عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ الْخُزَاعِيِّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ عَمِّهِ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ وَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ قَالَ: كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع وَ هُوَ فِي الْحَبْسِ كِتَاباً أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ حَالِهِ وَ عَنْ مَسَائِلَ كَثِيرَةٍ فَاحْتَبَسَ الْجَوَابُ عَلَيَّ أَشْهُراً ثُمَّ أَجَابَنِي بِجَوَابٍ هَذِهِ نُسْخَتُهُ‌

Narrated from Ali bin Suwayd who said,

"I wrote to Abu al-Hasan Imam Musa al Kazim (عليه السلام), when he was in prison, a letter in which I asked him about his condition and many questions. The answer did not come for several months. Then He wrote to me and this a copy of the answer:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ* الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ الَّذِي بِعَظَمَتِهِ وَ نُورِهِ أَبْصَرَ قُلُوبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ بِعَظَمَتِهِ وَ نُورِهِ عَادَاهُ الْجَاهِلُونَ وَ بِعَظَمَتِهِ وَ نُورِهِ ابْتَغَى مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ بِالْأَعْمَالِ الْمُخْتَلِفَةِ وَ الْأَدْيَانِ الْمُتَضَادَّةِ فَمُصِيبٌ وَ مُخْطِئٌ وَ ضَالٌّ وَ مُهْتَدٍ وَ سَمِيعٌ وَ أَصَمُّ وَ بَصِيرٌ وَ أَعْمَى حَيْرَانُ فَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَرَفَ وَ وَصَفَ دِينَهُ مُحَمَّدٌ ص

"In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, most High, most Great, through whose greatness and light the hearts of believing can recognize (Him) and because of His greatness and light the ignorant ones become His enemies, through His greatness and light those in the skies and those on earth seek to establish the relation by using their different deeds and opposing religions. There are the right ones and those who are mistaken, lost and guided, those who can hear and deaf, seeing and blind wandering. So all praise belongs to Allah whose religion Mohammed (صلى الله عليه وآله) has recognized and described."

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّكَ امْرُؤٌ أَنْزَلَكَ اللَّهُ مِنْ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ بِمَنْزِلَةٍ خَاصَّةٍ وَ حَفِظَ مَوَدَّةَ مَا اسْتَرْعَاكَ مِنْ دِينِهِ وَ مَا أَلْهَمَكَ مِنْ رُشْدِكَ وَ بَصَّرَكَ مِنْ أَمْرِ دِينِكَ بِتَفْضِيلِكَ إِيَّاهُمْ وَ بِرَدِّكَ الْأُمُورَ إِلَيْهِمْ

Thereafter, you are of the people to whom Allah has given a special position with Aal-e-Mohammed (عليهم السلام) and He has preserved the love/affection (Mawaddat) which attracts you to His religion. And that He has inspired you with awareness and insight in matters of your religion because you give preference to Them (ِi.e. Aal-e-Muhammad عليهم السملام) and you refer/return matters back to Them."

كَتَبْتَ تَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ أُمُورٍ كُنْتُ مِنْهَا فِي تَقِيَّةٍ وَ مِنْ كِتْمَانِهَا فِي سَعَةٍ فَلَمَّا انْقَضَى سُلْطَانُ الْجَبَابِرَةِ وَ جَاءَ سُلْطَانُ ذِي السُّلْطَانِ الْعَظِيمِ بِفِرَاقِ الدُّنْيَا الْمَذْمُومَةِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا الْعُتَاةِ عَلَى خَالِقِهِمْ رَأَيْتُ أَنْ أُفَسِّرَ لَكَ مَا سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْهُ مَخَافَةَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْحَيْرَةُ عَلَى ضُعَفَاءِ شِيعَتِنَا مِنْ قِبَلِ جَهَالَتِهِمْ فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ وَ خُصَّ لِذَلِكَ الْأَمْرِ أَهْلَهُ وَ احْذَرْ أَنْ تَكُونَ سَبَبَ بَلِيَّةٍ عَلَى الْأَوْصِيَاءِ أَوْ حَارِشاً عَلَيْهِمْ‌ بِإِفْشَاءِ مَا اسْتَوْدَعْتُكَ وَ إِظْهَارِ مَا اسْتَكْتَمْتُكَ وَ لَنْ تَفْعَلَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

"You have written to ask me of the issues about which I was in a fearful condition (Taqayyah) and was in a position to hide them for some extend. So when the authority of the tyrants came to an end and the authority of the one with the greatest authority (i.e Allah) came in the form of departing from and leaving the blameworthy world to its people who are transgressing against their Creator, then I found that I could explain what you have asked me fearing that confusion may come upon our weak Shia because of their ignorance. So fear Allah, most Glorious, and inform about it to only those who deserve it and be cautious against your becoming a means of affliction upon the Awsiyaa (i.e. the Imams) or provoking against them through making public what I have entrusted you with and exposing what I have asked you to hide and you will never do if Allah wills."

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا أُنْهِي إِلَيْكَ أَنِّي أَنْعَى إِلَيْكَ نَفْسِي فِي لَيَالِيَّ هَذِهِ غَيْرَ جَازِعٍ وَ لَا نَادِمٍ وَ لَا شَاكٍّ فِيمَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ مِمَّا قَدْ قَضَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ حَتَمَ 

"The first thing that I want to reach you is that I want to inform you of my death in these nights without being worried or regret or doubt about what is to happen of the matters that Allah (عز وجل) has determined and has made inevitable."

فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِعُرْوَةِ الدِّينِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ الْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى الْوَصِيِّ بَعْدَ الْوَصِيِّ وَ الْمُسَالَمَةِ لَهُمْ وَ الرِّضَا بِمَا قَالُوا وَ لَا تَلْتَمِسْ دِينَ مَنْ‌ لَيْسَ مِنْ شِيعَتِكَ وَ لَا تُحِبَّنَّ دِينَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمُ الْخَائِنُونَ الَّذِينَ خَانُوا اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ خَانُوا أَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَ تَدْرِي مَا خَانُوا أَمَانَاتِهِمُ ائْتُمِنُوا عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَحَرَّفُوهُ وَ بَدَّلُوهُ وَ دُلُّوا عَلَى وُلَاةِ الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ فَانْصَرَفُوا عَنْهُمْ فَأَذَاقَهُمُ‌ اللَّهُ لِباسَ الْجُوعِ وَ الْخَوْفِ بِما كانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ‌

"So hold firmly to the handle of the religion of Aal-e-Muhammad (عليهم السلام), and to the firmest handle - the trustee (Wasi) - one after another, and submit to Them, and be satisfied (ridha) with what They say.

And Do not seek the religion of those who are not from your Shia, and do not love their religion, for they are traitors who have betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and betrayed their trusts. And you know what they have betrayed of their trusts. They were entrusted with the Book of Allah, but they have distorted and altered it, and they were guided to the ones with authority (Wali Amr) but they turned away from Them, and Allah will make them taste the garb of hunger and fear for what they used to do."

وَ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ رَجُلَيْنِ اغْتَصَبَا رَجُلًا مَالًا كَانَ يُنْفِقُهُ عَلَى الْفُقَرَاءِ وَ الْمَسَاكِينِ وَ أَبْنَاءِ السَّبِيلِ وَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَمَّا اغْتَصَبَاهُ ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَرْضَيَا حَيْثُ غَصَبَاهُ حَتَّى حَمَّلَاهُ إِيَّاهُ كُرْهاً فَوْقَ رَقَبَتِهِ إِلَى مَنَازِلِهِمَا فَلَمَّا أَحْرَزَاهُ تَوَلَّيَا إِنْفَاقَهُ أَ يَبْلُغَانِ بِذَلِكَ كُفْراً فَلَعَمْرِي لَقَدْ نَافَقَا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَ رَدَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ كَلَامَهُ وَ هَزِئَا بِرَسُولِهِ ص وَ هُمَا الْكَافِرَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَ النَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ* وَ اللَّهِ مَا دَخَلَ قَلْبَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمَا شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ مُنْذُ خُرُوجِهِمَا مِنْ حَالَتَيْهِمَا وَ مَا ازْدَادَا إِلَّا شَكّاً كَانَا خَدَّاعَيْنِ مُرْتَابَيْنِ مُنَافِقَيْنِ حَتَّى تَوَفَّتْهُمَا مَلَائِكَةُ الْعَذَابِ إِلَى مَحَلِّ الْخِزْيِ فِي دَارِ الْمُقَامِ

"And you have asked about the two men (Abu Bakr and Umar) who usurped/snatched the wealth (could mean caliphate?) of a man (i.e. Imam Ali عليه السلام), which He spent for the poor and the destitute and those on a journey and in the way of Allah. When they usurped His asset, they did not stop for that much until they made him carry it unwillingly to their homes. When they secured it, then they made themselves as the person in charge of its spending.

Did they reach the level of disbelief in doing so? By my life, they two were hypocrites even before this and they both rejected the words of Allah (عز وجل) and mocked His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله) and they two are disbelievers (Kafir), upon them is the curse of Allah, His angels and all people. By Allah, nothing of belief (iman) entered in the heart of both of them from the time of their coming out of their condition (i.e. they came out of initial disbelief to hypocrisy). It did not increase anything but doubt for the both of them. They both were deceitful, doubting hypocrites until the angels of punishment took them away to the place of disgrace in the permanent dwelling."

وَ سَأَلْتَ عَمَّنْ حَضَرَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلَ وَ هُوَ يُغْصَبُ مَالَهُ وَ يُوضَعُ عَلَى رَقَبَتِهِ مِنْهُمْ عَارِفٌ وَ مُنْكِرٌ فَأُولَئِكَ أَهْلُ الرِّدَّةِ الْأُولَى مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ فَعَلَيْهِمْ‌ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَ الْمَلائِكَةِ وَ النَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ

"And You have asked about those who were present with that man (i.e. Imam Ali عليه السلام) when His wealth (could mean caliphate?) was being snatched and placed on His shoulder, from them some were aware of it and some denied. They (those who denied and did not support Imam Ali ع) are of the first apostates of this nation; the curse of Allah, His angels and all people be upon them."

وَ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ مَبْلَغِ عِلْمِنَا وَ هُوَ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ وُجُوهٍ مَاضٍ وَ غَابِرٌ وَ حَادِثٌ- فَأَمَّا الْمَاضِي فَمُفَسَّرٌ وَ أَمَّا الْغَابِرُ فَمَزْبُورٌ وَ أَمَّا الْحَادِثُ فَقَذْفٌ فِي الْقُلُوبِ وَ نَقْرٌ فِي الْأَسْمَاعِ وَ هُوَ أَفْضَلُ عِلْمِنَا وَ لَا نَبِيَّ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ ص

"You have asked about the extent/range of Our knowledge. It is of three types; About the past, about the future and about that which is continuously happening. That which is about the past is interpreted, that which is about future is written down and that which is about what is continuously happening is placed in the hearts and is placed in the ears, and this is the best (afdal) of our knowledge, and there is no Prophet after Our Prophet Mohammed (صلى الله عليه وآله)."

وَ سَأَلْتَ عَنْ أُمَّهَاتِ أَوْلَادِهِمْ وَ عَنْ نِكَاحِهِمْ وَ عَنْ طَلَاقِهِمْ فَأَمَّا أُمَّهَاتُ أَوْلَادِهِمْ فَهُنَّ عَوَاهِرُ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ نِكَاحٌ بِغَيْرِ وَلِيٍّ وَ طَلَاقٌ فِي غَيْرِ عِدَّةٍ وَ أَمَّا مَنْ دَخَلَ فِي دَعْوَتِنَا فَقَدْ هَدَمَ إِيمَانُهُ ضَلَالَهُ وَ يَقِينُهُ شَكَّهُ

"You have asked about the mothers of their (opponents of the shia) children and about their marriage and their divorce. The mothers of their children are adulteress till the Day of Judgement, their marriage is without guardian (Wali - who is the Imam) and divorce without waiting period. As for those who enter in Our call (i.e. accept Wilayah) then his belief destroys his misguidance and his certainty destroys his doubt."

وَ سَأَلْتَ عَنِ الزَّكَاةِ فِيهِمْ فَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَأَنْتُمْ أَحَقُّ بِهِ لِأَنَّا قَدْ حَلَّلْنَا ذَلِكَ لَكُمْ مَنْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ وَ أَيْنَ كَانَ

"And you have asked about their share in Zakat. In Zakat, you have more right. We have made it lawful for you and for those who are of your people, where ever they may be."

وَ سَأَلْتَ عَنِ الضُّعَفَاءِ فَالضَّعِيفُ مَنْ لَمْ يُرْفَعْ إِلَيْهِ حُجَّةٌ وَ لَمْ يَعْرِفِ الِاخْتِلَافَ فَإِذَا عَرَفَ الِاخْتِلَافَ فَلَيْسَ بِضَعِيفٍ

"And you have asked about the weak ones (duafa) - The weak one is him to whom the proof has not been presented and he does not know the differences (between Shia and non Shia), so if one knows the differences then he is not considered weak."

وَ سَأَلْتَ عَنِ الشَّهَادَاتِ لَهُمْ فَأَقِمِ الشَّهَادَةَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لَوْ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ وَ الْوَالِدَيْنِ وَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَإِنْ خِفْتَ عَلَى أَخِيكَ ضَيْماً فَلَا

"You have asked about giving testimony for them (non shia) - You must testify for the sake of Allah (عز وجل), even if it is against your own self, parents, and relatives related to matters between you and them. But if you fear any injusting/harm upon your (believing) brother then do not give testimony."

وَ ادْعُ إِلَى شَرَائِطِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ بِمَعْرِفَتِنَا مَنْ رَجَوْتَ إِجَابَتَهُ وَ لَا تَحَصَّنْ بِحِصْنِ رِيَاءٍ

"Call to the condition (religion) of Allah (عز ذكره) through Our recognition (Marifat) to the one whom you are hopeful of accepting it. You must not seek protection by means of showing off (Riya)." 

وَ وَالِ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ لَا تَقُلْ لِمَا بَلَغَكَ عَنَّا وَ نُسِبَ إِلَيْنَا هَذَا بَاطِلٌ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْرِفُ مِنَّا خِلَافَهُ فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي لِمَا قُلْنَاهُ وَ عَلَى أَيِّ وَجْهٍ وَصَفْنَاهُ آمِنْ بِمَا أُخْبِرُكَ وَ لَا تُفْشِ مَا اسْتَكْتَمْنَاكَ مِنْ خَبَرِكَ

"Accept the Mastership (Wilayah) of Ale (family of) Mohammed (عليهم السلام) and do not say about what has reached you from Us or is ascribed to Us as false even though you may know something against it from Us, because you do not know why We said it and how We explained it. You must have faith in what I inform you and must not publicise what we have asked you to keep secret."

إِنَّ مِنْ وَاجِبِ حَقِّ أَخِيكَ أَنْ لَا تَكْتُمَهُ شَيْئاً تَنْفَعُهُ بِهِ لِأَمْرِ دُنْيَاهُ وَ آخِرَتِهِ وَ لَا تَحْقِدَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ أَسَاءَ وَ أَجِبْ دَعْوَتَهُ إِذَا دَعَاكَ وَ لَا تُخَلِّ بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ عَدُوِّهِ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ إِنْ كَانَ أَقْرَبَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْكَ وَ عُدْهُ فِي مَرَضِهِ

"Of the obligatory duty toward your brother (i.e. believing brother) is not to hold back from him anything, which benefits him in this life or in the hereafter. Do not have hatred for him even if he does wrong, you must accept his invitation when he calls, do not leave him to his enemies even if the enemy is more closer to him (in relationship?) than you are, and visit him when he is ill."

لَيْسَ مِنْ أَخْلَاقِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْغِشُّ وَ لَا الْأَذَى وَ لَا الْخِيَانَةُ وَ لَا الْكِبْرُ وَ لَا الْخَنَا وَ لَا الْفُحْشُ وَ لَا الْأَمْرُ بِهِ‌

"Deception is not of the moral manners of the believing people, and nor is causing harm, betrayal, arrogance, using indecent words, committing indecent acts or commanding to do such things."

فَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الْمُشَوَّهَ الْأَعْرَابِيَّ فِي جَحْفَلٍ‌ جَرَّارٍ فَانْتَظِرْ فَرَجَكَ وَ لِشِيعَتِكَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ إِذَا انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَارْفَعْ بَصَرَكَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ انْظُرْ مَا فَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِالْمُجْرِمِينَ فَقَدْ فَسَّرْتُ لَكَ جُمَلًا مُجْمَلًا وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الْأَخْيَارِ

"When you see the deformed Arab man with an army heavily (in a large number) moving, then you can expect coming of the glad news for you and for your believing Shia. When the sun is eclipsed, then you must raise your eye to the sky and see what Allah (عز وجل), has done to the criminals. I have explained to you in summary. And blessings of Allah be upon Mohammed and His family the best ones."

[Source: al-Kafi. Vol. 8, Pg. 124, H. 95]

Note: Allamah al-Majlisi, in Mir'aat Al-Uqool. Vol. 25, Pg. 295 says 

رواه بثلاثة أسانيد في الأول ضعف ، والثاني حسن كالصحيح ، وفي الثالث ضعف أو جهالة ، لكن مجموع الأسانيد لتقوي بعضها ببعض في قوة الصحيح ، ورواه الصدوق بسند صحيح

"This Hadith is narrated by 3 chains, first is a weak chain, second is a reliable chain considered as Saheeh (Authentic) and the third chain is weak or unknown. But these chain considered together strengthen one another in making the hadith Saheeh (Authentic) and Shaikh Sadooq has narrated this with a Saheeh (Authentic) chain."