Chapter On The Meanings of the Names of Allah and their Derivatives
Al-Kāfi|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 16
8ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ عِنْدَهُ الله أَكْبَرُ فَقَالَ الله أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ فَقَالَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) حَدَّدْتَهُ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ كَيْفَ أَقُولُ قَالَ قُلْ الله أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أَنْ يُوصَفَ.
8. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ibn Mahbub from those he mentioned from abu ‘Abdallah عليه السلام who has said the following. “A man said, 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is the Greatest) in his presence.” He (the Imam) asked, “Allah is Greater than which thing?” The man replied, “Greater than everything.” Abu 'Abdallah عليه السلام said, “You have limited Him.” The man asked, “Then, how should I say it?” He replied, “Say, Allah is Greater than what can be described.”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (2/48)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī