ج 30
Volume 30
Part 1 out of 3
بحار الانوار الجامعة لدرر أخبار الائمة الاطهار
Bihar Al-Anwaar – The summary of the pearls of the Ahadeeth of the Pure Imams-asws
تأليف العلامة فخر الامة المولى الشيخ محمد باقر المجلسيى
Author – The Allama, the pride of the community, the Mullah, the Sheikh Muhammad Baqir Al Majlisi
Preliminary Ahadeeth
قَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ….. فِي حَدِيثٍ: فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ: يَا ابْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ! إِنِّي عَاجِزٌ بِبَدَنِي عَنْ نُصْرَتِكُمْ وَ لَسْتُ أَمْلِكُ إِلَّا الْبَرَاءَةَ مِنْ أَعْدَائِكُمْ وَ اللَّعْنَ [عَلَيْهِمْ]، فَكَيْفَ حَالِي؟
Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad Al-Sadiq-asws said in a Hadeeth (when) a man said to him-asws, ‘O son-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww! I am physically unable to help you-asws, and I-asws am not able except for the disavowment from your-asws enemies, and cursing upon them, so how is my situation?’
فَقَالَ الصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَنْ ضَعُفَ عَنْ نُصْرَتِنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَلَعَنَ فِي خَلَوَاتِهِ أَعْدَاءَنَا بَلَّغَ اللَّهُ صَوْتَهُ جَمِيعَ الْأَمْلَاكِ مِنَ الثَّرَى إِلَى الْعَرْشِ،
Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘My-asws father-asws narrated to me-asws, from his-asws father-asws, from his-asws grandfather, from Rasool-Allah-saww having said: ‘One who is too weak from helping us-asws – the People-asws of the Household, so he should curse our-asws enemies in his privacy. Allah-azwj would Make his voice to reach the entirety of the kingdoms, from the soil to the Throne.
فَكُلَّمَا لَعَنَ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ أَعْدَاءَنَا لَعْناً سَاعَدُوهُ وَ لَعَنُوا مَنْ يَلْعَنُهُ ثُمَّ ثَنَّوْا، فَقَالُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى عَبْدِكَ هَذَا الَّذِي قَدْ بَذَلَ مَا فِي وُسْعِهِ وَ لَوْ قَدَرَ عَلَى أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُ لَفَعَلَ،
Every time this man curses our-asws enemies with a curse, the (other) ones who curse them assist him and they also curse, then they praise and they said, ‘O Allah-azwj! Send Salawat upon this servant of Yours-azwj who has exerted whatever was in his capacity, and had he been able upon more from him, he would have done so’.
فَإِذَا النِّدَاءُ مِنْ قِبَلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: قَدْ أَجَبْتُ دُعَاءَكُمْ وَ سَمِعْتُ نِدَاءَكُمْ، وَ صَلَّيْتُ عَلَى رُوحِهِ فِي الْأَرْوَاحِ، وَ جَعَلْتُهُ عِنْدِي مِنَ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ الْأَخْيارِ.
So there comes a call from the direction of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: “Your supplication has been Answered, and your call has been Heard, and I-azwj have Sent Salawat upon his soul among the souls, and Made him to be from the Chosen ones, the choicest ones in My-azwj Presence!”’[1]
عَنِ الصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَنْ خَالَفَكُمْ وَ إِنْ عَبَدَ وَ اجْتَهَدَ مَنْسُوبٌ إِلَى هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ: وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خاشِعَةٌ عامِلَةٌ ناصِبَةٌ تَصْلى ناراً حامِيَةً.
From Al-Sadiq-asws: ‘One who oppose you (Shias), and even if he were to worship, and strive, would be attributed to this Verse: Faces on that day will be humiliated [88:2] (Of the) toiling Nasibis (Hostile ones) [88:3] Arriving to a scorching Fire [88:4]’’.[2]
[16] باب آخر فيما كتب عليه السلام إلى أصحابه في ذلك تصريحا و تلويحا
CHAPTER 16 – ANOTHER CHAPTER REGARDING WHAT HE-asws WROTE TO HIS-asws COMPANIONS REGARDING THAT – DECLARING AND SUMMONING
1- قَالَ السَّيِّدُ ابْنُ طَاوُسٍ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِ كَشْفِ الْمَحَجَّةِ لِثَمَرَةِ الْمُهْجَةِ: قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ فِي كِتَابِ الرَّسَائِلِ: عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ، قَالَ: كَتَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كِتَاباً بَعْدَ مُنْصَرَفِهِ مِنَ النَّهْرَوَانِ وَ أَمَرَ أَنْ يُقْرَأَ عَلَى النَّاسِ، وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ النَّاسَ سَأَلُوهُ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرَ وَ عُثْمَانَ،
The Sayyad Ibn Tawoos said in the book ‘Kashf Al Mahajja Li Samarat Al Muhja’ – Muhammad Bin Yaqoub said in the book ‘Al Rasail’, ‘Ali Bin Ibrahim by his chain said,
‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws wrote a letter after his-asws leaving from Al-Naharwan, and ordered that it be read out to the people, and that is because the people had asked him-asws about Abu Bakr and Umar and Usman.
فَغَضِبَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ قَالَ: قَدْ تَفَرَّغْتُمْ لِلسُّؤَالِ عَمَّا لَا يَعْنِيكُمْ، وَ هَذِهِ مِصْرُ قَدِ انْفَتَحَتْ، وَ قَتَلَ مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ خَدِيجٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَيَا لَهَا مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ مَا أَعْظَمَهَا مُصِيبَتِي بِمُحَمَّدٍ!
Amir Al-Momineen-asws got angry and said: ‘You have freed yourselves for the questioning about what does not concern you, and this is Egypt, I-asws have opened (conquered) it, and Muawiya Bin Khadeej has killed Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr. So, what a difficulty it is. How mighty was my-asws calamity with (passing away of) Muhammad-saww!
فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا كَانَ إِلَّا كَبَعْضِ بَنِيَّ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ! بَيْنَا نَحْنُ نَرْجُو أَنْ نَغْلِبَ الْقَوْمَ عَلَى مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ إِذْ غَلَبُونَا عَلَى مَا فِي أَيْدِينَا، وَ أَنَا كَاتِبٌ لَكُمْ كِتَاباً فِيهِ تَصْرِيحُ مَا سَأَلْتُمْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
By Allah-azwj! It wasn’t except like one of my-asws structures. Glory be to Allah-azwj! While we-asws were hoping to overcome the people upon what was in their hands, when they overcame upon us-asws of what was in our-asws hands, and I-asws shall write a letter for you wherein would be a declaration of what you have asked, if Allah-azwj the Exalted so Desires’.
فَدَعَا كَاتِبَهُ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ أَبِي رَافِعٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ: أَدْخِلْ عَلَيَّ عَشَرَةً مِنْ ثِقَاتِي، فَقَالَ: سَمِّهِمْ لِي يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ،
He-asws called his-asws scribe, Ubeydullah Bin Abi Rafie and said to him: ‘Get ten form my-asws trustworthy ones to enter to see me-asws’. He said, ‘Name them for me, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws’.
فَقَالَ: أَدْخِلْ أَصْبَغَ بْنَ نُبَاتَةَ وَ أَبَا الطُّفَيْلِ عَامِرَ بْنَ وَاثِلَةَ الْكِنَانِيَّ، وَ زِرَّ بْنَ حُبَيْشٍ الْأَسَدِيَّ، وَ جُوَيْرِيَةَ بْنَ مُسْهِرٍ الْعَبْدِيَّ، وَ خَنْدَقَ بْنَ زُهَيْرٍ الْأَسَدِيَّ، وَ حَارِثَةَ بْنَ مُضَرِّبٍ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ، وَ الْحَارِثَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْأَعْوَرَ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ، وَ مَصَابِيحَ النَّخَعِيَّ، وَ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنَ قَيْسٍ، وَ كُمَيْلَ بْنَ زِيَادٍ، وَ عُمَيْرَ بْنَ زُرَارَةَ،
He-asws said: ‘Let enter Asbagh Bin Nubata, and Abu Al-Tufeyl Aamir Bin Wasila Al-Kitani, and Zirr Bin Hubeysh Al-Asady, and Juweyria Bini Mus’har Al-Abdy, and Khandaq Bin Zuheyr Al-Asadi, and Haris Bin Muzarrib Al-Hamdani, and Al-Haris Bin Abdullah Al-Awr Al-Hamdani, and Masabeeh Al-Nakhaie, and Alqamah Bin Qays, and Kumeyl Bin Ziyad, and Umeyr Bin Zurara’. (p.s. – these are eleven)
فَدَخَلُوا إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: خُذُوا هَذَا الْكِتَابَ وَ لْيَقْرَأْهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي رَافِعٍ وَ أَنْتُمْ شُهُودٌ كُلَّ يَوْمِ جُمُعَةٍ، فَإِنْ شَغَبَ شَاغِبٌ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَنْصِفُوهُ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَهُ:
They entered to see him-asws. He-asws said to them: ‘Take this letter, and let Ubeydullah Bin Abi Rafie read it out, and you bear witness every day of Friday. So, if a trouble-maker were to make trouble upon you, then be fair to him with the Book of Allah-azwj to be between you and him: –
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ: مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلِيٍّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى شِيعَتِهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ: وَ إِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْراهِيمَ وَ هُوَ اسْمٌ شَرَّفَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي الْكِتَابِ وَ أَنْتُمْ شِيعَةُ النَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ كَمَا أَنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ اسْمٌ غَيْرُ مُخْتَصٍّ، وَ أَمْرٌ غَيْرُ مُبْتَدَعٍ،
In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. From a servant of Allah-azwj Ali-asws, Amir Al-Momineen-asws, to his-asws Shias from the Momineen and the Muslims. Allah-azwj Says: ‘And indeed from his Shias, was Ibrahim [37:83], and it is a name Allah-azwj the Exalted has Ennobled in the Book, and you are Shias of the Prophet-saww Muhammad-saww, just as he-saww is from the Shias-as of Ibrahim-as – a name without specialisation, and a matter without invention.
وَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ، وَ اللَّهُ هُوَ السَّلامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ الْمُهِينِ، الْحَاكِمُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِعَدْلِهِ، بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ أَنْتُمْ مَعَاشِرَ الْعَرَبِ عَلَى شَرِّ حَالٍ، يغذوا [يَغْذُو] أَحَدُكُمْ كَلْبَهُ، وَ يَقْتُلُ وَلَدَهُ، وَ يُغِيرُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ، فَيَرْجِعُ وَ قَدْ أُغِيرَ عَلَيْهِ،
And the peace be upon you all, and Allah-azwj, He-azwj is the Grantor of peace, the Securer of His-azwj friends from the humiliating Punishment, the Judge upon them with His-azwj justice. He-azwj Sent Muhammad-saww, and you, community of the Arabs, were upon an evil state. One of you is feeding his dog and killing his son, and others are upon something else. He returns and it has been changed upon him.
تَأْكُلُونَ الْعِلْهِزَ وَ الْهَبِيدَ وَ الْمَيْتَةَ وَ الدَّمَ، مُنِيخُونَ عَلَى أَحْجَارٍ خَشِنٍ وَ أَوْثَانٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، تَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ الْجَشِبَ، وَ تَشْرَبُونَ الْمَاءَ الْآجِنَ، تُسَافِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ، وَ يَسْبِي بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً، وَ قَدْ خَصَّ اللَّهُ قُرَيْشاً بِثَلَاثِ آيَاتٍ وَ عَمَّ الْعَرَبَ بِآيَةٍ،
You are eating the blood mixed with camel’s hair, and the bitter melons, and the dead, and the blood, devoting upon the rough stones and misleading images. You are eating the rough food and drinking the putrid water. You are shedding your blood and captivating each other, and Allah-azwj has Particularised Quraysh with three Verse, and the general Arabs with one Verse.
فَأَمَّا الْآيَاتُ اللَّوَاتِي فِي قُرَيْشٍ فَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: وَ اذْكُرُوا إِذْ أَنْتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ تَخافُونَ أَنْ يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآواكُمْ وَ أَيَّدَكُمْ بِنَصْرِهِ وَ رَزَقَكُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّباتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ،
And as for those Verses regarding Quraysh, it is the Word of the Exalted: And remember when you were few, weakened in the land, fearing that the people would force you away, so He Sheltered you and Supported you with His Help and Graced you from the good things, perhaps you would be grateful [8:26].
وَ الثَّانِيَةُ: وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَ لَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضى لَهُمْ وَ لَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْناً يَعْبُدُونَنِي لا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئاً وَ مَنْ كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ فَأُولئِكَ هُمُ الْفاسِقُونَ،
And the second: Allah Promises those of you who believe and do righteous deeds that He will Make them Caliphs in the earth just as He Made Caliphs, those from before them, and He will Establish their Religion for them which He Approves for them, and He will Exchange for them from afterwards, their fear into security. Worship Me and do not associate anything with Me! And one who commits Kufr after that, so these ones, they are the transgressors [24:55].
وَ الثَّالِثَةُ: قَوْلُ قُرَيْشٍ لِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حِينَ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ الْهِجْرَةِ: وَ قالُوا إِنْ نَتَّبِعِ الْهُدى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنا، فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: أَ وَ لَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حَرَماً آمِناً يُجْبى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَراتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِزْقاً مِنْ لَدُنَّا وَ لكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ،
And the third are the words of Quraysh to the Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj when he-saww called them to Al-Islam and the Emigration: And they are saying, ‘If we follow the Guidance with you, we would be forced out from our land’. So, Allah-azwj Said: Or, did We not Establish a safe, sacred (territory) for them, the fruits of all things being brought to it as a sustenance from Us? But, most of them do not know [28:57].
وَ أَمَّا الْآيَةُ الَّتِي عَمَّ بِهَا الْعَرَبَ فَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ: وَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْداءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْواناً وَ كُنْتُمْ عَلى شَفا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْها كَذلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آياتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ،
And as for the Verse which the Arabs have been generalised with, it is His-azwj Word: and remember the Favour of Allah upon you when you were enemies, so He United between your hearts and (it was) by His Favour you became brethren and you were on the brink of a pit of the fire, so He Saved you from it. Like that Allah Clarifies His Signs for you all perhaps you may be rightly Guided [3:103].
فَيَا لَهَا نِعْمَةً مَا أَعْظَمَهَا إِنْ لَمْ تَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا إِلَى غَيْرِهَا، وَ يَا لَهَا مُصِيبَةً مَا أَعْظَمَهَا إِنْ لَمْ تُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا وَ تَرْغَبُوا عَنْهَا، فَمَضَى نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ قَدْ بَلَّغَ مَا أُرْسِلَ بِهِ، فَيَا لَهَا مُصِيبَةً خَصَّتِ الْأَقْرَبِينَ وَ عَمَّتِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَمْ تُصَابُوا بِمِثْلِهَا وَ لَنْ تُعَايِنُوا بَعْدَهَا مِثْلَهَا،
O how great is a bounty if you do not exit from it to something else! And how great is a calamity if you do not believe in it and desire for it! The Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj had delivered what he-saww had been Sent with, so how great is a disaster the near of kin and the generality of the Momineen were afflicted with (his-saww passing away). They had not been afflicted with the like of it, and will never witness the like of it, after it.
فَمَضَى لِسَبِيلِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ تَرَكَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ إِمَامَيْنِ لَا يَخْتَلِفَانِ، وَ أَخَوَيْنِ لَا يَتَخَاذَلَانِ، وَ مُجْتَمِعَيْنِ لَا يَفْتَرِقَانِ، وَ لَقَدْ قَبَضَ اللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ لَأَنَا أَوْلَى بِالنَّاسِ مِنِّي بِقَمِيصِي هَذَا، وَ مَا أَلْقَى فِي رُوعِي، وَ لَا عَرَضَ فِي رَأْيِي أَنْ وَجِّهِ النَّاسَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ،
He-saww went on his-saww way and left behind the Book of Allah-azwj and People-asws of his-saww Household, two Imams not differing with each other, and two brothers not arguing with each other, and two united nor separating from each other; and Allah-azwj Caused His-azwj to pass away and I-asws am (now) foremost with this shirt (caliphate) of mine, and it neither occurred in my-asws mind nor did it present in my-asws view that the faces of people would turn to someone else.
فَلَمَّا أَبْطَئُوا عَنِّي بِالْوَلَايَةِ لِهِمَمِهِمْ، وَ تَثَبَّطَ الْأَنْصَارُ- وَ هُمْ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ وَ كَتِيبَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ- قَالُوا: أَمَّا إِذَا لَمْ تُسَلِّمُوهَا لِعَلِيٍّ فَصَاحِبُنَا أَحَقُّ بِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِي، فَوَ اللَّهِ مَا أَدْرِي إِلَى مَنْ أَشْكُو؟
When they delayed from me-asws with the governance due to their (personal) concern, and the Helpers affirmed – and they are helpers of Allah-azwj and the battalion of Al-Islam – they said, ‘But, when you (Emigrants) are not submitting it (caliphate) to Ali-asws, then our companion (Sa’ad) is more rightful with it than others’. By Allah-azwj! I-asws did not know to whom I-asws should be complaining?
فَإِمَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْأَنْصَارُ ظَلَمَتْ حَقَّهَا، وَ إِمَّا أَنْ يَكُونُوا ظَلَمُونِي حَقِّي، بَلْ حَقِّيَ الْمَأْخُوذُ وَ أَنَا الْمَظْلُومُ.
So, either the Helpers happened to be unjust of its right, or else they happened to be unjust of my-asws rights. But, my-asws right is the one taken away, and I-asws am the oppressed.
فَقَالَ قَائِلُ قُرَيْشٍ: إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَالَ: الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ، فَدَفَعُوا الْأَنْصَارَ عَنْ دَعْوَتِهَا وَ مَنَعُونِي حَقِّي مِنْهَا، فَأَتَانِي رَهْطٌ يَعْرِضُونَ عَلَيَّ النَّصْرَ، مِنْهُمُ ابْنَا سَعِيدٍ، وَ الْمِقْدَادُ بْنُ الْأَسْوَدِ، وَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيُّ، وَ عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ، وَ سَلْمَانُ الْفَارِسِيُّ، وَ الزُّبَيْرُ بْنُ الْعَوَّامِ، وَ الْبَرَاءُ بْنُ الْعَازِبُ.
A speaker of Quraysh said, ‘The Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj said: ‘The Imams-asws would be from Quraysh’. Thus, they repelled the Helpers away from their claim and they (Emigrants) prevented me-asws of my-asws right from it. A group came to be presenting the help to me-asws, from them were the two sons of Saeed, and Al-Miqdad Bin Al-Aswad-ra, and Abu Zarr Al-Ghifari-ra, and Ammar Bin Yasser-ra, and Salman Al-Farsi-ra, and Al-Zubeyr Bin Al-Awwam, and Al-Bara’a Bin Al-Aazib.
فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: إِنَّ عِنْدِي مِنْ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَهْداً وَ لَهُ إِلَيَ وَصِيَّةً لَسْتُ أُخَالِفُ عَمَّا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ، فَوَ اللَّهِ لَوْ خَزَمُونِي بِأَنْفِي لَأَقْرَرْتُ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى سَمْعاً وَ طَاعَةً،
I-asws said to them: ‘There is a pact with me-asws from the Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj, and there is a bequest for him-saww to me-asws. I-asws am not going to oppose what I-asws have been instructed with. By Allah-azwj! Even if you were to pull me-asws by my-asws nose, I-asws would (still) acknowledge to Allah-azwj the Exalted, hearing and obeying’.
فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ النَّاسَ قَدِ انْثَالُوا عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ لِلْبَيْعَةِ أَمْسَكْتُ يَدِي وَ ظَنَنْتُ أَنِّي أَوْلَى وَ أَحَقُّ بِمَقَامِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِنْهُ وَ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ، وَ قَدْ كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ أَمَرَ أُسَامَةَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ عَلَى جَيْشٍ وَ جَعَلَهُمَا فِي جَيْشِهِ، وَ مَا زَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِلَى أَنْ فَاضَتْ نَفْسُهُ يَقُولُ: أَنْفِذُوا جَيْشَ أُسَامَةَ،
When I-asws saw the people to have fallen in a heap upon Abu Bakr for the allegiance, I-asws withheld my-asws hand, and I-asws had thought I-asws was foremost and more rightful with the position of Rasool-Allah-saww than he is, and from others, and the Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj had ordered Usama Bin Zayd to be in-charge upon the army and made both of them (Abu Bakr and Umar) to be in his army, and the Prophet-saww had not ceased to emphasise himself-saww saying: ‘Enforce the army of Usama!’
فَمَضَى جَيْشُهُ إِلَى الشَّامِ حَتَّى انْتَهَوْا إِلَى أَذْرِعَاتٍ فَلَقِيَ جَمْعاً مِنَ الرُّومِ فَهَزَمُوهُمْ وَ غَنَّمَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَمْوَالَهُمْ، فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ رَاجِعَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ قَدْ رَجَعَتْ عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ تَدْعُو إِلَى مَحْوِ دِينِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ خَشِيتُ إِنْ أَنَا لَمْ أَنْصُرِ الْإِسْلَامَ وَ أَهْلَهُ أَرَى فِيهِ ثَلْماً وَ هَدْماً
His army went to Syria until they ended up to (the city of) Azri’at, and they met a group from Rome. They attacked them and Allah-azwj Granted them their wealth. When I-asws saw returners from the people to have returned from Al-Islam and calling to obliterate the Religion of Muhammad-saww and the Nation of Ibrahim-as, I-asws feared that if I-asws do not help Islam and its people, I-asws would see break-ups and demolition in it.
تَكُ الْمُصِيبَةُ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ فَوْتِ وِلَايَةِ أُمُورِكُمُ الَّتِي إِنَّمَا هِيَ مَتَاعُ أَيَّامٍ قَلَائِلَ ثُمَّ تَزُولُ وَ تَنْقَشِعُ كَمَا يَزُولُ وَ يَنْقَشِعُ السَّحَابُ، فَنَهَضْتُ مَعَ الْقَوْمِ فِي تِلْكَ الْأَحْدَاثِ حَتَّى زَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ وَ كَانَتْ كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا وَ إِنْ زَعَمَ الْكَافِرُونَ.
The disaster came unto me-asws during it, which was greater than the loss of the governance of their affairs which rather, it is a pleasure of a few days, then it declines and dissipate just as the clouds tend to decline and dissipate, then I-asws would get up with the people during those new occurrences until the falsehood vanishes, and the Word of Allah-azwj would be the highest, and even if the Kafir’s noses are rubbed.
وَ لَقَدْ كَانَ سَعْدٌ لَمَّا رَأَى النَّاسَ يُبَايِعُونَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ نَادَى: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَرَدْتُهَا حَتَّى رَأَيْتُكُمْ تَصْرِفُونَهَا عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، وَ لَا أُبَايِعُكُمْ حَتَّى يُبَايِعَ عَلِيٌّ، وَ لَعَلِّي لَا أَفْعَلُ وَ إِنْ بَايَعَ، ثُمَّ رَكِبَ دَابَّتَهُ وَ أَتَى حَوْرَانَ وَ أَقَامَ فِي خَانٍ حَتَّى هَلَكَ وَ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ.
And Sa’ad, when he saw the people pledging allegiances to Abu Bakr, called out, ‘O you people! By Allah-azwj! I did not want it (caliphate) until I saw you all turning away from Ali-asws, and I will not pledge allegiance to you until Ali-asws pledges, and maybe I will still not do it and even if he-asws does pledge allegiance!’ Then he rode his animal and went to (the town of) Hawran, and stayed in a house until he died and did not pledge allegiance.
وَ قَامَ فَرْوَةُ بْنُ عُمَرَ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ- وَ كَانَ يَقُودُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَرَسَيْنِ وَ يَصْرِمُ أَلْفَ وَسْقٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ فَيَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ عَلَى الْمَسَاكِينِ- فَنَادَى: يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ! أَخْبِرُونِي هَلْ فِيكُمْ رَجُلٌ تَحِلُّ لَهُ الْخِلَافَةُ وَ فِيهِ مَا فِي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ؟!.
And Farwa Bin Umar Al-Ansari stood up – and he used to guide two horses with Rasool-Allah-saww, and leave aside a thousand bunches of dates to give in charity with it upon the poor – he called out, ‘O community of Qureys! Inform me! Is there any man among you the caliphate is permissible for him, and in him is what is in Ali-asws?!’
فَقَالَ قَيْسُ بْنُ مَخْزَمَةَ الزهوي: لَيْسَ فِينَا مَنْ فِيهِ مَا فِي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. فَقَالَ لَهُ: صَدَقْتَ، فَهَلْ فِي عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَا لَيْسَ فِي أَحَدٍ مِنْكُمْ؟. قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: فَمَا يَصُدُّكُمْ عَنْهُ؟.
Fays Bin Mahzama Al-Zahwy said, ‘There isn’t anyone among us, one in whom is what is in Ali-asws’. He said to him, ‘You speak the truth. Is there in Ali-asws what isn’t in any one of you?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He said, ‘So, what made you block it from him-asws?’
قَالَ: إِجْمَاعُ النَّاسِ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ. قَالَ: أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَحْيَيْتُمْ سُنَّتَكُمْ لَقَدْ أَخْطَأْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ، وَ لَوْ جَعَلْتُمُوهَا فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّكُمْ لَأَكَلْتُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ وَ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ.
He said, ‘Consensus of the people upon Abu Bakr’. He said, ‘But, by Allah-azwj! If you were to revives your sunnah (ways), then you have erred from the Sunnah of your Prophet-saww, and if you were to make it (caliphate) to be in the People-asws of the Household of your Prophet-saww, you will eat from above, and from beneath your feet’.
فَوُلِّيَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَقَارَبَ وَ اقْتَصَدَ فَصَحِبْتُهُ مُنَاصِحاً، وَ أَطَعْتُهُ فِيمَا أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ فِيهِ جَاهِداً، حَتَّى إِذَا احْتُضِرَ، قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي: لَيْسَ يَعْدِلُ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ عَنِّي، وَ لَوْ لَا خَاصَّةٌ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ عُمَرَ وَ أَمْرٌ كَانَا رَضِيَاهُ بَيْنَهُمَا،
Abu Bakr became the rule, and I-asws went near and was moderate, and accompanied him as an adviser, and obeyed him in (only) that (which was in) obedience to Allah-azwj, struggling, until when he was about to die. I-asws said within myself: ‘He wouldn’t turn this command away from me-asws had there been no special relationship between him and Umar’, and the matter was as they had agreed with between them.
لَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَعْدِلُهُ عَنِّي وَ قَدْ سَمِعَ قَوْلَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِبُرَيْدَةَ الْأَسْلَمِيِّ حِينَ بَعَثَنِي وَ خَالِدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَ قَالَ: إِذَا افْتَرَقْتُمَا فَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمَا عَلَى حِيَالِهِ، وَ إِذَا اجْتَمَعْتُمَا فَعَلِيٌّ عَلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعاً،
I-asws thought he would not turn it away from me-asws, and I-asws had heard the Prophet-saww to Bureyda Al-Aslami when he-saww had sent me-asws and Khalid Bin Al-Waleed to Al-Yemen, and said: ‘When you two separate, so each one of you is upon his state, and when you are together, then Ali-asws is upon you all!’
فأغزنا وَ أَصَبْنَا سَبْياً فِيهِمْ خُوَيْلَةُ بِنْتُ جَعْفَرٍ جَارِ الصَّفَا- وَ إِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ جَارَ الصَّفَا مِنْ حُسْنِهِ- فَأَخَذْتُ الْحَنَفِيَّةَ خَوْلَةَ وَ اغْتَنَمَهَا خَالِدٌ مِنِّي، وَ بَعَثَ بُرَيْدَةَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مُحَرِّشاً عَلَيَّ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا كَانَ مِنْ أَخْذِي خَوْلَةَ، فَقَالَ: يَا بُرَيْدَةُ! حَظُّهُ فِي الْخُمُسِ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّا أَخَذَ، إِنَّهُ وَلِيُّكُمْ بَعْدِي،
We battled and attained captives, among them was Khuweyla Bint Ja’far, ‘the clear faced’, and rather she was named as ‘the clear faced’ due to her beauty. I-asws took Khuweyla and Khalid was gloomy from me-asws and sent Bureyda to Rasool-Allah-saww, as a provocation against me-asws. He informed him-saww with what had happened from my-asws taking Khuweyla. He-saww said: ‘O Bureyda! His-asws share from the Khums (fifth) is more than what he-asws has taken. He-asws is your ruler from after me-saww’.
سَمِعَهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرُ، وَ هَذَا بُرَيْدَةُ حَيٌّ لَمْ يَمُتْ، فَهَلْ بَعْدَ هَذَا مَقَالٌ لِقَائِلٍ؟!.
Abu Bakr and Umar both heard it, and this here is Bureyda alive, not died yet. So, if there after this any thing to say for any speaker?!
فَبَايَعَ عُمَرَ دُونَ الْمَشُورَةِ فَكَانَ مَرَضِيَّ السِّيرَةِ مِنَ النَّاسِ عِنْدَهُمْ، حَتَّى إِذَا احْتُضِرَ قُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي: لَيْسَ يَعْدِلُ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ عَنِّي، لِلَّذِي قَدْ رَأَى مِنِّي فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ، وَ سَمِعَ مِنَ الرَّسُولِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ،
Umar’s allegiance was pledged without there being any consultation, as if it was an agreement of the people of their ways in their presence, until when he was about to die, I-asws said to myself-asws: ‘He won’t turn this command away from me-asws due to that which had seen from me-asws in (all) the places, and had heard from Rasool-Allah-saww.
فَجَعَلَنِي سَادِسَ سِتَّةٍ وَ أَمَرَ صُهَيْباً أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ، وَ دَعَا أَبَا طَلْحَةَ زَيْدَ بْنَ سَعْدٍ الْأَنْصَارِيَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ: كُنْ فِي خَمْسِينَ رَجُلًا مِنْ قَوْمِكَ فَاقْتُلْ مَنْ أَبَى أَنْ يَرْضَى مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ السِّتَّةِ،
But, he made me-asws the sixth of the six and ordered Suheyb to pray (leading) Salat with the people, and called Abu Talha Zayd Bin Sa’ad Al-Ansari and said to him, ‘Be among fifty men from your people and kill the one from these six who disagrees’.
فَالْعَجَبُ مِنِ اخْتِلَافِ الْقَوْمِ إِذْ زَعَمُوا أَنَّ أَبِي بَكْرٍ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، فَلَوْ كَانَ هَذَا حَقّاً لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَى الْأَنْصَارِ فَبَايَعَهُ النَّاسُ عَلَى الشُّورَى،
The wonder is at the differing of the people when they claimed that Abu Bakr was nominated as caliph by the Prophet-saww. If this was true, he would not have feared upon the Helpers, and the people had pledged allegiance to him upon the consultation.
ثُمَّ جَعَلَهَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِعُمَرَ بِرَأْيِهِ خَاصَّةً، ثُمَّ جَعَلَهَا عُمَرُ بِرَأْيِهِ شُورَى بَيْنَ سِتَّةٍ، فَهَذَا الْعَجَبُ مِنِ اخْتِلَافِهِمْ، وَ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى مَا لَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَذْكُرَ قَوْلُ هَؤُلَاءِ الرَّهْطِ الَّذِينَ قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ هُوَ عَنْهُمْ رَاضٍ، فَكَيْفَ يَأْمُرُ بِقَتْلِ قَوْمٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَ رَسُولُهُ؟!. إِنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ عَجِيبٌ،
Then Abu Bakr made it to be for Umar by his opinion in particular. Then Umar, by his opinion, made it to be a consultation between six. So, this is the wonderment from their differing, and the evidence upon what I-asws would not like to mention the words of that group which Rasool-Allah-saww was pleased with it when he-saww passed away. So, how did he order with killing a people Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww had been pleased from them?! This is the strange matter.
وَ لَمْ يَكُونُوا لِوِلَايَةِ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ أَكْرَهَ مِنْهُمْ لِوِلَايَتِي! كَانُوا يَسْمَعُونَ وَ أَنَا أُحَاجُّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَ أَنَا أَقُولُ: يَا مَعْشَرَ قُرَيْشٍ! أَنَا أَحَقُّ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ، مَا كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ، وَ يَعْرِفُ السُّنَّةَ، وَ يَدِينُ دِينَ الْحَقِ، وَ إِنَّمَا حُجَّتِي أَنِّي وَلِيُّ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مِنْ دُونِ قُرَيْشٍ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَالَ: الْوَلَاءُ لِمَنْ أَعْتَقَ، فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِعِتْقِ الرِّقَابِ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَ أَعْتَقَهَا مِنَ الرِّقِّ،
There did not happen to be any governance for anyone of them more detestable to them than my-asws governance! They were (all) listening and I-asws was arguing against Abu Bakr and I-asws said: ‘O community of Quraysh! I-asws am more rightful with this command than you are. Is there no one among you who reads the Quran, and recognises the Sunnah, and making a religion with the Religion of truth? And rather, my-asws argument is that I-asws am in-charge of this command from besides Quraysh. The Prophet-saww of Allah-azwj said: ‘The governance is the one who liberates’. Rasool-Allah-saww came with liberating the necks from the Fire, and I-asws liberated them from the slavery.
فَكَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَلَاءُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ، وَ كَانَ لِي بَعْدَهُ مَا كَانَ لَهُ، فَمَا جَازَ لِقُرَيْشٍ مِنْ فَضْلِهَا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ جَازَ لِبَنِي هَاشِمٍ عَلَى قُرَيْشٍ، وَ جَازَ لِي عَلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ، بِقَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَوْمَ غَدِيرِ خُمٍّ: مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلَاهُ فَهَذَا عَلِيٌّ مَوْلَاهُ، إِلَّا أَنْ تَدَّعِيَ قُرَيْشٌ فَضْلَهَا عَلَى الْعَرَبِ بِغَيْرِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، فَإِنْ شَاءُوا فَلْيَقُولُوا ذَلِكَ،
So, the governance of this community was for the Prophet-saww, and for me-asws was whatever was for him-saww. Whatever was allowed for Quraysh of its merits upon it with the Prophet-saww, it is allowed for the Clan of Hashim-as upon Quraysh, and it is allowed for me-asws upon the Clan of Hashim-as, due to the words of the Prophet-saww on the day of Ghadeer Khum: ‘One whose Master-saww I-saww was, so Ali-asws is his Master-asws’, except that Quraysh claimed its merit over the Arabs without the Prophet-saww. So, if they like, they can be saying that.
فَخَشِيَ الْقَوْمُ إِنْ أَنَا وُلِّيتُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ آخُذَ بِأَنْفَاسِهِمْ، وَ أَعْتَرِضَ فِي حُلُوقِهِمْ، وَ لَا يَكُونَ لَهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ نَصِيبٌ، فَأَجْمَعُوا عَلَى إِجْمَاعِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ حَتَّى صَرَفُوا الْوِلَايَةَ عَنِّي إِلَى عُثْمَانَ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يَنَالُوهَا وَ يَتَدَاوَلُوهَا فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ، فَبَيْنَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ نَادَى مُنَادٍ لَا يُدْرَى مَنْ هُوَ- وَ أَظُنُّهُ جِنِّيّاً- فَأَسْمَعَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ لَيْلَةَ بَايَعُوا عُثْمَانَ
The people feared that I-asws would be the ruler over them that I-asws would seize their souls and object regarding their circles, and there would not happen to be any share for them in the command. So, they gathered upon one man from them, until they turned the governance away from me to Usman, hoping that he would give it and passing it around between them. While they were like that when a caller called out, it is not known who he was, and I-asws say it was a Jinn, and the people of Al-Medina heard it on the night they pledged allegiance to Usman.
| فَقَالَ: يَا نَاعِيَ الْإِسْلَامِ قُمْ فَانْعَهُ | قَدْ مَاتَ عُرْفٌ وَ بَدَا مُنْكَرٌ | |
| مَا لِقُرَيْشٍ لَا عَلَا كَعْبُهَا | مَنْ قَدَّمُوا الْيَوْمَ وَ مَنْ أَخَّرُوا | |
| إِنَّ عَلِيّاً هُوَ أَوْلَى بِهِ | مِنْهُ فَوَلُّوهُ وَ لَا تُنْكِرُوا |
He said, (in prose), ‘O herald of Islam, stand and give the news, the custom has died and evil has begun, what is for Quraysh is not upon its posterity, ones who are advancing today and ones delaying. Surely, Ali-asws, he-asws is foremost with it than him, so make him-asws the ruler and do not deny!’
فَكَانَ لَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ عِبْرَةٌ، وَ لَوْ لَا أَنَّ الْعَامَّةَ قَدْ عَلِمَتْ بِذَلِكَ لَمْ أَذْكُرْهُ، فَدَعَوْنِي إِلَى بِيعَةِ عُثْمَانَ فَبَايَعْتُ مُسْتَكْرِهاً، وَ صَبَرْتُ مُحْتَسِباً، وَ عَلَّمْتُ أَهْلَ الْقُنُوتِ أَنْ يَقُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَخْلَصَتِ الْقُلُوبُ، وَ إِلَيْكَ شَخَصَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ، وَ أَنْتَ دُعِيتَ بِالْأَلْسُنِ، وَ إِلَيْكَ تُحُوكِمَ فِي الْأَعْمَالِ، فَ افْتَحْ بَيْنَنا وَ بَيْنَ قَوْمِنا بِالْحَقِ،
So, there was a lesson in that for them, and if the generality had not known that, I-asws would not have mentioned it. They called me-asws to pledge allegiance to Usman, and I-asws pledged allegiance unwillingly, and I-asws was patient, anticipating, and the people of contentment knew and were saying, ‘O Allah-azwj! For You-azwj the hearts are sincere, and to You-azwj the eyes are staring, and You-azwj supplicated to by the tongues, and to You-azwj is the judgment regarding the deeds, Decide between us and our people with the Truth [7:89].
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَشْكُو إِلَيْكَ غَيْبَةَ نَبِيِّنَا، وَ كَثْرَةَ عَدُوِّنَا، وَ قِلَّةَ عَدَدِنَا، وَ هَوَانَنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ، وَ شِدَّةَ الزَّمَانِ، وَ وُقُوعَ الْفِتَنِ بِنَا،
O Allah-azwj! We complain to You-azwj of the absence of our Prophet-saww, and the abundance of our enemies, and scarcity of our numbers, and our humiliation form the people, and the difficulties of the times, and occurrence of the Fitna through us.
اللَّهُمَّ فَفَرِّجْ ذَلِكَ بِعَدْلٍ تُظْهِرُهُ، وَ سُلْطَانِ حَقٍّ تَعْرِفُهُ.
O Allah-azwj! Relieve that with the justice by its appearance, and a ruling authority of truth You-azwj recognise’’.
فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ: يَا ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ! إِنَّكَ عَلَى هَذَا الْأَمْرِ لَحَرِيصٌ؟!.
Abdul Rahman Bin Awf said, ‘O son-asws of Abu Talib-asws! Surely, you-asws are very greedy upon this command?’
فَقُلْتُ: لَسْتُ عَلَيْهِ حَرِيصاً، وَ إِنَّمَا أَطْلُبُ مِيرَاثَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ حَقَّهُ، وَ إِنَّ وَلَاءَ أُمَّتِهِ لِي مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَ أَنْتُمْ أَحْرَصُ عَلَيْهِ مِنِّي إِذْ تَحُولُونَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَهُ، وَ تَصْرِفُونَ وَجْهِي دُونَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ،
I-asws said: ‘I-asws am not greedy upon it, and rather I-asws am seeking an inheritance of Rasool-Allah-saww and his-saww right, and that the governance of his-saww community is for me-saww from after him-saww, and you all are more greedy upon it than I-asws am when you are forming a barrier between me-asws and it, and you are turning my-asws face away from it by the sword.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَعْدِيكَ عَلَى قُرَيْشٍ فَإِنَّهُمْ قَطَعُوا رَحِمِي وَ أَضَاعُوا أَيَّامِي، وَ دَفَعُوا حَقِّي، وَ صَغَّرُوا قَدْرِي وَ عَظِيمَ مَنْزِلَتِيَ، وَ أَجْمَعُوا عَلَى مُنَازَعَتِي حَقّاً كُنْتُ أَوْلَى بِهِ مِنْهُمْ، فَاسْتَلَبُونِيهِ.
O Allah-azwj! I-asws seek Your-azwj Assistance upon Quraysh, for they have cut off my-asws relationship, and they have wasted my-asws days, and repelled my-asws rights, and belittled my-asws worth and the greatness of my-asws status, and they united upon snatching away a right which I-asws was foremost with it than them, and took it away!’
ثُمَّ قَالَ: اصْبِرْ مَغْمُوماً أَوْ مُتْ مُتَأَسِّفاً، وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَاعُوا أَنْ يَدْفَعُوا قَرَابَتِي كَمَا قَطَعُوا سَبَبِي فَعَلُوا، وَ لَكِنَّهُمْ لَا يَجِدُونَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ سَبِيلًا، إِنَّمَا حَقِّي عَلَى هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ كَرَجُلٍ لَهُ حَقٌّ عَلَى قَوْمٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ، فَإِنْ أَحْسَنُوا وَ عَجَّلُوا لَهُ حَقَّهُ قَبِلَهُ حَامِداً، وَ إِنْ أَخَّرُوهُ إِلَى أَجَلِهِ أَخَذَهُ غَيْرَ حَامِدٍ، وَ لَيْسَ يُعَابُ الْمَرْءُ بِتَأْخِيرِ حَقِّهِ، إِنَّمَا يُعَابُ مَنْ أَخَذَ مَا لَيْسَ لَهُ،
Then he said, ‘Either be patient being gloomy or die of regret!’ And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! If they had been able upon repelling my-asws near of kin just as they had cut off my-asws means, they would have done so, but they could not find a way to that. But rather, my-asws right upon this community is like a man having a right for you upon a people to a known term. So, if they were good and hasten his right to him, he would accept it praising (them), but if they were to delay it, he would take it without praising (them). And the man cannot be faulted for the delay of his rights, but rather he would be faulted, the one who took what wasn’t for him (to take).
وَ قَدْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ عَهْداً فَقَالَ: يَا ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ! لَكَ وِلَايَتِي فَإِنْ وَلَّوْكَ فِي عَافِيَةٍ وَ رَجَعُوا عَلَيْكَ بِالرِّضَا فَقُمْ بِأَمْرِهِمْ، وَ إِنِ اخْتَلَفُوا عَلَيْكَ فَدَعْهُمْ وَ مَا هُمْ فِيهِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ سَيَجْعَلُ لَكَ مَخْرَجاً،
And Rasool-Allah-saww had taken an Oath to me-asws saying: ‘O son-asws of Abu Talib-asws! For you-saww is my-saww governance, so if they were to make you-asws the rule, well and good, and they return to you-asws with the pleasure, then stand with their affairs; but if they were oppose upon you-asws, then leave them and whatever they are in, for Allah-azwj will be Making it to be for you-asws (in the future)’.
فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا لَيْسَ لِي رَافِدٌ وَ لَا مَعِي مُسَاعِدٌ إِلَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتِي، فَضَنِنْتُ بِهِمْ عَنِ الْهَلَاكِ، وَ لَوْ كَانَ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَمِّي حَمْزَةُ وَ أَخِي جَعْفَرٌ لَمْ أُبَايِعْ كَرْهاً، وَ لَكِنَّنِي مُنِيتُ بِرَجُلَيْنِ حَدِيثَيْ عَهْدٍ بِالْإِسْلَامِ، الْعَبَّاسِ وَ عَقِيلٍ،
I-asws looked around there wasn’t any backer for me-asws nor was there any supporter with me-asws except my-asws family members. I-asws thought (upon acting there would be nothing but) the destruction, and had there been, after Rasool-Allah-saww, my-asws uncle-asws Hamza-asws, and my-asws brother-asws Ja’far-asws, I-asws would not have pledged allegiance (even) unwillingly, but they-asws had passed away, and I-asws was left with two men newly to the pact with Al-Islam – Al-Abbas and Al-Aqeel.
فَضَنِنْتُ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتِي عَنِ الْهَلَاكِ، فَأَغْضَيْتُ عَيْنِي عَلَى الْقَذَى، وَ تَجَرَّعْتُ رِيقِي عَلَى الشَّجَا، وَ صَبَرْتُ عَلَى أَمَرَّ مِنَ الْعَلْقَمِ، وَ آلَمَ لِلْقَلْبِ مِنْ حَزِّ الشِّفَارِ.
So, I-asws thought of saving my-asws family members from the destruction, and I-asws closed my-asws eyes upon the (arising) dust, and I-asws swallowed by saliva upon the choking, and I-asws was patient upon the bitterest of the morsels, and the most painful to the heart than the mowed eyelashes.
وَ أَمَّا أَمْرُ عُثْمَانَ فَكَأَنَّهُ عُلِمَ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ الْأُولَى عِلْمُها عِنْدَ رَبِّي فِي كِتابٍ لا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَ لا يَنْسى خَذَلَهُ أَهْلُ بَدْرٍ وَ قَتَلَهُ أَهْلُ مِصْرَ، وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَمَرْتُ وَ لَا نَهَيْتُ وَ لَوْ أَنَّنِي أَمَرْتُ كُنْتُ قَاتِلًا، وَ لَوْ أَنِّي نَهَيْتُ كُنْتُ نَاصِراً،
And as for the matter of Usman (being killed), it is as if it has been learnt from the former generations, ‘Its knowledge is with My Lord in a Book. Neither does my Lord Err nor does He Forget [20:52]. The people of Badr abandoned him, and the people Egypt killed him. By Allah-azwj! I-asws neither instructed nor did I-asws forbid, and had I-asws instructed, I-asws would have been a killer, and had I-asws forbidden, I would have been a helper (of Usman).
وَ كَانَ الْأَمْرُ لَا يَنْفَعُ فِيهِ الْعِيَانُ وَ لَا يَشْفِي فِيهِ الْخَبَرُ، غَيْرَ أَنَّ مَنْ نَصَرَهُ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَقُولَ خَذَلَهُ مَنْ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ، وَ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ مَنْ خَذَلَهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ نَصَرَهُ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي،
And the matter did not benefit the supporters during it, nor did the news have any healing, apart from that the one who helped him was not able upon saying, ‘I am better than the one who has abandoned’; nor was the one who abandoned him able upon saying, ‘He was helped by the one who is better than me’.
وَ أَنَا جَامِعٌ أَمْرَهُ: اسْتَأْثَرَ فَأَسَاءَ الْأَثَرَةَ، وَ جَزِعْتُمْ فَأَسَأْتُمُ الْجَزَعَ، وَ اللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَهُ، وَ اللَّهِ مَا يَلْزَمُنِي فِي دَمِ عُثْمَانَ ثُلْمَةٌ مَا كُنْتُ إِلَّا رَجُلًا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فِي بَيْتِي
And I-asws shall summarise his matter – He favoured (people), and evil was the favouring, and you all were alarmed, and evil was your being alarmed, and Allah-azwj will Judge between you all and him. By Allah-azwj! No blame necessitates me-asws regarding the blood of Usman. I-asws wasn’t except a man from the Muslims, (like) the emigrants, being in my-asws house.
فَلَمَّا قَتَلْتُمُوهُ أَتَيْتُمُونِي تُبَايِعُونِّي، فَأَبَيْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ أَبَيْتُمْ عَلَيَّ، فَقَبَضْتُ يَدِي فَبَسَطْتُمُوهَا، وَ بَسَطْتُهَا فَمَدَدْتُمُوهَا، ثُمَّ تَدَاكَكْتُمْ عَلَيَّ تَدَاكَّ الْإِبِلِ الْهِيمِ عَلَى حِيَاضِهَا يَوْمَ وُرُودِهَا، حَتَّى ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّكُمْ قَاتِلِي،
When they had killed him, they came to me to pledge allegiance to me-asws. But I-asws refused upon you all, and you refused upon me-asws. so, my-asws hand was grabbed and it was extended, and they spread and extended theirs, then you thronged upon me like the crowding of the camels gathering to their watering place on the day of their return, to the extent that I-asws thought that you would (end up) killing me-asws.
وَ أَنَّ بَعْضَكُمْ قَاتِلٌ لِبَعْضٍ، حَتَّى انْقَطَعَتِ النَّعْلُ، وَ سَقَطَ الرِّدَاءُ، وَ وُطِئَ الضَّعِيفُ، وَ بَلَغَ مِنْ سُرُورِ النَّاسِ بِبَيْعَتِهِمْ إِيَّايَ أَنْ حُمِلَ إِلَيْهَا الصَّغِيرُ وَ هَدَجَ إِلَيْهَا الْكَبِيرُ، وَ تَحَامَلَ إِلَيْهَا الْعَلِيلُ، وَ حَسَرَتْ لَهَا الْكِعَابُ.
And some of you fought against the others to the extent that my-asws slippers got cut (broken), and the cloak dropped off, and the weak ones were trampled, and it reached from the happiness of the people of their pledging allegiances to me-asws, that the young ones were carried to it and the elders hobbled to it, and the sick ones were carried to it, and the posterity regretted to it.
فَقَالُوا: بَايِعْنَا عَلَى مَا بُويِعَ عَلَيْهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرُ، فَإِنَّا لَا نَجِدُ غَيْرَكَ وَ لَا نَرْضَى إِلَّا بِكَ، فَبَايِعْنَا لَا نَفْتَرِقُ وَ لَا نَخْتَلِفُ، فَبَايَعْتُكُمْ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ دَعَوْتُ النَّاسَ إِلَى بَيْعَتِي، فَمَنْ بَايَعَنِي طَائِعاً قَبِلْتُ مِنْهُ، وَ مَنْ أَبَى تَرَكْتُهُ،
They said, ‘Take our allegiances upon what Abu Bakr and Umar had been pledged upon, for we cannot find anyone else apart from you-asws, nor are we pleased except with you-asws! Take our allegiances, and we will neither separate nor oppose’. So, I-asws took your allegiance upon the Book of Allah-azwj and the Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww, and called you – the people to my-asws allegiance. The one who pledged allegiance willingly, I-asws accepted from him, and who refused, I-asws left him.
فَكَانَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ بَايَعَنِي طَلْحَةَ وَ الزُّبَيْرَ، فَقَالا: نُبَايِعُكَ عَلَى أَنَّا شُرَكَاؤُكَ فِي الْأَمْرِ. فَقُلْتُ: لَا، وَ لَكِنَّكُمَا شُرَكَائِي فِي الْقُوَّةِ، وَ عَوْنَايَ فِي الْعَجْزِ. فَبَايَعَانِي عَلَى هَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَ لَوْ أَبَيَا لَمْ أُكْرِهْهُمَا كَمَا لَمْ أُكْرِهْ غَيْرَهُمَا، وَ كَانَ طَلْحَةُ يَرْجُو الْيَمَنَ وَ الزُّبَيْرُ يَرْجُو الْعِرَاقَ،
The first ones to pledge allegiance to me were Talha and Al-Zubeyr. They said, ‘We pledge allegiance to you-asws upon that we shall participate with you-asws in the command’. I-asws said: ‘No, but you two are my-asws participants in the strength and my-asws supporters during the frustration’. They pledge allegiance to me upon this command, and had they refuse, I-asws would not have forced them, just as I-asws had not forced the others; and Talha wished for (governorship of) Al-Yemen, and Al-Zubeyr wished for (governorship of) Al-Iraq.
فَلَمَّا عَلِمَا أَنِّي غَيْرُ مُوَلِّيهِمَا اسْتَأْذَنَانِي لِلْعُمْرَةِ يُرِيدَانِ الْغَدْرَ، فَأَتَيَا عَائِشَةَ وَ اسْتَخَفَّاهَا مَعَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فِي نَفْسِهَا عَلَيَّ، وَ النِّسَاءُ نَوَاقِصُ الْإِيمَانِ، نَوَاقِصُ الْعُقُولِ، نَوَاقِصُ الْحُظُوظِ،
When they came to know that I-asws will not be making them rulers, they sought permission for the Umrah, intending the treachery. They went to Ayesha and scared her with everything within herself against me-asws, and the women tend to be of deficient Eman, deficient of the intellect, deficient of the shares.
فَأَمَّا نُقْصَانُ إِيمَانِهِنَّ فَقُعُودُهُنَّ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ فِي أَيَّامِ حَيْضِهِنَّ، وَ أَمَّا نُقْصَانُ عُقُولِهِنَّ فَلَا شَهَادَةَ لَهُنَّ إِلَّا فِي الدَّيْنِ وَ شَهَادَةُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ بِرَجُلٍ، وَ أَمَّا نُقْصَانُ حُظُوظِهِنَّ فَمَوَارِيثُهُنَّ عَلَى الْأَنْصَافِ مِنْ مَوَارِيثِ الرِّجَالِ،
As for the deficiency of their Eman, so it is their staying back from the Salat and the Fasts during the days of their menstruation; and as for the deficiency of their intellects, so there is no testimony for them except in the debts, and testimony of two women (equates) with (one testimony of) a man; and as for the deficiency of their shares, it is their inheritances upon the half of the inheritances of the men.
وَ قَادَهُمَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَامِرٍ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ، وَ ضَمِنَ لَهُمَا الْأَمْوَالَ وَ الرِّجَالَ، فَبَيْنَمَا هُمَا يَقُودَانِهَا إِذْ هِيَ تَقُودُهُمَا، فَاتَّخَذَاهَا فِئَةً يُقَاتِلَانِ دُونَهَا،
And they guided Ubeydullah Bin Aamir to Al-Basra, and he guaranteed for them the wealth (funds for battle) and the men (soldiers). While they two were urging her (Ayesha), when she (started) urging them, so they took to a group to be fighting other than with her, and they took a group to be fighting under her.
فَأَيُّ خَطِيئَةٍ أَعْظَمُ مِمَّا أَتَيَا إِخْرَاجِهِمَا زَوْجَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِنْ بَيْتِهَا، فَكَشَفَا عَنْهَا حِجَاباً سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا، وَ صَانَا حَلَائِلَهُمَا فِي بُيُوتِهِمَا وَ لَا أَنْصَفَا اللَّهَ وَ لَا رَسُولَهُ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمَا،
ثَلَاثُ خِصَالٍ مَرْجِعُهَا عَلَى النَّاسِ، قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: يا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّما بَغْيُكُمْ عَلى أَنْفُسِكُمْ، وَ قَالَ: فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّما يَنْكُثُ عَلى نَفْسِهِ، وَ قَالَ: لا يَحِيقُ الْمَكْرُ السَّيِّئُ إِلَّا بِأَهْلِهِ فَقَدْ بَغَيَا عَلَيَّ، وَ نَكَثَا بَيْعَتِي، وَ مَكَرَا بِي،
Three characteristics have comebacks upon the people. Allah-azwj the Exalted Says: O you people! But rather, your rebellion is against your own selves. [10:23]; and Said: So the one who breaks, is rather breaking against himself [48:10], and Said: and the evil plot does not affect except its perpetrators [35:43]. So, they have rebelled against me-asws, and have broken my-asws allegiance, and have plotted against me-asws.
فَمُنِيتُ بِأَطْوَعِ النَّاسِ فِي النَّاسِ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، وَ بِأَشْجَعِ النَّاسِ الزُّبَيْرِ، وَ بِأَخْصَمِ النَّاسِ طَلْحَةَ، وَ أَعَانَهُمْ عَلَيَّ يَعْلَى بْنُ مُنَبِّهٍ بِأَصْوُعِ الدَّنَانِيرِ، وَ اللَّهِ لَئِنِ اسْتَقَامَ أَمْرِي لَأَجْعَلَنَّ مَالَهُ فَيْئاً لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ،
I-asws was smitten by the tamest of the people among the people, Ayesha daughter of Abu bakr, and by the braves of the people, Al-Zubeyr, and the most antagonistic of the people, Talha, and they were supported against me-asws by Ya’la Bin Munabba a vast amount of Dinars. By Allah-azwj! If I-asws were to stabilise my-asws command, I-asws would make his wealth to be a war booty for the Muslims!
ثُمَّ أَتَوُا الْبَصْرَةَ وَ أَهْلُهَا مُجْتَمِعُونَ عَلَى بَيْعَتِي وَ طَاعَتِي، وَ بِهَا شِيعَتِي خُزَّانُ بَيْتِ مَالِ اللَّهِ وَ مَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَدَعَوُا النَّاسَ إِلَى مَعْصِيَتِي وَ إِلَى نَقْضِ بَيْعَتِي، فَمَنْ أَطَاعَهُمْ أَكْفَرُوهُ، وَ مَنْ عَصَاهُمْ قَتَلُوهُ،
Then they came to Al-Basra, and its people were gathering upon pledging allegiance to me-asws and obey me-asws, and at it were my-asws Shias, treasurers of the public treasury of the wealth of Allah-azwj and wealth of the Muslims. They called the people to disobey me-asws and to break my-asws allegiance. The one who obeyed them, they let him go, and one who disobeyed them, they killed him.
فَنَاجَزَهُمْ حَكِيمُ بْنُ جَبَلَةَ فَقَتَلُوهَا فِي سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا مِنْ عُبَّادِ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ وَ مُخْبِتِيهِمْ يُسَمَّوْنَ: الْمُثْفَنِينَ، كَأَنَّ رَاحَ أَكُفِّهِمْ ثَفِنَاتُ الْإِبِلِ،
Hakeem Bin Habala battled them, and they killed him among seventy men from the worshippers of the people of Al-Basra, and their humble ones, named as the ‘dried up ones’, it is as if they were like the dried palms of the camels.
وَ أَبَى أَنْ يُبَايِعَهُمْ يَزِيدُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْيَشْكُرِيُّ، فَقَالَ: اتَّقِيَا اللَّهَ! إِنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ قَادَنَا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ فَلَا يَقُودُنَا آخِرُكُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ، فَلَا تُكَلِّفُونَا أَنْ نُصَدِّقَ الْمُدَّعِيَ وَ نَقْضِيَ عَلَى الْغَائِبِ، أَمَّا يَمِينِي فَشَغَلَهَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ بِبَيْعَتِي إِيَّاهُ، وَ هَذِهِ شِمَالِي فَارِغَةٌ فَخُذَاهَا إِنْ شِئْتُمَا، فَخُنِقَ حَتَّى مَاتَ،
And Yazeed Bin Al-Haris Al-Tashkury refused to pledge allegiance to them. He said, ‘Fear Allah-azwj! If the first of you is guiding us to the Paradise, so we will not guide the last of you to the Fire. You cannot encumber us to ratify the claimant and break upon the absentee. As for my right hand, so it is pre-occupied with my allegiance to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, and this here is my left hand is free. Take it if you (both) like’. He was suffocated until he died.
وَ قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حَكِيمٍ التَّمِيمِيُّ فَقَالَ: يَا طَلْحَةُ! هَلْ تَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، هَذَا كِتَابِي إِلَيْكَ. قَالَ: هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا فِيهِ؟ قَالَ: اقْرَأْهُ عَلَيَّ، فَإِذَا فِيهِ عَيْبُ عُثْمَانَ وَ دُعَاؤُهُ إِلَى قَتْلِهِ، فَسَيَّرَهُ مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ، وَ أَخَذُوا عَلَى عَامِلِي عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حُنَيْفٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ غَدْراً فَمَثَّلُوا بِهِ كُلَّ الْمُثْلَةِ، وَ نَتَفُوا كُلَّ شَعْرَةٍ فِي رَأْسِهِ وَ وَجْهِهِ، وَ قَتَلُوا شِيعَتِي، طَائِفَةً صَبْراً، وَ طَائِفَةً غَدْراً، وَ طَائِفَةٌ عَضُّوا بِأَسْيَافِهِمْ حَتَّى لَقُوا اللَّهَ،
And Abdullah Bin Hakeem Al-Tameemi stood up and said, ‘O Talha! Do you recognise this letter?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He said, ‘This is my letter to you’. He said, ‘Do you know what is in it?’ He said, ‘Read it out to me, for therein are the faults of Usman and his call to his killing’. They expelled him from Al-Basra and they seized the office bearers of Usman Bin Huneyf Al-Ansari treacherously, and they tortured him with every torture, and they plucked out every hair from his head and face, and they killed my-asws Shias – a group by execution, and a group by treachery, and a group they attacked by their swords until they met Allah-azwj.
فَوَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَمْ يَقْتُلُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا رَجُلًا وَاحِداً لَحَلَّ لِي بِهِ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَ دِمَاءُ ذَلِكَ الْجَيْشِ لِرِضَاهُمْ بِقَتْلِ مَنْ قُتِلَ، دَعْ مَعَ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ قَتَلُوا أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْعِدَّةِ الَّتِي قَدْ دَخَلُوا بِهَا عَلَيْهِمْ، وَ قَدْ أَدَالَ اللَّهُ مِنْهُمْ فَبُعْداً لِلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ،
By Allah-azwj! Even if they had not killed from them except one man, (shedding) their blood would have been Permissible for me-asws, and the blood of the army due to their agreeing with the killing of the ones killed. Leave it, along with that they had killed more from the worshippers, those they had entered upon them, and Allah-azwj has Pointed about them: Therefore, remoteness is for the unjust people [23:41].
فَأَمَّا طَلْحَةُ فَرَمَاهُ مَرْوَانُ بِسَهْمٍ فَقَتَلَهُ، وَ أَمَّا الزُّبَيْرُ فَذَكَّرْتُهُ قَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: إِنَّكَ تُقَاتِلُ عَلِيّاً (ع) وَ أَنْتَ ظَالِمٌ لَهُ، وَ أَمَّا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّهَا كَانَ نَهَاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَنْ مَسِيرِهَا فَعَضَّتْ يَدَيْهَا نَادِمَةً عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْهَا.
As for Talha, Marwan shot at him with an arrow and killed him; and as for Al-Zubeyr, I-asws reminded him of the words of Rasool-Allah-saww: ‘You (Al-Zubeyr) would be fighting against Ali-asws and you will be an oppressor to him-asws’. And as for Ayesha, she had been forbidden by Rasool-Allah-saww from her travelling, she bit her hands in regret upon what had happened from her.
وَ قَدْ كَانَ طَلْحَةُ لَمَّا نَزَلَ ذَا قَارٍ قَامَ خَطِيباً فَقَالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِنَّا أَخْطَأْنَا فِي عُثْمَانَ خَطِيئَةً مَا يُخْرِجُنَا مِنْهَا إِلَّا الطَّلَبُ بِدَمِهِ، وَ عَلِيٌّ قَاتِلُهُ، وَ عَلَيْهِ دَمُهُ. وَ قَدْ نَزَلَ دارن مَعَ شُكَّاكِ الْيَمَنِ وَ نَصَارَى رَبِيعَةَ وَ مُنَافِقِي مُضَرَ،
And when Talha had descended at Za Qaar, he addressed saying, ‘O you people! We have made a mistake regarding Usman with such a mistake, we cannot come out from it except by seeking his blood, and Ali-asws is his killer, and upon him-asws is his blood’. And he had descended in houses with the doubters of Al-Yemen, and Christians of Rabie, and hypocrites of (tribe of) Muzar.
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَنِي قَوْلُهُ وَ قَوْلٌ كَانَ عَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ فِيهِ، بَعَثْتُ إِلَيْهِمَا أُنَاشِدُهُمَا بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَا أَتَيْتُمَانِي وَ أَهْلُ مِصْرَ مُحَاصِرُو عُثْمَانَ،
When his words reached me, and the words which were from Al-Zubeyr regarding it, I-asws sent a message to them both, adjuring them with the right of Muhammad-saww: ‘Do not come to me-asws (for battle) and the people of Egypt have besieged Usman’.
فَقُلْتُمَا: اذْهَبْ بِنَا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَإِنَّا لَا نَسْتَطِيعُ قَتْلَهُ إِلَّا بِكَ، لِمَا تَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ سَيَّرَ أَبَا ذَرٍّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ، وَ فَتَقَ عَمَّاراً، وَ آوَى الْحَكَمَ بْنَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ- وَ قَدْ طَرَدَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرُ- وَ اسْتَعْمَلَ الْفَاسِقَ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ الْوَلِيدَ بْنَ عُقْبَةَ، وَ سَلَّطَ خَالِدَ بْنَ عُرْفُطَةَ الْعُذْرِيَ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يُمَزِّقُ وَ يَخْرِقُ،
You two said, ‘Come with us to this man (Usman), for we are not able upon killing him except by you-asws, due to what you-asws know that he had expelled Abu Zarr-ra, and injured Ammar, and sheltered Al-Hakan Bin Abu Al-Aas, and although Rasool-Allah-saww, and Abu Bakr, and Umar had expelled him, and he utilised the transgressor Al-Waleed Bin Uqba upon (compiling) the Book of Allah-azwj, and had authorise Khalid Bin Urfutah Al-Uzry upon the Book of Allah-azwj with tearing it and burning it’.
فَقُلْتُ: كُلَّ هَذَا قَدْ عَلِمْتُ وَ لَا أَرَى قَتْلَهُ يَوْمِي هَذَا، وَ أَوْشَكَ سِقَاؤُهُ أَنْ يُخْرِجَ الْمَخْضُ زُبْدَتَهُ، فَأَقَرَّا بِمَا قُلْتُ.
I-asws said: ‘All this you have known, and I-asws do not see his killing in this day of mine-asws, and no doubt it can be quenched if the butter were to bring out its foam. Accept what I-asws am saying to you both’.
وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكُمَا: إِنَّكُمَا تَطْلُبَانِ بِدَمِ عُثْمَانَ فَهَذَانِ ابْنَاهُ عَمْرٌو وَ سَعِيدٌ فَخَلُّوا عَنْهُمَا يَطْلُبَانِ دَمَ أَبِيهِمَا، مَتَى كَانَتْ أَسَدٌ وَ تَيْمٌ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ؟! فَانْقَطَعَا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ.
And as for your words that you are both seeking the blood of Usman, so here are his two sons, Amro and Saeed. Free their way to seek the blood of their father. When did the (clans of) Asad and Taym become the guardians of the clan of Umayya?!’ They were cut-off at that.
فَقَامَ عِمْرَانُ بْنُ حُصَيْنٍ الْخُزَاعِيُّ صَاحِبُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي جَاءَتْ عَنْهُ الْأَحَادِيثُ- وَ قَالَ: يَا هَذَانِ لَا تَخْرُجَانِ بِبَيْعَتِكُمَا مِنْ طَاعَةِ عَلِيٍّ، وَ لَا تَحْمِلَانَا عَلَى نَقْضِ بَيْعَتِهِ، فَإِنَّهَا لِلَّهِ رِضًا، أَ مَا وَسِعَتْكُمَا بُيُوتُكُمَا حَتَّى أَتَيْتُمَا بِأُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟! فَالْعَجَبُ لِاخْتِلَافِهَا إِيَّاكُمَا، وَ مَسِيرِهَا مَعَكُمَا، فَكُفَّا عَنَّا أَنْفُسَكُمَا، وَ ارْجِعَا مِنْ حَيْثُ جِئْتُمَا، فَلَسْنَا عَبِيدَ مَنْ غَلَبَ، وَ لَا أَوَّلَ مَنْ سَبَقَ،
Imran Bin Husayn Al-Khuzaie, companion of Rasool-Allah-saww stood up, and he is the one from whom the Ahdeeth have come, and he said, ‘O you two! Do not come out from your allegiances which you pledged of the obedience to Ali-asws, and do not get carried upon breaking his-asws allegiance, for it had the Pleasure of Allah-azwj. Weren’t your houses capacious enough until you came with the mother of the believers (Ayesha)?! Strange of her differing with you two and (now) her travelling with you. Refrain yourselves from us and return to when you have come from, for we are no slaves of the ones who overcome, nor the first one to precede’.
فَهَمَّا بِهِ ثُمَّ كَفَّا عَنْهُ، وَ كَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ قَدْ شَكَّتْ فِي مَسِيرِهَا وَ تَعَاظَمَتِ الْقِتَالَ، فَدَعَتْ كَاتِبَهَا عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ كَعْبٍ النُّمَيْرِيَّ فَقَالَتْ: اكْتُبْ، مِنْ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ: هَذَا أَمْرٌ لَا يَجْرِي بِهِ الْقَلَمُ، قَالَتْ: وَ لِمَ؟! قَالَ: لِأَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ أَوَّلٌ، وَ لَهُ بِذَلِكَ الْبَدَاءُ فِي الْكِتَابِ.
They thought of killing him, then refrained from him, and Ayesha had doubted during her journey and considered the fighting to be a mighty thing. So, she called her scribe Ubeydullah Bin Ka’ab Al-Numeyri. She said, ‘Write, ‘From Ayesha daughter of Abu Bakr to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws’. He said, ‘This is a matter then pen cannot flow with it’. She said, ‘And why not?!’ He said, ‘Because Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws is the first in Al-Islam, and for him-asws with that is the beginning in the Book’.
فَقَالَتِ: اكْتُبْ، إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ مِنْ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، أَمَّا بَعْدُ: فَإِنِّي لَسْتُ أَجْهَلُ قَرَابَتَكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ لَا قَدَمَكَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ لَا غِنَاكَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ إِنَّمَا خَرَجْتُ مُصْلِحَةً بَيْنَ بَنِيَّ لَا أُرِيدُ حَرْبَكَ إِنْ كَفَفْتَ عَنْ هَذَيْنِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ .. فِي كَلَامٍ لَهَا كَثِيرٍ، فَلَمْ أُجِبْهَا بِحَرْفٍ، وَ أَخَّرْتُ جَوَابَهَا لِقِتَالِهَا،
She said, ‘Write, ‘To Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, from Ayesha daughter of Abu Bakr. As for after, I am not unaware of your relationship from Rasool-Allah-saww, nor of your-asws being first in Al-Islam, nor of your-asws state from Rasool-Allah-saww, and rather I have come out to reconcile between my sons, nor do I want to battle you-asws, if you-asws were to refrain from these two men’ – among a lot of speech of her. But, I-asws did not answer her with a single word, and I delayed her answer (until she initiated the war).
فَلَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ لِيَ الْحُسْنَى سِرْتُ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ وَ اسْتَخْلَفْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَبَّاسٍ عَلَى الْبَصْرَةِ، فَقَدِمْتُ الْكُوفَةَ وَ قَدِ اتَّسَقَتْ لِيَ الْوُجُوهُ كُلُّهَا إِلَّا الشَّامُ، فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَتَّخِذَ الْحُجَّةَ، وَ أَقْضِيَ الْعُذْرَ، وَ أَخَذْتُ بِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: وَ إِمَّا تَخافَنَّ مِنْ قَوْمٍ خِيانَةً فَانْبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلى سَواءٍ،
When Allah-azwj Judged the goodness for me-asws, I-asws travelled to Al-Kufa and made Abdullah Bin Abbas to be in charge upon Al-Basra. I arrived at Al-Kufa, and the faces, all of them had turned to me-asws except for Syria (Muawiya). I-asws loved to that the argument and fulfil the excuse, and I-asws with the Words of Allah-azwj Exalted: And if you fear treachery from a people, then discard (the agreement) to them upon equality, [8:58].
فَبَعَثْتُ جَرِيرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى مُعَاوِيَةَ مُعْذِراً إِلَيْهِ، مُتَّخِذاً لِلْحُجَّةِ عَلَيْهِ، فَرَدَّ كِتَابِي، وَ جَحَدَ حَقِّي، وَ دَفَعَ بَيْعَتِي، وَ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَنِ ابْعَثْ إِلَيَّ قَتَلَةَ عُثْمَانَ، فَبَعَثْتُ إِلَيْهِ: مَا أَنْتَ وَ قَتَلَةَ عُثْمَانَ؟! أَوْلَادُهُ أَوْلَى بِهِ، فَادْخُلْ أَنْتَ وَ هُمْ فِي طَاعَتِي
I-asws sent Jareer Bin Abdullah to Muawiya offering an excuse to him, having taken the argument upon him. He returned my-asws letter and rejected my-asws right, and repelled my-asws allegiance, and he sent a message to me-asws, ‘Send the killer of Usman to me’. I-asws sent a message to him, ‘What have I-asws to do with the killer of Usman?! His children are foremost with it, so you and them should enter into my-asws obedience’.
ثُمَّ خَاصِمُوا إِلَيَ الْقَوْمَ لِأَحْمِلَكُمْ وَ إِيَّاهُمْ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ، وَ إِلَّا فَهَذِهِ خُدْعَةُ الصَّبِيِّ عَنْ رَضَاعِ الْمَلِيِّ، فَلَمَّا يَئِسَ مِنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَنِ اجْعَلِ الشَّامَ لِي حَيَاتَكَ، فَإِنْ حَدَثَ بِكَ حَادِثَةٌ عَنِ الْمَوْتِ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِأَحَدٍ عَلَيَّ طَاعَةٌ، وَ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ بِذَلِكَ أَنْ يَخْلَعَ طَاعَتِي مِنْ عُنُقِه فَأَبَيْتُ عَلَيْهِ.
Then the people disputed that I-asws should carry you and them upon the Book of Allah-azwj or else so this is (like) deceiving a child from breast-feeding for a while. When he despaired from this command, he sent a message to me, ‘Make Syria to be for me during your-asws lifetime, so that if the event of death occurs upon you, there would not be any obedience for me upon anyone’, and rather he intended with that to be free my-asws obedience from his neck, so I-asws refused unto him.
فَبَعَثَ إِلَيَّ: أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْحِجَازِ كَانُوا الْحُكَّامَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَلَمَّا قَتَلُوا عُثْمَانَ صَارَ أَهْلُ الشَّامِ الْحُكَّامَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْحِجَازِ،
He sent a message to me-asws, ‘The people of Al-Hijaz were rulers upon the people of Syrian. When they killed Usman, the people of Syria became the rulers over the people of Al-Hijaz’.
فَبَعَثْتُ إِلَيْهِ: إِنْ كُنْتَ صَادِقاً فَسَمِّ لِي رَجُلًا مِنْ قُرَيْشِ الشَّامِ تَحِلُّ لَهُ الْخِلَافَةُ، وَ يُقْبَلُ فِي الشُّورَى فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْهُ سَمَّيْتُ لَكَ مِنْ قُرَيْشِ الْحِجَازِ مَنْ تَحِلُّ لَهُ الْخِلَافَةُ، وَ يُقْبَلُ فِي الشُّورَى،
I-asws sent a message to him: ‘If you were truthful, then name a man from Quraysh of Syria for whom the caliphate would be permissible for and he would accept to be in consultation. If you cannot find him, I-asws will name for you from Quraysh of Al-Hijaz, someone the caliphate is permissible for, and he would accept to be in the consultation.
وَ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى أَهْلِ الشَّامِ فَإِذَا هُمْ بَقِيَّةُ الْأَحْزَابِ فَرَاشُ نَارٍ وَ ذُبَابُ طَمَعٍ تَجْمَعُ مِنْ كُلِّ أَوْبٍ مِمَّنْ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ يُؤَدَّبَ وَ يُحْمَلُ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ، لَيْسُوا مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ لَا الْأَنْصَارِ وَ لَا التَّابِعِينَ بِإِحْسَانٍ،
And I-asws looked at the people of Syria, and there they were, remainder of the confederates (Battle of Al-Ahzaab), a bed of fire and covetous flies gathered from every epidemic, from the ones it is befitting to be educated and carried upon the Sunnah, neither being from the Emigrants nor from the Helpers, nor the followers of goodness.
فَدَعَوْتُهُمْ إِلَى الطَّاعَةِ وَ الْجَمَاعَةِ فَأَبَوْا إِلَّا فِرَاقِي وَ شِقَاقِي، ثُمَّ نَهَضُوا فِي وَجْهِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، يَنْضَحُونَهُمْ بِالنَّبْلِ، وَ يَشْجُرُونَهُمْ بِالرِّمَاحِ، فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ نَهَضْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَلَمَّا عَضَّتْهُمُ السِّلَاحُ، وَ وَجَدُوا أَلَمَ الْجِرَاحِ رَفَعُوا الْمَصَاحِفَ
I-asws called them to the obedience and the unity, but they refused except for separation and wretchedness. Then they rose up in the face of the Muslims, shooting at them with the arrows and the stabbing them with the spears. During that, I-asws rose up to them. When they were bitten by the weapons and found the pain of injuries, they raised the Parchments (Qurans).
فَدَعَوْكُمْ إِلَى مَا فِيهَا، فَأَنْبَأْتُكُمْ أَنَّهُمْ لَيْسُوا بِأَهْلِ دِينٍ وَ لَا قُرْآنٍ وَ إِنَّمَا رَفَعُوهَا مَكِيدَةً وَ خَدِيعَةً، فَامْضُوا لِقِتَالِهِمْ، فَقُلْتُمُ: اقْبَلْ مِنْهُمْ وَ اكففت [اكْفُفْ] عَنْهُمْ، فَإِنَّهُمْ إِنْ أَجَابُوا إِلَى مَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ جَامَعُونَا عَلَى مَا نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ،
So, you all called to what is in it, and I-asws informed you that they were neither people of Religion nor Quran, and rather they were raising it as a plot and a deception. I-asws went on to fight them. You said, ‘Accept from them and restrain from them, for if them were to answer to what is in the Quran, we would (all) be united upon what we are (already) upon, of the truth’.
فَقَبِلْتُ مِنْهُمْ وَ كَفَفْتُ عَنْهُمْ، فَكَانَ الصُّلْحُ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ عَلَى رَجُلَيْنِ حَكَمَيْنِ لِيُحْيِيَا مَا أَحْيَاهُ الْقُرْآنُ وَ يُمِيتَا مَا أَمَاتَهُ الْقُرْآنُ، فَاخْتَلَفَ رَأْيُهُمَا وَ اخْتَلَفَ حُكْمُهُمَا، فَنَبَذَا مَا فِي الْكِتَابِ وَ خَالَفَا مَا فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَ كَانَا أَهْلَهُ،
I-asws accepted from them and restrained from them. The reconciliation between you and them was upon two men as judges, for them to revive what the Quran revived and kill whatever the Quran kills. Their views differed and their decisions differed. So, they discarded what was in the Book and opposed what was in the Quran, and they were its people.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ طَائِفَةً اعْتَزَلَتْ فَتَرَكْنَاهُمْ مَا تَرَكُونَا حَتَّى إِذَا عَاثُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ يُفْسِدُونَ وَ يَقْتُلُونَ، وَ كَانَ فِيمَنْ قَتَلُوهُ أَهْلُ مِيرَةٍ مِنْ بَنِي أَسَدٍ، وَ قَتَلُوا خَبَّابَ بْنَ الْأَرَتِ وَ ابْنَهُ وَ أُمَّ وَلَدِهِ، وَ الْحَارِثَ بْنَ مُرَّةَ الْعَبْدِيَّ،
Then a group isolated, so we left them for as long as they left us alone, until when they wreaked havoc in the earth, corrupting and killing, and among the ones they killed were the people of Meyra from the clan of Asad, and they kill Khabbab Bin Al-Art, and his son, and mother of his children, and Al-Haris Bin Murrah Al-Abady.
فَبَعَثْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ دَاعِياً، فَقُلْتُ: ادْفَعُوا إِلَيْنَا قَتَلَةَ إِخْوَانِنَا، فَقَالُوا: كُلُّنَا قَتَلَتُهُمْ، ثُمَّ شَدَّتْ عَلَيْنَا خَيْلُهُمْ وَ رِجَالُهُمْ فَصَرَعَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَصَارِعَ الظَّالِمِينَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ شَأْنِهِمْ أَمَرْتُكُمْ أَنْ تَمْضُوا مِنْ فَوْرِكُمْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى عَدُوِّكُمْ، فَقُلْتُمْ: كَلَّتْ سُيُوفُنَا، وَ نَصَلَتْ أَسِنَّةُ رِمَاحِنَا، وَ عَادَ أَكْثَرُهَا قَصِيداً فَأْذَنْ لَنَا فَلْنَرْجِعْ وَ لْنَقْصِدْ بِأَحْسَنِ عُدَّتِنَا، وَ إِذَا نَحْنُ رَجَعْنَا زِدْنَا فِي مُقَاتَلَتِنَا عِدَّةَ مَنْ قُتِلَ مِنَّا
I-asws sent a message to them, calling. I-asws said, ‘Hand over to us the killers of our brethren’. They said, ‘All of us are their killers’. Then they strengthened their cavalry and their infantry, but Allah-azwj Fought them the fight of the unjust. When that happened from their actions, I-asws ordered you to go immediately right to your enemies’. You said, ‘Our swords are few, and our spear are old, and for most of us these are in short supply, so permit for us to return and prepare an excellent preparation. And when we do return, our fighters would have increased, a number of the ones from us who fight.
حَتَّى إِذَا أَظْلَلْتُمْ عَلَى النُّخَيْلَةِ أَمَرْتُكُمْ أَنْ تَلْزَمُوا مُعَسْكَرَكُمْ، وَ أَنْ تَضُمُّوا إِلَيْهِ نَوَاصِيَكُمْ، وَ أَنْ تُوَطِّنُوا عَلَى الْجِهَادِ نُفُوسَكُمْ، وَ لَا تُكْثِرُوا زِيَارَةَ أَبْنَائِكُمْ وَ لَا نِسَائِكُمْ، فَإِنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْحَرْبِ مُصَابِرُوهَا وَ أَهْلَ التَّشْهِيرِ فِيهَا، وَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَتَوَجَّدُونَ مِنْ سَهَرِ لَيْلِهِمْ، وَ لَا ظَمَإِ نَهَارِهِمْ، وَ لَا فِقْدَانِ أَوْلَادِهِمْ وَ لَا نِسَائِهِمْ،
(It went on) to the extent that when you were shaded at the palm trees, I-asws instructed you that you should be with your soldiers and to necessitate your corners, and settle yourselves upon the Jihad, and do not frequent the visitations of your sons nor your wives, for the companions of war are their patrons and the propagandists are in it, and the ones who are not holding vigils in their nights, nor being thirsty in their days, nor do they miss their children or their wives.
وَ أَقَامَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْكُمْ مُعَدَّةٌ وَ طَائِفَةٌ دَخَلَتِ الْمِصْرَ عَاصِيَةً، فَلَا مَنْ دَخَلَ الْمِصْرَ عَادَ إِلَيَّ، وَ لَا مَنْ أَقَامَ مِنْكُمْ ثَبَتَ مَعِي وَ لَا صَبَرَ، فَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُنِي وَ مَا فِي عَسْكَرِي مِنْكُمْ خَمْسُونَ رَجُلًا، فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَمَا قُدِّرَ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَخْرُجُوا مَعِي إِلَى يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا، لِلَّهِ أَبُوكُمْ
And a group from you prepared and a group entered the city disobeying, and the ones who entered the city did not return to me-asws, and the ones who stayed were not steadfast with me-asws nor were they patient. I-asws only saw fifty men from you in my-asws army. When I-asws saw what you were upon, I-asws entered among you and estimated that you will not be going out with me-asws, up to this day of yours, for the Sake of Allah-azwj.
أَ لَا تَرَوْنَ أَيُّ مِصْرٍ قَدِ افْتُتِحَتْ؟ وَ أَيُ أَطْرَافِكُمْ قَدِ انْتَقَصَتْ؟ وَ أَيُ مَسَالِحِكُمْ تُرْقَى؟ وَ أَيُ بِلَادِكُمْ تُغْزَى؟ وَ أَنْتُمْ ذَوُو عَدَدٍ جَمٍّ وَ شَوْكَةٍ شَدِيدَةٍ، وَ أُولُو بَأْسٍ قَدْ كَانَ مَخُوفاً، لِلَّهِ أَنْتُمْ! أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ؟ وَ أَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ؟.
Can’t you see? Which of the cities have you conquered? And which of your outskirts have you (even) reproached? And which of your weapons have you updated? And which of your cities have been invaded? And you are with large numbers and stronger backbones, and ones with strength they used to fear? For the Sake of Allah-azwj! You, where are you going? And why are you being deluded?
أَلَا إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ جَدُّوا وَ تَآسَوْا وَ تَنَاصَرُوا، وَ إِنَّكُمْ أَبَيْتُمْ وَ وَنَيْتُمْ وَ تَخَاذَلْتُمْ وَ تَغَاشَشْتُمْ، مَا أَنْتُمْ إِنْ بَقِيتُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ سُعَدَاءَ، فَأَنْبِهُوا- رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ- نَائِمَكُمْ، وَ تَحَرَّوْا لِحَرْبِ عَدُوِّكُمْ، فَقَدْ أَبْدَتِ الرَّغْوَةُ عَنِ الصَّرِيحِ، وَ أَضَاءَ الصُّبْحُ لِذِي عَيْنَيْنِ، فَانْتَبِهُوا
Indeed! The people (enemies) exerted, and they conspired, and supported each other, while you refused, and slept, and abandoned, and cheated. You would not have been happy if you were had remained upon that. Be careful of your sleep, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you, and heat up for battling your enemies, for the lather has appeared from the cream, and the morning has illuminated for the one with eyes, so watch out!
إِنَّمَا تُقَاتِلُونَ الطُّلَقَاءَ وَ أَبْنَاءَ الطُّلَقَاءِ وَ أَهْلَ الْجَفَاءِ، وَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ كَرْهاً، وَ كَانَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنِفاً، وَ لِلْإِسْلَامِ كُلِّهِ حَرْباً، أَعْدَاءَ السُّنَّةِ وَ الْقُرْآنِ، وَ أَهْلَ الْبِدَعِ وَ الْأَحْدَاثِ، وَ مَنْ كَانَتْ نِكَايَتُهُ تُتَّقَى وَ كَانَ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَ أَهْلِهِ مَخُوفاً، وَ أَكَلَةَ الرِّشَا، وَ عَبِيدَ الدُّنْيَا،
But rather, you are going to be fighting the freed ones (of Makkah) and the sons of the freed ones, and the people of disloyalty, and ones who became Muslims unwillingly, and to Rasool-Allah-saww they had snubbed, and they had all fled from Al-Islam, enemies of the Sunnah and the Quran, and (they are) people of innovations and juveniles, and ones who were called but they stayed back, and they were fearful upon Al-Islam and its people, and they ate from the bribery, and are slaves of the world!
وَ لَقَدْ أُنْهِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّ ابْنَ النَّابِغَةِ لَمْ يُبَايِعْ مُعَاوِيَةَ حَتَّى شَرَطَ لَهُ أَنْ يُؤْتِيَهُ أَتِيَّةً هِيَ أَعْظَمُ مِمَّا فِي يَدَيْهِ مِنْ سُلْطَانِهِ، فَصَغُرَتْ يَدُ هَذَا الْبَائِعِ دِينَهُ بِالدُّنْيَا، وَ خَزِيَتْ أَمَانَةُ هَذَا الْمُشْتَرِي بِنُصْرَةِ فَاسِقٍ غَادِرٍ بِأَمْوَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ،
And it has been informed to me that Ibn Al-Nabigah did not pledge allegiance to Muawiya until he stipulated to him that he would give him an award which was greater than what was in his hands from his authority. So, the hand of this seller of his religion for the world was belittled, and the entrustment of this buyer was humiliated by his helping a transgressor, one treacherous with the wealth of the Muslims.
وَ أَيُّ سَهْمٍ لِهَذَا الْمُشْتَرِي وَ قَدْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ، وَ ضُرِبَ حَدّاً فِي الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ كُلُّكُمْ يَعْرِفُهُ بِالْفَسَادِ فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَ إِنَّ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ أَهْلِهِ حَتَّى رُضِخَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ رَضِيخَةٌ،
And which share is for this buyer, and he had drunk the wine, and was whipped the legal punishment in Al-Islam, and all of you recognise him with the corruption in the world, and that from them is one who did not enter into Al-Islam and its people until he was awarded upon with an award.
فَهَؤُلَاءِ قَادَةُ الْقَوْمِ، وَ مَنْ تَرَكْتُ لَكُمْ ذِكْرَ مَسَاوِيهِ أَكْثَرُ وَ أَبْوَرُ، وَ أَنْتُمْ تَعْرِفُونَهُمْ بِأَعْيَانِهِمْ وَ أَسْمَائِهِمْ كَانُوا عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ ضِدّاً، وَ لِنَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حَرْباً، وَ لِلشَّيْطَانِ حِزْباً، لَمْ يَتَقَدَّمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ، وَ لَمْ يَحْدُثْ نِفَاقُهُمْ، وَ هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ لَوْ وُلُّوا عَلَيْكُمْ لَأَظْهَرُوا فِيكُمُ الْفَخْرَ وَ التَّكَبُّرَ وَ التَّسَلُّطَ بِالْجَبَرِيَّةِ وَ الْفَسَادِ فِي الْأَرْضِ،
So, these are (now) leaders of the people, one whose mention I-asws leave out for you, his evil is more, and more destructive, and you recognise them by seeing them and hearing them. They were adversaries against Al-Islam, and at war to the Prophet-saww, and a party of the Satan-la. Their Eman did not advance, and their hypocrisy wasn’t new, and they are those, if they were to rule upon you, they will manifest upon you all – the immoralities, and the arrogance, and the tyrannous overcoming, and the corruption in the earth.
وَ أَنْتُمْ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ تَوَاكُلٍ وَ تَخَاذُلٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُمْ وَ أَهْدَى سَبِيلًا، مِنْكُمُ الْفُقَهَاءُ وَ الْعُلَمَاءُ وَ الْفُهَمَاءُ وَ حَمَلَةُ الْكِتَابِ وَ الْمُتَهَجِّدُونَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ، أَ لَا تَسْخَطُونَ وَ تَنْقِمُونَ أَنْ يُنَازِعَكُمُ الْوَلَايَةَ السُّفَهَاءُ الْبُطَاةُ عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ الْجُفَاةُ فِيهِ؟!
And you are upon what was from you, from interdependence and being laid back, and (you are) better than them and more guided of the way. From you are the jurists, and the scholars, and the understanding ones, and memorisers of the Book, and the strivers with the vigils. Are you not getting angry and taking revenge that the foolish ones are snatching away the governance away from Islam and leaving the carcasses in it?!
اسْمَعُوا قَوْلِي- يَهْدِكُمُ اللَّهُ- إِذَا قُلْتُ، وَ أَطِيعُوا أَمْرِي إِذَا أَمَرْتُ، فَوَ اللَّهِ لَئِنْ أَطَعْتُمُونِي لَا تَغْوُوا، وَ إِنْ عَصَيْتُمُونِي لَا تَرْشُدُوا، قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: أَ فَمَنْ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّنْ لا يَهِدِّي إِلَّا أَنْ يُهْدى فَما لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ،
Listen to my-asws words, may Allah-azwj Guide you, when I-asws say it, and obey my-asws orders when I-asws issue them, for by Allah-azwj, if you were to obey me-asws you will not stray, and if you were to disobey me-asws you will not be rightly guided! Allah-azwj Exalted Says: Is the one who guides to the Truth more rightful to be followed or the one who does not guide unless if he is Guided? So, what is the matter with you all? How are you judging?’ [10:35].
وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِنَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: إِنَّما أَنْتَ مُنْذِرٌ وَ لِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هادٍ، فَالْهَادِي مِنْ بَعْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ هَادٍ لِأُمَّتِهِ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، فَمَنْ عَسَى أَنْ يَكُونَ الْهَادِيَ إِلَّا الَّذِي دَعَاكُمْ إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَ قَادَكُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَى،
And Allah-azwj the Exalted Said to His-azwj Prophet-saww: But rather, you are a Warner, and for every people there is a Guide [13:7]. So, the guide from after the Prophet-saww is a guide of his-saww community upon whatever had happened from Rasool-Allah-azwj. Who else had happened to be the guide except the one who calls you to the truth, and guides you to the guidance?
خُذُوا لِلْحَرْبِ أُهْبَتَهَا، وَ أَعِدُّوا لَهَا عُدَّتَهَا، فَقَدْ شُبَّتْ وَ أُوْقِدَتْ نَارُهَا، وَ تَجَرَّدَ لَكُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ لِكَيْلَا يُطْفِؤُا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْواهِهِمْ* وَ يَغْزُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، أَلَا إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَوْلِيَاءُ الشَّيْطَانِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الطَّمَعِ وَ الْجَفَاءِ أَوْلَى بِالْحَقِّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبِرِّ وَ الإخباث فِي طَاعَةِ رَبِّهِمْ وَ مُنَاصَحَةِ إِمَامِهِمْ،
Take the preparations for the war, and prepare for it its armaments, for it has arisen and its fire has been ignited, and the mischief-makers have been bared to you all, lest they extinguish the Noor of Allah-azwj with their mouths and battle the servants of Allah-azwj. Indeed! Surely, the party of Satan-la, from the people of greed and disloyalty aren’t foremost with the truth than the people of righteousness, and they are the most wicked in the obedience of their Lord-azwj and advice of their Imam-asws.
إِنِّي وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَقِيتُهُمْ وَحْدِي وَ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْأَرْضِ مَا اسْتَوْحَشْتُ مِنْهُمْ وَ لَا بَالَيْتُ، وَ لَكِنْ أَسَفٌ يَرِينِي، وَ جَزَعٌ يَعْتَرِينِي مِنْ أَنْ يَلِيَ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ فُجَّارُهَا وَ سُفَهَاؤُهَا فَيَتَّخِذُونَ مَالَ اللَّهِ دُوَلًا، وَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ دَغَلًا، وَ الْفَاسِقِينَ حِزْباً، وَ الصَّالِحِينَ حَرْباً،
By Allah-azwj! If I-asws were to meet them (in battle) alone, and they are the people of the earth, I-asws would not be fearful of them, nor give up, but regret made me-asws see, and my heart was alarmed from that this community would be ruled by its immoral ones, and it’s foolish ones, so they would be taking the wealth of Allah-azwj as (main reason for) government, and the Book of Allah-azwj for corruption, and the mischief-makers as a party, and the righteous to be at war with.
وَ ايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ مَا أَكْثَرْتُ تَأْنِيبَكُمْ وَ تَحْرِيصَهُمْ، وَ تَرَكْتُكُمْ إِذَا أَبَيْتُمْ حَتَّى أَلْقَاهُمْ مَتَى حُمَّ لِي لِقَاؤُهُمْ، فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَعَلَى الْحَقِّ، وَ إِنَّنِي لِلشَّهَادَةِ لَمُحِبٌّ، وَ إِنِّي إِلَى لِقَاءِ اللَّهِ رَبِّي لَمُشْتَاقٌ، وَ لِحُسْنِ ثَوَابِهِ مُنْتَظِرٌ،
And I-asws swear by Allah-azwj! Had it not been that, I-asws would not have frequented reprimanding you, and urging you, and would have left you when you refused, until when I-asws meet them (in battle) when they think of me-asws to meet them. By Allah-azwj! I-asws am upon the truth, and I-asws love to be martyred, and are desirous to meet my-asws Lord-azwj Allah-azwj, and waiting for His-azwj excellent Rewards.
إِنِّي نَافَرْتُكُمْ فَ انْفِرُوا خِفافاً وَ ثِقالًا وَ جاهِدُوا بِأَمْوالِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ لَا تَثَّاقَلُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَعْمَوْا بِالذُّلِّ، وَ تُقِرُّوا بِالْخَسْفِ، وَ يَكُونَ نَصِيبُكُمُ الْأَخْسَرَ،
I-asws am advancing you all, so Advance lightly and heavily, and fight with your wealth and your selves in the Way of Allah; that would be better for you if you were knowing [9:41], and do not be weighed down in the earth for you will be generalised with the humiliated, and you will be acknowledging with the regret, and your portion would be with the most loss.
إِنَّ أَخَا الْحَرْبِ الْيَقْظَانُ الْأَرِقُ إِنْ نَامَ لَمْ تَنَمْ عَيْنُهُ، وَ مَنْ ضَعُفَ أُوذِيَ، وَ مَنْ كَرِهَ الْجِهَادَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَانَ الْمَغْبُونَ الْمَهِينَ، إِنِّي لَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى مَا كُنْتُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِ وَ لَسْتُمْ لِي عَلَى مَا كُنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ،
The brother of war is the awake one, the restless. If he sleeps, his eyes do not sleep, and one harmed by weakness, and the one who abhors the Jihad in the Way of Allah-azwj – would be the defrauded, the degraded. I-asws am to you all today upon what you were upon yesterday, and to me-asws you aren’t upon what you were upon.
مَنْ تَكُونُوا نَاصِرِيهِ أَخَذَ بِالسَّهْمِ الْأَخْيَبِ، وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ نَصَرْتُمُ اللَّهَ لَنَصَرَكُمْ وَ ثَبَّتَ أَقْدَامَكُمْ، إِنَّهُ حَقٌّ عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يَنْصُرَ مَنْ نَصَرَهُ وَ يَخْذُلَ مَنْ خَذَلَهُ، أَ تَرَوْنَ الْغَلَبَةَ لِمَنْ صَبَرَ بِغَيْرِ نَصْرٍ وَ قَدْ يَكُونُ الصَّبْرُ جُبْناً وَ يَكُونُ حَمِيَّةً، وَ إِنَّمَا الصَّبْرُ بِالنَّصْرِ وَ الْوُرُودُ بِالصَّدْرِ، وَ الْبَرْقُ بِالْمَطَرِ.
One who wants to his helper would take the good arrow. By Allah-azwj! If Allah-azwj were to Help you, He-azwj would Help you and Affirm your feet. It is a right upon Allah-azwj that He-azwj Helps the one who helps Him-azwj, and Forsakes the one who forsakes Him-azwj. Are you viewing the victory would be for the one who is patient without victory, and the patience had become a cowardice, and he happens to be zealous? But rather, the patience with the victory, and the advent is with the bravery, and the lightning is with the rain.
اللَّهُمَّ اجْمَعْنَا وَ إِيَّاهُمْ عَلَى الْهُدَى، وَ زَهِّدْنَا وَ إِيَّاهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا، وَ اجْعَلِ الْآخِرَةَ خَيْراً لَنَا مِنَ الْأُولَى..
O Allah-azwj! Gather us and them upon the guidance, and Make us and them to be ascetics in the word, and Make the Hereafter to be better for us than the former (world)’’.[3]
2- وَ رَوَى السَّيِّدُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فِي الْكِتَابِ الْمَذْكُورِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيِّ مِمَّا رَوَاهُ فِي كِتَابِ الرَّسَائِلِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَ غَيْرِهِمَا، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عِمْرَانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ، عَنِ الْمُفَضَّلِ، عَنْ سِنَانِ بْنِ ظَرِيفٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَكْتُبُ بِهَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ إِلَى أَكَابِرِ أَصْحَابِهِ، وَ فِيهَا كَلَامٌ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ.
And it is reported by the Sayyad in the mentioned book (Kashf Al Mahjah), from Muhammad Bin Yaqoub Al Kulayni, from what is reported in the book ‘Al Rasaail’, from Ali Bin Muhammad, and Muhammad Bin Al Hassan and someone else, from Sahl Bin Zaiyd, from Al Abbas Bin Imran, from Muhammad Bin Al Qasim Bin Al Waleed Al Sayrafi, from Al Mufazzal, from Sinan Bin Tareyf,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws had written this sermon to the elders of his-asws companions, and therein is speech from Rasool-Allah-saww.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ، إِلَى الْمُقَرَّبِينَ فِي الْأَظِلَّةِ، الْمُمْتَحَنِينَ بِالْبَلِيَّةِ، الْمُسَارِعِينَ فِي الطَّاعَةِ، الْمُنْشَئِينَ فِي الْكَرَّةِ، تَحِيَّةٌ مِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ، سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ، أَمَّا بَعْدُ:
In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. To the ones of proximity in the (realm of) the shadows, the ones Tested with the afflictions, the ones quick in the obedience, the ones to be Resurrected during the Raj’at (return). Salutations from us-asws to you all! Greetings be upon you all! As for after: –
فَإِنَّ نُورَ الْبَصِيرَةِ رُوحُ الْحَيَاةِ الَّذِي لَا يَنْفَعُ إِيمَانٌ إِلَّا بِهِ مَعَ اتِّبَاعِ كَلِمَةِ اللَّهِ وَ التَّصْدِيقِ بِهَا، فَالْكَلِمَةُ مِنَ الرُّوحِ، وَ الرُّوحُ مِنَ النُّورِ، وَ النُّورُ نُورُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ،
The Noor (light) of the insight is the soul of life which the Eman cannot benefit except by it, along with following the Words of Allah-azwj and the ratification of these. The Word is from the Spirit, and the Spirit is from the Noor, and the Noor is, (Allah is the) Noor of the skies and the earth [24:35].[4]
فَبِأَيْدِيكُمْ سَبَبٌ وَصَلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَّا نِعْمَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ لَا تَعْقِلُونَ شُكْرَهَا، خَصَّكُمْ بِهَا وَ اسْتَخْلَصَكُمْ لَهَا وَ تِلْكَ الْأَمْثالُ نَضْرِبُها لِلنَّاسِ وَ ما يَعْقِلُها إِلَّا الْعالِمُونَ
In your hands are the means for there to arrive to you, bounties from Allah-azwj. You cannot understand its thanks. He-azwj has Specialised you with it and Purified you for it, And these examples, We Strike these for the people, and none understand these except for the learned ones [29:43].
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَهِدَ أَنْ لَنْ يَحُلَّ عَقْدَهُ أَحَدٌ سِوَاهُ، فَتَسَارَعُوا إِلَى وَفَاءِ الْعَهْدِ، وَ امْكُثُوا فِي طَلَبِ الْفَضْلِ، فَإِنَّ الدُّنْيَا عَرَضٌ حَاضِرٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا الْبَرُّ وَ الْفَاجِرُ، وَ إِنَّ الْآخِرَةَ وَعْدٌ صَادِقٌ يَقْضِي فِيهَا مَلِكٌ قَادِرٌ،
Allah-azwj Covenanted that none should abandon the pact he had agreed with Him-azwj, therefore hasten to fulfil the pact, and remain in seeking the Grace, for the world is present display.
The righteous and the immoral consume from it, and the Hereafter is a truthful Promise, the Able King will Fulfil in it (the Promised Rewards).
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ كَمَا قَدْ وَقَعَ لِسَبْعٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ صَفَرٍ، تَسِيرُ فِيهَا الْجُنُودُ، يَهْلِكُ فِيهَا الْبَطَلُ الْجَحُودُ، خُيُولُهَا عِرَابٌ، وَ فُرْسَانُهَا حِرَابٌ، وَ نَحْنُ بِذَلِكَ وَاقِفُونَ،
Indeed! And the matter is just as it has occurred on the seven days remaining of Safar (Naharwan), the armies travelled during it. The false rejections were destroyed during it. Its cavalry was Arabian, and its horses were for warfare, and by that we were pausing.
وَ لِمَا ذَكَرْنَا مُنْتَظِرُونَ انْتِظَارَ الْمُجْدِبِ الْمَطَرَ لِيَنْبُتَ الْعُشْبُ، وَ يَجْنِي الثَّمَرَ، دَعَانِي إِلَى الْكِتَابِ إِلَيْكُمُ اسْتِنْقَاذُكُمْ مِنَ الْعَمَى، وَ إِرْشَادُكُمْ بَابَ الْهُدَى، فَاسْلُكُوا سَبِيلَ السَّلَامَةِ، فَإِنَّهَا جِمَاعُ الْكَرَامَةِ،
And when we remember the hopeful who were waiting the downpour of rain in order to grow the vegetation, and revive the fruits, it called me-asws to write the letter to you to save you from the blindness, and guide you to the door of guidance, therefore travel the way of safety, for it is a collection of prestige.
اصْطَفَى اللَّهُ مَنْهَجَهُ، وَ بَيَّنَ حُجَجَهُ، وَ أَرَّفَ أُرَفَهُ، وَ وَصَفَهُ وَ حَدَّهُ وَ جَعَلَهُ نَصّاً كَمَا وَصَفَهُ،
Allah-azwj Chose its Manifesto and Explained its arguments, and Presented His-azwj Divine Authorities, and Marked its boundaries, and Described its limits, and Manifested it just as described.
إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ حُفْرَتَهُ يَأْتِيهِ مَلَكَانِ أَحَدُهُمَا مُنْكَرٌ وَ الْآخَرُ نَكِيرٌ، فَأَوَّلُ مَا يَسْأَلَانِهِ عَنْ رَبِّهِ، وَ عَنْ نَبِيِّهِ، وَ عَنْ وَلِيِّهِ، فَإِنْ أَجَابَ نَجَا وَ إِنْ تَحَيَّرَ عَذَّبَاهُ.
When the servant enters his grave, two Angels come to him, one of them Munkar and the onther one Nakeer. The first of what they question him is about his Lord-azwj, and about his Prophet-saww, and about his Guardian-asws (Imam-asws). So, if he were to answer (correctly), he would attain salvation, and if he is confused, they would punish him’.
فَقَالَ قَائِلٌ: فَمَا حَالُ مَنْ عَرَفَ رَبَّهُ، وَ عَرَفَ نَبِيَّهُ، وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ وَلِيَّهُ؟. فَقَالَ: ذَلِكَ مُذَبْذَبٌ لا إِلى هؤُلاءِ وَ لا إِلى هؤُلاءِ
A speaker said, ‘What is the state of the one who recognises his Lord-azwj, and recognises his Prophet-saww, but does not recognise his Guardian (Imam-asws)?’ He-saww said: ‘That is the wavering one, neither towards these ones nor towards those; [4:143].
قِيلَ: فَمَنِ الْوَلِيُّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ (ص)؟.
It was said, ‘And who is the Guardian-asws, O Rasool-Allah-saww?’
فَقَالَ: وَلِيُّكُمْ فِي هَذَا الزَّمَانِ أَنَا، وَ مِنْ بَعْدِي وَصِيِّي، وَ مِنْ بَعْدِ وَصِيِّي لِكُلِّ زَمَانٍ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ كَيْمَا تَقُولُوا كَمَا قَالَ الضُّلَّالُ قَبْلَكُمْ حَيْثُ فَارَقَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ: رَبَّنا لَوْ لا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ آياتِكَ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ نَذِلَّ وَ نَخْزى،
He-saww said: ‘Your Guardian in this time period is me-saww, and from after me-saww it would be my-saww successor-asws, and from after my-saww successor-asws, there would be a Divine Authority of Allah-azwj for every era, lest you would be saying just as the strayers before you had said when their Prophet-saww separated from them: ‘Our Lord! If only You had Sent a Rasool to us, then we would have followed your Signs from before we were disgraced and shamed’ [20:134].
وَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ تَمَامُ ضَلَالَتِهِمْ جَهَالَتَهُمْ بِالْآيَاتِ وَ هُمُ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ فَأَجَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ: قُلْ كُلٌّ مُتَرَبِّصٌ فَتَرَبَّصُوا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَصْحابُ الصِّراطِ السَّوِيِّ وَ مَنِ اهْتَدى
And rather the complete ignorance of theirs was with the Signs, and they are the successors-as. So, Allah-azwj Answered them: Say: ‘Every one is awaiting, therefore wait, for soon you will come to known who is the companion of the Even Path and who is Guided’ [20:135].
وَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ تَرَبُّصَهُمْ أَنْ قَالُوا: نَحْنُ فِي سَعَةٍ عَنْ مَعْرِفَةِ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ حَتَّى يُعْلِنَ إِمَامٌ عِلْمَهُ، فَالْأَوْصِيَاءُ قُوَّامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بَيْنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ، لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَنْ عَرَفَهُمْ وَ عَرَفُوهُ، وَ لَا يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَنْكَرَهُمْ وَ أَنْكَرُوهُ،
And rather their waiting was that they said, ‘We are in a leeway from recognising the successors-as until an Imam-as announces his-as knowledge. Thus, the successors-asws are the custodians upon you all between the Paradise and the Fire. No one will enter the Paradise except one who recognises them-asws and they-asws recognise him, nor will anyone enter the Fire except one who denies them-asws and they-asws deny him.
لِأَنَّهُمْ عُرَفَاءُ الْعِبَادِ عَرَّفَهُمُ اللَّهُ إِيَّاهُمْ عِنْدَ أَخْذِ الْمَوَاثِيقِ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالطَّاعَةِ لَهُمْ، فَوَصَفَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَقَالَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ: وَ عَلَى الْأَعْرافِ رِجالٌ يَعْرِفُونَ كُلًّا بِسِيماهُمْ
(This is) because they-asws recognise the servants. Allah-azwj Introduced them-asws during the pact of the Covenant with the obedience being for them-asws. He-azwj Described them-asws in His-azwj Book. The Mighty and Majestic Said: And upon the heights would be men recognising all by their marks, [7:46].
وَ هُمُ الشُّهَدَاءُ عَلَى النَّاسِ، وَ النَّبِيُّونَ شُهَدَاءُ لَهُمْ بِأَخْذِهِ لَهُمْ مَوَاثِيقَ الْعِبَادِ بِالطَّاعَةِ، وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ: فَكَيْفَ إِذا جِئْنا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَ جِئْنا بِكَ عَلى هؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَ عَصَوُا الرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّى بِهِمُ الْأَرْضُ وَ لا يَكْتُمُونَ اللَّهَ حَدِيثاً.
And they-asws are the witnesses upon the people, and the Prophets-as are witnesses for them-asws by the Taking of the Covenants of the servants having been Taken for them-asws, and that is His-azwj Word: How will it be, when We Come with a witness from every community, and We Come with you as a witness upon them? [4:41] On that Day will those who committed Kufr and disobeyed the Rasool would desire if only the earth could be levelled with them, and they shall not be (able to) conceal any facts from Allah [4:42].
وَ كَذَلِكَ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى آدَمَ: أَنْ يَا آدَمُ! قَدِ انْقَضَتْ مُدَّتُكَ، وَ قُضِيَتْ نُبُوَّتُكَ، وَ اسْتَكْمَلَتْ أَيَّامُكَ، وَ حَضَرَ أَجَلُكَ، فَخُذِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَ مِيرَاثَ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ الْأَكْبَرَ فَادْفَعْهُ إِلَى ابْنِكَ: هِبَةِ اللَّهِ، فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَدَعِ الْأَرْضَ بِغَيْرِ عَلَمٍ يُعْرَفُ،
And like that Allah-azwj revealed to Adam-as: “O Adam-as! Your-as term has expired, and your-as Prophet-hood has expired, and your-as days are completed, and your-as death has presented, so take the Prophet-hood, and inheritance of the Prophet-hood, and the Greatest Name of Allah-azwj, and hand it over to your-as son-as Hibatullah-as, for I-azwj do not leave the earth without an understanding scholar!”
فَلَمْ تَزَلِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ يَتَوَارَثُونَ ذَلِكَ حَتَّى انْتَهَى الْأَمْرُ إِلَيَّ، وَ أَنَا أَدْفَعُ ذَلِكَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ وَصِيِّي، وَ هُوَ مِنِّي بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى، وَ إِنَّ عَلِيّاً يُورَثُ وُلْدُهُ حَيُّهُمْ عَنْ مَيِّتِهِمْ،
The Prophets-as and the successors-as did not cease to be inheriting that until the matter ended to me-saww, and I-saww hand that over to my-saww successor-asws Ali-asws, and he-asws is from me-saww at the status of Haroun-as from Musa-as, and that Ali-asws would make his-asws living sons-asws from their sons-asws passing away.
فَمَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ جَنَّةَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَتَوَلَّ عَلِيّاً وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَ لْيُسْلِمْ لِفَضْلِهِمْ، فَإِنَّهُمُ الْهُدَاةُ بَعْدِي، أَعْطَاهُمُ اللَّهُ فَهْمِي وَ عِلْمِي،
The one whom it cheers that he would enter a Garden of his Lord-azwj, then let him have the Wilayah of Ali-asws and of the successors-asws from after him-asws, and let him submit to their-asws merits, for they-asws are the guides after me-as. Allah-azwj has Given them-asws my-saww understanding, and my-saww knowledge.
فَهُمْ عِتْرَتِي مِنْ لَحْمِي وَ دَمِي، أَشْكُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَدُوَّهُمْ وَ الْمُنْكِرَ لَهُمْ فَضْلَهُمْ، وَ الْقَاطِعَ عَنْهُمْ صِلَتِي، فَنَحْنُ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ شَجَرَةُ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ مَعْدِنُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ مُخْتَلَفُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَ مَوْضِعُ الرِّسَالَةِ،
They-asws are my-saww family from my-saww flesh and my-saww blood. I-saww complain to Allah-azwj of their-asws enemies and the deniers to them-asws of their-asws merits, and the cutters from them-asws of my-saww connection. We-asws are People-asws of the Household of the tree of Prophet-hood, and the mine of mercy, and the interchange of the Angels, and place of the Message.
فَمَثَلُ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ كَمَثَلِ سَفِينَةِ نُوحٍ (ع) مَنْ رَكِبَهَا نَجَا وَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا هَلَكَ، وَ مَثَلِ بَابِ حِطَّةٍ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مَنْ دَخَلَهُ غُفِرَ لَهُ، فَأَيُّمَا رَايَةٍ خَرَجَتْ لَيْسَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي فَهِيَ الدَّجَّالِيَّةُ،
And an example of the People-asws of my-saww Household in this community is like an example of the ship of Noah-as. One who sails it would attain salvation, and one who stays behind from it would be destroyed; and an example of the door of Hitta among the children of Israel. One who entered it (his sins) were Forgiven for him. Any flag which emerged, not being from People-asws of my-saww Household, so it is the Dajjalite (flag).
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اخْتَارَ لِدِينِهِ أَقْوَاماً انْتَجَبَهُمْ لِلْقِيَامِ عَلَيْهِ وَ النَّصْرِ لَهُ، طَهَّرَهُمْ بِكَلِمَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ أَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ مُفْتَرَضَ الْقُرْآنِ، وَ الْعَمَلَ بِطَاعَتِهِ فِي مَشَارِقِ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَغَارِبِهَا،
Allah-azwj Chose a people for His-azwj Religion, Selecting them for standing upon it, and the helping for it. He-azwj Purified them-asws with the Word of Al-Islam, and Revealed to them-asws Obligations of the Quran, and the working with being obedient to Him-azwj in the east of the earth and its west.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَصَّكُمْ بِالْإِسْلَامِ، وَ اسْتَخْلَصَكُمْ لَهُ، وَ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّهُ أَمْتَعُ سَلَامَةٍ، وَ أَجْمَعُ كَرَامَةٍ، اصْطَفَى اللَّهُ مَنْهَجَهُ، وَ وَصَفَهُ وَ وَصَفَ أَخْلَاقَهُ، وَ وَصَلَ أَطْنَابَهُ مِنْ ظَاهِرِ عِلْمٍ وَ بَاطِنِ حُكْمٍ، ذِي حَلَاوَةٍ وَ مَرَارَةٍ،
Allah-azwj Specialised them with Al-Islam, and Distinguished you for it, and that is because it is a safety and collection of prestige. Allah-azwj Chose its Manifesto, and Describe it and Described its mannerisms, and Connected its date of the apparent knowledge and esoteric wisdom, with sweetness and bitterness.
فَمَنْ طَهَّرَ بَاطِنَهُ رَأَى عَجَائِبَ مَنَاظِرِهِ فِي مَوَارِدِهِ وَ مَصَادِرِهِ، وَ مَنْ فَطَنَ لِمَا بَطَنَ رَأَى مَكْنُونَ الْفِطَنِ وَ عَجَائِبَ الْأَمْثَالِ وَ السُّنَنِ، فَظَاهِرُهُ أَنِيقٌ، وَ بَاطِنُهُ عَمِيقٌ، وَ لَا تَفْنَى غَرَائِبُهُ، وَ لَا تَنْقَضِي عَجَائِبُهُ، فِيهِ مَفَاتِيحُ الْكَلَامِ، وَ مَصَابِيحُ الظَّلَامِ،
One who cleans his interior would see wondrous scenery in its (Quran’s) resources and its sources; and the one who discerns of what is hidden would see the hidden substance of discernment, and wondrous parables and Sunnahs. Its apparent is elegant and its hidden is deep. Neither do its strangeness perish nor will its wonders terminate. In it are keys of the speech, and lamps for the darkness.
لَا يُفْتَحُ الْخَيْرَاتُ إِلَّا بِمَفَاتِحِهِ، وَ لَا تُكْشَفُ الظُّلُمَاتُ إِلَّا بِمَصَابِيحِهِ، فِيهِ تَفْصِيلٌ وَ تَوْصِيلٌ، وَ بَيَانُ الِاسْمَيْنِ الْأَعْلَيْنِ اللَّذَيْنِ جُمِعَا فَاجْتَمَعَا، لَا يَصْلُحَانِ إِلَّا مَعاً، يُسَمَّيَانِ فَيَفْتَرِقَانِ، وَ يُوصَلَانِ فَيَجْتَمِعَانِ، تَمَامُهُمَا فِي تَمَامِ أَحَدِهِمَا، حَوَالَيْهَا نُجُومٌ، وَ عَلَى نُجُومِهَا نُجُومٌ، لِيَحْمِيَ حَمَاهُ، وَ يَرْعَى مَرْعَاهُ،
The goodness cannot be opened except by its keys, nor can the darkness be removed except by its lanterns. In it is detail and elaboration, and explanation of the two lofty names, those are gathered together, not being correct except together. They are named, so they are separated, and they are connected, so they are gathered. Its completeness in the completion of one of them. Around it are stars, and upon its stars are stars, in order to protect its protectors, and take care of its caretakers.
وَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ تِبْيَانُهُ وَ بَيَانُهُ وَ حُدُودُهُ وَ أَرْكَانُهُ، وَ مَوَاضِعُ مَقَادِيرِهِ، وَ وَزْنُ مِيزَانِهِ، مِيزَانِ الْعَدْلِ، وَ حُكْمِ الْفَصْلِ، إِنَّ دُعَاةَ الدِّينِ فَرَّقُوا بَيْنَ الشَّكِّ وَ الْيَقِينِ، وَ جَاءُوا بِالْحَقِّ، بَنَوْا لِلْإِسْلَامِ بُنْيَاناً فَأَسَّسُوا لَهُ أَسَاساً وَ أَرْكَاناً، وَ جَاءُوا عَلَى ذَلِكَ شُهُوداً بِعَلَامَاتٍ وَ أَمَارَاتٍ،
And in the Quran is its explanation and its statements, and its limits, and its elements, and places of its determinations, and weight of its scales, and the scale of justice, and the decisive judgment. The claimants of the religion separated between the doubt and the certainty, and they came with the truth. They-asws built for Al-Islam its foundations, and they established its foundations for it and its cornerstones, and they-asws came upon that as witnessed with markings and constructions.
فِيهَا كَفْيُ الْمُكَتَفِي، وَ شِفَاءُ الْمُشْتَفِي، يَحْمَوْنَ حَمَاهُ، وَ يَرْعَوْنَ مَرْعَاهُ، وَ يَصُونُونَ مَصُونَهُ، وَ يُفَجِّرُونَ عُيُونَهُ، بِحُبِّ اللَّهِ وَ بِرِّهِ وَ تَعْظِيمِ أَمْرِهِ وَ ذِكْرِهِ بِمَا يُحِبُّ أَنْ يُذْكَرَ بِهِ، يَتَوَاصَلُونَ بِالْوِلَايَةِ، وَ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بِحُسْنِ الرِّعَايَةِ،
In it is sufficient for the ones seeking sufficiency, and healing for the seekers of treatment, and protection for ones seeking protection, and care for ones seeking its care, and its protection safeguarding it, and its springs are bursting forth by the Love of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Kindness, and Reverence of His-azwj Commands and His-azwj Mention with what He-azwj Loves to be Mentioned with, connected with the Wilayah, and disputes with goodly care.
وَ يَتَسَاقَوْنَ بِكَأْسٍ رَوِيَّةٍ، وَ يَتَلَاقَوْنَ بِحُسْنِ التَّحِيَّةِ، وَ أَخْلَاقٍ سَنِيَّةٍ، قُوَّامٌ عُلَمَاءُ أُمَنَاءُ، لَا يَسُوقُ فِيهِمُ الرِّيبَةُ، وَ لَا تَشْرَعُ فِيهِمُ الْغِيبَةُ، فَمَنِ اسْتَبْطَنَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئاً اسْتَبْطَنَ خُلْقاً سَنِيّاً،
And they are getting together with a saturating cup, and meeting with beautiful welcome, and high morals, stewardship of trustworthy scholars, there being no mistrust among them, nor does the backbiting start among them. The one who hides something from that would be hiding morals.
فَطُوبَى لِذِي قَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ أَطَاعَ مَنْ يَهْدِيهِ، وَ اجْتَنَبَ مَنْ يُرْدِيهِ، وَ يَدْخُلُ مَدْخَلَ كَرَامَةٍ، وَ يَنَالُ سَبِيلَ سَلَامَةٍ، تَبْصِرَةً لِمَنْ بَصَّرَهُ، وَ طَاعَةً لِمَنْ يَهْدِيهِ إِلَى أَفْضَلِ الدَّلَالَةِ، وَ كَشْفَاً لِغَطَاءِ الْجَهَالَةِ الْمُضِلَّةِ الْمُهْلِكَةِ،
Beatitude is for the one with a tranquil heart, obeying the one-asws guiding him, and shunning the one who deviates him, and entering a prestigious entrance, and attaining the way of safety, being an insight for the one with insight, and obedience for the one guided to the superior evidence, and removal of the covering of ignorance, the straying, the destructive spree.
وَ مَنْ أَرَادَ بَعْدَ هَذَا فَلْيُظْهِرْ بِالْهُدَى دِينَهُ، فَإِنَّ الْهُدَى لَا تُغْلَقُ أَبْوَابُهُ، وَ قَدْ فُتِحَتْ أَسْبَابُهُ بِبُرْهَانٍ وَ بَيَانٍ، لِامْرِئٍ اسْتَنْصَحَ وَ قَبِلَ نَصِيحَةَ مَنْ نَصَحَ بِخُضُوعٍ وَ حُسْنِ خُشُوعٍ، فَلْيَقْبَلِ امْرُؤٌ بِقَبُولِهَا، وَ لْيَحْذَرْ قَارِعَةً قَبْلَ حُلُولِهَا، وَ السَّلَامُ..
And the one who wants after this, then let him manifest his religion with the guidance, for the guidance, its doors are not locked, and its means are opened with proofs. By my-asws life! I-asws have advised, and he should accept the advice, one with humbleness and goodly reverence. Thus, let the persons accept with its acceptance, and let him be cautious of a disaster before its solutions. Greetings!’’[5]
[17] باب احتجاج الحسين عليه السلام على عمر و هو على المنبر
CHAPTER 17 – ARGUMENTATION OF AL-HUSAYN-asws AGAINST UMAR WHILE HE WAS UPON THE PULPIT
1- ج: رُوِيَ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ كَانَ يَخْطُبُ النَّاسَ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَذَكَرَ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ أَنَّهُ أَوْلى بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحُسَيْنُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ: انْزِلْ أَيُّهَا الْكَذَّابُ عَنْ مِنْبَرِ أَبِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، لَا مِنْبَرِ أَبِيكَ.
(The book) ‘Al-Ihtijaj’ – It is reported that Umar Bin Al-Khattab was addressing the people upon the pulpit of Rasool-Allah-saww, and he mentioned in his sermon that he (Umar) foremost with the Momineen than their own selves [33:6]. Al-Husayn-asws said to him from a corner of the Masjid: ‘Get down, O liar, from the pulpit of my-asws (grand) father-saww Rasool-Allah-saww! It is not a pulpit of your father’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: فَمِنْبَرُ أَبِيكَ لَعَمْرِي يَا حُسَيْنُ! لَا مِنْبَرُ أَبِي، مَنْ عَلَّمَكَ هَذَا؟ أَبُوكَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟.
Umar said to him, ‘The pulpit is for your-asws (grand) father-saww, by my life, O Husayn-asws! It is not the pulpit of my father. Who taught you-asws this? Your-asws father Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws?’
فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحُسَيْنُ: إِنْ أُطِعْ أَبِي فِيمَا أَمَرَنِي فَلَعَمْرِي إِنَّهُ لَهَادٍ وَ أَنَا مُهْتَدٍ بِهِ، وَ لَهُ فِي رِقَابِ النَّاسِ الْبَيْعَةُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ (ص) نَزَلَ بِهَا جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى لَا يُنْكِرُهَا أَحَدٌ إِلَّا جَاحِدٌ بِالْكِتَابِ،
Al-Husayn-asws said to him: ‘I-asws am obedient to my-asws father-asws in whatever he-asws instructs me-asws. By my-asws life! He-asws is a guide and I-asws am guided by him-asws, and for him-asws, in the necks of the people is the allegiance in the era of Rasool-Allah-saww. Jibraeel-as had descended with it from the Presence of Allah-azwj the Exalted. No one will deny it except a rejecter of the Book.
قَدْ عَرَفَهَا النَّاسُ بِقُلُوبِهِمْ وَ أَنْكَرُوهَا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ، وَ وَيْلٌ لِلْمُنْكِرِينَ حَقَّنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ (ع)، مَا ذَا يَلْقَاهُمْ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِنْ إِدَامَةِ الْغَضَبِ وَ شِدَّةِ الْعَذَابِ؟!.
The people have recognised it with their hearts and they rejected it with their tongues. Woe be unto the deniers of our-asws rights, People-asws of the Household! What is that which Muhammad-saww Rasool-Allah-saww would receive them with, from the permanent anger and severity of the punishment?’
فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: يَا حُسَيْنُ! مَنْ أَنْكَرَ حَقَّ أَبِيكَ فَعَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ! أَمَّرَنَا النَّاسُ فَتَأَمَّرْنَا، وَ لَوْ أَمَّرُوا أَبَاكَ لَأَطَعْنَا.
Umar said, ‘O Husayn-asws! One who denies a right of your-asws father-asws, upon him be the Curse of Allah-azwj! The people made us the commanders, and had they made your-asws father-asws the commander, we would have obeyed’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحُسَيْنُ (ع): يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ! فَأَيُّ النَّاسِ أَمَّرَكَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُؤَمِّرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ لِيُؤَمِّرَكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِلَا حُجَّةٍ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ وَ لَا رِضًى مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ؟!
Al-Husayn-asws said to him: ‘O Ibn Al-Khattab! Which of the people made you a commander upon himself, before you had made Abu Bakr the commander upon yourself. He made you the commander upon the people with neither any proof from the Prophet-saww nor agreement from Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww?
فَرِضَاكُمْ كَانَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ السَّلَامُ رِضًى، أَوْ رِضَى أَهْلِهِ كَانَ لَهُ سَخَطاً؟! أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنْ لِلِّسَانِ مَقَالًا يَطُولُ تَصْدِيقُهُ، وَ فِعْلًا يُعِينُهُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَمَا تَخَطَّيْتَ رِقَابَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ (ص)،
Was your pleasure a pleasure for Muhammad-saww, or was the pleasure of his-saww family an anger for him-saww? But, by Allah-azwj! If the tongues had exchanges, its ratification would be lengthy, and a deed the Momineen would have witnessed, due to what was skipped over the necks of Progeny-asws of Muhammad.
تَرْقَى مِنْبَرَهُمْ وَ صِرْتَ الْحَاكِمَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِكِتَابٍ نَزَلَ فِيهِمْ، لَا تَعْرِفُ مُعْجَمَهُ، وَ لَا تَدْرِي تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا سَمَاعَ الْآذَانِ، الْمُخْطِئُ وَ الْمُصِيبُ عِنْدَكَ سَوَاءٌ، فَجَزَاكَ اللَّهُ جَزَاكَ، وَ سَأَلَكَ عَمَّا أَحْدَثْتَ سُؤَالًا حَفِيّاً.
You ascended their-asws pulpit and then became the judge against them-asws with the Book having been Revealed among them-asws. Neither do you recognise its vocabulary, nor do you know its interpretation, except listening to the Azaan. The erring ones and the correct one is the same in your presence. So, Allah-azwj will Recompense you with your Recompense, and Question you about what you innovated, Question while being bare-footed.
قَالَ: فَنَزَلَ عُمَرُ مُغْضَباً وَ مَشَى مَعَهُ أُنَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى أَتَى بَابَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ، فَاسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَيْهِ فَأَذِنَ لَهُ، فَدَخَلَ فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ! مَا لَقِيتُ مِنِ ابْنِكَ الْحُسَيْنِ؟! يُجْهِرُنَا بِصَوْتٍ فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ (ص) وَ يُحَرِّضُ عَلَيَّ الطَّغَامَ وَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ؟!.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Umar descended angrily and some people from his companions walked with him until he came to the door of Amir Al-Momineen-asws. He sought permission to see him-asws, and he-asws permitted for him. He entered and said, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! What am I facing from your-asws son-asws Al-Husayn-asws?! He-asws spoke to us in a loud voice in the Masjid of Rasool-Allah-saww, and incited against me the young ones and people of Al-Medina!’
فَقَالَ لَهُ الْحَسَنُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مِثْلُ الْحُسَيْنِ ابْنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَسْتَحِثُ بِمَنْ لَا حُكْمَ لَهُ، أَوْ يَقُولُ بِالطَّغَامِ عَلَى أَهْلِ دِينِهِ، أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا نِلْتَ مَا نِلْتَ إِلَّا بِالطَّغَامِ، فَلَعَنَ اللَّهُ مَنْ حَرَّضَ الطَّغَامَ!.
Al-Hassan-asws said to him: ‘An example of Al-Husayn-asws, (grand) son-asws of the Prophet-saww arousing the one there is no judgment for him, or is he-asws speaking with the youths against the people of his-asws Religion? But, by Allah-azwj! You did not attain what you have attained except by the youths, so may Allah-azwj Curse the one who incited the youths!’
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَهْلًا يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ! فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَكُونَ قَرِيبَ الْغَضَبِ، وَ لَا لَئِيمَ الْحَسَبِ، وَ لَا فِيكَ عُرُوقٌ مِنَ السُّودَانِ، اسْمَعْ كَلَامِي، وَ لَا تَعْجَلْ بِالْكَلَامِ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘Shh! No, O Abu Muhammad-asws! You-asws should never go near the anger, nor (near) one of evil ancestry, nor are there any veins in you from the multitude. Listen to my-asws speech and do not be hasty with the speech’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ! إِنَّهُمَا لَيَهُمَّانِ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمَا بِمَا لَا يُرَى بِغَيْرِ الْخِلَافَةِ.
Umar said to him-asws, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! They-asws are both caring regarding their-asws own selves with what they-asws see being without the caliphate’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: هُمَا أَقْرَبُ نَسَباً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِنْ أَبِيهِمَا أَمَا فَأَرْضِهِمَا- يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ- بِحَقِّهِمَا يَرْضَ عَنْكَ مَنْ بَعْدَهُمَا.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘They-asws are both closer in attribution with Rasool-Allah-saww that their-asws own father-asws is. But, O Ibn Al-Khattab, please them-asws with their-asws rights, (so that) the ones after them-asws would be pleased with you’.
قَالَ: وَ مَا رِضَاهُمَا يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ؟ قَالَ: رِضَاهُمَا الرَّجْعَةُ عَنِ الْخَطِيئَةِ، وَ التَّقِيَّةُ عَنِ الْمَعْصِيَةِ بِالتَّوْبَةِ.
He said, ‘And what would please them-asws, O Abu Al-Hassan-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘Their-asws pleasure is the retraction from the mistake fearing from the disobedience, along with the repentance’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: أَدِّبْ- يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ- ابْنَكَ أَنْ لَا يَتَعَاطَى السَّلَاطِينَ الَّذِينَ هُمُ الْحُكَمَاءُ فِي الْأَرْضِ.
Umar said to him-asws, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! Educate your-asws son-asws that he-asws should not interject the ruling authority, those who are the rulers in the earth’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَنَا أُؤَدِّبُ أَهْلَ الْمَعَاصِي عَلَى مَعَاصِيهِمْ، وَ مَنْ أَخَافُ عَلَيْهِ الزَّلَّةَ وَ الْهَلَكَةَ، فَأَمَّا مَنْ وَلَدَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ (ص) لَا يَحُلُ أَدَبُهُ، فَإِنَّهُ يَنْتَقِلُ إِلَى أَدَبٍ خَيْرٍ لَهُ مِنْهُ، أَمَا فَأَرْضِهِمَا يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ!.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘I-asws educate the disobedience people upon their disobedience, and one I-asws fear the slips and the destruction upon him. As for the one-asws Rasool-Allah-saww has begotten, it is not Permissible for me-asws to educate him-asws, for he-asws would be transferred to an education better for him-asws than it. But, please them-asws, O Ibn Al-Khattab!’
قَالَ: فَخَرَجَ عُمَرُ فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ وَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ: يَا أَبَا حَفْصٍ! مَا صَنَعْتَ وَ قَدْ طَالَتْ بِكُمَا الْحُجَّةُ؟. فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: وَ هَلْ حُجَّةٌ مَعَ ابْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَ شِبْلَيْهِ؟!.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Umar went out and was met by Usman Bin Affan and Abdul Rahman Bin Awf. Abdul Rahman said to him, ‘O Abu Hafs! What happened, and the arguments were prolonged with you? Umar said, ‘And can anyone argue with the son-asws of Abu Talib-asws and his-asws cubs?!’
فَقَالَ لَهُ عُثْمَانُ: يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ! هُمْ بَنُو عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ الْأَسْمَنُونَ وَ النَّاسُ عِجَافٌ. فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: مَا أَعُدُّ مَا صِرْتَ إِلَيْهِ فَخْراً فَخَرْتَ بِهِ، أَ بِحُمْقِكَ؟. فَقَبَضَ عُثْمَانُ عَلَى مَجَامِعِ ثِيَابِهِ ثُمَّ جَذَبَهُ وَ رَدَّهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا ابْنَ الْخَطَّابِ! كَأَنَّكَ تُنْكِرُ مَا أَقُولُ.
Usman said to him, ‘O Ibn Al-Khattab! They-asws are the sons-asws of Abd Manaf-as, the fat ones and the people are thin (metaphorically)’. Umar said to him, ‘How repeatedly proud you have become, so you are priding with it. Are you an idiot?’ Usman grabbed the generality of his clothes, then pulled him and pushed him, then said, ‘O Ibn Al-Khattab! It is as if you dislike what I am saying’.
فَدَخَلَ بَيْنَهُمَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ وَ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا، وَ افْتَرَقَ الْقَوْمُ.
Abdul Rahman came between them and separated between them, and the people dispersed’’.[6]
2- كشف: عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ الْحُسَيْنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ أَتَى عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ- وَ هُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ- فَقَالَ لَهُ: انْزِلْ عَنْ مِنْبَرِ أَبِي.
(The book) ‘Kashf Al-Ghumma’ – From Zayd son of Ali (Bin Al-Husayn-asws), from his father-asws: ‘Al-Husayn-asws Bin Ali-asws came to Umar Bin Al-Khattab while he was upon the pulpit, and said to him: ‘Get down from the pulpit of my-asws father-asws!’
فَبَكَى عُمَرُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ يَا بُنَيَّ، مِنْبَرُ أَبِيكَ لَا مِنْبَرُ أَبِي! فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: مَا هُوَ وَ اللَّهِ عَنْ رَأْيِي. فَقَالَ: صَدَقْتَ! وَ اللَّهِ مَا اتَّهَمْتُكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ،
Umar wept, then said, ‘You-asws speak the truth, O my son-asws! It is the pulpit of your-asws father-asws and not the pulpit of my father!’ Ali-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj! Is it not from my-asws opinion’. He said, ‘You-asws speak the truth! By Allah-azwj, I am not accusing you-asws, O Abu Al-Hassan-asws!’
ثُمَّ نَزَلَ عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ فَأَخَذَهُ فَأَجْلَسَهُ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ- وَ هُوَ جَالِسٌ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ مَعَهُ-،
Then he descended from the pulpit angrily, grabbed him-asws and made him-asws to be seated by his side upon the pulpit. Then he addressed the people while he-asws was seated with him upon the pulpit.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! سَمِعْتُ نَبِيَّكُمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ: احْفَظُونِي فِي عِتْرَتِي وَ ذُرِّيَّتِي، فَمَنْ حَفِظَنِي فِيهِمْ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ، أَلَا لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى مَنْ آذَانِي فِيهِمْ. ثَلَاثاً.
Then he said, ‘O you people! I heard your Prophet-saww saying: ‘Protect me-saww regarding my-saww family and my-saww offspring! The one who protects me-saww regarding them, Allah-azwj would Protect him. Indeed! The Curse of Allah-azwj is upon the one who hurts me-saww regarding them’ – thrice’’.[7]
3- ما:- ابْنُ الصَّلْتِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُقْدَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى الضَّرِيرِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَكَرِيَّا الْمَكِّيِّ، عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ طَارِقٍ، عَنْ زَيْدٍ .. مِثْلَهُ.
(The book) ‘Amaali’ of the sheykh Al Tusi – Ibn Al Salt, from Ibn Uqdah, from Muhammad Bin Isa Al Zareer, from Muhammad Bin Zakariyya Al Makky, from Kaseer Bin Tariq, from Zayd – similar to it.[8]
[18] باب في ذكر ما كان من حيرة الناس بعد وفاة الرسول صلّى اللّه عليه و آله و رجوعهم إلى أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام
CHAPTER 18 – REGARDING MENTION OF WHAT HAD HAPPENNED FROM THE CONFUSION OF THE PEOPLE AFTER THE EXPIRY OF RASOOL-ALLAH-saww, AND THEIR REFERRING TO AMIR AL-MOMINEEN-asws
1- إِرْشَادُ الْقُلُوبِ: بِحَذْفِ الْإِسْنَادِ مَرْفُوعاً إِلَى سَلْمَانَ الْفَارِسِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: كَانَ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ الْعَظِيمِ الَّذِي ابْتَلَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ قُرَيْشاً بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِيُعَرِّفَهَا أَنْفُسَهَا وَ يَجْرَحَ شَهَادَتَهَا عَلَى مَا ادَّعَتْهُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ، وَ دَحَضَ حُجَّتَهَا، وَ كَشَفَ غِطَاءَ مَا أَسَرَّتْ فِي قُلُوبِهَا، وَ أَخْرَجَتْ ضَغَائِنَهَا لِآلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ وَ أَزَالَتْهُمْ عَنْ إِمَامَتِهِمْ، وَ مِيرَاثِ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فِيهِمْ،
(The book) ‘Irshad al Quloob’ – By the deleted chain, raising it to,
‘Salman Al-Farsi-ra having said, ‘It was from the mighty afflictions which Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Tried Quraysh with after their prophet-saww in order to Know their selves, and Bring out their testimonies what they used to claim upon Rasool-Allah-saww after his-saww passing away, and Refuted their arguments, and Removed the covering what had kept the secrets in their hearts, and their grudges towards the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww came out, and their removing them-asws from their-asws Imamate, and inheritance of the Book of Allah-azwj among them-asws.
مَا عَظُمَتْ خَطِيئَتُهُ، وَ شَمَلَتْ فَضِيحَتُهُ، وَ وَضَحَتْ هِدَايَةُ اللَّهِ فِيهِ لِأَهْلِ دَعْوَتِهِ وَ وَرَثَةِ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ أَنَارَتْ بِهِ قُلُوبُ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ، وَ غَمَرَهُمْ نَفْعُهُ وَ أَصَابَهُمْ بَرَكَاتُهُ:
How large were their sins, and the inclusion of their scandals, and Guidance of Allah-azwj was placed in it for the people of His-azwj Call and inheritors of His-azwj Prophet-saww, and the hearts of their-asws friends were radiated by it, and they were inundated by its benefits, and its Blessings came to them.
أَنَ مَلِكَ الرُّومِ لَمَّا بَلَغَهُ وَفَاةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ خَبَرُ أُمَّتِهِ وَ اخْتِلَافِهِمْ فِي الِاخْتِيَارِ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَ تَرْكِهِمْ سَبِيلَ هِدَايَتِهِمْ، وَ ادِّعَائِهِمْ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُوصِ إِلَى أَحَدٍ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ إِهْمَالَهُ إِيَّاهُمْ يَخْتَارُوا لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ، وَ تَوْلِيَتِهِمُ الْأَمْرَ بَعْدَهُ الْأَبَاعِدَ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ، وَ صَرْفِ ذَلِكَ عَنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ وَرَثَتِهِ وَ قَرَابَتِهِ، دَعَا عُلَمَاءَ بَلَدِهِ وَ اسْتَفْتَاهُمْ
When the News of the expiry of Rasool-Allah-saww reached to the king of Rome, and news of his-saww community and their differing regarding the choosing upon them, and their leaving the way of their guidance, and their allegation upon Rasool-Allah-saww that he-saww did not bequeath to anyone after his-saww expiry, and his-saww carrying them with choosing for themselves, and their making in-charge of the command after him-saww to the remotest from his-saww people, and turning that away from the People-asws of his-saww Household, and his-saww inheritor, and his-saww near of kin, he called the scholars of his city and sought their verdicts.
فَنَاظَرَهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ الَّذِي ادَّعَتْهُ قُرَيْشٌ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ فِيمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَأَجَابُوهُ بِجَوَابَاتٍ مِنْ حُجَجِهِمْ عَلَى أَنَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ،
He made them debate regarding the command which Quraysh had claimed after their Prophet-saww and regarding what Muhammad-saww had come with. They answered him with answers from their arguments upon that (it is upon the community) of Muhammad-saww.
فَسَأَلَ أَهْلُ مَدِينَتِهِ أَنْ يُوَجِّهَهُمْ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لِمُنَاظَرَتِهِمْ وَ الِاحْتِجَاجِ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَأَمَرَ الْجَاثَلِيقَ أَنْ يَخْتَارَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ وَ أَسَاقِفَتِهِ، فَاخْتَارَ مِنْهُمْ مِائَةَ رَجُلٍ، فَخَرَجُوا يَقْدُمُهُمْ جَاثَلِيقٌ لَهُمْ قَدْ أَقَرَّتِ الْعُلَمَاءُ لَهُ جَمِيعاً بِالْفَضْلِ وَ الْعِلْمِ،
He asked the people of his city that they should head to Al-Medina in order to debate them and for the argumentation against them. He ordered the Archbishop to choose from his companions and his bishops. He chose one hundred men from them, and they went out, a bishop of theirs leading them, the entirety of the scholar had acknowledged the merit and the knowledge being for him.
مُتَبَحِّراً فِي عِلْمِهِ يُخْرِجُ الْكَلَامَ مِنْ تَأْوِيلِهِ، وَ يَرُدُّ كُلَّ فَرْعٍ إِلَى أَصْلِهِ، لَيْسَ بِالْخُرْقِ وَ لَا بِالنَّزِقِ وَ لَا بِالْبَلِيدِ وَ الرِّعْدِيدِ، وَ لَا النَّكِلِ وَ لَا الْفَشِلِ يَنْصِتُ لِمَنْ يَتَكَلَّمُ، وَ يُجِيبُ إِذَا سُئِلَ، وَ يَصْبِرُ إِذَا مُنِعَ،
He was dazzling in his knowledge and extracting the speech from its interpretation, and his returning every branch to its root. Neither being with the weak intellect, nor with the anger, nor with the dullness, nor cowardice, nor with failure being silent to the one he speaks to, and answers when asked, and patient when blocked.
فَقَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ بِمَنْ مَعَهُ مِنْ خِيَارِ أَصْحَابِهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَ الْقَوْمُ عَنْ رَوَاحِلِهِمْ، فَسَأَلَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ عَمَّنْ أَوْصَى إِلَيْهِ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ مَنْ قَامَ مَقَامَهُ فَدَلُّوهُ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَأَتَوْا مَسْجِدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، فَدَخَلُوا، عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ هُوَ فِي حَشَدَةٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فِيهِمْ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بْنُ الْجَرَّاحِ وَ خَالِدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ وَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عَفَّانَ وَ أَنَا فِي الْقَوْمِ،
He arrived in Al-Medina with the ones with him, from the chosen ones of his companions, until the group descended from their rides. He asked the people of Al-Medina about the one Muhammad-saww had bequeathed to, and the ones standing in his-saww place. They pointed him to Abu Bakr. They came to the Masjid of Rasool-Allah-saww, and they entered to see Abu Bakr, and he was in a group of Quraysh, among them being Umar Bin Al-Khattab and Abu Ubeyda Bin Al-Jarrah, and Khalid Bin Al-Waleed, and Usman Bin Affan, and I was in the group.
فَوَقَفُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ زَعِيمُ الْقَوْمِ: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ .. فَرَدُّوا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامَ، فَقَالَ: أَرْشِدُونَا إِلَى الْقَائِمِ مَقَامَ نَبِيِّكُمْ فَإِنَّا قَوْمٌ مِنَ الرُّومِ، وَ إِنَّا عَلَى دِينِ الْمَسِيحِ عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ، فَقَدِمْنَا لَمَّا بَلَغَنَا وَفَاةُ نَبِيِّكُمْ وَ اخْتِلَافُكُمْ
They paused at him, and the leader of the group said, ‘The greetings be upon you’. They returned the greeting unto him. He said, ‘Guide us to the one standing in the place of your Prophet-saww, for we are a people from Rome, and I am upon the Religion of the Messiah Isa-as Bin Maryam-as. We came when the expiry of your Prophet-saww and your differing(s) reached us.
نَسْأَلُ عَنْ صِحَّةِ نُبُوَّتِهِ وَ نَسْتَرْشِدُ لِدِينِنَا، وَ نَتَعَرَّفُ دِينَكُمْ، فَإِنْ كَانَ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ دِينِنَا دَخَلْنَا فِيهِ وَ سَلَّمْنَا وَ قَبِلْنَا الرُّشْدَ مِنْكُمْ طَوْعاً وَ أَجَبْنَاكُمْ إِلَى دَعْوَةِ نَبِيِّكُمْ (ص)،
We (have come to) ask the correctness of his-saww Prophet-hood and to be rightly guided to our religion, and to understand your Religion. So, if it is superior to our religion, we would enter into it, and become Muslims, and accept the guidance form you willingly, and answer you to the call of your Prophet-saww.
وَ إِنْ يَكُنْ عَلَىخِلَافِ مَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الرُّسُلُ وَ جَاءَ بِهِ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى دَيْنِ الْمَسِيحِ فَإِنَّ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ عَهْدٍ رَأَيْنَا فِيهِ أَنْبِيَاءَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ دَلَالَةً وَ نُوراً وَاضِحاً، فَأَيُّكُمْ صَاحِبُ الْأَمْرِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّكُمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ؟
And if the opposite were to happen to what the Rasools-as had come with, and Isa-as had come with, we shall return to the religion of the Messiah, for with it is a pact we have seen the evidence of His-azwj Prophets-as and His-azwj Rasools-as, and clear light. So, which one of you is the master of the command after your Prophet-saww?’
فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ: هَذَا صَاحِبُنَا وَ وَلِيُّ الْأَمْرِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّنَا. قَالَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ: هُوَ هَذَا الشَّيْخُ؟!. فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ.
Umar Bin Al-Khattab said, ‘This one is our master and in-charge of the command after our Prophet-saww’. The bishop said, ‘Is it this old man?! He said, ‘Yes’.
فَقَالَ: يَا شَيْخُ! أَنْتَ الْقَائِمُ الْوَصِيُّ لِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فِي أُمَّتِهِ؟ وَ أَنْتَ الْعَالِمُ الْمُسْتَغْنِي بِعِلْمِكَ مِمَّا عَلَّمَكَ نَبِيُّكَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْأُمَّةِ وَ مَا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ؟.
He said, ‘O sheykh! Are you the custodian, the successor of Muhammad-saww in his-saww community? And are you the scholar, being needless by your knowledge from what your Prophet-saww taught, from the affairs of the community and what you would be needy to?’
قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: لَا، مَا أَنَا بِوَصِيٍّ. قَالَ لَهُ: فَمَا أَنْتَ؟! قَالَ عُمَرُ: هَذَا خَلِيفَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ. قَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ: أَنْتَ خَلِيفَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ اسْتَخْلَفَكَ فِي أُمَّتِهِ؟. قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: لَا.
Abu Bakr said, ‘No, I am not a successor’. He said to him, ‘So, what are you?’ Umar said, ‘This is the caliph of Rasool-Allah-saww’. The Christian said, ‘You are the caliph of Rasool-Allah-saww, he-saww had chosen as caliph regarding his-saww community? Abu Bakr said, ‘No’.
قَالَ: فَمَا هَذَا الِاسْمُ الَّذِي ابْتَدَعْتُمُوهُ وَ ادَّعَيْتُمُوهُ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّكُمْ؟!. فَإِنَّا قَدْ قَرَأْنَا كُتُبَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ فَوَجَدْنَا الْخِلَافَةَ لَا تَصْلُحُ إِلَّا لِنَبِيٍّ مِنْ أَنْبِيَاءِ اللَّهِ، لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى جَعَلَ آدَمَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ
He said, ‘So, what is this name (caliph) which you have invented it and claimed it after your Prophet-saww?! We have read Books of the Prophets-as and we found that the caliphate is not correct except for a Prophet-as from the Prophets-as of Allah-azwj, because Allah-azwj the Exalted Made Adam-as to be a caliph in the earth.
فَرَضَ طَاعَتَهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ، وَ نَوَّهَ بِاسْمِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: يا داوُدُ إِنَّا جَعَلْناكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ تَسَمَّيْتُمْ بِهَذَا الِاسْمِ؟ وَ مَنْ سَمَّاكَ بِهِ؟ أَ نَبِيُّكَ سَمَّاكَ بِهِ؟.
He-azwj Obligated obedience to him-as upon the inhabitants of the sky and the earth, and Praised him-as with a name of Dawood-as. He-azwj Said: ‘“O Dawood! Surely, We Made you a Caliph in the earth, [38:26]. How can you name yourself with this name? And who named you with it? Did your Prophet-saww name you with it?’
قَالَ: لَا، وَ لَكِنْ تَرَاضَوُا النَّاسُ فَوَلَّوْنِي وَ اسْتَخْلَفُونِي.
He said, ‘No, but the people agreed and they made me the ruler and chose me as caliph’.
فَقَالَ: أَنْتَ خَلِيفَةُ قَوْمِكَ لَا نَبِيِّكَ، وَ قَدْ قُلْتَ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ لَمْ يُوصِ إِلَيْكَ، وَ قَدْ وَجَدْنَا فِي كُتُبٍ مِنْ سُنَنِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَبْعَثْ نَبِيّاً إِلَّا وَ لَهُ وَصِيٌّ يُوصِي إِلَيْهِ، وَ يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ إِلَى عِلْمِهِ وَ هُوَ مُسْتَغْنٍ عَنْهُمْ،
He said, ‘(Then) you are a caliph of your people, not of your Prophet-saww, and you have said that the Prophet-saww did not bequeath to you-saww, and we have found in the Book from the Sunnahs of the Prophets-as that Allah-azwj did not Send any Prophet-saww except and there was a successor-as for him-as he-as had bequeathed to, and the whole of the people would be needy to his-as knowledge, and he-as would be needless from them.
وَ قَدْ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُوصِ كَمَا أَوْصَتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ، وَ ادَّعَيْتَ أَشْيَاءَ لَسْتَ بِأَهْلِهَا، وَ مَا أَرَاكُمْ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ دَفَعْتُمْ نُبُوَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ قَدْ أَبْطَلْتُمْ سُنَنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فِي قَوْمِهِمْ.
And you have claimed that he-saww did not bequeath just as the (other) Prophets-as had bequeathed, and claimed things which aren’t for you but for its rightful ones, and I do not see you all except and you have repelled the Prophet-hood of Muhammad-saww, and you have invalidated the Sunnahs of the Prophets-as in their-as people.
قَالَ: فَالْتَفَتَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ وَ قَالَ: إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ مُحَمَّداً لَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ بِالنُّبُوَّةِ وَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ أَمْرُهُ بِالْغَلَبَةِ، وَ لَوْ كَانَ نَبِيّاً لَأَوْصَى كَمَا أَوْصَتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ، وَ خَلَّفَ فِيهِمْ كَمَا خَلَّفَتِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ مِنَ الْمِيرَاثِ وَ الْعِلْمِ، وَ لَسْنَا نَجِدُ عِنْدَ الْقَوْمِ أَثَرَ ذَلِكَ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘The bishop turned to his companions and said, ‘They are saying that Muhammad-saww did not come with the Prophet-hood, and rather his-saww matter was by overcoming, and had he-saww been a Prophet-saww, he-saww would have bequeathed just as the Prophets-as (before) had bequeathed, and left a replacement among them just as the Prophets-as had done, from the inheritance and the knowledge, and we cannot find with the (these) people, any trace of that’.
ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ كَالْأَسَدِ، فَقَالَ: يَا شَيْخُ! أَمَّا أَنْتَ فَقَدْ أَقْرَرْتَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً لَمْ يُوصِ إِلَيْكَ وَ لَا اسْتَخْلَفَكَ وَ إِنَّمَا تَرَاضَوُا النَّاسُ بِكَ، وَ لَوْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِرِضَى الْخَلْقِ وَ اتِّبَاعِهِمْ لِهَوَاهُمْ وَ اخْتِيَارِهِمْ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَ مُنْذِرِينَ، وَ آتَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَ الْحِكْمَةَ لِيُبَيِّنُوا لِلنَّاسِ مَا يَأْتُونَ وَ يَذَرُونَ وَ مَا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ: لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ
Then the bishop turned around and said, ‘O sheykh! As for you, so you have acknowledged that Muhammad-saww did not bequeath to you, nor did he-saww make you the caliph, and rather the people had agreed with you, and had Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic been Pleased with the pleasure of the people and their following their whims, and their choosing for themselves, Allah-azwj would not have Sent the Prophets-as, givers of glad tidings and warners, and Given them-as the Book and the Wisdom, in order for them-as to explain to the people, what they should be doing and being cautious of, and what they are differing in, lest there would happen to be an argument for the people against Allah after the (coming of) Rasools; [4:165].
فَقَدْ دَفَعْتُمُ النَّبِيِّينَ عَنْ رِسَالاتِهِمْ، وَ اسْتَغْنَيْتُمْ بِالْجَهْلِ مِنِ اخْتِيَارِ النَّاسِ عَنِ اخْتِيَارِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الرُّسُلَ لِلْعِبَادِ، وَ اخْتِيَارِ الرُّسُلِ لِأُمَّتِهِمْ، وَ نَرَاكُمْ تُعَظِّمُونَ بِذَلِكَ الْفِرْيَةَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عَلَى نَبِيِّكُمْ، وَ لَا تَرْضَوْنَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَتَسَمَّوْا بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِالْخِلَافَةِ، وَ هَذَا لَا يَحِلُّ إِلَّا لِنَبِيٍّ أَوْ وَصِيِّ نَبِيٍّ،
You have pushed away the Prophets-as from their-as Message, and have availed yourselves with the ignorance, from choosing the people away from the Choice of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, the Rasools-as for the servants, and the choosing of the Rasools-as for their communities, and we are seeing you to be revering with that calumny (lie) upon Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic and upon your Prophet-saww, and you will not be pleased except if you are named with the caliphate after that; and this is not permissible except for a Prophet-as or a successor-as of a Prophet-as.
وَ إِنَّمَا تَصِحُّ الْحُجَّةُ لَكُمْ بِتَأْكِيدِكُمُ النُّبُوَّةَ لِنَبِيِّكُمْ وَ أَخْذِكُمْ بِسُنَنِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فِي هُدَاهُمْ، وَ قَدْ تَغَلَّبْتُمْ فَلَا بُدَّ لَنَا أَنْ نَحْتَجَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا ادَّعَيْتُمْ حَتَّى نَعْرِفَ سَبِيلَ مَا تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ، وَ نَعْرِفَ الْحَقَّ فِيكُمْ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّكُمْ، أَ صَوَابٌ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَمْ كَفَرْتُمْ بِجَهْلٍ؟.
And rather the argument is correct for you with your emphasising the Prophet-hood as being for your Prophet-saww, your taking with the Sunnahs of the Prophets-as regarding their-as guidance, and you have overcome. So, there is no escape for us that we argue upon you regarding what you are claiming, until we understand the way of what you are calling to, and we understand the truth among you after your Prophet-saww, is it correct what you are doing with the faith or are you disbelieving with ignorance?’
ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا شَيْخُ! أَجِبْ.
Then he said, ‘O sheykh! Answer’.
قَالَ:: فَالْتَفَتَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِلَى أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ لِيُجِيبَ عَنْهُ، فَلَمْ يُحِرْ جَوَاباً، ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ: بِنَاءُ الْقَوْمِ عَلَى غَيْرِ أَسَاسٍ وَ لَا أَرَى لَهُمْ حُجَّةً، أَ فَهِمْتُمْ؟. قَالُوا: بَلَى.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Bakr turned towards Abu Ubeyda to answer on his behalf, but he could not come up with an answer. Then the bishop turned towards his companions and said, ‘The building of the people is not without any foundation, nor can I see any argument being for them. Do you understand?’ They said, ‘Yes’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ: يَا شَيْخُ! أَسْأَلُكَ؟. قَالَ: سَلْ.
Then he said to Abu Bakr, ‘O sheykh! Can I ask you?’ He said, ‘Ask’.
قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِّي وَ عَنْكَ مَا أَنْتَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، وَ مَا أَنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about me and you. What are you in the Presence of Allah-azwj, and what am I in the Presence of Allah-azwj?’
قَالَ: أَمَّا أَنَا فَعِنْدَ نَفْسِي مُؤْمِنٌ، وَ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ فِيمَا بَعْدُ، وَ أَمَّا أَنْتَ فَعِنْدِي كَافِرٌ، وَ مَا أَدْرِي مَا أَنْتَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟.
He said, ‘As for I, so I am a believer in the presence of myself, and I do not know what I am in the Presence of Allah-azwj regarding what is afterwards; and as for you, so in my presence you are a Kafir, and I do not know what you are in the Presence of Allah-azwj?’
قَالَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ: أَمَّا أَنْتَ فَقَدْ مَنَّيْتَ نَفْسَكَ الْكُفْرَ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ، وَ جَهِلْتَ مَقَامَكَ فِي إِيمَانِكَ، أَ مُحِقٌّ أَنْتَ فِيهِ أَمْ مُبْطِلٌ، وَ أَمَّا أَنَا فَقَدْ مَنَّيْتَنِي الْإِيمَانَ بَعْدَ الْكُفْرِ، فَمَا أَحْسَنَ حَالِي وَ أَسْوَأَ حَالَكَ عِنْدَ نَفْسِكَ، إِذْ كُنْتَ لَا تُوقِنُ بِمَا لَكَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، فَقَدْ شَهِدْتَ لِي بِالْفَوْزِ وَ النَّجَاةِ، وَ شَهِدْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ بِالْهَلَاكِ وَ الْكُفْرِ.
The bishop said, ‘As for you, so you have conferred yourself with the Kufr after the Eman, and you are ignorant of your staying in your Eman. Are you right in it or wrong? And as for I, so the Eman has been conferred to me after the Kufr. How excellent is my state and how evil is your state with yourself, when you don’t even know what is there for you in the Presence of Allah-azwj. You have testified for me with the success and the salvation, and testified for yourself with the destruction and the Kufr’.
ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ: طِيبُوا نَفْساً فَقَدْ شَهِدَ لَكُمْ بِالنَّجَاةِ بَعْدَ الْكُفْرِ،
Then he turned to his companions and said, ‘Feel good for yourselves, for he has testified with the salvation being for you after the Kufr’.
ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقَالَ: يَا شَيْخُ! أَيْنَ مَكَانُكَ السَّاعَةَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذَا ادَّعَيْتَ الْإِيمَانَ، وَ أَيْنَ مَكَانِي مِنَ النَّارِ؟!.
Then he turned towards Abu Bakr and said, ‘O sheykh! Where is your place from the Paradise at the moment, when you claim the Eman, and where is my place from the Fire?’
قَالَ: فَالْتَفَتَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِلَى عُمَرَ وَ أبو [أَبِي] عُبَيْدَةَ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى لِيُجِيبَا عَنْهُ، فَلَمْ يَنْطِقْ أَحَدُهُمَا.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Bakr turned towards Umar and Abu Ubeyda once again for them to answer on his behalf, but not one of them spoke.
قَالَ: ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَا أَدْرِي أَيْنَ مَكَانِي وَ مَا حَالِي عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he said, ‘I don’t know where my place is and what my state is in the Presence of Allah-azwj’.
قَالَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ: يَا هَذَا! أَخْبِرْنِي كَيْفَ اسْتَجَزْتَ لِنَفْسِكَ أَنْ تَجْلِسَ فِي هَذَا الْمَجْلِسِ وَ أَنْتَ مُحْتَاجٌ إِلَى عِلْمِ غَيْرِكَ؟ فَهَلْ فِي أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ؟. قَالَ: نَعَمْ.
The bishop said, ‘O you! Inform me how you have allowed yourself to be seated in this seat but you are in need to the knowledge of someone else? Is there anyone in the community of Muhammad-saww, one who is more knowledgeable than you are?’ He said, ‘Yes’.
قَالَ: مَا أَعْلَمُكَ وَ إِيَّاهُمْ إِلَّا وَ قَدْ حَمَّلُوكَ أَمْراً عَظِيماً، وَ سَفِهُوا بِتَقْدِيمِهِمْ إِيَّاكَ عَلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ، فَإِنْ كَانَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ يَعْجِزُ عَمَّا سَأَلْتُكَ كَعَجْزِكَ فَأَنْتَ وَ هُوَ وَاحِدٌ فِي دَعْوَاكُمْ،
He said, ‘And what would make you and them know except and a mighty matter has carried you, and their foolishness in placing you forwards over the one who is more knowledgeable than you are. So, if the one who was more knowledgeable than you gets frustrated from what I have asked you, like your frustration, then you and he are one (and the same) in your claim.
فَأَرَى نَبِيَّكُمْ إِنْ كَانَ نَبِيّاً فَقَدْ ضَيَّعَ عِلْمَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ عَهْدَهُ وَ مِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي أَخَذَهُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ فِي إِقَامَةِ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ لِأُمَّتِهِمْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يُقِمْ وَصِيّاً لِيَتَفَرَّغُوا إِلَيْهِ فِيمَا تَتَنَازَعُونَ فِي أَمْرِ دِينِكُمْ،
I see your Prophet-saww, if he-saww was a Prophet-saww, as having wasted the Knowledge of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and His-azwj Pact and His-azwj Covenant which He-azwj Had Taken upon the Prophets-as from before him-saww regarding the nomination of the successors-as of their-as communities, when he-saww did not nominate a successor-asws they (people) could be panicking to him-asws regarding what they dispute in the matters of their Religion.
فَدُلُّونِي عَلَى هَذَا الَّذِي هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكُمْ، فَعَسَاهُ فِي الْعِلْمِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْكَ فِي مُحَاوَرَةٍ وَ جَوَابٍ وَ بَيَانٍ وَ مَا يُحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَثَرِ النُّبُوَّةِ وَ سُنَنِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَ لَقَدْ ظَلَمَكَ الْقَوْمُ وَ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ فِيكَ.
Point me upon this one who is more knowledgeable than you are, perhaps he-asws has more knowledge than you do regarding the dialogue, and answer, and explanation, and what one could be needy to from the Ahadeeth of the Prophet-hood and Sunnahs of the Prophets-as, and the people have been unjust to you and they have been unjust to themselves regarding you’.
قَالَ سَلْمَانُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ مَا نَزَلَ بِالْقَوْمِ مِنَ الْبَهْتِ وَ الْحَيْرَةِ وَ الذُّلِ وَ الصَّغَارِ، وَ مَا حَلَّ بِدِينِ مُحَمَّدٍ (ص)، وَ مَا نَزَلَ بِالْقَوْمِ مِنَ الْحُزْنِ، نَهَضْتُ- لَا أَعْقِلُ أَيْنَ أَضَعَ قَدَمِي- إِلَى بَابِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَدَقَقْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْبَابَ،
Salman-ra said, ‘When I-ra saw what had befallen with the people, from the dullness, and the confusion, and the disgrace, and the belittling, and what had been released with the Religion of Muhammad-saww, and what had befallen with the people, from the grief, I-ra got up, and I-ra did not know where I-ra was placing my-ra feet, to the door of Amir Al-Momineen-asws and knocked the door to him-asws.
فَخَرَجَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ: مَا دَهَاكَ يَا سَلْمَانُ؟!. قَالَ: قُلْتُ: هَلَكَ دِينُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ هَلَكَ الْإِسْلَامُ بَعْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ ظَهَرَ أَهْلُ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى دِينِهِ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ بِالْحُجَّةِ، فَأَدْرِكْ- يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ!- دِينَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ الْقَوْمُ قَدْ وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَهُمْ بِهِ وَ لَا بُدَّ وَ لَا حِيلَةَ، وَ أَنْتَ الْيَوْمَ مُفَرِّجُ كَرْبِهَا، وَ كَاشِفُ بَلْوَاهَا، وَ صَاحِبُ مِيسَمِهَا وَ تَاجُهَا، وَ مِصْبَاحُ ظُلَمِهَا، وَ مِفْتَاحُ مُبْهَمِهَا.
He-asws came out and he-asws was saying: ‘What has alarmed you-ra, O Salman-ra?’ I-ra said, ‘The Religion of Muhammad-saww is destroyed, and Al-Islam is destroyed after Muhammad-saww, and the people of Kufr have prevailed over his-saww Religion and its companions with the arguments. So, come, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws (to rescue the Religion of Muhammad-saww), and there has been referred to the people what there is no strength for them with it, nor any escape, nor any means, and today you-asws are the reliever of its distress, and remover of its nervousness, and owner of its good effects, and its crown, and its lamp for the darkness, and the key of (removing) its vagueness’.
قَالَ: فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ مَا ذَاكَ؟.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Ali-asws said: ‘And what is that?’
قَالَ: قُلْتُ: قَدْ قَدِمَ قَوْمٌ مِنْ مَلِكِ الرُّومِ فِي مِائَةِ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَشْرَافِ النَّاسِ مِنْ قَوْمِهِمْ يَقْدُمُهُمْ جَاثَلِيقٌ لَهُمْ لَمْ أَرَ مِثْلَهُ، يُورِدُ الْكَلَامَ عَلَى مَعَانِيهِ، وَ يَصْرِفُهُ عَلَى تَأْوِيلِهِ، وَ يُؤَكِّدُ حُجَّتَهُ وَ يُحْكِمُ ابْتِدَاءَهُ، لَمْ أَسْمَعْ مِثْلَ حُجَّتِهِ وَ لَا سُرْعَةِ جَوَابِهِ مِنْ كُنُوزِ عِلْمِهِ،
He-ra said, ‘I-ra said, ‘A group from the king of Rome has arrived among one hundred men from the noble people of their community, being led by a bishop of theirs. I-ra have not seen the like of it. He turns the speech upon its meanings, and he turns it upon its interpretation, and confirms it upon its argument initiating it. I-ra have not heard similar to his arguments nor quickness in answering from the treasure hoard of his knowledge.
فَأَتَى أَبَا بَكْرٍ- وَ هُوَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ- فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ مَقَامِهِ وَ وَصِيَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، فَأَبْطَلَ دَعْوَاهُ بِالْخِلَافَةِ، وَ غَلَبَهُمْ بِادِّعَائِهِمْ تَخْلِيفَهُمْ مَقَامَهُ، فَأَوْرَدَ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ مَسْأَلَةً أَخْرَجَهُ بِهَا عَنْ إِيمَانِهِ، وَ أَلْزَمَهُ الْكُفْرَ وَ الشَّكَّ فِي دِينِهِ،
He came to Abu Bakr, and he was in a group, and asked him about his position and bequest of Rasool-Allah-saww. He invalidated his claim for the caliphate and overcame them of their claims of their making a caliph of his position. He referred issues to Abu Bakr, taking him out from his Eman and necessitating him the Kufr, and the doubt in his religion.
فَعَلَتْهُمْ لِذَلِكَ ذِلَّةٌ وَ خُضُوعٌ وَ حَيْرَةٌ، فَأَدْرِكْ- يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ- دِينَ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَقَدْ وَرَدَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَهُمْ بِهِ.
He dealt out to them the disgrace, and humbleness, and confusion, so go (and rescue) the Religion of Muhammad-saww, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws, for there has been referred to them what there is no strength for them with it’.
فَنَهَضَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مَعِي حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا الْقَوْمَ وَ قَدْ أُلْبِسُوا الذِّلَّةَ وَ الْمَهَانَةَ وَ الصَّغَارَ وَ الْحَيْرَةَ،
Amir Al-Momineen-asws went with me-ra until we came to the group, and they had been clothed with the disgrace, and the humiliation, and the belittling, and the confusion.
فَسَلَّمَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ، فَقَالَ: يَا نَصْرَانِيٌّ! أَقْبِلْ عَلَيَّ بِوَجْهِكَ وَ اقْصِدْنِي بِمَسَائِلِكَ فَعِنْدِي جَوَابُ مَا يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ فِيمَا يَأْتُونَ وَ يَذَرُونَ، وَ بِاللَّهِ التَّوْفِيقُ.
Ali-asws greeted, then sat down. He-asws said: ‘O Christian! Turn your face towards me and aim your questioned at me-asws, for with me-asws are the answers to whatever the people could be needy to regarding what they should be doing and leaving, and by Allah-azwj (towards me-asws) is the inclination’.
قَالَ: فَتَحَوَّلَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ إِلَيْهِ، وَ قَالَ: يَا شَابُّ! إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَبْعَثْ نَبِيّاً قَطُّ إِلَّا وَ كَانَ لَهُ وصيا [كَذَا] [وَصِيٌ] يَقُومُ مَقَامَهُ، وَ قَدْ بَلَغَنَا اخْتِلَافٌ عَنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي مَقَامِ نُبُوَّتِهِ، وَ ادِّعَاءُ قُرَيْشٍ عَلَى الْأَنْصَارِ وَ ادِّعَاءُ الْأَنْصَارِ عَلَى قُرَيْشٍ، وَ اخْتِيَارُهُمْ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ،
He-ra said, ‘The Christian turned towards him-asws and said: ‘O youth! We have found in the Books of the Prophets-as that Allah-azwj did not Send any Prophet-as at all except and there was a successor-asws for him-as to stand in his-as place. It has reached us the differing(s) of the community of Muhammad-saww regarding the position of his-saww Prophet-hood, and the claims of Quraysh upon the Helpers, and the claims of the Helpers upon Quraysh, and their choosing for themselves.
فَأَقْدَمَنَا مَلِكُنَا وَفْداً، وَ قَدِ اخْتَارَنَا لِنَبْحَثَ عَنْ دِينِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ نَعْرِفَ سُنَنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فِيهِ وَ الِاسْتِمَاعَ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ الَّذِينَ ادَّعَوْا مَقَامَهُ، أَ حَقٌّ ذَلِكَ أَمْ بَاطِلٌ؟ قَدْ كَذَبُوا عَلَيْهِ كَمَا كَذَبَتِ الْأُمَمُ بَعْدَ أَنْبِيَائِهَا عَلَى نَبِيِّهَا، وَ دَفَعَتِ الْأَوْصِيَاءَ عَنْ حَقِّهَا،
So, our king sent us forward as a delegation, and we have chosen to discuss about the Religion of Muhammad-saww, we do recognise the ways of the Prophets-saww regarding it, and then listening from his-saww people, those claiming his-saww position. Is that right or wrong? They have belied upon him-saww just as the (previous) communities had belied upon their Prophets-as, and repelled the successors-as from their-as rights.
فَإِنَّا وَجَدْنَا قَوْمَ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بَعْدَهُ عَكَفُوا عَلَى الْعِجْلِ وَ دَفَعُوا هَارُونَ عَنْ وَصِيَّتِهِ، وَ اخْتَارُوا مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَ كَذَلِكَ: سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَ لَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّةِ اللَّهِ تَبْدِيلًا،
We found that the people of Musa-as had stooped to the calf after him-as, and they repelled Haroun-as from his-as successorship, and they chose what you are upon; and similar to that, Being a Sunnah of Allah regarding those who have gone before, and you will never find any alteration in the Sunnah of Allah [33:62].
فَقَدِمْنَا فَأَرْشَدَنَا الْقَوْمُ إِلَى هَذَا الشَّيْخِ، فَادَّعَى مَقَامَهُ وَ الْأَمْرَ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، فَسَأَلْنَا عَنِ الْوَصِيَّةِ إِلَيْهِ عَنْ نَبِيِّهِ (ص) ؟ فَلَمْ يَعْرِفْهَا،
We arrived and the people guided us to this sheykh. He claims his-saww position and the command being for him from after him-saww. We asked, ‘Was the bequeathing to him from his Prophet-saww?’ He did not understand it.
وَ سَأَلْنَاهُ عَنْ قَرَابَتِهِ مِنْهُ إِذْ كَانَتِ الدَّعْوَةُ فِي إِبْرَاهِيم عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِيمَا سَبَقَتْ فِي الذُّرِّيَّةِ فِي إِمَامَتِهِ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا ذُرِّيَّةٌ بَعْضُها مِنْ بَعْضٍ، وَ لَا يَنَالُهَا إِلَّا مُصْطَفًى مُطَهَّرٌ،
And we asked about his kinship from him-saww, when the supplication regarding Ibrahim-as in what has preceded in the offspring, regarding his-as Imamate, that no one would from the offspring would attain it except from each other – none would attain it except the Chosen, the Purified.
فَأَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَتَبَيَّنَ السُّنَّةَ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّونَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ، وَ اخْتِلَافَ الْأُمَّةِ عَلَى الْوَصِيِّ كَمَا اخْتَلَفَتْ عَلَى مَنْ مَضَى مِنَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ، وَ مَعْرِفَةَ الْعِتْرَةِ فِيهِمْ؟،
We wanted to ascertain the Sunnah from Muhammad-saww, and what the (previous) Prophets-as had come with, and differing of the community upon the successor-asws just as the ones from the past had differed regarding the successors-as, and recognition of the family among them?
فَإِنْ وَجَدْنَا لِهَذَا الرَّسُولِ وَصِيّاً وَ قَائِماً بَعْدَهُ وَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ النَّاسُ، وَ يُجِيبُ بِجَوَابَاتٍ بَيِّنَةٍ، وَ يُخْبِرُ عَنْ أَسْبَابِ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْمَنَايَا وَ فَصْلِ الْخِطَابِ وَ الْأَنْسَابِ، وَ مَا يَهْبِطُ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ، وَ مَا يَنْزِلُ بِهِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَ الرُّوحُ إِلَى الْأَوْصِيَاءِ صَدَّقْنَا بِنُبُوَّتِهِ، وَ أَجَبْنَا دَعْوَتَهُ، وَ اقْتَدَيْنَا بِوَصِيَّتِهِ، وَ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَ بِكِتَابِهِ، وَ بِمَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الرُّسُلُ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ،
So, if we were to find for this Rasool-saww having a successor-asws and a custodian after him-saww, and with him-asws is knowledge of what the people could be needy to, and he-asws answers with the answers of his-asws Prophet-saww, and informs about the causes of the afflictions and the deaths, and the decisive address, and the lineages, and what knowledge descends during the Night of Pre-determination during every year, and what the Angels and the Spirit descend with to the successors-as, we would ratify his-saww Prophet-hood, and answer his-saww call, and believe in his-saww successor-asws and believe in him-saww and in his-saww book, and whatever the Rasools-as before him-saww had come with.
وَ إِنْ يَكُنْ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى دِينِنَا وَ عَلِمْنَا أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً لَمْ يُبْعَثْ، وَ قَدْ سَأَلْنَا هَذَا الشَّيْخَ فَلَمْ نَجِدْ عِنْدَهُ تَصْحِيحَ نُبُوَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ إِنَّمَا ادَّعَوْا لَهُ وَ كَانَ جَبَّاراً غَلَبَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ بِالْقَهْرِ، وَ مَلَكَهُمْ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ أَثَرُ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَ لَا مَا جَاءَتْ بِهِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ قَبْلَهُ،
And if other than that were to happen, we shall return to our religion, and we would know that Muhammad-saww had not been Sent; and we have asked this sheykh, but we did not find with him anything correct of the Prophet-hood of Muhammad-saww. But he is claiming for it and he would be a tyrant having overcome upon his people with the force, and became their king, and does not happen to have any traces of the Prophet-hood, nor what the Prophets-as before him-saww had come with.
وَ أَنَّهُ مَضَى وَ تَرَكَهُمْ بُهْماً يَغْلِبُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً، وَ رَدَّهُمْ جَاهِلِيَّةً جَهْلَاءَ مِثْلَ مَا كَانُوا يَخْتَارُونَ بِآرَائِهِمْ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ .. أَيَّ دِينٍ أَحَبُّوا، وَ أَيَّ مَلِكٍ أَرَادُوا، وَ أَخْرَجُوا مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِنْ سَبِيلِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَ جَهَّلُوهُ فِي رِسَالَتِهِ، وَ دَفَعُوا وَصِيَّتَهُ، وَ زَعَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَاهِلَ يَقُومُ مَقَامَ الْعَالِمِ، وَ فِي ذَلِكَ هَلَاكُ الْحَرْثِ وَ النَّسْلِ وَ ظُهُورُ الْفَسَادِ فِي الْأَرْضِ فِي الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِ،
And he-saww has passed away and left them as beasts overcoming each other, and returned them to ignorance of the ignoramuses like what they had been, choosing with their opinions for themselves, whichever religion they like, and whichever king they want, and they have expelled Muhammad-saww from the way of the Prophets-as, and ignored him-saww regarding his-saww Message, and they claimed that the ignorant one can stand in the place of the knowledgeable one, and in that is destruction of the farms and the lineages, and appearance of the corruption in the earth in the land and the sea.
وَ حَاشَا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ نَبِيّاً إِلَّا مُطَهَّراً مُسَدَّداً مُصْطَفًى عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ، وَ إِنَّ الْعَالِمَ أَمِيرٌ عَلَى الْجَاهِلِ أَبَداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، فَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ اسْمِهِ فَقَالَ الَّذِي إِلَى جَنْبِهِ: هَذَا خَلِيفَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ. فَقُلْتُ: إِنَ هَذَا الِاسْمَ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ لِأَحَدٍ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ لُغَةً مِنَ اللُّغَاتِ،
Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Refused except to Send any Prophet-saww except as Purified, Directed, Chosen over the worlds, and that the rule of the knowledgeable ones upon the ignorant one would be forever, up to the Day of Qiyamah. I asked him about his name, and the one by his side said, ‘This is the caliph of Rasool-Allah-saww’. I said, ‘We do not recognise this name for anyone after the Prophet-saww except if it happens to be a (use of) language from the languages.
فَأَمَّا الْخِلَافَةُ فَلَا تَصْلُحُ إِلَّا لِآدَمَ وَ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ، وَ السُّنَّةُ فِيهَا لِلْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ، وَ إِنَّكُمْ لَتُعَظِّمُونَ الْفِرْيَةَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ، فَانْتَفَى مِنَ الْعِلْمِ، وَ اعْتَذَرَ مِنَ الِاسْمِ،
As for the caliphate, so it is not correct except for Adam-as, and Dawood-as, and the Sunnah therein is for the Prophets-as and the successors-as, and you all are revering the calumny (lies) upon Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww and you have exiled from the knowledge, and you should apologise from the name (caliph)’.
وَ قَالَ: إِنَّمَا تَرَاضَوُا النَّاسُ بِي فَسَمَّوْنِي خَلِيفَةً، وَ فِي الْأُمَّةِ مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنِّي،
And he said, ‘But rather, the people were in agreement with me, and they named me as ‘caliph’, and in the community there is someone who is more knowledgeable than me’.
فَاكْتَفَيْنَا بِمَا حَكَمَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَ عَلَى مَنِ اخْتَارَهُ، فَقَدِمْتُ مُسْتَرْشِداً وَ بَاحِثاً عَنِ الْحَقِّ، فَإِنْ وَضَحَ لِي اتَّبَعْتُهُ وَ لَمْ تَأْخُذْنِي فِي اللَّهِ لَوْمَةُ لَائِمٍ، فَهَلْ عِنْدَكَ أَيُّهَا الشَّابُّ شِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي صُدُورِنَا؟.
We sufficed we what he had judged upon himself and upon the ones who had chosen him. We had arrived to be rightly guided and discuss about the truth. So, if it were to be placed for me, I would follow it, and no accusation by an accuser would seize me regarding Allah-azwj. O you-asws youth! Is there healing with you-asws for what is in our chests?’
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: بَلَى! عِنْدِي شِفَاءٌ لِصُدُورِكُمْ، وَ ضِيَاءٌ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ، وَ شَرْحٌ لِمَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَ بَيَانٌ لَا يَخْتَلِجُكُمُ الشَّكٌّ مَعَهُ، وَ إِخْبَارٌ عَنْ أُمُورِكُمْ، وَ بُرْهَانٌ لِدَلَالَتِكُمْ، فَأَقْبِلْ عَلَيَ بِوَجْهِكَ، وَ فَرِّغْ لِي مَسَامِعَ قَلْبِكَ، وَ أَحْضِرْنِي ذِهْنَكَ، وَ عِ مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ:
Ali-asws said: ‘Yes! With me-asws there is healing for your chests, and illumination for your hearts, and expounding for what you are upon, and such explanation you would not be needy of doubt being with it, and news about your affairs, and proof of your evidence, so turn towards me with your face, and free the ears of your heart for me-asws, and present your mind retaining what I-asws am saying to you: –
إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَنِّهِ وَ طَوْلِهِ وَ فَضْلِهِ- لَهُ الْحَمْدُ كَثِيراً دَائِماً- قَدْ صَدَّقَ وَعْدَهُ، وَ أَعَزَّ دِينَهُ، وَ نَصَرَ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدَهُ وَ رَسُولَهُ، وَ هَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ، فَ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هُوَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ،
Allah-azwj, by His-azwj Conferment, and His-azwj Forbearance, and His-azwj Grace, for Him-azwj is a lot of Praise, constant, has been Truthful of His-azwj Promise, and Helped Muhammad-saww, His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and Defeated the allies Alone, For Him is the Kingdom and for Him is the Praise, and He is Able upon all things [64:1].
إِنَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى اخْتَصَّ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ اصْطَفَاهُ وَ هَدَاهُ، وَ انْتَجَبَهُ لِرِسَالَتِهِ إِلَى النَّاسِ كَافَّةً بِرَحْمَتِهِ، وَ إِلَى الثَّقَلَيْنِ بِرَأْفَتِهِ، وَ فَرَضَ طَاعَتَهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ، وَ جَعَلَهُ إِمَاماً لِمَنْ قَبْلَهُ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ، وَ خَاتَماً لِمَنْ بَعْدَهُ مِنَ الْخَلْقِ،
Surely, the Blessed and Exalted Particularised Muhammad-saww, and Chose him-saww, and Guided him-saww, and Selected him-saww for His-azwj Message to the people, all of them with His-azwj Mercy, and to the human beings and the Jinn with His-azwj Kindness, and Obligated obedience to him-saww upon the inhabitants of the sky and the earth, and Made him-saww an Imam-asws for the ones from the Rasools-as before him-saww, and as the last for the ones from the creatures after him-saww;
وَ وَرَّثَهُ مَوَارِيثَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَ أَعْطَاهُ مَقَالِيدَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ، وَ اتَّخَذَهُ نَبِيّاً وَ رَسُولًا وَ حَبِيباً وَ إِمَاماً، وَ دَفَعَهُ إِلَيْهِ، وَ قَرَّبَهُ يَمِينَ عَرْشِهِ بِحَيْثُ لَا يَبْلُغُهُ مَلَكٌ مُقَرَّبٌ وَ لَا نَبِيٌّ مُرْسَلٌ،
And he-saww inherited the Prophets-as, and (Allah-azwj) Gave him-saww the reins of the world and the hereafter, and Took him-saww as a Prophet-saww, and a Rasool-saww, and a Beloved, and an Imam-saww, and Handed it over to him-saww, and Drew him-saww closer to His-azwj Throne where neither an Angel of Proximity, nor a Messenger Prophet-as had reached.
فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ فِي وَحْيِهِ مَا أَوْحَى ما كَذَبَ الْفُؤادُ ما رَأى، وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَامَاتِهِ عَلَى الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَهُمْ: لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَ لَتَنْصُرُنَّهُ.
Allah-azwj Revealed to him-saww among His-azwj Revelations He-azwj had Revealed: The heart did not belie what it saw [53:11], and Sent down His-azwj Signs unto the Prophets-saww and Took their-as Covenants: you must believe in him, and you must help him”. [3:81].
قَالَ: ثُمَ قالَ أَ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَ أَخَذْتُمْ عَلى ذلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قالُوا أَقْرَرْنا قالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَ أَنَا مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
He-asws said: ‘Then He-azwj Said: He said: “Do you affirm and accept My Pact upon that?” They said: ‘We do accept’. He said: “Then bear witness, and I (too) am of the Bearers of Witness with you [3:81].
وَ قَالَ: يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوباً عِنْدَهُمْ فِي التَّوْراةِ وَ الْإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ يَنْهاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ يُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّباتِ وَ يُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبائِثَ وَ يَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَ الْأَغْلالَ الَّتِي كانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِهِ وَ عَزَّرُوهُ وَ نَصَرُوهُ وَ اتَّبَعُوا النُّورَ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ مَعَهُ أُولئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
And Said: whom they are finding written with them in the Torah and the Evangel (that) he would be instructing them with the good things and forbidding them from the evil, and permitting for them the good things and prohibiting upon them the bad, and removing from them their burdens and their shackles which would be upon them. So those who believe in him, and assist him, and help him, and follow the Light which descends with him, they would be the successful ones [7:157].
فَمَا مَضَى صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حَتَّى أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ مَقَامَهُ، وَ أَعْطَاهُ وَسِيلَتَهُ، وَ رَفَعَ لَهُ دَرَجَتَهُ، فَلَنْ يُذْكَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى إِلَّا كَانَ مَعَهُ مَقْرُوناً، وَ فَرَضَ دِينَهُ، وَ وَصَلَ طَاعَتَهُ بِطَاعَتِهِ،
Thus, he-saww did not pass away until Allah-azwj Completed his-saww position, and Gave him-saww his-saww means, and Raised his-saww rank for him-saww. So, Allah-azwj the Exalted will never be mentioned except and he-saww would be brought in close proximity to Him-azwj; and He-azwj Obligated his-saww Religion and Connected obedience to Him-azwj with obedience to him-saww.
فَقَالَ: مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطاعَ اللَّهَ وَ قَالَ: ما آتاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَ ما نَهاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا
He-azwj Said: There is one who obeys the Rasool, so he has obeyed Allah, [4:80]; and Said: And whatever the Rasool gives you, so take it, and whatever he forbids you from, then refrain; [59:7].
فَأَبْلَغَ عَنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رِسَالَتَهُ، وَ أَوْضَحَ بُرْهَانَ وَلَايَتِهِ، وَ أَحْكَمَ آيَاتِهِ، وَ شَرَّعَ شَرَائِعَهُ وَ أَحْكَامَهُ، وَ دَلَّهُمْ عَلَى سَبِيلِ نَجَاتِهِمْ، وَ بَابِ هِدَايَتِهِ وَ حِكْمَتِهِ،
He-saww delivered on behalf of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, His-azwj Message, and clarified the proof of His-azwj Wilayah, and the Decisive of His-azwj Verse, and legislated His-azwj Laws and His-azwj Judgments, and pointed them upon the way of their salvation, and he-saww was the door of His-azwj Guidance and His-azwj Wisdom.
وَ كَذَلِكَ بَشَّرَ بِهِ النَّبِيُّونَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَبْلَهُ، وَ بَشَّرَ بِهِ عِيسَى رُوحُ اللَّهِ وَ كَلِمَتُهُ إِذْ يَقُولُ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ: أَحْمَدُ الْعَرَبِيُّ النَّبِيُّ الْأُمِّيُّ صَاحِبُ الْجَمَلِ الْأَحْمَرِ وَ الْقَضِيبِ،
And like that the Prophets-as before him-saww had given the glad tidings of him-saww, and Isa-as, Spirit of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Word gave glad tidings of him-saww where he-as is saying in the Evangel: ‘Ahmad the Ummy, owner of the red camel and the staff’.
وَ أَقَامَ لِأُمَّتِهِ وَصِيَّهُ فِيهِمْ، وَ عَيْبَةَ عِلْمِهِ، وَ مَوْضِعَ سِرِّهِ، وَ مُحْكَمَ آيَاتِ كِتَابِهِ، وَ تَالِيَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ، وَ بَابَ حِطَّتِهِ، وَ وَارِثَ كِتَابِهِ، وَ خَلَّفَهُ مَعَ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فِيهِمْ، وَ أَخَذَ فِيهِمُ الْحُجَّةَ،
And he-saww nominated his-saww successor-asws for his-saww community among them, and a receptacle of his-saww knowledge, and place of his-saww secrets, and the Decisive Verses of His-azwj Book, and recited it as was the right of its recitation, and its door of Hitta, and an inheritor of His-azwj Book, and left behind along with the Book of Allah-azwj among them, and took the argument among them.
فَقَالَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: قَدْ خَلَّفْتُ فِيكُمْ مَا إِنْ تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهِ لَنْ تَضِلُّوا، كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَ عِتْرَتِي أَهْلَ بَيْتِي، وَ هُمَا الثَّقَلَانِ: كِتَابُ اللَّهِ الثَّقَلُ الْأَكْبَرُ حَبْلٌ مَمْدُودٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ سَبَبُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَ سَبَبٌ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ،
He-saww said: ‘I-saww am leaving behind among you all what if you were to adhere with it, you will never stray – Book of Allah-azwj and my-saww family, People-asws of my-saww Household. And these are the two weighty things. The greater weighty thing is the rope extending from the sky to the earth. Its end is in your hands and an end in the Hand of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic.
وَ إِنَّهُمَا لَنْ يَفْتَرِقَا حَتَّى يَرِدَا عَلَيَّ الْحَوْضَ، فَلَا تَقَدَّمُوهُمْ فَتَمْرُقُوا وَ لَا تَأْخُذُوا عَنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَتَعْطَبُوا، وَ لَا تُعَلِّمُوهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكُمْ،
And these two will never separate until they return to me-saww at the Fountain, so do not precede them, nor take from others for you will be destroyed, and do not (try to) teach them-asws, for they-asws are more knowledgeable than you are’.
وَ أَنَا وَصِيُّهُ وَ الْقَائِمُ بِتَأْوِيلِ كِتَابِهِ، وَ الْعَارِفُ بِحَلَالِهِ وَ حَرَامِهِ، وَ بِمُحْكَمِهِ وَ مُتَشَابِهِهِ، وَ نَاسِخِهِ وَ مَنْسُوخِهِ، وَ أَمْثَالِهِ وَ عِبَرِهِ وَ تَصَارِيفِهِ، وَ عِنْدِي عِلْمُ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ أُمَّتُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَ كُلُّ قَائِمٍ وَ مُلْتَوٍ،
And I-asws am his-saww successor-asws, and the one standing with the interpretation of His-azwj Book, and the recogniser of its Permissible(s) and its Prohibitions, and its Decisive, and its Allegorical, and its Abrogating, and its Abrogated, and its examples, and its lessons, and its utilisations, and with me-asws is knowledge of what his-saww community would be needy to from after him-saww, and every custodian-asws is replaced.
وَ عِنْدِي عِلْمُ الْبَلَايَا وَ الْمَنَايَا وَ الْوَصَايَا وَ الْأَنْسَابِ وَ فَصْلِ الْخِطَابِ، وَ مَوْلِدِ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ مَوْلِدِ الْكُفْرِ، وَ صَاحِبِ الْكَرَّاتِ، وَ دُولَةِ الدُّوَلِ، فَاسْأَلْنِي عَمَّا يَكُونُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ عَمَّا كَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مُنْذُ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى، وَ عَنْ كُلِّ وَصِيٍّ، وَ كُلِّ فِئَةٍ تَضِلُّ مِائَةً وَ تَهْدِي مِائَةً، وَ عَنْ سَائِقِهَا وَ قَائِدِهَا وَ نَاعِقِهَا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَ كُلِّ آيَةٍ نَزَلَتْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فِي لَيْلٍ نَزَلَتْ أَمْ نَهَارٍ، وَ عَنِ التَّوْرَاةِ وَ الْإِنْجِيلِ وَ الْقُرْآنِ الْعَظِيمِ،
And with me-asws is knowledge of the afflictions and the deaths, and the bequests, and the lineages, and the decisive address, and births of Al-Islam, and births of Al-Kufr, and I-asws am in-charge of the Return (Raj’at), and government of the governments. So, ask me-asws about what is to happen up to the Day of Qiyamah, and about what has happened in the era of Isa-as since Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted had Sent him-as, and about every successor-as, and every group straying a hundred, and guiding a hundred, and its usher, and its guide, and its caller up to the Day of Qiyamah, and (about) every Verse Revealed in the Book of Allah-azwj, whether it was Revealed during night or day, and about the Torah, and the Evangel, and the Magnificent Quran.
فَإِنَّهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لَمْ يَكْتُمْنِي مِنْ عِلْمِهِ شَيْئاً وَ لَا مَا تَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ الْأُمَمُ مِنْ أَهْلِ التَّوْرَاةِ وَ الْإِنْجِيلِ، وَ أَصْنَافَ الْمُلْحِدِينَ وَ أَحْوَالَ الْمُخَالِفِينَ، وَ أَدْيَانَ الْمُخْتَلِفِينَ،
And he-saww did not conceal anything from me-saww of his-saww knowledge, nor what the communities could be needy to, from the people of the Torah, and the Evangel, and the variety of the atheists, and situations of the adversaries, and different religions.
وَ كَانَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ خَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ بَعْدَهُمْ، وَ عَلَيْهِمْ فُرِضَتْ طَاعَتُهُ وَ الْإِيمَانُ بِهِ وَ النُّصْرَةُ لَهُ، تَجِدُونَ ذَلِكَ مَكْتُوباً فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَ الْإِنْجِيلِ وَ الزَّبُورِ، وَ فِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولى صُحُفِ إِبْراهِيمَ وَ مُوسى،
And he-saww was the last of the Prophets-as after them-as, and obedience to him-saww was Obligated upon them-as, and the belief in him-saww, and the helping to him-saww. You are finding that written in the Torah, and the Evangel, and Psalms, and in the former Parchments [87:18] The Parchments of Ibrahim and Musa [87:19].
وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُضَيِّعَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ فِي خَلْقِهِ وَ يَتْرُكَ الْأُمَّةَ قَائِهِينَ بَعْدَهُ، وَ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ وَ قَدْ وَصَفَهُ اللَّهُ بِالرَّأْفَةِ وَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَ الْعَفْوِ وَ الْأَمْرِ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ النَّهْيِ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ إِقَامَةِ الْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ؟!.
And he-saww did not happen to waste the Pact of Allah-azwj regarding His-azwj creatures and leave them bewildered after him-saww; and how can that happen and Allah-azwj has Described him-saww with the kindness, and the mercy, and the pardon, and the enjoining with the good, and forbidding from the evil, and establish the fairness, the straightness?!
وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَوْحَى إِلَيْهِ كَمَا أَوْحَى إِلى نُوحٍ وَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، وَ كَمَا أَوْحَى إِلَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَصَدَّقَ اللَّهَ وَ بَلَّغَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ أَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ،
And Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed to him-saww just as He-azwj had Revealed to Noah-as and the Prophets-as from after him-as, and just as He-azwj had Revealed to Musa-as, and Isa-as. So, he-saww ratified Allah-azwj and delivered His-azwj Message, and I-asws am from the witnesses upon that.
وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى: فَكَيْفَ إِذا جِئْنا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَ جِئْنا بِكَ عَلى هؤُلاءِ شَهِيداً وَ قَالَ: وَ كَفى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكُمْ وَ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتابِ
And Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted has Said: How will it be, when We Come with a witness from every community, and We Come with you as a witness upon them? [4:41]. And Said: ‘I suffice with Allah as a Witness between me and you, and one with whom is Knowledge of the Book [13:43].
وَ قَدْ صَدَّقَهُ اللَّهُ وَ أَعْطَاهُ الْوَسِيلَةَ إِلَيْهِ وَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ، فَقَالَ: يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ كُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ، فَنَحْنُ الصَّادِقُونَ، وَ أَنَا أَخُوهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ، وَ الشَّاهِدُ مِنْهُ عَلَيْهِمْ بَعْدَهُ، وَ أَنَا وَسِيلَتُهُ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أُمَّتِهِ،
And Allah-azwj Ratified him-asws Gave him-asws the means to Him-saww and to Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, so He-azwj Said: O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with the truthful ones [9:119]. We-asws are the ratifiers, and I-asws am his-saww brother-asws in the world and the Hereafter, and the witness from him-saww upon them after him-saww, and I-asws am his-saww intermediary between him-saww and his-saww community.
وَ أَنَا وَ وُلْدِي وَرَثَتُهُ، وَ أَنَا وَ هُمْ كَسَفِينَةِ نُوحٍ فِي قَوْمِهِ مَنْ رَكِبَهَا نَجَا وَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا غَرِقَ، وَ أَنَا وَ هُمْ كَبَابِ حِطَّةٍ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، وَ أَنَا بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى إِلَّا أَنَّهُ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدَهُ، وَ أَنَا الشَّاهِدُ مِنْهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ،
And I-asws and my-asws sons-asws inherited him-saww, and I-asws and them-asws are like the ship of Noah-as in his-saww people, one who sails it would be saved and one who stays behind from it would drown; and I-asws and them-asws are like the door of Hitta among the children of Israel, and I-asws am (from him-saww) at the status of Haroun-as from Musa-as except there would be no Prophet-as after him-saww, and I-asws am the witness from him-saww in the world and the Hereafter.
وَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَ يُعْرَضُ طَاعَتِي وَ مَحَبَّتِي بَيْنَ أَهْلِ الْإِيمَانِ وَ أَهْلِ الْكُفْرِ وَ أَهْلِ النِّفَاقِ، فَمَنْ أَحَبَّنِي كَانَ مُؤْمِناً، وَ مَنْ أَبْغَضَنِي كَانَ كَافِراً،
And Rasool-Allah-saww, being upon a proof from his-saww Lord-azwj, displayed (Obligated) obedience to me-asws and love for me-asws between the people of Eman, and people of Kufr, and people of hypocrisy. So, the one who loves me-asws would be a Momin, and one who hates me-asws would be a Kafir.
وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَذَبْتُ وَ لَا كُذِبْتُ وَ لَا كُذِّبَ بِي، وَ لَا ضَلَلْتُ وَ لَا ضُلَّ بِي، وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ بَيَّنَهَا رَبِّي عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِنَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَبَيَّنَهَا لِي، فَاسْأَلُونِي عَمَّا كَانَ وَ عَمَّا يَكُونُ وَ عَمَّا هُوَ كَائِنٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
By Allah-azwj! I-asws have neither lied, nor been lied to, nor did he-saww lie to me-asws, nor did am I-asws straying, nor did he-saww stray me, and I-asws am upon a proof my-asws Lord-azwj Mighty and Majestic Explained it to His-azwj Prophet-saww, and he-saww explained to me-asws. So, ask me-asws about what has happened, and about what is happening, and about what will be happening to the Day of Qiyamah’.
قَالَ: فَالْتَفَتَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ وَ قَالَ: هَذَا هُوَ وَ اللَّهِ النَّاطِقُ بِالْعِلْمِ وَ الْقُدْرَةِ، الْفَاتِقُ الرَّاتِقُ، وَ نَرْجُو مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَنْ نَكُونَ صَادَفْنَا حَظَّنَا، وَ نُورَ هِدَايَتِنَا، وَ هَذِهِ وَ اللَّهِ حُجَجُ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ عَلَى قَوْمِهِمْ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘The bishop turned to his companions and said, ‘This one, by Allah-azwj, he-asws speaks with the knowledge and the ability, and the splitting (the issue), and the reformer, and we hope from Allah-azwj the Exalted that we happen to have found our fortune, and the Noor of our guidance, and by Allah-azwj, these are arguments of the successors-as of the Prophets-as upon their-as people’.
قَالَ: فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فَقَالَ: كَيْفَ عَدَلَ بِكَ الْقَوْمُ عَنْ قَصْدِهِمْ إِيَّاكَ، وَ ادَّعَوْا مَا أَنْتَ أَوْلَى بِهِ مِنْهُمْ؟! أَلَا وَ قَدْ وَقَعَ الْقَوْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ، قَصَّرُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَ مَا ضَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْأَوْصِيَاءَ مَعَ مَا أَغْنَاهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ وَ اسْتِحْقَاقِ مَقَامَاتِ رُسُلِهِ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘He turned towards Ali-asws and said, ‘How come the people turned away from aiming for you-asws and claimed what you-asws are foremost with it than they are?Indeed, and the Word has occurred upon them. They have fallen short (and destroyed) themselves and that will not harm the successors-asws along with what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Made them-asws to be needless with from the knowledge and the rightfulness of the positions of His-azwj Rasool-saww.
فَأَخْبِرْنِي- أَيُّهَا الْعَالِمُ الْحَكِيمُ- عَنِّي وَ عَنْكَ مَا أَنْتَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟ وَ مَا أَنَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟.
Inform me, O you knowledgeable, wise one, about me-asws and about you-asws. What are you-asws in the Presence of Allah-azwj? And what am I in the presence of Allah-azwj?’
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا أَنَا فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ عِنْدَ نَفْسِي مُؤْمِنٌ مُتَيَقِّنٌ بِفَضْلِهِ وَ رَحْمَتِهِ وَ هِدَايَتِهِ وَ نِعَمِهِ عَلَيَّ، وَ كَذَلِكَ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ مِيثَاقِي عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ وَ هَدَانِي لِمَعْرِفَتِهِ لَا أَشُكُّ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ لَا أَرْتَابُ،
Ali-asws said: ‘As for I-asws, in the Presence of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, I-asws am a Momin, and in the presence of myself-asws I-asws am a Momin, certain of His-azwj Grace, and His-azwj Mercy, and His-azwj Guidance, and His-azwj Favours upon me-asws; and like that, Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Majesty, Took my-asws Covenant upon the Eman, and Guided me-asws to recognise Him-azwj. I-asws have not doubts regarding that, nor any suspicions.
وَ لَمْ أَزَلْ عَلَى مَا أَخَذَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيَّ مِنَ الْمِيثَاقِ، وَ لَمْ أُبَدِّلْ وَ لَمْ أُغَيِّرْ وَ ذَلِكَ بِمَنِّ اللَّهِ وَ رَحْمَتِهِ وَ صُنْعِهِ، أَنَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَا أَشُكُّ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ لَا أَرْتَابُ، لَمْ أَزَلْ عَلَى مَا أَخَذَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيَّ مِنَ الْمِيثَاقِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّكَّ شِرْكٌ لِمَا أَعْطَانِيَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْيَقِينِ وَ الْبَيِّنَةِ،
And I-asws have not ceased to be upon what Allah-azwj the Exalted has Taken upon me-asws of the Covenant, and did not replace, and did not change, and that is by a Conferment of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Mercy and His-azwj Making. I-asws would be in the Paradise. I-asws have no doubts regarding that nor any suspicions, and I-asws have not ceased to be upon what Allah-azwj the Exalted has Taken upon me-asws of the Covenant, for the doubt is association (Shirk), due to what Allah-azwj has Given me-asws, from the Certainty and the Proof.
وَ أَمَّا أَنْتَ فَعِنْدَ اللَّهِ كَافِرٌ بِجُحُودِكَ الْمِيثَاقَ وَ الْإِقْرَارَ الَّذِي أَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِكَ مِنْ بَطْنِ أُمِّكَ وَ بُلُوغِكَ الْعَقْلَ وَ مَعْرِفَةَ التَّمْيِيزِ لِلْجَيِّدِ وَ الرَّدِيءِ وَ الْخَيْرِ وَ الشَّرِّ، وَ إِقْرَارَكَ بِالرُّسُلِ، وَ جُحُودِكَ لِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ مِنْ أَخْبَارِ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ مَا دُمْتَ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالَةِ، كُنْتَ فِي النَّارِ لَا مَحَالَةَ.
And as for you, in the Presence of Allah-azwj, you are a Kafir due to your rejection of the Covenant and the acknowledgment which Allah-azwj Took upon you after your exit from the belly of your mother, and your reaching the intellect, and recognition of the distinguishing of the new and the old, and the good and the evil, and your acknowledging with the Raools-as, and your rejection of what Allah-azwj Revealed in the Evangel, from the news of the Prophets-as, for as long as you are upon this state, you would be in the Fire, inevitable’.
قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ مَكَانِي مِنَ النَّارِ وَ مَكَانِكَ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about my place from the Fire and your-asws place from the Paradise’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: لَمْ أَدْخُلْهَا فَأَعْرِفَ مَكَانِي مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَكَانَكَ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَ لَكِنْ أُعَرِّفُكَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِالْحَقِّ، وَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ كِتَاباً: لا يَأْتِيهِ الْباطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَ لا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنْزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ أَحْكَمَ فِيهِ جَمِيعَ عِلْمِهِ،
Ali-asws said: ‘I-asws won’t be entering it (Fire), for I-asws recognise my-asws place from the Paradise, and your place from the Fire, but I-asws shall introduce you to that from the Book of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Majestic, Sent Muhammad-saww with the truth, and Revealed a Book upon him-saww: Neither did the falsehood come from before it, nor (would it come) from after it. (It is) a Revelation from the Wisest, the most Praised [41:42], Judging in it the entirety of His-azwj Knowledge.
وَ أَخْبَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَنِ الْجَنَّةِ بِدَرَجَاتِهَا وَ مَنَازِلِهَا، وَ قَسَّمَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ الْجِنَانَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ لِكُلِّ عَامِلٍ مِنْهُمْ ثَوَاباً مِنْهَا، وَ أَحَلَّهُمْ عَلَى قَدْرِ فَضَائِلِهِمْ فِي الْأَعْمَالِ وَ الْإِيمَانِ،
And Rasool-Allah-saww informed about the Paradise with its ranks and its levels, and Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Majesty Apportioned the Gardens between His-azwj creatures as a Reward for every worker from them (a portion) from these, and Appropriated for them upon a measurement of their merits in their deeds and the Eman.
فَصَدَّقَنَا اللَّهُ وَ عَرَّفَنَا مَنَازِلَ الْأَبْرَارِ، وَ كَذَلِكَ مَنَازِلَ الْفُجَّارِ، وَ مَا أَعَدَّ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ فِي النَّارِ، وَ قَالَ: لَها سَبْعَةُ أَبْوابٍ لِكُلِّ بابٍ مِنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَقْسُومٌ فَمَنْ مَاتَ عَلَى كُفْرِهِ وَ فُسُوقِهِ وَ شِرْكِهِ وَ نِفَاقِهِ وَ ظُلْمِهِ فَ لِكُلِّ بابٍ مِنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَقْسُومٌ،
Allah-azwj Ratified us and Introduced to us the status of the righteous ones, and like that is the status of the immoral ones, and what Allah-azwj has Prepared for them, from the Punishment in the Fire, and Said: For it there are seven gates, each door being for an Assigned segment of them [15:44]. The one who dies upon his Kufr and his mischief, and his Shirk, and his hypocrisy, and his injustice, then for each door being for an Assigned segment of them [15:44].
وَ قَدْ قَالَ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ: إِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِلْمُتَوَسِّمِينَ وَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ هُوَ الْمُتَوَسِّمَ، وَ أَنَا وَ الْأَئِمَّةُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِيَ الْمُتَوَسِّمُونَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
And Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Majesty Said: Surely, in that are Signs for the distinguishers [15:75], and Rasool-Allah-saww, he-saww is the distinguisher, and I-asws and the Imams-asws from my-asws offspring are the distinguishers up to the Day of Qiyamah’.
قَالَ: فَالْتَفَتَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ وَ قَالَ: قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ إِرَادَتَكُمْ وَ أَرْجُو أَنْ تَظْفَرُوا بِالْحَقِّ الَّذِي طَلَبْنَا، إِلَّا أَنَّهُ قَدْ نَصَبْتُ لَهُ مَسَائِلَ فَإِنْ أَجَابَنِي عَنْهَا نَظَرْنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَ قَبِلْتُ مِنْهُ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘The bishop turned to his companions and said, ‘You have attained your intentions, and I hope that you will be successful with the truth which we are seeking, except I shall install (certain) issues to him-asws, so if he-asws were to answer me about these, we shall consider regarding our affair and accept from him-asws’.
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فَإِنْ أَجَبْتُكَ عَمَّا تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْهُ- وَ فِيهِ تِبْيَانٌ وَ بُرْهَانٌ وَاضِحٌ لَا تَجِدُ لَهُ مَدْفَعاً وَ لَا مِنْ قَبُولِهِ بُدّاً أَنْ- تَدْخُلَ فِي دِينِنَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ.
Ali-asws said: ‘Supposing I-asws answer you what you would be asking about, and in it is explanation, and clear proof, (and) you cannot find any defence nor any escape from accepting it, will you enter into our Religion?’ He said, ‘Yes’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ رَاعٍ وَ كَفِيلٌ، إِذَا وَضَحَ لَكَ الْحَقُّ وَ عَرَفْتَ الْهُدَى أَنْ تَدْخُلَ فِي دِينِنَا أَنْتَ وَ أَصْحَابُكَ؟. قَالَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ: نَعَمْ، لَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيَّ رَاعٍ وَ كَفِيلٌ أَنِّي أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ.
Ali-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj is a Carer upon you and a Guarantor, when the truth is clarified to you, and you recognise the guidance, that you would enter into our Religion, you and your companions?’ The bishop said, ‘Yes, for you-asws, Allah-azwj is a Carer upon me and a Guarantor, I shall do that’.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فَخُذْ عَلَى أَصْحَابِكَ الْوَفَاءَ. قَالَ: فَأَخَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَهْدَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: سَلْ عَمَّا أَحْبَبْتَ.
Ali-asws said: ‘Take the loyalty (pledge) upon your companions’. He said, ‘I hereby take the pact upon them’. Then Ali-asws said: ‘Ask about whatever you like’.
قَالَ: خَبِّرْنِي عَنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ أَ حَمَلَ الْعَرْشَ أَمِ الْعَرْشُ يَحْمِلُهُ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic. Does He-azwj Carry the Throne or does the Throne carry Him-azwj?’
قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: اللَّهُ حَامِلُ الْعَرْشِ وَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ مَا فِيهِمَا وَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا، وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ أَنْ تَزُولا وَ لَئِنْ زالَتا إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُما مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِنَّهُ كانَ حَلِيماً غَفُوراً.
He-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj is a Carrier of the Thrones, and the skies, and the earth, and whatever is in these, and whatever is in between these two, and that is the Word of Allah-azwj the Exalted: Surely Allah Withholds the skies and the earth lest they cease. And if they were to cease, no one can withhold these from after Him. He was always Lenient, Forgiving [35:41]’.
قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ: وَ يَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمانِيَةٌ فَكَيْفَ ذَلِكَ؟ وَ قُلْتَ إِنَّهُ يَحْمِلُ الْعَرْشَ وَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ؟.
Inform me about Words of Allah-azwj: and eight shall hold above them the Throne of your Lord on that Day [69:17]. So, how is that? And you-asws said, He-azwj Carries the Throne and the skies and the earth?’
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنَّ الْعَرْشَ خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى مِنْ أَنْوَارٍ أَرْبَعَةٍ: نُورٍ أَحْمَرَ- احْمَرَّتْ مِنْهُ الْحُمْرَةُ-، وَ نُورٍ أَخْضَرَ- اخْضَرَّتْ مِنْهُ الْخُضْرَةُ-، وَ نُورٍ أَصْفَرَ- اصْفَرَّتْ مِنْهُ الصُّفْرَةُ-، وَ نُورٍ أَبْيَضَ- ابْيَضَ مِنْهُ الْبَيَاضُ-
Ali-asws said: ‘The Throne, Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted Created it from four lights (Noors): -A red Noor, from it is the redness of the red; and a green Noor, from it is the greenness of the green; and a yellow Noor, from it is the yellowness of the yellow; and a white Noor, from is the whiteness of the white.
وَ هُوَ الْعِلْمُ الَّذِي حَمَّلَهُ اللَّهُ الْحَمَلَةَ، وَ ذَلِكَ نُورٌ مِنْ عَظَمَتِهِ، فَبِعَظَمَتِهِ وَ نُورِهِ ابْيَضَّتْ قُلُوبُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَ بِعَظَمَتِهِ وَ نُورِهِ عَادَاهُ الْجَاهِلُونَ، وَ بِعَظَمَتِهِ وَ نُورِهِ ابْتَغَى مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ- مِنْ جَمِيعِ خَلَائِقِهِ- إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ بِالْأَعْمَالِ الْمُخْتَلِفَةِ وَ الْأَدْيَانِ الْمُتَشَتِّتَةِ،
And it is the Knowledge of Allah-azwj which the bearers are carrying, and that is a Noor from His-azwj Magnificence, and by His-azwj Magnificence and His-azwj Noor, the hearts of the Momineen are whitened; and by His-azwj Magnificent and His-azwj Noor the ignorant ones are returned; and by His-azwj Magnificence and His-azwj Noor, the ones in the skies and the earth, from the entirety of His-azwj creatures, seek the intermediary to Him-azwj by the variety of deeds, and various religions.
وَ كُلُّ مَحْمُولٍ يَحْمِلُهُ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِ وَ عَظَمَتِهِ وَ قُدْرَتِهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ لِنَفْسِهِ نَفْعاً وَ لا ضَرًّا* وَ لَا مَوْتاً وَ لا حَياةً وَ لا نُشُوراً، وَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ مَحْمُولٌ وَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمُمْسِكُ لَهُمَا أَنْ تَزُولا، وَ الْمُحِيطُ بِهِمَا وَ بِمَا فِيهِمَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ، وَ هُوَ حَيَاةُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَ نُورُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سُبْحانَهُ وَ تَعالى عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ عُلُوًّا كَبِيراً.
And everything carried, Allah-azwj Carries it by His-azwj Noor, and His-azwj Magnificence, and His-azwj Power. It is unable (to sustain) itself, neither benefit nor harm, nor death, nor life, nor Resurrection, and everything is carried, and Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Grasps these from slipping, and is Encompassing with these two (skies and the earth), and with what is between these, of anything, and He-azwj is the Life of all things, and Noor of all things. Glorified is He, and Exalted from what they are saying, Exalted, Great! [17:43].
قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَيْنَ هُوَ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, where is He-azwj?’
قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: هُوَ هَاهُنَا .. وَ هَاهُنَا .. وَ هَاهُنَا .. وَ هَاهُنَا ..، وَ هُوَ فَوْقُ وَ تَحْتُ وَ مُحِيطٌ بِنَا وَ مَعَنَا، وَ هُوَ قَوْلُهُ: ما يَكُونُ مِنْ نَجْوى ثَلاثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رابِعُهُمْ وَ لا خَمْسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سادِسُهُمْ وَ لا أَدْنى مِنْ ذلِكَ وَ لا أَكْثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ ما كانُوا ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِما عَمِلُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ،
He-asws said: ‘He-azwj is over here, and over there, and over there, and over there, and He-azwj is above, and below, and Encompassing us, and with us, and it is His-azwj Word: There does not happen to be a secret counsel of three, except He is their fourth one, nor of five except He is their sixth one, nor less than that nor more except He is with them, wherever they may happen to be. Then He would Inform them on the Day of Judgment of what they had been doing. [58:7].
وَ الْكُرْسِيُّ مُحِيطٌ بِالسَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ: وَ لا يَؤُدُهُ حِفْظُهُما وَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ فَ الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ هُمُ الْعُلَمَاءُ، وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ حَمَّلَهُمُ اللَّهُ عِلْمَهُ، وَ لَيْسَ يَخْرُجُ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ شَيْءٌ خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي مَلَكُوتِهِ، وَ هُوَ الْمَلَكُوتُ الَّذِي أَرَاهُ اللَّهُ أَصْفِيَاءَهُ،
And the Chair (Kursy) encompasses the skies and the earth: and their preservation does not tire Him; and He is the Exalted, the Magnificent [2:255]. Those carrying the Throne (Knowledge of Allah-azwj), they-asws are the scholars-asws, and they-asws are those Allah-azwj has Loaded them-asws with His-azwj Knowledge, and nothing is coming out from these four, anything which Allah-azwj the Exalted Created in His-azwj Domain, and it is the Domain which Allah-azwj Showed His-azwj elites.
وَ أَرَاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلِيلَهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَقَالَ: وَ كَذلِكَ نُرِي إِبْراهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ وَ لِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ فَكَيْفَ يَحْمِلُهُ حَمَلَةُ الْعَرْشِ وَ بِحَيَاتِهِ حَيِيَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ، وَ بِنُورِهِ اهْتَدَوْا إِلَى مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ انْقَادُوا؟!.
And Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Showed His-azwj Friend. He-azwj Said: And like that We Showed Ibrahim the Kingdoms of the skies and the earth and for he to become from the convinced ones [6:75].
So, how can the bearers of the Throne carry Him-azwj, and by His-azwj (Given) Life their hearts are living, and by His-azwj Noor they are being guided to recognising Him-azwj and are submitting?!’
قَالَ: فَالْتَفَتَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ إِلَى أَصْحَابِهِ، فَقَالَ: هَذَا هُوَ- وَ اللَّهِ- الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى لِسَانِ الْمَسِيحِ وَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘The bishop turned to his companions and said, ‘By Allah-azwj! This is the truth from the Presence of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, upon the tongue of the Messiah-as, and the Prophets-as, and the successors-as’.
قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْجَنَّةِ فِي الدُّنْيَا هِيَ أَمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ؟ وَ أَيْنَ الْآخِرَةُ وَ الدُّنْيَا؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about the Paradise. Is it in the world or in the Hereafter? And where are the Hereafter and the world?’
قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ، وَ الْآخِرَةُ مُحِيطَةٌ بِالدُّنْيَا، إِذَا [إِذْ] كَانَتِ النُّقْلَةُ مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ ظَاهِرَةً، كَانَتِ الْآخِرَةُ هِيَ دَارَ الْحَيَوَانِ لَوْ كانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ، وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ الدُّنْيَا نُقْلَةٌ وَ الْآخِرَةَ حَيَاةٌ وَ مُقَامٌ مَثَلُ ذَلِكَ النَّائِمُ، وَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْجِسْمَ يَنَامُ وَ الرُّوحَ لَا تَنَامُ، وَ الْبَدَنَ يَمُوتُ وَ الرُّوحَ لَا تَمُوتُ،
He-asws said: ‘The world is in the Hereafter, and the Hereafter is encompassing the world. When there would be the transfer from the life to the apparent death, the Hereafter would exist. It is a house of the (eternal) life, if they only knew, and that is because the world is a step (stepping stone), and the Hereafter is the (eternal) life, and a position like the sleep, and that is that the body sleeps while the soul does not sleep, and the body dies while the soul does not die.
قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: وَ إِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوانُ لَوْ كانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ وَ الدُّنْيَا رَسْمُ الْآخِرَةِ، وَ الْآخِرَةُ رَسْمُ الدُّنْيَا، وَ لَيْسَ الدُّنْيَا الْآخِرَةَ وَ لَا الْآخِرَةُ الدُّنْيَا، إِذَا فَارَقَ الرُّوحُ الْجِسْمَ يَرْجِعُ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلَى مَا مِنْهُ بَدَأَ، وَ مَا مِنْهُ خُلِقَ،
Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Says: And what is this life of the world except sport and play? And the House of the Hereafter, it is the (eternal) life, if only they knew [29:64]. The world is an illustration of the Hereafter and the Hereafter is an illustration of the world, and the world isn’t the Hereafter, nor is the Hereafter, the world. When the soul separates from the body, each of them will return to what it had begun from, and what it had been Created from.
وَ كَذَلِكَ الْجَنَّةُ وَ النَّارُ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَوْجُودَةٌ وَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مَوْجُودَةٌ، لِأَنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا مَاتَ صَارَ فِي دَارٍ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ، إِمَّا رَوْضَةٍ مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَ إِمَّا بُقْعَةٍ مِنْ بِقَاعِ النَّارِ، وَ رُوحُهُ إِلَى إِحْدَى دَارَيْنِ: إِمَّا فِي دَارِ نَعِيمٍ مُقِيمٍ لَا مَوْتَ فِيهَا، وَ إِمَّا فِي دَارِ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا،
And similar to that are the Paradise and the Fire, existing in the world and existing in the Hereafter, because when the servant dies, he comes to be in a house from the world, either a Garden from the Gardens of the Paradise, or a spot from the spots of the Fire, and his soul goes to one of the two houses, either in a house of bliss, staying, not dying in it, or in a house of painful punishment, not dying in it.
وَ الرَّسْمُ لِمَنْ عَقَلَ مَوْجُودٌ وَاضِحٌ، وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: كَلَّا لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عِلْمَ الْيَقِينِ لَتَرَوُنَّ الْجَحِيمَ ثُمَّ لَتَرَوُنَّها عَيْنَ الْيَقِينِ ثُمَّ لَتُسْئَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ،
And the illustration is present, clear, for the one using his intellect, and Allah-azwj the Exalted has Said: No way! If you had the knowledge of certainty [102:5] You would be seeing the Blazing Fire [102:6] Then, you would be seeing it with the eye of certainty [102:7] Then you will be Questioned on that Day about the boons [102:8].
وَ عَنِ الْكُفَّارِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُمْ: كانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِي غِطاءٍ عَنْ ذِكْرِي وَ كانُوا لا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعاً، وَ لَوْ عَلِمَ الْإِنْسَانُ عِلْمَ مَا هُوَ فِيهِ مَاتَ حُبّاً مِنَ الْمَوْتِ، وَ مَنْ نَجَا فَبِفَضْلِ الْيَقِينِ.
And about the Kafirs, He-azwj Said they are Those whose eyes were under a cover from My Zikr (Mention) and they were unable to hear [18:101]; and if only the human being knew what is in it, he would die in love of the death, and the one who attains salvation, it is by the Grace of certainty’.
قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: وَ ما قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَ الْأَرْضُ جَمِيعاً قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ وَ السَّماواتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحانَهُ وَ تَعالى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ، فَإِذَا طُوِيَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ قُبِضَتِ الْأَرْضُ، فَأَيْنَ تَكُونُ الْجَنَّةُ وَ النَّارُ وَ هُمَا فِيهِمَا؟.
He (Bishop) said, ‘Inform me about Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: And they are not appreciating Allah with the appreciation that is due to Him; and the whole of the earth would be in His Grip on the Day of Judgement, and the skies having been rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorious is He and Exalted from what they are associating [39:67], when the skies are Folded and the earth is Gripped, so where would be the Paradise and the Fire, and they are both within these two?’
قَالَ: فَدَعَا بِدَوَاةٍ وَ قِرْطَاسٍ ثُمَّ كَتَبَ فِيهِ: الْجَنَّةَ وَ النَّارَ، ثُمَّ دَرَجَ الْقِرْطَاسَ وَ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّصْرَانِيِّ، وَ قَالَ لَهُ: أَ لَيْسَ قَدْ طَوَيْتُ هَذَا الْقِرْطَاسَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: فَافْتَحْهُ .. فَفَتَحْتُهُ
He (the narrator) said, ‘He-asws called for a paper, then wrote in it: ‘The Paradise’, and ‘The Fire’, then he-asws rolled up the paper and handed it to the Christian and said to him: ‘Hasn’t this paper been folded?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He-asws said: ‘Then open it’. He opened it.
قَالَ: هَلْ تَرَى آيَةَ النَّارِ وَ آيَةَ الْجَنَّةِ أَ مَحَاهُمَا الْقِرْطَاسُ؟. قَالَ: لَا. قَالَ: فَهَكَذَا فِي قُدْرَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى إِذَا طُوِيَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَ قُبِضَتِ الْأَرْضُ لَمْ تَبْطُلِ الْجَنَّةُ وَ النَّارُ كَمَا لَمْ تُبْطِلْ طَيُّ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ آيَةَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ آيَةَ النَّارِ.
He-asws said: ‘Do you see the sentence ‘The Fire’, and the sentence ‘The Paradise’, have these two been erased from the paper?’ He said, ‘No’. He-asws said: ‘This is how the Power of Allah-azwj the Exalted is. When He-azwj Folds the skies and Grips the earth, it would not negate the Paradise and the Fire, just as the folding of this letter did not negate the sentence ‘The Paradise’, and the sentence ‘The Fire’’.
قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ مَا هَذَا الْوَجْهُ؟، وَ كَيْفَ هُوَ؟، وَ أَيْنَ يُؤْتَى؟، وَ مَا دَلِيلُنَا عَلَيْهِ؟.
He (Bishop) said, ‘Inform me about Words of Allah-azwj the Exalted: All things will perish except for His Face [28:88]. What is this Face? And where can He-azwj be accessed? And what is our evidence upon it?’
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: يَا غُلَامُ! عَلَيَّ بِحَطَبٍ وَ نَارٍ، فَأَتَى بِحَطَبٍ وَ نَارٍ وَ أَمَرَ أَنْ تُضْرَمَ، فَلَمَّا اسْتَوْقَدَتْ وَ اشْتَعَلَتْ، قَالَ لَهُ: يَا نَصْرَانِيُّ هَلْ تَجِدُ لِهَذِهِ النَّارِ وَجْهاً دُونَ وَجْهٍ؟. قَالَ: لَا، حَيْثُمَا أَتَيْتُهَا فَهُوَ وَجْهٌ.
Ali-asws said: ‘O boy! Bring me some firewood and fire!’ He brought firewood and fire, and he-asws instructed for it to be ignited. When it had been ignited and was inflamed, he-asws said to him: ‘O Christian! Do you find faces for this fire besides a face?’ He said, ‘No, wherever I come to it, so it is its face’.
قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فَإِذَا كَانَتْ هَذِهِ النَّارُ الْمَخْلُوقَةُ الْمُدَبَّرَةُ فِي ضَعْفِهَا وَ سُرْعَةِ زَوَالِهَا لَا تَجِدُ لَهَا وَجْهاً فَكَيْفَ مَنْ خَلَقَ هَذِهِ النَّارَ وَ جَمِيعُ مَا فِي مَلَكُوتِهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ أَجَابَهُ؟ كَيْفَ يُوصَفُ بِوَجْهٍ أَوْ يُحَدُّ بِحَدٍّ، أَوْ يُدْرَكُ بِبَصَرٍ، أَوْ يُحِيطُ بِهِ عَقْلٌ، أَوْ يَضْبِطُهُ وَهْمٌ، وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ.
He-asws said: ‘So when this fire, the Created, the Managed, in its weakness and quickness of its decline, faces cannot be found for it, then how can the One-azwj Who Created this fire and the entirety of the things what are in His-azwj Kingdom answer Him-azwj? How can He-azwj be described by His-azwj Face, or limited by a limitation, or realised by the sight, or encompassed by intellect, or grasped by imagination, and Allah-azwj the Exalted Says: There isn’t anything like Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing [42:11]’.
قَالَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ: صَدَقْتَ أَيُّهَا الْوَصِيُّ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ الرَّفِيقُ الْهَادِي، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ، أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيراً وَ نَذِيراً*، وَ أَنَّكَ وَصِيُّهُ وَ صَدِيقُهُ وَ دَلِيلُهُ وَ مَوْضِعُ سِرِّهِ وَ أَمِينُهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ،
The bishop said, ‘You-asws speak the truth, O successor-asws, the scholar, the wise, friend, the guide. I testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj Alone, there being no associate for Him-azwj, and I testify that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww. He-azwj Sent him-saww with the truth as a giver of glad tidings and a warner, and you-asws are his-saww successor-asws, and his-saww ratifier, and his-saww evidence, and place of his-saww secrets, and his-saww trustee upon the People-asws of his-saww Household, and Guardian-asws of the Momineen from after him-saww.
مَنْ أَحَبَّكَ وَ تَوَلَّاكَ هَدَيْتَهُ وَ نَوَّرْتَ قَلْبَهُ وَ أَغْنَيْتَهُ وَ كَفَيْتَهُ وَ شَفَيْتَهُ، وَ مَنْ تَوَلَّى عَنْكَ وَ عَدَلَ عَنْ سَبِيلِكَ ضَلَ وَ غُبِنَ عَنْ حَظِّهِ وَ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ، وَ كَفَى هُدَاكَ وَ نُورُكَ هَادِياً وَ كَافِياً وَ شَافِياً.
One who loves you-asws and befriends you-asws, you-asws will guide him and radiate his heart, and make him needless, and suffice him, and heal him; and one who turns away from you-asws and deviates away from your-asws way would stray and is lost from his fortune, and follows his whims without any Guidance from Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and your-asws guidance suffices, and your-asws Noor is a guidance, and suffices, and heals’.
قَالَ: ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ إِلَى الْقَوْمِ فَقَالَ: يَا هَؤُلَاءِ! قَدْ أَصَبْتُمْ أُمْنِيَّتَكُمْ وَ أَخْطَأْتُمْ سُنَّةَ نَبِيِّكُمْ، فَاتَّبِعُوهُ تَهْتَدُوا وَ تَرْشُدُوا، فَمَا دَعَاكُمْ إِلَى مَا فَعَلْتُمْ؟! مَا أَعْرِفُ لَكُمْ عُذْراً بَعْدَ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَ الْحُجَّةِ عَلَيْكُمْ، أَشْهَدُ أَنَّهَا سُنَّةُ اللَّهِ فِي الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَ لا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِماتِ اللَّهِ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then the bishop turned towards the people and said, ‘O you all! You have achieved your wishes, and you have erred from the Sunnah of your Prophet-saww, so follow him-asws, you will be guided and be corrected. What called you all to what you did?! I do not recognise for you any excuse after the Verses of Allah-azwj, and the argument upon you. I testify that it is a Sunnah of Allah-azwj regarding those who were Created from before you: There is no replacement for the Words of Allah. That is the Mighty achievement [10:64].
وَ قَدْ قَضَى عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الِاخْتِلَافَ عَلَى الْأُمَمِ، الِاسْتِبْدَالَ بِأَوْصِيَائِهِمْ بَعْدَ أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ، وَ مَا الْعَجَبُ إِلَّا مِنْكُمْ بَعْدَ مَا شَاهَدْتُمْ؟! فَمَا هَذِهِ الْقُلُوبُ الْقَاسِيَةُ، وَ الْحَسَدُ الظَّاهِرُ، وَ الضِّغْنُ وَ الْإِفْكُ الْمُبِينُ؟!.
And the Mighty and Majestic has Decreed the differing upon the communities, the replacement of the successors-as after their Prophets-as; and it is not surprising from you all after what you have already witnessed?! So, what are these, the hardness of the hearts, and the apparent envy, and grudges, and the open blatant lies?!’
قَالَ: وَ أَسْلَمَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ وَ شَهِدُوا لِعَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بِالْوَصِيَّةِ وَ لِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِالْحَقِّ وَ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَ أَنَّهُ الْمَوْصُوفُ الْمَنْعُوتُ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَ الْإِنْجِيلِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجُوا مُنْصَرِفِينَ إِلَى مَلِكِهِمْ لِيَرُدُّوا عَلَيْهِ مَا عَايَنُوا وَ مَا سَمِعُوا.
He (the narrator) said, ‘And the Christian and the ones with him became Muslims, and they testified for Ali-asws with the successor-ship, and for Muhammad-saww with the truth and the Prophet-hood, it was described, the Revealed in the Torah and the Evangel. Then they went out dispersing to their king, in order to refer to him what they had witnessed and what they had heard.
فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَوْضَحَ بُرْهَانَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ أَعَزَّ دِينَهُ وَ نَصَرَهُ، وَ صَدَّقَ رَسُولَهُ وَ أَظْهَرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ، وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ.
Ali-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who Clarified the proof of Muhammad-saww and Strengthened his-saww Religion and Helped it, and Ratified His-azwj Rasool-saww and Prevailed it over the Religions, all of them, and even though the Polytheists abhor it, and the Praise is for Allah-azwj, Lord-azwj of the worlds, and may Allah-azwj Send Salawat upon Muhammad-saww and his-saww Progeny-asws’.
قَالَ: فَتَبَاشَرَ الْقَوْمُ بِحُجَجِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ بَيَانِ مَا أَخْرَجَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَانْكَشَفَتْ عَنْهُمُ الذِّلَّةُ، وَ قَالُوا: جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ فِي مَقَامِكَ بِحَقِّ نَبِيِّكَ، ثُمَّ تَفَرَّقُوا
The people rejoiced by the argumentation of Ali-asws and explanation what he-asws had brought out to them, and the disgrace was removed from them, and they said, ‘May Allah-azwj Recompense you-asws, O Abu Al-Hassan-asws, regarding your-asws staying with the right of your-asws Prophet-saww’.
وَ كَأَنَّ الْحَاضِرِينَ لَمْ يَسْمَعُوا شَيْئاً مِمَّا فَهِمَهُ الْقَوْمُ وَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِنْدَهُمْ أَبَداً، وَ قَدْ نَسُوا ما ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ، وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ
And it was as if the ones present had not heard anything from what the people had understood, and the ones who were with them all the time, and they had forgotten what they had been reminded with, and the Praise is for Allah-azwj, Lord-azwj of the worlds’.
قَالَ سَلْمَانُ الْخَيْرِ: فَلَمَّا خَرَجُوا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَ تَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ وَ أَرَادُوا الرَّحِيلَ أَتَوْا عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مُسَلِّمِينَ عَلَيْهِ وَ يَدْعُونَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَهُ وَ اسْتَأْذَنُوا،
Salman-ra, with the good, said, ‘When they went out from the Masjid, and the people dispersed and intended the departure, they came to Ali-asws being submissive to him-asws, and supplicating to Allah-azwj for him-asws and sought permission (to sit with him-asws).
فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَجَلَسُوا، فَقَالَ الْجَاثَلِيقُ: يَا وَصِيَّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ أَبَا ذُرِّيَّتِهِ! مَا نَرَى الْأُمَّةَ إِلَّا هَالِكَةً كَهَلَاكِ مَنْ مَضَى مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَى وَ تَرْكِهِمْ مُوسَى وَ عُكُوفِهِمْ عَلَى أَمْرِ السَّامِرِيِّ،
Ali-asws came out to them and they sat down. The bishop said, ‘O successor-asws of Muhammad-saww, and father-asws of his-saww offspring! We do not see the community except as destroyed like the destruction of the past ones, from the children of Israel, from the people of Musa-as, and Musa-as left them and their engagement upon the matter of Al-Samiri-la.
وَ إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ عَدُوًّا شَياطِينَ الْإِنْسِ وَ الْجِنِ يُفْسِدَانِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ دِينَهُ، وَ يُهْلِكَانِ أُمَّتَهُ، وَ يَدْفَعَانِ وَصِيَّهُ، وَ يَدَّعِيَانِ الْأَمْرَ بَعْدَهُ،
And we have (observed) for every Prophet-as Allah-azwj had Sent, an enemy for every Prophet, satans of the humans and the Jinn, [6:112], both spoiling upon the Prophet-as, his-as Religion, and destroying his-as community, and repelling his-as successor-as, and claiming the command after him-as.
وَ قَدْ أَرَانَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا وَعَدَ الصَّادِقِينَ مِنَ الْمَعْرِفَةِ بِهَلَاكِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ، وَ بَيَّنَ لَنَا سَبِيلَكَ وَ سَبِيلَهُمْ، وَ بَصَّرَنَا مَا أَعْمَاهُمْ عَنْهُ، وَ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكَ وَ عَلَى دِينِكَ وَ عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ،
And Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Shown us what He-azwj has Promised the truthful, from the recognition with the destruction of those people, and Manifested your-asws way and their way to us, and we can see what they are blind from, and we are your-asws friends, and upon your-asws Religion, and are upon your-asws obedience.
فَمُرْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ، إِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ أَقَمْنَا مَعَكَ وَ نَصَرْنَاكَ عَلَى عَدُوِّكَ، وَ إِنْ أَمَرْتَنَا بِالْمَسِيرِ سِرْنَا وَ إِلَى مَا صَرَفْتَنَا إِلَيْهِ صِرْنَا، وَ قَدْ نوى صَبْرَكَ عَلَى مَا ارْتُكِبَ مِنْكَ، وَ كَذَلِكَ شِيَمُ الْأَوْصِيَاءِ وَ سُنَّتُهُمْ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهِمْ، فَهَلْ عِنْدَكَ مِنْ نَبِيِّكَ عَهْدٌ فِيمَا أَنْتَ فِيهِ وَ هُمْ؟.
Instruct us with your-asws instruction. If you-asws like, we shall stay with you-asws against your-asws enemies, and if you-asws instruct us with the travelling, we shall travel and to whatever direction you-asws divert us to, we shall go there, and you-asws have gone far upon the patience from you-asws, and like that is the mannerism of the successors-asws and their-as way after their-as Prophet-as. Is there a pact with you-asws from your-asws Prophet-saww regarding what (situation) you-asws and there are in?’
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: نَعَمْ، وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ عِنْدِي لَعَهْداً مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِمَّا هُمْ صَائِرُونَ إِلَيْهِ، وَ مَا هُمْ عَامِلُونَ، وَ كَيْفَ يَخْفَى عَلَيَّ أَمْرُ أُمَّتِهِ وَ أَنَا مِنْهُ بِمَنْزِلَةِ هَارُونَ مِنْ مُوسَى، وَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ شَمْعُونَ مِنْ عِيسَى؟!
Ali-asws said: ‘Yes, by Allah-azwj! There is a pact with me-asws from Rasool-Allah-saww from what they are going to and what they are doing, and how can the matter of his-saww community be hidden from me-asws, and I-asws am from him-saww at the status of Haroun-as from Musa-as, and status of Shamoun-as from Isa-as?!
أَ وَ مَا تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ وَصِيَّ عِيسَى شَمْعُونَ بْنَ حَمُّونَ الصَّفَا- ابْنَ خَالِهِ- اخْتَلَفَتْ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةُ عِيسَى (ع) وَ افْتَرَقُوا أَرْبَعَ فِرَقٍ، وَ افْتَرَقَتِ الْأَرْبَعُ فِرَقٍ عَلَى اثنين [اثْنَتَيْنِ] وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، كُلُّهَا هَالِكَةٌ إِلَّا فِرْقَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ؟ وَ كَذَلِكَ أُمَّةُ مُوسَى (ع) افْتَرَقَتْ عَلَى اثنين [اثْنَتَيْنِ] وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، كُلُّهَا هَالِكَةٌ إِلَّا فِرْقَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ،
Or are you not knowing that the successor-as of Isa-as is Shamoun Bin Hamoun Al-Saffa-as, son-as of his-as maternal aunt? The community of Isa-as had differed upon him-as, and they separated into four sects, and the four sects separated upon seventy-two sects, all of these being the destroyed ones except one sect? And similar to that is the community of Musa-as. They separated upon seventy-two (72) sects, all of these being destroyed ones except one sect.
وَ قَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ مُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنَّ أُمَّتَهُ يَفْتَرِقُونَ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَ سَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ فِرْقَةً تَدَّعِي مَحَبَّتَنَا وَ مَوَدَّتَنَا كُلُّهُمْ هَالِكَةٌ إِلَّا فِرْقَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ، وَ إِنِّي لَعَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي، وَ إِنِّي عَالِمٌ بِمَا يَصِيرُ الْقَوْمُ إِلَيْهِ، وَ لَهُمْ مُدَّةٌ وَ أَجَلٌ مَعْدُودٌ، لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ: وَ إِنْ أَدْرِي لَعَلَّهُ فِتْنَةٌ لَكُمْ وَ مَتاعٌ إِلى حِينٍ
And Muhammad-saww had made pledged to me-asws that his-saww community would be separating upon seventy-three (73) sects. Thirteen would be claiming our-asws love and our-asws cordiality, all of them would be destroyed except one sect, and I-asws am upon a proof from my-asws Lord-azwj, and I-asws am a knower of what the people are coming to, and for them is a numbered period and term, because Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying: And I know, perhaps it is a Fitna for you and a provision up to a time’ [21:111].
وَ قَدْ صَبَرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقَلِيلَ لِمَا هُوَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ وَ قَدَرُهُ الْمَحْتُومُ فِيهِمْ، وَ ذَكَرَ نِفَاقَهُمْ وَ حَسَدَهُمْ وَ أَنَّهُ سَيُخْرِجُ أَضْغَانَهُمْ وَ يُبَيِّنُ مَرَضَ قُلُوبِهِمْ بَعْدَ فِرَاقِ نَبِيِّهِمْ
And I-asws have observed a little patience upon them due to what His-azwj Command has to reach, and His-azwj Pre-determination of the Decree regarding them, and mention of their hypocrisy and their envy, and their grudges would be coming out and the disease of their hearts would appear after the separation of their Prophet-saww.
قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: يَحْذَرُ الْمُنافِقُونَ أَنْ تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِما فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ قُلِ اسْتَهْزِؤُا إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْرِجٌ ما تَحْذَرُونَ أَيْ تَعْلَمُونَ وَ لَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّما كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَ نَلْعَبُ قُلْ أَ بِاللَّهِ وَ آياتِهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِؤُنَ لا تَعْتَذِرُوا قَدْ كَفَرْتُمْ بَعْدَ إِيمانِكُمْ إِنْ نَعْفُ عَنْ طائِفَةٍ مِنْكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طائِفَةً بِأَنَّهُمْ كانُوا مُجْرِمِينَ
Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: The hypocrites are cautious that a Chapter might be Revealed against them manifesting what is in their hearts. Say: ‘Keep mocking! Surely Allah will Bring forth what you are being cautious of’ [9:64] – i.e., they know. And if you question them, they would say, ‘But rather, we were just talking and playing’. Say: ‘Was it Allah and His Signs and His Rasool you were mocking at?’ [9:65] Do not make excuses. You have committed Kufr after your Eman. If We Pardon a group from you, We will Punish a group because they were criminals [9:66].
فَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنِ الْقَلِيلِ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ وَ وَعَدَنِي أَنْ يُظْهِرَنِي عَلَى أَهْلِ الْفِتْنَةِ وَ يردوا [يَرُدَّ] الْأَمْرَ إِلَيَّ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ، وَ عِنْدَكُمْ كِتَابٌ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فِي الْمُصَالَحَةِ وَ الْمُهَادَنَةِ عَلَى أَنْ لَا تُحْدِثُوا وَ لَا تَأْوُوا مُحْدِثاً،
Allah-azwj has Pardoned from a few of them, and Promised me-asws that He-azwj would Make me-asws prevail over the people of Fitna, and the command would return to me-asws, and even if the falsifies dislike it; and with you there is a letter from Rasool-Allah-saww regarding the reconciliation and the truce upon (a condition) that you will neither innovate, nor shelter an innovator.
فَلَكُمُ الْوَفَاءُ عَلَى مَا وَفَيْتُمْ، وَ لَكُمُ الْعَهْدُ وَ الذِّمَّةُ عَلَى مَا أَقَمْتُمْ عَلَى الْوَفَاءِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ عَلَيْنَا مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ لَكُمْ، وَ لَيْسَ هَذَا أَوَانُ نَصْرِنَا وَ لَا يُسَلُّ سَيْفٌ وَ لَا يُقَامُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِحَقٍّ مَا لَمْ يَقْبَلُوا وَ يُعْطُوا طَاعَتَهُمْ، إِذْ كُنْتُ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مِنْ رَسُولِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِثْلَ الْحَجِّ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ الصَّوْمِ وَ الصَّلَاةِ،
For you is the loyalty upon what you have honoured, and for you is the pact and the responsibility of what your standing upon the loyalty with your pact with us, the like of that is with you; and this isn’t for support to help us, not asking for a sword, nor standing against them with a right what they will not accept and give their obedience, when you are upon an Obligation from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic and from His-azwj Rasool-saww, like the Hajj, and the Zakat, and the Fasting, and the Salat.
فَهَلْ يُقَامُ بِهَذِهِ الْحُدُودِ إِلَّا بِعَالِمٍ قَائِمٍ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِ وَ هُوَ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُتَّبَعَ؟! وَ لَقَدْ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ: قُلْ هَلْ مِنْ شُرَكائِكُمْ مَنْ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ قُلِ اللَّهُ يَهْدِي لِلْحَقِّ أَ فَمَنْ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُتَّبَعَ أَمَّنْ لا يَهِدِّي إِلَّا أَنْ يُهْدى فَما لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ
And can anyone stand with these limits except a scholar-asws standing guiding to the truth and he-asws is more rightful to be followed?! And Allah-azwj the Glorious has Revealed: Say: ‘Is there from your associates any one who can guide to the Truth?’ Say: ‘Allah Guides to the Truth. Is the one who guides to the Truth more rightful to be followed or the one who does not guide unless if he is Guided? So, what is the matter with you all? How are you judging?’ [10:35].
فَأَنَا- رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ فَرِيضَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ، بَلْ أَفْضَلُ الْفَرَائِضِ وَ أَعْلَاهَا، وَ أَجْمَعُهَا لِلْحَقِّ، وَ أَحْكَمُهَا لِدَعَائِمِ الْإِيمَانِ، وَ شَرَائِعِ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلْقُ لِصَلَاحِهِمْ وَ لِفَسَادِهِمْ وَ لِأَمْرِ دُنْيَاهُمْ وَ آخِرَتِهِمْ،
May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you! I-asws am an Obligation from Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww upon you all, but the most superior of the Obligations, and its highest, and its summary of the truth, and its most decisive for the foundations of Eman, and Laws of Al-Islam, and what the people would be needy to for their correctness and (rectification) for their corruption, and for the affairs of their world and their Hereafter.
فَقَدْ تَوَلَّوْا عَنِّي، وَ دَفَعُوا فَضْلِي، وَ فَرَضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِمَامَتِي وَ سُلُوكَ سَبِيلِي، فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُمْ مَا شَمِلَهُمْ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَ الصَّغَارِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْحُجَّةِ. وَ كَيْفَ أَثْبَتَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْحُجَّةَ وَ قَدْ نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ مِنْ عَهْدِ نَبِيِّهُمْ، وَ مَا أَكَّدَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ طَاعَتِي
They have turned away from me-asws, and repelled my-asws merits, and Rasool-Allah-saww had Obligated my-asws Imamate and travelling my-asws way. You have seen what had included them of the disgrace and the belittling, from after the proof, and how Allah-azwj had Proved the Argument upon them, and they had forgotten when they had been reminded with, of the pact of their Prophet-saww, and what he-saww had emphasised upon them of my-asws obedience.
وَ أَخْبَرَهُمْ مِنْ مَقَامِي، وَ بَلَّغَهُمْ مِنْ رِسَالَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي فَقْرِهِمْ إِلَى عِلْمِي وَ غِنَايَ عَنْهُمْ وَ عَنْ جَمِيعِ الْأُمَّةِ مِمَّا أَعْطَانِيَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ،
And he-saww had informed them of my-asws position, and delivered to them the Message of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic regarding their neediness to my-asws knowledge, and my-asws needlessness from them and from the entirety of the community, from what Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Given me-asws.
فَكَيْفَ آسَى عَلَى مَنْ ضَلَّ عَنِ الْحَقِّ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ وَ اتَّخَذَ إِلهَهُ هَواهُ وَ أَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلى عِلْمٍ وَ خَتَمَ عَلى سَمْعِهِ وَ قَلْبِهِ وَ جَعَلَ عَلى بَصَرِهِ غِشاوَةً فَمَنْ يَهْدِيهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ اللَّهِ أَ فَلا تَذَكَّرُونَ
How can I-asws console upon the one straying from the truth from after what has been clarified for him, one who takes his desires as a god, and Allah Lets him stray upon knowledge and Seals upon his hearing and his heart, and Makes a covering to be upon his sight? Then who can guide him after Allah (has Denied him)? So will you not be mindful? [45:23].
إِنَّ هُدَاهُ لَلْهُدَى، وَ هُمَا السَّبِيلَانِ: سَبِيلُ الْجَنَّةِ وَ سَبِيلُ النَّارِ وَ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةُ، فَقَدْ تَرَى مَا نَزَلَ بِالْقَوْمِ مِنِ اسْتِحْقَاقِ الْعَذَابِ الَّذِي عَذَّبَ بِهِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُمْ مِنَ الْأُمَمِ، وَ كَيْفَ بَدَّلُوا كَلَامَ اللَّهِ، وَ كَيْفَ جَرَتِ السُّنَّةُ فِيهِمْ مِنَ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ،
He-azwj Guides him to the Guidance, and these are two ways – a way to the Paradise and a way to the Fire, and the world and the Hereafter. You have seen what had befallen with the people, from their being deserving the Punishment which the ones from the communities before them had been Punished with, and how they have changed the Speech of Allah-azwj, and how the ways have flowed among them of those who have passed from before them.
فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالتَّمَسُّكِ بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ وَ عُرْوَتِهِ، وَ كُونُوا مِنْ حِزْبِ اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ، وَ الْزَمُوا عَهْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ مِيثَاقَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بَدَأَ غَرِيباً وَ سَيَعُودُ غَرِيباً،
Upon you is to hold tightly to the rope of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Handhold, and become from the party of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and necessitate the pact of Rasool-Allah-saww and his-saww covenant upon you. Al-Islam began as a (lonely) stranger and will be returning to be as a (lonely) stranger.
وَ كُونُوا فِي أَهْلِ مِلَّتِكُمْ كَأَصْحَابِ الْكَهْفِ، وَ إِيَّاكُمْ أَنْ تَغُشُّوا أَمْرَكُمْ إِلَى أَهْلٍ أَوْ وَلَدٍ أَوْ حَمِيمٍ أَوْ قَرِيبٍ، فَإِنَّهُ دِينُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَوْجَبَ لَهُ التَّقِيَّةَ لِأَوْلِيَائِهِ فَيَقْتُلُكُمْ قَوْمُكُمْ وَ إِنْ أَصَبْتُمْ مِنَ الْمَلِكِ فُرْصَةً أَلْقَيْتُمْ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا تَرَوْنَ مِنْ قَبُولِهِ،
And become among the people of your nation like the companions of the cave, and beware of spreading your matter to a wife, or a son, or an intimate one, or a near one, for the Religion of Allah-azwj is that which Obligates for it the Taqiyyah (dissimulation) for its friends, for you will (end up) killing your people. And if you find an opportunity from the king, then cast it in accordance to what you see from his acceptance.
وَ إِنَّهُ بَابُ اللَّهِ وَ حِصْنُ الْإِيمَانِ لَا يَدْخُلُهُ إِلَّا مَنْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَهُ، وَ نَوَّرَ لَهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَ أَعَانَهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، انْصَرِفُوا إِلَى بِلَادِكُمْ عَلَى عَهْدِكُمُ الَّذِي عَاهَدْتُمُونِي عَلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّهُ سَيَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ بَعْدَ بُرْهَةٍ مِنْ دَهْرِهِمْ مُلُوكٌ بَعْدِي وَ بَعْدَ هَؤُلَاءِ يُغَيِّرُونَ دِينَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ، وَ يُحَرِّفُونَ كَلَامَهُ، وَ يَقْتُلُونَ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ، وَ يُعِزُّونَ أَعْدَاءَ اللَّهِ،
And it is a door of Allah-azwj and fortress of the Eman. No one will enter it except one Allah-azwj has Taken his Covenant, and Radiated his heart for him, and Supported him against himself. Leave to go to your cities upon your pact which, you have agreed with me-asws upon for there will be coming upon the people after a moment of their time, certain kings after me-asws, and afterwards they would be chaining the Religion of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and altering His-azwj Speech (Quran), and killing the friends of Allah-azwj and honouring the enemies of Allah-azwj.
وَ بِهِمْ تَكْثُرُ الْبِدَعُ، وَ تَدْرُسُ السُّنَنُ، حَتَّى تُمْلَأَ الْأَرْضُ جَوْراً وَ عُدْوَاناً وَ بِدَعاً، ثُمَّ يَكْشِفُ اللَّهُ بِنَا أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ جَمِيعَ الْبَلَايَا عَنْ أَهْلِ دَعْوَةِ اللَّهِ بَعْدَ شِدَّةٍ مِنَ الْبَلَاءِ الْعَظِيمِ حَتَّى تُمْلَأَ الْأَرْضُ قِسْطاً وَ عَدْلًا بَعْدَ مَا مُلِئَتْ ظُلْماً وَ جَوْراً،
And by them the innovations would be numerous, and (other) ways would be studied, until the earth would be filled with tyranny and aggression, and innovations. Then Allah-azwj will Remove by us-asws, People-asws of the Household, the entirety of the afflictions of the people, (as a result of a) call of Allah-azwj after difficulties of the mighty afflictions, until the earth is filled up with equity and justice after it have had been filled with injustice and tyranny.
أَلَا وَ قَدْ عَهِدَ إِلَيَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَنَّ الْأَمْرَ صَائِرٌ إِلَيَّ بَعْدَ الثَّلَاثِينَ مِنْ وَفَاتِهِ وَ ظُهُورِ الْفِتَنِ، وَ اخْتِلَافِ الْأُمَّةِ عَلَيَّ، وَ مُرُوقِهِمْ مِنْ دِينِ اللَّهِ، وَ أَمَرَنِي بِقِتَالِ النَّاكِثِينَ وَ الْمَارِقِينَ وَ الْقَاسِطِينَ،
Indeed! And Rasool-Allah-saww had pledged to me-asws that the command will come to me-asws after thirty (years) from his-saww expiry and the appearance of the Fitna, and differing of the community upon me-asws, and their reneging from the Religion of Allah-azwj, and instructed me-asws to fight them – the breakers (of the covenant), and the renegades and the deviants.
فَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنْكُمْ ذَلِكَ الزَّمَانَ وَ تِلْكَ الْأُمُورَ وَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ بِحَظِّهِ مِنَ الْجِهَادِ مَعِي فَلْيَفْعَلْ، فَإِنَّهُ وَ اللَّهِ الْجِهَادُ الصَّافِي، صَفَاهُ لَنَا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةُ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ،
The one from you who comes across that time period, and those affairs, and wants to take his share from the Jihad with me-asws, then let him do so, for by Allah-azwj, the Jihad is pure, the Book of Allah-azwj has Purified it for us-asws, and (so had) the Sunnah of His-azwj Prophet-saww.
فَكُونُوا- رَحِمَكُمُ اللَّهُ- مِنْ أَحْلَاسِ بُيُوتِكُمْ إِلَى أَوَانِ ظُهُورِ أَمْرِنَا، فَمَنْ مَاتَ مِنْكُمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْمَظْلُومِينَ، وَ مَنْ عَاشَ مِنْكُمْ أَدْرَكَ مَا تَقَرُّ بِهِ عَيْنُهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
May Allah-azwj have Mercy on you all! Become from the ones sitting in your houses to support the appearance of our command. The one from you who dies would be from the oppressed ones, and one from you who lives would come across what his eyes would be delighted with, if Allah-azwj the Exalted so Desires.
أَلَا وَ إِنِّي أُخْبِرُكُمْ أَنَّهُ سَيَحْمِلُونَ عَلَيَّ خُطَّةَ جَهْلِهِمْ، وَ يَنْقُضُونَ عَلَيْنَا عَهْدَ نَبِيِّنَا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لِقِلَّةِ عِلْمِهِمْ بِمَا يَأْتُونَ وَ يَذَرُونَ، وَ سَيَكُونُ مِنْكُمْ مُلُوكٌ يَدْرُسُ عِنْدَهُمُ الْعَهْدُ، وَ يَنْسَوْنَ مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ، وَ يَحُلُّ بِهِمْ مَا يَحُلُّ بِالْأُمَمِ حَتَّى يَصِيرُوا إِلَى الْهَرْجِ وَ الِاعْتِدَاءِ وَ فَسَادِ الْعَهْدِ،
Indeed! And I-asws am informing you all that they will be loading upon me-asws the mistakes of their ignorance, and they will be breaking the pact of our Prophet-saww upon us-asws due to the scarcity of their knowledge with what they are committing and leaving, and there will be happening to be kings from them, obscuring the pact with them, and forgetting what they had been reminded of, and it would be released with them what was released with the communities (of the past) until they come to the troubles and the transgression and corrupting the pact.
وَ ذَلِكَ لِطُولِ الْمُدَّةِ وَ شِدَّةِ الْمِحْنَةِ الَّتِي أُمِرْتُ بِالصَّبْرِ عَلَيْهَا، وَ سَلَّمْتُ لِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ فِي مِحْنَةٍ عَظِيمَةٍ يَكْدَحُ فِيهَا الْمُؤْمِنُ حَتَّى يَلْقَى اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ، وَ وَاهاً لِلْمُتَمَسِّكِينَ بِالثَّقَلَيْنِ وَ مَا يُعْمَلُ بِهِمْ!
And that would be due to the prolonged period and severe test which I-asws have been Commanded to be patient upon, and I-asws have submitted to the Command of Allah-azwj regarding the mighty test, the Momin would toil during it until he meets Allah-azwj his Lord-azwj, and grief would be for the ones adhering with the two weighty things, and what would be done with them!
وَ وَاهاً لِفَرَجِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ مُتَخَلِّفٍ عِتْرِيفٍ مُتْرَفٍ، يَقْتُلُ خَلَفِي وَ خَلَفَ الْخَلَفِ، بَلَى اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَخْلُو الْأَرْضُ مِنْ قَائِمٍ بِحُجَّةٍ إِمَّا ظَاهِراً مَشْهُوراً أَوْ بَاطِناً مَسْتُوراً لِئَلَّا تَبْطُلَ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ وَ بَيِّنَاتُهُ،
And grief would be for Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww from a caliph made to be a caliph by an affluent officer, and he will kill my-asws caliph and replace with the caliph. Yes, by Allah-azwj. The earth cannot be vacant from one-asws standing with the argument, either apparent, well-known, or hidden, concealed, lest the Arguments of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Proofs get invalidated.
وَ يَكُونَ مِحْنَةً لِمَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ وَ اقْتَدَى بِهِ، وَ أَيْنَ أُولَئِكَ؟ وَ كَمْ أُولَئِكَ؟ أُولَئِكَ الْأَقَلُّونَ عَدَداً، الْأَعْظَمُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَطَراً، بِهِمْ يَحْفَظُ اللَّهُ دِينَهُ وَ عِلْمَهُ حَتَّى يَزْرَعَهَا فِي صُدُورِ أَشْبَاهِهِمْ، وَ يُودِعَهَا أَمْثَالَهُمْ،
And tribulations would take place for the one who follows him-asws and believes in him-asws; and where are they? And how many are they? They are a small number, the greatest of minds in the Presence of Allah-azwj. By them, Allah-azwj will Protect His-azwj Religion, and His-azwj Knowledge until they cultivate it in the chests of their like, and entrust it to their like.
هَجَمَ بِهِمُ الْعِلْمُ عَلَى حَقِيقَةِ الْإِيمَانِ، وَ اسْتَرْوَحُوا رُوحَ الْيَقِينِ، وَ أَنِسُوا بِمَا اسْتَوْحَشَ مِنْهُ الْجَاهِلُونَ، وَ اسْتَلَانُوا مَا اسْتَوْعَرَ مِنْهُ الْمُتْرَفُونَ، وَ صَحِبُوا الدُّنْيَا بِأَبْدَانٍ أَرْوَاحُهَا مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَى،
The knowledge would be immense with them upon the reality of the Eman, and will find rest with the spirit of certainty, and they would be comforted with what the ignorant ones would be lonely with, and they would settle what the disgraced ones would be in debt with, and they would accompany the world with their bodies and their souls would be attached with the high assembly.
أُولَئِكَ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ، وَ أُمَنَاؤُهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ، آهِ .. آهِ شَوْقاً إِلَيْهِمْ وَ إِلَى رُؤْيَتِهِمْ، وَ وَاهاً لَهُمْ عَلَى صَبْرِهِمْ عَلَى عَدُوِّهِمْ، وَ سَيَجْمَعُنَا اللَّهُ وَ إِيَّاهُمْ فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ وَ مَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبائِهِمْ وَ أَزْواجِهِمْ وَ ذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ
They-asws are the Divine Authorities of Allah-azwj in His-azwj earth, and His-azwj trustees upon His-azwj creatures. Aah! Aah! My-asws desire to them, and to seeing them, and grief would be for them-asws upon their-asws being patient upon their-asws enemies, and Allah-azwj will Gather us and them-asws in the Gardens of Eden, ones from their forefathers and their wives and their offspring. [13:23]’.
قَالَ: .. ثُمَّ بَكَى .. وَ بَكَى الْقَوْمُ مَعَهُ وَ وَدَّعُوهُ وَ قَالُوا: نَشْهَدُ لَكَ بِالْوَصِيَّةِ وَ الْإِمَامَةِ وَ الْأُخُوَّةِ، وَ إِنَّ عِنْدَنَا لَصِفَتَكَ وَ صُورَتَكَ، وَ سَيَقْدَمُ وَفْدٌ بَعْدَ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ عَلَى الْمَلِكِ، وَ لَنُخْرِجَنَّ إِلَيْهِمْ صُورَةَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ صُورَةَ نَبِيِّكَ وَ صُورَتَكَ وَ صُورَةَ ابْنَيْكَ الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ وَ صُورَةَ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامُ زَوْجَتَكَ سَيِّدَةَ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ بَعْدَ مَرْيَمَ الْكُبْرَى الْبَتُولِ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then he-asws cried, and the people cried along with him-asws and bade him-asws farewell, and they said, ‘We testify for you-asws with the successor-ship, and the Imamate, and the brother-hood, and with us is your-asws description, and your-asws image, and a delegation would be coming afterwards of this man from Quraysh to the king, and we shall bring out to them the images of the Prophets-as, and image of your-asws Prophet-saww, and images of your-asws two sons-asws, Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws, upon them-asws be the greetings, and image of (Syeda) Fatima-asws, upon her-asws be the greetings, your-asws wife-asws, chieftess of the women of the worlds after Maryam-as the great, the chaste.
وَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمَأْثُورٌ عِنْدَنَا وَ مَحْفُوظٌ، وَ نَحْنُ رَاجِعُونَ إِلَى الْمَلِكِ وَ مُخْبِرُوهُ بِمَا أَوْدَعْتَنَا مِنْ نُورِ هِدَايَتِكَ وَ بُرْهَانِكَ وَ كَرَامَتِكَ وَ صَبْرِكَ عَلَى مَا أَنْتَ فِيهِ، وَ نَحْنُ الْمُرَابِطُونَ لِدَوْلَتِكَ، الدَّاعُونَ لَكَ وَ لِأَمْرِكَ، فَمَا أَعْظَمَ هَذَا الْبَلَاءَ، وَ مَا أَطْوَلَ هَذِهِ الْمُدَّةَ، وَ نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ التَّوْفِيقَ بِالثَّبَاتِ، وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ.
And that (those images) are imprinted with us and preserved, and we shall be returning to the king and informing him with what we have been entrusted from the Noor of your-asws guidance, and your-asws proof, and your-asws benevolence, and your-asws patience upon what (situation) you-asws are in, and we shall be the assemblers to your-asws government, and the callers to you-asws and to your-asws matter. How mighty is this affliction, and how prolonged is this duration; and we shall ask Allah-azwj for the inclination with the proofs, and the greetings be upon you-asws, and Mercy of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Blessings’’.[9]
2- إِرْشَادُ الْقُلُوبِ: بِحَذْفِ الْأَسَانِيدِ، قِيلَ: لَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ دَخَلَ يَهُودِيٌّ الْمَسْجِدَ فَقَالَ: أَيْنَ وَصِيُّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ؟ فَأَشَارُوا إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَوَقَفَ عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ: إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا نَبِيٌّ أَوْ وَصِيُّ نَبِيٍّ.
(The book) ‘Irshad Al Quloob’ – By deleted chains, it is said,
‘When it was after the expiry of Rasool-Allah-saww, a Jew entered the Masjid and said, ‘Where is the successor-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww?’ They indicated to Abu Bakr. He paused to him and said, ‘I want to ask you about things, none would know these except a Prophet-as or a successor-as of a Prophet-saww’.
فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ؟ فَقَالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ؟ وَ عَمَّا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟ وَ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُهُ اللَّهُ؟.
Abu Bakr said, ‘Ask about whatever comes to you’. The Jew said, ‘Inform me about what isn’t for Allah-azwj? And about what isn’t with Allah-azwj? And about what Allah-azwj does not know?’
فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: هَذِهِ مَسَائِلُ الزَّنَادِقَةِ، يَا يَهُودِيُّ! أَ وَ فِي السَّمَاءِ شَيْءٌ لَا يَعْلَمُهُ اللَّهُ؟ وَ هَمَّ بِهِ الْمُسْلِمُونَ- وَ كَانَ فِي الْقَوْمِ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ- فَقَالَ: مَا أَنْصَفْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ؟!. قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَ وَ مَا سَمِعْتَ مَا تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ؟.
Abu Bakr said, ‘These are questions of the atheists, O Jew! Or is there anything in the sky Allah-azwj does not know?’ And the Muslims thought of killing him, and among the people was Ibn Abbas. He said, ‘Will you not be fair with the man?!’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Or did you not hear what he spoke with?’
فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: إِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَكُمْ جَوَابٌ وَ إِلَّا فَاذْهَبُوا بِهِ إِلَى مَنْ يُجِيبُهُ، فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ لِعَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَ ثَبِّتْ لِسَانَهُ.
Ibn Abbas said, ‘If there would be answers with you, or else go with him to one-asws who will answer him, for I heard Rasool-Allah-saww saying to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws: ‘O Allah-azwj! Guide his-asws heart and Affirm his-asws tongue’’.
قَالَ: فَقَامَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ مَنْ حَضَرَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَ الْأَنْصَارِ فَأَتَوْا عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَاسْتَأْذَنُوا عَلَيْهِ، فَدَخَلُوا، فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ! إِنَّ هَذَا الْيَهُودِيَّ سَأَلَنِي عَنْ مَسَائِلِ الزَّنَادِقَةِ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Bakr and the ones from the Emigrants and the Helpers stood up and came to Ali-asws. They sought permission to see him-asws. They entered, and Abu Bakr said, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! This Jew asked me the questions of the atheists’.
قَالَ: فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِلْيَهُودِيِّ: مَا تَقُولُ يَا يَهُودِيُّ؟ قَالَ: إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا نَبِيٌّ أَوْ وَصِيُّ نَبِيٍّ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Ali-asws said: ‘What are you saying, O Jew?’ He said, ‘I ask you-asws about the things, none would know these except a Prophet-as or a successor-as of a Prophet-as’.
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: سَلْ، يَا يَهُودِيُّ! فَأُنَبِّئَكَ بِهِ.
He-asws said: ‘Ask, O Jew! I-asws shall answer you with it’.
قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَمَّا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ؟ وَ عَمَّا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟ وَ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُهُ اللَّهُ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about what isn’t for Allah-azwj? And about what isn’t with Allah-azwj? And about what Allah-azwj does not know?’
قَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ عَمَّا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ، فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ شَرِيكٌ، وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ عَمَّا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، فَلَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ظُلْمٌ لِلْعِبَادِ، وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ عَمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُهُ اللَّهُ، فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُكُمْ إِنَّ عُزَيْراً ابْنُ اللَّهِ، وَ اللَّهُ لَا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ لَهُ وَلَداً.
He-asws said: ‘As for your words about what isn’t for Allah-azwj, so there isn’t any associate for Allah-azwj; and as for your words about what isn’t with Allah-azwj, so there isn’t any injustice to the servants with Allah-azwj; and as for your words about what Allah-azwj does not know, so these are your word that Uzair-as is a son-as of Allah-azwj. By Allah-azwj! He-azwj does not know of a son being for Him-azwj’.
فَقَالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَ أَنَّكَ وَصِيُّهُ.
The Jew said, ‘I testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj and that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and you-asws are his-saww successor-asws’.
فَقَامَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ فَقَبَّلُوا رَأْسَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ قَالَ: يَا مُفَرِّجَ الْكُرُوبِ.
Abu Bakr and the ones with him from the Emigrants stood up and kissed the head of Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and said: ‘O reliever of the worries!’’[10]
3- إِرْشَادُ الْقُلُوبِ:- بِحَذْفِ الْأَسَانِيدِ أَيْضاً- مَرْفُوعاً إِلَى ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: قَدِمَ يَهُودِيَّانِ أَخَوَانِ مِنْ رُءُوسِ الْيَهُودِ، فَقَالا: يَا قَوْمُ! إِنَّ نَبِيَّنَا حَدَّثَنَا أَنَّهُ يَظْهَرُ بِتِهَامَةَ رَجُلٌ يُسَفِّهُ أَحْلَامَ الْيَهُودِ، وَ يَطْعُنُ فِي دِينِهِمْ، وَ نَحْنُ نَخَافُ أَنْ يُزِيلَنَا عَمَّا كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ آبَاؤُنَا، فَأَيُّكُمْ هَذَا النَّبِيُّ؟.
(The book) ‘Irshad Al Quloob’ – by deleted chain as well, raising it to Ibn Abbas who said,
‘Two brothers from the chiefs of the Jews arrived and said, ‘O people! Our Prophet-as had narrated to us that a man-saww would appear at Tahama discrediting the dreams of the Jews, and call the Religion into question, and we fear that he-saww would move us away from what our fathers have been upon. So, which one of you is this Prophet-saww?
فَإِنْ كَانَ الْمُبَشِّرَ بِهِ دَاوُدُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَ اتَّبَعْنَاهُ، وَ إِنْ كَانَ يُورِدُ الْكَلَامَ عَلَى إِبْلَاغِهِ وَ يُورِدُ الشِّعْرَ وَ يَقْهَرُنَا جَاهَدْنَاهُ بِأَنْفُسِنَا وَ أَمْوَالِنَا، فَأَيُّكُمْ هَذَا النَّبِيُّ؟.
If he-saww would be the one-saww Dawood-as had given glad tidings with, we would believe in him-saww and follow him-saww, and if the speech turns upon his-saww eloquence and the poetry, and he-saww forces us, we will fight him-saww with ourselves and our wealth. So, which one of you is this Prophet-saww?’
فَقَالَ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ وَ الْأَنْصَارُ: إِنَّ نَبِيَّنَا قُبِضَ.
The Emigrants and the Helpers said, ‘Our Prophet-saww has passed away’.
فَقَالا: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، فَأَيُّكُمْ وَصِيُّهُ؟ فَمَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيّاً إِلَى قَوْمٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ وَصِيٌّ يُؤَدِّي مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَ يَحْكُمُ مَا أَمَرَهُ بِهِ رَبُّهُ،
They said, ‘The Praise be to Allah-azwj! So, which one of you is his-saww successor? Allah-azwj has not Sent any Prophet-as to a people except and for him-saww is a successor-as, delivering from after him-as whatever his-as Lord-azwj had Commanded him-as with’.
فَأَوْمَأَ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ وَ الْأَنْصَارُ إِلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ. فَقَالُوا: هَذَا وَصِيُّهُ.
The Emigrants and the Helpers gestured towards Abu Bakr, and they said, ‘This is his-saww successor’.
فَقَالا لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ: إِنَّا نُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ مِنَ الْمَسَائِلِ مَا يُلْقَى عَلَى الْأَوْصِيَاءِ، وَ نَسْأَلُكَ عَمَّا يُسْأَلُ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ عَنْهُ؟. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَلْقِيَا، سَأُخْبِرُكُمَا عَنْهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
They said to Abu Bakr, ‘We shall cast questions unto you what had been cast unto the successors-as, and we shall ask you about what the successors-as had been asked about?’ Abu Bakr said, ‘Cast, I shall inform you about it, if Allah-azwj the Exalted so Desires’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَحَدُهُمَا: مَا أَنَا وَ أَنْتَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟ وَ مَا نَفْسٌ فِي نَفْسٍ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُمَا رَحِمٌ وَ لَا قَرَابَةٌ؟ وَ مَا قَبْرٌ سَارَ بِصَاحِبِهِ؟ وَ مِنْ أَيْنَ تَطْلُعُ الشَّمْسُ وَ أَيْنَ تَغْرُبُ؟ وَ أَيْنَ سَقَطَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَ لَمْ تَسْقُطْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَوْضِعِ؟
One of them said, ‘What am I and (what are) you in the Presence of Allah-azwj? What soul is within a soul, there isn’t any womb relationship between them nor any kinship? And what is a grave which travelled with its occupant? And from where does the sun emerge and where does it set? And where did the sun (shine) fall upon and did not fall another time in that place?
وَ أَيْنَ تَكُونُ الْجَنَّةُ؟ وَ أَيْنَ تَكُونُ النَّارُ؟ وَ رَبُّكَ يَحْمِلُ أَوْ يُحْمَلُ؟ وَ أَيْنَ يَكُونُ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ؟ وَ مَا اثْنَانِ شَاهِدَانِ؟ وَ مَا اثْنَانِ غَائِبَانِ؟ وَ مَا اثْنَانِ مُتَبَاغِضَانِ؟
And where does the Paradise happen to be? And where does the Fire happen to be? And does your Lord-azwj Carry or is He-azwj Carried? And where does the Face of your Lord-azwj happen to be? And what are two presentees? And what are two absentees? And what are two haters?
وَ مَا الْوَاحِدُ؟ وَ مَا الِاثْنَانِ؟ وَ مَا الثَّلَاثَةُ؟ وَ مَا الْأَرْبَعَةُ؟ وَ مَا الْخَمْسَةُ؟ وَ مَا السِّتَّةُ؟ وَ مَا السَّبْعَةُ؟ وَ مَا الثَّمَانِيَةُ؟ وَ مَا التِّسْعَةُ؟ وَ مَا الْعَشَرَةُ؟ وَ مَا الْأَحَدَ عَشَرَ؟ وَ مَا الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ؟ وَ مَا الْعِشْرُونَ؟ وَ مَا الثَّلَاثُونَ؟ وَ مَا الْأَرْبَعُونَ؟ وَ مَا الْخَمْسُونَ؟ وَ مَا السِّتُّونَ؟ وَ مَا السَّبْعُونَ؟ وَ مَا الثَّمَانُونَ؟ وَ مَا التِّسْعُونَ؟ وَ مَا الْمِائَةُ؟!.
And what is the one? And what is the two? And what is the three? And what is the four? And what is the five? And what is the six? And what is the seven? And what is the eight? And what is the nine? And what is the ten? And what is the eleven? And what is the twelve? And what is the twenty? And what is the thirty? And what is the forty? And what is the fifty? And what is the sixty? And what is the seventy? And what is the eighty? And what is the ninety? And what is the hundred?!’
قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: فَبَقِيَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لَا يَرُدُّ جَوَاباً، وَ تَخَوَّفْنَا أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ الْقَوْمُ عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ، فَأَتَيْتُ مَنْزِلَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: يَا عَلِيُّ! إِنَّ رُءُوساً مِنْ رُؤَسَاءِ الْيَهُودِ قَدْ قَدِمُوا الْمَدِينَةَ، وَ أَلْقَوْا عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ مَسَائِلَ، وَ قَدْ بَقِيَ لَا يَرُدُّ جَوَاباً.
Ibn Abbas said, ‘Abu Bakr remain not returning an answer, and we feared that the people would renege from Al-Islam. I went to the house of Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and said, ‘O Ali-asws! Two chiefs from the chiefs of the Jews have arrived, and they cast questions unto Abu bakr, and he has remained not returning any answer’.
فَتَبَسَّمَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ضَاحِكاً، ثُمَّ قَالَ: هُوَ الَّذِي وَعَدَنِي بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ. وَ أَخَذَ يَمْشِي أَمَامِي فَمَا أَخْطَأَتْ مِشْيَتُهُ مِشْيَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ حَتَّى قَعَدَ فِي الْمَوْضِعِ الَّذِي كَانَ يَقْعُدُ فِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَى الْيَهُودِيَّيْنِ.
Ali-asws smiled chuckling, then said: ‘It is which Rasool-Allah-saww had promised me-asws with’, and he-asws took to waling in front of me. He-asws did not err in his-asws walking from the walk of Rasool-Allah-saww until he-asws sat in the place which Rasool-Allah-saww had been sitting in. Then he-asws turned towards the two Jews.
فَقَالَ: يَا يَهُودِيَّانِ! ادْنُوَا مِنِّي وَ أَلْقِيَا عَلَيَّ مَا أَلْقَيْتُمَا عَلَى الشَّيْخِ. فَقَالا: مَنْ أَنْتَ؟.
He-asws said: ‘O Jews! Come nearer to me-asws, and cast unto me-asws who you have cast unto the sheykh’. They said, ‘Who are you-asws?’
فَقَالَ: أَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَخُو النَّبِيِّ، وَ زَوْجُ فَاطِمَةَ، وَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ، وَ وَصِيُّهُ فِي خِلَافَتِهِ كُلِّهَا، وَ صَاحِبُ كُلِّ نَفِيسَةٍ وَ غَزَاةٍ، وَ مَوْضِعُ سِرِّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ.
He-asws said: ‘I-asws am Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, brother-asws of the Prophet-saww, and husband of (Syeda) Fatima-asws, and father-asws of Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws, and his-saww successor-asws regarding his-saww caliphate, all of it, and owner of all preciousness, and battles, and place of secrets of the Prophet-saww’.
فَقَالَ الْيَهُودِيُ: مَا أَنَا وَ أَنْتَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ؟. قَالَ: أَنَا مُؤْمِنٌ مُنْذُ عَرَفْتُ نَفْسِي، وَ أَنْتَ كَافِرٌ مُنْذُ عَرَفْتَ نَفْسَكَ، وَ مَا أَدْرِي مَا يُحْدِثُ اللَّهِ بِكَ يَا يَهُودِيُّ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ؟.
The Jew said, ‘What am I and (what are) you in the Presence of Allah-azwj?’ He-asws said: ‘I-asws am a Momin since I-asws recognised myself-asws, and you are a Kafir since your recognised yourself, and I-asws do not know what Allah-azwj would be Doing with you, O Jew, after that?’
قَالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ: فَمَا نَفْسٌ فِي نَفْسٍ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهُمَا رَحِمٌ وَ لَا قَرَابَةٌ؟. قَالَ: يُونُسُ بْنُ مَتَّى فِي بَطْنِ الْحُوتِ.
The Jew said, ‘So what is a soul within a soul, there isn’t any womb relationship nor kinship between the two?’ He-asws said: ‘Yunus Bin Matta-as in the belly of the whale’.
قَالَ: فَمَا قَبْرٌ سَارَ بِصَاحِبِهِ؟. قَالَ: يُونُسُ، حِينَ طَافَ بِهِ الْحُوتُ فِي سَبْعَةِ أَبْحُرٍ.
He said, ‘Which grave travelled with its occupant?’ He-asws said: ‘Yunus-as, when the whale travelled with him-as in seven seas’.
قَالَ لَهُ: فَالشَّمْسُ مِنْ أَيْنَ تَطْلُعُ؟. قَالَ: مِنْ قَرْنِ الشَّيْطَانِ!.
He said to him-asws, ‘The sun, where does it emerge from?’ He-asws said: ‘From a horn of satan-la!’
قَالَ: فَأَيْنَ تَغْرُبُ؟. قَالَ: فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ، وَ قَالَ لِي حَبِيبِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: لَا تُصَلِّ فِي إِقْبَالِهَا وَ لَا فِي إِدْبَارِهَا حَتَّى تَصِيرَ فِي مِقْدَارِ رُمْحٍ أَوْ رُمْحَيْنِ.
He said, ‘Where does it set?’ He-asws: ‘in a muddy spring, [18:86], and my-asws beloved Rasool-Allah-saww said to me-asws: ‘Do not pray Salat during its coming nor during its going until it becomes to be in a measurement of a spear or two spears’’.
قَالَ: فَأَيْنَ سَقَطَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَ لَمْ تَسْقُطْ مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَوْضِعِ؟. قَالَ: الْبَحْرَ، حِينَ فَرَّقَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِقَوْمِ مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
He said, ‘So where did the sun (shine) fall and did not fall once again in that place?’ He-asws said: ‘The sea, when Allah-azwj the Exalted split it for the people of Musa-as’’.
قَالَ لَهُ: رَبُّكَ يَحْمِلُ أَوْ يُحْمَلُ؟. قَالَ: رَبِّي يَحْمِلُ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَ لَا يَحْمِلُهُ شَيْءٌ.
He said to him-asws, ‘Your-asws Lord-azwj Carries, or is He-azwj carried?’ He-asws said: ‘My-asws Lord-azwj Carries all things and nothing carries Him-azwj’.
قَالَ: فَكَيْفَ قَوْلُهُ: وَ يَحْمِلُ عَرْشَ رَبِّكَ فَوْقَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ ثَمانِيَةٌ.
He said, ‘So how come His-azwj Words are: and eight shall hold above them the Throne of your Lord on that Day [69:17].
قَالَ: يَا يَهُودِيُّ! أَ لَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُ ما فِي السَّماواتِ وَ ما فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ ما بَيْنَهُما وَ ما تَحْتَ الثَّرى، وَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عَلَى الثَّرَى، وَ الثَّرَى عَلَى الْقُدْرَةِ، وَ الْقُدْرَةَ عِنْدَ رَبِّي.
He-asws said: ‘O Jew! Don’t you know that Allah-azwj For Him is whatever is in the skies and whatever is in the earth and whatever is between the two and whatever is beneath the soil [20:6], and all things are upon the soil, and the soil is upon the Power, and the Power is with my-asws Lord-azwj’.
قَالَ: فَأَيْنَ تَكُونُ الْجَنَّةُ؟ وَ أَيْنَ تَكُونُ النَّارُ؟. قَالَ: الْجَنَّةُ فِي السَّمَاءِ، وَ النَّارُ فِي الْأَرْضِ.
He said, ‘So, where does the Paradise happen to be, and where does the Fire happen to be?’ He-asws said: ‘The Paradise is in the sky and the Fire is in the earth’.
قَالَ: فَأَيْنَ يَكُونُ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ؟. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: ائْتِنِي بِنَارٍ وَ حَطَبٍ فَأَضْرَمَهَا، وَ قَالَ: يَا يَهُودِيُّ! فَأَيْنَ وَجْهُ هَذِهِ النَّارِ؟. فَقَالَ: لَا أَقِفُ لَهَا عَلَى وَجْهٍ. قَالَ: كَذَلِكَ رَبِّي فَأَيْنَما تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ.
He said, ‘So where does the Face of your-asws Lord-azwj happen to be?’ Ali-asws said to Ibn Abbas, ‘Bring some fire and firewood for me-asws’, and said: ‘O Jew! Where is the face of this fire?’ He said, ‘I cannot stand upon there being a face for it’. He-asws said: ‘He-asws said: ‘Like that is my-asws Lord-azwj therefore wherever you turn to, so there would be the Face of Allah; [2:115]’.
قَالَ: فَمَا اثْنَانِ شَاهِدَانِ؟. قَالَ: السَّمَاءُ وَ الْأَرْضُ لَا يَغِيبَانِ.
He said, ‘So what are the two presentees?’ He-asws said: ‘The sky and the earth, both are not absent’.
قَالَ: فَمَا اثْنَانِ غَائِبَانِ؟. قَالَ: الْمَوْتُ وَ الْحَيَاةُ لَا نَقِفُ عَلَيْهِمَا.
He said, ‘So what are the two absentees?’ He-asws said: ‘The death and the life, we cannot pause upon these two’.
قَالَ: فَمَا اثْنَانِ مُتَبَاغِضَانِ؟. قَالَ: اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ.
He said, ‘So, what are the two hateful ones?’ He-asws said: ‘The night and the day’.
قَالَ: فَمَا نِصْفُ الشَّيْءِ؟. قَالَ: الْمُؤْمِنُ.
He said, ‘What is half the thing?’ He-asws said: ‘The Momin’.
قَالَ: فَمَا لَا شَيْءَ؟. قَالَ: يَهُودِيٌّ مِثْلُكَ كَافِرٌ لَا يَعْرِفُ رَبَّهُ.
He-asws said, ‘What is nothing?’ He-asws said: ‘A Jew like you, a Kafir not recognising his Lord-azwj’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْوَاحِدُ؟. قَالَ: اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.
He said, ‘What is the one?’ He-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الِاثْنَانِ؟. قَالَ: آدَمُ وَ حَوَّاءُ.
He said, ‘What are the two?’ He-asws said: ‘Adam-as and Hawwa-as’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الثَّلَاثَةُ؟. قَالَ: كَذَبَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ، قَالُوا عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ ابْنُ اللَّهِ، وَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صاحِبَةً وَ لا وَلَداً
He said, ‘So, what are the three?’ He-asws said: ‘The Christians lied upon Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic. They said Isa-as Ibn Maryam-as is a son of Allah-azwj, and Allah-azwj did not Take a female companion nor a son’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْأَرْبَعَةُ؟. قَالَ: التَّوْرَاةُ وَ الْإِنْجِيلُ وَ الزَّبُورُ وَ الْفُرْقَانُ الْعَظِيمُ.
He said, ‘What are the four?’ He-asws said: ‘The Torah, and the Evangel, and the Psalms, and the Magnificent Furqan (Quran)’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْخَمْسَةُ؟. قَالَ: خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ مُفْتَرَضَاتٍ.
He said, ‘What are the five?’ He-asws said: ‘Five (daily) prescribed Salats’.
قَالَ: فَمَا السِّتَّةُ؟. قَالَ: خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّماواتِ وَ الْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ
He said, ‘What are the six?’ He-asws said: ‘Surely, your Lord is Allah Who Created the skies and the earth in six days, then Established upon the Throne [7:54]’.
قَالَ: فَمَا السَّبْعَةُ؟. قَالَ: سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَابِ النَّارِ مُتَطَابِقَاتٍ.
He said, ‘What are the seven?’ He-asws said: ‘Seven door of the Fire, layered’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الثَّمَانِيَةُ؟. قَالَ: ثَمَانِيَةُ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ.
He said, ‘So what are the eight?’ He-asws said: ‘Eight doors of the Paradise’.
قَالَ: فَمَا التِّسْعَةُ؟. قَالَ: تِسْعَةُ رَهْطٍ يُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ لا يُصْلِحُونَ.
He said, ‘What are the nine?’ He-asws said: ‘a group of nine, making mischief in the land and they were not amending [27:48].
قَالَ: فَمَا الْعَشَرَةُ؟. قَالَ: عَشَرَةُ أَيَّامٍ مِنَ الْعَشَرَةِ.
He said, ‘What are the ten?’ He-asws said: ‘Ten days from the ten (month)’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْأَحَدَ عَشَرَ؟. قَالَ: قَوْلُ يُوسُفَ لِأَبِيهِ: إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَباً وَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي ساجِدِينَ.
He said, ‘What are the eleven?’ He-asws said: ‘Words of Yusuf-as to his-as father-as: ‘O my father! I saw eleven stars and the sun and the moon. I saw them performing Sajdah to me’ [12:4].
قَالَ: فَمَا الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ؟. قَالَ: شُهُورُ السَّنَةِ.
He said, ‘What are the twelve?’ He-asws said: ‘Months of the year’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْعِشْرُونَ؟. قَالَ: بَيْعُ يُوسُفَ بِعِشْرِينَ دِرْهَماً.
He said, ‘What are the twenty?’ He-asws said: ‘Yusuf-as was sold for twenty Dirhams’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الثَّلَاثُونَ؟. قَالَ: ثَلَاثُونَ لَيْلَةً مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ صِيَامُهُ فَرْضٌ وَاجِبٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا مَنْ كانَ مَرِيضاً أَوْ عَلى سَفَرٍ
He said, ‘What are the thirty?’ He-asws said: ‘Thirty nights from a Month of Ramazan. Its Fasts are a Prescribed Obligation upon every Momin except one who was sick or upon a journey’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْأَرْبَعُونَ؟. قَالَ: كَانَ مِيقَاتُ مُوسَى ثَلَاثِينَ لَيْلَةً قَضَاهَا، وَ الْعَشْرُ كَانَتْ تَمَامَهَا.
He said, ‘What are the forty?’ He-asws said: ‘The appointment of Musa was of thirty nights, (Judged), and the ten completed it’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْخَمْسُونَ؟. قَالَ: دَعَا نُوحٌ قَوْمَهُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ إِلَّا خَمْسِينَ عاماً
He said, ‘What are the fifty?’ He-asws said: ‘Noah-as called his-as people a thousand years less fifty years, [29:14].
قَالَ: فَمَا السِّتُّونَ؟. قَالَ: قَالَ اللَّهُ: فَإِطْعامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِيناً أَوْ فَصِيامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتابِعَيْنِ.
He said, ‘What are the sixty?’ He-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj Said: so he should feed sixty needy ones. Or two months consecutively [58:4].
قَالَ: فَمَا السَّبْعُونَ؟. قَالَ: اخْتارَ مُوسى قَوْمَهُ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا لِمِيقَاتِ رَبِّهِ.
He said, ‘What are the seventy?’ He-asws said: ‘And Musa chose seventy men [7:155], for the appointment of his-as Lord-azwj’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الثَّمَانُونَ؟. قَالَ: قَرْيَةٌ بِالْجَزِيرَةِ يُقَالُ لَهَا: ثَمَانُونَ، مِنْهَا قَعَدَ نُوحٌ فِي السَّفِينَةِ وَ اسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِيِ وَ غَرَّقَ اللَّهُ الْقَوْمَ.
He said, ‘What are the eighty?’ He-asws said: ‘There is a town by the island called ‘eighty’, from it, Noah-as sat in the ship, and it (ship) rested upon the (Mount) Judi, [11:44], and Allah-azwj Drowned the people’.
قَالَ: فَمَا التِّسْعُونَ؟. قَالَ: الْفُلْكُ الْمَشْحُونُ اتَّخَذَ يَوْماً فِيهَا بَيْتاً لِلْبَهَائِمِ.
He said, ‘What are the ninety?’ He-asws said: ‘the laden ship [26:119], He (Noah-as) took (ninety) rooms for the animals’.
قَالَ: فَمَا الْمِائَةُ؟. قَالَ: كَانَتْ لِدَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ سِتُّونَ سَنَةً فَوَهَبَ لَهُ آدَمُ أَرْبَعِينَ، فَلَمَّا حَضَرَ آدَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ الْوَفَاةُ جَحَدَهُ، فَجَحَدَ ذُرِّيَّتُهُ.
He said, ‘What is the hundred?’ He-asws said: ‘There were sixty years for Dawood-as, and Adam-as gifted forty to him-as. When the expiry presented to Adam-as, he-as fought it. Thus, his-as offspring fight (death) as well’.
فَقَالَ: يَا شَابُّ! صِفْ لِي مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى أُؤْمِنَ بِهِ السَّاعَةَ؟.
He said, ‘O youth! Describe Muhammad-saww to me (such) as if I am looking at him-saww until I believe in him-saww at the moment?’
فَبَكَى عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا يَهُودِيُّ! هَيَّجْتَ أَحْزَانِي، كَانَ حَبِيبِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ صَلْتَ الْجَبِينِ، مَقْرُونَ الْحَاجِبَيْنِ، أَدْعَجَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ، سَهْلَ الْخَدَّيْنِ، أَقْنَى الْأَنْفِ، دَقِيقَ الْمَسْرُبَةِ، كَثَ اللِّحْيَةِ، بَرَّاقَ الثَّنَايَا، كَأَنَّ عُنُقَهُ إِبْرِيقُ فِضَّةٍ، كَانَ لَهُ شَعَرَاتٌ مِنْ لَبَّتِهِ إِلَى سُرَّتِهِ مُتَفَرِّقَةً كَأَنَّهَا قَضِيبُ كَافُورٍ،
Ali-asws wept, then said: ‘O Jew! My sorrows are raging. My-asws beloved Rasool-Allah-saww was of a broad forehead, paired (connected) eyebrows, black eyes, soft cheeks, thin nose, thin line of hair in the chest, dense beard, shiny front teeth, his-saww neck was as if it was a silver pitcher, there was scattered hair for him-saww sloping from his-as chest to the navel as if it was a stick of camphor;
لَمْ يَكُنْ بِالطَّوِيلِ الذَّاهِبِ وَ لَا بِالْقَصِيرِ النَّزْرِ، كَانَ إِذَا مَشَى مَعَ النَّاسِ غَمَرَهُمْ، كَانَ إِذَا مَشَى كَأَنَّهُ يَنْقَلِعُ مِنْ صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ يَنْحَدِرُ مِنْ صَبَبٍ، كَانَ مَبْدُولَ الْكَعْبَيْنِ، لَطِيفَ الْقَدَمَيْنِ، دَقِيقَ الْخَصْرِ،
He-saww neither happened to be (very) tall (stature) when going, nor short (crouching) when coming, whenever he-saww walked with the people he-saww would tower over them, when he-saww walked it as if he-saww is uprooting from a rock or rolling down from a slope, being of rounded heels, subtle of the feet, thin waist;
عِمَامَتُهُ السَّحَابُ، سَيْفُهُ ذُو الْفَقَارِ، بَغْلَتُهُ الدُّلْدُلُ، حِمَارُهُ الْيَعْفُورُ، نَاقَتُهُ الْعَضْبَاءُ، فَرَسُهُ الْمَبْدُولُ، قَضِيبُهُ الْمَمْشُوقُ،
His-saww turban was (called) ‘Al-Sahaab’, his-saww sword was (called) ‘Zulfiqar’, his-saww mule was (called) ‘Duldul’, his-saww donkey was (called) ‘Al-Yafour’, his-saww she-camel was (called) ‘Al-Azba’a’, his-saww horse was (called) ‘Al-Maydoul’, his-saww staff was (called) ‘Al-Mamshouq’.
كَانَ أَشْفَقَ النَّاسِ عَلَى النَّاسِ، وَ أَرْأَفَ النَّاسِ بِالنَّاسِ، كَانَ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ خَاتَمُ النُّبُوَّةِ مَكْتُوبٌ عَلَى الْخَاتَمِ سَطْرَانِ، أَوَّلُ سَطْرٍ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ. وَ الثَّانِي: مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، هَذِهِ صِفَتُهُ يَا يَهُودِيُّ!.
He-saww was the most compassionate of the people to the people, and the kindest of the people with the people, there was a seal of Prophet-hood between his-saww shoulders, written upon the seal were two lines. The first line was, ‘There is no god except Allah-azwj’, and the second was, ‘Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj’. This is his-saww description, O Jew!’
فَقَالَ الْيَهُوِديَّانِ: نَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَ أَنَّكَ وَصِيُّ مُحَمَّدٍ حَقّاً.
The two Jews said, ‘We testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and you-asws are a successor-asws of Muhammad-saww, truly’.
وَ أَسْلَمَا وَ حَسُنَ إِسْلَامُهُمَا، وَ لَزِمَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَكَانَا مَعَهُ حَتَّى كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَمَلِ مَا كَانَ، فَخَرَجَا مَعَهُ إِلَى الْبَصْرَةِ، فَقُتِلَ أَحَدُهُمَا فِي وَقْعَةِ الْجَمَلِ، وَ بَقِيَ الْآخَرُ حَتَّى خَرَجَ مَعَهُ إِلَى صِفِّينَ فَقُتِلَ.
And they became Muslims and their Islam was good, and they adhered with Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and they were with him-asws until it was from the matter of (battle of) the camel what happened. They went out with him-asws to Al-Basra. One of them was killed during the event of the (battle of) the camel, and the other one remained until he went out with him-asws to Siffeen, and was killed’’.[11]
4- إِرْشَادُ الْقُلُوبِ:- بِحَذْفِ الْإِسْنَادِ- مَرْفُوعاً إِلَى الصَّادِقِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: لَمَّا بَايَعَ النَّاسُ عُمَرَ بَعْدَ وَفَاةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ شُبَّانِ الْيَهُودِ- وَ هُوَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ- فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ وَ النَّاسُ حَوْلَهُ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! دُلَّنِي عَلَى أَعْلَمِكُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَ بِرَسُولِهِ وَ بِكِتَابِهِ وَ سُنَّتِهِ؟.
(The book) ‘Irshad Al Quloob’ – by a deleted chain, raising it to,
‘Al-Sadiq-asws having said: ‘When the people pledged allegiance to Umar after the expiry of Abu bakr, a man from the youths of the Jews came to him, and he was in the Masjid. He greeted unto him and the people were around him. He said, ‘O commander of the faithful! Point me to your scholar with Allah-azwj, and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and His-azwj Book, and his-saww Sunnah?’
فَأَوْمَأَ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَقَالَ: هَذَا. فَتَحَوَّلَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَسَأَلَهُ: أَنْتَ كَذَلِكَ؟. قَالَ: نَعَمْ.
He gestured towards Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws. He said, ‘This one!’ The man went to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws. He asked him-asws, ‘Are you-asws like that?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes’.
فَقَالَ: إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ ثَلَاثٍ وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ وَاحِدَةٍ. قَالَ: أَ فَلَا قُلْتَ عَنْ سَبْعٍ؟. قَالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ: لَا، إِنَّمَا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ ثَلَاثٍ، فَإِنْ أَجَبْتَ فِيهِمْ فَسَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ ثَلَاثٍ بَعْدَهَا، وَ إِنْ لَمْ تُصِبْ لَمْ أَسْأَلْكَ.
He said, ‘I ask you-asws about three, and three and one (issues)’. He-asws said: ‘Why aren’t you saying, seven?’ The Jew said, ‘No, but rather I shall ask you about three. If you-asws answer regarding them, I will ask you about three after it, and if you-asws are not correct, I will not ask you-asws’.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَخْبِرْنِي إِذَا أَجَبْتُكَ بِالصَّوَابِ وَ الْحَقِّ تَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ؟- وَ كَانَ الْفَتَى مِنْ عُلَمَاءِ الْيَهُودِ وَ أَحْبَارِهِمْ، يَرْوُونَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ وُلْدِ هَارُونَ أَخِي مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ-. فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Inform me, what I-asws do answer you with the correctness and the truth, will you recognise that?’ – and the youth was from the Jewish scholars and their Rabbis. They are reporting he was from the children of Haroun-as, brother of Musa-as Bin Imran-as. He said, ‘Yes’.
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَئِنْ أَجَبْتُكَ بِالصَّوَابِ وَ الْحَقِّ لَتُسْلِمَنَّ وَ تَدَعُ الْيَهُودِيَّةَ، فَحَلَفَ لَهُ وَ قَالَ: مَا جِئْتُكَ إِلَّا مُرْتَاداً أُرِيدُ الْإِسْلَامَ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘By Allah-azwj, the One-azwj Who, there is no god except He-azwj! If I-asws were to answer you with the correctness and the truth, you will become a Muslim and leave Judaism’. He swore an oath to him-asws and said, ‘And I did not come except intending Al-Islam’.
فَقَالَ: يَا هَارُونِيُّ! سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ تُخْبَرْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.
He-asws said: ‘O Harouny (son of Haroun-as)! Ask about whatever comes to you, you will be informed, if Allah-azwj so Desires’.
فَقَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَوَّلِ شَجَرَةٍ نَبَتَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ؟ وَ عَنْ أَوَّلِ عَيْنٍ نَبَعَتْ فِي الْأَرْضِ؟ وَ عَنْ أَوَّلِ حَجَرٍ وُضِعَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about the first tree grown upon the surface of the earth? And about the first spring bursting forth in the earth? And about the first rock placed upon the surface of the earth?’
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا أَوَّلُ شَجَرَةٍ نَبَتَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ، فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْأَرْضِ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهَا الزَّيْتُونَةُ وَ كَذَبُوا، وَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ النَّخْلَةُ، وَ هِيَ الْعَجْوَةُ، هَبَطَ بِهَا آدَمُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَغَرَسَهَا، وَ أَصْلُ النَّخْلِ كُلِّهِ مِنْهَا،
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘As for the first tree grown upon the surface of the earth, the people of the earth are alleging that it was the olive, and they are lying, and rather it is the date tree, and it is ‘Al-Ajwa’. Adam-as descended with it from the Paradise and planted it, and the origin of the date trees, all of them are from it.
وَ أَمَّا أَوَّلُ عَيْنٍ نَبَعَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ، فَإِنَّ الْيَهُودَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهَا الْعَيْنُ الَّتِي فِي بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ تَحْتَ الْحَجَرِ وَ كَذَبُوا، بَلْ هِيَ عَيْنُ الْحَيَاةِ الَّتِي انْتَهَى مُوسَى وَ فَتَاهُ إِلَيْهَا فَغَسَلا فِيهَا السَّمَكَةَ فَحَيِيَتْ، وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ مَيِّتٍ يُصِيبُهُ ذَلِكَ الْمَاءُ إِلَّا حَيِيَ، وَ كَانَ الْخَضِرُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ شَرِبَ مِنْهَا وَ لَمْ يَجِدْهَا ذُو الْقَرْنَيْنِ،
And as for the first spring to burst forth upon the surface of the earth, the Jews are alleging that it is the spring which is in Bayt Al-Maqdis beneath the rock, and they are lying. But it is a spring of life which Musa-as and his-as youth ended up to. They washed the fish in it, and it was revived; and there isn’t any dead attaining from that water, except it lives; and Al-Khizr-as had drunk from it, and Zulqarnayn could not find it.
وَ أَمَّا أَوَّلُ حَجَرٍ وُضِعَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ فَإِنَّ الْيَهُودَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَجَرُ الَّذِي فِي بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ وَ كَذَبُوا، وَ إِنَّمَا هُوَ الْحَجَرُ الْأَسْوَدُ هَبَطَ بِهِ آدَمُ (ع) مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى الرُّكْنِ، وَ النَّاسُ يَسْتَلِمُونَهُ، وَ كَانَ أَشَدَّ بَيَاضاً مِنَ الثَّلْجِ فَاسْوَدَّ مِنْ خَطَايَا بَنِي آدَمَ.
And as for the first rock placed upon the surface of the earth, the Jews are alleging that it is the rock which is in Bayt Al-Maqdis, and they are lying. And rather, it is the Black Stone. Adam-as descended with it from the Paradise and placed it upon the corner, and the people are kissing it, and it used to be intensely whiter than the snow, and it turned black from the sins of the children of Adam-as’.
قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي كَمْ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مِنْ إِمَامٍ هُدًى هَادِينَ مَهْدِيِّينَ، لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ خِذْلَانُ مَنْ خَذَلَهُمْ؟ وَ أَيْنَ مَنْزِلُ مُحَمَّدٍ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ؟، وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me, how many guiding Imams-asws would there be for this community, guiding, being Guided, the abandonment of the ones who abandon them-asws would not harm them-asws? And where is the house of Muhammad-saww from the Paradise? And the ones from his-saww community who would be with him-saww, in the Paradise?’
قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ: كَمْ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مِنْ إِمَامٍ هُدًى؟ وَ أَيْنَ مَنْزِلُ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ؟ وَ مَنْ مَعَهُ مِنْ أُمَّتِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ؟ فَإِنَّ الْأَئِمَّةَ اثْنَا عَشَرَ، وَ أَمَّا مَنْزِلُ مُحَمَّدٍ فَفِي أَشْرَفِ الْجِنَانِ وَ أَفْضَلِهَا: جَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ، وَ أَمَّا الَّذِينَ مَعَهُ فَهُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ أَئِمَّةُ الْهُدَى.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘As for your words, ‘How many guiding Imams-asws would there be for this community? And where is the house of Muhammad-saww in the Paradise? And the ones from his-saww community who would be with him-saww in the Paradise?’, the Imams-asws are twelve, and as for the house of Muhammad-saww, it is in the noblest of the Gardens and its superior, Garden of Eden; and as for those with him-saww, they-asws are the twelve Imams-asws, the Imams-asws of guidance’.
قَالَ الْفَتَى: صَدَقْتَ، فَوَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ إِنَّهُ لَمَكْتُوبٌ عِنْدِي بِإِمْلَاءِ مُوسَى وَ خَطِّ هَارُونَ بِيَدِهِ.
The youth said, ‘You-asws speak the truth. By Allah-azwj Who there is no god except He-azwj! It is written with me by the dictation of Musa-as and handwritten by Haroun-as by his-asws own hand’.
ثُمَ قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي كَمْ يَعِيشُ وَصِيُّ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بَعْدَهُ؟ وَ هَلْ يَمُوتُ مَوْتاً أَوْ يُقْتَلُ قَتْلًا؟.
Then he said, ‘Inform me, how long would the successor-asws of Muhammad-saww live after him-saww? And would he-asws be dying a (natural) death or killed by a killing?’
قَالَ لَهُ: وَيْحَكَ! أَنَا وَصِيُّ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَعِيشُ بَعْدَهُ ثَلَاثِينَ لَا تَزِيدُ يَوْماً وَ لَا تَنْقُصُ يَوْماً، ثُمَّ يُبْعَثُ أَشْقَاهَا شَقِيقُ عَاقِرِ نَاقَةِ صَالِحٍ، فَيَضْرِبُنِي ضَرْبَةً فِي مَفْرَقِي فَتُخْضَبُ مِنْهُ لِحْيَتِي، ثُمَّ بَكَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ بُكَاءً شَدِيداً.
He-asws said to him: ‘Woe be unto you! I-asws am the successor-asws of Muhammad-saww! I-asws shall be living after him-saww for thirty (years), neither increasing by a day nor reducing by a day. Then they would send their most wretched one, more wretched than the slayer of the she-camel of Salih-as, and he will strike me-asws a strike in my-asws head, and my-asws beard would be dyed from it’. Then he-asws wept intensely.
قَالَ: فَصَرَخَ الْفَتَى وَ قَطَعَ كُسْتِيجَهُ وَ قَالَ: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ.
He (Al Sadiq-asws) said: ‘The youth wailed and tore his cloak, and said, ‘I testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj, and I testify that Muhammad-saww is Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj, and the Praise is for Allah-azwj, Lord-azwj of the worlds’’.[12]
5- كِتَابُ صَفْوَةِ الْأَخْبَارِ: عَنْ أَبِي إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ أَبِي نُونٍ، قَالَ: لَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ دَخَلَ الْمَدِينَةَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَوْلَادِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى دِينِ الْيَهُودِ، فَوَجَدَ النَّاسَ مُتَفَزِّعِينَ مَغْمُومِينَ، فَقَالَ: مَا شَأْنُكُمْ؟. قَالُوا: تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ. فَقَالَ: أَمَا إِنَّهُ تُوُفِّيَ فِي الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي هُوَ مَذْكُورٌ فِي كِتَابِنَا،
The book ‘Sifwat Al Akhbar’ – From Abu Ismail, from Abu Noun who said,
‘When Rasool-Allah-saww passed away, a man from the children of Dawood-as entered Al-Medina, being upon the religion of the Jews. He found the people alarmed, gloomy. He said, ‘What is your concern?’ They said, ‘Rasool-Allah-saww passed away’. He said, ‘But he-saww passed away during the day which it is mentioned in our Book’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَرْشِدُونِي إِلَى خَلِيفَةِ نَبِيِّكُمْ. قَالُوا: تَنْتَظِرُ قَلِيلًا حَتَّى نُرْشِدَكَ إِلَى مَنْ يُخْبِرُكَ بِمَا تَسْأَلُ،
Then he said, ‘Guide me to the caliph of your Prophet-saww’. They said, ‘Wait a while until we guide you to the one who will inform you with what you ask’.
فَأَقْبَلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنْ بَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ، فَقَالُوا: عَلَيْكَ بِهَذَا الْغُلَامِ فَإِنَّهُ يُخْبِرُكَ عَمَّا تَسْأَلُ. فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ لَهُ: أَ أَنْتَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ؟. فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ، يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ، وَ أَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ وَ أَجْلَسَهُ. وَ قَالَ: أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ هَؤُلَاءِ عَنْ أَرْبَعَةِ حُرُوفٍ فَأَرْشَدُونِي إِلَيْكَ، فَعَنْ إِذْنِكَ أَسْأَلُكَ؟.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws came from a door of the Masjid. They said, ‘Upon you is to be with this youth for he-asws will inform you about what you ask’. He stood to him-asws and said to him-asws, ‘Are you-asws Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you-asws’, and he grabbed his-asws hand and seated him-asws and said, ‘I wanted to ask them about four phrases, and they guided me to you-asws, so will you-asws permit me to ask you-asws?
فَقَالَ لَهُ: سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ، فَإِنِّي أُخْبِرُكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
He-asws said to him: ‘Ask about whatever comes to you, for I-asws shall inform you, if Allah-azwj the Exalted so Desires’.
فَقَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَوَّلِ حَرْفٍ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ بِهِ نَبِيَّكَ لَمَّا أُسْرِيَ بِهِ وَ رَجَعَ عَنْمَحَلِّ الشَّرَفِ؟ وَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ الَّذِينَ كَشَفَ مَالِكٌ عَنْهُمْ طَبَقاً مِنْ أَطْبَاقِ النَّارِ فَكَلَّمُوا نَبِيَّكَ؟ وَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْمَلَكِ الَّذِي زَاحَمَ نَبِيَّكَ؟ وَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ مَنْزِلِ نَبِيِّكَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about the first phrase Allah-azwj Spoke with when He-azwj Ascended him-saww and returned from the place of nobility? And inform me about the four, those Maalik (keeper of Hell) removed a layer from the layers of the Fires, and they spoke to your-asws Prophet-saww? And inform me about the Angel who contended your-asws Prophet-saww? And inform me about the house of your-asws Prophet-saww in the Paradise’.
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: أَمَّا أَوَّلُ حَرْفٍ كَلَّمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيَّنَا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ بِهِ فَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِما أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ.
He-asws said: ‘As for the first phrase which Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Spoke to our Prophet-saww with, are the Words of the Exalted: “The Rasool believes in what is Revealed unto him from his Lord”. [2:285].
فَقَالَ: لَيْسَ هَذَا أَرَدْتُ، وَ لَا عَنْهُ سَأَلْتُ. فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الْأَمْرَ الَّذِي تُرِيدُ مَسْتُورٌ.
He said, ‘I didn’t intend this, nor did I ask about it’. He-asws said: ‘The matter which you intend, is veiled’.
فَقَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي بِالَّذِي هُوَ، وَ إِلَّا فَمَا أَنْتَ هُوَ؟. فَقَالَ لَهُ: إِذَا أَنْبَأْتُكَ تُسْلِمُ؟. قَالَ: نَعَمْ.
He said, ‘Inform me with the One-azwj He-azwj is, of else, is He-azwj not you-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘If I-asws were to inform you, will you submit?’ He said, ‘Yes’.
فَقَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لَمَّا رَجَعَ عَنْ مَحَلِّ الشَّرَفِ وَ الْكَرَامَةِ لَيْلَةَ الْإِسْرَاءِ رُفِعَ لَهُ الْحِجَابُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَصِيرَ إِلَى مَقَامِ جَبْرَئِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ نَادَى مَلَكٌ: يَا مُحَمَّدُ [صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ]! إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلَامَ وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ: اقْرَأْ عَلَى السَّيِّدِ الْمَوْلَى مِنِّي السَّلَامَ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: مَنِ السَّيِّدُ الْمَوْلَى؟. فَقَالَ: عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ [ع].
He-asws said: ‘When Rasool-Allah-saww returned from the place of nobility and prestige on the night of the Ascension, a veil was Raised for him-asws before he-saww came to the place of Jibraeel-as, and an Angel called out, ‘O Muhammad-saww! Allah-azwj Conveys the greetings to you-asws and Says to you-saww: “Convey the Greetings from Me-azwj to chief Guardian-asws!” Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘Who is the chief Guardian-asws?’ He-azwj Said: “Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws!”
فَقَالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ: صَدَقْتَ إِنِّي لَأَجِدُهُ مَكْتُوباً فِي كِتَابِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
The Jew said, ‘You-asws speak the truth. I do find it written in the Book of Dawood-as’.
فَقَالَ: وَ أَمَّا الْأَرْبَعَةُ الَّذِينَ كَشَفَ عَنْهُمْ مَالِكٌ طَبَقَ النَّارِ فَهُمْ: قَابِيلُ، وَ نُمْرُودُ، وَ هَامَانُ، وَ فِرْعَوْنُ. فَقَالُوا: يَا مُحَمَّدُ [صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ]! اسْأَلْ رَبَّكَ يَرُدَّنَا إِلَى الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى نَعْمَلَ صَالِحاً، فَغَضِبَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ أَخَذَ الطَّبَقَ بِرِيشَةٍ مِنْ جَنَاحِهِ وَ رَدَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ.
He-asws said: ‘And as for the four, those Maalik uncovered from them a layer of the fire, they are Qabeel-la, and Nimrod-la, and Hamman-la, and Pharaoh-la’. They-la said, ‘O Muhammad-saww! Ask your-saww Lord-azwj to return us-la to the world until we-la do righteous deeds’. Jibraeel-as was angered, and he-as grabbed the layer by a feather from his-as wing and returned it upon them-la.
وَ أَمَّا الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي زَاحَمَ نَبِيَّنَا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَإِنَّهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ، جَاءَ مِنْ عِنْدِ جَبَّارٍ مِنْ مُلُوكِ الدُّنْيَا قَدْ تَكَلَّمَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ بِكَلَامٍ عَظِيمٍ فَغَضِبَ لِلَّهِ فَزَاحَمَ نَبِيَّنَا وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفْهُ لِغَيْظِهِ.
And as for the Angel who contended our Prophet-saww, it is the Angel of death. He came in the presence of a tyrant from the kings of the world who had spoken during his death with grievous speech, so he got angered for the Sake of Allah-azwj and contended our Prophet-saww, and he did not recognise him-saww due to his (nature on) anger.
فَقَالَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: يَا مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ! هَذَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ حَبِيبُهُ. فَقَالَ: إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ مِنْ عِنْدِ مَلِكٍ جَبَّارٍ قَدْ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلَامٍ عَظِيمٍ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ فَغَضِبْتُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَمْ أَعْرِفْكَ، فَعَذَّرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ.
Jibraeel-as said, ‘O Angel of death! This is Muhammad-saww Bin Abdullah-asws, Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj and His-azwj Beloved!’ He said, ‘I have come from the presence of a tyrannical king who had spoken with grievous speech during his death, so I got angry for the Sake of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic and did not recognise you-saww’. Rasool-Allah-saww excused him.
وَ أَمَّا مَنْزِلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ مَسْكَنَهُ جَنَّةُ عَدْنٍ وَ مَعَهُ فِيهَا أَوْصِيَاؤُهُ الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ، وَ فَوْقَهَا مَنْزِلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ: الْوَسِيلَةُ، وَ لَيْسَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ شِبْهُهُ وَ لَا أَرْفَعُ مِنْهُ، وَ هُوَ مَنْزِلُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ.
And as for the house of Rasool-Allah-saww, his-saww dwelling is the Garden of Eden, and with him-saww therein would be the twelve successors-asws, and above it is a house called ‘Al-Waseela’, and there isn’t any such like it in the Paradise, nor any higher than it, and it is the house Rasool-Allah-saww’.
فَقَالَ الدَّاوُدِيُّ: وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ فِي كِتَابِ دَاوُدَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَ لَقَدْ صَدَقْتَ، وَ إِنَّا مُتَوَارِثُوهُ وَاحِدٌ عَنْ وَاحِدٍ حَتَّى وَصَلَ إِلَيَّ، فَأَخْرَجَ كِتَاباً فِيهِ مَسْطُورٌ مَا ذُكِرَ.
The Dawoodi (From the children of Dawood-as) said, ‘By Allah-azwj! I have seen it in the Book of Dawood-as, and you-asws have spoken the truth, and I have inherited it, one from one, until it has arrived to me’, and he brought out a book wherein was written what was mentioned.
ثُمَ قَالَ: مُدَّ يَدَكَ أُجَدِّدْ إِسْلَامِي، ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ خَيْرُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا وَ أَكْرَمُهَا عَلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. وَ عَلَّمَهُ دِينَهُ وَ شَرَائِعَ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَ قَدْ أَسْلَمَ وَ حَسُنَ إِسْلَامُهُ.
Then he said, ‘Extend your-asws hand, I want to renew my Islam’. Then he said, ‘By Allah-azwj! You-asws are the best of this community after its Prophet-saww, and its most prestigious to Allah-azwj the Exalted’. And he-asws taught him his-asws Religion, and Laws of Al-Islam, and he had become a Muslim, and his Islam was good’’.[13]
6- نبه: رُوِيَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّهُ حَضَرَ مَجْلِسَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ يَوْماً- وَ عِنْدَهُ كَعْبُ الْأَحْبَارِ- إِذْ قَالَ عُمَرُ: يَا كَعْبُ! أَ حَافِظٌ أَنْتَ لِلتَّوْرَاةِ؟. قَالَ كَعْبٌ: إِنِّي لَأَحْفَظُ مِنْهَا كَثِيراً.
(The book) ‘Tanbeeh Al Khawatir’ – It is reported from Ibn Abbas,
‘I was present in a gathering of Umar Bin Al-Khattab one day, and in his presence of Ka’ab the Rabbi, when Umar said, ‘O Ka’ab! Are you a memoriser of the Torah?’ Ka’ab said, ‘I have memorised a lot from it’.
فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ جَنْبِهِ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! سَلْهُ أَيْنَ كَانَ اللَّهُ جَلَّ جَلَالُهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ عَرْشَهُ؟ وَ مِمَّ خَلَقَ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ عَرْشَهُ؟
A man by his side said, ‘O commander of the faithful! Ask him, where was Allah-azwj, Majestic is His-azwj Majesty, before He-azwj Created His-azwj Throne? And from what did He-azwj Created the water upon which He-azwj His-azwj Throne to be?’
فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: يَا كَعْبُ! هَلْ عِنْدَكَ مِنْ هَذَا عِلْمٌ؟. فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ: نَعَمْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! نَجِدُ فِي الْأَصْلِ الْحَكِيمِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى كَانَ قَدِيماً قَبْلَ خَلْقِ الْعَرْشِ، وَ كَانَ عَلَى صَخْرَةِ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فِي الْهَوَاءِ، فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ عَرْشَهُ تَفَلَ تَفْلَةً كَانَتْ مِنْهَا الْبِحَارُ الْغَامِرَةُ وَ اللُّجَجُ الدَّائِرَةُ، فَهُنَاكَ خَلَقَ عَرْشَهُ مِنْ بَعْضِ الصَّخْرَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَحْتَهُ، وَ آخِرُ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْهَا لَمَسْجِدٌ قَدَّسَهُ.
Umar said, ‘O Ka’ab! Is there any knowledge with you of this?’ Ka’ab said, ‘Yes, O commander of the faithful! We find in the original wisdom that Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted was seated before He-azwj Created the Throne, and He-azwj was upon the rock of Bayt Al-Maqdis in the air. When He-azwj Wanted to Created His-azwj Throne, He-azwj Spat the spittle and the oceans came to be from it, and the revolving creeks. So, there He-azwj Created His-azwj Throne from one of the rocks which were beneath Him-azwj, and the last of what remain from these, is for the Holy Masjid’.
قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: وَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ حَاضِراً .. فَعَظَّمَ رَبَّهُ وَ قَامَ عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ، وَ نَفَضَ ثِيَابَهُ، فَأَقْسَمَ عَلَيْهِ عُمَرُ لَمَّا عَادَ إِلَى مَجْلِسِهِ، فَفَعَلَ، قَالَ عُمَرُ: غُصْ عَلَيْهَا يَا غَوَّاصُ، مَا يَقُولُ أَبُو حَسَنٍ فَمَا عَلِمْتُكَ إِلَّا مُفَرِّجاً لِلْغَمِّ؟.
Ibn Abbas said, ‘And Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws was present. He-asws (mentioned) Exaltedness of his-asws Lord-azwj and stood upon his-asws feet and shook his-asws clothes. Umar swore unto him-asws to return to his-asws seat. He-asws did so. Umar said, ‘Plunge into it, O diver! What is Abu Al-Hassan-asws saying? Don’t you know except he-asws is a reliever of the distress?’
فَالْتَفَتَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَى كَعْبٍ فَقَالَ: غَلِطَ أَصْحَابُكَ وَ حَرَّفُوا كُتُبَ اللَّهِ، وَ قَبَّحُوا الْفِرْيَةَ عَلَيْهِ، يَا كَعْبُ! وَيْحَكَ! إِنَّ الصَّخْرَةَ الَّتِي زَعَمْتَ لَا تَحْوِي جَلَالَهُ، وَ لَا تَسَعُ عَظَمَتَهُ، وَ الْهَوَاءُ الَّذِي ذَكَرْتَ لَا يَجُوزُ أَقْطَارَهُ، وَ لَوْ كَانَتِ الصَّخْرَةُ وَ الْهَوَاءُ قَدِيمَيْنِ مَعَهُ لَكَانَتْ لَهُمَا قِدْمَتُهُ، وَ عَزَّ اللَّهُ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُقَالَ لَهُ مَكَانٌ يُومَى إِلَيْهِ،
Ali-asws turned toward Ka’ab and said: ‘Your companions are wrong, and they have altered the Books of Allah-azwj, and ugly is what they have slandered upon Him-azwj, O Ka’ab! Woe be unto you! The rock which you are claiming, does not contain His-azwj Majesty, nor the vastness of His-azwj Magnificence, and the air which you mentioned, its surroundings are not allowed. If the rock and the air were both ancient along with Him-azwj, there would be His-azwj Ancientness with them, and Allah-azwj is Mightier and more Majestic that a place could be said to be for Him-azwj indicating to Him-azwj.
وَ اللَّهُ لَيْسَ كَمَا يَقُولُ الْمُلْحِدُونَ، وَ لَا كَمَا يَظُنُّ الْجَاهِلُونَ، وَ لَكِنْ كَانَ وَ لَا مَكَانَ بِحَيْثُ لَا تَبْلُغُهُ الْأَذْهَانُ، وَ قَوْلِي: (كَانَ) لِتَعْرِيفِ كَوْنِهِ، وَ هُوَ مِمَّا عَلَّمَ مِنَ الْبَيَانِ، يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ: خَلَقَ الْإِنْسانَ عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيانَ،
And Allah-azwj isn’t as the atheists are saying, nor like what the ignoramuses are thinking, but He-azwj existed and there was not place, by where the minds could reach (grasp), and my-asws words are to introduce His-azwj Existence, and it is from what He-azwj Taught from the clarification. Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Says: Created the human being [55:3] Taught him the clarification [55:4].
فَقَوْلِي لَهُ كَانَ مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي الْبَيَانَ لِأَنْطِقَ بِحُجَّةِ عَظَمَةِ الْمَنَّانِ، وَ لَمْ يَزَلْ رَبُّنَا مُقْتَدِراً عَلَى مَا يَشَاءُ، مُحِيطاً بِكُلِّ الْأَشْيَاءِ، ثُمَّ كَوَّنَ مَا أَرَادَ بِلَا فِكْرَةٍ حَادِثَةٍ لَهُ أَصَابَ، وَ لَا بِشُبْهَةٍ دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا أَرَادَ،
My-asws words for Him-azwj are from what He-azwj Taught me-asws the clarification so I-asws can speak with the argument of the Magnificence of the Bestower; and our Lord-azwj has not ceased to be Able upon whatever He-azwj so Desires to, Encompassing all things. Then He-azwj Brought into being whatever He-azwj Wanted without a thought occurring for Him-azwj to be correct, nor with any suspicion entering into Him-azwj regarding what He-azwj Wanted.
وَ إِنَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَلَقَ نُوراً ابْتَدَعَهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ، ثُمَّ خَلَقَ مِنْهُ ظُلْمَةً وَ كَانَ قَدِيراً أَنْ يَخْلُقَ الظُّلْمَةَ لَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ، كَمَا خَلَقَ النُّورَ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ، ثُمَّ خَلَقَ مِنَ الظُّلْمَةِ نُوراً وَ خَلَقَ مِنَ النُّورِ يَاقُوتَةً غِلَظُهَا كَغِلَظِ سَبْعِ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَ سَبْعِ أَرَضِينَ،
And surely the Mighty and Majestic Created a light, initiating it from without a thing, then Created darkness from it, and although He-azwj was Able to Create the darkness from without a thing, just as He-azwj had Created the light from without a thing. Then He-azwj Created a light from the darkness, and Created from that light, a thick ruby, like the thickness of the seven skies and seven earths.
ثُمَّ زَجَرَ الْيَاقُوتَةَ فَمَاعَتْ لِهَيْبَتِهِ فَصَارَتْ مَاءً مُرْتَعِداً، وَ لَا يَزَالُ مُرْتَعِداً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، ثُمَّ خَلَقَ عَرْشَهُ مِنْ نُورِهِ، وَ جَعَلَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، وَ لِلْعَرْشِ عَشَرَةُ آلَافِ لِسَانٍ يُسَبِّحُ اللَّهَ كُلُّ لِسَانٍ مِنْهَا بِعَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ، لَيْسَ فِيهَا لُغَةٌ تُشْبِهُ الْأُخْرَى،
Then He-azwj Squashed the ruby, and it melted and became like thundering water, and it will not cease to be thundering until the Day of Qiyamah. Then He-azwj Created His-azwj Throne from His-azwj Noor and Made it to be upon the water; and for the Throne there are ten thousand tongues Glorifying Allah-azwj by each tongue from it with ten thousand (languages). There isn’t any language among these resembling the other.
وَ كَانَ الْعَرْشُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ مِنْ دُونِهِ حُجُبُ الضَّبَابِ، وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ: وَ كانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْماءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ .. ، يَا كَعْبُ! وَيْحَكَ! إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَتِ الْبِحَارُ تَفْلَتَهُ عَلَى قَوْلِكَ- كَانَ أَعْظَمَ مِنْ أَنْ تَحْوِيَهُ صَخْرَةُ بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ، أَوْ يَحْوِيَهُ الْهَوَاءُ الَّذِي أَشَرْتَ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ حَلَّ فِيهِ ..
And the Throne was upon the water from besides Him-azwj the veils of clouds, and that is His-azwj Word: and His Throne was upon the water, in order to Try you, [11:7]. O Ka’ab! Woe be unto you! The One-azwj whose Spit brought the oceans into being – according to your words – would be Greater than to be carried by the rock of Bayt Al-Maqdis, or be carried by the air, which your indicated to that He-azwj had Permeated into’.
فَضَحِكَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ، وَ قَالَ: هَذَا هُوَ الْأَمْرُ، وَ هَكَذَا يَكُونُ الْعِلْمُ لَا كَعِلْمِكَ يَا كَعْبُ، لَا عِشْتُ إِلَى زَمَانٍ لَا أَرَى فِيهِ أَبَا حَسَنٍ.
Umar Bin Al-Khattab laughed, and said, ‘This, it is the matter, and this is how the knowledge happens to be, not like your knowledge, O Ka’ab! May I not like to a time I cannot see Abu Hassan-asws in it’’.[14]
7- كا: الْعِدَّةُ، عَنِ الْبَرْقِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ السَّرَّاجِ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ الْكِسَائِيِ، عَنْ أَبِي الطُّفَيْلِ، قَالَ: شَهِدْتُ جِنَازَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ يَوْمَ مَاتَ، وَ شَهِدْتُ عُمَرَ حِينَ بُويِعَ وَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ جَالِسٌ نَاحِيَةً، فَأَقْبَلَ غُلَامٌ يَهُودِيٌّ جَمِيلُ الْوَجْهِ، بَهِيٌّ، عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ حِسَانٌ- وَ هُوَ مِنْ وُلْدِ هَارُونَ- حَتَّى قَامَ عَلَى رَأْسِ عُمَرَ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بِكِتَابِهِمْ وَ أَمْرِ نَبِيِّهِمْ؟.
Al Kafi – The number, from Al Barqy, from his father, from Abdullah Bin Al Qasim from Hanan Bin Al Sarraj, from Dawood Bin Suleyman Al Kisai, from Abu al Tufayl who said,
‘I attended the funeral of Abu Bakr on the day he died, and I attended when Umar was pledged allegiance to, and Ali-asws was seated in a corner. There came a young Jewish boy of beautiful face, gorgeous, having beautiful clothes upon him, and he was from the children of Haroun-as, until he stood by the head of Umar. He said, ‘O commander of the faithful! Are you the most knowledgeable of this community with their Book and the matter of their Prophet-saww?
قَالَ: فَطَأْطَأَ عُمَرُ رَأْسَهُ، فَقَالَ: إِيَّاكَ أَعْنِي .. وَ أَعَادَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: لِمَ ذَاكَ؟. قَالَ: إِنِّي جِئْتُكَ مُرْتَاداً لِنَفْسِي، شَاكّاً فِي دِينِي.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Umar lowered his head. He said, ‘Beware of me’ – and repeated the words to him. Umar said to me, ‘Why is that so?’ He said, ‘I have come to you reneging for myself, doubting in my religion’.
فَقَالَ: دُونَكَ هَذَا الشَّابَّ. قَالَ: وَ مَنْ هَذَا الشَّابُّ؟. قَالَ: هَذَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ابْنُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ هَذَا أَبُو الْحَسَنِ وَ الْحُسَيْنِ ابْنَيْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ هَذَا زَوْجُ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ،
He said, ‘Besides you is this youth’. He said, ‘And who is that youth?’ He said, ‘This is Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, son-asws of an uncle-asws of Rasool-Allah-azwj, and this is father-asws of Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws, two (grand) sons-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww, and this is the husband of (Syeda) Fatima-asws, daughter-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww’.
فَأَقْبَلَ الْيَهُودِيُّ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: أَ كَذَلِكَ أَنْتَ؟!. فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ ثَلَاثٍ وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ وَاحِدَةٍ.
The Jew came to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and said, ‘Are you-asws like that?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes’. He said, ‘I want to ask you-asws about three, and three and one (questions).
قَالَ: فَتَبَسَّمَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ مِنْ غَيْرِ تَبَسُّمٍ، فَقَالَ يَا هَارُونِيُّ! مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَقُولَ سَبْعاً؟. قَالَ: أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ ثَلَاثٍ، فَإِنْ أَجَبْتَنِي سَأَلْتُ عَمَّا بَعْدَهُنَّ، وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَعْلَمْهُنَّ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِيكُمْ عَالِمٌ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws smiled from without a smile (wry smile). He-asws said: ‘O Harouny (from the children of Haroun-as)! What prevented you from saying ‘seven’?’ He said, ‘I shall ask you about three (issues). If you-asws were to answer me-asws, I will ask you after these, and if you-asws do not know, I will know that there isn’t knowledge with you-asws’.
قَالَ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: فَإِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِالْإِلَهِ الَّذِي تَعْبُدُهُ لَئِنْ أَنَا أَجَبْتُكَ فِي كُلِّ مَا تُرِيدُ لَتَدَعَنَّ دِينَكَ وَ لَتَدْخُلَنَّ فِي دِينِي؟. قَالَ: مَا جِئْتُ إِلَّا لِذَاكَ. قَالَ: فَسَلْ؟.
Ali-asws said: ‘I-asws ask you by the God whom you worship, if I-asws were to answer you regarding all what you want, you will leave your religion and enter into my-asws Religion?’ He said, ‘I did not come except for that’. He-asws said: ‘Then, ask’.
قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَوَّلِ قَطْرَةِ دَمٍ قَطَرَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ، أَيُّ قَطْرَةٍ هِيَ؟ وَ أَوَّلِ عَيْنٍ فَاضَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ، أَيُّ عَيْنٍ هِيَ؟ وَ أَوَّلِ شَيْءٍ اهْتَزَّ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ، أَيُّ شَيْءٍ هُوَ؟. فَأَجَابَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ
He said, ‘Inform me about the first drop of blood to fall upon the surface of the earth, which drop was it? And the first spring to flow upon the surface of the earth, which spring was it? And the first thing to shake upon the surface of the earth, which thing was it?’ Amir Al-Momineen-asws answered him.
فَقَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الثَّلَاثِ الْأُخَرِ، أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمْ لَهُ مِنْ إِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ؟. وَ فِي أَيِّ جَنَّةٍ يَكُونُ؟ وَ مَنْ يُسَاكِنُهُ مَعَهُ فِي جَنَّتِهِ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about the other three. Inform me about Muhammad-saww, how many just Imams-asws are there for him-saww? And in which Garden will he-asws happen to be? And who would be dwelling with him-saww in his-saww Garden?’
قَالَ: يَا هَارُونِيُّ! إِنَّ لِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ إِمَامَ عَدْلٍ لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ خِذْلَانُ مَنْ خَذَلَهُمْ، وَ لَا يَسْتَوْحِشُونَ بِخِلَافِ مَنْ خَالَفَهُمْ، وَ إِنَّهُمْ فِي الدِّينِ أَرْسَبُ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ الرَّوَاسِي فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَ مَسْكَنُ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي جَنَّتِهِ، مَعَهُ أُولَئِكَ الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ الْإِمَامَ الْعَدْلَ.
He-asws said: ‘O Harouny! For Muhammad-saww there are twelve just Imams-asws. The abandonment of the ones who abandon them-asws does not harm them, nor does the fear of the ones who oppose them-asws, and they-asws are in the Religion are the stabilising tall mountains in the earth, and the ones to dwell with Muhammad-saww in his-saww dwelling, they-asws are the twelve just Imams-asws’.
فَقَالَ: صَدَقْتَ وَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ، إِنِّي لَأَجِدُهَا فِي كُتُبِ أَبِي هَارُونَ، كَتَبَهُ بِيَدِهِ وَ أَمْلَاهُ مُوسَى عَمِّي عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
He said, ‘You-asws speak the truth, by Allah-azwj the One-azwj Who, there is no god except He-azwj. I do find it to be so in the Book of my (fore) father-as Haroun-as in his-as handwriting, dictated by Musa-as, my (fore) uncle-as’’.
قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْوَاحِدَةِ؟ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ وَصِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمْ يَعِيشُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ؟ وَ هَلْ يَمُوتُ أَوْ يُقْتَلُ؟.
He said, ‘Inform me about the one? Inform me about the successor-asws of Muhammad-saww, how much would he-asws live after him-saww? And will he-asws be dying (a natural death) of be killed?’
قَالَ: يَا هَارُونِيُّ! يَعِيشُ بَعْدَهُ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً لَا يَزِيدُ يَوْماً وَ لَا يَنْقُصُ يَوْماً، ثُمَّ يُضْرَبُ ضَرْبَةً هَاهُنَا- يَعْنِي عَلَى قَرْنِهِ- فَيُخْضَبُ هَذِهِ مِنْ هَذَا.
He-asws said: ‘O Harouny! He-asws shall live after him-saww for thirty years, neither increasing a day nor reducing a day, then he-asws will be struck by a strike over here’ – meaning upon his-asws forehead, ‘So this (beard) would be dyed from this (blood of the head)’.
قَالَ: فَصَاحَ الْهَارُونِيُّ وَ قَطَعَ كُسْتِيجَهُ، وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، وَ أَنَّكَ وَصِيُّهُ، يَنْبَغِي أَنْ تَفُوقَ وَ لَا تُفَاقَ، وَ أَنْ تُعَظَّمَ وَ لَا تُسْتَضْعَفَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘The Harouny wailed and cut tore his cloak, and he was saying, ‘I testify that there is no god except Allah-azwj Alone, there is no associate for Him-azwj, and I testify that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww, and you-asws are his-saww successor-asws. It is appropriate that you-asws should surpass and not be surpassed, and that you-asws should be revered and not weakened’.
قَالَ: ثُمَ مَضَى بِهِ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَعَلَّمَهُ مَعَالِمَ الدِّينِ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Then Ali-asws went with him to his-asws house and taught him the features of his-asws Religion’’.[15]
8- كا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ، عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَحْيَى الْمَدِينِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هَارُونَ الْعَبْدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ حَاضِراً لَمَّا هَلَكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَ اسْتَخْلَفَ عُمَرَ، أَقْبَلَ يَهُودِيٌّ مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ يَهُودِ يَثْرِبَ، وَ يَزْعُمُ يَهُودُ الْمَدِينَةِ أَنَّهُ أَعْلَمُ أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ حَتَّى رُفِعَ إِلَى عُمَرَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا عُمَرُ! إِنِّي جِئْتُكَ أُرِيدُ الْإِسْلَامَ فَإِنْ أَخْبَرْتَنِي عَمَّا أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْهُ فَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ بِالْكِتَابِ وَ السُّنَّةِ وَ جَمِيعِ مَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَ عَنْهُ.
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Mus’adah Bin Ziyad,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws,
And Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Ibrahim, from Ibn Abu Yahya Al Madainy, from Abu Haroun Al Abdy, from Abu Saeed Al Khudri who said,
‘I was present when Abu Bakr died and Umar became caliph. A Jew from great Jews of Yasrib came and the Jews of Al-Medina claimed that he was the most learned of the people of his time, until he was raised to Umar. He said to him, ‘O Umar! I have come to you intending Al-Islam, so if you were to inform me what I ask about, then you are the most learned of the companions of Muhammad-saww, with the Book and the Sunnah, and the entirety of what I want to ask about’.
قَالَ: فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: إِنِّي لَسْتُ هُنَاكَ، لَكِنِّي أُرْشِدُكَ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ أُمَّتِنَا بِالْكِتَابِ وَ السُّنَّةِ وَ جَمِيعِ مَا قَدْ تَسْأَلُ عَنْهُ، وَ هُوَ ذَاكَ، فَأَوْمَى إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. فَقَالَ لَهُ الْيَهُودِيُّ: يَا عُمَرُ! إِنْ كَانَ هَذَا كَمَا تَقُولُ فَمَا لَكَ وَ لِبَيْعَةِ النَّاسِ، وَ إِنَّمَا ذَاكَ أَعْلَمُكُمْ، فَزَبَرَهُ عُمَرُ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Umar said to him, ‘I am not like that, but I shall point you to the one who is the most learned or our community with the Book and the Sunnah, and the entirety of what you want to ask about, and he-asws is like that’ – and he gestured towards Ali-asws. The Jew said to him, ‘O Umar! If this one is as you are saying, so what is the matter with you taking allegiance of the people, and rather that one is your most learned?’ Umar rebuked him.
ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْيَهُودِيَّ قَامَ إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ: أَنْتَ كَمَا ذَكَرَ عُمَرُ؟. فَقَالَ: وَ مَا قَالَ عُمَرُ؟. فَأَخْبَرَهُ. قَالَ: فَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَمَا قَالَ، سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَعْلَمَ هَلْ يَعْلَمُهُ أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ فَأَعْلَمَ أَنَّكُمْ فِي دَعْوَاكُمْ خَيْرُ الْأُمَمِ وَ أَعْلَمُهَا صَادِقِينَ، وَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ أَدْخُلُ فِي دِينِكُمُ الْإِسْلَامِ.
Then the Jew stood to Ali-asws and said, ‘Are you as what Umar mentioned?’ He-asws said: ‘And what has Umar said?’ He informed him-asws. He-asws said: ‘Supposing I-asws am just as he has said?’ He said, ‘I shall ask you-asws about things. I want to know if anyone from you knows, then I would know that you are best of the communities in your call and most knowledgeable of them, truthful, and along with that, I shall enter into your Religion Al-Islam’.
فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: نَعَمْ، أَنَا كَمَا ذَكَرَ لَكَ عُمَرُ، سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ أُخْبِرْكَ بِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘Yes, I-asws am just as Umar mentioned to you. Ask about whatever comes to you, I-as shall inform you with it, if Allah-azwj so Desires’.
قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ ثَلَاثٍ وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَ وَاحِدَةٍ. فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلِيٌّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: يَا يَهُودِيُّ! وَ لِمَ لَمْ تَقُلْ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ سَبْعٍ؟. فَقَالَ لَهُ الْيَهُودِيُّ: إِنَّكَ إِنْ أَخْبَرْتَنِي بِالثَّلَاثِ، سَأَلْتُكَ عَنِ الْبَقِيَّةِ وَ إِلَّا كَفَفْتُ، فَإِنْ أَنْتَ أَجَبْتَنِي فِي هَذِهِ السَّبْعِ فَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَ أَفْضَلُهُمْ وَ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالنَّاسِ.
He said, ‘Inform me about three, and three and one’. Ali-asws said to him: ‘O Jew! Why did you not say, ‘Inform me about seven?’ The Jew said to him, ‘You-asws, if you-asws were to inform me with the three, I will ask you about the rest, or else I shall refrain. If you-asws inform me about these seven, then you-asws are the most knowledgeable of the people of the earth, and their superior, and foremost of the people with the people’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ: سَلْ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ أُخْبِرْكَ بِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى.
He-asws said to him: ‘Ask about whatever comes to you, I-asws shall inform you with it, if Allah-azwj so Desires’.
قَالَ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَوَّلِ حَجَرٍ وُضِعَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ؟ وَ أَوَّلِ شَجَرَةٍ غُرِسَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ؟ وَ أَوَّلِ عَيْنٍ نَبَعَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ؟. فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ.
He said, ‘Inform me about the first stone placed upon the surface of the earth? And the first tree planted upon the surface of the earth? And the first spring to burst forth upon the surface of the earth?’ Amir Al-Momineen-asws informed him.
ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ الْيَهُودِيُّ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ كَمْ لَهَا مِنْ إِمَامٍ هُدًى؟ وَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ نَبِيِّكُمْ مُحَمَّدٍ أَيْنَ مَنْزِلُهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ؟ وَ أَخْبِرْنِي مَنْ مَعَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ؟.
Then the Jew said to him, ‘Inform me about this community, how many Imams-asws of guidance are there for it? And inform me about your Prophet-saww Muhammad-saww, where is his-saww house in the Paradise? And inform me for the ones who would be with him-saww in the Paradise?’
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: إِنَّ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ إِمَامَ هُدًى مِنْ ذُرِّيَّةِ نَبِيِّهَا وَ هُمْ مِنِّي. وَ أَمَّا مَنْزِلُ نَبِيِّنَا فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَفِي أَفْضَلِهَا وَ أَشْرَفِهَا: جَنَّةِ عَدْنٍ، وَ أَمَّا مَنْ مَعَهُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ فِيهَا فَهَؤُلَاءِ الِاثْنَا عَشَرَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ، وَ أُمُّهُمْ وَ جَدَّتُهُمْ أُمُ أُمِّهِمْ وَ ذَرَارِيُّهُمْ لَا يَشْرَكُهُمْ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ.
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘For this community there are twelve Imams-asws of guidance from the offspring of its Prophet-saww, and they-asws would be from me-asws. And as for the house of our Prophet-saww in the Paradise, it is in its superior and noblest, Garden of Eden; and as for the ones who would be with him-saww in his-saww house, so these are the twelve (Imams-asws) from his-saww offspring, and their-asws mother-asws, and their-asws grandmother-as, mother-as of their-asws mother-asws, and their-asws offspring. No one (else) would participate in it with them-asws’’.[16]
9- كا: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا الْمُؤْمِنِ، عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ، عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، قَالَ: إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَتَى بِامْرَأَتِهِ إِلَى عُمَرَ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ امْرَأَتِي هَذِهِ سَوْدَاءُ وَ أَنَا أَسْوَدُ وَ إِنَّهَا وَلَدَتْ غُلَاماً أَبْيَضَ.
(The book) ‘Al Kafi’ – Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn, from Al Hassan Bin Ali, from Zakariya Al Momin, from Ibn Muskan, from one of our companion,
‘From Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘A man came with his wife to Umar and said, ‘This wife of mine is black, and I am black, and she has given birth to a white boy’.
فَقَالَ لِمَنْ بِحَضْرَتِهِ: مَا تَرَوْنَ؟. قَالُوا: نَرَى أَنْ تَرْجُمَهَا فَإِنَّهَا سَوْدَاءُ وَ زَوْجُهَا أَسْوَدُ وَ وَلَدُهَا أَبْيَضُ.
He said to the ones present, ‘What are your views?’ They said, ‘We view that she should be stoned to death, for she is black, and her husband is black, and her child is white’.
قَالَ: فَجَاءَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ قَدْ وُجِّهَ بِهَا لِتُرْجَمَ، فَقَالَ: مَا حَالُكُمَا؟. فَحَدَّثَاهُ. فَقَالَ لِلْأَسْوَدِ: أَ تَتَّهِمُ امْرَأَتَكَ؟!. فَقَالَ: لَا.
He (the narrator) said, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws came, and they had already taken her for the stoning to death. He-asws said: ‘What is your situation?’ They narrated to him-asws. He-asws said to the black man: ‘Are you accusing your wife (of adultery)?!’ He said, ‘No’.
قَالَ: فَأَتَيْتَهَا وَ هِيَ طَامِثٌ؟. قَالَتْ: نَعَمْ، سَلْهُ، قَدْ حَرَّجْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَبَيْتُ. قَالَ: فَانْطَلِقَا فَإِنَّهُ ابْنُكُمَا، وَ إِنَّمَا غَلَبَ الدَّمَ النُّطْفَةُ فَابْيَضَّ، وَ لَوْ قَدْ تَحَرَّكَ اسْوَدَّ. فَلَمَّا أَيْفَعَ اسْوَدَّ.
He-asws said: ‘And you went to her while she was menstruating?’ She said, ‘Yes, ask him. It had been prohibited until him and I had refused’. He-asws said: ‘Free her for it is your child, and rather the sperm had overcome the blood, so he is white, and it had moved, (he would have been black)’. When he grew up, he was black’’.[17]
10- مَشَارِقُ الْأَنْوَارِ: قَالَ: إِنَّ رَجُلًا حَضَرَ مَجْلِسَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَادَّعَى أَنَّهُ لَا يَخَافُ اللَّهَ، وَ لَا يَرْجُو الْجَنَّةَ، وَ لَا يَخْشَى النَّارَ، وَ لَا يَرْكَعُ وَ لَا يَسْجُدُ، وَ يَأْكُلُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَ الدَّمَ، وَ يَشْهَدُ بِمَا لَا يَرَى، وَ يُحِبُّ الْفِتْنَةَ، وَ يَكْرَهُ الْحَقَّ، وَ يُصَدِّقُ الْيَهُودَ وَ النَّصَارَى، وَ أَنَّ عِنْدَهُ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، وَ لَهُ مَا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ، وَ أَنِّي أَحْمَدُ النَّبِيّ، وَ أَنِّي عَلِيٌّ وَ أَنَا رَبُّكُم،
(The book) ‘Mashariq Al-Anwaar’ – He said, ‘A man presented in a gathering of Abu bakr and claimed that he neither feared Allah-azwj, nor hoped for the Paradise, nor feared the Fire, nor performed Ruku’u nor Sajdah’, and eats the death, and the blood, and testified with what he had not seen, and loved the Fitna (strife), and disliked the truth, and ratified the Jews and the Christians, and that with him is what isn’t with Allah-azwj, and for him is what isn’t for Allah-azwj, and (said), ‘I am Ahmad the Prophet-saww, and I am Ali, and I am your Lord’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: ازْدَدْتَ كُفْراً عَلَى كُفْرِكَ؟!.
Umar said to him, ‘You are increasing Kufr upon your Kufr?!’
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: هَوِّنْ عَلَيْكَ يَا عُمَرُ! فَإِنَّ هَذَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ اللَّهِ لَا يَرْجُو الْجَنَّةَ وَ لَكِنْ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ، وَ لَا يَخَافُ النَّارَ وَ لَكِنْ يَخَافُ رَبَّهُ، وَ لَا يَخَافُ اللَّهَ مِنْ ظُلْمٍ وَ لَكِنْ يَخَافُ عَدْلَهُ، لِأَنَّهُ حَكَمٌ عَدْلٌ،
Amir Al-Momineen-asws said to him: ‘Be easy upon yourself, O Umar! This man is from the friends of Allah-azwj. He does not hope for the Paradise, but hopes for Allah-azwj, and he does not fear the Fire, but he fears his Lord-azwj, and he does not fear Allah-azwj from an injustice but he fears His-azwj Justice, because He-azwj is a Just Judge;
وَ لَا يَرْكَعُ وَ لَا يَسْجُدُ فِي صَلَاةِ الْجِنَازَةِ، وَ يَأْكُلُ الْجَرَادَ وَ السَّمَكَ، وَ يُحِبُّ الْأَهْلَ وَ الْوَلَدَ، وَ يَشْهَدُ بِالْجَنَّةِ وَ النَّارِ وَ لَمْ يَرَهُمَا، وَ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ، وَ يُصَدِّقُ الْيَهُودَ وَ النَّصَارَى فِي تَكْذِيبِ بَعْضِهِمَا بَعْضاً،
And he neither performs Ruku’u nor Sajdah in the funeral Salat, and he eats the locust and the fish, and loves the wife and the children, and testified with the Paradise and the Fire although he has not seen these, and he dislikes the death and it is the truth, and he ratifies the Jews and the Christians in their belying each other;
وَ لَهُ مَا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ، لِأَنَّ لَهُ وَلَداً وَ لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ وَلَدٌ، وَ عِنْدَهُ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّهُ يَظْلِمُ نَفْسَهُ وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ظُلْمٌ، وَ قَوْلُهُ أَنَا أَحْمَدُ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ .. أَيْ أَنَا أَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى تَبْلِيغِ الرِّسَالَةِ عَنْ رَبِّهِ،
And for him is what isn’t for Allah-azwj because there is a son for him and there isn’t any son for Allah-azwj, and with him is what isn’t with Allah-azwj, so he is being unjust to himself and there isn’t any injustice with Allah-azwj; and his words, ‘I Ahmad the Prophet-saww’, i.e., ‘I am praising him-saww upon his-saww delivering the Message on behalf of his-saww Lord-azwj.
وَ قَوْلُهُ: أَنَا عَلِيٌّ .. يَعْنِي عَلِيٌّ فِي قَوْلِي، وَ قَوْلُهُ: أَنَا رَبُّكُمْ .. أَيْ رَبُّ كُمٍّ بِمَعْنَى لِي كُمٌّ أَرْفَعُهَا وَ أَضَعُهَا،
And his words, ‘I am Ali’, meaning ‘Exalted in my words’, and his words, ‘I am your Lord’, i.e., ‘lord of ‘Kum’, in the meaning that ‘I am the lord (owner) of ‘Kum’ (a sleeve), I raise it and drop it’.
فَفَرِحَ عُمَرُ، وَ قَامَ وَ قَبَّلَ رَأْسَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَ قَالَ: لَا بَقِيتُ بَعْدَكَ يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ.
Umar was happy and stood up and kissed the head of Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and said, ‘May I not remain (alive) after you-asws, O Abu Al-Hassan-asws’’.[18]
11- كنز: مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ هُوزَةَ، عَنِ النَّهَاوَنْدِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ، عَنْ نَصْرِ بْنِ يَحْيَى، عَنِ الْمُقْتَبِسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ: كَانَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَعَ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فَأَرْسَلَهُ فِي جَيْشٍ فَغَابَ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ ثُمَّ قَدِمَ، وَ كَانَ مَعَ أَهْلِهِ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ فَعَلِقَتْ مِنْهُ فَجَاءَتْ بِوَلَدٍ لِسِتَّةِ أَشْهُرٍ فَأَنْكَرَهُ،
(The book) ‘Taweel al Ayaat Al Zaahira’ – Muhammad Bin Al Abbas, from Ahmad Bin Howzat, from Al Nahawandi, from Abdullah Bin Hammad, from Nasr Bin Yahya, from Al Muqtabisi Bin Abdul Rahman, from his father, from his grandfather who said,
‘There was a man from the companions of Rasool-Allah-saww with Umar Bin Al-Khattab. He sent him in an army, and he was absent for six months, then arrived, and he had been with his wife for six months. She conceived from him and came with a child of six months. He denied it (the child being his).
فَجَاءَ بِهَا إِلَى عُمَرَ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! كُنْتُ فِي الْبَعْثِ الَّذِي وَجَّهْتَنِي فِيهِ، وَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي قَدِمْتُ سِتَّةَ أَشْهُرٍ، وَ كُنْتُ مَعَ أَهْلِي وَ قَدْ جَاءَتْ بِغُلَامٍ وَ هُوَ ذَا، وَ تَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ مِنِّي؟.
He came with her to Umar and said, ‘O commander of the faithful! I was in the regiment you had sent me in, and you know I have arrived after six months, and I was with my wife and she has come with a boy, and here he is, and she claims he is from me?’
فَقَالَ لَهَا عُمَرُ: مَا ذَا تَقُولِينَ أَيَّتُهَا المَرْأَةُ؟. فَقَالَتْ: وَ اللَّهِ مَا غَشِيَنِي رَجُلٌ غَيْرُهُ، وَ مَا فَجَرْتُ، وَ إِنَّهُ لَابْنُهُ، وَ كَانَ اسْمُ الرَّجُلِ: الْهَيْثَمَ. فَقَالَ لَهَا عُمَرُ: أَ حَقٌّ مَا يَقُولُ زَوْجُكِ؟. قَالَتْ: قَدْ صَدَقَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ!
Umar said to him, ‘What is that you are saying, O woman?’ She said, ‘By Allah-azwj! No man has overcome me apart from him, and I have not been immoral, and he is his son’ – and the name of the man was Al-Haysam. Umar said to her, ‘Is it true what your husband is saying?’ She said, ‘He speaks the truth, O commander of the faithful!’
فَأَمَرَ بِهَا عُمَرُ أَنْ تُرْجَمَ، فَحَفَرَ لَهَا حَفِيرَةً ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهَا فِيهِ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ عَلِيّاً عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَجَاءَ مُسْرِعاً حَتَّى أَدْرَكَهَا وَ أَخَذَ بِيَدَيْهَا فَسَلَّهَا مِنَ الْحَفِيرَةِ.
Umar ordered with her to be stoned to death, and a pit was dug up for her, then she was entered into it. (News of) that reached Ali-asws, and he-asws came over hurriedly until he joined up with her and grabbed her by her hand and extracted her from the pit.
ثُمَّ قَالَ لِعُمَرَ: ارْبَعْ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ إِنَّهَا قَدْ صَدَقَتْ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ فِي كِتَابِهِ: حَمْلُهُ وَ فِصالُهُ ثَلاثُونَ شَهْراً، وَ قَالَ فِي الرَّضَاعِ: وَ الْوالِداتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلادَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كامِلَيْنِ، فَالْحَمْلُ وَ الرَّضَاعُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْراً، وَ هَذَا الْحُسَيْنُ وُلِدَ لِسِتَّةِ أَشْهُرٍ.
Then he-asws said to Umar, ‘Be kind upon yourself, she had spoken the truth. Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic is Saying in His-azwj Book: and his bearing and his weaning is of thirty months; [46:15]; and Said regarding the breast-feeding: And the mothers should breastfeed their children for two years complete, [2:233]. Thus, the bearing and the breast-feeding is for thirty months, and this is Al-Husayn-asws, a son-asws of six months (bearing)’.
فَعِنْدَهَا قَالَ عُمَرُ: لَوْ لَا عَلِيٌّ لَهَلَكَ عُمَرُ.
At that, Umar said, ‘Had it not been for Ali-asws, Umar would have been destroyed!’’[19]
12- ما الْمُفِيدُ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ تَسْنِيمٍ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْخَثْعَمِيِّ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ، عَنْ رُقَيَّةَ بْنِ مَصْقَلَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جُؤَيَّةَ الْعَبْدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ: أَتَى عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رَجُلَانِ يَسْأَلَانِ عَنْ طَلَاقِ الْأَمَةِ، فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَى خَلْفِهِ فَنَظَرَ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَصْلَعُ! مَا تَرَى فِي طَلَاقِ الْأَمَةِ؟.
(The book) ‘Amaali’ of sheykh Al Tusi – From Ali Bin Khalid, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayn Bin Salih, from Muhammad Bin Ali Bin Zayd, from Muhammad Bin Tasneem, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al Khas’amy, from Ibrahim Bin Abdul Hameed, from Ruqaiyya Bin Masqala Bin Abdullah Bin Juweyya Al Abdy, from his grandfather who said,
‘Two men came to Umar Bin Al-Khattab asking about divorce of the community. He turned to behind him and looked at Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and said, ‘O short-haired one! What do you-asws view regarding divorce of the community?’
فَقَالَ بِإِصْبَعَيْهِ .. هَكَذَا، وَ أَشَارَ بِالسَّبَّابَةِ وَ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا، فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِمَا عُمَرُ وَ قَالَ: ثِنْتَانِ.
He-asws said by his-asws fingers, like this, and gestured with the index finger and that which follows it. Umar turned towards them both and said, ‘Two’.
فَقَالَ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ! جِئْنَاكَ وَ أَنْتَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَسَأَلْنَاكَ فَجِئْتَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ سَأَلْتَهُ، وَ اللَّهِ مَا كَلَّمَكَ. فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: تَدْرِيَانِ مَنْ هَذَا؟. قَالا: لَا.
He said, ‘Glory be to Allah-azwj! We came to you and you are commander of the faithful, and we asked you, and you go to a (another) man to ask him-asws. By Allah-azwj! I will not speak to you’. Umar said, ‘Do you two know who this is?’ They said, ‘No’.
قَالَ: هَذَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَقُولُ: لَوْ أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعَ وَ الْأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعَ وُضِعَتَا فِي كِفَّةٍ وَ وُضِعَ إِيمَانُ عَلِيٍّ فِي كِفَّةٍ لَرَجَحَ إِيمَانُ عَلِيٍّ (ع).
He said, ‘This is Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws. I heard Rasool-Allah-saww saying: ‘If the seven skies and the seven earths were to be placed in a hand (of a scale), and the Eman of Ali-asws is placed in the other hand (of the scale), the Eman of Ali-asws would outweigh’’.[20]
13- عدة: رَوَى الْحَكَمُ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ، قَالَ: نَزَلَ بِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ نَازِلَةٌ قَامَ لَهَا وَ قَعَدَ، وَ تَرَنَّحَ لَهَا وَ تَقَطَّرَ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ! مَا عِنْدَكُمْ فِيهَا؟.
(The book) ‘Iddat Al Dai’e – It is reported by Al Hakam Bin Marwan, from Jubeur Bin Habeeb who said,
‘A disaster (illness) befell with Umar Bin Al-Khattab. He was standing for it and sitting down, and wavering to it and (his seminal fluid was) dribbling. Then he said, ‘O community of the Emigrants! What (cure) is there with you regarding it?’
قَالُوا: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! أَنْتَ الْمَفْزَعُ وَ الْمَنْزَعُ، فَغَضِبَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَ قُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيداً أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ أَنَا وَ إِيَّاكُمْ لَنَعْرِفُ ابْنَ بَجْدَتِهَا، وَ الْخَبِيرَ بِهَا.
They said, ‘O commander of the faithful! You are the one panicked to and the one aimed to’. He got angry, then said, O you those who believe! Fear Allah and speak the correct speech [33:70]. But, by Allah-azwj! I and you recognise, we recognise the one recognising its cause and the one learned with it’.
قَالُوا: كَأَنَّكَ أَرَدْتَ ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟. قَالَ: وَ أَنَّى يُعْدَلُ بِي عَنْهُ، وَ هَلْ طَفَحَتْ حُرَّةٌ بِمِثْلِهِ. قَالُوا: فَلَوْ بَعَثْتَ إِلَيْهِ.
They said, ‘It is as if you mean the son-asws of Abu Talib-asws?’ He said, ‘I have abstained myself being away from him-asws, and have you seen a jar more overflowing (knowledgeable) like him-asws?’ They said, ‘If you could send a message to him-asws’.
قَالَ: هَيْهَاتَ! هُنَاكَ شِمْخٌ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ وَ لُحْمَةٌ مِنَ الرَّسُولِ (ص)، وَ أُثْرَةٌ مِنْ عِلْمٍ يُؤْتَى لَهَا وَ لَا يَأْتِي، امْضُوا إِلَيْهِ
He said, ‘Far be it! Over there is a lofty tower from (clan of) Hashim-as, and flesh from the Rasool-saww, and the choice of knowledge being come to it, and he-asws does not come. (Let us all) go to him-asws’.
فَاقْصِفُوا نَحْوَهُ، وَ أَفْضُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَ هُوَ فِي حَائِطٍ لَهُ وَ عَلَيْهِ تُبَّانٌ يَتَرَكَّلُ عَلَى مِسْحَاتِهِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ: أَ يَحْسَبُ الْإِنْسانُ أَنْ يُتْرَكَ سُدىً أَ لَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِنْ مَنِيٍّ يُمْنى ثُمَّ كانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى وَ دُمُوعُهُ تَهْمِي عَلَى خَدَّيْهِ،
They crowded around him-asws and flooded to him-asws, and he-asws was in a garden of his-asws and upon him-asws was some straw threshing upon it by kicking it, and he-asws was saying: ‘Does the human being reckon that he would be left in vain? [75:36] Was he not a sperm seminal fluid gushing out? [75:37] Then he was a clot, so he was Created and Completed [75:38], and his-asws tears were flowing upon his-asws cheeks.
فَأَجْهَشَ الْقَوْمُ لِبُكَائِهِ، ثُمَّ سَكَنَ وَ سَكَنُوا، وَ سَأَلَهُ عُمَرُ عَنْ مَسْأَلَتِهِ فَأَصْدَرَ إِلَيْهِ جَوَابَهَا، فَلَوَى عُمَرُ يَدَيْهِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَرَادَكَ الْحَقُّ وَ لَكِنْ أَبَى قَوْمُكَ!.
The group thronged to cry to him-asws, then he (Umar) calmed down, and they calmed down, and Umar asked him-asws about his issue, and he-asws issued his-asws answer to him. Umar wringed his hands, then said, ‘But, by Allah-azwj! You-asws wanted the truth but your-asws people had refused!’
فَقَالَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا حَفْصٍ! خَفِّضْ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ هُنَا وَ مِنْ هُنَا إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْفَصْلِ كانَ مِيقاتاً.
He-asws said to him: ‘O Abu Hafs! You are being lowered over here and will be lowered over there. Surely, the Day of Decision is (a Day) of appointment [78:17].
فَانْصَرَفَ وَ قَدْ أَظْلَمَ وَجْهُهُ وَ كَأَنَّمَا يَنْظُرُ مِنْ لَيْلٍ.
He left and his face had darkened, and it was as if one was looking at night’’.[21]
[19] باب ما أظهر أبو بكر و عمر من الندامة
CHAPTER 19 – WHAT REGRET WAS MANIFESTED BY ABU BAKR AND UMAR
1- قَالَ أَبُو الصَّلَاحِ قَدَّسَ اللَّهُ رُوحَهُ فِي تَقْرِيبِ الْمَعَارِفِ: لَمَّا طُعِنَ عُمَرُ جَمَعَ بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَ قَالَ: يَا بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ! أَ رَاضُونَ أَنْتُمْ عَنِّي؟. فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ: وَ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَسْخَطُ عَلَيْكَ؟ .. فَأَعَادَ الْكَلَامَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ، فَأَجَابَهُ رَجُلٌ بِمِثْلِ جَوَابِهِ،
Abu Salih said in (the book) ‘Taqreeb Al-Ma’arif’ – ‘When Umar was stabbed, he gathered the Clan of Abdul Muttalib-asws and said, ‘O Clan of Abdul Muttalib-asws! Are you all pleased from me?’ A man from his companions said, ‘And who is that who would be angered upon you?’ He repeated the speech three times, and the man answered him with similar to his answer.
فَانْتَهَرَهُ عُمَرُ وَ قَالَ: نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا أَشْعَرْنَا قُلُوبَنَا، إِنَّا وَ اللَّهِ أَشْعَرْنَا قُلُوبَنَا مَا .. نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَكْفِيَنَا شَرَّهُ، وَ إِنَّ بِيعَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ كَانَتْ فَلْتَةً نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَكْفِيَنَا شَرَّهَا.
Umar scolded him and said, ‘We are more knowing with what our hearts are aware of. We, by Allah-azwj are aware of our hearts. We ask Allah-azwj to Suffice us from its evil, and that the allegiance to Abu Bakr was an error, we ask Allah-azwj to Suffice us from its evil’.
وَ قَالَ لِابْنِهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ- وَ هُوَ مُسْنِدُهُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ-: وَيْحَكَ! ضَعْ رَأْسِي بِالْأَرْضِ، فَأَخَذَتْهُ الْغَشْيَةُ، قَالَ: فَوَجَدْتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكَ! ضَعْ رَأْسِي بِالْأَرْضِ، فَأَخَذَتْهُ الْغَشْيَةُ، قَالَ: فَوَجَدْتُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكَ! ضَعْ رَأْسِي بِالْأَرْضِ،
And he said to his son Abdullah – and he reclining upon his chest, ‘Woe be unto you! Place my head on the ground’. The fainting seized him. He woke up from that and said, ‘Woe be unto you! Place my head on the ground!’ The fainting seized him. He woke up from that and said, ‘Woe be unto you! Place my head on the ground’.
فَوَضَعْتُ رَأْسَهُ بِالْأَرْضِ فَعَفَّرَ بِالتُّرَابِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَيْلٌ لِعُمَرَ! وَ وَيْلٌ لِأُمِّهِ! إِنْ لَمْ يَغْفِرِ اللَّهُ لَهُ.
He placed his head on the ground. He covered himself with the dust, then said, ‘Doom is for Umar! And doom is for his mother! If Allah-azwj does not Forgive (his sins) for him’.
وَ قَالَ- أَيْضاً- حِينَ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ: أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنِ اغْتِصَابِي هَذَا الْأَمْرَ أَنَا وَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مِنْ دُونِ النَّاسِ، وَ مِنِ اسْتِخْلَافِي عَلَيْهِمْ، وَ مِنْ تَفْضِيلِيَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ.
And he said as well when the death presented, ‘I repent to Allah-azwj from three (things) – From my usurping this command, I and Abu Bakr from besides the people, and from my being a caliph upon them, and from my preferring the Muslims, some above the others’.
وَ قَالَ- أَيْضاً-: أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ رَدِّي رَقِيقَ الْيَمَنِ، وَ مِنْ رُجُوعِي عَنْ جَيْشِ أُسَامَةَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَمَّرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ [وَ آلِهِ] عَلَيْنَا، وَ مِنْ تَعَاقُدِنَا عَلَى أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ إِنْ قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ أَنْ لَا نُوَلِّيَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَداً.
And he said as well, ‘I repent to Allah-azwj from three – from my repelling the slaves of Al-Yemen, and from my returning from the army of Usama after Rasool-Allah-saww had ordered it upon us, and from our pact against People-asws of the Household, ‘If Rasool-Allah-saww passes away, we will not let anyone from them-asws rule’.
وَ رَوَوْا عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَدَّادِ بْنِ الْهَادِ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ- وَ هُوَ يَمُوتُ فَجَعَلَ يَجْزَعُ، فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! أَبْشِرْ بِرَوْحِ اللَّهِ وَ كَرَامَتِهِ،
And it is reported from Abdullah Bin Shaddad Bin Al-Haad who said, ‘I was in the presence of Umar, and he was dying. He kept panicking, so I said, ‘O commander of the faithful! Receive glad tidings of the rest from Allah-azwj and His-azwj prestige’.
فَجَعَلْتُ كُلَّمَا رَأَيْتُ جَزَعَهُ قُلْتُ هَذَا، فَنَظَرَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكَ! فَكَيْفَ بِالْمُمَالَأَةِ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ [وَ آلِهِ]. انْتَهَى مَا أَخْرَجْنَاهُ مِنَ التَّقْرِيبِ.
Every time he went on to panic, I said this. He looked at me and said, ‘Woe be unto you! How would it be with the prejudice against People-asws of the Household of the Prophet-saww. What we brought out has approximately ended’.
وَ قَالَ الزَّمَخْشَرِيُّ فِي رَبِيعِ الْأَبْرَارِ: لَمَّا حَضَرَتْ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ الْوَفَاةُ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ وَ مَنْ حَوْلَهُ: لَوْ أَنَّ لِي مِلْءَ الْأَرْضِ مِنْ صَفْرَاءَ أَوْ بَيْضَاءَ لَافْتَدَيْتُ بِهِ مِنْ أَهْوَالِ مَا أَرَى.
And Al-Zamakhshari said in (the book) ‘Rabie Al-Abraar’ – When the death presented to Umar Bin Al-Khattab, he said to his son and the ones around him, ‘If only there was the earth for me being full of yellow (gold) or white (silver), I would ransom myself with it from the horrors what I see’’.[22]
2- ل: الْمُظَفَّرُ الْعَلَوِيُّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْعَيَّاشِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ وَ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ، هُمَا عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنِ اللَّيْثِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ عُلْوَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ بْنِ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي قُبِضَ فِيهِ: أَمَا إِنِّي لَا آسَى مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ فَعَلْتُهَا، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي تَرَكْتُهَا، وَ ثَلَاثٍ تَرَكْتُهَا وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُهَا، وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ،
(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ of sheykh Al Sadouq – Al Muzaffar Al Alawy, from Ibn Al Ayyashi, from his father, from Muhammad Bin Hatim, from Abdullah Bin Hammad, and Suleyman Bin Ma’bad, both of them from Abdullah Bin Salih, from Al Lays Bin Sa’ad, from Ulwan Bin Dawood Bin Salih, from Salih Bin Kaysan, from Abdul Rahman Bin Humeyd Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Awf, from his father who said,
‘Abu Bakr said during his illness in which he dies, ‘But I am not remorseful from the world except upon three (thing) I have done, and I would have loved to have left it, and there are three (things) which I left, I would have loved to have done these, and three (things) I would have loved to have asked Rasool-Allah-saww about these.
أَمَّا الَّتِي وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي تَرَكْتُهَا، فَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ كَشَفْتُ بَيْتَ فَاطِمَةَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ عُلِّقَ عَلَى الْحَرْبِ، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ حَرَّقْتُ الْفُجَاءَةَ وَ أَنِّي قَتَلْتُهُ سَرِيحاً أَوْ أَطْلَقْتُهُ نَجِيحاً، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي يَوْمَ سَقِيفَةِ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ كُنْتُ قَذَفْتُ الْأَمْرَ فِي عُنُقِ أَحَدِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ- عُمَرَ أَوْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ- فَكَانَ أَمِيراً وَ كُنْتُ وَزِيراً.
As for those which I would have to have left these, I would have loved not to have exposed the house of (Syeda) Fatima-asws and if I would have been cast upon the war; and I would have loved not to have burnt it suddenly, and I killed him (Mohsin-asws) on the spot, or she-asws lost him-asws; and I would have loved it if on the day of Saqeefa of the clan of Saaida I would have thrown the command to be in the necks of one of the two men – Umar or Ubeyda, and they would have been rulers and I would have been a minister.
وَ أَمَّا الَّتِي تَرَكْتُهَا: فَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي يَوْمَ أُتِيتُ بِالْأَشْعَثِ أَسِيراً كُنْتُ ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يَرَ صَاحِبَ شَرٍّ إِلَّا أَعَانَهُ، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي حِينَ سَيَّرْتُ خَالِداً إِلَى أَهْلِ الرِّدَّةِ كُنْتُ قَدِمْتُ إِلَى قُرْبِهِ فَإِنْ ظَفِرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ ظَفِرُوا وَ إِنْ هُزِمُوا كُنْتُ بِصَدَدِ لِقَاءٍ أَوْ مَدَدٍ، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ إِذْ وَجَّهْتُ خَالِداً إِلَى الشَّامِ قَذَفْتُ الْمَشْرِقَ بِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، فَكُنْتُ بَسَطْتُ يَدِي- يَمِينِي وَ شِمَالِي- فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.
And for those which I left – I was brought Al-Ash’as as a captive, I should have struck off his neck, for a thought had come to me that he would not see any evil person except he would support him; and I would have loved it, when I sent Khalid to the apostate people to have arrived to his nearness, so if the Muslims had won, they would have won, and if they were defeated, I could have met or helped; and I would have loved it, when I sent Khalid to Syria, to have thrown Umar Bin Al-Khattab to the east, and I would have extended my hands, left and right, in the Way of Allah-azwj.
وَ أَمَّا الَّتِي وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُ عَنْهُنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: فَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُهُ فِيمَنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ فَلَمْ نُنَازِعْهُ أَهْلَهُ، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُهُ هَلْ لِلْأَنْصَارِ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ نَصِيبٌ، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مِيرَاثِ الْأَخِ وَ الْعَمِّ، فَإِنَّ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْهَا حَاجَةً.
And as for those which I would have loved to have asked Rasool-Allah-saww about these – I would have loved to has asked him-asws, ‘Regarding who is this command?’, so I would not have disputed its rightful one; and I would have loved to have asked him-saww, ‘Is there any share for the Helpers in this command?’; and I would have loved to have asked him-asws about the inheritance of the brother-asws (Ali-asws) and the uncle (Al-Abbas), for there is a need within myself from it’’.
قَالَ الصَّدُوقُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: إِنَّ يَوْمَ غَدِيرِ خُمٍّ لَمْ يَدَعْ لِأَحَدٍ عُذْراً، هَكَذَا قَالَتْ سَيِّدَةُ النِّسْوَانِ فَاطِمَةُ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامُ لَمَّا مُنِعَتْ مِنْ فَدَكَ وَ خَاطَبَتِ الْأَنْصَارَ فَقَالُوا: يَا بِنْتَ مُحَمَّدٍ! لَوْ سَمِعْنَا هَذَا الْكَلَامَ مِنْكِ قَبْلَ بَيْعَتِنَا لِأَبِي بَكْرٍ مَا عَدَلْنَا بِعَلِيٍّ أَحَداً. فَقَالَتْ: وَ هَلْ تَرَكَ أَبِي يَوْمَ غَدِيرِ خُمٍّ لِأَحَدٍ عُذْراً؟!.
Al-Sadouq said, ‘The day of Ghadeer Khum did not leave any excuse for anyone, that is how the chieftess of the women (Syeda) Fatima-asws said it when she-asws was prevented from Fadak, and she-asws addressed the Helpers. They said, ‘O daughter-asws of Muhammad-saww! Had we heard this speech from you-asws before our allegiances to Abu Bakr, we would not have equated anyone with Ali-asws’. She-asws said: ‘And did my-saww father-saww, on the day of Ghadeer Khum leave any excuse?!’’[23]
3- ل: أَبِي، عَنِ الْمُؤَدِّبِ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ الْأَصْبَهَانِيِّ، عَنِ الثَّقَفِيِّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْفُرَاتِ، عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِمَا السَّلَامُ قَالَ: قَالَ عُمَرُ حِينَ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ: أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: اغْتِصَابِي هَذَا الْأَمْرَ أَنَا وَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مِنْ دُونِ النَّاسِ، وَ اسْتِخْلَافِي عَلَيْهِمْ، وَ تَفْضِيلِيَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ.
(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – My father, from Al Muaddab, from Ahmad al Asbahani, from Al Saqafi, from Yahya Bin Al Hassan Bin Al Furaat, from Haroun Bin Ubeyda, from Yahya Bin Abdullah,
‘Son of Al-Hassan Bin Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws having said: ‘Umar said when the death presented to him, ‘I repent to Allah-azwj from three – my usurping this command, I and Abu Bakr from besides the people, and my being a caliph upon them, and my preferring the Muslims, some of them over the others’’.[24]
4- ل: بِالْإِسْنَادِ إِلَى الثَّقَفِيِّ، عَنِ الْمَسْعُودِيِّ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ الطَّائِيِّ، عَنْ زِيَادِ بْنِ الْمُنْذِرِ، عَنْ عَطِيَّةَ- فِيمَا يَظُنُّ-، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: شَهِدْتُ عُمَرَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ يَقُولُ: أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ ثَلَاثٍ: مِنْ رَدِّي رَقِيقَ الْيَمَنِ، وَ مِنْ رُجُوعِي عَنْ جَيْشِ أُسَامَةَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَمَّرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَلَيْنَا، وَ مِنْ تَعَاقُدِنَا عَلَى أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ إِنْ قَبَضَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ لَا نُوَلِّي مِنْهُمْ أَحَداً.
(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – By the chain to Al Saqafi, from Al Masoudi, from Al Hassan Bin Hammad Al Taie, from Ziyad Bin Al Munzir, from Atiyya, in what I guess, from Jabir Bin Abdullah who said,
‘I witnessed Umar say during his death, ‘I repent to Allah-azwj from three – From my repelling the slaves of Al-Yemen, and from my returning from the army of Usama after Rasool-Allah-saww had ordered it upon us, and from our pact against People-asws of this Household, ‘If Rasool-Allah-saww passes away, we will not let anyone from them rule’’.[25]
5- ل: بِالْإِسْنَادِ إِلَى الثَّقَفِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ فَضْلِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ الْحَذَّاءِ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: لَمَّا حَضَرَ عُمَرَ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ: أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ رُجُوعِي مِنْ جَيْشِ أُسَامَةَ، وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ عِتْقِي سَبْيَ الْيَمَنِ، وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ كُنَّا أَشْعَرْنَاهُ قُلُوبَنَا نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَكْفِيَنَا ضَرَّهُ، وَ أَنَّ بَيْعَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ كَانَتْ فَلْتَةً.
(The book) ‘Al Khisaal’ – By the chain to Al Saqafi, from Muhammad Bin Ali, from Al Husayn Bin Sufyan, from his father, from Fazl Bin Al Zubeyr, from Abu Ubeyda Al Haza’a who said,
‘I heard Abu Ja’far-asws saying: ‘When the death presented to Umar, he said, ‘I repent to Allah-azwj from my returning from the army of Usama, and I repent to Allah-azwj from my freeing the captives of Al-Yemen, and I repent to Allah-azwj from something our hearts were aware of. We ask Allah-azwj to Suffice us from its evil, and that the allegiance to Abu Bakr was an error’’.
قال في النهاية في حديث عمر: «إِنَّ بَيْعَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ كَانَتْ فَلْتَةً وَقَى اللَّهُ شَرَّهَا».
He said in (the book) ‘Al-Nihaya’ in a hadeeth of Umar, ‘The allegiance to Abu Bakr was an error. May Allah-azwj Save us from its evil’’. [26]
6- جا: الْجِعَابِيِّ، عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ بُرَيْدٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ آخِرَ النَّاسِ عَهْداً بِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ رَأْسُهُ فِي حَجْرِ ابْنِهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ يُوَلْوِلُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: ضَعْ خَدِّي بِالْأَرْضِ، فَأَبَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: ضَعْ خَدِّي بِالْأَرْضِ لَا أُمَّ لَكَ، فَوَضَعَ خَدَّهُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ،
(The book) ‘Majaalis’ of sheykh Al Mufeed – From Al Abbas Bin Al Mugheira, from Ahmad Bin Mansour, from Suleyman Bin Harb, from Hammad Bin Bureyd, from Yahya Bin Saeed, from Aasim, from Ubeydullah Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Aban Bin Usman, from his father, from Usman Bin Affan who said,
‘I was the last of the people with Umar Bin Al-Khattab. I entered to see him and his head was in a lap of his son Abdullah, and he was whining. He said to him, ‘Place my cheek on the ground’. Abdullah refused. He said to him, ‘Place by cheek on the ground, may there be no mother for you!’ He placed his cheek on the ground.
فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: وَيْلُ أُمِّي! وَيْلُ أُمِّي! إِنْ لَمْ تَغْفِرْ لِي .. فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَقُولُهَا حَتَّى خَرَجَتْ نَفْسُهُ.
He went on to say, ‘Woe be on my mother! Woe be on my mother, if there is no Forgiveness for me!’ He did not cease saying it until his soul came out’’.[27]
7- إِرْشَادُ الْقُلُوبِ:- بِحَذْفِ الْإِسْنَادِ- مَرْفُوعاً إِلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ غَنْمٍ الْأَزْدِيِّ- خَتَنِ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ- وَ حِينَ مَاتَ كَانَتْ ابْنَتُهُ تَحْتَ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، وَ كَانَ أَفْقَهَ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ وَ أَشَدَّهُمُ اجْتِهَاداً، قَالَ: مَاتَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ بِالطَّاعُونِ، فَشَهِدْتُ يَوْمَ مَاتَ- وَ النَّاسُ مُتَشَاغِلُونَ بِالطَّاعُونِ-، قَالَ: وَ سَمِعْتُهُ حِينَ احْتُضِرَ وَ لَيْسَ فِي الْبَيْتِ غَيْرِي- وَ ذَلِكَ فِي خِلَافَةِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ-، فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: وَيْلٌ لِي! وَيْلٌ لِي!.
(The book) ‘Irshad Al Quloob’ – by a deleted chain, raising it to Abdul Rahman Bin Ghanam Al Azdy, an in law of Muaz Bin jabal, and when he die, his daughter was married to Muaz Bin Jabal, and he was a jurist of the people of Syria and their most intense of them of struggle. He said,
‘Muaz Bin Jabal died of plague, and I witnessed on the day he died, and the people were pre-occupied with the plague, he said, and I heard him when I presented, and there wasn’t anyone in the house apart from me, and that was during the caliphate of Umar Bin Al-Khattab. I heard him saying, ‘Woe be unto me! Woe be unto me!’
فَقُلْتُ فِي نَفْسِي: أَصْحَابُ الطَّاعُونِ يَهْذُونَ وَ يَقُولُونَ الْأَعَاجِيبَ. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: أَ تَهْذِي؟. قَالَ: لَا، رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ. قُلْتُ: فَلِمَ تَدْعُو بِالْوَيْلِ وَ الثُّبُورِ؟. قَالَ: لِمُوَالاتِي عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ عَلَى وَلِيِّ اللَّهِ. فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: مَنْ هُمْ؟.
I said within myself, ‘The people afflicted by plague tend to be delirious and say the strange things’. I said to him, ‘Are you being delirious?’ He said, ‘No, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on you’. I said, ‘Then why are you calling for the doom and the destruction?’ He said, ‘Due to my befriending the enemies of Allah-saww against the friends of Allah-azwj’. I said to him, ‘Who are they?’
قَالَ: مُوَالاتِي عَتِيقاً وَ [رُمَعُ] عَلَى خَلِيفَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ وَصِيِّهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ. فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّكَ لَتَهْجُرُ!. فَقَالَ: يَا ابْنَ غَنْمٍ!
He said, ‘My befriending Ateeq (Abu Bakr) and Ruma’u (Umar) being against the caliph of Rasool-Allah-saww Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws’. I said, ‘You have lost your mind!’
وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَهْجُرُ، هَذَانِ، رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولَانِ لِي: يَا مُعَاذُ! أَبْشِرْ بِالنَّارِ أَنْتَ وَ أَصْحَابُكَ. أَ فَلَيْسَ قُلْتُمْ إِنْ مَاتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ أَوْ قُتِلَ زَوَيْنَا الْخِلَافَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (ع) فَلَنْ تَصِلَ إِلَيْهِ، فَاجْتَمَعْتُ أَنَا وَ [عَتِيقٌ وَ رُمَعُ] وَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ وَ سَالِمٌ،
He said, ‘O Ibn Ghanam! By Allah-azwj, I have not lost my mind. Here are the two, Rasool-Allah-saww and Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws saying to me: ‘O Muaz! Receive news of the Fire for you and your companions. Didn’t you all say, ‘When Rasool-Allah-saww dies or is killed, we will impede the caliphate from Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, so it will never arrive to him-asws’?’ I, and Ateeq and Ruma’u, and Abu Ubeyda, and Salim had gathered’.
قَالَ: قُلْتُ: مَتَى يَا مُعَاذُ؟. قَالَ: فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ، قُلْنَا: نَتَظَاهَرُ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ (ع) فَلَا يَنَالُ الْخِلَافَةَ مَا حَيِينَا، فَلَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ: أَنَا أَكْفِيكُمْ قَوْمِيَ الْأَنْصَارَ فَاكْفُونِي قُرَيْشاً، ثُمَّ دَعَوْتُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ إِلَى هَذَا الَّذِي تَعَاهَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ بِشْرَ بْنَ سَعِيدٍ وَ أُسَيْدَ بْنَ حُصَيْنٍ فَبَايَعَانِي عَلَى ذَلِكَ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘When, O Muaz?’ He said, ‘During the farewell Hajj. We said, ‘We shall back each other against Ali-asws, so he-asws cannot attain the caliphate for as long as we are alive’. When Rasool-Allah-saww passed away, I said to them, ‘I shall suffice for my people, the Helpers, so suffice me with Quraysh’. Then Bishr Bin Saeed and Useyd Bin Husayn, called upon a pact against Rasool-Allah-azwj to this which we had agreed upon, and took my pledge upon that’.
فَقُلْتُ: يَا مُعَاذُ! إِنَّكَ لَتَهْجُرُ، فَأَلْصَقَ خَدَّهُ بِالْأَرْضِ فلما زَالَ يَدْعُو بِالْوَيْلِ وَ الثُّبُورِ حَتَّى مَاتَ.
I said, ‘O Muaz! You have lost your mind’. He adhered his cheek with the ground, and did not cease to call for the doom and the destruction until he died.
فَقَالَ ابْنُ غَنْمٍ: مَا حَدَّثْتُ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ يَا ابْنَ قَيْسِ بْنِ هِلَالٍ أَحَداً إِلَّا ابْنَتِي امْرَأَةَ مُعَاذٍ وَ رَجُلًا آخَرَ، فَإِنِّي فَزِعْتُ مِمَّا رَأَيْتُ وَ سَمِعْتُ مِنْ مُعَاذٍ.
Ibn Ghanam said, ‘I did not narrate this narration to anyone, O Ibn Qays Bin Hilali, except my daughter and another man, for I was alarmed from what I had seen and heard from Muaz’.
قَالَ: فَحَجَجْتُ وَ لَقِيتُ الَّذِي غَمَّضَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ وَ سَالِماً فَأَخْبَرَانِي أَنَّهُ حَصَلَ لَهُمَا ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِمَا، لَمْ يَزِدْ فِيهِ حَرْفاً وَ لَمْ يَنْقُصْ حَرْفاً، كَأَنَّهُمَا قَالا مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ مُعَاذُ بْنُ جَبَلٍ، فَقُلْتُ: أَ وَ لَمْ يُقْتَلْ سَالِمٌ يَوْمَ التِّهَامَةِ؟. قَالَ: بَلَى، وَ لَكِنَّا احْتَمَلْنَاهُ وَ بِهِ رَمَقٌ.
He said, ‘I went to Hajj and met the ones who were obscured, Abu Ubeyda and Saalim, and they informed me that it had arrived to them both at their death, not increasing a phrase, nor reducing a phrase, as if they had both said similar to what Muaz Bin jabal had said. I said, ‘Wasn’t Saalim killed on the day of Al-Tahama?’ He said, ‘Yes, but they had carried him and there was still breath left in him’.
قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ: فَحَدَّثْتُ بِحَدِيثِ ابْنِ غَنْمٍ هَذَا كُلِّهِ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، فَقَالَ لِي: اكْتُمْ عَلَيَّ وَ اشْهَدْ أَنَّ أَبِي قَدْ قَالَ عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ مِثْلَ مَقَالَتِهِمْ، فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: إِنَّ أَبِي يَهْجُرُ.
Suleym said, ‘I narrated the narration of Ibn Ghanam, all of it to Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr. He said to me, ‘Conceal upon me-asws, and I testify that my father had said during his death, similar to their words’. Ayesha said, ‘My father had lost his mind’.
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: فَلَقِيتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ فِي خِلَافَةِ عُثْمَانَ وَ حَدَّثْتُهُ بِمَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ أَبِي عِنْدَ مَوْتِهِ فَأَخَذْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْعَهْدَ وَ الْمِيثَاقَ أَلَّا يَكْتُمَ عَلَيَّ.
Muhammad said, ‘I met Abdullah Bin Umar during the caliphate of Usman and narrated to him with what I had heard from my father during his death, and took an oath upon him and the covenant that he should conceal upon me’.
فَقَالَ لِي ابْنُ عُمَرَ: اكْتُمْ عَلَيَّ، فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ قَالَ أَبِي مِثْلَ مَا قَالَ أَبُوكَ وَ مَا زَادَ وَ لَا نَقَصَ، ثُمَّ تَدَارَكَهَا ابْنُ عُمَرَ بَعْدُ وَ تَخَوَّفَ أَنْ أُخْبِرَ بِذَلِكَ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِمَا عَلِمَ مِنْ حُبِّي لَهُ وَ انْقِطَاعِي إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَهْجُرُ.
Ibn Umar said to me, ‘Conceal upon me, for by Allah-azwj, my father had said similar to that your father had said, and he neither added nor reduced’. Then they both met ibn Umar afterwards and feared to inform Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws with that when they knew of my love for him-asws and my cutting off (from others) to him-asws. He said, ‘But rather, he had lost his mind’.
فَأَتَيْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِمَا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ أَبِي وَ مَا حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ ابْنُ عُمَرَ. فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ (ع): قَدْ حَدَّثَنِي بِذَلِكَ عَنْ أَبِيكَ وَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ وَ سَالِمٍ وَ عَنْ مُعَاذٍ مَنْ هُوَ أَصْدَقُ مِنْكَ وَ مِنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ.
I went to Amir Al-Momineen-asws and informed him-asws with what I had heard from my father and what Ibn Umar had narrated to me with. Ali-asws said: ‘It has already been narrated to me-asws with that from your father, and from his father, and from Abu Ubeyda, and Saalim, and from Muaz, by one who is more truthful than you and Ibn Umar’.
فَقُلْتُ: وَ مَنْ ذَاكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟. فَقَالَ: بَعْضُ مَنْ حَدَّثَنِي. فَعَرَفْتُ مَا عَنَى، فَقُلْتُ: صَدَقْتَ، إِنَّمَا ظَنَنْتُ إِنْسَاناً حَدَّثَكَ، وَ مَا شَهِدَ أَبِي- وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ- غَيْرِي.
I said, ‘And who is that, O Amir Al-Momineen-asws?’ He-asws said: ‘Someone who narrated to me-asws’. I realised what he-asws meant. I said, ‘You-asws speak the truth, but rather I thought a human being had narrated to you-asws, and no one had witnessed my father saying that apart from me’.
قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ: قُلْتُ لِابْنِ غَنْمٍ: مَاتَ مُعَاذٌ بِالطَّاعُونِ فَبِمَا مَاتَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ؟. قَالَ: مَاتَ بِالدُّبَيْلَةِ،
Suleym said, ‘I said to Ibn Ghanam, ‘Muaz died of plague, so what did Abu Ubeyda die of?’ He said, ‘He died of emphysema (collection of pus in the internal organs)’.
فَلَقِيتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَقُلْتُ: هَلْ شَهِدَ مَوْتَ أَبِيكَ غَيْرُكَ وَ أَخِيكَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ وَ عَائِشَةَ وَ عُمَرَ؟. قَالَ: لَا. قُلْتُ: وَ هَلْ سَمِعُوا مِنْهُ مَا سَمِعْتَ؟. قَالَ: سَمِعُوا مِنْهُ طَرَفاً فَبَكَوْا. وَ قال [قَالُوا]: هُوَ يَهْجُرُ، فَأَمَّا كُلَّ مَا سَمِعْتُ أَنَا فَلَا، قُلْتُ: فَالَّذِي سَمِعُوا مَا هُوَ؟.
I met Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr and said, ‘Did anyone witness the death of your father apart from you and your brother Abdul Rahman, and Ayesha and Umar?’ He said, ‘No’. I said, ‘And did they hear from him what you heard?’ He said, ‘They did hear partly and they cried, and they said, ‘He has lost his mind’. As for all what I heard, so no’. I said, ‘That which they heard, what was it?’
قَالَ: دَعَا بِالْوَيْلِ وَ الثُّبُورِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: يَا خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ! لِمَ تَدْعُو بِالْوَيْلِ وَ الثُّبُورِ؟!. قَالَ: هَذَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ مَعَهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ يُبَشِّرَانِّي بِالنَّارِ، وَ مَعَهُ الصَّحِيفَةُ الَّتِي تَعَاهَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا فِي الْكَعْبَةِ، وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ: قَدْ وَفَيْتَ بِهَا وَ ظَاهَرْتَ عَلَى وَلِيِّ اللَّهِ فَأَبْشِرْ أَنْتَ وَ صَاحِبُكَ بِالنَّارِ فِي أَسْفَلِ السَّافِلِينَ،
He said, ‘He called for the doom and destruction. Umar said to him, ‘O caliph of Rasool-Allah-saww! Why are you calling for the doom and destruction?!’ He said, ‘Here is Rasool-Allah-saww and with him-saww is Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, giving me news of the Fire, and with him-saww is the agreement which we had agreed upon in the Kabah, and he-saww is saying: ‘You have been loyal with it and prevailed over a Guardian-asws of Allah-azwj. So, receive the (bad) news, you and your companions, of the Fire to in the lowest of the levels’.
فَلَمَّا سَمِعَهَا عُمَرُ خَرَجَ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ: إِنَّهُ لَيَهْجُرُ! قَالَ: لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَهْجُرُ أَيْنَ تَذْهَبُ؟. قَالَ عُمَرُ: كَيْفَ لَا تَهْجُرُ وَ أَنْتَ ثانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُما فِي الْغارِ؟!
When Umar heard it, he went out and he was saying, ‘He has lost his mind!’ He said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj! I haven’t lost my mind, where are you going?’ Umar said, ‘How could you not have lost your mind and you were second of the two when you were both in the cave?!’
قَالَ: الْآنَ أَيْضاً! أَ وَ لَمْ أُحَدِّثْكَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً- وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ- قَالَ لِي وَ أَنَا مَعَهُ فِي الْغَارِ: إِنِّي أَرَى سَفِينَةَ جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ تَعُومُ فِي الْبَحْرِ، فَقُلْتُ: أَرِنِيهَا، فَمَسَحَ يَدَهُ عَلَى وجهه فَنَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهَا، وَ أَضْمَرْتُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ سَاحِرٌ، وَ ذَكَرْتُ لَكَ ذَلِكَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَأَجْمَعَ رَأْيِي وَ رَأْيُكَ أَنَّهُ سَاحِرٌ،
He said, ‘Now as well! Or did I not narrate to you that Muhammad-saww’ – and he did not say ‘Rasool-Allah-saww’ – ‘Had said to me, and I was with him-saww in the cave: ‘I-saww see the ship of Ja’far-as and his-as companions, tossing in the sea’. I said, ‘Show me’. He-saww wiped his-saww hand and I looked at it, and I made up my mind during that, that he-saww is a sorcerer, and I mentioned that to you at Al-Medina, and my view and your view was untitled upon that he-saww is a sorcerer’.
فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: يَا هَؤُلَاءِ! إِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ يَهْجُرُ فَاكْتُمُوا مَا تَسْمَعُونَ عَنْهُ لِئَلَّا يَشْمَتَ بِكُمْ أَهْلُ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ وَ خَرَجَ أَخِي وَ خَرَجَتْ عَائِشَةُ لِيَتَوَضَّئُوا لِلصَّلَاةِ، فَأَسْمَعَنِي مِنْ قَوْلِهِ مَا لَمْ يَسْمَعُوا، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ- لَمَّا خَلَوْتُ بِهِ: يَا أَبَتِ! قُلْ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، قَالَ: لَا أَقُولُهَا وَ لَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهَا أَبَداً حَتَّى أَرِدَ النَّارَ فَأَدْخُلَ التَّابُوتَ،
Umar said, ‘O you all! Your father has lost his mind, therefore conceal what you are hearing from him, lest the people of this Household gloat with you’. Then my brother and Ayesha went out to perform Wudu’u for the Salat, and I heard from his words what they did not hear. I said to him when I was alone with him, ‘O father! Say, ‘There is no god except Allah-azwj’. He said, ‘I will not say it, nor will I be able upon it, ever, until I enter the Fire and enter the coffin’.
فَلَمَّا ذَكَرَ التَّابُوتَ ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ يَهْجُرُ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: أَيُّ تَابُوتٍ؟. فَقَالَ: تَابُوتٌ مِنْ نَارٍ مُقَفَّلٌ بِقُفْلٍ مِنْ نَارٍ فِيهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ رَجُلًا، أَنَا وَ صَاحِبِي هَذَا، قُلْتُ: عُمَرُ؟. قَالَ: نَعَمْ، وَ عَشَرَةٌ فِي جُبٍّ مِنْ جَهَنَّمَ عَلَيْهِ صَخْرَةٌ إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُسَعِّرَ جَهَنَّمَ رَفَعَ الصَّخْرَةَ.
When he mentioned the coffin, I thought that he had lost his mind, so I said to him, ‘Which coffin?’ He said, ‘A coffin of fire locked by locks of fire, wherein would be twelve (of us), I and this companion of mine’. I said, ‘Umar?’ He said, ‘Yes, and ten from a pit of Hell, having a rock upon it. Whenever Allah-azwj Wants to Inflame Hell, the rock would be raised’.
قُلْتُ: أَ تَهْذِي؟. قَالَ: لَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَهْذِي، وَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ ابْنَ صُهَاكَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جاءَنِي فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ، أَلْصِقْ خَدِّي بِالْأَرْضِ، فَأَلْصَقْتُ خَدَّهُ بِالْأَرْضِ، فَمَا زَالَ يَدْعُو بِالْوَيْلِ وَ الثُّبُورِ حَتَّى غَمَّضْتُهُ،
I said, ‘Are you being delirious?’ He said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj, I am not being delirious, and may Allah-azwj Curse Ibn Suhaak (Umar), he is the one, he is the one who strayed me away from Al-Zikr after it had come to me, so evil is he as the pair. Place my cheek on the ground’. I placed his cheek on the ground, and he did not cease to call for the doom and the destruction until I closed his eyes.
ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عُمَرُ عَلَيَّ، فَقَالَ: هَلْ قَالَ بَعْدَنَا شَيْئاً؟ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ. فَقَالَ: يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ خَلِيفَةَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، اكْتُمْ! هَذَا كُلُّهُ هَذَيَانٌ، وَ أَنْتُمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ يُعْرَفُ لَكُمُ الْهَذَيَانُ فِي مَوْتِكُمْ؟. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: صَدَقْتَ،
Then Umar entered to see me, and he said, ‘Did he say anything after us?’ I narrated it to him. He said, ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy on the Caliph of Rasool-Allah-saww! Conceal this, all of it is delirium, and you are members of a household well known for the delirium during your death’. Ayesha said, ‘You speak the truth’.
ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي عُمَرُ: إِيَّاكَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ مِنْكَ شَيْءٌ مِمَّا سَمِعْتَ بِهِ إِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ (ع) وَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ.
Then Umar said to me, ‘Beware of anything from what you have heard with going out to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws and People-asws of his Household’.
قَالَ: قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ: قُلْتُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ: مَنْ تَرَاهُ حَدَّثَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْخَمْسَةِ بِمَا قَالُوا، فَقَالَ: رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، إِنَّهُ يَرَاهُ فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ فِي الْمَنَامِ وَ حَدِيثُهُ إِيَّاهُ فِي الْمَنَامِ مِثْلُ حَدِيثِهِ إِيَّاهُ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ وَ الْحَيَاةِ،
He (the narrator) said, ‘Suleym said, ‘I said to Muhammad, ‘Who do you see to have narrated to Amir Al-Momineen-asws about these five, with what they had said?’ He said, ‘Rasool-Allah-saww. He-asws sees him-saww in the dream during every night and he-saww narrated to him-asws similar to his narration to him-asws during the wakefulness and the life.
وَ قَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ: مَنْ رَآنِي فِي الْمَنَامِ فَقَدْ رَآنِي فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَا يَتَمَثَّلُ بِي فِي نَوْمٍ وَ لَا يَقَظَةٍ وَ لَا بِأَحَدٍ مِنْ أَوْصِيَائِي إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ.
And Rasool-Allah-saww had said: ‘One who sees me-saww during the sleep, so he has indeed seen me-saww, for the Satan-la cannot resemble me-saww, neither during sleep nor wakefulness, nor with anyone from my-saww successors-asws up to the Day of Qiyamah’.
قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ: فَقُلْتُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ: فَمَنْ حَدَّثَكَ بِهَذَا؟. قَالَ: عَلِيٌ. فَقُلْتُ: قَدْ سَمِعْتُ أَنَا أَيْضاً مِنْهُ كَمَا سَمِعْتَ أَنْتَ، قُلْتُ لِمُحَمَّدٍ: فَلَعَلَّ مَلَكاً مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ حَدَّثَهُ. قَالَ: أَوْ ذَاكَ؟ قُلْتُ: فَهَلْ تُحَدِّثُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ إِلَّا الْأَنْبِيَاءَ؟!. قَالَ: أَ مَا تَقْرَأُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ: وَ مَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَ لَا نَبِيٍ وَ لَا مُحَدَّثٍ.
Suleym said, ‘I said to Muhammad, ‘Who narrated to you with this?’ He said, ‘Ali-asws’. I said, ‘I have heard it from him-asws as well just as you have heard’. I said to Muhammad, ‘Perhaps an Angel from the Angels narrated to him-asws’. He said, ‘Or that?’ I said, ‘But, do the Angels narrated except to the Prophets-as?’ He said, ‘Do you not read the Book of Allah-azwj And We did not Send a Rasool or a Prophet, or a Muhaddith before you [22:52]’.
قُلْتُ أَنَا: أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُحَدَّثٌ. قَالَ: نَعَمْ، وَ فَاطِمَةُ مُحَدَّثَةٌ، وَ لَمْ تَكُنْ نَبِيَّةً، وَ مَرْيَمُ مُحَدَّثَةٌ وَ لَمْ تَكُنْ نَبِيَّةً، وَ أُمُّ مُوسَى مُحَدَّثَةٌ وَ لَمْ تَكُنْ نَبِيَّةً، وَ سَارَةُ امْرَأَةُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَدْ عَايَنَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةَ وَ لَمْ تَكُنْ نَبِيَّةً، فَبَشَّرُوهَا بِإِسْحاقَ وَ مِنْ وَراءِ إِسْحاقَ يَعْقُوبَ
I said, ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws is a Muhaddith (one being narrated to/updated)?’ He said, ‘Yes, and (Syeda) Fatima-asws was a Muhaddith and she-asws did not happen to be a Prophet-as, and Maryam-as was a Muhaddith, and mother-as of Musa-as was a Muhaddith and she-as did not happen to be a Prophet-as, and Sarah-as, wife-as of Ibrahim-as had seen the Angels and did not happen to be a Prophet-as, so they gave her-as the glad tidings: so We Gave her the glad tidings of Is’haq and after Is’haq of Yaqoub [11:71].
قَالَ سُلَيْمٌ: فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ بِمِصْرَ وَ عَزَّيْنَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، جِئْتُ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَ خَلَوْتُ بِهِ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ بِمَا أَخْبَرَنِي بِهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ بِمَا حَدَّثَنِي بِهِ ابْنُ غَنْمٍ.
Suleym said, ‘When Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr was killed in Egypt and we consoled Amir Al-Momineen-asws, I came to Amir Al-Momineen-asws and was along with him-asws and narrated to him with what Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr had informed me, and with what Ibn Ghanam had narrated to me.
قَالَ: صَدَقَ مُحَمَّدٌ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ، أَمَا إِنَّهُ شَهِيدٌ حَيٌّ مَرْزُوقٌ، يَا سُلَيْمُ! إِنِّي وَ أَوْصِيَائِي أَحَدَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا مِنْ وُلْدِي أَئِمَّةُ هُدًى مَهْدِيُّونَ مُحَدَّثُونَ. قُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! وَ مَنْ هُمْ؟.
He-asws said: ‘Muhammad spoke the truth, may Allah-azwj have Mercy on him. But, he is a martyr, alive, being sustained. O Suleym! I-asws and my-asws successors-asws, eleven men from my-asws sons-asws, are Imams-asws of guidance, guided, Muhaddith (being narrated to)’. I said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! And who are they-asws?’
قَالَ: ابني [ابْنَايَ] الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ، ثُمَّ ابْنِي هَذَا- وَ أَخَذَ بِيَدِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ وَ هُوَ رَضِيعٌ- ثُمَ ثَمَانِيَةٌ مِنْ وُلْدِهِ وَاحِداً بَعْدَ وَاحِدٍ، وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ أَقْسَمَ اللَّهُ بِهِمْ فَقَالَ: وَ والِدٍ وَ ما وَلَدَ، فَالْوَالِدُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ أَنَا، وَ مَا وَلَدَ يَعْنِي هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَحَدَ عَشَرَ وَصِيّاً صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ.
He-asws said: ‘My-asws two sons-asws Al-Hassan-asws and Al-Husayn-asws, then this son-asws of mine-asws’ – and he-asws grabbed a hand of Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws, and he-asws was a baby – ‘Then eight from his-asws sons-asws, one-asws after one-asws, and they-asws are those Allah-azwj Swore by them-asws, And (I Swear by) a father and what he begot [90:3]. The father is Rasool-Allah-saww and I-asws, and what he-saww begot, meaning those eleven successors-asws’.
قُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! يَجْتَمِعُ إِمَامَانِ؟. قَالَ: لَا، إِلَّا وَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَامِتٌ لَا يَنْطِقُ حَتَّى يَهْلِكَ الْأَوَّلُ.
I said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Can to Imams-asws be together?’ He-asws said: ‘No, except and one-asws of the two would be silent, not speaking until the first one-asws passes away’’.[28]
8 أَقُولُ:- وَجَدْتُ الْخَبَرَ فِي كِتَابِ سُلَيْمٍ عَنْ أَبَانٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ غَنْمٍ .. وَ ذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ مِثْلَهُ سَوَاءً.
I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘I found the Hadeeth in the book of Suleym from Aban, from Suleym, from Abdul Rahman Bin Ghanam, – and he mentioned the Hadeeth similar to it, same’.[29]
9- وَ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْحَدِيدِ فِي شَرْحِ نَهْجِ الْبَلَاغَةِ: الْمُبَرَّدُ فِي الْكَامِلِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ، قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَعُودُهُ فِي مَرَضِهِ الَّذِي مَاتَ فِيهِ، فَسَلَّمْتُ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ فَاسْتَوَى جَالِساً، فَقُلْتُ: لَقَدْ أَصْبَحْتَ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ بَارِئاً.
And Ibn Abi Al Hadeed said in commentary of (the book) Nahj Al Balagah, from Abdul Rahman Bin Al Awf who said,
‘I entered to see Abu Bakr to console him during his illness in which he died. I greeted and asked him, and he sat up straight. I said, ‘You had accompanied Muhammad-saww devotedly’.
فَقَالَ: أَمَا إِنِّي عَلَى مَا تَرَى لَوَجِعٌ، وَ جَعَلْتُمْ لِي- مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ- شُغُلًا مَعَ وَجَعِي، جَعَلْتُ لَكُمْ عَهْداً مِنْ بَعْدِي، وَ اخْتَرْتُ لَكُمْ خَيْرَكُمْ فِي نَفْسِي، فَكُلُّكُمْ وَرِمَ لِذَلِكَ أَنْفُهُ رَجَاءَ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْأَمْرُ لَهُ، وَ رَأَيْتُمُ الدُّنْيَا قَدْ أَقْبَلَتْ،
He said, ‘But I am upon a pain what you can see, and you, community of Emigrants, have made a pre-occupation to be for me along with my pain. I shall make a pact for you all from after me, and choose for you the best of you within myself, and all of you have a sore more for him hoping that the command would be for him, and you are viewing the world to have come.
وَ اللَّهِ لَتَتَّخِذُنَّ سُتُورَ الْحَرِيرِ وَ نَضَائِدَ الدِّيبَاجِ، وَ تَأْلَمُونَ ضَجَائِعَ الصُّوفِ الْأَزْدَرِيِ، كَأَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ عَلَى حَسَكِ السَّعْدَانِ، وَ اللَّهِ لَأَنْ يُقَدَّمَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَيُضْرَبَ عُنُقُهُ فِي غَيْرِ حَدٍّ لَخَيْرٌ لَهُ مِنْ أَنْ يَسْبَحَ فِي غَمْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا، وَ إِنَّكُمْ غَداً لَأَوَّلُ صَالٍ بِالنَّارِ، تَجُودُونَ عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ يَمِيناً وَ شِمَالًا، يَا هَادِيَ الطَّرِيقِ جُرْتَ، إِنَّمَا هُوَ الْبَحْرُ أَوِ الْفَجْرُ.
By Allah-azwj! You have taken to silk curtains and pillows of brocade, and you are spinning the wool of Al-Azary, it is as if one of you is upon chicken spines. By Allah-azwj! If I were to bring one of you forward for his neck to be struck off, it would be better for him than for him to swim in the waters of the world, and tomorrow you all will be the first ones to fall into the Fire, running away from the path, right and left. Oh the way of guidance has flowed, but rather shrewd or the mighty matter’.
فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ: لَا تُكْثِرْ عَلَى مَا بِكَ فَيَهِيضَكَ، وَ اللَّهِ مَا أَرَدْتَ إِلَّا الْخَيْرَ، وَ أَنَا صَاحِبُكَ لَذُو خَيْرٍ، وَ مَا النَّاسُ إِلَّا رَجُلَانِ، رَجُلٌ رَأَى مَا رَأَيْتَ فَلَا خِلَافَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهُ، وَ رَجُلٌ رَأَى غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ، وَ إِنَّمَا يُشِيرُ عَلَيْكَ بِرَأْيِهِ، فَسَكَنَ وَ سَكَتَ هُنَيْئَةً،
Abdul Rahman said to him, ‘Do not frequent upon what is with you, for it will break you. By Allah-azwj, I do not want except the good, and I am your companions to be with good, and what are the people except two (types of) men – a man viewing what you view, so there will be no opposition against you from him, and a man viewing other than that; and rather he will consult upon you with his view. So, calm down and be quiet for a while’.
فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ: مَا أَرَى بِكَ بَأْساً، وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا، فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَلِمْنَاكَ إِلَّا صَالِحاً مُصْلِحاً.
Abdul Rahman said, ‘I do not see any problems with you, and the Praise is for Allah-azwj, so do not give up on the world, for by Allah-azwj, we do not know you except as righteous, reconciler’.
فَقَالَ: أَمَا إِنِّي لَا آسَى إِلَّا عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ فَعَلْتُهُنَّ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَفْعَلْهُنَّ، وَ ثَلَاثٍ لَمْ أَفْعَلْهُنَّ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُهُنَّ، وَ ثَلَاثٍ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ عَنْهُنَّ.
He said, ‘But I am not despairing except upon three (things) I had done, and I would love it if I had not done these, and three (things) I did not do, and I would have loved to have done these, and three (things) I would have loved to have asked Rasool-Allah-saww about these.
فَأَمَّا الثَّلَاثُ الَّتِي فَعَلْتُهَا وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ فَعَلْتُهَا، فَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ كَشَفْتُ عَنْ بَيْتِ فَاطِمَةَ (ع) وَ تَرَكْتُهُ وَ لَوْ أُغْلِقَ عَلَى حَرْبٍ، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي يَوْمَ سَقِيفَةِ بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ كُنْتُ قَذَفْتُ الْأَمْرَ فِي عُنُقِ أَحَدِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ، عُمَرَ أَوْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ، فَكَانَ أَمِيراً وَ كُنْتُ وَزِيراً، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي إِذْ أُتِيتُ بِالْفُجَاءَةِ لَمْ أَكُنْ أَحْرَقْتُهُ.
As for the three which I did and loved not to have done these – I would have loved it if I had not exposed from the house of (Syeda) Fatima-asws and had left it alone and even if I had been cast upon war; and I would have loved it if on the day of Saqeefa of the clan of Saaida, I would have thrown the command into the necks of one of the two men, Umar or Abu Ubeyda, and they would have been the rulers, and I would have been a minister; and I would have loved it, when I came with suddenness, I would not have burnt it (the door).
وَ أَمَّا الثَّلَاثُ الَّتِي لَمْ أَفْعَلْهَا وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُهَا، فَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي يَوْمَ أُتِيتُ بِالْأَشْعَثِ أَسِيراً كُنْتُ ضَرَبْتُ عُنُقَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ يُخَيَّلُ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ لَا يَرَى شَرّاً إِلَّا أَعَانَ عَلَيْهِ، وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي حَيْثُ وَجَّهْتُ خَالِداً إِلَى أَهْلِ الرِّدَّةِ أَقَمْتُ بِذِي الْقِصَّةِ، فَإِنْ ظَفِرَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَ إِلَّا كُنْتُ رِدْءاً لَهُمْ، وَ وَدِدْتُ حَيْثُ وَجَّهْتُ خَالِداً إِلَى الشَّامِ كُنْتُ وَجَّهْتُ عُمَرَ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ، فَأَكُونُ قَدْ بَسَطْتُ كِلْتَا يَدَيَّ- الْيَمِينَ وَ الشِّمَالَ- فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ.
And for the three which I did not do these and loved to have done these – I would have loved that I, when they came with Al-Ash’as as a captive, I should have struck off his neck, for the thought had come to me that he will not see any evil except he would support it; and I would have loved it if I, when I sent Khalid to the apostate people, and stood at Zi Al-Qissah, so if the Muslims had won (fine), or else I would have been a cloak for them; and I would have loved it, when I sent Khalid to Syria, I should have sent Umar to Al-Iraq, and I would have become to have spread out both my hands – the right and the left- in the Way of Allah-azwj.
وَ أَمَّا الثَّلَاثُ اللَّوَاتِي وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ [وَ آلِهِ] عَنْهُنَّ، فَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي سَأَلْتُهُ فِيمَنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ، فَكُنَّا لَا نُنَازِعُهُ أَهْلَهُ؟ وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي سَأَلْتُهُ هَلْ لِلْأَنْصَارِ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ نَصِيبٌ؟ وَ وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ مِيرَاثِ الْعَمَّةِ وَ ابْنَةِ الْأَخِ فَإِنَّ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْهُمَا حَاجَةً.
And as for the three, those I would have loved to has asked Rasool-Allah-saww about these – I would have loved to has asked, ‘Regarding whom is the command (caliphate), so we do not become disputing its rightful one?’ And I would have loved to ask him-saww, ‘Is there any share for the Helpers regarding this command?’ And I would have loved to as him-saww about the inheritance of the general public, and daughter of the brother, for there was a need for me within myself’’.[30]
10- كِتَابُ الِاسْتِدْرَاكِ: قَالَ: ذَكَرَ عِيسَى بْنُ مِهْرَانَ فِي كِتَابِ الْوَفَاةِ، بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ الْعُرَنِيِّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُصَبِّحٌ الْعِجْلِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ، عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: لَمَّا ثَقُلَ أَبِي أَرْسَلَنِي إِلَى عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَدَعَوْتُهُ، فَأَتَاهُ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ! إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِمَّنْ شَغَبَ عَلَيْكَ، وَ أَنَا كُنْتُ أَوَّلَهُمْ، وَ أَنَا صَاحِبُكَ، فَأُحِبُّ أَنْ تَجْعَلَنِي فِي حِلٍّ.
The book ‘Al Istidrak’- he said, ‘It is mentioned by Isa Bin Mihran in the book ‘A; Wafa’, by his chain from Al Hassan Bin Al Husay Al Urny who said, ‘It is narrated to us by Musabbih Al Ijaly, from Abu Awana, from Al Amsh, from Mujahid, from Ibn Umar who said,
‘When my father (Umar) was became heavy (with illness), he sent me to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws to call him-asws. He-asws came to him. He said, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! I was from the ones who made trouble upon you-asws, and I was the first of them, and I am your-asws companions, so I would love if it you could make me to be in a release (forgive)’.
فَقَالَ: نَعَمْ، عَلَى أَنْ تُدْخِلَ عَلَيْكَ رَجُلَيْنِ فَتُشْهِدَهُمَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ.
He-asws said: ‘Yes, upon (a condition) that you will enter two men to witness (testify) upon that’.
قَالَ: فَحَوَّلَ وَجْهَهُ إِلَى الْحَائِطِ، فَمَكَثَ طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا أَبَا الْحَسَنِ! مَا تَقُولُ؟. قَالَ: هُوَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ. قَالَ: فَحَوَّلَ وَجْهَهُ .. فَمَكَثَ طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ قَامَ فَخَرَجَ.
He (the narrator) said, ‘He (Umar) turned his face towards the wall and remained (like that) for a long time, then said, ‘O Abu Al-Hassan-asws! What are you-asws saying?’ He-asws said: ‘It is what I-asws have (already) said to you’. He turned his face, and remained for a long time. Then he-asws stood up and went out.
قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا أَبَتِ! قَدْ أَنْصَفَكَ، مَا عَلَيْكَ لَوْ أَشْهَدْتَ لَهُ رَجُلَيْنِ!. قَالَ: يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ أَنْ لَا يَسْتَغْفِرَ لِي رَجُلَانِ مِنْ بَعْدِي.
He (the narrator) said, ‘O father! He-asws had been just to you. What was against you, if only two men could have been witnesses to it?’ He said, ‘O my son! But rather he-asws wanted two men not to forgive me from after me’’.[31]
11- الْكَافِيَةُ فِي إِبْطَالِ تَوْبَةِ الْخَاطِئَةِ: عَنْ سُلَيْمٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، قَالَ: لَمَّا حَضَرَ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَمْرُهُ جَعَلَ يَدْعُو بِالْوَيْلِ وَ الثُّبُورِ، وَ كَانَ عُمَرُ عِنْدَهُ، فَقَالَ لَنَا: اكْتُمُوا هَذَا الْأَمْرَ عَلَى أَبِيكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ يَهْذِي، وَ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مَعْرُوفُونَ لَكُمْ عِنْدَ الْوَجَعِ الْهَذَيَانُ.
(The book) ‘Al Kafiya Fi Ibtaal Tawbah Al Khatiya’ – From Suleym, from Muhammad Bin Abu Bakr who said,
‘When there presented to Abu Bakr his matter (death), he went on to call for the doom and destruction, and Umar was in his presence. He said to us, ‘Conceal this matter upon your father, for he is delirious, and you are a people well-known for the delirium for you during the pain’.
فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: صَدَقْتَ، فَخَرَجَ عُمَرُ فَقُبِضَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ.
Ayesha said, ‘You speak the truth’. Umar went out and Abu Bakr died’’.[32]
12- وَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ: قِيلَ لِعُمَرَ: أَ لَا تَسْتَخْلِفُ؟. فَقَالَ: إِنْ أَسْتَخْلِفْ فَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي، أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَ إِنْ أَتْرُكْ فَقَدْ تَرَكَ مَنْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ، فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ- رَاغِباً رَاهِباً-: وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كَفَافاً لَا عَلَيَّ وَ لَا لِي.
And from Hisham Bin Urwah, from Abdullah Bin Umar who said,
‘It was said to Umar, ‘Will you not choose a caliph?’ He said, ‘If I were to choose a caliph, so the one who is better than me, Abu Bakr, had chosen a caliph (me); and if I neglect it, so the one who is better than me, Rasool-Allah-saww had neglected it’. He praised upon him-saww and he said, desiring, hoping, ‘I would love to be on the edge, neither against me nor for me’’.[33]
13- وَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسِ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ أَخَذَ تِبْنَةً مِنَ الْأَرْضِ، فَقَالَ: لَيْتَنِي كُنْتُ نَسْياً مَنْسِيًّا، لَيْتَ أُمِّي لَمْ تَلِدْنِي.
And from Sho’ba, from Aasim Bin Abdullah Bin Abbas Bin Rabie who said,
‘I saw Umar Bin Al-Khattab take some straw from the ground and he said, ‘I wish I had died before this, and was completely forgotten!’ [19:23]. I wish my mother had not given birth to me’’.[34]
14- وَ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبَانُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ: آخِرُ كَلِمَةٍ قَالَهَا عُمَرُ حَتَّى قَضَى: وَيْلُ أُمِّي إِنْ لَمْ يَغْفِرْ لِي رَبِّي! وَيْلُ أُمِّي إِنْ لَمْ يَغْفِرْ لِي رَبِّي!.
And from Sufyan, from Aasim who said, ‘It is narrated to me by Aban Bin Usman who said,
‘The last sentence which Umar spoke before he dies, ‘Woe be upon my mother, if my Lord-azwj does not Forgive me! Woe be unto my mother if my Lord-azwj does not Forgive for me!’’[35]
5- وَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ جَعْدَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ عُمَرُ حِينَ حَضَرَهُ الْمَوْتُ-: لَوْ أَنَّ لِيَ الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا لَافْتَدَيْتُ بِهَا مِنَ النَّارِ.
And from Amro Bin Dinar, from Yahya Bin Ja’dah who said,
‘Umar said when the death presented, ‘If only there was for me the (whole) world and whatever is in it, so I could have ransomed myself with it from the Fire’’.[36]
16- وَ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ سَمَّاكٍ الْيَمَانِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: أَتَيْتُ عَلَى عُمَرَ فَقَالَ: وَدِدْتُ أَنِّي أَنْجُو مِنْهَا كَفَافاً لَا أَجْرَ وَ لَا وِزْرَ.
And from Sho’ba, from Sammak Al Yamani, from Ibn Abbas who said,
‘I came to Umar and he said, ‘I would have loved it if I could rescue myself from it as neutral, neither any recompense nor burden (of sin)’’.[37]
17- وَ عَنْ حُصَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، قَالَ: جَاءَ شَابٌّ إِلَى عُمَرَ فَقَالَ: أَبْشِرْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِبُشْرَى اللَّهِ لَكَ مِنَ الْقَدَمِ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ وَ صُحْبَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتَ، ثُمَّ وُلِّيتَ فَعَدَلْتَ، ثُمَّ شَهَادَةٍ.
And from Huseyn Bin Abdul Rahman, from Umar Bin Maymoun who said,
‘A youth came to Umar who said, ‘Receive glad tidings, O commander of the faithful! Allah-azwj Gives you glad tidings to you due to your preceding in Al-Islam, and accompaniment of Rasool-Allah-saww what you have known, then you became ruler and were just, then (now) are a martyr’.
فَقَالَ: يَا ابْنَ أَخِي! وَدِدْتُ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ كَفَافاً لَا عَلَيَّ وَ لَا لِي.
He said, ‘O son of my brother! I would have loved it that as being neutral, neither (any sins) against me nor any (rewards) for me’’.[38]
18- وَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ حَنَانٍ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عُمَرَ- حِينَ طُعِنَ-، فَقُلْتُ: أَبْشِرْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! أَسْلَمْتَ حِينَ كَفَرَ النَّاسُ، وَ قُبِضَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ هُوَ عَنْكَ رَاضٍ، وَ لَمْ يُخْتَلَفْ فِي خِلَافَتِكَ، وَ قُتِلْتَ شَهِيداً.
And from Ibn Abu Iyas, from Suleyman Bin Haman, from Dawood Bin Abu Hind, from Al Shaby, from Ibn Abbas who said,
‘I entered to see Umar, when he had been stabbed, and I said, ‘Receive glad tidings, O commander of the faithful! You became a Muslim when the people disbelieved, and he-saww passed away and he-saww was pleased from you, and you did not choose a caliph regarding your caliphate, and have been killed a martyr’.
فَقَالَ عُمَرُ: أَعِدْ عَلَيَّ قَوْلَكَ .. فَأَعَدْتُهُ عَلَيْهِ.
Umar said, ‘Repeat your words to me’. So, he repeated it to him.
فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الْمَغْرُورَ مَنْ غَرَرْتُمُوهُ، وَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ لَوْ كَانَ لِي مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنْ صَفْرَاءَ وَ بَيْضَاءَ لَافْتَدَيْتُ بِهِ مِنْ هَوْلِ الْمُطَّلَعِ.
He said, ‘The deceived is the one you are deceiving him. By the One-azwj Who, there is no god apart from Him-azwj! If there was for me whatever is upon the earth, from yellow (gold) and white (silver), I would ransom myself with it from the emerging horror’’.[39]
[1] حديث 11 تفسير الإمام العسكري (ع): 16 و 17
[2] تفسير القمي: 723 بحار الأنوار: 8- 356 روضة الكافي: 160.
[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 16 H 1
[4] اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ {35}
[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 16 H 2
[6] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 17 H 1
[7] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 17 H 2
[8] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 17 H 3
[9] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 1
[10] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 2
[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 3
[12] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 4
[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 5
[14] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 6
[15] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 7
[16] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 8
[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 9
[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 10
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 11
[20] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 12
[21] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 18 H 13
[22] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 1
[23] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 2
[24] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 3
[25] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 4
[26] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 5
[27] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 6
[28] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 7
[29] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 8
[30] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 9
[31] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 10
[32] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 11
[33] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 12
[34] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 13
[35] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 14
[36] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 15
[37] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 16
[38] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 17
[39] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 30, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 19 H 18