The people of Dhikr (memory and knowledge) that Allah has commanded the creatures to ask for their questions are the Imams (a.s.)

Al-Kāfi|Volume 1|Book 4|Chapter 20

Al-Kāfi

Book 4, Chapter 20

The people of Dhikr (memory and knowledge) that Allah has commanded the creatures to ask for their questions are the Imams

Hadith #3

3- الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ فَقَالَ نَحْنُ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ وَنَحْنُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ قُلْتُ فَأَنْتُمُ الْمَسْئُولُونَ وَنَحْنُ السَّائِلُونَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ حَقّاً عَلَيْنَا أَنْ نَسْأَلَكُمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ حَقّاً عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُجِيبُونَا قَالَ لا ذَاكَ إِلَيْنَا إِنْ شِئْنَا فَعَلْنَا وَإِنْ شِئْنَا لَمْ نَفْعَلْ أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى هذا عَطاؤُنا فَامْنُنْ أَوْ أَمْسِكْ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ.

3- Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ who said: “I asked al-Rida and said, 'May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of the words of Allah, “Ask the people of Dhikr if you do not know.”?' (16:43 and 21:7) He replied, “ We are the people of ‘Dhikr’ and we are the ones about whom questions will be asked.” I asked further, “Are you the ones to be questioned and we will be the ones to question?” He said, “Yes.“ I then asked, “Will it be a right on us to ask you?” He said, “Yes.” I then asked, “Will it be a right on you to answer us?” He said, “No, that is up to us. If we wish, we will, and if we wish, we won't. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Holy and Most High: “This is a gift from us. You may (give to others and) oblige or keep without being held accountable.”? (38:39)