The Spirit with which the Imams (a.s.) are Protected

“I asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy and Most High: “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was...” (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature of the creatures of Allah, the Most Holy and Most High, greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was with the Messenger of Allah (sw) to give him news and protect him, and he is with the Imams after him.”

“Once a man from Hayt (a town in Iraq) asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), -when I was present also-, about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52) The Imam (a.s.) said, “From the day Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent that Spirit to Muhammad (s.a.) he did not ever since ascent and he is present with us.”

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. “They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was with the Messenger of Allah and he is present with the Imams. He is from the realm of the angels.”

“I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say, ‘“They ask you about the Spirit. Say, “The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. . .” (17:85). The Imam (a.s.) said, “He is a creature greater than Jibril and Mika’il. He was present with anyone before except Muhammad (s.a.). He is present with the Imams (a.s.). He protects them. It is not that whatever is desired is found.”

“I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the knowledge. Is it a knowledge that the scholar learns from the mouths of the people or it is in the with you from which you read and then learn therefrom.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The issue is greater and more urgently needed. Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, “Thus, We have revealed a Spirit to you, (Muhammad), by Our command. Before, you did not even know what a Book or Faith was, . .” (42:52)?” The The Imam (a.s.) said, “What does your people say about this verse? Do they read that he was as such that he did not know what the or the was?” I said, “I do not know, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what they say.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Yes, he lived in a condition wherein he did not know the book and the faith untill Allah, the Most High, sent the Spirit who is mentioned in the book. When the Spirit was inspired (sent) to him he learned through him the knowledge and understanding. He is the Spirit whom Allah, the Most High grants to whoever He wants. When He grants him to a servant he teaches him understanding.”

“Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) asking him about the Spirit. “Is he not Jibril?” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then said, “Jibril is of the angels. The Spirit is not Jibril. He repeated it to the man. The man said, “You have said something very much extraordinary. No one other than you thinks that the Spirit is somme one other than Jibril.” Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) said to him, “You are mislead and narrate from the mislead people. Allah, the Most High has said to His Prophet (s.a.), ‘Allah’s help will certainly support (the believers), so pagans do not (seek) to hasten it. Allah is far Glorious and Exalted than to be considered equal to idols.” (16:1) He sends the angels with the Spirit. The Spirit is (a creature) other than the angels (a.s.).” and say He said: