ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā

33 - حَدَّثَنا تَمِيمُ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ تَمِيمُ القُرَشِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبي عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بن عَلِيِّ الأَنْصارِي، عَنْ أَبي الصَّلْتِ عَبْد السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ قالَ: سَأَلَ مَأْمُونٌ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «وَهُوَالَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْماءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً» فَقَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى خَلَقَ الْعَرْشَ وَالْمَاءَ وَالْمَلائِكَةَ قَبْلَ خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ فَكَانَتِ الْمَلائِكَةُ تَسْتَدِلُّ بِأَنْفُسِهَا وَبِالْعَرْشِ وَالْمَاءِ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ لِيُظْهِرَ بِذَلِكَ قُدْرَتَهُ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ فَتَعْلَمَ أَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ الْعَرْشَ بِقُدْرَتِهِ وَنَقَلَهُ فَجَعَلَهُ فَوْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ ثُمَّ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَهُوَمُسْتَوْلٍ عَلَى عَرْشِهِ وَكَانَ قَادِراً عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَهَا فِي طَرْفَةِ عَيْنٍ وَلَكِنَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَهَا فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ لِيُظْهِرَ لِلْمَلائِكَةِ مَا يَخْلُقُهُ مِنْهَا شَيْئاً بَعْدَ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَتَسْتَدِلَّ بِحُدُوثِ مَا يَحْدُثُ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ مَرَّةً بَعْدَ مَرَّةٍ وَلَمْ يَخْلُقِ اللَّهُ الْعَرْشَ لِحَاجَةٍ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ لانَّهُ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَرْشِ وَعَنْ جَمِيعِ مَا خَلَقَ لا يُوصَفُ بِالْكَوْنِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ لانَّهُ لَيْسَ بِجِسْمٍ تَعَالَى عَنْ صِفَةِ خَلْقِهِ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً.وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلاً» فَإِنَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَلَقَ خَلْقَهُ لِيَبْلُوَهُمْ بِتَكْلِيفِ طَاعَتِهِ وَعِبَادَتِهِ، لا عَلَى سَبِيلِ الامْتِحَانِ وَالتَّجْرِبَةِ لانَّهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ عَلِيماً بِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ.ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ: يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَمَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ: «وَلَوْ شاءَ رَبُّكَ لآَمَنَ مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعاً أَفَأَنْتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ وَما كانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ إِلا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ» فَقَالَ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ قَالَ: إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قَالُوا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ لَوْ أَكْرَهْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ قَدَرْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَى الإِسْلامِ لَكَثُرَ عَدَدُنَا وَقَوِينَا عَلَى عَدُوِّنَا فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ لالْقَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِبِدْعَةٍ لَمْ يُحَدِّثْ إِلَيَّ فِيهَا شَيْئاً وَما أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِ يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَلَوْ شاءَ رَبُّكَ لآَمَنَ مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعاً عَلَى سَبِيلِ الإِلْجَاءِ وَالاضْطِرَارِ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَمَا يُؤْمِنُونَ عِنْدَ الْمُعَايَنَةِ وَرُؤْيَةِ الْبَأْسِ فِي الآْخِرَةِ وَلَوْ فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ بِهِمْ لَمْ يَسْتَحِقُّوا مِنِّي ثَوَاباً وَلا مَدْحاً وَلَكِنِّي أُرِيدُ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا مُخْتَارِينَ غَيْرَ مُضْطَرِّينَ لِيَسْتَحِقُّوا مِنِّي الزُّلْفَى وَالْكَرَامَةَ وَدَوَامَ الْخُلُودِ فِي جَنَّةِ الْخُلْدِ «أَ فَأَنْتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّـاسَ حَتَّى يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ» وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُ عَزَّ وَجَـلَّ«وَما كانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ إِلا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ» فَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى سَبِيلِ تَحْرِيمِ الإِيمَانِ عَلَيْهَا وَلَكِنْ عَلَى مَعْنَى أَنَّهَا مَا كَانَتْ لِتُؤْمِنَ إِلا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَإِذْنُهُ أَمْرُهُ لَهَا بِالإِيمَانِ مَا كَانَتْ مُكَلَّفَةً مُتَعَبَّدَةً وَإِلْجَاؤُهُ إِيَّاهَا إِلَى الإِيمَانِ عِنْدَ زَوَالِ التَّكْلِيفِ وَالتَّعَبُّدِ عَنْهَا.فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ: فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «الَّذِينَ كانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِي غِطاءٍ عَنْ ذِكْرِي وَكانُوا لا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعاً» فَقَالَ: إِنَّ غِطَاءَ الْعَيْنِ لا يَمْنَعُ مِنَ الذِّكْرِ الذِّكْرُ لا يُرَى بِالْعَيْنِ، وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ شَبَّهَ الْكَافِرِينَ بِوَلايَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ بِالْعُمْيَانِ لانَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَسْتَثْقِلُونَ قَوْلَ النَّبِيِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِيهِ وَلا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ لَهُ سَمْعاً فَقَالَ الْمَأْمُونُ: فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي فَرَّجَ اللَّهُ عَنْكَ.

11-33 Tamim ibn Abdullah ibn Tamim al-Qurashi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that his father quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Ansari, on the authority of Abi Salt Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi , “Al-Ma’mun asked Abul Hassan Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s) about what the Sublime God said, ‘He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was over the waters - that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct…’ The Imam (s) replied, ‘The Blessed the Sublime God created the Throne, the water, and the angels before the Creation of the heavens and the Earth. The angels used their own Creation, and the Throne and the water as means by which they proved the existence of the Honorable the Exalted God for themselves. Then He established His Throne over the water in order to manifest His Might to the angels so that they would know that He is capable of doing whatever He pleases. He then raised the Throne through His Might, moved it and established it above the seven heavens. Then He created the heavens and the Earth in six days while He was Omnipotent on His Throne. He was capable of creating them in the twinkle of an eye, but the Sublime One created them in six days in order to show the angels what He was creating one thing after the other so that they would know over and over that God is the Originator of each and every thing. God did not create the Throne because He was in need of it. He is independent of the Throne and of everything He has created. He cannot be described by saying that He is sitting on the Throne since Hehas no physical body. Exalted He is above the characteristics of what He created. High indeed is He Exalted. And regarding what the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘…that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct…’ This means that the Honorable the Exalted God created them so that He tries them through their acts of obedience and worship. Not in the form of an examination and experimentation since He has always known everything.’ Then Al-Ma’mun said, ‘How Excellent! O Abul Hassan! You have relieved me. May God grant you relief.’Then Al-Ma’mun asked again, ‘O son of God’s Prophet! What is the meaning of the following Words of the Honorable the Exalted God, ‘If it had been thy Lord’s will, they would all have believed - all who are on earth! wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe! No soul can believe, except by the will of Allah, and He will place doubt (or obscurity) on those who will not understand.?” Al-Ridha (s) replied, ‘My father Musa ibn Ja’far (s) narrated that his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (s) quoted 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 (s), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Abi Talib (s), ‘The Muslims told the Messenger of God (s), ‘O Messenger of God! We wished that you would force those whom you have conquered to accept Islam so that our numbers would increase, and we would become stronger in the face of our enemies.’The Messenger of God (s) replied, ‘I do not want to meet the Honorable the Exalted God having invented an innovation which He did not command me to do. I am not the type of person who forces others to do anything at all.’It was then that the Sublime God revealed, ‘O Muhammad! If it had been thy Lord’s will, they would all have believed - all who are on earth!…’ by means of forcing them, or when they find no other choice while in this world just as those who believe only after seeing God’s Might and Retribution in the Hereafter. If I do such a thing to them, they would not deserve any reward from me. Nor would they deserve any praise. But I wish they would accept it out of their own choice, rather than being forced to do so in order that they will deserve to be close to me and be honored and reside in Paradise forever.’ God’s words continue with ‘…wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe!’And regarding the Sublime God’s words, ‘No soul can believe, except by the will of Allah…’ It does not mean that men are deprived of believing (without the prior consent of God); it simply means that they cannot believe without God’s Will. God’s Will consists of His ordering us to believe which is a form of obligation and worshipping. Forcing the people to believe would only apply if this obligation is removed. ’’’Then Al-Ma’mun said, ‘How Excellent! O Abul Hassan! You have relieved me. May God grant you relief.’Then Al-Ma’mun asked again, ‘Let me know about the meaning of the following Words of the Sublime God: ‘(Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from remembrance of Me, and who had been unable even to hear. ’’The Imam (s) replied, ’A veil in front of the eyes will not prevent one from remembering. God’s remembrance is not done by the eyes. However, the Honorable the Exalted God has likened those who refute the Mastery of Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) to the blind since the words of the Prophet (s) were hard for them to bear and they could not listen to them.’Then Al-Ma’mun said, ‘How Excellent! You have relieved me. May God grant you relief.’”

34 - حَدَّثَنا عَبْد الواحِد بْنِ مُحَمَّد بْنِ عَبْدُوسٍ النِيْسابُوري العَطَّار رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّد بْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ النِيْسابُوريّ، عَنْ حَمْدان بْنِ سُلَيْمان قالَ: كَتَبْتُ إِلَى الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ أَفْعَالِ الْعِبَادِ أَمَخْلُوقَةٌ أَمْ غَيْرُ مَخْلُوقَةٍ؟ فَكَتَبَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: أَفْعَالُ الْعِبَادِ مُقَدَّرَةٌ فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَبْلَ خَلْقِ الْعِبَادِ بِأَلْفَيْ عَامٍ.

11-34 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, “I wrote to Al-Ridha (s) and asked him (s) about whether the deeds of the servants were created or not. The Imam (s) wrote back, “In God’s Knowledge, the deeds of the servants were destined two-thousand years before the Creation of Adam.”

35 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّه قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِمٍ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مَعبَدٍ، عَنِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِدٍ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ‏آبائِهِ‏ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ: أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنين‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِحَوْضِي فَلا أَوْرَدَهُ اللَّهُ حَوْضِي وَمَنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِشَفَاعَتِي فَلا أَنَالَهُ اللَّهُ شَفَاعَتِي، ثُمَّ قَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إِنَّمَا شَفَاعَتِي لاهْلِ الْكَبَائِرِ مِنْ أُمَّتِيفَأَمَّا الُْمحْسِنُونَ فَمَا عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ سَبِيلٍ.قَالَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ فَقُلْتُ لِلرِّضَايَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ فَمَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «وَلا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلا لِمَنِ ارْتَضى‏» ؟ قَالَ: لا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى اللَّهُ دِينَه.قالَ المُصَنَّف: الْمُؤْمِنُ هُوَالَّذِي تَسُرُّهُ حَسَنَتُهُ وَتَسُوؤُهُ سَيِّئَتُهُ لِقَوْلِ النَّبِيِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: مَنْ سَرَّتْهُ حَسَنَتُهُ وَسَاءَتْهُ سَيِّئَتُهُ فَهُوَمُؤْمِنٌ وَمَتَى سَاءَتْهُ سَيِّئَةٌ نَدِمَ عَلَيْهَا، وَالنَّدَمُ تَوْبَةٌ وَالتَّائِبُ مُسْتَحِقٌّ لِلشَّفَاعَةِ وَالْغُفْرَانِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ تَسُؤْهُ سَيِّئَتُهُ فَلَيْسَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ وَإِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ مُؤْمِناً لَمْ يَسْتَحِقَّ الشَّفَاعَةَ لانَّ اللَّهَ غَيْرُ مُرْتَضٍ لِدِينِه.

11-35 (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 Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad, on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Khalid, 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 the Commander of the Faithful that God’s Prophet (s) said, “God will not bring to the Pool anyone who does not believe in my Pool. God will not let anyone who does not believe in my intercession to benefit from it.” Then theProphet (s) said, “My intercession applies to those of my nation who commit major sins. As for the good doers, they do not even deserve to be questioned.”Al-Hussein ibn Khalid added, “I asked Al-Ridha (s), ‘O son of the Prophet of God! What does the following Words of the Honorable the Exalted ‘…and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable…’ mean?’”Then the Imam (s) said, “This means that they will not intercede on behalf of anyone unless God accepts their religion.”The author said, “A believer is one whose good deeds make him happy and whose bad deeds make him upset since the Prophet (s) said, “Anyone whose good deeds pleases him and whose evil deeds upsets him is a believer. Whenever he gets upset about his bad deeds he becomes sorry. Becoming sorry is the same as repenting. One who repents deserves intercession and forgiveness. Whoever does not get upset about his evil deeds is not a believer. One who is not a believer does not deserve my intercession, since God does not accept his religion.”

36 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ القاسِم المفسر رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَني يُوسف بْن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِياد وَعَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سيّارٍ، عَنْ أَبَوَيهُما، عَنِ الحَسَن بْنِ عَلِىِّ، عَنْ أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّد، عَنْ أَبيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَنْ أَبيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى، عَنْ أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن‏ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرْضَ فِراشاً وَالسَّماءَ بِناءً» قَالَ: جَعَلَهَا مُلائِمَةً لِطَبَائِعِكُمْ مُوَافِقَةً لاجْسَادِكُمْ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْهَا شَدِيدَةَ الْحَمْيِ وَالْحَرَارَةِ فَتُحْرِقَكُمْ وَلا شَدِيدَةَ الْبُرُودَةِ فَتُجْمِدَكُمْ وَلا شَدِيدَةَ طِيبِ الرِّيحِ فَتُصَدَّعَ هَامَاتُكُمْ وَلا شَدِيدَةَ النَّتْنِ فَتُعْطِبَكُمْ وَلا شَدِيدَةَ اللِّينِ كَالْمَاءِ فَتُغْرِقَكُمْ وَلا شَدِيدَةَ الصَّلابَةِ فَتَمْتَنِعَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي دُورِكُمْ وَأَبْنِيَتِكُمْ وَقُبُورِ مَوْتَاكُمْ وَلَكِنَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ جَعَلَ فِيهَا مِنَ الْمَتَانَةِ مَا تَنْتَفِعُونَ بِهِ وَتَتََماسَكُ عَلَيْهَا أَبْدَانُكُمْ وَبُنْيَانُكُمْ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا مَا تَنْقَادُ بِهِ لِدُورِكُمْ وَقُبُورِكُمْ وَكَثِيرٍ مِنْ مَنَافِعِكُمْ فَذَلِكَ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرْضَ فِراشاً ثُمَّ قَـالَ: «وَالسَّمـاءَ بِنـاءً» سَقْفـاً مَحْفُوظـاً مِنْفَوْقِكُمْ يُدِيرُ فِيهَا شَمْسَهَا وَقَمَرَهَا وَنُجُومَهَا لِمَنَافِعِكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ «وَأَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً» يَعْنِي الْمَطَرَ يُنْزِلُهُ مِنْ عَلًى [عَلاً] لِيَبْلُغَ قُلَلَ جِبَالِكُمْ وَتِلالَكُمْ وَهِضَابَكُمْ وَأَوْهَادَكُمْ ثُمَّ فَرَّقَهُ رَذَاذاً وَوَابِلاً وَهَطْلاً وَطَلّاً لِتَنْشَفَهُ أَرَضُوكُمْ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ ذَلِكَ الْمَطَرَ نَازِلاً عَلَيْكُمْ قِطْعَةً وَاحِدَةً فَيُفْسِدَ أَرَضِيكُمْ وَأَشْجَارَكُمْ وَزُرُوعَكُمْ وَثِمَارَكُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: «فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الَّثمَراتِ رِزْقاً لَكُمْ» يَعْنِي مِمَّا يُخْرِجُهُ مِنَ الأَرْضِ رِزْقاً لَكُمْ «فَلا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَنْداداً» أَيْ أَشْبَاهاً وَأَمْثَالاً مِنَ الأَصْنَامِ الَّتِي لا تَعْقِلُ وَلا تَسْمَعُ وَلا تُبْصِرُ وَلا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهَا لا تَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ النِّعَمِ الْجَلِيلَةِ الَّتِي أَنْعَمَهَا عَلَيْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى.

11-36 Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim - the interpreter - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Yusuf ibn Muhammad ibn Ziyad and Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sayyar quoted on the authority of their fathers, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali (s), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Muhammad (s), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (s), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), 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) that Ali ibn Al-Hussein (s) said, “The Honorable the Exalted God’s words ‘…Who has made the Earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy…’ mean that God has made the Earth suitable for your body and according to your nature. He has neither made it too hot to burn you, nor did He make it too cold in which to freeze. The winds do not smell so good that you get a headache, neither are they so bad-smelling to be bothersome to you. The Earth is not as soft as water in which to drown, and not so hard that you could not build your houses on or dig your graves in it. The Honorable the Exalted God has made the Earth hard enough to benefit you and for you to be able to build your houses upon it and dig your graves in it. This is the sense in which ‘He has made theEarth your couch.’ Then the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘and the heavens your canopy…’ Here canopy means ‘a covering’ or a ‘roof.’ A roof which God has made its Sun, Moon and the stars move in their orbits for your benefit.Then the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘…and sent down rain from the heavens…’ This means that God sent down rain from the sky so that it can reach the mountains, the hills, and the valleys. God sent down water in various forms - rain, sleet, snow, hail so that the Earth could take it in. God did not sent down the water at once, as that would destroy the land, the trees, the fruits, and the harvest. Then the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘…and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance…’ This means that God has established what grows out of the Earth as your sustenance. ‘…Then set not up rivals onto Allah when ye know (the truth)’ meaning not to set up idols as rivals for God which neither have any intellect, nor do they hear, see or are able to do anything. You know well that these idols cannot grant you the many blessings which your Lord - the Blessed the Sublime - has bestowed upon you.

37 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أحْمَد السَنانِي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبي عَبْدِ اللَّه الكُوفِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَهْلِ بْنِ زِياد الأَدَمِي، عَنْ عَبْدِ العَظِيم بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الحَسَنِيِّ، عَنْ الإِمام عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّد، عن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى، عَنْ أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: خَرَجَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ مِنْ عِنْدِ الصَّادِقِ‏فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا غُلامُ مِمَّنِ الْمَعْصِيَةُ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: لا تَخْلُو مِنْ ثَلاثَةٍ إِمَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلَيْسَتْ مِنْهُ فَلا يَنْبَغِي لِلْكَرِيمِ أَنْ يُعَذِّبَ عَبْدَهُ بِمَا لَمْ يَكْتَسِبْهُ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمِنَ الْعَبْدِ فَلا يَنْبَغِي لِلشَّرِيكِ الْقَوِيِّ أَنْ يَظْلِمَ الشَّرِيكَ الضَّعِيفَ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْعَبْدِ وَهِيَ مِنْهُ فَإِنْ عَاقَبَهُ اللَّهُ فَبِذَنْبِهِ، وَإِنْ عَفَا عَنْهُ فَبِكَرَمِهِ وَجُودِهِ.

11-37 Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Sinani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Abi Abdillah al-Kufi quoted on the authority Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami, on the authority of Abdul Azeem ibn Abdullah Al-Hassani, on the authority of Imam Ali ibn Muhammad (s), on the authority of his father Muhammad ibn Ali (s), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), “One day Abu Hanifeh left As-Sadiq (s) and encountered Musa ibn Ja’far (s) along the way and asked him, “O young man! Who commits sins?” Musa ibn Ja’far (s) replied, “There are only three cases to consider. It is either done by the Sublime God which is not the case since it is not at all proper for The Gracious to punish His servants for things they have not done. The second case to consider is that the sin is committed by both the Honorable the Exalted God and the servant. But it is not proper for a Powerful partner to oppress a weak partner. The last possibility is that the servants commit sins. That is the case. Then if the Sublime God punishes him it is due to the sins he has committed, and if God forgives him it is due to His Munificence.”

38 - حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِمْران الدَّقَّاق رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الحَسَن الطَّائيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني أَبُو سَعِيدُ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيادٍ الأَدَمِي الرَّازِيُّ عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِجَعْفَر الكُوفِيّ سَمِعْتُ سَيِّدي عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ: حَدَّثَني أَبي مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى، عَنْ أَبيهِ الرِّضا عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر، عَنْ أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد، عَنْ أَبيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى، عَنْ أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحُسَيْن، عَنْ أَبيهِ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى‏ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ وَحَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عُمَر الحافِظُ البَغدْادي قالَ: حَدَّثَني أَبُو القاسِم إِسْحاق بْنِ جَعْفَر العَلَوِي قالَ: حَدَّثَني أَبي جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدبن عَلِيِّ عَنْ سُلَيْمان بْنِ مُحَمَّد القُرَشِي عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيل بْنِ أَبي زِياد عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَنْ أَبيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ‏الحُسَيْن عَنْ عَلِيِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَحَدَّثَنا أَبُو الحُسَيْن مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الفارْسِيِّ الغرائميقال حَدَّثَنا أَبُو سَعِيدُ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ رميح النسوي بجرجان قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَبْد العَزِيز بن إِسْحاق بْنِ جَعْفَر بِبَغْداد قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَبْد الوَهَّاب بنعيسى المَرْوَزِىُّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني الحَسَن بن عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّد البلوي قالَ: حَدَّثَني مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ نجيح عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَنْ أَبيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَحَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ الحَسَن القَطَّانُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا الحَسَن بْنِ عَلِى السكري قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا الجوهري قالَ: حَدَّثَنا العَبَّاسِ بْنِ بكار الضبي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو بَكْرِ الهذلي عَنْ عكرمة عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاس قالَ لَمَّا انْصَرَفَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنْ صِفِّينَ قَامَ إِلَيْهِ شَيْخٌ مِمَّنْ شَهِدَ الْوَقْعَةَ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ مَسِيرِنَا هَذَا أَبِقَضَاءٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَقَدَرٍ وَقَالَ الرِّضَا فِي رِوَايَتِهِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍ‏عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلاَمُ دَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنَا عَنْ خُرُوجِنَا إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ أَبِقَضَاءٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَقَدَرٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَجَلْ يَا شَيْخُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا عَلَوْتُمْ تَلْعَةً وَلا هَبَطْتُمْ بَطْنَ وَادٍ إِلا بِقَضَاءٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَقَدَرٍ فَقَالَ الشَّيْخُ: عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَحْتَسِبُ عَنَائِي يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقَـالَ: مَهْلاً يَا شَيْخُ! لَعَلَّـكَ تَظُـنُّقَضَاءً حَتْماً وَقَدَراً لازِماً! لَوْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ لَبَطَلَ الثَّوَابُ وَالْعِقَابُ وَالأَمْرُ وَالنَّهْيُ وَالزَّجْرُ، وَلَسَقَطَ مَعْنَى الْوَعْدِ وَالْوَعِيدِ، وَلَمْ تَكُنْ عَلَى مُسِي‏ءٍ لائِمَةٌ وَلا لُِمحْسِنٍ مَحْمَدَةٌ، وَلَكَانَ الُْمحْسِنُ أَوْلَى بِاللائِمَةِ مِنَ الْمُذْنِبِ، وَالْمُذْنِبُ أَوْلَى بِالإِحْسَانِ مِنَ الُْمحْسِنِ. تِلْكَ مَقَالَةُ عَبَدَةِ الأَوْثَانِ وَخُصَمَاءِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَقَدَرِيَّةِ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ وَمَجُوسِهَا. يَا شَيْخُ! إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ كَلَّفَ تَخْيِيراً وَنَهَى تَحْذِيراً وَأَعْطَى عَلَى الْقَلِيلِ كَثِيراً وَلَمْ يُعْصَ مَغْلُوباً وَلَمْ يُطَعْ مُكْرِهاً وَلَمْ يَخْلُقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَما بَيْنَهُما باطِلاً ذلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ فَنَهَضَ الشَّيْخُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ:يَوْمَ النَّجَاةِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَنِ غُفْرَاناًأَنْتَ الإِمَامُ الَّذِي نَرْجُو بِطَاعَتِهِ‏جَزَاكَ رَبُّكَ عَنَّا فِيهِ إِحْسَاناًأَوْضَحْتَ مِنْ دِينِنَا مَا كَانَ مُلْتَبِساً.قَدْ كُنْتُ رَاكِبَهَا فِسْقاً وَعِصْيَاناًفَلَيْسَ مَعْذِرَةٌ فِي فِعْلِ فَاحِشَةٍفِيهَا عَبَدْتُ إِذاً يَا قَوْمِ شَيْطَاناًلالا وَلا قَابِلاً [قَائِلاً] نَاهِيهِ أَوْقَعَهُقَتْلَ الْوَلِيِّ لَهُ ظُلْماً وَعُدْوَاناًوَلا أَحَبَّ وَلا شَاءَ الْفُسُوقَ وَلاذُو الْعَرْشِ أَعْلَنَ ذَاكَ اللَّهُ إِعْلاناًأَنَّى يُحِبُّ وَقَدْ صَحَّتْ عَزِيمَتُهُ‏قالَ مُصَنَّفِ هذَا الكِتابِ: لَمْ يَذْكُرْ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْحَافِظُ فِي آخِرِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ إِلاّ بَيْتَيْنِ مِنْ أَوَّلِهِ.

11-38 Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Imran ad-Daqqaq - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Muhammad ibn Al-Hassan Al-Ta’eequoted on the authority of Abu Sa’eed Sahl ibn Ziyad al-Adami al-Razi, on the authority of Ali ibn Ja’far al-Kufi that he had heard the following from his Master Ali ibn Muhammad (s), on the authority of his father (s), on the authority of his father Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), 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 (s). The same was narrated by Muhammad ibn Umar al-Hafiz al-Baghdadi who narrated that Abul Qasim Ishaq ibn Ja’far Al-Alawi quoted on the authority of Abi Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali, on the authority of Soleiman ibn Muhammad al-Qurashi, on the authority of Isma’il ibn Abi Ziyad, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad (s), on the authority of his father (s), on the authority of his grandfather Ali ibn Al-Hussein (s), on the authority of Ali (s). The same tradition was narrated by Abul Hussein Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Ishaq al-Farsi al-Aza’emi who quoted on the authority of Abu Sa’eed Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Romayh an-Nasawi at Gorgan, on the authority of Abdul Aziz ibn Ishaq ibn Ja’far at Baghdad, on the authority of Abdul Wahhab ibn Isa al-Marwazi, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad al-Balawi, on the authority of Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Nujayh, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad (s), on the authority of his father (s), on the authority of his grandfather (s), on the authority of his father (s). The same tradition was narrated by Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Sokkari who quoted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Jowhari, on the authority of Al-Abbas ibn Bakkar al-Dhabiy, on the authority of Abu Bakr al-Hothali, on the authority of Ikremah, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, “When the Commander of the Faithful Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) returned from the Siffin Battle, one of the elders who had seen the events in the battle with him stood up and said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful! Let us know if our course was destined by the Sublime God and by His Power?’” Al-Ridha (s) has also narrated in another tradition on the authority of his forefathers, on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali (s), “A man from Iraq went to the Commander of the Faithful (s) and said, ‘Let me know if our departure from Sham has been destined by the Sublime God and by His Power?’ The Commander of the Faithful (s) replied, ‘O old man! Yes. By God, you did not climb any hills and did not go down any valleys except through God’s destiny and by His Power.’ Then theold man said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful! Do my sufferings then have any rewards?’ Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) told him, ‘O old man! Wait a moment! It seems that you have thought that what I meant by God’s destiny was that it was a certainty. If so there would be no reward or punishment, no admonishing or advice, nor any Divine Promises. Then a sinner could not be blamed, and a good-doer will not deserve to be praised. Then a good-doer would even deserve to be blamed more than a sinner does. This is what the idol worshippers, the enemies of the Merciful God, the Qadarites and the Magi (Zoroastrians) in this nation say. O old man! The Sublime God has made the people responsible. However, the people are free to choose. He has admonished them but He has only warned them. He has granted a great reward for the very minute good deeds. One who disobeys does not defeat God. One who obeys Him is not forced to do so. God has not created the heavens and the Earth without a purpose, ‘Not without purpose did We create heaven and earth and all between! that were the thought of Unbelievers! but woe be to the Unbelievers because of the Fire (of Hell)!’ “The narrator added, “As the old man was standing up he recited the following,‘You are the Leader through whose obedience we hope to be saved by the Merciful on the Day of Saving (Resurrection). You clarified for us that part of the religion which was vague for us. May God grant you a good reward! There are no excuses for doing any wicked deeds which I do - Acts of corruption and disobedience. No! No! I never think that Him who has admonished against doing evil Himself forces one to do evil. You will be serving Satan if you ever think so. God does not like it. He does not want corruption. He has never allowed animosity with and oppressively killing God’s Friend. How could He - the Owner of Both Thrones - have done so while His tradition has itself clearly declared this.’”The author of this book (Sheikh Sadooq) said, “Muhammad ibn Umar Al-Hafiz has only included the first two couplets at the end of this tradition.”

39 - حَدَّثَنا أَبُو مَنْصُورِ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ بَكْرِ الخوزي بِنِيْسابُورَ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَبُو إسحاق إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَرْوان الخوري قالَ: حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زِياد الفقيه الخوري قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه الجويباري الشَّيْباني، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَن آبائِه، عَن عَلِيِّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلي اللَّه وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَدَّرَ الْمَقَادِيرَ وَدَبَّرَ التَّدَابِيرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ آدَمَ بِأَلْفَيْ عَام.

11-39 Abu Mansoor Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Bakr al-Khori in Neishaboor narrated that Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan al-Khori quoted on the authority of Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Ziyad - the Khori jurisprudent in Neishaboor, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abdullah Al-Joybari ash-Sheybani, 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, “Indeed the Honorable the Exalted God has destined the destiny and plotted the plans two-thousand years before the Creation of Adam.”

40 - حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الأشنانِي الرَّازِيُّ العَدْل ببلخ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ مهرويه القزويني قالَ: حَدَّثَنا داوُدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمان الفراء قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ، عَن آبائِهِ، عَن الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ قالَ إِنَّ يَهُودِيّاً سَأَلَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ وَعَمَّا لَيْسَ، عَن‏دَ اللَّهِ وَعَمَّا لا يَعْلَمُهُ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَمَّا مَا لا يَعْلَمُهُ اللَّهُ فَهُوَقَوْلُكُمْ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْيَهُودِ إِنَّ عُزَيْراً ابْنُ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَى لا يَعْلَمُ لَهُ وَلَداً أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ شَرِيكٌ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فَلَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ظُلْمٌ لِلْعِبَادِ فَقَالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّه.

11-40 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 Al-Hussein ibn Ali (s), “A Jew asked the Commander of the Faithful Ali ibn Abi Talib (s): Let me know what is it that God does not have? What is it that is not with God? What is it that God does not know?”Ali (s) said, “What God does not know is what you Jews say, ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of God!’ God does not know of any sons for Himself. And about what you said regarding what is not with God, you should know that it is ‘oppression to the servants’. And regarding what you said about what God does not have, you should know that it is any partners.” The Jew said, “I bear witness that there is no god but God and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”

41 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه، عَن إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَحْمَدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمان قالَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَهُوَفِي الطَّوَافِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْجَوَادِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِكَلامِكَ وَجْهَيْنِ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنِ الَْمخْلُوقِ فَإِنَّ الْجَوَادَ الَّذِي يُؤَدِّي مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِ وَالْبَخِيلَ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِمَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْنِي الْخَالِقَ فَهُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ أَعْطَى وَهُوَ الْجَوَادُ إِنْ مَنَعَ لانَّهُ إِنْ أَعْطَى عَبْداً أَعْطَاهُ مَالَيْسَ لَهُ وَإِنْ مَنَعَ مَنَعَ مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ.

11-41 (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 Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of Ahmad ibn Soleiman, “A man asked Abul Hassan (s) while he (s) was performing the circumambulations (around the Kaaba), ‘Please tell me about the munificent.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘There are two sides to your question. If you are asking about the creatures, then a munificent servant is one who performs the obligatory deeds, while a miser is someone who is miserly in performing what the Sublime God has made incumbent upon him. Butif you are asking about the Creator you should know that He is the Munificent whether He gives or not. That is because if He grants something to His servant, He has granted him what does not belong to him, and if He holds something back from His servant, that servant has no rights to it.’”

42 - حَدَّثَنا الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ أحْمَد المُؤَدِّبُ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قال: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِم، عَن أَبِيهِ، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ معبد، عَن الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد، عَن عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبِيهِ‏الحُسَيْن‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ‏الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِب‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَمِعتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلي اللَّه وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ قَالَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلالُهُ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِقَضَائِي وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِقَدَرِي فَلْيَلْتَمِسْ إِلَهاً غَيْرِي وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي كُلِّ قَضَاءِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خِيَرَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ.

11-42 Al-Hussein ibn Ibrahim ibn Ahmad al-Mu’addib - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ali ibn Ma’bad, on the authority of Al-Hussein ibn Khalid, on the authority of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (s), 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 (s), “The Commander of the Faithful (s) said, ‘I heard God’s Prophet (s) say that the Exalted the Magnificent God said, ‘Whoever is not pleased with My Verdict, and whoever does not believe in My Destiny should adopt another god for himself.’ The Prophet of God (s) has said, ‘There is some good for the believer in all of the Honorable the Exalted God’s Verdicts.’”