Al Aala
CHAPTER 87
AL-AA’LA
(The Highest)
(19 VERSES)
VERSES 1 – 19
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Brief Introduction of Al-Aala (87):
Sura Al-Aala (19 verses) was revealed in Makkah.[1] ‘Ali Amir Al-Momineen-asws was asked about the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1]. He-asws said: ‘It is inscribed upon the Pillar of the Throne before Allah-azwj Created the skies and the earths, by two thousand years: “There is no god except Allah-azwj Alone, there being no associates for Him-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww”. Testify with them-asws, and that Ali-asws is successor-asws of Muhammad-saww’’.[2] Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib loved reciting Al-Aala (87), so when Ali-asws arrived at Al-Kufa, he-asws prayed Salat with them for forty morning reciting with them: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1]. The hypocrites said, ‘By Allah-azwj! The son-asws of Abu Talib-asws is not good at reciting the Quran, and had he-asws been good in reciting, he-asws would have recited with other than this Chapter’. The narrator said, ‘That reached him-asws, so he-asws said: ‘Woe be to them! I-asws am more recognising with its Abrogating, and its Abrogated, and its Decisive, and its Allegorical, its separate from its connected, and its letters from its meaning. By Allah-azwj! There is no letter that has been Revealed unto Muhammad-saww except and I-asws know regarding who it was Revealed, and in which day it was Revealed, and in which place it was Revealed. Woe be unto them! Are they not reciting: Surely this is in the former Parchments [87:18] The Parchments of Ibrahim and Musa [87:19]? By Allah-azwj! These are in my-asws possession, and I-asws inherited these two from the Rasool-Allah-saww, and the Rasool-Allah-saww handed over to me-asws the Scriptures of Ibrahim-as and Musa-as. Woe be unto them! By Allah-azwj, I-asws (am the one) about whom Allah-azwj Revealed: “And that the retaining ear would retain it” [69:12]. But rather, we used to be in the presence of the Rasool-Allah-saww, so he-saww would inform us by the Revelation, I-asws would hear it and retain it. But when we would go out, they would say: “What was it that he said just now?” [47:16]’’.[3]
MERITS
ابن بابويه: بإسناده، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: «من قرأ سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى في فريضة أو نافلة، قيل له يوم القيامة: ادخل من أي أبواب الجنة شئت
Ibn Babuwayh, by his chain, the following:
‘Abu Abdullah-asws has said: ‘The one who recites: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1] (Surah Al A’ala) in his Obligatory (Salats) or his optional (Salats), it will be Said to him on the Day of Judgement: ‘Enter through whichever Door of the Paradise you so desire to’.[4]
الطبرسي: روى العياشي بإسناده، عن أبي خميصة، عن علي (عليه السلام)، قال: صليت خلفه عشرين ليلة، فليس يقرأ إلا سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى، و قال: «لو تعلمون ما فيها لقرأها الرجل كل يوم عشرين مرة
Al-Tabarsy, a report of Al-Ayyashi, by his chain, from Abu Khamees , who has narrated:
(The narrator) says, ‘I prayed Salat behind Ali-asws for the past twenty nights, and he-asws did not recite except: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1] (Surah Al-Aa’la), and said: ‘If only you knew what was in it for the man who recites it twenty times every day.
و إن من قرأها فكأنما قرأ صحف موسى و إبراهيم الذي وفى
And one who recites (Surah Al-Aa’la), it would be as if he has recited the Parchments of Musa-as and Ibrahim-as who fulfilled’.[5]
و من (خواص القرآن): روي عن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) أنه قال: «من قرأ هذه السورة أعطاه الله من الأجر بعدد كل حرف أنزل على إبراهيم و موسى و محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله)
And from Khawas Al-Quran, who has narrated:
It has been reported from the Prophet-saww having said: ‘One who recites this Surah (Al-Aa’la), Allah-azwj would Give him from the Recompense of the number of every letter which was Revealed upon Ibrahim-as and Musa-as, and Muhammad-saww.
و إذا قرئت على الأذن الوجعة زال ذلك عنها
And when it (Surah Al-Aa’la) is recited upon a painful illness, that would decline from him.
و إن قرئت على البواسير قلعتهن و برىء صاحبهن سريعا
And if (Surah Al-Aa’la) is recited upon the haemorrhoids (piles), it would free the person from it very quickly’.[6]
و قال الصادق (عليه السلام): «قراءتها على الأذن الدوية التي فيها الدواثر تزيلها، و قراءتها على الموضع المفسخ تزيله، و قراءتها على البواسير تقطعها بإذن الله تعالى
And Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘Its (Surah Al-Aa’la) recitation upon the spoil inner ear wherein is the blockage, it would remove it; and its recitation upon the disruptive place would remove it; and its recitation upon the haemorrhoids (piles), it would cut it by the Permission of Allah-azwj the Exalted’’.[7]
ابن بابويه: بإسناده، عن سيف بن عميرة، عن منصور بن حازم، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: «الواجب على كل مؤمن- إذا كان لنا شيعة- أن يقرأ في ليلة الجمعة بالجمعة و سبح اسم ربك الأعلى، و في صلاة الظهر بالجمعة و المنافقين
In Babuwayh, by his chain, from Sayf Bin Umeyra, from Mansour Bin Hazim:
Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘It is Obligatory upon every Momin – if he was our-asws Shias – that he should recite during the night of the Friday (Thursday evening) with (Surah) Al-Jumm’a (Chapter 62), and: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1] (Surah Al-A’ala), and during Al-Zohr Salat with (Surah) Al-Jumm’a (Chapter 62) and (Surah) Al-Munafiqeen (Chapter 63).
فإذا فعل ذلك فكأنما يعمل كعمل رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، و كان جزاؤه و ثوابه على الله الجنة
So, when he does that, it would be as if he has done like what Rasool-Allah-saww had done, and his Recompense and his Reward upon Allah-azwj would be the Paradise’.[8]
VERSES 1 – 7
سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى {1}
Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1]
الَّذِي خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ {2}
Who Created, then Completed [87:2]
وَالَّذِي قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ {3}
And the One Who Determined, then Guided [87:3]
وَالَّذِي أَخْرَجَ الْمَرْعَىٰ {4}
And the One Who Brings forth the pasture [87:4]
فَجَعَلَهُ غُثَاءً أَحْوَىٰ {5}
Then Makes it stubble, dried up [87:5]
سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنْسَىٰ {6}
We will Make you read, so you will not forget [87:6]
إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ الْجَهْرَ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ {7}
Except what Allah so Desires. He Knows the declared, and what is hidden (remains undeclared) [87:7]
The Speech of Allah-azwj is unlike the speech of people and there are ‘النَّاسِخَ’ the abrogating Verses superseding the earlier instructions ‘الْمَنْسُوخِ’ the abrogated Verses, which were meant to be for a specific time or an event. Hence one has to be very careful, see for example, below a Holy Verse where Allah-azwj Talks about ‘النَّاسِخَ مِنَ الْمَنْسُوخِ’ the abrogating from the abrogated.
مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنْسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {106}
Whatever We Abrogate from a Verse or Cause it to be forgotten, We Come with better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is Able upon all things? [2:106].
The 6th Imam-asws instructed a group of Suffis to learn about the abrogating and the abrogated Verses:
فَتَأَدَّبُوا أَيُّهَا النَّفَرُ بِآدَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ اقْتَصِرُوا عَلَى أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ نَهْيِهِ وَ دَعُوا عَنْكُمْ مَا اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِمَّا لَا عِلْمَ لَكُمْ بِهِ وَ رُدُّوا الْعِلْمَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ تُوجَرُوا وَ تُعْذَرُوا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى
(Imam Jafar e Sadiq-asws said): So educate yourselves, O group, by the Education of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic for the Believers, and moderate yourselves upon the Commands of Allah‑azwj, and His-azwj Prohibitions, and leave from yourselves what is doubtful upon you, from what there is no knowledge for you of it, and refer the knowledge to its rightful ones, so you would be Recompensed, and Excused in the Presence of Allah-azwj Blessed and High.
وَ كُونُوا فِي طَلَبِ عِلْمِ نَاسِخِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنْ مَنْسُوخِهِ وَ مُحْكَمِهِ مِنْ مُتَشَابِهِهِ وَ مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مِمَّا حَرَّمَ فَإِنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ لَكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ أَبْعَدُ لَكُمْ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَ دَعُوا الْجَهَالَةَ لِأَهْلِهَا فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْجَهْلِ كَثِيرٌ وَ أَهْلَ الْعِلْمِ قَلِيلٌ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ فَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ
And become the seekers of the knowledge of the Abrogating (Verses) of the Quran from its Abrogated, and its Decisive from its Allegorical, and what Allah-azwj has Permitted regarding it from what is Prohibited. Thus, it would take you all closer to Allah-azwj and remote from the ignorance. And leave the ignorance to its people, for the people of the ignorance are many, and the people of the knowledge are a few. And Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Said [12:74] and above every one possessed of knowledge, is the All-knowing one’.[9]
The reason for Abrogating a Verse:
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ يَحْيَى الْأَزْرَقِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ فَمِنْ رِفْقِهِ بِعِبَادِهِ تَسْلِيلُهُ أَضْغَانَهُمْ وَ مُضَادَّتَهُمْ لِهَوَاهُمْ وَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَ مِنْ رِفْقِهِ بِهِمْ أَنَّهُ يَدَعُهُمْ عَلَى الْأَمْرِ يُرِيدُ إِزَالَتَهُمْ عَنْهُ رِفْقاً بِهِمْ لِكَيْلَا يُلْقِيَ عَلَيْهِمْ عُرَى الْإِيمَانِ وَ مُثَاقَلَتَهُ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً فَيَضْعُفُوا فَإِذَا أَرَادَ ذَلِكَ نَسَخَ الْأَمْرَ بِالْآخَرِ فَصَارَ مَنْسُوخاً
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Yahya Al Arzaq, from Hammad Bin Bashir, from;
Abu Abdullah-asws has said: ‘Allah-azwj Blessed and High is Kind, He-azwj Loves the kindness. So, from His-azwj Kindness with His-azwj servants is to Ease their grudges and their antagonisms for their wish and their hearts. And from His-azwj Kindness with them is that He-azwj Calls them upon the matter, Intending their Removal from the evil (practice) as being Kind to them, so that the ring and the weight of Eman do not fall upon them at once to make them weak. When, Allah-azwj Wants to make such a decision (of easing up on them), He-azwj Cancels one Command by another Command and it becomes abrogated’.[10]
أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَمَّنْ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَحَدِهِمَا ( عليهما السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ وَ مِنْ رِفْقِهِ بِكُمْ تَسْلِيلُ أَضْغَانِكُمْ وَ مُضَادَّةِ قُلُوبِكُمْ وَ إِنَّهُ لَيُرِيدُ تَحْوِيلَ الْعَبْدِ عَنِ الْأَمْرِ فَيَتْرُكُهُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَوِّلَهُ بِالنَّاسِخِ كَرَاهِيَةَ تَثَاقُلِ الْحَقِّ عَلَيْهِ
Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Ibn Fazzal, from Sa’alba Bin Maymoun, from the one who narrated it, from;
(It has been narrated) from one of the two (5th or 6th Imam-asws) having said: ‘Allah-azwj is Kind, He-azwj Loves the kindness, and from His-azwj Kindness with you is the Easing of your grudges and your antagonism in your hearts, and He-azwj when Intending the changing of the servant from the matter, so He-azwj Leaves it upon him until He-azwj Changes it by the Abrogating, Disliking the heaviness of the truth upon him’.[11]
ابن الفارسي في (الروضة): روى جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه، عن جده (عليهم السلام)، أنه قال: «في العرش تمثال جميع ما خلق الله في البر و البحر، و هذا تأويل قوله تعالى: وَ إِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِنْدَنا خَزائِنُهُ
Ibn Al-Farsy in Al-Rowzat, reported:
‘Ja’far-asws Bin Muhammad-asws, from his-asws father-asws, from his-asws grandfather-asws having said: ‘In the Throne there is a resemblance (similarity) of all that Allah-azwj Created in the land and the sea. And this is the explanation of the Words of the Exalted: And there is not a thing except in Our Presence is its store [15:21]’.
و إن بين القائمة من قوائم العرش، و القائمة الثانية خفقان الطير المسرع مسيرة ألف عام، و العرش يكسى كل يوم سبعين ألف لون من النور، لا يستطيع أن ينظر إليه خلق من خلق الله
And in between the established Pillar of the Throne and to the second Pillar, there is a distance of a thousand years of the flight of a bird. And every day the Throne is Coated with a thousand colours of Light. There is no creature from the creatures of Allah-azwj who has the ability to look at it’.
و الأشياء كلها في العرش كحلقة في فلاة، و إن لله ملكا يقال له حزقائيل، له ثمانية عشر ألف جناح، ما بين الجناح إلى الجناح خمسمائة عام، فخطر له خاطر، هل فوق العرش شيء؟ فزاده الله مثلها أجنحة أخرى، فكان له ست و ثلاثون ألف جناح، ما بين الجناح، إلى الجناح خمسمائة عام
And all the things in the Throne are like a ring in the desert. And Allah-azwj Called Hizkaeel who has eighteen thousand wings on him, between the wing to the (next) wing is (a distance of) five hundred years. So, a thought came to his mind, ‘Is there anything above the Throne?’ So Allah-azwj Increased for him (the number of) more wings, the like of what he had before. So, he had thirty-six thousand wings, with what is in between one wing to another (a distance of) five hundred years.
ثم أوحى الله إليه: أيها الملك طر، فطار مقدارعشرين ألف عام، لم ينل رأسه قائمة من قوائم العرش، ثم ضاعف الله له في الجناح و القوة و أمره أن يطير، فطار مقدار ثلاثين ألف عام، و لم ينل أيضا، فأوحى الله إليه: أيها الملك، لو طرت إلى نفخ الصور مع أجنحتك و قوتك لم تبلغ إلى ساق العرش
Then Allah-azwj Revealed unto him: “O you Angel, fly!” So, it flew for a period of twenty thousand years, and it could not get its head to a Pillar from the Pillars of the Throne. Then Allah-azwj Doubled his wings and his strength, and Commanded him to fly. So, he flew for a period of thirty thousand years, and he still could not get there as well. Then Allah-azwj Revealed unto him: “O you Angel! Even if you had flown up to the (time of) the Blowing of the Trumpet, with your wings and your strength, you would not have reached the base of the Throne’.
فقال الملك: سبحان ربي الأعلى: فأنزل الله عز و جل: سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى فقال النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله): اجعلوها في سجودكم
So, the Angel said: ‘Glory be to my Lord-azwj, the Exalted’. So Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Revealed: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1]. So the Prophet-saww said: ‘Make it to be in your Sajdahs’.[12]
علي بن إبراهيم، قال: أخبرنا الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن بسطام بن مرة، عن إسحاق بن حسان، عن الهيثم بن واقد، عن علي بن الحسين العبدي، عن سعد الإسكاف، عن الأصبغ، أنه سأل أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام)، عن قوله عز و جل: سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى، فقال: «مكتوب على قائمة العرش قبل أن يخلق الله السماوات و الأرضين بألفي عام: لا إله إلا الله، وحده لا شريك له، و أن محمدا عبده و رسوله، فاشهدوا بهما، و أن عليا وصي محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله)
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from Al-Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moala Bin Muhammad, from Bustaan Bin marat, from Is’haq Bin Hasaan, from Al-Haysam bin Waqad, from Ali Bin Al-Husayn Al-Abdy, from Sa’d Al-Askaaf, from Al-Asbag, who asked:
Amir-Al-Momineen-asws about the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1], he-asws said: ‘It has been written upon the Pillars of the Throne a thousand years before He-azwj Created the skies and the earth: “There is no god except for Allah-azwj, One with no associates to Him-azwj, and that Muhammad-saww is His-azwj servant and His-azwj Rasool-saww, so testify by these two, and that Ali-asws is the successor-asws of Muhammad-saww’.[13]
سعد بن عبد الله: عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، و محمد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطاب و غيرهما، عن أحمد بن محمد بن أبي نصر، عن هشام بن سالم، عن سعد بن طريف الخفاف، قال: قلت لأبي جعفر (عليه السلام): ما تقول فيمن أخذ عنكم علما فنسيه؟ قال: «لا حجة عليه، إنما الحجة عليه، إنما الحجة على من سمع منا حديثا فأنكره، أو بلغه فلم يؤمن به و كفر
Saeed Bin Abdullah, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, and Muhammad Bin Al-Husayn Bin Abu Al-Khataab and others, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr, from Hisham Bin Salim, from Saeed Bin Tareyf Al-Khafaf who said:
‘I said to Abu Ja’far-asws, ‘What do you-asws say for the one who takes knowledge from you-asws and forgets it?’ He-asws said: ‘There is no argument against him. But rather, the argument is against the one who hears a Hadeeth from us-asws, but he denies it, or if it reaches him (from another source), so he does not believe in it and commits Kufr.
و أما النسيان فهو موضوع عنكم، إن أول سورة نزلت على رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى، فنسيها، فلا يلزمه حجة في نسيانه ، و لكن الله تبارك و تعالى أمضى له ذلك، ثم قال: سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلا تَنْسى
And as for the forgetfulness, it is you who are subjected to it. The first (complete) Chapter Revealed unto the Rasool-Allah-saww was: Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Exalted [87:1] but they (Muslims) forgot it. So, no argument was obliged upon the leaving of it. But, Allah-azwj Blessed and Exalted Made that Happen again, then Said: We will Make you read, so you will not forget [87:6]’.[14]
محمد بن إدريس في آخر ( السرائر ) نقلا من كتاب مسائل الرجال لعلي بن محمد ( عليه السلام ) ، أن محمد بن علي بن عيسى كتب إليه ، يسأله عن العلم المنقول إلينا عن آبائك وأجداد ( عليهم السلام) ، قد اختلف علينا فيه ، فكيف العمل به على اختلافه ؟ أو الرد إليك فيما اختلف فيه ؟ فكتب ( عليه السلام ) : ما علمتم أنه قولنا فالزموه ، وما لم تعلموا فردوه إلينا
Muhammad Bin Idrees at the end of his letter, has copied from the book Masaael Al-Rijaal to Ali Bin Muhammad-asws:
Muhammad Bin Isa had written to him-asws asking, ‘About the knowledge that gets copied over to us from your forefathers-asws, there are differences for us therein, how shall we act upon those if there are differences? Or shall we return them to you-asws when there are differences in them?’
Imam-asws wrote back: ‘When you come to know that it is our-asws statement it necessitates you to act by that, and that which you do not know, return them back to us-asws’.[15]
وَ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ عَنِ الْحَجَّاجِ بْنِ الصَّبَّاحِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع إِنَّا نُحَدِّثُ عَنْكَ بِالْحَدِيثِ فَيَقُولُ بَعْضُنَا قَوْلُنَا قَوْلُهُمْ قَالَ فَمَا تُرِيدُ أَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ تَكُونَ إِمَاماً يُقْتَدَى بِكَ مَنْ رَدَّ الْقَوْلَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَدْ سَلِمَ
And from Ahmad Bin Muhammad from Ali Bin Al Hakam from Abu Bakr Al Hazramy from Al Hajjaj Bin Al Sabbah who has narrated the following from Abu Ja’far-asws:
‘We narrate Ahadith from you-asws. Some of us say that our words are your-asws words’. He-asws said: ‘What do you intend? Do you want to be Imams and be followed? The one who returns the words back to us-asws will be safe’.[16]
قَالَ الْإِمَامُ ع: قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع ما نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ بِأَنْ نَرْفَعَ حُكْمَهَا أَوْ نُنْسِها بِأَنْ نَرْفَعَ رَسْمَهَا، وَ نُزِيلَ عَنِ الْقُلُوبِ حِفْظَهَا وَ عَنْ قَلْبِكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلا تَنْسى- إِلَّا ما شاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُنْسِيَكَ فَرَفَعَ ذِكْرَهُ عَنْ قَلْبِكَ
The Imam (Hassan Al-Askari-asws) said: ‘Muhammad-asws Bin Ali-asws Bin Musa Al-Reza-asws said: ‘Whatever We Abrogate from a Verse – if We-azwj Lift its Ordinance, or Cause it to be forgotten – or Lift its tradition, and Remove its memorisation from the hearts, and from your-saww heart, O Muhammad-saww, just as Allah-azwj the Exalted Said: We will Make you read, so you will not forget [87:6] except what Allah so Desires [87:7], if We-azwj Make you-saww forget (if we Abrogate), so We-azwj Lift its remembrance from your-saww heart (Abrogated Verse).
نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْها يَعْنِي بِخَيْرٍ لَكُمْ، فَهَذِهِ الثَّانِيَةُ أَعْظَمُ لِثَوَابِكُمْ، وَ أَجَلُّ لِصَلَاحِكُمْ مِنَ الْآيَةِ الْأُولَى الْمَنْسُوخَةِ أَوْ مِثْلِها مِنَ الصَّلَاحِ لَكُمْ، أَيْ إِنَّا لَا نَنْسَخُ وَ لَا نُبَدِّلُ إِلَّا وَ غَرَضُنَا فِي ذَلِكَ مَصَالِحُكُمْ
We Come with better than it (Abrogating Verse) – meaning, better for you all. Thus, this second one is greater for your Rewards, and more immediate for your correction that the first Verse, the Abrogated one, or similar to it – from the correction for you – i.e., We-azwj neither Abrogate nor do We-azwj Replace except Our-azwj Purpose in that is your correction (betterment).[17]
روى في كتابه المعروف ب (روضة الواعظين) عن أبي جعفر الباقر (عليه السلام)، قال: «حج رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) من المدينة، و قد بلغ جميع الشرائع قومه ما خلا الحج و الولاية
He reports in his famous book Rowzat Al-Waizeen, from Abu Ja’far Al-Baqir-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww went for Hajj from Al-Medina, and he-saww had already delivered the entirety of the Laws to his-saww people apart from the Hajj and the Wilayah.
فخشي رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) قومه و أهل النفاق و الشقاق أن يتفرقوا و يرجعوا جاهلية لما عرف من عداوتهم، و ما يبطنون عليه أنفسهم لعلي (عليه السلام) من البغضاء، و سأل جبرئيل (عليه السلام) أن يسأل ربه العصمة من الناس و انتظر أن يأتيه جبرئيل بالعصمة من الناس من الله عز و جل
But Rasool-Allah-saww feared his-saww people and the people of hypocrisy and the wretchedness that they would be dividing and returning to (the ways of the) Pre-Islamic period when he-saww recognise their enmity and what they were concealing within themselves for Ali-asws, of the hatred, and he-saww asked Jibraeel-as to ask his-saww Lord-azwj for the Protection from the people, and he-saww awaited for Jibraeel-as to come to him-saww with the Protection from the people, from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic. [18]
محمد بن يعقوب: عن أبي محمد القاسم بن العلاء (رحمه الله)، رفعه، عن عبد العزيز بن مسلم، قال: كنا مع الرضا (عليه السلام) بمرو، فاجتمعنا في الجامع يوم الجمعة في بدء مقدمنا، فأداروا أمر الإمامة، و كثرة اختلاف الناس فيها، فدخلت على سيدي (عليه السلام)، فأعلمته في خوض الناس فيه، فتبسم (عليه السلام)، ثم قال: «يا عبد العزيز، جهل القوم، و خدعوا عن أديانهم
Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Abu Muhammad Al-Qasim Bin Al-A’la, raising it, from Abdul Aziz Bin Muslim who said,
‘I was with Al-Reza-asws as Merv, and we had gathered in the Mosque on Friday during the beginning of our arrival. So they were narrating the matter of the Imamate, and there was a lot of differing by the people with regards to it. So I went over to my Master-asws and informed him-asws of the quarrelling of the people regarding it. So he-asws smiled at me, then said: ‘O Abdul Aziz! The people are ignorant and have been deceived about their religions.
إن الله عز و جل لم يقبض نبيه (صلى الله عليه و آله) حتى أكمل له الدين، و أنزل عليه القرآن فيه تبيان كل شيء، بين فيه الحلال و الحرام، و الحدود و الأحكام، و جميع ما يحتاج إليه الناس كملا
Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic did not Cause His-azwj Prophet-saww to pass away until Completing the Religion for him-saww, and Revealed the Quran unto him-saww in which is the explanation of everything, regarding the Permissibles, and the Prohibitions, and the Legal punishment, and the Ordinances, and the entirety of what the people would be needy to from him-saww in totality.
و قال عز و جل: ما فَرَّطْنا فِي الْكِتابِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ و أنزل فيه ما أنزل في حجة الوداع- و هي آخر عمره (صلى الله عليه و آله)-: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَ رَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلامَ دِيناً، و أمر الإمامة من تمام الدين
And the Mighty and Majestic Said: We did not neglect in the Book of anything [6:38]; and Revealed in it what He-azwj Revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage – and it was at the end of his-saww lifetime: Today I Perfected your Religion for you and Completed My Favour upon you, and am Pleased with Al Islam as a Religion for you [5:3]. And the matter of Imamate is from the Completion of the Religion.
و لم يمض رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) حتى بين لامته معالم دينهم، و أوضح لهم سبيلهم، و تركهم على قصد سبيل الحق، و أقام لهم عليا (عليه السلام) علما و إماما، و ما ترك شيئا تحتاج إليه الامة إلا بينه، فمن زعم أن الله عز و جل لم يكمل دينه فقد رد كتاب الله، و من رد كتاب الله فهو كافر به
And Rasool-Allah-saww did not leave (this world) until he-saww had explained to his-saww community, then the matters of their Religion, and clarified for them their way, and left them facing the Way of the Truth. And he-saww nominated for them Ali-asws as a flag and an Imam-asws. And he-saww did not leave anything out which the community would need from him-saww except that he-saww explained it. So the one who claims that Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic did not Complete His-azwj Religion, so he has rejected the Book of Allah-azwj, and the one who rejects the Book of Allah-azwj so he is a Kafir with it’.[19]
VERSES 8 – 13
وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ {8}
And We will (Make it) Easy (for) you to (take) the ease (The Way) [87:8]
فَذَكِّرْ إِنْ نَفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَىٰ {9}
Therefore, do Zikr, surely the Zikr is beneficial [87:9]
سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَنْ يَخْشَىٰ {10}
He would be doing Zikr, the one who fears [87:10]
وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا الْأَشْقَى {11}
And the one who leaves it (the Zikr) will be (among) wretched [87:11]
الَّذِي يَصْلَى النَّارَ الْكُبْرَىٰ {12}
The one who will arrive to the great Fire [87:12]
ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ {13}
Then they will neither be dying therein nor living [87:13]
Zikr and Ahl Al-Zikr
الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَجْلَانَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَسْئَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الذِّكْرُ أَنَا وَ الْأَئِمَّةُ أَهْلُ الذِّكْرِ
Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al Washha, from Abdullah Bin Ajlan,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far-asws regarding the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic: therefore ask the people of Al-Zikr if you don’t know [16:43]. He-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww is the Zikr (Reminder). I-asws and the Imams-asws are the People of the Reminder (Ahl Al-Zikr)’.[20]
حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر عن محمد بن عيسى عن محمد بن سنان عن اسمعيل بن جابر وعبد الكريم عن عبد الحميد بن ابى الديلم عن ابى عبد الله عليه السلام في قول الله تعالى فاسئلوا اهل الذكر ان كنتم لا تعلمون قال كتاب الله الذكر واهله آل محمد الذين امر الله بسئوالهم ولم يؤمروا بسؤال الجهال
Narrated to us Abdullah Bin Ja’far, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ismail Bin Jaabir and Abdul Kareem, from Abdul Hameed Bin Abu Al-Dalam who has reported the following:
Abu Abdullah-asws regarding the Words of Allah-azwj the Exalted: therefore ask the people of Al-Zikr if you don’t know [16:43]. He-asws said: ‘The Book of Allah-azwj is the Zikr, and its People-asws are the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww are the ones whom Allah-azwj has Commanded to ask them-asws and did not Command to ask the ignorant ones’’.[21]
VERSES 14 & 15
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّىٰ {14}
He has succeeded, the one who purifies himself [87:14]
وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّىٰ {15}
And the one who does Zikr (mentioned) the Name of Lord, so he sends Salawat [87:15]
In a Hadith,
إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنْهى عَنِ الْفَحْشاءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ لَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ
Surely, the Salat prevents from the immoralities and the evil, and the Zikr of Allah is the greatest [29:45].
فَالنَّهْيُ كَلَامٌ وَ الْفَحْشَاءُ وَ الْمُنْكَرُ رِجَالٌ وَ نَحْنُ ذِكْرُ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ أَكْبَرُ
(6th Imam-asws said in a lengthy Hadith) So the prevention is a speech, and the immoralities and the evil are (two) men, and we-asws are the Remembrance of Allah-azwj, and we-asws are the greatest (Remembrance)’.[22]
محمد بن يعقوب: عن علي بن محمد، عن علي بن العباس، عن الحسين بن عبد الرحمن، عن سفيان الحريري، عن أبيه، عن سعد الخفاف، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)- في حديث طويل- قلت: يا أبا جعفر، هل يتكلم القرآن؟ فتبسم، ثم قال: «رحم الله الضعفاء من شيعتنا، إنهم أهل تسليم». ثم قال: «نعم يا سعد، و الصلاة تتكلم، و لها صورة و خلق، تأمر و تنهى
Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Ali Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al-Abbas, from Al-Husayn Bin Abdul Rahman, from Sufyan Al-Hureyri, from his father, from Sa’ad Al-Khafaf,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far-asws – in a lengthy Hadeeth – ‘I said, ‘O Abu Ja’far-asws! Does the Quran speak?’ So he-asws smiled, then said: ‘May Allah-azwj have Mercy upon our-asws weak Shias, they are the people who have submitted’. Then he-asws said: ‘Yes, O Sa’ad! And the Salat (also) speaks, and it has an image and a creation, and it enjoins and forbids’.
قال سعد: فتغير لذلك لوني، و قلت: هذا شيء لا أستطيع أن أتكلم به في الناس
Sa’ad said, ‘My colour changed due to that, and I said, ‘This is a thing which does not have the ability to speak among the people!’
فقال أبو جعفر (عليه السلام): «و هل الناس إلا شيعتنا، فمن لم يعرف الصلاة فقد أنكر حقنا». ثم قال: «يا سعد، أسمعك كلام القرآن؟». قلت: بلى، (صلى الله عليك)
So, Abu Ja’far-asws said: ‘And are there any people, except for our-asws Shias? So the one who does not recognise the Salat, he has denied our-asws rights’. Then he-asws said: ‘O Sa’ad! Shall I-asws make you listen to the speech of the Quran?’ I said, ‘Yes, may Allah-azwj Bless you-asws’.
قال: «إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنْهى عَنِ الْفَحْشاءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ لَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ، فالنهي كلام، و الفحشاء و المنكر رجال، و نحن ذكر الله، و نحن أكبر
He-asws said: ‘Surely, the Salat prevents from the immoralities and the evil, and the Zikr of Allah is the greatest [29:45]. So the prevention is speech, and the ‘immoralities and the evil’ are men (enemies of the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww), and we-asws are the Zikr of Allah-azwj, we-asws are the greatest’.[23]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الرَّيَّانِ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الدِّهْقَانِ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ( عليه السلام ) فَقَالَ لِي مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى قُلْتُ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ قَامَ فَصَلَّى
Ali Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Al Husayn, from Ali Bin Al Rayyan, from Ubeydullah Bin Abdullah Al Dihqan who said,
‘I went over to Abu Al-Hassan Al-Reza-asws, so he-asws said to me: ‘What is the meaning of His-azwj Words: And does Zikr of a Name of his Lord, so he sends Salawat [87:15] (فَصَلَّى)?’ I said, ‘Every time he mentions the Name of his Lord-azwj, he prays Salāt’.
فَقَالَ لِي لَقَدْ كَلَّفَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ هَذَا شَطَطاً فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَكَيْفَ هُوَ فَقَالَ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ صَلَّى عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ
So he-asws said to me: ‘So Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Encumbered him with an enormous burden’. So, I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! So how is it?’ So he-asws said: ‘Every time he mentions the Name of his Lord-azwj, he sends Salawāt upon Muhammad-saww and his-saww Progeny-asws’.[24]
الشيخ في (التهذيب): بإسناده، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن أبي بصير، عن زرارة، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، أنه قال: «من تمام الصوم إعطاء الزكاة، كالصلاة على النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) فإنها من تمام الصلاة
Al-Sheykh in Al-Tehzeeb, by his chain from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Abu Baseer, from Zurara, who has said:
‘Abu Abdullah-asws has said: ‘The one who completes the Fasts, gives the Zakat, should send Salawat upon the Prophet-saww, for it is from the completion of the Salat.
و من صام و لم يؤدها فلا صوم له إذا تركها متعمدا
And the one who Fasts but does not recite it (Salawat), so there is no Fast for him if he has avoided it deliberately.
و من صلى و لم يصل على النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) و ترك ذلك متعمدا فلا صلاة له، إن الله عز و جل بدأ بها قبل الصلاة، فقال: قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى
And one who prays Salat and does not send Salawat upon the Prophet-saww, and leaves that deliberately, so there is no Salat for him. Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic has Begun by it before the Salat: He has succeeded, one who purifies himself [87:14] And does Zikr of a Name of his Lord, so he sends Salawat [87:15]’.[25]
VERSES 16 – 19
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا {16}
But, you (hypocrites) are preferring the life of the world [87:16]
وَالْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ {17}
And the Hereafter is better and more lasting (by adhering to the Zikr) [87:17]
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَىٰ {18}
Surely, this is (also written) in the former Parchments [87:18]
صُحُفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ {19}
The Parchments of Ibrahim and Musa [87:19]
محمد بن يعقوب: عن الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن عبد الله بن إدريس، عن محمد بن سنان، عن المفضل بن عمر، قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله (عليه السلام): قوله عز و جل: بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ الْحَياةَ الدُّنْيا؟ قال: «ولايتهم
Muhammad Bin Yaqoub, from Al-Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Moala Bin Muhammad, from Abdullah Bin Idrees, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Al-MufazzAl-Bin Umar who said:
‘I said to Abu Abdullah-asws, ‘(What about) the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: But, you are preferring the life of the world [87:16]?’ He-asws said: ‘Their wilayah (enemies of Ahl Al-Bayt-asws)’.
وَ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ وَ أَبْقى قال: «ولاية أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام): إِنَّ هذا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولى صُحُفِ إِبْراهِيمَ وَ مُوسى
And the Hereafter is better and more lasting [87:17] – He-asws said: ‘Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen-asws– Surely this is in the former Parchments [87:18] The Parchments of Ibrahim and Musa [87:19]’.[26]
العياشي: عن الأصبغ بن نباتة قال: [لما] قدم أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) الكوفة، صلى بهم أربعين صباحا يقرأ بهم: سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الْأَعْلَى قال: فقال المنافقون: لا و الله، ما يحسن ابن أبي طالب أن يقرأ القرآن، و لو أحسن أن يقرأ القرآن لقرأ بنا غير هذه السورة
Al-Ayyashi – From Al-Asbagh Bin Nabata who said:
‘When Amir-Al-Momineen-asws proceeded to Al-Kufa, he-asws Prayed with them for forty morning reciting with them “Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High” [87:1]. The hypocrites said, ‘No, by Allah-azwj! The son-asws of Abu Talib-asws is not being good in reciting the Quran, and it would be better if he-asws were to recite the Quran with us by other than this Chapter’.
قال: فبلغه ذلك، فقال: «ويل لهم، إني لأعرف ناسخه من منسوخه، و محكمه من متشابهه، و فصله من فصاله، و حروفه من معانيه. و الله ما من حرف نزل على محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله) إلا أني أعرف فيمن نزل، و في أي يوم، و في أي موضع
He (Al-Asbagh) said, ‘That reached him-asws, so he-asws said: ‘Woe be unto them! I-asws recognise its Abrogating from its Abrogated, and it’s Decisive from its Allegorical, and its Separated from its Joint, and its Letters from its Meanings. By Allah-azwj! There is no letter which was Revealed unto Muhammad-saww except that I-asws recognise for which one it was Revealed, and in which day, and regarding which subject.
ويل لهم، أما يقرءون إِنَّ هذا لَفِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولى صُحُفِ إِبْراهِيمَ وَ مُوسى و الله عندي، ورثتهما من رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، و قد أنهى لي رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) [صحف] إبراهيم و موسى (عليهما السلام). ويل لهم- و الله- أنا الذي أنزل الله في: وَ تَعِيَها أُذُنٌ واعِيَةٌ ، فإنما كنا عند رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) فيخبرنا بالوحي فأعيه أنا و من يعيه، فإذا خرجنا قالوا: ما ذا قال آنفا؟
Woe be unto them! But they are reciting Surely this is in the former Parchments [87:18] The Parchments of Ibrahim and Musa [87:19]. By Allah-azwj! These are in my-asws possession, and I-asws inherited these two from the Rasool Allah-saww, and the Rasool Allah-saww handed over to me-asws the Scriptures of Ibrahim-as and Musa-as. Woe be unto them! By Allah-azwj, I-asws (am the one) about whom Allah-azwj Revealed: “And that the retaining ear would retain it” [69:12]. But rather, we used to be in the presence of the Rasool Allah-saww, so he-saww would inform us by the Revelation, so I-asws would hear it and retain it. So when we would go out, they would say: “What was it that he said just now?” [47:16]’’. [27]
Add Imam Sadiq asws put his ring down and Tabarukat came out of it
حدثنا محمد بن عيسى عن محمد بن سنان عن اسماعيل بن جابر عن عبد الكريم بن عمرو عن عبد الحميد بن ابى الديلم عن ابى عبد الله عليه السلام قال اوصى موسى إلى يوشع بن نون واوصى يوشع بن نون إلى ولد هارون ولم يوصى إلى ولد موسى لان الله له الخيرة يختار من يشاء ممن يشاء وبشر موسى يوشع بن نون بالمسيح
It has been narrated to us by Muhammad Bin Isa, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ismail, Bin Jabir, from Abdul Kareem Bin Amro, from Abdul Hameed Bin Abu Al-Daylam, who has said:
‘Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Musa-as bequeathed to Yoshua-as Bin Noon-as, and Yoshua-as Bin Noon-as bequeathed to the son of Haroun-as, and did not bequeath to the son of Musa-as, because to Allah-azwj has the choice, He-azwj Choses whosoever that He-azwj so Wishes to, and Musa-as gave the good news to Yoshua Bin Noon-as of the Messiah-as.
فلما ان بعث الله المسيح قال لهم انه سيأتي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله من بعدى اسمه احمد من ولد اسماعيل يصدقني ويصدقكم وجرت بين الحواريين في المستحفظين وانما سماهم الله المستحفظين لانهم استحفظوا الاسم الاكبر وهو الكتاب الذى يعلم به كل شئ الذى كان مع الانبياء
When Allah-azwj Sent the Messiah-as, He-azwj Said to him-as that he-saww, the Rasool-Allah-saww will come afterwards, his-saww name will be Ahmad-saww from the son of Ismail. He-saww will ratify Me-azwj, and ratify you-as. And (a meeting) took place between the disciples among the Mustahfizeen (The guardians), and Allah-azwj had Named them as Al-Mustahfizeen because they were guarding the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar), and it is the Book by which everything can be known which was with the Prophets-as.
يقول الله تعالى لقد ارسلنا رسلنا بالبينات و انزلنا معهم الكتاب والميزان الكتاب الاسم الاكبر وانما عرف مما يدعى العلم التورية والانجيل والفرقان فما كان كتب نوح وما كتاب صالح وشعيب وابراهيم وقد اخبر الله ان هذا لفى الصحف الاولى صحف ابراهيم وموسى
Allah-azwj the Exalted has Said: We had Sent Our Rasools with the clear proofs, and We sent down the Book and the Scale with them [57:25], and the Book is the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar). And they also knew from what is called the knowledge of the Torah, and the Evangel and the Furqan. What was written by Nuh-as, and what Saleh-as wrote, and Shuayb-as, and Ibrahim-as, and this has been Informed by Allah-azwj that: Surely this is in the former Parchments [87:18] The Parchments of Ibrahim and Musa [87:19].
فاين صحف ابراهيم (فقال ظ) اما صحف ابراهيم فالاسم الاكبر وصحف موسى الاسم الاكبر فلم تزال الوصية يوصيها عالم بعد عالم حتى دفعوها إلى محمد صلى الله عليه وآله
So, where is the Parchment of Ibrahim-as? But, the Parchment of Ibrahim-as is the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar), and Scriptures of Musa-as is the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar). The successors-as never ceased to bequeath these to knowledgeable one after knowledgeable, until they were handed over to Muhammad-saww.
ثم اتاه جبرئيل فقال له انك قد قضيت نبوتك واستكملت ايامك فاجعل الاسم الاكبر وميراث العلم وآثار النبوة عند على عليه السلام فانى لااترك الارض الاولى فيها عالم يعرف به طاعتي ويعرف به ولايتى
Then Jibraeel-as came to him-saww. He said to him-saww: ‘You-saww have come to the end of your-saww Prophet-hood, and your-saww days are completed. Transfer the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar), and inheritance of the knowledge, and effects of the Prophet-hood to be in the possession of Ali-asws, for I-azwj do not Leave the Earth without My-azwj Guardian who is the most knowledgeable one-asws and has My-azwj utmost recognition, by whom-asws My-azwj obedience and My-azwj Wilayah can be recognised.
فيكون حجة لمن ولد بين قبض نبى إلى خروج آخر فأوحى بالاسم الاكبر وميراث العلم وآثار علم النبوة إلى على بن ابى طالب عليه السلام
Thus, he-asws would become a Divine Authority to the ones to be born between the passing away of the Prophet-saww up to the coming out of the last one-asws. He-azwj Revealed that the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Akbar), and inheritance of the knowledge, and effect of knowledge of the Prophet-hood be transferred to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws’.[28]
و روى حميد بن زياد، عن الحسن بن محمد بن سماعة، عن ابن رباط، عن ابن مسكان، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال: «يا [أبا] محمد، إن عندنا الصحف التي قال الله سبحانه: صُحُفِ إِبْراهِيمَ وَ مُوسى
It is reported by Humeyd Bin Zayd, from Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Bin Sama’at, from Ibn Rabat, from Ibn Muskan, from Abu Baseer,
‘From Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘O Abu Muhammad! In our-asws possession are the Parchment which Allah-azwj, Glorious is He-azwj, Spoke of: The Parchments of Ibrahim and Musa [87:19]’.
قال: قلت. جعلت فداك، و إن الصحف هي الألواح؟ قال: «نعم
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you-asws! And the Parchments, these are the Tablets?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes’’.[29]
و عنه: عن محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن ابن محبوب، عن محمد بن الفضيل، عن أبي الحسن (عليه السلام)، قال: «ولاية علي (عليه السلام) مكتوبة في جميع صحف الأنبياء، و لن يبعث الله رسولا إلا بنبوة محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله) و وصية علي (عليه السلام)
And from him, from Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Muhammad Bin Al-Fazeyl, who has said:
‘Abu Al-Hassan-asws has said: ‘The Wilayah of Ali-asws is written in all the Books of the Prophets-as. And Allah-azwj never Sent a Rasool-as except with the Prophet-hood of Muhammad-saww and the successor-ship of Ali-asws’.[30]
إكمال الدين عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ الدَّقَّاقُ عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْجُنَيْدِ الرَّازِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّازِقِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مثيا [مِينَاءَ] مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلنَّبِيِّ ص يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ يُغَسِّلُكَ إِذَا مِتَّ فَقَالَ يُغَسِّلُ كُلَّ نَبِيٍّ وَصِيُّهُ قُلْتُ فَمَنْ وَصِيُّكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ
(The book) ‘Ikmaal Al Deen’ – Ali, Bin Ahmad Al Daqqaq, from Hamza Bin Al Qasim, from Ali Bin Al Juneyd Al Razy, from Abu Awanah, from Al Husayn Bin Ali, from Abdul Razaq, from his father, from Masya a slave of Abdul Rahman Bin Awf, from Abdullah Bin Masoud who said,
‘I said to the Prophet-saww, ‘O Rasool-Allah-saww! Who will wash you-saww when you-saww pass away?’ He-saww said: ‘Every Prophet-saww is washed by his-as successor-as’. I said, ‘So, who is your-saww successor-asws?’ He-saww said: ‘Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws’.
فَقُلْتُ كَمْ يَعِيشُ بَعْدَكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً فَإِنَّ يُوشَعَ بْنَ نُونٍ وَصِيَّ مُوسَى عَاشَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ ثَلَاثِينَ سَنَةً وَ خَرَجَتْ عَلَيْهِ صَفْرَاءُ [صَفُورَاءُ] بِنْتُ شُعَيْبٍ زَوْجُ مُوسَى فَقَالَتْ أَنَا أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْرِ مِنْكَ فَقَاتَلَهَا فَقَتَلَ مُقَاتِلَتَهَا وَ أَسَرَهَا فَأَحْسَنَ أَسْرَهَا
I said, ‘How long will he-asws live for after you-saww, O Rasool-Allah-saww?’ He-saww said: ‘Thirty years, for Yoshua Bin Noon-as, successor-as of Musa-as lived for thirty years from after him-as, and Safra’a daughter of Shuayb-as, wife of Musa-as, came out against him-as and said, ‘I am more rightful with the command than you-as are. So, he-as fought her in a battle and made her a captive, and was good to her in her captivity.
وَ إِنَّ ابْنَةَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ سَتَخْرُجُ عَلَى عَلِيٍّ فِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا أَلْفاً مِنْ أُمَّتِي فَيُقَاتِلُهَا فَيَقْتُلُ مُقَاتِلَتَهَا وَ يَأْسِرُهَا فَيُحْسِنُ أَسْرَهَا وَ فِيهَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَ قَرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَ لا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولى يَعْنِي صَفْرَاءَ [صَفُورَاءَ] بِنْتَ شُعَيْبٍ
And the daughter of Abu Bakr will be going out against Ali-asws among such and such thousand from my-saww community, and he-asws will be fighting her and kill her fighters, and make her a captive, and be good to her in her captivity, and regarding her Allah-azwj the Exalted has Revealed: And stay in your houses and do not display your finery like the displaying of the Pre-Islamic period before; [33:33] – meaning Safra daughter of Shuayb-as’’.[31]
[1] تفسير القمي، ج2، ص: 416
[2] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 2, The book of our Prophet-saww, Ch 11 H 69
[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 89 – The Book of Quran – Ch 8 H 24
[4] (ثواب الأعمال: 122.)
[5] (مجمع البيان 10: 717.)
[6] Tafseer Al Burhan – H 11537
[7] خواص القرآن: 13 «نحوه».
[8] ثواب الأعمال: 118
[9] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Subsistence Ch 1 H 1
[10] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 58 H 3
[11] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 58 H 14
[12] روضة الواعظين: 47
[13] (تفسير القمّي 2: 417.)
[14] (مختصر بصائر الدرجات: 93.)
[15] Wasail ul Shia, H 33369
[16] Wasail ul Shia, H 33400
[17] Tafseer Imam Hassan Al Askariasws – S 311 (Extract)
[18] روضة الواعظين: 89. (Extract)
[19] الكافي 1: 154/ 1 (Extract)
[20] الكافي 1: 163/ 1. (Extract)
[21] Basaair Al Darajaat – P 1 Ch 19 H 19 (Extract)
[22] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Merits of the Quran CH 1 H 1
[23] الكافي 2: 437/ 1.
[24] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 20 H 18
[25] (التهذيب 2: 159/ 625.)
[26] (الكافي 1: 345/ 30.)
[27] (تفسير العيّاشي 1: 14/ 1، ينابيع المودّة: 120)
[28] Basaair Al Darajaat – Part 9 CH 22 H 4
[29] – تأويل الآيات 2: 785/ 2.
[30] (الكافي 1: 363/ 6.)
[31] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 22, The book of our Prophetsaww, P 5 Ch 2 H 12