Some other Examples of his Interpreting the Qur'an
33. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "And wherefore was there not a town which should believe so that their belief should have profited them but the people of Yunus? When they believed, We removed from them the chastisement of disgrace in this world's life and We gave them provision till a time.
2"
The Imam, peace be on him, mentioned the story of the people of Yu`nus when Allah raised the punishment from them. He, peace be on him, said: "Allah ordered Yunus to inform his people of His punishment, and he informed them. So they separated themselves from their children, the livestock and their young, and then they supplicated to Allah and sacrificed, hence Allah held back the punishment from them.
3 "
34. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "And if I intend to give you good advice, my advice will not profit you if Allah intended that He should leave you to go astray.
4"
Nuh, peace be on him, told his people about the meaning of this sacred verse, and Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him, commented on that, saying: "The affair belongs to Allah, who guides (men) and leaves (them) to go astray.
5"
35. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "He said: O Nuh, surely he is not of your family; surely he is (the doer of) other than good deeds.
6"
Al-Hasan b. 'Ali al-Washsha' narrated on the authority of Imam al-Rida, peace be on him. He said: [I heard him say:] "My father said: Abu 'Abd Allah, peace be on him, said: Surely, Allah, the Great and
____________
2. Qur'an, 10, 98.
3. Al-'Ayyashi, Tafsir.
4. Qur'an, 11, 34.
5. Al-'Ayyashi, Tafsir.
6. Qur'an, 11, 46.
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Almighty, said to Nuh:
He is not of your family. For he (Nu`h's son) was disobedient, and He (Allah) regarded those who followed him (Nu`h) as part of his family."
He (i.e. al-Hasan al-Washsha`') said : "He (Ima`m al-Rida`) asked me: 'How do they read this verse concerning Nu`h's son?'"
I (i.e. al-Hasan al-Washsha') said : "The people read it in two ways:
innahu 'amal, they have regarded it as infinitive; and
innahu 'amila, they have regarded it as a past verb."
So the Imam said: "They have told a lie. He is Nuh's son, but Allah negated him when he opposed his (Nuh's) religion."
Al-Sayyid al-Tabataba`'i said: "The meant thing by reciting the verse is its interpretation; and the narrator, through mentioning both recitations, refers to the interpretation of him who interpreted the verse that Nuh's wife gave birth to the son from other than him, so He added him to his bed (him).
1"
36. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High, "And (with passionate lust) did she desire him, and would have desired her.
2"
'Ali b. al-Jahm asked Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, in the presence of an assembly: "O son of Allah's Apostle, do you believe in the infallibility of the prophets?"
"Yes," replied the Imam.
"What do you say about these words of Him, the Great and Almighty:
And (with passionate lust) did she desire him, and would have desired her?" asked 'Ali b. al-Jahm.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, answered: "She (i.e. Zulaykha) wanted to commit a sin while he desired to kill her if she forced him; therefore, Allah saved him from the deed of killing her and its terrible consequences, and this is His words, the Great and Almighty:
Thus (it was) that We might turn away from him evil and indecency, meaning killing and fornication.
3 "
37. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "He said: You
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 11, 245.
2. Qur'an, 12, 24.
3. Al-Mizan, vol. 11, p. 166.
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shall sow for seven years continuously, then what you reap leave it in its ear except a little of which you eat. "
Al-Hasan b. 'Ali b. al-Ya`s narrated: [I heard Ima`m al-Rida`, peace be on him, say:] "Yusuf began collecting and storing seeds in the treasures during the seven fertile years. When those years terminated and the arid ones came, Yusuf began selling the seeds. In the first year he sold (the seeds) to them for the dirham and the dinar, to the extent that he possessed all the dirhams and the dinars in Egypt and the neighboring regions.
"In the second year he sold (seeds) to them for the ornaments and jewels, to the extent that he possessed all the ornaments and jewels in Egypt and the neighboring regions. In the third year he sold (seeds) to them for livestock, to the extent that he possessed all the livestock in Egypt and the neighboring regions. In the fourth year he sold (seeds) to them for the male and female slaves, to the extent that he possessed all the male and female slaves in Egypt and the neighboring regions. In the fifth year he sold (seeds) to them for the houses and courtyards, to the extent that he possessed all the house and courtyards in Egypt and the neighboring regions. In the sixth year he sold (seeds) to them for the farms and the rivers, to the extent that he possessed all the farms and the rivers in Egypt and the neighboring regions. And in the seventh year he sold (seeds) to them for themselves, to the extent that he possessed all the slaves and the free in Egypt and the neighboring regions.
"He possessed their free (men) and their slaves and their properties, so the people said: 'We have never heard that Allah gave wisdom, knowledge, and direction to a king as He has given to this king.' Then Yusuf asked the King: 'What is your view concerning the property of Egypt and the neighboring regions which Allah has entrusted to me?'"
"'Advise us through your view,' demanded Yusuf, 'for I have not put them right, that I may corrupt them; nor have I saved them from the tribulation, that it may be a tribulation against them.
____________
1. Qur'an, 12, 47.
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However, it was Allah who has saved them at my hand.' The King said: 'My view agrees with your view.' Yusuf said: 'Surely I call Allah to witness and call you, O King, to witness that I have released all the people of Egypt, returned to them their properties and their slaves, returned to you your kingdom, your ring, your throne, and your crown, provided that you should follow nothing except my example and decide nothing except through my decision.'
"The king said: 'Surely that is my repentance and pride, that I will follow nothing except your example and decide nothing except your decision. Had it not been for you, I would have not undertaken them; nor would I have found the right way to Him. I witness that there is no god except Allah, the One with whom there is no associate, and that you are His Apostle; therefore, undertake that over which I have appointed,
surely you are in our presence today an honorable, a faithful one.'
1"
38. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "He said: Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land, surely I am a good keeper, knowing well.
2"
Imam al-Rida`, peace be on him, quoted this sacred verse during his talk with a man who asked him: "May Allah set you right, how have you become the heir apparent of al-Ma'mu`n?"
Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, denied his accepting the regency after al-Ma'mun. Then he asked the man: "Who is better the Prophet or the testamentary trustee?"
"No, the Prophet," replied the man.
"Who is better the Muslim or the polytheist?"
"No, rather the Muslim," answered the man.
Then the Imam, peace be on him, stated a decisive argument, saying: "The Chief of Egypt was a polytheist, and Yusuf was a prophet. Al-Ma'mu`n is a Muslim, and I am a testamentary trustee. Yusuf asked the Chief to entrust him with an office, to the extent that he said to him:
Place me (in authority) over the treasures of the land,
____________
1. Al-Burhan.
2. Qur'an, 12, 55.
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surely I am a good keeper, knowing well. As for al-Ma'mu`n, he has forced me to be his heir apparent."
Then theImam explained the words of Him, the Most High: "
Surely I am a good keeper, knowing well," saying: "He (Yusuf) kept that which was in his hand, and he was knowing well at every language.
1"
39. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "They said: If he steals, a brother of his did indeed steal before; but Yusuf kept it secret in his heart and did not disclose it to them.
2"
He, peace be on him, said: "Isha`q (Isaac), the prophet, had a belt which the prophets and the great figures inherited, and the belt was with Yusuf's aunt; and Yusuf was with her, and she loved him. So his father sent for her: 'Send him (Yusuf) to me, and I will return him to you.' She sent for him: 'Leave him with me this night, that I may kiss him and send him to you in the early morning. When she entered upon morning, she took the belt and tied it round his loin, clothed him in a shirt, send him to him, and said: 'He (Yusuf) has stolen the belt, and I have found it with him.' In that time, when someone stole (something), he was given to the owner of the stolen thing. So she took him, and he was with her.
3"
40. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "And most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others (with Him).
4"
He, peace be on him, said: "It is the polytheism through which they do not reach unbelief
5. " The meaning is that this king of polytheism is in their obeying Satan, and it is not in their acts of worship, so that they are not regarded as unbelievers.
41. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "Till the apostles gave up hope and thought that they were surely accused of lying, Our help then came to them. "
Al-Ma'mun asked Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, and he, peace
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 11, 207.
2. Qur'an, 12, 77.
3. Al-'Ayyashi, Tafsir.
4. Qur'an, 12, 106.
5. Al-'Ayyashi, Tafsir.
6. Ibid., 12, 110.
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be on him, answered: [Allah says:] "Till the apostles gave up hope (of their people) and (their people came to) think that they proved them to be liars, Our help then came to them.
1 "
42. Regarding the fear and hope in these words of Him, the Most High: "He it is Who shows you the lightning causing fear and hope and (Who) brings up the heavy clouds.
2"
The Imam, peace be on him, said: "The fear for the traveler, and hope for the resident.
3"
43. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition.
4"
He, peace be on him, said: "Surely the affair belongs to Allah, the Most High.
5 "
44. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "So turn away with kindly forgiveness.
6 "
He, peace be on him, said: "Kindly forgiveness means forgiveness without any admonition.
7 "
45. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "Musa said to him: Shall I follow you on condition that you should teach me right knowledge of what you have been taught?
8"
Mohammed b. 'Ali b. Bilal narrated on the authority of Yunus in a letter they sent to Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, asking him about the scholar to whom Musa came, who of them was more knowledgeable? Was it permissible for the scholar to be a proof over Mu`sa` in his time? In response to their letter, the Imam, peace be on him, wrote: "Musa came to the scholar and found him either sitting or
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 11, p. 282.
2. Quran, 13, 12.
3. Al-Ma'ani.
4. Qur'an, 13, 11.
5. Al-Ayyashi, Tafsir.
6. Qur'an, 15, 85.
7. Al-Mizan, vol. 11, p. 297.
8. Qur'an, 18, 66.
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resting (on his elbow) in one of the islands of the sea. Mu`sa`, peace be on him, greeted him, but he denied the greetings, for there were no greetings in the land."
"Who are you?" asked the scholar.
"I am Mu`sa` b. 'Umran," replied Mu`sa`.
"Are Musa b. 'Umran, to whom Allah spoke?"
"Yes," was the answer.
"What is your need?"
"I have come, that you may teach me right knowledge of what you have been taught," came the answer.
"I have been entrusted with a matter which you do not endure, and you have been entrusted with a matter which I do not endure," explained the scholar. "Then the scholar drove both matters to Musa.
1
46. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "And whoever is in the heavens and the earth is His; and those who are with Him are not proud to serve Him; nor do they grow weary.
2 "
Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, quoted this sacred verse concerning the infallibility of the angels. He, peace be on him, said: "Surely the angels are infallible and are protected from ugly things through the favors of Allah, the Most High. Regarding them Allah says:
They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and do as they are commanded. And He, the Great and Almighty, says:
And whoever is in the heavens and the earth is His; and those who are with Him (i.e. the angles) are not proud to serve Him; nor do they grow weary. They glorify (Him) by night and day; they never flag. 3 "
47. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "And We gave him Isha`q and Ya'qu`b, a son's son, and We made (them) all good. And We made themImams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the alms, and Us (alone) did they serve.
4"
Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, quoted the two sacred verses to prove the purity of the prophets and of their being the choice of
____________
1. Al-Mizan.
2. Qur'an, 21, 19.
3. Al-Mizan, vol. 14, 281.
4. Qur'an, 21, 72-73.
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Allah's creatures. He, peace be on him, said: "Then Allah, the Great and Almighty, honored him (i.e. Ibrahïm) when He placed it (i.e. the Imamate) in his progeny and men of choice and purity. So Allah, the Great and Almighty, said:
And We gave him Isha`q and Ya'qu`b, a son's son, and We made (them) all good. And We made themImams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the alms, and Us (alone) did they serve. And it (the Imamate) was still in his children; they inherited it one by one, a century after a century, until the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, inherited in. So Allah, the Great and Almighty, said:
Surely the people standing closest to him (Ibrahïm) are those who followed him, and this Prophet, and those who believe; and Allah is the Master of the believers. So it was special, then he (the Prophet) entrusted it (theImamate) to 'Ali through Allah's command, according to the description which Allah made obligatory. Hence it was placed in his ('Ali's) children, the chosen ones whom Allah gave knowledge and belief by the virtue of these words of Him, the Exalted:
And those who are given knowledge and faith will say: Certainly you tarried according to the ordaince of Allah till the day of resurrection. Therefore, it is (i.e. theImamate) was especially placed in the children of 'Ali b. Abu` Ta`lib till the Day of Resurrection, for there will be no prophet after Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family.
1"
48. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "That they may witness advantages for them and mention the name of Allah during stated days.
2 "
Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, said: "The reason for the hajj is to seek to be the guest of Allah, to request more blessings, to part with past sins, to feel repentant about the past, and to look forward to the future. It is du to spending on the trip seeking nearness to Allah, tiring the body, abstaining from pleasures and desires, seeking nearness to allah by worshipping Him, yielding and submitting to Him, looking up
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 14, p. 308.
2. Qur'an, 22, 28.
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towards Him in cases of hot weather and chilling cold, during security and fear, incessantly doing so, and due to all the benefits in it of desiring the rewards and fearing the wrath of Allah, the Exalted.
"Of which are leaving hardheartedness, the meanness of the soul, forgetting the invocation of Allah, the cessation of hope and expectation, renewing the rights, preventing the soul from corruption, the interest of those who are in east and west of the earth, and those who travel over land and sea, from among those who make the pilgrimage and those who do not make the pilgrimage, from among the merchants, the importers, the buyers, the sellers, the gainers, and the poor, and accomplishing the needs of the people of the outskirts and the situations, for whom it is possible to hold a meeting wherein; likewise that they may witness advantages for them.
1 "
49. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "Then let them accomplish their needful acts.
2 "
The Imam, peace be on him, said: "Their needful acts mean trimming finger nails, throwing dirt, and casting off him (i.e. the pilgrim) (the garments) of
ihram after he has made the pilgrimage.
3 "
50. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth.
4"
He, peace be on him, said: "Allah guides the inhabitants of the heavens and of the earth.
5"
51. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "So Mu`sa` struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is on account of Satan's doing.
6"
Al-Ma'mu`n asked Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, the following question: "O son of Allah's Apostle, it is not of your statement that the prophets are infallible?"
"Yes," answered the Imam.
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 14, p. 377-378.
2. Qur'an, 22, 29.
3. Man la Yahdarahu al-Faqih.
4. Qur'an, 24, 35.
5. Al-Mizan, vol. 15, p. 139.
6. Ibid., 28, 15.
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"Tell me about these words of Allah:
So Musa struck him with his fist and killed him. He said: This is on account of Satan's doing."
The Imam told him about the interpretation of this verse, saying: "Mu`sa` entered one of Fir'awn's (Pharaoh's) cities when its inhabitants were heedless of him. That was between the sunset and the evening.
So he found therein two men fighting, one being of his party and the other of his foes, and he who was of his party cried out to him for help against him who was of his enemies. Therefore Musa killed the enemy. Allah, the Exalted, mentioned:
So Musa struck him with his fist and he died. He said: This is on account of Satan's doing. This means that the fighting which took place between the two men (was on account of Satan's doing), not the killing which Musa had committed. (The world) 'he' means Satan (who) is an enemy, openly leading astray."
"What is the meaning of these words of Musa: My Lord, surely I have done harm to myself, so do You protect me?" asked al-Ma'mun.
The Imam told him about the meaning of this sacred verse, saying: "This (verse) means that he put himself in other than its place when he entered this city. So do You protect me, meaning conceal me from Your enemies lest they should find me and kill me, so He protected him; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Musa said: My Lord, because You have bestowed a favor on me, through the strength so that I killed a man with striking him with my fist;
I shall never be a backer of the guilty; rather I shall fight in Your path with this strength until You are content (with me).
"As a result Musa was in the
city fearing, awaiting, when lo! he who had asked his assistance the day before was crying out to him for aid against another person, so Mu`sa` said to him: You are most surely one erring manifestly. You killed a man the day before and this day you want to kill (another man), hence I shall hurt you. He wanted to strike him. So when he desired to seize him who was an enemy to them both, he said:
O Musa, do you want to kill me as you killed a person yesterday? You desire nothing but that you should be a tyrant in the land, and you do not desire to be of those who act aright."
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So al-Ma'mun said: "May Allah reward you well on behalf of His prophets, O Abu al-Hasan.
1 "
52. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "Every soul must taste of death, then to Us you shall be brought back.
2"
He, peace be on him, said: [Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, said:] "When (these words of Him)
surely you shall die and they (too) shall die were revealed, I said: 'O my Lord, shall all creatures die and the prophets remain?' So (He) revealed: Every soul must taste of death, then to Us you shall be brought back.
3 "
53. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "He created the heavens without pillars as you see them.
4 "
The Imam, peace be on him, quoted this sacred verse in the following tradition which was narrated by al-Husayn b. Khalid, who said: "I said to Abu al-Hasan al-Rida`, peace be on him: Tell me about these words of Allah:
I swear by the heaven with weaving. He said: 'It is woven to the earth, and then he knitted his fingers.' So I asked: 'How is it woven to the earth, while Allah says: Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you see?' So he, peace be on him, replied: 'Glory belongs to Allah, do not Allah say:
without any pillars as you see?' 'Yes,' I replied. 'There are pillars, but you cannot see them,' he explained.
5 "
54. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "Then We gave the Book for an inheritance to those whom We chose from among Our servants; but of them is he who makes his soul to suffer a loss, and of them is he who takes a middle course, and of them is he who foremost in deeds of goodness.
6"
Ahmed b. 'Umar narrated, saying: "I asked Abu al-Hasan al-Rida, peace be on him, about these words of Him:
Then We gave the Book for an inheritance to those whom We chose from among Our
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 16, p. 22-23.
2. Qur'an, 29, 57.
3. Al-Mizan, vol. 16, p. 146.
4. Qur'an, 31, 10.
5. Al-Qummi, Tafsir.
6. Qur'an, 35, 32.
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servants, and he, peace be on him, said: 'They are the children of Fatima.
And of them is he who foremost in deeds of goodness is the Imam.'
1 "
55. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "Neither is it allowable to the sun that it should overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day; and all float on in a sphere.
2 "
Al-Ash'ath b. Qays narrated, saying: "I was in Khurasan when al-Rida held a meeting with al-Fadl b. Sahl and al-Ma'mun at al-Iwa', in Maru. When the food was put (before us), al-Rida, peace be on him, said: 'A man from the children of Isra'ïl asked me in Medina, saying: 'Was the day created before the night? What do you have?' He (al-Rida`) said: 'They discussed the matter, but they had nothing about that.'
"So al-Fadl said to al-Rida`: 'May Allah set you right, tell us about it.' 'Yes,' he said, 'From (the viewpoint of) the Qur'an or arithmetic?' 'From the viewpoint of arithmetic,' requested al-Fadl. So he (al-Rida) said: 'O Fadl, you know that the ascendant of the world is Cancer, and the stars are in the situations of their high rank; so Saturn is in Balance, Jupiter is in Cancer, Mars is in Capricorn, the Sun is in Ram, Venus is in Fishes, Mercury is in Virgo, and the moon is in Taurus, so the sun in the tenth (day) is in the middle of the heaven; therefore, the day was (created) before the night.
"'As for (the viewpoint of) the Qur'an, it is these words of Him, the Exalted:
nor can the night outstrip the day.'"
In his book Ru`h al-Ma'ani, al-Alusi has mentioned this tradition and commented on it, saying: "There is a manifest research in deducting through the verse, and through arithmetic it has an approximate viewpoint, and the view of the astrologers is that the beginning of the circle is the circle of the half of the day, agrees with what he has mentioned. It is more likely that the tradition is not correct from the beginning, for al-Rida is more exalted than concluding his claim, which you have heard, through the verse."
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 17, p. 49.
2. Qur'an, 36, 40.
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Al-Sayyid al-Tabataba'i commented on the statement of al-Alusi, saying: "It was vague for him (al-Alusi) to attain the reality of the night and the day. This matter can be explained (as follows): Surely the night and the day are opposite (to each other) as the oppositeness of non-existence and faculty like blindness and sight; just as blindness is not absolute non-sight so that the wall, for example, may be blind; rather it is non-sight for that which is distinguished by sight such as man; likewise the night is not absolute non-light; rather it is the time of non-illumination one of the parts of the earth through the light of the sun. It is known that the accomplishment of non-faculty depends on the accomplishment of the opposite faculty before it, that it may be specified through adding (it) to it, so had it not been for sight, blindness would not have become real; and had it not been for the day, the night would not have become real.
"So the absolute meaning of the night in which he (al-Alusi) believed is that there is night preceded in existence by day, and (this is proved by) these words of him:
nor can the night outstrip the day; and even if he reflected on the supposed order between the day and the night, and there is day and night, day and night, and none of these nights can precede the day which is beside it.
"However He, the Most High, took the absolute night in these words of Him:
nor can the night outstrip the day, and negated its coming before the absolute day; and He did not say: 'Surely one of the nights which are in this order does not precede the day which is in the order before it.'
"Therefore, the decision in the verse is based on that which the nature of the night and the day requires according to the oppositeness which Allah has placed between them; and a decision has been concluded from it through the decrease of the order in the alternation of the night and the day, for every night means losing the day which follows it, so it does not come before it; and he (Imam al-Rida), peace be on him, refers to this (sense) after he has mentioned the verse through these words of him: namely, the day comes before the night, namely, He (Allah) created the day before the night because the day precedes the night; and it is not as (some people) imagine that there are days and nights, and then the place of each of them is specified.
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"And the words of the objector (al-Alusi): 'And through arithmetic it has an approximate viewpoint,' he does not know the meaning of his statement which should be exactly not nearly based on the principles of astrology.
"Likewise, his statement: 'And the view of the astrologers is that the beginning of the circle is the circle of the half of the day, agrees with what he (al-Rida`) has mentioned,' is incorrect, for it has the circle of midday, which is the circle that passes thorough the two poles, and there is between them a third point which is not limited in number, for which no certain point apart from other point can be specified in the heaven, hence it is a day for the earth because the sun is in one of them apart from the other.
1"
56. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "And has there come to you the story of the litigants, when they made an entry into the private chamber by ascending over the walls. When they entered in upon Dawud and he was frightened at them, they said: Fear not; two litigants, of whom one has acted wrongfully towards the other, therefore decide between us with justice.
2"
The Imam, peace be on him, quoted these two verses and those after them in order to disprove the viewpoints of 'Ali b. al-Jahm and his people concerning Dawud, Allah's prophet, peace be on him.
The Imam, peace be on him, asked 'Ali b. al-Jahm: "What did those before you say about Dawud?"
'Ali b. al-Jahm replied: [They said:] "While Da`wud, peace be on him, was praying in his mihrab, Iblis appeared in front of him in the form of the most beautiful bird. He cut his prayer and rose in order to take the bird to the house. Then he went out following its tracks. The bird flew to the top (of the house), so Dawud ascended looking for it. The bird alighted in the house of Uryah b. Hanan.
"Dawud followed the tracks of the bird, and suddenly he saw Uryah's wife washing. When he looked at her, he fell in love with her. As for Uryah, he had been on a raid. Dawud wrote to his companion in order to place Uryah in front of the coffin. Uryah was placed in front (of the coffin), and he defeated the polytheists. So Da`wud find that difficult and again wrote to his companion in order to place Uryah in front
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 17, pp. 95-96.
2. Qur'an, 38, 21-22.
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(of the coffin). Uryah was placed in front of it and he was killed, so Da`wud married his wife."
When the Imam heard these false stories which were ascribed to one of Allah's prophets, he hit his forehead and said: "We belong to Allah and to Him is our return! You have ascribed one of Allah's prophets to neglecting his prayers and (accused him of) going out and looking for the tracks of the bird, fornication and killing!"
'Ali b. al-Jahm asked theImam to explain the matter to him, saying: "Son of Allah's Apostle, what was Dawud's sin?"
The Imam told him about the true story of Dawud, saying: "Dawud thought that he was more learned than the rest of Allah's creatures, hence Allah, the Great and Almighty, sent him to angels and they climbed the mihrab and said to him:
Fear not; two litigants, of whom one has acted wrongfully towards the other; therefore, decide between us with justice, and do not act unjustly, and guide us to the right way: Surely this is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes and I have a single one; but he said, make it over to me, and he has prevailed against me in discourse. Dawud hurried to decide the case for the plaintiff when he said:
Surely he has been unjust to you in demanding your ewe (to add) to his own ewes. He did not asked the plaintiff for the evidence for that; nor did he turn to the defendant and asked him: 'What do you say?' It was an error only within the framework of the case and was not as you thought. Have you not heard that Allah, the Great and Almighty, says:
Dawud, surely We have made you a ruler in the land; so judge between men with justice and do not follow desire."
Ibn al-Jahm asked the Imam to tell him about the story of Da`wud with Uryah, saying: "Then, son of Allah's Apostle, what is Dawud's story with Uryah."
The Imam, peace be on him, started explaining to him Dawud's story, saying: "During the days of Da`wud, a widow never get married after the death of her husband. Dawud, peace be on him, was the first man whom Allah permitted to marry the widow whose husband had
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been killed. Accordingly, he married Uryah's wife after he had been killed, and her waiting period had been over. This made the people accused Da`wud of killing Uryah.
1 "
57. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "to what I have created with My hand," which are part of His saying: "He said: O Iblis, what prohibited you from prostrating to what I have created with My hand.
2"
Mohammed b. 'Ubayda askedImam al-Rida, peace be on him, and he replied: "
It means with my might and power3. "
58. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "Surely those who pledge allegiance to you do but pledge allegiance to Allah.
4 "
Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, quoted this sacred verse in the following tradition: 'Abd al-Salam b. Salih al-Harawi narrated, saying: [I asked 'Ali b. Musa al-Rida, peace be on him: O son of Allah's Apostle, what do you say about the tradition which has been narrated by the traditionalists: 'The believers visit their Lord from their abodes in the Garden?' He, peace be on him, answered:] "O Abu al-Salt, surely Allah, the Exalted, preferred His Prophet Mohammed to the prophets and the angels from among His creatures. He regarded obedience to him as obedience to Him, pledging allegiance to him as pledging allegiance to Him, visiting him in this world and the next as visiting Him, hence He, the Great and Almighty, said:
He who obeys the Messenger certainly obeys Allah. And He said: Surely those who pledge allegiance to you do but pledge allegiance to Allah; the hand of Allah is above their hands. And the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, said: 'He who visits me during my lifetime or after my death certainly visits Allah.' His grade in the Garden is the highest of all grades, and he who visits him in his grade of position in the Garden certainly visits Allah, the Blessed and Exalted.
5"
____________
1. Al-Mizan, vol. 17, 200.
2. Qur'an, 38, 75.
3. Al-Mizan, vol. 17, 229.
4. Qur'an, 48, 10.
5. Al-Mizan, vol. 18, 225-225.
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59. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "And in the night, give Him glory too, and at the setting of the stars
1 ," he, peace be on him, said: "At the end of the prostration is four
rak'as after sunset,
and at the setting of the stars is two rak'as before the morning prayer.
2"
60.Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, was asked about the reminder in these words of Him, the Most High: "Allah has indeed revealed to you a reminder, and Apostle who recites to you the clear signs of Allah
3 ," and he, peace be on him, replied: "The reminder is Allah's Messenger and we are his family.
4 "
61. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "The Knower of the unseen, so He does not reveal His secrets to any except to him whom He chooses as an apostle
5 ," theImam met Ibn Hadda`b and asked him: "Do you believe me when I tell you that you will be tried during these days by murdering one of your blood relatives?"
"No," was the answer, "for none knows the unseen except Allah, the Most High."
The Imam answered: "Doesn't Allah, the Most High say:
The Knower of the unseen, so He does not reveal His secrets to any except to him whom He chooses as an apostle? Allah is pleased with His Messenger, may Allah bless him and his family, and we are the inheritors of the Messenger whom Allah informed of whatever He willed of His secrets, and he (the Messenger) informed us of what was and what will be until the Day of Resurrection.
6 "
62. Regarding the words of Him, the Most high: "(Some) faces on that day shall be bright, looking to their Lord,
7" he, peace be on him, said: "They mean that they (the faces) will be bright and wait for the reward of their Lord.
8"
____________
1. Qur'an, 52, 49.
2. Al-Qummi, Tafsir.
3. Qur'an, 65, 10-11.
4. Al-Burhan.
5. Qur'an, 72, 26-27.
6. Al-Khara'ijj wa al-Jara'ih.
7. Qur'an, 75, 22-23.
8. Al-Mizan, vol. 20, 116.
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63. Regarding the 'glorification' in the words of Him, the Exalted: "And give glory to Him (a) long (part of the) night
1," Ahmed b. Mohammed asked Imam al-Rida, peace be on him, and he answered: "It is the night prayer.
2 "
64. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "And your Lord comes and (also) the angels in ranks
3," 'Ali b. Fadda`l askedImam al-Rida`, and he, peace be on him, replied: 'Surely Allah cannot be described by coming and going, Allah is far above movement. Rather, by that He means that the command of your Lord comes and (also) the angels in ranks.
4 "
65. Regarding the words of Him, the Most High: "But He would not attempt the uphill road
5,"Imam al-Rida quoted them in the following tradition: Ja'far b. Khallad narrated, saying: "When Abu al-Hasan ate, he ordered a big bowl to be put beside his food. He put into the bowl the most delicious food and ordered it to be given to the poor, and then he recited this verse:
But He would not attempt the uphill road, and then he said: 'Allah, the Great and Almighty, knows that not everyone is able to release a slave, so He has showed them the way to the Garden (through giving food to the poor).'
6 "
66. Regarding the words of Him, the Exalted: "Did He not find you an orphan and gave you shelter? And find you unable to see and show the way? And find you in want and make you to be free from want?
7"
Al-Ma'mun asked Imam al-Rida`, peace be on him, and he answered: "Allah, the Most High, said to His Prophet:
Did He not find you an orphan and gave you shelter? He says: Did He not find you alone and make the people seek shelter in you?
And find you unable to see and show the way? He means with your people, and show the way
____________
1. Qur'an, 76, 26.
2. Majjma'al-Bayan.
3. Qur'an, 89, 22.
4. Al-Mizan, vol. 20, p. 278.
5. Qur'an, 90, 11.
6. Al-Mizan, vol. 20, p. 295.
7. Qur'an, 93, 6-8.
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means that He show them the way to recognize you.
And find you in want and make you to be free from want? He says: He has made you to be free from want because He has made your supplication accepted."
So al-Ma'mu`n said: "May Allah bless you, O son of Allah's Apostle!
1"
67. Regarding the word 'One' in these words of Him, the Most High: "Say: He, Allah, is One.
2 "
The Imam, peace be on him, said: "He is One not through interpreting number.
3"
With this sacred verse we will end our talk about some verses whichImam al-Rida`, peace be on him, explained and interpreted or quoted in his traditions, which indicate that he was the companion of the Qur'an, and that he took great care of it during his lectures and researches
____________
1. Al-Burhan.
2. Qur'an, 112, 1.
3. Al-Mizan, vol. 20, p. 391.
