Al-Kāfi

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَبِي الْبِلادِ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ أَوْصَانِي أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِحَوَائِجَ لَهُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَخَرَجْتُ فَبَيْنَا أَنَا بَيْنَ فَجِّ الرَّوْحَاءِ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِي إِذَا إِنْسَانٌ يَلْوِي ثَوْبَهُ قَالَ فَمِلْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ عَطْشَانُ فَنَاوَلْتُهُ الادَاوَةَ فَقَالَ لِي لا حَاجَةَ لِي بِهَا وَنَاوَلَنِي كِتَاباً طِينُهُ رَطْبٌ قَالَ فَلَمَّا نَظَرْتُ إِلَى الْخَاتَمِ إِذَا خَاتَمُ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ مَتَى عَهْدُكَ بِصَاحِبِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ السَّاعَةَ وَإِذَا فِي الْكِتَابِ أَشْيَاءُ يَأْمُرُنِي بِهَا ثُمَّ الْتَفَتُّ فَإِذَا لَيْسَ عِنْدِي أَحَدٌ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَدِمَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَلَقِيتُهُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ أَتَانِي بِكِتَابِكَ وَطِينُهُ رَطْبٌ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ إِنَّ لَنَا خَدَماً مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا السُّرْعَةَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى قَالَ إِنَّ لَنَا أَتْبَاعاً مِنَ الْجِنِّ كَمَا أَنَّ لَنَا أَتْبَاعاً مِنَ الانْسِ فَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا أَمْراً بَعَثْنَاهُمْ.

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ibrahim ibn abu al-Balad from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) asked me to help him in a few things in Maina. I left and when reached fajj al-Rawha’ a man waved to me with his cloths. The narrator has said that I turned to him and I though he was thirsty. I offered the cup but he declined saying, “I do not need it.” He gave a letter with its ink still not dried up. The narrator has said that when looked at it, it had the seal of abu Ja‘far (a.s.) on. I asked him when were you in the presence of abu Ja‘far (a.s.)?” He said, “Just now I was in his presence.” In the letter there were few things that he had commanded me to do. When looked around there was no one with me.” The narrator has said that then I went to meet abu Ja‘far (a.s.) and said, may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, a man came to me with your letter the ink of which was not yet dried up.” He said, “O Sadir, we servants from Jinns. When we would need a thing to happen quickly we send them to do it.”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَحْرَشٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي حَكِيمَةُ بِنْتُ مُوسَى قَالَتْ رَأَيْتُ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَاقِفاً عَلَى بَابِ بَيْتِ الْحَطَبِ وَهُوَ يُنَاجِي وَلَسْتُ أَرَى أَحَداً فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي لِمَنْ تُنَاجِي فَقَالَ هَذَا عَامِرٌ الزَّهْرَائِيُّ أَتَانِي يَسْأَلُنِي وَيَشْكُو إِلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْمَعَ كَلامَهُ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّكِ إِنْ سَمِعْتِ بِهِ حُمِمْتِ سَنَةً فَقُلْتُ يَا سَيِّدِي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْمَعَهُ فَقَالَ لِيَ اسْمَعِي فَاسْتَمَعْتُ فَسَمِعْتُ شِبْهَ الصَّفِيرِ وَرَكِبَتْنِيَ الْحُمَّى فَحُمِمْتُ سَنَةً.

5. Alki ibn Muhammad aand Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from the person who he mentioned from Muhammad ibn Jahrash who said that Halima daughter of Musa said: “Once I saw al-Rida (a.s.) standing at the door of the firewood room and he was whispering but I would not see anyone else around. I then asked him, “My master, who are you talking to?” He said, “This is ‘Amir al-Zahra’i. He has come to ask a few questions and he has certain complains.” I then asked, “My master, I like to hear his words.” He said, “If you would hear his words you will have fever for one year.” I said, “My master, I like to hear him.” He said, “All right, then listen.” I listened and I heard something like a whistle. I then felt fever for one year.”

6ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ بَيْنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ إِذْ أَقْبَلَ ثُعْبَانٌ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ فَهَمَّ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ فَأَرْسَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنْ كُفُّوا فَكَفُّوا وَأَقْبَلَ الثُّعْبَانُ يَنْسَابُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَتَطَاوَلَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَأَشَارَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَقِفَ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ وَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُثْمَانَ خَلِيفَتِكَ عَلَى الْجِنِّ وَإِنَّ أَبِي مَاتَ وَأَوْصَانِي أَنْ آتِيَكَ فَأَسْتَطْلِعَ رَأْيَكَ وَقَدْ أَتَيْتُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي بِهِ وَمَا تَرَى فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى الله وَأَنْ تَنْصَرِفَ فَتَقُومَ مَقَامَ أَبِيكَ فِي الْجِنِّ فَإِنَّكَ خَلِيفَتِي عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ فَوَدَّعَ عَمْرٌو أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَانْصَرَفَ فَهُوَ خَلِيفَتُهُ عَلَى الْجِنِّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَيَأْتِيكَ عَمْرٌو وَذَاكَ الْوَاجِبُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya and Ahmad ibn Muhammad have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ibrahim ibn Hashim from ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman from Ibrahim ibn Ayyub from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once when Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) was on the pulpit a serpent entered from one of the doors of the mosque. People wanted to kill him. Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) asked them to leave him alone. They left him alone. The serpent began to crawl to the pulpit. He stretched and saluted to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) made a gesture to him to wait until the sermon is completed. When the sermon was completed he came to him and said, “Who are you?” He said, “I am ‘Amr ibn ‘Uthman, your deputy among the Jinns. My father has died and he has asked me in his will to come to you and find out your instructions and that is why I am here. What do you command me to do and what do you see.” Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) said, “I ask you to be pious before Allah and go back and act as the successor of your father among the Jinns. I appoint you as my deputy over them.” The narrator has said that ‘Amr then said farewell to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) and left as his deputy over the Jinns. I asked The Imam (a.s.), may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, does ‘Amr fulfill that obligation on him?” He said, “Yes, he does so.”

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أُورَمَةَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ مُزَامِلاً لِجَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيِّ فَلَمَّا أَنْ كُنَّا بِالْمَدِينَةِ دَخَلَ عَلَى ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَوَدَّعَهُ وَخَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَهُوَ مَسْرُورٌ حَتَّى وَرَدْنَا الاخَيْرِجَةَ أَوَّلَ مَنْزِلٍ نَعْدِلُ مِنْ فَيْدَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ يَوْمَ جُمُعَةٍ فَصَلَّيْنَا الزَّوَالَ فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ بِنَا الْبَعِيرُ إِذَا أَنَا بِرَجُلٍ طُوَالٍ آدَمَ مَعَهُ كِتَابٌ فَنَاوَلَهُ جَابِراً فَتَنَاوَلَهُ فَقَبَّلَهُ وَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ وَإِذَا هُوَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ إِلَى جَابِرِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ وَعَلَيْهِ طِينٌ أَسْوَدُ رَطْبٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَتَى عَهْدُكَ بِسَيِّدِي فَقَالَ السَّاعَةَ فَقَالَ لَهُ قَبْلَ الصَّلاةِ أَوْ بَعْدَ الصَّلاةِ فَقَالَ بَعْدَ الصَّلاةِ فَفَكَّ الْخَاتَمَ وَأَقْبَلَ يَقْرَؤُهُ وَيَقْبِضُ وَجْهَهُ حَتَّى أَتَى عَلَى آخِرِهِ ثُمَّ أَمْسَكَ الْكِتَابَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ ضَاحِكاً وَلا مَسْرُوراً حَتَّى وَافَى الْكُوفَةَ فَلَمَّا وَافَيْنَا الْكُوفَةَ لَيْلاً بِتُّ لَيْلَتِي فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ أَتَيْتُهُ إِعْظَاماً لَهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَدْ خَرَجَ عَلَيَّ وَفِي عُنُقِهِ كِعَابٌ قَدْ عَلَّقَهَا وَقَدْ رَكِبَ قَصَبَةً وَهُوَ يَقُولُ أَجِدُ مَنْصُورَ بْنَ جُمْهُورٍ أَمِيراً غَيْرَ مَأْمُورٍ وَأَبْيَاتاً مِنْ نَحْوِ هَذَا فَنَظَرَ فِي وَجْهِي وَنَظَرْتُ فِي وَجْهِهِ فَلَمْ يَقُلْ لِي شَيْئاً وَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَهُ وَأَقْبَلْتُ أَبْكِي لِمَا رَأَيْتُهُ وَاجْتَمَعَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَيْهِ الصِّبْيَانُ وَالنَّاسُ وَجَاءَ حَتَّى دَخَلَ الرَّحَبَةَ وَأَقْبَلَ يَدُورُ مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ وَالنَّاسُ يَقُولُونَ جُنَّ جَابِرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ جُنَّ فَوَ الله مَا مَضَتِ الايَّامُ حَتَّى وَرَدَ كِتَابُ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ إِلَى وَالِيهِ أَنِ انْظُرْ رَجُلاً يُقَالُ لَهُ جَابِرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيُّ فَاضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ وَابْعَثْ إِلَيَّ بِرَأْسِهِ فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَى جُلَسَائِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ مَنْ جَابِرُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْجُعْفِيُّ قَالُوا أَصْلَحَكَ الله كَانَ رَجُلاً لَهُ عِلْمٌ وَفَضْلٌ وَحَدِيثٌ وَحَجَّ فَجُنَّ وَهُوَ ذَا فِي الرَّحَبَةِ مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ عَلَى الْقَصَبِ يَلْعَبُ مَعَهُمْ قَالَ فَأَشْرَفَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مَعَ الصِّبْيَانِ يَلْعَبُ عَلَى الْقَصَبِ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِنْ قَتْلِهِ قَالَ وَلَمْ تَمْضِ الايَّامُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ مَنْصُورُ بْنُ جُمْهُورٍ الْكُوفَةَ وَصَنَعَ مَا كَانَ يَقُولُ جَابِرٌ.

7. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn abu Hammad from Muhammad ibn ’Urma from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr from al-Ni‘man ibn Bashir who has said the following. “Once I was a companion of Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi on a journey. When reached he went to meet abu Ja‘far (a.s.). He said farewell to him and came out very happy until we arrived in al-’Ukhayraja, the first length of journey from Fayd to Madina. It was a Friday. We said our prayers at noon. When the camel rose to leave I saw a tall man brownish with a letter. He give it to Jabir who kissed it and placed over his eyes. It was from Muhammad ibn Ali to Jabir ibn Yazid. It had a black ink that was still wet. He asked him, “When were you in the presence of my master?” He said, “Just now.” He asked, “Were you in his presence before or after the prayer?” He said, “I was there after the prayer.” He then opened the seal and began to read the letter and his face began to look strained until he read it to the end. He held the letter and I did not see him laughing or happy until we arrived in Kufa. In Kufa I spent my night and in the morning I went to see him out of respect for him and I found him coming out to me with a large ring made of anklebones around his neck riding on a twig of reeds saying. “I see Mansur ibn Jumhur a ruler but no one obeys him” and such other rhymes. He looked at me and I looked at him and he did not say anything to me and did not say anything to him. I began to weep when I saw him. Children and people gathered around us. He came in al-Rahba and would go in circles with the children and people say, “Jabir has gone mad, Jabir has gone insane. By Allah, only a few days had passed that a letter from Hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik came to the governor to look for a man called Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi. It said, “Kill him and send his head to me.” The governor turned to the people in his court and asked, “Who is this Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ja‘far‘fi?” they replied, “May Allah grand well being to the governor, he was a man of knowledge, excellence, hadith and Hajj but now he has become insane. He is there with the children riding on a twig of reeds plays with them.” He went to see him and found him playing with the children while riding a twig of reeds. He said, “Thanks to Allah for saving me from killing him.” The narrator has said that just within few days Mansur ibn Jumhur entered Kufa and did what Jabir was speaking of before.”

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ فَضْلٍ الاعْوَرِ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ الْحَذَّاءِ قَالَ كُنَّا زَمَانَ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حِينَ قُبِضَ نَتَرَدَّدُ كَالْغَنَمِ لا رَاعِيَ لَهَا فَلَقِينَا سَالِمَ بْنَ أَبِي حَفْصَةَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ مَنْ إِمَامُكَ فَقُلْتُ أَئِمَّتِي آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ هَلَكْتَ وَأَهْلَكْتَ أَ مَا سَمِعْتُ أَنَا وَأَنْتَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ إِمَامٌ مَاتَ مِيتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً فَقُلْتُ بَلَى لَعَمْرِي وَلَقَدْ كَانَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ بِثَلاثٍ أَوْ نَحْوِهَا دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَرَزَقَ الله الْمَعْرِفَةَ فَقُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ سَالِماً قَالَ لِي كَذَا وَكَذَا قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ إِنَّهُ لا يَمُوتُ مِنَّا مَيِّتٌ حَتَّى يُخَلِّفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مَنْ يَعْمَلُ بِمِثْلِ عَمَلِهِ وَيَسِيرُ بِسِيرَتِهِ وَيَدْعُو إِلَى مَا دَعَا إِلَيْهِ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يُمْنَعْ مَا أُعْطِيَ دَاوُدَ أَنْ أُعْطِيَ سُلَيْمَانَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ إِذَا قَامَ قَائِمُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حَكَمَ بِحُكْمِ دَاوُدَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ لا يَسْأَلُ بَيِّنَةً.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu’Umayr from Mansur from al-Fadl al-A ‘al-A ‘war from abu ‘ubayda al-Hadhdha’ who has said the following. “We lived during the times of abu Ja‘far (a.s.). When he passed away we were left like sheep without shepherd. We met Salim ibn abu Hafs and he said to me, “O abu ‘Ubayda, who is your Imam?” I said, “My Imams are A’l (family) of Muhammad (s.a).” He said, “Did not I and you hear abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say, “Whoever would die without an Imam above him he has died as the death of the age ignorance.” I said, “Yes, that is very true. I can swear by my own life.” It was only about three days before my meeting with abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) in which meeting Allah granted to me the blessing of recognizing him as my Imam. I said to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) that Salim said to me so and so.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) said, “O abu ‘Ubayda, no one of us passes away before appointing a successor that would act and behave just as the preceding Imam and call people to what the Imam before him did. O abu ‘Ubayda what was given to David did not bar Sulayman from receiving (Allah’s blessings).” Then he said, “O abu ‘Ubayda, when Al-Qa’im (the one who will rise with Divine Authority) will rise he will judge among people the way David and Sulayman had been judging among people. He will call any witness to testify in a case.”

2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ لا تَذْهَبُ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ رَجُلٌ مِنِّي يَحْكُمُ بِحُكُومَةِ آلِ دَاوُدَ وَلا يَسْأَلُ بَيِّنَةً يُعْطِي كُلَّ نَفْسٍ حَقَّهَا.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Aban from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The world will not end before the rise of a man from us who would judge among people the way the family of David had been judging them. He will not ask any witness to testify. He will make every soul’s rights available to it.”

3ـ مُحَمَّدٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ السَّابَاطِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِمَا تَحْكُمُونَ إِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ قَالَ بِحُكْمِ الله وَحُكْمِ دَاوُدَ فَإِذَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْنَا الشَّيْ‏ءُ الَّذِي لَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا تَلَقَّانَا بِهِ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ.

3. Muhammad has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Hisahm ibn Salim from ‘Ammar al-Sabati who has said the following. “Once I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “By what means do you judge when you would judge?” He said, “We judge by the laws of Allah and in the manner of David. If an issue would come before us for which there is nothing with us the Holy Spirit provides us inspiration.”

4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ عَنْ جُعَيْدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بن الحسين (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ بِأَيِّ حُكْمٍ تَحْكُمُونَ قَالَ حُكْمِ آلِ دَاوُدَ فَإِنْ أَعْيَانَا شَيْ‏ءٌ تَلَقَّانَا بِهِ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ.

4. Muhammad ibn Ahmad has narrated from Muhammad ibn Khalid from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from ‘Imran ibn A‘yan from Ju‘ayd al-Hamadani who has said the following. “Once I asked Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), “By what mean do you issue judgments?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “We judge by the laws of Allah and the judgment of the family of David. If a case would frustrate us the Holy Spirit inspires us with its laws.”

5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ رَحِمَهُ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ عَمَّارٍ السَّابَاطِيِّ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا مَنْزِلَةُ الائِمَّةِ قَالَ كَمَنْزِلَةِ ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ وَكَمَنْزِلَةِ يُوشَعَ وَكَمَنْزِلَةِ آصَفَ صَاحِبِ سُلَيْمَانَ قَالَ فَبِمَا تَحْكُمُونَ قَالَ بِحُكْمِ الله وَحُكْمِ آلِ دَاوُدَ وَحُكْمِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَيَتَلَقَّانَا بِهِ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ.

5. Ahmad ibn Mihran, may Allah grant him blessings, has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from ‘Ammar al-Sabati who has said the following. “Once I said to abu ‘Abdallah, “What is the degree of the excellence of the Imams?” He said, “It is like that of Dhul Qarnayn and like that of Yusha‘ and like that of Asaf, the companion of Sulayman.” He asked, “With what do you issue judgments.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “ We issue judgments according to the laws of Allah the judgments of the family of David. The Holy Spirit inspires us with it.”

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الله أَبِي الْحَسَنِ صَاحِبُ الدَّيْلَمِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهما السَّلام) يَقُولُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ عَجَباً لِلنَّاسِ أَنَّهُمْ أَخَذُوا عِلْمَهُمْ كُلَّهُ عَنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَعَمِلُوا بِهِ وَاهْتَدَوْا وَيَرَوْنَ أَنَّ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ لَمْ يَأْخُذُوا عِلْمَهُ وَنَحْنُ أَهْلُ بَيْتِهِ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ فِي مَنَازِلِنَا نَزَلَ الْوَحْيُ وَمِنْ عِنْدِنَا خَرَجَ الْعِلْمُ إِلَيْهِمْ أَ فَيَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلِمُوا وَاهْتَدَوْا وَجَهِلْنَا نَحْنُ وَضَلَلْنَا إِنَّ هَذَا لَمُحَالٌ.

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub who has said that Yahya ibn ‘Abdallah abu al-Hassan the companion of al-Daylam narrated to us and who has said the following. “Once I heard Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) say while a group of people of Kufa was present before him, “It is very strange of the people. They have received their knowledge from the Messenger of Allah. They have followed such knowledge and found guidance but they think that his Ahl al-Bayt (members of his family) have not received his knowledge. We are his Ahl al-Bayt (members of his family) and his descendants. In our house Divine inspiration came down and from us knowledge came out to them. Do they think that they have learned and found guidance but we remained ignorant and lost. This, certainly, is not possible.”