The Commentary of verse 88 of Chapter 28 the Narrative [al-Qasas] Everything is perishable but He.

I asked Abu Ja`far al-baqir (AS) about the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: Everything is perishable but He (His Face). He (AS) replied:Everything will perish, but the Face [al-wajh] will remain. Verily, Allah, the Mighty and High, is Greater than being attributed with a face. However, the meaning of this is that everything will perish except His Religion and Face, from which He bestows.

I asked Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) about the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: Everything is perishable but him. He (AS) answered: “Everything is perishable except the one who followed the Right Path.”

“The face that will not perish refers to any person who carried out what Allah commanded him through obedience to Muhammad (sw) and the Imams (AS) after Him.” After this he (AS) recited: Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah.1

“We are the Face [wajh] of Allah, which does not perish.”

5. Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Mutawkkil, may Allah have mercy on him, said: `Ali ibn alHusayn al-Sa`dabadi on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abu `Abd Allah al-Barqi, on the authority of his father on the authority of Rabi al-Warraq on the authority of Salih ibn Sahl that Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) was asked to interpret the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High, Every this is perishable but He. He (AS) said: “We.”

We are the Oft-Repeated1 Ones that Allah bestowed to our Prophet (sw). We are the Face [wajh] of Allah. And (wih all this) we live among you. Whoever recognizes us, and whoever is ignorant of us faces certain death [yaqin]. The Compiler of this book, may Allah be pleased with him, says: The meaning of his (AS) statement: “We are the oft-repeated” is that we are the ones that the Prophet (sw) joined with the Qur`an, and made a will to remain attached to the Qur`an and to us. Hence, he (sw) informed his Ummah that we will not separate from each other, until we meet him at the Pool (of Kawthar in Paradise).

I asked Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) about the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: Everything is perishable but He. He (AS) resplied: It is His Religion. The Messenger of Allah (sw) and the Commander of the Faithful (AS) are the Religion of Allah amongst His Servants, His Face, His Eyes, His tongue with which He speaks and the Hand with which He covers His Creation. We are the Face with which He bestows (His Blessings). We will remain in His Servants as long as Allah has any consideration [rawiyyah] for them. I enquired, “What is consideration [rawiyyah]? He (AS) explained, “Need [alhajah]. When Allah has no need for them He removes us from them, and does as He pleases.”

Verily, Allah the Mighty and High, made us the best of creation, and moulded us from the best of moulds. He made us His Eye though which He sees His Servants. He made us the Tongue with which He speaks to His Creation. He made us the Outspread Hand of Mercy over His Servants. He made us the Face through which He bestows His Bounties.1 He made us the Gate that leads to Him. And He made us His Treasure in the Heaven and on His Earth. It is due to us2 that trees bear fruits, that fruit ripens, that rivers flow, that clouds shower down rain, and that the Earth grows grass. It is through our service [`ibadah], Allah is served. If it were not for us, Allah would not have been worshipped.3

Verily, Allah is One [Wahid], Alone [Ahad], Sole in His Unity [Mutawahhid], Unique in His Affair. He made a creatin, and authorized it in the mattes of His Religion, and we are that creation. O son of Abu Ya`fur! We are the Proof [hujjah] of Allah among His servants, and we are His Witnesses to His Creation, the Trustees of His Revelation, the Treasurers of His Knowledge, the Face with which He bestows His Bounties, the Eye with which He sees His Creatures, the Tongue with which He talks, the Heart which embraces (in love), the Door that guides to Him, the Vicegerents with His Command, and the Callers to His Path. It is due to us that Allah was recognized and due to us that Allah was worshipped. We are the Guides unto Allah. Were it not for us, Allah would not have been worshipped.

Prophet (sw) heard a man say to the other: “May Allah make your face and the one who resembles you ugly!” So He (sw) said: “Wait a minute! Do not say this for verily Allah created Adam (AS) in His Image.” The Compiler of this book (RA) says: The anthropomorphists took out the first part of this tradition and said: Verily, Allah created Adam in His Image.”1 Hence, they went astray in this meaning and led others astray.

I said to al-Rida (sw): “O Son of the Messenger of Allah! Verily, the people relate that the Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “Verily, Allah created Adam (sw) in His Image.”” He (AS) replied: May Allah kill them! They have certainly removed the first part of the tradition. The Messenger of Allah (sw) passed by two men who were cursing each other. He (sw) heard one of them say to the other: “May Allah make your face and the one who resembles you ugly!” He (sw) said: “O servant of Allah! Do not say this to your brother for, verily Allah, the Mighty and High, created Adam (AS) in His Image.”