Al-Kāfi

2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ الإيمَانُ لَهُ أَرْكَانٌ أَرْبَعَةٌ التَّوَكُّلُ عَلَى الله وَتَفْوِيضُ الأمْرِ إِلَى الله وَالرِّضَا بِقَضَاءِ الله وَالتَّسْلِيمُ لأمْرِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali form al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah from his father (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) has said, ‘Belief has four corner (stones): They are trust in Allah, having Allah as the person in charge of one’s affairs, to agree with the decision of Allah and to submit to the command of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

3ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ لا تَكُونُونَ صَالِحِينَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا وَلا تَعْرِفُونَ حَتَّى تُصَدِّقُوا وَلا تُصَدِّقُونَ حَتَّى تُسَلِّمُوا أَبْوَاباً أَرْبَعَةً لا يَصْلُحُ أَوَّلُهَا إِلا بِ‏آخِرِهَا ضَلَّ أَصْحَابُ الثَّلاثَةِ وَتَاهُوا تَيْهاً بَعِيداً إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لا يَقْبَلُ إِلا الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ وَلا يَتَقَبَّلُ الله إِلا بِالْوَفَاءِ بِالشُّرُوطِ وَالْعُهُودِ وَمَنْ وَفَى الله بِشُرُوطِهِ وَاسْتَكْمَلَ مَا وَصَفَ فِي عَهْدِهِ نَالَ مَا عِنْدَهُ وَاسْتَكْمَلَ وَعْدَهُ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَخْبَرَ الْعِبَادَ بِطَرِيقِ الْهُدَى وَشَرَعَ لَهُمْ فِيهَا الْمَنَارَ وَأَخْبَرَهُمْ كَيْفَ يَسْلُكُونَ فَقَالَ وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدى‏ وَقَالَ إِنَّما يَتَقَبَّلُ الله مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيمَا أَمَرَهُ لَقِيَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مُؤْمِناً بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ فَاتَ قَوْمٌ وَمَاتُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَهْتَدُوا وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا وَأَشْرَكُوا مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّهُ مَنْ أَتَى الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا اهْتَدَى وَمَنْ أَخَذَ فِي غَيْرِهَا سَلَكَ طَرِيقَ الرَّدَى وَصَلَ الله طَاعَةَ وَلِيِّ أَمْرِهِ بِطَاعَةِ رَسُولِهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) وَطَاعَةَ رَسُولِهِ بِطَاعَتِهِ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ طَاعَةَ وُلاةِ الأمْرِ لَمْ يُطِعِ الله وَلا رَسُولَهُ وَهُوَ الإقْرَارُ بِمَا نَزَلَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَالْتَمِسُوا الْبُيُوتَ الَّتِي أَذِنَ الله أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ خَبَّرَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ رِجَالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْماً تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالأبْصَارُ إِنَّ الله قَدِ اسْتَخْلَصَ الرُّسُلَ لأمْرِهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْلَصَهُمْ مُصَدِّقِينَ لِذَلِكَ فِي نُذُرِهِ فَقَالَ وَإِنْ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلا خَلا فِيها نَذِيرٌ تَاهَ مَنْ جَهِلَ وَاهْتَدَى مَنْ أَبْصَرَ وَعَقَلَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فَإِنَّها لا تَعْمَى الأبْصارُ وَلكِنْ تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ وَكَيْفَ يَهْتَدِي مَنْ لَمْ يُبْصِرْ وَكَيْفَ يُبْصِرُ مَنْ لَمْ يُنْذَرْ اتَّبِعُوا رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) وَأَقِرُّوا بِمَا نَزَلَ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله وَاتَّبِعُوا آثَارَ الْهُدَى فَإِنَّهُمْ عَلامَاتُ الأمَانَةِ وَالتُّقَى وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَوْ أَنْكَرَ رَجُلٌ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ (عَلَيهِما السَّلام) وَأَقَرَّ بِمَنْ سِوَاهُ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ اقْتَصُّوا الطَّرِيقَ بِالْتِمَاسِ الْمَنَارِ وَالْتَمِسُوا مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْحُجُبِ الآثَارَ تَسْتَكْمِلُوا أَمْرَ دِينِكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُوا بِالله رَبِّكُمْ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from those whom he has mentioned from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn abu Layla from his father from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “You will not become virtuous until you learn, you will not learn until you affirm and you will not affirm until you accept four Chapters, the first of which will be of no benefit without the last one. People of three Chapters have strayed far away. Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, does not accept anything but virtuous deeds and Allah does not accept (anything) without loyalty in keeping up with one’s stipulations and covenants. Whoever fulfils his stipulations toward Allah and completes whatever is in one’s covenant, he will find (the reward that is) with Him and He will fulfill His promise. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has informed the people of the ways of guidance and has established for it the lighthouse. He has informed them how to behave, saying, ‘I am All-forgiving to the righteously striving believers who repent and follow the right guidance.’ (20:82) Allah has also said, ‘Allah accepts only the offerings of the pious ones.’ (5:27) “Whoever maintains piety before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, in the matter of His commands he will come in the presence of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, as a believer in whatever Muhammad (a.s.) has brought from Him. How remote, far away and lost are the people who have died before achieving guidance, and had thought that they were believers. They had considered things as partners of Allah without knowing what they had done. Whoever comes to a house through its door finds proper guidance, and whoever looks for a way other than the door has chosen a condemned path. Allah has joined obedience to His Messenger with obedience to those who possess Divine Authority and the obedience to His Messenger with obedience to His own commands. Therefore, whoever does not obey the people who possess Divine Authority, they have not obeyed Allah and His Messenger and it (obedience to people who possess Divine Authority) is the affirmation of what has come from Allah. Dress up (in piety) before every Mosque. Find the houses through the doors to them, the houses for which Allah has granted permission to be raised high, wherein people speak of Him. He has informed you that in these houses there are men who do not become distracted because of trade and business from speaking of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, from prayer and paying al-Zakat (charity). These men fear the Day wherein the hearts and eyes undergo turbulent conditions. Allah chose and purified the messengers for His command, then He purified and chose them (people who possess Divine Authority) who are confirmed in His warnings. Allah has said, ‘No nation who lived before was left without a Warner. . . .’ (35:25) “Lost are those who remained ignorant and guided are those who thought and understood. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, ‘It is not their seeing ability that is blind but it is their hearts which are in their chests.’ (22:46) “How can one who does not think find guidance? How can one who has not received warnings think? Follow the Messenger of Allah, affirm whatever has come from Allah, follow the marks of guidance; they are the signs of trust and piety. You must know that if a man rejects Jesus Christ and acknowledges all the other messengers of Allah, he is not a believer. Find the way through finding the lighthouse and look for the marks from behind the curtains. Strive to perfect the affairs of your religion and believe in Allah your Lord.’”

4ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَنْ أَبِيهِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ رَفَعَ إِلَى رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) قَوْمٌ فِي بَعْضِ غَزَوَاتِهِ فَقَالَ مَنِ الْقَوْمُ فَقَالُوا مُؤْمِنُونَ يَا رَسُولَ الله قَالَ وَمَا بَلَغَ مِنْ إِيمَانِكُمْ قَالُوا الصَّبْرُ عِنْدَ الْبَلاءِ وَالشُّكْرُ عِنْدَ الرَّخَاءِ وَالرِّضَا بِالْقَضَاءِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) حُلَمَاءُ عُلَمَاءُ كَادُوا مِنَ الْفِقْهِ أَنْ يَكُونُوا أَنْبِيَاءَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ كَمَا تَصِفُونَ فَلا تَبْنُوا مَا لا تَسْكُنُونَ وَلا تَجْمَعُوا مَا لا تَأْكُلُونَ وَاتَّقُوا الله الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ.

4. It is narrated from him from his father from Sulayman al-Ja’fary from abu al- Hassan al-Rida from his father (a.s.) who has said the following: “A people came to the Messenger of Allah during one of the armed expeditions and he asked who are these people? They said, ‘Believers, O Messenger of Allah.’ He then asked, ‘What is the degree of your belief?’ They replied, ‘It is patience in hardships, thankfulness in prosperous life and agreement with the decision of Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah then said, ‘These are forbearing and knowledgeable people. Their understanding is almost to the degree of the prophets. If you really are what you say you are, do not build what you will not use for dwelling, do not accumulate what you will not eat and be pious before Allah to whom you will return.’”

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ السَّرَّاجِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) وَبِأَسَانِيدَ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ عَنِ الأصْبَغِ بْنِ نُبَاتَةَ قَالَ خَطَبَنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) فِي دَارِهِ أَوْ قَالَ فِي الْقَصْرِ وَنَحْنُ مُجْتَمِعُونَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ صَلَوَاتُ الله عَلَيْهِ فَكُتِبَ فِي كِتَابٍ وَقُرِئَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَرَوَى غَيْرُهُ أَنَّ ابْنَ الْكَوَّاءِ سَأَلَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) عَنْ صِفَةِ الإسْلامِ وَالإيمَانِ وَالْكُفْرِ وَالنِّفَاقِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى شَرَعَ الإسْلامَ وَسَهَّلَ شَرَائِعَهُ لِمَنْ وَرَدَهُ وَأَعَزَّ أَرْكَانَهُ لِمَنْ حَارَبَهُ وَجَعَلَهُ عِزّاً لِمَنْ تَوَلاهُ وَسِلْماً لِمَنْ دَخَلَهُ وَهُدًى لِمَنِ ائْتَمَّ بِهِ وَزِينَةً لِمَنْ تَجَلَّلَهُ وَعُذْراً لِمَنِ انْتَحَلَهُ وَعُرْوَةً لِمَنِ اعْتَصَمَ بِهِ وَحَبْلاً لِمَنِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِهِ وَبُرْهَاناً لِمَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ وَنُوراً لِمَنِ اسْتَضَاءَ بِهِ وَعَوْناً لِمَنِ اسْتَغَاثَ بِهِ وَشَاهِداً لِمَنْ خَاصَمَ بِهِ وَفُلْجاً لِمَنْ حَاجَّ بِهِ وَعِلْماً لِمَنْ وَعَاهُ وَحَدِيثاً لِمَنْ رَوَى وَحُكْماً لِمَنْ قَضَى وَحِلْماً لِمَنْ جَرَّبَ وَلِبَاساً لِمَنْ تَدَبَّرَ وَفَهْماً لِمَنْ تَفَطَّنَ وَيَقِيناً لِمَنْ عَقَلَ وَبَصِيرَةً لِمَنْ عَزَمَ وَآيَةً لِمَنْ تَوَسَّمَ وَعِبْرَةً لِمَنِ اتَّعَظَ وَنَجَاةً لِمَنْ صَدَّقَ وَتُؤَدَةً لِمَنْ أَصْلَحَ وَزُلْفَى لِمَنِ اقْتَرَبَ وَثِقَةً لِمَنْ تَوَكَّلَ وَرَخَاءً لِمَنْ فَوَّضَ وَسُبْقَةً لِمَنْ أَحْسَنَ وَخَيْراً لِمَنْ سَارَعَ وَجُنَّةً لِمَنْ صَبَرَ وَلِبَاساً لِمَنِ اتَّقَى وَظَهِيراً لِمَنْ رَشَدَ وَكَهْفاً لِمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَمَنَةً لِمَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَرَجَاءً لِمَنْ صَدَقَ وَغِنًى لِمَنْ قَنِعَ فَذَلِكَ الْحَقُّ سَبِيلُهُ الْهُدَى وَمَأْثُرَتُهُ الْمَجْدُ وَصِفَتُهُ الْحُسْنَى فَهُوَ أَبْلَجُ الْمِنْهَاجِ مُشْرِقُ الْمَنَارِ ذَاكِي الْمِصْبَاحِ رَفِيعُ الْغَايَةِ يَسِيرُ الْمِضْمَارِ جَامِعُ الْحَلْبَةِ سَرِيعُ السَّبْقَةِ أَلِيمُ النَّقِمَةِ كَامِلُ الْعُدَّةِ كَرِيمُ الْفُرْسَانِ فَالإيمَانُ مِنْهَاجُهُ وَالصَّالِحَاتُ مَنَارُهُ وَالْفِقْهُ مَصَابِيحُهُ وَالدُّنْيَا مِضْمَارُهُ وَالْمَوْتُ غَايَتُهُ وَالْقِيَامَةُ حَلْبَتُهُ وَالْجَنَّةُ سُبْقَتُهُ وَالنَّارُ نَقِمَتُهُ وَالتَّقْوَى عُدَّتُهُ وَالْمُحْسِنُونَ فُرْسَانُهُ فَبِالإيمَانِ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلَى الصَّالِحَاتِ وَبِالصَّالِحَاتِ يُعْمَرُ الْفِقْهُ وَبِالْفِقْهِ يُرْهَبُ الْمَوْتُ وَبِالْمَوْتِ تُخْتَمُ الدُّنْيَا وَبِالدُّنْيَا تَجُوزُ الْقِيَامَةَ وَبِالْقِيَامَةِ تُزْلَفُ الْجَنَّةُ وَالْجَنَّةُ حَسْرَةُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ وَالنَّارُ مَوْعِظَةُ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَالتَّقْوَى سِنْخُ الإيمَانِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and a number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid all from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ya’qub al-Sarraj from Jabir from Abu Ja’far (a.s.) and through various chain of narrators from Asbagh ibn Nubatah who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) once addressed us at his home or - that he said - in the castle, and we were all gathered. He (may Allah’s favors be with him) issued a written order that was read to people. Others have narrated that ibn al-Kawwa asked Amir al- Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) to describe Islam, belief, rejection and hypocrisy. He then said, ‘(First I express my thanks to and praise of Allah), thereafter (I must say that) Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, established Islam and made its paths clear for the people coming in Islam. He gave strength to its corners against the enemies. He made it (to be a source of) dignity for those who love it, peace for those who enter therein, guidance for those who follow it, beauty for those who glorify it, protection for those who accept it, a stronghold for those who seek security, a rope for those who like to hold on to it, solid proof for those who speak from it, light for those who search for brightness, a rescuer for those who cry for help, a witness for those who fight for it, success for those who argue by the facts therein, knowledge for those who imbibe it, good report for those who narrate it, judgment for those who take it as the source of decrees, forbearance for those who experience it, a dress for those who contemplate on it, understanding for those who find good points in it, certainty for those who reason with it, insight for those who make a decision, a sign for those who take it as landmark, a good lesson for those who look for good lessons, salvation for those who affirm it, serenity for those who reform, success for those who come close to it, confidence for those who trust it, ease for those who make it the factor-in-charge of thier affairs, advancement for those who do it well, goodness for those who come to it fast, a shield for those who bear patience, dressing for those who observe piety, a supporter for those who take it as a guide, a cave of protection for those who seek safety, peace and comfort for those who accept it, hope for those who believe it and self-sufficiency for those who are content. That is the truth. Its path is guidance, its narratives are honorable and its description is goodness. Its system is clear, its lighthouse shines, its lamp is clean and bright, its aims are high, its training is easy and its advancing is a great deal. Its advancing is quick and its disciplining painful. Its assets are sufficient and its staff honorable. Belief is its system, virtuous deeds are its lighthouse, laws and understanding are the sources of its light, the world is its arena and death is its end, the hereafter its reward, paradise its finish line, hell its resentment, piety its supplies and people of good deeds its soldiers. Through belief good deeds are found, with good deeds good understanding is achieved and with good understanding fear for death is felt and with death the world ends. With the world one reaches the Day of Judgment. On the Day of Judgment paradise is bedecked. Paradise is (the cause of) regret for people of hell. Hell is a good lesson for the pious people and piety is the foundation of belief.”

1ـ بِالإسْنَادِ الأوَّلِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ السَّرَّاجِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سُئِلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الإيمَانِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَعَلَ الإيمَانَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ دَعَائِمَ عَلَى الصَّبْرِ وَالْيَقِينِ وَالْعَدْلِ وَالْجِهَادِ فَالصَّبْرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ عَلَى الشَّوْقِ وَالإشْفَاقِ وَالزُّهْدِ وَالتَّرَقُّبِ فَمَنِ اشْتَاقَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ سَلا عَنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ وَمَنْ أَشْفَقَ مِنَ النَّارِ رَجَعَ عَنِ الْمُحَرَّمَاتِ وَمَنْ زَهِدَ فِي الدُّنْيَا هَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمُصِيبَاتُ وَمَنْ رَاقَبَ الْمَوْتَ سَارَعَ إِلَى الْخَيْرَاتِ وَالْيَقِينُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ تَبْصِرَةِ الْفِطْنَةِ وَتَأَوُّلِ الْحِكْمَةِ وَمَعْرِفَةِ الْعِبْرَةِ وَسُنَّةِ الأوَّلِينَ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ الْفِطْنَةَ عَرَفَ الْحِكْمَةَ وَمَنْ تَأَوَّلَ الْحِكْمَةَ عَرَفَ الْعِبْرَةَ وَمَنْ عَرَفَ الْعِبْرَةَ عَرَفَ السُّنَّةَ وَمَنْ عَرَفَ السُّنَّةَ فَكَأَنَّمَا كَانَ مَعَ الأوَّلِينَ وَاهْتَدَى إِلَى الَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَنَظَرَ إِلَى مَنْ نَجَا بِمَا نَجَا وَمَنْ هَلَكَ بِمَا هَلَكَ وَإِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ الله مَنْ أَهْلَكَ بِمَعْصِيَتِهِ وَأَنْجَى مَنْ أَنْجَى بِطَاعَتِهِ وَالْعَدْلُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ غَامِضِ الْفَهْمِ وَغَمْرِ الْعِلْمِ وَزَهْرَةِ الْحُكْمِ وَرَوْضَةِ الْحِلْمِ فَمَنْ فَهِمَ فَسَّرَ جَمِيعَ الْعِلْمِ وَمَنْ عَلِمَ عَرَفَ شَرَائِعَ الْحُكْمِ وَمَنْ حَلُمَ لَمْ يُفَرِّطْ فِي أَمْرِهِ وَعَاشَ فِي النَّاسِ حَمِيداً وَالْجِهَادُ عَلَى أَرْبَعِ شُعَبٍ عَلَى الأمْرِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَالنَّهْيِ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَالصِّدْقِ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ وَشَنَ‏آنِ الْفَاسِقِينَ فَمَنْ أَمَرَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ شَدَّ ظَهْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَمَنْ نَهَى عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ أَرْغَمَ أَنْفَ الْمُنَافِقِ وَأَمِنَ كَيْدَهُ وَمَنْ صَدَقَ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ قَضَى الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ شَنِئَ الْفَاسِقِينَ غَضِبَ لله وَمَنْ غَضِبَ لله غَضِبَ الله لَهُ فَذَلِكَ الإيمَانُ وَدَعَائِمُهُ وَشُعَبُهُ.

1. Through the same chain of narrators as the above Hadith it is narrated from ibn Mahbub from Ya’qub al-Sarraj from Jabir from abu Ja’far (a.s.) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib) (a.s.) was asked about belief and he said, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, made belief upon four pillars: ‘Patience, Certainty, Justice and Jihad (hard work for the cause of Allah). ‘The Patience therein has four branches: nostalgia, fear, restraint and vigilance. One who has a longing for paradise forgets the worldly desires. One who has fear of hell abstains from unlawful things. One who exercises restraint in worldly matters the worldly hardships become easier for him, and one who is vigilant of death hastens to good deeds. ‘The Certainty therein is also of four branches. They consist of sharp understanding, proper application of wisdom, recognizing good lessons and knowledge of the traditions of the people of the past. One who possesses sharp understanding recognizes the matters of wisdom. One who applies wisdom properly recognizes the good lessons, and one who recognizes the good lessons recognizes the traditions, and one who recognizes traditions is like the one who has lived with the people of the past and has found proper and firm guidance. He has seen who found salvation and by what means they found. He has also seen those who were destroyed and things that destroyed them. Allah destroys only those who disobey Him and grants salvation for ones obedience to His commands. ‘The Justice therein is also of four branches. It is a matter of deep understanding, a huge body of knowledge, the bloom of wisdom and the garden of forbearance. One who has deep understanding has the ability to interpret all knowledge. One who has a huge body of knowledge knows the ways of wisdom, and one who is forbearing is not an extremist in his decrees and lives among the people with a good name. ‘The Jihad (hard work for the cause of Allah) therein, is also of four branches. They consist of helping others to perform their duties and to stay away from that which is prohibited, to speak the truth whenever needed and to shun sins and sinners. One who helps others to perform their duties has supported the believer. One who helps stop others from sinning has humiliated the hypocrites and has thwarted their wicked plans. One who speaks the truth at the right time, his is the winning side. One who shuns the sinners has used anger for Allah. One who becomes angry for Allah, Allah becomes angry for him. Such is belief, its pillars and branches.’”

1ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَا أَخَا جُعْفٍ إِنَّ الإيمَانَ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الإسْلامِ وَإِنَّ الْيَقِينَ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الإيمَانِ وَمَا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَعَزَّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ.

1. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salim from Ahmad ibn al- Nadr from ‘Amr ibn Shamir from Jabir from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said, ‘O brother from Ju’f (name of his tribe) belief is superior to Islam and certainty is superior to belief. Nothing there is dearer than certainty.”

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَالْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ الإيمَانُ فَوْقَ الإسْلامِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَالتَّقْوَى فَوْقَ الإيمَانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَالْيَقِينُ فَوْقَ التَّقْوَى بِدَرَجَةٍ وَمَا قُسِمَ فِي النَّاسِ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad all from al-Washsha’ who has said the following: “I heard abu Al-Hassan (a.s.) saying, ‘Belief is above Islam by one degree. Piety is above belief by one degree. Certainty is above piety by one degree. Nothing is distributed so little among people as certainty is.’”

3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رِئَابٍ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الله فَضَّلَ الإيمَانَ عَلَى الإسْلامِ بِدَرَجَةٍ كَمَا فَضَّلَ الْكَعْبَةَ عَلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ.

3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Humran ibn ‘A’Yun who has said the following: “I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, ‘Allah has given superiority to belief over Islam by one degree just as He has given superiority to al-Ka’ba over the Sacred Mosque.’”

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبَانٍ الْكَلْبِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ الْوَاسِطِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ الإسْلامُ دَرَجَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَالإيمَانُ عَلَى الإسْلامِ دَرَجَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَالتَّقْوَى عَلَى الإيمَانِ دَرَجَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَالْيَقِينُ عَلَى التَّقْوَى دَرَجَةٌ قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّاسُ أَقَلَّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ وَإِنَّمَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِأَدْنَى الإسْلامِ فَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ يَنْفَلِتَ مِنْ أَيْدِيكُمْ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Harun ibn al-Jahm or others from ‘Amr ibn Aban ibn al-Kalbi from ‘Abd al-Hamid al-Wasiti from abu Basir who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad, Islam is a high status.’ I said, ‘Yes, indeed it is.’ The Imam said, ‘Belief is above Islam by one degree.’ I said, ‘Yes, it is.’ The Imam said, ‘Piety is above belief by one degree.’ I said, ‘Yes, it is.’ The Imam said, ‘Certainty is above piety by one degree.’ I said, ‘Yes, it is.’ The Imam said, ‘Nothing is given to people as little as certainty is. What you are holding to is very little of Islam. Pay attention not to lose it.’”

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الإيمَانِ وَالإسْلامِ فَقَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّمَا هُوَ الإسْلامُ وَالإيمَانُ فَوْقَهُ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَالتَّقْوَى فَوْقَ الإيمَانِ بِدَرَجَةٍ وَالْيَقِينُ فَوْقَ التَّقْوَى بِدَرَجَةٍ وَلَمْ يُقْسَمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَقَلُّ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَأَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ الْيَقِينُ قَالَ التَّوَكُّلُ عَلَى الله وَالتَّسْلِيمُ لله وَالرِّضَا بِقَضَاءِ الله وَالتَّفْوِيضُ إِلَى الله قُلْتُ فَمَا تَفْسِيرُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ هَكَذَا قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام).

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus who has said the following: “I asked abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) about belief and Islam and he said, abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said the following: ‘There is Islam. Belief is one degree higher above Islam, and piety is one degree higher above belief. Certainty is by one degree higher above piety and nothing is distributed among people so little as certainty is.’ I then said, ‘What then is certainty?’ The Imam said, ‘It is trust in Allah, submission to Allah, accepting the decision of Allah and allowing Allah to be the person in charge of one’s affairs.’ I then said, ‘What then is the interpretation of that?’ The Imam said, ‘This is how abu Ja’far (a.s.) said it is.’”