jesus through shiite narrations

8/13/2019 Jesus Through Shiite Narrations

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Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

JesusthroughShiiteNarrations

Author

:

Mahdi

Muntazir

Qaim

Preface

Sources

Introduction

Chapter1:The

Life

of

Jesus

Chapter2:TheLifeofJesus




Chapter6:The

Life

of

Jesus



Chapter9:TheChildrenofIsrael

Chapter10:HisAscension

Chapter11

:His

Second

Coming

Chapter12:OntheResurrection

Chapter13:Jesus(a)inhisownwords


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Chapter14:TheSupplicationsofJesus(a)

Chapter15:TheConductofJesus(a)

Chapter16:TheConversationsofJesus(a)

Chapter17:GodsWordstoJesus(a)

Chapter18:ThePreachingofJesus(a)

Chapter19:APortionoftheGospel

Chapter20:RespectShownByChristianstoJesus(a)

Chapter21:Bibliography

Preface

WhatisofferedhereisafairlycomprehensiveselectionofthenarrationspertainingtoJesus(a)

saidtohavebeenreportedbytheShi'i'Imams,peacebewiththem.Itisgenerallyadmittedthat

noteverythingreportedinthisliteratureiscorrect,andthescienceofhadithhasbeendeveloped

byMuslimscholarspreciselyforthepurposeofsortingthroughthenarrationsandevaluatingtheir

strength.Noattempthasbeenmadeinwhatfollowstoselectonlyhadithsconsideredreliable.The

narrationsselectedprovideanoverviewofwhatvariousreportersofhadithshaveclaimedthatthe

ImamshavesaidaboutJesus(a).Atthesametime,wecannotclaimthatourselectionexhaustsall

suchnarrations.Sometimeswehavefoundseveralreportsthatdifferonlyinsomeinsignificant

details,inwhichcasewehavegenerallyselectedthemostcompleteformofthereport.Also

omittedarereportsinwhichJesusismentionedonlyincidentally,althoughwheresuchincidental

mentionseemedinterestingtous,wehaveprovidedtheexcerptfromthehadith.Theisnd,or

chainsoftransmissionthataccompanythereports,havebeenomittedfromtheEnglish

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translationssincetheywouldonlybeofusetothosewhohavefluencyinArabic.

ItisratherdishearteningtofindthatsomuchmisunderstandingremainsbetweenChristiansand

Muslimsintheworldtoday.HopefullythecollectionpresentedherewillbeseenbyChristiansasa

giftfromtheShi'ahtoshowthereverencetheyhaveforJesus(a).ThevisionofJesus(a)tobe

foundhere

is

different

from

that

of

Christianity,

and

the

difference

is

bound

to

lead

some

to

respondnegatively,No.TheChristweknowisnotlikethat.Wearenotconcernedtoarguehere

fortheveracityofthevisionofChristpresented.OfcourseChristianswilldenywhatconflictswith

theirbeliefs.However,itishopedthatthereaderwillbeabletobracketthequestionofwhat

reportsaboutJesus(a)arebestconsideredfactual,becausethisquestiondependsonthe

standardsusedforsuchevaluations,whetherdoctrinal,historicalorotherwise.Accordingtoour

faith,asShi'ah,theoverallpictureofChristpresentedbelowistrue,althoughquestionsmaybe

raisedaboutparticularnarrationsordetailsthereof.ThisishowwethinkofChrist.Itisadifferent

wayofthinkingabouthimfromwhatisfamiliartoChristians.However,itisbynomeans

disrespectful,anditoffersawaytounderstandthemoregeneralreligiousvisionofIslam,

particularlyShi'i'Islam.Itisuptoourreaderstochosetorespondbyfocusingondifferencesand

rejectingwhatiscontrarytotheirbeliefs,ortofindhowmuchwehaveincommonandonthis

basistosearchforwhatisofvalueintheMuslimsview,evenwhereitdiffersfromwhatoneis

preparedtoaccept.

WeexpectthatourreaderswillincludeEnglishspeakingMuslims,bothSunniandShi'i',aswellas

Christians.TothemweofferthiscollectionasanopportunitytoreacquaintthemselveswithIslamic

teachingsaboutJesus,andhopethatitwillinspirebetterrelationsbetweenMuslimsand

Christians.Evenaswestandfastinourownfaith,weshouldbepreparedtodeepenour

appreciationofthecommitmentofChristianstofollowtheteachingsofoneheldinsuchhigh

esteemintheQurnandhadith.

InthegloriousQurn,inapassagedescribingtheannunciationtotheBlessedVirginMary,Jesus

(a)isdescribedasaWordfromGod:

OMary!VerilyAllahgivesyouthegladtidingsofaWordfromHim;hisnameistheMessiah,Jesus

sonofMary,prominentinthisworldandintheHereafterofthosenear[toGod].(3:44)

Thecontextinwhichthisyahwasrevealedwasoneofinterreligiousencounter.Itissaidthatthe

ChristiansofNajransentadelegationtotheProphetofIslam1atMeccatoquestionhimaboutthe

teachingsofIslamconcerningJesus(a),andthatGodrevealedtheaboveandotherytofSurah

A`liImrninresponse.TheresponseisnotmerelyadenialofChristianteachings,althoughthe

divinityofChristisclearlyrejected,butanaffirmationofmuchbelievedbyChristians,aswell,even

thedesignationofChristaslogos:


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OPeopleoftheBook!Donottransgressinyourreligion,anddonotsayofAllahbuttheTruth.

Verily,theMessiah,JesusthesonofMary,isonlyanapostleofAllahandHisWordwhichHe

conveyeduntoMary,andaSpiritfromHim.(4:171)

So,inadditiontobeingcalledtheWordofGod,Jesus(a)isalsocalledtheSpiritofGod,andin

someof

the

narrations

reported

in

the

Shi'i'

tradition,

this

title

is

used.

Ofcourse,theinterpretationofthelogosinChristiantheologydiffersmarkedlyfromthe

interpretationofthekalimahbyMuslimscholars.FortheChristian,accordingtotheGospelof

John,theWordwasGodandtheWordbecameflesh.FortheMuslim,ontheotherhand,theWord

iscreature,evenwhileitisthecreativeprinciple,foritisinGodsutteranceofthewordBe!that

creationtakesplace.TocallChristtheWordofAllahisnottodeifyhim,buttoverifyhisstatusas

prophet.Becauseofhishighstatusasprophet,Jesus(a)becomesacompletemanifestationofGod,

onewhoconveysthemessageofGod,onewhocanspeakonbehalfofGod,andthus,theWordof

God.Jesus(a)becomestheWordofGodnotbecauseofanincarnationwherebyhisfleshbecomes

divine,butbecausehisspiritisrefinedtosuchanextentthatitbecomesamirrorwherebydivinity

comestobeknown.Thetempleisholynotbecauseofanyinherentsanctityinthestructure,but

becauseitistheplaceoftheworshipofGod.

ThedifferencesbetweenIslamicandChristianthinkingaboutJesus(a)areasimportantastheyare

subtle.Bothacceptthevirginbirth,althoughitisironicthatagrowingnumberofliberalChristians

havecometohavedoubtsaboutthismiraclewhileMuslimsremainsteadfast!Amongtheother

miraclesattributedtoJesus(a)intheGloriousQurnaretherevivalofthedeadandthecreation

ofabirdfromclay,butallofthemiraclesperformedbyJesus(a)areexpresslybythepermissionof

Allah.Justasinthemiracleofhisbirth,Jesus(a)cameintotheworldbyahumanmotherand

divinespirit,sotoo,hismiraclesareperformedashumanactionswithdivinepermission.Inthis

regardtheerroroftheChristiansisexplainedbythegreatSufi'theoretician,IbnalArabi',as

follows:

Thismatterhasledcertainpeopletospeakofincarnationandtosaythat,inrevivingthedead,he

isGod.Therefore,sincetheyconcealGod,Whoinrealityrevivesthedead,inthehumanformof

Jesus,Hehassaid,

Theyareconcealers[unbelievers]whosaythatGodistheMessiah,sonofMary.(5:72)([1])

ThepointisthatMuslimscanfindGodinJesus(a)withoutdeifyinghim,andfurthermorethat

deifyingJesus(a)isreallyanobstacletotheirfindingGodinJesus(a),fordeificationisanobstacle

tosearchinginJesus(a)foranythingbeyondhim.

OneofthecentralquestionsofChristiantheologyis:WhowasJesusChrist?Theformulationof


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answerstothisquestioniscalledChristology.Inthisareaoftheology,Christianshavedebatedthe

significanceofthehistoricalJesusasopposedtothepictureofJesuspresentedinthetraditionsof

theChristianChurchesandtheBiblicalunderstandingofJesus.ThetimehascomeforMuslimsto

beginworkinthisarea,aswell.ThroughthedevelopmentofanIslamicChristologywecancometo

abetterunderstandingofIslamascontrastedwithChristianity,andIslaminconsonancewith

Christianity,too.

Indeed,

the

first

steps

in

this

direction

are

laid

out

for

us

in

the

Qurn

itself,

in

the

versesmentionedaboveandothers.

ContemporaryworktowardanIslamicChristologyisscarce.Christianauthorshavetendedtostress

thesalvificfunctionofJesus(a)whichseemstohavenoplaceinIslam,whichleadstoquestionsof

religiouspluralismwhenChristiansaskoneanotherwhetherChrist(a)canbethesaviorofMuslims

andotherswhoarenotChristians.ChristiansshouldberemindedthatMuslimsacceptJesus(a)as

savior,alongwithalltheotherprophets,forthepropheticfunctionistosavehumanityfromthe

scourgeofsinbyconveyingthemessageofguidancerevealedbyGod.Theimportantdifference

betweenIslamandChristianityhereisnotovertheissueofwhetherJesus(a)saves,buthowhe

saves.Islamdeniesthatsalvationisthroughredemptionresultingfromthecrucifixion,andinstead

turnsitsattentiontotheinstructionprovidedinthelifeoftheprophets(a).Christianscholarship

onJesusaspresentedinIslamtendstoignorehadi'thandfocusontheQurn.Oftentheresearch

ispolemicalasauthorsattempttosupportaninterpretationoftheQurnthatismoreinkeeping

withChristianthanIslamicdoctrine.Ageneralreviewandintroductiontothisworkmaybefound

inNealRobinsonsChristinIslamandChristianity.([2])

Muslims,ontheotherhand,havetendedtoproducetheirownpolemicalworksshowinghow

muchofwhatisintheBibleisconsistentwiththeIslamicviewofChrist(a)asprophetratherthan

asapersonoftheTrinity.([3])AhmadDeedatsworkalongtheselineshasattractedmuch

attention.MoreprofoundinsightsintothedifferencesbetweenIslamandotherfaiths,including

Christianity,maybefoundinthewritingsofFrithjofSchuon,ShaykhI'sNuralDi'nAhmad,who

presentsthebeginningsofagenuineChristologyfromaSufiperspectiveinhisIslamandthe

PerennialPhilosophy.([4])InhisTheMuslimJesus:SayingsandStoriesinIslamicLiterature,Tarif

KhalidihascollectedIslamicreferencestoJesusfromtheeighthtothe18thcenturies,including

mysticalworks,historicaltextsaboutprophetsandsaintsandselectionsfromthehadi'thand

Qurn.([5])AsKhalidinotes,thesewritings,formthelargestbodyoftextsrelatingtoJesusinany

nonChristianliterature.

Thesedaysthereismuchdiscussionofdialoguebetweendifferentfaithcommunities.Conferences

havebeenheldforthispurposeintheIslamicRepublicofIranaswellasinAfrica,Europeandthe

UnitedStates.PerhapsoneofthebestwaysChristianscanfindcommongroundfordiscussionwith

MuslimsistobecomefamiliarwiththeportraitofJesus(a)presentedinIslamicsources,themost

importantofwhicharetheQurnandahdi'th,andforthelatter,nomatterwhatonesreligious

orientation,itmustbeadmittedthatthenarrationshandeddownthroughtheHouseholdofthe


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Prophet(s)deservecarefulattention.Forthoseofuswhohavethehonorofbeingcountedamong

theShi'ah,theimportanceofwhathasbeenrelatedbytheAhlalBaytweighsespeciallyheavily,as

itshould,accordingtothefamoushadi'thalthaqalayn,inwhichtheProphet(s),inthelastyearof

hislife,isreportedtohavesaid:

Verily,Iam

leaving

with

you

two

weighty

things

(thaqalayn):

the

Book

of

Allah

and

my

kindred,

my

household,forindeed,thetwoofthemwillneverseparateuntiltheyreturntomebythePond[of

KautharontheLastDay].

PerhapssomeChristianswillbedismissiveofwhatissaidofJesus(a)intheIslamicnarrations

becausethemaindebateaboutcontemporaryChristologyamongChristiansiswhetherresearch

aboutthehistoricalJesus(a)isrelevanttoreligion,orwhetherknowledgeofJesus(a)requires

attentiontotheroleheplaysintheChurchandintheology.TheIslamicnarrations,coming

centuriesafterthelifeofChrist(a)(andinsomecasesmorethanacenturyafterthelifeof

Muhammad(s))willlikelybedismissedbyliberalChristiansinpursuitofaportraitofJesus

(a)basedonthestandardsofhistoricalresearchcurrentlyacceptedintheWest.Theneoorthodox

ChristianclaimsthattheSaviorisnottobefoundinhistory,butintheChurch,soitwillnotbe

surprisingifhedisplaysnointerestinwhatIslamhastosayaboutChrist(a).However,the

ChristianmayfindthattheIslamicperspectiveilluminatesamiddlegroundbetweenthehistorians

emphasisonthenaturalandtheecclesiasticalemphasisonthesupernatural.Thehumanityof

Jesus(a)isevidentinthenarrationsoftheShi'ah,butitisahumanitytransformed,aperfected

humanity,andassuchthereisnodenyingitssupernaturaldimension.

TheMuslimalwaysseemstoappearasastrangertotheChristian,butperhapsitisfromthe

strangerthattheChristiancanbestcometoknowhissavior.ThecrucifixhashungintheChurchfor

solongthatitbecomesdifficultfortheChristiantofindsignificancethere.Theattractionofthe

questforthehistoricalJesusisthatitprovidesafreshlookatthesubject,evenifthatquestis

marredbynaturalisticpresumptionsinimicaltothereligiousoutlook.BytryingtoseeJesus(a)as

theMuslimseeshim,theChristianmayfindhissaviorcometolife,lifteduptoGodinhisowninner

liferatherthancrucified.([6])

IfwehavegivenreasonforChristianstostudythenarrationsoftheShi'ahaboutJesus(a),the

questionofthevalueofsuchstudyforMuslimsremains.Somemightwonderwhy,whenwehave

theQurnandsunnah,weshouldbeespeciallyinterestedinJesus(a).

Tobeginwith,Jesus(a),alongwiththeprophetsNoah,Abraham,Moses,Peacebewiththem,and

Muhammad(s)hasaspecialstatusinIslamasoneofthegreatestprophets,theulualazm,the

prophetswhobroughtthedivinelaw.Whatwasrevealedtothelastofthemisaconfirmationof

whatwasrevealedtotheothers.Thetruthoftherevelationisnottobefoundinitsparticularity

butinitsuniversality,andwecometounderstandthisbestwhenweunderstandtheteachingsof

alltheprophets(a).Isthisnotwhysomuchattentionisgiventothepreviousprophetsinthe


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Qurn?

Alloftheprophets(a)havebroughtagospeloflove,loveofGodandloveofneighborandlove

evenforthemeanestofHiscreatures.So,inthereportsnarratedbelowwefindJesus(a)giving

someofhisfoodtothecreaturesofthesea.Atthesametime,however,thisloveisnottobe

confusedwith

asentimentalism

which

would

prevent

the

execution

of

the

divine

law.

Jesus

(a)foundfaultwiththePhariseesnotbecauseoftheirregardfortheexteriorformsofreligion,but

becauseoftheirdisregardforitsinteriorforms,thatis,becauseoftheirhypocrisy.([7])

TheWordsoftheSpiritofAllahreportedintheselectionsthatfollowareprimarilyconcernedwith

morals.TheseareChristianmoralsandatthesametimeIslamicmorals.TodayChristendomisina

stateofmoralupheaval.Peculiarlymodernideasofwhatisrightandwronghavefoundtheirway

intothetheologiansunderstandingsofethics.Significantareasofagreementaredifficulttofind.

ThesimplemoralitytaughtbyJesus(a)andwhichcontinuestobeemphasizedinIslamresonatesin

thenarrationsoftheShi'ah.Whileexcessiveasceticismisforbidden,wearetoturn,likeJesus(a),

awayfromtheworldtofindrefugeinGod.

FromthefollowingnarrationswenotonlybecomereacquaintedwiththemoralteachingsofJesus

(a)andwithhischaracter,butwealsodiscoverwhatthedearfriendsofAllah,theHouseholdofthe

Prophet(s)founditimportanttotransmitabouthim,andtherebywegetaglimpseintotheir

moralteachingsandcharacters,too.

Notes:

[1]IbnalArabi',TheBezelsofWisdom(FususalHikam),tr.R.W.J.Austin(Lahore:Suhail,1988),

p.177.

[2]NealRobinson,ChristinIslamandChristianity(Albany:SUNY,1991),ch.2.Thisworkalso

containsanexcellentsurveyofhowMuslimhistoriansandapologistshaveapproachedissues

pertainingtoChristandChristianity,andanexaminationofvariousexegesesoftheQurnonthe

versesaboutJesus.

[3]Forexample,seeAhmedDeedat,WasJesusCrucified?(Chicago:Kazi,1992).

[4]FrithjofSchuon,IslamandthePerennialPhilosophy(Lahore:Suhail,1985).

[5]TarifKhalidi,TheMuslimJesus:SayingsandStoriesinIslamicLiterature(Cambridge:Harvard

UniversityPress,2003).

[6]WeareremindedbythegloriousQurn:RecallwhenGodsaid:OJesus,Iwilltakeyouaway

andliftyouuptoMe..(3:54)

[7]Cf.Matt.23:25.


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Sources

Bihral

Anwr

is

acollection

of

hadiths

in

Arabic

written

by

Mawl

Muhammad

Bqir

ibn

MuhammadTaqi',knownasMajli'si'theSecond,orsimplyAllmahMajli'si'(A.H.10371110).Heis

oneofthemostprolificShi'i'writers,andwasShaykhalIslmduringtheSafavidperiod.He

authoredthirteenbooksinArabicandfiftythreeinFarsi.Hislargestandmostimportantworkis

BihralAnwralJmiahliDurarAkhbralAimmahalAthr.Thisisthemostcomprehensiveof

allcollectionsofShi'i'hadiths,anditincludesalmostallhadithsattributedtotheProphet(s)

throughShi'i'chainsoftransmission,almostalloftheahdi'thqudsi'(narrationsofthewordsof

GodrevealedtotheProphet(s)notincludedintheQurn)andothernarrationsattributedtothe

Imams.OneofthefeaturesofthisworkisthatAllmahMajli'si'wenttogreatpainstoseparatehis

ownviewsfromthetransmissionoftheahdith.Ittookhimthirtysixyearstocompilethework,

fromA.H.

1070

to

A.H.

1106,

with

the

cooperation

of

other

scholars

of

the

day

and

students.

In

the

firstvolume,heidentifieshissources,andlaterinthesamevolumeheevaluatestheirreliability.

Hissourcesincludeclosetofourhundredtitles,amongwhicharesixteenworksofShaykhSaduq,

sixteenworksofShaykhTusi',eighteenworksofShaykhMufi'd,twelveworksofSayyidMurtad,

twelveworksofShahi'dAwwal,twentyoneworksofSayyidibnTwus,twentythreeworksof

AllmahHilli'andtwelveworksofShahi'dThni'.HealsomadeuseofninetyworksbySunni'

authorsforcorrectingthewordsofthenarrationsordeterminingtheirmeanings,andhementions

eachofthesesourcesbynameinhisintroduction.

TherearethreeextanteditionsthathavebeenpublishedofBihr,oneisalithographprintin

twentyfive

volumes,

known

as

the

old

edition.

The

second

is

that

of

Dar

al

Kutub

al

Islmiyyah,

Tehran,BazrSulTni',inonehundredtenvolumes(nodate),knownasthenewedition.Inthe

Terhanedition,volumes54,55and56containatableofcontents.Thethirdeditionisreallyjusta

reprintoftheTehraneditionpublishedbyMuassasahalWafofBeirut.IntheBeirutedition,the

contentshavebeenmovedtovolumes108,109and110,andavolume0wasaddedinwhichthere

isanintroductiontotheauthorandtheauthorsofhissources.([8])Wehaveusedthenewedition

publishedinTehran.

TuhafalUqulfi'MJaminalHikamwaalMawizanA`lalRasulbyAbuMuhammadHasanibn

Ali'ibnHusaynibnShubahHarrni'Halabi'isoneofthemostwellknowncollectionsofShi'i'

narrations.The

author

was

acontemporary

of

Shaykh

Saduq

and

died

in

A.H.

381.

Shaykh

Mufi'd

reportsnarrationsfromhim,andhe,inturn,reportstraditionsfromShaykhAbuAli'Muhammad

ibnHammm,whodiedinA.H.336.ThebookcontainsnarrationsfromtheProphet(s)followedby

narrationsofthefirstelevenImamsinorder.Afterthis,therearefourmorepartstothebook:(1)

thewhisperedcounsel(munjt)ofGodtoMoses;(2)thewhisperedcounselofGodtoJesus(a);

(3)theadviceoftheMessiahinthegospelandotherplaces;and(4)adviceofMufaddalibnUmar,


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oneofthecompanionsofImamSdiq(a)totheShi'ah.Intheintroductiontothiswork,Ibn

Shubahwrites:

Ididnotmentionthechainsoftransmissioninordertoreducethevolumeofthebookandkeepit

short.MostofthenarrationsinthisbookareonesIhaveheard.Mostofthempertaintomanners

andwisdom

which

testify

to

their

own

validity

and

the

correctness

of

their

attribution.

Scholarsinthisfieldconsidertheworktobereliableandrefertoitinsupportoftheiropinions

abouthadithsandfiqh.ThebookwasfirstpublishedinA.H.1303inIran,andlaterinIraq,Lebanon

andIran.([9])TheeditionwehaveusedisthatofQom:MuassasahalNashralIslmi',A.H.1416.

ThenarrationswehavetranslatedfromTuhafalUqularegivenwithoutmentionofachainof

transmission,althoughthereisanindicationinthisworkthattheyarereportedbyImamMusibn

JafaralKzimu.([10])PartofthenarrationmayalsobefoundinalKfi',Vol.2,p.319,attributed

toImamSadiq(a).

AlKfi'isoneofthefourmostauthoritativesourcesofShi'i'narrations.Itwaswrittenby

MuhammadibnYaqubibnIshqalKulayni'alRzi'(d.A.H.328)andcontainssixthousand

narrationsdividedintothirtyfoursections.Ittooktwentyyearstowriteduringtheminor

occultationofthetwelfthImam.IthasbeenpublishedineightvolumesinTehranbyDralKutub

alIslmiyyah.Wehaveusedthe1362/1983edition.ThewhisperedcounselofGodtoJesus(a)

translatedbelowfromalKfi',Vol.8,131141,mayalsobefoundinTuhafalUqul,p.496,without

mentionofthenameoftheImamfromwhomitwasnarrated,andinAlAmli'ofShaykhSaduqit

isnarratedfromImamSdiq(a).

AnotherofthefourbooksofShi'i'narrationscontainingreportsaboutJesus(a)isTahdhi'bal

AhkmbyShaykhalTifahAbuJafarMuhammadibnalHasanibnAli'alTusi'(b.A.H.385,d.A.H.

460).TherearesaidtohavebeenfourhundredsmallbooksofShi'i'narrationsextantduringthe

authorslifetime,knownasUsulalArbaahMiah,andtheauthorclaimstohavecompiledthis

collectionfromthese.ThisbookisacommentaryonAlMuqniahofShaykhMufi'd,aworkof

jurisprudencecontainingreferencestohadiths.TheeditionoftheTahdhi'balAhkmwehaveused

isthatofTehran:DralKutubalIslmiyyah,nodate.

MustadrakalWasilwaMustanbatalMasilbyHjjMi'rzHusaynNuri'alTabarsi'ibn

MuhammadTaqi'(A.H.12541320)containsmorethantwentythreethousandnarrationsandhas

beenpublishedinQombyMuassasahA`lalBaytuliIhyalTurth,firsteditionpublishedinA.H.

1408.ThisisconsideredoneofthefourmostimportantcollectionsofShi'i'hadithsofthemodern

period,thatis,aftertheeleventh/seventeenthcentury,theothersbeingAlWfi'byFaydKshni',

BihralAnwrbyAllmahMajli'si'andWasilalShi'ahbyShaykhHurralA`mili'.Itwaswritten

inordertocompletethenarrationsnotincludedintheWasilalShi'ah.([11])


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MuhammadLegenhausen

TheImamKhomeiniEducationandResearchInstitute,Qom

Muharram1425/March

2004

Notes:

[8]ThisinfomationisgiveninthearticleBihralAnwrbyBahalDi'nKhoramshhi'inDayirah

alMarifTashshayyu,Vol.3,(Tehran:MuassasahDayirahalMarifTashshayyu,1371/1992),p.

9198.

[9]SeethearticleTuhafalUqulbySayyidMahdi'Hiri'inDayirahalMarifTashshayyu,Vol.4,

(Tehran:MuassasahDayirahalMarifTashshayyu,1373/1994),p.169.

[10]TuhafalUqul,p.392.

[11]IwouldliketoexpressmygratitudetoAbbasHusayniforassitanceinthetranslationofsome

ofthehadithsandtoMuntazarQaimforhisguidanceinthetranslationofallofthem.Thanksalso

areduetoProf.Tofighi,HadiYusufiGharavifortheirSuggestions.WearealsogratefultotheImam

KhoeminiEducationandResearchInstituteforprovidingtheopportunityforthiswork

Introduction

IntheNameofGod,theCompassionate,theMerciful

JesusthesonofMary(a)hasalwaysbeenreveredandheldinhighesteemamongChristiansand

Muslims,buttherearedifferencesaswellascommonpoints.Thosewhoarefamiliarwiththe

characterofChrist,whetherMuslimorChristian,willfindmanysuchpointsbyreadingthisbook.

Priortothepublicationofthiscollection,thevaluablebookofTarifKhalidi,TheMuslimJesus,

SayingsandStoriesinIslamicLiterature,hasintroducedJesusasunderstoodmostlythrough

narrationsfoundinthecollectionsofSunniMuslims.Today,thepresentbook,JesusthroughShiite

Narrations,introduces

Jesus

from

the

perspective

of

the

Imams

of

the

Household

of

the

Prophet,

peacebewiththem.

AccordingtoShiitenarrations,ImrnandHannahweretheparentsofMary;andAllahrevealedto

Imrn:Iwillgrantyouaboy,blessed,whowillcuretheblindandtheleperandwhowillraisethe

deadbyMypermission.WhenMarywasbornHannahsaid:OmyLord!VerilyIhavedelivereda


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female,andwhenMarygrewup,theangelssaidtoher,

OMary!VerilyAllahhaschosenyouandpurifiedyouandchosenyouabovethewomenofthe

worlds.(3:42)

Thenthe

Sure

Spirit

(al

Ruh

al

Ami'n)

came

down

at

noon

on

aFriday

and

said

to

her:

IambutamessengercomefromyourLord,togiveyouaboymostpure.(19:19)

ThenheblewintoherbreastandshebecamepregnantwithJesus.WhenJesus,thespiritofAllah

andHisword,wasborn,onthenightofthetwentyfifthofthetwelfthlunarmonth,DhualQadah,

Marysaid:

Oh!WouldthatIhaddiedbeforethis,andhadbeenforgotteninoblivion(19:23).

ThenAllahopenedthetongueofJesusandhesaid:

Verily,IamaservantofAllah.HehasgivenmetheBook,andhasmademeaprophet,andhas

mademeblessedwhereverImaybe.AndHehasenjoinedonmeprayerandcharity(zakh)aslong

asIlive.(19:3031)

Allahmadehisspeechasanexonerationofhismother.

ThatnightIbli's(thedevil)wenttotheEastandWestinsearchofhim.Thenhefoundhiminaroom

ofaconvent,withtheangelssurroundinghim.Hetriedtogetclosetohim.Theangelsshouted,

Getaway!Hesaidtothem,Whoishisfather?Theyanswered,HiscaseislikethatofAdam.

Ibli'ssaid,Verily,Iwillmisleadfourfifthsofthepeoplebyhim.Allah,themightyandmagnificent,

onlywantedtomakehisaffairasasignandmarkforittobeknownbythisthatHehaspowerover

allthings.

Jesusstoodasanauthority(hujjah)whenhewasthreeyearsold.Whenhereachedsevenyearshe

spokeasaprophetandmessenger,whilehereceivedrevelationfromAllah,theExalted.When

Allahcommissionedhim,Hebestoweduponhimlight,knowledgeandwisdom,andtheknowledge

ofalltheprophetsbeforehim,andHeaddedtothistheGospel.Hecommissionedhimto

Jerusalem(BaytalMaqdis)forthechildrenofIsraeltoinvitethemtoHisbookandwisdomandto

faithinAllahandHisprophet.AccordingtoShiitebelief,ifonedeniesJesusthesonofMary(a),

butconfessestoalltheotherprophets,heisstillnotconsideredabeliever.

Jesuswasnoble,aworshipper,anascetic,anitinerant,possessorofsplendor,waslovingtoallthe

believersandexcellentinhisconductwithothers.Hisringwasengravedwithtwosayingshetook


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fromtheGospel,BlessedistheservantbecauseofwhomAllahisremembered,andwoeuntothe

servantbecauseofwhomAllahisforgotten.

Hisshariah(law)includedtawhi'd(divineunity),ikhls(purity),thedismissalofpeers[forAllah],

andtheliberaluprightnessofhumannature.Hemadelawfulwhatispureinit,andprohibited

whatis

filthy,

and

He

removes

from

them

their

burdens

and

the

shackles

that

were

upon

them.([12])Hislawincludedtheprayer,alms,andalsorestrictingmarriagetoonewoman,forthe

sakeofwomensaffairs.

AdmonitionsandparablesweresentdowntohimintheInji'l,buttherewasnolawofretaliation

(qiss)initnorpreceptsofretribution(ahkmalhudud),andnoobligationsforinheritance.What

wassentdowntohimwasamitigationofwhatwassentdowntoMosesintheTorah.Jesus

commandedthosewithhimwhowerebelieversandfollowedhimthattheybelieveinthelawof

theTorah,thelawsofallprophetsandtheInji'l.

TheChristiansdifferedamongthemselvesaboutJesus(a).Someofthemsaid,theEternal,the

MightyandMagnificent,isunitedwithChrist,Hisson.ButtheEternaldoesnotbecomenon

eternalbythiscreaturewhoisJesus,andJesusdoesnotbecomeeternalbytheEternalwhois

Allah.Hispeoplesplitintothreesects:asectofbelievers,andtheywerethedisciples,asectofhis

enemies,andtheyweretheJews,andasectthatexaggeratedabouthim,andtheyleftthefaith.

Theapostlesweretwelvemenandtheywerehisfollowersandhelpers.WhenJesus(a)asked,

WhoaremyhelpersforAllah?Thedisciplessaid,WewillbethehelpersofAllah.[13]So,they

werecalledNasrbecauseoftheirhelptothereligionofAllah.

Jesuslivedforthirtythreeyears;hewasnotkillednorcrucified,butitwasmadetoappearsoto

theChristians.OnthenightofthetwentyfirstofRamadnhewasraisedwhiletherewerenine

thousandsthreehundredthirteenangleswithhim.Hewasraisedfromtheearthaliveandhissoul

wastakenbetweenheavenandearth,thenhewasraisedtoheavenandhissoulwasreturnedto

him.HewillcomedowntotheworldbeforetheResurrectiondaywiththetwelfthImamofthe

HouseholdoftheProphet,andinvitethepeopletoAllah.Intheresurrectionwillcomeamanina

groupandtheangelswillbearoundhimwithwingsoutspreadandthelightwillbeinfrontofthem.

ThenthepeopleoftheGardenwillcranetheirneckstowardhimandsay,Whoisthiswhoisthus

allowedbyAllah?Theangelswillsay,ThisisthespiritofAllahandHisword!ThisisJesustheson

ofMary!

Jesusoncesaidabouthimself,IsleepwhileIhavenothingandIrisewhileIhavenothing,andyet

thereisnooneonearthmorewealthythanI,andhesaidanothertime,Ibeganthemorningwith

myLord,theBlessedandSupreme,abovemeandthefire(ofhell)beforemeanddeathinpursuit

ofme.IhavenotobtainedthatforwhichIwishedandIcannotkeepawaythethingsIhate.Sowho

ofthepoorispoorerthanI?


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Jesus(a)passedbyamanwhowasblind,leprousandparalytic,andJesusheardhimgivingthanks

andsaying,PraisebetoAllahWhohasprotectedmefromthetrialswithwhichHeafflictsthe

majorityofmen.Jesus(a)said,Whattrialremainswhichhasnotbeenvisiteduponyou?He

said,Heprotectedmefromatrialwhichisthegreatestoftrials,andthatisdisbelief.ThenJesus

(a)touchedhim,andAllahcuredhimfromhisillnessesandbeautifiedhisface.Thenhebecamea

companionof

Jesus

(a)

andworshipped

with

him.

Thesetwostoriesabouthimsufficetoshowhishumility.HeservedamealtotheApostles,and

whentheyhadeatenit,hehimselfwashedthem,andanothertimehestoodupandwashedtheir

feet.Theysaid,Itwouldhavebeenmoreproperforustohavedonethis,OSpiritofAllah.He

said,Verily,itismorefittingforonewithknowledgetoservethepeople.Indeed,Ihumbled

myselfonlysothatyoumayhumbleyourselvesamongthepeopleaftermeevenasIhavehumbled

myselfamongyou.

TheconversationsofJesus(a)withtheDisciplesareveryinteresting.Theyaskedhim,Ospiritof

Allah,sowithwhomshouldwekeepcompany?Hesaid,Hethesightofwhomremindsyouof

Allah,hisspeechincreasesyourknowledgeandhisactionmakesyoudesirousoftheotherworld.

AndamanaskedJesusthesonofMary(a),Whichpeopleisthebest?Hetooktwohandfulsof

earthandsaid,Whichoftheseisthebest?Thepeoplearecreatedfromearth,sothemost

honorableofthemisthemostGodwary.

GodalsointroducedHimselftoJesus,HedescribedHisendlessmercytohim,andHegavehim

necessaryinstructions.OnceHesaidtohim,OJesus!IdonotforgetthosewhoforgetMe,sohow

couldIforgetthosewhorememberMe!IamnotstingywiththosewhodisobeyMe,sohowcouldI

bestingywiththosewhoobeyMe.Andhesaidanothertime,Betothepeopleliketheearth

belowinmeekness,liketheflowingwateringenerosity,andlikethesunandthemooninmercy,

whichshineonthegoodandsinneralike.

TheadviceattributedtoJesusinShiitenarrationsisfullofwisdom,guidanceanddirection.Among

theadvicehegivesinordertoimproverelationsamongpeopleis:Thatwhichisnotlovedbyyou

forsomeonetodotoyou,donotdothattoothers,andifsomeonestrikesyouontherightcheek,

turntohimyourleftcheekalso.

TheShiahbelievethattheBibleasitexiststodayhasbeendistorted,butthatdespitethis,muchof

whatitcontainsisconsistentwiththespiritoftheteachingsofJesus(a),andthisisconfirmedby

manyofthenarrationsattributedtotheImams,peacebewiththem.Anexampleofthisisthat

Jesus(a)said:

IntruthIsaytoyou,whoeverlooksatasnakethatintendstostrikehisbrotheranddoesnotwarn

himuntilitkillshim,hewillnotbesecurefrompartnershipinhismurder.Likewise,whoeverlooks


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athisbrotherdoingsomethingwrong,anddoesnotwarnhimofitsconsequencesuntilit

encompasseshim,hewillnotbesecurefrompartnershipinhissin.

Thenarrationspresentedherehavebeenselectedfrommorethanonehundredtwentybooksof

Shiitenarrations.Ithasbeenarrangedintonineparts.Inthefirstpart,aboutthelifeofJesus(a),

wefind

afew

narrations

that

conflict

with

each

other.

Some

of

the

chains

of

narration

through

whichthenarrationsarereportedareweak.Attheendoftheeighthparttherearefournarrations

reportedtobefromtheGospel,butwedonotknowfromwhichGospeltheyhavebeenreported.

ThelastnarrationinthisbookisabouttherespectgiventoJesusbytheChristiansofonethousand

threehundredsixtyfouryearsago.Thisnarrationhasseveralambiguities.Ontheotherhand,the

contentsofpartstwothrougheightareconsideredfirmandarebeautiful.Mostly,theMuslimand

Christianbeliefsareconsistentwitheachotherhere.WedonotbelieveinthedivinityofJesus(a),

butwedobelievethathewasinseparablefromGod.Theyhaveanattractioninsuchawaythat

theyhaveaneffectontheheartsofthosereadytoreceivethem,andincreaseloveforJesus(a).

Wewouldliketothankourreadersandsolicittheirassistanceiftheyfindanyerrorsinthetextor

itstranslation.[14]

MahdiMuntazirQaim

Muharram1425/March2004

Notes:

[12]See(7:157).

[13]See(61:14).

[14]Theworkofcollecting,sorting,editingandtranslatingthesenarrationsintoEnglish,beganten

yearsago.Ithasbeencompletedwiththehelpofsomeofmyteachersandfriends.Prof.

MuhammadHdi'Yusufi'Gharavi'reviewedtheArabictextofthenarrations.HjjMuhammad

LegenhausenwasthemaintranslatorofthenarrationsintoEnglish.SayyidMuhammad

NaSi'hatkonhelpedwiththeArabicvocalizationmarks.MuhammadJavdNajafi'andAbdal

Kari'mAnsri'alsohaveashareinhelpingwiththisproject.Likewise,mywifealsoshowedmuch

patiencewiththiswork.Ithankallofthem.IwouldespeciallyliketothanktheCenterforShiite

Studies,inwhoselibraryaportionofthisworkwascarriedout.IhopeitmaybeacceptedbyAllah,

andIoffertheblessingsforittothosewhohavearightoverus,especiallymyparentsand

brothers.Wasalm.


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1.It

is

reported

that

Abu

Basi'r

said,

I

asked

Abu

Jafar

(a)

about

Imrn,

whether

he

was

a

prophet.Hesaid,Yes.Hewasaprophetandanapostletohispeople.AndHannah,thewifeof

ImrnandHannah,thewifeofZachariahweresisters.MarywasborntoImrnfromHannah,

andJohnuwasborntoZachariahfromHananah.MarygavebirthtoJesus(a)andJesus(a)wasthe

sonofthedaughterofJohnsaunt.JohnuwasthesonoftheauntofMary.Andtheauntofones

motherislikeonesaunt.(Bihr,14,202,14)

2.ItisreportedthatYaqubibnJafaribnIbrhi'msaid,IwasclosetoAbualHasanMusuwhena

Christiancametohim.WewereatUraid.TheChristiansaidtohim,Icametoyoufromafarland

andhavehadadifficultjourney.IhavebeenaskingmyLordforthirtyyearstoguidemetothebest

religionand

the

best

servants

and

the

most

knowledgeable

of

them.

In

adream

someone

came

to

meanddescribedamanformewhowasintheupperregionsofDamascus.IwentuntilIreached

him.ThenIspokewithhim.Hesaid,Iamthemostknowledgeableamongthepeopleofmy

religion,butthereisonewhoismoreknowledgeablethanI.

Isaid,Guidemetotheonewhoismoreknowledgeablethanyou.Idonotcarehowlongthe

journey;alongdistanceisnottoofarforme.IhavereadtheGospels,allofthem,thePsalmsof

David,andIhavereadfourbooksoftheTorah,andIhavereadtheQuranoutwardly,untilI

learnedallofit.

Thenthe

scholar

said

to

me,

If

you

want

to

study

about

Christianity,

Iam

the

most

knowledgeable

personamongtheArabsandnonArabs.IfyouwanttostudyaboutJudaism,BTi'ibnShurahbi'lal

Smiri'isthemostknowledgableofmentoday.IfyouwantknowledgeofIslam,knowledgeofthe

TorahandknowledgeoftheGospelandthePsalms,andthebookofHud,andallofwhathasbeen

sentdowntoeveryprophetinyourtimeandthetimesofothersIwillguideyoutohim,sogoto

him,evenifyouhavetowalk...

AbuIbrhi'm[ImamMusKzim]saidtohim,Iwillinformyouofsomethingthatonlyafew

peopleknowwhohavereadthebooks.TellmewhatisthenameofthemotherofMary,andthe

dayonwhichMarywasbreathedinto,andwhathouroftheday,andonwhatdayMarygavebirth

toJesus

(a)

and

what

hour

of

the

day?

The

Christian

said,

I

do

not

know.

AbuIbrhi'msaid,AsforthemotherofMary,hernamewasMirtha,inArabic,Wahibah(gift).As

forthedayonwhichMaryconceived,itwasFridayatnoon,andthatwasthedaythattheRuhal

Ami'n(thetrustworthyspirit)camedown,andthereisnofestivalbetterthanthisforMuslims.

Allah,theBlessedandAlmighty,magnifiedit,andMuhammad(s)magnifieditandHeorderedthat


17/133


itshouldbeaholiday,anditwasFriday.AsforthedayonwhichMarywasborn,itwasTuesday,at

fourthirtyintheafternoon.AnddoyouknowwhatwastheriverbesidewhichMarygavebirthto

Jesus(a)?Hesaid,No.Hesaid,ItwastheEuphrates,andbesideitweredatepalmsandgrape

vines.ThereisnothinglikethegrapesanddatepalmsneartheEuphrates(Kfi',1,478,4)

3.It

is

reported

that

Abu

Abd

Allah

(a)

said,

If

we

tell

you

something

about

one

of

us,

but

you

do

notfinditso,butitissoofhischildorgrandchild,thendonotdenywhatwesaid.Verily,Allah

revealedtoImrn,Iwillgrantyouaboy,blessed,whowillcuretheblindandtheleperandwho

willraisethedeadbyMypermission.AndIwillsethimasanApostletotheChildrenofIsrael.Then

herelatedthistohiswifeHannah,themotherofMary.WhenshebecamepregnantwithMary,she

thoughtthatherburdenwasaboy.Whenshedeliveredafemale,shesaid,OmyLord!VerilyI

havedeliveredafemale,andthemaleisnotlikethefemale,foragirlwillnotbeaprophet.Allah

said,AndAllahknowsbetterwhathasbeendelivered.(3:36)WhenAllahgrantedJesus(a)to

Mary,itwasheofwhomAllahhadgivengladtidingstoImrnandhadpromisedhim.

So,ifwetellyousomethingaboutoneofus,butitisinhischildorgrandchild,donotdenyit.When

Marybecamegrown,shewentintothecloister(mihrb)andputacoveringoverherselfsonoone

sawher.Zachariahcametoherinthecloister,andfoundthatshehadsummerfruitinthewinter

andwinterfruitinthesummer.Hesaidtoher,Whencetoyouisthis?Shesaid,ItisfromAllah.

VerilyAllahprovidesforwhomsoeverHewantswithoutmeasure.Whentheangelssaid,OMary!

VerilyAllahhaschosenyouandpurifiedyouandchosenyouabovethewomenoftheworlds.

(3:42)HesaidthatMarywastwicechosen.Thefirstchoosingwasherselection[withgladtidings

giventoImrn],butthesecondwasthatshebecamepregnantwithoutaman.So,shewaschosen

overallthewomenoftheworld.

(Bihr,14,199,8)

4.ItisreportedthatIsmi'lalJufi'saidthatAbuJafarsaid,WhenthewifeofImrnvowedthat

whatwasinherwombwouldbededicated,[andwhatwasmeantwasthathewouldbe]dedicated

tothemosque,whenhewasdeliveredhewouldenterthemosqueandneverleave,(thenwhen

Marywasborn,[hermother]said,

MyLord!Ihavedeliveredafemale.AndAllahknowsbestwhatshedelivered.Andthemaleisnot

likethefemale,andIhavenamedherMary,andIcommendhertoYourprotectionfromthecast

offSatanandalsoheroffspring.(3:36)

ThentheprophetscastlotsandthelotfelltoZachariah,andhewasthehusbandofhersisterand

hercustodian,andshewasbroughttothemosque.Whenshematuredtowhenawoman

menstruates,shewasthemostbeautifulofwomen,andwhensheprayed,thecloisterbecame

brightbyherlight.ThenZachariahenteredandfoundthatbeforehertherewaswinterfruitinthe


18/133


summerandsummerfruitinthewinter.Thenhesaid,Fromwhenceisthis?Shesaid,Itisfrom

Allah.(3:37)Becauseofthis,ZachariahprayedtohisLord,AndverilyIfearmykindredafterme,

andmywifeisbarren.(19:5),andsoonwithwhatAllahmentionedofthestoryofZachariahand

John.

(Bihr,14,

204,

18)

5.LaythibnSadsaid,IsaidtoKab,whowaswithMuawi'yah,Howwouldyoudescribethebirth

oftheProphet(s)?Doyouseeanyexcellenceinhisprogeny?ThenKabturnedtoMuawi'yah,to

seewhathewanted.Allah,theMightyandMagnificent,put[thesewords]onhistongue,OAbu

Ishq,mayAllahhavemercyonyou,saywhateveryouknow!Kabsaid,Ihavereadseventytwo

booksallofwhichweresentfromheaven,andIhavereadtheentirescriptureofDaniel.Inallof

themIhavefoundmentionofthebirthoftheProphetandhisprogeny.ThenameoftheProphetis

alsoknownthere.Noprophetwasbornwithangelsbeingsentdown,exceptJesusandAhmad,

maytheblessingsofAllahbewiththemboth.Thecoveringofheavenwasnotdrawnforany

womanexceptMaryandA`minah,themotherofAhmad1.Angelsguardednopregnantwomen

exceptMary,themotheroftheMessiah,andA`minah,themotherofAhmad(s).

(Bihr,15,261,12)

6.ItisreportedthatImmRid(a)saidtoalMukri',Doyounotknowthat,verily,Allah,the

BlessedandExalted,revealedtoImrn,Iwillgrantyouaboy,butHegrantedhimMaryandHe

grantedJesustoMary.So,JesusisfromMaryandMaryisfromJesus.JesusandMaryareasingle

thing.Iamfrommyfatherandmyfatherfromme.Iandmyfatherareasinglething.

(Faqi'h,3,155,3564)

7.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdullah(a)said,ByAllah!IntheQurnAllahrelatedJesusthesonof

MarytoAbrahamufromhismothersside.Thenherecitedthisverse,

andofhis[Abrahams]descendantsDavidandSolomonandJobandJosephandAaron,andthusdo

Werewardthosewhodogood./AndZachariahandJohnandJesusandElias,everyonewasofthe

good.(6:8485)

(Bihr,93,243,8)

8.AbuBsi'rsaid,IsaidtoAbuAbdAllah(a),WhydidAllahcreateJesuswithoutanyfatherand

createdtheotherpeoplebyfathersandmothers?Hesaid,Sothatthepeoplewouldknowallof

Hispoweranditsperfection,andsothattheywouldknowthatHehaspowertocreateacreature

withoutamale.Likewise,Hehaspowertocreateonewithoutamaleorfemale,andHe,the


19/133


MightyandMagnificent,didthatsoitwouldbeknownthatHehaspoweroverallthings.

(Bihr,14,218,23)

9.SalmnalFrsi'reportedthatwhentheProphetdied,thecatholicoscameHesaidtoAli'the

sonof

Abu

Tlib,

This

is

true.

Inform

me

about

what

your

prophet

said

about

the

Christ

and

his

beingacreature.Howdidheconfirmthecreationforhimandrejectthedivinityfromhimand

madenecessaryimperfectionforhim?TheCommanderoftheFaithfulsaid,Heconfirmedthe

creationforhimbyhisdestinyandshape,thatisnecessaryforhim,chaingingfromonestateto

another,increaseanddecreasethatarenotseparatedfromhim.Hedidnotrejecthis

prophethood,infallibility,perfectionandconfirmation.ItisrevealedfromAllahthatJesusislike

AdamwhomAllahcreatedhimfromclay,thensaidtohim,Be.Sohewas.

(KharijWaalJarih,2,554)

10.AlAhwalsaid,IaskedAbuAbdAllah(a)aboutthespiritthatwasinAdam(a)[mentionedin

theyah]inwhichAllahsays,WhenIstraightenedhimandblewinhimfromMysprit.Qurn

(15:29and38:72)Heanswered,ThisisacreatedspritandthespritthatwasinJesuswas

created.

(Kfi',1,133,1)

11.HamrnibnAyansaid,IaskedAbuJafaraboutwhatAllah,theMightyandMagnificent,said,

andaboutthespiritfromHim.Hesaid:ItissomethingcreatedthatAllahcreatedwithHiswisdom

inAdamandJesus.

(Bihr,4,12,4)

12.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdAllah(a)said,Verily,MaryboreJesusforninehours,eachhourof

whichwasamonth.

(Kfi'8,332,516).

13.AbuMuhammadalHasanibnAli'alThni'(thesecond)said,AlHusaynwasborninal

MadinahTuesday,fivedaysbeforeJamdi'alUl,threeyearsafteralHijrah.Hismotherbecame

pregnantwithalHusaynfifteennightsafterhisbirthdayandshewaspregnantduringsixmonths

andthensheborehim.AndnobabywasborninsixmonthsexepthimandJesusthesonofMary.

(DalilalImma,71)


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14.Shmi'askedtheCommanderoftheFaithfulaboutthesixcreaturesthatwereneverina

womb.Hesaid,AdamandEve,theramofAbraham,thesnakeofMoses,theshecamelofSlih

andthebatthatJesusthesonofMarymadeandthenitflewbythepermissionofAllah.

(Bihr,11,385,9)

15.ItisreportedthatalSdiq(a)said,WhenChristwasborn,Allahkepthisbirthsecret,andhid

him,forMary,whensheborehim,shewithdrewtoaremoteplace.(19:22)ThenZachariahandher

auntcamesearchingforher,untiltheycameuponherwhensheputdownwhatwasinherbelly

andsaid,

Oh!WouldthatIhaddiedbeforethis,andhadbeenforgotteninoblivion(19:23).

ThenAllah,mayhisremembrancebeexalted,openedthetongueofJesustoexcusehismotherand

tomanifestherauthority.Whenheappearedcalamitiesandpersecutionhadbecomeintense

againstthechildrenofIsrael,andthetyrantsandoppressorsfelluponthem,untiltheaffairof

ChristasreportedbyAllahtookplace...

(Bihr,14,213,10)

16.ItisreportedthatWahabalYamni'said:AJewaskedtheProphetthisquestion:O

Muhammad!Wereyou,accordingtotheMotheroftheBook,aprophetbeforeyouwerecreated?

Heanswered,Yes.Hesaid,Andwerethese,yourfaithfulcompanions,withyoubeforetheywere

created?Heanswered,Yes.Hesaid,Whatwasthematterwithyouthatyoudidnotspeak

wisdomwhenyoucameoutofyourmothersbelly,likeJesusthesonofMaryspoke,asyouclaim,

whileyouwereaprophetbeforethat?

TheProphet(s)answered,Verily,myaffairwasnotliketheaffairofJesus(a).Allah,theMighty

andMagnificent,createdJesusthesonofMaryofamotherwithoutanyfather,justasHecreated

Adamwithoutafatherormother.AndifJesus(a)didnotspeakwisdomwhenhecameoutofhis

mothersbelly,therewouldnothavebeenanyexcuseforhismotherbeforethepeople,because

shehadbroughthimwithoutafather,andthepeoplewouldtakeherastheydothosewomenwho

hadmarried[outsidethelaw].So,Allah,theMightyandMagnificent,madehisspeechasanexcuse

forhismother.

(Bihr,14,215,16)

17.AlShmi'askedtheCommanderoftheFaithful,WhichoftheprophetswerecreatedbyAllah

circumcised?Hesaid,AllahcreatedAdam(a)circumcised,andSethuwasborncircumcised,and

Idri's,Noah,SmibnNuh,Abraham,David,Solomon,Lot,Ismael,Moses,JesusandMuhammad,


21/133


maytheblessingsofAllahbewithallofthem.

(Bihr,15,296,32)

18.ItisreportedthatHasanibnAli'alWashshsaid,IwaswithmyfatherandIwasayouth,and

wespent

the

night

with

Imam

Rid

(a).

It

was

the

night

of

the

twenty

fifth

of

Dhu

al

Qadah

and

heusaidtomyfather,OnthenightofthetwentyfifthofDhualQadahAbrahamwasbornandon

itJesusthesonofMarywasborn,andonittheearthbeneaththeKabahbecamebroadened.

Whoeverfastsofthatday,itisasifheweretofastforsixtymonths.

(Faqi'h,2,89,1814)

19.ItisreportedthatImamBqir(a)said,WhentheCommanderoftheFaithfulwasreturning

frombattlewiththeKharajiteshecameuponamonkinamonestary.Hesaid,Omonk!MayI

comedown?Themonksaidtohim,Donotcomedownherewithyourtroops.Hesaid,Why

not?Hesaid,Becausenooneshouldcomedownhereexceptaprophetorthesuccessorofa

prophetalongwithhistroopswhofightinthewayofAllah.Wehavereadthisinourbooks...

Hecontinued,IhavefoundyourcharacteristicsintheGospel,andthatyouwillcomedowninthe

landofBurth,thehouseofMary,theplaceofJesus.TheCommanderoftheFaithfulsaid,Stop!

Donotsayanythingtous.Thenhewenttoaspotandhesaid,Stampyourfeethere.Andhe

himselfdidthis.Aspringgushedupfromthere.Hesaid,ThisisthefountainofMary,towhereshe

wasled.Dighereseventeencubits.Awhiterockwasdiscovered.Heusaid,MaryputJesusdown

fromhershoulderontothisrock,andtheresheprayed.ThentheCommanderoftheFaithful

placedtherocksomewhereandprayedbesideit.Hestayedthereforfourdaysandsaidhisprayers

thereintheircompleteform.Thetentsofthetroopswereplacedarounditwithinearshot.Thenhe

said,ThelandofBurthishere,thehouseofMary.Thisisaholyplaceatwhichtheprophets

prayed.

(Bihr,33,438,645)

20.MufaddalreportedinalengthynarrationfromalSdiq(a),ThenAbuAbdAllah(a)tooka

breathandsaid,OMufaddal!Theplacesontheearthboastedamongthemselves,

Allahrevealed,It[Karbala]isablessedplacefromwhichMoseswascalledfromabush,itisa

hillwhereMaryandChristfoundrefuge,atwhichthereisariverwheretheheadofHusaynwas

washedandwhereMarywashedJesus(a),andwhereMarywashedherselfaftergivingbirthto

Jesus.ItisthebestplacefromwhichtheApostleofAllah(s)ascendedwhenhewasabsent,and

forourShi'ahthereareblessingsuntiltheappearanceoftheQim(a).


22/133


(Bihr,53,111)

21.TheProphet(s)said,Whenawomangivesbirth,thefirstthingsheshouldeatisasweetfresh

halfripedate(ruTab)oraripedate(tamr).Iftherewereanythingbetterthanthis,Allah,the

Exalted,wouldhavegivenittoMarywhenJesus(a)wasborn.

(Bihr,59,295)

22.Itisreportedthat(forhardshipwithlabor)alSdiq(a)said,Afterthebismillhitshouldbe

written,MaryboreJesus.HeitisWhocreatedyoufromdust,thenfromalifegerm,thenfroma

clot,thenHebringsyouforthasababe,thenthatyoumayreachyourfullstrenght,thenthatyou

maybeold(40:67);Verily,withdifficultyisease/Verilywithdifficultyisease(94:56);andmaythe

blessingsofAllahbewithMuhammadandhisprogenyandmayHeofferhimgreetingsofpeace.

(Misbh,159)

23.AlBqir(a)said,Verily,itwasannouncedtoMary[thatshewouldbear]Jesus.Shewasinthe

sanctuarywhentheSureSpirit(alRuhalAmi'n)becamelikeasoundhuman.Shesaid,Itake

refugeintheMercifulfromyou,ifyouareGodwary.Hesaid,Iambutamessengercomefrom

yourLord,togiveyouaboymostpure.Thenheblewintoherbreastandshebecamepregnant

withJesus.Buthedidnotstayuntilshebore[thechild]

Ibli'scamethatnightanditwassaidtohimthatachildhadbeenbornthatnight,andthatthere

wasnoidolontheearththatdidnotfallonitsface.Ibli'swenttotheEastandWestinsearchof

him.Thenhefoundhiminaroomofaconvent.Theangelssurroundedhim.Hetriedtogetcloseto

him.Theangelsshouted,Getaway!Hesaidtothem,Whoishisfather?Theysaid,Hiscaseis

likethatofAdam.Ibli'ssaid,Verily,Iwillmisleadfourfifthsofthepeoplebyhim.

(Bihr,14,215,14)

24.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdAllahalSdiq(a)said,Thedevil,mayAllahcursehim,usedtopass

throughthesevenheavens.WhenJesuswasborn,hewasbarredfromthreeheavens....

(Bihr,15,257,9)

25.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdAllah(a)said,TheProphet(s)prohibitedMuslimsfromhaving

fournames:([15])AbuI's(fatherofJesus),AbualHakam(fatheroftheGovernor),AbuMlik

(fatheroftheKing),andAbualQsim(fatherofQsim)ifhisfirstnameisMuhammad.([16])

(Bihr,16,401)


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26.ItisreportedthattheProphet(s)said,BetweenMosesandDavidtherewerefivehundred

years,andbetweenDavidandJesus,onethousandonehundredyears.

(Bihr,13,363,1)

27.AbualRabi'reportedthatNfisaid,OMuhammadibnAli'!IhavereadtheTorah,theGospel

andthePslamsandtheFurqn,andIhavelearnedwhatispermittedandforbiddeninthem.Ihave

cometoaskyouaquestionthatnonecananswerbutaprophet,thesuccessorofaprophetorthe

progenyofaprophet.

ThenAbuJafarraisedhisheadandsaid,Askwhateverisonyourmind.Hesaid,Informmehow

manyyearswerebetweenJesusandMuhammad?Hesaid,ShouldIinformyouaccordingto

whatIsay,oraccordingtowhatyousay?Hesaid,Informmeofboth.Hesaid,Accordingto

whatIsay,therewerefivehundredyears,butaccordingtowhatyousay,thereweresix

hundred....

(Kfi',8,120,93)

28.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdAllah(a)said,BetweenJesusandMuhammadtherewerefive

hundredyears,ofwhichtwohundredfiftywerewithoutanyprophetoranymanifestteacher(lim

zhir).[Thenarratorsaid,]Isaid,Whatwerethey?Hesaid,TheyclungtothereligionofJesus

(a).Isaid,Whatwerethey?Hesaid,Believers.Thenhesaid,Theearthisneverwithouta

teacher(lim)init.

(Bihr,23,33,54)

29.YaqubibnShuaybsaidIsaidtoAbuAbdAllahu,Whatdoyousayaboutagroupwhose

leaderhasdied?Hesaidtome,DonotyoureadtheBookofAllah(Qurn)

Whyshouldnotacompanyfromeverypartyofthemgoforththattheymayacquireunderstanding

inreligion,andthattheymaywarntheirpeoplewhentheyreturnuntothemsothattheymaybe

cautious?(9:122)

IsaidMayIbeyoursacrifice!Thenwhatshouldthosewhoarewaitingdountilthescholarscome

back?Hesaidtome,Didyounotknowthatthereweretwohundredfiftyyearsbeetween

MuhammadandJesus(mayAllahblessbothofthem)?Duringthistimesomgroupsdiedbleaving

thereligionofJesusexpectingthereligionofMuhammad,andAllahgavethemtheirwagestwice.

(Bihr,27,298,10)


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30.ItisreportedthatAbualHasanalRid(a)said:AndalloftheelevenImamsafterthe

prophetwerekilled,somebythesword,theCommanderoftheFaithfulandHusayn,peacebewith

them,andtherestbypoison.Thetyrantsoftheirtimeskilledeveryoneofthem,andindeedthis

wasdonetothem,truly,notlikeanythingtheextremists(ghulh)orthedelegators(mufawidah),

mayAllah

curse

them.

They

say,

They

(the

Imams)

were

not

really

killed,

and

it

was

only

alikeness

oftheiraffairthatappearedtothem.So,theylied,maythewrathofAllahbeuponthem.Indeed,

theaffairofnoneoftheprophetsofAllahandHisauthorities,peacebewiththem,appeared

doubtfultothepeople,excepttheaffairofJesusthesonofMary(a)alone,forhewasraisedfrom

theearthaliveandhissoulwastakenbetweenheavenandearth,thenhewasraisedtoheaven

andhissoulwasreturnedtohim,andthatiswhatthesayingofAllah,theMightyandMagnificent,

isabout:

WhenAllahsaid:OJesus!IwilltakeyoutoMe,andIwillraiseyoutoMe(3:55).

AndAllah,theMightyandMagnificent,said,narratingthespeechofJesusontheResurrectionDay,

AndIwasawitnessoverthem,solongasIwasamongthem,butwhenYoutookmetoYourself,

YouwereYourselfthewatcheroverthem.YouYourselfarewitnessovereverything.(5:117)

AndsinceitispermittedthatalloftheprophetsandHismessengersandauthoritiesafterAdam(a)

werebornoffathersandmothers,butamongthemJesuswasbornwithoutanyfather,itwillbe

permittedthathisaffairappeareddoubtfultothepeople,butnottheaffairsoftheotherprophets

andauthorities,peacebewiththem.Likewise,itwaspermittedforhimtobebornwithouta

father,butnottheothers.Allah,themightyandmagnificent,onlywantedtomakehisaffairasa

signandmarkforittobeknownbythisthatHehaspoweroverallthings.

(Bihr,25,117)

31.ItisnarratedthatYsiralKhdimsaid:Iheard[Imam]Rid(a)say,Themostterrifyingevents

forcreaturesarethree:thedayoneisbornandcomesoutofhismothersbellyandseestheworld,

thedayhediesandseestheafterlifeanditspeople,andthedayheisraisedandseeslawshedid

notseeinthisworld,andAllahmadeJohnsecureinthesethreeeventsandprotectedhimfrom

fear,andHesaid,

Peacebewithhimthedayhewasbornandthedayhediesandthedayheisraisedtolife(19:15).

AndJesusthesonofMarymadehimselfsecureinthesethreeevents,andhesaid,

PeacebewithmethedayIwasbornandthedayIdieandthedayIamraisedtolife(19:33).


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(Bihr,14,246,26)

Notes:

[15]The

kind

of

name

mentioned

here

is

the

konyah,

which

is

used

as

aterm

of

respect

and

takes

theformfatherof,sonof,motherof,etc.

[16]NooneispermittedtohavethenameMuhammadAbualQsimbecausethesearethefirst

namesandqunyaoftheProphet(s).


1.ItisreportedthatAbuJafar[ImamBaqir(a)]said:WhenJesusthesonofMarywasborn,when

hewasonedayoldhewaslikeatwomontholdboy.Whenhewassevenmonthsold,hismother

tookhishandandbroughthimtoaschoolandsathimbeforeateacher.Theteachersaidtohim,

Say:IntheNameofAllah,theMerciful,theCompassionate.Jesussaid,IntheNameofAllah,

theMerciful,theCompassionate.Theteachersaidtohim,Sayabjad.([17])Jesusraisedhishead

andsaid,Doyouknowwhatisabjad?Theteacherraisedthelashtohithim.Jesussaid,Omy

teacher!Donothitmeifyouknowit,andifnot,askmesothatImayexplainit.Hesaid,Explain

ittome.Jesussaid,Asforthealif,itisablessing(l)ofAllah,andthebisthebliss(bahjah)of

Allah,

and

the

ji'm

is

the

beauty

(jaml)

of

Allah,

and

the

dal

is

the

religion

(di'n)

of

Allah.

Hawwaz:

thehistheterror(hawl)ofhell,andthewwisWoe(wayl)tothepeopleofthefire,andthez

isthemoaning(zafi'r)ofhell.Hutti':Thesinsareforgiven(huttat)ofthosewhoasktheforgiveness

ofAllah.Kaliman:Thespeech(kalm)ofAllah,thereisnoonewhocanchangeHiswords.Saafis:

Measureformeasure(s)andwagesforwages.Qarashat:Hewillgatherthem(qarashahum)and

resurrectthem.Thentheteachersaid,Owoman!Takeyoursonshand,indeedhealready

knows,andhehasnoneedofateacher.

(Bihr,14,286,8)

2.Abu

Abd

Allah

(a)

said,

Verily,

Jesus

the

son

of

Mary,

used

to

cry

intensely,

so

that

Mary

was

at

witsendregardinghisprofusecrying.Hesaidtoher,Getsomeofthebarkofthattree,makea

tonicfromitandfeedmewithit.Whenhedrankit,hecriedintensely.Marysaid,Whatsortof

prescriptiondidyougiveme?Hesaid,Omymother!Knowledgeofprophethoodandweaknessof

childhood.


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(Bihr14,254,47)

Notes:

[17]AnoldSemiticsequenceofletters,calledabjad,isusedinHebrewandArabicinwhicheach

letteris

used

to

represent

anumber

in

addition

to

its

vocal

value.


1.ItisreportedthatImamSdiq(a)said,FollowtheApostleofAllah,andconfesstowhathas

beensentdownfromAllah,andfollowthesignsofguidance,fortheyarethesignsof

trustworthinessandGodwariness;andknowthatifonedeniesJesusthesonofMary(a),but

confessestoalltheprophetsbuthim,hedoesnotbelieve...

(Bihr,23,96,3)

2.TheApostleofAllah(s)said,Verily,Gabrielbroughtdownabooktomeinwhichtherewas

informationaboutthekingsbeforeme,andinformationabouttheprophetsandapostleswho

werecommissionedbeforeIwas:AshbakhibnAshjnwasakingcalledalKayswhoruledfortwo

hundredsixtysixyears.InthefiftyfirstyearofhisruleAllahcommissionedJesusthesonofMary

(a)

and

bestowed

upon

him

light,

knowledge

and

wisdom,

and

the

knowledge

of

all

the

prophets

beforehim,andHeaddedtothistheGospel.HecommissionedhimtoJerusalem(BaytalMaqdis)

forthechildrenofIsraeltoinvitethemtothedivinebookandwisdomandtofaithinAllahandthe

prophet.Mostofthemturnedawayfromhimrebelliouslyanddisbelieving.

Whentheyfailedtobelieve,JesuscalledhisLordandwasadamant,andsomeofthemwere

transformedintodevilstoshowthemasignfromwhichtheycouldtakealesson;butthisdidnot

increaseinthemanythingbutrebellionanddisbelief.So,JesuscametoJerusalem,invitedthem

andencouragedthemtowhatisneartoAllahforthirtythreeyears,untiltheJewssoughthimand

(afterward)claimedtohavepunishedhimandburiedhimalive.Someofthemclaimedtohave

killedhim

and

to

have

crucified

him.

Allah

did

not

let

them

gain

sovereignty

over

him,

but

it

was

amistaketheymade.

Theywerenotabletochastisehimorburyhim,andtheycouldnotkillhimorcrucifyhim,because

ofthesayingofAllah,themightyandmagnificent,Iamgoingtotakeyouawayandliftyouupunto

Meandpurifyyouofthosewhodisbelieve(3:55).So,theywerenotabletokillhimorcrucifyhim,


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foriftheyhadbeenabletodoso,thiswouldbelieHissaying,AllahraisedhimupuntoHimself

(4:158),afterAllahtookhim.WhenAllahwantedtoraisehim,Herevealedtohimtoentrustthe

lightofAllah,HiswisdomandtheknowledgeofHisbooktoSimonibnHamunalSaf,hissuccessor

amongthebelievers.So,hedidthis....

(Bihr,14,515,4)

3.SafwnibnYahysaid,IsaidtoImamRid(a),Weusedtoaskyou[abouttheImamafteryou],

beforeAllahhadgrantedyouAbuJafar,andyouusedtosay,Allahwillgrantmeason.Now,

Allahhasgivenhimtoyou.Oureyeshavebeenbrightened!MayAllahnevershowustheday[of

yoursorrow]!Butifitshouldhappen,whomshouldwefollow?Hepointedwithhishandtoward

AbuJafar,whowasstandingbeforehim.ThenIsaid,MayIbeyoursacrifice!Thisboyisonlythree

yearsold.Hesaid,Thatdoesnotmatter.Jesusstoodasanauthority(hujjah)whenhewasthree

yearsold.

(Kfi',1,321,10)

4.Beforehisson(MuhammadalTaqi')wasborn,alRid(a)said,ByAllah,Hewillmakefromme

somethingbywhichthetruthanditsfollowersareproven,andHewilldestroybyitwhatiswrong

anditsfollowers,thenalTaqiuwasbornafterayear.Thenhesaid,ThisisAbuJafar.Iputhimin

myseat,andIsethiminmyplace.WearetheFolkoftheHouseholdwhosechildreninheritfrom

theireldersexactly.Itwassaidtohim,Thissonisonlythreeyearsold.Hesaid,Itdoesnot

harmhim.Jesusstoodasanauthority(hujjah)whenhewaslessthanthreeyearsold.

(KharijWaalJarih,2,899)

5.Itisreportedthat[Imam]Rid(a)said,VerilyAllah,theExalted,authorizedJesus(a)whenhe

wastwoyearsold.

(Bihr,14,257,54)

6.AbualHasanusaid,OntheResurrectiondaytherewillbefourpeoplefromamongthefirst

onesandfourpeoplefromamongthelastonesontheThroneofAllah,theMightyand

Magnificent.Asforthefourofthefirst,theyareNoah,Abraham,MosesandJesusandthelastare

Muhammad,Ali',alHasanandalHusayn,peacebewiththem.

(Tahdhi'b,6,84,3)

7.AbuDhar,mayAllahhavemercyuponhim,said,TheApostleofAllahwassittinginthemosque

alonewhenIenteredit.SoItookadvantageofhissolitudeandsaid,OApostleofAllah!How

manyprophetswerethere?Hesaid,Onehundredtwentyfourthousand.Isaid,Howmany


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apostleswerethere?Threehundredandthirteenalltogether.Isaid,Whowasthefirst

prophet?Hesaid,Adam.Isaid,Washeanapostleamongtheprophets?Hereplied,Yes,

AllahcreatedhimbyHishandandblewintohimfromHisspirit.Thenhe1continued,OAbuDhar

thesefourprophetsamongtheprophetsareSiryni':Adam,Seth,Ukhnukh,thatis,Idri's,whowas

thefirstpersontowritewithapen,andNoah,peacebewiththem.AndfourofthemareArab:

Hud,Slih,

Shuayb

and

your

prophet

Muhammad.

The

first

prophet

from

the

children

of

Isreal

was

MosesandthelastofthemwasJesus,andsixhundredprophetswerebetweenthem.Isaid,O

theApostleofAllah!HowmanybooksdidAllahsend?HerepliedOnehundredandfourbooks.

HesentfiftyscrollstoSeth,thirtyscrollstoIdri's,andtwentyscrollstoAbraham.AndHesentthe

Torah,Bible,PsalmsandFurqn.

(Khisl,2,524)

8.JafaribnMuhammadusaid,GabrielremainedfortydaysanddidnotdescendtotheProphet.

Hesaid,OmyLordmyyearningforyourProphethasbecomeintense,allowme.Allahthe

Exaltedrevealedtohim,OGabrieldescendtoMyfriendandMyProphet,thengivehimMy

greetingsofpeace,andinformhimthatIhavedistinguishedhimwithprophethoodandmadehim

surpassalltheprophets,andgivemygreetingsofpeacetohissuccessorandinformhimthatIhave

distinguishedhimwithsuccessionandmadehimsurpassallthesuccessors.Gabrieldescendedto

theProphetandsaid,OMuhammad!WhoeverfollowedSethwouldbesavedbySeth,Sethwas

savedbyAdamandAdamwassavedbyAllah.

WhoeverfollowedShemwouldbeensavedbyShem,ShemwassavedbyNoahandNoahwad

savedbyAllah.WhoeverfollowedA`SifwouldbesavedbyA`Sif,andA`SifwassavedbySolomon.

WhoeverfollowedYushawouldbesavedbyYusha,andYushawouldbesavedbyMoses,and

MoseswassavedbyAllah.WhoeverfollowedSimonwouldbesavedbySimon,andSimonwould

besavedbyJesus,andJesuswassavedbyAllah.WhoeverfollowedAli'wouldbesavedbyAli'and

Ali'wouldbesavedbyyou,andyouaresavedbyAllah.Verily,allthingsarebyAllah.Verily,the

angelsandguardiansarehonoredamongalltheangelsforbeinginthecompanyofAli'.Hesaid,

ThenAli'(a)satdownwhilehearingthespeechofGabrielu,althoughhedidnotseehim.

(Tafsi'rFurtalKufi',378).

9.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdAllah(a)said,Allahdidnotraiseamessengerwithouttherebeing

twodevilsconcurrentwhocausedhimsufferingandtemptedhim,andmisledthepeopleafterhim.

AsforthefivePossessorsofDetermination(UlualAzm)ofthemessengers,theyareNoah,

Abraham,Moses,JesusandMuhammad,peaceandblessingsbewiththem.Asforthecompanions

ofNoah,theywereFayTi'fusandKhirm.ForAbrahamtherewereMaki'landRadhm.ForMoses,

therewereSmiri'andMaraqi'b.ForJesus,therewereBulusandMari's.AndforMuhammad,

therewereHabtarandZuraiq.


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(Bihr,13,212,5)

10.ItisreportedthatIbnAbuYafursaid,IheardAbuAbdAllah(a)say,Thechiefsofthe

prophetsandapostlesarefiveandtheyarethepossessorsofconstancyamongtheapostles,and

theyare

the

axis

about

which

[the

other

prophets]

turn:

Noah,

Abraham,

Moses,

Jesus

and

Muhammad,peacebewithhimandhisdescendantsandalloftheprophets.

(Kfi',1,175,3)

11.AmongthequestionsofShmi'isthatheaskedtheCommanderoftheFaithfulaboutthesix

prophetswhohad[special]names.Hesaid,YushaibnNunwasDhualKifl,YaqubibnIshqwas

Isri'l,KhidrwasHilqiy,YunuswasDhualNun,JesuswastheMessiahandMuhammadwas

Ahmad,maytheblessingsofAllahbewithallofthem.

(Bihr,16,90,22)

12.Itisreportedthat[Imam]Bqir(a)said,AllahsentJesusespeciallytothechildrenofIsrael,

andhisprophecywasinJerusalem,andafterhimthereweretwelveapostles.

(Bihr,14,250)

13SufynibnUyaynahreportedthatMujhidnarratedthissayingoftheProphet(s),Thereare

fourantecedents[whoarethefirstfollowersoftheprophets.]YushatoMoses,ShibYsi'nto

JesusandAlitotheProphet(s).

(SirtalMustaqi'm,3,158)

14.AlHusaynibnalKhlidnaratedthatAbualHasanalRidsaid,Itwasengravedontheringof

Adam,ThereisnogodbutAllah.MuhammadistheApostleofAllah.Hecontinueduntilhesaid,

ThenNoahengravedonhisring,ThereisnogodbutAllah,onethousandtimes.OmyLord!

Reformme.

Hecontinueduntilhesaid,AndAllahsentaringtoAbrahamonwhichtherewerethesesixletters,

ThereisnogodbutAllah.MuhammadistheApostleofAllah.Thereisnopowerandnostrength

saveinGod.IentrustmyworktoAllah.IleanonAllah.Allahissufficientforme.ThenAllah,may

HisMagnificencebemagnified,revealedtohimWearthisring.Iwillchangethefireintocoldness

andpeace.AndtheringofMoseswasengravedwiththesetwoletters,thathetookthemfrom

Torah,Havepatience,youwillbegivenwages.Tellthetruth,youwillbesaved.Theringof

Solomonwasengravedwithtwolettershetook,GloryistoHimWhoputthebridleontheJinnby


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Hiswords.TheringofJesuswasengravedwithtwolettershetookfromtheGospel,Blessedisthe

servantbecauseofwhomAllahisremembered,andwoeuntotheservantbecauseofwhomAllah

isforgotten.TheringofMuhammadwasengravedwithThereisnogodbutAllah.Muhammadis

theApostleofAllah.

(Wasilal

Shi'ah,

5,

101,

6041.)


1.TheApostleofAllah(s)said,IsawAbraham,MosesandJesus.Moseswasatallman,andhis

hairwashangingdown,likethemenoftheZuT,andlikethemenoftheShanuah.([18])Jesuswasa

ruddyfacedmanwithcurlyhairandmediumheight.Thenhewassilent.Theysaidtohim,O

ApostleofAllah!WhataboutAbraham?Hesaid,Lookatyourcompanion[me].

(Bihr12,10,24)

2.A`minah[themotheroftheProphet]said,WhenthebirthoftheApostleofAllahbecamenearI

wouldhearasound,BringMuhammad(s)aroundtheEastandWestandshowhimtothejinn,

people,birdsandwildanimalsandgivehimtheclarityofAdam,thetendernessofNoah,the

lovelinessofAbraham,thetongueofIsmi'l,theperfectionofJoseph,thegoodnewsofYaqub,

the

voice

of

David,

the

asceticism

of

John

and

the

nobility

of

Jesus.

Then

he

appeared

[i.e.,

the

Prophet(s)wasborn].So,Ifacedhim....

(Bihr,15,272,17)

3.TheApostleofAllah(s)said,EveryonewhowantstolookatAdaminhisknowledge,Noahin

hispiety,Abrahaminhisperseverance(hilm),MosesinhisaweandJesusinhisworshipshould

lookatAli'ibnAbi'Tlib.

(Bihr,39,39)

4.ItisreportedfromAbualHamrthattheProphet(s)said,Everyonewhowantstolookat

Adaminhisdignity,Mosesintheintensityofhisgrip,([19])andJesusinhisasceticism,shouldlook

attheonecoming.ThenAli'(a)came.

(Bihr,40,78)


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5.ItisreportedthatAbuDhrralGhifri'said,OnedaywewerebeforetheApostleofAllah(s)

whenhestood,bowed,andprostratedinthankstoAllah,theExalted.Thenhesaid,OJundab!

WhoeverwantstolookatAdaminhisknowledge,Noahinhisunderstanding,Abrahaminhis

friendship,Mosesinhisintimateprayers,andJesusinhisjourneying,Jobinhispatienceand

calamity,look

at

the

man

coming

who

is

like

the

sun

and

the

moon

in

radiance,

and

stars

shining

bright,whoseheartisbravestofallpeople,andwhosehandismoregenerous,sothatmaythe

curseofAllah,theangelsandthepeoplebeuponthosewhohatehim.Hesaid,Thepeopleturned

toseewhowascomingwhenAli'ibnAbi'Tlib(a)came.

(Bihr,39,38,9)

6.IbnAbbssaid,GabrielwasneartheProphetattherightsideofhim,thentheCommanderof

theFaithfulcame.Gabriellaughedandsaid,OMuhammad!IfyouyearnforthefaceofJesus

andhisworship,theasceticismofJohnandhisobedience,theinheritenceofSolomonandhis

generosity,lookatthefaceofAli'ibnAbuTlib.ThenAllahtheExaltedsent:(Andwhenthe

exampleofthesonofMaryisgiven,theylaughedandexclaimedtheirsurprise)(43:57),thatis,the

sonofMaryislikeAli'ibnAbuTlibandAli'islikeJesus.

(Bihr,35,47)

7.WhenacomparisonwasmadebeforetheApostleofAllah,inhisloudestvoicehesaid,O

servantsofAllah!WhoeverwantstolookatAdaminhismajesty,tolookatSethinhiswisdom,to

lookatIdri'sinhisnobilityanddignity,tolookatNoahinhisthankstohisLordandhisworship,to

lookatAbrahaminhisfrendshipandloyalty,tolookatMosesinhishatredtoeveryenemyofAllah

andhisopposingthem,andtolookatJesusinhisloveofeverybelieverandhisgoodrelations,look

atAli'ibnAbuTli'b,here.

(Tafsi'ralImmalAskari',498)

8.TheApostleofAllah(s)said,HewhowantstolookattheasceticismofJesusthesonofMary,

lookatAbuDhar.

(Bihr,22,343)

9.ItisreportedthattheApostleofAllahsaid,Theimamsaftermearetwelve,thenumberofthe

monthsoftheyear,andfromusistheMahdi'ofthiscommunitywhowillhavetheawesomeness

ofMoses,themagnificenceofJesus,thejudgmentofDavidandthepatienceofJob.

(Bihr,36,303,141)


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10.ZaydalKunsi'said,IheardthatAbuJafarwouldsay,IntheShibhdhalamr[thetwelfth

Imm]thereisanattribute(sunnah)ofJoseph,anattributeofMoses,anattributeofJesusandan

attributeofMuhammad.AsthoughhislikenesstoJosephisthathisbrothersacknowledgehimasa

leaderandaddresshimwhiletheydonotknowhim.HislikenesstoMosesisthatheisfearful.His

likenessto

Jesus

is

journeying

and

his

likeness

to

Muhammad

is

the

sword.([20])

(DalilalImmah,291)

11.Sai'dibnJubayrreported,IheardthesayingofAli'ibnalHusayn,Therearemanyattributes

(sunnah)ofsixprophetsinouralQim:Noah,Abraham,Moses,Jesus,JobandMuhammad.Asfor

theattributefromNoah,itislonglife,fromAbraham,itishavingahiddenbirthandbeing

separatedfromthepeople,fromMoses,itisfearandabsence,fromJesus,itisthedisagreementof

peopleabouthim,fromJob,itisreleaseaftersufferingandfromMuhammad(s),itisgoingout

withthesword.

(AlSirtalMustaqi'm,2,238)

12.JbirreportedthatAbuJafar(a)said,VerilytheLord,theblessedandalmighty,says,Enter

intoheavenbymymercy,saveyourselvesfromtheFirebymypardonanddividetheheaven

accordingtoyourdeeds.ByMyglory!Iwillsendyoudownintheeverlastingandnobledwelling.

WhentheyenterittheywillbecomelikeAdamwithhisheight,likeJesus,withtheyouthofthirty

threeyears,likeMuhammadwiththeArabiclanguage,likeJoseph,withabeautifulfigureshining

withlight,andlikeJob,withaheartofpurityfromhatred.

(Bihr,8,218,207)

13.AbuAbdullah(a)said,ThenNoahtooktheArk(ofthecovenant)andburieditinalGhari',

thepartofthemountainonwhichAllahtalkedwithMoses,onwhichHesanctifiedJesus,onwhich

HetookAbrahamasafriend,tookMuhammadasabeloved,andmadeitadwellingforthe

prophets.

(JmialAkhbr,21)

14.AmongtheintimateconversationsbetweenAllahandMosesibnImrnis,OMoses!I

recommendtoyouasOneWhoiskindandcompassionatetoyouIbnBaTul,JesusthesonofMary,

whohasadonkeyandaburnoose,oliveoilandolivesandaprayerniche.

(Bihr13,332,13)


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15.TheProphet(s)said,WhoeversaystheprayerofTuesdaynightwiththirtyrakaandineach

rakahereadsSuraHamdandtheversealKursi'onetimeandSuraTawhi'dseventimes,Allahwill

givehimtherewardofJob,thepatient,JohnthesonofZachariahandJesusthesonofMary.

(MustadrakalWasil,6,370,7014)

Notes:

[18]TheZutareatribefromIndia,withwidefaceswithlittlefacialhair,andtheShanwaharelike

theQahtaniyahoftheArabs.Majli'si'

[19]Comparethelanguagein(85:12).

[20]Theswordisusedasasymbolofauthority,notasasymbolofwarorviolence.

Chapter5:The

Life

of

Jesus

1.AlSdiq(a)saidaboutHehasenjoinedonmeprayerandthepoorratesolongasIlive.

(19:31)thatbythepoorratewhatismeantiszakahalruus,([21])becausenotallpeoplehave

wealth,butthefitrahis[tobepaid]bythepoorandtherich,thelittleandthebig.

(Tafsi'ralQumi',2,50)

2.ItisreportedthattherewasretaliationintherevealedlawofMosesandbloodmoneywas

necessaryintherevealedlawofJesus.Sothetrueandtolerantreligion[Islam]camedown

permittingbothofthem.

(Awli'alLali',1,387)

3.Itisreportedintruenarrationsthatgettingmarriedwithoutlimit[tothenumberofwives]was

permittedintherevealedlawofMosesforthesakeofmensaffairs;andintherevealedlawof

Jesusonlyonewaspermittedforthesakeofwomensaffairs.Sothisrevealedlaw[ofIslam]came

forthe

sake

of

both.

(Awli'alLali',1,446)

4.ItisreportedthatAbualHasanalRidusaid,EveryprophetwhowasinthetimeofMosesu

andafterhimhadtherevealedlawofMosesandhisritesandfollowedhisBookuntilthetimeof


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Jesus(a).AndeveryprophetwhowasinthetimeofJesusandafterhimhadtheritesofJesusand

hisrevealedlawandfollowedhisBookuntilthetimeofourProphetMuhammad(s).Thenthese

fiveprophetswhopossessedresolution(ulualazm)arethemostnobleprophetsandapostles,

peacebeuponthem.AndtherevealedlawofMuhammadwillnotbeabrogateduntilthe

ResurrectionDayandtherewillbenoprophetafterhimuntiltheResurrectionDay.

(IlalalShari,1,122)

5.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdAllahnarratedfromhisfathers,inorder,untiltheCommanderofthe

Faithfulpeacebeuponallofthem,thatonedaythepeopleoffivereligions,theJews,the

Christians,theNaturalists(dahriyah),theDualistsandtheArabIdolatersgatheredbeforethe

ApostleofAllah.TheJewssaid,Wesay,EzraisthesonofAllah.OMuhammad!Wecametoyou

toseewhatyousay.Ifyoufollowus,wewererightpriortoyouandbetterthanyou,andifyou

opposeus,wewillarguewithyou.

TheChristianssaid,Wesay,VerilyJesusisthesonofAllahwhounitedwithHim.Wecametoyou

toseewhatyousay.Ifyoufollowus,wewererightpriortoyouandbetterthanyou,andifyou

opposeuswewillarguewithyou.TheNaturalistssaid,Wesay,Thereisnobeginingofthings

andtheyareeverlasting.Wecametoyoutoseewhatyousay.Ifyoufollowus,wewererightprior

toyouandbetterthanyou,andifyouopposeuswewillarguewithyou.TheDualistssaid,We

say,Verilythelightandthedarknessaretheadministrators.Wecametoyoutoseewhatyousay.

Ifyoufollowus,wewererightpriortoyouandbetterthanyou,andifyouopposeuswewillargue

withyou.TheArabIdolaterssaid,Wesay,Verilyouridolsaregods.Wecametoyoutosee

whatyousay.Ifyoufollowus,wewererightpriortoyouandbetterthanyou,andifyouopposeus

wewillarguewithyou.

TheApostleofAllah(s)said,IbelieveinGodalone.ThereisnopartnerforHim,andIdenyevery

godbutHim.Thenhesaidtothem,VerilyAllahtheExaltedraisedmeforallofthepeopleasa

bearerofgoodnews,awarnerandasanauthorityfortheinhabitantsoftheworld,andAllahwill

turnthedeceptionsofthosewhodeceiveinHisreligionbackonthem.

ThenhefacedtheChristiansandsaidtothem,YousaidthattheEternalisunitedwithChrist,His

son.Whatdoyoumeanbythissaying?DoyouwanttosaythattheEternalbecamenoneternalby

thiscreaturewhoisJesus,orthatthenoneternal,whoisJesus,becameeternalbytheEternalwho

isAllah,oryoursaying,HeunitedwithhimmeansthatHedistinguishedhimbynobilitywhileHe

didnotennobleanyonebuthim.IfyoumeanthattheEternal,theExalted,becamenoneternal,

youarewrong.Foritisimpossiblefortheeternaltochangeandbecomenoneternal,andifyou

meanthatthenoneternalbecameeternalyouarewrongforitisimpossibletooforthenon

eternaltochangetotheeternal,andifyoumeanthatHeunitedwithhimwherebyHe

distinguishedhimandchosehimamongHisotherservants,youconfesstotheoriginalityofJesus


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andeverythingthatisunitedwithhimforhisownsake.BecauseifJesusisnoncreatedandAllahis

unitedwithhimandchangedhimtothebestcreaturebeforeHim,JesusandHimwouldhavebeen

noneternal,andthisisoppositetowhatyousaidinthebegining.

TheChristianssaid,OMuhammad!AllahtheExaltedmanifestedsomestrangethingsbythehand

ofJesus,

so

He

took

him

as

His

son

for

the

sake

of

nobility.

The

Apostle

of

Allah

said,

You

heared

whatIsaidtotheJewsaboutwhatyousaid.Thenherepeatedallofthat.Theysaidnothingexcept

oneofthemwhosaid,OMuhammad!Donotyousay,Abrahamiskhali'lAllah(thefriendof

Allah)?Sowhenyousaythiswhydoyourejectoursaying,JesusisthesonofAllah.

TheApostleofAllahsaid,Thesearenotalikeforkhali'lAllahistakenfromkhallahorkhullahand

themeaningofkhallahispovertyandneediness.HewasafriendofhisLordandneedyofHim,

chastely,abstemiouslyandindependentlyseparatedfromallbutHim.Becausewhentheywanted

tothrowhimintothefireandtocasthimwithacatapult,Allah,theExalted,raisedGabrielandsaid

tohim,CatchMyservant!Gabrielcametohim,methimintheair,andsaid,Commissionmefor

whathappenedtoyou,forAllahtheExaltedrisedmetohelpyou.Hesaid,ButAllahissufficient

formeandHeisthebestTrustee(waki'l).IasknoonebutHimandthereisnoneedformeunless

ofHim.

ThenHenamedhimHisfriend(khali'l),thatmeansHispoorandneedy,andwhoisseparatedfrom

allbutHim.Whenthemeaningofkhali'listakenfromneed(khullah)andheisneedy(takhalal)of

HimandknowsHissecretsthatnooneelseknows,itmeansthatheknowsHimandHisaffairs.And

itdoesnotcausethelikenessofAllahtohim.Donotyouseethatifhedidnotseparatefromallbut

Him,hewouldnothavebeenHisfriend,andifhedidnotknowHissecretshewouldnothavebeen

Hisfriend.Onesfatherisheofwhomoneisborn,evenifhisfatherslandershimandsendshimfar

away,forthemeaningofbeingbornofhimremains.

ThenifitisnecessaryforyoutocompareJesuswithAbrahamandsayJesusisHissonforHesaid,

AbrahamisMyfriend,itisnecessaryforyoutosay,MosesisHisson,Forhismiracleswereno

lessthanthemiraclesofJesus.SoyoushouldsayMosesisHissontoo.Anditispermittedforyou

tosay,Heishisshaykh,master,uncle,chiefandcommander,inthemeaningthatIsaidittothe

Jews.ThensomeoftheChristianssaid,AccordingtotherevealedbooksJesussaid,Igotomy

father.TheApostleofAllahsaid,Ifyoudoaccordingtothatbook,youshouldsay,Allofthe

peoplethatHeaddressedwereHissonsasJesuswashisson.Foraccordingtothatbook,Jesus

said,IgotoHimwhoismyfatherandyours.Thensomethingthatisinthatbookmakesinvalid

whatyouthink,thatonlyJesusisHissonbecausehewassodistinguished.Foryousaid,JesusisHis

sonbecauseHe,theExalted,distinguishedhimbythatwhichHedidnotdistinguishtheothers.But

youknowthatJesuswaschosenforsomethingthatthisgroupwasnotchosenfor,andJesussaid

tothisgroup,IgotoHimwhoismyfatherandyours.SoitiswrongthatonlyJesusischosen.For

thisisprovenforyou[thatJesusisnotdistinguishedasHisson]bythesayingofJesustothosewho


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werenotsodistinguished.YounarratedthewordsofJesusbutyouinterpreteditwrongly.For

whenhesaid,myfatherandyourshewantedtosaysomethingyoudonotsayandimpute.What

doyouknow?Perhapsitwasinhismind,IgotoAdamandNoah.Allahraisesmetothemand

gathersmewiththem.Adamismyfatherandyourfather,andNoahislikewise.Buthedidnot

meananythingbutthismeaning.TheChristiansbecamesilent;thentheysaid,Wedidnotseea

disputantor

an

opponent

like

what

we

saw

today,

and

we

will

think

about

our

affairs.

(Tafsi'ralImmalAskari',530535,323)

6.ImamalAskari'reportedthatabouttheverse,

ItisnotrighteousnessthatyouturnyourfacestowardtheEastandtheWest,butrighteousnessis

this,thatoneshouldbelieveinAllah,theLastDay,theangels,theBookandtheprophets,give

awaywealthoutofloveforhimtothenearofkin,theorphans,theneedy,thewayfarer,beggars

andfortheemancipationofcaptives,keepuptheprayersandpaythepoorrate(2:177)

AliIbnalHusayn(a)said,TheApostleofAllahfavoredAli'uandinformed[hispeople]abouthis

majestybeforehisLord,theMightyandMagnificent,andrevealedthefavorforhisfollowersand

thehelpersofhiscallingandrebukedtheJewsandChristiansfortheirdisbliefandtheirconcealing

thementionofMuhammad,Ali'andtheirdescendents,peacebewiththem,abouttheirbeing

favoredandgooddeeds.ThentheJewsandChristiansbecameproud[thinkingthemselvesbetter].

TheJewssaid,Weprayedtothisourqiblahmanyprayers.Therearesomepeopleamonguswho

stayawakenightswithprayingtothisqiblahwhichistheqiblahofMoses;andAllahcommanded

usaboutit.TheChristianssaid,Weprayedtothisourqiblahmanyprayers.Therearesome

peopleamonguswhostayawakenightswithprayingtothisqiblahwhichistheqiblahofJesus;and

Allahcommandedusaboutit.Eachofthesetwosectssaid,DoyouthinkthatourLordmakes

invalidournumerousworksandourprayerstoourqiblah,becausewedonotfollowthedesireof

Muhammadforhimselfandhisbrother?ThenAllahtheExalted,sent,OMuhammad!Say,

Righteousnessisnottheobediencebywhichyoureachheavenandmeritforgivenessandsanctity.

InyourprayersyouturnyourfacestotheEast,OChristians!AndtotheWest,OJews!Butyou

opposethecommandofAllahandyouareangrywiththefriend(wali')ofAllah.Butrighteousishe

whobelievesinAllah,inHisbeingone,aloneandunique,impermeable(Samad);Whomakes

whomHewantsgreat,makeshonorforwhomHewants,makesdespicableandhumblewhomHe

wantsnoonecanrefuteHisorderandnonecanreproveHisjudgement.Alsorighteousishewho

believesintheLastDay,theResurrectionDay.

(Tafsi'ralImmal Askari',589)

7.ItisreportedthatAbuAbdAllah(a)said,Verily,Allah,theblessedandexalted,gaveto

MuhammadthelawsofNoah,Abraham,MosesandJesus:tawhi'd(divineunity),ikhlS(purity),


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thedismissalofpeers[forAllah],theliberaluprightnessofhumannature,thereisnomonasticism

andnomendicancy,whatispureismadelawfulandwhatisfilthyisprohibited,andHeremoves

fromthemtheirburdensandtheshacklesthatwereuponthem.([22])So,Hemadeknownhis

excellencewiththis.ThenHemadeobligatoryforhimtheprayer,alms,fasting,thepilgrimage,

enjoiningthegood,prohibitingevil,theallowable(hall)andtheforbidden(harm),thelawsof

inheritance,the

penal

laws,

the

obligations,

jihad

in

the

way

of

Allah,

and

He

added

the

minor

ablution,HemadehimexcellentbytheopeningoftheBook,([23])theclosingpartofsurah

Baqarah,andthedetailedsuwar,([24])Hemadelawfulforhimthespoilsofwarandbooty,He

aidedhimwithfear[intheheartsofhisenemies],Hemadetheearthforprostrationandmadeit

purifying,Hesenthimuniversally,tothewhiteandtheblack,thejinnandthehumans,andHe

gavehimthejizyah(polltaxfornonMuslims),andtakingthepagansascaptivesandreleasing

them.ThenHemadeithisdutywhatwasnotthedutyofanyoftheotherprophets,Hesenthima

swordfromheavenwithoutascabbord,anditwassaidtohim,(FightinthewayofAllah,andyou

arenotobligedforanyonebutyourself.).(4:84)

(Bihr,16,330,26)

8.ItisreportedthatSamaahibnMahransaidthatheaskedAbuAbdAllah(a)aboutthesayingof

Allah,themightyandmagnificent,So,bearwithpatienceasdidthosewhohadresolution(Ulual

azm)(46:35).Hesaid,Noah,Abraham,Moses,JesusandMuhammad(s).Isaid,Howdidthey

becomethosewhohadresolution?Hesaid,BecauseNoahwasraisedasaprophetwithabook

andadivinelaw,andallwhocameafterNoahheldtohisbook,lawandhiswayuntilAbrahamu

camewithascriptureandresolution,andhewasobligedtoleavethebookofNoahwithout

disbelievinginit.

TheneachoftheprophetswhocameafterAbrahamheldtothelawofAbrahamandhiswayand

hisscripture,untilMosescamewiththeTorahandhislawandwayandresolutionandhewas

obligedtoleavethe[previous]scripture.TheneachoftheprophetswhocameafterMosesuheld

totheTorahandhislawandway,untiltheMessiahcamewiththeGospelandresolution,andhe

ha

jesus through shiite narrations

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