Disbelief

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Are the traditions, Sunan of the Messenger of Allah like the obligations Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has sanctioned?’ The Imam said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has sanctioned obligations that are compulsory for the servants (of Allah). Whoever ignores an obligation of the compulsory ones; does not perform it and rejects it, he becomes an unbeliever. The Messenger of Allah has commanded certain matters to be performed and they all are good deeds. One does not become an unbeliever for ignoring a few of the obligations that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has commanded His servant to perform, however, he has ignored a virtue and has cut down goodness.’”

“By Allah, disbelief is older than polytheism and more vile and greater (in filth.) The narrator has said that the Imam then mentioned the disbelief of Iblis when Allah said to him: 'Prostrate to Adam,' but he refused to prostrate. Thus, disbelief is greater than polytheism. So, whoever chooses anything over Allah, Exalted and Mighty, and refuses to obey, and persists in major sins, he is a disbeliever. And whoever establishes a religion other than the religion of the believers, he is a polytheist."

“The narrator has said that once Salim ibn abu Hafs and his companions were mentioned before abu Ja’far (a.s.) and that they denied that those who waged war against Ali (a.s.) are of the people who consider things as partners of Allah ( Mushrik ). Abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘So they think such people are unbelievers.’ The Imam then said to me, ‘Disbelief is before paganism.’ He (the Imam) then mentioned Satan when Allah told him to prostrate, and he refused to do so. The Imam said that disbelief is before al-Shirk (paganism and considering things as partners of Allah). Whoever boldly disobeys Allah and commits major sins is an unbeliever. He has considered belief insignificant so he is an unbeliever.’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘We showed him the right path, whether he would be grateful or ungrateful.’ (76:3) The Imam said, ‘If he accepts it (belief), he is then grateful or rejects it; he then is an unbeliever.’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘The deeds of anyone who rejects belief, certainly, become fruitless. He, on the Day of Judgment will be of those who lose.’ (5:5) The Imam said, ‘It is disregarding the deeds that he has confessed to be true. Of such deeds is disregarding prayer without suffering from illness or being preoccupied. ’”

“Once I asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) about disbelief and al-Shirk (paganism) as to which is before. The Imam said to me, ‘I have not experienced your involvement in polemics among the people.’ I then said, ‘Hisham ibn Salim has ordered me to ask you this question.’ The Imam said, ‘Disbelief is before and it is denial and rejection. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, . . except Iblis (Satan) who abstained out of pride, and so he became one of those who deny the truth.’” (2:34)

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) ‘Will a believer go in the fire?’ The Imam said, ‘No, by Allah.’ I then asked, ‘So no one will be sent in the fire except the unbelievers?’ The Imam said, ‘No, except whoever Allah wills.’ I (the narrator) repeated my question several times and the Imam said, ‘O Zurara, I say, “No,” and I say, ‘Except whoever Allah will wish’ and you say, “No,” but do not say, ‘Except whoever Allah will wish.’” Ibn abu ‘Umayr has said that Hisham ibn al-Hakam and Hammad have narrated from Zurara who has said the following: “I said to myself, ‘An old man has no knowledge of polemics.’ The narrator (Zurara) has said the Imam said to me, ‘O Zurara, what do you say about one who says, ‘I am at your command (whatever you say in matters of belief I accept). Will you kill him? What do you say about your servants and people very closely related to you? Will you kill them?’ “I (the narrator) then said to myself, ‘I am the one who has no knowledge of polemics.’”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, when he was asked about disbelief and paganism which one was first, ‘Disbelief is first. Satan was the first to become an unbeliever and his disbelief was something other than al-Shirk (paganism) he did not invite to worship anyone other than Allah, he invited to such worship afterwards and thus, became a pagan.’”

“I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) when he was asked, ‘Why is it that a fornicator is not considered an unbeliever as one ignoring the prayer is? What is the reason and evidence?’ The Imam said, ‘A fornicator and so forth commits such act due to lust that influences him, while one ignoring the prayer does so due to his considering it insignificant. You do not find a fornicator contact a female for any other reason besides lust and desire that motivates him. One who ignores the prayer does not do so for pleasure. When you negate lust and pleasure then the motive is considering it insignificant, and when this happens it is disbelief.’ “The narrator has said that Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) was asked, ‘What is the difference between a person’s looking at a female, then fornicating or to wine, then drinking it and one who ignores the prayer? Why is it that in the two aforementioned cases it is not ‘considered insignificant’ as is the case with ignoring prayer? What is the proof and reason that establish a difference?’ The Imam said, ‘Proof is that whenever you place your soul in something without any urging motive like lust and so forth, that are found in fornication and wine. In a case such as prayer in which there is no lust and desire, then it (the motive) is considering it insignificant and that is the difference between this and the other two cases.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Whoever doubts Allah and the Messenger of Allah is an unbeliever.’”

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘What if one doubts the Messenger of Allah?’ The Imam said, ‘He is an unbeliever.’ I then asked, ‘What if one doubts the disbelief of such a doubting person? Is he also an unbeliever?’ The Imam did not answer me and I asked it three times. Then 1 noticed anger on his face?”’

“Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘And whoever rejects belief, his work has become worthless...’ (5:5) The Imam said, ‘ It is one who abandons the deed he has affirmed (believed in.)’ I then asked, ‘What is the extent of abandoning the deed? Until he leaves it entirely?’ The Imam said, ‘Among them is the one who intentionally abandons prayer, not out of drunkenness or illness.’”

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) asked me about the people of Basra and asked me, ‘Who are they?’ I said, ‘They are Murji’a’, Qadriah and Harawriah’ (names of groups of certain beliefs). The Imam said, ‘May Allah condemn such nations of disbelief and paganism who have no basis for worshipping Allah.’” Note: Murji’a were those who did not believe in the true position of Amir al- Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) Qadriah believed in absolute free will and Harawriah was of the group who opposed Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.).

“Once I went in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and saw a man with him. As I sat down, the man stood up and left. The Imam said to me, ‘O Fudayl, what is this with you?’ I asked, ‘What is he?’ The Imam said, ‘He is a Harawri .’ I asked, ‘Is he an unbeliever?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, by Allah, he is a Mushrik (one who considers things as partners of Allah).”’

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Anything that professing and submission carry is belief, and anything that denial and rejection carry is disbelief.’”

“I heard abu la’ far (a.s.) saying, ‘Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) is a (means of) access that Allah has prepared. Whoever approaches through this access is a believer and whoever departs is an unbeliever.’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Obedience to Ali (a.s.) is suffering (in this world) and disobedience to him is disbelief in Allah.’ It was said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, how can obedience to Ali (a.s.) be suffering and disobedience to him disbelief in Allah?’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘Ali (a.s.) leads you to the truth. If you obey him you will suffer and if you disobey him you will become unbelievers in Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

narrated to him Ibrahim ibn abu Bakr who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) saying, ‘Ali (a.s.) is a door of the doors of guidance. Whoever enters by the door of Ali (a.s.) is a believer and whoever ignors this door is an unbeliever. Whoever does not enter and does not leave is among the group about whom Allah has the will and decision.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Had the servants (of Allah) when ignorant stood on hold and did not reject or deny they would not become unbelievers.’”

“Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has appointed Ali (a.s.) as a sign between Him and His creation. Whoever recognizes him is a believer, whoever denies him is a disbeliever, whoever is ignorant of him is misguided, and whoever sets up something alongside him is a polytheist. Whoever comes with his allegiance will enter Paradise, and whoever comes with enmity towards him will enter Hellfire.’”

“Ali (a.s.) is a door of the doors of paradise. Whoever approaches through him is a believer, those who depart him are unbelievers, and those who do not approach or leave are among the group about whom Allah has the will to decide.”