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 - حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم ابن هاشم، عن المختار بن محمد بن المختار الهمداني، عن الفتح بن يزيد الجرجاني عن أبي الحسن عليه السلام قال: سمعته يقول: هو اللطيف الخبير السميع البصير، الواحد الأحد الصمد إلي لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوا أحد، منشئ الأشياء ومجسم الأجسام ومصور الصور، لو كان كما يقولون لم يعرف الخالق من المخلوق، ولا المنشئ من المنشأ، لكنه المنشئ، فرق بين من جسمه وصوره وأنشأه وبينه إذ كان لا يشبهه شئ ولا يشبه هو شيئا، قلت: أجل، جعلني الله فداك، لكنك قلت: الأحد الصمد، وقلت: لا يشبه هو شيئا، والله واحد والإنسان واحد، ليس قد تشابهت الوحدانية؟! قال: يا فتح أحلت ثبتك الله، إنما التشبيه في المعاني، فأما في الأسماء فهي واحدة، وهي دلالة على المسمى، وذلك أن الإنسان وإن قيل واحد فإنما يخبر أنه جثة واحدة وليس باثنين، فالإنسان نفسه ليس بواحد، لأن أعضاءه مختلفة وألوانه مختلفة غير واحدة، وهو أجزاء مجزأة ليس بسواء، دمه غير لحمه ولحمه غير دمه، وعصبه غير عروقه، وشعره غير بشره، وسواده غير بياضه وكذلك سائر الخلق، فالإنسان واحد في الاسم لا واحد في المعنى، والله جل جلاله هو واحد في المعنى، لا واحد غيره، لا اختلاف فيه ولا تفاوت ولا زيادة ولا نقصان فأما الإنسان المخلوق المصنوع المؤلف من أجزاء مختلفة وجواهر شتى  غير أنه بالاجتماع شئ واحد، قلت: جعلت فداك فرجت عني فرج الله عنك، فقولك: (اللطيف الخبير) فسره لي كما فسرت الواحد، فإني أعلم أن لطفه على خلاف لطف خلقه للفصل، غير أني أحب أن تشرح ذلك لي، فقال: يا فتح إنما قلنا: اللطيف، للخلق اللطيف، ولعلمه بالشئ اللطيف، أولا ترى وفقك الله وثبتك إلى أثر صنعه في النبات اللطيف وغير اللطيف وفي الخلق اللطيف من الحيوان الصغار من البعوض والجرجس وما هو أصغر منهما مما لا يكاد تستبينه العيون، بل لا يكاد يستبان لصغره الذكر من الأنثى والحدث المولود من القديم، فلما رأينا صغر ذلك في لطفه، واهتدائه للسفاد، والهرب من الموت، والجمع لما يصلحه مما في لجج البحار وما في لحاء الأشجار والمفاوز والقفار، وفهم بعضها عن بعض منطقها، وما يفهم به أولادها عنها، ونقلها الغذاء إليها، ثم تأليف ألوانها حمرة مع صفرة، وبياض مع حمرة، وما لا تكاد عيوننا تستبينه بتمام خلقها ولا تراه عيوننا ولا تلمسه أيدينا. علمنا أن خالق هذا الخلق لطيف، لطف في خلق ما سميناه بلا علاج ولا أداة ولا آله، وإن صانع كل شئ فمن شئ صنع  والله الخالق اللطيف الجليل خلق وصنع لا من شئ . 

‫‪1. Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn Majilwayh (may Allah have mercy on him) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn‬‬ ‫‪Hashim said, on the authority of al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mukhtar al-Hamdani said,‬‬ ‫‪on the authority of al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Jurjani, that‬‬ I heard Abu al-Hasan al-Rida (AS) say: He is the Subtle, the All-Aware, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the One, the Unique, the Needless, who begets not nor is begotten, and there is none like unto Him. He is the Producer of all Things, the Former of Bodies, and the Maker of Images. If He was as they say, then the Creator would not be distinguished from the created, nor the Producer from the production. However, He is the Producer. The difference between Him and bodes and images I that he created them, and there is nothing like unto Him. I asked, “By all means. May Allah make me your ransom! However, you said: `The Alone, the Needless’ and you also said: `He is not like anything.’ If Allah is One, and man is one, are they not similar in unity?” He (AS) replied, O Fath! You paid attention, may Allah secure you! Verily, the similarity is limited to meaning. Identifiers are merely means of identifying the identified. If it is said that there is one man, it means that there is one body, as opposed to two. However, although we say that man is one, he is not truly one, as he has different body parts and different colors. Although we say that he is one, he is composed of many different parts which are not he same. His blood is other than his flesh, his flesh is other than his blood, his nerves are other than his veins, his hair is other than his skin, and the darkness of his skin is other than the paleness of his skin. Likewise is the rest of creation. Thus, the human being is “one” in name, but he is other than “one” in meaning. Not only is Allah, lofty be His Majesty, One in name, He is also One in meaning as there is none other than Him. There is no variation in Him, no contrast, nor any increase or decrease. As a crated being, the human being is composed of different parts and substances. H e is one “one” in combination. I enquired: “You have relieved me. May Allah relieve you! As for your statement: `The Subtle, All-Aware,’ could you explain it to me as you explained to me the meaning of `the One.’ I really need to know how His Subtlety is different from the subtlety of His Creation. I would surely appreciate it if you could explain that to me.” Therefore, he (AS) answered: O Fath! We had said: He is the Subtle due to the delicate nature of His Creation, and for His Knowledge of tiny things. Do you not see, may Allah help you and secure you, the effect of His Making in soft and hard plants? And do you not see in the delicate creation of tiny insects like the mosquito, the gnat, and that which is smaller than these two, and are almost not evident to the (naked) eyes? In fact, due to their small size, it is virtually impossible to differentiate between the male and the female, and between the young and the old. Thus, we come to know that the Creator is Subtle in His Creation when we see the smallness of creatures in their refinement, their guidance out of decay, and their fleeing from death. We come to know that the Creator is Subtle when we contemplate the creatures found teeming in the depths of the ocean, on the branches of trees, and in the deserts and barren lands. We come to know the Creator is Subtle when we contemplate how species communicate with one another using various forms of communication, permitting them to communicate with their offspring. We come to know that the Creator is Subtle when we contemplate how creatures provide food to their offspring, and how they are distinguished by colors, red with yellow, white with red, and with what we can barely see with our eyes due to its small size. We come to know that the Creator is Subtle when we contemplate the creatures that our eyes cannot see and our hands cannot touch. He created the world in subtlety without planning, without instruments, and without tools. Verily, the founder of anything founded it on the basis of another. However, Allah, the Creator, the Subtle, and the Sublime, created everything out of nothing.

2 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله قال: حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب الكليني، قال: حدثنا علي بن محمد، عن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسين ابن خالد، عن أبي الحسن الرضا عليه السلام أنه قال: إعلم - علمك الله الخير - أن الله تبارك وتعالى قديم، والقدم صفة دلت العاقل على أنه لا شئ قبله ولا شئ معه في ديموميته، فقد بان لنا بإقرار العامة مع معجزة الصفة لا شئ قبل الله ولا شئ مع الله في بقائه  وبطل قول من زعم أنه كان قبله أو كان معه شئ وذلك أنه لو كان معه شئ فبقائه لم يجز أن يكون خالقا له لأنه لم يزل معه: فكيف يكون خالقا لمن لم يزل معه، ولو كان قبله شئ كان الأول ذلك الشئ لا هذا، وكان الأول أولى بأن يكون خالقا للأول الثاني . ثم وصف نفسه تبارك وتعالى بأسماء دعا الخلق إذ خلقهم وتعبدهم وابتلاهم إلى أن يدعوه بها، فسمى نفسه سميعا بصيرا قادرا قائما ظاهرا باطنا لطيفا خبيرا قويا عزيزا حكيما عليما وما أشبه هذه الأسماء، فلما رأى ذلك من أسمائه الغالون المكذبون وقد سمعونا نحدث عن الله أنه لا شئ مثله ولا شئ من الخلق في حاله قالوا: أخبرونا إذ زعمتم أنه لا مثل لله ولا شبه له كيف شاركتموه في أسمائه الحسنى فتسميتم بجميعها؟! فإن في ذلك دليلا على أنكم مثله في حالاته كلها أو في بعضها دون بعض، إذ جمعتكم الأسماء الطيبة، قيل لهم: إن الله تبارك وتعالى ألزم العباد أسماء من أسمائه على اختلاف المعاني  وذلك كما يجمع الاسم الواحد معنيين مختلفين، والدليل على ذلك قول الناس الجائز عندهم الشائع، وهو الذي خاطب الله به الخلق وكلمهم بما يعقلون ليكون عليهم حجة في تضييع ما ضيعوا، وقد يقال للرجل: كلب وحمار وثور وسكرة وعلقمة وأسد، وكل ذلك على خلافه وحالاته  لم تقع الأسامي على معانيها التي كانت بنيت عليها، لأن الإنسان ليس بأسد ولا كلب، فافهم ذلك رحمك الله. وإنما نسمي الله بالعلم بغير علم حادث علم به الأشياء، واستعان به على حفظ ما يستقبل من أمره والروية فيما يخلق من خلقه، وبعينه ما مضى مما أفنى من خلقه مما لو لم يحضره ذلك العلم ويعنه كان جاهلا ضعيفا  كما أنا رأينا علماء الخلق أنما سموا بالعلم لعلم حادث إذ كانوا قبله جهلة، وربما فارقهم العلم بالأشياء فصاروا إلى الجهل  وإنما سمي الله عالما لأنه لا يجهل شيئا، فقد جمع الخالق والمخلوق اسم العلم  واختلف المعنى على ما رأيت، وسمى ربنا سميعا لا بجزء فيه يسمع به الصوت ولا يبصر به، كما أن جزءنا الذي نسمع به لا نقوى على النظر به، ولكنه أخبر أنه لا يخفى عليه الأصوات، ليس على حد ما سمينا نحن، فقد جمعنا الاسم بالسميع واختلف المعنى، وهكذا البصر لا بجزء به أبصر، كما أنا نبصر بجزء منا لا ننتفع به في غيره، ولكن الله بصير لا يجهل شخصا منظورا إليه، فقد جمعنا الاسم واختلف المعنى، وهو قائم ليس على معنى انتصاب وقيام على ساق في كبد كما قامت الأشياء  ولكن أخبر أنه قائم، يخبر أنه حافظ، كقولك: الرجل القائم بأمرنا فلان، وهو قائم على كل نفس بما كسبت، والقائم أيضا في كلام الناس الباقي، والقائم أيضا يخبر عن الكفاية، كقولك للرجل قم بأمر فلان أي اكفه، والقائم منا قائم على ساق، فقد جمعنا الاسم ولم يجمعنا المعنى، وأما اللطيف فليس على قلة وقضافة وصغر، ولكن ذلك على النفاذ في الأشياء  والامتناع من أن يدرك، كقولك لطف عني هذا الأمر، ولطف فلان في مذهبه وقوله يخبرك أنه غمض فبهر العقل وفات الطلب وعاد متعمقا متلطفا لا يدركه الوهم، فهكذا لطف الله، تبارك وتعالى عن أن يدرك بحد أو يحد بوصف، واللطافة منا الصغر و القلة، فقد جمعنا الاسم واختلف المعنى، وأما الخبير فالذي لا يعزب عنه شئ ولا يفوته شئ، ليس للتجربة ولا للاعتبار بالأشياء فيفيده التجربة والاعتبار علما لولاهما ما علم، لأن من كان كذلك كان جاهلا، والله لم يزل خبيرا بما يخلق والخبير من الناس المستخبر عن جهل المتعلم، وقد جمعنا الاسم واختلف المعنى، وأما الظاهر فليس من أجل أنه علا الأشياء بركوب فوقها، وقعود عليها، وتسنم لذراها، ولكن ذلك لقهره ولغلبته الأشياء ولقدرته عليها كقوله الرجل: ظهرت على أعدائي وأظهرني الله على خصمي، يخبر عن الفلج والغلبة، فهكذا ظهور الله على الأعداء . ووجه آخر أنه الظاهر لمن أراده، لا يخفى عليه شئ  وأنه مدبر لكل ما برأ، فأي ظاهر أظهره وأوضح من الله تعالى، وإنك لا تعدم صنعه حيثما توجهت، وفيك من آثاره ما يغنيك، والظاهر منا البارز بنفسه والمعلوم بحده، فقد جمعنا الاسم ولم يجمعنا المعنى، وأما الباطن فليس على معنى الاستبطان للأشياء بأن يغور فيها ولكن ذلك منه على استبطانه للأشياء علما وحفظا وتدبيرا، كقول القائل أبطنته، يعني خبرته وعلمت مكتوم سره، والباطن منا بمعنى الغائر في الشئ والمستتر به فقد جمعنا الاسم واختلف المعنى، وأما القاهر فإنه ليس على معنى علاج ونصب واحتيال ومداراة ومكر، كما يقهر العباد بعضهم بعضا، فالمقهور منهم يعود قاهرا، والقاهر يعود مقهورا، ولكن ذلك من الله تبارك وتعالى على أن جميع ما خلق ملتبس به الذل لفاعله وقلة الامتناع لما أراد به، لم يخرج منه طرفة عين غير أنه يقول له: كن فيكون، والقاهر منا على ما ذكرته ووصفت، فقد جمعنا الاسم واختلف المعنى، وهكذا جميع الأسماء وإن كنا لم نسمها كلها، فقد يكتفي للاعتبار بما ألقينا إليك، والله عوننا وعونك في إرشادنا وتوفيقنا. 

2. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Ya`qub alKulayni said: `Ali ibn Muhammad, said, on the authority Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn Khalid that Abu al-Hasan al-Rida (AS) said: May Allah bestow upon you knowledge of what is good! Know that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is Eternal. Eternity is an attribute through which the wise understand that there was nothing before Him in eternity, and that there is nothing alongside Him in eternity. Even the common folk acknowledge that nothing existed before Allah, and that nothing exists alongside Him. At the same time, it invalidates the claim that there was something before Him. Had there been something eternal along with Him. He would not have been the Creator of that thing. If something existed along with Him, how then would He have been its Creator? Had there been something existing before Him, then that thing would have been worthier of being His Creator because it existed before Him. The blessed and Exalted ascribed certain names to Himself. When He created his creatures, He enabled them to serve Him, and told His creatures to call Him by those names. He called Himself the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the All-Powerful, the Riser ]qa`im], the Manifest, the Hidden, the Subtle, the All-Aware, the Powerful, the Honorable, the All-Wise, and the All-Knowing, among other similar names. When the lying exaggerators [ghalun] heard us talk about such names, that there is nothing similar to Him, and that none of the creatures are like unto Him, they said: “When you say that there is nothing like unto Him, and nothing is similar to Him, then how can you share with Him His Most Beautiful Names, and apply them to yourselves? Thus, this is proof that you are similar to Him in all conditions or in some conditions because you share the same purified names.” It is said to them: Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has named His Servants with some of His own Names but with differences in meaning just like one name may have two different meanings. The proof of this can be found among he common people. This is the way in which Allah, the Mighty and High, has addressed the creation. He has spoken to them by means of things that they understand so that the will have no excuse for their misdeeds. A man is sometimes called a dog, a donkey, a bull or a lion just like he can be called sweet or bitter. All of these words are used with a n allegorical meaning which differs from their literal meaning. A man cannot literally be a lion or a dog. Please pay close attention to this, May Allah have mercy on you! Verily, we say that Allah is AllKnowing, and not that He crated knowledge. It does not mean that He uses his Knowledge in order to record His Future Commands or His Process of Creation and Destruction because had that knowledge not been present that would imply ignorance or weakness. Likewise, the learned among creation are called knowledgeable because they possess created knowledge, which they did not have at some time in the past. They may lose their knowledge at some point and become ignorant again. However, Allah is called All-Knowing because He is not ignorant of anything. Thus, the Creator and the created are both called knowing, but the meaning is different as you have noticed.Our Lord is called All-Hearing. However, this is not through a body part or sensory organ without which He could not hear the sound as is the case with us. We cannot see with the part with which we hear. However, He has told us that no sound is hidden from Him. His hearing is not limited, as it is in our case. Here again the name hearing is used in both cases, but its meaning is different. The same applies for seeing. He does not see by means of an eye as we do. We see using a body part which serves that sole purpose. However, Allah is All-Seeing, and is never unaware of any individual. Again, the same name is used in both cases, but its meaning is different. He is Standing, but not in the sense of standing of His Les as would be the case for other beings. However, He informed us that He is Sanding, and that He is the Guardian. This is like the saying “A man is standing behind our affairs.” He is Standing behind every soul watching what is gains. As used by people, the word “standing” also has meanings like `sufficing.’ As you may say to a man, “Stand up for the affairs of so and so” which means to deal with them in a sufficient manner. Standing for us means that we stand on our legs. Therefore, the name is similar but its meaning is different. As for the term Subtle, it is Subtle, it is not used in the sense of smallness or being infinitesimal. Rather, it is used to express how difficult it is to perceive things. As an example, it may be said: “It has become very delicate for me,” and that “so and so is very delicate in his manners and dealings.” This means that it is profound for the intellect, and it is very difficult to understand. It has become so delicate that it cannot even be perceived by means of the imagination. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is far more Subtle than to be comprehended through definitions or be limited by an attribute in the way we are subtle, small and delicate. Names can be the same but they can differ in meaning. As for the All-Aware, it means that He is the One who Knows all Things, Completely, but not through study or experience, without which He would know nothing. One without experience and training is ignorant. Allah is always All-Aware of what He ha created. The people who are well are those people who are learning to overcome their ignorance. Thus, names are the same but again, they differ in meaning. As for the Manifest, it does not mean that He is over and above all things or sitting on the uppermost part of them. Rather, it refers to His Dominion and His Power over All Things. An example of this would be when a person says, “I overcame my enemies” or that “Allah granted me victory over my enemies.” In this case, there is a report of failure and victory. Thus, this shows Allah’s Dominion over all enemies.Another illustration that He is Manifest is that for those who intend Him, nothing is hidden form Him, and He is the Planner of all that can be seen. What can be clearer or more manifest than Allah, the Exalted? No matter where you look, His Presence will never vanish. Even within you, His Traces are sufficient proof for His Existence. However, what is manifested in us is apparent, and its limits are known. Therefore, the names are thee same, but their meanings differ. As for the Hidden, it does not mean that He is inside things. Rather, it refers to His Inner Knowledge of all things from their planning to their preserving. As one may say, “I tried to get to the inside of the matter,” that is, “I came to learn and discover his secrets.” For us, what is hidden is what is unseen and covered. Once again, the names are the same, but they differ in meaning. As for the Subduer, it does not refer to plotting, using certain devices, speaking seductive words, or using cunning means as some people do to subdue one another. The victorious among the people may become subdued, and vice versa. However, for Allah, the Blessed and Exalted,, all creatures are weak. Due to the absence of obstacles in what He wills for them, it takes less than a blinking of the eye for Him to say “Be and it is.” Subduing in our case is how I mentioned and explained. Thus, names are alike but their meanings differ. That is the case for all the names, although we have not mentioned all of them. We will suffice with this for learning purpose. May Allah be our Helper and your Helper assuring our guidance and success!

3 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب، قال: حدثنا علي بن محمد، عن صالح بن أبي حماد، عن الحسين بن يزيد، عن الحسن بن علي بن أبي حمزة، عن إبراهيم بن عمر، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى خلق اسما بالحروف وهو عز وجل بالحروف غير منعوت  وباللفظ غير منطق، وبالشخص غير مجسد، وبالتشبيه غير موصوف، وباللون غير مصبوغ، منفي عنه الأقطار، مبعد عنه الحدود، محجوب عنه حس كل متوهم، مستتر غير مستور، فجعله كلمة تامة على أربعة أجزاء معا، ليس منها واحد قبل الآخر، فأظهر منها ثلاثة أسماء لفاقة الخلق إليها (١) وحجب واحدا منها، وهو الاسم المكنون المخزون بهذه الأسماء الثلاثة التي أظهرت، فالظاهر هو الله تبارك وتعالى، وسخر سبحانه لكل اسم من هذه أربعة أركان (٢) فذلك اثنا عشر ركنا، ثم خلق لكل ركن منها ثلاثين اسما، فعلا منسوبا إليها (٣) فهو الرحمن الرحيم، الملك، القدوس، الخالق البارئ، المصور، الحي القيوم، لا تأخذه سنة ولا نوم، العليم، الخبير، السميع، البصير، الحكيم، العزيز، الجبار، المتكبر، العلي، العظيم، المقتدر، القادر، السلام، المؤمن المهيمن، البارئ (٤) المنشئ، البديع، الرفيع، الجليل، الكريم، الرزاق، المحيي، المميت، الباعث الوارث، فهذه الأسماء وما كان من الأسماء الحسنى حتى تتم ثلاثمائة وستين اسما فهي نسبة لهذه الأسماء الثلاثة، وهذه الأسماء الثلاثة أركان وحجب للاسم الواحد المكنون المخزون بهذه الأسماء الثلاثة، وذلك قوله عز وجل: ﴿قل ادعوا الله أو ادعوا الرحمن أيا ما تدعوا فله الأسماء الحسنى﴾ . 

3. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Ya`qub said: `Ali ibn Muhammad said, on the authority of Salih ibn Abu Hammad, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn Yazid, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Abu Hamzah, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn `Umar that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, created names by letters and He, the Mighty and High, cannot be described by letters. He cannot be uttered by words, cannot be embodied in person, cannot be described by anthropomorphism, and cannot be colored by colors. Regions are negated from Him. Limits are far from Him. The sense of every imaginer is covered from Him. He is understood and not hidden. Hence, He has made it a complete word in four parts altogether. Neither one of them precedes the other. Then he showed three of those names to creation out of their need for them, and hid one of them. That is the well-kept treasured name through which these names were manifested. Thus, the apparent is Allah, the Blessed and Exalted. He, glory be to Him, utilized each one of the four first principles, and that became twelve principles. Then He created for each of the principles thirty names, in effect, related to them. They are the Most Compassionate, the most Merciful, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Creator, the Maker [al-Bari’], the Imager, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent [al-Qayyum], slumber seized Him not, nor does sleep, the All-Knowing, the All-Aware, the All-Hearing, the all-Seeing, the Most Wise, the Honorable, the Supreme, the Possessor of all Greatness [al-Mutakabbir], the Most High, the Most Great, the All-Powerful [al-Muqtadir], the Omnipotent, the Giver of Peace [al-Salam], the Granter of Security [al-Mu`mum], the Guardian over All [alMuhaymin], the Maker, the Producer, the Originator [al-Badi’], the Lofty [al-Rafi`]. The Sublime, Generous, the Sustainer, the Giver of Life, the Causer of Death, the Raiser [alBa`ith], and the Inheritor. These are the names, among which are the Most Beautiful Names, until 360 names are complete. Thus, these are related to the three names. These three names are the first principles, and concealment for the Well-Kept Treasured name by these three names. As we read in the Word of the Mighty and High: Say, call upon Allah or call upon the Most Compassionate Allah; whichever you call upon, He has the best names.

4 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، عن الحسين بن عبيد الله، عن محمد بن عبد الله، وموسى بن عمرو، والحسن بن علي بن أبي عثمان، عن ابن سنان قال: سألت أبا الحسن الرضا عليه السلام هل كان الله عارفا بنفسه قبل أن يخلق الخلق؟  قال: نعم، قلت: يراها ويسمعها، قال: ما كان الله محتاجا إلى ذلك، لأنه لم يكن يسألها ولا يطلب منها، هو نفسه ونفسه هو، قدرته نافذة، وليس يحتاج أن يسمي نفسه، ولكن اختار لنفسه أسماء لغيره يدعوه بها، لأنه إذا لم يدع باسمه لم يعرف فأول ما اختار لنفسه العلي العظيم لأنه أعلى الأشياء كلها، فمعناه الله، واسمه العلي العظيم، هو أول أسمائه لأنه علي، علا كل شئ. 

4. My father (RA) said: Ahmad ibn Idris said, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn `Ubayd Allah, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Abd Allah; Musa ibn `Amr and al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Abu `Uthman, on the authority of Ibn Sinan that I asked Abu al-Hasan al-Rid (AS), “Did Allah know Himself before He created the creation?” He (AS) replied, “Of course.” I asked, “Did He see Himself, and hear Himself?” He said: Allah was not required to do so because He did not ask Himself anything or demand anything from Himself. He is Himself, and His Self is He. His Power was effective and He did not need to call Himself. However, He chose names for Himself so that He could be called upon, because unless He is called upon by His Name, there is no way for Him to be known. Therefore, the first name He chose for Himself was the Most High, the Most Great [al-`Ali al-`Azim], because He is Higher than all things. Hence, His meaning is Allah, and His Name is the Most High, the Most Great. That is among His first names, because He is High, Higher than Everything.

5 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن محمد بن سنان قال: سألته عن الاسم ما هو؟ قال: صفة لموصوف. 

5. And with this chain of narration, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sinan that I asked him (AS) “What is a name?” He said: ”It is an attribute for the attributed.”

6 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله، عن محمد بن إسماعيل، عن بعض أصحابه، عن بكر بن صالح، عن علي بن الحسن بن محمد، عن خالد بن يزيد، عن عبد الأعلى، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: اسم الله غير الله، وكل شئ وقع عليه اسم شئ فهو مخلوق ما خلا الله فأما ما عبرته الألسن أو ما عملته الأيدي فهو مخلوق، والله غاية من غاياه، و المغيى غير الغاية، والغاية موصوفة، وكل موصوف مصنوع، وصانع الأشياء غير موصوف بحد مسمى، لم يتكون فتعرف كينونته بصنع غيره، ولم يتناه إلى غاية إلا كانت غيره، لا يذل  من فهم هذا الحكم أبدا، وهو التوحيد الخالص، فارعوه وصدقوه وتفهموه بإذن الله، من زعم أنه يعرف الله بحجاب أو بصورة أو بمثال فهو مشرك، لأن الحجاب والمثال والصورة غيره، وإنما هو واحد موحد فكيف يوحد من زعم أنه عرفه بغيره، وإنما عرف الله من عرفه بالله، ومن لم يعرفه به فليس يعرفه، إنما يعرف غيره، ليس بين الخالق والمخلوق شئ، فالله خالق الأشياء لا من شئ كان، والله يسمى بأسمائه وهو غير أسمائه والأسماء غيره .

6. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il, on the authority of some of our scholars, on the authority of Bkar ibn Salih, on the authority of `Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Khalid ibn Yazid, on the authority of `Abd al-A`la that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: Allah’s name is other than Him. The identifier is other than the identified, and is thus created, with the exception of Allah. Anything which is uttered by tongues or written by hands is created. Allah is the destination of all those who seek to reach Him. The aimer is other than the aimed. The aimed is described, and everything which is described is created. The Creator of All Things is not described with the limit of the named. He is not formed so that His Form could be compared to the created. Anything which is intended is other than Him. He is never disregarded by whoever understands this conclusion and that is pure Tawhid. Thus, listen to Allah, accept Him, and try to understand Him with His permission. Whoever claims that he has recognized Allah through concealing or revealing an image or the like, is a polytheist, because anything concealed or revealed is other than Him. Verily, He is One United Being. Therefore, how can one profess a belief in Divine Unity when one recognizes Him by other than Him? Only he has recognized Allah who recognizes Him by Allah (Himself). Thus, whoever does not recognize Him by Himself‬‬ ‫‪has not recognized Him, and certainly has recognized other than Him. There is nothing‬‬ ‫‪between the Creator and the created. Therefore, Allah is the creator of all things and is‬‬ ‫‪not from a thing. He is named by His Names and, hence, He is other than His Names,‬‬ ‫‪and the names are other than Him.‬‬ ‫‪ 7. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd‬‬ ‫‪Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Bishr related to me, on the authority of Abu Hashim alJa`fari that‬‬ I was with Abu Ja`far the Second (AS), when a man asked him, “Inform me about the Lord, the Blessed and Exalted. There are names and attributes for Him in His Book. Are those His Only Names and attributes?” Consequently, Abu Ja`far (AS) replied, Verily, there are two interpretations to your question. If you are referring to quantity, then Exalted is Allah from such limitations. However, if you wanted to know whether these attributes and names have always existed, then there are two possibilities. Either they have always been part of His Knowledge, and He has always deserved them, and this is true. However, if you want to now whether the image of these attributes and names, their alphabets, and their form, have always been there, then may Allah save me from the claim that something has existed alongside Him. In fact, Allah existed when no creation existed. Then He created the names as a means for His Creation to beseech Him and serve Him. They are the means through which He is remembered. Allah was there when no remembrance existed. The One who is Remembered is Allah, the Eternal, who has always existed. The Names and Attributes are creation of meanings. What is meant by them is that Allah is not subject to agreement or disagreement, since only one with parts disagrees or agrees. Hence, it is not said: Allah agreed, nor that Allah is more or less. However, He is Eternal in His Essence, because whatever is other than One has parts, and Allah is the One without Parts. He cannot be imagines as less, nor can he be imagines as more. Anything composed of parts, and which can be conceived as less or conceived as more, was created by a Creator Thus, when you say that “Verily, Allah is Omnipotent” you are affirming that nothing incapacitates Him. Therefore, you have negate the word: ”incapable,” and applied it to other than Him. Likewise, by your use of the word: “AllKnowing” you have indeed negated ignorance and related ignorance to other than Him. When Allah causes all things to perish, He will cause images and alphabets to perish. Nevertheless, He, who has always been All-Knowing, will never expire or decline. The man asked, “How can our Lord be called the All-Hearing?” He (AS) answered, That is because nothing which is understood by means of hearing is hidden form Him. We do not claim that He hears through ears. Likewise, when we call Him All-Seeing, we say so because nothing visual is hidden from Him: be it colors, people, or other objects. We do not claim that He sees through eyes. We call Him the Subtle One due to His knowledge of subtle things like the mosquito, and for His Knowledge of creatures which are even smaller than that. We call Him the subtle One because of His Knowledge of the place of their division, their thoughts, their needs, their reproductive cycle, their affection for offspring, their means of communication, their bringing of food and drink to their offspring in the mountains, deserts, valleys, and wastelands (of the worlds). We come to know that the Creator of these things is the Subtle One without quality. Verily, quality applies only to the created. Our Lord is called the Powerful One, but not with the same type of power found among created beings. If His Power were like the power found among created beings, then He would be compared to His Creation, and He would be susceptible to both increase and decrease and could not be Eternal. Whatever is not eternal is powerless. Thus, our Lord, the Blessed and Exalted, has no compeer [shibh], no opponent, no equal, no quality, no end, and no regions. The mind is incapable of conceiving Him, the imagination is incapable of limiting Him, and the conscience is incapable of placing conditions on Him. He is Higher than the implements of His Creation and characteristics of His Creatures. Exalted is He, the Elevated and Great, from such things!

8 - حدثنا أحمد بن الحسن القطان، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن يحيى بن زكريا القطان، قال: حدثنا بكر بن عبد الله بن حبيب، قال: حدثنا تميم بن بهلول، عن أبيه، عن أبي الحسن العبدي، عن سليمان بن مهران، عن الصادق جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه محمد بن علي، عن أبيه علي بن الحسين، عن أبيه الحسين بن علي، عن أبيه علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: إن لله تبارك و تعالى تسعة وتسعين اسما مائة إلا واحدا، من أحصاها دخل الجنة، وهي: الله، الإله، الواحد، الأحد، الصمد، الأول، الآخر، السميع، البصير، القدير، القاهر، العلي، الأعلى، الباقي، البديع، البارئ، الأكرم، الطاهر، الباطن، الحي، الحكيم، العليم، الحليم، الحفيظ، الحق، الحسيب، الحميد الحفي، الرب، الرحمن، الرحيم، الذارئ، الرزاق، الرقيب، الرؤوف الرائي، السلام، المؤمن، المهين، العزيز، الجبار، المتكبر، السيد، السبوح الشهيد، الصادق، الصانع، الطاهر، العدل، العفو، الغفور، الغني، الغياث، الفاطر، الفرد، الفتاح، الفالق، القديم، الملك، القدوس، القوي، القريب، القيوم، القابض، الباسط، قاضي الحاجات، المجيد، المولى، المنان، المحيط المبين، المقيت، المصور، الكريم، الكبير، الكافي، كاشف الضر، الوتر، النور، الوهاب، الناصر، الواسع، الودود، الهادي، الوفي، الوكيل، الوارث البر، الباعث، التواب، الجليل، الجواد، الخبير، الخالق، خير الناصرين، الديان، الشكور، العظيم، اللطيف، الشافي . 

8. Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qittan said: Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Zakariyya al-Qittan said: Bakr ibn `Abd Allah ibn Hubayb said: Tamim ibn Buhul said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu al-Hasan ibn al-`Abdi, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Mihran, on the authority of al-Sadiq Ja`far ibn Muhammad on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn `Ali, on the authority of his father `Ali ibn al-Husayn, on the authority of his father al-Husayn ibn `Ali, on the authority of his father `Ali ibn Abu Talib, salutations of Allah be upon them all, that The Messenger of Allah (SA) said: Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has NinetyNine names: one less than a hundred. Whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise. They are: Allah, God, the One, the Unique, the Needless, the First, the Last, the AllHearing, the All-Seeing, the Omnipotent, the Subduer, the Most High, the Most Sublime, the Ever-Remaining [al-Baqi], the Originator, the Maker, the Most Generous, the Manifested, the Hidden, the Ever-Living, the All-Wise, the All-Knowing, the Forbearing [al-Halim], the Protector [al-Hafiz], the Truth, the Reckoner [al-Hasib], the Praiseworthy [al-Hamid], the Most Gracious [al-Hafi], the Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful, the One that sows [al-Dhari’], the Sustainer, the Watcher [al-Raqib], the Affectionate [alRa’uf], the Obserer [al-Ra’i], the Giver of Peace, the Granter of Security, the Guardian over all the Honorable, the Supreme, the Possessor of every greatness, the Master, the Most Praised [al-Subbuh], the Witness [al-Shahid], the Most Truthful, the Creator, the Pure, the Just, the Pardoning, the Forgiving, the Self-Sufficient,the Aid (al-Ghiyah), the Cleaver [al-Fatir], the Peerless, the Opener [al-Fattah], the Splitter [al-Faliq], the Eternal, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Powerful, the Near, the Self-Subsistent, the Seizer (of souls0 [Qabid], the Extender, the Provider of Needs, the All-Glorious [al-Majid], the Lord, the Granter [al-Mannan], the One that encompasses everything [al-Muhit], the Clear [Mubin], the Nourisher [al-Muqit], the Imager, the Generous, the Great, the Sufficient [al-Kafi], the Remover of harms [Kashif al-dur], the Singly [al-Watr], the Light, the Bestower [al-Wahhab], the Helper, the All-Embracing [al-Was`],, the Loving One [alWadud], the Guide, the Reliable [al-Wafi], the Custodian [al-Wakil], the Inheritor, the Righteous [al-Birr], the Raiser, the Oft-Returning (in mercy) [al-Tawwab], the Sublime [al-Jalil], the Generous, the All-Aware, the Creator, the Best of the Helpers, the Rewarder [al-Dayyan], the Thankful [al-Shakur], the Most Great, the Subtle, the Cure [alShafi].

10 - حدثنا غير واحد، قالوا: حدثنا محمد بن همام، عن علي بن الحسين . قال: حدثني جعفر بن يحيى الخزاعي، عن أبيه، قال: دخلت مع أبي عبد الله عليه السلام على بعض مواليه يعوده، فرأيت الرجل يكثر من قول آه، فقلت له: يا أخي اذكر ربك واستغث به، فقال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إن آه اسم من أسماء الله عز وجل  فمن قال: آه استغاث بالله تبارك وتعالى. 

10. More than one have said: Muhammad ibn Hammam said, on the authority of `Ali ibn alHusayn that Ja`far ibn Yahya al-Khuza`I related to me, on the authority of his father that I entered in the presence of Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) and his followers when they were visiting a patient. Thus, I saw the man repeating “Oh” so I said to him: “O brother! Remember your Lord and call Him for help.” Then Abu `Abd Allah (AS) spoke, “Verily, `Oh’ is a name from the names of Allah, the Mighty and High. Therefore, whoever utters: `Oh’ has already called Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, for help”

11 - حدثنا أبو الحسن علي بن عبد الله بن أحمد الإصبهاني الأسواري قال: حدثنا مكي بن أحمد بن سعدويه البرذعي، قال: أخبرنا أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن عبد الرحمن القرشي بدمشق وأنا أسمع، قال: حدثنا أبو عامر موسى بن عامر المري  قال: حدثنا الوليد بن مسلم، قال: حدثنا زهير بن محمد، عن موسى بن عقبة، عن الأعرج، عن أبي هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله قال: إن لله تبارك وتعالى تسعة وتسعين اسما مائة إلا واحدا، إنه وتر يحب الوتر، من أحصاها دخل الجنة، فبلغنا أن غير واحد من أهل العلم قال: إن أولها يفتتح بلا إله إلا الله الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شي قدير، لا إله إلا الله له الأسماء الحسنى، الله، الواحد، الصمد، الأول، الآخر، الظاهر، الباطن، الخالق، البارئ، المصور، الملك، القدوس، السلام، المؤمن، المهيمن، العزيز، الجبار، المتكبر، الرحمن، الرحيم، اللطيف، الخبير، السميع، البصير، العلي، العظيم، البارئ، (كذا) المتعالي، الجليل، الجميل، الحي، القيوم، القادر، القاهر، الحكيم، القريب، المجيب، الغني، الوهاب، الودود، الشكور، الماجد، الأحد، الولي، الرشيد، الغفور، الكريم، الحليم، التواب، الرب، المجيد، الحميد، الوفي، الشهيد، المبين، البرهان، الرؤوف، المبدئ، المعيد، الباعث الوارث، القوي، الشديد، الضار، النافع، الوافي، الحافظ، الرافع، القابض، الباسط، المعز، المذل، الرازق، ذو القوة المتين، القائم، الوكيل، العادل، الجامع، المعطي، المجتبي، المحيي، المميت، الكافي، الهادي، الأبد، الصادق، النور، القديم، الحق، الفرد، الوتر، الواسع، المحصي، المقتدر، المقدم، المؤخر، المنتقم، البديع . 

11. Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad al-Isbahani al-Aswari said: Makki ibn Ahmad ibn Sa`dawayh al-Burdha`I said: Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn `Abd al-Rahman al-Qarashi reported to us in Damascus and I was listening that Abu `Amir Musa ibn `Amir al-Mirri said: al-Walid ibn Muslim said: Zuhayr ibn Muhammad said, on the authority of Musa ibn `Uqbah, on the authority of al-A`raj, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that The Messenger of Allah (SAS) said: Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has NinetyNine names: one hundred minus one. He is Single and loves odd numbers. Whoever counts them will enter Paradise. Thus, it has reached us that more than one scholar has said that the first one of them starts with: There is no god but Allah, He Alone, He has no associates. To Him belongs all Sovereignty, and to Him is the Praise. In His hand is all goodness, and He has power over all things. There is no god but Allah, His are the Best Names: Allah, the One, the Needless, the First, the Last, the Manifested, the Hidden, the Creator, the Maker, the Imager, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Giver of Peace, the Granter of Security, the Guarding Over All, the Honorable, the Supreme, the Possessor of all Greatness, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful, the Subtle, the All-Aware, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the Most High, the Most Great, the Maker, the High, the Sublime the Beautiful [al-Jamil], the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent, the All-Powerful, the Subduer, the All-Wise, the Near, the Granter [al-Majib], the Self-Sufficient, the Bestower, the Loving one, the Thankful, the Glorified [al-Majid], the Unique, the Guardian [al-Wali], the Rightly Directing [al-Rashid], the Forgiving, the Generous, the Forbearing, the Oft-Returning (in mercy), the Lord, the All-Glorious, the Praiseworthy, the Reliable, the Witness, the Clear, the Evidence [al-Burhan], the Affectionate, the First to do [al-Mubdi’] the Resorter [al-Mu`id], the Raiser, the Inheritor, the Powerful, the Severe in punishment [alShadid], the Punisher [al-Dar], the Beneficial [al-Naf`], the Sufficient [al-Wafi], the Protector [alHafiz], the Exalter [al-Rafi`], the Seizer (of souls), the Extender, the Honor-Bestower [alMu`izz], the One who abases [al-Mudhill], the Sustainer, the Lord of unbreakable strength [Dhul-Quwat al-Matin], the Riser, the Custodian, the Just, the Assembler [al-Jami`], the Giver [al-Mu`ti], the Selecter [al-Mujtabi], the Reviver [al-Muhyi], the One who makes to dies [alMumit], the Sufficient, the Guide, the Everlasting [al-Abad], the Most Truthful, the Light, the Eternal, the Truth, the Peerless, the Singly, the All-Embracing [al-Was`], the Counter [al-Muhsi], the Powerful, the One who precedes all [al-Muqaddam], the One who comes last [alMu`akhkhar], the Avenger [al-Muntaqim], the Originator.

12 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن محمد بن عيسى بن عبيد، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن علي بن رئاب، عن غير واحد، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: من عبد الله بالتوهم فقد كفر، ومن عبد الاسم ولم يعبد المعنى فقد كفر، ومن عبد الاسم والمعنى فقد أشرك، ومن عبد المعنى بإيقاع الأسماء عليه بصفاته التي وصف بها نفسه  فعقد عليه قلبه و نطق به لسانه في سرائره وعلانيته فأولئك أصحاب أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام. وفي حديث آخر: (أولئك هم المؤمنون حقا). 

12. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Isa ibn `Ubayd, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ri’ab, on the authority of more than one person that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: Whoever serves Allah with his imagination, disbelieves (in Allah). Whoever serves His name without (understanding) the meaning, disbelieves in Allah. Whoever serves both His name and its meaning, has given a partner to Allah. Whoever serves Allah by means of the meanings of the Names of Allah has attributed Himself with, has faith in Allah, which his tongue utters in private and in public. Such are the followers of the Commander of the Faithful. In another version, the last sentence of the tradition is: “These are the true Believes.”

13 - حدثنا محمد بن محمد بن عصام الكليني، وعلي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمهما الله، قالا: حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب الكليني، عن علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن النضر بن سويد، عن هشام بن الحكم أنه سأل أبا عبد الله عليه السلام عن أسماء الله عز وجل واشتقاقها، فقال: الله مشتق من إله، وإله يقتضي مألوها، والاسم غير المسمى، فمن عبد الاسم دون المعنى فقد كفر ولم يعبد شيئا، ومن عبد الاسم والمعنى فقد أشرك وعبد الاثنين، ومن عبد المعنى دون الاسم فذاك التوحيد، أفهمت يا هشام، قال: قلت: زدني، قال: لله عز وجل تسعة وتسعون اسما، فلو كان الاسم هو المسمى لكان كل اسم منها هو إلها، ولكن الله عز وجل معنى، يدل عليه بهذه الأسماء وكلها غيره، يا هشام الخبز اسم للمأكول  والماء اسم للمشروب والثوب اسم للملبوس والنار اسم للمحرق، أفهمت يا هشام فهما تدفع به وتنافر أعداءنا والملحدين في الله والمشركين مع الله عز وجل غيره؟  قلت: نعم، فقال: نفعك الله به وثبتك يا هشام، قال هشام: فوالله ما قهرني أحد في التوحيد حينئذ حتى قمت مقامي هذا. 

13. Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isam al-Kulayni and `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al=Daqqaq ( may Allah have mercy on them both) both said: Muhammad ibn Ya`qub al-Kulayni said, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ibrahim, on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Nadr ibn Suwayd, on the authority of Hisham ibn al-Hakam that I asked Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) about the names of Allah, the Mighty and High, and their derivations. Hence, he replied, Allah is derived from Ilah (God). The word Ilah requires a server [Ma’luh], The name is other than the named. Therefore, whoever serves the name without the meaning then he disbelieves, and has not served anything. Whoever serves the name, and the meaning, he has associated, and has served both of them. Whoever serves the meaning without he name has embraced Divine Unity. Have you understood, O Hisham? He says, I said: “Elaborate for me.” He (AS) responded, For Allah, the Mighty and High, are Ninety Nine Names. If the name was the named then every name would have been a god. However Allah, the Mighty and High, has a meaning for all of these names which apply to Him, and all of them are other than Him. O Hisham! “Bread” is a name of a food; “water” is a name of a drink; “cloth is a name of a material, and “fire” is a name of ignition. Do you understand, O Hisham? Do you understand in such a way that you can defend us, and defeat our enemies, the apostates of Allah, and the one who associate other with Allah, the Mighty and High? I replied, “Yes.” He (AS) then said: “May Allah benefit you by it and secure you, O Hisham!” Hisham says, “I swear by Allah, no one could defeat me in debate on the subject of Divine Unity after I stood up from that place.”

14 - حدثنا أبو الحسن علي بن عبد الله بن أحمد الأسواري، قال: حدثنا مكي ابن أحمد بن سعدويه البرذعي، قال: أخبرنا إسماعيل بن محمد بن الفضل بن محمد بن المسيب البيهقي قال: حدثني جدي، قال: حدثنا ابن أبي أويس، قال: حدثني أحمد بن محمد بن داود بن قيس الصنعاني، قال: حدثني أفلح بن كثير، عن ابن جريج، عن عمرو بن شعيب، عن أبيه، عن جده عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله أن جبرئيل نزل عليه بهذا الدعاء من السماء ونزل عليه ضاحكا مستبشرا، فقال: السلام عليك يا محمد، قال: وعليك السلام يا جبرئيل فقال: إن الله بعث إليك بهدية، فقال: وما تلك الهدية يا جبرئيل؟ فقال: كلمات من كنوز العرش أكرمك الله بها، قال: وما هن يا جبرئيل؟ قال: قل: (يا من أظهر الجميل وستر القبيح، يا من لم يؤاخذ بالجريرة ولم يهتك الستر، يا عظيم العفو، يا حسن التجاوز، يا واسع المغفرة، يا باسط اليدين بالرحمة، يا صاحب كل نجوى، ويا منتهى كل شكوى (يا مقيل العثرات ) يا كريم الصفح، يا عظيم المن يا مبتدئا بالنعم قبل استحقاقها يا ربنا ويا سيدنا ويا مولانا ويا غاية رغبتنا أسألك يا الله أن لا تشوه خلقي بالنار) فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: يا جبرئيل فما ثواب هذه الكلمات؟ قال: هيهات هيهات، انقطع العلم، لو اجتمع ملائكة سبع سماوات وسبع أرضين على أن يصفوا ثواب ذلك إلى يوم القيامة ما وصفوا من ألف جزء جزءا واحدا، فإذا قال العبد: (يا من أظهر الجميل وستر القبيح) ستره الله برحمته في الدنيا وجملة في الآخرة وستر الله عليه ألف ستر في الدنيا والآخرة، وإذا قال: (يا من لم يؤاخذ بالجريرة ولم يهتك الستر) لم يحاسبه الله يوم القيامة ولم يهتك ستره يوم يهتك الستور، وإذا قال: (يا عظيم العفو) غفر الله له ذنوبه ولو كانت خطيئته مثل زبد البحر، وإذا قال: (يا حسن التجاوز) تجاوز الله عنه حتى السرقة وشرب الخمر وأهاويل الدنيا، وغير ذلك من الكبائر، وإذا قال: (يا واسع المغفرة) فتح الله عز وجل له سبعين بابا من الرحمة فهو يخوض في رحمة الله عز وجل حتى يخرج من الدنيا، وإذا قال: (يا باسط اليدين بالرحمة) بسط الله يده عليه بالرحمة، وإذا قال: (يا صاحب كل نجوى و (يا) منتهى كل شكوى) أعطاه الله عز وجل من الآجر ثواب كل مصاب وكل سالم وكل مريض وكل ضرير وكل مسكين وكل فقير إلى يوم القيامة، وإذا قال: (يا كريم الصفح) أكرمه الله كرامة الأنبياء، وإذا قال: (يا عظيم المن) أعطاه الله يوم القيامة أمنيته وأمنية الخلائق، وإذا قال: (يا مبتدئا بالنعم قبل استحقاقها) أعطاه الله من الأجر بعدد من شكر نعماءه، وإذا قال: (يا ربنا ويا سيدنا ويا مولانا)  قال الله تبارك وتعالى: اشهدوا ملائكتي أني غفرت له وأعطيته من الأجر بعدد من خلقته في الجنة والنار والسماوات السبع والأرضين السبع الشمس والقمر والنجوم وقطر الأمطار وأنواع الخلق والجبال والحصى والثرى وغير ذلك والعرش والكرسي، وإذا قال: (يا مولانا) ملأ الله قلبه من الإيمان، وإذا قال: (يا غاية رغبتنا) أعطاه الله يوم القيامة رغبته ومثل رغبة الخلائق، وإذا قال: (أسألك يا الله أن لا تشوه خلقي بالنار) قال الجبار جل جلاله: استعتقني عبدي من النار، اشهدوا ملائكتي أني قد أعتقته من النار وأعتقت أبويه وأخواته وأخوانه وأهله و ولده وجيرانه، وشفعته في ألف رجل ممن وجب لهم النار، وآجرته من النار، فعلمهن يا محمد المتقين ولا تعلمهن المنافقين فإنها دعوة مستجابة لقائليهن إن شاء الله، وهو دعاء أهل البيت المعمور حوله إذا كانوا يطوفون به. قال مصنف هذا الكتاب: الدليل على أن الله تعالى عز وجل عالم حي قادر لنفسه لا بعلم وقدرة وحياة هو غيره أنه لو كان عالما بعلم لم يخل علمه من أحد أمرين أما أن يكون قديما أو حادثا، فإن كان حادثا فهو جل ثناؤه قبل حدوث العلم غير عالم، وهذا من صفات النقص، وكل منقوص محدث بما قدمنا، وإن كان قديما وجب أن يكون غير الله عز وجل قديما وهذا كفر بالاجماع، فكذلك القول في القادر وقدرته والحي وحياته، والدليل على أنه تعالى لم يزل قادرا عالما حيا أنه قد ثبت أنه عالم قادر حي لنفسه وصح بالدليل أنه عز وجل قديم وإذا كان كذلك كان عالما لم يزل إذ نفسه التي لها علم لم تزل، وهذا يدل على أنه قادر حي لم يزل .  باب القرآن ما هو؟ 

14. Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad al-Aswari said: Makki ibn Ahmad ibn Sa`dawayh al-Burdha`I that Isma`il ibn Muhammad ibn al-Fadl ibn Muhammad ibn alMusayyib al-Bayaqi reported to us that My grandfather related to me that Ibn Abu Uways said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Dawud ibn Qays al-San`ani related to me that Aflah ibn Kathir related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, on the authority of his father that Jibra’il descended to the Prophet (SA) from heaven, smiling and rejoicing, and greeted him with the words: “Peace be with you, O Muhammad!” He (SA) replied, “And peace be with you, O Jibra’il!” Then he said: “Verily, Allah has sent a gift to you.” Hence, he (SA) asked, “What is that gift, O Jibra’il?” He answered, “Words from the Treasures of the Throne. Allah honors you by them.” The Prophet (SA) enquired, “What are they, O Jibra’il?” He said: Say: O One who reveals beauty, and hides ugliness! O One who does not punish the offender, and who does not ear the veil (from sins)! O Most Great in pardoning! O Best of the Overlookers! O All-Embracing in Forgiveness! O One who Opens His Hands in Mercy! O Hearer of all Whispers! O One whom all complaints are made! (O Last Resort of the Fallen!). O Noble One! O Possessor of Great Favor! O One who Blessed before anyone deserves it! O our Lord! O our Master! O our Guardian! O Goal of our Desires! I beseech You, O Allah, not to make me ugly by means of the Fire. The Messenger of Allah (SA) asked, “O Jibra’il! What are the virtues of these words?” Jibra’il replied, So great! So great! The virtues of these words are impossible to describe. Even if the angels from the seven heavens and the seven earths joined together to describe the virtues of these words until the Day of Judgment, they would not be able to describe even a thousandth part of them. Therefore, when a man says: “O One who reveals beauty, and hides ugliness,” Allah covers him up with His Mercy in this world, and makes him beautiful in the Hereafter. Allah covers his defects with a thousand veils in this world, and the Hereafter. When he says: “O One who does not punish the offender, and does not tear the veil (from sins),” Allah will not hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment, and on the Day all Veils are Torn, He will not tear his veil. And when he says: “O Most Great in Pardoning,” Allah will forgive his sins even if they are as much as the foam from the sea. When he says: “O Best of the Overlookers,” Allah will forgive him even sins such as theft, drinking wine, worldly frights, and other major sins. And when he says: “O All-Embracing in Forgiveness,” Allah, the Mighty and High, will open seventy gates of Mercy to him in a way that he will be overwhelmed by Allah, the Mighty and High’s Mercy till he parts this world. When he says: “O One who Opens His Hands in Mercy,” Allah opens His Hands of Mercy to him. And when he says: “O Hearer of all Whispers, O One to who all Complaints are made,” Allah will bestow upon him the reward of every afflicted, unaffiliated, sick, blind, destitute, and poor person till the Day of Judgment. When he says: “O Noble One,” Allah will make him noble like the prophets. When he says: “O Possessor of Great Favor,” Allah will bestow upon him His Protection, and the protection of the created on the Day of Judgment. And when he says: “O One who gives blessings before anyone deserves it,” Allah will grant him rewards equal to the number of those who thanked Him for His Blessings. When he says: “O our Lord, O our Master,” Allah will say: “My angels! Bear witness that I forgave him, and I will give him rewards similar to the numbers of those who are in Paradise, and Hell, the seven heavens and the seven earths, the sun, the moon, the stars, rain drops, creatures, mountains, pebbles, soil, and other than these, as well as the Empyrean and the Throne. And when he says: “O our Guardian,” Allah will fill his heart with faith. When he says: “O Goal of our Desires,” Allah will fulfill his desire, and give him the reward equal to the reward of all the creatures on the Day of Judgment. And when he says: “I beseech You, O Allah, not to make my being ugly by means of Fire,” the Supreme, may His glory be glorified, will say: My Servant has asked Me to free him from Fire. O My angels! Bear witness that I set him, his parents, his brothers, his sisters, his household, his children, and his neighbors free from the Fire, and accepted his intercession for a thousand others who deserved punishment by fire, and saved them from it. O Muhammad! Teach this supplication to the pious, and do not teach it to the hypocrites. For it is supplication which will be granted to the ones that pronounce it, by the will of Allah. This is the supplication of the inhabitants of the Flourishing House [al-Bayt alMa’mur], when they circumambulate it. The Compiler of this book says: The proof that Allah – the Exalted, the Mighty, and the Most High – is All-Knowing, Ever-Living, and All-Powerful in and of Himself – not by knowledge, power, and life, that is other than Him – is that if He were All-Knowing by means of knowledge, then His Knowledge could only be two things: eternal or created. If His Knowledge is created then He, glorified be His Praise, was without knowledge before it creation. This is an imperfect attribute, and every imperfection is caused, as we explained previously. If His Knowledge is eternal, then it becomes necessary for other than Allah, the Mighty and High, to be eternal. This is infidelity by consensus. The same argument can be applied to the AllPowerful and His Omnipotence and the Ever-Living and His Life. The proof that He, the Exalted, has always been All-Powerful, All-Knowing and Ever-Living is that it has been proved that He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and Ever-Living, in and of Himself. Hence, it is correct by evidence that He, the Mighty and High, is Eternal. Therefore, He has always been All-Knowing as Knowledge is part of His Essence, Which has always been. This indicates that He has always been All-Powerful, and Ever-Living.

Al-Tawḥīd

Book 2, Chapter 29