Introduction

The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance

Chapter on the necessity to seek knowledge and the recommendations to learn

Chapter on the quality of knowledge its virtue and the virtue of the scholars

Chapter on Kinds of People

Chapter on the reward for the scholars and those who seek knowledge

Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars

Chapter on the Rights of the scholars

Chapter on the Loss of a Scholar

Chapter on Meeting the Scholars and Associating with Them

Chapter on Asking the Scholar and Discussing with him

Chapter on Giving Knowledge as Charity

Prohibition on Speaking without Knowledge.

Chapter on Those who Act without Knowledge

Chapter on Utilization of Knowledge

Chapter on Those who use their Knowledge to Fill their Stomach and are Boastful for it

Chapter on the Need for the Existence of a Divine Authority in the World and the Seriousness of this Matter

Chapter on Miscellaneous Issues

Chapter on narrating books and Hadith (The virtue of writing and its preservation)

Chapter on Taqlid, following the opinions of someone

Chapter on Innovations, Personal Opinions and Analogies

Chapter on the need to refer to the book and Sunnah

Chapter on the Differences in al-Hadith

Chapter on Following the Sunnah and Evidence of the Book

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

Chapter on Can Allah (God) be Considered a Thing?

Chapter on (the Issue) that only He is proof of His Own Existence

Chapter on the minimum degree of knowledge of the existence of Allah

Chapter on Who is Worshipped

Chapter On Being and Space (al-Kawn WA al-Makan)

Chapter On The relationships (Nisbah) Of Allah

Chapter On Prohibition on Saying How is Allah (al-Kayfiyyah)

Chapter On The Invalidity of the Belief to see God (Ru’yah of Allah)

Chapter On Prohibition on Attributing to Allah What He Himself has not Done so

Chapter On Prohibition on Considering Allah as having Body (JISM) and Form (SURAH)

Chapter On Attribute Of Essence (Sifat al-DhDhat) Of Allah

Another Chapter of The Previous Chapter

Chapter On Will Power (IRADAH) it is of the Attributes of Action (SIFAT al-FI‘L) and the Rest of the Attributes of Action

Chapter On the Coming into the Existence of the Names of Allah

Chapter On The Meanings of the Names of Allah and their Derivatives

Chapter on Another Chapter (Related) to the Previous Chapter

Chapter on the Interpretation of al-Samad, Self-sufficient

Chapter on Motion and Change

Chapter about al-‘Arsh and al-Kursi

Chapter on al-Ruh, the Spirit

Chapter on Comprehensive (Ahadith) about the Oneness of Allah

Chapter on Miscellaneous Ahadith

Chapter on al-Bida’

Chapter on the issue that there is nothing in heavens and earth but that they are in seven

Chapter on Wish and Will

Chapter on Test and Choice

Chapter on Fortunateness and Un-fortunateness

Good and Evil

Predestination, Fate and the Middle Road in Between

The Capabilities

Declaration, Definition and the Need for Solid Proof

Differences in the Justification of Divine Authority among People

Allah’s Authorities and Means of Justification of Accountability in People

Guidance Is From Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

The necessity of the presence of Divine Authority among the people

The Categories of the Prophets, the Messengers and the Imams (a.s.)

The Difference among he Messengers, the Prophets and the al-Muhaddath

The issue that Allah’s holding people accountable remains unjustified without the Imam

The Issue that the Earth at no time is without a Person with Divine Authority

The Issue that even if only two people would remain on earth one of them would certainly be the Imam, the person with divine authority

Knowing the Imam (a.s.) and Belief in His Divine Authority

The obligation to obey the Imams (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) are witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over His creature

The Imams (a.s.) are the only true guides

The Imam (a.s.) Possess Divine Authority and the Treasure of Divine Knowledge

The Imams (a.s.) are the Deputies of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, on earth and the Gates through which people go nearer to Allah

The Imams (a.s.) are the light of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

The Imams are the corner stone on earth

The Unique Ahadith that sums up the Virtue and Qualifications of the Imam (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) possess Divine authority, they are Envied and Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken of them

The Imams (a.s.) are the Sings of whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran

The Signs of which Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran are The Imams (a.s.)

The matters that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and His Messenger (s.a.) have sanctioned as obligatory of the beings with the Imams (a.s.)

The people of Dhikr (memory and knowledge) that Allah has commanded the creatures to ask for their questions are the Imams (a.s.)

Those whom Allah has called people of knowledge they are the Imams (a.s.)

The People Well-grounded in Knowledge are the Imams (a.s.) alone

The Imams are those who have received Knowledge and it is firmly Established in their Hearts

The people whom Allah has Chosen and has Made the Heirs of His Book are the Imams (a.s.)

Two Kinds of Imam are mentioned in the Holy Quran: the Imams (a.s.) who call to Allah and the Imams who call to Fire

The Holy Quran guides people to the Imam (a.s.)

The Bounty and Blessings that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has mentioned in His book, the Holy Quran are the Imams (a.s.)

The People whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has called Mutawassimin (distinguished) in His book are the Imams (a.s.) who are also the straight path

The deeds of the people are presented before the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and the Imams (a.s.)

The Path, Urged to be Maintained Steadfastly is Acknowledgement of the Divine Authority of Imam Ali (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) are the Mines of Knowledge, the Tree of Prophet-hood and the Centers wherein angels Interchange

The Imams (a.s.) are the Heirs of Knowledge to Inherit it one from the other

The Imams (a.s.) inherited the knowledge of the Holy prophet (s.a.) and all the prophets and their successors before them

The Imams (a.s.) have with all the books that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has revealed and that they know them even the language in them are different

No one collect all of the Holy Quran except the Imams (a.s.) and that they have the knowledge of all of the Holy Quran

The degree of the Great Names of Allah that are given to the Imams (a.s.)

Sacred objects of the Prophets transferred to the Imams (a.s.)

The Armaments and Sacred Items belonging to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that transferred to the Imam (a.s.)

The case of the Arms of the Messenger of Allah is like the Ark among the Israelites

Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima (a.s.)

Chapter Ninety Seven of the Holy Quran and its interpretation

 1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَأَلَ نَافِعُ بْنُ الازْرَقِ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الله مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ مَتَى لَمْ يَكُنْ حَتَّى أُخْبِرَكَ مَتَى كَانَ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ وَلا يَزَالُ فَرْداً صَمَداً لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صَاحِبَةً وَلا وَلَداً.

 1. Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Abu Hamzah who has said the following. Nafi’ ibn al-Azraq (ibn Qays al-Hanafi, Abu Rashid [d.65/685], the head of al-Azariqah — one of the great sects of the Kharijites) asked Imam abu Ja’ far (a.s.). “Please tell me when did Allah come into existence?” The Imam replied, “(Tell me) when did Allah not exist, so that I would tell you when He came into existence. Glory belongs to Him, Who existed and will exist eternally. The One Self-sufficient, the Eternal, the Absolute, Who has not held for Himself no female companion or any child.”

 2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِنْ وَرَاءِ نَهَرِ بَلْخَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَإِنْ أَجَبْتَنِي فِيهَا بِمَا عِنْدِي قُلْتُ بِإِمَامَتِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سَلْ عَمَّا شِئْتَ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ وَكَيْفَ كَانَ وَعَلَى أَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَانَ اعْتِمَادُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَيَّنَ الايْنَ بِلا أَيْنٍ وَكَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ بِلا كَيْفٍ وَكَانَ اعْتِمَادُهُ عَلَى قُدْرَتِهِ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فَقَبَّلَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ الله وَأَنَّ عَلِيّاً وَصِيُّ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالْقَيِّمُ بَعْدَهُ بِمَا قَامَ بِهِ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَأَنَّكُمُ الائِمَّةُ الصَّادِقُونَ وَأَنَّكَ الْخَلَفُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ.

 2. A group of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr who has said the following. A man from Ma Wara’ Nahr Balkh (Transoxania) came to abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.), and said, ‘I have a question for you. If your answer is the same as I already know, I will accept you as my Imam (leader with divine authority).’” Imam abul-Hassan (a.s.) replied, “Ask whatever you wish.” The man said, “Tell me when did your Lord come into existence, how has He been and on what did He depend?” Imam Abul-Hassan (a.s.), replied, “Allah, the Blessed, the Almighty, is the space maker of space, Who Himself is not subject to the effects of any space. He is the maker of How and Himself is not subject to How. He is Self-sufficient with His own power.” The man stood up and kissed the head of the Imam (a.s.) and then said, “I testify that there is no god except Allah and Muhammad (s.a.) is the Messenger of Allah and that Imam Ali (a.s) is the successor of the Messenger of Allah and the Guardian and protector of what the Messenger of Allah has brought from Allah and that your forefathers are the leaders with divine authority and that you are a successor to them.”

 3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَا يُقَالُ لِشَيْ‏ءٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَتَى كَانَ إِنَّ رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كَانَ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ حَيّاً بِلا كَيْفٍ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كَانَ وَلا كَانَ لِكَوْنِهِ كَوْنُ كَيْفٍ وَلا كَانَ لَهُ أَيْنٌ وَلا كَانَ فِي شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا كَانَ عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا ابْتَدَعَ لِمَكَانِهِ مَكَاناً وَلا قَوِيَ بَعْدَ مَا كَوَّنَ الاشْيَاءَ وَلا كَانَ ضَعِيفاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَوِّنَ شَيْئاً وَلا كَانَ مُسْتَوْحِشاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْتَدِعَ شَيْئاً وَلا يُشْبِهُ شَيْئاً مَذْكُوراً وَلا كَانَ خِلْواً مِنْ الْمُلْكِ قَبْلَ إِنْشَائِهِ وَلا يَكُونُ مِنْهُ خِلْواً بَعْدَ ذَهَابِهِ لَمْ يَزَلْ حَيّاً بِلا حَيَاةٍ وَمَلِكاً قَادِراً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُنْشِئَ شَيْئاً وَمَلِكاً جَبَّاراً بَعْدَ إِنْشَائِهِ لِلْكَوْنِ فَلَيْسَ لِكَوْنِهِ كَيْفٌ وَلا لَهُ أَيْنٌ وَلا لَهُ حَدٌّ وَلا يُعْرَفُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ يُشْبِهُهُ وَلا يَهْرَمُ لِطُولِ الْبَقَاءِ وَلا يَصْعَقُ لِشَيْ‏ءٍ بَلْ لِخَوْفِهِ تَصْعَقُ الاشْيَاءُ كُلُّهَا كَانَ حَيّاً بِلا حَيَاةٍ حَادِثَةٍ وَلا كَوْنٍ مَوْصُوفٍ وَلا كَيْفٍ مَحْدُودٍ وَلا أَيْنٍ مَوْقُوفٍ عَلَيْهِ وَلا مَكَانٍ جَاوَرَ شَيْئاً بَلْ حَيٌّ يُعْرَفُ وَمَلِكٌ لَمْ يَزَلْ لَهُ الْقُدْرَةُ وَالْمُلْكُ أَنْشَأَ مَا شَاءَ حِينَ شَاءَ بِمَشِيئَتِهِ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُبَعَّضُ وَلا يَفْنَى كَانَ أَوَّلاً بِلا كَيْفٍ وَيَكُونُ آخِراً بِلا أَيْنٍ وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلا وَجْهَهُ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالامْرُ تَبَارَكَ الله رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَيْلَكَ أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ إِنَّ رَبِّي لا تَغْشَاهُ الاوْهَامُ وَلا تَنْزِلُ بِهِ الشُّبُهَاتُ وَلا يَحَارُ وَلا يُجَاوِزُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا تَنْزِلُ بِهِ الاحْدَاثُ وَلا يُسْأَلُ عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا يَنْدَمُ عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الارْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى.

 3. Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Qasim-ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following. “A man came to Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) saying, ‘Tell me about your Lord. When did He come into existence?’” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Woe upon you! Such question is asked only about a thing that did not exist. My Lord, all Glory belongs to Him is and will be eternally. He lives and no How question applies to Him. He did not have any coming into existence and nor there was any being for His coming into being. This does not apply to Him because He is not subject to the effects of space. He was not in any thing or on any thing nor did He invent any space for His own space. He did not become stronger after making all things nor was weak before giving being to the beings. He was not lonely before His inventing all things. He is not similar to any thing that could be called a thing. He was also not without Kingdom before the creation and nor will He be without it after all things. He lives eternally without life and the powerful king before His invention of the things and He is an all powerful king after the creation of all things. To His existence no How or Where question is applicable. There is no limit for Him nor is He definable by analogy. He does not become old due to eternal living. He doe not become alarmed because of any thing but that all things are fearful of His (disappointment). He lived without newly emerging life. He is not a describable being or that could be limit with conditions or that would have a space to depend on. He does not have a place so that He can be considered as neighboring something. He is living and one can know Him. He is the eternal King. He has the power and the kingdom. He has created all that He wanted and when He decided by His will. He can not be limited. He can not be divided or destroyed. He was before everything but no How question would apply to Him. He will be the last but no Where will apply to Him. All things will be destroyed except He. The creation belongs to Him and His is the command. He is the Holy Lord of the worlds. O inquirer, imaginations can not encompass my Lord and He does not face any confusions or bewilderment. Nothing is able to escape Him and nothing happens to Him. He can not be held responsible for anything and He does not become regretful. Neither slumber nor sleep overcomes Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth and all that is between them and under the soil.

 4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْيَهُودُ إِلَى رَأْسِ الْجَالُوتِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ عَالِمٌ يَعْنُونَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَانْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَيْهِ نَسْأَلْهُ فَأَتَوْهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُمْ هُوَ فِي الْقَصْرِ فَانْتَظَرُوهُ حَتَّى خَرَجَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ جِئْنَاكَ نَسْأَلُكَ فَقَالَ سَلْ يَا يَهُودِيُّ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ كَانَ بِلا كَيْنُونِيَّةٍ كَانَ بِلا كَيْفٍ كَانَ لَمْ يَزَلْ بِلا كَمٍّ وَبِلا كَيْفٍ كَانَ لَيْسَ لَهُ قَبْلٌ هُوَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَلا غَايَةٍ وَلا مُنْتَهًى انْقَطَعَتْ عَنْهُ الْغَايَةُ وَهُوَ غَايَةُ كُلِّ غَايَةٍ فَقَالَ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ امْضُوا بِنَا فَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِمَّا يُقَالُ فِيهِ.

 4. A group of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father in a marfu‘ manner has said the following. “The Jews came to their chief Ra’sul-Jalut and said, ’This man, meaning thereby Imam Ali (a.s.), is a scholar. Come with us to ask him questions. They all came to Imam Ali (a.s.) but the Imam was in the castle (Government building). They waited till the Imam (a.s.) came out. Ra’sul-Jalut, said, “We have come to you with a question.” The Imam said, “O Jew, ask whatever you like.” He said, “I would like to ask you about your Lord. When did He come into existence?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Allah) has always been without coming into being and without being a subject to a How question. He is eternal without quantity and quality. He was there without a Before. He is before every before without being before and without a beginning and end. The end falls short before Him and He Himself is the end of all ends.” Ra’sul-Jalut then said to his people, “Let us leave this place. This man knows more than what is said he knows.”

 5ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْمَوْصِلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ جَاءَ حِبْرٌ مِنَ الاحْبَارِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَتَى كَانَ رَبُّكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ وَمَتَى لَمْ يَكُنْ حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَتَى كَانَ كَانَ رَبِّي قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَبَعْدَ الْبَعْدِ بِلا بَعْدٍ وَلا غَايَةَ وَلا مُنْتَهَى لِغَايَتِهِ انْقَطَعَتِ الْغَايَاتُ عِنْدَهُ فَهُوَ مُنْتَهَى كُلِّ غَايَةٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ فَنَبِيٌّ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ مِنْ عَبِيدِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَرُوِيَ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيْنَ كَانَ رَبُّنَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ سَمَاءً وَأَرْضاً فَقَالَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيْنَ سُؤَالٌ عَنْ مَكَانٍ وَكَانَ الله وَلا مَكَانَ.

 5. It is narrated, through the same chain of narrators and source, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr from abu al-Hassan al-Muwsali from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), who has said the following. “One of the Jewish rabbis (hibr) came to Imam Ali (a.s.), and asked, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! When has Allah not been (in existence), so that it could be said when did He come into existence. My Lord existed before any before without being before. He is after every after, without being after. There is no finale destination or end for Him. All ends fall short before Him. He is the final destination of all goals.” He further asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin, are you a prophet?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Hold it there. I am one of the slaves of Muhammad,(s.a.) the Messenger of Allah.” It has also been narrated that someone asked Imam Ali (a.s.) this. “Where was our Lord before the creation of the heavens and the earth?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Where is a question about space. Allah has been there before there was space.”

 6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ لِلْيَهُودِ إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِنْ أَجْدَلِ النَّاسِ وَأَعْلَمِهِمْ اذْهَبُوا بِنَا إِلَيْهِ لَعَلِّي أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وَأُخَطِّئُهُ فِيهَا فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ قَالَ سَلْ عَمَّا شِئْتَ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَتَى كَانَ رَبُّنَا قَالَ لَهُ يَا يَهُودِيُّ إِنَّمَا يُقَالُ مَتَى كَانَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَكَانَ مَتَى كَانَ هُوَ كَائِنٌ بِلا كَيْنُونِيَّةٍ كَائِنٍ كَانَ بِلا كَيْفٍ يَكُونُ بَلَى يَا يَهُودِيُّ ثُمَّ بَلَى يَا يَهُودِيُّ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لَهُ قَبْلٌ هُوَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا غَايَةٍ وَلا مُنْتَهَى غَايَةٍ وَلا غَايَةَ إِلَيْهَا انْقَطَعَتِ الْغَايَاتُ عِنْدَهُ هُوَ غَايَةُ كُلِّ غَايَةٍ فَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ دِينَكَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا خَالَفَهُ بَاطِلٌ.

 6. Ali ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ’Amr ibn ’Uthman from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Suma‘ah from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), who has said the following. “Ra’sul Jalut said to the Jews, ‘The Muslims consider Ali excelling everyone in polemics and the most learned. Let us go to him. I will ask him certain questions and perhaps catch him in errors.’” He went to the Imam (a.s.) and said, “O Amirul Mu’minin, I have a question about a matter.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask about whatever you like.” He then asked, “O Amirul Mu’minin, when did our Lord come into existence?” Imam Ali replied, “O Jew, the question When applies to one who did not exist and (then) came into being. Allah has exists without coming into being, and without being in any becoming. Certainly, O Jew, most certainly, O Jew, how can there be any before for He Who was before the before. He does not have any destination. He is not the end of any destination and no destination ends up to Him. All destinations fall short before Him and He is the goal of all destinations.” The Jew then said, “I testify that your religion is the true religion and any thing against it is false.”

 7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَ كَانَ الله وَلا شَيْ‏ءَ قَالَ نَعَمْ كَانَ وَلا شَيْ‏ءَ قُلْتُ فَأَيْنَ كَانَ يَكُونُ قَالَ وَكَانَ مُتَّكِئاً فَاسْتَوَى جَالِساً وَقَالَ أَحَلْتَ يَا زُرَارَةُ وَسَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْمَكَانِ إِذْ لا مَكَانَ.

 7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated in a marfu‘ manner from Zurarah who has said that I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) this. “Did Allah exist when there was nothing?” The Imam replied, “Certainly, Allah existed when there was nothing.” I further inquired, “Where did Allah exist?” The Imam was leaning, he then sat up and said, “O Zurarah, you spoke of impossible. You ask about space where there is no space.”

 8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْمَوْصِلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ أَتَى حِبْرٌ مِنَ الاحْبَارِ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَتَى كَانَ رَبُّكَ قَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَإ؛ّّ يُقَالُ مَتَى كَانَ لِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فَأَمَّا مَا كَانَ فَلا يُقَالُ مَتَى كَانَ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَبَعْدَ الْبَعْدِ بِلا بَعْدٍ وَلا مُنْتَهَى غَايَةٍ لِتَنْتَهِيَ غَايَتُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ نَبِيٌّ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ لامِّكَ الْهَبَلُ إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ مِنْ عَبِيدِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه )

 8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from ibn Abu Nasr from Abul Hassan al-Muwsali who has narrated the following from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.): “A rabbi came to Imam Ali (a.s.) and asked, ‘O Amirul Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Consider carefully. The question when applies to one who did not exist (and then came into being). When does not apply to the One Who is eternal. He was before the before without before and after the after without an after. He is not the end of some end so that His end would also end.” He then asked, “Are you a prophet?” Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! I am a slave among the slaves of the Messenger of Allah (saww).”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 3, Chapter 6