ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā

13 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عصامٍ الكُلَيْنِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الكُلَيْنِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ سَيْفٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُبِيْدَةَ قالَ: سَأَلْتُ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِإِبلِيسَ: «ما مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِما خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ» قالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: يَعْنِي بِقُدرَتِي وَقُوَّتِي.قالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الْكِتابِ: سَمِعْتُ بَعْضَ مَشايِخِ الشِّيعَةِ يَذكُرُ فِي هذِهِ الآيَةِ: إِنَّ الأَئِمَّةَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ كانُوا يَقِفُونَ عَلَى قَوْلَهُ: «ما مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَسْجُدَ لِما خَلَقْتُ» ثُمَّ يَبتَدِءوُنَ بِقَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «بِيَدَيَّ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْعـالِينَ» قـال: وَهـذا مِثلُ قَوْلِ القـائِلِ: بِسَيْفِيتُقاتِلُني وَبِرُمحِي تُطاعَنُني كَأَنَّهُ يَقُولُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: بِنِعمَتِي عَلَيْكَ وَإحسـانِي إِلَيكَ قَوَيتَ عَلَى الإِستِكبارِ وَالعِصيانِ.

11-13 Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Aasim al-Kolayni - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yaqoob al-Kolayni quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Idris, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, on the authority of Ali ibn Sayf, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Obaydah, “I asked Al-Ridha (s) about the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘O Satan! What prevents thee from prostrating thyself to the one whom I have created with my hands?…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘This means by my Might and Power.’”The author of this book (Sheikh Sadooq) said, “I have heard from some of the Shiite Sheikhs that the Divine Leaders read ‘O Satan! What prevents thee from prostrating thyself to the one whom I have created…’ and then paused on the word ‘created’ and started again with the words ‘with my hands.’ The verse continues with ‘…Art thou haughty? Or art thou one of the high (and mighty) ones?’ This is similar to saying, ‘Do you fight me using my own sword? Do you hit meusing my own spears?’ Therefore, the Honorable the Exalted God is saying, ‘You have been empowered to be arrogant and disobedient using my own blessings given to you and kindnesses rendered to you.’”

14 - حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنُ بْنُ إِبْراهيمَ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ هِشامٍ المُكَتَّبُ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُوالحُسَيْنِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الكُوفِيُّ الأَسَدِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ البَرمَكيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الحُسَينُ بنُ الحَسَنِ، عَنْ بَكرِ بْنِ صالِحٍ، عَنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ ساقٍ وَيَدْعُونَ إِلَى السُّجُودِ» قالَ: حِجابٌ مِن نُورٍ يَكشَفُ فَيِقَعُ الْمُؤْمِنُوُنَ سُجَّداً، وَتُدْمَجُ أَصلابُ المُنافِقِينَ فَلا يَستَطِيعُونَ السُّجُودَ.

11-14 Al-Hussein ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad ibn Hisham al-Mokattib - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Abul Hussein Muhammad ibn Ja’far al-Kufi al-Asadi quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Barmaki, on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Al-Hassan, on the authority of Bakr ibn Salih, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Sa’eed, on the authority of Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s) who said the following regarding the interpretation of the verse, ‘The Day that the shin shall be laid bare, and they shall be summoned to bow in adoration,…’ “This refers to the Day on which the veil from the Light will be drawn aside and the believers fall in prostration but the backs of the hypocrites become so rigid that they cannot fall in prostration.”

15 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو العَبَّاسِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْراهيمَ بْنِ إِسْحاقَ الطَّالِقانِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ الحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِىٍّ العَدوِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الهِيْثَمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرُّمانِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىُّ بْنُ مُوسَى الرِّضاعَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ، عَنْ أَبيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْنِ، عَنْ أَبيهِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِبٍ‏عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ قالَ: خَطَبَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ النَّاسَ فِي مَسْجِدِ الكُوفَةَ فَقالَ:اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذي لا مِن شَي‏ءٍ كانَ، وَلا مِن شَي‏ءٍ كَوَّنَ ما قَدْ كانَ، المُستَشهِدِ بِحُدُوثِ الأَشْياءِ عَلَى أَزَلِيَّتِهِ، وَبِما وَسَمَها بِهِ مِنَ العَجزِ عَلَى قُدرَتِهِ، وَبِما اضطَرَّها إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الفَناءِ عَلَى دَوامِهِ، لَمْ يَخلُ مِنْهُ مَكانٌ فَيُدرِكَ بِأَينِيَّتِهِ، وَلا لَهُ شِبهُ مِثالٍ فَيُوصَفَ بِكَيفِيَّتِهِ، وَلَمْ يَغِب عَنْ فَيَعلَمَ بِحِيثِيَّتِهِ.مُبايِنٌ لِجَمِيعِ ما أَحَدثَ فِي الصِّفاتِ، وَمُمتَنِعٌ عَنِ الإِدراكِ بِما ابتَدَعَ مِن تَصرِيفِ الذَّواتِ، وَخارِجٌ بِالكِبرِياءِ وَالعَظَمَةِ مِن جَمِيعِ تَصَرُّفِ الحالاتِ، مُحَرَّمٌ عَلَى بَوارِعٍ ثاقِبـاتِ الفَطَنِتَجدِيدُهُ، وَعَلَى غَوامِضِ ناقِباتِ الفِكَرِ تَكيِيفُهُ، وَعَلَى غَوائِصِ سابِحاتِ النَّظَرِ تَصوِيرُهُ، لا تَحوِيهِ الأَماكِنُ لِعَظَمَتِهِ، وَلا تَدرَعُهُ المَقادِيرُ لِجَلالِه، وَتَقطَعُهُ المَقاييسُ لِكِبريائِهِ مُمتَنِعٌ عَنْ الأَوهامِ أَن تَكتَنَهَهُ، وَعَنِ الأَفهامِ أَن تَستَغرَفَهُ، وَعَنِ الأَذهانِ أَن تُمَثِّلَهُ، وَقَدْ يَئِسَت مِنِ استِنباطِ الإِحاطَةِ بِهِ طَوامِحُ العُقُولِ، وَنَضَبَت عَنِ الإِشارَةِ إِلَيْهِ بِالإِكتِناهِ بِحارُ العُلُومِ، وَرَجَعَت بِالصِّغَرِ عَنِ السُّمُوُّ إِلى وَصفِ قُدرَتِهِ لَطائِفُ الخُصُومِ.واحِدٌ لا مِن عَدَدٍ، وَدائِمٌ لا بِأَمَدٍ، وَقائِمٌ لا بِعَمَدٍ، لَيْسَ بِجِنسٍ فَتُعادِلَهُ الأَجناسُ وَلا بِشَبَحٍ فَتُضارِعُهُ الأَشباحُ، وَلا كَالأَشياءِ فَتَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ الصِّفاتُ، قَدْ ضَلَّتِ العُقُولُ فِي أَمواجِ تَيَّارِ إِدراكِهِ، وَتَحَيَّرَتِ الأَوهامُ عَنْ إِحاطَةِ ذِكرِ أَزَلِيَّته وَحَصِرَتِ الأَفهامُ عَنِ استِشعارِ وَصفِ قُدرَتِهِ وَغَرِقَتِ الأَذهانُ فِي لُجَجِ أفَلاكِ مَلَكُوتِهِ مُقتَدِرٌ بِالآلاءِ، وَمُمتَنِعٌ بِالكِبرِياءِ، وَمُتَمَلِّكٌ عَلَى الأَشْياءِ فَلا دَهْرٌ يُخلِقُهُ وَلا زَمانٌ يُبلِيهِ وَلا وَصفٌ يُحِيطُ بِهِ، وَقَدْ خَضَعَت لَهُ ثَوابِ‏ُ الصَّعابِ فِي مَحَلِّ تُخُومِ قَرارِها، وَأَذعَنَت لَهُ رَواصِنُ الأَسبابِ فِي مُنْتَهِىَ شَواهِقِ أَقطارِها، مُستَشهِدٌ بِكُلِّيَّةِ الأَجناسِ عَلَى رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ وَبِعَجزِها عَلَى قُدرَتِهِ، وَبِفُطُورِها عَلَى قِدمَتِهِ وَبِزَوالِها عَلَى بَقائِهِ فَلا لَها مَحِيصٌ عَنْ إِدراكِهِ إِيَّاها، وَلا خُروُجٌ مِن إحاطَتِهِ بِها وَلا احتِجابٌ عَنْ إِحصائِهِ لَها وَلا امتِناعٌ مِن قُدرَتِهِ عَلَيْها، كَفى‏ بِإِتقانِ الصُّنعِ لَها آيَةً وَبِمَـركَبِ الطَّبعِ عَلَيْها دِلالَةٌ، وَبِحُدُوثِ الفَطـرِ عَلَيْها قِدمَةً وَبِأَحكامِ الصَّنعَةِ لَها عِبرَةً، فَلاإِلَيْهِ حَدٌّ مَنسُوبٌ وَلا لَهُ مَثَلٌ مَضرُوبٌ وَلا شَي‏ءٌ عَنْهُ مَحجُوبٌ تَعالى‏ عَنْ ضَربِ الأَمثالِ وَالصِّفاتِ الَمخْلُوقةِ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً.وَأَشْهَدُ أَن لا إِلهَ إِلاّ هُوَ، إِيماناً بِرُبُوبِيَّتِهِ وَخِلافاً عَلَى مَن أَنْكَرَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ المُقّرُّ فِي خَيْرَ المُستَقَرِّ المُتَناسِخُ مِن أَكارِمِ الأَصلابِ وَمُطَهَّراتِ الأَرحامِ، الُمخرَجُ مِن أَكْرَمَ المَعادِنِ مُحْتَداً، وَأَفْضَلِ المَنابِتِ مَنبَتاً، مِن أَمنَع ذِروَةٍ وَأَعَزَّ أُرُومَةٍ، مِنَ الشَّجَرَةِ الَّتِي صاغَ اللَّهُ مِنْها أَنبِياءَهُ، وَانتَجَبَ مِنْها أُمَناءَهُ، الطَّيِّبَةِ العُودٍ، المُعتَدَلَةِ العَمُودٍ، الباسِقَةِ الفُرُوعِ، النَّاضِرَةِ الغُصُونِ، اليانِعَةِ الِّثمارِ، الكَرِيمَة الجناة في كرم غُرست وَفِي حَرَمِ أنبتت وَفِيهِ تشّعبت و أثمرت وَعِزَّت وَامتنعت فسمت بِهِ وَشمخت حَتّى‏ أَكْرَمَ اللَّه تَعالى‏ بِالروح الأَمِين و النُّور المُبِين وَالْكِتاب المستبين وَسَخَّرَ لَهُ البراق وَصافحتهُ المَلائِكَة وَأرَعَب بِه الأَبالِسَة وَهَدَمَ بِهِ الأصنامَ وَالآلهةَ المَعبُودةَ دُونَهُ سنَّتهُ الرُّشد وَسِيرَتُه العَدْل وحكمُه الحَقِّ صدع بِما أَمَرَهُ بِهِ رَبُّهُ وَبَلَغَ ما حَمَّله حَتّى‏ أفصحَ بِالتّوحيدِ دَعَوْتِه وَأَظْهَرَ فِي الْخَلْقِ: أَن لا إِلهَ إِلاّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ حَتّى‏ خَلَصَت لَهُ الوَحدانِيَّةُ وَصفت [له‏] الربوبيةُ فَأَظهرَ اللَّهُ بِالتّوحيدِ حُجَّتَهُ وَأعَلَى بِالإِسلامَ دَرَجَتَهُ وَاختارَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لنبيهِ ما عنْدَهُ مِنَ الرُّوحُ وَالدرجةِ وَالوَسِيلَةِ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِين.

11-15 Abul Abbas Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taleqani - may God forgive him - narrated that Abu Sa’eed Al-Hussein ibn Ali al-Adawi quoted on the authority of al-Haytham ibn Abdullah al-Rommani that Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s) quoted on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (s), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (s), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (s), on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hussein (s), on the authority of his father Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s), “The Commander of the Faithful (s) delivered a sermon in the Kufa Mosque and said, ‘Praise belongs to God, who did not originate from anything, nor did He bring what exists into being from anything. His Beginninglessness is attested to by the temporality (huduth) of things. His Power is attested to by the weakness with which He has branded them (His creatures), and His Ever-Lastingness (dawam) is attested to by the annihilation (fana) which He has subjected them to. No place is empty of Him that He might be perceived by localization (ayniyyah), no object is like Him that He might be described by a quality (kayfiyya), nor is He absent from anywhere that He might be known by a place (haythiyya). His attributes differ from all the attributes that He has originated. He is inaccessible to perception because of the changing essence of the things He has created. No created thing having grandeur and tremendousness can dominate (tasarruf) Him.It is forbidden to delimit (tahdid) Him to the penetrating acumen of the sages. It is also forbidden to describe (takyeef) Him to the piercing profundities of thought and represent (taswir) Him to the searching probes of insight. Because of His Tremendousness, places encompass Him not; and because of His Majesty measures gauge Him not; and because of His Grandeur standards cannot judge Him. Impossible it is for imaginations to fathom Him, understandings to comprehend Him or minds to imagine Him. Powers of reasoning with lofty aspiration despair of contriving to comprehend Him. Oceans of knowledge run dry without referring to Him in depth; and the subtleties of the disputers fall from loftiness to pettiness in describing His Power. He is One not in terms of number. He is Everlasting (da’im) without duration, and Standing (qa’im) without supports. He is not of a kind that (other) kinds should be equal to Him. He is not an object that objects should be similar to Him. He is not like things that attributes should apply to Him. Powers of reasoning go astray in the waves of the current of perceiving Him. Imaginations are unable to perceive His Beginninglessness. Understandings are held back from becoming conscious of the description of His Power, and minds are drowned in the depths of the heavens of His kingdom (malakut). He is Master over (giving) bounties. He is Inaccessible through Grandeur, and is Sovereign over all things. Time (dahr) does not age Him, nor does description encompass Him. Humbled before Him are the most stubborn in their utmost stubbornness, and submitted to Him are the strongest cords in their utmost realm of strength.All kinds of creatures witness to His Lordship (rubobiyya). The incapacity of all kinds of creature witness to His Power. The createdness (futur) of all kinds of creatures witness to His eternity (qidmah). The extinction (zawal) of all kinds of creatures witness to His permanence (baqa’). So they possess no place of refuge from His grasp (idrak). There is no exit from His encompassing (ihatah) them. They have no way of hiding themselves from His enumeration (ihsa’). They have no way of avoiding His Power over them. It is sufficient that He has perfectly made them as a sign (ayah). He has put their natural constitution as a Proof. He has established the temporal origin (huduth) of their natures as (a reason for His) Eternity. He has also decreed the Laws of Creation governing over them as a lesson.No limit is attributed to Him, no similitude is struck for Him and nothing is hidden from Him. High indeed is He exalted above the striking of similitude and above created attributes!And I testify that there is no god but He, having faith in His Lordship and opposing whoever denies Him. I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, residing in the best lodging-place, having passed from the noblest of loins and immaculate wombs, extracted in lineage from the noblest of treasures and in origin from the noblest of plantations, and (derived) from the most inaccessible of summits and the most glorious roots, from the tree from which God fashioned His Prophets and chose His trusted ones: (a tree) of excellent wood, harmonious stature, lofty branches, flourishing limbs, ripened fruit, (and) noble interior, implanted in generosity and cultivated in a sacred precinct. There it put forth branches and fruit, became strong and unassailable, and then made him (the Prophet Muhammad) tall and eminent, until the Sublime God honored him with the Holy Spirit, the Illuminating Light, and the Manifest Book. Moreover, He subjected Al-Boraq to him and the angels greeted him.By means of him (the Prophet) He terrified the devils, overthrew the idols and gods (which were being) worshipped besides Him. His Prophet’s Tradition (Sunna) is integrity (rushd); his conduct (seera) is justice and his decision is the truth. He proclaimed that which was commanded by his Lord, and he delivered that with which he was charged until he made plain his mission through the profession of Unity and made manifest among the creatures that There is no god but God alone and that there are no partners for Him; until His Unity became certain and His Lordship became purified. God made manifest his argument through the profession of His Unity and raised his rank with submission (Islam). And the Honorable the Exalted God chose for His Prophet what was with Him of repose, rank and means - may God’s Blessings be upon him and his pure Household.’”

16 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أحْمَد السَنانِي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبي عَبْدِاللَّه الكُوفِيُ عَنْ سهل بن زِياد الأدمي عَنْ عَبْدِ العَظِيمِ بْنِ عَبْدِاللَّه الحَسَنِيِّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ أَبي مَحْمُودِ قالَ سَأَلْت أَبَا الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ قَوْلَ اللَّه تَعالى‏: «وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُماتٍ لا يُبْصِرُونَ» فَقـالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبارَكَ وَتَعـالى‏ لا يوصَـفُ بِالتّرك كَمَـايوصفُ خلقُهُ وَلكِنَّهُ مَتى‏ عِلْمٌ أَنَّهُمْ لا يرجعونَ عَنْ الكُفْرِ وَالضَّلالِ مَنَعَهُم المُعاوِنَة وَاللّطفَ وَخلّى بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنِ اختيارِهِم قالَ: وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلَ اللَّه عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلى سَمْعِهِمْ» قالَ الختمُ هُوَالطبعُ عَلَى قُلُوبِ الكفّارِ عقوبةً عَلَى كفرِهِم كَما قالَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «بَلْ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْها بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً».قالَ وَسألتُهُ عَن اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ هَلْ يُجبِرُ عِبادَهُ عَلَى المعَاصي فَقالَ بَل يخيِّرُّهم وَيمْهِلُهُم حَتّى‏ يَتُوبُوا قُلْتُ فَهَلْ يُكَلِّفُ عِبادَهُ ما لا يُطيقُونَ فَقالَ: كَيْفَ يَفْعَلُ ذلِكَ وَهُوَيَقُولُ: «وَما رَبُّك َبِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ» ثُمَّ قالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: حَدَّثَني أَبي مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرعَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ عَنْ أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدعَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قالَ من زَعمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعالى‏ يُجبِرُ عِبادَهِ عَلَى المعاصي أَوْ يكلِّفُهُم ما لا يُطيقُونَ فَلا تأكُلُوا ذبيحته وَلا تَقبَلُوا شَهادَتَه وَلاتُصَلُّوا وَراءَه وَلا تُعطُوه مِنَ الزَّكاةِ شَيْئاً.

11-16 Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Sinani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Abdul Azeem ibn Abdullah Al-Hassani -may God be pleased with him- on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Abi Mahmood, “I asked Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s) aboutthe Sublime God’s words, ‘…and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.’” The Imam (s) said, “Indeed the Blessed the Sublime God cannot be described using such expressions as ‘left’ as His creatures can. But when God knows that they will not quit their atheism and lose, God will deprive them of His Assistance and Favor, and abandon them to do as they please.”I asked the Imam (s) about the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘God hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing,…’ The Imam (s) said, “What is meant here by ‘seal’ is what is placed on their hearts as a chastisement for their blasphemy as the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘Nay, Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe.’” I asked him (s) whether the Honorable the Exalted God forces His servants to commit sins? The Imam (s) said, “No. He gives them a choice, but gives them time to repent.”I asked, “Does God oblige His servants to do what they cannot stand to do?” The Imam (s) said, “How could He do that when He Himself has said, ‘…nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants.’” The Imam (s) then added, “My father Musa ibn Ja’far (s) quoted on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (as-Sadiq) (s) that you should not eat any of the offerings of or accept the testimony of, or pray behind, or give any alms taxes to whoever thinks that God forces His servants to commit sins or obliges them to do what they cannot stand to do.”

17 - حَدَّثَنا تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ تميمِ القُرَشِيُ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبي عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَلِى الأَنْصارِي عَنْ [يَ] زِيد بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ بْنِ مُعاوِيَةَ الشَّامِيِّ قالَ دَخَلت عَلَى عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِمرْو فَقُلْتُ له: يا ابْنِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ رُوِىَ لَنا عَنْ الصَّادِق جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ قالَ: إِنَّهُ لاجَبرَ وَلا تفويضَ بَل أَمْرٌ بَيْنِ أَمْرينِ فَما مَعْناهُ قالَ: مَن زَعَم أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْعَلُ أَفعالَنا ثُمَّ يعذِّبنا عَلَيْها فَقَدْ قالَ بِالجَبرِ وَمن زَعَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَوَّض أَمْـر الْخَلْقِ والرِّزْق إِلى حُجَجِهِ‏ عَـلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَدْ قـالَ بِالتَّفوِيـض وَالقائِلُ بالجَبرِكافِرٌ وَالقائِلُ بِالتَّفوِيضِ مُشرِكٌ. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: يا ابْنِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، فَما أَمْرٌ بَيْنِ أَمْرين: وُجُود السبيل إِلى إِتِيان ما أُمِرُوا به وَتَركِ ما نَهَوا عَنْهُ. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: فَهَلْ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مشيةٌ وَإِرَادَةٌ فِي ذلِكَ؟ فَقالَ: فَأَمَّا الطَّاعات فَإِرادَةُ اللَّه وَمشيَّتَهُ فِيها الأَمْر بِها وَالرِّضا لَها وَالمُعاوِنَةُ عَلَيْها وإرادَتَهُ وَمشيَّتُهُ فِي المَعاصِي النَّهْيُ عَنْها وَالسَّخَطُ لَها وَالخِذلانُ عَلَيْها. قُلْتُ: فَهَلْ لِلَّهِ فِيها القَضاءُ؟ قالَ: نعم، ما من فِعلٍ يَفعَلُهُ العِبادُ من خَيْرٍ أَوْ شرٍّ إِلاّ وَلِلَّهِ فِيهِ قضاءٌ. قلتُ: ما مَعْنى‏ هذا القَضاءُ. قالَ: الحُكْمُ عَلَيْهِم بِما يستحقّونَهُ عَلَى أفعالَهُمْ مِنَ الثّوابِ وَالعقابِ في الدُّنْيا وَالآخِرَةِ.

11-17 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Quraishi (ra) narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Yazid ibn Umayr ibn Mu’awiya ash-Shami that said: "I went to see Ali ibn Musa Al-Rida (AS) in Marv and told him, “O son of the Messenger of Allah! It has been narrated to us from as-Sadiq Ja’far ibn Muhammad (AS) that ‘There is no jabr (determinism), nor tafwid (unrestrained delegation of things to humans). Rather there is something in between. What does that mean?’ He (AS) replied, ‘Whoever thinks that God does our deeds and then punishes us for doing them believes in determinism, and whoever thinks that God, the Honorable and Exalted, has delegated creation and provision to His Proofs (AS) believes in delegation. Whoever believes in determinism is a disbeliever, and whoever believes in delegation is a polytheist.’ <br>Then I asked him, “O son of the Messenger of Allah! Then what is meant by ‘It is something in between’?” He (AS) said, “The way is open to do what God has ordered to be done, and to avoid what He has forbidden.” Then I asked him, “Does God, the Honorable and Exalted, have a will and volition applicable to that (the servants’ deeds)?” He (AS) replied, “Regarding the (servants’) acts of obedience, God’s will and volition applies to His order and His consent regarding such acts. His will and volition regarding the (servants’) acts of disobedience applies to His wrath and His forbiddance of such acts, plus His not assisting the servants regarding such acts.” I asked, “Does God judge about the servants’ deeds?” He (AS) replied, “Yes. Whatever the servants do whether it be a good or a bad deed will be judged by God.” I asked him, “What does this judgement mean?” He (AS) said, “He (God) will make a ruling as to what reward or punishment they deserve to receive for their deeds, in this world and in the Hereafter.”

18 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عصام‏ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الكُلَيْنِيُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا علىُّ بنُ مُحَمَّدٍ المَعْرُوفُ بِعَلاّنَ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو حامِدِ عِمْران بْنِ مُوسَى بْنِ إِبْراهيمَ عَنْ حسين بن القاسِمِ الرقَّام عَنْ القاسِمِ بْنِ مُسْلِم عَنْ أَخِيهِ عَبْد العَزِيز بْنِ مُسْلِم قالَ: سَأَلْت الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ قَوْلَ اللَّه عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ» فَقالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعالى‏ لا ينسى وَلا يسهو وَإِنَّما ينسى و يَسهوُ الَمخلُوق المحدَثُ ألا تَسمَعُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ: «وَما كانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيّاً» وَإِنَّما يجازي من نَسيَهُ وَنَسِيَ لقاء يَوْمِهِ بِأَن يُنسِيَهُم أنفسهم كَما قالَ اللَّه عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «وَلا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنْساهُمْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ أُولئِكَ هُمُ الْفاسِقُونَ» وَقالَ تَعالى‏ «فَالْيَوْمَ نَنْساهُمْ كَمانَسُوا لِقاءَ يَوْمِهِمْ هذا» أيُّ نَتْرُكُهم كَما تَرَكُوا الاستِعدَاد لِلقاءِ يَوْمَهُمْ هذا.قالَ مُصَنِّفُ هذا الكتاب: قَوْلَهُ «نتركهم» أيُّ لا نجعلُ لَهُم ثَواب من كانَ يَرجُو لِقَاءَ يَومه لأنّ التَّرْكِ لا يَجُوز عَلَى اللَّه تَعالى‏، فَأَمَّا قَوْلَ اللَّه تَعالى‏ «وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُماتٍ لا يُبْصِرُونَ» أيُّ لا يُعاجِلُهُم بِالعقوبةِ وَأمهَلَهُم ليَتُوبُوا.

11-18 Muhammad bin Muhammad ibn Esam - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Yaqoob al-Kolayni quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Muhammad known as Allan, on the authority of Abu Hamid Imran ibn Musa ibn Ibrahim, on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Al-Qasim Ar-Raqqam, on the authority of Al-Qasim ibn Muslim, on the authority of his brother Abdul Aziz ibn Muslim, “I asked Al-Ridha about the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘…They have forgotten God; so He hath forgotten them…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘The Sublime God neither forgets nor does He neglect. The creatures that are originated forget and neglect. Have you not heard the Honorable the Exalted God say, ‘…and thy Lord never doth forget.’ Rather this verse means that when they forget Him and meeting Him on His Day, the Honorable the Exalted God will make them forget themselves. The Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘And be ye not like those who forgot Allah and He made them forget their own souls! Such are the rebellious transgressors!’ Also the Sublime God said, ‘…That day shall We forget them as they forgot the meeting of this day of theirs…’ That means that We will abandon them just as they abandoned getting prepared for the meeting of this day of theirs.’”The author of this book (Sheikh Sadooq) said, “What is meant by ‘We will abandon them’ is that ‘We will not grant them the rewards they hope to receive on that day.’ This is because physically ‘leaving’ or ‘abandoning’ does not apply to the Sublime God and the Sublime God has said, ‘…and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.’ This means that God does not rush to punish them. Rather He gives them time to repent.

19 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمَ المعاذي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّد بنِ سَعِيدُ الكُوفِي الهَمْدانِيَّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىُّ بْنُ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضّال عَنْ أَبيهِ قالَ: سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَنْ رَبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لََمحْجُوبُونَ». فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَا يُوصَفُ بِمَكَانٍ يَحُلُّ فِيهِ فَيُحْجَبَ عَنْهُ فِيهِ عِبَادُهُ وَلَكِنَّهُ يَعْنِي أَنَّهُمْ عَنْ ثَوَابِ رَبِّهِمْ مَحْجُوبُونَ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «وَجاءَ رَبُّكَ وَالْمَلَكُ صَفّاً صَفّاً» فَقَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَا يُوصَفُ بِالَْمجِي‏ءِ وَالذَّهَابِ تَعَالَى عَنِ الِانْتِقَالِ إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ «وَجَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ وَالْمَلَكُ صَفّاً صَفّاً» قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي ظُلَلٍ مِنَ الْغَمامِ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ قَالَ يَقُولُ هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ فِي ظُلَلٍ مِنَ الْغَمَامِ وَهَكَذَا نَزَلَتْ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ سَخِرَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ وَعَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَعَنْ قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ وَعَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «يُخادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَخادِعُهُمْ» فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «لَا يَسْخَرُ وَلَا يَسْتَهْزِئُ وَلَا يَمْكُرُ وَلَا يُخَادِعُ وَلَكِنَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُجَازِيهِمْ جَزَاءَ السُّخْرِيَّةِ وَجَزَاءَ الِاسْتِهْزَاءِ وَجَزَاءَ الْمَكْرِ وَالْخَدِيعَةِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يَقُولُ الظَّالِمُونَ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً».

11-19 Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Mo’athi narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi al-Hamadani quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Al-Ridha (s) about the meaning of what the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘Verily, from (the Light of) their Lord, that Day, will they be veiled.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘One cannot describe the Sublime God to be located in a position from which others are veiled. This verse means that they will be deprived of the reward from their Lord.’ I asked him (s) about the meaning of what the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘And thy Lord cometh, and His angels, rank upon rank.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘One cannot describe the Sublime God as coming and going. The Sublime God is Exalted above transfer or movement in this manner. However, what is meant by this verse is that the Decree of your Lord came, and the angels were organized rank upon rank.’ I asked the Imam (s) about the meaning of what the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘Will they wait until Allah comes to them in canopies of clouds, with angels (in His train) and the question is (thus) settled?…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘This means, ‘Will they wait until Allah sends the angels to them in canopies of clouds.’ This is how the verse has been revealed.’ I asked him (s) about the meaning of what the Sublime God said, ‘…God will throw back their ridicule on them…’ and ’Allah will throw back their mockery on them…’ and ‘And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned…’ and ’The Hypocrites - they think they are over-reaching Allah, but He will over- reach them…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘The Sublime God does not ridicule, mock, plan or plot. Rather, the Sublime God grants them the rewards of their ridiculing, mockery, planning and plotting. High indeed is God the Exalted above what the oppressors say.’”

20 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ الحَسَن بْنِ عَلِى الخَزَّار عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ آخِذٌ بِحُجْزَةِ اللَّهِ وَنَحْنُ آخِذُونَ بِحُجْزَةِ نَبِيِّنَا وَشِيعَتُنَا آخِذُونَ بِحُجْزَتِنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحُجْزَةُ النُّور وَقالَ فِي حَدِيث آخِرَ مَعْنى‏ الحجزة الدِّين.

11-20 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Khazzaz, on the authority of Abil Hassan Al-Ridha (s), “On the Resurrection Day God’s Prophet (s) will grab onto the Sublime God, we will grab onto our Prophet and our followers will grab onto us.” Then the Imam (s) added, “What is meant by ‘grab onto’ is grabbing onto light.” In another tradition it is stated “What is meant by ‘grab onto’ is grabbing onto the religion.”

21 - حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ هارُون الصوفي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عُبِيْد اللَّه بْنِ موسيبن أَيُّوب الرُّويانِيُّ عَنْ عَبْدِ العَظِيم بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الحَسَنِيِّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ أَبي مَحْمُودِ قالَ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْحَدِيثِ الَّذِي يَرْوِيهِ النَّاسُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَنْزِلُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الُْمحَرِّفِينَ لِلْكَلِمِ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا قَالَ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يُنْزِلُ مَلَكاً إِلَى السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ فِي الثُّلُثِ الأَخِيرِ وَلَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ فِي أَوَّلِ اللَّيْلِ فَيَأْمُرُهُ فَيُنَادِي هَلْ مِنْ سَائِلٍ فَأُعْطِيَهُ هَلْ مِنْ تَائِبٍ فَأَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِ هَلْ مِنْ مُسْتَغْفِرٍ فَأَغْفِرَ لَهُ يَا طَالِبَ الْخَيْرِ أَقْبِلْ يَا طَالِبَ الشَّرِّ أَقْصِرْ فَلَا يَزَالُ يُنَادِي بِهَذَا إِلَى أَنْ يَطْلُعَ الْفَجْرُ فَإِذَا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ عَادَ إِلَى مَحَلِّهِ مِنْ مَلَكُوتِ السَّمَاءِ حَدَّثَنِي بِذَلِكَ أَبِي عَنْ جَدِّي عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ‏

11-21 Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran ad-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Harun al-Sufi quoted on the authority of Ubaydillah ibn Musa ibn Ayyoub Ar-Ro’yani, on the authority of Abdul Azeem ibn Abdullah Al-Hassani - may God be pleased with him - on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Abi Mahmood that he had asked Al-Ridha (s), “O son of God’s Prophet! What is your opinion about the tradition which the people narrate about God’s Prophet (s) having said that the Blessed the Sublime God descends from the heavens to this world every Friday night?” The Imam (s) replied, “May God damn those who rearrange the words of the traditions. By God, the Messenger of God (s) has not said this. However, the Prophet (s) said, ‘In fact, the Sublime God will send down an angel from the heavens to this world on the last third part of every night, and from the beginning of every Thursday night. By God’s order, the angel will call out, ‘Are there any callers whose wants I shall fulfill? Are there any repenters whose repentance I shall accept? Are there any people asking for forgiveness to be granted? O the ones seeking the good! Come this way. O the ones seeking evil! Step back!’ This angel will keep on calling out until dawn. It will return to its own location in the heavens at dawn. I have heard this tradition from my father (s), who narrated it on the authority of my grandfather (s), on the authority of his forefathers (s), on the authority of God’s Prophet (s).’”

22 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّه الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الأشنانِي الرَّازِيُّ العَدْل ببلخ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مهرويه القزويني عَنْ داوُدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمان الفراء عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ أَبيهِ عَنْ آبائِه عَنْ عَلِيِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ إِنَّ مُوسَى بْنَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لَمَّا نَاجَى رَبَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَبَعِيدٌ أَنْتَ مِنِّي فَأُنَــادِيَكَ أَمْقَرِيبٌ فَأُنَاجِيَكَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَا جَلِيسُ مَنْ ذَكَرَنِي فَقَالَ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَا رَبِّ إِنِّي أَكُونُ فِي حَالٍ أُجِلُّكَ أَنْ أَذْكُرَكَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ يَا مُوسَى اذْكُرْنِي عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

11-22 Abu Abdullah Al-Hussein ibn Muhammad al-Ashnani Ar-Razi al-Adl in Balkh narrated that Ali ibn Mehrayat al-Qazvini quoted on the authority of Dawood ibn Soleiman al-Farra’, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), on the authority of his father (s), on the authority of his forefathers (s), on the authority of Ali (s) that God’s Prophet (s) said, “When Moses -son of Imran- supplicated to his Lord - the Honorable theExalted - he said, “O Lord! Are you far away from me, so as to call you in a loud voice, or are you close to me and I can speak to you in a low voice?” The Honorable the Exalted God revealed to him, “I accompany whoever remembers Me.” Then Moses (s) said, “O Lord! There are situations I am in which I consider Thee to be High Too Noble to be remembered.” God said, “Remember Me in all situations.”