The chapter because of which we named this book, the Book of the Meanings of the Reports

The chapter of the meaning of a noun

The chapter of the meaning of «Bism-il-Laah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem»

Another chapter regarding the meaning of «Bism-il-Laah»

The chapter of the meaning of Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He

The chapter of the meaning of the One

The meaning of «al-Samad»

The meaning of the Saying of the Imams, peace be upon them, that Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, is a Thing

The meaning of «Glorified be Allah»

The meaning of Monotheism and Justice

The meaning of «Allah is Greater»

The chapter of the meaning of the First and the Last

The meaning of terms mentioned in the Book and the Tradition about Monotheism

The meaning of the satisfaction of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, and His wrath

The meaning of guidance, aberration, success and abandonment from Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He

The meaning of «There is no force nor strength except by Allah»

The meaning of the separated letters at the beginning of the chapters of the Qur’an

The meaning of evening above the Throne

The meaning of the Throne and the Chair

The meaning of the Tablet and the Pen

The meaning of the scales by which the deeds of the servants are measured

The meaning of the Path

The meaning of the letters of the Adhan and Iqamah

The meaning of the letters of the alphabet

The meaning of the letters of sentences

The meaning of the names of the Prophets and Messengers, peace be upon them, and other than that

The meaning of the names of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and his Household, peace be upon them

The meaning of the names of Muhammed, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Hussain and the Imams, peace be upon them

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Whoever I am his Leader, then Ali is his Leader»

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, to Ali, peace be upon him: «You are to me in the same position as Harun to Musa, except that there is no Prophet after me»

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, to Ali, Hasan and Hussain: «You are the ones considered weak after me»

The meaning of terms mentioned about the characteristic of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family

The meaning of Two Weighty Things and the Family

The meaning of aal, ahl, ‘itra  and ummah

The meaning of the Clear Imam

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, with regards to Ali bin Abi Talib, peace be upon that, that he is the Master of the Arabs

The meaning of the marriage of the Light to the Light

The meaning of the one who wrongs himself, the moderate and the forerunner

The meaning of what is narrated with regards to that Fatima shielded her private organ, to which Allah forbade her offspring from the Fire

The meaning of what is narrated with regards Fatima, peace be upon her, that she is the Mistress of the women of all the worlds

The meaning of the Trusts which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, had ordered His servants to deliver to their people

The meaning of the Trusts that were presented upon the Heavens, the earth and the mountains, but which they refused to carry and feared, and which the human being carried

The meaning of the Abandoned Well and the Lofty Palace

The meaning of Tuba

The meaning of the hiding of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, to four within four

The meaning of the column whom the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, saw during the Night of the Ascension, whose origin is of silver, center is of ruby and peridot and top is of red gold

The meaning of Prophethood

The meaning of the sun, the moon, zuhra  and Two farqads

The meaning of the sending of blessings upon the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family

The meaning of the Means

The meaning of Three Sanctities

The meaning of disobedience to parents, fugitivity from masters and the sheep who strayed from the shepherd

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «I am the Young Man, son of the Young Man, brother of the Young Man»

The meaning of adolescence and manhood

The meaning of the Father of Sand

The meaning of the Saying of the Commander of the Believers, peace be upon him: «I am Zaid bin Abd-Manaf bin ‘Amer bin Amru bin Mughaira bin Zaid bin Kilab»

The meaning of the Family of Yasin

The meaning of the narration that has been narrated of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Do not antagonize the Days, lest they antagonize you»

The chapter of the meaning of the Tree from which Adam and Hawwa’ ate

The chapter of the meaning of the Words received by Adam from his Lord, after which He accepted his repentance

The meaning of the Word of Godfearness

The meaning of the Words with which Ibrahim was tested by his Lord, which he completed

The chapter of the meaning of the Remaining Word in the descendants of Ibrahim, peace be upon him

The meaning of the Infallibility of the Imam

The meaning of the forbidding of the Fire for the spine that (was a cause to have) ejaculated the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, the belly (that was caring) that carried him and the home that cared for him

The meaning of the words in which Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has gathered all goodness for Adam, peace be upon him

The meaning of the disbelief that does not reach (the extent of) polytheism

The meaning of impurity

The meaning of Iblees

The meaning of the kohl of Iblees, the material he licks and his snuffle

The meaning of the Stoned

The meaning of the Treasure of Speech

The meaning of the Concealed Things

The meaning of the Master of Forgiveness-seeking

The meaning of the saying of al-Sadiq, peace be upon him: «Beware from being benefactors»

The meaning of equivalence and thankfulness

The meaning of the knowledge which ignorance of does not harm, and which knowledge of does not benefit

The meaning of the hypocrite

The meaning of complaint during illness

The meaning of the wind that causes forgetfulness and bestows

The meaning of the saying of al-Sadiq, peace be upon him: «People are two: one who relieves, and another who rests»

The meaning of the secret and what is more hidden

The meaning of the Arabization of the Nabatean, and the Nabateaization of the Arab

The chapter of the meaning of what has been narrated with regards to that a woman has no equal, neither for her good, nor for her bad

The chapter of the meaning of consulting Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He

The chapter of the meaning of aggravation

The chapter of the meaning of the most sincere of names and the best of them

The chapter of the meaning of the unseen and the witnessed

The chapter of the meaning of that which deceives the eyes

The chapter of the meaning of the kantar

The meaning of baheera, sa’iba, waseela and haam

The meaning of the cruel and the villainous

The meaning of the drinking of thirsty cattle

The meaning of the two small, the two big and the two guises

The meaning of generosity of the grace

The meaning of the evil-wisher

The meaning of few

Another meaning of few

The meaning of the report which narrated that ill-omen is in three: in a woman, a riding animal and a home

The meaning of the saying of the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «Any man who leaves two dinars, they are to burn between his eye»

حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن الصقر الصائغ  قال: حدثنا عيسى بن محمد العلوي، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن سلام الكوفي، قال: حدثنا الحسن بن عبد الواحد، قال: حدثنا الحارث بن الحسن، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إسماعيل بن صدقة، عن أبي الجارود، عن أبي جعفر محمد بن علي الباقر، عن أبيه، عن جده عليهم السلام قال: لما أنزلت هذه الآية على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله " وكل شئ أحصيناه في إمام مبين   " قام أبو بكر وعمر من مجلسهما فقالا: يا رسول الله هو التوراة؟ قال: لا، قالا: فهو الإنجيل؟ قال: لا، قالا: فهو القرآن؟ قال: لا. قال: فأقبل أمير المؤمنين علي عليه السلام فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: هو هذا، إنه الامام الذي أحصى الله تبارك وتعالى فيه علم كل شئ.

1.	We were told by Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Saqr al-Sa’igh, that he said: We were told by Isa bin Muhammed al-Alawi, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Salam al-Kufi, that he said: We were told by Hasan bin Abdul-Wahid, that he said: We were told by Harith bin Hasan, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Isma’il bin Sadaqa, from Abu’l-Jarud, from Abu Ja’far, Muhammed bin Ali al-Baqir, from his father, from his grandfather, peace be upon him, that he said: When this verse was sent down unto the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «And We have enumerated everything in a Clear Imam» (36:12) Abu Bakr and Umar arose from their sitting places and said: O Messenger of Allah, is it the Tawrat? He said: No. They said: Then is it the Injeel? He said: No. They said: Then is it the Qur’an? He said: No. He said: Then the Commander of the Believers, Ali, peace be upon him, approached and the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, said: It is him. Indeed, he is the Imam in whom Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, enumerated the knowledge of everything.

قال مصنف هذا الكتاب - رضي الله عنه -: سألت أبا بشر اللغوي بمدينة السلام عن معنى الامام فقال: الامام في لغة العرب هو المتقدم بالناس، والامام هو المطمر وهو التر   الذي يبنى عليه البناء، والامام هو الذهب الذي يجعل في دار الضرب ليؤخذ عليه العيار، والامام هو الخيط الذي يجمع حبات العقد، والامام هو الدليل في السفر في ظلمة الليل، والامام هو السهم الذي يجعل مثالا يعمل عليه السهام.

The compiler of this book, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I asked Abu Bishr, the Linguist, in the City of Peace  about the meaning of the Imam, to which he said: The Imam in the language of the Arabs is the one who goes forward people; the Imam is the plumb, that is the plumbing line, by which a building is built; the Imam is the gold that is placed in the house of multiplication that the standard might be derived from it; the Imam is the line that gathers the beads in a knot; the Imam is the guide on a journey at the darkness of the night; and the Imam is the arrow that is made an example for arrows to be made like.

حدثنا أبو العباس محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الطالقاني - رضي الله عنه - قال: حدثنا أبو أحمد القاسم بن محمد بن علي الهاروني، قال: حدثنا أبو حامد عمران بن موسى بن إبراهيم، عن الحسن بن القاسم الرقام، قال: حدثني القاسم بن مسلم، عن أخيه عبد العزيز بن مسلم، قال: كنا مع الرضا عليه السلام بمرو فاجتمعنا في الجامع يوم الجمعة في بدء مقدمنا فأداروا أمر الإمامة وذكروا كثرة اختلاف الناس فيها فدخلت على سيدي عليه السلام فأعلمته خوضان الناس في ذلك فتبسم عليه السلام، ثم قال: يا عبد العزيز جهل القوم وخدعوا عن أديانهم: إن الله عز وجل لم يقبض نبيه صلى الله عليه وآله حتى أكمل لهم الدين، وأنزل عليه القرآن فيه تفصيل كل شئ بين فيه الحلال والحرام والحدود والاحكام وجميع ما يحتاج الناس إليه كملا فقال عز وجل: " ما فرطنا في الكتاب من شئ " فأنزل في حجة الوداع وهي آخر عمره عليه السلام: " اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي و رضيت لكم الاسلام دينا   " فأمر الإمامة من تمام الدين فلم يمض عليه السلام حتى بين لامته معالم دينهم وأوضح لهم سبيلهم وتركهم على قصد سبيل الحق وأقام لهم عليا عليه السلام علما وإماما وما ترك شيئا يحتاج إليه الأمة إلا بينه فمن زعم أن الله عز وجل لم يكمل دينه فقد رد كتاب الله من رد كتاب الله فهو كافر، هل تعرفون قدر الإمامة ومحلها من الأمة فيجوز فيها اختيارهم. إن الإمامة أجل قدرا، وأعظم شأنا، وأعلى مكانا، وأمنع جانبا، وأبعد غورا من أن يبلغها الناس بعقولهم أو ينالوها بآرائهم، أو يقيموا إماما باختيارهم، إن الإمامة خص الله بها إبراهيم الخليل عليه السلام بعد النبوة والخلة مرتبة ثالثة وفضيلة شرفه بها وأشاد   بها ذكره فقال عز وجل: " إني جاعلك للناس إماما   " فقال الخليل عليه السلام سرورا بها: " ومن ذريتي " قال الله تبارك وتعالى: " لا ينال عهدي الظالمين   " فأبطلت هذه الآية إمامة كل ظالمإلى يوم القيامة، فصارت في الصفوة. ثم أكرمه الله بأن جعلها في ذريته أهل الصفوة والطهارة فقال: " ووهبنا له إسحق ويعقوب نافلة وكلا جعلنا صالحين * وجعلناهم أئمة يهدون بأمرنا وأوحينا إليهم فعل الخيرات وإقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة وكانوا لنا عابدين   " فلم تزل في ذريته يرثها بعض عن بعض قرنا فقرنا حتى ورثها النبي صلى الله عليه وآله فقال جل جلاله: " إن أولى الناس بإبراهيم للذين اتبعوه وهذا النبي والذين آمنوا والله ولى المؤمنين   " فكانت له خاصة فقلدها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله عليا عليه السلام بأمر الله عز وجل على رسم ما فرضها الله، فصارت في ذريته الأصفياء الذين آتاهم الله العلم والايمان لقوله عز وجل: " وقال الذين أوتوا العلم و الايمان لقد لبثتم في كتاب الله إلى يوم البعث  " فهي في ولد علي عليه السلام [خاصة] إلى يوم القيامة إذ لا نبي بعد محمد صلى الله عليه وآله فمن أين يختار هؤلاء الجهال الامام؟ إن الإمامة هي منزلة الأنبياء وإرث الأوصياء إن الإمامة [ل‍] خلافة الله وخلافة الرسول صلى الله عليه وآله و مقام أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام وميراث الحسن والحسين عليهما السلام، لقوله عز وجل: " وقال الذين أوتوا العلم والايمان   "، إن الإمامة زمام الدين ونظام المسلمين وصلاح الدنيا وعز المؤمنين، إن الإمامة أس الاسلام النامي وفرعه السامي،   بالامام تمام الصلاة و الزكاة والصيام والحج والجهاد وتوفير الفيئ والصدقات وإمضاء الحدود والاحكام ومنع الثغور والأطراف  ، والامام يحل حلال الله، ويحرم حرام الله، ويقيم حدود الله ويذب عن دين الله ويدعو إلى سبيل ربه بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة بالحجة البالغة، والامام كالشمس الطالعة [المجللة بنورها] للعالم وهي في الأفق بحيث لا تنالها الأيدي والابصار، والامام البدر المنير، والسراج الظاهر والنور الساطع، والنجم الهادي في غياهب الدجى   والبلد القفار ولجج البحار، الامام الماء العذب على الظماء، والدال على الهدى، والمنحي من الردى  ، الامام النار على اليفاع   [ال‍] حار لمن اصطلى، والدليل في المهالك، من فارقه فهالك  ، الامام السحاب الماطر، والغيث الهاطل   والشمس المضيئة والسماء الظليلة والأرض البسيطة، والعين الغزيرة، والغدير والروضة، الامام الأمين الرفيق، والوالد الشفيق، و الأخ الشقيق   ومفزع العباد في الداهية [النآد]  ، الامام أمين الله في خلقه، وحجته على عباده، وخليفته في بلاد والداعي إلى الله، والذاب عن حرم الله، الامام المطهر من الذنوب المبرأ من العيوب، مخصوص بالعلم، موسوم بالحلم، نظام الدين، وعز المسلمين، وغيظ المنافقين، وبوار الكافرين، الامام واحد دهره لا يدانيه أحد ولا يعادله عالم ولا يوجد منه بدل ولا مثل ولا نظير، مخصوص بالفضل كله من غير طلب منه له ولا اكتساب، بل اختصاص من المفضل الوهاب، فمن ذا الذي يبلغ معرفة الامام أو يمكنه اختياره؟ هيهات! هيهات! ضلت العقول، وتاهت الحلوم وحارت الألباب، وحسرت العيون  ، وتصاغرت العظماء، وتحيرت الحكماء، وتقاصرت، الحلماء، وحصرت الخطباء  ، وذهلت الألباء، وكلت الشعراء، وعجزت الأدباء، وعييت البلغاء عن وصف شأن من شأنه أو فضل من فضائله فأقرت بالعجز والتقصير، وكيف يوصف أو ينعت بكنهه أو يفهم شئ من أمره أو يقوم أحد مقامه ويغني غناه؟ لا كيف وأني وهو بحيث النجم من أيدي المتناولين ووصف الواصفين، فأين الاختيار من هذا؟ وأين العقول عن هذا؟ وأين يوجد مثل هذا؟ أظنوا أن ذلك يوجد في غير آل الرسول؟ كذبتهم أنفسهم والله ومنهم   الباطل، فارتقوا مرتقى صعبا دحضا   تزل عنه إلى الحضيض أقدامهم، راموا إقامة الامام بعقول حائرة بائرة ناقصة وآراء مضلة فلم يزدادوا منه إلا بعد أقاتلهم الله أنى يؤفكون، لقد راموا صعبا و قالوا إفكا وضلوا ضلالا بعيدا ووقعوا في الحيرة إذ تركوا الامام عن بصيرة وزين لهم الشيطان أعمالهم فصدهم عن السبيل وكانوا مستبصرين، رغبوا عن اختيار الله واختيار رسوله صلى الله عليه وآله إلى اختيارهم والقرآن يناديهم: " وربك يخلق ما يشاء ويختار ما كان لهم الخيرة سبحان الله وتعالى عما يشركون  " وقال: " وما كان لمؤمن ولا مؤمنة إذا قضى الله ورسوله أمرا أن يكون لهم الخيرة من أمرهم   " وقال: " ما لكم كيف تحكمون * أم لكم كتاب فيه تدرسون * إن لكم فيه لما تخيرون * أم لكم أيمان علينا بالغة إلى يوم القيمة إن لكم لما تحكمون * سلهم أيهم بذلك زعيم * أم لهم شركاء فليأتوا بشركائهم إن كانوا صادقين   " وقال: " أفلا يتدبرون القرآن أم على قلوب أقفالها   " أم طبع الله على قلوبهم فهم لا يفقهون  ، أم " قالوا سمعنا وهم لا يسمعون * إن شر الدواب عند الله الصم البكم الذين لا يعقلون * ولو علم الله فيهم خيرا لأسمعهم ولو أسمعهم لتولوا وهم معرضون   " أم " قالوا سمعنا وعصينا   " بل هو فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم. فكيف لهم باختيار الامام؟ والامام عالم لا يجهل، داع  لا ينكل، معدن القدس والطهارة والنسك  والزهادة والعلم والعبادة، مخصوص بدعوة الرسول، ونسل المطهرة البتول، لا مغمز فيه في نسب، ولا يدانيه ذو حسب، في البيت   من قريش، والذروة من هاشم، والعترة من [آل] الرسول، والرضا من الله، شرف الاشراف، والفرع من عبد مناف، نامي العلم، كامل الحكم، مضطلع بالأمانة،   عالم بالسياسة، مفروض الطاعة، قائم بأمر الله، ناصح لعباد الله، حافظ لدين الله، إن الأنبياء والأئمة يوفقهم الله ويؤتيهم من مخزون علمه و حكمه ما لا يؤتيه غيرهم فيكون علمهم فوق علم أهل زمانهم في قوله تعالى: " أفمن يهدي إلى الحق أحق أن يتبع أمن لا يهدي إلا أن يهدى فمالكم كيف تحكمون   " و قوله: " ومن يؤت الحكمة فقد أوتي خيرا كثيرا "   وقوله في طالوت: " إن الله اصطفيه عليكم وزاده بسطة في العلم والجسم والله يؤتي ملكه من يشاء والله واسع عليم   " وقال لنبيه صلى الله عليه وآله: " أنزل عليك الكتاب والحكمة وعلمك ما لم تكن تعلم وكان فضل الله عليك عظيما   " وقال في الأئمة من أهل بيته وعترته وذريته صلواتالله عليهم: " أم يحسدون الناس على ما آتاهم الله من فضله فقد آتينا آل إبراهيم الكتاب والحكمة وآتيناهم ملكا عظيما * فمنهم من آمن به ومنهم من صد عنه وكفى بجهنم سعيرا   " إن العبد إذا اختاره الله عز وجل لأمور عباده شرح لذلك صدره فأودع قلبه ينابيع الحكمة، و ألهمه العلم إلهاما فلم يعي بعده بجواب، ولا يحار فيه عن الصواب، وهو معصوم مؤيد موفق مسدد قد أمن الخطأ والزلل والعثار يخصه الله بذلك ليكون حجته على عباده وشاهده على خلقه، وذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم، فهل يقدرون على مثل هذا فيختاروه؟ أو يكون مختارهم بهذه الصفة فيقدمونه؟ بعدوا وبيت الله من الحق   ونبذوا كتاب الله وراء ظهورهم كأنهم لا يعلمون وفي كتاب الله الهدى والشفاء فنبذوه و اتبعوا أهواءهم فذمهم الله ومقتهم وأتعسهم   فقال عز وجل: " ومن أضل ممن اتبع هواه بغير هدى من الله إن الله لا يهدي القوم الظالمين   " وقال: " فتعسا لهم وأضل أعمالهم   وقال: " كبر مقتا عند الله وعند الذين آمنوا كذلك يطبع الله على كل قلب متكبر جبار  ".

2.	We were told by Abu’l-Abbas, Muhammed bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq al-Talaqani, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: We were told by Abu Ahmad, Qasim bin Muhammed bin Ali al-Haruni, that he said: We were told by Abu Hamid, Imran bin Musa bin Ibrahim, from Hasan bin Qasim al-Raqqam, that he said: I was told by Qasim bin Muslim, from his brother, Abdul-Aziz bin Muslim, that he said: We were with al-Rida, peace be upon him, in Merv, so we gathered in the mosque on Friday at the beginning of our arrival. Then they passed around the matter of Imamate  and they mentioned the amount of dispute among the people about it. Then I entered into the place of my Master, peace be upon him, and I informed him of the people’s discourse in that, so he, peace be upon him, smiled, then he said: O Abdul-Aziz, the people are ignorant and have been deceived about their religious beliefs. Indeed, Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, did not take His Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, until He completed for them the Religion, and He sent down unto him the Qur’an, in which is the detailing of everything and in which is the clarification of the permissible, the forbidden, the fixated punishments, the rulings and all which the people are in need of, completely, and He, Exalted and glorious is He, said: «We have not neglected in the Book anything» (6:38) and so He revealed during the farewell pilgrimage, which was during the last of the age of him, peace be upon him: «Today I have completed for you your Religion, fulfilled upon you My Grace and been pleased for you Islam as a Religion.» (5:3) Hence, the matter of the Imamate is among the completion of Religion, and he, peace be upon him, did not leave until he clarified to his nation the teachings of their religion and explained to them their path, and he left them after having made them aware of intending the path of truth, and he appointed for them Ali, peace be upon them, as a Banner and an Imam, and he did not leave anything which his nation is in need to, except that he clarified it. Thus, the one who claims that Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, did not complete His Religion, then he has rejected the Book of Allah, and the one who rejects the Book of Allah is a disbeliever. Do you know the value of the Imamate and its position from the nation by which it is permissible for them to make a choice? Indeed, the Imamate is more glorious rank, greater significance, higher place, more exclusive in involvement and more preventive of being hollow than for people to be able to reach it with their intellects or obtain with their opinions, or for them to assign an Imam by their choice. Indeed, the Imamate was specified by Allah for Ibrahim the Good Friend, peace be upon him, after Prophethood, and the being of a Good Friend is a third rank and position by which He had honored him and raised his remembrance, to which He, Exalted and Glorious is He, said: «Indeed, I am making you, for the people, an Imam» (2:124) to which the Good Friend, peace be upon him, said, joyfully with it: «And from my offspring?» (2:124). Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: «My Covenant does not include the wrongdoers.» (2:124) Thus, this verse invalidated Imamate in every wrongdoer until the Day of Resurrection, and so, it became in the Chosen Ones. Furthermore, Allah honored him by making it in his offspring, the People of Choosing and Purity, and said: «And We granted to him Ishaq and Ya’qoub as an addition, everyone (of them) We made righteous, and We made them Imams who guide by Our commandment, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, the establishment of prayer and the giving of alms, and they were to Us, worsippers.» (21:72-73) It did not cease to be in his offspring, of which some inherited of others, generation by generation, until the Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, inherited it, to which He, Glorified be His Glory, said: «Indeed, the people most worthy of Ibrahim are, verily, those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who have believed. And Allah is the Ally of the believers.» (3:68) Hence, it was for him in particular, and then the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, appointed it to Ali, peace be upon him, by the commandment of Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, in according to what Allah had obliged, and then it became in his Pure offspring whom Allah has given knowledge and faith, due to the saying of Him, Exalted and Glorious is He: «And those who were the knowledge and faith said: You have, certainly, remained in the Book of Allah until the Day of Release» (30:56). Thus, it is in the sons of Ali, peace be upon him, exclusively, until the Day of Resurrection, as there is no Prophet after Muhammed, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family. So, from where do these ignorants choose the Imam? Indeed, the Imamate is the rank of Prophets and the inheritance of Successors. Indeed, the Imamate is, verily, the Successorship of Allah, the Successorship of the Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, the position of the Commander of the Believers and the inheritance of Hasan and Hussain, peace be upon them both, due to the saying of Him, Exalted and Glorious is He: « And those who were the knowledge and faith said» (30:56). Indeed, the Imamate is the Rope of the Religion, the System of the Muslims, the Uprightness of Material Affairs and the Honour of the Believers. Indeed, the Imamate is the growing basis of Islam and its sublime branch. With the Imam is the fulfilment of prayers, alms, fasting, pilgrimage, striving, the procurement of booty, charity, the carrying of fixated punishments, rulings and the prevention of frontiers and borders. The Imam permits that which Allah makes permissible, forbids what Allah makes forbidden, carries out the fixated punishments of Allah, defends the Religion of Allah and calls to the Path of his Lord with wisdom and good advice with the ultimate argument. The Imam is like the visible sun that shines with its light to the world while it is in the horizon in a manner it is not obtained by hands and vision. The Imam is the brightening full moon, the visible lamp, the plain light and the guiding star in the unseen dark, the plain land the and the deep of oceans. The Imam is the fresh water for the thirsty, the guide towards guidance, the driver away from destruction. The Imam is the fire above the hill that warms the one who warms himself, the guide in what makes one perish, he who separates from him, he is perished. The Imam is the raining cloud, the large-dropped rain, the brightening sun, the covering sky, the flattened earth, the abundant source, the stream and the garden. The Imam is the mild trustee, the compassionate father, the equivalent brother, the refuge of the servants during the calamity. The Imam is the Trustee of Allah among His creation, His Proof upon His servants, His Successor in His lands, the Caller to Allah and the Defender of the Sanctities of Allah. The Imam is the purified from sins, the innocent from blemishes, specified with knowledge, marked with forbearance, the System of Religion, the honor of the Muslims, the cause of rage to the hypocrites and the devastation of the hypocrites. The Imam is unique of his age, none is near to him, nor is a scholar even to him, nor is there to him any alternative, nor similar nor equal. He is specified with virtue, all of it, without any seek of it from him nor attempt of obtaining, but it is rather specified from One who bestows favor, a Granter. So, who is the one who reaches conscious knowledge of the Imam or who is able to choose him? May such be far! May such be far! Intellects have gone astray, dreams have gone lost, minds have become confused, eyes have longed, the great ones have become belittled, the wise have become confused, the forbearing have come short, the speakers have become tightened, the intellectuals have become dazed, the poets have become dimmed, the writers have become unable, and the eloquent have become incapable of describing one rank from his ranks or one virtue from his virtues, and so they acknowledged inability and short-doing. How can he be described, characterized by his nature, for it to be understood one thing from his matter or for anyone to stand in his place and to enrich with his richness? There is no «how» and «whereby» while he is like the star away from the hands of those who approach and the description of those who describe. So, where is choice with regards to this? And where are intellects from (ability to comprehend) this? And where is the like of this? Did they assume that this is among other then the Messenger’s Family? Their selves lied to them, by Allah, and they were made lost by falsehood, and so they elevated to a position of difficulty and slippery from which their feet slip to lowland. They sought to appoint the Imam with confused, dull and lacking intellects and aberrant opinions, and so they were not increased from him but with distance. May Allah destroy them! How are they deluded? They have, certainly, sought a difficult matter, uttered falsehood, aberred a distant aberration and fallen into confusion as they abandoned the Imam knowingly and Satan had beautified for them their acts, and so he repelled them from the path. They were conscious, having desired, other than the choice of Allah and the choice of His Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, to their choice, while the Qur’an calls for them: «And your Lord creates what He wishes and chooses. The choice was not for them. Glorified be Allah and Exalted is He above what they associate.» (28:68) And He said: «And it is not for a believing man nor a believing woman, if Allah and His Messenger decide a matter, that they have the choice in their matter.» (33:36) And He said: «What is it with you? How do you judge? Or do you have a book in which you learn, that indeed, for you is what you choose? Or do you have oaths upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed, for you is to judge? Ask them which of them are, for that, claimers. Or do they have associates? Then let them bring their associates, if they were truthful.» (68:37-41) And He said: «Do they not contemplate on the Qur’an, or are their locks upon certain hearts?» (47:24) Or did Allah seal their hearts, and so they do not know? Or «They said: We wear, but they do not hear. Indeed, the worst living creatures for Allah are the deaf, the dumb, who do not use reason. And if Allah had knew in them any good, He would, verily, have made them hear, and if He had made them hear, they would, verily, turn away while they are refusing.» (8:21-23) Or: «They said: We have heard, and we disobey» (2:93). Rather, it is the favor of Allah which He gives to whom He wishes, and Allah is the One of Virtue, the Almighty. Hence, how is it for them to choose the Imam, when the Imam is knowledgeable who is not ignorant, a caller who does not deter, the core of holiness, purity, devoutness, ascetism, knowledge and worship? He is specified with the call of the Messenger, the progeny of the Pure, the Batul, there is no flaw in him with regards to lineage, nor is anyone with nobility near to him. The house is from Quraish, the prime is from Hashim, the Progeny is from the Family of the Messenger, the satisfaction is from Allah, the honor of all honors, the branch is from Abd Manaf, the one with growing knowledge, with complete rule, an expert in trust, knowledgeable in politics, to whom obedience is obligatory, rising with the order of Allah, an aid to the servants of Allah, a protector of the Religion of Allah. Indeed, the Prophets and Imams are given success by Allah, and He grants them from the Hidden of His Knowledge and Wisdom what He does not grant others, and so their knowledge is above the knowledge of the people of their age, in accordance to the saying of Him, Exalted is He: «So is He who guides to the truth more rightful to be followed, or he who does not guide, except that he is guided? So what is it with you? How do you judge?» (10:35) And His saying: «And he who is given wisdom, has, certainly, been given much good.» (2:269) And His saying about Talut: «Indeed, Allah chose him over you and increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants His sovereignty to whom He wishes. And Allah is Encompassing, All-Knowing.» (2:247) And He said to His Prophet, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family: «He sent down unto you the Book and the wisdom, and He taught you what you did not know. And the favor of Allah upon you is ever great.» (4:113). And He said about the Imams from his Household, Progeny and Offspring, Allah’s blessings be upon him: «Or do they envy people for what Allah has granted them from His favor? For indeed, We have granted the Family of Ibrahim the Book and the wisdom, and We granted them a great kingdom. Then, among them were those who believed in him, and among them were those who drove away from it. And Hell is sufficient as a blaze.» (4:54-55) Indeed, if a servant is selected by Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, for the matters of His servants, He will expand his chest for that and entrust in his heart the wells of wisdom, and He will inspire to him knowledge, an inspiration, after which he will not be tired for an answer, nor will he be confused in it away from the correctness, while he is protected, assisted, given success and set firm, having been safeguarded from error, slipping and unintentional mistakes. He will be specified with that by Allah that he might be His Proof over His servants and His witness over His creation, and that is the favor of Allah, which He grants to whomever He wishes, and Allah is the One of great bestowal of favor. So, are they able to such as this? Or will their chosen be with this characteristic, by which they will put him forward? They have distanced, by the House of Allah, from the truth and discarded the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they do not know, whereas in the Book of Allah lies guidance and cure, but they discarded it and followed their desires, and so Allah condemned, detested them and made the miserable, so He, Exalted and Glorious is He, said: «And who is more aberrant than the one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrong-doing people.» (28:50) And He said: «Hence, misery is for them, and their acts are aberrant.» (47:8) And He said: «Great is the detest in the sight of Allah and the sight of those who have believed. That is how Allah seals upon every arrogant, tyrannical, heart.» (40:35)

حدثنا إبراهيم بن هارون العبسي، قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد، قال: حدثنا جعفر بن عبد الله، قال: حدثنا كثير بن عياش، عن أبي الجارود قال: سألت أبا جعفر الباقر عليه السلام: بم يعرف الامام؟ قال: بخصال أولها: نص من الله تبارك وتعالى عليه و نصبه علما للناس حتى يكون عليهم حجة، لان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله نصب عليا عليه السلام وعرفه الناس باسمه وعينه وكذلك الأئمة عليهم السلام ينصب الأول الثاني وأن يسأل فيجيب وأن يسكت عنه فيبتدئ، ويخبر الناس بما يكون في غد، ويكلم الناس بكل لسان ولغة.

3.	We were told by Ibrahim bin Harun al-‘Absi, that he said: We were told by Ahmad bin Muhammed ibn Sa’eed, that he said: We were told by Ja’far bin Abdullah, that he said: We were told by Kathir bin ‘Ayyash, from Abu’l-Jarud, that he said: I asked Abu Ja’far, al-Baqir, peace be upon him: By what is the Imam recognized? He said: With certain characteristics, of which the first is an affirmation from Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, for him and His assignment of him as a Banner for the people that there might be an argument upon them,, because the Messenger of Allah, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, assigned Ali, peace be upon him, and made the people know him with his name, and he appointed him. So are the Imams, peace be upon them; the first assigns the second. Moreover, it is that he is asked, and answers, and that it is silent about him, to which he takes initiative, and that he informs people of what is to happen tomorrow, and that he speaks to people in every tongue and language.

حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الطالقاني - رضي الله عنه - قال: أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد بن سعيد الكوفي، قال: حدثنا علي بن الحسن بن علي بن فضال، عن أبيه، عن أبي الحسن علي بن موسى الرضا عليهما السلام قال: للامام علامات: [أن] يكون أعلم الناس وأحكم الناس، وأتقى الناس، وأحلم الناس، وأشجع الناس، وأسخى الناس، وأعبد الناس، ويولد مختونا، ويكون مطهرا، ويرى من خلفه كما يرى من بين يديه، ولا يكون له ظل، وإذا وقع على الأرض من بطن أمه وقع على راحتيه رافعا صوته بالشهادتين، ولا يحتلم، وتنام عينه ولا ينام قلبه، ويكون محدثنا، ويستوي عليه درع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله، ولا يرى له بولولا غائط لان الله عز وجل قد وكل الأرض بابتلاع ما يخرج منه، ويكون رائحته أطيب من رائحة المسك، ويكون أولى الناس منهم بأنفسهم، وأشفق عليهم من آبائهم وأمهاتهم، ويكون أشد الناس تواضعا لله عز وجل، ويكون آخذ الناس بما يأمر به، وأكف الناس عما ينهى عنه، ويكون دعاؤه مستجابا حتى أنه لو دعا على صخرة لانشقت بنصفين، ويكون عنده سلاح رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسيفه ذو الفقار، ويكون عنده صحيفة فيها أسماء شيعته إلى يوم القيامة، وصحيفة فيها أسماء أعدائه إلى يوم القيامة ويكون عنده الجامعة وهي صحيفة طولها سبعون ذراعا فيها جميع ما يحتاج إليه ولد آدم و يكون عنده الجفر الأكبر والأصغر، وإهاب ماعز   وإهاب كبش فيهما جميع العلوم حتى أرش الخدش وحتى الجلدة ونصف الجلدة وثلث الجلدة ويكون عنده مصحف فاطمة عليها السلام.

4.	We were told by Muhammed bin Ibrahim bin Ishaq al-Talaqani, may Alah be pleased with him, that he said: We were informed by Ahmad bin Muhammed bin Sa’eed al-Kufi, that he said: We were told by Ali bin Hasan bin Ali bin Faddal, from his father, from Abu’l-Hasan, Ali bin Musa al-Rida, peace be upon him, that he said: For the Imam are signs: that he is the most knowledgeable among the people, the wisest among people, the most godfearing among the people, the most forbearing among the people, the bravest among all people the most munificent among the people and the most worshipping among the people. He is begotten circumcised; purified; sees from behind him like how he sees before his hands; he has no shadow; when he falls unto the ground from the belly of his mother, he falls on his palms, raising his voice with the two testimonies; he does not have nocturnal emission; his eye sleeps but his heart does not sleep; he is spoken to; the armor of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, is evend to him; urine nor feces are seen form him, because Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He, has, certainly, assigned the earth to swallow what leaves him; his fragrance is better than the fragrance of musk; he has more authority upon people than they have over themselves; the most compassionate among the people than their fathers and mothers; the most humble among the people to Allah, Exalted and Glorious is He; he is the one who among people who takes them most to what He commands, and the one most repelling among the people from what He forbids; and his prayer is answered, to the extent that if he recites a prayer against a rock, it would split in two halves. With him is the weapon of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s blessings be upon him and his Family, and his sword, Dhu’l-Faqqar; with him is a journal in which are the names of his Shi’a till the Day of Resurrection, and a journal in which are the names of his enemies till the Day of Resurrection; with him is Al-Jami’a, which is a journal whose length is 70 arms, in it lies all what the sons of Adam will need. With him shall be the Major and Minor Cipher, the skin of the goat and the skin of the sheep in which lies all knowledge, even indemnity for a scratch, and even for the whip’s hit, half of the whip’s hit and third of the whip’s hit, and with him shall be the Journal of Fatima, peace be upon her.

Maʿānī al-ʾAkhbār

Book 1, Chapter 35