INDEX

Chapter 8

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 Ri’ab 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 Allah’s self does not increase anything to one’s knowledge except more confusion."

In another Hadith from Hariz it reads, "Speak about every thing but do not speak about Allah’s 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 Allah’s 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 Allah’s 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 Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.
"O Ziyad, beware of debates because they create doubts, invalidate one’s 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 Allah’s 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 A’yun 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 Ja‘far (a.s.) who has said the following.
"Beware of thinking about Allah’s 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-Khath‘ami from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Utayk al-Qasir who has said the following.
"I asked Imam abu Ja‘far (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.’"

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