“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)