Hadith No. 19

The earth is never devoid of an Imam who guides to the truth and establishes justice by it.

رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ [ت329ه‍] فِي «الْكَافِي»[1]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ، قَالَ:

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ -يَعْنِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقَ- عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: ﴿وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ﴾[2]، قَالَ: «هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ».

Translation:

Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulayni [Died in 329 AH] has narrated in the book of “al-Kāfi”, (in this way that) has said: Husain ibn Muhammad narrated to me, from Mu’allā ibn Muhammad, from Washshā, from Abdullah ibn Sinan that said:

I asked Abu Abdullah, meaning Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq, peace be upon him about the words of God Almighty that says: “And of those whom We have created are a group who guide toward the truth and act justly upon it”, so he said: They are the Imams.

Consideration

قَالَ الْمَنْصُورُ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: مُعَلَّى بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ مُضْطَرِبُ الْحَدِيثِ، وَلَكِنْ لِلْحَدِيثِ طَرِيقٌ آخَرُ:

Translation:

Mansoor may God protect him, said: Mu’allā ibn Muhammad is Mudhtarib al-Hadith[3], but there are other ways for the narration:

Attestation No. 1

رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الصَّفَّارُ [ت290ه‍] فِي «بَصَائِرِ الدَّرَجَاتِ»[4]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ، عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ، عَنِ الْحُجْرِ، عَنْ حُمْرَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ -يَعْنِي مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ الْبَاقِرَ- عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: ﴿وَمِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا أُمَّةٌ يَهْدُونَ بِالْحَقِّ وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ﴾، قَالَ: «هُمُ الْأَئِمَّةُ».

Translation:

Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Saffār [Died in 290 AH] has narrated in the book of “Basā’ir al-Darajāt”, has said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad narrated to us, from Safwān, from ibn Muskān, from Hujr, from Humrān, from Abu Ja’far, meaning Muhammad ibn Ali al-Bāqir, peace be upon him that about the words of God Almighty: “And of those whom We have created are a group who lead toward the truth and act justly upon it”, said: They are the Imams.

Consideration

قَالَ الْمَنْصُورُ حَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ؛ لِأَنَّ الْوَصْفَ مُنَاسِبٌ لِلْأَئِمَّةِ، إِذْ مِنْ شَأْنِهِمْ أَنْ يَهْدُوا النَّاسَ وَيَعْدِلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ، وَالْآيَةُ تَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ لِلْإِمَامِ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ شَأْنَيْنِ: الْأَوَّلُ هِدَايَةُ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ، وَهِيَ تَعْلِيمُهُمُ الْقُرْآنَ وَالسُّنَّةَ دُونَ خَطَأٍ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَكُونُ بِالْحَقِّ حَتَّى يَكُونَ كَذَلِكَ، وَالثَّانِي الْعَدْلُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ، وَهُوَ الْحُكْمُ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ دُونَ خَطَأٍ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَكُونُ بِالْحَقِّ حَتَّى يَكُونَ كَذَلِكَ، وَهُمَا لَا يَتِمَّانِ إِلَّا فِي مَنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الرِّجْسَ وَطَهَّرَهُمْ تَطْهِيرًا، وَالْآيَةُ تَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَا تَخْلُو مِنْ إِمَامٍ هَادٍ عَادِلٍ بِالْحَقِّ؛ كَمَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَلِكَ عُقَلَاءُ الْقَوْمِ قَدِيمًا وَجَدِيدًا؛ مِثْلُ الْجُبَّائِيِّ [ت303ه‍] إِذْ قَالَ: «هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ تَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَا يَخْلُو زَمَانٌ الْبَتَّةَ عَمَّنْ يَقُومُ بِالْحَقِّ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ»[5]، وَالنَّحَّاسِ [ت338ه‍] إِذْ قَالَ: «دَلَّ اللَّهُ جَلَّ وَعَزَّ بِهَذِهِ الْآيَةِ أَنَّهُ لَا تَخْلُو الدُّنْيَا فِي وَقْتٍ مِنَ الْأَوْقَاتِ مِنْ دَاعٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْحَقِّ»[6]، وَالْقُرْطُبِيِّ [ت671ه‍] إِذْ قَالَ: «دَلَّتِ الْآيَةُ عَلَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَا يُخَلِّي الدُّنْيَا فِي وَقْتٍ مِنَ الْأَوْقَاتِ مِنْ دَاعٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى الْحَقِّ»[7]، وَالْخَازِنِ [ت741ه‍] إِذْ قَالَ: «فِي الْآيَةِ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى أَنَّهُ لَا يَخْلُو زَمَانٌ مِنْ قَائِمٍ بِالْحَقِّ يَعْمَلُ بِهِ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ»[8]، وَقَالَ ابْنُ الْجُوزِيِّ [ت597ه‍]: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخَلِّي الْأَرْضَ مِنْ قَائِمٍ لَهُ بِالْحُجَّةِ، جَامِعٍ بَيْنَ الْعِلْمِ وَالْعَمَلِ، عَارِفٍ بِحُقُوقِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، خَائِفٍ مِنْهُ، فَذَلِكَ قُطْبُ الدُّنْيَا، وَمَتَى مَاتَ أَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ عِوَضَهُ، وَرُبَمَا لَمْ يَمُتْ حَتَّى يَرَى مَنْ يَصْلُحُ لِلنِّيَابَةِ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ نَائِبَةٍ، وَمِثْلُ هَذَا لَا تَخْلُو الْأَرْضُ مِنْهُ، فَهُوَ بِمَقَامِ النَّبِيِّ فِي الْأُمَّةِ»[9]، وَقَالَ الرَّازِيُّ [ت606ه‍]: «هَؤُلَاءِ أَئِمَّةُ الْهُدَى وَأَعْلَامُ الدِّينِ وَسَادَةُ الْخَلْقِ، بِهِمْ يَهْتَدُونَ فِي الذَّهَابِ إِلَى اللَّهِ»[10]، وَقَالَ الْآلُوسِيُّ [ت1270ه‍]: «هُمُ الْمُرْشِدُونَ الْكَامِلُونَ»[11]، وَقَالَ السَّعْدِيُّ [ت1376ه‍]: «أَيْ وَمِنْ جُمْلَةِ مَنْ خَلَقْنَا أُمَّةٌ فَاضِلَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ فِي نَفْسِهَا، مُكَمِّلَةٌ لِغَيْرِهَا، يَهْدُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَغَيْرَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ، فَيَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْمَلُونَ بِهِ، وَيُعَلِّمُونَهُ، وَيَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَإِلَى الْعَمَلِ بِهِ <وَبِهِ يَعْدِلُونَ> بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِي أَحْكَامِهِمْ إِذَا حَكَمُوا فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالدِّمَاءِ وَالْحُقُوقِ وَالْمَقَالَاتِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ، وَهَؤُلَاءِ هُمْ أَئِمَّةُ الْهُدَى وَمَصَابِيحُ الدُّجَى، وَهُمُ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَالْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ، وَالتَّوَاصِي بِالْحَقِّ وَالتَّوَاصِي بِالصَّبْرِ، وَهُمُ الصِّدِّيقُونَ الَّذِينَ مَرْتَبَتُهُمْ تَلِي مَرْتَبَةَ الرِّسَالَةِ، وَهُمْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ مَرَاتِبُ مُتَفَاوِتَةٌ كُلٌّ بِحَسَبِ حَالِهِ وَعُلُوِّ مَنْزِلَتِهِ، فَسُبْحَانَ مَنْ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ»[12]، انْتَهَى قَوْلُهُ، وَهَذَا قَوْلُنَا الَّذِي نَقُولُ بِهِ، وَالْعَجَبُ مِنْ أَقْوَامٍ يُنْكِرُونَهُ عَلَيْنَا وَهُمْ يَجِدُونَهُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَقَدْ قَالَ بِهِ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ عُلَمَائِهِمْ قَدِيمًا وَجَدِيدًا! فَهَلْ يَنْقِمُونَ مِنَّا إِلَّا قَوْلَنَا أَنَّهُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّنَا؟! وَلَا نَقُولُ ذَلِكَ لِأَنَّهُمْ آبَاؤُنَا، وَلَكِنْ لِمَا نَجِدُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِمْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ وَالسُّنَّةِ، وَلَا نُنْكِرُ فَضْلَ غَيْرِهِمْ مِمَّنْ صَاحَبَ نَبِيَّنَا، وَلَكِنْ لَا يُقَاسُ بِأَهْلِ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّنَا أَحَدٌ؛ كَمَا رُوِيَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «كُنَّا إِذَا عَدَّدْنَا أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قُلْنَا: أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ! فَعَلِيٌّ؟ قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ، عَلِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ، لَا يُقَاسُ بِهِمْ أَحَدٌ»[13]، وَهَذَا قَوْلٌ مَشْهُورٌ مِنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ [ت241ه‍]، وَهُوَ إِمَامُ أَهْلِ السُّنَّةِ وَلَمْ يُنْسَبْ إِلَيْهِ التَّشَيُّعُ؛ كَمَا رَوَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ، قَالَ: «سَأَلْتُ أَبِي، قُلْتُ: مَنْ أَفْضَلُ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ: أَبُو بَكْرٍ، قُلْتُ: يَا أَبَتِ، ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: عُمَرُ، قُلْتُ: يَا أَبَتِ، ثُمَّ مَنْ؟ قَالَ: عُثْمَانُ، قُلْتُ: يَا أَبَتِ، فَعَلِيٌّ؟ قَالَ: يَا بُنَيَّ، عَلِيٌّ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ لَا يُقَاسُ بِهِمْ أَحَدٌ»، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى: «قُلْتُ: يَا أَبَةِ، مَا تَقُولُ فِي التَّفْضِيلِ؟ قَالَ: فِي الْخِلَافَةِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَعُثْمَانُ، فَقُلْتُ: فَعَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ؟ قَالَ: يَا بُنَيَّ، عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتٍ لَا يُقَاسُ بِهِمْ أَحَدٌ»[14]، وَهَذَا هُوَ الْحَقُّ الَّذِي يَقُولُ بِهِ كُلُّ عَالِمٍ، وَقَدْ قَالَ بِهِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، وَإِذَا قُلْنَا بِهِ نَحْنُ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ: هَؤُلَاءِ مِنَ الرَّافِضَةِ! ﴿كَذَلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾[15]!

Translation:

Mansoor may God protect him, said: This narration is correct; because the mentioned description is suitable for the Imams; considering that the leadership of the people and performing justice among them upon the truth, are their works, and the verse signifies that Imam has two works in the Book of God: Firstly, guiding people toward the truth which is to teach Quran and the Sunnah to them without any mistake; because it will not be upon the truth unless it is like this, and secondly, establishing justice among people upon the truth which is to rule over them according to that which God has revealed without any mistake; because it will not be upon the truth unless it is like this, and these two will not be realized except in the one who is from the Ahl al-Bayt from whom God has removed all impurities and has made them completely clean, and the verse signifies that the earth belongs does not remain empty from an Imam who guides toward and act justly upon the truth; as the intellectual people of the nation, old and new, have acknowledged it; such as al-Jubbā’I [Died in 303 AH] who has said: “This verse signifies that no era remains empty from someone who rises up for the truth and guides toward it” and (such as) al-Nahhās [Died in 338 AH] who has said: “God Almighty has stated through this verse that the world, in no era of eras, remains empty from someone who leads toward the truth” and (such as) al-Qurtubi [Died in 671 AH] who has said: “The verse signifies that God, in no era of eras, leaves the world be empty from an inviter who invites toward the truth” and (such as) al-Khāzin [Died in 741 AH] who has said: “The verse signifies that no time remains empty from someone who rises up for the truth and acts upon and guides toward it” and ibn al-Jawzi [Died in 597 AH] has said: “Undoubtedly God does not leave the earth empty from a someone who rises up for the truth who is collector between knowledge and action and knows the right of God Almighty and fears Him, and he is the axis of the world and whenever he dies, God appoints a successor for him, and he may not die until he sees the one who deserves to be his successor in any event, and the earth never remains empty of such a person, and he is like the Prophet among the nation” and al-Rāzi [Died in 606 AH] has said: “They are the Imams of guidance and the signs of religion and masters of people through whom one finds the way toward God” and al-Alusi [Died in 1270 AH] has said: “They are the perfect guides” and al-Sa’di [Died in 1376 AH] has said: “That is, among those whom We have created are a virtuous group who are perfect themselves and make others perfect, they guide themselves and others to the truth, so they know the truth and practice it and teach it and invite toward it and toward practicing it, and they act justly with it in their judgments among people whenever they judge over wealth, lives, rights, beliefs and other things, and they are the Imams of guidance and the beacons in darkness to whom God has bestowed the blessings of faith and righteous deeds and enjoining toward the truth and enjoining toward patience, and they are the truthful ones whose rank is after the rank of the Prophets, and they have different ranks among themselves depending on their status and dignity. So Glory be to God Who chooses whom He wills for His special Mercy, and God has great Grace”. His speech is over, and this is what we say, and it is a surprise that some people do not tolerate it from us, while they find it in the Book of God and many of their knowledgeable ones from old and new have said it! So, do they blame us on anything other than that we say they are from the Ahl al-Bayt of our Prophet?! While we do not say this because they are our fathers, but because of the virtue we find for them in the Quran and Sunnah, and we do not deny the virtue of others who accompanied our Prophet, but no one shall be compared with the Ahl al-Bayt of our Prophet; as it has been narrated from Abdullah ibn ‘Umar that said: “Whenever we counted the companions of the Prophet peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, we said: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmān, then a man said: O father of Abd al-Rahmān! What about Ali?! He said: Woe to you! Ali is from the Ahl al-Bayt, no one shall compare with them” and this is a famous speech from Ahmad ibn Hanbal [Died in 241 AH] and he is Imam of the Sunnis and is not considered to be a Shia; as Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal has narrated, he has said: “I asked my father: Who was the best people after the Messenger of God peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family? He said: Abu Bakr, I said: Father! Who is next? He said: ‘Umar, I said: Father! Who is next? He said: ‘Uthmān, I said: Father! What about Ali? He said: My son! Ali is from the Ahl al-Bayt with whom no one shall be compared” and in another narration it has been said: “I said: Father! What do you say regarding precedence? He said: In Caliphate, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and ‘Uthmān, I said: What about Ali ibn Abi Tālib? He said: My son! Ali ibn Abi Tālib is from the Ahl al-Bayt with whom no one shall be compared” and this is a truth that every knowledgeable one says it and Ahmad ibn Hanbal has said it as well, but when we say it, those who are not knowledgeable say: They are Rafidhah! “In this way God seals the hearts of those who do not know”!