Chapter 8
Eighth Assembly
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Met on Monday, the 24th of the month of Ramadhan, heard from him by dictation, may Allah perpetuate His beneficence on him. Our grand Sheikh, the honoured one, al-Mufid Abu Abdillah Muhammad b. Muhammad al-Noman, may Allah perpetuate His support and beneficence to him, said today:
1. Benevolence & Tyranny
He said: 'Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husain reported to me from Muhammad b. Musa al-Mutawakkil, who reported from Ali b. al-Husain al-Sa'dabadi, from Ahmed b. Abu Abdillah al-Barqi, from Abdul Rahman b. Abi Najran, from Asim b. Hamid, from Abu Hamzah al-Thumali that Abu Ja'far al-Baqir Muhammad b. Ali, peace be upon him, reported from his forefathers that:
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Benevolence is a good turn, earning the quickest reward, and tyranny is an evil, earning quickest requital. Enough for ones blemish that one should see faults in others while condoning the same faults in oneself; or scoff at the others for an act from which he himself cannot abstain, and hurt ones companion in matters with which one has no concern."
2. Weeping for ones sins
He said: 'Abul Hasan Ahmad b. Muhammd b. al-Hasan reported to me from Abdullah b. Ja'far al-Himyari, who reported from Ahmad b. Muhammad, from Ali b. al-Hakam, from Hisham b. Salim from Abu Abdillah, peace be upon him, that:
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny said: "Blessed is he whom Allah finds weeping because of his sins, trembling in awe of Allah; weeping over the sins about which no one knows except himself."
3. Good deeds blot out evil ones
He said: 'Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Ali reported to me from Muhammad b. Ali, from his uncle Muhammad b. Abul Qasim from Muhammad b. Ali al-kufi, from Muhammad b. Sinan, from Abu al-No'man, that:
Abu Abdillah Ja'far b. Muhammad, peace be upon him told me: "O Abu al-No'man, let no people deceive you about yourself, for what is destined will reach you without them. And do not spend your day over petty things, for the One Who records everything is (always) with you. Always do good deeds, for I do not know of quicker recompense for an old sin than the new good deed. Indeed, Allah, Most High has said (in the Qur'an): 'Surely, the good deeds blot out the evil deeds; this is reminder for those who remember.' (Hood:4)"
4. Obedience to the Imam
He said: "Abul Qasim Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Qawlawayh reported to me from Muhammad b. Yaqoob al-Kulayni, from Ali b. Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad b. Isa from Huraiz, from Zurarah b. A'ayan, who reported that:
Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husain (peace be upon them all) said: "The most important matter, the best, the key, the entrance to all affairs and the pleasure of the Gracious Lord lie in obedience to the Imam after have recognized him."
Then he said: Allah, Most High, says (in the Qur'an): "whoever obeys the messenger, has obeyed Allah. But, whoever turns away: 'We have not sent you (Muhammad) as a keeper over them.' (Al-Nisa: 80)"
5. Uthman and Banu Umayya
He said: Abul Hasan Ali b. Muhammad b. Habish al-katib reported to me from al-Hasan b. Ali al-Za'farani, who reported from Ibrahim b. Muhammad al-Thaqafi, who reported from al-Hasan b. Ali al-Lu'Lui, who reported form Yahya b. al-Mughairah, who reported from Salmah b. al-Fadhl, from Ali b. Sabih al-Kindi, from Abu Yahya, the client of Muaz b. Afra' al-Ansari who said:
Uthman b. Affan once sent for al-Arqam b. Abdillah, who was the treasurer of the Baitul Mal of the Muslims, and said: "Advance me one hundred thousand Dirham." Al-Arqam said: "May I write a promissory note in favour of the Muslims for that?" He said: "What does that concern you, O motherless! You are but a safekeeper!" When Al-Arqam heard that he hastened towards the people and exclaimed: "O People, protect your wealth. I believed that I was a treasurer on your behalf and till today I never knew that I was Uthman's treasurer." Then he left and entered his house.
When Uthman learnt about that, he convened an assembly, climbed the Mimbar and said: "O people, Abu Bakr surely gave preference to Banu Teem over the people, and Umar gave preference to Banu Adi over the people and by Allah, I gave preference to Banu Umayyah over others. And if I were to sit at the gate of the Paradise, authorized to shove Banu Umayyah into it, I would surely do so. Indeed, their wealth is ours, and we will take from it if we need it inspite of the people."
Then Ammar b. Yasir, may Allah bless him with mercy, said: "O Muslim brethren! Be my witness that I do not approve that!" So Uthman said: "Oh, you are here!" Then he climbed down from the Mimbar and began kicking Ammar till he fainted and was carried away senseless to the house of Ummu Salimah. People found it very distressing. Ammar remained unconscious missing that day's noon and evening prayers. When he regained his senses, he said: "Praise be for Allah! From times old, I have been suffering in His way, and for this which has befallen me in my duty towards Allah, I seek justice between me and Uthman on the Day of Judgement from the Honourable Judge" (i.e. Allah).
When Uthman learnt that Ammar was at Ummu Salimah's place, he sent for her and said: "What are these people together with that transgressor (i.e. Ammar) doing at your house? Evict them." (She said): "By Allah, there is no one at my place except Ammar and his two daughters. O Uthman, leave us alone, and use your power wherever else you like. And this is a companion of the messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his progeny, about to die because of what you have done to him."
He said: Upon hearing this, Uthman repented and sent for Talha and al-Zubair, asking them to go to Ammar and seek his forgiveness. They came (to Ammar) but he turned them down. So they returned (to Uthman) and informed him. Uthman said: "O, Banu Umayyah, O bed of fire, and flies of greed, was it by divine permission that you reviled me and ganged in on the companion of the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny?"
When Ammar recovered from his illness, he proceeded towards the Prophet's mosque and there a person announced to Uthman the death of Abu Dharr at Rabzah. He said: "Abu Dharr at Rabzah met a lonely death, and was buried by the travellers." Uthman said: "To Him we belong, and unto Him shall we return." And then he added: "May Allah bless him with mercy." Then Ammar said: "May Allah bless Abu Dharr with mercy on behalf of everyone of us."
Uthman said: "Again you are here! May you chew your father's genital! Do you think I am repenting for having exiled him?" Ammar said: "No, By Allah, I do not think so!"
He (Uthman) said: "You join the place where Abu Dharr was and remain there as long as we live." Ammar said: "Do so, by Allah, I would love to be in the company of the wild animals, more than to be near you!" Then as Ammar prepared to leave, Banu Makhzum came to Amirul Mo'mineen Ali b. Abu Talib (AS) requesting him to intervene and to ask Uthman to cancel the order for Ammar's eviction. He intervened on their behalf till Uthman responded positively.
6. The lonely martyr
He said: Al-Sharif Abu Abdillah Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Jawani reported to me from al-Mudhaffar b. Ja'far al-Alawi al-Umri, who reported from Ja'far b. Muhammad b Masood, from his father, from Muhammad b. Hatim, who reported from Suwaid b. Saeed, who reported from Muhammad b. Abdul Rahim al-Yamani, from Ibn Meena, from his father who reported that Aisha said:
Once Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) came upon the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, seeking permission to enter, but he did not permit. So, he sought permission once again and the Prophet peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Enter, O Ali." When Ali entered, the Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, stood up, embraced him and kissed him between the eyes and said: "May my father be ransom for the martyr; may my father be ransom for the lonely martyr."
7. Talha and al-Zubair
He said: Abul Hasan Ali b. Khalid al-Maraghi reported to me from Abul Qasim al Hasan b. Ali al-Kufi, who reported from Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Marwan, who reported from his father, who reported from Ishaq b. Yazid, who reported from Sulaiman b. Qaram, from Abu al-Jahhaf, from Ammar al-Duhni, who reported from Abu Uthman, the muezzin of Banu Afsa that he heard Ali b. Abi Talib say when Talha and al-Zubair advanced to fight him:
"What excuse can Talha and al-Zubair have! They swore allegiance to me of their own accord, without any coercion and they broke off without any event." Then he recited the verse: 'And if they break their oaths after their treaty and revile your religion, then fight the leaders of unbelief, for their oaths are worthless, so that you may restrain them.' (al-Taubah V:12)"
8. The first to enter Paradise
He said: Abul Qasim Ja'far b. Muhammad, may Allah have mercy on him, reported to me from his father, from Sa'd b. Abdillah from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Isa, from Saeed b. Janah, from Abdullah b. Muhammad, from Jabir b. Yazid, who reported from Abu Ja'far Muhammad b. Ali al-Baqir through his forefathers that:
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny said: "Paradise remains forbidden for the Prophets till I have entered in it, and remains forbidden for all the peoples till the Shias of us, Ahlul Bait have entered."
9. Surprise at the heedless
He said: Abul Hasan Muhammad B. Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Kufi al-Nahwi al-Tamimi reported to me from Hisham b. Yunus al-Nahshali, who reported to me from Yahya b. Ya'la, from Hameed al-A'raj, from Abdullah b. al-Harith, from Abdullah b. Masood that:
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "I am surprised at the heedless person who is not without survelance; I am surprised at the one chasing the world, while death chases him; I am surprised at a person having a loud, hearty laugh, while he does not know whether Allah is pleased with him or is displeased."
10. Dying the death of an infidel
He said: Abul Hasan Muhammad b. Ja'far reported to me from Hisham b. Yunus al-Nahshali, who reported from Abu Muhammad al-Ansari, who reported from Abu Bakr b. Ayyash, from Muhammad b. Shihab al-Zuhari, from Anas b. Malik, that:
The Prophet, peace be upon him and his progeny, looked at Ali b. Abi Talib (AS) and said: "O Ali, whoever hates you, Allah shall cause him to die the death of infidels, and on the day of Judgement, will ask him to account for his deeds (also)."
11. Befriending for the sake of Allah
He said: Abul Hasan Muhammad b. Ja'far reported to me from Hisham who reported from Yahya b. Ya'la, from Hameed, from Abdullah b. al-Harith from Abdullah b. Masood that:
The Prophet peace be upon him and his progeny, said: "Those who befriend each other for the sake of Allah, Most High, shall be resting on the pillars of ruby in the Paradise, supervising the inmates of Paradise. Whenever one of them comes forth, his splendour shall fill the houses of the people of Paradise. Then the people of the Paradise shall say: 'Let us out so that we can have a glimpse of those who befriended each other for the pleasure of Allah.' He said: "Then they will be brought out to see them. One of them will have a face like the full moon, and on their foreheads will be written: These are the people befriending each other for the sake of Allah!"