The Book of Belief and Disbelief
To Revive the Believer
1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْساً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ فَكَأَنَّما قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَمَنْ أَحْياها فَكَأَنَّما أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً قَالَ مَنْ أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ ضَلالٍ إِلَى هُدًى فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَاهَا وَمَنْ أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ هُدًى إِلَى ضَلالٍ فَقَدْ قَتَلَهَا.
1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Sama’a from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “I asked him about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . We made it a law for the children of Israel that the killing of a person for reasons other than legal retaliation or for stopping corruption in the land is as great a sin as murdering all of mankind. However, to save a life would be as great a virtue as to save all of mankind...’ (5:32) “The Imam said, ‘Whoever takes people from straying to guidance, has given them life. Whoever takes people from guidance to straying, it is as if he has murdered all of them.’”
2ـ عَنْهُ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَوْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَمَنْ أَحْياها فَكَأَنَّما أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً قَالَ مِنْ حَرَقٍ أَوْ غَرَقٍ قُلْتُ فَمَنْ أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ ضَلالٍ إِلَى هُدًى قَالَ ذَاكَ تَأْوِيلُهَا الأعْظَمُ. مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ وَعَبْدِ الله ابْنَيْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ مِثْلَهُ.
2. It is narrated from him (narrator of the Hadith above) from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, in His book, ‘ ... to save a life is as great a virtue as to save all of mankind. . . .’ (5:32) The Imam said, ‘It refers to burning or drowning someone.’ I asked, ‘What if someone takes him out of straying to guidance?’ The Imam said, ‘That is the greatest interpretation of the case in point.’” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad and ‘Abd Allah the two sons of Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Aban: a similar Hadith.
3ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ الْقَمَّاطِ عَنْ حُمْرَانَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُكَ أَصْلَحَكَ الله فَقَالَ نَعَمْ فَقُلْتُ كُنْتُ عَلَى حَالٍ وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَى حَالٍ أُخْرَى كُنْتُ أَدْخُلُ الأرْضَ فَأَدْعُو الرَّجُلَ وَالإثْنَيْنِ وَالْمَرْأَةَ فَيُنْقِذُ الله مَنْ شَاءَ وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ لا أَدْعُو أَحَداً فَقَالَ وَمَا عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تُخَلِّيَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَبَيْنَ رَبِّهِمْ فَمَنْ أَرَادَ الله أَنْ يُخْرِجَهُ مِنْ ظُلْمَةٍ إِلَى نُورٍ أَخْرَجَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَلا عَلَيْكَ إِنْ آنَسْتَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ خَيْراً أَنْ تَنْبِذَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْءَ نَبْذاً قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ أَحْياها فَكَأَنَّما أَحْيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً قَالَ مِنْ حَرَقٍ أَوْ غَرَقٍ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَأْوِيلُهَا الأعْظَمُ أَنْ دَعَاهَا فَاسْتَجَابَتْ لَهُ.
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from al- Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya ibn ‘Imran al- Halabi from abu Khalid al-Qammat from Humran who has said the following: “Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Can I ask you a question, may Allah keep you well?’ He said, ‘Yes you may do so.’ I said, ‘I was in a particular condition and today I am in another condition. I would go in the land to invite one or two men and women (to our belief) and Allah would save whomever He wanted. Today I do not invite anyone.’ The Imam said, ‘It is no offense to you to leave people to their Lord. Whomever Allah wants to guide and take out of darkness to light He does so.’ The Imam then said, ‘It is not an offense to you if you sense good in someone to introduce an issue.’ 1 then said, ‘Tell me about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . to save a life is as great a virtue as to save all of mankind. . . .’ (5:32) The Imam said, ‘It refers to burning or drowning someone. He then remained quiet and then said, ‘Its greatest case in point, is that one is invited (to the truth), and he accepts it.’”
The Book of Belief and Disbelief
Inviting one ’s Own People to Belief
1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ خَالِدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ لِي أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ وَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ مِنِّي أَ فَأَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى هَذَا الأمْرِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ ناراً وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجارَةُ.
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Nu’man from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from Sulayman ibn Khalid who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘I know a family who listens to me, should I invite them to this cause (belief of the Shi ’a Muslims)?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, says in His book, ‘Believers, save yourselves and your families from the fire which is fueled with people and stones . . (66:6)
The Book of Belief and Disbelief
Not to Invite People to Belief
1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ كُلَيْبِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ الصَّيْدَاوِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِيَّاكُمْ وَالنَّاسَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً نَكَتَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةً فَتَرَكَهُ وَهُوَ يَجُولُ لِذَلِكَ وَيَطْلُبُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ إِذَا كَلَّمْتُمُ النَّاسَ قُلْتُمْ ذَهَبْنَا حَيْثُ ذَهَبَ الله وَاخْتَرْنَا مَنِ اخْتَارَ الله وَاخْتَارَ الله مُحَمَّداً وَاخْتَرْنَا آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَيْهِمْ.
1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Kulayb ibn Mu’awiyah al-Saydawi who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘Beware of people. If Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, wills good for a servant, He places a dot in his heart. He then leaves him alone and for that reason he moves around and searches it (belief).’ Then he (the Imam) said, ‘Were you to talk to people, say we have gone where Allah goes, and we choose whoever Allah chooses. Allah chose Muhammad and we chose the family of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and them.’”
2ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ السَّرَّاجِ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ ثَابِتٍ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَا ثَابِتُ مَا لَكُمْ وَلِلنَّاسِ كُفُّوا عَنِ النَّاسِ وَلا تَدْعُوا أَحَداً إِلَى أَمْرِكُمْ فَوَ الله لَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ السَّمَاءِ وَأَهْلَ الأرْضِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يُضِلُّوا عَبْداً يُرِيدُ الله هُدَاهُ مَا اسْتَطَاعُوا كُفُّوا عَنِ النَّاسِ وَلا يَقُولُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخِي وَابْنُ عَمِّي وَجَارِي فَإِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً طَيَّبَ رُوحَهُ فَلا يَسْمَعُ بِمَعْرُوفٍ إِلا عَرَفَهُ وَلا بِمُنْكَرٍ إِلا أَنْكَرَهُ ثُمَّ يَقْذِفُ الله فِي قَلْبِهِ كَلِمَةً يَجْمَعُ بِهَا أَمْرَهُ.
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Isma’il from abu Isma’il Al- Sarraj from ibn Muskan from Thabit abu Sa’id who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said to me, ‘O Thabit, what do you have to do with people? Leave the people alone and do not invite anyone to your cause (your belief). By Allah, if the inhabitants of heaven and the inhabitants of earth would come together to mislead a servant whom Allah wants to guide, they would not be able to do it. Leave the people alone and no one of you should say: “What about my brother, the son of my Uncle and my neighbor”? When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, wills good for a servant. He cleanses his spirit and thereafter he does not listen to any principle but that he recognizes, and acknowledges it and does not hear of a wickedness but that he hates it. Then Allah places a word in his heart that serves as a focal point in his affairs.’”
3ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوَانَ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) نَدْعُو النَّاسَ إِلَى هَذَا الأمْرِ فَقَالَ يَا فُضَيْلُ إِنَّ الله إِذَا أَرَادَ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً أَمَرَ مَلَكاً فَأَخَذَ بِعُنُقِهِ حَتَّى أَدْخَلَهُ فِي هَذَا الأمْرِ طَائِعاً أَوْ كَارِهاً.
3. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Marwan from al-Fudayl who has said the following: “Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘Should we invite people to this cause (belief of Shi’a Muslims)?’ The Imam said, ‘O al-Fudayl, it is certain, when Allah wills good for a servant. He commands an angel who holds his neck until he brings him into this cause whether he likes or dislikes it.’”
4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) اجْعَلُوا أَمْرَكُمْ هَذَا لله وَلا تَجْعَلُوهُ لِلنَّاسِ فَإِنَّهُ مَا كَانَ لله فَهُوَ لله وَمَا كَانَ لِلنَّاسِ فَلا يَصْعَدُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَلا تُخَاصِمُوا بِدِينِكُمُ النَّاسَ فَإِنَّ الْمُخَاصَمَةَ مَمْرَضَةٌ لِلْقَلْبِ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ لِنَبِيِّهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلكِنَّ الله يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشاءُ وَقَالَ أَ فَأَنْتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ ذَرُوا النَّاسَ فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ أَخَذُوا عَنِ النَّاسِ وَإِنَّكُمْ أَخَذْتُمْ عَنْ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) وَعَلِيٍّ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) وَلا سَوَاءٌ وَإِنَّنِي سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ إِذَا كَتَبَ الله عَلَى عَبْدٍ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ فِي هَذَا الأمْرِ كَانَ أَسْرَعَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الطَّيْرِ إِلَى وَكْرِهِ.
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from ibn Faddal from Ali ibn ‘Uqbah from his father who has said the following: “Once Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) said, ‘Keep your cause (belief), for the sake of Allah and do not make it for people; what is for Allah is for Allah and what is for people cannot ascend to heaven. Do not argue with people about your religion; argumentation causes sickness to the heart. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said to His Holy Prophet, ‘(Muhammad), you cannot guide whomever you love, but Allah guides whomever He wants. . . .’ (28:56) He has also said, ‘. . . (Muhammad), do you force people to have faith’? (10:99). Leave the people alone; they take it from people and you take it from the Messenger of Allah and from Amir al-Mu’minin (Ali ibn abu Talib), recipients of divine supreme covenant, and this is not equal. I heard my father saying, ‘When Allah writes for a servant to enter into this cause (belief of AM al-Bayt) he rushes to it quicker than a bird to its nest.’”
5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَ قَوْماً لِلْحَقِّ فَإِذَا مَرَّ بِهِمُ الْبَابُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ قَبِلَتْهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا لا يَعْرِفُونَهُ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِهِمُ الْبَابُ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ أَنْكَرَتْهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا لا يَعْرِفُونَهُ وَخَلَقَ قَوْماً لِغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا مَرَّ بِهِمُ الْبَابُ مِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنْكَرَتْهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا لا يَعْرِفُونَهُ وَإِذَا مَرَّ بِهِمُ الْبَابُ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ قَبِلَتْهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِنْ كَانُوا لا يَعْرِفُونَهُ.
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Uthman from ibn ‘Udhaynah from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has created a people for the truth, when they pass by the door of the truth, their hearts accept it, even though they may not know it. When they pass by the door of falsehood, their hearts reject it, even though they may not know it. He has created a people for things other than this. When they pass by the door of the truth, their hearts reject it, even though they may not know it. When they pass by the door of falsehood, their hearts accept it, even though they may not know it.”
6ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلاءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِذَا أَرَادَ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْراً نَكَتَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةً مِنْ نُورٍ فَأَضَاءَ لَهَا سَمْعُهُ وَقَلْبُهُ حَتَّى يَكُونَ أَحْرَصَ عَلَى مَا فِي أَيْدِيكُمْ مِنْكُمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ بِعَبْدٍ سُوءاً نَكَتَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةً سَوْدَاءَ فَأَظْلَمَ لَهَا سَمْعُهُ وَقَلْبُهُ ثُمَّ تَلا هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَمَنْ يُرِدِ الله أَنْ يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلإسْلامِ وَمَنْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقاً حَرَجاً كَأَنَّما يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّماءِ.
6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Abd al- Hamid ibn abu al-‘Ala’ from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: “When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, wills good for a servant. He places a dot of light in his heart, which shines his ears and heart to the extent that he becomes more eager and protective of this cause than you are. When He wills evil for a servant. He places a black dot in his heart and it darkens his ears and his heart. Then he recited this verse, ‘Allah will open the hearts of whomever He wants to guide to Islam, but He will constrict the chest of one whom He has led astray, as though he were to climb high up into the sky. . . .’” (6:125)