شي، تفسير العياشي عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فِي قَوْلِهِ وَ ما يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَ هُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ قَالَ هُوَ قَوْلُ الرَّجُلِ لَوْ لَا فُلَانٌ لَهَلَكْتُ وَ لَوْ لَا فُلَانٌ لَأَصَبْتُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ لَوْ لَا فُلَانٌ لَضَاعَ عِيَالِي أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّهُ قَدْ جَعَلَ شَرِيكاً فِي مُلْكِهِ يَرْزُقُهُ وَ يَدْفَعُ عَنْهُ
Tafseer Al Ayyashi – from Malik Bin Atiyya,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws regarding His-azwj Words: And most of them do not believe in Allah except and they are associating [12:106]. He-asws said: ‘It is the word of a man, ‘Had it not been for so and so, I would have been destroyed!’, and ‘Had it not been for so and so I would have achieved such and such’, and had it not been for so and so, my dependants would have been lost’. Don’t you see that he has made an associate in His-azwj Kingdom, sustaining him, and defending him?’
قَالَ قُلْتُ فَيَقُولُ لَوْ لَا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَنَّ عَلَيَّ بِفُلَانٍ لَهَلَكْتُ
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘If he were to say, ‘Had it not been for Allah-azwj Conferring upon me with so and so, I would have been destroyed’?’
قَالَ نَعَمْ لَا بَأْسَ بِهَذَا.
He-asws said: ‘Yes, there is no problem with that’’.[1]
كنز، كنز جامع الفوائد و تأويل الآيات الظاهرة رَوَى شَيْخُ الطَّائِفَةِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ مَا تَوَجَّهَ إِلَيَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْ خَلْقِي أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ دَاعٍ دَعَانِي يَسْأَلُ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ
(The book) ‘Kunz Jamie Al Fawaid’ and ‘Taweel Al Ayaat’ – It is reported by sheyh Al Taifa, by his chain to Al Fazl Bin Shazan,
‘Raising it to Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: “No one from My-azwj creatures will face towards Me-azwj, is more Beloved to Me-azwj, than a supplicator supplicating by the right of Muhammad-saww and People-asws of his-saww Household’.
وَ إِنَّ الْكَلِمَاتِ الَّتِي تَلَقَّاهَا آدَمُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ وَلِيِّي فِي نِعْمَتِي وَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى طَلِبَتِي وَ قَدْ تَعْلَمُ حَاجَتِي فَأَسْأَلُكَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمْتَنِي وَ غَفَرْتَ زَلَّتِي
And the words which Adam-as received from his-as Lord-azwj. He-as said: ‘O Allah-azwj! You-azwj are in Charge of my-as bounties, and Able upon my-as seeing, and You-azwj Know my-as needs, so I-as ask You-azwj by the right of Muhammad-saww and Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww, except You-azwj Mercy me-as and Forgive my-as slips’.
فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ يَا آدَمُ أَنَا وَلِيُّ نِعْمَتِكَ وَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى طَلِبَتِكَ وَ قَدْ عَلِمْتُ حَاجَتَكَ فَكَيْفَ سَأَلْتَنِي بِحَقِّ هَؤُلَاءِ
Allah-azwj Revealed to him-as: “O Adam-as! I-azwj am in Charge of your-as Bounties and am Able upon your-as seeking, and I-azwj have Known your-as needs, so how come you-as are asking Me-azwj by the right of them-asws?”
فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّكَ لَمَّا نَفَخْتَ فِيَّ الرُّوحَ رَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي إِلَى عَرْشِكَ فَإِذَا حَوْلَهُ مَكْتُوبٌ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ أَكْرَمُ خَلْقِكَ عَلَيْكَ
He-as said: ‘O Lord-azwj! When You-azwj Blew the Spirit into me-as, I-as raised my-as head towards Your-azwj Throne, and there was Inscribed around it: ‘There is no god except Allah-azwj, Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj’. So, I-as knew that he-saww is the most honourable of Your-azwj creatures to You-azwj.
ثُمَّ عَرَضْتَ عَلَيَّ الْأَسْمَاءَ فَكَانَ مِمَّنْ مَرَّ بِي مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْيَمِينِ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَشْيَاعُهُمْ فَعَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ خَلْقِكَ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ يَا آدَمُ.
Then You-azwj Presented the names unto me-as, and it so happened that from the ones who passed by me-as, from companions of the right hand were Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww and their-asws Shias. So I-as knew they-asws are the closest of Your-azwj creatures to You-azwj’. He-azwj Said: ‘You-as speak the truth, O Adam-as”’.[2]
Shirk or Intercession
Superficial analysis of the Holy Quran would be deterimental for one’s Eman. It is very important to develop its deep understanding, without it one may be mislead upon applying his own intellect to interpret Quranic Verses or following someone else’ opinion. For these reasons, we have no other means but to approach ‘those’ who are referred to as ‘Ulul Amr/Rasikh ul-Iml’[3] in Holy Quran (21:7 and 16:43). In this brief article, we shall see, whoever asks for help, either from the enemies of Allah-azwj (i.e., Iblis) or from those who have not been blessed with a Divine Status, commits an act of ‘Shirk’. And certainly not that who seeks help through His-azwj humble servants (The Prophet-saww and His successors-asws), the latter approach referees to ‘Wasilla or Tawassul’. There is a difference in Shirk and ‘Wasilla/Tawassul’ (intercession), which we would like to highlight through Quranic Verses and Ahadith. We start with a Noble Hadith of Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws:
كَنْزُ الْفَوَائِدِ لِلْكَرَاجُكِيِّ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ أَبَا حَنِيفَةَ أَكَلَ طَعَاماً مَعَ الْإِمَامِ الصَّادِقِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع فَلَمَّا رَفَعَ ع يَدَهُ مِنْ أَكْلِهِ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ هَذَا مِنْكَ وَ مِنْ رَسُولِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَ جَعَلْتَ مَعَ اللَّهِ شَرِيكاً فَقَالَ لَهُ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَ ما نَقَمُوا إِلَّا أَنْ أَغْناهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَ يَقُولُ فِي مَوْضِعٍ آخَرَ وَ لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا ما آتاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ قالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَ رَسُولُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ وَ اللَّهِ لَكَأَنِّي مَا قَرَأْتُهُمَا قَطُّ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا سَمِعْتُهُمَا إِلَّا فِي هَذَا الْوَقْتِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَلَى قَدْ قَرَأْتَهُمَا وَ سَمِعْتَهُمَا وَ لَكِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى أَنْزَلَ فِيكَ وَ فِي أَشْبَاهِكَ أَمْ عَلى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفالُها وَ قَالَ كَلَّا بَلْ رانَ عَلى قُلُوبِهِمْ ما كانُوا يَكْسِبُون[4]
It is written in Kanzul Fawaid by Karajaki that once Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws was eating food with Abu Hanifa and after finisning, Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws expressed gratitude like this: “I thank Allah-azwj who is the Sustainer of All Worlds, O Allah-azwj this was a blessing from You-azwj as well as from Your Prophet-saww.” Upon hearing this Abu Hanifa said: “O Abu AbdAllah-asws! You have include ‘someone else’ along with Allah-azwj.”
Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws replied: “Be Careful! Allah-azwj Says in His Book(9:59)[5]: “If only they had been content with what Allah and His Messenger had gave them, and had said, “Sufficient unto us is Allah! Allah and His Messenger will soon give us out of their Kindness:
And at another place Allah-azwj Says (9:74)[6]: “……And they only stayed in opposition because Allah and His Messenger enriched them out of His grace…..;.
After listening to these Verses from Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws, Abu Hanifa said: “By Allah-azwj! It seems I have never read or heard someone reciting these Verses of the holy Quran before.”
Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws said: “No, its not like this! You have not only heard these Verses before but also have read them. However, Allah-azwj Says for you and people like you (47:24): “Will they then not meditate on the Qur’an, or are there locks on the hearts?” and Says (83:14)[7]: “Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts.
Skirk and Wasillah
There are several Verses in Holy Quran where use of ‘Wasillah/Tawassul’ has been suggested and applied. We present some of those below.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (355:)
O ye who believe! Do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him, and strive with might and main in his cause: that ye may prosper.
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ (2552:)
Allah is He besides Whom there is no god, the Everliving, the Self-subsisting by Whom all subsist; slumber does not overtake Him nor sleep; whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His; who is he that can intercede with Him but by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases, His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of them both tires Him not, and He is the Most High, the Great.
There are several other Verses which suggest use of ‘Wasillah’, i.e.
“On that day shall no intercession avail except of him whom the Beneficent God allows and whose word He is pleased with” (20:109)
- “And intercession will not avail aught with Him save of him whom He permits” (34:23)
- “And how many an angel is there in the heavens whose intercession does not avail at all except after Allah has given permission to whom He pleases and chooses” (53:26)
- “…And they do not intercede except for him whom He approves…” (21:28)
- “And those whom they call upon besides Him have no authority for intercession, but he who bears witness of the truth and they know (him)” (43:86)
“We did not send a messenger but that he should be obeyed by Allah’s permission; and had they, when they had done injustice to themselves, come to you and asked Allah’s forgiveness; and the messenger (also) had asked pardon for them, surely, they would have found Allah oft-returning, merciful” (4:64)”.
Thus it has been made clear that the presence of the Prophet of Allah-azwj has been a way for the people to seek forgiveness (through him-asws).
وَلَا تَنْفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ ۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا الْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ {23}
And the intercession will not benefit in His Presence except the one He Permits for, until when there is panic from their hearts, they say, ‘What is that which your Lord Said?’ They say: ‘The Truth. And He is the Exalted, the Great’ [34:23]
ثم قال علي بن إبراهيم: حدثني أبي، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن معاوية بن عمار، عن أبي العباس المكبر، قال: دخل مولى لامرأة علي بن الحسين (عليه السلام) علي أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، يقال له أبو أيمن، فقال: يا أبا جعفر، يغرون الناس، و يقولون: «شفاعة محمد، شفاعة محمد»؟!
Then Ali Bin Ibrahim said, ‘My father narrated to me, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Muawiya Bin Amaar, from Abu Al-Abbas Al-Makbar, who has said:
A freed slave of Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws called Abu Ayman, came to Abu Ja’far-asws, and he said, ‘O Abu Ja’far-asws! The people are saying, ‘Intercession of Muhammad-saww! Intercession of Muhammadsaw are deceiving (there is no such intercession)!’’
فغضب أبو جعفر (عليه السلام) حتى تغير وجهه، ثم قال: «ويحك- يا أبا أيمن- أغرك أن عف بطنك و فرجك، أما لو رأيت أفزاع القيامة لقد احتجت إلى شفاعة محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله)، ويلك فهل يشفع إلا لمن وجبت له النار».
So Abu Ja’far-asws got annoyed to the extent that his-asws face changed, then said: ‘Woe be unto you – O Abu Ayman! You are deceived by your belly and your private part. But, had you seen the panic of the Day of Judgement, you would have argued for the intercession of Muhammad-saww. Woe be unto you! Will he-saww intercede except for the ones upon whom the Fire has been Obligated?’
ثم قال: «ما من أحد من الأولين و الآخرين إلا و هو محتاج إلى شفاعة محمد رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) يوم القيامة».
Then he-asws said: ‘There is no one from the former ones, and the later ones except that he would be needy of the intercession of Muhammad-saww on the Day of Judgement’.
ثم قال أبو جعفر (عليه السلام): «إن لرسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) الشفاعة في أمته، و لنا الشفاعة في شيعتنا، و لشيعتنا الشفاعة في أهاليهم».
Then Abu Ja’far-asws said: ‘Surely, for Rasool-Allah-saww is the intercession regarding his-saww community, and for us-asws is the intercession regarding our-asws Shias, and for our-asws Shias is the intercession regarding their families’.
ثم قال: «و إن المؤمن ليشفع في مثل ربيعة و مضر، و إن المؤمن ليشفع حتى لخادمه، يقول: يا رب، حق خدمتي، كان يقيني الحر و البرد».
Then he-asws said: ‘And the Momin would intercede for the like of Rabi’a and Muzar (the number of these two tribes). And the Momin would intercede even for his servant, saying, ‘O Lord-azwj! He rightfully served me, I was certain (of his services) during the heat and the cold (during all difficulties)’.[8]
Wilayat and not Shirk
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ
There is no sustainer except Allah who is your Wali, along with His Prophet and those Momineen who establish prayers and offer Ziqaat (Alms) in the state of Bowing’. (5:55)
And also Allah-azwj has clearly Warned:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا (36)
And it is not appropriate for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whosoever is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.
محمد بن يعقوب: عن علي بن محمد، عن ابن العباس، عن الحسن بن عبد الرحمن، عن عاصم بن حميد، عن أبي حمزة، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال: قوله عز و جل: وَ اللَّهِ رَبِّنا ما كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ. قال: «يعنون بولاية علي (عليه السلام)».
Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, rom Ali Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Al Abbas, from Al Hassan Biin Abdul Rahman, from Aasim Bin Hameed, from Abu Hamza,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far-asws that (Imam-asws) said, ‘(Regarding) the Words of the Mighty and Majestic [6:23] By Allah, our Lord, we were not Polytheists, he-asws said: ‘They would be meaning (they were not associating anyone with) the Wilayah of Ali-asws’.[9]
Help from an Enemy of Allah-azwj is Shirk:
Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws said about the verse (12:106):
(12:106):وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ
And most of them believe not in Allah without associating (other as partners) with Him! This verse is for those people who submitted to Iblis-la and then kept on following him in ignornace and thus the element of Shirk crawled into them.[10]
In another tradition, Imam AbuAbullah-asws said: the Verse (12:106): And most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others (with Him). Imam-asws explained that this verse refers to the ‘Shirk in obdience’ (Shirk Tayat) and not to the ‘Shirk in worship’ (Shirk Ibada) and the Verse (22:11):
[11]….وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ
And among men is he who worships Allah (standing) on the verge…Imam-asws replied this verse was descended for a single person but it applied to all those who followed him. I asked: Will that who takes an Imam someone else instead of those Nominated by Allah-azwj would fall under this Verse? Imam-asws replied: Yes, just him or sometimes even all those who follow him.[12]
عن مالك بن عطية، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) في قوله: وَ ما يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَ هُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ. قال: «هو الرجل يقول: لو لا فلان لهلكت، و لو لا فلان لأصبت كذا و كذا، و لو لا فلان لضاع عيالي، ألا ترى أنه قد جعل لله شريكا في ملكه، يرزقه و يدفع عنه».
From Malik Bin Atiya,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws regarding His-azwj Words [12:106] And most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others (with Him). He-asws said: ‘It is the speech of the man, ‘Had it not been for so and so, I would have perished. And had it not been for so and so, such and such would have afflicted me. And had it not been for so and so, my family would have been lost’. Do you not see that he has made for himself a partner with Allah-azwj in His-azwj Kingdom, Sustaining him and Defending him?’
قال: قلت: فيقول: لو لا أن الله من علي بفلان لهلكت؟ قال: «نعم، لا بأس بهذا».
I said, ‘So he should be saying, ‘Had it not been for Allah-azwj Favouring me by so and so, I would have perished’. He-asws said: ‘Yes, there is no problem with this’.[13]
عَنْهُ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْكُوفِيِّ عَنْ عُبَيْسِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ ظَبْيَانَ قَالَ كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فَحَضَرَ وَقْتُ الْعِشَاءِ فَذَهَبْتُ أَقُومُ فَقَالَ اجْلِسْ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَجَلَسْتُ حَتَّى وُضِعَ الْخِوَانُ فَسَمَّى حِينَ وُضِعَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ هَذَا مِنْكَ وَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) .
From him, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Kufy, from Ubeys Bin Hisham, from Al Husayn Bin Ahmad Al Minqary, from Yunus Bin Zabyan who said, ‘
I was with Abu Abdullah-asws, so the time of the dinner presented itself, so I went to stand up, so he-asws said: ‘Be seated, O Abu Abdullah!’ So I sat down until the meal was placed. So he-asws Named (Bismillah) when it was placed. So when we were free, he-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj. This is from You-azwj and from Muhammad-saww’.[14]
A lengthy hadith is included in the Appendix below:
Appendix:
بَابُ أَنَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ هُمْ أَرْكَانُ الْأَرْضِ
1- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ بْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ عَلِيٌّ ع آخُذُ بِهِ وَ مَا نَهَى عَنْهُ أَنْتَهِي عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مِثْلُ مَا جَرَى لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص الْفَضْلُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَنْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمُتَعَقِّبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَحْكَامِهِ كَالْمُتَعَقِّبِ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَ الرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِاللَّهِ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بَابَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يُؤْتَى إِلَّا مِنْهُ وَ سَبِيلَهُ الَّذِي مَنْ سَلَكَ بِغَيْرِهِ هَلَكَ وَ كَذَلِكَ يَجْرِي الْأَئِمَّةُ الْهُدَى وَاحِداً بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَرْكَانَ الْأَرْضِ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِأَهْلِهَا وَ حُجَّتَهُ الْبَالِغَةَ عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَنْ تَحْتَ الثَّرَى وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص كَثِيراً مَا يَقُولُ أَنَا قَسِيمُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ وَ أَنَا الْفَارُوقُ الْأَكْبَرُ وَ أَنَا صَاحِبُ الْعَصَا وَ الْمِيسَمِ وَ لَقَدْ أَقَرَّتْ لِي جَمِيعُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوحُ وَ الرُّسُلُ بِمِثْلِ مَا أَقَرُّوا بِهِ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ لَقَدْ حُمِلْتُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَمُولَتِهِ وَ هِيَ حَمُولَةُ الرَّبِّ وَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يُدْعَى فَيُكْسَى وَ أُدْعَى
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فَأُكْسَى وَ يُسْتَنْطَقُ وَ أُسْتَنْطَقُ فَأَنْطِقُ عَلَى حَدِّ مَنْطِقِهِ وَ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ خِصَالًا مَا سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهَا أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي عُلِّمْتُ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْأَنْسَابَ وَ فَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ فَلَمْ يَفُتْنِي مَا سَبَقَنِي وَ لَمْ يَعْزُبْ عَنِّي مَا غَابَ عَنِّي أُبَشِّرُ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَ أُؤَدِّي عَنْهُ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَكَّنَنِي فِيهِ بِعِلْمِهِ
الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ الْعَمِّيِّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُفَضَّلُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ الْأَوَّلَ
2- عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ شَبَابٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ الْأَعْرَجُ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَابْتَدَأَنَا فَقَالَ يَا سُلَيْمَانُ مَا جَاءَ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يُؤْخَذُ بِهِ وَ مَا نَهَى عَنْهُ يُنْتَهَى عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مَا جَرَى لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْفَضْلُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ مَنْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْمُعَيِّبُ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَحْكَامِهِ كَالْمُعَيِّبِ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ ص وَ الرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِاللَّهِ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص بَابَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يُؤْتَى إِلَّا مِنْهُ وَ سَبِيلَهُ الَّذِي مَنْ سَلَكَ بِغَيْرِهِ هَلَكَ وَ بِذَلِكَ جَرَتِ الْأَئِمَّةُ ع وَاحِدٌ بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَرْكَانَ الْأَرْضِ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَ الْحُجَّةَ الْبَالِغَةَ عَلَى مَنْ فَوْقَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَنْ تَحْتَ الثَّرَى وَ قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنَا قَسِيمُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ وَ أَنَا الْفَارُوقُ الْأَكْبَرُ وَ أَنَا صَاحِبُ الْعَصَا وَ الْمِيسَمِ وَ لَقَدْ أَقَرَّتْ لِي جَمِيعُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوحُ بِمِثْلِ مَا أَقَرَّتْ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ لَقَدْ حُمِلْتُ عَلَى مِثْلِ حَمُولَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص وَ هِيَ حَمُولَةُ الرَّبِّ وَ إِنَّ مُحَمَّداً ص يُدْعَى فَيُكْسَى وَ يُسْتَنْطَقُ وَ أُدْعَى فَأُكْسَى وَ أُسْتَنْطَقُ فَأَنْطِقُ عَلَى حَدِّ مَنْطِقِهِ وَ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ خِصَالًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي عُلِّمْتُ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْأَنْسَابَ وَ فَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ فَلَمْ يَفُتْنِي مَا سَبَقَنِي وَ لَمْ يَعْزُبْ عَنِّي مَا غَابَ عَنِّي أُبَشِّرُ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَ أُؤَدِّي عَنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ مَكَّنَنِيَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ بِإِذْنِهِ
……..Whatever excelelnce was found in the Messenger of Allah-saww, was found in Imam Ali-asws also. The Messenger of Allah-saww was more excellent than all of the creatures of Allah-azwj. Those who find faults in anything related to his-asws (Imam Ali-asws) guidance are like one finding faults in the Guidance of Allah-azwj and His Messenger-saww. Rejecting him-asws in small or great matter is like committing ‘Shirk’ with Allah. ….
3- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى وَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَسَّانَ
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قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرِّيَاحِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّامِتِ الْحُلْوَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ فَضْلُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مَا جَاءَ بِهِ آخُذُ بِهِ وَ مَا نَهَى عَنْهُ أَنْتَهِي عَنْهُ جَرَى لَهُ مِنَ الطَّاعَةِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مَا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ الْفَضْلُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ ص الْمُتَقَدِّمُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ كَالْمُتَقَدِّمِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ الْمُتَفَضِّلُ عَلَيْهِ كَالْمُتَفَضِّلِ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ الرَّادُّ عَلَيْهِ فِي صَغِيرَةٍ أَوْ كَبِيرَةٍ عَلَى حَدِّ الشِّرْكِ بِاللَّهِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص بَابُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يُؤْتَى إِلَّا مِنْهُ وَ سَبِيلُهُ الَّذِي مَنْ سَلَكَهُ وَصَلَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ كَذَلِكَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ جَرَى لِلْأَئِمَّةِ ع وَاحِداً بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ جَعَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَرْكَانَ الْأَرْضِ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِأَهْلِهَا وَ عُمُدَ الْإِسْلَامِ وَ رَابِطَةً عَلَى سَبِيلِ هُدَاهُ لَا يَهْتَدِي هَادٍ إِلَّا بِهُدَاهُمْ وَ لَا يَضِلُّ خَارِجٌ مِنَ الْهُدَى إِلَّا بِتَقْصِيرٍ عَنْ حَقِّهِمْ أُمَنَاءُ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَا أَهْبَطَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ أَوْ عُذُرٍ أَوْ نُذُرٍ وَ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ عَلَى مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَجْرِي لآِخِرِهِمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِثْلُ الَّذِي جَرَى لِأَوَّلِهِمْ وَ لَا يَصِلُ أَحَدٌ إِلَى ذَلِكَ إِلَّا بِعَوْنِ اللَّهِ وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنَا قَسِيمُ اللَّهِ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ لَا يَدْخُلُهَا دَاخِلٌ إِلَّا عَلَى حَدِّ قَسْمِي وَ أَنَا الْفَارُوقُ الْأَكْبَرُ وَ أَنَا الْإِمَامُ لِمَنْ بَعْدِي وَ الْمُؤَدِّي عَمَّنْ كَانَ قَبْلِي لَا يَتَقَدَّمُنِي أَحَدٌ إِلَّا أَحْمَدُ ص وَ إِنِّي وَ إِيَّاهُ لَعَلَى سَبِيلٍ وَاحِدٍ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ هُوَ الْمَدْعُوُّ بِاسْمِهِ وَ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيتُ السِّتَّ عِلْمَ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْوَصَايَا وَ فَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ وَ إِنِّي لَصَاحِبُ الْكَرَّاتِ وَ دَوْلَةِ الدُّوَلِ وَ إِنِّي لَصَاحِبُ الْعَصَا وَ الْمِيسَمِ وَ الدَّابَّةُ الَّتِي تُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ
بَابٌ فِي أَنَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ بِمَنْ يُشْبِهُونَ مِمَّنْ مَضَى وَ كَرَاهِيَةِ الْقَوْلِ فِيهِمْ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ
6- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَنْ سَدِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ قَوْماً يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّكُمْ آلِهَةٌ يَتْلُونَ بِذَلِكَ عَلَيْنَا قُرْآناً وَ هُوَ الَّذِي فِي السَّماءِ إِلهٌ وَ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلهٌ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ سَمْعِي وَ بَصَرِي وَ بَشَرِي وَ لَحْمِي وَ دَمِي وَ شَعْرِي مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ بَرَاءٌ وَ بَرِئَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ مَا هَؤُلَاءِ عَلَى دِينِي وَ لَا عَلَى دِينِ آبَائِي وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَجْمَعُنِي اللَّهُ وَ إِيَّاهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ سَاخِطٌ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ عِنْدَنَا قَوْمٌ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ يَقْرَءُونَ عَلَيْنَا بِذَلِكَ قُرْآناً يا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّباتِ وَ اعْمَلُوا صالِحاً إِنِّي بِما تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ فَقَالَ يَا سَدِيرُ سَمْعِي وَ بَصَرِي وَ شَعْرِي وَ بَشَرِي وَ لَحْمِي وَ دَمِي مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ بَرَاءٌ وَ بَرِئَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ وَ رَسُولُهُ مَا هَؤُلَاءِ عَلَى دِينِي وَ لَا عَلَى دِينِ آبَائِي وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَجْمَعُنِي اللَّهُ وَ إِيَّاهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَّا وَ هُوَ سَاخِطٌ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا أَنْتُمْ قَالَ نَحْنُ خُزَّانُ عِلْمِ اللَّهِ نَحْنُ تَرَاجِمَةُ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَعْصُومُونَ أَمَرَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى بِطَاعَتِنَا وَ نَهَى عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِنَا نَحْنُ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ عَلَى مَنْ دُونَ السَّمَاءِ وَ فَوْقَ الْأَرْضِ
Once Sadeer said to Imam Jafar-e-Sadiq-asws, that a certain group of people believes that you-asws (Aimmah-asws) are worthy of worshiping, as they read to us from the Holy Quran: ‘It is He Who is Lord in heaven and Lord on earth; and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge’ (43:84). Imam-asws said: ‘O Sadir, my hearing, my sight, my skin, my flesh, my blood and my hair all disdain such people, and Allah-azwj also disdains them. They do not follow my-asws religion and the religion of my-asws ancestors-asws. I say by Allah-azwj, Allah-azwj will not Place me-asws with them on the Day of Resurrection. The only thing form Allah-azwj to them will be His-azwj Wrath. I (the narrator) then said: ‘Among us there is a group of people who believe that you-asws are messengers and they read to us from the Holy Quran: ‘O messengers, eat of the good thing and do righteousness; surely I know the thing you do (23:51).
The Imam-asws said: O Sadir, my hearing, my sight, my skin, my flesh, my blood and my hair all disdain such people, and Allah-azwj and His Messenger-saww also disdain them. They do not follow my-asws religoin and the religion of my-asws ancestors-asws. By Allah-azwj, Allah-azwj will not place me-asws with them on the Day of Judgment. The only thing from Allah-azwj toward them will be His-azwj Anger.
I (the narrator) then asked: What are you-asws then? The Imam-asws said: We-asws are the treasures of the knowledge of Allah-azwj. We-asws are the translators of the Commands of Allah-azwj. We are Infallible Ones-asws. Allah-azwj has Commanded people to obey us-asws and prohibited them from disobeying us-asws. We-asws are well advocated Divien Authority over all that is below the Heavens and above the Earth.[15]
[1] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 67 – The book of Eman and Kufr – Ch 63 H 49
[2] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 23, The book of Imamate, P 1 Ch 23 H 3
[3] Perfect in Knowledge
[4] بحارالأنوار 47 240
[5] وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ رَضُوا مَا آَتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ سَيُؤْتِينَا اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَرَسُولُهُ إِنَّا إِلَى اللَّهِ رَاغِبُونَ (599:)
[6] ) …… وَمَا نَقَمُوا إِلَّا أَنْ أَغْنَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ …….. (749:)
[7] كَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ (1483:)
[8] – تفسير القمّي 2: 202.
[9] الكافي 8: 287/ 432.
[10] Babul Shirk, hadith 3, chapter 297 (vol. 4, 370)
[11] وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انْقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآَخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ (11)
And among men is he who serves Allah (standing) on the verge, so that if good befalls him he is satisfied therewith, but if a trial afflict him he turns back headlong; he loses this world as well as the hereafter; that is a manifest loss.
[12] Babul Shirk, hadith 4, chapter 297 (vol. 4, 370)
[13] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 200/ 96
[14] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Foodstuffs Ch 47 H 21
[15] Al-Kafi, vol. 1, pg. 228. الكافي ج : 1 ص : 270