أحمد

“The reward is equal to that of thirty accepted and holy Hajjs performed alongside the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.).”

"Indeed, the name of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) in the scriptures of Ibrahim is Al-Mahi (the Eraser), in the Torah of Musa it is Al-Had (the Opponent), in the Gospel of Isa it is Ahmad, and in the Qur'an it is Muhammad (sw)." It was asked: "What is the meaning of Al-Mahi?" Imam (as) said: "Al-Mahi is "The one who erases the image of idols, removes the traces of false deities, and eliminates every object of worship besides the Most Merciful (swt)." It was asked: "What is the meaning of Al-Had?" Imam (as) said: "Al-Had is the one who stands in opposition to those who oppose Allah (swt) and His (swt) religion, whether they are near or far." It was asked: "What is the meaning of Ahmad?" Imam (as) said: "Ahmad means that Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has praised him in the scriptures for the praiseworthy deeds he performed." It was asked: "What is the meaning of Muhammad?" Imam (as) said: "Indeed, Allah (swt), His (swt) angels, all His (swt) Prophets (as), Messengers (as), and all their praise and send blessings upon Him (sw), and His (sw) name is inscribed upon the Throne: 'Muhammad (sw) is the Messenger of Allah (swt).'" He (sw) used to wear Yemeni caps, white caps, and a wrapped turban with two flaps during battles. He (sw) had a staff called 'Anazah, which he would lean on and take out for the two Eid sermons. He (sw) had a rod called Al-Mamshuq and a tent called Al-Kinn. He (sw) had a large wooden bowl called Al-Sa'ah and a drinking vessel called Al-Riyy. He (sw) had two horses: one named Al-Murtajiz and the other named Al-Sakb. He (sw) had two mules: one named Al-Duldul and the other named Al-Shahba. He (sw) had two camels: one named Al-'Adhba and the other named Al-Jad'a. He (sw) had two swords: one named Dhu Al-Fiqar and the other named Al-'Awn. He (sw) had two additional swords: one named Al-Mikhdham and the other named Al-Rasum. He (sw) had a donkey named Al-Ya'fur. He (sw) had a turban called Al-Sahab. He (sw) had a coat of armor called Dhat Al-Fudul, which had three silver rings - one in the front and two in the back. He (sw) had a banner called Al-'Uqab. He (sw) had a camel for carrying loads named Al-Dibaj. He (sw) had a flag called Al-Ma'lum. He (sw) had a war helmet called Al-As'ad. Upon His (sw) passing, He (sw) entrusted all of these to Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), and placed his ring on Imam Ali's (as) finger. Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said that he found a scroll inside the hilt of one of the Prophet's (sw) swords, which contained three statements: "Maintain ties with those who cut you off." "Speak the truth, even if it is against yourself." "Show kindness to those who wrong you."

“Rasulallah (SAW) cursed Abu Sufyan on seven occasions. He should not have done anything else. The first occasion on which God and the Prophet (SAW) cursed Abu Sufyan was when the Prophet (SAW) was emigrating to Medina. Abu Sufyan cursed the Prophet, and wanted to hit the Prophet when he ran into the Prophet on his way back from Syria. However, God fended off his attack. The second occasion was on the day of the Battle of Badr in which he fled from the Badr well, and God and the Prophet cursed him. The third occasion was on the day of the Battle of Uhud when after the Battle Abu Sufyan shouted, ‘Show your superiority, Hubal’ and the Prophet of God replied, ‘God is the Most High and the Most Glorious.’ Then Abu Sufyan said, ‘We have Uzza and you do not.’ Then the Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘God is our friend but you have no friends. ’The fourth occasion was on the day of the Battle of the Trench when Abu Sufyan had come to fight the Muslims accompanied by all of the Quraysh tribe. However, the Honorable the Exalted God had them return angry and defeated. They had no gains from this Battle and the Honorable the Exalted God revealed two verses to the Prophet from the Holy Quran in the Al-Ahzab Chapter. Abu Sufyan and his companions were called atheists, and Muawiya was called a polytheist and an enemy of God. The fifth occasion was on the day of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah in which the Quraysh intercepted the Muslims who wanted to offer animals for sacrifice and did not let them reach the place of offering. They also did not let the Prophet (SAW) reach the Holy House. Thus, they had to abandon their sacrificial animals, and the Prophet (SAW) had to return without having performed the circumambulations of the Ka’ba. Then the Honorable the Exalted God and the Prophet (SAW) cursed Abu Sufyan. The sixth occasion was on the day of the Battle of Confederates (Ahzab/Khandaq) when Abu Sufyan leading the Quraysh, Amer ibn al-Tufayl leading the Hawazin and 'Uyaina ibn Hisn leading the invaded Medina with the Ghatafan assisted by the Jewish Qurayzah and Nadir tribes, and attacked Medina. The Prophet (SAW) cursed their leaders and their followers and said, ‘If there are any believers amongst those who follow them, they shall not be cursed. However, there are no believers or noble ones amongst the leaders of this group and there are none to be saved.’ The seventh occasion was on the day on which they plotted and attacked the Prophet (SAW) in a group of twelve people from the Umayyads headed by Abu Sufyan and five other ones. Thus, the Prophet (SAW) cursed them. Moreover, the camel, its leader, and its rider also cursed them.’ The complier of this book said, “This narration has been cited as above. However, there were fourteen people who attacked the Prophet (SAW).”

One of the men from the Children of Israel killed one of his relatives. He then took the corpse and put it along the path of one of the noblest of the offspring of Israel and then went and demanded blood money. The Children of Israel told Moses (s), ‘Such and such a tribe has killed so and so. Tell us who has killed the man.’ Then Moses (s) said, ‘Bring me a heifer.’ They said, ‘Makest thou a laughing-stock of us?’ ’ Moses (s) said, ‘God save me from being an ignorant (fool)!’” The Imam (s) added, “Had they brought forth a heifer, things would have ended and the killer would have been found. But they were stern so God was stern with them, ‘They said, Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what (heifer) it is! He said; ‘He says, ‘The heifer should be neither too old nor too young…’ meaning neither small or large ‘…but of middling age.’ Had they brought forth a heifer, things would have ended and the killer would have been found. But they were stern so God was stern on them, ‘They said, ‘Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us her colour.’ He said, ‘He says, ‘A fawn-coloured heifer, pureand rich in tone, the admiration of beholders!’’ Had they brought forth a heifer, things would have ended and the killer would have been found. But they were stern so God was stern with them, ‘They said, ‘Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what she is: To us are all heifers alike: We wish indeed for guidance, if God wills.’ He said, ‘He says, A heifer not trained to till the soil or water the fields; sound and without blemish.’’ They said, ‘Now hast thou brought the truth.’ Then they looked for such a heifer and found one belonging to a young man from the Israelites. However, the young man said, ‘I will not sell it unless you fill its skin with gold for me as the price.” The Children of Israel went to Moses (s) and told him about that. Moses (s) said, “You have no choice but to buy it.” Thus they bought it and took it to Moses (s). Moses (s) ordered that the heifer be slaughtered. Then he (s) ordered that they hit the corpse of the dead person with the heifer’s tail. When they did that the dead man became alive and said, “O Messenger of God! My cousin killed me, not the one who has been accused.” That was how they got to know the murderer. Then God’s Messenger - Moses the son of Imran (s) told one of his companions, “There is an interesting story about this heifer.” The companion asked, “What is it?” Moses (s) said, “One of the young men from the Children of Israel was very kind to his father. Once he bought a small calf and took it home. His father was asleep and the stable key was under his head. The young fellow felt sorry for his father and did not wake him up. He just let the calf go. When his father woke up and heard the story, he admired his son, gave him a cow and told him, ‘Take this heifer instead.’” Moses (s) added, “Thus look and see what the final result of doing good deeds is, and how far a good deed will take its doer.”

It was on the last Wednesday of the month on which Abel killed Cane. Abraham (MGB) was cast into fire on a Wednesday. The catapult (with which Abraham was thrown into the fire) was built on a Wednesday. God drowned the Pharaoh on a Wednesday. On Wednesday the Honorable the Exalted God destroyed the land of the people of Lot. On Wednesday the Honorable the Exalted God sent the fiery winds to the people of Ad. On Wednesday their gardens turned black and fell down. On Wednesday the Honorable the Exalted God made a mosquito overcome Nimrood. On Wednesday Pharaoh called in Moses (MGB) in order to kill him. On Wednesday the roof collapsed over their head. On Wednesday Pharaoh ordered the boys of the Israelites to be killed. On Wednesday the Holy Shrine (Bayt ul-Muqadas) in Jerusalem was destroyed. On Wednesday the Mosque of David - the son of Solomon (MGB) was put on fire. On Wednesday Yahya - the son of Zakariya was killed. On Wednesday the first shadow of punishment descended upon the people of Pharaoh. On Wednesday God had Qarun (Korah) sunk into the Earth. On Wednesday God had Ayoob (MGB) suffer from the loss of wealth and children. On Wednesday Joseph (MGB) entered jail. The Honorable the Exalted God said on Wednesday ‘that We destroyed them and their people, all (of them).’ On Wednesday they were caught by the cries. OnWednesday they slaughtered the she-camel. On Wednesday ‘stones of baked clay’ fell over them. On Wednesday the Prophet (MGB) was injured and his tooth broke. On Wednesday the coffin was stolen from the Israelites.”The compiler of the book - may God be pleased with him - said, “It is fine for one who needs to travel to travel on Wednesday or one who has to have phlebotomy done on Wednesday to have it done. There is no bad omen in such an act especially for those who do so to discredit the claim of those who consider this to be unlucky. However, it is better not to go on a journey or have phlebotomy done on Wednesday, if it is not absolutely necessary.”

The Jews came to a woman from among them named `Abda. They said to her: O `Abda! As you know, Muhammad has destroyed the pillar of the Children of Israel and destroyed Judaism. The elites of the Children of Israel have prepared this poison for him, and they have come to you to have you poison him with this sheep. So, `Abda roasted the sheep and gathered the leaders in her house. She came to the Messenger of Allah (s) and said: O Muhammad! I have done what is obligatory for me [as your neighbour]. I have the leaders of the Jews present, so distinguish me with your companions. So, the Messenger of Allah (s) went with `Ali (as), Abu Dujana, Abu Ayyub, Sahl b. Hanif, and a group of Muhajirin. When they entered and the sheep was brought out, the Jews covered their noses with wool, stood on their feet and leaned on their staffs. So, the Messenger of Allah (s) said to them: Sit down. So, they said: When a prophet visits us, none of us are to sit down. We would hate to have the harm of our breath reach you. The Jews had lied – may Allah curse them. Rather, they only did that out of fear of the poison and its steam. When the sheep was placed in front of him, its shoulder spoke, saying: Stop, Muhammad. Do not eat me, for I am poisoned. So, the Messenger of Allah (s) called for `Abda and said to her: What caused you do to this! So, she said: I said [to myself]: “If he were a prophet, then it would not harm him. If he were a liar or a sorcerer, then my people will be relieved from him.” So, Gabriel (as) came down and said: The Peace recites the salaam to you and says: “Say: In the name of Allah, by which every believer calls, and by which every believer reaches glory. By His light, which illuminates the heavens and the Earth. By His power, which subjugates every arrogant tyrant and relinquishes every rebellious devil from the evil of poison, sorcery, and deceit. In the name of the High, the King, the Alone, besides whom there is no other god, ‘We have sent down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers, and it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss.’ (17:82)” So, the Prophet (s) said that, and he ordered his companions [to say that as well]; so they said that. Then, he said: Eat. Then, he ordered them to stop.

I asked Abdullah ibn Abil Huzayl about the issue of Divine Leadership as to who can hold that position and what its signs are. He said, ‘Indeed the Divine Leader, the Proof over the believers, the one in charge of the affairs; the one who speaks the Quran and is aware of the decrees is no one but the brother of God’s Prophet, the Prophet’s Caliph reigning over his nation, and his friend who is in the same position in relation to the Prophet (MGB) that Aaron was to Moses (MGB). He is the one whom we must obey as the Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you…’ He is the one whom God has described as, ‘Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship).’ You are invited to accept his mastery. He is the one whose Divine Leadership was firmly established on the day of Qadir Khum when God’s Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Am I not more of a Master over you than you yourselves are?’ The people replied, ‘Yes. O Prophet of God.’ Then the Prophet (MGB) said, ‘Whomever I am the Master of, Ali is the Master of. O my God! Please be the friend of his friends and be the enemy of his enemies. Assist whoever assists him, and abandon whoever abandons him. Help whoever helps him. He is Ali ibn Abi Talib (MGB). He is the Commander of the Faithful, the Divine Leader of the pious ones, the Leader of those with white-foreheads , the Noblest of the Trustees, and the best of the people after God’s Prophet (MGB). After him come Al-Hassan ibn Ali (MGB) and Al-Hussein (MGB) - the grandsons of God’s Prophet (MGB), the sons of the best of all women. Then there is Ali ibn al-Hussein (MGB), then Muhammad ibn Ali (MGB), Ali ibn Muhammad (MGB), Al-Hassan ibn Ali (MGB), Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan (MGB) successively up to now. They are the Prophet’s progeny known by their Trusteeship and Divine Leadership. There is no time or era in which the Earth is left without one of them. They are the Reliable Grip, Leaders towards guidance, Proofs for the people of the Earth until God inherits the Earth with whatever is in it. Anyone who opposes them (the Imams) is deviant, misleading, and a deserter of the right and the guidance. They (the Imams) are the interpreters of the Quran and the spokespersons of theProphet (MGB) with directness. Whoever dies before he recognizes them is regarded as one who has died in the Age of Ignorance. Their way consists of piety; chastity; honesty; being good; struggling; returning what you are entrusted with to its owner, whether they are good or bad people; extended prostrations; staying up at night (to worship God); abstaining from the forbidden things; patiently waiting for the arrival of the Savior ; being good-tempered; being on good terms with one’s neighbors.”Then Tamim ibn Buhlool said, “Abu Muawiyah narrated that Al-A’amash quoted a similar narration on the issue of Divine Leadership on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (MGB).”

people came to al-Hasan ibn `Ali (AS) after the death of `Ali (AS) to pay allegiance to him. So he (AS) said: All praise is for Allah over what He destined in matter, specified in merit, generalized in affair and glorified in well-being, a praise with which He completes over us His bounties and we require His pleasure. Verily, this world is an abode of tribulation and mischief. Everything that is init has a decline. Allah has informed us of that so that we may take a lesson. Therefore He preceded with a threat to us so that there is no evidence for us after warning. So be ascetic in what is to perish and desirous in what is to remain. Fear Allah in privacy and in open. Verily, `Ali (AS) in life, death and the rising lived with a measure and died with the time. Verily, I shall accept your allegiance on that you will make peace with whom I make peace with and fight with whom I fight with.Thus, they all paid allegiance to him on that basis. Muhammad ibn `Ali ibn al-Husayn, the Compiler of this book says: The ajal is the death of a human and the time of his death. And the ajal of his living is the time of his living. That is the meaning of the word of Allah, the Mighty and High: So when their (appointed) time comes they shall not delay it even an hour, nor shall they go before. If a human dies a natural death on his bed or is killed then verily the ajal of his death is the time of his death. It is possible that if a murdered person was not killed, he would have died in that instance anyway. It is also possible that if he was not killed then he would have lived on. The knowledge of that is unseen for us. Allah, the Mighty and High, has said; Say: Had you remained in your houses, those for whom slaughter was ordained would certainly have gone forth to the places where they would be slain. He has also said: Say: Flight shall not do you any good if you fly from death or slaughter. If a group of people are killed at the same time, it is possible to say that all of them died at their time and eve if they wee not killed they would have died in that instance. For, it is possible that a disease would have occurred in all of them and would have killed them all in that instance. It is not possible to say that they all died without the time of their death. As a whole, the ajal of a person is the time of his death that Allah, the Mighty and High, knows that he will die in that hour or will be killed. The word of al-Hasan (AS) concerning his father (AS) that “he lived with a measure and died with the time? Is a confirmation of what we have said about this matter. Allah is the Granter of Direction to the correctness with His Favor.

“O Jabir, keep quiet until you see some signs that I will mention to you-if you remain alive until then: The first is the disagreement of the Abbasids. I do not think that you live until then but narrate this from me after my death. Other signs are a call from the Heaven, a cry comes from the direction of Damascus, one of the villages of Sham called al-Jabiya sinks, a part of the mosque of Damascus falls down, a group of the Turks apostates and then commotion in Rome. The Turks come and occupy the island whereas the Romans come to settle in ar-Ramla. O Jabir, that year will be full of events everywhere from the direction of the west. The first country that will be ruined is Sham. Then people will disagree and divide into three armies; the army of the reddish one, the army of the spotted one and the army of as-Sufyani. As-Sufyani will fight the spotted one and he will kill him with his followers and then he will fight the reddish one and he will kill him. Then he will move towards Iraq. He will pass by Qarqeesiya’. A fight will break out. As-Sufyani will kill about one hundred thousands of the arrogants. Then he will send an army of seventy thousand warriors towards Kufa. They will kill, crucify and capture many of the people of Kufa. While they are doing so, an army will come from the direction of Khurasan. With this army there will be some companions of al-Qa’im. A faithful man from Kufa with weak followers will revolt but he will be killed by the leader of as-Sufyani’s army between Kufa and Heera. As-Sufyani will send a troop to Medina. Al-Mahdi will flee from Medina to Mecca. The leader of the army will be informed that al-Mahdi has gone to Mecca so he will send a troop to follow after him but with no use. Al-Mahdi will enter Mecca frightfully and cautiously like Prophet Moses (as). The army of as-Sufyani will stop in the desert. A caller from the Heaven will call out: “O desert, destroy these people!” The desert will sink with the army and none of them will escape death except three persons, whom Allah will turn their faces towards their backs. It is about them that this verse has been revealed, ‘O you who have been given the Book! believe that which We have revealed, verifying what you have, before We alter faces then turn them on their backs.’ On that day al-Qa’im will be in Mecca leaning his back against the Kaaba. He will announce: “O people, we resort to Allah to make us succeed. Whoever of you wants to support us, let him join us. We are the progeny of your Prophet Muhammad (as). We are worthier of Allah and Muhammad than other people. Whoever argues with me about Adam, I am the worthiest of Adam. Whoever argues with me about Noah, I am the worthiest of Noah. Whoever argues with me about Abraham, I am the worthiest of Abraham. Whoever argues with me about Muhammad (as), I am the worthiest of Muhammad (as). Whoever argues with me about the prophets, I am the worthiest of the prophets. Has Allah not said in his Book, ‘Surely Allah chose Adam and Noah and the descendants of Abraham and the descendants of Imran above the nations; offspring one of the other; and Allah is Hearing, Knowing?’ I am a remainder of Adam, a relic of Noah, elite of Abraham and a choice of Muhammad, peace be upon them all. Whoever argues with me about the Book of Allah, I am the worthiest of the book of Allah. Whoever argues with me about the Sunna of the messenger of Allah, I am the worthiest of the Sunna of the messenger of Allah. I adjure everyone, who hears my speech today, to inform the absent of it. I ask you with the right of Allah, the right of His messenger and with my right, for I have a right of kinship to the messenger of Allah, to support us and to protect us from those, who have wronged us. We have been wronged, offended, expelled from our homes, separated from our families, deprived of our rights and our honor and virtues have been distorted by the evil people. For the sake of Allah, do not fail us. Support us that may Allah supports you!” Allah will make his (al-Mahdi’s) three hundred and thirteen companions join him without any previous appointment. O Jabir, it is the verse that Allah has revealed in His Book, ‘Wherever you are, Allah will bring you all together; surely Allah has power over all things.’ People will pay homage to him between the corner (of the Kaaba) and the temple (of Abraham). With him there will be a covenant from the Prophet (S) that has been inherited by the descendants; one after the other. O Jabir, al-Qa’im is one of al-Husayn’s descendants. Allah will make him succeed within a night. O Jabir, if people doubt all that, let them not doubt his descending from the Prophet (S) and his inheriting knowledge from the ulama (the infallible imams) one after the other. If all these things become confusing to them, then the call that will come from the Heaven and will call out his name and his parents’ names certainly will not be confusing to them at all.”

“Someone had entrusted me with some property which I buried in the ground. Later on, I forgot where I had buried that property. I was confused and did not know what to do. The property’s owner accused me of having stolen it. Then I left my house in grief wondering what to do. I saw a group of people who were traveling towards the Shrine of Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.). Then I went to Mashhad along with them, and prayed to God the Honorable the Exalted to help me remember where I had buried what was entrusted to my care. Then when I was there I had a dream. I saw someone come and tell me, “You buried what you were entrusted with in such and such a location.” Then I returned to the property owner and directed him towards the location I had seen in my dream, while I did not myself believe in what I had dreamt. Then the property owner set out for that location, dug up the ground, and found his property still sealed up as he had done so when he had given it to me. From then on, the owner of the property used to express this experience to the people and encourage them to visit the Shrine in Mashhad - may greetings and peace be upon its resident (Imam Ridha’).

If it is said: On what criterion have you justified these reports and claim that Imam Kadhim (a.s) is dead, whereas the Waqifiya have also narrated a large number of reports, which mention his being alive and that His Eminence is the Qaim is hinted at. These traditional reports are present in their books and even in books of your scholars. So, how can you reconcile these two types of traditional reports? And with attention to these traditional reports, how can you claim that he is dead? We would reply: We mentioned these traditional reports by way of information and announcement and not to prove his death from them. It is so, because there exists knowledge of his martyrdom (it is a definite matter) and there is no doubt in it. Like the knowledge of martyrdom of his respected ancestors and one who has doubt in the martyrdom of Imam Musa Kadhim (a.s), he can also doubt the martyrdom of his respected ancestors and it is possible to doubt the death of anyone whose information of death we have. We have mentioned these traditional reports only to emphasize the information, because a large number of reports create this knowledge for us through evidence, Shariah, apparent aspect of Quran, consensus and other reasonings. Thus, I mentioned them in this chapter only for emphasis. As for that, which the Waqifiya have narrated: (Firstly) All of them are solitary reports and no evidence and reasoning strengthens them; and it is impossible to claim that they are authentic. (Secondly) In addition, their narrators have also been targets of ridicule and they were unreliable and it is not possible to trust their statements and reports. (Thirdly) With all these explanations all their reports can be interpreted and justified in other ways. We will quote some of them from Fee Nusratul Waqifa of Abu Muhammad Ali Ahmad Alawi Musawi and explain his discussions.

“When abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) was brought before al-Mahdi the first time he was accommodated in Zabala and I talked to him. He found me depressed and asked, “O abu Khalid, why is it that I see you are depressed?” I said, “How can I be not depressed when you are being take to this transgressor and I do not know wha will happen to you.” He said, “I will be alright. In so and so month and day come to me on one mile’s distance.” I then had no worries but count the months and days pass by until that particular day. I then went up to a mile’s distance and spent the day there until it was almost sun set. Suddenly, Satan caused temptations to my heart and I was afraid to doubt in what he had said. At this point I saw figures coming from the direction of Iraq. I went to meet them and abu al-Hassan (a.s.) was in front of them on a mule. He said, “Is it you O abu Khalid” I said, “Yes, grand son of the Messenger of Allah.” He said, “ Do not doubt; Satan loved that you had doubts.” I then said, “Thanks to Allah Who saved you from them.” He said, “I will have a return to them in which I will not find any safety.”

“Once I went to see Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) in his illness that he endured and nothing was left of him except his head (due to weakness). The Imam said, I very often O Fudayl, say, ‘A man to whom Allah grants belief in this cause (our Divine Authority) will have no trouble even if he were to live on a mountain until the coming of his death. O Fudayl ibn Yasar, people took to the right and left, but our Shi’a (followers) and we found guidance in the right path. O Fudayl ibn Yasar, for a believer it (belief) is better than his having all that is between the East and West. It (belief) is better for him even if he is cut in pieces. O Fudayl ibn Yasar, Allah does not do anything to believers except what is best for them. O Fudayl ibn Yasar, had the world been worth the wing of a fly, Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, would not have allowed His enemies to drink even a drop of water from it. O Fudayl ibn Yasar, whoever finds one goal (the true belief) Allah suffices him in all other goals (affairs), however, one who has a goal in every valley Allah will be concerned the least where he may perish.’”

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . We made a covenant with Adam (a.s.), before but he forgot and We did not find in him firm determination.’ (20:115) Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said to Adam (a.s.), to enter in the garden (paradises) He said, “O Adam, you must not go near this tree.’” He (the Imam) said that He showed it to him and Adam said to his Lord, “How will I go near the tree when You have prohibited me and my wife?” He (the Imam) said that Allah said to them not to go near the tree meaning do not eat thereof. Adam and his wife said, “Yes, Lord we will not go near the tree and will not eat”, but they did not make an exception (did not say, ‘if Allah wills’) when saying, “yes” Allah, in that matter left them on their own and to their memories.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to His Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about a fact in the book. “. . . You must never say about anything, ‘I will do it tomorrow without saying, ‘unless Allah wills’ otherwise,” (18:23) and Allah decides that I must not do then I will not be able to do.’ He (the Imam) said that for this reason Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘. . . you must speak of your Lord when you forget’, meaning make the act and the will of Allah an exception in your act.’”

“I lived in Baghdad. Once the caravan for the people of Yemen was about to live. I also decided to leave with them. I then wrote to him (the twelfth Imam (a.s.) requesting his permission. The response came, “Do not leave with them. There is nothing good for you in leaving with them. Stay in al-Kufa.” The narrator has said, “ I stayed in al-Kufa and the caravan left but the tribe of Hanzala attacked and looted them. I then wrote for permission to leave by ships on water. Permission was denied. I then found out that of the ships that had traveled that year none reached the destination safely. Indian groups called al-Bawarij had pirated. I then visited the army camp. Near sun set I went to the door (of the shrine of the Imams) quitely. I did speak to anyone and nor introduced myself to anyone. I was praying in the mosque after offering my greeting of peace (to the Imams) that a servant came and said, “Rise up and come with me.” I told him, “Where should we go?” He said, “We will go home.” I then asked, “Do you know who am I? Perhaps you are sent for someone else.” He said, “I have been sent onlyy for you. You are Ali ibn al-Husayn, the messenger of Ja‘far ibn Ibrahim.” He took to the house of al-Husayn ibn Ahmad. He then spoke to him secretly that I did hear what the spoke about. Every thing that I needed was brought for me. I stayed with him for three days. I asked his permission to offer my greetings of peace from inside the house. He granted me permission and I offered my greeting of peace dduring the night.”

I asked Abu `Abd Allah al-Sadiq (AS) about the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: He is the First and the Last, and said: “We understand the meaning of the First. However, we need you to explain to us the meaning of the Last.” Therefore, he (AS) explained, Verily, there is nothing that does not perish, go through changes, deteriorate, change color, change form, change quality, increase or decrease, except the Lord of the Universe. Verily, He has always been, and will always be Solitary. He is the First that existed before everything. And He is the Last that will exist forever. The attributes and adjectives applied to Him are invariable. This is unlike human beings who are subject to change. At one stage they were dust, at another they were flesh and blood, and finally, their mortal remains decompose. Human beings are like dates [balah], which are subject to stages, moving from unripe [busr] to ripe dates [rutab], and from ripe dates to dried dates [tamr]. When applied to others but Allah, names and adjectives are subject to change. Allah, the Mighty and High, differs from those.

“I visited abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), and a man also came to him saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my brother suffers from something that I feel embarrassed to mention.’ The Imam said, ‘Do not mention it and tell him to fast on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. When the sun declines to the west at noontime, he should go out somewhere so no one can see him while dressed in two pieces of his new or just washed clothes, and perform two Rak‘at Salah (prayer), then expose his knees, place his palms and forehead on the ground. In his Salah (prayer), he should recite al-Fatihah al-Kitab ten times. Thereafter he should recite Chapter 112 of the Holy Quran ten times, in Ruku‘ fifteen times, in sajdah ten times, between the two sajdah when sitting twenty times. He should perform four Rak‘at Salah (prayer) in this way. After completing Tashahhud (the two testimonies) he should say, “O the One who is known for His granting favor, O the First of all first ones, O the Last of all last ones, O the One who has strong power, O the One who grants sustenance to the destitute, O the most Merciful of all merciful ones. I have purchased myself from You with one- third of what I own. (With such payment) I pray to You, remove from me the evil of what I suffer from. You have power over all things.’””

“Abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.), has said, that a believing person in his grave will be asked, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He will reply, ‘Allah is my Lord.’ He is then asked, ‘What is your religion?’ He will reply, ‘Islam is my religion.’ He is then asked, ‘Who is your prophet?’ He will reply, ‘Muhammad is my prophet.’ He is then asked, ‘Who is your Imam?’ He will reply, ‘So and so is my Imam.’ He is asked, ‘How did you come to know that he is your Imam?’ He will reply, ‘It is a matter to which Allah guided me and kept me steadfast therewith.’ It then will be said to him, ‘Rest to sleep without dreams like the sleep of newly wedded person.’ A door to paradise is then opened to him through which fragrance and happiness of paradise continue to come to him. He will then say, ‘Lord, allow the Day of judgment to come quicker so I can return to my family and property.’ An unbeliever is asked, ‘Who is your Lord?’ He replies, ‘Allah is my Lord.’ He is then asked, ‘Who is your prophet?’ He replies, ‘Muhammad is my prophet.’ He is then asked, ‘What is your religion?’ He replies, ‘Islam is my religion.’ He is then asked, ‘How did you come to know it?’ He replies, ‘People said so and so did I.’ The two angels will then strike him with a war-club on his head such that even all man and Jinn together cannot bear (its pain). The Imam then said, ‘He will melt like lead. Then they will return his soul to his body and place his heart between two boards of fire and he will plead, “O Lord, please delay the coming of the Day of Judgment.’””

“I said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘Is knowing the Imam from among you obligatory on all creatures?’” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent Muhammad to all people as His Messenger and as His authority over all creatures on earth. Those who have faith in Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger and have followed him and have acknowledged his message on such people it is obligatory to the Imam from us. Those who do not have faith in Allah and in His messenger and who do not follow him and do not acknowledge him and do not acknowledge the rights of Allah and His messenger then knowing the Imam (a.s.) would be obligatory on them? They do not have faith in Allah and in His messenger, do not follow him and do not acknowledge their rights.” I then asked, “What would you say about those who have faith in Allah and His messenger who acknowledge His messenger in all the matters that have come from Allah, is it obligatory for them to know the Imam (a.s.) from you?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, it is obligatory. Do they not know so and so?” I said, “yes, they do.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Do you think Allah is the one who has placed such knowledge in their hearts? No, I swear to Allah that no one other than Satan has placed such knowledge in their hearts. I swear to Allah that no one other than Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has inspired our rights in hearts of the believers.”

“A man said to Abu Abdillah (a.s) : People are saying: «The one who is not of Arab origin, nor a clearly declared mawla, is an inferior. He said: And what thing is a clearly declared mawla? The man said to him: The one who owns his parents. He said: And why did they say this? He said: They said it due to the saying of Allah’s Messenger (sw): A people’s mawla is from themselves. He said: Glory be to Allah, has it not reached you that the Messenger of Allah (sw) said: «I am the Master [1] of the one who has no master, and I am the Master of every Muslim, Arab and non-Arab»? Hence, the one who befriends the Messenger of Allah (sw), will he not be from the self of Allah’s Messenger (sw)? He then said: Which of the two is more honored: the one who is from the self of Allah’s Messenger (sw); or the one who is from the self of an gross Arabian who urinates on his heels? Furthermore, he (sw) said: The one who enters into Islam willingly is better than the one who enters out of fear. The hypocrites entered out of fear, whereas the mawali [2] entered willingly."