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 حمزة بن محمد العلوي رحمه الله، قال: أخبرنا علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن محمد بن عيسى، عن يونس بن عبد الرحمن، عن محمد بن حكيم، قال: وصفت لأبي الحسن عليه السلام قول هشام الجواليقي وما يقول في الشاب الموفق  و وصفت له قول هشام بن الحكم، فقال: إن الله عز وجل لا يشبهه شئ. 

1. Hamzah ibn Muhammad al-`Alawi (RA) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of Yunus ibn `Abd al-Rahman, on Muhammad ibn Hukaym reported that I described the statement of Hisham al-Jawaliqi, and what he says about a fortunate young man, and described to him the word of Hisham ibn al-Hakam. He (AS):” Verily, nothing resembles Allah, the Mighty and High.

2 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب، قال: حدثنا علي بن محمد، رفعه، عن محمد بن الفرج الرخجي، قال: كتبت إلى أبي الحسن عليه السلام: أسأله عما قال هشام بن الحكم في الجسم، و هشام بن سالم في الصورة، فكتب عليه السلام: دع عنك حيرة الحيران، واستعذ بالله من الشيطان، ليس القول ما قال الهشامان . 

2. Ali ibn ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Ya`qub said: `Ali ibn Muhammad, who eliminated the source of report, on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Faraj al-Rukhkhaji that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) asking hm about what Hisham ibn al-Hakam said about the body of Allah, and what Hisham ibn Salim had said about the image of Allah. So he (AS) replied to me: “Leave the confusion of the baffled, and take refuge in Allah from Satan. Things are not as the two Hishams claim.

3 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن سهل بن زياد، عن حمزة بن محمد، قال: كتبت إلى أبي - الحسن عليه السلام: أسأله عن الجسم والصورة، فكتب عليه السلام: سبحان من ليس كمثله شئ لا جسم ولا صورة. 

3. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan Al-Saffar, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Hamzah ibn Muhammad saying, "I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) asking him about the body and the appearance of Allah; therefore, he (AS) wrote to me: “Glory to the One who has nothing like Him, and who has no body and no image.”

4 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عبد الجبار، عن صفوان بن يحيى، عن علي بن أبي حمزة، قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله عليه السلام: سمعت هشام بن الحكم يروي عنكم: أن الله عز وجل جسم، صمدي، نوري، معرفته ضرورة، يمن بها على من يشاء من خلقه  فقال عليه السلام: سبحان من لا يعلم أحد كيف هو إلا هو، ليس كمثله شئ، وهو السميع البصير، لا يحد، ولا يحس، ولا يجس ولا يمس، ولا تدركه الحواس، لا يحيط به شئ، لا جسم، ولا صورة، ولا تخطيط، ولا تحديد. 

4. My father (RA) that Ahmad ibn Idris said: Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Jabbar, on the authority of Safwan ibn Yahya, on the authority of `Ali ibn Abu Hamzah that I said to Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS): I heard Hisham ibn al-Hakam narrating from you that Allah, the Mighty and High, has a Needless body of Light; His Recognition is necessary, and He grants it to whoever He desires from His Creation. He (AS) said: Glory to Him who is known only to Himself! There is none like Him, and He is the AllHearing and the Al-Seeing. He cannot be confined, sensed, touched, or felt. The senses perceive Him not, and nothing can comprehend Him. He does not have a body or an image, nor lineation or delineation.

5 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن سهل بن زياد، عن محمد بن إسماعيل بن بزيغ، عن محمد ابن زيد، قال: جئت إلى الرضا عليه السلام أسأله عن التوحيد، فأملي علي: الحمد لله فاطر الأشياء إنشاء ومبتدعها ابتداء بقدرته وحكمته، لا من شئ فيبطل الاختراع، ولا لعلة فلا يصح الابتداع  خلق ما شاء كيف شاء، متوحدا بذلك لا ظهار حكمته وحقيقة ربوبيته، لا تضبطه العقول، ولا تبلغه الأوهام، ولا تدركه الأبصار، ولا يحيط به مقدار، عجزت دونه العبارة، وكلت دونه الأبصار، وضل فيه تصاريف - الصفات، احتجب بغير حجاب محجوب. واستتر بغير ستر مستور، عرف بغير رؤية ووصف بغير صورة، ونعت بغير جسم، لا إله إلا الله الكبير المتعال.

5. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il ibn Bazi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Zayd that I came to (`Ali) al-Rida (AS) asking him about Divine Unity, so he (AS) dictated to me: All praise be to Allah, the Originator, Producer, and Innovator [Mubtadi`] of all things from the beginning by His Power and Wisdom, not from anything that could invalidate His Invention, nor for nay wrong cause. He created whatever He wanted how He wanted, and He did so independently in order to manifest His Wisdom, and the Reality of His Lordship. Intellects cannot grasp Him. Imagination cannot reach Him. Eyes cannot perceive Him, and scale cannot encompass Him. Speech is incapable without Him. Eyes are expressionless without Him, and rhetoric of description goes astray in Him. He is hidden without a veil and is covered without a covering. He is recognized without seeing. He is described without an image. And He is praised despite the face that He does not possess a body. There is no god but Allah, the great, the Most Exalted.”

6 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن عبد الله بن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي رضي الله عنه، عن أبيه، عن جده أحمد بن أبي عبد الله، عن أحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر، عن محمد بن حكيم، قال: وصفت لأبي إبراهيم عليه السلام قول هشام الجواليقي، وحكيت له قول هشام بن الحكم: إنه جسم، فقال: إن الله لا يشبهه شئ، أي فحش أو خناء أعظم من قول من يصف خالق الأشياء بجسم أو صورة أو بخلقة أو بتحديد أو أعضاء؟! تعالى الله عن ذلك علوا كبيرا. 

6. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn `Abu `Abd Allah al-Barqi said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Hukaym that I described the statement of Hisham al-Jawaliqi, and narrated for Musa al-Kadhim (AS) the statement of Hisham ibn al-Hakam that He possesses a body. Hence, he (AS) said: “Verily, nothing resembles Allah. Indecent language is better than words which give the Creator a created body or image composed of parts. Exalted from these, the High, the Great.”

7 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله الكوفي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن إسماعيل البرمكي، عن الحسين بن الحسن، والحسين بن علي، عن صالح بن أبي حماد  عن بكر بن صالح، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن عبد الله بن المغيرة، عن محمد بن زياد، قال: سمعت يونس بن ظبيان يقول: دخلت على أبي عبد الله عليه السلام فقلت له: إن هشام بن الحكم يقول قولا عظيما إلا أني أختصر لك منه أحرفا، يزعم: أن الله جسم لأن الأشياء شيئان: جسم و فعل الجسم، فلا يجوز أن يكون الصانع بمعنى الفعل، ويجوز أن يكون بمعنى الفاعل، فقال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: ويله، أما علم أن الجسم محدود متناه، والصورة محدودة متناهية، فإذا احتمل الحد احتمل الزيادة والنقصان، وإذا احتمل الزيادة والنقصان كان مخلوقا، قال: قلت: فما أقول؟ قال: لا جسم ولا صورة، وهو مجسم الأجسام، ومصور الصور، لم يتجزء، ولم يتناه. ولم يتزايد، ولم يتناقص، لو كان كما يقول لم يكن بين الخالق والمخلوق فرق، ولا بين المنشئ والمنشأ، لكن هو المنشئ، فرق بين من جسمه وصوره وأنشأه إذ كان لا يشبهه شئ ولا يشبه هو شيئا .

7. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (may Allah be pleased with them) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Isma`il al-Barmaki said: on the authority of al-Husan ibn al-Hasan, and al-Husayn ibn `Ali, on the authority of Salih ibn Abu Hammad, on the authority of Bakr ibn Salih, on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Sa`id, on the authority of `Abd Allah in al-Mughayrah, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ziyad said: I heard Yunus ibn Zabyan say I entered in the presence of Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) and told him: Hisham ibn al-Hakam made a long statement. I will simply summarize it: He considers Allah to be a body because things are of two types: bodies or actions of bodies. Hence, if it is not possible for the creator to be an action, it is only possible that He be a Doer. Then Abu `Abd Allah (AS) replied: “Woe to him! Does he not know that a body is extremely limited, and an image is absolutely limited? Hence, if a limit is possible then increase and decrease are possible, and if increase and decrease are possible, then He is created. I asked: “Then what should I say? He answered: He has neither body nor image for He is the creator of bodies and images. He is devoid of parts and limits. He does not increase, nor does He decrease. If He were as he (Hisham) says then there would be no difference between the Creator and the created, or between the Inventor and the invented. However, He is the Inventor. The Creator of Bodies and Images does not resemble anything nor does anything resemble Him.

8 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله الكوفي، عن محمد بن إسماعيل البرمكي، عن علي بن العباس، عن الحسن بن عبد الرحمن الحماني ، قال: قلت لأبي الحسن موسى ابن جعفر عليهما السلام: إن هشام بن الحكم زعم: أن الله جسم ليس كمثله شئ، عالم سميع، بصير، قادر متكلم، ناطق، والكلام والقدرة والعلم تجري مجرى واحدا ليس شئ منها مخلوقا، فقال: قاتله الله، أما علم أن الجسم محدود، والكلام غير المتكلم  معاذ الله وأبرء إلى الله من هذا القول، لا جسم ولا صورة ولا تحديد، وكل شئ سواه مخلوق وإنما تكون الأشياء بإرادته ومشيته من غير كلام ولا تردد في نفس، ولا نطق بلسان. 

8. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il alBarmaki, on the authority of `Ali ibn al-`Abbas, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn `Abd alRahman al-Hammani that I said to Abu al-Hasan Musa ibn Ja`far (AS): Hisham ibn al-Hakam thinks that Allah is a body. There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him, the All-knowing, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the Omnipotent, the Speaker, and the Communicator. Speech, Omnipotence, and Knowledge flow from the One Same Source, None of these things are created. So he (AS) said: May Allah kill him! Does he not know that a body is limited, and that speech is other than the speaker? Allah forbid, I am free from such words. He is devoid of both body and image. He has not limits, and everything other than Him is created. Verily, everything that exists is the result of His Will and Intent which is expressed without words, the use of the tongue, or any reluctance or hesitation.

9 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، عن محمد بن يعقوب الكليني، عن علي بن محمد، عن سهل بن زياد، عن إبراهيم بن محمد الهمداني، قال كتبت إلى الرجل يعني أبا الحسن عليه السلام: أن من قبلنا من مواليك قد اختلفوا في التوحيد، فمنهم من يقول جسم، ومنهم من يقول صورة، فكتب عليه السلام بخطه: سبحان من لا يحد، ولا يوصف، ليس كمثله شئ وهو السميع العليم - أو قال: البصير -. 

9. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (may Allah have mercy on him) said: on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ya`qub al-Kulayni, on the authority of `Ali ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Hamdani that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Naqi (AS), informing him that some of his following have differences on the subject of Divine Unity. Some of them say that He has a body, while others say that He has an image. So He (AS) wrote to me the following in his own handwriting: “Glory be to Him who has no limit and who cannot be described! There is nothing whatsoever like unto Him; He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” He (AS) may have said: “the All-Seeing.”

10 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عيسى، عن هشام بن إبراهيم، قال: قال العباسي قلت له - يعني أبا الحسن عليه السلام -: جعلت فداك أمرني بعض مواليك أن أسألك عن مسألة قال: ومن هو؟ قلت: الحسن بن سهل  قال: في أي شئ المسألة؟ قال: قلت في التوحيد، قال: وأي شئ من التوحيد؟ قال: يسألك عن الله جسم أو لا جسم؟ قال: فقال لي: إن للناس في التوحيد ثلاثة مذاهب مذهب إثبات بتشبيه، و مذهب النفي، ومذهب إثبات بلا تشبيه. فمذهب الاثبات بتشبيه لا يجوز، ومذهب النفي لا يجوز، والطريق في المذهب الثالث إثبات بلا تشبيه. 

10. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad said: Muhammad ibn `Isa said, on the authority of Hisham ibn Ibrahim who said: al-`Abbasi said I said to him (AS), meaning Abu al-hasan al-Rida (AS): “May I be your ransom! One of your followers told me to ask you a question about something.” He (AS) said: “And who would that be?” I said: “Al-Hasan ibn Sahl.” He (AS) asked: “What is the issue about?’ I replied: “It is about Divine Unity.” He (AS) said: “What about Divine Unity?” I said: “He wants to know whether Allah possesses a body or not?” He (AS) answered me: There are three positions regarding Divine Unity. The first group attempts to describe Him through anthropomorphism. The second group attempts to describe Him through negation. And the third group attempts to describe Him without falling into anthropomorphism. Describing Him through anthropomorphism is not allowed, and describing Him through negation is not allowed. The correct position is attempting to describe him without falling into anthropomorphism.

11 - حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد، عن عمران بن موسى، عن الحسن بن العباس ابن حريش الرازي، عن بعض أصحابنا، عن الطيب يعني علي بن محمد، وعن أبي جعفر الجواد عليهما السلام أنهما قالا: من قال بالجسم فلا تعطوه من الزكاة ولا تصلوا وراءه. 

11. Muhammad ibn `Ali Majilwayh (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad said: on the authority of `Imran ibn Musa, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn al-`Abba ibn Huraysh al-Razi, on the authority of some of our scholars that The purified [Tayyib], `Ali ibn Muhammad, and Abu Ja`far al-Jawad (AS) both said: “He who claims that Allah has a body, do not give him the poor-rate, and do not pray behind him.”

12 - حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رحمه الله، قال، حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، عن سهل بن زياد، عن محمد بن علي القاساني، قال: كتبت إليه عليه السلام: أن من قبلنا قد اختلفوا في التوحيد، قال: فكتب عليه السلام: سبحان من لا يحد، ولا يوصف، ليس كمثله شئ، وهو السميع البصير. 

12. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said: on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Qasani who said I wrote to him (AS) informing him that some of the people here differed on the subject of Divine Unity. He (AS) replied in writing: “Glory be to Him who has no limit, and who cannot be described! Nothing whatsoever is like unto Him. And he is the All-Hearing, and the AllSeeing.”

13 - حدثنا الحسين بن أحمد بن إدريس رحمه الله، عن أبيه، عن أبي سعيد الآدمي، عن بشر بن بشار النيسابوري، قال: كتبت إلى أبي الحسن عليه السلام بأن من قبلنا قد اختلفوا في التوحيد، منهم من يقول هو جسم، ومنهم من يقول صورة، فكتب عليه السلام: سبحان من لا يحد، ولا يوصف، ولا يشبهه شئ، وليس كمثله شئ وهو السميع البصير. 

13. Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Idris (may Allah have mercy on him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu Sa`id al-Adami, on the authority of Bishr ibn Bashshar alNaysaburi that: I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Naqi (AS) informing him that the people differed on the subject of Divine Unity. Some of them say “He has a body” while others say that “He has an image.” So, he (AS) wrote (back): “Glory be to Him who has no limit, who cannot be described, and with whom nothing resembles! Nothing whatsoever is like unto Him. And He is the All-Hearing and the All-Seeing.”

14 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن يحيى العطار رحمه الله، عن أبيه، عن سهل بن زياد، قال: كتبت إلى أبي محمد عليه السلام سنة خمس وخمسين ومائتين: قد اختلف يا سيدي أصحابنا في التوحيد منهم من يقول هو جسم، ومنهم من يقول هو صورة، فإن رأيت يا سيدي أن تعلمني من ذلك ما أقف عليه ولا أجوزه فعلت متطولا على عبدك، فوقع عليه السلام بخطه: سألت عن التوحيد، وهذا عنكم معزول ، الله تعالى واحد، أحد، صمد، لم يلد ولم يولد، ولم يكن له كفوا أحد، خالق وليس بمخلوق، يخلق تبارك وتعالى ما يشاء من الأجسام وغير ذلك، ويصور ما يشاء، وليس بمصور، جل ثناؤه، وتقدست أسماؤه، وتعالى عن أن يكون له شبيه، هو لا غيره  ليس كمثله شئ، وهو السمع البصير. 

14. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar (rh) said: on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad who said: I wrote the following to Abu Muhammad (AS) in the year 255 AH: O my Master! Our scholars are divided on the question of Divine Unity (tawhid). Some of them say that “He (Allah) is a body,” while others say that “He is an image.” O my Master! If you deem it appropriate, teach me the correct view since I do not know the answer, and be gracious to your servant. <br>Hence, he (AS) wrote to me the following in his own handwriting: You enquired about Divine Unity. This is far from your honorable reach. Allah, the Exalted, is One, Alone, and Needless. He begets not, nor is He begotten, and none is equal unto Him. He is the Creator, and not created. He, the Blessed and Exalted, creates bodies and other things as He wishes. He fashions images as He wishes, but He is not a fashioned image. Exalted be His Praise, and Hallowed be His names. He is far above having a resemblance. There is no other than Him. Nothing whatsoever is like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing and the All-Seeing.

15 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، قال: حدثنا العباس بن معروف، قال: حدثنا ابن أبي نجران عن حماد بن عثمان، عن عبد الرحيم القصير، قال: كتبت على يدي عبد الملك بن أعين إلى أبي عبد الله عليه السلام بمسائل، فيها: أخبرني عن الله عز وجل هل يوصف بالصورة وبالتخطيط؟ فإن رأيت جعلني الله فداك أن تكتب إلي بالمذهب الصحيح من التوحيد فكتب عليه السلام بيدي عبد الملك بن أعين: سألت رحمك الله عن التوحيد وما ذهب إليه من قبلك، فتعالى الله الذي ليس كمثله شئ وهو السميع البصير، تعالى الله عما يصفه الواصفون المشبهون الله تبارك وتعالى بخلقه المفترون على الله، واعلم رحمك الله أن المذهب الصحيح في التوحيد ما نزل به القرآن من صفات الله عز وجل، فانف عن الله البطلان والتشبيه، فلا نفي ولا تشبيه، هو الله الثابت الموجود، تعالى الله عما يصفه الواصفون، ولا تعد القرآن فتضل بعد البيان. 

15. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar said: al-`Abbas ibn Ma`ruf said: Ibn Abu Najran said, on the authority of Hammad ibn `Uthman, on the authority of `Abd al-Rahim al-Qasir that I wrote a letter, and sent it by hand via `Abd Al-Malik ibn A`yan to Abu `Abd Allah alSadiq (AS). In it, I asked about several issues, one of which was: “Please inform me about Allah, the Mighty and High. Can He be described with image and lineation? If this letter reaches you, may Allah make me your ransom, write back to me with the correct vies about Divine Unity.” So he (AS) wrote back to me, sending the letter via `Abd al-Malik ibn A`yan: May Allah have mercy on you! You have enquired about Divine Unity. Allah is Greater than what your companions have ascribed. He is All-Hearing and All-Seeing, and there is nothing like unto Him. Allah is greater than the descriptions of the describers, those who describe Him inhuman terms, and those who compare Him with His creation, thus slandering Allah. Beware! May Allah have mercy on you! The correct view about Divine Unity is to be found in the attributes that Allah, the Mighty and High, revealed in the Qur`an. Reject anthropomorphism, and do not apply to Allah what is vain. Allah is Firmly Present. Allah is high above the descriptions of the describers. Do not exceed the Qur`an, as you will misled after the clear explanation has reached you.

16 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن يحيى العطار رحمه الله، عن أبيه، عن سهل بن زياد، عن بعض أصحابنا، قال: كتبت إلى أبي الحسن عليه السلام أسأله عن الجسم و الصورة، فكتب: سبحان من ليس كمثله شئ ولا جسم ولا صورة. 

16. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar (may Allah have mercy on him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad, on the authority of some of our scholars that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) asking him about the body and image of Allah, so he replied in writing: “Glory be to Him who has nothing whatsoever like unto Him, and who is devoid of both body and image.”

17 - حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن يحيى العطار رضي الله عنه، عن أبيه، عن سهل ابن زياد الآدمي، عن حمزة بن محمد، قال: كتبت إلى أبي الحسن عليه السلام أسأله عن الجسم والصورة، فكتب: سبحان من ليس كمثله شئ. 

17. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Hamzah ibn Muhammad that I wrote to Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) asking him whether Allah had a body or an image. Hence he (AS) wrote in reply: “Glory be to Him who has nothing whatsoever like unto Him,”

18 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن عبد الله بن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي رحمه الله، عن أبيه، عن جده أحمد بن أبي عبد الله، عن أبيه، عن عبد الله بن بحر، عن أبي - أيوب الخزاز، عن محمد بن مسلم، قال: سألت أبا جعفر عليه السلام عما يروون أن الله عز وجل خلق آدم على صورته (١) فقال: هي صورة محدثة مخلوقة، اصطفاها الله واختارها على سائر الصور المختلفة، فأضافها إلى نفسه كما أضاف الكعبة إلى نفسه والروح إلى نفسه. فقال: ﴿بيتي﴾ (٢) وقال: ﴿ونفخت فيه من روحي﴾ . 

18. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Barqi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah, on the authority of his father, on the authority of `Abd Allah ibn Bahr, on the authority of Abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Muslim that I asked Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) about the claim that Allah, the Mighty and High, created Adam (AS) in His Image; hence, he said: That was a recently created image. Allah favored it, and chose it over all different images. Then He attributed it to Himself like He attributed the Ka`bah and the Sprit to Himself. Thus, He said: My House.1 And said: And when I breathed into him My Spirit.2

19 - حدثني محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن يعقوب السراج، قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله عليه السلام: إن بعض أصحابنا يزعم أن لله صورة مثل صورة الإنسان، وقال آخر: إنه في صورة أمرد جعد قطط، فخر أبو عبد الله ساجدا، ثم رفع رأسه، فقال: سبحان الله الذي ليس كمثله شئ، ولا تدركه الأبصار، ولا يحيط به علم، لم يلد لأن الولد يشبه أباه، ولم يولد فيشبه من كان قبله، ولم يكن له من خلقه كفوا أحد، تعالى عن صفة من سواه علوا كبيرا. 

19. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (may Allah have mercy on him) said: `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Himyari said, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority al-I Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of Ya`qub al-Sarraj that I said to Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS): “Some of our scholars think that Allah looks like a human being, while others think that he is beardless and has curly hair.” Abu `Abd Allah (AS) fell down in prostration, then raised his head, and said: Glory be Allah who has nothing whatsoever like unto Him! Vision cannot perceive Him, and knowledge cannot encompass Him. He begets not, because the son resembles his father, not is He begotten, so that He could resemble the one before Him. And none is like Him. Exalted is He, the High, and Mighty from such attributions!

20 - حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه، عن الصقر بن (أبي) دلف، قال: سألت أبا الحسن علي بن محمد بن علي بن موسى الرضا عليهم السلام عن التوحيد، وقلت له: إني أقول بقول هشام ابن الحكم، فغضب عليه السلام ثم قال: ما لكم ولقول هشام، إنه ليس منا من زعم أن الله عز وجل جسم  ونحن منه براء في الدنيا والآخرة، يا ابن (أبي) دلف إن الجسم محدث، والله محدثه ومجسمه. وأنا أذكر الدليل على حدوث الأجسام في باب الدليل على حدوث العالم من هذا الكتاب إن شاء الله.  باب أنه تبارك وتعالى شئ 

20. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (may Allah have mercy on him) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of al-Saqr ibn [Abu] Dulaf that I asked Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS) about Divine Unity: “Verily, I say what Hisham ibn al-Hasam said.” So he (AS) became angry and said: What is the matter with you and Hisham? Indeed, he is not from us who thinks that Allah, the Mighty and High, has a body. We are free from such a person in this world, and in the Hereafter. O son of [Abu] Dulaf! Verily, the body is created and Allah is its Creator. The Compiler of this book says: Allah willing, I will mention the proof that bodies are created in the chapter of this book titled “The Proof of the Creation of the World.”

Al-Tawḥīd

Book 2, Chapter 6