ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā

23 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَنِ الُمخْتار بن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الُمخْتار الهَمْدانِيَّ، عَنِ الفَتحِ بْنِ يَزِيدِ الجُرجانِيّ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: هُوَاللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ الْوَاحِدُ الأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أَحَدٌ، مُنْشِىُ الأَشْيَاءِ وَمُجَسِّمُ الأَجْسَامِ وَمُصَوِّرُ الصُّوَرِ لَوْ كَانَ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ، لَمْ يُعْرَفِ الْخَالِقُ مِنَ الَْمخْلُوقِ وَلا الْمُنْشِىُ، مِنَ الْمُنْشَإِ فَرْقٌ بَيْنَ مَنْ جَسَّمَهُ وَصَوَّرَهُ وَأَنْشَأَهُ إِذْ كَانَ لا يُشْبِهُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَلا يُشْبِهُ هُوَشَيْئاً.قُلْتُ أَجَلْ، جَعَلَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ، لَكِنَّكَ قُلْتَ: الأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ، وَقُلْتَ لا يُشْبِهُ شَيْئاً وَاللَّهُ وَاحِدٌ، وَالإِنْسَانُ وَاحِدٌ أَلَيْسَ قَدْ تَشَابَهَتِ الْوَحْدَانِيَّةُ؟ قَالَ: يَا فَتْحُ أَحَلْتَ ثَبَّتَكَ اللَّهُ إِنَّمَا التَّشْبِيهُ فِي الْمَعَانِي فَأَمَّا فِي الأَسْمَاءِ فَهِيَ وَاحِدَةٌ وَهِيَ دَلالَةٌ عَلَى الْمُسَمَّى، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الإِنْسَانَ وَإِنْ قِيلَ وَاحِدٌ فَإِنَّمَا يُخْبَرُ أَنَّهُ جُثَّةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ، وَلَيْسَ بِاثْنَيْنِ، فَالإِنْسَانُ نَفْسُهُ لَيْسَ بِوَاحِدٍ، لأَنَّ أَعْضَاءَهُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ وَأَلْوَانَهُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ كَثِيرَةٌ غَيْرُ وَاحِدَةٍ وَهُوَأَجْزَاءٌ مُجَزَّأٌ لَيْسَتْ بِسَوَاءٍ دَمُهُ غَيْرُ لَحْمِهِ وَلَحْمُهُ غَيْرُ دَمِهِ وَعَصَبُهُ غَيْرُ عُرُوقِهِ وَشَعْرُهُ غَيْرُ بَشَرِهِ وَسَوَادُهُ غَيْرُ بَيَاضِهِ وَكَذَلِكَ سَائِرُ الْخَلْقِ فَالإِنْسَانُ وَاحِدٌ فِي الاسْمِ لا وَاحِدٌ فِي الْمَعْنَى وَاللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ وَاحِدٌ لا وَاحِدَ غَيْرُهُ لا اخْتِلافَ فِيهِ، وَلا تَفَاوُتَ وَلا زِيَـادَةَ وَ[لا] نُقْصَـانَ فَأَمَّـا الإِنْسَـانُالَْمخْلُوقُ الْمَصْنُوعُ الْمُؤَلَّفُ مِنْ أَجْزَاءٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ وَجَوَاهِرَ شَتَّى غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ بِالاجْتَِماعِ شَيْ‏ءٌ وَاحِدٌ.قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ، فَقَوْلُكَ: اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ، فَسِّرْهُ لِي كَمَا فَسَّرْتَ الْوَاحِدَ، فَإِنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ لُطْفَهُ عَلَى خِلافِ لُطْفِ خَلْقِهِ لِلْفَصْلِ غَيْرَ أَنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَشْرَحَ ذَلِكَ لِي فَقَالَ يَا فَتْحُ إِنَّمَا قُلْنَا اللَّطِيفُ لِلْخَلْقِ اللَّطِيفِ وَلِعِلْمِهِ بِالشَّيْ‏ءِ اللَّطِيفِ وَغَيْرِ اللَّطِيفِ، وَفِي الْخَلْقِ اللَّطِيفِ مِنَ الْحَيَوَانِ الصِّغَارِ مِنَ الْبَعُوضِ وَالْجِرْجِسِ وَمَا هُوَأَصْغَرُ مِنْهُمَا مَا لا يَكَادُ تَسْتَبِينُهُ الْعُيُونُ، بَلْ لا يَكَادُ يُسْتَبَانُ لِصِغَرِهِ الذَّكَرُ مِنَ الأُنْثَى وَالْحَدَثُ الْمَوْلُودُ مِنَ الْقَدِيمِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَا صِغَرَ ذَلِكَ فِي لُطْفِهِ وَاهْتِدَاءَهُ لِلسِّفَادِ وَالْهَرَبَ [الْهَرَبِ] مِنَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْجَمْعَ [الْجَمْعِ] لِمَا يُصْلِحُهُ مِمَّا فِي لُجَجِ الْبِحَارِ وَمَا فِي لِحَاءِ الأَشْجَارِ وَالْمَفَاوِزِ وَالْقِفَارِ، وَفَهْمَ [فَهْمِ] بَعْضِهَا عَنْ بَعْضٍ مَنْطِقَهَا وَمَا يَفْهَمُ بِهِ أَوْلادُهَا عَنْهَا وَنَقْلَهَا [نَقْلِهَا] الْغِذَاءَ إِلَيْهَا ثُمَّ تَأْلِيفَ أَلْوَانِهَا حُمْرَةً مَعَ صُفْرَةٍ وَبَيَاضاً مَعَ خُضْرَةٍ، وَمَا لا تَكَادُ عُيُونُنَا تَسْتَبِينُهُ بِتََمامِ خَلْقِهَا وَلا تَرَاهُ عُيُونُنَا وَلا تَلْمِسُهُ أَيْدِينَا، عَلِمْنَا أَنَّ خَالِقَ هَذَا الْخَلْقِ لَطِيفٌ لَطُفَ فِي خَلْقِ مَا سَمَّيْنَاهُ بِلا عِلاجٍ وَلا أَدَاةٍ وَلا آلَةٍ وَأَنَّ كُلَّ صَانِعِ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَمِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ صَنَعَ وَاللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ اللَّطِيفُ الْجَلِيلُ خَلَقَ وَصَنَعَ لا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ.

11-23 Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh - may God be pleased with him -narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of al-Mokhtar ibn Muhammad al-Mokhtar al-Hamadani, on the authority of al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Gorgani that he had heard Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s) say the following regarding the Honorable the Exalted God, “He is Subtle, All-Aware, All-Hearing, All-Seeing, the Only One, the Independent who begetteth not, nor is He begotten, High is He Exalted above having an equal with which to be compared. He has created the objects. He has formed the bodies. He has depicted the images. If it were the case as they say, then the Creator and the created could not be distinguished from each other. The Maker could not be distinguished from the made. However, He is the Maker. There is a difference between Him and what He made, formed and created since nothing is similar to God, and God is not similar to anything.”Al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Gorgani added, “I said, ‘Yes. May I be your ransom! However, you said He is the Only, the Independent. You also said that there is nothing like Him. God is One and man is also one. Is it not the case then that they are alike in being one?’Imam Al-Ridha (s) replied, ‘O Fath! You are saying the impossible. May the Sublime God make you firm! That is a similitude in meanings. The names used for everything are the same. They denote the named. When we say man is one, we mean that he has one body, not two. However, man is not really one since he contains various organs and is of various colors. Man consists of a set of different parts. His meat is different from his blood. His blood is different from his meat. His nerves are different from his veins. His hair is different from his skin. His blackness is different from his whiteness. Other creatures are the same. Therefore, as far as the name goes, man is one. But in reality man is not one. However, God - the Exalted the Magnificent - is One. There is no other one but Him. There are no differences in Him or within Him. There are noexcesses in Him, nor are there any deficiencies in Him. However, man is a created creature which consists of many different parts. Although he is united as one, he has differences within himself. He has excesses and deficiencies.’I said, ‘May I be your ransom! You have relieved me. May God grant you relief. Please explain for me ‘the Subtle’ and ‘the All-Aware” just as you explained ‘the Only.’ I do know that God’s subtleness is different from the subtleness of His creatures. However, I would like you to describe that for me.’The Imam (s) said, ‘O Fath! The reason we call Him ‘the Subtle’ is that He is very subtle in creating. He is aware of delicate objects as well as indelicate ones. Don’t you see the effect of His Creation in delicate and rough plants, and in the Creation of creatures - small ones like mosquitoes and tiny mosquitoes, and even smaller ones which can hardly be seen by the eyes - so tiny that one cannot distinguish between the male, female, young or old? When we see their smallness yet their degree of being delicate, and consider their own ways of generation, the way they escape from death, the way they fulfill their needs from the depths of the sea, the bark of the tree, the surface of the valleys and the deserts, the way they speak and make others understand them, the way the younger ones understand their elders, the way the parents feed the children, the way they are colored in red and yellow, or white and green, and what our eyes can hardly see and our hands cannot touch, then we realize that the creator of these creatures is Subtle, and has carried out the Creation of the creatures as described before in a delicate manner and without using any tools. Any creator creates what he creates using something else, but the Mighty the Subtle God is the Creator who creates without using anything.’”

24 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيس، عَنِ الحُسَيْن بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُبَيْد اللَّه وَمُوسَى بْنِ عُمَر وَالحَسَن بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبِي عُثْمان، عَنْ مُحَمّد بن سَنان قالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: هَلْ كَانَ اللَّهُ عَارِفاً بِنَفْسِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الْخَلْقَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ قُلْتُ يَرَاهَا وَيَسْمَعُهَا قَالَ مَا كَانَ مُحْتَاجاً إِلَى ذَلِكَ لانَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يَسْأَلُهَا وَلا يَطْلُبُ مِنْهَا هُوَنَفْسُهُ وَنَفْسُهُ هُوَقُدْرَتُهُ نَافِذَةٌ فَلَيْسَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى أَنْ يُسَـمِّيَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَكِنَّهُاخْتَارَ لِنَفْسِهِ أَسْمَاءَ لِغَيْرِهِ يَدْعُوهُ بِهَا لانَّهُ إِذَا لَمْ يُدْعَ بِاسْمِهِ لَمْ يُعْرَفْ فَأَوَّلُ مَا اخْتَارَ لِنَفْسِهِ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ لانَّهُ أَعْلَى الأَسْمَاءِ كُلِّهَا فَمَعْنَاهُ اللَّهُ وَاسْمُهُ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ هُوَأَوَّلُ أَسْمَائِهِ لانَّهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلا كُلَّ شَيْ‏ء.

11-24 (The author of the book narrated) my father - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Idris quoted on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Abdullah, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ubaydillah, Musa ibn Umar, Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Uthman, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Sinan, “I asked Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s): ‘Did God know Himself before He created the Creation?’ The Imam (s) replied, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘Did He see and hear Himself?’ The Imam (s) said, ‘He had no need for that, for He neither required anything of Himself nor soughtanything from Himself. He was Himself and Himself was He. His Power was All-Pervasive. Therefore, He has no need to name Himself. However, He has chosen Names for Himself for others to call Him by, for if He were not called by His Name, He would not have been known. The first that He chose for Himself was, ‘…He is the Highest, the Supreme (in glory).’ (i.e. God is Al ‘ali Al ’azim in Arabic) since He is Exalted above all things. His Meaning is Allah and His Name is Al ’Ali Al ’Azim since He is Exalted above everything.’”

25 - وَبِهذَا الإسناد عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَنان قالَ سَأَلْته - يَعْنِي الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ - عَنِ الاسم ما هُوَ؟ فَقالَ: صِفَةٌ لِمَوصُوف.

11-25 According to the same documentation, it is narrated that Muhammad ibn Sinan asked him (s) (i.e. Al-Ridha (s)) what a name is. The Imam (s) replied, “It is something to describe something else with.”

26 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بَكْرِان النقاش رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ بِالْكُوفَةِ سِنَةَ أَرْبَعَ وَخَمْسِينَ وَثَلاثِمائَةٍ حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الهَمْدانِيَّ، مَوْلى‏ بَنِي هاشِم قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فَضّال، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ قالَ: إِنَّ أَوَّلَ خَلْقِ اللَّهِ [مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ] عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِيُعَرِّفَ بِهِ خَلْقَهُ الْكِتَابَةَ حُرُوفُ الْمُعْجَمِ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا ضُرِبَ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ بِعَصاً، فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ لا يُفْصِحُ بِبَعْضِ الْكَلامِ، فَالْحُكْمُ فِيهِ أَنْ تُعْرَضَ عَلَيْهِ حُرُوفُ الْمُعْجَمِ، ثُمَّ يُعْطَى الدِّيَةَ بِقَدْرِ مَا لَمْ يُفْصِحْ مِنْهَا وَلَقَدْ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَنْ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي (أ ب ت ث) قَالَ: الأَلِفُ آلاءُ اللَّهِ، وَالْبَاءُ بَهْجَةُ اللَّهِ، وَالتَّاءُ تَمَامُ الأَمْرِ بِقَائِمِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، وَالثَّاءُ ثَوَابُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى أَعْمَالِهِمُ الصَّالِحَةِ.(ج ح خ) فَالْجِيمُ جَمَالُ اللَّهِ وَجَلالُ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَاءُ حِلْمُ اللَّهِ عَنِ الْمُذْنِبِينَ، وَالْخَاءُ خُمُولُ ذِكْرِ أَهْلِ الْمَعَاصِي عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.(د ذ) فَالدَّالُ دِينُ اللَّهِ وَالذَّالُ مِنْ ذِي الْجَلالِ.(ر ز) فَالرَّاءُ مِنَ الرَّءُوفِ الرَّحِيمِ وَالزَّايُ زَلازِلُ الْقِيَامَةِ.(س ش) فَالسِّينُ سَنَاءُ اللَّهِ، وَالشِّينُ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا شَاءَ وَأَرَادَ مَا أَرَادَ وَما تَشاؤُنَ إِلا أَنْ يَشاءَ اللَّهُ.(ص ض) فَالصَّادُ مِنْ صَادِقِ الْوَعْدِ فِي حَمْلِ النَّاسِ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ وَحَبْسِ الظَّالِمِينَ عِنْدَ الْمِرْصَادِ، وَالضَّادُ ضَلَّ مَنْ خَالَفَ مُحَمَّداً وَآلَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ.(ط ظ) فَالطَّاءُ طُوبَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَحُسْنُ مَ‏آبٍ وَالظَّاءُ ظَنُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِهِ خَيْراً وَظَنُّ الْكَافِرِينَ بِهِ سُوءاً.(ع غ) فَالْعَيْنُ مِنَ الْعَالِمِ وَالْغَيْنُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ف ق فَالْفَاءُ فَوْجٌ مِنْ أَفْوَاجِ النَّارِ وَالْقَافُ قُرْآنٌ، عَلَى اللَّهِ جَمْعُهُ وَقُرْآنُهُ.(ك ل) فَالْكَافُ مِنَ الْكَافِي، وَاللامُ لَغْوُ الْكَافِرِينَ فِي افْتِرَائِهِمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ.(م ن) فَالْمِيمُ مُلْكُ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ لا مَالِكَ غَيْرُهُ وَيَقُولُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «لِمَنِ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ» ثُمَّ يُنْطِقُ أَرْوَاحَ أَنْبِيَائِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَحُجَجِهِ فَيَقُولُونَ: «لِلَّهِ الْواحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ»، فَيَقُولُ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ: «الْيَوْمَ تُجْزى‏ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِما كَسَبَتْ لا ظُلْمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسابِ» وَالنُّونُ نَوَالُ اللَّهِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَنَكَالُهُ بِالْكَافِرِينَ.(و ه) فَالْوَاوُ وَيْلٌ لِمَنْ عَصَى اللَّهَ وَالْهَاءُ هَانَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَنْ عَصَاهُ.(لا ي) فَلامُ أَلِفٍ لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ، وَهِيَ كَلِمَةُ الإِخْلاصِ، مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ قَالَهَا مُخْلِصاً، إِلا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ، وَالْيَاءُ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ خَلْقِهِ بَاسِطَةً بِالرِّزْقِ، سُبْحانَهُ وَتَعالى‏ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ.ثُمَّ قَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَنْزَلَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ بِهَذِهِ الْحُرُوفِ الَّتِي يَتَدَاوَلُهَا جَمِيعُ الْعَرَبِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: «قُلْ لَئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الإِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلى‏ أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هذَا الْقُرْآنِ لا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيراً».

11-26 Muhammad ibn Bakran an-Naqqash - may God be pleased with him - narrated in Kufa in the year 354 A.H. (964 A.D.) that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Hamadani - a chief of the Hashemite tribe, quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of Abil Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), “The first thing which God created so that the people can learn how to write through its Creation were the letters of the alphabet. When someone is hit over the head so hard that he cannot talk well, the decree on compensation is that he be presented with the letters of the alphabet. He is given money as compensation based on the number of the letters of the alphabet which he cannot pronounce. My father (s) narrated that his father (s) quoted on the authority of his grandfather (s) on the authority of the Commander of the Faithful (s):The letter ‘Alif in (‘alif ‘ba ‘ta ‘sa) stands for God’s Blessings. The letter ‘ba in (‘alif ‘ba ‘ta ‘sa) stands for God’s Joy. The letter ‘ta in (‘alif ‘ba ‘ta ‘sa) stands for the completion of the affairs for the Riser from the Household of Muhammad (s). The letter ‘sa in (‘alif ‘ba ‘ta ‘sa) stands for the rewards for the good deeds of the believers. The letter ‘jim in (‘jim ‘ha ‘kha) stands for God’s Glory and Exaltation. The letter ‘ha (‘jim ‘ha ‘kha) stands for God’s Clemency with the sinners. The letter ‘kha (‘jim ‘ha ‘kha) stands for the sluggishness of the sinners in the presence of the Honorable the Exalted God.The letter ‘dal in (‘dal ‘zal) stands for God’s Religion, and the letter ‘zal in (‘dal ‘zal) stands for the Lord of Majesty. The letter ‘ra in (‘ra ‘za) stands for the Clement, the Merciful, and the letter ‘za in (‘ra ‘za) stands for the Quakes of the Resurrection.The letter ‘sin in (‘sin ‘shin) stands for God’s Luminance and the letter ‘shin in (‘sin ‘shin) stands for God’s Will whatever He willed and Wish whatever He wished. There is no will except for what God willed. And the letter ‘sad in (‘sad ‘zad) stands for the True Promiser in carrying the people across the Bridge , and imprisoning the oppressors at the observation post. The letter ‘zad in (‘sad ‘zad) stands for the loss of whoever opposes Muhammad (s) and Muhammad’s Household (s). The letter ‘thayn in (‘thayn ‘zayn) stands for Prosperity and a Good Ending for the believers. The letter ‘zayn in (‘thayn ‘zayn) stands for and the optimism of the believers about God, and the pessimism of the unbelievers about God. The letter ‘ayn in (‘ayn ‘qayn) stands for knowledge and the letter ‘qayn in (‘ayn ‘qayn) stands for sufficiency. The letter ‘fa in (‘fa ‘qa) stands for flame from the flames of the Fire, and the letter ‘qa in (‘fa ‘qa) stands for the Quran whose compilation and recital is God’s responsibility.The letter ‘kaf in (‘kaf ‘lam) stands for sufficient, and the letter ‘lam in (‘kaf ‘lam) stands for the absurdity of the unbelievers in the lies which they ascribe to God. The letter ‘mim in (‘mim ‘noon) stands for God’s Dominion on the Day on which there is no other dominion. The Honorable the Exalted God says, ‘…Whose will be the dominion that Day?…’ Then the spirits of the Prophets, the Messengers and the Proofs (the Imams) will say, ‘…That of Allah, the One the Irresistible!’ Then God - the Exalted the Magnificent - says, ‘That Day will every soul be requited for what it earned; no injustice will there be that Day, for Allah is Swift in taking account.’ And the letter ‘noon’ in (‘mim ‘noon) stands for the blessings which God grants the believers, and is the punishments which He imposes on the unbelievers. And the letter ‘vave’ in (‘vave ‘ha) stands for the one who disobeys God and the letter ‘ha’ in (‘vave ‘ha) stands for the insignificance of those who disobey in the presence of God. And the letter ‘la in (‘la ‘ya) stands for the letter ‘la in ‘la illaha illa Allah’ which is the expression of sincere devotion. Paradise will be incumbent for whoever sincerely says it. And the letter ‘ya’ in (‘la ‘ya) stands for God’s Hand which is expanded over all His creatures to feed them. Glorified and High is He opposed to what the polytheists profess.”The Imam (s) then added, “The Blessed the Sublime God revealed this Quran using the same letters which the Arabs use, and said, ‘Say, If the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.’ “

27 - حَدَّثَنا عَبْد الواحِدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدُوسٍ العَطَّار رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ النِيْسابُوري، عَنْ حَمْدانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمان بْنِ النِيْسابُوري قالَ: سَأَلْت الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «فَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَهْدِيَهُ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلإِسْلامِ قَالَ مَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَهْدِيَهُ بِإِيمَانِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَى جَنَّتِهِ وَدَارِ كَرَامَتِهِ فِي الآْخِرَةِ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ لِلتَّسْلِيمِ لِلَّهِ وَالثِّقَةِ بِهِ وَالسُّكُونِ إِلَى مَا وَعَدَهُ مِنْ ثَوَابِهِ حَتَّى يَطْمَئِنَّ إِلَيْهِ وَمَنْ يُرِدْ أَنْ يُضِلَّهُ عَنْ جَنَّتِهِ وَدَارِ كَرَامَتِهِ فِي الآْخِرَةِ لِكُفْرِهِ بِهِ وَعِصْيَانِهِ لَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُ ضَيِّقاً حَرَجاً حَتَّى يَشُكَّ فِي كُفْرِهِ وَيَضْطَرِبَ مِنِ اعْتِقَادِهِ قَلْبُهُ حَتَّى يَصِيرَ كَأَنَّما يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّماءِ كَذلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لا يُؤْمِنُون».

11-27 Abdul Wahid Muhammad ibn Ubdoos al-Neishaboori al-Attar - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Qutayba al-Neishaboori quoted on the authority of Hamdan ibn Soleiman al-Neishaboori, “I asked Al-Ridha about the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘Those whom God (in His plan) willeth to guide, He openeth their breasts to Islam…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘Those whom God wishes to guide in their faith in this world towards Paradise and His House of Munificence in the Hereafter, He will open their breasts to submit to God, rely on Him, get calmed by the rewards that He has promised until they trust Him. But regarding ‘…those whom He willeth to leave straying…’ to be deprived of His Paradise and His Home of His Munificence in the Hereafter due to their disbelief in it and their disobedience of God in this world. ‘…He maketh their breast close and constricted…’ so that they fall in doubt in his state of disbelief. God will upset their belief in their heart as things get so hard for them ‘…as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth God (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.’”

28 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَمِّي مُحَمَّد بن أَبي القاسِم قالَ: حَدَّثَني أَبُو سَمينَةِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى الكُوفِي الصَّيْرَفيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِاللَّه الخراسانِيِّ خادِمُ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: دَخَلَ‏دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الزَّنَادِقَةِ عَلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَعِنْدَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ، فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَانَ الْقَوْلُ قَوْلَكُمْ وَلَيْسَ هُوَكَمَا تَقُولُونَ أَلَسْنَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ شَرَعاً سَوَاءً، وَلا يَضُرُّنَا مَا صَلَّيْنَا وَصُمْنَا وَزَكَّيْنَا وَأَقْرَرْنَا؟ فَسَكَتَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِنْ يَكُنْ الْقَوْلُ قَوْلَنَا - وَهُوَقُولُنا - كَمَا نَقُولُ، أَلَسْتُمْ قَدْ هَلَكْتُمْ وَنَجَوْنَا؟قَالَ: رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ، فَأَوْجِدْنِي كَيْفَ هُوَ؟ وَأَيْنَ هُوَ؟ قَالَ: وَيْلَكَ! إِنَّ الَّذِي ذَهَبْتَ إِلَيْهِ غَلَـطٌ.هُوَ أَيَّنَ الأَيْنَ وَكَانَ وَلا أَيْنَ وَهُوَكَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ، وَكَانَ وَلا كَيْفَ فَلا يُعْرَفُ بِكَيْفُوفِيَّةٍ وَلا بِأَيْنُونِيَّةٍ وَلا بِحَاسَّةٍ، وَلا يُقَاسُ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ.قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: فَإِذَنْ إِنَّهُ لا شَيْ‏ءَ إِذَا لَمْ يُدْرَكْ بِحَاسَّةٍ مِنَ الْحَوَاسِّ، فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: وَيْلَكَ لَمَّا عَجَزَتْ حَوَاسُّكَ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِ أَنْكَرْتَ رُبُوبِيَّتَهُ وَنَحْنُ إِذَا عَجَزَتْ حَوَاسُّنَا عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِ أَيْقَنَّا أَنَّهُ رَبُّنَا، وَأَنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ بِخِلافِ الأَشْيَاءِ. قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي مَتَى كَانَ؟ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: أَخْبِرْنِي مَتَى لَمْ يَكُنْ فَأُخْبِرَكَ مَتَى كَانَ.قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: فَمَا الدَّلِيلُ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ: إِنِّي لَمَّا نَظَرْتُ إِلَى جَسَدِي فَلَمْ يُمْكِنِّي فِيهِ زِيَادَةٌ وَلا نُقْصَانٌ فِي الْعَرْضِ وَالطُّولِ وَدَفْعُ الْمَكَارِهِ عَنْهُ وَجَرُّ الْمَنْفَعَةِ إِلَيْهِ، عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ لِهَذَا الْبُنْيَانِ بَانِياً، فَأَقْرَرْتُ بِهِ مَعَ مَا أَرَى مِنْ دَوَرَانِ الْفَلَكِ بِقُدْرَتِهِ، وَإِنْشَاءِ السَّحَابِ وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ، وَمَجْرَى الشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ وَالنُّجُومِ، وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الآْيَاتِ الْعَجِيبَاتِ الْمُتْقَنَاتِ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ لِهَذَا مُقَدِّراً وَمُنْشِئاً.قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: فَلِمَ احْتَجَبَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إِنَّ الْحِجَابَ عَلَى [عَن خ ب] الْخَلْقِ لِكَثْرَةِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ فَأَمَّا هُوَفَلا تَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ خَافِيَةٌ فِي آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ.قَالَ: فَلِمَ لا تُدْرِكُهُ حَاسَّةُ الْبَصَرِ؟ قَالَ: لِلْفَرْقِ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ الَّذِينَ تُدْرِكُهُمْ حَاسَّةُ الأَبْصَارِ مِنْهُمْ وَمِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ، ثُمَّ هُوَأَجَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُدْرِكَهُ بَصَرٌ، أَوْ يُحِيطَ بِهِ وَهْمٌ، أَوْ يَضْبِطَهُ عَقْلٌ.قَالَ: فَحُدَّهُ لِي، فَقَالَ: لا حَدَّ لَهُ، قَالَ: وَلِمَ؟ قَالَ: لانَّ كُلَّ مَحْدُودٍ، مُتَنَاهٍ إِلَى حَدٍّ، وَإِذَا احْتَمَلَ التَّحْدِيدَ احْتَمَلَ الزِّيَادَةَ، وَإِذَا احْتَمَلَ الزِّيَادَةَ احْتَمَلَ النُّقْصَانَ، فَهُوَغَيْرُ مَحْدُودٍ وَلا مُتَزَايِدٍ وَلا مُتَنَاقِصٍ وَلا مُتَجَزِّئٍ وَلا مُتَوَهَّمٍ.قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: فَأَخْبِ��ْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِكُمْ: إِنَّهُ لَطِيفٌ وَسَمِيعٌ وَبَصِيرٌ وَعَلِيمٌ وَحَكِيمٌ، أَيَكُونُ السَّمِيعُ إِلا بِالأُذُنِ، وَالْبَصِيرُ إِلا بِالْعَيْنِ، وَاللَّطِيفُ إِلا بِعَمَلِ الْيَدَيْنِ، وَالْحَكِيمُ إِلا بِالصَّنْعَةِ؟ فَقَالَ: أَبُو الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إِنَّ اللَّطِيفَ مِنَّا عَلَى حَدِّ اتِّخَاذِ الصَّنْعَةِ، أَوَمَا رَأَيْتَ الرَّجُلَ يَتَّخِذُ شَيْئاً فَيَلْطُفُ فِي اتِّخَاذِهِ؟ فَيُقَالُ مَا أَلْطَفَ فُلاناً، فَكَيْفَ لا يُقَالُ لِلْخَالِقِ الْجَلِيلِ: لَطِيفٌ؟ إِذْ خَلَقَ خَلْقاً لَطِيفاً وَجَلِيلاً وَرَكَّبَ فِي الْحَيَوَانِ مِنْهُ أَرْوَاحَهَا وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ جِنْسٍ مُتَبَايِناً مِنْ جِنْسِهِ فِي الصُّورَةِ وَلا يُشْبِهُ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضاً فَكُلٌّ لَهُ لُطْفٌ مِنَ الْخَالِقِ اللَّطِيفِ الْخَبِيرِ فِي تَرْكِيبِ صُورَتِهِ، ثُمَّ نَظَرْنَا إِلَى الأَشْجَارِ وَحَمْلِهَا أَطَايِبَهَا الْمَأْكُولَةَ مِنْهَا وَغَيْرَ الْمَأْكُولَةِ فَقُلْنَا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ: إِنَّ خَالِقَنَا لَطِيفٌ، لا كَلُطْفِ خَلْقِهِ فِي صَنْعَتِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا: إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ لانَّهُ لا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ أَصْوَاتُ خَلْقِهِ مَا بَيْنَ الْعَرْشِ إِلَى الثَّرَى مِنَ الذَّرَّةِ إِلَى أَكْبَرَ مِنْهَا فِي بَرِّهَا وَبَحْرِهَا، وَلا تَشْتَبِهُ عَلَيْهِ لُغَاتُهَا فَقُلْنَا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ: إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ لا بِأُذُنٍ وَقُلْنَا: إِنَّهُ بَصِيرٌ لا بِبَصَرٍ، لانَّهُ يَرَى أَثَرَ الذَّرَّةِ السَّحْمَاءِ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الظَّلْمَاءِ عَلَى الصَّخْرَةِ السَّوْدَاءِ، وَيَرَى دَبِيبَ الَّنمْلِ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الدُّجْنَةِ وَيَرَى مَضَارَّهَا وَمَنَافِعَهَا وَأَثَرَ سِفَادِهَا وَفَرَاخَهَا وَنَسْلَهَا، فَقُلْنَا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ: إِنَّهُ بَصِيرٌ لا كَبَصَرِ خَلْقِهِ.

11-28 Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his uncle Muhammad ibn Abil Qasim quoted on the authority of Abu Sameena Muhammad ibn Ali al-Kufi al-Sayrafi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abdullah al-Khorasani - the servant of Al-Ridha (s), “One of the hypocrites (zanadiqa) entered into the presence of the Imam (s) when there were some people with him. Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s) asked him, ‘Are we equal even if your point of view is the correct one? Has not all our prayers, fasting, giving alms taxes and our acknowledgment of our beliefs have not harmed us?’ The hypocrite remained silent. Then Abul Hassan Al-Ridha (s) added, ‘If the correct view is our view - which is the case - then have you not perished and have we not gained salvation?’ The man said, ‘May God’s Mercy be upon you! Can you let me know how He is and where He is?’ The Imam (s) answered, ‘Woe be to you! Surely what you think is wrong. He has created the ’where’ while He existed when there was no ‘where’; and Hefashioned the ’how’ while He existed when there was no ’how.’ So He is not known through qualities of ‘how to be’ or ‘where to be’ or through any form of perception by our senses, nor can He be gauged by any means.’”The man said, “So then surely He is nothing (la shay’) if He cannot be perceived by any of the senses.”Abul Hassan (s) said, “Woe be to you! When your senses fail to perceive Him, you deny His Lordship? But when our senses fail to perceive Him, we know for certain that He is our Lord and that He is something different from other things.The man said, “Then tell me, when was He?”Abul Hassan (Imam Al-Ridha (s)) said, “Tell me when He was not, and then I will tell you when He was.”The man said, “Then what is the proof of Him?”Abul Hassan (Imam Al-Ridha (s)) said, “Surely when I contemplate about my body and see that it is impossible for me to increase or decrease its breadth and height, or to keep unpleasant things away from it, or draw benefits to it, then I know that this structure has a maker. And I acknowledge Him considering that which I have seen of the rotation of the celestial sphere by His Power; the production of the clouds; the movements of the winds; the procession of the Sun, the Moon and the stars; and others of His wondrous and perfectly created signs, has (already) made me know that all these have a Determiner (muqaddir) and an Originator (munshi’).”The man said, “Then why has He veiled Himself (from men)?”The Imam (s) replied, “Surely the veil is upon creatures because of the abundance of their sins. As for Him, no secret is hidden from Him during the day or at night.”The man said, “Then why does the sense of sight not perceive Him?”The Imam (s) answered, “Because of the difference between Him and His creatures who are perceived by the vision of the eyes, whether their own or others. Then He is Exalted above that to be perceived by the sight, encompassed by imagination, or delineated by the power of reasoning.”The man said, “Then, define His limits for me.” The Imam (s) answered, “He has no limits.” The man asked, “Why?” The Imam (s) answered, “Because every limited thing ends at its limit. If limitation is possible, then extension is also possible. If extension is possible; then constriction is also possible. But He is unlimited. He is neither extended nor is He constrained. He cannot be divided, nor can He be perceived by the imagination.”The man said, “Then tell me about your saying that He is Subtle, All-Hearing, All-Seeing, All-Knowing and All-Wise. Can He be the All-Hearing without ears, the All-Seeing without eyes, the Subtle without working with hands and the All-Wise without workmanship?”Abul Hassan (s) said, “Surely a person among us is subtle in accordance with (his) skill in workmanship. Have you not seen the man who undertakes a task and is subtle in his handling of it, so that it is said, ’How subtle is so and so!’ Then how should it not be said of the Majestic Creator that He is Subtle, when He creates a subtle and majestic Creation, places in its living creatures their souls, creates every kind different in form from its own kind, and none resembles any of the other ones? Each possesses in the composition of its form a subtlety from the Subtle and All-Aware Creator.”“Then we look upon the trees and their bearing of delicate things, whether edible or not, and we say that ’Surely our Creator is Subtle, (but) not like the subtlety of His creatures in their workmanship.’And we say, ’Surely He is All-Hearing, since not hidden from Him are the sounds of His creatures between the Throne and the Earth, from a mote to what is larger than that, both in the land and at sea. And their words are not confused by Him.’ We say that ’Surely He is All-Hearing, but not through ears.’““Then we say, ’Surely He is All-Seeing, but not through eyes, for He sees the trace of a black speck on a dark night on a black stone. He sees the tracks of an ant in a pitch-black night. He sees what is harmful for it and what is beneficial to it, and the result of its cohabitation, and its offspring and its descendents.’ And we say, ’Surely He is All-Seeing, but not similar to the sight of His creatures.”

29 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّد بْنِ عَلِى ماجِيلوَيْه رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِمٍ، عَنْ مُختارِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الُمخْتار الهَمْدانِيَّ، عَنِ الفَتح بْنِ يَزِيد الجُرجانِيُّ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَدْنَى الْمَعْرِفَةِ، قَالَ: الإِقْرَارُ بِأَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ وَلا شِبْهَ لَهُ وَلا نَظِيرَ لَهُ، وَأَنَّهُ قَدِيمٌ، مُثْبَتٌ مَوْجُودٌ غَيْرُ فَقِيدٍ، وَأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

11-29 Muhammad ibn Ali Majiluwayh - may God be pleased with him -narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of al-Mokhtar ibn Muhammad al-Mokhtar al-Hamadani, on the authority of al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Gorgani, “I asked Abil Hassan (s), ‘What is the least degree of recognition?’ The Imam (s) replied, ‘It is the acknowledgement of God and that there is no other god; there is nothing like Him; there is nothing similar to Him; He is Stable, Eternal, Existing; He is never absent, and that there is nothing else like Him.’”

30 - حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَد بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبي‏الكُوفِيِّ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيل البَرمَكيِّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ الحَسَن قالَ: حَدَّثَني بَكْرِ بْنِ زياد، عَنْ عَبْد العَزِيز بْنِ المُهْتَدِيّ، قالَ: سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنِ التَّوْحِيدِ، فَقَالَ: كُلُّ مَنْ قَرَأَ قُلْ هُوَاللَّهُ أَحَدٌ وَآمَنَ بِهَا فَقَدْ عَرَفَ التَّوْحِيدَ، قُلْتُ: كَيْفَ يَقْرَؤُهَا؟ قَالَ: كَمَا يَقْرَؤُهَا النَّاسُ، وَزَادَ فِيهِ «كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي كَذَلِكَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي» - ثَلاثاً -.

11-30 Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran ad-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Kufi 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 Ziyad, on the authority of Abdul Aziz al-Mohtadi, “I asked Al-Ridha about the Unity. The Imam (s) said, ‘Whoever recites (the Quranic verse) ‘Say, He is Allah, the One and Only’ and believes in it has recognized Unity.’ Then I asked, ‘How should we recite it?’ The Imam (s) said, ‘ Recite it as the people recite it.’ The Imam (s) also added, ‘Kathaleka Rabbi. Kathaleka Rabbi’ (This is how my Lord is. This is how my Lord is)’ for three times.’”

31 - حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيس رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، عَنْ أَبيهِ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْذارٍ عَنْ‏عَلِيِّ الكُوفِي عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى الخُراسانِي خادِم الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قَالَبَعْضُ الزَّنَادِقَةِ لابِي الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ هَلْ يُقَالُ لِلَّهِ: إِنَّهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ؟ فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ وَقَدْ سَمَّى نَفْسَهُ بِذَلِكَ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَقَالَ قُلْ أَيُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ أَكْبَرُ شَهادَةً قُلِ اللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ فَهُوَشَيْ‏ءٌ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ.

11-31 Al-Hussein ibn Ahmad ibn Idris - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Bondar, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ali al-Kufi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ali al-Khorasani - the servant of Al-Ridha (s), “One ofthe hypocrites asked Abil Hassan (s), ‘Can we say that God is a ‘thing’? The Imam (s) replied, ‘Yes. He has called Himself ‘thing’ in His Book as we read in the Quran, ‘Say, ‘What thing is most weighty in evidence?’ Say, ‘God is witness between me and you…’’ He is a ‘Thing’ for which there is no other thing alike.’”

32 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى العَطَّار رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه قالابْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِم عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ معبد عَنْ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن عَلىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى حُدُوثِ الْعَالَمِ؟ فَقَالَ: أَنْتَ لَمْ تَكُنْ ثُمَّ كُنْتَ وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تُكَوِّنْ نَفْسَكَ وَلا كَوَّنَكَ مَنْ هُوَمِثْلُك.

11-32 Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Attar (s) - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Sa’d ibn Abdullah quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad, on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Khalid, on the authority of Abil Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), “One day a man came to see Al-Ridha (s) and said, “O son of God’s Prophet! What is the proof that the world is created?” The Imam (s) replied, “You did not exist and were created. You know well that you were not the one who created you, and that there is no one else like you who created you.”