Tafsir 18. Al Kafh

H 11638, Ch. 7, h 1 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ibrahim ibn ‘Uqbah from Muyassir from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd ‘Abd al-’Aziz from his father who has said the following: “About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . he must find clean and pure food and must bring thereof for you for your sustenance’ (18:9) abu Ja‘far, or abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Dates are the most pure food.’”

H 14371, Ch. 13, h 1 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from abu Jamilah al-Mufaddal ibn Salih from Muhammad al-Halabiy and Zurarah and Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . speak of your Lord if you forget’ (18:24) abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said that if one takes an oath and forgets to make an exception, he must make an exception (say, ‘if Allah wills’) when he remembers.”

H 14372, Ch. 13, h 2 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from abu Ja‘far al-Ahwal from Salam ibn al-Mustanir who has narrated the following: “This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . We made a covenant with Adam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, before but he forgot and We did not find in him firm determination.’ (20:115) Abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said to Adam, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, to enter in the garden (paradises) He said, “O Adam, you must not go near this tree.”’ He (the Imam) said that He showed it to him and Adam said to his Lord, “How will I go near the tree when You have prohibited me and my wife?” He (the Imam) said that Allah said to them not to go near the tree meaning do not eat thereof. Adam and his wife said, “Yes, Lord we will not go near the tree and will not eat”, but they did not make an exception (did not say, ‘if Allah wills’) when saying, “yes” Allah, in that matter left them on their own and to their memories.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to His Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about a fact in the book. “. . . You must never say about anything, ‘I will do it tomorrow without saying, ‘unless Allah wills’ otherwise,” (18:23) and Allah decides that I must not do then I will not be able to do.’ He (the Imam) said that for this reason Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘. . . you must speak of your Lord when you forget’, meaning make the act and the will of Allah an exception in your act.’”

H 2826, CH 159, h 16 Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad and Muhammad ibn Yahya have narrated from Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Sa’d from Muhammad ibn Muslim from al-Hassan ibn Ali ibn al-Nu’man who has said that his father narrated to him from Ali ibn alNu’man from ibn Muskan from al-Yaman ibn ‘Ubayd Allah who has said the following: “I saw Yahya ibn ‘Umm Tawil standing at al-Kunasa (an open area in Kufah) calling at the peak of his voice, ‘O group of friends of Allah, I disavow whatever you hear. Whoever abuses Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant, allow the condemnation of Allah be upon him. We renounce the people of the family of Marwan and all that they worship besides Allah.’ He then would lower his voice and say, ‘Do not sit with
those who abuse the friends of Allah. Do not sit with those who doubt our belief and do not accept them as your judge. If any of your brothers (in belief) would need to ask you questions (help), then you have violated your trust with him (for not helping before his appeal).’ He then would read, ‘. . . For the unjust We have prepared a fire which will engulf them with its flames. Whenever they cry for help they will be answered with water as hot as liquefied brass, which will blister their faces. How terrible is such a drink and such a resting place!’” (18:29)

H 1141, Ch. 108, h 64 Ahmad has narrated from ‘Abd al-‘Azim from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl from abu Hamza from abu Ja‘far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “Jibril brought this verse as: ‘. . . but most human beings turn away [from Wilayah, Leadership with Divine Authority of Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant] in disbelief.’ (17:89) “Jibril also brought this verse as: ‘Say, Truth comes from your Lord, [About Wilayah, Leadership with Divine Authority of Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant]. Allow people to believe or disbelieve it as they choose. For the unjust [to the family of Muhammad, recipient of divine supreme covenant] We have prepared a fire. . . .,’ (18:29) the Imam explained.”

H 11307, Ch. 41, h 4 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from al-Qasim ibn al-’Urwah from ‘Abd Allah ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has said the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘On the day when the earth will be replaced with another earth.’ (14:48) He (the Imam) said, ‘It will be replaced with purified bread from which people will eat until their accounting is complete.’ Someone then said to him (the Imam), ‘People on that day will already have other things to worry about instead of eating.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has created the child of Adam hollow. He must have food and drink. Will they be more seriously preoccupied on that day or those in hellfire who plead? And Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “If they plead their pleading will be responded with water like al-Muhl that roasts the faces and it is the worst kind of drink.” (18:29)’”

This verse also highlights the free will nature of faith, one can choose to believe what they like.

H 1111, Ch. 108, h 34 Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn ’Urama and Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah from Ali ibn Hassa’n from ‘Abd Allah ibn Kathir from abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most High: ‘What do they quarrel about? (78:1) They quarrel about the great news,’ (78:2) the Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said, ‘The great news stands for Leadership with Divine Authority of ‘A’immah (Leaders with Divine Authority).’ I asked him about the meaning of, ‘. . . That is because authority belongs to God, the True. He is Best in rewarding, and Best in requiting.. . . .’ (18:44) The Imam, recipient of divine supreme covenant, said, ‘It refers to the guardianship and Leadership with Divine Authority of Amir alMu’minin Ali, recipient of divine supreme covenant).’”

Abu Al-Hassan Musaasws having said: ‘Amir-ul-Momineenasws used to bequeath to hisasws companions saying: ‘Iasws bequeath you to fear Allahazwj for it is happiness for the truthful seeker, and a heavy shackle for the runaway fugitive. وَ اسْتَشْعِرُوا التَّقْوَى شِعَاراً بَاطِناً وَ اذْآُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِآْراً خَالِصاً تَحْيَوْا بِهِ أَفْضَلَ الْحَيَاةِ وَ تَسْلُكُوا بِهِ طَرِيقَ النَّجَاةِ And be aware of the piety realising it within yourselves, and remember Allahazwj with a sincere Remembrance, being revived by it, and journey upon the path of salvation. انْظُرُوا فِي الدُّنْيَا نَظَرَ الزَّاهِدِ الْمُفَارِقِ لَهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُزِيلُ الثَّاوِيَ السَّاآِنَ وَ تَفْجَعُ الْمُتْرَفَ الْآمِنَ لَا يُرْجَى مِنْهَا مَا تَوَلَّى فَأَدْبَرَ وَ لَا يُدْرَى مَا هُوَ آتٍ مِنْهَا فَيُنْتَظَرَ وُصِلَ الْبَلَاءُ مِنْهَا بِالرَّخَاءِ وَ الْبَقَاءُ مِنْهَا إِلَى فَنَاءٍ 23 out of 55 Look at this world with the vision of the ascetics, the ones who have parted from it, for it dislodges its residents and causes distress to the affluent ones who (superficially) feel safe. Do not hope for those that are turned away from it, not knowing what it is that will come from it. So await patiently for the prosperity upon the arrival of the afflictions from it, and the survival from it up to the end. So its happiness is tainted with the grief, and the survival in it is up to the weakness and the fragility. So it is like a garden, the pasture of which is dense causing those who look at it, to wonder at it. Its drinks are sweet, its covering (soil) is good, its roots are excited in the ground, and its branches drip moisture until the grass reaches its due level. The scent gets triggered under the blades and gets separated from it in the morning, just as Allahazwj has Said: “[18:45] then it becomes dry broken into pieces which the winds scatter; and Allah is the holder of power over all things.” Look at this world and the numerous things which cause you to wonder, and the scarcity of the things which benefit you’.

H 1561, CH 26, h 6 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn abu Nasr from Safwan al-Jammal who has said the following: “Once I asked abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: ‘The tumbling wall belonged to two orphans in the town whose father has been a righteous person. Underneath the wall there was a treasure that belonged to them. . . .’ (18:82) “The Imam said, ‘It is a fact that the treasure did not consist of gold and silver. It consisted of four words: “No one deserves to be worshipped except I (Allah). Whoever has realized with certainty that death is inevitable has enough reason not to laugh for a year. Whoever has realized with certainty that accountability on the Day of Judgment is true has enough reason for his heart not to rest in ease. Whoever has realized with certainty that Allah does everything with strict measurements has enough reason not to fear anyone except Allah.”’”

H 1564, CH 26, h 9 Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad has narrated from Mu’alla ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn Asbat who has said the following: “I heard abu al-Hassan al-Rida, recipient of divine supreme covenant, saying, ‘In the treasure mentioned in the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy: “Underneath the wall there was a treasure that belonged to them. . . .,” (18:82) there were the following statements: ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, strange to me is the case of a person who is certain of the coming of death but he feels happy. Strange to me is the case of a person who is certain of the strict measurement of Allah but he feels depressed. Strange to me is the case of a person who is aware of all the up and down in the world with its inhabitants but he still relies on it. It is expected from a man who has understanding of Allah not to accuse Allah in His decision and not to consider Him slow in His Providence.’ I then said, ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I want to write it down. The Imam gave me, I swear by Allah, the inkpot so I can write. I reached out to his hands and kissed them and then took the ink pot and wrote down the Hadith.’”

H 696, Ch. 53, h 1 Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Humran ibn A‘yan who has said the following: “Once I asked abu Ja‘far, recipient of divine supreme covenant, ‘What is the position of the scholars?’ The Imam said, ‘It is like Dhul Qarnayn (see 18:83 – 99 Holy Quran), the companion of Solomon (see 27:40), and the companion of Moses, peace be upon him.” (see 18:65)

H 2478, CH 112, h 4 Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from al-Qasim ibn Sulayman from Jarrah al-Mada’ini who has said the following: “About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . whoever desires to meet his Lord should strive righteously and should worship no one besides Him,’ (18:11
0) abu ‘Abd Allah, recipient of divine supreme covenant, has said, “A man performs a good deed and thereby he does not seek rewards from Allah but rather he wants to purify people desiring them to hear him. He has made his obedience for Allah to be shared with others.” The Imam then said, ‘Any servant (of Allah) who performs a good deed privately and times pass forever still, Allah will manifest its good (result) for him. Any servant (of Allah) who performs an evil deed privately and times pass forever still, Allah will uncover for him an evil (result).’”

[al-`Ayyashi] From Sama`a b. Mihran. He said: I asked Abu `Abdillah عليه السلام about the saying of Allah “let him do a righteous act, and associate none with the worship of his Lord” (18:110)

He said: The righteous act is recognition of the Imams “and associate none with the worship of his Lord” surrender to `Ali, not associating with him in the khilafa whoever is that is not for, and whoever is not worthy of it.

حدثنا جعفر بن أحمد عن عبيد الله بن (عبد الله ط) بن موسى عن الحسن (بن حمزة ط) بن علي بن أبي حمزة عن أبيه والحسين (الحسن ط) بن أبي العلا وعبد الله بن وضاح وشعيب العقرقوفي جميعهم عن أبي بصير عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام في قوله: إنما أنا بشر مثلكم قال: يعني في الخلق أنه مثلهم مخلوق { يوحى إلي – إلى قوله – بعبادة ربه أحداً } قال: لا يتخذ مع ولاية آل محمد ولاية غيرهم وولايتهم العمل الصالح فمن أشرك بعبادة ربه فقد أشرك بولايتنا وكفر بها وجحد أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام حقه وولايته

[al-Qummi] Ja`far b. Ahmad from `Ubaydullah b. Musa from al-Hasan b. `Ali b. Abi Hamza from his father and al-Husayn b. Abi al-`Ala and `Abdullah b. Waddah and Shu`ayb al-`Aqarqufi all from Abu Basir from Abu `Abdillah عليه السلام regarding His saying “I am only a man like you” He said: Meaning in creation, that he like them is created “It is revealed to me” to His saying “by the worship of his Lord anyone” He said: One is not to take the walayat of other than them with the walayat of the Family of Muhammad, and their walayat is the righteous deed. So whoever has committed shirk in the worship of His Lord has committed shirk in our walayat, and disbelieved in it, and denied Amir al-Mu’mineen عليه السلام his right (or: truth) and his walayat.

H 4106, Ch. 46, h 1 Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah has narrated from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Ahmar from al-Hassan ibn Ali al-Washsha’ who has said the following: “Once I visited Ali al-Rida, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. There was a water jug in front of him and he was about to take Wudu’ for Salat (prayer). I went closer to pour water to help him to take Wudu’. He said, ‘Hold it, O Hassan.’ I then asked, ‘Why do you stop me from pouring water so you take Wudu’ and I can receive rewards for it?’ He replied, ‘You will receive rewards, but I will be burdened.’ I then asked, ‘How can that happen?’ He replied, ‘Have you not heard the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, “Those who wish to meet (receive mercy from) their Lord should do good deeds and not allow anyone else to share in (their) worshipping their Lord.” (18:110) I am about to take Wudu’ for Salat (prayer). I do not want anyone to share with me my act of worship.’”