Chapter 7: Doubting any of the twelve imams

Al-Gaybah written by Sheikh Muhammad bin Ibraheem bin Jafar al-Numani, translated by Abdullah al-Shahin and published by Ansarian is a valuable work, whose author has limited it to the expected Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his coming.) The author begins the book with some prophetic traditions confirming the imamate of al-Mahdi (AS).

1 - حدثنا أحمد بن نصر بن هوذة الباهلي، قال: حدثنا إبراهيم بن إسحاق النهاوندي بنهاوند سنة ثلاث وسبعين ومائتين قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن حماد الأنصاري سنة تسع وعشرين ومائتين قال: حدثنا يحيى بن عبد الله قال: قال لي أبو عبد الله جعفر بن محمد:

(1) Ahmad bin Nasr bin Hawtha al-Bahili narrated from Ibraheem bin Iss’haq an-Nahawandi from Abdullah bin Hammad al-Ansari that Yahya bin Abdullah had said: Abu Abdullah Ja'far bin Muhammad as-Sadiq (as) said to me:

يا يحيى بن عبد الله، مَن بات ليلة لا يعرف فيها إمامَه مات ميتة جاهلية.

“O Yahya bin Abdullah, he, who spent a night without knowing his imam, will die as an unbeliever.”1

2 - حدثنا أبو العباس أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد بن عقدة قال: حدثنا محمد بن المفضل بن إبراهيم الأشعري وسعدان بن إسحاق بن سعيد وأحمد بن الحسين بن عبد الملك ومحمد بن أحمد بن الحسن القطواني قالوا جميعاً: حدثنا الحسن بن محبوب الزراد، عن علي بن رئاب، عن محمد بن مسلم الثقفى قال: سمعت أبا جعفر محمد بن علي الباقر يقول:

(2) Abul Abbas Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed bin Oqda narrated from al-Mufadhdhal bin Ibraheem al-Ash’ary, Sa’dan bin Iss’haq bin Sa'eed, Ahmad bin al-Husayn bin Abdul Melik and Muhammad bin Ahmad bin al-Hasan al-Qatawani all from al-Hasan bin Mahboob az-Zarrad from Ali bin Ri’ab that Muhammad bin Muslim ath-Thaqafi had said: I have heard Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (as) saying:

كلّ مَن دان الله بعبادة يجهد فيها نفسه ولا إمامَ له من الله تعالى فسعيُه غير مقبول وهو ضالٌّ متحير، والله شانئٌ لأعماله، ومثَلُه كمثَل شاةٍ من الأنعام ضلّت عن راعيها أو قطيعها، فتاهت ذاهبة وجائية، وحارث يومها، فلما جنّها الليل بصرت بقطيع غنم مع راعيها فحنّت إليها واغترّت بها، فباتت معها في ربضتها.

“Whoever tries his best in worshipping Allah without following an imam inspired by Allah, his worshipping will not be accepted (by Allah) and he is astray and confused besides that Allah hates his deeds. His example is like a sheep that has lost the shepherd or the flock. It goes and comes astray. It becomes confused at day and when night comes, it sees a flock with a shepherd. It is deceived to spend the night with them in their fold.

فلما أصبحت وساق الراعي قطيعه أنكرت راعيها وقطيعها، فهجمت متحيرة تطلب راعيَها وقطيعها فبصرت بسرح غنم آخر مع راعيها فحنت إليها واغترت بها، فصاح بها راعي القطيع: أيّتها الشاة الضالّة المتحيرة الحقي براعيك وقطيعك فإنّك تائهة متحيرة قد ضللت عن راعيك وقطيعك، فهجمت ذعرة متحيرة تائهة لا راعيَ لها يرشدها إلى مرعاها أو يردّها إلى مربضها، فبينما هي كذلك إذا اغتنم الذئب ضيعتها فأكلها.

When morning comes and the shepherd drives his flock, it denies the shepherd and the flock and goes confusedly looking for its flock and shepherd. Then it sees another flock with a shepherd. It is deceived to join them. The shepherd cries: “O you lost sheep, go to join your shepherd and flock. You are astray and confused. You have lost your shepherd and flock.” Then it hastens confusedly without a shepherd guiding it to its pasture or to its fold. While it is so, a wolf seizes the opportunity and eats it.

وهكذا واللهِ يا ابن مسلم! مَن أصبح مِن هذه الأمة لا إمام له من الله أصبح تائهاً متحيراً ضالاً، إن مات على هذه الحال مات ميتةَ كفر ونفاق. واعلم يا محمدُ أنّ أئمة الحق وأتباعهم هم الذين على دين الله، وإن أئمة الجور لمعزولون عن دين الله وعن الحق، فقد ضلوا وأضلوا. فأعمالُهم التي يعملونها كرمادٍ اشتدّت به الريح في يوم عاصف لا يقدرون مما كسبوا على شيء وذلك هو الضلال البعيد.

O bin Muslim, by Allah it is the same with you. Whoever of this umma becomes without an imam, definitely will be confused, astray and deviant. If he remains so, he will die as an unbeliever and polytheist. O Muhammad bin Muslim, know that the real imams and their followers are on the true religion of Allah and the imams of injustice and oppression are away from the religion of Allah and away from the truth. They go astray and lead people astray. Their actions are (like ashes on which the wind blows hard on a stormy day; they shall not have power over any thing out of what they have earned; this is the great error).”2

 

The same was narrated by Ali bin Ahmad from Obaydillah bin Musa from Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Qalanisi from Issma’eel bin Mihran from Ahmad bin Muhammad from Abdullah bin Bukayr and Jameel bin Darraj from Muhammad bin Muslim from Imam Abu Ja'far as-Sadiq (as).3

3 - وبالإسناد الأول عن ابن محبوب، عن أبي أيوب الخزاز، عن محمد بن مسلم عن أبي جعفر قال: قلت له: أرأيتَ مَن جحد إماماً منكم ما حاله؟ فقال:

(3) Ibn Mahboob narrated from Abu Ayyoob al-Khazzaz that Muhammad bin Muslim had said: I asked Abu Ja'far as-Sadiq (as): What about one, who denies an imam of you? He said:

مَن جحد إماماً من الله وبرئ منه ومِن دينه فهو كافر مرتدٌّ عن الإسلام، لأنّ الإمام من الله ودينه من دين الله، ومَن برئ من دين الله فدَمُه مباح في تلك الحال إلاّ أن يرجع أو يتوب إلى الله تعالى ممّا قال.

“He, who denies an imam appointed by Allah and exempt himself from him and his faith, is apostate and unbeliever because the imam is appointed by Allah and his religion is the religion of Allah; therefore whoever denies the religion of Allah, is to be killed except if he turns to Allah in repentance of what he has said or done.”4

4 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا يحيى بن زكريا بن شيبان سنة ثلاث وسبعين ومائتين قال: حدثنا علي بن سيف بن عميرة، قال: حدثنا أبان بن عثمان، عن حمران بن أعين قال: سألت أبا عبد الله عن الأئمة، فقال:

(4) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Yahya bin Zakariyya bin Shayban from Ali bin Sayf bin Omayra from Abban bin Uthman that Hamran bin A’yun had said: I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) about the imams and he said:

مَن أنكر واحداً من الأحياء فقد أنكر الأموات.

“He, who denies one of the alive imams, has denied the dead (imams).”5

5 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب، عن الحسين بن محمد، عن المعلى، عن ابن جمهور عن صفوان، عن ابن مسكان قال: سألت أبا عبد الله عن الأئمة، فقال:

(5) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from al-Husayn bin Muhammad from al-Mu’alla from ibn Jumhoor from Safwan that ibn Miskan had said: I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) about the imams and he said:

مَن أنكر واحداً من الأحياء فقد أنكر الأموات.

“Whoever denies one of the alive imams, has denied the dead ones.”6

6 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن من كتابه قال: حدثنا العباس بن عامر، عن عبد الملك بن عتبة، عن معاوية بن وهب قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله يقول: قال رسول الله:

(6) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Ali bin al-Hasan from al-Abbas bin Aamir from Abdul Melik bin Otba that Mo’awiya bin Wahab had said: I have heard Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) saying: “The Prophet (S) has said:

مَن مات لا يعرف إمامَه مات ميتة جاهليّة.

“Whoever dies without knowing his imam, dies as an unbeliever.”

7 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب قال: حدثني عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن ابن أبي نصر، عن أبي الحسن في قوله تعالى

(7) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from some of his companions from Ahmad bin Muhammad from ibn Abu Nasr that Imam Abul Hasan (ar-Redha)7 had said when talking about the Qur’anic verse,

فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَكَ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّمَا يَتَّبِعُونَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ۚ وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّنِ اتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ بِغَيْرِ هُدًى مِنَ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

“…And who is more erring than he who follows his low desires without any guidance from Allah?”8

قال: يعني مَن اتخَذ دينه رأيَه بغير إمامٍ من أئمة الهدى.

“It means one, who depends upon his own opinion in the affairs of religion without following an imam of the imams of guidance.”9

8 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى، عن محمد بن الحسين، عن محمد بن سنان، عن بعض رجاله، عن أبي عبد الله قال:

(8) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya from Muhammad bin al-Husayn from Muhammad bin Sinan from some of his companions that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

مَن أشرك مع إمام إمامتُه من عند الله مَن ليست إمامته من الله كان مشركاً.

“He, who joins to an imam, whose imamate is from Allah, another imam, whose imamate is not from Allah, is a polytheist.”10

9 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب، عن محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن محمد بن إسماعيل، عن منصور بن يونس، عن محمد بن مسلم قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله: رجل قال لي: إعرف الآخرَ من الأئمة ولا يضرك ألاّ تعرف الأول، (قال) فقال:

(9) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya from Ahmad bin Muhammad from Muhammad bin Issma’eel from Mansoor bin Younus that Muhammad bin Muslim had said: I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) that someone had said to me: “Know the last one of the imams and it does not harm you if you have not known the first one of them.” Imam as-Sadiq (as) said:

لعنَ الله هذا، فإني أبغضُه ولا أعرفه، وهل عُرف الآخرُ إلاّ بالأول.

“May Allah damn him! I hate him although I do not know him. Has the last one of them been known except by knowing the first one?”11

10 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب قال: حدثنا عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن أبي وهب، عن محمد بن مصنور قال: سألته - يعني أبا عبد الله - عن قول الله

(10) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from some of his companions from Ahmad bin Muhammad from al-Husayn bin Sa'eed from Abu Wahab that Muhammad bin Mansoor had said: I asked Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) about the saying of Allah,

وَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً قَالُوا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهَا آبَاءَنَا وَاللَّهُ أَمَرَنَا بِهَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ ۖ أَتَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“And when they commit an indecency they say: We found our fathers doing this, and Allah has enjoined it on us. Say: Surely Allah does not enjoin indecency; do you say against Allah what you do not know?”12

(قال) فقال:

and he said:

هل رأيتَ أحداً زعم أنّ الله أمره بالزنا وشربِ الخمر أو شيء من هذه المحارم؟

“Have you seen anyone claiming that Allah has ordered him to commit adultery, to drink wine or to do any other sin?”

فقلت: لا.

I said: “No, I have not.”

قال:فما هذه الفاحشةُ التي يدّعون أن الله أمرهم بها؟

He said: “Then what is this indecency that they claim that Allah has ordered them to do?”

قلت: الله أعلم ووليه، قال:

I said: “Allah and His guardian are more aware!”

فإن هذا في أولياء أئمّة الجور ادّعوا أنّ الله أمرَهم بالائتمام بقومٍ لم يأمرهم الله بالائتمام بهم، فردّ اللهُ ذلك عليهم وأخبر أنهم قد قالوا عليه الكذبَ وسمّى ذلك منهم فاحشة.

He said: “This is among the followers of the imams of injustice and oppression. They claim that Allah has ordered them to follow some people, whom Allah has never ordered them to follow. So Allah has denied their saying and has informed them that they have fabricated lies; therefore, He has called that as indecency.”13

11 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب قال: حدثنا عدة من أصحابنا، عن أحمد بن محمد، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن أبي وهب، عن محمد بن منصور قال: سألت عبداً صالحاً سلام الله عليه عن قول الله:

(11) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from some of his companions from Ahmad bin Muhammad from al-Husayn bin Sa'eed from Abu Wahab that Muhammad bin Mansoor had said:

قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

“I have asked a virtuous slave14 (of Allah), peace be upon him, about the saying of Allah, “My Lord has only prohibited indecencies, those of them that are apparent as well as those that are concealed,”15

(قال) فقال:

and he said:

إنّ القرآن له ظاهرٌ وباطن، فجميعُ ما حرّم الله في القرآن فهو حرام على ظاهره كما هو في الظاهر، والباطن من ذلك أئمّة الجور. وجميع ما أحل الله تعالى في الكتاب فهو حلال وهو الظاهر، والباطن من ذلك أئمة الحق.

“The Qur'an has apparent meanings and hidden meanings. All of those that Allah has prohibited in the Qur'an are impermissible as they have been mentioned apparently whereas the hidden thing in that is the imams of injustice and all of those that Allah has permitted are permissible as they are apparent whereas the hidden thing among them is the imams of guidance.”16

12 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب، عن محمد بن يحيى، عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن ابن محبوب عن عمرو بن ثابت، عن جابر قال: سألت أبا جعفر عن قول الله

(12) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Eessa from ibn Mahboob from Amr bin Thabit that Jabir had said: I asked Abu Ja'far as-Sadiq (as) about (the meaning of) the Qur’anic verse,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ

“And there are some among men who take for themselves objects of worship besides Allah, whom they love as they love Allah.”17

قال:

He said:

هُم واللهِ أولياءُ فلان وفلان؛ اتّخذوهم أئمّة دون الإمامِ الذي جعله الله للناس إماماً، ولذلك قال

By Allah they are the followers of so and so. They have taken them as their imams instead of the imam, whom Allah has determined for people.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ

Therefore Allah has said, “…that those who are unjust had seen, when they see the chastisement, that the power is wholly Allah's and that Allah is severe in requiting (evil).

إِذْ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا وَرَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ

When those who were followed shall renounce those who followed (them), and they see the chastisement and their ties are cut asunder.

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوا لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللَّهُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُمْ بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

And those who followed shall say: Had there been for us a return, then we would renounce them as they have renounced us. Thus will Allah show them their deeds to be intense regret to them, and they shall not come forth from the fire.”18

ثم قال أبو جعفر: هُم واللهِ يا جابر أئمّة الظلم وأشياعُهم.

O Jabir, by Allah it is the imams of injustice and their followers.19

13 - وبه عن ابن محبوب، عن هشام بن سالم، عن حبيب السجستاني، عن أبي جعفر قال: قال الله:

(13) Ibn Mahboob narrated from Hisham bin Salim from Habeeb as-Sajistani that Imam Abu Ja'far as-Sadiq (as) had said: Allah the Almighty has said:

لأعذّبنَّ كلّ رعية في الإسلام دانت بولاية كلّ إمام جائر ليس من الله وإن كانت الرعيةُ في أعمالها برةً تقية، ولأعفُونَّ عن كلّ رعية في الإسلام دانت بولاية كلّ إمام عادل من الله وإن كانت الرعية في أعمالها ظالمةً مسيئة.

I will torture every group of Muslims that has believed in the guardianship of every imam of injustice even those Muslims are pious and God-fearing and I will forgive every group of Muslims that has believed in the guardianship of every just imam, whose imamate has been determined by Allah, even if these Muslims are guilty and sinful.”20

14 - وبه عن ابن محبوب، عن عبد العزيز العبدي، عن عبد الله بن أبي يعفور قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله:

(14) Ibn Mahboob narrated from Abdul Aziz al-Abdi that Abdullah bin Abu Ya’foor had said:

إني أخالطُ الناس فيكثر عجبي من أقوام لا يتولّونكم ويتولّون فلاناً وفلاناً، لهم أمانة وصدق ووفاء، وأقوام يتولّونكم ليس لهم تلك الأمانة ولا الوفاء ولا الصدق؟

I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as): “I mix with people so much. I wonder at some people, who are truthful, trusted and faithful but they do not believe in your guardianship and I wonder at others, who believe in your guardianship but they are neither truthful nor trusted.”

قال: فاستوى أبو عبد الله جالساً وأقبل عليَّ كالمغضِب ثم قال:

He straightened his sitting, looked at me angrily and said:

لا دينَ لمن دان بولاية إمامٍ جائر ليس من الله، ولا عتبَ على مَن دان بولاية إمام عادل من الله.

“There is no faith for whoever believes in the guardianship of an unjust imam, who has not been appointed by Allah, and no blame on whoever believes in the guardianship of a just imam, whose imamate has been determined by Allah.”

قلت: لا دين لأولئك، ولا عتب على هؤلاء؟

I said: “No faith for those and no blame on these?!”

قال: نعم لا دين لأولئك، ولا عتب على هؤلاء.

He said: “Yes, no faith for those and no blame on these.

ثم قال: أما تسمع لقول الله

Have you not heard the saying of Allah

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

(Allah is the guardian of those who believe. He brings them out of the darkness into the light)?21

يعني مِن ظلمات الذنوب إلى نور التوبة والمغفرة لولايتهم كلّ إمام عادل من الله. ثم قال

It means that Allah will bring them out of the darkness of sins into the light of repentance and forgiveness because of their submitting to the just imams appointed by Allah. Then Allah has said,

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

“…And (as to) those who disbelieve, their guardians are Shaitans who take them out of the light into the darkness.”22

فأيُّ نور يكون للكافر فيخرج منه؟ إنما عنيَ بهذا أنهم كانوا على نور الإسلام، فلمّا تولّوا كل إمام جائر ليس من الله خرجوا بولايتهم إياهم من نور الإسلام إلى ظلمات الكفر، فأوجب الله لهم النارَ مع الكفار، فقال

So which light that the unbeliever will be out of? Certainly it is the light of Islam. When those people follow the unjust imams, they come out of the light of Islam into the darkness of disbelief; therefore Allah has rewarded them with being in Fire with the unbelievers. He said,

اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُمْ مِنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

 “They are the inmates of the fire, in it they shall abide23”24

15 - حدثنا محمد بن يعقوب، عن علي بن محمد، عن ابن جمهور، عن أبيه، عن صفوان، عن ابن مسكان، عن عبد الله بن سنان، عن أبي عبد الله أنه قال:

(15) Muhammad bin Ya'qoob narrated from Ali bin Muhammad from ibn Jumhoor from his father from Safwan from ibn Miskan from Abdullah bin Sinan that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

إن الله لا يستحيي أن يعذب أمّة دانت بإمام ليس من الله، وإن كانت في أعمالها برّة تقية، وإن الله يستحيي أن يعذب أمة دانت بإمام من الله، وإن كانت في أعمالها ظالمة مسيئة.

“Allah is not ashamed to torture a nation believing in an imam, who is not from Allah, even if it is pious and God-fearing and He is ashamed to torture a nation believing in an imam, who is from Allah, even if it is guilty and sinful.”25

16 - أخبرنا عبد الواحد بن عبد الله قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن رباح، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن علي الحميري، قال: حدثني الحسن بن أيوب، عن عبد الكريم بن عمرو الخثعمي، عن عبد الله بن أبي يعفور قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله:

(16) Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah narrated from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Rabah from Ahmad bin Ali al-Himyari from al-Hasan bin Ayyoob from Abdul Kareem bin Amr al-Khath’ami that Abdullah bin Abu Ya’foor had said: I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as):

رجلٌ يتولاكم ويبرء من عدوكم ويحلّل حلالكم ويحرم حرامكم ويزعم أن الأمرَ فيكم لم يخرج منكم إلى غيركم، إلا أنه يقول: إنهم قد اختلفوا فيما بينهم وهم الأئمة القادة، فإذا اجتمعوا على رجل فقالوا هذا، قلنا هذا. فقال:

“Someone believes in your guardianship, exempts himself from your enemy, permits what you have permitted, refrains from what you have prohibited and thinks that the imamate is still among you and will never go to other than you but he says: They (the infallible imams) have disagreed among themselves while they are the leading imams. If they agree upon a man and say that it is he (the imam), we will say that it is he.” Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) said:

إنْ مات على هذا فقد ماتَ ميتة جاهلية.

If this someone remains with this opinion, he will die as an unbeliever.26

17 - أخبرنا عبد الواحد بن عبد الله قال: حدثنا محمد بن جعفر القرشي، قال: حدثنا أبو جعفر الهمداني، قال: حدثني موسى بن سعدان، عن محمد بن سنان عن عمار بن مروان عن سماعة بن مهران قال: قلت لأبي عبد الله:

(17) Abdul Wahid bin Abdullah narrated from Muhammad bin Ja'far al-Qarashi from Abu Ja'far al-Hamadani from Musa bin Sa’dan from Muhammad bin Sinan from Ammar bin Marwan that Suma’a bin Mihran had said: I said to Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as):

رجلٌ يتولّى علياً ويتبرأ من عدوه ويقول كل شيء يقول، إلاّ أنه يقول: إنهم قد اختلفوا بينهم وهم الأئمة القادة، فلست أدري أيّهم الإمام، فإذا اجتمعوا على رجل أخذت بقوله، وقد عرفت أن الأمر فيهم. قال:

Someone believes in the guardianship of Ali (as) and exempts himself from Ali’s enemy. He believes in everything that Ali (as) has said but he says: They have disagreed among themselves whereas they are the leading imams. I do not know which of them is the imam. If they agree upon a certain one, I will submit to him. I have believed that the imamate is among them. Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) said:

إنْ مات هذا على ذلك مات ميتة جاهلية. ثم قال: للقرآنِ تأويلٌ يجري كما يجري الليل والنهار وكما تجري الشمس والقمر، فإذا جاء تأويل شيء منه وقع، فمنه ما قد جاء، ومنه ما لم يجيء.

“If this someone still thinks so, he will die as an unbeliever. The Qur'an has interpretations that occur as the day and the night and they run as the sun and the moon. If an interpretation of something comes, it will occur. Some interpretations have come and some have not come yet.”27

18 - وأخبرنا سلامة بن محمد قال: حدثنا أحمد بن داود، قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسين بن بابويه، قال حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن محمد بن الحسين بن أبي الخطاب، عن المفضل بن زائدة، عن المفضل بن عمر قال: قال أبو عبد الله:

(18) Salama bin Muhammad narrated from Ahmad bin Dawood from Ali bin al-Husayn bin Babawayh from Sa’d bin Abdullah from Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin Abul Khattab from al-Mufadhdhal bin Za’ida from al-Mufadhdhal bin Umar that Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) had said:

من دان الله بغير سماع من عالمٍ صادق ألزمه الله التيهَ إلى العناء، ومَن ادعى سماعاً من غير الباب الذي فتحه الله لخلقه فهو مشرك به، وذلك الباب هو الأمين المأمون على سر الله المكنون.

“Whoever worships Allah without learning (the principles of worship) from a truthful jurisprudent, Allah will let him be confused and astray and whoever claims that he has heard from other than the gate (source) that Allah has opened to His people, is considered as a polytheist. That gate is the trusted one, who has been entrusted (by Allah) with the hidden secret of Allah.”

 

The same thing was narrated by Muhammad bin Ya'qoob al-Kulayni from some of his companions from Abdul Adheem bin Abdullah al-Hasani from Malik bin Aamir from al-Mufadhdhal bin Za’ida from al-Mufadhdhal bin Umar from Imam as-Sadiq (as).28

19 - أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد قال: حدثنا يحيى بن زكريا بن شيبان في شعبان سنة ثلاث وسبعين ومائتين قال: حدثنا علي بن سيف بن عميرة، عن أبيه، عن حمران بن أعين أنه قال:

(19) Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Sa'eed narrated from Yahya bin Zakariyya bin Shayban from Ali bin Sayf bin Omayra from his father that Hamran bin A’yun had said:

وصفت لأبي عبد الله رجلاً يتوالى أمير المؤمنين ويتبرأ من عدوه، ويقول كل شيء يقول، إلا أنه يقول: إنهم اختلفوا فيما بينهم وهم الأئمة القادة، ولست أدري أيّهم الإمام، وإذا اجتمعوا على رجل واحد أخذنا بقوله، وقد عرفت أن الأمر فيهم - رحمهم الله جميعاً -.

I have told Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) about a man, who believes in Amirul Mo'mineen (as) as the guardian, exempts himself from his (Ali’s) opponents and believes in all that Amirul Mo'mineen (as) has said but he says: They have disagreed among themselves whereas they are the leading imams and I do not know which of them is the imam. If they have agreed upon one man, we will submit to his orders. I have believed that the imamate is among them. May Allah have mercy upon them all.

فقال: إنْ مات هذا مات ميتة جاهلية.

Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) said: “He will die as an unbeliever.”

 

The same was narrated by Ali bin Sayf from his brother al-Husayn from Mu’ath bin Muslim from Imam as-Sadiq (as).29

 

Let those of understanding, who believe in the guardianship of the infallible imams of Ahlul Bayt,30 ponder on the traditions narrated from the Prophet (S), Imam Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (as) and Imam Abu Abdullah as-Sadiq (as) talking about those, who have doubted anyone of the twelve imams or have spent a night without knowing their imam. These traditions have considered such people as unbelievers, hypocrites and polytheists. Let them also ponder on the traditions that have said: “Whoever denies one of the alive imams is as if he has denied the dead ones.”

 

Let men of understanding look well for the one, whom they will follow, without being deceived by fancies and falsehood in order no to deviate from the path of the truth. Let them know well who will be the means between them and their Creator, Who is One and Only, whereas the devils are so many. Allah has said:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ ۖ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ

“…The Shaitans from among men and jinn, some of them suggesting to others varnished falsehood to deceive (them).”31

 

We pray Allah to save us and our brothers in faith from deviating from the truth and guidance and not to let us welter in the abysses of confusion and perishment. We look forward to His mercy; He is merciful to the believers.

 

1. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.78.

 

2. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.86

 

3. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.87.

 

4. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.89.

 

5. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.96.

 

6. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.95.

 

7. He is the eighth imam of the Shia.

 

8. Qur'an, 28:50.

 

9. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.78.

 

10. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.78.

 

11. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.98.

 

12. Qur'an, 7:28.

 

13. Biharul Anwar, vol.24 p.189.

 

14. He means Imam Musa bin Ja'far al-Kadhim (as).

 

15. Qur'an, 7:33.

 

16. Biharul Anwar, vol.24 p.189.

 

17. Qur'an, 2:165.

 

18. Qur'an, 2:165-167.

 

19. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.359.

 

20. Biharul Anwar, vol.27 p.193.

 

21. Qur'an, 2:257.

 

22. Qur'an, 2:257.

 

23. Qur'an, 2:257.

 

24. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.322, vol.68 p.104.

 

25. Biharul Anwar, vol.68 p.113.

 

26. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.79.

 

27. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.79.

 

28. Awalim al-Uloom, vol.3 p.401.

 

29. Biharul Anwar, vol.23 p.80.

 

30. Ahlul Bayt: The Prophet’s family.

 

31. Qur'an, 6:112.