Hadith No. 26

The Earth is never without someone who establishes proof for Allah, and he is either visibly present or hidden due to fear.

رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ [ت381هـ] فِي «كَمَالِ الدِّينِ وَتَمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ»[1]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْوَلِيدُِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الصَّفَّارِ، وَسَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْيَرِيِّ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ هَاشِمٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ، عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ الْفَزَارِيِّ، عَنْ كُمَيْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ النَّخَعِيِّ، قَالَ:

أَخَذَ بِيَدِي أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَأَخْرَجَنِي إِلَى الْجَبَّانِ، فَلَمَّا أَصْحَرَ تَنَفَّسَ الصُّعَدَاءَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «يَا كُمَيْلَ بْنَ زِيَادٍ، إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْقُلُوبَ أَوْعِيَةٌ، فَخَيْرُهَا أَوْعَاهَا. فَاحْفَظْ عَنِّي مَا أَقُولُ لَكَ. النَّاسُ ثَلَاثَةٌ: فَعَالِمٌ رَبَّانِيٌّ، وَمُتَعَلِّمٌ عَلَى سَبِيلِ نَجَاةٍ، وَهَمَجٌ رَعَاعٌ، أَتْبَاعُ كُلِّ نَاعِقٍ، يَمِيلُونَ مَعَ كُلِّ رِيحٍ، لَمْ يَسْتَضِيئُوا بِنُورِ الْعِلْمِ، وَلَمْ يَلْجَئُوا إِلَى رُكْنٍ وَثِيقٍ. يَا كُمَيْلُ، الْعِلْمُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْمَالِ، الْعِلْمُ يَحْرُسُكَ، وَأَنْتَ تَحْرُسُ الْمَالَ، وَالْمَالُ تَنْقُصُهُ النَّفَقَةُ، وَالْعِلْمُ يَزْكُوا عَلَى الْإِنْفَاقِ، وَصَنِيعُ الْمَالِ يَزُولُ بِزَوَالِهِ. يَا كُمَيْلَ بْنَ زِيَادٍ، مَعْرِفَةُ الْعِلْمِ دِينٌ يُدَانُ بِهِ، بِهِ يَكْسِبُ الْإِنْسَانُ الطَّاعَةَ فِي حَيَاتِهِ، وَجَمِيلَ الْأُحْدُوثَةِ بَعْدَ وَفَاتِهِ، وَالْعِلْمُ حَاكِمٌ، وَالْمَالُ مَحْكُومٌ عَلَيْهِ. يَا كُمَيْلُ، هَلَكَ خُزَّانُ الْأَمْوَالِ وَهُمْ أَحْيَاءٌ، وَالْعُلَمَاءُ بَاقُونَ مَا بَقِيَ الدَّهْرُ، أَعْيَانُهُمْ مَفْقُودَةٌ، وَأَمْثَالُهُمْ فِي الْقُلُوبِ مَوْجُودَةٌ. هَا إِنَّ هَاهُنَا لَعِلْمًا جَمًّا -وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ- لَوْ أَصَبْتُ لَهُ حَمَلَةً، بَلَى أَصَبْتُ لَقِنًا غَيْرَ مَأْمُونٍ عَلَيْهِ، مُسْتَعْمِلًا آلَةَ الدِّينِ لِلدُّنْيَا، وَمُسْتَظْهِرًا بِنِعَمِ اللَّهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ، وَبِحُجَجِهِ عَلَى أَوْلِيَائِهِ، أَوْ مُنْقَادًا لِحَمَلَةِ الْحَقِّ، لَا بَصِيرَةَ لَهُ فِي أَحْنَائِهِ، يَنْقَدِحُ الشَّكُّ فِي قَلْبِهِ لِأَوَّلِ عَارِضٍ مِنْ شُبْهَةٍ. أَلَا لَا ذَا وَلَا ذَاكَ، أَوْ مَنْهُومًا بِاللَّذَّةِ، سَلِسَ الْقِيَادِ لِلشَّهْوَةِ، أَوْ مُغْرَمًا بِالْجَمْعِ وَالْإِدِّخَارِ. لَيْسَا مِنْ رُعَاةِ الدِّينِ فِي شَيْءٍ. أَقْرَبُ شَيْءٍ شَبَهًا بِهِمَا الْأَنْعَامُ السَّائِمَةُ. كَذَلِكَ يَمُوتُ الْعِلْمُ بِمَوْتِ حَامِلِيهِ. اللَّهُمَّ بَلَى، لَا تَخْلُو الْأَرْضُ مِنْ قَائِمٍ لِلَّهِ بِحُجَّةٍ، إِمَّا ظَاهِرًا مَشْهُورًا، وَإِمَّا خَائِفًا مَغْمُورًا، لِئَلَّا تَبْطُلَ حُجَجُ اللَّهِ وَبَيِّنَاتُهُ، وَكَمْ ذَا؟ وَأَيْنَ أُولَئِكَ؟ أُولَئِكَ وَاللَّهِ الْأَقَلُّونَ عَدَدًا، وَالْأَعْظَمُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ قَدْرًا، يَحْفَظُ اللَّهُ بِهِمْ حُجَجَهُ وَبَيِّنَاتِهِ، حَتَّى يُودِعُوهَا نُظَرَاءَهُمْ، وَيَزْرَعُوهَا فِي قُلُوبِ أَشْبَاهِهِمْ، هَجَمَ بِهِمُ الْعِلْمُ عَلَى حَقِيقَةِ الْبَصِيرَةِ، وَبَاشَرُوا رُوحَ الْيَقِينِ، وَاسْتَلَانُوا مَا اسْتَوْعَرَهُ الْمُتْرَفُونَ، وَأَنِسُوا بِمَا اسْتَوْحَشَ مِنْهُ الْجَاهِلُونَ، وَصَحِبُوا الدُّنْيَا بِأَبْدَانٍ أَرْوَاحُهَا مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْمَحَلِّ الْأَعْلَى. أُولَئِكَ خُلَفَاءُ اللَّهِ فِي أَرْضِهِ، وَالدُّعَاةُ إِلَى دِينِهِ. آهٍ آهٍ، شَوْقًا إِلَى رُؤْيَتِهِمْ! انْصَرِفْ يَا كُمَيْلُ إِذَا شِئْتَ -وَفِي رِوَايَةِ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ خُدَيْجٍ: وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكَ».

Translation:

Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh [d. 381 AH] has narrated in the book Kamal al-Din Wa Tamam al-Ni‘mah, (in this manner that) he has said: Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Ahmad ibn Walid narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Saffar, Sa‘d ibn Abdullah, and Abdullah ibn Ja‘far al-Himyari, from both Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa and Ibrahim ibn Hashim, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Najran, from Asim ibn Humayd, from Abu Hamzah al-Thumali, from Abd al-Rahman ibn Jundub al-Fazari, from Kumayl ibn Ziyad al-Nakha‘i, who said:

Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn Abi Talib , took my hand and led me to the desert. When we reached the desert, he took a deep breath and then said: “O Kumayl ibn Ziyad! These hearts are vessels, and the best of them is the one that holds the most. Remember what I tell you. People are of three kinds: a divine scholar, a learner on the path to salvation, and the chaff and weeds—those who follow every loud cry and are swayed by every wind. They have neither been illuminated by the light of knowledge, nor taken refuge in a stable pillar. O Kumayl! Knowledge is better than wealth. Knowledge protects you, and you protect wealth. Wealth decreases by spending, and knowledge increases by spending. The product of wealth perishes with its disappearance. O Kumayl ibn Ziyad! The love of knowledge is a creed one submits to; through it, the human being earns obedience in his life and a good name after his death. Knowledge is the ruler, and wealth is the ruled. O Kumayl! Those who hoard wealth are dead while alive. And scholars remain as long as time endures; their bodies disappear, but their words of wisdom live on in hearts. Oh, here,”—and he pointed to his chest with his hand—“a vast knowledge lies hidden. Wish I could find bearers for it! Yes, I found someone who understood well but was not trustworthy with it. He used the tool of religion for the world and sought superiority over Allah’s creation using His proofs, and over His friends using His blessings. Or someone who followed the bearers of knowledge but had no discernment in its intricacies—at the first doubt that arose, uncertainty would creep into his heart. Know that neither this one nor that—nor one who thirsts for pleasures and has surrendered his reins to desires, nor one who seeks to collect and hoard—none of them are among the protectors of the religion. The thing most similar to those two is grazing animals. This is how knowledge dies with the death of its bearers. Yes, O Allah! The Earth is not without someone who rises for Allah with proof—whether he is visibly present and well-known, or hidden and anonymous—so that the proofs and clear signs of Allah are not invalidated. And how many are they, and where are they?! By Allah, they are few in number and great in rank. Allah preserves His proofs and clear signs through them, until they entrust them to others like themselves and plant them in hearts like their own. Knowledge has galloped toward them with true insight. They have mingled with the spirit of certainty. They have found easy what the pampered have considered difficult, and taken comfort in what the ignorant fear. They accompany the world with bodies whose souls are suspended from the Highest Realm. They are the caliphs of Allah on His Earth and the callers to His religion. Oh, oh! How eager I am to meet them! O Kumayl! Go back whenever you want.” And in the narration of Fudayl ibn Khudayj, it has been stated: “I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you.”

Consideration

قَالَ الْمَنْصُورُ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ ثَابِتٌ عَنْ كُمَيْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ وَكَانَ مِنْ بِطَانَةِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ عَنْهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ وَفُضَيْلُ بْنُ خُدَيْجٍ وَمُجَاهِدٌ وَأَبُو صَالِحٍ وَعُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ التَّيْمِيُّ وَهُوَ أَصَحُّ شَيْءٍ فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ، ذَكَرَهُ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الْبِرِّ [ت463ه‍] فِي «جَامِعِ بَيَانِ الْعِلْمِ وَفَضْلِهِ»[2] وَقَالَ: «هُوَ حَدِيثٌ مَشْهُورٌ عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ يُسْتَغْنَى عَنِ الْإِسْنَادِ لِشُهْرَتِهِ عِنْدَهُمْ» وَقَالَ ابْنُ كَثِيرٍ [ت774ه‍] فِي «الْبِدَايَةِ وَالنِّهَايَةِ»[3]: «قَدْ رَوَاهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنَ الْحُفَّاظِ الثِّقَاتِ».

Translation:

Mansoor said: This is a well-established Hadith from Kumayl ibn Ziyad, and he was one of the close companions of Ali . And Abd al-Rahman ibn Jundub, Fudayl ibn Khudayj, Mujahid, Abu Salih, and Ubaidullah ibn Umar al-Taymi have narrated it from him. And it is the most authentic thing on this topic; (as) ibn Abd al-Barr [d. 463 AH] has mentioned it in the book Jami‘ Bayan al-Ilm Wa Fadlih and said: “It is a well-known Hadith among the people of knowledge, and given its fame in their view, it does not need a chain of narrators.” And ibn Kathir [d. 774 AH] has said in the book al-Bidayah Wa al-Nihayah: “A group of preserving and trustworthy narrators have narrated it.”

Attestation No. 1

وَرَوَى إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ [ت283ه‍] فِي «الْغَارَاتِ»[4]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو زَكَرِيَّا يَحْيَى بْنُ صَالِحٍ الْحَرِيرِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي الثِّقَةُ، عَنْ كُمَيْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ.

Translation:

Also, Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi [d. 283 AH] has narrated in the book al-Gharat and said: Abu Zakariyya Yahya ibn Salih al-Hariri narrated to me, he said: A trustworthy man narrated to me, from Kumayl ibn Ziyad.

Attestation No. 2

وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ [ت381ه‍] فِي «كَمَالِ الدِّينِ وَتَمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ»[5]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ وَالْهَيْثَمِ بْنِ أَبِي مَسْرُوقٍ النَّهْدِيِّ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ الْهَمْدَانِيِّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي الثِّقَةُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِي الْأَرْضَ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ لَكَ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ ظَاهِرٍ أَوْ خَافٍ مَغْمُورٍ، لِئَلَّا تَبْطُلَ حُجَجُكَ وَبَيِّنَاتُكَ».

Translation:

Also, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh [d. 381 AH] has narrated in the book Kamal al-Din Wa Tamam al-Ni‘mah and said: My father and Muhammad ibn Hasan narrated to us, they said: Sa‘d ibn Abdullah narrated to us, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, Muhammad ibn Husain ibn Abi al-Khattab, and Haytham ibn Abi Masruq al-Nahdi, from Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Hisham ibn Salim, from Abu Ishaq al-Hamdani, who said: A trustworthy man from among our companions narrated to me that he heard Amir al-Mu’minin say: “O Allah! Without a doubt, You do not leave the Earth without a proof for Yourself over Your creation—whether he is visibly present and well-known, or hidden and anonymous—so that Your proofs and clear signs are not invalidated.”

Attestation No. 3

وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ [ت329ه‍] فِي «الْكَافِي»[6]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي الثِّقَةُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَنَّهُمْ سَمِعُوا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ: «اللَّهُمَّ وَإِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ أَنَّ الْعِلْمَ لَا يَأْرِزُ كُلُّهُ، وَلَا يَنْقَطِعُ مَوَادُّهُ، وَأَنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِي أَرْضَكَ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ لَكَ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ، ظَاهِرٍ لَيْسَ بِالْمُطَاعِ أَوْ خَائِفٍ مَغْمُورٍ، كَيْلَا تَبْطُلَ حُجَجُكَ وَلَا يَضِلَّ أَوْلِيَاؤُكَ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَهُمْ، بَلْ أَيْنَ هُمْ؟ وَكَمْ؟ أُولَئِكَ الْأَقَلُّونَ عَدَدًا وَالْأَعْظَمُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ قَدْرًا، الْمُتَّبِعُونَ لِقَادَةِ الدِّينِ، الْأَئِمَّةِ الْهَادِينَ، الَّذِينَ يَتَأَدَّبُونَ بِآدَابِهِمْ وَيَنْهَجُونَ نَهْجَهُمْ، فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ يَهْجُمُ بِهِمُ الْعِلْمُ عَلَى حَقِيقَةِ الْإِيمَانِ، فَتَسْتَجِيبُ أَرْوَاحُهُمْ لِقَادَةِ الْعِلْمِ، وَيَسْتَلِينُونَ مِنْ حَدِيثِهِمْ مَا اسْتَوْعَرَ عَلَى غَيْرِهِمْ، وَيَأْنَسُونَ بِمَا اسْتَوْحَشَ مِنْهُ الْمُكَذِّبُونَ وَأَبَاهُ الْمُسْرِفُونَ، أُولَئِكَ أَتْبَاعُ الْعُلَمَاءِ، صَحِبُوا أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا بِطَاعَةِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَأَوْلِيَائِهِ، وَدَانُوا بِالتَّقِيَّةِ عَنْ دِينِهِمْ وَالْخَوْفِ مِنْ عَدُوِّهِمْ، فَأَرْوَاحُهُمْ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِالْمَحَلِّ الْأَعْلَى، فَعُلَمَاؤُهُمْ وَأَتْبَاعُهُمْ خُرْسٌ صُمْتٌ فِي دَوْلَةِ الْبَاطِلِ، مُنْتَظِرُونَ لِدَوْلَةِ الْحَقِّ، وَسَيُحِقُّ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَيَمْحَقُ الْبَاطِلَ. هَا هَا طُوبَى لَهُمْ عَلَى صَبْرِهِمْ عَلَى دِينِهِمْ فِي حَالِ هُدْنَتِهِمْ، وَيَا شَوْقَاهُ إِلَى رُؤْيَتِهِمْ فِي حَالِ ظُهُورِ دَوْلَتِهِمْ، وَسَيَجْمَعُنَا اللَّهُ وَإِيَّاهُمْ فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ».

Translation:

Also, Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub al-Kulayni [d. 329 AH] has narrated in the book al-Kafi and said: Ali ibn Muhammad narrated to me, from Sahl ibn Ziyad, from ibn Mahbub, from Abu Usamah, from Hisham; also, Muhammad ibn Yahya narrated to me, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from ibn Mahbub, from Hisham ibn Salim, from Abu Hamzah, from Abu Ishaq, who said: A trustworthy man from among the companions of Amir al-Mu’minin narrated to me that they heard him say in a sermon: “O Allah! I know that knowledge does not become entirely secluded, and its springs do not run dry. And You do not leave Your Earth without a proof for Yourself over Your creation—whether he is visibly present and disobeyed, or hidden and anonymous—so that Your proofs are not invalidated, and Your friends, after You guided them, do not go astray. Rather, where are they, and how many are they? They are few in number and great in rank in the sight of Allah, exalted is His mention. They follow the leaders of religion—the Imams of guidance—are imbued with their manners, and walk in their footsteps. Then knowledge gallops toward them with the truth of faith. So their souls respond to the leaders of knowledge. They consider their words easy, though hard for others, and take comfort in what deniers fear and the extravagant reject. They are the followers of the scholars. Through obedience to Allah, Blessed and Exalted, they accompany the people of the world and His friends; and through taqiyyah regarding their religion and fear of their enemy, they practice the religion. So their souls are suspended from the Highest Realm. Their scholars and followers are silent and still under the rule of falsehood, and they await the rule of the truth. Soon, Allah will fulfill the truth with His words and eliminate falsehood. Oh, oh! Good for them for their patience in their religion during their time of stillness. And how eager I am to meet them when their rule emerges! Allah will gather us and them—along with their righteous fathers, spouses, and children—in the Gardens of Eden.”

Attestation No. 4

وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ [ت381ه‍] فِي «كَمَالِ الدِّينِ وَتَمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ»[7]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ سَعْدَانَ، عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ -يَعْنِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقَ-، عَنْ آبَائِهِ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي خُطْبَةٍ لَهُ عَلَى مِنْبَرِ الْكُوفَةِ: «اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ لِأَرْضِكَ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ لَكَ عَلَى خَلْقِكَ، يَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى دِينِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمْ عِلْمَكَ، لِئَلَّا تَبْطُلَ حُجَّتُكَ وَلَا يَضِلَّ أَتْبَاعُ أَوْلِيَائِكَ بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَهُمْ بِهِ، إِمَّا ظَاهِرٌ لَيْسَ بِالْمُطَاعِ أَوْ مُكْتَتَمٌ مُتَرَقِّبٌ، إِنْ غَابَ عَنِ النَّاسِ شَخْصُهُ فِي حَالِ هُدْنَتِهِمْ، فَإِنَّ عِلْمَهُ وَآدَابَهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مُثْبَتَةٌ، فَهُمْ بِهَا عَامِلُونَ».

Translation:

Also, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh [d. 381 AH] has narrated in the book Kamal al-Din Wa Tamam al-Ni‘mah and said: My father narrated to us, he said: Sa‘d ibn Abdullah narrated to us, he said: Harun ibn Muslim narrated to us, from Sa‘dan, from Mas‘adah ibn Sadaqah, from Abu Abdullah—meaning Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq—from his fathers, from Ali that he said in a sermon on the pulpit of Kufa: “O Allah! There is inevitably a proof from You on Your Earth over Your creation—to guide them to Your religion and teach them Your knowledge—so that Your proof is not invalidated, and the followers of Your friends, after You guided them, do not go astray, whether he is visibly present and disobeyed, or hidden and waiting. If he disappears from among the people while they live in ease, his knowledge and manners remain in the hearts of the believers, and they act on them.”[8]