Foreword

Reward for the Monotheists and Gnostics

Divine Unity and‬‬ Negation of Anthropomorphism

The Definition of One, Divine Unity, and the Believer in Divine Unity

The Commentary of Chapter 112 the Unity [al-Tawhid]

The Meaning of Divine Unity and Divine Justice

The Mighty and High is Devoid of both Body and Image

The Blessed and Exalted is a Thing

What is Related Regarding the Vision

Omnipotence

Knowledge

Attributes of Essence and Attributes of Actions

The Commentary of verse 88 of Chapter 28 the Narrative [al-Qasas] Everything is perishable but He.

The Commentary of Verse 75 of Chapter 38 Sad O Iblis! What prevented you that you should do obeisance to him whom I created with My Two Hands?

The Commentary of Verse 42 of Chapter 68 Qalam - On the Day when there shall be a severe affliction, and they shall be called upon to make obeisance

The Commentary of Verse 35 of Chapter 24 the Light [al-Nur]

The Commentary of Verse 67 of Chapter 9 the Repentance [al-Tawbah] They have forsaken Allah, so He has forsaken them.

The Commentary of Verse 67 of Chapter 39 the Companies [al-Zumar] And the whole Earth shall be in His Grip on the Day of Resurrection and the Heavens rolled up in his Right Hand.

The Commentary of Verse 15 of Chapter 83 the Defrauders [al-Mutaffifin] Nay! Most surely they shall on that day be debarred from their Lord.

The Commentary of Verse 22 of Chapter 89 the Daybreak [al-Fajr] And your Lord comes and (also) the angels in ranks.

The Commentary of Verse 210 of Chapter 2 the Cow [al-Baqarah] They do not wait aught but that Allah should come to them in the shadow of clouds along with the angels.

Meaning of Scoffing, Mockery, Planning and Deception of Allah

The Meaning of Allah’s Side

The Meaning of the Waistband

Meaning of the Eye, the Ear, and the Tongue of Allah

The Meaning of Allah’s Hand is Tied Up

The Meaning of His Pleasure and His Anger

The Meaning of Allah’s Breathing of Spirit And I breathed into him of My Sprit.

Negation of Space, Time, Stillness, Motion, Descending, Ascending, and Transference from Allah

The Names of Allah, the Exalted,‬‬ and the Difference between their Meanings and the Meaning of the‬‬ Names of Creation

What is the Qur’an?

The Meaning of “In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful”

The Explanation of‬‬ the Letters of the Alphabet.

The Explanation of the Letters of the Alphabet According to Their Numerical Value

The Explanation of the Words of the Calls to Prayer

The Commentary of Guidance, Misguidance, Direction, and Forsaking is from Allah, the Exalted

The Refutation of the Dualists & the Atheists

There is no‬‬ god but the One God

The‬‬ Remembrance of Allah’s Greatness, Mighty be His Glory

The Subtlety of Allah, the Blessed, the Exalted

The Least Required for Recognizing Diving Unity

He, the Mighty and High, in not Recognized, Except by Himself.

The Assertion of the Emergence of the Universe

The Tradition of Dhi`lib.

The Tradition of Subakht, the Jewish Man

The Meaning of “Glory be to Allah” [Subhan Allah]

The Meaning of Allah is the Greatest [Allahu Akbar]

The Meaning of the First and the Last

the Most Compassionate is Firm on the Empyrean.

His Empyrean was on the Water

The Empyrean and Its‬‬ Description

The Empyrean was Created in Quarters

The Meaning of `His Knowledge Extend over the Heavens and the Earth’

Allah made the Nature of the Creation upon Divine Unity

The Appearance [Al-Bada’]

The Will and the Intent

Capability

The Trial and the Test

Privilege and Adversity

The Negation of Determinism and Relinquishment

Predestination, Divine Decree, Trials, Means of Sustenance Rates, and Restricted Powers

Children and Allah’s Justice Concerning Them

Allah only does what is best for His servants

Command, Prohibition, Promise and Threat

Recognition, Explanation, Evidence, and Guidance

A Session of al-Ridha (AS‬‬) with Theologians from Among the Rhetoricians and Various‬‬ Religions about Unity in the presence of al-Ma`mun

A Session of al-Ridha (AS) with Sulayman al-Marwazi, the Theologian of Khurasan, in‬‬ the Presece of al-Ma`mun concerning the Subject of Divine Unity.

The Prohibition of Discussing, Debating, and Arguing about Allah

1 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي، قال: سأل نافع بن الأزرق أبا جعفر عليه السلام فقال: أخبرني عن الله متى كان؟ فقال له: ويلك، أخبرني أنت متى لم يكن حتى أخبرك متى كان، سبحان من لم يزل ولا يزال فردا صمدا لم يتخذ صاحبة ولا ولدا. 

1. My father (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Sa1d ibn `Abd Allah said, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of Abu Hamzah al-Thumali that Nafi` ibn al-Azraq asked Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) that Inform me about Allah. Since when has He existed? Therefore, he (AS) replied to him, “Woe be upon you! Perhaps you should tell me when He did not exist, so that I can tell you when He did exist. Glory be to Him, who has always been and will always be, the Peerless, the Needless, who has taken neither wife nor son.”

2 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن يحيى العطار رحمه الله، عن أبيه، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن القاسم بن محمد، عن علي بن أبي حمزة، عن أبي بصير، قال: جاء رجل إلى أبي جعفر عليه السلام فقال له: يا أبا جعفر أخبرني عن ربك متى كان؟ فقال: ويلك، إنما يقال لشئ لم يكن فكان: متى كان، إن ربي تبارك وتعالى كان لم يزل حيا بلا كيف، ولم يكن له كان  ولا كان لكونه كيف، ولا كان له أين، ولا كان في شئ، ولا كان على شئ، ولا ابتدع لكونه مكانا  ولا قوي بعد ما كون شيئا: ولا ضعيفا قبل أن يكون شيئا، ولا كان مستوحشا قبل أن يبتدع شيئا، ولا يشبه شيئا مكونا، ولا كان خلوا من (القدرة على) الملك قبل إنشائه، ولا يكون منه خلوا بعد ذهابه، لم يزل حيا بلا حياة، وملكا قادرا قبل أن ينشئ شيئا، وملكا جبارا بعد إنشائه للكون، فليس لكونه كيف، لا له أين، ولا له حد، ولا يعرف بشئ يشبهه، ولا يهرم لطول البقاء، ولا يصعق لشئ، ولا يجوفه شئ، تصعق الأشياء كلها من خيفته، كان حيا بلا حياة عارية  ولا كون موصوف، ولا كيف محدود، ولا أثر مقفو  ولا مكان جاور شيئا، بل حي يعرف، وملك لم يزل له القدرة والملك، أنشأ ما شاء بمشيته، لا يحد ولا يبعض، ولا يفنى، كان أولا بلا كيف، ويكون آخرا بلا أين، وكل شئ هالك إلا وجهه، له الخلق والأمر تبارك الله رب العالمين، ويلك أيها السائل، إن ربي لا تغشاه الأوهام، ولا تنزل به الشبهات، ولا يجار من شئ  ولا يجاوره شئ ولا تنزل به الأحداث، ولا يسأل عن شئ يفعله، ولا يقع على شئ، ولا تأخذه سنة ولا نوم، له ما في السماوات وما في الأرض وما بينهما وما تحت الثرى. 

2. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar (RA) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn Sa`id, on the authority of al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, on the authority of `Ali ibn Abu Hamzah, on the authority of Abu Basir that A man came to Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) and asked him: “O Abu Ja`far! Tell me about your Lord. How long has He existed?” Thus, he (AS) answered, Woe be upon you! Verily, it is said to a thing that did no exist and then came into being: Since when did it exist? Verily, my Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, has always been Ever-Living, but not with quality. There is no time limit for Him. Nor is there any quality for His Existence. There is neither any space for Him. He is not in a thing or on anything. He has not created for His Being any space. He is not strengthened after crating anything. Nor was He weak before creating anything. He was not frightened before He originated anything. None of the created things are like Him. He was not powerless over the things before their creation. Nor will He be powerless over them after they have gone. He has always been Ever-Living without an accidental existence. He was the Omnipotent Sovereign before creating anything, and He was the Supreme Sovereign after having brought it into existence. There is no quality for His Essence, nor is there space for Him. He does not have any limit. He is not recognized by a thing that may be His like. He does not age. He does not shout to call anything. Nothing frightens Him. All things become stunned from His Fear. He is Ever-Living, but not a blank living, nor a depicted existence. He neither has a restricted quality, nor an effect that follows up, nor a place that adjoins a thing, but He is the Ever-Living who knows everything, and the Sovereign who always has Omnipotence and Sovereignty. He created what He willed, and He willed with His Will. He is not limited. He has no parts. And He does not perish. He is the First without any quality, and the Last without any space. Everything is Command. Blessed is the Lord of the worlds! Woe be upon you, O questioner! Verily, my Lord cannot be conceived by imagination. Uncertainties do not befall Him. He does not adjoin anything, nor does anything adjoin Him. Incidents do not occur to Him. He is not questioned about anything He does, nor is He places on anything. Slumber does not seize Him, nor does sleep; to Him belongs whatsoever is in the Heavens, whatsoever is in the Earth, whatsoever is between them and whatsoever is below the ground.

3 - حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رحمه الله قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسين السعدآبادي، عن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي، عن أحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر، عن أبي الحسن الموصلي، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: جاء حبر من الأحبار إلى أمير - المؤمنين عليه السلام فقال له: يا أمير المؤمنين متى كان ربك؟ فقال له: ثكلتك أمك، و متى لم يكن حتى يقال: متى كان، كان ربي قبل القبل، بلا قبل ويكون بعد البعد بلا بعد، ولا غاية ولا منتهى لغايته، انقطعت الغايات عنه، فهو منتهى كل غاية  فقال: يا أمير المؤمنين فنبي أنت؟ فقال: ويلك، إنما أنا عبد من عبيد - محمد صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. قال مصنف هذا الكتاب رضي الله عنه: يعني بذلك: عبد طاعته لا غير ذلك . 

3. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (RA) said: `li ibn al-Husayn al-Sa`dabadi said, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Barqi, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr, on the authority of Abu al-Hasan al-Musili that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: A Jewish rabbi came to the Commander of the Faithful (AS), and asked him: “O Commander of the Faithful! Since when has your Lord existed?” May your mother grieve you! When did He not exist so that it may be asked when did He exist? My Lord preceded the beginning and is without any beginning. He will remain after the end without an end. There is no end and termination to His Destination. He is separated from all ends. He is the Utmost of all Ends. Then he asked, “O Commander of the Faithful! Are you a Prophet?” So he (AS) answered, “Woe be upon you! Verily, I am but a servant from the servants of Mohammad (SA).” The Compiler (RA) of this book says: What he (AS) meant was that he was a servant in obedience, and nothing more than that.

4 - وروي أنه سئل عليه السلام أين كان ربنا قبل أن يخلق سماء وأرضا؟ فقال عليه السلام: (أين) سؤال عن مكان، وكان الله ولا مكان. 

4. And it is narrated that he (AS) was asked: Where was our Lord before He created the Heaven and the Earth? Therefore, he (AS) replied, “`Where’ [ayna] is a question about space, and Allah existed when there was no space.”

5 - حدثنا علي بن الحسين بن الصلت رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد ابن علي بن الصلت، عن عمه أبي طالب عبد الله بن الصلت، عن يونس بن عبد الرحمن، قال: قلت لأبي الحسن موسى بن جعفر عليهما السلام،: لأي علة عرج الله بنبيه صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم إلى السماء، ومنها إلى سدرة المنتهى، ومنها إلى حجب النور، وخاطبه و ناجاه هناك والله لا يوصف بمكان؟ فقال عليه السلام: إن الله تبارك وتعالى لا يوصف بمكان ولا يجري عليه زمان، ولكنه عز وجل أراد أن يشرف به ملائكته وسكان سماواته، ويكرمهم بمشاهدته، ويريه من عجائب عظمته ما يخبر به بعد هبوطه، وليس ذلك على ما يقول المشبهون، سبحان الله وتعالى عما يشركون. 

5. `Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn al-Salt (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn `Ali ibn al-Salt said, on the authority of his paternal uncle Abu Talib `Abd Allah ibn al-Salt, on the authority of Yunus ibn `Abd al-Rahman that I asked Abu al-Hasan Musa ibn Ja`far (AS): “For what reason did Allah ascend His Prophet (SA) to the Heavens, from there to the Farthest Lote-Tree [Sidrah], and from there to the Veils of Light. He addressed him and entrusted a secret to him there. So, can Allah be described spatially?” Thus, he (AS) replied, Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, cannot be subjected to space nor can He be subjected to time. However, He, the Mighty High, intended to honor His angels and the inhabitants of the heavens by giving them a chance to see the Prophet. He also wanted to show the wonders of His Sublimity to the Prophet so that he could describe it to his followers after his descent. It is not at all like the anthropomorphists profess. Glory be to Allah, and Exalted be He, from what they associate!

6 - حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، عن سهل بن زياد، عن عمرو بن عثمان، عن محمد بن يحيى الخزاز، عن محمد بن سماعة، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: قال رأس الجالوت لليهود: إن المسلمين يزعمون أن عليا، من أجدل الناس وأعلمهم، اذهبوا بنا إليه لعلي أسأله عن مسألة أخطئه فيها، فأتاه فقال: يا أمير المؤمنين إني أريد أن أسألك عن مسألة، قال: سل عما شئت، قال: يا أمير المؤمنين متى كان ربنا؟ قال: يا يهودي، إنما يقال: متى كان لمن لم يكن فكان، هو كائن بلا كينونة كائن كان بلا كيف، يا يهودي، كيف يكون له قبل وهو قبل القبل بلا غاية ولا منتهى، غاية ولا غاية إليها، غاية انقطعت الغايات عنه، فهو غاية كل غاية، فقال: أشهد أن دينك الحق وأن ما خالفه باطل. 

6. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn Mutawakkil (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of `Amr ibn `Uthman, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khazzaz, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sama`ah, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq A(S) said: The head of the rabbis [ra`s al-jalut] said to the Jews. “Verily, the Muslims consider Ali to be the greatest debater and the most learned one among them. Take me to him so that I may ask him a question that will confound him.” Hence, he came to him and asked: “O Commander of the Faithful! Since when has our Lord existed?” Ali (AS) replied:O Jewish man! It is certainly said: “When did it exist?” for something that previously did not exist. However, He has always existed, does exist, and will always exist forever. He has always existed, without quality. O Jewish man! How2 can He have a beginning? He is prior to the beginning, without a beginning, end [ghayah], and termination. He is the End and there is no end to Him. He is the End that is separate from all ends. He is the End of all Ends. Then the Jewish man said: “I bear witness that your religion is true, and that whatever contradicts it is false.”

7 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن هارون الصوفي، قال: حدثنا عبيد الله بن موسى أبو تراب الروياني، عن عبد العظيم بن عبد الله الحسني، عن إبراهيم بن أبي محمود، قال: قلت للرضا عليه السلام: يا ابن رسول الله ما تقول في الحديث الذي يرويه الناس عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم أنه قال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى ينزل كل ليلة إلى السماء الدنيا؟ فقال عليه السلام: لعن الله المحرفين الكلم عن مواضعه، والله ما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم كذلك، إنما قال صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: إن الله تبارك وتعالى ينزل ملكا إلى السماء الدنيا كل ليلة في الثلث الأخير، وليلة الجمعة في أول الليل فيأمره فينادي هل من سائل فاعطيه؟ هل من تائب فأتوب عليه؟ هل من مستغفر فأغفر له؟ يا طالب الخير أقبل، يا طالب الشر اقصر، فلا يزال ينادي بهذا حتى يطلع الفجر، فإذا طلع الفجر عاد إلى محله من ملكوت السماء، حدثني بذلك أبي عن جدي، عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. 

7. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqa (RA) said: Muhhamd ibn Huran al-Suri said: `Ubays Allah ibn Musa Abu Talib al-Rawyani said, on the authority of `Abd al-`Azim ibn `Abd Allah al-Hasani, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Abu Mahmud that I asked al-Rida (AS): “O son of the Messenger of Allah! What do you say about the tradition which people narrate from the Messenger of Allah (SA) that he said: `Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, comes down from the heaven of this world every night?’” Thus, he (AS) replied, May the curse of Allah be upon those who alter words from their place! By Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, sends down an angel from heaven to this world during the third part of every night, and the first part of Friday night. Hence, He commands him, so he calls, “Is there any supplicant on whom I can bestow his wish? Is there anyone who is repenting so that I can forgive him? Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that I may forgive him? O seekers of goodness, come! O seekers of evil, abstain!” He constantly proclaims this till dawn breaks. When dawn breaks, he return to his place in the realm of heaven. My father related to me this on the authority of my grandfather from the Messenger of Allah (SA).

8 - حدثنا محمد بن محمد بن عصام رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب الكليني قال: حدثنا علي بن محمد، عن محمد بن سليمان، عن إسماعيل بن إبراهيم، عن جعفر بن محمد التميمي، عن الحسين بن علوان، عن عمرو بن خالد  عن زيد ابن علي عليه السلام قال: سألت أبي سيد العابدين عليه السلام فقلت له: يا أبه أخبرني عن جدنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم لما عرج به إلى السماء وأمره ربه عز وجل بخمسين صلاة كيف لم يسأله التخفيف عن أمته حتى قال له موسى بن عمران عليه السلام: ارجع إلى ربك فسأله التخفيف فإن أمتك لا تطيق ذلك؟ فقال عليه السلام: يا بني، إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم كان لا يقترح على ربه عز وجل ولا يراجعه في شئ يأمره به، فلما سأله موسى عليه السلام ذلك وصار شفيعا لأمته إليه لم يجز له رد شفاعة أخيه موسى عليه السلام، فرجع إلى ربه عز وجل فسأله التخفيف إلى أن ردها إلى خمس صلوات، قال: فقلت: يا أبه فلم لم يرجع إلى ربه عز وجل ولم يسأله التخفيف بعد خمس صلوات (١) فقال: يا بني أراد صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم أن يحصل لأمته التخفيف مع أجر خمسين صلاة لقول الله عز وجل: ﴿من جاء بالحسنة فله عشر أمثالها﴾ (٢) ألا ترى أنه صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم لما هبط إلى الأرض نزل عليه جبرئيل عليه السلام فقال: يا محمد إن ربك يقرئك السلام، ويقول: إنها خمس بخمسين ﴿ما يبدل القول لدي وما أنا بظلام للعبيد﴾ (٣) قال: فقلت له يا أبه أليس الله تعالى ذكره لا يوصف بمكان؟ فقال: بلى، تعالى الله عن ذلك، فقلت فما معنى قول موسى عليه السلام لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: ارجع إلى ربك؟ فقال: معناه معنى قول إبراهيم عليه السلام: ﴿إني ذاهب إلى ربي سيهدين﴾ (٤) ومعنى قول موسى عليه السلام: ﴿و عجلت إليك رب لترضى﴾ (٥) ومعنى قول عز وجل: ﴿ففروا إلى الله﴾ (٦) يعني حجوا إلى بيت الله، يا بني إن الكعبة بيت الله فمن حج بيت الله فقد قصد إلى الله، والمساجد بيوت الله، فمن سعى إليها فقد سعى إلى الله وقصد إليه، والمصلي ما دام في صلاته فهو واقف بين يدي الله جل جلاله، وأهل موقف عرفات وقوف بين يدي الله عز وجل وإن لله تبارك وتعالى بقاعا في سماواته، فمن عرج به إليها فقد عرج به إليه (٧) ألا تسمع الله عز وجل يقول: ﴿تعرج الملائكة والروح إليه﴾ (٨) ويقول عز وجل: ﴿إليه يصعد الكلم الطيب والعمل الصالح يرفعه﴾ .

8. Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isam (RA) said: Muhammad ibn `Ya`qub al-Kulayni said: `Ali ibn Muhammad said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sulayman, on the authority Isma`il ibn Ibrahim, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad al-Tamimi, on the authority of alHusayn ibn `Ulwan, on the authority of `Amr ibn Khalid, on the authority of Zayd ibn `Ali (AS) that I asked my father the master of the worshippers [Sayyid al-`Abidin] (AS): O father! Inform me about when our grandfather the Messenger of Allah (SA) ascended to heaven to meet His Lord, the Mighty and High, and He commanded him to complete fifty daily prayers. Why did he not ask for any relief for his Ummah, until Musa son of `Imran (AS) said to him to go back to his Lord and ask for relief as your Ummah does not have the strength for that? Thus, he (AS) answered, O son! Verily, the Messenger of Allah (SA) was not going to suggest anything to his Lord, the Mighty and High, nor reconsider anything He had commanded him to so. Therefore, when Musa (AS) asked him to do so, he had interceded for his Ummah to the Prophet (SA); it did not suffice for him to reject the intercession of his brother Musa (AS). So he (SA) returned to his Lord, the Mighty and High, and asked him for relief until He lowered the obligation to five daily prayers. He says, I then asked: “O father! Then why did he not return to his Lord, the Mighty and High, and ask Him for relief from five daily prayers?” He (AS) therefore, replied, O son! He (SA) intended to relieve his Ummah by means of the word of Allah, the Mighty and High: “Whoever brings a good deed, he shall have ten like it.” Do you not see that when he (SA) descended to the Earth, Jibra`il (AS) revealed to him: “O Muhammad! Verily, your Lord sends you His Greetings, and says: They are five for fifty, My word shall not be changed, nor am I in the least unjust to the servants.” He says: then I asked, “O father! Did Allah, the Exalted, not mention that He cannot be described in terms of space?” So he (AS) responded, “Of course, exalted is Allah from that.” Therefore, I asked, “Then what is the meaning of the word of Musa(AS) to the Messenger of Allah (SA): `Go back to your Lord?’” Thus, he (AS) replied, The meaning of this is the same as the Word of Ibrahim (AS): Surely I fly to my Lord; He will guide me, and the word of Musa (AS): And I hastened on to Thee, my Lord, that Thou might be pleased, and His Word, the Mighty and High: Therefore fly to Allah. This means pilgrimage to the House of Allah. O son! Verily, the Ka`bah is House of Allah; therefore, whoever makes pilgrimage to the House of Allah ahs endeavored to reach Allah. The mosque are House of Allah; therefore, whoever proceeds to them has proceeded to Allah, and endeavored to visit Him. The praying person, so long as he is prayer, is standing before Allah, Lofty be His Majesty. The people staying in the planes of `Arafat are standing before Allah, the Mighty and High. Verily, for Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, are places in His Heavens, whoever is ascended to them is ascended to Him. Do you not hear Allah, the Mighty and High, that To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit, and He, the Mighty and High, says: To Him do ascend the good words: and the good deeds, lift them up.

9 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، قال: حدثنا الحسين بن الحسن بن أبان، عن محمد بن أورمة، عن ابن محبوب، عن صالح بن حمزة، عن أبان، عن أسد ، عن المفضل بن عمر، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: من زعم أن الله في شئ أو من شئ أو على شئ فقد أشرك، لو كان الله عز وجل على شئ لكان محمولا، ولو كان في شئ لكان محصورا، ولو كان من شئ لكان محدثا. 

9. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said: al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan ibn Aban said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Auramah, on the authority of Ibn Mahbub, on the authority of Salih ibn Hamzah, on the authority of Aban, on the authority of Asad, on the authority of al-Mufaddal ibn `Umar that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: Whoever claims that Allah is in a thing, from a thing, or on a thing, has become an infidel. If Allah, the Mighty and High, were on something then He would have been carried. If He were in something then He would have been surrounded, and if He were from something then He would have been caused.

10 - حدثنا أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن ابن محبوب عن حماد بن عمرو، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: كذب من زعم أن الله عز وجل في شئ أو من شئ أو على شئ. قال مصنف هذا الكتاب رضي الله عنه: الدليل على أن الله عز وجل لا في مكان أن الأماكن كلها حادثة، وقد قام الدليل على أن الله عز وجل قديم سابق للأماكن، وليس يجوز أن يحتاج الغني القديم إلى ما كان غنيا عنه، ولا أن يتغير عما لم يزل موجودا عليه، فصح اليوم أنه لا في مكان كما أنه لم يزل كذلك وتصديق ذلك: 

10. My father (RA) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn Mahbub, on the authority of Hammad ibn `Amr, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Verily, whoever claims that Allah, the Mighty and High, is in a thing or from a thing or on a thing ahs uttered a lied.” The Compiler (RA) of this book says: The proof that Allah, the Mighty and High, is not in space is that space is caused. The proof has already been established that Allah, that the Mighty and High, is without beginning, and existed prior to the existence of space. It is not permissible to say that the Self-Sufficient [Ghani] without Beginning [Qadim] may be in need of anything, nor that He may change from what He has always been. Therefore, it is correct to say that He is not in a place since He has never been subjected to space. The proof for this is (to be found in the following traditions):

11 - ما حدثنا به أحمد بن الحسن القطان، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن يحيى بن زكريا القطان، عن بكر بن عبد الله بن حبيب، قال: حدثنا تميم بن بهلول، عن أبيه، عن سليمان بن حفص المروزي، عن سليمان بن مهران، قال: قلت لجعفر بن محمد عليهما السلام هل يجوز أن نقول: إن الله عز وجل في مكان؟ فقال: سبحان الله وتعالى عن ذلك، إنه لو كان في مكان لكان محدثنا، لأن الكائن في مكان محتاج إلى المكان والاحتياج من صفات المحدث لا من صفات القديم. 

11. What Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qittan said with that Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Zakariyya alQittan said, on the authority of Bakr ibn `Abd Allah ibn Hubayb that Tamim ibn Bahlul said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Hafs al-Marwazi, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Mihran that I asked Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS), “Is it permissible for you to say: Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, is in a place?” Thus, he (AS) replied, “Glory be to Allah, and Exalted be He, from that! Verily, if He were subjected to space, He would have been caused since anything that exists in a place is in need of space. Anything that is in need of space is accidental, because the Eternal has no needs.

12 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله الكوفي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن إسماعيل البرمكي، عن علي بن العباس، عن الحسن بن راشد، عن يعقوب بن جعفر الجعفري، عن أبي إبراهيم موسى بن جعفر عليهما السلام أنه قال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى كان لم يزل بلا زمان ولا مكان وهو الآن كما كان، لا يخلو منه مكان  ولا يشغل به مكان، ولا يحل في مكان، ما يكون من نجوى ثلاثة إلا هو رابعهم ولا خمسة إلا هو سادسهم ولا أدنى من ذلك ولا أكثر إلا هو معهم أينما كانوا  ليس بينه وبين خلقه حجاب غير خلقه، احتجب بغير حجاب محجوب، واستتر بغير ستر مستور، لا إله إلا هو الكبير المتعال. 

12. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Isma`il al-Barmaki said, on the authority of `Ali ibn al`Abbas, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Rashid, on the authority of Ya`qub ibn Ja`fari, that Abu Ibrahim Musa ibn Ja`far (AS) said:Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, was always without time and space, and He is not like He was. No place is free from Him, nor is any place occupied by Him, nor des He dissolve in any place. Nowhere is there a secret counsel between three persons but He is the fourth of them, nor (between) five but He is the sixth of them, nor less than that nor more but He is with them where so ever they are. There is no veil between Him and His Creation other than His Creation. He is Veiled without a Veil, and He is Covered without a Cover. There is no god but He, the Great, the Exalted.

13 - حدثنا أبو طالب المظفر بن جعفر بن المظفر العلوي السمرقندي رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مسعود، عن أبيه محمد بن مسعود العياشي قال: حدثنا الحسين بن إشكيب، قال: أخبرني هارون بن عقبة الخزاعي، عن أسد بن سعيد النخعي، قال أخبرني عمرو بن شمر، عن جابر بن يزيد الجعفي، قال: قال محمد بن علي الباقر عليهما السلام: يا جابر ما أعظم فرية أهل الشام على الله عز وجل، يزعمون أن الله تبارك وتعالى حيث صعد إلى السماء وضع قدمه على صخرة بيت المقدس  ولقد وضع عبد من عباد الله قدمه على حجره  فأمرنا الله تبارك وتعالى أن نتخذه مصلى، يا جابر إن الله تبارك وتعالى لا نظير له ولا شبيه، تعالى عن صفة الواصفين، وجل عن أوهام المتوهمين، واحتجب عن أعين الناظرين لا يزول مع الزائلين. ولا يأفل مع الآفلين، ليس كمثله شئ وهو السميع العليم. 

13. Abu Talib al-Muzaffar ibn Ja`far ibn al-Muzaffar al-`Alawi al-Samarqandi (RA) said: Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas`ud said, on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Mas`ud al189 `Ayyashi that al-Husayn ibn Ishkib said: Harun ibn `Uqbah al-Khuza`I reported to me, on the authority of Asad ibn SA`id al-Nakha`I that `Amr ibn Shimr reported to me, on the authority of Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ju`fi that Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Baqir (AS) said: O Jabir! The people of Syria have slandered Allah, the Mighty and High, in the most terrible way. They claim that Allah, the Blessed and exalted, places His Foot on the Dome of the Rock when He ascends to heaven. Verily, it was but a servant from among the servants of Allah who placed his foot over the stone; hence, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, commanded us to take it as a place of prayer. O Jabir! Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has no rival [nazir] or anything that resembles him. Exalted is He from the attribute of the attributers! He is far above the imaginations of the imaginers. He is covered from the eyes of the seeing. He does not decline with the decliners, and does not set with the transitory. There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him; He is the Alll-Hearing, the All-Knowing.

14 - حدثنا أحمد بن زياد بن جعفر الهمداني رضي الله عنه، عن علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، قال: رأى سفيان الثوري أبا - الحسن موسى بن جعفر عليهما السلام وهو غلام يصلي والناس يمرون بين يديه، فقال له، إن الناس يمرون بك وهم في الطواف، فقال عليه السلام: الذي أصلي له أقرب إلي من هؤلاء. 

14. Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja`far al-Hamdani (RA) said, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abu `Umayr that Sufyan al-Thawri saw Abu al-Hasan Musa ibn Ja`far (AS) when he was a young boy. The Imam was praying, and people were passing in front of him. Therefore, Sufyan alThawri told him: “Verily, the people who are circumambuling (the Ka`bah) are passing in front of you.” Thus, he (AS) replied, “The One to whom I pray to is closer to me than they are.”

15 - حدثنا أحمد بن الحسن القطان، وعلي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، قالا: حدثنا أحمد بن يحيى، قال: حدثنا بكر بن عبد الله بن حبيب، قال: حدثني محمد بن عبيد الله، قال: حدثنا علي بن الحكم، قال: حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن الأسود، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه عليهما السلام، قال: كان لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله صديقان يهوديان، قد آمنا بموسى رسول الله، وأتيا محمدا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم و سمعا منه، وقد كانا قرءا التوراة وصحف إبراهيم وموسى عليهما السلام، وعلما علم الكتب الأولى، فلما قبض الله تبارك وتعالى رسوله صلى الله عليه وآله، أقبلا يسألان عن صاحب الأمر بعده، وقالا: إنه لم يمت نبي قط إلا وله خليفة يقوم بالأمر في أمته من بعده قريب القرابة إليه من أهل بيته، عظيم الخطر، جليل الشأن، فقال أحدهما لصاحبه: هل تعرف صاحب الأمر من بعد هذا النبي؟ قال الآخر: لا أعلمه إلا بالصفة التي أجدها في التوراة، وهو الأصلع المصفر، فإنه كان أقرب القوم من رسول الله. فلما دخلا المدينة وسألا عن الخليفة أرشدا إلى أبي بكر، فلما نظرا إليه قالا: ليس هذا صاحبنا، ثم قالا له: ما قرابتك من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم؟ قال: إني رجل من عشيرته، وهو زوج ابنتي عائشة، قالا: هل غير هذا؟ قال: لا، قالا: ليست هذه بقرابة، قالا: فأخبرنا أين ربك؟ قال: فوق سبع سماوات، قالا: هل غير هذا؟ قال: لا، قالا: دلنا على من هو أعلم منك، فإنك أنت لست بالرجل الذي نجد صفته في التوراة أنه وصي هذا النبي وخليفته، قال: فتغيظ من قولهما وهم بهما، ثم أرشدهما إلى عمر، وذلك أنه عرف من عمر أنهما إن استقبلاه بشئ بطش بهما، فلما أتياه قالا: ما قرابتك من هذا النبي؟ قال: أنا من عشيرته، وهو زوج ابنتي حفصة، قالا: هل غير هذا؟ قال: لا، قالا: ليست هذه بقرابة، و ليست هذه الصفة التي نجدها في التوراة، ثم قالا له فأين ربك؟ قال: فوق سبع سماوات: قالا: هل غير هذا؟ قال: لا، قالا: دلنا على من هو أعلم منك، فأرشدهما إلى علي صلوات الله عليه فلما جاءاه فنظرا إليه قال أحدهما لصاحبه: إنه الرجل الذي نجد صفته في التوراة أنه وصي هذا النبي وخليفته وزوج ابنته و أبو السبطين والقائم بالحق من بعده، ثم قالا لعلي عليه السلام: أيها الرجل ما قرابتك من رسول الله؟ قال: هو أخي، وأنا وارثه ووصيه وأول من آمن به، وأنا زوج ابنته فاطمة، قالا له: هذه القرابة الفاخرة والمنزلة القريبة، وهذه الصفة التي نجدها في التوراة. ثم قالا له: فأين ربك عز وجل؟ قال لهما علي عليه الصلاة والسلام: إن شئتما أنبأتكما بالذي كان على عهد نبيكما موسى عليه السلام، وإن شئتما أنبأتكما بالذي كان على عهد نبينا محمد صلى الله عليه وآله، قالا: أنبئنا بالذي كان على عهد نبينا موسى عليه السلام، قال علي عليه السلام: أقبل أربعة أملاك: ملك من المشرق، وملك من المغرب، وملك من السماء، وملك من الأرض، فقال صاحب المشرق لصاحب المغرب: من أين أقبلت؟ قال: أقبلت من عند ربي، وقال: صاحب المغرب لصاحب المشرق: من أين أقبلت؟ قال: أقبلت من عند ربي، وقال النازل من السماء للخارج من الأرض: من أين أقبلت؟ قال: أقبلت من عند ربي، وقال الخارج من الأرض للنازل من السماء: من أين أقبلت؟ قال: أقبلت من عند ربي، فهذا ما كان على عهد نبيكما موسى عليه السلام، وأما ما كان على عهد نبينا محمد صلى الله عليه وآله فذلك قوله في محكم كتابه: (ما يكون من نجوى ثلاثة إلا هو رابعهم ولا خمسة إلا هو سادسهم ولا أدنى من ذلك ولا أكثر إلا هو معهم أين ما كانوا - الآية ) قال اليهوديان: فما منع صاحبيك أن يكونا جعلاك في موضعك الذي أنت أهله؟! فوالذي أنزل التوراة على موسى إنك لأنت الخليفة حقا، نجد صفتك في كتبنا ونقرؤه في كنائسنا، وإنك لأحق بهذا الأمر وأولى به ممن قد غلبك عليه، فقال علي عليه السلام: قدما وأخرا  وحسابهما على الله عز وجل، يوقفان ويسألان. 

15. Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qittan and `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) both said: Ahmad ibn Yahya said: Bakr ibn `Abd Allah ibn Hubayb said: Muhammad ibn `Ubayd Allah related to me that `Ali ibn al-Hakam said: `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Aswad said, on‬‬ the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS), on the authority of his father (AS‬‬) The Messenger of Allah (SA) had two Jewish friends who believed in Musa, the Messenger of Allah (AS). They used to come to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (SA) and listen to him. They both had read the Torah, the scriptures of Ibrahim and Musa (AS), and had knowledge of previous books. When Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, made His Messenger (SA) die, they both came asking for the one vested authority after him, and said: “Verily, a prophet does not die but he leaves behind a Caliph who executes all affairs in his Ummah after him, who is the closet to him in relation from his Household, of great significance and high prestige.” Then one of them asked his companion, “Do you know who is vested with authority after this Prophet (SA)?” The other one replied, “I do not know him except for the description which I have found in the Torah that he will bald and pale. Verily, he is the closest of the people to the Messenger of Allah.” Thus, when they both entered medina, and asked about the Caliph, they were guided to Abu Bakr. When they looked at him they both said: “This is not our Companion.” Then they asked him, “What is your relationship with the Messenger of Allah (SA)?” He answered, “Verily, I am a man from his family. He was the husband of my daughter, `A’ishah.” They both enquired, “Is there any other relationship?” He responded, “No.” They both said: “This is not the relationship. Inform us, where is your Lord?” He replied, “Above the seven heavens.” They responded, “Do you have anything else to add?” He said: “No” They said: “Lead us to the one who is more learned than you. For verily, you are not the man we find described in the Torah who is successor of this Prophet and his Caliph.” Abu Bakr became furious as a result of their statement and got up. Then he guided them to `Umar. This was because Abu Bakr knew that if they confronted `Umar, he would surely hit them. Hence, when they appeared to `Umar, they asked, “What is your relationship with this Prophet (SA)?” He answered, “I am from his family, and he was the husband of my daughter Hafsah.” They both asked, “Is there any other relationship?” He responded, “No.” They both said: “This is not the relationship that we seek to establish. It is not the description which we find the Torah.” Then they asked him, “Where is your Lord?” He replied, “Above the seven heavens.” They asked, “Do you have anything else to add?” He said: “No.” They both said: “Take us to the one who is more learned than you.”Hence, he guided them to `Ali, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. When they both arrived in his presence and looked at him, one of them said to his companion, “Verily, he is the man whom we find described in the Torah. He is the successor of this Prophet (SA), his Caliph, husband of his daughter, father of the two grandsons [sibtayn] and father of the Riser [qa’im] who will come with the Truth after him,” Then they asked `Ali (AS), “O man! What is your relationship to the Messenger of Allah?” He (AS) replied “He was my brother. I am his heir, his successor, the first to believe in him, and the husband of his daughter Fatimah (AS).” They said to him, “This is the closest and most perfect relationship. This is the description which we find in the Torah.” Then they asked him, “Where is your Lord, the Mighty and High?” `Ali, blessings and salutations be upon him, replied to them, “If the two of you desire, I could inform you about the life of your Prophet Musa (AS), and if you desire, I could inform you about the life of our Prophet Muhammad (SA).” They said: “Inform us of the lifetime of our Prophet Musa (AS).” `Ali (AS) responded, Four angels came; an angel from the east, an angel from the West, an angel from the Heaven, and an angel form (below) the Earth. Then the one from the east asked the one from the west, “Where have you come from?” He said: “I have come form my Lord.” The one from the west asked the one from the east, “Where have you come from?” He replied, “I have come from my Lord.” The one who came down from the Heaven asked the one which came out from the Earth. “Where have you come from?” He answered, “I have come from my Lord. And the one which came out form the Earth asked the one which came down form Heaven, “Where have you come from?” He said: “I have come from y Lord.” This took place during the lifetime of your Prophet Musa (AS), and as for what was in the lifetime of our Prophet Muhammad (SA), then that is His word in His Decisive Book: `Nowhere is there a secret counsel between three persons but He is the fourth of them, nor (between) five but He is the sixth of them nor less than that nor more but He is with them where so ever they are.” The two Jewish men enquired, “Then what has stopped your two companions from putting you in the place which you deserve? We swear by the One who revealed the Torah to Musa (AS): Verily, you are the True Caliph. We find your description in our Book, and we read it in our synagogues. Verily, you are more worth of this affair and more entitled to it than the one who has snatched it away from you.” `Ali (AS) replied, “The two of them preceded themselves and obstructed me. Their accountability is with Allah, the Mighty and High. They will be stopped and questioned (on the Day of Judgment).”

16 - حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الفارسي أبو الحسين، قال: حدثنا أبو سعيد أحمد بن محمد النسوي، قال: حدثنا أبو نصر أحمد بن محمد بن عبد الله الصغدي بمرو، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب بن الحكم العسكري وأخوه معاذ بن يعقوب قالا: حدثنا محمد بن سنان الحنظلي، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن عاصم، قال: حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن قيس، عن أبي هاشم الرماني، عن زاذان، عن سلمان الفارسي رحمه الله في حديث طويل يذكر فيه قدوم الجاثليق المدينة مع مائة من النصارى بعد وفاة النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسؤاله أبا بكر عن مسائل لم يجبه عنها، ثم أرشد إلى أمير - المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام فسأله عنها فأجابه، فكان فيما سأله أن قال له: أخبرني عن وجه الرب تبارك وتعالى، فدعا علي، عليه السلام بنار وحطب فأضرمه، فلما اشتعلت قال علي عليه السلام: أين وجه هذه النار؟! قال النصراني: هي وجه من جميع حدودها: قال علي عليه السلام: هذه النار مدبرة مصنوعة لا يعرف وجهها، و خالقها لا يشبهها، ولله المشرق والمغرب فأينما تولوا فثم وجه الله، لا يخفى على ربنا خافية. والحديث طويل أخذنا منه موضع الحاجة. 

16. Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Farisi Abu Al-Husayn said: Abu Sa`id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Nasawi said: Abu Nasr Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Abd Allah al-Sughadi said in Marw that Muhammad ibn Ya`qub ibn al-Hakam al-`Askari and his brother Mu`adh ibn Ya`qub both said: Muhammad ibn Sinan al-Hanzali said: `Abd Allah ibn `Asim said: `Abd alRahman ibn Qays said, on the authority of Abu Hashim al-Rummani, on the authority of Zadhan, that Salman al-Farisi (may Allah have mercy on him) related the coming of the Catholicos [al-jathiliq] to Medina with one hundred Christians after the death of the Prophet (SA), and the questions he asked Abu Bakr, and which he was unable to answer. The Catholicos was then sent to the Commander of the Faithful `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) and asked him about them; therefore, he answered him. Among the questions he asked him was: “Inform me about the face [wajh] of the Lord, the Blessed and Exalted.” Hence, `Ali (AS) called for some fire and dry wood and then set fire to it. When it blazed, `Ali (AS) asked, “Where is the face of this fire?” The Christian replied, “It has a face from all sides.” `Ali (AS) responded, “This fire is supervised and produced yet its face is not know, while its Creator does not resemble it. And Allah’s is the East and the West, therefore, whither you turn, thither is the Face of Allah. No secret is hidden from our Lord.” The Compiler of this book says: The tradition is detailed; we have extracted from it the required passage.

17 - حدثنا أبو عبد الله الحسين بن محمد الأشناني الرازي العدل ببلخ، قال: حدثنا علي بن مهرويه القزويني، عن داود بن سليمان الفراء (كذا)، عن علي ابن موسى الرضا، عن أبيه، عن آبائه، عن علي عليهم السلام، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: إن موسى بن عمران لما ناجى ربه قال: يا رب أبعيد أنت مني فأناديك أم قريب فأناجيك؟  فأوحى الله جل جلاله إليه: أنا جليس من ذكرني، فقال موسى: يا رب إني أكون في حال أجلك أن أذكرك فيها، فقال: يا موسى اذكرني على كل حال.

17. Abu `Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ushnani al-Rzai the Judge in Balkh said: `Ali ibn Mihrwayh al-Qazwini said, on the authority of Dawud ibn Sulayman al-Farra’, on the authority of `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS), on the authority of his father, on the authority of his forefathers on the authority of `Ali (AS) that The Messenger of Allah said: Verily, when Musa ibn `Imran whispered to his Lord saying, “O my Lord, are You far from me so I may shout to You or are You close to me so I may whisper to You?” Therefore, Allah, Lofty be His Majesty, revealed to him, “I am in the Gathering of whoever remembers Me.” So Musa (AS) asked, “O my Lord, in what state shall I remember you?” Thus, He replied, “O Musa, remember Me in every state.”

18 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بأبي عبد الله الكوفي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن إسماعيل البرمكي، عن علي بن العباس، عن الحسن بن راشد، عن يعقوب بن جعفر الجعفري، عن أبي إبراهيم موسى بن جعفر عليهما السلام، قال: ذكر عنده قوم يزعمون أن الله تبارك و تعالى ينزل إلى السماء الدنيا، فقال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى لا ينزل، ولا يحتاج إلى أن ينزل، إنما منظره في القرب والبعد سواء، لم يبعد منه قريب، ولم يقرب منه بعيد  ولم يحتج بل يحتاج إليه، وهو ذو الطول، لا إله إلا هو العزيز الحكيم أما قول الواصفين: إنه تبارك وتعالى ينزل فإنما يقول ذلك من ينسبه إلى نقص أو زيادة - وكل متحرك محتاج إلى من يحركه أو يتحرك به  فظن بالله الظنون فهلك، فاحذروا في صفاته من أن تقفوا له على حد تحدوه بنقص أو زيادة أو تحرك أو زوال أو نهوض أو قعود، فإن الله جل عن صفة الواصفين، ونعت الناعتين، و توهم المتوهمين، وتوكل على العزيز الرحيم الذي يراك حين تقوم وتقلبك في الساجدين. 

18. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Isma`il al-Barmaki said, on the authority of `Ali ibn al`Abbas, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Rashid, on the authority of Ya`qub ibn Ja`far al-Ja`fari that Abu Ibrahim Musa ibn Ja`far (AS) said: A group of people were mentioned before him (AS) who claimed that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, comes down to the Heaven of this world. He therefore replied, Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, does not come down, and does not need to come down. Verily, for Him both Close and Far are alike. What is close is not far from Him, and what is far is not close to Him. He is never in need, but everything is in need of Him. He is the Almighty. There is no god but He, the Honorable, the All-Wise. As for the statement of the attributers: “Verily, He, the Blessed and Exalted, comes down,” the only ones who say such a thing are those who describe Him in terms of decrease and increase. Every moving thing requires something that moves it or by which it is moved. Thus, they assumed with Allah assumptions; hence, they were destroyed. So beware of limiting Him or seeing boundaries for Him such as decrease and increase, motion and decline, or rising and sitting. For, verily, Allah is loftier than the attribute of the attributers, the description of the describers, and the imagination of the imaginers! Rely on the Honorable, the Most Merciful, who sees you when you stand, when you bend, and when you prostrate.

19 - وبهذا الإسناد عن الحسن بن راشد، عن يعقوب بن جعفر، عن أبي إبراهيم عليه السلام أنه قال: لا أقول: إنه قائم فأزيله عن مكانه، ولا أحده بمكان يكون فيه، ولا أحده أن يتحرك في شئ من الأركان والجوارح، ولا أحده بلفظ شق فم، ولكن كما قال تبارك وتعالى: (كن فيكون) بمشيته من غير تردد في نفس، فرد، صمد لم يحتج إلى شريك يكون له في ملكه، ولا يفتح له أبواب علمه . 

19. And with this chain of narration, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Rashid, on the authority of Ya`qub ibn Ja`far, that Abu Ibrahim al-Kadhim (AS) said: I do not say: Verily, He is definite so I remove Him from His place, nor do I bound Him to a place that He may be confined to it. Nor do I set Him a boundary that He may move within something with support or by means of limbs. Nor do I limit Him with words that are thrust from the mouth. The Blessed and Exalted says: “Be and it is,” by His Will, and without any hesitation in desire, the Peerless, the Needless. He is not in need of an associate in His Sovereignty, nor an associate to open the doors of His Knowledge for Him.

20 - حدثنا محمد بن أحمد السناني رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله الأسدي الكوفي، عن موسى بن عمران النخعي، عن عمه الحسين بن يزيد النوفلي، عن علي بن سالم، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي عبد الله الصادق عليه السلام، قال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى لا يوصف بزمان ولا مكان ولا حركة ولا انتقال ولا سكون، بل هو خالق الزمان والمكان والحركة والسكون، تعالى الله عما يقولون علوا كبيرا. 

20. Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn al-Sinani (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Asadi al-Kufi said, on the authority of Musa ibn `Imran al-Nakha`I, on the authority of his paternal uncle al-Husayn ibn Yazid al-Nawfali, on the authority of `Ali ibn Saim, on the authority of Abu Basir that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, cannot be described in terms of space, motion, translocation or stillness. Rather, He is the Creator of time, space, motion and stillness. Exalted is Allah from what they say, the Elevated, the Great.

21 - حدثنا أبو الحسين محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق العزائمي، قال: حدثنا أبو سعيد أحمد بن محمد بن رميح النسوي، قال: أخبرنا عبد العزيز بن إسحاق، قال: حدثني جعفر بن محمد الحسني، قال: حدثنا محمد بن علي بن خلف العطار، قال: حدثنا بشر بن الحسن المرادي، عن عبد القدوس وهو ابن حبيب، عن أبي إسحاق السبيعي، عن الحارث الأعور، عن علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام أنه دخل السوق، فإذا هو برجل موليه ظهره يقول: لا والذي احتجب بالسبع، فضرب علي عليه السلام ظهره، ثم قال: من الذي احتجب بالسبع؟ قال: الله يا أمير المؤمنين، قال: أخطأت ثكلتك أمك، إن الله عز وجل ليس بينه وبين خلقه حجاب لأنه معهم أينما كانوا، قال: ما كفارة ما قلت يا أمير المؤمنين؟ قال: أن تعلم أن الله معك حيث كنت، قال: أطعم المساكين؟ قال: لا إنما حلفت بغير ربك. 

21. Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-`Aza’mi said: Abu Sa`id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Rumayh al-Nisawi said: `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Ishaq reported to us that Ja`far ibn Muhammad al-Hasani related to me that Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn Khalaf al-`Attar said: Bishr ibn al-Hasan al-Muradi said, on the authority of `Abd al-Quddus who is the son of Hubayb, on the authority of Abu Ishaq al-Sab`I, on the authority of al-Harith al-A`war that `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) entered the market. A man had his back turned towards him and was saying, “No, I swear by the One Hidden over the seven heavens.” Consequently, `Ali (AS) tapped him on his back, and asked him: “Who is hidden over the seven heavens?” He replied, “Allah, O Commander of the Faithful!” He (AS) responded, “You are wrong. May your mother grieve you! Verily, there is no veil between Allah, the Mighty and High, and His Creation, because He is with them wherever they may be.” He asked, “What is the penalty of what I have said: O Commander of the Faithful?” He (AS) replied, “That you should know that Allah is with you wherever you are” He asked: “Should I feed the poor?” Imam `Ali (AS) replied, “No, for verily, you have sworn by other than your Lord.”

22 - حدثنا أبو الحسين محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الفارسي، قال: حدثني أبو سعيد الرميحي، قال: أخبرنا عبد العزيز بن إسحاق، قال: حدثني محمد بن عيسى بن هارون الواسطي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن زكريا المكي، قال: أخبرني منيف  مولى جعفر بن محمد، قال: حدثني سيدي جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن جده عليهم السلام قال: كان الحسن بن علي بن أبي طالب عليهما السلام، يصلي، فمر بين يديه رجل فنهاه بعض جلسائه، فلما انصرف من صلاته قال له: لم نهيت الرجل؟ قال: يا ابن رسول الله حظر فيما بينك وبين المحراب، فقال: ويحك إن الله عز وجل أقرب إلي من أن يخطر فيما بيني وبينه أحد. باب أسماء الله تعالى والفرق بين معانيها وبين معاني أسماء المخلوقين 

22. Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Farisi said: Abu Sa`id al-Rumayhi related to me that `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Ishaq reported to us that Muhammad ibn Muni slave of Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS) reported to me that my Master Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS) related to me, on the authority of his father (AS), on the authority of his grandfather (AS) that A man passed in front of al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) while he was praying and one of the people in his gathering stopped him. When he (AS) finished his prayer, he asked the man: “Why did you stop him?” He answered: “O son of the Messenger of Allah! He passed between you and the prayer niche [mihrab].” Thus, he (AS) replied, “Woe unto you! Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, is closer to me from anyone passing between me and Him.”

Al-Tawḥīd

Book 2, Chapter 28