Chapter On Prohibition on Saying How is Allah (al-Kayfiyyah)
H 242, Ch. 8, h 1
Muhammad ibn al-Hassan has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from al-Hassan
ibn Mahbub from Ali ibn Riab from abu Basir From Imam abu Ja far (a.s.) who
has said the following.
"Speak about the creation of Allah and do not speak about Allah His-self. Speaking
about the Allahs self does not increase anything to ones knowledge except more
confusion."
In another Hadith from Hariz it reads, "Speak about every thing but do not speak about Allahs self."
H 243, Ch. 8, h 2
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu
Umayr from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Hajjaj from Sulayman ibn Khalid from Imam abu
Abdallah (a.s.), who has said the following.
"The words of Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, that say, And that the final
end is unto thy Lord." (53:42) instructs people to end a discussion that would take
up Allahs self as an object of investigation."
H 244, Ch. 8, h 3
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Umayr
from abu Ayyub from Muhammad ibn Muslim from Imam abu Abdallah (a.s.) who has said
the following.
"O Muhammad, people rationalize everything. They even speak about Allahs self.
When you hear such discources, say to them There is no god but Allah, the One and no
one is similar to Him."
H 245, Ch. 8, h 4
A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid
from his father from ibn abu Umayr from Muhammad ibn Humran from abu Ubaydah
(Ziyad ibn Isa) al-Hadhdha from Imam abu Jafar (a.s.) who has said the
following.
"O Ziyad, beware of debates because they create doubts, invalidate ones good
deeds and turn one into a complete wreck. One may say a thing, perhaps, he will not be
forgiven. In the past there lived a people who ignored acquiring the necessary knowledge
and instead they sought a knowledge that was not required of them. They came to speak of
Allahs self and they became confused. Their extreme perplexity was such that if
called from the front they would reply to the back and to the front if called from the
back."
In another Hadith it reads, "They totally banished on earth."
H 246, Ch. 8, h 5
A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid
from some of his people from al-Husayn ibn al-Mayyah from his father from Imam abu
Abdallh (a.s.) who has said the following.
"He who thinks of how and when about Allah he has met his doomed."
H 247, Ch. 8, h 6
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa
from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah ibn Ayun from Imam abu Abdallah
(a.s.) who has said the following.
"A king of great splendid once before a gathering in his court spoke of the (Self of)
Lord, the Holy, the Most High. Thereafter the monarch became extremely confused and could
not understand where was he."
H 248, Ch. 8, h 7
A group of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid
from Muhammad ibn 'Abdal Hamid from al-Ala' ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from
Imam abu Jafar (a.s.) who has said the following.
"Beware of thinking about Allahs self. If you would like to think about the
greatness of Allah, think about His great and wonderful creations."
H 249, Ch. 8, h 8
Muhammad ibn abu Abdallah in a marfu manner has narrated
from Imam abu Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.
"O son of Adam, if a bird were to feed upon your heart, it would not satisfy its
hunger. Only the eye of a needle, if placed over your eye, would be totally cover your
vision. With such (insignificant) means of perception how would you comprehend (Allah's)
vast dominion over the earth and the heavens? And if you think you can do so, there is the
sun, one of creatures of Allah. If your eyes can see the sun fully you then may think that
you are right."
H 250, Ch. 8, h 9
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Hassan ibn Ali
from al-Ba'qubi (Dawud ibn Ali al-Hashimi) from some of our people from 'Abd al-Ala'
Mawla Ala Sam from Imam abu Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following.
"A Jew named Sabhut came to the Prophet, (s.a.) and said, "O Messenger of Allah,
I have come to ask about your Lord. If you will answer my question it will be fine,
otherwise, I will go back."
The Prophet replied, "Ask whatever you like."
He asked, "Where is your Lord?"
The Prophet replied, "He is everywhere, but He is not confined in any limited
space."
He asked, "How is He?"
The Prophet replied, "How can I describe my Lord by means of conditions that are
created. Allah cannot be describe by His creation."
The Jew asked further, "What is the proof that you are the
Messenger of Allah?"
The Imam said, "At this point nothing remained around him (the Jew), the stones and
all other things, but that they spoke in clear Arabic language, O Sabhut he
(Muhammad) is the Messenger of Allah.
Sabhut said, "I have not seen anything so clearly as this today." And then he declared, "I testify that there is no god but Allah and you are the Messenger of Allah."
H 251, Ch. 8, h 10
Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu Umayr
from Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Khathami from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Utayk al-Qasir who
has said the following.
"I asked Imam abu Jafar (a.s.), about certain attributes of Allah.
The Imam raised his hand towards the heavens and said, High is the Almighty. High is
the Almighty. One who pursues beyond this, he is doomed."