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 إبراهيم بن إسحاق الطالقاني - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا عبد العزيز بن يحيى الجلودي، قال: حدثنا أبو عبد الله أحمد بن عمار بن خالد، قال: حدثنا يحيى بن عبد الحميد الحماني قال: حدثنا عيسى بن راشد، عن علي بن خزيمة، عن عكرمة، عن ابن عباس، وحدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه، عن عمه محمد بن أبي القاسم، عن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي، عن أبيه، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن أبان بن عثمان، عن أبان ابن تغلب، عن عكرمة، عن ابن عباس، قال: ذكرت الخلافة عند أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام فقال: والله لقد تقمصها أخو تيم وإنه ليعلم أن محلي منها محل القطب من الرحى ينحدر عنه السيل، ولا يرتقي إليه الطير، فسدلت دونها ثوبا، وطويت عنها كشحا، وطفقت أرتئي [ما] بين أن أصول بيد جذاء أو أصبر على طخية عمياء، يشيب فيها الصغير، ويهرم فيها الكبير، ويكدح فيها مؤمن حتى يلقى الله [ربه]. فرأيت أن الصبر على هاتا أحجى، فصبرت وفي العين قذى، وفي الحلق شجى، أرى تراثي نهبا، حتى إذا مضى الأول لسبيله عقدها لأخي عدي بعده، فيا عجبا بينا هو يستقيلها في حياته إذ عقدها لآخر بعد وفاته، فصيرها والله في حوزة خشناء، يخشن مسها، ويغلظ كلمها، ويكثر العثار والاعتذار [منها]، فصاحبها كراكب الصعبة إن عنف بها حرن، وإن سلس بها غسق فمني الناس بتلون واعتراض وبلوا مع هن وهني. فصبرت على طول المدة وشدة المحنة حتى إذا مضى لسبيله جعلها في جماعة زعم أني منهم، فيالله لهم وللشورى، متى اعترض الريب في مع الأول منهم حتى صرت أقرن بهذه النظائر؟ فمال رجل بضبعه، وأصغى آخر لصهره، وقام ثالث القوم نافجا حضينه بين نثيله ومعتلفه، وقام معه بنو أمية يهضمون مال الله هضم الإبل نبتة الربيع، حتى أجهز عليه عمله، فما راعني إلا والناس إلي كعرف الضبع، قد انثالوا علي من كل جانب، حتى لقد وطئ الحسنان وشق عطافي، حتى إذا نهضت بالامر نكثت طائفة وفسقت أخرى ومرق آخرون، كأنهم لم يسمعوا قول الله تبارك وتعالى. " تلك الدار الآخرة نجعلها للذين لا يريدون علوا في الأرض ولا فسادا والعاقبة للمتقين " بلى والله لقد سمعوا ولكن احلولت الدنيا في أعينهم، وراقهم زبرجها، والذي فلق الحبة وبرأ النسمة لولا حضور الناصر وقيام الحجة وما أخذ الله تعالى على العلماء أن لا يقروا [على] كظة ظالم ولا سغب مظلوم لا لقيت حبلها على غاربها، ولسقيت آخرها بكأس أولها، ولألفيتم دنياكم أزهد عندي من عفطة عنز. قال: وناوله رجل من أهل السواد كتابا فقطع كلامه وتناول الكتاب فقلت: يا أمير المؤمنين لو اطردت مقالتك إلى حيث بلغت. فقال: هيهات يا ابن عباس! تلك شقشقة هدرت ثم قرت. فما أسفت على كلام قط كأسفي على كلام أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليه إذ لم يبلغ حيث أراد.

1.	We were told by Muhammed bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq al-Talaqani, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Abdul-Aziz bin Yahya al-Jaloudi, that he said: We were told by Abu Abdillah, Ahmad bin Ammar bin Khalid, that he said: We were told by Yahya bin Abdul-Hamid al-Humani, that he said: We were told by Isa bin Rashid, from Ali bin Khuzaima, from Ikrima, from Ibn Abbas, and we were also told by Muhammed bin Ali Majilawayh, from his paternal uncle, Muhammed bin Abi’l-Qasem, from Ahmad bin Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, from his father, from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr, from Aban bin Uthman, from Aban bin Taghlib, from Ikrima, from Ibn Abbas, that he said: The caliphate was mentioned in the presence of the Commander of the Believers, Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon him, and he said: By Allah, it was put on by the brother of Taim, and indeed, he was knowing that my place from it is (like) the place of the axis in relation to the hand mill, from which the flood declines and to which birds to not ascend. Hence, I hanged before it a cloth, and I folded away from it, with my wast. I then came to have the choice between to assault with an amputated hand or to remain patient upon a blind severe darkness, in which the small develops grey hair, and in which the big becomes old, and in which a believer is drudged until he meets Allah, his Lord. Hence, I saw that to remain patient was wiser, and so I remained patient, although there was speck in the eye and suffocation in the throat. I saw my inheritance being plundered, and until the first one went his way, he assembled it to the brother of ‘Adi after him. How strange is it that he was attempting to cast it off, during his lifetime, and then the other assembled it after his demise. He then placed it, by Allah, in a tough enclosure, whose touch was rough, whose cause of injury was harsh, and whose mistakes were plenty and so the excuses to them. Thus, the one who possessed it was like the rider of an unruly camel; if he would deal with it fiercely, he stops, and if he would deal with it loosely, he falls into darkness. Consequently, the people got afflicted by unsteadiness, deviation and tribulation along with such-a-belittled and such-a-belittled. So, I remained patient for the long period and severe ordeal until he went his way, and he made it among a group which he claimed I am one of. But by Allah, what is there to do with them and the congregation? Since when did doubt arise about me along with (their following of) the first of them, to the extent that I was made akin to these likes? A man of them then inclined his desire (to another) and another listened to his son-in-law. Then the third (leader) from the people arose, heaving his chest, between his penis and fodder spot, and the sons of Umayyah arose with him, chewing on the property of Allah like the chewing of camels for the spring’s vegetation, until his own deed delivered him the deathblow. I was then not surprised except by that people came to me like the mane of the hyena. They advanced to me from every side, to the extent Hasan and Hussain were stepped upon and the edge of my shoulder garment was torn. When I then arose with the matter, one group violated (their oath), another gravely disobeyed and others became renegades, as if they had not heard the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: «That Home of the Hereafter, We make for those who do not seek elevation on earth, nor corruption. And the good outcome is for the godfearing.» (28:83) Sure, by Allah, they had certainly heard it. However, this world appeared as glittering in their eyes, and its ornament seduced them. By the One who split the seed and creation mankind, were it not for the attendance of the assistant, the establishment of the Proof and what Allah, Exalted is He, has taken upon the scholars that they do not acknowledge the gluttony of the oppressor, nor the famine of the oppressed, I would surely have cast its rope on its own shoulders, and I would have made its end drink by the cup of its beginning (by equal treatment). You would then have observed that this world of yours is of less value to me than the nose-fart of a goat. He said: A man from the mass handed him a book, and so he interrupted his speech and received the book. I then said: O Commander of the Believers, (it would be good) if you were to continue your saying until you are finished. He said: May such stay far, O Ibn Abbas. That is (like) a foam of a camel that gushed out, but then subsided. I have never grieved over any speech like my grievance over the speech of the Commander of the Believers, Allah’s blessings be upon him, as he did not reach what he intended.

Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār

Book 1, Chapter 404