1 . أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْهَرَوِيُّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ الْهَاشِمِيَّ الْخُرَاسَانِيَّ يَقُولُ: يُعْرَفُ الْكَذَّابُ بِسِتِّ خِصَالٍ: يَدَّعِي مَا لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى إِثْبَاتِهِ، وَيُغَيِّرُ دَعْوَاهُ، وَيُخْبِرُ عَمَّا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَيُحَدِّثُ النَّاسَ بِمَا لَا يَعْرِفُونَ، وَيُفَسِّرُ الْقُرْآنَ بِرَأْيِهِ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ بَاطِنُهُ، وَيَحْتَجُّ بِخَبَرِ الْوَاحِدِ.
Translation of the saying:
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Harawi informed us, he said: I heard Mansoor Hashemi Khorasani say: “A liar is known by six characteristics: [1] he claims what he cannot prove, [2] changes his claim, [3] informs of what is in the heaven while he does not know what is on the earth, [4] tells people what they do not know, [5] interprets the Quran according to his opinion, claiming that it is its hidden meaning, [6] and brings a wahid narration as proof.”
Explanation of the saying:
A wahid narration is any non-mutawatir narration, and a mutawatir narration in His Honor’s opinion is any narration narrated by four or more men at each level[1].
2 . أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ الْجُوزَجَانِيُّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ يَقُولُ: مَا كَذَبَ النَّاسُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ كَمَا كَذَبُوا عَلَى الْمَهْدِيِّ، فَمَنْ أَتَاكُمْ يَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ مُحْتَجًّا عَلَيْكُمْ بِخَبَرِ وَاحِدٍ فَلَا تُصَدِّقُوهُ! قُلْتُ: وَإِنْ وَافَقَهُ ذَلِكَ الْخَبَرُ؟! قَالَ: وَإِنْ وَافَقَهُ ذَلِكَ الْخَبَرُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أَنْ يُعْبَدَ بِخَبَرِ وَاحِدٍ.
Translation of the saying:
Isa ibn Abd al-Hamid al-Jowzjani informed us, he said: I heard Mansoor say: “People have not lied against anyone as much as they have lied against the Mahdi, so whoever comes to you and invites you toward himself while he brings a wahid narration as proof, do not believe him!” I said: “Even if that narration corresponds with him?!” He said: “Even if that narration corresponds with him.” Then he said: “God is Greater than to be worshiped with a wahid narration.”
Explanation of the saying:
He said: “God is Greater than to be worshiped with a wahid narration,” because a wahid narration benefits nothing but conjecture, ﴿وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا﴾[2]; “and indeed, conjecture is not sufficient for (proving) the truth.”
3 . أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الدَّامْغَانِيُّ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ -يَعْنِي أَحْمَدَ الْبَصْرِيَّ- يَدْعُو النَّاسَ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ مُحْتَجًّا عَلَيْهِمْ بِخَبَرِ الطُّوسِيِّ فِي الْوَصِيَّةِ! فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ أَكْثَرْتُمْ عَلَيَّ فِي هَذَا الرَّجُلِ! أَلَا أُعْطِيكُمْ قَاعِدَةً تَعْرِفُونَ بِهَا هَذَا وَأَمْثَالَهُ؟ قُلْتُ: مَا أَحْوَجَنَا إِلَى هَذِهِ الْقَاعِدَةِ! قَالَ: مَنْ دَعَاكُمْ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ مُحْتَجًّا عَلَيْكُمْ بِخَبَرِ وَاحِدٍ فَكَذِّبُوهُ، وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْهُ مِنْ إِثْمٍ فَهُوَ فِي عُنُقِي! ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَأْبَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يُعْبَدَ بِخَبَرِ وَاحِدٍ، أَوْ قَالَ: يُعْرَفَ -الشَّكُّ مِنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ.
Translation of the saying:
Ali ibn Isma‘il al-Damghani informed us, he said: I said to Mansoor: “Indeed, this man -i.e., Ahmad al-Basri- invites people toward himself while he brings the narration of (Muhammad ibn Hasan) al-Tusi about the will as proof!” So he said: “You have indeed talked to me a lot about this man! So shall I not give you a rule by which you will know him and the likes of him?” I said: “How much we need this rule!” He said: “Whoever invites you toward himself while he brings a wahid narration as proof deny him, and whatever sin befalls you because of that, I shall bear it!” Then he said: “God refuses to be worshiped with a wahid narration,” or said: “to be known,” the doubt is from Ali ibn Isma‘il.
Explanation of the saying:
“Ahmad al-Basri” is a Shia liar who claims that he is the promised Yamani and that he is the successor, the guide, and the imam after the Mahdi, and the “narration of (Muhammad ibn Hasan) al-Tusi about the will” is a wahid narration narrated by Abu Ja‘far al-Tusi (d. 460 AH), one of the Shia scholars, in the book al-Ghaybah, claiming that the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, made a will on the night of his demise that there will be twelve Mahdis after the Mahdi, the first of whom is a man with three names: Abdullah, Ahmad, and Mahdi, and Ahmad al-Basri claims that he is that man; because his name is Ahmad! This narration has been falsely attributed to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, and fabricated by Ja‘far ibn Ahmad ibn Ali al-Misri, and it does not indicate what that man claims[3].
4 . أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الطَّبَرِيُّ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَنَا وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ عِنْدَ الْمَنْصُورِ فَقَالَ لَنَا: إِنَّ عَلِيًّا لَمَّا أَرَادَ الْخُرُوجَ مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ قَامَ عَلَى أَطْرَافِهَا وَقَالَ: لَعَنَكِ اللَّهُ يَا أَنْتَنَ الْأَرْضِ تُرَابًا وَأَسْرَعَهَا خَرَابًا وَأَشَدَّهَا عَذَابًا، فِيكِ الدَّاءُ الدَّوِيُّ، قِيلَ: وَمَا الدَّاءُ الدَّوِيُّ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟! قَالَ: الْكِذْبُ عَلَيْنَا أَهْلِ الْبَيْتِ وَاسْتِحْلَالُ الْكِذْبِ عَلَيْنَا! ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ الْمَنْصُورُ إِلَيَّ وَقَالَ: أَلَا تَرَى إِلَى هَذَا الْبَصْرِيِّ كَيْفَ يَكْذِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ؟! -يَعْنِي أَحْمَدَ الْحَسَنَ! قُلْتُ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، إِنَّ هَذَا الْكَذَّابَ يَحْتَجُّ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِرِوَايَةٍ رَوَاهَا الطُّوسِيُّ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ! قَالَ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَحْكَمُ وَأَعْدَلُ وَأَكْرَمُ وَأَجَلُّ مِنْ أَنْ يَحْتَجَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِرِوَايَةٍ رَوَاهَا الطُّوسِيُّ فِي غَيْبَتِهِ!
Translation of the saying:
Abdullah ibn Habib al-Tabari informed us, he said: Hasan ibn Qasim (al-Tahrani) and I were with Mansoor, then he said to us: “When Ali wanted to leave the city of Basra (following the battle of Jamal), he stood on its outskirts and said: ‘May God curse you, O you whose soil is the most impure one, whose destruction is the earliest one, and whose punishment is the most severe one on the earth; deadly pain is in you.’ It was said: ‘What is deadly pain, O Amir al-Mu’minin?!’ He said: ‘Lying against us, the Ahl al-Bayt, and considering it lawful to lie against us!’” Then Mansoor turned toward me and said: “Do you not see this man of Basra, how he lies against them?! -i.e., Ahmad al-Hasan!” I said: “May I be sacrificed for you, this liar brings a narration that al-Tusi has narrated in his book al-Ghaybah to people as proof!” He said: “God is Wiser, more Just, more Honorable, and Greater than that on the Day of Judgment He would bring a narration that al-Tusi has narrated in his book al-Ghaybah to people as proof!”
Explanation of the saying:
The words of Ali, peace be upon him, in condemning Basra are well-known, narrated by many Hadith narrators with various words. Among them are Ma‘mar ibn Rashid (d. 154 AH) in al-Jami‘[4], ibn Qutaybah (d. 276 AH) in Uyun al-Akhbar[5], Abu Hanifah al-Dinawari (d. 282 AH) in al-Akhbar al-Tiwal[6], Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi (d. 283 AH) in al-Gharat[7], ibn Abd Rabbih (d. 328 AH) in al-Aqd al-Farid[8], ibn al-Faqih (d. 365 AH) in al-Buldan[9], al-Kashshi (d. in 4th century AH) in al-Rijal[10], and Sharif al-Radi (d. 406 AH) in Nahj al-Balaghah[11], and it indicates the dominance of evil over the people of Basra.
5 . أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الطَّالَقَانِيُّ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: مَا بَقِيَ مِنْ كَلْبٍ وَلَا سِنَّوْرٍ إِلَّا وَقَدِ ادَّعَى هَذَا الْأَمْرَ! قَالَ: وَيْحَكَ! بِمَ يَحْتَجُّونَ؟ قُلْتُ: يَأْخُذُونَ رِوَايَةً فَيُأَوِّلُونَهَا! قَالَ: إِذَا أَتَاكُمْ مَنْ تُوعَدُونَ يَحْتَجُّ عَلَيْكُمْ بِأَبْيَنَ مِنْ هَذَا، قُلْتُ: وَمَا هُوَ؟ قَالَ: آيَةٌ بَاهِرَةٌ.
Translation of the saying:
Ahmad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Taloqani informed us, he said: I said to Mansoor: “There is no dog or cat left unless it has claimed this matter!” He said: “Woe to you! What do they bring as proof?” I said: “They take a narration and interpret it!” He said: “When the one whom you are promised comes to you, he will bring something clearer than that to you as proof.” I said: “What is it?” He said: “An obvious sign.”
6 . أَخْبَرَنَا صَالِحُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ السَّبْزَوَارِيُّ، قَالَ: قَالَ لِيَ الْمَنْصُورُ: بِمَ يَحْتَجُّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْحَمْقَى؟ قُلْتُ: مَنْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ؟! فَإِنَّ الْحَمْقَى لَكَثِيرٌ! قَالَ: شَيَاطِينُ هَذَا الْبَصْرِيِّ، قُلْتُ: يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ رَأَوْهُ فِي النَّوْمِ! قَالَ: كَذَبُوا وَاللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ دِينَ اللَّهِ أَعَزُّ مِنْ أَنْ يُرَى فِي النَّوْمِ! ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى السَّاحَةِ وَخَرَجْتُ مَعَهُ، فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ إِبْرِيقًا لِيَتَوَضَّأَ لِلصَّلَاةِ، فَذَهَبْتُ لِأَصُبَّ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ فَقَالَ: لَا أُشْرِكُ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّي أَحَدًا! ثُمَّ أَشَارَ إِلَى الْإِبْرِيقِ وَقَالَ: مَنِ ادَّعَى عَلَيْكُمْ هَذَا مُحْتَجًّا عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا رَأَى فِي النَّوْمِ أَوْ رُؤِيَ لَهُ فَلَا تُعْطُوهُ هَذَا، وَإِنْ جُدِعَ أَنْفُهُ!
Translation of the saying:
Salih ibn Muhammad al-Sabzawari informed us, he said: Mansoor said to me: “What do these fools bring as proof?” I said: “Who, may I be sacrificed for you?! Fools are many!” He said: “The Satans of this Basri.” I said: “They claim that they have seen (the truthfulness of) him in dreams!” He said: “They are lying, I swear to God. Indeed, the religion of God is stronger than to be seen in dreams!” Then he went out to the yard, and I too went with him, then he took a ewer with his hand to perform wudu for prayer, so I went to pour water for him, but he (did not allow it) and said: “I associate none as a partner in the worship of my Lord!” Then he pointed to the ewer and said: “Whoever claims this against you while he brings to you as proof what he or someone else has seen for him in a dream, then do not give it to him, even if his nose is cut off!”
Explanation of the saying:
His Honor’s intended meaning by the Satans of that man is his companions; because they help him with his error and make his falsehoods fair-seeming to him; as it has been stated in the words of God Almighty: ﴿وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ﴾[12]; “And when they are alone with their Satans, they say: ‘We are with you. We were only mocking them,’” and His Honor’s intended meaning by the “religion of God” is religious beliefs and rulings, so it is not taken from what is seen in dreams; considering that its mainstay is certainty, and what is seen in dreams does not benefit certainty due to the possibility that it will be affected by whispers, indoctrination, sickness, or illusion, unless the one who sees it is an infallible person; as Ibrahim, peace be upon him, saw a dream when he said: ﴿يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى ۚ قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الصَّابِرِينَ﴾[13]; “‘O my son, I have seen in a dream that I sacrifice you, so see what you think.’ He said: ‘O father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, Insha’Allah, of the patient,’” or the one who interprets it is an infallible person; as Pharaoh saw a dream, then Yusuf, peace be upon him, interpreted it when the messenger said to him: ﴿يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا الصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِي سَبْعِ بَقَرَاتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنْبُلَاتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَاتٍ لَعَلِّي أَرْجِعُ إِلَى النَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ قَالَ تَزْرَعُونَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ دَأَبًا فَمَا حَصَدْتُمْ فَذَرُوهُ فِي سُنْبُلِهِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِمَّا تَأْكُلُونَ﴾[14]; “‘Yusuf, O the truthful one! Tell us about seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean cows, and seven green ears of corn and seven dry ones so that I may return to people and they may understand.’ He said: ‘You shall sow for seven years as usual, then leave whatever you harvest in its ear except for a little that you eat,’” and there is no lesson in anything other than them that is seen in dreams, even for claiming a ewer.
7 . أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ الطِّهْرَانِيُّ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَدْعِيَاءَ يَحْتَجُّونَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِمَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ! فَقَالَ: كَذَبُوا لَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ، لَيْسَ مَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ بَيِّنَةً، أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: ﴿فَلَمَّا جَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَرِحُوا بِمَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ﴾[15]؟! فَفَرَّقَ بَيْنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَبَيْنَ مَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ، وَجَعَلَهُمَا مِمَّا يَتَعَارَضَانِ، قُلْتُ: إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الَّذِي آتَاهُمُ الْعِلْمَ! قَالَ: فَهَلْ آتَاهُمْ إِلَّا كَمَا آتَى الَّذِي آتَاهُ آيَاتِهِ ﴿فَانْسَلَخَ مِنْهَا فَأَتْبَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْغَاوِينَ﴾[16]؟! ﴿وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ ۚ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِنْ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَثْ ۚ ذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۚ فَاقْصُصِ الْقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ﴾[17]، ثُمَّ قَالَ: لَا تُقِرُّوا لَهُمْ بِالْعِلْمِ، إِنَّمَا هُوَ ﴿مَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ﴾، وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ! أَنَّى لَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ وَقَدْ جَهِلُوا أَكْبَرَ شَيْءٍ؟! إِنَّمَا هُوَ زُخْرُفُ الْقَوْلِ يُوحُونَهُ إِلَى أَوْلِيَائِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ، ﴿وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ﴾[18]، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا قَوْلَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ﴾[19]؟!
Translation of the saying:
Hasan ibn Qasim al-Tehrani informed us, he said: I said to Mansoor: “These claimants bring what they have with them of knowledge to people as proof!” So he said: “They are lying, may God curse them! What they have with them of knowledge is not considered a clear sign. Do you not see that God Almighty says: ‘So when their Prophets came to them with clear signs, they rejoiced in what they had with them of knowledge’?! So He has differentiated between clear signs and what they had with them of knowledge and considered those two as things that may conflict with each other.” I said: “They say that it is God Who granted them knowledge!” He said: “If so, then has He granted them except in the way that He granted to the one who gave him His signs (i.e., Balaam the son of Beor), ‘then he detached himself from them, and Satan followed him, and he became one of the misguided’?! ‘And Had We willed, We would have elevated him with them, but he clung to the earth and followed his own desires. So his example is that of a dog; if you attack it, it pants, and if you leave it, it pants! This is the example of the people who rejected Our signs, so relate these stories so that they may reflect.’” Then he said: “Do not accept that they have knowledge, it is only ‘what they have with them of knowledge,’ and it is not knowledge with God, His Prophet, and the believers. How can they have knowledge when they have not known the greatest thing?! It is just flowery statements that they convey to their friends to dispute with you, ‘and if you obey them, you will indeed be polytheists.’ Have you not heard the words of God Almighty that has said: ‘Only knowledgeable people fear God from among His servants’?!”
8 . أَخْبَرَنَا وَلِيدُ بْنُ مَحْمُودٍ السِّجِسْتَانِيُّ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَدَّعِي أَنَّهُ إِمَامٌ مُفْتَرَضُ الطَّاعَةِ، وَعِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ كَثِيرٌ بِالدِّينِ، فَقَالَ: لَا حُجَّةَ لَهُ فِي الْعِلْمِ بِالدِّينِ، وَعَلَيْهِ حُجَّةٌ فِي الْجَهْلِ بِهِ، فَإِذَا عَثَرْتُمْ مِنْهُ عَلَى جَهْلٍ وَاحِدٍ فَكَذِّبُوهُ وَلَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى كَثِيرِ عِلْمِهِ، إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ لَا يَجْهَلُ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الدِّينِ.
Translation of the saying:
Walid ibn Mahmoud al-Sajistani informed us, he said: I asked Mansoor about a man who claims to be an imam who must be obeyed and who has a great deal of knowledge of religion, so he said: “There is no proof for him in the knowledge of religion, but there is proof against him in ignorance of it. So if you find one ignorance from him, deny him and do not look at his great deal of knowledge; because the Imam is not ignorant of anything of religion.”
9 . أَخْبَرَنَا حَمْزَةُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْقُمِّيُّ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَدَّعِي أَنَّهُ إِمَامٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ وَقَدْ سُئِلَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءٍ كَثِيرَةٍ فَأَجَابَ فِيهَا، قَالَ: كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَقُولُ: دُورُوا مَعَ السِّلَاحِ حَيْثُمَا دَارَ، فَأَمَّا الْمَسَائِلُ فَلَيْسَ فِيهَا حُجَّةٌ، قُلْتُ: وَمَا السِّلَاحُ؟ قَالَ: سِلَاحُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَإِنَّهُ فِي هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بِمَنْزِلَةِ التَّابُوتِ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ، كُلُّ مَنْ تَحَوَّلَ إِلَيْهِ كَانَ إِمَامًا، قُلْتُ: كَيْفَ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ هُوَ؟ قَالَ: يَتَبَيَّنُ لَكُمْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ كَمَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ التَّابُوتُ، وَإِنِ اشْتَبَهَ عَلَيْكُمْ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِيكُمُ اللَّهُ بِشَيْءٍ أَبْيَنَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ.
Translation of the saying:
Hamzah ibn Ja‘far al-Qomi informed us, he said: I asked Mansoor about a man who claims to be an imam from God, and he has been asked about many things and has answered. He said: “Abu al-Hasan al-Rida, peace be upon him, said: ‘Go along wherever the weapon would go. Asking questions does not establish any proof.’” I said: “What is the weapon?” He said: “The weapon of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family; because it is in this nation of the same status as the Ark of the Covenant in the Children of Israel, whomever it was passed to was the Imam.” I said: “How do we know it is it?” He said: “It will become clear to you, Insha’Allah, as the Ark of the Covenant became clear to them, and if you are confused about it, God will bring you something clearer than it.”
10 . أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الطَّالَقَانِيُّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ يَقُولُ: كُلُّ مَنْ تَسَلَّطَ عَلَى النَّاسِ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُمْ: مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَقَدْ عَصَى اللَّهَ، فَهُوَ دَجَّالٌ، وَإِنْ كَانَ ذَا عِلْمٍ وَصَلَاحٍ! قُلْتُ: بِمَاذَا يُعْرَفُ إِذْنُ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: إِنَّمَا يُعْرَفُ إِذْنُ اللَّهِ بِآيَةٍ بَيِّنَةٍ أَوْ وَصِيَّةٍ ظَاهِرَةٍ، قُلْتُ: وَمَا آيَةٌ بَيِّنَةٌ؟ قَالَ: آيَةٌ وَعَدَهَا نَبِيٌّ أَوْ وَصِيُّ نَبِيٍّ، كَمَا قَالَ نَبِيٌّ فِي طَالُوتَ: ﴿إِنَّ آيَةَ مُلْكِهِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ التَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسَى وَآلُ هَارُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ﴾[20]، قُلْتُ: وَمَا وَصِيَّةٌ ظَاهِرَةٌ؟ قَالَ: هِيَ أَنْ تَقْدِمَ مَدِينَةَ نَبِيٍّ أَوْ وَصِيِّ نَبِيٍّ فَتَسْأَلَ عَنْهَا الْعَامَّةَ وَالصِّبْيَانَ وَالْعَجَائِزَ إِلَى مَنْ أَوْصَى فُلَانٌ؟ فَيَقُولُوا: إِلَى فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ، قُلْتُ: وَاللَّهِ مَا أَبْقَيْتَ لِلدَّجَاجِلَةِ مَسْلَكًا يَسْلُكُوهُ! قَالَ: أَنَا مَا أَبْقَيْتُ لَهُمْ؟! بَلِ اللَّهُ مَا أَبْقَى لَهُمْ! أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسُدَّ خَلَّةً فَفَعَلَ! ثُمَّ أَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى شَمْسٍ دَاخِلَةٍ فِي الْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ: أَلَيْسَتْ هَذِهِ الشَّمْسُ بَيِّنَةً؟ قُلْتُ: بَلَى، جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، قَالَ: فَإِنَّ دِينَ اللَّهِ أَبْيَنُ مِنْ هَذِهِ، ﴿لِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيَى مَنْ حَيَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ ۗ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ﴾![21]
Translation of the saying:
Ahmad ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Taloqani informed us, he said: I heard Mansoor say: “Whoever takes control over people without the permission of God, then says: ‘Whoever obeys me obeys God, and whoever disobeys me disobeys God,’ he is dajjal, even if he has knowledge and competence!” I said: “By what means the permission of God is known?” He said: “The permission of God is known only by a clear sign or a manifest will.” I said: “What is a clear sign?” He said: “A sign that a Prophet or the successor of a Prophet has promised, as a Prophet said about Talut: ‘The sign of his sovereignty shall be that he brings to you the Ark in which there is tranquility from your Lord and the remnant of what was left behind by the family of Musa and the family of Harun, and the Angels carry it. Undoubtedly, in this is a sign for you if you are believers.’” I said: “What is a manifest will?” He said: “It is to enter the city of a Prophet or the successor of a Prophet, then ask the public, children, and old people: ‘To whom so-and-so made his will?’ Then they say: ‘To so-and-so the son of so-and-so.’” I said: “I swear to God, you did not leave any way for dajjals to enter!” He said: “I did not leave?! Rather, God did not leave any for them! He wanted to close a gap, so He did so!” Then he pointed to the sun in the house and said: “Is this sun not bright?” I said: “Yes, may I be sacrificed for you.” He said: “The religion of God is brighter than this ‘so that he who would perish might perish by clear proof, and he who would live might live by clear proof, and God is indeed the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’”
11 . أَخْبَرَنَا جُبَيْرُ بْنُ عَطَاءٍ الْخُجَنْدِيُّ، قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: ﴿وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا يَأْتِينَا بِآيَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ ۚ أَوَلَمْ تَأْتِهِمْ بَيِّنَةُ مَا فِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَى﴾[22]، فَقَالَ: يَعْنِي أَوَلَمْ تَأْتِهِمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ الَّتِي وَعَدَهَا اللَّهُ وَخُلَفَاؤُهُ فِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَى؟ وَكَانَتِ الْقُرْآنَ، وَلَا يُصَدَّقُ مَنْ يَدَّعِي الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَرْفَعَ خَلِيفَةُ اللَّهِ بِضَبْعِهِ فِي مَشْهَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ، أَوْ يَأْتِيَ بِالْبَيِّنَةِ الَّتِي وَعَدَهَا اللَّهُ وَخُلَفَاؤُهُ فِي الصُّحُفِ الْأُولَى، قُلْتُ: فَبِمَ أَعْرِفُ مَنْ يَدَّعِي الْأَمْرَ وَلَمْ تُوعَدْ لَهُ بَيِّنَةٌ فِي الْأَحَادِيثِ؟! قَالَ: لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَعْرِفَ مَنْ لَمْ تُوعَدْ لَهُ بَيِّنَةٌ فِي الْأَحَادِيثِ!
Translation of the saying:
Jubayr ibn Ata’ al-Khujandi informed us, he said: I asked Mansoor about the words of God Almighty that has said: “And they said: ‘Why did he not bring us a sign from his Lord?!’ Did there not come to them a clear sign of what was in the previous Books?!” He said: “It means, ‘Did there not come to them a clear sign that God and His Caliphs promised in the previous Books?’ and that was the Quran, and one who claims the matter will not be believed until God’s Caliph raises his arm in front of people, or he brings a clear sign that God and His Caliphs promised in the previous Books.” I said: “So how do I know one who claims the matter and for whom no clear sign has been promised in Hadiths?” He said: “It is not obligatory for you to know one for whom no clear sign has been promised in Hadiths.”
12 . أَخْبَرَنَا ذَاكِرُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: إِنَّ رَجُلًا يُقَالُ لَهُ مُحَمَّد نَاصِرُ الْيَمَانِيُّ يُنَادِي فِي النَّاسِ بِأَنَّهُ الْمَهْدِيُّ، قَالَ: كَذَبَ عَدُوُّ اللَّهِ، إِنَّهُ أَضَلُّ مِنْ حِمَارِ أَهْلِهِ! ثُمَّ قَالَ: كُلُّ مَنْ نَادَى فِي النَّاسِ بِأَنَّهُ الْمَهْدِيُّ قَبْلَ وُقُوعِ الصَّيْحَةِ وَالْخَسْفِ فَهُوَ كَذَّابٌ مُفْتَرٍ، قُلْتُ: وَمَا الصَّيْحَةُ وَالْخَسْفُ؟ قَالَ: صَيْحَةٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِاسْمِهِ وَخَسْفٌ بِجَيْشٍ مِنْ أَعْدَائِهِ بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَالْمَدِينَةِ، وَبِهِمَا يُعْرَفُ الْمَهْدِيُّ.
Translation of the saying:
Zakir ibn Ma‘roof informed us, he said: I said to Mansoor: “A man called Muhammad Nasser al-Yamani calls out among people that he is the Mahdi.” He said: “He is lying, the enemy of God, he is more astray than the donkey of his house!” Then he said: “Whoever calls out among people that he is the Mahdi before the occurrence of the Sayhah and the Khasf is a fabricator liar.” I said: “what are the Sayhah and the Khasf?” He said: “A call from the heaven in his name and the swallowing up of an army of his enemies between Mecca and Medina, and the Mahdi is known by those two.”
Explanation of the saying:
There are mutawatir narrations from the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, and his Ahl al-Byt, peace be upon them, about the occurrence of a call from the heaven in the Mahdi’s name and the swallowing up of an army of his enemies in Bayda’ shortly before his advent, and therefore, any Mahdi who appears before their occurrence is more astray than the donkey of his house!
13 . أَخْبَرَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ الطِّهْرَانِيُّ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: هَلْ تَعْرِفُ فِي هَذَا الزَّمَانِ رَجُلًا أَظْلَمَ وَأَطْغَى مِنْ فُلَانٍ؟ يَعْنِي رَجُلًا مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ الضَّلَالِ، فَقَالَ: لَا، قُلْتُ: وَاللَّهِ لَا يَزَالُ إِنْسَانٌ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ رَأَى مِنَ الْأَحْلَامِ وَالْخَوَارِقِ مَا يُصَدِّقُهُ! فَقَالَ: يَا حَسَنُ! إِنَّهُ مِنْ مَكْرِ اللَّهِ وَفِتْنَتِهِ، إِنَّهُ إِذَا عَلِمَ اللَّهُ مِنْ عَبْدٍ زَيْغًا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ الْحَقُّ، أَضَلَّهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ يَسْتَهْدِي، ﴿كَذَلِكَ يُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْرِفٌ مُرْتَابٌ﴾[23]! فَمَكَثَ هُنَيَّةً ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا حَسَنُ! إِيَّاكَ وَجِدَالَ كُلِّ مَفْتُونٍ، فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مَفْتُونٍ مُلَقَّنٌ حُجَّتَهُ إِلَى انْقِضَاءِ مُدَّتِهِ، فَإِذَا انْقَضَتْ مُدَّتُهُ خَرَّتْ عَلَيْهِ فِتْنَتُهُ فَأَهْلَكَتْهُ.
Translation of the saying:
Hasan ibn Qasim al-Tehrani informed us, he said: I said to Mansoor: “Do you know anyone more unjust and more rebellious than so-and-so at this time? That is, a man from the leaders of misguidance.” So he said: “No.” I said: “I swear to God, there is always a human who claims to have seen dreams and wonders that confirm him!” So he said: “O Hasan! It is one of the tricks and trials of God. If God sees a tendency toward falsehood in a servant after the truth was made clear to him, He leads him astray from where he seeks guidance. ‘This is how God leads astray whoever is extravagant and doubtful!’” Then he paused for a moment and then said: “O Hasan! Avoid arguing with whoever has fallen into fitnah; because whoever has fallen into fitnah, his proof is instilled into him until his time is up, then, when his time is up, his fitnah will collapse on him and destroy him.”
14 . أَخْبَرَنَا صَالِحُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ السَّبْزَوَارِيُّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ يَقُولُ: تَعَوَّذُوا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ، قُلْتُ: وَمَا الْمَسِيحُ الدَّجَّالُ؟ قَالَ: مَنْ يَدَّعِي مَا يُخَالِفُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ، ثُمَّ يُقِيمُ عَلَيْهِ مُعْجِزَةً، فَهُوَ الْمَسِيحُ الدَّجَّالُ، قُلْتُ: لِمَاذَا يُسَلِّطُهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى إِقَامَةِ الْمُعْجِزَاتِ؟! قَالَ: لِيَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ، وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَقَالَ: لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي، وَقَالَ: الْأَئِمَّةُ بَعْدِي اثْنَا عَشَرَ إِمَامًا.
Translation of the saying:
Salih ibn Muhammad al-Sabzawari informed us, he said: I heard Mansoor say: “Seek refuge in God from the fitnah of the Antichrist!” I said: “Who is the Antichrist?” He said: “One who claims something against the Book of God and then performs a miracle for it is the Antichrist!” I said: “Why does God enable him to perform miracles?!” He said: “To know that who follows the Prophet and who reverts to his old ways, and the Prophet said: ‘There is no god but Allah,’ and said: ‘There is no prophet after me,’ and said: ‘There are twelve Imams after me!’”
15 . أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ السَّلَامِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْقَيُّومِ الْبَلْخِيُّ، قَالَ: دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ الصَّالِحِ وَهُوَ فِي مَسْجِدٍ فَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ لِلنَّاسِ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ! إِذَا أَتَاكُمْ آتٍ بِمَا أَتَى بِهِ الْمَسِيحُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنِّي إِلَهٌ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ، أَوْ نَبِيٌّ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ، أَوْ إِمَامٌ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْمَهْدِيِّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَلَا تُصَدِّقُوهُ، فَإِنَّهُ الْمَسِيحُ الدَّجَّالُ! أَلَا هَلْ بَيَّنْتُ؟! أَلَا هَلْ عَلَّمْتُ؟! ﴿أَنْ تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَذَا غَافِلِينَ﴾[24]!
Translation of the saying:
Abd al-Salam ibn Abd al-Qayyum al-Balkhi informed us, he said: I went to the righteous servant (i.e., Mansoor) while he was in a mosque, then I heard him say to people: “O people! If someone comes to you with the miracles of Christ, then says, ‘I am a god other than Allah,’ or, ‘I am a prophet after Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family,’ or, ‘I am an imam after the Mahdi, peace be upon him,’ do not believe him; because he is the Antichrist! Beware, did I explain?! Beware, did I teach?! ‘Lest on the Day of Judgment you say: We were unaware of this!’”
Explanation of the saying:
Now if you have a sound intellect and have not sunk into imitation, fanaticism, arrogance, and superstitionism, then take advantage of these perfect words of wisdom, wonderful points, and rare gems, and use them as a shining light in front of you so that in this dark age any dajjal will not deceive you, prevent you from the way of God, or lead you to humiliation in the life of the world and a painful punishment in the Hereafter. Know that the owner of these perfect words of wisdom, wonderful points, and rare gems is but a great scholar from among God’s friends and sincere servants, who invites toward good, enjoins right, forbids wrong, and does not seek superiority on the earth or spread corruption, and this is not hidden from people of insight and fairness. So if you are one of those who desire to reform the situation of Muslims or serve Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him, then you must help this man and not be distracted from him by dajjals who unrightfully act arrogantly on the earth and say about God what they do not know; like those who ﴿اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَى فَمَا رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ﴾[25]; “trade guidance for misguidance, but their trade is profitless, and they are not guided,” or those who ﴿اشْتَرَوْا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَاءَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ﴾[26]; “sell the verses of God for a small price and prevent (people) from His way. Evil is what they do,” or those who, ﴿إِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لَا يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا وَإِنْ يَرَوْا سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلًا﴾[27]; “if they see the path of guidance, they do not take it as a path, and if they see the path of misery, they take it as a path!” ﴿أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ﴾[28]; “They are those whose hearts, ears, and eyes God has sealed, and they are the heedless.”
