ابن مسلم

Abu Ja’far (asws) said: ‘O Ibn Muslim, the people are show-offs apart from you, and that is what you have concealed what Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic Loves, and have displayed what the people love, whilst the people have displayed what Allah (azwj) Mighty and Majestic is Angered by, and concealed what Allah (azwj) Loves. O Ibn Muslim, Allah (azwj) Blessed and High Sympathised with you, so He (azwj) Made the Mut’a (Temporary marriage) (Permissible) instead of the (intoxicating) drinks’.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about Friday. He (the Imam) said, ‘It (Friday Salah (prayer)) is obligatory up on those who live within two farsakh. If the distance is more than this then it is not obligatory on him.’”

Abū ‘Abdillāh (Imam Sādiq (a.s.)) said: Go to (the Ziyārah of) the grave of Ḥusain (a.s.) once a year.

"Indeed, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, has only increased us in honor through Islam. Therefore, we inherit from them, but they do not inherit from us."

“I once said to abu Ja’far, Alayhi al-Salam, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, if a Christian man dies and has a Muslim son, can he inherit from him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, because Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, through al-Islam has increased his honor, so we inherit from them but they cannot inherit from us.’”

The Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: I entered Paradise, and then I saw that most of its people were stupid. He said: I said: What is the stupid? So he said: The rational in good things, the unaware in evil things, who fasts, in every month, three days.

Be patient with those who oppose blessing, for there is no better way to deal with those who disobey Allah than to obey Allah.

the prophet صلى الله عليه وآله had prohibited that the meat of the sacrificed animals (in the Id festival) be kept for more than three days because of the prevailing need, as for today then there is no harm in doing so.

‘I came up to Abu Abdullah (asws) and in his (asws) presence was Abu Hanifa. So I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you (asws), I saw a strange dream’. So he (asws) said to me: ‘O Ibn Muslim, relate it for the knowledgeable one for he is seated here’ – and he (asws) indicated by his (asws) hand to Abu Hanifa. So I said, ‘I saw as if I had entered my house, and my wife came out at me. She broke many walnuts and scattered them upon me. So I was astounded by this dream’. So Abu Hanifa (la) said, ‘You are a man who disputed and argued regarding the inheritance of your wife, and after your share of difficulties you will achieve your needs from her, Allah (azwj) Willing’. Abu Abdullah (asws) said: ‘By Allah (azwj), O Abu Hanifa (la), you’ve hit it’. (The narrator) said, ‘Then Abu Hanifa (la) went out from his (asws) presence, so I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you (asws), I do not like the interpretation of this Hostile One (Nasibi)’. So he (asws) said: ‘O Ibn Muslim, Allah (azwj) will not Displease you. Their interpretation does not coincide with our (asws) interpretation, nor does our (asws) interpretation coincide with theirs, and the interpretation (of your dream) is not as he has interpreted it’. I said to him (asws), ‘May I be sacrificed for you (asws), you (asws) said that he hit it, and swore upon it, whilst he was mistaken’. He (asws) said; ‘Yes, I (asws) did swear that he hit the mistake’. So I said to him (asws), ‘So what is its interpretation?’ He (asws) said: ‘O Ibn Muslim, you will do Muttah with a woman and your wife would come to know of it. So she would tear up your new clothes, for the walnut shells are the clothing for the nuts’. Ibn Muslim said, ‘By Allah (azwj), there was not a Friday between his (asws) interpretation and the verification of the dream. So when it was the morning of the Friday, I was seated at the door when a maid passed by who caught my eye. So I sent my slave to return her. Then I entered her into my house. I did Muttah with her. My wife sensed it and she came up to us in the house. The maid took the initiative and went to the door, and I remained. So she tore up my new clothes which I had worn during the Eid’. And Musa Al-Zawwaar the perfume seller went to Abu Abdullah (asws), so he said to him (asws), ‘O son (asws) of the Rasool Allah (saww)! I saw a dream which shocked me. I saw my dead brother-in-law embrace me, and I am scared that my term (death) is near’. So he (asws) said: ‘O Musa! You should expect death morning and evening for it will meet us. And the embracing by the dead to the living is longevity of life for them. So what is the name of your brother in law?’ he said, ‘Husayn’. So he (asws) said: ‘But your dream is evidence of your remaining (alive), and your visiting Abu Abdullah (Al-Husayn) (asws), for everyone who is embraced by someone who is named Al-Husayn would visit him (asws) Allah (azwj) Willing’.

Jibra’eel descended unto the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and said: O Muhammed, order you companions to ‘ajj and thajj. ‘Ajj is to raise the voices during declaring gratification (to Allah), and thajj is to slaughter the cattle.

Commander of the Faithful (AS) said to a man, “If you do not wish to obey your Creator, then do not eat of His Sustenance. And if you support His Enemy (Satan), then leave His Realm. If you are dissatisfied with His destiny and His Divine Decree, then find a Lord other than Him.”

The gates of the heavens open at five appointed times. At the time of descending of rain; at the time of a holy war; at the time of the general call to prayer; at the time of reading of the Quran; at the time of the disappearance of the sun and at the time of the rise of the dawn.”

Commander of the Faithful (AS) said: “Allah, the Mighty and High, revealed to David [Dawud] (AS): O David, you will and I will. However, your will is not except what I will. Therefore, if you submit to My Will, I will bestow you with what you will. However, if you do not submit to My Will, I will trouble you in what you wish. In the end, it is always My will that will prevail.

O cousin of the Messenger of Allah! Tell me about Abi Talib. Was he a Muslim? So, he said: How can he not be a Muslim when he is the one that said: “They know that our son is not a liar, The false sayings do not receive our attention.” Surely, Aba Talib was like the companions of the cave, who kept the faith a secret and feigned paganism, so Allah gave them their reward twice.

Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (MGB) said, “The Blessed the Sublime God told Moses (MGB), ‘O Moses! Follow my advice to you regarding four issues: First, try not to find faults with others as long as you do not know whether or not your own sins are forgiven; Second, do not worry about your share of daily bread as long as you know that my treasures are not finished. Third, do not place hope in other’s help as long as you know My Kingdom is lasting. Fourth, do not feel secure from the plans of Satan for as long as Satan exists.’”

the commander of the faithful عليه السلام addressed the people and said: O people – verily the beginning of occurrence of strife is [due to] desires being followed and laws being innovated – in which the book of Allāh is opposed and in which men follow other men, if the falsehood were to be completely distinct it would not be hidden from anyone who possesses intellect, and if the truth were to be completely distinct there would not be any disagreement, but it is taken from this (falsehood) a handful and from that (truth) a handful and then mixed and presented together, this is whence the Satan overwhelms his allies whilst are saved those to whom had preceded grace from Allāh.

“One day I was in the presence of Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) that a pair of turtledoves came and sat on the wall and exchanged voices as they usually do. Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then also exchanged voices with them for a while. They then flew away and on the other wall the male sounded to the female for a while and then both of them flew away. I then asked The Imam (a.s.), “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, What were these birds?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Ibn Muslim, all that Allah has created, such as birds, animals or other things that have life obey us better than people. The male dove was suspicious about the female and she denied it on oath which the male did not accept. Then she asked if he would abide by the decision of Muhammad ibn Ali. He agreed and I told him that he had wronged her then he believed her.”

“I once asked abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Jizyah (taxes paid by a non-Muslim taxpayer) of the people of the book. Is there anything definite, which does not change? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is up to the Imam. He may receive from every one of them what he decides which they can afford in proportion to their assets. They have been spared their lives and from being exiled by their agreement to pay taxes; so al-Jizyah is received from them in proportion of their assets to the limit that they can afford to pay until they become Muslims. Allah, most Blessed, most High, has said, ‘. . . until they pay al-Jizyah with their hands with humbleness. How can they be humble if what they pay is negligible to them? Such payment must make them feel humiliated so that they accept Islam? Ibn Muslim has said that I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about what they (rulers) receive as one-fifth from land of al-Jizyah, from the farmers per head. Is there anything in definite amounts?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It was just that much which they had agreed to pay. Imam has no other choice but to receive al-Jizyah. He (the Imam) can assign it per head and not their assets or vice versa? I then asked, ‘What is the rule about this al-Khums (one-fifth)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is how the Messenger of Allah had settled with them.”

I have heard Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (as) saying: “Whoever tries his best in worshipping Allah without following an imam inspired by Allah, his worshipping will not be accepted (by Allah) and he is astray and confused besides that Allah hates his deeds. His example is like a sheep that has lost the shepherd or the flock. It goes and comes astray. It becomes confused at day and when night comes, it sees a flock with a shepherd. It is deceived to spend the night with them in their fold. When morning comes and the shepherd drives his flock, it denies the shepherd and the flock and goes confusedly looking for its flock and shepherd. Then it sees another flock with a shepherd. It is deceived to join them. The shepherd cries: “O you lost sheep, go to join your shepherd and flock. You are astray and confused. You have lost your shepherd and flock.” Then it hastens confusedly without a shepherd guiding it to its pasture or to its fold. While it is so, a wolf seizes the opportunity and eats it. O bin Muslim, by Allah it is the same with you. Whoever of this umma becomes without an imam, definitely will be confused, astray and deviant. If he remains so, he will die as an unbeliever and polytheist. O Muhammad bin Muslim, know that the real imams and their followers are on the true religion of Allah and the imams of injustice and oppression are away from the religion of Allah and away from the truth. They go astray and lead people astray. Their actions are (like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day; they shall not have power over any thing out of what they have earned; this is the great error).” The same was narrated by Ali bin Ahmad from Obaydillah bin Musa from Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Qalanisi from Issma’eel bin Mihran from Ahmad bin Muhammad from Abdullah bin Bukayr and Jameel bin Darraj from Muhammad bin Muslim from Imam Abu Ja’far as-Sadiq (as).

In the days of `Ali b. Musa al-Rida (as), we were in Marv, and we gathered in a mosque that we would attend on Friday. The people were speaking about the matter of Imamate, and they mentioned the multitude of differences of opinion regarding it. So, I visited my Master al-Rida (as), and I informed him of the people’s discord regarding it. So, he (as) smiled, then said: O `Abd al-`Aziz! The people are ignorant, and they are deceived with regards to their religions. Surely, Allah did not cause His Prophet (s) to pass away without perfecting the religion for him. He revealed the Quran to him, in which there is elucidation for everything. In it, the lawful, the forbidden, the limits, and the rulings were made clear; as well as all of what the people need. So, He says, “We have neglected nothing in the Book” (6:38). At the Farewell Pilgrimage, at the end of his (s) life, this was revealed, “This day I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My favour unto you, and I have chosen for you Islam as a religion.” (5:3) The matter of Imamate is from the completion of religion. He (s) did not pass away until he clarified to the people the landmarks of their religion. He clarified their paths for them, left them on the way toward truth, and established `Ali (as) as their scholar and Imam. He did not leave anything that the Nation would need except that he clarified it for them. He who alleges that Allah did not perfect His religion has turned away from the Book of Allah, and he who turns away from the Book of Allah is a disbeliever. Do they even know the significance and station of Imamate in respect to the Nation for them to dare give their opinions? Surely, Imamate is of a majestic station and great affair. It is the most exalted position, the most prohibited side, and the furthest valley for the people to try to reach with their intellects, attain with their opinions; or [even] establish an Imam by their own selection. The Imamate is something Allah selected Ibrahim the Friend (s) with after prophethood and friendship as a third rank. It is a virtue that He lauded him with, and He mentions it, “Surely, I have made you an Imam for the people”, so the Friend (as), joyed by it, said, “and from my descendants?” So, Allah said, “My covenant does not go to the oppressors” (2:124). This verse invalidates the Imamate (leadership) of every oppressor until the Day of Resurrection; and it went to the elite ones. Allah honoured him by making his progeny the elite, pure people, for He says, “We blessed him with Ishaq and Ya`qub in addition, who We made of the righteous. We made them Imams who guide by Our command. We revealed to them the doing of good works, establishing prayer and giving alms; and they were worshipers of Us.” (21:73-74) His progeny did not stop inheriting it, one after the other, century after century, until it was inherited by the Prophet (s). So, He says, “Those who have most right to Ibrahim are those who follow him, this Prophet, and those who believe – and Allah is the Guardian of the believers.” (3:68) So, it was specifically for him, and the Prophet (s) bequeathed it to `Ali (as) by the command of Allah and in accordance with what Allah has ordained. Then, it went to his progeny, whom Allah gave knowledge and faith – by His saying, “As for those who were given knowledge and faith, they will say: ‘You remained, in accordance with Allah’s decree, until the Day of Resurrection’” (30:56) – so it is specifically in the progeny of `Ali (as) until the Day of Resurrection; and there is no prophet after Muhammad (s). So, how can these ignorant ones choose [for themselves]? Surely, the Imamate is the station of the prophets and the inheritance of the deputies. Surely, Imamate is the vicegerency (khilafa) of Allah, the vicegerency of the Messenger (s), the rank of Amir al-Mu’minin (as), and the inheritance of al-Hasan and al-Husayn (as). Surely, Imamate is the reins of the religion, the order of the Muslims, the rectification of this world, and the glory of the Muslims. Surely, Imamate is the foundation of Islam and its lofty branch. Through the Imam, prayer, alms, fasting, Hajj, jihad, the giving of fay’, charity, the implementation of penalties and rulings, and the frontiers are perfected. The Imam makes permissible what Allah makes permissible and makes forbidden what Allah makes forbidden. He establishes the limits of Allah, defends the religion of Allah, and calls to the way of his Lord with wisdom, goodly exhortations, and clear proof. The Imam is like the Sun that rises over the world, in the horizons where no hands and no vision can encompass it. The Imam is the shining full Moon, the illuminating glow, the dazzling light, and the guiding star in the shroud of darkness, barren wastelands, and depths of the sea. The Imam is fresh water during thirst, the indicator to guidance, and the saviour from apostasy. The Imam is the fire of the highlands, heat for whoever needs it, and the indicator for the wayfarer – he who opposes it is destroyed. The Imam is the raincloud, the falling rain, the illuminating Sun, the soft earth, the abundant river, and the meadowy brook. The Imam is the trustworthy friend, the kind father, the caring brother, and the shelter for servants during catastrophe. The Imam is the trustee of Allah in His Earth, His Proof over His servants, His vicegerent in His lands, the caller to Allah, and the defender of the sanctity of Allah. The Imam is the purifier from sins and the curer of blemishes. He is the specialist of knowledge, bestowed with forbearance, the order of the religion, the glory of the Muslims, the wrath against the hypocrites, and the destruction against the disbelievers. The Imam is the foremost of his time – no scholar is equal to him, and there is no substitute to him. None resemble or match him. He has been wholly specified with virtue, without a need for him to seek it or reap it; surely, he is specified by the Bestower of Virtue and Gifts. So, who is him who reaches full recognition of the Imam or subjects him to their choosing? Far, far have their intellects deviated, their imaginations strayed, their minds bewildered, their eyes perplexed, their great ones drifted, their wise ones confused, their sensible ones fallen short, their preachers confined, their hearts become ignorant, their poets become speechless, and their writers become incapable. The rhetoricians cannot describe one quality of his qualities, or one virtue of his virtues, so they acknowledge their inability and shortcoming. How can [the Imam] be described in his essence? How can one comprehend a thing of his matter? How can one find one present to take his place and his prosperity? How, when he is as far as a star from the hands of the takers and the description of the describers? Where is the choice here? Where are the intellects with respect to this? What is comparable to this? Do they think that this [Imamate] exists outside of the Family of the Messenger (as)? By Allah, they have belied themselves and led themselves into fallacies. They have risen to a confuted difficulty and their feet have slipped to the bottom. They want to establish an Imam with minds that are perplexed, perverted, and partial, and with imprudent perspectives. They do not increase in it except in distance. “May Allah destroy them – how deluded they are!” (63:4) They have run into difficulty, spoken calumnies, deviated far astray, and trapped themselves in perplexity because they have abandoned the Imam. Satan has adorned their deeds for them, misguiding them from the path when they were able to see. They have gone from the selection of Allah and His Messenger to their own selection, when the Quran calls to them, “Your Lord creates what He wills, and He selects what is good for them. May Allah be glorified from what the pagans [claim].” (28:68). He says, “It is not for a believing male or female to have a choice in their affair if Allah and His Messenger commanded something.” (33:36) He says, “How is the matter with you? How do you judge? Do you have a scripture which you read that you will have whatever you choose? Or do you have oaths binding on Us until the Day of Resurrection that you will have whatever you decide? Ask them which of them can guarantee that? Or do they have partners? Then let them bring their partners if they are truthful.” (68:36-41) He says, “Do they not contemplate over the Quran, or are there locks on their hearts?” (47:24) Has Allah sealed their hearts, so they cannot understand? Or, “they say: ‘we listened’, but they do not listen. Surely, the evillest of creatures to Allah is the deaf and dumb that cannot think. Had Allah known of any good in them, He would have made them listen. If He had made them listen, they would have still turned away whilst refusing.” (8:22-23) “They said: ‘We listen and we disobey’” (2:93) Rather, “that is the blessing of Allah. He bestows it upon whom He wills. Allah is of great blessing.” (62:4) So, how would they have a choice in the Imam, when the Imam is knowing and not ignorant? He is a tireless shepherd, and the source of sanctity, purity, offering, asceticism, knowledge, and worship. He is specified by the call of the Messenger. He is of the pure, chaste lineage – he is not of an obscure ancestry, and no nobleman comes close to him. He is of the House from Quraysh, crystallized from Hashim; from the progeny of the Family of the Messenger (s), from Allah's acceptance. He is the noblest of nobles, and he is a branch from `Abd al-Manaf. He is well-versed in knowledge, perfect in forbearance, in charge of leadership, proficient in civilizing, obligatory in obedience, establishing the command of Allah, an advisor to the servants of Allah, and a protector of the religion of Allah. Surely, the prophets and the Imams are supported by Allah. He gives them of His stored knowledge and His forbearance, which is not given to anyone else. Their knowledge is above the knowledge of the people of their time – as per His saying, “Is, then, He who guides to the truth more worthy of being obeyed, or he who has no guidance at all unless he is guided [by someone else]?” (10:35) Also, His saying, “He who is given wisdom has been given much good.” (2:269) Also, His saying with regards to Talut, “Surely, Allah has selected him over you, and increased him in knowledge and in physique. Allah gives His kingdom to whomever He wills – and Allah is encompassing in knowledge.” (2:247) Also, He said to His Prophet (s), “The blessing of Allah upon you is great.” (4:113) He says, regarding the Imams from his Ahl al-Bayt, his progeny and his offspring (s), “Do the people envy those whom Allah has given His blessing? For We have given the Family of Ibrahim the Book and the wisdom, and We gave them a great kingdom. From them are those who believe in Him, and from them are those who reject Him – and Hell is a sufficient blaze.” (4:54-55) When Allah chooses a servant for the affairs of His worshipers, Allah expands his chest for that, puts fountains of wisdom in his heart, and inspires (ilham) him with knowledge. After that, he is aware of no other answer, and his reasoning remains consistent. He is immaculate, aided, supported, and directed. He is safe from errors, slips, and stumbles – Allah specifies this for him so that he may be His proof over His servants and His witness over His creation. “That is the blessing of Allah. He bestows it upon whom He wills. Allah is of great blessing.” (62:4) So, are they capable of being something like this, so that they may select him? Or, is the one that they select capable of taking on this description? They have transgressed, and the House of Allah is the truth. They threw the Book of Allah behind their backs, as though they do not know; and in the Book of Allah is guidance and healing, but they neglected it and followed their whims. So, Allah cursed them, despised them, and made them miserable. He says, “Who is more misguided than him who follows his whims without guidance from Allah? Surely, Allah does not guide the oppressive people.” (28:50) He says, “May they be doomed and may He render their deeds void.” (47:8) He says, “It is greatly hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believe. In this way, Allah seals the heart of every arrogant tyrant.” (40:35)