Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār

حدثني محمد بن علي ماجيلويه - رحمه الله -، عن عمه محمد بن أبي القاسم، عن محمد بن علي القرشي، عن سفيان الجريري، عن علي بن الحزور، عن الأصبغ بن نباتة قال: لما أقبل أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام من البصرة تلقاه أشراف الناس فهنؤوه وقالوا: إنا نرجو أن يكون هذا الامر فيكم ولا ينازعكم فيه أحد أبدا فقال: هيهات - في كلام له - أنى ذلك ولما ترمون بالصلعاء . قالوا: يا أمير المؤمنين وما الصلعاء؟ قال: تؤخذ أموالكم قسرا فلا تمنعون.

1. I was told by Muhammed bin Ali Majilawayh, may Allah grant him mercy, about his paternal uncle, Muhammed bin Abi’l-Qasem, from Muhammed bin Ali al-Qurashi, from Sufyan al-Jareeri, from Ali bin Hazzour, from Asbagh bin Nubata, that he said: When the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him, approached from Basra, he was received by the nobles among the people, and they greeted him and said: Indeed, we wish that this matter remains in you and that none quarrel with you over it, ever. Then he said: Far is such from the truth – in a speech of his – how could that be when you will be afflicted with the bald? They said: O Commander of the Believers, and what is the bald? He said: Your property will be taken forcibly, and you will not prevent (it from happening).

أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن أحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر البزنطي، قال: حدثني مفضل بن سعيد ، عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام قال: جاء أعرابي أحد بني عامر إلي النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فسأله وذكر حديثا طويلا يذكر في آخره أنه سأله الاعرابي عن الصليعاء والقريعاء وخير بقاع الأرض وشر بقاع الأرض. فقال بعد أن أتاه جبرئيل فأخبره: إن الصليعاء الأرض السبخة التي لا تروي ولا تشبع مرعاها، والقريعاء الأرض التي لا تعطي بركتها ولا يخرج ينعها ولا يدرك ما أنفق فيها، وشر بقاع الأرض الأسواق وهي ميدان إبليس يغدو برايته ويضع كرسيه ويبث ذريته فبين مطفف في قفيز أو طائش في ميزان أو سارق في ذراع أو كاذب في سلعة فيقول: عليكم برجل مات أبوه وأبوكم حي، فلا يزال الشيطان مع أول من يدخل وآخر من يرجع وخير البقاع المساجد وأحبهم إليه أولهم دخولا وآخرهم خروجا - وكان الحديث طويلا اختصرنا منه موضع الحاجة -.

1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Isa, from Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Abi Nasr al-Bazanti, that he said: I was told by Mufaddal bin Sa’eed, from Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, that he said: An Arabian of one of the sons of ‘Amer came to the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and so he asked him, and he mentioned a long speech in which he mentioned in its last that the Arabian asked him about the bald, the bare, the best of the earth’s spots and the worst of the earth’s spots. Then he said, after Jibra’eel came to him and informed him: Indeed, the bald (land) is the marshy earth that satisfies neither with liquid nor food, its grazing. The bare (land) is the earth that does not give its blessing, and whose mellow does not come out, and whose expenditure is not known. The worth of earth’s spots are markets, and they are the arena of Iblees in which he appears with his banner, places his chair and spreads his offspring. Hence, it is between a cheater with measurement, a reckless with the scale, a (thief) stealing with the arm or a liar about a merchandise, saying: «(I swear to you that) Upon you is a man whose father has died, whereas your father is alive», and so, Shaytan does not disappear from being with the first who enters and the last who returns. The best of the earth’s spots are mosques, and the most beloved to Him are the first to enter and the last to exit. The narration was long; we abbreviated from it the place of need.

حدثني محمد بن علي ماجيلويه - رضي الله عنه - عن عمه، عن محمد بن علي الكوفي، عن حسين بن أيوب بن أبي عقيلة الصيرفي، عن كرام الخثعمي، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: إياك والرئاسة، وإياك أن تطأ أعقاب الرجال. فقلت: جعلت فداك أما الرئاسة فقد عرفتها، وأما أن أطأ أعقاب الرجال فما ثلثا ما في يدي إلا مما وطأت أعقاب الرجال. فقال: ليس حيث تذهب، إياك أن تنصب رجلا دون الحجة فتصدقه في كل ما قال.

1. I was told by Muhammed bin Ali Majilawayh, may Allah be pleased with him, from his paternal uncle, from Muhammed bin Ali al-Kufi, from Hussain bin Ayoub bin Abi ‘Aqeela al-Sayrafi, from Ikram al-Khath’ami, from Abu Hamza al-Thumali, that he said: Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: Beware from rulership, and beware from stepping on the heel bones of men. So I said: May I be sacrificed for you, as for rulership, I have known it, and as for me to step on the heel bones of men, then two thirds of what is in my hands is from nothing but what has stepped on the heel bones of men. So he said: It is not as you think. Beware from assigning a man (as a leader), besides the Proof, by which you believe him in everything he says.

حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه، عن عمه، عن محمد بن علي الكوفي، عن حضين ابن مخارق أبي جنادة السلولي، عن أبي حمزة، عن أبي جعفر، عن أبيه عليهما السلام قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: من صام شعبان كان له طهرا من كل زلة ووصمة وبادرة. قال أبو حمزة: فقلت لأبي جعفر عليه السلام: ما الوصمة؟ قال: اليمين في معصية، ولا نذر في معصية قلت: فما الباردة؟ قال: اليمين عند الغضب، والتوبة منها الندم عليها.

1. We were told by Muhammed bin Ali Majilawayh, from his paternal uncle, from Muhammed bin Ali al-Kufi, from Hudhayn ibn Mukhariq, Abu Junada al-Salouli, from Abu Hamza, from Abu Ja’far, from his father, peace be upon them both, that he said: The Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: The one who fasts (the month of) Sha’ban will have a purification from every unintentional mistake, disgrace and gesture. Abu Hamza said: Then I said to Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him: What is the disgrace? He said: The right hand (in promise) in an act of disobedience; there is no oath (valid) in an act of disobedience. I said: Then what is the gesture? He said: The right hand (in promise) during anger; the repentance from it is to regret upon it.

أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن حماد بن عيسى، عن أبان بن عثمان، عمن أخبره، قال: قلت لأبي جعفر عليه السلام: لم سمي الحج؟ قال: الحج الفلاح، يقال: حج فلان أي أفلح.

1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ahmad bin Muhammed, from his father, from Hammad bin Isa, from Aban bin Uthman, from the one who informed him, that he said: I said to Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him: Why was it named a pilgrimage? He said: Pilgrimage is success. It is said: Such-a-person performed the pilgrimage, meaning that he achieved success.

أبي رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن حماد بن عيسى، عن شعيب، عن أبي بصير، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: شاء وأراد ولم يحب ولم يرض. قلت له: كيف؟ قال: شاء أن لا يكون شئ إلا بعلمه، وأراد مثل ذلك، ولم يحب أن يقال له: ثالث ثلاثة، ولم يرض لعباده الكفر.

1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ahmad bin Muhammed, from his father, from Hammad bin Isa, from Shu’aib, from Abu Baseer, that he said: Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: He wished and willed, and He did not love nor become pleased. I said to him: How? He said: He wished that there should not be anything except with His Knowledge, and He willed the same as that, and He did not love that it is said: «The third of three» (5:73) and He was not pleased with disbelief for His servants.

أبي رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن أحمد بن أبي عبد الله البرقي، عن بعض أصحابنا رفعه، قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: الأغلب من غلب بالخير، والمغلوب من غلب بالشر، والمؤمن ملجم.

1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ahmad bin Abi Abdillah al-Barqi, from some of our companions, that he ascribed it, saying: Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, said: The overcoming is the one who overcomes with goodness, and the overcome is the one who overcomes with evil, and the believer is harnessed.

أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى، عن محمد بن أحمد، عن موسى بن عمر عن موسى بن بكر، عن رجل، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله أعرابي فقال له: ألست خيرنا أبا واما وأكرمنا عقبا ورئيسنا في الجاهلية والاسلام؟ فغضب النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وقال: يا أعرابي كم دون لسانك من حجاب؟ قال: اثنان: شفتان وأسنان، فقال:النبي صلى الله عليه وآله: فما كان في أحد هذين ما يرد عنا غرب لسانك هذا؟! أما إنه لم يعط أحد في دنياه شيئا هو أضر له في آخرته من طلاقة لسانه! يا علي قم فاقطع لسانه فظن الناس أنه يقطع لسانه فأعطاه دراهم.

1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Muhammed bin Yahya, from Muhammed bin Ahmad, from Musa bin Umar, from Musa bin Bikr, from a man, from Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, that he said: An Arabian came to the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and said to him: Are you not the best of us, in terms of father and mother, the most generous among us in terms of progeny and our leader during the Jahiliya and Islam? Then the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, was angered and said: O Arabian, how many covers are before your tongue? He said: Two lips and teeth. Then the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: So, where there not in any of these two what repels the wandering of this tongue of yours? Verily, none has, indeed, been given anything in this life of his that is more harmful to him in his afterlife than the unrestraintness of his tongue. O Ali, stand up and cut his tongue! Then the people assumed that he will cut his tongue, but (instead) he gave him dirhams.

حدثنا محمد بن علي ماجيلويه، عن عمه محمد بن أبي القاسم، عن محمد بن علي الكوفي عن علي بن النعمان، عن ابن مسكان، عن أبي بصير، قال: قال أبو جعفر عليه السلام: ما خدعوك عن شئ فلا يخدعوك في العصر، صلها والشمس بيضاء نقية. فإن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله قال: الموتور أهله وماله من ضيع صلاة العصر. قلت: وما الموتور أهله وماله؟ قال: لا يكون له أهل ولا مال في الجنة. قلت: وما تضييعها؟ قال: يدعها والله حتى تصفار أو تغيب.

1. We were told by Muhammed bin Ali Majilawayh, from his paternal uncle, Muhammed bin Abi’l-Qasem, from Muhammed bin Ali al-Kufi, from Ali bin Nu’man, from Ibn Maskan, from Abu Baseer, that he said: Abu Ja’far, peace be upon him, said: Regardless how much they deceive you in anything, let them not deceive you with regards to the afternoon (prayer); pray it while the sun is white and pure, for indeed, the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: The one whose family and property are perished is the one who wastes the afternoon prayer. I said: And what is the one whose family and property are perished? He said: He will neither have family nor property in Paradise. I said: And what is it to waste it? He said: That he leaves it, by Allah, until it yellows or disappears.

أبي - رحمه الله - قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن يعقوب بن يزيد، عن عباس ابن هلال، قال: سمعت أبا الحسن الرضا عليه السلام يقول: إني أحب أن يكون المؤمن محدثا قال: قلت: وأي شئ يكون المحدث؟ قال: المفهم.

1. My father, may Allah grant him mercy, said: We were told by Sa’d bin Abdullah, from Ya’qoub bin Yazid, from Ubaid ibn Hilal, that he said: I heard Abu’l-Hasan al-Rida, peace be upon him, say: Indeed, I love for the believer to be a teller. He said: I said: And what thing is a teller? He said: An clarifier.