Introduction

The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance

Chapter on the necessity to seek knowledge and the recommendations to learn

Chapter on the quality of knowledge its virtue and the virtue of the scholars

Chapter on Kinds of People

Chapter on the reward for the scholars and those who seek knowledge

Chapter on the Qualities of the Scholars

Chapter on the Rights of the scholars

Chapter on the Loss of a Scholar

Chapter on Meeting the Scholars and Associating with Them

Chapter on Asking the Scholar and Discussing with him

Chapter on Giving Knowledge as Charity

Prohibition on Speaking without Knowledge.

Chapter on Those who Act without Knowledge

Chapter on Utilization of Knowledge

Chapter on Those who use their Knowledge to Fill their Stomach and are Boastful for it

Chapter on the Need for the Existence of a Divine Authority in the World and the Seriousness of this Matter

Chapter on Miscellaneous Issues

Chapter on narrating books and Hadith (The virtue of writing and its preservation)

Chapter on Taqlid, following the opinions of someone

Chapter on Innovations, Personal Opinions and Analogies

Chapter on the need to refer to the book and Sunnah

Chapter on the Differences in al-Hadith

Chapter on Following the Sunnah and Evidence of the Book

Chapter on Contingency of the Universe and Proof of the Existence of its Creator

Chapter on Can Allah (God) be Considered a Thing?

Chapter on (the Issue) that only He is proof of His Own Existence

Chapter on the minimum degree of knowledge of the existence of Allah

Chapter on Who is Worshipped

Chapter On Being and Space (al-Kawn WA al-Makan)

Chapter On The relationships (Nisbah) Of Allah

Chapter On Prohibition on Saying How is Allah (al-Kayfiyyah)

Chapter On The Invalidity of the Belief to see God (Ru’yah of Allah)

Chapter On Prohibition on Attributing to Allah What He Himself has not Done so

Chapter On Prohibition on Considering Allah as having Body (JISM) and Form (SURAH)

Chapter On Attribute Of Essence (Sifat al-DhDhat) Of Allah

Another Chapter of The Previous Chapter

Chapter On Will Power (IRADAH) it is of the Attributes of Action (SIFAT al-FI‘L) and the Rest of the Attributes of Action

Chapter On the Coming into the Existence of the Names of Allah

Chapter On The Meanings of the Names of Allah and their Derivatives

Chapter on Another Chapter (Related) to the Previous Chapter

Chapter on the Interpretation of al-Samad, Self-sufficient

Chapter on Motion and Change

Chapter about al-‘Arsh and al-Kursi

Chapter on al-Ruh, the Spirit

Chapter on Comprehensive (Ahadith) about the Oneness of Allah

Chapter on Miscellaneous Ahadith

Chapter on al-Bida’

Chapter on the issue that there is nothing in heavens and earth but that they are in seven

Chapter on Wish and Will

Chapter on Test and Choice

Chapter on Fortunateness and Un-fortunateness

Good and Evil

Predestination, Fate and the Middle Road in Between

The Capabilities

Declaration, Definition and the Need for Solid Proof

Differences in the Justification of Divine Authority among People

Allah’s Authorities and Means of Justification of Accountability in People

Guidance Is From Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

The necessity of the presence of Divine Authority among the people

The Categories of the Prophets, the Messengers and the Imams (a.s.)

The Difference among he Messengers, the Prophets and the al-Muhaddath

The issue that Allah’s holding people accountable remains unjustified without the Imam

The Issue that the Earth at no time is without a Person with Divine Authority

The Issue that even if only two people would remain on earth one of them would certainly be the Imam, the person with divine authority

Knowing the Imam (a.s.) and Belief in His Divine Authority

The obligation to obey the Imams (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) are witness for Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, over His creature

The Imams (a.s.) are the only true guides

The Imam (a.s.) Possess Divine Authority and the Treasure of Divine Knowledge

The Imams (a.s.) are the Deputies of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, on earth and the Gates through which people go nearer to Allah

The Imams (a.s.) are the light of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High

The Imams are the corner stone on earth

The Unique Ahadith that sums up the Virtue and Qualifications of the Imam (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) possess Divine authority, they are Envied and Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken of them

The Imams (a.s.) are the Sings of whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran

The Signs of which Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has spoken in the Holy Quran are The Imams (a.s.)

The matters that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, and His Messenger (s.a.) have sanctioned as obligatory of the beings with the Imams (a.s.)

The people of Dhikr (memory and knowledge) that Allah has commanded the creatures to ask for their questions are the Imams (a.s.)

Those whom Allah has called people of knowledge they are the Imams (a.s.)

The People Well-grounded in Knowledge are the Imams (a.s.) alone

The Imams are those who have received Knowledge and it is firmly Established in their Hearts

The people whom Allah has Chosen and has Made the Heirs of His Book are the Imams (a.s.)

Two Kinds of Imam are mentioned in the Holy Quran: the Imams (a.s.) who call to Allah and the Imams who call to Fire

The Holy Quran guides people to the Imam (a.s.)

The Bounty and Blessings that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High has mentioned in His book, the Holy Quran are the Imams (a.s.)

The People whom Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has called Mutawassimin (distinguished) in His book are the Imams (a.s.) who are also the straight path

The deeds of the people are presented before the Holy Prophet (s.a.) and the Imams (a.s.)

The Path, Urged to be Maintained Steadfastly is Acknowledgement of the Divine Authority of Imam Ali (a.s.)

The Imams (a.s.) are the Mines of Knowledge, the Tree of Prophet-hood and the Centers wherein angels Interchange

The Imams (a.s.) are the Heirs of Knowledge to Inherit it one from the other

The Imams (a.s.) inherited the knowledge of the Holy prophet (s.a.) and all the prophets and their successors before them

The Imams (a.s.) have with all the books that Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has revealed and that they know them even the language in them are different

No one collect all of the Holy Quran except the Imams (a.s.) and that they have the knowledge of all of the Holy Quran

The degree of the Great Names of Allah that are given to the Imams (a.s.)

Sacred objects of the Prophets transferred to the Imams (a.s.)

The Armaments and Sacred Items belonging to the Holy Prophet (s.a.) that transferred to the Imam (a.s.)

The case of the Arms of the Messenger of Allah is like the Ark among the Israelites

Statements about al-Jafr al-Jami‘ and the Book of Fatima (a.s.)

Chapter Ninety Seven of the Holy Quran and its interpretation

 1ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى جَمِيعاً رَفَعَاهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) اسْتَنْهَضَ النَّاسَ فِي حَرْبِ مُعَاوِيَةَ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَلَمَّا حَشَدَ النَّاسُ قَامَ خَطِيباً فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لله الْوَاحِدِ الاحَدِ الصَّمَدِ الْمُتَفَرِّدِ الَّذِي لا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَانَ وَلا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ خَلَقَ مَا كَانَ قُدْرَةٌ بَانَ بِهَا مِنَ الاشْيَاءِ وَبَانَتِ الاشْيَاءُ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَتْ لَهُ صِفَةٌ تُنَالُ وَلا حَدٌّ تُضْرَبُ لَهُ فِيهِ الامْثَالُ كَلَّ دُونَ صِفَاتِهِ تَحْبِيرُ اللُّغَاتِ وَضَلَّ هُنَاكَ تَصَارِيفُ الصِّفَاتِ وَحَارَ فِي مَلَكُوتِهِ عَمِيقَاتُ مَذَاهِبِ التَّفْكِيرِ وَانْقَطَعَ دُونَ الرُّسُوخِ فِي عِلْمِهِ جَوَامِعُ التَّفْسِيرِ وَحَالَ دُونَ غَيْبِهِ الْمَكْنُونِ حُجُبٌ مِنَ الْغُيُوبِ تَاهَتْ فِي أَدْنَى أَدَانِيهَا طَامِحَاتُ الْعُقُولِ فِي لَطِيفَاتِ الامُورِ فَتَبَارَكَ الله الَّذِي لا يَبْلُغُهُ بُعْدُ الْهِمَمِ وَلا يَنَالُهُ غَوْصُ الْفِطَنِ وَتَعَالَى الَّذِي لَيْسَ لَهُ وَقْتٌ مَعْدُودٌ وَلا أَجَلٌ مَمْدُودٌ وَلا نَعْتٌ مَحْدُودٌ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لَيْسَ لَهُ أَوَّلٌ مُبْتَدَأٌ وَلا غَايَةٌ مُنْتَهًى وَلا آخِرٌ يَفْنَى سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ كَمَا وَصَفَ نَفْسَهُ وَالْوَاصِفُونَ لا يَبْلُغُونَ نَعْتَهُ وَحَدَّ الاشْيَاءَ كُلَّهَا عِنْدَ خَلْقِهِ إِبَانَةً لَهَا مِنْ شِبْهِهِ وَإِبَانَةً لَهُ مِنْ شِبْهِهَا لَمْ يَحْلُلْ فِيهَا فَيُقَالَ هُوَ فِيهَا كَائِنٌ وَلَمْ يَنْأَ عَنْهَا فَيُقَالَ هُوَ مِنْهَا بَائِنٌ وَلَمْ يَخْلُ مِنْهَا فَيُقَالَ لَهُ أَيْنَ لَكِنَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ أَحَاطَ بِهَا عِلْمُهُ وَأَتْقَنَهَا صُنْعُهُ وَأَحْصَاهَا حِفْظُهُ لَمْ يَعْزُبْ عَنْهُ خَفِيَّاتُ غُيُوبِ الْهَوَاءِ وَلا غَوَامِضُ مَكْنُونِ ظُلَمِ الدُّجَى وَلا مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ الْعُلَى إِلَى الارَضِينَ السُّفْلَى لِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْهَا حَافِظٌ وَرَقِيبٌ وَكُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنْهَا بِشَيْ‏ءٍ مُحِيطٌ وَالْمُحِيطُ بِمَا أَحَاطَ مِنْهَا الْوَاحِدُ الاحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِي لا يُغَيِّرُهُ صُرُوفُ الازْمَانِ وَلا يَتَكَأَّدُهُ صُنْعُ شَيْ‏ءٍ كَانَ إِنَّمَا قَالَ لِمَا شَاءَ كُنْ فَكَانَ ابْتَدَعَ مَا خَلَقَ بِلا مِثَالٍ سَبَقَ وَلا تَعَبٍ وَلا نَصَبٍ وَكُلُّ صَانِعِ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَمِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ صَنَعَ وَالله لا مِنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ صَنَعَ مَا خَلَقَ وَكُلُّ عَالِمٍ فَمِنْ بَعْدِ جَهْلٍ تَعَلَّمَ وَالله لَمْ يَجْهَلْ وَلَمْ يَتَعَلَّمْ أَحَاطَ بِالاشْيَاءِ عِلْماً قَبْلَ كَوْنِهَا فَلَمْ يَزْدَدَ بِكَوْنِهَا عِلْماً عِلْمُهُ بِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَوِّنَهَا كَعِلْمِهِ بَعْدَ تَكْوِينِهَا لَمْ يُكَوِّنْهَا لِتَشْدِيدِ سُلْطَانٍ وَلا خَوْفٍ مِنْ زَوَالٍ وَلا نُقْصَانٍ وَلا اسْتِعَانَةٍ عَلَى ضِدٍّ مُنَاوٍ وَلا نِدٍّ مُكَاثِرٍ وَلا شَرِيكٍ مُكَابِرٍ لَكِنْ خَلائِقُ مَرْبُوبُونَ وَعِبَادٌ دَاخِرُونَ فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي لا يَئُودُهُ خَلْقُ مَا ابْتَدَأَ وَلا تَدْبِيرُ مَا بَرَأَ وَلا مِنْ عَجْزٍ وَلا مِنْ فَتْرَةٍ بِمَا خَلَقَ اكْتَفَى عَلِمَ مَا خَلَقَ وَخَلَقَ مَا عَلِمَ لا بِالتَّفْكِيرِ فِي عِلْمٍ حَادِثٍ أَصَابَ مَا خَلَقَ وَلا شُبْهَةٍ دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا لَمْ يَخْلُقْ لَكِنْ قَضَاءٌ مُبْرَمٌ وَعِلْمٌ مُحْكَمٌ وَأَمْرٌ مُتْقَنٌ تَوَحَّدَ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ وَخَصَّ نَفْسَهُ بِالْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ وَاسْتَخْلَصَ بِالْمَجْدِ وَالثَّنَاءِ وَتَفَرَّدَ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ وَالْمَجْدِ وَالسَّنَاءِ وَتَوَحَّدَ بِالتَّحْمِيدِ وَتَمَجَّدَ بِالتَّمْجِيدِ وَعَلا عَنِ اتِّخَاذِ الابْنَاءِ وَتَطَهَّرَ وَتَقَدَّسَ عَنْ مُلامَسَةِ النِّسَاءِ وَعَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَنْ مُجَاوَرَةِ الشُّرَكَاءِ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ فِيمَا خَلَقَ ضِدٌّ وَلا لَهُ فِيمَا مَلَكَ نِدٌّ وَلَمْ يَشْرَكْهُ فِي مُلْكِهِ أَحَدٌ الْوَاحِدُ الاحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الْمُبِيدُ لِلابَدِ وَالْوَارِثُ لِلامَدِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَزَلْ وَلا يَزَالُ وَحْدَانِيّاً أَزَلِيّاً قَبْلَ بَدْءِ الدُّهُورِ وَبَعْدَ صُرُوفِ الامُورِ الَّذِي لا يَبِيدُ وَلا يَنْفَدُ بِذَلِكَ أَصِفُ رَبِّي فَلا إِلَهَ إِلا الله مِنْ عَظِيمٍ مَا أَعْظَمَهُ وَمِنْ جَلِيلٍ مَا أَجَلَّهُ وَمِنْ عَزِيزٍ مَا أَعَزَّهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يَقُولُ الظَّالِمُونَ عُلُوّاً كَبِيراً.

1. Muhammad ibn abu ‘Abdallah and Muhammad ibn Yahya - both in a marfu‘ manner- have narrated from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Imam Amirul Mu’minin mobilized people against Mu’awiya for the second time and when people came in multitudes he stood up to give a speech. ‘All praise is due to Allah, the One, only One, the Self-sufficient, the Single one Who did not come into being from anything and was not created from something that had come into being before. He is the power. With His power He is distinct from others and the other things became manifest through His power. There is no attribute that would reach Him and He has no limit for a definition or an analogy. All the linguistic beauty and expressions fall far short to express His attributes. In speaking of Him all attributes prove to be misleading. The depth of the schools of thoughts are perplexed and confused about the wonders of His kingdom. All the comprehensive interpretations have remained far short of establishing any footing in His knowledge. The barriers of the unseen have curtained His treasured secrets. The high flying ambitious intelligence with the ability to reach the depth of very subtle matters lose their way at the very beginning of their journey to Him. Most Holy is Allah. To Him not even the far-reaching ambitions are able to reach. No deep diving intelligence is able to comprehend Him. Most High is He Who is not subject to the effects of any calculated time or extended period or limited attributes. Glorious is He Who has no beginning for His start, a destination to approach or an end to diminish. Glorious is He Who is just the way He Himself has introduced. All those who speak of His praise can never praise fully and duly. He designed a limit for everything at the time He created them. It is because that there is no similarity between them and He and that because He is not similar to any thing else. He is not absolved in anything so that it could be said He is within anything and He is far from anything so that it could be said He has nothing to do with them (the creatures). He has not distanced Himself from them so that it can be said where is He? He is far Glorious (and above such associations). He has encompassed all things through His knowledge. He has made their design firm and has enumerated them for safe preservation. Even the unseen and hidden things in the air, is not unnoticed to Him. Nor things deeply hidden in the darkness of black nights, all things high above in heavens and down to the lowest earth are not unnoticed to Him. For everything there is a protector and a guard and everything therein has limits within something and a limit for that limit. He is the One, the only One, the self sufficient, Who is not subject to the changes due to times. The creation of things never over burdens Him. He only, when willing, commands it to exist (and it comes into existence). He invented whatever He has created without any examples to follow and without feeling of over burdened or exhaustion. All manufacturers manufacture things from something. Allah has not created whatever He has created from anything. Every knowledgeable one learns after being ignorant. He has not being ignorant and has not learned from any one. He has encompassed all things through His knowledge before their coming into existence and their existence has not increased any thing to His knowledge. He knew them before their coming into existence just as He knows them after their coming into existence. He did not bring them into existence to strengthen His authority or for fear of banishment or reduction. He did not bring them into existence as helpers against a competing opponent, and a peer who would be of more (power) or a partner who would show greatness. He created them as creatures that required preservation and protection as subdued servants. Glorious is He, Who does not become tired in the creation of what He has created or the preservation of all that He has formed into beings. He does not undergo in this work any weakness or exhaustion. Whatever He has created has deemed it sufficient. He knows what He has created and created what He knew. It did not happen as a result of new thinking that He found to be a correct one not because of some doubts that He may have found in whatever that He had not yet created. It is due His unchangeable decree, His firm knowledge and resolute command. He is the One only Lord and is very special in His Oneness. He is pure in His Glory and praise. He is the only one in Oneness, the Glory, in Highness, in Oneness in praiseworthiness and in Glory and Gloriousness. He is Far High above having children. He is far Holy and clean above involvement in touching women and by far Majestic and Glorious above the association of the partners. In whatever He has created there is nothing to oppose Him nor there is any thing in what He created to stand parallel to Him and no one shares Him His kingdom. He the One and only the Self-sufficient, Who brings the timeless time to an end, is the owner of the extended duration of time. He is the one Who is eternal with eternal Oneness before the beginning of the times and after all the changes in the creation. He is the one who never banishes or diminishes. Thus, I speak of my Lord. There is no lord besides Allah. He is the Great and of un-matching greatness. He is the Most Majestic and of unmatched Majesty. He is the Most Glorious and of unmatched Glory. He is far above what the unjust think of Him to be.”

 2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ اسْمُهُ وَتَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ وَجَلَّ ثَنَاؤُهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَقَدَّسَ وَتَفَرَّدَ وَتَوَحَّدَ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ وَلا يَزَالُ وَهُوَ الاوَّلُ وَالاخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ فَلا أَوَّلَ لاوَّلِيَّتِهِ رَفِيعاً فِي أَعْلَى عُلُوِّهِ شَامِخُ الارْكَانِ رَفِيعُ الْبُنْيَانِ عَظِيمُ السُّلْطَانِ مُنِيفُ الالاءِ سَنِيُّ الْعَلْيَاءِ الَّذِي عَجَزَ الْوَاصِفُونَ عَنْ كُنْهِ صِفَتِهِ وَلا يُطِيقُونَ حَمْلَ مَعْرِفَةِ إِلَهِيَّتِهِ وَلا يَحُدُّونَ حُدُودَهُ لانَّهُ بِالْكَيْفِيَّةِ لا يُتَنَاهَى إِلَيْهِ.

 2. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Salih ibn Hammad from al-Husayn ibn Yazid from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn abu Hamza from Ibrahim from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) Who has said the following. “Allah, the Most Holy is Whose name, the Most High is Whose praise, the Most Glorious are Whose attributes. He is the Most Sacred, the Most Holy, the only One in oneness. He is eternal, the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden. There is no beginning for Him. He is the Most Exalted in His highness. The Highest in power, Exalted in authority, the greatest in kingdom, the Most bountiful, His Highness is the Most High. He is the One whose praise no one can complete, and can not bear the knowledge of His Lordship. No one is able to limit Him because it is not possible to reach Him with qualities.”

 3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنِ الْمُخْتَارِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُخْتَارِ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْعَلَوِيِّ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْفَتْحِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الْجُرْجَانِيِّ قَالَ ضَمَّنِي وَأَبَا الْحَسَنِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) الطَّرِيقُ فِي مُنْصَرَفِي مِنْ مَكَّةَ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ وَهُوَ سَائِرٌ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ مَنِ اتَّقَى الله يُتَّقَى وَمَنْ أَطَاعَ الله يُطَاعُ فَتَلَطَّفْتُ فِي الْوُصُولِ إِلَيْهِ فَوَصَلْتُ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ السَّلامَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا فَتْحُ مَنْ أَرْضَى الْخَالِقَ لَمْ يُبَالِ بِسَخَطِ الْمَخْلُوقِ وَمَنْ أَسْخَطَ الْخَالِقَ فَقَمَنٌ أَنْ يُسَلِّطَ الله عَلَيْهِ سَخَطَ الْمَخْلُوقِ وَإِنَّ الْخَالِقَ لا يُوصَفُ إِلا بِمَا وَصَفَ بِهِ نَفْسَهُ وَأَنَّى يُوصَفُ الَّذِي تَعْجِزُ الْحَوَاسُّ أَنْ تُدْرِكَهُ وَالاوْهَامُ أَنْ تَنَالَهُ وَالْخَطَرَاتُ أَنْ تَحُدَّهُ وَالابْصَارُ عَنِ الاحَاطَةِ بِهِ جَلَّ عَمَّا وَصَفَهُ الْوَاصِفُونَ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يَنْعَتُهُ النَّاعِتُونَ نَأَى فِي قُرْبِهِ وَقَرُبَ فِي نَأْيِهِ فَهُوَ فِي نَأْيِهِ قَرِيبٌ وَفِي قُرْبِهِ بَعِيدٌ كَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ فَلا يُقَالُ كَيْفَ وَأَيَّنَ الايْنَ فَلا يُقَالُ أَيْنَ إِذْ هُوَ مُنْقَطِعُ الْكَيْفُوفِيَّةِ وَالايْنُونِيَّةِ.

 3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mukhtar and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan al-‘Alawi all from al-Fath ibn Yazid al-Jurjani who has said the following. “A road on my way back from Makkah to Khuransan joined me with Imam abu al-Hassan (a.s.) the 2nd who was going to Iraq and I heard him saying, “Whoever observes piety before Allah he is protected and whoever obeys Allah he is obeyed.” I calmly walked to him and on reaching him I offered my salutation and he responded likewise and said, “O fath whoever pleases Allah is not worried about the anger of people. Whoever causes the Creator to become angry with him he deserves that Allah would cause to subject him to the anger of the people. One can only speak of the attributes of the Creator the way he Himself has spoken about Himself. How can a person speak of One from Whose perceiving all the senses are frustrated and even the imagination is not able to comprehend Him or ones sharp feelings would reach Him in any way or manner or the eyes would limit Him in any manner. He is far above the description of those who speak of His attributes and the praise of those who speak of His praise. He is far in His nearness and is near in His being far. He in His far-ness is near and is far in His nearness. He is the condition of the conditions and no one can say that He is in a condition or is somewhere. No one can about Him where because He is far above the conditions and places.”

 4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله رَفَعَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ بَيْنَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) يَخْطُبُ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْكُوفَةِ إِذْ قَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ ذِعْلِبٌ ذُو لِسَانٍ بَلِيغٍ فِي الْخُطَبِ شُجَاعُ الْقَلْبِ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ هَلْ رَأَيْتَ رَبَّكَ قَالَ وَيْلَكَ يَا ذِعْلِبُ مَا كُنْتُ أَعْبُدُ رَبّاً لَمْ أَرَهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَهُ قَالَ وَيْلَكَ يَا ذِعْلِبُ لَمْ تَرَهُ الْعُيُونُ بِمُشَاهَدَةِ الابْصَارِ وَلَكِنْ رَأَتْهُ الْقُلُوبُ بِحَقَائِقِ الايمَانِ وَيْلَكَ يَا ذِعْلِبُ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفُ اللَّطَافَةِ لا يُوصَفُ بِاللُّطْفِ عَظِيمُ الْعَظَمَةِ لا يُوصَفُ بِالْعِظَمِ كَبِيرُ الْكِبْرِيَاءِ لا يُوصَفُ بِالْكِبَرِ جَلِيلُ الْجَلالَةِ لا يُوصَفُ بِالغِلَظِ قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لا يُقَالُ شَيْ‏ءٌ قَبْلَهُ وَبَعْدَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لا يُقَالُ لَهُ بَعْدٌ شَاءَ الاشْيَاءَ لا بِهِمَّةٍ دَرَّاكٌ لا بِخَدِيعَةٍ فِي الاشْيَاءِ كُلِّهَا غَيْرُ مُتَمَازِجٍ بِهَا وَلا بَائِنٌ مِنْهَا ظَاهِرٌ لا بِتَأْوِيلِ الْمُبَاشَرَةِ مُتَجَلٍّ لا بِاسْتِهْلالِ رُؤْيَةٍ نَاءٍ لا بِمَسَافَةٍ قَرِيبٌ لا بِمُدَانَاةٍ لَطِيفٌ لا بِتَجَسُّمٍ مَوْجُودٌ لا بَعْدَ عَدَمٍ فَاعِلٌ لا بِاضْطِرَارٍ مُقَدِّرٌ لا بِحَرَكَةٍ مُرِيدٌ لا بِهَمَامَةٍ سَمِيعٌ لا بِ‏آلَةٍ بَصِيرٌ لا بِأَدَاةٍ لا تَحْوِيهِ الامَاكِنُ وَلا تَضْمَنُهُ الاوْقَاتُ وَلا تَحُدُّهُ الصِّفَاتُ وَلا تَأْخُذُهُ السِّنَاتُ سَبَقَ الاوْقَاتَ كَوْنُهُ وَالْعَدَمَ وُجُودُهُ وَالابْتِدَاءَ أَزَلُهُ بِتَشْعِيرِهِ الْمَشَاعِرَ عُرِفَ أَنْ لا مَشْعَرَ لَهُ وَبِتَجْهِيرِهِ الْجَوَاهِرَ عُرِفَ أَنْ لا جَوْهَرَ لَهُ وَبِمُضَادَّتِهِ بَيْنَ الاشْيَاءِ عُرِفَ أَنْ لا ضِدَّ لَهُ وَبِمُقَارَنَتِهِ بَيْنَ الاشْيَاءِ عُرِفَ أَنْ لا قَرِينَ لَهُ ضَادَّ النُّورَ بِالظُّلْمَةِ وَالْيُبْسَ بِالْبَلَلِ وَالْخَشِنَ بِاللَّيِّنِ وَالصَّرْدَ بِالْحَرُورِ مُؤَلِّفٌ بَيْنَ مُتَعَادِيَاتِهَا وَمُفَرِّقٌ بَيْنَ مُتَدَانِيَاتِهَا دَالَّةً بِتَفْرِيقِهَا عَلَى مُفَرِّقِهَا وَبِتَأْلِيفِهَا عَلَى مُؤَلِّفِهَا وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى وَمِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ خَلَقْنا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَ قَبْلٍ وَبَعْدٍ لِيُعْلَمَ أَنْ لا قَبْلَ لَهُ وَلا بَعْدَ لَهُ شَاهِدَةً بِغَرَائِزِهَا أَنْ لا غَرِيزَةَ لِمُغْرِزِهَا مُخْبِرَةً بِتَوْقِيتِهَا أَنْ لا وَقْتَ لِمُوَقِّتِهَا حَجَبَ بَعْضَهَا عَنْ بَعْضٍ لِيُعْلَمَ أَنْ لا حِجَابَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ كَانَ رَبّاً إِذْ لا مَرْبُوبَ وَإِلَهاً إِذْ لا مَأْلُوهَ وَعَالِماً إِذْ لا مَعْلُومَ وَسَمِيعاً إِذْ لا مَسْمُوعَ.

 4. Muhaamd ibn abu ‘Abdallah in marfu‘ manner has narrated from Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following. “Once Imam Amirul Mu’minin addressed the people in the Mosque of Kufa from the pulpit and a man called dhi‘lab a very good orator and brave in heart said, “O Amirul Mu’minin, have you seen your Lord?” The Imam replied, “Fie upon you O Dhi‘lab, how would I worship a Lord whom I would not see?” The man said, “O Amirul Mu’minin how have you seen Him?” The Imam said, “Fie up on you O Dhi‘lab, the eyes are not able to see Him physically but it is the hearts that see Him through the truth of the faith. O Dhi‘lab, my Lord is subtle in subtleties but can not be described by means of subtle matters. My Lord is great but can not be described by means of greatness. His greatness surpasses all greatness but he can not be described by means of such greatness. He is Glorious in His Glory but He can not be described in terms of thickness. He is before everything and it can not be said that something was before Him. He will be after all things but it can not be said that there is something after Him. He willed the existence of things but not by means of first thinking about it. He comprehends things but not with a great deal of efforts. Things are not mixed with Him and nor is He indifferent about them. He is clearly manifest but not with contacts and changes. He shines but not in the form of being found out with eye sight. He is far but not in the form of distance. He is near but not in the form of nearness. He is very fine but not in the form of physical fineness. He exists but not after nothingness. He acts but not because of being forced. He measures things but not by means of movement. He wills but not by means of thinking. He hears but not with tools. He sees but not with instruments. He is not contained in place and held up in times. Attributes do not limit Him and slumber does not seize Him. His Being was before the time and His existence was before nothingness. He was before eternity. His giving the sense awareness prove that He does not have the tools for sensing. His giving substance to the substances is proof that Himself is not a substance. The existence of a contrary to everything is proof that there is nothing contrary to Him. His giving nearness to things is proof that there is nothing similar to Him. He has made the light contrary to the darkness, the wetness to the dryness, the harshness to the softness, the coldness to the heat. He combines their transgressing and separates their closeness. The separation among things is evidence of the existence of the One Who causes separation in them and their combinations is evidence of the existence of the One Who combines them. It is jus as Allah has said, “We have created everything in pairs so that perhaps you may take heed (51:49).” He has made a distinction between the before and after to show that there is no before and after for Him. The instincts show that the One who created the instincts Himself has no instinct. The time is evidence that there is no timing for the One Who made the time. Things are hidden from each other are evidence that nothing hides them from their Creator. He was the Lord when there was nothing to enjoy His Lordship. He was to be worshipped when there was no worshipper. He had the knowledge when there was nothing to know. He was hearing when there was nothing to hear.”

 5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ شَبَابٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ وَاسْمُهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ قُتَيْبَةَ قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَعِيسَى شَلَقَانُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فَابْتَدَأَنَا فَقَالَ عَجَباً لاقْوَامٍ يَدَّعُونَ عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) مَا لَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ بِهِ قَطُّ خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) النَّاسَ بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لله الْمُلْهِمِ عِبَادَهُ حَمْدَهُ وَفَاطِرِهِمْ عَلَى مَعْرِفَةِ رُبُوبِيَّتِهِ الدَّالِّ عَلَى وُجُودِهِ بِخَلْقِهِ وَبِحُدُوثِ خَلْقِهِ عَلَى أَزَلِهِ وَبِاشْتِبَاهِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْ لا شِبْهَ لَهُ الْمُسْتَشْهِدِ بِ‏آيَاتِهِ عَلَى قُدْرَتِهِ الْمُمْتَنِعَةِ مِنَ الصِّفَاتِ ذَاتُهُ وَمِنَ الابْصَارِ رُؤْيَتُهُ وَمِنَ الاوْهَامِ الاحَاطَةُ بِهِ لا أَمَدَ لِكَوْنِهِ وَلا غَايَةَ لِبَقَائِهِ لا تَشْمُلُهُ الْمَشَاعِرُ وَلا تَحْجُبُهُ الْحُجُبُ وَالْحِجَابُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ خَلْقُهُ إِيَّاهُمْ لامْتِنَاعِهِ مِمَّا يُمْكِنُ فِي ذَوَاتِهِمْ وَلامْكَانٍ مِمَّا يَمْتَنِعُ مِنْهُ وَلافْتِرَاقِ الصَّانِعِ مِنَ الْمَصْنُوعِ وَالْحَادِّ مِنَ الْمَحْدُودِ وَالرَّبِّ مِنَ الْمَرْبُوبِ الْوَاحِدُ بِلا تَأْوِيلِ عَدَدٍ وَالْخَالِقُ لا بِمَعْنَى حَرَكَةٍ وَالْبَصِيرُ لا بِأَدَاةٍ وَالسَّمِيعُ لا بِتَفْرِيقِ آلَةٍ وَالشَّاهِدُ لا بِمُمَاسَّةٍ وَالْبَاطِنُ لا بِاجْتِنَانٍ وَالظَّاهِرُ الْبَائِنُ لا بِتَرَاخِي مَسَافَةٍ أَزَلُهُ نُهْيَةٌ لِمَجَاوِلِ الافْكَارِ وَدَوَامُهُ رَدْعٌ لِطَامِحَاتِ الْعُقُولِ قَدْ حَسَرَ كُنْهُهُ نَوَافِذَ الابْصَارِ وَقَمَعَ وُجُودُهُ جَوَائِلَ الاوْهَامِ فَمَنْ وَصَفَ الله فَقَدْ حَدَّهُ وَمَنْ حَدَّهُ فَقَدْ عَدَّهُ وَمَنْ عَدَّهُ فَقَدْ أَبْطَلَ أَزَلَهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ أَيْنَ فَقَدْ غَيَّاهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ عَلامَ فَقَدْ أَخْلَى مِنْهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ فِيمَ فَقَدْ ضَمَّنَهُ.

 5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Shabab al-Sayarafi called Muhammad ibn al-Walid from Ali ibn Sayf from ‘Amira who has said that Isma‘il ibn Qutayba said the following. “I and ‘Isa ibn al-Shalqan went to see Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.). The Imam said ‘It is strange that a group of people ascribe to Amirul Mu’minin certain things that he had never said. Amirul Mu’minin addressed people in Kufa in the following words. “All praise is due to Allah Who inspired His servants with His praise and natured them in a way that would give them the desire to acknowledge His Lordship. It is He, Who guides people through His creation to His Own existence and His creatures are evidence of His eternity. The fact that His creatures are similar is evidence that there is nothing similar to Him. His signs are evidence of His great power. His Own-self prohibits acceptance of descriptions and so are His being seen with the eyes and His being comprehended in the imaginations. There is no time limit for His being in existence and there is no final destination for Him. Awareness can not contain Him and coverings can not cover Him. The curtain between Him and His creatures is His creating them. It is because of being impossible for Him what is possible in the essence of the creatures and because of what may be possible in their case is impossible in His case. It is also because of the difference between the Creator and the created, the limited and the unlimited and the Lord and the worshippers. He is One without being a unit of a particular kind. He is the Creator but not terms of motion. He is seeing but not by means of tools. He is hearing but not with distinguishing instruments. He observes but not by means of touching. He is hidden but not with covering. He is clearly manifest but not with lapse due to distance. His eternity is beyond the reach of thinking and a stop for the aims of the intelligence. His reality has worn out the ability of sight and His Own-self has uprooted the (spreading) vines of imaginations. Whoever tries to describe Allah has thought of Him as limited and whoever considers Him limited he has enumerated Him and whoever enumerates Him he has invalidated His eternity. Whoever asks where is He, he has considered Him as having an end. Whoever says on what is He, he has considered Him as distanced. Whoever says wherein is He, he has considered Him contained in some thing.”

6ـ وَرَوَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ حَمْزَةَ عَنْ فَتْحِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله مَوْلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ شَيْ‏ءٍ مِنَ التَّوْحِيدِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ بِخَطِّهِ الْحَمْدُ لله الْمُلْهِمِ عِبَادَهُ حَمْدَهُ.  وَذَكَرَ مِثْلَ مَا رَوَاهُ سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ وَقَمَعَ وُجُودُهُ جَوَائِلَ الاوْهَامِ ثُمَّ زَادَ فِيهِ أَوَّلُ الدِّيَانَةِ بِهِ مَعْرِفَتُهُ وَكَمَالُ مَعْرِفَتِهِ تَوْحِيدُهُ وَكَمَالُ تَوْحِيدِهِ نَفْيُ الصِّفَاتِ عَنْهُ بِشَهَادَةِ كُلِّ صِفَةٍ أَنَّهَا غَيْرُ الْمَوْصُوفِ وَشَهَادَةِ الْمَوْصُوفِ أَنَّهُ غَيْرُ الصِّفَةِ وَشَهَادَتِهِمَا جَمِيعاً بِالتَّثْنِيَةِ الْمُمْتَنِعِ مِنْهُ الازَلُ فَمَنْ وَصَفَ الله فَقَدْ حَدَّهُ وَمَنْ حَدَّهُ فَقَدْ عَدَّهُ وَمَنْ عَدَّهُ فَقَدْ أَبْطَلَ أَزَلَهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ كَيْفَ فَقَدِ اسْتَوْصَفَهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ فِيمَ فَقَدْ ضَمَّنَهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ عَلامَ فَقَدْ جَهِلَهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ أَيْنَ فَقَدْ أَخْلَى مِنْهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ مَا هُوَ فَقَدْ نَعَتَهُ وَمَنْ قَالَ إِلامَ فَقَدْ غَايَاهُ عَالِمٌ إِذْ لا مَعْلُومَ وَخَالِقٌ إِذْ لا مَخْلُوقَ وَرَبٌّ إِذْ لا مَرْبُوبَ وَكَذَلِكَ يُوصَفُ رَبُّنَا وَفَوْقَ مَا يَصِفُهُ الْوَاصِفُونَ.

 6. The above is narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Salih ibn Hamza from Fath ibn ‘Abdallah Mawla Banu Hashim who has said the following. “I wrote to abu Ibrahim (a.s.) asking him about the Oneness of Allah.” He wrote back to me in his own hand writing, “All praise is due to Allah, Who inspires His servants with His praise.” He mentioned in it facts similar to those in the Hadith of Sahl ibn Ziyad (No. 5 above) to his words that read, ‘His essence has uprooted the (spreading) vines of imaginations’ with the following addition. “The first thing in His religion is to know Him. A perfect knowledge about Him is to know that He is One. A perfect belief in His Oneness is to negate all attributes from Him. Every attribute is evidence that it is different from what it is attributed to. That everything to which an attribute is ascribed is evidence that it is something other than the attribute. Both the attribute and to whatever it is attributed are evidence that there are two things which invalidate His being eternal. Whoever attributes a quality to Allah he has considered Him limited. Whoever considers Him limited he has enumerated Him and whoever enumerates Him he has considered His eternity invalid. Whoever says how is He, he has he has considered Him describable. Whoever says in what is He, he has considered Him as contained. Whoever says on what is He, he has become ignorant of Him. Whoever says where is He, he has considered some place without Him. Whoever says what is He, he has attributed certain qualities to Him. Whoever says up to what limit is He, he has considered Him as having an end. He had knowledge before there was anything to know. He was the Creator before there was any creatures. He was the Lord before there was a worshipper. Thus, is our Lord spoken of and it is above the way others speak of Him.”

 7ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ وَغَيْرِهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ سَمَّاهُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ السَّبِيعِيِّ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ الاعْوَرِ قَالَ خَطَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) خُطْبَةً بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ فَعَجِبَ النَّاسُ مِنْ حُسْنِ صِفَتِهِ وَمَا ذَكَرَهُ مِنْ تَعْظِيمِ الله جَلَّ جَلالُهُ قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ فَقُلْتُ لِلْحَارِثِ أَ وَمَا حَفِظْتَهَا قَالَ قَدْ كَتَبْتُهَا فَأَمْلاهَا عَلَيْنَا مِنْ كِتَابِهِ الْحَمْدُ لله الَّذِي لا يَمُوتُ وَلا تَنْقَضِي عَجَائِبُهُ لانَّهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فِي شَأْنٍ مِنْ إِحْدَاثِ بَدِيعٍ لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ فَيَكُونَ فِي الْعِزِّ مُشَارَكاً وَلَمْ يُولَدْ فَيَكُونَ مَوْرُوثاً هَالِكاً وَلَمْ تَقَعْ عَلَيْهِ الاوْهَامُ فَتُقَدِّرَهُ شَبَحاً مَاثِلاً وَلَمْ تُدْرِكْهُ الابْصَارُ فَيَكُونَ بَعْدَ انْتِقَالِهَا حَائِلاً الَّذِي لَيْسَتْ فِي أَوَّلِيَّتِهِ نِهَايَةٌ وَلا؛!!ّّ لآِخِرِيَّتِهِ حَدٌّ وَلا غَايَةٌ الَّذِي لَمْ يَسْبِقْهُ وَقْتٌ وَلَمْ يَتَقَدَّمْهُ زَمَانٌ وَلا يَتَعَاوَرُهُ زِيَادَةٌ وَلا نُقْصَانٌ وَلا يُوصَفُ بِأَيْنٍ وَلا بِمَ وَلا مَكَانٍ الَّذِي بَطَنَ مِنْ خَفِيَّاتِ الامُورِ وَظَهَرَ فِي الْعُقُولِ بِمَا يُرَى فِي خَلْقِهِ مِنْ عَلامَاتِ التَّدْبِيرِ الَّذِي سُئِلَتِ الانْبِيَاءُ عَنْهُ فَلَمْ تَصِفْهُ بِحَدٍّ وَلا بِبَعْضٍ بَلْ وَصَفَتْهُ بِفِعَالِهِ وَدَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ بِ‏آيَاتِهِ لا تَسْتَطِيعُ عُقُولُ الْمُتَفَكِّرِينَ جَحْدَهُ لانَّ مَنْ كَانَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالارْضُ فِطْرَتَهُ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ وَمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ وَهُوَ الصَّانِعُ لَهُنَّ فَلا مَدْفَعَ لِقُدْرَتِهِ الَّذِي نَأَى مِنَ الْخَلْقِ فَلا شَيْ‏ءَ كَمِثْلِهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلْقَهُ لِعِبَادَتِهِ وَأَقْدَرَهُمْ عَلَى طَاعَتِهِ بِمَا جَعَلَ فِيهِمْ وَقَطَعَ عُذْرَهُمْ بِالْحُجَجِ فَعَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ هَلَكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ وَبِمَنِّهِ نَجَا مَنْ نَجَا وَلله الْفَضْلُ مُبْدِئاً وَمُعِيداً ثُمَّ إِنَّ الله وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ افْتَتَحَ الْحَمْدَ لِنَفْسِهِ وَخَتَمَ أَمْرَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَحَلَّ الاخِرَةِ بِالْحَمْدِ لِنَفْسِهِ فَقَالَ وَقَضَى بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَقِيلَ الْحَمْدُ لله رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الْحَمْدُ لله اللابِسِ الْكِبْرِيَاءِ بِلا تَجْسِيدٍ وَالْمُرْتَدِي بِالْجَلالِ بِلا تَمْثِيلٍ وَالْمُسْتَوِي عَلَى الْعَرْشِ بِغَيْرِ زَوَالٍ وَالْمُتَعَالِي عَلَى الْخَلْقِ بِلا تَبَاعُدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَلا مُلامَسَةٍ مِنْهُ لَهُمْ لَيْسَ لَهُ حَدٌّ يُنْتَهَى إِلَى حَدِّهِ وَلا لَهُ مِثْلٌ فَيُعْرَفَ بِمِثْلِهِ ذَلَّ مَنْ تَجَبَّرَ غَيْرَهُ وَصَغُرَ مَنْ تَكَبَّرَ دُونَهُ وَتَوَاضَعَتِ الاشْيَاءُ لِعَظَمَتِهِ وَانْقَادَتْ لِسُلْطَانِهِ وَعِزَّتِهِ وَكَلَّتْ عَنْ إِدْرَاكِهِ طُرُوفُ الْعُيُونِ وَقَصُرَتْ دُونَ بُلُوغِ صِفَتِهِ أَوْهَامُ الْخَلائِقِ الاوَّلِ قَبْلَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا قَبْلَ لَهُ وَالاخِرِ بَعْدَ كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ وَلا بَعْدَ لَهُ الظَّاهِرِ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ بِالْقَهْرِ لَهُ وَالْمُشَاهِدِ لِجَمِيعِ الامَاكِنِ بِلا انْتِقَالٍ إِلَيْهَا لا تَلْمِسُهُ لامِسَةٌ وَلا تَحُسُّهُ حَاسَّةٌ هُوَ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ إِلَهٌ وَفِي الارْضِ إِلَهٌ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ أَتْقَنَ مَا أَرَادَ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ مِنَ الاشْبَاحِ كُلِّهَا لا بِمِثَالٍ سَبَقَ إِلَيْهِ وَلا لُغُوبٍ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي خَلْقِ مَا خَلَقَ لَدَيْهِ ابْتَدَأَ مَا أَرَادَ ابْتِدَاءَهُ وَأَنْشَأَ مَا أَرَادَ إِنْشَاءَهُ عَلَى مَا أَرَادَ مِنَ الثَّقَلَيْنِ الْجِنِّ وَالانْسِ لِيَعْرِفُوا بِذَلِكَ رُبُوبِيَّتَهُ وَتَمَكَّنَ فِيهِمْ طَاعَتُهُ نَحْمَدُهُ بِجَمِيعِ مَحَامِدِهِ كُلِّهَا عَلَى جَمِيعِ نَعْمَائِهِ كُلِّهَا وَنَسْتَهْدِيهِ لِمَرَاشِدِ أُمُورِنَا وَنَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ لِلذُّنُوبِ الَّتِي سَبَقَتْ مِنَّا وَنَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ بَعَثَهُ بِالْحَقِّ نَبِيّاً دَالاً عَلَيْهِ وَهَادِياً إِلَيْهِ فَهَدَى بِهِ مِنَ الضَّلالَةِ وَاسْتَنْقَذَنَا بِهِ مِنَ الْجَهَالَةِ مَنْ يُطِعِ الله وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزاً عَظِيماً وَنَالَ ثَوَاباً جَزِيلاً وَمَنْ يَعْصِ الله وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَاناً مُبِيناً وَاسْتَحَقَّ عَذَاباً أَلِيماً فَأَنْجِعُوا بِمَا يَحِقُّ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنَ السَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِخْلاصِ النَّصِيحَةِ وَحُسْنِ الْمُؤَازَرَةِ وَأَعِينُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ بِلُزُومِ الطَّرِيقَةِ الْمُسْتَقِيمَةِ وَهَجْرِ الامُورِ الْمَكْرُوهَةِ وَتَعَاطَوُا الْحَقَّ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَعَاوَنُوا بِهِ دُونِي وَخُذُوا عَلَى يَدِ الظَّالِمِ السَّفِيهِ وَمُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَاعْرِفُوا لِذَوِي الْفَضْلِ فَضْلَهُمْ عَصَمَنَا الله وَإِيَّاكُمْ بِالْهُدَى وَثَبَّتَنَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ عَلَى التَّقْوَى وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ الله لِي وَلَكُمْ.

 7. It is narrated from a number of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Ahmad ibn al-Nadr and others whom he mentioned from ‘Amr ibn Thabit from a man whom he mentioned from abu Ishaq al-Subay‘i from Harith al-A‘war who said the following. “Amirul Mu’minin gave a speech in the afternoon and people liked it very much because of the beautiful manner in which Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is praised. Abu Ishaq has said that he asked al-Harith if he has recorded that sermon.” Al-Harith said, “I have recorded the sermon in writing.” He then dictated it to us from his book. “All praise is due to Allah Who does not die Whose wonders do not end. It is because everyday He has a task in the form of the invention of something that did not exist. It is He Who has no children so that He would share others in Majesty and He is not the child of others so that He would be inherited and Himself banish. The imaginations can not comprehend Him to figure Him out in some form of similitude. The eyes have not perceived Him so that after changing position He would also change. It is He for whose beginning there is no end nor there is a final destination for His being the last. It is He before Whom there is no time and is not preceded by any duration. He does not become defective by reduction or addition. He does not become attributed with direction or of what is He made of or with place. It is He Who knows all the hidden matters and has surpassed all intelligence what is evident in His creatures of plans and maintenance. It is He about Whom the prophets were asked and they did not speak of Him in terms of limits and parts. They spoke of His acts and showed people His signs. The intelligence of thinkers can not deny Him because the One who has created the heavens and earth and all that is in them and between them and is their Creator no one is able to stand up to His power. It is He, Who is different from the creatures and there is nothing similar to Him. It is He, Who has created the creatures for His worship and has given them the ability to obey Him. With the capabilities that He has placed in them and has removed all their excuses He has placing His authority among them so that after knowing the authority would perish whoever would like to perish and after knowing the authority receive salvation whoever would like to receive salvation. Benevolent is Allah to begin and to repeat. Then, Allah, to Whom all praise is due, introduced praise for His Own-self. He has finished the affairs of the world and the coming of the next life with praise for His Own-self saying, “He has judged among them with the truth” and All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” All praise is due to Allah, Who has dressed up with greatness but with out a body, Who has put on the gown of Majesty and Glory which has no similarity. It is He, Who has control over the Throne without losing such authority. He is far Exalted above the creatures but without being far from them or being in touch with them. He has no limit that would end to a limit nor there is anything similar to Him to help know Him better. All things are humble before His power and might. All things, although great, are small before Him. All things respect His Greatness, obey His authority and Majesty. Glimpses of eyes are weak and exhausted in trying to comprehend Him. The imaginations of the creatures fall far short off describing Him. He is the first before all things and there was is no one before Him. He is the last after all things and there is no after for Him. He has control over all things with might. He observes all places without moving thereto. No touching touches Him and no sense senses Him. He is the Lord in the heavens and the Lord on earth. He is All-wise and All-knowing. He has given firm shape and form to His creatures the way He willed but not with following previous examples and without experiencing any fatigue in the creation of the things that He has created. He began what He wanted to begin and invented what He wanted to invent and the way He willed of the two great and heavy creatures, the man and Jinn so that they would know Him through such evidence His Lordship and established in them His obedience. “We thank Him with all of His praise for all of His bounties. We ask Him for His guidance to give us wisdom in our affairs. We seek His refuge from the evil of our sinful deeds and ask Him to forgive our sins that we may have committed before. We testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (s.a.) is His servant and messengers. He sent him with truth as a prophet, as a sign of His existence and a guide to Him. (We) found guidance through him from straying and are saved through him from ignorance. Whoever obeys Allah and His messenger has indeed gained a great success and has earned a great reward. Whoever disobeys Allah and His messengers has indeed suffered a clear loss and is subjected to a painful punishment. Make sure to succeed in obedience and listening, sincerity, good advice and proper support. Be helpful to yourselves to keep on the straight path and shun the detested matters. Deal among yourselves with truth and cooperate thereby with me. Hold back the unjust and feeble minded hands. Make others do good and prevent them from committing unlawful deeds. Appreciate excellence of the excelling people. May Allah protect you and us through guidance and make you and us steadfast in piety. I ask Allah for forgiveness for myself and for you.”

Al-Kāfi - Volume 1

Book 3, Chapter 22