Al-Kāfi

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ السِّلاحِ فِينَا كَمَثَلِ التَّابُوتِ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَيْنَمَا دَارَ التَّابُوتُ دَارَ الْمُلْكُ وَأَيْنَمَا دَارَ السِّلاحُ فِينَا دَارَ الْعِلْمُ.

4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) would say, ‘The case of the Armaments with us is as the Ark with the Israelites. Wherever the Ark would go kingdom would also follow. Wherever the Armaments among us would go knowledge would also follow.”

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ هَاهُنَا أَحَدٌ يَسْمَعُ كَلامِي قَالَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) سِتْراً بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ بَيْتٍ آخَرَ فَاطَّلَعَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَكَ يَتَحَدَّثُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَلَّمَ عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَاباً يُفْتَحُ لَهُ مِنْهُ أَلْفُ بَابٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَّمَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَلْفَ بَابٍ يُفْتَحُ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ أَلْفُ بَابٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَالله الْعِلْمُ قَالَ فَنَكَتَ سَاعَةً فِي الارْضِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِذَاكَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا الْجَامِعَةَ وَمَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَا الْجَامِعَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا الْجَامِعَةُ قَالَ صَحِيفَةٌ طُولُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعاً بِذِرَاعِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَإِمْلائِهِ مِنْ فَلْقِ فِيهِ وَخَطِّ عَلِيٍّ بِيَمِينِهِ فِيهَا كُلُّ حَلالٍ وَحَرَامٍ وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى الارْشُ فِي الْخَدْشِ وَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ تَأْذَنُ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا لَكَ فَاصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ قَالَ فَغَمَزَنِي بِيَدِهِ وَقَالَ حَتَّى أَرْشُ هَذَا كَأَنَّهُ مُغْضَبٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَالله الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَلَيْسَ بِذَاكَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا الْجَفْرَ وَمَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَا الْجَفْرُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا الْجَفْرُ قَالَ وِعَاءٌ مِنْ أَدَمٍ فِيهِ عِلْمُ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْوَصِيِّينَ وَعِلْمُ الْعُلَمَاءِ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا هُوَ الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَلَيْسَ بِذَاكَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا لَمُصْحَفَ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) وَمَا يُدْرِيهِمْ مَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ مُصْحَفٌ فِيهِ مِثْلُ قُرْآنِكُمْ هَذَا ثَلاثَ مَرَّاتٍ وَالله مَا فِيهِ مِنْ قُرْآنِكُمْ حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ هَذَا وَالله الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِذَاكَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ سَاعَةً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا عِلْمَ مَا كَانَ وَعِلْمَ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ إِلَى أَنْ تَقُومَ السَّاعَةُ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا وَالله هُوَ الْعِلْمُ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَعِلْمٌ وَلَيْسَ بِذَاكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَأَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ الْعِلْمُ قَالَ مَا يَحْدُثُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ الامْرُ مِنْ بَعْدِ الامْرِ وَالشَّيْ‏ءُ بَعْدَ الشَّيْ‏ءِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.

1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hajjal from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabi from Abu Basir who said: “I went to Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I like to ask you a question. Is there anyone else in this house who may hear my words?” Abu 'Abd Allah (a.s.) then folded the curtain between his room and the other room next to it and looked into it. Then he (a.s.) said, “O Abu Muhammad, ask whatever you wish.” I said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers say that the Messenger of Allah (sw) taught Ali (a.s.) a thousand chapters (of knowledge) and from each chapter there opens a thousand chapters. I then said, ‘This, I swear by Allah, is knowledge.’” He (a.s.) then would mark the ground with his staff (a sign of thinking in normal people) for a while and said, “That is knowledge but it is not that.” <br>The narrator has said that he (a.s.) then said, “O Abu Muhammad, with us is al-Jami‘a. What do they know what al-Jami‘a is?” I then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is al-Jami‘a?” He (a.s.) said, it is a parchment seventy yards by the yards of the Messenger of Allah (sw) long, that contains his dictations that is in graved in to with the right hand writing of Ali (a.s.). It contains all the lawful and unlawful and all matters that people need, even the law to of compensation for a scratch caused to a person. He then stretched his hand to me and asked, ‘May I, O abu Muhammad?’ I then replied, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I am all at your disposal, do as you wish.” He pinched me with his hand and said, “Even there is the law of compensation for this.” He (a.s.) seemed angry. The narrator has said, “I then said, “This, I swear by Allah is knowledge.” He (a.s.) said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that one.” <br>He (a.s.) remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is al-Jafr (the parchment). What do they know what al-Jafr is? I then asked, “What is al-Jafr?” He (a.s.) said, “It is a container made of skin that contains the knowledge of the prophets and the executors of their wills and the knowledge of the scholars in the past from the Israelites.” The narrator has said that he then said, “This certainly is the knowledge.” He (a.s.) said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that knowledge.” <br>He (a.s.) remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is the book (Mushaf) of Fatima (s.a.). What do they know what the Mushaf of Fatima is?“ He (a.s.) said, “The Mushaf of Fatima is three times bigger than your Quran. There is not even a single letter therein from your Quran.” The narrator has said, “I then said, “This, I swear by Allah, is the knowledge.” He (a.s.) said, “This certainly is knowledge, but it is not that.” <br>He (a.s.) remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is the knowledge of whatever has been and the knowledge of whatever will come into being to the Day of Judgment.” The narrator has said that he then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, this, I swear by Allah is, certainly, knowledge.” He (a.s.) said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that.” <br>The narrator has said that he then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, What then is knowledge?” He (a.s.) said, “Whatever takes place during the night and during the day, one matter after the other matter and one thing after the other thing to the Day of Judgment.”

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ تَظْهَرُ الزَّنَادِقَةُ فِي سَنَةِ ثَمَانٍ وَعِشْرِينَ وَمِائَةٍ وَذَلِكَ أَنِّي نَظَرْتُ فِي مُصْحَفِ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ قَالَ إِنَّ الله تَعَالَى لَمَّا قَبَضَ نَبِيَّهُ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) دَخَلَ عَلَى فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) مِنْ وَفَاتِهِ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ مَا لا يَعْلَمُهُ إِلا الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَأَرْسَلَ الله إِلَيْهَا مَلَكاً يُسَلِّي غَمَّهَا وَيُحَدِّثُهَا فَشَكَتْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ إِذَا أَحْسَسْتِ بِذَلِكِ وَسَمِعْتِ الصَّوْتَ قُولِي لِي فَأَعْلَمَتْهُ بِذَلِكَ فَجَعَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَكْتُبُ كُلَّ مَا سَمِعَ حَتَّى أَثْبَتَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مُصْحَفاً قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِيهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الْحَلالَ وَالْحَرَامِ وَلَكِنْ فِيهِ عِلْمُ مَا يَكُونُ‏.

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from Hammad Ibn ‘Uthman who has said that he heard Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following: "The heretics will appear in the year one hundred twenty eight (745/746AD) because I have found it in the Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.).” I asked the Imam, “What is Mushaf of Fatima?” The Imam said, “When Allah took the Holy Prophet (s.w) from this world, it caused such a degree of grief to Fatima (a.s.) that only Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, knows its extent. Allah then sent an angel to her to offer solace and speak to her. She complained about it to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) who asked her to inform him whenever she would find the angel speak to her. She then informed him when the angel came to speak. Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then would write down all that he would hear of the conversations of the angel so much so that his notes took the shape of a whole book.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “There was nothing in it of the knowledge of the lawful and unlawful matters but it had the knowledge of things that had happened and things to happen in future.”

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ عِنْدِي الْجَفْرَ الابْيَضَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ فِيهِ قَالَ زَبُورُ دَاوُدَ وَتَوْرَاةُ مُوسَى وَإِنْجِيلُ عِيسَى وَصُحُفُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَالْحَلالُ وَالْحَرَامُ وَمُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ مَا أَزْعُمُ أَنَّ فِيهِ قُرْآناً وَفِيهِ مَا يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْنَا وَلا نَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ حَتَّى فِيهِ الْجَلْدَةُ وَنِصْفُ الْجَلْدَةِ وَرُبُعُ الْجَلْدَةِ وَأَرْشُ الْخَدْشِ وَعِنْدِي الْجَفْرَ الاحْمَرَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَأَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ فِي الْجَفْرِ الاحْمَرِ قَالَ السِّلاحُ وَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يُفْتَحُ لِلدَّمِ يَفْتَحُهُ صَاحِبُ السَّيْفِ لِلْقَتْلِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الله بْنُ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ أَصْلَحَكَ الله أَ يَعْرِفُ هَذَا بَنُو الْحَسَنِ فَقَالَ إِي وَالله كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ اللَّيْلَ أَنَّهُ لَيْلٌ وَالنَّهَارَ أَنَّهُ نَهَارٌ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَحْمِلُهُمُ الْحَسَدُ وَطَلَبُ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْجُحُودِ وَالانْكَارِ وَلَوْ طَلَبُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْحَقِّ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَهُمْ.

3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn Abu ‘Ala’ who has said that he heard Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say: “With me is the white Jafr.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam (a.s.), “What is in it?” He replied, “In it there is the Psalms of David, the Torah of Moses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Books of Abraham, (the laws that explain) the lawful and unlawful matters and the Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.) in which, I do not claim that it includes anything from the Quran. In it there is all that people need us to do for them and so that we would not need any one else. In it there is information even about a lash, half of a lash and one fourth of a lash, and about the amount of compensation for a scratch caused to someone. <br>With me there is the red Jafr.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam (a.s.), “What is in the red Jafr?” He replied, “In it there is the Armaments. It is because it only is opened for bloodshed. The owner of the sword opens it to kill.” The narrator has said that ‘Abdallah ibn Abu Ya‘fur asked the Imam (a.s.), “May Allah keep you well, do the descendents of al-Hasan (a.s.) know this? The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, I swear by Allah, they know it just as they know the night that it is night and the day that it is the day, but jealousy and worldly gains cause them to act in denial and rejection. Had they sought the truth with the truth, it would have been better for them.”

4ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ فِي الْجَفْرِ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُونَهُ لَمَا يَسُوؤُهُمْ لانَّهُمْ لا يَقُولُونَ الْحَقَّ وَالْحَقُّ فِيهِ فَلْيُخْرِجُوا قَضَايَا عَلِيٍّ وَفَرَائِضَهُ إِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ وَسَلُوهُمْ عَنِ الْخَالاتِ وَالْعَمَّاتِ وَلْيُخْرِجُوا مُصْحَفَ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) فَإِنَّ فِيهِ وَصِيَّةَ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) وَمَعَهُ سِلاحُ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فَأْتُوا بِكِتابٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ هذا أَوْ أَثارَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صادِقِينَ.

4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from the person that he mentioned from Sulayman ibn Khalid from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The Jafr of which they speak certainly disappoints them because they (the Zaydis) do not speak the truth while Jafr does contain the truth. Let them bring to light therefrom the judgments of Ali (a.s.) and his rulles of inheritance if they are truthful. Ask them about (the inheritance) of paternal and maternal aunts. Let them show the Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.). In it certainly there is the will of Fatima (a.s.). With it there is the Armaments the Messenger of Allah. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “Bring me a Book, revealed before this Quran, or any other proof based on knowledge to support your belief, if indeed you are truthful” (46:4).

5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ ابْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ قَالَ سَأَلَ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الْجَفْرِ فَقَالَ هُوَ جِلْدُ ثَوْرٍ مَمْلُوءٌ عِلْماً قَالَ لَهُ فَالْجَامِعَةُ قَالَ تِلْكَ صَحِيفَةٌ طُولُهَا سَبْعُونَ ذِرَاعاً فِي عَرْضِ الادِيمِ مِثْلُ فَخِذِ الْفَالِجِ فِيهَا كُلُّ مَا يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ وَلَيْسَ مِنْ قَضِيَّةٍ إِلا وَهِيَ فِيهَا حَتَّى أَرْشُ الْخَدْشِ قَالَ فَمُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) قَالَ فَسَكَتَ طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لَتَبْحَثُونَ عَمَّا تُرِيدُونَ وَعَمَّا لا تُرِيدُونَ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ مَكَثَتْ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) خَمْسَةً وَسَبْعِينَ يَوْماً وَكَانَ دَخَلَهَا حُزْنٌ شَدِيدٌ عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَأْتِيهَا فَيُحْسِنُ عَزَاءَهَا عَلَى أَبِيهَا وَيُطَيِّبُ نَفْسَهَا وَيُخْبِرُهَا عَنْ أَبِيهَا وَمَكَانِهِ وَيُخْبِرُهَا بِمَا يَكُونُ بَعْدَهَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهَا وَكَانَ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَكْتُبُ ذَلِكَ فَهَذَا مُصْحَفُ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام )

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘Ubaydah who has said that some of our companions asked Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the Jafr and the Imam (a.s.) said the following: “It is the skin of a bull which is full of knowledge.” Then they asked the Imam (a.s.) about al-Jami‘a. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is a parchment that is seventy yards long with a width of hide like that of the leg of a huge camel. It contains everything people need, and there is no case except that it is in it, even the compensation for a scratch.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imam (a.s.), “What is Mushaf of Fatima? (a.s.)” The Imam (a.s.) remained quiet for a while. Then he said, “Indeed, you are searching for what you want and what you do not want. Fatima (a.s.) lived after the Messenger of Allah (saw) for seventy-five days. She was severely depressed because of the death of her father. Jibril (a.s.) would come to provide her solace because of the death of her father. Jibril would comfort her soul. Jibril would inform her about her father and his place, future events, and about what will happen to her progeny. At the same time, Ali (a.s.) would write all of this down, so this is Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.).”

6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي بِشْرٍ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ كَرِبٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا مَا لا نَحْتَاجُ مَعَهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ وَإِنَّ النَّاسَ لَيَحْتَاجُونَ إِلَيْنَا وَإِنَّ عِنْدَنَا كِتَاباً إِمْلاءُ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَخَطُّ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) صَحِيفَةً فِيهَا كُلُّ حَلالٍ وَحَرَامٍ وَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَّا بِالامْرِ فَنَعْرِفُ إِذَا أَخَذْتُمْ بِهِ وَنَعْرِفُ إِذَا تَرَكْتُمُوهُ.

6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Salih ibn Sa‘id from Ahmad ibn abu Bishr from Bakr ibn Karib al-Sayrafi who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say: "Indeed, we possess that which makes us independent of others, while others are in need of us. We have a book dictated by the Messenger of Allah (sw) and written in the handwriting of ʿAlī (AS), a scroll that contains all matters of what is lawful and unlawful. You bring matters to us, and we recognize whether you have adhered to them or abandoned them."

7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ وَبُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَزُرَارَةَ أَنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ لابِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الزَّيْدِيَّةَ وَالْمُعْتَزِلَةَ قَدْ أَطَافُوا بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله فَهَلْ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ فَقَالَ وَالله إِنَّ عِنْدِي لَكِتَابَيْنِ فِيهِمَا تَسْمِيَةُ كُلِّ نَبِيٍّ وَكُلِّ مَلِكٍ يَمْلِكُ الارْضَ لا وَالله مَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الله فِي وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا.

7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Udhayna from Fudayl ibn Yasar, Burayd ibn Mu‘wiya and Zurarah who have said that ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Malik said the following to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “The Zaydi sect and al-Mu‘tazali group circle around Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah. Does he have any authority?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I swear by Allah that with me there are two books in which there is the name of every prophet and the name of every king that would rule on earth. No, I swear by Allah, the name of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah is not in the list as one of them.”

8ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ سُكَّرَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَقَالَ يَا فُضَيْلُ أَ تَدْرِي فِي أَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ كُنْتُ أَنْظُرُ قُبَيْلُ قَالَ قُلْتُ لا قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنْظُرُ فِي كِتَابِ فَاطِمَةَ (عليها السلام) لَيْسَ مِنْ مَلِكٍ يَمْلِكُ الارْضَ إِلا وَهُوَ مَكْتُوبٌ فِيهِ بِاسْمِهِ وَاسْمِ أَبِيهِ وَمَا وَجَدْتُ لِوُلْدِ الْحَسَنِ فِيهِ شَيْئاً.

8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd al-Samad ibn Bashir from Fudayl ibn Sukra who has said that once I went to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said the following to me. “O Fudayl, do you know what at did I look just awhile before?” The narrator has said that he said to the Imams (a.s.), “No, I do not know.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I was looking at the book of Fatima (a.s.). There is no king who would rule on earth with being listed therein by his name and the name of his father but I did not find the name of any of the descendent of al-Hassan therein.”

1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ الْحَرِيشِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) بَيْنَا أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَطُوفُ بِالْكَعْبَةِ إِذَا رَجُلٌ مُعْتَجِرٌ قَدْ قُيِّضَ لَهُ فَقَطَعَ عَلَيْهِ أُسْبُوعَهُ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَهُ إِلَى دَارٍ جَنْبَ الصَّفَا فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ فَكُنَّا ثَلاثَةً فَقَالَ مَرْحَباً يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله ثُمَّ وَضَعَ يَدَهُ عَلَى رَأْسِي وَقَالَ بَارَكَ الله فِيكَ يَا أَمِينَ الله بَعْدَ آبَائِهِ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَخْبَرْتُكَ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ سَلْنِي وَإِنْ شِئْتَ سَأَلْتُكَ وَإِنْ شِئْتَ فَاصْدُقْنِي وَإِنْ شِئْتَ صَدَقْتُكَ قَالَ كُلَّ ذَلِكَ أَشَاءُ قَالَ فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ يَنْطِقَ لِسَانُكَ عِنْدَ مَسْأَلَتِي بِأَمْرٍ تُضْمِرُ لِي غَيْرَهُ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ مَنْ فِي قَلْبِهِ عِلْمَانِ يُخَالِفُ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ وَإِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَبَى أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ عِلْمٌ فِيهِ اخْتِلافٌ قَالَ هَذِهِ مَسْأَلَتِي وَقَدْ فَسَّرْتَ طَرَفاً مِنْهَا أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذَا الْعِلْمِ الَّذِي لَيْسَ فِيهِ اخْتِلافٌ مَنْ يَعْلَمُهُ قَالَ أَمَّا جُمْلَةُ الْعِلْمِ فَعِنْدَ الله جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَأَمَّا مَا لا بُدَّ لِلْعِبَادِ مِنْهُ فَعِنْدَ الاوْصِيَاءِ قَالَ فَفَتَحَ الرَّجُلُ عَجِيرَتَهُ وَاسْتَوَى جَالِساً وَتَهَلَّلَ وَجْهُهُ وَقَالَ هَذِهِ أَرَدْتُ وَلَهَا أَتَيْتُ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّ عِلْمَ مَا لا اخْتِلافَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ عِنْدَ الاوْصِيَاءِ فَكَيْفَ يَعْلَمُونَهُ قَالَ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَعْلَمُهُ إِلا أَنَّهُمْ لا يَرَوْنَ مَا كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَرَى لانَّهُ كَانَ نَبِيّاً وَهُمْ مُحَدَّثُونَ وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ يَفِدُ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَيَسْمَعُ الْوَحْيَ وَهُمْ لا يَسْمَعُونَ فَقَالَ صَدَقْتَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله سَ‏آتِيكَ بِمَسْأَلَةٍ صَعْبَةٍ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذَا الْعِلْمِ مَا لَهُ لا يَظْهَرُ كَمَا كَانَ يَظْهَرُ مَعَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) قَالَ فَضَحِكَ أَبِي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَقَالَ أَبَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يُطْلِعَ عَلَى عِلْمِهِ إِلا مُمْتَحَناً لِلايمَانِ بِهِ كَمَا قَضَى عَلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنْ يَصْبِرَ عَلَى أَذَى قَوْمِهِ وَلا يُجَاهِدَهُمْ إِلا بِأَمْرِهِ فَكَمْ مِنِ اكْتِتَامٍ قَدِ اكْتَتَمَ بِهِ حَتَّى قِيلَ لَهُ فَاصْدَعْ بِما تُؤْمَرُ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَايْمُ الله أَنْ لَوْ صَدَعَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ لَكَانَ آمِناً وَلَكِنَّهُ إِنَّمَا نَظَرَ فِي الطَّاعَةِ وَخَافَ الْخِلافَ فَلِذَلِكَ كَفَّ فَوَدِدْتُ أَنَّ عَيْنَكَ تَكُونُ مَعَ مَهْدِيِّ هَذِهِ الامَّةِ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ بِسُيُوفِ آلِ دَاوُدَ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالارْضِ تُعَذِّبُ أَرْوَاحَ الْكَفَرَةِ مِنَ الامْوَاتِ وَتُلْحِقُ بِهِمْ أَرْوَاحَ أَشْبَاهِهِمْ مِنَ الاحْيَاءِ ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَ سَيْفاً ثُمَّ قَالَ هَا إِنَّ هَذَا مِنْهَا قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبِي إِي وَالَّذِي اصْطَفَى مُحَمَّداً عَلَى الْبَشَرِ قَالَ فَرَدَّ الرَّجُلُ اعْتِجَارَهُ وَقَالَ أَنَا إِلْيَاسُ مَا سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ أَمْرِكَ وَبِي مِنْهُ جَهَالَةٌ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ يَكُونَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ قُوَّةً لاصْحَابِكَ وَسَأُخْبِرُكَ بِ‏آيَةٍ أَنْتَ تَعْرِفُهَا إِنْ خَاصَمُوا بِهَا فَلَجُوا. قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبِي إِنْ شِئْتَ أَخْبَرْتُكَ بِهَا قَالَ قَدْ شِئْتُ قَالَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَنَا إِنْ قَالُوا لاهْلِ الْخِلافِ لَنَا إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ لِرَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ إِلَى آخِرِهَا فَهَلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَعْلَمُ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ شَيْئاً لا يَعْلَمُهُ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ أَوْ يَأْتِيهِ بِهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي غَيْرِهَا فَإِنَّهُمْ سَيَقُولُونَ لا فَقُلْ لَهُمْ فَهَلْ كَانَ لِمَا عَلِمَ بُدٌّ مِنْ أَنْ يُظْهِرَ فَيَقُولُونَ لا فَقُلْ لَهُمْ فَهَلْ كَانَ فِيمَا أَظْهَرَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مِنْ عِلْمِ الله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ اخْتِلافٌ فَإِنْ قَالُوا لا فَقُلْ لَهُمْ فَمَنْ حَكَمَ بِحُكْمِ الله فِيهِ اخْتِلافٌ فَهَلْ خَالَفَ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَيَقُولُونَ نَعَمْ فَإِنْ قَالُوا لا فَقَدْ نَقَضُوا أَوَّلَ كَلامِهِمْ فَقُلْ لَهُمْ مَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلا الله وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ فَإِنْ قَالُوا مَنِ الرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ مَنْ لا يَخْتَلِفُ فِي عِلْمِهِ فَإِنْ قَالُوا فَمَنْ هُوَ ذَاكَ فَقُلْ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) صَاحِبَ ذَلِكَ فَهَلْ بَلَّغَ أَوْ لا فَإِنْ قَالُوا قَدْ بَلَّغَ فَقُلْ فَهَلْ مَاتَ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) وَالْخَلِيفَةُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ يَعْلَمُ عِلْماً لَيْسَ فِيهِ اخْتِلافٌ فَإِنْ قَالُوا لا فَقُلْ إِنَّ خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) مُؤَيَّدٌ وَلا يَسْتَخْلِفُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) إِلا مَنْ يَحْكُمُ بِحُكْمِهِ وَإِلا مَنْ يَكُونُ مِثْلَهُ إِلا النُّبُوَّةَ وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) لَمْ يَسْتَخْلِفْ فِي عِلْمِهِ أَحَداً فَقَدْ ضَيَّعَ مَنْ فِي أَصْلابِ الرِّجَالِ مِمَّنْ يَكُونُ بَعْدَهُ فَإِنْ قَالُوا لَكَ فَإِنَّ عِلْمَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) كَانَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْ حم. وَالْكِتابِ الْمُبِينِ. إِنَّا أَنْزَلْناهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبارَكَةٍ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنْذِرِينَ فِيها إِلَى قَوْلِهِ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرْسِلِينَ فَإِنْ قَالُوا لَكَ لا يُرْسِلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلا إِلَى نَبِيٍّ فَقُلْ هَذَا الامْرُ الْحَكِيمُ الَّذِي يُفْرَقُ فِيهِ هُوَ مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ الَّتِي تَنْزِلُ مِنْ سَمَاءٍ إِلَى سَمَاءٍ أَوْ مِنْ سَمَاءٍ إِلَى أَرْضٍ فَإِنْ قَالُوا مِنْ سَمَاءٍ إِلَى سَمَاءٍ فَلَيْسَ فِي السَّمَاءِ أَحَدٌ يَرْجِعُ مِنْ طَاعَةٍ إِلَى مَعْصِيَةٍ فَإِنْ قَالُوا مِنْ سَمَاءٍ إِلَى أَرْضٍ وَأَهْلُ الارْضِ أَحْوَجُ الْخَلْقِ إِلَى ذَلِكَ فَقُلْ فَهَلْ لَهُمْ بُدٌّ مِنْ سَيِّدٍ يَتَحَاكَمُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَإِنْ قَالُوا فَإِنَّ الْخَلِيفَةَ هُوَ حَكَمُهُمْ فَقُلْ الله وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّورِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ خالِدُونَ لَعَمْرِي مَا فِي الارْضِ وَلا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَلِيٌّ لله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ إِلا وَهُوَ مُؤَيَّدٌ وَمَنْ أُيِّدَ لَمْ يُخْطِ وَمَا فِي الارْضِ عَدُوٌّ لله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ إِلا وَهُوَ مَخْذُولٌ وَمَنْ خُذِلَ لَمْ يُصِبْ كَمَا أَنَّ الامْرَ لا بُدَّ مِنْ تَنْزِيلِهِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ يَحْكُمُ بِهِ أَهْلُ الارْضِ كَذَلِكَ لا بُدَّ مِنْ وَالٍ فَإِنْ قَالُوا لا نَعْرِفُ هَذَا فَقُلْ لَهُمْ قُولُوا مَا أَحْبَبْتُمْ أَبَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) أَنْ يَتْرُكَ الْعِبَادَ وَلا حُجَّةَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) ثُمَّ وَقَفَ فَقَالَ هَاهُنَا يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله بَابٌ غَامِضٌ أَ رَأَيْتَ إِنْ قَالُوا حُجَّةُ الله الْقُرْآنُ قَالَ إِذَنْ أَقُولَ لَهُمْ إِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ لَيْسَ بِنَاطِقٍ يَأْمُرُ وَيَنْهَى وَلَكِنْ لِلْقُرْآنِ أَهْلٌ يَأْمُرُونَ وَيَنْهَوْنَ وَأَقُولَ قَدْ عَرَضَتْ لِبَعْضِ أَهْلِ الارْضِ مُصِيبَةٌ مَا هِيَ فِي السُّنَّةِ وَالْحُكْمِ الَّذِي لَيْسَ فِيهِ اخْتِلافٌ وَلَيْسَتْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ أَبَى الله لِعِلْمِهِ بِتِلْكَ الْفِتْنَةِ أَنْ تَظْهَرَ فِي الارْضِ وَلَيْسَ فِي حُكْمِهِ رَادٌّ لَهَا وَمُفَرِّجٌ عَنْ أَهْلِهَا فَقَالَ هَاهُنَا تَفْلُجُونَ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ الله عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ قَدْ عَلِمَ بِمَا يُصِيبُ الْخَلْقَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فِي الارْضِ أَوْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنَ الدِّينِ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ فَوَضَعَ الْقُرْآنَ دَلِيلاً قَالَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ هَلْ تَدْرِي يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ الله دَلِيلَ مَا هُوَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) نَعَمْ فِيهِ جُمَلُ الْحُدُودِ وَتَفْسِيرُهَا عِنْدَ الْحُكْمِ فَقَالَ أَبَى الله أَنْ يُصِيبَ عَبْداً بِمُصِيبَةٍ فِي دِينِهِ أَوْ فِي نَفْسِهِ أَوْ فِي مَالِهِ لَيْسَ فِي أَرْضِهِ مِنْ حُكْمِهِ قَاضٍ بِالصَّوَابِ فِي تِلْكَ الْمُصِيبَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَمَّا فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ فَقَدْ فَلَجْتَهُمْ بِحُجَّةٍ إِلا أَنْ يَفْتَرِيَ خَصْمُكُمْ عَلَى الله فَيَقُولَ لَيْسَ لله جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ حُجَّةٌ وَلَكِنْ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ تَفْسِيرِ لِكَيْلا تَأْسَوْا عَلى‏ ما فاتَكُمْ مِمَّا خُصَّ بِهِ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَلا تَفْرَحُوا بِما آتاكُمْ قَالَ فِي أَبِي فُلانٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَاحِدَةٌ مُقَدِّمَةٌ وَوَاحِدَةٌ مُؤَخِّرَةٌ لِكَيْلا تَأْسَوْا عَلى‏ ما فاتَكُمْ مِمَّا خُصَّ بِهِ علي (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) وَلا تَفْرَحُوا بِما آتاكُمْ مِنَ الْفِتْنَةِ الَّتِي عَرَضَتْ لَكُمْ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْحُكْمِ الَّذِي لا اخْتِلافَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَامَ الرَّجُلُ وَذَهَبَ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ.

1. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, both of them from al-Hassan ibn al-‘Abbas ibn al-Harish from abu Ja‘far al-Thani (a.s.) who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Once while my father was walking around the Ka‘ba for Tawaf a man who had covered his face partially with his turban suddenly came by. He caused discontinuation in the Tawaf of the Imam (a.s.) and took him (a.s.) to a house adjacent to al-Safa. He sent for me also and then we were there three of us. He said, “Welcome, the child of the Messenger of Allah. He then placed his hand over my head and said, ‘May Allah place blessings in you, the trustworthy one before Allah after his ancestors. O abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if you like you may tell me, and if you like I can tell you. If you like you may ask me and if you want I will ask you. If you would like affirm what I will say and if you would want I will affirm what you will say. The Imam (a.s.) said, “I like all of it.” He then said, “You must never let your tongue answer me with something that is otherwise in your conscious.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Such would do one in whose heart there would exist two kinds of knowledge, one opposing the other. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disdains to have a knowledge that is not harmonious.” He then said, “This is my question. You just explained one part of it. “Tell me about this knowledge that is so harmonious and without difference. Who has (knows) it?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The whole of knowledge is before Allah, Majestic is Whose Name. The knowledge that people need is with the executor of the will of (prophets). The narrator has said that he then removed the covering from his face, set down straight, his face looked more cheerful and he said, “This is what I wanted and for this I have come. You think that the knowledge that is free of differences is with the executors of the wills of the prophets. How do they know it?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Just as the Messenger of Allah knew it except that they do not see what the Messenger of Allah would see. It is because that he was a prophet and they are the Muhaddithun, spokesmen of the Divine message. The Messenger of Allah, when as a delegate before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would hear whatever would have been communicated to him as (Wahy) but they do not hear such communications.” He then said, “You have spoken the truth, O child of the Messenger of Allah. I now ask you a more difficult question. Tell me, why does this knowledge not appear as was it with the Messenger of Allah?” The narrator has said that my father then smiled and said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disdains to let those people have information about His knowledge whom He has not yet tested with faith. (Such test) was carried out on the Messenger of Allah in the form of his enduring the suffering caused to him from his people so much so that he would struggle against them with His permission. Many times he would withhold matters that would disappoint his people until he was commanded sternly to convey to them the commandments that he had received and disregard the pagans. “Preach what you have been commanded to and stay away from the pagans.” (15:94) “I swear by Allah, had he conveyed the commandments he would have been perfectly safe. He, in fact, considered the obedience and feared differences. For this reason he would withhold. I would love that you would keep your eye upon the advent of al-Mahdi (the guide) of this nation. (A time) when the angels with the sword of the family of David would make the dead spirits of the unbelievers between the heavens and the earth test the results of their evil deeds and force the spirits of the living ones like them to join the unbelievers. “He then drew a sword and said, “Here it is. This is one of them.” The narrator has said, “Then my father said, “Yes, that is very true, I swear by the One Who chose Muhammad from among the mankind.” The narrator has said that then the man drew the cover over his face and said, “I am Ilyas. I did not ask you those questions about that because I did not know them. I only loved that this conversation and narration strengthen your followers. I will tell you about a sign and evidence that you know if they (your followers) would debate others, your friends will win. The narrator has said that my father then said to him, “If you would like I can tell you about it (the sign and evidence).” He then said, “I would wish to hear it from you.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “If our followers would say to those who differ from us, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High says to His Messenger, “We revealed the Quran on the Night of Destiny ((97:1). Would that you knew what the Night of Destiny is! (97:2). (Worship) on the Night of Destiny is better than (worship) for a thousand months (97:3). On this Night, the angels and the spirit descend by the permission of their Lord with His decree (to determine everyone’s destiny) (97:4). This Night is all peace until the break of dawn” (97:5). “Did the Messenger of Allah know of the knowledge of things that he did not know at that night or what Jibril would bring to him at other times? The opposition will say, “No, there was nothing the Messenger of Allah did not know.” Say to the opposition, “Was it necessary for the Messenger of Allah to express such knowledge?” The opposition will say, “No, it was not necessary.” Say to them, “Was there any difference and disharmony in the knowledge that the Messenger of Allah had received from Allah?” If the opposition would say, “No, there was no disharmony, “ ask them, “If one would judge by the laws of Allah with disharmony, has he opposed the Messenger of Allah?” They will say, “Yes, he has opposed the Messenger of Allah.” However, if they say, “No, he has not opposed the Messenger of Allah, they have invalidated their starting point”. Say to them, “No one knows its interpretation except Allah and those who are well-grounded in knowledge.” If they would ask, “Who are the ones well-grounded in knowledge?” Say, “They are those in whose knowledge there is no disharmony.” If they would ask, “Who is he?” Say, “the Messenger of Allah was such a person. Did he convey such knowledge to the first one (Khalifa)?” If they say, “Yes, the Messenger of Allah did convey.” Ask, “Did the Messenger of Allah die and the Khalifa after him had the knowledge free of disharmony ?” If they would say, “No, there was no such Khalifa with the knowledge free of disharmony.” Say, “(This is not logical.) The successor of the Messenger of Allah is supported (has the Divine support) and the Messenger of Allah does not appoint a Khalifa who would not judge by the laws of Allah. The Messenger of Allah will not appoint a Khalifa except one who is just like him, excluding prophet-hood. If the Messenger of Allah did not appoint a Khalifa in his knowledge anyone, he ( Allah forbid) caused to go astray the people of coming generations.” “If the opposition would say, “The knowledge of the Messenger of Allah was from the Holy Quran.” Say, “What about the following verses of the holy Quran that speak about the matters after the death of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), ‘I swear by the illustrious Book (44:2) that We have revealed the Quran on a blessed night to warn mankind (44:3). On this night, every absolute command coming from Us becomes distinguishable (44:4). The command that We have been sending (44:5) as a mercy (for the human being) from your Lord. . .’” (44:6). “If the opposition would say, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sends only prophets.” Say, “These distinguishable commands that come is from the angels and the spirit. They come from one heaven to the other. In the heavens there is no one to whom obedience and disobedience would apply.” “If the opposition would say, “They come from the heavens to earth and the people of earth are in dire need of such commands.” Say to them, “Is it necessary for them to have a leader who would judge among them?” If they say, “The Khalifa will judge for them.” Ask them about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran. “God is the Guardian of the believers and it is He who takes them out of darkness into light. The Devil is the guardian of those who deny the Truth and he leads them from light to darkness. These are the dwellers of hell wherein they will live forever.” (2:257) “I swear by my life that all those in the heavens and on earth who are under the guardian-ship of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, are supported (Divinely) and protected. Those who are supported and protected do not make mistakes. All the enemies of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, in the heavens and on earth suffer defeat. Those who are defeated they do not deal in a rightful way. Just as it is necessary that the command must come from the heavens for the people of earth in the same way it is necessary to have a Wali (one who possesses Divine authority).” “If the opposition would say, “We do not know such a person.” Say to them, “Say whatever you may like. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disdains to leave, after Muhammad (s.a.) the servants without one who would possess Dinvine authority.” The narrator has said that he then stopped and said, “This, O child of the Messenger of Allah, is a delicate point. Consider if they would say, “The Holy Quran is the Divine authority.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Then I will say, ‘The Holy Quran does not speak, issue commands and prohibitions. The people of Quran issue commands and prohibitions. I would further say, “Allah would disdain to see a certain affliction (difficult issue) would befall to the people of the earth, and there is no law about it in the Sunnah or a ruling free of differences and it is not in the Quran. He would disdain to have such thing in His knowledge to take place on earth and there would be nothing in His judgment to stop it from happening or the means to provide relief.” He then said, “Here you gain victory, O child of the Messenger of Allah. I testify that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, certainly knows what kinds of afflictions and sufferings may befall people of the earth in their lives and in their religion etc. He then set the Holy Quran as a guide.” The narrator has said that the man then said, “Do you, O child of the Messenger of Allah, know what kind of guide it is ?” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said said, “Yes, in it there are the general principles of laws and its interpretation when judgment would be issued. He said that Allah disdains to see His servant is afflicted with hardships in his religion, his life or his property and there would be no one on His earth whose judgment would decide truthfully and in the right way to remove the suffering.” The narrator has said that the man then said, “In this matter you have gained victory unless your enemies would falsely ascribe lies to Allah and say, ‘Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not have anyone who would possess Divine authority.’ However, tell me about the interpretation of: “. . so that you would not grieve over what you have lost nor become extremely happy about what God has granted to you. . .” (57:23) The Imam (a.s.) said, “It refers to abu so and so and his people. One of the verses is placed before and the other is placed afterwards (in two different places).” Grief over the loss applies to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) only’. “. . nor become extremely happy about what God has granted to you. .” refers to the mischief that you faced after the death of the Messenger of Allah. The man then said, “I testify that you are the Divine authorities in whose judgment there is no disharmony.” The man then stood up and went and I did not see him any more.”