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 عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ حَبِيبٍ الزَّيَّاتِ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْ كَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جَالِساً فَلَمَّا نَهَضُوا قَالَ لَهُمُ الْقَوْا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَيْهِ وَأَحْدِثُوا بِهِ عَهْداً فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ الْقَوْمُ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَرْحَمُ الله الْمُفَضَّلَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ لَيَقْنَعُ بِدُونِ هَذَا.

 1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from Yahya ibn Habib al-Zayyat who has said the following. “A man who was present in a meeting (of people) with abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) spoke to me of the information herein below. “When people readied themselves to leave the meeting the Imam (a.s.) said to them, “Meet abu Ja‘far (a.s.), (before you leave), offer to him greeting and renew your covenant with him.” When left, he (the Imam) said to me, “May Allah grant well-being to al-Mufaddal, he would have believed (in the succeeding Imam) without it (the command to renew their covenant)”.

 2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَذَكَرَ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ مَا حَاجَتُكُمْ إِلَى ذَلِكَ هَذَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ قَدْ أَجْلَسْتُهُ مَجْلِسِي وَصَيَّرْتُهُ مَكَانِي وَقَالَ إِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ يَتَوَارَثُ أَصَاغِرُنَا عَنْ أَكَابِرِنَا الْقُذَّةَ بِالْقُذَّةِ.

 2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Mu‘ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following. “I heard (abu al-Hassan) al-Rida who said something (leadership with Divine Authority) and then said, “I do not think you need what I just said. This is abu Ja‘far (a.s.). I have placed him in my own place to assume my position. We are of the family Ahl al-Bayt whose younger ones inherit from elder everything exactly measure to measure.”

 3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَنَاظَرَنِي فِي أَشْيَاءَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا عَلِيٍّ ارْتَفَعَ الشَّكُّ مَا لابِي غَيْرِي.

 3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from his father, Muhammad ibn ‘Isa who has said the following. “Once I went to see abu Ja‘far al-Thani’s (a.s.). He debated me in several issues. He then said, “O abu Ali, there is no (reason for) doubt; I am the only son that my father had.”

 4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَشْيَمَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ كَتَبَ ابْنُ قِيَامَا إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) كِتَاباً يَقُولُ فِيهِ كَيْفَ تَكُونُ إِمَاماً وَلَيْسَ لَكَ وَلَدٌ فَأَجَابَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) شِبْهَ الْمُغْضَبِ وَمَا عَلَّمَكَ أَنَّهُ لا يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٌ وَالله لا تَمْضِي الايَّامُ وَاللَّيَالِي حَتَّى يَرْزُقَنِيَ الله وَلَداً ذَكَراً يَفْرُقُ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَالْبَاطِلِ.

 4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ja’far ibn Yahya from Malik ibn Ashyam from al-Husayn ibn Bashshar who has said the following. “Ibn Qiyaman wrote a letter to abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in which he had said the following. ‘How can you be an Imam when you do not have a son?” Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) replied him with signs of anger, “How do you know that I will not have a son? By Allah, not many days and nights will pass before Allah will grant me a male child through who He will make the truth distinct from falsehood.”

 5ـ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ حُكَيْمٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِيَ ابْنُ النَّجَاشِيِّ مَنِ الامَامُ بَعْدَ صَاحِبِكَ فَأَشْتَهِي أَنْ تَسْأَلَهُ حَتَّى أَعْلَمَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي الامَامُ ابْنِي ثُمَّ قَالَ هَلْ يَتَجَرَّأُ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَقُولَ ابْنِي وَلَيْسَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ.

 5. One of our people has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Mu‘awiya ibn Hakim from ibn abu Basir who has said the following. “Al-Najashi once asked me, “Who will be the Imam after your master? I wish you ask him so I will know.” I then went to see Ali al-Rida (a.s.) and informed him (of al-Najashi’s wish).” The narrator has said that the Imam said, “The Imam will be my son.” Then he said, “Can any one say that my son will be the Imam when he has no son?”

 6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ ذَكَرْنَا عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) شَيْئاً بَعْدَ مَا وُلِدَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ مَا حَاجَتُكُمْ إِلَى ذَلِكَ هَذَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ قَدْ أَجْلَسْتُهُ مَجْلِسِي وَصَيَّرْتُهُ فِي مَكَانِي.

 6. Ahmad ibn Mihran has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Mu‘ammar ibn Khallad who has said the following. “Once in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.) we spoke about an issue, Imamat, (Leadership with Divine Authority). It was after the birth oof abu Ja‘far (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) said, “You do not need any such thing (thinking who the Imam will be). This is abu Ja‘far (a.s.). I have placed him in my own place and made him to assume my position.”

 7ـ أَحْمَدُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ ابْنِ قِيَامَا الْوَاسِطِيِّ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ أَ يَكُونُ إِمَامَانِ قَالَ لا إِلا وَأَحَدُهُمَا صَامِتٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ هُوَ ذَا أَنْتَ لَيْسَ لَكَ صَامِتٌ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَعْدُ فَقَالَ لِي وَالله لَيَجْعَلَنَّ الله مِنِّي مَا يُثْبِتُ بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَأَهْلَهُ وَيَمْحَقُ بِهِ الْبَاطِلَ وَأَهْلَهُ فَوُلِدَ لَهُ بَعْدَ سَنَةٍ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَكَانَ ابْنُ قِيَامَا وَاقِفِيّاً.

 7. Ahmad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from ibn Qiyama al-Wasiti who has said the following. “Once I went to see Ali ibn Musa (a.s.). (During the meeting) I asked him, “Can there be two Imams?” He replied, “No, but that one of them must remain silent.” I then said to him, “This applies to you. You are the Imam and there is no silent Imam with you.” At that time his son abu Ja‘far was not yet born. He said to me, “By Allah, Allah will make an Imam from me to establish the truth and the people of truth and banish falsehood and the people of falsehood. One year thereafter abu Ja‘far (a.s.) was born. Ibn Qiyama belonged to the Waqifi sect.”

 8ـ أَحْمَدُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جَالِساً فَدَعَا بِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ صَغِيرٌ فَأَجْلَسَهُ فِي حَجْرِي فَقَالَ لِي جَرِّدْهُ وَانْزِعْ قَمِيصَهُ فَنَزَعْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِيَ انْظُرْ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا فِي أَحَدِ كَتِفَيْهِ شَبِيهٌ بِالْخَاتَمِ دَاخِلٌ فِي اللَّحْمِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تَرَى هَذَا كَانَ مِثْلُهُ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ مِنْ أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

 8. Ahmad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali From al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said the following. “Once I was in the presence of abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He called his son who was a small (boy). The Imams (a.s.) placed him in my lap and said to me. “ Move his shirt aside.” When I did so. The Imams (a.s.) said, “Look in between his shoulders.” I look and I found in the skin of one shoulder something like an imprint of a seal.” The Imams (a.s.) then asked, “Do you see this.? Similar to this there was one in the shoulder of my father.”

 9ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى الصَّنْعَانِيِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَجِي‏ءَ بِابْنِهِ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ صَغِيرٌ فَقَالَ هَذَا الْمَوْلُودُ الَّذِي لَمْ يُولَدْ مَوْلُودٌ أَعْظَمُ بَرَكَةً عَلَى شِيعَتِنَا مِنْهُ.

 9. It is narrated from him (Ahmad ibn Mihran) from Muhammad ibn Ali from abu Yahya al-San‘ani who has said the following. “Once I was in of abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) Someone brought his son, Ja’far (a.s.) to him and he was a small (child). The Imams (a.s.) said, “This new born is one the like of whom with such great holiness and blessing has not been born for our Shi‘a (followers).”

 10ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى قَالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَدْ كُنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَهَبَ الله لَكَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَكُنْتَ تَقُولُ يَهَبُ الله لِي غُلاماً فَقَدْ وَهَبَهُ الله لَكَ فَأَقَرَّ عُيُونَنَا فَلا أَرَانَا الله يَوْمَكَ فَإِنْ كَانَ كَوْنٌ فَإِلَى مَنْ فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا ابْنُ ثَلاثِ سِنِينَ فَقَالَ وَمَا يَضُرُّهُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ قَامَ عِيسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِالْحُجَّةِ وَهُوَ ابْنُ ثَلاثِ سِنِينَ.

 10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said the following. “Once I said to al-Rida (a.s.), before Allah’s granting you the blessing of the birth of abu Ja’far (a.s.) we would ask you and you would say, “Allah will grant me a son and He has granted you one. His birth is the delight of our eyes. May Allah spare us from showing your (sad) day. However, if something will happen to who then (will leadership with Divine Authority) will go?” The Imam (a.s.) pointed out with his hand towards abu Ja’far (a.s.) and he was standing before him. I then asked, “ May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, a child of three years?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “That will be of no harm to him. Jesus rose with Divine authority when he was a three years old child.”

 11ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ يَقُولُ لِلرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ ابْنِي فِي لِسَانِهِ ثِقْلٌ فَأَنَا أَبْعَثُ بِهِ إِلَيْكَ غَداً تَمْسَحُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَتَدْعُو لَهُ فَإِنَّهُ مَوْلاكَ فَقَالَ هُوَ مَوْلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ فَابْعَثْ بِهِ غَداً إِلَيْهِ.

 11. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Mu‘mmar ibn Khallad who has said the following. “I heard ’Isma‘il ibn Ibrahim say to al-rida (a.s.), ‘My son feels heaviness in his tongue. I intend to sent him tomorrow to you. Pass you your hand over his head and pray for him. He is your Mawla (slave).’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a Mawla (slave) of abu Ja’far (a.s.). send him tomorrow to him (abu Ja‘far (a.s.).”

 12ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَلادٍ الصَّيْقَلِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَالِساً بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَكُنْتُ أَقَمْتُ عِنْدَهُ سَنَتَيْنِ أَكْتُبُ عَنْهُ مَا يَسْمَعُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ يَعْنِي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الْمَسْجِدَ مَسْجِدَ الرَّسُولِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَوَثَبَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ بِلا حِذَاءٍ وَلا رِدَاءٍ فَقَبَّلَ يَدَهُ وَعَظَّمَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا عَمِّ اجْلِسْ رَحِمَكَ الله فَقَالَ يَا سَيِّدِي كَيْفَ أَجْلِسُ وَأَنْتَ قَائِمٌ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ إِلَى مَجْلِسِهِ جَعَلَ أَصْحَابُهُ يُوَبِّخُونَهُ وَيَقُولُونَ أَنْتَ عَمُّ أَبِيهِ وَأَنْتَ تَفْعَلُ بِهِ هَذَا الْفِعْلَ فَقَالَ اسْكُتُوا إِذَا كَانَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَقَبَضَ عَلَى لِحْيَتِهِ لَمْ يُؤَهِّلْ هَذِهِ الشَّيْبَةَ وَأَهَّلَ هَذَا الْفَتَى وَوَضَعَهُ حَيْثُ وَضَعَهُ أُنْكِرُ فَضْلَهُ نَعُوذُ بِالله مِمَّا تَقُولُونَ بَلْ أَنَا لَهُ عَبْدٌ.

 12. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Nahdi from Muhammad ibn Khallad al-Sayqal from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Once I was in a meeting with Ali ibn Ja‘far ibn Muhammad in Medina, - I stayed with him for two years to write from him what he would hear from his brother, Abu al-Hassan (a.s.),- at such time Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (a.s.) came in the mosque, the mosque of the Messenger of Allah. Ali ibn Ja‘far rushed towards him bare foot and without his gown. He kissed his hand and showed great respect for him. Abu Ja‘far said to him, “Uncle, please sit down, may Allah grant you well being.” He said, “My master, how can I sit when you are standing.” When Ali ibn Ja‘far returned to his place his companions began to blame him saying, “You are the uncle of his father, how can you act as such before him?” He said to them, “Be quite, When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, has not qualified this beard –holding his beard in his hand- but has qualified this young man and has given him such position, should I deny his excellence and virtue? I seek refuge before Allah from what you say. In fact, I am a servant for him.”

 13ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْخَيْرَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ كُنْتُ وَاقِفاً بَيْنَ يَدَيْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِخُرَاسَانَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَائِلٌ يَا سَيِّدِي إِنْ كَانَ كَوْنٌ فَإِلَى مَنْ قَالَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ابْنِي فَكَأَنَّ الْقَائِلَ اسْتَصْغَرَ سِنَّ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى بَعَثَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولاً نَبِيّاً صَاحِبَ شَرِيعَةٍ مُبْتَدَأَةٍ فِي أَصْغَرَ مِنَ السِّنِّ الَّذِي فِيهِ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )

 13. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-Khayrani, from his father who has said the following. “Once I was standing before abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in Khurasan and someone said tp him, “O my master, if something will happen to who (will go Leadership with Divine Authority)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It will go to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), my son.” The person asking the question thought of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) as very young for such task. Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Jesus, son of Mary as a messenger prophet, the owner of a whole legal system. He began his task when he was smaller in age than abu Ja‘far (a.s.).”

 14ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَعَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْقَاسَانِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ يَحْيَى بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيَّ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ يُحَدِّثُ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ فَقَالَ وَالله لَقَدْ نَصَرَ الله أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ إِي وَالله جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَقَدْ بَغَى عَلَيْهِ إِخْوَتُهُ فَقَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ إِي وَالله وَنَحْنُ عُمُومَتُهُ بَغَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ صَنَعْتُمْ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَحْضُرْكُمْ قَالَ قَالَ لَهُ إِخْوَتُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَيْضاً مَا كَانَ فِينَا إِمَامٌ قَطُّ حَائِلَ اللَّوْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) هُوَ ابْنِي قَالُوا فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَدْ قَضَى بِالْقَافَةِ فَبَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ الْقَافَةُ قَالَ ابْعَثُوا أَنْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَلا وَلا تُعْلِمُوهُمْ لِمَا دَعَوْتُمُوهُمْ وَلْتَكُونُوا فِي بُيُوتِكُمْ فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا أَقْعَدُونَا فِي الْبُسْتَانِ وَاصْطَفَّ عُمُومَتُهُ وَإِخْوَتُهُ وَأَخَوَاتُهُ وَأَخَذُوا الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَأَلْبَسُوهُ جُبَّةَ صُوفٍ وَقَلَنْسُوَةً مِنْهَا وَوَضَعُوا عَلَى عُنُقِهِ مِسْحَاةً وَقَالُوا لَهُ ادْخُلِ الْبُسْتَانَ كَأَنَّكَ تَعْمَلُ فِيهِ ثُمَّ جَاءُوا بِابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالُوا أَلْحِقُوا هَذَا الْغُلامَ بِأَبِيهِ فَقَالُوا لَيْسَ لَهُ هَاهُنَا أَبٌ وَلَكِنَّ هَذَا عَمُّ أَبِيهِ وَهَذَا عَمُّ أَبِيهِ وَهَذَا عَمُّهُ وَهَذِهِ عَمَّتُهُ وَإِنْ يَكُنْ لَهُ هَاهُنَا أَبٌ فَهُوَ صَاحِبُ الْبُسْتَانِ فَإِنَّ قَدَمَيْهِ وَقَدَمَيْهِ وَاحِدَةٌ فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالُوا هَذَا أَبُوهُ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ فَقُمْتُ فَمَصَصْتُ رِيقَ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ثُمَّ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ إِمَامِي عِنْدَ الله فَبَكَى الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَمِّ أَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْ أَبِي وَهُوَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) بِأَبِي ابْنُ خِيَرَةِ الامَاءِ ابْنُ النُّوبِيَّةِ الطَّيِّبَةِ الْفَمِ الْمُنْتَجَبَةِ الرَّحِمِ وَيْلَهُمْ لَعَنَ الله الاعَيْبِسَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ صَاحِبَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَيَقْتُلُهُمْ سِنِينَ وَشُهُوراً وَأَيَّاماً يَسُومُهُمْ خَسْفاً وَيَسْقِيهِمْ كَأْساً مُصْبِرَةً وَهُوَ الطَّرِيدُ الشَّرِيدُ الْمَوْتُورُ بِأَبِيهِ وَجَدِّهِ صَاحِبُ الْغَيْبَةِ يُقَالُ مَاتَ أَوْ هَلَكَ أَيَّ وَادٍ سَلَكَ أَ فَيَكُونُ هَذَا يَا عَمِّ إِلا مِنِّي فَقُلْتُ صَدَقْتَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ.

 14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasani from Zakariyya ibn Yahya ibn al-Nu‘man al-Sayrafi who has said the following. “I heard Ali ibn Ja‘far speaking to al-Hassan ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn as, “By Allah, Allah has supported abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.).” Al-Hassan then said, “Yes, by Allah, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, his brothers have rebelled against him.” Ali ibn Ja‘far then said, “Yes, by Allah, and we, his uncles, rebelled against him.” Al-Hassan said to him, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, how did you dealt it, I was not present with you.” He said, “His brothers said to him and so did we, “There has never been a blackish Imam from us” The Imam (a.s.) al-Rida said to them, “He is my son.” They said,” Messenger of Allah did judge on the basis of physiognomy, thus, we can also have a judgment on the basis of physiognomy .” The Imam (a.s.) said, “You may call one who has said the following knows physiognomy but I will not do so. You should not give information as to for what reason you have called them. You must stay home. When they will come, we should, all of us, be in the garden. His uncles, brothers and sisters should all line up. They dressed al-Rida (a.s.) in a gown made of wool with a hat of wool on his head and a shovel in his hand. The Imam should be asked to act as the gardener in the garden. Then Abu Ja‘far should be brought in and they should be asked to find his father in the people present. They said, “His father is not present among these people, but this is his uncle, this is the uncle of his father, this is his uncle and this is his aunt. If his father is here he is the gardener because his footprint and his footprint match” When Abu al-Hassan (a.s.) returned, they said, “This is his father.” Ali ibn Ja‘far has said, “I stood up and kissed Abu Ja‘far and his saliva came in my mouth. Then I said, “I testify that you are my Imam before Allah. Al-Rida (a.s.) wept and said, “O uncle, did not hear my father say, “The Messenger of Allah has said, “May Allah take my soul and the souls of my father in service for the cause of the son of the best slave girl, the son of al-Nawbiya (a town in Sudan) lady with a fresh smelling mouth, the lady of who will give birth to a purified one. May Allah condemn the ’U‘aybiss (the ‘Abbassides) and their descendants, the mischief makers who murder them (the Imams) for years, months, and days, causing them huge sufferings and causing them to endure bitter frustrations. He (Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) live exiled, away from home, and suffering the pain of the murder of his father and grandfather. One who is has disappeared (from the eyes of his loved ones). About whom it will be said, “His is dead or perished. No one will in which valleys he will travel. Can such a person, O uncle, be anyone other than my own son?” I then said, “You have spoken the truth, may Allah take my souls in service for your cause.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 73