The Book about people with Divine Authority
The Hadith (statements) of Ahl al-Bayt (members of the family of Prophet Muhammad) is Difficult and becomes Difficult
4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ صَاحِبِ الْعَسْكَرِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ الصَّادِقِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَدِيثُنَا لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَلا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَلا مُؤْمِنٌ امْتَحَنَ الله قَلْبَهُ لِلايمَانِ فَجَاءَ الْجَوَابُ إِنَّمَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ الصَّادِقِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَيْ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ مَلَكٌ وَلا نَبِيٌّ وَلا مُؤْمِنٌ إِنَّ الْمَلَكَ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ إِلَى مَلَكٍ غَيْرِهِ وَالنَّبِيُّ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ غَيْرِهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ لا يَحْتَمِلُهُ حَتَّى يُخْرِجَهُ إِلَى مُؤْمِنٍ غَيْرِهِ فَهَذَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ جَدِّي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام )
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya and others have narrated from Muhammad ibn Ahmad from one of our people the following. “I wrote to Imam al-Hassan al_’Askari (a.s.) saying, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is the meaning of the following Hadith of Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (a.s.)? “Our Hadith (statements) are difficult and they become difficult. No one is capable to bear them not even an angel or a prophet who is also a messenger or a believer whose heart Allah has tested for faith.?” The answer came as herein below. “The meaning of the words the truthful one ‘that angels, prophets and believers are not capable to accept them’ is that of the truthful one is that the angel does bear it until he deliver it to other angels. The prophet does noor bear it until he delivers it to another prophet and the believer does not bear it until he delivers to another believer. This is the meaning of the words of my grandfather.”
5ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْخَالِقِ وَأَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا وَالله سِرّاً مِنْ سِرِّ الله وَعِلْماً مِنْ عِلْمِ الله وَالله مَا يَحْتَمِلُهُ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَلا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ وَلا مُؤْمِنٌ امْتَحَنَ الله قَلْبَهُ لِلايمَانِ وَالله مَا كَلَّفَ الله ذَلِكَ أَحَداً غَيْرَنَا وَلا اسْتَعْبَدَ بِذَلِكَ أَحَداً غَيْرَنَا وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا سِرّاً مِنْ سِرِّ الله وَعِلْماً مِنْ عِلْمِ الله أَمَرَنَا الله بِتَبْلِيغِهِ فَبَلَّغْنَا عَنِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَا أَمَرَنَا بِتَبْلِيغِهِ فَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُ مَوْضِعاً وَلا أَهْلاً وَلا حَمَّالَةً يَحْتَمِلُونَهُ حَتَّى خَلَقَ الله لِذَلِكَ أَقْوَاماً خُلِقُوا مِنْ طِينَةٍ خُلِقَ مِنْهَا مُحَمَّدٌ وَآلُهُ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) وَمِنْ نُورٍ خَلَقَ الله مِنْهُ مُحَمَّداً وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ وَصَنَعَهُمْ بِفَضْلِ رَحْمَتِهِ الَّتِي صَنَعَ مِنْهَا مُحَمَّداً وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ فَبَلَّغْنَا عَنِ الله مَا أَمَرَنَا بِتَبْلِيغِهِ فَقَبِلُوهُ وَاحْتَمَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَبَلَغَهُمْ ذَلِكَ عَنَّا فَقَبِلُوهُ وَاحْتَمَلُوهُ وَبَلَغَهُمْ ذِكْرُنَا فَمَالَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى مَعْرِفَتِنَا وَحَدِيثِنَا فَلَوْ لا أَنَّهُمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ هَذَا لَمَا كَانُوا كَذَلِكَ لا وَالله مَا احْتَمَلُوهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الله خَلَقَ أَقْوَاماً لِجَهَنَّمَ وَالنَّارِ فَأَمَرَنَا أَنْ نُبَلِّغَهُمْ كَمَا بَلَّغْنَاهُمْ وَاشْمَأَزُّوا مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَنَفَرَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَرَدُّوهُ عَلَيْنَا وَلَمْ يَحْتَمِلُوهُ وَكَذَّبُوا بِهِ وَقَالُوا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ فَطَبَعَ الله عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَأَنْسَاهُمْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَطْلَقَ الله لِسَانَهُمْ بِبَعْضِ الْحَقِّ فَهُمْ يَنْطِقُونَ بِهِ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ مُنْكِرَةٌ لِيَكُونَ ذَلِكَ دَفْعاً عَنْ أَوْلِيَائِهِ وَأَهْلِ طَاعَتِهِ وَلَوْ لا ذَلِكَ مَا عُبِدَ الله فِي أَرْضِهِ فَأَمَرَنَا بِالْكَفِّ عَنْهُمْ وَالسَّتْرِ وَالْكِتْمَانِ فَاكْتُمُوا عَمَّنْ أَمَرَ الله بِالْكَفِّ عَنْهُ وَاسْتُرُوا عَمَّنْ أَمَرَ الله بِالسَّتْرِ وَالْكِتْمَانِ عَنْهُ قَالَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ يَدَهُ وَبَكَى وَقَالَ اللهمَّ إِنَّ هَؤُلاءِ لَشِرْذِمَةٌ قَلِيلُونَ فَاجْعَلْ مَحْيَانَا مَحْيَاهُمْ وَمَمَاتَنَا مَمَاتَهُمْ وَلا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوّاً لَكَ فَتُفْجِعَنَا بِهِمْ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أَفْجَعْتَنَا بِهِمْ لَمْ تُعْبَدْ أَبَداً فِي أَرْضِكَ وَصَلَّى الله عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيماً.
5. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbass from Safwan ibn Yahya from ‘Abdallah ibn Muskan from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Khaliq and abu Basir who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) said, ‘O abu Muhammad, with us there is a secret of the secrets of Allah and a knowledge of the knowledge of Allah. No angel, near to Allah or a prophet who is a messenger also and no believer whose heart Allah has tested for faith is capable to bear. By Allah, Allah has not required anyone to bear it except us nor has He required anyone to worship him in that way except us. With us there is a secret of the secrets of Allah and a knowledge of the knowledge of Allah. Allah has commanded us to preach it We then preached what Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, had commanded us to preaCh However, we did not find a proper place for it or a people or bearers who accept it until Allah created certain tribes. These people were created from the clay out of which Muhammad and his descendants were created and from a light from which Allah had created Muhammad and his descendants. He made them with the excess of the making of His blessings out of which He had made Muhammad and his descendants. We then preached what Allah had commanded us to preach then these people accepted and acknowledged that. [It reached them from us and they accepted and acknowledged it]. Our mention reached them and their hearts inclined towards us, recognizing us and our hadith. Had they not been created from this they would not have been as suCh No, by Allah, they would not have acknowledged.” Then the Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah created certain tribes for Hell and fire. He then commanded us to preach to them as we had preached to them but to the later ones it seemed repugnant and their hearts felt hatred and they rejected it from us, did not acknowledge it and considered it as lies and they said, “They are magicians and liars.” Allah then placed a seal on their hearts and made them to forget. Allah then opened their tongue with some of the truth. Thus, they speak of it but their hearts are in denial. He uses it in defense of His friends and those who obey Him. Had it not been there no one would have worshipped Allah on earth. He commanded us to withheld it from them, hide and conceal. You must also hide it from those that Allah has commanded to withheld from and hide from those that Allah has commanded to hide and withheld from.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) then raised his hands and wept and said, “O Lord, this is a very small group. Make our lives as their lives and our death like their death. Do not make dominant over them any of Your enemies that would cause us suffer pains for their suffering. If You would allow it to cause pains to us because of their sufferings no one would worship You on earth. May Allah send blessing up on Muhammad and his Ahl al-Bayt and may (Your) peace and more peace be with them.”
The Book about people with Divine Authority
The Commands of the Holy Prophet to Wish Well for the Imams of Muslims, Remain Close with their Group and as to Who They are.
1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَطَبَ النَّاسَ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ فَقَالَ نَضَّرَ الله عَبْداً سَمِعَ مَقَالَتِي فَوَعَاهَا وَحَفِظَهَا وَبَلَّغَهَا مَنْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْهَا فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ غَيْرُ فَقِيهٍ وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ ثَلاثٌ لا يُغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِخْلاصُ الْعَمَلِ لله وَالنَّصِيحَةُ لائِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاللُّزُومُ لِجَمَاعَتِهِمْ فَإِنَّ دَعْوَتَهُمْ مُحِيطَةٌ مِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ الْمُسْلِمُونَ إِخْوَةٌ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَيَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ. وَرَوَاهُ أَيْضاً عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ مِثْلَهُ وَزَادَ فِيهِ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ وَذَكَرَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ أَنَّهُ خَطَبَ فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ بِمِنًى فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ.
1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Aban ibnn ‘Uthman from ibn abu Ya‘fur from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The the Messenger of Allah addressed people in the mosque of Khif and said, “May Allah grant joy and happiness to those of His servants that on hearing my words understand them, memorize them preach them to those who have not heard them. There can be many scholars of Fiqh (law) who do not have understanding as there can be many bearers of Fiqh (law) to those who are better scholars of Fiqh (law) then the bearer. There are three things in which the heart of a Muslim does not feel greed and treachery. Sincerity in deeds for Allah, wishing well for the leaders of the Muslims and to stay close with the group of the Muslims because their prayer encompass them from behind them and the Muslims are each other’s brothers. Their lives are as each other’s lives and the least important among them strive to fulfill their responsibilities.” Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from Aban from ibn abu Ya‘fur has narrated a similar hadith with an addition of “They are as one hand to face their enemies”. In his Hadith he has mentioned that the Holy Prophet (s.a) made his speech during his farewell pilgrimage in the mosque of Khif.
2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ مِسْكِينٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ قَالَ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ اذْهَبْ بِنَا إِلَى جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْنَاهُ قَدْ رَكِبَ دَابَّتَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ سُفْيَانُ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الله حَدِّثْنَا بِحَدِيثِ خُطْبَةِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ قَالَ دَعْنِي حَتَّى أَذْهَبَ فِي حَاجَتِي فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَكِبْتُ فَإِذَا جِئْتُ حَدَّثْتُكَ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِقَرَابَتِكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَمَّا حَدَّثْتَنِي قَالَ فَنَزَلَ فَقَالَ لَهُ سُفْيَانُ مُرْ لِي بِدَوَاةٍ وَقِرْطَاسٍ حَتَّى أُثْبِتَهُ فَدَعَا بِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ اكْتُبْ بِسْمِ الله الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ خُطْبَةُ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فِي مَسْجِدِ الْخَيْفِ نَضَّرَ الله عَبْداً سَمِعَ مَقَالَتِي فَوَعَاهَا وَبَلَّغَهَا مَنْ لَمْ تَبْلُغْهُ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ لِيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ فَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ لَيْسَ بِفَقِيهٍ وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ ثَلاثٌ لا يُغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِخْلاصُ الْعَمَلِ لله وَالنَّصِيحَةُ لائِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاللُّزُومُ لِجَمَاعَتِهِمْ فَإِنَّ دَعْوَتَهُمْ مُحِيطَةٌ مِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ تَتَكَافَأُ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَدٌ عَلَى مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ يَسْعَى بِذِمَّتِهِمْ أَدْنَاهُمْ فَكَتَبَهُ سُفْيَانُ ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَرَكِبَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَجِئْتُ أَنَا وَسُفْيَانُ فَلَمَّا كُنَّا فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ قَالَ لِي كَمَا أَنْتَ حَتَّى أَنْظُرَ فِي هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ قَدْ وَالله أَلْزَمَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله رَقَبَتَكَ شَيْئاً لا يَذْهَبُ مِنْ رَقَبَتِكَ أَبَداً فَقَالَ وَأَيُّ شَيْءٍ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ ثَلاثٌ لا يُغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِخْلاصُ الْعَمَلِ لله قَدْ عَرَفْنَاهُ وَالنَّصِيحَةُ لائِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ هَؤُلاءِ الائِمَّةُ الَّذِينَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيحَتُهُمْ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَمَرْوَانُ بْنُ الْحَكَمِ وَكُلُّ مَنْ لا تَجُوزُ شَهَادَتُهُ عِنْدَنَا وَلا تَجُوزُ الصَّلاةُ خَلْفَهُمْ وَقَوْلُهُ وَاللُّزُومُ لِجَمَاعَتِهِمْ فَأَيُّ الْجَمَاعَةِ مُرْجِىٌ يَقُولُ مَنْ لَمْ يُصَلِّ وَلَمْ يَصُمْ وَلَمْ يَغْتَسِلْ مِنْ جَنَابَةٍ وَهَدَمَ الْكَعْبَةَ وَنَكَحَ أُمَّهُ فَهُوَ عَلَى إِيمَانِ جَبْرَئِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ أَوْ قَدَرِيٌّ يَقُولُ لا يَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَيَكُونُ مَا شَاءَ إِبْلِيسُ أَوْ حَرُورِيٌّ يَتَبَرَّأُ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَشَهِدَ عَلَيْهِ بِالْكُفْرِ أَوْ جَهْمِيٌّ يَقُولُ إِنَّمَا هِيَ مَعْرِفَةُ الله وَحْدَهُ لَيْسَ الايمَانُ شَيْءٌ غَيْرُهَا قَالَ وَيْحَكَ وَأَيَّ شَيْءٍ يَقُولُونَ فَقُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَالله الامَامُ الَّذِي يَجِبُ عَلَيْنَا نَصِيحَتُهُ وَلُزُومُ جَمَاعَتِهِمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتِهِ قَالَ فَأَخَذَ الْكِتَابَ فَخَرَقَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لا تُخْبِرْ بِهَا أَحَداً.
Muhammad b. al-Hasan narrated from some of our companions, from Ali b. al-Hakam, from al-Hakam b. Miskin, from a man of Quraysh from the people of Mecca, who said:
Sufyan al-Thawri said to me, "Take us to Ja'far b. Muhammad." So I went with him to him, and we found him mounted on his riding animal. Sufyan said to him, "O Abu Abdillah, narrate to us the sermon of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) in Masjid al-Khayf."
He (Ja'far) replied, "Let me go about my errand, for I have mounted. When I return, I will narrate it to you."
Sufyan insisted, "I ask you by your kinship to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) to narrate it to me now."
So he dismounted and called for an inkwell and parchment. Then he said, "Write:
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The sermon of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his family) in Masjid al-Khayf:
'May God brighten the face of a servant who hears my words, retains them, and conveys them to those who did not hear them. O people, let the one who is present convey to the one who is absent. Perhaps a bearer of knowledge is not understanding, and perhaps he conveys it to one who understands better than he does.
Three things the heart of a Muslim will never harbor ill against: sincerity in action for God, sincere counsel to the leaders of the Muslims, and adherence to their congregation, for their supplication encompasses those behind them. Believers are brothers, their blood is equal, and they are united against others. The protection given by the lowest among them is binding on all.'"
Sufyan wrote it down and read it back to Ja'far, then he mounted again.
As we walked along the road, Sufyan stopped and said, "Wait, let me review this hadith."
I said to him, "By God, Abu Abdillah has bound something to your neck that will never leave you."
He asked, "And what is that?"
I said, "Three things:
1. **Sincerity in action for God**—we understand that.
2. **Sincere counsel to the leaders of the Muslims**—who are these leaders that we must advise? Is it Mu'awiya b. Abi Sufyan, Yazid b. Mu'awiya, Marwan b. al-Hakam, and all those whose testimony we do not accept and behind whom we do not pray?
3. **Adherence to their congregation**—which congregation? Is it the Murji'ah, who claim that even if one does not pray, fast, purify himself from impurity, demolishes the Kaaba, and commits incest with his mother, he still has the faith of Jibril and Mikail? Or is it the Qadariyya, who say that God's will does not prevail but that of Iblis does? Or is it the Haruriyya, who dissociate from Ali b. Abi Talib and accuse him of disbelief? Or the Jahmiyya, who claim that faith is merely the knowledge of God and nothing more?"
Sufyan exclaimed, "Woe to you! Then who do they say the true leader is?"
I replied, "They say, by God, that Ali b. Abi Talib is the Imam whose counsel is obligatory upon us, and that adherence to the congregation means his household."
At that, Sufyan took the paper, tore it up, and said, "Do not tell anyone about this!"
3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا نَظَرَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى وَلِيٍّ لَهُ يُجْهِدُ نَفْسَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ لامَامِهِ وَالنَّصِيحَةِ إِلا كَانَ مَعَنَا فِي الرَّفِيقِ الاعْلَى.
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all together from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Hariz from Burayd ibn Mu‘awiya from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most gracious, would not look to a friend of His who would strive and pressure his soul in obedience to his Imam and wishing well for him but that he will be with us in the high position in paradise.”
4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ فَارَقَ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قِيدَ شِبْرٍ فَقَدْ خَلَعَ رِبْقَةَ الاسْلامِ مِنْ عُنُقِهِ.
4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn al-Faddal from abu Jamila from Muhammad al-Halabi from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Whoever would distance himself from the company the Muslims even by one shibr (one foot) he has removed the band of allegiance with Islam from his neck.”
5ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ فَارَقَ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَنَكَثَ صَفْقَةَ الامَامِ جَاءَ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَجْذَمَ.
5. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Whoever would distance himself from the company of the Muslims and disregard the pledge of allegiance with the Imam he will come before Allah with his hand cut off.”
The Book about people with Divine Authority
The Mutual Rights between the Imam and his Followers
1ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا حَقُّ الامَامِ عَلَى النَّاسِ قَالَ حَقُّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يَسْمَعُوا لَهُ وَيُطِيعُوا قُلْتُ فَمَا حَقُّهُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ يَقْسِمَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ وَيَعْدِلَ فِي الرَّعِيَّةِ فَإِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي النَّاسِ فَلا يُبَالِي مَنْ أَخَذَ هَاهُنَا وَهَاهُنَا.
1. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu Hamza who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), ‘What are the rights of the Imam over the people?” He replied, “Of his rights over them is that they must listen to him and obey him.” I then asked, “What are their rights on him?” He replied, “Maintain among them equality and justice among the followers. When this prevails among the people then there would no fear as to who has taken this and that.”
2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مِثْلَهُ إِلا أَنَّهُ قَالَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا يَعْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَخَلْفِهِ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَعَنْ شِمَالِهِ.
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Mansur ibn Yunus from Abu Hamza from Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) a similar hadith except that he has said, “this way, this way, this way and this way, meaning thereby front, back, right and left.”
3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا تَخْتَانُوا وُلاتَكُمْ وَلا تَغُشُّوا هُدَاتَكُمْ وَلا تَجْهَلُوا أَئِمَّتَكُمْ وَلا تَصَدَّعُوا عَنْ حَبْلِكُمْ فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَعَلَى هَذَا فَلْيَكُنْ تَأْسِيسُ أُمُورِكُمْ وَالْزَمُوا هَذِهِ الطَّرِيقَةَ فَإِنَّكُمْ لَوْ عَايَنْتُمْ مَا عَايَنَ مَنْ قَدْ مَاتَ مِنْكُمْ مِمَّنْ خَالَفَ مَا قَدْ تُدْعَوْنَ إِلَيْهِ لَبَدَرْتُمْ وَخَرَجْتُمْ وَلَسَمِعْتُمْ وَلَكِنْ مَحْجُوبٌ عَنْكُمْ مَا قَدْ عَايَنُوا وَقَرِيباً مَا يُطْرَحُ الْحِجَابُ.
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar from certain members of our people from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas‘ada ibn sadaqa from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) has said, ‘Do not be deceitful to your leaders, do not confuse your guides, do not be ignorant of your Imams and do not cut off the rope of your unity, least you will fail and be disgraced. On such foundation your affairs must be based and you must strictly live within such system. Had you been able to observe what those who lived before had observed and who had disregarded what you want to be accepted you would have acted fast, came out and listened. However, you can not observe what they had observed but the curtain will soon be removed.’