حدثنا أبو العباس محمد بن إبراهيم بن اسحاق الطالقاني رضى الله عنه قال: حدثنا أبو أحمد القاسم بن محمد بن على الهاروني قال: حدثني أبو حامد عمران بن موسى بن إبراهيم عن الحسن بن القاسم الرقام قال: حدثني القاسم بن مسلم عن اخيه عبد العزيز بن مسلم قال

كنا في ايام على بن موسى الرضا عليهم السلام بمرو فاجتمعنا في مسجد جامعها في يوم الجمعه في بدء مقدمنا فإذا راى الناس أمر الامامة وذكروا كثره اختلاف الناس فيها فدخلت على سيدى ومولاي الرضا عليه السلام فاعلمته ما خاض الناس فيه فتبسم عليه السلام ثم قال: يا عبد العزيز جهل القوم وخدعوا عن اديانهم ان الله تبارك وتعالى لم يقبض نبيه (ص) حتى اكمل له الدين وانزل عليه القرآن فيه تفصيل كل شئ بين فيه الحلال والحرام والحدود والاحكام وجميع ما يحتاج إليه كملا فقال عز وجل: (ما فرطنا في الكتاب من شئ) وانزل في حجه الوداع وفي آخر عمره (ص) (اليوم اكملت لكم دينكم واتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الاسلام دينا) وأمر الامامة في تمام الدين ولم يمض (ص) حتى بين لامته معالم دينهم واوضح لهم سبيلهم وتركهم على قصد الحق واقام لهم عليا عليه السلام علما واماما وما ترك شيئا يحتاج إليه الامه إلا بينه فمن زعم ان الله عز وجل لم يكمل دينه فقد رد كتاب الله عز وجل ومن رد كتاب الله فهو كافر

Narrated from Abdul Aziz ibn Muslim,

At the times1 of Ali ibn Musa Al-Ridha (as) we were in Marv. We had gathered together in the Jami’a mosque where the people were talking about of Divine Leadership (Imamat) and the many differences which the people have with each other in that respect.

I went to see my Master Imam al-Ridha (as) and told him what the people said in that regard.

He (as) smiled and said, "O Abdul Aziz! The people are ignorant and have been deceived regarding their religion. Allah (swt) did not take away the life of His Prophet (S) until after He perfected the religion for him and sent him the Quran in which everything including the allowed, the forbidden, the limits (Hudood) and the rulings (AHkam) and everything which is needed is clarified. Then Allah (swt) said, "Nothing have we omitted from the Book…" (6:38)

"During the Farewell Pilgrimage, which was made in the last of the Prophet’s (saww) lifetime, Allah revealed to him, "This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favors upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (5:3)

It is the Imamat which completes the religion. The Prophet (saww) did not die until He clarified to His community (Ummah) their religion, showed them their way, put them on the path of truth, and established Ali (as) as their Guide and Imam, and the Prophet (saww) did not leave anything that the nation needed except that He made it clear. Whoever claims that Allah did not perfect/complete his religion has rejected the Book of Allah Almighty, and whoever rejects the Book of Allah is an disbeliever (kafir)."

هل يعرفون قدر الامامة ومحلها من الامة فيجوز فيها اختيارهم؟! ان الامامة اجل قدرا واعظم شانا واعلى مكانا وامنع جانبا وابعد غورا من ان يبلغها الناس بعقولهم أو ينالوها بارائهم أو يقيموا اماما باختيارهم

"Do these people understand the rank of Imamat & its position in the community (Ummah) that they think its permissible for them to select Imams. Imamat is much more magnificent, exalted in status, higher in position and difficult to get near its position, and much more deep-rooted than to be understood by the intellect or opinions of the people so that they can elect an Imam by themselves"

ان الامامة خص الله بها إبراهيم الخليل عليه السلام بعد النبوة والخلة مرتبه ثالثة وفضيلة شرفه بها واشاد بها ذكره فقال عز وجل: (انى جاعلك للناس اماما) (1) فقال الخليل عليه السلام: سرورا بها (ومن ذريتي) قال الله عز وجل: (لا ينال عهدي الظالمين) فابطلت هذه الاية امامة كل ظالم الى يوم القيامة وصارت في الصفوة ثم اكرمه الله عز وجل بان جعلها ذريته أهل الصفوة والطهارة فقال عز وجل: (ووهبنا له اسحاق ويعقوب نافله وكلا جعلنا صالحين وجعلناهم ائمة يهدون بامرنا واوحينا إليهم فعل الخيرات واقام الصلاة وايتاء الزكاة وكانوا لنا عابدين)

"Indeed Imamat is that particular distinction with which Allah (swt) has distinguished Ibrahim (as), His very close friend (al-Khalil), the 3rd station after prophet-hood & . It is a distinction with which He honored him and praised him with it.

So Allah (swt) said, "Verily! I have made you an Imam for the people." Abraham, the close friend, then out of delight said, "And it (Imamat) will be in my offspring ." Allah (swt) said, "My covenant does not go to the unjust ones." (2:124)

Thus, this verse has declared (Imamat) of all the unjust ones as unlawful until the Day of Judgment and it has been limited to the choicest and elite ones. Then Allah (swt) honored him in establishing Imamat in best and clean persons of his offspring.

Allah has said, "We granted him Isaac and Jacob in addition and each of them We made righteous." (21:72)

"And We made them Imams who guided (people) by Our command, and We revealed to them the doing of good and the keeping up of prayer and the giving of the alms, and Us (alone) did they serve." (21:73)

فلم تزل في ذريته يرثها بعض عن بعض قرنا فقرنا حتى ورثها الله تعالى النبي صلى الله عليه وآله، فقال جل وتعالى: إن أولى الناس بإبراهيم للذين اتبعوه وهذا النبي والذين آمنوا والله ولي المؤمنين فكانت له خاصة فقلدها صلى الله عليه وآله عليا عليه السلام بأمر الله تعالى على رسم ما فرض الله، فصارت في ذريته الأصفياء الذين آتاهم الله العلم والايمان، بقوله تعالى: " قال الذين أوتوا العلم والايمان لقد لبثتم في كتاب الله إلى يوم البعث فهي في ولد علي عليه السلام خاصة إلى يوم القيامة، إذ لا نبي بعد محمد صلى الله عليه وآله فمن أين يختار هؤلاء الجهال

"So Imamat remained in his offspring inheriting it from each other, generation after generation, until Allah (swt) made Prophet Muhammad (saww) to inherit it. And He (swt) said, "The nearest people to Abraham, among mankind, are those who followed him, and this Prophet (Muhammad) and the true believers. Allah is the Guardian of the true believers." (3:68)

"Imamat belonged to Him particularly, and He, then, entrusted Imam Ali (as) with it by the command of Allah (swt), as He had made it obligatory.

It then came to be in his (Ali's) purified offspring, to whom Allah has given knowledge and faith, as in the words of Allah, the Most High, "Those who have received knowledge and have faith will say, ‘By the decree of Allah, you have remained for the exact period, which was mentioned in the Book of Allah about the Day of Resurrection. This is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not know." (30:56)

Imamat will remain in the sons of Imam Ali (as) exclusively, till the Day of Judgment and there will be no prophet after Muhammad (saww). Where-from then have these ignorant people received the right to select Imams?

إن الإمامة هي منزلة الأنبياء، وإرث الأوصياء، إن الإمامة خلافة الله وخلافة الرسول صلى الله عليه وآله ومقام أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام وميراث الحسن والحسين عليهما السلام إن الإمامة زمام الدين، ونظام المسلمين، وصلاح الدنيا وعز المؤمنين، إن الإمامة أس الاسلام النامي، وفرعه السامي، بالامام تمام الصلاة والزكاة والصيام والحج والجهاد، وتوفير الفئ والصدقات، وإمضاء الحدود والأحكام، ومنع الثغور والأطراف

"Imamat is certainly, the position of the prophets, and the inheritance of the successors. Imamat indeed, is the Vicegerency (khilafa) of Allah and the succession of the Messenger (saww), and the position of Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (as) and the inheritance of (Imam) al-Hasan (as) and al-Husayn (as).

"Imamat is, in fact, the reins of religion. It is the ruling system of the Muslims. It is best for the world, and honor for the believers. Imamat is Islam's growing foundation, and its towering branch. Through the Imam (as), the prayers, Zakat, (charity), fasting, Hajj and Jihad are completed. And the wealth of the nation (fay') and charity (sadaqat) are increased, the laws & legal punishments are implemented and the frontiers are protected and defended.

الامام يحل حلال الله، ويحرم حرام الله، ويقيم حدود الله، ويذب عن دين الله، ويدعو إلى سبيل ربه بالحكمة، والموعظة الحسنة، والحجة البالغة

"The Imam declares as lawful what Allah has done so and prohibits what Allah has prohibited. He enforces the judicial laws of Allah and defends the religion of Allah. The Imam calls towards the path of Allah (swt) with wisdom, good advice and with the topmost strong evidence (Hujjat al-Baligha)."

الامام كالشمس الطالعة المجللة بنورها للعالم وهي في الأفق بحيث لا تنالها الأيدي والابصار. الامام البدر المنير، والسراج الزاهر، والنور الساطع، والنجم الهادي في غياهب الدجى وأجواز البلدان والقفار، ولجج البحار، الامام الماء العذب على الظماء والدال على الهدى، والمنجي من الردى، الامام النار على اليفاع ، الحار لمن اصطلى به والدليل في المهالك، من فارقه فهالك، الامام السحاب الماطر، والغيث الهاطل و والشمس المضيئة، والسماء الظليلة، والأرض البسيطة، والعين الغزيرة، والغدير والروضة

"The Imam is like the risen sun that beautifies the world with its light and is in the horizon where the hands and eyes cannot reach it. The Imam is as the bright moon, the shining lamp, the brilliant light, and the guiding star in the depth of darkness, in the middle of the towns, in the wilderness and the at high seas. The Imam is as crystal-clear water to thirst, an indicator of true guidance and the protector against destruction. The Imam is as fire of a lighthouse that provides warmth and guidance for those who seek heat and protection against fatalities. Whoever would depart him would perish. The Imam (in terms of blessings) is as the rain-bearing cloud, the drenching rainfall, the shining sun, the shadow providing sky, the open fields, the gushing forth spring, as a pond and a garden."

الامام الأنيس الرفيق، والوالد الشفيق، والأخ الشقيق، والام البرة بالولد الصغير، ومفزع العباد في الداهية النآد الامام أمين الله في خلقه، وحجته على عباده وخليفته في بلاده، والداعي إلى الله، والذاب عن حرم الله

"The Imam is as a kind friend, a very kind/compassionate father, a real brother, and a tenderhearted mother of a small child, a refuge for people in calamity/disaster. The Imam is Allah's trustee over His creatures, His authority over His servants, His representative in His lands, the caller towards Allah and the defender of sanctuary of Allah (swt)."

الامام المطهر من الذنوب والمبرأ عن العيوب، المخصوص بالعلم، المرسوم بالحلم، نظام الدين، وعز المسلمين وغيظ المنافقين، وبوار الكافرين

الامام واحد دهره، لا يدانيه أحد، ولا يعادله عالم، ولا يوجد منه بدل ولا له مثل ولا نظير، مخصوص بالفضل كله من غير طلب منه له ولا اكتساب، بل اختصاص من المفضل الوهاب

"The Imam is clean of sins, free of faults, choosen specially for knowledge and is distinguished in forbearance, the system of religion, honor of the Muslims, the anger for the hypocrites, and perdition/ruin for the unbelievers.

"The Imam is the unique person of his time, no one can reach even near His rank in virtue and no scholar is comparable to Him. There is no alternative/substitute for Him, nor is there anyone similar to Him or just like Him."

"He is given all the superiority/merit (Fadl) without Him seeking it or acquiring it. Rather, it is bestowed to him by the Favorer the Endower (i.e. Allah)."

فمن ذا الذي يبلغ معرفة الامام، أو يمكنه اختياره، هيهات هيهات، ضلت العقول، وتاهت الحلوم، وحارت الألباب، وخسئت العيون وتصاغرت العظماء، وتحيرت الحكماء، وتقاصرت الحلماء، وحصرت الخطباء، وجهلت الألباء، وكلت الشعراء، وعجزت الأدباء، وعييت البلغاء، عن وصف شأن من شأنه، أو فضيلة من فضائله، وأقرت بالعجز والتقصير، وكيف يوصف بكله، أو ينعت بكنهه، أو يفهم شئ من أمره، أو يوجد من يقوم مقامه ويغني غناه، لا كيف وأنى؟ وهو بحيث النجم من يد المتناولين، ووصف الواصفين، فأين الاختيار من هذا؟ وأين العقول عن هذا

وأين يوجد مثل هذا؟

"Who is he that can know all about the Imam, or can select him? To affirm the ability of selection is very far from the truth. (In the task of recognizing the Imam) intellects have become confused, understanding has lost the meaning, awareness is frustrated, eyes have become dull and tired, the great ones have become humble, the sagacious ones have become bewildered and people of forbearance have lost patience. (In the task of recognizing the Imam) the orators have become speechless, the intelligent ones have become ignorant and the poets have become exhausted. The men-of-letters have become helpless, people of eloquence have turned wordless to speak of any of the aspects of his status or a virtue and excellence of his merits and instead have confessed their helplessness in the matter. How can one speak of him in full, or describe him in the real sense or understand anything of his affairs or find an alternative for him to be sufficient for what he (the Imam) suffices. There is no such thing and nowhere is such a thing found. He is like a star away from the reach of those who try to reach, or those who try to describe. Where does the idea of selecting him stand in such a case? How then can reason and intellect reach him and where can one find a person like the Imam?"

أتظنون أن ذلك يوجد في غير آل الرسول محمد صلى الله عليه وآله كذبتهم والله أنفسهم، ومنتهم الأباطيل فارتقوا مرتقا صعبا دحضا، تزل عنه إلى الحضيض أقدامهم، راموا إقامة الامام بعقول حائرة بائرة ناقصة، وآراء مضلة، فلم يزدادوا منه إلا بعدا، [قاتلهم الله أنى يؤفكون ولقد راموا صعبا، وقالوا إفكا، وضلوا ضلالا بعيدا، ووقعوا في الحيرة، إذ تركوا الامام عن بصيرة، وزين لهم الشيطان أعمالهم فصدهم عن السبيل وكانوا مستبصرين

"Do you think that such a person can be found outside the family of the Holy Prophet (saww)? Their souls, I swear by Allah, have told them a lie and given them false hopes so (its like) they are climbing against an uphill difficult & invalid task, in which they would slip back to the bottom.

They intend to raise the Imam by their confused, fruitless and faulty intellects and their misleading opinions. It would do nothing good except taking them away (from the truth). (May Allah be their adversary. Where are they headed?) (9:30)

They have aimed at a difficult task and have spoken something meaningless. They have strayed far away from the truth and have faced huge confusions. They have knowingly ignored the Imam. "Satan has made their deeds to seem attractive to them and has blocked them from reaching the path (of guidance) when they know it fully." (29:38)

رغبوا عن اختيار الله واختيار رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وأهل بيته إلى اختيارهم والقرآن يناديهم: " وربك يخلق ما يشاء ويختار ما كان لهم الخيرة سبحان الله وتعالى عما يشركون " وقال عز وجل: " وما كان لمؤمن ولا مؤمنة إذا قضى الله ورسوله أمرا أن يكون لهم الخيرة من أمرهم " الآية وقال: " ما لكم كيف تحكمون أم لكم كتاب فيه تدرسون إن لكم فيه لما تخيرون أم لكم أيمان علينا بالغة إلى يوم القيامة إن لكم لما تحكمون سلهم أيهم بذلك زعيم أم لهم شركاء فليأتوا بشركائهم إن كانوا صادقين

"They have turned away from the choice that Allah and His Messenger and his family to their own choice. The Holy Quran calls up on them, "Your Lord creates and chooses, they do not have the choice to choose whatever they want. Allah is far exalted to be considered equal to anything else." (28:68)

And Allah (عز وجل) says, "And it is not fitting for a believing man and a believing woman that they should have any choice in their matter when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter .. " (33:36)

It further says, "What is the matter with you? How could you judge this to be so? Do you have a book from which you study, that you have surely therein what you choose? Do you have a covenant with Us which allows you to do whatever you want until the Day of Judgment? Ask them which of them will vouch for that, Or have they some "Partners" (in Allah)? Then let them produce their "partners", if they are truthful! (68: 36-41)

وقال عز وجل: " أفلا يتدبرون القرآن أم على قلوب أقفالها " أم " طبع الله على قلوبهم فهم لا يفقهون " أم " قالوا سمعنا وهم لا يسمعون * إن شر الدواب عند الله الصم البكم الذين لا يعقلون * ولو علم الله فيهم خيرا لاسمعهم ولو أسمعهم لتولوا وهم معرضون " أم " قالوا سمعنا وعصينا " بل هو فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم، فكيف لهم باختيار الامام؟! والامام عالم لا يجهل، وراع لا ينكل ، معدن القدس والطهارة، والنسك والزهادة، والعلم والعبادة، مخصوص بدعوة الرسول صلى الله عليه وآله ونسل المطهرة البتول، لا مغمز فيه في نسب، ولا يدانيه ذو حسب، في البيت من قريش والذروة من هاشم، والعترة من الرسول صلى الله عليه وآله والرضا من الله عز وجل، شرف الاشراف، والفرع من عبد مناف، نامي العلم، كامل الحلم، مضطلع بالإمامة، عالم بالسياسة، مفروض الطاعة، قائم بأمر الله عز وجل، ناصح لعباد الله، حافظ لدين الله

And Allah (swt), "Do they not ponder about the Quran or are there locks on the hearts?" (47:24)

Or as He says, " . . . and their hearts have been sealed. So they do not understand." (9:87)

Or like, "...they say, ‘We hear,’ though they do not hear." (8:21)

"Indeed the worst beasts in the sight of Allah are the deaf and the dumb who have no understanding" (8:22).

"Had they possessed any virtue, Allah would certainly have made them hear. Even if Allah were to make them hear, they would still turn away from (the words of Allah)," (8:23)

or like, "They said, we heard & (still) disobeyed." (2:93)

"It is the grace from Allah and He grants grace to whoever He wills. Allah is possesses great generosity." (57:21)

"So how can they have the right to choose the Imam? The Imam is a scholar that is not ignorant of any thing, a custodian who does not step back from his duty. He is the source of holiness, purity, piety, knowledge and worship."

"For the Imam is exclusive prayers of the Messenger of Allah (swt) and of being of the progeny of the Holy Lady, al-Batul i.e Fatima (sa). There is no shortcoming in the Imam in lineage and none can come even close to His noble descent."

"He is of the house of Quraysh and the top most in the clan of Hashim and of the family of the Messenger of Allah (saww). In His favour is the satifcation of Allah (swt). He is the most exalted amongst the honorable ones. He is of the offspring of Abd al-Manaf. He possesses increasing knowledge. He is complete in forbearance. He is thoroughly familiar with the position of Imamat and is having knowledge of governance. Obedience to him is obligatory. He establishes/rises by the command of Allah (swt). He gives advice to the servants of Allah (swt) and He is the protector of religion of Allah (swt)."

إن الأنبياء والأئمة صلوات الله عليهم يوفقهم الله ويؤتيهم من مخزون علمه و حكمه ما لا يؤتيه غيرهم، فيكون علمهم فوق علم أهل الزمان في قوله تعالى: " أفمن يهدي إلى الحق أحق أن يتبع أمن لا يهدي إلا أن يهدى فمالكم كيف تحكمون " وقوله تبارك وتعالى: " ومن يؤت الحكمة فقد أوتي خيرا كثيرا " وقوله في طالوت: " إن الله اصطفاه عليكم وزاده بسطة في العلم والجسم والله يؤتي ملكه من يشاء والله واسع عليم " وقال لنبيه صلى الله عليه وآله: " أنزل عليك الكتاب والحكمة وعلمك ما لم تكن تعلم وكان فضل الله عليك عظيما " وقال في الأئمة من أهل بيت نبيه وعترته وذريته صلوات الله عليهم: " أم يحسدون الناس على ما آتاهم الله من فضله فقد آتينا آل إبراهيم الكتاب والحكمة وآتيناهم ملكا عظيما * فمنهم من آمن به ومنهم من صد عنه وكفى بجهنم سعيرا "

Allah grants success and support to the prophets (as) and the Imams (as) through His treasured knowledge and command which is not granted to any one else. Thus, their knowledge is above the knowledge of the people of their times as mentioned in the following words of Allah, "Is He then Who guides to the truth more worthy to be followed, or he who himself does not go aright unless he is guided? What then is the matter with you; how do you judge?" (10:35)

And in, "Whoever is given wisdom, certainly, has received much good . . .." (2:269)

Or as about Talut in the following words, "Surely Allah has chosen him in preference to you, and He has increased him abundantly in knowledge and physique, and Allah grants His kingdom to whom He pleases, and Allah is Amplegiving, Knowing" (2:247)

Or as He has said about His Prophet (saww), "Allah has revealed the Book to you, has given you wisdom, and has taught you what you did not know. Certainly Allah's favor to you has been great." (4:113)

He also said about the Imams from the family of the Holy Prophet (as), "Or do they envy the people for what Allah has given them of His grace? But indeed We have given to Ibrahim's children the Book and the wisdom, and We have given them a grand kingdom" (4:54). "So some of them believed, and some of them averted their faces from him: And enough is Hell for a burning fire" (4:55).

وإن العبد إذا اختاره الله عز وجل لأمور عباده، شرح صدره لذلك، وأودع قلبه ينابيع الحكمة، وألهمه العلم إلهاما، فلم يعي بعده بجواب، ولا يحير فيه عن الصواب، فهو معصوم مؤيد، موفق مسدد، قد أمن من الخطايا والزلل والعثار، يخصه الله بذلك ليكون حجته على عباده، وشاهده على خلقه، وذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم

"When Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, Chooses a person for the affairs of His servants, He opens his heart for the task, places in it the fountains of wisdom and inspires him with knowledge. He then never becomes incapable of answering questions and never becomes confused/uncertain of what is the right answer. He is infallible, Divinely supported, successful and guarded. He is immune from sins and shortcomings and faults. Allah has granted him this exclusively so that he would serve as the Divine Authority over His servant, as a witness over His creations and this is the grace of Allah that He grants to whomever He wills and Allah is of great grace."

فهل يقدرون على مثل هذا فيختارونه أو يكون مختارهم بهذه الصفة فيقدمونه، تعدوا - وبيت الله - الحق ونبذوا كتاب الله وراء ظهورهم كأنهم لا يعلمون، وفي كتاب الله الهدى والشفاء، فنبذوه واتبعوا أهواء هم، فذمهم الله ومقتهم وأتعسهم فقال جل وتعالى: " ومن أضل ممن اتبع هواه بغير هدى من الله إن الله لا يهدي القوم الظالمين " وقال: " فتعسا لهم وأضل أعمالهم " وقال: " كبر مقتا عند الله وعند الذين آمنوا كذلك يطبع الله على كل قلب متكبر جبار" وصلى الله على النبي محمد وآله وسلم تسليما كثيرا

So do they (people) have the power/ability upon such things so that they can choose him (Imam)? Or can their selected person have such distinctions to be preferred over the others?

They, I swear by the house of Allah, have transgressed against the truth and have thrown the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they do not know. In the Book of Allah there is guidance and cure but they have ignored it and have followed their own desires. For this reason Allah has criticized, hated them and ruined them and says, "Who strays more than one who follows his desires without guidance from Allah? Allah does not guide the unjust people." (28:50)

And says, " .. for them is destruction and He has made their deeds ineffective" (47:8)

And says, "... greatly hated is it by Allah and by-those who believe. Thus does Allah set a seal over the heart of every arrogant oppressor." (40:35)

May Allah grant blessings up on Prophet Muhammad (saww) and his family (as) and may He grant them peace, a great deal of peace.

[Source: al-Kafi, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Hujjah, Chapter. 15, Hadith. 1 & Uyoon al-Akhbar al-Ridha, Vol. 1, Chapter, 20, Hadith. 1]