Introduction

Kamāl al-Dīn wa Tamām al-Niʿma|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 1

Kamāl al-Dīn wa Tamām al-Niʿma

Book 1, Chapter 1

Introduction
2 Commentaries
Commentary 1

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد الله رب العالمين، وصلى الله على محمد وآله الطاهرين. الحمد الله الواحد الأحد الفرد الصمد الحي القادر العليم الحكيم، تقدس و تعالى عن صفة المخلوقين، ذي الجلال والاكرام، والافضال والانعام، والمشيئة النافذة والإرادة الكاملة، ليس كمثله شئ، وهو السميع البصير، لا تدركه الابصار، وهو يدرك الابصار، وهو اللطيف الخبير. وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، خالق كل شئ، ومالك كل شئ وجاعل كل شئ، ومحدث كل شئ، ورب كل شئ، وأنه يقضي بالحق، ويعدل في الحكم، ويحكم بالقسط، ويأمر بالعدل والاحسان، وإيتاء ذي القربى، وينهى عن الفحشاء والمنكر والبغي، ولا يكلف نفسا إلا وسعها، ولا يحملها فوق طاقتها، وله الحجة البالغة، ولو شاء لهدى الناس أجمعين، يدعو إلى دار السلام، ويهدى من يشاء إلى صراط مستقيم. لا يعجل بالعقوبة ولا يعذب إلا بعد إيضاح الحجة وتقديم الآيات والنذارة، لم يستعبد عباده بما لم يبينه لهم، ولم يأمرهم إطاعة من لم ينصبه لهم، ولم يكلهم إلى أنفسهم واختيارهم وآرائهم بطاعته واختراعهم في خلافته، تعالى الله عن ذلك علوا كبيرا.  وأشهد أن محمدا صلى الله عليه وآله عبده ورسوله وأمينه، وأنه بلغ عن ربه، ودعا إلى سبيله بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة، وعمل بالكتاب وأمر باتباعه، وأوصى بالتمسك به وبعترته الأئمة بعده صلوات الله عليهم، وإنهما لن يفترقا حتى يردا عليه حوضه، وإن اعتصام المسلمين بهما على المحجة الواضحة، والطريقة المستقيمة، والحنيفية البيضاء التي ليلها كنهارها، وباطنها كظاهرها، ولم يدع أمته في شبهة ولا عمى من أمره، ولم يدخر عنهم دلالة ولا نصيحة ولا هداية، ولم يدع برهانا ولا حجة إلا أوضح سبيلها وأقام لهم دليلها لئلا يكون للناس على الله حجة بعد الرسل، وليهلك من هلك عن بينة ويحيى من حي عن بينة. وأشهد أنه ليس بمؤمن ولا مؤمنة إذا قضى الله ورسوله أمرا أن يكون لهم الخيرة من أمرهم، وأن الله يخلق من يشاء ويختار، وأنهم لا يؤمنون حتى يحكموه فيما شجر بينهم، ثم لا يجدوا في أنفسهم حرجا مما قضاه ويسلموا تسليما، وإن من حرم حلالا ومن حلل حراما، أو غير سنة، أو نقص فريضة، أو بدل شريعة، أو أحدث بدعة يريد أن يتبع عليها ويصرف وجوه الناس إليها فقد أقام نفسه لله شريكا، ومن أطاعه فقد ادعى مع الله ربا، وباء بغضب من الله ومأواه النار وبئس مثوى الظالمين، وحبط عمله وهو في الآخرة من الخاسرين. وصلى الله على محمد وآله الطاهرين.

In the Name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful. Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds and may Allah bless Muhammad and his Purified Progeny. All the praise is for that God, Who is one, unique and single. He is Needless, Ever-living, All-powerful, All-knowing and Wise. He is pure from the traits of the creatures. He is most high and most exalted. He is glorious and honored, and perfect and of elevated status. He is One with a firm resolve and a perfect intention. Nothing is like Him. And He is all-hearing and all-Seeing. The eyes are unable to perceive Him and He perceives all vision. And He is Kind and All-aware. And I testify that there is no god except Allah. He is alone and without a partner. He is the Creator of everything, Master of everything, appointer of everything, initiator of everything and the Lord of everything. He judges with truth and he is equitable in judging and commands justice. He commands justice, goodness and fulfillment of the rights of the relatives and he prohibits indecency, evil and injustice. He does not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent of its ability and He is having the final argument. If He wills, He can guide all the people. He calls the people to the abode of peace (Dar as-Salaam) and guides whoever He likes to the right path. He does not make haste in punishing and He does not punish without clarifying proof and evidence and without giving His signs and warnings. He does not ask His servants to obey Him in matters He has not explained to them and He does not command them to obey one He has not appointed for obedience. And with regard to His obedience, He does not leave the people to their own choice and He does not allow them innovation in the matter of His vicegerency. His being is much higher than all this. And I testify that Muhammad (sw) is His servant and trustworthy messenger. And He performed the duty of propagation on behalf of his Lord as it deserved. And he called to His path with wisdom and a good exhortation. And he acted on the Book and commanded its obedience. And along with it and after him he willed the people to remain attached to the Purified Imams (as). And he stressed that the two shall never separate from each other till they meet him at the Pool of Kauthar. And the attachment of Muslims to both of them is in accordance with clear evidence, based on the straight path and an illuminated faith. Whose night is like the day and the internal is like the external. And he did not miss out any argument or proof to convince the Muslims so that no excuse remains for them. So that whoever goes to perdition should do so after seeing clear evidence and those who get life should also be after obvious proof. And I testify that indeed no one can become a believer if in some matter Allah and His Messenger command something but he follows his own choice. And indeed Allah creates what He likes and He chooses whatever He likes. And they can never become faithful until they consider the Prophet as a judge in their disputes and after that they follow the decision of the Prophet with utmost sincerity. And that they should submit to the Prophet’s decision with absolute humility. And indeed one who makes unlawful a lawful act or vice versa or he changes a prophetic practice or reduces an obligatory ordinance or alters a command of the Shariah or creates an innovation so that he may be followed and that people may become attracted to him; then he has indeed considered himself a partner to the Almighty Allah and whoever obeys such a person has in fact claimed existence of a god other than the Almighty Allah and he becomes eligible for divine punishment and his abode is the fire (of Hell) and the abode of the unjust is indeed very bad. His deeds are wasted and in the Hereafter he shall be from the losers. And benedictions be upon Muhammad and his Purified Progeny.

Commentary 2

قال الشيخ الفقيه أبو جعفر محمد بن علي بن الحسين بن موسى بن بابويه القمي مصنف هذا الكتاب أعانه الله على طاعته إن الذي دعاني إلى تأليف كتابي هذا أني لما قضيت وطري من زيارة علي بن موسى الرضا ص رجعت إلى نيسابور و أقمت بها فوجدت أكثر المختلفين إليّ‌ من الشيعة قد حيرتهم الغيبة و دخلت عليهم في أمر القائم عليه السلام الشبهة و عدلوا عن طريق التسليم إلى الآراء و المقاييس    فجعلت أبذل مجهودي في إرشادهم إلى الحق و ردهم إلى الصواب بالأخبار الواردة في ذلك عن النبي و الأئمة ص حتى ورد إلينا من بخارا شيخ من أهل الفضل و العلم و النباهة ببلد قم طالما تمنيت لقاءه واشتقت إلى مشاهدته لدينه و سديد رأيه و استقامة طريقته و هو الشيخ نجم الدين أبو سعيد محمد بن الحسن بن محمد بن أحمد بن علي بن الصلت القمي أدام الله توفيقه و كان أبي يروي عن جده محمد بن أحمد بن علي بن الصلت قدس الله روحه و يصف علمه و عمله و زهده و فضله و عبادته و كان أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى في فضله و جلالته يروي عن أبي طالب عبد الله بن الصلت القمي رضي الله عنه و بقي‌ حتى لقيه محمد بن الحسن الصفار و روى عنه فلما أظفرني الله تعالى ذكره بهذا الشيخ الذي هو من أهل هذا البيت الرفيع شكرت الله تعالى   ذكره على ما يسر لي من لقائه و أكرمني به من إخائه و حباني به من وده و صفائه فبينا هو يحدثني ذات يوم إذ ذكر لي عن رجل قد لقيه ببخارا من كبار الفلاسفة و المنطقيين كلاما في القائم عليه السلام قد حيره و شككه في أمره لطول غيبته و انقطاع أخباره فذكرت له فصولا في إثبات كونه عليه السلام و رويت له أخبارا في غيبته عن النبي و الأئمة عليه السلام سكنت إليها نفسه و زال بها عن قلبه ما كان دخل عليه من الشك و الارتياب و الشبهة و تلقى ما سمعه من الآثار الصحيحة بالسمع و الطاعة و القبول و التسليم و سألني أن أصنف له في هذا المعنى كتابا فأجبته إلى ملتمسه و وعدته جمع ما أبتغي إذا سهل الله لي العود إلى مستقري و وطني بالري.   فَبَيْنَا أَنَا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ أُفَكِّرُ فِيمَا خَلَّفْتُ وَرَائِي مِنْ أَهْلٍ وَ وَلَدٍ وَ إِخْوَانٍ وَ نِعْمَةٍ إِذْ غَلَبَنِي النَّوْمُ فَرَأَيْتُ كَأَنِّي بِمَكَّةَ أَطُوفُ حَوْلَ بَيْتِ اللَّهِ الْحَرَامِ وَ أَنَا فِي الشَّوْطِ السَّابِعِ عِنْدَ الْحَجَرِ الْأَسْوَدِ أَسْتَلِمُهُ وَ أُقَبِّلُهُ وَ أَقُولُ أَمَانَتِي أَدَّيْتُهَا وَ مِيثَاقِي تَعَاهَدْتُهُ لِتَشْهَدَ لِي بِالْمُوَافَاةِ فَأَرَى مَوْلَانَا الْقَائِمَ صَاحِبَ الزَّمَانِ ص وَاقِفاً بِبَابِ الْكَعْبَةِ فَأَدْنُو مِنْهُ عَلَى شُغُلِ قَلْبٍ وَ تَقَسُّمِ فِكْرٍ فَعَلِمَ عليه السلام مَا فِي نَفْسِي بِتَفَرُّسِهِ فِي وَجْهِي فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ السَّلَامَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي لِمَ لَا تُصَنِّفُ كِتَاباً فِي الْغَيْبَةِ حَتَّى تُكْفَى مَا قَدْ هَمَّكَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَدْ صَنَّفْتُ فِي الْغَيْبَةِ أَشْيَاءَ فَقَالَ عليه السلام لَيْسَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ السَّبِيلِ آمُرُكَ أَنْ تُصَنِّفَ وَ لَكِنْ صَنِّفِ‌ الْآنَ كِتَاباً فِي الْغَيْبَةِ وَ اذْكُرْ فِيهِ غَيْبَاتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع. ثُمَّ مَضَى ص فَانْتَبَهْتُ فَزِعاً إِلَى الدُّعَاءِ وَ الْبُكَاءِ وَ الْبَثِّ وَ الشَّكْوَى إِلَى وَقْتِ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ .. فلما أصبحت ابتدأت في تأليف هذا الكتاب ممتثلا لأمر وليّ الله و حجته مستعينا بالله و متوكلا عليه و مستغفرا من التقصير وَ ما تَوْفِيقِي إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَ إِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ‌.

The Shaykh of Fiqh, Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali bin Husain bin Musa bin Babawahy al-Qummi, the author of this book said: That which motivated me to write this book was that when I was honored by the ziyarat (visit) of Imam Ali Ibn Musa al-Ridha (as), I returned to Nishapur and stayed there. I realized that most of the Shia people who visited me were confused in the matter of occultation of the Twelfth Imam (as) and doubts haunted them about His Eminence, al-Qaim (as). They had deviated from accepting the correct views and standards. So I began my endeavor to guide to truth and the right path with the help of traditional reports of the Holy Prophet (sw) and the Holy Imams (as) till the time a learned and virtuous scholar from Bukhara came to visit us in Qom. I had always wanted to meet him due to his honesty, firm views and correctness of behavior. He was Shaykh Najmuddin Abu Saeed Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Ali bin Salt al-Qummi, May Allah continue his tawtheeq (good sense). My father and I used to narrate traditions on the authority of his grandfather, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Ali bin Salt (ra) and spoke well of his knowledge and actions, piety, excellence and worship. Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa with all his excellence and greatness used to narrate traditions from Abu Talib Abdullah ibn Salt Qummi (ra) and Abdullah bib Salt remained here till he met Muhammad bin al-Hasan al-Saffar and related traditions from him. When the Almighty Allah enabled me to meet a gentleman of such an excellent family I thanked him for giving me such a cordial reception and sincere audience.  One day he told me about his meeting with a great philosopher and logician of Bukhara and he also related to me one of his statements about His Eminence, the Qaim (as) which had put him in confusion, perplexity and doubts with regard to the Holy Imam (as) due to the prolongation of his occultation and due to cutting off of news regarding him. Therefore, I explained to him some facts about His Eminence and quoted some traditions of the Holy Prophet (sw) and the Holy Imams (as) in connection with the Imam (as). As a result of which that person got assurance and the doubts and misgivings that had inflicted his mind were removed. He listened with full attention to all the authentic traditions that I related to him and accepted them from the depth of his heart. He petitioned me to write a book for him on this subject. I agreed to do so and promised him that when the Almighty Allah would facilitate my return to my hometown, Rayy, I will compile the relevant traditional reports on this topic. One night, when I drifted into sleep after thinking about my family, friends and the bounties that the Almighty Allah had bestowed on me, I dreamt that I was performing the circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba in Mecca and in the seventh round I was near the Black Stone (Hajar Aswad), and upon reaching it I was kissing it. I was saying that I had repaid my trust and fulfilled my covenant so that it might be a witness of this. At that moment I had the honor of seeing my master, the Master of the Age (as) standing at the door of the Kaaba. My heart began to beat fast with excitement and he came to know my inner feelings which were reflected in the worried expression on my face. I saluted him and he replied to my salutation and then asked me: Why don’t you write a book regarding the occultation, so that your sadness and worries are removed? I said: O son of Allah’s Messenger, I have compiled a number of books about occultation. He said: Not in this style. I order you to compile a book on occultation and therein mention about the occultation of the prophets (peace be on them). After that, the Imam (as) departed from there. When I woke up, I began to weep, supplicate and express my humility till dawn break. In the morning, in compliance with the commands of the Proof of Allah, I began the compilation of this book. While I pray for the help of Allah and I rely on Him and seek forgiveness for my shortcomings. My tawfiq is only from the Almighty Allah, I rely on Him and I turn to Him.