The Necessity of Knowledge

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Abi Hamza that Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh) told him: “He worships Allah he who knows Allah. Yet the worship of who doesn’t know Allah is a stray worship.” Abou Hamza asked: “May I be sacrificed for your sake. How can one know Allah?” Imam (Pbuh) said: “knowing Allah is believing Allah, believing His Messenger (Pbuhp), being loyal to Ali (Pbuh), admitting the Imamate of the Imams of guidance (Pbut) and declaring to Allah your innocence from their enemies. This is how Allah is known.” [1]

* Al-Hor Al-Amili states in Wasa’el Al-Shia Book:  Reported from Zurara that Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh) said: “The peak of this matter, its summit and its key and the contentment of the Most Gracious are in obeying the Imam after knowing him. If a man worshiped all his nights, fasted all his days, gave all his money for charity and performed pilgrimage every year of his life, yet didn’t acknowledge the loyalty of the saint of Allah so that he is loyal to him and follows his commands in every act he does; Thus he doesn’t have the right to claim any reward from Allah and he is not considered as a faithful man.”[2]

* Tafseer Al-Imam Al-Askari (Pbuh): He said – In a long narration- Imam Sadiq (Pbuh) said: “ The bigger sorrow than this is in a man who collected great amounts of money with severe hard work and going through horrors and dangers then he spent all his money for charity and exhausted his youth and power in prayers and worship, yet he doesn’t believe in the right of Ali Bin Abi Talib (Pbuh); doesn’t know his rank in Islam; considers that who is nothing like one tenth nor one hundredth of his is better than him (Pbuh); he sees the argument but doesn’t inspect it; he is more obstinate even when the narrations and verses prove to him; This is the Greatest Sorrow. On Resurrection Day, his charities will come to him as snakes biting his flesh and his prayers and worship will come to him as the soldiers of fire to cast him in Hell. He will say: “Woe to me. Didn’t I pray? Didn’t I pay Zakat? Didn’t I renounce people’s money and women? Why am I afflicted with this calamity?” Then he is told: “O you miserable, what you did didn’t benefit you, you have wasted the greatest obligation that is after Monotheism and believing in the prophecy of Mohammad the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp). You wasted what was obligated over you of knowing the Right of Ali Bin Abi Talib The Saint of Allah. Yet you were committed to what Allah forbade you to do of following the enemies of Allah. Even if your worship was the worship of eternity since the beginning of time till the end and your charities were in the amount of all the wealth of Donia (Earthly Life) and the weight of Earth in gold, it would only push you farther away from the mercy of Allah and closer to the discontentment of Allah”[3]

* Mohammad bin Jareer Al-Tabari states in Dala’il Al-Imam Book:Reported from Mohammad bin Sadaka that he went to Imam Rida (Pbuh). So Imam (Pbuh) said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah, Ali, Fatima, Hassan, Hussein, Ali Bin Al-Hussein, Mohammad, Jaa’far and my father (Pbut) in my sleep as they were speaking to Allah. So I said: “O Allah” then the Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) brought me closer and made me sit between him and Ameer El-Mo’mineen and told me: “ I see my descendent since the beginning of time a right guide for the inhabitants of the sky and land. Congratulations to who knew him with the true right knowledge. I swear to He who split the seed and drove the wind, whoever knows him is better than a close angel and every messenger prophet. I swear to Allah, they are with the messengers at their ranks.” Then Imam (Pbuh) told Mohammad: “Congratulations to who knew Mohammad and Ali, and Wayl (Valley in Hell) to he went astray away from them. Hell is enough fire for them.” [4]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:Reported from Zurara that he heard Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) say: “He has an absence era before he rises.” Zurara: “why?” Imam (Pbuh): “he fears” as the Imam was pointing at his abdomen. Then Imam (Pbuh) said: “O Zurara, he is Al-Montazar (The Awaited). He is the one who people doubt his birth. Some say: “His father died and didn’t beget any child.” Some say: “His father died when he was still a fetus.” Some say: “He was born before his father’s death in two years.” He is the Al-Montazar, yet Allah intends to try the followers (Shiites). Only then the false ones doubt.” Zurara: “May I be sacrificed for your sake, what shall I do if I were at that time?” Imam (Pbuh): “ O Zurara, if you were at that time, supplicate with these words: “O Allah, allow me to know Your Self, for that if You didn’t allow me to know Your Self I will not know Your prophet. O Allah, allow me to know Your messenger, for that if You didn’t allow me to know Your messenger I will not know Your Argument. O Allah, allow me to know Your argument, for that if You didn’t allow me to know Your argument I will lose my faith.” Then Imam (Pbuh) said: “ O Zurara, it is a must that a young man shall be murdered in Al-Madina.” Zurara: “May I be sacrificed for your sake, will the army of Al-Sufyani kill him?” Imam (Pbuh): “The Army of the sons of “man” will kill him. When the army reaches Al-Madina they will kill him. As they will kill him out of injustice and transgression, they will not be given time. Only then you can expect Al-Faraj “The Advent”[5]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:Reported from Is’haq bin Ghalib from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) in a speech for him about the Imams and their description: “Allah clarified His religion by the Imams of Guidance that are from the household of our prophet, by them He showed His way, by them He opened the hidden springs of His knowledge. So he who is from the nation of Mohammad and knows the obligation of the Right of his Imam shall taste the sweetness of his faith and shall realize the virtue of his accepted Islam. It is that Allah made the Imam as a Banner above his creatures and the argument over his realms. Allah crowned him with the crown of Veneration and covered him with the Divine Light of the All Mighty. He reaches the sky and encompasses every realm. Nothing can be earned from Allah but by his ways and Allah never accepts the deeds of the servants but by knowing him. He is well aware of the confusions of darkness, the blindness of the ways, and the allegorical matters of the turmoil. Allah will still choose from the descendents of Al-Hussein (Pbuh) Imam after Imam. He chooses them for this and accepts them for His creatures and contents them. Each one of them is an Imam, a clear banner, a bright guide, valuable Imam, and a knowledgeable argument. They are the Imams sent by Allah. They guide with truth and right and they are just. The arguments of Allah, the callers for Him and His caretakers of His creatures. The servants find faith by their guidance. The lands are enlightened with their divine light and livelihood grows by their blessings. Allah made them the eye of life for humans, the lanterns of the darkness, the keys of speech and the pillars of Islam. By that, the statements of Allah were accomplished precisely through them.

The Imam is the chosen, the guide and the pleaded. Allah chosen him for this and created him precisely for this since the Atom Realm, among humans and a shadow on the right of the throne. He is flowed with the wisdom of the world of the unseen. Allah chose him for His knowledge and purity. The remainder from Adam, the best of descendents of Nouh, the chosen one of AL Ibrahim, the ancestry of Ismaeel and the Elite from the household of Mohammad (Pbuhp). The Imam is always watched by the eye of Allah taking care of him and covering him. Iblees and his soldiers are kept away from him. The darkness of the night and the whispers of hypocrites are held back from him. He is protected from the accusations of evil, free of flaws, and veiled from illness. He never mistakes and is never touched by any obscenity. He is known with his forbearance, righteousness, chastity, knowledge and virtue. He always follows the orders of his father, never speaks (out of desires) all his life.

When the duration of his father ends as Allah wills and when the divine will states that he is the loved one and he is the one after his father. Allah then gives him the keys of His religion and makes his the argument over His servants and custodian in His lands. So Allah aids him with His Soul, grants him His Knowledge, informs him with the proofs of His verdicts, entrusts him with His secrets, chooses him to accomplish His commands, informs him with the proofs of His Knowledge, makes him the banner above his creatures, argument over the inhabitants of His realm, Light for the people of His religion, and the headmaster over His servants. Allah accepted him as the Imam for them, entrusted him with His secret, placed His knowledge in him and hid His Wisdom in him. Allah made him the caretaker of His Religion, chose him for His Great Matter, revived by him the ways that lead to Him along with His obligations and boundaries. So he rises with justice when the ignorant people are perplexed; with the bright light, the beneficial remedy, the shining right, the way out of every problem that follows the true path that his honest parents had walked. So none is ignorant the right of this knowledgeable Imam but the miserable, none denies it but the one following desires and none blocks people from reaching him but the arrogant over Allah All Mighty.”[6] 

* Mohammad bin Mas’oud Al-Ayashi states in his Tafseer:Reported from Soma’a bin Mahran that he said: “I asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) about the saying of Allah {let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.} [7] “ Imam (Pbuh) said: “The righteous work is knowing the Imams” and {in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner.} is yielding for Ali and never admit any partner for him in his custodianship; a partner who is not worthy of this rank.” [8]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Sadouq states in Thawab Al-A’mal:Reported from Maysara that he said: “I was at Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh) along with around fifty men in the tent. Then he sat after a long silence of us and said: “What is wrong with you? Do you think that I’m the prophet of Allah? I swear to Allah, I’m not that. Yet I’m a descendent and a relative of the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp). Allah aids who followed us, He loves who love us, He forbids who forbade us. Do you know what the best land in the sight of Allah is?” None spoke a word, and then he replied to himself and said: “It is Sacred Makka that Allah accepted it as a sanctum of His and placed his home in it.” Then Imam (Pbuh) said: “Do you know which site of it the most sacred is in the sight of Allah?” None spoke a word and he replied to himself: “the sacred mosque.” Then he said: “Do you know which site of the mosque the most sacred is in the sight of Allah?” none spoke a word and he replied to himself: “It is between the black pillar, the shrine and the door of Al-Kaa’ba. It is the Hateem of Ismaeel (pbuh). It is where he used to push his sheep away and pray. I swear to Allah, if a servant stood there, prayed all night till the morning then fasts all day till the night yet he didn’t know our rights and sacredness us AL Mohammad, Allah never accepts a thing from him.” [9]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Moufeed states in Al-Amali Book: Reported from Abdelrahman bin Abi Layla from Imam Hussein Bin Ali (Pbuh) that the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) said: “Bind yourselves to loving us. For that he who meets Allah loving us shall go to heaven by our intercession. I swear to he who holds my soul in his hand, no servant benefits from his work but by knowing us.” [10]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:Reported from Maqran that he heard Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) say: “ Ibn Al-Kawaa’ went to Ameer Elmo’mineen (Pbuh) and said: “O Ameer Elmo’mineen {on Al-A’raf (Heights) are men who know everyone by their marks}” Imam said: “we are on Al-A’raf. We know our advocators by their marks. We are Al-A’raf as no one can know Allah but by the way of knowing us. We are Al-A’raf, Allah places us on Al-A’raf on Resurrection Day and so none goes to heaven except who knew us and we knew him and none goes to hell except who denied us and we denied him. If Allah willed, he would have allowed all the servants to know him. Yet He made us as his doors, path, way and the face that leads to Him. So whoever pledges loyalty to other than us and prefers others over us {they will fall from the Sirat} people followed who can’t be compared to us. People went for springs of brackish water that eat out of each other and people went for us for springs of pure water that flow by the permission of its Lord. It won’t stop nor end.” [11]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Abi Salama from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that he said: “We are the ones whom Allah obligated obeying them. The only way for people is by knowing us and there is no excuse for anyone who didn’t know us. The believer is he who knows us. The infidel is he who denies us. Who don’t know us and don’t deny us are the stray people unless they go back to the guidance of obeying us that Allah obligated. If they die when still stray, Allah deals with him in the way He pleases.” [12]

* Mohammad bin Jareer Al-Tabari states in Nawadir Al-Mojizat Book:Reported from Salman in a long narration reporting from Ameer Elmo’mineen (Pbuh) that he said: “O Salman, woe is to he who don’t know us by the right knowledge and deny our Wilaya (Divine Guardianship). O Salman, who is better Mohammad (Pbuhp) or Suleiman bin Dawood?” Salman: “Mohammad (Pbuhp)” Imam: “O Salman, Asaf bin Barkhia was able to bring the throne of Balqueess from Yemen to the Home of Holiness in a blink. He had knowledge from the book. How can I not have the ability to do this and I have the knowledge of one hundred and twenty four books. Allah descended fifty messages to Sheeth the son of Adam (pbuh), thirty messages to Idreess (pbuh), twenty messages to Nouh (pbuh), twenty messages to Ibrahim (pbuh), and Tawrat, Injeel, Zabour and Furqan.” Salman said: “you said the truth O Master. This is how the Imam is.”

Imam (Pbuh) said: “O Salman, know that he who doubts our matters and knowledge is like he who doubts knowing us and doubts our rights. Allah obligated loyalty to us in His Book and clarified what people should work with and it is veiled.” [13][14]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from AbdelKhaliq Al-Saqeel that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) about the saying of Allah: {he who enters it shall be safe} Imam said: “You asked about a matter that none asked me about it except whom Allah willed to. He who came to this house knowing that it is the house that Allah ordered him to come to and he knew us Ahlul-Bayt with the true right knowledge shall be safe in the Earthly World and the Hereafter.” [15]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:Reported from Ali bin Abdel-Azeez from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that he said: “He who looks at the Kaa’ba knowing it and regarded our rights and sacredness like he knows the rights and sacredness of it, Allah shall remit all his sins and free him from concerns burdens in the Earthly World and the Hereafter.” [16]  

* Tafseer Al-Imam Al-Askari (Pbuh): Imam Ali Bin Al-Hussein (Pbuh) said: “Allah inspired Moussa (pbuh) with: “Endear me to my creatures and endear my creatures to me.” Moussa: “How can I do this, O Lord?” Allah: “Remind them with my blessings and bounties so that they love me. Bringing back a servant that ran far from my door, or a stray man that is away from my yard is better for you than worshiping for hundred years fasting its days and praying its night.” Moussa: “Who is the servant that runs away from you?” Allah: “The disobedient rebellious servant.” Moussa: “who is the stray servant away from your yard?” Allah: “The one ignorant of the Imam of his time, he doesn’t follow him after you let him know. Also he is ignorant of the laws of his religions and after you let him know, he doesn’t worship his lord by it nor seeks his contentment.” [17]

* Mohammad bin Masoud Al-Ayashi states in his Tafseer:Reported from Ali bin Abdelazeez that he told Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh): “May I be sacrificed for your sake, Allah said {Clear signs the Shrine of Ibrahim, Whoever enters it shall be safe} yet Morjia, Qadaria, Harouria, Zindeeqs that don’t believe in Allah enter it.” Imam said: “No, they don’t have the dignity to earn this.” He: “ May I be sacrificed for your sake, then who?” Imam: “He who enters it knowing our rights as he knows it, shall leave with his sins permitted and free of burdens in the Earthly World and the Hereafter.” [18]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Fadeel bin Yasar that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) about the saying of Allah {On the day when we call upon every nation with their Imam}. Imam: “O Fadeel, know your Imam. For that If you know your Imam this day will not harm you if it was delayed or forwarded. He who knows his Imam and dies before the time of Imam Zaman is considered as if he was one among his army, even more as one under his banner.” He said: “ some of his companions said: “considered as if he martyred under the banner of the Messenger of Allah.”[19]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Tobrosi states in Tafseer Mo’jam Al-Bayan: Reported from Minhal Al-Qassab that he told Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh): “Ask Allah to grant me Martyrdom.” Imam: “he who knows among you this matter, waits for it and expects goodness in it is like who strove under the lead of Al-Qa’im of AL Mohammad (Pbuh) with his sword.” Then Imam said: “I swear to Allah, he is like who fought under the lead of the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) with his sword.” Then for a third time he said: “I swear to Allah, yet he who martyred under the lead of the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) in his tent. There is a verse in the book of Allah that talks about you.” He said: “which verse? May I be sacrificed for your sake.” Imam: “It is what Allah said {those who believe in Allah and His Messengers, they are the sincere saints and the martyrs and witnesses in the sight of their Lord} then Imam said: “I swear to Allah, you are now Honest and witnesses in the sight of your Lord.”[20]

* Al-Allama Al-Majlisi states in Al-Bihar Book: Reported from Dawood Al-Riqqi that he came to Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) and told him: “May I be sacrificed for your sake. {I shall forgive he who repented, believed, and did righteous acts then followed guidance} what is this guidance that is after repentance, believing, and righteous acts?” Imam: “I swear to Allah, it is knowing the Imam, one after another.[21]

* Mohammad bin Masoud Al-Ayashi states in his Tafseer Book: Reported from Zurara, Himran and Mohammad bin Muslim from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh). They asked him about the saying of Allah: {O You who believed, adopt peace unanimously}. Imam (Pbuh) said: “they were ordered to know us.”[22]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: reported from Zaid Al-Shaham that Qutada bin Da’ama once went to Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh). Imam: “O Qutada, are you the scholastic reference of Kufa?” He: “This is what they claim.” Imam: “I’ve been notified that you explain Quran.” He: “yes.” Imam (Pbuh): “Do you explain it with knowledge or out of ignorance?” He: “No, with knowledge.” Imam (Pbuh): “If you really explain it with knowledge, then I will ask you.” He: “ask.” Imam: “tell me about the saying of Allah about Sabaa’ {We had appointed stages of journey in due proportion: “Travel therein, secure, by night and by day.”} Qutada: “this verse talks about people who leave their homes with lawful supplies, lawful carriage and cattle seeking this house. These people will be secure until they come back to their families.” Imam (Pbuh): “don’t you know that there are people who leave their homes with lawful supplies and lawful cattle and carriages seeking this house, yet their way is cut off, their supplies are stolen and even more they are beaten.” Qutada: “yes.” Imam: “How dare you Qutada. If you explain Quran out of your own thoughts then you are doomed and you doomed other. If you explain Quran using the explanations of men then you are doomed and you doomed others. How dare you Qutada? This verse talks about who leave their homes with lawful supplies and lawful carriages and cattle seeking this house but knowing our rights with his heart loving us. As Allah said: {allow the hearts of some people lean towards them} Allah didn’t mean the house and said {towards it}. I swear to Allah we are the ones whom Ibrahim call for. He whose heart loves us shall have his pilgrimage accepted or else no. O Qutada, if one was like that then he will be secure from torment of Hell on Resurrection Day.” Qutada: “I swear to Allah, this is the true explanation.” Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh): “O Qutada, none knows Quran but who was spoken to with Quran.” [23]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Toussi states in Al-Amali: Reported from Abad bin Moussa Al-Sabati that he said: “ I told Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh): “Abou Omaya Yousuf bin Thabet said that you said: “no deed can harm along with faith and no deed can benefit along with infidelity.” Imam (Pbuh): “Abou Omaya didn’t ask me about its explanation. What I meant by this is that one must know the Imam of AL Mohammad (Pbut) and pledge loyalty to him. Then he has to do righteous acts so that they are accepted and multiplied for him. You benefit from the righteous acts only when you have knowledge. According to the same concept, Allah doesn’t accept the righteous acts of people who pledge loyalty to the Unjust Imam that Allah didn’t assign.”

Then Abdellah bin abi Yafour told him: “didn’t Allah say {he who does good shall receive better than it, and they will be secure from the horror of that day} so how does the righteous act of who was loyal to the unjust Imam doesn’t benefit him? Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) said: “do you know what righteous act Allah meant in that verse? I swear to Allah, it is knowing the Imam and obeying him. Allah said: {He who comes with the sin shall be thrown on his face in hell. Will you be rewarded not but what you were doing?} [24] The sin that Allah meant is denying the Imam whom Allah assigned.”

Then Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh): “he who comes on Resurrection Day with loyalty on an unjust Imam, denying our rights and not loyal to us; Allah will throw him on Resurrection Day in Hell.” [25]

* Nahej Al-Balagha for Ameer Elmo’mineen: In a long lecture that he gave, he said at its end: “Stay on the ground, endure the afflictions, don’t yield your swords and raise your hands according to your tongue’s desires. Don’t rush for what Allah didn’t hasten for you. It is that he who dies on his bed among you, yet he knows the rights of his lord, his Messenger and his household shall die as a witness and Allah is the one responsible for his reward. He will earn what was he intending to do of good. His intention will be regarded as if he fought with his sword. For every matter there is an appointed time and duration.”   [26]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Sadouq states in Thawab Al-A’mal: Reported from Jaber from Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh) that he said: “he who doesn’t know the harm that we suffered from injustice against us and wasting our rights and what we suffered of afflictions then he is the partner of those who disobeyed us.” [27] 

*Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Ammar Al-Sabati that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) about the saying of Allah: {is he who follows the contentment of Allah similar to the one who draws on himself the wrath of Allah, who is to abide in Hell and reach the worst of fate# They are in various ranks in the sight of Allah}. Imam (Pbuh) said: “The ones who followed the contentment of Allah are the Imams. I swear to Allah, O Ammar, they are the ranks for the believers. By loyalty to us and knowing us Allah multiplies their deeds and raises them to the highest ranks.”[28] 

* Al-Sheikh Al-Sadouq states in Al-Amali Book: Mohammad bin Yaqoub Al-Nahshali reported from Imam Ali Bin Moussa Al-Rida from his father Moussa Bin Jaa’far from his father Jaa’far Bin Mohammad from his father Mohammad Bin Ali from his father Ali Bin Al-Hussein from his father Al-Hussein Bin Ali from his father Ali Bin Abi Talib (Pbut) from the Prophet (Pbuhp) from Jibraeel from Mikaeel from Israfeel from Allah that he said: “ I’m Allah, there is no god but Me. I created the creatures with my power. Then I chose whom I please to be my prophets. Then I chose from them Mohammad to be my loved and chosen one. So I sent him as a messenger to my creatures. Then I chose Ali for him to be his brother, custodian, minister, caretaker of my creatures after him and successor over my servants. So that he clarifies my book to them, rules among them according to my judgments. I made him the banner the guides away from delusion, my door that leads to me, my house that he who enters it shall be secure for my fire, my fortress that he who seeks him shall be protected from misfortune in the Earthly World and the Hereafter, my face that he who turns to it I shall never turn my face away from him, and my argument in the skies and lands over who dwells them of my creatures. I never accept the deeds of anyone only if he is loyal to him and he admits the prophecy of Ahmad my messenger. He is my outstretched hand to my servants. He is the bounties that I bestow upon whom I loved among my servants. I only allow whom I love and take care of among my servants to be loyal to him and to know him. I hate the ones I hate among my servants because they forwent knowing him and being loyal to him. I swear to my Glory and Honor, I shall push away from my fire and lead to heaven he who is loyal to Ali and I hate and throw in hell and to the worst of fate he who detests him and pledges loyalty to other than him,”[29]

* Sharaf Al-Deen Al-Husseiny states in Ta’weel Al-Ayat: Reported from Suleiman bin Khaled that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) about the saying of Allah {we have no one interceders # nor intimate friends}[30] Imam said: “this is when these people see us intercede for our followers on Resurrection day. They will say {we have neither interceders # nor intimate friends} what is meant by ‘friend’ is that they know us, and what is meant by ‘intimate’ is that they are related to us.” [31]

* Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Qummi states in his Tafseer Book: Reported from Abou Baseer from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that he said about the saying of Allah {freeing a neck}[32] “by us men are freed and by knowing us. We are the ones feeding other on the day of hunger we {are the generous}[33].[34]

* Al-Allama Al-Majlisi states in Al-Bihar Book: Reported from Mohammad bin Sanan that he said that he was with Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh) and he mentioned the disputes that are among the Shiites. So Imam said: “Allah is single solely in His Monotheism. Then Allah created Mohammad, Ali, and Fatima (Pbuh) and they lived for a thousand eras. Then Allah created the matters and made them witness its creation and ordered everything to obey them and made them as He pleases. He made them responsible for judgment, guidance, commands, and prohibitions over the creatures. Because they are the guardians so they control, command and guide. They are His doors, His successors and His Mirrors. They decide what is lawful and what is not lawful. They establish nothing but Allah’s will {Honored servants, they don’t precede him with speech and they act by His command}[35] They are the boundaries that he who crosses it shall drawn in the sea of extremism and he who undervalues them from the ranks that Allah placed them in shall be doomed in the lands of negligence as he didn’t fulfill the right of AL Mohammad that is on the believer to know them.” Then Imam said: “O Mohammad, take it. For that it is from the profound safes of knowledge.” [36]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Sadouq states in Ma’ani Al-Akhbar: Reported from Al-Moufaddal bin Amr that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) about Al-Sirat (The Path). Imam: “It is the way to knowing Allah. There are two paths one in the Earthly World and one in the Hereafter. As for the path that is in the Earthly World, it is the Imam who obeying him is an obligation. He who knows him in the Earthly World and follows his guidance attains the ability to walk on The Path that is a bridge over Hell in the Hereafter. He who doesn’t know him shall slip on The Path in the Hereafter and fall into the fire of Hell.” [37]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Al-Alaa’ bin Sayaba from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that he said about the saying of Allah {This is the Quran, It guides to the (way) that is most straight}[38] “It guides to the Imam.” [39]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Suleiman bin Khalid that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) about the saying of Allah {Then we gave the book for inheritance to the ones we have chosen from among our servants} Imam: “what do you say about this verse?” He: “It talks about the descendents of Fatima.” Imam: “it is not what you thought. He who wields his swords and lead people to disputes is not among who are meant by this verse.” He: who is the {Unjust to himself}? Imam: “he who stays at his home and doesn’t know his Imam. The {straight} is the one who knows the rights of his Imam. The {ancient in doing good}[40] is the Imam.”[41]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Abdelrahman bin Katheer from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that he said that Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh) said that once Abou Abdellah Al-Jadli came to Ameer Elmo’mineen so he (Pbuh) said: “O Abou Abdellah, shall I tell you about the saying of Allah {He does a good deed shall receive better than it. They will be secure from the horror of that day # He who comes with the sin shall be thrown on his face in hell. Will you be rewarded not but what you were doing?}” [42]He: “Yes, O Ameer Elmo’mineen. May I be sacrificed for you sake.” Imam: “the good deed in loyalty to us and loving us. The sin is denying loyalty to us and detesting us Ahlul-Bayt. Then Imam recited this verse to him. [43]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Abou Baseer from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that he said about the saying of Allah {He who is granted wisdom, is granted overflowing goodness}[44] “Obeying Allah and Knowing the Imam.” [45]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Abi Obayda Al-Hathaa’ that he said that –in a long narration- Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh): “ {they find him written in Tawrat and Injeel} meaning the Prophet (Pbuh) and Imam Al-Qa’im {commands them virtues} when he rises and {prohibits them from vice} that is denying the virtue of the Imam {makes lawful for them what is good and pure} meaning learning knowledge from its people {makes not lawful for them what is wicked} wickedness are the sayings of the opposers. {Remove their burdens from over them} that are the sins that they were in before knowing the virtue of the Imam {and the chains that were around them} the chains are what they used to say of denying the virtue of the Imam unlike what they were ordered. So when they knew the virtue of the Imam, he removed their burdens which are the sins. Then Allah related them to the Imam and said {who believed in him} meaning the Imam {aided him, advocated him and followed the Divine Light that descended with him. These are who will attain success} meaning that they avoided Jibt and Taghout and didn’t worship them. Jibt and Taghout are man and man and man. Worshiping them means obeying them.” Then Imam said: {return back to your Lord and surrender to him}[46] then Allah rewarded them and said {they will receive glad tidings in Earthly World and Hereafter}[47]. The Imam delivers to them glad tidings of the Rise of Al-Qa’im, his advent, him killing their enemies, and salvation in the Hereafter and coming to Mohammad and his Honest Household (Pbut) at the Hawd (Holy Fount)” [48] 

* Al-Sheikh Al-Toussi states in Ilal Al-Sharai: Reported from Salama bin Ata from Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that Imam Hussein (Pbuh) told his companions: “Allah has created the beings to know him, and if they knew him, they would worship him, and if they worshiped him, they would let go of everything else but him.” One asked Imam Hussein (Pbuh): “O the son of the messenger of Allah, how can we know Allah Almighty?” Imam: “By knowing and obeying the Imam of your time.[49]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:  Reported from Jaber that he said:” I heard Imam Abou Jaa’far (Pbuh) say:” The one who knows and worships Allah Almighty is who knows Allah and his Imam who is from us Ahlul-Bayt. He who does not know Allah and the Imam who is from us Ahlul-Bayt, knows and worships someone other than Allah under delusion; by Allah, this is how it is.” [50]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:  Reported from Al-hareth bin Al-mogheera that he said:” I said to Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) that the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) said:’ Whoever died without knowing his Imam, died a death of ignorance?’ He said:” yes” I said:” Is it just ignorance or is it ignorance of not knowing his Imam?” He said:” It is the ignorance of disbelief, hypocrisy, and delusion.” [51] 

* The Book of Saleem Bin Qays:  Reported from him that he told Abu Thar:” May Allah have mercy on you! Tell me about the strangest matter which the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) said about Ali Bin Abi Talib (Pbuh). He said:” I heard the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) say:’ Allah still holds Ali as an argument in every nation that had a prophet; the one that has the most knowledge about Ali has the greatest rank in the sight of Allah”…[52]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:  Reported from Zurara that Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) said:”Know your Imam, for when you know him, it never harms you if this matter has been forwarded or has been delayed.” [53]

* Sharaf Al-Deen Al-Husseiny states in Ta’weel Al-Ayat: Reported from Al-Moufaddal bin Amr: One day, I met Imam Al-Sadiq (pbuh) who said to me: “O Moufaddal! Have you acknowledged the true reality of Mohammad, Ali, Fatima, Hassan and Hussein?” I said: “What is their true reality? O Master!” He said: “O Moufaddal! It is to acknowledge that they are a matter beyond all creations beside the Green Heaven (Al-Rawda Al-Khadraa); hence, whoever acknowledged their true reality is a believer in the Higher Realm (Al-Sanam Al-Aala).” I said: “Tell me how. O Master!” He said: “O Moufaddal, it is to acknowledge that they know all what Allah Almighty has created, brought to life, and called into existence; to acknowledge that they are the Word of Piousness and the treasurers of Skies, Earth, mountains, lands and seas. It is to acknowledge that they know how many stars and angels are in the skies, how much the mountains weigh and how much water are in the seas, rivers, and springs and that they know every leaf that falls. {Every leaf falls but; Every grain in the darkness of the earth, everything fresh and withered is inscribed in a clear book.} [54] All of this is in their knowledge and they know all of it.” I said: “O Master! I have acknowledged, admitted, and believed in it.” He said: “Indeed, O Moufaddal, O dignified, O knowledgeable, O kind-hearted. You are so kind. Shall Heaven be yours and for every believer in this.” [55]     

* Al-Sheikh Al-Toussi states in Al-Amali Book: Reported from Zar’a that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) “what is the better good deed after the knowledge?” Imam: “verily, there is nothing after the knowledge that is equivalent to this Prayer (Salat), nothing after the knowledge and the prayer is equivalent to Regular Charity (Al-Zakat), after that nothing is equivalent to fasting, nothing after that is equivalent to pilgrimage (Hajj), and the beginning of all these is Knowing us and the end of all these is knowing us... [56]

* Mohammad Bin Al-Hassan Al-Safar states in Basa’er Al-Darajat:  Reported from Abel-Alaa that Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) said: “No prophet has been given prophecy, except when given knowledge of our right and superiority over others.” [57]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Sadouq states in Al-Amali Book:Reported from Abi Qudama Al-Fadani that the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) said:” Whoever has been bestowed upon with the knowledge of my household and loyalty to them, Allah has gathered all godsend for him.” [58]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book:  Reported from Moawia bin Ammar that Imam Abou Abdellah(Pbuh) said, explaining the saying of Allah Almighty:{Al-Asmaa Al-Hosna (The Most Excellent Names) are for Allah, so call him by it.} [59]“By Allah, we are the Most Excellent Names of Allah; no deed is accepted by Allah, except by Knowing us.” [60]

* Ahmad bin Mohammad bin Khalid Al-Barqy states in Al-Mahasin Book:  Reported from Mo’ala bin Khuneis that Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) said: “O Mo’ala, If a servant worshiped Allah one hundred years between the Pillar and Platform (of Ibrahim), fasting all day and praying all night until his eyebrows fall on his eyes and his bones weaken and shorten due to his senility yet has no knowledge of our right, shall not have any rewards.” [61]

* Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Qummi states in his Tafseer Book: Reported from Dawood bin Katheer that Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh) said, explaining the saying of Allah Almighty:{Tell those who have knowledge to forgive those who don’t plead for the Days of Allah.} [62]“Tell those whom we bestowed upon them knowing us to forgive those who don’t have knowledge; for when they allow them to know us, they have forgiven them.” [63]

* Al-Hafith Rajab Al-Barsy states in Mashareq Anwar Al-Yaqeen: Reported from Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) said: “Allah torments mankind just because of the sins of the scholars who conceal the truth of the virtues of Ali and his household (Pbut). Indeed! No one has walked the earth, after prophets and messengers, better than the followers and lovers of Ali who reveal and spread out his virtues. Those are the ones whom are embraced by mercy and for whom angels pray for forgiveness. The Wayl (Valley in Hell) and all its torment is for those who conceal his virtues and his matter. How patiently are they awaiting Hell!” [64]    

* Tafseer Al-Imam Al-Askari (Pbuh): He (Pbuh) said that Imam Al-Hassan Bin Ali (Pbuh) said: “Mohammad and Ali are the fathers of this nation. Thus, Touba (Bliss) is for he who knows their rights and obeys them in every condition of his. Allah shall make him of the highest people of His Heaven and shall delight them by His bestowments and contentment.”[65]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini sates in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Abu Baseer that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh): “Will I live to see Imam Al-Qa’im?” Imam: “O Abu Baseer! Don’t you know your Imam?” He said: “Indeed! I swear to Allah I do! You are him!” Then, he held his hand. Imam: “I swear to Allah! O Abu Baseer, have no worries, you shall be blessed when you will hold your sword under the command of Al-Qa’im(Pbuh).” [66]

* Al-Sheikh Al-Kulaini states in Al-Kafi Book: Reported from Abu Baseer that he asked Imam Abou Abdellah (Pbuh):” May I be sacrificed for your sake! When is the Salvation?” He said:” O Abu Baseer, are you of those who desire this earthly world? He who knew this matter has attained Salvation by awaiting it.” [67]

* Ibn Abi Al-Fateh Al-Irbili states in Kashef Al-Ghumma: Reported from Abu Hashem that he said:” I was at Abu Mohammad’s house ‘Imam Hassan Al-Askari (Pbuh)’ when Mohammad bin Saleh Al-Armani asked about this saying of Allah: {When your Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants, and made them testify and be witnesses of themselves: “Am I not your Lord?”- They said: “Yes! We do testify!} [68] Imam Abu Mohammad (Pbuh) said:” The Knowledge remained and they forgot that event. They will remember it. If it didn’t happen, no one would have known who is his Creator neither his Bestower.” So, Abu Hashem said: “I wondered to myself about this greatness that Allah gave His custodian (Waly) and the great matters that He let him hold.” Thus, Imam Abu Mohammad (Pbuh) approached him and said: “This matter is more wondrous and greater than what you wondered about, O Abu Hashem! What would you think about persons, he who knew them knew Allah and he who denied them denied Allah! Thus, there isn’t a believer who doesn’t believe in them and doesn’t have certain knowledge of them.” [69]