Al Saff

CHAPTER 61

AL-SAFF

(Battle Arrays)

(14 VERSES)

VERSES 1 – 14

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Brief Introduction of Al-Saff (61):

Sura Al-Saff (14 verses) was revealed in Madinah.[1]  The name of Chapter 61 ‘Al-Saff’ comes from the Verse 61:4:  Surely, Allah loves those who fight in His Way in rows as if they were like a solid structure [61:4]. In a Hadeeth, ‘Whenever (Imam) Ali^-asws stood in a row during the fighting, he^-asws was: like a solid structure [61:4]. He^-asws followed whatever Allah^-azwj Said with regards to it. Thus, Allah^-azwj Praised him^-asws, and no one killed the Polytheists like he^-asws did’.[2]

Tafseer Al-Qummi – O you those who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? [61:2] – Addressing to companions of Rasool-Allah^-saww, the ones who had promised him^-saww that they would help him^-saww and will not oppose his^-saww orders, nor will they break his^-saww pact regarding Amir Al-Momineen^-asws. Allah^-azwj Knew they will not be loyal with that they are saying. He^-azwj Said: Why do you say that which you do not do? [61:2] It is most Hateful to Allah [61:3] – the Verse. And Allah^-azwj has Named them as ‘Believers (Momineen)’ due to their acceptance, and even if they do not ratify’’.^[3]

Abu Al-Hassan Al-Maazy^-asws (7^th Imam^-asws), said about Words of Allah^-azwj Majestic and Mighty: They are intending to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths [61:8]. He^-asws said: ‘They are intending to extinguish the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws with their mouths (by talking against it)’.  And it was asked about the Word of Allah^-azwj: but Allah will Complete His light [61:8]’. He^-asws said: ‘And Allah^-azwj will Complete the Imamate. And the Imamate, it is the Light (النُّور), and these are the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: Therefore believe in Allah and His Rasool and the Light which We Sent down [64:8]’. He^-asws said: ‘The Light (النُّور), it is the Imam^-asws’.

I said, ‘He is the One Who Sent His Rasool with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth [61:9]’. He^-asws said: ‘He^-azwj is Who Commanded His^-azwj Rasool^-saww with the Wilayah of his^-saww successor^-asws, and the Wilayah – is the Religion of the Truth’.

I said, ‘in order to prevail it upon all the Religions [61:9]’. He^-asws said: ‘Prevail it upon the entirety of the Religions during the rising of Al-Qaim^-asws’.

He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj is Saying: but Allah will Complete His light [61:8], the Wilayah of Al-Qaim^-asws, and even if the Kafirs abhor [61:8] – the Wilayah of Ali^-asws’.^[4]

Imam Abu Abdullah^-asws (6^th Imam) reports that ‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘‘I^-asws am the profitable trade which saves from the painful Punishment which Allah^-azwj has Pointed to in His^-azwj Book, so He^-azwj Said: O you those who believe! Shall I point you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10]’’.^[5]

MERITS

ابن بابويه: بإسناده، عن أبي بصير، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، قال: «من قرأ سورة الصف و أدمن قراءتها في فرائضه و نوافله، صفه الله مع ملائكته و أنبيائه المرسلين إن شاء الله تعالى

Ibn Babuwayh, by his chain, from Abu Baseer,

Abu Ja’far^-asws has said: ‘The one who recites Surah Al-Saff (Chapter 61), and habitually recites it in his Obligatory (Salat) and his optional (Salat), Allah^-azwj would Place him in the rows of His^-azwj Angels, and His^-azwj Prophets^-as, and the Rasools^-as, if Allah^-azwj the Exalted so Desires it’.[6]

و من (خواص القرآن): روي عن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) إنه قال: «من قرأ هذه السورة كان عيسى (عليه السلام) مصليا عليه و مستغفرا له ما دام في الدنيا، و إن مات كان رفيقه في الآخرة.

And from Khawas Al Quran –

It has been reported from the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘The one who recites this Surah (Al-Saff), Isa^-as would send Salawat upon him, and seek Forgiveness for him for as long as he stays in the world, and if he were to die, he would be his^-as friend in the Hereafter.

و من أدمن قراءتها في سفره حفظه الله، و كفي طوارقه حتى يرجع

And one who habitually recites in his travels, Allah^-azwj would Protect him, and Suffice for him in his journey until he returns’.[7]

VERSE 1

سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ {1}

Whatever is in the skies and whatever is in the earth Glorifies Allah, and He is the Mighty, the Wise [61:1]  

عن مسعدة بن صدقة، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه (عليهما السلام) أنه دخل عليه رجل فقال له: فداك أبي و امي، إني أجد الله يقول في كتابه: وَ إِنْ مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَ لكِنْ لا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ؟ فقال له: «هو كما قال الله تعالى

From Mas’adat Bin Sadaqat,

‘From Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws. A man came up to him^-asws and said to him^-asws, ‘May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you^-asws! I have found Allah^-azwj Saying in His^-azwj Book: and there is nothing except it Glorifies with His Praise, but you are not understanding their Glorification [17:44]?’ So, he^-asws said to him: ‘It is just as Allah^-azwj Exalted has Said it to be’.

عن الحسن، عن النوفلي، عن السكوني، عن جعفر بن محمد، عن أبيه (عليهما السلام) قال: «نهى رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) عن أن توسم البهائم في وجوهها، و أن تضرب وجوهها، فإنها تسبح بحمد ربها

From Al Hassan, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

‘From Ja’far^-asws Bin Muhammad^-asws, from his^-asws father^-asws having said: ‘Rasool-Allah^-saww prohibited from branding the animals upon their faces, and hitting them on their faces, for it Glorifies its Lord^-azwj with Praise’.[8]

[ أبو نعيم الاصبهاني ] حدثنا عبد الله بن محمد بن جعفر، حدثنا إسماعيل بن موسى الحاسب، حدثنا عبد الملك بن عبد ربه الطائي، حدثنا حصين بن القاسم، حدثنا أبو حمزة الثمالي، قال: قال لي محمد بن علي بن الحسين رضي الله تعالى عنهم – وسمع عصافير يصحن – فقال: تدري يا أبا حمزة ما يقلن ؟ قلت: لا ! قال: تسبحن ربي عزوجل ويطلبن قوت يومهن

Abu Naeem Al Asbahany – Abdullah Bin Muhammad Bin Ja’far narrated to us, from Ismail Bin Musa Al Hasib, from Abdul Malik Bin Abd Rabihi Al Ta’aiy, from Hasen Bin Al Qasim, from Abu Hamza Al Sumaly who said,

‘Muhammad^-asws Bin Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws said to me, and he^-asws heard the chirping of the sparrows, so he^-asws said: ‘Do you know, O Abu Hamza, what they are saying?’ I said, ‘No!’ The Imam^-asws said: ‘They are Glorifying my^-asws Lord^-azwj Mighty and Majestic and seeking the provision for their day’.[9]

قال: أ تسبح الشجرة اليابسة؟ فقال: «نعم، أما سمعت خشب البيت كيف ينقصف، و ذلك تسبيحه، فسبحان الله على كل حال

He said, ‘Does the dried-up tree Glorify?’ So he^-asws said: ‘Yes. Have you not heard the timber of the house how it cracks? And that is its Glorification. So Allah^-azwj is Glorified upon every situation’.[10]

VERSES 2 & 3

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ {2}

O you those who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? [61:2]

كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ تَقُولُوا مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ {3}

It is most Hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do [61:3]

فس‏: (يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ) مُخَاطَبَةٌ لِأَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ الَّذِينَ وَعَدُوهُ أَنْ يَنْصُرُوهُ وَ لَا يُخَالِفُوا أَمْرَهُ وَ لَا يَنْقُضُوا عَهْدَهُ فِي أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَعَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَفُونَ‏ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ، فَقَالَ: (لِمَ تَقُولُونَ ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ كَبُرَ مَقْتاً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ‏ …) الْآيَةَ، وَ قَدْ سَمَّاهُمُ اللَّهُ مُؤْمِنِينَ بِإِقْرَارِهِمْ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَصْدُقُوا

Tafseer Al-Qummi – O you those who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? [61:2] – Addressing to companions of Rasool-Allah^-saww, the ones who had promised him^-saww that they would help him^-saww and will not oppose his^-saww orders, nor will they break his^-saww pact regarding Amir Al-Momineen^-asws. Allah^-azwj Knew they will not be loyal with that they are saying. He^-azwj Said: Why do you say that which you do not do? [61:2] It is most Hateful to Allah [61:3] – the Verse. And Allah^-azwj has Named them as ‘Believers (Momineen)’ due to their acceptance, and even if they do not ratify’’.^[11]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ عِدَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ أَخَاهُ نَذْرٌ لَا كَفَّارَةَ لَهُ فَمَنْ أَخْلَفَ فَبِخُلْفِ اللَّهِ بَدَأَ وَ لِمَقْتِهِ تَعَرَّضَ وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ كَبُرَ مَقْتاً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ تَقُولُوا ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim who said,

‘I heard Abu Abdullah^-asws saying: ‘A promise of the Momin to his brother is a vow with no expiation for it. So, the one who breaks, then he has opposed Allah^-azwj Initiating to meet Him^-azwj being exposed, and these are His^-azwj Words: O you those who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? [61:2] It is most Hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do [61:3]’.[12]

In a letter written to Al-Ashtar Al-Nakhaie, Amir Al-Momineen^-asws says:

وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ الْمَنَّ عَلَى رَعِيَّتِكَ بِإِحْسَانِكَ أَوِ التَّزَيُّدَ فِيمَا كَانَ مِنْ فِعْلِكَ أَوْ أَنْ تَعِدَهُمْ فَتُتْبِعَ مَوْعُودَكَ بِخُلْفِكَ فَإِنَّ الْمَنَّ يُبْطِلُ الْإِحْسَانَ وَ التَّزَيُّدَ يَذْهَبُ بِنُورِ الْحَقِّ وَ الْخُلْفَ يُوجِبُ الْمَقْتَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَ عِنْدَ النَّاسِ قَالَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ‏ كَبُرَ مَقْتاً عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ تَقُولُوا ما لا تَفْعَلُونَ‏

And beware of reminding the conferment upon your citizens with your favours or magnification regarding what had happened from your deeds, or that you should make promises to them then follow your promise with your breaking it, for the reminding of the conferment would invalidate the favours, and magnification would do away with the radiance of the truth, and the breaking (of the promise) would obligate the hatred in the Presence of Allah^-azwj and presence of the people. Allah^-azwj the Glorious Said: It is most Hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do [61:3] (an extract).^[13]

VERSE 4

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيَانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ {4}

Surely, Allah loves those who fight in His Way in rows as if they were like a solid structure [61:4]

و عنه، قال: حدثنا عبد العزيز بن يحيى، عن ميسرة بن محمد، عن إبراهيم بن محمد، عن ابن فضيل، عن حسان بن عبيد الله، عن الضحاك بن مزاحم، عن ابن عباس (رضي الله عنه)، قال: كان علي (عليه السلام) إذا صف في القتال كأنه بنيان مرصوص، يتبع ما قال الله فيه، فمدحه الله، و ما قتل من المشركين، كقتله أحد

And from him, from Abdul Aziz Bin Yahya, from Maysara Bin Muhammad, from Ibrahim bin Muhammad, from Ibn Fazeyl, from Hisan Bin Ubeydullah, from Al Zahak Bin Mazahim,

Ibn Abbas narrates: ‘Whenever Ali^-asws stood in a row during the fighting, he^-asws was: like a solid structure [61:4]. He^-asws followed whatever Allah^-azwj Said with regards to it. Thus, Allah^-azwj Praised him^-asws, and no one killed the Polytheists like he^-asws did’.[14]

وَ فِي حَدِيثِ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ حَرَّضَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( صلوات الله عليه ) النَّاسَ بِصِفِّينَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ دَلَّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ وَ تُشْفِي بِكُمْ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ الْإِيمَانِ بِاللَّهِ وَ الْجِهَادِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَ جَعَلَ ثَوَابَهُ مَغْفِرَةً لِلذَّنْبِ وَ مَساكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ

And in a Hadeeth of Maalik Bin Ayn who said,

‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws called the people at (the battle of) Siffeen, so he^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Pointed you all to be upon a trade which would salvage you from the Painful Punishment, and Heal you to be upon the goodness of the belief in Allah^-azwj and the Jihad in the Way of Allah^-azwj, and Made its Rewards to be Forgiveness of the sins, and goodly dwellings in the Gardens of Eden’.

وَ قَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ فَسَوُّوا صُفُوفَكُمْ كَالْبُنْيَانِ الْمَرْصُوصِ فَقَدِّمُوا الدَّارِعَ وَ أَخِّرُوا الْحَاسِرَ وَ عَضُّوا عَلَى النَّوَاجِدِ فَإِنَّهُ أَنْبَأُ لِلسُّيُوفِ عَلَى الْهَامِ وَ الْتَوُوا عَلَى أَطْرَافِ الرِّمَاحِ فَإِنَّهُ أَمْوَرُ لِلْأَسِنَّةِ وَ غُضُّوا الْأَبْصَارَ فَإِنَّهُ أَرْبَطُ لِلْجَأْشِ وَ أَسْكَنُ لِلْقُلُوبِ وَ أَمِيتُوا الْأَصْوَاتَ فَإِنَّهُ أَطْرَدُ لِلْفَشَلِ وَ أَوْلَى بِالْوَقَارِ

And the Mighty and Majestic Said: Surely Allah loves those who fight in His Way in rows as if they were like a solid structure [61:4]. Therefore, even out your rows to be like a solid structure. Place the armoured ones in front and the unarmoured to be next, and grit your teeth for it is stronger for the swords upon the heads (of the enemies), and be quick in launching the sides of the spears for it is more violent for the spikes, and lower your eyes for it is linked to the composure and a tranquillity for the hearts, and deaden your voices for it drives out the failure and closer with the dignity.

وَ لَا تَمِيلُوا بِرَايَاتِكُمْ وَ لَا تُزِيلُوهَا وَ لَا تَجْعَلُوهَا إِلَّا مَعَ شُجْعَانِكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْمَانِعَ لِلذِّمَارِ وَ الصَّابِرَ عِنْدَ نُزُولِ الْحَقَائِقِ هُمْ أَهْلُ الْحِفَاظِ

Neither incline your flags nor let them fall, and do not make these to be with any except for your bravest ones, for the defenders of the honour and the patient during the descent of the realities, they are the protecting people.[15]

فِي مِصْبَاحِ شَيْخِ الطَّائِفَةِ قُدِّسَ سِرُّهُ خُطْبَةٌ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ خَطَبَ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْغَدِيرِ يَقُولُ فِيهَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ‏ وَ اعْلَمُوا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الَّذِينَ يُقاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِهِ صَفًّا كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ» أَ تَدْرُونَ مَا سَبِيلُهُ؟ أَنَا سَبِيلُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي نَصَبَنِي لِلِاتِّبَاعِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

In (the book) Misbah of Sheykh Al Ta’ifa –

‘There is a sermon of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws he^-asws preached with on the Day of Al-Ghadeer. He^-asws is saying in it: ‘And know, O you Momineen, that Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Said: Surely Allah loves those who fight in His Way in rows as if they were like a solid structure [61:4]. Do you know what is His^-azwj Way? I^-asws am the Way of Allah^-azwj which He^-azwj Established me for the obedience (of the people) after His^-azwj Prophet^-saww’’.[16]

VERSES 5 & 6

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ لِمَ تُؤْذُونَنِي وَقَدْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوا أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ {5}

And when Musa said to his people: ‘O my people! Why are you hurting me, and you know I am a Rasool of Allah to you all? But when they deviated, Allah Deviated their hearts, and Allah does not Guide the transgressing people [61:5]  

وَإِذْ قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ ۖ فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ قَالُوا هَٰذَا سِحْرٌ مُبِينٌ {6}

And when Isa Ibn Maryam said: ‘O Children of Israel! I am a Rasool of Allah to you all, in ratification of what is before me from the Torah, and giving glad tidings of a Rasool to come after me, his name being Ahmad’. But when he came with them with clear proofs, they said, ‘This is clear sorcery!’ [61:6]

بإسناده عن الحسن بن علي عليه السلام قال: جاء نفر من اليهود إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله – وساق الحديث الطويل إلى أن قال -: قال اليهودي فأخبرني عن خمسة أشياء مكتوبات في التوراة – وساقه إلى أن قال -: فقال النبي صلى الله عليه وآله: أول ما في التوراة مكتوب: محمد رسول الله، وهي بالعبرانية طاب، ثم تلا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله هذه الآية: ” يجدونه مكتوبا عندهم في التورية والانجيل، ومبشرا برسول يأتي من بعدي اسمه أحمد

By his chain,

‘From Al-Hassan^-asws Bin Ali^-asws having said: ‘A number of Jews came to Rasool-Allah^-saww’ – and continued the lengthy Hadeeth up to he said, ‘The Jew said, ‘Inform me about five things written in the Torah’ – and continued it until he said, ‘So, the Prophet^-saww said: ‘The first of what is written in the Torah is: “Muhammad^-saww is a Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj”, and in Hebrew it is ‘Taab’’. Then Rasool-Allah^-saww recited this Verse: Those who are following the Rasool, the Prophet, the Ummy (Makkan) whom they are finding written with them in the Torah and the Evangel [7:157] and giving glad tidings of a Rasool to come after me, his name being Ahmad’. [61:6].

وفي السطر الثاني اسم وصيي علي بن أبي طالب، وفي الثالث والرابع سبطي الحسن و الحسين، وفي السطر الخامس امهما فاطمة سيدة نساء العالمين، وفي التوراة اسم وصيي إلياء، واسم السبطين شبر وشبير وهما نورا فاطمة. قال اليهودي: صدقت يا محمد

And in the second line is the name of the successor Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws, and in the third and the fourth are the two grandsons Al-Hassan^-asws and Al-Husayn^-asws, and in the fifth line is their^-asws mother Fatima^-asws, Chieftess of the women of the worlds. And in the Torah the name of the successor^-asws is Eliya, and names of the two grandsons are Shabbar and Shabbir, and they^-as are both lights of (Syeda) Fatima^-asws’. The Jew said, ‘You^-saww speak the truth, O Muhammad^-saww!’’^[17]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عليه السلام) قَالَ فَجَرَى بَيْنَ كُلِّ نَبِيَّيْنِ عَشَرَةُ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَ تِسْعَةُ وَ ثَمَانِيَةُ أَنْبِيَاءَ كُلُّهُمْ أَنْبِيَاءُ وَ جَرَى لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ مَا جَرَى لِنُوحٍ (صلوات الله عليه) وَ كَمَا جَرَى لآِدَمَ وَ هُودٍ وَ صَالِحٍ وَ شُعَيْبٍ وَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ (صلوات الله عليه) حَتَّى انْتَهَتْ إِلَى يُوسُفَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ (عليهما السلام)

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al-Hassan Bin Mahboub, from Muhammad Bin Al-Fuzeyl, from Abu Hamza, who has said:

Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘So there came in between every two Prophets^-as, ten, or nine, or eight Prophets^-as, and all of them were Prophets^-as, and there happened for every Prophet^-as what happened for Noah^-as, as is what had happened to Adam^-as, and Hud^-as, and Salih^-as, and Shuayb^-as, and Ibrahim^-as until it ended up to Yusuf Bin Yaqoub^-as.

فَلَمَّا نَزَلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ عَلَى مُوسَى (عليه السلام) بَشَّرَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَ كَانَ بَيْنَ يُوسُفَ وَ مُوسَى مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَ كَانَ وَصِيُّ مُوسَى يُوشَعَ بْنَ نُونٍ (عليهما السلام) وَ هُوَ فَتَاهُ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَلَمْ تَزَلِ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ تُبَشِّرُ بِمُحَمَّدٍ (صلى الله عليه وآله) حَتَّى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ

So when the Torah was Revealed unto Musa^-as, it gave the glad tidings of Muhammad^-saww, and in between Yusuf^-as and Musa^-as were Prophets^-as. And Musa^-as had bequeathed to Yoshua bin Noon^-as and he^-as was the young man whom Allah^-azwj Mentioned in His^-azwj Book. The Prophets^-as never ceased to give the glad tidings of Muhammad^-saww until Allah^-azwj Blessed and Exalted Sent the Messiah Isa Bin Maryam^-as.

فَبَشَّرَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ (صلى الله عليه وآله) وَ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى يَجِدُونَهُ يَعْنِي الْيَهُودَ وَ النَّصَارَى مَكْتُوباً يَعْنِي صِفَةَ مُحَمَّدٍ (صلى الله عليه وآله) عِنْدَهُمْ يَعْنِي فِي التَّوْراةِ وَ الْإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَ يَنْهاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُخْبِرُ عَنْ عِيسَى وَ مُبَشِّراً بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِنْ بَعْدِي اسْمُهُ أَحْمَدُ وَ بَشَّرَ مُوسَى وَ عِيسَى بِمُحَمَّدٍ (صلى الله عليه وآله) كَمَا بَشَّرَ الْأَنْبِيَاءُ (عليهم السلام) بَعْضُهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ حَتَّى بَلَغَتْ مُحَمَّداً (صلى الله عليه وآله)

So he^-as gave glad tidings of Muhammad^-saww and these are the Words of the Exalted: they are finding [7:157] – meaning the Jews and the Christians, written with them meaning the description of Muhammad^-saww in the Torah and the Evangel (that) he would be instructing them with the good things and forbidding them from the evil, and these are the Words of Allah^-azwj: And when Isa Ibn Maryam said: . . . and giving glad tidings of a Rasool to come after me, his name being Ahmad’ [61:6], and Musa^-as and Isa^-as (both) gave the glad tidings of Muhammad^-saww just as the Prophets^-as had given to one another until it reached Muhammad^-saww.[18]

VERSES 7 & 8

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَهُوَ يُدْعَىٰ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ {7}

And who is more unjust than the one who fabricates the lie upon Allah while he is being invited to (embrace) Al-Islam? And Allah does not Guide the unjust people [61:7]  

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ {8}

They are intending to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will Complete His Light, and even if the Kafirs abhor it [61:8]

The Light of Allah^-azwj & the altered Verse

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْمَاضِي ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْواهِهِمْ قَالَ يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا وَلَايَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ

Ali Bin Muhammad, from some of our companions, from Ibn Mahboub, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzayl,

‘From Abu Al-Hassan Al-Maazy^-asws (7^th Imam^-asws), said, ‘I asked Him^-asws about the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic: They are intending to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths [61:8]. He^-asws said: ‘They are intending to extinguish the Wilayah of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws with their mouths (by talking against it)’.

قُلْتُ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ قَالَ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ الْإِمَامَةِ لِقَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الَّذِينَ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ النُّورِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْنا فَالنُّورُ هُوَ الْإِمَامُ

I said, ‘The Words of the Exalted: but Allah will Complete His light [61:8]’. He^-asws said: ‘And Allah^-azwj will Complete the Imamate. And the Imamate, it is the Light (النُّور), and these are the Words of the Mighty and Majestic: Therefore believe in Allah and His Rasool and the Light which We Sent down [64:8]’. He^-asws said: ‘The Light (النُّور), it is the Imam^-asws’.

قُلْتُ هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدى وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ قَالَ هُوَ الَّذِي أَمَرَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْوَلَايَةِ لِوَصِيِّهِ وَ الْوَلَايَةُ هِيَ دِينُ الْحَقِّ

I said, ‘He is the One Who Sent His Rasool with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth [61:9]’. He^-asws said: ‘He^-azwj is Who Commanded His^-azwj Rasool^-saww with the Wilayah of his^-saww successor^-asws, and the Wilayah – is the Religion of the Truth’.

قُلْتُ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ قَالَ يُظْهِرُهُ عَلَى جَمِيعِ الْأَدْيَانِ عِنْدَ قِيَامِ الْقَائِمِ

I said, ‘in order to prevail it upon all the Religions [61:9]’. He^-asws said: ‘Prevail it upon the entirety of the Religions during the rising of Al-Qaim^-asws’.

قَالَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَايَةِ الْقَائِمِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْكافِرُونَ بِوَلَايَةِ عَلِيٍّ

He^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj is Saying: but Allah will Complete His light [61:8], the Wilayah of Al-Qaim^-asws, and even if the Kafirs abhor the Wilayah of Ali [61:8] – the Wilayah of Ali^-asws’.

قُلْتُ هَذَا تَنْزِيلٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ أَمَّا هَذَا الْحَرْفُ فَتَنْزِيلٌ وَ أَمَّا غَيْرُهُ فَتَأْوِيلٌ

I said, ‘This is Revelation?’ He^-asws said: ‘Yes. As for this word (Wilayah of Ali^-asws), so it is Revelation, and as for other than it, so it is explanation’’.[19]

محمد بن العباس، قال: حدثنا علي بن عبد الله، عن إسماعيل بن إسحاق، عن يحيى بن هاشم، عن أبي الجارود، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، أنه قال: «يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْواهِهِمْ وَ اللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ و الله لو تركتم هذا الأمر، ما تركه الله

Muhammad Bin Al Abbas, from Ali Bin Abdullah, from Ismail Bin Is’haq, from Yahya Bin Hisham, from Abu Al Jaroud,

Abu Ja’far^-asws has said: ‘They are intending to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths but Allah will Complete His Light [61:8]. By Allah^-azwj! If you were to neglect this matter (Al-Wilayah), Allah^-azwj did not neglect it’.[20]

فِي تَفْسِيرِ الْعَيَّاشِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالَ: وَقَفَ عَلَيَّ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الثَّانِي عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي بَنِي زُرَيْقٍ فَقَالَ لِي وَ هُوَ رَافِعٌ صَوْتَهُ: يَا أَحْمَدُ! قُلْتُ: لَبَّيْكَ، قَالَ: إِنَّهُ لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ جَهَدَ النَّاسُ عَلَى إِطْفَاءِ نُورِ اللَّهِ فَأَبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ بِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

In Tafseer Al Ayyashi, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad who said,

‘Ali Abu Al-Hassan^-asws the 2^nd paused among the clan of Zureyq and he^-asws said to me, and he^-asws was raising his^-asws voice: ‘O Ahmad!’ I said, ‘At your^-asws service!’ He^-asws said: ‘It is so that when Rasool-Allah^-saww passed away, the people endeavoured: to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths, and Allah Refused except that He would Complete His Light [9:32] – with Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’.[21]

VERSE 9

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ {9}

He is the One Who Sent His Rasool with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth in order to prevail it upon all the Religions, and even if the Polytheists abhor it [61:9]

كنز جامع الفوائد و تأويل الآيات الظاهرة مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ هَوْذَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ‏ هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدى‏ وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ

(The book) ‘Kanz Jamie Al Fawaid’, and ‘Taweel Al Ayaat Al Zaahira’ – Muhammad Bin Al Abbas, from Ahmad Bin Howzat, from Is’haq Bin Ibrahim, from Abdullah Bin Hammad, from Abu Baseer who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the Words of Allah^-azwj the Exalted in His^-azwj Book: He is the One Who Sent His Rasool with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth in order to prevail it upon all the Religions, and even if the Polytheists dislike it [9:33].

فَقَالَ وَ اللَّهِ مَا أُنْزِلَ تَأْوِيلُهَا بَعْدُ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَ مَتَى يُنْزَلُ

He^-asws said: ‘By Allah^-azwj! It’s interpretation has yet to be revealed’. I said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! And when would it be revealed?’

قَالَ حَتَّى يَقُومَ الْقَائِمُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الْقَائِمُ لَمْ يَبْقَ كَافِرٌ وَ لَا مُشْرِكٌ إِلَّا كَرِهَ خُرُوجَهُ حَتَّى لَوْ كَانَ كَافِرٌ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ فِي بَطْنِ صَخْرَةٍ لَقَالَتِ الصَّخْرَةُ يَا مُؤْمِنُ فِي بَطْنِي كَافِرٌ أَوْ مُشْرِكٌ فَاقْتُلْهُ

He^-asws said: ‘Until Al-Qaim^-ajfj rises, if Allah^-azwj so Desires. When Al-Qaim^-ajfj does emerge, there will neither remain any Kafir nor Polytheist except he will dislike his^-ajfj emergence, to the extent that even if there was a Kafir or a Polytheist in the belly of a rock, the rock would say, ‘O Momin! There is a Kafir or a Polytheist (hiding) in my belly (inside me), so kill him!’

قَالَ فَيُنَحِّيهِ اللَّهُ فَيَقْتُلُهُ

He^-asws said: ‘So he would attack him and kill him’’.^[22]

سعد بن عبد الله، قال: حدثني محمد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطاب، عن محمد بن سنان، عن عمار بن مروان، عن المنخل بن جميل، عن جابر بن يزيد، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام)، في قوله تعالى: هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدى وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ، قال: «يظهره الله عز و جل في الرجعة

Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Muhammad Bin Al Husayni Bin Abu Al Khattab, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Amaar bin Marwan, from Al Munkhal Bin Jameel, from Jabir Bin Yazeed,

Abu Ja’far^-asws regarding the Words of the Exalted: He is the One Who Sent His Rasool with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth in order to prevail it upon all the Religions, and even if the Polytheists abhor it [61:9], he^-asws said: ‘Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic would Make it overcome during the Return (الرجعة)’.[23]

أَقُولُ قَالَ الشَّيْخُ حَسَنُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِ الْمُحْتَضَرِ، رَوَى‏ بَعْضُ عُلَمَاءِ الْإِمَامِيَّةِ فِي كِتَابِ مَنْهَجِ التَّحْقِيقِ إِلَى سَوَاءِ الطَّرِيقِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ سَلْمَانَ الْفَارِسِيِّ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَنَا وَ الْحَسَنُ وَ الْحُسَيْنُ ع وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَ عَمَّارُ بْنُ يَاسِرٍ وَ الْمِقْدَادُ بْنُ الْأَسْوَدِ الْكِنْدِيُّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُهُ الْحَسَنُ ع يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ ع سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ مُلْكاً لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ فَأَعْطَاهُ ذَلِكَ فَهَلْ مَلَكْتَ مِمَّا مَلَكَ‏ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ شَيْئاً

I (Majlisi) am saying, ‘The sheykh Hassan Bin Suleyman said in his book ‘Al Mukhtasar’ – ‘It is reported by one of the Imamite scholars in the book ‘Manhaj Al Tahqeeq Ila Sawa’a Al Tareeq’, by his chain,

‘From Salman Al-Farsi^-ra having said, ‘I^-ra, and Al-Hassan^-asws, and Al-Husayn^-asws, and Muhammad Bin Al-Hanafiyya, and Muhammad Bin Aby Bakr, and Ammar Bin Yasser, and Al-Miqdad Bin Al-Aswad Al-Kindy were (in the presence of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws). His^-asws son^-asws Al-Hassan^-asws said to him^-asws: ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! Suleyman^-as Bin Dawood^-as asked his^-as Lord^-azwj for a kingdom not befitting for anyone from after him^-as, so He^-azwj Gave him^-as that. Have you^-asws any Rule from what Suleyman^-as Bin Dawood^-as ruled, anything?’

فَقَالَ ع وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ سَأَلَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْمُلْكَ فَأَعْطَاهُ وَ إِنَّ أَبَاكَ مَلَكَ مَا لَمْ يَمْلِكْهُ بَعْدَ جَدِّكَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَحَدٌ قَبْلَهُ وَ لَا يَمْلِكُهُ أَحَدٌ بَعْدَهُ

So he^-asws said: ‘By the One Who Split the Seed and Formed the person, Suleyman^-as Bin Dawood^-as asked Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic for the kingdom and was Given it, and your^-asws father^-asws has a kingdom which no one possessed before him^-asws from after your^-asws grandfather^-saww, nor would anyone possess it after him^-asws’.

فَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ‏ نُرِيدُ تُرِينَا مِمَّا فَضَّلَكَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ مِنَ الْكَرَامَةِ فَقَالَ ع أَفْعَلُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Al-Hassan^-asws said to him^-asws: ‘We would like you^-asws to show us, from what Allah^-azwj the High has Graced you^-asws with, from the prestige’. So he^-asws said: ‘I^-asws will do it, if Allah^-azwj so Desires it’.

فَقَامَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ تَوَضَّأَ وَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ دَعَا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِدَعَوَاتٍ لَمْ نَفْهَمْهَا ثُمَّ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى جِهَةِ الْمَغْرِبِ فَمَا كَانَ بِأَسْرَعَ مِنْ أَنْ جَاءَتْ سَحَابَةٌ فَوَقَفَتْ عَلَى الدَّارِ وَ إِلَى جَانِبِهَا سَحَابَةٌ أُخْرَى

Amir Al-Momineen^-asws arose and performed Wudu and prayed two Cycles Salat and supplicated to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic with supplications we did not understand it. Then he^-asws gestured by his^-asws hand toward the direction of the west, and a cloud came as quick as can be and paused at the hour, and to its side was another cloud.

فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَيَّتُهَا السَّحَابَةُ اهْبِطِي بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَهَبَطَتْ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ أَنَّكَ خَلِيفَتُهُ‏ وَ وَصِيُّهُ مَنْ شَكَّ فِيكَ فَقَدْ هَلَكَ وَ مَنْ تَمَسَّكَ بِكَ سَلَكَ سَبِيلَ النَّجَاةِ

Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘O you cloud! Descend by the Permission of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic!’ It descended and it was saying, ‘There is no god except Allah^-azwj, and Muhammad^-saww is Rasool-Allah^-saww, and you^-asws are his^-saww caliph and his^-saww successor^-asws. One who doubts regarding you^-asws, so he is destroyed, and one who adheres with you^-asws, would travel the road of Salvation’.

قَالَ- ثُمَّ انْبَسَطَتِ السَّحَابَةُ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى كَأَنَّهَا بِسَاطٌ مَوْضُوعٌ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع اجْلِسُوا عَلَى الْغَمَامَةِ فَجَلَسْنَا وَ أَخَذْنَا مَوَاضِعَنَا فَأَشَارَ إِلَى السَّحَابَةِ الْأُخْرَى فَهَبَطَتْ وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ كَمَقَالَةِ الْأُولَى وَ جَلَسَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عَلَيْهَا مُفْرَدَةً ثُمَّ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلَامٍ وَ أَشَارَ إِلَيْهَا بِالْمَسِيرِ نَحْوَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَ إِذَا بِالرِّيحِ قَدْ دَخَلَتْ تَحْتَ السَّحَابَتَيْنِ فَرَفَعَتْهُمَا رَفْعاً رَفِيقاً

He^-ra said, ‘Then the cloud spread itself out on the ground until as if it was a placed rug. Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘Be seated upon the cloud’. We sat and took our places. He^-asws gestured towards the other cloud, and it descended and it was saying like the words of the first one, and Amir Al-Momineen^-asws sat upon it, individually. Then he^-asws spoke with a speech and indicated to it with the travelling around the west, and there, a wind entered beneath the two clouds and raised these with a gentle raising.

فَتَأَمَّلْتُ نَحْوَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ إِذَا بِهِ عَلَى كُرْسِيٍّ وَ النُّورُ يَسْطَعُ مِنْ وَجْهِهِ يَكَادُ يَخْطَفُ الْأَبْصَارَ فَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ كَانَ مُطَاعاً بِخَاتَمِهِ وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا ذَا يُطَاعُ

I^-ra inclined towards Amir Al-Momineen^-asws and he^-asws was upon a chair and light was shining from his^-asws face almost blinding the sight. Al-Hassan^-asws said: ‘O Amir-Al-Momineen^-asws! Suleyman^-as Ibn Dawood^-as commanded obedience by his^-as ring, and Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, by what would he^-asws command obedience?’

فَقَالَ ع أَنَا عَيْنُ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ أَنَا لِسَانُ اللَّهِ النَّاطِقُ فِي خَلْقِهِ أَنَا نُورُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يُطْفَأُ أَنَا بَابُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي يُؤْتَى مِنْهُ وَ حُجَّتُهُ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ

He^-asws said: ‘I^-asws am the Eyes of Allah^-azwj in His^-azwj earth, and I^-asws am the Speaking Tongue of Allah^-azwj among His^-azwj creatures, and I^-asws am the Light of Allah^-azwj which will not be extinguished, and I^-asws am the Door of Allah^-azwj which (everything) is given out from it, and a divine Authority of Allah^-azwj over His^-azwj servants’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ أُرِيَكُمْ خَاتَمَ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ فَأَدْخَلَ يَدَهُ إِلَى جَيْبِهِ فَأَخْرَجَ خَاتَماً مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَصُّهُ مِنْ يَاقُوتَةٍ حَمْرَاءَ عَلَيْهِ مَكْتُوبٌ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ عَلِيٌّ

Then he^-asws said: ‘Would you all like me^-asws to show you the ring of Suleyman Bin Dawood^-as?’ We said: ‘Yes’. So he^-asws inserted his^-asws hand in his^-asws pocket, and brought out a ring of gold, embedded with red sapphire, on which was the inscription: ‘مُحَمَّدٌ وَ عَلِيٌّ’ ‘Muhammad^-saww and Ali^-asws’.

قَالَ سَلْمَانُ فَتَعَجَّبْنَا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ تَعْجَبُونَ وَ مَا الْعَجَبُ مِنْ مِثْلِي أَنَا أُرِيكُمُ الْيَوْمَ مَا لَمْ تَرَوْهُ أَبَداً

Salman^-ra said, ‘We were astonished from that’. He^-asws said: ‘Which thing are you astonished from, and what is the astonishment from the like of me^-asws? I^-asws will show you today what will not see (again) ever!’

فَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ أُرِيدُ تُرِينِي‏ يَأْجُوجَ وَ مَأْجُوجَ وَ السَّدَّ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَسَارَتِ الرِّيحُ تَحْتَ السَّحَابَةِ فَسَمِعْنَا لَهَا دَوِيّاً كَدَوِيِّ الرَّعْدِ وَ عَلَتْ فِي الْهَوَاءِ وَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَقْدُمُنَا حَتَّى انْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى جَبَلٍ شَامِخٍ فِي الْعُلُوِّ وَ إِذَا شَجَرَةٌ جَافَّةٌ قَدْ تَسَاقَطَتْ أَوْرَاقُهَا وَ جَفَّتْ أَغْصَانُهَا

I^-asws want you^-asws to show me^-asws Gog and Magog, and the barrier which is between us and them’. The wind travelled beneath the cloud and we heard a rumbling for it like the rumbling of the thunder, and we arose in the air, and Amir Al-Momineen^-asws preceded us until we ended up to a mountain, majestic in its height, and there was a tree which had dried up and its leaves had fallen off, and its branches were dry.

فَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ مَا بَالُ هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ قَدْ يَبِسَتْ فَقَالَ ع سَلْهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُجِيبُكَ فَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ أَيَّتُهَا الشَّجَرَةُ مَا بَالُكِ قَدْ حَدَثَ بِكِ مَا نَرَاهُ مِنَ الْجَفَافِ فَلَمْ تُجِبْهُ فَقَالَ‏ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِحَقِّي عَلَيْكِ إِلَّا مَا أَجَبْتِيهِ

Al-Hassan^-asws said: ‘What is the matter with this tree to have dried up?’ He^-asws said: ‘Ask it, for it will answer you^-asws’. Al-Hassan^-asws said: ‘O you tree! What is the matter the dryness has occurred with you what we see?’ But it did not answer him^-asws. Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘By my^-asws right upon you! Why did you not answer him^-asws?’

قَالَ الرَّاوِي وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ سَمِعْتُهَا وَ هِيَ تَقُولُ لَبَّيْكَ لَبَّيْكَ يَا وَصِيَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ خَلِيفَتَهُ

The reporter (Salman^-ra) said, ‘We heard it and it was saying, ‘At your^-asws service! At your^-asws service, O successor^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww and his^-saww caliph!’

ثُمَّ قَالَتْ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَانَ يَجِيئُنِي فِي كُلِّ لَيْلَةٍ وَقْتَ السَّحَرِ وَ يُصَلِّي عِنْدِي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ يُكْثِرُ مِنَ التَّسْبِيحِ فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ جَاءَتْهُ غَمَامَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ يُنْفَخُ مِنْهَا رِيحُ الْمِسْكِ وَ عَلَيْهَا كُرْسِيٌّ فَيَجْلِسُ فَتَسِيرُ بِهِ‏ وَ كُنْتُ أَعِيشُ بِبَرَكَتِهِ فَانْقَطَعَ عَنِّي مُنْذُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً فَهَذَا سَبَبُ مَا تَرَاهُ مِنِّي

Then it said, ‘O Abu Muhammad^-asws! Amir Al-Momineen^-asws used to come to me during every night at the time of pre-dawn and pray two Cycles Salat in my presence and frequent from the glorification. When he^-asws was free from his^-asws supplication, a white cloud came to him^-asws blowing the aroma of musk from it, and upon it was a chair, and he^-asws would sit and travel with it, and I used to live by its blessings. It has been cut-off from me since forty days, and this is the reason of what you^-asws see from me’.

فَقَامَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَ مَسَحَ بِكَفِّهِ عَلَيْهَا فَاخْضَرَّتْ وَ عَادَتْ إِلَى حَالِهَا وَ أَمَرَ الرِّيحَ‏ فَسَارَتْ بِنَا وَ إِذَا نَحْنُ بِمَلَكٍ يَدُهُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْأُخْرَى بِالْمَشْرِقِ‏

Amir Al-Momineen^-asws stood up and prayed two Cycles and wiped upon it by his^-asws palm, and it became green and returned to its state, and he^-asws ordered the wind and it travelled with us and there we were with an Angel, its one hand was in the west and the other in the east.

فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ الْمَلَكُ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ‏ بِالْهُدى‏ وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ‏ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ وَصِيُّهُ وَ خَلِيفَتُهُ حَقّاً وَ صِدْقاً

When the Angel looked at Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, he said, ‘I testify that there is no god except Allah^-azwj, there is 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 Guidance and the Religion of Truth in order to prevail it upon all the Religions, and even if the Polytheists abhor it [61:9]; and I testify that you^-asws are his^-saww successor^-asws and his^-saww caliph truly and sincerely’.

فَقُلْنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ هَذَا الَّذِي يَدُهُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَ الْأُخْرَى بِالْمَشْرِقِ‏ فَقَالَ ع هَذَا الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي وَكَّلَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِظُلْمَةِ اللَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ لَا يَزُولُ‏ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَعَلَ أَمْرَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَيَّ وَ إِنَّ أَعْمَالَ الْخَلْقِ تُعْرَضُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ عَلَيَّ ثُمَّ تُرْفَعُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ

We said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! Who is this whose one hand is in the west and the other in the east?’ He^-asws said: ‘This is an Angel whom Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Allocated with darkness of the night and the day, not ceasing until the Day of Qiyamah, and Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Made the matters of the world to me^-asws, and the deeds of the creatures are presented to me^-asws during every day, then these are raised to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic’.

ثُمَّ سِرْنَا حَتَّى وَقَفْنَا عَلَى سَدِّ يَأْجُوجَ وَ مَأْجُوجَ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِلرِّيحِ اهْبِطِي بِنَا مِمَّا يَلِي هَذَا الْجَبَلَ وَ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى جَبَلٍ شَامِخٍ فِي الْعُلُوِّ وَ هُوَ جَبَلُ الْخَضِرِ ع فَنَظَرْنَا إِلَى السَّدِّ وَ إِذَا ارْتِفَاعُهُ مَدُّ الْبَصَرِ وَ هُوَ أَسْوَدُ كَقِطْعَةِ لَيْلٍ دَامِسٍ‏ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَرْجَائِهِ الدُّخَانُ

Then we travelled until we arrived at the barrier of Gog and Magog. Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said to the wind: ‘Descend us from what follows this mountain’, and he^-asws indicated by his^-asws hand towards a mountain, majestic in its peak, and it is the mountain of Al-Khizr^-as. We looked at the barrier and it had been raised to the extent of the sight, and it was black like a piece of the dark night, smoke coming out from its valves.

فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْعَبِيدِ قَالَ سَلْمَانُ فَرَأَيْتُ أَصْنَافاً ثَلَاثَةً طُولُ أَحَدِهِمْ‏ مِائَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ ذِرَاعاً وَ الثَّانِي طُولُ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ سَبْعُونَ‏ ذِرَاعاً وَ الثَّالِثُ يَفْرُشُ أَحَدَ أُذُنَيْهِ تَحْتَهُ وَ الْأُخْرَى يَلْتَحِفُ بِهِ

Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘O Abu Muhammad^-asws! I^-asws am in charge of this matter upon these servants’. Salman^-ra said, ‘We saw three types, a length of one of them was of one hundred and twenty cubits, and the second, tallness of each one was of seventy cubits, and the third was making a bed out of his one ear under him and the other to cover himself with it.

ثُمَّ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَمَرَ الرِّيحَ فَسَارَتْ بِنَا إِلَى جَبَلِ قَافٍ فَانْتَهَيْتُ‏ إِلَيْهِ وَ إِذَا هُوَ مِنْ زُمُرُّدَةٍ خَضْرَاءَ وَ عَلَيْهَا مَلَكٌ عَلَى صُورَةِ النَّسْرِ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ الْمَلَكُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا وَصِيَّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَ خَلِيفَتَهُ أَ تَأْذَنُ لِي فِي الْكَلَامِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامَ وَ قَالَ لَهُ إِنْ شِئْتَ تَكَلَّمْ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَخْبَرْتُكَ عَمَّا تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْهُ

Then Amir Al-Momineen^-asws ordered the wind and it travelled with us to a mountain of Qaf! [50:1], and ended up to it, and there is was of green aquamarine, and upon it was an Angel upon an image of the eagle. When he looked at Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, the Angel said, ‘The greetings be unto you^-asws, O successor^-asws of Rasool-Allah^-saww and his^-saww caliph! Will you^-asws allow me to speak?’ He^-asws returned the greetings and said to him: ‘Speak if you so like to, and if you like, I^-asws can inform you what you want to ask me^-asws about’.

فَقَالَ الْمَلَكُ بَلْ تَقُولُ أَنْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ تُرِيدُ أَنْ آذَنَ لَكَ أَنْ تَزُورَ الْخَضِرَ ع قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ ع قَدْ أَذِنْتُ لَكَ فَأَسْرَعَ الْمَلَكُ بَعْدَ أَنْ قَالَ‏ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‏

The Angel said, ‘But, you^-asws say it, O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws’. He^-asws said: ‘you want me^-asws to allow you to visit Al-Khizr^-as’. He said, ‘Yes’. He^-asws said: ‘I^-asws hereby permit for you’. The Angel flew away after saying, ‘In the Name of Allah^-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful’.

ثُمَّ تَمَشَّيْنَا عَلَى الْجَبَلِ هُنَيْئَةً فَإِذَا بِالْمَلَكِ قَدْ عَادَ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ بَعْدَ زِيَارَةِ الْخَضِرِ ع فَقَالَ سَلْمَانُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَأَيْتُ الْمَلَكَ مَا زَارَ الْخَضِرَ إِلَّا حِينَ أَخَذَ إِذْنَكَ

Then we walked upon the mountain for a while, and there was the Angel having had returned to its place after his visitation of Al-Khizr^-as. Salman^-ra said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! I^-ra view that Angel has not visited Al-Khizr^-as except when he took your^-asws permission’.

فَقَالَ ع وَ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاءَ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ رَامَ أَنْ يَزُولَ مِنْ مَكَانِهِ بِقَدْرِ نَفَسٍ وَاحِدٍ لَمَا زَالَ حَتَّى آذَنَ لَهُ وَ كَذَلِكَ يَصِيرُ حَالُ وَلَدِيَ الْحَسَنِ وَ بَعْدَهُ‏ الْحُسَيْنُ وَ تِسْعَةٌ مِنْ وُلْدِ الْحُسَيْنِ تَاسِعُهُمْ قَائِمُهُمْ

He^-asws said: ‘By the One^-azwj Who Raised the sky without pillars! If one of them were to think from moving from his place by a measurement of one breath, he would not (be able to) move until I^-asws permit for him, and like that is the state of my^-asws son^-asws Al-Hassan^-asws, and after him^-asws Al-Husayn^-asws and nine from the sons^-asws of Al-Husayn, ninth of them^-asws being their^-asws Qaim^-asws’.

فَقُلْنَا مَا اسْمُ الْمَلَكِ الْمُوَكَّلِ بِقَافٍ فَقَالَ ع تَرْجَائِيلُ‏ فَقُلْنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْفَ تَأْتِي كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ إِلَى هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ وَ تَعُودُ فَقَالَ كَمَا أَتَيْتُ بِكُمْ وَ الَّذِي فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَ بَرَأَ النَّسَمَةَ إِنِّي لَأَمْلِكُ مِنْ مَلَكُوتِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ مَا لَوْ عَلِمْتُمْ بِبَعْضِهِ لَمَا احْتَمَلَهُ جَنَانُكُمْ

We said, ‘What is the name of the Angel allocated with Qaf! [50:1]?’ He^-asws said: ‘Tarjaeel’. We said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! How do you^-asws come to this place every night and return?’ He^-asws said: ‘Just as I^-asws came with you all. By the One^-azwj Who Split the seed and Formed the person! I^-asws rule from the kingdoms of the skies and the earth what, if you were to know with part of it, your shoulder would not bear it.

إِنَّ اسْمَ اللَّهِ الْأَعْظَمَ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَ سَبْعِينَ حَرْفاً وَ كَانَ عِنْدَ آصَفَ بْنِ بَرْخِيَا حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ فَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ فَخَسَفَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْأَرْضَ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ عَرْشِ بِلْقِيسَ حَتَّى تَنَاوَلَ السَّرِيرَ ثُمَّ عَادَتِ الْأَرْضُ كَمَا كَانَتْ أَسْرَعَ مِنْ طَرْفِ النَّظَرِ

The Magnificent Name of Allah^-azwj is upon seventy-two (three) letters, and with Aasif Bin Barkhiya^-as was one letter. He^-as spoke with it and Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Submerged the ground what was between him^-as and the throne of Bilquis until he^-as grabbed the throne, then the ground returned to just as it had been, quicker than the blink of the eye.

وَ عِنْدَنَا نَحْنُ وَ اللَّهِ اثْنَانِ وَ سَبْعُونَ حَرْفاً وَ حَرْفٌ وَاحِدٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اسْتَأْثَرَ بِهِ‏ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ عَرَفَنَا مَنْ عَرَفَنَا وَ أَنْكَرَنَا مَنْ أَنْكَرَنَا

And with us^-asws, by Allah^-azwj are seventy-two letters, and one letter is with Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, He^-azwj Chooses with it regarding the hidden matters, and there is neither any might nor strength except with Allah^-azwj, the Exalted, the Magnificent. He recognises us^-asws, one who recognises us^-asws, and he denies us^-asws one who denies us^-asws’.

ثُمَّ قَامَ ع وَ قُمْنَا فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِشَابٍّ فِي الْجَبَلِ يُصَلِّي بَيْنَ قَبْرَيْنِ فَقُلْنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ هَذَا الشَّابُّ فَقَالَ ع صَالِحٌ النَّبِيُّ فَقَالَ ع وَ هَذَانِ الْقَبْرَانِ لِأُمِّهِ وَ أَبِيهِ وَ إِنَّهُ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ بَيْنَهُمَا

Then he^-asws arose and we stood up, and there we were with a youth in the mountain praying Salat between two graves. We said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! Who is this youth?’ He^-asws said: ‘The Prophet^-as Salih^-as, and these two graves are of his^-as mother and his^-as father, and he^-as worships Allah^-azwj between the two’.

فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ صَالِحٌ لَمْ يَتَمَالَكْ نَفْسَهُ حَتَّى بَكَى وَ أَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع ثُمَّ أَعَادَهَا إِلَى صَدْرِهِ وَ هُوَ يَبْكِي فَوَقَفَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع عِنْدَهُ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ

When Salih^-as looked at him^-asws, could not control himself^-as until he^-as cried and gestured by his^-as hand towards Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, then returned it to his^-as chest, and he^-as was crying. Amir Al-Momineen^-asws paused by him^-as until he^-as was free from his^-as Salat.

فَقُلْنَا لَهُ مَا بُكَاؤُكَ قَالَ صَالِحٌ إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَانَ يَمُرُّ بِي عِنْدَ كُلِّ غَدَاةٍ فَيَجْلِسُ فَتَزْدَادُ عِبَادَتِي بِنَظَرِي إِلَيْهِ فَقُطِعَ ذَلِكَ‏ مُذْ عَشَرَةِ أَيَّامٍ فَأَقْلَقَنِي ذَلِكَ

We said to him^-as, ‘What make you^-as cry?’ Salih^-as said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws used to pass by me^-as during every morning, and he^-asws would sit, so my^-as worship was increased by my^-as looking at him^-asws. That has been cut off since ten days. That has worried me^-as’.

فَتَعَجَّبْنَا مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ع تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أُرِيَكُمْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ فَقَامَ وَ نَحْنُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ بُسْتَاناً مَا رَأَيْنَا أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُ وَ فِيهِ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْفَوَاكِهِ وَ الْأَعْنَابِ وَ أَنْهَارُهُ‏ تَجْرِي وَ الْأَطْيَارُ يَتَجَاوَبْنَ‏ عَلَى الْأَشْجَارِ

We were astonished from that. He^-asws said: ‘Do you want me^-asws to show you Suleyman^-as Bin Dawood^-as?’ We said, ‘Yes’. He^-asws stood up and we went with him^-asws until he^-asws entered an orchard, we had not seen any more beautiful than it, and in it were the entirety of the fruits, and grapes, and rivers flowing, and birds perched upon the trees.

فَحِينَ رَأَتْهُ‏ الْأَطْيَارُ أَتَتْ تُرَفْرِفُ حَوْلَهُ حَتَّى تَوَسَّطْنَا الْبُسْتَانَ وَ إِذَا سَرِيرٌ عَلَيْهِ شَابٌّ مُلْقًى عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ وَاضِعٌ يَدَهُ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ فَأَخْرَجَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع الْخَاتَمَ مِنْ جَيْبِهِ وَ جَعَلَهُ فِي إِصْبَعِ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ فَنَهَضَ قَائِماً وَ قَالَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ وَصِيَّ رَسُولِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

When the birds saw him^-asws, they came fluttering around him^-asws until we were in the middle of the orchard, and there was a throne, upon it was a youth sitting upon its back, placing his head upon his chest. Amir Al-Momineen^-asws brought out the ring from his^-asws pocket and made it to be in the finger of Suleyman^-as Bin Dawood^-as. He^-as got up to stand and said: ‘The greetings be unto you^-asws, O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, and successor^-asws of Rasool^-saww of Lord^-azwj of the worlds!

أَنْتَ وَ اللَّهِ الصِّدِّيقُ الْأَكْبَرُ وَ الْفَارُوقُ الْأَعْظَمُ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَمَسَّكَ بِكَ وَ قَدْ خَابَ وَ خَسِرَ مَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْكَ وَ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ فَأُعْطِيتُ ذَلِكَ الْمُلْكَ

By Allah^-azwj! You^-asws are the greatest truthful, and the magnificent distributor. He has succeeded, one who adheres with you^-asws, and he has failed and incurred a loss, one who stays behind from you^-asws, and I^-as asked Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic by you^-asws, People^-asws of the Household, so I^-as was given that kingdom’.

قَالَ سَلْمَانُ فَلَمَّا سَمِعْنَا كَلَامَ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ لَمْ أَتَمَالَكْ نَفْسِي حَتَّى وَقَعْتُ عَلَى أَقْدَامِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أُقَبِّلُهَا وَ حَمِدْتُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى جَزِيلِ عَطَائِهِ بِهِدَايَتِهِ إِلَى وَلَايَةِ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِينَ أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَ طَهَّرَهُمْ‏ تَطْهِيراً وَ فَعَلَ‏ أَصْحَابِي كَمَا فَعَلْتُ

Salman^-ra said, ‘When we heard the speech of Suleyman^-as Bin Dawood^-as, I^-ra could not control myself^-ra until I^-ra fell upon the feet of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws. I^-ra kissed them and praised Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic upon the abundance of His^-azwj Grants by His^-azwj Guiding to the Wilayah of People^-asws of the Household, those from whom Allah^-azwj Kept Away the uncleanness from them^-asws and Purified them^-asws with a Purification; and my^-ra companions did just as I^-ra had done.

ثُمَّ سَأَلْتُ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا وَرَاءَ قَافٍ قَالَ ع وَرَاءَهُ مَا لَا يَصِلُ إِلَيْكُمْ عِلْمُهُ فَقُلْنَا تَعْلَمُ‏ ذَلِكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ ع عِلْمِي بِمَا وَرَاءَهُ كَعِلْمِي بِحَالِ هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا وَ إِنِّي الْحَفِيظُ الشَّهِيدُ عَلَيْهَا بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ كَذَلِكَ الْأَوْصِيَاءُ مِنْ وُلْدِي بَعْدِي

Then I^-ra asked Amir Al-Momineen^-asws, ‘What is behind Qaf! [50:1]?’ He^-asws said: ‘Behind it is what its knowledge cannot arrive to you’. We said, ‘You^-asws know that, O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws?’ He^-asws said: ‘My^-asws knowledge of what is behind it is like my^-asws knowledge with the state of this world and what is in it, and I^-asws am the protector, the witness upon it after Rasool-Allah^-saww, and like that are the succesors^-asws from my^-asws sons^-asws after me^-asws’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ ع إِنِّي لَأَعْرَفُ بِطُرُقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ مِنْ طُرُقِ الْأَرْضِ نَحْنُ الِاسْمُ الْمَخْزُونُ الْمَكْنُونُ نَحْنُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى الَّتِي إِذَا سُئِلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهَا أَجَابَ نَحْنُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْمَكْتُوبَةُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ

Then he^-asws said: ‘I^-asws am more knowing with the roads of the skies than the roads of the earth. We^-asws are the Name, the treasured, the hidden. We^-asws are the Magnificent Names which when Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic is asked by it, He^-azwj Answers. We^-asws are the names inscribed upon the Throne.

وَ لِأَجْلِنَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ السَّمَاءَ وَ الْأَرْضَ وَ الْعَرْشَ وَ الْكُرْسِيَّ وَ الْجَنَّةَ وَ النَّارَ وَ مِنَّا تَعَلَّمَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ التَّسْبِيحَ وَ التَّقْدِيسَ وَ التَّوْحِيدَ وَ التَّهْلِيلَ وَ التَّكْبِيرَ وَ نَحْنُ الْكَلِمَاتُ الَّتِي تَلَقَّاهَا آدَمُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ‏ فَتابَ عَلَيْهِ‏

And for our^-asws reason, Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic Created the sky and the earth, and the Throne and the Chair, and the Paradise and the Fire, and from us^-asws the Angels learnt the glorification and the extollation of Holiness, and the Tawheed, and the extollation of Oneness, and the exclamation of Greatness, and we^-asws are the Words which Adam^-as received from his^-as Lord^-azwj, so He^-azwj Turned to him^-as’.

ثُمَّ قَالَ أَ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أُرِيَكُمْ عَجَباً قُلْنَا نَعَمْ قَالَ غُضُّوا أَعْيُنَكُمْ فَفَعَلْنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ افْتَحُوهَا فَفَتَحْنَاهَا فَإِذَا نَحْنُ بِمَدِينَةٍ مَا رَأَيْنَا أَكْبَرَ مِنْهَا الْأَسْوَاقُ فِيهَا قَائِمَةٌ وَ فِيهَا أُنَاسٌ مَا رَأَيْنَا أَعْظَمَ مِنْ خَلْقِهِمْ عَلَى طُولِ النَّخْلِ قُلْنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ

Then he^-asws said: ‘Do you want me^-asws to show you a wonder?’ We said, ‘Yes’. He^-asws said: ‘Close your eyes’. We did so, then he^-asws said: ‘Open them!’ We opened them, and there we were in a city, we had not seen any larger than it. The markets had been established in it, and therein were people we had not seen any larger than their bodies, the tallness of the palm tree. We said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! Who are they?’

قَالَ بَقِيَّةُ قَوْمِ عَادٍ كُفَّارٌ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أُرِيَكُمْ إِيَّاهُمْ وَ هَذِهِ الْمَدِينَةَ وَ أَهْلَهَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُهْلِكَهُمْ وَ هُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ قُلْنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ تُهْلِكُهُمْ‏ بِغَيْرِ حُجَّةٍ قَالَ لَا بَلْ بِحُجَّةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ

He^-asws said: ‘Remainder of the people of Aad. They do not believe in Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic. I^-asws loved to show them to you, and this city and its inhabitants. I^-asws intend to destroy them, and they are not aware’. We said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! You^-asws will destroy them without any argument?’ He^-asws said: ‘No, but with an argument against them’.

فَدَنَا مِنْهُمْ وَ تَرَاءَى لَهُمْ فَهَمُّوا أَنْ يَقْتُلُوهُ وَ نَحْنُ نَرَاهُمْ وَ هُمْ يَرَوْنَ‏ ثُمَّ تَبَاعَدَ عَنْهُمْ وَ دَنَا مِنَّا وَ مَسَحَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى صُدُورِنَا وَ أَبْدَانِنَا وَ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلِمَاتٍ لَمْ نَفْهَمْهَا وَ عَادَ إِلَيْهِمْ ثَانِيَةً حَتَّى صَارَ بِإِزَائِهِمْ وَ صَعِقَ فِيهِمْ صَعْقَهً

Then he^-asws went near them and appeared to them, and they thought of killing him^-asws, and we could see them and they were seeing (us). Then he^-asws distance from them and came near us and wiped his^-asws hand upon our chests and our bodies, and spoke with (certain) phrases we did not understand, and repeated to them for a second time until he^-asws came with their attire, and there was a lightning among them with a thunderbolt.

قَالَ سَلْمَانُ- لَقَدْ ظَنَنَّا أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ قَدِ انْقَلَبَتْ وَ السَّمَاءَ قَدْ سَقَطَتْ وَ أَنَّ الصَّوَاعِقَ مِنْ فِيهِ قَدْ خَرَجَتْ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ‏ فِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ أَحَدٌ قُلْنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا صَنَعَ اللَّهُ بِهِمْ قَالَ هَلَكُوا وَ صَارُوا كُلُّهُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ قُلْنَا هَذَا مُعْجِزٌ مَا رَأَيْنَا وَ لَا سَمِعْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ

Salman^-ra said, ‘We thought that the earth had overturned and the sky had collapsed and that the lightning has come out from his^-asws mouth. There did not remain anyone from them in that moment. We said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! What has Allah^-azwj Done with them?’ He^-asws said: ‘They are destroyed and all of them came to be in the Fire’. We said, ‘This is a miracle we have neither seen or heard the like of it’.

فَقَالَ ع أَ تُرِيدُونَ أَنْ أُرِيَكُمْ أَعْجَبَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقُلْنَا لَا نُطِيقُ بِأَسْرِنَا عَلَى احْتِمَالِ شَيْ‏ءٍ آخَرَ فَعَلَى مَنْ لَا يَتَوَالاكَ وَ [لَا] يُؤْمِنُ بِفَضْلِكَ وَ عَظِيمِ قَدْرِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ‏ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَ لَعْنَةُ اللَّاعِنِينَ وَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَ الْخَلْقِ أَجْمَعِينَ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

He^-asws said: ‘Do you want me^-asws to show you more wondrous than that?’ We said, ‘We cannot tolerate upon bearing something another, so upon the one who does not befriend you, nor believing in your^-asws merits, and your^-asws great worth to Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, the Curse of Allah^-azwj be upon him, and the curses of the cursing ones, and the Angels, and the entirety of the creatures, up to the Day of Qiyamah’.

ثُمَّ سَأَلْنَا الرُّجُوعَ إِلَى أَوْطَانِنَا فَقَالَ أَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَأَشَارَ إِلَى السَّحَابَتَيْنِ فَدَنَتَا مِنَّا فَقَالَ ع خُذُوا مَوَاضِعَكُمْ فَجَلَسْنَا عَلَى سَحَابَةٍ وَ جَلَسَ ع عَلَى الْأُخْرَى وَ أَمَرَ الرِّيحَ فَحَمَلَتْنَا حَتَّى صِرْنَا فِي الْجَوِّ وَ رَأَيْنَا الْأَرْضَ كَالدِّرْهَمِ ثُمَّ حَطَّتْنَا فِي دَارِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي أَقَلَّ مِنْ طَرْفِ النَّظَرِ

Then we asked for the return to our homeland. He^-asws said: ‘I^-asws shall do that, if Allah^-azwj so Desires’. He^-asws gestured towards the two clouds, and they came near us. He^-asws said: ‘Take your places!’ We sat upon a cloud and he^-asws sat upon the other and ordered the wind and it carried us until we came to be in the air and we saw the earth being like a Dirham. Then we descended in the house of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws in less than the blink of an eye.

وَ كَانَ وُصُولُنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَقْتَ الظُّهْرِ وَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ يُؤَذِّنُ وَ كَانَ خُرُوجُنَا مِنْهَا وَقْتَ عَلَتِ الشَّمْسُ‏ فَقُلْنَا بِاللَّهِ الْعَجَبُ كُنَّا فِي جَبَلِ قَافٍ مَسِيرَةَ خَمْسِ سِنِينَ وَ عُدْنَا فِي خَمْسِ سَاعَاتٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ

And our arrival at Al-Medina was at the time of Al-Zohr and the Muezzin was proclaiming the Azaan, and our exit from it was at the time of the rising of the sun. We said, ‘By Allah^-azwj! We were in the mount Qaf at a travel distance of five years, and we return in five hours from the day’.

فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَوْ أَنَّنِي أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَجُوبَ‏ الدُّنْيَا بِأَسْرِهَا وَ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعَ وَ أَرْجِعَ فِي أَقَلَّ مِنَ الطَّرْفِ لَفَعَلْتُ بِمَا عِنْدِي‏ مِنِ اسْمِ اللَّهِ الْأَعْظَمِ فَقُلْنَا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْتَ وَ اللَّهِ الْآيَةُ الْعُظْمَى وَ الْمُعْجِزُ الْبَاهِرُ بَعْدَ أَخِيكَ وَ ابْنِ عَمِّكَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص‏

Amir Al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘If I^-asws wanted to cut through the world in its travel and the seven seas, and return in less than the blink of an eye, I^-asws could have done so due to what is with me^-asws from the Magnificent Name of Allah^-azwj’. We said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen^-asws! By Allah^-azwj, you^-asws are the Magnificent Sign, and the dazzling miracle after your^-asws brother^-saww and son^-saww of your^-asws uncle^-as, Rasool-Allah^-saww’’.^[24]

و عنه: عن أحمد بن إدريس، عن عبد الله بن محمد، عن صفوان بن يحيى، عن يعقوب بن شعيب، عن عمران بن ميثم، عن عباية بن ربعي، أنه سمع أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) يقول: «هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدى وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ أظهر ذلك بعد؟ كلا- و الذي نفسي بيده- حتى لا تبقى قرية إلا و نودي فيها بشهادة أن لا إله إلا الله و أن محمدا رسول الله، بكرة و عشيا

And from him, from Ahmad Bin Idrees, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad, from Safwan Bin Yahya, from Yaqoub Bin Shuayb, from Imran Bin Maysam, from Abaya Bin Rabie,

‘He heard Amir Al-Momineen^-asws saying: ‘He is the One Who Sent His Rasool with the Guidance and the Religion of Truth in order to prevail it upon all the Religions, and even if the Polytheists abhor it [61:9]. Did that prevail afterwards? No way! By the One^-azwj in Whose Hand is my^-asws soul, (it would be) to the extent that there would not remain a town except there would be calls therein with the testimony that there is no god except Allah^-azwj and that Muhammad^-saww is Rasool^-saww of Allah^-azwj, morning and evening’’.[25]

VERSES 10 – 13

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ تِجَارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ {10}

O you those who believe! Shall I point you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10]

تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ {11}

You should believe in Allah and His Rasool, and struggle in the Way of Allah with your wealth and your selves. That is better for you if only you knew [61:11]

يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ {12}

He will Forgive your sins for you and Enter you into Gardens beneath which the rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in the Gardens of perpetuity. That is the mighty success [61:12]  

وَأُخْرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَهَا ۖ نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {13}

And another thing you love – Help from Allah and a near victory. And give glad tidings to the Momineen [61:13]

الحسن بن أبي الحسن الديلمي (رحمه الله): عن رجاله، بإسناد متصل إلى النوفلي، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام)، قال: «قال أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام): أنا التجارة المربحة المنجية من العذاب الأليم التي دل الله عليها في كتابه، فقال: «يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ

Al Hassan Bin Abu Al Hassan Al Daylami, from his men, by a continuous chain going up to Al Nowfali,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws having said that ‘Amir-al-Momineen^-asws said: ‘I^-asws am the lucrative trade which saves from the painful Punishment which Allah^-azwj has Pointed to in His^-azwj Book, so He^-azwj Said: O you those who believe! Shall I point you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10]’.[26]

و عن الشيخ أبي جعفر الطوسي: عن عبد الواحد بن الحسن، عن محمد بن محمد الجويني، قال: قرأت على علي بن أحمد الواحدي حديثا مرفوعا إلى النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) أنه قال: «لمبارزة علي لعمرو بن عبد ود أفضل من عمل أمتي إلى يوم القيامة، و هي التجارة المربحة المنجية من العذاب الأليم

And from Al Sheikh Abu Ja’far Al Toosy, from Abdul Wahid Bin Al Hassan, from Muhammad Bin Muhammad Al Juweyni who said,

‘I recited a Hadeeth to Ali Bin Ahmad, with an unbroken chain going up to the Prophet^-saww having said: ‘The duel of Ali^-asws against Umar Bin Abd Wadd is the best of the deeds of my^-saww community up to the Day of Judgement, and it is the lucrative trade which saves from the painful Punishment.

يقول الله تعالى: هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ تُجاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوالِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ ذلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَ يُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهارُ وَ مَساكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

Allah^-azwj the Exalted is Saying: O you those who believe! Shall I point you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10] You should believe in Allah and His Rasool, and struggle in the Way of Allah with your wealth and your selves. That is better for you if only you knew [61:11] He will Forgive your sins for you and Enter you into Gardens beneath which the rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in the Gardens of perpetuity. That is the mighty success [61:12]’’[27]

علي بن إبراهيم: في رواية أبي الجارود، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) في قوله تعالى: يا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلى تِجارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذابٍ أَلِيمٍ: «فقالوا: لو نعلم ما هي لبذلنا فيها الأموال و الأنفس و الأولاد

Ali Bin Ibrahim, in a report of Abu Al Jaroud,

‘From Abu Ja’far^-asws regarding the Words of the Exalted: O you those who believe! Shall I point you upon a trade rescuing you from a painful Punishment? [61:10], (he^-asws said): ‘They said, ‘If only we knew what it is, we would spend the wealth and the selves and the children regarding it’.

فقال تعالى: تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ تُجاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوالِكُمْ وَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ إلى قوله تعالى: ذلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ وَ أُخْرى تُحِبُّونَها نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ فَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ يعني في الدنيا بفتح القائم، و أيضا فتح مكة

So the Exalted Said: You should believe in Allah and His Rasool, and struggle in the Way of Allah with your wealth and your selves [61:11] – up to His^-azwj Words: That is the mighty success [61:12] And another thing you love – Help from Allah and a near victory. And give glad tidings to the Momineen [61:13]’’.[28]

فس، تفسير القمي‏ وَ أُخْرى‏ تُحِبُّونَها نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ فَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ‏ يَعْنِي فِي الدُّنْيَا بِفَتْحِ الْقَائِمِ ع

Tafseer Al-Qummi –

And another thing you love – Help from Allah and a near victory. And give glad tidings to the Momineen [61:13] – meaning in the world with the victory of Al-Qaim^-ajfj’’.^[29]

A Hadeeth quoting the supplication of Amir Al-Momineen^-asws with mentioning of 61:13 is cited in the Appendix.

VERSE 14

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ كَمَا قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ ۖ فَآمَنَتْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ وَكَفَرَتْ طَائِفَةٌ ۖ فَأَيَّدْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَىٰ عَدُوِّهِمْ فَأَصْبَحُوا ظَاهِرِينَ {14}

O you those who believe! Become helpers of Allah, just as Isa Ibn Maryam said to the disciples: ‘Who are my helpers to Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are helpers of Allah!’ Then a party from the Children of Israel believed, and a party committed Kufr, so We Aided those who believed against their enemies, and they became prevalent [61:14]

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي يَحْيَى كَوْكَبِ الدَّمِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ (عليه السلام) قَالَ إِنَّ حَوَارِيَّ عِيسَى (عليه السلام) كَانُوا شِيعَتَهُ وَ إِنَّ شِيعَتَنَا حَوَارِيُّونَا وَ مَا كَانَ حَوَارِيُّ عِيسَى بِأَطْوَعَ لَهُ مِنْ حَوَارِيِّنَا لَنَا

Narrated to us Ibn Mahboub, from Abu Yahya Kowkab Al-Dam, who has said:

Abu Abdullah^-asws having said that: ‘The disciples of Isa^-as were his^-as Shias, and that our^-asws Shias are our^-asws disciples and the disciples of Isa^-as were not more obedient to him^-as than our^-asws Shias are to us^-asws.

وَ إِنَّمَا قَالَ عِيسَى (عليه السلام) لِلْحَوَارِيِّينَ مَنْ أَنْصارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ قالَ الْحَوارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنْصارُ اللَّهِ فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا نَصَرُوهُ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ وَ لَا قَاتَلُوهُمْ دُونَهُ وَ شِيعَتُنَا وَ اللَّهِ لَمْ يَزَالُوا مُنْذُ قَبَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ رَسُولَهُ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) يَنْصُرُونَّا وَ يُقَاتِلُونَ دُونَنَا وَ يُحْرَقُونَ وَ يُعَذَّبُونَ وَ يُشَرَّدُونَ فِي الْبُلْدَانِ جَزَاهُمُ اللَّهُ عَنَّا خَيْراً

And rather, Isa^-as said to the disciples: ‘Who are my helpers to Allah?’ The disciples said, ‘We are helpers of Allah!’ So No, by Allah^-azwj, none from the Jews helped him^-as nor did they fight for him^-as. By Allah^-azwj! Since Allah^-azwj Made Rasool-Allah^-saww to pass away, our^-asws Shias have never ceased to help us^-asws, and they fought for us^-asws, and they were burnt, and tortured, and displaced in the cities. May Allah^-azwj Recompense them goodly from us^-asws.

وَ قَدْ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عليه السلام) وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ ضَرَبْتُ خَيْشُومَ مُحِبِّينَا بِالسَّيْفِ مَا أَبْغَضُونَا وَ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَدْنَيْتُ إِلَى مُبْغِضِينَا وَ حَثَوْتُ لَهُمْ مِنَ الْمَالِ مَا أَحَبُّونَا

And Amir-ul-Momineen^-asws has said: ‘By Allah^-azwj! Even if I^-asws were to strike the noses of those who love us^-asws with the sword, they will not hate us^-asws, and by Allah^-azwj, if I^-asws were to approach those that hate us^-asws and urge them by the wealth, they will still not love us^-asws’.[30]

أبو الحسين بن عبيد الله عن ابن أبي يعفور قال: دخلت على أبى عبد الله عليه السلام – وعنده نفر من أصحابه – فقال لي: يا بن أبي يعفور هل قرأت القرآن؟ قال: قلت: نعم هذه القراءة قال: عنها سألتك ليس عن غيرها قال: فقلت: نعم جعلت فداك ولم؟

Abu Al Husayn Bin Ubeydullah, from Ibn Abu Yafour who said,

‘I went over to Abu Abdullah^-asws, and in his^-asws Presence were a number of his^-asws companions. So he^-asws said to me: ‘O Ibn Abu Yafour! Have you read the Quran?’ I said, ‘Yes, this recitation’. He^-asws said, ‘(It is) about it that I^-asws am asking you, it isn’t about other than it’. I said, ‘Yes, may I be sacrificed for you^-asws! And why (are you^-asws asking)?’

قال: لان موسى عليه السلام حدث قومه بحديث لم يحتملوه عنه فخرجوا عليه بمصر فقاتلوه فقاتلهم فقتلهم ولان عيسى عليه السلام حدث قومه بحديث فلم يحتملوه عنه فخرجوا عليه بتكريت فقاتلوه فقاتلهم فقتلهم وهو قول الله عز وجل: (فآمنت طائفة من بني إسرائيل وكفرت طائفة فأيدنا الذين آمنوا على عدوهم فأصبحوا ظاهرين)

He^-asws said: ‘Because Musa^-as narrated his^-as people with a Hadeeth, they did not tolerate it from him^-as, so they went out against him^-as in Egypt, and they fought against him^-as, and he^-as fought against them, so he^-as killed them; and because Isa^-as narrated his^-as people with a Hadeeth. They could not tolerate it from him^-as, so they went out against him^-as in Takrit, and they fought against him^-as, and he^-as fought against them, so he^-as killed them. And these are the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic:  Then a party from the Children of Israel believed, and a party committed Kufr, so We Aided those who believed against their enemies, and they became prevalent [61:14].

وانه أول قائم يقوم منا أهل البيت يحدثكم بحديث لا تحتملونه فتخرجون عليه برميلة الدسكرة فتقاتلونه فيقاتلكم فيقتلكم وهي آخر خارجة يكون

And it would be so that at first, Qaim^-asws would be rising from us^-asws, the People^-asws of the Household. He^-asws would narrate to you all with a Hadeeth. You will not be tolerating it, so you would be going out against him^-asws at Rameela Al-Daskara, and you would be fighting against him^-asws, and he^-asws would be fighting against you all, so he^-asws would be killing you all, and it would be the last revolt which would happen.

ثم يجمع الله – يا بن أبي يعفور – الأولين والآخرين ثم يجاء بمحمد صلى الله عليه وآله في أهل زمانه فيقال له: يا محمد بلغت رسالتي واحتججت على القوم بما أمرتك ان تحدثهم به؟ فيقول: نعم يا رب فيسأل القوم هل بلغكم واحتج عليكم؟ فيقول قوم: لا

Then Allah^-azwj would be Gathering – O Ibn Yafour – the former ones and the latter ones. Then they would come with Muhammad^-saww among the people of his^-saww era, and He^-azwj would Say to him^-saww: “O Muhammad^-saww! Did you^-saww deliver My^-azwj Message and argued upon the people with what I^-saww had Commanded that you^-saww should narrated (the Hadeeth) to them with?” So he^-saww would be saying:’ Yes, O Lord^-azwj”’. Then He^-azwj would Ask the people: “Did he^-saww deliver to you all and argue upon you?’ But they would be saying, ‘No’.

فيسأل محمد صلى الله عليه وآله فيقول: نعم يا رب – وقد علم الله تبارك وتعالى انه قد فعل ذلك – يعيد ذلك ثلاث مرات فيصدق محمدا و يكذب القوم ثم يساقون إلى نار جهنم

So He^-azwj would Ask Muhammad^-saww, and he^-saww would be saying: ‘Yes O Lord^-azwj’. And Allah^-azwj would Know that he^-saww had indeed done that. He^-azwj would Repeat that three times, and Muhammad^-saww would ratify but the people would belie. Then they would be ushered to the Fire of Hell.

ثم يجاء بعلى عليه السلام في أهل زمانه فيقال له: كما قيل لمحمد صلى الله عليه وآله ويكذبه قومه ويصدقه الله ويكذبهم يعيد ذلك ثلاث مرات

Then they would come with Ali^-asws among the people of his^-asws era, and He^-azwj would be Saying to him^-asws just as He^-azwj had Said to Muhammad^-saww, and his^-asws people would belie him^-asws, and Allah^-azwj would Ratify him^-asws and Belie them. He^-azwj would Repeat that three times.

ثم الحسن ثم الحسين ثم علي بن الحسين وهو أقلهم أصحابا كان أصحابه أبا خالد الكابلي ويحيى بن أم الطويل وسعيد بن المسيب وعامر بن واثلة وجابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري وهؤلاء شهود له على ما احتج به

Then it would be Al-Hassan^-asws, then Al-Husayn^-asws, then Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws, and he^-asws would be the least of them^-asws of companions. His^-asws companions were Abu Khalid Al-Kabily, and Yahya Bin Umm Al-Taweel, and Saeed Bin Al-Musayyab, and Aamir Bin Wasila, and Jabir Bin Abdullah Al-Ansary, and they would testify for him^-asws upon what he^-asws had argued with.

ثم يؤتى بأبي يعنى محمد بن علي على مثل ذلك ثم يؤتى بي وبكم فأسئل وتسألون فانظروا ما أنتم صانعون – يا بن أبي يعفور – ان الله عز وجل هو الآمر بطاعته و طاعة رسوله وطاعة أولي الأمر الذين هم أوصياء رسوله – يا بن أبي يعفور

Then they would come with my^-asws father^-asws, meaning Muhammad^-asws Bin Ali^-asws, upon the like of that. Then they would come with me^-asws and with you all, so I^-asws would be Asked and you would be Questioned, therefore consider what you are doing, O Ibn Yafour! Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, He^-azwj Commanded with His^-azwj obedience, and obedience to His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, and the obedience to the Masters^-asws of the Command (أولي الأمر), they^-asws being the successors^-asws of His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, O Ibn Yafour!

فنحن حجج الله في عباده وشهداؤه على خلقه وامنائه في ارضه وخزانه على علمه والداعون إلى سبيله والعاملون بذلك فمن أطاعنا أطاع الله ومن عصانا فقد عصى الله

Thus, we^-asws are the Divine Authorities of Allah^-azwj among His^-azwj servants, and His^-azwj Witnesses upon His^-azwj creatures and His^-azwj Trustees regarding His^-azwj earth, and as Treasurers upon His^-azwj Knowledge, and the Callers to His^-azwj Way, and the workers with that. Therefore, the one who obeys us^-asws, obeys Allah^-azwj, and the one who disobeys us^-asws, so he has disobeyed Allah^-azwj’.[31]

Appendix: Veil of Amir Al-Momineen Ali^-asws Bin Abu Talib^-asws

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‏ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشاءُ وَ تَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشاءُ وَ تُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشاءُ وَ تُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشاءُ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلى‏ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ

‘In the Name of Allah^-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful! Say: ‘O Allah, Master of the Kingdom! You Give the Kingdom to whomsoever You so Desire to and Remove the Kingdom from the one You so Desire to, and You Honour the one You so Desire to and Humiliate whom You so Desire to. In Your Hand is the good; surely, You are Able upon everything [3:26].

تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهارِ وَ تُولِجُ النَّهارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ وَ تُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ‏ وَ تُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَ تَرْزُقُ مَنْ تَشاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ

You Insert the night into the day and You Insert the day into the night, and You Extract the living from the dead and You Extract the dead from the living, and You Give sustenance to whomsoever You Desire to without measure [3:27].

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ خَضَعَتِ الْبَرِيَّةُ لِعَظَمَةِ جَلَالِهِ أَجْمَعُونَ وَ ذَلَّتْ لِعَظَمَتِهِ عِزَّةُ كُلِّ مُتَعَاظِمٍ مِنْهُمْ وَ لَا يَجِدُ أَحَدٌ مِنْهُمْ إِلَيَّ مَخْلَصاً بَلْ يَجْعَلُهُمُ اللَّهُ شَارِدِينَ مُتَمَزِّقِينَ فِي عِزِّ طُغْيَانِهِمْ هَالِكِينَ

Allah^-azwj is Greatest! Allah^-azwj is Greatest! Allah^-azwj is Greatest! The Created beings in their entirety humble to the Magnificence of His^-azwj Majesty, and the honour of every honourable one is disgraced to His^-azwj Magnificence, and not one of them is found to be sincere to me, but Allah^-azwj Makes them distracted, torn apart in the might of their arrogance, destroyed!

بِ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ إِلهِ النَّاسِ مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْواسِ الْخَنَّاسِ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَ النَّاسِ

By Say: ‘I seek Refuge with Lord of the people [114:1] King of the people [114:2] God of the people [114:3] From the evil of doubts insinuated by the wicked one [114:4] Who insinuates into the chests of people [114:5] Being from the Jinn and the people [114:6].

‏ انْغَلَقَ عَنِّي بَابُ الْمُتَأَخِّرِينَ مِنْكُمْ وَ تِهْتُمْ ضَالِّينَ مَطْرُودِينَ بِالصَّافَّاتِ بِالذَّارِيَاتِ بِالْمُرْسَلَاتِ بِالنَّازِعَاتِ أَزْجُرُكُمْ عَنِ الْحَرَكَاتِ كُونُوا رَمَاداً لَا تَبْسُطُوا إِلَيَّ يَداً

The doors of the ones from you lagging behind have been closed from me, and the care of the straying ones, the expelled by the By the ones lined out in rows [37:1], by By the (winds) scattering far [51:1], by (I Swear) by the emissaries (messengers) Sent consecutively [77:1], by (I Swear) by the snatchers snatching out [79:1]! I rebuke you all from the movements! Be ashes, do not extend a hand towards me!

الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلى‏ أَفْواهِهِمْ وَ تُكَلِّمُنا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ تَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُمْ بِما كانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ‏ هذا يَوْمُ لا يَنْطِقُونَ وَ لا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ‏ جَمَدَتِ الْأَعْيُنُ وَ خَرِسَتِ الْأَلْسُنُ وَ خَضَعَتِ الرِّقَابُ لِلْمَلِكِ الْخَلَّاقِ

On the Day We shall Seal upon their mouths and Cause their hands to speak to us, and their legs would testify with what they had been earning [36:65]. This is a Day they will not be speaking [77:35] Nor will there be any Permission for them to be offering excuses [77:36]. The eyes will be frozen, and the tongues muted, and the necks humbled to the King^-azwj, the Creator^-azwj!

اللَّهُمَّ بِالْعَيْنِ وَ الْمِيمِ وَ الْفَاءِ وَ الْحَاءَيْنِ بِنُورِ الْأَشْبَاحِ وَ بِتَلَأْلُؤِ ضِيَاءِ الْإِصْبَاحِ وَ بِتَقْدِيرِكَ لِي يَا قَدِيرُ فِي الْغُدُوِّ وَ الرَّوَاحِ اكْفِنِي شَرَّ مَنْ دَبَّ وَ مَشَى وَ تَجَبَّرَ وَ عَتَا اللَّهُ اللَّهُ الْغَالِبُ لَا لَجَأَ مِنْهُ لِهَارِبٍ‏

O Allah^-azwj! By the (letters) ‘Ayn’, and the ‘Meem’, and the ‘Fa’! By the light of the resemblances, and by the brilliance of the illumination of the morning, and by Your^-azwj Determination for me! O Powerful in the morning and the evening! Suffice me from evil of the one that crawls, and walks, and dominates, and Allah^-azwj is Mighty, Allah^-azwj is the Overcomer! There is no shelter from Him^-azwj for a fleer!

نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَ فَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ‏ إِذا جاءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَ الْفَتْحُ‏ إِنْ يَنْصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلا غالِبَ لَكُمْ‏ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا وَ رُسُلِي إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ أَمِنَ مَنِ اسْتَجَارَ بِاللَّهِ لَا حَوْلَ وَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ‏

Help from Allah and a near victory [61:13] When Help of Allah comes and the victory [110:1] If Allah Helps you, then there is none that can overcome you, [3:160] Allah has Ordained: “Neither I nor My Rasool would be overcome!” Surely, Allah is Strong, Mighty [58:21]. Secure is the one seeking shelter with Allah^-azwj. There is neither might nor strength except with Allah^-azwj!’’^[32]

[1] تفسير القمي، ج‏2، ص: 365

[2] تأويل الآيات 2: 686/ 3.

[3] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 31, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 16

[4] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 24, The book of Imamate, P 1 Ch 67 H 59

[5] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 24, The book of Imamate, P 1 Ch 67 H 52

[6] ثواب الأعمال: 118.

[7] Tafseer Al Burhan – H 10679

[8] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 294/ 82

[9] Tafseer Abu Hamza Al Sumaly – H 180

[10] تفسير العيّاشي 2: 294/ 84

[11] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 31, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 32 H 16

[12] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 154 H 1

[13] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 33, The book of Fitna (Strife) And Ordeals, Ch 30 H 744

[14] تأويل الآيات 2: 686/ 3.

[15] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Jihaad Ch 14 H 4 (Extract)

[16] تفسير نور الثقلين، ج‏5، ص: 311 – H 9

[17] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 13, The book of Prophet-hood, Ch 11 H 11

[18] Al Kafi – 14540 (Extract)

[19] الكافي 1: 358/ 91، تأويل الآيات 2: 686/ 5

[20] تأويل الآيات 2: 686/ 4

[21] تفسير نور الثقلين، ج‏2، ص: 211

[22] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 51 The book of History – Imam Al Mahdi^-ajfj, Ch 5 H 58 a

[23] مختصر بصائر الدرجات: 17.

[24] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 27, The book of Imamate, P 5 Ch 14 H 5

[25] تأويل الآيات 2: 689/ 8

[26] تأويل الآيات 2: 689/ 10.

[27] تأويل الآيات 2: 690/ 11.

[28] تفسير القمّي 2: 365.

[29] Bihar Al Anwaar – V 51, The book of History – Imam Al Mahdi^-ajfj, Ch 5 H 17

[30] Al Kafi – H 14844

[31] Kitab Al Zohad – Ch 19 H 286

[32] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 91 – The Book of Zikr (Chapters on supplication) – Ch 52 H 1 b