Hadith No. 29
“If the earth remains without an Imam, it will surely sink inwards.”
رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ [ت381ه] فِي «عِلَلِ الشَّرَائِعِ»[1]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ وَالْهَيْثَمُ بْنُ أَبِي مَسْرُوقٍ النَّهْدِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي دَاوُدَ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ سُفْيَانَ الْمُسْتَرِقِّ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ الْحَلَّالِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ -يَعْنِي عَلِيَّ بْنَ مُوسَى الرِّضَا- قَالَ:
قُلْتُ: تَبْقَى الْأَرْضُ بِغَيْرِ إِمَامٍ؟ فَإِنَّا نُرَوَّى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ -يَعْنِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّادِقَ- عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: لَا تَبْقَى إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْخَطَ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ، فَقَالَ: لَا، لَا تَبْقَى، لَوْ بَقِيَتْ إِذًا لَسَاخَتْ -وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى[2] قَالَ:- مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ، لَا تَبْقَى سَاعَةً، إِذًا لَسَاخَتْ.
Translation:
Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh has narrated [Died in 381 AH] in the book “El al al-Sharaia”, (the way that) has said: My father, may God rest his soul, has narrated us and said: Sa’d ibn-Abodullah has narrated us said: Muhammad ibn Hussain ibn Abi al-Khattab and Haytham ibn Abi Masruq Nahadi narrated us, from Abu Dawud Sulayman ibn Sufyan al-Mustareq, from Ahmad ibn ‘Umar Halal, that said:
I said to Abu al-Hasan- meaning, Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha, Does the earth remain without an Imam? because it is narrated for us from Abu Abdullah (Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq) (peace be upon him) that he has said, it does not remain unless God anger over His servants, he said: No, it does not remain, if it remains, then it will sink down, -and in another narration- he has said; be under the shelter of God, it does not remain for an hour, in such a case, it will sink down, surely.
Attestation No. 1
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الصَّفَّارُ [ت290ه] فِي «بَصَائِرِ الدَّرَجَاتِ»[3]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ -وَفِي «عِلَلِ الشَّرَائِعِ»[4] وَ«عُيُونِ أَخْبَارِ الرِّضَا»[5]: عَبَّادُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ- عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ -فَذَكَرَ مِثْلَهُ.
Translation:
Furthermore, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar [Died in 290 AH] has narrated in the book "Basaer al-darajat" and said: "Muhammad ibn Suleiman -in the book “El al al-Sharaia” and “Uyoun Akhbar Al-Ridha” Ibad ibn Suleiman is mentioned- has narrated us from Sa’d ibn Sa’d, from Ahmed ibn ‘Umar, from Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha (peace be upon him) that said- then, he has narrated similar to this Hadith.
Attestation No. 2
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ [ت329ه] فِي «الْكَافِي»[6]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْوَشَّاءِ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ: هَلْ تَبْقَى الْأَرْضُ بِغَيْرِ إِمَامٍ؟ قَالَ: «لَا»، قُلْتُ: إِنَّا نُرَوَّى أَنَّهَا لَا تَبْقَى إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْخَطَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ، قَالَ: «لَا تَبْقَى، إِذًا لَسَاخَتْ».
Translation:
Furthermore, Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kalini [Died in 329 AH] in the book “Al-Kafi” has narrated, said: Hussain ibn Muhammad has narrated me from Muala ibn Muhammad, from Vosha that said: I asked Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha (peace be upon him): does the earth remain without an Imam? He said: No, I said: It is narrated to us that it does not remain unless God anger over His servants, and he says: it does not remain, in such a case, it will sink down, surely.
Attestation No. 3
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ [ت329ه] فِي «الْكَافِي»[7]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: أَتَبْقَى الْأَرْضُ بِغَيْرِ إِمَامٍ؟ قَالَ: «لَا»، قُلْتُ: فَإِنَّا نُرَوَّى عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ أَنَّهَا لَا تَبْقَى بِغَيْرِ إِمَامٍ إِلَّا أَنْ يَسْخَطَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ أَوْ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ، فَقَالَ: «لَا، لَا تَبْقَى، إِذًا لَسَاخَتْ».
Translation:
Furthermore, Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kuleyni [Died in 329 AH] in the book “Al-Kafi” has narrated, said: Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated me from Muhammad ibn Isa, from Muhammad ibn Fodhile, that said: I said to Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha (peace be upon him): Does the earth remain without an Imam? He said: No, I said: because it is narrated to us from Abu Abdullah (Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq) that it does not remain unless God anger over the people of the earth or His servants, he said: it does not remain, in such a case, it will sink down, surely.
Attestation No. 4
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ الصَّفَّارُ [ت290ه] فِي «بَصَائِرِ الدَّرَجَاتِ»[8]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنِ الْعَبَّاسِ بْنِ مَعْرُوفٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَهْزِيَارَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْهَيْثَمِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ، عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: يَكُونُ الْأَرْضُ بِلَا إِمَامٍ فِيهَا؟ قَالَ: «لَا، إِذًا سَاخَتْ بِأَهْلِهَا».
Translation:
Moreover, Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar [Died in 290 AH] has narrated in the book "Basaer al-darajat" and said: Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Isma’il narrated us from Abbas ibn Ma’ruf, from Ali ibn Mahziyar, from Muhammad ibn Haytham, from Muhammad ibn Fodhile that said: I said to Abu al-Hasan al-Ridha (peace be upon him): Does the earth remain without an Imam on it? He said: No, in such a case, it will immerse its people.
Attestation No. 5
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ [ت381ه] فِي «كَمَالِ الدِّينِ وَتَمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ»[9]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ، عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ هِلَالٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جَنَاحٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقُلْتُ: أَتَخْلُو الْأَرْضُ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ؟ فَقَالَ: «لَوْ خَلَتْ مِنْ حُجَّةٍ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ لَسَاخَتْ بِأَهْلِهَا».
Translation:
Furthermore, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh has narrated [Died in 381 AH] in the book “Kamāl al-Din wa Tamām al-Ni’mah” said: My father and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan (may God be pleased with them) narrated us, said: Abdullah ibn Ja’far al-Hamiri narrated us, form Ahmed ibn Hilal, from Saeed ibn Jinnah, from Suleiman Ja’fari that said: I asked Abu al-Hassan al-Ridha (peace be upon him): Does the earth remain without the proof of God? Said: If it remains without the proof of God in the blink of an eye, it will immerse its people.
Attestation No. 6
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ [ت381ه] فِي «كَمَالِ الدِّينِ وَتَمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ»[10]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ الثُّمَالِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: أَتَبْقَى الْأَرْضُ بِغَيْرِ إِمَامٍ؟ قَالَ: «لَوْ بَقِيَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِغَيْرِ إِمَامٍ سَاعَةً لَسَاخَتْ».
Translation:
Furthermore, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh has narrated [Died in 381 AH] in the book “Kamāl al-Din wa Tamām al-Ni’mah” said: My father and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan (may God be pleased with them) narrated us, said: "Sa’d ibn Abdullah narrated us said; Muhammed ibn Isa ibn Obeid and Muhammad ibn Al-Hussain ibn Abi al-Khattab, from Muhammad ibn Hamza al-Fodhile, from Abu Hamza al-Thamali that said: I said Abu Abdullah (Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Sādiq) (peace be upon him): Does the earth remain without an Imam?" He said: If the earth remains without an Imam for an hour, it will sink down, surely.
Attestation No. 7
وَرَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ بَابَوَيْهِ [ت381ه] فِي «كَمَالِ الدِّينِ وَتَمَامِ النِّعْمَةِ»[11]، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قَالَا: حَدَّثَنَا سَعْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمُؤْمِنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَاسَةٍ، عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ -يَعْنِي مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ الْبَاقِرَ- عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ: «لَوْ أَنَّ الْإِمَامَ رُفِعَ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ سَاعَةً لَمَاجَتْ بِأَهْلِهَا كَمَا يَمُوجُ الْبَحْرُ بِأَهْلِهِ».
Translation:
Furthermore, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Babawayh has narrated [Died in 381 AH] in the book “Kamāl al-Din wa Tamām al-Ni’mah” said: My father and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan (may God be pleased with them) narrated us, said: "Sa’d ibn Abdullah narrated us said; Muhammed ibn Isa ibn Obeid, from Abu Abdullah al-Zakria ibn Muhammad al-Mu’min, from Abu Horasah, from Abu Ja’far (al-Bāqir) (peace be upon him) that said: If the Imam be removed from the earth for an hour, it will bring its people to turbulence, surely, just as the sea brings its own people to turbulence.