Wilayah – Its Meaning

Introduction:

Wilayah is the soul of our religion, we frequently refer to it, but what does it mean in terms of fulfilling our obligations towards it- as per Divine Expectations?  For example, in a Hadeeth, Imam^-asws says:

حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الزِّيَادِيِّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ فُضَيْلٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الْحَجِّ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ وَ لَمْ يُنَادَ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ كَمَا نُودِيَ بِالْوَلَايَةِ .

Al Husayn Bin Muhammad Al Ashary narrated to me, from Moalla Bin Muhammad Al Ziyadi, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Washa who said, ‘Aban Bin Usman narrated to us, from Fuzayl Bin Abu Hamza,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Islām is built upon five (Pillards) – Upon the Salāt, and the Zakāt, and the Soām (Fasts), and the Hajj, and the Wilayah, and we^-asws do not call (emphasise) with anything like what we^-asws called (have emphasised) with the Wilayah’.^[1]

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ بْنِ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ أَبِي زَيْدٍ الْحَلَّالِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلَاءِ الْأَزْدِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَرَضَ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ خَمْساً فَرَخَّصَ فِي أَرْبَعٍ وَ لَمْ يُرَخِّصْ فِي وَاحِدَةٍ .

Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Jamhour, from Fazalat Bin Ayoub, from Abu Zayd Al Hallali, from Abdul Hameed Bin Abu Al A’ala Al Azdy who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Imposed five (matters) upon His^-azwj creatures, so He^-azwj has (Given them an) allowance (relaxation) regarding four, but did not (Given them an) allowance regarding one (Al-Wilayah)’.^[2]

عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْرِفُ مَوَدَّتِي لَكُمْ وَ انْقِطَاعِي إِلَيْكُمْ وَ مُوَالَاتِي إِيَّاكُمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مَسْأَلَةً تُجِيبُنِي فِيهَا فَإِنِّي مَكْفُوفُ الْبَصَرِ قَلِيلُ الْمَشْيِ وَ لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ زِيَارَتَكُمْ كُلَّ حِينٍ قَالَ هَاتِ حَاجَتَكَ قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي بِدِينِكَ الَّذِي تَدِينُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ أَنْتَ وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِكَ لِأَدِينَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ

From him, from Abu Al Jaroud who said,

‘I said to Abu Ja’far^-asws, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! Do you^-asws recognise my cordiality for you^-asws and my cutting-off (from others) towards you^-asws and my Wilayah for you^-asws?’ So he^-asws said: ‘Yes’. So I said, ‘So I would like to ask you^-asws a question. You^-asws answer me regarding it, for I am blind of vision, and little (ability for) walking, and are not able to visit you^-asws except every now and then’. He^-asws said: ‘Ask for your need’.

I said, ‘Inform me of your^-asws Religion which you^-asws are making it to be as a Religion of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic with, you^-asws and your^-asws family, as a Religion of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic with’.

قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ أَقْصَرْتَ الْخُطْبَةَ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمْتَ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَ اللَّهِ لَأُعْطِيَنَّكَ دِينِي وَ دِينَ آبَائِيَ الَّذِي نَدِينُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ الْإِقْرَارَ بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الْوَلَايَةَ لِوَلِيِّنَا وَ الْبَرَاءَةَ مِنْ عَدُوِّنَا وَ التَّسْلِيمَ لِأَمْرِنَا وَ انْتِظَارَ قَائِمِنَا وَ الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الْوَرَعَ .

The Imam^-asws said: ‘Even though you have asked a short question but it spans over an extensive (subject). (However) by Allah^-azwj! I^-asws will give you my^-asws Religion and the Religion of my^-asws forefathers^-asws which we^-asws have embraced to be as a Religion of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic with – The testimony that there is no god except for Allah^-azwj and that Muhammad^-saww is Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj, and the acknowledgement with whatever he^-saww came with from the Presence of Allah^-azwj, and the Wilayah – to befriend us^-asws (the 12 Imams^-asws) and disavow from our^-asws enemies, and the submission to our^-asws command, and awaiting our^-asws Qaim^-asws, and ‘الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الْوَرَعَ’ the striving (hard work to fulfil religious obligations) and the piety (Fearing Allah^-azwj)’.^[3]

عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يُسْأَلُ الْمَيِّتُ فِي قَبْرِهِ عَنْ خَمْسٍ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِ وَ زَكَاتِهِ وَ حَجِّهِ وَ صِيَامِهِ وَ وَلَايَتِهِ إِيَّانَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَتَقُولُ الْوَلَايَةُ مِنْ جَانِبِ الْقَبْرِ لِلْأَرْبَعِ مَا دَخَلَ فِيكُنَّ مِنْ نَقْصٍ فَعَلَيَّ تَمَامُهُ .

From him, from his father, raising it, said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The deceased would be questioned in his grave about five – about his Salāt, and his Zakat, and his Hajj, and his Fasts, and his Wilayah of us^-asws, the People^-asws of the Household. So the ‘Wilayah’ would be saying from the side of the grave, to the other four: ‘Whatever enters, and it happens to be deficient, so it would be upon me to complete it’.^[4]

Wilayah From the Holy Quran:

Allah^-azwj Says in the famous Verse of Wilayah (5:55):

إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ {5:55}

But rather, your Guardian is Allah, and His Rasool, and those who are believing, those who are establishing the Salāt and are giving the Zakat while they are performing Ruku [5:55]

The interpretation of Verse 5:55 is included in the Appendix I.

The concept of ‘Wali’ (to whom one must submit – A Divine Imam^-asws) and the ‘Wilayah’ (expression of submission) is exquisitely explained in the ‘Verse of Kursi’ (2:257), as the one who follows Allah^-azwj, Allah^-azwj Brings him to ‘Noor’ (Divine Light- Imam^-asws) from the ‘Zullumaat’ (darkness of the falsehood) and those who are (already) in the ‘Noor’ (Light of Wilayah of a Divine Imam^-asws) but if they start to diverge away, by following other than those who are not appointed by Allah^-azwj are removed from the ‘Noor’ and become eternal inhabitants of Fire.

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {2572:}

Allah is the Guardian of those who believe. He Extracts them from the (multitude of) darkness into the Light; and (as for) those who are committing Kufr, their guardian is the tyrant who extracts them from the Light into the (multitude of) darkness; these are the inmates of the Fire; they would be in it eternally [2:257]

The word “وَلِيُّ” in the above Verse (2:257) means ‘Guardian/authority’ who has to be followed. For further explanation/interpretation of the Verse is given in Appendix II.

Introducing the ‘Wilayat’ to the Momineen:

ثم قال علي بن إبراهيم: حدثنا أبو القاسم، قال: حدثنا محمد بن عباس، قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن موسى، قال: حدثنا عبد العظيم بن عبد الله الحسني، قال: حدثنا عمر بن رشيد، عن داود بن كثير، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، في قول الله عز و جل: قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَغْفِرُوا لِلَّذِينَ لا يَرْجُونَ أَيَّامَ اللَّهِ، قال: قل للذين مننا عليهم بمعرفتنا أن يعرفوا الذين  لا يعلمون، فإذا عرفوهم فقد غفروا لهم».

Then Ali Bin Ibrahim said, ‘Abu Al-Qasim narrated to us, from Muhammad Bin Abbas, from Abdullah Bin Musa, from Abdul Azeem Bin Abdullah Al-Hasny, from Umra Bin Rasheyd, from Dawood Bin Kaseer,

Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: Say to those who believe, they should be seeking Forgiveness for those who do not hope for the days of Allah [45:14], Imam^-asws said: ‘Say to those whom we^-asws have conferred (granted) our^-asws Wilayah upon, that they should make it (Wilayah) recognise for those who lack its understanding. So when they do make others (with Eman) understand it (Wilayah), so they have sought Forgiveness for themselves’.[5]

The Scope of the Wilayah:

Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws says, while introducing the qualities and scope of a ‘Wali’ (Wilayah of a Divine Imam^-asws) to one of his^-asws companions named ‘Tairq’ in a sermon:

الْبُرْسِيُّ فِي مَشَارِقِ الْأَنْوَارِ عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: يَا طَارِقُ‏ الْإِمَامُ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ وَ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ وَ نُورُ اللَّهِ وَ حِجَابُ اللَّهِ وَ آيَةُ اللَّهِ يَخْتَارُهُ اللَّهُ وَ يَجْعَلُ فِيهِ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُوجِبُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ الطَّاعَةَ وَ الْوَلَايَةَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُ فِي سَمَاوَاتِهِ وَ أَرْضِهِ أَخَذَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ الْعَهْدَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ عِبَادِهِ فَمَنْ تَقَدَّمَ عَلَيْهِ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ فَوْقِ عَرْشِهِ فَهُوَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ إِذَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ شَاءَ ….

“O Tariq! The Imam^-asws is the ‘Kalima-tul-Allah’ Words of Allah^-azwj; ‘Hujat-ul-Allah’ the Proof of Allah^-azwj; ‘Wajh-Allah’ the Direction to Allah^-azwj; ‘Noor-Allah’ the Light of Allah^-azwj; ‘Hijab-Allah’ the Veil of Allah^-azwj and ‘Ayat-Allah’ the Sign of Allah^-azwj.

He^-asws is Chosen by Allah^-azwj who bestows onto him^-asws whatever qualities He^-azwj chooses, and Makes it compulsory on all His^-azwj creatures to obey him-the Imam^-asws.

Thus, he^-asws is Allah^-azwj‘s Appointed Ruler in the Heavens and on the earth.  Allah^-azwj has Taken a covenant regarding this from all His^-azwj servants. Whosoever, precedes the Imam^-asws has denied established Kingdom of Allah^-azwj.  An Imam^-asws can act as he^-asws finds it appropriate; however his^-asws actions only correspond to the Will of Allah^-azwj. …….

فَهِيَ مَرْتَبَةٌ لَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا مَنِ اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ وَ قَدَّمَهُ وَ وَلَّاهُ وَ حَكَّمَهُ فَالْوَلَايَةُ هِيَ حِفْظُ الثُّغُورِ وَ تَدْبِيرُ الْأُمُورِ وَ تَعْدِيدُ الْأَيَّامِ وَ الشُّهُورِ^[6]

The Imamate is a station that none can reach except those whom Allah^-azwj has Chosen and has Given them precedence (over others), investing them with the authority to Rule and to Judge (on behalf of Allah^-azwj).

Thus, ‘Wilayah’ is no other than safeguarding people from danger and disaster and the management of their all affairs (to fulfil their all kinds of needs), (even down to) demarcating (defining) the days and months.

وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَخْلُقْ أَحَداً إِلَّا وَ أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِ الْإِقْرَارَ بِالْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ لِلْذُّرِّيَّةِ الزَّكِيَّةِ وَ الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنْ أَعْدَائِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ الْعَرْشَ لَمْ يَسْتَقِرَّ حَتَّى كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ بِالنُّورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَلِيٌّ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ.

In fact, Allah^-azwj did not create anything until He^-azwj Made them declare the oneness (of Allah^-azwj), the ‘Wilayah’ of the pure progeny^-asws and revulsion (dislike) for their^-asws enemies. The Throne (of Allah^-azwj) did not attain stability until it was inscribed with Divine Noor (Light); There is no deity except Allah^-azwj, Muhammad^-saww is the Messenger of Allah^-azwj, and Ali^-asws is the Wali of Allah^-azwj. (complete Hadith-e-Tariq is cited in Appendix III).

The Obligations of Wilayah:

أَخْبَرَنَا الشَّيْخُ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ رَحِمَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَنْ عَمِّهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَمِّهِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ:

It was informed to us by the Sheykh Abu Muhammad Al Hassan Bin Al Husayn Bin Babuwayh, from his uncle Muhammad Bin Al Hassan, from his father Al Hassan Bin Al Husayn, from his uncle Abu Ja’far Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Al Husayn Bin Babuwayh, from Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Safwan, from Khaysama Al Ju’fy who said,

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ أَنَا أُرِيدُ الشُّخُوصَ فَقَالَ أَبْلِغْ مَوَالِيَنَا السَّلَامَ وَ أَوْصِهِمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ أَنْ يَعُودَ غَنِيُّهُمْ فَقِيرَهُمْ وَ قَوِيُّهُمْ ضَعِيفَهُمْ وَ أَنْ يَعُودَ صَحِيحُهُمْ مَرِيضَهُمْ وَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ حَيُّهُمْ جَنَازَةَ مَيِّتِهِمْ وَ أَنْ يَتَلَاقَوْا فِي بُيُوتِهِمْ فَإِنَّ لِقَاءَ بَعْضِهِمْ بَعْضاً حَيَاةٌ لِأَمْرِنَا رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً أَحْيَا أَمْرَنَا

‘I went over to Al-Sadiq Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws and I was there among many people. So he^-asws said: ‘Deliver the greetings to our^-asws friends and advise them with the fear of Allah^-azwj and that their rich ones should be assisting their poor ones, and their strong ones (assisting) their weak ones, and that their well ones should be assisting their sick ones, and their living ones should be attending the funeral of their dead ones, and they should be meeting each other in their houses, for their meeting each other is a revival of our^-asws matter. May Allah^-azwj have Mercy on the one who revives our^-asws matter.

يَا خَيْثَمَةُ إِنَّا لَا نُغْنِي عَنْكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئاً إِلَّا بِالْعَمَلِ وَ إِنَّ وَلَايَتَنَا لَا تُنَالُ إِلَّا بِالْوَرَعِ وَ إِنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ حَسْرَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ وَصَفَ عَدْلًا ثُمَّ يُخَالِفُهُ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ.

O Khaysama! We^-asws cannot make you needless of anything from Allah^-azwj except by the deeds, and that our^-asws Wilayah cannot be attained except with the devoutness, and that the one with the most intense of regrets on the Day of Judgment would be the one who describes justice, then opposes it with something else’.^[7]

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ وَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ لِي يَا جَابِرُ أَ يَكْتَفِي مَنِ انْتَحَلَ التَّشَيُّعَ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحُبِّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا شِيعَتُنَا إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّقَى اللَّهَ وَ أَطَاعَهُ وَ مَا كَانُوا يُعْرَفُونَ يَا جَابِرُ إِلَّا بِالتَّوَاضُعِ وَ التَّخَشُّعِ وَ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ كَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الْبِرِّ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ التَّعَاهُدِ لِلْجِيرَانِ مِنَ الْفُقَرَاءِ وَ أَهْلِ الْمَسْكَنَةِ وَ الْغَارِمِينَ وَ الْأَيْتَامِ وَ صِدْقِ الْحَدِيثِ وَ تِلَاوَةِ الْقُرْآنِ وَ كَفِّ الْأَلْسُنِ عَنِ النَّاسِ إِلَّا مِنْ خَيْرٍ وَ كَانُوا أُمَنَاءَ عَشَائِرِهِمْ فِي الْأَشْيَاءِ

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Salim, and Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from his father, altogether from Ahmad Bin Al Nazar, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘O Jabir! Is he content, the one who is posing as the Shia that he is speaking of his love for us^-asws, the People^-asws of the Household? By Allah^-azwj! He is not our^-asws Shia except for the one who fears Allah^-azwj and obeys Him^-azwj; and they (the Shia) would not be recognised, O Jabir, except with the devotion (in worship), and the humbleness, and the trustworthiness, and frequency of the Mention of Allah^-azwj, and the Fasting, and the Salāt, and the righteousness with the parents, and the commitment with the neighbours from the poor ones, and the destitute, and the indebted ones, and the orphans, and the truthfulness of the narrations, and the recitation of the Quran, and restraining of the tongues from the people except from goodness, and being trusted by their clan regarding the things (all kind of matters)’.

قَالَ جَابِرٌ فَقُلْتُ يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ مَا نَعْرِفُ الْيَوْمَ أَحَداً بِهَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ فَقَالَ يَا جَابِرُ لَا تَذْهَبَنَّ بِكَ الْمَذَاهِبُ حَسْبُ الرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَقُولَ أُحِبُّ عَلِيّاً وَ أَتَوَلَّاهُ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُونَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ فَعَّالًا فَلَوْ قَالَ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) خَيْرٌ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) ثُمَّ لَا يَتَّبِعُ سِيرَتَهُ وَ لَا يَعْمَلُ بِسُنَّتِهِ مَا نَفَعَهُ حُبُّهُ إِيَّاهُ شَيْئاً

Jabir said, ‘So I said, ‘O son^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww! We do not recognise today anyone with these characteristics’.

So he^-asws said: ‘O Jabir! Do not (let) the (other) doctrines (sects) go away with you. The man reckons that he is speaking the love for Ali^-asws, and being in his^-asws Wilayah, then he does not happen to be with that in deeds. So if he were to say, ‘I love Rasool-Allah^-saww’, so Rasool-Allah^-saww (is before) Ali^-asws (regarding) ‘خَيْرٌ’ (Wilayah) then he does not follow his^-saww way, and does not act by his^-saww Sunnah, his love for him^-saww would not benefit him anything.

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ اعْمَلُوا لِمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ قَرَابَةٌ أَحَبُّ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَكْرَمُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَتْقَاهُمْ وَ أَعْمَلُهُمْ بِطَاعَتِهِ يَا جَابِرُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا يُتَقَرَّبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى إِلَّا بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ مَا مَعَنَا بَرَاءَةٌ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ لَا عَلَى اللَّهِ لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ مَنْ كَانَ لِلَّهِ مُطِيعاً فَهُوَ لَنَا وَلِيٌّ وَ مَنْ كَانَ لِلَّهِ عَاصِياً فَهُوَ لَنَا عَدُوٌّ وَ مَا تُنَالُ وَلَايَتُنَا إِلَّا بِالْعَمَلِ وَ الْوَرَعِ .

Therefore, fear Allah^-azwj and work for what is in the Presence of Allah^-azwj. There is no relationship between Allah^-azwj and anyone. The most Beloved of the servants to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and the most prestigious to Him^-azwj is the most pious of them, the most (hard) working of them in His^-azwj obedience. O Jabir! By Allah^-azwj! One cannot get closer to Allah^-azwj Blessed and High except with the obedience. And what is the meaning of the freedom from the Fire, and there is no argument for anyone against Allah^-azwj. The one who was obedient to Allah^-azwj so he would be a friend of ours^-asws, and the one who was disobedient to Allah^-azwj, so he would be an enemy of ours^-asws; and you cannot attain our^-asws ‘Wilayah’ except with the deeds and the piety’.^[8]

حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ يَا مَعْشَرَ الشِّيعَةِ شِيعَةِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كُونُوا النُّمْرُقَةَ الْوُسْطَى يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْكُمُ الْغَالِي وَ يَلْحَقُ بِكُمُ التَّالِي فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ يُقَالُ لَهُ سَعْدٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا الْغَالِي قَالَ قَوْمٌ يَقُولُونَ فِينَا مَا لَا نَقُولُهُ فِي أَنْفُسِنَا فَلَيْسَ أُولَئِكَ مِنَّا وَ لَسْنَا مِنْهُمْ قَالَ فَمَا التَّالِي قَالَ الْمُرْتَادُ يُرِيدُ الْخَيْرَ يُبَلِّغُهُ الْخَيْرَ يُؤْجَرُ عَلَيْهِ

Humeyd Bin Ziyad, from Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Bin Sama’at, from one of his companions, from Aban, from Amro Bin Khalid,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘O group of Shia, the Shia of the Progeny^-asws of Muhammad^-saww! Take a central position. The exaggerator would return to you and the ‘Ta’aly’ would catch up with you’.

So a man from the Helpers called Sa’ad, said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! What is the exaggerator?’ The Imam^-asws said: ‘People who are saying regarding us^-asws (that which) we^-asws are not saying regarding ourselves^-asws. So those are not from us^-asws and we^-asws are not from them’. He (Sa’ad) asked, ‘So what is the ‘التَّالِي’ ‘Ta’aly’?’ He^-asws said: The one intending the goodness and (eventually) goodness reaches it and he is Recompensed upon it’.

ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا مَعَنَا مِنَ اللَّهِ بَرَاءَةٌ وَ لَا بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ قَرَابَةٌ وَ لَا لَنَا عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ وَ لَا نَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا بِالطَّاعَةِ فَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مُطِيعاً لِلَّهِ تَنْفَعُهُ وَلَايَتُنَا وَ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ عَاصِياً لِلَّهِ لَمْ تَنْفَعْهُ وَلَايَتُنَا وَيْحَكُمْ لَا تَغْتَرُّوا وَيْحَكُمْ لَا تَغْتَرُّوا .

Then Imam^-asws turned to face us and he^-asws said: ‘By Allah^-azwj! There is no freedom (from the Fire) with us^-asws from Allah^-azwj, nor is there between us^-asws and Allah^-azwj a relationship, nor is there an argument for us^-asws against Allah^-azwj, nor do we^-asws get closer to Allah^-azwj except by obedience. So the one from you who was obedient to Allah^-azwj, our^-asws Wilayah would benefit him. But the one from you who was disobedient to Allah^-azwj, our^-asws Wilayah would not benefit him. Woe be unto you! Do not be deceived. Woe be unto you! Do not be deceived’.^[9]

The Blessings of ‘Wilayah’:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنْ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ تَغْلِبَ وَ عِدَّةٍ قَالُوا كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) جُلُوساً فَقَالَ (عليه السلام) لَا يَسْتَحِقُّ عَبْدٌ حَقِيقَةَ الْإِيمَانِ حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْمَوْتُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ وَ يَكُونَ الْمَرَضُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الصِّحَّةِ وَ يَكُونَ الْفَقْرُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْغِنَى فَأَنْتُمْ كَذَا فَقَالُوا لَا وَ اللَّهِ جَعَلَنَا اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ وَ سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ وَقَعَ الْيَأْسُ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al-Husayn, from Is’haq Bin Yazeed, from Mahraan, from Abaan Bin Taglub, and a number who said:

We were seated in the presence of Abu Abdullah^-asws, so he^-asws said; ‘A servant does not become deserving of the true Eman (belief) until the death becomes more beloved to him than the life, and the illness becomes more beloved to him than the health, and the poverty becomes more beloved to him than the richness. So are you all like this?’ So we said, ‘No, by Allah^-azwj! May Allah^-azwj Make us to be sacrificed for you^-asws ‘. And (their heads) fell into their hands, and despair filled their hearts.

فَلَمَّا رَأَى مَا دَاخَلَهُمْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ أَ يَسُرُّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنَّهُ عُمِّرَ مَا عُمِّرَ ثُمَّ يَمُوتُ عَلَى غَيْرِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ أَوْ يَمُوتُ عَلَى مَا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا بَلْ يَمُوتُ عَلَى مَا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ السَّاعَةَ قَالَ فَأَرَى الْمَوْتَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ

So when Imam^-asws saw what had entered into them from that, he^-asws said: ‘Is it more pleasing for one of you that he lives for as long as he does, then dies upon other than this matter (Al-Wilayah), or he dies what he is upon?’ We said, ‘But, dying what he is at this time’. He^-asws said: ‘So I^-asws see that the death is more beloved to you than the life’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ يَسُرُّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنْ بَقِيَ مَا بَقِيَ لَا يُصِيبُهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَمْرَاضِ وَ الْأَوْجَاعِ حَتَّى يَمُوتَ عَلَى غَيْرِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ قَالُوا لَا يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَأَرَى الْمَرَضَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الصِّحَّةِ

Then said: ‘Is it more pleasing for one of you to remain upon what he is and not be struck by anything from these illnesses and the pains until he dies upon other than this matter (Al-Wilayah)’. We said, ‘No, O son^-asws of the Rasool Allah^-saww’. He^-asws said: ‘So I^-asws see that illness is more beloved to you than the health’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ يَسُرُّ أَحَدَكُمْ أَنَّ لَهُ مَا طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى غَيْرِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ قَالُوا لَا يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ قَالَ فَأَرَى الْفَقْرَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْغِنَى.

Then said: ‘Is it more pleasing to one of you that for him should be all that the sun rises upon, and he is upon other than this matter (Al-Wilayah)?’ We said, ‘No, O son^-asws of the Rasool Allah^-saww’. He^-asws said: ‘So I^-asws see that the poverty is more beloved to you than the richness’.[10]

– أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَبِي الْيَسَعِ عَنْ أَبِي شِبْلٍ قَالَ صَفْوَانُ وَ لَا أَعْلَمُ إِلَّا أَنِّي قَدْ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ أَبِي شِبْلٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) مَنْ أَحَبَّكُمْ عَلَى مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَقُلْ كَمَا تَقُولُونَ.

Abu Ali Al-Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Safwaan Bin Yahya, from Abu Al-Yas’a, from Abu Shabl, ‘Safwaan said, ‘And I do not know except that I have heard from Abu Shabl, that:

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The one loves you due to what you are upon (Al-Wilayah), would enter the Paradise even if he never said anything similar to what you are saying’.[11]

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ لَيْسَ كُلُّ مَنْ قَالَ بِوَلَايَتِنَا مُؤْمِناً وَ لَكِنْ جُعِلُوا أُنْساً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ .

Al Hassan Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abdullah,

(It has been narrated) from Ali son of Ja’far^-asws who said, ‘I heard Abu Al-Hassan^-asws saying: ‘Not everyone who speaks as being with our^-asws Wilayah is a Momin. But, it has been Made to be a comfort for the Momineen’ (so a Momin does not remain without a company).^[12]

Respecting the People of ‘Wilayah’:

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ مُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) مَنْ رَوَى عَلَى مُؤْمِنٍ رِوَايَةً يُرِيدُ بِهَا شَيْنَهُ وَ هَدْمَ مُرُوءَتِهِ لِيَسْقُطَ مِنْ أَعْيُنِ النَّاسِ أَخْرَجَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ وَلَايَتِهِ إِلَى وَلَايَةِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَلَا يَقْبَلُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Mufazzal Bin Umar who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said to me: ‘The one who reports upon a Momin with a report intending to defame him with it and demolish his personality to drop him from the eyes of the people, Allah^-azwj would Exit him from His^-azwj Wilayah to the wilayah of the Satan^-la, but the Satan^-la will not accept him’.^[13]

Sins will Invalidate the Wilayah of a Momin:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( صلوات الله عليه ) لَيْسَ بِوَلِيٍّ لِي مَنْ أَكَلَ مَالَ مُؤْمِنٍ حَرَاماً .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, and Ahmad Bin Muhammad, altogether from Ibn Mahboub, from Sama’at who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘He is not upon my^-asws Wilayah, the one who unlawfully consumes the wealth of a Momin’.^[14]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَارِدٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) حَدِيثٌ رُوِيَ لَنَا أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ إِذَا عَرَفْتَ فَاعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَقَالَ قَدْ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ إِنْ زَنَوْا أَوْ سَرَقُوا أَوْ شَرِبُوا الْخَمْرَ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَ إِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَنْصَفُونَا أَنْ نَكُونَ أُخِذْنَا بِالْعَمَلِ وَ وُضِعَ عَنْهُمْ إِنَّمَا قُلْتُ إِذَا عَرَفْتَ فَاعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ قَلِيلِ الْخَيْرِ وَ كَثِيرِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُقْبَلُ مِنْكَ .

Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Husayn Bin Saeed, from the one who mentioned it, from Ubed Bin Zurara, from Muhammad Bin Marid who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘A Hadeeth has been reported to us that you^-asws said: ‘When you recognise (Al-Wilayah) so you can do whatever you so desire to’. So he^-asws said: ‘I^-asws have said that’. I said, ‘And even if they commit adultery, or are stealing, or drinking the wine?’ So he^-asws said to me: ‘We are from Allah^-azwj and to Him^-azwj we are returning. By Allah^-azwj! They have not been fair to us^-asws, that we^-asws would be Seized with the deed and it has been Dropped from them? But rather, I^-asws said, ‘When you recognise (Al-Wilayah), so do whatever you so desire to, be it from the little goodness and more, for it would be Accepted from you’.^[15]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَبِي الْمِقْدَامِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) يَقُولُ خَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَ أَبِي حَتَّى إِذَا كُنَّا بَيْنَ الْقَبْرِ وَ الْمِنْبَرِ إِذَا هُوَ بِأُنَاسٍ مِنَ الشِّيعَةِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ لَأُحِبُّ رِيَاحَكُمْ وَ أَرْوَاحَكُمْ فَأَعِينُونِي عَلَى ذَلِكَ بِوَرَعٍ وَ اجْتِهَادٍ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَلَايَتَنَا لَا تُنَالُ إِلَّا بِالْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ مَنِ ائْتَمَّ مِنْكُمْ بِعَبْدٍ فَلْيَعْمَلْ بِعَمَلِهِ أَنْتُمْ شِيعَةُ اللَّهِ وَ أَنْتُمْ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ وَ أَنْتُمُ السَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ وَ السَّابِقُونَ الْآخِرُونَ وَ السَّابِقُونَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ السَّابِقُونَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Amro Bin Abu Al-Maqdaam who said:

I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘I^-asws and my^-asws father^-asws went out until we^-asws arrived in between the Grave and the Pulpit (of the Rasool Allah^-saww). There was a group of Shiites over there, so I^-asws greeted them, and then said: ‘By Allah^-azwj! I^-asws love your aromas, and your spirits, so help me^-asws upon that by being pious and striving.

And know that our^-asws Wilayah cannot be achieved except by piety (fearing Allah^-azwj) and the striving (hard work in the Wilayah obligations), and the one from among you who follows a servant (an Imam^-asws); he should emulate what he^-asws does. You are the Shias of Allah^-azwj, and you are the Helpers of Allah^-azwj, and you are the foremost of the former ones, and the foremost of the later ones, and the foremost in the world, and the foremost in the Hereafter (and) to the Paradise.

قَدْ ضَمِنَّا لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةَ بِضَمَانِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ ضَمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَ اللَّهِ مَا عَلَى دَرَجَةِ الْجَنَّةِ أَكْثَرُ أَرْوَاحاً مِنْكُمْ فَتَنَافَسُوا فِي فَضَائِلِ الدَّرَجَاتِ أَنْتُمُ الطَّيِّبُونَ وَ نِسَاؤُكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ كُلُّ مُؤْمِنَةٍ حَوْرَاءُ عَيْنَاءُ وَ كُلُّ مُؤْمِنٍ صِدِّيقٌ وَ لَقَدْ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عليه السلام) لِقَنْبَرٍ يَا قَنْبَرُ أَبْشِرْ وَ بَشِّرْ وَ اسْتَبْشِرْ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ مَاتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَ هُوَ عَلَى أُمَّتِهِ سَاخِطٌ إِلَّا الشِّيعَةَ

We^-asws have taken your responsibility for the Paradise on the Guarantee of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and the guarantee of the Rasool Allah^-saww.

By Allah^-azwj! There are no Levels of the Paradise where your Spirits are in abundance, so compete for the higher Levels. You are the good ones and your women are the good ones. Every Momina (Believing woman) is a virgin Hourie and every Momin is a Truthful one.

And Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws has said to Qanbar: ‘Receive good news, rejoice with the good news, and convey the good news, for, by Allah^-azwj, the Rasool Allah^-saww passed away while he^-saww was angry with his^-saww community except for the Shias’.

أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عِزّاً وَ عِزُّ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ دِعَامَةً وَ دِعَامَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ ذِرْوَةً وَ ذِرْوَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ شَرَفاً وَ شَرَفُ الْإِسْلَامِ الشِّيعَةُ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ سَيِّداً وَ سَيِّدُ الْمَجَالِسِ مَجَالِسُ الشِّيعَةِ أَلَا وَ إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِمَاماً وَ إِمَامُ الْأَرْضِ أَرْضٌ تَسْكُنُهَا الشِّيعَةُ

Indeed! For everything there is an honour and the honour of Al-Islam are the Shias. Indeed! For everything there is a pillar and the pillar of Al-Islam are the Shias. Indeed! For everything there is a chief and the chief of the gatherings is the gathering of the Shias. Indeed! For everything is a prestige, and the prestige of the earth is the land on which the Shias live.

وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْكُمْ مَا رَأَيْتَ بِعَيْنٍ عُشْباً أَبَداً وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْكُمْ مَا أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ خِلَافِكُمْ وَ لَا أَصَابُوا الطَّيِّبَاتِ مَا لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ لَا لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ نَصِيبٍ كُلُّ نَاصِبٍ وَ إِنْ تَعَبَّدَ وَ اجْتَهَدَ مَنْسُوبٌ إِلَى هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ عامِلَةٌ ناصِبَةٌ تَصْلى ناراً حامِيَةً فَكُلُّ نَاصِبٍ مُجْتَهِدٍ فَعَمَلُهُ هَبَاءٌ

By Allah^-azwj! Had you all not been in the earth, an eye would have never ever see vegetation. By Allah^-azwj! Had you all not been in the earth, Allah^-azwj would not have Favoured the people who oppose you nor would they have been in any goodness. They would have nothing for them in the world nor any share for them in the Hereafter. Every hostile one (Nasibi), if he were to worship, and struggle, would be attributed to this Verse: “[88:3] Toiling, Hostile one [88:4] Entering into burning fire”. So every Hostile One (Nasibi) who struggles, but his deeds would be wasted.

شِيعَتُنَا يَنْطِقُونَ بِنُورِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَنْ يُخَالِفُهُمْ يَنْطِقُونَ بِتَفَلُّتٍ وَ اللَّهِ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا يَنَامُ إِلَّا أَصْعَدَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رُوحَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَيُبَارِكُ عَلَيْهَا فَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ أَتَى عَلَيْهَا أَجَلُهَا جَعَلَهَا فِي كُنُوزِ رَحْمَتِهِ وَ فِي رِيَاضِ جَنَّةٍ وَ فِي ظِلِّ عَرْشِهِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ أَجَلُهَا مُتَأَخِّراً بَعَثَ بِهَا مَعَ أَمَنَتِهِ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ لِيَرُدُّوهَا إِلَى الْجَسَدِ الَّذِي خَرَجَتْ مِنْهُ لِتَسْكُنَ فِيهِ

Our^-asws Shias speak with the ‘بِنُورِ’ Light of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and the one who are opposed to them speak by instinct (biological needs). By Allah^-azwj! There is none from our^-asws Shias who sleeps, except that Allah^-azwj Makes his soul to ascend to the sky to be Blessed. So if its term (death) has come, He^-azwj Makes it to be within the Treasures of His^-azwj Mercy, and in the Gardens of Paradise, and in the Shade of His^-azwj Throne. And if its term (death) has been delayed, He^-azwj sends it back along with the trusted Angels to return it to the body from which it came out to dwell in it.

وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ حَاجَّكُمْ وَ عُمَّارَكُمْ لَخَاصَّةُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنَّ فُقَرَاءَكُمْ لَأَهْلُ الْغِنَى وَ إِنَّ أَغْنِيَاءَكُمْ لَأَهْلُ الْقَنَاعَةِ وَ إِنَّكُمْ كُلَّكُمْ لَأَهْلُ دَعْوَتِهِ وَ أَهْلُ إِجَابَتِهِ.

By Allah^-azwj those of you who perform the Hajj and the Umrah are the special ones of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic. And the poor ones among you are the rich ones, and your rich ones are the contented ones. And all of you are the people whom He^-azwj Invited (to Wilayah) and the people who accepted His^-azwj Call’.[16]

Wilayah of Allah^-azwj is the Wilayah of Imams^-asws

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سَيْفٍ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ رِزْقٍ الْغُمْشَانِيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ وَلَايَتُنَا وَلَايَةُ اللَّهِ الَّتِي لَمْ يَبْعَثْ نَبِيّاً قَطُّ إِلَّا بِهَا .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Salma Bin Al Khattab, from Ali Bin Sayf, from Al Abbas Bin Aamir, from Ahmad Bin Rizq Al Ghumshany, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Rahman,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Our^-asws Wilayah is the Wilayah of Allah^-azwj without which no Prophet^-as has ever been Sent’.^[17]

Deeds are not accepted without the Wilayah

عَنْهُ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلَاءِ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ فَرَأَيْتُ مَوْلًى لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) فَمِلْتُ إِلَيْهِ لِأَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) فَإِذَا أَنَا بِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) سَاجِداً فَانْتَظَرْتُهُ طَوِيلًا فَطَالَ سُجُودُهُ عَلَيَّ فَقُمْتُ وَ صَلَّيْتُ رَكَعَاتٍ وَ انْصَرَفْتُ وَ هُوَ بَعْدُ سَاجِدٌ فَسَأَلْتُ مَوْلَاهُ مَتَى سَجَدَ فَقَالَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَأْتِيَنَا فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ كَلَامِي رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ ادْنُ مِنِّي فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَسَمِعَ صَوْتاً خَلْفَهُ فَقَالَ مَا هَذِهِ الْأَصْوَاتُ الْمُرْتَفِعَةُ فَقُلْتُ هَؤُلَاءِ قَوْمٌ مِنَ الْمُرْجِئَةِ وَ الْقَدَرِيَّةِ وَ الْمُعْتَزِلَةِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ يُرِيدُونِّي فَقُمْ بِنَا فَقُمْتُ مَعَهُ

From him, from Hisham Bin Saalim, from Abdul Hameed, Bin Abu Al-A’la who said:

I came up to the Sacred Masjid, so I saw a slave of Abu Abdullah^-asws. So I went to him to ask him about Abu Abdullah^-asws and I saw that Abu Abdullah^-asws was in prostration. So I waited for him^-asws for a long time as his^-asws prostration was prolonged. So I stood up and Prayed some cycles of Salāt and finished, and he^-asws was still in prostration. So I asked the slave, ‘From when has he^-asws been in prostration?’ He said, ‘From before I came in’. So when he^-asws overheard our conversation, he^-asws raised his^-asws head, then said: ‘Abu Muhammad, come closer to me^-asws’. So I approached and greeted him^-asws. He^-asws heard voiced behind him^-asws so he^-asws said: ‘What are these raised voices?’ I said, ‘Those are a group of Murjiites, and the Qadiriyya, and the Mu’tazila’. He^-asws said: ‘The people want me^-asws, so come with me^-asws’. I stood up and went with him^-asws.

فَلَمَّا أَنْ رَأَوْهُ نَهَضُوا نَحْوَهُ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ كُفُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ عَنِّي وَ لَا تُؤْذُونِي وَ تَعْرِضُونِي لِلسُّلْطَانِ فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ بِمُفْتٍ لَكُمْ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي وَ تَرَكَهُمْ وَ مَضَى فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ لِي يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ إِبْلِيسَ سَجَدَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ بَعْدَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ وَ التَّكَبُّرِ عُمُرَ الدُّنْيَا مَا نَفَعَهُ ذَلِكَ وَ لَا قَبِلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ مَا لَمْ يَسْجُدْ لآِدَمَ كَمَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَسْجُدَ لَهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ الْعَاصِيَةُ الْمَفْتُونَةُ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَ بَعْدَ تَرْكِ هِمُ الْإِمَامَ الَّذِي نَصَبَهُ نَبِيُّهُمْ (صلى الله عليه وآله) لَهُمْ فَلَنْ يَقْبَلَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَهُمْ عَمَلًا وَ لَنْ يَرْفَعَ لَهُمْ حَسَنَةً حَتَّى يَأْتُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ وَ يَتَوَلَّوُا الْإِمَامَ الَّذِي أُمِرُوا بِوَلَايَتِهِ وَ يَدْخُلُوا مِنَ الْبَابِ الَّذِي فَتَحَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ رَسُولُهُ لَهُمْ

When they saw him^-asws they stood up for him^-asws, so he^-asws said: ‘Restrain yourselves from me^-asws and do not hurt me^-asws and expose me^-asws to the authorities, for I^-asws am not a Mufti (Issuer of Fatawa for you all’). Then he^-asws took me by the hand and left them and went away.

So when we came out from the Masjid, he^-asws said to me: ‘O Abu Muhammad! Even if Iblees^-la has prostrated to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic after the disobedience and the arrogance for the entire life of the world that would not benefit him^-la and Allah^-azwj will not Accept it, as he^-la did not prostrate to Adam^-as as Allah^-azwj had Commanded him^-la to prostrate to him^-as, and similar to that is this community, disobedient and mischievous after its Prophet^-saww and after they having abandoned the Imam^-asws whom he^-saww had Established among them for (their benefit). So Allah^-azwj will never Accept their deeds, and will never Raise their good deeds until they come to Allah^-azwj from where He^-azwj had Commanded them, and befriend the Imam^-asws whose Wilayah they had been Commanded (to submit), and enter through the Door which Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Messenger^-saww had Opened for them.

يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَى أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ (صلى الله عليه وآله) خَمْسَ فَرَائِضَ الصَّلَاةَ وَ الزَّكَاةَ وَ الصِّيَامَ وَ الْحَجَّ وَ وَلَايَتَنَا فَرَخَّصَ لَهُمْ فِي أَشْيَاءَ مِنَ الْفَرَائِضِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ وَ لَمْ يُرَخِّصْ لِأَحَدٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي تَرْكِ وَلَايَتِنَا لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا فِيهَا رُخْصَةٌ.

O Abu Muhammad! Surely, Allah^-azwj has Necessitated upon the community of Muhammad^-saww five Obligations – the Salāt, and the Zakat, and the Fasts, and the Pilgrimage (Hajj), and our^-asws Wilayah. And He^-azwj Exempted them from four Obligations but did not Exempt anyone from the Muslims in leaving our^-asws Wilayah. No, by Allah^-azwj, there is no Exemption in this’.[18]

Never Seek Forgiveness upon Aspects of the Wilayah:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مُسْتَضْعَفاً فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَ اتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَ قِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ وَ إِذَا كُنْتَ لَا تَدْرِي مَا حَالُهُ فَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الْخَيْرَ وَ أَهْلَهُ فَاغْفِرْ لَهُ وَ ارْحَمْهُ وَ تَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ وَ إِنْ كَانَ الْمُسْتَضْعَفُ مِنْكَ بِسَبِيلٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُ عَلَى وَجْهِ الشَّفَاعَةِ لَا عَلَى وَجْهِ الْوَلَايَةِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Al Halby,

Abu Abdullah^-asws has said: ‘If he (the deceased) was of weak understanding, so say, ‘O Allah^-azwj! Forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and Save them from the Punishment of the Blazing Fire!’ [40:7] ’. And when you do not know what his state is, so say, ‘O Allah^-azwj! If he used to love the good and its People^-asws, so Forgive him, and be Merciful to him, and Overlook (his sins) from him; and if he was of weaker understanding than yours in the Way (of Allah^-azwj), so seek Forgiveness for him upon the aspect of intercession, not upon the aspect of the Wilayah’.^[19]

Salāt with Wilayah is the Most Superior form of Worship:

قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنْ أَفْضَلِ مَا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ وَ أَحَبِّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا هُوَ فَقَالَ مَا أَعْلَمُ شَيْئاً بَعْدَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الصَّلَاةِ أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ وَ أَوْصانِي بِالصَّلاةِ وَ الزَّكاةِ ما دُمْتُ حَيًّا .

Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Al Kulayni, the author of this book, may Allah^-azwj have Mercy on him, says, ‘Muhammad Bin Yahya narrated to me, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Hassan Bin Mhaboub, from Muawiya Bin Wahab who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the most superior of what would cause the servants to be closer to their Lord^-azwj and the most Beloved of that to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, ‘What is it?’ So he^-asws said: ‘I^-asws do not know of anything, after the recognition (of the Wilayah), anything more superior than this Salāt. Do you not see that the righteous servant Isa^-as Bin Maryam^-as said: ‘And He has Made me Blessed wherever I may be, and He has Enjoined upon me with the Salāt and the Zakat for as long as I live [19:31]’?’^[20]

Solitude is discouraged from the People of Wilayah

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَمَّنْ رَوَاهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ رَجُلٌ عَرَفَ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لَزِمَ بَيْتَهُ وَ لَمْ يَتَعَرَّفْ إِلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ إِخْوَانِهِ قَالَ فَقَالَ كَيْفَ يَتَفَقَّهُ هَذَا فِي دِينِهِ

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from the one who reported it,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘A man said to him^-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! A man recognises this matter (Al-Wilayah), necessitates the (staying in) his house and does not introduce (himself) to anyone from his brethren’ (people of Wilayah). So Imam^-asws said: ‘How can this one (be able to enhance) understanding in his Religion (without interacting with people of Wilayah)?’^[21]

‘Wilayah’ also means to  is Refer to Imams^-asws (for all matters)

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مَوَالِيَكَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ يَتَبَرَّأُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ مَا أَنْتَ وَ ذَاكَ إِنَّمَا كُلِّفَ النَّاسُ ثَلَاثَةً مَعْرِفَةَ الْأَئِمَّةِ وَ التَّسْلِيمَ لَهُمْ فِيمَا وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ الرَّدَّ إِلَيْهِمْ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ .

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Sinan, from Ibn Muskan, from Sadeyr who said,

‘I said to Abu Ja’far^-asws, ‘I left the ones in your^-asws Wilayah differing, some of them disavowing from the others’. So he^-asws said: ‘And what have you to do with that? But rather, the people have been encumbered (burdened) with three (matters) – recognising the Imams^-asws, and the submission to them^-asws with regards to whatever is referred to them^-asws, and the referring to them^-asws in whatever they are differing in’.^[22]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ وَ مَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ صِبْغَةً قَالَ صَبَغَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِالْوَلَايَةِ فِي الْمِيثَاقِ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Salma Bin Al Khatab, from Ali Bin Hassan, from Abdul Rahman Bin Kaseer,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the Words of the Mighty and Majestic A Dyeing of Allah; and who is better than Allah in dyeing? [2:138] He^-asws said: ‘The Momineen were dyed by the ‘Wilayah’ during the (Taking of the) Covenant’.^[23]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ لِوالِدَيَّ وَ لِمَنْ دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِناً يَعْنِي الْوَلَايَةَ مَنْ دَخَلَ فِي الْوَلَايَةِ دَخَلَ فِي بَيْتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ( عليهم السلام )

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Fazzal, from Al Mufazzal Bin Salih, from Muhammad Bin Ali Al Halby,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the Words of the Mighty and Majestic My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and one who entered into my house being a Momin [71:28] – Meaning the Wilayah. The one who enters into the Wilayah enters into the House of the Prophets^-as’.

وَ قَوْلُهُ إِنَّما يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَ يُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيراً يَعْنِي الْأَئِمَّةَ ( عليهم السلام ) وَ وَلَايَتَهُمْ مَنْ دَخَلَ فِيهَا دَخَلَ فِي بَيْتِ النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) .

And His^-azwj Words But rather, Allah Intends to Keep the uncleanness away from you, People of the Household, and Purify you (with) a Purification [33:33] – Meaning the Imams^-asws and their^-asws Wilayah. The one who enters into it, enters into the House of the Prophet^-saww’.^[24]

Wilayah and Re-Appearance of 12^th Imam^-asws

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْراتِ أَيْنَ ما تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعاً قَالَ الْخَيْرَاتُ الْوَلَايَةُ وَ قَوْلُهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَيْنَ ما تَكُونُوا يَأْتِ بِكُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعاً يَعْنِي أَصْحَابَ الْقَائِمِ الثَّلَاثَمِائَةِ وَ الْبِضْعَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا قَالَ وَ هُمْ وَ اللَّهِ الْأُمَّةُ الْمَعْدُودَةُ قَالَ يَجْتَمِعُونَ وَ اللَّهِ فِي سَاعَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ قَزَعٌ كَقَزَعِ الْخَرِيفِ.

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Mansour Bin Yunus, from Ismail Bin Jabir, from Abu Khalid, who has narrated:

Abu Ja’far^-asws regarding the Statement of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: therefore compete for the good deeds. Wherever you may happen to be, Allah will Bring you all together [2:148]. He^-asws said: ‘Good deeds’ is a reference to ‘Al-Wilayah’, and the Words of the Blessed and the High: Wherever you may happen to be, Allah will Bring you all together [2:148] means the companions of Al-Qaim^-asws, three hundred and some ten men’. He^-asws said: ‘And they are, by Allah^-azwj, a numbered community’. He^-asws said: ‘By Allah^-azwj they would gather together in a single moment, like clouds in the autumn’.[25]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِذا تُتْلى عَلَيْهِمْ آياتُنا بَيِّناتٍ قالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَقاماً وَ أَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Salma Bin Al Khattab, from Al Hassan Bin Abdul Rahman, from Ali Bin Abu Hamza, from Abu Baseer,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: And when Our clear Verses are recited unto them, those who commit Kufr say to those who believe, ‘Which of the two groups is better in position and best in assembly?’ [19:73]

قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) دَعَا قُرَيْشاً إِلَى وَلَايَتِنَا فَنَفَرُوا وَ أَنْكَرُوا فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ أَقَرُّوا لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ لَنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ أَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ خَيْرٌ مَقاماً وَ أَحْسَنُ نَدِيًّا تَعْيِيراً مِنْهُمْ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ رَدّاً عَلَيْهِمْ وَ كَمْ أَهْلَكْنا قَبْلَهُمْ مِنْ قَرْنٍ مِنَ الْأُمَمِ السَّالِفَةِ هُمْ أَحْسَنُ أَثاثاً وَ رِءْياً

He^-asws said: ‘It was so that Rasool-Allah^-saww called the Quraysh to our^-asws Wilayah, but they fled and denied. So those who disbelieved from the Quraysh said to those who believed from the Quraysh, ‘Are you acknowledging to Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and for us there are family members, ‘Which of the two groups is better in position and best in assembly?’ [19:73] In order to humiliate from them. So Allah^-azwj Rebutted upon them: And how many of the generations have We Destroyed before them? They were better equipped and in appearance [19:74]

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ مَنْ كانَ فِي الضَّلالَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمنُ مَدًّا قَالَ كُلُّهُمْ كَانُوا فِي الضَّلَالَةِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِوَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) وَ لَا بِوَلَايَتِنَا فَكَانُوا ضَالِّينَ مُضِلِّينَ فَيَمُدُّ لَهُمْ فِي ضَلَالَتِهِمْ وَ طُغْيَانِهِمْ حَتَّى يَمُوتُوا فَيُصَيِّرُهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرّاً مَكَاناً وَ أَضْعَفَ جُنْداً

I said, ‘His^-azwj Words, Say: ‘One who was in the straying, so let the Beneficent Extend his term for him [19:75]. He^-asws said: ‘All of them used to be in the straying, not believing in the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws nor in our^-asws Wilayah. Thus, they were straying, and leading (others) astray. So He^-azwj Extended for them in their straying and their rebellion until they died, so Allah^-azwj Caused them to come to an evil place and weakest army’.

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ حَتَّى إِذا رَأَوْا ما يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا الْعَذابَ وَ إِمَّا السَّاعَةَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَكاناً وَ أَضْعَفُ جُنْداً قَالَ أَمَّا قَوْلُهُ حَتَّى إِذا رَأَوْا ما يُوعَدُونَ فَهُوَ خُرُوجُ الْقَائِمِ وَ هُوَ السَّاعَةُ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَ مَا نَزَلَ بِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَلَى يَدَيْ قَائِمِهِ فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ مَكاناً يَعْنِي عِنْدَ الْقَائِمِ وَ أَضْعَفُ جُنْداً

I said, ‘His^-azwj Words until when they see what they are being Threatened with, either the Punishment or the Hour, then they would come to know who was in a more evil position and of a weaker army’ [19:75]’. He^-asws said: ‘As for His^-azwj Words until when they see what they are being Threatened with, so that is the coming out of Al-Qaim^-asws, and it is the Hour, then they would come to know that day and what descends with them from Allah^-azwj upon the hands of His^-azwj Qaim^-asws. Thus, these are His^-azwj Words who was in a more evil position, Meaning in the presence of Al-Qaim^-asws, and ‘and of a weaker army’ [19:75]’.

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ وَ يَزِيدُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْا هُدىً قَالَ يَزِيدُهُمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ هُدًى عَلَى هُدًى بِاتِّبَاعِهِمُ الْقَائِمَ حَيْثُ لَا يَجْحَدُونَهُ وَ لَا يُنْكِرُونَهُ

I said, ‘His^-azwj Words And Allah would Increase in Guidance those who (seek) Guidance [19:76]. He^-asws said: ‘He^-azwj would Increase them on that day, Guidance upon Guidance, due to their following Al-Qaim^-asws, when they will neither be rejecting him^-asws nor denying him^-asws’.

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ لا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفاعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِنْدَ الرَّحْمنِ عَهْداً قَالَ إِلَّا مَنْ دَانَ اللَّهَ بِوَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَهُوَ الْعَهْدُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ

I said, ‘His^-azwj Words They shall not be controlling the intercession, except one who takes a Pact with the Beneficent [19:87]. He^-asws said: ‘Except the one who made it a Religion of Allah^-azwj by the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and the Imams^-asws from after him^-asws, so it is the Covenant with Allah^-azwj’.

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمنُ وُدًّا قَالَ وَلَايَةُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هِيَ الْوُدُّ الَّذِي قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى

I said, ‘His^-azwj Words Surely, those who are believing and are doing righteous deeds, the Beneficent would Make cordiality to be for them [19:96]’. He^-asws said: ‘Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, it is the cordiality which Allah^-azwj the Exalted Speaks of’.

قُلْتُ فَإِنَّما يَسَّرْناهُ بِلِسانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَ تُنْذِرَ بِهِ قَوْماً لُدًّا قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَسَّرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ حِينَ أَقَامَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) عَلَماً فَبَشَّرَ بِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ أَنْذَرَ بِهِ الْكَافِرِينَ وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ ذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ لُدّاً أَيْ كُفَّاراً

I said, ‘But rather We have Eased it by your tongue to give the glad tidings to the pious with it and to warn by it a contentious people [19:97]’. He^-asws said: ‘But rather, Allah^-azwj Made it to be easy upon his^-saww tongue when he^-saww established Amir Al-Momineen^-asws as a flag, so the Momineen were given glad tidings by it and the disbelievers were warned by it, and they are those whom Allah^-azwj Mentioned in His^-azwj Book as ‘contentious’, i.e., disbelievers’.

قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ لِتُنْذِرَ قَوْماً ما أُنْذِرَ آباؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غافِلُونَ قَالَ لِتُنْذِرَ الْقَوْمَ الَّذِينَ أَنْتَ فِيهِمْ كَمَا أُنْذِرَ آبَاؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَافِلُونَ عَنِ اللَّهِ وَ عَنْ رَسُولِهِ وَ عَنْ وَعِيدِهِ

He (the narrator) said, ‘And I asked him^-asws about the Words For you to warn a people what their fathers had been warned about, but they are heedless [36:6]. He^-asws said: ‘In order to warn the people whom you^-saww are among just as their fathers were warned, but they were heedless from Allah^-azwj, and from His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and from His^-azwj Threats.

لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلى أَكْثَرِهِمْ مِمَّنْ لَا يُقِرُّونَ بِوَلَايَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَهُمْ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِإِمَامَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَلَمَّا لَمْ يُقِرُّوا كَانَتْ عُقُوبَتُهُمْ مَا ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنا فِي أَعْناقِهِمْ أَغْلالًا فَهِيَ إِلَى الْأَذْقانِ فَهُمْ مُقْمَحُونَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ

The Word has proved true upon most of them, but they are not believing [36:7] from the ones who are not acknowledging with the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and the Imams^-asws from after him^-asws. Thus, they do not believe in the Imamate of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and the successors^-asws from after him^-asws. So when they were not acknowledging, their consequential Punishment was what Allah^-azwj Mentioned Surely, We Made shackles to be in their necks, so these are up to their chins, so their heads are raised [36:8] in the Fire of Hell.

ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ جَعَلْنا مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْناهُمْ فَهُمْ لا يُبْصِرُونَ عُقُوبَةً مِنْهُ لَهُمْ حَيْثُ أَنْكَرُوا وَلَايَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) وَ الْأَئِمَّةِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ هَذَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ مُقْمَحُونَ

Then He^-azwj Said And We Made a barrier to be from their front and a barrier from their back, and We Covered them, so they are not seeing [36:9] the consequential Punishment for them when they denied the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and the Imams^-asws from after him^-asws. This is in the world, and in the Hereafter it is the Fire of Hell with their heads raised aloft.

ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَ سَواءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَ أَنْذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَ مَنْ بَعْدَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّما تُنْذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ يَعْنِي أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) وَ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَ أَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ .

Then He^-azwj Said: “O Muhammad^-saww! And it is the same upon them, whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe [36:10] in the Wilayah of Ali^-asws and the ones^-asws from after him^-asws. Then He^-azwj Said But rather, you warn one who follows the Zikr [36:11] Meaning Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, and fears the Beneficent in private, therefore give him O Muhammad^-saww, glad tidings of Forgiveness and an honourable Recompense [36:11]’.^[26]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْمَاضِي ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْواهِهِمْ قَالَ يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا وَلَايَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ قُلْتُ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ قَالَ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ الْإِمَامَةِ لِقَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِينَ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ النُّورِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْنا فَالنُّورُ هُوَ الْإِمَامُ

Ali Bin Muhammad, from some of our companions, from Ibn Mahboub, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzayl,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Al-Hassan Al-Maazy^-asws (7^th Imam^-asws), said, ‘I asked Him^-asws about the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [61:8] They are intending to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths. He^-asws said: ‘They are intending to extinguish the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws with their mouths (talking against it)’. I said, ‘but Allah will Complete His light’. He^-asws said: ‘And Allah^-azwj will Complete the Imamat due to His^-azwj Words, the Mighty and Majestic [64:8] Therefore believe in Allah and His Rasool and the Light which We have Sent down. So ‘Noor’ (the Light), it is the Imam^-asws’.

قُلْتُ هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدى وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ قَالَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَمَرَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْوَلَايَةِ لِوَصِيِّهِ وَ الْوَلَايَةُ هِيَ دِينُ الْحَقِّ قُلْتُ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ قَالَ يُظْهِرُهُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْأَدْيَانِ عِنْدَ قِيَامِ الْقَائِمِ

I said, ‘[61:9] He it is Who sent His Messenger with the Guidance and the true Religion’. He^-asws said: ‘He^-azwj is Who Commanded His^-azwj Rasool^-saww with the Wilayah of his^-saww successor^-asws, ‘وَ الْوَلَايَةُ هِيَ دِينُ الْحَقِّ’ and the Wilayah – is the true Religion’. I said, ‘That He may make it overcome the religions, all of them’. He^-asws said: ‘Overcome upon the entirety of the Religions during the rising of Al-Qaim^-asws’.

قَالَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَايَةِ الْقَائِمِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْكافِرُونَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ قُلْتُ هَذَا تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَمَّا هَذَا الْحَرْفُ فَتَنْزِيلٌ وَ أَمَّا غَيْرُهُ فَتَأْوِيلٌ

He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj is Saying: but Allah will Complete His light, the Wilayah of Al-Qaim^-asws though the unbelievers may be averse to it, the Wilayah of Ali^-asws’. I said, ‘This is Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes. As for this word, so it is Revelation, and as for other than it, so it is explanation’.

قُلْتُ ذلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى سَمَّى مَنْ لَمْ يَتَّبِعْ رَسُولَهُ فِي وَلَايَةِ وَصِيِّهِ مُنَافِقِينَ وَ جَعَلَ مَنْ جَحَدَ وَصِيَّهُ إِمَامَتَهُ كَمَنْ جَحَدَ مُحَمَّداً وَ أَنْزَلَ بِذَلِكَ قُرْآناً فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِذا جاءَكَ الْمُنافِقُونَ بِوَلَايَةِ وَصِيِّكَ قالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنافِقِينَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ لَكاذِبُونَ. اتَّخَذُوا أَيْمانَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ السَّبِيلُ هُوَ الْوَصِيُّ إِنَّهُمْ ساءَ ما كانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ ذلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِرِسَالَتِكَ وَ كَفَرُوا بِوَلَايَةِ وَصِيِّكَ فَطُبِعَ اللَّهُ عَلى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لا يَفْقَهُونَ

I said, That is because they believe, then disbelieve‘[63:3]. He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Blessed and High has Named the one who does not follow His^-azwj Rasool^-saww regarding the Wilayah of his^-saww successor^-asws, as a hypocrite, and Made the one who rejects the Imamate of his^-saww successor^-asws like the one who rejects Muhammad^-saww, and the Quran was Revealed with that. So He^-azwj Said: “O Muhammad^-saww! [63:1] When the hypocrites come to you, with the Wilayah of Ali^-asws they say: We testify that you are Rasool-Allah; and Allah knows that you are His Rasool, and Allah Testifies that the hypocrites with the Wilayah of Ali^-asws, are liars [63:2] They are making their oaths to be a cover, and thus turning away from Allah’s Way, and Allah^-azwj Way, it is the successor^-asws. surely evil is that which they are doing. That is because they are believing in your^-saww Messenger-ship and are disbelieving in the Wilayah of your^-saww successor^-asws. Thus a seal is set upon their hearts so that they do not understand.

قُلْتُ مَا مَعْنَى لَا يَفْقَهُونَ قَالَ يَقُولُ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ بِنُبُوَّتِكَ قُلْتُ وَ إِذا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعالَوْا يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ قَالَ وَ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ارْجِعُوا إِلَى وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمُ النَّبِيُّ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكُمْ لَوَّوْا رُؤُسَهُمْ قَالَ اللَّهُ وَ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ عَنْ وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَ هُمْ مُسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَلَيْهِ

I said, ‘What is the meaning of ‘they do not understand’?’ He^-asws said: ‘He^-azwj is Saying: “They do not understand your^-saww Prophet-hood”’. I said, ‘[63:5] And when it is said to them: Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you. He^-asws said: ‘And when it is said to them: ‘Return to the Wilayah of Ali^-asws, the Prophet^-saww would seek Forgiveness for you all for your sins they turn back their heads. Allah^-azwj Said: “And you will see them blocking from the Wilayah of Ali^-asws, while they are big with arrogance over it.

ثُمَّ عَطَفَ الْقَوْلَ مِنَ اللَّهِ بِمَعْرِفَتِهِ بِهِمْ فَقَالَ سَواءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَسْتَغْفَرْتَ لَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ لَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفاسِقِينَ يَقُولُ الظَّالِمِينَ لِوَصِيِّكَ

Then the Words of Allah^-azwj Turned by his^-as understanding with them, so He^-azwj Said [63:6] It is Alike to them whether you seek Forgiveness for them or do not seek Forgiveness for them; Allah will never Forgive them; surely Allah does not guide the transgressing people. He^-azwj is Saying: “The ones unjust to your^-saww successor^-asws”’.

قُلْتُ أَ فَمَنْ يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلى وَجْهِهِ أَهْدى أَمَّنْ يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلى صِراطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ ضَرَبَ مَثَلَ مَنْ حَادَ عَنْ وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ كَمَنْ يَمْشِي عَلَى وَجْهِهِ لَا يَهْتَدِي لِأَمْرِهِ وَ جَعَلَ مَنْ تَبِعَهُ سَوِيّاً عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ وَ الصِّرَاطُ الْمُسْتَقِيمُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام )

I said, ‘[67:22] Is the one who goes prone upon his face better guided or he who walks upright upon a Straight Path?’ He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Struck an example of the one who is guided away from the Wilayah of Ali^-asws to be like the one who falls prone upon his face, having no guidance for his affairs, whereas (Allah^-azwj) Made the one who follows him^-asws as walking upright upon the Straight Path, and the Straight Path is Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’.

قَالَ قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ قَالَ يَعْنِي جَبْرَئِيلَ عَنِ اللَّهِ فِي وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ ما هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شاعِرٍ قَلِيلًا ما تُؤْمِنُونَ قَالَ قَالُوا إِنَّ مُحَمَّداً كَذَّابٌ عَلَى رَبِّهِ وَ مَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ بِهَذَا فِي عَلِيٍّ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِذَلِكَ قُرْآناً فَقَالَ إِنَّ وَلَايَةَ عَلِيٍّ تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ. وَ لَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنا مُحَمَّدٌ بَعْضَ الْأَقاوِيلِ. لَأَخَذْنا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِينِ. ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنا مِنْهُ الْوَتِينَ

He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘[69:40] Most surely, it is the Word of an Honoured Messenger’. He^-asws said: ‘It Means Jibraeel^-as, from Allah^-azwj, regarding the Wilayah of Ali^-asws’. I said, ‘[69:41] And it is not the word of a poet; little it is that you believe’. He^-asws said: ‘They are saying that Muhammad^-saww is a liar upon his^-saww Lord^-azwj, and Allah^-azwj did not Command him^-saww with this regarding Ali^-asws. So Allah^-azwj Revealed Quran due to that, so He^-azwj Said: “The Wilayah of Ali^-asws [69:43] It is a Revelation from the Lord of the Worlds [69:44] And if he had fabricated against Us some of the sayings, [69:45] We would certainly have seized him by the right hand, [69:46] Then We would certainly have cut off his aorta (vein).

ثُمَّ عَطَفَ الْقَوْلَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ وَلَايَةَ عَلِيٍّ لَتَذْكِرَةٌ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ لِلْعَالَمِينَ وَ إِنَّا لَنَعْلَمُ أَنَّ مِنْكُمْ مُكَذِّبِينَ. وَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً لَحَسْرَةٌ عَلَى الْكافِرِينَ. وَ إِنَّ وَلَايَتَهُ لَحَقُّ الْيَقِينِ. فَسَبِّحْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ يَقُولُ اشْكُرْ رَبَّكَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي أَعْطَاكَ هَذَا الْفَضْلَ

Then the Speech turned, so He^-azwj Said [69:48] And it, the Wilayah of Ali^-asws, is a Reminder for the pious. [69:49] And We know that some of you are beliers. [69:50] And it the Wilayah of Ali^-asws is a regret to the unbelievers. [69:51] And most surely it, the Wilayah, is the true certainty [69:52] So Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Magnificent. He^-azwj is Saying that you should thank your Lord^-azwj the Magnificent Who Gave you this Grace’.

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ لَمَّا سَمِعْنَا الْهُدى آمَنَّا بِهِ قَالَ الْهُدَى الْوَلَايَةُ آمَنَّا بِمَوْلَانَا فَمَنْ آمَنَ بِوَلَايَةِ مَوْلَاهُ فَلا يَخافُ بَخْساً وَ لا رَهَقاً قُلْتُ تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ لَا تَأْوِيلٌ

I said, ‘[72:13] And that when we heard the guidance, we believed in it’. He^-asws said: ‘The Guidance is the Wilayah. So whoever believes in the Wilayah of his Lord, he should neither fear loss nor Punishment’. I said, ‘Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘(sure) without Explanation’.

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَ لا رَشَداً قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) دَعَا النَّاسَ إِلَى وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ فَاجْتَمَعَتْ إِلَيْهِ قُرَيْشٌ فَقَالُوا يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَعْفِنَا مِنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) هَذَا إِلَى اللَّهِ لَيْسَ إِلَيَّ فَاتَّهَمُوهُ وَ خَرَجُوا مِنْ عِنْدِهِ

I said, ‘His^-azwj Words [72:21] Say: I do not control for you evil or good’. He^-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww called the people to the Wilayah of Ali^-asws. So the Quraysh gathered to him^-saww and they said, ‘O Muhammad^-saww! Excuse us from this!’ So Rasool-Allah^-saww said to them: ‘This is to Allah^-azwj, it isn’t to me^-saww’. So they accused him^-saww and exited from his^-saww presence.

فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قُلْ إِنِّي لا أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَ لا رَشَداً. قُلْ إِنِّي لَنْ يُجِيرَنِي مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ أَحَدٌ وَ لَنْ أَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَداً إِلَّا بَلَاغاً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ رِسَالَاتِهِ فِي عَلِيٍّ قُلْتُ هَذَا تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ تَوْكِيداً وَ مَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ فِي وَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ فَإِنَّ لَهُ نارَ جَهَنَّمَ خالِدِينَ فِيها أَبَداً

Thus, Allah^-azwj Revealed [72:21] Say: I do not control for you evil or good [72:22] Say: Surely no one can protect me against Allah, nor can I find besides Him any place of refuge: [72:23] It is a Preaching from Allah and His Message regarding Ali^-asws’. I said, ‘This is Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes’. Then he^-asws said: ‘An emphasis – and whoever disobeys Allah and His Rasool regarding the Wilayah of Ali^-asws surely he shall have the fire of Hell to abide therein for ever’.

قُلْتُ حَتَّى إِذا رَأَوْا ما يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ ناصِراً وَ أَقَلُّ عَدَداً يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ الْقَائِمَ وَ أَنْصَارَهُ

I said, ‘[72:24] Until when they see what they are threatened with, then shall they know who is weaker in helpers and fewer in number. (He^-asws said): ‘It Means by that Al-Qaim^-asws and his^-asws helpers’.

قُلْتُ وَ اصْبِرْ عَلى ما يَقُولُونَ قَالَ يَقُولُونَ فِيكَ وَ اهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْراً جَمِيلًا. وَ ذَرْنِي يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ بِوَصِيِّكَ أُولِي النَّعْمَةِ وَ مَهِّلْهُمْ قَلِيلًا قُلْتُ إِنَّ هَذَا تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ

I said, ‘[73:10] And bear patiently at what they are saying’. He^-asws said: ‘(What) they are saying regarding you^-saww and avoid them with a becoming avoidance. [73:11] And leave to Me, O Muhammad^-saww, the beliers of your successor, the possessors of ease and plenty, and respite them a little’. I said, ‘This is Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes’.

قُلْتُ لِيَسْتَيْقِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتابَ قَالَ يَسْتَيْقِنُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ وَصِيَّهُ حَقٌّ قُلْتُ وَ يَزْدادَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِيماناً قَالَ وَ يَزْدَادُونَ بِوَلَايَةِ الْوَصِيِّ إِيمَاناً قُلْتُ وَ لا يَرْتابَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتابَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ قَالَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) قُلْتُ مَا هَذَا الِارْتِيَابُ قَالَ يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ وَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ فَقَالَ وَ لَا يَرْتَابُونَ فِي الْوَلَايَةِ

I said, ‘[74:31] that those who have been Given the Book may be certain’. He^-asws said: ‘That they would become convinced that Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww and his^-saww successor^-asws are true’. I said, ‘and those who believe may increase in faith’. He^-asws said: ‘And they would be increased in faith of the Wilayah of the successor^-asws’. I said, ‘and those who have been Given the Book and the believers may not doubt’. He^-asws said: ‘In the Wilayah of Ali^-asws’. I said, ‘What is this doubt?’ He^-asws said: ‘It Means by that the People of the Book and the Momineen whom Allah^-azwj Mentioned, so He^-azwj Said: “And they shall not be doubting regarding the Wilayah”.

قُلْتُ وَ ما هِيَ إِلَّا ذِكْرى لِلْبَشَرِ قَالَ نَعَمْ وَلَايَةُ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) قُلْتُ إِنَّها لَإِحْدَى الْكُبَرِ قَالَ الْوَلَايَةُ قُلْتُ لِمَنْ شاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَتَقَدَّمَ أَوْ يَتَأَخَّرَ قَالَ مَنْ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَى وَلَايَتِنَا أُخِّرَ عَنْ سَقَرَ وَ مَنْ تَأَخَّرَ عَنَّا تَقَدَّمَ إِلَى سَقَرَ إِلَّا أَصْحابَ الْيَمِينِ قَالَ هُمْ وَ اللَّهِ شِيعَتُنَا

I said, ‘and this is naught but a reminder to the humans’. He^-asws said: ‘Yes, the Wilayah of Ali^-asws’. I said, ‘[74:35] Surely it is one great’. He^-asws: ‘The Wilayah’. I said, ‘[74:37] To him among you who wishes to go forward or remain behind’. He^-asws said: ‘The one who goes forward to our^-asws wilayah would remain away from ‘Saqar’ (a valley of Hell), but the one who remains behind from us^-asws, would go towards the Saqar [74:39] Except the people of the right hand’. He^-asws said: ‘They, by Allah^-azwj, are our^-asws Shias’.

قُلْتُ لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ قَالَ إِنَّا لَمْ نَتَوَلَّ وَصِيَّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ لَا يُصَلُّونَ عَلَيْهِمْ قُلْتُ فَما لَهُمْ عَنِ التَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ قَالَ عَنِ الْوَلَايَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ قُلْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّها تَذْكِرَةٌ قَالَ الْوَلَايَةُ

I said, ‘[74:43] They shall say: We were not of those who sent Prayed (Musalleen)’. He^-asws said: ‘(They are saying), ‘We did not (have) the Wilayah of the successor^-asws of Muhammad^-saww and the successors^-asws from after him^-asws, nor did we send Salawat upon them^-asws’. I said, ‘[74:49] What is then the matter with them, that they turn away from the admonition?’ He^-asws said: ‘(Turning away) from the Wilayah ‘. I said, ‘[74:54] Nay! it is surely an admonition’. He^-asws said: ‘The Wilayah’.

قُلْتُ قَوْلُهُ يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ قَالَ يُوفُونَ لِلَّهِ بِالنَّذْرِ الَّذِي أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِمْ فِي الْمِيثَاقِ مِنْ وَلَايَتِنَا

I said, ‘His^-azwj Words [76:7] They fulfil vows’. He^-asws said: ‘Fulfilling the vows which Allah^-azwj Took upon them regarding the Covenant, of our^-asws Wilayah’.

قُلْتُ إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ تَنْزِيلًا قَالَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) تَنْزِيلًا قُلْتُ هَذَا تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ ذَا تَأْوِيلٌ قُلْتُ إِنَّ هذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ قَالَ الْوَلَايَةُ قُلْتُ يُدْخِلُ مَنْ يَشاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ قَالَ فِي وَلَايَتِنَا قَالَ وَ الظَّالِمِينَ أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ عَذاباً أَلِيماً أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ وَ ما ظَلَمُونا وَ لكِنْ كانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

I said, ‘[76:23] Surely We Ourselves have Revealed the Quran to you Revealing (it) gradually’. He^-asws said: ‘By the Wilayah of Ali^-asws (to be Revealed) gradually’. I said, ‘This is Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes, that is explanation’. I said, ‘[76:29] Surely this is a Reminder’. He^-asws said: ‘The Wilayah’. I said ‘[76:31] He Makes whom He pleases to enter into His Mercy’. He^-asws said: ‘Into our^-asws Wilayah, and (as for) the unjust, He has prepared for them a painful Chastisement. Have you not seen that Allah^-azwj is Saying [2:57] and they were not unjust to Us but they were unjust to themselves?

قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَزُّ وَ أَمْنَعُ مِنْ أَنْ يَظْلِمَ أَوْ يَنْسُبَ نَفْسَهُ إِلَى ظُلْمٍ وَ لَكِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَطَنَا بِنَفْسِهِ فَجَعَلَ ظُلْمَنَا ظُلْمَهُ وَ وَلَايَتَنَا وَلَايَتَهُ ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ بِذَلِكَ قُرْآناً عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ فَقَالَ وَ ما ظَلَمْناهُمْ وَ لكِنْ كانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ قُلْتُ هَذَا تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ

He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj is more Honourable and more Benevolent than that He^-azwj should be unjust or link Himself to an injustice, but Allah^-azwj Mingled us^-asws with Himself^-saww, so He^-azwj Declares the injustice to us^-asws as being injustice to Him^-azwj, and our^-asws Wilayah as being His^-azwj Wilayah. Then He^-azwj Revealed Quran upon His^-azwj Prophet^-saww with that, so He^-azwj Said [2:57] and they were not unjust to Us but they were unjust to themselves’. I said, ‘This is Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes’.

قُلْتُ وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ قَالَ يَقُولُ وَيْلٌ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ بِمَا أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ وَلَايَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ( عليه السلام ) أَ لَمْ نُهْلِكِ الْأَوَّلِينَ. ثُمَّ نُتْبِعُهُمُ الْآخِرِينَ قَالَ الْأَوَّلِينَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا الرُّسُلَ فِي طَاعَةِ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ كَذلِكَ نَفْعَلُ بِالْمُجْرِمِينَ قَالَ مَنْ أَجْرَمَ إِلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ رَكِبَ مِنْ وَصِيِّهِ مَا رَكِبَ

I said, ‘[77:15] Woe on that day to the beliers’. He^-asws said: ‘He^-azwj is Saying: “O Muhammad^-saww, Woe be unto the beliers of what I^-azwj Revealed unto you^-saww from the Wilayah of Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws. [77:16] Did We not destroy the former ones? [77:17] Then did We follow them up with later ones. The former ones are those who belied the Rasools^-as with regards to obedience of the successors^-as. [77:18] Even thus shall We deal with the guilty. The ones who are guilty to the Progeny^-asws of Muhammad^-saww and did from his^-saww successor^-asws what they did’.

قُلْتُ إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ قَالَ نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ وَ شِيعَتُنَا لَيْسَ عَلَى مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ غَيْرُنَا وَ سَائِرُ النَّاسِ مِنْهَا بُرَآءُ

I said, Surely, those who guard (against evil)’ ‘[77:41]. He^-asws said: ‘Us^-asws, by Allah^-azwj, and our^-asws Shias. There isn’t anyone upon the Religion of Ibrahim^-as apart from us, and the rest of the people are away from it’.

قُلْتُ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الرُّوحُ وَ الْمَلائِكَةُ صَفًّا لا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ الْآيَةَ قَالَ نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ الْمَأْذُونُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ الْقَائِلُونَ صَوَاباً قُلْتُ مَا تَقُولُونَ إِذَا تَكَلَّمْتُمْ قَالَ نُمَجِّدُ رَبَّنَا وَ نُصَلِّي عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ نَشْفَعُ لِشِيعَتِنَا فَلَا يَرُدُّنَا رَبُّنَا

I said, ‘[78:38] The Day on which the Spirit and the Angels shall stand in ranks; they shall not speak – the Verse’. He^-asws said: ‘We^-asws, by Allah^-azwj are he whom the Beneficent Allah permits and who speaks the right thing’. I said, ‘What will you^-asws be saying when you^-asws will be speaking?’ He^-asws said: ‘We^-asws would Praise our^-asws Lord^-azwj, and we^-asws would send Salawat upon our^-asws Prophet^-saww, and we^-asws would intercede for our^-asws Shias. So, our^-asws Lord^-azwj will not be Preventing us^-asws’.

قُلْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتابَ الفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ قَالَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ فَجَرُوا فِي حَقِّ الْأَئِمَّةِ وَ اعْتَدَوْا عَلَيْهِمْ

I said, Nay! most surely the record of the wicked is in the Sijjeen’‘[83:7]. He^-asws said: ‘They are those who were wicked with regards to the rights of the Imams^-asws and they transgressed against them^-asws’.

قُلْتُ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ هذَا الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ قَالَ يَعْنِي أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قُلْتُ تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ .

I said, ‘Then shall it be said: This is what you gave the lie to’ [83:17]. He^-asws said: ‘Meaning, (belying) Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’. I said, ‘This is Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes’.^[27]

Religion is only the Love (for Allah^-azwj) And the Hate (for Allah^-azwj)

From him, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Al-Hassan Bin Ali Bin Fazzal, from Ali Bin Uqba and Tha’alba Bin Maymoun and Ghalib Bin Usman and Haroun Bin Muslim, from Bureyd Bin Muawiya who said:

‘I was in the presence of Abu Ja’far^-asws in his^-asws tent at Mina. He^-asws looked at the feet of Ziyad which had turned black, so he^-asws pitied it saying: ‘What is the matter with your feet that they are like this?’ He said, ‘I came upon a weak ride and so had to walk most of the way’. He^-asws lamented to him and Ziyad said to him^-asws during that, ‘I was in (so much) pain due to my sins to the extent that I thought that I would be destroyed. I remembered my love for you^-asws which gave me hope for salvation and it brightened my situation’.

فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) وَ هَلِ الدِّينُ إِلَّا الْحُبُّ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْإِيمانَ وَ زَيَّنَهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَ قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ قَالَ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى النَّبِيَّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أُحِبُّ الْمُصَلِّينَ وَ لَا أُصَلِّي وَ أُحِبُّ الصَّوَّامِينَ وَ لَا أَصُومُ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَنْتَ مَعَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَ لَكَ مَا اكْتَسَبْتَ وَ قَالَ مَا تَبْغُونَ وَ مَا تُرِيدُونَ أَمَا إِنَّهَا لَوْ كَانَ فَزْعَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَزِعَ كُلُّ قَوْمٍ إِلَى مَأْمَنِهِمْ وَ فَزِعْنَا إِلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ فَزِعْتُمْ إِلَيْنَا .

So Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘And is the Religion anything except for the love? Allah^-azwj the High has Said: “[49:7] But Allah has endeared the Faith to you, and has made it beautiful in your hearts”, and Said: Say (O Rasool): ‘If you love Allah, then follow me. Allah will Love you [3:31], and Said: “[59:9] love those who have fled to them”. A man came up to the Prophet^-saww so he said, ‘O Messenger^-saww of Allah^-azwj, I love the Praying ones but I do not Pray myself, and I love the Fasting ones but I do not Fast myself’. The Messenger^-saww of Allah^-azwj said: ‘You are with the one whom you love, but to you belongs what you have acquired’ (you will be awarded as per your efforts in the way of Wilayah).

And he^-asws said: ‘What you are seeking and what you want, but it is if there is a scare from the sky, every people would seek protection in its safe place, and we^-asws will be secured with our Prophet^-saww, and you will be seeking safety with us^-asws’.[28]

Appendix I: Interpretation of 5:55

For whom was it Revealed in particular?

 [ يحيى الشجري ] [ قال: وبالاسناد ] قال: حدثنا حصين بن مخارق، عن أبي حمزة، عن علي بن الحسين وأبي جعفر: * (إنما وليكم الله ورسوله والذين ءامنوا) * نزلت في علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام).

Yahya Al Shajary said, ‘And by the chain, from Haseyn Bin Makharaq, from Abu Hamza,

(It has been narrated) from Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws and Abu Ja’far^-asws having said (regarding) But rather, your Guardian is Allah, and His Rasool, and those who are believing [5:55]: ‘It Was Revealed regarding Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws’.[29]

[ في تفسير علي بن إبراهيم ] [ قال ] حدثني أبي، عن صفوان، عن أبان بن عثمان، عن أبي حمزة الثمالي عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال: بينما رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) جالس وعنده قوم من اليهود فيهم عبد الله بن سلام، إذ نزلت عليه هذه الآية فخرج رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) إلى المسجد فاستقبله سائل، فقال: هل أعطاك أحد شيئا ؟ قال: نعم، ذاك المصلي فجاء رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله) فإذا هو علي أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام).

In the Tafseer of Ali Bin Ibrahim, said, ‘My father narrated to me, from Safwan, from Aban Bin Usman, from Abu Hamza Al Sumaly,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Whilst Rasool-Allah^-azwj was seated and in his^-saww presence were a people from the Jews, among them being Abdullah Bin Salaam, when this Verse (5:55) was Revealed unto him^-saww. So Rasool-Allah^-saww went out to the Masjid, and a beggar faced him^-saww. So he^-saww said: ‘Did anyone give you anything?’ He said, ‘Yes, that Praying one’. So Rasool-Allah^-saww went, and there was Ali^-asws Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’.[30]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ وَ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ وَ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ وَ بُرَيْدِ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رَسُولَهُ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ فَرَضَ وَلَايَةَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Umar Bin Azina, from Zurara and Al Fuzayl Bin Yasar and Bukeyr Bin Ayn and Muhammad Bin Muslim and Bureyd Bin Muawiya and Abu Al Jaroud,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Commanded His^-azwj Rasool^-saww with the Wilayah of Ali^-asws and Revealed unto him^-saww But rather, your Guardian is Allah, and His Rasool, and those who are believing, those who are establishing the Salāt and are giving the Zakat [5:55], and He^-azwj Necessitated the Wilayah of the Master^-asws of the Command (Ul Al-Amr).

فَلَمْ يَدْرُوا مَا هِيَ فَأَمَرَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّداً ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَنْ يُفَسِّرَ لَهُمُ الْوَلَايَةَ كَمَا فَسَّرَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ وَ الزَّكَاةَ وَ الصَّوْمَ وَ الْحَجَّ فَلَمَّا أَتَاهُ ذَلِكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ضَاقَ بِذَلِكَ صَدْرُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ تَخَوَّفَ أَنْ يَرْتَدُّوا عَنْ دِينِهِمْ وَ أَنْ يُكَذِّبُوهُ

But they (people) did not know what it was, so Allah^-azwj Commanded Muhammad^-saww that he^-saww should interpret the Wilayah for them just as he^-saww had interpreted for them the Salāt, and the Zakāt, and the Fasts, and the Hajj. So when he^-saww gave them that, the chest of Rasool-Allah^-saww was constricted by that and he^-saww was fearing that they would be reneging from their Religion, and that they would be belying him^-asws.

فَضَاقَ صَدْرُهُ وَ رَاجَعَ رَبَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ ما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَما بَلَّغْتَ رِسالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ

So his^-saww chest was constricted and he^-asws referred to his^-saww Lord^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, so Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed unto him^-saww O you Rasool! Deliver what has been Revealed unto you from your Lord; and if you don’t do so, then you have not delivered His Message, and Allah will Protect you from the people [5:67].

فَصَدَعَ بِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ فَقَامَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ ( عليه السلام ) يَوْمَ غَدِيرِ خُمٍّ فَنَادَى الصَّلَاةَ جَامِعَةً وَ أَمَرَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يُبَلِّغَ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ

So he^-saww implemented the Command of Allah^-azwj, Exalted is His^-azwj Mention, so he^-asws established the Wilayah of Ali^-asws on the Day of Ghadeer Khumm, so he^-saww called for the congregational Salāt and ordered the people that the ones present should deliver it to the absentees’.

قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ أُذَيْنَةَ قَالُوا جَمِيعاً غَيْرَ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) وَ كَانَتِ الْفَرِيضَةُ تَنْزِلُ بَعْدَ الْفَرِيضَةِ الْأُخْرَى وَ كَانَتِ الْوَلَايَةُ آخِرَ الْفَرَائِضِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَا أُنْزِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ بَعْدَ هَذِهِ فَرِيضَةً قَدْ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمُ الْفَرَائِضَ .

Umar Bin Azina (a narrator) said, ‘All (the above mentioned reporters) said altogether, apart from Abu Al-Jaroud, ‘And Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘And it was so that the Obligatory act was Revealed after the other Obligatory act, and it was so that the Wilayah was the last of the Obligations. So Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed Today I Perfected your Religion for you and Completed My Favour upon you [5:3]’. Abu Ja’far^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: “I^-asws will not be Revealing upon you, after this Obligation, and I^-asws have already Completed the Obligations for you all”’.^[31]

 

Who was the beggar who begged?

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْهَاشِمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَعْنِي أَوْلَى بِكُمْ أَيْ أَحَقُّ بِكُمْ وَ بِأُمُورِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ وَ أَمْوَالِكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَعْنِي عَلِيّاً وَ أَوْلَادَهُ الْأَئِمَّةَ ( عليهم السلام ) إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ

Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Al Hashimy, from his father, from Ahmad Bin Isa,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic But rather, your Guardian is Allah, and His Rasool, and those who are believing [5:55]. He^-asws said: ‘But rather it Means, ‘foremost with you’, i.e., ‘more rightful with you and with your affairs and your own selves and your wealth’, Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww and those who believe, Meaning Ali^-asws and his^-asws children, the Imams^-asws up to the Day of Judgment.

ثُمَّ وَصَفَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ راكِعُونَ وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) فِي صَلَاةِ الظُّهْرِ وَ قَدْ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ هُوَ رَاكِعٌ وَ عَلَيْهِ حُلَّةٌ قِيمَتُهَا أَلْفُ دِينَارٍ وَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) كَسَاهُ إِيَّاهَا وَ كَانَ النَّجَاشِيُّ أَهْدَاهَا لَهُ

Then Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Described them, so He^-azwj Said those who are establishing the Salāt and are giving the Zakat while they are performing Ruku [5:55], and it was Amir Al-Momineen^-asws during the Zohr Salāt, and he^-asws had already prayed two Cycles (of it) and he^-asws was bowing (performing Ruku’) and upon him^-asws was an apparel the price of which was a thousand Dinars, and it was the Prophet^-saww who had clothed him^-asws with it, and it was (the Ethiopian king) Al-Najjashy who had gifted it to him^-saww.

فَجَاءَ سَائِلٌ فَقَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَلِيَّ اللَّهِ وَ أَوْلَى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ تَصَدَّقْ عَلَى مِسْكِينٍ فَطَرَحَ الْحُلَّةَ إِلَيْهِ وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ احْمِلْهَا

So a beggar came over and said, ‘The greeting be upon you^-asws, O Guardian^-asws of Allah^-azwj, and the one closest with the Momineen than their own selves, give charity to upon a poor one’. So he^-asws dropped the apparel to him and gestured with his^-asws hand towards it that he should carry it away.

فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَ صَيَّرَ نِعْمَةَ أَوْلَادِهِ بِنِعْمَتِهِ فَكُلُّ مَنْ بَلَغَ مِنْ أَوْلَادِهِ مَبْلَغَ الْإِمَامَةِ يَكُونُ بِهَذِهِ الصِّفَةِ مِثْلَهُ فَيَتَصَدَّقُونَ وَ هُمْ رَاكِعُونَ وَ السَّائِلُ الَّذِي سَأَلَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الَّذِينَ يَسْأَلُونَ الْأَئِمَّةَ مِنْ أَوْلَادِهِ يَكُونُونَ مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ .

So Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed this Verse with regards to it, and the Bounty of his^-asws children can to be with his^-asws Bounty. So everyone from his^-asws children to whom reached the Imamate, happened to be with this characteristic similar to him^-asws, so they^-asws (also) were giving charity while they were bowing (performing Ruku’); and the beggar who begged from Amir Al-Momineen^-asws was from the Angels, and those who are begging the Imams^-asws from his^-asws children are (all) happening to be from the Angels’.[32]

Most of the people are Kafirs with the Wilayah

محمد بن يعقوب: عن الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن الحسن بن محمد الهاشمي، قال: حدثني أبي، عن أحمد بن عيسى، قال: حدثني جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن جده (عليهم السلام) في قوله عز و جل: يَعْرِفُونَ نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنْكِرُونَها.

Muhammad bin Yaqoub, from Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moala Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Al Hashimy, from his father, from Ahmad Bin Isa who said,

‘Ja’far Bin Muhammad^-asws narrated to me, from his^-asws father^-asws, from his^-asws grandfather^-asws regarding the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: They are recognising the Favour of Allah, then they are denying it [16:83]’.

قال: «لما نزلت: إِنَّما وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَ يُؤْتُونَ الزَّكاةَ وَ هُمْ راكِعُونَ  اجتمع نفر من أصحاب رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) في مسجد المدينة، فقال بعضهم لبعض: ما تقولون في هذه الآية؟ فقال بعضهم: إن كفرنا بهذه الآية نكفر بسائرها، و إن آمنا فهذا ذل حين يتسلط  علينا ابن أبي طالب

He^-asws said: ‘When the Verse But rather, your Guardian is Allah, and His Rasool, and those who are believing, those who are establishing the Salāt and are giving the Zakat while they are performing Ruku [5:55] was Revealed, a number of the companions of Rasool-Allah^-saww gathered in the Masjid of Al-Medina. So, some of them said to the others, ‘What are you saying regarding this Verse?’ Some of them said, ‘We are disbelieving in this verse, and we disbelieve in the rest of it. And if we were to believe in it, this would be a humiliation where the son^-asws of Abu Talib^-asws would overcome upon us’.

فقالوا: قد علمنا أن محمدا (صلى الله عليه و آله) صادق فيما يقول، و لكن نتولاه و لا نطيع عليا فيما أمرنا، فنزلت هذه الآية: يَعْرِفُونَ نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنْكِرُونَها يعني ولاية علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) وَ أَكْثَرُهُمُ الْكافِرُونَ بالولاية».

So they said, ‘We know that Muhammad^-saww is truthful in what he^-saww is saying, but, neither will we befriend nor obey Ali^-asws in what he^-saww is ordering us for’. Thus, this Verse was Revealed They are recognising the Favour of Allah, then they are denying it [16:83], Meaning the Wilayah of Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws and most of them are Kafirs with the Wilayah’.[33]

Appendix II: Interpretation of Verse 2:257

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَبْدِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِنِّي أُخَالِطُ النَّاسَ فَيَكْثُرُ عَجَبِي مِنْ أَقْوَامٍ لَا يَتَوَلَّوْنَكُمْ وَ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ فُلَاناً وَ فُلَاناً لَهُمْ أَمَانَةٌ وَ صِدْقٌ وَ وَفَاءٌ وَ أَقْوَامٌ يَتَوَلَّوْنَكُمْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ تِلْكَ الْأَمَانَةُ وَ لَا الْوَفَاءُ وَ الصِّدْقُ

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Mahboub, from Abdul Aziz Al Abady, from Abdullah Bin Abu Yafour who said,

‘I said to Abu Abdullah^-asws, ‘I tend to mingle with the people, and I am frequently astounded from the people who are not in the guardianship (Wilayah) of you^-asws all (Imams^-asws) and are in the guardianship of so and so, and so and so. For them is trustworthiness, and truthfulness, and loyalty. And there are a people who are in your^-asws guardianship (Wilayah), there isn’t that trustworthiness for them, nor the loyalty and the truthfulness’.

قَالَ فَاسْتَوَى أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) جَالِساً فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ كَالْغَضْبَانِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا دِينَ لِمَنْ دَانَ اللَّهَ بِوَلَايَةِ إِمَامٍ جَائِرٍ لَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ لَا عَتْبَ عَلَى مَنْ دَانَ بِوَلَايَةِ إِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ

He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Abdullah^-asws sat upright and turned towards me as if angered, then said: ‘There is no Religion for the one who makes it a Religion by the guardianship of a tyrannous imam (leader) who isn’t from Allah^-azwj, nor is there any blame upon the one who makes it a Religion by the Wilayah of a Just Imam^-asws from Allah^-azwj’.

قُلْتُ لَا دِينَ لِأُولَئِكَ وَ لَا عَتْبَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا دِينَ لِأُولَئِكَ وَ لَا عَتْبَ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ

I said, ‘There is no Religion for those ones and there is no blame upon these ones?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes! There is no Religion for those ones and there is no blame upon these ones’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ لَا تَسْمَعُ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّورِ يَعْنِي مِنْ ظُلُمَاتِ الذُّنُوبِ إِلَى نُورِ التَّوْبَةِ وَ الْمَغْفِرَةِ لِوَلَايَتِهِمْ كُلَّ إِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ

Then he^-asws said: ‘Have you not listened to the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Allah is the Guardian of those who believe. He Extracts them from the (multitude of) darkness into the Light [2:257]? It Means, from the darkness of the sins to the light of the repentance and the Forgiveness, due to their Wilayah for every just Imam^-asws from Allah^-azwj.

وَ قَالَ وَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِياؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُماتِ إِنَّمَا عَنَى بِهَذَا أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى نُورِ الْإِسْلَامِ فَلَمَّا أَنْ تَوَلَّوْا كُلَّ إِمَامٍ جَائِرٍ لَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَرَجُوا بِوَلَايَتِهِمْ إِيَّاهُ مِنْ نُورِ الْإِسْلَامِ إِلَى ظُلُمَاتِ الْكُفْرِ فَأَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُمُ النَّارَ مَعَ الْكُفَّارِ فَ أُولئِكَ أَصْحابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيها خالِدُونَ .

And He^-azwj Said and (as for) those who are committing Kufr, their guardian is the tyrant who extracts them from the Light into the (multitude of) darkness [2:257]. But rather it Means by this that they were upon the light of Al-Islam. So when they took as guardians every tyrannical imam (leader) who wasn’t from Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, they exited from the light of Al-Islam due to their befriending them, to the darkness of the disbelief. Thus, Allah^-azwj Obligated the Fire for them along with the disbelievers these are the inmates of the Fire; they would be in it eternally [2:257]’.^[34]

عن مسعدة بن صدقة، قال:

From Mas’adat Bin Sadaqa who said,

قص أبو عبد الله قصة الفريقين جميعا في الميثاق، حتى بلغ الاستثناء من الله في الفريقين، فقال: «إن الخير و الشر خلقان من خلق الله،

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws related the story for the two groups (good and evil) together during the Covenant, until he^-asws reached the Exclusion (separation) from Allah^-azwj regarding the two groups, so he^-asws said: ‘The good and the evil are two creatures from the creatures of Allah^-azwj.

و ذلك أن الله قال في كتابه: اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِياؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُماتِ فالنور هم آل محمد (صلوات الله عليهم)، و الظلمات عدوهم».

And that is what Allah^-azwj Said in His^-azwj Book: Allah is the Guardian of those who believe. He Extracts them from the (multitude of) darkness into the Light; and (as for) those who are committing Kufr, their guardian is the tyrant who extracts them from the Light into the (multitude of) darkness [2:257]. So the Light – they^-asws are the Progeny of Muhammad^-saww, and the darkness are their^-asws enemies’.^[35]

عن مهزم الأسدي، قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله (عليه السلام) يقول: «قال الله تبارك و تعالى: لأعذبن كل رعية دانت بإمام ليس من الله، و إن كانت الرعية في أعمالها برة تقية، و لأغفرن عن كل رعية دانت بكل إمام من الله، و إن كانت الرعية في أعمالها سيئة».

From Mahzam Al Asady who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘Allah^-azwj Blessed and High Said: “I^-azwj will Punish every person who makes a religion by an imam who is not from Allah^-azwj, and even if that person was benevolent and pious in his deeds. And I^-azwj shall Forgive every person who makes a Religion by every Imam^-asws from Allah^-azwj, and even if the person was evil in his deeds’.

قلت: فيعفو عن هؤلاء، و يعذب هؤلاء؟ قال: «نعم، إن الله يقول: اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُماتِ إِلَى النُّورِ».

I said, ‘He^-azwj would Forgive these ones and Punish those?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes! Allah^-azwj is Saying Allah is the Guardian of those who believe. He Extracts them from the (multitude of) darkness into the Light [2:257]’.

ثم ذكر الحديث الأول- حديث ابن أبي يعفور، برواية محمد بن الحسين- و زاد فيه: «فأعداء علي أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) هم الخالدون في النار، و إن كانوا في أديانهم على غاية الورع و الزهد و العبادة، و المؤمنون بعلي (عليه السلام) هم الخالدون في الجنة، و إن كانوا في أعمالهم على ضد ذلك».

Then (the narrator) mentioned the first Hadeeth – A Hadeeth of Ibn Abu Yafour, by the report of Muhammad Bin Al-Husayn – and in was the additional (information) – He^-asws said: ‘So it is the enemies of Ali Amir-Al-Momineen^-asws, these are the inmates of the Fire; they would be in it eternally [2:257], and even if, in their religion, they were very pious, and ascetic, and the worshippers. And the Momineen, along with Ali^-asws, they would be abiding in the Paradise, and even if they used to be, in their deeds, opposite to that’.^[36]

ابن شهر آشوب: عن الباقر (عليه السلام)، في قوله تعالى: وَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بولاية علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) أَوْلِياؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ نزلت في أعدائه و من تبعهم، أخرجوا الناس من النور- و النور: ولاية علي- فصاروا إلى ظلمة ولاية أعدائه.

Ibn Shehr Ashoub,

(It has been narrated) from Al-Baqir^-asws, regarding the Words of the High and (as for) those who are committing Kufr [2:257] – in the Wilayah of Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws, their guardian is the tyrant who extracts them from the Light into the (multitude of) darkness [2:257] – it was Revealed regarding his^-asws enemies and the ones who followed them. They extracted the people from the Light – and the Light is the Wilayah of Ali^-asws – so took them into the darkness – Wilayah of his^-asws enemies’.^[37]

Appendix III: Hadith-e-Tariq

Introduction of an Infallible Imam^-asws

Hadeeth –e– Tariq^[38]

الْبُرْسِيُّ فِي مَشَارِقِ الْأَنْوَارِ عَنْ طَارِقِ بْنِ شِهَابٍ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ: يَا طَارِقُ‏ الْإِمَامُ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ وَ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ وَ نُورُ اللَّهِ وَ حِجَابُ اللَّهِ وَ آيَةُ اللَّهِ يَخْتَارُهُ اللَّهُ وَ يَجْعَلُ فِيهِ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُوجِبُ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ الطَّاعَةَ وَ الْوَلَايَةَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِهِ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُ فِي سَمَاوَاتِهِ وَ أَرْضِهِ أَخَذَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ الْعَهْدَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ عِبَادِهِ فَمَنْ تَقَدَّمَ عَلَيْهِ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ فَوْقِ عَرْشِهِ فَهُوَ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ إِذَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ شَاءَ وَ يُكْتَبُ عَلَى عَضُدِهِ‏ وَ تَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَ عَدْلًا فَهُوَ الصِّدْقُ وَ الْعَدْلُ وَ يُنْصَبُ لَهُ عَمُودٌ مِنْ نُورٍ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ يَرَى فِيهِ أَعْمَالَ الْعِبَادِ وَ يُلْبَسُ الْهَيْبَةَ وَ عِلْمَ الضَّمِيرِ^[39] وَ يَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ‏^[40] وَ يَرَى مَا بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَلَا يَخْفَى‏ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنْ عَالَمِ الْمُلْكِ وَ الْمَلَكُوتِ وَ يُعْطَى مَنْطِقَ الطَّيْرِ عِنْدَ وَلَايَتِهِ فَهَذَا الَّذِي يَخْتَارُهُ اللَّهُ لِوَحْيِهِ وَ يَرْتَضِيهِ لِغَيْبِهِ وَ يُؤَيِّدُهُ بِكَلِمَتِهِ وَ يُلَقِّنُهُ حِكْمَتَهُ وَ يَجْعَلُ قَلْبَهُ مَكَانَ مَشِيَّتِهِ وَ يُنَادِي لَهُ بِالسَّلْطَنَةِ وَ يُذْعِنُ لَهُ بِالْإِمْرَةِ^[41] وَ يَحْكُمُ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّ الْإِمَامَةَ مِيرَاثُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ مَنْزِلَةُ الْأَصْفِيَاءِ وَ خِلَافَةُ اللَّهِ وَ خِلَافَةُ رُسُلِ اللَّهِ فَهِيَ عِصْمَةٌ وَ وَلَايَةٌ وَ سَلْطَنَةٌ وَ هِدَايَةٌ وَ إِنَّهُ تَمَامُ الدِّينِ وَ رُجُحُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْإِمَامُ دَلِيلٌ لِلْقَاصِدِينَ وَ مَنَارٌ لِلْمُهْتَدِينَ وَ سَبِيلُ السَّالِكِينَ وَ شَمْسٌ مُشْرِقَةٌ فِي قُلُوبِ الْعَارِفِينَ وَلَايَتُهُ سَبَبٌ لِلنَّجَاةِ وَ طَاعَتُهُ مُفْتَرَضَةٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ وَ عُدَّةٌ^[42] بَعْدَ الْمَمَاتِ وَ عِزُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ شَفَاعَةُ الْمُذْنِبِينَ وَ نَجَاةُ الْمُحِبِّينَ وَ فَوْزُ التَّابِعِينَ لِأَنَّهَا رَأْسُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ كَمَالُ الْإِيمَانِ وَ مَعْرِفَةُ الْحُدُودِ وَ الْأَحْكَامِ وَ تَبْيِينُ الْحَلَالِ‏^[43] مِنَ الْحَرَامِ فَهِيَ مَرْتَبَةٌ لَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا مَنِ اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ وَ قَدَّمَهُ وَ وَلَّاهُ وَ حَكَّمَهُ فَالْوَلَايَةُ هِيَ حِفْظُ الثُّغُورِ وَ تَدْبِيرُ الْأُمُورِ وَ تَعْدِيدُ الْأَيَّامِ وَ الشُّهُورِ^[44] الْإِمَامُ الْمَاءُ الْعَذْبُ عَلَى الظَّمَإِ وَ الدَّالُّ عَلَى الْهُدَى الْإِمَامُ الْمُطَهَّرُ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ الْمُطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْغُيُوبِ الْإِمَامُ هُوَ الشَّمْسُ الطَّالِعَةُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ بِالْأَنْوَارِ فَلَا تَنَالُهُ الْأَيْدِي وَ الْأَبْصَارُ وَ إِلَيْهِ الْإِشَارَةُ بِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى‏ وَ لِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَ لِرَسُولِهِ وَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏^[45] وَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ عَلِيٌّ وَ عِتْرَتُهُ فَالْعِزَّةُ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَ لِلْعِتْرَةِ وَ النَّبِيُّ وَ الْعِتْرَةُ لَا يَفْتَرِقَانِ فِي الْعِزَّةِ إِلَى آخِرِ الدَّهْرِ فَهُمْ رَأْسُ دَائِرَةِ الْإِيمَانِ وَ قُطْبُ الْوُجُودِ وَ سَمَاءُ الْجُودِ وَ شَرَفُ الْمَوْجُودِ وَ ضَوْءُ شَمْسِ الشَّرَفِ وَ نُورُ قَمَرِهِ وَ أَصْلُ الْعِزِّ وَ الْمَجْدِ وَ مَبْدَؤُهُ وَ مَعْنَاهُ وَ مَبْنَاهُ فَالْإِمَامُ هُوَ السِّرَاجُ الْوَهَّاجُ وَ السَّبِيلُ وَ الْمِنْهَاجُ وَ الْمَاءُ الثَّجَّاجُ وَ الْبَحْرُ الْعَجَّاجُ وَ الْبَدْرُ الْمُشْرِقُ وَ الْغَدِيرُ الْمُغْدِقُ وَ الْمَنْهَجُ الْوَاضِحُ الْمَسَالِكِ وَ الدَّلِيلُ إِذَا عَمَّتِ الْمَهَالِكُ وَ السَّحَابُ الْهَاطِلُ وَ الْغَيْثُ الْهَامِلُ‏^[46] وَ الْبَدْرُ الْكَامِلُ وَ الدَّلِيلُ الْفَاضِلُ وَ السَّمَاءُ الظَّلِيلَةُ وَ النِّعْمَةُ الْجَلِيلَةُ وَ الْبَحْرُ الَّذِي لَا يُنْزَفُ وَ الشَّرَفُ الَّذِي لَا يُوصَفُ وَ الْعَيْنُ الْغَزِيرَةُ وَ الرَّوْضَةُ الْمَطِيرَةُ وَ الزَّهْرُ الْأَرِيجُ وَ الْبَدْرُ الْبَهِيجُ‏^[47] وَ النَّيِّرُ اللَّائِحُ وَ الطِّيبُ الْفَائِحُ وَ الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ وَ الْمَتْجَرُ الرَّابِحُ وَ الْمَنْهَجُ الْوَاضِحُ وَ الطِّيبُ الرَّفِيقُ‏^[48] وَ الْأَبُ الشَّفِيقُ مَفْزَعُ الْعِبَادِ فِي الدَّوَاهِي‏^[49] وَ الْحَاكِمُ وَ الْآمِرُ وَ النَّاهِي مُهَيْمِنُ‏^[50] اللَّهِ عَلَى الْخَلَائِقِ وَ أَمِينُهُ عَلَى الْحَقَائِقِ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ وَ مَحَجَّتُهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ بِلَادِهِ مُطَهَّرٌ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ مُبَرَّأٌ مِنَ الْعُيُوبِ مُطَّلِعٌ عَلَى الْغُيُوبِ ظَاهِرُهُ أَمْرٌ لَا يُمْلَكُ وَ بَاطِنُهُ غَيْبٌ لَا يُدْرَكُ وَاحِدُ دَهْرِهِ وَ خَلِيفَةُ اللَّهِ فِي نَهْيِهِ وَ أَمْرِهِ لَا يُوجَدُ لَهُ مَثِيلٌ وَ لَا يَقُومُ لَهُ بَدِيلٌ فَمَنْ ذَا يَنَالُ مَعْرِفَتَنَا أَوْ يَعْرِفُ دَرَجَتَنَا أَوْ يَشْهَدُ كَرَامَتَنَا أَوْ يُدْرِكُ مَنْزِلَتَنَا حَارَتِ الْأَلْبَابُ وَ الْعُقُولُ وَ تَاهَتِ الْأَفْهَامُ‏^[51] فِيمَا أَقُولُ تَصَاغَرَتِ الْعُظَمَاءُ وَ تَقَاصَرَتِ الْعُلَمَاءُ وَ كَلَّتِ الشُّعَرَاءُ وَ خَرِسَتِ الْبُلَغَاءُ وَ لَكِنَتِ الْخُطَبَاءُ وَ عَجَزَتِ الْفُصَحَاءُ وَ تَوَاضَعَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَ السَّمَاءُ عَنْ وَصْفِ شَأْنِ الْأَوْلِيَاءِ وَ هَلْ يُعْرَفُ أَوْ يُوصَفُ أَوْ يُعْلَمُ أَوْ يُفْهَمُ أَوْ يُدْرَكُ أَوْ يُمْلَكُ مَنْ هُوَ شُعَاعُ جَلَالِ الْكِبْرِيَاءِ وَ شَرَفُ الْأَرْضِ وَ السَّمَاءِ جَلَّ مَقَامُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص عَنْ وَصْفِ الْوَاصِفِينَ وَ نَعْتِ النَّاعِتِينَ وَ أَنْ يُقَاسَ بِهِمْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ كَيْفَ وَ هُمُ الْكَلِمَةُ الْعَلْيَاءُ وَ التَّسْمِيَةُ الْبَيْضَاءُ وَ الْوَحْدَانِيَّةُ الْكُبْرَى الَّتِي أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَ تَوَلَّى‏ وَ حِجَابُ اللَّهِ الْأَعْظَمُ الْأَعْلَى فَأَيْنَ الِاخْتِيَارُ مِنْ هَذَا وَ أَيْنَ الْعُقُولُ مِنْ هَذَا وَ مَنْ‏^[52] ذَا عَرَفَ أَوْ وَصَفَ مَنْ وَصَفْتُ‏^[53] ظَنُّوا أَنَّ ذَلِكَ فِي غَيْرِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَذَبُوا وَ زَلَّتْ أَقْدَامُهُمْ اتَّخَذُوا الْعِجْلَ رَبّاً وَ الشَّيَاطِينَ حِزْباً كُلُّ ذَلِكَ بِغْضَةً لِبَيْتِ الصَّفْوَةِ وَ دَارِ الْعِصْمَةِ وَ حَسَداً لِمَعْدِنِ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ زَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطانُ أَعْمالَهُمْ‏ فَتَبّاً لَهُمْ وَ سُحْقاً^[54] كَيْفَ اخْتَارُوا إِمَاماً جَاهِلًا عَابِداً لِلْأَصْنَامِ جَبَاناً يَوْمَ الزِّحَامِ وَ الْإِمَامُ يَجِبُ أَنْ يَكُونَ عَالِماً لَا يَجْهَلُ وَ شُجَاعاً لَا يَنْكُلُ لَا يَعْلُو عَلَيْهِ حَسَبٌ وَ لَا يُدَانِيهِ نَسَبٌ فَهُوَ فِي الذِّرْوَةِ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَ الشَّرَفِ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ وَ الْبَقِيَّةِ مِنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَ النَّهْجِ‏^[55] مِنَ النَّبْعِ الْكَرِيمِ وَ النَّفْسِ مِنَ الرَّسُولِ وَ الرِّضَى مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ الْقَوْلِ عَنِ اللَّهِ فَهُوَ شَرَفُ الْأَشْرَافِ وَ الْفَرْعُ مِنْ عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ عَالِمٌ بِالسِّيَاسَةِ قَائِمٌ بِالرِّئَاسَةِ مُفْتَرَضُ الطَّاعَةِ إِلَى يَوْمِ السَّاعَةِ أَوْدَعَ اللَّهُ قَلْبَهُ سِرَّهُ وَ أَطْلَقَ بِهِ لِسَانَهُ فَهُوَ مَعْصُومٌ مُوَفَّقٌ لَيْسَ بِجَبَانٍ وَ لَا جَاهِلٍ فَتَرَكُوهُ يَا طَارِقُ‏ وَ اتَّبَعُوا أَهْواءَهُمْ‏ وَ مَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَواهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدىً مِنَ اللَّهِ‏ وَ الْإِمَامُ يَا طَارِقُ بَشَرٌ مَلَكِيٌّ وَ جَسَدٌ سَمَاوِيٌّ وَ أَمْرٌ إِلَهِيٌّ وَ رُوحٌ قُدْسِيٌّ وَ مَقَامٌ عَلِيٌّ وَ نُورٌ جَلِيٌّ وَ سِرٌّ خَفِيٌّ فَهُوَ مَلَكُ الذَّاتِ إِلَهِيُّ الصِّفَاتِ زَائِدُ الْحَسَنَاتِ عَالِمٌ بِالْمُغَيَّبَاتِ خَصّاً مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَ نَصّاً مِنَ الصَّادِقِ الْأَمِينِ‏ وَ هَذَا كُلُّهُ لِآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ لَا يُشَارِكُهُمْ فِيهِ مُشَارِكٌ لِأَنَّهُمْ مَعْدِنُ التَّنْزِيلِ وَ مَعْنَى التَّأْوِيلِ وَ خَاصَّةُ الرَّبِّ الْجَلِيلِ وَ مَهْبِطُ الْأَمِينِ جَبْرَئِيلَ صَفْوَةُ اللَّهِ وَ سِرُّهُ وَ كَلِمَتُهُ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ مَعْدِنُ الصَّفْوَةِ عَيْنُ الْمَقَالَةِ وَ مُنْتَهَى الدَّلَالَةِ وَ مُحْكَمُ الرِّسَالَةِ وَ نُورُ الْجَلَالَةِ جَنْبُ اللَّهِ وَ وَدِيعَتُهُ وَ مَوْضِعُ كَلِمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ مِفْتَاحُ حِكْمَتِهِ وَ مَصَابِيحُ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ يَنَابِيعُ نِعْمَتِهِ السَّبِيلُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ السَّلْسَبِيلُ وَ الْقِسْطَاسُ الْمُسْتَقِيمُ وَ الْمِنْهَاجُ الْقَوِيمُ وَ الذِّكْرُ الْحَكِيمُ وَ الْوَجْهُ الْكَرِيمُ وَ النُّورُ الْقَدِيمُ أَهْلُ التَّشْرِيفِ وَ التَّقْوِيمِ وَ التَّقْدِيمِ وَ التَّعْظِيمِ وَ التَّفْضِيلِ خُلَفَاءُ النَّبِيِّ الْكَرِيمِ وَ أَبْنَاءُ الرَّءُوفِ الرَّحِيمِ‏^[56] وَ أُمَنَاءُ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ‏ ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُها مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَ اللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ‏ السَّنَامُ الْأَعْظَمُ وَ الطَّرِيقُ الْأَقْوَمُ مَنْ عَرَفَهُمْ وَ أَخَذَ عَنْهُمْ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ وَ إِلَيْهِ الْإِشَارَةُ بِقَوْلِهِ‏ فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي‏^[57] خَلَقَهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ نُورِ عَظَمَتِهِ وَ وَلَّاهُمْ أَمْرَ مَمْلَكَتِهِ فَهُمْ سِرُّ اللَّهِ الْمَخْزُونُ وَ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَ أَمْرُهُ بَيْنَ الْكَافِ وَ النُّونِ‏^[58] إِلَى اللَّهِ يَدْعُونَ وَ عَنْهُ يَقُولُونَ وَ بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ‏ عِلْمُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فِي عِلْمِهِمْ وَ سِرُّ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ فِي سِرِّهِمْ وَ عِزُّ الْأَوْلِيَاءِ فِي عِزِّهِمْ كَالْقَطْرَةِ فِي الْبَحْرِ وَ الذَّرَّةِ فِي الْقَفْرِ وَ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ الْأَرْضُ عِنْدَ الْإِمَامِ كَيَدِهِ مِنْ رَاحَتِهِ يَعْرِفُ ظَاهِرَهَا مِنْ بَاطِنِهَا وَ يَعْلَمُ بَرَّهَا مِنْ فَاجِرِهَا وَ رَطْبَهَا وَ يَابِسَهَا لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَّمَ نَبِيَّهُ عِلْمَ مَا كَانَ وَ مَا يَكُونُ وَ وَرِثَ ذَلِكَ السِّرَّ الْمَصُونَ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ الْمُنْتَجَبُونَ وَ مَنْ أَنْكَرَتْ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ شَقِيٌّ مَلْعُونٌ يَلْعَنُهُ اللَّهُ وَ يَلْعَنُهُ اللَّاعِنُونَ وَ كَيْفَ يَفْرِضُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ طَاعَةَ مَنْ يُحْجَبُ عَنْهُ مَلَكُوتُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ إِنَّ الْكَلِمَةَ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ تَنْصَرِفُ إِلَى سَبْعِينَ وَجْهاً وَ كُلُّ مَا فِي الذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيمِ وَ الْكِتَابِ الْكَرِيمِ وَ الْكَلَامِ الْقَدِيمِ مِنْ آيَةٍ تُذْكَرُ فِيهَا الْعَيْنُ وَ الْوَجْهُ وَ الْيَدُ وَ الْجَنْبُ فَالْمُرَادُ مِنْهَا الْوَلِيُ‏ لِأَنَّهُ جَنْبُ اللَّهِ وَ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ يَعْنِي حَقَّ اللَّهِ وَ عِلْمَ اللَّهِ وَ عَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَ يَدَ اللَّهِ فَهُمُ الْجَنْبُ الْعَلِيُّ وَ الْوَجْهُ الرَّضِيُّ وَ الْمَنْهَلُ الرَّوِيُّ وَ الصِّرَاطُ السَّوِيُّ وَ الْوَسِيلَةُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوُصْلَةُ إِلَى عَفْوِهِ وَ رِضَاهُ سِرُّ الْوَاحِدِ وَ الْأَحَدِ فَلَا يُقَاسُ بِهِمْ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ أَحَدٌ فَهُمْ خَاصَّةُ اللَّهِ وَ خَالِصَتُهُ وَ سِرُّ الدَّيَّانِ وَ كَلِمَتُهُ وَ بَابُ الْإِيمَانِ وَ كَعْبَتُهُ وَ حُجَّةُ اللَّهِ وَ مَحَجَّتُهُ وَ أَعْلَامُ الْهُدَى وَ رَايَتُهُ وَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ وَ رَحْمَتُهُ وَ عَيْنُ الْيَقِينِ وَ حَقِيقَتُهُ وَ صِرَاطُ الْحَقِّ وَ عِصْمَتُهُ وَ مَبْدَأُ الْوُجُودِ وَ غَايَتُهُ وَ قُدْرَةُ الرَّبِّ وَ مَشِيَّتُهُ وَ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَ خَاتِمَتُهُ وَ فَصْلُ الْخِطَابِ وَ دَلَالَتُهُ وَ خَزَنَةُ الْوَحْيِ وَ حَفَظَتُهُ وَ آيَةُ الذِّكْرِ وَ تَرَاجِمَتُهُ وَ مَعْدِنُ التَّنْزِيلِ وَ نِهَايَتُهُ فَهُمُ الْكَوَاكِبُ الْعُلْوِيَّةُ وَ الْأَنْوَارُ الْعَلَوِيَّةُ الْمُشْرِقَةُ مِنْ شَمْسِ الْعِصْمَةِ الْفَاطِمِيَّةِ فِي سَمَاءِ الْعَظَمَةِ الْمُحَمَّدِيَّةِ وَ الْأَغْصَانُ النَّبَوِيَّةُ النَّابِتَةُ فِي دَوْحَةِ الْأَحْمَدِيَّةِ وَ الْأَسْرَارُ الْإِلَهِيَّةُ الْمُودَعَةُ فِي الْهَيَاكِلِ الْبَشَرِيَّةِ وَ الذُّرِّيَّةُ الزَّكِيَّةُ وَ الْعِتْرَةُ الْهَاشِمِيَّةُ الْهَادِيَةُ الْمَهْدِيَّةُ أُولئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ فَهُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ الطَّاهِرُونَ وَ الْعِتْرَةُ الْمَعْصُومُونَ وَ الذُّرِّيَّةُ الْأَكْرَمُونَ وَ الْخُلَفَاءُ الرَّاشِدُونَ وَ الْكُبَرَاءُ الصِّدِّيقُونَ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ الْمُنْتَجَبُونَ وَ الْأَسْبَاطُ الْمَرْضِيُّونَ وَ الْهُدَاةُ الْمَهْدِيُّونَ وَ الْغُرُّ الْمَيَامِينُ مِنْ آلِ طه وَ يَاسِينَ وَ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْأَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ اسْمُهُمْ مَكْتُوبٌ عَلَى الْأَحْجَارِ وَ عَلَى أَوْرَاقِ الْأَشْجَارِ وَ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ الْأَطْيَارِ وَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ وَ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَ الْأَفْلَاكِ وَ عَلَى أَجْنِحَةِ الْأَمْلَاكِ وَ عَلَى حُجُبِ الْجَلَالِ وَ سُرَادِقَاتِ الْعِزِّ وَ الْجَمَالِ وَ بِاسْمِهِمْ تُسَبِّحُ الْأَطْيَارُ وَ تَسْتَغْفِرُ لِشِيعَتِهِمُ الْحِيتَانُ فِي لُجَجِ الْبِحَارِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَخْلُقْ أَحَداً إِلَّا وَ أَخَذَ عَلَيْهِ الْإِقْرَارَ بِالْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ وَ الْوَلَايَةِ لِلْذُّرِّيَّةِ الزَّكِيَّةِ وَ الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنْ أَعْدَائِهِمْ وَ إِنَّ الْعَرْشَ لَمْ يَسْتَقِرَّ حَتَّى كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ بِالنُّورِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَلِيٌّ وَلِيُّ اللَّهِ.

Tariq bin Shihab asked: “O Ameer al-Momineen^-asws please explain the virtues of an Imam (masoom), Ameer al-Momineen^-asws replied:

“O Tariq! The Imam^-asws is the ‘Kalima-tul-Allah’ Words of Allah^-azwj; ‘Hujat-u-Allah’ the Proof of Allah^-azwj; ‘Wajh-Allah’ the Direction to Allah^-azwj; ‘Noor-Allah’ the Light of Allah^-azwj; ‘Hijab-Allah’ the Veil of Allah^-azwj and ‘Ayat-Allah’ the Sign of Allah^-azwj.

He^-asws is Chosen by Allah^-azwj who bestows onto him^-asws whatever qualities He^-azwj chooses, and Makes it compulsory on all His^-azwj creatures to obey him-the Imam^-asws.

Thus, he^-asws is Allah^-azwj‘s Appointed Ruler in the Heavens and on the earth.  Allah^-azwj has Taken a covenant regarding this from all His^-azwj servants. Whosoever, precedes the Imam^-asws has denied established Kingdom of Allah^-azwj.  An Imam^-asws can act as he^-asws finds it appropriate; however his^-asws actions only correspond to the Will of Allah^-azwj.

Inscribed on his upper limb is the-declaration: The words of Allah^-azwj are accomplished with truth and justice. For the Imam^-asws are both the justice and the truth. A column of light (stretching) from the earth to the sky is created for him^-asws, in which he witnesses the actions of the mankind. He^-asws is enrobed in the cloak of power and dignity; he^-asws knows what is in the minds and has access to the unseen-al-ghayb; he^-asws has been entrusted with absolute Power (in conducting his affairs); he^-asws beholds all that rests between the dominions of the East and the West: Nor is anything from the realms of ‘Mulk and Malakoot’ which is hidden from him^-asws; and he^-asws has the ability to communicate with the birds, who submit to his^-asws Wilayah^[59].

Thus, he^-asws is the only one, whom Allah^-azwj has chosen for His^-azwj Revelations, has approved him^-asws for (knowledge of) the Al-ghaib (Unseen), has strengthened him^-asws by his^-asws speech, and Instructed him^-asws in wisdom. His^-asws heart has made a station for His^-azwj Will. (Allah^-azwj) has Proclaimed His^-azwj Governance and has Granted him^-asws the (privilege) to rule, and has Commanded all to obey him. This is because the Imamate is the legacy of the Prophets^-as, is equal to the rank (Manzilat) of the Awsiyaa (those who instruct to good).  Indeed, it is the vicegerency of Allah^-azwj and His messengers^-as and therefore is regarded infallible, with (true) dominion and governance. Indeed, it is the (True) guidance since it is the perfection of the ‘deen’ and the benchmark of all virtues.

The Imam^-asws, is the guide for the seekers of the truth, an inspiration for the rightly guided, an established path for the travellers to Allah^-azwj and a radiant sun in the hearts of devotees of Allah^-azwj (al-Arifoon). His^-asws Wilayah is the vehicle leading to salvation, submission to him^-asws is obligatory in this life, (and has many benefits) as well as an instrument (of deliverance) in the hereafter, he^-asws is the source of courage and glory (izza) for the true believers; means of intercession for the sinners; a minarets of deliverance for those who immensely love him^-asws; a standard of triumph for the obedient.

This is due to the fact that an Imam^-asws, is the only one who can guide to the real Islamic path, through revealing the virtues of ‘Eman’, recognition of limits of rewards and punishments and clarifying the laws related to permissible and forbidden.  Thus this status is only given to no one other than the one who is specially nominated and blessed by Allah^-azwj and is given a clear distinction and right to administer public affairs and is made sole responsible for people’s sustenance.  Indeed, Imam^-asws provides knowledge of the boundaries and injunctions (of Allah^-azwj) and makes clear the lawful and unlawful.

The Imamate is a station that none can reach except those whom Allah^-azwj has chosen and has given them precedence (over others), investing them with the authority to rules and to judge. **Thus, Wilayah is nothing other than safeguarding people from danger and disaster and the management of their all affairs, (even down to) demarcating the days and months**.

The Imam^-asws, is Fresh and Sweet water for those thirsting (for knowledge & wisdom) A guide to true Guidance. The Imam^-asws, is ‘Ayat-e-Tatheer’, acquainted with mysteries of the unseen. The Imam^-asws, is the sun that rises over Allah^-azwj’s servants with its (illuminating) Rays.

The grasp and understanding of people cannot comprehend his^-asws attributes. This is mentioned to in the words of Allah^-azwj, most high (in the Quran): “To Allah^-azwj belongs fearlessness and glory (Izza) and to his messenger and to the believers”.  Here, the believers are being referred to as, Ali^-asws and his progeny^-asws. Thus might and glory is for Allah^-azwj, His Prophet^-saww and his^-saww progeny^-asws. (This verse shows that) the Prophet^-saww and his^-saww family^-asws cannot be separated from one another until the end of the time, they are at the centre of the sphere of the faith; they are the poles of existence (i.e. around which all existent/ entities revolve); they^-asws are the sky of generosity and the honour of all creation; they are the radiance of the sun of tribute, and the illumination of its moon; they^-asws are the origin of all power and glory and the source of inspiration; they^-asws are faith’s true meaning and its foundation.

The Imam^-asws, is the bright source of light (to enlighten the dark and cruel) path; the flowing stream leading to Allah^-azwj; stream of fresh water for the dried land; the swirling sea; the resplendent full moon (badr) and the brimming brook of guidance, the path and the deliverance in places of peril.  The torrential cloud, the roving rain the perfect full moon, the noble guide, the shading sky, the glorious blessing, the sea that will never dry. Nobility that cannot be described, a fountain that forever flows, a garden (full of singing) birds, a fragrant and delightful flower (with) the sweetest smell and wafting aroma, the righteous conduct, the successful trade, the clear way, the gentle Physician, the compassionate father, the refuge for people in times of calamity, the judge, the command giver, the Prohibitor, Allah^-azwj’s ruler over His^-azwj people, His (Allah^-azwj’s) confidant on (matters of) reality, Proof of Allah^-azwj over His^-azwj servants (He^-asws is) the object of pilgrimage on Allah^-azwj’s earth and the universe, ‘Informed’ of the Unseen. His^-asws personal qualities cannot be encompassed, his^-asws inner virtues cannot be imagined and he^-asws is unfathomable reality. He^-asws is Unique of his^-asws age and unparalleled to none.  He^-asws is Allah^-azwj’s deputy in His^-azwj injunctions and prohibitions. There is none similar to him^-asws and no one can take his^-asws place.

So, who is there that can attain knowledge about us^-asws; or can reach our^-asws rank; or can witness our^-asws miracles; or can ever comprehend our^-asws status. In this matter, wisdom and intellect are bewildered; understanding becomes perplexed.  Our^-asws status is so eloquent that the great ones appear worthless, and the scholars dwindle (into insignificance); the Poets become exhausted and wary; the genius stutter and are speechless; the noble orators begin to stammer; and the masters of language are humbled.

Who has the ability and perception to recognise even one Divine attribute of an Imam^-asws, or could image or comprehend as the heavens and the earth are humbled when they (attempt) to describe the reality of the one who is in the focal point of the Universe, the pivot of all that revolve, the secrets of all that is possible to exist, the ray of Divine creator, the majesty of the Most Great and the honour of the heavens and the earth.

The station of the Prophet^-saww‘s progeny is exalted above description of the describers and the qualifications depicted by the highly qualified. Nor can they be compared with anyone in any realm or world. How could it be possible to describe them, since they^-asws are the first light (created by Allah^-azwj), the lofty words, the radiant Divine names and the greater oneness of Allah^-azwj .  Thus, whoever turned away from them^-asws has indeed deserted oneness of Allah^-azwj, as they^-asws are the greatest veil of Allah^-azwj.

Thus who has the merits to select such an Imam^-asws, who cannot be recognised by the wisdom.  Actually, there is no one who had abilities to identify the noble Imam^-asws or even describe one of his^-asws virtues.  However, those who image that some of the qualities of Prophet^-saww’s progeny can be found in other people are, in fact, crafty liars and have gone astray from the righteous path and they chose to worship the Calf (false god), as their lord and have joined the ranks of shaytaan.  This is all due to their intense animosity against the house of Devine qualities, and the family^-asws of the virtuousness and infallibility and jealousy towards the household of Prophet^-saww.

Shaytaan has made them believe that their (devious) actions, after all, are honourable.  May Allah^-azwj destroy them and destine them towards hellfire.  How could they have selected an ignorant as an imam, who used to worship idols and was a well-known deserter on the day of Holly wars (Battle).  Although, it is incumbent that the Imam should be the most knowledgeable and not ignorant; brave and not withdrawing individual. And none should be superior to him in (nobility) descent and nor should be inferior (to anyone) in his lineage.  Beware; the Imam^-asws can only be from the best of the Quraysh, the most nobility of Hashim and from the progeny of Ibrahim^-as.  He is from the bloodline of Prophet^-saww and is the ‘Nafs’-e-Rasool^{-saww [60]}. He is chosen by the will of Allah^-azwj and his^-asws selection is directly executed by Allah^-azwj.

Thus, he^-asws is the honour of all nobles and a branch from the (descendants of) Abd Manaaf; he has (complete) knowledge of (worldly) affairs and is well versed in the governance (of all affairs). Obedience to him^-asws is incumbent until the day of judgement and Allah^-azwj has made his^-asws Heart a (vessel) for His^-azwj mystery and elects to speak through Imam^-asws’s tongue. Thus, He^-asws is infallible, represents Allah^-azwj and is free from any element of ignorance and weakness.

O Tariq, the people have abandoned him and followed their own desires and who can be more astray than the one who follows his whims without any guidance from Allah^-azwj.  O Tariq! the Imam^-asws may be considered like an angel^-as in the appearance of human being, a heavenly body, a divine command, a sacred spirit, a lofty station, a manifest light, a hidden secret. He is angelic in essence with attributes of the Divine powers, endowed with unlimited good qualities, possess the knowledge of the realms of the Unseen, specifically chosen by the Lord of the Worlds and is connected with the Truthful and Trustworthy (messenger of Allah^-azwj).  All this is for the household of Muhammad^-saww alone; nobody else can partake in this with them.

This is because they^-asws are: the source of revelation and the meaning of its exposition; the elect of the Lord of Majesty; The place of Jibraeel^-as, Al-Ameen’s descent; the words of the attributes of Allah^-azwj; His^-azwj Secret and His^-azwj Words; the tree of Prophet-hood; the source of chivalry; the essence of all opinions; the ultimate meaning and signification; the station of apostolic wisdom; the illumination of majesty in proximity to Allah^-azwj, and in His^-azwj Care, the location of Allah^-azwj’s Word; the key to his wisdom; the lamps of Allah^-azwj’s mercy; the well springs of His^-azwj Bounty; the path that leads to Allah^-azwj – the salsabeel-the Qistaas al-Mustaqeem (the upright scale) the straight path; the remembrance (full) of wisdom; the noble face; the eternal light; possessors of honour and repute; take precedence over all noble and exalted; the successors of the noble Prophet^-saww; the progeny of the compassionate and gentle (Prophet^-saww); we are the progeny of one from the other, in the custody of the most High, the most Mighty- Allah^-azwj knows all and observes all of these.

These are the immense and unmistakable signs of guidance and the straight path. Whosoever recognises them^-asws and takes (guidance) from them^-asws, he is belongs to us. As per Rasool Allah^-saww’s statement, “He who follows me^-saww, surely he is from me^-saww”, is an allusion to this (reality). Allah^-azwj created them (Prophets household) from the illumination of his majesty and entrusted them with the governing of the affairs of His^-azwj kingdom. (Thus, there is no doubt) they^-asws are the treasured secret of Allah^-azwj and His^-azwj friends, those who are near (Awliya al-Muqarraboon).

Allah^-azwj’s (creative) command is between the letter ‘Kaaf’ and the letter ‘Nun’. Infact they are the ‘Kaaf’ and the ‘Nun’ since they^-asws invite to Allah^-azwj, speak only what they^-asws receive from Him^-azwj and carry out His^-azwj Commands.  The knowledge of all the Prophets^-as, the (divine) mysteries of the Awsiyaa and the power and glory of the Awliyaa, in comparison to them^-asws, is like a drop out of an ocean and a grain out of a desert. Indeed, the heavens and the earth to the Imam^-asws are like the hand and its palm.  He^-asws recognises what is visible as well as what is hidden; He^-asws knows the pious among the sinners; what is in the wet and within the dry forms. This is because Allah^-azwj has taught his Prophet^-saww the knowledge of what has been passed and what would appear, and all these protected secrete were inherited by Prophet^-saww’s noble Awliyah^-asws.  Whosoever, denies this is a cruel and cursed wretch, and as such is cursed by Allah^-azwj as well as by all those who also send curse in Allah^-azwj’s obedience.

How could Allah^-azwj make Incumbent upon His^-azwj servants the obedience of the one who is veiled from the mysteries of the heavens and the earth.  The reality is that, a single word uttered (in Quran) in the praise of Aal-e-Muhammad^-asws, exceeds seventy dimensions (of knowledge). (Consider further), How often in the verses of the Noble reminder, the blessed book, the eternal words are mentioned in our praise, i.e., al-Ayn (eye), al-Wajh (face), al-Yadh (hand) and al-Janb (side). (It is obvious that) What is meant by these words is this Wilayah (pointing to himself^-asws), as Imam^-asws is the side of Allah^-azwj, the face of Allah^-azwj, that is, the reality of Allah^-azwj, the knowledge of Allah^-azwj, and the essence of Allah^-azwj. (As for the phrase) ‘Hand of Allah^-azwj’ they are the manifestation of the implicit dimensions of the visible attributes. Thus, their (Ahl Al-Bayt’s) implicit is the manifestation of the Allah^-azwj’s explicit attributes. They^-asws are the explicit manifestation of the implicit and the implicit dimensions of the explicit. This is alluded to in the saying of the Prophet^-saww “Indeed Allah^-azwj has no eyes and hands, but surely you and me, Ya Ali^-asws, are from them”.

They^-asws (The Ahl Al-Bayt) are the most elevated side (Al-Janb al-Aliyy); the most agreeable face (al-Wajh ar-Radiyy); the thirst-quenching spring; and the straight path. They^-asws are the means to (reach) Allah^-azwj, the link to His^-azwj pardon and His^-azwj pleasure. They^-asws are the mystery of the One, and the Uniqueness of the Unique (Allah^-azwj). It is not possible to compare anyone from mankind with them^-asws; They are: the elect of Allah^-azwj and chosen purely by Him^-azwj; the secret of religion and its wisdom; the gateway to faith and its Kaaba; the proof of Allah^-azwj and His destination; the signposts of guidance and its standard; the grace of Allah^-azwj and His mercy; the absolute certainty and its reality; the path of the Real and His protection; the origin of existence and its goal; the power of the Lord and His will; the source (origin) of the book and its end; the eloquent speech; the symbols and guardians and protectors of the revelation; the verse of Remembrance and its interpretation; the origin of revelation and its final (destiny); they are the lofty stars; they are the elevated illuminations, kindled from the sun of Fatimah’s honour in the sky or Muhammed’s majesty; they are the branches of Prophet hood gushing forth from the tree of Ahmed; the divine mysteries placed in the form of a human (body).

The Ahl Al-Bayt^-asws are: The pure progeny from Hashimite descent; the (truly) guide and the (truly) guided; thus they^-asws alone are the best of creation; they^-asws are the pure leaders; the infallible family^-asws (protected from sin); the noble offspring; the rightly guided successors (of the Prophet^-saww); the greatest of the Siddiqeen (the truth ones); the noble Awsiyaa; the tribe whom Allah^-azwj was pleased with; the rightly guided deliverers; the finest of the fine, from the family of Taha and Yaseen; The proof of Allah^-azwj for the first and last.

Their^-asws names are etched on (every) stone, on (every) leaf of (every) tree, on the wings of every bird; on the gates of heavens and hell; on the throne (of Allah^-azwj); on the horizons; on the wings of angels; on the veils of majesty and on the canopies of glory and beauty.

With their^-asws name the birds glorify (Allah^-azwj) and fish in the depths of ocean ask for forgiveness on behalf of their followers.

In fact, Allah^-azwj did not create anything until He^-azwj Made them declare the oneness (of Allah^-azwj), the ‘Wilayah’ (supremacy) of the pure progeny^-asws and revulsion for their^-asws enemies. The Throne (of Allah^-azwj) did not attain stability until it was inscribed with Divine light; There is no deity except Allah^-azwj, Muhammad^-saww is the messenger of Allah^-azwj, and Ali^-asws is the Wali of Allah^-azwj.

[1] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 13 H 1

[2] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 13 H 12

[3] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 13 H 1

[4] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 86 H 15

[5] تفسير القمّي 2: 294.

[6] ( 4) في نسخة:[ و هي بعدد الأيّام و الشهور] و لعله مصحف: و هي بعدد الشهور.

[7] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 77 H 2, Bashaarat Al Mustafa^saww Li Shia Al Murtaza^asws – P 3 H 35

[8] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 36 H 3

[9] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 36 H 6

[10] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14805

[11] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14815

[12] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 100 H 7

[13] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 149 H 1

[14] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 156 H 42

[15] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 208 H 5

[16] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. 14707

[17] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 109 H 3

[18]Al-Kafi, Vol. 8,  H. 14483

[19] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Funerals CH 56 H 3

[20] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 1 H 1

[21] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Intellect and Ignorance CH 1 H 9

[22] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 95 H 1

[23] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 108 H 53

[24] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 108 H 54

[25] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8, H. H 14935

[26] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 108 H 90

[27] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 108 H 91

[28] Al-Kafi, Vol. 8,  H 14847

[29] Tafseer Abu Hamza Al Sumaly – H 82

[30] Tafseer Abu Hamza Al Sumaly – H 81

[31] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 64 H 4

[32] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 64 H 3

[33] الكافي 1: 354/ 77.

[34] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 86 H 3

[35] تفسير العيّاشي 1: 138/ 461.

[36] تفسير العيّاشي 1: 139/ 462.

[37] المناقب 3: 81.

[38] Khutabah of Amir ul Momineen ^asws., Nahjul Asrar

[39] ( 2) في نسخة: و يعلم ما في الضمير.

[40] ( 3) زاد في نسخة: و يعطى التصرف على الإطلاق.

[41] ( 1) الإمرة بالكسر: الامارة و الولاية.

[42] ( 2) العدة: ما اعددته لحوادث الدهر من مال و سلاح.

[43] ( 3) في نسخة: و سنن الحلال.

[44] ( 4) في نسخة:[ و هي بعدد الأيّام و الشهور] و لعله مصحف: و هي بعدد الشهور.

[45] ( 5) المنافقون: 8.

[46] ( 1) الوهاج: شديد الاتقاد. الثجاج: سيال شديد الانصباب. العجاج: الصياح.

و المغدق من غدق عين الماء: غزرت و عذبت و يقال: هطل المطر أي نزل متتابعا متفرقا عظيم القطر. و يقال: هملت عينه اي فاضت دموعا. و السماء: دام مطرها في سكون.

[47] ( 2) البهيج: الحسن.

[48] ( 3) لعله مصحف و الطبيب الرفيق.

[49] ( 4) الدواهى: المصيبة و النوائب و الشدائد.

[50] ( 5) المهيمن بمعنى المؤتمن و الشاهد، و القائم على الخلق باعمالهم و أرزاقهم.

[51] ( 6) حار: تحير. تاه: تحير، ضل.

[52] ( 1) في نسخة: و ما ذا عرف.

[53] ( 2) في نسخة: ما وصف.

[54] ( 3) تباله أي الزمه اللّه خسرانا و هلاكا. و سحقا اي ابعده اللّه.

[55] ( 4) في نسخة: و الشمخ من النبع الكريم.

[56] ( 1) المراد به النبيّ صلّى اللّه عليه و آله.

[57] ( 2) إبراهيم: 36.

[58] ( 3) زاد في نسخة: لا بل هم الكاف و النون.

[59] Total authority and command on all aspects of life.

[60] Replicating the qualities of Prophet^saww