1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ زِيَادٍ الْقَنْدِيِّ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَكَيْفَ إِذا جِئْنا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنا بِكَ عَلى‏ هؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً قَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَاصَّةً فِي كُلِّ قَرْنٍ مِنْهُمْ إِمَامٌ مِنَّا شَاهِدٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) شَاهِدٌ عَلَيْنَا.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ya‘qub ibn Yazid from Ziyad al-Qandi from Suma‘a who has said that Imam abu ‘Abdallah has said the following about the words of Allah in the Holu Quran. “How will it be when We call for a witness from every nation and have you, (Muhammad), testify against them all?” (4:41) The Imam (a.s.) said that this verse is was revealed about the followers of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) in particular. In every generation of these people there will an Imam from our family who would bear witness over their activities and Prophet Muahammad himself will bear witness over us.”

2ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَائِذٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَكَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطاً لِتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ قَالَ نَحْنُ الامَّةُ الْوُسْطَى وَنَحْنُ شُهَدَاءُ الله عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَحُجَجُهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ قُلْتُ قَوْلَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْراهِيمَ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى خَاصَّةً هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فِي الْكُتُبِ الَّتِي مَضَتْ وَفِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيداً عَلَيْكُمْ فَرَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الشَّهِيدُ عَلَيْنَا بِمَا بَلَّغَنَا عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَنَحْنُ الشُّهَدَاءُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَمَنْ صَدَّقَ صَدَّقْنَاهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ كَذَّبَ كَذَّبْنَاهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

2. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘A’idh from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhayna from Buarayd al-‘Ili who has said that I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah: “We have made you (true Muslims) a moderate nation so that you could be (witness) an example for all people and the Prophet (a witness) an example for you. . .” (2:143) The Imam (a.s.) said, “We are the moderate nation and we bear witness to the activities of the people for Allah and we possess Divine authority on earth.” I then asked about the meaning following verse of the holy Quran: “. . the noble religion of your father, Abraham. God named you Muslims before and in this Book, so that the Messenger will witness (your actions). .” (22:78) The word ‘your father’ refers to us particularly we were called Muslims in the heavenly books that were sent before as well as this book. The messenger of Allah bears witness over us by means of teaching us the guidance of Allah and bear witness over the people. Those who would acknowledge our authority, on the Day of Judgment, we will acknowledge their faith and those who would reject our Divine authority, one the Day of Judgment, we will refuse to acknowledge their faith.”

3ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْحَلالِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَ فَمَنْ كانَ عَلى‏ بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَيَتْلُوهُ شاهِدٌ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ الشَّاهِدُ عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَرَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ.

3. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Mu‘allah ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Ali from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Hallal who has said that he asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about the meaning of the following verse of the holy Quran: “Should they be compared with those whose Lord has given them a guidance which is testified by a witness from among their own people . .” (11:17) The Imam (a.s.) said, “Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) testified to support the holy Prophet (s.a.) and the holy Prophet received supporting evidence from his Lord.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَكَذلِكَ جَعَلْناكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطاً لِتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيداً قَالَ نَحْنُ الامَّةُ الْوَسَطُ وَنَحْنُ شُهَدَاءُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَحُجَجُهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ قُلْتُ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ارْكَعُوا وَاسْجُدُوا وَاعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمْ وَافْعَلُوا الْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ وَجاهِدُوا فِي الله حَقَّ جِهادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَباكُمْ قَالَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى وَنَحْنُ الْمُجْتَبَوْنَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فَالْحَرَجُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الضِّيقِ مِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْراهِيمَ إِيَّانَا عَنَى خَاصَّةً وَسَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الله سَمَّانَا الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فِي الْكُتُبِ الَّتِي مَضَتْ وَفِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيداً عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَداءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَرَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الشَّهِيدُ عَلَيْنَا بِمَا بَلَّغَنَا عَنِ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَنَحْنُ الشُّهَدَاءُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَمَنْ صَدَّقَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَدَّقْنَاهُ وَمَنْ كَذَّبَ كَذَّبْنَاهُ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn abu ‘Umayr from ibn ’dhayna from Yazid al-‘Ijli who has said that he asked Imam abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran. “We have made you (true Muslims) a moderate nation so that you could be (witness) an example for all people and the Prophet (a witness) an example for you. . .” (2:143) The Imam (a.s.) said, “We are the moderate nation and we are the witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over the activities of His creatures and possess His authority on earth.” I then asked about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran that says, “Believers, worship your Lord, bow down and prostrate yourselves before Him and do virtuous deeds so that perhaps you will have everlasting happiness. (22:77) Strive steadfastly for the Cause of God. He has chosen you . Believers, worship your Lord, bow down and prostrate yourselves before Him and do virtuous deeds so that perhaps you will have everlasting happiness. (22:77) Strive steadfastly for the Cause of God. He has chosen you but has not imposed on you hardship in your religion, the noble religion of your father, Abraham. God named you Muslims before and in this Book, so that the Messenger will witness (your actions) and you will be the witness over mankind. The noble religion also is a reference to us. Allah has called us as Muslims in the heaven books that were revealed before and in this holy book (the Holy Quran) The Holy Prophet (s.a.) has testified in our favor by conveying the message of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. We bear witness to the activities and on the Day of Judgment certify the faith of those who have acknowledged our Divine authority and reject those who have rejected our Divine authority.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْيَمَانِيِّ عَنْ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ الْهِلالِيِّ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى طَهَّرَنَا وَعَصَمَنَا وَجَعَلَنَا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَحُجَّتَهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَجَعَلَنَا مَعَ الْقُرْآنِ وَجَعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ مَعَنَا لا نُفَارِقُهُ وَلا يُفَارِقُنَا.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamani from Sulaym ibn Qays al-Hilali from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, cleansed us, granted us protection against sins, made us to bear witness to the activities of His creatures and granted us Divine authority on earth. He made us to be with the holy Quran and the Holy Quran to be with us. We do not depart the Holy Quran and the Holy Quran does not depart us.”