Kinds of People

“Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘People are of six categories.’ I then asked, ‘Can I write them down?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, you can do so.’ I then asked, ‘What should I write?’ The Imam said, ‘Write down: the people promised paradise and those warned against the fire (but ignored it). Write down, “. . . others of them have already confessed their sins and have mixed virtuous deeds with sinful ones.’” (9:102) I then asked, ‘Who are such people?’ The Imam said, ‘Wahshi (assassin of Hamza) is one of them.’ The Imam said, ‘Write down, “There are others who have no good deeds for which they may receive any reward or sins for which they may be punished. . . .” (9:106) The Imam said, ‘Write down, “As for the really weak and oppressed men, women, and children who were not able to find any means of obtaining their freedom or of having the right guidance, (4:98) [are not able to do anything against the unbelievers or find the right guidance] perhaps Allah will forgive them; He is All-merciful and All- forgiving.” (4:99) The Imam said, ‘Write down the people of ‘A’raf.’ I asked, ‘Who are they?’ The Imam said, ‘They are the people whose good and bad deeds measure equally. If they will be sent to the fire it will be due to their sins and if they will be sent to paradise it will be due to His kindness.’”

“People are of six categories. All of them come from three groups: people of belief, disbelief and straying. All three are the people of two promises. Allah has promised paradise and fire. There are the believers, and the unbelievers. Besides, there are the weak ones who hope in the command of Allah whereby they may be punished or forgiven and there are those who have confessed to their sins and have mixed good deeds with bad deeds. Also there are the people of ‘A’raf. (Straying people are of four groups and with the other two: believing people and unbelievers total six groups).”

“Once Humran and I or Bukayr and I went in the presence of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and I said, ‘We use the Mitmar.’ The Imam said, ‘What is the Mitmar?’ I said, ‘It is a measuring device. Whoever of ‘Alawi or none ‘Alawi agrees with us we love them and whoever, ‘Alawi or none ‘Alawi opposes us, we disavow them.’ The Imam said, ‘O Zurara, the words of Allah are more true than your words. Where are those about whom Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘As for the really weak and oppressed men, women, and children who were not able to find any means of obtaining their freedom or of having the right guidance,’ (4:98) and where are those who have hope in Allah’s command? Where are those who mix good deeds with bad deeds? Where are the people of ‘A’raf and where are people whose hearts incline to the truth?’” “Hammad has added in the Haditlr. The voices of abu Ja’far (a.s.) and I became loud and people at the door could hear them. “Jamil from Zurara has added: When many words were exchanged between him and I, he said, ‘O Zurara, it is a right on Allah not to send the straying people to paradise.’”