سهل بن يعقوب بن إسحاق

This is what is agreed upon with regards to his dictation briefly describing the religion of the Imamiyya. I will dictate an explanation and an interpretation of it if Allah eases my return from my destination to Nishapur, God-willingly.

He who meets a pilgrim and makes room for him shall be like one who reached the [Black] Stone.

When a worshiper says whilst in prostration: "O Allah, O Lord, O Master! (ya Allah, ya rabbah, ya sayyidah)" three times, He responds: "Here I am, My servant, ask for your need."

I said to `Ali b. al-Husayn (as): What is the meaning of the saying of the Prophet (s): “Whoever takes me as a Master, then `Ali is his Master”? He said: He is informing them that he is the Imam after him.

Amir al-Mu’minin (as) would say: The basis of mankind – his heart, his intellect, his religion, and his chivalry – is whatever he makes of himself. The days change, but the people are as Adam.

Misery was mentioned in his presence, so he said: Misery is in three things: (1) in a woman, (2) in a creature, and (3) in a house. As for the misery of a woman, it is in the exorbitance of her dowry and the responsibilities of her partner. As for the creature, it is in its poor behaviour and when it prevents one from riding its back. As for the house, it is in its narrow space, the evil of its neighbours, and the plenitude of its faults.

The Messenger of Allah (s) visited his uncle Abi Talib as he lay dead. So, he said: O uncle! You adopted an orphan, you raised a child, and you supported an adult, so may Allah reward you on my behalf. Then, he ordered `Ali (as) to wash him.

Abu’l Hasan Musa b. Ja`far (as) said: Surely, the family of a man are [like] his prisoners. Whoever is given a blessing by Allah should give ease to his prisoners. Whoever does not do that or doubts [this], that blessing will be removed from him.

The masters of the people of this world are the generous; and [the masters] of the Hereafter are the pious.

The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Whomever sweeps up a mosque on Thursday on the eve of Friday, and a speck of dust comes into his eye, he is forgiven.

Gabriel (as) came to the Prophet (s) and said: O Muhammad! Live for as long as you want – you will die. Love whoever you want – you will be separated. Do what you want – you will reap its outcome. Know that the honour of a man is in standing in prayer at night, and his glory is in being needless of the people.

Abu Usama Zayd al-Shahham informed me. He said: I heard Aba `Abdillah al-Sadiq (as) say: Whoever delays Maghrib without a reason until the stars come out, then surely, I dissociate from him to Allah.

I heard from Yunus b. Ya`qub who narrated from Sinan b. Turayf from Abi `Abdillah al-Sadiq (as). He said: He said: We are the first family that Allah mentioned by our names. Surely, when Allah created the heavens and the Earth, He ordered a caller [to call out], so he called out: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah” three times, “I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” three times, and “I bear witness that `Ali is truly the Commander of the Faithful” three times.

The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "O Children of Abdul Muttalib! I have beseeched Allah to convert the ignorant among you into learned men, and to make you steadfast in your stand, and to guide those of you who are gone astray; and to make you brave, generous and kind. By Allah, if a person were to offer prayers between al-Rukn and al-Maqam (around holy Ka’bah), but at the same time die with hatred towards you, O Ahlul Bayt, such a person will enter hellfire."

I heard Muhammad b. `Ali al-Rida (as) say: Whoever visits my father (as) and is afflicted by any harm from rain, cold, or heat, Allah will forbid the Fire from his body.

I heard Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, say: "There is no verse between the two covers of the Qur’an, except that I know for whom it was revealed and when it was revealed, and whether on a plain, levelled land or upon a mountain. Surely, here in my breast is abundant knowledge! So, put your questions to me before you do not find me among yourselves, for when you have lost me, you will not find anyone uttering the words I utter."

Abu `Abdillah al-Sadiq (as) said: Whoever fasts on a hot day and is afflicted with thirst, Allah commissions one thousand angels to wipe down his face and give him glad tidings. Once he breaks his fast, Allah says: “How sweet is your fragrance and your spirit! O My angels! Bear witness that I have forgiven him.”

“Peace be with the Family of Yasin” (37:130), he said: Yasin is Muhammad (s), and we are the Family of Yasin.

`Ali (as) said: No verse has been revealed from the Quran except that I know where it was revealed, regarding whom it was revealed, regarding what it was revealed, and whether it was revealed on a plain or on a mountain. It was said: What was revealed regarding you? So, he said: Had you not asked me, I would not have informed you. This verse was revealed regarding me: “Surely, you are but a warner, and for every people there is a guide” (13:7) – the Messenger of Allah is the warner, and I am the guide to what he has brought.

Amir al-Mu’minin (as) said: I am the vicegerent of the Messenger of Allah, his vizier, and his inheritor. I am the brother of the Messenger of Allah, his deputy, and his beloved. I am the elite one of the Messenger of Allah and his companion. I am the cousin of the Messenger of Allah, the husband of his daughter, and the father of his descendants. I am the Master of the Deputies and the Deputy of the Master of Prophets. I am the decisive argument, the great sign, the highest ideal, and the gate of the Chosen Prophet. I am the Firm Handle, the pious word, the faithful of Allah, and His reminder for the people of this world.