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 محمد بن موسى بمن المتوكل - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسن بن محبوب، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي: قال: سمعت أبا جعفر عليه السلام يقول: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله - ومعاوية يكتب بين يديه، وأهوى بيده إلى خاصرته بالسيف -: من أدرك هذا يوما أميرا فليبقر خاصرته بالسيف، فرآه رجل ممن سمع ذلك من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله يوما وهو يخطب بالشام على الناس فاخترط سيفه ثم مشي إليه فحال الناس بينه وبينه فقالوا: يا عبد الله مالك؟ فقال: سمعت رسول الله عليه السلام يقول: من أدرك هذا يوما أميرا فليبقر خاصرته بالسيف، قال: فقال: أتدري من استعمله؟ قال: لا، قالوا: أمير المؤمنين عمر. فقال الرجل: سمعنا وطاعة لأمير المؤمنين.

1.	We were told by Muhammed bin Musa bin Mutawakkil, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Abdullah bin Ja’far al-Himyari, from Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Isa, from Hasan bin Mahbub, from Abu Hamza al-Thumali, that he said: I heard Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, say: The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said, while Mu’awiya was writing between his hands, and he lowered his hand to his waist at the sword: The one who will manage to observe him one day as a commander, let him cut his waist with the sword. He was then seen by a man from among those who had heard that from Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, one day while he was lecturing in the Levant for the people. He then drew his sword, then walked to him, and the people stood before him and him, and they said: O servant of Allah, what is it with you? He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: «The one who will manage to observe him one day as a commander, let him cut his waist with the sword.» He said: Then he said: Do you know who assigned him? He said: No. They said: The Commander of the Believers, Umar. Then the man said: (I am in) Hearing and Obedience to the Commander of the Believers.

قال الشيخ أبو جعفر محمد بن علي مصنف هذا الكتاب - رضي الله عنه -: إن الناس يشبه عليهم أمر معاوية بأن يقولوا كان كاتب الوحي وليس ذلك بموجب له فضيلة، وذلك أنه قرن في ذلك إلى عبد الله بن سعد بن أبي سرح فكانا يكتبان له الوحي وهو الذي قال: " سأنزل مثل ما أنزل الله " وكان النبي صلى الله عليه وآله يملي عليه " والله غفور رحيم " فيكتب " والله عزيز حيكم " ويملي عليه " والله عزيز حكيم " فيكتب " والله عليم حكيم " فيقول له النبي صلى الله عليه وآله: هو واحد هو واحد، فقال عبد الله بن سعد: إن محمد لا يدري ما يقول! إنه يقول وأنا أقول غير ما يقول، فيقول لي: هو واحد هو واحد. وإن جاز هذا فإني سأنزل مثل ما أنزل الله فأنزل الله تبارك وتعالى فيه " ومن قال سأنزل مثل ما أنزل الله "  فهرب وهجا النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله: من وجد عبد الله بن سعد بن أبي سرح ولو كان متعلقا بأستار الكعبة فليقتله. وإنما كان النبي صلى الله عليه وآله يقول له فيما يغيره: " هو واحد هو واحد " لأنه لا ينكتب ما يريده عبد الله إنما كان ينكتب ما كان يمليه عليه السلام فقال: هو واحد غيرت أم لم تغير لم ينكتب ما تكتبه بل ينكتب ما أمليه عن الوحي وجبرئيل عليه السلام يصلحه. وفي ذلك دلالة للنبي صلى الله عليه وآله ووجه الحكمة في استكتاب النبي صلى الله عليه وآله الوحي معاوية وعبد الله بن سعد وهما عدوان هو أن المشركين قالوا: إن محمدا يقول هذا القرآن من تلقاء نفسه ويأتي في كل حادثة بآية يزعم أنها أنزلت عليه، وسبيل من يضع الكلام في حوادث تحدث في الأوقات أن يغير الألفاظ إذا استعيد ذلك الكلام ولا يأتي به في ثاني الامر وبعد مرور الأوقات عليه إلا مغيرا عن حاله الأولى لفظا ومعنى أو لفظا دون معنى، فاستعان في كتب ما ينزل عليه في الحوادث الواقعة بعدوين له في دينه، عدلين عند أدائه ليعلم الكفار والمشركون أن كلامه في ثاني الامر كلامه في الأول غير مغير ولا مزال عن جهته فيكون أبلغ للحجة عليهم، ولو استعان في ذلك بوليين مثل سلمان وأبي ذر وأشباههما لكان الامر عند أعدائه غير واقع هذا الموقع وكان يتخيل فيه التواطؤ والتطابق فهذا وجه الحكمة في استكتابهما واضح بين والحمد لله.

Sheikh Abu Ja’far, Muhammed bin Ali, the compiler of this book, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Indeed, people are being confused by the matter of Mu’awiya, as they say that he was a writer of the Revelation, whereas that does not necessitate a virtue for him. That is due to him being parallel in that regard to Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi Sarh, and they both used to write the Revelation to him, and he was the one to said: «I will reveal like what Allah has revealed». Moreover, the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, used to dictate for him: «And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful in particular», whereas he would write: «And Allah is Mighty, All-Wise», and he would dictate for him: «And Allah is Mighty, All-Wise», whereas he would write: «And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise». The Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, would then say: «It is one, it is one», to which Abdullah bin Sa’d would say: «Indeed, Muhammed does not know what he is saying! He is saying (something), and I am saying other than what he says, and so he says to me: It is one, it is one! If this was permitted, then I will reveal like what Allah has revealed.» Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, then revealed for his sake: «And the one who said: I will reveal like what Allah has revealed» (6:93). He then fled and recited lampoonery against the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and so the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: «The one who finds Abdullah bin Sa’d bin Abi Sarh, even if he may be adhering to the veils of the Ka’ba, let him kill him.» The Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, only used to tell him, with regards to what he was altering: «It is one, it is one» because it was not supposed to be written that which Abdullah wanted, but it should only be written what he, peace be upon him, dictated, and so he said: «It is one, regardless if you alter or do not alter. It shall not be written what you write, but rather, it should be written what I am dictating of the Revelation, and Jibra’eel, peace be upon him, will rectify it. In that lies a denotation to the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and the aspect of the wisdom with regards to that the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, assigned Mu’awiya and Abdullah bin Sa’d, while they were enemies, is that the polytheists said: «Indeed, Muhammed is saying that this Qur’an comes automatically, and he comes in every event with a verse which he claims has been revealed unto him.» This is due to that the method of the one who causes speech for events that occur at specific times, is that he alters the phrases if that speech was to be brought again, and he would not bring it at the second matter and after the specific times had passed it, except that he change it from its first case, by phrase and meaning, and by phrases without (causing change to the) meaning. Thus, he sought assistance in writing that which was sent down unto him with regards to occurring events, from two that were hostile to him in (matters of) religion, and (who were considered to be) just according to his enemies. This was in order for the disbelievers and polytheists to know that his speech at the second matter is (like) his speech at the first matter, not having been subject to alteration, nor having turned from its direction. Hence, it would be more serving to deliver the proof upon them. Had he sought assistance to that from two allies, such as Salman, Abu Dharr and their likes, the matter to his enemies would not have fallen into this spot, and it would be (a factor for it to be) imagined as collaboration and agreeability. This is the aspect of the wisdom behind the request for them to write. It is obvious and clear, and praise be to Allah.

Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār

Book 1, Chapter 392