أبان بن أبي عياش فيروز

There are two groups of scientists. Those who practice their knowledge are prosperous, but those who abandon their knowledge get destroyed. The residents of Hell will be bothered with the bad smell of the scientists who have not put their knowledge into practice. However, there are those who are most sorry. They invite others to God, and their call is accepted by others who then obey God and are taken to Heaven by God. However, the caller himself is taken to Hell by God for not acting (on his own words), and those following their whims will be the most sorry.” Then the Commander of the Faithful (MGB) added, “I fear two things concerning you. The first is following your whims, and the second is having high aspirations since following your whims will prevent you from accepting the truth, and having high aspirations will make you forget the Hereafter."

“Ali (as) said to Talha in a long tradition when mentioning the pride of al-Muhajireen and al-Ansar about their virtues: “O Talha, have you not witnessed the Prophet (S) when he asked for a tablet to write a decree, by which the umma would not go astray nor would it disagree after him, and then your friend said: “The Prophet (S) is raving” then the Prophet (S) became angry and gave it up?” Talha said: “Yes, I have witnessed that.” Imam Ali (as) said: “When you (all) went out, the Prophet (S) told me about the decree he wanted to write before the public to witness it. He said to me that Gabriel had told him that Allah had known that the umma would disagree and separate after him (the Prophet). He asked for a sheet of paper and dictated to me what he wanted to write in the tablet before people. He let three persons witness that. They were Salman al-Farisi, Abu Tharr and al-Miqdad. He mentioned the names of the imams of guidance, whom he ordered the believers to obey until the Day of Resurrection. He mentioned my name as the first of them then my son Hasan and then my son Husayn and then nine ones from the progeny of my son Husayn. Was it not so, O you Abu Tharr and you al-Miqdad?” They said: “We witness that the Prophet (S) has done so.” Talha said: “By Allah I have heard the Prophet (S) saying to Abu Tharr: “By Allah, the earth has not carried nor has the sky shaded one more truthful or more pious than Abu Tharr.” I witness that they (Abu Tharr and al-Miqdad) have not said but the truth and you are more truthful and more pious to me than them both.”

“When we were coming back with Amirul Mo’mineen (as) from (the battle of) Siffeen, we stopped for a time to rest near a monastery. A handsome and neat old man came out of the monastery. He had a book in his hand. He came to Amirul Mo’mineen, greeted him and said: “I am from the progeny of one of the disciples of Jesus Christ (as). He was the best of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and the most beloved one to him. Jesus Christ (as) had entrusted him with his wills, given him his books and taught him his knowledge and wisdom. The progeny of this disciple had been still keeping to the faith of Jesus Christ. They had never disbelieved or apostatized from his religion. The books are still with me. They had been written by the hand of our forefather according to the dictation of Jesus Christ (as) himself. Every thing that would happen after him had been mentioned in these books and the names of all the kings, who would rule after him, one after the other. It had been mentioned that Allah the Almighty would send a man from among the Arabs as a prophet. He would be from the progeny of Ishmael the son of Abraham. He would be from a land called Tehama and a village called Mecca. His name would be Ahmad. He would have twelve names. His advent, birth, emigration, who would fight him, who would support him, who would be his enemies, how long he would live and what his umma would face after him until Jesus Christ (as) would descend from the Heaven had been mentioned in these books. The names of thirteen men of the progeny of Ishmael the son of Abraham had been mentioned in the book and that they were the best of all of the peoples and the most beloved ones to Allah. Allah would be the guardian of whoever believed in them and would be the enemy of whoever opposed them. Whoever obeyed them would be guided and whoever disobeyed them would go astray. Obeying them would mean obeying Allah and disobeying them would mean disobeying Allah. Everything about them had been mentioned such as their names, lineage, aspects, how long each one of them would live, how many ones of them would conceal their faith before their people and which one of them would appear and then all the peoples would submit to him until Jesus Christ (as) would descend from the Heaven and then he (Jesus Christ) would offer prayers behind him and would say: “You are the imams and no one is to precede you.” Then he would advance to lead the people in offering the prayer and Jesus Christ (as) would stand behind him in the first row. The first of them and the best of them is the messenger of Allah. His names are Muhammad, Abdullah, Yasseen, al-Fattah (the conqueror), al-Khatam (the last), al-Hashir (the resurrector), al-Aaqib (the successor), al-Mahi (the eraser), al-Qa’id (the leader), the prophet of Allah, the best friend of Allah and the beloved of Allah. He is the most honored of all the people before Allah and the most beloved to Him. Allah has never created an honored angel or a prophet since Adam better than him near Allah or more beloved to Allah than him. Allah will seat him on His Throne on the Day of Resurrection and will accept his intercession for everyone he intercedes for. With his name; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the Pen writes on the Divine Tablet and with the keeper of the banner on the Day of the Great Resurrection, his guardian, vizier and successor for his umma. The most beloved one to Allah after him, Ali; his cousin and the guardian of every believer after him and then eleven men of Muhammad and Ali’s progeny, the first two of them are named as the names of the two sons of Aaron; Shubbar and Shubayr, and nine of the progeny of the youngest of them one after the other, behind the last of whom Jesus Christ will offer the prayers.” Then he mentioned the rest of the tradition.

The Messenger of Allah (s) said to Amirul Momineen (a.s) in his will: O Ali, soon Quraish would unite against you and they would come together to oppress and defeat you; thus if you have supporters, you do Jihad against them and if you don’t, you must refrain from violence and keep yourself secure; since martyrdom would come to you in future and Almighty Allah would curse the one who assassinates you.

“One day I passed by a man, who said: “The example of Muhammad is like the example of a date-palm growing in a dunghill.” I came to the Prophet (S) and told him of that. He became very angry. He went to the minbar. Al-Ansar took up their arms when they saw the Prophet (S) so angry. He said: “Why do some people criticize my close relatives after they have heard me mentioning that Allah has preferred them to all of the people and has favored them by purifying them and taking uncleanness away from them? They have heard me mentioning the virtues of my family and the virtues of my guardian, whom Allah has honored and preferred because of his precedence in being a Muslim, his defending Islam, his kinship to me and that he is to me as has Aaron been to Moses. After all, someone of you claims that I am, among my family, like a date-palm growing in a dunghill! Allah has created his creation and divided them into two parties. He has made me in the best of them. Then He has divided this party into three groups and made me in the best of them and in the best tribe. Then He divided them into families and made me in the best of them until I have been purified with my brother Ali bin Abu Talib from among the family. Allah the Almighty looked at the people of the earth and chose me from among them and then He looked again and chose Ali; my brother, vizier, heir, my caliph for my umma and the guardian of every believer after me. Whoever obeys him, obeys Allah and whoever opposes him, opposes Allah. Whoever loves him will be loved by Allah and whoever hates him will be hated by Allah. No one loves him except the believers and no one hates him except the unbelievers. He is the basis of the earth and its ease after me. He is the word of piety and the firmest handhold of Allah. “They desire to put out the light of Allah with their mouths, and Allah will not consent save to perfect His light.” The enemies of Allah want to put out the light of my brother but Allah will not consent save to perfect his light. O people, let the present inform the absent of my speech! Then Allah looked thirdly and chose some ones from among my family after me. They are the best of my umma; eleven imams after my brother (Ali) one after the other. Whenever one of them leaves to the better world another one will replace him. Their example is like the stars of the sky; whenever a star sets another will shine. They are guided and guiding imams. They will never be affected by the disappointment of their opponents nor by the plotting of their enemies. They are the authorities of Allah on the earth and His witnesses over His people. Whoever obeys them, obeys Allah and whoever disobeys them disobeys Allah. They are with the Qur’an and the Qur’an is with them. They will never part with the Qur’an nor will it part with them until they come to me at the pond (in Paradise). The first of the imams is my brother Ali, who is the best of them, then my son Hasan, then my son Husayn and then nine ones from the progeny of Husayn.” He mentioned all the tradition.

I heard Abdullah bin Ja’far Tayyar [husband of Zainab] say: We were in the company of Muawiyah: I, Hasan, Husain, Abdullah bin Abbas, Umar bin Umme Salma and Usamah bin Zaid when an argument arose between us; I said to him: I heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say: “I have more authority on the believers than they have on themselves. After me, my brother Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s) has more authority on the believers than themselves. When Ali (a.s) is martyred, Hasan Ibn Ali (a.s) will have more authority on the believers than themselves, followed by my son Husain (a.s), who will have more authority on the believers than themselves. When Husain (a.s) is martyred, his son, Ali Ibn Husain (a.s) will have more authority on the believers than themselves. O Ali! Soon you will meet him. Then his son Muhammad Ibn Ali will have more authority on the believers than themselves. Thereafter, the Messenger of Allah (s) completed the list of twelve Imams, nine of whom will be from the descendants of Husain (a.s).” Abdullah Ibn Ja’far continues, ‘I sought testimony from Hasan, Husain, Abdullah Ibn Abbas, Umar Ibn Umm Salma and Usamah Ibn Zaid and they all verified my statement before Muawiyah.’ Sulaym bin Qays says, ‘And indeed I heard the same from Salman, Abu Zar and Miqdad and they in turn heard it from the Messenger of Allah (s).

“(Imam) Ali (a.s.) narrated from the holy Prophet who said, ‘Two kinds of people with great appetites do not become satisfied. A person of great appetite for the worldly gains and a person with great appetite for knowledge. In the matters of the worldly gains if one would limit himself to what Allah has made lawful form him he is saved and if one would accumulate such gains in unlawful ways he is destroyed unless he repents and changes his ways. In the matters of knowledge if one would acquire it from the people of knowledge and practice accordingly he is saved and if one would use it for the worldly gains then that is what one gets.’”

“I said to Imam Ali (a.s.), ‘I have heard from Salman, al-Miqdad and abu Dhar certain matters about the interpretations of the holy Quran and certain hadiths of the Prophet of Allah (sw) which is different from the one in the hands of the people. Then, I heard from you confirming what I heard from them, and I saw in the hands of people many things from the interpretation of the Quran and from the hadiths of the Prophet of Allah (sw). You disagree with them on these matters and claim that all of it is false. Do you think people ascribe lies to the holy Prophet (s.a.) purposely and interpret by their own personal opinions?” The Imam then said, “You have posed a question now listen carefully. “What people have consists of the truth, falsehood, lies, what is abrogating, already abrogated, facts of general nature, of particular natures, clear texts, unclear texts, facts properly memorized and matters that are conjecturally preserved. People had forged certain narration calling them as Hadith of the holy Prophet. The condition was such that once the holy Prophet addressed the people from the pulpit saying, “O people a many lies have spread around and they are considered to be my Hadith. Whoever forges lies and calls them my Hadith has filled up his seat with fire. After the Prophet of Allah (sw) there were more of such lies. There are four kinds of Hadith only and there is no fifth kind. “One narrator of Hadith is a hypocrite who outwardly shows faith and pretends to be a Muslim. He does not consider it a sin nor does he hesitate to lie about the Messenger of Allah (sw) deliberately. If people knew that he was a hypocrite and a liar, they would not accept anything from him, nor would they believe him. However, they say, 'He has accompanied the Messenger of Allah (sw) informed him about the hypocrites as He has described them. “Their physical appearance attracts you when you see them and when they speak, you carefully listen to them . .” 63:4 They hypocrites then sought closeness to the misguiding leaders and those calling other to hell fire with falsehood, lies and false accusations. The misguiding rulers assigned them for certain offices made them to dominate people. They with their help devoured the world. People follow only the kings and the worldly gains except for those that Allah has protected. This is one of the four kinds. “The other kind is one who has heard Hadith from the holy Prophet by the has preserved it the way it should have been preserved but he is uncertain about it. He has not fabricated anything purposely and has it with him. He speaks about it, practices accordingly and narrates it saying; “ I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (sw). If the Muslims would learn that he is uncertain about it they would accept it from him and if he also would know that there exists uncertainty in it even he also would reject it. “The third kind is one who has heard something form the Messenger of Allah (sw) that contained a command but latter the holy Prophet prohibited it but the man did not have any knowledge of such prohibition. Or that he heard a prohibition form the holy Prophet and then the holy Prophet made it a command but the man did not know of such commandment. In this way preserved the abrogated but not the abrogating but if he knew the abrogating thereof he would have rejected it. If the Muslims knew what they had heard from was abrogated they would also have rejected it. “The last and forth kind is one who has not ascribed a lie to the holy Prophet who hates lies has fear of Allah for respect of the Messenger of Allah (sw). He has not forgotten anything but that he has preserved it the way it should have been preserved. He speaks it just the way has heard with out any addition or omission. He knows which is abrogating and which is abrogated. He thus has practiced according to the abrogating and has rejected the abrogated. There is no doubt that the command so of the Messenger of Allah (sw) like the holy Quran is abrogating and abrogated, of general nature and of particular nature, clear text and unclear text. Oftentimes the statements of the holy Prophet may have two aspects: Like a general statement and a statement of a particular nature just like the holy Quran as All, Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has said, “ . .Take only what the Messenger gives to you and desist from what he forbids you . (59:7)” It may become confusing for one who does not know what exactly Allah and His messenger want people to do. All the companions of the holy Prophet were not as such that would clearly understand the answer to their questions. There were those who would ask a question but would not ask for explanations and would rather love the coming of a Bedouin or a stranger and ask the holy Prophet questions so that he would also listen. “I would go in the presence of the holy Prophet once every day and once every night when he would admit me and we would deal with me the way he wanted. The Sahabah, companions of the Prophet knew that the holy Prophet would not deal with others the he dealt with me. Also the Prophet would come to my house most of the time but when I would go to any one of his houses he would admit me and would ask his wife to leave us alone and then we would have been the only ones therein. When he would come to my house he would ask Fatimah or any of my children to leave the house then whatever would ask he would answer me and when I would have exhausted all of my questions he would begin from his side. Thus, nothing of the holy Quran has ever been revealed the holy prophet had made me to read it and dictated me to and I wrote it down with my own hand writing. He taught me the interpretations of that verse and its explanations, its abrogating or that which was abrogated, the clear texts and the unclear statements, the ones of particular general nature. He would pray to Allah to give me understanding and strong memory. I never forgot any of the verses of the book of Allah or any of the knowledge that he had dictated to me which I wrote them down from the time he prayed to Allah for me. He did not leave any thing of the lawful and unlawful, commands or prohibitions that were there or that would come into being in future or any book that were revealed to anyone before him about the matters of obedience or disobedience that he had not completely taught me and I had not memorized them all. I have not forgotten of them even a single letter. The holy Prophet once placed his hand on my chest and prayed to Allah to fill my heart, with knowledge, proper understanding, wisdom and light. I then said, “O messenger of Allah, may Allah take the soul of my mother and father in service for your cause, from the time you prayed for me I have not forgotten a single matter or missed to write down anything. Do you fear that I might forget them in future?“ He replied “I do not fear for you any forgetfulness of ignorance.”

I was in the presence of Muawiyah along with Al-Hassan (MGB), Al-Hussein (MGB), Abdullah ibn Abbas, Umar ibn Abi Salma and Usamat ibn Zayd. There was an argument between me and Muawiyah. I told him, ‘I myself heard God’s Prophet (MGB) say, ‘I am closer to the Believers than their own selves. Then my brother Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB) is the closest one to the Believers than their own selves. Then after Ali (MGB) gets martyred, Al-Hassan ibn Ali (MGB) is the closest one to the Believers than their own selves. Then Ali’s son Al-Hussein (MGB) is the closest one to the Believers than their own selves. Then after he (MGB) is martyred, his son Ali ibn al-Hussein al-Akbar is the closest one to the Believers than their own selves. Then my (grand)son Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir (MGB) is the closest one to the Believers than their own selves. O Hussein! You shall understand him! Then there will be twelve Divine Leaders nine of whom shall be from the progeny of Al-Hussein - may God be pleased with him.’”Then Abdullah ibn Ja’far (al-Tayyar) added, ‘Then I asked Al-Hassan, al-Hussein, Abdullah ibn Abbas, Umar ibn Abi Salma and Usamah ibn Zayd to testify on my behalf and they all testified on my behalf before Muawiyah.”Salim ibn Qays al-Hilaly said, “I have also heard this very same narration from Salman, Abuzar and Al-Miqdad all of whom said that they had heard this from God’s Prophet (MGB).”

Al-Hassan (s), Al-Hussein (s), Abdullah ibn Abbas, Umar ibn Abi Salamah, Osamah ibn Zayd and I were with Mo’awiya.” Then he narrated what was expressed. He told Mo’awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, “I (Abdullah) heard God’s Prophet (s) say, ‘To the believers, I am to be held more superior than themselves. Then my brother Ali ibn Abi Talib is more superior to the believers than themselves. When it comes to martyrdom, my son Al-Hassan is more superior to the believers than themselves. Then my son Al-Hussein is more superior to the believers than themselves. Once he is martyred his son Ali ibn Al-Hussein is more superior to the believers than themselves.And O Abdullah! You will live to see him. Then it is my son Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (s) who is more superior to the believers than themselves. And O Hussein! You will live to see him. Then he went on until he completed the twelve Imams nine of whom are from the progeny of Al-Hussein.’ Abdullah added, “Then I took Al-Hassan (s), Al-Hussein (s), Abdullah ibn Abbas, Umar ibn Abi Salamah and Osamah ibn Zayd who were all present there as witnesses on my behalf in the presence of Mo’awiya.” Solaym ibn Qays said, “I have heard a similar account from Salman, Abu Tharr, al-Miqdad and Osamah who have heard this from God’s Prophet (s).

“I heard Ali (MGB) tell Abil Tufayl Amer ibn Vasele’ al-Kanani: ‘O Abil Tufayl! There are two forms of knowledge: The knowledge over which people must ponder, and that is the knowledge of the religion, and the knowledge which cannot be pondered over, that is the Might of the Honorable the Exalted God.’”

I heard that you acknowledged what I had heard from the people. There are many things in the hands of the people including interpretations of the Quran and traditions of the Prophet (MGB) with which you disagree and consider invalid. Do you think that the people falsely ascribe these traditions to God’s Prophet (MGB) and interpret the Quran as they wish?’ Then Ali (MGB) faced me and said, ‘You asked. Now try to understand the answer. In fact, what exists in the hands of the people includes truth and falsehood; right and wrong; etc.During the Prophet’s lifetime, they ascribed so many lies to him that he was forced to stand up and say, ‘O people! The lies ascribed to me have become too much. Whoever intentionally ascribes lies to me will go to Hell.’ However, there were a lot more lies ascribed to him. Indeed the Prophet’s narrations only reach you from four persons. Firstly, narrations may reach you from a hypocrite who claims to believe in public, but has not hesitation whatsoever to ascribe lies to the Prophet (MGB). The people would not accept his lies, if they know that he is a hypocrite. However, the people believe what he says, because they think that he has seen the Prophet (MGB) and has heard what he says from the Prophet (MGB). They do not really know him. However, the Honorable the Exalted God has informed us about the hypocrites and their characteristics and said, ‘When thou lookest at them, their exteriors please thee; and when they speak, thou listenest to their words…’Such hypocrites existed even after the Prophet (MGB). They got close to the leaders who misled the people and invite to the fire, and spoke in favor of them so that they may be hired to fill major positions. The people usually follow their leaders, unless they are saved by God.Secondly, narrations may reach you through a man who has heard something from God’s Prophet (MGB), but has not memorized it. He has no intentions of lying but he has not understood it well. He possesses incorrect narrations. He instructs others to follow them and follows them himself. He narrates them for others and says that he has heard it from God’s Prophet. If the Muslims know that it is wrong, they would not accept it from him. It may even be the case that he might discard it, if he knew it was wrong.Thirdly, narrations may reach you from someone who has heard that God’s Prophet (MGB) has issued an order, but has not heard that God’s Prophet (MGB) himself has later issued an opposite order. Or he may have heard that God’s Prophet (MGB) has admonished against something, but has not heard that God’s Prophet (MGB) himself has later advised it. He remembers it one way but he has either not heard or doesn’t remember it the other way. If the Muslims knew that such and such an order has later been dismissed, they would abandon it.Fourthly, narrations may reach you from someone who has not ascribed lies to the Prophet of God (MGB). Rather he hates to lie since he fears the Honorable the Exalted God and honors God’s Prophet (MGB). Such a person may have memorized whatever he has heard from God’s Prophet (MGB) and may restate his words in exactly the same way that he has heard them. However, it may be the case that they use one decree and not use its opposite. The decrees of the Prophet (MGB) are similar to the verses of the Quran. There are ones that are opposite to the previous ones (to cancel or change them). The Prophet (MGB) had many such statements. We must accept what the Prophet (MGB) has said, and abandon what he has withheld as the Honorable the Exalted God said in His Book, ‘…So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah for Allah is strict in Punishment.’Whoever doesn’t realize what God and the Prophet (MGB) meant would fall into error. It is not the case that all the companions of the Prophet (MGB) could give the proper answer to whatever they may be asked. Some of them asked some questions, but never tried to understand the answer. It seemed hard for them to understand things. They waited for a Bedouin to come and ask questions from the Prophet (MGB), so that they may hear theProphet’s response. I always had an especial time during the day and at night with the Prophet (MGB). He (MGB) let me be with him (MGB) during these times. All the companions of the Prophet (MGB) knew well that he (MGB) never treated anyone else this way. Sometimes the Prophet (MGB) came to see me in my house. Sometimes I went to see the Prophet (MGB) in his house. He (MGB) would then tell his wives to leave the room and had a private meeting with me. When the Prophet (MGB) came to see me in my house, he (MGB) would not tell Fatimah (MGB) or any of my children to leave. He (MGB) responded to whatever I asked. He (MGB) talked whenever I finished asking questions and remained silent. He (MGB) would clearly recite to me whatever Quranic verse which was revealed to him (MGB), so that I may write it in my own handwriting. He (MGB) taught me their interpretation and the other related issues. He (MGB) asked God to help me memorize it. I have not forgotten any of the verses of the Holy Quran and any of the knowledge which he (MGB) stated to me and I wrote it down. The Prophet (MGB) did not withhold anything from me and taught me whatever God had taught him including issues such as the legitimate and the illegitimate; obligatory and forbidden deeds; books of the previous Prophets; their enjoining to do good deeds and admonishing against evil deeds. I memorized everything and did not forget anything. Then he put his hand on my chest and asked God to fill up my heart with knowledge, understanding, wisdom and light. I said, ‘O Prophet of God! May my parents be your ransom! I have forgotten nothing and have written all of that which you taught me since the time you prayed to God for me. Are you worried that I may forget them?’ The Prophet (MGB) replied, ‘No. I am not worried about that at all.’”

“ I heard ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far al-Tayyar say, ‘we were in the court of Mu‘awiya I al-Hassan, al-Husayn, ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abbass, ‘Umar ibn ’Umm Salama and ’Usama ibn Zayd. A conversation started between me and Mu‘awiya, and I said to Mu‘awiya’, ’I heard the Messenger of Allah say, ‘I have more authority over the believers’ souls than they themselves do. Then my brother Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) will have more authority over the believers’ souls than they themselves will have. When Ali (a.s.), will become a martyr al-Hassan ibn Ali will have more authority over the believers’ souls than they themselves will have. Thereafter my son al-Husayn after him (al-Hassan) will have more authority over the believers’ souls than they themselves will have. When he will become a martyr, his son Ali ibn al-Husayn after him (al-Husayn) will have more authority over the believers’ souls than they themselves will have. O Ali, you will see him. Thereafter his son Muhammad ibn Ali will have more authority over the believers’ souls than they themselves will have. O al-Husayn, you will see him. Then the twelve will complete the number of Imams. Nine will be of the descendants of al-Husayn.” ‘Abdallah ibn Ja‘far said, “I asked al-Hassan, al-Husayn, ‘Abdallah, ibn ‘Abbass, Umar ibn ’Umm Salama and ’Usama ibn Zayd to bear witness. They all bore witness for me before Mu‘awiya.” Sulaym ibn Qays has said, “I heard such Hadith from Salman, abu Dharr and al- Miqdad who said that they heard such Hadith from the Messenger of Allah.”

“I heard Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) say, ‘We, By Allah, are the ones to whom Allah has referred by the words ‘Dhi al-Qurba’ (relatives) and has given the same status as to Him self and His the Holy Prophet (s.a). He has said, “Whatever God grants to His Messenger (out of the property) of the people of the towns, belongs to God, the Messenger, the kinsfolk, the orphans, the destitute . .” (59:7) It applies to such person from us exclusively. In the charity there no portion is appropriated to us. It is the way Allah has honored His Holy Prophet (s.a) and has honored us instead of feeding us the filthy things in the hands of people.”

Once a slain person was found during the days of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, so he climbed the mimber deeply enraged; and after praising Allah and thanking Him, he said: "How come a Muslim is killed and his killer in not known? By Him Who controls my soul, if all the people of the heavens and the earth were to join hands to kill a believer, or were pleased with it, Allah will send them to hell. By Him in Whose hands is my breath, whoever flogs someone wrongfully and unjustly, he will be flogged the same way tomorrow in hellfire. By Him in Whose hands is my soul: No one takes us, Ahlul Bayt, as his enemy, except that Allah will throw him on his face into hellfire."

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah has made paradise unlawful for every abusive, immoral, and (persons) lacking bashfulness who is not concerned about what he says or what is said to him. If (investigated) you find him to be an straying person or a partner of Satan.’ It was asked, O Messenger of Allah, ‘Does Satan become a partner of people?’ the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Have you not read the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘ . . . share them in their properties and children. . . .’ (17:64) “The narrator has said that a man then asked a one learned in the law (the Imam), ‘Is there among the people anyone who is not concerned about what he says or what is said about him?’ The Imam said, ‘One who disturbs people and abuses them knowing that people do not leave him without a response, such a person is the one who is not concerned about what he says or what is said about him.’”

“Disbelief is established on four pillars: Sinfulness, Extremism, Doubt and Skepticism. Sinfulness has four branches: harshness of manners, blindness of heart, neglect, and arrogance. Whoever behaves in a harsh manner belittles the truth, hates the people of profound understanding and persists in great sins. Whoever becomes blind of heart forgets to remember (the truth), follows guesses, opposes his Creator and Satan turns bold toward him. He asks forgiveness without repenting, feeling humble and without being unaware of sin. Whoever is neglectful and careless commits a crime against his own soul, turns himself upside down and thinks of his misguidance as guidance. Yearnings deceives him, remorse and pangs of guilt seize him and when the matters settle and the curtain is raised, he finds it to be what he did not expect. Whoever is arrogant to obey the commands of Allah doubts and whoever doubts, Allah overpowers him and humiliates him by His Authority and makes him little by His Glory as he has played deceit against his Honorable Lord and has gone to extremes in his affairs. “Extremism is of four branches: Seeking profundity of opinion, disputation over an opinion, looking for deviations in it and creating a schism therein. “Whoever seeks extreme complexity he does not return to the truth, and does not gain anything except sinking in deeper troubles. He does not finish removing one before another trouble overwhelms him. His religion sustains holes and he falls deeper in chaos. Whoever seeks disputation in an opinion and quarrels, his absurdity comes in the open due to prolonged controversy. Whoever deviates, goodness seems terrible to him and evil begins to look lovelier. “Whoever creates a schism, his paths lead to dead end, his affairs burden him, his escape narrows if he would not follow the path of the believers. “Doubt is of four branches: Suspicion, desire, hesitation and submission. It is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘About which of the bounties of your Lord can they persistently dispute and cast doubts?’ (53:55) “In another Hadith it is said, ‘It branches in suspicion, fear of truth, hesitation and submission before ignorance and ignorant people.’ “Whoever fears what is before him turns back. Whoever is suspicious of religion remains hesitant in doubts and the foremost believing people move forward before him and those behind catch up with him. He turns out to be flattened under the hooves of Satan. Whoever submits to worldly destruction and that of the next life is destroyed between the two. Whoever is saved from such condition is due to the excellence of certainty. Allah has not created any creature fewer than certainty. “Casting doubt is of four branches: a liking of attractiveness, stimulation of soul, interpretation of crookedness and mixing of truth with falsehood. “This is because attractiveness clashes with evidence, stimulation of soul indulges in desires and crookedness bends its companion a great bent. Hiding and mixing truth with falsehood is darkness upon darkness. That is disbelief, its pillars and branches.’”

“Once a man came to Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) and asked him, ‘What is the least of that with which a servant (of Allah) becomes a believer, or an unbeliever or a straying person?’ I heard the Imam say, ‘You asked the question, now try to understand the answer. The least of that with which one may be considered a believer is that Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, makes him know His Ownself, then he professes to obey Him. He (Allah) makes him know His Holy Prophet, then he professes to obey him and He makes him know His Imam, His Authority on His earth and His witness over His creatures, then he professes to obey him. ’ “I then asked, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, does this hold true even if one is ignorant of all other things besides what you just mentioned?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, if he when commanded obeys and when prohibited upholds it. The least of that with which a servant (of Allah) becomes an unbeliever is that when upon a mere guess one says that this is what Allah has commanded and this is what Allah has prohibited. Then he assigns it to be his religion upon which he bases his system of guardianship (religious authority). He guesses that he obeys the one who has commanded him to do it and, in fact, he worships Satan only.’ “The least of that with which a servant (of Allah) is considered straying is when he does not know the Authority of Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, His witness over His servants. The Authority about whom Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has commanded His servants to obey and has made it obligatory to love him as one’s Divine Guardian.’ I then said, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, describe them (the people who possess Divine Authority) for me.’ The Imam said, ‘They are those whom Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has mentioned along with His Ownself and His Holy Prophet saying, ‘Believers, obey Allah, His Messenger, and your leaders (people who possess Divine Authority). . . .’ (4:59) I said, ‘O Amir al- Mu’minin, May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, explain it to me.’ The Imam said, ‘They (people who possess Divine Authority) are those about whom the Messenger of Allah in his last sermon on the day that Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, took him (from this world) said, ‘I leave among you behind me two matters. If you will hold firmly to these two you will never stray: the book of Allah and my descendents, my family. The Most Subtle and Most Expert, (Allah) has informed me that these two will never separate from each other until they will arrive before me at the pond in paradise like this - he joined his index finger and thumb - not like this - he joined his middle finger and thumb so that one may proceed before the other. You must hold firmly to these two, you will not slip, or stray and do not go before them; you will stray.’”

“When Mo’awiya sent for Abud Darda’ and Abu Hurayra, while we were with Amirul Mo’mineen (as) in (the battle of) Siffeen, and gave them a letter to be given to Amirul Mo’mineen Ali (as), Imam Ali said to the two messengers after receiving the letter: “You informed me of what Mo’awiya have sent with you. Then listen to me and inform him of what I shall say to you.” They said: “Yes, we do.” Imam Ali (as) replied with a long answer until he mentioned the matter when the Prophet (S) had appointed him (Imam Ali) in Ghadeer Khum as the guardian and the caliph after him (after the Prophet) according to the order of Allah. He said: “When this verse “Only Allah is your guardian and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow,” was revealed to the Prophet (S), the people asked him: “O messenger of Allah, does it concern some of the believers particularly or the all in general?” Then Allah ordered His messenger to declare for them the guardian, whom Allah had chosen, and to explain for them the matter of guardianship as he had explained the matters of prayer, zakat, fasting and hajj. Imam Ali (as) said: “The Prophet (S) appointed me (as guardian) in Khum and said: “Allah the Almighty has revealed to me something, which my chest became unable to bear and I thought that people would not believe me if I announced, then Allah threatened me either to announce it or He would punish me.” He ordered his companions to call for the prayer. He led them in offering the Dhuhr prayer and then he asked Ali to get up. He said to the people very loudly: “O people, Allah is my guardian and I am the guardian of the believers. I am worthier of them than themselves. Whoever I am his guardian, Ali is to be his guardian. O Allah, support whomsoever supports him and be the enemy of whoever opposes him!” Salman al-Farisi got up and said: “O messenger of Allah, what guardianship is it?” The Prophet (S) said: “Whoever that I am worthier of than himself, has to consider Ali as worthier of him than himself.” Then Allah revealed, “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” Salman said: “O messenger of Allah, have these verses been revealed about Ali?” The Prophet (S) said: “About him and about my guardians until the Day of Resurrection.” Salman asked: “O messenger of Allah, would you please tell me about them?” The Prophet (S) said: “They are my brother, guardian, son-in-low, heir, the caliph of my umma and the guardian of every believer after me, Ali and eleven imams of my progeny; the first of them is my son Hasan then my son Husayn and then nine imams from al-Husayn’s progeny one after the other. They are with the Qur’an and the Qur’an is with them. They will never part with it nor will it part with them until they will come to me at the pond in Paradise.” Twelve men from among those, who had fought with the Prophet (S) in the battle of Badr, got up and said: “O Amirul Mo’mineen, we witness that we have heard this from the Prophet (S) exactly as you say no word more no word less.” The rest of companions (of Badr) said: “We have memorized the most of what you said but not all of it. These twelve men are the best of us.” Imam Ali (as) said: “You are right. Not all of the people can memorize everything. Some are better than the others (in memorizing).” From among those twelve men four men; Abul Haytham bin at-Tayhan, Abu Ayyoob, Ammar and Khuzayma bin Thabit got up and said: “We witness that we have memorized the saying of the Prophet (S) then. He said while he was standing up and Ali was standing beside him: “O people! Allah has ordered me to appoint for you an imam, who will be my guardian among you and the successor in my family and my umma after me. Allah has imposed upon the believers, In His Book, to obey him and ordered them to submit to him. I said: O my God! I fear that the hypocrites may not believe me. Then He threatened me either to inform of it or He would punish me. O people, Allah has ordered you in His Book to offer prayers, which I have explained to you. He has ordered you of zakat and fasting, which also I have explained to you. He has ordered you, in His Book, of the guardianship and I call you, O people, to witness that this concerns particularly this (Ali) and the guardians of my progeny and his progeny. The first of them is my son al-Hasan then al-Husayn and nine of al-Husayn’s progeny. They will never part with the Book until they come to me at the pond (in Paradise). O people, I have informed you of your resort, your imam, guardian and guide after me. He is Ali bin Abu Talib. He is my brother and he is among you as I have been among you. Entrust him with your religion and obey him in all of your affairs. He has all what Allah has taught me. Allah has ordered me to teach it to him and to inform you that he has learned it. Ask him and learn from him and from his guardians. Do not try to teach them. Do not precede them and do not lag behind them because they are with the truth and the truth is with them. They never part with the truth nor will it part with them.” Then Imam Ali (as) said to Abud Darda’, Abu Hurayra and those around him: “O people, do you know that when Allah revealed in His Book, “Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying,” the Prophet (S) gathered me, Fatima, Hasan and Husayn with him under one garment and said: “O Allah, these are my beloved family, my weighty thing I have left and the people of my house. O Allah, keep away the uncleanness from them and purify them.” Umm Salama said: “And Me!” The Prophet (S) said: “You will be of a pleasant fate. This verse has been revealed concerning me, my brother Ali, my daughter Fatima, my sons al-Hasan and al-Husayn and nine ones of al-Husayn’s progeny and no one else.” Most of people available there got up and said: “We witness that Umm Salama has narrated this for us. We asked the Prophet (S) and he confirmed what Umm Salama had narrated.” Imam Ali (as) said: “Do you not know that Allah has revealed in the sura of al-Hajj these verses, “O you who believe! bow down and prostrate yourselves and serve your Lord, and do good that you may succeed. And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving a is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibraheem; He named you Muslims before and in this, that the Messenger may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people.” And then Salman asked the Prophet (S): “O messenger of Allah, who are these people, whom you are the witness on and who are the witnesses on people and whom Allah has chosen and has not laid upon them any hardship in religion; the faith of their father Ibraheem?” The Prophet (S) said: “Allah has meant by that thirteen persons; me, my brother Ali and eleven ones of his progeny.” They said: “Yes, by Allah, we have heard that from the Prophet (S).” Imam Ali (as) said: “I adjure you before Allah! Have you known that the Prophet (S) has made a speech that he has not made other speech after it when he said: “O people, I have left among you two things; the book of Allah and my family. If you keep to them, you will never go astray at all. The Archangel Gabriel has informed me and promised me that they will never separate until they come to me at the pond (in Paradise)”? They said: “Yes, by Allah, we have witnessed all that from the Prophet (S).” Then twelve men got up and said: “We witness that when the Prophet (S) made a speech in the last day of his life, Umar bin al-Khattab got up angrily and said: “O messenger of Allah, all the people of your house?” The Prophet (S) said: “No, only my guardians; Ali, my brother, vizier, heir, the caliph of my umma and the guardian of every believer after me, who is the first of them and the best of them, and then his guardian after him; my son-he pointed to al-Hasan- then his guardian; my son-he pointed to al-Husayn- then his guardian, whose name is like the name of my brother (Ali) then his guardian after him, whose name is like mine then seven ones; his (Muhammad bin Ali’s) son and (six) grandsons one after the other until they come to me at the pond. They are the witnesses of Allah on His earth and the authorities over His people. He, who obeys them, obeys Allah and he, who disobeys them, disobeys Allah.” Seventy men, who had fought with the Prophet (S) in the battle of Badr, and nearly the same number of al-Muhajireen got up and said: “You reminded us of what we have forgotten. We witness that we have heard that from the Prophet (S).” Abud Darda’ and Abu Hurayra left and told Mo’awiya of all that Imam Ali (as) had said and that the people had witnessed of.”

I asked him: 'What is the least that makes a man misguided?' He said: 'That he does not recognize the one whom Allah has commanded to obey, whose allegiance He has made obligatory, and whom He has made His proof on His earth and His witness over His creation.' I asked: 'Who are they, O Commander of the Faithful?' He said: 'They are those whom Allah has associated with Himself and His Prophet, saying: "O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you." [4:59]' I kissed his head and said: You have clarified for me, relieved me, and removed all doubt that was in my heart.