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، قال: حدثنا يعقوب بن يزيد، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن جميل بن دراج، عن زرارة، عن عبد الله بن سليمان، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: سمعته يقول: إن القضاء والقدر خلقان من خلق الله، والله يزيد في الخلق ما يشاء. 

1. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: Ya`qub ibn Yazid said, on the authority of Ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of Jamil ibn Durraj, o the authority of Zurarah, on the authority of `Abd Allah ibn Sulayman that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Verily, predestination, and the Divine Decree are creations from the creation of Allah. Allah increases for the creation whatever He wills.”

2 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن علي بن معبد، عن درست، عن ابن أذينة  عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: قلت له جعلت فداك ما تقول في القضاء والقدر؟ قال: أقول: إن الله تبارك وتعالى إذا جمع العباد يوم القيامة سألهم عما عهد إليهم ولم يسألهم عما قضى عليهم . 

2. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar said, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Hashim, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ma`bad, on the authority of Durust, on the authority of Udhaynah that I asked Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS): “May I be your ransom! What is your belief regarding predestination, and the Divine Decree?” He (AS) replied, “I believe: Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, will gather all of His Servants on the Day of Judgment. He will ask them about what He assigned them, and not what was predestined for them.”

3 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن محمد بن خالد البرقي، عن عبد الملك بن عنترة الشيباني، عن أبيه، عن جده، قال: جاء رجل إلى أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقال: يا أمير المؤمنين أخبرني عن القدر، قال عليه السلام: بحر عميق فلا تلجه، قال: يا أمير المؤمنين أخبرني عن القدر، قال عليه السلام: طريق مظلم فلا تسلكه، قال: يا أمير المؤمنين أخبرني عن القدر، قال عليه السلام: سر الله فلا تكلفه  قال: يا أمير المؤمنين أخبرني عن القدر، فقال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: أما إذا أبيت فإني سائلك، أخبرني أكانت رحمة الله للعباد قبل أعمال العباد أم كانت أعمال العباد قبل رحمة الله؟! قال: فقال له الرجل: بل كانت رحمة الله للعباد قبل أعمال العباد، فقال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: قوموا فسلموا على أخيكم فقد أسلم وقد كان كافرا، قال: وانطلق الرجل غير بعيد، ثم انصرف إليه فقال له: يا أمير المؤمنين أبا لمشية الأولى نقوم ونقعد ونقبض ونبسط؟ فقال له أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: وإنك لبعد في المشية  أما إني سائلك عن ثلاث لا يجعل الله لك في شئ منها مخرجا: أخبرني أخلق الله العباد كما شاء أو كما شاؤوا؟! فقال: كما شاء، قال عليه السلام: فخلق الله العباد لما شاء أو لما شاؤوا؟! فقال: لما شاء، قال عليه السلام: يأتونه يوم القيامة كما شاء أو كما شاؤوا؟ قال: يأتونه كما شاء، قال عليه السلام: قم فليس إليك من المشية شئ.  

3. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Khalid al-barqi, on the authority of `Abd al-Malik ibn `Antarah alShaybani, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather who said A man came to the Commander of the Faithful (AS) and said: “O Commander of the Faithful, tell me about the Divine Decree.” He (AS) replied, “It is a deep ocean, so do not enter it.” The man said: “O Commander of the Faithful, tell me about the Divine Decree.” The Imam (AS) answered, “It is a dark path, so do not follow it.” The man said: “O Commander of the Faithful, tell me about the Divine Decree.” The Imam (AS) answered, “It is a secret of Allah. Do not enquire about it.” He said: “O Commander of the Faithful, tell me about the Divine Decree.” The Imam (AS) asked, “Since you refuse to stop questioning me, I shall question you. Tell me: Does the Mercy of Allah towards His Servants precede or succeed the actions of His Servants?” The man replied to him, “Allah’s Mercy towards His Servants existed prior to the actions of His Servants.” The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: “All of you stand up and greet your brother, for he has submitted to Islam, while only shortly before he was an unbeliever.” The reporter says: The man moved off, but not far. Then he returned and asked, “O Commander of the Faithful! Do we stand and sit, and apprehend the delight, with the First Will?” The Commander of the Faithful (AS) replied to him, “Verily, you are far from the Divine Will. Beware! I will ask you concerning three matters from which Allah will not give you a place of escape. Tell me: Did Allah create the servants the way He willed or the way they did?” Consequently, he replied, “the way He willed.” The Imam (AS) asked, “Did Allah create the servants for what He willed or for what they willed?” He answered, “For what He willed.” Then (The) `Ali (AS) asked, “Will they appear before Him on the Day of Judgment the way He wills or the way they will?” The man replied, “They will come to Him on the Day of Judgment the way He wills. The Imam (AS) said: “Stand up, as you do not have any belief in the Divine Will.”

4 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن القاسم بن محمد الإصبهاني عن سليمان بن داود المنقري، عن سفيان بن عيينة  عن الزهري، قال: قال رجل لعلي بن الحسين عليهما السلام،: جعلني الله فداك أبقدر يصيب الناس ما أصابهم أم بعمل؟ فقال عليه السلام: إن القدر والعمل بمنزلة الروح والجسد، فالروح بغير جسد لا تحس والجسد بغير روح صورة لا حراك بها  فإذا اجتمعا قويا وصلحا، وكذلك العمل والقدر، فلو لم يكن القدر واقعا على العمل لم يعرف الخالق من المخلوق وكان القدر شيئا لا يحس، ولو لم يكن العمل بموافقة من القدر لم يمض ولم يتم، ولكنهما باجتماعهما قويا، ولله فيه العون لعباده الصالحين  ثم قال عليه السلام: ألا إن من أجور الناس من رأى جوره عدلا وعدل المهتدي جورا، إلا إن للعبد أربعة أعين: عينان يبصر بهما أمر آخرته، وعينان يبصر بهما أمر دنياه، فإذا أراد الله عز وجل بعبد خيرا فتح له العينين اللتين في قلبه فأبصر بهما العيب  وإذا أراد غير ذلك ترك القلب بما فيه، ثم التفت إلى السائل عن القدر فقال: هذا منه، هذا منه . 

4. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said, on the authority of al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Isbahani, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Dawud al-Minqari, on the authority of Sufyan ibn `Uyaynah, on the authority of al-Zuhri that A man asked `Ali ibn al-Husayn (AS): “May Allah make me your ransom! Does Allah punish people due to the Divine Decree or due to their actions?” He (AS) replied, Verily, the Divine Decree and actions are like the spirit and the body. The spirit, within a body, cannot be sensed. The body, without a spirit, is shape without movement. When they combine they become strong and proper. The Divine Decree operates in a similar fashion. If the Divine Decree did not act, then the Creator would not be differentiated from the created, and the Divine Decree would not be sensed. If action took place without the Divine Decree, then it would not be proper, and would be incomplete. Their strength is in their combination. And Allah is the (Sole Source of) Help for His Pious Servants. He (AS) then added, Beware! Verily, the greatest oppressor of people is he who views his oppression as justice, and sees the justice of the rightly-guided as oppression. Beware! Verily, the greatest oppressor of people is he who views his oppression as justice, and sees the justice of the rightly-guide as oppression. Beware! Verily, a servant as four eyes: two eyes with which he sees the affairs of the Hereafter, and the two eyes with which he sees the affairs of this world. When Allah, the Mighty and High, intends good for a servant, he opens the two eyes of his heart, and he sees his shortcomings. When He intends other than that for him, He leaves the heart (of His Servant as it is), with all it contains. He (AS) then turned to the person who had asked about the Divine Decree, and said: “This is from that and this is from that.”

5 - حدثنا أحمد بن الحسن القطان، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن يحيى بن زكريا القطان، قال: حدثنا بكر بن عبد الله بن حبيب، قال: حدثنا علي بن زياد، قال: حدثنا مروان بن معاوية، عن الأعمش، عن أبي حيان التيمي ، عن أبيه - و كان مع علي عليه السلام يوم صفين وفيما بعد ذلك - قال: بينا علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام يعبي الكتائب يوم صفين ومعاوية مستقبله على فرس له يتأكل تحته تأكلا وعلي عليه السلام على فرس رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم المرتجز، وبيده حربة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم، وهو متقلد سيفه ذو الفقار  فقال رجل من أصحابه: احترس يا أمير المؤمنين فإنا نخشى أن يغتالك هذا الملعون، فقال عليه السلام: لئن قلت ذاك إنه غير مأمون على دينه وإنه لأشقى القاسطين وألعن الخارجين على الأئمة المهتدين، ولكن كفى بالأجل حارسا، ليس أحد من الناس إلا ومعه ملائكة حفظة يحفظونه من أن يتردى في بئر أو يقع عليه حائطا أو يصيبه سوء، فإذا حان أجله خلوا بينه وبين ما يصيبه، وكذلك أنا إذا حان أجلي انبعث أشقاها  فخضب هذه من هذا - وأشار إلى لحيته ورأسه - عهدا معهودا ووعدا غير مكذوب، والحديث طويل، أخذنا منه موضع الحاجة، وقد أخرجته بتمامه في كتاب الدلائل والمعجزات. 

5. Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qittan said: Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Zakariyya al-Qittan said: Bakr ibn `Abd Allah ibn Hubayb said: `Ali ibn Ziyad said: Marwan ibn Mu`awiyah said, on the authority of al-A`mash, on the authority of Abu Hayyan al-Taymi, on the authority of his father who was with `Ali (AS) in the Battle of Siffin and onwards, that While `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) was charging the battalions, Mu`awiyah came riding a horse towards him. `Ali was on the horse of the Messenger of Allah (SA) called alMurtajiz. He had the spear of the Messenger of Allah (SA) in his hand, and his own sword called Dhu al-Fiqar was hanging on his side. One of his companions said “Be careful, O Commander of the Faithful! Verily, we fear that this cursed man may kill you.” Consequently, he (AS) replied, Verily, if you had said that he is the most unfaithful and the most hard-hearted. He is the most wretched of the Kharijites due to his opposition to the rightly-guided Imams. Nonetheless, death is sufficient as a guardian. Everyone is protected by angels. They protect people fro falling into a well or a wall falling on them. They prevent people from other evils that may befall them. When the moment of death arrives, these angels guard people from what they are about to experience. I am the same. My death will come at the hands of the most wretched person of this Ummah, and my blood will color this and this. And he indicated his beard and head, saying it was “a well-know covenant and a true promise.” The Compiler of this book says: The tradition is detailed; we have extracted from it the required passage. I have transmitted all of it in the book Al-Dala`l wa al-Mu`jizat.

6 - حدثنا أبي، ومحمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رحمهما الله قالا: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، وأحمد بن إدريس جميعا، عن محمد بن أحمد بن يحيى بن عمران الأشعري، عن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن علي بن معبد، عن عمر بن أذينة، عن زرارة قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: كما أن بادي النعم من الله عز وجل وقد نحلكموه، فلذلك الشر من أنفسكم وإن جرى به قدره . 

6. My father and Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) both said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar and Ahmad ibn Idris both said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn `Imran al-Ash`ari, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Hashim, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ma`bad, on the authority of `Umar ibn Udhaynah, on the authority of Zurarah that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Every bounty begins with Allah, the Mighty and High, who has bestowed it upon you. Every evil which befalls you is from yourselves, although the Divine Decrees flows in it.”

7 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد، عن يوسف بن الحارث، عن محمد بن عبد الرحمن العرزمي، عن أبيه عبد الرحمن بإسناده رفعه إلى من قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم يقول: قدر الله المقادير قبل أن يخلق السماوات والأرض بخمسين ألف سنة.

7. My father (RA) said: Ahmad ibn Idris said: Muhammad ibn Ahmad said, on the authority of Yusuf ibn al-Harith, on the authority of Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Rahman al-`Arzami, on the authority of his father `Abd al-Rahman who eliminated the chain of transmission to the person who said I heard the Messenger of Allah (SA) say: “Allah decreed the destinies fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.”

8 - حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق، وعلي بن محمد بن الحسن المعروف بابن مقبرة القزويني  قالا: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا الهيثم بن أبي مسروق النهدي، عن الحسين بن علوان، عن عمرو بن ثابت  عن سعد بن طريف عن الإصبع بن نباته، قال: إن أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام عدل من عند حائط مائل إلى حائط آخر، فقيل له، يا أمير المؤمنين أتفر من قضاء الله؟ فقال: أفر من قضاء الله إلى قدر الله عز وجل . 

8. `Ali ibn `Abd al-Warraq and `Ali ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hasan known to be Ibn Maqbarah alQazwini both said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: al-Haytham ibn Abu Masruq al-Nahdi said, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn `Ulwan, on the authority of `Amr ibn Thabit, on the authority of Sa`d ibn Tarif, on the authority of al-Asbagh ibn Nabatah that The Commander of the Faithful (AS) moved from a wall that was tilted to another wall so it was said to him, “O Commander of the Faithful! Are you fleeing from the destiny of Allah?” He (AS) replied, “I am fleeing from the destiny of Allah to the Divine Decree of Allah, the Mighty and High.”

9 - حدثنا أبو الحسن محمد بن عمرو بن علي البصري  قال: حدثنا أبو الحسن علي بن الحسن المثنى  قال: حدثنا أبو الحسن  علي بن مهرويه القزويني، قال: حدثنا أبو أحمد الغازي، قال: حدثنا علي بن موسى الرضا قال: حدثنا أبي موسى بن جعفر، قال: حدثنا أبي جعفر بن محمد، قال: حدثنا أبي محمد بن علي، قال: حدثنا أبي علي بن الحسين، قال: حدثنا أبي الحسين ابن علي عليهم السلام، قال: سمعت أبي علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام يقول: الأعمال على ثلاثة أحوال: فرائض وفضائل ومعاصي  وأما الفرائض فبأمر الله عز وجل، وبرضى الله وقضاء الله وتقديره ومشيته وعلمه، وأما الفضائل فليست بأمر الله ولكن برضى الله و بقضاء الله وبقدر الله وبمشيته وبعلمه، وأما المعاصي فليست بأمر الله  ولكن بقضاء الله وبقدر الله وبمشيته وبعلمه، ثم يعاقب عليها. قال مصنف هذا الكتاب: قضاء الله عز وجل في المعاصي حكمه فيها، ومشيته في المعاصي نهيه عنها، وقدره فيها علمه بمقاديرها ومبالغها .

9. Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn `Amr ibn `Ali al-Basri said: Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn al-Hasan alMuthanna said: Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn Mihraway al-Qazwini said: Abu Ahmad al-Ghazi said: `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida related to me that My father Musa ibn Ja`far said: My father Ja`far ibn Muhammad said: My father Muhammad ibn `Ali said: My father `Ali ibn al-Husayn said: My father al-Husayn ibn Ali (AS) said I heard my father `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) say: Actions have three states: obligations, merits, and sins. As for obligations, the form part of the command of Allah, the Mighty and High, His Pleasure, His destiny, His Decree, His Will and His Knowledge. As for merits, the do not form part of the command of Allah; rather, they form part of His Pleasure, His Destiny, His Divine Decree, His Will, and His Knowledge. As for sins, they do not form part of the command of Allah; rather, they form part of His Destiny, His Divine Decree, His Will, and His Knowledge. Hence, he will punish people because of them. The Compiler of this book says: With regards to sins, the predestination of Allah, the Mighty and High, resides in His Order regarding them. With regards to sins, His Will resides in His Prohibition of them. With regards to sins, His Divine Decree resides in His Knowledge of their measures and their extents.

10 - وبهذا الإسناد قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: الدنيا كلها جهل إلا مواضع العلم، والعلم كله حجة إلا ما عمل به، والعمل كله رياء إلا ما كان مخلصا، و الاخلاص على خطر حتى ينظر العبد بما يختم له. 

10. And with the same chain of transmission that The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: With the exception of the centers of knowledge, the world is nothing but ignorance. The knowledge in its entirety is evidence against the ones who know and fail to practice. If they practice what they know for the sake of showing off, they shall be held accountable. They shall not be held accountable for what they practiced with sincerity. The path of sincerity is a dangerous one. Hence, the Servant of Allah should beware.

11 - حدثنا الحسين بن إبراهيم بن أحمد المؤدب رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه، عن علي بن معبد، عن الحسين بن خالد، عن علي بن موسى الرضا، عن أبيه موسى بن جعفر، عن أبيه جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه محمد بن علي، عن أبيه علي بن الحسين، عن أبيه الحسين بن علي، عن أبيه علي ابن أبي طالب عليهم السلام، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم يقول: قال الله جل جلاله: من لم يرض بقضائي ولم يؤمن بقدري فليلتمس إلها غيري، وقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: في كل قضاء الله خيرة للمؤمن.  

11. Al- Husayn ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Mu`adab (RA) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority fo `Ali ibn Ma`bad, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn Khalid, on the authority of `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida, on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja`far, on the authority of his father 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 (AS) that I heard the Messenger of Allah (SA) saying, “Allah, Great be His Glory, says: `Whoever is displeased with My Destiny, and does not believe in My Decree, then he should invoke a deity other than Me.” The Messenger of Allah (SA) said: “In every affair destined by Allah, there is goodness for the believer.”

12 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن محمد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطاب، عن محمد بن إسماعيل بن بزيع، عن محمد بن عذافر، عن أبيه، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام، قال: بينا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ذات يوم في بعض أسفاره إذا لقيه ركب فقالوا: السلام عليك يا رسول الله، فالتفت إليهم فقال: ما أنتم؟ فقالوا: مؤمنون، فقال: ما حقيقة إيمانكم. قالوا: الرضا بقضاء الله والتسليم لأمر الله والتفويض إلى الله، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: علماء حكماء كادوا أن يكونوا من الحكمة أنبياء، فإن كنتم صادقين فلا تبنوا ما لا تسكنون، ولا تجمعوا ما لا تأكلون، واتقوا الله الذي إليه ترجعون. 

12. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar said, on the authority of Muhamad ibn al-Husayn ibn Abu al-Khattab, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il ibn Bazi`, on the authority of Muhamad ibn `Udhafir, on the authority of his father that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: While the Messenger of Allah (SA) was on one of his journeys, some riders met him, and said: “Peace be upon you, O messenger of Allah.” So, he turned to them and asked, ”Who are you?” They answered, “We are believers.” He (SA) asked, “What is the nature of your belief?” They replied, “Pleasure in the destiny of Allah, submission to the command of Allah, and relinquishment to Allah (of all affairs).” The Messenger of Allah (SA) responded, “You are learned and wise. You are almost as wise as the prophets. If you are truthful, then do not build what you will not inhabit, do not collect what you will not eat, and fear Allah to whom you shall return.”

13 - حدثنا أحمد بن الحسن القطان، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد الهمداني، قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن بن علي بن فضال، عن أبيه، عن هارون ابن مسلم  عن ثابت بن أبي صفية، عن سعد الخفاف، عن الأصبغ بن نباتة، قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام لرجل: إن كنت لا تطيع خالقك فلا تأكل رزقه  وإن كنت واليت عدوه فأخرج عن ملكه، وإن كنت غير قانع بقضائه وقدره فاطلب ربا سواه. 

13. Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qittan said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa`id al-Hamdani said: `Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Fuddal said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Harun ibn Muslim, on the authority of Thabit ibn Abu Safiyyah, on the authority of Sa`d al-Khaffaf, on the authority of al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah that The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said to a man, “If you do not wish to obey your Creator, then do not eat of His Sustenance. And if you support His Enemy (Satan), then leave His Realm. If you are dissatisfied with His destiny and His Divine Decree, then find a Lord other than Him.”

14 - وبهذا الإسناد، قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: قال الله تبارك وتعالى لموسى عليه السلام: يا موسى احفظ وصيتي لك بأربعة أشياء: أولهن ما دمت لا ترى ذنوبك تغفر فلا تشغل بعيوب غيرك  والثانية ما دمت لا ترى كنوزي قد نفدت فلا تغتم بسبب رزقك، والثالثة ما دمت لا ترى زوال ملكي فلا ترج أحدا غيري، والرابعة ما دمت لا ترى الشيطان ميتا فلا تأمن مكره. 

14. And with the same chain of transmission that The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said to Musa (AS): O Musa! Remember My Will concerning four things. First: Unless you can see that your sins are forgiven, then do not look for faults in others. Secondly Unless you see my Treasures finish, then do not grieve about your finances. Thirdly: Unless you can see my Sovereignty coming to an end, then do not place your hope in other than Me. And fourthly: Unless you see that Satan is dead, then do not feel safe form his deception.

15 - وبهذا الإسناد عن الإصبع بن نباتة، قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: أما بعد فإن الاهتمام بالدنيا غير زائد في الموظوف وفيه تضييع الزاد، والاقبال على الآخرة غير ناقص من المقدور  وفيه إحراز المعاد، وأنشد: (لو كان في صخرة في البحر راسية * صماء ملمومة ملس نواحيها) (رزق لنفس يراها الله لا نفلقت * عنه فأدت إليه كل ما فيها) (أو كان بين طباق السبع مجمعه * لسهل الله في المرقى مراقيها) (حتى يوافي الذي في اللوح خط له * إن هي أتته وإلا فهو يأتيها)  قال مصنف هذا الكتاب: كل ما مكننا الله عز وجل من الانتفاع به ولم يجعل لأحد منعنا منه فقد رزقناه وجعله رزقا لنا، وكل ما لم يمكننا الله عز وجل من الانتفاع به وجعل لغيرنا منعنا منه فلم يرزقناه ولا جعله رزقا لنا.  

15. And with the same chain of transmission on the authority of al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah that The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: “Verily, concern about this world does not increase one’s gain, and that is a waste of effort. Verily, the arrival of the Hereafter does not decrease for what it estimated in (that is) the achievement of the Return.” He composed this: If in a stable rock in the ocean, Hard and solid, gathered with smooth sides, There is sustenance for a soul that Allah sees; it will split From it and brings to him all that is in it. Or if there was between the seven layers (of heavens) his junction Allah will ease its elevation in the difficult ascent, Until he takes that which is written for him in the guarded-tablet, The soul finds sustenance; otherwise sustenance will seek it out. The Compiler of this book says: Our sustenance includes everything which Allah, the Mighty and High, has made for our benefits, and which He has made accessible to us. Our sustenance does not extend to that which Allah, the Mighty and High, has made inaccessible for us.

16 - حدثنا أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أحمد بن سليمان، قال: سأل رجل أبا الحسن عليه السلام وهو في الطواف فقاله له: أخبرني عن الجواد، فقال له: إن لكلامك وجهين: فإن كنت تسأل عن المخلوق فإن الجواد الذي يؤدي ما افترض الله عز وجل عليه، والبخيل من بخل بما افترض الله عليه، وإن كنت تعني الخالق فهو الجواد إن أعطى وهو الجواد إن منع لأنه إن أعطى عبدا أعطاه ما ليس له وإن منع ما ليس له. 

16. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Hashim, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Sulayman that While Abu al-Hasan was circumambulating (the Ka`bah) a man asked him: `Tell me about the Generous.’ He (AS) replied to him, Verily, there are two ways to answer your question: If you are asking about the created, then the generous person is one who gives what Allah, the Mighty and High, has made obligatory on him while the miser is one who acts misery in what Allah has made obligatory. However, if you are asking about the Creator, then He is the Generous whether He grants or does not grant, because if He grants something to a servant, then He has granted him something that is not his and if He does not grant, then He has prohibited him what is not his.

17 - حدثنا أبو محمد الحسن بن محمد بن يحيى بن الحسن بن جعفر بن عبيد الله ابن الحسين بن علي بن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام، قال: حدثني جدي يحيى بن الحسن، قال: حدثنا يعقوب بن يزيد، قال: حدثني ابن أبي عمير و عبد الله بن المغيرة، عن أبي حفص الأعشى، عن أبي حمزة، عن علي بن الحسين عليهما السلام، قال: خرجت حتى انتهيت إلى هذا الحائط فاتكيت عليه، فإذا رجل عليه ثوبان أبيضان ينظر في وجهي، ثم قال لي: يا علي بن الحسين ما لي أراك كئيبا حزينا، أعلى الدنيا حزنك؟ فرزق الله حاضر للبر والفاجر، فقلت: ما على هذا أحزن وإنه لكما تقول، قال: أفعلى الآخرة حزنك؟ فهو وعد صادق يحكم فيه ملك قاهر، قلت: ما على هذا أحزن وإنه لكما تقول: قال: فعلى ما حزنك؟ فقلت: أنا أتخوف من فتنة ابن الزبير  فضحك، ثم قال: يا علي بن الحسين هل رأيت أحدا خاف الله تعالى فلم ينجه. قلت: لا، قال: يا علي بن الحسين هل رأيت أحدا سأل الله عز وجل فلم يعطه؟ قلت: لا، قال عليه السلام: ثم نظرت فإذا ليس قدامي أحد. 

17. Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Hasan ibn Ja`far ibn `Ubayd Allah ibn al-Husayn ibn `Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) said: My grandfather Yahya ibn al-Hasan related tome that Ya`qub ibn Yazid said: Ibn Abu `Umayr and `Abd Allah ibn alMughayrah both related to me, on the authority of Abu Hafs al-A`sha, on the authority of Abu Hamzah that `Ali ibn al-Husayn (AS) said: I went out until I ended up at this wall so I leant on it. All of a sudden a man wearing two white garments was staring at me. He asked me, “O `Ali ibn al-Husayn! What is wrong? You seem sad and worried. Are you concerned about worldly matters? If that is the case, then you should know that Allah’s sustenance continues in both good times and bad.” I replied, “I am not worried about his world. However, I am certainly sad as you said.” He enquired, “So, are you sad about the Hereafter? That is a true promise, in which the Sovereign Subduer will judge.” I answered, “I am not worried about the Hereafter either. However, I am certainly sad as you said.” He asked, “Then what are you sad about?” I replied, “I am frightened of the mischief of the son of al-Zubayr.” He laughed and then said: “O `Ali son of al-Husayn! Have you ever heard of someone who feared Allah, the Exalted, and whom Allah did not save?” I answered, “No.” He said: “O `Ali son of al-Husayn! Have you ever heard of someone who asked something of Allah, the Mighty and High, and Allah did not answer him?” I said: “No.” He (AS) says: “I then looked, but there was no one in front of me.”

18 - حدثنا الحسين بن أحمد بن إدريس رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أبي، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي نجران، عن المفضل بن صالح، عن جابر بن يزيد الجعفي، عن أبي جعفر محمد بن علي الباقر عليهما السلام، قال: إن موسى بن عمران عليه السلام قال: يا رب رضيت بما قضيت، تميت الكبير وتبقي الصغير، فقال الله جل جلاله: يا موسى أما ترضاني لهم رازقا وكفيلا؟ قال: بلى يا رب، فنعم الوكيل أنت ونعم الكفيل. 

18. Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Idris (RA) said: My father said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa said, on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn Abu Najran, on the authority of al-Mufaddal ibn Salib, on the authority of Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ju`fi that Abu Ja`far Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Baqir (AS) said: Verily, Musa son of `Imran (AS) said: “O my Lord! I am pleased with what You have decreed regarding removing the souls of the elderly and the souls of the young.” Allah, the Mighty and High, replied, “O Musa! Are you not pleased with Me for being their Sustainer and Provider [kafil]?” Musa replied, “Of course, O Lord! You are the Best Custodian and the Best of Providers.”

19 - حدثنا حمزة بن محمد بن أحمد بن جعفر بن محمد بن زيد بن علي بن الحسين ابن علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام، وأحمد بن الحسن القطان، ومحمد بن إبراهيم بن أحمد المعاذي، قالوا: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد الهمداني مولى بني هاشم، قال: حدثنا يحيى بن إسماعيل الجريري  قراءة، قال: حدثنا الحسين بن إسماعيل قال: حدثنا عمرو بن جميع، عن جعفر بن محمد، قال: حدثني أبي، عن أبيه، عن جده عليهم السلام قال: دخل الحسين بن علي عليهما السلام، على معاوية  فقال له: ما حمل أباك على أن قتل أهل البصرة ثم دار عشيا في طرقهم في ثوبين؟! فقال عليه السلام: حمله على ذلك علمه أن ما أصابه لم يكن ليخطئه  وأن ما أخطأه لم يكن ليصيبه، قال: صدقت، قال: وقيل لأمير المؤمنين عليه السلام لما أراد قتال الخوارج: لو احترزت يا أمير المؤمنين فقال عليه السلام: أي يومي من الموت أفر * أيوم لم يقدر أم يوم قدر يوم ما قدر لا أخشى الردى * وإذا قدر لم يغن الحذر  

19. Hamzah ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn Zayd ibn `ali ibn alHusayn ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS); Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qittan and Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Mu`adhi all three said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa`id al-Hamdani freed slave of the Hashimites said: Yahya ibn Isma`il al-Jariri said reading (from his notes) that al-Husayn ibn Isma`il said: `Amr ibn Jumay` said that Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS) said: My father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather that al-Husayn ibn Ali (AS) entered into the presence of Mu`awiyah, so he asked the Imam (AS): “What possessed your father to kill the people of Basra, and then wander the streets at night wearing two undergarments?” He (AS) replied, “He acted according to his knowledge, He knew that he could not avoid what was destined for him. And he knew that what was not destined for him could not harm him.” He responded, “You have spoken the truth.” When he intended to battle the Kharijites, the Commander of the Faithful was told: “Take your precautions, O Commander of the Faithful!” He (AS) composed: Which of my two days shall I escape from death? The day which is not decreed or the day which is decreed, The day which is not decreed, I do not fear the return, And the day which is decreed, there is no need in taking caution.

20 - حدثنا أبو الحسن علي بن عبد الله بن أحمد الإصبهاني، قال: حدثنا مكي بن أحمد بن سعدويه البرذعي، قال: أخبرنا أبو منصور محمد بن القاسم بن عبد الرحمن العتكي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أشرس، قال: حدثنا إبراهيم بن نصر قال: حدثنا وهب بن وهب بن هشام أبو البختري، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد  عن أبيه، عن جده، عن علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم أنه قال: يا علي إن اليقين أن لا ترضي أحدا على سخط الله، ولا تحمدن أحدا على ما آتاك الله، ولا تذمن أحدا على ما لم يؤتك الله، فإن الرزق لا يجره حرص حريص ولا يصرفه كره كاره، فإن الله عز وجل بحكمته وفضله  جعل الروح والفرج  في اليقين والرضا، وجعل الهم والحزن في الشك والسخط، إنه لا فقر أشد من الجهل  ولا مال أعود من العقل، ولا وحدة أوحش من العجب، ولا مظاهرة أوثق من المشاورة، ولا عقل كالتدبير، ولا ورع كالكف عن المحارم، ولا حسب كسن الخلق، ولا عبادة كالتفكر، وآفة الحديث الكذب، وآفة العلم النسيان وآفة العبادة الفترة، وآفة الظرف الصلف، وآفة الشجاعة البغي، وآفة السماحة المن، وآفة الجمال الخيلاء، وآفة الحسب والفجر. 

20. Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad al-Isbahani said: Makki ibn Ahmad ibn Sa`daway al-Burdh`I said: Abu Mansur Muhammad ibn al-Qasim ibn `Abd al-Rahman al-`Ataki reported to us that Muhammad ibn Ashras said: Ibrahim ibn Nasr said: Wahab ibn Wahab ibn Hashim Abu al-Bakhtari said: Ja`far ibn Muhammad said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, on the authority of `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) that The Prophet (SA) said: O `Ali! It is certain that you will not please anyone over the anger of Allah. So, do not praise anyone for what Allah has granted you, and do not blame anyone for what Allah has not granted you. Verily, sustenance is not snatched away y the greed of a greedy person not is it diverted by the hate of a spiteful person. Verily, through His Wisdom and His Grace, Allah, the Mighty and High, placed refreshment and happiness in certainty and pleasure. He placed anxiety and sorrow in doubt and anger. There is nothing lower than ignorance, and there is no greater wealth than wisdom. There is no solitude greater than narcissism, and there is no greater help than good advice. There is nothing more intelligent than good management and there is nothing more pious than abstaining from the forbidden. There is no greater independence than good conduct, and there is no act of service greater than thinking. The calamity of speech is lying. The calamity of knowledge is forgetfulness. The calamity of service is weakness. The calamity of intelligence is arrogance. The calamity of bravery is injustice. The calamity of magnanimity is favor. The calamity of beauty is vanity. The calamity of nobility is pride.

21 - حدثنا الحسين بن أحمد بن إدريس رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أبي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي الصهبان، قال: حدثنا أبو أحمد محمد بن زياد الأزدي، قال: حدثني أبان الأحمر، عن الصادق جعفر بن محمد عليهما السلام، أنه جاء إليه رجل فقال له: بأبي أنت وأمي عظني موعظة، فقال عليه السلام، إن كان الله تبارك وتعالى قد تكفل بالرزق فاهتمامك لماذا، وإن كان الرزق مقسوما فالحرص لماذا، وإن كان الحساب حقا فالجمع لماذا، وإن كان الخلف من الله عز وجل حقا فالبخل لماذا  وإن كانت العقوبة من الله عز وجل النار فالمعصية لماذا، وإن كان الموت حقا فالفرح لماذا وإن كان العرض على الله عز وجل حقا فالمكر لماذا، وإن كان الشيطان عدوا فالغفلة لماذا، وإن كان الممر على الصراط حقا فالعجب لماذا، وإن كان كل شئ بقضاء وقدر فالحزن لماذا، وإن كانت الدنيا فانية فالطمأنينة إليها لماذا؟!. 

21. Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Idris (RA) said: My father said: Muhammad ibn Abu al-Suhban said: Abu Ahmad Muhammad ibn Ziyad al-Azdi said, Aban al-Ahmar related to me that A man came to al-Sadiq Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS) and said: “May my father and mother be your ransom! Admonish me with an exhortation.” So he (AS) said: If Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, is the Sustainer, then why do you worry? If sustenance is allocated with fairness, then why are you greedy? If you will be held accountable, then why do you save? If Allah, the mighty and High, is generous, then why are you miserly? If the punishment from Allah, the Mighty and High, is the Hell, then why do you sin? If death is true, then why are you happy? If all actions are fro Allah, the Mighty and High, then why do you cheat? If Satan is your open enemy, then why do you neglect (your duties)? If crossing the Bridge (al-Sirat) is true, then why are you proud? If everything has been decreed, then why do you grieve? If the word is perishable, then why are you attached to it?

22 - حدثنا أبو منصور أحمد بن إبراهيم بن بكر الخوري بنيسابور، قال: حدثنا أبو إسحاق إبراهيم بن محمد بن هارون الخوري، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن زياد الفقيه الخوري، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن عبد الله الجويباري الشيباني، عن علي بن موسى الرضا، عن أبيه، عن آبائه، عن علي عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: إن الله عز وجل قدر المقادير ودبر التدابير قبل أن يخلق آدم بألفي عام . 

22. Abu Mansur Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Bakr al-Khuri said in Naysabur that Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Harun al-Khuri said: Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn Ziyad the Jurist in al-Khuri said: Ahmad ibn `Abd Allah al-Juybari al-Shaybani said, on the authority of `Ali ibn Musa alRida, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his forefathers, on the authority of `Ali (AS) that The Messenger of Allah (SA) said: “Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, had decreed and planned everything two thousand years before He created Adam (AS).”

23 - حدثنا أبو عبد الله الحسين بن محمد الأشناني الرازي العدل ببلخ، قال: حدثنا علي بن مهرويه القزويني  قال: حدثنا علي بن موسى الرضا، عن أبيه، عن آبائه، عن الحسين بن علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام، قال: إن يهوديا سأل علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام فقال: أخبرني عما ليس لله وعما ليس عند الله وعما لا يعلمه الله، فقال عليه السلام: أما ما لا يعلمه الله عز وجل فذلك قولكم يا معشر اليهود: إن عزيرا ابن الله والله لا يعلم له ولدا، وأما قولك ما ليس لله فليس لله شريك، و قولك: ما ليس عند الله فليس عند الله ظلم للعباد، فقال اليهودي: أنا أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله. 

23. Abu `Abd Allah al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ushnani al-Razi the Judge in Balkh said: `Ali ibn Mihrawayh al-Qazwini said: `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his forefathers, on the authority of al-Husayn ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) that A Jewish man asked `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS): “Tell me what is not from Allah, what is not for Allah, and what Allah does not know?” Thus, he (AS) replied, As for what Allah, the Mighty and High, does not know that is your statement, O assembly of Jews, that `Uzayr is the son of Allah. Allah does not know of any sons for Himself. As for your word, what is not for Allah, then associating partners with Allah is not for Allah. And as for your word: what is not from Allah, then oppression is not from Allah. The Jewish man said: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

24 - حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن أحمد بن يونس الليثي، قال: حدثنا أحمد ابن محمد بن سعيد الهمداني مولى بني هاشم، قال: أخبرني الحارث بن أبي أسامة قراءة، عن المدائني، عن عوانة بن الحكم، وعبد الله بن العباس بن سهل الساعدي، وأبي بكر الخراساني مولى بني هاشم، عن الحارث بن حصيرة، عن عبد الرحمن بن جندب، عن أبيه وغيره أن الناس أتوا الحسن بن علي بعد وفاة علي عليهما السلام، ليبايعوه فقال: الحمد لله على ما قضى من أمر، وخص من فضل، وعم من أمر، وجلل من عافية (١) حمدا يتمم به علينا نعمه ونستوجب به رضوانه، إن الدنيا دار بلاء وفتنة وكل ما فيها إلى زوال، وقد نبأنا الله عنها كيما نعتبر، فقدم إلينا بالوعيد كي لا يكون لنا حجة بعد الانذار، فازهدوا فيما يفنى، وارغبوا فيما يبقى، وخافوا الله في السر والعلانية، إن عليا عليه السلام في المحيا والممات والمبعث عاش بقدر و مات بأجل، وإني أبايعكم على أن تسالموا من سالمت وتحاربوا من حاربت، فبايعوه على ذلك. قال محمد بن علي بن الحسين مصنف هذا الكتاب: أجل موت الإنسان هو وقت موته، وأجل حياته هو وقت حياته وذلك معنى قول الله عز وجل: ﴿فإذا جاء أجلهم لا يستأخرون ساعة ولا يستقدمون﴾  وإن مات الإنسان حتف أنفه على فراشه أو قتل فإن أجل موته هو وقت موته، وقد يجوز أن يكون المقتول لو لم يقتل لمات من ساعته، وقد يجوز أن يكون لو لم يقتل لبقي  وعلم ذلك مغيب عنا وقد قال الله عز وجل: ﴿قل لو كنتم في بيوتكم لبرز الذين كتب عليهم القتل إلى مضاجعهم﴾ (١) وقال عز وجل: ﴿قل لن ينفعكم الفرار إن فررتم من الموت أو القتل﴾  ولو قتل جماعة في وقت لجاز أن يقال: إن جميعهم ماتوا بآجالهم وإنهم لو لم يقتلوا لماتوا من ساعتهم، كما كان يجوز أن يقع الوبا في جميعهم فيميتهم، في ساعة واحدة، وكان لا يجوز أن يقال: إنهم ماتوا بغير آجالهم، وفي الجملة أن أجل الإنسان هو الوقت الذي علم الله عز وجل أنه يموت فيه أو يقتل، وقول الحسن عليه السلام في أبيه عليه السلام (إنه عاش بقدر ومات بأجل) تصديق لما قلناه في هذا الباب والله الموفق للصواب بمنه. 

24. Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad ibn Yunus al-Laythi said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa`id al-Hamdani freed slave of the Hashimites said: al-Harith ibn Abu Usamah reported to us in reading, on the authority of al-Mada’ini, on the authority of all three `Uwanah ibn al-Hakm; `Abd Allah ibn al-`Abbas ibn Sahl al-Sa`idi and Abu Bakr al-Khurasani freed slave of the Hashimites, on the authority of al-Harith ibn Hasirah, on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn Jundab, on the authority of his father and others that The people came to al-Hasan ibn `Ali (AS) after the death of `Ali (AS) to pay allegiance to him. So he (AS) said: All praise is for Allah over what He destined in matter, specified in merit, generalized in affair and glorified in well-being, a praise with which He completes over us His bounties and we require His pleasure. Verily, this world is an abode of tribulation and mischief. Everything that is init has a decline. Allah has informed us of that so that we may take a lesson. Therefore He preceded with a threat to us so that there is no evidence for us after warning. So be ascetic in what is to perish and desirous in what is to remain. Fear Allah in privacy and in open. Verily, `Ali (AS) in life, death and the rising lived with a measure and died with the time. Verily, I shall accept your allegiance on that you will make peace with whom I make peace with and fight with whom I fight with.Thus, they all paid allegiance to him on that basis. Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn al-Husayn, the Compiler of this book says: The ajal is the death of a human and the time of his death. And the ajal of his living is the time of his living. That is the meaning of the word of Allah, the Mighty and High: So when their (appointed) time comes they shall not delay it even an hour, nor shall they go before. If a human dies a natural death on his bed or is killed then verily the ajal of his death is the time of his death. It is possible that if a murdered person was not killed, he would have died in that instance anyway. It is also possible that if he was not killed then he would have lived on. The knowledge of that is unseen for us. Allah, the Mighty and High, has said; Say: Had you remained in your houses, those for whom slaughter was ordained would certainly have gone forth to the places where they would be slain. He has also said: Say: Flight shall not do you any good if you fly from death or slaughter. If a group of people are killed at the same time, it is possible to say that all of them died at their time and eve if they wee not killed they would have died in that instance. For, it is possible that a disease would have occurred in all of them and would have killed them all in that instance. It is not possible to say that they all died without the time of their death. As a whole, the ajal of a person is the time of his death that Allah, the Mighty and High, knows that he will die in that hour or will be killed. The word of al-Hasan (AS) concerning his father (AS) that “he lived with a measure and died with the time? Is a confirmation of what we have said about this matter. Allah is the Granter of Direction to the correctness with His Favor.

25 - حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد بن عبد الوهاب السجزي بنيسابور، قال: أخبرنا أبو نصر منصور بن عبد الله بن إبراهيم الإصبهاني، قال: حدثنا علي بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا الحسن بن أحمد الحراني، قال: حدثنا يحيى بن عبد الله بن الضحاك، عن الأوزاعي، عن يحيى بن أبي كثير، قال: قيل لأمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: ألا نحرسك، قال: حرس كل امرء أجله. 

25. `Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Wahhab al-Sijzi said in Naysabur that Abu Nasr Mansur ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ibrahim al-Isbahani reported to us that `Ali ibn `Abd Allah said: alHasan ibn Ahmad al-Harrani said; Yahya ibn `Abd Allah ibn al-Dahhak said, on the authority of al-Awza`I, on the authority of Yahya ibn Abu Kathir that The Commander of the Faithful (AS) was asked: “Shall we not guard you?” He (AS) said: “The guardian of every man is his death.”

26 - حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد بن عبد الوهاب قال: حدثنا منصور بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا علي بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن جعفر، قال: حدثنا إسحاق بن إبراهيم، قال: حدثنا شريك، عن أبي إسحاق، عن سعيد بن وهب، قال: كنا مع سعيد بن قيس بصفين ليلا والصفان ينظر كل واحد منهما إلى صاحبه حتى جاء أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فنزلنا على فنائه فقال له سعيد بن قيس: أفي هذه الساعة يا أمير المؤمنين؟! أما خفت شيئا، قال: وأي شئ أخاف؟! إنه ليس من أحد إلا و معه ملكان موكلان به أن يقع في بئر أو تضربه دابة أو يتردى من جبل حتى يأتيه القدر، فإذا أتى القدر خلوا بينه وبينه. 

26. `Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Wahhab said: Mansur ibn `Abd Allah said: `Ali ibn `Abd Allah said: Muhammad ibn Ja`far said: Ishaq ibn Ibrahim said: Sharik said, on the authority of Abu Ishaq, on the authority of Sa`id ibn Wahab that One night in the Battle of Siffin, we were with Sa`id ibn Qays. The two army rows were standing opposite each other until the Commander of the Faithful (AS) came. We came down to his ground. Sa`id ibn Qays asked him: “O Commander of the Faithful! Do you not fear anything at this point?” He (AS) replied, And what should I fear? There is no anyone except that with him are two angels assigned to him so that he does not fall into a well or an animal does not hit him or he may not fall from a mountain until the decree comes for him. When that which is decreed comes, they vacate from between him and the decreed.

27 - حدثنا أبو نصر محمد بن أحمد بن إبراهيم بن تميم السرخسي بسرخس قال: حدثنا أبو لبيد محمد بن إدريس الشامي، قال: حدثنا إبراهيم بن سعيد الجوهري، قال: حدثنا أبو ضمرة أنس بن عياض، عن أبي حازم، عن عمر وبن شعيب  عن أبيه، عن جده، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: لا يؤمن أحدكم حتى يؤمن بالقدر خيره وشره وحلوه ومره. 

27. Abu Nasr Mansur Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Tamim al-Sarkhasi said in Sarkhas that Abu Lubayd Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shami said: Ibrahim ibn Sa`id al-Jawhari said: Abu Damrah Anas ibn `Ayad said, on the authority of Abu Hazim, on the authority of `Amr ibn Shu`ayb, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather that The Messenger of Allah (SA) said: “None of you believe unless he also believes in the Divine Decree, its good, its evil, its sweetness, and its bitterness.”

28 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الطائي، قال: حدثنا أبو سعيد سهل بن زياد الآدمي، الرازي عن علي بن جعفر الكوفي، قال: سمعت سيدي علي بن محمد يقول: حدثني أبي محمد بن علي، عن أبيه الرضا علي بن موسى، عن أبيه موسى بن جعفر، عن أبيه جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه محمد بن علي، عن أبيه علي بن الحسين، عن أبيه الحسين ابن علي عليهم السلام، وحدثنا محمد بن عمر الحافظ البغدادي، قال: حدثني أبو القاسم إسحاق بن جعفر العلوي، قال: حدثني أبي جعفر بن محمد بن علي، عن سليمان ابن محمد القرشي، عن إسماعيل بن أبي زياد السكوني، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه محمد بن علي، عن أبيه، عن جده، عن علي عليهم السلام - واللفظ لعلي بن أحمد بن محمد ابن عمران الدقاق - قال: دخل رجل من أهل العراق على أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقال: أخبرنا عن خروجنا إلى أهل الشام أبقضاء من الله وقدر؟ فقال له أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: أجل يا شيخ، فوالله ما علوتم تلعة ولا هبطتم بطن واد إلا بقضاء من الله وقدر فقال الشيخ: عند الله أحتسب عنائي  يا أمير المؤمنين، فقال: مهلا يا شيخ، لعلك تظن قضاء حتما وقدرا لازما  لو كان كذلك لبطل الثواب والعقاب والأمر والنهي والزجر، ولسقط معنى الوعيد والوعد، ولم يكن على مسيئ لائمة ولا لمحسن محمدة، ولكان المحسن أولى باللائمة من المذنب والمذنب أولى بالاحسان من المحسن  تلك مقالة عبدة الأوثان وخصماء الرحمن وقدرية هذه الأمة ومجوسها يا شيخ إن الله عز وجل كلف تخييرا، ونهى تحذيرا، وأعطى على القليل كثيرا، ولم يعص مغلوبا، ولم يطع مكرها، ولم يخلق السماوات والأرض وما بينهما باطلا ذلك ظن الذين كفروا فويل للذين كفروا من النار . قال: فنهض الشيخ وهو يقول: (أنت الإمام الذي نرجو بطاعته * يوم النجاة من الرحمن غفرانا)  (أوضحت من ديننا ما كان ملتبسا * جزاك ربك عنا فيه إحسانا) (فليس معذرة في فعل فاحشة  * قد كنت راكبها فسقا وعصيانا) (لا لا ولا قائلا ناهيه أوقعه * فيها عبدت إذا يا قوم شيطانا) (ولا أحب ولا شاء الفسوق ولا * قتل الولي له ظلما وعدوانا) * (أني يحب وقد صحت عزيمته * ذو العرش أعلن ذاك الله إعلانا) قال مصنف هذا الكتاب: لم يذكر محمد بن عمر الحافظ في آخر هذا الحديث إلا بيتين من هذا الشعر من أوله. وحدثنا بهذا الحديث أبو الحسين محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الفارسي العزائمي، قال: حدثنا أبو سعيد أحمد بن محمد بن رميح النسوي بجرجان، قال: حدثنا عبد العزيز بن إسحاق بن جعفر ببغداد، قال: حدثني عبد الوهاب بن عيسى المروزي، قال: حدثنا الحسن بن علي بن محمد البلوي، قال: حدثنا محمد ابن عبد الله بن نجيح، عن أبيه، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن جده عليهم السلام. وحدثنا بهذا الحديث أيضا أحمد بن الحسن القطان، قال: حدثنا الحسن ابن علي السكري، قال: حدثنا محمد بن زكريا الجوهري، قال: حدثنا العباس ابن بكار الضبي، قال: حدثنا أبو بكر الهذلي، عن عكرمة، عن ابن عباس، قال: لما انصرف أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام من صفين قام إليه شيخ ممن شهد معه الواقعة فقال: يا أمير المؤمنين أخبرنا عن مسيرنا هذا أبقضاء من الله وقدر؟ وذكر الحديث مثله سواء، إلا أنه زاد فيه: فقال الشيخ: يا أمير المؤمنين فما القضاء والقدر اللذان ساقانا وما هبطنا واديا ولا علونا تلعة إلا بهما؟ فقال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: الأمر من الله والحكم (١) ثم تلا هذه الآية: ﴿وقضى ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إياه وبالوالدين إحسانا﴾  أي أمر ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إياه وبالوالدين إحسانا. 

28. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Ta’i said: Abu Sa`id Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami al-Razi said, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ja`far al-Kufi that I heard My Master `Ali ibn Muhammad that Abu Ja`far ibn `Ali related to me, on the authority of his father al-Rida `Ali ibn Musa on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja`far, on the authority his father 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 (AS); and Muhammad ibn `Umar al-Hafiz al-Baghdadi said: Abu al-Qasim Ishaq ibn Ja`far al-`Alawi related to me that Abu Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali related to me, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Muhammad al-Qarashi, on the authority of Isma`il ibn Abu Ziyad alSakuni, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad, on the authority of his father Ziyad alSakuni, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad, on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn `Ali, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, on the authority of `Ali (AS); the word is for `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq that An Iraqi man entered the presence of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) and asked: “Tell us about our attack on the Syrians. Is it part of Allah’s Destiny and Divine Decree?” The Commander of the Faithful (AS) replied to him, “By all means, O Shaykh! By Allah, all of you have not gone up a hill or gone down to the depth of a valley except with the destiny from Allah and the decree.” The old man asked, “Will my trouble be accounted for before Allah, O Commander of the Faithful?” He (AS) answered, Slowly, O Shaykh! Perhaps you think predestination is irrevocable, and the decree is inseparable. If that were so, then the reward, the punishment, the commandment, the prohibition, and the reprimand would all be annulled. The meaning of threatening and promise would disintegrate. There would be no blame for the evil-doer, and no praise for the good-doer. In fact, the good-doer would be worthier of blame than the sinner, and the sinner would be worthier of praise than the good-doer. This is the claim of the idol worshippers, the opponents of the Most Compassionate, the free-willers of this Ummah, and its Zoroastrians. O Shaykh! Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, has obliged with choice, forbidden with warning, granted plenty for little, does not consider the one who was coerced to be a sinner, does not require the subjected to obey, and has not created the heaves and the earth and that which is between them without a purpose. This is the assumption of the unbelievers. Woe to those who disbelieve in Hell. The old man rose and composed: You are the Imam in whose obedience we all hope, To receive forgiveness from the Most Compassionate on the Day of Salvation; You have made clear what was dubious to us from our religion. May your Lord reward you with beneficence on your behalf! Hence, there is no excuse for committing indecency, Which I perpetrated with un-justice and disobedience, No, no, I do not claim that the forbidder has dropped him In it, because then I would be serving the Satan, O people, Nor does He like or will the un-justice; nor Killing the Guardian with oppression and enmity. How can He like, while His will is correct. The Possessor of the Empyrean that is Allah has declared this is a clear declaration. The Compiler of this book says: Muhammad ibn `Umar al-Hafiz has only mentioned the first two couplets of this poetry at the end of this tradition. This tradition is also said by Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Farisi al`Aza’imi that Abu Sa`id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Rumayh al-Nisawi said in Jurjan that `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Ishaq ibn Ja`far said in Baghdad that `Abd al-Wahhab ibn `Isa al-Marwazi related to me that al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Muhammad al-Balawi said: Muhammad ibn `Abd Allah ibn Nujayh said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather (AS) Also this tradition has been said by Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qittan that al-Hasan ibn `ali alSukkari said; Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Jawhari said: al-`Abbas ibn Bakkar al-Dabbi said: Abu Bakr al-Hudhayli said, on the authority of `Ikrimah, on the authority of Ibn `Abbas that When the Commander of the Faithful (AS) moved on from the Battle of Siffin, an old man stood up before him who had witnessed the incident with him and said: “O Commander of the Faithful! Tell us about this journey of ours. Is it part of Allah’s Destiny, and His Divine Decree?” He has mentioned the tradition similar to this, except that he has added in it: The old man said: “O Commander of the Faithful! What are the predestination ad the Divine Decree that are contracted with us, and we have not gone down in a valley or gone up a hill except with these two?” The Commander of the Faithful (AS) replied, “The command and the judgment are from Allah, then he read this verse: And your Lord has destined that you shall not sere (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents, i.e. the command of your Lord is that you do not serve any but Him and do good to your parents.”

29 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أبي عبد الله الكوفي، قال: حدثنا موسى بن عمران النخعي، عن عمه الحسين ابن يزيد النوفلي، عن علي بن سالم، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: سألته عن الرقي  أتدفع من القدر شيئا؟ فقال: هي من القدر، وقال عليه السلام: إن القدرية مجوس هذه الأمة وهم الذين أرادوا أن يصفوا الله بعدله فأخرجوه من سلطانه، وفيهم نزلت هذه الآية: (يوم يسحبون في النار على وجوههم ذوقوا مس سقر * إنا كل شئ خلقناه بقدر).  

29. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq said: Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Musa ibn `Imran al-Nakha`I said, on the authority of his paternal uncle al-Husayn ibn Yazid al-Nawfali, on the authority of `Ali ibn Salim that I asked Abu `Abd Allah (AS) whether charms, if they remove anything from the decreed. He (AS) replied, “It is from the decreed. He (AS) then added, Verily, the Free-willers are the Zorastrians of this Ummah, and they are the ones that intended to attribute Allah with justice, but took Him out of His Rule. This verse has been revealed for them: On the day when they shall be dragged upon their faces into the fire; taste the touch of hell. Surely We have created everything according to a measure.

30 - حدثنا أبو الحسين محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الفارسي العزائمي، قال: حدثني أبو سعيد أحمد بن محمد بن رميح النسوي، قال: حدثنا عبد العزيز بن يحيى التميمي بالبصرة، وأحمد بن إبراهيم بن معلى بن أسد العمي، قالا: حدثنا محمد بن زكريا الغلابي  قال: حدثنا أحمد بن عيسى بن زيد  قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن موسى بن عبد الله بن حسن، عن أبيه، عن آبائه، عن الحسن بن علي ابن أبي طالب عليهما السلام، أنه سئل عن قول الله عز وجل: (إنا كل شئ خلقناه بقدر)، فقال: يقول عز وجل: إنا كل شئ خلقناه لأهل النار بقدر أعمالهم  

30. Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Farisi al-`Aza’imi said: Abu Sa`id Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Rumayh al-Nisawi related to me that `Abd al-`Aziz ibn Yahya al-Tamimi in Basra and Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Mu`alla ibn Asad al-`Ammi both said: Muhammad ibn Zakariyya al-Ghalabi said: Ahmad ibn `Isa ibn Zayd said: `Abd Allah ibn Musa ibn `Abd Allah ibn Hasan said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his forefathers that Al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) was asked about the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: Surely We have created everything according to a measure. He (AS) replied, “Verily, the Mighty and High, has said: We have created everything according to a measure for the dwellers of hell according to their deeds.”

31 - حدثنا أبي رحمه الله قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن الكوفي، عن أبيه الحسن بن علي بن عبد الله الكوفي، عن جده عبد الله بن المغيرة عن إسماعيل بن مسلم أنه سئل الصادق عليه السلام عن الصلاة خلف من يكذب بقدر الله عز وجل، قال: فليعد كل صلاة صلاها خلفه. 

31. My father (RA) said: `Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Kufi said, on the authority of his father al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn `Abd Allah al-Kufi, on the authority of his grandfather `Abd Allah ibn al-Mughayrah, on the authority of Isma`il ibn Muslim that Al-Sadiq (AS) was asked about the prayer behind one who denies the decree of Allah, the Mighty and High. He (AS) said: “Then he should repeat all the prayers he has prayed behind him,”

32 - حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسين السعدآبادي، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن سنان، عن زياد بن المنذر، عن سعد بن طريف، عن الأصبغ بن نباته، قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام في القدر: ألا إن القدر سر من سر الله، وستر من ستر الله، وحرز من حرز الله، مرفوع في حجاب الله، مطوي عن خلق الله، مختوم بخاتم الله، سابق في علم الله، وضع الله العباد عن علمه  ورفعه فوق شهاداتهم ومبلغ عقولهم لأنهم لا ينالونه بحقيقة الربانية ولا بقدرة الصمدانية ولا بعظمة النورانية ولا بعزة الوحدانية، لأنه بحر زاخر خالص لله تعالى، عمقه ما بين السماء و الأرض، عرضه ما بين المشرق والمغرب، أسود كالليل الدامس، كثير الحيات و الحيتان، يعلو مرة ويسفل أخرى، في قعره شمس تضيئ، لا ينبغي أن يطلع إليها إلا الله الواحد الفرد، فمن تطلع إليها فقد ضاد الله عز وجل في حكمه ونازعه في سلطانه، وكشف عن ستره وسره، وباء بغضب من الله ومأواه جهنم وبئس المصير. قال المصنف هذا الكتاب نقول: إن الله تبارك وتعالى قد قضى جميع أعمال العباد وقدرها وجميع ما يكون في العالم من خير وشر، والقضاء قد يكون بمعنى الأعلام كما قال الله عز وجل: ﴿وقضينا إلى بني إسرائيل في الكتاب﴾ (١) يريد أعلمناهم، وكما قال الله عز وجل: ﴿وقضينا إليه ذلك الأمر أن دابر هؤلاء مقطوع مصبحين﴾ (٢) يريد أخبرناه وأعلمناه، فلا ينكر أن يكون الله عز وجل يقضي أعمال العباد و سائر ما يكون من خير وشر على هذا المعنى لأن الله عز وجل عالم بها أجمع. ويصح أن يعلمها عباده ويخبرهم عنها، وقد يكون القدر أيضا في معنى الكتاب والإخبار كما قال الله عز وجل: ﴿إلا امرأته قدرنا إنها لمن الغابرين)﴾ (٣) يعني كتبنا وأخبرنا، وقال العجاج: واعلم بأن ذا الجلال قد قدر * في الصحف الأولى التي كان سطر و (قدر) معناه كتب. وقد يكون القضاء بمعنى الحكم والالزام، قال الله عز وجل ﴿وقضى ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إياه وبالوالدين إحسانا﴾  يريد حكم بذلك وألزمه خلقه، فقد يجوز أن يقال: إن الله عز وجل قد قضى من أعمال العباد على هذا المعنى ما قد ألزمه عباده وحكم به عليهم وهي الفرائض دون غيرها، وقد يجوز أيضا أن يقدر الله أعمال العباد بأن يبين مقاديرها وأحوالها من حسن وقبح وفرض و نافلة وغير ذلك، ويفعل من الأدلة على ذلك ما يعرف به هذه الأحوال لهذه الأفعال فيكون عز وجل مقدرا لها في الحقيقة، وليس يقدرها ليعرف مقدارها، ولكن ليبين لغيره ممن لا يعرف ذلك حال ما قدره بتقديره إياه، وهذا أظهر من أن يخفى، وأبين من أن يحتاج إلى الاستشهاد عليه، ألا ترى أنا قد نرجع إلى أهل المعرفة بالصناعات في تقديرها لنا فلا يمنعهم علمهم بمقاديرها من أن يقدروها لنا ليبينوا لنا مقاديرها، وإنما أنكرنا أن يكون الله عز وجل حكم بها على عباده ومنعهم من الانصراف عنها، أو أن يكون فعلها وكونها، فأما أن يكون الله عز وجل خلقها خلق تقدير فلا ننكره. وسمعت بعض أهل العلم يقول: إن القضاء على عشرة أوجه: فأول وجه منها العلم وهو قول الله عز وجل: ﴿إلا حاجة في نفس يعقوب قضاها﴾ (١) يعني علمها. والثاني الإعلام وهو قوله عز وجل: (وقضينا إلى بني إسرائيل في الكتاب) وقوله عز وجل: (وقضينا إليه ذلك الأمر) أي أعلمناه. والثالث الحكم وهو قوله عز وجل. (والله يقضي بالحق) (٢) أي يحكم بالحق. والرابع القول وهو قوله عز وجل: (والله يقضي بالحق) (٣) أي يقول الحق. والخامس الحتم وهو قوله عز وجل: (فلما قضينا عليه الموت) (٤) يعني حتمنا، فهو القضاء الحتم. والسادس الأمر وهو قوله عز وجل: (وقضى ربك ألا تعبدوا إلا إياه) يعني أمر ربك. والسابع الخلق وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿فقضيهن سبع سماوات في يومين﴾  يعني خلقهن. والثامن الفعل وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿فاقض ما أنت قاض﴾ (١) أي افعل ما أنت فاعل. والتاسع الاتمام وهو قوله عز وجل: (فلما قضى موسى الأجل) وقوله عز وجل حكاية عن موسى: ﴿أيما الأجلين قضيت فلا عدوان علي والله على ما نقول وكيل﴾ (٢) أي أتممت. والعاشر الفراغ من الشئ وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿قضي الأمر الذي فيه تستفتيان﴾ (٣) يعني فرغ لكما منه، وقوله القائل: قد قضيت لك حاجتك، يعني فرغت لك منها، فيجوز أن يقال: إن الأشياء كلها بقضاء الله وقدره تبارك وتعال بمعنى أن الله عز وجل قد علمها وعلم مقاديرها، وله عز وجل في جميعها حكم من خير أو شر، فما كان من خير فقد قضاه بمعنى أنه أمر به وحتمه وجعله حقا وعلم مبلغة ومقداره، وما كان من شر فلم يأمر به ولم يرضه ولكنه عز وجل قد قضاه وقدره بمعنى أنه علمه بمقداره ومبلغه وحكم فيه بحكمه. والفتنة على عشرة أوجه فوجه منها الضلال. والثاني الاختبار وهو قول الله عز وجل: ﴿وفتناك فتونا﴾ (٤) يعني اختبرناك اختبارا، وقوله عز وجل: ﴿ألم أحسب الناس أن يتركوا أن يقولوا آمنا وهم لا يفتنون﴾ (٥) أي لا يختبرون. والثالث الحجة وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿ثم لم تكن فتنتهم إلا أن قالوا والله ربنا ما كنا مشركين﴾ (٦). والرابع الشرك وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿والفتنة أشد من القتل﴾ . والخامس الكفر وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿ألا في الفتنة سقطوا﴾ (١) يعني في الكفر. والسادس الاحراق بالنار وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿إن الذين فتنوا المؤمنين والمؤمنات - الآية﴾ (٢) يعني أحرقوا. والسابع وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿يوم هم على النار يفتنون﴾ (٣) يعني يعذبون، وقوله عز وجل: ﴿ذوقوا فتنتكم هذا الذي كنتم به تكذبون﴾ (٤) يعني عذابكم، وقوله عز وجل: (ومن يرد الله فتنته (يعني عذابه) فلن تملك له من الله شيئا) (٥). والثامن القتل وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿إن خفتم أن يفتنكم الذين كفروا﴾ (٦) يعني إن خفتم أن يقتلوكم، وقوله عز وجل: ﴿فما آمن لموسى إلا ذرية من قومه على خوف من فرعون وملأهم أن يفتنهم﴾ (٧) يعني أن يقتلهم. والتاسع الصد وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿وإن كادوا ليفتنونك عن الذي أوحينا إليك﴾ (٨) يعني ليصدونك. والعاشر شدة المحنة وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿ربنا لا تجعلنا فتنة للذين كفروا﴾ (٩) وقوله عز وجل: ﴿ربنا لا تجعلنا فتنة للقوم الظالمين﴾  أي محنة فيفتنوا بذلك ويقولوا في أنفسهم: لم يقتلهم إلا دينهم الباطل وديننا الحق  فيكون ذلك داعيا لهم إلى النار على ما هم عليه من الكفر والظلم . قد زاد علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم على هذه الوجوه العشرة وجها آخر فقال: من وجوه الفتنة ما هو المحبة وهو قوله عز وجل: ﴿أنما أموالكم وأولادكم فتنة﴾  أي محبة، والذي عندي في ذلك أن وجوه الفتنة عشرة وأن الفتنة في هذا الموضع أيضا المحنة - بالنون - لا المحبة - بالباء -. وتصديق ذلك قول النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم (الولد مجهلة محنة مبخلة)  وقد أخرجت هذا الحديث مسندا في كتاب مقتل الحسين بن علي صلى الله عليهما. 

32. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (RA) said: `Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Sa`dabadi said: Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Barqi said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sinan, on the authority of Ziyad ibn al-Mundhar, on the authority of Sa`d ibn Tarif, on the authority of al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah that The Commander of the Faithful (AS) said the following concerning the decree: Beware that the decree is a secret from the secrets of Allah, concealment from the concealments of Allah, and a sanctuary from the sanctuaries of Allah. It is raised to the covering of Allah, folded up from the creation of Allah, sealed with the seal of Allah, and precedent in the knowledge of Allah. Allah has taken of its knowledge from the servants, raised it above their witnessing and level of intellect because they cannot attain it with the reality of the Lordship or the power of the Needless. Neither can they attain the greatness of the Light, nor the honor of the solitary, because it is an overflowing ocean purely for Allah, the Exalted. Its depth is between the heaven and the earth, and its width is between the east and the West. It is as dark as the pitch- dark night, full of snakes and fishes. It rises at one time ad drops at another. In its bottom, the sun shines. It ought to be that no one has its information except Allah the One, the Peerless. Thus, whoever becomes informed of I becomes contrary to Allah, the Mighty and High in His Judgement and contest Him in His Rule. He uncovers His Concealment and secret, and buys the anger of Allah. His abode is Hell, and it is the worst place of arrival. The Compiler of this book says, we believe: Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has predestined and decreed the good and evil of His Servants, and all that is in the universe. The decree can be in the meaning of information, like Allah, the Mighty and High says: And We had decreed to the children of Israel in the Book. He means that We made known to them. Like Allah, the Mighty and High, says: And We revealed to him this decree, that the roots of these shall be cut off in the morning. He means that We informed him and made it known to him. Therefore, it cannot be refused that Allah the Mighty and High, decrees the actions of the servants and all that which is of good and evil in this meaning, because Allah, the Mighty and High, is the Knower of it all. It is correct that He may give knowledge to any of His servants and inform them of it. The decree can also be in the meaning of writing and informing, like Allah, the Mighty and High, says: Except his wife; We decreed that she shall surely be of those who remain behind; i.e. We prescribed and informed. Al-`Ajjaj said: Be informed that the Glorified has decree In the earlier scriptures that He wrote. `He decreed’ means He wrote. The decree can sometimes be in the meaning of the rule and necessity. Allah, the Mighty and High, says: And your Lord has destined that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. He means that He has ordained that and made it necessary on His Creation. It may also be possible to say that Allah, the Mighty and High, has destined the actions of the servants in this meaning. What He made necessary for His Servants and ordered them to do are obligations. It is also possible that the meaning is: Allah has set a measurement for the actions of the servants to explain its measurements and states of good and evil, obligatory and supererogatory, and other things. He gives reasons fro what makes the states of these actions recognized. Therefore, the Mighty and High is the One that sets the measurements, but to explain them to other than Himself who do not know the state of what He has destined in their measurements. This is apparent and not hidden. It is very clear that it does not require any proofs over it. Is it not so that when we go to the skilled people in measurements, their knowledge of measurements does not stop them from setting measurements to explain to us their measurements? Verily, we reject that Allah, the Mighty and High, has ordained His Servants with this and forbidden them from abstention from this. Or that He has done it and created it. As Allah, the Mighty and High, has created them a measured creation, so we do not reject that. I heard some learned ones says: Verily, the destiny [al-Qada’] has ten different meanings: The first of them is `to know’ according to the Word of Alah, the Mighty and High: But (it was only) a desire in the soul of Ya`qub which he destined, i.e. He knew. The second meaning is `to inform’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: And We had decreed to the children of Israel in the Book, and the Word of the Mighty and High: And We revealed to him this decree, i.e. We informed him. The third is `to judge’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High is: And Allah decrees with the truth, i.e. He judges with the truth. The fourth meaning is `to say’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: And Allah decrees with the truth, i.e. He says the truth. The firth is `to determine definitely’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: But when We decreed death for him, i.e. We determined definitely. So I is the definite decree. The sixth is `to command’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: And your Lord has destined that you shall not serve (any) but Him, i.e. your Lord has commanded. The seventh is `to create’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: So He decreed them seven heavens in two periods, i.e. he created them. The eight is `to do’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: Therefore, decree what you are going to decree, i.e. do what you are doing. The ninth is `to accomplish’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: So when Musa had decreed the term; and the Word of the Mighty and High, accounting Musa Whichever of the two terms I decree, there shall be no wrongdoing to me; and Allah is a witness of what we say, i.e. I accomplish. The tenth is `to conclude from something’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High The matter is decreed concerning which you enquired, i.e. it is concluded from it for you two. It is the Word of a person what I have decreed your requirement for you, i.e. I have concluded it for you. Therefore, it is possible to say that the things in their entirety are with the destiny of Allah and His Decree, Blessed and Exalted be He. This is in the meaning that Allah, the Mighty and High, knows it and know it measures, and that He has a judgment for all of it, either the good or evil. Therefore, whatever is good He decreed it in the meaning that He commanded it, determined it definitely, and made it true. He knew its extent and measure. Whatever is evil, He did not command it, and is not pleased with it. However, He destined it, and decreed it in the sense that He knows its measure and extent, and has judged according to His Judgement. The word [al-fitnah] has ten different meanings: One of them is `misguidance.’ The second is `to put to the test’ according to the Word of Allah: And We tried you with (a severe) trying, i.e. We have put you to a test; and the Word of the Mighty and High: Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, We believe, and not be tried? i.e. they will not be put to a test. The third is `to make excuse’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: Then their excuse would be nothing but that they would say: By Allah, our Lord, we were not polytheists. The fourth is `to believe in polytheism’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: And polytheism is severer than murder. The fifth is `to disbelieve’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: Surely into trial have they already tumbled down, i.e. into disbelief. The sixth is `to burn with fire’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: Surely (as for) those who persecute the believing men and the believing women, i.e. they burn. The seventh is `to punish’ according the Word of the Mighty and High: (It is) the day on which they shall be tried at the fire, i.e. they shall be punished. The Word of the Mighty and High: Taste your trial! This is what you would hasten on, i.e. your punishment. And the Word of the Mighty and High: And as for him whose trial Allah desired, you cannot control anything fro him with Allah, i.e. whose punishment. The eight is `to kill’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: If you fear that hose who disbelieve will cause you distress, i.e. if you fear that they will kill you. Also the Word of the Mighty and High: But none believed in Musa except the offspring of his people, on account of the fear of Fir`awn and their chiefs, lest he should persecute them, i.e. he may kill them. The ninth is `to turn away’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: And surely they had purposed to try you in that which We have revealed to you, i.e. to turn you away. The tenth is `a severe trial’ according to the Word of the Mighty and High: Our Lord! Do not make us a trial for those who disbelieve. And the Word of the Mighty and High is: Our Lord! Make us not subject to the persecution of the unjust people, i.e. a severe trial with which they may cause mischief. They say about themselves: Nothing has killed them except the fact that their religion is void, and our religion is true. Therefore, it invites them to Hell due to their disbelief and oppression. `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim has added to these ten meanings another possibility that one of the meanings of the word fitnah is love according to the Word of the Mighty and High: And know that your property and your children are a temptation, i.e. love. In my opinion, there are ten meanings to this verse. Fitnah is this context means `a severe trial’ and not love. The confirmation of that is the tradition of the Prophet (SA), “The son, takes after the father in ignorance, trial and miserliness.” I have extracted this tradition with transmission in the book Maqtal al-Husayn ibn `Ali, blessings be upon them both.

33 - حدثنا أحمد بن زياد بن جعفر الهمداني رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه، عن غياث بن إبراهيم، عن جعفر بن محمد بن، عن أبيه، عن جده عليهم السلام، قال: مر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم بالمحتكرين فأمر بحكرتهم أن يخرج إلى بطون الأسواق وحيث تنظر الأبصار إليها، فقيل لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: لو قومت عليهم، فغضب عليه السلام حتى عرف الغضب في وجهه وقال: أنا أقوم عليهم؟! إنما السعر إلى الله عز وجل  يرفعه إذا شاء ويخفضه إذا شاء. وقيل لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: لو أسعرت لنا سعرا فإن الأسعار تزيد وتنقص، فقال عليه السلام: ما كنت لألقى الله عز وجل ببدعة لم يحدث لي فيها شيئا  فدعوا عباد الله يأكل بعضهم من بعض. 

33. Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja`far al-Hamdani (RA) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather (AS) that The Messenger of Allah (SA) passed by some hoarders. He ordered them to take the goods they were hoarding to the market, so that hey could be seen. It was said to the Messenger of Allah (SA), “It would be better if you had fixed a price on them.” He (SA) became so angry that it became apparent on his face, He said: “I should fix prices? Verily, the price is with Allah, the Mighty and High. He may raise it if He wills, and He may drop it if He wills.” It was said to the Messenger of Allah (SA), “If you had fixed prices for us (it would be better), because the prices rise and drop.” He (SA) replied, “I would never meet Allah, the Mighty and High, with an innovation which was not revealed to me. Leave the servants of Allah, so that some of them may eat from the others.”

34 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن أيوب بن نوح، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي، عن علي بن الحسين عليهما السلام، قال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى وكل بالسعر ملكا يدبره بأمره، وقال أبو حمزة الثمالي: ذكر عند علي بن الحسين عليهما السلام، غلاء السعر فقال: وما علي من غلائه، إن غلا فهو عليه، وإن رخص فهو عليه. قال مصنف هذا الكتاب رضي الله عنه: الغلاء هو الزيادة في أسعار الأشياء حتى يباع الشئ بأكثر مما كان يباع في ذلك الموضع، والرخص هو النقصان في ذلك، فما كان من الرخص والغلاء عن سعة الأشياء وقلتها فإن ذلك من الله عز وجل ويجب الرضا بذلك والتسليم له، وما كان من الغلاء والرخص بما يؤخذ الناس به لغير قلة الأشياء وكثرتها من غير رضى منهم به أو كان من جهة شراء واحد من الناس جميع طعام بلد فيغلو الطعام لذلك فذلك من المسعر والمتعدي بشرى طعام المصر كله  كما فعله حيكم بن حزام، كان إذا دخل الطعام المدينة اشتراه كله فمر عليه النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم فقال: يا حكيم بن حزام إياك أن تحتكر. 

34. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar said, on the authority of Ayyub ibn Nuh, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of Abu Hamzah al-Thumali that `Ali ibn al-Husayn (AS) said: “Verily, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has assigned an angel to regulate prices, who manages them with His Command.” Abu Hamzah alThumali sys: Charging high prices was mentioned to `Ali ibn al-Husayn (SA) so he said: “I do not have the right to raise prices. However, whoever raises or lowers prices will have to answer for that.” The Compiler of this book says: Charging high prices is increasing the prices of things so much so that the thing is sold for more than what it would be sold for in that place. Lowering prices means to decrease the price. Therefore, whether the low or high prices are due to excess or shortage of commodities, it is from Allah, the Mighty and High, and it is obligatory for people to accept the prices and to be satisfied with them. If the high or low prices are caused by hoarding when there ws no shortage or excess of commodities, without the approval of the people, or because one person purchased all the food in the town in order to raise the price of food, then he is a price-fixer like Hakim ibn Hizam who used to buy all the food that entered Medina. The Prophet (SA) passed by him and said: “O Hakim ibn Hizam! Beware of hoarding.”

35 - حدثنا بذلك أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن يعقوب بن يزيد عن صفوان بن يحيى، عن سلمة الحناط، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام متى كان في المصر طعام غير ما يشتريه الواحد من الناس فجائز له أن يلتمس بسلعته الفضل لأنه إذا كان في المصر طعام غيره يسع الناس لم يغل الطعام لأجله، وإنما يغلو إذا اشترى الواحد من الناس جميع ما يدخل المدينة. 

35. My father (RA) said with it that Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said, on the authority of Ya`qub ibn Yazid, on the authority of Safwan ibn Yahya, on the authority of Salmah al-Hannat, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: Whenever there is food in a town other than what one person has bought then it is permissible for him to hold on to the excess of commodity. If there is sufficient food available for people in the city, then the price will not rise merely because one person purchases the excess. Verily, the price only rises if one person buys all the food that enters the city.

36 - حدثنا أبي رحمه الله قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد وعبد الله ابني محمد بن عيسى، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن حماد بن عثمان، عن عبد الله بن علي الحلبي، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه سئل عن الحكرة فقال: إنما الحكرة أن تشتري طعاما وليس في المصر غيره فتحتكره، فإن كان في المصر طعام أو متاع غيره  فلا بأس أن تلتمس لسلعتك الفضل.  ولو كان الغلاء في هذا الموضع من الله عز وجل لما استحق المشتري لجميع طعام المدينة الذم لأنه الله عز وجل لا يذم العبد على ما يفعله  ولذلك قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: (الجالب مرزوق والمحتكر ملعون)) ولو كان منه عز وجل لوجب الرضى به والتسليم له، كما يجب إذا كان عن قلة الأشياء أو قلة الريع لأنه من الله عز وجل، وما كان من الله عز وجل أو من الناس فهو سابق في علم الله تعالى ذكره مثل خلق الخلق  وهو بقضائه وقدره على ما بينته من معنى القضاء والقدر.  باب الأطفال وعدل الله عز وجل فيهم 

36. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said, on the authority of both Ahmad and `Abd Allah sons of Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of Hammad ibn `Uthman, on the authority of `Abd Allah ibn `Ali al-Halabi that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) was asked about boarding so he replied, Verily, hoarding is buying the only food available in town and then hoarding it. However, if there is food or merchandise other than it, then there is no problem in owning any excess commodity. If there was a rise in price in such a circumstance form Allah, the Mighty and High, then the buyer of all the food of the town does not deserve blame, because Allah, the Mighty and High, does not blame a servant over his action. This is why the Messenger of Allah (SA) has said: `The importer is blessed and the hoarder is cursed.’ If it is from the Mighty and High, then it is obligatory to be satisfied with it and accept it. Similarly it is obligatory when it is due to shortage of things or shortage of income, because that is from Allah, the Mighty and High. What is from Allah, the Mighty and High, or is from the people, is from previous in the knowledge of Allah, Exalted be His remembrance. Like the creating of the creation and that is with His Destiny and His Decree, as I have explained in the meaning of the Predestination and the Divine Decree.

Al-Tawḥīd

Book 2, Chapter 60