Al-Khiṣāl > Recognition of God By Two Characteristics
Hadith #1

2-1 حدثنا أحمد بن هارون الفامي وجعفر بن محمد بن مسرور رضي الله عنهما قالا: حدثنا محمد بن جعفر بن بطة قال: حدثنا أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن هشام بن سالم، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: سمعت أبي يحدث عن أبيه عليه السلام أن رجلاً قام إلى أمير المؤمنين عليه السلامفقال له: يا أمير المؤمنين بما عرفت ربك؟ قال: بفسخ العزم ونقض الهم لما أن هممت فحال بيني وبين همي، وعزمت فخالف القضاء عزمي فعلمت أن المدبر غيري، قال: فبما ذا شكرت نعماه؟ قال: نظرت إلى بلاء قد صرفه عني وأبلى به غيري، فعلمت أنه قد أنعم علي فشكرته، قال: فبما ذا أحببت لقاءه؟ قال: لما رأيته قد اختار لي دين ملائكته ورسله وأنبيائه علمت أن الذي أكرمني بهذا ليس ينساني فأحببت لقاءه

2-1 Ahmad ibn Harun al-Fami and Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Masroor - may God be pleased with them - narrated that Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn Bat’tat quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Aba Abdullah al-Barqy, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abi Umayr, on the authority of Hisham ibn Salim, on the authority of Aba Abdullah as-Sadiq (MGB), “I heard my father (MGB) narrate on the authority of his father (MGB) that a man stood in front of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB) and said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful! How did you cometo recognize your Lord?’ He (MGB) replied, ‘By the dissolution of intentions and the breach of aspirations. Sometimes I had an aspiration, but He got in the way between me and my aspirations. Sometimes I made some intentions, but destiny opposed my intentions. Thus, I realized that there is some other Planner.’ The man asked, ‘Why did you thank Him for His Blessings?’ He (MGB) replied, ‘I looked at His Calamities which He fended off from me and brought them upon someone else. Thus, I realized that He has Blessed me. Thus, I thanked Him.’ The man asked, ‘Why do you like to meet Him?’ He (MGB) replied, ‘I saw that He has given me the religion of His Angels, Messengers and Prophets. Then I realized that He has honored me with this religion and will never forget me. Therefore, I would like to meet Him.’