Volume 1, Book 4, Chapter 104

The Mutual Rights between the Imam and his Followers

8 Aḥadīth

Hadith No. 1

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Jumhur from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from abu Hamza who has said the following. “I asked abu ‘Abdallah (a.s), ‘What are the rights of the Imam over the people?” He replied, “Of his rights over them is that they must listen to him and obey him.” I then asked, “What are their rights on him?” He replied, “Maintain among them equality and justice among the followers. When this prevails among the people then there would no fear as to who has taken this and that.”

الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُمْهُورٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ (a.s) مَا حَقُّ الامَامِ عَلَى النَّاسِ قَالَ حَقُّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ يَسْمَعُوا لَهُ وَيُطِيعُوا قُلْتُ فَمَا حَقُّهُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ يَقْسِمَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالسَّوِيَّةِ وَيَعْدِلَ فِي الرَّعِيَّةِ فَإِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ فِي النَّاسِ فَلا يُبَالِي مَنْ أَخَذَ هَاهُنَا وَهَاهُنَا.


Hadith No. 2

Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il ibn Bazi‘ from Mansur ibn Yunus from Abu Hamza from Abu Ja‘far (a.s) a similar hadith except that he has said, “this way, this way, this way and this way, meaning thereby front, back, right and left.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ ابي جعفر (a.s) مِثْلَهُ إِلا أَنَّهُ قَالَ هَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا وَهَكَذَا يَعْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَخَلْفِهِ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَعَنْ شِمَالِهِ.


Hadith No. 3

Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar from certain members of our people from Harun ibn Muslim from Mas‘ada ibn sadaqa from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s) who has said the following: “Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) has said, ‘Do not be deceitful to your leaders, do not confuse your guides, do not be ignorant of your Imams and do not cut off the rope of your unity, least you will fail and be disgraced. On such foundation your affairs must be based and you must strictly live within such system. Had you been able to observe what those who lived before had observed and who had disregarded what you want to be accepted you would have acted fast, came out and listened. However, you can not observe what they had observed but the curtain will soon be removed.’

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْعَطَّارُ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مَسْعَدَةَ بْنِ صَدَقَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (a.s) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (a.s) لا تَخْتَانُوا وُلاتَكُمْ وَلا تَغُشُّوا هُدَاتَكُمْ وَلا تَجْهَلُوا أَئِمَّتَكُمْ وَلا تَصَدَّعُوا عَنْ حَبْلِكُمْ فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَعَلَى هَذَا فَلْيَكُنْ تَأْسِيسُ أُمُورِكُمْ وَالْزَمُوا هَذِهِ الطَّرِيقَةَ فَإِنَّكُمْ لَوْ عَايَنْتُمْ مَا عَايَنَ مَنْ قَدْ مَاتَ مِنْكُمْ مِمَّنْ خَالَفَ مَا قَدْ تُدْعَوْنَ إِلَيْهِ لَبَدَرْتُمْ وَخَرَجْتُمْ وَلَسَمِعْتُمْ وَلَكِنْ مَحْجُوبٌ عَنْكُمْ مَا قَدْ عَايَنُوا وَقَرِيباً مَا يُطْرَحُ الْحِجَابُ.


Hadith No. 4

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Hammad and others from Hanan ibn Sadir al-Sayrafi who has said the following. “I heard abu ‘Abdallah (a.s) say, ‘The Holy Prophet ﷺ was given the news of his own death while he was in a good health and he did not suffer any pain.” He said, “The trusted Spirit came to him.” He said, “The Holy Prophet called for a prayer in congregation. He then ordered the Muhajir and Ansar (people from Makka and the people of Madina) to arm themselves. The people all came and the Holy Prophet climbed the platform, the pulpit and gave out the news of his own death and then said, “I warn of Allah the ruler after me over my followers for not being kind to the community of the Muslims. He must honor the elders among them and be kind to their weak, treat their scholars with dignity, must not harm to humiliate them. He must not allow them to suffer poverty that would turn them to disbelief, must not close his door to them to let their strong over run the weak ones. He must not use them in the (armed) campaigns for food that would banish the offspring of my followers. Then he said, (Certainly) I have delivered to you the message, gave you good advice so you must bear this testimony.” Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s) has said that this was the last words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ from the pulpit.”

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ حَمَّادٍ وَغَيْرِهِ عَنْ حَنَانِ بْنِ سَدِيرٍ الصَّيْرَفِيِّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (a.s) يَقُولُ نُعِيَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ نَفْسُهُ وَهُوَ صَحِيحٌ لَيْسَ بِهِ وَجَعٌ قَالَ نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الامِينُ قَالَ فَنَادَى ﷺ الصَّلاةَ جَامِعَةً وَأَمَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالانْصَارَ بِالسِّلاحِ وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ فَصَعِدَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْمِنْبَرَ فَنَعَى إِلَيْهِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ أُذَكِّرُ الله الْوَالِيَ مِنْ بَعْدِي عَلَى أُمَّتِي أَلا يَرْحَمَ عَلَى جَمَاعَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَأَجَلَّ كَبِيرَهُمْ وَرَحِمَ ضَعِيفَهُمْ وَوَقَّرَ عَالِمَهُمْ وَلَمْ يُضِرَّ بِهِمْ فَيُذِلَّهُمْ وَلَمْ يُفْقِرْهُمْ فَيُكْفِرَهُمْ وَلَمْ يُغْلِقْ بَابَهُ دُونَهُمْ فَيَأْكُلَ قَوِيُّهُمْ ضَعِيفَهِمْ وَلَمْ يَخْبِزْهُمْ فِي بُعُوثِهِمْ فَيَقْطَعَ نَسْلَ أُمَّتِي ثُمَّ قَالَ قَدْ بَلَّغْتُ وَنَصَحْتُ فَاشْهَدُوا وَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (a.s) هَذَا آخِرُ كَلامٍ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ عَلَى مِنْبَرِهِ.


Hadith No. 5

Muhammad ibn ali and others have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Ali ibn al-Hakam from a man from Habib ibn abu Thabit who has said the following. “Honey and fig were brought to Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) from Hamadhan and al-Hulwan (places near Baghdad). He asked the his officers to call in the orphans. They were allowed to lick honey from the containers while he himself distributed them among the people. People asked, “Why should the orphans be allowed to lick the honey?” He said, “He said that the Imam is the father of the orphans. I just wanted to gave them a fatherly treat.”

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ وَغَيْرُهُ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ قَالَ جَاءَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (a.s) عَسَلٌ وَتِينٌ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ وَحُلْوَانَ فَأَمَرَ الْعُرَفَاءَ أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِالْيَتَامَى فَأَمْكَنَهُمْ مِنْ رُءُوسِ الازْقَاقِ يَلْعَقُونَهَا وَهُوَ يَقْسِمُهَا لِلنَّاسِ قَدَحاً قَدَحاً فَقِيلَ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا لَهُمْ يَلْعَقُونَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ الامَامَ أَبُو الْيَتَامَى وَإِنَّمَا أَلْعَقْتُهُمْ هَذَا بِرِعَايَةِ الابَاءِ.


Hadith No. 6

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi and Ali ibn Ibrahim from his father all of them from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad al-Asbahani from Sulayman ibn dawud al-Manqari from Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayna from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s) who has said the following. “The Holy Prophet has said, ’Isma‘il have more authority over every believer than their own selves and after me Ali (a.s) will such authority.” He was asked, “What is the meaning of that?” He said, “These are the words of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, ‘One who would pass away his debts and liabilities become my responsibility If one would live a legacy I will be the heir thereof. A man will have no authority over himself if would have no property and one will not authority over his dependents if would not provide their expenses. The Holy Prophet ﷺ and Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s) and their successors have made it binding up on them. For this reason they have greater authority over them than their own selves. The general masses of the Jews accepted Islam only after these words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. They found peace for themselves and for their dependents.”

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْبَرْقِيِّ وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الاصْبَهَانِيِّ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ دَاوُدَ الْمِنْقَرِيِّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (a.s) أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ قَالَ أَنَا أَوْلَى بِكُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ وَعَلِيٌّ أَوْلَى بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِي فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا مَعْنَى ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ قَوْلُ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ مَنْ تَرَكَ دَيْناً أَوْ ضَيَاعاً فَعَلَيَّ وَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَالاً فَلِوَرَثَتِهِ فَالرَّجُلُ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وِلايَةٌ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ مَالٌ وَلَيْسَ لَهُ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ أَمْرٌ وَلا نَهْيٌ إِذَا لَمْ يُجْرِ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّفَقَةَ وَالنَّبِيُّ وَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (a.s) وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمَا أَلْزَمَهُمْ هَذَا فَمِنْ هُنَاكَ صَارُوا أَوْلَى بِهِمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ سَبَبُ إِسْلامِ عَامَّةِ الْيَهُودِ إِلا مِنْ بَعْدِ هَذَا الْقَوْلِ مِنْ رَسُولِ الله ﷺ وَإِنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَعَلَى عِيَالاتِهِمْ.


Hadith No. 7

A number of our companions have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad, from Ali ibn al-Hakam, from Aban ibn ‘Uthman, from Sabbah ibn Sayyaba, from Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s), who said the following: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Any believer or Muslim who dies while leaving behind a debt not incurred for unlawful or extravagant reasons, it will be the responsibility of the Imam to pay it off. Otherwise, its sin is upon him. Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, says: ‘Welfare funds (zakat) are only for the poor, the destitute’ (9:60). Such a person is bankrupt, and there is a share for him with the Imam. If he withholds it, then its sin is upon him.’”

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ صَبَّاحِ بْنِ سَيَابَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (a.s) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ أَوْ مُسْلِمٍ مَاتَ وَتَرَكَ دَيْناً لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي فَسَادٍ وَلا إِسْرَافٍ فَعَلَى الامَامِ أَنْ يَقْضِيَهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْضِهِ فَعَلَيْهِ إِثْمُ ذَلِكَ إِنَّ الله تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقاتُ لِلْفُقَراءِ وَالْمَساكِينِ الايَةَ فَهُوَ مِنَ الْغَارِمِينَ وَلَهُ سَهْمٌ عِنْدَ الامَامِ فَإِنْ حَبَسَهُ فَإِثْمُهُ عَلَيْهِ.


Hadith No. 8

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Salih ibn as-Sindi from Ja’far ibn Bashir from Hanan from his father from abu Ja’far (a.s) who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘The imamate is not suitable for anyone except for a man who possesses three qualities: piety that safeguards him from the disobedience of Allah, forbearance that controls his anger, and excellence in guardianship over those under his care, such that he treats them with the compassion of a merciful parent.” In another narration, it is stated, “to the extent that they regard him as a merciful father.”

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ حَنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ ابي جعفر (a.s) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ لا تَصْلُحُ الامَامَةُ إِلا لِرَجُلٍ فِيهِ ثَلاثُ خِصَالٍ وَرَعٌ يَحْجُزُهُ عَنْ مَعَاصِي الله وَحِلْمٌ يَمْلِكُ بِهِ غَضَبَهُ وَحُسْنُ الْوِلايَةِ عَلَى مَنْ يَلِي حَتَّى يَكُونَ لَهُمْ كَالْوَالِدِ الرَّحِيمِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى حَتَّى يَكُونَ لِلرَّعِيَّةِ كَالابِ الرَّحِيمِ.