S 44 Ayat 1 - 9
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ حَم* وَ الْكِتٰابِ الْمُبِينِ* إِنّٰا أَنْزَلْنٰاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبٰارَكَةٍ إِنّٰا كُنّٰا مُنْذِرِينَ * فِيهٰا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ -إلى قوله تعالى- بَلْ هُمْ فِي شَكٍّ يَلْعَبُونَ [1-9]
- Ha Mim!
- I swear by the Book that makes manifest (the truth).
- Surely We revealed it on a blessed night— surely We are ever warning—
- Therein every wise affair is made distinct,
- A command from Us; surely We are the senders (of messengers),
- A mercy from your Lord, surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing,
- The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between them, if you would be sure.
- There is no god but He; He gives life and causes death— your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore.
- Nay, they are in doubt, they sport.
99-/9691 _1- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ: عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ،وَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ،جَمِيعاً،عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ،عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ،عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ،قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)،إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ نَصْرَانِيٌّ،وَ نَحْنُ مَعَهُ بِالْعُرَيْضِ،فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ: إِنِّي أَتَيْتُكَ مِنْ بَلَدٍ بَعِيدٍ وَ سَفَرٍ شَاقٍّ،وَ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي مُنْذُ ثَلاَثِينَ سَنَةً أَنْ يُرْشِدَنِي إِلَى خَيْرِ الْأَدْيَانِ وَ إِلَى خَيْرِ الْعِبَادِ وَ أَعْلَمِهِمْ،وَ أَتَانِي آتٍ فِي النَّوْمِ فَوَصَفَ لِي رَجُلاً بِعَلْيَاءِ دِمَشْقَ، فَانْطَلَقْتُ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُهُ فَكَلَّمَتْهُ،فَقَالَ: أَنَا أَعْلَمُ أَهْلِ دِينِي،وَ غَيْرِي أَعْلَمُ مِنِّي.
99-/9691
Muhammad ibn Ya‘qūb narrated from Ahmad ibn Mihrān and ‘Alī ibn Ibrāhīm, both from Muhammad ibn ‘Alī, from al-Ḥasan ibn Rāshid, from Ya‘qūb ibn Ja‘far ibn Ibrāhīm, who said:
I was with Abū al-Ḥasan Mūsā (peace be upon him) when a Christian man came to him while we were with him in al-‘Urayd. The Christian said to him: "I have come to you from a distant land and after an arduous journey. For thirty years, I have been asking my Lord to guide me to the best of religions and to the best and most knowledgeable of His servants. Then, someone came to me in a dream and described to me a man in ‘Alyā’ of Damascus. So I went there until I found him and spoke to him. He told me, 'I am the most knowledgeable of my religion, but there is someone more knowledgeable than me.'"
فَقُلْتُ: أَرْشِدْنِى إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِنْكَ،فَاِنِّي لاَ أَسْتَعْظِمُ السَّفَرَ،وَ لاَ تَبْعُدُ عَلَيَّ الشُّقَّةُ،وَ لَقَدْ قَرَأْتُ الْإِنْجِيلَ كُلَّهُ،وَ مَزَامِيرَ دَاوُدَ،وَ قَرَأْتُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَسْفَارٍ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ،وَ قَرَأْتُ ظَاهِرَ الْقُرْآنِ حَتَّى اسْتَوْعَبْتُهُ كُلَّهُ.
فَقَالَ لِي الْعَالِمُ:إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ،فَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ الْعَرَبِ وَ الْعَجَمِ بِهَا،وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ الْيَهُودِيَّةِ فَبَاطِي بْنُ شُرَحْبِيلَ السَّامِرِيُّ أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ بِهَا الْيَوْمَ،وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُ عِلْمَ الْإِسْلاَمِ وَ عِلْمَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَ عِلْمَ الْإِنْجِيلِ وَ الزَّبُورِ وَ كِتَابَ هُودٍ،وَ كُلَّ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ فِي دَهْرِكَ وَ دَهْرِ غَيْرِكَ،وَ مَا أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِنَ خَبَرٍ فَعَلِمَهُ أَحَدٌ أَوْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ،فِيهِ تِبْيَانُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ،وَ شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ،وَ رَوْحٌ لِمَنْ اسْتَرْوَحَ إِلَيْهِ،وَ بَصِيرَةٌ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهِ خَيْراً وَ أُنْسٌ إِلَى الْحَقِّ،وَ أُرْشِدُكَ إِلَيْهِ،فَأْتِهِ وَ لَوْ مَشْياً عَلَى رِجْلَيْكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَحَبْواً عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْكَ،فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَزَحْفاً عَلَى اسْتِكَ،فَإِنْ لَمْ تَقْدِرْ فَعَلَى وَجْهِكَ.
I said to him: "Guide me to the one who is more knowledgeable than you, for I do not consider travel to be burdensome, nor do I find long distances difficult. Indeed, I have read the entire Injīl (Gospel), the Psalms of Dāwūd (David), and four books of the Tawrāt (Torah). I have also read the outward meanings of the Qur’ān until I comprehended it fully."
The scholar then said to me: "If you seek knowledge of Christianity, I am the most knowledgeable among the Arabs and non-Arabs regarding it. If you seek knowledge of Judaism, then Bāṭī ibn Shuraḥbīl al-Sāmirī is the most knowledgeable of people about it today. However, if you seek knowledge of Islam, the Torah, the Injīl, the Zabūr (Psalms), the Book of Hūd, and everything that Allah has revealed to any prophet in your time and in the time of others—everything that has been sent down from the heavens, whether known to someone or unknown—then it is in a book that contains the explanation of all things, a healing for the worlds, a relief for those who seek comfort in it, an insight for those whom Allah intends goodness for, and a means of finding solace in the truth.
I will guide you to the one who possesses this knowledge. Go to him, even if you have to walk on foot. If you cannot walk, then crawl on your knees. If you cannot do that, then drag yourself on your back. And if you are unable to do even that, then go to him on your face."
فَقُلْتُ: لاَ،بَلْ أَنَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْمَسِيرِ فِي الْبَدَنِ وَ الْمَالِ،قَالَ: فَانْطَلِقْ مِنْ فَوْرِكَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ يَثْرِبَ،فَقُلْتُ:
لاَ أَعْرِفُ يَثْرِبَ.قَالَ: فَانْطَلِقْ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَ مَدِينَةَ النَّبِيِّ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)،الَّذِي بُعِثَ فِي الْعَرَبِ،وَ هُوَ النَّبِيُّ الْعَرَبِيُّ الْهَاشِمِيُّ،فَإِذَا دَخَلْتَهَا فَسَلْ عَنْ بَنِي غَنْمِ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ النَّجَّارِ،وَ هُوَ عِنْدَ بَابِ مَسْجِدِهَا،وَ أَظْهِرْ بِزَّةَ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ وَ حِلْيَتَهَا،فَإِنَّ وَالِيَهَا يَتَشَدَّدُ عَلَيْهِمْ،وَ الْخَلِيفَةُ أَشَدُّ،ثُمَّ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ مَبْذُولٍ،وَ هُوَ بِبَقِيعِ الزُّبَيْرِ،ثُمَّ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ،وَ أَيْنَ مَنْزِلُهُ،وَ أَنَّهُ مُسَافِرٌ أَوْ حَاضِرٌ،فَإِنْ كَانَ مُسَافِراً فَالْحَقْهُ،فَإِنَّ سَفَرَهُ أَقْرَبُ مِمَّا ضُرِبَتْ إِلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ أَعْلِمْهُ أَنَّ مَطْرَانَ عَلْيَاءِ الْغُوطَةِ-غُوطَةِ دِمَشْقَ-هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْشَدَنِي إِلَيْكَ،وَ هُوَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلاَمَ كَثِيراً،وَ يَقُولُ لَكَ:
I said to him, "No, rather I am fully capable of traveling, both in terms of my physical ability and my wealth."
He said, "Then set out immediately until you reach Yathrib."
I said, "I do not know Yathrib."
He said, "Then go until you reach the city of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), the one who was sent among the Arabs, the Arab Hashimite Prophet. When you enter the city, ask about Banū Ghanm ibn Mālik ibn al-Najjār, for he is near the gate of the Prophet's mosque. Wear the garments and ornaments of a Christian, for the governor of the city is very strict towards them, and the caliph is even harsher.
Then, ask about Banū ‘Amr ibn Mabdhūl, for he is in Baqī‘ al-Zubayr. After that, inquire about Mūsā ibn Ja‘far, where his residence is, and whether he is traveling or present. If he is traveling, then follow him, for his journey is closer than the one you have already undertaken.
Then inform him that the Metropolitan (bishop) of ‘Alyā’ of al-Ghūṭa—the Ghūṭa of Damascus—is the one who guided me to you, and he sends you many greetings and says to you: ..."
إِنِّي لَأُكْثِرُ مُنَاجَاةَ رَبِّي أَنْ يَجْعَلَ إِسْلاَمِى عَلَى يَدَيْكَ.
فَقَصَّ هَذِهِ الْقِصَّةَ وَ هُوَ قَائِمٌ مُعْتَمِدٌ عَلَى عَصَاهُ،ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي:إِنْ أَذِنْتَ لِي يَا سَيِّدِي كَفَّرْتُ لَكَ [2]،وَ جَلَسْتُ، فَقَالَ:«آذَنُ لَكَ أَنْ تَجْلِسَ،وَ لاَ آذَنُ لَكَ أَنْ تُكَفِّرَ».فَجَلَسَ ثُمَّ أَلْقَى عَنْهُ بُرْنُسَهُ،ثُمَّ قَالَ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ،تَأْذَنُ لِي فِي الْكَلاَمِ؟ قَالَ:«نَعَمْ،مَا جِئْتَ إِلاَّ لَهُ».
فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ: أُرْدُدْ عَلَى صَاحِبِيَ السَّلاَمَ،أَ وَ مَا تَرُدُّ السَّلاَمَ؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ):«عَلَى صَاحِبِكَ أَنْ هَدَاهُ اللَّهُ،أَمَّا التَّسْلِيمُ فَذَاكَ إِذَا صَارَ فِي دِينِنَا».
فَقَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ:إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ؟ قَالَ:«سَلْ»،قَالَ:أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْكِتَابِ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَ نَطَقَ بِهِ ثُمَّ وَصَفَهُ بِمَا وَصَفَهُ،فَقَالَ: حَم* وَ الْكِتٰابِ الْمُبِينِ* إِنّٰا أَنْزَلْنٰاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبٰارَكَةٍ إِنّٰا كُنّٰا مُنْذِرِينَ* فِيهٰا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ مَا تَفْسِيرُهَا فِي الْبَاطِنِ؟ فَقَالَ:«أَمَّا حَم فَهُوَ مُحَمَّدٌ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)،وَ هُوَ فِي كِتَابِ هُودٍ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ،وَ هُوَ مَنْقُوصُ الْحُرُوفِ،وَ أَمَّا الْكِتَابُ الْمُبِينُ فَهُوَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٌّ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)،وَ أَمَّا اللَّيْلَةُ فَفَاطِمَةُ(عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمُ)،وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: فِيهٰا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ يَقُولُ:يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا خَيْرٌ كَثِيرٌ،فَرَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ، وَ رَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ،وَ رَجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ».
فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: صِفْ لِيَ الْأَوَّلَ وَ الْآخِرَ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ الرِّجَالِ؟فَقَالَ:«الصِّفَاتُ تَشْتَبِهُ،وَ لَكِنْ الثَّالِثَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ أَصِفُ لَكَ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ نَسْلِهِ،وَ إِنَّهُ عِنْدَكُمْ لَفِي الْكُتُبِ الَّتِي نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ،إِنْ لَمْ تُغَيِّرُوا وَ تُحَرِّفُوا وَ تَكْفُرُوا وَ قَدِيماً مَا فَعَلْتُمْ».
"I frequently supplicate to my Lord that He grants me Islam at your hands."
He narrated this story while standing, leaning on his staff. Then he said to me, "If you permit me, my master, I will perform takfīr for you and sit down."
He replied, "I permit you to sit, but I do not permit you to perform takfīr."
So he sat down and removed his cloak, then said, "May I be your ransom! Do you permit me to speak?"
He replied, "Yes, for that is the reason you have come."
The Christian then said to him, "Return my companion's greeting. Will you not return the greeting?"
Abu al-Ḥasan (peace be upon him) replied, "May Allah guide your companion. As for greetings (salām), that is when he enters our religion."
The Christian said, "I ask you, may Allah set you right?"
He replied, "Ask."
The Christian asked, "Tell me about the book that was revealed to Muhammad, and that he recited and described with these words:
حٰمٓ ١ وَٱلۡكِتَٰبِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ٢ إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةٍۢ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍۢ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ ٣ فِيهَا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍۢ ٤
"Ha Mim! By the Book that makes things clear! Surely We revealed it on a blessed night— surely We are ever warning— Therein every wise affair is made distinct" (Surah Ad-Dukhan 44:1-4, M.H. Shakir).
What is its inner meaning?"
He replied, "As for Ḥā Mīm, it is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and it is mentioned in the Book of Hūd that was revealed to him, though with abbreviated letters. As for the Clear Book (al-Kitāb al-Mubīn), it is the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Alī (peace be upon him). As for the Night (al-Layla), it is Fāṭima (peace be upon her). And as for the verse: ‘Therein every wise affair is made distinct’, it means that from her will come much goodness— a wise man, and another wise man, and another wise man."
The man then asked, "Describe to me the first and last of these men."
He replied, "Their attributes resemble each other. However, the third among them— I will describe for you what will come from his progeny. Indeed, it is found in the books that have been revealed to you, if you have not altered, distorted, or denied them— as you have done in the past."
فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّصْرَانِيُّ: إِنِّي لاَ أَسْتُرُ عَنْكَ مَا عَلِمْتُ،وَ لاَ أَكْذِبُكَ،وَ أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ مَا أَقُولُ فِي صِدْقِ مَا أَقُولُ وَ كِذْبِهِ،وَ اللَّهُ لَقَدْ أَعْطَاكَ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ،وَ قَسَمَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ نِعَمِهِ مَا لاَ يَخْطُرُهُ الْخَاطِرُونَ،وَ لاَ يَسْتُرُهُ السَّاتِرُونَ،وَ لاَ يَكْذِبُ فِيهِ مَنْ كَذَبَ،فَقَوْلِي لَكَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْحُقُّ،كُلُّ مَا ذَكَرْتَ فَهُوَ كَمَا ذَكَرْتَ.
فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ):«أُعَجِّلُكَ أَيْضاً خَبَراً لاَ يَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ مِمَّنْ قَرَأَ الْكُتُبَ،أَخْبِرْنِي مَا اسْمُ أُمِّ مَرْيَمَ؟ وَ أَيُّ يَوْمٍ نُفِخَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ؟ وَ لِكَمْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ؟ وَ أَيَّ يَوْمٍ وَضَعَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ عِيسَى(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)،وَ لِكَمْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ؟».فَقَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ:لاَ أَدْرِي.
The Christian said to him, "I do not hide from you what I know, nor do I lie to you. You know whether what I say is true or false. By Allah, He has granted you from His bounty and distributed to you from His blessings what no minds can comprehend, what no veils can conceal, and what no liar can deny. My statement to you is the truth— everything you have mentioned is exactly as you have described it."
Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) then said to him, "I will hasten to tell you something else— a matter that only a few among those who have read the scriptures know. Tell me, what is the name of Maryam’s mother? On what day was Maryam breathed into? At what hour of the day? On what day did Maryam give birth to ‘Īsā (peace be upon him)? And at what hour of the day?"
The Christian replied, "I do not know."
فَقَالَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ):«أَمَّا أُمُّ مَرْيَمَ فَاسْمُهَا مَرْثَا،وَ هِيَ وَهِيبَةُ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ،وَ أَمَّا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي حَمَلَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ
فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ لِلزَّوَالِ،وَ هُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي هَبَطَ فِيهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ،وَ لَيْسَ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِيدٌ كَانَ أَوْلَى مِنْهُ،عَظَّمَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى،وَ عَظَّمَهُ مُحَمَّدٌ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)،فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ عِيداً،فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ،وَ أَمَّا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي وَلَدَتْ فِيهِ مَرْيَمُ فَهُوَ يَوْمُ الثَّلاَثَاءِ لِأَرْبَعِ سَاعَاتٍ وَ نِصْفٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ،وَ النَّهَرُ الَّذِي وَلَدَتْ عَلَيْهِ مَرْيَمُ عِيسَى(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)هَلْ تَعْرِفُهُ؟» قَالَ:لاَ،قَالَ:«هُوَ الْفُرَاتُ،وَ عَلَيْهِ شَجَرُ النَّخْلِ وَ الْكَرْمِ،وَ لَيْسَ يُسَاوَى بِالْفُرَاتِ شَيْءٌ لِلْكُرُومِ وَ النَّخِيلِ،فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي حَجَبَتْ فِيهِ لِسَانَهَا،وَ نَادَى قَيْدُوسُ وُلْدَهُ وَ أَشْيَاعَهُ،فَأَعَانُوهُ وَ أَخْرَجُوا آلَ عِمْرَانَ،لِيَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ،فَقَالُوا لَهَا مَا قَصَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكِ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَ عَلَيْنَا فِي كِتَابِهِ،فَهَلْ فَهِمْتَهُ؟».قَالَ:نَعَمْ،وَ قَرَأْتُهُ الْيَوْمَ الْأَحْدَثَ،قَالَ:«إِذَنْ لاَ تَقُومُ مِنْ مَجْلِسِكَ حَتَّى يَهْدِيَكَ اللَّهُ».
Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) said, **"As for the mother of Maryam, her name was Marthā, and in Arabic, she is called Wahībah. As for the day on which Maryam conceived, it was Friday at the time of midday (zawāl), and it was on this day that the Trustworthy Spirit (Jibrā’īl) descended. There is no day that is more deserving of being an Eid for the Muslims than this, a day that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has honored, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) has revered, commanding that it be taken as a day of Eid. That day is Friday.
As for the day Maryam gave birth to ‘Īsā (peace be upon him), it was Tuesday, at four and a half hours into the day.
And the river beside which Maryam gave birth to ‘Īsā (peace be upon him)—do you know it?"**
The Christian replied, "No."
He said, **"It was the Euphrates (al-Furāt), and near it are trees of date palms and grapevines. No other river can compare to the Euphrates in its fertility for vines and date palms.
As for the day on which Maryam restrained her tongue (from speaking), and when Qaydūs called upon his people and his followers, and they assisted him and brought forth the family of ‘Imrān so they could look at Maryam, they said to her what Allah has related about them in His Book and about us in His Book—do you understand it?"**
The Christian replied, "Yes, and I have read it most recently today."
He (peace be upon him) then said, "Then you shall not leave this gathering until Allah guides you."
قَالَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ:مَا كَانَ اسْمُ أُمِّي بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ وَ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ؟ فَقَالَ:«كَانَ اسْمُ أُمِّكَ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ عَنْقَالِيَةُ وَ عَنْقُورَةُ [3]كَانَ [اسْمَ]جَدَّتِكَ لِأَبِيكَ،وَ أَمَّا اسْمُ أُمِّكَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَهُوَ مَيَّةُ،وَ أَمَّا اسْمُ أَبِيكَ فَعَبْدُ الْمَسِيحِ،وَ هُوَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ،وَ لَيْسَ لِلْمَسِيحِ عَبْدٌ».قَالَ:صَدَقْتَ وَ بَرَرْتَ،فَمَا كَانَ اسْمُ جَدِّي؟ قَالَ:«كَانَ اسْمُ جَدِّكَ جَبْرَئِيلَ،وَ هُوَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ سَمَّيْتُهُ فِي مَجْلِسِي هَذَا».قَالَ:أَمَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ مُسْلِماً،قَالَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ):«نَعَمْ،وَ قُتِلَ شَهِيداً،دَخَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْنَادٌ فَقَتَلُوهُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ غِيلَةً،وَ الْأَجْنَادُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ».
قَالَ:فَمَا كَانَ اسْمِي قَبْلَ كُنْيَتِي؟قَالَ:«كَانَ اسْمُكَ عَبْدَ الصَّلِيبِ»قَالَ:فَمَا تُسَمِّينِي؟قَالَ:«أُسَمِّيكَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ».
The Christian asked, "What was my mother's name in Syriac and in Arabic?"
He (peace be upon him) replied, "Your mother's name in Syriac was ‘Anqāliyah, and ‘Anqūrah was the name of your paternal grandmother. As for your mother’s name in Arabic, it was Mayyah. As for your father’s name, it was ‘Abd al-Masīḥ, which in Arabic means ‘Abdullāh (the servant of Allah), for the Messiah (al-Masīḥ) has no servant."
The Christian said, "You have spoken the truth and been just. What was my grandfather's name?"
He (peace be upon him) replied, "Your grandfather's name was Jibrā’īl, and he was called ‘Abd al-Raḥmān. I have named him in this very gathering."
The Christian said, "Indeed, he was a Muslim."
Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) said, "Yes, and he was martyred. Soldiers entered his home and killed him treacherously. These soldiers were from the people of Shām (the Levant)."
The Christian then asked, "What was my name before my kunyah (honorific title)?"
He (peace be upon him) replied, "Your name was ‘Abd al-Ṣalīb (Servant of the Cross).”
The Christian asked, "Then what will you name me?"
He (peace be upon him) replied, "I will name you ‘Abdullāh (Servant of Allah).”
قَالَ:إِنِّي آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَ شَهِدْتُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ فَرْداً صَمَداً،لَيْسَ كَمَا تَصِفُهُ النَّصَارَى، وَ لَيْسَ كَمَا تَصِفُهُ الْيَهُودُ،وَ لاَ جِنْسٌ مِنْ أَجْنَاسِ الشِّرْكِ،وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ،أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْحَقِّ فَأَبَانَ بِهِ لِأَهْلِهِ،وَ عَمِيَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ،وَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)إِلَى النَّاسِ كَافَّةً إِلَى الْأَحْمَرِ وَ الْأَسْوَدِ،وَ كَلٌّ فِيهِ مُشْتَرَكٌ، فَأَبْصَرَ مَنْ أَبْصَرَ،وَ اهْتَدَى مَنِ اهْتَدَى وَ عَمِيَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ،وَ ضَلَّ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَدْعُونَ،وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ وَلِيَّهُ نَطَقَ بِحِكْمَتِهِ، وَ أَنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَهُ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ نَطَقُوا بِالْحِكْمَةِ الْبَالِغَةِ،وَ تَوَازَرُوا عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ لِلَّهِ،وَ فَارَقُوا الْبَاطِلَ وَ أَهْلَهُ،وَ الرِّجْسَ وَ أَهْلَهُ،وَ هَجَرُوا سَبِيلَ الضَّلاَلَةِ وَ نَصَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ لَهُ،وَ عَصَمَهُمْ مِنَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ،فَهُمْ لِلَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءُ وَ لِلدِّينِ أَنْصَارٌ يَحُثُّونَ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ،وَ يَأْمُرُونَ بِهِ،آمَنْتُ بِالصَّغِيرِ وَ بِالْكَبِيرِ،وَ مَنْ ذَكَرْتُ مِنْهُمْ،وَ مَنْ لَمْ أَذْكُرْ،وَ آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى.
ثُمَّ قَطَعَ زُنَّارَهُ [4]،وَ قَطَعَ صَلِيباً كَانَ فِي عُنُقِهِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ:مُرْنِي حَتَّى أَضَعَ صَدَقَتِي حَيْثُ تَأْمُرُنِي،فَقَالَ:
«هَا هُنَا أَخٌ لَكَ كَانَ عَلَى مِثْلِ دِينِكَ،وَ هُوَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ مِنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ ثَعْلَبَةَ،وَ هُوَ فِي نِعْمَةٍ كَنِعْمَتِكَ،فَتَوَاسَيَا وَ تَجَاوَرَا،وَ لَسْتُ أَدَعُ أَنْ أُورِدَ عَلَيْكُمَا حَقَّكُمَا فِي الْإِسْلاَمِ».
The Christian said, **"I have believed in Allah, the Almighty, and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner, absolute and self-sufficient. He is not as the Christians describe Him, nor as the Jews describe Him, nor does He resemble any form of polytheism. I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger, whom He sent with the truth to make it clear to its people, while the false ones were blinded. He was truly the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to all of mankind, to the red and the black, and all are equally included in his message. So whoever saw the truth, saw it, and whoever was guided, was guided, while the false ones were blinded, and what they used to invoke was lost from them.
I bear witness that his guardian (wali) speaks with his wisdom and that all the prophets who came before him spoke with profound wisdom, supporting one another in obedience to Allah, separating themselves from falsehood and its people, from impurity and its people, and abandoning the path of misguidance. Allah supported them through their obedience to Him and protected them from sin. They are the allies of Allah and the helpers of the religion, urging people toward goodness and commanding it. I have believed in both the small and the great among them, those I have mentioned and those I have not mentioned, and I have believed in Allah, the Blessed and Exalted."**
Then, he cut his religious belt (zunnar) and removed a golden cross from his neck. He then said, "Command me where I should place my charity as you instruct me."
Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) replied, "Here is a brother of yours who was upon the same religion as you. He is a man from your people, from Qays ibn Tha‘labah. He enjoys blessings just as you do, so support one another and live as neighbors. And I shall not cease in ensuring that you both receive your due rights in Islam."
فَقَالَ:وَ اللَّهِ-أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ-إِنِّي لَغَنِيٌّ،وَ لَقَدْ تَرَكْتُ ثَلاَثَمِائَةِ طَرُوقٍ بَيْنَ فَرَسٍ وَ فَرَسَةٍ،وَ تَرَكْتُ أَلْفَ بَعِيرٍ،حَقُّكَ فِيهَا أَوْفَرُ مِنْ حَقِّي.فَقَالَ لَهُ:«أَنْتَ مَوْلَى اللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ،وَ أَنْتَ فِي حَدِّ نَسَبِكَ عَلَى حَالِكَ».وَ حَسُنَ إِسْلاَمُهُ،وَ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِي فِهْرٍ،وَ أَصْدَقَهَا أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)خَمْسِينَ دِينَاراً مِنْ صَدَقَةِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)وَ أَخْدَمَهُ،
وَ بَوَّأَهُ،وَ أَقَامَ حَتَّى أَخْرَجَ أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَمَاتَ بَعْدَ مُخْرَجِهِ بِثَمَانٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً.
He said, "By Allah, may Allah set you aright, I am indeed wealthy. I have left behind three hundred thoroughbred horses, both stallions and mares, and I have left behind a thousand camels. Your right over them is greater than mine."
Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) replied, "You are now among the allies (mawālī) of Allah and His Messenger, and you retain your noble lineage in its proper standing."
His Islam was excellent. He married a woman from the tribe of Banī Fihr, and Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) paid her dowry of fifty dinars from the charitable funds of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (peace be upon him). He also provided him with a servant, granted him residence, and he remained until Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him) was sent away.
He then passed away twenty-eight nights after the departure of Abu Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him).
99-/9692 _2- وَ عَنْهُ:عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ،عَنْ أَبِيهِ،عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ،عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ،عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ وَ زُرَارَةَ، وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ،عَنْ حُمْرَانَ ،أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنّٰا أَنْزَلْنٰاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبٰارَكَةٍ ، قَالَ:«نَعَمْ،لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ،وَ هِيَ فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فِي الْعَشْرِ الْأَوَاخِرِ،فَلَمْ يُنْزَلِ الْقُرْآنُ إِلاَّ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ،قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: فِيهٰا يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ »قَالَ:«يُقَدَّرُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ يَكُونُ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا مِنْ قَابِلٍ،خَيْرٍ وَ شَرٍّ وَ طَاعَةٍ وَ مَعْصِيَةٍ وَ مَوْلُودٍ وَ أَجَلٍ وَ رِزْقٍ،فَمَا قُدِّرَ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ وَ قُضِيَ فَهُوَ الْمَحْتُومُ،وَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ الْمَشِيئَةُ».
قَالَ:قُلْتُ: لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ [1]،أَيُّ شَيْءٍ عُنِيَ بِذَلِكَ؟قَالَ:«الْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فِيهَا مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ وَ الزَّكَاةِ وَ أَنْوَاعِ الْخَيْرِ،خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْعَمَلِ فِي أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ،وَ لَوْلاَ مَا يُضَاعِفُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا بَلَغُوا،وَ لَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضَاعِفُ لَهُمُ الْحَسَنَاتِ» [2].
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From him, from ʿAlī ibn Ibrāhīm, from his father, from Ibn Abī ʿUmayr, from ʿUmar ibn Udhayna, from al-Fuḍayl, Zurāra, and Muḥammad ibn Muslim, from Ḥumrān, who asked Abū Jaʿfar (peace be upon him) about the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic:
"Indeed, We revealed it on a blessed night" (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:3).
He (peace be upon him) said: "Yes, it is the Night of Qadr, and it occurs every year in the month of Ramaḍān, in the last ten nights. The Qur’an was revealed only on the Night of Qadr. Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: 'Therein every wise affair is made distinct' (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:4)."
He (peace be upon him) continued: "On the Night of Qadr, everything that will happen in that year until the next similar night is decreed—whether good or evil, obedience or disobedience, birth or death, sustenance. Whatever is decreed in that year and finalized is definite, yet Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, retains His authority over it with His will."
Ḥumrān said: "I asked: 'The Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months' (Surah Al-Qadr 97:3), what does this mean?"
He (peace be upon him) replied: "Righteous deeds performed on that night, such as prayer, zakāt, and other acts of goodness, are better than deeds performed over a thousand months that do not contain the Night of Qadr. Were it not for Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, multiplying rewards for the believers, they would not have attained such blessings. However, Allah multiplies good deeds for them."
99-/9693 _3- الطَّبْرِسِيُّ فِي(الإحْتِجَاجِ):عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)-فِي حَدِيثٍ لَهُ طَوِيلٍ-قَالَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)فِيهِ:
«وَ إِنَّمَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِالْخَلْقِ إِظْهَارَ قُدْرَتِهِ،وَ إِبْدَاءَ سُلْطَانِهِ،وَ تَبْيِينَ بَرَاهِينِ حِكْمَتِهِ.فَخَلَقَ مَا شَاءَ كَمَا شَاءَ،وَ أَجْرَى فِعْلَ بَعْضِ الْأَشْيَاءِ عَلَى أَيْدِي مَنِ اصْطَفَي مِنْ أُمَنَائِهِ،فَكَانَ فِعْلُهُمْ فِعْلَهُ،وَ أَمْرُهُمْ أَمْرَهُ،كَمَا قَالَ: مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطٰاعَ اللّٰهَ [3]،وَ جَعَلَ السَّمَاءَ وَ الْأَرْضَ وِعَاءً لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ،لِيَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ مَعَ سَابِقِ عِلْمِهِ بِالْفَرِيقَيْنِ مِنَ أَهْلِهِمَا،وَ لِيَجْعَلَ ذَلِكَ مِثَالاً لِأَوْلِيَائِهِ وَ أُمَنَائِهِ،وَ عَرَّفَ الْخَلِيقَةَ فَضْلَ مَنْزِلَةِ أَوْلِيَائِهِ،وَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ طَاعَتِهِمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي فَرَضَهُ مِنْهُ لِنَفْسِهِ،وَ أَلْزَمَهُمْ الْحُجَّةَ بِأَنْ خَاطَبَهُمْ خِطَاباً يَدُلُّ عَلَى انْفِرَادِهِ وَ تَوْحِيدِهِ،وَ أَبَانَ لَهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ أَجْرَى [4]أَفْعَالَهُمْ وَ أَحْكَامَهُمْ مُجْرَى فِعْلِهِ،فَهُمُ الْعِبَادُ الْمُكْرَمُونَ لاَ يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَ هُمْ بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ،هُمْ الَّذِينَ [5]أَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ،وَ عَرَّفَ الْخَلْقَ اقْتِدَارَهُمْ [6]بِقَوْلِهِ: عٰالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلاٰ يُظْهِرُ عَلىٰ غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً* إِلاّٰ مَنِ ارْتَضىٰ مِنْ رَسُولٍ [7]،وَ هُمُ النَّعِيمُ الَّذِي يُسْأَلُ[الْعِبَادُ]عَنْهُ،وَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَنْعَمَ بِهِمْ عَلَى مَنْ اتَّبَعَهُمْ مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ».
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Al-Ṭabarasī, in Al-Iḥtijāj, narrates from Amīr al-Mu’minīn (peace be upon him)—in a long hadith—where he (peace be upon him) says:
"Indeed, Allah intended through creation to manifest His power, establish His sovereignty, and clarify the proofs of His wisdom. So He created whatever He willed, as He willed, and He executed some of His actions through those whom He selected as His trustees. Thus, their actions are His actions, and their commands are His commands, just as He said:
'Whoever obeys the Messenger, he indeed obeys Allah.' (Surah Al-Nisāʾ 4:80)
He made the heavens and the earth a vessel for whomever He willed from His creation, so that He may distinguish the wicked from the good, while having prior knowledge of both groups among them. He established this as an example for His friends and trustees. He made known to creation the exalted status of His chosen ones and mandated obedience to them, just as He mandated obedience to Himself. He established the proof upon them by addressing them in a manner that indicates His exclusivity and Oneness. He clarified for them His chosen ones, whose actions and judgments He made akin to His own.
They are the honored servants: 'They do not precede Him in speech, and they act according to His command.' (Surah Al-Anbiyāʾ 21:26-27)
They are the ones whom He strengthened with a spirit from Him. He made known to creation their capability through His words:
'The Knower of the unseen, so He does not reveal His secrets to anyone, except to him whom He chooses as a messenger.' (Surah Al-Jinn 72:26-27)
They are the bliss [of which it is said]: 'Then on that Day you shall most certainly be questioned about the bliss.' (Surah Al-Takāthur 102:8)
And indeed, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has bestowed His blessings upon those who follow them from among His friends."
قَالَ السَّائِلُ:مَنْ هَؤُلاَءِ الْحُجَجُ؟قَالَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)هُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)وَ مَنْ حَلَّ مَحَلَّهُ مِنْ أَصْفِيَاءِ اللَّهِ
الَّذِينَ قَرَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِنَفْسِهِ وَ بِرَسُولِهِ،وَ فَرَضَ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ مِنْ طَاعَتِهِمْ مِثْلَ الَّذِي فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْهَا لِنَفْسِهِ وَ هُمْ وُلاَةُ الْأَمْرِ الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِمْ: أَطِيعُوا اللّٰهَ وَ أَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ [1]،وَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِمْ:
وَ لَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَ إِلىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنْبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ [2] ».
قَالَ السَّائِلُ:مَا ذَلِكَ الْأَمْرُ؟قَالَ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ):«الَّذِي بِهِ تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ فِي اللَّيْلَةِ الَّتِي يُفْرَقُ فِيهَا كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ مِنْ خَلْقٍ وَ رِزْقٍ وَ أَجَلٍ وَ عَمَلٍ وَ حَيَاةٍ وَ مَوْتٍ،وَ عِلْمِ غَيْبِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ،وَ الْمُعْجِزَاتِ الَّتِي لاَ تَنْبَغِي إِلاَّ لِلَّهِ وَ أَصْفِيَائِهِ وَ السَّفَرَةِ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ خَلْقِهِ،وَ هُمْ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ الَّذِي قَالَ: فَأَيْنَمٰا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللّٰهِ [3]،هُمْ بَقِيَّةُ اللَّهِ،يَعْنِي الْمَهْدِيَّ الَّذِي يَأْتِي عِنْدَ انْقِضَاءِ هَذِهِ النَّظِرَةِ،فَيَمْلَأُ الْأَرْضَ عَدْلاً كَمَا مُلِئَتْ [4]جَوْراً،وَ مِنْ آيَاتِهِ:اَلْغَيْبَةُ،وَ الاِكْتِتَامُ عِنْدَ عُمُومِ الطُّغْيَانِ وَ حُلُولِ الاِنْتِقَامِ،وَ لَوْ كَانَ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي عَرَّفْتُكَ نَبَّأَهُ [5]لِلنَّبِيِّ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)دُونَ غَيْرِهِ،لَكَانَ الْخِطَابُ يَدُلُّ عَلَى فِعْلٍ مَاضٍ غَيْرِ دَائِمٍ وَ لاَ مُسْتَقْبَلٍ،وَ لَقَالَ:نَزَلَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَ فَرَّقَ كُلَّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ،وَ لَمْ يَقُلْ: تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلاٰئِكَةُ [6]وَ يُفْرَقُ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ ».
و الحديث طويل-يأتي إن شاء اللّه تعالى-في آخر الكتاب بطوله [7].
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The questioner asked, "Who are these proofs?"
He (peace be upon him) replied, "They are the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and those who take his place among Allah’s chosen ones—those whom Allah has paired with Himself and His Messenger. He has made obedience to them obligatory upon the servants, just as He made obedience to Himself obligatory. They are the 'guardians of the command' (ʾUli al-ʾAmr) about whom Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has said:
'Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority among you.' (Surah Al-Nisāʾ 4:59)
And Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has said regarding them:
'And if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those vested with authority among them, those among them who can search out the knowledge of it would have known it.' (Surah Al-Nisāʾ 4:83)
The questioner then asked, "What is this command?"
He (peace be upon him) replied, "It is that by which the angels descend on the night when every wise matter is made distinct—matters of creation, sustenance, lifespan, deeds, life, death, and the knowledge of the unseen of the heavens and the earth. It is also the miracles that belong only to Allah and His chosen ones, as well as those who serve as intermediaries between Him and His creation. They are the 'Face of Allah,' about whom He has said:
'Therefore, wherever you turn, there is the Face of Allah.' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:115)
They are 'the Remnant of Allah,' referring to Al-Mahdi, who will come at the end of this respite, and he will fill the earth with justice just as it had been filled with oppression."
"Among his signs are his occultation and concealment during the time of widespread tyranny and divine retribution. If this matter that I have explained to you was something revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) alone and no one else, then the phrase used in the Quran would indicate a past action rather than an ongoing and future one. It would have said, 'The angels descended, and every wise matter was made distinct.' However, it says:
'The angels and the Spirit descend therein by the permission of their Lord for every affair.' (Surah Al-Qadr 97:4)
And:
'Therein every wise affair is made distinct.' (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:4)
Thus, the descent of the angels and the distinction of wise matters is a continuous event, not just a past occurrence."**
(The hadith is lengthy and will be presented in full at the end of the book, if Allah wills.)
99-/9694 _4- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ: حَم* وَ الْكِتٰابِ الْمُبِينِ* إِنّٰا أَنْزَلْنٰاهُ يَعْنِي الْقُرْآنَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُبٰارَكَةٍ إِنّٰا كُنّٰا مُنْذِرِينَ ،وَ هِيَ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ،أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ الْقُرْآنَ فِيهَا إِلَى الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً،ثُمَّ نَزَّلَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)فِي طُولِ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً فِيهٰا يُفْرَقُ يَعْنِي فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ كُلُّ أَمْرٍ حَكِيمٍ أَيْ يُقَدِّرُ اللَّهُ كُلَّ أَمْرٍ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَ الْبَاطِلِ،وَ مَا يَكُونُ فِي تِلْكَ السَّنَةِ،وَ لَهُ فِيهِ الْبَدَاءُ،وَ الْمَشِيئَةُ يُقَدِّمُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَ يُؤَخِّرُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِنَ الْآجَالِ وَ الْأَرْزَاقِ وَ الْبَلاَيَا [8]وَ الْأَمْرَاضِ،وَ يَزِيدُ فِيهَا مَا يَشَاءُ،وَ يَنْقُصُ مَا يَشَاءُ،وَ يُلْقِيهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ(صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ)،وَ يُلْقِيهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ(عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ)،حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى صَاحِبِ الزَّمَانِ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ) وَ يَشْتَرِطُ لَهُ مَا فِيهِ الْبَدَاءُ وَ الْمَشِيئَةُ وَ التَّقْدِيمُ وَ التَّأْخِيرُ.
ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ:حَدَّثَنِي بِذَلِكَ أَبِي،عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ،عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُسْكَانَ،عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ(عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ).
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Ali ibn Ibrahim said:
"Ḥāʾ Mīm. By the Book that makes things clear. Surely We revealed it on a blessed night—surely We are ever warning." (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:1-3)
This refers to the Quran, which was revealed on Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Decree). Allah sent down the Quran in its entirety to the Bayt al-Maʿmūr (the Oft-Frequented House), and from there, it was gradually revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) over twenty years.
"Therein every wise affair is made distinct." (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:4)
On the Night of Decree, Allah determines every matter—both truth and falsehood—and what will happen in the coming year. He has the authority of badāʾ (divine alteration) and mashīʾa (divine will), advancing or delaying what He wills regarding lifespans, sustenance, trials, afflictions, and illnesses. He increases and decreases whatever He wills.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) conveys this knowledge to Amīr al-Muʾminīn (peace be upon him), and he, in turn, passes it to the Imams (peace be upon them), until it reaches the Ṣāḥib al-Zamān (peace be upon him). The conditions of badāʾ, mashīʾa, advancement, and delay are all prescribed for him.
Ali ibn Ibrahim then said: "My father narrated this to me from Ibn Abi ʿUmayr, from ʿAbdullah ibn Muskan, from Abu Jaʿfar, Abu ʿAbdullah, and Abu al-Hasan (peace be upon them)."
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قَالَ:«وَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي،عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ،عَنْ يُونُسَ،عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ،عَنْ أَبِي الْمُهَاجِرِ،عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ(عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ)،قَالَ: «يَا أَبَا الْمُهَاجِرِ،لاَ تُخْفَى عَلَيْنَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ،إِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ يَطُوفُونَ بِنَا فِيهَا».
قوله تعالى: رَحْمَةً مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ إلى قوله تعالى: رَبُّكُمْ وَ رَبُّ آبٰائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ، فهو محكم [1].
ثمّ قال: بَلْ هُمْ فِي شَكٍّ يَلْعَبُونَ ،يعني في شك ممّا ذكرناه ممّا يكون في ليلة القدر.
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He said: "My father narrated to me from Ibn Abi ʿUmayr, from Yunus, from Dawud ibn Farqad, from Abu al-Muhajir, from Abu Jaʿfar (peace be upon him), who said: 'O Abu al-Muhajir, the Night of Decree is not hidden from us. Indeed, the angels circumambulate around us during it.'"
"A mercy from your Lord, surely He is the Hearing, the Knowing." (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:6)
Up to His words: "Your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers of old." (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:8)
This is an unambiguous verse.
Then he said: "Nay, they are in doubt, they sport." (Surah Al-Dukhān 44:9)
Meaning they are in doubt about what we have mentioned regarding what happens on the Night of Decree.
References
[1] -الكافي 1:4/398.
[2] التكفير:وضع اليد على الصدر.
[3] في«ط،ي»:عنفالية و عنفورة.
[4] الزّنّار:ما يلبسه الذمّي يشده على وسطه.«لسان العرب-زنز-4:33».
[5] -الكافي 4:6/157.
[6] -الإحتجاج:251.