الحسين بن بشار

8. `Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn `Abd al-Walid said: Ahmad ibn al-Fadl ibn al-Mughirah said: Abu Nasr Mansur ibn `Abd Allah ibn Ibrahim al-Isfahani said: `Ali ibn `Abd Allah said: al-Husayn ibn Bashshar, that I asked Abu al-Hasan `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS): “Does Allah know the things which have not occurred that if they did occur how would they be or He does not?” He (AS) said: Verily, Allah, the Exalted be He, is aware of all things even before they come into existence. Allah, the Mighty and High, says: Surely, We wrote what you did,1 and He says to the people going to the Hell: And if they were sent back, they would certainly go back to that which they are forbidden, and most surely the are liars.2 Hence, Allah the Mighty and High, knew that if He sent them back, they would certainly go back to what they were forbidden. And he said to the angels when they said: What! Wilt Thou place in it such as shall make mischief in it and shed blood, and we celebrate Thy praise and extol Thy holiness? He said: Surely, I know what you do not know.3 Therefore, the Knowledge of Allah, the Mighty and High, is eternal, and embraces all things even before they are created. Blessed be our Lord, the Exalted, the Elevated, and the Great, who created things and had knowledge of them prior to their creation. Verily, our Lord has always been All-Knowing, All-Hearing, and All-Seeing.

“Ibn Qiyaman wrote a letter to abu al-Hassan (a.s.) in which he had said the following. ‘How can you be an Imam when you do not have a son?” Abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) replied him with signs of anger, “How do you know that I will not have a son? By Allah, not many days and nights will pass before Allah will grant me a male child through who He will make the truth distinct from falsehood.”

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ (a.s.), and asked, ‘One of my relatives has proposed for marriage but there is something in his moral manners. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not give in marriage if his moral manners are bad/”

“About the case of a broker who shows houses and assets for a certain amount of fee, abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said it is not unlawful.’”

I asked Abal Ḥasan (Imam Riďā (a.s.)), “What are the rewards for those who go to the Ziyārah of the grave of your father (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) – may Allāh’s blessings be upon him?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Go to his Ziyārah!” I asked, “What are its merits?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Its merits are the same as the merits for those who go to the Ziyārah of his father – referring to the Messenger of Allāh (s.a.a.w.).” I asked, “What if I was in fear and could not enter (next to the grave)?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “(Then) say Salām from behind the walls.”

…For We were wont to put on Record all that ye did.’ God also said the following about the People of Hell, ‘…But if they were returned, they would certainly relapse to the things they were forbidden, for they are indeed liars.’ Thus God knows that if they are brought back to this world, they would go back and do what they had done before. Also when the angels said, ‘…Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? whilst we do celebrate Thy Praises and glorify Thy Holy (Name)? ’ God replied, ‘I know what ye know not.’ Therefore, the Honorable the Exalted God always knows about things before creating them. Therefore, Blessed is our Lord. High indeed is HeExalted. He is High and Great. He has created things, and knew about them before they were created, just as He willed. Thus is our Lord! He is the All-Knowing, All-Hearing and All-Seeing.

I sought permission for myself and al-Husayn b. Qayama to meet al-Ridha عليه السلام in Surya, he granted it and said: finish all your needs [ask all your questions]. al-Husayn (b. Qayama) said to him: is the earth ever devoid of an Imam? He عليه السلام said: no, he (al-Husayn) said: does it ever happen that there are two Imams (together)? He عليه السلام said: no, except if one is silent and not talking, he (al-Husayn) said: I have come to know that you are not an Imam! He عليه السلام said: and how did you come to know that? he (al-Husayn) said: you do not have a son and it [Imama] is through posterity [lineal descendants], so he عليه السلام said: by Allah, the days and the nights will not pass except a son will be born to me from my loins who will assume the position I have, he will enliven the truth and efface the falsehood.

I wrote to Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) concerning a man who proposed marriage to someone. Imam (as) replied: "If someone proposes to you, and you are satisfied with his religion and trustworthiness, then marry him, whoever he may be. If you do not do so, there will be 'fitnah (discord) on the earth and great corruption.'"

he heard someone asking Imam Al-Ridha (as) about a man who was praying next to another man and stood on his left side without knowing what to do upon realizing this during the prayer. Imam (as) said: "He should move him to his right side."

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘How much Zakat, the Messenger of Allah has levied? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is five dirham on every two hundred and if it is less, then Zakat is not due. On every twenty dinar of gold Zakat is half dinar and Zakat is not due on less than twenty dinar.’”

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘There are men who do not become distracted from speaking of Allah because of trading and business.’ (24:37) He (the Imam) said, ‘They are the business people who do not become distracted from speaking of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, because of trade and business when it is time for Salat (prayer). They yield to the rights of Allah in such times.’”

I asked Imam Riďā (a.s.), “Should I go to the Ziyārah of the grave of Abil Ḥasan (Imam Kāżim (a.s.)) in Baghdad?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “If you must, then perform the Ziyārah from behind the covers.”

I wrote to Abu Al-Hasan Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) saying: "I have a relative who has proposed to my daughter, but he has bad character." Imam (as) replied: "Do not marry her to him if he has bad character."

“I once wrote to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and asked him about marriage. He (the Imam) wrote back to me the answer that said, ‘If one proposes marriage and if you are happy with that person’s religion and trust, then accept his proposal. If you do not do so there will be mischief in the land and a great destruction.’”

“We performed Tawaf al-Nisa’ around the House but forgot the two Rak‘at Salat (prayer). When we arrived in Mina’, we remembered the two Rak‘at Salat (prayer). We then went to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked him about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must perform them in Mina’.’”