The Book about people with Divine Authority
The obligation to obey the Imams (a.s.)
5ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ الْقَمَّاطِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْعَطَّارِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ أُشْرِكَ بَيْنَ الاوْصِيَاءِ وَالرُّسُلِ فِي الطَّاعَةِ.
5. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu Khalid al-Qammat from abu al_hassan al-‘Attar who has said that he heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) saying, “Of the matters common among the successors and the messengers themselves one is that to obey them all is obligatory.”
6ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ فَرَضَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ طَاعَتَنَا لَنَا الانْفَالُ وَلَنَا صَفْوُ الْمَالِ وَنَحْنُ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ وَنَحْنُ الْمَحْسُودُونَ الَّذِينَ قَالَ الله أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ النَّاسَ عَلى ما آتاهُمُ الله مِنْ فَضْلِهِ.
6. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Sayf ibn ibn ‘Umayr from abu al-Sabah al-Kinani who has said that Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “We are a people obedience to whom is obligatory by the command of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The Anfal (twenty percent in tax) is for us and we have been given the authority to choose the best out of the property seized from the enemy. We are the people very firmly established in knowledge. We are the ones who are considered as subject to the jealousy of people in the following verse of the holy Quran, “Are they jealous of the favors that God has done to some people? . (4:54)
7ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ قَالَ ذَكَرْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَوْلَنَا فِي الاوْصِيَاءِ إِنَّ طَاعَتَهُمْ مُفْتَرَضَةٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ هُمُ الَّذِينَ قَالَ الله تَعَالَى أَطِيعُوا الله وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الامْرِ مِنْكُمْ وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ قَالَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ الله وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا.
7. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn abu al-‘Ala’ whos has said that I mentioned to Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) our expression about the successors (of the Prophets (s.a.)) “That obedience to them is obligatory”, the Imam (a.s.) said, ‘It is very true because they are the people about whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “Believers, obey God, His Messenger, and your (qualified) leaders. . .’ (4:59) It is they about whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has also said, ‘Only God, His Messenger, and the true believers who are steadfast in prayer and pay alms, while they kneel during prayer, are your guardians (5:55)’”
8ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَمَّرِ بْنِ خَلادٍ قَالَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ فَارِسِيٌّ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ طَاعَتُكَ مُفْتَرَضَةٌ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ مِثْلُ طَاعَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ نَعَمْ.
8. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Mu‘ammar ibn Khallad who has said that a man from Persia asked Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) “Is obedience to you obligatory?” The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes, it is obligatory.” The man then asked is in the same way as obedience to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.)?” The Imam (a.s.) replied “Yes, it is obligatory in the same way,”
9ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الائِمَّةِ هَلْ يَجْرُونَ فِي الامْرِ وَالطَّاعَةِ مَجْرَى وَاحِدٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
9. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Ali ibn abu Hamza from abu Basir who has said that I asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the Imams whether in the matters of the obligation of obedience to them they are all the same or not. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “Yes, they are all the same.”
10ـ وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ مَرْوَكِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الطَّبَرِيِّ قَالَ كُنْتُ قَائِماً عَلَى رَأْسِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بِخُرَاسَانَ وَعِنْدَهُ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَفِيهِمْ إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ عِيسَى الْعَبَّاسِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا إِسْحَاقُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّا نَزْعُمُ أَنَّ النَّاسَ عَبِيدٌ لَنَا لا وَقَرَابَتِي مِنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مَا قُلْتُهُ قَطُّ وَلا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ آبَائِي قَالَهُ وَلا بَلَغَنِي عَنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ آبَائِي قَالَهُ وَلَكِنِّي أَقُولُ النَّاسُ عَبِيدٌ لَنَا فِي الطَّاعَةِ مَوَالٍ لَنَا فِي الدِّينِ فَلْيُبَلِّغِ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ.
10. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Marwak ibn ‘Ubayd from Muhammad ibn Zayd al-Tabari who said, “I was in the presence of al-Rida (a.s.) in Khurasan with a group of Hashemites, among them was Ishaq ibn Musa ibn ‘Isa from the Abbasids, and the Imam (a.s.) said to him, “O Ishaq, I hear that people say we think they are our slaves. I swear upon my close relation with the Messenger of Allah (sw) that I have never said such a thing nor have I ever heard any such thing from my ancestors, nor I have received any such report from my ancestors who may have said any such thing. But I must say that people are our slaves in the matters of obedience to us. They are our friends in religion. Those present here must tell this to those who are not present here.”
11ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ نَحْنُ الَّذِينَ فَرَضَ الله طَاعَتَنَا لا يَسَعُ النَّاسَ إِلا مَعْرِفَتُنَا وَلا يُعْذَرُ النَّاسُ بِجَهَالَتِنَا مَنْ عَرَفَنَا كَانَ مُؤْمِناً وَمَنْ أَنْكَرَنَا كَانَ كَافِراً وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنَا وَلَمْ يُنْكِرْنَا كَانَ ضَالاً حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْهُدَى الَّذِي افْتَرَضَ الله عَلَيْهِ مِنْ طَاعَتِنَا الْوَاجِبَةِ فَإِنْ يَمُتْ عَلَى ضَلالَتِهِ يَفْعَلِ الله بِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ.
11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja’far ibn Bashir from abu Salma who has said that I heard Imam abu ‘Abdallah say the following. “We are the ones obedience to whom is obligatory by the commands of Allah. People have no other choice except to know us and they will not be excused for not knowing us. Those who know us are the true believers and those who would refuse to acknowledge our Divine authority are unbelievers. Those who would not know us and would not acknowledge us are straying and lost until they return to guidance and affirm the fact that Allah has made obedience to us obligatory. But if they would die in their straying condition Allah will deal with the way He would will.”
12ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ أَفْضَلُ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ طَاعَةُ الله وَطَاعَةُ رَسُولِهِ وَطَاعَةُ أُولِي الامْرِ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حُبُّنَا إِيمَانٌ وَبُغْضُنَا كُفْرٌ.
12. Ali has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from Muhammad ibn Fudayl who has said that I asked the Imam (a.s.) about such a matter that would take people closer to Allah. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Of the matters that can take people closer to Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, the best one is to obey Him, His messenger and those who posses Divine authority.” Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, “To love us if faith and to harbor hatred towards us is disbelief.”
13ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَعْرِضُ عَلَيْكَ دِينِيَ الَّذِي أَدِينُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ هَاتِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالاقْرَارُ بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله وَأَنَّ عَلِيّاً كَانَ إِمَاماً فَرَضَ الله طَاعَتَهُ ثُمَّ كَانَ بَعْدَهُ الْحَسَنُ إِمَاماً فَرَضَ الله طَاعَتَهُ ثُمَّ كَانَ بَعْدَهُ الْحُسَيْنُ إِمَاماً فَرَضَ الله طَاعَتَهُ ثُمَّ كَانَ بَعْدَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ إِمَاماً فَرَضَ الله طَاعَتَهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى الامْرُ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ أَنْتَ يَرْحَمُكَ الله قَالَ فَقَالَ هَذَا دِينُ الله وَدِينُ مَلائِكَتِهِ.
13. Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Fadala ibn Ayyub from Aban from ‘Abdallah ibn Sinan from ’isma‘il ibn Jabir who has said the I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (a.s.) if I may state before him my religion and faith in Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The Imam (a.s.) said, “Say it and let us hear them.” I said, “I testify that there is no god other than Allah Who is One and has no partner. I testify that Muhammad (s.a.) is the servant and messenger of Allah. I acknowledge the truth of all that he has brought from Allah. I testify that Imam (a.s.) was the Imam obedience was and is obligatory by the command of Allah. After him Imam al-Hassan was the Imam obedience to whom was and is obligatory by the command of Allah. After him Imam al-Husayn was and is the Imam obedience to whom was and is obligatory by the command of Allah. After him Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn was and is the Imam obedience to whom is obligatory by the command of Allah. I continued until it was the turn for him and I said, “Then yourself, may Allah have you in His blessings are such Imam.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “This is the religion that belongs to Allah and it is the religion of His angels.”
14ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ صُحْبَةَ الْعَالِمِ وَاتِّبَاعَهُ دِينٌ يُدَانُ الله بِهِ وَطَاعَتَهُ مَكْسَبَةٌ لِلْحَسَنَاتِ مَمْحَاةٌ لِلسَّيِّئَاتِ وَذَخِيرَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرِفْعَةٌ فِيهِمْ فِي حَيَاتِهِمْ وَجَمِيلٌ بَعْدَ مَمَاتِهِمْ.
14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn Mahbub from Hisham ibn Salim from abu Hamza from abu Ishaq from some of the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.) who has narrated the following from Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). “Know that to establish companionship with the scholar and to follow him is a religion on account of which Allah will grant rewards. Obedience to the scholar is the means to gain goodness and to delete evil deeds. It is the most valuable treasure for the believers. It is dignifying progress in their life time and after their death because of it people will speak of him with praise and virtue .”
