Seventh Assembly

1 - قال: أخبرني أبو غالب أحمد بن محمد الزراري رحمه الله قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن جعفر الحميري قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن محمد بن سنان، عن صالح بن يزيد، عن أبي عبد الله الصادق جعفر بن محمد عليهما السلام قال: سمعته يقول: تبحروا قلوبكم فإن أنقاها الله من حركة الواجس لسخط شئ من صنعه فإذا وجدتموها كذلك. فاسألوه ما شئتم .

1. He said: Abu Ghalib Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Zurari, may Allah have mercy on him, reported to me from Abdullah ibn Ja’far al-Himyari, who reported from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa, who reported from al-Husayn ibn Saeed, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Swaleh ibn Yazid, from Abu Abdillah al-Sadiq Ja’far ibn Muhammad (A.S.): I heard him say: "Dive deep into your hearts, to find if Allah has cleansed and purified it from all displeasure and fear regarding His Will. If you find it so, then ask for Him whatever you desire."

2 - قال: أخبرني أبو الحسن علي بن خالد المراغي قال: حدثنا أبو القاسم الحسن بن علي الكوفي قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مروان الغزال قال: حدثنا أبي قال: حدثنا عبيد بن خنيس العبدي قال: حدثنا صباح بن يحيى المزني عن عبد الله بن شريك، عن الحارث بن ثعلبة قال: قدم رجلان يريدان مكة والمدينة في الهلال أو قبل الهلال، فوجد الناس ناهضين إلى الحج. قال: [قالا:] فخرجنا معهم فإذا نحن بركب فيهم رجل كأنه أميرهم، فانتبذ منهم فقال: كونا عراقيين، قلنا: نحن عراقيان، قال: كونا كوفيين، قلنا: نحن كوفيان، قال: ممن أنتما؟ قلنا: من بني كنانة، قال: من أي بني كنانة؟ قلنا: من بني مالك بن كنانة، قال: رحب على رحب وقرب على قرب ، أنشدكما بكل كتاب منزل ونبي مرسل أسمعتما علي بن أبي طالب يسبني أو يقول: إنه معادي ومقاتلي؟ قلنا: من أنت؟ قال: أنا سعد بن أبي وقاص، قلنا: لا، ولكن سمعناه يقول: " اتقوا فتنة الأخينس " . قال: الخنيس كثير ولكن سمعتماه يضني باسمي؟ قالا: [قلنا] لا، قال: الله أكبر، الله أكبر، قد ضللت إذن، وما أنا من المهتدين إن أنا قاتلته بعد أربع سمعتهن من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم فيه، لأن تكون لي واحدة منهن أحب إلي من الدنيا وما فيها أعمر فيها عمر نوح. قلنا: سمهن [لنا]، قال: ما ذكرتهن إلا وأنا أريد أن أسميهن: بعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم أبا بكر ببراءة لينبذ إلى المشركين، فلما سار ليله أو بعض ليله بعث بعلي بن أبي طالب نحوه فقال: اقبض ببراءة منه واردده إلي. فمضى إليه أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقبض براءة منه ورده إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم، فلما مثل بين يديه عليه السلام بكى ، وقال: يا رسول الله أحدث في شئ أم نزل في قرآن؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: " لم ينزل فيك قرآن [و] لكن جبرئيل عليه السلام جاءني عن الله عز وجل فقال: لا يؤدي عنك إلا أنت أو رجل منك، وعلي مني وأنا من علي، ولا يؤدي عني إلا علي " . قلنا له: وما الثانية؟ قال: كنا في مسجد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وآل علي وآل أبي بكر وآل عمر وأعمامه، قال: فنودي فينا ليلا اخرجوا من المسجد إلا آل رسول الله وآل علي، قال: فخرجنا نجر قلاعنا ، فلما أصبحنا أتاه عمه حمزة فقال: يا رسول الله أخرجتنا وأسكنت هذا الغلام، ونحن عمومتك ومشيخة أهلك؟! فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: " ما أنا أخرجتكم، ولا أنا أسكنته ولكن الله عز وجل أمرني بذلك ". قلنا له: فما الثالثة؟ قال: بعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم برايته إلى خيبر مع أبي بكر فردها، فبعث بها مع عمر فردها، فغضب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم وقال: " لأعطين الراية غدا رجلا يحبه الله ورسوله، ويحب الله ورسوله، كرارا غير فرار ، لا يرجع حتى يفتح الله على يديه ". قال: فلما أصبحنا جثونا على الركب فلم نره يدعو أحدا منا، ثم نادي أين علي بن أبي طالب؟ فجئ به وهو أرمد . فتفل في عينه، وأعطاه الراية ففتح الله على يد [ي] ه. قلنا: فما الرابعة؟ قال: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم خرج غازيا إلى تبوك واستخلف عليا على الناس فحسدته قريش، وقالوا: إنما خلفه لكراهية صحبته قال: فانطلق في أثره حتى لحقه فأخذ بغرز ناقته ، ثم قال: إني لتابعك، قال: ما شأنك؟ فبكى وقال: إن قريشا تزعم أنك إنما خلفتني لبغضك لي وكراهيتك صحبتي . قال: فأمر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم مناديه فنادى في الناس، ثم قال: أيها الناس أفيكم أحد إلا وله من أهله خاصة؟ قالوا: أجل، قال: فإن علي بن أبي طالب خاصة أهلي وحبيبي إلى قلبي. ثم أقبل على أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقال له: أما ترضى أن تكون مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي ؟! فقال علي عليه السلام: رضيت عن الله ورسوله. ثم قال سعد: هذه أربعة، وإن شئتما حدثتكما بخامسة. قلنا: قد شئنا ذلك. قال: كنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم في حجة الوداع، فلما عاد نزل غدير خم، وأمر مناديه فنادى في الناس: " من كنت مولاه فهذا علي مولاه، اللهم وال من والاه، وعاد من عاداه، وانصر من نصره، واخذل من خذله ".

2. He said: Abul Hasan ‘Ali ibn Khalid al-Maraghi reported to me from Abul Qasim al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali al-Kufi, who reported from Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan al-Ghazzal, who reported from his father, who reported from Ubaid ibn Khunais al-Abdi, who reported from Sabbah ibn Yahya al-Muzni, from Abdullah ibn Sharik, from al-Harith ibn Tha’labah who said: Two men left for Makkah and Medina in or before the month, and came upon a group leaving for Haj. They said: We joined them, and as we rode forward, we came across a man who seemed to be their leader. He pulled himself aside from the group, and came to us asking: "You are from Iraq?" We said: "Yes, we are Iraqis." He said: "You may be from Kufa?" We said: "Yes, we are from Kufa." He asked: "To which clan do you belong?" We said: "We are from Banu Kananah." He asked: "Which family of Banu Kananah?" We said: "We are from the descendants of Malik ibn Kananah." He said: "Most welcome, most welcome. I beseech you in the name of the Holy Revelation and the Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny), did you ever hear ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) abusing me, or saying that he was my enemy or that he would fight me?" We said: "No, but we have heard him say: Be on your guard against the deviations of the pug-nosed." He said: "There are many who are pug-nosed, but did you hear him grudging against me by name?" We said: "No.". (Upon hearing this), he said: "Allah is Great. Allah is Great. I should have gone astray, and would not be among the rightly guided, if I fight or be his adversary, (especially) after the four virtues I learned from the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, regarding him {i.e. ‘Ali (as)}. For if I had only one of those four, I would have valued it more than the whole world and whichever is in it, spending in it the life span of Noah." We said: "Mention them to us." He said: "I did not recall this but for the purpose of mentioning them. The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, sent Abu Bakr with the verses of al-Bar’aah (Surah al-Tawbah) to declare them to the infidels (of Makkah), but when he had travelled for a night or a part of it, the Prophet sent ‘Ali to Abu Bakr saying: "Take charge of the declaration from him, and send him back to me." So Amirul Mu’mineen, peace be upon him, proceeded, and having taken the charge from Abu Bakr, asked him to return to the Prophet. When he arrived before the Prophet, he (i.e. Abu Bakr) wept and said: "O messenger of Allah! Has anything (untoward) happened about me, or has any Qur’anic revelation occurred about me?" Then the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "No Qur’anic revelation has come to me about you, but Jibraeel, peace be upon him, descended upon me with the divine command, saying: ’No one can discharge this responsibility except yourself or someone of yourself.’ And ‘Ali is of me and I am of him, so no one will purvey on my behalf but ‘Ali." We asked: "And what is the second one?" He said: We lived in the mosque of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, together with the family of ‘Ali. The family of Abu Bakr, the family of Umar and his uncles. Then one night, it was announced to us: "With the exception of the Prophet’s family and the family of ‘Ali, all others must withdraw and quit. So we vacated dragging our bag and baggage. In the morning, his uncle, Hamzah, came to him and said: "O messenger of Allah, you evicted us and allowed this young boy to remain? We are your uncles and the elders of your family." Then the Prophet said: "I did not ask you to leave, nor did I allow him (i.e. ‘Ali) to stay. It was by the command of Allah, Most High." We said: "And what is the third?" He said: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, appointed Abu Bakr as a standard bearer and sent him to the fort of Khaybar. He brought it back. Then he appointed Umar, who also brought it back (without success). The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, was deeply disturbed, so he said: "Tomorrow, I shall indeed give the standard to a man who Allah and His Prophet love, and he (too) loves Allah and His Prophet. He will be the steadfast one, never running away. He will not return till Allah blesses (us) with victory upon his hands." When the next day dawned, we raised ourselves on our knees and toes, but did not find him calling anyone from among us. He then announced: "Where is ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib?" ‘Ali was brought to him, suffering from sore-eye. He put his saliva into his eyes, gave him the standard. And Allah blessed (us) with the victory at his hands." We aid: "And what is the fourth one?" He said: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, left for the battle of Tabuk, leaving behind ‘Ali in his place. The Quraishites became jealous of him (i.e. ‘Ali) and said: "The Prophet has left him behind because he does not like his company." (When ‘Ali heard this), he followed the Prophet and upon arrival, placed his hand on the stirrup of the Prophet’s camel, saying: "Surely, I will follow you." The Prophet said: "What has happened to you?" He wept and said: "The Quraishites believe that you left me behind because you hate me, and do not prefer my company." The Prophet ordered an announcement for people to assemble and then (addressing them) said: "O people, Is there anyone among you who does not have the closest and most distinctly notable among his relatives." They said: "Yes, we do have." Then he said: "Surely, ‘Ali, son of Abu Talib, is the closest to me among my relatives, and is most beloved to my heart." Then he came to ‘Ali (as) and said: "Does it not please you to be to me what Haroon was to Musa; except that there is no prophet after me?" ‘Ali said: "My pleasure is with Allah and His Prophet." Then Sa’d said: "These are the four virtues, and if you feel inclined, I may relate to you the fifth one!" We said: "We would like to know it." He said: "We were with the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, in the farewell pilgrimage. When returning (from Haj) he dismounted at Ghadeer Khumm, and ordered an announcement for all to assemble. Then he proclaimed: "O people, of whoever I am the master, this ‘Ali also is his master. O Allah, befriend one who befriends him, and hate one who hates him. Help one who helps him, and forsake one who forsakes him."

3 - قال: أخبرني أبو الحسن علي بن خالد المراغي القلانسي قال: حدثنا أبو القاسم الحسن بن علي بن الحسن قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مروان قال: حدثنا أبي قال: حدثنا إسحاق بن يزيد قال: حدثنا خالد بن مختار قال: حدثنا الأعمش، عن حبة العرني قال: سمعت حذيفة بن اليمان قبل أن يقتل عثمان بن عفان بسنة وهو يقول: كأني بأمكم الحميراء قد سارت يساق بها على جمل وأنتم آخذون بالشوى والذنب، معها الأزد أدخلهم الله النار، وأنصارها بنوضبة جد الله أقدامهم. قال: فلما كان يوم الجمل وبرز الناس بعضهم لبعض نادى منادي أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله عليه: لا يبدأن أحد منكم بقتال حتى آمركم . قال: فرموا فينا: فقلنا: يا أمير المؤمنين قد رمينا، فقال: كفوا، ثم رمونا فقتلوا منا، قلنا يا أمير المؤمنين قد قتلونا، فقال: احملوا على بركة الله. قال: فحملنا عليهم فأنشب بعضنا في بعض الرماح حتى لو مشي ماش لمشي عليها، ثم نادي منادي علي عليه السلام: عليكم بالسيوف فجعلنا نضرب بها البيض فتنبوا لنا، فنادى منادي أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: عليكم بالأقدام. قال: فما رأينا يوما كان أكثر قطع أقدام منه. قال: فذكرت حديث حذيفة " أنصارها بنو ضبة جد الله أقدامهم " فعلمت أنها دعوة مستجابة. ثم نادى منادي أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: عليكم بالبعير فإنه شيطان. قال: فعقره رجل برمحه، وقطع إحدى يديه رجل آخر فبرك ورغا وصاحت عائشة صيحة شديدة، فولى الناس منهزمين، فنادى منادي أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: لا تجيزوا على جريح ، ولا تتبعوا مدبرا، ومن أغلق بابه فهو آمن، ومن ألقى سلاحه فهو آمن.

3. He said: Abul Hasan ‘Ali ibn Khalid al-Maraghi al-Qalanisi reported to me from Abul Qasim al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Hasan, who reported from Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan who reported from his father, who reported from Ishaq ibn Yazid, who reported from Khalid ibn Mukhtar, who reported from al-A’amash from Habbah alArani, who said: I heard Hudhaifa ibn al-Yaman a year before Uthman ibn Affan was killed, saying: "As if I see your mother al-Humayra (i.e. Ayesha) on an expedition, being led on a camel, and you all clinging to the camel’s flank and tail. She is with the people of Azd (a tribe) and is supported by Banu Dhabbah; may Allah sever their feet." Then he said: When the battle of Jamal (the Camel) took place, and people prepared to confront each other, an announcer announced on behalf of Amirul Mu’mineen, peace be upon him, saying: "No one of you shall initiate the fight without my orders." Then they arrived: their arrows and hit us. We said: "O Amirul Mu’mineen, we have been hit." He said: "Withhold." Then again, they hit us and killed some of us. We said: "O Amirul Mon’mineen, we have been killed." So he said: "Attack! With the blessing of Allah." He said: We attached our raised lances and spears to each others’, so close, that if someone were to walk, he could walk over them. Then ‘Ali (A.S.) announced: "Take to the swords." So we began to strike at their helmets but our swords bounced off. Then Amirul Mu’mineen said: "Aim at the feet." He said: We have never seen so many feet chopped off on any one day. Then I remembered the narration of Hudhaifa when he mentioned Banu Dhabbah as her helpers, saying "may Allah sever their feet." I knew that it was a prayer, which had been answered. Then Amirul Mu’mineen announced: "Proceed towards the camel for it is surely Satan." One soldier wounded the camel with his spear, and another one cut off its hand, so it fell to the ground with foam spurring from its mouth. Then Ayesha uttered a loud cry and her people turned back defeated. So, Amirul Mu’mineen announced: "Do not attack those who are fallen with wounds, and do not chase those who have fled. And whoever shuts his door, he shall be in peace. And whoever lays down his arms he shall be in peace."

4 - قال: أخبرني أبو حفص عمر بن محمد الصيرفي قال: حدثنا محمد بن همام الإسكافي قال: حدثنا أحمد بن إدريس قال: حدثنا أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى الأشعري، عن علي بن النعمان، عن فضيل بن عثمان ، عن محمد بن شريح قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله جعفر بن محمد عليهما السلام يقول: إن الله فرض ولايتنا، و أوجب مودتنا. والله ما نقول بأهوائنا، ولا نعمل بآرائنا، ولا نقول إلا ما قال ربنا عز وجل.

4. He said: Abu Hafs Umar ibn Muhammad al-Sayrafi reported to me from Muhammad ibn Hammam al-Askafi who reported from Ahmad ibn Idrees, who reported from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa al-Asha’ri, from ‘Ali ibn No-man, from Fudhail ibn Uthman, from Muhammad ibn Shurayh who said: I heard Abu Abdillah Ja’far ibn Muhammad, peace be upon him, say: "Surely, Allah has enforced our authority, and made it obligatory upon people to love us. By Allah, we do not say anything out of caprice or our desire, and we do not act according to our views. We do not say except that which our Lord, Most High, has said."

5 - قال: أخبرني أحمد بن محمد بن الحسن بن الوليد، عن أبيه، عن الحسين ابن الحسن بن أبان، عن محمد بن أورمة، عن إسماعيل بن أبان الوراق، عن الربيع بن بدر، عن أبي حاتم، عن أنس بن مالك قال: رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: يا أنس أكثر من الطهور يزد الله في عمرك، وإن استطعت أن تكون بالليل والنهار على طهارة فافعل، فإنك تكون إذا مت على الطهارة شهيدا . وصل صلاة الزوال فإنها صلاة الأوابين . وأكثر من التطوع تحبك الحفظة. وسلم على من لقيت يزد الله في حسناتك، وسلم في بيتك يزد الله في بركتك، ووقر كبير المسلمين، وارحم صغيرهم أجئ أنا وأنت يوم القيامة كهاتين، وجمع بين الوسطى والمسبحة .

5. He said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Walid has reported to me from his father, who reported from al-Husayn ibn al-Hasan ibn Aban, from Muhammad ibn Awramah, from Ismail ibn Aban al-Warraq, who reported from al-Rabee’ ibn Badr, from Abu Hatim, from Anas ibn Malik, who reported that: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "O Anas, be always pure and clean, and Allah will increase your years (i.e. lifetime). And if you can remain in the state of purity through the day and the night, then do so; for if you die in the state of purity (Taharat, Wudhoo etc.), you will die a martyr. And be steadfast on the noon prayers, for it is the prayers of those who return to Allah with repentance. And perform as many optional prayers as possible, so that the appointed keepers (Angels) have affection for you. And initiate Salaam upon one you meet, so that Allah augments your good deeds. Greet with Salaam your household, and it will be full of divine blessings. Show veneration to the elder Muslims, and be kind to their young ones, so that when you and I arrive on the Day of Judgement, we come like these two - then he demonstrated by his first two fingers."

6 - قال: أخبرني أبو عبيد الله محمد بن عمران المرزباني قال: حدثنا أبو الفضل عبد الله بن محمد الطوسي قال: حدثنا أبو عبد الرحمن عبد الله بن أحمد بن محمد بن حنبل قال: حدثنا محمد بن يحيى بن أبي سمينة قال: حدثنا عبيد الله بن موسى قال: حدثنا مطر الإسكاف قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: إن أخي ووزيري وخليفتي في أهلي وخير من أترك بعدي، يقضي ديني وينجز بوعدي علي بن أبي طالب.

6. He said: Abu Ubaidullah Muhammad ibn Imran al-Marzbani reported to me from Abul Fadhl Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Tusi, who reported from Abu Abdul Rahman Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal, who reported from Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn Abi Saminah, who reported from Ubaidullah ibn Musa, who reported from Matar al-Iskaf that: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Verily, ‘Ali is my brother, my minister and my successor in the family, and he is the best of all who survive me, he will repay my debts and fulfil my pledges."

7 - قال أخبرني أبو عبيد الله محمد بن عمران المرزباني قال حدثنا أبو الفضل عبد الله بن محمد الطوسي [رحمه الله] قال: حدثنا عبد الله بن أحمد بن حنبل قال: حدثنا علي بن حكيم الأودي قال: أخبرنا شريك ، عن عثمان بن أبي زرعة، عن سالم بن أبي الجعد قال: سئل جابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري وقد سقط حاجباه على عينيه فقيل له: أخبرنا عن علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام. [قال] فرفع حاجبيه بيديه، ثم قال: ذاك خير البرية، لا يبغضه إلا منافق، ولا يشك فيه إلا كافر.

7. He said: Abu Ubaidullah Muhammad ibn Imran al-Marzbani reported to me from Abul Fadhl Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Tusi (may Allah bless him with mercy) who reported from Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who reported from ‘Ali ibn Hakim al-Awadi, who reported from Sharik, from Uthman ibn Abu Zara’h, from Salim ibn Abi al-Ja’d that: Jabir ibn Abdillah al-Ansari was once asked, (during his old age) when his eyebrows had fallen over his eyes: "Tell us about ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him." Jabir lifted his eyebrows with his hands and said: "He is the best of all creatures, no one hates him but a hypocrite and no one doubts in him except an infidel."

8 - قال: أخبرني أبو حفص عمر بن محمد الصيرفي قال: حدثنا أبو الحسين العباس بن المغيرة الجوهري قال: حدثنا أحمد بن منصور الرمادي أبو بكر قال: حدثني أحمد بن صالح قال: حدثنا عنبسة قال: حدثنا يونس، عن ابن شهاب، عن ابن مخرمة الكندي قال: إن عمر بن الخطاب خرج ذات يوم فإذا هو بمجلس فيه علي [بن أبي طالب] عليه السلام وعثمان وعبد الرحمن وطلحة و الزبير، فقال عمر: أكلكم يحدث نفسه بالإمارة بعدي؟ فقال الزبير: كلنا يحدث نفسه بالإمارة بعدك ويراها له أهلا ، فما الذي أنكرت؟ فقال عمر: أفلا أحدثكم بما عندي فيكم؟ فسكتوا. فقال عمر: ألا أحدثكم عنكم؟ فسكتوا، فقال له الزبير: حدثنا وإن سكتنا. فقال: أما أنت يا زبير فمؤمن الرضا كافر الغضب، تكون يوما شيطانا ويوما إنسانا، أفرأيت اليوم الذي تكون فيه شيطانا من يكون الخليفة يومئذ؟ وأما أنت يا طلحة فوالله لقد توفي رسول الله [صلى الله عليه وآله] وإنه عليك لعاتب . وأما أنت يا علي فإنك صاحب بطالة ومزاح . وأما أنت يا عبد الرحمن فوالله إنك لما جاءك من خير أهل. وإن منكم لرجلا لو قسم إيمانه بين جند من الأجناد لوسعهم وهو عثمان .

8. He said: Abu Hafs Umar ibn Muhammad al-Sayrafi reported to me from Abu al-Husayn al-Abbas ibn al-Mughairah al-Jawhari, who reported from Ahmad ibn Mansur al-Ramadi Abu Bakr, who reported from Ahmad ibn Swaleh, who reported from Anbasah, who reported from Yunus, from Ibn Shihab, from Ibn al-Mukhramah al-Kindi that: Umar ibn al-Khattab once arrived at an assembly where ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, and Uthman and Abdul Rehman and Talha and al-Zubair were present. So Umar said: "Does everyone of you aspire to becoming a leader after I have gone?" Al-Zubair replied: "Everyone of us aspires, and believes to be fit for it. What is that you disapprove?" Umar said: "May I not tell you what I think about you?" They remained silent. (Again) Umar said: "May I not tell you about yourselves?" They kept silent. Then al-Zubair said: "Say, despite our silence." So he (Umar) said: "As far as you, O Zubair, are concerned, you are at your best when pleased and content, and you are at your worst when offended and angry. There is a day when you are a devil, and a day when you are a man. Tell me, who will be the Caliph on the day you turn to be a devil? And you, O Talha, by Allah, the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, left this world displeased with you. And you, O ‘Ali, you are a man of inactivity and frivolity. And you, O Abdul Rehman, you are best qualified for it if the position ever comes to you. But surely among you there is a man whose faith encompasses the faith of the multitude, and he is Uthman."

9 - قال: أخبرني أبو حفص عمر بن محمد قال: حدثنا أبو عبد الله جعفر بن محمد بن جعفر الحسني قال: حدثنا أبو موسى عيسى بن مهران قال: حدثنا أبو يشكر البلخي قال: حدثنا موسى بن عبيدة، عن محمد بن كعب القرظي عن عوف بن مالك قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله ذات يوم: يا ليتني قد لقيت إخواني، فقال له أبو بكر وعمر: أو لسنا إخوانك؟ آمنا بك وهاجرنا معك؟ قال صلى الله عليه وآله: قد آمنتم وهاجرتم وياليتني قد لقيت إخواني، فأعادا القول؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: أنتم أصحابي [و] لكن إخواني الذين يأتون من بعدكم يؤمنون بي ويحبوني وينصروني ويصدقوني وما رأوني، فيا ليتني قد لقيت إخواني.

9. He said: Abu Hafs Umar ibn Muhammad reported to me from Abu Abdillah Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Ja’far al-Hasani who reported from Abu Musa Isa ibn Mahran, who reported from Abu Yashkur al-Balkhi, who reported from Musa ibn Ubaidah, from Muhammad ibn Ka’b al-Qurzi, from Awf ibn Malik, that: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, once said: "How eager am I to meet my brothers." So Abu Bakr and Umar said: "Are we not your brothers? We have believed in you, and migrated with you." The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "No doubt, you have believed and migrated, yet I am eager to meet my brothers." Then he repeated the statement. Then he said: "You are my companions. But my brothers are those who will come after you have gone. They will believe in me, love me, help me, and confirm me - without ever having seen me. How I wish to meet my brothers!"

10 - قال: أخبرني أبو بكر محمد بن عمر الجعابي قال: حدثني أبو الحسن محمد بن يحيى التميمي [قال: حدثنا الحسن بن بهرام] قال: حدثني الحسن بن يحيى قال: حدثني الحسن بن حمدون ، عن محمد بن إبراهيم بن عبد الله قال: حدثني سدير الصيرفي قال: كنت عند أبي عبد الله جعفر بن محمد عليهما السلام وعنده جماعة من أهل الكوفة، فأقبل عليهم وقال لهم: حجوا قبل أن لا يحجوا. حجوا قبل أن يمنع البر جانبه . حجوا قبل هدم مسجد فالعراق [- ين] بين نخل وأنهار. حجوا قبل أن تقطع سدرة بالزوراء نبتت على عسل عروق النخلة التي إجتنت منها مريم عليها السلام رطبا جنيا، فعند ذلك تمنعون الحج، وتنقص الثمار، وتجدب البلاد، وتبتلون بغلاء الأسعار، وجور السلطان، ويظهر فيكم الظلم والعدوان، مع البلاء والوباء والجوع، وتظلكم الفتن من جميع الآفاق، فويل لكم يا أهل العراق إذا جاءتكم الرايات من خراسان ، وويل لأهل الري من الترك، وويل لأهل العراق من أهل الري، وويل لهم ثم ويل لهم من الثط . قال سدير: فقلت: يا مولاي من الثط؟ قال: قوم آذانهم كآذان الفأر صغرا، لباسهم الحديد، كلامهم [ك] كلام الشياطين، صغار الحدق، مردجرد ، استيعذوا بالله من شرهم، أولئك يفتح الله على أيديهم الدين، ويكونون سببا لأمرنا.

10. He said: Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Umar al-Ji’abi reported to me from Abul Hasan Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Tamimi, who reported from al-Hasan ibn Behram, who reported from al-Hasan ibn Yahya, who reported from al-Hasan ibn Hamdoon, from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdillah, who reported from Sudair al-Sayrafi that: I was with Abu Abdillah Ja’far ibn Muhammad, peace be upon him, and round him were people from Kufa. Addressing them, he said: "Perform Hajj before you are prevented from it. Perform Hajj before the land around you is locked. Perform Hajj before the mosque at Iraqain is demolished, between the streams and the palm trees. Perform Hajj before the lotus trees at al-Zawra, whose roots and stem have grown on the sweet honey of the dates from which Maryam (as) plucked fresh ripe dates, are cut off. That will be the time when you will be prevented to go for Hajj; when the fruits will be in want, the soil will be arid, and you will suffer from the rising costs, the injustice of the rulers, and inequity and hatred will be rampant among you, coupled with calamity, epidemic and hunger. You will be overwhelmed by adversity from all sides. Woe unto you, O people of Iraq! When the army marches over you from Khurasan and woe unto the people of Ray from Turk, and woe unto the people of Iraq from the people of Ray. Woe unto them all, and again so from Al-Thatt." Sudair asked: "O my master, who are Al-Thatt?" He said: "They are people with ears as small as those of rats, clad in iron; their utterances like that of Satan; they will have small, hollow eyesockets, and will have hairless bodies, with short hair on their heads. Seek refuge from Allah against their evil. Allah will cause Islam to be victorious at their hands, and they will be instrumental to the revival of our cause."

11 - قال أخبرني أبو غالب أحمد بن محمد قال: حدثني جدي محمد بن سليمان ، قال: أبو جعفر محمد بن الحسين قال: حدثنا محمد بن سنان، عن حمزة بن محمد الطيار قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول: إنما قدر الله عون العباد على قدر نياتهم، فمن صحت نيته تم عون الله له، ومن قصرت نيته قصر عنه العون بقدر الذي قصر.

11. He said: Abu Ghalib Ahmad ibn Muhammad reported to me from his grandfather Muhammad ibn Sulaiman, who reported from Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, who reported from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Hamza ibn Muhammad al-Tayyar, who said: I heard Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, say: "Allah helps His servants according to the measure of their intentions. He who has a wholesome intention receives full help from Allah, and he who has a deficient intention receives as much less."

12 - قال: أخبرني أبو غالب أحمد بن محمد قال: حدثنا أبو طاهر محمد بن سليمان الزراري قال: حدثنا محمد بن الحسين، عن محمد بن يحيى ، عن غياث بن إبراهيم قال: حدثنا خارجة بن مصعب، عن محمد بن أبي عمير العبدي قال: قال أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام: ما أخذ الله ميثاقا من أهل الجهل بطلب تبيان العلم حتى أخذ ميثاقا من أهل العلم ببيان العلم للجهال، لأن العلم كان قبل الجهل .

12. He said: ’Abu Ghalib Ahmad ibn Muhammad reported to me from Abu Tahir Muhmmmad ibn Sulaiman al-Zurari, who reported from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn, from Muhammad ibn Yahya, from Ghiyath ibn Ibrahim, from Kharijah ibn Mas’ab, from Muhammad ibn Abu Umair al-Abdi, who reported that: Amirul Mu’mineen ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be upon him, said: "Allah did not take away covenant from the ignorant people for seeking the expoundings of Knowledge, before He had taken a covenant from the learned people to expound unto the ignorant people. That is because knowledge preceded ignorance."

13 - قال: أخبرني أبو الحسن علي بن خالد المراغي قال: حدثنا أبو القاسم الحسن بن علي بن الحسن الكوفي قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن مروان قال: حدثنا أبي قال: حدثنا محمد بن إسماعيل الهاشمي، عن عبد المؤمن ، عن محمد بن علي بن الباقر عليهما السلام قال: حدثني جابر بن عبد الله الأنصاري قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم: أقربكم مني في الموقف غدا أصدقكم حديثا، وأداكم أمانة، وأوفاكم بالعهد، وأحسنكم خلقا، وأقربكم إلى الناس .

13. He said: Abul Hasan ‘Ali ibn Khalid al-Maraghi reported to me from Abul Qasim al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Kufi, who reported from Ja’far ibn Muhammad ibn Marwan, who reported from his father, from Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Hashimi, from Abdul Mu’min who reported that Muhammad ibn ‘Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon him, reported from Jabir ibn Abdillah al-Ansari that: The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "On the Day of Reckoning tomorrow, the nearest to me will be those who are most truthful in their speech and the most ardent in paying back the deposits entrusted to them, and the most faithful in fulfilling their promises and the best in their behaviour and the most amiable to the people."