This is part 5 of 21 of “The Book of Divine Authority (al-Hujja)”, book 5 of Al-Kafi — Hadith 628–677. The book is long enough that it is split across 21 pages so each one stays quick to load; the parts run in order and are linked at the foot of the page.
1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Mu’awiya ibn Wahab from Sa‘id al-Samman who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “The case of the Armaments with us is like the case of the Ark with Israelites. In whichever house of the Israelites the Ark would hav 3ebeen found that house would receive prophet-hood. Whoever among us would receive the Armaments he would also receive Imamat (leadership with Divine authority).”
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Muhammad ibn al-Sukayn from Nuh ibn Darraj from ‘Abdallah ibn abu Ya‘fur who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “The case of the Armaments with us is like the case of the Ark with the Israelites. Wherever the Ark would go kingdom would also follow. Wherever the Armaments go among us knowledge (leadership with Divine authority) also follows it.”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Safwan from abu a1-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) would say, ‘The case of the Armaments with us is as the Ark with the Israelites. Wherever the Ark would go prophet-hood would also follow. Wherever the Armaments among us would go the matter (leadership with Divine authority) would also settle there.” I then asked, “Would the Armaments ever depart knowledge?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, it would not do so.”
4. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following. “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) would say, ‘The case of the Armaments with us is as the Ark with the Israelites. Wherever the Ark would go kingdom would also follow. Wherever the Armaments among us would go knowledge would also follow.”
1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hajjal from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar al-Halabi from abu Basir who has said the following. “I went to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I like to ask you a question. Is there anyone else in this house who may hear my words?” The Imams (a.s.) then folded the curtain between his room and the other room next to it and looked into it. Then the Imams (a.s.) said, “O abu Muhammad, ask whatever you wish.” I said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, your followers say that the Messenger of Allah taught Ali (a.s.) a thousand chapter of knowledge and from each chapter there opens a thousand chapter. I then said, ‘This, I swear by Allah, is knowledge.’” He would mark the ground with his staff (a sign of thinking in normal people) for a while and said, “That is knowledge but it is not that.” The narrators has said that The Imam (a.s.) then said, “O abu Muhammad, with us there is al-Jami‘a. What do they know what al-Jami‘ is?” I then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is al-Jami‘a? The Imam (a.s.) said, it is a parchment seventy yards by the yards of the Messenger of Allah long that contains his dictations that is in graved in to with the right hand writing of Ali (a.s.). It contains all the lawful and unlawful and all matters that people need, even the law to of compensation for A number of our people has narrated from scratch caused to a person. He then stretched his hand to me and asked, ‘May I, O abu Muhammad?’ I then replied, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I am all at your disposal.” He pinched me with his hand and said, “Even there is the law of compensation for this.” He seemed angry. The narrator has said, “I then said, “This, I swear by Allah is knowledge.” The Imams (a.s.) said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that one.” The Imams (a.s.) remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is al-Jafr (the parchment). What do they know what al-Jafr is? I then asked, “What is al-Jafr (the parchment or a container) ?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “It is a container made of skin that contains the knowledge of the prophets and the executors of their wills and the knowledge of the scholars in the past from the Israelites.” The narrator has said that he then said, “This certainly, is the knowledge.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that knowledge.” The Imams (a.s.) remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is the book (Mushaf) of Fatima, (a.s.). What do they know what Mushaf of Fatima is? The Imam (a.s.) said, “Mushaf of Fatima is three times bigger than your Quran. There is not even a single letter therein from your Quran.” The narrator has said, “I then said, “This, I swear by Allah, is the knowledge.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “This certainly is knowledge, but it is not that.” The Imam (a.s.) remained silent for a while and then said, “With us there is the knowledge of whatever has been and the knowledge of whatever will come into being to the Day of Judgment.” The narrator has said that he then said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, this, I swear by Allah is, certainly, knowledge.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It certainly is knowledge but not that.” The narrator has said that he then asked, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, What then is knowledge?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Whatever takes place during the night and during the day, one matter after the other matter and one thing after the other thing to the Day of Judgment.”
2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz from ibn ‘Uthman who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “The heretics will appear in the year one hundred twenty eight (745/746AD) because I have found it in the Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.).” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), “What is Mushaf of Fatime?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “When Allah took the Holy Prophet (s.a.) from this world, it caused such a degree of grief to Fatima (a.s.) that only Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, knows its extent. Allah then sent an angel to her to offer solace and speak to her. She complained about it to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) who asked her to inform him whenever she would find the angel speak to her. She then informed him when the angel came to speak. Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then would write down all that he would hear of the conversations of the angel so much so that his notes took the shape of a whole book.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “There was nothing in it of the knowledge of the lawful and unlawful matters but it had the knowledge of things that had happened and things to happen in future.” :
3. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Husayn ibn abu ‘Ala’who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “With me is the white Jafr.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.) “What is in it?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “In it there is the psalms of David, the Torah of Moses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Books of Abraham, the laws that explain the lawful and unlawful matters and Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.) in which, I do not think there is nay thing from the Holy Quran. In it there is all that people need us to do for them and so that we would not need any one else. In it there is information even about a lash, half of a lash and one forth of a lash and about the amount of compensation for A number of our people has narrated from scratch caused to someone. “With me there is the red Jafr.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), “What is in the red Jafr?” The Imams (a.s.) said, “In it there is the Armaments. It is because it only is opened for bloodshed. The owner of the sword opens it to kill.” The narrator has said that ‘Abdallah ibn abu Ya‘fur asked the Imams (a.s.), “May Allah keep you well, do the descendents of al-Hassan (a.s.) know this? The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, I swear by Allah, they know it just as they know the night that it is night and the day that it is the day but jealousy and worldly gains cause them to act in denial and rejection. Had they sought the truth with the truth it would have been better for them.”
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from the person that he mentioned from Sulayman ibn Khalid from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “The Jafr of which they speak certainly disappoints them because they (the Zaydis) do not speak the truth while Jafr does contain the truth. Let them bring to light therefrom the judgments of Ali (a.s.) and his rulles of inheritance if they are truthful. Ask them about (the inheritance) of paternal and maternal aunts. Let them show the Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.). In it certainly there is the will of Fatima (a.s.). With it there is the Armaments the Messenger of Allah. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “Bring me a Book, revealed before this Quran, or any other proof based on knowledge to support your belief, if indeed you are truthful” (46:4).
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from ibn Ri’ab from abu ‘Ubaydah who has said that the people from our group asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about Jafr and the Imam (a.s.) said the following. “It is the skin of a bull which is full of knowledge.” Then they asked the Imam (a.s.) about al-Jami‘a. The Imam (a.s.) replied, “It is a parchment that is seventy yards long with a width of hide like that of the leg of a huge camel. It contains all that people may need. There is no case for there is a rule in it. In it there is the law to settle the compensation for a scratch caused to a person.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), “What is Mushaf of Fatima?” The Imam (a.s.) waited for quite a while. Then he said, “You ask about what you really mean and what you do not mean. Fatima (a.s.) lived after the Messenger of Allah for seventy-five days. She was severely depressed because of the death of her father. Jibril (a.s.) would come to provide her solace because of the death of her father. Jibril would comfort her soul. Jibril would inform her about her father and his place and of the future events and about what will happen to her children. At the same time Ali (a.s.) would write all of them down and thus is Mushaf of Fatima (a.s.).”
6. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Salih ibn Sa‘id from Ahmad ibn abu Bishr from Bakr ibn Karib al-Sayrafi who has said that he heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “With us there are such things that because of which we do not become need to people instead people need us. With us there is a book that the Messenger of Allah had dictated and Ali (a.s.) had written it down. It is a book. In it there are all laws of lawful and unlawful matters. You come to us with A number of our people has narrated from issue and we know when you follow the guidance and when you disregard it.”
7. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn Udhayna from Fudayl ibn Yasar, Burayd ibn Mu‘wiya and Zurarah who have said that ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Malik said the following to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.), “The Zaydi sect and al-Mu‘tazali group circle around Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah. Does he have any authority?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I swear by Allah that with me there are two books in which there is the name of every prophet and the name of every king that would rule on earth. No, I swear by Allah, the name of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah is not in the list as one of them.”
8. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd al-Samad ibn Bashir from Fudayl ibn Sukra who has said that once I went to abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) and he said the following to me. “O Fudayl, do you know what at did I look just awhile before?” The narrator has said that he said to the Imams (a.s.), “No, I do not know.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I was looking at the book of Fatima (a.s.). There is no king who would rule on earth with being listed therein by his name and the name of his father but I did not find the name of any of the descendent of al-Hassan therein.”
1. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad and Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, both of them from al-Hassan ibn al-‘Abbas ibn al-Harish from abu Ja‘far al-Thani (a.s.) who has said the following. “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, ‘Once while my father was walking around the Ka‘ba for Tawaf a man who had covered his face partially with his turban suddenly came by. He caused discontinuation in the Tawaf of the Imam (a.s.) and took him (a.s.) to a house adjacent to al-Safa. He sent for me also and then we were there three of us. He said, “Welcome, the child of the Messenger of Allah. He then placed his hand over my head and said, ‘May Allah place blessings in you, the trustworthy one before Allah after his ancestors. O abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if you like you may tell me, and if you like I can tell you. If you like you may ask me and if you want I will ask you. If you would like affirm what I will say and if you would want I will affirm what you will say. The Imam (a.s.) said, “I like all of it.” He then said, “You must never let your tongue answer me with something that is otherwise in your conscious.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Such would do one in whose heart there would exist two kinds of knowledge, one opposing the other. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disdains to have a knowledge that is not harmonious.” He then said, “This is my question. You just explained one part of it. “Tell me about this knowledge that is so harmonious and without difference. Who has (knows) it?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The whole of knowledge is before Allah, Majestic is Whose Name. The knowledge that people need is with the executor of the will of (prophets). The narrator has said that he then removed the covering from his face, set down straight, his face looked more cheerful and he said, “This is what I wanted and for this I have come. You think that the knowledge that is free of differences is with the executors of the wills of the prophets. How do they know it?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Just as the Messenger of Allah knew it except that they do not see what the Messenger of Allah would see. It is because that he was a prophet and they are the Muhaddithun, spokesmen of the Divine message. The Messenger of Allah, when as a delegate before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would hear whatever would have been communicated to him as (Wahy) but they do not hear such communications.” He then said, “You have spoken the truth, O child of the Messenger of Allah. I now ask you a more difficult question. Tell me, why does this knowledge not appear as was it with the Messenger of Allah?” The narrator has said that my father then smiled and said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disdains to let those people have information about His knowledge whom He has not yet tested with faith. (Such test) was carried out on the Messenger of Allah in the form of his enduring the suffering caused to him from his people so much so that he would struggle against them with His permission. Many times he would withhold matters that would disappoint his people until he was commanded sternly to convey to them the commandments that he had received and disregard the pagans. “Preach what you have been commanded to and stay away from the pagans.” (15:94) “I swear by Allah, had he conveyed the commandments he would have been perfectly safe. He, in fact, considered the obedience and feared differences. For this reason he would withhold. I would love that you would keep your eye upon the advent of al-Mahdi (the guide) of this nation. (A time) when the angels with the sword of the family of David would make the dead spirits of the unbelievers between the heavens and the earth test the results of their evil deeds and force the spirits of the living ones like them to join the unbelievers. “He then drew a sword and said, “Here it is. This is one of them.” The narrator has said, “Then my father said, “Yes, that is very true, I swear by the One Who chose Muhammad from among the mankind.” The narrator has said that then the man drew the cover over his face and said, “I am Ilyas. I did not ask you those questions about that because I did not know them. I only loved that this conversation and narration strengthen your followers. I will tell you about a sign and evidence that you know if they (your followers) would debate others, your friends will win. The narrator has said that my father then said to him, “If you would like I can tell you about it (the sign and evidence).” He then said, “I would wish to hear it from you.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “If our followers would say to those who differ from us, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High says to His Messenger, “We revealed the Quran on the Night of Destiny ((97:1). Would that you knew what the Night of Destiny is! (97:2). (Worship) on the Night of Destiny is better than (worship) for a thousand months (97:3). On this Night, the angels and the spirit descend by the permission of their Lord with His decree (to determine everyone’s destiny) (97:4). This Night is all peace until the break of dawn” (97:5). “Did the Messenger of Allah know of the knowledge of things that he did not know at that night or what Jibril would bring to him at other times? The opposition will say, “No, there was nothing the Messenger of Allah did not know.” Say to the opposition, “Was it necessary for the Messenger of Allah to express such knowledge?” The opposition will say, “No, it was not necessary.” Say to them, “Was there any difference and disharmony in the knowledge that the Messenger of Allah had received from Allah?” If the opposition would say, “No, there was no disharmony, “ ask them, “If one would judge by the laws of Allah with disharmony, has he opposed the Messenger of Allah?” They will say, “Yes, he has opposed the Messenger of Allah.” However, if they say, “No, he has not opposed the Messenger of Allah, they have invalidated their starting point”. Say to them, “No one knows its interpretation except Allah and those who are well-grounded in knowledge.” If they would ask, “Who are the ones well-grounded in knowledge?” Say, “They are those in whose knowledge there is no disharmony.” If they would ask, “Who is he?” Say, “the Messenger of Allah was such a person. Did he convey such knowledge to the first one (Khalifa)?” If they say, “Yes, the Messenger of Allah did convey.” Ask, “Did the Messenger of Allah die and the Khalifa after him had the knowledge free of disharmony ?” If they would say, “No, there was no such Khalifa with the knowledge free of disharmony.” Say, “(This is not logical.) The successor of the Messenger of Allah is supported (has the Divine support) and the Messenger of Allah does not appoint a Khalifa who would not judge by the laws of Allah. The Messenger of Allah will not appoint a Khalifa except one who is just like him, excluding prophet-hood. If the Messenger of Allah did not appoint a Khalifa in his knowledge anyone, he ( Allah forbid) caused to go astray the people of coming generations.” “If the opposition would say, “The knowledge of the Messenger of Allah was from the Holy Quran.” Say, “What about the following verses of the holy Quran that speak about the matters after the death of the Holy Prophet (s.a.), ‘I swear by the illustrious Book (44:2) that We have revealed the Quran on a blessed night to warn mankind (44:3). On this night, every absolute command coming from Us becomes distinguishable (44:4). The command that We have been sending (44:5) as a mercy (for the human being) from your Lord. . .’” (44:6). “If the opposition would say, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sends only prophets.” Say, “These distinguishable commands that come is from the angels and the spirit. They come from one heaven to the other. In the heavens there is no one to whom obedience and disobedience would apply.” “If the opposition would say, “They come from the heavens to earth and the people of earth are in dire need of such commands.” Say to them, “Is it necessary for them to have a leader who would judge among them?” If they say, “The Khalifa will judge for them.” Ask them about the meaning of the following verse of the Holy Quran. “God is the Guardian of the believers and it is He who takes them out of darkness into light. The Devil is the guardian of those who deny the Truth and he leads them from light to darkness. These are the dwellers of hell wherein they will live forever.” (2:257) “I swear by my life that all those in the heavens and on earth who are under the guardian-ship of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, are supported (Divinely) and protected. Those who are supported and protected do not make mistakes. All the enemies of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, in the heavens and on earth suffer defeat. Those who are defeated they do not deal in a rightful way. Just as it is necessary that the command must come from the heavens for the people of earth in the same way it is necessary to have a Wali (one who possesses Divine authority).” “If the opposition would say, “We do not know such a person.” Say to them, “Say whatever you may like. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disdains to leave, after Muhammad (s.a.) the servants without one who would possess Dinvine authority.” The narrator has said that he then stopped and said, “This, O child of the Messenger of Allah, is a delicate point. Consider if they would say, “The Holy Quran is the Divine authority.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Then I will say, ‘The Holy Quran does not speak, issue commands and prohibitions. The people of Quran issue commands and prohibitions. I would further say, “Allah would disdain to see a certain affliction (difficult issue) would befall to the people of the earth, and there is no law about it in the Sunnah or a ruling free of differences and it is not in the Quran. He would disdain to have such thing in His knowledge to take place on earth and there would be nothing in His judgment to stop it from happening or the means to provide relief.” He then said, “Here you gain victory, O child of the Messenger of Allah. I testify that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, certainly knows what kinds of afflictions and sufferings may befall people of the earth in their lives and in their religion etc. He then set the Holy Quran as a guide.” The narrator has said that the man then said, “Do you, O child of the Messenger of Allah, know what kind of guide it is ?” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said said, “Yes, in it there are the general principles of laws and its interpretation when judgment would be issued. He said that Allah disdains to see His servant is afflicted with hardships in his religion, his life or his property and there would be no one on His earth whose judgment would decide truthfully and in the right way to remove the suffering.” The narrator has said that the man then said, “In this matter you have gained victory unless your enemies would falsely ascribe lies to Allah and say, ‘Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not have anyone who would possess Divine authority.’ However, tell me about the interpretation of: “. . so that you would not grieve over what you have lost nor become extremely happy about what God has granted to you. . .” (57:23) The Imam (a.s.) said, “It refers to abu so and so and his people. One of the verses is placed before and the other is placed afterwards (in two different places).” Grief over the loss applies to Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) only’. “. . nor become extremely happy about what God has granted to you. .” refers to the mischief that you faced after the death of the Messenger of Allah. The man then said, “I testify that you are the Divine authorities in whose judgment there is no disharmony.” The man then stood up and went and I did not see him any more.”
2. (Through the same chain of narrators) it has been narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once, in a meeting in the presence of my father with a group of people also present my father smiled and (the feeling was quite intense it caused) tears flooded his eyes. He then asked, “Do you know what made me laugh?” The narrator has said that they said, “No, we do not know the reason.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ibn ‘Abbass thinks he is of the people mention in the following verse of the Holy Quran. “To those who have said, “God is our Lord, “ and who have remained steadfast to their belief, the angels will descend saying, “Do not be afraid or grieved. Receive the glad news of the Paradise which was promised to you.” (41:30). I asked him, “Have you seen the angels, O ibn ‘Abbass, telling you of the fact that they guard and protect you in this and the next world and provide you complete protection and security from fear and sadness?” The Imam (a.s.) then said that ibn ‘Abbass said, “Believers are each other’s brothers. . .” (49:10) the whole community is included in this verse.” I then laughed.” Then I said, “O ibn ‘Abbass, you (perhaps) are right. However, I ask you to swear to Allah and answer me truthfully. Is there any disharmony in the judgment of Allah, Majestic is Whose mention?” He said, “No, there is no disharmony in His judgment.” “I then asked him, “How would judge the case in which a man strikes the fingers of another man with a sword until they fall. Then another man comes and cuts off his palm. He is brought to you and you are the judge. How would you then judge?” He said, “I will order the one who cut off the palm to pay compensation for the whole hand. I will ask the affected party to reach a settlement with the defendant and for this purpose I send them to the people of justice (arbitrator).” I said, “(In your judgment) disharmony has come in the laws of Allah, Majestic is Whose mention, thus, you invalidated what you said before (that there is no disharmony in the laws and judgment of Allah). Allah, Majestic is Whose mention, disdains to let a judicial case remain on earth without a clarified rule. You must order, as a judge, to cut the palm of the defendant totally and pay compensation for the fingers. Thus, is the judgment of Allah at the night wherein His orders descend. If you would reject after hearing from the Messenger of Allah then Allah will send you to fire just as He blinded you on the day you hid the (truth) in favor of Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.).” Ibn ‘Abbass then said, “Is that why my eyes have become blind?” He further said, “How would you know that? I swear by Allah that my eyes turned blind only because of the flapping of the wing of the angel.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “That made me laugh. I left him that day because of the silliness (dark and dullness) in his intellect and reason. I then met him latter and said to him, “O ibn ‘Abbass, you have not spoken as true as you did yesterday. Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) told you that the Night of Determination comes every year. On that night the command for the whole year comes down. For that matter and command is the people with Divine authority after the Messenger of Allah. You then asked, “Who are these people?” He (Ali (a.s.) said, “I myself and the eleven men from my descendents will be the Imams (leaders with divine authority) and the (people to whom angels speak) Muhaddathun.” You then said, “I do not see it (Night of Determination) except with the Messenger of Allah. Then the angel appeared to you; the angels that was speaking to him and said, “O ‘Abdallah, you have lied. My eyes see it (the Night of Determination).of which Ali (a.s.) spoke to you. His (Ali’s ) eyes did not see him (the angel) but his heart understood (the presence of the angel) and he impacted his ears. Then he (angel) flapped you with his wing and you turned blind.” Ibn ‘Abbass then said, “In the matters that we dispute it is up to Allah to judge.” I then said to him, “Has Allah judged one case with two judgments?” He replied, “No, Allah has not done so.” I then said, “Here you perish and cause others to perish.”
3. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said about the Night of Determination, “. . every absolute command coming from Us becomes distinguishable.” (44:4) He has said that absolute and strong command. Absolute and strong command is not two things. It is only one thing. One who judges without disharmony and differences his judgment is of the judgment of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Whoever would judge in disharmonious manner with differences and considers it as the rightful way of judging he has judged with the judgment of the devil. It is certain that on the Night of Determination the explanation and clarification of all issues of the year comes to the man who possesses Divine authority. On that Night the Wali al-’Amr (the man who possesses Divine authority) receives commands about his self for so and so, and about the affairs of the people in so and so. It also is certain that for the man with Divine authority, besides this, every year, there comes the knowledge of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. (There comes to him) the exclusive knowledge, the hidden, the wonderful and the treasured knowledge of Allah. It comes just in the Night of Determination comes the command. Then he recited. “If all the trees in the earth were pens and the ocean, with seven more oceans, were ink still these could not suffice to record all the Words of God. God is Majestic and All-wise.” (31:27).
4. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) would say, “We revealed the Quran on the Night of Destiny ((97:1) Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has certainly said the truth has reveal the Holy Quran on the Night of Determination. “Would that you knew what the Night of Destiny is! (97:2)” the Messenger of Allah said, “I do not know.” Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, said, “(Worship) on the Night of Destiny is better than (worship) for a thousand months (that are other than the Night of Determinatio).” (97:3) He asked the Messenger of Allah, “Do you know why it is better than a thousand nights?” the Messenger of Allah said, “No, I do not know.” He said, “It is because on that Night the angels and the Spirit come down by the permission of their Lord for all matters. When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would grant permission for a matter it means that He has agreed.” “This Night is all peace until the break of dawn.” (97:5) He says, “O Muhammad, My angels salute you and My spirit with peaceful greetings from beginning of the time they come down until dawn of that night. Then He has said in another part of His book, “Guard yourselves against discord among yourselves so that it will not mislead anyone of you, especially the unjust, and know that God’s retribution is most severe.” (8:25) It is about the Night of Determination. He has also said in His book, “Muhammad is only a Messenger. There lived other Messengers before him. Should (Muhammad) die or be slain, would you then turn back to your pre-Islamic behavior? Whoever does so can cause no harm to God. God will reward those who give thanks.” (3:144) In the verse He has said that when Muhammad will die the opposition to the command of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, will say , “The Night of Determination has gone along with the Messenger of Allah.” This is the first clamity that has befallen them exclusively. With this they returned back to their old ways. Had they not said so, it would have been necessary to believe that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has His commands on that Night. Once they would affirm and acknowledge the command (delegation of Divine authority) it would have become necessary to believe in the existence of the man who possesses Divine authority.”
5. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Ali (a.s.) would say very often, “(What for) al-Taymies and al-‘Adawies have gathered around the Messenger of Allah (s.a.). He, the Messenger of Allah, would read, “We have revealed it on the Night of Determination” very humbly and tearfully. They (al-Taymi and al-‘Adwi) would say, “How intense is the tenderness that this chapter causes to your heart.” The Messenger of Allah would say, “It is because what my eyes see and my heart has stored and for what the heart of this (Ali (a.s.) will experience after me.” They would ask, “What is it that you have seen and what is it that he will experience?” The narrator has said that he would write for the two on the soil, “On this Night, the angels and the spirit descend by the permission of their Lord with His decree (to determine everyone’s destiny).” (97:4) The narrator has said that he, the Messenger of Allah would say, “Has anything else left (untold) after of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, All matters?” The two would say, “No, nothing is left untold.” He then would ask them, “Do you know to who it will be revealed?” The two would say, “To you, O the Messenger of Allah.” He then would say, “Will there be the Night of Determination after me?” The two would say, “Yes, there will be that night.” He then would ask, “To who (the angels and the Spirit will come)?” The two would say, “We do not know.” He then would hold my head and say, “If the two of you do not know now you must know, he is this after me.” The narrator has said that it is certain that the two would know that night, after the Messenger of Allah, because of the sever apprehension that they would go through.”
6. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “O the community of of our followers, debate the opposition by means of chapter ninety seven of th Holy Quran. We have revealed on the Night of Determination, you will gain victory. I swear by Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, that this is the authoritative evidence from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, against the creatures after the Messenger of Allah. This is the lead evidence in your religion. It certainly, is the goal of our knowledge. “O community of our followers, (the Shi‘a) debate the opposition by means of, “I swear by the illustrious Book (44:2) that We have revealed the Quran on a blessed night to warn mankind.” (44:3) This verse is exclusively about the people who possess Divine authority after the Messenger of Allah .” “O cmmunity of our followers, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “. . No nation who lived before was left without a Warner.. .”(35:24) A person then said, “O abu Ja‘far, the Warner is Muhammad (s.a)” The Imam (a.s.) said, “What you just said is true.Was there a Warner for the differennt parts of the land from those he had commissioned, while he (the Messenger of Allah ) was living?” The person questioning said, “No, there was no Warner.” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “Consider the person he comissioned. Was he not his Warner, just as the Messenger of Allah, in being comissioned from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, was a Warner?” The person said, “Yes, it is true.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “In the same way Muhammad (s.a) did not die without having someone as his delegate and Warner.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “If you would say, “No, it would mean that the Messenger of Allah has lost his followers who are stil to be born.” The person then said, “Is the Holy Quran not enough for them?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is enough only if they find A number of our people has narrated from interpreter for it.” The person then assked, “Has the Messenger of Allah not interpreted it?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, he has done so just for one man and he has interpreted the conditionns of that man for his followers. That man is Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.).” The man asking the question then said, “O abu Ja‘far (a.s.), this was a special matter. Common people are not able to bear it. The Imam (a.s.) ssaid, “Allah, disdains not being worshipped in secrecy until the time comes to when His religion becomes public. It is just as the Messenger of Allah and Khadija would not make their religion public until they were commanded to do so.” The man asking question then said, “Is it proper for the author of this religion to to hide?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Did Ali ibn abu Talib not hide his religion on the day he became a Muslim with the Messenger of Allah until his matter became public?” He said, “Yes, that was the case.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “So also is our case (the publicity of Divine authotrity) until the appointed time will come.”
7. Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, Majestic is Whose mention, created the Night of Determination when He first created the world and created in it the first prophet that would come and the first executor of the will (of prophet) that would come. He decreed that in every year there must be one night in which the interpretation and the clarification of would be sent until another such night in the coming year. Whoever would deny it has certainly rejected the knowledge of Allah, Majestic is Whose mention. It is because the prophets, the Messengers and Muhadditun (spokesmen for Allah) without receiving Divine authority through what comes to them on that night along with the authority that Jibril brings for them (a.s.).” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), “Do the Muhaddithun also experience the coming of Jibril and other angels?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The prophets and the Messenger (s.a.) certainly, experience it. For the others besides the prophets and the Messenger (s.a.) it is necessary that from the first day the eart h was created to the last of the perishing of world there must the Divine authority for the people of the earth that would come down on that night to the one who would be te most beloved among His servants. I swear by Allah, the spirit and the angels came with the command on the Night of Determination to Adam. I swear by Allah, that Adam did not die until he had the executor of his will. To every prophet after Adam the command came to them on that night and it was assigned to the executor of his will after him. I swear by Allah, if the prophet had to be commanded through that which that came to them on that night from Adam to Muhammad (s.a) to make a will in favor of so and so and that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said in His book to the people who possess Divine after Muhammad (s.a.). “God has promised the righteously striving believers to appoint them as His deputies on earth, as He had appointed those who lived before. He will make the religion that He has chosen for them to stand supreme. He will replace their fear with peace and security so that they will worship God alone and consider no one equal to Him. Whoever becomes an unbeliever after this will be a sinful person.” (24:55) He says that He has made you His deputies in the matter of His knowledge, religion and worship after His Prophet just as Adam made a will to appoint the executor of his will after him until the time Allah sent another prophet. He has said, “so that they will worship God alone and consider no one equal to Him” He has said that you must worship Him with faith in the fact that after Muhammad (s.a.) there is no other prophet. Those who would say otherwise are sinful persons. He has enabled the people who possess Divine authority with knowledge. We are such people. Ask us. If we will acknowledge you then be steadfast but you will not do so. Our knowledge is clear. The appearance of the appointed time for us in which religion will stand supreme through us so much so that there will remain no differences among people for such time there is A number of our people has narrated from appointed time that pass through the nights and days. When that time will come, the command of Allah will be only one. “I swear by Allah, it is already decreed that there will beno differences among the believers and for this reason they are made to witness the deeds of the people so that Muhammad (s.a) will be witness over us and we will be the witness over our followers and our followers will be witness over the people. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, disdained to let differences take place in His judgment or contradictions to take place among those who possess His knowledge.” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said the following. “The excellence of the faith of a believer because of his accepting, “We have revealed it in the Night of Determination,” and its interpretation, over those who are not like him in the matters of faith in that Night is like the excellence of man over the animals. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, defends through those who believe in it from those who disbelieve it in this world-- it is to complete the punishment for it in the next life for those whom He knows would not repent from rejecting the same--, just as He defends through those who strive (Jihad) for His cause those who sit comfortably. I do not know if there is any Jihad striving for His cause, these days, other than Hajj, ‘Umra and to be good neighbors”
8. The narrator has said that a man said to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), “O child of the Messenger of Allah, “Please do not be angry with m.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Why should I be angry?” The man said, “It is because of the question that like to ask you.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Ask your question.” He said, “Please do not be angry.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I will not be angry.” The man said, “Consider your words about the ‘Night of Determination’ in which the Spirit and the angels descent to the executors of the will (of Prophet). Do they bring them the command of which the Messenger of Allah had no knowledge or bring them the commands that the Messenger of Allah knew? As you know that the Messenger of Allah died and there was nothing of his knowledge that Ali (a.s.) had not heard it (and preserved).” Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said, “Why should I bother with you and why someone let you come in?” He said, “Fate has let me come in, seeking religion.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Try to understand what I will say.” “When the Messenger of Allah was taken for a trip (by the angels) he did not come back before Allah, Majestic is Whose mention, taught him the knowledge of the things of the past and the things in future. A great deal of such knowledge was in a whole form the interpretation of which would have to come in the ‘Night of Determination’. In the same Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) had learned the knowledge in a whole form, the interpretation of which would have had to come in the ‘Night of Determination’ as was the case with the Messenger of Allah.” The man said, “Was there no interpretation of the whole available?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was available but it comes through the commands of Allah in the ‘Night of Determination’ to the Prophet the executor of his will telling them to do so and so. It is for the matters of which they already had knowledge, but they receive the command as how to act in it.” The man said, “Explain it to me.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The Messenger of Allah, before his death had a whole of knowledge with its interpretation.” You said, “What was that which that would come to him in the ‘Night of Determination’?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It was the command and ease in what he already knew.” The man questioning said, “What then happens to them in the ‘Night of Determination’ is a knowledge other than what they knew before.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “This is what they are commanded not to tell to anyone. No one knows the interpretation of what you just asked except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. The man questioning asked, “Do the executors of the know what the prophets know?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, because how would the executor of the will would know what is other than what is willed for.” The man asked, “Can we say that what one executor of the will may know may not be known another executor of the will?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, because no prophet dies before his knowledge is transferred into the executor of his will. The angels and the Spirit descend in the ‘Night of Determination’ with the judgment with which to judge among the people.” The man asked, “Is it that they did not know that judgment?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Yes, they knew it but they could not approve anything of it until they were commanded in the ‘Night of Determination’ how to accomplish them until the next year.” The man said, “O abu Ja‘far (a.s.) I can not deny this.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Those who deny it is not from us.” The man asked, “O abu Ja‘far (a.s.), do you think in the ‘Night of Determination’ there would come things to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that he did not know?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is not lawful for you to ask this. However, the knowledge of things in past and the knowledge of the things in future is as such that no prophet or the executor of the dies before the executor of will after him would know it. However, this know about which you ask is as such that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, withholds and does not allow the executors of the will to know it by themselves.” The man asked, “O child of the Messenger of Allah, how would I know that the ‘Night of Determination’ take place every year?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When the month of Ramadan comes read chapter 44 of the Holy Quran once every night. In the twenty third night you will see the confirmation of what you have asked for.”
9. The narrator has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said the following. “You, certainly, find those whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has sent to induce misfortune into the heretics and misleading people of the army (followers) of Satan and their companions in greater numbers than those sent to the deputy of Allah, sent for justice and truth from among the angels.” (In other words, the devils sent to induce bad luck into the heretics are in greater number than the angels sent with guidance to the people of Divine authority). It was said to him, “O abu Ja‘far (a.s.), “How can there be anything in greater number than the angels?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is just as Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has wished.” The man asked, “O abu Ja‘far (a.s.), “If I will narrate this Hadith to a few of your followers they will reject it.” The Imam (a.s.) asked, “Why they will do so?” The man said, “They will say that the angels are of greater number than the Devils.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “What say is true. However, try to understand what I will say.” There is no day or night in which all the Devils and all Satans would not visit the heretic and misleading leaders and of the same number the angels visit the Imam of true guidance (leaders who possess Divine authority) until it is the ‘Night of Determination’. On that night of the angels descend to those who possess Divine authority in a number equal to the number of the Devils and Satan that Allah has created- or he said, has determined. The Devils and Satans will come to the corrupt misleading authorities with fabrications and lies until the perhaps dawn and say, “I saw, this night, such and suCh” However, if he would ask about it the one who possesses Divine authority, he would say, “You have seen a Satan who has informed of you such and suCh (It is the Devil’s thing) until he provides him with one or the other interpretation and teach him the ways how to mislead people. The misleading conditions in which he lives. I swear by Allah, those who acknowledge the ‘Night of Determination’ they will certainly know that it (the ‘Night of Determination’ is exclusively for us. It is because of th words of the Messenger of Allah to Ali (a.s.) when the time of his death was about to approach, “This is you guardian who possess Divine authority after me. If you will obey him, you will enjoy a well guided way of life. However, those who would not acknowledge what is in the ‘Night of Determination’ they would be unbelievers in it. Those who would have faith in the ‘Night of Determination’ but do not hold the opinion that we do, for them to verify it, there is no other way but to say that it the ‘Night of Determination’ is for us and those would not acknowledge it they would be only liars. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is by far exalted than to send the angles with the Spirit to a sinful unbeliever. If such people would say that they (angels with the Spirit) come to the Khalifa in whom believes, this would be of no ground. If they would say, “No one descends at that night to anyone.” The fact is that something does come to nothing. If they say or will say, “This is nothing.” They have, certainly, strayed far away from the truth.”
1. Ahmad ibn Idris al-Qummi and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Kufi from Musa ibn Sa‘dan from ‘Abdallah ibn Ayyub from abu Yahya al-San‘ani from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “O abu Yahya, on every Friday night there is a special task for us to pursue.” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.), ““May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, of what nature is this special task?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The spirits of the deceased prophets and the spirits of the deceased executors of the will of the prophets and the spirit of the executor of the will of the Holy Prophet living with you now are all taken to heavens until they arrive to the throne of their Lord and then walk around it seven times. They perform prayers near every column of the columns of the throne, in a two Rak‘at form after which they are returned to their bodies in which they were before. The prophets and the executors of the will of the prophets become full of joy and the executor of the will of the Holy Prophet living with you receives a huge increase I n his knowledge.”
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu Zahir from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Kufi from Yusuf al-Abzari from al-Mufaddal who has said the following. “One day abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) addressed me with a surname, “O abu ‘Abdallah, –he would address me this way before- and I responded, “Yes, O Imam, here I am.” He said, “Every Friday night it’s a time of happiness for us.” I said, “May Allah increase such a happiness for you. Of what nature is this happiness?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When Friday night comes the Messenger of Allah arrives to the throne of Allah and the Imams (the leaders who has said the following. possess Divine authority) also arrive there with him and we also arrive with them. Our souls are returned back to our bodies only after receiving very new useful knowledge without which we would already be left without of knowledge.”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salama ibn al-Khattab from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Ahmad al-Minqari from Yunus or al-Mufaddal from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “There is no Friday night in which except that in it there is joy and happiness for those who possess Divine authority.” I asked, “How is it, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “When Frinday night comes the Messenger of Allah arrives to the throne with the Imams (a.s.) and I also arrive there with them. I do not return before receiving new knowledge without which I would have already be left without out of knowledge.”
1. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Safwan ibn Yahya who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Would we not receive (new knowledge) we would diminish (in knowledge).” Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Khalid from Safwan from abu a1-Hassan (a.s.) a similar Hadith.
2. Muhammad ibn Yabya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from an-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from Dharih al-Muharibi who has said that abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said to him the following. “O Dharih, “Would we not receive (new knowledge) we will diminish (in knowledge).”said:
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from abu Nasr from Tha‘labah from Zurarah who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Would we not receive additional (knowledge) we would diminish (in knowledge).” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.) “Do receive additional something that the Messenger of Allah does not know?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “The fact of the matter is that when that happens, it is presented to the Messenger of Allah then to the Imams and then it reaches us.”
4. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from some of his people from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Nothing comes from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, except that first it begins with the Messenger of Allah then Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) then the Imams one after the other so that the last us would not be more knowledgeable than the first of us.”
1. Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan ibn Shammun from ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from Sama‘a from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is that which is revealed to the angels, the prophets the Messenger of Allah. Whatever is revealed to the angels, the Messenger of Allah and the prophets, is known to us also. The other is the kind which is exclusively for Allah. When Allah wants to make public anything from it is taught to us first and it is presented to the Imams before us also.” Ali ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn al-Qasim and Muhammad ibn Yahya from al-‘Amrakiy ibn Ali all of them from Ali ibn Ja‘far from his brother Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) a similar Hadith.
2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is His only and no creature knows about it. The other kind is that which He has thrown unto His angels and His Messenger. Whatever is thrown to the angels and the Messengers have reached us.”
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn al-Sindi from Ja‘far ibn Bashir from Durays who has said that he heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.) say the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind is that which is granted and the kind is that which I withheld. Of the one which, is granted, nothing is known to the angels and the Messengers, but only we know it. The one which is withheld iis the kind that is before Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High in the original Book. When it appears it permeates.” come of Allah said:
4. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabber from Muhammad ibn Isma‘il from Ali ibn al-Nu‘man from Suwayd al-Qalla from abu Ayyub from abu Basir from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has two kinds of knowledge. One kind of knowledge is that which no one knows except He. The other kind is that which He has taught to the His angels and His messengers. Whatever His angels and Messengers have learned we know it.”
1. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Mu’ammar ibn Khallad who has said that a man from Persia asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.) the following. “Do you know al-Ghayb (the hidden facts)?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “abu Ja‘far (a.s.) has said, ‘It opens to us then we know it and it is withheld from us then we do not know.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “It is the secret of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, who has secretly given to Jibril and Jibril has secretly given to Muhammad (s.a.) and Muhammad (s.a.) has secretly given to whoever Allah wished.”
2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Ri’ab from Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said that he heard Humran ibn A‘yan ask abu Ja‘far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High Allah, “. . One Who is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. .” (6:101) Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, originated all things through His knowledge in unprecedentedly. He Invented the heavens and eath and there was heavens and earths before. Have you not considered the words of Allah, “. .His Throne existed on water. .” (11:7) Humran then said, “Have you considered His words, Majestic is Whose mention, ‘He knows the unseen and He does not allow anyone to know His secrets. .” (72:26). Abu Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “ except those of His Messengers whom He chooses. (72:26) Muhammad (s.a.), I swear by Allah, was one of those whom Allah had chosen. However, there are His words “He knows the hidden facts.” The fact that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, through what is hidden from His creatures of the things that He measures and determines and decrees in His knowledge before creating it and before assigning to the angels it is because of the following. O Humran, there is the knowledge withheld before Him in which He has a wish. He then decrees it when He wills. Bada’ may take place in it and He then will not decree it. The knowledge that, however, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, measures and determines and approves is the knowledge that reaches the Messenger of Allah and then it reaches us.”
3. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Abbad ibn Sulayman from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from his father from Sadir who has said that he, abu Basir, Yahya al-Bazzaz and Dawud ibn Kathir were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) came to us while he was angry. When he settled in his seat he then said, “How strange is it that certain people think we know the hidden facts. No one knows the hidden things except Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. I thought to discipline our house maid, so and so, and could not find in which quarter she was.” Sadir has said, “When the meeting was over and the Imam (a.s.) went home, I, abu Basir and Muyassir went to his house. We said to him, “May Allah take our souls in service for your cause, we heard you say so and so about the matter of your house maid but we know that you have a great deal of knowledge. We do not say that you possess the knowledge of (al-Ghayb) hidden facts.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) said, “O Sadir, Do you not read the Holy Quran?” I said, “Yes, I do read the Holy Quran.” The Imam (a.s.) then asked, “In your reading have you found the following words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High? “The one who had knowledge from the Book said, “I can bring it to you before you even blink your eye. . .” (27:40) The narrator has said that he said that he has read those words. The Imam (a.s.) asked, “Do you know who the man is? Do you know how much knowledge of the Book he had?” The narrator has said that he asked the Imams (a.s.) “Please tell me about his knowledge.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “His knowledge of the Book was like one drop compared to the green ocean (Atlantic). The narrator has said that he said, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, that is very little..” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “O Sadir, say, “What a great knowledge is that when Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would ascribe to a knowledge that I am about to speak of to you. Have you found in the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, the following. “Say, “God and those who have the knowledge of the Book are sufficient witness (to my prophethood).” (13:43) The narrator has said that he said to the Imams (a.s.), “Yes. “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, I have read it.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “Is the knowledge of one who possesses the knowledge of the whole book greater or that of the one who possesses some knowledge of the Book?” I said, “The knowledge of one who possesses the knolwedge of the whole book is greater.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) pointing to his chest said, “The knowledge of the whole Book, I swear by Allah, is with us. The knowledge of the whole Book, I swear by Allah, is with us.”
4. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from Ahmad ibn a1-Hassan ibn Ali from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id from Musaddiq ibn Sadaqa from ‘Ammar al-Sabati who has said that he asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) the following. “Dose the Imam have the knowledge of the hidden facts?” The Imam (a.s.) said, “No, he does not have such knowledge but if he would like to know about a thing Allah grants him such knowledge.”
1. Ali ibn Muhammad and others have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ayyub ibn Nuh from Safwan ibn Yahya from ibn Muskan from Badr ibn al-Walid from abu al-Rabi‘ al-Shami from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Would the Imam (a.s.) like to know he would know.”
2. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from ibn Muskan from Badr ibn al-Walid from Abu al-Rabi‘ from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Would the Imam (a.s.) want to know he would know.”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Umrah ibn Musa from Musa ibn Ja‘far from ‘Amr ibn Sa‘id al-Mada’ini from abu ‘Ubayda al-Mada’ini from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “When the Imam (a.s.) would will to know something Allah will grant him such knowledge.”
1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Salamah ibn-al-Khattab from ) Sulayman ibn Sama‘a and ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Qasim al-Batal from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Whoever of the Imams that would not know what would happen to him and to what events he would proceed such a person is not a possessor of Divine authority over His creature.”
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Bashshar has said that a respectable man from Qati‘a al- Rabi‘ (a quarter in the Karkh part of Baghdad) from the general public (non-Shi‘a) of Baghdad, from whom people would narrate hadith has said to me the following. “I have seen (experienced) from the people of this family of whose virtues people speak, things that I have never seen (experienced) no one else to be like him in his virtue and worship.” The narrator has said that he asked the man. “Who is he? And how did you find him?” He then said, “In the days of al-Sindi ibn Shahik (a vazir of Harun al-Rashid) we gathered eighty people of the leading personalities in goodness to meet Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) Al-Sindi asked us, “Gentlemen, please examine this man. Has anything happened to him?” People think that he is tortured and they make a huge noise about it. This is his dwelling place and his bed which, has enough room and he is not constrained. Amir al-Mu’minin (Harun al-Rashid) has not done any bad things to him. He is kept here until the right time comes so he can debate Amir al-Mu’minin (Harun al-Rashid). He is quite well and comfortable from all aspects. You may ask him questions.” The narrator has said, “We had no other intention but to see to the man, to his virtue and his excellent attitude. Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) then said, “Whatever he (al-Sindi) has said about the capacity of the place and other such things are as he has said. However, O people, I let you know that I am being poisoned with seven pieces of dates. Tomorrow my color will turn green and after tomorrow I will die.” The man has said, “I looked at al-Sindi ibn Shahik. He shivered in terror and shook like the leaves of a branch of palm tree.”
3. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Faddal from abu Jamilah from ‘Abdallah ibn abu Ja‘far who has said that my brother narrated from Ja‘far (abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) from his father that he went to Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) on the night in which he passed away and offered him a drink requesting, “Father, please drink it.” He said, “Son, this is the night in which I will pass away and during such night the Messenger of Allah also passed away.” (The date of the demise of the two holy ones, as generally held, is not the same. However, being the same day is a possibility).
4. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from al-Hassan ibn al-Jahm who has said that he said to al-Rida (a.s.) the following. “Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) knew his assassin, the night in of being murdered and the spot whereat who be murdered. It is his words on hearing the ducks at the house, “These are the quacks that will be followed by lamentations.” Also the words of ’Umm Kulthum (his daughter). “Would that you pray inside the house and send someone else to lead the prayer in the Mosque.” He refused to do so and at that night he went many times out of the house unarmed. He knew that ibn Muljim, may he be condemned will murder him with a sword. He must not have exposed himself to it” The Imam (a.s.) said, “It is true but it was chosen that night wherein the measure and the determination of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High would come to pass.”
5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from some of our people from abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High expressed anger at the Shi‘a. He, therefore, let me choose either myself or them (to receive protection). I swear by Allah, that I protected them with my own soul.”
6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Musafir that abu al-Hassan al-Rida (a.s.) said to him the following. “O Musafir, in this water passage there is fish.” The narrator has said that he said, “Yes, “May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, there is fish there.” The Imam (a.s.) then said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah last night and was saying, “O Ali, what is with us is better for you.” (The mention of fish is to show equality of degree of certain in his knowledge from observation and his knowledge from his dream.)
7. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Washsha’ from Ahmad ibn ‘Aidh from abu Khadija from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “I was in the presence of my father during the day in which he passes away. He made several recommendations to me about his funeral matters, such as washing his whole body, shrouding him and placing him in his grave. I then said to him, “Father, I have not seen in a better health from the day you complained illness than today. I do not see in you any sign of death.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “Son, have you not heard about Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) calling from behind the wall, ‘O Muhammad, come. Be quick.’”
8. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn ‘Umayra from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn A‘yan from abu Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, sent support for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) up to the fill between the heavens and earth. Then he was let to choose either victory or meeting Allah. He, however, chose the meeting of Allah the Most High.”
1. Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmar from ‘Abdallah ibn Hammad from Sayf al-Tammar who has said that he with a group of Shi‘a were in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) in Hijr and the Imam (a.s.) said the following. “An eye is watching over us.” We then looked right and left and did not see anyone. We said, “No eye is watching over us.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “I swear by the Lord of the Ka‘ba. I swear by the Lord of the House.” He said so three times. “Had I been with Moses and al-Khidr I would have told them that I had more than they did and would have informed them of what they had no knowledge. This is because Moses and al-Khidr were given the knowledge of what was in the past and they were given the knowledge what will be in future or what will exist up to the Day of Judgment while we have inherited all of them from the Messenger of Allah as heirs.”
2. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Sinan from Yunus ibn Ya‘qub from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah and a group of our people, among whom were ‘Abd al-A‘la’, abu ‘Ubaydah and ‘Abdallah ibn Bishr al-Khath‘ami, who have said that they heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) say the following. “I certainly know what is the heavens and what is in the earth. I know what is in paradise and what is the fire. I know what was there and what will be there.” The narrator has said that the Imam (a.s.) paused for a while and found that what he had just said was much heavy for the audience then he (a.s.) said, “I learned all of it from the book of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, “In it there is the clarification of all things.”
3. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Aabu Nasr from ‘Abd al-Karim from Jama‘a ibn Sa‘d al-Khath‘ami who has said that al-Mufaddal was in the presence of abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). Al-Mufaddal asked the Imam (a.s.) the following. “May Allah, take my soul in service for your cause, does Allah command (his) servants to obey a servant and hide the news of the heavens from him?” The Imam (a.s.) said, Allah is by far much honorable, kind and caring towards His servants than to command them to obey a servant (of His) and then hide form him the news of the heavens mornings and evenings.”
ضعفه ابن النضايري· al-Majlisi
لم يخرجه· al-Behbudi
Sunni collections: text from the open hadith-api dataset. Al-Kafi: Arabic text, Muhammad Sarwar's translation and gradings from Thaqalayn.net via the Thaqalayn API. Hadith numbering follows those editions and can differ from a printed copy — check the Arabic against a trusted edition before relying on a reference.
