The chapter because of which we named this book, the Book of the Meanings of the Reports

The chapter of the meaning of a noun

The chapter of the meaning of «Bism-il-Laah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem»

Another chapter regarding the meaning of «Bism-il-Laah»

The chapter of the meaning of Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He

The chapter of the meaning of the One

The meaning of «al-Samad»

The meaning of the Saying of the Imams, peace be upon them, that Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, is a Thing

The meaning of «Glorified be Allah»

The meaning of Monotheism and Justice

The meaning of «Allah is Greater»

The chapter of the meaning of the First and the Last

The meaning of terms mentioned in the Book and the Tradition about Monotheism

The meaning of the satisfaction of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, and His wrath

The meaning of guidance, aberration, success and abandonment from Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He

The meaning of «There is no force nor strength except by Allah»

The meaning of the separated letters at the beginning of the chapters of the Qur’an

The meaning of evening above the Throne

The meaning of the Throne and the Chair

The meaning of the Tablet and the Pen

The meaning of the scales by which the deeds of the servants are measured

The meaning of the Path

The meaning of the letters of the Adhan and Iqamah

The meaning of the letters of the alphabet

The meaning of the letters of sentences

The meaning of the names of the Prophets and Messengers, peace be upon them, and other than that

The meaning of the names of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and his Household, peace be upon them

The meaning of the names of Muhammed, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Hussain and the Imams, peace be upon them

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Whoever I am his Leader, then Ali is his Leader»

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, to Ali, peace be upon him: «You are to me in the same position as Harun to Musa, except that there is no Prophet after me»

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, to Ali, Hasan and Hussain: «You are the ones considered weak after me»

The meaning of terms mentioned about the characteristic of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family

The meaning of Two Weighty Things and the Family

The meaning of aal, ahl, ‘itra  and ummah

The meaning of the Clear Imam

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, with regards to Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon that, that he is the Master of the Arabs

The meaning of the marriage of the Light to the Light

The meaning of the one who wrongs himself, the moderate and the forerunner

The meaning of what is narrated with regards to that Fatima shielded her private organ, to which Allah forbade her offspring from the Fire

The meaning of what is narrated with regards Fatima, peace be upon her, that she is the Mistress of the women of all the worlds

The meaning of the Trusts which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, had ordered His servants to deliver to their people

The meaning of the Trusts that were presented upon the Heavens, the earth and the mountains, but which they refused to carry and feared, and which the human being carried

The meaning of the Abandoned Well and the Lofty Palace

The meaning of Tuba

The meaning of the hiding of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, to four within four

The meaning of the column whom the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, saw during the Night of the Ascension, whose origin is of silver, center is of ruby and peridot and top is of red gold

The meaning of Prophethood

The meaning of the sun, the moon, zuhra  and Two farqads

The meaning of the sending of blessings upon the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family

The meaning of the Means

The meaning of Three Sanctities

The meaning of disobedience to parents, fugitivity from masters and the sheep who strayed from the shepherd

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «I am the Young Man, son of the Young Man, brother of the Young Man»

The meaning of adolescence and manhood

The meaning of the Father of Sand

The meaning of the Saying of the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him: «I am Zaid bin Abd-Manaf bin ‘Amer bin Amru bin Mughaira bin Zaid bin Kilab»

The meaning of the Family of Yasin

The meaning of the narration that has been narrated of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Do not antagonize the Days, lest they antagonize you»

The chapter of the meaning of the Tree from which Adam and Hawwa’ ate

The chapter of the meaning of the Words received by Adam from his Lord, after which He accepted his repentance

The meaning of the Word of Godfearness

The meaning of the Words with which Ibrahim was tested by his Lord, which he completed

The chapter of the meaning of the Remaining Word in the descendants of Ibrahim, peace be upon him

The meaning of the Infallibility of the Imam

The meaning of the forbidding of the Fire for the spine that (was a cause to have) ejaculated the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, the belly (that was caring) that carried him and the home that cared for him

The meaning of the words in which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has gathered all goodness for Adam, peace be upon him

The meaning of the disbelief that does not reach (the extent of) polytheism

The meaning of impurity

The meaning of Iblees

The meaning of the kohl of Iblees, the material he licks and his snuffle

The meaning of the Stoned

The meaning of the Treasure of Speech

The meaning of the Concealed Things

The meaning of the Master of Forgiveness-seeking

The meaning of the saying of al-Sadiq, peace be upon him: «Beware from being benefactors»

The meaning of equivalence and thankfulness

The meaning of the knowledge which ignorance of does not harm, and which knowledge of does not benefit

The meaning of the hypocrite

The meaning of complaint during illness

The meaning of the wind that causes forgetfulness and bestows

The meaning of the saying of al-Sadiq, peace be upon him: «People are two: one who relieves, and another who rests»

The meaning of the secret and what is more hidden

The meaning of the Arabization of the Nabatean, and the Nabateaization of the Arab

The chapter of the meaning of what has been narrated with regards to that a woman has no equal, neither for her good, nor for her bad

The chapter of the meaning of consulting Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He

The chapter of the meaning of aggravation

The chapter of the meaning of the most sincere of names and the best of them

The chapter of the meaning of the unseen and the witnessed

The chapter of the meaning of that which deceives the eyes

The chapter of the meaning of the kantar

The meaning of baheera, sa’iba, waseela and haam

The meaning of the cruel and the villainous

The meaning of the drinking of thirsty cattle

The meaning of the two small, the two big and the two guises

The meaning of generosity of the grace

The meaning of the evil-wisher

The meaning of few

Another meaning of few

The meaning of the report which narrated that ill-omen is in three: in a woman, a riding animal and a home

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Any man who leaves two dinars, they are to burn between his eye»

حدثنا أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن يعقوب بن يزيد، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن أبي المغرا حميد بن المثنى العجلي، عن أبي بصير، قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: صلاة الوسطى صلاة الظهر وهي أول صلاة أنزل الله على نبيه صلى الله عليه وآله.

1.	We were told by my father, may Allah grant him mercy, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ya’qoub bin Yazid, from Muhammed bin Abi ‘Umayr, from Abu’l-Mighra, Hameed bin Muthanna al-‘Ajali, from Abu Baseer, that he said: I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: The middle prayer is the noon prayer, and it is the first prayer whom Allah sent down (in commandment) upon His Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family.

حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق، وعلي بن محمد بن الحسن المعروف بابن مقبرة القزويني، قالا: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله بن أبي خلف الأشعري، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن [أبي] الصباح، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عاصم الرازي، قال: أخبرنا أبو نعيم الفضل بن دكين، عن هشام بن سعد، عن زيد بن أسلم، عن أبي يونس، قال: كتبت لعائشة مصحفا فقالت: إذا مررت بآية الصلاة فلا تكتبها حتى أمليها عليك، فلما مررت بها أملتها علي " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى وصلاة العصر ".

2.	We were told by Ali bin Abdullah al-Warraq, and Ali bin Muhammed bin Hasan, known as Ibn Maqbara al-Qazwini, that they both said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah bin Abi Khalaf al-Ash’ari, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Abi’l-Sabah, that he said: We were told by Muhammed bin ‘Asem al-Razi, that he said: We were informed by Abu Na’eem, Fadl bin Dakeen, from Hisham bin Sa’d, ob Zaid bin Aslam, from Abu Yunus, that he said: Aisha wrote a book (containing the Qur’an) and said: If you pass by the verse of prayer, then do not write it until I dictate it to you. Then, when I passed by it, she dictated it to me as: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer and the prayer of the afternoon». (2:238) [1]

حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق، وعلي بن محمد بن الحسن القزويني، قالا: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله [قال: حدثنا أحمد] بن أبي خلف الأشعري، قال: حدثنا سعد بن داود، عن أبي دهر ، عن مالك بن أنس، عن زيد بن أسلم، عن عمرو بن نافع، قال: كنت أكتب مصحفا لحفصة زوجة النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقالت: إذا بلغت هذه الآية فاكتب " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى وصلاة العصر ".

3.	We were told by Ali bin Abdullah al-Warraq, and Ali bin Muhammed bin Hasan al-Qazwini, that they both said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Abi Khalaf al-Ash’ari, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Dawud, from Abu Dahr, from Malik bin Anas, from Zaid bin Aslam, from Amru bin Nafe’, that he said: I was writing the book (which contained the Qur’an) from Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and she said: If you reach this verse, then write: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer and the prayer of the afternoon». (2:238)

حدثنا علي بن عبد الله الوراق، وعلي بن محمد بن الحسن القزويني، قالا حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله بن أبي خلف، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن أبي خلف الأشعري، قال: حدثنا سعد بن داود، عن مالك بن أنس، عن زيد بن أسلم، عن القعقاع بن حكيم، عن أبي يونس مولى عائشة زوجة النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: أمرتني عائشة أن اكتب لها مصحفا وقالت: إذا بلغت هذه الآية فاكتب " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى (وصلاة العصر) وقوموا لله قانتين " ثم قالت عائشة: سمعتها والله من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله.

4.	We were told by Ali bin Abdullah al-Warraq, and Ali bin Muhammed bin Hasan al-Qazwini, that they both said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah bin Abi Khalaf, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Abi Khalaf al-Ash’ari, that he said: We were told by Sa’d bin Dawud, from Malik bin Anas, from Zaid bin Aslam, from Qa’qa’ bin Hukaim, from Abu Yunus, the servant of Aisha, the wife of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, that he said: Aisha ordered me to write for her a book (containing the Qur’an), and she said: If you reach this verse, then write: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer and the prayer of the afternoon», and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.» (2:238) Then Aisha said: I heard it, by Allah, from the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family.

قال مصنف هذا الكتاب: فهذه الأخبار حجة لنا على المخالفين، وصلاة الوسطى  صلاة الظهر.

The compiler of this book said: Hence, these reports are an argument in our favor against the opponents [1]. The middle prayer is the noon prayer.

حدثنا محمد بن الحسن بن أحمد بن الوليد - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصفار، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي نجران، والحسين بن سعيد جميعا، عن حماد بن عيسى الجهني، عن حريز بن عبد الله السجستاني، عن زرارة بن أعين قال: سألته - يعني أبا جعفر عليه السلام - عما فرض الله عز وجل من الصلاة فقال: خمس صلوات في الليل والنهار. قلت: هل سماهن الله تعالى وبينهن في كتابه؟ فقال: نعم، قال الله تعالى لنبيه صلى الله عليه وآله: " أقم الصلاة لدلوك الشمس إلى غسق الليل " ودلوكها زوالها ففيما بين دلوك الشمس إلى غسق الليل أربع صلوات سماهن وبينهن ووقتهن، وغسق الليل انتصافه، ثم قال: " وقرآن الفجر إن قرآن الفجر كان مشهودا " فهده الخامسة، وقال تبارك وتعالى في ذلك: " أقم الصلاة طرفي النهار  " وطرفاه صلاة المغرب والغداة. " وزلفا من الليل " فهي صلاة العشاء الآخرة. وقال عز وجل: " حافظوا على الصلوات والصلاة الوسطى " وهي صلاة الظهر وهي أول صلاة صلاها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وهي وسط صلاتين بالنهار صلاة الغداة وصلاة العصر. " وقوموا لله قانتين " في صلاة الوسطى.

5.	We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Waleed, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Muhammed bin Hasan al-Saffar, from Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Isa, from Abdul-Rahman bin Abi Najran, oand Hussain bin Sa’eed, all of them, from Hammad bin Isa al-Jahni, from Huraiz bin Abdullah al-Sijistani, from Zurara bin A’yan, that he said: I asked him, meaning Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, about what Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has obliged with regards to prayer, so he said: Five prayers during the night and day. I said: Did Allah, Exalted is He, name them and clarify them in His Book? He said: Yes. Allah, Exalted is He, said to His Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Establish the prayer at the setting of the sun until the darkness of the night» (17:78). Its setting is its vanishing. Hence, between the setting of the sun until the darkness of the night, there are four prayers which He named, clarified and set a time to. The darkness of the night is its middle-point. Then He said: «and the Qur’an of the dawn. Indeed, the Qur’an of the dawn is ever witnessed.» (17:78) This is the fifth. He, Blessed and Exalted is He, said with regards to that: «Establish the prayer at the two ends of the day» (11:114), and its two ends is the sundown and the early morning, «and at the approach of the night» (11:114), and that is the prayer of the last evening. He, Exalted and Glorious is He,also said: «Maintain the prayers, and (in particular) the middle prayer» (2:238), that is the noon prayer, and it was the first prayer the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and it is in the middle of two prayers during the day, the prayer of the early morning and the afternoon prayer, «and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient» (2:238) during the middle prayer.

Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār

Book 1, Chapter 373