Chapter On Being and Space (al-Kawn WA al-Makan)
8 Aḥadīth
Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Abu Hamzah who has said the following. Nafi’ ibn al-Azraq (ibn Qays al-Hanafi, Abu Rashid [d.65/685], the head of al-Azariqah — one of the great sects of the Kharijites) asked Imam abu Ja’ far 
. “Please tell me when did Allah come into existence?” The Imam replied, “(Tell me) when did Allah not exist, so that I would tell you when He came into existence. Glory belongs to Him, Who existed and will exist eternally. The One Self-sufficient, the Eternal, the Absolute, Who has not held for Himself no female companion or any child.”
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَأَلَ نَافِعُ بْنُ الازْرَقِ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الله مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ مَتَى لَمْ يَكُنْ حَتَّى أُخْبِرَكَ مَتَى كَانَ سُبْحَانَ مَنْ لَمْ يَزَلْ وَلا يَزَالُ فَرْداً صَمَداً لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ صَاحِبَةً وَلا وَلَداً.
A group of our people from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr who has said the following. A man from Ma Wara’ Nahr Balkh (Transoxania) came to abu al-Hassan al-Rida , and said, ‘I have a question for you. If your answer is the same as I already know, I will accept you as my Imam (leader with divine authority).’” Imam abul-Hassan replied, “Ask whatever you wish.” The man said, “Tell me when did your Lord come into existence, how has He been and on what did He depend?” Imam Abul-Hassan , replied, “Allah, the Blessed, the Almighty, is the space maker of space, Who Himself is not subject to the effects of any space. He is the maker of How and Himself is not subject to How. He is Self-sufficient with His own power.” The man stood up and kissed the head of the Imam and then said, “I testify that there is no god except Allah and Muhammad (s.a.) is the Messenger of Allah and that Imam Ali is the successor of the Messenger of Allah and the Guardian and protector of what the Messenger of Allah has brought from Allah and that your forefathers are the leaders with divine authority and that you are a successor to them.”
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا مِنْ وَرَاءِ نَهَرِ بَلْخَ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ فَإِنْ أَجَبْتَنِي فِيهَا بِمَا عِنْدِي قُلْتُ بِإِمَامَتِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ سَلْ عَمَّا شِئْتَ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ وَكَيْفَ كَانَ وَعَلَى أَيِّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ اعْتِمَادُهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَيَّنَ الايْنَ بِلا أَيْنٍ وَكَيَّفَ الْكَيْفَ بِلا كَيْفٍ وَكَانَ اعْتِمَادُهُ عَلَى قُدْرَتِهِ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّجُلُ فَقَبَّلَ رَأْسَهُ وَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّداً رَسُولُ الله وَأَنَّ عَلِيّاً وَصِيُّ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ وَالْقَيِّمُ بَعْدَهُ بِمَا قَامَ بِهِ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ وَأَنَّكُمُ الائِمَّةُ الصَّادِقُونَ وَأَنَّكَ الْخَلَفُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ.
Muhammad ibn Yahya from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Qasim-ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following. “A man came to Imam abu Ja‘far saying, ‘Tell me about your Lord. When did He come into existence?’” The Imam replied, “Woe upon you! Such question is asked only about a thing that did not exist. My Lord, all Glory belongs to Him is and will be eternally. He lives and no How question applies to Him. He did not have any coming into existence and nor there was any being for His coming into being. This does not apply to Him because He is not subject to the effects of space. He was not in any thing or on any thing nor did He invent any space for His own space. He did not become stronger after making all things nor was weak before giving being to the beings. He was not lonely before His inventing all things. He is not similar to any thing that could be called a thing. He was also not without Kingdom before the creation and nor will He be without it after all things. He lives eternally without life and the powerful king before His invention of the things and He is an all powerful king after the creation of all things. To His existence no How or Where question is applicable. There is no limit for Him nor is He definable by analogy. He does not become old due to eternal living. He doe not become alarmed because of any thing but that all things are fearful of His (disappointment). He lived without newly emerging life. He is not a describable being or that could be limit with conditions or that would have a space to depend on. He does not have a place so that He can be considered as neighboring something. He is living and one can know Him. He is the eternal King. He has the power and the kingdom. He has created all that He wanted and when He decided by His will. He can not be limited. He can not be divided or destroyed. He was before everything but no How question would apply to Him. He will be the last but no Where will apply to Him. All things will be destroyed except He. The creation belongs to Him and His is the command. He is the Holy Lord of the worlds. O inquirer, imaginations can not encompass my Lord and He does not face any confusions or bewilderment. Nothing is able to escape Him and nothing happens to Him. He can not be held responsible for anything and He does not become regretful. Neither slumber nor sleep overcomes Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth and all that is between them and under the soil.
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى ابي جعفر فَقَالَ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَا يُقَالُ لِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ مَتَى كَانَ إِنَّ رَبِّي تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى كَانَ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ حَيّاً بِلا كَيْفٍ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كَانَ وَلا كَانَ لِكَوْنِهِ كَوْنُ كَيْفٍ وَلا كَانَ لَهُ أَيْنٌ وَلا كَانَ فِي شَيْءٍ وَلا كَانَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَلا ابْتَدَعَ لِمَكَانِهِ مَكَاناً وَلا قَوِيَ بَعْدَ مَا كَوَّنَ الاشْيَاءَ وَلا كَانَ ضَعِيفاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُكَوِّنَ شَيْئاً وَلا كَانَ مُسْتَوْحِشاً قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْتَدِعَ شَيْئاً وَلا يُشْبِهُ شَيْئاً مَذْكُوراً وَلا كَانَ خِلْواً مِنْ الْمُلْكِ قَبْلَ إِنْشَائِهِ وَلا يَكُونُ مِنْهُ خِلْواً بَعْدَ ذَهَابِهِ لَمْ يَزَلْ حَيّاً بِلا حَيَاةٍ وَمَلِكاً قَادِراً قَبْلَ أَنْ يُنْشِئَ شَيْئاً وَمَلِكاً جَبَّاراً بَعْدَ إِنْشَائِهِ لِلْكَوْنِ فَلَيْسَ لِكَوْنِهِ كَيْفٌ وَلا لَهُ أَيْنٌ وَلا لَهُ حَدٌّ وَلا يُعْرَفُ بِشَيْءٍ يُشْبِهُهُ وَلا يَهْرَمُ لِطُولِ الْبَقَاءِ وَلا يَصْعَقُ لِشَيْءٍ بَلْ لِخَوْفِهِ تَصْعَقُ الاشْيَاءُ كُلُّهَا كَانَ حَيّاً بِلا حَيَاةٍ حَادِثَةٍ وَلا كَوْنٍ مَوْصُوفٍ وَلا كَيْفٍ مَحْدُودٍ وَلا أَيْنٍ مَوْقُوفٍ عَلَيْهِ وَلا مَكَانٍ جَاوَرَ شَيْئاً بَلْ حَيٌّ يُعْرَفُ وَمَلِكٌ لَمْ يَزَلْ لَهُ الْقُدْرَةُ وَالْمُلْكُ أَنْشَأَ مَا شَاءَ حِينَ شَاءَ بِمَشِيئَتِهِ لا يُحَدُّ وَلا يُبَعَّضُ وَلا يَفْنَى كَانَ أَوَّلاً بِلا كَيْفٍ وَيَكُونُ آخِراً بِلا أَيْنٍ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلا وَجْهَهُ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالامْرُ تَبَارَكَ الله رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَيْلَكَ أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ إِنَّ رَبِّي لا تَغْشَاهُ الاوْهَامُ وَلا تَنْزِلُ بِهِ الشُّبُهَاتُ وَلا يَحَارُ وَلا يُجَاوِزُهُ شَيْءٌ وَلا تَنْزِلُ بِهِ الاحْدَاثُ وَلا يُسْأَلُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ وَلا يَنْدَمُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَلا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الارْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى.
A group of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father in a marfu‘ manner has said the following. “The Jews came to their chief Ra’sul-Jalut and said, ’This man, meaning thereby Imam Ali , is a scholar. Come with us to ask him questions. They all came to Imam Ali but the Imam was in the castle (Government building). They waited till the Imam came out. Ra’sul-Jalut, said, “We have come to you with a question.” The Imam said, “O Jew, ask whatever you like.” He said, “I would like to ask you about your Lord. When did He come into existence?” The Imam replied, “(Allah) has always been without coming into being and without being a subject to a How question. He is eternal without quantity and quality. He was there without a Before. He is before every before without being before and without a beginning and end. The end falls short before Him and He Himself is the end of all ends.” Ra’sul-Jalut then said to his people, “Let us leave this place. This man knows more than what is said he knows.”
عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ رَفَعَهُ قَالَ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْيَهُودُ إِلَى رَأْسِ الْجَالُوتِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ إِنَّ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ عَالِمٌ يَعْنُونَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَانْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَيْهِ نَسْأَلْهُ فَأَتَوْهُ فَقِيلَ لَهُمْ هُوَ فِي الْقَصْرِ فَانْتَظَرُوهُ حَتَّى خَرَجَ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ جِئْنَاكَ نَسْأَلُكَ فَقَالَ سَلْ يَا يَهُودِيُّ عَمَّا بَدَا لَكَ فَقَالَ أَسْأَلُكَ عَنْ رَبِّكَ مَتَى كَانَ فَقَالَ كَانَ بِلا كَيْنُونِيَّةٍ كَانَ بِلا كَيْفٍ كَانَ لَمْ يَزَلْ بِلا كَمٍّ وَبِلا كَيْفٍ كَانَ لَيْسَ لَهُ قَبْلٌ هُوَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَلا غَايَةٍ وَلا مُنْتَهًى انْقَطَعَتْ عَنْهُ الْغَايَةُ وَهُوَ غَايَةُ كُلِّ غَايَةٍ فَقَالَ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ امْضُوا بِنَا فَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ مِمَّا يُقَالُ فِيهِ.
It is narrated, through the same chain of narrators and source, from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Nasr from abu al-Hassan al-Muwsali from Imam abu ‘Abdallah , who has said the following. “One of the Jewish rabbis (hibr) came to Imam Ali , and asked, ‘O Amir al-Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! When has Allah not been (in existence), so that it could be said when did He come into existence. My Lord existed before any before without being before. He is after every after, without being after. There is no finale destination or end for Him. All ends fall short before Him. He is the final destination of all goals.” He further asked, “O Amir al-Mu’minin, are you a prophet?” Imam Ali replied, “Hold it there. I am one of the slaves of Muhammad,(s.a.) the Messenger of Allah.” It has also been narrated that someone asked Imam Ali this. “Where was our Lord before the creation of the heavens and the earth?” Imam Ali replied, “Where is a question about space. Allah has been there before there was space.”
وَبِهَذَا الاسْنَادِ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْمَوْصِلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ جَاءَ حِبْرٌ مِنَ الاحْبَارِ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَتَى كَانَ رَبُّكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ وَمَتَى لَمْ يَكُنْ حَتَّى يُقَالَ مَتَى كَانَ كَانَ رَبِّي قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَبَعْدَ الْبَعْدِ بِلا بَعْدٍ وَلا غَايَةَ وَلا مُنْتَهَى لِغَايَتِهِ انْقَطَعَتِ الْغَايَاتُ عِنْدَهُ فَهُوَ مُنْتَهَى كُلِّ غَايَةٍ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَ فَنَبِيٌّ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ مِنْ عَبِيدِ مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ وَرُوِيَ أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ أَيْنَ كَانَ رَبُّنَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ سَمَاءً وَأَرْضاً فَقَالَ أَيْنَ سُؤَالٌ عَنْ مَكَانٍ وَكَانَ الله وَلا مَكَانَ.
Ali ibn Muhammad from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ’Amr ibn ’Uthman from Muhammad ibn Yahya from Muhammad ibn Suma‘ah from abu ‘Abdallah , who has said the following. “Ra’sul Jalut said to the Jews, ‘The Muslims consider Ali excelling everyone in polemics and the most learned. Let us go to him. I will ask him certain questions and perhaps catch him in errors.’” He went to the Imam and said, “O Amirul Mu’minin, I have a question about a matter.” The Imam said, “Ask about whatever you like.” He then asked, “O Amirul Mu’minin, when did our Lord come into existence?” Imam Ali replied, “O Jew, the question When applies to one who did not exist and (then) came into being. Allah has exists without coming into being, and without being in any becoming. Certainly, O Jew, most certainly, O Jew, how can there be any before for He Who was before the before. He does not have any destination. He is not the end of any destination and no destination ends up to Him. All destinations fall short before Him and He is the goal of all destinations.” The Jew then said, “I testify that your religion is the true religion and any thing against it is false.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ قَالَ رَأْسُ الْجَالُوتِ لِلْيَهُودِ إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ عَلِيّاً مِنْ أَجْدَلِ النَّاسِ وَأَعْلَمِهِمْ اذْهَبُوا بِنَا إِلَيْهِ لَعَلِّي أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وَأُخَطِّئُهُ فِيهَا فَأَتَاهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ قَالَ سَلْ عَمَّا شِئْتَ قَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَتَى كَانَ رَبُّنَا قَالَ لَهُ يَا يَهُودِيُّ إِنَّمَا يُقَالُ مَتَى كَانَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فَكَانَ مَتَى كَانَ هُوَ كَائِنٌ بِلا كَيْنُونِيَّةٍ كَائِنٍ كَانَ بِلا كَيْفٍ يَكُونُ بَلَى يَا يَهُودِيُّ ثُمَّ بَلَى يَا يَهُودِيُّ كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لَهُ قَبْلٌ هُوَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا غَايَةٍ وَلا مُنْتَهَى غَايَةٍ وَلا غَايَةَ إِلَيْهَا انْقَطَعَتِ الْغَايَاتُ عِنْدَهُ هُوَ غَايَةُ كُلِّ غَايَةٍ فَقَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ دِينَكَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا خَالَفَهُ بَاطِلٌ.
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated in a marfu‘ manner from Zurarah who has said that I asked Imam abu Ja‘far this. “Did Allah exist when there was nothing?” The Imam replied, “Certainly, Allah existed when there was nothing.” I further inquired, “Where did Allah exist?” The Imam was leaning, he then sat up and said, “O Zurarah, you spoke of impossible. You ask about space where there is no space.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ رَفَعَهُ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لابي جعفر أَ كَانَ الله وَلا شَيْءَ قَالَ نَعَمْ كَانَ وَلا شَيْءَ قُلْتُ فَأَيْنَ كَانَ يَكُونُ قَالَ وَكَانَ مُتَّكِئاً فَاسْتَوَى جَالِساً وَقَالَ أَحَلْتَ يَا زُرَارَةُ وَسَأَلْتَ عَنِ الْمَكَانِ إِذْ لا مَكَانَ.
Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn al-Walid from ibn Abu Nasr from Abul Hassan al-Muwsali who has narrated the following from Abu ‘Abdallah : “A rabbi came to Imam Ali and asked, ‘O Amirul Mu’minin, when did your Lord come into existence?’” Imam Ali replied, “Consider carefully. The question when applies to one who did not exist (and then came into being). When does not apply to the One Who is eternal. He was before the before without before and after the after without an after. He is not the end of some end so that His end would also end.” He then asked, “Are you a prophet?” Imam Ali replied, “Bereft of you be your mother! I am a slave among the slaves of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْوَلِيدِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْمَوْصِلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله قَالَ أَتَى حِبْرٌ مِنَ الاحْبَارِ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فَقَالَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَتَى كَانَ رَبُّكَ قَالَ وَيْلَكَ إِنَّمَإ؛ّّ يُقَالُ مَتَى كَانَ لِمَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فَأَمَّا مَا كَانَ فَلا يُقَالُ مَتَى كَانَ كَانَ قَبْلَ الْقَبْلِ بِلا قَبْلٍ وَبَعْدَ الْبَعْدِ بِلا بَعْدٍ وَلا مُنْتَهَى غَايَةٍ لِتَنْتَهِيَ غَايَتُهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَ نَبِيٌّ أَنْتَ فَقَالَ لامِّكَ الْهَبَلُ إِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدٌ مِنْ عَبِيدِ رَسُولِ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه)