَّا بَعَثَ مُوسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ كَانَ الأَغْلَبُ عَلَى أَهْلِ عَصْرِهِ السِّحْرَ فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي وُسْعِ الْقَوْمِ مِثْلُهُ وَبِمَا أَبْطَلَ بِهِ سِحْرَهُمْ وَأَثْبَتَ بِهِ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى بَعَثَ عِيسَى فِي وَقْتٍ ظَهَرَتْ فِيهِ الزَّمَانَاتُ وَاحْتَاجَ النَّاسُ إِلَى الطِّبِّ فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُمْ مِثْلُهُ وَبِمَا أَحْيَا لَهُمُ الْمَوْتَى وَأَبْرَأَ الأَكْمَهَ وَالأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَأَثْبَتَ بِهِ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً فِي وَقْتٍ كَانَ الأَغْلَبُ عَلَى أَهْلِ عَصْرِهِ الْخُطَبَ وَالْكَلامَ وَأَظُنُّهُ قَالَ وَالشِّعْرَ فَأَتَاهُمْ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَوَاعِظِهِ وَأَحْكَامِهِ مَا أَبْطَلَ بِهِ قَوْلَهُمْ وَأَثْبَتَ الْحُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ تَاللَّهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَ الْيَوْمِ قَطُّ فَمَا الْحُجَّةُ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ الْيَوْمَ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ الْعَقْلُ تَعْرِفُ بِهِ الصَّادِقَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَتُصَدِّقُهُ وَالْكَاذِبَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَتُكَذِّبُهُ فَقَالَ ابْنُ السِّكِّيتِ هَذَا وَاللَّهِ الْجَوَابُ.

13- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيد الكُوفِيّ الهَمْدانِيَّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ أُوْلِي الْعَزْمِ لانَّهُمْ كَانُوا أَصْحَابَ الْعَزَائِمِ وَالشَّرَائِعِ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ كُلَّ نَبِيٍّ كَـانَ بَعْدَ نُوحٍ‏ كَـانَ عَلَى شَرِيعَتِهِ وَمِنْهَـاجِـهِ

laws of Noah (a.s.), and followed him. The Prophets (a.s.) that came after Noah all followed his Book until Abraham (a.s.) came. The Prophets (a.s.) that came after Abraham (a.s.) all followed Abraham’s laws. The laws and the ways of Abraham were followed by all the Prophets that came after Abraham (a.s.) until Moses (a.s.). Then after Moses (a.s.), the Prophets followed his laws and ways and adhered to his Book until the time of Jesus (a.s.). All the Prophets at the time of Jesus (a.s.) and after him followed his laws and ways and adhered to his Book until the time of our Prophet Muhammad (S). Therefore, these five Prophets are the ‘Ulul-Azm and are the best of the Prophets and Messengers. The laws of Muhammad (a.s.) will not be voided until the Resurrection Day. No Prophet will ever come after him until the Resurrection Day. It is incumbent to kill whoever claims Prophethood after him (a.s.) or brings a book after the Qur’an for anyone who hears his claim.’”

32-14 Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja'far Al-Mudhaffar al-Alawi As-Samarqandi narrated that Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood quoted on the authority of his father - Abil Nasr Muhammad ibn Masood al-Ayyashi, on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Waleed, on the authority of Al-Abbas ibn Hilal, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), on the authority of his father Musa (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Muhammad (a.s.), on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Husayn (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) said, “There are five things which I will not quit doing until I die: eating food, sitting on the ground along with the slaves, riding animals using a saddle, milking goats using my own hands, wearing rough clothes and greeting children. These will become traditions after me.”

32-15 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘Why did the people quit making pledges of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and were attracted to other people, even though they knew the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was superior and they knew his rank in the presence of the Prophet of God (a.s.)?’ He (a.s.) replied, ‘They quit making pledges of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) and were attracted to other people, even though they knew he was

وَتَابِعاً لِكِتَابِهِ إِلَى زَمَنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْخَلِيلِ وَكُلَّ نَبِيٍّ كَانَ فِي أَيَّامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَعْدَهُ كَانَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمِنْهَاجِهِ وَتَابِعاً لِكِتَابِهِ إِلَى زَمَنِ مُوسَى وَكُلَّ نَبِيٍّ كَانَ فِي زَمَنِ مُوسَى وَبَعْدَهُ كَانَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةِ مُوسَى وَمِنْهَاجِهِ وَتَابِعاً لِكِتَابِهِ إِلَى أَيَّامِ عِيسَى وَكُلَّ نَبِيٍّ كَانَ فِي أَيَّامِ عِيسَى وَبَعْدَهُ كَانَ عَلَى مِنْهَاجِ عِيسَى وَشَرِيعَتِهِ وَتَابِعاً لِكِتَابِهِ إِلَى زَمَنِ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ‏فَهَؤُلاءِ الْخَمْسَةُ أُولُو الْعَزْمِ وَهُمْ أَفْضَلُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالرُّسُلِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَشَرِيعَةُ مُحَمَّدٍ لا تُنْسَخُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلا نَبِيَّ بَعْدَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَمَنِ ادَّعَى بَعْدَهُ نُبُوَّةً أَوْ أَتَى بَعْدَ الْقُرْآنِ بِكِتَابٍ فَدَمُهُ مُبَاحٌ لِكُلِّ مَنْ سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ.

14- حَدَّثَنا المُظَفَّر بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ المُظَفَّر العَلَوِيّ السَمَرْقَنْدِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ أَبي النَصْر مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَسْعُودِ العَيَّاشِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الوَلِيد، عَنْ العَبَّاسِ بْنِ هِلالٍ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَنْ أَبيهِ مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبيهِ جَعْفَر، عَنْ أَبيهِ مُحَمَّد، عَنْ أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن، عَنْ أَبيهِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى، عَنْ أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبي طالِب‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: خَمْسٌ لا أَدَعُهُنَّ حَتَّى الْمَمَاتِ الأَكْلُ عَلَى الْحَضِيضِ مَعَ الْعَبِيدِ وَرُكُوبِيَ الْحِمَارَ مُؤْكَفاً وَحَلْبِيَ الْعَنْزَ بِيَدِي وَلُبْسُ الصُّوفِ وَالتَّسْلِيمُ عَلَى الصِّبْيَانِ لِتَكُونَ سُنَّةً مِنْ بَعْدِي.

15- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الكُوفِيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَأَلْته عَنْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنين‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: كَيْفَ مَالَ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ وَقَدْ عَرَفُوا فَضْلَهُ وَسَابِقَتَهُ وَمَكَانَهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ. فَقَالَ

superior and they knew his rank in the presence of the Prophet of God (a.s.), since the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) had killed many of their fathers, uncles, and other relatives who were the enemies of God’s Prophet (S). That is why they disliked him in their hearts. They did not like him to be their master. They did not have such a feeling in their heart towards others, since others were not like Ali (a.s.) in the battles. They had not seen from them what they had seen from Ali (a.s.) in the battles. That is why they turned away from Ali (a.s.) and became inclined towards others.’”

32-16 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Husayn ibn Ali al-Adawi quoted that al-Haytham ibn Abdullah al-Romani asked Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “O son of God’s Prophet! Why didn’t Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) fight his enemies for twenty-five years after God’s Prophet (S), and then started fighting during his (own) rule?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Ali (a.s.) followed God’s Prophet (S) as his model in this regard. Ali (a.s.) had not fought with the pagans for thirteen years in Mecca and nine months after his migration to Medina, because he had very few followers and he did not have the power to overcome his enemies. Ali (a.s.) did the same and put off fighting his enemies due to having few supporters. The Prophethood of the Prophet of God (a.s.) was not nullified by putting off a Holy War for thirteen years and nine months. The same holds for Ali (a.s.). His Trusteeship was not nullified by putting off the Holy War for twenty-five years. Both of them had obstacles. Neither one’s mission was voided. They both had the same reason.”

32-17 Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Abdillah ibn Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of his grandfather, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa that Muhammad ibn Abi Yaqoob al-Balkhi asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Why is Divine Leadership in the lineage of Al-Husayn, and not that of Al-Hassan?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God established Divine Leadership in the lineage of Al-Husayn (a.s.), and God cannot be questioned regarding what He does.”

إِنَّمَا مَالُوا عَنْهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ وَقَدْ عَرَفُوا فَضْلَهُ لانَّهُ قَدْ كَانَ قَتَلَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَجْدَادِهِمْ وَإِخْوَانِهِمْ وَأَعْمَامِهِمْ وَأَخْوَالِهِمْ وَأَقْرِبَائِهِمُ الْمحَادِّينَ لِلَّهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ عَدَداً كَثِيراً، وَكَانَ حِقْدُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ لِذَلِكَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَلَمْ يُحِبُّوا أَنْ يَتَوَلَّى عَلَيْهِمْ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ، لانَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ فِي الْجِهَادِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ، فَلِذَلِكَ عَدَلُوا عَنْهُ وَمَالُوا إِلَى سِوَاهُ.

16- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو سَعِيدُ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى العدوي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الهِيْثَم بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الرمانِي قالَ: سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ عَلِيٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِمَ لَمْ يُجَاهِدْ أَعْدَاءَهُ خَمْساً وَعِشْرِينَ سَنَةً بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ جَاهَدَ فِي أَيَّامِ وَلايَتِهِ فَقَالَ لانَّهُ اقْتَدَى بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي تَرْكِهِ جِهَادَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ بِمَكَّةَ بَعْدَ النُّبُوَّةِ ثَلاثَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً وَبِالْمَدِينَةِ تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ شَهْراً وَذَلِكَ لِقِلَّةِ أَعْوَانِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَكَذَلِكَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ تَرَكَ مُجَاهَدَةَ أَعْدَائِهِ لِقِلَّةِ أَعْوَانِهِ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَلَمَّا لَمْ تَبْطُلْ نُبُوَّةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ مَعَ تَرْكِهِ الْجِهَادَ ثَلاثَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً وَتِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ شَهْراً، كَذَلِكَ لَمْ تَبْطُلْ إِمَامَةُ عَلِيٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَعَ تَرْكِهِ الْجِهَادَ خَمْساً وَعِشْرِينَ سَنَةً، إِذَا كَانَتِ الْعِلَّةُ الْمَانِعَةُ لَهُمَا مِنَ الْجِهَادِ وَاحِدَةً.

17- حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ أَبي عَبْدِ اللَّه البَرْقِي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبي عَنْ جَدِّي أَحْمَدِ بْنِ أَبي عَبْدِ اللَّه البَرْقِي، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي يَعْقُوبِ البلخي قالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قُلْتُ لَهُ لايِّ عِلَّةٍ صَارَتِ الإِمَامَةُ فِي وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ دُونَ وُلْدِ الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قَالَ لانَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَعَلَهَا فِي وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْهَا فِي وُلْدِ الْحَسَنِ وَاللَّهُ لا يُسْئَلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ.

32-18 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Dorost, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Abdul Hamid that Abil Hassan (Ar-Ridha’) (a.s.) said, “God’s Prophet (S) went to see Ayesha when she was putting her bulging long-necked bottle in the sun. He (a.s.) said, “O Homayra (Aa’isha)! What is this?” She said, “I want to wash my head and body.”19 He (a.s.) said, “Do not do this again since it will cause elephantiasis.”

The author of this book (a.s.heikh Sadooq) - may God forgive him - said, “What is meant by Abil Hassan (a.s.) in this tradition is Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) or it could refer to his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), since Ibrahim ibn Abdul Hamid has narrated this tradition from both of them. Therefore this is one of the ‘mirasil traditions.20

32-19 Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Idris - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn al-Nadhr that he had asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Imagine that two people are on a journey. One of them passes away and the other one is in a state of major ritual impurity21 . There is only enough water for making the ablution of the corpse or the ablution of the person in a state of major ritual impurity. What should the water be used for?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “The person who is in a state of major ritual impurity should use the water for making ablutions, since this is an obligatory act. He should leave the dead, since making the ablutions for the dead is a part of the tradition (of the Prophet (S) and is not obligatory).”

32-20 Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Waleed - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan al-Saffar quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isa that Al-Hassan al-Nadhr asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “What is the reason they say the phrase God is the Greatest five times over a person’s corpse?” He (a.s.) said, “On the surface it seems that this is because it has been taken from the five daily prayers. However, there is another reason for that. Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God has made it incumbent upon His servants to perform five obligatory deeds: praying, paying the alms-tax, fasting, going on the Hajj pilgrimage, and accepting the Mastery (of the Immaculate Imams). Therefore, He has established saying God is the Greatest once for each

18- حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَني سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ دُرُستٍ، عَنْ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ عَبْد الحَمِيدَ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ وَقَدْ وَضَعَتْ قُمْقُمَتَهَا فِي الشَّمْسِ فَقَالَ يَا حُمَيْرَاءُ مَا هَذَا قَالَتْ أَغْسِلُ رَأْسِي وَجَسَدِي قَالَ لا تَعُودِي فَإِنَّهُ يُورِثُ الْبَرَص.

قالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتاب‏رحمه الله: أَبُو الحَسَن صاحِبُ الْحَدِيث يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَكُونَ الرِّضا، وَيَجُوز أَنْ يَكُونَ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرعَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ لانَّ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ عَبْد الحَمِيدَ لَقيَهُما جَمِيعاً وَهذا الْحَدِيثُ مِنَ المَراسِيلِ.

19- حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيس رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: أَخْبَرنا أَبي، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ أحْمَد بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ الحَسَن بْنِ النَّضر قالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ يَكُونُونَ فِي السَّفَرِ فَيَمُوتُ مِنْهُمْ مَيِّتٌ وَمَعَهُمْ جُنُبٌ وَمَعَهُمْ مَاءٌ قَلِيلٌ قَدْرَ مَا يَكْفِي أَحَدَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ يَبْدَأُ بِهِ قَالَ يَغْتَسِلُ الْجُنُبُ وَيُتْرَكُ الْمَيِّتُ لانَّهُ هَذَا فَرِيضَةٌ وَهَذَا سُنَّةٌ.

20- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الوَلِيد رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن الصَفَّار، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنِ الحَسَن النَّضر قالَ: قُلْتُ لِلرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: مَا الْعِلَّةُ فِي التَّكْبِيرِ عَلَى الْمَيِّتِ خَمْسُ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ قُلْتُ رَوَوْا أَنَّهَا قَدِ اشْتُقَّتْ مِنْ خَمْسِ صَلَوَاتٍ فَقَالَ هَذَا ظَاهِرُ الْحَدِيثِ فَأَمَّا بَاطِنُهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرَضَ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ خَمْسَ فَرَائِضَ الصَّـلاةَ وَالزَّكَـاةَ وَالصِّيَـامَ وَالْحَجَّ وَالْوَلايَةَ فَجَعَلَ لِلْمَيِّتِ مِنْ كُلِّ فَرِيضَـةٍ تَكْبِيرَةً

of the obligatory deeds. If he has accepted the Mastery (of the Immaculate Imams), then it should be said five times. However, if he has not accepted it, the phrase God is the Greatest should be said only four times. That is why when one of you (the Shiites) die, the phrase is said five times. However, when one who disagrees with you (i.e. is not one of the Shiites) dies, the phrase is said only four times.

32-21 Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran ad-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abul Husayn Muhammad ibn Ja’far al-Asadi quoted on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Uthman al-Daremi that Soleiman ibn Ja’far asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “What is ‘Talbiyeh22 ? And what are the reasons for it?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “When the servants (people) enter the state of ritual consecration for the Hajj the Honorable the Exalted God addresses them and says, ‘O My servants and slaves! I forbid the Fire from you as you forbade things for yourselves.’ Then they say ‘Labbayk Allahuma Labbayk’ implying that they have accepted God’s call and are responding to it.’”

32-22 My father - may God have Mercy upon him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad that Al-Husayn ibn Khalid asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “For how many people is the offering of a camel (for sacrifice on the ‘Eid ul-Adha) enough of an offering?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “One.” Then he asked, “What about offering a cow?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “For five individuals it is enough, if they spend and eat together.” Then he asked, “Why does offering one cow suffice for five people while offering a camel does not?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “It is because of the reason there lies behind a camel which does not lie behind a cow. The people of the Children of Israel who invited the people to worship the calf were five. They were all from the same home and they all ate together. They were Azinooneh, his brother Mabzooneh, his brother’s son, his daughter and his wife.23 They were the ones who invited the people to worship the calf. They were the same ones who killed the cow which God had ordered to be offered for sacrifice.”24

32-23 Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Waleed - may God have Mercy upon him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan al-Saffar quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority

وَاحِدَةً فَمَنْ قَبِلَ الْوَلايَةَ كَبَّرَ خَمْساً وَمَنْ لَمْ يَقْبَلِ الْوَلايَةَ كَبَّرَ أَرْبَعاً فَمِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ تُكَبِّرُونَ خَمْساً وَمَنْ خَالَفَكُمْ يُكَبِّرُ أَرْبَعاً.

21- حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو الحُسَيْن جَعْفَرٍ الأَسَدِيُّ، عَنْ سَهْل بْنِ زِياد الأَدَمِي، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عُثْمان الدَّارمي، عَنْ سُلَيْمان بْنِ جَعفَرٍ قالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنِ التَّلْبِيَةِ وَعِلَّتِهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا أَحْرَمُوا نَادَاهُمُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَقَالَ يَا عِبَادِي وَإِمَائِي لاحَرِّمَنَّكُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ كَمَا أَحْرَمْتُمْ لِي فَيَقُولُونَ لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ إِجَابَةً لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى نِدَائِهِ إِيَّاهُمْ.

22- حَدَّثَنا أَبي‏رحمه الله قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ معبد، عَنْ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ كَمْ تُجْزِي الْبَدَنَةُ قَالَ عَنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ قُلْتُ فَالْبَقَرَةُ قَالَ تُجْزِي عَنْ خَمْسَةٍ إِذَا كَانُوا يَأْكُلُونَ عَلَى مَائِدَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ صَارَتِ الْبَدَنَةُ لا تُجْزِي إِلا عَنْ وَاحِدَةٍ وَالْبَقَرَةُ تُجْزِي عَنْ خَمْسَةٍ قَالَ لانَّ الْبَدَنَةَ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهَا مِنَ الْعِلَّةِ مَا كَانَ فِي الْبَقَرَةِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أَمَرُوا قَوْمَ مُوسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِعِبَادَةِ الْعِجْلِ كَانُوا خَمْسَةَ أَنْفُسٍ وَكَانُوا أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ يَأْكُلُونَ عَلَى خِوَانٍ وَاحِدٍ وَهُمْ أذينوه وَأَخُوهُ ميذويه وَابْنُ أَخِيهِ وَابْنَتُهُ وَامْرَأَتُهُ وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ أَمَرُوا بِعِبَادَةِ الْعِجْلِ وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ ذَبَحُوا الْبَقَرَةَ الَّتِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِذَبْحِهَا.

23- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الوَلِيدرحمه الله قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن الصَفَّار، عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَن الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد قـالَ: قُلْتُ لأبِي

of his father that Al-Husayn ibn Khalid asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Why is it that the sins of one who goes on the Hajj pilgrimage are not recorded for four months?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “It is because the Sublime God has forbidden the entry of the atheists into the Shrine for four months as He says, ‘Go ye, then, for four months, backwards and forwards, (as ye will), throughout the land…’25 That is whenever one of the believers goes to visit the Holy House (of God), his sins will not be recorded for four months.”

32-24 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God have mercy upon him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Idris quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Imran al-Ash’ari, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ma’roof, on the authority of his brother, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Oyayna that Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Indeed after the migration from Mecca (to Medina), Ali (a.s.) never spent the night in Mecca until the Honorable the Exalted God took back his soul.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was asked, “Why?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Ali (a.s.) disliked to stay overnight in the land from which God’s Prophet (S) had migrated. He (a.s.) usually said his afternoon prayer there and set out to spend the night elsewhere.”

32-25 Muhammad ibn Ali Majilawayh - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad that Al-Husayn ibn Khalid asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Why is the nuptial gift five hundred Dirhams?” He (a.s.) replied, “It is because the Blessed the Sublime God made it incumbent upon Himself that if any believer says God is the Greatest one hundred times, Praise be to God one hundred times; Glory be to God one hundred times; There is no god but God one hundred times; Blessings be upon Muhammad and his Household one-hundred times; and O my God! Please marry off one of the houris to me God will marry off one of the houris from Paradise to him, and set these words of remembrance that he has uttered as her nuptial gift. That is why the Honorable the Exalted God revealed to His Prophet (S) to make it a tradition for the nuptial gift of the believing women to be five-hundred Dirhams and God’s Prophet (S) did so.”

الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لايِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ صَارَ الْحَاجُّ لا يُكْتَبُ عَلَيْهِ ذَنْبٌ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ قَالَ لانَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَبَاحَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ الْحَرَمَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ إِذْ يَقُولُ فَسِيحُوا فِي الأَرْضِ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ فَمِنْ ثَمَّ وَهَبَ لِمَنْ حَجَّ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْبَيْتَ الذُّنُوبَ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ.

24- حَدَّثَنا أَبي‏رحمه الله قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيس عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ عِمْران الأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ معروف عَنْ أَخِيهِ عمر عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ عيينة عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: إِنَّ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لَمْ يَبِتْ بِمَكَّةَ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَاجَرَ مِنْهَا حَتَّى قَبَضَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَلِمَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَبِيتَ بِأَرْضٍ هَاجَرَ مِنْهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَيَبِيتُ بِغَيْرِهَا.

25- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ معبد، عَن الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد قالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن مَهْرِ السُّنَّةِ كَيْفَ صَارَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَوْجَبَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَنْ لا يُكَبِّرَهُ مُؤْمِنٌ مِائَةَ تَكْبِيرَةٍ وَيُحَمِّدَهُ مِائَةَ تَحْمِيدَةٍ وَيُسَبِّحَهُ مِائَةَ تَسْبِيحَةٍ وَيُهَلِّلَهُ مِائَةَ تَهْلِيلَةٍ وَيُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ: اللَّهُمَّ زَوِّجْنِي مِنَ الْحُورِ الْعِينِ إِلا زَوَّجَهُ اللَّهُ حَوْرَاءَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَجَعَلَ ذَلِكَ مَهْرَهَا فَمِنْ ثَمَّ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى نَبِيِّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ‏أَنْ يَسُنَّ مُهُورَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ.

32-26 Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Idris - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ibn Abi Nasr that Al-Husayn ibn Khalid asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “May I be your ransom! Why is it that the nuptial gift for women is set at five-hundred Dirhams equivalent to 12.5 Okes26 .” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “The Honorable the Exalted God has made it incumbent upon Himself that if any believer says God is the Greatest one hundred times; Praise be to God one hundred times; Glory be to God one hundred times; There is no god but God one hundred times; Blessings be upon Muhammad and his Household one-hundred times; and O my God! Please marry off one of the houris to me, God will marry off one of the houris to him. That is why the nuptial gift of the believing women has been determined to be five-hundred Dirhams. If anyone turns down the request of a believing courter who wants to marry a woman with the nuptial gift of five-hundred Dirhams, and then he does not marry her off to the courter, has indeed harmed him. Then it is the right of the Honorable the Exalted God not to marry off a houri to him.”27

32-27 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Hamadani quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) about the reason why a woman who has been divorced three times cannot be married to her original husband again, until after she marries someone else (and her new husband either dies or divorces her before she can be married).28 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘The Blessed the Sublime God has only granted the permission for divorce (and return) twice as the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness…’29 Therefore, if a man divorces his wife for the third time which God dislikes, God makes that woman unlawful for him. She will no longer be legitimate for him until after she marries someone else. This is established so that the people do not underestimate divorce and do not misuse women.”30

32-28 Muhammad ibn Ali Majilawayh - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-At’tar quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad

26- حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيس، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَن ابْنِ أَبي نصر، عَن الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد قالَ: قُلْتُ لابِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ صَارَ مَهْرُ النِّسَاءِ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ أُوقِيَّةً وَنش [نَشّاً] قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَوْجَبَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ أَنْ لا يُكَبِّرَهُ مُؤْمِنٌ مِائَةَ تَكْبِيرَةٍ وَيُسَبِّحَهُ مِائَةَ تَسْبِيحَةٍ وَيُحَمِّدَهُ مِائَةَ تَحْمِيدَةٍ وَيُهَلِّلَهُ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ وَيُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ اللَّهُمَّ زَوِّجْنِي مِنَ الْحُورِ الْعِينِ إِلا زَوَّجَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَمِنْ ثَمَّ جُعِلَ مَهْرُ النِّسَاءِ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ وَأَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ خَطَبَ إِلَى أَخِيهِ حُرْمَةً وَبَذَلَ لَهُ خَمْسَمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ فَلَمْ يُزَوِّجْهُ فَقَدْ عَقَّهُ وَاسْتَحَقَّ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ لا يُزَوِّجَهُ حَوْرَاءَ.

27- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الهَمْدانِيَّ، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَن أَبيهِ قالَ: سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنِ الْعِلَّةِ الَّتِي مِنْ أَجْلِهَا لا تَحِلُّ الْمُطَلَّقَةُ لِلْعِدَّةِ لِزَوْجِهَا حَتَّى تَنْكِحَ زَوْجاً غَيْرَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِنَّمَا أَذِنَ فِي الطَّلاقِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الطَّلاقُ مَرَّتانِ فَإِمْساكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسانٍ يَعْنِي فِي التَّطْلِيقَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ وَلِدُخُولِهِ فِيَما كَرِهَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ مِنَ الطَّلاقِ الثَّالِثِ حَرَّمَهَا عَلَيْهِ فَلا تَحِلُّ لَهُ... حَتَّى تَنْكِحَ زَوْجاً غَيْرَهُ لِئَلا يُوقِعَ النَّاسَ الاسْتِخْفَافُ بِالطَّلاقِ وَلا يُضَارُّوا النِّسَاءَ.

28- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى العَطَّار، عَن أحْمَد بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الأَشْعَرِيِّ عَن أَبيهِ قالَ: سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن تَزْوِيجِ

al-Ash’ari, on the authority of his father that he had asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) about marrying women who have been divorced thrice. Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “The women divorced thrice by you (the Shiites) are not legitimate for others, but the non-Shiite’s divorced women are legitimate for you. This is because you do not consider their divorcing thrice to be right, but they consider yours to be right.”

32-29 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father: I asked Abal Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “Why was the Prophet’s (a.s.) nickname Abul Qasim?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “It was because he had a son named Qasim. That was why his nickname was Abul Qasim.” I asked him, “O son of God’s Prophet (S)! Do you consider me worthy of more explanation?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Yes. Don’t you know that God’s Prophet (S) said?, “Ali and I are the fathers of this nation.” I said, “Yes, I do.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Don’t you know that God’s Prophet (S) is the father of all the nation, and Ali is one of the members of this nation?” I said, “Yes.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Don’t you know that Ali (a.s.) is the ‘Qasim or the one who divides up Paradise and Hell?” I replied, “Yes.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “Then that is why the Prophet (S) is called Abul Qasim - as he is the father of the one who divides up Paradise and Hell.” I asked, “What does this mean?” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, “The kindness of the Prophet (S) for his nation is like that of a father for his children. The noblest member of his nation is Ali (a.s.). And after him the kindness of Ali (a.s.) for them is like the kindness of the Prophet (S), since he is the Prophet’s (a.s.) Trustee, Successor and the Divine Leader after the Prophet (S). That is why the Prophet (S) said, “Ali and I are the two fathers of this nation.” God’s Prophet (S) climbed up the pulpit and said, “Whoever leaves behind a debt or a wife, I must repay his debt and pay for the living expenses of his wife. Whoever leaves behind some property, that property will belong to his inheritors.” That is why the Prophet (S) was superior to their fathers, mothers and even themselves. The same thing held true for the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) after God’s Prophet (S).”

32-30 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, that Abi Salt al-Harawi said, “One day Al-Ma’mun told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘O Abal Hassan Al-

الْمُطَلَّقَاتِ ثَلاثاً فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ طَلاقَكُمُ الثَّلاثَ لا يَحِلُّ لِغَيْرِكُمْ وَطَلاقَهُمْ يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ لانَّكُمْ لا تَرَوْنَ الثَّلاثَ شَيْئاً وَهُمْ يُوجِبُونَهَا.

29- حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الكُوفِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَن أَبيهِ قالَ: سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لِمَ كُنِّيَ النَّبِيُ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ بِأَبِي الْقَاسِمِ فَقَالَ لانَّهُ كَانَ لَهُ ابْنٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ قَاسِمٌ فَكُنِّيَ بِهِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَهَلْ تَرَانِي أَهْلاً لِلزِّيَادَةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ أَنَا وَعَلِيٌّ أَبَوَا هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَبٌ لِجَمِيعِ أُمَّتِهِ وَعَلِيٌّ بِمَنْزِلَتِهِ فِيهِمْ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً قَاسِمُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ لانَّهُ أَبُو قَاسِمِ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ وَمَا مَعْنَى ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ شَفَقَةَ الرَّسُولِ عَلَى أُمَّتِهِ شَفَقَةُ الآْبَاءِ عَلَى أَلأَوْلادِ وَأَفْضَلُ أُمَّتِهِ عَلِيٌ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَمِنْ بَعْدِهِ شَفَقَةُ عَلِيٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَلَيْهِمْ كَشَفَقَتِهِ لانَّهُ وَصِيُّهُ وَخَلِيفَتُهُ وَالإِمَامُ بَعْدَهُ فَلِذَلِكَ قَالَ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنَا وَعَلِيٌّ أَبَوَا هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ وَصَعِدَ النَّبِيُ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ الْمِنْبَرَ فَقَالَ مَنْ تَرَكَ دَيْناً أَوْ ضَيَاعاً فَعَلَيَّ وَإِلَيَّ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ فَصَارَ بِذَلِكَ أَوْلَى بِهِمْ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأُمَّهَاتِهِمْ وَصَارَ أَوْلَى بِهِمْ مِنْهُمْ بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَكَذَلِكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بَعْدَهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِثْلُ مَا جَرَى لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ.

30- حَدَّثَنا تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ تَمِيمُ القُرَشِي قالَ حَدَّثَني أَبي، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَلِى الأَنْصـارِي عَنْ أَبي الصَّـلْتِ الهَرَوِيِّ قـالَ: قَـالَ الْمَـأْمُونُ يَوْماً لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَا أَبَا

Ridha’ (a.s.)! Tell me, why is it that your grandfather Ali - the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) became the one to divide up Paradise and Hell. What is meant by this? I have thought a lot about this.” Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, “O Commander of the Faithful (i.e. Al-Ma’mun)! Has it not been narrated by your father, on the authority of your forefathers, on the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas to have said that he had heard God’s Prophet (S) say, “Liking Ali is the same as faith, and despising him is the same as atheism.” Al-Ma’mun said, “Yes.” Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) added, “Therefore, he is the one who divides up Paradise and Hell as it is loving him which equals faith, and despising him which equals atheism.” Then Al-Ma’mun said, “O Abal Hassan (Ar-Ridha’)! May God not let me live after you! I testify that you are the inheritor of the knowledge of God’s Prophet (S).” Abi Salt (al-Harawi) added, “When Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) returned home, I went to see him (a.s.) and said, “O son of God’s Prophet! How nice did you respond to the Commander of the Faithful’s (al-Ma’mun) question!” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, “O Aba Salt! I answered him using the same way that he was reasoning. I heard my father (a.s.) narrate on the authority of his forefathers (a.s.), on the authority of Ali (a.s.) that God’s Prophet (S) told him, “O Ali! You are the one to divide up Paradise and Fire on the Resurrection Day. You will order the Fire to let go of some saying that they are yours, and tell the Fire that some are for the Fire to capture and they belong to it.’”

32-31 Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Al-Hassan al-Qattan narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Hamadani quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘Why did the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali) (a.s.) not return Fadak to its true owner after he (a.s.) took charge of the people?’31 Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘That is because the Honorable the Exalted God has granted us the Mastery. Therefore, no one but Him will seize our due rights from those who oppressed us. We are the Members of the Holy Household who rule over the people and judge about them, and seize back what is rightfully theirs from those who have oppressively captured their property. However, we (the Members of the Holy Household of the Prophet (S)) never seize back our own rights.”

(The author of the book has said) I have presented other aspects of this issue in my book Illal Ul-Sharaye’a from the traditions. In this book, I have just sufficed with this tradition that was narrated on the authority of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.).

الْحَسَنِ أَخْبِرْنِي، عَن جَدِّكَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِأَيِّ وَجْهٍ هُوَقَسِيمُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ وَبِأَيِّ مَعْنَى فَقَدْ كَثُرَ فِكْرِي فِي ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَمْ تُرْوَعَنْ أَبِيكَ، عَن آبَائِهِ، عَن عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَقُولُ حُبُّ عَلِيٍّ إِيمَانٌ وَبُغْضُهُ كُفْرٌ فَقَالَ بَلَى فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقِسْمَةُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ إِذَا كَانَتْ عَلَى حُبِّهِ وَبُغْضِهِ فَهُوَقَسِيمُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونِ لا أَبْقَانِيَ اللَّهُ بَعْدَكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَارِثُ عِلْمِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ أَبُو الصَّلْتِ الْهَرَوِيُّ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ الرِّضَا إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا أَحْسَنَ مَا أَجَبْتَ بِهِ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ لِي الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنَّمَا كَلَّمْتُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ هُوَوَلَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ، عَن آبَائِهِ، عَن عَلِيٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّهُ قالَ: قالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ‏يَا عَلِيُّ أَنْتَ قَسِيمُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَقُولُ لِلنَّارِ هَذَا لِي وَهَذَا لَكَ.

31- حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الحَسَن القَطَّانُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الهَمْدانِيَ‏حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لِمَ لَمْ يَسْتَرْجِعْ فَدَكَ لَمَّا وَلِيَ النَّاسَ فَقَالَ لانَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ وَلِيُّنَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لا يَأْخُذُ لَنَا حُقُوقَنَا مِمَّنْ يَظْلِمُنَا إِلا هُوَ، وَنَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاءُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنَّمَا نَحْكُمُ لَهُمْ وَنَأْخُذُ حُقُوقَهُمْ مِمَّنْ يَظْلِمُهُمْ، وَلا نَأْخُذُ لانْفُسِنَا.

وَقَدْ أَخْرَجْتُ لِذلِكَ عِلَل فِي كِتاب عِلَلُ الشَّرائِع الأحْكامِ وَالأَسبابِ، وَاقتَصَرتُ فِي هذا الْكِتابِ عَلَى ما رَوى‏ فِيهِ عَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ.

32-32 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Al-Qasim ibn Isma’il Abi Zakwan: I heard Ibrahim ibn Al-Abbas narrate that Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) quoted on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.) that a man asked Aba Abdullah (as-Sadiq) (a.s.), “What is the reason that propagating or studying the Qur’an always adds freshness (to life)?” Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) replied, “It is because the Qur’an has not been revealed for a certain time, or to a certain people. It is fresh at any time and for any people all the way up until the end of time and the Resurrection Day.”

33-33 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Musa ibn Nasr al-Razi, on the authority of his father, “I asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) about what the Prophet (S) meant when he (a.s.) said, ‘My companions are like the stars. Whichever one you follow will guide you.’ And I asked about what the Prophet (S) meant when he (a.s.) said, ‘Leave my companions to me.’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘That is right. ‘Companions’ in these traditions refers to those who did not themselves change later, and did not change what was said about the religion.’ I asked, ‘How can we tell that they themselves changed or changed the religion?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said, ‘That is because the Prophet (S) himself said, ‘Some of my companions will be forbidden from approaching my Pool on the Resurrection Day, just as people push others’ camels away from drinking water. I will say: O Lord! They are from my companions! My companions! I will be told, ‘Don’t you know what they did after you?’ They will be grabbed and directed to the left. They will be told, ‘This is due to the lies which you ascribed.’ Then Imam Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) added, ‘Are they not those who changed themselves and changed the religion?’”

32-34 Al-Hakim Abu Ali Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Bayhaqi narrated that Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani, on the authority of his father, “A man in Khorasan claimed that Mo’awiya was not one of the companions of God’s Prophet (S). He swore that his wife would be illegal for him, if his claim turned out to be false. This happened during the time Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) was there. The jurists around there had issued a decree that that man’s wife was illegal for him. The people asked Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) if that man’s wife was illegal for him or not. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “No, she is not illegal.” All the jurists wrote him a letter in which it was written, “O son of God’s

32- حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني القاسِم بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيل أَبي ذكوان قالَ سَمِعْتُ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ العَبَّاسِ يَحْدُثَ عَنْ الرضا، عَن أبِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ ؛ أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا بَالُ الْقُرْآنِ لا يَزْدَادُ عَلَى النَّشْرِ وَالدَّرْسِ إِلا غَضَاضَةً فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمْ يَجْعَلْهُ لِزَمَانٍ دُونَ زَمَانٍ وَلِنَاسٍ دُونَ نَاسٍ فَهُوَفِي كُلِّ زَمَانٍ جَدِيدٌ وَعِنْدَ كُلِّ قَوْمٍ غَضٌّ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

33- حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ نَصْرِ الرَّازِيُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني أَبي قالَ سَئَلَ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ قَوْلَ النَّبِيّ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَصْحَابِي كَالنُّجُومِ بِأَيِّهِمُ اقْتَدَيْتُمُ اهْتَدَيْتُمْ وَعَنْ قَوْلِهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ دَعُوا لِي أَصْحَابِي فَقَالَ هَذَا صَحِيحٌ يُرِيدُ مَنْ لَمْ يُغَيِّرْ بَعْدَهُ وَلَمْ يُبَدِّلْ قِيلَ وَكَيْفَ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ غَيَّرُوا وَبَدَّلُوا قَالَ لِمَا يَرْوُونَهُ مِنْ أَنَّهُ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ قَالَ لَيُذَادَنَّ رِجَالٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَنْ حَوْضِي كَمَا تُذَادُ غَرَائِبُ الإِبِلِ عَنِ الْمَاءِ فَأَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ أَصْحَابِي أَصْحَابِي فَيُقَالُ لِي إِنَّكَ لا تَدْرِي مَا أَحْدَثُوا بَعْدَكَ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِهِمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ فَأَقُولُ بُعْداً لَهُمْ وَسُحْقاً أَفَتَرَى هَذَا لِمَنْ لَمْ يُغَيِّرْ وَلَمْ يُبَدِّلْ.

34- حَدَّثَنا الْحاكِم أَبُو عَلِي الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أحْمَد الْبِيْهَقِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى الصُّوليُّ قالَ حَدَّثَني أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني أَبي قالَ: حَلَفَ رَجُلٌ بِخُرَاسَانَ بِالطَّلاقِ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ‏أَيَّامَ كَانَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِهَا فَأَفْتَى الْفُقَهَاءُ بِطَلاقِهَا فَسُئِلَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَأَفْتَى أَنَّهَا لا تُطَلَّقُ فَكَتَبَ الْفُقَهَاءُ رُقْعَةً أَنْفَذُوهَا إِلَيْهِ وَقَالُوا لَهُ مِنْ أَيْنَ قُلْتَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ

Prophet! How and why do you consider her not to be illegal for him.” The Imam (a.s.) wrote the following in a corner of their letter, “This is based on the tradition which you yourselves have narrated on the authority of Sa’eed al-Khodri in which it is narrated that after the conquest of Mecca, God’s Prophet (S) expressed that ‘You are of the good ones, and my companions are of the good ones’ to those who expressed submission to God and became Muslim when many of them had gathered around the Prophet (S). However, the Prophet (S) said, ‘There will be no migration after victory.’ Thus the Prophet (S) abolished migration after the victory of Mecca, and considered them (including Mo’awiya) not to be his companions.” When the jurists read the answer they changed their decree to that of Imam Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.).

32-35 Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Sowli narrated that Oan ibn Muhammad quoted on the authority of Sahl ibn al-Qasim, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) heard one of his companions say: May God damn those who fought the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.).” Then Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) told him, “Say: except for those who have repented and improved themselves.” Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) then added, “The sin of those who disobeyed him (i.e. Imam Ali (a.s.)) and did not accompany him to fight corruption and the corrupt ones is even greater than that of those who fought him and then repented. And God made them succeed in repenting.”

Notes

1. “He said, ‘O Noah! He is not of thy family: For his conduct is unrighteous. So ask not of Me that of which thou hast no knowledge! I give thee counsel, lest thou act like the ignorant!’”[Qur’an, 11:46]. He here refers to Noah’s son.

2. Qur’an, 12:77

3. Qur’an, 12:77

4. Qur’an, 12:76

5. Qur’an, 12:77

6. Ibid.

7. Qur’an, 40:84-85

8. Qur’an, 6:158

9. Qur’an, 10:90

10. Qur’an, 10:91-92

11. Qur’an, 27:19

12. At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said, "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it." [Qur’an, 27:18]

13. In Hebrew

14. It seems that this is not an authentic tradition. It seems that some things have been said by the Imam (a.s.) in this regard, but the things narrated are not all proper.

15. “Also mention in the Book (the story of) Isma'il: He was (a.s.trictly) true to what he promised, and he was an Apostle (and) a Prophet.” [Qur’an, Maryam 19:34]

16. “Now draw thy hand close to thy side: It shall come forth white (and shining), without harm (or stain),- as another Sign.” [Qur’an, 20:22]

17. Elephantiasis is a species of leprosy that pervaded throughout Europe in the latter part of the Middle Ages. It is a certain disease arising from the spreading of the black bile throughout the whole person, so that it corrupts the temperament of the body members, and the external conditions thereof; and sometimes in the dissundering, or corrosion of the body members and their falling off, in consequence of ulceration, so called because it dissunders the flesh, and causes it to fall off; or because the fingers, or toes become cut-off. It is a cracking of the skin, and a dissundering and gradual falling off of the flesh. However, leprosy is a well-known disease, which is white patches occuring on the skin and appears upon the exterior of the body by reason of a corrupt state of constitution.

18. The ‘Ulul-Azm are the Prophets Noah (a.s.), Abraham (a.s.), Moses (a.s.), Jesus (a.s.) and Muhammad (a.s.), as we read in the following verse, “And remember We took from the Prophets their covenant: As (We did) from thee: from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the son of Mary: We took from them a solemn covenant.” [Qur’an, 33:7].

19. With the water heated in the sun.

20. Since it is directly quoted without any chain being mentioned.

21. ‘janabah; The state of ceremonial impurity, or ‘janabah, occurs as a result of ejaculation, whether involuntary, as in the case of a wet dream, or deliberate, or as a result of sexual intercourse. To remove it, one has to take a complete bath, washing his head and every part of his body with water. So a shower without soap is sufficient. It is not possible to offer prayers while a person is in a state of ceremonial impurity. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to remove that state by taking a shower or a bath immediately. It is not good to put it off. However, there is nothing sinful in putting it off, unless that leads to missing an obligatory prayer. If one happens to get into this state two or three times a day, it may not be easy for him to take so many showers. Therefore, he should make sure that removing that state is easy before one gets into it. If it happens two or three times, without taking a shower in between, then one shower would remove it all. Suppose a person goes to sleep after he has said the Morning Prayer, and on waking up he discovers that he has had a wet dream. He realizes that he must leave home immediately because he is late for work. That is appropriate, if he knows that he will return before the time for the noon prayer and he will be able to take his shower and say the noon prayer. Similarly, if one has more than one time of intercourse with his wife during the night, he can have one shower for all. He is recommended, however, to have washed himself in between. Involuntary discharge of urine is an illness which can be treated. For the purposes of prayer, however, one should make sure that the urine does not fall on his clothes or his body. [A urinal discharge does not cause ceremonial impurity and needs washing of the affected areas of the body only.] What he should do is to tie a polyethylene bag with a piece of cotton or tissue paper in it. When he wants to make ablutions and pray, he replaces it with a clean one and makes his ablutions. He only needs to make another ablution for every prayer, repeating the same method for cleanliness.

22. Saying, “Labbayk.. Allahuma Labbayk. La Sharika Laka Labbayk.”

23. The spelling of the name of Mabzooneh is Mabzooyeh in the book Man La Yahzaro ul-Faqih.

24. Ali Akbar Ghaffari comments that this is a weak tradition and its chain of transmission is not reliable.

25. Qur’an, 9:2

26. Dirham is silver currency. Oke refers to any of three units of weight varying around 2.8 pounds and used respectively in Greece, Turkey and Egypt. in silver

27. Ali ibn Hamran narrated on the authority of his father that Imam As-Sadiq (a.s.) said, "One day I left the house with my father, and saw some of our companions who were between the grave and the pulpit. My father approached them and said, "I swear by God that I like your smell and your breath. Please assist us with your piety and hard work. Beware that no one can attain our friendship except through piety and hard work. Whenever you decide to follow someone you must act like him. You are God's followers; you are God's soldiers. You are God's helpers. You are the first and the last forerunners. In this world, you are the first forerunners to attain our friendship, and in the Hereafter you are the forerunners towards Heaven. We guarantee Heaven to you through the guarantees of God and God's Prophet (S). You are the pure ones. Your women are pure. Any believing woman is one of the houris of Heaven, and any believing man is honest in his speech."[Mishkat ul-Anwar Fi Ghurar il-Akhbar, The Lamp Niche for the Best Traditions, Tradition no. 444]

28. “So if a husband divorces his wife (irrevocably), he cannot, after that, re- marry her until after she has married another husband and he has divorced her. In that case, there is no blame on either of them if they re-unite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by God. Such are the limits ordained by God, which He makes plain to those who understand.”[Qur’an, Baqara 2:230]

29. Qur’an, Baqara 2:229

30. It should be mentioned that the marriage with another man should be consummated. It should be done with the intentions of a permanent marriage. Then if the man dies, or they cannot live together and the man divorces her, she can be remarried to her first husband again. It is also not allowed that he marries the divorced woman, and then after consummating the marriage he divorces her so as to facilitate the first husband in re-marry his divorced wife.

31. Why did Imam Ali (a.s.) not take back Fadak when he (a.s.) became the ruler of the State?