Imam's (as) aware of everything

Proof from the Holy Quran

Prophet Mohammad (saww) and the Imam's (as) are Witness over the creations:

Verse 1:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِّتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا

"Thus, have We made of you an justly balanced Ummah (community), so that you may be witnesses over the people, and the Messenger a witness over You." (2:143)

Verse 2:

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ شَهِيدًا

"How will it be, then, when We bring from every people a witness and bring you as a witness against these?" (4:43)

Verse 3:

وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَٰؤُلَاءِ

"And on the day when We will raise up in every people a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against these" (16:89)

The above 3 verses are a clear indication that the Prophet (saww) and the Imam's (as) are seeing and hearing of every actions of the people and then only they have been declared by Allah (swt) as witness over the creations.

Prophet Mohammad (saww) and the Imam's (as) see the actions:

اعملوا فسيرى الله عملكم ورسوله والمؤمنون

"Work. Soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers"

[At Tawba, Chapter.9, Verse.105]

Regarding the above verse of the Quran it is narrated from Abdul Hamid al-Taiyy from Yaqub bin Shuayb who said:

عن يعقوب بن شعيب قال: سألت أبا عبدالله (عليه السلام) عن قول الله عزوجل: " اعملوا فسيرى الله عملكم ورسوله والمؤمنون " قال: هم الائمة

I asked Aba Abdillah (Imam Sadiq a.s.) about the words of Allah (swt), "Work. Soon will Allah observe your work, and His Messenger, and the Believer". Imam (as) said: they (the believers) are the Imams.

[Source: Al-Kafi, Vol.1, Pg.219]

Another thing to note..

In the above verse the work فسيرى comes only once and hence will be applicable with same meaning for Allah, his Prophet (saww) and the Momineen (which actually means the Imam's (as) as per the Tafseer above).

فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ

"Whither soever ye turn, there is the face of Allah" [Al Baqarah, Chapter.2, Verse.115]

Narrations from Imam's (as) regarding the above verse:

كنز، [كنز جامع الفوائد و تأويل الآيات الظاهرة] رَوَى الشَّيْخُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الطُّوسِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ بِإِسْنَادِهِ إِلَى الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ كَثِيرٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنْتُمُ الصَّلَاةُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ أَنْتُمُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ أَنْتُمُ الْحَجُّ فَقَالَ يَا دَاوُدَ نَحْنُ الصَّلَاةُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ نَحْنُ الزَّكَاةُ وَ نَحْنُ الصِّيَامُ وَ نَحْنُ الْحَجُّ وَ نَحْنُ الشَّهْرُ الْحَرَامُ وَ نَحْنُ الْبَلَدُ الْحَرَامُ وَ نَحْنُ كَعْبَةُ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ قِبْلَةُ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَأَيْنَما تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ وَ نَحْنُ الْآيَاتُ وَ نَحْنُ الْبَيِّنَات

Imam Sadiq (as): "..We are the face of Allah (swt) in the verse, Whither soever ye turn, there is the face of Allah"

[Source: Bihar Al Anwar Vol.24 Pg.303 / Tawil Al Ayat Pg.22]

أَبُو الْمَضَا عَنِ الرِّضَا ع قَالَ فِي قَوْلِهِ فَأَيْنَما تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ قَالَ عَلِيٌّ

Imam Raza (as) said, "Imam Ali (as) is referred to in this verse, Whither soever ye turn, there is the face of Allah"

[Source: Bihar Al Anwar Vol.39 Pg.88 / Al Manaqib Vol.3 Pg.272]

The Same belief is echoed by Sheikh Saduq also:

قَالَ مُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ مَنْ وَصَفَ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى ذِكْرُهُ بِالْوَجْهِ كَالْوُجُوهِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ وَ أَشْرَكَ وَ وَجْهُهُ أَنْبِيَاؤُهُ وَ حُجَجُهُ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَتَوَجَّهُ بِهِمُ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِلَى مَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ مَعْرِفَةِ دِينِهِ وَ النَّظَرُ إِلَيْهِمْ فِي يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ثَوَابٌ عَظِيمٌ يَفُوقُ عَلَى كُلِّ ثَوَابٍ وَ قَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْها فانٍ وَ يَبْقى‏ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلالِ وَ الْإِكْرامِ وَ قَالَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَأَيْنَما تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ يَعْنِي فَثَمَّ التَّوَجُّهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَ لَا يَجِبُ أَنْ تُنْكَرَ مِنَ الْأَخْبَارِ أَلْفَاظُ الْقُرْآن

[Source: Man La Yahzar al-Faqih Vol.1 Pg.335]

Proof from the Hadees of Imam's (as)

From Imam al-Qaim (atfs): You thought you were hidden from Me.

حدثنا الهيثم النهدي عن اسماعيل بن مهران قال آنت انا واحمد بن نصر عند الرضا عليه السلام فجرى ذكر الامام فقال الرضا عليه السلام انما هو مثل القمر يدور في كل مكان أو يريهمن كل مكان.

It has been narrated to us by Al-Haysam Al-Nahdy, from Ismail Bin Mahraan who said, "I, and Ahmad Bin Nasr were in the presence of Al-Reza (as). The mention of the Imam (as) ensued.

Al-Reza (as) said: "But, He [the Imam (as)] is like the full moor circling in every place", or He sees from every place."

[Source: Basaair Al Darajaat, Vol .9, Chapter. 12, Hadees. 9]

The narration is Hasan (Good) as per chain of narrators.

حدثنا أحمد بن محمد عن الحسين بن سعيد عن علي بن أحمد بن محمد عن أبيه قال كنت انا وصفوان عند أبي الحسن عليه السلام فذكروا الامام و فضله قال إنما منزلة الامام في الأرض بمنزلة القمر في السماء وفى موضعه هو مطلع على جميع الأشياء كلها.

From Ahmad b. Muhammad who said: " I was with Safwan in the presence of Imam al-Ridha (as) and they mentioned the Imam (as) and his virtue.

Imam al-Ridha (as) said: "The position of the Imam on the earth is like the position of the moon in the sky, He while in His place is aware of all the things, all of it."

[Source: Basaair Al Darajaat, Vol .9, Chapter. 12, Hadees. 8]

Yunus bin Zibyan asked Imam Sadiq (as):

فقلت: جعلت فداك إنّي كثيراً مَا أذكر الحسين عليه السلام ، فأيّ شَيءٍ أقول؟ فقال : قل : السّلامُ عَلَيكَ يا أبا عَبْدِاللهِ» ـ تعيد ذلك ثلاثاً ـ فإنَّ السَّلام يَصل إليه مِن قَريب ومِن بَعيد

"May I be Sacrificed on you, how should I remember Imam Husain (as) more? What should I say?"

Imam (as) replied, "You should repeat three times, Peace be on you, Abu Abdillah. Indeed salutations reached Imam Husain (as) from near and far."

[Source: Kamil Al Ziyarat. Chapter.79 Hadees.2]

http://www.rafed.net/books/doaa/kamil/k14.html

Imam Sadiq (as) hearing the crying of the angels:

و حدّثني أبي و أخي- رحمهما اللّه- عن أحمد بن ادريس و محمد بن يحيى جميعا عن العمركي بن علي البوفكي قال: حدّثني يحيى و كان في خدمة أبي جعفر [الثاني‏] عليه السلام-، عن‏ علي، عن صفوان الجمال، عن أبي عبد اللّه- عليه السلام- قال: سألته في طريق المدينة، و نحن نريد مكة، فقلت: يا بن رسول اللّه مالي أراك كئيبا [حزينا] منكسرا؟ فقال: لو تسمع ما أسمع، لشغلك عن مسألتي فقلت: و ما الذي تسمع؟ قال: ابتهال الملائكة إلى اللّه عزّ و جلّ على قتلة أمير المؤمنين، و قتلة الحسين- عليهما السلام-، و نوح الجنّ و بكاء الملائكة الذين حوله و شدّة جزعهم، فمن يتهنّأ مع‏ هذا بطعام‏ أو شراب أو نوم

Safwan al-Jammal says, "I asked Imam Sadiq (as) on the route from Medina to Mecca, “O son of Allah’s Messenger, why do I see you so depressed, sad and aggrieved?"

Imam (a.s.) replied, “If you could hear what I hear, you wouldn’t have asked me this question.”

I asked, “What can you hear?”

Imam (as) replied: “I hear the angels beseeching Allah, the Almighty, to curse the killers of Amirul Momineen and killers of Imam Husain (as). And I hear the lamentation of Jinn and intense restlessness and weeping of angels who are around him [Husain (as)]. Now who can enjoy food, drink or sleep after hearing these voices?

[Source: Kamil al-Ziyarat, Chapter. 28, Hadith. 18]

حدثنا الحسن بن على بن النعمان عن ابيه قال حدثنى الشامي عن ابى داود السبيعى عن ابى سعيد الخدرى عن رميلة قال وعكت وعكا شديدا في زمان امير المؤمنين عليه السلام فوجدت من نفسي خفة في يوم الجمعة وقلت لا اعرف شيئا افضل من ان افيض على نفسي من الماء واصلي خلف امير المؤمنين عليه السلام ففعلت ثم جئت إلى المسجد فلما صعد امير المؤمنين عليه السلام المنبر اعاد على ذلك الوعك فلما انصرف امير المؤمنين عليه السلام ودخل القصر دخلت معه فقال يا رميلة رأيتك وانت متشبك بعضك في بعض فقلت نعم وقصصت عليه القصة التى كنت فيها والذى حملني على الرغبة في الصلوة خلفه فقال يا رميله ليس من مؤمن يمرض الا مرضنا بمرضه ولا يحزن الا حزنا بحزنه ولا يدعو الا امنا لدعائه ولا يسكت الا دعونا له فقلت له يا امير المؤمنين جعلني الله فداك هذا لمن معك في القصر ارايت من كان في اطراف الارض قال يا رميله ليس يغيب عنا مؤمنفي شرق الارض ولافى غربها

It has been narrated to us Al-Hassan Bin Ali Bin Al-No'maan, from his father, from Al-Shamy, from Abu Dawood Al-Sabiyi, from Abu Saeed Al-Khudry, from Rameyla who said:

"I became extremely ill during the time of Amir-ul-Momineen (as). I found in myself lightness (felt better) in the Day of Friday, and I said (to myself), "I don’t know of anything which is better than pouring water on myself and Praying behind Amir-ul-Momineen (as)".

I did that, then went to the Mosque. When Amir-ul-Momineen (as) ascended the Pulpit, that illness of mine returned. When Amir-ul-Momineen (as) departed and entered the palace, I entered along with him (as). He (as) said, " Rameyla, I (as) saw that you were covering parts of you with other parts".

I said, Yes, and I related to him (as) the story which had happened with me and made me to come and Pray behind him (as).

He (as) said: "O Rameyla, there is none from the believers who falls sick except that we (as) get sick with his illness, and he does not grieve except that we (as) are aggrieved by his grief, and he does not supplicate except that we (as) say Ameen to his supplication, and he does not become silent except that we (as) supplicate for him".

I said, "O Amir-ul-Momineen (as), may Allah (swt) Make me to be sacrificed for you (as), this is from you (as) for those who are here. Do you (as) see the ones who are in other parts of the earth?"

He (as) said: "O Rameyla, a believer is not hidden from me (as), be he in the east of the earth or in the west of it."

[Source: Basair al-Darajaat, Vol. 1, Pg. 269, Hadith. 1 & Rijaal al-Kashi, Pg. 103 & Irshad Al Quloob Vol.2 Pg.282 (slightly different)]