Summary:
A Hadith is presented here, summarising the beliefs, a believer must have, to be recognised as a ‘Momin’ by Allah-azwj and what one must shun to be classified from ‘Momineen’ (plural of Momin).
كِتَابُ سُلَيْمِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ: أَتَى أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِناً وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ كَافِراً وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ ضَالًّا
‘Kitab Suleym Bin Qays’ –
He said, ‘A man came to Amir Al-Momineen-asws. He said to him-asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen‑asws! What is the least of what the man can be a Momin with, and lease of what he would be a Kafir with, and lease of what he would be straying with?’
قَالَ سَأَلْتَ فَاسْمَعِ الْجَوَابَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ مُؤْمِناً أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ فَيُقِرَّ لَهُ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَ الْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ وَ أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهُ نَبِيَّهُ فَيُقِرَّ لَهُ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ وَ بِالْبَلَاغَةِ وَ أَنْ يُعَرِّفَهُ حُجَّتَهُ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ شَاهِدَهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ فَيُقِرَّ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ
He-asws said: ‘You have asked, so listen to the answer! The least of what he would be a Momin with is that Allah-azwj would Introduce Himself-azwj to him, so he would acknowledge to Him‑azwj with the Lordship and the Oneness, and that He-azwj would Introduce His-azwj Prophet-azwj, so he would acknowledge to him-saww with the Prophet-hood, and that He-azwj would Introduce him to His-azwj Divine Authority in His-azwj earth and His-azwj Witness upon His-azwj creatures, so he would acknowledge to him-asws with the obedience’.
قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ إِنْ جَهِلَ جَمِيعَ الْأَشْيَاءِ غَيْرَ مَا وَصَفْتَ
He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! And even if he were to be ignorant of entirety of the things other than what you-asws have described?’
قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا أُمِرَ أَطَاعَ وَ إِذَا نُهِيَ انْتَهَى
He-asws said: ‘Yes! Whenever he is Commanded, he obeys, and whenever he is Prohibited he refrains.
وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ كَافِراً أَنْ يَتَدَيَّنَ بِشَيْءٍ فَيَزْعُمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَهُ بِهِ مَا نَهَى اللَّهُ عَنْهُ ثُمَّ يَنْصِبَهُ فَيَتَبَرَّأَ وَ يَتَوَلَّى وَ يَزْعُمَ أَنَّهُ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي أَمَرَهُ بِهِ
And the least of what he would be a Kafir with is that he makes it a religion with something, then he claims that Allah-azwj has Commanded him with it, what Allah-azwj has (actually) Prohibited him from it. Then he install it and he disavows and befriends, and he alleges that he is worshipping Allah-azwj Who has Commanded him with it.
وَ أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ ضَالًّا أَنْ لَا يَعْرِفَ حُجَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ وَ شَاهِدَهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ الَّذِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِطَاعَتِهِ وَ فَرَضَ وَلَايَتَهُ
And the least of what he would be straying with is that he does not recognise the Divine Authority of Allah-azwj in His-azwj earth and His-azwj witness upon His-azwj creatures who Allah-azwj has Commanded him with obeying him-asws and had Imposed his-asws Wilayah’.
قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَمِّهِمْ لِي
He said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Name them-asws for me’.
قَالَ الَّذِينَ قَرَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ نَبِيِّهِ فَقَالَ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ
He-asws said: ‘Those whom Allah-azwj has Paired them-asws with Himself-azwj and His-azwj Prophet‑saww, so He-azwj Said: ‘O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Rasool and those with (Divine) Authority from you. [4:59]’.
قَالَ أَوْضِحْهُمْ لِي
He said, clarify them-asws for me’.
قَالَ الَّذِينَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فِي آخِرِ خُطْبَةٍ خَطَبَهَا ثُمَّ قُبِضَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ إِنِّي قَدْ تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمْ أَمْرَيْنِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا مَا تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِي فَإِنَّ اللَّطِيفَ الْخَبِيرَ قَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُمَا لَنْ يَفْتَرِقَا حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ كَهَاتَيْنِ إِصْبَعَيَّ فَتَمَسَّكُوا بِهِمَا لَا تَضِلُّوا وَ لَا تَقَدَّمُوهُمْ فَتَهْلِكُوا وَ لَا تَخَلَّفُوا عَنْهُمْ فَتَفَرَّقُوا وَ لَا تُعَلِّمُوهُمْ فَهُمْ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكُمْ.
He-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said at the end of his-saww sermon he-saww had addressed, then he-saww passed away during his-saww day: ‘I-saww am leaving behind among you all two matters. You will never stray for as long as you adhere with these two – the Book of Allah-azwj and People of my-saww Household, for the Subtle, the Informed has Made a pact with me-saww that these two will never separate from each other until they return to me-saww at the Fountain like these two fingers of mine-saww. Therefore, adhere with these two, you will not be straying, and do not go ahead of them-asws for you will be destroyed, and do not stay behind from them‑asws you will be divided, and do not (try to) teach them-asws for they-asws are more knowledgeable than you are!’’[1]
Introduction:
Allah-azwj Says about ‘الْمُؤْمِنُونَ’ the believers:
وَ قَالَ تَعَالَى إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتابُوا وَ جاهَدُوا بِأَمْوالِهِمْ وَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُولئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ
And the Exalted Said: But rather, the Momineen are those who believe in Allah and His Rasool, then they do not doubt, and they strive with their wealth and their selves in the Way of Allah. Those, they are the truthful [49:15].
وَ قَالَ تَعَالَى يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ
And Allahazwj the Exalted Said: O you those who believe! Shall I point you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10].
تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ تُجاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوالِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ذلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
You should believe in Allah and His Rasool, and struggle in the Way of Allah with your wealth and your selves. That is better for you if only you knew [61:11].
يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَ يُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهارُ وَ مَساكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
He will Forgive your sins for you and Enter you into Gardens beneath which the rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in the Gardens of perpetuity. That is the mighty success [61:12].
اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ وَ تَحَاثُّوا عَلَى الْجِهَادِ مَعَ إِمَامِكُمْ فَلَوْ كَانَ لِي مِنْكُمْ عِصَابَةٌ بِعَدَدِ أَهْلِ بَدْرٍ إِذَا أَمَرْتُهُمْ أَطَاعُونِي وَ إِذَا اسْتَنْهَضْتُهُمْ نَهَضُوا مَعِي لَاسْتَغْنَيْتُ بِهِمْ عَنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنْكُمْ وَ أَسْرَعْتُ النُّهُوضَ إِلَى حَرْبِ مُعَاوِيَةَ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ فَإِنَّهُ الْجِهَادُ الْمَفْرُوضُ.
(From a speech of Amir ul-Momineen-asws when he-asws determined the journey to Syria for fighting Muawiya Bin Abu Sufyan) Fear Allahazwj, (O) servants of Allahazwj, and be mobilised upon the Jihad along with your Imamasws, so if there would be a group with measws of the number of the people of Badr (313), whenever Iasws order them they would obey measws, and whenever Iasws tell them to get up, they would get up with measws, Iasws would be needless with them away from most of you, and Iasws shall hasten to war against Muawiya and his companion, for the Jihad is the Obligation’’.[2]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ بَشِيرٍ الدَّهَّانِ عَنْ كَامِلٍ التَّمَّارِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ أَ تَدْرِي مَنْ هُمْ قُلْتُ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْمُسَلِّمُونَ إِنَّ الْمُسَلِّمِينَ هُمُ النُّجَبَاءُ فَالْمُؤْمِنُ غَرِيبٌ فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ .
Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Abdullah, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al Barqy, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Hameed, from Mansour Bin Yunus, from Bashir Al Dahhan, from Kamil Al Tammar who said,
‘Abu Ja’farasws said: ‘[23:1] Successful indeed are the Believers. ‘Abu Ja’farasws said: ‘[23:1] Successful indeed are the Believers. Do you know who they are?’ I said, ‘Youasws are more knowing’. Heasws said: ‘Successful indeed are the Momineen – the submitters. Surely, the submitters are the excellent ones, but a Momin is a ‘غَرِيبٌ’ stranger/foreigner (wherever he lives) and foreigners are successful (in the Hereafter)’.[3]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ الْخَشَّابِ عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ رَبِيعٍ الْمُسْلِيِّ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا الْأَنْصَارِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَكْمِلَ الْإِيمَانَ كُلَّهُ فَلْيَقُلِ الْقَوْلُ مِنِّي فِي جَمِيعِ الْأَشْيَاءِ قَوْلُ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِيمَا أَسَرُّوا وَ مَا أَعْلَنُوا وَ فِيمَا بَلَغَنِي عَنْهُمْ وَ فِيمَا لَمْ يَبْلُغْنِي.
Ali Bin Muhammad, from one of our companions, from Al Khashab, from Al Abbas Bin Aamir, from Rabie Al Musly, from Yahya Bin Zakariyya Al-Ansary,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullahasws, (the narrator says) ‘I heard himasws saying: ‘The one who wants that his Eman to be completed, so let him say, ‘The words from me in the entirety of the matters are the words of the Progenyasws of Muhammadsaww regarding whatever was kept secretive and whatever was announced, and regarding whatever reached me from themasws and regarding whatever did not reach me’.[4]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ أَوْ بُرَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ لَقَدْ خَاطَبَ اللَّهُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) فِي كِتَابِهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ فِي أَيِّ مَوْضِعٍ قَالَ فِي قَوْلِهِ وَ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ جاؤُكَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا اللَّهَ وَ اسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ الرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا اللَّهَ تَوَّاباً رَحِيماً. فَلا وَ رَبِّكَ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيما شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا تَعَاقَدُوا عَلَيْهِ لَئِنْ أَمَاتَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّداً أَلَّا يَرُدُّوا هَذَا الْأَمْرَ فِي بَنِي هَاشِمٍ ثُمَّ لا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجاً مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ أَوِ الْعَفْوِ وَ يُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيماً .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Ibn Azina, from Zurara or Bureyd,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’farasws having said: ‘Allahazwj has Addressed Amir Al-Momineenasws in Hisazwj Book’. I said, ‘In which place?’ Heasws said: ‘In Hisazwj Words [4:64] and had they, when they were unjust to themselves, come to you and asked Forgiveness from Allah and the Rasool had (also) asked Forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Oft-returning (to Mercy), Merciful. [4:65] But no! By your Lord! They do not believe (in reality) until they make you a judge of that which has become a matter of disagreement among them, and then do not find any constriction in their hearts as to what you have decided and submit with entire submission’.[5]
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْحَسَنِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ أَيْمَنَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ إِلَى آخِرِ الْآيَةِ قَالَ هُمُ الْمُسَلِّمُونَ لآِلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الَّذِينَ إِذَا سَمِعُوا الْحَدِيثَ لَمْ يَزِيدُوا فِيهِ وَ لَمْ يَنْقُصُوا مِنْهُ جَاءُوا بِهِ كَمَا سَمِعُوهُ .
Ahmad Bin Mihran, from Abdul Azeem Al Hassany, from Ali Bin Asbat, from Ali Bin Uqba, from Al Hakam Bin Ayman, from Abu Baseer whom said,
‘I asked Abu Abdullahasws about the Words of Allahazwj Mighty and Majestic [39:18] Those who listen intently to the Word, then follow the best of it – up to the end of the Verse. Heasws said: ‘They are the submitters to the Progenyasws of Muhammadsaww, those who, when they hear the Hadeeth, they neither increase in it nor do they reduce from it. They come with it just as they had heard it’.[6]
إِنَّ خَيْرَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ وَ تَعَلَّمْ مِنْ عَالِمِهِمْ وَ عَلِّمْ جَاهِلَهُمْ وَ احْلُمْ عَنْ سَفِيهِهِمْ فَإِنَّكَ إِنَّمَا تُدْرِكُ الْخَيْرَ بِالْحِلْمِ وَ كَفِّ الْأَذَى وَ الْجَهْلِ
(Amir ul-Momineen-asws said): The best of you (among believers) in the Presence of Allah-azwj is your most pious, and (they) learn from their learned ones and teach the ignorant ones, and be forbearing (tolerant) from their foolish ones, for you will rather realise the goodness with the forgiving, and restraining the harm and (shunning) the ignorance’ (An extract).[7].
كِتَابُ صِفَاتِ الشِّيعَةِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ ع قَالَ: مَنْ أَقَرَّ بِسَبْعَةِ أَشْيَاءَ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ الْبَرَاءَةِ مِنَ الْجِبْتِ وَ الطَّاغُوتِ وَ الْإِقْرَارِ بِالْوَلَايَةِ وَ الْإِيمَانِ بِالرَّجْعَةِ وَ الِاسْتِحْلَالِ لِلْمُتْعَةِ وَ تَحْرِيمِ الْجِرِّيِّ وَ الْمَسْحِ عَلَى الْخُفَّيْنِ.
‘Kitab Sifaat Al Shia’ – from Ali Bin Ahmad Bin Abdullah, from his father, from his grandfather Ahmad Bin Abu Abdullah, from his father, from Amro bin Shimr, from Ubeydullah,
‘From Al-Sadiq-asws having said: ‘One who acknowledges with seven things, so he is a Momin – the disavowing from the idols and the tyrants, and the acknowledgement with the Wilayah, and the Eman with the Return (Raj’at), and the permissibility of the Mut’ah (temporary marriage) and prohibiting the eel and the wiping (Mas’ah) upon the socks’’.[8]
The Root and the Branch of Islam:
مُحَمَّدُ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ قَالَ قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَصْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ فَرْعِهِ وَ ذِرْوَتِهِ وَ سَنَامِهِ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ أَصْلُهُ الصَّلَاةُ وَ فَرْعُهُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ ذِرْوَتُهُ وَ سَنَامُهُ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَ لَا أُخْبِرُكَ بِأَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ إِنَّ الصَّوْمَ جُنَّةٌ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Ibn Fazaal, from Sa’alba, from Ali Bin Abdul Aziz who said,
‘Abu Abdullah-asws (6th Imam-asws) said to me: ‘Shall I-asws inform you with the root of Al-Islam and its branch, and its peak and its high point?’ I said, ‘Yes’. He-asws said: ‘Its root is the Salāt (Prayer), and its branch is the Zakāt, and its peak and its high point is the Jihad in the Way of Allah-azwj. Shall I‑asws inform you of the doors of the goodness? The Fast (Soām) is a shield’.[9]
The Five Pillars of Islam:
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 ع 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,
Abu Ja’far-asws has said: ‘Islām is built upon five – 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’.[10]
أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَامِرٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ 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 فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ بِأَرْبَعٍ وَ تَرَكُوا هَذِهِ يَعْنِي الْوَلَايَةَ .
Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Al Hassan Bin Al-Kufy, from Abbas Bin Aamir, from Aban Bin Usman, from Fuzayl Bin Yasaar, from:
Abu Ja’far-asws (5th Imam-asws) said: ‘Al-Islām is built upon five – Upon the Salāt, and the Zakāt, and the Fasting, and the Hajj, and the Wilayah, and we-asws do not call with anything like what we-asws call with the Wilayah. So, the people (instead) grabbed the four and neglected this, meaning Al-Wilayah’.[11]
Additional Ahadith on Beliefs of a Momin:
Additional Hadith are presented here on what classifies one to be a Momin/Momina and what should be avoided so one does not stray from the just path a believer must follow:
الكافي بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ هَلْ تَعْرِفُ مَوَدَّتِي لَكُمْ وَ انْقِطَاعِي إِلَيْكُمْ وَ مُوَالاتِي إِيَّاكُمْ
(The book) ‘Al-Kafi’ – By his chain, from Abu Al Jaroud (Zaydiite chief) who said,
‘I said to Abu Ja’far-asws, ‘O son-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww! Do you-asws know of my cordiality for you-asws all, and my cutting off (from others) to you-asws and my-asws befriending you-asws?’
قَالَ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ
He (the narrator) said, ‘He-asws said: ‘Yes’.
قَالَ فَقُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مَسْأَلَةً تُجِيبُنِي فِيهَا فَإِنِّي مَكْفُوفُ الْبَصَرِ قَلِيلُ الْمَشْيِ لَا أَسْتَطِيعُ زِيَارَتَكُمْ كُلَّ حِينٍ
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘I ask you-asws a question you-asws can answer me regarding it, for I am blinded of sight, little of walking. I am not able upon visiting you-asws every time’.
قَالَ هَاتِ حَاجَتَكَ
He-asws said: ‘Give your need!’
قُلْتُ أَخْبِرْنِي بِدِينِكَ الَّذِي تَدِينُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ أَنْتَ وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِكَ لِأَدِينَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ
I said, ‘Inform me of your-asws religion which you-asws are making it a religion of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic with it, you-asws and People-asws of your-asws Household, so I can (also) make it a religion of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic with it’.
قَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ أَقْصَرْتَ الْخُطْبَةَ فَقَدْ أَعْظَمْتَ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَ اللَّهِ لَأُعْطِيَنَّكَ دِينِي وَ دِينَ آبَائِيَ الَّذِي نَدِينُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ
He-asws said: ‘Even though you were brief in the speech but you have been mighty (in asking) of the question. By Allah-azwj, I-asws shall give you my-asws religion and religion of my-asws forefathers-asws which we-asws are making it a religion of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic with it:
شَهَادَةَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ الْإِقْرَارَ بِمَا جَاءَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَ الْوَلَايَةَ لِوَلِيِّنَا وَ الْبَرَاءَةَ مِنْ عَدُوِّنَا وَ التَّسْلِيمَ لِأَمْرِنَا وَ انْتِظَارَ قَائِمِنَا وَ الِاجْتِهَادَ وَ الْوَرَعَ.
Testimony that there is no god except Allah-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and the acceptance with whatever has come from the Presence of Allah-azwj, and the friendship to our-asws friends, and the disavowing from our-asws enemies, and the submission to our-asws command, and awaiting our-asws Qaim-ajfj, and the striving (for good), and the devoutness (in your conduct/worship)’’.[12]
دَعَوَاتُ الرَّاوَنْدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي الْجَارُودِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنِّي امْرُؤٌ ضَرِيرُ الْبَصَرِ كَبِيرُ السِّنِّ وَ الشُّقَّةُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ بَعِيدَةٌ وَ أَنَا أُرِيدُ أَمْراً أَدِينُ اللَّهَ بِهِ وَ أَحْتَجُّ بِهِ وَ أَتَمَسَّكُ بِهِ وَ أُبَلِّغُهُ مَنْ خَلَّفْتُ
(The book) ‘Dawaat’ of Al Rawandy – from Abu Al Jaroud (Zaydiite chief) who said,
‘I said to Abu Ja’far-asws, ‘I am a person of harmed eyesight, old age, and the difficult remoteness in what is between me and you-asws, and I want a matter I can make it a religion of Allah-azwj with and I can argue with, and adhere with it, and deliver it to the ones I leave behind (my children)’.
قَالَ فَأَعْجَبَ بِقَوْلِي وَ اسْتَوَى جَالِساً فَقَالَ كَيْفَ قُلْتَ يَا أَبَا الْجَارُودِ رُدَّ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَرَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ
He (the narrator) said, ‘He-asws was surprised at my words and sat up straight. He-asws said: ‘How did you say, O Abu Al-Jaroud? Repeat unto me-asws!’ So I repeated to him-asws.
فَقَالَ نَعَمْ يَا أَبَا الْجَارُودِ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ إِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ وَ إِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ وَ صَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ وَ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ وَ وَلَايَةُ وَلِيِّنَا وَ عَدَاوَةُ عَدُوِّنَا وَ التَّسْلِيمُ لِأَمْرِنَا وَ انْتِظَارُ قَائِمِنَا وَ الْوَرَعُ وَ الِاجْتِهَادُ.
He-asws said: ‘Yes, O Abu Al-Jaroud! Testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj Alone, there is no associate for Him-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and establish the Salat, and give the Zakat, and fast the month of Ramazan, and perform Hajj of the House (Kabah), and friendship to our-asws friends and enmity to our-asws enemies, and the submission to our-asws command, and awaiting our Qaim-ajfj, and the devoutness and the striving!’’[13]
محص، التمحيص عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَى عِبَادِي عَشَرَةَ فَرَائِضَ إِذَا عَرَفُوهَا أَسْكَنْتُهُمْ مَلَكُوتِي وَ أَبَحْتُهُمْ جِنَانِي
(The book) ‘Al Tamhees’ – From Al-Mufazzal,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: “I-azwj have Imposed ten obligations upon My-azwj Servants! When they have recognised these, I-azwj shall Settle them in My-azwj Kingdoms and Dwell them in My-azwj Gardens: –
أَوَّلُهَا مَعْرِفَتِي وَ الثَّانِيَةُ مَعْرِفَةُ رَسُولِي إِلَى خَلْقِي وَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِهِ وَ التَّصْدِيقُ لَهُ
The first of these is My-azwj recognition, and the second is recognition of My-azwj Rasool-saww to My-azwj creatures, and the acknowledgment with him-saww and the ratification to him-saww;
وَ الثَّالِثَةُ مَعْرِفَةُ أَوْلِيَائِي وَ أَنَّهُمُ الْحُجَجُ عَلَى خَلْقِي مَنْ وَالاهُمْ فَقَدْ وَالانِي وَ مَنْ عَادَاهُمْ فَقَدْ عَادَانِي وَ هُمُ الْعَلَمُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِي وَ مَنْ أَنْكَرَهُمْ أَصْلَيْتُهُ نَارِي وَ ضَاعَفْتُ عَلَيْهِ عَذَابِي
And the third is recognition of My-azwj Guardians-asws, and they-asws are the Divine Authorities upon My-azwj creatures. One who befriends them-asws, so he has befriended Me-azwj, and one who is inimical to them-asws so he has been inimical to Me-azwj, and they-asws are the flags in what is between Me-azwj and My-azwj creatures, and the one who denies them-asws, I-azwj shall Make him to arrive to My-azwj Fire and Multiply My-azwj Punishment upon him!
وَ الرَّابِعَةُ مَعْرِفَةُ الْأَشْخَاصِ الَّذِينَ أُقِيمُوا مِنْ ضِيَاءِ قُدْسِي وَ هُمْ قُوَّامُ قِسْطِي وَ الْخَامِسَةُ مَعْرِفَةُ الْقُوَّامِ بِفَضْلِهِمْ وَ التَّصْدِيقُ لَهُمْ وَ السَّادِسَةُ مَعْرِفَةُ عَدُوِّي إِبْلِيسَ وَ مَا كَانَ مِنْ ذَاتِهِ وَ أَعْوَانِهِ
And the fourth is recognising the persons, those who are standing from the illumination of My-azwj Holiness, and they-asws custodians of My-azwj Fairness; and the fifth is recognition of the custodians with their-asws merits and the ratification for them-asws; and the sixth is recognition of My-azwj enemy Iblees-la, and what happened from his-la self, and his-la supporters.
وَ السَّابِعَةُ قَبُولُ أَمْرِي وَ التَّصْدِيقُ لِرُسُلِي وَ الثَّامِنَةُ كِتْمَانُ سِرِّي وَ سِرِّ أَوْلِيَائِي
And the seventh is acceptance of My-azwj Command and the ratification to My-azwj Messengers-as; and the eight is concealment of My-azwj Secrets and secrets of My-azwj Guardians-asws;
وَ التَّاسِعَةُ تَعْظِيمُ أَهْلِ صَفْوَتِي وَ الْقَبُولُ عَنْهُمْ وَ الرَّدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ الشَّرْحُ مِنْهُمْ وَ الْعَاشِرَةُ أَنْ يَكُونَ هُوَ وَ أَخُوهُ فِي الدِّينِ وَ الدُّنْيَا شَرَعاً سَوَاءً
And the ninth is reverence of My-azwj elite people, and the accepting from them-asws, and the referring to them-asws regarding whatever you differ in until the explanation emerges from them-asws; and the tenth is that he-saww and his-saww brother-asws happen to be the same in the religion and the world.
فَإِذَا كَانُوا كَذَلِكَ أَدْخَلْتُهُمْ مَلَكُوتِي وَ آمَنْتُهُمْ مِنَ الْفَزَعِ الْأَكْبَرِ وَ كَانُوا عِنْدِي فِي عِلِّيِّينَ.
So, when they become like that, I-azwj shall Enter them into My-azwj Kingdom and Secure them from the great panic, and they would be in My-azwj Presence in Illiyeen’’.[14]
الكافي عَنِ الْعِدَّةِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي لَيْلَى عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّكُمْ لَا تَكُونُونَ صَالِحِينَ حَتَّى تَعْرِفُوا وَ لَا تَعْرِفُونَ حَتَّى تُصَدِّقُوا وَ لَا تُصَدِّقُونَ حَتَّى تُسَلِّمُوا أَبْوَاباً أَرْبَعَةً
(The book) ‘Al-Kafi’ – From the number, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from his father, from the one who mentioned it, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Abu Layli, from his father,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘You all cannot become righteous until you recognise, and you will not recognise until you ratify, and you will not ratify until you submit to four doors!
لَا يَصْلُحُ أَوَّلُهَا إِلَّا بِآخِرِهَا ضَلَّ أَصْحَابُ الثَّلَاثَةِ وَ تَاهُوا تَيْهاً بَعِيداً إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَا يَقْبَلُ إِلَّا الْعَمَلَ الصَّالِحَ وَ لَا يَتَقَبَّلُ إِلَّا بِالْوَفَاءِ بِالشُّرُوطِ وَ الْعُهُودِ وَ مَنْ وَفَى لِلَّهِ بِشُرُوطِهِ وَ اسْتَكْمَلَ مَا وَصَفَ فِي عَهْدِهِ نَالَ مِمَّا عِنْدَهُ وَ اسْتَكْمَلَ وَعْدَهُ
Its first is not correct except with its last. The companions of the three have strayed and have wandered a far wandering. Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted does not Accept except the righteous deeds, not does He-azwj Accept except with the loyalty with conditions and the pacts, and the one who is loyal to Allah-azwj perfects what is described in his pact would achieve from what is in His-azwj Presence, and He-azwj will Perfect His-azwj Promise.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَخْبَرَ الْعِبَادَ بِطُرُقِ الْهُدَى وَ شَرَعَ لَهُمْ فِيهَا الْمَنَارَ وَ أَخْبَرَهُمْ كَيْفَ يَسْلُكُونَ فَقَالَ وَ إِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تابَ وَ آمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صالِحاً ثُمَّ اهْتَدى وَ قَالَ إِنَّما يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Informed the servants with the paths of guidance and Legislated for them the minarets in these (paths), and Informed them how they should be travelling, so He-azwj Said: And I am Forgiving to the one who repents and believes and does righteous deeds, then (follows) righteous Guidance [20:82], and Said: ‘But rather, Allah only Accepts from the pious ones [5:27].
فَمَنِ اتَّقَى عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيمَا أَمَرَهُ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُؤْمِناً بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ ص
The one who fears the Mighty and Majestic regarding what He-azwj has Commanded, would meet Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic as a Momin in whatever Muhammad-saww had come with.
هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ فَاتَ قَوْمٌ وَ مَاتُوا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَهْتَدُوا فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا وَ أَشْرَكُوا مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّهُ مَنْ أَتَى الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا اهْتَدَى وَ مَنْ أَخَذَ فِي غَيْرِهَا سَلَكَ طَرِيقَ الرَّدَى
Far be it! Far be it! A people missed out and died before they were guided. They thought that they had believed while they had associated from whereby, they were not knowing. Surely the one who comes to the houses from their doors is guided, and one who takes to other than it would travel the path of perdition.
وَصَلَ اللَّهُ طَاعَةَ وَلِيِّ أَمْرِهِ بِطَاعَةِ رَسُولِهِ وَ طَاعَةَ رَسُولِهِ بِطَاعَتِهِ فَمَنْ تَرَكَ طَاعَةَ وُلَاةِ الْأَمْرِ لَمْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَ لَا رَسُولَهُ
And Allah-azwj Connected the obedience to a Master-asws of His-azwj Command with obedience to His-azwj Rasool-saww, and obedience to His-azwj Rasool-saww to obedience to Him-azwj. So the one who neglects the obedience of a Master-asws of the Command neither obeys Allah-azwj nor His-azwj Rasool-saww.
وَ هُوَ الْإِقْرَارُ بِمَا نَزَلَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَ الْتَمِسُوا الْبُيُوتَ الَّتِي أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَ يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ خَبَّرَكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ رِجالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجارَةٌ وَ لا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ وَ إِقامِ الصَّلاةِ وَ إِيتاءِ الزَّكاةِ يَخافُونَ يَوْماً تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَ الْأَبْصارُ
And it is the acceptance with what has been Revealed from the Presence of Allah-azwj: Take to your adornments at every Masjid, [7:31], and seek the houses which Allah has Allowed to be Exalted and His Name is being Mentioned in these; [24:36] for He-azwj has Informed you all that they are Men whom neither trading nor selling diverts them from the Zikr of Allah – Mighty and Majestic – and establishing the Salat and giving the Zakat. They are fearing a Day in which the hearts and the sights would be overturned [24:37].
إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَصَ الرُّسُلَ لِأَمْرِهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَخْلَصَهُمْ مُصَدِّقِينَ لِذَلِكَ فِي نُذُرِهِ فَقَالَ وَ إِنْ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلا فِيها نَذِيرٌ
Allah-azwj has Selected the Rasool-saww for His-azwj Commands, then Selected them-asws are ratifiers of that in his-saww warning, so he-azwj Said: and there is no community except a warner has been among them [35:24].
تَاهَ مَنْ جَهِلَ وَ اهْتَدَى مَنْ أَبْصَرَ وَ عَقَلَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ فَإِنَّها لا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصارُ وَ لكِنْ تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ
Perished is the one who ignores, and guided is the one who is insightful and uses intellect. Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: Thus, it is not the sights which are blinded, but it is the hearts in the chest which are blinded [22:46].
وَ كَيْفَ يَهْتَدِي مَنْ لَمْ يُبْصِرْ وَ كَيْفَ يُبْصِرُ مَنْ لَمْ يُنْذَرْ اتَّبِعُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَقِرُّوا بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ اتَّبِعُوا آثَارَ الْهُدَى فَإِنَّهَا عَلَامَاتُ الْأَمَانَةِ وَ التُّقَى
And how can he be guided, the one who cannot see, and how can he see, the one who does not heed a warning. Follow Rasool-Allah-saww and accept whatever has been Revealed from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic! Follow the tracks of guidance, for these are markings of the trustees and the pious’.
وَ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّهُ لَوْ أَنْكَرَ رَجُلٌ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَ أَقَرَّ بِمَنْ سِوَاهُ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ اقْتَصُّوا الطَّرِيقَ بِالْتِمَاسِ الْمَنَارِ وَ الْتَمِسُوا مِنْ وَرَاءِ الْحُجُبِ الْآثَارَ تَسْتَكْمِلُوا أَمْرَ دِينِكُمْ وَ تُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ رَبِّكُمْ.
And know that a man who denies Isa-as Ibn Maryam-as and accepts the ones-as besides him from the Messengers-as has not believe. Follow the road by seeking the minarets, and seek the track from behind the veils, you will be perfecting the matters of your religion and would be believing in Allah-azwj, your Lord-azwj’’. [15]
وَ عَنِ ابْنِ عُبْدُوسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ قُتَيْبَةَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ عَنِ الرِّضَا ع قَالَ: مَنْ أَقَرَّ بِتَوْحِيدِ اللَّهِ وَ نَفَى التَّشْبِيهَ عَنْهُ وَ نَزَّهَهُ عَمَّا لَا يَلِيقُ بِهِ وَ أَقَرَّ أَنَّ لَهُ الْحَوْلَ وَ الْقُوَّةَ وَ الْإِرَادَةَ وَ الْمَشِيَّةَ وَ الْخَلْقَ وَ الْأَمْرَ وَ الْقَضَاءَ وَ الْقَدَرَ وَ أَنَّ أَفْعَالَ الْعِبَادِ مَخْلُوقَةٌ خَلْقَ تَقْدِيرٍ لَا خَلْقَ تَكْوِينٍ
And from Ibn Ubdous, from Ibn Quteyba,
‘From Al-Reza-asws having said: ‘One who acknowledges with Tawheed of Allah-azwj and negates the resemblance from Him-azwj and removes Him-azwj from what is not related with Him-azwj, and accepts that for Him-azwj is the Mighty and the Strength, and the Will and the Desire, and the Creation and the Command, and the Fate and the Pre-determination, and that the deeds of the servants are a creation Created by pre-Determination;
وَ شَهِدَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً وَ الْأَئِمَّةَ بَعْدَهُ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ وَ وَالَى أَوْلِيَاءَهُمْ وَ عَادَى أَعْدَاءَهُمْ وَ اجْتَنَبَ الْكَبَائِرَ وَ أَقَرَّ بِالرَّجْعَةِ وَ الْمُتْعَتَيْنِ
And he testifies that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and that Ali-asws and the Imams-asws after him-asws are Divine Authorities of Allah-azwj, and befriends their-asws friends, and is inimical to their-asws enemies, and shuns the major sins, and acknowledges with the Return (Raj’at), and the two Muta’s (Hajj and the marriage);
وَ آمَنَ بِالْمِعْرَاجِ وَ الْمُسَاءَلَةِ فِي الْقَبْرِ وَ الْحَوْضِ وَ الشَّفَاعَةِ وَ خَلْقِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ وَ الصِّرَاطِ وَ الْمِيزَانِ وَ الْبَعْثِ وَ النُّشُورِ وَ الْجَزَاءِ وَ الْحِسَابِ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ حَقّاً وَ هُوَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ.
And believes in the Mi’raj (Ascension), and the questioning in the grave, and the Fountain, and the intercession, and creation of the Paradise and the Fire, and the Bridge, and the Scale, and the Resurrections, and the Publicising (registers of deeds), and the Recompense, and the Reckoning, so he is a Momin truly, and he is from our-asws Shias of People-asws of the Household’’.[16]
الكافي عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَسْأَلُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الدِّينِ الَّذِي افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ مَا لَا يَسَعُهُمْ جَهْلُهُ وَ لَا يَقْبَلُ مِنْهُمْ غَيْرَهُ مَا هُوَ
(The book) ‘Al-Kafi’ – From Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Salih Bin Al Sindy, from Ja’far Bin Bashir, from Ali Bin Abu Hamza, from Abu Baseer who said,
‘I heard him asking Abu Abdullah-asws. He said to him-asws, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! Inform me about the religion which Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Imposed upon the servant what there is no leeway for them to be ignorant of it, nor will He-azwj Accept from them other than it. What is it?’
فَقَالَ أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ فَأَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ
He-asws said: ‘Repeat it to me-asws!’ So I repeated to him-asws.
فَقَالَ شَهَادَةُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ إِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ وَ إِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ وَ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا وَ صَوْمُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ
He-asws said: ‘Testimony that there is no god except Allah-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and establishing the Salat, and giving the Zakat, and Hajj of the House (Kabah) for the one having the capacity of the means to it and fasting the month of Ramazan’.
ثُمَّ سَكَتَ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ الْوَلَايَةُ مَرَّتَيْنِ
Then he-asws was silent for a while, then said: ‘And the Wilayah’ – twice.
ثُمَّ قَالَ هَذَا الَّذِي فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ لَا يَسْأَلُ الرَّبُّ الْعِبَادَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَيَقُولَ أَلَّا زِدْتَنِي عَلَى مَا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ لَكِنْ مَنْ زَادَ زَادَهُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سَنَّ سُنَناً حَسَنَةً جَمِيلَةً يَنْبَغِي لِلنَّاسِ الْأَخْذُ بِهَا.
Then he-asws said: ‘This is which Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Imposed upon the servants. The Lord-azwj will not Question the servants on the Day of Qiyamah: “Why didn’t you increase upon what I-azwj had Imposed?” But the one increasing, Allah-azwj would Increase for him. Rasool-Allah-saww had conducted a Sunnah, excellent, beautiful. It is befitting for the people to be taking with it (acting upon it)’’.[17]
The least to be a Momin
معاني الأخبار عَنِ ابْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ الصَّفَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ الْكُنَاسِيِّ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَدْنَى مَا يَكُونُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ مُؤْمِناً
(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’ – From Ibn Al Waleed, from Al Saffar, from Ibn Isa, from Al-Husayn Bin Saeed, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hammad Bin Usman, from Ja’far Al Kunasy who said,
‘I said to Abu Abdullah-asws, ‘What is the least the servant can be a Momin with?’
قَالَ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ يُقِرُّ بِالطَّاعَةِ وَ يَعْرِفُ إِمَامَ زَمَانِهِ فَإِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ.
He-asws said: ‘He should testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj and that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and acknowledge with the obedience, and recognises the Imam-asws of his time. When he does that, so he is a Momin’’.[18]
The least one is expelled to be from a Momin
معاني الأخبار بِالْإِسْنَادِ الْمُتَقَدِّمِ عَنِ ابْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ ابْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الرَّبِيعِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ مَا أَدْنَى مَا يَخْرُجُ بِهِ الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ
(The book) ‘Ma’any Al Akhbar’ – By the previous chain, from Ibn Isa, from Ibn Marouf, from Hammad Bin Isa, from Hareyz, from Ibn Muskan, from Abu Al Rabie who said,
‘I said, ‘What is the least of what the man would be expelled from the Eman by?’
قَالَ الرَّأْيُ يَرَاهُ مُخَالِفاً لِلْحَقِّ فَيُقِيمُ عَلَيْهِ.
He-asws said: ‘The opinion he opines opposite to the truth, and he stays upon it (firms up his religion on opinion)’’.[19]
Acknowledgement of the Belief:
وَ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الصَّادِقِ عَنْ آبَائِهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص حَدَّثَنِي جَبْرَئِيلُ عَنْ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ مَنْ عَلِمَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا وَحْدِي وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدِي وَ رَسُولِي وَ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالبٍ خَلِيفَتِي وَ أَنَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ حُجَجِي أَدْخَلْتُهُ الْجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِي وَ نَجَّيْتُهُ مِنَ النَّارِ بِعَفْوِي وَ أَبَحْتُ لَهُ جِوَارِي وَ أَوْجَبْتُ لَهُ كَرَامَتِي وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْهِ نِعْمَتِي وَ جَعَلْتُهُ مِنْ خَاصَّتِي وَ خَالِصَتِي
And by his chain, from Al-Sadiq-asws, from his-asws forefathers-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Jibraeel-as narrated to me-saww, from the Lord-azwj of Might, Majestic is His-azwj Majesty having Said: “One who knows (acknowledges) that there is no god except I-azwj Alone, and Muhammad-saww is My-azwj servant, and My-azwj Rasool-as, and Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws is My‑azwj Caliph, and the Imams-asws from his-asws sons-asws are My-azwj Divine Authorities, I-azwj shall Enter him into the Paradise by My-azwj Mercy and Save him from the Fire by My-azwj Pardoning, and Allow My-azwj Vicinity for him, and Obligate My-azwj Benevolence for him, and Complete My‑azwj Favours upon him, and Make him to be from My-azwj special ones and My-azwj sincere ones!”
إِنْ نَادَانِي لَبَّيْتُهُ وَ إِنْ دَعَانِي أَجَبْتُهُ وَ إِنْ سَأَلَنِي أَعْطَيْتُهُ وَ إِنْ سَكَتَ ابْتَدَأْتُهُ
If he calls Me-azwj, I-azwj shall Attend to him, and if he supplicated to Me-azwj I-azwj shall Answer him, and if he asks Me-azwj I-azwj shall Grant him, and if he is silent, I-azwj shall Initiate him.
وَ إِنْ أَسَاءَ رَحِمْتُهُ وَ إِنْ فَرَّ مِنِّي دَعَوْتُهُ وَ إِنْ رَجَعَ إِلَيَّ قَبِلْتُهُ وَ إِنْ قَرَعَ بَابِي فَتَحْتُهُ
And if he offends, I-azwj shall Mercy him, and if he flees from Me-azwj, I-azwj shall Invite him, and if he returns to Me-azwj I-azwj shall Accept him, and if he knocks on My-azwj Door I-azwj shall Open it.
وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا وَحْدِي أَوْ شَهِدَ بِذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدِي وَ رَسُولِي أَوْ شَهِدَ بِذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ خَلِيفَتِي أَوْ شَهِدَ بِذَلِكَ وَ لَمْ يَشْهَدْ أَنَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ حُجَجِي فَقَدْ جَحَدَ نِعْمَتِي وَ صَغَّرَ عَظَمَتِي وَ كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِي وَ كُتُبِي وَ رُسُلِي
And one who does not testify that there is no god except I-azwj Alone, or testifies with that and does not testify that Muhammad-saww is My-azwj servant and My-azwj Rasool-saww, or testifies with that and does not testify that Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws is My-azwj Caliph, or testifies with that and does not testify that the Imams-asws from his-asws sons-asws are My-azwj Divine Authorities, so he has rejected My-azwj bounty, and belittled My-azwj Magnificent, and disbelieved in My-azwj Signs and My-azwj Books and My-azwj Rasools-as.
إِنْ قَصَدَنِي حَجَبْتُهُ وَ إِنْ سَأَلَنِي حَرَمْتُهُ وَ إِنْ نَادَانِي لَمْ أَسْمَعْ نِدَاءَهُ وَ إِنْ دَعَانِي لَمْ أَسْتَجِبْ دُعَاءَهُ وَ إِنْ رَجَانِي خَيَّبْتُهُ وَ ذَلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُ مِنِّي وَ ما أَنَا بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ
If he aims for Me-azwj, I-azwj shall Block him, and if he asks Me-azwj I-azwj shall Deprive him, and if he calls Me-azwj I-azwj will not Listen to his call, and if he supplicates to Me-azwj, I-azwj will not Answer his supplication, and if he hopes in Me-azwj, I-azwj shall Disappoint him, and that is his Recompense from Me-azwj, and I am not the least unjust to the servants!” [50:29]”’.
فَقَامَ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَ مَنِ الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ وُلْدِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ
Jabir Bin Abdullah Al-Ansari stood up and said, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! And who are the Imams‑asws from the sons-asws of Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws?’
قَالَ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ سَيِّدَا شَبَابِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ثُمَّ سَيِّدُ الْعَابِدِينَ فِي زَمَانِهِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ثُمَّ الْبَاقِرُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَ سَتُدْرِكُهُ يَا جَابِرُ فَإِذَا أَدْرَكْتَهُ فَأَقْرِئْهُ مِنِّي السَّلَامَ
He-saww said: ‘He-saww said: ‘Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws are chiefs of the inhabitants of the Paradise, then chief of the worshippers during his-asws time Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws, then Al-Baqir Muhammad-asws Bin Ali-asws, and you will come across him-asws, O Jabir! So, when you do come across him-asws, then convey to him-asws the greetings from me-saww.
ثُمَّ الصَّادِقُ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ثُمَّ الْكَاظِمُ مُوسَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ ثُمَّ الرِّضَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى ثُمَّ التَّقِيُّ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ثُمَّ النَّقِيُّ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ثُمَّ الزَّكِيُّ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ ثُمَّ ابْنُهُ الْقَائِمُ بِالْحَقِّ مَهْدِيُّ أُمَّتِي الَّذِي يَمْلَأُ الْأَرْضَ قِسْطاً وَ عَدْلًا كَمَا مُلِئَتْ ظُلْماً وَ جَوْراً
Then Al-Sadiq Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, then Al-Kazim Musa-asws Bin Ja’far-asws, then Al-Reza Ali-asws Bin Musa-asws, then Al-Taqi Muhammad-asws Bin Ali-asws, then Al-Naqi Ali-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, then Al-Zaky Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws, then his-asws son-asws the one rising with the truth, Mahdi-asws (Guided one) of my-saww community. He-asws will fill the earth with equity and justice just as it would have been filled with injustice and tyranny.
هَؤُلَاءِ يَا جَابِرُ خُلَفَائِي وَ أَوْصِيَائِي وَ أَوْلَادِي وَ عِتْرَتِي مَنْ أَطَاعَهُمْ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَنِي وَ مَنْ عَصَاهُمْ فَقَدْ عَصَانِي وَ مَنْ أَنْكَرَهُمْ أَوْ أَنْكَرَ وَاحِداً مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ أَنْكَرَنِي
They, O Jabir, are my-saww caliphs, and my-saww succesors-asws, and my-saww children. One who obeys them-asws so he had obeyed me-saww, and one who disobeys them-asws, so he has disobeyed me-saww, and one who denies them-asws or denies (even) one of them-asws, so he has denied me-saww.
وَ بِهِمْ يُمْسِكُ اللَّهُ السَّمَاءَ أَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ وَ بِهِمْ يَحْفَظُ اللَّهُ الْأَرْضَ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِأَهْلِهَا.
And by them-asws, Allah-azwj Withholds the sky from falling upon the earth, except by His-azwj Permission, and by them-asws Allah-azwj Protects the earth from shaking with its inhabitants’’.[20]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 19
[2] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 11 H 360
[3] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 95 H 5
[4] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 95 H 6
[5] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 95 H 7
[6] Al Kafi V 1 – The Book Of Divine Authority CH 95 H 8
[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 32, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 11 H 373 b
[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 62 The book of animals – Ch 4 H 12
[9] Al Kafi – V 4 – The Book of Fasts Ch 1 H 3
[10] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 13 H 1
[11] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book of Belief and Disbelief CH 13 H 3
[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 15
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 14
[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 13
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 12
[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 11 b
[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 16
[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 17
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 66 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 28 H 18
[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 27, The book of Imamate, P 6 Ch 4 H 99