Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa from Ali ibn al- Ni'man from Sayf ibn 'Umayr from those whom he mentioned from al-Harith ibn al-Mughira al-Nasri who has
said the following.
"A person asked Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, "Everything will be destroyed except God. . . ." (28:88) The Imam (a.s.) asked, "What do
they say about it?" I replied, "They say that everything will perish except the face of Allah."
The Imam (a.s.) said, "Glory belongs to Allah. What they say is monstrous. What is meant thereby is that aspect of Allah's relation with people through which (persons of highest degree of
excellence) they establish faith in Him."
H 354, Ch. 23, h 2
A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Safwan al-Jammal from Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) the following.
"I asked Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, "Everything will be destroyed except God. . . ." (28:88) The Imam (a.s.) said, "It means whoever
comes to Allah through obeying His commandments, i.e. following Prophet Muhammad (s.a.) is the face (the aspect of Allah's relation with people) of Allah that does not perish. So also is His
words, "One who obeys the Messenger has certainly obeyed God . . ." (4:80).
H 355, Ch. 23, h 3
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn 'Isa from Muhammad ibn Sinan from abu Salam al-Khannas from some of our people from Imam abu Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the
following.
"We (family of Prophet Muhammad) are the al-Mathani (one of two) that Allah gave to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.). We are the Wajhullah (face of Allah, meaning a certain aspect of Allah's
relation with people) that move among you on earth.
We are the eyes of Allah (overseers or observers from the side of Allah) in His creatures. We are the hands of Allah that are open with blessings for His servants. Those who wanted to know
us have known us. There are people who are ignorant about us they are ignorant of us and of the leadership of the pious people."
H 356, Ch. 23, h 4
Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Ash'ari and Muhammad ibn Yahya altogether have narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Su'dan ibn Muslim from Mu'awiya ibn 'Ammar from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said
the following about the words of Allah.
"God has the most blessed Names. You should address Him in your worship by these Names . . ." (7:180) The Imam said, "We, I swear by Allah, are the most blessed names of Allah without which
Allah does not accept any of the good deeds of His servants until they know us properly."
H 357, Ch. 23, h 5
Muhammad ibn abu 'Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Isma'il has narrated from al-Husayn ibn al-Hassan from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Hassan ibn Sa'id from al-Haytham ibn 'Abdallah from Marwan ibn
Salih who has said that Imam abu 'Abdallah has said the following.
"Allah created us and made it well. He gave us our form and formed it well. He made us His eyes among His servants and His speaking tongue in His creatures. He made us His open hands over
His servants with kindness and mercy.
He has made us his face through which He is approached and his door that shows the way leading to Him. He made us His treasurers in the heavens and on earth. Through us the trees give fruit
and the fruits ripen and the canals flow. Through us the skies send rain and plants grow on earth. Through our worship Allah is worshipped and were we not there Allah would not have been
worshipped."
H 358, Ch. 23, h 6
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Bazi'a from his uncle, Hamza ibn Bazi'a from abu 'Abdallah (a.s.) who has said the following about
the words of Allah.
"When they invoked Our anger, (43:54). We took revenge on them . . ." (43:55). "Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, does not become frustrated the way we do. But He has created friends for
his-Own-self who become frustrated and at times happy. They are created. They worship (Allah). He has designed their happiness to be His Own happiness and their anger as His-Own
anger.
It is because He has assigned them to guide people to Him and serve as proof of His existence. For this reason such conditions belong to them. This does not reach Allah the way it reaches
people. The meaning is what just mentioned. He has also said, "Whoever would humiliate My friends such people have declared war against Me with challenge."
He has also said, "One who obeys the Messenger has certainly obeyed God. . . ." (4:80). "Those who pledge obedience to you are, in fact, pledging obedience to God. The hands of God are
above their hands. . . ." (48:10). All of these and other similar ones mean what I just said. The same is the case with anger and happiness and other such matters. Had it been possible for
frustration and anger to reach Allah one could have said that one-day Allah will banish altogether. It is because if anger and frustration would reach Him changes also would take place in Him
and, thus, He will not remain safe from banishment.
As a result, there would exist no distinction between the created and the Creator, between the Almighty and those subject to such might and power. No distinction would remain between the
created and the Creator. Allah is far above such things, and is the Most High and Most Great. He is the Creator of all things not because he needed them. If it would be without the need then it
would be impossible to limit Him with limits and conditions. Note this if Allah would will it to be so."
H 359, Ch. 23, h 7 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Muhammad ibn Humran from Aswad ibn Sa'id who has said the following. "I was in the presence
of Imam abu Ja'far (a.s.), who began to speak without any question from me."
"We are the authority of Allah. We are the door to Allah. We are the tongue of Allah. We are the face of Allah. We are the eyes of Allah in His people. We are the authority in the
commandments of Allah among His servants."
H 360, Ch. 23, h 8
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Ahmad ibn abu Nasr from Hassan al-Jammal who has said that Hashim ibn abu 'Ammara al-Janbi reported to him this. "I heard
Amirul Mu'minin Ali (a.s.) saying, 'I am the eyes of Allah. I am the hands of Allah. I am the sides of Allah. I am the door to Allah."
H 361, Ch. 23, h 9
Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Bazi'a from his uncle Hamza ibn Bazi'a from Ali ibn Suwayd from abu al-Hassan Musa ibn Ja'far
(a.s.) who has said the following.
About the words of Allah "Woe to me because of my failure to fulfill my duties from the side of God. . ." (39:56). The Imam (a.s.) said that the side of Allah is Amirul Mu'minin (a.s.) and
so are the successors of the high position until the matters will reach to the last one among them."
H 362, Ch. 23, h 10
Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu'alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Ali ibn al-Salt from al-Hakam and Isma'il sons of Habid from Burayd al-'Ijli who has said the
following.
"I heard Imam abu Ja'far (a.s.) saying, 'Through us Allah is worshipped. Through us Allah is known. Through us belief in the Oneness of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is established.
Muhammad is the Hijab (curtain) of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High."
H 363, Ch. 23, h 11
Some of our people have narrated from Muhammad ibn 'Abdallah from 'Abdal Wahhab ibn Bishr from Musa ibn Qadim from Sulayman from Zurara from abu Ja'far (a.s.) who has said the
following.
"I asked the Imam about the words of Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, "They (children of Israel) did not wrong Us but they wronged themselves." (2:57) The Imam said, "Allah is far Great
and Majestic and Mighty above being wronged. But He has mixed us with His Ownself. He has considered the wrong done to us as being done to Him and His Own authority as our authority as He has
said, "Only God, His Messenger, and the true believers who are steadfast in prayer and pay alms, while they kneel during prayer, are your guardians" (5:55).
It means the Imams from us. Allah has also said, "They (children of Israel) did not wrong Us but wronged themselves. (2:57)" Then he mentioned a similar statement."
