Al-Imāma wa’l-Tabṣira min al-Ḥayra

عبداللّه بن جعفر الحميري، عن محمّد بن عبدالحميد، عن منصور بن يونس، عن عبدالرحمان بن سليمان، عن أبيه: عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام: عن الحارث بن نوفل: قال: قال علي عليه السلام لرسول الله: يا رسول الله، أمنّا الهداة؟ أو من غيرنا؟ قال: بل منّا الهداة إلى يوم القيامة، بنا استنقذهم الله من ضلالة الشرك، وبنا استنقذهم الله من ضلالة الفتنة، وبنا يصبحون إخواناً بعد ضلالة الفتنة، كما أصبحوا إخواناً بعد ضلالة الشرك، وبنا يختم الله، كما بنا فتح الله.

ʿAbd Allāh b. Jaʿfar al-Ḥimyarī, from Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd, from Manṣūr b. Yūnus, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Sulaymān, from his father, from Abī Jaʿfar (as), from al-Ḥārith b. Nawfal, who narrated: “ʿAlī (as) once said to the Apostle of Allāh: “O’ Apostle of Allāh, are the guides from among us? Or from others besides us?” The Prophet (sawa) replied: “They are from among us until the Day of Resurrection. It is on account of us that Allāh has saved them (the community of Islam) from the grievous error of polytheism, and it is on account of us that Allāh has saved them from the grievous error of strife. It is on account of us that they have become brothers (in Islam) after the grievous error of strife, just as they have become brothers after the grievous error of polytheism. It is on account of us that Allāh closes (matters), just as it is on account of us that Allāh opens (them).”

وعنه، عن محمّد بن عيسى، عن محمّد بن إسماعيل بن بزيع، عن منصور بن يونس، عن جليس له، عن أبي حمزة: عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام: قال: قلت له: قول الله تعالى: ﴿كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ﴾؟ قال: يا فلان، فيهلك كلّ شيء، ويبقى الوجه؟! الله أعظم من أن يوصف ولكنّ معناها: كلّ شيء هالك إلّا دينه، ونحن الوجه الذي يؤتى الله منه لن يزال في عباد الله ما كانت له فيهم رويّة فإذا لم تكن فيهم رويّة، رفعنا، فصنع ما أحبّ.

And from him, from Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā, from Muḥammad b. Ismāʿīl b. Bazīʿ, from Manṣūr b. Yūnus, from a sitting-companion of his, from Abī Ḥamza, from Abī Jaʿfar (as). Abū Ḥamza narrated: “I said to him (i.e. Abī Jaʿfar al-Bāqir (as)): “(What do you make of) the Statement of Allāh (taa): ﴾Everything is to perish except His Face﴿?” [28:88], so he replied: “O’ so-and-so, would everything perish while the Face remains? Allāh is more exalted than to be described as such. Rather, the statement’s meaning is that everything will be destroyed except His religion, and we are the Face by whom Allāh is approached, which will not fail to remain among Allāh’s servants for as long as He has a purpose concerning them. So, when that purpose is no longer among them, He will raise us up, and then do as He likes.”

وعنه، عن محمّد بن عمرو الكاتب، عن علي بن محمّد الصيمري، عن علي بن مهزيار :قال: كتبت الى أبي الحسن: (صاحب العسكر) عليه السلام: أسأله عن الفرج؟ فكتب: إذا غاب صاحبكم عن دار الظالمين، فتوقّعوا الفرج.

And from him, from Muḥammad b. ʿAmrū al-Kātib, from ʿAlī b. Muḥammad b. al-Ṣumayrī, from ʿAlī b. Mahziyār, who narrated: “I wrote to Abī’l-Ḥasan, Ṣāḥib al-ʿAskar (as),[1] asking him about the Deliverance, so he wrote back to me: “When your master has occulted from the abode of the oppressors,[2] then expect the Deliverance.”

وعنه، عن محمّد بن عيسى، عن سليمان بن داود، عن أبي بصير، قال: سمعت أبا جعفر عليه السلام يقول: في صاحب هذا الأمر أربعة سنن من أربعة أنبياء: سنة من موسى، وسنة من عيسى، وسنة من يوسف، وسنة من محمّد صلى الله عليه وآله: فأمّا من موسى: فخائف يترقّب، وأمّا من يوسف: فالسجن، وأمّا من عيسى: فقيل: إنّه مات، ولم يمت، وأمّا من محمّد صلى الله عليه وآله: فالسيف.

And from him, from Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā, from Sulaymān b. Dāwūd, from Abī Baṣīr, who narrated: “I heard Abā Jaʿfar (as) saying: “Four precedents, from four different Prophets, may be observed in the Master of this Ordinance: a precedent from Mūsā, a precedent from ʿĪsā, a precedent from Yūsuf, and a precedent from Muḥammad (sawa). As for that of Mūsā, it is that he is fearfully vigilant. As for that of Yūsuf, it is imprisonment.[1] As for that of ʿĪsā, it is that it will be said: “He died,” even though he is not dead. And as for Muḥammad (sawa), it is (rising up with) the sword.”

محمّد بن يحيى، عن محمّد بن أحمد، عمّن ذكره، عن صفوان بن يحيى، عن معاوية بن عمّار، عن أبي عبيدة الحذّاء: قال: سألت أبا جعفر عليه السلام عن هذا الأمر، متى يكون؟ قال: إنْ كنتم تؤمّلون أنْ يجيئكم من وجه، ثمّ جاءكم من وجه فلا تنكرونه.

Muḥammad b. Yaḥyā, from Muḥammad b. Aḥmad, from whoever he mentioned, from Ṣafwān b. Yaḥyā, from Muʿāwiya b. ʿAmmār, from Abī ʿUbayda al-Ḥadhdhāʾ, who narrated: “I asked Abā Jaʿfar (as) about this matter—when will it be (realised)?” He said: “If you are hoping that it comes to you from one direction, and then it comes to you from another, then do not reject it.”

محمّد بن يحيى، وأحمد بن إدريس، عن محمّد بن أحمد، عمّن ذكره، عن محمّد بن الفضيل، عن إسحاق بن عمّار، عن أبي عبداللّه عليه السلام، قال: كان في بني إسرائيل نبيّ وعده الله أن ينصره الى خمس عشرة ليلة، فأخبر بذلك قومه. فقالوا: والله إذا كان، ليفعلنّ وليفعلنّ. فأخّره الله إلى خمس عشرة سنة. وكان فيهم من وعده الله النصرة إلى خمس عشرة سنة. فأخبر بذلك النبي عليه السلام قومه. فقالوا: ما شاء الله. فعجّله الله لهم في خمس عشرة ليلة.

Muḥammad b. Yaḥyā and Aḥmad b. Idrīs, from Muḥammad b. Aḥmad, from whoever he mentioned, from Muḥammad b. al-Fuḍayl, from Isḥāq b. ʿAmmār, from Abī ʿAbd Allāh (as), who said: “There was a Prophet among the Children of Israel to whom Allāh had promised that He would help him in fifteen nights, but when he informed his people of that, they said: “By Allāh, when it happens, He will surely do such-and-such and such-and-such.” So, Allāh delayed it for fifteen years. There was another among them whom Allāh promised victory within fifteen years. When the Prophet (as) informed his people of that, they said: “It is as Allāh has willed,” so Allāh hastened it for them to fifteen nights.”

محمّد بن يحيى، عن محمّد بن أحمد، عن صفوان بن يحيى، عن أبي أيوب الخزّاز، عن محمّد بن مسلم، عن أبي عبداللّه عليه السلام، قال: كنت عنده، إذ دخل عليه مهزم، فقال له: جعلت فداك، أخبرني عن هذا الأمر الذي ننتظره، متى هو؟ قال: يا مهزم، كذب الوقّاتون، وهلك المستعجلون، ونجا المسلّمون، وإلينا يصيرون.

Muḥammad b. Yaḥyā, from Muḥammad b. Aḥmad, from Ṣafwān b. Yaḥyā, from Abī Ayyūb al-Khazzāz, from Muḥammad b. Muslim, from Abī ʿAbd Allāh (as). Muḥammad b. Muslim narrated: “I was with him (Imam al-Ṣādiq) when Mihzam came in,[1] saying to him: “May I be sacrificed for you. Would you inform me of when this matter, for which we are waiting, will come to pass?” The Imam replied: “O’ Mihzam, the time-setters have lied and those who call for the matter to be hastened have perished,[2] while the ones who accept it as it is are saved, and to us they shall come.”