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 أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن علي بن رئاب، عن أبي بصير، قال: قال أبو - جعفر عليه السلام: تكلموا في خلق الله ولا تكلموا في الله فإن الكلام في الله لا يزيد إلا تحيرا.

1. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ra’ab, on the authority of Abu Basir that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: “Discuss the creation of Allah, but refrain from discussing about Allah. Verily, discussing about Allah causes nothing but confusion.”

2 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن أبي أيوب الخزاز، عن أبي عبيدة، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام أنه قال: تكلموا في كل شئ ولا تكلموا في الله. (١) 

2. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of Abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz, on the authority of Abu `Ubaydah, that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: “Discuss about anything, but do not discuss about Allah.”

3 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن علي بن رئاب، عن ضريس الكناسي، عن أب�� جعفر عليه السلام قال: اذكروا من عظمة الله ما شئتم ولا تذكروا ذاته فإنكم لا تذكرون منه شيئا إلا وهو أعظم منه. 

3. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority `Ali ibn Ri’ab, on the authority of Durays al-Kanasi, that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: “Mention Allah’s Greatness as you wish, but do not discuss His Essence, as He is greater than anything you may mention.”

4 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن علي بن رئاب، عن بريد العجلي، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم على أصحابه فقال: ما جمعكم؟ قالوا: اجتمعنا نذكر ربنا ونتفكر في عظمته، فقال: لن تدركوا التفكر في عظمته. 

4. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ri’ab on the authority of Burayd al-`Ijli that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (sw) said: The Messenger of Allah (SA) joined a gathering of his companions, and asked them: “Why have you gathered?” They replied: “We have gathered to mention our Lord and to ponder upon His Greatness.” Thus, the Prophet (sw) said; “You will never be able to understand His Greatness.”

5 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن علي بن رئاب، عن فضيل ابن يسار، قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: يا ابن آدم لو أكل قلبك طائر لم يشبعه، وبصرك لو وضع عليه خرق إبرة لغطاه، تريد أن تعرف بهما ملكوت السماوات والأرض، إن كنت صادقا فهذه الشمس خلق من خلق الله فإن قدرت أن تملأ عينيك منها فهو كما تقول. 

5. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of `Ali ibn ibn Ri’ab, on the authority of Fudayl ibn Yasir that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: O son of Adam! If a bird ate you heart, it would not fill him. If your eye was placed with a hole of a needle it would certainly be covered. And yet you seek to understand the heavens and the earth by means of your heart and your eyes? If what you claim is correct, namely, that you can understand Allah, then here is the sun, a creation from the creations of Allah, If your eyes can stand the sight of it, then what you say is true.

6 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن العلاء بن رزين، عن محمد بن مسلم عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام في قول الله عز وجل: ﴿ومن كان في هذه أعمى فهو في الآخرة أعمى وأضل سبيلا﴾  قال: من لم يدله خلق السماوات والأرض واختلاف الليل والنهار ودوران الفلك والشمس والقمر والآيات العجيبات على أن وراء ذلك أمرا أعظم منه فهو في الآخرة أعمى وأضل سبيلا، قال: فهو عما لم يعاين أعمى وأضل. 

6. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of al-`Ala’ ibn Razin, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Muslim, that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) was asked about the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: And whoever is blind in this, he shall (also) be blind in the hereafter; and more erring from the way. He (AS) said: He who is guided by the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alteration of the night and the day, and the sailing of the ships, and the sun and the moon, and all the other amazing signs of Allah, should know that there is something Greater behind them all. He shall be blind in the Hereafter, and the fartheset from the straight path. He (AS) added, “In other words, he is blind and led astray, form what he does not see.”

7 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رحمه الله قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسن بن علي بن فضال عن ثعلبة بن ميمون، عن الحسن الصيقل، عن محمد بن مسلم، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: تكلموا في ما دون العرش ولا تكلموا في ما فوق العرش فإن قوما تكلموا في الله عز وجل فتاهو حتى كان الرجل ينادي من بين يديه فيجيب من خلفه وينادي من خلفه فيجيب من بين يديه. 

7. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa said, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn `Ali ibn Fuddal, on the authority of Tha`labah ibn Maymun, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn al-Sayqal, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Muslim, that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: Discuss about anything but the Throne. And discuss about anything other than what is above the Throne. A group once conversed about the Essence of Allah, the Mighty and High. They became so bewildered that when someone called one of them from in front, he would answer from behind, when someone called on of them from behind, they would answer from in front (meaning he lost his sense).

8 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن محمد بن يحيى الخثعمي، عن عبد الرحيم القصير، قال: سألت أبا جعفر عليه السلام عن شئ من التوحيد، فرفع يديه إلى السماء وقال: تعالى الله الجبار (١) إن من تعاطى ما ثم هلك. 

8. My father (RA) said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khath`ami, on the authority of `Abd al-Rahim al-Qasir that I asked Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) something about Divine Unity. He lifted his hands up to Heaven and said: “Exalted is Allah, the Supreme [Jabbar]. Verily, whoever speculates about Divine Unity will be destroyed.”

9 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن عبد الرحمن بن الحجاج، عن سليمان بن خالد، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قول الله عز وجل: ﴿وأن إلى ربك المنتهى﴾  قال: إذا انتهى الكلام إلى الله عز وجل فأمسكوا. 

9. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of Ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Khalid that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) was asked to interpret the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: And that to your Lord is the end of all. He said: “If the statement ends with Allah, the Mighty and High, then abstain.”

10 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن أبي أيوب الخزاز، عن محمد بن مسلم، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: يا محمد إن الناس لا يزال بهم المنطق حتى يتكلموا في الله، فإذا سمعتم ذلك فقولوا: لا إله إلا الله الواحد الذي ليس كمثله شئ. 

10. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of Ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of Abu Ayyub al-Khazzaz, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Muslim that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “O Muhammad! Always use logic with the people until they start discussing the Essence of Allah. When you hear them talking about that say: There is no god but Allah, the One, and nothing whatsoever is like unto Him.”

11 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن محمد بن حمران، عن أبي عبيدة الحذاء، قال: قال لي أبو جعفر عليه السلام: يا زياد إياك والخصومات فإنها تورث الشك وتحبط العمل وتردي صاحبها، وعسى أن تكلم بالشئ فلا يغفر له، إنه كان فيما مضى قوم وتركوا علم ما وكلوا به وطلبوا علم ما كفوه حتى انتهى كلامهم إلى الله عز وجل فتحيروا، فإن كان الرجل ليدعى من بين يديه فيجيب من خلفه ويدعى من خلفه فيجيب من بين يديه. 

11. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of Ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Humran, on the authority of Abu `Ubaydah al-Hadhdha’ that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (A)S said: O Ziyad! Beware of quarrels. Verily, its legacy is doubt and the loss of good deeds. A quarrelling person gets ruined. It may be that he talks about something for which he will not be forgiven. Verily, he may become lie the people of the past, who avoided the knowledge they were given, thinking that their knowledge would suffice. Their speech ended with Allah, the Mighty and High. Thus, they became so much bewildered that when a man was called from the front, he would answer from behind, and if he was called from behind, he would answer from in front.

12 - أبي رحمه الله قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد ابن عيسى، عن عبد الله بن المغيرة، عن أبي اليسع، عن سليمان بن خالد، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: أنه قد كان فيمن كان قبلكم قوم تركوا علم ما وكلوا بعلمه و طلبوا علم ما لم يوكلوا بعلمه، فلم يبرحوا حتى سألوا عما فوق السماء فتاهت قلوبهم، فكان أحدهم يدعى من بين يديه فيجيب من خلفه ويدعى من خلفه فيجيب من بين يديه. 

12. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa said, on the authority `Abd Allah ibn al-Mughayrah, on the authority of Abu al-Yas`, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Khalid that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: Verily, there was a group of people before you cast aside the knowledge they were granted, and sought knowledge that was not granted to them. Hence, they did not stop questioning until they asked about what was above Heaven. As a result, they went astray. Among them was a man who, when called from the front, would answer from behind, and when was called from behind he would answer from the front.

13 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن أبي اليسع، عن أبي الجارود، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: دعوا التفكر في الله فإن التفكر في الله لا يزيد إلا تيها لأن الله تبارك وتعالى لا تدركه الأبصار ولا تبلغه الأخبار. 

13. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of Abut al-Yas`, on the authority of Abu al-Jarud that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: “Abandon speculating about Allah. Verily, speculating about Allah does nothing but lead astray. Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, cannot be perceived by vision, and the reports cannot reach Him.”

14 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن أبي اليسع، عن سليمان بن خالد، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إياكم والتفكر في الله فإن التفكر في الله لا يزيد إلا تيها لأن الله عز وجل لا تدركه الأبصار ولا يوصف بمقدار. 

14. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of Abu al-Yas`, on the authority of Sulayman ibn Khalid that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: ”Be ware of speculation about Allah. Verily, speculation about Allah does nothing but lead astray. Allah, the Mighty and high, cannot be perceived by vision, and He cannot be attributed with measure.”

15 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، قال: حدثنا محمد بن خالد، عن علي بن النعمان وصفوان بن يحيى عن فضيل بن عثمان، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: دخل عليه قوم من هؤلاء الذين يتكلمون في الربوبية، فقال: اتقوا الله وعظموا الله ولا تقولوا ما لا نقول فإنكم إن قلتم وقلنا متم ومتنا ثم بعثكم الله وبعثنا فكنتم حيث شاء الله وكنا. 

15. My father (RA) said: `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Himyari said, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa that Muhammad ibn Khalid said, on the authority of `Ali ibn al-Nu`man and Safwan ibn Yahya, on the authority of Fudayl ibn `Uthman, that A group of people entered the presence of Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) talking about the Lordship. He (AS) told them: “Fear Allah, revere Him and do not say what we do not say, for verily, if you say one thing, and we say another, then you will die and so shall we. Then Allah will raise you from death, and as He will raise us. Thus, you would be the way He wills, and so shall we.”

16 - حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، قال: حدثنا الحسن بن محبوب، عن عمرو بن أبي المقدام، عن سالم بن أبي حفصة، عن منذر الثوري، عن محمد بن الحنفية، قال: إن هذه الأمة لن تهلك حتى تتكلم في ربها. 

16. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (RA) said: `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far said Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Isa said: al-Hasan ibn Mahbub said, on the authority of `Amr ibn Abu alMiqdam, on the authority of Salim ibn Abu Hafsah, on the authority of Mundhar al-Thawri, that Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyah said: “Verily, this Ummah will not be ruined until they stat discussing (the nature of) their Lord.”

17 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن علي بن رئاب، عن ضريس، الكناسي، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إياكم والكلام في الله، تكلموا في عظمته ولا تكلموا فيه فإن الكلام في الله لا يزداد إلا تيها . 

17. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of `Ali ibn Ri’ab, on the authority of Durays al-Kunasi that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Beware of discussing about Allah. Discuss His Reverence, but do not discuss His Essence. Verily, discussing Allah does nothing but lead astray.

18 - حدثنا علي بن أحمد بن محمد بن عمران الدقاق رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا أبو الحسين محمد بن أبي عبد الله الكوفي، قال: حدثنا محمد بن سليمان بن الحسن الكوفي، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد بن خالد، عن علي بن حسان الواسطي، عن بعض أصحابنا، عن زرارة، قال: قلت لأبي جعفر عليه السلام: إن الناس قبلنا قد أكثروا في الصفة فما تقول؟ فقال: مكروه، أما تسمع الله عز وجل يقول: ﴿وأن إلى ربك المنتهى﴾  تكلموا فيما دون ذلك. 

18. `Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn `Imran al-Daqqaq (RA) said: Abu al-Husayn Muhammad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Kufi said: Muhammad ibn Sulayman ibn al-Hasan al-Kufi said: `Abd Allah ibn Muhammad bin Khalid said, on the authority of `Ali ibn Hasan al-Wasiti, on the authority of some of our scholars, on the authority of Zurarah that I asked Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS): “Verily, the people in our presence are talking increasingly about the attributes of Allah. What should we say? So, he (AS) replied, “It is abhorred [makruh]. Do you not hear Allah, the Mighty and High, saying that And that to your Lord is the end of all. Speak about other than that.”

19 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا في بن إبراهيم بن هاشم، عن أبيه، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن عبد الله بن بكير، عن زرارة، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: إن ملكا عظيم الشأن كان في مجلس له فتكلم في الرب تبارك وتعالى ففقد فما يدري أين هو. 

19. My father said: `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn Abu `Umayr, on the authority of `Abd Allah ibn Bukayr, on the authority of Zurarah, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Verily, there was once a great king started to discuss the Essence of the Lord, Blessed and Exalted be He. As a result, he went missing, and it is not know what became of him.

20 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عبد الحميد، عن العلاء بن رزين، عن محمد بن مسلم، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: إياكم والتفكر في الله، ولكن إذا أردتم أن تنظروا إلى عظمة الله فانظروا إلى عظم خلقه. 

20. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Hamid said, on the authority of al`Ala’ ibn Razin, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Muslim, that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: “Beware of speculating about Allah. However, if you intend to see Allah’s magnificence, then look towards the magnificence of His Creation.

21 - أبي رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن علي بن السندي، عن حماد بن عيسى، عن الحسين بن المختار، عن أبي بصير عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام، قال: سمعته يقول: الخصومة تمحق الدين وتحبط العمل وتورث الشك. 

21. My father (RA) said: Ahmad ibn Idris said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad, on the authority of `Ali ibn al-Sindi, on the authority of Hammad ibn `Isa, on the authority of alHusayn ibn al-Mukhtar, on the authority of Abu Basir, that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said: I heard him saying that, “Quarrelling destroys religion, puts an end to good deeds, and leaves nothing but doubt as its heir.”

22 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن أبي بصير، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: يهلك أصحاب الكلام، وينجو المسلمون إن المسلمين هم النجباء. 

22. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of Abu Basir that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “The quarrelers are ruined while the submitters are saved. Verily, the submitters are the noble ones.”

23 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، قال: حدثنا العباس بن معروف، عن سعدان بن مسلم، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: سمعته يقول: لا يخاصم إلا رجل ليس له ورع أو رجل شاك. 

23. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar said: al-`Abbas ibn Ma`ruf said, on the authority of Sa`dan ibn Muslim, on the authority of Abu Basir that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “The only ones who quarrel in matters of faith are those who lack piety or who are assailed by doubts.”

24 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد، عن علي بن الحكم، عن فضيل، عن أبي عبيدة، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: قال لي: يا أبا عبيدة إياك وأصحاب الخصومات والكذابين علينا فإنهم تركوا ما أمروا بعلمه وتكلفوا علم السماء، يا أبا عبيدة خالقوا الناس بأخلاقهم وزايلوهم بأعمالهم، إنا لا نعد الرجل فينا عاقلا  حتى يعرف لحن القول ثم قرأ هذه الآية (ولتعرفنهم في لحن القول) . 

24. My father (RA) said: ``Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Himyari said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad sid, on the authority of `Ali ibn al-Hakam, on the authority of Fudayl, on the authority of Abu `Ubaydah who said that Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS) said to me: O Abu `Ubaydah! Beware of quarrelers and those who relate lies about us. Verily, they have left what they were ordered to learn and seek from the knowledge of Heaven. O Abu `Ubaydah! Mould people with morals and pursue them with their deeds. Verily, we never consider a person to be wise until he recognizes the tone of speech. He (AS) then recited this verse: And most certainly you can recognize them by the tone of (their) speech.

25 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله قال: حدثنا يعقوب بن يزيد عن الغفاري، عن جعفر بن إبراهيم، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام أنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: إياكم وجدال كل مفتون فإن كل مفتون ملقن حجته إلى انقضاء مدته  فإذا انقضت مدته أحرقته فتنته بالنار. وروي شغلته خطيئته فأحرقته. 

25. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: Ya`qub ibn Yazid said, on the authority of alGhifari, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Ibrahim, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (a.s) said: The Messenger of Allah (s.w) said: “Beware of arguing wit every maniac. Verily, every maniac dictates his proof till the end of his time (death). When his life cameos to an end, his mischief will cause him to burn in the fire.” It is also transmitted, `his mistakes trouble him and burn him.’

26 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عيسى قال: قرأت في كتاب علي بن بلال أنه سأل الرجل يعني أبا الحسن عليه السلام: أنه روي عن آبائك عليهم السلام أنهم نهوا عن الكلام في الدين. فتأول مواليك المتكلمون بأنه إنما نهى من لا يحسن أن يتكلم فيه فأما من يحسن أن يتكلم فيه فلم ينه، فهل ذلك كما تأولوا أولا؟ فكتب عليه السلام: المحسن وغير المحسن لا يتكلم فيه فإن إثمه أكثر من نفعه. 

26. My father (RA) said: Sa1d ibn `Abd Allah said: Muhammad ibn `Isa said I read in the letter of `Ali ibn Bilal that he asked the man, i.e. Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS), regarding the prohibition of discussing matters of religion which were transmitted from his ancestors. Your followers [mawali] have interpreted `the speakers’ to mean that those who are not well-versed about a topic are prohibited from speaking about it and that whoever is well-versed about a topic is not prohibited from speaking about it. Is this the way you interpret it or not? Thus, he (AS) wrote: “...neither the well-versed nor the ignorant should speak about it, for indeed, its sin is greater than its benefit.”

27 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، قال: حدثنا محمد بن أحمد علي بن إسماعيل، عن المعلى بن محمد البصري، عن علي بن أسباط، عن جعفر بن سماعة، عن غير واحد، عن زرارة، قال: سألت أبا جعفر عليه السلام: ما حجة الله على العباد؟ قال: أن يقولوا ما يعلمون ويقفوا عندما لا يعلمون. 

27. My father (RA) said: Ahmad ibn Idris said; Muhammad ibn Ahmad said, on the authority of `Ali ibn Isma`il, on the authority of al-Mu`alla ibn Muhammad ibn al-Basri, on the authority of `Ali ibn Asbar, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Sama`ah, on the authority of more than one, on the authority of Zurarah that I asked Abu Ja`far al-Baqir (AS): “What is the proof of Allah over the servants?” He (AS) answered, “They should only say what they know, and refrain from saying what they know not.”

28 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى العطار، عن محمد بن الحسين، ابن أبي الخطاب، عن ابن فضال، عن علي بن شجرة، عن إبراهيم بن أبي رجاء عن أخي طربال  قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: كف الأذى وقلة الصخب يزيدان في الرزق. 

28. My father (RA) said: Muhammad ibn Yahya al-`Attar said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Abu al-Khattab, on the authority of Ibn Fuddal, on the authority of `Ali ibn Shajarah, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Abu Raja’, on the authority of Tirbal’s brother that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “Abstaining from annoying (others with arguments) and desisting from shouting increase one’s sustenance.”

29 - حدثنا محمد بن موسى بن المتوكل رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسين، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن نجية القواس، عن علي بن يقطين، قال: قال أبو الحسن عليه السلام: مر أصحابك أن يكفوا من ألسنتهم ويدعوا الخصومة في الدين ويجتهدوا في عبادة الله عز وجل. 

29. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawakkil (RA) said: `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Himyani said: Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said, on the authority of al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, on the authority of Najiyyah al-Qawwas, on the authority of `Ali ibn Yaaqtin that Abu al-Hasan al-Kadhim (AS) said: “Guide your friends to hold their tongues, abandon religious quarrel, and strive to serve Allah, the Mighty and High.”

30 - حدثنا الحسين بن أحمد بن إدريس رضي الله عنه، عن أبيه، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن موسى بن عمر، عن العباس بن عامر، عن مثنى، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي - عبد الله، قال: قال: لا يخاصم إلا شاك أو من لا ورع له. 

30. Al-Husayn ibn Ahmad ibn Idris (RA) said, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad, on the authority of Musa ibn `Umar, on the authority of al-`Abbas ibn `Amir, on the authority of Muthanna, on the authority of Abu Baisr, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “the only ones who quarrel are those who are assailed with doubts or who are devoid of piety.”

31 - وبهذا الإسناد، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن أحمد بن الحسن، عن أبي حفص عمر بن عبد العزيز  عن رجل، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام، قال: قال: متكلموا هذه العصابة من شر من هم منه من كل صنف . 

31. And with the same chain of transmission, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad on the authority of Ahmad ibn al-Hasan, on the authority of Abu Hafs `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz, on the authority of a man, that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “The debaters of this sect are the most evil of all the categories.”

32 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسين عن محمد بن إسماعيل، عن الحضرمي، عن المفضل بن عمر، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: يا مفضل من فكر في الله كيف كان هلك، ومن طلب الرئاسة هلك. 

32. My father (RA) said: Sa`d ibn `Abd Allah said: Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il, on the authority of al-Hadrami, on the authority of alMufaddal ibn `Umar that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “O Mufaddal! Whoever speculates about the state of Allah is ruined, and whoever seeks power is ruined as well.”

33 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، عن هارون بن مسلم، عن مسعدة بن صدقة، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه عليهما السلام، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قال: لعن الله الذين اتخذوا دينهم شحا  يعني الجدال ليدحضوا الحق بالباطل. 

33. My father (r.a) said: `Abd Allah ibn Ja`far al-Himyari said, on the authority of Harun ibn Muslim, on the authority of Mus`adah ibn Sadaqah, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad (a.s), on the authority of his father (a.s) that The Prophet (s.w) said: “Allah has cursed the ones who cheapen religion. They are those who quarrel for the sole purpose of refuting truth with falsehood.”

34 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد رضي الله عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن الفضل بن عامر، عن موسى بن القاسم البجلي، عن محمد بن سعيد، عن إسماعيل بن أبي زياد، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن آبائه عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: أنا زعيم بيت في أعلى الجنة وبيت في وسط الجنة وبيت في رياض الجنة  لمن ترك المراء وإن كان محقا. 

34. Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn al-Walid (RA) said: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan alSaffar said, on the authority of al-Fadl ibn `Amir, on the authority of Musa bin al-Qasim alBajali, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sa`id, on the authority of Isma`il ibn Abu Ziyad, on the authority of Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS) on the authority of his forefathers (AS) that The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “I am the leader of the Highest House in Paradise, the leader of the Medium House in Paradise, and the leader of the House in the Garden of Paradise, for all those who refrain from vain argument, even when they are correct.

35 - أبي رحمه الله، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن عبد الله بن محمد، عن محمد بن إسماعيل النيسابوري، عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي هاشم، عن كليب بن معاوية، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: لا يخاصم إلا من قد ضاق بما في صدره.

35. My father (RA) said: Ahmad ibn Idris said, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ahmad, on the authority of `Abd Allah ibn Muhammad, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma`il alNaysaburi, on the authority of `Abd al-Rahman ibn Abu Hashim, on the authority of Kulayb ibn Mu`awiyah that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) said: “No one quarrels except for the one whose chest is narrowed.”

Al-Tawḥīd

Book 2, Chapter 67