ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā

351 - وَبِهذَا الإسناد قالَ: قالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ: الكمأة من المن الَّذِي أَنْزَلَه اللَّه عَلَى بَنِي إسرائيل وَهِيَ شِفاءَ للعين وَالعَجْوَة الَّتِي فِي البرنِي من الجَنَّة وَهِيَ شِفاءَ من السُّمِّ.

31-351 According to the same documentation, God’s Prophet (S) said, “Hedysarum is one of the Manna which God sent down to the Children of Israel. It is a healing for the eyes. Also a form of date called ‘Ajwah’ in Arabic is from Paradise. It is a healing for being poisoned.”

352 - وَبِهذَا الإسناد عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ أَبِي طالِب أَنَّهُ ورث الخنثى من مَوْضِع مبالته.

31-352 According to the same documentation, Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) said, “An intersexual person is recognized by the genitalia (for the purposes of determining their share of inheritance).

1 - حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ إِسْحاق الطَّالِقانِيُّرَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَعِيدُ الكُوفِيّ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ الحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِىِّ بْنِ فضال، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضـا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قـالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: لِمَ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْخَلْقَ عَلَى أَنْوَاعٍ شَتَّىوَلَمْ يَخْلُقْهُمْ نَوْعاً وَاحِداً. فَقَالَ: لِئَلا يَقَعَ فِي الأَوْهَامِ أَنَّهُ عَاجِزٌ فَلا تَقَعُ صُورَةٌ فِي وَهْمِ مُلْحِدٍ إِلا وَقَدْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهَا خَلْقاً وَلا يَقُولُ قَائِلٌ هَلْ يَقْدِرُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَ عَلَى صُورَةِ كَذَا وَكَذَا إِلا وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فِي خَلْقِهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَيَعْلَمُ بِالنَّظَرِ إِلَى أَنْوَاعِ خَلْقِهِ أَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ.

32-1 Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Taliqani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Kufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn Fadhdhal, on the authority of his father, “I asked Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘O son of God’s Prophet! Why did the Honorable the Exalted God create all thingsto be the same way? Why did He not create everything to be of the same kind?’ Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) replied, ‘That was so that they do not think that He is incapable, and nothing can come to an atheist’s mind which the Honorable the Exalted God has not created. That was so that they cannot ask whether or not the Honorable the Exalted God is able to create such and such a creature, since the Blessed the Sublime has already created it. And considering all the varieties of creatures that He has created, they realize that He has power over all things.”

2 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَر الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِىَاللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ هاشِمٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدُ السَّلامُ بْنِ صالِح الهَرَوِيِّ، عَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: يا ابْنِ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لايِّ عِلَّةٍ أَغْرَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الدُّنْيَا كُلَّهَا فِي زَمَنِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَفِيهِمُ الأَطْفَالُ وَفِيهِمْ مَنْ لا ذَنْبَ لَهُ فَقَالَ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مَا كَانَ فِيهِمُ الأَطْفَالُ لانَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَعْقَمَ أَصْلابَ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَأَرْحَامَ نِسَائِهِمْ أَرْبَعِينَ عَاماً فَانْقَطَعَ نَسْلُهُمْ فَغَرِقُوا وَلا طِفْلَ فِيهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِيَهْلِكَ بِعَذَابِهِ مَنْ لا ذَنْبَ لَهُ وَأَمَّا الْبَاقُونَ مِنْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فَأُغْرِقُوا لِتَكْذِيبِهِمْ لِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ نُوحٍ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ وَسَائِرُهُمْ أُغْرِقُوا بِرِضَاهُمْ بِتَكْذِيبِ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ وَمَنْ غَابَ مِنْ أَمْرٍ فَرَضِيَ بِهِ كَانَ كَمَنْ شَهِدَهُ وَأَتَاهُ.

32-2 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ibrahim ibn Hashem quoted on the authority of his father that Abdul Salam ibn Salih al-Harawi told Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), “O son of God’s Prophet! Why did the Honorable the Exalted God immerse all the dry land in water at the time of Noah and drown all the innocent people and children there?” The Prophet (S) replied, “There were no children among them since the Honorable the Exalted God had made all the men and the women of the people of Noah sterile from forty years ago. Thus their generation was cut off and they were all drowned with no children among them. The Honorable the Exalted God will not punish the innocent for the sins of the sinners. However, some of Noah’s people that had remained were drowned for denying the Prophethood of Noah before God. Others were drowned because they were in agreement with the denial of the ones who denied, since if someone does not do something but agrees with it, it is like one who has actually done that.”

3 - حَدَّثَنا أَبي رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا سَعْدِ بْنِعَبْدِ اللَّه، عَنْ أَحْمَدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ الحَسَن بن عَلِيِّ الوَشَّاء، عَنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ قالَ أَبي‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّه‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ يا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ لانَّهُ كَانَ مُخَالِفاً لَهُ وَجَعَلَ مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ قَالَ وَسَأَلَنِي كَيْفَ يَقْرَءُونَ هَذِهِ الآْيَةَ فِي ابْنِ نُوحٍ فَقُلْتُ يَقْرَؤُهَا النَّاسُ عَلَى وَجْهَيْنِ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صالِحٍ وَإِنَّهُ عَمِلَ غَيْرَ صَالِحٍ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا هُوَابْنُهُ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ نَفَاهُ عَنْهُ حِينَ خَالَفَهُ فِي دِينِهِ.

32-3 (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 that Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ said that he had heard Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, “My father (a.s.) narrated that Abu Abdullah (a.s.) said that the Honorable the Exalted God told Noah, ‘…O Noah! He is not of thy family…’ The reason for this was that Noah’s son was opposed to Noah. God considered those who followed Noah (a.s.) to be of his family.” Al-Washsha’ said that the Imam (a.s.) asked him, “How is this verse about Noah’s son recited?” Al-Washsha’ answered, “The people recite it in two different ways one form of which implies that he was not Noah’s son.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, they are liars. He was Noah’s son. However, the Honorable the Exalted God denounced him from being Noah’s son due to his opposition to Noah’s religion.”

4 - حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ زِيادِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْهَمَذانيّ رَضِىَاللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا عَلِىِّ بْنِ إِبراهِيمِ بْنِ هاشِمٍ، عَنْ عَلِىِّ بْنِ معبد، عَنْ الحُسَيْنِ بْنِ خالِد، عَنْ أَبي الحَسَن الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ قالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْراهِيمَ خَلِيلاً لانَّهُ لَمْ يَرُدَّ أَحَداً وَلَمْ يَسْأَلْ أَحَداً قَطُّ غَيْرَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.

32-4 Ahmad ibn Ziyad ibn Ja’far al-Hamadani - 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-Husayn ibn Khalid, on the authority of Abil Hassan Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) that he (a.s.) heard his father (a.s.) say, “The Honorable the Exalted God chose Abraham (a.s.) as His friend since he never turned down any needy person without fulfilling his need, and never asked anyone but God for the fulfillment of his own needs.”

5 - حَدَّثَنا المُظَفَّر بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ المُظَفَّر العَلَوِيالسَمَرْقَنْدِيُّ رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا أَحْمَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّه العَلَوِيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّد العَلَوِيّ العُمَري قالَ: حَدَّثَني إِسْمَاعِيل بْنِ هَمّامٍ قالَ: قالَ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قالُوا إِنْ يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَسَرَّها يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُبْدِها لَهُمْ قَالَ كَانَتْ لاسْحَاقَ النَّبِيِ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ مِنْطَقَةٌ تَتَوَارَثُهَا الأَنْبِيَاءُ الأَكَابِرُ وَكَانَتْ عِنْدَ عَمَّةِ يُوسُفَ وَكَانَ يُوسُفُ عِنْدَهَا وَكَانَتْ تُحِبُّهُ فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهَا أَبُوهُ ابْعَثِيهِ إِلَيَّ وَأَرُدُّهُ إِلَيْكَ فَبَعَثَتْ إِلَيْهِ دَعْهُ عِنْدِيَ اللَّيْلَةَ أَشُمَّهُ ثُمَّ أُرْسِلَهُ إِلَيْكَ غَدَاةً قَالَ فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَتْ أَخَذَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةَ فَشَدَّتْهَا فِي وَسَطِهِ تَحْتَ الثِّيَابِ وَبَعَثَتْ بِهِ إِلَى أَبِيهِ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا طَلَبَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةَ فَوَجَدَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَكَانَ إِذَا سَرَقَ أَحَدٌ فِي ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانِ دُفِعَ إِلَى صَاحِبِ السَّرِقَةِ فَكَانَ عَبْدَهُ.

32-5 Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja’far Al-Mudhaffar Al-Alawi As-Samarqandi - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ahmad ibn Abdullah al-Alawi al-Umari, on the authority of Isma’il ibn Humam, “Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) said the following regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘They said, If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him). But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them….’ The Prophet Isaac (a.s.) had a belt which he (a.s.) had inherited from the great Prophets. That belt and Yusuf (Joseph) were both with Joseph’s aunt. She really liked Joseph. Jacob (a.s.) sent her a message to return the child the following day. She told Jacob’s messenger, ‘Return and tell him to let me keep the boy with me for tonight. I will return him tomorrow.’ When the morning arrived, she undressed him, put the belt on him and then put his shirt on him and sent him to his father. When Joseph (a.s.) left, she started to look for the belt saying that it had been stolen. They found it on Joseph and it was a custom then that if the theft of someone was proved at that time they would give the thief to the owner of the stolen property to be his/her slave.”

6 - حَدَّثَنا المُظَفَّر بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُظَفَّر العَلَوِيّ قالَ:حَدَّثَنا جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، عَنْ أَبيهِ، عَنْ عُبِيْداللَّه بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خالِد قالَ: حَدَّثَني الحَسَن بْنِ عَلِى الوَشَّاء قالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلىِّ بْنِ الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ: كَانَتِ الْحُكُومَةُ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذَا سَرَقَ أَحَدٌ شَيْئاً اسْتُرِقَّ بِهِ وَكَانَ يُوسُفُ عِنْدَ عَمَّتِهِ وَهُوَصَغِيرٌ وَكَانَتْ تُحِبُّهُ وَكَانَتْ لاسْحَاقَ مِنْطَقَةٌ أَلْبَسَهَا يَعْقُـوبَ وَكَانَتْ عِنْـدَ أُخْتِهِ، وَإِنَّ يَعْـقُوبَ طَلَبَ يُوسُـفَ لِيَأْخُذَهُ مِنْ عَمَّتِهِ فَاغْتَمَّتْ لِذَلِكَوَقَالَتْ دَعْهُ حَتَّى أُرْسِلَهُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَخَذَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةَ وَشَدَّتْ بِهَا وَسْطَهُ تَحْتَ الثِّيَابِ فَلَمَّا أَتَى يُوسُفُ أَبَاهُ جَاءَتْ وَقَالَتْ قَدْ سُرِقَتِ الْمِنْطَقَةُ فَفَتَّشَتْهُ فَوَجَدَتْهَا مَعَهُ فِي وَسْطِهِ فَلِذَلِكَ قَالَتْ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ لَمَّا حَبَسَ يُوسُفُ أَخَاهُ حَيْثُ جَعَلَ الصَّاعَ فِي وِعَاءِ أَخِيهِ فَقَالَ يُوسُفُ مَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ وُجِدَ فِي رَحْلِهِ قَالُوا هُوَجَزَاؤُهُ السُّنَّةُ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِيهِمْ فَلِذَلِكَ قَالَ إِخْوَةُ يُوسُفَ إِنْ يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَسَرَّها يُوسُفُ فِي نَفْسِهِ وَلَمْ يُبْدِها لَهُمْ.

32-6 Al-Mudhaffar ibn Ja’far ibn Mudhaffar al-Alawi narrated that Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Mas’ood quoted on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ubaydillah ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid, on the authority of Al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’, “I heard Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) say, ‘During the rule of the Children of Israel, if someone stole something, he would become the slave of the owner of that stolen property. Joseph (a.s.) was with his aunt when he was small. She really liked him. The Prophet Isaac (a.s.) had a belt which he (a.s.) had put on Jacob (a.s.). That belt was with Isaac’s daughter (Joseph’s aunt). Jacob (a.s.) asked her to return Joseph (a.s.). She got sad about this and sent him a message that she would return thechild later. When she wanted to send him back, she undressed him, put the belt on him and then put his shirt on him and sent him to his father. When Joseph (a.s.) reached Jacob, she arrived there also claiming that the belt had been lost. They searched Joseph’s body and found the belt on him. That was why when Joseph (a.s.) found the drinking cup in his brother’s saddle-bag which he himself had hidden there, his brothers said, ‘…If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him).’ Then Joseph (a.s.) asked them, ‘What is the punishment of the one in whose saddle-bag the drinking cup is found?’ They said, ‘The penalty should be that he in whose saddle-bag it is found, should be held (as bondman) to atone for the (crime)…’ as it is our tradition. Then ‘So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother: at length he brought it out of his brother’s baggage…’ That is why Joseph’s brothers said, ‘If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him).’ They were referring to that belt. ‘…But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them.’”

7 - حَدَّثَنا عَبْد الواحِدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدُوسٍالنِيْسابُوري العَطَّار رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ، عَنْ حَمْدانَ بْنِ سُلَيْمان النِيْسابُوري قالَ: حَدَّثَني إِبْراهيمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد الهَمْدانِيَّ قُلْتُ لِلرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ لايِّ عِلَّةٍ أَغْرَقَ اللَّهُ فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَدْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَأَقَرَّ بِتَوْحِيدِهِ قَالَ لانَّهُ آمَنَ عِنْدَ رُؤْيَةِ الْبَأْسِ وَالإِيمَانُ عِنْدَ رُؤْيَةِ الْبَأْسِ غَيْرُ مَقْبُولٍ وَذَلِكَ حُكْمُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ فِي السَّلَفِ وَالْخَلَفِ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: (فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنا قالُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَفَرْنا بِما كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ. فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنْفَعُهُمْ إِيمانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنا.) وَقَالَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: (يَوْمَ يَأْتِي بَعْضُ آياتِ رَبِّكَ لا يَنْفَعُ نَفْساً إِيمانُها لَمْ تَكُنْ آمَنَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمانِها خَيْراً.) وَهَكَذَا فِرْعَوْنُ لَمَّا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ: آمَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلا الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُوإِسْرائِيلَ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ آلآْنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَقَدْ كَانَ فِرْعَوْنُ مِنْ قَرْنِهِ إِلَى قَدَمِهِ فِي الْحَدِيدِ قَدْ لَبِسَهُ عَلَى بَدَنِهِ فَلَمَّا غَرِقَ أَلْقَاهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى نَجْوَةٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ بِبَدَنِهِ لِيَكُونَ لِمَنْ بَعْدَهُ عَلامَةً فَيَرَوْنَهُ مَعَ تَثَقُّلِهِ بِالْحَدِيدِ عَلَى مُرْتَفِعٍ مِنَ الأَرْضِ وَسَبِيلُ الثَّقِيلِ أَنْ يَرْسُبَ وَلا يَرْتَفِعَ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ آيَةً وَعَلامَةً وَلِعِلَّةٍ أُخْرَى أَغْرَقَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَهِيَ أَنَّهُ اسْتَغَاثَ بِمُوسَى لَمَّا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ وَلَمْ يَسْتَغِثْ بِاللَّهِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا مُوسَى لَمْ تُغِثْ فِرْعَوْنَ لانَّكَ لَمْ تَخْلُقْهُ وَلَوِ اسْتَغَاثَ بِي لاغَثْتُهُ.

32-7 Abdul Wahid Muhammad ibn Ubdoos al-Neishaboori al-Attar - may God be pleased with him - narrated that Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Qutayba quoted on the authority of Hamdan ibn Soleiman al-Neishaboori, on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Hamadani who asked Abil Hassan Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.), ‘Why did the Honorable the Exalted God drown Pharaoh, even though he believed in Him and confessed to His Unity?’ The Imam (a.s.) replied, ‘That was because he believed only when he saw the punishment, and believing when you see the punishment is not acceptable. This has been the Sublime God’s decree in the past and it will be so for the future as the Honorable the Exalted God said, ‘But when they saw Our Punishment, they said, We believe in God - the one God - and we reject the partners we used to join with Him.’ But their professing the Faith when they (actually) saw Our Punishment was not going to profit them. (a.s.uch has been) God’s Way of dealing with His Servants (from the most ancient times). And even thus did the Rejecters of God perish (utterly)!’ And the Honorable the Exalted God has also said, ‘…the day that certain of the signs of thy Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul to believe in them then; if he believed not before nor earned righteousness through its faith. Say: Wait ye: we too are waiting.’ When Pharaoh was about to drown ‘…he said, I believe thatthere is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to God in Islam).’ It was said to him, ‘Ah now! But a little while before, wast thou in rebellion! And thou didst mischief (and violence)! This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!’ Pharaoh was armed to the teeth wearing iron armor. When he was drowned, God threw him up on a high piece of land so that he would be a sign for the people who came later. They could see him on the high land with all his heavy iron weapons. Iron is heavy and it will naturally submerge. That is why this in itself was a sign. Another reason that the Honorable the Exalted God drowned Pharaoh was that he sought help from Moses when he realized that he was going to be drowned, and he did not seek God’s help. Then the Honorable the Exalted God revealed to Moses (a.s.), ‘O Moses! You did not help Pharaoh since you had not created him. Had he asked Me for help, I would have saved him.’”

8 - حَدَّثَنا عَبْدِ اللَّه بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْد الوَهَّابالقُرَشِي قالَ: حَدَّثَنا مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الأصبهانِي الصُّوفيّ قالَ: حَدَّثَني عَلِىِّ بْنِ مهرويه القَزوِيني قالَ: حَدَّثَنا داوُدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمان الغازي قالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِىِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ يَقُولُ عَنْ أَبيهِ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَر عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ، عَن أَبيهِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّد عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَتَبَسَّمَ ضاحِكاً مِنْ قَوْلِها قَالَ لَمَّا قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ يا أَيُّهَا الَّنمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَساكِنَكُمْ لا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمانُ وَجُنُودُهُ حَمَلَتِ الرِّيحُ صَوْتَ الَّنمْلَةِ إِلَى سُلَيَْمانَ وَهُوَمَارٌّ فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَالرِّيحُ قَدْ حَمَلَتْهُ فَوَقَفَ وَقَالَ عَلَيَّ بِالَّنمْلَةِ فَلَمَّا أُتِيَ بِهَا قَالَ سُلَيَْمانُ يَا أَيَّتُهَا الَّنمْلَةُ أَمَا عَلِمْتِ أَنِّي نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ وَأَنِّي لا أَظْلِمُ أَحَداً قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ بَلَى قَالَ سُلَيَْمانُ فَلِمَ حَذَّرْتِنِيهِمْ ظُلْمِي وَقُلْتِ يا أَيُّهَا الَّنمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَساكِنَكُمْ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ خَشِيتُ أَنْ يَنْظُرُوا إِلَى زِينَتِكَ فَيُفْتَتَنُوا بِهَا فَيَبْعُدُوا عَنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ. ثُمَّ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ: أَنْتَ أَكْبَرُ أَمْ أَبُوكَ دَاوُدُ؟ قَالَ سُلَيَْمانُ‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: بَلْ أَبِي دَاوُدُ. قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ: فَلِمَ زِيدَ فِي حُرُوفِ اسْمِكَ حَرْفٌ عَلَى حُرُوفِ اسْمِ أَبِيكَ دَاوُدَ؟ قَالَ سُلَيَْمانُ: مَا لِي بِهَذَا عِلْمٌ. قَـالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ: لأنَّ أَبَـاكَ دَاوُدَ دَاوَى جُرْحَهُ بِوُدٍّ فَسُمِّيَ دَاوُدَ، وَأَنْتَ يَـا سُلَيَْمانُ أَرْجُو أَنْتَلْحَقَ بِأَبِيكَ. ثُمَّ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ هَلْ تَدْرِي لِمَ سُخِّرَتْ لَكَ الرِّيحُ مِنْ بَيْنِ سَائِرِ الْمَمْلَكَةِ قَالَ سُلَيَْمانُ مَا لِي بِهَذَا عِلْمٌ قَالَتِ الَّنمْلَةُ يَعْنِي عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِذَلِكَ لَوْ سَخَّرْتُ لَكَ جَمِيعَ الْمَمْلَكَةِ كَمَا سَخَّرْتُ لَكَ هَذِهِ الرِّيحَ لَكَانَ زَوَالُهَا مِنْ يَدِكَ كَزَوَالِ الرِّيحِ فَحِينَئِذٍ تَبَسَّمَ ضاحِكاً مِنْ قَوْلِها!

32-8 Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahab al-Qurashi narrated that Mansoor ibn Abdullah al-Isbahani al-Sufi quoted on the authority of Ali ibn Mehrayat al-Qazvini, on the authority of Dawood ibn Soleiman al-Qadhi, “I heard Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ (a.s.) narrate the following on the authority of his father Musa ibn Ja’far (a.s.), on the authority of his father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (a.s.) regarding the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘So he smiled, amused at her speech….’ God was referring to the ant’s words when it said, ‘O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it.’ The wind that was blowing in the air brought the ant’s voice to Solomon. Solomon stopped and called in that ant and asked it, ‘Don’t you know that I am God’s Prophet and I will not oppress anyone?’ The ant said, ‘Yes.’ Solomon (a.s.) said, ‘Then why did you make them afraid of me oppressing them?’ The ant said, ‘I feared that they might see Your Majesty and get so attracted to you that they forget the Sublime God’s remembrance.’ Then the ant asked, ‘Is your rank higher or that of your father David?’ Solomon (a.s.) said, ‘My father David!’ The ant said, ‘However, your name has one more letter than your father’s name David. Doesn’t it?’ Solomon said, ‘I have no knowledge of this.’ The ant said, ‘No. Your father David’s name was actually ‘Davi jorha (meaning that David heals). Then he was called David. I hope you canreach the rank of your father.’ Then the ant added, ‘Do you know why God did not make things other than the wind subservient to you in His Kingdom?’ Solomon said, ‘I do not know.’ The ant said, ‘The Honorable the Exalted God wanted to teach you that if He had made everything else subservient to you, they would also end as fast as the wind does, and you would lose them as fast as the wind.’ Solomon (a.s.) laughed at this.”