Author: answeringislamblog

SHIAS AND THE TALKING QURAN

In this post I will be citing a slew of reports from al-Kafi, considered one of the premiere Shia hadith collections, which refer to the Quran, its various chapters and verses all appearing and talking on the day of judgment to Allah and those that used to recite them. All emphasis will be mine.

Al-Kāfi – Volume 2

Book 3, Chapter 2

The Excellence of the Carriers of the Holy Quran

Ḥadīth #3: 2031

3 ـ وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَاحِبَهُ فِي صُورَةِ شَابٍّ جَمِيلٍ شَاحِبِ اللَّوْنِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ الْقُرْآنُ أَنَا الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَسْهَرْتُ لَيْلَكَ وَأَظْمَأْتُ هَوَاجِرَكَ وَأَجْفَفْتُ رِيقَكَ وَأَسَلْتُ دَمْعَتَكَ أَؤُولُ مَعَكَ حَيْثُمَا أُلْتَ وَكُلُّ تَاجِرٍ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَتِهِ وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ لَكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ وَسَيَأْتِيكَ كَرَامَةٌ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَأَبْشِرْ فَيُؤْتَى بِتَاجٍ فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَيُعْطَى الأمَانَ بِيَمِينِهِ وَالْخُلْدَ فِي الْجِنَانِ بِيَسَارِهِ وَيُكْسَى حُلَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ اقْرَأْ وَارْقَهْ فَكُلَّمَا قَرَأَ آيَةً صَعِدَ دَرَجَةً وَيُكْسَى أَبَوَاهُ حُلَّتَيْنِ إِنْ كَانَا مُؤْمِنَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُمَا هَذَا لِمَا عَلَّمْتُمَاهُ الْقُرْآنَ.

3. With its chain of narration from Abu Abdillah, he said: The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Learn the Quran, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection to its companion IN THE FORM OF A BEAUTIFUL, PALE YOUNG MAN. The Quran will say to him: “I am the one who kept you awake at night, made you thirsty during the day, dried your saliva, and caused your tears to flow. I will accompany you wherever you go, and every merchant is behind their trade, but today I am behind the trade of every merchant for you, and you will receive an honor from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, so rejoice.” Then a crown will be brought and placed on his head, and he will be given security in his right hand and eternal life in Paradise in his left hand. He will be clothed in two garments, and then it will be said to him: “Recite and ascend,” so with each verse he recites, he will ascend a degree. His parents, if they were believers, will also be clothed in two garments, and it will be said to them: “This is for what you taught him of the Quran.”‘

SAHIH

Ḥadīth #4: 2032

4 ـ ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ مِنْهَالٍ الْقَصَّابِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ وَهُوَ شَابٌّ مُؤْمِنٌ اخْتَلَطَ الْقُرْآنُ بِلَحْمِهِ وَدَمِهِ وَجَعَلَهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ وَكَانَ الْقُرْآنُ حَجِيزاً عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ كُلَّ عَامِلٍ قَدْ أَصَابَ أَجْرَ عَمَلِهِ غَيْرَ عَامِلِي فَبَلِّغْ بِهِ أَكْرَمَ عَطَايَاكَ قَالَ فَيَكْسُوهُ الله الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ حُلَّتَيْنِ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ تَاجُ الْكَرَامَةِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ هَلْ أَرْضَيْنَاكَ فِيهِ فَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ يَا رَبِّ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرْغَبُ لَهُ فِيمَا هُوَ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ هَذَا فَيُعْطَى الأمْنَ بِيَمِينِهِ وَالْخُلْدَ بِيَسَارِهِ ثُمَّ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ اقْرَأْ وَاصْعَدْ دَرَجَةً ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ هَلْ بَلَغْنَا بِهِ وَأَرْضَيْنَاكَ فَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ قَالَ وَمَنْ قَرَأَهُ كَثِيراً وَتَعَاهَدَهُ بِمَشَقَّةٍ مِنْ شِدَّةِ حِفْظِهِ أَعْطَاهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَجْرَ هَذَا مَرَّتَيْنِ.

4. Ibn Mahbub has narrated from Malik ibn ‘Atiyyah from Minhal al-Qassab from Abu ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “If a young believing person reads the Holy Quran, it mixes with his flesh and blood. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will include him among the honorable and virtuous carriers of the message of Allah and on the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will be his supporter. THE HOLY QURAN WILL SAY, ‘O LORD, every worker has received the reward for his deeds except my worker. Provide him the most honorable reward.’ Allah will then dress him with two dresses of paradise and crown him with the crown of honor AND THEN ASK THE HOLY QURAN, ‘DID WE MAKE YOU HAPPY?’ THE HOLY QURAN WILL SAY, ‘LORD, I wished for him better than this.’ Allah will then give peace in his right hand, eternity in his left hand and will say to him read from the Holy Quran one verse and go one degree higher. Then the Holy Quran is asked again, ‘Did we reward him good and make you happy?’ THE HOLY QURAN WILL SAY, ‘YES, LORD.’ “The Imam said, ‘If one reads the Holy Quran very often and faces difficulties to memorize it due to weaker memory, Allah will give him twice as much reward.’”

Book 3, Chapter 1

No name

Ḥadīth #1: 2015

1 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ الْحَرِيرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ الْخَفَّافِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ يَا سَعْدُ تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ نَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا الْخَلْقُ وَالنَّاسُ صُفُوفٌ عِشْرُونَ وَمِائَةُ أَلْفِ صَفٍّ ثَمَانُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ أُمَّةُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَرْبَعُونَ أَلْفَ صَفٍّ مِنْ سَائِرِ الأمَمِ فَيَأْتِي عَلَى صَفِّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِي صُورَةِ رَجُلٍ فَيُسَلِّمُ فَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ نَعْرِفُهُ بِنَعْتِهِ وَصِفَتِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ أَشَدَّ اجْتِهَاداً مِنَّا فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَمِنْ هُنَاكَ أُعْطِيَ مِنَ الْبَهَاءِ وَالْجَمَالِ وَالنُّورِ مَا لَمْ نُعْطَهُ ثُمَّ يُجَاوِزُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ عَلَى صَفِّ الشُّهَدَاءِ فَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَيْهِ الشُّهَدَاءُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله الرَّبُّ الرَّحِيمُ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ نَعْرِفُهُ بِسَمْتِهِ وَصِفَتِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ مِنْ شُهَدَاءِ الْبَحْرِ فَمِنْ هُنَاكَ أُعْطِيَ مِنَ الْبَهَاءِ وَالْفَضْلِ مَا لَمْ نُعْطَهُ قَالَ فَيَتَجَاوَزُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ عَلَى صَفِّ شُهَدَاءِ الْبَحْرِ فِي صُورَةِ شَهِيدٍ فَيَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ شُهَدَاءُ الْبَحْرِ فَيَكْثُرُ تَعَجُّبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ إِنَّ هَذَا مِنْ شُهَدَاءِ الْبَحْرِ نَعْرِفُهُ بِسَمْتِهِ وَصِفَتِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّ الْجَزِيرَةَ الَّتِي أُصِيبَ فِيهَا كَانَتْ أَعْظَمَ هَوْلاً مِنَ الْجَزِيرَةِ الَّتِي أُصِبْنَا فِيهَا فَمِنْ هُنَاكَ أُعْطِيَ مِنَ الْبَهَاءِ وَالْجَمَالِ وَالنُّورِ مَا لَمْ نُعْطَهُ ثُمَّ يُجَاوِزُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ صَفَّ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ فِي صُورَةِ نَبِيٍّ مُرْسَلٍ فَيَنْظُرُ النَّبِيُّونَ وَالْمُرْسَلُونَ إِلَيْهِ فَيَشْتَدُّ لِذَلِكَ تَعَجُّبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ إِنَّ هَذَا النَّبِيَّ مُرْسَلٌ نَعْرِفُهُ بِسَمْتِهِ وَصِفَتِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ أُعْطِيَ فَضْلاً كَثِيراً قَالَ فَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فَيَأْتُونَ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) فَيَسْأَلُونَهُ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ مَنْ هَذَا فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ أَ وَمَا تَعْرِفُونَهُ فَيَقُولُونَ مَا نَعْرِفُهُ هَذَا مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَغْضَبِ الله عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) هَذَا حُجَّةُ الله عَلَى خَلْقِهِ فَيُسَلِّمُ ثُمَّ يُجَاوِزُ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ عَلَى صَفِّ الْمَلائِكَةِ فِي سُورَةِ مَلَكٍ مُقَرَّبٍ فَتَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الْمَلائِكَةُ فَيَشْتَدُّ تَعَجُّبُهُمْ وَيَكْبُرُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِمَا رَأَوْا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ تَعَالَى رَبُّنَا وَتَقَدَّسَ إِنَّ هَذَا الْعَبْدَ مِنَ الْمَلائِكَةِ نَعْرِفُهُ بِسَمْتِهِ وَصِفَتِهِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ أَقْرَبَ الْمَلائِكَةِ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَقَاماً فَمِنْ هُنَاكَ أُلْبِسَ مِنَ النُّورِ وَالْجَمَالِ مَا لَمْ نُلْبَسْ ثُمَّ يُجَاوِزُ حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَيَخِرُّ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ فَيُنَادِيهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَا حُجَّتِي فِي الأرْضِ وَكَلامِيَ الصَّادِقَ النَّاطِقَ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ وَسَلْ تُعْطَ وَاشْفَعْ تُشَفَّعْ فَيَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ فَيَقُولُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كَيْفَ رَأَيْتَ عِبَادِي فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ صَانَنِي وَحَافَظَ عَلَيَّ وَلَمْ يُضَيِّعْ شَيْئاً وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ ضَيَّعَنِي وَاسْتَخَفَّ بِحَقِّي وَكَذَّبَ بِي وَأَنَا حُجَّتُكَ عَلَى جَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ فَيَقُولُ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي وَارْتِفَاعِ مَكَانِي لأثِيبَنَّ عَلَيْكَ الْيَوْمَ أَحْسَنَ الثَّوَابِ وَلأعَاقِبَنَّ عَلَيْكَ الْيَوْمَ أَلِيمَ الْعِقَابِ قَالَ فَيَرْجِعُ الْقُرْآنُ رَأْسَهُ فِي صُورَةٍ أُخْرَى قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ يَرْجِعُ قَالَ فِي صُورَةِ رَجُلٍ شَاحِبٍ مُتَغَيِّرٍ يُبْصِرُهُ أَهْلُ الْجَمْعِ فَيَأْتِي الرَّجُلَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا الَّذِي كَانَ يَعْرِفُهُ وَيُجَادِلُ بِهِ أَهْلَ الْخِلافِ فَيَقُومُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ مَا تَعْرِفُنِي فَيَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فَيَقُولُ مَا أَعْرِفُكَ يَا عَبْدَ الله قَالَ فَيَرْجِعُ فِي صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ فِي الْخَلْقِ الأوَّلِ وَيَقُولُ مَا تَعْرِفُنِي فَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ فَيَقُولُ الْقُرْآنُ أَنَا الَّذِي أَسْهَرْتُ لَيْلَكَ وَأَنْصَبْتُ عَيْشَكَ سَمِعْتَ الأذَى وَرُجِمْتَ بِالْقَوْلِ فِيَّ أَلا وَإِنَّ كُلَّ تَاجِرٍ قَدِ اسْتَوْفَى تِجَارَتَهُ. وَأَنَا وَرَاءَكَ الْيَوْمَ قَالَ فَيَنْطَلِقُ بِهِ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ يَا رَبِّ عَبْدُكَ وَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ قَدْ كَانَ نَصِباً فِيَّ مُوَاظِباً عَلَيَّ يُعَادَى بِسَبَبِي وَيُحِبُّ فِيَّ وَيُبْغِضُ فَيَقُولُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَدْخِلُوا عَبْدِي جَنَّتِي وَاكْسُوهُ حُلَّةً مِنْ حُلَلِ الْجَنَّةَ وَتَوِّجُوهُ بِتَاجٍ فَإِذَا فُعِلَ بِهِ ذَلِكَ عُرِضَ عَلَى الْقُرْآنِ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ هَلْ رَضِيتَ بِمَا صُنِعَ بِوَلِيِّكَ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنِّي أَسْتَقِلُّ هَذَا لَهُ فَزِدْهُ مَزِيدَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ فَيَقُولُ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي وَعُلُوِّي وَارْتِفَاعِ مَكَانِي لأنْحَلَنَّ لَهُ الْيَوْمَ خَمْسَةَ أَشْيَاءَ مَعَ الْمَزِيدِ لَهُ وَلِمَنْ كَانَ بِمَنْزِلَتِهِ أَلا إِنَّهُمْ شَبَابٌ لا يَهْرَمُونَ وَأَصِحَّاءُ لا يَسْقُمُونَ وَأَغْنِيَاءُ لا يَفْتَقِرُونَ وَفَرِحُونَ لا يَحْزَنُونَ وَأَحْيَاءٌ لا يَمُوتُونَ ثُمَّ تَلا هَذِهِ الآيَةَ لا يَذُوقُونَ فِيهَا الْمَوْتَ إِلا الْمَوْتَةَ الأولى‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَهَلْ يَتَكَلَّمُ الْقُرْآنُ فَتَبَسَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ رَحِمَ الله الضُّعَفَاءَ مِنْ شِيعَتِنَا إِنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ تَسْلِيمٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا سَعْدُ وَالصَّلاةُ تَتَكَلَّمُ وَلَهَا صُورَةٌ وَخَلْقٌ تَأْمُرُ وَتَنْهَى قَالَ سَعْدٌ فَتَغَيَّرَ لِذَلِكَ لَوْنِي وَقُلْتُ هَذَا شَيْ‏ءٌ لا أَسْتَطِيعُ أَنَا أَتَكَلَّمُ بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَهَلِ النَّاسُ إِلا شِيعَتُنَا فَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفِ الصَّلاةَ فَقَدْ أَنْكَرَ حَقَّنَا ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا سَعْدُ أُسْمِعُكَ كَلامَ الْقُرْآنِ قَالَ سَعْدٌ فَقُلْتُ بَلَى صَلَّى الله عَلَيْكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنْهى‏ عَنِ الْفَحْشاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ الله أَكْبَرُ فَالنَّهْيُ كَلامٌ وَالْفَحْشَاءُ وَالْمُنْكَرُ رِجَالٌ وَنَحْنُ ذِكْرُ الله وَنَحْنُ أَكْبَرُ.

1. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from al-‘Abbas from Fadl ibn Shadhan ‘Abd al-Rahman from Sufyan al-Hariri from his father from Sa’d al-Khaffaf from abu Ja’far who has said the following: “O Sa’d, learn the Holy Quran; on the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will come in the best form that people may have ever seen. People will be present in one hundred thousand and twenty rows: the followers of Prophet Muhammad will form eighty thousand rows. The other forty thousand rows will consist of the followers of the other prophets. The Holy Quran will come to the rows of the Muslims in the form of a well-shaped man, offer them the greeting of peace and they look to him and say to each other, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, the forbearing the magnanimous, THIS MAN is one of the Muslims whom we know from his picture and qualities, however, he has been striving about the Holy Quran much harder than we, thus, he has been given this beauty, grace and light which we have not received. “

He (the Quran in the form of a person) passes toward the row of the martyrs who look at him and say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, the Lord, the Merciful. We know from the signs and qualities he is a martyr, however, he has been of the martyrs at sea, thus, he has received this beauty and grace that is not given to us.’ The Imam said, ‘Then it will pass toward the martyr at sea and the martyrs at sea look at him with astonishment and say, “He is of the martyrs at sea; we know him from his signs and qualities, however, on the island where he suffered must have been much more dangerous than the island where we suffered, thus, he has received this beauty, grace and light.’

“Then he approaches the rows of the prophets and messengers in the form of a messenger prophet. The prophets and messengers look at him and their astonishment increase. They will say, ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah, the Most Forbearing, the Magnanimous, this is a messenger prophet; we know him from his picture and qualities, however, he has been much more virtuous.’

The Imam said, ‘They will come to the Messenger of Allah and ask him, “O Muhammad, who is this?” He then will ask, ‘Do you not know him?’ They will say, ‘We do not know him, however, Allah has not been angry with him.’ The Messenger of Allah will say to them, ‘This is the authority of Allah over His creatures. He offers them greeting of peace and passes thereby to the rows of the angels in the form of a special angel. The angels will look at him and their astonishment increases, his status will seem very great to them. They will say our Lord is Most High, Most Holy. This servant is of the angels. We know him from his picture and qualities, however, he has been more close and special to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, thus, he is dressed up with this much light and beauty that we have not received.’ Then he will come before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Blessed, the Most High, and will bow down below the Throne.

“Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, WILL SPEAK TO THE QURAN saying, ‘My true spoken words and authority on earth, look up and ask for your wishes. Your wishes shall be granted and your intercession shall be accepted. How did you find my servants?’ “The Holy Quran will then say, ‘MY LORD, certain ones among them kept me safely protected and did not lose anything from me but others among them lost me and disrespected me and called me lies even though I was Your authority to all of Your creatures.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, then will say, ‘I swear by My Majesty, Greatness and Highness that I shall give the best reward on this day because of you and shall punish severely because of you.’

“The Imam then continued saying, ‘The Holy Quran will raise his head IN ANOTHER SHAPE.’ I (the narrator) asked the Imam, ‘O abu Ja’far in what shape it will return?’ The Imam said, ‘It will come in the shape of A CHANGED MAN, SLIM AND TIRED LOOKING. People in the gathering will see him. Then he will come forward to one of our followers who knew it and would argue with it against the people, opposed to ‘A’immah. The Holy Quran will ask him, ‘Do you know me’? The man will look it (the Holy Quran) and say, ‘O servant of Allah, I do not know you.’ The Holy Quran then will return in his former shape with which it existed among people, and will ask, ‘Do you still not know me’? He will say, ‘Yes, I do know you.’ It will say, ‘I am the Holy Quran for which you kept the whole night awake and faced suffering in your life, hearing disappointing words from people when you spoke from me. Obviously every merchant enjoys the benefit of his trade. Today I am behind you with full support.

The Holy Quran will then proceed with him to the Throne of the Lord of Majesty, the Most Blessed, the Most High, and the Quran then will say, ‘Lord, this servant of You was very close to me and very careful about me. He would love others because of me and hate others just because of me.’ “Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will then say, ‘Allow my servant enter paradise and allow him be dressed and crowned and then let him come back to see his friend, the Quran.’ When that servant of Allah will be well rewarded he will then come back to see his friend the Holy Quran, Allah, the Most High will ask the Holy Quran, ‘Are you happy with Our rewards given to your friend?’ The Holy Quran will say, ‘Lord, I consider it is not enough and I request that he should receive more of all the good things.’ Allah then will say, ‘I swear by My Majesty, Honor and Highness, I shall reward him and others like him with five things and more: I shall give them eternal youth, good health free from illness, wealth free from poverty, happiness free from sadness and life free from death.’ “The Imam then read this verse: ‘They will not experience any death other than that which they have already been through.’ (44: 56)

“I (the narrator) then said to abu Ja’far ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, DOES THE HOLY QURAN SPEAK?’ The Imam smiled and said, ‘May Allah grant favors upon our weak Shi’a (followers), they are people of submission.’ Then he said, ‘Yes, O Sa’d, prayer speaks. It has a form and shape. It commands and prohibits.’ Sa’d then said, ‘It changed my color and I said, “I will not be able to speak of this among people.” Abu Ja’far said, ‘Are people anything else besides our Shi’a (followers)? Those who do not know the right of the prayer, they have denied our rights.’ The Imam then said, ‘O Sa’d do you want, I will make you hear the words of the Holy Quran?’ I said, ‘Yes, may Allah grant you favors.’ The Imam said, ‘Prayer prohibits indecency and unlawful matters and speaking of Allah is greater,’ “prohibition” is speaking, (stopping people from going to) “indecency and unlawful matters” (that) are (nothing else but certain) men. We are the Dhikr of Allah, speaking of Allah, and we are greater.’” (The Holy Quran prohibits people from following certain people called indecency and unlawful matters)

Ḥadīth #11: 2025

11 ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ النَّضْرِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ يَجِي‏ءُ الْقُرْآنُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ مَنْظُورٍ إِلَيْهِ صُورَةً فَيَمُرُّ بِالْمُسْلِمِينَ فَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ مِنَّا فَيُجَاوِزُهُمْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّينَ فَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنَّا فَيُجَاوِزُهُمْ إِلَى الْمَلائِكَةِ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ فَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ مِنَّا حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ فُلانُ بْنُ فُلانٍ أَظْمَأْتُ هَوَاجِرَهُ وَأَسْهَرْتُ لَيْلَهُ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا وَفُلانُ بْنُ فُلانٍ لَمْ أُظْمِئْ هَوَاجِرَهُ وَلَمْ أُسْهِرْ لَيْلَهُ فَيَقُولُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَدْخِلْهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى مَنَازِلِهِمْ فَيَقُومُ فَيَتَّبِعُونَهُ فَيَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ اقْرَأْ وَارْقَهْ قَالَ فَيَقْرَأُ وَيَرْقَى حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ كُلُّ رَجُلٍ مِنْهُمْ مَنْزِلَتَهُ الَّتِي هِيَ لَهُ فَيَنْزِلُهَا.

11. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn Salim from Ahmad ibn al- Nadr from ‘Amr ibn Shimr from Jabir from abu Ja’far who has said the following: “On the Day of Judgment the Holy Quran will come in the best shape and form. He will pass by the Muslims who will say, ‘This MAN is from us.’ HE will pass toward the prophets who will say that HE is of us, then HE will pass toward the special angels who will say that HE is one of us until HE is before the Lord of Majesty, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, AND WILL SAY, ‘O LORD, so and so son of so and so suffered from thirst, spent the night in vigil in the world so and so son of so and so did not suffer thirst and did not spend his night in vigil (for worship).’ Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most High, will say, ‘Admit them in paradise.’ HE WILL STAND UP and they will also rise and FOLLOW HIM. The believing people will be told, ‘Read and climb.’ The Imam said that the believing people will read and climb until they will reach their position that is for them and occupy their places.’”

Ḥadīth #12: 2026

12 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الدَّوَاوِينَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ثَلاثَةٌ دِيوَانٌ فِيهِ النِّعَمُ وَدِيوَانٌ فِيهِ الْحَسَنَاتُ وَدِيوَانٌ فِيهِ السَّيِّئَاتُ فَيُقَابَلُ بَيْنَ دِيوَانِ النِّعَمِ وَدِيوَانِ الْحَسَنَاتِ فَتَسْتَغْرِقُ النِّعَمُ عَامَّةَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَيَبْقَى دِيوَانُ السَّيِّئَاتِ فَيُدْعَى بِابْنِ آدَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِ لِلْحِسَابِ فَيَتَقَدَّمُ الْقُرْآنُ أَمَامَهُ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ فَيَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ أَنَا الْقُرْآنُ وَهَذَا عَبْدُكَ الْمُؤْمِنُ قَدْ كَانَ يُتْعِبُ نَفْسَهُ بِتِلاوَتِي وَيُطِيلُ لَيْلَهُ بِتَرْتِيلِي وَتَفِيضُ عَيْنَاهُ إِذَا تَهَجَّدَ فَأَرْضِهِ كَمَا أَرْضَانِي قَالَ فَيَقُولُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ عَبْدِيَ ابْسُطْ يَمِينَكَ فَيَمْلَؤُهَا مِنْ رِضْوَانِ الله الْعَزِيزِ الْجَبَّارِ وَيَمْلأ شِمَالَهُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ الله ثُمَّ يُقَالُ هَذِهِ الْجَنَّةُ مُبَاحَةٌ لَكَ فَاقْرَأْ وَاصْعَدْ فَإِذَا قَرَأَ آيَةً صَعِدَ دَرَجَةً.

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father and A number of our people have narrated have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Ziyad all from ibn Mahbub from Malik ibn ‘Atiyyah from Yunus ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah has said, ‘On the Day of Judgment there will be three books of records: the book of the record of the good deeds, the book of the record of the bounties and the book of the record of the evil deeds. The records of the good deeds and the bounties will be compared and (in a particular case) the record of the bounties overwhelm all the good deeds and the record of the evil deeds will remain for the son of Adam’s accountability, however, THE HOLY QURAN WILL COME FORWARD IN THE BEST FORM AND SAY, “O LORD, this believing servant would tire himself in RECITING ME and spend long hours during the night reading FROM ME. During his Tahajjud (special prayer at night) his eyes would flood with tears, O LORD, make him happy as he would MAKE ME HAPPY.” The Imam said that the Most Majestic, the Almighty, will say, ‘My servant, open your right hand.’ He fills it up with contentment of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Almighty, his left hand with the favor of Allah and then it will be said to him, ‘This is paradise and it is permissible for you. Read (from the Holy Quran) and climb up.’ On reading a verse he will climb one degree (in happiness).”’

Ḥadīth #14: 2028

14 – عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ غَالِبٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِذَا جَمَعَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الأوَّلِينَ وَالآخِرِينَ إِذَا هُمْ بِشَخْصٍ قَدْ أَقْبَلَ لَمْ يُرَ قَطُّ أَحْسَنُ صُورَةً مِنْهُ فَإِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَهُوَ الْقُرْآنُ قَالُوا هَذَا مِنَّا هَذَا أَحْسَنُ شَيْ‏ءٍ رَأَيْنَا فَإِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَيْهِمْ جَازَهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِ الشُّهَدَاءُ حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى آخِرِهِمْ جَازَهُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنُ فَيَجُوزُهُمْ كُلَّهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ فَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنُ فَيَجُوزُهُمْ حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ إِلَى الْمَلائِكَةِ فَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنُ فَيَجُوزُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنْتَهِي حَتَّى يَقِفَ عَنْ يَمِينِ الْعَرْشِ فَيَقُولُ الْجَبَّارُ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي وَارْتِفَاعِ مَكَانِي لأكْرِمَنَّ الْيَوْمَ مَنْ أَكْرَمَكَ وَلأهِينَنَّ مَنْ أَهَانَكَ.

14. Ali b. Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Ibrahim b. Abd al-Hamid from Ishaq b. Ghalib who said: Abu Abdillah has said: “When Allah will gather together [the people of] the first and last [generation], they will be in the presence of a person whom they have never seen a more beautiful form than him. When the believers look at him, AND HE IS THE QURAN, they will say, ‘This is from us; this is the most beautiful thing we have ever seen.’ When HE reaches them, HE will pass by them and then the martyrs will look AT HIM [and this continues] until HE passes by the last of them. They will say, ‘THIS IS THE QURAN’, and HE will pass all of them towards the Messengers [of Allah] who will say, ‘THIS IS THE QURAN,’ and HE will pass them towards the angels who will say, ‘THIS IS THE QURAN,’ and HE will pass them until he will approach the right side of the Throne and stand up at that point. Al-Jabbar (a name of God; The Compeller): will say, ‘[I swear] by My Majesty, Glory and My High status, this day I will honor those WHO HAD HONORED YOU (the Quran) and humiliate those WHO HAVE HUMILIATED YOU.'”

Book 3, Chapter 4

One Who Memorizes the Holy Quran Then Forgets

Ḥadīth #1: 2043

1 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ الأحْمَرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ قَرَأْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَفَلَتَ مِنِّي فَادْعُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يُعَلِّمَنِيهِ قَالَ فَكَأَنَّهُ فَزِعَ لِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ عَلَّمَكَ الله هُوَ وَإِيَّانَا جَمِيعاً قَالَ وَنَحْنُ نَحْوٌ مِنْ عَشَرَةٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ السُّورَةُ تَكُونُ مَعَ الرَّجُلِ قَدْ قَرَأَهَا ثُمَّ تَرَكَهَا فَتَأْتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ وَتُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ أَنْتِ فَتَقُولُ أَنَا سُورَةُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَلَوْ أَنَّكَ تَمَسَّكْتَ بِي وَأَخَذْتَ بِي لأنْزَلْتُكَ هَذِهِ الدَّرَجَةَ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ لِيُقَالَ فُلانٌ قَارِئٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ لِيَطْلُبَ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا وَلا خَيْرَ فِي ذَلِكَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ لِيَنْتَفِعَ بِهِ فِي صَلاتِهِ وَلَيْلِهِ وَنَهَارِهِ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad an Abu Ali al-Ash’ari from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar all from ibn Faddal from abu Ishaq, Th’labah ibn Maymun from Ya’qub al-Ahmar who has said the following: “Once I said to abu Abdullah, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I had learned the Holy Quran but now it is gone (forgotten). Pray to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, so I learn it again?’ The narrator has said that the Imam seemed shocked and said, ‘May Allah and all of us help you learn the Holy Quran again and we are about ten people.’ The Imam then said, ‘If one knows one chapter of the Holy Quran and then leaves it alone, on the Day of Judgment that chapter will come to him in the best form and will greet him. The man will ask, ‘Who are you?’ IT WILL SAY, ‘I am chapter so and so of the Holy Quran. If you had not left me alone, I would have taken you with me to this high rank.’ The Imam then said, ‘You must hold fast to the Holy Quran.’”

Ḥadīth #2: 2044

2 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْمَغْرَاءِ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) مَنْ نَسِيَ سُورَةً مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مُثِّلَتْ لَهُ فِي صُورَةٍ حَسَنَةٍ وَدَرَجَةٍ رَفِيعَةٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا رَآهَا قَالَ مَا أَنْتِ مَا أَحْسَنَكِ لَيْتَكِ لِي فَيَقُولُ أَ مَا تَعْرِفُنِي أَنَا سُورَةُ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَلَوْ لَمْ تَنْسَنِي رَفَعْتُكَ إِلَى هَذَا.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from abu al- Maghra’ from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah has said, ‘If one forgets a chapter from the Holy Quran it will appear to him in the best form and high position in paradise. When he will see it, he will say how beautiful you are! I wish you were mine.’ It will ask, ‘Do you not know me? I am chapter so and so, had you not forgotten me I would have raised you to this.’”

Ḥadīth #3: 2045

3 ـ ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ الأحْمَرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ عَلَيَّ دَيْناً كَثِيراً وَقَدْ دَخَلَنِي مَا كَانَ الْقُرْآنُ يَتَفَلَّتُ مِنِّي فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) الْقُرْآنَ الْقُرْآنَ إِنَّ الآيَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَالسُّورَةَ لَتَجِي‏ءُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى تَصْعَدَ أَلْفَ دَرَجَةٍ يَعْنِي فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَتَقُولُ لَوْ حَفِظْتَنِي لَبَلَغْتُ بِكَ هَاهُنَا.

3. Ibn abu ‘Umayr has narrated from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from Ya’qub al- Ahmar who has said the following: “Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah, ‘I am indebted a great deal and due to worries I am about to forget the Holy Quran. ’ The Imam said, ‘The Holy Quran, the Holy Quran! On the Day of Judgment the chapter and the verse of the Holy Quran will come and say, ‘Had you not forgotten me I would have taken you today to such and such high ranks in paradise.’”

Ḥadīth #4: 2046

4 ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ وَعِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَسِّنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي يَعْفُورٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا كَانَ يَعْلَمُ السُّورَةَ ثُمَّ نَسِيَهَا أَوْ تَرَكَهَا وَدَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ أَشْرَفَتْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ فَوْقٍ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ فَتَقُولُ تَعْرِفُنِي فَيَقُولُ لا فَتَقُولُ أَنَا سُورَةُ كَذَا وَكَذَا لَمْ تَعْمَلْ بِي وَتَرَكْتَنِي أَمَا وَالله لَوْ عَمِلْتَ بِي لَبَلَغْتُ بِكَ هَذِهِ الدَّرَجَةَ وَأَشَارَتْ بِيَدِهَا إِلَى فَوْقِهَا.

4. Hamid ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Hassan ibn Muhammad ibn Sama’a and a number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad all from Muhsin ibn Ahmad from Aban ibn ‘Uthman from ibn abu Ya’qub who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah saying, ‘If a man knows a chapter then forgets it or just leaves it and will enter paradise, it will appear above him in the best form and ask, “Do you know me?” He will say, ‘No, I do not know you.’ It will say, “I am chapter so and so, you did not follow me and left me. I swear by Allah, had you acted upon my instructions I would have raised you to this degree, pointing with his hand to the above.’”

Ḥadīth #6: 2048

6 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَالْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ الأحْمَرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّهُ أَصَابَتْنِي هُمُومٌ وَأَشْيَاءُ لَمْ يَبْقَ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ إِلا وَقَدْ تَفَلَّتَ مِنِّي مِنْهُ طَائِفَةٌ حَتَّى الْقُرْآنِ لَقَدْ تَفَلَّتَ مِنِّي طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَفَزِعَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ حِينَ ذَكَرْتُ الْقُرْآنَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَنْسَى السُّورَةَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَتَأْتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ حَتَّى تُشْرِفَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ دَرَجَةٍ مِنْ بَعْضِ الدَّرَجَاتِ فَتَقُولُ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكَ فَيَقُولُ وَعَلَيْكِ السَّلامُ مَنْ أَنْتِ فَتَقُولُ أَنَا سُورَةُ كَذَا وَكَذَا ضَيَّعْتَنِي وَتَرَكْتَنِي أَمَا لَوْ تَمَسَّكْتَ بِي بَلَغْتُ بِكَ هَذِهِ الدَّرَجَةَ ثُمَّ أَشَارَ بِإِصْبَعِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ فَتَعَلَّمُوهُ فَإِنَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَعَلَّمُ الْقُرْآنَ لِيُقَالَ فُلانٌ قَارِئٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ فَيَطْلُبُ بِهِ الصَّوْتَ فَيُقَالُ فُلانٌ حَسَنُ الصَّوْتِ وَلَيْسَ فِي ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَتَعَلَّمُهُ فَيَقُومُ بِهِ فِي لَيْلِهِ وَنَهَارِهِ لا يُبَالِي مَنْ عَلِمَ ذَلِكَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْلَمْهُ.

6. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa’id all from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya al-Halabi from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muskan from Ya’qub al-Ahmar who has said the following: “Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I am facing such problems and difficulties that I forget so many good things even some of the Holy Quran.’ The Imam was shocked upon my mentioning the Holy Quran and said, ‘If a man forgets a chapter of the Holy Quran, on the Day of Judgment that chapter will appear to him with a certain rank and offers him the greeting of peace. The man will ask, ‘Who are you?’ The chapter of the Holy Quran will say, ‘I am chapter so and so of the Holy Quran which you forgot, and I wish you had not forgotten me; today I could have taken you to such and such high ranks.’ He will point to a certain rank. The Imam then said, ‘You must hold fast to the Holy Quran and learn it. Certain people learn the Holy Quran so that others call him a very good reader of the Holy Quran. Others learn the Holy Quran so that people praise him for his vocal attractiveness in reciting the Holy Quran. There is nothing good in all of this. Certain people learn the Holy Quran and at night they stand upon their feet with the Holy Quran as well as during the day and they are not concerned whether others know this about them or not.’”

SAHIH

Book 3, Chapter 13

The Excellence of the Holy Quran

Ḥadīth #2: 2088

2 ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ الْمِيثَمِيِّ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ لَمَّا أَمَرَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ أَنْ يَهْبِطْنَ إِلَى الأرْضِ تَعَلَّقْنَ بِالْعَرْشِ وَقُلْنَ أَيْ رَبِّ إِلَى أَيْنَ تُهْبِطُنَا إِلَى أَهْلِ الْخَطَايَا وَالذُّنُوبِ فَأَوْحَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهِنَّ أَنِ اهْبِطْنَ فَوَ عِزَّتِي وَجَلالِي لا يَتْلُوكُنَّ أَحَدٌ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَشِيعَتِهِمْ فِي دُبُرِ مَا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَكْتُوبَةِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ إِلا نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ بِعَيْنِيَ الْمَكْنُونَةِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ نَظْرَةً أَقْضِي لَهُ فِي كُلِّ نَظْرَةٍ سَبْعِينَ حَاجَةً وَقَبِلْتُهُ عَلَى مَا فِيهِ مِنَ الْمَعَاصِي وَهِيَ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَشَهِدَ الله أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلا هُوَ وَالْمَلائِكَةُ وَأُولُوا الْعِلْمِ وَآيَةُ الْكُرْسِيِّ وَآيَةُ الْمُلْكِ.

2. Hamid ibn Ziyad has narrated from al-Husayn ibn Muhammad from Ahmad ibn al-Hassan al-Maythami from Ya’qub ibn Shu’ayb from Abu ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “When Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, commanded certain verses of the Holy Quran to descend to earth, they clung to the Throne asking, ‘O Lord, why are You sending us to people of sins and evil deeds?’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, inspired them to descend saying, ‘I swear by My Majesty and Glory that any Shi’a (followers) of Ahl al-Baiyt (family of Muhammad, recipients of divine supreme covenant), who reads you after an obligatory prayer every day I will look at him with My hidden eyes (special favor) everyday seventy times and in every look fulfill his seventy wishes and accept him with whatever sins he may have.’ The verses are Chapter One of the Holy Quran, verses 18-19 and 26-27 of Chapter 3 and verse 255 of Chapter 2 of the Holy Quran.’”

Ḥadīth #9: 2095

9 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَنْ قَرَأَ مِائَةَ آيَةٍ يُصَلِّي بِهَا فِي لَيْلَةٍ كَتَبَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ بِهَا قُنُوتَ لَيْلَةٍ وَمَنْ قَرَأَ مِائَتَيْ آيَةٍ فِي غَيْرِ صَلاةٍ لَمْ يُحَاجَّهُ الْقُرْآنُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ قَرَأَ خَمْسَمِائَةِ آيَةٍ فِي يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ فِي صَلاةِ النَّهَارِ وَاللَّيْلِ كَتَبَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ فِي اللَّوْحِ الْمَحْفُوظِ قِنْطَاراً مِنَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَالْقِنْطَارُ أَلْفٌ وَمِائَتَا أُوقِيَّةٍ وَالأوقِيَّةُ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ جَبَلِ أُحُدٍ.

9. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al- Hassan ibn Ali from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar from Abu ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “Whoever reads one hundred verses of the Holy Quran in prayer in the night, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, will write down for him the reward for one night’s worshipping. Whoever reads two hundred verses without being in prayer, the Holy Quran, on the Day of Judgment, will not argue against him. Whoever reads five hundred verses in one day and night, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, writes down for him in the protected tablet one Qintar of good deeds. One Qintar is one thousand two hundred ‘Awqiyah, which is greater than the mountain of ‘Uhud.’”

Ḥadīth #24: 2110

24 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَعْبَدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَمَّنْ ذَكَرَهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ لا تَمَلُّوا مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الأرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ كَانَتْ قِرَاءَتُهُ بِهَا فِي نَوَافِلِهِ لَمْ يُصِبْهُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِزَلْزَلَةٍ أَبَداً وَلَمْ يَمُتْ بِهَا وَلا بِصَاعِقَةٍ وَلا بِ‏آفَةٍ مِنْ آفَاتِ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَمُوتَ وَإِذَا مَاتَ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّهِ فَيَقْعُدُ عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ ارْفُقْ بِوَلِيِّ الله فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ كَثِيراً مَا يَذْكُرُنِي وَيَذْكُرُ تِلاوَةَ هَذِهِ السُّورَةِ وَتَقُولُ لَهُ السُّورَةُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَيَقُولُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ قَدْ أَمَرَنِي رَبِّي أَنْ أَسْمَعَ لَهُ وَأُطِيعَ وَلا أُخْرِجَ رُوحَهُ حَتَّى يَأْمُرَنِي بِذَلِكَ فَإِذَا أَمَرَنِي أَخْرَجْتُ رُوحَهُ وَلا يَزَالُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ عِنْدَهُ حَتَّى يَأْمُرَهُ بِقَبْضِ رُوحِهِ وَإِذَا كُشِفَ لَهُ الْغِطَاءُ فَيَرَى مَنَازِلَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ فَيُخْرِجُ رُوحَهُ مِنْ أَلْيَنِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنَ الْعِلاجِ ثُمَّ يُشَيِّعُ رُوحَهُ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ يَبْتَدِرُونَ بِهَا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ.

24. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Ma’bad from his father from those whom he has mentioned (in his book) from Abu ‘Abdillah who has said the following: “Do not be dismayed in reading Chapter 99 of the Holy Quran. If one reads it in the optional prayers, Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, protects him, all the time, against earthquakes and will not die thereby or by lightening and of worldly calamities until the time of his death. When he dies a noble angel comes to him from his Lord, sits near his head and says to the angel of death, ‘Be kind to the friend of Allah. It is he who very often spoke of me and read this Chapter.’ THE CHAPTER WILL ALSO SAY SIMILAR WORDS. The angel of death will then say, ‘My Lord has commanded me to listen to Him, obey Him and will not take his spirit out without His commanding me to do so. When He commands me, then I take his spirit out.’ The angel of death remains with him until he commands to take his spirit out. When the curtains are moved aside and he sees his places in paradise, his spirit comes out very gently as the gentlest treatment. Thereafter his spirit is escorted to paradise by seventy thousand angels rushing him to paradise.”

FURTHER READING

THE TALKING QURAN: UTHMAN IBN FAROOQ’S LIES EXPOSED

Revisiting The Issue of the Uncreated Quran Pt. 1

SHIAS’ BLASPHEMOUS DOCTRINES

I start a new series where I will be sharing narrations from Shia Islam’s most authoritative collection of traditions called al-Kafi. I will be citing from the online version which can be accessed here: Al-Kafi – Volume 1 – The Sufficient.

Here’s what the site itself says about this collection:

“al-Kāfī, compiled by Shaykh al-Kulaynī, is a monumental work belonging to a number of books belonging to the Shīʿī Ḥadīth literature. It comprises of eight volumes and took twenty years to compile, making it an extensive collection of wisdom and guidance for adherents of the faith. The eight volumes are divided into three main parts: al-Uṣūl (Roots), al-Furūʿ (Branches), and al-Rawḍa (the Garden). Part 1 (Volumes 1 & 2): al-Uṣūl (Roots) This portion delves into the principles of beliefs, containing eight books that discuss topics such as the intellect and ignorance, the virtues of knowledge, Divine Unity, Divine Authority, Belief and Disbelief, Suppications, the Virtues of the Holy Qurʾān, in addition to Ethics and Morals. Part 2 (Volumes 3 to 7): al-Furūʿ (Branches) This portion comprises of Ḥadīths related to Islamic jurisprudence, including acts of worship, business transactions, and judicial laws. It covers a vast array of topics in 26 books, ranging from the laws of cleanliness and menstruation to those of wills, inheritance, and legal penalties. Part 3 (Volume 8): al-Rawḍa (the Garden) al-Rawḍa encompasses a collection of miscellaneous Ḥadīths, which cover topics that had already been glazed over in prior two portions of the book. Many a time, long Ḥadīths will be included from written letters, wills of the Imams and historical narrations that didn’t necessarily fit in chapter headings that were made in the first seven volumes. The Ḥadīths are not organised in a specific way, but its diversity adds depth to the understanding of the faith.”

In this post I share some rather blasphemous and idolatrous statements concerning the preexistence of Muhammad and his family, along with narrations regarding Allah praying and Muhammad being breastfed by his uncle! I also cite a few reports which clearly contradict the Sunni ahadith in regards to Muhammad’s father and the fate of his parents and paternal uncle Abu Talib. All emphasis will be mine.

Al-Kāfi – Volume 1

Book 4, Chapter 111

The Birth of The Holy Prophet and His Demise

Ḥadīth #0: 1180

وُلِدَ النَّبِيُّ لاثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً مَضَتْ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَبِيعٍ الاوَّلِ فِي عَامِ الْفِيلِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ مَعَ الزَّوَالِ وَرُوِيَ أَيْضاً عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُبْعَثَ بِأَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً وَحَمَلَتْ بِهِ أُمُّهُ فِي أَيَّامِ التَّشْرِيقِ عِنْدَ الْجَمْرَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَكَانَتْ فِي مَنْزِلِ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَوَلَدَتْهُ فِي شِعْبِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فِي دَارِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يُوسُفَ فِي الزَّاوِيَةِ الْقُصْوَى عَنْ يَسَارِكَ وَأَنْتَ دَاخِلُ الدَّارِ وَقَدْ أَخْرَجَتِ الْخَيْزُرَانُ ذَلِكَ الْبَيْتَ فَصَيَّرَتْهُ مَسْجِداً يُصَلِّي النَّاسُ فِيهِ وَبَقِيَ بِمَكَّةَ بَعْدَ مَبْعَثِهِ ثَلاثَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ هَاجَرَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَمَكَثَ بِهَا عَشْرَ سِنِينَ ثُمَّ قُبِضَ لاثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً مَضَتْ مِنْ رَبِيعٍ الاوَّلِ يَوْمَ الاثْنَيْنِ وَهُوَ ابْنُ ثَلاثٍ وَسِتِّينَ سَنَةً وَتُوُفِّيَ أَبُوهُ عَبْدُ الله بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ بِالْمَدِينَةِ عِنْدَ أَخْوَالِهِ وَهُوَ ابْنُ شَهْرَيْنِ وَمَاتَتْ أُمُّهُ آمِنَةُ بِنْتُ وَهْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ مَنَافِ بْنِ زُهْرَةَ بْنِ كِلابِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ بْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ لُؤَيِّ بْنِ غَالِبٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَرْبَعِ سِنِينَ وَمَاتَ عَبْدُ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَلِلنَّبِيِّ نَحْوُ ثَمَانِ سِنِينَ وَتَزَوَّجَ خَدِيجَةَ وَهُوَ ابْنُ بِضْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ سَنَةً فَوُلِدَ لَهُ مِنْهَا قَبْلَ مَبْعَثِهِ الْقَاسِمُ وَرُقَيَّةُ وَزَيْنَبُ وَأُمُّ كُلْثُومٍ وَوُلِدَ لَهُ بَعْدَ الْمَبْعَثِ الطَّيِّبُ وَالطَّاهِرُ وَفَاطِمَةُ (عليها السلام) وَرُوِيَ أَيْضاً أَنَّهُ لَمْ يُولَدْ بَعْدَ الْمَبْعَثِ إِلا فَاطِمَةُ (عليها السلام) وَأَنَّ الطَّيِّبَ وَالطَّاهِرَ وُلِدَا قَبْلَ مَبْعَثِهِ وَمَاتَتْ خَدِيجَةُ (عليها السلام) حِينَ خَرَجَ رَسُولُ الله مِنَ الشِّعْبِ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ قَبْلَ الْهِجْرَةِ بِسَنَةٍ وَمَاتَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ بَعْدَ مَوْتِ خَدِيجَةَ بِسَنَةٍ فَلَمَّا فَقَدَهُمَا رَسُولُ الله شَنَأَ الْمُقَامَ بِمَكَّةَ وَدَخَلَهُ حُزْنٌ شَدِيدٌ وَشَكَا ذَلِكَ إِلَى جَبْرَئِيلَ فَأَوْحَى الله تَعَالَى إِلَيْهِ اخْرُجْ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا فَلَيْسَ لَكَ بِمَكَّةَ نَاصِرٌ بَعْدَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ وَأَمَرَهُ بِالْهِجْرَةِ.

The Holy Prophet was born on the twelfth of the month of Rabi‘ al-Awwal, in the year of the Elephant on a Friday at noon. Also it is narrated that it was at dawn forty years before his receiving Divine messages. His mother conceived with him on the days of Tashriq (11, 12, 13) of dhul Hajj near the middle Jamara (a pillar of stones) and she was in the house of ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib. She gave birth in the Sha‘b of abu Talib in the house of Muhammad ibn Yusuf at the left far corner of the house as you would enter. al-Khayzuran made that house into a mosque and people use for prayers.

After receiving Divine commands to work as the Messenger of Allah he remained in Makka for thirteen years. Thereafter he migrated to Madina wherein he lived for ten years. He passed away on Monday the twelfth of the month of Rabi‘ al-Awwal at the age of sixty-three. His father ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib died in Madina among his maternal uncles when he (Muhammad) was only two months old. His mother, ’Amina daughter of Wahab ibn ‘Abd Manaf, ibn Zuhra ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka‘b ibn Luway ibn Ghalib, died when he was a boy of four years old. ‘Abd al-Muttalib died when the Prophet was about eight years old. He married Khadija when he was twenty and some years old.

So, before his public prophethood he had the following children from her: al-Qasim, Ruqayyah, Zainab, and Umm Kulthum. After the public prophethood, he had al-Tayyib, al-Tahir, and Fatimah. It is also narrated that only Fatimah was born after the Prophethood and that al-Tayyib and al-Tahir were born before his Prophethood. Khadija died at the time the Holy Prophet came out of Sha‘b of Abu Talib.

This was one year before his migration to Madina. Abu Talib died one year after the death of Khadija. When the Messenger of Allah lost these two people it became very difficult for him to live in Makka. He became extremely sad and complained to Jibril. Allah then sent him the message to leave the town of the unjust people because after Abu Talib there is no one in Makka to support you. He was commanded to migrate.

Ḥadīth #1: 1181

1 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَخِي حَمَّادٍ الْكَاتِبِ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله قَالَ قُلْتُ لابِي عَبْدِ الله كَانَ رَسُولُ الله سَيِّدَ وُلْدِ آدَمَ فَقَالَ كَانَ وَالله سَيِّدَ مَنْ خَلَقَ الله وَمَا بَرَأَ الله بَرِيَّةً خَيْراً مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه )

1. Muhammad b. Yahya has narrated from Ahmad b. Muhammad from Ibn Fadhal from ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad, son of the brother of Hammad al-Katib from Al-Husayn b. ‘Abdallah who has said the following: “Once I asked Abu ‘Abdallah, ‘Was the Messenger of Allah the master of the children of Adam?’ The Imam said, ‘By Allah, he was the master of all whom Allah has created. Allah has not created any creature better than Muhammad.”

Ḥadīth #2: 1182

2 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَجَّالِ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله وَذَكَرَ رَسُولَ الله فَقَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا بَرَأَ الله نَسَمَةً خَيْراً مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ

2. Muhammad b. Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hajjal from Hammad from Abu ‘Abdallah who said the following: When mentioning the Messenger of Allah he said, “Amir al-Mu’minin Ali has said, “Allah has not created any creature better than Muhammad.”

Ḥadīth #3: 1183

3 ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حَدِيدٍ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ قَالَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنِّي خَلَقْتُكَ وَعَلِيّاً نُوراً يَعْنِي رُوحاً بِلا بَدَنٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَخْلُقَ سَمَاوَاتِي وَأَرْضِي وَعَرْشِي وَبَحْرِي فَلَمْ تَزَلْ تُهَلِّلُنِي وَتُمَجِّدُنِي ثُمَّ جَمَعْتُ رُوحَيْكُمَا فَجَعَلْتُهُمَا وَاحِدَةً فَكَانَتْ تُمَجِّدُنِي وَتُقَدِّسُنِي وَتُهَلِّلُنِي ثُمَّ قَسَمْتُهَا ثِنْتَيْنِ وَقَسَمْتُ الثِّنْتَيْنِ ثِنْتَيْنِ فَصَارَتْ أَرْبَعَةً مُحَمَّدٌ وَاحِدٌ وَعَلِيٌّ وَاحِدٌ وَالْحَسَنُ وَالْحُسَيْنُ ثِنْتَانِ ثُمَّ خَلَقَ الله فَاطِمَةَ مِنْ نُورٍ ابْتَدَأَهَا رُوحاً بِلا بَدَنٍ ثُمَّ مَسَحَنَا بِيَمِينِهِ فَأَفْضَى نُورَهُ فِينَا.

3. Ahmad ibn Idris has narrated from Al-Husayn ibn ‘Abdallah from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa and Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from Ali ibn Hadid from Murazim from Abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following: “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, has said, ‘O Muhammad I have created you and Ali a light, a spirit, without body before I created My heavens, My earth, My Throne, and My ocean. You continued to acknowledge Me as your Lord and speak of My glory. I then collected the spirits of both of you and made it one spirit. This spirit continued to speak of My Glory, My Holiness and acknowledge Me as the Lord. I then divided it into two and two which became four: one Muhammad, one Ali, Al-Hassan and Al-Husayn, the other two. Then Allah created Fatima from the spirit that was created first without a body. He then wiped us with his right hand to allow his light to reach us all.

Ḥadīth #4: 1184

4 ـ أَحْمَدُ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ يَقُولُ أَوْحَى الله تَعَالَى إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ أَنِّي خَلَقْتُكَ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئاً وَنَفَخْتُ فِيكَ مِنْ رُوحِي كَرَامَةً مِنِّي أَكْرَمْتُكَ بِهَا حِينَ أَوْجَبْتُ لَكَ الطَّاعَةَ عَلَى خَلْقِي جَمِيعاً فَمَنْ أَطَاعَكَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَنِي وَمَنْ عَصَاكَ فَقَدْ عَصَانِي وَأَوْجَبْتُ ذَلِكَ فِي عَلِيٍّ وَفِي نَسْلِهِ مِمَّنِ اخْتَصَصْتُهُ مِنْهُمْ لِنَفْسِي.

4. Ahmad has narrated from Al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from Abu Hamza who has said the following: “I heard Abu Ja‘far say “Allah, the Most High sent revelation to Muhammad saying, ‘O Muhammad I created you. You did not exist. I blew into you from My spirit. It was an honor with which I honored you when I made it an obligation on all of My creatures to obey you. Whoever would obey you has obeyed Me and whoever disobeys you has disobeyed Me. I have made such obedience to Ali also obligatory as well as to those of his descendants whom I have chosen for Myself.

Ḥadīth #5: 1185

5 ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْفَضْلِ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ إِدْرِيسَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي فَأَجْرَيْتُ اخْتِلافَ الشِّيعَةِ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمْ يَزَلْ مُتَفَرِّداً بِوَحْدَانِيَّتِهِ ثُمَّ خَلَقَ مُحَمَّداً وَعَلِيّاً وَفَاطِمَةَ فَمَكَثُوا أَلْفَ دَهْرٍ ثُمَّ خَلَقَ جَمِيعَ الاشْيَاءِ فَأَشْهَدَهُمْ خَلْقَهَا وَأَجْرَى طَاعَتَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَفَوَّضَ أُمُورَهَا إِلَيْهِمْ فَهُمْ يُحِلُّونَ مَا يَشَاءُونَ وَيُحَرِّمُونَ مَا يَشَاءُونَ وَلَنْ يَشَاءُوا إِلا أَنْ يَشَاءَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذِهِ الدِّيَانَةُ الَّتِي مَنْ تَقَدَّمَهَا مَرَقَ وَمَنْ تَخَلَّفَ عَنْهَا مَحَقَ وَمَنْ لَزِمَهَا لَحِقَ خُذْهَا إِلَيْكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ.

5. Al-Husayn b. Muhammad al-Asha‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla b. Muhammad from Abul Fadl ‘Abdallah b. Idris from Muhammad b. Sinan who has said the following: “Once I was in the presence of Abu Ja‘far the second and I mentioned the differences among the Shi‘a. The Imam said: “O Muhammad, Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is One in his being eternal. He created Muhammad, Ali and Fatima. They were there for a thousand Dahr. Then He created all other things. He made them witness the creation of all other things, made obedience to them obligatory and gave them control of the affairs of the creation. They can, thus, make lawful whatever they would wish and unlawful whatever they would wish and they would never wish anything unless Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, would wish. He then said, “O Muhammad, this is a religion that if exaggerated, would lead to extremism and ignoring it would cause degradation. Those holding to it properly will have proper contact. Keep it with you, O Muhammad.”

Ḥadīth #12: 1192

12 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ لَمَّا عُرِجَ بِرَسُولِ الله انْتَهَى بِهِ جَبْرَئِيلُ إِلَى مَكَانٍ فَخَلَّى عَنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ تُخَلِّينِي عَلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالَةِ فَقَالَ امْضِهْ فَوَ الله لَقَدْ وَطِئْتَ مَكَاناً مَا وَطِئَهُ بَشَرٌ وَمَا مَشَى فِيهِ بَشَرٌ قَبْلَكَ.

12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu Basir from abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following. “When the Messenger of Allah was taken for the ascension Jibril took him to place and left him there alone. He said, “Jibril, How would leave me in such a condition?” Jibril said, “Go on. By Allah, you have stepped at a place whereat no human has ever stepped and no human had ever walked on before you.”

Ḥadīth #13: 1193

13 ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْجَوْهَرِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَأَلَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله وَأَنَا حَاضِرٌ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَمْ عُرِجَ بِرَسُولِ الله فَقَالَ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَأَوْقَفَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ مَوْقِفاً فَقَالَ لَهُ مَكَانَكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَلَقَدْ وَقَفْتَ مَوْقِفاً مَا وَقَفَهُ مَلَكٌ قَطُّ وَلا نَبِيٌّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يُصَلِّي فَقَالَ يَا جَبْرَئِيلُ وَكَيْفَ يُصَلِّي قَالَ يَقُولُ سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ أَنَا رَبُّ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ سَبَقَتْ رَحْمَتِي غَضَبِي فَقَالَ اللهمَّ عَفْوَكَ عَفْوَكَ قَالَ وَكَانَ كَمَا قَالَ الله قابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنى‏ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ مَا قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى قَالَ مَا بَيْنَ سِيَتِهَا إِلَى رَأْسِهَا فَقَالَ كَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ يَتَلالا يَخْفِقُ وَلا أَعْلَمُهُ إِلا وَقَدْ قَالَ زَبَرْجَدٌ فَنَظَرَ فِي مِثْلِ سَمِّ الابْرَةِ إِلَى مَا شَاءَ الله مِنْ نُورِ الْعَظَمَةِ فَقَالَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَا مُحَمَّدُ قَالَ لَبَّيْكَ رَبِّي قَالَ مَنْ لامَّتِكَ مِنْ بَعْدِكَ قَالَ الله أَعْلَمُ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَيِّدُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَقَائِدُ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله لابِي بَصِيرٍ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَالله مَا جَاءَتْ وَلايَةُ علي مِنَ الارْضِ وَلَكِنْ جَاءَتْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مُشَافَهَةً.

13. A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Jawhari from Ali ibn abu Hamza who has said that abu Basir asked abu ‘Abdallah when I was also present. “He said, ‘May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, how many times was the Messenger of Allah taken for ascension?’ The Imam said, ‘It happened twice. Jibrail asked him to stop at a place saying, ‘Wait right there, O Muhammad, you have stood at a place whereat no angel or prophet has ever stood before you. YOUR LORD IS PRAYING.’ He (The Holy Prophet) asked, “O Jibrail, HOW DOES HE PRAY?” Jibrail said, “HE SAYS ‘The Glorious, the Holy, I am the Lord of the angels and the Spirit. My mercy exceeds my anger.’ The Holy Prophet then said: ‘O Lord, I beg Your forgiveness, I beg Your forgiveness.’ The Imam said, “it was as Allah has said, “…until he was as close to him as the distance of two bows, or even less.” (53:9) Abu Basir then asked, May Allah take my soul in service for your cause, what is “…the distance of two bows, or even less.”? (53:9)

The Imam said, “It is the distance between the ark and the head of the bow.” The Imam then said, “Between the two there was a barrier that shined and oscillate that I do not know except that he said it was Zabarjad (chrysolite). He looked into the light of Greatness of the size of needle’s eye or so that Allah willed. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, said, “O Muhammad.” He replies, Yes, my Lord.” He asked, “Who will be after you to guide your followers?” He replied, “Allah knows best.” He said, “Ali ibn abu Talib will be Amir al-Mu’minin (the Leader with Divine Authority), the master of the Muslim, the leader of the ones marked with brightness on their foreheads.”

The narrator has said the then Abu ‘Abdallah said to Abu Basir, ‘O Abu Muhammad, by Allah, Wilaya of Amir al-Mu’minin Ali did not come from earth, it (Wilaya) came from the heavens by words clearly spoken.’”

Ḥadīth #19: 1199

19 ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الاشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَسْبَاطٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ ابي جعفر قَالَ لَمَّا قُبِضَ رَسُولُ الله بَاتَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهم السَّلام) بِأَطْوَلِ لَيْلَةٍ حَتَّى ظَنُّوا أَنْ لا سَمَاءَ تُظِلُّهُمْ وَلا أَرْضَ تُقِلُّهُمْ لانَّ رَسُولَ الله وَتَرَ الاقْرَبِينَ وَالابْعَدِينَ فِي الله فَبَيْنَا هُمْ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ أَتَاهُمْ آتٍ لا يَرَوْنَهُ وَيَسْمَعُونَ كَلامَهُ فَقَالَ السَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَرَحْمَةُ الله وَبَرَكَاتُهُ إِنَّ فِي الله عَزَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ مُصِيبَةٍ وَنَجَاةً مِنْ كُلِّ هَلَكَةٍ وَدَرَكاً لِمَا فَاتَ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّما تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيامَةِ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فازَ وَمَا الْحَياةُ الدُّنْيا إِلا مَتاعُ الْغُرُورِ إِنَّ الله اخْتَارَكُمْ وَفَضَّلَكُمْ وَطَهَّرَكُمْ وَجَعَلَكُمْ أَهْلَ بَيْتِ نَبِيِّهِ وَاسْتَوْدَعَكُمْ عِلْمَهُ وَأَوْرَثَكُمْ كِتَابَهُ وَجَعَلَكُمْ تَابُوتَ عِلْمِهِ وَعَصَا عِزِّهِ وَضَرَبَ لَكُمْ مَثَلاً مِنْ نُورِهِ وَعَصَمَكُمْ مِنَ الزَّلَلِ وَآمَنَكُمْ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ فَتَعَزَّوْا بِعَزَاءِ الله فَإِنَّ الله لَمْ يَنْزِعْ مِنْكُمْ رَحْمَتَهُ وَلَنْ يُزِيلَ عَنْكُمْ نِعْمَتَهُ فَأَنْتُمْ أَهْلُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الَّذِينَ بِهِمْ تَمَّتِ النِّعْمَةُ وَاجْتَمَعَتِ الْفُرْقَةُ وَائْتَلَفَتِ الْكَلِمَةُ وَأَنْتُمْ أَوْلِيَاؤُهُ فَمَنْ تَوَلاكُمْ فَازَ وَمَنْ ظَلَمَ حَقَّكُمْ زَهَقَ مَوَدَّتُكُمْ مِنَ الله وَاجِبَةٌ فِي كِتَابِهِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ثُمَّ الله عَلَى نَصْرِكُمْ إِذَا يَشَاءُ قَدِيرٌ فَاصْبِرُوا لِعَوَاقِبِ الامُورِ فَإِنَّهَا إِلَى الله تَصِيرُ قَدْ قَبَّلَكُمُ الله مِنْ نَبِيِّهِ وَدِيعَةً وَاسْتَوْدَعَكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي الارْضِ فَمَنْ أَدَّى أَمَانَتَهُ آتَاهُ الله صِدْقَهُ فَأَنْتُمُ الامَانَةُ الْمُسْتَوْدَعَةُ وَلَكُمُ الْمَوَدَّةُ الْوَاجِبَةُ وَالطَّاعَةُ الْمَفْرُوضَةُ وَقَدْ قُبِضَ رَسُولُ الله وَقَدْ أَكْمَلَ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ وَبَيَّنَ لَكُمْ سَبِيلَ الْمَخْرَجِ فَلَمْ يَتْرُكْ لِجَاهِلٍ حُجَّةً فَمَنْ جَهِلَ أَوْ تَجَاهَلَ أَوْ أَنْكَرَ أَوْ نَسِيَ أَوْ تَنَاسَى فَعَلَى الله حِسَابُهُ وَالله مِنْ وَرَاءِ حَوَائِجِكُمْ وَأَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ الله وَالسَّلامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مِمَّنْ أَتَاهُمُ التَّعْزِيَةُ فَقَالَ مِنَ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى.

19. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad al-Asha‘ari has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Mansur ibn al-‘Abbas from Ali ibn Asbat from Ya’qub ibn Salim from a man from Abu Ja‘far who has said the following: “When the Messenger of Allah passed away the family of Muhammad experienced the longest night. They had a feeling as if the sky did not provide them shadow and the earth did not hold them up anymore. The Messenger of Allah had united all people just for the sake of Allah. In such a condition someone came to them whom they would not see but would hear his words. He offered them greetings saying, ‘Peace be with you, O members of the family of the Holy Prophet and may Allah’s mercy and blessings be with you. With Allah is the best of condolences for all kinds of suffering and the salvation from all forms of destruction and a remedy for the losses.

He then read the words of Allah, “Every soul is destined to experience the agony of death. You (Muslims) will receive the recompense for your deeds on the Day of Judgment. To be saved from the fire and admitted to Paradise is certainly a great triumph. The worldly life is no more than a deceitful possession.” He then continued, ‘Allah has selected you, granted you distinction, purified, and made members of the family of His prophet. He has entrusted you with His knowledge and has made you inherit His book. He has made you the chest (ark) of His knowledge and the staff of His Majesty. He has given for you an example of His light and has protected you from all sins and mistakes. He has protected you against all forms of mischief. Accept the condolences of Allah. Allah has not withdrawn His blessings away from you and He will never remove any of His bounties from you. You are the people of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Gracious, through whom the bounties increase, different groups become united and words receive harmony. You are His friends. Those who would love you achieve success and those who do injustice to you will vanish. To love you is obligatory because of the commands of Allah in His book on His believing servants. Besides, Allah has full power to help and support you whenever He would wish. Exercise patience against the consequences of the matters because they all proceed to Allah. Allah has accepted you as the Holy Prophet has entrusted you with Him and He has entrusted you with His believing faithful friends on earth. Whoever would be truthful to the trust with him Allah will give him the reward for his truthfulness. You are the entrusted trust and to love you obligatory on people and obedience to you is a duty. Allah has taken His Messenger away from this world and He has completed the religion for you. He has explained to you how to come out of (difficulties). He has not left any excuse for any one. Whoever, would not know or pretend to be ignorant, deny, forget or pretend to forget will be held accountable before Allah. Allah will always pursue to fulfill your needs. I entrust you with Allah. May peace and blessings be with you.”

The narrator has said that then he asked the Imam , “From who did the condolences come?” The Imam said, “It came from Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High.”

Ḥadīth #21: 1201

21 ـ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ الله عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله الْحُسَيْنِ الصَّغِيرِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْجَعْفَرِيِّ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ رِجَالِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ نَزَلَ جَبْرَئِيلُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يُقْرِئُكَ السَّلامَ وَيَقُولُ إِنِّي قَدْ حَرَّمْتُ النَّارَ عَلَى صُلْبٍ أَنْزَلَكَ وَبَطْنٍ حَمَلَكَ وَحَجْرٍ كَفَلَكَ فَالصُّلْبُ صُلْبُ أَبِيكَ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَالْبَطْنُ الَّذِي حَمَلَكَ فَ‏آمِنَةُ بِنْتُ وَهْبٍ وَأَمَّا حَجْرٌ كَفَلَكَ فَحَجْرُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ. وَفِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ وَفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ أَسَدٍ.

21. Ahmad b. Idris has narrated from al-Husayn b. ‘Ubaydallah from Abu ‘Abdallah al-Husayn al-Saghir from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Ja‘fari from Ahmad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Umar ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib from Abu ‘Abdallah and Muhammad ibn Yahya from Sa‘d ibn ‘Abdallah from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Ibn Fadhal from certain persons of his people from Abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following: “Once Jibrail came to the Holy Prophet and said, ‘O Muhammad, Allah offers you greetings and says, ‘I have prohibited the fire to harm the man and woman who carried your seed and the man whose lap provided you protection and guardianship. The man who carried your seed is ‘Abdallah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib and the woman whose womb carried you is ’Amina daughter of Wahab and the man whose lap provided you protection and guardianship is Abu Talib.’

In the hadith of Ibn Fadhal it says “… and Fatima daughter of Asad.”

Ḥadīth #27: 1207

27 ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الثَّقَفِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى عَنْ أَخِيهِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ دُرُسْتَ بْنِ أَبِي مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ لَمَّا وُلِدَ النَّبِيُّ مَكَثَ أَيَّاماً لَيْسَ لَهُ لَبَنٌ فَأَلْقَاهُ أَبُو طَالِبٍ عَلَى ثَدْيِ نَفْسِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ الله فِيهِ لَبَناً فَرَضَعَ مِنْهُ أَيَّاماً حَتَّى وَقَعَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ عَلَى حَلِيمَةَ السَّعْدِيَّةِ فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَيْهَا.

27. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Sa‘d ibn ‘Abdillah from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Thaqafi from Ali ibn al-Mu‘alla from his brother Muhammad from Durusta ibn Abu Mansur from Ali ibn Abu Hamza from Abu Basir from Abu ‘Abdallah who said: “When the Holy Prophet was born, he remained for days without milk. Abu Talib himself breastfed him and Allah sent milk through his nipples. He continued to be breasted by him for several days until Abu Talib found Halima al-Sa‘diyyah, so he gave him to her.”

Ḥadīth #28: 1208

28 ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ إِنَّ مَثَلَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ مَثَلُ أَصْحَابِ الْكَهْفِ أَسَرُّوا الايمَانَ وَأَظْهَرُوا الشِّرْكَ فَ‏آتَاهُمُ الله أَجْرَهُمْ مَرَّتَيْنِ.

28. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abu ‘Umayr from Hisham ibn Salim from Abu ‘Abdallah who has said the following: “The case of Abu Talib is like the case of the people of the cave who hid their faith and expressed polytheism. Allah gave them twice as much reward.”

Ḥadīth #29: 1209

29ـ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الازْدِيِّ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ قِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ أَبَا طَالِبٍ كَانَ كَافِراً فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا كَيْفَ يَكُونُ كَافِراً وَهُوَ يَقُولُ. أَ لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنَّا وَجَدْنَا مُحَمَّداً نَبِيّاً كَمُوسَى خُطَّ فِي أَوَّلِ الْكُتُبِ‏. وَفِي حَدِيثٍ آخَرَ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ أَبُو طَالِبٍ كَافِراً وَهُوَ يَقُولُ. لَقَدْ عَلِمُوا أَنَّ ابْنَنَا لا مُكَذَّبٌ لَدَيْنَا وَلا يَعْبَأُ بِقِيلِ الابَاطِلِ‏وَ أَبْيَضُ يُسْتَسْقَى الْغَمَامُ بِوَجْهِهِ ثِمَالُ الْيَتَامَى عِصْمَةٌ لِلارَامِلِ‏.

29. Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Ahmad ibn Ishaq from Bakr ibn Muhammad al-Azdi from Ishaq ibn Ja‘far from his father who said: “It was said to him (the Imam): ‘people claim that Abu Talib was an unbeliever.’ He said: ‘They lied, how could he be an unbeliever when he would say: “Do they not know that we found Muhammad as a prophet like Musa whose name is written in the ancient books.”?

According to another hadith he said, “How could Abu Talib be an unbeliever when he would say, “They certainly know that our child is not a liar to us and the false words are not paid any attention to. The (beautiful) white face (of Muhammad) that prays for rain from the clouds, is the helper of the orphans and the protector of the widows.’”

FURTHER READING

THE GOD OF JUDAISM PRAYS?

ALLAH: A SCHIZOPHRENIC DEITY WHO WORSHIPS HIMSELF

Revealing the God Whom Allah Worships and Prays To!

Dawagandist Mohammed Hijab Admits that his god Allah Worships like Muslims do!

Muhammad’s Family In Hell: How Allah Dishonored his “Prophet”

TRINITY IN THE LXX & “APOCRYPHA”

In the Hebrew version of Genesis, YHWH God states that he will make a suitable helper for the male whom had just formed from the dust of the ground, and whom he animated by breathing into his nostrils the Breath of life:

“Then Yahweh God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make (‘e’eseh– first person singular verb) him a helper suitable for him.’” Genesis 2:18 Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

The Greek rendering (typically known as the Septuagint [LXX]) contains an interest variant reading where, instead of YHWH speaking in the singular, “I will make,” it has him speaking in the plural instead:

Then the Lord God said, “it is not good that the man is alone; let US make (poiesomen) him a helper corresponding to him.” Genesis 2:18 (Genesis, translated by Robert J. V. Hiebert, found in A New English Translation of the Septuagint [NETS], published by Oxford University Press in 2009, including corrections and emendations made in the second printing (2009) and corrections and emendations made in June 2014, p. 7)

And the Lord God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone, let US make for him a help suitable to him. (GENESIS, in Brenton’s LXX)

Poiesomen is the first person plural active verbal form of poieo.

This same rendering of Genesis 2:18 is found in the Deuter-canonical writing (labeled “Apocrypha” by Protestants) called Tobit:

And Tobias began to say, “Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors, and blessed be your holy and glorious name for the ages. Let the heavens and all your creatures bless you. You made Adam and gave him a helper, Heua, a support–his wife. From them the human race has come. You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let US make (poiesomen) for him a helper like himself.’” Tobit 8:5-6 Gr I

So she got up, and they began to pray and implore that safety be theirs. And he began to say, “Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors, and blessed be your name for all the ages forever. Let the heavens and all your creation bless you for all the ages. You made Adam and made him a helper, a support–his wife Heua. And from the two of them the human race has come. And you said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; let US make (poiesomen) for him a helper like himself.’” Gr II (Tobit, translated by Alexander A. Di Lella, in NETS, p. 469)

Then began Tobias to say, Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, and blessed is thy holy and glorious name for ever; let the heavens bless thee, and all thy creatures. Thou madest Adam, and gavest him Eve his wife for an helper and stay: of them came mankind: thou hast said, It is not good that man should be alone; let US make unto him an aid like unto himself. (TOBIT, in Brenton’s LXX)

The variant may have been motivated by the way Genesis 1:26 describes God creating mankind, since both the Hebrew and the Greek have God speaking in the plural:

“Then God said, ‘Let US make (na’aseh) man in Our image (salmenu), according to Our likeness (demutenu), so that they will have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’” Genesis 1:26 LSB

Then God said, let US make (poiesomen) humankind according to OUR image (eikona hemeteran) and according to likeness and let them rule the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky and the cattle and all the earth and all the creeping things that creep upon the earth.” (Hiebert, Genesis, in NETS, p. 6)

And God said, Let US make man according to our image and likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the flying creatures of heaven, and over the cattle and all the earth, and over all the reptiles that creep on the earth. (Brenton’s LXX)

THE TRIUNE CREATOR

The reason why God is described as a plural Creator and Maker is because the inspired Scriptures teach that God created all things by and through his uncreated begotten Word/Wisdom, and his Holy Spirit:

“O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word (ho poiesas ta panta en logo sou) and by your wisdom (te Sophia sou) have formed humankind to have dominion over the creatures you have made and rule the world in holiness and righteousness and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul… Who has learned your counsel unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?” Wisdom of Solomon 9:1-3, 17 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

“By the word of the Lord (to logo tou Kyriou) the heavens were established; and all the host of them by the breath (to pneumatic [Spirit]) of his [mouth].” Psalm 32[Heb. 33]:6 (Brenton’s LXX)

“Let all thy creatures serve thee, for thou didst speak, and they were made. Thou didst send forth thy Spirit, and it formed them; there is none that can resist thy voice.” Judith 16:14 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The aforementioned texts present God as having employed his very own Word/Wisdom and Spirit to create and fashion all creation.

This accounts for God using plural verbs to describe his creating mankind, e.g., God was addressing his divine Word/Wisdom and Spirit since he personally involved and used them in the creation and fashioning of all things.

CHRIST: THE INCARNATE WORD & WISDOM PERSONIFIED

Remarkably, the inspired NT writings portray Jesus Christ as God’s very own uncreated Word who became flesh, and as the personification of that very Wisdom which God possessed from before creation.

This explains why the work of creation is ascribed to the prehuman Christ. I.e., being God’s Word/Wisdom Jesus was the Agent who brought the entire creation into being and who is personally, actively sustaining it:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people… The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him… And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4, 9-14 NRSVUE

“but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”1 Corinthians 1:23-24 NRSVUE

“yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 NRSVUE

“for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself IS before all things, and IN HIM all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” Colossians 1:16-20 NRSVUE

“And, ‘In the beginning, Lord [the Son], you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing; like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.’” Hebrews 1:10-12 NRSVUE

Jesus is further depicted as possessing the very qualities which the Deutero-canonical writings attribute to God’s Word/Wisdom.

For example, Wisdom/Word are said be seated alongside God on his throne from which they descend.

“give me the wisdom that sits by your throne, and do not reject me from among your children… With you is wisdom, she who knows your works and was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your sight and what is right according to your commandments. Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labor at my side and that I may learn what is pleasing to you. For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions and guard me with her glory. Then my works will be acceptable, and I shall judge your people justly and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.” Wisdom 9:4, 9-12 NRSVUE

God’s Almighty Word was also responsible for striking down the firstborn of the Egyptians with his sword during the Exodus:

“For though they had disbelieved everything because of their magic arts, yet when their firstborn were destroyed they acknowledged your people to be God’s child. For while gentle silence enveloped all things and night in its swift course was now half-gone, your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command, and stood and filled all things with death and touched heaven while standing on the earth.” Wisdom 18:13-16 NRSVUE

According to the NT, Jesus is that Word who sits enthroned with his Father, who was personally present during the Exodus, and who slays God’s enemies with the sword of his mouth!

“I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-4 NRSVUE

“To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21 NRSVUE

“Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and wages war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a scepter of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, ‘King of kings and Lord of lords.’… Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the brand of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21 NRSVUE – Cf. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 17:14

Amazingly, Divine Wisdom is depicted as possessing a host of qualities,

“I learned both what is secret and what is manifest, for wisdom, the fashioner of all things, taught me. There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique (monogenes), manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible, beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle. For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. For she is a breath of the power of God and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection (apaugasma) of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image (eikon) of his goodness. Although she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God and prophets, for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom. She is more beautiful than the sun and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be more radiant, for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.” Wisdom 7:21-30 NRSUE

Many of which are the very characteristics that the NT ascribe to Christ.

For instance, Jesus is the uniquely begotten One:

“No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son (monogenes), himself God, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.” John 1:18

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son (ton hyion ton monogene), so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life… Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God (tou monogenous hyiou tou theou).” John 3:16, 18

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son (ton hyion autou ton monogene) into the world so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9

Jesus is the image of the invisible God:

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing clearly the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image (eikon) of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Light will shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 NRSVUE

“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image (eikon) of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,” Colossians 1:13-15 NRSVUE

In fact, even the unique Greek word apaugasma found in Wisdom 7:26 is used to depict Jesus as the radiance/splendor of God’s own glory!

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection (apaugasma) of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Hebrews 1:1-3 NRSVUE

Jesus is also said to be the pure, undefiled, spotless, sinless and holy One, who is completely separate from sinners and transcends the heavens themselves:

“Furthermore, the former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” Hebrews 7:23-26 NRSVUE

It is clear that the inspired NT writers have deliberately presented Jesus in the same way that the OT Scriptures personify God’s very own uncreated Wisdom, which God brought forth out of himself in order to employ it to create the entire creation.

FURTHER READING

JEHOVAH GOD: OUR PLURAL CREATOR AND SUSTAINER

THE NWT TESTIFIES THAT THE TRINITY IS THE ETERNAL CREATOR!

The Early Church’s Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible’s Use of Plural Pronouns for God

Anti-Trinitarians agree that the reason why God in the OT referred to Himself in the plural is because He was speaking with his Divine Son!

CHRIST: THE UNCREATED CREATOR OF ALL CREATION

JESUS THE ETERNAL CREATOR AND SUSTAINER

JESUS AS THE ETERNAL CREATOR IN HEBREWS

JESUS CHRIST: SUPREME OVER ALL CREATION

The Book of Hebrews and Jesus as Creator

CHRISTIAN FABLES OF THE QURAN

In this post I will present examples of certain Christian fairytales, which the Quran passes off as historical events in the life of Christ that were revealed to Muhammad. This in itself proves the fraud of Islam, and exposes Muhammad as a false prophet who had no connection with the true God revealed in Jesus Christ.

THE CLAIM

The allegedly sound Islamic reports mention a certain Christian who boasted that Muhammad was getting his information from what this unnamed Christian was writing down for him:

Narrated Anas:

There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat-al-Baqara and Al-Imran, and he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet. Later on he returned to Christianity again and he used to say: “Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him.” Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them.” They again dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, “This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them.” They dug the grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground). (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Number 814; https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3617)

Ignoring the obvious legendary embellishments, the above narration provides clear evidence that Muhammad’s contemporaries were fully aware that Muhammad was deriving some of the Quranic fairytales from Christians with whom he came in contact.

The Muslim scripture itself bears witness to the fact that this is precisely what Muhammad was accused of doing, namely, writing down the fables of the ancients which he then passed off as revelations:

Those who disbelieve say: “This (the Qur’an) is nothing but a lie that he (Muhammad) has invented, and others have helped him at it, so that they have produced an unjust wrong (thing) and a lie.” And they say: “Tales of the ancients, which he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.” Say: “It (this Qur’an) has been sent down by Him (Allah) (the Real Lord of the heavens and earth) Who knows the secret of the heavens and the earth. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” S. 25:4-6 Hilali-Khan

With the foregoing in perspective I will now provide evidence that the unbelievers were right and that Muhammad did indeed plagiarize the myths and fables which were in circulation during that time.

THE QURAN

When the angels said, ‘Mary, God gives thee good tidings of a Word from Him whose name is Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary; high honoured shall he be in this world and the next, near stationed to God. He shall speak to men in the cradle, and of age, and righteous he shall be.’… to be a Messenger to the Children of Israel saying, “I have come to you with a sign from your Lord. I will create for you out of clay as the likeness of a bird; then I will breathe into it, and it will be a bird, by the leave of God. I will also heal the blind and the leper, and bring to life the dead, by the leave of God. I will inform you too of what things you eat, and what you treasure up in your houses. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers. S. 3:45-46, 49 Arberry

When God said, ‘Jesus Son of Mary, remember My blessing upon thee and upon thy mother, when I confirmed thee with the Holy Spirit, to speak to men in the cradle, and of age; and when I taught thee the Book, the Wisdom, the Torah, the Gospel; and when thou createst out of clay, by My leave, as the likeness of a bird, and thou breathest into it, and it is a bird, by My leave; and thou healest the blind and the leper by My leave, and thou bringest the dead forth by My leave; and when restrained from thee the Children of Israel when thou camest unto them with the clear signs, and the unbelievers among them said, “This is nothing but sorcery manifest.” S. 5:110 Arberry

“And make mention of Mary in the Scripture, when she had withdrawn from her people to a chamber looking East, And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art God-fearing. He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son. She said: How can I have a son when no mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste? He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained.

“And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place. And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a thing of naught, forgotten! Then (one) cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee, And shake the trunk of the palm-tree toward thee, thou wilt cause ripe dates to fall upon thee. So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal.

“Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing. O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy? He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive, And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!” S. 19:16-33 Pickthall

THE SOURCE

The traditions from which these Quranic fables are derived are found in the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. This pseudonymous work is itself a reworking of a very early pseudepigraphal writing from the 2^nd century AD called the Protevangelium of James the Lesser, and includes traditions that all predate the composition of the Quran. As the renowned Marian and Islamic scholar Stephen J. Shoemaker explains:

The Gospel of Ps.-Matthew is primarily a reworking of the Protevangelium of James, to which Ps.-Matthew adds some “unique” material, including in particular the story of Mary’s encounter with the date palm during the ﬂight into Egypt.²⁰ It was long thought that the Gospel of Ps.-Matthew was quite late, having been composed only in the eighth or ninth century,²¹ but more recent study has shown that this apocryphal gospel was probably composed in the late sixth or seventh century.²² In view of Ps.-Matthew’s combination of these early Christian apocryphal traditions, it might at ﬁrst glance be tempting to identify this apocryphon as the primary source of the Quran’s borrowed Christian traditions: most of the traditions that appear in the Quran are found in some form or another in Ps.-Matthew. Unfortunately, however, the solution is not so simple. In the ﬁrst place, the Gospel of Ps.-Matthew was probably

composed a little too late to have such an impact on the Quranic text, and, more importantly, this apocryphal gospel was ﬁrst composed in Latin somewhere in the Christian West and was completely unknown in the Christian East.²³Thus we must look elsewhere for an early Christian source, perhaps even a “non- literary” source, that may have inspired the Nativity traditions of the Quran.

The improbabilities of any literary contact between the Gospel of Ps.-Matthew and the world of the Quran might at ﬁrst glance appear to oﬀer some support for the traditional Muslim view of the Quran as a “pure revelation,” whose contents are not dependent on borrowings from earlier sources, but revealed directly from God.²⁴ Nevertheless, scholars of early Christian apocrypha have long recognized that Ps.-Matthew relies on earlier sources for many of its traditions, including the story of Mary and the palm in particular.²⁵ While we may never identify the exact source from which the author of Ps.-Matthew has borrowed this story, we may now at least be certain that this legend was known in early Christianity, and more speciﬁcally in the Christian East. Recent efforts by the present writer have shown that the story of Mary and the date palm circulated in the Christian Near East perhaps as early as the third century, and beyond any doubt by the early fifth century. The earliest extant version of this legend is found among the ancient traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption, a collection of narratives that describe the events of Mary’s departure from this life. As I have demonstrated in my recent book on these traditions, the narrative that best preserves the story of Mary and the date palm was first composed by the early fifth century at the latest, although the peculiar theology reflected in this narrative very strongly suggests its formation sometime in the third century, if not even earlier.²⁶ Several Syriac fragments copied in the later fifth century form the earliest witness to this narrative, and by the end of the sixth century, this version was widely dispersed throughout the cultures and languages of the Byzantine Near East. In contrast to the Gospel of Ps.-Matthew then, the ancient Dormition traditions present clear evidence that the story of Mary and the date palm circulated widely in the pre-Islamic Near East, providing favorable circumstances for its usage in the Quranic account of Jesus’ Nativity. (Shoemaker, Christmas in the Quran: the Quranic account of Jesus’s nativity and Palestinian local tradition, pp. 18-20 https://www.academia.edu/1057321/Christmas_in_the_Qur%C3%A4n_the_Qur%C3%A4nic_account_of_Jesuss_nativity_and_Palestinian_local_tradition; bold emphasis mine)

26 Stephen J. Shoemaker, Ancient Traditions of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption, Oxford Early Christian Studies (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2002), esp. ch. 3. This volume also includes a complete translation of the earliest Dormition narrative preserving this legend in appendix A. See also Stephen J. Shoemaker, “The (Re?)Discovery of the Kathisma Church and the Cult of the Virgin in Late Antique Palestine,” Maria: A Journal of Marian Studies 2 (2001): 21–72, esp. 29–36. (Ibid., p. 19)

Therefore, the Muslim has no way of getting around the fact that the Quran has taken these Christian fables and reworked them to fit the Islamic narrative.

With that said, here are the relevant sections from Ps.-Matthew which the author(s)/editor(s) of the Quran have drawn from. All emphasis is mine.

Here begins the book of the Birth of the Blessed Mary and the Infancy of the Saviour. Written in Hebrew by the Blessed Evangelist Matthew, and translated into Latin by the Blessed Presbyter Jerome.

To their well-beloved brother Jerome the Presbyter, Bishops Cromatius and Heliodorus in the Lord, greeting.

The birth of the Virgin Mary, and the nativity and infancy of our Lord Jesus Christ, we find in apocryphal books. But considering that in them many things contrary to our faith are written, we have believed that they ought all to be rejected, lest perchance we should transfer the joy of Christ to Antichrist. While, therefore, we were considering these things, there came holy men, Parmenius and Varinus, who said that your Holiness had found a Hebrew volume, written by the hand of the most blessed Evangelist Matthew, in which also the birth of the virgin mother herself, and the infancy of our Saviour, were written. And accordingly we entreat your affection by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, to render it from the Hebrew into Latin, not so much for the attainment of those things which are the insignia of Christ, as for the exclusion of the craft of heretics, who, in order to teach bad doctrine, have mingled their own lies with the excellent nativity of Christ, that by the sweetness of life they might hide the bitterness of death. It will therefore become your purest piety, either to listen to us as your brethren entreating, or to let us have as bishops exacting, the debt of affection which you may deem due.

Reply to Their Letter by Jerome.

To my lords the holy and most blessed Bishops Cromatius and Heliodorus, Jerome, a humble servant of Christ, in the Lord greeting.

He who digs in ground where he knows that there is gold, does not instantly snatch at whatever the uptorn trench may pour forth; but, before the stroke of the quivering spade raises aloft the glittering mass, he meanwhile lingers over the sods to turn them over and lift them up, and especially he who has not added to his gains. An arduous task is enjoined upon me, since what your Blessedness has commanded me, the holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew himself did not write for the purpose of publishing. For if he had not done it somewhat secretly, he would have added it also to his Gospel which he published. But he composed this book in Hebrew; and so little did he publish it, that at this day the book written in Hebrew by his own hand is in the possession of very religious men, to whom in successive periods of time it has been handed down by those that were before them. And this book they never at any time gave to any one to translate. And so it came to pass, that when it was published by a disciple of Manichæus named Leucius, who also wrote the falsely styled Acts of the Apostles, this book afforded matter, not of edification, but of perdition; and the opinion of the Synod in regard to it was according to its deserts, that the ears of the Church should not be open to it. Let the snapping of those that bark against us now cease; for we do not add this little book to the canonical writings, but we translate what was written by an Apostle and Evangelist, that we may disclose the falsehood of heresy. In this work, then, we obey the commands of pious bishops as well as oppose impious heretics. It is the love of Christ, therefore, which we fulfil, believing that they will assist us by their prayers, who through our obedience attain to a knowledge of the holy infancy of our Saviour.

There is extant another letter to the same bishops, attributed to Jerome: —

You ask me to let you know what I think of a book held by some to be about the nativity of St. Mary. And so I wish you to know that there is much in it that is false. For one Seleucus, who wrote the Sufferings of the Apostles, composed this book. But, just as he wrote what was true about their powers, and the miracles they worked, but said a great deal that was false about their doctrine; so here too he has invented many untruths out of his own head. I shall take care to render it word for word, exactly as it is in the Hebrew, since it is asserted that it was composed by the holy Evangelist Matthew, and written in Hebrew, and set at the head of his Gospel. Whether this be true or not, I leave to the author of the preface and the trustworthiness of the writer: as for myself, I pronounce them doubtful; I do not affirm that they are clearly false. But this I say freely — and I think none of the faithful will deny it — that, whether these stories be true or inventions, the sacred nativity of St. Mary was preceded by great miracles, and succeeded by the greatest; and so by those who believe that God can do these things, they can be believed and read without damaging their faith or imperilling their souls. In short, so far as I can, following the sense rather than the words of the writer, and sometimes walking in the same path, though not in the same footsteps, sometimes digressing a little, but still keeping the same road, I shall in this way keep by the style of the narrative, and shall say nothing that is not either written there, or might, following the same train of thought, have been written…

Chapter 20.

And it came to pass on the third day of their journey, while they were walking, that the blessed Mary was fatigued by the excessive heat of the sun in the desert; and seeing a palm tree, she said to Joseph: Let me rest a little under the shade of this tree. Joseph therefore made haste, and led her to the palm, and made her come down from her beast. And as the blessed Mary was sitting there, she looked up to the foliage of the palm, and saw it full of fruit, and said to Joseph: I wish it were possible to get some of the fruit of this palm. And Joseph said to her: I wonder that you say this, when you see how high the palm tree is; and that you think of eating of its fruit. I am thinking more of the want of water, because the skins are now empty, and we have none wherewith to refresh ourselves and our cattle. Then the child Jesus, with a joyful countenance, reposing in the bosom of His mother, said to the palm: O tree, bend your branches, and refresh my mother with your fruit. And immediately at these words the palm bent its top down to the very feet of the blessed Mary; and they gathered from it fruit, with which they were all refreshed. And after they had gathered all its fruit, it remained bent down, waiting the order to rise from Him who had commanded it to stoop. Then Jesus said to it: Raise yourself, O palm tree, and be strong, and be the companion of my trees, which are in the paradise of my Father; and open from your roots a vein of water which has been hid in the earth, and let the waters flow, so that we may be satisfied from you. And it rose up immediately, and at its root there began to come forth a spring of water exceedingly clear and cool and sparkling. And when they saw the spring of water, they rejoiced with great joy, and were satisfied, themselves and all their cattle and their beasts. Wherefore they gave thanks to God.

Chapter 21.

And on the day after, when they were setting out thence, and in the hour in which they began their journey, Jesus turned to the palm, and said: This privilege I give you, O palm tree, that one of your branches be carried away by my angels, and planted in the paradise of my Father. And this blessing I will confer upon you, that it shall be said of all who conquer in any contest, You have attained the palm of victory. And while He was thus speaking, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and stood upon the palm tree; and taking off one of its branches, flew to heaven with the branch in his hand. And when they saw this, they fell on their faces, and became as it were dead. And Jesus said to them: Why are your hearts possessed with fear? Do you not know that this palm, which I have caused to be transferred to paradise, shall be prepared for all the saints in the place of delights, as it has been prepared for us in this place of the wilderness? And they were filled with joy; and being strengthened, they all rose up…

Chapter 27.

And it came to pass, after these things, that in the sight of all Jesus took clay from the pools which He had made, and of it made twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when Jesus did this, and there were very many children with Him. When, therefore, one of the Jews had seen Him doing this, he said to Joseph: Joseph, do you not see the child Jesus working on the Sabbath at what it is not lawful for him to do? For he has made twelve sparrows of clay. And when Joseph heard this, he reproved him, saying: Why do you do on the Sabbath such things as are not lawful for us to do? And when Jesus heard Joseph, He struck His hands together, and said to His sparrows: Fly! And at the voice of His command they began to fly. And in the sight and hearing of all that stood by, He said to the birds: Go and fly through the earth, and through all the world, and live. And when those that were there saw such miracles, they were filled with great astonishment. And some praised and admired Him, but others reviled Him. And certain of them went away to the chief priests and the heads of the Pharisees, and reported to them that Jesus the son of Joseph had done great signs and miracles in the sight of all the people of Israel. And this was reported in the twelve tribes of Israel…

Chapter 30.

Now a certain Jewish schoolmaster named Zachyas heard Jesus thus speaking; and seeing that He could not be overcome, from knowing the power that was in Him, he became angry, and began rudely and foolishly, and without fear, to speak against Joseph. And he said: Do you not wish to entrust me with your son, that he may be instructed in human learning and in reverence? But I see that Mary and yourself have more regard for your son than for what the elders of the people of Israel say against him. You should have given more honour to us, the elders of the whole church of Israel, both that he might be on terms of mutual affection with the children, and that among us he might be instructed in Jewish learning. Joseph, on the other hand, said to him: And is there any one who can keep this child, and teach him? But if you can keep him and teach him, we by no means hinder him from being taught by you those things which are learned by all.

And Jesus, having heard what Zachyas had said, answered and said to him: The precepts of the law which you have just spoken of, and all the things that you have named, must be kept by those who are instructed in human learning; but I am a stranger to your law-courts, because I have no father after the flesh. You who read the law, and are learned in it, abide in the law; but I was before the law. But since you think that no one is equal to you in learning, you shall be taught by me, that no other can teach anything but those things which you have named. But he alone can who is worthy. For when I shall be exalted on earth, I will cause to cease all mention of your genealogy. For you know not when you were born: I alone know when you were born, and how long your life on earth will be. Then all who heard these words were struck with astonishment, and cried out: Oh! Oh! Oh! This marvellously great and wonderful mystery. Never have we heard the like! Never has it been heard from any one else, nor has it been said or at any time heard by the prophets, or the Pharisees, or the scribes. We know whence he is sprung, and he is scarcely five years old; and whence does he speak these words?

The Pharisees answered: We have never heard such words spoken by any other child so young. And Jesus answered and said to them: At this do ye wonder, that such things are said by a child? Why, then, do ye not believe me in those things which I have said to you? And you all wonder because I said to you that I know when you were born. I will tell you greater things, that you may wonder more. I have seen Abraham, whom you call your father, and have spoken with him; and he has seen me. John 8:56-58 And when they heard this they held their tongues, nor did any of them dare to speak. And Jesus said to them: I have been among you with children, and you have not known me; I have spoken to you as to wise men, and you have not understood my words; because you are younger than I am, and of little faith. (Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (c. 400))

REMARKS

The Christian sources, from which the Quranic fables are derived, present Jesus as the preexistent divine Son of God who became flesh from the holy and blessed Virgin. The Quran has reworked these stories so as to present Jesus as the slave and prophet of Allah. Aside from this difference, it is apparent that these Quranic fairytales of Jesus creating and animating clay birds, and commanding a palm tree to provide sustenance for his blessed Mother while he was still an infant, are dependent upon these Christian myths.

Therefore, the disbelievers were right in accusing Muhammad of simply regurgitating the ancient tales and mythologies that were current among his pagan, Jewish and Christian contemporaries, which he then claimed were revelations sent down to him from his lord.

FURTHER READING

Christian Fables That Expose the Fraud of Muhammad