Verse No. 20

The appointment of a Caliph on the earth from among those who believe and do righteous deeds is Allah’s promise and His way.

قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى:

﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾[1]

Translation:

God Almighty has said:

“God has promised those of you who believed and did righteous deeds that He will surely appoint them as Caliphs on the earth, as He appointed some people before them as Caliphs”.

Considerations

1 . أَخْبَرَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ الْخُجَنْدِيُّ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ جَالِسًا عِنْدَ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ وَقَالَ: يَا هَاشِمُ! أَلَا تَرَى إِلَى هَؤُلَاءِ الضَّالِّينَ الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يُبَيِّنِ الْخِلَافَةَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ؟! أَتَرَاهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ أَمْ يَتَجَاهَلُونَ؟! قُلْتُ: لَا أَدْرِي جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، لَعَلَّهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ، قَالَ: وَيْلَهُمْ، كَيْفَ يَجْهَلُونَ؟! وَقَدْ يَقْرَؤُونَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾، أَيُرِيدُونَ قَوْلًا أَبْيَنَ مِنْ هَذَا؟! أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ أَخْلَفَ وَعْدَهُ فَلَمْ يَسْتَخْلِفْ فِيهِمْ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ فِي الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ؟! قُلْتُ: وَمَنِ اسْتَخْلَفَ فِي الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ؟ قَالَ: دَاوُودَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، أَلَا يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِنْدَهُمْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ إِذْ يَقُولُ: ﴿يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ﴾[2]؟! فَاسْتَخْلَفَهُ وَأَمْثَالَهُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ، قُلْتُ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، إِنَّهُمْ أَضَلُّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، إِنَّهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ فِيهِمْ كُلَّ مَنْ بَايَعُوهُ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْخِلَافَةِ! قَالَ: وَيْلَهُمْ، وَهَلْ بَايَعُوا بَعْدَ الْحَسَنِ إِلَّا كُلَّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ؟! إِنَّمَا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَسْتَخْلِفَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ، وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَعِدَهُمْ خَيْرًا ثُمَّ يُعْطِيَهُمْ شَرًّا، بَلْ يُنْجِزُ وَعْدَهُ وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ فِي كُلِّ قَرْنٍ رَجُلًا مِثْلَ دَاوُودَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، وَهُوَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَمَلًا لِلصَّالِحَاتِ، فَهَلْ يَعْرِفُونَهُ لِيَخْتَارُوهُ؟! كَلَّا، بَلِ اللَّهُ يَعْرِفُهُ وَيَخْتَارُهُ، ﴿وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَجْهَلُونَ﴾[3].

Translation:

Hashim ibn Ubayd al-Khojandi informed us, he said: I was sitting next to Mansoor, then he looked at me and said: O Hashim! Do you not see these misguided people who think that God has not explained the Caliphate in the Quran?! Do you think they do not know or pretend to not know?! I said: I do not know, may I be sacrificed for you, maybe they do not know, he said: Woe to them, how do they not know?! While they read the words of God in the Quran that has said: “God has promised those of you who believed and did righteous deeds that He will surely appoint them as Caliphs on the earth, as He appointed some people before them as Caliphs”, do they want words clearer than these?! Or do they think that He has violated His promise, then He has not appointed anyone as a Caliph among them as He appointed among those before them?! I said: Who did He appoint as a Caliph among those before them? He said: Dawud, peace be upon him; do they not find him written in the Quran where He says: “O Dawud! We appointed you as a Caliph on the earth”, so He appointed him and others like him from among the Prophets and the righteous as Caliphs, I said: May I be sacrificed for you, they are more misguided than this! They think that God has appointed anyone among them as a caliph to whom they pledged Bay’ah (allegiance) as a caliph after the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family! He said: Woe to them, did they pledge Bay’ah to anyone other than rebellious tyrants after Hasan[4]?! Indeed, God promised to appoint those of them as Caliphs who believed and did righteous deeds, and it is not that God promises them good and then gives them evil, rather He fulfills His promise, and He appoints a man like Dawud, peace be upon him, as a Caliph in every era, and he is one whose faith and righteous deeds are greater than all of them, so do they know him to select him?! Never, but God knows and selects him, “but most of them do not know”.

2 . أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْبَارِئِ الْقَنْدَهَارِيُّ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ ۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ﴾[5]، فَقَالَ: يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ، مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ لِيَخْتَارُوا نَبِيًّا أَوْ مَلِكًا، فَمَنِ اخْتَارَ نَبِيًّا أَوْ مَلِكًا مِنْ دُونِ الَّذِي اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ، قُلْتُ: مَا سَمِعْنَا فِي الْمَلِكِ شَيْئًا! قَالَ: وَيْحَكُمْ، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنْبِيَاءَ وَجَعَلَكُمْ مُلُوكًا﴾[6]؟! قُلْتُ: بَلَى، وَلَكِنَّهُ كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، قَالَ: إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ سُنَنِ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ، وَمَا ذَكَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا ﴿لِيُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ وَيَهْدِيَكُمْ سُنَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ﴾[7]، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا قَوْلَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّكُمْ تَرْكَبُونَ سُنَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ»[8]؟! قُلْتُ: وَمَا الْمَلِكُ؟ قَالَ: الْخَلِيفَةُ، قُلْتُ: وَهَلِ اخْتَارَ اللَّهُ خَلِيفَةً بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، كَمَا اخْتَارَ بَعْدَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ، أَلَمْ يَقُلْ: ﴿لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾؟ قُلْتُ: وَبِمَا دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: بِوَصِيَّةٍ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قُلْتُ: كَانَتْ ظَاهِرَةً أَمْ بَاطِنَةً؟ قَالَ: كَانَتْ ظَاهِرَةً، وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ الْقَوْمِ لَمْ يَفْقَهُوهَا، قُلْتُ: كَيْفَ لَمْ يَفْقَهُوهَا وَكَانَ فِيهِمُ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ وَالْأَنْصَارُ؟! قَالَ: وَمَا تُنْكِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟! أَلَمْ يَكُونُوا الَّذِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِيهِمْ: ﴿فَمَالِ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا﴾[9]؟! قُلْتُ: أَرَوَوْهَا أَمْ كَتَمُوهَا؟ قَالَ: بَلْ رَوَوْهَا، قُلْتُ: فَمَا بَالُ الَّذِينَ جَاؤُوا مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ لَمْ يَفْقَهُوهَا؟! وَقَدْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «رُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ وَلَا فِقْهَ لَهُ، وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ»[10]! قَالَ: كَانُوا يَهْتَمُّونَ بِالرِّوَايَةِ، وَلَا يَهْتَمُّونَ بِالدِّرَايَةِ، وَكَانُوا يَقُولُونَ: ﴿إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ مُهْتَدُونَ﴾[11]، إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْهُمُ اتُّهِمُوا بِالْبِدْعَةِ، قُلْتُ: وَمَنْ كَانَ الْخَلِيفَةُ؟ قَالَ: لَا تَسْأَلْ عَنْ هَذَا، فَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿لَا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ﴾[12]، ﴿قَدْ سَأَلَهَا قَوْمٌ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَصْبَحُوا بِهَا كَافِرِينَ﴾[13]! قُلْتُ: إِنَّمَا أَطْلُبُ الْعِلْمَ، وَلَا أَتَعَصَّبُ لِمَذْهَبٍ! قَالَ: كَانَ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ، أَلَمْ يَبْلُغْكَ قَوْلُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنِّي تَارِكٌ فِيكُمْ خَلِيفَتَيْنِ: كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَهْلَ بَيْتِي»[14]؟! قُلْتُ: كَأَنَّكَ تُرِيدُ عَلِيًّا! قَالَ: وَمَا تُنْكِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ؟! إِنَّ دَاوُدَ قَتَلَ جَالُوتَ، فَـ﴿آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَاءُ﴾[15]، وَإِنَّ عَلِيًّا قَتَلَ جَوَالِيتَ، مِنْهُمْ طَلْحَةُ بْنُ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ حَامِلُ لِوَاءِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ يَوْمَ بَدْرٍ، وَعَمْرُو بْنُ عَبْدِ وُدٍّ فَارِسُ قُرَيْشٍ يَوْمَ الْأَحْزَابِ، وَمَرْحَبٌ بَطَلُ الْيَهُودِ يَوْمَ خَيْبَرَ! فَمَاذَا تَرَى أَنْ يَفْعَلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ؟! قُلْتُ: لَا أُنْكِرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا، وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ أَنَّ هَذَا طَعْنٌ فِي أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ! قَالَ: دَعْهُمْ، فَإِنَّهُمْ يَتَّخِذُونَهُمَا إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْ نَبِيَّيْنِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَإِنِّي لَا أَقُولُ فِيهِمَا إِلَّا خَيْرًا، قُلْتُ: فَلَمَّا مَضَى عَلِيٌّ فَهَلِ اخْتَارَ اللَّهُ خَلِيفَةً مِنْ بَعْدِهِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَا تَخْلُو مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ اخْتَارَهُ اللَّهُ، قُلْتُ: وَبِمَا دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ: بِوَصِيَّةٍ مِنْ عَلِيٍّ، وَقَدْ أَوْصَى إِلَى الْحَسَنِ، قُلْتُ: وَهَكَذَا أَبَدًا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾[16]، قُلْتُ: فَمَنِ الْخَلِيفَةُ الْيَوْمَ؟ قَالَ: رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ، فَبِهِمْ فَتَحَ اللَّهُ وَبِهِمْ يَخْتِمُ، قُلْتُ: تُرِيدُ الْمَهْدِيَّ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ: إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُولَدْ بَعْدُ! قَالَ: وَمَا عِلْمُهُمْ بِذَلِكَ؟! ﴿أَمْ عِنْدَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ﴾[17]؟! قُلْتُ: فَتَقُولُ أَنَّهُ وُلِدَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ: فَمَا الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُمْ إِذَنْ؟! قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ، لَيْسَ الْمُثْبِتُ كَالنَّافِي، وَلَا الْعَالِمُ كَالْجَاهِلِ، قُلْتُ: فَمَا لَهُ لَا يَظْهَرُ؟! قَالَ: لَئِنْ ظَهَرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُنَادَى بِاسْمِهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالسَّمَاءِ فَلَيْسَ بِمَهْدِيٍّ! فَتَدَبَّرْتُ قَوْلَهُ سَاعَةً، ثُمَّ قُلْتُ: وَاللَّهِ لَمْ تَقُلْ شَيْئًا إِلَّا بِالْقُرْآنِ وَالسُّنَّةِ، لَكِنَّهُ عِنْدَهُمْ رَفْضٌ! فَقَالَ: لَا أُبَالِي مَا هُوَ عِنْدَهُمْ بَعْدَ أَنْ قُلْتُهُ بِالْقُرْآنِ وَالسُّنَّةِ! فَإِنْ شَاؤُوا سَمَّوهُ رَفْضًا، وَإِنْ شَاؤُوا سَمَّوهُ كُفْرًا! فَإِنَّهُ الْإِيمَانُ!

Translation:

Abu Bakr ibn Abd al-Bari al-Qandahari informed us, he said: I asked Mansoor about the words of God Almighty that has said: “And your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills, they have no choice; Glorified and Exalted is God above what they associate with Him.” So he said: “(God) creates whatever He wills and chooses whomever He wills, it is not for them to choose a prophet or a ruler, so whoever chooses a prophet or a ruler whom God has not chosen, he has associated a partner (with God), and God is Glorified and Exalted above what they associate with Him.” I said: “We have not heard anything about the ruler!” He said: “Woe to you, have you not heard the words of God that has said: ‘He appointed Prophets among you and made (some of) you rulers’?!” I said: “Yes, but that was in the Children of Israel.” He said: “It was one of the ways of those who were before you, and God did not mention it unless ‘to make (all this) clear to you and to guide you to the ways of those who were before you.’ Have you not heard the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, who has said: ‘Indeed, the ways of those who were before you will come to you’?!” I said: “Who is the ruler?” He said: “The Caliph.” I said: “Did God choose a Caliph after the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family?” He said: “Yes, as he did so after the past Prophets. Has he not said: ‘He will surely appoint them as Caliphs on the earth, as He appointed some people before them as Caliphs’?!” I said: “With what did He indicate him?” He said: “With a will from the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family.” I said: “Was (that will) hidden or open?!” He said: “It was open, but most of the people did not understand it.” I said: “How could they not understand it when the Muhajirin and the Ansar were among them?!” He said: “Which part of it is strange to you?! Were they not the same people about whom God said: ‘What is the matter with these people who hardly understand any word?!’” I said: “Did they narrate that (will) or conceal it?” He said: “Rather, they narrated it.” I said: “So why did those who came after them not understand it?! While the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, has said: ‘Many are those who carry knowledge but have no knowledge themselves, and many are those who convey knowledge to one more learned than themselves.’” He said: “They paid attention to narration and did not pay attention to cognition (i.e., examining and understanding it) and said: ‘We have found our fathers upon a religion, and we have been guided by following them,’ except for a few of them who were accused of innovation.” I said: “Who was that Caliph?” He said: “Do not ask about this; because God has said: ‘Do not ask about things that if disclosed to you, may displease you,’ ‘some people before you asked about it, then disbelieved in it!’” I said: “I am only seeking knowledge, and I am not fanatical about any sect!” He said: “He was a man from the Ahl al-Bayt. Have you not heard the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, who said: ‘I leave among you two Caliphs: the Book of God and my Ahl al-Bayt’?!” I said: “It appears that you mean Ali!” He said: “What do you deny about it?! Indeed, Dawud killed Goliath, so ‘God gave him dominion and wisdom and taught him what He willed,’ while Ali killed several Goliaths, such as Talha ibn Abi Talha, the flag-bearer of polytheists on the day of Badr, Amr ibn Abd al-Wud, the only horseman of the Quraysh on the day of Ahzab, and Marhab, the hero of Jews on the day of Khaibar! So what do you think God has done to him?!” I said: “I do not deny anything about it, but they say this is sarcasm to Abu Bakr and Umar!” He said: “Leave them; because they have taken those two as gods other than God or as prophets after Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, while I say nothing but good about them.” I said: “So when Ali passed away, did God choose another Caliph after him?” He said: “Yes, because the earth does not remain empty of a Caliph whom God has chosen.” I said: “With what did He indicate him?” He said: “With a will from Ali, and he made a will to Hasan.” I said: “And so on forever?” He said: “Yes, and this is the words of God that has said: ‘They are offspring of one another, and God is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’” I said: “Who is the Caliph today?” He said: “A man from the Ahl al-Bayt; because God started with them and will end with them.” I said: “Do you mean the Mahdi?” He said: “Yes.” I said: “They say that he has not been born yet!” He said: “How do they know?! ‘Do they have (knowledge of) the unseen, so they write it?!’” I said: “So do you say that he was born?” He said: “Yes.” I said: “In this case, what is the difference between you and them?!” He said: “Woe to you, one who proves is not like one who denies, and one who knows is not like one who does not know.” I said: “So why does he not appear?! He said: “If he appears before his name is called out on the earth and in the heaven, he is not the Mahdi!” So I contemplated his words for a moment and then said: “I swear to God, you did not say anything except with the Quran and the Sunnah, but that is rafd with them!” So he said: “I do not care what it is with them after I said it with the Quran and the Sunnah! So they may call it rafd if they want, and they may call it disbelief if they want; because it is faith!”

3 . أَخْبَرَنَا ذَاكِرُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ دَاوُودَ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ وَغَيْرُهُمْ، قَالُوا: كُنَّا جَمَاعَةً عِنْدَ الْمَنْصُورِ وَهُوَ يَنْكُتُ الْأَرْضَ وَيَقُولُ بِهَمْسٍ: مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ! مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ! مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ! ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيْنَا وَقَالَ: اكْتُبُوا! فَأَخَذْنَا نَكْتُبُ، فَقَالَ: مَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِذْ قَالُوا: «مَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مِنْ خَلِيفَةٍ فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ»، وَقَدْ عَلِمُوا أَنَّهُ جَعَلَ فِي الْأُمَمِ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا، وَمَا كَانَ لِيُبَدِّلَ سُنَّتَهُ إِلَّا إِذَا أَخْبَرَ عَنْ تَبْدِيلٍ، وَقَدْ أَخْبَرَ عَنْ خَتْمِ النُّبُوَّةِ، وَلَمْ يُخْبِرْ عَنْ خَتْمِ الْخِلَافَةِ، بَلْ قَالَ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ: ﴿لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾، فَقَدْ بَقِيَتْ سُنَّتُهُ فِي اسْتِخْلَافِ رِجَالٍ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ بَعْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَابِتَةً إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَإِذَا ذَكَّرْتُ بِهَا هَؤُلَاءِ الَّذِينَ نَسُوهَا يُطَالِبُونَنِي بِالْبَيِّنَةِ، وَمَا الْبَيِّنَةُ إِلَّا عَلَيْهِمْ؛ لِأَنَّهُمْ يَدَّعُونَ تَبْدِيلَ سُنَّةٍ يُقِرُّونَ بِثُبُوتِهَا فِي الْأُمَمِ السَّابِقَةِ، وَأَنَا أُنْكِرُهُ، وَقَدْ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي وَلَيْسَتْ عَلَى الْمُنْكِرِ! ثُمَّ إِنِّي قَدْ جِئْتُهُمْ بِبَيِّنَةٍ، وَهِيَ مَا أَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، فَيُحَاجُّونَنِي بِفِعْلِ آبَائِهِمْ! يَقُولُونَ: «أَنْتَ أَفْقَهُ أَمِ الصَّحَابَةُ وَالتَّابِعُونَ؟!»، وَهُمْ يَرْوُونَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «رُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ وَلَا فِقْهَ لَهُ، وَرُبَّ حَامِلِ فِقْهٍ إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنْهُ»، وَيَقُولُونَ: «هَذِهِ بِدْعَةٌ»، وَمَا الْبِدْعَةُ إِلَّا مَا أَحْدَثَ آبَاؤُهُمْ فِي السَّقِيفَةِ، إِذْ نَسُوا حَظًّا مِمَّا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ كَمَا نَسَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ، فَقَالُوا: «مِنَّا أَمِيرٌ وَمِنْكُمْ أَمِيرٌ»، ثُمَّ بَايَعُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَمْ يَأْمُرْهُمْ بِمُبَايَعَتِهِ، فَقَالَ عُمَرُ لَمَّا سُقِطَ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ: «كَانَتْ بَيْعَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَلْتَةً وَقَى اللَّهُ شَرَّهَا، فَمَنْ عَادَ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا فَلَا بَيْعَةَ لَهُ»، فَعَادَ إِلَى مِثْلِهَا كُلُّ عَائِدٍ فَبَايَعُوهُ وَقَالُوا: «هَكَذَا كَانَتْ بَيْعَةُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ»! فَاتَّبَعُوا عُمَرَ فِيمَا أَخْطَأَ وَلَمْ يَتَّبِعُوهُ فِيمَا أَصَابَ! فَإِذَا ذَكَّرْتُهُمْ بِهَذَا لِيَتُوبُوا وَيُصْلِحُوا تَأْخُذُهُمُ الْحَمِيَّةُ حَمِيَّةُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، يَقُولُونَ: «يَا وَيْلَتَى! أَتُخَطِّئُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ؟!» وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُمَا لَمْ يَكُونَا إِلَهَيْنِ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَا نَبِيَّيْنِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَإِنَّمَا كَانَا رَجُلَيْنِ صَالِحَيْنِ أَصَابَا فِي شَيْءٍ وَأَخْطَئَا فِي شَيْءٍ، وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ أَنْ يَتَّبِعَهُمَا فِيمَا أَخْطَئَا فِيهِ، وَقَدْ خَالَفَهُمَا الصَّحَابَةُ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ، وَأَفْتَى الْفُقَهَاءُ بِخِلَافِ مَا أَفْتَيَا بِهِ فِي مَسَائِلَ كَثِيرَةٍ، فَلَمْ يُنْكِرْ هَؤُلَاءِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَمْ يَقُولُوا: «يَا وَيْلَتَى! خَطَّأُوا أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ»! حَتَّى إِذَا جَمَعْتُ لَهُمْ مَا فَرَّقُوهَا عَلَيْهِمْ وَجِئْتُهُمْ بِهَا بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً كَبُرَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَقَالُوا: «هَذَا دِينٌ جَدِيدٌ»! وَمَا هُوَ بِدِينٍ جَدِيدٍ، بَلْ هُوَ الدِّينُ الْأَوَّلُ، إِلَّا أَنْ يُرِيدُوا بِالْجَدِيدِ مَا يَرْوُونَهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ فِيهِمْ رِجَالًا يُجَدِّدُونَ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمْ، فَقَدْ جَدَّدْتُ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا انْدَرَسَ، وَلَا أَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا، وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بِحَفِيظٍ!

Translation:

Zakir ibn Ma’roof and Ali bin Dawud and Abdullah ibn Habib and others informed us, they said: We were a group in the presence of Mansoor, while he thoughtfully was touching the ground and saying slowly: They did not know God as He deserves to be known! They did not know God as He deserves to be known! They did not know God as He deserves to be known! Then he raised his head toward us and said: Write! So we started writing, then he said: They did not know God as He deserves to be known, when they said: “God did not appoint a Caliph in this nation”, whereas they know that He appointed in the previous nations, and He never changes His tradition, unless He Himself announces a change, and He has announced the end of the Prophethood and has not announced the end of the Caliphate, rather has said about those of this nation who believed and did righteous deeds: “He will surely appoint them as Caliphs on the earth, as He appointed some people before them as Caliphs”, therefore, His tradition of appointing men of faith and righteous deeds as Caliphs after the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, remains valid until the Day of Judgment, but when I remind it to those who have forgotten it, they ask me for proof , whereas proof is only on them; because they claim a change in the tradition which they acknowledge its establishment in the previous nations, and I deny the change, and they know that the onus of proof rests on the claimant, not on the denier! However, I have given them proof, and it is verses of the Quran that I read to them, but in response to me, they cite the work of their fathers! They say: “Are you more learned or the companions and the followers?!”, whereas they themselves narrate from the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family: “Many are those who carry knowledge but have no knowledge themselves, and many are those who convey knowledge to one more learned than themselves”[18], and they say: “This is bid’ah”, whereas bid’ah was what their fathers founded in Saqifah[19], when they forgot a portion of what they were reminded of, as the past people forgot[20], then they said: “Let there be an emir from among us and an emir from among you”[21], then they pledged Bay’ah to Abu Bakr, whereas they knew God has not commanded them to pledge Bay’ah to him, then, when the damage was done, Umar said: “Pledging Bay’ah to Abu Bakr was a hurried and ill-considered action[22] which God protected against its evil, so whoever repeats such a thing, there is no Bay’ah for him” [23], But every repeater repeated such a thing, and they pledged Bay’ah to him and said: “Pledging Bay’ah to Abu Bakr was just like that”! Then they followed Umar in his mistake and did not follow what he said correctly! So when I remind them of this so that they may repent and reform, ignorant prejudice overtakes them, they say: “Alas! Are you saying that Abu Bakr and Umar made a mistake?!”, whereas they know that those two were not gods other than God or prophets after Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, but were two righteous men who did right in some things and did wrong in some things, and no believer may follow those two in their mistakes; as the companions opposed those two in many affairs, and the jurists issued fatwas contrary to the fatwas of those two in many matters, and these people did not blame them either and did not say: “Alas! They considered Abu Bakr and Umar to be wrong”! Until I gathered for them what they said to them in a scattered manner, and brought it to them obviously and plainly, but it was hard on them, and they said, “This is a new religion”! Whereas it is not a new religion, rather is the very first religion, unless by new they mean what they narrate from the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, that God raises men among them to renew their religion for them[24]; because I renewed their religion for them after it became old, and I do not own anything for them from God, and I am not their guardian.

4 . أَخْبَرَنَا ذَاكِرُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعَ الْمَنْصُورُ قَارِئًا يَقْرَأُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى﴾، فَرَفَعَ صَوْتَهُ فَقَالَ: اسْمَعُوا! اسْمَعُوا! إِنَّمَا خَلِيفَةُ اللَّهِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَتَّبِعُ الْهَوَى، فَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَلَّفُونَ الْخِلَافَةَ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ! ثُمَّ هَمَسَ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ لَا تَعْدِمُ خَلِيفَةً مِثْلَ دَاوُودَ، فَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ﴾، وَقَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ دَاوُودَ!

Translation:

Zakir ibn Ma’roof al-Khorasani informed us, he said: Mansoor heard a reciter recite these words of God Almighty: “O Dawud! We appointed you as a Caliph on the earth, so Judge rightly among people and do not follow your passions”, so he raised his voice and said: Listen! Listen! The Caliph of God on the earth is only one who rules righteously among people and does not follow his passions, so do not let those who claim to be caliphs while they are oppressors deceive you! Then he lowered his voice and said: Indeed, this nation does not lack a Caliph like Dawud; because God has said: “As He appointed those before them as Caliphs”, and He appointed Dawud as a Caliph before them!

5 . أَخْبَرَنَا ذَاكِرُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ الْخُرَاسَانِيُّ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ: مَا بَالُ صَاحِبِكُمْ يَدْعُو إِلَى رَجُلٍ لَيْسَ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ اسْمُهُ؟! فَغَضِبَ فَقَالَ: كَذَبَ النَّوْكَى! أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿أَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ﴾[25] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: اثْنَيْنِ وَلَا أَرْبَعًا وَلَا ثَلَاثًا حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ، وَقَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ﴾[26] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: فِي مِائَتَيْنِ خَمْسَةُ دَرَاهِمَ حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ، وَقَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ﴾[27] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: بِالْبَيْتِ سَبْعًا وَبِالصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ سَبْعًا حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ؟! فَكَذَلِكَ قَالَ لَهُمْ فِي كِتَابِهِ: ﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا﴾[28] وَلَمْ يَقُلْ لَهُمْ: بِإِمَامٍ عَادِلٍ مِنْ وُلْدِ فَاطِمَةَ يُقَالُ لَهُ الْمَهْدِيُّ حَتَّى بَيَّنَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُهُ! ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَنِ اسْتَغْنَى بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَنْ سُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ فَقَدْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمَنْ فَرَّقَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ حَقًّا، وَذَلِكَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلًا ۝ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا ۚ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُهِينًا﴾[29]! قُلْتُ: وَمَا يُرِيدُونَ بِقَوْلِهِمْ: ﴿نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ﴾؟! قَالَ: يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا جَاءَهُمْ عَنِ اللَّهِ وَيَكْفُرُونَ بِمَا جَاءَهُمْ عَنْ رُسُلِهِ!

Translation:

Zakir ibn Ma’roof al-Khorasani informed us, he said: I said to Mansoor: May I be sacrificed for you, they say: What is wrong with your master who invites toward a man whose name is not mentioned in the Book of God?! So he became angry and said: The fools lied! Did they not know that God said to them in His Book: “Perform the prayer”, and did not say: two or four or three (rak’ats), until His Prophet explained to them, and said to them in His Book: “And pay Zakat”, and did not say: in two hundred (dirhams) five dirhams, until His Prophet explained to them, and said to them in His Book: “And pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by God upon people”, and did not say: around the House seven times and in between Safa and Marwa seven times, until His Prophet explained to them?! So in this way He said to them in His Book: “God has promised those of you who believed and did righteous deeds that He will surely appoint them as Caliphs on the earth, as He appointed some people before them as Caliphs, and will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and will surely give them security after their fear”, and did not say: with a just Imam from the children of Fatima who is called Mahdi, until His Prophet explained to them! Then he said: Whoever thinks that with the Book of God he is not in need of the Sunnah of His Prophet, he has indeed made division between God and His Prophet, and whoever makes division between God and His Prophet is indeed a disbeliever, and this is the words of God Almighty that has said: “Indeed, those who disbelieve in God and His Prophets and want to make division between God and His Prophets and say, we believe in one and disbelieve in the other, and want to take a course between the two; they are indeed disbelievers, and We have prepared for disbelievers a humiliating punishment”! I said: What do they mean by the words “we believe in one and disbelieve in the other”?! He said: They believe in what has come to them from God, and disbelieve in what has come to them from His Prophets!