The Imam عليه السلام Possess Divine Authority and the Treasure of Divine Knowledge

2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Ali ibn Asbat from his father, Asbat from Sawra ibn Kulayb who said: Imam Abu Ja’far عليه السلام said to me: “By Allah, we are the treasurers of Allah in His heavens and on His earth, not over gold or silver, but over His knowledge.”

3. Ali ibn Musa has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id and Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Barqi from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd in a marfu‘ manner from Sudayr who has said that he asked Imam abu Ja’far عليه السلام the following. “may Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what are you?” The Imam عليه السلام said, “We are the treasurers of the knowledge of Allah. We are the translators of the revelations of Allah. We possess complete Divine authority over all that is under the heavens and those above the earth.”

4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad Ibn Husayn from al-Nadr ibn Shu‘ayb from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamza who has said that he heard Imam Abu Ja’far عليه السلام say: “The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: "The completion of My proof against the wretched ones of your nation lies in their abandonment of the authority (wilāyah) of ʿAlī and the successors after you. For within them is your tradition and the tradition of the prophets before you. They are the keepers of My knowledge after you." Then the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: "Indeed, Jibrīl عليه السلام informed me of their names and the names of their fathers."

5. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Fudaala ibn Ayyub from ‘Abdullah ibn Abu Ya‘fur who has said that Imam Abu ‘Abdullah عليه السلام said the following. “O son of Abi Ya'fur, indeed Allah is One, unique in His Oneness. He alone issues His command. He created a creation and appointed and measured them for that command (Amr, task). So, we, O son of Abu Ya‘fur, are that creation. We are the authority of Allah among His servants, the treasurers of His knowledge, and the guardians of it.”

6. Ali Ibn Muhammad narrated from Sahl Ibn Ziyad from Musa Ibn al-Qasim Ibn Mu‘awiyah and Muhammad Ibn Yahya from al-‘Amrakiy Ibn Ali altogether from Ali Ibn Ja’far from Abul Hassan Musa عليه السلام who said: Abu Abdallah عليه السلام has said, ‘Allah سبحانه وتعالى created us and He made our creation the best [of all creations]. He formed us and made our form the best [of all forms]. He made us the treasurers of His heavens and His earth. For our [sake] the tree spoke, by our worship Allah سبحانه وتعالى is worshipped. Had we not been in existence, Allah would not have been worshipped.”