Al-Imāma wa’l-Tabṣira min al-Ḥayra

سعد، عن أحمد بن محمّد بن عيسى، عن أبيه، عن محمّد بن أبي عمير، عن ابن أُذينة، قال: حدّثني بريد بن معاوية العجلي: عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام في قول الله تعالى: ﴿أَمْ يَحْسُدُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاتَىٰهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ﴾. قال: فنحن المحسدون على ما آتانا الله من الإمامة، دون خلقه جميعاً، ﴿فَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَآ ءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًۭا﴾: فجعلنا منهم الرسل والأنبياء والأئمّة، فكيف يقرّون به في آل إبراهيم، وينكرونه في آل محمّد عليهم السلام؟ ﴿فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ ءَامَنَ بِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن صَدَّ عَنْهُ ۚوَكَفَىٰ بِجَهَنَّمَ سَعِيرًا ۝ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًۭا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُم بَدَّلْنَـٰهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۗإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًۭا ۝ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَنُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۖلَّهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌۭ مُّطَهَّرَةٌۭ ۖوَنُدْخِلُهُمْ ظِلًّۭا ظَلِيلًا﴾.

Saʿd, from Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā, from his father, from Muḥammad b. Abī ʿUmayr, from Ibn Udhayna, who said that Burayd b. Muʿāwiya al-ʿIjlī narrated to him, from Abī Jaʿfar al-Bāqir (as) regarding the statement of Allāh (taa): ﴾Do they envy those people for what Allāh has given them out of His bounty?﴿ [4:54], so the Imam said: “We are the people envied for what Allāh has given us, of the Imamate, to the exclusion of all of His other creatures. ﴾We have certainly given the progeny of Ibrāhīm the Book and wisdom, and We have given them a great sovereignty﴿ [4:54]—He has made among them Apostles, Prophets and Imams. So how is it that they affirm as such for the House of Ibrāhīm, but deny it for the House of Muḥammad (as-p)? ﴾Of them are some who believe in him, and of them are some who deter [others] from him; and hell suffices for a blaze! Indeed We shall soon make those who deny Our signs enter a Fire: as often as their skins become scorched, We shall replace them with other skins, so that they may taste the punishment. Indeed Allāh is all-mighty, all-wise. As for those who have faith and do righteous deeds, We shall admit them into gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them forever. In it, there will be chaste mates for them, and We shall admit them into a deep shade.﴿” [4:55-57]

سعد بن عبداللّه، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى والحسن بن علي بن عبداللّه بن المغيرة ومحمّد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطّاب، عن الحسن بن عليّ بن فضال، عن ثعلبة بن ميمون، عن عبدالرحمن القصير، قال: سألت أبا جعفر عليه السلام، عن قول الله تعالى: ﴿فَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَآ ءَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُم مُّلْكًا عَظِيمًۭا﴾. ما الملك العظيم؟ قال: فينا. قال: قلت: أيّ شيء؟ قال: افتراض. وليتولّ وليّه، ويعاد عدوّه، وليأتمّ بالأوصياء من بعده، فإنّهم عترتي من لحمي ودمي، أعطاهم الله فهمي وعلمي، إلى الله أشكوا المنكرين لفضلهم، القاطعين فيهم صلتي، وأيم الله ليقتلنّ ابني، لا أنالهم الله شفاعتي.

Saʿd b. ʿAbd Allāh, from Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā, al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Mughīra and Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Abī’l-Khaṭṭāb, from al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Faḍḍāl, from Thaʿlaba b. Maymūn, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Quṣayr,[1] who said: “I asked Abā Jaʿfar (as) about the saying of Allāh (taa): ﴾We have certainly given the progeny of Ibrāhīm the Book and wisdom, and We have given them a great sovereignty.﴿ [4:54]—What is the “great sovereignty”?,” so he replied: “It is ours.” ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Quṣayr continued his narration: “I said: “What thing is it?,” and he responded: “An obligation to take the Imam’s ally as one’s own, oppose his enemy, and take as Imams the Legatees after him. For indeed, they are my offspring, of my flesh and blood, and Allāh has granted them my understanding and my knowledge. I complain to Allāh about those who deny their distinction and sever my bond with them. By Allāh, they [2] will surely kill my son, so may Allāh not include them in my intercession.”[3]

وعنه، عن محمّد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطّاب، عن يزيد بن إسحاق، عن هارون بن حمزة الغنوي، عن أبي عبداللّه الحذّاء، عن سعد بن طريف، عن محمّد ابن علي بن عمر بن عليّ بن أبي طالب، عن أبيه عليّ بن أبي طالب عليه السلام، قال: قال النبيّ صلّى الله عليه وآله: من سرّه أن يحيى حياتي، ويموت ميتتي ويدخل جنّة ربّي! التي وعدني، جنّة عدن منزلي، قضيب من قضبانه، غرسه ربّي بيده، فقال له: كن جنّة عدن فكان، فليتولّ علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام والأوصياء من ذريّتي، إنهم الأئمة من بعدي، وهم عترتي ودمي ولحمي، رزقهم الله علمي وفهمي، ويل للمنكرين فضلهم من امّتي، القاطعين صلتي، والله ليقتلنّ ابني، لا أنالهم الله شفاعتي.

And from him, from Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Abī’l-Khaṭṭāb, from Yazīd b. Isḥāq, from Hārūn b. Ḥamza al-Ghanawī, from Abī ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥadhdhāʾ, from Saʿd b. Ṭarīf, from Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. ʿUmar b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, from his forefather, ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (as), who reported that the Prophet (sawa) said: “Who (among you) is happy to live as I have and die as I will, and enter my Lord’s Garden, which He has promised me?! The Garden of Eden is my lodging, a branch of its branches planted by my Lord with His own hand,[1] such that He said to it: “Be the Garden of Eden,” so it was. So, let him take ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (as) and the Legatees from my offspring as those with authority over him. Indeed, they are the Imams after me, and my offspring and my flesh and blood, and Allāh has endowed them with my knowledge and understanding. Woe betide those among my community who deny their distinction and sever my bond (with them). By Allāh, such people will kill my son, so may Allāh not include them in my intercession.”

وعنه، عن إبراهيم بن محمّد الثقفي، عن عبدالرحمان بن أبي هاشم، قال: حدّثنا سلام بن أبي عمرة الخراساني، عن أبان بن تغلب عن أبي عبداللّه عليه السلام، عن أبيه، قال: قال رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله: من أراد أن يحيى حياتي، ويموت ميتتي، ويدخل جنّة عدن غرسها ربّي بيده، فليتولّ علياً عليه السلام وليعاد عدوّه، وليأتمّ بالأوصياء من بعده، أعطاهم الله علمي وفهمي، وهم عترتي، من لحمي ودمي، إلى الله أشكو من امّتي؛ المنكرين لفضلهم، القاطعين فيهم صلتي، وأيهم الله ليقتلنّ ابني بعدي الحسين عليه السلام لا أنالهم الله شفاعتي.

And from him, from Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad al-Thaqafī, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Abī Hāshim, who said that Salām b. Abī ʿUmara al-Khurāsānī, from Abān b. Taghlib from Abī ʿAbd Allāh (as), from his father, who reported that the Apostle of Allāh (sawa) said: “Whoever intends to live as I have and die as I will, and enter the Garden of Eden, planted by my Lord with His own hand, let him take ʿAlī (as) as the one with authority over him and oppose his enemies, and take the Legatees after him as Imams. Allāh has granted them my knowledge and understanding, and they are my offspring, of my flesh and blood. To Allāh I complain of (certain members of) my community; those who deny their distinction and sever my bond with them, and by Allāh, it is they who will kill my son al-Ḥusayn (as) after me. May Allāh not include them in my intercession.”

وعنه عن محمّد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطّاب، عن موسى بن سعدان، عن عبداللّه بن القاسم الحضرميّ عن عبدالقاهر، عن جابر بن يزيد الجعفي: عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام، قال: قال رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله: من سرّه أن يحيى حياتي، ويموت ميتتي ويدخل جتّة وعدنيها ربّي قضيباً غرسه ربّي بيده، فليتولّ علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام وأوصياءه من بعده، فأنّهم لا يدخلونكم في باب ضلال ولا يخرجونكم من باب هدى، ولا تعلّموهم فإنّهم أعلم منكم، فأنّي سألت ربّي ألّا يفرّق بيني وبينهم وبين الكتاب، حتّى يردا عليّ الحوض هكذا—وضمّ بين أصبعيه—وعرض حوضي ما بين صنعاء إلى أيلة فيه قدحان فضة وذهب عدد النجوم.

And from him from Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Abī’l-Khaṭṭāb, from Mūsā b. Saʿdān, from ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Qāsim al-Ḥaḍramī from ʿAbd al-Qāhir, from Jābir b. Yazīd al-Juʿfī, from Abī Jaʿfar (as), who said: “The Apostle of Allāh (sawa) said: “Whoever is happy to live as I have and die as I will, and enter the Garden promised to me by my Lord, a branch planted by my Lord with His own hand, then let him take ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (as) and his Legatees after him as those with authority over him. For indeed, they will not make you enter into misguidance through its door, nor will they make you exit from guidance through its door, and you will not teach them knowledge, for they are more knowledgeable than you. I have asked my Lord not to separate me from them, nor them from the Scripture [1] until the two return to me at the Basin, like this”—and he closed two of his fingers together—“and my Basin is as wide as the distance between Sanaa and Ayla,[2] in which there are as many silver and gold cups as the number of stars (in the sky).”

وعنه، عن إبراهيم بن محمّد الثقفي، عن إبراهيم بن محمّد بن ميمون، قال: حدّثنا يحيى بن يعلى الأسدي عن عمّار بن رزيق عن أبي إسحاق، عن زياد بن مطرف، قال: قال رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله: من أراد أن يحيى حياتي، ويموت ميتتي ويدخل الجنّة التي وعدني ربّي، وهو قضيب من قضبانه، غرسه بيده وهي جنّة الخلد، فليتولّ علياً عليه السلام وذريّته من بعده، فإنّهم لا يخرجونكم من باب هدى ولا يدخلونكم في باب ضلال.

And from him, from Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad al-Thaqafī, from Ibrāhīm b. Muḥammad b. Maymūn, who said: “Yaḥyā b. Yaʿlā al-Asadī narrated to us, from ʿAmmār b. Razīq from Abī Isḥāq, from Ziyād b. Muṭraf, who narrated: “The Apostle of Allāh (sawa) said: “Whoever intends to live as I have and die as I will, and therefore to enter the Garden which my Lord has promised me—and it is a branch among its numerous branches, planted by His own hand—and it is the Garden of Eternity, then let him take ʿAlī (as) and his progeny after him as those with authority over him. For indeed, they will not make you exit from guidance through its door, nor will they make you enter into misguidance through its door.”

وعنه، عن محمّد بن عبدالحميد العطّار، عن منصور بن يونس، عن سعد بن طريف: عن أبي جعفر عليه السلام، قال: قال النبيّ عليه وآله السلام: من أحبّ أن يحيى حياة تشبه حياة الأنبياء عليهم السلام، ويموت ميتة تشبه ميتة الشهداء، ويسكن الجنان التي غرسها الرحمان، فليتولّ علياً عليه السلام وليوال وليّه، وليقتد بالأئمة من بعده، فإنّهم عترتي، خلقوا من طينتي، اللّهمّ ارزقهم من فهمي وعلمي، ويل للمخالفين لهم من أُمّتي، اللهمّ لا تنلهم شفاعتي.

And from him, from Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd al-ʿAṭṭār, from Manṣūr b. Yūnus, from Saʿd b. Ṭarīf, from Abī Jaʿfar (as), who said that the Prophet (asws) stated: “Whoever would love to live a life that resembles the lives of the Prophets (as-p), and to die a death that resembles the deaths of the martyrs, and to reside in the Gardens planted by the Most Merciful, then let him take ʿAlī (as) as the one with authority over him, and ally with his ally, and follow the Imams after him. For indeed, they are my descendants, created from my clay. O’ Allāh, endow them with my understanding and my knowledge. Woe betide those among my community who oppose them. O’ Allāh, do not include them in my intercession!”

وعنه، عن محمد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطّاب، عن محمّد بن عبداللّه بن زرارة، عن عيسى بن عبداللّه الهاشميّ، عن أبيه، عن جدّه، عن عمر بن أبي سلمة، عن اُمّه أُم سلمة، قالت: أقعد رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله علياً عليه السلام في بيته، ثمّ دعا بجلد شاة، فكتب فيه حتى أكارعه ثمّ دفعه إليّ، من غير أن يعلم أحد فقال: من جاءك بعدي بآية كذا وكذا، فادفعيه إليه. قالت: فأقمت حتى توفّي رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله، وولي أبو بكر أمر الناس. قال عمر: فبعثني أُمّي، فقالت: اذهب، فانظر ما يصنع هذا الرجل؟ فجئت فجلست مع الناس، حتى خطب أبو بكر، ثمّ نزل فدخل بيته فجئت، فأخبرتها، فأقامت حتى ولّي عمر، فبعثتني، فصنعت مثل ما صنعت، وصنع عمر مثل ما صنع صاحبه فجئت، فأخبرتها، فأقامت حتى ولّي عثمان فبعثتني، فصنعت مثل ما صنعت، وصنع مثل ما صنع صاحباه، فجئت فأخبرتها فأقامت حتى ولّي عليّ فأرسلتني، فقالت: انظر ما يصنع هذا الرجل؟ فجئت، فجلست في المسجد، فجاء عليّ عليه السلام، فصعد المنبر، فخطب، فلمّا خطب نزل، فرآني في الناس، فقال: اذهب فاستأذن لي على امّك فخرجت حتى جئتها، فأخبرتها وقلت: قال لي: استأذن لي على امّك وهو [ذا هو] خلفي يريدك. قالت: أنا—والله—أدري. فأستأذن عليّ عليه السلام، فدخل، فقال: أعطيني الكتاب الذي دفعه إليك رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله، بآية كذا وكذا. قال عمر: كأنّي—والله—أنظر إلى أُمّي، حين قامت إلى تابوت لها كبير، في جوفه تابوت لها صغير، فاستخرجت من جوفه كتاباً، فدفعته إلى عليّ عليه السلام. ثم قالت لي أُمّي: يا بنيّ، الزمه، فوالله ما رأيت بعد نبيّك إماماً غيره.

And from him, from Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Abī’l-Khaṭṭāb, from Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh b. Zurāra, from ʿĪsā b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Hāshimī, from his father, from his grandfather, from ʿUmar b. Abī Salama, from his mother Umm Salama, who said: “Once, the Apostle of Allāh (sawa) sat ʿAlī (as) down in his house, and called for a sheepskin to be brought, upon which he wrote until he had filled in its margins. He then handed it over to me without anyone else knowing, and told me: “Whoever comes to you with such-and-such a sign, hand it over to him.” Umm Salama continued to narrate: “I remained, while the Apostle of Allāh (sawa) passed on and Abū Bakr afterwards took charge of the people.” ʿUmar b. Abī Salama narrated: “My mother sent me forth, saying: “Go, and observe (for me) what this man does.” So, I came (to the Prophet’s Mosque) and sat with the people. Abū Bakr delivered a sermon and then descended (from the pulpit) and entered his own house. I came (back to my mother’s house) and informed her, so she remained as thus until ʿUmar (b. al-Khaṭṭāb) took charge. She sent me forth and I did as I had done (before), and ʿUmar did as his companion had done (before him). So, I came back to my mother and informed her. She remained, until ʿUthmān took charge and she sent me forth, and I did as I had done before, and he did as his two companions had done before him, so I came back to my mother and informed her. She remained, until ʿAlī took charge and she sent me as an emissary, saying: “Go and observe what this man does,” so I came to the Mosque and sat therein. ʿAlī (as) came in, ascended the pulpit and delivered a sermon. When he had finished his sermon, he descended therefrom and spied me among the people, and said: “Go, and seek permission from your mother for me.” I left (the Mosque) and came to her, informing her and telling her: “He said to me: “Seek permission from your mother for me,” and here he is behind me, wishing to see you.” She said: “I know, by Allāh.” I sought permission for ʿAlī (as), so he entered and said: “Give me the book which the Apostle of Allāh (sawa) had handed over to you, with such-and-such a sign.” ʿUmar b. Abī Salama continued to narrate: “By Allāh, it is as if I can see my mother, when she went to a large chest that belonged to her, in whose cavity was a small chest also belonging to her, and from whose own cavity she took out a book and handed it over to ʿAlī (as). My mother then said to me: “O’ son of mine, hold fast to him. For by Allāh, I have not seen after your Prophet any Imam but him.”