Chapter on Miscellaneous Ahadith
H 353, Ch. 23, h 1
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa
from Ali ibn al-Niman from Sayf ibn Umayr from those whom he mentioned from
al-Harith ibn al-Mughira al-Nasri who has said the following.
"A person asked Imam abu Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most
Holy, the Most High, "Everything will be destroyed except God. . . ." (28:88)
The Imam (a.s.) asked, "What do they say about it?" I replied, "They say
that everything will perish except the face of Allah." The Imam (a.s.) said,
"Glory belongs to Allah. What they say is monstrous. What is meant thereby is that
aspect of Allahs relation with people through which (persons of highest degree of
excellence) they establish faith in Him."
H 354, Ch. 23, h 2
A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid
from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Safwan al-Jammal from Imam abu Abdallah
(a.s.) the following.
"I asked Imam abu Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the
Most High, "Everything will be destroyed except God. . . ." (28:88) The Imam
(a.s.) said, "It means whoever comes to Allah through obeying His commandments, i.e.
following Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) is the face (the aspect of Allahs relation with
people) of Allah that does not perish. So also is His words, "One who obeys the
Messenger has certainly obeyed God . . ." (4:80).
H 355, Ch. 23, h 3
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa
from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu Salam al-Khannas from some of our people from Imam abu
Jafar (a.s.) who has said the following.
"We (family of Prophet Muhammad) are the al-Mathani (one of two) that Allah
gave to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). We are the Wajhullah (face of Allah, meaning a
certain aspect of Allahs relation with people) that move among you on earth. We are
the eyes of Allah (overseers or observers from the side of Allah) in His creatures. We are
the hands of Allah that are open with blessings for His servants. Those who wanted to know
us have known us. There are people who are ignorant about us they are ignorant of us and
of the leadership of the pious people."
H 356, Ch. 23, h 4
Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ashari and Muhammad ibn Yahya
altogether have narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Sudan ibn Muslim from
Muawiya ibn Ammar from abu Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following
about the words of Allah.
"God has the most blessed Names. You should address Him in your worship by these
Names . . ." (7:180) The Imam said, "We, I swear by Allah, are the most blessed
names of Allah without which Allah does not accept any of the good deeds of His servants
until they know us properly."
H 357, Ch. 23, h 5
Muhammad ibn abu Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Ismail has
narrated from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Said
from al-Haytham ibn Abdallah from Marwan ibn Salih who has said that Imam abu
Abdallah has said the following.
"Allah created us and made it well. He gave us our form and formed it well. He made
us His eyes among His servants and His speaking tongue in His creatures. He made us His
open hands over His servants with kindness and mercy. He has made us his face through
which He is approached and his door that shows the way leading to Him. He made us His
treasurers in the heavens and on earth. Through us the trees give fruit and the fruits
ripen and the canals flow. Through us the skies send rain and plants grow on earth.
Through our worship Allah is worshipped and were we not there Allah would not have been
worshipped."
H 358, Ch. 23, h 6
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from
Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Bazia from his uncle, Hamza ibn Bazia from abu
Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following about the words of Allah.
"When they invoked Our anger, (43:54). We took revenge on them . . ." (43:55).
"Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not become frustrated the way we do. But
He has created friends for his-Own-self who become frustrated and at times happy. They are
created. They worship (Allah). He has designed their happiness to be His Own happiness and
their anger as His-Own anger. It is because He has assigned them to guide people to Him
and serve as proof of His existence. For this reason such conditions belong to them. This
does not reach Allah the way it reaches people. The meaning is what just mentioned. He has
also said, "Whoever would humiliate My friends such people have declared war against
Me with challenge." He has also said, "One who obeys the Messenger has certainly
obeyed God. . . ." (4:80). "Those who pledge obedience to you are, in fact,
pledging obedience to God. The hands of God are above their hands. . . ." (48:10).
All of these and other similar ones mean what I just said. The same is the case with anger
and happiness and other such matters. Had it been possible for frustration and anger to
reach Allah one could have said that one-day Allah will banish altogether. It is because
if anger and frustration would reach Him changes also would take place in Him and, thus,
He will not remain safe from banishment. As a result, there would exist no distinction
between the created and the Creator, between the Almighty and those subject to such might
and power. No distinction would remain between the created and the Creator. Allah is far
above such things, and is the Most High and Most Great. He is the Creator of all things
not because he needed them. If it would be without the need then it would be impossible to
limit Him with limits and conditions. Note this if Allah would will it to be so."
H 359, Ch. 23, h 7
A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu
Nasr from Muhammad ibn Humran from Aswad ibn Said who has said the following.
"I was in the presence of Imam abu Jafar (a.s.), who began to speak without any
question from me." "We are the authority of Allah. We are the door to Allah. We
are the tongue of Allah. We are the face of Allah. We are the eyes of Allah in His people.
We are the authority in the commandments of Allah among His servants."
H 360, Ch. 23, h 8
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn abu Nasr from Hassan al-Jammal who has said that Hashim ibn abu Ammara al-Janbi reported to him this. "I heard Amirul Muminin Ali (a.s.) saying, I am the eyes of Allah. I am the hands of Allah. I am the sides of Allah. I am the door to Allah."
H 361, Ch. 23, h 9
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from
Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Bazia from his uncle Hamza ibn Bazia from Ali
ibn Suwayd from abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Jafar (a.s.) who has said the following.
About the words of Allah "Woe to me because of my failure to fulfill my duties from
the side of God. . ." (39:56). The Imam (a.s.) said that the side of Allah is
Amirul Muminin (a.s.) and so are the successors of the high position until the
matters will reach to the last one among them."
H 362, Ch. 23, h 10
Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mualla ibn Muhammad from
Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Ali ibn al-Salt from al-Hakam and Ismail sons of Habid from
Burayd al-Ijli who has said the following.
"I heard Imam abu Jafar (a.s.) saying, Through us Allah is worshipped.
Through us Allah is known. Through us belief in the Oneness of Allah, the Most Holy, the
Most High, is established. Muhammad is the Hijab (curtain) of Allah, the Most Holy, the
Most High."
H 363, Ch. 23, h 11
Some of our people have narrated from Muhammad ibn Abdallah from
Abdal Wahhab ibn Bishr from Musa ibn Qadim from Sulayman from Zurara from abu
Jafar (a.s.) who has said the following.
"I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, "They
(children of Israel) did not wrong Us but they wronged themselves." (2:57) The Imam
said, "Allah is far Great and Majestic and Mighty above being wronged. But He has
mixed us with His Own-self. He has considered the wrong done to us as being done to Him
and His Own authority as our authority as He has said, "Only God, His Messenger, and
the true believers who are steadfast in prayer and pay alms, while they kneel during
prayer, are your guardians" (5:55). It means the Imams from us. Allah has also said,
"They (children of Israel) did not wrong Us but wronged themselves. (2:57)" Then
he mentioned a similar statement."